Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-04
A GROWING REGION.

A GROWING REGION.
OF the rapid development of agriculture
in the Rocky Mountain districts, the Secre-
tary says that the division of Statistics has
been directed to investigate their resources
with all the facilities at its command.
''The results, " he added, "will surprise the
Eastern States with new views of the
wealth and progress of the great American
desert of the recent past"
The report urges the duty of the Govern
ment to assume more definite supervision
of such forest areas as are still owned bv it,
and as occupy position of importance in
the regulation of water-how and of other
climatic conditions, and emphasizes the i'm
portance of the relations which the forests
bear to the problem of irrigation in the arid
lands and of their immense annual product.
The Secretary recommends the setting apart
some 300 acres of the Arlington estate for
the use of the department, for the testing of
new varieties of fruits and other important
experimental work at present impossible
owing to lack of room.
AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS.
The subject of agricultural organizations
is dwelt upon earnestly, their astonishing
growth during the past few years being
cited as strong evidence of the growth of the
farmers institutes are referred to particu-
larly as one of the greatest movements in
the history of agriculture, and as the
strongest lever for raising and upholding
the work of superior agricultural education
represented by our system OF agricultural
colleges and experiment stations. The Sec
retary recommends, without going into de-
tails, that the Department should be en-
powered to afford aid and encourage art to
this work.
Sheep and wool secure special considera-
ton in the report. The growth of the NUT
ton interest is referred to as one to be greatly
encouraged. As to wool growing, the re-
duction of the tariff in 1883 is earnestly de-
plored. To it is attributed the great reduc-
tion in the number OF sheep, which has
since then fallen off by about Z, ,OO0, 900 head,
while the importation of wool has increased
from 49, $50, ,651 pounds in 1884 to 126, 4S7, ,729
pounds the past year.
HIGHER TARIFF WANTED.
"On behalf of this industry" says the
Secretary, 81 recommend these facts to you,
and should they be submitted to Congress, l |
ask for them intelligent and careful consid- |
Grafton"
In conclusion the report submits figures |
showing the importance of agriculture, |
which produces an annual yield of nearly |
81, ,0OO, 900, 900, employing on the 5000, 900 |
farms 100000, persons, representing |
of 10000, 900 people, while the |
value of live stock alone, is estimated at !
s., ,5O7 100000. Agriculture underlies all |
other industries, it alone making our vast |
commerce possible, and rendering the pro-
duct of our mines valuable, assigns to it the |
first place in considering the wellbeing and |
of the country.
Referring to agricultural depression, the |
report does not undertake the delicate duty |
of our Legislators diagnosing its causes and |
analyzing proposed pauaceas, but the right |
patible with the rights of his fellow citizens, |
Of the benefit of
THE PROTECTIVE SYSTEM,
which is rock-rooted principle of the Re- |
publican party, is earnestly insisted upon.
"For all such articles as our own soil can |
produce, the farmer Justly asks the protec- |
tion which will insure to him all the bene-
fits of our home market"
The Department of Agriculture is another |
of those agencies already in existence. which !
must be energetically and judiciously d. |
rected to aid the farmer by supplying such
an application OF science to agriculture as |
will enable him, rapidly growing in intelli- |
gence and self-help as he is. to increase the |
yield of every tillable acre 80 per cent, and |
to greatly increase the area OF tillable lands. |
The report concludes with this earnest ex-
hortation:
"The great nations of Europe strain ev- |
cry nerve to make science the handmade of |
war. Let it be the glory of the American |
people to make science the handmade of ag- |
riculture."