Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-28
FEEDING A NATION.

Wilson is optimistic. He has no fear
that the farmers will be unable to
raise sufficient crops for the need OF
the people, at least not for many years
to come. AT present this country is
not only providing enough for the peo-
pie at home. but is contributing a
great part of the food products for the
support of the world. His statement
has thus been summarized by a Wash
tngton dispatch, and it is Of SO much
interest that it is given at length.
During the past twelve years, the
perod covering the administration OF
Secretary Wilson, the agricultural bal
ance of trade in the United States
increased from yearly average Of
$234000,000 to SAIL, 100000, or 1871
per cent according to the secretary in
his year book made public recently.
This wonderful development is only
in keeping with the progress that has
been made along all lines OF agricul-
tural activity. At the same time 1t is
stated, many conditions affecting the
lives of the farmers of the country
have advanced in even greater ratio
until many of the undesirable features
of farm life have been eliminated.
$50 increasingly disposed has the
public been to ask and receive the aid
of the department, and so large have
been the new fields of work assigned
to it by congress-" says Mr.. Wilson,
"that the numb " of employees has in
creased enormously. On July 1, 1897,
2,444 persons were employed and IL
years later, in 1908, the number was
10,420, or over four times as many"
Among the notable increases were
in the bureau of animal industry, from
Ut to 1852 employees, in the forest
service from IA to 3,753; in the
bureau of chemistry from 20 to 425
and in the bureau Of plant industry
from 1877 to 9T6. Most of the additional
workers in these bureaus are employ
ed outside of Washington, there being
2,488 within and 1882 outside of the
city.
Many have been the innovations in
troduced and developed into potential
forces for the betterment of farm life
during this period, says Mr.. Wilson.
The entire system by which the work
of the agricultural department has
been operated has been changed. New
er before has the work Of state agri-
cultural colleges and experiment sta
lions been SO intimately related with
the department as now.
Citing the increase in population
Secretary Wilson declares that no one
need have fear that the farmers of
this country will ever be unable to
provide for its population.
They are already demonstrating,
in the cases OF various crops and Of
various states" he says, that they
can provide for population increas-
ing faster than by increase due to ex-
cess of birth over Deaths"
From 1895 to 1906, he says, farm
wages increased faster than did
prices, in the matter Of wage increase
the farm laborer has Jared better
than the workingman employed in
manufacturing and mechanical indus
tries.
THE farmer" says the secretary,
Sin results Of information, intelli-
gence and industry, has thrived might
lily. The progress that has been made
is in the direction leading to popular
and national welfare, to the susie
nance Of any future population, as
well as to q larger efficiency Of the
farmer in matters of wealth produc-
ton and saving and in establishing
himself and his family in more pleas
ant ways Of living"