The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-12-08
RE.ORGANIzA7IONOF OF
Department OF
AGRICULTURE
FORECASTED IN FIRST ANNUAL
REPORT PRESENTED BY
SEC. HOUSTON.
WOULD DISCONTINUE FREE SEED
And Conduct Instead Constructive
Work in Securing Distributing New
Seeds and PIants-ShouId Create
New Conditions for Farmers Benefit
(By Associated Press


tion of the department OF agriculture
is foreshadowed in Secretary Hous-
toms first annual report presented to
President Wilson. A plan to be sub
mitted to Congress in the fiscal esti- /
mates for 1916 proposes to carry out
the work of the department in five or =
six main groups, such as research,
state relations, rural organization, for
est service, weather and regulation.
Such plan, Secretary Houston be-
lieves will promote coordination.
Plans for redistricting the country
for the enforcement of the pure food
| law are announced and the Secretary
announces his intention to ask for
authority to prepare amendments to
the pure food law ito improve the food
supply, protect the public health and
promote uniformity in food legislation
Free distribution of seeds, by Con-
gressmen should be discontinued, the
Secretary recommends. He would
conduct in it's stead constructive
work in securing and distributing new
seeds and plants.
Conditions vary widely in the Uni
ted States, says the report, because
farmers do not equally need better
credit arrangements and all sections
are not similarly circumstanced. II
contends that when all necessary al
lowance has been made for fundamen
tai factors, it is probably clear thai
, the rural communities are not as eff
ficiently served as they should be b!
2 existing financial arrangements. Th'
E pear to be need for unique or specia
, legislation or for legislation whicl
!. shall aim to give the farmer credit ol
y easier terms than other members o
f society. What is needed is the crea
ton of conditions and machiner
q which shall enable him on simila
C credit foundations to secure money a
! the same rates as those that prevail
n for other classes and for other SCI
# tions.
r even though the problem of ho'
s the farmer can best sell his produc
d and can improve the conditions unde
c. which he can secure the necessar
<. capital were solved, there would sti
remain vital things to be accomplishe
before rural life can be made fully e
ficient, profitable, healthful, pleasu
able, and attractive, and before
N larger disposition to remain on tt
farm develops. Good roads are pr
requisite for better marketing, for be
-. ter schools, and for more comfortab
"a rural living. Better sanitation al
IA hygiene in the home, in the schot
r. and in the community are just as Wit
sh for the rural community as for Il
IN urban" say the report.
ne To gain information to enable Il
Department better to serve rural wo
= en-, the Secretary has addressed Il
ters of inquiry to the women on $50
selected farms covering every coun
Other surveys and studies were al
conducted. Analysis of the SIN
part of the letters as yet digest
L shows that fan women desire ASST
ance in all phases of home mana
ment, especially as to ways of sec
ro. ing running water, introducing hou
hold power machinery and labor-s
ial ing arrangements and providing /
Of ter hygienic and sanitary conditio
in Many seek advice as to the bet
|, I marketing of the articles they I
my duce. Others ask the Department
of uontinHed on rage Four :.
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