The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-01-28
WEST VIRGINIA FARxS
Bling More Than Her Vast
Mineral Industries.


Bring More Than Her Vast
Mineral Industries
The Importance of Farming in Nest
yfrginia-Rich as A Farming and
Fruit Growing Section-When Mines
Are Exhausted she Will Still be En-
ormousIy Rich From Her AgricuItu-
raj Products.
| Editorial in Parkersburg News.
Governor A. B. White In his recent
message to the Legislature said that
the products of the West Virginia
farms have sold for a greater aggre-
gate sum than that brought by the
total mineral output of the State, in
Guiding both coal and coke. The
Governor, 10 his characteristic way,
has very forcefuiy emphasized this
fact In his message.
| To those who have been 10 the habit
of regarding West Virginia as lit
tie Mountain state, bat little, IL at
all, adapted to agriculture, but other
wise wonderfully endowed in natural
resources, this is very agreeable news.
The fact OF the matter is that ma
jority Of the citizens OF West Virginia
are directly engaged 10 agriculture
and that In this State are found as
the Governor says, decided attractions
to those who want to engage 10 agri-
cultural pursuits either as grazers or
growers OF fruit.
| In this connection word concern
ing the status OF bill, now pending
10 Congress for the appropriation of
money for the construction OF an ag-
ricultural building for the United
State Department OF Agriculture at
the Capital may he said
Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of
Agriculture, has asked Congress for
money to construct building for his
| department. After careful Investiga-
ton he has recommended as neces-
sary the sum of two aud half mil
lion dollars. A bill was promptly
passed by the United States Senate
for that purpose, and appr6priating
that sum of money. 1t now seems
that the Committee on Agriculture OF
the House of Representatives has
thought proper to recommend re-
duction OF that amount to one aud a
half million dollars, but for what par
ticular reason does not appear
This very important department of
public service has never had proper
quarters at the Capital, indeed many
of its offices, laboratories, etc., have
been quartered ia private buildings
rented at very high rental at the ex-
peDse of the United States. These
conditions are very undesirable, aud
the work of this department has been
very much hindered for lack of these
facilities, which the proposed building
would afford. Probably no depart
ment OF public service, with the ex-
ception, possibly, OF the Postoffice de-
partment, is in such large touch with
the citizens OF the United States and
is rendering them generally such sat
isfactory and extensive service as that
of the Department of Agriculture. Its
usefulness has been wonderfully de.
veloped 10 recent years. The man
DOW 10 charge of that work is a man
OF wonderful energy and great ability.
1t has long since, under his manage
meDt, ceased TO be a mere perfunctory
office and has become one OF not only
practical usefulness to the citizen in
his daily affairs, bat has become OF
great educational value to the whole
agricultural people OF this country.
Indeed, this department Is really
doing vast amount of truly univer-
sity work 10 agricultural education
The United States has embarked up
on a rlan for the promotion and bet
terment IF agriculture on scale and |
after manner not exampled in any
other country. At this time there |
are something over three thousand |
people employed in that department |
and the demands upon it are rapidly |
growing. The Weather Bureau be-
longs to it and everyone knows how |
valuable Its forecasts and reports are,
both in the way OF saving property, |
serving the comfort OF the people and |
in the preserving OF human life.
1t seems that Congress intends to |
Apr spriate something like seven mil
lion dollars for building for the De- |
partment of Justice. The agricultur-
al people are perfectly satisfied to have
this done, in fact they never have pro-
tested against right expenditure of |
enormous sums of money II it seemed |
that in doing so the general welfare |
and Interest Of our people and govern
ment were served thereby, but when |
members of Congress are inclined to |
to the erection of suitable habitat |
for the Department of Agriculture,
it will be difficult to explain the rea-
SOUS for such an invidious distinction.
Farmers understand very we'll the re-
lative Importance OF the agriculture |
of the United States to other indus
tries. and will not be satisfied with |
such an arrangement. 1t would be a |
reflection upon them which they would |
resist in manner that not be misun-
derstood.
1t would be far better, >if Congress
does not feel that the revenues Of the
Government can afford the necessary |
appropriation, that none be made for |
the present and that at time in the
future, when the Unitei States Is |
able to do so, that the appropriation
be made of sum sufficient to erect
a building large enough to meet the
present demands of that department,
out of materials entirely in keeping
with Importance of agricultural inter-
ests of the United States and the
dignity of the Government.
The farmers of this country under
stand very well that upon the sales
of the products of their labor and
their lands, abroad depends the bal
ance of trade in our favor.
The farmers of West Virginia are
interested IN this question. They be-
lieve that the United States ought to
appropriate enough money to give
this important branch of the service a
building. one that will fairly
represent the Importance and dig
nifty OF the industry in which they are
engaged, and that no sort of unneces-
sary and uncalled for economy should
be attempted in their case.
They feel assured that their repre-
sentatives in Congress will be found
on the right side OF the proposition
and that they will insist that the
Senate bill 90 through 10 SO far as the
is concerned, without
TO OPPOSE AUGUSTA COUNTY.
Party Left for Charleston This Morn.