Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-11-14
A YEARS WORK.
Resume of the Doings of the Agricultural
Department ms Shown by Secretary

Department ms Shown by Secretary
Rusk's Report.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Q. - Secretary
Rusk in his third annual report esti-
mates that the increase in the value of
agricultural products this year over
last will not be less than $780,
100000. lie asserts that during
the first three months of the
present fiscal year American exports
in cereals alone have aggregated
$76, 900, 900. with indications that the
sales abroad of the surplus from farms
will, during the present year, largly ex-
ceed those of any previous twelve
months. He notes the increase of some
$2S, 1000, 900 in the imports of agricultur-
al products during the first ten months
under the present law, by comparison
with the same period during the
last year under the old law, but en-
phasizes the fact that the increase is
| confined almost entirely to articles not
competing with home products; such
as sugar, tea, coffee, etc. At the same
time, he claims that the changes in the
rates have checked the importation of
products which may be produced at
home.
He notes decrease in tobacco i'm
ports from $1,000, 600 to SO, 900. 900, a
falling off in foreign barley of nearly
$1,000, 600, in eggs sl,25O, 900, in horses
nearly $1,000, 900, and gradual decline
in the imports of all live
stock. Referring to the import
of hides, admitted free of duty, he
says that this causes a great depre-
citation in prices realized for hides of
home production, and earnestly rec
ommends that the duty provided for in
section 8 of the tariff act. approved
October l, 1890, be imposed in all cases
where the countries from which such
hides are shipped have not granted
equal concessions in regard to the ad-
mission of the agricultural products of
the United States.
He speaks at some length of the with
drawal of the governments of Ger
many. Denmark and Italy of the pro-
hibition against American pork, re-
views the subject of meat inspection
and urges a system of inspection for
all articles of food which are the sub
ject of interstate or foreign trade,
The secretary earnestly recommends
that congress be asked to make an ap-
preparation sufficiently large to extend
the inspection to all applicants.
He estimates that the losses to our
pork raisers during the past ten years
owing to the prohibition, which an eff
ticient market inspection can alone re-
move, aggregate over 500, ,OO0,-
900. He concludes that the condi-
Of ha ITpit la
and the vigilant supervision of our gov
ernment justify the strongest presen-
tation to the British government of the
grievance which our cattle raisers suf.
fer unjustly by reason of it's arbitrary
regulations enforced against American
cattle, coupled with an urgent demand
for their removal, adding that they
have been clearly shown to be use
less, and that their maintenance can
only be regarded as an evidence of un-
friendliness He says we have far
more justification for the exclusion
from the United States of all animals
coming from Great Britain and it's de-
Tendencies than they have for the in
terposition of any obstacles to cattle
exports from the United States.
The secretary deems it the duty ot
his department to keep the farmer
fully informed of the market value OF
his wares in order that he may
know before he markets his
goods just what their value is
He congratulates the country upon
the success of the experiments in
the extraction of sugar from sorghum
''There seems to be no reason" he
says. why we should not look forward
with confidence to the day when the
S1OO, 900, 900 paid by Americans to for
, eign producers for sugar should be
turned into the pockets of our OWE
people,"
In all efforts towards diversifyine
crops climatic conditions must play ar
important part and in this connection
he declares his convictions of the i'm
. portance and value to agricultural in
terests of the transfer to his depart
! ment of the weather bureau.
In reviewing the work of the division
: of chemistry with reference to tn,
adulteration of foods the secretar,
) emphasizes especially the adultera
tions of coffee, which are found to ex
, tend to very large per
centage not only of the groun'
coffee but the coffee bean, who'll,
artificial beans having been introduce,
into the market, of which man,
: samples bought on the open marke
5 were found to largely consist. Thes
: artificial beans are sold to the trade q
, four cents pound. In large measure
3 they are imported, and the secretar.
, urges that such importations, as wei
t as their. manufacture and use in thi
3 country, be absolutely prohibited.
In concluding his report Secretar.
4 Rusk states that from the time he as
g sumed the reins of Office he has de
3 voted his personal attention to a gen
eral enlargement of the scope of tn
work of the department in the interes
a of practical agriculture, especial
r to the extension of the market fo
: the disposal of the surplus of our grea
: staple crops, He points ont that
= fully carry out his views will unque'