The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-06
RICHES FOR THE FARMERS.
sEORETARY WILSON 81 g HIGHER
PRICE, MEAN $500, 900, 900.
ne Is Going Through tho South at the Personal
Reauest or President Mckinley to study the
Situation There and Means
OF Improving Crops and Increasing Trade.

Reauest OF Pre.ident Mckinley to study tho
Situation There and Recommend Means
or Improving Crops and Increasing Trade.
BALTIMORE, Aug. 5.-The Hon. James Will
son, Secretary of Agriculture, in an interview
to be published tomorrow in the Mnntydc-
turers' Record, referring to the condition Of
American farm interests at present. says:
Tho increase during the past year in the
price of farm products, wheat and other
cereals, vegetables, and cattle for dairy use
and slaughter, has amounted TO hundreds
of millions of dollars, and may be as great as
$500, 100000, rs has been roughly estimated.
The increase in the value of the wheat crop
alone is estimated at from $75, OOO. 900 TO $780,
100000 or moro as compared with last year.
There has been a general increase all along
the line, and just as the food of live stock has
increased In value, SO have beef, cattle, sheep,
hogs, and other stock furnishing us our meat"
Secretary Wilson says that at the urgent re-
quest of President Mckinley. he will mako
early in the fall a trip through the entire
South, and give u thorough study to tho agri-
cultural conditions Of that region, with q view
to seeing If he can offer any suggestions as to
improvement in markets or diversifcation of
crops.
"One general need of the Southwest, - he says.
- " ~ sNahtsoh t"a '" ~ a
cation with the European markets, and with
this object in view. l have already placed my
self in correspondence with several ocean steam
ship companies to induce them to establish
lines direct between The ports Of tho Gulf Of
Mexico and those of Europe. the steamships to
be provided with refrigerators, so that the
fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and other
perishable farm products can be shipped cx-
peditiously 20 all the markets Of Europe"
Mr.. Wilson adds: ''The farmers of this coun-
try should be just now the happiest people in
the world, because they are the most prosper
ous."
lie believes that the farm interests of the
South will share to the fullest in this new era
of prosperity.
Speaking Of his Southern trip the Secretary
says:
II am sent by President Mckinley, and 1
shall go upon his urgent request. l am
not going as n high commissioner, or spe-
cial ambassador. or special envoy. or any
thing of that style. 1 shall not go in
a special car. viewing the country from a
car window while travelling at the rate
OF forty or fifty miles all hour. I shall
go as q plain American citizen. l want
facts, and facts only. 1 want to see the
farmer in his shirt sleeves, not the politician,
with his high-sounding and plausible theories.
i can get all OF these l want right here in Wash
ington.
President Mckinley was mu~h impressed by
his brief trip through u portion OF the South
during his visit to the Nashville Exposition. He
has as much interest, and he has told mo so him
self, in the South as in his own State of Ohio, and
is willing TO do as much for its development.
Before my return l shall again visit the EXPOSE
tion at Nashville. My other visit was far too
brief to permit as thorough inspection and in
xestieation of the souths RESOURCES as I should
Ike"
culture Mr.. Wilson says:
Our statistics show that the wheat acre
age in 1895 was 3t6ls,646. the yield
6o2,53s. Of this crop about 8 per cent:
cents per bushel. the highest since 1891, when it
is selling at an advance, and how much higher
It will go l do not know. The increase in price
and yield. should amount to Mt least. $751;
100000. II not 500, Ooo, 600; OF course; l have
no figures bearing on the yield for 1897. and I
make no predictions as TO fluctuations in prices.
Wheat is only one article. Take corn. or
course, the crop has not yet been harvested. Tho
prospects are, however. for an abundant crop. and
as its price is regulated to some, extent by that
Fl there The has S Seen p taIiips sho OF in be the 5eal assa:
age of about l,oo0.ooo as compared with
Ing i so'os5;o5l; 1t is impossible: with
corn product and the price. 1t is equally impos-
sible. for the same reasons, to estimate the aver
vegetables. hay, dairy products, poultry, &c.
All we know is that there has been q general in
crease in the average all along the line,
Just as the food OF live stock has increased
in, value, so have beef cattle, sheep, hogs and
other stock furnishing us our meat. 1t does not
apply. to draught or driving horses and mules.
over-production in past years, increase of steam
and electric railways, and OF bicycles"