Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-07
Secretary Wilson's
Last Annual Report.

Washington, Dee. 6.-After sixteen
years. record of service in the
cabinet, Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson submitted, today, to President
Taft the last annual report he will
make as head of the United States
department of agriculture. The re-
port is more than review of the past
years work; it contains summary OF,
the agricultural ADVANCED the coun-
try during the venerable secretary's
term of public service.
THE record OF sixteen years has
been written" he says. 1T begins
with a yearly farm production of
600. 900. Sixteen years ago, the
farmer was a joke of the earicaturist
now he is like the stone that was re-
jected by the builder and has become
the head stone of the corner" The
tillers of the soil were burdened with
debts he adds, but prosperity fol-
lowed and grew with unexampled
speed. Beginnings have been made
in a production per acre increasing
faster than the natural increase of
population. There has been an up
life of agriculture and of country
life.
During the past sixteen years the
farmer has steadily increased the
wealth production year by year, with
the exception of 1911. During the
sixteen years the farmers wealth
production increased 141 per cent.
Most productive Of all agricultur-
al years in the country has been
1912 The earth has produced its
greatest annual dividend. The sun
and the rain and the fertility of the
soil needed not the human controyer-
sizes, but kept on working in co-opera-
ton with the farmers efforts 10 util-
ize them The prices at the farm
are generally profitable and will con-
tinue the prosperity that farmers have
enjoyed in recent years. The total
production of farm wealth is the
highest yet reached by half a billion
dollars. The grand total for 1912 is
estimated to be 1882 000,0 600. This is
more than twice the value of the
farm wealth in 1899.
More than 100000, 100000 is the
grand total of farm wealth produc
ton, the report says. during the past
is years, an amount equal to about
three-q quarters of the present nation
al wealth.
The most effective move toward re-
duced cost of living is the produce
ton of greater crops, says the secre-
tary, and this move, he declares, is
due To the work of the department
of agricultural colleges and expert
ment stations and to the. help of the
press in publishing every movement
to help the farmers. The nation, he
ads. forgot its farmers in the general
scheme of education of past years and
few philanthropists thought of them
when giving for education, but they
are waking up and thinking for them
selves and Congress has been good to
them.
The secretary first takes up the
work of the various bureaus of his
department in the past year and then
tells of the growth in some instances
from their foundation, of these bu-
reaus during the time he has been
head of the department. He praises
highly the experts who have worked
under him.
THE great and growing movement
carried on by the department for ag
ricultural betterment," he declares,
has not been sustained solely by one
man nor by few men. A choice
corps of scholarly experts in their
special lines of endeavor has been
growing in membership, in breadth of
view, and in the practical application
of their efforts.
The department is prepared to con-
tinue and increase its public service
During sixteen years it has progressed
from the kindergarten through the
primary, middle and upper grades of
development until now it has thou
sand tongues that speak with author
ity."
From a department with 2444 en-
ployes in 1897. and an appropriation
of $3,272,902, it has increased to 49,
S5s employees at the beginning of the
present fiscal year with an appropria-
ton, this year, of almost $4,000, 900.
Whereas, there are now $4,000 re-
quests, every week, for department
publications, there We're but 500 il.
1897; and during this period 225, 000,-
600 copies have been distributed. In
soil investigation an area of $4,000
square miles, equal to that of Ger
many. France. Great Britain, Ireland
and Italy, has been covered.