The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1907-04-09
DEPARTMENT CREATED
Al last ItISs Is 10 hsve I Dtesfi-
neai ies tAt farmers.

N0stEHt TEX Apf1t s--~"At last the
great state Of Texas is To have de-
partment of agriculture separate and
distinct from the department OF In
| suranace, statistics and history. The
| governor has signed the bill creating
the department and IL becomes ef
| fective ninety days after adjourn
ment of the legislature. The bin pass
cd with the emergency clause. bur
| th. roll call was not had on the
measure which stops 1t from taking
! immediate effect The creation OF this
| department means much to the peo-
/ pie of Texas. especially the farming
! interests
/ II is generally conceded that the
governor will appoint Col. X T. Mil
ner. present commissioned of insur-
| ance. statistics and history to this
! pew position Col Miner is today
| probably the best posted man in the
| state on practical farming and his
| advice on agricultural subjects may.
| and is. generally taken as authorit
at!ve. While he has been in the news
paper business the better part of his
| life, he has devoted considerable
study to agriculture and understands
the question thoroughly. In his new
position he viii be able to render
to the farmers of Texas valuable as
sistance on modern and up-to-date
methods of farming. The appoint !
ment of Col Miner TO this position |
will create vacancy, that of state |
insurance commissioner. and Col. A. !
S. Thweatt. chief clerk of that de- !
partment, who has been mentioned |
for the place. has given the best part !
of his life to the studying of the J
intricacies of insurance problems, !
and his reappointment by Col Mil |
ner has demonstrated to marked !
degree his fitness for the position.
The act creating the department of !
agriculture Is comprehensive and |
gives the commissioner full scope to !
carry on Investigations. The bill pro-
vides that the commissioner shall |
encourage the organization of agri-
cultural societies and shall cause to
be held farmers institutes at such
times and at such places throughout
the state as will best proAsOte toAa ID
vancemsnt of agricultural knowI-
edge and the improvement of agri-
cultural methods and practices. He
shall publish and distribute such pa
pers and addresses read or delivered
at these institutes as he shall deem
| to be of value to the farming inter
ests.
| The bill also provides that he shall
investigate the subject of sub-soil-
| ing, the problems of drainage and OF
| irrigation, their relation to agricul-
ture with view of extending the
area Of the same. and the best modes
of effecting each in the different sec
tions of the state. He shall also in
vestigate and report upon the ques-
ton of broadening the market ana
of increasing the demand Tor cotton
goods and all other horticultural and
| agricultural products. both in the
| United States and in foreign coun-
| tries. The duty is also imposed upon
| the commissioner of agriculture the
| Investigation of diseases of grain,
cotton, fruit and other crops grown
in this state, with view to discover
| ing remedies for such diseases. He
shall also investigate the habits and
! propagation of the various Insects
! that are injurious to the crops OF
/ this state. and the best methods OF
! their destruction. He shall also be
in charge of the orchard industry of
the state. II will also be his duty to
investigate the subject of grasses
and report upon their value and IN"
cultivation of the varieties best adap-
ted 90 the different sections OF the
state. lie shall also collect and dis
tribute and publish information re-
Iatiug to forestry, tree planting thp
best means nf preserving and repleu.
ishing forests aud shall cncuurasr
tho planting and culture ot nut trees
and recommend such legislation aa
may be- necessary for the protection
restoration and preservation Of thr
forests ot the state i' shall sa.19s=s 4=@+
his duty to inquire into the subjects
connected with thc stockraising
dairyiug and poltfy the growins of
wool. and the utility and profit oi
shevp raisiag. the culturu ot stlh. ICES
pr~paratinn tor market and tts mBu-
ufacturv
The SALARY nf tb, Usmm.s#iuur. 'i
agriculture IS fixed st s.hno t yeat
and he lA allowed saWH annually tu.
"a trasallnE eNpsuso while 1u uOiriaI
hnsiueae ama hw shall appoiui a eHlrf
. sisrh ag salsu af $500 rhlr .ale'
= sisrs shaii psssaesa practices. hu"v