The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-09-01

ocratic Administration.
No administration has ever done 50
much to advance the agricultural In
terests of the United States as that OF
President Wilson. The record Is set
forth briefly and effectively in a letter
written by the president to Congress
man A. F. Lever, chairman Of the COM
mittee on agriculture Of the house of
representatives, as follows:
The White House, Washington.
Aug. II, 1915.
MY Dear Mr.. Lever-It has given me
much satisfaction to approve today the
bill making appropriations for the de-
partment of agriculture for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1917, and for 9TH
er purposes, because the bill not only
makes very generous provision for the
improvement of farm production In the
nation and ADMINISTRATION and dem
onstrations in the field Of the market
ing Of farm crops and of the organiza-
ton Of rural life. but also contains
three well conceived measures design
ed to improve market practices and the
storage and financing of staple crops.
AS the passage of this bill marks the
practical completion of an important
part of the program for the betterment
of rural life which was mapped out at
the beginning of the administration, /
feel that | cannot let the occasion
pass without conveying to you and to
your associates In both houses my aI-
probation of the services rendered to
the nation in Strengthening its great
agricultural foundations.
The record, legislative as well as adj
ministrative. is a remarkable one. 1t
speaks for itself and needs only to be
set forth: -
First Appreciation Of the impor-
lance Of agriculture has been shown
through greatly and intelligently In
creased appropriations for its support.
Second. pains have been
taken to foster production by every
promising means, and careful thought
has been given especially to the mat
ter of increasing the meat supply Of
the nation.
Third. -Greatly increased provision
has been made through the enactment
of the cooperative agricultural extern
sion act fer conveying agricultural In
formation 10 farmers and for inducing
them to apply It. This piece Of legis.
lation is one of the most significant
and farreaching measures for the edu-
cation of adults ever adopted by any
government. 1t provides for co-opera-
ton between the states and the fed
eral government. This Is highly Inn
portant and significant principle. When
the act is in full operation there will
be expended annually under Its terms,
from federal and state sources alone, q
total of over $8,6OO,O0O in the direct
education Of the farmer, and this
amount is being and viii be increasing
~ supplemented by contributions from
local sources It win permit the plac-
ing in each of the 1850 rural counties
of the nation two farm demonstrators
and specialists who win assist the
demonstrators In the more difficult
problems confronting them.
Fourth provision for the
first time has been made for the solu-
ton of problems in that important half
of agriculture which concerns distr1bu'
Communicating. rural finance and ru-
raj organization.
Fifth.-Provision was made promptly
for the creation Of an office of markets
and rural organization, and the appro-
priations for this Office. including those
for enforcing new laws designed to
promote better marketing. have been
increased to 81 100000. The more diff
ficult probleihas of marketing are being
investigated. and plans are In opera
tipn for furnishing assistance to pro-
ducers of perishables through market
news service A similar service for
live stock interests will be inaugurated
during the year.
Sixth. The problem of securing the
uniform grading of staple crops, Of
regulating dealings and traffic In them,
of developing better system of ware
houses and Of providing more avail
able collateral for farm loans has been
successfully dealt with.
Seventh.-Under the cotton futures
act standards for cotton have been es-
tablished. the operations of the fu-
lures exchanges have been put under
supervision. and the sale of cotton has
been placed on firmer basis.
Eighth.-The United States grain
standards act will secure uniformity
In the grading Of grain, enable the
farmer to obtain fairer prices for his
product and afford him an incentive to
raise better grades of grain.
Nlnth.-The United States warehouse
act win enable the department OF ag-
riculture to license bonded warehouses
In the various states. 1t will lead to
the development of better storage IA
eilities for staple crops and will make
possible the issuance of reliable ware