The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-31
Farmers Are Greatly Benefited by the
Results of It's Investigations
I'm Many Lines.
INSURES THE PUBLIC HEALTH
DOORS OF FOREIGN MARKETS ARE
KEPT OPEN TO OUR MEATS.
LabOrs of the EntomoIogist Alone
Worth More to Public Than To-
tai Cost of the Bureau

Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Aug. 30.-Here is what
Secretary Wilson says as to the practical
value of the work of the Department OF
Agriculture: This department differs from
the others. Appropriations for it's use are
investments. 1t makes direct returns by
adding TO the wealth of the country. 1t
gathers facts and spreads information.
Much Is added yearly to the profits of our
farmers and others as the result of its in
vestigations. Our Weather Bureau has
become necessity to mariners, fruit grow
ers. and others. and in addition to its serv-
ices TO shipping and commerce will be-
come still more serviceable to rural COM
munities free-mail delivery facilities
able us 10 reach isolated homes more
promptly and more frequently Our meat
inspection insures the public health at home
and keeps open doors for us in foreign
countries that satisfied with the ex-
cellence of our meats, and have no purpose
to serve beyond that. The orange industry
of California and Florida owes its be-
ginning and preservation to this department
The sugar and tea industries are very
promising. Pathological Investigations of
plants prevent in many localities losses
services of the entomologist are annually
worth more 10 the people than the total
expense of the department; new industries
arise that will dominate markets.
in the case of the Smyrna fig secured to us
because entomologist met the fertiliz-
ing emergency Our tobacco investiga-
tions have already given much light that
cannot be computed in money values. The
same may be said of all our agencies TO
help producers. This work will grow and
expand from the foundations laid so wise
ly and we'll in the past by our farseeing
lawmakers until the power of the man and
the acre to produce Will greatly exceed any
thing with which are now familiar, and
place within the reach of our rapidly in
creasing population the necessaries and lux
uries of life that has distinguished
a people in the past.
XXX
Not content with the variety of bugs that
flourish in the United States, officials of
the Department of Agriculture are prepar-
ing TO import foreign bugs. But the for
eigners are intended for a useful purpose.
Among the most important of the bug i'm
portations is that of'ladybird, which is in
tended to destroy the San Jose scale. There
were thirty of these insects imported, but
only two survived. These have multiplied
until there are row 1900 ladybirds engaged
in exterminating the San Jose scale. From
South Africa a small parasite has been i'm
ported which destroys the black scale of
the California orange groves. Within a
few years it is believed the black particles
observed in that fruit will disappear.
XXX
A young woman employee of the Indian
Office stationed at a school in Wisconsin
recently rendered her resignation to Com
missioner Jones. Among other things she
stated that she had been employed at the
school for more than five years, and that
she took the step not because of any dis
satisfaction with the Indian service, but
because "a position still more in accord
ance with my tastes and feelings is offered
me- She closed by saying Il therefore
wish to leave the good for the better"
The superintendent forwarded the resigna-
ton, Endorsed as follows: Respectfully
forwarded, with recommendation that res
ignation be accepted since 1T is not good
for man to live alone.
Uncle Sam is hard customer to do
business with. He is always looking out
for the national exchequer. and has the
business instinct of a New England tin
peddler Recently the Bureau of Insular
Affairs of the War Department wanted to
send five million silver certificates to the
Philippines. Negotiations for Transporter
ton TO San Francisco were opened with an
express company, which made bid, not a
very high one, based on the face value of
the insular certificates. Uncle Sam re-
fused to do business on that basis Colonel
Edwards. head of the Insular Bureau sug-
gested the ordinary safety of the registered
mail He conferred with the postmaster
general as to the feasibility of sending
packages of certificates by this means II
was decided that three railway mail clerks
should be charged with the duty of Carving
the certificates from Washington to San
Francisco. Accordingly the certificates were
put in three packages, and the railway
mail clerks are now on their way West with
the paper money OF the Fiipinos They
will be taken from San Francisco to Manila
by an officer of the United States navy. In
this way the government will save about
one-fifth what the express companies asked
TO transport the money. j. M