Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-13
PRESIDENT LAUDS RESEARCH
ASAID TOU. S. AGRICULTURE

AS AID TO u
President Coolidge spoke as follows
before the members of the First Inter-
national Congress Of Soil Science this
afternoon:
Members of the Congress-:
THE fundamental Importance or the
soil as a national and international
asset becomes at once apparent when
we reflect upon the extent to which all
mankind is dependent upon it, directly
or indirectly, for food, clothing ana
shelter. Long after our mines have
ceased to give up their treasures the
soil must continue to produce the 1000
necessary for feeding the increasing
populations of the world.
1T is highly appropriate, therefore
that representatives of many of the
nations of the earth should assemble
in groups such as this for the purpose
of discussing methods to be employed
in the study of the problems OF SOIL
conservation and land utlilZatlon,
Moreover, the interchange of ideas
and the personal associations MADE
possible by such international gather
ings as this cannot but be productive
of a better understanding among diff
ferent peoples and ultimately lead TO
a more universal desire for peace
among all nations.
Being a young Nation, the Unlteu
States has not as yet been forced 10
conserve its great natural resources
as have some of the older countries
where pressure of population on food
sunply has neceSsitated the conSldera-
ton of means for conserving the fer
tility Of the soil and at the same time
increasing the yield per acre. In the
past, with our abundance or fertlie
acres. we have been able to greatly
augment our total production through
increased acreage and the use OF inn
proved machinery. With practically
all our fertile land now under cultlVa-
tion. eXcept for irrigation and reclama-
ton. further increases in total produc-
tion must come from increased acre
Yields instead of from increased
acreage.
Federal Aid and Education.
"Recognizing the fundamental I'M
portance of agriculture to the WeHdte
and happiness Of all citizens, the
United States Government long ago
adopted the policy OF tedefal alu anu anu
research.
sThe first step in this direction was
the annropriation of 81 900 by Con-
gress in 1889 for the collection or
AGRICULTURAL statistics, Investigations
for promoting agriculture ana rural
economy and the procurement Oh cut
tings and seeds for gratultouS uis
tribution among farmers These APP
nronriations were expended under the
direction of the Patent Office. Inc
idea Originated with Hon. Henry Il.
Ellsworth, who was Commissioner OF
Patents. The work continued TO pe
carried on in the Patent once WIN
RAPIDLY increasing appropriations uItl
1862. when a Bureau or Agriculture
was established. In 1889 TINS became
the Department of Agriculture, unoer
the supervision of a Secretary OF Ag-
riculture, appointed by the Presldenl
nv and with the consent of the Senate
The Department of Agriculture thus
became one of the executive depart
ments of the Federal Government ana
the Secretary of Agriculture memper
of the Presidents Cabinet.
"From it's humble beginning the
work of the United States Department
of Agriculture has steadily grown 10
large proportions. The annual report
of the Secretary of Agriculture Tor
1905 shows a personnel of 20,742 en-
Moves. with a total of $157, 4S5, 900 ex'
nended under the supervision OF the
department. The direct expenditures
made by the Federal department
amounted to S44, 100000, of when
SlO. 800 900 was available for research
Land.Grant Colleges.
"On the second day of July next we
shall celebrate the sixty-fifth annlver'
sary of the passage OF an act by tue
| Congress of the United States WHEREBY
certain public lands were donated 70
the States for the establishment ana
the support of colleges of agriculture
and mechanic arts, commonly Calico
from their origin, landgrant colleges.
AS a result of this act and subsequent
appropriations, we now have pupllciy
supported colleges of this character IN
every State and Territory OF our Ike
public. In many states the college Is
a. separate institution, but in others
the instruction in agriculture is given
in a college of agriculture organized
within a great State university.
"Following the establishment OF
these institutions for instruction IN
agriculture, it soon became apparent
that fundamental research ana hives
tigation were required if real progress
were to be made. In many of the col
leges research departments were or
ganized and experimental work lnau
gurated to supplement the teachine
work and to supply information to the
farmers. The facilities at the com
mand Of these agricultural colleges
were not sufficient, however, to meet
the demand made upon them, and the
need for additional support for re
| search became more and NOR evldent
! as the number of students seeking
agricultural instruction increased.
Retaliation of this need having
been brought to the attention OF mem
bers of the Congress, bill was lntro
duced and passed in 1887, just a quar-
| ter of a century after the bill estap
fishing the agricultural colleges, pro
viding Federal aid and support Ioi
State agricultural experiment stations
This bill, the Hatch act, supplemented
by the Adams act of 1906 and by the
| Purnell act of 1925, insures to every
! State and Territory a perpetual IN
| come for the support of agricultural
| investigations. This in many States
| is generously augmented by appropria
| tions from the State treasures. The
personnel of the State experiment sta