The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-04-19


Drugs Act Uphold to the Letter.
In his innugurai address President
Taft called attention to the deficit then
existing In the revenues and the con-
sequent necessity for rigid economy III
expenditures. However. the president
/ singled out the department Of agricul.
ture rs 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 30 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 he
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. 4"
Reports made recently to Secretary
Wilson Of the department Of agricul-
ture by the heads Of his bureaus justi-
fly this solicitude on the part of the
nrnsiAAnf fnt 4 la 1, al L., al
Ing for these reports the secretary as,:.
ed that they be brief and that tney
mention notable achievements Of the
last five years only, inasmuch as that
period Is really the period Of fruition
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 farreaching leg!sla-
ton. by gathering together masses of
statistics and other information. by
providing scientific and other equip
ment. 1t 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 I'm other messages
he pointed out the necessity Of refor-
NSfsl Inn m NTH
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 $4,000 to 10000
acres a year. The department takes
justiflable pride In its forest work. con-
sidering the administration Of 100000
600 acres Of land protected and man
aged for the public benefit great
achievement.
Since Jan. I. 1907. when tho food
and drugs act went into effect, more
has been done to provide 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 all
parts of the country in behalf Of pure
foods and pure drugs. This salutary
law. however. needs amendment. as
the supreme court held In May. 1911.
that It's provisions. to quote President
Tafts words In his vigorous message
to congress a month later. "Do not
cover the knowingly false labelling of
nostruns as to curative effect" The
president added: IAN evil which men
aces the general health of the people
strikes at the life Of the nation. In
my. opinion the sale of dangerously
drugs constitutes
such m cyl and warrants me In call.
Ing the matter to the attention of the
congress-"
Work Of Soil Mapping.
or Importance to the farmer has
Ave years Of soil mapping and classifi-
cation. 80 that now the area included |
s 100000 square miles. or nearly Al
100000 acres. The value of this work
Is incalculnbe.
Disseminating the valuable informa
lion acquired by the department has
proved a wonderful work Practically |
publications have been dis
,ributed since Secretary Wilson as.
sumed control of the department. and |
more than half t103,50S.100, of that |
pmber have been distributed within |
he past five years.
Other work accomplished by the de- |
partment includes comprehensive.
system, Of weather warnings aud fore |
casts. the meat inspection service In
which 300 experts are employed, VIII,
see that every pound Of meat sent IN
terstate is fit for human food. protec
Ion OF live stock. the checking Of ro
lent pests. the destruction Of noxlous
insects, the conservation Of water sup
plies. tire building and care of public
-oads and the policy for better farm
houses. so that every dollar expended |
n the prosecution Of this work In it,