The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-04-09
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A Department of Agriculture.


A Department of Agriculture.
The following is copy of the Act to
establish Department of Agriculture at
the seat Of Government as it passed Con-
grers:
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives. Of the United States
Of America an Congress assembled. That
there is hereby established at the seat of
government of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture, the general de-
signs and duties of which shall be to &C,
uuire and diffuse among the people of the
United States useful information on sub
jects connected with agriculture in the
most general and comprehensive sense CT
that word, and to procure, propagate, and
distribute among the people new and val.
uable seeds and plants.
SEC. 2. And be ii further enacted,
That there shall be appointed by the
President, BY and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, "Commissioner
Of Agriculture" who shall be the chief
executive officer Of the Department Of
Agriculture, who shall hold his Office BY
q tenure similar to that of other officers
appointed by the President, and who
shall receive for his compensation a sal
ary of three thousand dollars per annum.
Sec. 8. and be it further enacted,
That il shall be the duty of the Commis,
soner of Agriculture to acquire and pre-
serve in his department all infurmstion
concerning agriculture which he can OBJ
tain by means of books and correspon-
dence and practical and scientific ex-
perimentS, (accurate records of which ex-
periments shall be kept in this Office, By
ih. collection of statistics aud BY any 9th,
er appropriate means within his power
to collect, as he may be able, new and
valuable seeds and plants to test, by
cultivation, the value of such Of them as
may require such tests; to propagate
such as may be worthy Of propagation,
and to distribute them among agricul
turists. He shall annually make gen
eral report in writing Of his acts to the
President in which he may recommend
the publication Of papers forming parts
Of o. accompanying his report, which re-
port shall also contain an account of all
moneys received and expended by him.
lie shall also make special reports on par
ticular subjects whenever required to do
90 by the President or either House Of
Congress, or when he shall think the
subject in his charge requires it. He
shall receive aud have charge Of all the
property Of the agricultural division Of
the Patent Office in the Department of
the Interior He shall direct and super
intend the expenditure of all money ap-
prepriated by Congress TO the Depart.
ment, and render account thereof, and
plsO of all money Heretofore appropriated
for agriculture and remaining unexpend
ed. And said Commissioner may send
and receive through the mails free of
charge, all communications and other
matter pertaining to the business of his
department, no. exceeding in weight
ihirty-two ounces.
SIC. t. 4nd he IL further enacted,
That the Commissioner of Agriculture
shall appoint chief clerk, with salary
Of two thousand dollars, and such other
employees as Congress may from time to
time provide, with salaries corresponding
10 the salaries of similar officers in other
departments Of the government; ard he
shal! as Congress may from time to time
provide, employ other persons, for such
time as their services may be needed, iu-
cluding chemists, botanists, entomologists
and other persons skilled in the natural
sciences pertaining to agriculture.
Passed the House of Representatives
February II, 1862.
Attest EN-. ETIiERIDGE, Clerk.