Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-02

cases their connection with the depart
ment has brought them opportunity for
financial betterment.
1t is an accepted fact that the Depart
ment of Agriculture of the United States
leads the world in matters agriculture
In point OF size. efficiency, equipment and
extensive scientific operations there Is
none superior and few, If any, equal. In
addition to being the wonder and admira-
ton of the civilized nations of the earth.
it also is the model by which other SINH
lar departments are patterned.
Not only do all countries accept our
methods of organization and management
as the correct standard for them to fol-
low, but they also send to the United
States for everything portable. from seeds
to machinery. and then send again for an
American expert who shall be recon-
mended by this department to come with
bag. baggage and family. if such there be.
to take up his abode among them for a
time and start things going on the latest
improved American plan.
During the last ten years the general
revolution throughout the world in farm
management stock raising and hort;cul-
tural development, which had its origin
in the United States. has become univer
sally widespread, because the pioneer
work has almost entirely been done by
American experts. In spite of the fact
that already a small army Of American
scientific men are scattered over the
globe almost every month. the depart
ment here receives requests for more
men, and Notwithstanding the fact that
the foreign berth usually carries double
the amount Of salary. besides other induce
ments there is always more or less diff
Guilty in getting men to fill the desired re-
quircments on even the shortest of con-
tracts.
DR.. Elwood Mead is perhaps one of the
best examples tof the high regard and
financial reward which frequently falls
TO the lot of Americans in foreign service
He came 10 the department here In 1899
from Wyoming, where he had been state
engineer His duty i'm the Department of
Agriculture was TO organize and super
wise the investigation work being carried
on in irrigation. This work was later
extended to include the drainage OF land
for farming, including the removal or
surplus water in the irrigated regions. In
1907 DIR. Mead left the service OF the
United States to accept a government
position in Victoria. Australia, his work
there to be in connection with the de-
velopment of the system OF irrigation.
The first salary offered and accepted by
him was 5000 per annum, with con-
tract for five years.
Australia with its great droughts and
wide diversity of plant and animal life.
had great need of a thorough system Of
irrigation. OF the work DR.. Mead has
done with the vast stretches of reclaim
ed land, which are now prosperous farms,
no other testimonial is needed than the
fact that in addition to paying all Of his
expenses out to Australia for himself,
wife and four children, furnishing trans
portation for his household goods. sup
plying him a house in which to live his
salary has been increased twice, first to
$40 600 and recently to SIS, 600. Now he is
regarded as a permanent citizen of the
country, since he is the chairman of the
state water supply commission of Vic
toria This commission has charge of the
construction of irrigation works. which
in that country is entirely in the hands
OF the government. 1t also has supervi
sion of the maintenance and operation of
this irrigation system, the carrying on
of investigations for various sorts, and
the obtaining of settlers for the lands
brought under irrigation
DR. Mead apparently considers himself
a fixture in the scheme Of Australian az.