The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-11-20
BLAME IS PLACED FOR
HIGH COST OF LIVING
Secretary Wilson Says Home
steader Is Big Factor
RANCHES ARE DYING OUT
Meat supply From the West is Decrease
ing Gradually ms the Great
Ranches become Cut Up
Into Farms

INTO
Chicago, November 19-rhe United
States Land and Irrigation exposition was
formally opened today before a crowd
which filled the coliseum. James Wilson,
Secretary of Agriculture, delivered the
principal address. He declared that the
homesteader of the west is in part to
blame for the present high cost of liv-
ing. and also predicted return Of hard
times under democratic control of Con-
gress.
The exposition contains exhibits from
every section of this country and many
from other countries. Prize yields of
grain. fruit and produce are being shown
In addition to agricultural machinery and
variousa~processes for treating soils.
According to registrations already made
the exposition will be visited by thou
sands of farmers and landowners from
all parts of the United States
blame Upon Homesteader
Secretary Wilson blamed the home
steader of the west In part for the pres
ent high cost of living in his address.
1.-The homesteader," he said, sis reduc-
ing the field of operations of the ranch
men, which is reducing the meat harvest
OF the west and becoming quite a factor
in the cost Of living"
Other causes, he said was the great
immigration 10 this country and the
movement to the cities. The recent tum-
BILE in prices of meat he attributed to
drouth in the range country and to the
corn and oats crops.
He declared that much remains to be
done In improving the country's farm
ing conditions, in spite of great progress
already made in this direction. Expan-
sion, exploitation and soil robbery, he
continued, have been too much the prac-
tice of the past. The new lands opened
up under the homestead act of half a
century ago were exploited" he asserted
for temporary profit by soil robbers who
wero experts of their kind. lowing to
such farm management the yield of the
acre in the United States gradually de-
creased. Very little intensive farming
Soils May BE Enriched
But none of our Soils" he added, ARE
beyond redemption. The soils of the
country are the greatest asset the nation
has Progress in all directions depends
uron the condition of the soil and there
is no material inquiry of such great
value as that which pertains to our Soils
After speaking briefly of what al
ready has been done by the depart
ment OF agriculture In the way OF es-
tab1ishing experiment stations and ag-
ricultural colleges in the various states
and i'll sending experts into all parts
of the world to discover new grains
and plants most suitable for cultiva-
ton under all sorts of weather and
soil conditions, ne went on to tell of
further needs.
"rhe day will come" he declared,
when irrigation will be applied as a
matter OF national necessity to the
growing of crops in the humid regions
of the country, something that has
been done for hundreds of years in
European countries that have over 40
inches of rainfall. We will have to
begin at the sources of our rivers in
the mountains, where the rivulets
forms the creeks and the creeks even
tually form the river. Reservoirs will
be built at the heads of our streams
to be used inf periods of drouth. ALI
countries of which I have any knowl-
edge have periods of drouth. Some of
our states have 30 inches of rainfall
and yet they have periods of drouth.
These dry times prevent the growing or
maximum crops.
Cultivation Is Needed
'4spt more is needed than irrigation.
The8 who grow crops by irrigation
depend too much upon the added wa
ter and too little upon cultivation of
the soil"
He cited the sugar beet industry,
pointing out that whereas the average
yield in this country is 10 tons per
acre reasonably good yield would be
20 tons.
When they reach that point" he
continued, I'VE can produce within the
continental United States all the su-
gar our people need. We are paying
out in the neighborhood of q hundred
million dollars a year for the sugar
that could be grown here, provided our
farmers understood how to grow the
sugar beet. Efforts are being made by
the federal and state governments to
help in these directions"
lie spoke in glowing terms of the
work being done In the southern
states In the way of Offering prizes to
boys who would produce bumper crops
of corn, potatoes, tobacco and other
staples.
ut is only a question of time" he
said. when the south will ship fat
cattle and hogs to the great centers
of population and contribute toward the
food OF our people. 1t has raised its
ma ximum crops the last two years."
All parts of the country, the east,
particularly, he said, should produce
more of its own fruits, which, he add
ed, ARE at home there, but not grown
anywhere In sufficient quantity to en-
able the people of the United States
to get fruit at reasonable prices, Fruit
just now is luxury"