The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1920-01-07
BIelNcREASEiN
ACREAG|E;0hW|SE,
SAYS. HOUSTON
sesretary Of Agriculture Declares
Large Fluctuations Are Not
.t'a.~ Desirable.
CALLS FOR CAREFUL THOUGHT

s~ApWu01OO Vb NOSsVU 0SssSOssOsV
Limited BY supply Of Labor and
Capital Available for Farming
Purposes Rather Than
scarcity Of Undeve'.
oped Lands.
Washington.-It probably would be
.unwise to stimulate a 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 a
heavy outlay for damage, irrigation or
clearing. This opinion is expressed
by David F.. Houston, secretary Of ag-
rtculture, 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 a detailed study Of the possibili-
ties Of utilizing land not now devoted
to agriculture" In respect to the
5000 900 acres Of ~cut-over land, the
100000 acres requiring drainage,
and the 8 100000 acres which may be
irrigated, there is a great variation
from district to district as to the pos
abilities Of economic use.
Study Distinctive Regions.
Distinctive regions should be fully
studied with the view to assemble all
existing data on productivity, cost of
shaking 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
N promoting land settlement and says
that while many Of them. are honest
In intention, promise and practice. 9th.
srs keep within the letter Of the law.
but through exaggeration and indirec-
ton of statement create false impress
sons in the minds of the settlers. Only
q 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 the
good and bad methods of selling lands
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 well-considered set
Element.
The matter Of land utilization comes
in for a large measure of attention In
thu secretary's report.
'The expansion Of the nations agri-
culture" says Secretary Houston. "s
limited by the supply o. labor and
capital available for farming purposes
rather than by the scarcity Of undevel.
oped lands. It is true that, in gener-
al, the hest land is already in cult
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-
pile. noting the prevailing prices of ag-
r%iculturai products, demand increased
production and insist that the remedy
lies in immediate and rapid expansion
Of the acreage in farms. Others, OBJ
serving large tracts of unused land, de-
plore the great waste Of our
Still others explain the movement of
population from rural districts to cit
les by the nonavailability of land.
WHICH they UlllIOulC " lduu uJOuOpuIy
speculation and other evils. The de-
nand 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
teo much labor and capital are divert.
"a from farming, the relative prices,
and consequently the relative profits
ef agricultural activity will increase
and there will be . tendency toward
expansion. II this Is excessive, how.
ever, relative prices and profits viii
tend to decrease and the industry mag
suffer depression. The inelasticity Of
demand for farm products sets a very
decided limit at Q given time to the
Increase Of population and capital prof:
itably employed In agriculture.
Large Fluctuations Not Dssirabls.
TT Is not In the interest Of produc
:ers or consumers to have large auctu'
ation1 In agricultural production