The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-05-23
A FANCY BUREAU.

The Bu reau OF Agriculture in the In |
terror department appears to be a costly |
experir nent for this government. Theo.
retica ly, its purpose is to promote the
caus of agriculture in the United
Sta'tes-a worthy end if accomplished.
Of6en the effort has been made to erect
this bureau into department, aud
nlake secretary of agriculture, but
: so far without success. The principal
business of the commissioner Is to print,
at government expense, about 100000
copies of the agricultural report, and
distribute SOME millions Of packages of
seed, bought in New York and else
where.
The operations Of the bureau appear
to be based upon Swo reasons-one to
give eastern seed firms an annual
hefty lift, and tho other to render con-
gressmen solid az home by distributing
these purchases of the government. In
nine cases out OF ten the book goes to a
man who wouldn't haveit, or can't read
it, and the seed to people who have an
abundance Of a better quality on hand,
AS this bureau is supposed to be an
important ono and lis manipulation ia
particularly of interest to the agricul-
tural interests of the country, the fol-
loving clipping is given from compre-
hensive and intelligent Washington
special to New York paper, showing
what sham, what a delusion and a
snare this bureGu Of agriculture re-
ally is:
Tax payers have only a limited idea
Of the cost Of this bureau and Of the
authority exercised by the commits.
sioner for the time being oVe- its large
expenditures. Congress appropriated
over 100000 for the current fis
cal y9ar, exclusive of over s2G0,COO sci
aside by the public printer for the publ
cation OF the agricultural report. These
two sums represent the interest OF
nearly $23,6O0,0OO in government pei
cents. One hundred thousand dollarl
, were appropriated for "the purchase and
propagation of seeds, trees, shrubs
vines, cuttings and plants, and expenses
of putting up the same, 10 be diatrib
uted in localities adapted TO their cul
ture." The purchase of these seeds has
become scandalous job. Intelligent
and practical farmers will not use them
because they are generally inferior In
quality and often wholly unfit foi
planting. One hundred and thirty-four
thousand dollars were appropriated "for
collecting foreign and domestic
agricultural statistics, and compil-
ing, writing and illustrating matter
for monthly, annual ard special re-
ports.' Fifty thousand dollars were
appropriated "fOr the necessary ex.
pensos in conducting experiments, in
Guiding experimentsin the manufacture
ofsorghum and other vegetable plants"
The reports ofthis burea arc usually
two years behind time. They have no
real value for the agricultural interest,
because newspapers are far in advance
OF the commissioner reports in scien.
tihc, in experimental and in useful in.
formation. 1t Is a dslusion 10 suppose
that these trashy publications are moi
costly, because they are delivered free
of charge, under the frank of member
sfcongress. Every farmer pays par
of tho general taxes for the support o.
the bureau, for the printing and bind.
ing, for the folding and dispstching in
the senate and house of represent ativel
and for the transportation by mail.