Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-09-11
THE WESTERN FARMERS
Secretary Wilson Found Them in
Especially Good Spirits.
RESTORATION OF CONFIDENCE.

The Head OF the Agricultural Depart
mont Declares That the Country Is
Justified In Its Anticipation OF Bet
ter Tfmes-Predicts Higher Wheat.
washington. Sept. S-Secretary Will
son was at his desk in the agricultural
department yesterday for the first time
for a month. having just returned from
his tour OF the trans mississippi states
He went as far west as Montana and
Utah. giving special attention TO the
agricultural interests OF the states Wis
tied. with particular reference to irri-
CATION. horse raising and sugar beet
growing.
II found the farmers IN especially
good spirits wherever I went" he said
to a press representative. There is
no doubt that confidence Is restored
and that the country il JUSTIFIED IN its
anticipations OK better times. The peo-
pie ara ali busy in the west. Indeed.
DO not believe there IL an idle man
west OF the Mississippi who wants
work"
Mr.. Wilson predicted q stin further
advance in the price OF wheat. due to
the fact that there In not only a short
crop abroad. but also because OF the
fact that, according to his observation.
the crop will not be so extensive In this
country as has generally been antici-
pated.
with the Improvement OF the times. "
he said, the average American Is go
ing to have all the -four his family can
consume. even though he may have to
pay little more for IT. believe that
even without the shortage I'm the for
eign crops the conditions in this coun-
A. 81
lar bushel. But the improved con-
dition OF the farmer Is due not alone to
the enhanced price In wheat. but there
has been a corresponding Improvement
In all farm products"
Mr.. Wilson said he found the people
OF the semi-arid region disposed to
think that the government should ap-
propriate money for the building OF
storage reservoirs. II told them" he
said. that I could not recommend that
system, but that felt sure that with
| the vast increase In the value Of arid
land produced by the addition OF water
capital would certainly be attracted tc
such enterprises When We consider
! that the addition OF water to those
lands makes them worth 800 an acre
ana their planting In fruit trees. as a
Grand Junction. Colo. worth $1,000 ar
1 Wv
J take hold. also told them that q
/ change of their sentiments on the cur
rency question, on the 1e TO 1 idea
| might be conducive 70 prosperity, a.
such = change would no doubt have 9
tendency to influence eastern capital
Secretary Wilson said that the re
cent decline in the price OF silver wai
| closing many mines which were de-
pendent entirely on silver, and would
Inevitably work hardship in individual
cases. But" he said. ''the miners whS
are losing their places are generally
getting employment In mines wherl
other minerals are produced"
Mr.. Wilson said that he advised thu
western farmers to feed their horses II
the winter months. as by so doing the,
could 30 increase the weight OF the an
imals as TO make a demand for then
I'm the European markets for army anC
draft purposes. He found the farmeri
in the irrigated regions generally dis
posed to experiment with the sugar
! beet. and made the prediction that 2
new beet sugar factories would b
} built next year.
W.P Atwell. commercial agent Of tn
} United States AZ Robaix. France, send
to the state department report OF
the short crop I'm France. He says tn
crop OF France. and in fact In a.
Europe, has fallen much below tn
average, and that It is estimated tina
the United States and Canada viii b
called upon 10 export from 40, 100000 {
$50. 600, 600 bushels more than they ex
: ported to Europe last year. France wi
: require about 10000. 900 to meet the de
J ffciency In that country.
. Consul Heenan. at Odessa. Russis
has made quite an extensive report I
: the state department concerning tn
failure OF the crops In Russia The re
: port predicts that little wheat will b
exported from Russia during the sea
son OF 1878. as there is little availabl
) for that purpose. the old stocks eein
practically exhausted and the ne'
] crop little more than sufficient for HON
? demand. The failure of the wheat GRO
in Austro-Hungary. Roumania an
{ Bulgaria, Consul Heenan continues
: has brought buyers from those coun
tries into Russia. and wheat while
l would ordinarily leave Odessa b
/. steamers is destined to go by rail froE
the interior into the countries named