The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-02
THE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
Facts and Suggestions from the Annual Re
port of Commits ssioner Colman

Facts and Suggestions from the Annual Re-
port of Commissioners Colman.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Norman j. Colman,
Commissioner of Agriculture, to-day submitted
his second annual report to the President He
describes in general terms the progress made in
agriculture during recent years, and the condi-
tions which contribute to make this ''the best
fed Nation on the globe" He sets forth at
length the benefits derived and to be expected
from agricultural experiment stations. The
stations and colleges of the several States are
constantly urged to enlarged experimentation
beyond present resources, and often fnd them
selves Striking new leads" which they can
not follow, all for want ,of means.
Hence the general interest in the bill
now before Congress, ''For the estab-
lishment of agricultural experimental sta
tions in connection with the agricultural
colleges" and the prevalent opinion of its i'm
portance and the desire for its early enactment
No measure, he says, is now pending or pro-
posed of greater import or bearing a brighter
promise of deep-seated and lasting benefits to
the agricultural interests of the United States
in all their branches. In commenting upon the
work of the Bureau of Animal Industry. he de-
scribes the spread of pleuro- pneumonia, ana
SAYS:
Every effort possible under existing laws has
been made to locate the diseased ANIMALS and
isolate all that have been exposed. It would
have been most fortunate if every animal ex-
posed to the disease and liable to contract it
could have been summarily slaughtered and the
contagon thus eradicated. With disease of
this character at Chicago, it has been truly said
that the cattle industry of this country has
reached a crisis. There can be no doubt
that it will be soon widely disseminated unless
1cf@-
for its speedy suppression. Even now it may
have been scattered to some extent in the West,
and the Investigations of the next year will
probably bring other outbreaks to light. The
matter is a most important one, overshadowing
iu urgency all others affecting our agricultural
population, and of vital interest also to every
consumer OF beef, of milk, of butter and of
cheese. To prevent the spread of this scourge,
which has already greatly affected our foreign
and interstate commerce, additional legislation
by Congress is now essential Much valuable
work has already been done in Maryland, and
the danger OF the dissemination of the contagion
from that State has been greatly lessened. No
work has been done in the State of New York
because it was evident that the appropria-
ton was not sufficient to secure any
favorable results there on account of
the infection. The disease also exists
in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, but
the State authorities have not yet accepted the
rules and regulations of the department for CO.
operation L greatly regreat the necessity of
announcing the existence of this dangerous dis
ease over such wide area. but the serious re-
suits to be apprehended from it make it impera-
tive that the truth should be known in order
that such legislative action may be taken as is
indicated by the emergency"
Upon forestry, he SAYS there is practically no
reproduction attempted or forest planting done
worth mentioning in comparison with the enor-
nous annual consumption. ''As first step of
reform" he says, undoubtedly the land policy
of the United States in the timbered regions re-
cuires change according to the conditions of