The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-06

stand and describe all the objects OF interest which might
be exhibited, authorized Mr. Charles F. S,ansbury an
intelligent officer connected with the Patent Office 10 go
10 London and discharge that duty
he accordingly spent several months in making minute
examination OF the most choice and valuable products OF
nature and art which were presented and / have no
doubt that bis report which is the course OF prep
araon. will be valuable and interesting document He
was instructed 10 inform himself particularly in regard
70 all the natural productions, implements, machinery
and processes OF manufacture works OF
art and other objects OF interest peculiar each naton
40 as TO be able 10 mpar the knowledge thus ued
the people OF our own country.
AS all the latest improvements in machinery and the
useful arts there displayed careful description OF
them will be OF great value to the Patent Office 10 en-.
ablng Il 10 decide whether machines and other alleged
inventions and discoveries really and useful.
TO be proper subjects of patents copied from those
exhibited at the London Fair The farmer and mechanic
will also be benefited by obtaining information as 10 the
most approved implements toos and processes employed
in their respective occupaons and the general reader
fail 10 be Interested and instructed By an accurate
and authentic account OF the most extensive and varied
sssoA Of sssnl ehssts which has ever bssn Brought
together from the different quarters Of the world It's
sn i ceos.ss s p .. as
TO publish il with that document 1t will doubtless
greatly enlarge the circle Of useful information and give
new stimulus to the enterprise and industry Of the
people.
agricultural Bureau
In my last report earnestly recommended the estab.
shment of an Agricultural Bureau My opinion on that
subject remains unchanged and beg leave 10 refer to
and reaAirm all that then said in regard to it,
Agriculture is unquestionaby the great interest OF our
country, whether have reference to the number of
lions. 1t appears from the Of 1910 that the whole
number OF persons at that time engaged in this pursuit
was 3,7l9.95l; in manufactures, 79l, ,749 and in
merce Il7,607 More than our-hfth Of the entire pop.
ulaton were therefore employed in the cultivation of the
soil At present is believed that the proportion is still
greater, In consequence OF the change in the policy OF
the government, which has induced many 10 become
agricultursts who formerly engaged in manufac
lures and yet find that whilst large portion of the
sessions OF every Congress Is devoted TO the protection
and encoura. enent of manufactures and commerce,
nothing has been done for agriculture. Within few
years after the adoption OF the constitution, President
Washington recommended to Congress the establishment
OF Bureau OF Agriculture, but nothing was done to
carry his recommendation into effect
The subject has since been brought to the attention OF
Congress from time 70 Time 6y Executive communea
from the people, but without success
As the results OF the late census have furnished ofcia
evidence OF the OF this interest and as we are
from those dstracting and embarrassing topics which
have long disturbed the harmony OF Legislative
Assemblies, and Withdrawn their attention from the true
interests OF The country, it seems TO me that no time
could be suspicious than the present to secure
for this great subject candid and enlightened consld.
Grafton.
The best mode of illustrating the utility Of an Agrcui
tura Bureau is present condensed statement OF the
duties which it should be required to perform. It should
I
information in regard the cultivation of the SOIL in all
its branches II should investigate every proposed I'M
provemen in the llage of the earth the construction
OF implements of husbandry 1t should collect from ouI
own and foreign countries every variety Of seed, fruit
plant and vegetable and distribute them, with full and
accurate information as to the soil, Climate, and mode o.
cultivation best adapted TO each. Through the agency o
our national ships and merchant vessels, arrangements
could be made for the importation OF all the valuable
vegetable productions and animals OF other countries.
This would enable appropriate TO ourselves the re-
suits OF the WISDOM experience and improvements OF all
the world in regard agriculture, and we should soon be
rendered independent OF other countries Tor many articles
GERS should be connected with it thoroughly acquainted
with the principles of geology, mineralogy chemistry and
botany for the purpose o investigating and reporting upon
the character and properties Of every variety OF SOIL rock
mineral and vegetable, and their adaptation TO useful
purposes To this bureau should also be nrused the duty
Of experimenting the taking OF each decennia census,
and OF procuring and classifying from year TO year all the
statistical information which be obtained IN respect to
the agriculture. manufactures, commerce. tonnage reve-
nue. expe nditures financial and banking systems, i'm
provements by railways canals, and roads, industrial
pursuits, and general progress OF every State IN the
Union and OF the principal nations oi he world by
not now be obtained would be always accessible to Con-
grcss and the Executive. The value OF such lnforna
ton in shaping own policy can hardly be estimated
Facts like these are the groundwork OF all wise legisla
ton In the language OF an enlightened statesman oil
Europe Statistical knowledge is the true basis OF every
just and paerna administration and without IT II Is I'm
10 the prosperity OF the county, This remark is pecu-
Iary applcabe to our own country whose interests are
40 diversified and spread such wide extent OF ter
tory as TO render il impossible TO legisate wisely IN re-
gard 10 them without thorough knowledge OF their
value and relations to each other. The information fur
nished BY the OF census is OF great import
ance but when remember that is obtained but once
in ten wears, and that in the intermediate time RAPID
changes are going and new interests sprngng INTO
existence and new States added to the Unon will at
once be perceived that il is not sufficient for the purposes
of our government 1t should be the duty OF the ohcers
Of the bureau keep pace with the annual progress OF
the nation and to present Congress at every session
condensed view OF all the statistical information TO be de-
! rived from the proper authorities Of each State.
England in connexi with her Board OF Trade, mas
Statistical Bureau and Registrar General which keep the
government constantly advised Of the general condition
OF the country and the facts illustrative OF ne progress
and wants of each particular branch OF its industry
France has egarded the subject OF agriculture OF 80
much importance az create separate department 70
take charge Of its interests She mas also ~
connexios with it, Bureau OF Statistics the results OF
whose labors annually published for the ,nlomahon
Of her government and people There are also no less
than twenty colleges in France. esabished unuef me
patronage OF the government. in which botany, zoology,
chems1y agriculture and the treatment OF The diseases
Of ca,tle the subjects OF instruction.
also employed constantly by the government IN inves',
a,ng iii ;mprovemens connected with agriculture and
n collecting and distributing seeds, plants, vegetables,
The publications OF the results OF the inquiries and IN.
xes,aaions OF these different agents OF the government
4 cons,,nle the most valuable contributions winch nave
been made to agricultural and statistical scence ana
avail myself OF this opportunity TO say ina, the
odomeh of this department are due 10 the Nlhisler OF
Agriculture for valuable collection OF seeds, NC, wnich
he has coureousy presented as specimens OF the poduc-
4 tions OF France and it's colonies ,,.,-
oI Of the Minister oil the Interior. bu is assigned to
snac;. hurcau attached to which agricultural coun-