The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-02

est, manifested throughout the land in the one
occupation that more than any other fur
nlshes the bone and sinew of our country
About half. OF the entire population of the
country is engaged in the cultivation of the
soil, and half the capital is invested in agri-
culture. Surely In an interest so far over
shadowlng all others, every one in the coIn-
try, whatever his occupation is interested
and in the prosperity of those who cultivate the
land. The growth of agriculture since the
war has been such that few comprehend its
magnitude. The great Western states west of
the Mississippi have been developed since that
time. For the last eighteen years I have had
aw sS0o rannng ro es at be the asad of
portions of the Northwest. 1t may be of some
interest to you to know, that in 1879 the
year that took charge of it. when 1t had
less than 400 miles Of road, we hauled 21S0-
GOO bushels of wheat to market. In 1895 and
1896, for the crop year of 1895, we hauled 6S-
0OO,00O or course this grain not grown
by the same men nor on the same fields but
the increase represented the growth of farm
ing in the Northwest. This system haus
nearly CT about one-sixth of all the wheat
haul three times as much as all the roads
running into Chicago. This will show the
growth of the industry in country but re-
Gently unoccupied on which the railroads de-
pend, and it is not strange that l have a
great interest in the successful cultivation of
land. | propose to critcise the farmers lit
tie, but it will be friendly criticisms. I have
naught but kindly feeling for the farmer.
This growth of which l have spoken is not
limited to the Northwest The agricultural
interests of the world have advanced more
the previous history of the world. 1t Is less
than $50 years since the cultivation of tame
grasses was unknown. Even in Aberdeen,
stock was fed on swamp or marsh hay and
thistles. 1t is less than $50 years since tur-
nips were first cultivated. 1t is not hundred
years since the majority of the people Of
New England used flour made of rye and
cornmeal almost exclusively. The remant of
this is left in the good old Boston brown
bread. (Applause). We are making progress
as the world makes it. 1t is a noteworthy fact
in this connection that whenever any race.
except, / may say, the black race, has had
the opportunity to eat wheaton flour, it be-
comes favorite. This is shown by its re-
cent introduction into China and Japan.
Some years ago. when the wheat of India was
rapidly becoming factor In the markets of
the world, sent man to India to look over
wheat fields of India, situated they are
more or less remote from ocean transport,
would enable American wheat, with improved
methods Of production to compete success
fully with the Indian wheat. Later the de-
velopment of wheat growing in South Amer
lea, Australia. and to some extent In Now
Zealand had its effect on the worlds market
The Argentine republic, of which we hear
so much, has area equal to that Of the
Mississippi valley. But l think that with
intelligent farming VIC can, and l hope we
will, be able to maintain our superiority. II
we could open market in Asia for wheat,
where the millions of people now I've on rice
the problem that troubles us would be solved
very soon.
Our agricultural schools do much good: they
can do more. The farmers must demand that
they be run with intelligence, and that they
make experiments for which the individual
farmer spare neither the time nor the
money, in most cases. I am glad that in
this state, after many years, agricultural
station has been raised from its position as O.
sort of sideshow to placate the farmers and
get annual appropriation for the main en-
terprise Il is now recognized throughout the
state as a power for good. 1t should go
still farther. until it is recognized as an in
stitution whose benefits will be shared by all
the farmers of the Northwest.
year ago / sent to every county on the
line of the Great Northern an invitation
to appoint forty-fve fifty men to visit
this school. / offered to give them a car aud