The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-10

hut after all, Uncle SANS most fit
able asset is the American farmer" =
A BUSINESS WHICH DEALS IN Bill
LIONS.
! "GIye me some OF the items OF this busi-
ness OF the farmers trust Mr.. secre-
tary." said l.
| 1.-THE farmers are not a trust" said
Secretary Wilson, land to give all the
| details OF their enormous business would
require too much space. Still can give
you some OF the items. Take cotton, for
instance. We got high prices for that
| last year. Our exports amounted 70
| about Il. 0oO.00l pounds day. not includ-
| ing Sundays. and our receipts were about
81, 10000 day. or gross amount Or
$3l7 900, 900 per year. This was all cold.
clean money brought into the country
for stuff sold abroad.
"Our grain exports were 100000 day.
We sent 204,O0o0OO bushels of wheat and
almost half OF that Went in the shape OF
flour. We exported 3l7S0000Oo worth OF
meat and enough beef and pork to have
given every man, woman and child Of
the whole world one.ha lf pound and
enough additional to have made a mess
Of hash for every one of them the next
day. Those figures show you something
of our agricultural interests. The Ameri-
can farmer Is tho backbone OF the coun-
try. FTe is the biggest institution In i. q"
WHAT MAKES UNCLE SAM RICH:
but last year and the year before have
been the exceptions. Mr., Secretary, The
crops have been much better than ever.
before.
THAT is true to a minor extent re-
piled Secretary Wilson. "3ut for years
the farmer has been bringing over foreign
gold from Europe, Australia and Asia
to oven up our losses In other branches
of trade. In the last thirteen years our
average excess ofexports over imports
amounted to about 275 million dollars
per year, and during that time the annual
balance OF such trade in favor OF the
farmer was 1877 million dollars, that Is,
the farmer had not only to give the bal
nnce OF trade IN our favor, but he had
to pay &C. million dollars in the shape OF
an adverse balance to other imports In
the last fourteen years the farmer bal
ance OF trade amounted to almost FIVE
billion dollars. 1t was enough to pay all
the losses OF our other foreign business
and to put 1000 millions OF dollars, In
round numbers, to the credit OF the ma
ton. Those figures give you some Idea
where this wonderful wave OF prosperity
which has been sweeping over the coun-
( try comes from"
FARMING AS A BUSINESS
'Then, I suppose that farming, as q
business, has begun to pay.
ut has always paid" replied secretary
Wilson ''when managed In q business
like manner, But the day has passed
when you can take It up as a makeshltt'
Tho man who would make money IN
farming to-day must know his farm and
how to farm It. He must know the ma
turo of foods and fertilizers. He must
understand the markets and bring the
same business Judgment TO bear that Is
necessary to the success OF other pusl-
nesses, Above all the farmer must keep
up to the times and farm sclenti t'callS,
for 1t is only In that way that ne can
get the most out OF his land
NO FARNtERs' TRUST,
xviii we over have great farmers
| trust. which Will corner Els markels.
raise prices and fight tile other comp'-
| nations of capital?" !,
II don't think such a thing possible"
replied Secretary Wilson. This Is q hig
country and farming sis q big business,
All the world Is more OF less engaged N