Evening star., 1923-11-10
land DCO[0N|z|NG
PLANS DEFENDED
Realty Association Replies to
Criticisms of Secretary
Wallace.

Attitude of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture holding set
t1ement OF raw land on colonization
plans not In the public interest is
following dangerously the precedent
OF English governmental policy to-
ward agriculture, according to the
position taken by the National Asso-
citation of Real Estate Boards In re-
ply to a recent bulletin of the de-
partment.
Whatever the depression that has
prevailed IN farm conditions a con-
tfnuing Of migration of men to the
land is a sound condition for the en-
during health of the American eco
nomic system, II. U. Nelson, execu-
tive secretary Of the association,
hoids In letter sent to Secreatry
wallace. The letter Is in reply to
the Secretary's statement that finan-
cial rewards paid to the farmer are
just now SO disproportionately low as
to leave no enthusiasm for wholesale
land settlement.
Experience Of England.
England. when the war came, found
its possibility of producing food
gone. because, as the modern factory
system developed and population
it's agriculture as of secondary i'm
portance. Its further experience in
the post war adjustment with a pop
ulation that, because of the inertia
of living habits. insists on living in
the cities whether there Is anything
there to live on or not, is cited by
the association as significant OF the
results 81 any public policy that
would discourage the traditional free
fiux within the American population
of its young blood and it's pioneer
spirit into the development Of land
This period of overproduction and
farm distresss Is likely to be tempo
rary in the sense that 1t cannot last
very many years. and 1 think II is
also true that within the not distant
future our consumption will over
take our production" Secretary Wal
citation disagreeing with its posi-
tion that from the standpoint of So
ciety as a whole 1t is desirable for
all existing agencies, governmental
and otherwise. to be encouraged in
efforts to establish citizens on the
land.
Questions Advantage.
While conceding that the best COL
onization companies have pursued a
ting the settler established. the de-
partment in its recent publication
raises the question of whether any
national advantage is accomplished
in bringing wild lands into use as
rapidly as may be under present eco
nomic conditions in agriculture. Few
persons. as the department sees the
situation, now seek a pioneering life
on their own initiative. 1t Is sales
manship, and not any vital economic
pressure, that is bringing about the
taking up of much of the great areas
of wild lands. the department econo-
mists declare. While admitting that
the better colonization companies
have pursued a policy almost philan-
thropic in their creation of new COM
munities. the publication maintains
that many persons have been induced
by the advantages offered to take up
raw land, particularly in the upper
great lakes region, who are not fitted
for q pioneering life.
Any sale of agricultural land not
suitable for agriculture is, of course,
indefensible, the National Association
of Real Estate Boards states in a
bulletin taking up the relation of