The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-06-17
Will COVER OTHER LANDS
Montana Commissioner Asked for His
Opinion Regarding Subject
Under Consideration.

LACAI IS OA 1OOI AdV1HS LUZ us ODJ0CL
preservation of a historical record OF
agriculture in the United States.
While the scheme had it's origin in
a suggestion contained in an editorial
of a Chicago newspaper, Frederic w.
Taylor, chief of the department of
agriculture and horticulture of the
Louisiana Purchase exposition, is the
person who has Undertaken it's exc
cution. He has written a letter on
Montana bureau OF agriculture, labor
and industry, commonly known as the
state statistical bureau, asking that
gentleman for an expression of opin-
ion as regards the feasibility and de-
STABILITY of the project. Although
he has not yet replied to the letter,
Mr.. Ferguson is quoted as saying that
he heartily enaorses the project and
promises to give all the aid and as
sistance in his power.
Mr.. TayIor's~ Letter.
81 am sending you herewith an edi-
torial, which appeared in the Chicago
Record Herald, which contains a sug-
gestion regarding the ACCESSIBILITY of
preserving in some adequate form an
historical record of the progress Of
agriculture in this country, and in 9TH
er countries, in which may be utilized
the work which has been necessary
in assembling the products of hus-
bandry in the departments of agri.
culture and horticulture at the
Worlds fair.
"Were l reasonably sure that there
would be a demand for such work, l
would take up it's compilation, not.
w~ithstanding the great amount OF
careful research it would involve.
hesitate, however, to undertake the
work without the advice and sugges-
lions from those who would be nat.
urally most interested in it and who
are most qualified to give them"
What Suggested It.
Following is the article referred to
by Mr.. Taylor:
1.-THE space devoted to an exhibit of
the products and processes of agri-
culture at the St. Louis Worlds fair
far exceeds that devoted to any other
industry in any previous exposition.
At the Columbian exposition at Chi
cago it was the Manufacturers build
ing that lowered over all other struc-
lures. In it was grouped a vast dis
play of the products of all lines OF
manufacturing enterprise, not only in
this country, but in foreign lands. I
cat st. Louis agriculture is given
the premier place among the exhibits.
The Palace of Agriculture, which sur
passes in extent all other exposition
structures, is 1000 feet long and cost
over half a million dollars. In all,
inside and outside space, more than
20 acres are devoted to the progress
and development OF the science of
h~usbandry.
agriculture is not given this prom
inent place because of a sudden dis
covery that it outranks all other in
dustries in point of value of product
or Importance to our national welfare.
That it stands first among the indus
tries of man and that all other &C.
tivities rest upon the tilling of the soil
was conceded long ago. 1t was given
first place at this exposition because
agriculture was so conspicuously the
prime factor in the development of
the territory embraced in the Louis
lana Territory
"The suggestion is made that the
work of gathering and installing the
colossal exhibits of agriculture and
horticulture at st. Louis furnishes an
opportunity for a comprehensive his
torical record of the development OF
American husbandry that should not
be lost. The suggestion is worthy of
serious consideration. Other exposi-
lions have devoted much space to ag-
riculture, but the educational and his
torical material that was developed
in the preparation of the exhibits was
never utilized or preserved in such
a way as to make it of practical value
to American farmers or manufacture.
ers.
"In the annals of human progress
there is nothing comparable to the
story of the development of husban-
dry in this country. AS the display
at the st. Louis exposition is compre-
hensive and educational it will pro-
vide a wealth of material for the story
of American agriculture, which should