Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-14
.GBIll Fruit |
ro,raIIs s1oyER KoINER SAYS THAT
rs THE DESTINY OF y ARGINIA.

rs THE DESTINY or .RGISIA.
REPORT OF rs. DEP ART i EN-
Inveishs against increasing Sale Of
i Impure Food, and Prays for Lesi's--
s. on-s1inern1 Land. Bought by
SPECTATORS for an old Song.
The twenty fourth annual report Of the
Commissioner Of Agricul ture. g. Skoin-s
er, Of Richmond, has been given to the
public. The report is illustrated and quite
vo1uminous. embracing one hundred and
seventy pages OF printed matter and
pIat es While this annual report or bull
3letin is OF particular interest to The 4 farm
Ter Of Virginia, there is much within its
covers that viii appeal to the general
PUBLIC.
The most vital thing mentioned-a con-
ton Of the Legislatures the sale of Inn
pure foods which has grown to menace
the health Of the people. Virginia is now
the dumping ground for large percen-
ia ge Of aduIterated and indigestible food
products, which foods are playing havoc
witf1Stfle cattle Of the State and the stom-
achs of the people.
ADULTERATED FOODS.
According to e. NJ. Nlagruder. the chief
chemist of the department, the amount
and extent to which food and feeding
stuffs are adulterated still continues to
increase. Nearly all the States around
Virginia have pure food laws In opera ion,
and the number of States with effective
food laws are increasing yearly, and they
are enforcing these laws more strictly
each year. Thus, as the field where adult
terra ted foods can be disposed of with inn
punity becomes smaller the greater will
be the amount Of the adulterated articles
disposed of in those States which do noth-
ing to keep them out. It is, therefore
strongly recommended that funds be OBJ
tanned for putting in operation the pure
food laws now on the statute books.
Commissioner Koiner makes a like plea
in no uncertain words:
! 81 renew my recommends lions made In
former reports for an approp- iat;on by the
Legislature to enable me to execute the
pure-food law. Under the fertilizer law,
no funds derived under that law can be
used for this purpose. The health of our
people and the business interests Of our
| farmers and owners Of live stock are
suffering from the sale of much adi1iter-
| ated food and feed that IS sold in this
State. The prollibitory laws that exist in
| adjoining States make this State the
| dumping ground for much Of the adul-
| terated stuff that cannot be sold. else.
where Human food is adulterated to an
extent that is injurious to the health Of
| the consumer, and instances are well
known where live stock have died from
| the effects of the adulteration in the
feed bought in this State"
ST LENDS NO SUPPORT.
Mr. makes other startling state.
ments h would indicate Ignorance as
to the work Of the department, or else,
| deliberate parsimony in dealing with this
\ most important bureau.
Mr.. 1<oiner states that the State makes
no appropria ton whatever for the sup
port of his department. and that the only
income to carry on this most important
business Of advertising the advantages
Of the State. informing the agriculturist.
/ and protecting the farmer from fraud
! comes from the tonnage tax on fertilizers
sold in the State.
81 am constantly receiving requests
states the Commissioner, for reports on
the minerals Of this State. Our State is
losing che investment Of much capital and
the development of minerals Of great val
ue by not publishing to the world the vast
i deposits of many varieties OF minerals
! that now lie undeveloped by the
miner and manufac turer. have great
many requests from our own people who
have minerals, and mineral wafer to ana
! lyze them. I would earnestly recommend
/ a small appropriation by the Legislature
to enable me to do this work for them.
frequently SPECTATORS buy up valuable
| mineral lands for nominal price. because
4 the farmer has no means to know the
value of it. and there are many valuable
mineral waters in this State yet INK nown,
except from their local curative Effects
SANGUINE ABOUT VIRGINIA.
4 Later In the annual report Mr. Koiner
deals with the opportunities and advan-
tages of Virginia in q most sanguine
I way:
THE outlook to toe farmer in this State
Is encouraging. Many are giving more
|lattention to more scientific system In
farming. The prejudice against science
in farming. as well as in any other call
ing, is passing away. knowledge is the
great power in all lines Of business. Brain
/ has outstripped Drawn in every field Of
human endeavor The understanding
more Of natures laws in agricultural pull
suits is increasing the profits to him who
! guides them to accomplish his own pur-
poses. Many are diversifying THAR crops
selecting those best suited to their soil,
climate and markets. More attention is
given to live stock, and a rational sys-
TEN. of feeding and fattening stock is be-
ing practiced. More attention is being
!. given to advantages this State offers to
fruit industry. More fruit trees have been
set in this State in the last two or three
years than ever before for that time in
the history of the State. Virginia is des-
tined to become great fruit-producing
4 State. Her advantages in SOIL climate
and market facilities are incompatible.
| Stole the Policeman's Coat.
J. "A Piper. a policeman from an ILL.,
nois town. on his way to Old Point Com
1 fort with .deserter from the navy. re-
/ ported yesterday afternoon to the police
4 that his ovarcne with a riStol a nd ma ~