Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-02-01
CHANGING AMERICAN CONDITIONS

Ever since the United States became such this coun-
try has been an exporter of agricultural products There
will time in the not very remote future II our
growth is maintained when will cease to export food
suffs for the simple that will consume them
all at home Besides there is vast unsettled country IN
South America where land is to be had almost for the
asking and where grain be grown more cheapy than
it can here
Argentine alone exports annually four million tons OF
wheat OF about 125000000 bushels and yet Of her 73O
millions of acres less than five per cent under cutva
ton There millions Of acres lying virgin that are as
easily brought under cultivation were the pIall1eS OF
Illinois, and these will sometime in the near future be
largely made to produce either wheat as both are
it might be said, Indigenous
Besides her vast grainares she has great tracts
suited to cattle raising and with her immense yield OF
corn this makes it ideal country for growing the bee1
supply of the old world
On top of this it grows cotton tobacco rice sugar all
the fruits of the temperate and some belonging to-
the tropics In fact in its products it is duplicate OF the
United States 1t is destined to be in the near future
what the United States has long been, the granary
of the world
Of course it will be many years before this country
has to import food stus that wheat meat and such
but that time will come. When 1t does though our sup
plies will come rather from the north than from the
Argentine for Canada is to be great wheat country
but the reciprocity of trade will probably cause such
supplies as we need to come partly from the Argentine
While agriculture still leads all other sources OF
wealth with us the time will come when our manufactures
will take the leading place and we must find our markets
largely in the Latin American countries. 1t is fortunate
that the present European has brought us into closer
and more friendly relations for it is with her and her
sister republics south of that we must cast our lot not
only politically but commercially.
Unfortunate conditions in Mexico are holding back the
time when our relations with our American neighbOrs
will be placed on solid foundation and is these con-
ditions that in way cause our extreme enency with
war torn Mexico.
Latin America has always been suspicious OF us, and
perhaps with some reason considering our former treat
ment of Mexico Our course with that unhappy country
now will either cement lasting friendship OF again
awaken suspicious that it will take years to overcome
No longer can the finger of sco be pointed at Oregon
as the "Webfoot state California far oucasses her
for extreme dampness that she is longer in the SWIM
Just note these little items and then size Oregon up with
the drouthridden desertsurrounded arid section OF
California where last week according to the dispatches
submarine dived in the harbor at Los Angeles and stad
down to get away from the floods Thousands of snakes
took to the bay to get away from the orenta rains and
the fish drowned from the fresh water floods. Can you
beat it. or any other place equal it?
Now comes the experts from the agricultural depart
ment at Washington and pronounce the Oregon flax
fiber superior to any grown in the United States AS the
opinion is unanimous all that seems necessary to do to-
make it the great industry of Oregon to grow enough
of it. The factories back east are just naturally longing
for our flax fiber Let's get busy and send to them