Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-04
Value of Biological Survey
To Agricultural Interests.

10 Agriculture lllltl eolo'
The Biological survey is quietly working
for the good Of our agricultural interests
and Is an excellent example II a govern
meut bureau which conducts original scleh-
the research the findings Of which are OF
much practical utility. For more than
twenty years 10 has studied the food hapas
of birds and mammals that are INJURIOUS
or beneficial to agriculture. horticulture.
and forestry; has distributed Illustrated
bulletins on the subject. and has labored 10
secure legislative protection Tor ne eens-
hcial species The cotton "ecNii'
which has recently overspread the cotton
belt or Texas and is steadily extending rs
range. il said TO cause an annual loss OF
So OO0. O0d. The Biological survey has as
certained and given wide publicity To the
fact that at least.4& kinds OF birds prey
upon this destructive insect IL has dis
covered that 81 species Of birds Feed upon
scale enemies OF the truit
grower. IL has shown that Wuodpeckeis as
4 class. By destroying the larvae Qf wood
boring Insects. are SO essential 10 tree life
that IL is doubtful II our forests Noulu
exist without them II has shown that
cuckuos and orioles are the natural enc
mics Of the leaf-eating caterphlaIs that
destroy our shade and fruit trees. that cur
quails and sparrows consume annually mum
dreds Of tons Of seeds Of nuNious wettis
that hawks and owls as a class excepting
the few that XIII poultry and game birdsl
are markedly beneficial spending their
lives in catching srasshopptrs' m,1s. any,
other pests that prey upon the products OF
h~usbandry. II has conducted heid e1pe-
rimeuts for the purpose OF deyisiug ana
Dcrfecrlng simple methods Tor holding ~
check the hordes % destructive rodents
rats. mice. rabbits. %gophers, prairie dogs
and ground squirrels-Which annually des-
Troy crops worth many milli"hs OF uoltaIs,
and il has published practical dTectlohs
FOR the destruction Of wolves and coyotes
On the stock ranges Of the wess resulting
during the past year iu an estimated saving
Of cattle and sheep valued at upwards OF "a
million dollars
n has inaugurated 4 system ~ inspection
a. the principal ports q entry on botn Az
lantic and Pacific coasts by means 81 which
the introduction OF noxious mammals ana
birds is prevented, thus keculnE nut the
mongoose and certain birds which are as
much Co be dreaded as the previously IN
troduced English sparrow and the mouse
rats and mice.
In the interest ~ game protection it has
cooperated with local officials in every
state IN the union. has striVcn To- promote
uniform legislation in the several states
has rendered Important service In enforcing
he federal law regulating interstate trat-
&C. in game. and has shown how game pro-
lection may Doe made To yield a large reNe-
nue. 10 the state-a revenue amounting IN
the case Of Illinois 10 ~si2s.0oO In a single
The Biological survey has explored the
-aunas and noras ~ America with refer
plants. ID has defined and mapped tho nat
utal life areas-aress in which. ~ reason
" prevailing climatic conditions eertalh
kinds ~ animals and plants occur-aud mas
pointed out the adaptabtlity OF These areas
60 the cultivation OF particular crops Inc
results Of these Investigations are not only
~ high educational value but are worth
each year to the progressive farmers OF
the country many times the cost OF man
tanning the survey whlch. % may se aooeu'
Is exceedingly small ] recommend % con
rress that this bureau. whose usefulness
is seriously handicapped 10y lack of funds
Doe granted am appropriation Ia some
degree COMMENSURATE with the Importance
uf the work 10 is doing.
Ocean Mail service.
] call your especial attention 20 the IN.
satisfactory condition 81 our foreign mail
service. which. because OF the lack OF
American steamship lines Is now largely
done through foreign lines, and which. par
tlculariy So Tar as South and Central
America are concerned, Is done ~ "a man
ner which constitutes q serious barrier ~
the extension of our
The time has come. in my judgment TO
mail service correspond more closely with
our recent commercial and political deNei-
opment. 4 beginning was made hy the
ocean mail aCt OF March O. 1891, nut even
at that time the act was known Co be in
adequate ln various particulars since thai
time events have moved rapidly IN our
history. We have acquired Hawaii. the
Philippines. and lesser Islands So the Pa
cinc We are steadily prosecuting the
great work Of uniting az the isthmus the
waters Of the Atlantic ana Pacihc To a
rreafer extent than seemed probable even
a dozen years ago. We may ln'N 70 an
American future On the sea worthy u the
traditions % our past As The FIRST step iu
maj direction. and The steg most feasible
an the present time. ! recommend the cN-
tension of the ocean mail act OF 1871
That act has stood i"f some years Irce
from s1rcessfuI criticism uf ito principle
and purpose ~ was based ou theories OK
the obligations NJ a. great maritime nation.
hy other nations since the beginning ~
steam navigation Briefly those theories
are. that ID D. the duty ~ a hrst-ciass
power So far az practicable tn larry -
Urnaw mails nHNrH ITS own nag AIHt fHH