The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-14
area have been so injured that no in
oustry and no care can restore them.
RObbing the Soil

CouSe UNIVERSAL and continuing In its
enects is the process of soil exhaustion.
| 1t Is creeping over the land from east
| to west. The abandoned farms that
are now the playthings Of the city's
| rich or the game preserves of patrons
of sport, bear witness to the melan-
| choly change
Mr.. Hill said that the fact Of soil
| waste becomes startlingly evident when
| the record of some states where single
cropping and other agricultural abuses
| nave been prevalent In no other inn
portant country in the world with the
exception of Russia, is the industry
that must be the foundation Of every |
state at so low an ebb as in our own. |
I'VE are robbing the soil,' said Mr.. |
Hill, in an effort to get the largest |
cash returns from each acre of ground |
| in the shortest possible time and with |
the least possible labor"
He said that our agricultural land
had been abused in two principal ways. |
first by single cropping and second by
Ineglecting fertilization. The two rem
edies are rotation of crops and the use
of fertilizers. We might, he declared.
expand our resources and add billions
of dollars to our national wealth by
conserving soil resources, instead OF
exhausting them as we have the Tor
ests and the contents of the mines.
Mr.. Hill said that SO per cent OF
our people are engaged directly in ag-
riculture and that all the rest de-
pends upon it. He estimated that in
1925 the population in the United
States would reach total OF about
| 13O million people and by the middle
of the century at least 200 million
people, He continued:
"Where are they to go? How are
they to be employed, how fed, how
enabled to earn living wage? We
are approaching the point where all
: our wheat product will be needed for
our own uses and we shall cease to
|. be an exporter of grain. Our own
by that time have greatly diminished.
must find themselves thrown back
: upon the soil for living. If contin-
ued abuse of the land should mark
= the next SO years as 1t has the ias1
a what must be the outlook"
/" Mr.. Hill said that not only the eco
y nomic, but the political future is in
\ Volved and added:
EVERY nation finds its hour of per-
Il il. when there is no longer free access
= to the land or when the land will no
,r longer support the people. Distur,
Dances within are more to be feared
u than attacks from without 1t wouio
J. not be strange if they should In tneil
le desire for change attempt to pui
rs down the pillars of their nationa
temple. Far may this day be from
le lus. But since the unnecessary de-
Mt struction of our land will bring new
s. conditions Of danger, its. conservation
Sc its Improvement to the highest poin
lie of productivity promised by scfent1h
e. intelligence and practical experiment
r appears to be first command or an
en- political economy worthy OF III
r name"
of ing the spirit of the days that create
at our constitution, the days that car
er ried us through civil conflict, the spii
en- 1t by which all our enduring work l
the world has been wrought taRln n,
thought as Washington and Lincoi
cts took thought only for the nlgnes
he good of all the people we may as rt
ed. suit of the deliberations held ana tn
&C. conclusion reached here today, glS
nd new meaning to our future; new luz
he ter to the ideal of a republic of hvin
* federated states; shape anew the 1ol
his tunes of this country and enlarge tn
ate borders of hope for all mankind.
on Secretary Wilson Speaks.
"a "a Secretary of Agriculture Wilson,
1at | speech said: A.
% ~ Tinted States Is our soil and we al
DESTROYING that as promptly as v
mo can. The older settled parts of II
IN country have made the greatest pr
ty. gress in the destruction OF our SON.
T. s. Whipple, forest, fish and gan
b;s commissioners of New York state, el
nly Unused the conference with orl
re- statement of the work being Done
but the empire state toward the preseIv
md tion of its forests. He preceded tn
our with the remark that within 22 or
eht wears unless preservation metho
were continued, there would not pe
:: saving stick of timber standing
les, state. He said that New 1ork 9 oth NJ
er- planted more trees IMAM a..
ced states and the national governme
yer combined. Before introducing Cove
the nor Fort of New Jersey. Govern
ex- johnson, remarked that ne was gil
of to hear the record of New YORK.
,m- eft has been the general impre
ade sion" he said, "that the people of Ne
and york. have been exhaustlng Z
to energies of the people for long tim
alth I am glad they are putting sometnil
ind, back into the sol"
g Governor Fort gave very satisfa
be tory account of the forestry work b
the ing done in his state.
ex- Prof Hadley, president or va
university, made the prediction tn
lish within 20 years if the present state
up nrogress in teaching forestry CONT
of ned the people of the country wou
ries take care of that vital question.
The The climax of the morning sessi
can was produced by Governor Glenn,
IRON North Carolina, who made v1goro
iza- anpeal for action by the conferen'
will .lp;o, app you'd impeI congress to pa
the at This session a bill, providing for t
nc Appalachian and White mountain &c
est reserves.
V is suggestion of Speaker Cannon at t
1ost BANQUET to the governors last mig
rces that the south try confeoeration
will rangement and not ask ASSISTANCE
on the federal government on the II
the estry reserve question
rial, 1--WE tried a confederation once
cad II did not pay" he said
by This remark brought the conVe
.;on 70 ;ts feet Hats were thrown
ming the air, handkercnleis q
hich shouts, laughter ana appiau'e III
gled.
1906 CoaI-TS LOST.
ands MoA
1872 >.:.,,,eu Estimates the Amo.
WIS at 25 Per Cent.