Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-09-21
TO IMPROVE FARM LANDS.

TO IMPROVE FARM LANDS.
Government Bureau of AgricuI-
turnl Engineering VIII be Pro-
posed.
The secretary of agriculture has re-
ceived letter from Senator F. E. War
rem, Of Wyoming, urging that the Sec
retary use his influence with congress
to create bureau Of agricultural en-
cheering In the department Senator
Warren sets forth in detail what he
conceives to be the proper functions Of
such bureau. This is not a new idea
and has been talked of by a number Of
members Of congress for some time,
secure official recognition of the same.
1t is not unlikely that Secretary Will
son will adopt the suggestion in his
report and that 1t will receive consid-
cradle support following the introduc-
ton OF q bill proposing such a bureau.
The recent impetus given tine move
ment may be ascribed to Prof Elwood
Mead, the Irrigation expert Of the de-
partment Of agriculture. who, 1t Is pre-
sumed, II such a bureau was created,
would be made its first chief. Prof.
Mead has prepared for Senator War
rem a statement, which statement is
adopted by the senator in his recon-
mendation to the secretary as a basis
for the proposed organization.
The bureau Of agricultural engin-
eering would take charge of all irri-
cation work now done by the depart
ment and carry on Investigations as to
the water supply and the application
Of water to the land. 1t would also
make a speciality Of irrigation law,
bringing out the inconsistencies Of the
water laws Of the various states, and
mony In their application to the rights
Of the irrigator. In this connection 1t
may be said that there is some confu-
sion as to a possible division Of irriga-
tion work between the department Of
agriculture and the hydrographical
bureau Of the geological survey. The
original intention was unquestionably
that the photographed bureau should
continue to investigate the sources Of
water supply and devise schemes for
extensive conservation. The depart
ment Of agriculture was to undertake
Investigations as to the proper meth
cd Of applying water to the land and
the growing crops. The public lands
are under the department Of the in
terror, and as the conservation of wa
ter and a study Of the water supply Is
largely matter pertaining to the pub
lie lands, it Is considered inadvisable
and 1t would be impossible to separate
the hydrographical work from the geo.
graphical survey. Both departments
have encroached one upon the other In
their field of investigation, and the ag-
ricultural irrigation bureau Is appar-
emily inclined to assume some Of the
functions which have heretofore been
considered as peculiarly a part Of the
work Of the geological survey.
1t Is possible, however, that by the
creation Of an agricultural engineering
bureau conflict might be avoided, as
the irriga ton work of this bureau
would then be minor part Of its du-
ties. 1t is proposed that this engineer
ing bureau should have in its jurisdic-
ton the swamp lands as we'll and the
problem presented thereby. There are
about 49, 900 square miles Of swamps In
the United States, or an area equal to
that of Holland. Numberless Ques-
tions arise in connection with their de-
velopment and reclamation, which re-
quires investigation and experiment.
The rice lands of the south are increas-
ing in value and productiveness, and
there are many engineering problems
involved in the dyking and flooding of
these lands. 1t Is proposed to make
feature of the swamp land work If the
suggested bureau is established.
Country roads and road making
would come under this bureau. This
work Is already an important feature
Of the agricultural department and Is
properly an engineering task. 1t has
been suggested by those who are urg-
ing the organization Of this bureau
that much attention has been paid by
the agricultural department to road
problems in cities and towns. The
work of the bureau, it Is asserted,
districts, where constantly enlarg-
ing field and pressing need would
make the road department a very i'm
portant branch Of the work.
New England Is appealed to In this
scheme by a proposition to take up the
matter of hillside farming. 1t has
been noted that, by careless ploughing
and draining, many hillside farms
have been wiped out and destroyed.
The agricultural department would en-
deavor to devise some plan for pre-
venting this destruction, and would
place itself at the service of the farm
ers who wish to retain the fertility Of
their hillside fields by intelligent cul-
tivation, based upon engineering expe-
rience.
Farm machinery would be another
feature of the work Of the bureau Of
agricultural engineering, and expert
ments would be conducted, new inven-
tions tested and suggestions made to
manufacturers which would lead to
much desired improvements for culti-
waiting the land and harvesting the
crops.
Whether the secretary Of agriculture
recommends the creation of such bu-
reau or not, bill will be introduced
next winter in congress with that in
tention, and owing to the increasing in
fuences of agricultural interests among
the legislators it will undoubtedly re-
ceive considerable attention and con-
ideration.-Washingt Star.