The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-03-06
For a Department Of Agriculture
4 Bill to Establish It Introduced IN
the State Legislature.


Following is the full text of thc bill
introduced in the Legislature by Mr..
\. l.. Martin, OF Lawrence county, for
the establishment of Department Of
Agriculture in this state.
SECTION |. Re il enacted by the
Senate and House OF Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Peunsylva-
min, in General Assembly met, and il
is hereby enacted by the authority of
the same, That there BE-, and hereby i
established Il Department of Agricult
ure, 10 be organized and administered
by an officer who shall b. known -
the Secretary OF Agriculture, who shall
he appointed by the Governor, 10y and
with the advice and consent Of the
Senate, for term OF four years, at an
annual salary of s.. 800, and who, before
entering upon the duties Of his Office,
shall take and subscribe the oath pre-
scribcd in Article seven OF the C1n-ti-
tuition. said Secretary shall b. eX-
otlicio Secretary Of the STATE Board Of
Agriculture, and shall succeed 70 all
the powers and duties now conferred
by law upon the Secretary Of said
Board
SEC. >. That il shall he the duty OF
the Secretary Of Agriculture, in such
ways a. be may deem fit and proper, 10
encourage and promote the develop
ment of agriculture, horticulture, for
e7try and kindred industries; to collect
and publish statistics and other inf0r-
nation in regard 10 the agricultural
industries and interests Of the State:
10 investigate the adaptability Of
grains, fruits, grasses and other crops
TO the soil and climate of the State, IT,
gether with the diseas : 70 which they
are scyerally liable and the remedies
therefor; 10 obtain and distribute in
formation on all matters relating 10 the
raising and care of stock and poultry,
the artificial propagation Of fish, The
best methods o. producing wool and /
preparing the same for market, and /
shall diligently prosecute all sIch SINH |
lar inquiries as may bc required by the |
agricultural interests of jhe State, and I
- will best promote the ends for which |
the Department of Agriculture is e.
tablished. He shall give special attcG- !
ton to such questions rclatiag 70 the /
valuation and taxation OF farm land, /
T. the variation and diver-ificd.ion in I
the kinds of crops and methods Of cui- |
tivaiion and their adJp,abiliiy u I
changing markets, a. may arise lrD.H
time to time i'm consequenccof Of a change /
Of methods, means and rates of trans I
poriation, or in the habits o. occJpa /
ton of the people of this safe an; |
elsewhere, and shall publish, a fire. /
quent!y - practicable. such informa-
ton thereon ~ ie shall deem useful. /
In performance Of the duties pre>crib- /
cd by this act, the Secretary OF Agri- /
cviure shall, as far ~ practicable, /
make Use of The faci!ities provided by /
the State Agricultural Experiment .
Station, the State Board of Agriculture
and tbc various State and c1Inty soci- /
eties and organizations maintained hy
and horiiculiurists, /
whether with or without the aid of the
State, and shall, as far a. practicable,
enlist the aii OF the state Geological
Survey for the purpose of obtaining
and publishing useful information re-
spec;ing the economic relations of ge-
ology to agriculture, forestry and kin
dred industries. He shall make an an
nual report 10 the Governor, and shall
publish from time to time such bullet
ins of Information a. he may deem
useful ana advisable. Sid report and
Bulletins shall be- pri1teI BY tn. sat,
Printer in the same manner rs other
public documents, not exceeding 5)jj
copies OF any one bulletin.
Sac. ;. That it shall be the duty of
the Secretary to obtain and publish in
formation respecting tire extea, and
condition Of forest lands in this State,
to make and carry oIt rlies and regu-
lations for the enforcement of all laws
designed to protect forests from fires
and from all illegal deprelation5 and
distraction, and report the same annu-
ally to the Governor and, Is far -
practicable, u give Information and
advice respecting the best methods Of
preserving wood lands and starting
new plantations. lie shall also, "a far
~ practicable, pr0cIre statistics OF the
amount of timberc cut during each year,
the pIrposa for which it is used, and
the am punt of timber land thus clear
e /, ~ compared with the amount of
land newly brought under timber cIl-
tivation, and shall, in general, adop;
all such measures a., iii his Judgment,
may BE- desirable and effective for he
preservation and increase Of the tim
Der land, OF this STATE, and shall have
direct charge and control of the man
agement of ali forest lands belonging
70 the Commonwealth, subject 10 the
provisions of law relative thereto.
The said Secretary shall also BE-, aud
hereby is charged with the adminisJrd-
ton Of all laws designed 10 prevent
fraud or audulteration iii the prep1ra-
ton, manufacture or sale Of articles of
food, the inspection, sale or transpor-
tation of the agricultural products or
limitations thereof, and all laws relat-
ing t. disea sc OF domestic animals, and
to the manufacture and inspection Of
commercial! fertilizers.
Sc. 1. There shall lie one Deputy
Secretary who shall be appointed by
tn Governor for tenn OF four years,
at salary of $500 a year, who shall
also be Director of Farmers Institutes.
The other officers of ths Department
shall be appointed by the Governor for
the term OF four years, and shall BE- an
Economic Zool0gisi, Commissioner
Of Forestry and a Dairy and Food
Commissioner, who shall receive an
annual salary Of $500 each. The
Dairy and Food Commissioner shall,
under the direction OF the Secretary,
perform the duties prescribed by an act
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