The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-04-29

the world is only eighteen months in ad-
vance of starvation, does not the preserva-
ton Of food products become a question
Of lncalculable and universal Importance
to humanity? At a. time when universal
famine threatened the nations, the genus
of Joseph gave to the world a system of
storage from which it was fed for seven
years. 1t was successfully practiced bv
the ancient Egyptians and Romans and
III the explorations OF science the grain
then stored-thousands of years ago-is
found to pc sess its powers of germina-
ton as perfectly and as vigorously as
though Il were harvested one year ago.
Inc m st thorough scientific investigation
has established beyond question that the
whole process, which has long been the
wonder f mankind, consisted only and
simply IN excluding tie air from the stor-
aye vaults, The construction of these
va@lts, with their facilities and rude an
p~llanceS, it is true, were of immense cost.
but the great end was ACCOMPLISHED
And the secret which has been buried in
these dark storage rooms for centuries
has been brought to light by the hand of
science, and the world VS. as much
amrzed a. its simplicity as it had been
COMPOUNDED by its hidden mystery. And
the inventive genius and acute perception
oil the enterprising, aggressive American,
has discovered Opportunity and methods
for utilizing this knowledge at infinitely
superior advantage is that Of the a~nCients.
1t IS found that homogeneous steel is
lmpervious to air, Upon estimates made
by leading civil engineers-men Of world
wide reputatlon-r ceptacles of varying
capacity for the storage Of grain and other
pro ducts, may be constructed Of this ma
terial at a less cost than it is possible to
construct them Of stone or brick or wood.
This steel may be had in unlimited guam
titles and at a cost not to exceed two
cents per pound and it is claimed and
asserted that these steel storage rooms
may be built at a cost not to exceed four
cents per buSheI. Steel storage w8rerOoms
for cotton can be constructed, f~re-proof,
water proof, and weather-proOf. of a
capacity Of one thousand bales and up
ward, at a cost not to exceed one dollar
and thirty cents per bale.
If upon investigation it be demonstra-
ted that such are the facts, it solves a
problem of t~ranscendant importance to
the whole world. 1t removes ali Objec-
tionS as to the cost of storage room for
products proposed in this bill. 1t would
silence all objection as to the Punishable
character Of the security we offer. 1t
would give US a s orage absolutely fire.
proof, water proof, and weather proof,
and thus enable US to place with the
government the safest, most reliable, and
most desirable security the world could
afford. The savings IN insurance alone,
it is claimed, would cancel the cost of
construction in the short period of FIVE
years. Fraught with possibilities for
good to mankind, almost inconceivible,
and supplying as it would to our govern
ment a basis Of values superior to even
silver and gold for it's curI ency. l beg,
respectfully, to submit the suggestion that
it is at least worthy the attention and
investigation Of the leading representa-
tive body Of the most progressive people
of the world.
We submit this bill, Mr.. Chairman, with
due Difference to the intelligence, judg-
ment, and wisdom of your body. We do
not claim that it is the best, or the only
measure through which relief may be
brought to our oppressed, suffering and
distressed people, but we submit it as the
best We have been able to devise. We
would be only too happy to receive at
your hands a wiser and a better measure.
But, Mr.. Chairman, these suffering mil
lions must have relief. They ask for
bread and will not be content with a stone.
They are not asking for charity, but
are demanding justice, They are
not asking for special Legislation, through
which their interest may be promoted at
the expense of any other interest of the
country, but they demand that the heavy
hand Of oppressive discrimination be lifted
fro Il them and that they be allowed an
open field and an equal chance with the
other great industries of the country.