Evening star., 1947-07-18

planting project.
We cannot afford to postpone the safeguard
ing of our productive land against further dis
astrous inroads by erosion. To do so would
be costly and exceedingly damaging to the
Nations economy and security.
The land won't wait now, if we neglect 1t
while we busy ourselves with other supposedly
more important matters, any more than 1t
waited during the $50 years or so before we
started doing something to keep our topsoil
from washing down to the sea or blowing half
way across the continent. Every years delay
in applying complete soil and water conserva-
ton treatment brings more ruinous damage to
some of our land somewhere. Some 100000
acres is the most recent estimate of the total
area made unfit for further practical cultiva
ton by erosion every year. And all of this
wastage could be controlled in very prac-
tical way.
At the present rate of land damage, as we'll
as we have been able to determine, the pro-
ductive capacity Of approximately Is per cent
OF our United States cropland is being reduced
markedly each year. This means that in order
to prevent irreparable damage, approximately
100, ,OOO 900 acres of our cropland must be treat
ed within the next 10 to Is years. Another 1O0-
600 900 acres of Our cropland are being damaged
at somewhat slower-but nevertheless serious
rate and this should be treated within the
next to 80 years If we are to keep it In good,
productive condition. About 80 per cent of
our farmland which is subject to erosion
damage is still without adequate protection.
Conservation Pays Dividends.
On unprotected land, the rate of depletion
through soil erosion is increasing with every
year of use. Conversely, on conservation pro-
tected farmland, the rate of depletion is de-
creasing rapidly, and there is little If any
loss of soil from such land for as long as the
protection is maintained. In other words, the
rate of erosion is still increasing. but the area
on which it is taking place is being reduced
as conservation treatment progresses.
Soil conservation is a must" job that We
can not avoid, however much 1t may cost us.
Fortunately however soil conservation doesn't
cost--it pays-in the practical sense. It pays
the landowner and operator, the community
and government.
On the basis of our experiences and prelimi-
nary studies, we have found that the basic job
of applying soil conservation practices to the
land can be done at vastly less cost than it
most certainly would cost us not to do the
job in the next 20-year period In which it can
be done That is, if facilities for doing this
basic work are available. The minimum price
We would have to pay fol not doing the con-
servation job as well as We can estimate it,
probably would be, on an average, around
81, 900, 600, 900 year. Actually, it would cost
us more than that, in reduced yields, lowered
productive capacity of the unprotected farms,
siltation of streams, canals, reservoirs and har-
bors and so on.
AS we'll as we have been able to figure 1t on
the basis of our experience, the cost to the
government and the farmer tog ether for carry
ing out the necessary soil conservation work
probably would be less than third the cost
of not doing it. After the basic conservation
treatment is completed, the cost of maintain