New-York tribune., 1918-12-07
Wealth Markets and Commerce @

upon for large quantities Of available
food and feeds to supply not only the
peoples with whom we co0perated in
the war, but also those Of the neutrnls
and the Central Powers. This will in
volve a continuation Of conservation on
the par Of oul people and probably. OF
the maintenance Of satisfactory range
of prices for food products during tho
period"
Crops Values Increase
Increased values for all farm products
arc shown. 'On tho basis of prices
that have recently prevailed" says tho
report, "thc value OF all crops produced
In 1913 ind of livestock on farms on
January /, including horses, mules, cat
tie, sheep, swine and poultry, is esti-
mated to bo $24700, 600, 900, compared
with $21 1926 100000 for 1917. $15 S00,-
100000 for 1916. $12,65O, ,O00 900 for 1914
and $11 ZOO, 900 900 for the fve-yen
average. The increased values reveal
that the monetary returns to the farm
ers have increased proportionately with
those of other groups of producers in
tho nation and that their purchasing
power has kept pace in the rising scale
Of prices"
'he Secretary acknowledges aid
given the department by educational
institutions, the National Agricu tural
Advisory Committee and other agencies,
and speaks of harmon GUS coo 2cration
with the War. Navy and Laboc depart
mcnts. He summarizes the work OF
the department, including tho success
full campaign against the cntte tick
and the p nix boil wecvil. and touches
upon the accomplishments Of al of the
eureaus carrying on the depa tmont's
varied activities Successful results in
efforts to meet tho demand for farm
lubor are noted
Public Control of Packers
Continuation Of tho form Of control
exercised over stockyards and packing
houses under war powers Is strongly
recommended. Uneconomic and unfair
practices have been eliminated, the
Secretary says, and recognition has
been gained Of the possibility of bet
tering market conditions by clothing
the departments corps Of supervisors
with requisite authority.
In recommending steps TO facilitate
land settlement in more orderly
fashion, the Secretary emphasizes the
Importance of encouraging the owner
snip Oh larmS.
AS to highway development, he says,
cooperative roads work under the Fed
eral paid act will be resumed in full
measure and vigorously prosecuted.
Such work, he suggests, should furnish
employment for many unemployed
men.
Secretary Houston says the Federal
Farm Loan Bank system began opera
tons under the troubled conditions
os the world war and it's activities
were impcded, but in spite Of these
difficu ties it has made remarkable
headway, and there is little doubt that
with the return of peace it's develop
ment viii be rapid and will more and
more fill the expectations of the people.
He urges that farmers form systems
of personal credit unions, especially
for the benefit of individuals whose
financial circumstances make it diff
cult for them to secure accommoda
tons through ordinary channels, and
bespeaks the interests of the business
men of towns and cities in those farm
ers whose standards of living and
productive ability are so low that they
might not be received for the present
into such associations.
The report closes with En- appeal for
extension of the benefits of modern
nculclnc ana sanitation to the scat
tered populations of the rural dis
trcts.
"a vast deal remains to be done" it
says, ito control such pests as mos
quitoes and the hookworm, to eimi-
nate the sources of typhoid fever, and,
even more, to give The country districts
the advantages of modern hospitals,
nursing and specialized medical prac-
tice.
Great Work to Be Done
"The economic wastes from insani-
tary health surroundings and from dis
ease are enormous. 1t is impossible to
estimate their extent. 1t it even more
impossible to assess the amount of ex-
istlng preventable human misery and
urhappiness. The remedy is difficult.
Many agencies, some of them private
enterprises with large funds, are work
ing for Improvement States and
medical societies here and there are
contributing more or less effectively
fhe extension and improvement of ag-
rlculture, including the drainage Of
lands. the clearing of swamps, and tho
con struction of good roads, make for
bettcrmcnt. The Department cf Ayri
culture, through its home me-demonstra-
tlOn service is erivinr uoI,,oh - -