The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-11-15
THE NATIONS CAPITAL.

THE NATIONS CAPITAL.
A BATCH OF DEPARTMENT REP0Rrs.
Secretary Rusk's Ideas on supsrvlslsa e
Forests. the Sorghum Industry. Plsurs-
Pncurnonis, and Other Agricultural
Mntterx-The Coinage OF the Year..
Secretary Rusk has given out his annual
report. 1t is quite voluminous and con-
tains some very interesting features. He
allowed an appropriation much smaller
than its necessities require, the amount
being but $1,000. 400. while all othsr
countries appropriate much more, and
France in 1885 appropriated e. O0O, 900.
He says he will ask Congress to increase
largely the amount for his department and
furnish more elaborate n convenient
buildings.
The secretary devotes much space to the
subject OF sorghum sugar culture and
manufacture, and regards the experiments
as indicating final success and The build.
ing up OF . grand industry, especially Ia
Kansas and Indian Territory. He favors
government inspection OF cattle and lsgts-
lation to protect American meat interests
at home and abroad. The wool industry
he considers in . prosperous condition, and
recommends additional legislation to keep
1t 80.
OF the rapid development Of agriculture
in the Rocky mountain districts the
Secretary says: 1.-THE results will surprise
the eastern States with new views Of the
wealth and progress of the great Amer
lean desert of the recent past" The
Secretary, in this connection, suggests the
appointment OF q State statistician In
every State and q comprehensive plan of
agricultural surveys of the States aud
Territories.
The report urges the duty Of the
Government to assume . moro definite
supervision OF such forest areas az are
still owned by it and q occupy . position
of importance in the regulation Of water
flow and of other climatic conditions. and
emphasizes the importance OF the relations
which the forests bear to the problem Of
irrigation in the arid lands of their inn
mense annual product.
The subject Of agricultural organixa-
tions IL dwelt upon earnestly, their
years being cited as strong evidence of the
growth OF the spirit of self-help among
the farmers. Tue farmers institutes are
referred to particularly as one Of the
greatest movements In the history of aRri-
culture and as the strongest lever for rails.
ing and upholding the work Of superior
agricultural colleges and experiment
stations. The Secretary recommends that
the department should be empowered to
afford aid and encouragement to this
work.
In regard to pleuro. pneumonia the sit
uation is regarded as most encouraging.
YhAnk0 IN tho vinf1ArHn A.L ~s-~.-.-
measures which have been exercised. this
disease is nov effectually under control
restricted to Kings and Queens coun-
ties in New York State, to New Jersey,
and q limited section in each Of the States
of Pennsylvania and Maryland. A care
full review of the field, together with the
arrangements made for the supervision of
the limited districts still infected, justify,
in the Secretary's opinion, .sthe most
sanguine hopes'' in regard TO the proxi-
mate complete eradication of the disease.
In conclusion the report submits figures
showing the Importance of agriculture,
which produces an annual yield OF nearly
"a, 600, 900, 900, employing ON the h,OOO. OOD
farms 10, 000, OtM persons, representing .
population OF 80, 600, 900 people, while the
value of live stock alone is estimated a
81, 5O7, 600, 600.
The report OF the directorlo OF the mint for
the year ending June 81 shows the follow
ing value Of the coinage: Gold, *?.5,-
al3 1910; silver, dollars, 81, TT34SS, 800; SUBJ
sidiary silver, $726. COS; minor coin, $685.
453; gold bars 2 ,3+1, 121; silver bars,
81. 7OB, 24t. In addition to the above gold
bars were exchanged for coin for export to
the amount of So, SOL, sl2. The profit ON
coinage of silver during the year was 3D.
a03, O40. The total number Of silver
dollars coined under the Bland act was
:343, OBS, 600. The director estimates
that $40. 900, 900 worth of
gold and ", 0QD, 900 of silver were
used by the industrial arts during the year.
The product of gold aud silver in the
United States for the calendar year 1898
is estimated as follows: Gold, $33, 49,.
600; silver, commercial value, $43, OOO, 900;
coming value. $50, 1871, 900. The product
OF the world for the same time was: Gold,
Sl05 994, $50; silver, commercial value.
500, 556, 900; coinage value, $l422, 439, 1853.
In conclusion the director recommends the
discontinuance of 81 and 81 gold-pieces
and Scent nickel pieces, and the with
drawal of those outstanding from ~circula.
ton.
The Mexican minister has returned from
accompanying the pan-American excur-
sion. His return was caused by advices
from his government respecting utterances
made by United States Minister Miner to
Costa Rica upon being presented to the
President Of that country. Mr.. Romero
has received a cop of a Mexican newspa-
per containing Miners speech. The
paragraph which aroused the indignation
OF the Mexican government ia as folio VS.:
THE states of Central America must
unite. A strong federal government i.
your only salvation. Colombia is massing
her troops OH the Southern border of Costa
Rica. Mexico has her covetoals eyes ON
Guatemala. It will be only q short time
before Colombia will seek to seize your
State and Mexico will seize Guatemala.
Central America will be blotted from the
map and her identity sunk in that at
Colombia and Mexico. The time Is draw.
ing near and only the most energetic &C.
ton I'm federating Central America can
save your freedom"
Mr.. Romero declined to lie interviewed
on the subject Of what action he would
take, but it Is understood his government
has instructed him to request that Miner
be recalled, as his uncalled for remarks
have offended q friendly power. Mr..
Romero will call on Secretary Blaine to.
morrow and bring his attention officially
to the matter.
THE FIGHT FOR THE STRIP.
The CherOkeex Likely to Carry the Mat.
ter to- the COurfs.