Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-01

der Present Conditions.
SYRACUSE. N. Y. Sept ie.-speak-
ing here today, President William H.
Taft emphasized the need OF methods of
farming and sounded a call for an in
creased "back-to-the-farm" movement.
In part he said:
We have today in this country. in con-
tinental United States, about 1900, 900. 900
acres OF land. or this, $4,000, 900 are In
cluded IN the acreage of farms In the last
ten years that acreage did not increase
more than 100000. or a little over 4
per cent. In that same time our popu-
istion increased 20 per cent. OF the
S73,00o,000 acres, 4T7,000,000 are inn
proved farm land. The s7o,0O00o0 in
cludes woodland and unimproved land.
The improved land in farms has In
creased about 63,O00,000 in ten years, or
some Is per cent but this, II will be
seen, 10 not equal TO the increase in pop
ulation.
Now, II our population increases as
rapidly as II has heretofore, we shall in
fifty years have upward Of 100000, 900
people In this country TO support on
this ST3, 900 acres, much OF which Is
probably not capable OF producing a
great deal, There are some $4,000, 900
acres of swamp land thnt can be drained,
and there are 100000 acres of land
that can be irrigated; but with all these
II is perfectly palpable that within the
life of many who are born now we shall
be pressing the limit OF our self-support
from the soil unless some other method
than the mere extension of area be found
for the increasing of our crop produce
. tion.
Must Adopt New method.
In the next one hundred years, II this
is 90 be a self-sustaining country, we
must adopt new methods OF farming and
, pursue them with eagerness and intelli-
gent enterprise. There has been, as we
know, movement from the farm to the
city. How can these present evils that
threaten the progress of our agriculture
be rernedied7 How can the movement
from the farm TO tho city be stopped7
How can proper labor be secured upon
the fanny Is there no remedy. or must
We change our nature as a people and all
become manufacturing nation and look
for our future supplies 10 some other
source in distant countries which them
selves are looking forward to a limit
upon their production.
am an optimist and believe that ait
uations, however threatening or immed-
lately discouraging, have in themselves
elements that Justify hope of better
ment The increased price of farm pro-
ducts has Increased the value of the
farms and has made more certain the
profit Of farming.
Today. with improved roads, with sub
urban railways. with the telephone, with
rural free delivery. and I hope soon
with the parcels post. the lift of the
farmer will approximate much mora
nearly that OF his city brother than It
ever has in the past In addition 70 all
these elements that are working 20 the
restoration 20 the farms of Increased eff
heiency In their management Is the edu-
cation which Is being given In the coun-
try, and on and near the farm. in scien-
tfio agriculture.
Better school Facilities.
In the States we have long had aEri-
cultural colleges. Now these are being
supplemented by agricultural high
schools, and by what are called the con
sOlidated rural schools. all OF which
have the effect to create much mora
than heretofore a closer farmer comnu-
nifty and TO give growing youth knowl-
edge of agriculture and a prospect I'm
the high prices OF farm products OF an
adequate return for modern farming on
proper principles. This will give 20 the
prothers VINO stay on the farm much
more certain prospect OF a good income
and comfortable living than those who
seek 20 join professions or to engage in
business in which the chances for the
profits and comfortable livelihood for
the individual are growing less. while
those upon the farms are rapidly in
creasing.
The promotion OF this movement os
vocational education OF the embrVo
farmer In the sons OF the present farnas :
- az high junction as any government
department. could perform, and that IN
what IL being pressed forward under In a
secretary Of agriculture In every state
In this nation. The vocational schoois
must be Increased In every state