Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-01
INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS.
Back to the Farm Movement Results
In No More Cheap Lands.

IN NO wore CneSp LanuS.
Has this country grasped the fun
meaning of the fact that the era of
cheap, free land is gone? Is the sig
nificance of the fact that, according TO
the census population increased II per
cent. in the last decade, while the area
in farms increased only Az per cent.
fully comprehended?
These are questions raised and rails
ed seriously by Director George f.
Roberts of the United States Mint in
an interview. Mr. Roberts says in
creasing cost of food and raw mater
ials is offsetting the natural gains of
our industrial progress to a large ex-
tent. He sees no hope OF lower price
levels. and his statements point clear
~ to the fact that he feels we are in a
new and much more difficult economic
and industrial era. He believes reci
proeity will tend to keep prices from
rising abnormally, but that it will de-
duce prices he does not believe. For
the reason that it will tend to hold
down prices from oppressive heights
i he considers il timely.
THE crops this year" said Mr. Rob
erts, are a disappointment 10 those
who hoped that the big 1910 yield
meant the beginning of new period
of abundance. The cost of food was
materially lower during the first six
months of this year than it was last
year, and encouraged the hope that
the back to the farm movement was
about to give us lower living costs
The dry season has brought the yield
of all grains considerably below last
year and there are more mouths to
feed than ever before. Meats and all
kinds of food will inevitably move up
ward toward, if not to last years fig
ures.
Il doubt il as a people we have fully
grasped the significance of the fact
that the era of cheap, free lands is
gone in this country. The census
shows that our population increased u
per cent. between 1900 and 1910. while
the area in farms increased only AZ per
cent. The acreage of cultivated land
makes better showing, for it inareas-
ed 15.2 per cent. but even that is con-
5iderably below the population rate.
Between 1890 and 1900 the percentage
was 16, and that was the first time it
fen below the population rate, save for
the decade which included the Civil
War. From 1880 to 1890 the area in
cultivation increased 25 per cent. and
from 1870 to 1880. 80 per cent.
'But this IL per cent Increase in the
area or improved land cannot be coun-
ted as equal to the old average in pro-
ductiveness. Much of it is in the semi
arid region. The Eastern States, and
such states as Ohio. indiana, Illinois
III.
age yield per acre may be kept up by
better culture. by undertakings. irri-
CATION and more labor. We can enor-
mously increase the production of food
in this country, but so far it is at
higher cost and a higher level of pric-
es has been necessary to induce it.
You can increase the speed of a rail-
way train from thirty to sixty miles
an hour, but it costs more than twice
as much.
The gains in improved acreage are
in such states as North Dakota, liz
per cent; Oklahoma, 104 per cent;
Texas, 80 per cent; etc, but where
will the new acreage or the next ten
y ears be found and of the ten years
latter that? Our population increased
Il, 200, 900 from 1890 to 1900 and 10000
600 from 1900 to 1910. Notwithstanding
last years big crop, stocks of grain
are low. The average value per acre
of all the farming lands of the United
States. exclusive of buildings, increas-
ed los per cent. in the ten years, or
more than an average of ten per cent.
per annum.
1.-THE fact is that a large part of the
natural gains of industrial progress
are being offset by the increasing cost
| of food and raw materials, and the
principal factor in this is the more
complete occupation of the country.
| We have been exploiting the natural
wealth of continent. Food, wool,
cotton, leather, lumber and a long list
| of materials of this class are dearer
because it is costing more to produce
| them than heretofore, and their cost
enters into the cost of everything else.
There is constant progress in the arts
of manufacture and in transportation,
| but the higher cost of food, clothing
and rent forces up wages and with
higher raw materials the manufacture
or finds his efforts to reduce costs null
lifted. AS q rule manufactured goods
have not advanced as much as the
raw materials and wages which enter
into them.
'eThe situation is throwing the indus
trial organization out of balance. The
wage earners press for more pay; af-
ter necessities are paid for there is