The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-02-26
AN ASTOUNDING FACT.
One-half Our Imports Agricul'
ture Products.
A TALK WITH SECRETARY MORTON.

Senator Chambers Memory = General |
Miles and His Friends-English as 'she |
Is Wrote" The Ex-Queen OF the Ha-
waiian rslands-The Loss of Her Throne.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 49, Special. SEQ
rotary Morton, the retiring chief OF the
AGRICULTURAL department., has had many
hobbies, but none more valuable to the
country than his efforts to promote foreign
demand for the produce of American
farms. In conversation today Secretary
Morton called my attention to remark
able fact, one which caused me much sur
prise, and which, / doubt not, will sur
prise most readers of this dispatch. Just
about one half of all the imports to this
country" said Secretary Morton, ARE
AGRICULTURAL products. This may appear
incredible, but it is true. Taking all the
AGRICULTURAL imports, including articles not
grown on American farms, and the per-
centage Of all our agricultural imports IN
1899 was so, or little more than one-half;
in 1898 it was IS; in 1894, nearly Do; In
1895, 80, and in 1896, 49,"
Sugar, Coffee and Wool.
"You do not mean to say that one-half
| of all the imports of the greatest agrlcui-
| tural country in the world are agricultural
| products9"
"That is Just what do say. OF course
1 large part of these importations is repre-
sented by such articles as tea and coi1ee,
which we do not produce, but they are
agricultural products just the same Lei
me give you some interesting figures. Oul
total imports in 1896 were in round mum
hers $3.50, 900, 900. More than 1882, OOO, OO'
of these were agricultural products, or 90. o.
for every man, woman and child In I'M
United States The largest item was sug
ar, 500, 600, 600, and sugar is a farm proc
uct in our country. The next largest iceI
was coffee, $50, 000, 900. Next in order wa
wool, to the amount of S32, 5O0,o Oo. In
fourth is hides and skins, which reach 0h
enormous total of $50, 500, 900. Fifth
silk, with S27 100000 Sixth came run
, and nuts. $4,000, 900; seventh, tobacco
ZIG. roo. 600; eighth, tea, Sl3,OOo,Oo
These are the large items, comprising MOI
than $500, OOO, 900. 1t will be noticed thf
: only S125, 900, 600 of this total is represent
I cd Inv articles which American farmers q
/ not produce.
"What was the remaining seventy oo
millions composed off"
"Well, you will be surprised at some
l. the items. Cattle, live, 81, sos, 900; horse
$685.. 900; sheep, $3.50, 900; bristles, 81, 4os
600; cheese, 81, 491, 900; feathers and dow,
= 81, 1856, 900; glue, $3.50, 900; grease, Sl'saa
y 600; hair, 81 ,a44, 900; meat products, -
% O5e, 900; sausages and sausage skins, 500.
1t 600; in all, animals and their produc,
~ SAC, 900, 900. Why, we imported nearly y
:, OOO. 900 of breadstuffs, including S3lI,o
u in barley, 81, 1856, 900 in wheat and 81 ,oo'
ut 600 of macaroni and other food prepal
IN tions Of wheat.
10 "But this is not all, " continued sec
tary Morton "We imported last year
!" SIS. 900 worth of cotton and nearly 81
" 900, 900 of fax, hemp, jute, manilia' si
IN grass and other fibers. Think OF TINS COT
a. try importing nearly $4,000, 600 worth
=. hay in q single year and over S6,ooo,'
:, worth of vegetable oils, 81, 1000 wol
d. of plants, trees, shrubs and vines, nea
Il. 81. OOO, 900 worth of seeds, S3i, 600 wo
". of straw and 50, 500, 900 worth OF yege
at. bles! With proper Development and val
ton Of our agricultural industry, G
) cluded the secretary, "wo ought to cut
Ter a large part of this importation ana sup
err the market with home grown products