The daily sentinel., 1912-06-01
STARTLING FACTS AND FIGURES
Associated Press.


Washington, June 1st.-The Won
derful 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
agricultural prosperity second only
to England among the old world
countries is told by Dr. Maurice
Francis Egan, American minister to
Denmark, who is now in this city on
leave, having recently completed, on
behalf of the State department, lee
ture tour through the farming dis
tricts of the south.
DR.. Egan, together with several
other OF the American diplomatic
officers in Europe, has, under instruc-
tions from the State department.
made thorough study of the"farm-
ers' welfare problem in the European
countries. Of the part played by the
governments in advancing the mate
rial prosperity of the farmers, of the
success 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
hopes to introduce into the United
States to benefit American farmers
Speaking of his recent tour
through the south, DR.. Egan said:
81 was sent by the Department of
State to expose the dairymen, and
farmers especially interested in dairy
ing, the methods by which the Danes
have become the most prosperous
people agriculturally in Europe.
When | say most prosperous. | mean
by comparison, and taking into con-
sideratiOn the obstacles they have had
to meet and overcome. The wealth
per capita OF Denmark is compara-
lively next to that of England. This
wealth, however, is equalized. There
are no very rich people there. Every
man is fairly well off, but the poorer
he is the more carefully does he con-
serve his resources. Material well
being is as common in Denmark as
education.
There is no illiteracy in the coun-
try. Every man, woman, and child
over the age of seven years, unless he
be an idiot, can read and write. The
methods by which they have achieved
their present prosperity are three:
education - practical education-a
perfect system of cooperation and the
intelligent assistance of Government.
For instance, the only means of
living which the Danes have is agri-
culture. Denmark, like julius Gaze
sar's Gaul of ancient days, is divided
into three parts-butter, bacon and
eggs. Now. the Government. being
dependent upon the farmers, does
F2.f Ia inn in, TO
the number of small farmers and this
it has done by making money as
cheap rs possible for the farmers. 1t
controls q great series of banks, man
aged somewhat after the manner of
the credit fancier.
"An agricultural laboTer in Dem
mark who has worked on a farm for
five years. who is poor, and who has
a character so good that two reputa-
BILE members of his commune will GER
tify to it. may obtain from one OF
these banks loan of about 81 $50
in our money. He obtains this solely
on his character and ability and not
by any material security he can offer.
With this money he may purchase a
farm of from 31 to 12 acres. This
farm means live and dead stock on
the land and the necessary imple-
ments 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 never sold merely
as land. The farm is judged by the
value of its production for. let us say,
at least seven years in hard corn,
which represents in its ability TO sus-
tain 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-
tion. 1t is compulsory. 1t has been
compulsory for many years and the
lContinued ON naga Q !