The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-12-02
RICHES or
THE SOUTH.
Secretary Wilson Points Out Its
Vast Opportunities.
HE SAYS EDUCATED MEN ARE
NEEDED TO EXTRACT THE NAT
URAL WEALTH FROM THE SOIL.
TILE SECRETARY MADE AN AID.
DRESS AT THE TUSKEGEE IN
STlTCtE.

ruskeegee, Ala, Dec. IA new agri-
cultural building was formally opened
Yesterday III connection with the Tuske-
gee Co'ored Normal and Industrial Insti-
lute. of which Booker Il. WASHINGTON is
president.
The building was beautifully decorated
with bunting and flags and agricultural
products of almost every kind. An au-
dience composed Of white and colored men
and tie colored students greeted the
guests, who included Hon. james Wilson,
secretary of agriculture. Governor Joseph
f. Johnston, DR.. J. J.. NJ. Curry: ex
Governor Northern,G. II. Glenn, of Geor-
gin. Superintendent of Education j. n.
Turner, OF Alabama, and others.
After the singing of patriotic songs
which were heartily received, Booker r.
Washington, read letters from President
Mckinley, Chief Justice Fuller, Bishor
U Is, Galloway, President ID. C. Gilman
of the Johns Hopkins University, Bishop
Potter, YIN. f. Dodge, of New York and
many others.
Governor johnson was then introduced
aud made Il practical address, dealing
with the need of having educated farm
ers, white and colored, to develop the
State. He then introduced Secretary
Wilson. who made the principal address
of the day.
The Secretary presented the latest
available figures on the growth OF the
cotton Industry in the South From 1856
tn 1896 the number of cotton mills in the
southern States increased from 232 to
lUl the number Of spindles from LOO
l32 70 3.34l $40, and the number of bales
OF cotton consumed annually increaes ed
from 80, .999 TO $50, Al The secretary
showed also the condition OF general
trade, as disclosed by the decrease of Inns
mess failures in the South. During the
first nine months OF the present year the
failures in the South, from MARYLAND TO
Texas. were 1918, with liabilities of
l3,023,332, sn compared with 1,GSi fail
ures. with liabilities of 500 ,GS3, 500, for
the corresponding period last year. The
bank clearngs in the South showed II
marked Improvement during the same
time, notwithstanding the yellow fever
at New Orleans and other places
Mr.. Wilson also pointed out the oppor-
tunities which the South offers for grow
ing many products not now cultivated
here, including olives, figs, citrus, fruits
Japanese peIsimmons and the tea plant
Continuing, he said:
The United States is far ahead of all
other nations in ms king provisions for
education i'll the sciences that relate to
agriculture, and yet little more than II
beginning has been made by us. II takes
time TO impress farmers ami farmers
sons with tAc necessity OF devo;ing time
in schoo, and college to study Cf the things
with which they deal every day in their
lives That mystery attaches to these
common things fc" advisers of the far
mer's family believe; therefore, every in
liuence about the ambitious young far
mcr leads him oil toward the institution
where the family may have had education
for generations back, or where the gospel
minister of the family was educated, or
the family doctor, or some other fpmil;
oracle.
"a better day has lawned We com
pete with the world and are preparing
tor the struggle. We must educate young
nee pie to do something that somebody
wants done where money is waiting to
pay them.
We pay $500. 900, 900 annually for ay
ricultural products that we light grow
some of them in the South, some of
them in the North, and on the Pacific
coast The American farmer must he 10
formed regarding the worlds crops of
every kind, so that he may direct his en-
ergies toward the production and manu-
iacture of what pays hest II I'd in lures his
| ends least. The Southern States may
cAp port butter without injuring their
soils; cotton fibre may he sold with little
loss TO the sol $ that grow it: meats take
comparatively little from the soil but
cottonseed should not leave the vicinity
where tho plant grows 1t should be fed
TO make meats and dairy products, ns it
is highly heterogeneous, and should be re
turned indirectly to the field again"
AN INEBRIATED CLERG YMAN.