Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1906-10-10
jim ]. Hills SPEECH
Tells CHICAGO COMMERCIAL
CLUB WHAT he thinks.
Northwest Must Pave Way for Vast
lnfiux-Our Highest Duty Is to Post
Changes-System Of Waste Menaces
the Nation-Intensified Farming.

president of the Great Northern rail
way, was the principal speaker Satur-
day night at the banquet at the Audi
torium hotel under the auspices Of
the Commercial association. His
theme was "The Development of the
Northwest" and his remarks were
greeted with applause because of the
great deal in ore lands which he clos
ed recently in behalf of the Great
Northern Railway.
David e. Forgan. president of the
Commercial association, presided at
the banquet, which was attended by
about $50 members of the association
and their friends. Sir Thomas Upton
was one of the chief guests Of the
evening. Other speeches were:
Conquest of the Pacific" Congress
man George Z. Foss and San Fran
CISCO" by Ernest F. Bicknell. Mr..
Bicknell represented the Chicago Com
mercial association in the relief meas
ures at San Francisco after the earth.
quake.
After reviewing the progress made
In the northwest in the past so years,
Mr.. Hill said:
"The first bus. ness and the highest
duty of the norlnwest is to prepare for
the burden and heat Of the coming day
and to postpone the lengthening Of the
shadows that must surely fall. With
in certain limits we may know exactly
what Is to happen in this country and
the northwest II forces now operative
and IL tendencies now active are un-
checked. These, briefly, are the GER
| tainties of the next so years, support
ed by facts ascertained beyond pos.
sibility of error. BY the middle OF
this century, within the life time Of
thousands now living, our population
will be more than 20O.000.0UJ. Where
are these people to ind profitable oc-
cupation? How are they to obtain the
necessities OF life? The question is
always pressing upon great cities like
Chicago, where immigration concen-
trates. But these newcomers can not
be excluded. Labor was never as
scarce, wages were never as high as
at the present day. We can not stop
the inflow or check the natural in
crease. We must determine, however.
upon an economy different from the
present, when our population Is ap-
preaching three times what 1t was In
| 1900. Striking as has n found the
contrast between 1850 and 1900, that
between the present and 1850 will re-
veal more serious features. Practi-
ally speaking, our public lands are all
occupied.
Irrigation viii Assist.
"The irrigation of lands by the gen.
aral government will do something.
out when all the present plans are
completed, they will furnish land for
| 'ewer than 100000 small farms of 40
,cres each, or for population of
seven or eight million people. Our
,ther natural resources have been ex-
plotted with a lavish hand. Our ex-
ports, of which we love to boast, con-
| ;ist mostly of the products Of the soil.
Our iron and coal supply will begin to
show signs of exhaustion before so
,ears have passed. The former at the
present rate of increasing the produc-
ion, will be greatly reduced. Our for
,sts are rapidly going. our vast supply
If mineral oil flows to the ends Of the
earth. We can not continue to sup
| ply the whole world and recruit our
own resources by the methods Of trade
hat now obtain, because the minerals
stored In the ground do not recreate
themselves. Once used they are gone
forever. We shall, with these coming
millions to provide for, be thrown
back upon the soil. the only resource
Of mankind that it capable OF infinite
renewal and that offers life for gen.
Grafton after generation. The period
)f ransacking the national storehouse
10 see what can be sent over seas and
sold must be changed to an era in
which we shall consider the preserva-
ton and improvement of what is. fun.
damentally. our chief maintenance.
or upon the cultivation of the soil and
all varied commercial activity. intris-
sic or intact, is mainly built; and upon
1t depends the future of mankind, and
the nature and stability Of Its institu.
tions.