The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-01-15
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 UndeveI-
oped Lands.

Washington.-It probably would be
lnwise to stimulate large sudden In
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
heavy outlay for damage, irrigation or
clearing. This opinion is expressed
by David r. 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 ne
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 a detailed study of the possiolli-
ties of utilizing land not now devoted
to agricultur :" In respect to the
2OO,OOO,OOO acres of cut-over land, the
6O,OOO,OOO acres requiring drainage,
and the 100000 acres which may be
irrigated, there IS great variation
from district to district as to the pos
sibilities of economic u-e.
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-
ton Of statement create false impress
sions in the minds of the settlers. only
a few, he states, have made careful
studies of the conditions of successful
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 tie
good and bad methods of selling lands
l.
in new regions, he thinks it 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 weli-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, rs
limited by the supply & labor and
CAPITAL available for farming purposes
rather than by the scarcity of undevel-
oped lands. Il is true that. in gener-
al, the best land is already in culti-
walton, but without question much of
the remainder can he titled when the
country reaches the economic stage
which would justify its utilization.
"There are numerous fallaclous
opinions with respect to the need of
extending the farm area. Many peo-
pie, noting the prevailing prices OF ag-
ricultural products, demand increased
production and insist that the remedy