The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-01-14


18O acres will be opened. Carrying
the estimates further, should the APP
plicants be heads of families (Which
they are in a majority of cases this
section will show gain in population
during 1910 of close to $4,000. This
will be more fully appreciated during
the year as the farms become opera
tive. 1t marks great progress for the
country and brings many blessings
which cannot at this time be realized.
WHAT IS THE REAL cAusE7
Even with all that has been said
on the subject 1t is yet apparent that
the true reason for increasing expenses
of the household has not been settled
upon. Some have attributed it to the
great trusts and combines Of capital
to influence prices. Others to the
production of gold and the reduced
purchasing power of the dollar. Yet
with all this there must be a cause
removed from all such powers, for the
condition is not confined to the United
States. 1t is perhaps true that prices
have gone to a point where it becomes
burdensome upon the average wage
Garner to maintain the home, as his
wages have not advanced commensu-
rate with the cost of foodstuffs, yet it
naturally follows that the wage Garner
is not the only one affected. The en-
ployers of labor, that is, the class of
employers that constitute the great
majority in all'lines, are hard hit and
are paying to the limit for the assist
ance secured. Were they to pay more
the natural sequence would be to still
further advance prices, for revenue
must be returned the investor.
1t therefore appears that the pri-
mary cause Of increased living expenses
Is more attributable to the remarkable
expanse of population, which has ex-
ceeded agricultural production. Sta
tistics indicate that the greatest har-
vest on the American continent was
garnered in 1909 But even the album
dant harvest is insufficient. Europe
can no longer feed her population and
Is making heavy drafts on the agri-
cultural resources of the United States,
the Canadian dominion, Australia and
Argentina for wheat and other prod
ucts of the soil that enter into the
production of the necessaries of life.
The anomaly is, therefore, in evidence
of vast excess over domestic con-
sumption of farm products that have
been advanced to new high levels by
the demand of foreign countries; and
what is more evident to the student
of economic subjects is the fact that
conditions will continue until some
adequate relief is found. 1t now
looks that greatly increased produc-
tion In all lines of agricultural en-.
deavor will not accumulate surplus
sufficient to lower prices. The popu.
lation is growing too fast for nature
to produce shfficiency in the area
devoted to agriculture, and that in
ternational conditions conspire to the
continued high price Of living. There
is a work of great Importance for the
economist to solve the conditions anc
in time adjust all things on a live ane
let live basis. Congress should inves
tigate carefully and thoroughly alone
all lines and determine, ii possible
1. what policy is best to pursue, If there
I really be any removed from the pres
emit. No combination Of any kind tx
j, restrict trade should be allowed II TIL,
Interests Of the people are respected
4 for 1t Is the people upon whom the
strength and greatness Of any countr,
are founded. II the great trusts ar,
responsible, they should be shorn O
their arbitrary power. II the tariff
works to hold prices at unduly higl
J, level, the schedule should be modified
to preclude imitation. If production
from agricultural resources Is Insult
y Client to meet demands Of increasin,
J, population, encouragement should b,
{ offered men to return to the soil SO q,
to make oil the lands productive. Tn
1 conditions are such rs to offer oppor
!, tunity for the deepest research. Le
/ investigation proceed with the calm
est elaboration.