The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-12

the mead, 10r L 10unu tnem IN earnest
They are going to help with might anc
main :" to roll my balls along" Whit
on my way there the plow-makers wer'
in convention plows were too low-they
resolved to raise the price-and up wen
plows.
Now, did you ever hear of an agricul
tural convention resolving to raise the price
OF any one of the staples, and the price
going up? Why can the plow-makers dc
it and the plow-users not? Is it not be-
cause the latter lack the information thai
the former possess with regard to the
supply?
The plan proposed for universal sys.
tenn of
CROP REPORTS AND METEOROLOGICAL
| OBSERVATIONS
will give you that information and put
! you and the merchants upon the same
| footing.
The proposition is this that the federal
| government invite the other nations to
meet it in the persons of scientists and
agriculturalists in general conference, for
the purpose of devsing and setting on foot
comprehensive plan of meteorological
observation and research, in conjunction
with an international system of crops re-
ports. touching all the chief staples of the
earth.
In 1853 l called such conference to-
gether in Brussels, among the various
powers, to devise plan of uniform obser-
walton for the sea. And l want you now
to help me do for the land what those pow
ers helped me to do for the sea. That was
in the especial interest of commerce and
navigation, and millions of dollars are
saved annually through it.
THE PLAN NOW PROPOSE
will, if ysu will help to have it properly
carried out, benefit the farmer far more
signally than the other did the merchants,
shipowners and sailors.
The agricultural congress has already
memorialized the government in Washing
ton upon the subject. The memorial was
needed only in part. 1t must be repeated
with emphasis from Indianapolis next May !;
therefore | want this society to be there,
in the person of its best men, to give force
to the re-utterance.
| have ON other occasions explained the
objects and showed the advantages of con-
Meeting general system of meteoro-
logical research, and cosmopolitan plan of
crops reports. The importance of such
system and plan in combination is so vari-
Gus, and the benefits likely to accrue so
palpable, that need not elaborate the one
or the other before an assemblage like this.
Therefore content myself by referring to
the papers mentioned IN the margin, which
have been circulated over the country by
hundreds of thousands.
AS soon as the government perceives
that the farmers, as Body, are in earnest,
that the voice of the agricultural congress
is indeed their voice, then they will be re-
cognized-as well as the ''railroad rings"
AS power in the land ]; their invitations
for the conference will 60 out. and the
DEMANDS OF THE FARMERS FOR FAIR
PLAY
will be needed. a ~
How shall railway commerce between
the states be regulated? That's a ques-
ton to be considered in your grand council
next May. think plan may be devised
for it which, without increasing taxation,
will accomplish the object, at the same
time efectually providing for the common
defence. and largely promoting the general
welfare. All of which were among the
special objects and aims for which the
Union was formed.
do not perceive how the government
in Washington can regulate commerce be-
tween the states by prescribing tariffs and
fixing theItolls of existing railroads. But
l do see how it may accomplish the OBJ
ject in view by encouraging the aonstruc-
ton of the great water line between the
James river and Kanawaha, and of certain
other national routes, by rail and water,
can nrescribe = '-'e-' :.
ro,,s AMI r.p,,,vs
:,
ana which snail serve as regulators OF COM
merce IN peace, ana as WORKS OF defence
III war.
russia, IN the war with france, made
with eiec1flcai torPedoes, her seaport towns
iimpregnaole 10 the powerful Meet OF her
brave enemy ana Win her railways 10 as
sls. ~ .he lnopll1a.ior Vi troops she, III
!ourteen oays, nasseu iroui Instances vary
Ing up 20 wv mles, an army OF ooo,ooV
men, win cavalry, artliiery, munitions ana
supphes an complete ana tnen, IN the
course OF Jour months, she fought ana won
pitcnea DaItle every week, captured an
oid-iashioned fortress every nine days,
making S'4,ooo prisoners, and overcoming
tne most famous military power IN tne
wofid. AL because sne made haste 70
ava'i heIseil Oh an tne means anu apph'
ances Which mooern Improvements ana IN
yentions nad mace avaliaole 1or war;
Cnlei among these new Improvements ana
Tho teIanronb The .alectr,c.l tornedo r;fleJ