The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-02-28
WHERE UNCLE SAM NEEDS CAPABLE
YOUNG MEN.

Gus departments of the Government
for men of the highest ability raises
the question whether it is worth a
young mans while to fit himself for
the Government service.
The answer to this is that in a ma
jority of the departments open to
civilians, ordinary college or profes-
sional training is sufficient, and the
question of accepting a position under
the Government becomes largely an
accident of politics rather than mat
ter of express determination, although
in some instances pages in the Senate
or House have deliberately made that
the starting point for brilliant ca
reer in the Government service.
A comparatively new branch of the
service, rapidly increasing in promi-
nence, offering peculiar honors and
rewards and as yet not overcrowded,
is the Department of Agriculture.
A young man may go through any
OF the great colleges of the country
and then not be of use to the Depart
ment of Agriculture. We want the
best intellect the country affords, and
1t must be especially trained for us.
A boy or young man who wishes
place among the scientific men of
this department must take a four
years course at an agricultural and
mechanical college. Then he can
come to us. We will start him at $50
a month and promote him as he proves
uSetuI. I
There is much for him to do. Look
at some of the work the department
has accomplished. We are trying to
improve corn until it shall have as
much value as wheat as food. And
we are constantly endeavoring to i'm
prove wheat. We have found and
successfully tested in the West a va
riety of wheat from the Volga that
will grow in ten inches Of rainfall. 1t
is the very kind for the drought Sec
tions of this country.
Our soil analysis discovered in Con-
necticut ground suitable for raising
Sumatra wrapper tobacco, for which
the United States annually paid $8,-
100000; there are now $4,000 acres
of it in Connecticut and Massachu-
setts. These scientists are now try
ing to discover where we can raise
the Cuban filler tobacco, and we have
found two places. We will soon save
to the country $4,000, 900 a year
more on this product.
We are raising tea successfully in
South Carolina, and establishing a
station for its culture in Texas.
All this work requires the best
quality of brains, and l can never get
enough men for the work. In the
departments of forestry and dairy
farming we always lack the required
number of trained men. I am con-
stantly trying to impress the people
'N'efyIdle45ss sin lth5jss h5s 1di,Eteetiiiafl maze
an offer of Sc, 1000 year, with part
nership that would pay as much more
w OAAS VI tAO OCoL LICu udQ. 11G
was getting $1,000 year. That
shows the demand for such scientists.
not only cannot get enough such
men, but cannot keep those l have.
There are now in my desk three let
tiers from presidents of agricultural
and mechanical colleges, asking me to
send them men to take professorships
in their institutions, and they offer
So, 900, So, 500 and So, 1000 year. I
have not the men to send them.
We especially need men who can
stand up before convention of dairy
farmers and tell them things they do
not know.
Some women are engaged in this
departments work, and they are paid
as we'll as men, although, obviously,
there are some branches for which
women are not fitted. 1t would not
do, for instance, for woman to be
running about rough woods, estima-
ing the timber values to the acre.
However, there is much they can
do.-/ames Wilson, Secretary of Ag-
,tculture.