The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-06-19

/ pie, the best farms and the soundest
| political conditions are found where
the farmer owns the home and the
farm lands. The growth Of tenancy
in America shows an increase OF 81
per cent for the twenty years be-
tween 1890 and 1910.
Second, the drift to urban life. In
1880 Of the total population Of the
United States 29.5 per cent Of our
people resided in cities and 70.5 per
cent in the country. At the census
OF 1910 46.3 per cent resided in cities
and 57.7 per cent remained in the
country.
1T is evident that since the war in
Europe there has been a decided in
crease in the trend toward the city
because of industrial conditions. The
adoption by the United States of new
policies in its land development plans
for returning veterans will also con-
tribute to the amelioration Of these
two dangers to American life.
Land Development Plans.
"a plan Of land development
areas, subdtvidedl into Individual
fide farmers on a long payment ba-
sis, has been in force not only in
the United States under the recla-
nation act but also in many other
countries for several years. 1t has
proved q distinct success. In Den
mark, Ireland, New Zealand, and
the Australian commonwealth it has
completely changed the land situa-
ton.
"One Of the new features Of this
plan is that holders are aided in i'm
proving and cultivating the farm. In
a word, there is organized coTnmun-
ity development.
Experience of New Zealand.
Its beneficial results have been
well described by the Canadian COM
mission which was appointed to in
vestigate it's results in New Zealand
in these words: ....
'''% the farmers have built
better houses or renodeled their old
ones, brought a larger acreage of
Iand under cultivation that would
otherwise be lying idle; have bought
and kept better live stock; have
bought and urged moro labor saving
machinery on the. farms and in the
houses. They keep more
sheep and pigs and have SO largely
increased the revenue from their
farms that they are able to meet
the payments on the mortgages and
to adopt g. higher standard Of living,
and a better one. Throughout the
country q higher and better civiliza-
ton is gradually being evolved; the
young men and women who are
growing up are happy and contented
to remain at home on the farm and
find ample time and opportunity for
recreation and entertainment of a
kind more wholesome and elevating
than can be obtained in the cities
Tt may be said that this country,
outside OF Alaska, has no frontier to-
day. OF course, Alaska will still Of
fer opportunity for pioneer life. And,
OF course, Alaska, likewise has yet
unknown reniarkaole agricultural
possibilities, but unless we make pos
sible the development of this land
by the men who desire a life in that
field, we will lose g great national
opportunity.
Duty Is Immediate.
"This is an immediate duty. 1t will
be too late to plan for those things
when the war is over Over thought
now should be given to the problem.
And I therefore desire to bring to
your mind the wisdom Of immedi-
ately supplying the interior depart
menC with a Su1Tlc1ent fund with
which to make the necessary surveys
and studies,
I'VE should know by the time the
war ends, not merely how much arid
land can be irrigated nor how much
swamp land reclaimed, nor where the
grazing land is and how many cat
tie it will support, nor how much
cutover land can be cleared, but we
should know with definiteness where
1t is practicable to begin new irriga-
tion projects, what the character of
the land is, what the nature Of the
improvements needed will be, and
what the cost will be.
we should know also, not in a
general way but with particularly,
what definite areas Of swamp land
may be reclaimed, how they can be
drained, what the cost OF the drain
age will be. what crops they will
raise. We should have in mind spe-
cific areas OF grazing lands, with a
knowledge OF the cattle which are
adapted to them and the practica-
biIity Of supporting q family upon
them So, too, with our cut over