Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-03-21
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Dr.. George B. LorIng Proved to
Be True Prophet.
Head Of Bureau Of Agriculture From
1881 to 1895 Foretold the Won
derful Future Of the Great
Northwest.
BY &. !. EDWARDS.

Before the federal government es-
tabhshed the department OF agricul-
ture. with Its head a member Of the
CABINET, the country had a bureau OF
agriculture. From 1881 to 1885 this
bureau was headed by DR.. George b.
Loring OF Massachusetts, his title be-
Ing commissioner OF agriculture, and
he 1t was who made his bureau OF
such Importance that It last congress
decided to create the present agricul-
tural department. DR.. Lorlng was a
scholarly man and an astute politician,
as well as scientific agriculturist.
He was Of powerful physique, in build
and stature being almost like Presi-
dent Garfield He wore decided side
whiskers, being one of the last OF
prominent public men to retain that
manner Of trimming the beard which,
few years earlier, had been very
popular
In July of 1888 l met DR.. Loring in
st. Paul He was on his way back to
washington after prolonged and
very thorough study OF agricultural
conditions. present and in prospect, in
~ - 'NSN- ~ NAlA time AnGlt W %
no completed Pacific railroad penetrat-
Ing the great northwestern territory
OF the country. The last spike in the
Northern Pacific was not driven home
until about a year after DR.. Loring's
visit.
While l was a member OF congress
In the late seventies" said DR.. Loring
to me, Il was told by a hunter and
trapper who spent the greater part OF
each year in the vast wilderness west
OF Minnesota that there was land In
Dakota suitable for wheat in sufficient
acreage to keep the United States sup
piled with all the wheat its people
could eat for at least ten years. |
had been telling him that there was n
lot OF talk to the effect that we were
getting to the limit OF our capacity to
produce wheat, and that was his con-
hdent answer, though l was not so
confident that he was correct In his
belief.
Now, however. I have discovered
with my own eyes that this trapper's
statement was true. You may say. if
you want to. upon my authority. that |
am confident that as soon as the rail
roads blaze the path. making It easy
for people to reach this great regiou
west OF here, Dakota will shortly
thereafter be found to be producing al
least !one-third OF the entire wheat
crop OF the United States.
And you may also say. II you want
to, another thing on my authority. and
that Is, ! believe that the kind OF land
which is adapted for the production OF
the best kind OF wheat reaches far be-
yond our northern boundaries and
hm persuaded that within the course
OF the ne1t Is or 20 years one OF the
worlds great wheat granaries will be
established in that part OF British
North America which is now almost
unbroken wilderness or steppes.
would not be surprised II within that
period wheat should be cultivated at
the arctic circle.
IF ] were younger man l would
cheerfully make the prediction that In
my life time It would be found that
British North America heretofore util-
lied chiefly by the Hudson Bay com
pany. had become one OF the worlds
greatest wheat producing regions.
That may seem like a foolish predic.
ton. But my study Of the character
OF the soil, the geographical confirma-
ton OF the northwestern part OF the
American continent, and the certainty
that in British North America there
are about three months OF the very
,, Kind OF summer which grows and
ri2ens the best kind OF wheat, justify
the prediction.
Il have said that you may quote me
to this effect. But If you print what
am now telling you l shall undoubted
~ be laughed at. Yet II l live to be
a very old man I shall be able tc
laugh at those who now would hnc
something very humorous. to say the
least. IN my prediction"
DR.. LOrfng died in 1891. He lived
to zee the Dakotas covered with
great wheat fields; but not until after
his death did the world in genera
awaken TO the fact that in northwest
ern British North America 1t had onG
OF its very greatest wheat granaries.
Copyright. 1911. by f. ]. Edwards. AL
Rights Reserved)