The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-07
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

THE industrial planning phases of the New
l. Deal have been hit stunning blow by the
Supreme Court But-the agricultural phases
of the New Deal remain as yet unhampered by
judicial malice. The Administration can prob
ably proceed with full steam ahead in this field
of its endeavorS.
When Dr. Rexford G. Tugwell addressed a
conservation meeting in Albany, N. Y, recently,
he predicted that unless sane conservation
measures were adopted large portion Of our
western states would become desert area with
in 300 years. Thereupon, he was greeted with
loud outlaws by western wisecrackers, including
the dean of them all, William Allen White.
The slightest knowledge of history would
have counselled caution in making any jibes at
DR.. Tugwell's assertion. There are plenty Of
instances in which climatic changes, erosion
and other adverse natural conditions have
transformed once fertile and populouS areas
into almost uninhabited desert lands. Large
tracts of Western Asia and of the Sahara are
well known examples of such destructive
changes.
DUT a distinguished American soil expert,
- Charles W. Collier, makes it crystal clear in
an illuminating article in the New Republic
that we do not have to resort to ancient his
torical analogies to justify DR.. Tugwells ominous
prediction. Vast areas of the United States are
already we'll on their way toward a desert or
semi-arid condition.
More than 100000 acres of our farm lands
have already become virtually uncultivable. Some
1250O0,000 more acres which are still being cul-
tivated in part, have been, to large degree, de-
nuded of their essential topsoil, with resulting
decline in productivity of as much as go per cent
in some cases. If present conditions continue
for another so years, another 100000 acres
will be ruined for farming land as the result of
erosion This would reduce the fertile areas Of
good agricultural land to around $50 600 900
acres which would certainly be inadequate for
maintaining national self-suficiency or decent
standard of living.
The losses which have been entailed as the
result OF our negligence and greed in the past
have been appalling. The loss in land values and
productivity from erosion and associated factors
stands today at not less than $4,000 900 OO0
white the annual loss is conServatively estimated
as $500, 100000.
Fortunately, the Roosevelt Administration has
made determined effort to combat this serious
menace to our economic well being. 1t has estab-
llSheo SOIL erosion service which was last April
transferred to the Department of Agriculture
under the new title of the Soil Conservation
Service. Forty model experimental projects have
been set up and put into operation to determine
their practcability and to secure guidance for
future modification On the basis of experience
thus gained, comprehensive pr ogram of soil
conservation is being formulated.
IL.
Measures being applied under the soil
erosion program include a well-balanced applica-
ton OF such efforts as the retirement of erosive
marginal lands from cultivation and planting to
pasture or trees; terracing; strip cropping the
Understanding and planting of gullies; the
establishment of Soil-conServing crop-rotation
system; the development of wid-life resources
and community game management districts to
furnish supplemental income from lands retired
from cultivation; the improvement of timber
stands TO provide for profitable sustained yield
management on individual farms the working
out OF properly balanced and diversified cropping
systems which increase the standard of living of
the farmers concerned, and the development of
community fre-control organizations.
Such program would result in at least the
partial elimination of unreStrained or surplus
crop production through the removal from cult
yatlon OF large areas of highly eroSve land It
would decrease the average cost of agricultural
production by eliminating improbable areas It
would permanently protect agricultural lands
from man-induced accelerated erosion would
rehabilitate many of the once fertile grazing
areas Of the West; would protect our great reser-
volrs from premature sitting; and would largely
reduce or even prevent destructive floods"
The cost of this comprehensive plan would
not exceed SlO0,000000 year, only fourth of
the annual loss to the nation at the present time
What was spent on the CWA in a few months
would carry on the program for a decade What
We spent in the World War to pull European
chestnuts out of the fire would support the pro-
gram for 500 years.