Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-20

N{Nle this information is being
gathered for the purpose of lending.
~ VIII nave the tendency to become
accepted as a basis of sale value and
therefore, consultation Of these rec
oros can establish the price of almost
any farm in the country.
May Hasten .bc.aiiel Survey.
The value of such In formation is 80
Wen recognized at SWashin.,:. IN, dilat
II IS considered quite likely that some
steps may be taken to hasten this
detained survey. Under, Che present
system, the reports are made, Only
n connection with loan Applications
ana while those are coming In RAPIDLY.
independent additional ati ons
na1de diEectly ny government agents
would Eufng much closer the date
when the whole body Of farm lard 9
Will be reported upon.
These reports wild have to. be kent
~ur to date by additional notations
from time to time because chan
are constantly taking place in the
nature, Of soils and in other matters
closely affecting the value od farm
lands. The lack CT proper fertiliza-
Ion Viii Xhaus the producing prop
critics Of a soil and the farm that once
was productive may become practieaI-
" sterile. An excellent example OF
this is furnished by the run down to-
bacco lands Of certain sections in
southern states. Once, the most fer
tile lands in the world, they were
worked Jear in and year out, without
fertilization and without rotation of
q on faIioWinE, with the result
taat n soil became eAhau geed. Hun
dreds Of thousand of acres OF such
land may be found i'll many southern
states, grown up in. weeds OF a coarse
vvti .e,sy and in scrub pine, which will
live on almost any soil.
Experts of the bureau of soils of
the department of agriculture say
thcre is nc much which an be dom
to retrieve these old lands, but tho
bureau has made great strides in the
Last few years In ~instruoting the farm-
ers how to prevent a repetition OF
SUCH exhaustion on still. fertile lands.
The construction OF roads, stheApx.
tension of railroads. Improvements OF
terminal facilities and many other
the value of farm lands. These re
ports must be kept up to date by the
notatio on of all such material changes
If they are TO become permane emit re-
liable references.
Actually these reports Will furnish
much data of human Interest in the
lives and vicissitndesRf the farming
population, if they are to- be ~ gem
uinei value; Suppose, Tor instance;
that a farther borrows o. substantial
sum on an ~axcellent farm. TO which
excellence much ia contributed ny the
fine barns, stables, {granaries and 9th
9" buildings which stand UPON 1t.
Suppose, then, these buildings are
struck Nby lightning and burned to
the ground. It will be seen that the
value OF that mortgage and che value
of the farm have been much impaired.
The record at Washington would be
incomplete and misleading were not
an Immediate rotate made sof,fthe
disaster :. Further, shpuIdsssthe buih-
ings beRerecteds again, that should
have its place in the record.
These records, as they Erow. should
contain the material for allsthe novels
or rural life that. the world could
read. Doubtless they Wilt the
records Of g~enerations OF people as
the hears pass. TNbey should be, OF
the utmost value to antiquarians 81
the future. 1t will be recalled that
the rural.>parish records have been
the most fruitful source nj personal
history in England and other foreign
lIco1ntries. sas