The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-02-18

A letter Well Worth Pcrusai and Con-
sideratiOn.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRoNIoLE.l

Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE.
OsMoND, n. c., Feb II, 1SS6-For your
full and carefully prepared exhibit of the
affairs of the State Agricultural Depart
ment you are justly entitled to the thanks
of every citizen of North Carolina. trust,
however. there are but few among them
who Will concur with the correspondent,
who recommends as a remedy for the short
comings of the Department, its total abol-
ton. Such a course would be in keeping
with the action of the boy in the nursery
tail, who burnt up his dwelling, barns,
&c, to get rid of the long-tailed rat which
annoyed him" True this Department has
failed to meet expectations of many of our
people. Yet if fair comparison be insti-
tuted between its work and that of similar
Departments in other States, / think it
will be found fully abreast of any of them
so far as its legitimate work Is concerned.
| know that the intelligent farmers of our
section concur in the opinion that the pro
lection il has afforded US against spurius
fertilizers, has been worth all it has cost
us. We think it has raised the standard
and lowered the price of commercial fer
tiliZers which is ust the reverse of what
the opponents of its establishment contend
ed would be the case outside Of the few
who worked for the establishment Of this
department. Little is known about the
great effort put forth by fertilizer dealers,
&c. to defeat its establishment, and but
for the influence eyerted by the Grange in
its behalf, | am satisfied that the bill ere
ating this department never would have
been passed by the Legislature While it
may be that the same fertilizer manufac-
turcrs, &c, have seemingly acquiesced or
accepted the situation, yet no one can
doubt but that they are still hostile to it,
and now that a sentiment untavOrabie to
the Department is being developed, it be
comes us to see that they do not take nd
vantage Of it to overthrow this whole De
partment If there has becn looscness III
the management OF its finance ) let US have
Board Of Directors who VIII hold its dis
bursting officers to a strict accountability.
If there has been inetficiency displayed by
any Of its members from the Commissioner
down let them be sappianted by men Of
greater efficiency. Let every superfluous
employee be discharged. But above all
brother farmers let Us be just and inquire
Of ourselves if we have beer blameless in
| this matter. Have we faithfully held up
the hands of those working for us? Have
we ayaied ourselves Of the information
! this Department could have furnished us.
| 1t was created by the agriculturalists and
! for the benefit of the a9riCuituraists of the
| State, costing noI a cent to any other class
| Of our tax payers and We are alone respon-
! sible if we permit other Interests to con
| troll or abolish it or mlsapply its funds.
| Let Us demand hearing before it is too late
| The chief cause Of its present condition
| is because it has been permitted to drift
| from the legitimate object for y hich il was
created and has been made a pack horse
! for many Legislature schemes Of doubtful
utility Instance: fish cultu.e, Immigra-
ton bureau and those magnificent dis
PLAYS at Boston, New Orleans, &c, all OF
| which, to my mind, were unnecessary and
tate dealers and Railroad CORPORATIONS
all of whom ought 10 have footed their
own bills for advertising their own prop
erty AS for an immigrant who would
bite at such artificial bait / must think
him stupid fish hardly worth the trouble
of pulling out Of his native pool.
| repeat. other interests .han that Of III,
farmers have prodominated in running
tAis Department, and hence the Gisap
polntmcDt and failure and talk abou
abolishing it. We earnestly protest agails
this. But if all other Interference be made
to give place and the farmers Of Nortt
Carolina be permitted to control and di
rect the operations Of this Department 70
the next four years and do not make it 0
greater practical benefit to every lnterea
III the State, l for one will cheerfuliy con
sent to its total abolition.
With your consent, Mr.. Editor, in III
next article | will offer for consideration
some suggestions for increasing is useful
| ness. CAswELL.