The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-10
Report OF the Secretary Of Agricul.
ture for 1913.


Washington, Dec. SIS the Unit
ed States retrograding in agriculture? ?
In the report OF the Secretary Of Ag-
riculture, David F. Houston. issued to-
day. the estimated yield per acre Of
all crops combined. is smaller for the
year 1913 than in any year in the past
decade with the exception Of 1911.
The corn crop. the most valuable
in the country, fell below two and a
half million bushels. which is smaller
than any crop since 1903. Wheat
production however, seems to be on
the increase, this years estimated
crop Of 753,oO0.ooo bushels, being
The largest ever recorded in the coun-
try.
The report. which contains but IS
pages. differs from previous reports
in that, instead Of merely reviewing
the general agricultural situation, 1t
presents in summary many broad
economic questions. The report states
that there is no ground for thinking
that the people Of the United states
have yet approximated the limit Of
their output from the soil, but that
we have just begun to attack the
problem Of intensive production and
have not yet reached the end OF the
pioneering stage, and only in e few
localities e conditions developed
where reaSo ably full returns are OBJ
tained.
One Of the present difficulties is the
lack Of effective handling, shipping
and storing Of poultry. eggs and fish.
and the Secretary In his report, asks
for an increase Of 330.441 in the ap-
preparation for extending the investi-
cations into tho distribution Of these
products
Other increased appropriations ask
ed for. are for the purpose Of extend
ing the work OF eradicating disease
among animals; for the introduction
and breeding Of new plants; the con-
troll Of plant diseases and for improv-
ing the methods OF crop production,
particularly cereals; for the classifi-
cation Of agricultural lands and the
survey Of new homesteads in the nat
onal forests; for investigating fer
tilizer resources; for road manage
mont and road building. and for the
investigation Of the marketing and
distribution Of farm products. AL
together the desired increases total
over q million dollars.
A decrease Of more than $37, 900 in
the funds Of the Weather Bureau is
made possible by the increased on
ciency which the department has
shown in it's work.
The report states that the depart
ment is classifying the national for
ests with view to gegregating lands
valuable for agriculture, and to es-
tablishing permanent boundaries for
timber production and water protec-
ton. The earnings from timber sales
and other sources this year increased
100000. or Is per cent over the year
of 1912.
In connection with the preservation
and utilization OF natural resources.
scventy-six water power projects have
been developed and thirty more arr
under consideration. The report sug-
costs that the law permitting only a
revocabie franchise should be changed
80 allow a so year permit for power
purposes, under provisions protecting
both the investor and the public.
The regulation OF pure food and
drugs comes under the supervision OF
the Department Of Agriculture and
the report states that the prosecutions
under the Food and Drugs Act 9nd
hther regulatory measures will be
made still more effective through 60
operation with the Department OF
Justice. whereby the solicitor will pre-
pare cases in the form OF criminal IN
formations and place a, the service OF
the United States District Attorneys
In the trial OF cases the Departments
attorneys who are thoroughly familiar
with the highly technical aspects Of
many Of these cases.
Under statutes applying to forests, I
436 cases OF trespass resulted I'm re-
covery of s27.76&s1. 10000 acres of !
timber lands were regained, and le-