The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-02
BENEFITS OF EXPANSION.
rrw POSSESSIONS WILL HELP THE
AMERICAN FARMER.
0naef Of Section of Foreign Markets
In Department of Agriculture
Speaks of the Great PossibiIi-

sneciaI Dispatch to the Observation-Disclosures
WASHINGTON, May 1.-The American
t.rner as well as the American manu-
s.cturer. is reaping the benefits Of expan-
don." said Frank III. Hitchcock, chief of
he section of foreign markets in the de-
nartment OF agriculture. when discussing
The expansion question today.
sx1ur sales of agricultural products
sbroad during the past three years. 1897
f1ss we're over $500, 900, 900 greater than in
fhe preceding three years, 1S9i-ls96 This
enormous gain affords some idea of the
Possibilities that await a further develop
ruent Of our agricultural trade.
ssWider markets are becoming not only
an advantage, but a necessity. The prod
t,ots Of our farms, like the products of our
factofies. are increasing far beyond our
ovn requirements, and the surplus thus
rseuiting must be disposed of abroad or
vs shall have constant glut in the home
market To avoid such a condition we
arr striving as never before to increase
our shipments to foreign countries. We
are searching the world over to find new
markets in order that the American farm
- may have a reader and more profitable
says for his products.
"Our control of the markets OF Cuba
and Puerto Rico will mean money in the
pochets OF our farmers. Under normal
cOn0itionB These Two iSldTus purchase an
nualy 100000 worth Of agricultural
produce, chiefly breadstufrs and provi-
sions, and practically all of this trade
should come TO the United States.
An Looking Towards China.
IN due time the Philippines also will
furnish an important market for the prod
ucs Of American farmers. This group of
islands IN particularly important because
Of it, relation to the valuable commerce OF
IN Orient. All the great commercial ma
tIous are expectantly looking toward
CHINA, with her 10000 900 people, as the
most promising field for trade develop
msnt the world now offers. The Ameri-
en- farmer wants share In that trade.
With . commercial foothold in the Philip
plnss, and naval base there to insure the
cihe. we shall be better able to reach forth
into tho coveted markets of China. Japan
md the rest of Eastern Asia
Tho foreign trade OF China, japan and
IL East Indies, even under the present
un1svsaoped conditions, amounts 20 moro
Tim 8 .o0'eo goo year and Of this vast
than 10 per cent. Tho possibilities of COM
msfcta expansion in this direction are
simply enormous Our exporters are be-
ginning moro fully to recognize this fact,
and to take advantage of 1t. Tho results
a'ready obtained are significant. Five
ysass ago our exports to China and Japan
wese valued at little more than SIC 900, 900;
hi year they amounted to nearly S4O,-
oe10 Products Of the farm enter ex-
teuAvely into this rapidly growing trade
ne cotton planter of the South and the
vheat grower OF the North and West are
10 benefited During the past year more
dan 100 600 pounds OF American cotton
w1se shtpped to Japan. as compared with
only 100000 pounds five years ago. Our
szpprts Of wheat flour to Asia, in the
meantime, have increased from less than
1ono00 barrals to over 150.0O Many
olhSr Agricultural exports of the United
Sla1as are Anding a new and profitable
mnsl1ek In the Orient. and all Indications
pint to tho development there OF an ex-