River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-11-07
FIGURES FOR FARMERS.

A synopsis OF thu Report of Secretary
Rusk Of the Department II Agriculture
A Prediction That Pleuro-Pneuinonia
win soon he Thoroughly Eradieated =
He Urges the Passage Of National
Beef Inspection Law.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-The annual re-
port Of the Secretary Of Agriculture, the
first issued under the newly constructed
department, win be made public to-day.
Following is a synopsis:
IL calls Alteration 10 the fact that the first
Efforts toward reorganization. Of the depart
ment were hampCred because the appropriR-
tions for the current fiscal year were made en-.
tirely upon the basis OF the old organization
no account being taken OF the entire
change in the statue OF the department. The
Secretary insists upon the necessity for ade-
quate appropriations 10 enable him to meet
what he believes TO be the obligations d the dc.
partment 60 the country. In this connection h5
draws comparison with the appropriations
made for agriculture by those countries which
the report says "are the most active competi-
tors Of American farmers IN the worlds mar
ket." Great Britain appropTiatcs for agricult-
ure H5o00lo; Germany, e, $4,000 Brazil, $40
10000 FOR agriculture and mines France as
10000, ana Austria, more than si,o0o0lO.
The Secretary expresses qualification at the
the results OF the departments work before the
people by utilizing the press Of the country
and, referring to the press reports. says:
while approximate II is Ia danger Of
bacominS discredited by the popular ac-
ceptance OF its results as exact in pre-
eisiOn and absolute in authority. IL should
be remembered that they are not the con
illusions Of a thorough census, though they may
be far better than the work OF poor census;
that they are the consultations Of local csti-
mates OF agricultural experts and are intended
as a foil 10 The Interested, biased and untruth.
ful statements that spectators issue to mis-
lead their victims
on the rapid development Of agriculture in
the Rocky Mountain districts the Secretary
says: Tho results will surprise the Eastern
States with new views of the wealth and prog
ress of the great American desert OF the recent
past" The Secretary in this connection,
suggests the appointment Of State statisti-
clan in every State and G comprehensive plan
of agricultural surveys OF the States and
Territories.
Tho condition Of the sugar industry i re
viewed Ia detail and the results declared TO be
Of a mixed character, in some eases yielding
we'll and IN other cases proving disappointing.
The region where the sOrghum-sugar industry
may be attended with success has been local.
lied in the southern part of Central Kansas,
west and south OF Wichita, and in parts OF the
iNuldn INtEllOfA ltHtlnbluG u IA HNli hlt,l
climate. There are perhaps other parts Of tho
United States where similar success could be
secured, but these have not been pointed out.
The report urges the duty Of the Government
TO assume a more definite supervision of such
forest areas as are still owned by IL and 50 &C.
cupy a position Of Importance in the regulation
Of waterfiow and Of other climatic conditions.
aud emphasizes the Importance OF the relations
which the forests bear 10 the problem Of irriga-
ton in the arid lands OF their immense annual
product
The subject Of agricultural organizations is
dwelt upon earnestly, their astonishing growth
during the last few years being cited as strong
evidence OF the growth Of the spirit OF help
among the farmers. The farmers institutes
are referred to particularly as one Of the great
est 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 ag-
ricultural colleges and experiment stations.
The Secretary recommends, without going into
details, that the department should be en-
powered TO AFFORD aid and encouragement TO
this work
In regard to pleuro- pneumonia the situation
is regarded as most encouraging Thanks to
the vigilance and vigorous measures which
have been exercised. this disease IS now effect
ually under control and restricted 10 Kings
and Queens counties in New York State 20
New Jersey and a limited section in each Of
the States of Pennsylvania and Mary land. \
careful review OF the field, together with the
arrangements made for the supervision of the
limited districts stil infected justify, I'm the
Secretary's opinion, the most sanguine
hopes" in regard to the proxlmatc complete
eradication Of the disease.
The language used by the Secretary in
Irging the adoption of a National meat
Inspection law is pointed and vigorous. The
necessity for inspection AT the time OF slaugh
ter is, FIRST to enable the authorities to
promptly locate any cattle disease centcrS
and, secondly, to avoid the anomaly OF leaving
the inspection OF our meat products to the on
GERS OF other countries thus giving foreign gov
ernments some show Of reason for the claim
that they have better opportunities for learning
OF diseases among American cattle than
are enjoyed by our own Government
Authority and means are also de
sired to enable the department to
exercise close supervision OF the economic
side Of the cattle markets, the characteristics
OF stock commanding the highest price, yaria-
lions as to age, weight and quality, and all
facts bearing upon the cattle industry which
win enable the bureau TO supply 10 farmers
such information as il is impossible FOR them TO
obtain for themselves.
The sheep and wool industry secures special
attention in the report. Tho reduction Of the
tariff in ISIS is earnestly dcplored To il is at
tTibutcd the great reduction in the number Of
sheep, which has since then fallen OF 10y about
100000 head. while the importation of wool has
increased from 7S,35oG5l pounds in 1881 10 l9G,
iS7 729 pounds the last year.
In conclusion the report submits figures
showing the Importance Of agriculture, which
produces an annual yield Of nearly 81 OO1O00000,
employing on the 5,0OO0o0 farms i0,0l00OO per
sons, representing q population Of 100000 poo
pie. while the value of live stock alone IL csti
mated at s2,507 10000