152 



The Dawn of a New Constructive Era 



Raili'oads 

 Anxious to 

 Assist 



Settler Must 

 Be Liberally 

 Financed 



and others who have addressed us, and these gentlemen and their 

 associates and assistants are available to put most efificient and 

 profitable agricultural practices in efifect. The agricultural depart- 

 ments already know and are practicing the things which will make 

 for success, and this knowledge simply must be put in practice and 

 much agricultural demonstration work done. The great problem 

 lies with you men who own this land — most potent of possibilities 

 but at present inactive, unused, covered with stumps and rapidly 

 being covered with underbrush. 



It is a question of financing and farsighted business adminis- 

 tration and agricultural demonstration in which each with the help 

 of existing agencies will have to solve his individual problems, 

 and in which, collectively and as an association, you can most eco- 

 nomically do much of mutual benefit, and for each other as in- 

 dividuals. 



The railroads have for years seen the timber cut and shipped 

 away leaving idle land^ and just as the lumberman faces the end of 

 his cutting and cessation of profitable activity unless his land is util- 

 ized, just so do many railroads face unprofitable operation unless 

 these lands are exploited and reforested and developed by settle- 

 ment by good and successful farmers. The development men of 

 the railroads realize the importance of the situation and have given 

 the subject much thought, as is evident by the fact that practically 

 every railroad is well represented at this meeting. I see at least 

 twelve railroad development men here who are vitally interested, 

 and all ready to do their part when conditions justify energetic 

 co-operation. 



Some people think that there is at present no demand for cut- 

 over land, but that is not the case. Our Colonization Department 

 has for months had unfilled demands for Southern cut-over land, 

 and it would be a simple matter to stimulate the demand for such 

 land were the railroads to get vigorously behind the movement; 

 but, gentlemen, it will take more than exploitation and agricultural 

 advice to successfully colonize the cut-over land area. 



First, all must appreciate that the 'colonist is no longer a pioneer. 

 The day of isolation, the squirrel hunter, the log cabin and rail 

 fence are past. In this day of high-priced labor the settler will not 

 undergo unnecessary hardship and the man with enough energy 

 to move to a land of greater opportunity will not put up with slow, 

 inefficient methods. Furthermore, the land-seller, community, 



