The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1910-09-22
AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW.
American Farm Review Comments On
Conditions All over the Country.

1t is but few years ago that sensa-
tional writer's raised a great hne-and-
cry in the magazines about the aband-
oned farms of New England, and, when
their dire forebodings failed to move
Plymouth Rock into the deep, deep sea,
they discovered this dangerous wan
derlust microbe affecting the farmers
in New York and other eastern states;
lately it has appeared in Iowa and
Kansas. While farmers of long resi-
dence are more or less affected, the
disease seems to be especially virulent
in the young people of the agricultural
communities. Mr.. James j. Hill, who
Is always listened to with respect, has
recently considered the question and
decided that unless the farmer and his
family can be confined on the land and
be compelled to do better work than
they have been doing the balance Of
the population must starve to death
The bug-a-bOos Of impending decad-
ence raised by such talk are based, 1t
Is boldly asserted, upon wrong as
sumption, inadequate statistics, and a
failure to comprehend the evolutional
movement In progress in the agricul-
ture of the country.
In the first place, it is assumed by
the pessimist that every man who quits
farming and retires from active bust
ness, does SO because there is some
thing the matter with the farm
would it be fair to assume the same re-
garding the business of every banker,
merchant and professional man who
retires from active work? Every boy
bred on farm who seeks some other
vocation in life is assumed to have
done so because conditions at home are
intolerable-do sons of men other than
farmers invariably follow their faith
er's business? Comparative statistics
would show, it is believed, that the
farmer sticks to his job longer than
any other class; and similar statistics
would show that farmers sons lead
the list of youths who tread in their
fathers footsteps.
The assumption upon which most of
these articles about deserted farms"
and the boys leaving the farm is
based upon is the idea that "once a
farmer always farmer; in other
words, it is survival of the old feudal
idea of serfdom and binding men to the
soil, and is degrading to the man and
the occupation. If this theory were
II uNs VIM WOulu ACFC AOFClOPNu LAlC
Great Northern Railroad or who been
the Father or the "Saviors" of the
country, and who would inhabit the cit
les to be fed by the farms?
The evolution in farming mentioned
as being in progress in this country is
not new phenomena 1t has been wit
messed in other lands ever since the
creation At first the hunter, seeking
fish and game to supply his larder;
then, the pioneer, planting with crude
implements the lands most easily cul-
tivated; then, gradual refining of
methods to the intensive degree of
| farming Though we do not support as
dense population as China, and have
not yet equalled the intensive agricul-
ture of some portions of Europe, the
| American farmer will beat the old
world in improved methods by mill
| lennium of years when measured by a
/ time limit
| In America we are making more rap
/ i'd progress in farming than has been
/ made in any other land or time. Farm
/ ing is becoming more and more of a
| business and more and more profitable
i It is an attractive occupation to the
| man who wishes to accumulate proper
ty. To become successful farmer re-
quires some capital. education and ex-
perience-perhaps more of these than
is required to become successful in the
learned professions or In most lines OF
business, but the profits attainable are
on the average as large and as certain
as In any other industry.
There is no reason to worry over {
temporary unbalancing caused by wha
may, and may not be an excessive drift
of population to the towns. There II
money to be made on the farms, ant
where money is to be made there will
be eventually men to make 1t. TIT
man who has no inclination for coun
try life should not be induced to sta,
on the farm, for there is really NOR,
to be feared from incompetent farmer
than from lack of farmers.--Ameri
can Farm Review,