Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-03-18
Mr. Harris, assistant chief of the Office of

! tent the operations OF tDat DIVISION. Ht
gave an interesting resume of experiment.
made in the pulverization of the soil in tht
arid regiops resulting In the retention o.
moisture sufficient to sustain vegetation. He
said circular had been prepared informing
the farmer how to make systematic expert
ments fer himself, and told how the orange
scale Insect Of California had been extermi
mated by the Introduction Of q parasite from
Australia The results of experiments at
tbs various stations are being condensed so
as to be Ct practical use to farmers through
out the country
Secretary Rusk was then Introduced, and
said speech making was not his forte. He
bad arranged TO send Prof Willetts, the as.
sistant secretary, TO talk to us but he was
prevented by sickness, so he, the Secre
tary, had asked to be excused from Cabinet
meeting before it was over go 80 to come to
the convention. He would reiterste what
had already been said, that farmers must
unite their effJrts for the common good.
Let Us unite for the advancement CT the in.
dustry VIC represent There is too much
money expended by the government for
matters of doubtful utility.
While The great cause of agriculture that
underlies all other vocations goes begging
for paltry appropriations, while we can
hardly get one million for agricultural pur-
poses, two millions are locked up in single
vessel to sGi around the world to-weli, ITO
look at the rest" The farmers Of Virginia
should say to Congress I'VE want our rights,
or to know the reason why"
As the the Secretary had to leave to re.
turn to Washington recess was taken to
give opportunity for hand shaking.
Upon reassembling the 81 question was
taken up. do farmera' wives and daugh-
ters receive due consideration for their eff
forts 10 make farming successful"
Mr. Chaplin was called upon by the Chair,
and said he was ashamed TO speak for the
ladies as the men were not properly assert.
ing their own rights, but he hoped their
merits would be properly appreciated.
Col Bcveris spoke warmly in behalf Of
the ladies, snd their forts 10 Tia direction
Indicated, which he lhought were MT duly
appreciated. He did not think they should
vote, as be did not believe they wanted to.
he wanted the appropriations increased for
the agricultural department, and the ladies
should receive their share of the benefits.
E. E Mason thought the ladies' did 10.
want any more taffy. taey wanted some
thing more substantial. Ladies' who hold
property, at least, should vote.
Col. Daniels slso spoke in favor Of recog.
milton of woman's services and commended
what had been said in reference to the need
Of more money in circulation, and more lib
eral appropriations for the agricultural de
partment. The time being at hand when
many had to leave on the trains the con-
Venton adjourned.
The secretary of the convention being de-
barred from making any extended remarks.
by reason of his official duties and the want
of time in view of the number of the speak
ers, will review what WAS said and make
some comments tberaon. 1t was admitted
by all that the farming interests were far
from their normal cordi.iop, a remedy was
needed and badly needed, end that without
delay But who will decide as 10 the rem
edy required? By reason of the radical dis.
agreement of the doctors 10 the case, who
can suggest he proper lreatnentS The first
thing to be done is to make thor0ugH I'D
intelligent diagnosis ofthe Case by properly
constituted commission, and those interested
should see TO 1t that thls is done. Already
there Is proposition before Congress look
ing to this end, and I would say the oppo
nenls of such q measure, beware how you
oppose it, in view of the condition of af
fairs it is not wise to ants gonize this measure,
is the composition Of that commission.
from among the leading agricultursls of the
county. Senator Culon has introduced
bill for the loaniDg of money to the farmers
at two per cent. This is already denounced
by some az being class legislation and that
it should not be tolerated. Well, that can
be decided later or after the report Of this
commission. But suppose it is class legisla.
ton, is it not about time we had some euoh
legislation If the great producing class OF
the country upon which all other industries
so largely depend is on the verge of bank
:uptcy This is 10 idle matter. Anyone
watching the drift of the agricultural jour.
nails of the country will be convinced OF THE,
the larger the circulation of these papers
the more emphatic are their notes of warn
ing on this subject. The Farm Journal of
Philadelphia says: 1.-THE indications are that
Samson is growing restive In his bonde,
that he is turning himself about in prepera-
ton for some move that will startle the
lockers on, and awaken the people TO
true knowledge Of the true situation"
Any one with quick ear may detect the sound
of distant thunder, and the signs are that the
whole heavens will soon be overcast, not as por-
tent of evil, bat Of good for our common country.
the leading journals, is vory much awakened on
the subject. The farmers throughout the country
arc organizing for the protection of their common
interests with rapidity never before known.
Let any one study the figures in some of the late
issues of POor's Manual and from other sources
bearing upon the railroad interests of this coun.
try. When proper conception is arrived at Of the
amount of watered stocks afoat upon which in
terest has to be paid, and when all the other COM
binations are considered against which the farmers
have to contend it is little wonder that the agri-
cultural interests are in the prostrated condition
now existing. Mr.. Taylor truly cited the great
wealth of this country under the existing condi-
tions; but the portentious question remains, Who
holds this wealth? Statistics show that more
than half Of this is owned by about thirty thou
sand Of our people, while the remainder is dis.
tributed among upwards Of sixty millions And
unless this tendency is checked it is only ques-
tion of time as to when serious crisis may be
upon the country. The farming interest is now
at the mercy of the various adverse combinations,
but there will doubtless be a change soon. The
I.f l,nfo, -tap t1aoa