River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-11-13
SECRETARY RuSk.
A synopsis of the Annual Report of the
Head of the Agricultural Department.

A synopsis of the Annual Report of the
Head of the Agricultural Department.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-The Secre-
tary OF Agriculture has presented his
annual report to the President. BY
comparing prices at Chicago for 0c-
tober 10 of 1890 and of 1889 he shows
marked increase in the values OF
agricultural products, especially of
cereals A tabular statement of
agricultural exports of the last fiscal
year, including live animals,
barley, hay, potatoes, hops, cheese,
eggs, flax. wool, tobacco. wines, etc..
the old and new tariff rates being given
for each, indicates a material increase
in the import duties on these articles
and shows each TO have been imported
in considerable quantities. The Secre-
tary asserts that without ignoring the
effects of natural causes, in enhancing
values. II is evident that the economic
legislation of the last session of Con-
gress has directly benefited the farmers,
the improved value of cereals, as he be-
lieves, being largely due to the silver
legislation, which, moreover. has less
ened the influence OF Russia and India,
our wheat competitors in British mar
kets.
Our increased export trade in cattle
and animal products, another cause for
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
contagious animal diseases.
The outlook for q home sugar indus
try is considered favorable. A good
article of sugar is shown to have been
produced profitably from sorghum, va
rieties of which with large sugar con-
tents have been developed through the
efforts of the Department of Agricult-
ure.
The Secretary announces the estab-
lishment of three National sugar ex-
pertinent stations, devoted one each to
cane, sorghum and beet sugar.
In the provisions of the tariff bill Sec
rotary Rusk finds what he regards as
some glaring Inconsistencies, in that it
gives the entiIa control of sugar manu-
featuring and bounty payments to a
subordinate officer OF the Treasury De-
partment, in sp te of the fact that here
tofore the Department OF Agriculture
has been charged with the general SUI
pervision of the sugar industry, both in
its cultural ana manufacturing phases.
In the Bureau of Animal Industry ar
engagements have been perfected for q
dairy division. the establishment OF
which has been delayed some-
what by the lack of necessary
legislation. Cooperation with the
experiment stations has been under
taken on important lines. including
experiments with grasses in the arid
regions and the trial OF new economic
plants, the collection of Agricultural
statistics, of reports of the growing
crops and of the probable supply 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 silk, which have
largely increased during the year
and are valued for the year at
upward of s24.Oo0.OUO Encouraging
words are spoken with reference
to fax culture. Secretary Rusk believ-
ing that the recent changes in the tariff
on linens will serve to encourage manu-
facturers to provide market for the
homegrown fax. Irrigation and the
artesian supply of water are made the
subject of special reference.
Reference is made othe forthcoming
transfer of the Weather Bureau to the
Department of Agriculture, with
declaration of the Secretary's desire to
widen the scope of the bureau so as to
increase its benefits to agriculture.
He ends by declaring that he looks
forward with confidence Ito the time
when in the high quality of its 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"