Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-21

WASHINGTON, D. c., November 20.-
The report of the Secretary OF AGri-
culture has been submitted to the Pres
ident.
The report begins with comparison
of the export trade of the past fiscal
year with that of former years, and
emphasizes the fact that of the more
than one billion of dollars 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 exceed
ing 5000, 900, 600, the excess OF our ex-
ports over imports, but relieving our
home markets from surplus product
which would otherwise have reduced
prices to a point below cost Of produc-
tion. For large share in bringing
about the conditions which have made
these gratifying results possible the
Secretary claims credit for his Depart
ment.
In regard TO imports
HE FINDS ENCOURAGEMENT
for the farmers in the fact that in spite
of an aggregate increase, there Is re-
duction In the proportion OF Imports
consisting of products which compete
with our American agriculture, for
while in the fiscal year ended In 1889,
80 per cent. of the imports were COM
Netting, "A per cent. OF our imports for
the past fiscal year did so compete. He
nevertheless regards imports competit-
ing with the products OF our own soil
as far too great. He instances $40, ,0OO,-
600 worth of animal products, S67' 'OOO,-
600 worth of fbres, S27,OOO,OOO
worth of hides, $3O,00O,O 600
dollars worth Of fruits and wine as ar
ticles of this kind and cites the imports
of raw silk amounting to %, 100000 dol
lars yearly as an instance OF products
lmported which could with proper en-
OOtsss.ss uIUuV ~ pTUuuCcu In uur own
country. He declares these figures to
indicate the main ultimate object Of the
work In department which be defines,
In brief as "the closet duty of all mar
kets abroad which may be reached by
our own agricultural products, accom-
panied by persistent and intelligent eff
forts to extend them and the substitn-
tion in our own markets of home grown
for foreign grown products"
Secretary Rusk notes the production
of
THE COTTON AREA
in this country as movement in the
right direction. He says one of the
gratifying features of our agricultural
industry 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
agricultural industry is fair ratio OF
product to demand. Every year OF good
prices tend to an over production the
subsequent year, with the natural re-
suit of depression in prices unless this
be fortunately prevented by fortuitous
conditions which no one can forsee, or
control.
With reference to our cereals, he at
tributes the excessive anticipations
formed regarding the price for wheat
throughout the crop year of 1891 TO
failure to appreciate the changed con-
ditlons now surrounding the production
and marketing of the worlds wheat
crop. Taking the world throughout,
the fat crops" be says, "more than
equalled the lean crops of 1891. so that
there was actually more wheat grown
In that year than in 1890"
Even the exports from Russia, where
famine existed In so large section and
where for time prohibited amounted
to los. .OOO.O bushels, nearly as much
as the average Of the past four years
and more than the average for the past
ten years. he says: The conditions
which have at last overwhelmed the
cotton growers now confront wheat
growers"
Hence, the American farmer
MUST REDUCE THE WHEAT ACREAGE
and so bring production down to the
normal demand.
In regard to the sugar industry and
It's domestication In this country the
Secretary says there is nothing TO add
to what he had to offer year ago on
this subject, beyond the fact that all
the experiments conducted by the de-
partment, both in the laboratory and In
the field, and at the special experiment
stations established for that purpose
confirm the hopeful anticipstions he
then expressed as to the possibility OF
this country IN course Of time supply
ing its own sugar.
The rainfall experiments, he says,
are being made as Congress directed,
but the facts in his possession do not. in
his opinion, justify the anticipation
formed by the believers 10 this method
of artificial rain-making.
Secretary Rusk suggests oimportant
changes in regard to the future organi-
zation Of the department, in which all
divisions Of the work should be grouped
with reference TO their character into
brteaus, following the organization
adopted in the other departments OF the
gevernment and greatly reducing the
nhmber of responsible chiefs In direct
ebnsultation with the head Of the de-
bartment. Such q bureau system
would, moreover, be claims. enable the
Secretary to command. by reason OF
the offers OF emoIunent and dignity
thus created, the fsrvices of the best
men in the con1try IN theIs
several lines
4un WEaFa&x