Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-03-24
AGRICULTURE AND ITS NEEDS
Speech in Congress by Hon. ]. 7. Up
degraff


under consideration in the House OF
Representatives for the creation of a
Department of Agriculture. During the
discussion Mr.. Updegraff madea speech,
from which we copy the following ex-
tracts:
Mr.. SPEAKER Not being a member
of the Committee on Agriculture, | am
under special obligation to that COM
mittee and the gentleman in charge of
the bill, Mr.. Aiken, for the courtesy of
an opportunity at this time to address
the House in favor of this measure.
feel too deep an interest in this bill, and
too strong a conviction of its impor-
tance, indeed of its necessity, to give it
merely "a silent support. IL is true it
does not embrace all the interests which
should in my judgment, be combined in
this reconstruction OF the Agricultural
Department. A fully organized "De-
partment of Industry" should embrace
both mining and manufactures. Com
merce is Row very properly united with
the Treasury Department.
BEGINNING.
But 1t is move in the right direction.
It is some official recognition Of agricul-
ture as the great industry which is the
underlying source Of all our wealth and
national prosperity. For years its delay
or denial has been wrong to that inter-
est, and therefore of necessity a damage
to every associated interest. The great
fact of modern history is the creation Of
values by the development of natural
resources. The great problem of wise
government is the just recognition and
fostering care of these productive forces /;
for material development is itself an
important element of civilization. Mil
lions of dollars ef our national wealth
has been created by what meagre aid
our government has given to the en-
largement of our agricultural produc-
tions. Millions have been lost by
the utter inadequacy of the appropria-
tions which have been dOled out to this
immense industry. And yet the De-
partment of Agriculture, weaker in
working force than most of the bureaus
in other Departments, stinted in it's
endowments and hampersd by hostility
and dispsragement,h has been of incalcu-
liable value. not only to the agricultural
interests, but to our marvellous material
development. Every year these facts
are becoming more generally apprecia-
ted, not only by farmers, but by progress
sive men in ali ranks of activity.
WHY THIS BILL?
This bill simply proposes an act of
long deferred justice. 1t elevates this
Department to the full rank Of other
Executive Departments, with all their
rights and dignities. Why shall it not
be? 1t is the direct representative of
more than one-half of the people of the
whole country. They constitute largely
the productive element of our pOpula-
tion. No class can justly claim any
superiority over them rs intelligent, pa
trietic, useful citizens. Their industri-
GUS habits and conservative virtues are
no small factors in the strength and Sc
curity of our institutions. However
trade may enrich and art adorn our pro-
gress, the nation dwells largely in the
cottages and farm houses of the country.
The farmers of the United States,
though not largely active in mere polit-
ical strifes, are earnest in their intelli
gent appreciation of the recognition due
not only to their material interests, but
to the just elevation of that great in
dustry. They fully understand that
their branch of our productive forces
has been ignored, or recognized IN a
grudging, half-hearted way. Indeed, it
would seem as if the Government is
half ashamed of that industry which is
the bedrock of its wealth and power.
Indeed, in this House it is receiving less
ridicule only as its strength is becoming
more obvious and formidable. This bill
may be defeated to-day, but its success
you cannot long postpone. This Depart
pent has, in spite of manifold obstacles,
attained to such national Importance
that its just rank and representation in
the Cabinet cannot ba defeated. trust
it may be done now. For many years
the attention of Congress has been asked
to the importance of an Agricultural
Department worthy of its name and ne
cessities. Its capacity for good should
be enlarged to An extent somewhat COM
mensurate with its present benefits and
its grand possibilities. 1t would be not
only a substantial service to every in
dustrial interest, but a just and graceful
recognition of that large class. the farm
ers of the country, who have always
been modest in their demands on the
Government.
RESOURCES AND PRODUCTS OF AaRICUL-
TURE.
Prof. johnson estimates that nine
tenths of the fred capital i'll the United
States is embarked in agriculture. 1t
pays nearly four-tifths of the taxes col
| lected in the country. Over 81 per cent
Of our population, or more than 26,00O,-
900 are engaged in this industry. Our
country is rapidly becoming the food
field of the world. Less than forty
years ago wheat was imported from the
Black Sea to New York. Last year end
ing June 80, 1880, we sent S2ss,OS8,sS5