Gilpin observer., 1901-09-05
9XWkW EH ~ Hl2&
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. G., August 81, 1901.

DgtOn news at present, anu dpTopoS VI
this subject the world is coming more
and more to the conclusion expressed by
Tolstoi in his "War and Peace" that
generals do not win battles. This was
never truer than'in the Santiago naval
victory. 1t was the years of preparation
in ships, guns and men that made our
navy superior to the Spanish, Just as
training makes the prize fighter superior
to the soft giant of nearly twice his bulk
But on this occasion bulk as well train
ing was with US. A more enlightened
age will bestow its monuments with
more discrimination and we, the least
bellicose of peoples, will sometimes look
with wonder at the squadron or bronze.
generals that we have exalted in the
public parks of Washington and say
"why these especially?"
The Bureaus of statistics in the state
and treasury departments and the cen
sus office are relating story in figures
of resources, progress, and prosperity
more interesting to the optimisJ than a
romance. 1t will be remembered that
Sir William Crookes, president of the
British scientific association, recently
wrote a pamphlet on the possible exhaus-
tion of the food supply of the world,
especially the wheat crop. He pointed
out that the United States will, within
short time, become the main dependence
of the world SO far as wheat is concerned
and that with the present methods of
farming, which he considers wasteful
the crop will be subject to scarcity with
in hundred years. Possibly, on read
ing the report that the corn crop OF the
present year is badly injured by drouth
he or some of his readers may think that
his prophecy is coming unexpectedly
true, for to an Englishman corn means
wheat. He refers to our indian corn as
maize.
Such arguments as this prove, at any
rate. that the resources iof this country
are vast, for if they we're not, the possi-
bility of famine would have occurred to
everybody come time ago. There is no
wasteful farming in such countries as
Germany, England, China or Japan. 1t
was once said that the English farm er
hoes each blade of wheat separately, ties
it to stick and then sits on stump in
the middle OF his farm with a watering
pot, to attend to attend to any special
blade which needs attention. When one
contrasts the English farmers grain
fields with the ranches OF Dakota, Kan.
sas and California, this statement scarce
ly seems like hyperbole.
1t is true, however, that we throw
terial which might be utilized. This is
wasteful or not, according to circum-
stances. On New England farm, where
the soil is in thin layer on top of the
granite foundation, and the crop of
stones is the only one not likely to be
frost bitten, it is necessary to take care
OF many odds and ends which are allowed
to go to waste on a big western fruit
farm where it is necessary to economic
the strength nd time OF every laborer
in order to prevent the loss of perhaps
thousand dollirs worth OF fruit. II
this ranch wers divided up into many
small holdin =, each baving it's quota OF
people to support, the result would prob
ab be more diversified farming, FOX
each small farmer would find it to his
advantage to raise his own garden vege-
tables, pigs, colts and cattle. All OF the
members of family can be employed in
some way or another on such a home
farm, whereas they cannot on large
plantation cultivated chiefly by machin-
cry.
There is not much need of worrying,
as yet, over the exhaustion of our re.
sources. As the country becomes more
thickly settled, thrift will become not
only necessary but profitable. Para.
doxical "a it my seem, there are circum.
stances whers it does not pay to he
thrifty The time thought and labor
spent in LOOKING after small matters and
preventing waste is needed elsewhere
AMI in the expressive language of the
old proverb what is saved at the spigot
leaks out of the bung The wise farmer
viii prevent waste where he can, and
above all, he will try to cultivate his
ground in such way that it will not
be worn out too quickly. Thus he will
save ii for the use of his song, and theil
sons sons. There is no uso in trying to
adapt the methods of farming suited tc
4 overcrowded countries, to our rich
American prairie soil The thing which
IL necessary is to evolve new methods
which will combine the good sencc o
both the old customs and the new.
Sol Bacharach has removed his store