The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-05
MORTON's ANNUAL REPORT.
The Secretary's Figures Exports
and Imports.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-The annual
report of the secretary of agriculture is
particularly interesting because Of its ref
erences to current troubles with foreign
governments over the importation Of
American products. He reviews the sub
ject of foreign markets 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 1924, 600. 900. Including about
$4,000. 900 worth of mineral oils with agri-
cultural exports the United Kingdom took
54.31 per cent. of all exports Of bread
stuffs, provisions, mineral oils, cotton and
tobacco.
OF dressed beef, Great Britain took from
us during the first six months of the
year 1894, $1O,OOO,OOO worth. Australia is
our chief competitor for the trade. Mr.
Morton deems it probable that the Ameri-
can farmer will find more advantage from
the shipment of dressed beef than from
the expectation of live cattle.
Referring to the frequent allegations on
the part of the European governments
that live animals from The United States
are found diseased. the secretary ex-
presses the opinion that these declarations
are sometimes based on fear of infection,
but are at other times made for economic
reasons.
The review Of the foreign trade leads
him to certain conclusions as to the future
of our export trade in agricultural
products, as follows: Competition of Rus
STA, Argentine, Australia and other coun-
tries favored BY conditions which enable
them to grow wheat at a low cost, and
especially by the proximity of their wheat
growing regions to water communications,
warns American farmers TO no longer de-
pend upon wheat as a staple export crop.
On the other hand, a good market, at fair
prices, is to be found in the United King
dom for barley and corn, and owing to the
great variety Of uses 10 which it may be
applied, promises 20 be in constant and
increasing demand. The secretary reports
the inception of two important scientific
investigations. the first relating TO grasses
and forage plants, the other to agricul-
tural soils and crop production. The sec
rotary believes that the Importance Of
these Investigations justifies the erection
of each into one Independent division, and
he has so provided in the appropriations
for the ensuing fiscal year.
With reference to the weather bureau
the secretary shows that nearly $4,000
and covered back into the treasury. he
shows that by needing the admOnitOns Of
the bureau reative to the great tropical
storm of September, 1894, vessels valued at
over SIT 100000 were saved. So in October,
when over 1,200 vessels, valued at S19,O00,-
600, were kept in port owing TO the
bureaus warnings. Moreover, many hu-
man lives We're preserved. The secretary
concludes that the investment is a paying
one, and may properly come within the
functions of the government.
The work Of the bureau OF animal in
dustry during the year has been greatly
| increased, Notwithstanding tina reduction
in the apprOpriatiOn. The secretary con-
cludes a review Of the inspection Of eX-
port and interstate meat, with The recon-
, mendation that the law providing for the
same be so amended To compel the
| owners Of the meat inspected to pay the
| cost Of inspection. If, he argues, the in
| SpectiOn widenS the market, thus ennanc-
| ing the price Of their property, they, as
| the direct pecuniary benedciarles, should
| agree 10 pay for it.
The report concludes with statement
showing that Of the total exports Of this
country for 1894 Fiscal year, farm products
aggregated $62S. 600, 900, or 72.5S per cent.
OF the whole. The markets Of the world,
he says, demand from the American
farmer the very best quality Of bread
stuffs and materials. The farmer ex-
changes his products, the results of his
labors, which have specific purchasing
power, for money having a general pur-
chasing power. Under the heading, For
Prime Pork Give Us Prime Currency
| the secretary asks: Would the $50. 900 600
worth Of farm products from the United
States sold last year to foreign nations
have been as remunerative 10 the Ameri-
can farmer If they had been paid for in
silver as they have been when paid for in
| gold or lis equivalent? When the stand
| ard coin OF the republic shall be made OF
| metal worth as much after it is melted as
| it purports TO be worth in coin and the
| mint values and the commodity values OF
all metallic money approximately equal it,