Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-07-28
Foreign Tributes To America.

A short time ago the German Gov
ernment sent scientist, Prof. Will
kens, to this country to study our
agricultural and general economic
conditions, and this gentleman ap-
pears to have been much impressed
by the unbounded vigor and the
mighty possibilities of America. In
the North German Gazette, an otfi-
cial organ, Prof. Wilkens warns his
countrymen of the formidable char
acter of the American competition
which they are being called upon to
meet, paying particular attention to
the agricultural industry. He says
in part:
ssThe danger of competition in
cattle for slaughter is a great and fa-
tai one, undoubtedly, for the Ger
man farmer. 1t is, moreover, small
comfort to the German meat produ-
Ger to know that the finest cattle are
not yet brought from North America
to Germany, because they cannot
stand the wide transportation. What
is imported at present is cattle from
the western part of North America,
which are raised almost without eX-
pense and cheaply fattened from the
rich supply of maize. Who knows
however, but that in short time ap-
pliances for transportation may be
introduced which may permit the i'm
portation of the finest slaughter house
wares. [ am convinced that if Amer
ican business men call an enterprise
to life they will bring 1t through with
all their energy and in spite of all OBJ
stacles, even if there is loss at the
outset. 1 also do not doubt but that
America IN the near future will intro
duce into Germany, with profit, great
numbers of living food cattle. We,
moreover, dare not hold to the con-
viction that Germany, in masses of
agricultural production, can compete
with North America. At present
the United States have about $780,
100000 acres surveyed, unoccupied
land which the Congress Govern
ment either gives away for nothing
for homesteads or sells at very low
prices as pre-emption or timber
claims. Nine hundred and sixty
million acres are about 3,SSS,OOO
square kilometres, that is, territory
as large as all of Western Europe
with the exception of Russia and
Turkey in their old frontiers.) Be-
sides this, the United States possess
es about $40, 100000 acres more of
unsurveyed and unoccupied land or
about 1900, 100000 acres of unoc-
cupied land or about 1900, 900
square kilometres. What can thick
ly populated Europe, with a popula-
ton five times as great as the Uni
ted States, do against such stretch
of virgin soil?"
Prof. Wilkens notes the systemat-
ic way in which science is being
brought into play to promote the ag-
ricultural industry in America, and
continues ''It were folly for Ger
man farmers to shut their eyes to
this mighty intellectual movement OF
the North America farmers, and II
were madness to believe that they
can compete with North America in
the mass of farm productions" Ia
ken in connection with the announce
ment of M. Ribot that the European
Powers have definitely abandoned all
idea of concerted retaliation against
America on account of the Mckinley
bill, the words of this German sclen'
tist are doubly significant. Europe
is fast beginning to realize that the
United States has the whiphand, ant
that attempts to unite the Old Worl(
in a coalition against the young gian
of the West are worse than useless