Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1920-03-19
BIC INCREASE IN
]; ACREAGE UN WISE,
! SAYS HOUSTON
Secretary Of Agriculture Declares
! Large Fluctuations Are Not
Desirable.
cALlSFoR CAREFUL THOUGHT

y Ipmtteo ny supply OF IapoT anu
CAPITAL Available for Farming
/ Purposes Rather Than
5S. Scarcity Of undeveI-
- oped Lands.
= Washington.-It probably would he
nnwise to stimulate large sudden in
crease In farm land acreage at the
present time, especially where such
an increase would have to be ef1ected
~ 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 or 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. 1.-The
best experts Of the federal department
ina of the agricultural colleges should
mike a detailed study Of the possibili-
DIES Of utilizing land not now devoteo
20 agriculture" In respect to tne
2ooo0O. 600 acres Of cut-over land, the
l60oO.O 600 acres requiring drainage,
srd the 100000 acres which may be
811eated. there Is great variation
Inn district to district as to the pos
oabEities Of economic use.
+ study Distinctive Regions.
Distinctive regions should be fully
studied with the view to assemble all
existing data on productivity, cost OF
masking land available. present tenure
and prices. type OF agriculture pest
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
mat while many Of them are honest
In intention, promise and practice. 9th
,ers keep within the letter Of the law.
but through exaggeration and 'ndirec-
ton Of statement create false impress
sious 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
Tor their sundeveloped holdings. AS
the intending settler Of small means is
rarely able. to distinguish between the
rood 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
ana, 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. rs
limited By the supply q labor and
capital available for farming purposes
rather than by the scarcity Of undeveI-
oped lands. It il true that, in geDer-
IL, the best 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 failacions
opinions with respect to the need OF
Extending the farm area. Many peO-
ne, noting the prevailing prices Of az
licultural 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 resources.
'StiN others explain the movement OF
population from rural districts to cit
|ies by the nonayailability Of land.
which they attribute to land monopoly,
speculation and other evils. The de-
ADUuu Aux 4aA l" PAOOA$SSs u3A0S Inv w
mand for manufactured articles, does
not expand rapidly to meet a large
Increase in supply. There Is q ten.
dency toward an equilibrium between
urban and agricultural industry. II
too much labor and capital are divert
"a from farming, the relative prices,
and consequently the relative profits.
Of 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 isanAtry nay
suffer depression. The inelssticity Of
aemand for farm products sets a very
decided limit at q given time to the
Of population and capital prof
ltably employed In agriculture.
+ Large Fluctuations Not Desirable.
.It Is not in the interest Of produc-
IN OF consumers to have large fluctu-
atoms in agricultural production. |