The National tribune., 1899-08-17

transferred to the Commissioner from the
Treasury Department. and Congress in
| 1884 appropriated S150, 600 to prosecute the
crusade against pleuro-pneumonia and
other diseases of domestic animals.
| The Division of Statistics was reorgan.
| lied with view to n more complete and
perfect system of crop reporting, and fol-
which Congress made liberal appropriation
in order to present instantly and accurately
current changes in crop arrears and con
ditionS and in the production of bread
stuffs, meats. industrial products, and al
the results of agricultural labor.
THE HON. NORMAN J. COLEMAN,
of Missouri, was appointed Commissioner
by President Cleveland in 1885 and under
his Administration the Bureau became one
of the Executive Departments of the Gov.
lernment. On Feb. IL, 1889, he was ap-
pointed by President Cleveland Secretary
of Agriculture. Mr.. Coleman took a deep
Interest in plan being pushed at this time
by Representative Hatch of Missouri for
the establishment of agricultural stations
in all the States. He called a meeting of
all the leading men in the different agri-
cultural colleges and existing experiment
stations that were in need of Federal aid for
this work, and a central Office in the De-
partment. with advisory duties, was made
prominent. In accordance with the opin-
ions expressed at this convention the Hatch
DiH Decdiile law III 1891. making IL Il part
OF the duty OF the Commissioner of Agri-
culture to furnish facts for the tabulatiOn of
results of investigation or experiments; to
Indicate from time to time such lines of
inquiry as might seem most important: in
general to furnish such advice and assist
ance as would best promote the purposes of
the act.
| In furtherance of this idea there was
established an office known in the Depart
ment as the Office of Experiment Stations,
under Chief who is styled Director Under
this Administration, also, We're established
the Division of Pomology and the Di-
visions of Ornithology and Mamalogy.
| The latter was in response to demand for
an investigation of the damage done To
crops and fruits by birds. especially the
| English sparrow and bobolink or rice bird.
During this term also was inaugurated
the war upon the sale of counterfeit butter,
which finally resulted in the passage of the
oleomargarine bill and much progress was
made in the practical suppression of con-
| taglouS diseases among animals.
One OF the most vigorous and useful
l administrations of the Department was
| that of
GEN. JEREMIAH NJ. RUSK,
himself a practical farmer, as well as man
OF conspicuous executive ability and Sterl-
| ing personal qualities. A native of Ohio
he was appointed from the State of Wis.
consin. where he had passed the greater part
| of his life, and where his public services as
a soldier, legislator and Governor had
brought him into great prominence. In
| the war of the rebellion he had risen to the
| rank of Brigadier-General and after the
| war had been elected to the 42d 43d and
| 44th Congresses.
Declining the appointment by President
| Garfield as Minister to Paraguay and
Uruguay, and various other offices. he
| was three times elected Governor of his
State; soon after the expiration of his
third term being appointed Secretary of
Agriculture, March 4, 1889. He reor-
ganized the Department, dividing the
work into two main classes: Executive,
under the immediate charge of the Secre-
tary; and scientific, under the Assistant
Secretary, the Hon. Edwin WiIletts, the
offfce having just been created. Among
| other useful innovations which he made
was the institution of the publication of
Farmers Bulletins, designed to place in
possession of the people information gath
cred by the Department in convenient form,
| and written in popular language He
| established what has since been known as
the Division of Publications, under Mr..
George William Hill. its present Chief.
whose duty it has been to edit and super
wise publications. and administer the
printing fund. Through the operations
of this Division popular bulletins have been
distributed by the million, consisting of
small pamphlets, embracing usually from
half dozen to 30 OF 40 pages each, and cover
ing subjects of widespread interest among
the agricultural classes relating to domestic
animals, the orchard, grasses, cereals,
poultry. insects, irrigation, forestry, etc.
In addition to these bulletins, through the
instrumentality of this Division, the public
press has been induced to take an interest
in these subjects, and thereby bring valu-
able information to the public notice
through innumerable channels.
Secretary Rusk paid great attention to
the subject of foreign markets. which he
caused to be investigated; to the improve
ment in transportation of cattle, ard III
spection of exports and imports OF live
animals and meat products.
The Weather Bureau was established in
1891 by transfer from the War Department
with Prof Mark w. Harrington as Chief.
HON. J. STERLING MORTON
was appointed Secretary in March, 1893,
during Clevelands second Administra-
ton. During his term the Division of
Statistics was organized into three sec
tons, and its work greatly amplified
The Division of Agrostology was formed,
| and Consular agents throughout the world
were requested to send to the Department
| the seeds of new forage plants whenever
| found. The Handbook of Grasses of the
United States was its first important publ
as a part of the Weather Bureau, the i'm
portance of information in regard to the
relation OF soils to the meteorological con-
dition being recognized. The Office of
| Road Inquiry was also CS.a blished in
| answer to general demand for the study
and Improvement of road construction.
During Secretary Morton's term, also,
arrangements were made for the extension
of weather observations into Mexico, and
Tor the study and observations of West
Indian cyclones.
HON. JAMES WILSON.
Hon. James Wilson, of Iowa, became
Secretary March Z, 1897, by appointment
| from President Mckinley.
| March %, 1897, Col. j. Fl. Brigham. of
Ohio, for several years Master of the Ma
tional Grange of Patrons of Husbandrv.
was appointed AssistaI Secretary.
Mr.. Wilson was born in Ayrshire, Scot
land, Aug. g., 1885. In 1862 he came
to the United States. settling in Connecti-
cut with his parents. He went to Iowa
in 1855, locating in Tamar County, where,
as early as 1861, he engaged in farming.
He was elected to the State Legislature,
and served four terms as member of the
General Assembly. being elected Speaker
of the House during his last term. He
was elected to Congress in 1872, and served
| through the 43d. 44tE, and 4Sth Congresses
In the meantime, between the 44th and 4Sfh
Congresses, he was q member of the Rail
way Commission After leaving Con
gress he served as Director of the Apri-
cultural Experiment Station, and held
a professorship in the Iowa Agricultural
| Cnllepe I'm IN tho fima nf biS , ,ppo;,t,,a.e. -