The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-29
AMERICAN FARMERS.


WASHINGTON, D. c.. Nov 2s.-The an
nual report Of the secretary Of agricul.
ture is particularly interesting because
OF its reference to current troubles with
foreign governments over the importa.
tion OF American products.
In the beginning, the secretary states
that while $780, 900 have been covered
back into the treasury from the annual
appropriation, being % per cent OF the
entire amount, economy has not dimin-
ished efficiency. He reviews tho sub
ject OF foreign mark cts and gives figures
Of our agricultural exports, especially
those of Great Britain. That country
paid during the year 1898 for American
breadstuffs, provisions, cotton and to-
bacco over sS24,ooO,ooo. Including
about sIo,OOOoOO worth OF mineral oils
with agricultural exports. the United
Kingdom took 54.31 per cent OF all ex-
ports of breadstuffs. provisions, min
eral oils, cotton and tobacco.
OF dressed beef Great Britain took
from US during the first six months OF
the year 1894 $40, 900, 900 worth. Austria.
liza is our chief competitor for the trade
Mr.. Morton deems il probable that the
American farmer will lind moro advan.
tages from the shipment OF dressed beef
than from the expectation OF live cattle.
Referring to the frequent allegations
on the part Of the Europeans govern
ments that live animals from the
United States are found diseased, the
secretary expresses the opinion that
these declarations are some times based
on fear OF injection, but are at other
times made for economic reasons. He
argues that if all American beef going
abroad were shipped in the carcass,
bearing the government certificate as
to whoIesomeness, it certain " could
not be shut out on account OF alleged
diseases. He suggests that II certain
European nations continue TO insist on
microscopical inspection OF American
pork and veterinary inspection OF beef
with governmental certifcation to each,
the government Of the United States
might we'll insist upon inspection and
certifcation by such foreign govern
ments of all importations therefrom.
whether edlbles or beverages, intended
for human consumption.
He reports q very large increase in
the exports OF beef and hog products
for the year previous with, on the other
hand, marked decline in the exports
OF wheat.
The review OF the foreign market
leads him to certain conclusions as to
the future OF our export trade in agri-
cultural products as follows: Competi.
ton OF Russia, Argentine. Australia and
other countries favored by conditions
which enable them to grow wheat at
low cost, and especially by the prox'
unity Of their wheat growing region to
water COMMUNICATIONS, warns Ameri.
can farmers to no longer depend upon
wheat as staple export crop. On tho
other hand, good market, at fair
prices, is to be found in the United
Kingdom for barley and corn, owing to
the great variety OF uses to which 1t
may be applied, promises to be in con.
'stant and increasing demand.
The secretary concludes a review OF
the inspection on export and interstate
meat with therecommendation that the
law providing for the same be so
amended as to compel the owners OF
the meat inspected to pay the cost CT
inspection.
II, he argues, the inspection widen
the market, thus enhancing the price
OF their property, they, as the direct
pecuniarv benehciaries, should agree to
pay for it.
The Russian thistle is made the text
for suggestion that seeds OF new
grasses and other plants from abroad
must be hereafter very carefully in
spected. >,
In reviewing the work of the division
OF ornithology, the secretary earnestly
denounces the war OF extermination
waged on birds ito satisfy the bar.
barous demands for ornamentation OF
feminine headwear," q practice which
he declares to be cruel and senseless.
The report says the number OF pack.
ages OF seeds gratuitously distributed
by the government in the year was over
nine and half million.
The report concludes with state
ment showing that of the total exports
this country for 1894, fiscal year, farm
products aggregated S62S, 900, 900 worth,
or 1858 per cent Of the whole. The
markets OF the world, he says, demand
from the American farmer the very best
quality OF breadstufs and materials.
The farmer exchanges his products. the
results OF his labors, which have specific
purchasing power, for money having a
general Purchasing power Under the
heading "For prime pork. give us prime
currency" the secretary asks, would
the six hundred million dollars worth oil
farm products from the United States
sold last year to foreign nations have
been ne remunerative to the American
farmer II they had been paid for in sill
yer rs they have been when paid Tor in
gold or its equivalent.
"When the standard coin OF the re-
public shall be made of metal worth as
much after it is melted as it purporta
TO be worth in coin, and tho mintvalues
and the commodity values OF all metal.
lie money approximate equal to 1t, will
not the American farmer and oil other
c;tizcns become more permanently
prosperous
II the American farmer, laborer and
manufacturer are compelled by law to
submit to the measurement OF the
value of the products OF their efforts by
n silver standard, will not the foreigner
in buying those products use tho same
measure. With his beof, pork and
cereals tho American farmer buys
money, and why should he not demand
as supsrlative a quality in that which
no buys rs the domestic and foreign
purchasers insist upon in that which
he sclIs2
beef aud prime pork, why should not