The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-10-09
BLENS OF AN EMPIRE
az .. Z. I. WERNIcKEl


tic and the gulf. with their wonderful
harbors. lies an empire of cut-over
lands, eparsely inhabited and uninvit-
Ing 70 the eye OF the traveller that
waits the enterprise OF man to sus-
tain q ten-fold population in luxury.
All this vast area Of a hundred mill
lion acres, or So belongs to us Of the
south ~ r. our heritage, to guard and
TO develop.
Our forests are transitory. When tho
lumber and naval stores are used up
what next? People may come and 60
but the land that produced these for
est crops remains. It alone is a per-
mnnent resource ever willing to reward
intelligent effort by its utilization.
Before these millions or acres can be
profitably cultivated or replanted they
must be cleared. The clearing OF cut
over pine land presents complex prob
lens. both physical and economic. but
they must be met The all important
= requisites are a purpose and determi-
nation 20 do Il, and these are matters
ok education born OF necessity and
stimulated BY the spirit Of human
achievements Success here and failure
there mark thor onward march.
bic soft from over Indulgence in ma
lures generous crops OF forest pro-
ducts, which we sowed not. but were
ours for the taking. Those easy days
are passing and we must adopt other
methods 70 hold up our end in the
march OF universal progress. It Is not
a theory but q cold fact that confronts
Us; wo may arise 10 the occasion and
win, or We may quit and seek green
pastures elsewhere. but the land will
remain. II Il the one and permanent
asset from which the south can derive
the means Cor It's further civil, indus
trial ana moral advancement. Here n
opporkunlty euualled nowhere else on
earth for the pioneer spirit Have we
the spirit 70 answer this call for men
men with empires IN their purpose
and new oraa Ia their brains. Men 70
match our heritage and men 70 match
our plainsf
All other problems before as, be
they social or economic. pale 70 insig-
nificancs by comparison. This land
problem Is 80 big, so complex and 30
viai 70 our needs and wants that III
hnn ceased 10 DO the concern OF q
oians. Il "A now the concern Of al.
NO man OK cot og men can do more
thmn point tho way and even 80 much
~ made difficuIt without the practical
ana moral support % fhe whole south.
There IL 40 sure and easy solution
az our ANTIQUITIES. Nelther cotton. corn,
cattle. nhesp, poultry, pecans nor fruit
alone WIN bring the answer, but
wise combination Of all these anc more
mean substantial progress toward our
GOAL u would be q waste Of money
ana physical energy, 4 avalIhpie'
which IA not the case. 70 clear these
millions Of cut-over acres At once
buk We must make q beginning as
rate that comprehends the total area
within a reasonable time, say - q
"a years. The cost OF clearing should
not become an expense calling 1or
napital investment from which no re-
turnn can be had for a long period, for
~ have no surplus capital tn the
aouth Tor such long time uncertainties.
our problem within the long lear
nina territory is 70 clear az least 80
mueh land as IL being added 20 the to-
80 each year By tho lumbermen let
- aav four or five million acres. or
avau two million acres: and We must
a6opt methods that viii bring returns
consistent with the cost OF clearing.
railing in this. the clearing operation
cannot proceed AZ a rate adequate to
our requirements. The pass as you so
system OF clearing land Is ideal but
seldomrealized, and in some measure
accounts for our backward situation.
IL ts no simple matter TO clear land OF
stumps. roots. knots, shrubs. roots and
limbs md other litter; men, teams
ana tools are required for such work
~
turns or by fixed capital.
uuntv OF the soil sustains commun
itv progress, ana therefore communi-
ties should not exploit the tiller but
encourage him in all practical ways. /
The man on the land must have pro-
fltable markets for the fruits of his /
labor or the spirit of HIS industry i
wfthers until he ceases to be an asset !
TO the community. lie cannot create
his own markets, hence these must be
provided him as condition prece-
don't Failure TO grasp this truth and
10 exercise community influence in
It's realization IS a cut worm that Is
sApplng the vitality OF prosperity Ia
nIany places.
The settler on a home unit OF cut
over lands, II he IS TO stick and rear a
family, must find announcement In /
the returns FOR his enterprise and la
bon He must realize a decent standard
Of living as he goes and this cannot j,
be secured by devoting all of his
time and energy to land clearing. In
the beginning he needs good sheep to
Craze the native grass which does not !,
sustain dairy or beef cattle. but good I,
sheep, with proper care. win thrive on /,
it ten months OF the year and require
q minimum Of attention the other two
sheep are a quick asset; they pro-
duce both meat and wool every year n
right from the start No silos cr otheg
expensive improvements are needed I,
Tor sheep, and when under fence their
care IL simple matter. The settler
.also needs poultry, some good pigs. a u
few good mich cows a truck patch,
Some corn, COW peas, sweet potatoes
and bit Of sugar cane to sustain his