The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-11-23
THE AMERICAN FARMER
Discussed in the Annual Report
Of Secretary Morton.
FARMS NOT HEAVILY MoRTGAGED.

|
Per Cent. of the Farms Occupied by Their
Owners Are Absolutely Free of Debt.
Farmers Not Mendioants.
| WASHINGTON. Nov. 23-Secretary Nor.
ton in his fourth annual report, just made
public, shows that with $4,000 which
may be saved from the appropriations
for the current fiscal year, there will
hive been covered back into the treas
ury since March 7, 1893, over e. 900, 600
out of total appropriations of l,179,.
45545.
That this great economy was affected
without any loss of efficiency he attributes
in large degree to the Improvement in
the personnel of the force under civil SER
vice rules, which he declares to be "abso-
lutely indispensable to the maintenance of
an economic and efficient administration
of the public service.
To complete ''the already almost perfect
| system of civil service" in his department.
the secretary recommends the appoint
ment of a permanent director in charge OF
bureaus and scientific Investigations. The
| chiefs Of scientific bureaus and their assist
| ants, he declares are not adequately COM
| pensated, and strongly recommends that
| the salaries of this class of employees be
| increased,
The inspection of animals intended for
food is treated of at length, and stress is
laid upon the increased efficiency Of the
work due to the extension of civil service
rules, which has been very rapid in this
service.
Mr.. Morton urges strongly that govern.
ment inspection should be extended to
all animals intended for human food,
whether for consumption in the United
States or abroad.
The cattle and meat trade Of Great
Britain is reviewed at length. OF live
meat arriving in the United Kingdom
during the first six months of 1895, the
United States supplied rs per cent of the
cattle and 40 per cent. of the sheep. The
report shows a steadily increasing demand
in England for American horses
Reviewing the work of the weather
bureau special stress is laid upon the
value Of the many timely storm warnings
which have been issued by the bureau.
During the year the department issued
376 publications, mainly for gratuitous
distribution. The aggregate number of
copies printed was 1851, 700. The publica-
ton work has grown enormously during
the past few years, and increased appro-
prations must be provided, but the secre-
tary declares that neither the department
of agriculture nor the government itself
can continue for the next five years to in
crease its publications for gratuitous dis
tribution in the same ratio as for the last
five years without disbursing millions of
dollars.
The secretary again takes occasion to
express his opposition to the gratuitous
distribution Of seeds, and to express the
hope that the practice will be discon-
tinued.
The report concludes with comprehen-
sive review of the condition of American
farmers.
Seventy-two per cent. of tho farms in
the United States occupied by their own
ers are absolutely free from mortgages or |
other membranes. The secretary re- |
flutes the idea prevailing that the farms of |
the west and south are more heavily bur-
dened with mortgages than those of the
east and northeast. States along the north
Atlantic, he says, are quite heavily incum-
bered with farm mortgages, and New Jer-
sey carries debt of this kind greater in
proportion to its farm valuations than
any state in the Union,
The frequent claim that the farmers arc
almost universally In debt, respondent
and suffering, he declares to be without
any foundation, belittlement of agricul-
ture, and an indignity to every intelligent
and practical farmer The farmers are
not mendicants nor wards of the govern
ment, to DO treated to annuities but the
of the Oldest most honor
able, most essential occupation of the
human race, upon which all other voca-
tionsdepend for subsistence and prosperity.
Legislation" he says, "can neither
plow nor plant The intelligent, practi-
cal and successful farmer needs no aid
from the government The ignorant, i'm
practical and indolent farmer deserves
none. 1t ia not the business of the gov
to legislate in behalf of any class
of citizens because they are engaged in
any specific calling, no matter how spe-
ciiic the calling may be to the needs and
comforts of civilization. Law makers
cannot erase natural laws nor restrict or
efface the operation Of economic laws"
Referring to the stress of competition
which the American farmer Is compelled
to endure, Mr.. Morton calls attention to
the nearly 2,0OO0 900 farms of eighty acres
each given away by the government un-
der the homestead act Of 1865, during the
past thirty years, and to the amount do
mated under the timber culture law,
equivalent to over $4,000 more farms of
the same size. Lands long titled and rem
lered partially infertile, could not, of
course, enhance in value and sell in COM
petition with virgin soil donated by the
government.
During the fiscal year just ended the ex-
ported products Of the American farms
aggregated $50 900 OOO an increase of ST.
100000 over the preceding year. In spite
If this there was falling off in the per-
,entage of agricultural products exported
o the total exports, but this was due to
he unprecedented sale abroad of Ameri-
an manufactured goods. The largest
market for our products is admitted to be
he home market. but the export trade is
he regulator, the balance wheel for
domestic trade.
1t follows that the interest of the man
rs well as of the farmer, is
ound in the most rapid possible increase
# the export Of farm products. General
depends absolutely upon agri-
ultural prosperity, and any commercial
ystem which will increase with celebrity
III OAlthu-"ith wi ItlhtI uAC cAPDIu VI !
ur farm products will DO of the utmost
dvantage to agriculture and all those in :
crested in its profitable expansion.
ut is" the report concludes, probably
uite safe to declare that at least two
billions of American workmen on farms
nd in factories subsist almost wholly
pom employment based upon foreign de- II
land for American commodities. And ],
fpr lin, 4 | III
MISUNDERSTANDING the fierce com i
,tition which it meets all over the globe l.
american agriculture, manufacture and III
ammerca ere stsadily GAINING mora l