Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-05-17
GOOD FOR FARMERS.
Expansion Widens Markets for Ag-
ricultural Products.
Control of Cuba and Porto Rican
Markets VIII Put Money Into
the Pockets of 4gri-
cuiturists.

Washington.-"The American farm
er, as we'll as the American manufac-
turer, is reaping the benefits Cf eNpan-
SION said Frank Ii. Hitchcock, chief
of the section of foreign markets in
the department of agriculture, when
discussing the expansion question.
"Our sales of agricultural products
abroad during the past three years,
1S97-1s99, were over $500, 100000 greater
than in the preceding three years, 1891
1896. This enormous gain affords some
idea of the possibilities that await
further development of our agricul-
tural export trade.
"Wider markets are becoming not
only an advantage, but a necessity. The
products of our farms, like the prod
ucts of our factories, are increasing
far beyond our own requirements, and
the surplus thus resulting must be dis
posed of abroad, oc we shall have con
slant glut in the home market. To
avoid such a condition 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 a reader and more
protitabl sale for his products.
"Our control of the markets of Cuba
and Porto Rico will mean money in the
pockets of our farmers. Under nor
NAL conditions these two islands pur-
chase annually $50,000,0G0 worth of ag-
rcultural produce, chiefly breadstuffs
and provisions, and practically all of
this trade should come to the United
States.
"In due time the Philippines also will
furnish an important market for the
produce of American farms. This
group of islands is particularly impor-
tant because of its relation to the val
liable commerce of the orient. All the
great commercial nations are expect
antly looking toward China. with her
40O,0C0.G00 of people, as the most prom
ising field for trade development the
world now offers. The American farm
er wants ii share in that trade. With
commercial foothold in the Philip
pines 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 Chi
ma, 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 a billion dollats
year, and of this vast commerce the
United States enjoys less than ten per
cent. The possibilities of commercial
1 .-.,. IL,
enormous. Our exporters are begin
ming more fully to recognize this fact
and to take advantage of it. The re-
suits already obtained are significant.
Five years ago our exports to China
and Japan were valued at little more
than $4,000, 900: last year they
amounted to nearly 4O.000I 600 Prod
ucts of the farm enter extensively into
this rapidly growing trade. The cot
ton planter of the south and the wheat
grower of the north and west are alike
benefited. During the past year more
than 100,000,000 pounds of American
cotton were shipped to Japan, as com
pared with only 100000 pounds five
years ago. Our exports of wheat flour
to Asia in the meantime have increased
from less than a million barrels to over
million and half. Many other a@ri-
cultural exports of the United States
are finding a new and profitable mar
ket in the orient. aud Az indications
point to the development there of an
extensive trade in the products of ag
rculture.
THE farmers benefit from CONNER
cial expansion, however. is not meas
ured merely by the larger sale of his
own products abroad. He profits near
ly as much from the growing eNporta-
tion of manufactured wares. The in
creased production of manufactures in
the United States to meet the require
ments of broadening export trade
naturally creates larger home de-
mand for the products of the farm.
Eve"y additional pound of cotton cloth
sent to Asia means better market for
our raw cotton: every additional pair
of shoes sold abroad means better
marke. here for hides of cattle: and so
on through the long list of agricul-
tural products that form the materials
of manufacture. Then, too, all the va
rious industries that are extended TO
meet a 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 cX-
pansion results to his great advantage
in the home as well as in the foreign
market
Tiresome Martyr.
DR.. f. enia'ain Andrews has been
selected for chancellor of the tniver-
sitN of Nehraskn LN its unnIIliSt rc-