San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-01-11

reason Legislation touching the public
timber in tho mountainous stqtes and
territories Of the west should DO especi-
ally well considered, aud that existing
laws in which the destruction Or the
forests is not sufficiently, guarded
against, should be speedily modified.
A general law concerning this import
ant subject appears to ME to be mat
ter of urgent public necessity.
AGRICULTURE. roo
From the organization of the govern
ment the importance Of encouraging by
MI means the increase Of our agricultu-
raj productions has been acknowledged
and urged upon the attention of Con-
gress and the people as the surest and
readiest means Of increasing onr sub
stantial and enduring prosperity. Tho
words Of Washington are rs applicable
to-dayas when in his eighth annual mes
sage he said 1T is not to be doubted
that with reference either to individual
or national welfare, agriculture Is Of prf
mary Importance In proportion Us ma
tons advance in population and other
circumstances Of maturity, this truth be-
comes more apparent, and renders Guilt
walton of the soil more and more q sub
ject of public patronage. Institutions
for promoting it grow mp supported by
the public purse, and to what object can
il be dedicated with greater propriety?
Among the means which hayo been en-
ployed to this end none have been at
tended with, greater success than the es
adjustment of boards composed Of prop
er character charged with collecting and
dihusing information, and enabled by
premiums and small pecuniary aids to
encourage and assist the spirit Of discov-
cry and improvement. This species Of
establishment contributing dopbly to
the increase of Improvement and stimu-
lating to enterprise and experiment, and
by drawing to u cor.mon center the re-
suits everywhere of individual skill and
observation, and spreading them thence
over the whole nation. Experience, ac-
cordingly hath shown that they are all
cheap instruments of immense benefit.
The great preponderance of the agricul-
tural over every other interest in the
United States entities it. to oil the con-
sideration claimed for it by Washington.
About one-half of the population OF the
United States is engaged III agriculture.
The value of the agricultural products
of the United States for the year 1878
is estimated at three thousand millions
of dollars. The exports Of agricultural
products for the year 1877, as appears
fro,o tba re,,ort If t1,o hurea,, of atafist-
ics,N were So24 Ooo0Oo., Inc, great OK.
tent OF our country, with It's diversity OF
soil and climate. enables us TO produce
within our own borders and by our own
labor not only the necessarles, but most
If the Injuries that are consumed IN
civilized countries. Yet, notwitastand-
ing our advantages OF soil, climate and
INSTRUMENTATION, it appears from
the statistical statement IN the report OF
the commissioner ofagrlculture, that we
import annually from foreign lands
many million dollars worth OF agrlcultu-
raj products which could be raised IN
our own country Numerous questions
arise IN the practice OF advanced agrl-
culture, which can only be answered by
experiments, often costly and sometimes
fruitless, which are beyond the means
of private individuals and are Q Just and
proper charge on the whole nation for
the benefit Of the nation It is good
policy, especially in times OF depression
and uncertainty in other business pur-
suits, with vast area OF uncpltivated,
and hence unproductive territory, wise.
ily, opened to homestead settlements, to
encourage by every proper and legltl-,
mate means, the occupation and tillage
of the soil. The efforts of the depart
ment of agriculture to stimulate old and
introduce new agricultural Industries;
to improve the quality and increase the
quantity of our products, to determine