The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-06-21
THE LAST RACE
FOR CHEAP LANDS.

ward and soutnwestward trend that
the last dash for cheap farms is on.
II may extend over several years, of
course, but as mems lives go, wnen
measured by the flight of time, it
will be but a comparatively brief
period until all tilable acres which
are available in this country will have
their owners and will be producing
their share of the nations crops.
This land problem grows more ser
ious every year. large percentage
of the farms in the humid districts is
now, in price, out of reach of the
person of limited means, and ne can
neither afford to buy such farms nor
having purchased them, to have so
much money invested in property
which will bring only a limited re-
turn.
What, then. are the farmers of the
country forced to do? They are com
PEELED to move from their high-priced
afford by reason of large capital and
substantial personal holdings, to live
on expensive estates.
Having sold mis- farm, the man who
is neither able nor willing to retire
must look for a new location. Shall
he look in another humid section for
such a farm as he needs? He ADDS
nothing to his condition by doing SO,
for he only jumps into that form which
he has just succeeded in escaping.
In which direction, then, shall he
turn? Let him turn toward the great
stretches of the west and southwest.
But, being so advised, perhaps ne i'm
agines ne will be worse off than De-
fore-stranded in a dry country
the rainless clouds away.
If he imagines that, he does not
know this new west aid this new south
west of ours. where scientific agricul
true has triumphed over natures
neglect and where, only few years
ago. it was thought that nothing worth
raising would grow
The trouble with the semi-arid sec
tions, for SO many years, was that men
did hot know now to employ that
which was given them; did not know
how to treat the earth and train it,
willing, as it always is, to reward the
toiler provided he will only toll intel
ligently and earnestly.
Years ago certain men saw tnat the
time would soon come whea the man
of moderate means would have to
leave the humid districts in order to
do the best for himself, provided he
could find some place to go. These
few men were students of conditions
and of the application of human me-
thods to the provisions of nature. At
least one of them has proved beyond
doubt that good crops may be raised
in the semi-arid sections and tnat
rich returns can be worked out of soil
which was considered worthless be-
cause of the lack of moisture.
1t was to ahis end that H. W. Camp
bell began working years ago. and it
was such a possibility that he quickly
demonstrated. Determined to prove
that every foot of land where some
rain fell could be turned to the good
of mankind. this man worked and ex-
perimented, with little hope of person
al gain but with the answering be-
lief that he could do something in the
line of scientific soil culture that would
benefit the nomeseekers of future
years. Now the Campbell method is
known around the world and to his
Office in Lincoln, Neb, come inquiries
from every farming district where
extra skill and properly applied indus
try are needed in order to bring prof.
table results.
The Campbell method is more than
a theory-it is a demonstrated fact
as much part of the agricultural ed
ucation of today as blowing is a part
of farm work. 1t is one of the indis-
pensible forces by means of which
millions of acres are to be made avail
able in this last great rush for cheap
er lands-a rush by means of which ev
cry ambitious farmer can better his
condition If he only will.
In this development every state hav-
ing semi-arid lands is interested. In
it the people of the humid regions of
those states are interested, for the re-
demption of a part means a measure of
profit for all.
We know that prosperity has been
at higa tide in this country for several
years. but the west and southwest
have had only their first taste of the
feast which will follow II the people
will, like the children Of Israel, only
- -
and possess It. making up. WITH effort
for things which nature has with
held and at the same time reaping her
vests larger than those gathered in
sections which do not suffer the So
called blight Of hall droutn-