The Delta independent., 1907-03-01


est safeguard and their choic est dover.
This is pre-eminently and primarily
an agricultural country. Its soil has
been treated largely as have been the
forest and mineral resources of the
nation Only because the earth is more
long suffering, only because the process
of exhaustion is more difficult and oc-
cupies longer period, have we escaped
the peril that looms so large in other
qua rters. The reckless distribution of
the land its division among all the
greedy who chose to ask for it; the
appropriation of large areas for grazing
purposes, have absorbed much of the
national herit age. Only one-half of the
land in private ownership is now titled.
That tilage does not produce one-half
of what the land might be made to
yield. without losing an atom of its
fertility. Yet the waste of our treas
ure has proceeded so far that the actu-
al value of the soil for productive pur-
poses has already deteriorated more
than it should have done in five CEN
turies of use. There is, except in
isolated and individual cases, little
approaching intensive agriculture in the
United States. There IS only the
annual skimming of the rich cream
the exhaustion of virgin fertility; the
extraction from the earth by the most
rapid process of its productive powers.
the deterioration of life's sole mainte-
nance. And all this with that army of
another,hundred million people marching
n plain sight toward US, and expecting
and demanding that they shall be fed;
LAND VALUES SHRINK
From 1860 to 1900 is far cry. In
that time our population leaped from
81 900, 900 to 70, ,OOo, 200. In that time
vast area of wilderness was put
: beneath the plow. Yet in those same
E years the area of improved land in the
North Atlantic States remained station
ary. 1t is now steadily on the decrease.
: In the South Atlantic States, while the
5 inclosed area is larger. the farming
area has decreased by more than 1000,
: 90 acres.
S The test of values is still more indie
ative. Every farm properly cared for
: should be worth more money for each
1 year of its life. The increase of popu
lation and demand. the growth of cities
: and markets. and the de velopment O.
= diversified farming with density o
e settlement should assure large incre
1 ment Even where large quantities OF
a new and fertile land are opened. these
n influences. together with the loves
B, cost of transportation in the world,
t should make the growth of value:
. steady. Within the twenty years be,
e tween lSS0-l9OO the aggregate valu,
: of farm lands and improvem ents
+ including buildings, declined in ever,
i one of the New England and Mddl,
e States except Massachusetts alone
The total decrease in values. for these
ten states, of the first asset of civil
lied people is more than $500. 900. 900.
Nor is the attempted explanation by
; the census bureau of this Shrinkage
either adequate or convincing. Ever
4 the great and fertile State of Ohio, il
the Middle West. showed 4 declin o,
more than $50, OOo. 200. This change in
e the section of Oldest cultivation under
e modern conditions is significant. 1t is
t not singular. The soil of the South il
5 moving on the same decline, though
= the fact is less obvious in the tota
c change of agricultural conditions since
. the Civil War. On the new lands OF
the West. where once the wheat yielt
was from twenty to thirty bushels pc
f acre. it is now from twelve to eighteen
Frankly, and without shame, this i:
I attributed to 1.-The wearing out" of thu
soil, rs if the earth were carmen
t that must be destroyed by the wearing
h If the earth, the mother of humanity
t wears out" what is to become of the
y race? The fact is that soil, properly