Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-21

0er TO the government, MS
widow may step into his place. The
quired to make the necessary prelim-
mary Investigations for, the purpose of
establishing the qualifications OF the
applicant.
$55O,000 First Appropriation.
In the law Of 1899 provision was
made for an appropriation Of $780,
600 for the first period Of five years,
that Is. $4,000 annually. BY an act
of April %, 1904, the annual appro-
year, and so satisfactorily did the ex-
pertinent work that the government
grant by a further act Of April 80,
1909, was set at 1915, 900 annually.
Have the results justified the eff
forts expanded in this direction?
A glance at the Danish govern
ment's statistical tables will tell:
During the first decade of the new ar,
rangement, 5,092. laborers obtained
small farms Of their own, comprising
altogether 30,552 acres. Since 1910
about 1000 more men have secured
land in h same manner
The average area Of each of these
diminutive establishments is Z 1-2
acres, and their owners who formerly
had 10 exc out quite meager earnings
by working for the more prosperous
land owners, have accepted the re-
sponsibility Of ownership themselves
so that they now are members of all
kinds of agricultural and cooperative
societies on equal terms with their
former masters. The small holder
who hal only a few hens, is now able
to sell every egg at good value in the
foreign markets, and although he may
partnership with one of his neighbors,
he a 1sell his milk without con-
tributing to the profits of middlemen.
F~reeholders a Power.
These so-called state freeholders
fhave Joined the organizations of other
owners Of small farms, and together
they form a power in Denmark. They
go to the peoples high schools and to
agricultural colleges in as large num-
farms. and they are able to follow
intelligently lectures on difficult sub
jects which have a bearing on their
efforts to maxi their property a model
farm.
One Of the unique features in con-
nection with the freeholders is that
they arrange to go to various Sec
tons Of the country every summer,
travelling lin large groups for the pur-
pose of seeing how other freeholders
solve their problems.
The Kaerehave ~freeholders' school.
the only one Of its kind in the world,
is an outgrowth of this remarkable
movement; it is founded and man
aged by freeholders, and the students
are freeholders from all parts of, Dem
mark who spend part Of the year at
this institution to find new inspiration
and to get fresh advice for the man
azennent of. their small farms.
It was after q visit at Kaerehave
that DR.. Booker T. Washington q few
years ago wrote in THE Worlds
Work."
81 will merely say that 1t seems to
be generally conceded that, both in the
methods Of culture and in the market
ing Of the cfopsA Denmark has gone
farther and, made greater progress
than any other part Of the world.
Furthermore, there Is no country. I
am certain. not eve the United States
or Canada, where the average farmer
stands 80 high or exercises so large an
influence on social life as he does in
Denmark at the present time"
NosPolitics Involved.
In all this development It is inn
possible to discover POLITICAL influence.
and IL Is noteworthy that the initial
tive government which, only through
the Change of system" In July. 1901.
became lfberalized two years after
the enactment Of the,freeholderss& law.
No attempt was made to centralixe
all the requisite authority In q COM
mittee of two or three men; the gov
eminent, through its interior depart
menE supervises thescarryinG out Of
this Law. does % after consultation
With sfecial local committees, parish
and town councilA No appropriation