Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-04-16
TAFT INSISTS ON
AID TO FARMERS
Says Department Of Agriculture
Work Must Go On.
LABORS FOR CONSERVATION.
Farreaching Legislation Administered
by Scientists of Rank Brings Good
Results to TilIers of Soil-Food and
Drugs Act Upheld to the Letter.

Results to Tillers of Soil-Food and
Drugs Act Upheld to the Letter.
In his inaugural address President
Taft called attention to the deficit then
existing in the revenues and the con
sequent necessity for rigid economy in
expenditures. However. the president
singled out the department of agricul-
ture as an exception. He said. to quote
his exact words. I'm the department
of agriculture the use of scientific ex-
periments on large scale. and the
spread of information derived from
them for the improvement of general
agriculture must 20 on" This view
the president has steadily maintained.
and repeatedly has urged appropria-
tions 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 the utmost Importance to in.
form and instruct the public on this
chief branch of the conservation of our
resources is 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 iusti-
fy this solicitude on the part of 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 five years only, inasmuch as that
period Is really the period Of frution |
In 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 farreuching legisIa-
ton, by gathering together masses Of
statistics and other information by
providing scientific and other equip
ment, it 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 be made to yield large
return in timber without really reduc.
ing the supply" and in other messages
he 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 In 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 at the rate of l5mw to 10000
acres year. The department takes
justihable pride in It's forest work, con.
the administration of 100000.
DOO acres OF land protected and man.
aged for the public benefit "a great
achievement.
Since Jan l. 1907. when the food
md drugs act went into effect, more
has been done to provide Il good. clean
'ood supply than I'm all the preceding
lie OF the nation. wonderful change
las also been effected In the character
Il the drugs on sale. The department {
las n trained force OF inspectors and |
hcmists doing excellent work I'm an .
arts of the country I'm behalf Of pure
Gods and pure drugs. This salutary
NV. however, neelS amendment. as
he supreme court held In MAY. 1911. ,
hat its provisions, TO quote President !
arts words In his vigorous message I
congress month later do not [
over the knowingly false labelling of ?
ostrumS as 10 curative effect" The s
resident added: An evil which men. c
ces the general health OF the people
.rlkes at the life OF the nation. In
~ opinion the sale Of dangerously q
iulterated drugs constitutes
lch an evil and warrants me in call Pr
e the matter TO the attention OF the
'ngresS"
Work Of Soil Mapping. ",
OF Importance To the farmer has ~,
'en the work carried ON Ia the naSt >.
'e years Of soil mapping and claSsin.
tion. 50 that now the area included az
4OI.O09 square miles. or nearly Al. ol
lltll acres Tho VaIun af fEf- ,,ag.-t. VI