The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-05-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.


simplest agricultural subjects" said the
Secretary of Agriculture, when 1 called
on him Saturday. Mr.. Wilson had before
him telegram from Prof. Whitney.
Chief of the Bureau of Soils, giving the
prices at which the shade grown Sumatra
tobacco, raised under the supervision OF
of the Bureau of Soils, has sold at public
auction. eve have long known that
Prof Whitney's experiments had proved
successful" continued the Secretary,
"but we realized that the actual demon
stration would come when the tobacco,
grown in accordance with our system,
came to be sold under the hammer. The
crop averaged SIPS per pound, as against
an average slightly under rs cents which
the native Connecticut tobacco has
brought. The crop produced an average
of 1000 pounds per acre and the profit
was 81 per pound net. We consume
&c. 600, 900 worth of this wrapper tobacco
annually. 1t will, therefore, require that
but 5000 acres be devoted to this variety
of tobacco and the saving to the country
of money, formerly spent outside its linn
its, will amount to Sc, 1000, 900. The whole
credit of this experiment belongs to Prof
Whitney and his system of soil survey by
which it was discovered that there existed
in the Connecticut valley soil precisely
like the Sumatra soil OH which has been
grown for years the wrapper tobacco we
have imported.
But our work is just begun. We now
import filler tobacco to the amount oil
IS, 900, 900 annually. Our soil surveyors
are searching for localities which will
grow that and believe they have found
the proper soil in sections of Pennsvl
vania, Ohio, North Carolina and Texas
In a few years l believe we will be able t
grow at home $I4, ooo,o 900 worth of to-
bacco which we formerly imported, and
at an extremely handsome profit to the
grower. If we could persuade Congress
to appropriate sufficient funds to carry on
this work on a scale commensurate with
its importance we would be able TO make
more rapid progress but we have reason
TO feel we'll satisfied at our progress sc
far" While Secretary Wilson gives tc
Prof. Whitney all the credit for the dis
covery of the "Sumatra SOIL" etc, it is
only fair to say that Prof. Whitney ha:
received every encouragement from the
Secretary, who Immediately grasped the
scope and importance of the soil survey
and under whose prote elton the former
Division of Soils has become bureau
with largely extended facilities Repre-.
sentative Henry, of Connecticut, whom ]
saw Saturday, is no less enthusiastic than
Secretary Wilson over the great success
of the tobacco experiments, which he be,
lieves will very materially add to the
agricultural resources of his state.
#*s.
The sudden deaths Of Representatives
Cummins, Otey and Salmon suspended
all business in the House of Represen.
tatives during the early part Of last week
and the only legislation enacted was the
bill providing for admission as states OIL
Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico
This week the House expects to take ur
the Naval appropriation bill after passing
the bill of Representative Adams which
will SO amend the statutes as to permit
the issue of passports to the residents OIL
our insular possessions. Saturday was
devoted to eulogies of the late Represen.
tative Polk Of Pennsylvania and the late
Senator Kyle of South Dakota.
~
All last week in the Senate vas devoted
to the Philippine bill with the prospect
at this writing. that the measure will moi
no IF haG he Il
When shorn of party Aamboyance the
differences between the democrats and the
Republicans are vastly less than the pub
lie would suppose. In SO far as the bill
is concerned, the democrats hold that il
gives too great power to the Philippine
Commission. which, by its provisions, i.
authorized to lease and sell public lands
to grant franchises and permits to cuI
lumber, etc. In regard to policy, the
de.pocrats claim that there should be 6
declaration that, when the Filipinos have
demonstrated their ability TO govern
themselves, they would be granted com
plete freedom in internal affairs with such
an international protectorate as this gov
ment now proposes to exercise over Cuba
AS many republicans believe that to be
the end at which the u. S. will event
ually arrive in dealing with the islands
and as it seems extremely possible that il
might be quarter of century or more
before the Filipinos could demonstrate
their capacity for self-government, 1t will
he seen that, did not politics figure Sc
largely in the matter, it would not bs
difficult for the two parties to arrive at a
uniform policy in regard to the islands
Senator Lodge has already asked that a
day be set for vote or he bill but the
flow of oratory is not TO be checked al
present OF course there is little doubt
but that the present bill, with perhaps
some miner amendments, will eventually
pass.
~
The arrangements for the coming un-
yelling of the Rochambeau statue on
the square opposite the White House,
and on the same square on which the
statue of Lafayette now stands, are pro.
crossing with exceeding smooihness. The
Count de Rochanlbeau, with a large party
of distnuished Frenchmen, will partici
pate and will be attended in Washington
by detail of marines from a French
warstiiP. Elaborate exercises will be a
feature of the Rnyeiling and the Presi-
dent will give dinner party to the dis
tinguished guests.
~
On Thursday last, Mrs. Roosevelt gave
lawn party i'll the grounds of the White
House. Handsome tents were pitched for
the accommodation of the guests and the
Marine band was in attendance During
the afternoon the President made his ap.
pearance, looking very iehonaire in the