The Portland daily press., 1889-11-04
UNCLE JERRY MAKES HIS FIRST REPORT
An Able Paper Which Speaks Well
for the New Department.
What 1t Is Doing and Wants to Do
for the Farmers.
Suggestions for the Prevention Of
Disease Among Cattle.


report Of the Secretary of Agriculture
and the first issued under the newly con-
structed department, makes the usual refer
ence to the work of the several scientific and
ether divisions in the department, and deals
at length with plans for thorough reOrgan-
ganization of the department. 1t suggests
several new features in the interest of the
development of agriculture. The report says
the first efforts toward recognizing were
hampered because the appropriations for the
current fiscal year were made entirely upon
the basis of the old organization. Secretary
Rusk insists upon the necessity for his re-
lief from this embarrassment and for ade-
quate appropriations. He finds the proyls-
len for an assistant secretary In the new law
was wise one. and has utilized this to di-
vide the department into two grand divis-
ions. one embracing the administrative and
executive work, and the other the purely
scientific work. The establishment of the
new division furnishes promptly to the agri-
cultural and commercial press a synopsis of
the main points of every bulletin and report
published by the department. OF the crop
while approximate and valuable, it is in
danger of becoming discredited by the popu-
lar acceptance of its results as exact in pre-
cision and absolute in authority. 1t should
be remembered that they are not conclusions
Of thorough census; they are the cons0li-
dations of local estimates OF agricultural ex-
perts. and are intended as foil to the inter-
ested biased and untruthful statements spec,
ulators issue to mislead their victims"
The condition Of the sugar industry are re-
viewed In detail. and the results declared of
a mixed character, some cases yielding well
and other cases proving disappointing. The
region where the sorghum sugar industry
may be attended with success has been so
far localized in the southern part of central
Kansas, west and south Of Wichita, and in
parts Of Indian Territory. resembling it In
soil aud climate. Special attention is to be
given the development of the varieties of
sorghum containing a higher content of
available sugar.. Important progress has
already been made in this direction. Many
localities. especially In the North and on the
to the production of a sugar beet, rich In
Saccharine matter.
Treating of the experiment stations and
their work, the Secretary expresses the con-
viction that the work undertaken by the ma
tional government in this connection eyinces
the wisdom of Congress in distributing 1t
throughout the country. The report urges
the duty. Of the government to assume a
more definite supervision of such forest
areas as are still owned by it and as occupy
position Of importance In the regulation OF
the waterfiow and other climatic conditions.
relations which forests bear to the problem
of irrigation in arid lands and of their inn
mense annual reduction.
The subject of agricultural organizations
is dwelt upon earnestly, and their astonish
ing growth during the past few years cited as
a Strong evidence Of the growth Of a spirit Of
self help among farmers. Farmers insti-
tutes are referred to particularly as one of
the greatest movements In the history of
agriculture and the strongest lever for rails
ing and upholding the work of superior ag-
ricultural education represented by our sys-
tenn of agricultural colleges and experiment
stations. The Secretary recommends that
the departments should empowered to af-
ford aid and announcement to this work.
Pleuro pneumonia, the report says, is now
Kings and Queens counties, New York, New
Jersey and limited section in Pennsylvania
and Maryland. A careful review of the
field with the arrangements IRA gen at made MAJ, for the
justifies in the Secretary's opinion, "most
the proximate complete eradication
Of the disease, Texas fever,
says the report, is generally spread through
only be effectually controlled by the federal
government, hence the necessity of legisla-
tion which shall be ample and clearly de-
fined. The language used by Secretary Rusk
in regard to a national meat inspection law
is pointed and vigorous. The necessity for
inspection at the time of slaughter he says,
is to enable the authorities to pr0mDtly To-
cate any cattle disease centres and avoid the
anomaly OF leaving the inspection of our
own meat products to the officials Of other
countries. thus giving foreign governments
they have better opportunities for learning
of disease among American cattle than that
enjoyed by our own government. Secretary
Rusk advocates "Such an amendment to the
law under which the bureau Is at present or
ganized as will provide for such official ma
ness Of our meat products for food c0nsump-
tion under the seal of United States govern
ment."
Authority and means are desired to enable
the department to exercise close supervision
OF the economic side Of, OF the
manding the highest prices, variations as to
age, weight and quality and all facts bear
ing upon the cattle industry which enable
the bureau to supply farmers with informa-
tion impossible for them to obtain for them
selves; Sheep and wool RECEIVE special ;con. on
mutton interest is referred to as one to be
greatly encouraged. AS to wool growing
the reduction of the tariff Of 1883 IS earnestly
deplored. To 1t is attributed the great re.
ductiOn in the number of sheep and the in
crease in the importation of wool. Figures
are submitted in the report showing the i'm.
portapce of agriculture, which produces an
annual yield Of 81, LOO. 100000 Employing
on 100000 farms, 10000, 900 persons, repre-
senting a population Of 30,000,000 people.
The value of live stock is estimated at 49,,
507, 100000 The right of the farmer to the
fullest enjoyment combatible with the rights
of his fellow citizens, of the benefit OF pro
tective system which is the rock-ro0ted
principle Of the Republican party Is earnest
ly insisted upon.