10 



The Dawn of a New Constructive Era 



Big Yields 

 From Cut- 

 Over Lands 



of the parishes of the state, the cut-over lands have become the 

 most valuable lands we have in the state, because, after all, the 

 value of land is based on what it produces in actual revenue. We 

 have cut-over lands in Louisiana that, at a conservative estimate, 

 are yielding in actual revenue per acre, per year, one thousand dol- 

 lars. We have exceptional cases where this has gone as high as 

 two thousand dollars, but the agriculturists tell us, by their experi- 

 ments and by the experiments of the Louisiana Department of 

 Agriculture, that these cut-over lands have an actual cash value for 

 the production of hogs of at least $50 an acre. Therefore, it seems 

 to me we would not be wasting time if we encourage the exploita- 

 tion and development of these lands ; and I sincerely trust that the 

 deliberations of this body of earnest, sound-thinking men, who 

 have come here to consider this problem, will evolve some scheme 

 and idea where those lands can be brought into early use; and 

 now, gentlemen, again, on behalf of the Governor of the state, I bid 

 vou a most hearty welcome to Louisiana. I thank you. (Applause.) 



The Soiith's 

 Duty to the 

 Xation 



Address of Welcome 



By Hon. Martin Behrman 



Mayor of New Orleans 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Conference: — I 

 do appreciate the importance of this conference. For that reason 

 I have canceled whatever engagements I may have had this morn- 

 ing in order to be with you and personally extend to you a word 

 of welcome for the people of the City of New Orleans. 



At this time, in this crisis, it is proper and meet that men like 

 yourselves should come together for the purposes of doing some- 

 thing to encourage the use of these wonderful lands of ours. You 

 know and I know what the cut-over lands of the South in certain 

 sections are producing, but the South will be called upon to do 

 her share now and to do it promptly. We will be called upon to 

 raise the products to feed the Allies as well as ourselves. We will 

 be called upon to furnish the rest of the country — who are not 

 blessed as we are, with the splendid soil we have and the splendid 

 opportunities we have here in the South — we will be compelled to 

 furnish them with the food products they may need. So I say 

 this is an important conference, one that I hope will bring about 



