The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-02-02
AID FOR AGRICULTURE.
and Make the Commissioner
a Cabinet officer.

WAsHINGTON-The state oranges,
agricultural associations, and indi-
vIdual agriculturists continue to
urge representatives in congress
from districts where the cultivation
of the land is the chief method of
livelihood, to do something to en-
large the usefulness of the bureau
of agriculture so that it may be of
more practical value to the farming
community. Some of the more
prominent congressman, who repre-
sent thrifty rural districts, have
given this subject special cOnsidera-
tion, and several bills intended 10
attain the object for which the
farmers petition have been present
ed in the house. But all of these
are either old schemes renewed, or
they are crude or defective because
they undertake to accomplish the
purpose by increasing the import
auce of the head of the bureau of
agriculture and make no practical
provision for attaining efficiency i'll
the scope and details of the work OF
the bureau.
Perhaps the most comprehensive
and carefully prepared plan is that
of Representative Money, of Missis-
sippi, witch was introduced in the
house Monday. The question will,
however, at once arise, whether the
essential and valuable feature of his
plan may not be adopted without
leglslating the commissioner of ag-
riculture into the cabinet, propo-
sition that has heretofore been fatal
to the several plans for increasing
the value of the bureau of agricul-
ture, to the farmer and planter.
Mr.. Money proposes to provide
for the appointment of a secretary
of agriculture, who shall be MEM
Der of the cabinet and receive sal
ary of $4,000, and who shall be a
practical agriculturalist; an assist
ant secretary, with n salary of S3500,
who shall be an agriculturalist and
a chief clerk of the department of
agriculture" at a salary of $1,000 per
annum.
Mr.. Moneys bill provides for a
| bureau of education and labor,
which shall collect information con-
cerning education and labor in the
United States and foreign countries,
the cost of living to the working
classes, and all cogna.e facts that
may conduce to the welfare and ad-
vancement of the agricultural
classes. 1t Is made part of the du-
ties of this bureau to give special
attention to gathering information
touching the rural work of woman
that may enlarge her sphere of la
Dor, tighten the burdens of the
families of the agricultural
population and encourage the
adOrnment of rural homes.
1t proposes 10 establish a bureau
of geological surveys, to which are
TO be transferred all the employees,
records, work, ETC., of the present
geological survey a bureau of az
riculture is provided for, whose
work it shall be to collect inlorma-
ton as to the cost of moving ag-
ricultural products, the cost of con-
struction and operation of the diff
ferent modes of transportation by
land and water, etc.
To the bureau of manufactures is
assigned a wide field. 1t is to as
certain the cost of raw material and
processes of converting it into man
ufactured goods; and other inform.
alton which may be valuable to
manufacturers, producers and con.
sumers; all the cost and value oi
agricultural implements and fer.
tiIiZers.
The secretary of agriculture is re.
quired to establish in every state an
experimental station for the pur
pose of thoroughly testing the
adaptability of plants, seeds, fertil,
izers and agricultural implements
to the several states, and especia
states, and especially with reference
to the character of soils and variety
} of climate.
In states having agricultural col
leges these experimental stations
are to be located in the vicinity O
such colleges, and when ii is deemed
expedient, more than one station
} may be established in the same
: state.
To diffuse the benefits of a vas
amount of information that woult
, be gathered by a department of ag
, riculture, organized upon this plal
and efficiently administered, it j
provided that the secretary shal
, cause all valuable information to b
published in reports and bulletins