The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13
CHANGE IN THE
FARMERS LIFE
Making a Living" Idea Has De-
veIoped Into a money
Making Fact"

A few years ago--and not so many
at that--most farmers were satisfied
If they saw ahead of them the oppor-
tunity to make a fair living, reason
able competence In their failing years,
and an assurance of an existence for
their families. They worked hard
and titled their acres with this end In
view. Honest struggle, earnest ef-
fort and true conception Of upright
manhood, together with the increas-
ing knowledge that upon the fruits OF
their endeavor rested the structure of
the world, whose people had to be fed
and maintained. Economy in method,
improved conditions Of working, have
added to the farmers possibilities, and
today instead of being a plodder for
an existence, which his early training
had bred into him, he has become the
bulwark Of the nation, and, as such'
has become elevated to q position
where his word and his work are rec
| ognized as the factors it was always
| intended they should be. He Is now
| the man Of business-of big business.
He has forced an appreciation Of his
work, and the true value has been
placed upon 1t. The big men Of the
country today are the farmers. who,
with business acumen and forensic
forethought are able to tell you-from
their books-what 1t costs to produce
bushel Of wheat or pound of wool.
All of which is intended to prove
that farming is a business, as much
as banking or selling a suit of clothes.
1t is an industrial business, with more
certain profits than accompany any
other lire of trade. 1t is manufac-
turing enterprise, devoid Of any of the
dangers that the frills Of fashions
fOllies and desires force upon ordinary
| pursuits. Food is something that oil
must have and the farmer produces It,
The cheaper it can be produced the less
will be the cost to the consumer. And
this is one of the chief thoughts Of the
farmer. Within the memory of the
ten-year-old boy there have been i'm
provements In machinery, changes in
methods, scientific discoveries of chem
icals as adapted to agriculture, all OF
which has lessened cost Of production
and made possible the cultivation OF
increased acres. In some parts these
things have brought about more inten
sified agriculture, growing heavier
crops on less acres. Improved machin
cry and demand for greater production
have led another class In search Of
larger areas, where their ability may
cope with the growing of greater
number of bushels. That is one of the
reasons why Western Canada land:
have recently come into such demand
These, at from twenty to thirty dol
lars an acre, and producing the pro
digious crops that are claimed fol
them, have attracted thousands O.
American settlers, while other thou
| SINUS nave s5Ollc Jul lHlO lllS ltAhho "A
the Western states. But, as to the Can
ada lands, there Is this to say Of them
today they are cheap, and If they vii
Yield sufficient in one year to pay TIL
cost of the entire purchase, why shoult
not there be A. demand. The countr,
Is we'll settled, and settlement is in
creasing. AS evidence of the growtl
of the three Western Provinces int
whose territories the Canadian Govern
ment invites settlers, recent report
show the following increases from l9l
to 1917 Inclusive:
Value of Field Crops
1913 1917
Manitoba IS 64,557,000 $137, 47O,55
Saskatchewan 129, 376,000 349,4SS,20
Alberta 49,. 46,712,000 176,965,S0