The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-27
WILSON POINTS WAY.
Secretary of Agriculture Tells How to
Lower Food Prices.

New York, April 27.-Secretary VIII
son of the department of agriculture,
in an address at the New York Produce
Exchange, urged proper conservation
of the soil as the only permanent
means of relief from a continuation Oh
increase in the cost of living.
1--WE can not afford to buy food from
foreign countries" he said, land we
must see to t that our western farms
produce enough, not only for home con-
sumption, but also to sell abroad and
square up the balance of trade"
Secretary Wilson said in part:
1.-THE cost ( living calls for care
full inquiry into the causes that have
operated to bring about conditions that
are new to us as a people. We have
had great abundance of food and prices
that were lower than most other coun-
tries with which we compete in COM
merce and manufacturing. Compensa-
ton for skill and labor has been COM
paratively high in our country, but in
creased cost of living has become a
disturbing factor that can not be ad-
justed at present to the satisfaction or
those concerned.
''The major part of our people in the
east are being fed from the mississippi
valley and the states of the south draw
much from the same source. 1 am we'll
satisfied that the soils of that valley
are being subjected gradually to the
same unwise treatment that so serious
ly DESTROYED the soils east of the Allie
Education Is Necessary.
saThe necessity for education of the
farmer is impressed on our people and
steps are being taken In all our states
and territories to this end. Sciences
are being applied and resources maze
into causes and results. Education is
being extended into primary schools In
MANY Of our states. Federal and state
governments are spending money free
ly for this purpose and students are
1fc Of zoos
are being printed and literature OF
the farm is growing
seThe states east of the Alleghenies
are foremost in commerce. manufac-
tuNrg arts and sciences, wealth and
influence. They have overlooked agrt-
culture, permitting their soils to de-
teriorate and are reaching out to the
west for food products The soil rob-
her began his baleful practice there
and has gone westward until the light
rainfall regions refused to yield profit
ably.
sfThe deterioration of eastern soils
would have been prevented long ago
had there been no cheap, rich soils In
the Mississippi valley or had demand
been closer Up to supply western
lands are dearer and have gone beyond
the reach of poor people. The lands
of the east and south are reduced in
productive power but they are cheap,
they are convenient TO good markers,
they can be improved and they will
be, but the netnods py Mnlcn tdI N
is improved are quite different from
those by which it was reduced. Ignor-
ance permitted the soil to become I'M
productive, the highest intelligence is
required to bring back fertility.
Food Importation to Be Avoided.
ssImportaticn of food will bring
about a change in our economies,
revolution in our policies, which may
be avoided by better farming and a
comprehensive view of the situation
by those who deal in big things, wheth-
er carrying, commerce, manufacturing
or science
"Our people are not grouped to ad-
vantage Too many grew crops dur