LINE OF LEAST RESISTANCE 65 



was fifteen billions. Every new-born child, 

 every "undesirable alien" enumerated among 

 that sixteen million, added nine hundred and 

 thirty-six dollars and eighty-six cents to the 

 value of our farms. Even Xew York, with 

 its five million souls and its Stock Exchange 

 land assessed at thirty thousand dollars a front 

 foot, does not compare with the domain of the 

 American farmer who has "hung on." 



Some may object that the comparison is 

 inept. They will say that it would hold good 

 if the population of the United States con- 

 sumed all its land produced. But it does. 

 That is the point. And more. Exports of 

 food-stuffs fell from over twenty-five per cent, 

 of the total produced in 1898 to less than five 

 per cent, in 1912. And imports of the same 

 commodities had the better of it by a ratio of 

 230 to 99 (in millions of dollars value) in the 

 latter year. We consume even more raw food- 

 stuffs than we produce. 



Every Jeremiah who goes back to the land 

 adds to the value of that land by his mere 

 presence. To quote again from Mr. Nock's 

 article, he is in the position of a lecturer, who, 

 arriving late at a small town, found no one 

 to meet him. He was unknown to the door- 



