Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-11-25
Agricultural Possibilities.
Philadelphia Press

10 doubt. lHlS is particularly True VI NhttS
has been accomplished under Secretary
Wilson, whose practical and progressive
administration of the department has won
admiration OF all sides. His annual re-
port demonstrates his thorough grasp of
of the extensive work in this department,
which is now the most comprehen
sive repository of SEMITIC facts re-
garding agriculture in all OF its
relations to mankind that exists anywhere,
and it is at the same time the most extern
sivepublisher of that kind of information.
During the last tisca. year 424 different
publications were issued by the depart
ment, aggregating over $500, 900 copies,
And yet the supply fell far short of the in
creased demand. Besides the publica-
tons issued the business ofthe department
comprised in part experimental work in
the various States and Territories; efforts
to extend the sale of agricultural products
in foreign countries by making the people
of those nations familiar with the supe-
rior quality of Ameican butter and other
things; investigation into the purity of the
food sold in this country; the inspection
of meat and animals for export; the valu-
able work of the Weather Bureau; the
collection of crop statistics, and so on.
The opportunities for the further de-
velopment of agriculture in this country
are little understood In the last fiscal
year the United States paid $3S2,0O0,oO0
for sugar, hides, fruits, wines, animals, rice,
flax, hemp, cheese, wheat, barley, beans,
eggs, tea, ETC.; 100000 for chicory,
castor beans, lavender, liquorice, opium
poppy, sumac, ETC., and 100000 for
bulbs, nearly all Of which products, Secre-
tary Wilson says, could be grown and pre-
pared for use at home. That is an object
we'll worth striving for. Already consider
able progress has been made in the pro-
duction of beet sugar, for which purpose
no better soil exists anywhere than in the
United States The absurdity Of this
country paying 500, 100000 in single
year to foreigners to raise the sugar we
consume when it can be produced to bet
ter advantage at home is self-evident.
Fortunately we are working our way out
from under that burden, and Secretary
Wilson predicts that within a few years all
the sugar will be produced at home that
our people can consume. 1t is q simple
matter of giving sufficient protection in
the beginning as WAS the case with steel
rails, tin plate and great number Of other
things formerly exclusively supplied to US
by otter nat ions.
The effort to establish the flax industry
in this country has always met with the
ridicule of the free traders. But ton Of
flax grown in the State of Washington was
sent to a wall-known firm of flax manu-
facturers in Ireland in order to determine
the quality of straw produced. Fiber was
hacked tn $500 ton, or $3.50 more
ton than the average value Of such fiber in
Ireland. twas demonstrated conclusively
that it is possible to obtain good fiber and
good seeds from the same plant. The pro-
duction at home of flax, sugar and other
such things now purchased abroad would
afford needed diversity to the farmers
and greatly enrich the nation. 1t can be
and will be done in time. 1t will also not
be difficult, if Secretary Wilson's advice is
followed, greatly to extend our markets
abroad for butter, cheese and other things
for the production of which this country
has unrvaled advantages.
Secretary Wilson repeats the warning, so
often given by the department, as to the
immense injury that will follow the waste
full destruction of the forests. He says
that sooner or later large line Of manu-
featuring industries employing at present
capital to the amount or more thanSl 600,
900, 900, and furnishing work to more than
|, 900 GOO persons; will be more or less
hampered for lack Of suitable supplies,
''because of the absence of rational use
and systematic reproductions Of our for
est resources" In addition, the agrcul-
tural iuteros's in the hill country and
mountain districts are certain to suffer, as
they are already doing to some extent,
from the same cause, just as they have suf-
fered in other countries. The failure of
Congress to respond promptly to these
warnings is very unfortunate.
The Secretary's accommodation in re-
gard to the improvement of the methods
of collecting crop statistics should be
promptly needed by Congress. Under the
Cleveland administration changes were
made watch greatly interfered with the
accuracy of the crop reports. 1t is rdicu-
lous to assume that efficient reports can be
obtained for nothing. The Secretary re-
commends that some slight pecuniary ac-
acknowledgement be made of the services
of carefully selected corps of correspon-
dents located mainly in the principal agri-
cultural Staies. That ought to be done.
The ground now afforded for the criticism
of the reports would then be to large ex-
tent removed.
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