The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-01-16
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.

Washington.-It probably would he
unwise 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
nv David +. Houston. secretary OF az
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
hest experts Of the federal department
and Of the agricultural colleges should
mike a detailed study of the possioiii-
Ties of utilizing land not now devoted
to agricultur :" In respect 10 tne
200 600. 600 acres of cut-over land. the
90 600 600 acres requiring drainage
and the 10000, 600 acres which may be
irrigated. there s a great VARIATION
from district to district as to the pos
sibilities Of economic u-e.
study Distinctive Regions.
Distinctive regions should be fuli!
studied with the view to assemble al
existing data on productivity. cost o.
making land available. present .enur'
and prices, type of agriculture bes
adapted to the conditions. possible re
turns. minimum size Of farms capahi'
Of snpporting families 10 reasonable
comfort. minimum equipment neeoe'
at the beginning Of settlement
sources of credit. and marketing an
transportation facilities.
The secretary refers to the fact TIN
various private agencies are engage
In promoting land settlement and say
that while many Of them are homes
in intention. promise and practice. OIL
ers keep within the letter Of the law
!. but through exaggeration and indire'
ton of statement create false impre'
sions i'm the minds OF the settlers. On'
few. he states. ave made careIi
: studies of the conditions of successor
: settlement. and practically all are so =
: ing to realize the highest possible prif
for their undeveloped holdings
the intending settler of small means
rarely able to distinguish between q
good and bad riethods of selling iah'
J IN new regions. he thinks 1t would
desirable for government agenc.'
through their agricultural machlne'
tn furnish reliable information TO tho
u seeking farms. 10 give new setue
II very special assistance and guihan
e and where conditions are 'avorab'
s aid in developing well-considered 81
Element.
The matter of land utilization corr
Y. in for large measure of attention
lie the secretary's report.
II .~The expansion Of the nations a.
culture" says Secretary Houston.
limited nv the supply labor a'
eap,tai available for farming 2urr's
D. rather than by the scarcity of undeS
Nod lands. 1t Is true that in gem
IN N the best land IL already In cui
8 walton. hut without question much
he remainder can he titled when {
!. country reaches the economic STA
which would justify its utilization
.sThere are numerous faliacic
-pinions with respect to the need
extending the farm area. Many p
lie. noting the prevailing prices OF
icuiturai products. demand increa'
REDUCTION. and insist that the rene