The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-09-06
GOOD TIMES STAY, SAYS SEC
WILSON.
Returns From Tour OF the West and
Scoffs at Doiefui Talk.


SCOTS at Doieful Talk.
Washington, Aug. 31.-The great
west Is prosperous and the country
as a whole, therefore, is in no dan
ger of hard times. That is the word
that Secretary of Agriculture Will
son has brought back east with him
on his return from long tour on
the other side of the Mississippi
river and in the intermountain
states.
He is aglow with enthusiasm over
the crop outlook, general trade con-
ditions and the political temper of
the people. And Farmer Wilson"
is the most acute observer of natur-
al conditions connected with this adj
ministration.
No Fear Is Found.
"The people of the west" said
Secretary Wilson "are not fearful of
q panic or of hard times. The west
is prosperous. There is plenty of
money. In fact, I have reason to be-
lieve the west is loaning money to
the east instead of the east to the
west, and this is being done at good
rates of interest. The people of the
west are not worrying over Wall
street and its troubles. They scarce
ly know that such troubles exist,
save as they read them in the news
papers. The rest of the country is
no longer dependent on Wall street.
81 found that less money has been
going to Canada this year than in
recent years in the past.
"The crop outlook is good.
Grain crops generally will be good,
with the exception of the oat crop.
There will be a good corn crop, not
a bumper crop, but good one, if
frosts do not come too early.
Prices for farm products and for
stock are high, and farmers are max
ing money"
The special mission of the secre-
tary of agriculture on the trip just
finished was to study forest reserve
problems, the reserves having been
placed under the direction of his de-
partment two years ago.
with regard to the forest reserves
I found two chief problems" said
the secretary, first, to insure pro-
lection from fire, and second, to re-
forest the land where continual fires
have destroyed the young trees. |
There are millions of acres grow
ing nothing except a little grass. |
The question Of reforestation is
pressing
The price of lumber indicates
hat we are up against wood fam
ne. Lumber is being shipped from
he northwest all over the world.
n the forest region the home
teader, or the man who gets patent
lnder the timber and stone act,
,ften sells to private corporations,
ONE of which have as many as 3d.
100, 900 acres and are still buying.
pressure comes from
'ersons who want to get title mere
Y to sell to such companies and put
he money in their pockets.
'I failed to find much sentiment
gainst the reserves, except from the
mall element that would like to get
ossession to sell. In the heavily
regions of the northwest
t is not very practicable to make a
arm. 1t would cost about 800 an
ere to get the land cleared fit for
The general sentiment
that the Presidents policy is
Use, since it is evident that wood Is
} be very scarce in this country be-
ore many years.
"The only apprehension | OBJ
erved among the people of the west
rows out of the fear of fuel fam
re next winter. l am glad the peo-
lie appreciate the situation, because
luch can be odne to prevent fam I
lie by those who can put in their
pal supply in advance of cold
Gather"
'