The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-06-13

South. 1t is hoped that Southern
farmers and land owners are giving !,
this subject the attention il merits aud
appreciate what it means to the South.
without doubt the farmers and land
owners are, or should be, more inte
ested in this proposition than any other
class OF people; one of the reasons be-
ing, the evident pecuniary advantage
to the section in which there is an in
fux of worthy and substantial class
Of home seekers.
Nothing will do more to increase
land values and the price Of farm pro-
ducts than growing population. AS
population grows, the consuming capa-
city naturally increases, which condi-
ton is met through the development
of new land and the better cultivation
of older farms. Increased population
gives stimulus to the enlargement and
creation of new industries, requiring
additional labor, all of which depends
upon the farm for subsistence. The
more and the better the fam products,
the better everybody lives.
In some sections of the South there
seems to be an underlying sentiment
unfayorable to the introduction of new
settlers. Students of economy who
have given this subject the most care
full considerations fnd that such feel
ing is based upon erroneous Concep-
tions f the advantages of new people
and new ideas. While the South is
developing rapidly the natural resour-
ces and capabilities of the country to
sustain much larger population war
rants the incoming of many more peo-
pie who can find homes, the occupancy
and development of which will aug
ment prosperity aud improve Southern
conditions In every way. More immi-
grafton means increased Ian values,
the betterment of the educational fac
ilities, the Improvement of public roads
the addition of markets, the building
of more and better towns and the en-
largement of towns already in exis-
tence, with all of the advantages com
mon to concentration.
There is room in every county in
every state of the South for man
more home Builders and producers, and
and until the the farmers and land
owners now living there take personal
interest in soliciting and locating a
class of settlers in their neighborhoods
the best results cannot be attained.
The following questions are asked
and suggestions made with the hope
that every progressive farmer and land
owner will heed the appeal:
/. Are there any lands in your neigh
borhood unoccupied or not giving the
owner the returns ommensurate will
their possibilities?
2. Are you making any effort to in
duce worthy and desirable homemak
ers to occupy these vacant lands? /
not, did itever occur to you that yor
are among the number responsible TO
the upbuilding OF the district in which
You live, and that probably this lacl
of interest is one of the causes VIII
development in your community ha
not been as rapid as it should be?
Our attention is frequently Gale,
to the fact that in many parts of tn
United States, other than the South
farm lands are selling from 1915 to S 8
per acre, while in the South good i'm
proved farms are for sale at from SO
to $35 per acre. Everything consider
ed the South has the best and cheapes
lands in the United States. One of tn
principal reasons why the contrast i
values is 80 great is lack of immigrs
tion to the South. This condition CO
be changed if all will work with tina
end in view.
How much more contented the South
ern farmer would be if he occupied
acres of land worth 800 per acre, SUI
rounded by farms under high state {
cultivation, with fue roads, goo
schools and larger markets, than b
occupying farm of 800 acres, wort
1876 per acre, one half under cultiv
ton, public roads of the country infe
iJr, and the schools of the district il
adequate. He is the master of the frs
but the other is his master.
There is little doubt but what I'll
farmers of the South would be muC
better off financially and socially
their holdings we're smaller. Son
land owners of the South begin to reN
ize this. An instance of this is see
wherein leading planter located {
the the Southern Railway, proposes
give outright, to any reliable viii
farmer, ten acres OF land, and agre
to sell thirty acres additional, provide
the purchaser finds he is able to pro-
erly cultivate the increased area. TIL
proposition is made to induce an il
dustrious class to settle in his neigl
borhood. This land owner has MOI
land than he can take care OF, on a,
count of the scarcity of labor, aud |
argues, that this plan will bring to b
locality aufficient number of desirab
A. H. H.,