Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-04-11
Says department Of Agriculture
Work Must 60 On
lAB0Rs FOR CONSERVATION
Farrssehins Legislation Administered
by Scientists Of Rank Brinss Good
Results to Tillsrs OF Soil-Food and
Drugs Act Upheld to tho Letter.

TAFT called attention to the deficit then
existing In the revenues and the con-
sesluent necessity for rigid economy In
expenditures However. the president
singled out The department OF agricul-
ture az an exception. lie said. TO quote
his exact words. In the department
Of agriculture the use or scientific ex-
periments on large scale. and the
spread Of information derived from
them for the improvement OF general
agriculture must go on This view
the president has steadily maintained.
and repeatedly has urged appropria-
tons for the work of the department.
In his comprehensive message on
conservation President Taft said. The
feature that transcends all others. In
Guiding woods. waters minerals. Is the
soil Of the country" and that all means
at the governments disposal should be
used to conserve the soils. adding, "a
work OF tho utmost Importance TO In
form and instruct the public on this
chief branch OF the conservation OF our
resources IL being carried on success.
fully in the department OF agriculture"
Reports made recently to Secretary
Wilson OF the department OF agricul-
ture by the heads OF his bureaus JUST
fy this solicitude on the part or the
president for the department. In call
ing for these reports the secretary ask
ed that they be brief and that they
mention notable achievements Of the
last i've years only. inasmuch as that
period Is really the period OF fruition
I'm the department, the period during
which. owing TO the broad foundations
previously laid by the training and
grouping OF many corps OF scientific
men. by securing farreaching legisla-
ton. by gathering together masses OF
statistics and other information. by
| providing scientific and other equip
ment, II has been possible TO produce
most marvellous results for the COM
mon good Of the people.
Taft For Conservation.
In his conservation message Presi.
dent Taft emphasized the importance
| Of the maintenance Of the forests and
urged their scientific treatment 80
that they shall he made 10 yield large
return In timber without really reduc-
ing the supply" and In other messages
be pointed out the necessity OF refor-
| estation In accordance with these
views much available work has been
done In protecting the national forests
and by researches I'm the laboratory OF
the department at Madison. Wis. and
In the past five years the work OF re-
foresting burned over areas has pro-
ceeded nj the rate OF 1900 to 10000
acres year The department takes
| justitable pride In Its forest work. con-
sidering the administration OF 100000
COO acres OF land protected and man
aged for the public benefit great
achievement
Since Jan 1, 1907. when the food
and drugs act went into effect, more
has been done to provide q good. clean
food supply than In all the preceding
life OF the nation. A wonderful change
has also been effected In the character
Of the drugs on sale The department
has trained force OF inspectors and
chemists doing excellent work In al
parts OF the country In behalf Of pure
foods and pure drugs This salutary
law. however. needs amendment. az
the supreme court held In May, 1911
that Its provisions, to quote President
Taft's words in his vigorous message
to congress month later. do NOT
cover the knowingly false labelling OF
nostrums as to curative effect" The
president added: An evil which men.
aces the general health Of the people
strikes at the life Of the nation. In
my opinion the sale of dangerously
adulterated drugs constitutes
such an evil and warrants me In call.
ing the matter to the attention Of the
congress
Work Of Soil Mapping.
OF Importance to the farmer has
been the work carried on In the past
nye years OF soil mapping and classic
cation. 50 that now the area included
Is 100000 square miles. or nearly a..
OOOOO acres The value Of this work
10 incalculable
Disseminating the valuable informa-
ton acquired by the department has
proved wonderful work. Practically
2OO.O0OOO0 publications have been dis
tributed since Secretary Wilson a.
sumed control Of the department, and
more than half O3.59s, 1907 Of that
number have been distributed within
the past Eve years.
Other work accomplished by the d.
partment includes comprehensive
system Of weather warnings and fore
casts. the meat inspection service In
which $500 experts are employed, who
see that every pound Of meat sent In
terstate Is 1T for human food. protec-
ton OF live stock. the checking Of TO
dent pests. the destruction Of noxious
Insects. the conservation of water sup
plies. rhe building and care OF public
roads and the policy for better farm
houses. so that every dollar expended
In the prosecution Of this work In fts
numerous phases has brought back
hundred fold to the people.
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