The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-14
NJ. Y. Richards Takes 0pti-
mistic View of Farm.
SEES HOPE IN THE FUTURE
Southern Hallway Official ROuts
PessImistic Utterances on Posi-
biIity of Starvation - Shows How
Rural Industry Ii Progressing Mt
Very Rapid Rate.

al the national farmers congress on
November was that by NJ V Richards.
land and Industrial agent OF the South
ern Railway, on Railroads and agricul-
ture"
As distinguished from the Dessimistic
view taken by many publicists on this
question, Mir Richards pointed out that
the trend Of city life has set in toward
the country and that the next twenty
years IS TO see the reinstatement Of the
American boy on the American farm
after his disappointing and half fruiuess
effort to people the city and run it's indus
tries.
Mr. Richards takes an optimistic view
Of the country's agriculture. and believes
Il viii surely be reclaimed, II such a term
is applicable 10 the industry at the pres
ent time.
Mr. Richards Address.
Mr.. Richards said in part:
agriculture probably occupies a more
prominent place to-day than at any pre-
vious period in our history It is not that
our predecessors failed 70 appreciate the
farming industry. nor because the total
contributions 10 our prosperity and our
national advance show a larger share
contributed by the farms, ranges. or
chards, and gardens OF the country than
by our transportation or manufacturing
and other industries.
- better understanding Of the rela-
ton Of the various fields OF labor and
production has shown US IN a more en-
phatic manner the value OF our lands,
the possibilities OF our agriculture, the
Importance TO the welfare OF our people
OF greater care Of its interests. The at
fractions Of the cities, the rewards IN
mining and manufacturing and IN various
lines OF business for exceptional ability
and skill have tended to augment the city
and business life at the expense Of the
farm lie. Ignorance and shiftessness IN
the care Of soils and selection and care of
crops, depletion Of the soils fertility, and
lessening Yields produced their logical
result. and the urban population OF the
country has grown much more rapidly
than the rural. Many Of our best think
ers have taken a somewhat gloomy view
Of the future OF our agriculture, looking
forward to a day when the farms OF the
United States would no longer be able to
furnish their share Of our cOUnTy's eX-
ports, perhaps be no longer able TO sup
ply the food products needed by the
workers in our factories and other indus
tries.
Fortunately for American agriculture,
there have been among the farmers
themselves many men who have not only
made a thorough study OF farming inter
ests. but have been able TO exert a wide
influence for better methods, for better
education IN all that pertains 20 agrlcul-
ture and 70 bring about among all classes
Of our people a better understanding re-
garding its needs.
Field for Agricultural Expansion.
Il am not one OF those who fear that
the United States Will fall behind as an
agricultural country. The day is far of
when we shall be unable 10 produce and
at prices which will enable Us 20 compete
in the markets Of the world, our share OF
the gralns. fruits. and meats needed 10
feed mankind. We are steadily advanc-
ing 70 that time when all our soils shall
be properly cared for and their fertility
retained, to q time when our average
yields VIII double and treble, and when
OLD lands now neglected and new lands in
cultivation.
I'VE have read much In the past few
years about the coming of the time when
we must look to Canada and other cOun-
tries for a portion Of our own wheat sup
plies, and we know that thousands of
farmers from the Western and Central
States have gone into the Canadian
Northwest. attracted by the exploited
lands there and their value as producers
OF wheat. There is so much land In our
own country still remaining uncultivated
or improperly cultivated suitable for
wheat raising and for nearly all crops,
and which is available at prices as low or
lower than those asked for desirable lands
IN that region. that it seems TO me this
idea that we may possibly soon be Unable
to raise our own foodstuffs. or at least
! cease to be an exporter Of suoh farm
produce, is founded upon false tnfOrma-
! ton and false conclusions. The widely
| circulated theory that Il is now. or soon
VIII be, necessary for farmers and set
| tiers to go beyond our own borders, either
| to Canada Of Cuba, or to any other coun-
try, 10 secure advantageous conditions, OF
TO find opportunities, should be COM
bated.
within an hours ride Of this city you
will find fields which this year produced
over forty bushels OF wheat per acre
while there were Ike yields OF other
products. These yields were on lands
common to this section. and common tC
the South. and there is no reason why
| such production should not be the rule
rather than the exception. It may not be
out Of place to add that there are hun
dreds OF thousands Of acres which Will
make these yields under proper farming
TO be had at SIS or $50 an acre. prices
which are as low or lower than the dis
| tant lands to which our people are di-
rected. and which offer the finest oppor.
tunities to the man who knows how &c
farm and Will use his knowledge.
Traffic Handled by Railroads
''The relation of the agriculture Of the
country to all other interests is so close
that without prosperity on the farms
there Is no prosperity in the country
The transportation systems naturally
bear Just as close relationship to other
lines OF industry. They at once are the
promoters OF industry and development
| and depend upon other forms Of industry
ana their business is an index OF condi-
tons In the country. What the rail and
steamer routes mean to agriculture and
agriculture means to them may be real
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