The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-03

SIO1. JuLe lille WONQCr.
full story of how the Danes, upon land
but poorly suited to grazing and in
the face of repeated reverses, have
brought their country to a state of ag-
ricultural prosperity second only to
England among the old world coun-
tries. is told by DR.. Maurice Francis
cgan. American minister to Denmark,
who is now in this city on leave, hav.
ing recently completed. on behalf OF
the state department., a lecture tour
through the farming ristricts of the
south.
DIR. Egan, together with several 9TH
or OF the American diplomatic officers
in Europe. has, under Instructions
from thestate department, made a
thorough study of the farmers well
fare problem in the European coun-
tries. of the part played by the gov
ernlnents in advancing the material
cess of the farmers themselves IN
forming cooperative societies for mu-
tual assistance, and of the advantages
secured to the whole people of those
countries from the promotion Of their
agricultural resources. He is engaged
now in preparing a report upon the
methods of the Danish government in
supplying cheaper money for their
farmers, which idea President Taft
iASPNS ~ III lHlo lHe OHlIeu
States for the benefit of the American
farmer.
Speaking Of his recent lecture tour
through the south. DR.. Egan said:
II was e by the department OF
state to expose to dairymen. and farm
ers especially interested in dairying,
the methods by which the Danes have
bmecone the most prosperous people
aericulturally in Europe. When 1 say
most prosperous. l mean by COMPARE
son. and taking into consideration the
obstacles they have had to meet and
overcome. h wealth per capita of
Denmark is comparatively mex to that
of England. This wealth, however, is
equalized. There are no very rich
people there. Every man is fairly
we'll off. but the porrer he is the more
carefully oes he conserve his re-
sources. aterial we'll being is as COM
mon in Denmark as education.
There is no illiteracy in the coun-
try. ENeryp man, woman and child
over h 6 of sever years, unless he
be an idiot. a read and write. The
methods by which they have achieved
present prosperity are three: Educa-
tion-practical ~education-a perfect
system of cooperation. and the intelli-
gent assistance of government.
For instance. the only of
living when the Danes have is agri-
culture. Denmark. like Julius Caes-
ar's Gaul of ancient days. is ivided in
to three parts-butter. bacon and
eggs. Now, the government. being de-
pendent upon the farmers. does every
thing IN its power to increase he num-
Der of small farmers, and this it has
done by making money as cheap as
possible for the farmers. 1t controls a
prnn nrync ~ lao - IRE -----
what after h name of the Credit
Focier.
a agricultural laborer in Den
mark who has worked on a farm five
years, who is oor. and who has char
acter so good that two reputable mem
hers of his commune will certify to
it. maly obtain from one of these
banks a loan of about s1.5s2 in our
character and ability and not by any
material security he can offer. With
this money he may purchase a farm
!of from 81 to IL acres. This farm
means live and dead stock on the land
and the necessary implements for the
working of it. The amount loaned by
the bank covers probably nine-tenths
OF the value of the farm-not Of the
land, because land in Denmark is new
err sold merely as land. The farm is
judged by the value of it's production
for, let us say. at least seven years in
hard corn. which represents its ability
to sustain dairy cattle and hogs. This
is an example of the way in which the
Danish government encourages the
multiplication of small farms.
Now. as to the question of educa-
ton. 1t is compulsory. 1t has been
compulsory for many years an the
awakening Of Denmark to the careful
use of it's natural is due to
wo things-the Danish sense of the
practical education. and a series of dis
aStcrs. ......
THE first disaster occurred in the
late 40's, when the discovery was
made that the. Danes had so impover-
ished their soil by the continuous
growing Of grain tina bankruptcy
threatened. even the great landowners
being in danger. Then came the cos
ing of the British ports to Danish
grain and the growth Of American
competition. which killed off whatever
prospects Of profit the Danes might
have made from their Impoverished
land.
"A very admirable Lutheran bishop.
GrundtWig, saw that the Danes must
be kept at home. but that they must
be SO educated as to make their coun-
try fiji or them to live in. He saw
that patriotism on an empty stomach
would not work, and he began to form