The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-22
SOIL TILLERs PRosPERING
HAVE REAPED GREAT BENEFITS
FROM THE RAILWAYS,
And May BE Benefited Still More If
the American Merchant Ma
rine BE Developed.

the congress was organized. Although
many of the delegates did not arrive in
time to attend the opening session, the
High School Auditorium, in which the con-
gress met, was crowded with delegates and
spectators when Acting President X. e. +.
Candage, of Brookline, Mass, called the
gathering to order. President Slocum, OF
Colorado College, delivered the invocation,
and welcoming addresses were made by
Mr.. Gilbert McClurg, secretary of the Col
orado Springs Chamber of Commerce,
Mayor j. r. Robinson and Governor
Charles Thomas, to which responses were
made by members of the congress. be-
sponses were made by Secretary b. f.
Stahl, of the congress, Col. b. +. Clayton,
Of Iowa, in place of Major G. NJ. Ryals, of
Savannah, Ca, who was absent, and by
President Worth, of the North Dakota Ag-
ricultural College.
President r. G. F. Candage delivered his
annual address. Much of it was devoted
to showing how the farmer had prospered
in the last few years. He spoke Of the
enormous exports Of farm products. Their
value" he said, reaching forward to many
billions of dollars, a sum far beyond any
standard we can set up of individual meas
urement leaves us amazed at the gigantic
proportions they assume. 1t is not my pur-
pose to here enumerate them, as only esti-
mates and not reliable statistics are at
hand to enable me TO do so, but we shall
all look forward with interest for the re-
ports of the United States census of 1900.
which will doubtless give us a clear idea OF
the value and wonderful growth OF the ag-
ricultural interests of our great and pros
porous country.
Il have been greatly impressed, however.
by the magnitude and value of one OF the
minor branches of agricultural industry
that of eggs and poultry. The value OF
eggs laid in this country in a single year is
estimated at 500, 0.000, and the increase In
fowls at $50, 600, 900 to $40, 900, 600 more. And
we enjoy the golden-voiced cackle of The
farmyard fowl as she makes known the
fact. that she is a national wealth producer
to the annual amount of $40, 600, 600"
Mr.. Candage thought the farms owed
much to railways. TO them, he said,
1.-The farmers of a large portion of our
LAND are Indebted, not only for the con-
veniences of transportation to their places
of abode, but for the value of their farms
and crops they produce. Without their
aid. farm and crop beyond home con-
sumption would be worthless; with their
aid both are valuable.
I'm this connection river and harbor
improvements by the general government
are of interest to the farmer, for they
tend to lower the cost of transportation by
competition with the railroads.; therefore,
farmers should favor liberal appropriations
for that purpose Whatever onduces to
lower freight rates, better security to life
and property on land or sea, the farmer
hould be interested in, and advocate, on
the score of economy, and for the sake
o. humanity.
FOREIGN MAIL SERVICE.
"And this leads to the consideration of
an American oversee mail service and of
a merchant marine. The time has come
for the farmers, manufacturers and COM
mercial men to unite and demand from
our National Government an American
mail service to South America. and to other
foreign countries in steamships under our
own flag. 1t is we'll known that trade fol-
lows the flag of the nation which floats
and upholds il.
South American countries are our neigh
bors and natural allies in trade and COM
nerce. and yet. lack of direct mail and
shipping facilities Europeans supply them
with the bulk of their imported commodi-
ties. An American merchant having a cor
respondent in Brazil or Buenos Ayres must
send his letters by a foreign
first to England, and second, by another
foreign steamship to their destination, and
their answers must be returned In a like
AOhS anu dIlllC LII THESE GAYS
OF quick movements of intelligence and
commodities, Europeans have the advant-
age, and supply the South American mar
kets before our merchants receive answers
from their correspondents. And they will
continue to do SO until we awke from our
slumber and demand to be put on an equal
footing with them in the matter of an
American mail service which shall be
speedy and direct.
"Ap American merchant marine. which is
needed by every industry of our country
for the extension of our foreign markets.
and as an aid to our navy. should be urged
by this Congress to the consideration of the
United States Congress-. 1t has long been a
question before the latter body, and IL has
suffered long delays; but has not the time
Eow come for action? No country like ours
with an extensive seacoast, with extensive
export and imports, can expect to con-
tinue prosperous without an efficient mer-
chant marine. There is too great a drain
upon our financial resources without IL.
1.-The freights paid TO ships under foreign
flags annually, for the carriage of our ex-
ports and imports, amount to $500. 600 0O0.
an enormous drain of gold, as freights are
paid in that coin. One-half OF that amount
at least would be paid to our own ships
if we had them, and the United States gov
eminent can provide the way to build. man
and sail them, but thus far has done moth
ing to counterfeit the advantages possessed
by foreign bounty and subvention paid
ships. One half of the amount paid To for
eign s~hipowners for freights on our exports
dnu ilipOINS ohOQtu Dt pdlu 10 american
shipowners, and would be If they could
build and sail their ships on equal terms
with the foreigner. If instead of having
out We were in the receipt of 500. 0O0. 900 an
nually from that source, IL would greatly
add to our prosperity as a nation. and
every avenue of trade would feel its life
giving influences; the laboring classes
would feel II, and the agriculturalist would
be a great gamer thereby.
And there should be a canal constructed
and controlled by the United States to con-
meet the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. for
the benefit OF our commerce in time Of
peace, and for the benefit of our nayv in
time of war. This Congress can. IL It be
deemed wise by well-worded resolutions
aid in bringing about this desirable connec-
ton between the eastern and western
coasts OF our country by a canal uniting
the two oceans.
EDUCATION FOR FARMERS
There are in the common schools of
100000 children taught by 400, 600 teachers
at public expense, and at an annual cost
of sl95. 000. 000i To this should be added
those being taught in colleges, seminaries.
academies, technical schools and private
institutions OF learning scattered over the
country. materially Increasing the number
taught and the cost OF maintenance. We
have just cause to feel proud of the broad
provision made by the State for the educa-
ton of her children. II is essential. under
our form of government. where rulers are
chosen from the people to make and ad-
minister the laws. that the people should