Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-01-15
CONGRESSIONAL
SENATE.
WAsHINoTON. Ji

WASHINGTON, January Id.
1t was agreed to consider on Friday
next the bills now on the calendar not
objected to.
Mr.. Butler submitted resolution di-
recting the Secretary Of the Interior to in
quire aud report what railroad company,
Individual or individuals, are building a
railroad across the public dom aims in
Arizona and by what authority the
road is being constructed. Agreed TO.
Promotion of Agriculture.
Mr.. Davis, OF West Virginia, called
up the resolution submitted by him
/ early in the session, instrncting the
Committees on Agriculture OF the two
Houses to inquire what national legisla-
ton is necessary TO promote and foster
the agricultural interest of the coutry.
Speech of Senator Davis, Of West Virginia.
lie said he felt there was no subject
Of more importance and more moment to
the country, none around which 80
many Interests cluster, and in which 50
many center, as American agriculture.
The subject Is 80 broad, SO national, 50
universal, 81 non-partisan, 80 non-sec-
tional, 30 far-reaching In Its effects, and
important in its results, that 1t should
command the patient attention OF all,
and in its consideration party feeling and
party passion should have no voice. lie
claimed that for what has been done in
the past to bring relief for our heavy
National, State, municipal and indi-
vidual indebtness, held at home and
abroad, and for whatever of light and
hope there is ahead OF US, the country
is mainly indebted to agriculture.
lie showed that from the beginning OF
time, agriculture was held t0 he OF the
greatest importance, the basis and
source of all permanent wealth. Adam
was the first agriculturist. The
Egyptians and lsraelites were farmers.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David titled
the soil and tended herds. The Romans,
Greeks and Spaniards were devoted to
agriculture. England, France, Ger
many, Russia, Holland, Belgium and
switzerland owe what they arc to
agriculture.
From the earliest settlement Of our
country To the present time, for what
ever progress We, az a nation, have
made, We are indebted to agriculture.
Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madi-
son, Jackson, Webster, Clay, Wright
and other prominent men were quoted
as farmers and strong advocates of the
promotion of agricultural interests.
In this country it is the fundamental
business, the leading commercial inter
est, the most important home industry,
about hall or 23,OOO,OOO of the people
being engaged init.
1t is To agriculture We owe the large
balance of trade in our favor, and he
showed, from official statistics, that in
1873 We bought S5l $4,000 less and
sold Sll6, ,955 900 more than we did in
We bought, and that this was principally
owing 10 agriculture.
lie read large number of interesting
tables OF official statistics showing the
value and per centage of agricultural
products exported from the United
States from 1850 to 1873; the annual
per bushel, yield per acre and value per !
acre of the cereal crops of the United !
states from lS6S 10 1877; the currency
Ndlut Ol dSIltultuidl al piOiuCNS SApOlbtu 1
from the United States from June 30th, |
1879 10 1873 inclusive. In 1878 our |
entire exports were Si95, 10, $50, and OF
this agriculture reached Sb36, ,95l, or |
full three-fOurths of our entire exports.
We have more than 2,OOO,OOO,OOO
acres of land, with a soil and climate !
unsurpassed and adapted to the wants
and comforts OF mankind, and three |
iuurths of this immense territory |
is available for agricultural purposes.
Eet with our area Of 3,603, ,SS4 square
miles, we have but an average of thir-
teen persons to the square mile, while
France, with an area of but 200
square miles, less than the area ot
Texas, has lS2 to the square mile; Ger
many zoo to the square mile. These
iensely populated countries must iney-
itably overflow into this, and while We
DO not want the paupers from other
countries, yet We have ample farming
lands and room for all persons devoted
to honest industry.
The duty on articles used by the
farmers averages about 42t per cent.
Most of the internal revenue comes
from the tax on two items OF agricul-
tural products.
In lS77, the following amounts were
expended for agricultural purposes by
th,. countries named