The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-05

1
, bic the violence, and the fraudulent oc-
cIpatfon which have accompanied previous
, openings OF public land. j concur WIN
. the secretary in the belief that these
outrageous Incidents cannot be entireiy
prevented without a change IN the ia"o
. on the subject and hope his recohnsn-
| datIons in that direction Will be faNofeoS
considered -.
especially commend TO the attention
OF the Congress the statements contain
ed In the secretary's reports cohcerhiIe
forestry. The time has come when en-
clent measures should be taken Tor the
preservation OF our forests from ihdis-
criminate and remedies destructloh'
A,ricu!tural Hepor
| The report of the Secretary OF Asri-
| culture. will be found exceedingly inter-
estlng. especially TO that large part OF
our citizens intimately concerned IN
agricultural occupations. On the seventh
day Of March 1885, there were upon its
pay-rolls 2.430 employees This number
has been reduced 10 1850 persons. IN
view OF a depleted Treasury. and the
imperative demand Of the people TOT
! economy I'm the administration OF their
! government the secretary has entered
| upon the task Of nationally reducing eN-
| pendltures by the elimination from the
pay rolls Of all persons not needed TOT
| an efficient conduct of the affairs OF inc
department. During the first quarter OF
! the present year the expenses OF the
| department aggregates SSio,Sib.'o' as
against 1902 0l2.42, for the Corresponds
| period for the fiscal year ending June
| n 1899 The secretary makes apparent
! his intention TO continue this rate OF
reduction by submitting estimates TOT
! the next fiscal year less by S9gi.ZsV' IMAM
| for the present year. Among the heaus
of divisions in this department the
| changes have been exceedingly rev.
Three vacancies occurring from death
and designations have been filed by the
promotion of assistants in the same diVl-
sions. These promotions Of experienced
and faithful assistants have not only
been In the interest Of efficient work,
but have suggested to those In the
department who look for retention and
promotion, as that merit and devotion
10 duty are their best reliance. The
amount appropriated for the Bureau OF
Animal Industry for the fiscal year is
S8JOOO the estimate for the ensuing year
is 100000.
orta .ions Cattle Disenses.
The regulations Of 1899 concerning Texas
fever. have been enforced during the
last year. and the largest stock yards
of the country have been kept free from
infection. Occasional local outbreaks
have been largely such as should have
been efectually guarded against by the
owners Of the affected cattle. Nhlle
contagious pleuro pneumonia in cattle
has been eradicated animal tuberucu-
losis. a disease widespread and more
dangerous to human life than pleuro pneu-
monia, is still prevalent. Investigations
have been made during the past year as
IA 10 a
the method Of it's correct diagnosis.
Much progress has been made in this
direction by the studies Of the division
of animal pathology. but work ought TO
be extended in cooperation with local
authorities until the danger 10 human
life arising from this cause, is reduced
10 a minimum. A number OF animals
arriving from Canada during the year
and inspected by Bureau officers was
9s2 O92. and the number from trans
Atlantic countries was l,29l. NO conta-
gious diseases were found among the
imported animals The total number OF
inspections Of cattle for export during
the past fiscal year was 6ll5g.
The exports show falling off Of about
q per cent. from the preceding year. the
decrease occurring entirely in the last
half of the year This suggests that the
falling off may have been largely due TO
an increase I'm the price of American eN-
port cattle. During the year ending June
90 1893. exports of inspected pork aesre-
gated 20GT, 40 pounds as against @5,l9-,ff
pounds for the preceding year The falling
off in this export was not confined now
ever 10 inspected pork, the total quantity
exported for 1892 being 6C9, 4gO.6l6 pounds
while in 1893, IL was only 6gl, 3OS,6s9 pounds.
| ioin the Secretary in recommending
that hereafter each applicant for the posi-
ton of inspector. assistant Inspector IN the
buerau of animal industry be required
as a condition precedent 10 his appoint
ment TO exhibit to the United States civil
service commission his diploma from an
established. regular and reputable YER
terinary college and that this be supple |
mented by such an examination IN Neter-
inarv science as the commission may pre- |
scribe. The exports of agricultural pro- |
ducts from the United States Tor the
fiscal year ending June 80 1875 attained /
the enormous figure of SS00,OOO,OOO in round |
numbers, being 1874 per cent. OF our total |
exports.
OF pork products the total exports were |
$751; 600 Of which Great Britain TOOK |
800 600 In bread stuffs, cotton and !
minor products. like proportions sent TO 1
the same destination are shown. The /
work of the statistical division Of ti1a |
department of agriculture deals with |
all that relates to the economics Of farm |
ing. The main purpose Of its monthly re-
ports is to keep the farmers informed as |
fully as possible of all matters having any /
influence upon the worlds markets, in
which their products find sale. It's pub
lication relates especially TO the COM |
IN srcial side of farming
1t is therefore of profound Importance
and vitality to the farmers Of the United |
States, who represent nearly one half of |
our population and also of direct interest /
TO the whole country that the work of the
division be efficiently performed and that
the information 1t has gathered be
promptly diffused. 1t is a matter Of con-
graduation 10 know that the secretary
will not spare any effort 10 make this
part OF his work thoroughly useful. In
the year 1880 the Congress appropriated
81 600 10 be taken from the patent Office
funds. for the purpose of collecting and
distributing rare and improved varieties
OF seeds and for prosecuting agricultural
Investigations and procuring agricultural
statistics From this small beginning !
the seed division Of the Department
OF Agriculture has grown 10 its present
unwieldly and unjustifiably extrava-
CANT proportions. During the last fiscal
year the cost of seeds purchased was
$56.5fS.6i. The remainder of an appro-
pration OF $4,000 was expended in putting
them up and distributing them. 1t surely
never could have entered the minds of
those who first sanctioned appropriations
of public money for the purchase OF new
and improved varieties of seeds Tor gra-
tuitous distribution. that from this would
grow large appropriations for the pur-