Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-05-04
GREAT BRITAIN GETTING BUSY
Appropriations Made to Help the
Agricultural Interests.
LESSONS PROM UNITED STATES
Methods OF the Department of ARri-
ouIfure Here Form nm Example
-CommiHsionera Hold


CHICAGO, May ciaL)-Confront-
ing problems analogous TO those encoun-
tered by the United states Department OF
Agriculture and by experiment stations In
this country. and guided in the venture 10
no small extent by citing American expert
enoes and results Great Britain is formu-
latng plans for the greater development
Of the economic resources Of the United
Kingdom by means OF government aid
This move In England. one Of the most
comprehensive OF the kind ever undertaken
b. any nation. Is OF much interest TO those
IN this country who are interested in and
haGzfltax with the American methods OF
stimulating Agricultural advancement.
The plans ays the result OF an act OF
Parliament known as the development and
road Improvement cot. Although not re-
strioted to agriculture. the act seems likely
TO lead TO fer-reachinE benefits to that in
dustry. Having studied the methods OF
the American Department Of Agriculture
and the United States Reclamation service,
which was created for the benefit OF the
people through the efforts Of the National
Irrigation congress, the British idea Is 10
enlarge 10 a considerable extent upon
American methods, one OF the first pro-
visions Of the act providing for a board
OF development commissioners, upon whose
recommendations advances may be made
from the treasury.
These advances may be employed for
the aiding and developing Of agriculture
and rural Industries. forestry. the reclama-
ton OF rural transportation, the construc-
ton and Improvement OF harbors and In
land navigation, the development and i'm
provement OF fisheries and for any other
purpose which the commissioners decide
will promote the economic development OF
the United Kingdom.
Big Annual Appropriation.
The funds available for this work consist
Of what is known as tho consolidated fund
for which the new act appropriates the
sum of S2b00O00 annually for five years
To this. however may be added any spe-
cial appropriations which may be made
subsequently, or any gifts or legacles which
may be forthcoming. The fund is available
until used and any revenue derived from
such sources as interest or profits in the
repayments OF loans or the sale OF farm
products may also be utilized.
The commissioners constitute the admin
istrative body in charge Of the fund. There
arc five Of these commissioners. appointed
by King George for terms of ten years
each, the tenure being so devised that the
years. Two OF the commissioners may re-
oeive salaries not to exceed $4,000 per year
each.
The term agriculture and rural Industries
a. used in the act. is subsequently defined
As including Agriculture. horticulture. dairy
Ing, the breeding Of horses cattle and
other 1.-Two Stock the cultivation and prep
arstion OF flax. the cultivation and manu-
faoture Of tobacco. and any industries i'm
msdiately connected with or subservent to
any Of these The lines of development open
also include the promoting of scientific
research, instruction and experiments in
the pcience. methods and practices of agri-
culture. the organization Of cooperating
bodies, instruction in marketing produce
and the extension Of the provision of small
holdings Forestry work likewise may in
clude experiments the teaching of meth
DDS Of arforestation and the actual pur-
chase and planting Of lands.
Board to Control Roads.
The road improvement clause provides for
the appointment by the treasury OF a road
board district from the development com.
missioners. No funds are directly APP
prop1ated for this work but provision is
made for borrowing money from the con-
solldated fund or from any other available
source, the sums so obtained TO be repaid
from the road improvement grant
The various provisions OF the act make
II apparent that board discretionary
powers are vested in the development COM
missioners, and that the results obtained
will be largely influenced by their decision
regarding the lines of work to be entered
upon and the way in which the work is
to be conducted. As would be expected
keen interest has been manifested in the
move throughout England and the applioa.
lions for aid already have been so general
that statement has been Issued that the
grants already sought would involve, II