The Washington times., 1901-12-29
Mr. N9WlandS EDtGrtaiDS
Interested congressman.
SECRETARY WILSON'S ADORE s.
Declares the Home Market Is the
Best as Well as the Greatest in
the World-Our New Possessions
to Supply What We Now Buy in
Foreign Lands.

OF bofn houses OF Congress from the
Northwestern States several from the
Eastern States. and other public men OF
prominence interested in matters OF irri-
gation and agriculture.
Addresses were delivered by Secretary
Wilson. George W Maxwell, president
Pinchot. head of the Forestry Bureau of
the Department of Agriculture. ana
Charles d. Walcott, Director of the
Geological Survey.
At the opening of the present session
of Congress a meeting of the irrigation
committee OF the Northwest was held
at which suggestions were made with
reference to drafting an irrigation bill
rron which the Northwest forces could
unite
state Vs.. National Control.
Representative Newlands is the author
of House bill No 80, which provides
essentially for National Government con-
trol Of irrigation under direction OF the
Secretary Of the Interior. Another bill,
prepared by Senator Warren Of Wyoming
provides for irrigation under state con
troll. A division Of forces results upon
The issue of Government and state con-
troll.
During the evening Mr. Newlands ex-
plained his plan in detail. 1t may or may
not be significant 10 note that at this
dinner were gathered advocates of the
national irrigation plan and also its most
aggressive opponents. Ii is reported that
bill, which win probably be known as
The compromise bill, is being prepared
By the subcommittee OF the committee Of
the Northwest.
The remarks of Secretary Wilson are
important from the fact that this is his
first public statement on the subject OF
irrigation since aggressive action has
been undertaken by the present Congress.
The Secretary spoke without notes, as
follows:
Secretary Wilson'S Address.
81 want to consider this proposition
very briefly from little different stand
point than that taken by our friend Mr.
Newlands.
''lf we take note of what is in mems
minds at the present time. We find that
public discussion turns more upon mar
kets than on any other one proposition
in planning for our national prosperity.
The policy Of the United States for the
last forty years has been to build Up
home markets, not only for our manu-
facturers, but for cur farmers as well
We have built up our manufacturers in
order that we might have home markets
for our farmers, and also TO encourage
everything that could permanently live
and prosper within the United States
through the diversidcation of our indus
tries.
The producers flom the soil-the
ssfmers OF the country--a very large ma
sority Of them. have steadily voted at
every election along that line. National
policies. with short interruptions of most
unhappy memory, have been built up and
maintained with that end in view.
Changes are coming about gradually
When / was boy, forty-slx years ago,
went to Iowa. 1t was a new country in
those days. There was no homestead law
We went out there and bought land Our
friends, the farmers Of the East were
somewhat alarmed as to what the result
might be. But these friends in the East
built railroads out to us ard overlook us
with the railroads. and sometimes went
farther west with them than We had gone
and waited for US TO come and the re-
suit with regard TO the marketing OF
Eastesn farm products was in some eases I
Unsatisfactory to the Eastern farmer
Greatest Market i'm the World.
But the Eastern manufacturer got
kuch market as Is not to be found any
where else in the world outside Of the
Mississippi Valley. And the prosperity
of the Eastern manufacturers has in turn
brought prosperity TO the Eastern farmer. /
and whatever temporary detriment the
opening up of The rich lands Of the Mis-
sissippi Valley to agriculture caused the /
Eastern farmer has beer wholly over
come and overbalanced " the benefit /
which the Eastern farmer has received /
from the establishment Of the great man |
uiacturing industries Of the East
I'VE have gone on developing the West \
as far as the one hundredth meridian /
Last year we sold $3.50 600 worth Of |
American farm products in foreign /
countries and we are developing a market 1
for our products in Asia which viii asor5 |
the whole surplus Of farm products from
the West, no matter how many additional
acres Of arid lands we may reclaim and
cultivate. The product Of these western
lands will simply incrcase the great az
gregate Of wealth which the American
farmer is bringing back 10 this country for
our agricultural exports.
1T is the American farmer who has
made the great balance Of trade In cur
favor and is buying back The bonds when
we sold in the times when We had 10 sell
them TO carry on local Improvements and
war, etc, and this buying back OF bonds Is
going on now.
Fewer IiomesceLers Now.
"The immigration in those early days
of which 1 have spoken was Of home
seekers. People who came from foreign
countries in those days wanted farms. and
they got them. and they built up the
Northwest. A change has come-a mos.
desirable change The homeseekers who
want farms are not coming to such an
extent rs they did IN those early days
The man is coming who lives In the cite.
and works In the factories. ana the aG-
monition is forced upon us that The
United States OF America IN its population
is becoming somewhat out OF balance. as
regards the town and the country The
cities are growing in proportion faster
than The country.
There is danger in this. as all recog-
nize. We should do everything we can to
Promote the growth Of q rural population
by opening up opportunities for people
10 get homes on the land, and training
them 10 till IL, so they viii know how 10 |
get their living from the ground And
everything We can do and that which the
Department of Agriculture is doing 10
make conditions OF rural life more pleas
ant and prosperous. tends TO correct this |
evil OF too many people ip our |