The Washington times., 1905-07-30
Correspondence Throws
Light on "Nitro-CuI-
ture' Exploitation.
CAUSED A RESIGNATION
PittSburg Firm Made Personal
Investigation and Offered
to Furnish Proof.

OYSTER BAY. July 29.-Assistant Sec
retary Barnes made public today all the
correspondence relating 70 the "nitro-
culture case" in the Department Of Ag-
riculture. which resulted la the resig-
nation of George T Moore, a scientist
in the bureau OF plant industry.
Prof. Moore wrote a legter 10 Secretary
Wilson explaining his course. but ten
dered his resignation. which was ac-
cepted
The correspondence made public at
the executive Office includes letter TO
the President from the Axtel-Rush
Publishing Company. OF Pittsburg, call
ing his attention to the fact that en-
ployes of the Agricultural Department
were exploiting 'tnitro-culture" for their
private gain; note from Acting Sec
retary Barnes to Secretary Wilson. in
closing the Axtel-Rush mfssive; secre-
tary Wilson's reply to Mr.. Barnes. and
two letters from Prof. Moore.
Letter Which Started Trouble.
The letter from the Plttsburg publish
ing company house to the President,
which stirred up the trouble was dated
July 10, and Was as follows;
we beg TO call your attention to the
matter Of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture IN connection with
the development and exploitation OF
nitro-culture We have abundant eyi-
dence to convince rs that employees Of
the department have been unduIy inter
ested in firms which havt been organized
to develop and sell these cultures to
farmers and others at exorbitant prices.
AS 10 the exploitation or the merits
OF nitro-cuiture we beg TO call your
80 Il u
Pearson's Magazine for April, 1905, and
other articles appearing in the Century
and other magazines. with which you
no doubt are familiar. These articles
were read and approved (at least pas
stvely) by employees of the department.
before they appeared in the magazines.
No argument IS necessary 10 show that
they are misleading, and the damage
following such publication 10 our agri-
cultural interests would be hard to es-
innate
I'VE made a personal investigation Of
the matter about April 15- We incIose
herewith our report on the same. We
are convinced now that we were mis-
led and our intense desire to do no one
an injury led us to make this report
as favorable to the department as pos
sibIe. Since publishing these articles we
have evidence TO convince us that our
first Impressions were correct. and that
employees of the department were inter-
ested in the manufacture and sale OF
nitro-eulture.
We are ready to offer proofs in re-
gard TO these statements. and are will
ing TO meet you for a personal inter-
view, if you desire same, at any time
you may command.
Other Correspondence.
Mr. Barnes letter to Secretary VIII
son was dated July II. and merely re-
quested him, in the name OF the Presi-
dent, to investigate the matter The
Secretary's response TO this was dated
yesterday, and contained the brief an
nOuncement that Prof. Moore had ten
dered his resignation; that il had been
accepted. and then added these sig
utflcant words:
''Wil send q copy of the papers TO
Department of Justice and have them
determine whether the case requires ac-
tfCn by Them
No visitors We're received al Saga
more Hin today and none are expected
before Monday