The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-07
The Fewer Artisans We Feed BeyOnt
the Sea the More Mouths to
Fill mt Home.
AN INSTRUCTIVE ADDRESS
BY SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
WILSON AT A COUNTY FAIR.
Prosperity as 1t Affects the Tiiler of
the sOil-PrOducts of Our
Island Possessions.

CANTON. O.. Sept 6.-Secretary of Ag-
riculture Wilson was the guest of honor
at the Stark county fair to-day. He ar
rived from Washington this forenoon and
delivered an address TO an immense crowd
OF people at the fair grounds. After the
address he had luncheon with the fair
managers and prominent citizens on the
grounds, and at 1870 o'clock returned East.
President Mckinley also expected to be at
the fair on this occasion, but the press Of
public business prevented. The secretary
read from the platform telegram of re-
gret from President Mckinley.
In the course of his address Secretary
Wilson said:
eve buy the products of skill from other
countries and We buy raw material, the
product of cheap labor. We sell the prod
ucts of skill 10 other countries, and we
sell raw material, the product of cheap
labor within our own land. A careful
study of this condition of affairs Will lead
US to get a correct estimate of our stand
ing compared with other countries While
we sold S792 S11, 1913 worth of domestic prod
ucts from the United States in 1899, we
bought 1856, ,514, ,sS1 worth of agricultural
products during the same year. IL is IN
teresting to know what we pay this large
sum of money for, and IL invites our
thoughtful attention TO the production or
such things within our own borders in the
future TO as great an extent as possible.
We paid $94, 100000 for sugar; $50, 100000 for
coffee; 81 O00 900 for hides and skins; S32,-
coo 900 for silk SIS 600 for bers; SIS, 900
for fruits and nuts; $10.000000 for tobacco;
$40 0OO 900 for tea, and $S,000.000 for wool,
which, however, is only as much wool as
we bought in 1898. Several of these things
we can produce in the United States. Some
or them We cannot on account OF cllmauc
prohibition
The secretary said the great activity ex-
listing in all departments of industry had
had a most beneficial effect on farm ami
mails The total increase in the value of
the farm animals in the United States from
jan /, 1897, TO Jan. l, 1900. was s572, 70S. .522.
The decrease in the number of horses dur
ing the last three years had been pro-
nounced. although he said IL was becoming
less and less every year. Now that prices
are remunerative,' he said, 1.-The decrease
is fading out, and il is only question of
time when an increase will begin again.
We sold e4.7Oe horses last year TO foreign
countries. and received s7.6l2.o56 for them.
There is an active demand in foreign coun-
tries for horses of all kinds. especially the
more valuable ones.
with regard TO meat-producing animals
the prices are high and will continue high,
river who Craze their stock upon the range
country have been destroying the grasses
so Systematically that they not able,
IN many Of the States. now TO maintain
more than so per cent. of the meat-produc-
ing animals found there a few years ago.
The meats of the country in the future
must be produced upon the farms of the
country.
Il need not tell an Ohio audience much
about sheep The policies of political
PARTIES have much 10 do with prosperity
along this line. and nobody understands
that better than the Ohio farmer. When
we have open ports. that industry Ian
guishes. We buy many millions of dollars'
worth of wool from foreign countries. The
sheep industry is prospering In the United
States just now. The movement in the
direction OF growing mutton sheep with
desirable wool Is in the right direction with
cut question. The people will be fed more
economically and the profits to the farmer
Will be better In the larger production of
mutton sheep than we have been in the
habit of producing
Secretary Wilson referred TO the new
markets being opened up to the farmers Of
CONTINUED ON FIFTH PAGE.S