The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1900-05-17
The Official Paper OF San Juan County.
THURSDAY, MAY II, 1902
THE FARMER AND EXPANSION

Discussing the farmers share in the
expansion of export trade Mr.. Frank
II. Hitchcock, chief of the section of
foreign markets Of the Department of
Agriculture, recently said:
"Our sales of agricultural products
abroad during the last three years were
over $500, 100000 greater than in the
preceding three years, 1896. This
enormous gain affords some idea Of the
possibilities that await further devel-
upment of our agricultural export
trade.
"Wider markets are becoming not
only an advantage, but necessity.
The products of our farms, like the
products of our factories, are increasing
far beyond our own requirements, and
the surplus thus resulting must be dis
posed of abroad or we shall have a con-
slant glut in the home market. To
avoid such n coalition we are striving
as never before To increase our ship
ments to foreign countries. We are
searching the world over to find new
markets in order that the American
farmer may have n reader and more
profitable sale for his products.
~
"Our control Of the markets of Cuba
and Porto Rico will mean money in
the pockets of our farmers. Under
normal conditions these two islands
purchase annually $4,000, 900 worth of
agricultural produce chiefly bread
stuffs and provisions, and practically
NIL of this trade should come to the
United States.
ain due time the Philippines also
will furnish an important market for
the produce of American farms. This
group of islands is particularly inn
portant because Of its relation to the
valuable commerce of the Orient. All
the great commercial nations are eX-
pectantly looking toward China, with
her 400, 900 people, as the most
promising field for trade development
the world now offers. The American
farmer wants a share in that trade
With commercial foothOld i'm the
Philippines, and naval base there to
insure the protection of our commerce
on the Pacific, we shall be better able
to reach forth into the coveted markets
of China, Japan and the rest of Eastern
Asia.
"The foreign trade of China, Japan
and the East Indies, even under the
present undeveloped conditions,
amounts to more than 81 900, 000, 900 n
year, and of this vast commerce the
United States enjoys less than ten per
cent. The possibilities of commercial
expansion in this direction are simply
enormous. Our exporters are begin
ming more fully to recognize this fact
and are to take advantage of it. The
results already obtained are significant.
Five years ago our exports to China
and Japan were valued at little more
than $4,000; last year they amounted
to nearly $4,000, 600. Products of the
farm enter extensively into this rapidly
growing trade. The cotton planter of
the South and the wheat-grower of the
North and West are alike benefited
During the last year more than 100,-
10000 pounds of American cotton were
shipped to Japan, as compared with
only 100000 pounds five years ago.
Our exports of wheat -four TO Asia i'm
the meantime have increased from less
than l ,000, 900 barrels to over 10000
Many other agricultural exports of the
United States are finding new and
profitable market in the Orient, and all
indications point to the development
there of an extensive trade i'm the pro.
ducts of agriculture.
M
"The farmers benefit from CONNER
cial expansion, however, is not meas.
ured merely by the larger sale of his
own produce abroad. He profits near
ly as much from the growing eXporta.
ton of manufactured wares. The in.
creased production of manufactures in
the United States to meet the require.
ments of broadening export trade
naturally creates a larger home de-
mand for the products of the farm
Every additional pound of cotton cloth
sent to Asia means better market a;
home for our raw cotton; every addi
tIonal pair of shoes sold abroad means
better market here for hides of cattle
and so on through the long list of agri
cultural products that form the mater
ials of manufacture. Then, too, all tie
various industries that are extended to
meet growing export demand require
additional workmen, and these work.
men must be fed from the produce OF
the farm. Thus the American farmer
finds that the policy of commercial ex
pansion results to his great advantage
in the home market as well as i'm the
foreign market.
@.S-17
VICTORIA, b. c., is one of the most
charming old towns Oh the continent.
For many years prior to 1853 it was the
most important post Of the Hudson