The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-11-20
vii SONS REPORT FILED.
Secretary of Agriculture Reviews the
work OF His Department.

Work OF Ills department.
Washington, Nov 1.-THE report of
the secretary OF agriculture, James
Wilson, for the year 1897 has been filed.
Following is brief synopsis;
Seven tons OF imported sugar beet seeds
were distributed last spring In "a states,
among y 900 farmers. through the expert
ment stations OF those states, 10 ascertain
where the sweetest beets can be produced
Samples are now being analysed az the
experiment stations. and where they are
not prepared 20 30 the work the beets
are forwarded TO the laboratory OF the
department at Washington. There Is abun-
dant encouragement 10 lead US 10 conclude
that our country VIII within rev years
produce what sugar II requires.
The appropriation az the disposal OF the
bureau has not been sufficient 10 enable
II TO inspect all the animals slaughtered
In the United States designed for inter
state and foreign commerce. The force
engaged In the work has been enlarged
from time 10 time, and the number OF AMI
mails inspected has Increased each year.
During the past year all the beef exported
TO Europe and great part or the pork
and other meat products have been In
Hpected In accordance with the law, but
the bureau has found Il impossible to In
spect the large amount OF meat slaughtered
for interstate trade The force now used
IN the inspection Is competent and efficient,
meet the intent OF the law looking 10 the
inspection or all the meat entering into
interstate and foreign trade.
The extension OF the scope OF the weather
bureau and It's Increase In usefulness are
well known 70 the American people In
1883 weather maps were not issued except
az the central office IN Washington Dur
ing the last fiscal year f.3l5.000 maps were
issued at 81 stations outside OF Washington.
and there has been an increase OF 6S6.OOO
copies within the last two years TO meet
the constantly increasing demands OF the
public In 1888 forecasts and warnings were
sent TO S.09i places by mail. no other method
Of distribution. except through the daily
press and the railroad train service be-
ing then IN use. During the last fiscal year
daily forecasts and warnings were sent 10
81, 69i places by mail. telegraph and tele-
phone. and there has been an increase IN
the number OF places receiving forecasts
in the last two years OF nearly $4,000,
Recent events have greatly augmented
the Importance OF active measures TO de-
velop the agriculture OF Alaska The In
formation recently received from Unofficial
sources, as well as that previously gathered
by officers OF the government. seems 20
make II clear that II will be practicable
TO develop the agriculture OF that region
so that It may furnish food supplies and
beasts or burden for considerable popu-
lation.
The development OF agriculture IN this
region, as elsewhere, can undoubtedly be
greatly promoted by experimental Inquiries
conducted systematically under the super
vision OF expert officers. / would. there
fore, urge that the appropriation for in
vestlgating the agricultural resources and
capabilities OF Alaska be continued and
that provision be made for carrying on
experiments In that region In case the Of
ficial inquiries now In progress there seem
TO make this desirable.
Many OF the colleges OF agriculture and
mechanic arts, together with scientific
technical and industrial schools, now main
tain a department OF domestic science
Cooking and sewing are quite commonly
taught In the public schools and cooking
schools for women have been organized IA
numerous places. While useful instruc.
ton In these lines Is impaired II Is general
ly recognized that much remains 10 he
done before the teaching OF domestic sell
ence can assume Its most effective form
An investigation OF the disposition which
is made or street sweepngs and other
refuse Of cities has been undertaken by
this division and viii be prosecuted Wig
orously during the coming year The d.
vision has placed itself In communication
with all the cities or the United States
having a population or 10000 and over II
has also perfected arrangements for OBJ
tanning Information In regard TO DISPOSE
ton OF street sweepings and sewage In the
largest cities OF Europe. The Importance
OF this work Is twofold-nrst. from a hy-
gienlc and economical point OF view. In
regard TO the best method OF disposlng Of
value or these materials for fertilizing pur-