The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-06-05
a-geeklp Glariun,



At the last session Of the National
Agricultural Congress in March, Col.
Curtis, Of New York, spoke against the
superabundaRce Of theoretical agriculture
in our agricultural colleges, and the sad
want Of practical teaching that may re
suit in making Of students intelligent
practical farmers,
The question Of sheep husbandry came
mp, and the following resolution was Of
fered:
.,Rssolved, That sheep husbandry il
the United States, with its products o1
wool and mutton, its value III fertiIizine
the soil, ana its adaptability to every
section of the country, is eminentlY a
national industry. Its extraordinary
progress in the last ten years justifes the
national protection which has been at
forded to it, and warrants the conclusion
that no change in the revenue policy at
present applied to this industry, is de
manded by consideration Of national in
terests.
The subject Of inland transportation
and railroads was brought up and dis
cussed.
Mr.. w. W. Fields, Of Wisconsin, pre-
scented the following resolution which was
adopted:
Resolved, That it is the sense Of the
National Agricultural Congress that the
National Government ought to control
inter State commerce. and we respectful
~ urge Congress now in session to take
this matter into consideration.
At the evening session the subject of
inland transportation was discussed.
Senator Window, Of Minnesota, made
the opening address. After ably discuss
ing the general question of cheaper in
land transportation, he announced his
belief that trans continental water trans
portation, by aid Of Congress, was the
only solution Of the difficulty.
The regulation Of railroad tariffs by
Legislatures, National or State, seems to
be a difficult thing. If we are correctly
informed, nearly two thousand millions
of dollars in railroad stocks in the Uni
ted States have not paid dividends for
wears, or did not year or two since
The great competition in through freights
have caused many railroads to do this
business AT cost, and often at loss to the
company. LII they do the through bust
ness a at loss, and the local business on
roads where there i but little local bust
ness to be obtained at any price at the
through figure, this drives the company
into early liquidation, unless they are
very strong. Legislative interference
NAV do in some instances, but in other
instances it would bankrupt the company.
Many members Of Legislatures are very
poor railroad men, and, in their legisla
ton 10 regulate freights, would be like ii
client sitting on a jury to decide his own
case. Some persons speak OF railroad
companies as though they were the com
mon enemies Of the country, to be sup
pressed as nuisances. 1t should be re
membered that there are two sides to the
railroad question, as we'll as to all other
questions.
The question Of forestry came up be-
fore the n A, Congress. This is far
more important TO the Northern and Yves
tern States and Texas, where the timber
has been exhausted, or where there is a
vast prairie surface, than in the Southern
States bordering on the Mississippi River
and east Of it, where there are immense
forests Of the finest timber on this CONT
nent.