The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-12-09
HoUsToN's PEssINdIsM.

Secretary Houston continues to be
our most conspicuous public pessimist.
In spite Of the fact that on his own
showing all the crops except the corn
crop are as big as/ever or bigger, the
Secretary of Arlculture looks gloomily
upon the future of the farmer. The
trend cityward cannot be stopped, he
thinks, until rural life can be made
fully efficient, profitable, healthy,
pleasurable, and attractive, and before
larger disposition to remain on the
farm develops. If the farmers cannot
weep for themselves they can find a
perpetual source of tears in Secretary
Houston. Every few weeks his
lamentations may be heard signing
across Americas barren fields.
In every line Of human endeavor
there is desire for greater efficiency,
profits, health and pleasure. The farm
crs are not alone in desiring that the
world shall take step forward in these
respects.
Fortunately the report Of Secretary
Houston contains facts that do not ac-
cord with the melancholy spirit Of his
editorial comment. The crop estimates
indicate that the city trend Of popula-
fion has not so seriously interfercd with
production or the farms but that
we can produce larger crops each year.
The optimist is apt to think that this
is proof that the trend toward the
cities is not as great as many have
imagined. The wheat production is
estimated at 753,o00,000 bushels, the
largest ever recorded in this country.
There were increased areas sown to
wheat, oats, barley. rye and corn, aud
we have bountiful crops OF all these
cereals except cora, which will make
N'N HN'i ouc"b rug IL lHCpbs y
Even the corn crop does not seem
TO discourage the farmers Almost
every day the newspapers in various
parts of the country are Dragging about
the price which this year 5 corn crop
wiz bring. II is freely predicted that
the farmers Will make more out Of their
corn IS result of the high prices than
ever before. Moreover, the farmers
probably will get as much or nearly as
much for their other crops as they
total of revenue for farmers may be
higher than at any time in the history
of the nation, One would think. there.
fore, that Secretary Houston. having
the interest of the farmer at heart.
would be in Il most cheerful state OF
mind. When another spell of gloom
comes over him, we suggest that he 60
cut among the farmers and talk with
them about the money they are receiy-
ing for their various crops. We are con
iideut that he viii dnd the farmer of
1913 cheery cptimist.
Tho Secretary rightly suggests that
one OF the most important needs OF the
farmer is the improvement and the ex-
tension of roads. We doubt, however,
whether his plan to secure more good
roads will meet with the approval Of
the sparsely settled districts. The Sec
retary believes that the Federal Gov
crnment should apportion it's money for
good roads on the basis Of total popn.
lation, farm population, aren, taxable
valuation and mileage If by this is
meant that the areas with the greatest
population should be aided by the Fed
eral Government in preference to those
areas which have small population, it
would seem as if the Government would
be supplying the greater amount Of
money for districts where good roads
already arc numerous and denying
financial assistance where good roads
are most needed.