Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-11-22

CudA " u6VGIup new ldHu.
In the past when the price of land
in given territory had reached a
certain point, the moving-on process
obtained; the people went west to
virgin soil and homesteaded and start
ed new farms. but this has practically
come. to an end. There is now left
very little Government land suitable
for agriculture. The Indian lands are
practically all gone. as we'll as the
cheap lands. excepting where they are
of very little value. because of lack
of eithef fertility or water. and we
understand that approximately seven
eights of the irrigable land in the arid
and sem-arid districts, which is fer
tile, and to which water can be got
for less than 500 per acre, is now
under cultivation or the dams are
in the. course of construction and the
land already sold and occupied by the
purchasers.
ONLY 35 PER CENT ARE FARMING
In 1880 approximately 65 per cent
of the population of the United States
was tilling the soil. Today there is
only about 35 per cent, and nation
to be healthy, saould have about 65
per cent. This condition is of vital
Importance to the poor man. Land
in the. last five wears has increased in
price SO rapidly that it is hard to keep
pace with it. We already have about
80, 600. 600 of population and increas-
ing very rapidly. How to feed all
these people and the increase to
come, is a serious problem that must
soon be solved, The day is close at
hand wheIF 1 price, of fertile land
with wateT it makes no difference
whether by irrigation or rainfalD
will be, SO high that land will be be-
yond the reach of the average man
there can be no other result.
LARGE EXPORT DOOMED.
At the rate our production of farm
products has decreased in the last few
years. il less than five years we will
be consuming all that we produce and
have none to sell to foreign nations.
In the past we have read much in
financial papers about the balance of
trade in our favor; have learned of
the steady stream of gold that flowed
| into this country because of the farm
| products we sent abroad, and have
come to appreciate its value in the
effeet.upon the wealth of the country.
We have read how rapidly we are be-
coming creditor nation, and have
been furnished with statistics showing
the very large and increasing produc-
tion of gold. Close upon the heels of
this we find that we have been run
ming behind for the last 80 years in
the production of farm products-that
which is the only real source of wealth
to any nation. At the rate we are
going, the time will soon come when
the last vessel loaded with agricul.
tural products will leave our shores,
and the great grain exporting elevat.
ors at tide water will be standing
empty, and we will be using all oul
boasted wealth. all the gold we have
produced in the past, all we can pro.
duce in the future, and will neec
many millions more. to purchase the
necessary food supplies to sustain life.
We hear of committees being ap.
pointed to investigate the high price
of farm products, of meat boycotts
and the hue and cry against the
trusts for controlling, or attempting
to control, certain products, all o;
which may have its influence for gooC
or otherwise as the case may be, bu
there is only one real answer to thu
whole problem, and that is supply ant
demand. Unless we produce more
than we consume, the stream of golC
that has been flowing into this coun
try from foreign nations must cease
our credit become exhausted, and WI
become debtor nation instead of ;
creditor and the price of food pro
ducts continue to increase. What will
be the effect upon the average man
We are on the brink of this condi
tion. There is but one way to avoi'
it and there is yet time to do it. In
crease our supply of farm product
over the home demand. A large
percentage Of our population mus
be tilling the soil.
BACK TO THE SOIL.
In times past it has been the senti
! ment of the farmer boy to go to tn
city, as matter of choice: from nov
: on it must be the sentiment of tn
: city people to go back to the soil, q
matter of necessity. or the cost Q
. farm products will reach a prohibltiv
price.
AS we said before, it is questio