Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-10
wATTLEs FOR THE EXPOSITION
President of show Makes Address at
the Opening.

President of Show Makes Address at
Ia Opening.
q. w. Wattles, president of the National
Corn exposition, at the opening exercises,
spoke in behalf OF the exposition. In part
he said:
When Columbus discovered America he
found here a food product which until that
world. History records that among the
presents which he took back to Queen
Isabella were some of the grains of this
product, which he called Indian corn.
Later when the pilgrim fathers landed on
the inhospitable shores of New England.
but for the Indian corn, with which the
natives supplied their needs during the
first winter, but few II any of them would
nave lived to found the colony which has
exercised such an influence in the devel-
opment or the new world.
When Lewis and Clark made their his
torlcal journey of exploration up the Mis-
sour river and across the continent to the
Pacific ocean,, their journal relates that
along the rich bottoms of this river they
found the Indians engaged in cultiVating
fields OF corn, and at their winter quarters
among the Mandan Indians of South Da-
kota, corn ana the flesh of wild animals
constituted their 1000.
Increased production can be accomplished
by planting better grades that will, with
less labor, Increase the production. In ali
other departments of human industry ex-
perlence and the teachings of science have
assisted IN greatly, increasing the volume
OF production and the value of the product.
The farm value of the grain produced
in this country is its value in the markets
of the world less the cost Of transportation
TO these markets, and while the rates OF
] transportation on grain have been gradu-
ally reduced by the railroads of the country
until today these rates are the lowest per
on mile of any country in the world, yet
At our doors are great rivers flowing to
he seas, and by the Improvement OF these
.ivers they may become the carriers Of the
PRODUCTS OF the west TO the seaport mar
Kets for much less than the actual cost
Of transporting them by rail. In 1877 the
lake and rail combined rate on corn from
Chicago to New York was 1912 cents per
/ that time was 1908 cents per 100. In 1907
the lake and rail rate had been gradually
raduced until II was $50 cents per 100,
while the all rail transportation was 1911
Home mills and factories for the manu-
faC ture or grains and grasses into the fin
consumption Will be Of inest mabIe va uc.
In recent years many new and useful foods
have been manufactured from corn, uRtil
today II enters into more than $50 products
which are distributed and sold n e cry
Z products used for food, but they have be.
starch, vegetable oil, dextrin, spirits and
many othtr articles Of common use. THAI
a product Of such great lmportan. Q to the
west should be carefully S udied and IT,
annual vie d IN eve y way pos ible mere sec
would seem but proper and right.
the world this National Corn exposition
Its principal purpose is To in every way
possible educate tie producers Of corn and
most scientific means Of increasing the pro.
duction and in enhancing its value. w
have extended the scope OF the exposition
have gathered her samples OF the les,
varieties that can be found In the world
M 9as3'i impr %ss frsU SS n3Sh ana som nsho o
saving devices for the cultivation nf grain
Ibnd incidentally may be seen other prod