Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-03

In the first chapter Of the book Of
books It Is written: And God said
unto them. be fruitful. and multiply.
and replenish the earth, and sub
due it,"
OF these four commandments we
| have obeyed the first two, but we have
disobeyed in America since 1907, the
last two Of these commandments.
When our own fathers were born
(and many Of them are still living),
there were II million people in the
United States---in 1910; but the CEN
sus Of 1910 reveals population OF
90 millions in contiguous. continental
| United States
Yes. we have multipliei-multiplie
by 500 per cent during the full time
Of one life. But have we replenished
the earth and subdued It? Have we
increased our acre-yield by 500 per
cent? No, we have not. For three
centuries we have taken from the
earth and have not replenished 1t.
Neither have we subdued the earth;
but we have been subdued by it. AS
tillers Of the soil. men made In the
image Of God, we have been defeated
by the inanimate earth driven out
from our Eastern States and forced
to surrender back to nature mill
lions Of acres If once fertile farm
lands, now agriculturally abandoned.
to such an extent that the congress-
men Of the United States can not
enter the capital Of this great nation
from any direction without passing
abandoned farms.
Within the last twelve months q
Northumberland farm Of gently un-
dulating upland loan soil (Which I
selected because Of its special advan-
tages) has been purchased for $40
an acre, within 10 miles OF the District
OF Columbia within an hours ride
Of Baltimore, and within two miles
Of railroad station on two railroads.
A good tract Of this farm which had
been "rested" for several years made
an average yield Of 12h bushels OF
corn per acre In 1911. This Is beau
tiful farm land, which, lying at the
door Of our greatest markets. ought
to be worth, not SO but $500 an
acre, when we consider that our rich,
almost virgin soil nearly thousand
miles farther west Is now selling for
5000 to $3.50 an acre. And yet that
land. and, likewise, the depleted lands
Of southern Illinois and other sections.
can be made worth $500 an acre.
How7 BY the profitable investment OF
m ,ncy in a rational system Of soil I'M
provement.-in an economic system
Of positive and permanent soil I'M
provement,-in an economic system OF
positive and permanent soil enrich
ment, based upon established science.
rather than upon the advice of some
fertilizer agent who has some high
price soil stimulant to sell, which en-
riches not the soil but the seller.
Across the face Of the agricultural
building of the University Of Illinois
are these words: 1.-THE wealth Of
Illinois is in her soil, and her strength
lies in its intelligent development"
Truer words than thee were never
spoken, for the very life Of the state
and nation rests upon the soil.
While manhood ana womanhood of
high moral character ane strong In
tellectual power constitute the attain
ment desired, It Is also true that the
possibility Of this attainme nt depends
in part upon material prosperity.
Poverty does not build. equip, and
man consolidated high schools in
country districts. The general intel
lieence and widespread education OF
the American people are the result
of our past prosperity and they
should be both the result and the
cause OF the future prosperity OF our
people.
The foundation for our country's
prosperity is her soil, and the future
prosperity. educational advantages,
and general intelligence Of her people
will depend In large measure upon
the improvement and preservation OF
the soil. 1t Is the farmer who labors
together with God in the creation OF
food and clothing materials Other
people may live by transporting, mil
ling, and trading, but the renewal. the
l