National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-05

come q question whether railroad com
panios might not be made To sec IL TO be
feasible thing and for their Interests TO
plant trees along their roadways, or ON
tracts Of their land adapted TO the purpose,
and thus benefit themselves, while nj the
same time relieving the existing forests TO
the same extent from an onerous demand
which is now made upon them. The land
grant companies have an abundance.
In view Of the continued destruction OF
the timber on the government lands, aud
the importance Of preserving for permanent
cultivatlon,and use.such portions OF forestsas
are adjacent to the head springs OF rivers,
or which may be needed for climatic or
other reasons, he urges that the further sale
OF timber lands belonging TO the government
ought to he suspended until such time as
careful survey shall ascertain what portions
of them may be sold without involving in
jury to the country and what ought TO be
permanently held In the 'orests condition.
The annual appropriation for the seed di-
vision, he says, exceeds that for any otherin
the department, and particular attention
mas, therefore, been given to improve meth
DDS of distributing seeds He calls attention
to that feature of the law which anticipates
a report Of experiments from those who re-
ceive seed, and says IN vast majority of
cases, this design Of law is not met and Is
not likely to be. Two-tbirds of all seeds,
plants, and cuttings may be distributed by
members Of Congress, and he suggests for
consideration whether or not some syste-
matte plan OF cooperation may not be fixed
upon between the department and members
OF Congress by which the former can have
better control over the distribution than II
now has, and make the distribution CON
dition precedent TO compliance with sim
pic but important requirements, and thus
reap the greatest benefit from the distribu-
ton.
Another reason for q change of systems in
this respect is that the quota OF one-thlrd of
ali the seeds, De-, purchased at present al
lowed to- the department is insufficient to
enable 1t to meet It's own legitimate debt of
obligation To its thousands OF correspond
ents and others who can receive no other
favor from the department In consideration
for important and valuable services rem
dcTed.
The commissioner describes the results
Of the work Of the mIcroscopical division
In the discovery Of n method Of detecting
counterfeit butter, and in this connection
says that the unparalleled increase during
the past few years of the manufacture and
sale Of various compounds of animal fats,
vegetable oils, and other substances which
are frauduently represented to the public rs
butter threaten the destruction oflcgitimate
dairy business, which Is of the largest
magnitude, and affects all sections of the
country. 1t is not, he says, competition
with dairyiDg that is deprecated, but the
stimulation Of true dairy products, tho de-
ception Of misleading names, the use OF i'm
pure substances, and the dishonest sale, at
high rates, of products otherwise of little
value, practices which demoraize trade,
dofraud honest industry, and deceive the
buyer.
To protect the public from these deccp-
tive practices he earnestly recommends
prompt pcssagc OF q stringent law by Con-
gross TO prevent the continuance OF this
business except under such regulations us
the necessities of the case demands, tho en-
forcement Of this law, II thought advisable
by Congress, to be placed under the control
OF the internal revenue department.