The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-11
evening State Soaraat.
WEDNESDAY EvENPG. OCT. II. 1871.
speech of Horace Greeley at the State Fair,
GAINESVILLE, Ohio.

But the magnet that drew thousands
there was the announcement that the Hon.
Horace Greeley would deliver the annual
address. Long before the appointed hour
hundreds began to gather about the stand
and try and secure a good place to view the
great Tribune philosopher. AT , p. M.
he appeared upon the stand, and was re-
ceived with tremendous applause. Marbles
silver cornet band, of Akron, was present,
and discoursed some fine pieces of music.
The crowd about the stand must have num-
bered twelve or fifteen thousand persons.
Hon. j. A. Garfield introduced Mr.. Gree
ley in few words, saying: We have a
country where labor can have its full re-
ward and honest toll receive its just appre-
citation, and the gentleman who will now
address you is an example of one who has,
by his own exertion, risen from the hum
BILE walks Of life to position Of national in
iluence-an illustration Of the dignity of la
Dor.
Mr.. Greeley's remarks were based upon
the ideas Of Water in Agriculture" or
irrigation of land as the only method of OBJ
tanning sure crops. We here present
brief epitome Of Mr.. Greeley's remarks:
The inhabitants Of the larger part of this
country live in a very favored region for
water. Nature has supplied us with nume-
rous rivers, the hillsides contain perennial
springs, and the rainfall is copious. Con-
sequently we have small appreciation of
the value of water; but in truth the world
suffers from the want of water. Even in
America have travelled fifty miles and not
seen drop of water, and in other portions
you would not meet with any for even q
hundred miles. l said one-half the earth
was affected with sterility caused by lack of
water, and one-half Of America is laboring
under the same disadvantage. The Great
American desert affords proofo this. And
yet Providence has placed within our reach
means to overcome this lack. The cause of
this sterility is no doubt want of trees,
and just as you allow your forests to be
cut down in the same proportion ram ceases
to fall, and to-day the farmers should be
planting timber as fast as they cut the old
forests down.
You may take one hundred acres of grass.
If twenty acres Of this could be forest in
stead, l guarantee the remaining eighty
will produce more and better grass than the
whole one hundred acres, andmy advice is,
plant timber, good and choice varieties. |
ask you to take this thought into careful
consideration.
Irrigation is the basis of agriculture, and
the familiar example of the rise of the Nile
is the best argument in its favor, and on its
banks abundant crops are raised. In Ari-
IONA traces of ancient canals to irrigate the
soil can still be found, proving that the
aborgnals of that country understood the
rules Of that art. Ihayc seen on the banks
of the river Pc in Italy land that for two
hundred years had scarcely ever failed of
producing abundant crops, and | have cX-
perimented on my own farm, and by over
blowing a lot OF some three acres at cost
OF only ninety dollars, and the land pro-
duces twice the amount of grass it did be-
fore. ! say to the farmers of this country,
and to you here to-day, commence now to ir-
llgate your land turn these laughing, bab-
bling, sparkling brooks and streams on to
your land, dig wells, put up windmills to
pump the water, build reservoirs, and then
when drouth comes you have the means for
sure crop at your command. say to
you to-day, acate, IS the best fertilizer that
can be used and why not then employ it ?
After some other examples and advice on
this subject, Mr.. Greedy then passed to the
subject of machinery in agriculture.
The steam-engine now does the worlds
work, and why cannot the farmer also en-
ploy it? England, with its cheap labor.
employs one thousand steam-plows, and let
labor be ever so cheap it never can COM
pete with steam and thus by these means
emigration will Spring up, and cover the
whole earth. America uses only few
stcam-plows, hut while at the South | saw
plows at work blowing twelve acres per
day and stirring up the soil two feet deep,
and the planters told me il added one hun
bred dollars per acre to the value of the
tillable land.
AT the beginning of the war, wise heads
predicted a long war, and tho ruler in
Egypt, finding that cotton must rise greatly
in value, sent an order to England for two
hundred and fifty steam-plows, and the re-
suit was the first year paid the expense,
and in the end added millions to his wealth,
Africa, in fact, takes the lead in steam ag-
riculture, and it is high time that America,
with her boosted intelligence, take the hint
and follow in her wake.
Our crops demand a more speedy method
of being harvested. The reaper is too slow,
wet greatly binders, and when the plea
SAINT days do come we want machine that
will cut fifty or more acres per day, and
steam alone can do it. Let steam engine
be invented that will pillow and cultivate his
crop, reap his grain, etc., and otherwise as
sst him in his farm labor.
Mr.. Grecley's remarks on this subject
seemed to meet the approval of his audi
ence. lie then presented the subject of an
educated farming population. The time
would come, he said, when agriculture
would become one of the most intelligent
occupations. The farmer would, in time,
be well posted up in chemistry, geology,
botany, and other sciences, and he would
u Al. i