Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-12-05
WILSON REPORTS.
The Secretary Of Agriculture Makes
RecOmm e N da ton for ImprOvin;
His Department.

Washington, Nov. 3o-The annual report
of Secretary Wilson, of the agricultural de-
partment begins with complimentary
reference to the work Of his predecessors
which has brought the department to it's
present state of efficiency. The secretary
believes appropriations for the department
should be regarded as an investment for
the reason that they make direct returns
therefor by adding to the wealth Of the
country.
Important extensions of the weather bu-
reau have been made during the year.
Much stress is laid upon the continued I'M
provement of the forecast service and the
value of it's warnings. The secretary points
out that, notwithstanding the great num-
Der of craft plying the Gulf Of Mexico at
the time Of the Galveston storm, the warn
ings were so timely that there was no dls-
aster upon the open waters. Successful ex-
periments have been made with wireless
telegraphy.
During the quarantine season Of 1899 over
a million cattle were moved under the
supervision Of the bureau from the district
infected with the southern cattle tick. In
Texas alone over $4,000 cattle were in
spected for shipment to other sections. The
sheep industry has suffered greatly from
sheep scab, and much time and attention
have been given to securing it's control and
eradication. Results so far are encour-
aging, and the secretary believes that
few more years Of earnest work Will ell
fectually eradicate the disease. Over 1,SOO,-
900 sheep were inspected and nearly 627,OOO
dipped under the supervision of the in
spectors
National legislation on the subject OF
food authorizations is urged as essential to
supplement the work done by the several
states. Elaborat tie work in the investigation
of food adUlteration has been continued.
Very little horse meat seems to be sold in
limited whether under
name or any other name.
Secretary Wilson cites the introduction Of
wheats from Russia, Hungary and Austria,
greatly exceeding in yield our present va
rieties, and points out that if, as the result
of these intrOductiOnS, the wheat yield OF
the United States should be increased by
but one bushel per acre, this would mean
at the farm price for wheat in 1899 an ad-
dition of $4,000, 900 to the income of our
farmers.
The secretary notes a keener and wider
public interest in forestry The total re-
quests for working plans for forest pre-
serves a the close of the year exceeded 3d.
600, 900 acres, of which $500 900 were private
land. Tree planting plans were made for 50
applicants.
There is much inquiry in all sections re-
garding better roads and better methods
of building them, and much work has been
done in the past year in building expert
mental roads.
Much consideration is given in the report
to the irrigation investiga lions which cover
especially two general lines Of investfga-
ton, namely, the study of the laws and
institutions relating to irrigation in diff
ferent regions, and, secondly, the deter
mination of the actual use made Of irriga-
ton waters. Eight typical streams in diff
ferent parts of California have been thor
oughly studied with reference to the con-
d.tions under which the water for irrigation
is owned, distributed and used. Similar in
vestigations on a smaller scale have been
made in Utah, Colorado and elsewhere. In
terest in the use of irrigation to supplement
rainfall in the humid regions is growing,
and valuable Investigations have been I'M
dertaken in Missouri and Wisconsin. The
secretary calls attention to the fact that
CT the supply of water for irrigation and
it's equitable distribution depends the per-
manent expense of civilized life in one-third
Of the area of the union Throughout this
vast region questions relating to irrigation
are vital to the ultimate solution of it's
problems, and must be found not only IL
state legislation but in the action Of the
national government.
Under the head of the section Of foreign
markets the report says that the study of
markets abroad with special reference to
extending the demands therein for the ag
ricultural products of the United States
has been prosecuted with zeal and intelE-
geEce. The rapid growth of our export
trade to the orient in recent years is most
striking. Five years ago our total ship
ments Of domestic merchandise to Asia and
Oceanica were valued at SAB 600, 600, of which
only SO, roc, 900 were agricultural In 1900 our
export trade with the orient amounted to
S107, 900, 900, Of which $50, 600 worth was
form produce.
During the past fiscal year Cuba, Porto
Rico, the Hawaiian islands and the Philip
pines furnished a market for s45, coo, GOO
worth of our domestic products. Five
years ago these islands took but SIS, 0O0, 600
worth