Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-07-01
FARM DEPARTMENT.


70. l.. HUFFMAN, Editor.
Texas has a department OF agricul-
ture. II was created by law In 1887
and has been maintained at public ex-
pense since then The law provides
that the agricultural commissioner
shall place himself In communication
with the department OF agriculture of
the United States and the boards Of ag-
riculture OF the several states. He may
place himself In communication with
agricultural departments OF foreign
countries, with agricultural societies IN
this state and with individuals. II pro-
yides for collecting statistics Of the
state and for annual reports. 1t also
suggests other reports, when conven-
ieat and proper. in the wisdom OK the
commissioner. No one can read the
law creating this department and not
aes that the intention was that the an
ual report should contain all matter
calculated to advance the agriculture
OF Texas collected from the depart
ment or agriculture Of the United
States. from the several state boards,
from foreign boards. from Texas socle-
ties and individuals; and the statistics
OF Texas collected through the various
tax ssseaspta,
The annual report OF the commits
eioner OF agriculture OF Texas contains
nothing from the department OF hgri-
culture OF the United States. from other
state boards, from foreign boards, nor
from agricultural societies or individ-
unIs In TeNng. The report IS Innde up
Of statistics OF the state and ndver-
tisements OF counties, cities and towns
Out OF 57i page In the last report can
be selected over 600 pages OF advertih-
ing matter, and not calculated or in
tended 10 benefit the agriculture OF
Texas In any way.
The department Of agriculture Of the
United States is not named state
boards are not mentioned, foreign
boards are not referred 20. and the bee
keepers, swine breeders, poultry rails
ers. trotting and pacing horse breeders,
Jersey Cattle club, Farmers Institutes,
and state and county societies. all OF
which are duly organized, are not even
noticed. The State Horticultural so
ciety Is mentioned and an attempt at
its report ~ made. The above is de-
tail OF the law creating the aTrlcul-
turnl department OF Texas, defining It's
duties 10 the agriculture OF Texas and
now II fails IN all duties TO the ngri-
culture nf Texas. The amount OF
money expended zach year In this de-
partment is sufficient TO make 81 IN all
things n department OF agriculture as
the law creating It contemplated,
and not public immigration
phhEu III NlWlAAlhl Vi NAiE hAMNe
constitution, as II now IS. The
xbsence OF, all Agricultural infor-
nation froh the annual reports Of the
department OF agriculture ~ Texas,
and the presence OF over 200 pages nd
vertining counties. cities ana towns can
not be dignlned into anything less than
a fraud upon the agricultural intcroeia
OF tho state. Now, who Is 10 blame for
this fraud2 Flrst. the legislature IN
approprtatnF money TO get up this ad-
vertislng matter only: second, the state
printing board In refusing 20 print any
other kind OF matter for this depart
ment, and third. the Agricultural ao-
oieties OF tho state, for which this de-
partmsnt was created, In not Joining
in demand TINT II be used Tor the pur-
pose for which II was created.
CommiaFioner Hollingswnrth has been
jealous In HIS work and constant IA
his demands IN the interests OF Texas
agriculture. lie also realizes the de-
fecta In his department aud has la
bored TO rectify the same. for which he
deserves due praise. There ~ some
thing wrong. however. In his manage
ment. Texas has the largest strictly
state fair IN tie union. The premiums
paid to advance the agriculture Of
Texas by the state fair district and
county fairs amounts 70 more morey
than r. paid by the fair associations OF
any other state, These fairs are rccog-
ni2ed as agricultural associations the
world over, and there IS no excuse for
the agricultural report Of Texas not
mentioning them. The failure 20 mem
ton the agricultural associations and
sooietieH In the state shows a want OF
Information on Texas agriculture nbso-
lutely inexcugabie The state leglsla-
ture meets In 1895, II n 70 be hoped
that the agricultural associations and
societies OF tho state win take this
matter in hand and Teo that the ap-
fYonrin ttAna are runda 10 ndVnugg the
agriculture OF Texas. II " also TO he
hoped that the next report OF the ngri-
cultural department OF Texas will show
the absence Of strictly boom matter
and the prelrncc OF agricultural infor'
nation.