Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-08-28
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Seer and a Wilder
ness
By Holland.

Before the Federal government es-
tablished the Department Of Agri-
culture, with its head a member OF
the Cabinet, the country had Blu
reau Of Agriculture From 1881 10
1885 this bureau was head by DR..
George b. Loring Of Massachusetts.
his title being Commissioner Of Agri-
culture, and he it was who made his
bureau Of such importance that at
last Congress decided to create the
present Agricultural Department DR.,
Loring was a scholarly man and an
astute politician. as well as a scien-
tihc agriculturist. He was of power
full physique, in build and stature be-
ing almost like President Garfield. He
wore decided side whiskers, being one
of the last OF prominent public mon
TO retain that manner Of trimming
the beard which, few years earlier,
had been very popular.
In July Of 1888 ! met DR.. Loring in
st. Paul He was on his way back
to Washington after a prolonged and
very thorough study Of agricultural
conditions. present and In prospect,
I'm the Northwest At that time there
was no completed Pacific railroad
penetrating the great northwestern
territory OF the country. The last
spike I'm the Northern Pacific was
not driven home until about a year
after DIR. Loring's visit
Il 4, Of c.
in the late seventies said Dr. Loring
to me, 81 was told by a hunter and
trapper who spent the greater part OF
each year I'm the vast wilderness west
Of Minnesota that there was land IN
Dakota suitable for wheat in sufficient
acreage to keep the United States
supplied with all the wheat its people
could eat for at least ten years.
had been telling him that there was
a lot of talk TO the effect that we we're
getting TO the limit Of our capacity to
produce wheat, and that was his con-
fident answer. though I was not so
confident that he was correct IN his
belief.
NOW. however, 7 have discovered
with my own eyes that this trapper's
statement was true. You may say, If
you want TO, upon my authority. that
I am confident that as soon as the
railroads blaze the path. making it
easy for people TO reach this great
region west OF here, Dakota will
shortly thereafter be found to be pro-
ducing at least one-third of the en-
tire wheat crop Of the United States.
And you may also say. if you
urapf IN opnfbrr fnru0
thority. and that is, I believe that
the kind of land which is adapted for
the production OF the best kind Of
wheat reaches far beyond our north
ern boundaries and am persuaded
that within the course of the next
fifteen OF twenty years one of the
worlds great wheat granaries will be
established I'm that part OF British
North America which Is now almost
unbolen wilderness or steppes
would not be surprised II within that
period wheat should be cultivated al
the Arctic circle
"If I were a younger man ! would
cheerfully make the prediction that IN
my life time It would he found thai
British North America, heretofore
utilized chiefly by the Hudson BAY
Company. had become one Of tn,
worlds greatest wheat producing re-
gions. That may seem like a foolish
prediction. But my study Of tbs
character OF the soil. the geographical
confirmation Of the northwestern par
Of the American continent. and IN,
certainty that IN British North Ameri
ca there are about three months o
the very kind OF summer which grow
and ripens the hest kind Of wheat
justify the prediction.
Il have said that you may quote m
TO this effect. But If you print wha
7 am now telling you ! shall un
doubtedly be laughed at Yet II
live to be a very old man shall b
able TO laugh at those Who now woul
find something very humorous, Z
say the least. in my prediction"
Dr. Doring died In 1891. He live
to see the Dakotas covered with grea
wheat fields; but not until after hi
death did the world IN general awak
en- TO the fact that in Northwestern
British North America Il had one G
its very greatest wheat granaries.
Copyright 1871. by r. J. Edwards
All rights reserved)
Tounorro.w Mr. Eduordr rrfII f,IT a