Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-04
Secretary Rusk's First An
nual Report.
A HIGH TARIFF DOCUMENT.
Sentiments of the Farmers of the
Country to the Contrary and
Notwithstanding.

ment of agricultur Q. The report calls
attention to the fact that the first efforts
toward reorganization were hampered
because of the fact that the appropriations
for the current fiscal year we're made en-
tirely upon the basis of the old organiza-
ton, no account being taken of the fact
that an entire change has been made in
the status of the Department.. The Sec
retary says the aggregate sum asked for
in his estimates must not be measured
by what is past, but by wha. great
agricultural country should do toward
sustaining, protecting and promoting
calling which lies at the foundation of its
prosperity and power.
STRIKING CONTRAST
Is drawn between this amount and the
appropriation for agriculture made by
those countries which the report says
care the most active competitors of
American farmers in the worlds
market" A comparison shows that
Great Britain appropriates for agriculture
81 500, 900; Germany, $3.50, 900; Brazil,
$40, 600, 900 for agriculture and mines;
France, $4,000. 900, and Austria more
tnan S4 ,UUO,UuU.
The appropriation made by Congress
for the present fiscal year for the Agri-
cultural Department is $1,715,S26. Secre.
tary Rusk thinks this amount inadequate
to carry out his plan of reorganization,
and estimates that an increase of 81, ,359,-
900 will be necessary for next year. This
would bring up the appropriation tor the
fiscal year 1901 to $3, ,074, ,S26.-Ed.] :.
The problem of getting the results Of
the work done by the Department more
promptly before the people has been
solved by the establishment of new
division, which furnishes promptly to the
agricultural and commercial press a
synopsis OF the main points Of every
bulletin and report published.
TIE DIVISION OF STATISTICS
Is dwelt upon at some length. OF the
crop reporting system he says: "While
approximate, it is in danger of becoming
discredited by the popular acceptance Of
its results as exact in precision and abso-
lutte in authority. 1t should be remem-
bered that they are the conclusions Of a
thorough census; that they are the con-
solidstions of local estimates of agricul-
tural exports, and are intended as foil
to the interested, biased and untruthful
statements that spectators issue to mis-
lead their victims"
DEVELOPMENT IN THE WEST.
OF the rapid development of agriculture
in the Rocky mountain district, the Sec
retary says: "It will surprise the East.
ern States with new views of the wealth
and progress of the Great American
Desert of the recent past"
Special suggestions in regard to this
division are the extension of local statis-
tical work and the enlargement of the
corps of State statisticans by the appoint
ment of one in every State. A compre-
hensive plan of agricultural surveys of
the States and Territories is also sug-
gested to be pushed as rapidly as avail
able means will permit. The intention
is expressed to adopt some method by
which county correspondents can be
utilized to secure the representation of the
Department at State and county fairs.
The condition of
THE SUGAR INDUSTRY
clsred of a mixed character, in some
cases yielding well, and in other cases
proving disappointing. Special attention
is to be given to the development of
varieties of sorghum containing q high
proportion ofavailable sugar. Important
progress has already been made in this
direction. Many localities in the United
States, especially in the North and on
the Pacific Coast, are known to be
specially suitab'a to the production of a
sugar beet rich ii saccharine matter. In.
terest in this subject by successful exper-
iments in California, will be met by the
publication during the coming winter of
a full report on the beet sugar industry
Of the United States.
| GRASSES AND TEXTILE FABRICS.
| The Botanical Department ia to be
specially occupied in an effort to solve
the problem OF increasing the forage
yield on 300,000,000 acres of the arid
region, outside of possible irrigation, by
promoting the productiveness of the
grasses now growing there.
In regard to textile fibres the question
now occupying the attention of the De-
partment is the utilization OF flax, jute,
ramie and other fibres,
| FRUITS AND FORESTS.
| The report urges the duty OF the Gov
ernment to assume more definite pro-
vision of such forest areas as are owned
by it, and as occupy position of im-
portance in the regulation of the water
flow and other climatic conditions, and
emphasizing the importance of the re-
lations which the forests bear to the
problem of irrigation in arid lands, and
OF their immense annual product.
| A special investigation was ordered a
few months ago through the Pomologi-
cal Division to receive information re-
garding fruits growing naturally in un-
settled portions of the country, and to
collect specimens of them as an aid to
determining the most suitable varieties OF
our cultivated kinds for propagation in
that vast region. The subject Of
| AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
Is dwelt upon earnestly, their astonish-
ing growth during the past few years
being cited as strong evidence of the
growth OF the spirit of self.help among
farmers. farmers institutes are referred
to particularly as one of the greatest
movements in the history of agriculture,
and as the strongest lever for raising and
upholding the work of the superior agri-
cultural education represented by our
system of agricultural colleges and ex-
pertinent stations. The Secretary rec
ommends, without going into details,
that the Department should be empow-
cred to afford aid and encouragement to
this work. In regard to the bureau of
animal industry,
PLEURo PNEUMONIA
Is first noticed. the Bituation being ra-