The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-20
EDUCATE FARMERS
BETTER THAN NAVY
w. G. Brown Says Price Of One
Battleship Would Do
Work.
he FAvoRs RECIPROCITY
n. Y. Central President Thinks
Western States Would Suf-
fer a Time Only.
he FAv0Rs RECIPROCITY

G~afcsburE. ILL.,, February 19.-W. c..
Brown.spresidcnt of the New York Cen.
'ral Railroad. spoke at the exercises
OF the Founders Day ut Knox College
H'ahE farmers were present. His ad-
uress treated Of the conservation Of
me SOIL and OF the necessity OF In
creasinE It's fertility to meet the needs
OIL nome consumption. He said:
me United States is building two
or three great battleships almost every
year. which cost. fully equipped Der.
maps an average Of 5000, 900 each. and
II costs close to a million Il year TO
man. supply and maintain each one
with he money that one OF these
hShting machines costs we could es.
tablish and fully equip two splendid
eAperlinental farms OF 640 acres each
IN every state In the Union, to he run
by The general government.
"Iiie cstnblishnent.of such farms ~
me government would soon be fol-
.oMeu by, l6o-acre farms owned and
run BY the State In every county IN
our great aSricultural states. .
such farms. once established. wonI5
not only DC se~lf-supporting, but, In my
opinion. would show a handsome nroft
INC erect Of such a system OF prac.
p,oilt or the nations farms would be
.iinost beyond comprehension. Every
.nrii'iess and uniformed farmer
would note quickly the difference Ne.
tween the result Of his loose method.
and those Of the experimental farm
ana nnd benefit by the comparison. Men
Subject and who could find no time TO
study them if they had, would learn
TX nat most apt and thorough teacher.
observation tho value of improved
iicthods and would adopt then.
Let the government invest Inc nrice
o. one hattleship in his Important
work. folio" the Investment ~ intel
iigcntly and perseveringly FOR ten
years, and the value thai viii bay..
btcn added to each years crops Of he
union farms will buy and pay for
.verN hnttlcship in all the navies OF
In an interview before the address
Mr.. Brown expressed himself strongly;
LOT Canadian reciprocity ana against
~EneNatton. Brown said:
The Immediate and direct efcc, Of
me proposed reciprocity agreement
VIII be adverse 10 the farming in
ag nd Of the States in the Mlssissippi
VIII, in my opinion. be slight and tom.
porary. some OF the States which q
lew years ago produced a large surplus
81 Wheat now barely raise enough fol
nome consumption.
II population continues to Increase
= : rapidiy as u has IN the past. within
4 lev Years this country as a whole
Nil BIO on a wheat importing rntbeY
nan exporting basis. and the wheat
from Canada Will be needed 10 supply
our people with bread.
! doubt II any other crop takes as
much from the soil and returns so lit
,ie as wheat. and Il would be better
II much or the land now devoted 10
that crop throughout the corn belt
S,culd be used for pasture and for rails
ing corn, which, in turn. should be fed
10 cattle and hogs on the farm. thus
preservin~ tho fertility of the soil.
me reduction or wiping out OF tho
IUtN on tho III Ollfnlf IA ~ ntt fn-s--I--
VIII, In my opinion. fully compensate
Tor any loss, present and prospective
living this country a diversified in
0ustrial life, which is a better foun-
'd"t,or for Il permanent prosperity n
development h is possible whcn one
lndnStry so largelN prcdominnt.s."