Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-24
SECRETARY MORTON.
=, EFFORT or THE AGRICUL-
,u DEPARTMENTS HEAD.
,vrplCAN FARM CONDITIONS
III, waiter Of Government Aid TO
nc H"''""'"""--r'e fr'S-S'''
,.,,,-Cattle and Men Trade
...,,tnvton Personals

.rlcrON. d. c.. November D.
Was" secretary Mortons annual re-
,.-s has just been printed is full
fN- .- Interesting 20 the farmers OF
.-+ry In regard TO the gratui-
ne ....-.bution OF seeds. he says that
l'-' .-.ots for furnishing the seeds
N' .1s hy and with the advice and
V" ~ the chalrmen OF the Senate
% u,uee Committees on Agriculture;
f .-.itv sent ont during the fiscal
%. ....nc June 30. 1876. weighed a
- o,) tons: the cost OF carrying
... .,.-,,rh the mails was over $1,000
'",. ,,,k thirty mail-oars to transport
hsn. c..,o... go. "caro-
~. .,~ru.auon shows that the seeds
.,t hy the Department Of Agricul-
..-,,r the year would have planted
..-.s OF cabbage. 1o,76S acres Of
.... ne acres OF tomatoes, and other
... Vegetables I'm proportionally large
r-.ev. tho seed gratuitously
about The country would have plant
-... +han no square miles OF garden
....- words. 70 would have planted a
-. , ground ] rod IN width and S6,N7
. .r length. Such a strip would
.-o and one-half times around the
,. and O. passenger train going at
-... of % miles an hour would re-
..-, s. DAVIS. 8 hours. and u minutes to
.-.., from one END az this gratuitous-
,....tf -ruck-patoh TO the other
.-..t confessional quota contained
.. .-au-h TO plant more than los IL
.r.. af,r 0o0 packets Of vegetable seeds
- tr. government $500, while the
.....-.-.-for Of -hc same through the
.-,-. added the sum Of Si.52o making a
.... .r.- directly 90 the government or
r.-n for the gratuity. paid for by
-. raised from an the people, and be-
r.ut upon a few people.
.-.rrIos Of an seeds sent out were
,,-.fl..v and thoroughly tested by Mr.
cnrr u Hicks expert as TO purity
s-1 -.rm native power
SEEDS FOR 1897.
.-a- che year ending June 3d. 1897. seeds
save boon contracted for amounting
o. rr r0 IN value. Owing TO lower
-s r is SAT, 20 say that each con-
.s.oraI quota viii be nearly double
r.t was In the year 1895. And care
n. estimates Ike 70 obvious that the
--.-Ht1.s distribution of seed by the
government during the year 1897 will
,~rlrt nc retail price valuation. 10
more than s. $4,000. Ard because OF this
..-r.fI.on for free seed with the retail
-u of the country. an attempt was
made recently 10 enioin the department
f-0u purchasing seed with the appropria-
t made at the last session Of Con-
r Ulf the injunction was denied,
1r ttrs The great privilege Of gratuitous-
Ir fr -hIng garden and fower-seeds
ul small per cent. Of the people out OF
money raised from the revenues OF all
people was conserved TO members Of
Congress and the officers OF the De-
rr.n.rr cf Agriculture. IL is estimated
t't tla distribution for thi year will
sufficient to plant about 2}0 square
-rou03, and will therefore en-
Ir M t.e distribution about sixty mall
'Tta Secretary OF Agriculture sincerely
this unnecessary and wastcful ex-
u public moneys. and hopes
t.t Congress may in good time put a
s.e. thereto"
AMERICAN FARM CONDITIONS.
rns TO the condition of the Ameri-
cu farmer. the Secretary says: THE
farmers the United States hold y out
o . ij farms-Occupied by their own
outely free from mortgages or
..t. ncImhrances. The debts secured by
-.- upon lands used for tillage and the
rou Of crops aggregate. after
throwing out the mortgage indebtedness
railroads and other corporations. less
t-a one sixth OF tha total Indebtedness
o- t.e citizens OF the United States Sc
cured upon real estate.
ot each thousand farms IN the
l1'.- states only 282 are mortgaged. and
..IH ,.lrths OF the money represented
.' mortgages upon the 222 farms was
i Ha purchase Of those farms or for
A borrowed 20 improve those farms.
a prevalent idea that the West and
south are more heavily burdened with
mortgages than the East and North
-,'ons OF The United States Is en-
erroneous.
States along the North Atlantic
arc quite heavily encumbered with
ia mortgages and New Jersey carries
.- ~ This Kind greater IN proportion
-trm valuations, than any State in
i.- American Union.
- constant complaint b the alleged
- nI armers. and by some farmers
fe'. i5 that the government does
AK couture. IN conventions
.t ses 10 has been proclaimed that
farmers Of the country are almost
..'.' llr in debt respondent. ana suf-
Largely these declarations are
N'-A.-l foundation. Their utterance IS a
ment OF agriculture and an indig-
I'D every intelligent and practical
garner of the United States. The free and
nIent farmers Of this country are
im fershed; they are not mendi-
VA,si they are not wards OF the govern
i-. % be treated TO annuities. like In
upon reservations on the other
AtI they are the representatives Of the
t- most honorable. and most essential
oauon OF the human race. Upon il
r o.l-r vocations depend for subsistence
r. N.o perity. The farmer is the CO.
lil.r of the elements. Ills intelligently
.l efforts are In unison with the
.' and heat OF the sun. and the success
DTS .lbors represents the commngling
4 ft ra.ndrops and his own sweat.
legislation can neither plough nor
lant The Intelligent, practical, and
'll farmer needs no aid from the
i.f.mment. The ignorant. impractical
end indoient farmer deserves none. 1t
De- not the business Of government TO
ata in behalf Of any class Of citi-
because they are engaged ia any
specific calling TO matter how essential
Ia. calling may be 20 The needs and COM
-.-a of civilization. Lawmakers cannot
Hee natural laws nor restrict or efface
'te or ration OF economic laws. II Is a
tn.iceut arrangement OF the order OF
Nnes and the conditions Of human life
tat erslators are not permitted 10 re-
; Z: n, The