The Dickinson press., 1896-12-12
FARMER MORTON's WORK.
The Government Should Encourage
the Agricultural Dem ri n,ent

The Government Should Encourage
the Agricultural Department
The department Of agriculture Is SO inti-
mately related to the welfare Of our peO-
pie ard the prosperity of our nation that
1t should constantly receive the care and
encouragement OF the government From a
small beginning. 1t has grown to be the
center of agricultural science and the source
or asss:tallce to our agricultural efforts.
Large Si:;ns are annually appropriated for
the maintenance Of this department and 1t
must he confessed that the legislation relat.
Ing to it has not always been In the direc.
tion- OF practical farming. or properly guard
co against waste. or extravagance:: $50 fur,
however. the public money has been ap-
p:opriated fairly and sensibly to help those
who actually till the soil, and no expendi-
ture has been more profitably made or more
generally approved by the people.
Under the present management of the de-
partment. its usefulness has been enhanced
In every direction, and at the same time
strict economy has been enforced to the
utmost extent permitted by congressional
action. From the report of the secretary
1t appears that through careful and prudent
financial management, he has annually saved
large sum from his appropriations, aggre'
gatlng during his incumbency and up to
the close Of the present fiscal year, nearly
onc-fifth Of the entire amount appropriated.
These results have been accomplished by a
conscientious study of the real needs OF
the farmer and such regard for economy us
the genuine farmer ought to appreciate,
supplemented by a rigid adherence to civil
service methods In the department which
should be conducted In the Interest Of agri
culture instead Of partisan politics.
The secretary reports that the value OF
our exports OF farm products during the
last fiscal year amounted to 10000, 600
Of ~
the year Immediately preceding This state.
lnent Is not the less welcome because Of the
fact that, notwithstanding such Increase,
the proportion Of exported agricultural
products to our total exports Of all descrIp
tions fell Off during the year. The benefits
OF an Increase In agricultural exports being
assured, the decrease In Its proportion ia
our total exports Of all descriptions fell of
during the year. The benefits of an In.
crease In agricultural exports being assured
the decrease In Its proportion to our total
exports is the more gratifying when we
consider that 1t is owing to the fact that
such total exports for the year increased
more than S15.OOO0OO.
The large and increasing expectation Of
our agricultural products suggest the great
usefulness Of the Organizatio lately estab.
lished In the department for the purpose OF
giving to those engaged In farming pur.
suits reliable information concerning the
cOldltlOM, needs ana advantages OF different
foreign markets. Inasmuch as the success
Of the farmer depends upon the advan.
tageous sale OF his products, and inasmuch
as foreign markets must largely be the des.
tinatfon Of such products. 1t is quite mp.
Parent that IL knowledge Of the conditions
and wants that affect those markets ought
to result n sowing more intelligently and
reaping with better promise Of profit.
Such Information points out tho way to {,
prudent foresight in the selection and cul.
tivatton of crops, and to a release from,
the bondage of unreasoning mOnotony OF
production, a glutted and depressed market
and constantly recurring improbable toll.
In my opinion the gratuitOus distribution
Of seeds by the department as at present
conducted ought to be discontinued. N0
| one can read the statement Of the secretary
OH this subject and doubt the extravaganza
and questionable results of this practice
The prOfessed friends Of the farmer, and
certainly the farmers themselves. are natu
| rally expecting to be willing to rid de
partmen devoted to the promotion Of farm
Ing interests Of feature which tends sC
much to its liscrelit.
The weather bureau now attached to the
department Of agriculture. has continued
to extend Its sphere Of usefulness. and by
an uninterrupted Improvement In the accl
| racy Of Its forecasts has greatly increased
/ Its efficiency as nm aid and protection to al
| whose occupations are related to weather
conditions
Ontitting further reference to the opera
| tlOns of the department., I commend thu
| secretary's report and the suggestions II
contains to the careful consideration Of the
| congress.