The sons and daughters of the farmers found that they could move cheaply to new lands. upon which. with less exertion. they could raise more than their fathers did on the old homestead. while their interest charge was on $1.60 an acre instead of $100. and their taxes proportionately less. The sons also found that they could get their products to market from their practically free farms almost as cheaply as their fathers could in the older States. There was no spur of necessity to learn or to practice scientific agriculture. because the opportunities for emigration and settlement could be endlessly repeated. Free land is now practically exhausted. therefore. say our pessimistic philosophers. the perils of failure of occupation and of food supply are imminent. Modern history demonstrates that. given the conditions of a free people. each generation finds means for taking care of itself.
Keywords matched
emigration