The Republican., 1899-03-23
CORN AT THE PARIS FAIR.
A Project AfOOt to Boom the Ameri-
can Product at the Coming
Exposition.


propaganda in an effort TO make dis
play of this cereal at the Paris eXposi-
tion such as will acquaint the world
with its value as a food product. The
appropriation by the national govern
ment of $4,000 for display of the ag-
ricultural resources of this country
at the exposition will be wholly made
quate, it is thought, to even attempt
the practical showing which it is felt
corn must have if it is to receive any
benefit from the opportunity which
the exposition offers. For this reason
the secretary of the National Business
| league has been instructed to write
every member of congress and to tho
secretary of agriculture urging a fur
ther appropriation in this direction. 1t
is also proposed to ask the states em-
braced in the corn belt of the country
to make appropriations, and bill APP
propriating $4,000 has already been
introduced in the Illinois legislature.
The proposton, which originated with
the Maize propaganda, and which has
been indorsed by the Business league,
is, among other things, TO maintain s \
the Paris exposition fcorn Kitchen"
where the uses and adaptability of corn
as food product will be practically
demonstrated.
A committee of the Maize propaganda
laid the matter before Commissioners
General Peck some time ago, and re-
quested that space be set apart in the
American division of the agricultural
1 i f,, b. Ii
Peck agreed with the arguments adj
vanced by the committee as to the good
results likely to come from a display
of corn products, and agreed to set
apart a space 4Ox1O feet in the agri-
cultural pavilion for the kitchen.
The question of what help the gov
ernment would give came up for discus
sion, and Mr.. Peck stated that mas
much as only $4,000 had been appro-
priated for the entire agricultural dis
play, it would hardly be possible to de-
vote the sum required for the display
outlined by the committee. 1t was
promised, however, to do everything
possible to make Sh adequate display Of
corn.
The Maize propaganda also has un-
der consideration the erection of corn
palace at the exposition, and already
elaborate designs have been suggested
in that direction. Just what will be
done in this particular depends upon
the amount of money available, but it
is the belief of the officers of the prop
aganda that it will be constructed.
The propaganda has just issued u
short address on this subject, which it
terms "A Practical Plan to Teach the
World to Eat Corn" and which appeals
especially to the corn states for help.
1t says, after reciting the inadequacy
of the national government appropria-
ton and the duty of the corn states:
Money so spent will return a hun
dredfold in the advance in the price of
their greatest product. If the six great
corn states would devote one-tenth of
one per cent. of the annual value of
their present corn crop for a single
year to the effort to find a foreign mar
ket for our surplus product it would
be returned an hundredfold in the in
creased taxable value of their farm
lands"
L
easily raised in this way. and it is sug-
gested that the governors of each of the
states of Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa,
Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska appoint
a commission of three members, which
will form joint corn belt commission,
which should proceed at once to formu-
late plans for the Paris exposition,
after which educational work should be
carried on in northern Europe, China,
Japan, the Philippines, and in every
country where the food problem is
pressing for solution.
"Such commission, properly organ
ized,' continues the address, land hav-
ing moderate funds for economical adj
ministration will do more to establish
permanent prosperity for American ag-
riculture than any legislation, state or
national, that can. be devised"
After calling attention to the excel
lent results which have been accom-
plished through well-directed efforts
to place corn abroad and the increase
in exports from 60,000000 bushels per
annum to more than $50 100000 BUSH
els, the address says:
Create foreign demand large
enough to absorb all of our surplas
above requirements, and the American
farmer will have Accent corn. One
cent a bushel added to the price of a
normal corn crop would mean $2o,oo0,-
0C0 added to the annual income of
American corn growers. On the basis
of recent production it would mean ST.
20 inn nf
the farmers of Indiana, $2,000,000 to
those of Illinois, $2,750,000 to those of
Iowa, 81 100000 to those of Missouri,
81, ,75O, 900 to those of Kansas, and
81 900, 900 to those of Nebraska.
One cent a bushel means $10,9OO,-
coo added to the yearly incomes of
the farmers of six states. s."-Chicago
Evening News.