Evening star., 1913-12-08
HOUSTON HAS PLAN
Of REORGANIZATION
Favors Consolidation of the
Bureaus of Department
of Agriculture.
TO BRIGHTEN FARM LIFE
PART OF HIS PROGRAM
Inquiries Among Rural Women Said
to Show Need Of Govern
ment Assistance.

IdHS lOT ItOTSdillzulS tHc bcP04 tiiSAAs
OF agriculture and for redistricting the
country for the enforcement OF the pure
food law are outlined in the report of
Secretary Houston, just made public. He
recommends that the free distribution of
seeds by congressman should be diScon-
tinued and that in its stead there be
conducted a constructive work in secur-
ing and distributing seeds and plants.
The plan for the reorganization of the
department is to be included in the es-
Inmates for the fiscal year 1916 and pro-
poses TO carry out the work of the de-
partment in five or six main groups, such
research, state relations, rural organi-
zation. forest service. weather and regu-
lation. Secretary Houston Is of the opin-
ion that such II plan will promote CO..
ordination The Secretary also declares
that ne will ask for authority to pre-
pare amendments to the pure food law
t. improve the food supply. protect the
public health and promote uniformity In
food legislation.
Conditions vary widely in the United
States. says the report. because farmers
DO not equally need better credit arrange
ments. and all sections are not similarly
circumstanced. He contends that when
all necessary allowance has been made
clear that the rural communities are not
as efficiently served as they should be
by existing financial arrangements. The
Secretary believes there does not appear
TO be need for unique or special legisla-
tion or for legislation which shall aim to
give the farmer credit on easier terms
than other members of society. What is
needed IS the creation of conditions and
machinery which shall enable him on SIM
liar credit foundations to secure money
a the same rates those that prevail
for other classes and for other sections.
Even though the problem of how the
farmer can best sell his produce ana
Gan improve the conditions under which
ne can secure the necessary capital were
solved" says the report. there would
still remain vital things to be accom-
plished before rural life can be made
fully efficient. profitable. healthful. pleas
urdble and attractive, and before a larger
disposition to remain on the farm de-
velops- Good roads are prerequisites for
better marketing. for better schools and
for more comfortable rural living. Bet
ter sanitation and hygiene In the home,
in the school and in the community are
as for the urban
Needs Of Rural Women.
To gain information to enable the de-
partment better to serve rural women,
the Secretary has addressed letters of
inquiry to the women of 5000 selected
farms covering every county.
Other surveys and studies also were
conducted. Analysis Of the small part
of the letters as yet digested shows that
farm women desire assistance in all
as to ways of securing running water.
introducing household power machinery
and labor-saving arrangements. and pro-
viding better hyg1enic and sanitary con-
dftions. Many seek advice as to the bet
ter marketing of the articles they pro-
duce. Others ask the department to prove
to the man that their work Is worth some
thing In dollars and cents. The over
work of women and children and diMculty
OF securing domestic help are mentioned
by q number of the writers. The depart
ment believes that intelligent help to
women in matters of home management
Will contribute directly to the agricultural
success of the farm. 1t purposes, there
fore, to ask Congress for means and
authority to make more complete studies
Of domestic conditions on the farm. to
experiment with labor-saying devices and
methods, and to study completely the
question of practical sanitation and hy-
gienic protection for the farm family.
AS to federal aid for good roads, the
Secretary says the federal government
should deal with the state as the lowest
unit, through an expert highway COM
missioner as its agency The plan should
provide for maintenance as well as con-
struction. Preference should be given to
the improvement of roads over which
products from the farms can be taken to
the nearest railway station. A scheme
Of road construct on and maintenance
within a state should be developed and
mutually agreed upon Money appropri-
pted BY the federal government should
- apportioned on the basis of such fac
tors total population. farm population.
area. taxable valuation and mileage.
Years Low Crop Yields.
special emphasis is laid on the fact
that the hgures for crops quoted are
estimates
From the estimates at hand it appears
that the production of crops in 1913 was
materially below the average, the yield
per acre of all crops combined being
smaller than in any year in the past
decade, with the exception of 1911. The
corn crop. the most valuable product of
this country, according TO the estimates
fell below 900. 900. 600 bushels, which is
smaller than any crop since 1908. Wheat
production, with an estimated total OF
i5S, 100000 bushels. Is the largest ever re-
corded in this country. This crop was
rnatured before the drought became effec-
tive. Brief mention is made as to crop
conditions throughout the world From
the estimates II appears that there were
increased areas sown to wheat, oats, bar
ley, rye and corn. and that the wheat
acreage has probably yielded record out
turn. Barley, oats and rye are bountiful
crops, but corn will probably give the
poorest result in twenty years