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C0 £ Y X-7020 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Washington, D.C. November 9, 1931 Hon. Eugene Meyer, Governor of the Federal Reserve Board, Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. Meyer: For some time I have "been emphasizing the f a c t that i n the long run a sound policy of land u t i l i z a t i o n i s a necessary basis of a prosperous a g r i c u l t u r e . Emergency conditions of the past several years, due i n considerable p a r t to the lack of an adequate land p o l i c y , have strengthened my conviction. A f t e r due consideration I have decided to c a l l a conference where I may discuss t h i s subject with members of the Association of Land Grant Colleges and U n i v e r s i t i e s , State o f f i c i a l s , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of farm organizations, railways, mortgage and insurance companies, banks, and other organizations primarily concerned with the land. I believe i t possible to make s u b s t a n t i a l progress toward the development of a long-time policy of land u t i l i z a t i o n , and also to consider h e l p f u l l y some of the immediate land problems growing out of the present emergency. The three days, November 19 to 21 i n c l u s i v e , immediately following the meetings of the Association of Land Grant Colleges and U n i v e r s i t i e s appear to be a favorable time to hold the conference. The Executive Committee of the Association has expressed approval of the proposal and has authorized the collaboration of the Association i n c a l l i n g the conference, which w i l l convene at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago. I am w r i t i n g to say t h a t we s h a l l be very glad to have you or any of your colleagues of the Federal Reserve Board present at the conference, and I s h a l l also appreciate i t i f you w i l l bring the conference to the a t t e n t i o n of the o f f i c i a l s of each of the Federal Reserve Banks. You w i l l understand, of course, that the United States Department of Agriculture does not have funds available f o r paying the expenses of those who may a t t e n d . For your information I am inclosing a copy of the t e n t a t i v e program. Sincerely yours, (S) Inclosure Arthur M. Hyde Secretary. 554 COPY (ReVialtih of 11-6^31) X-7020-a Tentative Program of Proposed Conferences on Land U t i l i z a t i o n Chicago, November 19-21, 1931 F i r s t Day, November 19 Forenoon, 9 A. M. to 12 N. LAND UTILIZATION AND THE FARM PROBLEM Presiding, R. A. Pearson, President, University of Maryland and Chairman, Executive Committee, Association of Land Grant Colleges and Universities. 1. The a g r i c u l t u r a l outlook and a g r i c u l t u r a l planning, Nils Chief, Bureau of Agricultural Economics A. 01sen, 2. The place of Federal reclamation in a National land policy, Elwood Mead, Commissioner of Reclamation, Department of the I n t e r i o r 3. Relation of Land U t i l i z a t i o n to the general objectives of the Federal Farm Board, J.C. Stone , Chairman cf the Federal Farm Boazd 4. Developing a national policy of land u t i l i z a t i o n , Arthur M. Hyde, Secretary of Agriculture Afternoon, 2 P. M. - 5.30 P. M. LAND: ITS USE AND MISUSE Presiding, Charles E. Hearst, Vice President, National Farm Bureau Federation 1. Extent and emergency character of the problems of submarginal land, Thomas P. Cooper, Dean and Director Kentucky Agricultural College 2. Land U t i l i z a t i o n i n the western range country, William Peterson, Director of Extension Utah Agricultural College 3. The program of New York State f o r handling submarginal land, C. E. Ladd, Director of Extension, Cornell University 4. Some ways of dealing with t h e problems of submarginal land, L. C. Gray, In Charge, Division of Land Economics, Bureau of Agricultural Economics. 555 X-7020-a - 2 - Ten-minute discussions 1. Homestead and other p o l i c i e s a f f e c t i n g the u t i l i z a t i o n of the public domain, A. C. Hardison, Fruit Grower and Vice P r e s i dent , Tax Payers 1 League of California 2. An economic c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of land as a "basis of a u t i l i z a t i o n program, L. E. Schoeneman, i n charge of Land Economic Survey, Michigan Department of Conservation 3. What methods should "be employed to take submarginal lands out of a g r i c u l t u r a l production? H. W. Mumford, Dean and Director, I l l i n o i s College of Agriculture rive-minute discussions from the f l o o r Evening. 7:30 - 10:30 P.M. THE PLACE OF FORESTRY IN A NATIONAL LAND UTILIZATION PROGRAM Presiding, L. J . Taber, Master of the National Grange 1. National economic and social objectives i n f o r e s t policy, Raphael Zon, Director Lake States Forest Experiment Station 2. Land u t i l i z a t i o n and conservation, George D. P r a t t , President, National Forestry Association 3. F i t t i n g f o r e s t r y into a general program of land u t i l i z a t i o n , Major R. Y. S t u a r t , F o r e s t e r , U. S. Forest Service. 4. The coordination of State and Federal e f f o r t s i n the development of a land u t i l i z a t i o n program, Cully A. Cobb, Associate E d i t o r , Progressive Farmer and Southern Rural!st 556 X-7020-a - 3 Ten minute discussions 1. Making f o r e s t s contribute to a more s t a b l e a g r i c u l t u r a l prosperity, Bradford Knapp, President, Alabama Agricultural College 2. Cooperation among f o r e s t owners i n making f o r e s t r y more p r o f i t a b l e , Joseph Hyde P r a t t , Executive Secretary Southern Forestry Congress 3. Turning submarginal crop lands within the farm to woodlot uses, James Fowler, Farmer, Soperton, Georgia 4. What a r e the p o s s i b i l i t i e s of p r i v a t e r e f o r e s t a t i o n ? S. T. Dana, Dean University of Michigan School of Forestry 5. Along what l i n e s should the public a c q u i s i t i o n program be amplified? Earl C. Smith, President I l l i n o i s Agricultural Association Five minute discussions from the f l o o r Second Day, November 20, 1931 Forenoon. 9 A. M. - 12 M. READJUSTMENTS IN TAXATION MADE NECESSARY BY CHANGES IN LAND UTILIZATION Presiding - Dr. Arthur W. Gilbert, Secretary National Association Commissioners and Secretaries of Agriculture 1. F i s c a l problems of local communities r e s u l t i n g from changing conditions of land u t i l i z a t i o n , George F. Wehrwein, Professor of Economics, University of Wisconsin 2. Adjustments f o r greater economy i n local public expenditures, John C. Watson, I l l i n o i s Agricultural Association 3. Replanning public i n s t i t u t i o n s on the b a s i s of a land u t i l i z a t i o n program, Ralph Compton, Professor of Economics, Yale University, and formerly Research I n v e s t i g a t o r , Department of Taxation and Finance, New York S t a t e 4 . Changes i n taxation r e q u i s i t e f o r a sound program of land u t i l i z a t i o n , Eric Englund, Assistant Chief Bureau of Agricultural Economics 5 5 7 X-7020-a - 4 Ten-minute discussions 1. Should other i n d u s t r i e s help t e a r the f i n a n c i a l "burden of maint a i n i n g a r u r a l c i v i l i z a t i o n ? C. V. Gregory, E d i t o r , the P r a i r i e Farmer. Chicago 2. Redistribution of the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r l o c a l public services between State and local governments, Fred Brenckman, Washington r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , The National Grange Five-minute discussions from the f l o o r Afternoon - 2:00 - 5:30 P.M. ADJUSTMENTS IN FARMING- IN THE BETTER FARMING AREAS Presiding - C. E. Huff, President Farmer's National Grain Corporation and former President Farmer's Educational and Cooperat i v e Union 1. Soil conservation a major problem of a g r i c u l t u r a l readjustment, H. G. Knight, Chief, U. S. Bureau of Chemistry and Soils 2. The Outlook a b a s i s f o r adjustments i n the b e t t e r farming areas, H. R. Tolley, Director Giannini Foundation, University of Calif ornia 3. A regional approach to the problems of farm reorganization, C. L. Holmes, In charge, Division of Faro Management and Costs, Bureau of A g r i c u l t u r a l Economics 4. How can mechanization and s c i e n t i f i c management strengthen the competitive p o s i t i o n of American a g r i c u l t u r e ? M. L. Wilson, Chairman Department of Agricultural Economics, Montana A g r i c u l t u r a l College 5. What i s the f u t u r e r o l e of the small farm and by what methods can i t be made to hold i t s own i n world competition? John D. Black, Professor of Economics, Harvard University, Chief Economist, Federal Farm Board 6. Helping the farmer t r a n s l a t e economic information into a c t i o n , C. W. Warburton, Director of Extension Work, United States Department of Agriculture Ten-minute discussions 1. Soil c l a s s i f i c a t i o n a b a s i s of a g r i c u l t u r a l adjustments, J . C. Lipman, Dean and Director, New Jersey Agricultural College 2. Greater e f f i c i e n c y i n a g r i c u l t u r e as a sound National o b j e c t i v e , W. J . Kerr, President Oregon Agricultural College X-7020-a - 5 ± 558 FiVe^mjnute d i s c o s ions from the f l o o r Evening, t . 3 0 P. M. - 10.30 P. M. CREDIT PROBLEMS IN THE READJUSTMENT OF LAW UTILIZATION AND FARM ORGANIZATION Presiding - C. 0. Moser, President National Cooperative Council 1. Functions of farm mortgage agencies i n a g r i c u l t u r a l readjustment, S. J . Westbrook, Vice President, Aetna Insurance Company 2. The management of farm lands held by credit agencies, Elbert S. Brigham, National Life Insurance Company of Vermont and formerly member of Congress from Vermont 3. Providing c r e d i t f o r needed readjustments i n land u t i l i z a t i o n and farm organization, Norman J . Wall, Bureau of Agricultural Economics 4. Strengthening the country bank as an e s s e n t i a l p a r t of the r u r a l c r e d i t s t r u c t u r e , Nathan Adams, President F i r s t National Bank, D a l l a s , Texas 5. Increasing the usefulness of the Intermediate Credit system as a supplement to the country bank, Wood Net her land, President Federal Land Bank and Intermediate Credit Bank, S t . Louis, Missouri Ten-minute discussions 1. Broadening the debenture market, B. H. Thompson, Pr e side nt, Federal Land Bank, S p r i n g f i e l d , Massachusetts 2. How the country bank can influence the farm production program, J . P h i l Campbell, Director of Extension, Georgia Agricultural College Five-minute discussions from the floor Third Day A NATIONAL LAND UTILIZATION PROGRAM (Summaries and conclusions) Presiding, Arthur M. Hyde* Secretary of Agriculture 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Submarginal lands Forests and other nonagricultural uses Taxation Farm reorganization and s o i l conservation Mortgage c r e d i t Intermediate and short term credit
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