Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-10
CHAFF FOR FARMERS
Secretary Rusk Files His
Annual Report.
Good Crops and Better Prices
Due to the Tariff.
That Is the Sum and Substance of
Jere's Argument.
But Just the Same the Farmers Have
Repudiated the Admistra-
tion's Policy.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9.-The secretary
OF agriculture has presented his annual
report to the president. By comparing
prices at Chicago for October 10th of
1890 and of 1889, he shows marked in
crease in the values of agricultural pro-
ducts, especially of cereals. A tabular
statement of the agricultural exports of
the last fiscal year, including live ami
mails, barley, hops, potatoes, hay, cheese,
eggs, fax, wool, tobacco, wines, etc., the
old and the new tariff rates being given
for each, indicates material increase
in import duties on these articles, and
shows each to have been imported in
considerable quantities. The secretary
says that without ignoring the effects of
natural causes in enhancing values, it
is evident that the economic legislation
of the last session OF congress has
directly benefited the farmers. The i'm
proved value OF cereals is, he believes,
largely due to silver legislation,
which, moreover, has lessened the in
fiuence of Russia and India, our wheat
competitors in the British markets.
Our increased export trade in cattle
and animal products, another cause of
congratulation, he traces to the ener-
getic and effective measures adopted for
the eradication of pleuro-pneumonia
and to the growing appreciation at home
and abroad of the departments ability
to suppress or effectually control contag-
ious animal diseases. He declares that
not a single case of contagious pleuro-
pneumonia has been alleged to exsist
among American cattle shipped to Brit
ish ports since March last. Similar
energy has been directed to our pork in
terests. The secretary strongly recon-
mends an inspection law more compre-
hensive than the present one, for ami
mails slaughtered for Interstate or
foreign trade.
The outlook for the home sugar in
dustry is considered favorable. An an
alysis by the department chemist of
beets grown in various states, from seed
distributed last spring, indicates a high
per cent. OF sugar, and affords what is
regarded as conclusive proof that large
sections OF the country are adapted to
the successful culture of the sugar beet.
The practical results obtained in Ne
braska and Kansas, he says, demon
strate the feasibility OF home grown
sugar manufacture.
In the bureau of animal industry, ar
rangements have been perfected for
dairy division, the establishment of
which has been delayed somewhat by
lack OF the necessary legislation.
Cooperation with experiment sta
tions has been undertaken in important
lines, including experiments with grass
es N the arid region, and the trial of
new economic plants, the collection of
agricultural statistics, of reports of
growing crops and of the probable sup
ply OF staple products in the markets OF
the world.
The production of raw silk as an in
digenous industry, is referred to in not
very encouraging terms, though its i'm
portance is emphasized by reference to
the imports of raw silks, which have
largely increased during the year, and
are valued a year at upwards of $24 ,000,-
600; but the necessity for favorable
legislation, as we'll as for Improvements
in machinery, is insisted upon.
Encouraging words are spoken with
reference to flax culture, Secretary Rusk
believing that the recent changes in the
tariff on linens will serve to en-
courage manufacturers to provide
market for home grown fax.
Irrigation and artesian supply of
water are made subject of special ref
erence.
Reference is made to the forthcoming
transfer OF the weather bureau to the
department of agriculture, with declar-
alton of the secretary's desire to widen
the present scope of the bureau, so as
to increase its present benefits to agri-
culture. He strongly insists ON the ne
cessity for more frequent representation
OF the department at the meeting of ag-
ricultural and kindred societies.
The possibility of serving the corn
growers throughout the country by ex-
tending the market for Indian corn in
foreign countries has engaged the secre-
tary's attention, with the result that he
has appointed a special agent abroad,
having special qualifications for this
duty; to investigate and report upon
the possibilities of promoting the con-
sumption of Indian corn in European
countries.
In concluding, the report says: "a
careful review OF Cno events OF the past
year, and a general survey of the agri-
cultural field today, betoken a marked
improvement in the condition of our
agriculturists, and promise we'll for their
future well being"
He ends by declaring that he looks
forward with confidence to the time
when in the high quality of it's work, as
we'll as in the magnitude of its enter
prise, the agriculture of the United
States shall not only lead all other in
dustries in this country, but shall be the
leader in this great industry of all other
countries"