Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-05-30

but means Of exploiting a limited re-
serve Of soil fertility at higher rate.
He who makes two blades of grass grow
where but one grew before must be
prepared to pay the price in lesser
number of blades to come after. In
general way, the sOwer, the tiller,
the reaper, go their ways with the
same clangeless routine they have
taken since the dawn Of civilization,
and the story Of the past gives us
reason to be skeptical of the future
East goes on to point out that, not
withstanding the increased food pro-
duction due to the stimulation of war
prices, the production per capita from
1880 to the war period slightly de-
clined. And this in face Of fertilizers
and greatly improved machinery !!
East emphasizes net only that the
fertility OF soils now being titled is
decreasing, hut that the land in reserve
is less productive than the improved
land.
so it is evident that population
growth is to keep merrily marching
on--until, as Nautilus. forecasted, it
becomes the biggest question con-
fronting mankind. All manner of minor
questions, from time to time, will have
their influence upon it, one way or
another. but the big issue will remain.
AS need Of, food and shelter becomes
greater, the value of all land will
doubtless have a tendency to increase,
until it becomes so valuable that the
government may either have to own
all the land Of any nation, or else take
drastic measures to make sure that the
land is used for the highest. possible
benefit to the greatest number. In other
words, land is going to be such desir-
liable thing, that the landowner will be
in Mck-but only until his land reaches
such an extremely high valuation, due
TO the worldwide need of it, that it is
taken from him.
The Freeman-JOurnal heard man
arguing the other day that land would
never bring interest returns upon $500
per acre. Why" he said, more is be-
ing reclaimed every year by thing and
il rigatiOn and there will never be I'M
production again i'm this country"
He lost sight Of the question of soil
deterioration, of the rObbing of the land
that is now going on with reckless eX-
travagance all over the United States.
Many Iowa farmers. especially renters,
are thinking only Of what they can get
from the soil his year. They figure
that perhaps they will be on some other
farm next year and there is no compel
ing reason why they should make any
special efforts to preserve the fertility
of the land.
There was a conference of Iowa live
stock breeders in Ames n few days ago
and dispatch sent out from that place
discussing the conference said:
"A survey and review of the spirit Of
the conference clearly disclosed the
conviction that the livestock industry in
Iowa has hit the bottom and is already
on the up grade.
1T was predicted that there will
be shortage Of food products within
eighteen months Demand will over
take supply.
THE agricultural output for 1921
will not exceed four fifths the produc-
ton of 1920"
Not so much Importance might be at
lached to the Judgment Of the confer
ces at Ames. They are interested in
boosting prices and are apt to see
things from the angle of personal in
terest. But 10 such considerations in
flueEce DIR. Pearl. He deals with the
cold facts as he finds them and studies
the situation with an open mind. trying
to arrive at conclusions that will be
verified by experience. 1t will appear
to thinking men generally that the doc
tors theories and conclusions are
sound. Hence there is no reason why
the farmers Of Iowa should not be en-
couraged by looking into the future a
few years even il the immediate m,t-
look is not promising and reasoning.
COL. HARVEY.
Col. Harvey is shrewd and success