Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-25
AGRICULTURAL.
MATTER PREPARED SPECIALLY FOR
THE RECORD UNION"
secretary of Agriculture-Alfalfa In Kan
sas-Preparing Harvesting Machin-
ery-GIucose from Gorn-Etc

There is now pending before the House Of
Representatives in Congress a bill reported
by the Committee on Agriculture, proposing
TO make the Department of Agriculture at
Che national capital an executive department,
TO be under the supervision of Secretary OF
Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture
is to be appointed by the President, by and
with the advice of the Senate, and is to be 2
member of the Cabinet and to recsive the
same compensation as the Secretaries of other
Departments. The bill provides also for the
appointment of an Assistant Secretary OF
Agriculture, and of Chiefs of Bureaus, as
follows:
F.rst-The Bureau of Agricultural Pro-
ducts, which shall include divisions of botany,
entomology and chemistry. The chief of
this bureau shall be a practical agrioulturist,
and shall investigate the modes of farming in
the several States and Territories, and shall
report such practical information as shall
tend to increase the profits of the farmer, re-
speeding the various methods, the crops most
protisabls in the various sections, the prefer
able varieties of seeds, vines, plants fruits,
fertilizers, implements, buildings, and similar
matters.
SeconG-The Bureau OF Animal Industry,
TO be in charge of competent veterinary
surgeon, who shall investigate AID report
upoa the number, value and condition Of do
msstic animals Of tie United States, their
protection, growth and use the causes, pre-
Yention or cure Of contagious or communi-
cable diseases, and the kinds, races or breeds
bet adapted to the several sections for profit
abl. raising.
Tai1d-The Bureau of Lands, the chief of
which shall investigate and report upon the
resources and capabilities of the public or
other lands for farming, stock-raising timber
manufacturing, mining other industrial
uses The bill provides for the transfer of
ali powers and duties vested in the Commits
s;ol known as the geological survey, to-
ge5aer with all clerks, employees and agents,
and all instruments, rec )rds, books papers,
etc, uf said Commits ion to the Department
of Agriculture. The Secretary is authorized
through this bureau to institute such inVesti-
CATIONS and collect such information, facts
and statistics relative to the mines and min
ing Of the United States, as may be deemed
OF value and Importance.
Fourth-The Bureau of Statistics, the
chief of winch saali collect aud report the
agricultural statistics Of the United States,
ard all important information or statistics re-
iating TO industrial education and agricultural
colleges to labor and wages in this and other
couatries to markets and prices; to modes
aud costs OF transporting agricultural pro-
duct and live stock to their final market :;
to the demand, supply and prices in foreign
markets to the location, number and pro-
duets Of manufacturing establishments of
Whatever sort, their sources of raw material,
methods, markets and prices; to such other
commercial or other conditions as may affect
the market value of farm products or the in
terests of the industrial classes of the u nited
States.
Provision is also made tor the monthly pub
lication OF the Information gained through
these several bureaus by the Secretary, for
the benefit of the industrial classes in the
United States. The bill as above outlined is
Just what we have at various times in these
columns advocated, and We earnestly hope
Congress will enact it into law.
Why should not the agricultural interest
the largest and most important material in
telest of the cOuntry-have a voice IN the
highest national council of the country In
the consideration of great national and inter
national questions, why should not the agri
cultural classes have a representation ard
voice No other industry or calling can
thereby be injured, because all others are de-
pendent on agriculture and are therefore in
Cerasted in Its greatest SUCCESS. The iuforma-
tion il is proposed to collect and disseminate
through the several bureaus will not only be
valuable to agriculture, but Go the nsnutact-
uring and commercial interests as well. Our
agriculture in many important particulars ID
already having marked effect upon the agIi-
culture Of Great Britain and some Of the more
important countries of the eastern continent.
Oar farmers are in direct and successful COM
petition with the farmers Of England III the
production of wheat butter and cheese, Of
beef and pork, dried and preserved fruits,
and many other articles of the farm. The vine
yards of California are rapidly supplanting
lhe vineyards Of France, Italy and Germany in
furnishing wines and brandies to the world.
In live stock we are in advance of England
In the breeding Of fine blood9d horses and
the best breeds of cattle and swine, and our
Il ok owners are leading the shepherds Of
Spain, France and Germany lii the produc-
ttou of valuable sheep and wool In fact IL
all that relates to agriculture, to agricultural
products, agricultural machinery, agricultural
methods, etc, we are leading the world, and
tie various nations are looking to Us as an
example worthy of imitation. Let us, then,
have a representative of these great indus
tries, clothed with equal Importance and Gig
nisy with any other national interest, and it
vi / encourage and stimulate those engaged
IL shen at home and enhance our Importance
IL The eyes of other nations people.