Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-12-12

fded to the Executive. Agreements have
been concluded since March 4, 1889. in
| volving the cession TO the United States OF
about Il, 726 coo acres OF land These con-
tracts have, as required by law, been sub
mitted to Congress for ratification and for
| the appropriations necessary to carry them
| into effect Those with the Sisseton and
| Wahpeton, Sac and Fox, Iowa. Pottawato-
mics and Abentee Shawnees and Coeur
| d'Alene tribes have not yet received the sane
ton of Congress. Attention is also called TO
the fact that the appropriations made in the
case OF the Sioux Indians have not covered
! all the stipulated payments. This should be
promptly corrected. If an agreement is con-
firmed, all of its terms should be complied
with without delay, and full appropriations
| should be made.
| LANDS TO SETTLERS.
! The policy outlined in my last annual mes
sage in relation TO the patenting OF lands to
settlers upon the public domain has been
! carried out in the administration of the
| Land Office. No general suspicion or
| imputation of fraud has been allowed
| to delay the hearing and adjudication of in
dividual cases upon their merits. The
purpose has been TO perfect the title OF honest
settlers with such promptness chat the value
of the entry might not be swallowed up by
the expense and extortions to which delay
subjected the claimant. The average
monthly issue o. agriculture patents has been
increased about six thousand.
The Disability Pension act. which was an
proved on the 9th Of June last, has been put
into operation as rapidly as was practicable
The increased clerical force provided was
selected and assigned to work. and con-
siderable part of the force engaged in
examinations in the field was re-
called and added to the working force
of the Office. The examination and adiudi-
cation of the claims have By reason of i'm
proved methods, been more rapid than ever
before. There is no economy to the govern
ment in delay while there is much hardship
and injustice to the soldier. The anticipated
expenditure, while very large, will not it is
believed, be in excess Of the estimates made
before the enactment Of the law. This liberal
enlargement of the general law should sug-
gest more careful scrutiny Of bills for spe-
cial relief, both as to the cases where relief
is granted and to the amount allowed.
THE CENSUS.
The enumeration of the people of the
United States under the provisions of the
act of March 1, $780, has been completed,
and the result will be at once officially COM
municated to Congress. The completion of
this decennial enumeration devolves upon
Congress the duty of making a new appor-
tionment of Representatives "among the
several States according to their respective
numbers"
AGRICULTURE.
The report of the Secretary of Agriculture
deserves especial attention in view of the
fact that the year has been marked in very
unusual degree by agitation and organiza-
ton among the farmers looking to an in
crease in the profits of their business. 1t will
be found that the efforts of the department
have been intelligently and ZealOusl y devoted
to the promotion Of the interests intrusted to
its care.
Avery substantial improvement in the mar
ket prices of the leading farm products dur
ing the year is noticed. The price of wheat
advanced from 81 cents in October, 1885, to
ST. OOA in October, 1890; corn from 81 cents to
50A cents: oats from 1917 cents to 43 cents
and barley from 50 cents to 70 cents. Meats
showed q substantial but not so large an in
crease The export trade in live animals
and fowls show a very large increase; the
total value of such exports for the year end
ing June 80, 1890, was $1,000, 900, and the in
crease over the preceding year was over $15,-
900, 900. Nearly 10000 more cattle and over
Is, 900 more hogs were exported than in the
preceding year. The export trade in beef and
pork products and in dairy products was
very largely increased, the increase in
the article Of butter alone being from
Is, 5O4, 978 pounds to %, 74s, O42 pounds and
the total increase in the value of meat and
dairy products exported being S34 900, 900.
This trade, SO directly helpful TO the farmer,
it is believed will be yet further and very
largely increased when the system of in
spaction and sanitary supervision now pro-
vided by law is brought fully in operation.
The efforts of the Secretary to establish the
healthfulness of our meats against the dis
paraging imputations that have been put
upon them abroad have resulted in substan-
tial progress. Veterinary surgeons sent out
by the department are now allowed to parti-
cipate in the inspection of the live cattle from
this country landed at the English DOCKS
and during the several months they have
been on duty no of contagious pleuro-
pneumonia has been reported. This inspec-
ton abroad, and the domestic inspection of
live animals and pork products, provided for
by the act of August 80, 1890, will afford as
perfect guaranty for the wholesomeness of
our meats offered for foreign consumption as
is anywhere given to any food product and
its non-acceptance will quite clearly reveal
the real motive Of any continued restriction
of their use; and that having been made
clear, the duty of the Executive will be very
plain.
THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.
The information given by the Secretary Of
the progress and prospects Of the beet sugar
industry is full of interest. It has already
passed the experimental stage and is com
merciaI success The area over which the
sugar beet can be successfully cultivated is
large and another field crop of great value
is offered to the choice of the farmers.
The Secretary of the Treasury concurs in
the recommendation Of the Secretary of
Agriculture that the official supervision pro-
vided by the Tariff law for sugar of domestic
production shall be transferred to the De-
partment of Agriculture.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The law relating to the Civil Service has
so far as l can learn, been executed by those
having the power of appointment in the class
flied service with fidelity and impartiality,
and the service has been increasingly salts
factory. The report of the commission