did not keep the settlers out of Iowa, an inimical climate did 

 not keep them out of Canada, a -poor soil has not kept them 

 out a part of Nebraska, lack of rainfall has not kept them out 

 of the dry valleys of the West, but the stump has kept them 

 out of the Northland. 



Land Clearing Expensive. 



In spite of innumerable prospectuses conclusively proving 

 the contrary, it costs money to clear land, real money and 

 considerable of it. The average cost of clearing the cut-over 

 lands is not far from $35 per acre, whether it be done by dyna- 

 mite, stump puller or hand labor. Pasturing stump land and 

 waiting for the stumps to loosen their hold is more reason- 

 able, but even then there is only some of the land that is 

 worth it. 



Stump an Important Factor. 



Yes, the stump is the king of the Northland and though a 

 little tyrannical is a pretty wise ruler with all, for he is des- 

 tined to be one of the most important factors in the classifi- 

 cation of land. In order that land be rightly classed as agri- 

 cultural it should pay a higher revenue from farming on its 

 capitalized value than it will from the growth of forests. 

 There is much of the land in the North which would not do 

 this even if it were treeless but would nevertheless be set- 

 tled to the sorrow of many generations of settlers. As it is 

 the stump, by greatly increasing the cost of the land for 

 farming so increases the difference in the capitalized land for 

 farm and forest that it must be put to its proper use. 



Listen to the Stump King. 



It is wise to listen to the word of the stump king. Look 

 the question fairly in the face. Acknowledge the high cost 

 of clearing. Wrest from the king the land that is worth it 

 and pass on the rest to another generation of stumps. 



