The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-14
by FRANK 6. CARPENTER.


.Hls letter is about The great,
American Abraham. the patri-
arch OF our agricultural inter
csts. boss farmer Of the United States
might rather say the boss of the
farmers. for 1t is about the man who
is at the head OF our great farming
industry, the one whom Of all others
Uncle Sam has chosen for the next
Tour years to devote his time and
brains to the lettering Of the farm
and the farmers.
refer TO the new Secretary OF Az
r'culture. David Franklin Houston. a
live man in live place and the place
which many think is just now more i'm
portant than any other on our big
patch OF this great. round earth
David Houston Is at the head of our
agricultural industry. 30 you under
stand what that means? He is in
charge OF the business that makes the
wheels OF the United states go round.
He has the keys OF the treasure vaults
which I'll our pockets and Furnish the
money to remedy our financial mis-
takes. lie is the boss workman over
the mine out OF which We annually
take thousands of millions OF dollars
Knowing that an equal or greater sum
VIII be hoisted up the same shaft
year after year for generations 10
come. The output of that mine last
year was $500. 900 900. and within the
past sixteen years. according to Sec
rotary Wilson, Il has amounted to more
than 100000. 900, 900
One hundred and five billion dollars.
The SUM gives no idea except that Of
big figures How much is itp Is there
anything that Will give us a coInpari-
son? have before me the assets Of the
greatest countries on earth The United
states leads, and next comes Great
Britain. Great Britain has more money
than any other nation outside OF our
own. and Russia has by far the mos,
land. You could sell out Great Bril-
tain 1T It's own valuation and the sum
realized would be only $40 900. 600. 900.
You could carve up Russia and peddlc
out it's territories in Europe and Asia
and the total amount would be only
s35. 600. 600. 600. Now, II you add the
two together. you Will have sos, OGO. =
600, or Just what we have gotten
out OF our soil in the last sixteen
years. You have heard OF the fat
WOODEN stockings OF France the
mighty industries of economical Ger
many and the wealth Of the Austrians.
which they spend so freely on human
enjoyment. All the riches Of France.
Germany and Austria are not equal TO
that sum, and If you should take every
dollar in cash and in property out OF
gal and switzerland. and add them to-
gcthcr they would not make much
more than onc-third OF the amount the
good red earth has poured into our
pockets She gave US last year almos,
Slo.o0o.o0o. 900, and ut the same rate
OF production she Will within the next
thirteen years spill out enough To more
than equal all the wealth we have now
our total asscty are estimated a,
$4,000 600. 600. They are only IL pc,
cent more than what We have taken
out OF the earth since your daughter
or sweetheart who is sweet sixteen
first set foot upon it. The debts OF AL
the nations are less than $40. 600, 000,
600. We take almost one quarter as
much every year out OF our soil. How
is that FOR a business in these days OF
big businesses?
And now just n word about the man
at the head. OF the business. had
my hrst meeting with him to-day. III
his office at the Agricultural Depart
ncnt. and we spent an hour or so talk
ing along the lines OF mis- great under
taking. lie seems a big man. and
doubt not he VIII size UP the job