Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-11-04
Bureau Of Economic Ornithology.

The Bureau of Economic Ornithology Is
one of the newly established branches OF
the Government service concerning which
little is known by the general public. Inc
bureau was established by special act OF
Congress at it's last session, and as at pres
emit organized is a division of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, and under the able
supervision of DR.. G. Hart Merriam, is doing
excellant work. The fact that birds are IN
fuential factors in checking the increase OF
insects injurious to vegetation has long oeen
recognized, but the extent of these services
has never been positively ascertalnea =
Great difference of opinion exists, partlcu-
larry among farmers, as to whether certain
we'll known species are on the whole bench
cial or injurious; and many KINDS when
are really of great practical value are killed
whenever opportunity offers. The whole
sale slaughter of small birds has been
known to be followed by serious increase OF
noxious insects, while upon the other hand
invasions of insects which threatened to
devastate large tracts of country have
been cut short by the timely services OF
some of Our native binds. 1t is the
purpose of this bureau to undertake
comprehensive investigation OF the
INTERPRETATION Of birds and agricul-
ture, and it is expected that its results
will be of great value to farmers and horti
culturalists. Circulars of inquiry are being
addressed to intelligent persons throughout
the country, with the view of obtaining in
formation concerning the habits of birds
and their favorits food in various sections
of the country, and it is possible that crows
and other birds, which have heretofore been
considered as the enemies of the farmer,
will be shown to be his friends.
The birds are the best friends Of the far
mers. We adhere to the opinion, we have
held and maintained for some years, that
it would be wise to pass law prohibiting
the killing of any kind of birds. We be-
lieve that if there were no birds in the
country that within ten or twelve years the
farmers could not raise grain crop OF
any kind. The law should inhibit the
killing of birds at all seasons.
A MESSAGE BY Mr.. LINCOLN THAT WAS
NEVER SENT Hon. John Usher, of Law
renee, Kansas, who was Secretary of the In
terror under President Lincoln, writes to
the St. Louis Globe-Democrat in reference
to message said to have been prepared by
Mr.. Lincoln on his return from the Hampton
Roads conference in February, 1865: "Soon
after his Uincoln's) return from the James
river the cabinet was convened, and he read
to it for approvalssa message which he had
prepared to be submitted to Congress, in
which he recommended that Congress ap-
propriate $500, 100000 to be apportioned
among the several States in proportion to
slave population, to be distributed to the
dition that they would consent to the abo-
lition of slavery and the disbanding Of the
insurgent army, and would acknowledge
and submit to the laws of the United States.
The members of the cabinet were all OPP
posed. He seemed somewhat surprised at
that and asked: How long will the war
last? No one answered, but he soon said
"a hundred days. Well, We are spending
now in carrying on the war So, 600, 600 a
day, which will amount to all this money
besides all the lives With deep sigh he
added: But you are all opposed to me, and
l will not send the message"