The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-01-16
Secretary Of Agriculture Declares
Large Fluctuations Are Not
Desirable.
Expansion Of Nation's Agriculture
Limited by Supply Of Labor and
Capital Available for Farming
Purposes Rather Than
Scarcity OF Undevel.
oped Lands.


Washington.-It probably would be
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
by David F. 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 he
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 possioilt-
ties of utilizing land not now devoted
to agricultur In respect to the
2OO,OOOOOO acres of cut-over land. the
6O,OOOOOO acres requiring drainage.
and the 10000 900 acres which may be
irrigated, there 8 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
few. he states, Rave made careful
studies of the conditions Of successful
settlement, and practically oil are SC *
ing to realize the highest possible price
for their undeveloped holdings. Al
the intending settler of small means II
rarely able to distinguish between til
good and bad methods of selling lands
in new regions. he thinks 1t would b.
desirable for government agenc.e!
through their agricultural machiner!
to furnish reliable information to thos'
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 II
the secretary's report.
'The expansion of the nations agri
culture" says Secretary Houston. ii
limited by the supply e. labor an,
capital available for farming purpose
rather than by the scarcity Of undevel
oped lands. It Is true that. In geneI
nj. the best land IL already In cult
walton. hut without question much o
the remainder can he titled when tn
country reaches the economic stag
which would justify its utilization.
There are numerous fallactcu
opinions with respect to the need Q
extending the farm area. Many pee
pie. noting the prevailing prices Of q
riculturnl products. demand Increase
nr.Miu@tilH, and insist that the remed