Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1894 — MORTON'S REPORT. [ARTICLE]

MORTON'S REPORT.

Annual Array of Agrlenltaral Faeto aa* _______ _ Figaros. The annual report of J. S. Morton, Secretary of was given to th* press, Wednesday. The Secretary review* the subject of foreign markets, and give* figures of onr agricultural exports, especially those of Great Britain. That country paid during the year 1893, for American breadstuff*, provisions, cotton and tobacco, over $324,000,090. Including about $10,000,000 worth of mineral oil* with agricultural exports, the United Kingdom took 54.31 percent of all export* ot breadstuff*, provisions, mineral oils, cotton and tobacco. Of dressed beef Great Britain took from us during the first six month* of the. year 1894, $10,000,000 worth. Australia is our chief competitor for the trade. Mr. Morton deems it probable that the American farmer will find more advantage from U>* shipment of dressed beet than from th* exportation of live cattle. Referring to the frequent allegations on the part of tho European government* that live animals from the United State* are found diseased, the Secretary expresses tho opinion that these declarations ar* sometimes based on fear of infection, but are at other times nude for economic reasons. The review of the foreign trade lead* him to certain conclusions as to the future of our export trade in agricultural products, as follows: Competition of Russia, Argentine, Australia and other coud»tries favored by conditions which enable them to grow wheat at a low cost, and especially by the proximity of their wheatgrowing regions to water.communications, warns American farmers to no longer depend upon wheat as a staple export crop. On the other hand, a good market, at fair prices, is to be found in the United King dom for barley and corn, and owingrto the great variety of uses to which it may be applied, promises to tie in constant and increasing demand. The Secretary report* the inception of two important scientific investigations, the first relating to grasses and forage plants, the other to agricultural soils and crop production. The Secretary believes that the importance ot these investigations * justifies tho erection at each into one independentsivision, and he has so provided in the appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year. The report concludes with a statement showing that of the total exports of this country for 1894 (fiscal year) farm products aggregated S62B,<XX).6X), or 72.58 per cent, of the whole. The markets of the world, he says, demand from the American farmer the very best quality of breadstuffs and materials. The farmer exchanges his products, the results of his labors, which have specific purchasing power, for money having a general purchasing power. Under the heading, “Fbr Prime Pork Give Us Prime Currency, th* Secretary asks: "If the American farmer, laborer and manufacturer are compelled by law to> submit to the measurement of the valunof the products of their efforts by a silver standard, will not the foreigner in buyingthose products always use the same measure. With his beef, pork and cereals th* American farmer buys money and why should he not demand as superlative quality in that which he buys as the domesticand foreign purchasers insist upon in that which he sells? If those buyers demand ‘crime’ beef and ‘prime’ pork, why shouldn’t the farmer demand ‘prime’ currency, the best measure of value, th* most fair and facile medium of exchange, in the most unfluctuating money xtn* world of commerce has ever evolved?”