Evening star., 1901-07-30
Mr. TAYLOR DELIGHTED
WASHINGTON "A BETTER SUMMER
RESORT THAN WESTERN CITIES.
Glad to Get Back Here-Says Reports
of Damage to Crops Have
Been Exaggerated.

Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury Tay-
lor returned to his desk at the department
today, after an absence from the city Oh
| three weeks. during which time he has been
travelling through several states In the
northwest.
Mr., Taylor was very highly delighted
man when he returned to Washington, Tor
during his trip he encountered some OF the
warmest weather the western country has
endured in years. =
Judging by my experience in the west"
he said to a Star reporter this afternoon,
.I think Washington is about as good a
place as any to spend summer vacation.
AS summer resort 1t has totally eclipsed
any city In Illinois, Michigan. Minnesota,
Wisconsin or Iowa-that is. for the past
three weeks at least This weather we
are having here Is delightful compared
with that prevailing in the west and was
glad to escape the heat and humidity OF
the sections I visited"
Exaggerated Reports as to Crops.
In speaking of the reports which have
been circulated from the west regarding
the damage to crops from the recent
drouth. Mr.. Taylor said:
Il think dispatches which have come
east regarding the destruction wrought to
the corn and other crops Of the west have
greatly exaggerated the true situation. /
two great corn states but gained a great
deal of trustworthy Information which l
think furnishes as good proof OF the real
conditions as actual and personal observa-
ton.
II was very close observer of the crop
conditions prevailing in Michigan, Illinois.
Wisconsin. Iowa and Minnesota. The heat
In those states during the past few weeks
has been sonnet hing terrific; greater, In
fact. than anything experienced there in
recent years. Notwithstanding these ad-
verse climatological conditions however.
the crops are In excellent condition.
aside from my personal observations.
talked In st. Paul ard Chicago with friends.
including a great many reliable and close
ly observing railroad men. upon the crop
condition throughout the great western ag-
ricultural section. Railroad men. as every
one knows make s.n especial point OF keep
ing thoroughly posted on crop conditions
and their testimony on the subject may
therefore be accepted as entirely reliable
''They all told me that the reports from
Kansas and Nebraska concerning damage
done by the drouth to the crops have been
magnifed. There can be no gainsaying the
fact that some damage has been done but
not the amount generally estimated In the
newspapers.
Unusually Large Crops.
There Is every prospect for unusually
large crops all over the west, unfavorable
weather conditions to the contrary not
at every hand. and that is what observed
within the territory visited. Out in Min
nesota the great wheat crop is in excellent
condition. Oats, barley. rye. potatoes and
hay are also in good shape, and the crops
Of these products for the year will largely
excel those Of last year. both in quality
and quantity.
'All these crops are important ones to
the agricultural element, and the farmers
will reap profits from them this fall. I
found that insects have been working DAM
age in certain sections but at no time
did I find a general destruction from any
cause whatever. The favorable conditions
prevailed only sporadically.
Everybody in the states / visited was
complaining of the heat In Chicago, and
even at Duluth where the lake breezes gen.
orally keep the city at comfortable degree
registering 10o degrees and higher. Wash
ington is, and has been. much cooler in
in comparison"