The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-11-07
See Slate First is Injunction Of
Agricultural Com
mfttee.

~
'see West virginia First" Is the
r;pxan g the sagricultur committee OF
the state board Of trade In fits annual
report lust made public by Chairman
n ., Williams, state commissioner OF
4gricnlture 7
Ara then the committee proceeds
- o6tnonstrate the necessity OF such
in tdjunction by showing that while
lru1e IN this state suitable for agri-
cultural purposes are cheap and cap
able 81 producing the best fruits, live
stock and wool in the whole United
States vet such production is ham,
pered by lack Of the necessary farm
labor TO carry on the work. With ref
efence to this condition Of affairs .te
report reads as follows: K
'tYour committee finds that we ha, e
in5 West Virginia large areas of cheap
lands naturally adapted to the pro-
ducti OF blue grass and all tho
cereals, fruits and vegetables neces-
sayy to supply the needs Of men. We
&re3growing and can continue to grow
on these cheap lands better apples,
and in many sections of the state bet
Ter peaches than can be grown in tn,
lar famed fruit regions of Georgia, the
Ozark Mountains, or Hood river aud
Wenatch valleys and Notwithstanding
ne fact that much OF the fruit land
In those sections is selling at prices
which range from 81, 900 to So. 900 per
acre, we have produced and, can con-
tdnue to produce as good beef cattle
as can be grown in the world; we
have been growing the best lambs that
! reach the New York market; accord
Ing to- the records Of the great Paris
exposition of a few years ago we were
oducing at that time the finest wool
IN the world; we have sufficient avail
able farm lands on which we should
oduce all the dairy products neces-
sarys for our sconsumpti on-and all this
on cheap lands in the midst Of the
best markets on earth.
Labor Shows Shortage.
( But your committee regrets to re-
port that on account of economic con-
dittons growing out Of our wonderful
industrial development, we have a
great shortage OF labor which is IN
formed and willing to work on. the
farm In this Industrial development
of ours, other occupations have called
Forth the energies OF many Of our
most worthy SONS, and the farms havo
been neglected until we are today
shipping into West Virginia mary mil
lions OF dollars worth OF food products
which should be grown at home. The
farmers are not alone to be blamed for
this lack of production. We are not
only confronted by difficult labor prob
1ams; but the market problem is a
most serious one; while we are in the
midst OF good markets, our country
roads are in such condition most Of
the year that we cannot deliver the
products Of our farms to the markets
when the markets demand the SUPP
ply
As a remedy for these unfavorable
condi tons, the committee in its report,
recommends a continuance Of the agi-
station for permanent Improvement OF
! the public roads leading from tne
cities, towns and railroad stations back
into the agricultural districts; con-
dnuous and persistent advertising
among. the peoples of the world Of
the wonderful agricultural resources
and possibilities Of West Virginia;
also the establishment somewhere In
the state Of an agricultural and indus
trial school located on a farm of about
1000 and 5000 acres Of average land
where agriculture and kindred sub
3ects may be taught by the distinct
personal application of scientific ag-
ricultural principles to soil culture,
where students could get that prac-
teal training so necessary to make
them successful farmers, farm man
ayers or country home makers.
Legislation Recommended.
The committee also recommended a
better system Of gathering Of agricul-
tural statistics, legislation to prevent
shipment Of mixed feeds into the state
and to guard against adulteration OF
Sinsecticides and 5fungicides, protection
of apiaries among foul brood" among
honey bees, and legislation to check
the spread Of chestnut blight in the
81: q n N