Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-21
UNCLE JERRY'S WORK.
secretary Rusk Reports What He Has
Done for the Farmers in
KEEPING UP PRICES OF PRODUCE.
the American Fog Triumphant and Our
torn Finds New Markets
NOT BADLY STUCK on RAIN.MAKING

with comparison of the export trade of
the past fiscal year with that OF former
years. and emphasizes the fact that of the
S1,O 100000 representing the exports of
our domestic products for the past year
nearly so per cent consisted of agricultural
products, thus not only making the United
States the creditor of the world for sum
exceeding $780, 600. 600, the excess of our ex-
ports over imports, but relieving our home
markets from surplus product which
would otherwise have reduced prices to
point below cost of production. For
large share in bringing about the conditions
which have made these gratifying results
possible the Secretary claims credit for his
department.
In regard to imports, he finds encourage
ment for the farmers in the fact that, in
spite OF an aggregate increase, there is re-
duction in the proportion of imports con-
sisting of products which compete with our
American agriculture, for while in the fiscal
year ended in 1889, 81 per cent OF the imports
were competing, and a per cent of our i'm
ports for the past fiscal year did so compete,
he, nevertheless, regards imports compet-
ing with the products OF our own soil as still
tar too great
The American Meat Trade Extended.
Since his last report. prohibitions against
american pork products have been with
drawn in all countries whore they existed
and 100000 pounds of inspected pork,
which without inspection could not have
found a market abroad, have been exported
Comparing the export trade for May. June,
July and August Of this year, as a period in
which the effects of inspection can be clear :
lv noted, with the same period last year. he
notes an increase in quantity shipped this
year OF 81 per cent at an advance in prices,
which increased values for the same period
by 661a per cent. He compares prices for
September 1892, with those OF september.
$780, the year be ore the pork inspection was
GdOpfed. and shows an increase of 50 cents
per 100 pounds in taAor of this year-sn aver
age of s. per head on every hog sold. an in
crease in price highly gratifying in view OF
the large increase in the number of hogs
marketed.
Referring to his proclamation of Septenl-
Der 25 declaring the country free from
peuropneumonia, he emphasizes the pre-
cautions taken before that proclamation
was issued and the thoroughly satisfactory
grounds existing for this declaration OF our
immunity from that disease.
The Secretary saws of the work of his
lndlan corn agent in Germany, that many
difficulties attended the Introduction of a
new food heretofore generally regarded in
Europe rs not Suita Dle for human consump-
UOn- \ mixed corn and rye bread was
found necessary to secure keeping qualities
in a country where all bread is made and
sO.E by the bakeries. and corn-rrinding ma
chiuery Is now in use in several mills in that
country. One result is the maintenance of
the price OF corn in the face OF largely in
creased eNnorts-conditions which have
heretofore always accompanied a great de-
preciItion III price.
Restriction Of Gotten Acreage Commended.
Secretary Rusk notes the reduction of the
cotton area in this country a movement
in the right direction. lie says one OF the
dustrv during the past year has been the
marked reduction in the cotton area
throughout the cotton States One of the
most difficult things to control in the aRri- |
cultural industry is fair ratio of product |
10 demand Every year of good prices tends |
10 ln Over-DrOcuctiun the subsequent year, 1
With the natnr;l result of depression in 1
prices. unless this be fortunately prevented |
10y iOr,ui.CuS conditions.
with reference to our cereals, he attrib-
ute> the excessive anticipations formed re-
-arding the price for wheat throughout the
crop year o. 1891 to failure to appreciate the
changed conditions now surrounding the 1
production and marketing of the worlds |
wheat crop. "Taking the world through |
out, the fat crops" he says, 'more than 1
CuualleG the lean crops of 1891, so that there |
wa, actually more wheat grown in that wear |
than in lsaO" Even the exports from Rus
Sia. where famine existed in so large sec |
tton and where exports were for a time pIo- |
hibited, amounted to l0500O,00O bushels, |
nearly as uCch as the average or the past |
fOur years and more than the average for |
the past ten years. He says: 'The CON
dItiOns which nave at last overwhelmed the |
cotton growers now confront the wheat |
growers Hence the American farmer |
must reduce the wheat acreage and so bring |
production down to the normal demand.
lie Hasn't Squandered the Peoples Money. |
Referring to the economy with which he
has endeavored to carry out his comprehen-
sive plans, he says that, after deducting the
appropriation for the Weather Bureau,
which is not an increase but a transfer, and
the appropriation Tor the State experiment
stations, which is not under his control, the
total remaining of the present years appro-
priations barely exceeds the appropriation
of the department less that for the stations
or the fiscal year ended in 1889. He does
not justi y this restriction OF the approprl-
alton within narrow limits, but he does
claim credit or what has been accomplished
with the limited appropriations at his dis
pOsal. Reviewing the work of the Bureau
o Animal Industry, he summarizes the |
work and cost of the suppression of
pleuro-pneumonia, showing the entire cost
10 have been less by Sl00. .00O than was paid
ont by Great Britain during seven years as
indemnity for slaughtered cattle alone.
The Secretary gives a detailed statement
of the extent and variety of the contribu-
tons planned from the Department OF Agri-
culture to the Worlds Fair. In regard to
the sugar industry and its domesticatiom in
this country, the secretary says there is
wear ago OF this subject, beyond the fact
that all The experiments conducted by the
dpl,ar-t uent, both in the laboratory and in
the field and at the special experiment
stations established for that purpose, con-
firm the hopeful anticipations he then ex-
pressed as to the possibility OF this country
in course of time supplying its own sugar.
On the Road to Sugar-Making.
Enough has been done to show clearly
that in various sections either beet, sorghum
or cane sugar can be produced with profit to
rpe grower of the crop and to the manufact-
1Irer. nroyidcd the conditions OF culture and
manufacture indicated in the special re-
Dorts made to this department on the SUBJ
ioct shall be observed. The difficulties that 4
exist are those of an economic character
which time and necessity will gradually re-
move.
The rainfall experiments, he says, are
laiuc made as Congress directed, but the
facrs in his possession do not, in his opin-
ION iustifv The anticipation formed by the
t3- -Iievers in this method of artinclal rain
making.
secretary Rusk suggests important |
changes III regard to the future organization |
I he work SHOULD be grouped with reference
F. a fheir cha IA cter into bureaus, following tile
,.r.ga n iZatiou adopted in other departments
,,f the Government, greatly reducing the
,,,r,g l)er. OF responsible chiefs in direct con-
suIfa tion with the head of the department.
lie insists upon the necessity Tor the uni
,-arsal selection o. all animal food products
.,-,,,lica Bile not only to products intended
l,r' interstate or export trade, but entering
IL, TO domestic consumption everywhere.
Plea for Healthy Food.
Americans" he says, "are large meat
enters and need the most healthiu nj kind of
rooa. science is revealing daily mo inti-
AZ.