The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-11-30

Ire our crJeS rnrOngeO Will
v-stricken human beings?
a4 es J. Hill, master railroad
der and adviser to the American
her, has given what he believes
be the right answer to these
etions in 10,O0O-word article IN
Worlds Work, issued to-day by
Doubleday-Page Co. The AT.
q Journal has obtained special
aission to give excerpts from
article-Editor of the Journal.
BY James ). Hill.
The food condition presses upon
us now.
A shortage has begun.
As far as our food supply IS con-
eerned right now the lean years are
We have to provide for cont:n-
eencv not distant from US but al
ready present.
thousands Of farmers are seeking
homes in the Canadian northwest
owing Ito cheap lands offered 'nese
and the difficulty Of securing suea
lands in the United States ,
Vet we still retain the land laSs
!. under which, for so many years w snc
ansat a heritage Of the people has been
1assing 50 largely into unworthy
INST instead Of preserving the fertility
IF khe;r lands, our farmers have gone
in search Of new soils, to be sk'nnso' *
~obhed ~ and abandoned as soon as the
ola shows signs Of exhaustion.
Not that there is no longer any
west to move on to, what have tney
left behind? o.on
Since 1899 the average wheat crop
in the United States has fallen from 20:
1873 to IA bushels an acre. IL IS d o1S-
graceful record. IN,
The fields of Great Britain yleio
over 80 bushels Of wheat per acre
Germany produces 27.6 bushels per
'"' 0r Samuel Johnson said Of Eng
Land: :sTrade and manufacture
however profitable, must yield to the
lands in usefulness and dignity"
IF DR. Johnson could revisit his
country today he would find ms al.
. eo1tsment vindicated by an allghtment
IF Industries so uneven that business
IN The streets of her cities is lmped-
ed. by professions Of gaunt men, men,
shouting in wretehed concert we
want work!'
For many years the United StaIss
has made the mistake OF unduly as,
sisting manufacture: commerce anu
cher activities that center IN the
cities at the expense Of the farm. We
mnst preserve jealously the right ana
possibility Of free access to the soil
This IS the safeguard not only OF ma
tional character.
For the sake Of the coming MIL
inns who will be helpless unless
Zach can be furnished with piece OF
tillable land, we should see that the
sneculative. abuses which these land
laws of ours have fostered are
brought to an end.
T. ;s as we'll assured as any future
event can be that the population OF OF
tho Tinted States will be 2OO,Ve,ooo
bv. ahont the middle of, the present
centnrv. Millions Of persons now hV-
3 ;no will see the 2O0,00o,00O persons
bere How are they to be feds
Suppose the average yearly per
san;ta consumption of wheat IS SIX
and one-half bushels. It will then re.
ouire 1900, 100000 bushels OF wheat
FOR our bread supply. Twice oniy 81 IN
our. history have We exceeded 'oo'
100000 bushels.
Possible increase Of wheat prodne-
e. ton by increasing acreage is hm't-
ed We have no longer great area
Of free public lands. ;,
We Will be left practically Win a
shortage of 4oo,ooo,ooo bushels "A
supply to meet the coming new a aea
noand IS nowhere in sight. l have sa1o
many times in different articles and
addresses that a price Of over rath-
r than under ST. per bushel might be
: expected hereafter.
Suppose the United States pEo'
. duced % bushels per acre, or double
it's present showing That would be
nothing extraordinary IN view OF
what European countries have done
with inferior soils. 1t would have ad-
aod S21 A00 000 bnshels to our pro-