Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-01-20
Secretary of Agriculture Declares
LARGE Fluctuations Are Not
Desirable.
CALLS FOR CAREFUL THOUGHT
Expansion OF Nations Agriculture
Limited by Supply of Labor and
Capital Available for Farming
Purposes Rather Than
Scarcity of Undevel-
oped Lands.

uHWiSE ~ cliiHuldAt d idf 5t Shhhtb ~
crease In farm land acreage at the
present time especially where such
an increase would have TO be effected
by utilizing land which is inferior or
which would be made available at a
heavy outlay for damage, irrigation or
clearing. This opinion is expressed
by David +. Houston, secretary of ag
riculture, in his annual report for 1919.
Since the nation now retains but little
land of ready availability, agricultural
expansion will result mainly from the
efforts TO utilize and to increase the
productivity of farm lands now owned
by individuals, corporations and states.
Careful thought should be given, the
secretary says. to questions pertaining
to the use of additional lands. ''The
best experts of the federal department
and of the agricultural colleges should
make detailed study of the possibili-
ties of utilizing land not now devoted
to agriculture" In respect to the
200,000,000 acres of cut-over land. the
60,000,000 acres requiring drainage,
and the 100000 acres which may be
irrigated. there is a great variation
from district to district as to the pos
sibillties of economic use.
Study Distinctive Regions.
Distinctive regions should be fully
studied with the view to assemble all
existing data on productivity. cost of
making land available, present tenure
and prices, type of agriculture best
adapted to the conditions, possible re-
turns. minimum size of farms capable
of supporting families in reasonable
comfort, minimum equipment needed
at the beginning of settlement.
sources of credit. and marketing and
transportation facilities.
The secretary refers to the fact that
various private agencies are engaged
In promoting land settlement and says
that while many of them are honest
In intention. promise and practice, 9th
ers keep within the letter of the law,
but through exaggeration and indirec-
tion of statement create false impress
sions in the minds of the settlers. Only
few, be states, have made careful
I @tuUltS Vi lhC NODuiliOIS VI ouNSNoSAui
settlement, and practically all are seek
ing to realize the highest possible price
for their undeveloped holdings. AS
the intending settler of small means is
rarely able to distinguish between the
good and bad methods of selling lands
in new regions. he thinks 1t would be
| desirable for government agencies
through their agricultural machinery
to furnish reliable information to those
seeking farms, to give new settlers
very special assistance and guidance
and, where conditions are favorable.
aid in developing well-considered set
Element.
The matter of land utilization comes
in for large measure of attention in
the secretary's report.
'The expansion of the nations agri-
culture" says Secretary Houston, SIS
limited by the supply o. labor and
capital available for farming purposes
rather than by the scarcity of undeyel-
oped lands. It is true that in gener-
walton, but without question much OF
the remainder can be titled when the
country reaches the economic stage
which would Justify its utilization.
"There are numerous fallacious
opinions with respect TO the need OF
extending the farm area. Many peo-
pie. noting the prevailing prices of ag-
rlcultural products, demand increased
production and insist that the remedy
lies Ia immediate and rapid expansion
OF the acreage In farms. Others, OBJ
serving large tracts Of unused land, de-
plore the great waste OF our resources.
Still others explain the movement OF
population from rural districts to cit
les by the nonavailability OF land,
which they attribute TO land monopoly,
speculation and other evils The de-
mRnd for farm products, unlike the de-
mand for manufactured articles, does
not expand rapidly to meet a large
increase In supply. There Is a ten
dency toward an equilibrium between
urban and agricultural Industry. II
too much labor and capital are divert
ed from farming, the relative prices,
and consequently the relative profits,
Of agricultural activity win increase.
and there will be tendency toward
expansion. If this is excessive, how
ever, relative prices and profits win
tend TO decrease and the industry may
suffer depression. The inelasticity of
demand for farm products sets a very
decided limit at given time to the
increase of population and capital prof
itabiy employed in agriculture.
Large Fluctuations Not Desirable.
ut is not in the interest of produc-
erS or consumers to have large fiuctu-
atoms In agricultural production.
There is always danger of Cutting the
market and of serious loss. The aim
rather should be to secure a steady
now Of commodities of sufficient vol