Phillips County herald., 1923-03-08

enterprises. The
products of the
farm are thrown upon the mar.
ket In large quantities. Our
farmers do not attempt to sup.
ply their own needs from what
they produce but rely on purchasing
what they need from the sale OF the
product or products that they are
able to produce best and most eco.
nomically.
Land. labor and capital are the
three factors involved in production.
A rise in any one of these factors in
creases the cost of production. Land
values have been rising rapidly. This
means that many OF our farmers have
become wealthy not 50 much frcm
the farm products sold from the farm
but from the rise In value OF land.
They are enjoying what is commonly
spoken OF as the "unearnad incre.
ment." Some day somebody VIII have
to pay for this. II we do not then It
will be our children or our children's
children.
Somethin9 70 Think About
II Is said that only from to Is
per cent OF the farms OF the United
States are inherited. The rest must
be paid for In whole or In part once
with each generation. Can this be
done! With increasing land values
this becomes increasingly more din.
cult. A reasonable rate Of interest
on land worth $4,000 will involve
an interest or rental charge Of $500
kto $500 per acre. On land worth
10000. this will be from $1,000 "a
$1,000 per aero. This IL heavy fixed
charge for the farmer who attempts
to pay for his farm In the course Of a
life time. Unless this can be done It
means that we are to be cursed with
y permanent tenant system.
The census shows that our farm
acreage has not increased near in pro.
portion to the Increase in population.
Il Is true that we have regions OF un.
developed or only partially developed
land. but tho unused land Is the least
productive or IL poorly located or
needs development. or the rainfall Is
uncertain. Our labor costs are great.
er than In European countries and as
increased yields per acre usually In.
volve more labor the increase In pro.
duction from more intensive culture
or from developing less desirable land
takes place slowly. Improvements In
our country which Increases labor or
utilization OF less desirable land in.
voivc higher prices for food unless
tho farmer Is willing 10 take less
profits.
The greatest problem OF our nation
II 10 have men on farms that can
produce food at prices that tho con.
sumer can afford TO pay. The farmor
has the Job OF feeding tho world. He
cannot loaf on tho Job. lie must do
his best TO select crops. livestock.
feed, bread and conduct his business
economically so as 10 furnish food NJ
low cost and at the same time he
should have a reasonable return II
agriculture IL TO be made permanent.
profitable. and comfortable.
Civilization Needs the Farmer
Tho solution OF our food problem Is
directly connected with the land prob.
lem. II there Il a proper adjustment
between the valuo OF land and the
other factors OF production and tho
prices OF farm products then II will
be possible for the farmers to attack
this problem with the hope OF arrly.
ing at a satisfactory solution. II land
values are run up beyond their value
for production purposes In order that
the spcculstor. bs hc farmer or real
estate dealer. may make money thon
tho real farmer will ini farming un.
profitable. The brighter and moro
ambitious young mon will bo at
tracted away from tho farm and the
farmers as a class will dctorioratc.
This In turn will mean that our civil.
iration will go backward instead Of
forward
Every citiscn Ia therefore Interested
In tho land problem and should use
his influence to SEQ that spectators
DO not run tho selling value beyond
production value. Fictitious land
vaiucs spell higher cost " living and
ultimately a lower class OF citizens 40
farmers.