Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-17

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above her in the census report. In
1910, however, she had jumped from tenth
to fourth place. Was 1t an accident,
or were there underlying causes for this
remarkable enhancement in the quantity
and value of her agricultural production
1t Is certain that there is no effect with
out a cause, and it is quite certain that
one Of the agencies which resulted in
the transformation witnessed not only in
Georgia, but in other southern states, is
due in very considerable measure to the
more general introduction and skllful
use Of farm machinery. capable of en-
ahling the land owner to cooperate with
nature more successfully N crop grow
ing.
The increased value of the investment
in agricultural implements and ma
ehinery during the last decade is rep
resented by s11,144.000. The total
wealth in the form OF farm property
in Georgia is $5sO.54s,oOO. OF this
land and buildings, 1873 per cent in
live stock, and So per sent in imple-
ments and machinery. Few people real
ize that during the last decade farm
property has increased in value in
Georgia by 1852, $4,000, or 1912 pei
cent. This remarkable enhancement
I'm the value of lands witnessed
throughout the south has been due in
large measure to the fact that they
yield more literally in many instances
than they formerly did, due in a very
considerable degree to their better cul.
tivation. considerable part Of the
1884, per cent increased value Of farm
property is attributable to the larger
number and the better quality of the
live stock used on our farms, and TO the
increase in the character, quality and
variety of the machinery employed in
the preparation of the land and the Gull
tivation of the crops.
It is manifest to all who have inves-
tigated the future possibilities of ouI
agriculture that the percentage Of In
vestment in live stock and machinery
as IL now stands in proportion to the
wealth of the farm property is en-
tirely too low. If we can multiply the
value of our live stock and machinery
by two in the next decade, a more re-
uarkabIe development along all lines
will be witnessed in Georgia than the
bcldest Imagination can conceive of al
| this juncture. The average value OF
implements and machinery per farm al
the present time is given at $72, and OF
domesticated animals at s276. 1t is not
possible to operate even small farm
to the best advantage without larger
investment both in horse and machine
power. The owner Of land has believed
for entirely too long that he could af
ford TO ignore the employment OF ade-
quate equipment This may have beer
permissible at a period of our history
when our soils had not been robbed Of
their virgin fertility, but under presen
conditions it can only be regarded as {
suicidal policy.
For fear some may imagine entirely
| too much has been claimed for the In
fluence of machinery on the present
and future development of southern ag
riculture, certain citations are made
from a paper by DR.. H. W. Quaintance OF
THE Influence of Farm Machinery OF
Production and Labor" In his repor
figures are given showing the number
of hours and labor required TO produc,
certain crops by hand and by machinery
II required to grow and harvest 40 bush
els of corn by hand labor from on
acreof land in 1855. 3s hours and Al
minutes; in 1894. by machinery, Is
hours and minutes. In 1S41, 75C
pounds of seed cotton were produced bI
hand in 1877 hours and 4s minutes; II
1895, 1000 pounds of seed cotton wal
produced by machine in IS hours and 1.
minutes. In 1880, 40 bushels of oat
were produced by hand labor in Sc hours
and 10 minutes; in 1898, by machinery
In hours and 5 minutes. AS the eff
cheney OF farm implements increases {
wider margin Of difference will un
doubtedly be created in favor Of ma
ehinery.
It is clear from these figures that a re
turn to conditions prevailing in the frs
half of the last century would render 4
| impossible for the number of people en-
gagged in agriculture to supply an ade
quate amount of food for the presen
population. Industrial development hal
gone forward at such rapid rate tina
there is a marked tendency for our pop
ulation to further concentrate in towns
and cities which means that the efficienc!
of the average field worker must be in
creased. Mans power is limited by hi
physical characteristics, but his intelli
gence enables him to dominate and con
troll factors which will multiply his abil
ity to grow food materials In an almos
unlimited degree. Now that war has be
come questionable and all misunder
| standings of an international nature arr
| to be subjected to arbitration, the ten
dency of population throughout the worlC
to increase and become congested is wit
messed on every hand. Without ad
vancing knowledge and appreciation 0
sanitation and the consequent preserva
ton and lengthening of human life, thu
problem of the immediate future is ont
of an abundant food supply and the pro
dUCtion of the necessary raw MATERIAL
needed for manufacturing enterprises.
It is clear to all who have given tn,
matter any consideration that the pres
ent situation can only be met success
gully by the continued invention and tn
more general and extended use Of labor
saving devices which Will enable man Il
induce nature to yield more and NOR
freely at unreasonable outlay from he
inexhaustible store of riches. The civil
.zation OF the immediate future and thu
ultimate attainment OF the highest hu
man ideals are to be determined. there
fore, in a large measure by the appli