The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-06
the rates according to population would he

TO equal that of New York slS l45 per year.
Ohio ...... l,i52
Michigan =. 250SO :"
" Wisconsin 372Sl "
" Minnesota 54157 "
When II Is considered that these inst- |
tutes partake of the nature of University
Extension as applied to agriculture and
are highly appreciated and patronized by
farmers, enabling them to secure some
measure of technical training which is
becoming more and more essential to sue
cess, 1t is urged that the appropriation
therefore should be more liberal The in
stitutes also do an exceedingly valuable
work in arousing public interest in the
subject of agriculture, while the School
OF Agriculture continues the work thus
started and provides for further sYstema-
tic training. For the support of both
these agencies the state has made during
the past SIX years an average annual APP
preparation of $l1,5OO, which is AN average
of 4-lO cents for each farm in the state
IN other words, out of each 800 appro-
priated by the Legislature of 1895 I $40
cents was for Farmers Institutes and
. $40 cents for the School of Agriculture,
while 81 cents, covers the entire appropria-
tion for agricultural purposes This
amount considering the great interests to
be subserved. is not only inadequately but
manifestly disproportionate
DAIRY AND FOOD DIVISION.
The work done through the enforcement
of the oleomargarine and pure food laws
has 80 considerable extent suppressed
the traffic in fraudulent products. The
ment are becoming better understood.
Fines to the extent of $S3l3 have been col
lected.
LIVE STOCK SANITARY BOARD.
The state veterinarian, under the drec-
tion of the live sanitary board. has been
| actively engaged In supprcssing outbreaks
| of contagious diseases among farm ami
| mails large number of diseases of do
| nestle animals has been dealt with and in
| some instances serious loss has been pre-
| directed s.
| ures. More attention has been given to
| tuberculosis than to any other single dis
| ease, because many cattle owners have
! applied for assistance in freeing their
| herds of this scourge. Co-operation be-
| tween the farmers ana this board has re-
resulted in the eradication of tuberculosis
| in many districts. Serious hindrance to
| the eradication of many destructive dis
eases Is found to result from not making
prompt report to the live stock sanitary
| board. 1t is the duty of the state veterin-
| aran to Investigate the cause of every
epidemic affecting the lives and health
of domestic animals. When we consider
! in this commonwealth and that the yearly
loss resulting from diseases that may be
prevented Is estimated at 100000, the i'm
| pOrtanCe of closed relations between the
| farmer and the live stock sanitary board
becomes apparent.
PUBLIC ROADS.
Attention is again called to the necessi-
| ty for better public roads. 1t appears that
we have about 50, 900 miles of public roads
in the various townships of the common
wealth, not including turnpike roads and
! those found in the cities and boroushs
These roads are for the most part in very
unsatisfactory condition, although large
sums of money amounting to almost foul
millions of dollars have been spent ev
cry year on their Improvement. This
great sum of money, averaging about
SlS,73 per mile, expended annually fol
many years past should, if laid out witt
Intelligence and economy during the last
fifteen years have made every public thor
oughfare in the state equal to our bes
turnpike roads. There are number OF
general laws regulating the road system
of the commonwealth, but there remain:
in addition thereto on our statute book
between 400 and 500 special laws affecting
as many different localities. Before any
further and general effort at improve
ment can go into effect, 1t is essentia
that our road system be simpltied as tC
be brought under the control of but on
or two g1eral laws regulating all th
districts in the state and forming th
basis of a system for permanent improve
ment upon which future legislation ma.
be built.
FORESTRY.
Pennsylvania was originally one of tn
best wooded of the eastern states. Fo
many years We stood first as lumber pro
. ducing state. With the exception of al
, occasional lake or an open meadow, tn
: entire state was woodland. The forestr
. commissioners estimates that about 36 pc
cent of the entire area of the state ma
yet be claSsed woodland, but most of thi
has heen strinne1 of its valua HE merchant
= able timber. Much of it, although claime
| that is Iyorthv Of the name on, vnuid h
valued by lumberman for sale or by tn
, mechanic for construction. Many of thes
+, large unproduCtiVe tracts present pic
| t1lre of desolation which cannot well h
I Contemnlated without awakening appre
= hension as to their future bearing on tn
prosperity of the commonwealth.
If PpnnSNlNlnil'S
ing tha course of many wears floated dow
oIr rivers ON the sprinr freshets in tn
l form of logs rafts arks and other float
inp com hinations of native wood on thei
! in2oIHmt9rV way TO the market IN
; north and west branches of The Susuut
4 hanna the Allegheny. the Monongaheli
4 the Delaware and the smaller tributar
Y streams have annually presented interest
0 ing pictures of the passing of Pennsylya
! MAS forests from headwater to mark 9
! So profitable has been our timber Gro
5 that about four-dftbs of If has alrea d
i hpen hrought to market The railroad
= have Invaded the forests where IN
o Streams were not large enough to fioa
e the timber. and the portable saw mill ha
e nade bavoc Win thn smaller tinha
= growths There cannot be much ohieC
o tion to Tho ren,oyoI nf - troa after II Set
a lis fuIl arowth if the removal be for
k iawfml niIrnose Nor is If reasonab he TO e,
Il nert ne farmer or the landowner To DIV
e nnn biS ianS To- he raising nf a timber GRO
e tbat ~ toitns arr vaars or moro r. rnatrr
ana tbnt costs him in taves more tha
+ aIin % ti,t I"n.9 @ NM iii t,i' bi, az tb an
e ~ th"t nariod ''' 's
= siIa fro,, Tho ,,,one,, yolue to the stat
h and tha neonIe there are other and prol
g ahiv 'ay araater ronsiaarations 70 he take
II 80 ,,,t,,, trti, ic ,arbons tba Hr,
sttneratior IN This ror,mnnwnaitb that ha
e @ h,anabt faa. ~ fan uitb tb 40 zoe, ~
t I u Ii.o't, H. 80 :, t;r,par,ss - no,intrt, ~
removal OF me th markGtaDle qf timber ir1 t
80