1CTIUN ONE
JOHNSON, BDITOK AND MANAQBR
THE GOlTlgyY> THE STATE, THE UKIOH.
LOUISBURG. N. C.. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1918
SUBSCRIPTION $1.00 PER YBAR
NUKBBB 44
XLIII
of the Secretary ot Agrlrulturi
for IMS. ^
1 Washington, D. C., Deo. 8. ? David
V. Houston, Secretary ot Agriculture,
to*la> published hla annual report for
tl.^year 1913. The report which con
Jbontaina only 58 paces, differs from
?previous reports In that,lnstead of mere
"ly reviewing the agricultural situation,
it presents insummary many broad'
economic question*. Throughout the
report strong emphasis la placed u[fcr
co-operation between the Department
of Agriculture and other Federal de
partments and the State agricultural
agencies to promote co-ordination and
eliminate duplication ot effort. The
keynote lsgettlng the Department's in
formation in all fields more directly
and In more valuable form to thepeo
ple. The following are summarised
statements of the more Important sub
jects and recommendations discussed
in this report:
THK PROBLEM OF PRODUCTION.
Increased tenancy,- absentee owner
wMp nntln rit 111 (InplntttcV and exploit^
ed, inadequate business metliods, the
relative failure to induce a great ma-,
jorlty of farmers to .apply existing
agricultural knowledge, and the sug
gestions of dependence on foreign na
tions for foodsupplies warn us of our
shortcomings and incite us to addi
tional efforts to increase production.
The report states tltat there is no
ground for thinking that we havfe
yet approximated the limit of our out
put from the soil, but that we have
just begun to attack the problem, and
have not reached the end pt the pio
-neerlng stage, and only in a few lo
calities have developed conditions
where reasonably full returns are se
cured. We have unmlstakenably
reached' the period where we must
think and plan.
INCREASES ASKED.
Increases In the appropriations for
the next fiscal year are recommended,
as follows:
$260, S60 for extending the work of
eradicating animal diseases, feeding
and breeding live stock, and for dairy
ing. and the enforcement of the meat
inspection law.
$45,660 for the Introduction and
breeding of new plants, the control
of plant diseases, and for improving
jie methods. of crop production, es
pecially cereals.
$143,577 for the classification of
agricultural lands and the survey of
homesteads in the national forests.
$60,441 for extending Investigations
of the handling, shipping, and storing
of poultry, eggs, and fish.
$24,420 for investigating fertilizer
resources, soil fertility, and the chemi
cal and physical properties of soils.
$71,000 for extending investigations
or Insects attacking deciduous fruits,
reals and forage crops, and forest
trees.
$90 ,000 to enforce the migratory-bird
law.
$57,000 for gathering crop forecasts
aid estimates.
$133,600 for road management and
read building and maintenance.
$144,000 for Investigations of the
marketing and distribution of farm
products.
, $50,000 for live stock and other dem
onstration work in the sugar-cane and
cotton areas in Louisiana.
A decrease of $37,340 is made in the
funds of the Weather Burfeau, made
possible be the Increased efficiency
shown in handling Its work.
It Is recommended that the con
gressional seed distribution as now
conducted be discontinued, and that
constructive work in securing and dis
tributing new and valuable seeds and
plants be substituted. ^ -
PLAIT" TO REORGANIZE THE DE
PARTMENT.
To promote co-ordination, allow
greater latitude In carrying out of
projects, and to establish a more lo
gical handling of regulatory work and
research, Investigation and demon
stration work, the secretary will ask
the congress in the coming estimates
for authority to prepare apian for re
organizing. redirecting, and systema
tizing the work of the Department as
the Interests of economical and off!' I
elent administration may require
Tliis plan would be submlted in the
fiscal estimates for 1916. It Is bellev
-"^jthat the Department can beat car
/ on Its functions and carry ita In
formation to the people It seeks to
nerve, probably by having Its work con
ducted in five or six main groups such
as a research service, a regulatory
service, a State relations service, a
rural organization service, a . forest
? service, a weather service, and others
as special occasion might warrant.
- PROMOTION BASED ON EFFICIEN
CY.
A system of efficiency ratings affect
log all Clerical and subclerfcal em
ployees. designed to eliminate all dan
ger of favoritism to provide tor pro
motion entirely upon merit, ban been
established.
Increased efficiency and considerable
economy bave been gained .'through
changes In the handling of fiscal mat
ters. 1 V ...
It 1b recommended that he ..Depart
ment be given authority to Increase
tKB maximum salary of $4,00>0 which
now can be paid to scientific Investi
gators. It U pointed out thftt many
of the leaders in the Department could
command salaries In many cases more
than twice what they are receiving?
CHANGES IN WEATHER BDRBAU.
Changes in the organization, and
work of 'the weather bureau have re
sulted In Increased efficiency aud
economies which make possible a- re
duction of $37,340 In Its funds. Cer
tain stations and substations '.will be
eliminated and the work of other sta
tions not well located for ellmajtologl
cal work will be limited to forecasting.
Full co-operation with the Hydro
graphic office in the Navy Depart
ment In the publication of marine met
eorological ^charts has been effected.
Investigational work at Mount Weath^
er will be discontinued and steps to
make^avallable for scientific Work In
more suitable locations the funds thus
saved, will be taken. The crop and
flood, warning service designed to. en
able crop growers or those along cer
tain... waterways to have notice in
time to take protective measures will
be strengthened^ The scientific work
of the bureau will be emphasized, es
pecially In field having a direct bear
ing on agriculture., jsommerce, navi
gation and aviation.
POST OFFICE TO AID IN CEN8US
OF CROP ACREAGE.
. Changes have been made in the
oregnlzatlon and vork of the bureau
of statistics to effect economies and
Increase efficiency. It Is recommended
that the designation of this bureau be
changed to '"The Bureau of Agricul
tural Forecasts," which more accu
rately defines its functions. Co-opera
tion with tBe post office to test the
practicability of an annual census of
acreage and stock through the rural
route carriers has been effected. A
committee on co-operation composed
of representatives of various branches
of the Department and of other Fed
eral departments will, U is believed,
eliminate dupllcaticn of work and im
prove statistical results. Increased
accuracy of crop forecasts will be se
cured .through improvement -in the
field forecast agents, special crop re
porting system and the field service.
COUNTRY TO BE DISTRICTED TO
ENFORCE FOOD AND DRUGS
ACTS.
Certain reorganizations have been
effected in the bureau of chemistry
looking toward more effective admin
istration of the food and dfugs act
and to greater constructive techno
logical assltance to manufacturers in
avoiding waste, reducing cost of man
ufacture- and to keep them develop
with tfce taw. The country will be di
vided into several districts each under
the direction of a competent official.
All branch laboratories and food in
spectators will be under single direc
tion and will work together .' instead
of being independent of each other, a
condition which led to lack q| co-or
dination in the past. Certain branch
.laboratories will be consolidated be
cause the work can 'be done more ef
fctlvely and more cheaply in the larg
er central laboratories which are pro
vided with complete equipment and
specializing chemists. Effort will be
made to make the act more hygienic
measure through Increased -attention
to milk, eggs, oysterB, and fish, which
are subject to organic contamination
and may become carriers of diseft.se.
To bring about greater harm6ny in
the work of the State food officials
and the department in food and drug
work, the Secretary called a confer
ence which was attended by repre
sentatives of 32 States, the District of
Columbia, and Porto Rico. It Is be
lieved that this conference has pro
I moted much better understanding,
j An office which will act as a clearing
I house of information among the State
: and Federal food and drug officials
I will be established to prevent duplica
tion work and promote harmonious
action and co-operation. Experience
has revealed certain weakness in the
food and drugs act ? notably the lack
of provision for legal standards, and
its failure to apply to certain exteoial
remedies. The Secretary will ask that
authority be granted to prepare and
submit such amendments to ihis law
as may be deemed needful to safeguard
the health of the people, establish
standards, better define drugs, Im
prove the food ojppply. and promote
uniformity la the matter of food legis
lation.
PROSECUTIONS UNDER FOOD ^ND
DRUGS ACTS AND OTHER REG
ULATORY ACTS.
Prosecutions under the food and
drugs acts and other regulatory sta
tutes will be expedited and made
still more effective through co-opera
tion with the department of justice
whereby the solicitor will prepare
cases In the form of criminal infor
mations and place at the service of
the U. 8. District Attorneys in the
trial of cases the depafement's attor
neys who are thoroughly familiar
with the highly technical and technolo
gical aspects of many of these causes.
Under the food and drugs act, 1048
cases were transmitted to the depart
| ment of justice. Fines -amounting to
$23,463.50 were imposed in 596 crim
inal cases, and decrees of condemna
tion and forfeiture entered in 365 oth
er cases. Eight hundred and sixty
seven notices ofjudgement were pub
| lished. The courts have evinced a dis
position to impose, more severe penal
ties in food and drug cases. Under
the meat-inspection Act. 81 seeming
violations were reported and convic
tions secured in 64 cases, in seven car- I
rylng sentences of imprisonment. Un
der the live stock quarantine acts,
fines aggregating $10,275 were Im
posed in 93 cases. Under the Lacey
act regulating interstate traffic in
game, 154 cases were submitted, and
convictions secured, in 73 actions.
Upder the Insecticide act of 1910,, 108
cases were reported and 59 cases re
sulted in fines or condemnation. The
twenty-eight hour law governing the
shipment of live stock was vigorous
ly enforced; 1,037 apparent violations
were reported and penalties aggre
gating $61,695.
MARKETING,
In many directions further" produc
tion waits on better distribution, and
the field of distribution presents prob
lems which rose In every grave ways
simple issue, of justice. Under existing
conditions the farmer does not get
What he should for his product; the
consumer is requjfed to pay an un
fair price, and unnecessary burdens
are imposed under the existing sys
tems of- distribution. No dne can see
offhand just what part of the burden
is due to lack of systematic planning
or inefficiency, economic waste, or to
unfair manipulation. The report out
lines the projects in this field as cov
ering marketing surveys, methods and
costs of marketing, including avail
able market supplies in given produc
tion areas, demand at consuming cen
ters , cold and other methods of stor
age, marketing systems and prices,
and costs of wholesale and retail dis
tribution of farm products. Other
studies in this branch include; inves
tigation of transportation problems
and the elimination of waste In ship
ment, study of city marketing and dis
tribution, study of grade, and finally
co-operative production and market
ing. The necessity for standardizing
agricultural producU^as a prerequisite
to proper mark^tHlg is given special
emphasis. The adoption and univer
sal application of one uniform stand
ard for cotton would result in great
simplification of all transa'ctos and do
away with the complex methods of fig
uring buyers' limits. Practically the
same Yesults would follow and the
same evils would be removed if stand
ard grades for'corn were universally
adopted.
| The individual farmer acting alone
? is helpless before the problems of ru
ral credit and of marketing. Con
I certed action is essential. In co-op
oration does not mean that an organ
ization shall attempt to establish a
closed market and to fix prices. This
should be condemned as strongly in
one field of industry as in any other.
It is recommended that provisions
be made "for the establishment of
grading standards for various farm
| products and for the promulgation of
, the standards already established by
j the department for cotton and corn
grades.
RURAL CREDITSr?
Conditions vary widely In the United
States. Farmers do not equally need
better credit arrangements and all
sections are not similarly circum
stanced. The report cites the varia
tion"^ the interest paid by faigm&fs
on longhand short time loans as
among States and as among different
sections of tho same area. Among the
many factors entering into these varia
tions are climatic conditions, soil con
ditions, stability of industry, meth
ods of farming, distance from markets,
distance from centers of large wealth,
the nature of financial agencies
through which capital is secured.
When all necessary allowance has
been made for these fundamental fac
tors, It Is probably clear tha t the r >ir
ral communities are not as efficient
ly served as they should be by existing
financial arrangements. Long-time
loans are needed for permanent In
vestments, such as the purchase price
of a farm or for the erection of build
ings'. It Is wise economy to encour
age the extension of credit for safe
productive use, and no less wise to
discourage the use of capital along
nonproductive or speculative lines.
The rapid Increase In farm values and
the difficulties In securing land has
given impetus to the growth of the
renting system. It Is this tendency
that anggests the Importance of de
vising farm loans on terms such as
will enable the producers to make the
neceasmry payments on the interest
and principal, so far as possible, from
the returns of the land Itself.
The report also discusses short
time loans, buildings and loan associa
tions, land debentures, land mortgage
T>^nks and various other domestic and
foreign methods of rural Investment
and credit mechanisms. There does
not appear to be need for unique or
special legislation or for legislation
which shall aim to give the farmer
credit or easier terms than other mem
bers of society. What Is needed is
the creation of conditions and ma
chinery. which shall enable him on
similar credit foundations' to secure
money at the same rates as those that
prevail for other classes and for oth
er sections. 7
OTHER RURAL ORGANIZATION
" . PROBLEMS.
Even though the problem of how
the farmer can best sell his produce
and can Improve the conditions under
which he can secure the necessary cap
ital were solved, there would still
remain vital things to Be accomplish
ed before rural- life can be made ful
ly efficient, profitable, healthful, pleas
urable and attractive, and before a
larger disposition to remain on the
farm develops. Good roads are pre
requisite for better marketing, for
better schools, and for more comfort
able rural living. Better sanitation
and hygiene In the home. In the school
and in the community are just as vital
for the rural community as for the
urban.
ITO STUDY DISEASE? CARRYING
INSECTS WHICH AFFECTS AG
RICULTURE.
The effect of the malaria-carrying
mosquito on agricultural production
has been made the subject of investiga
tion on Southern plantation. Atten
tion will be given to other disease
transmitting insects such as the house
fly, stable fly, and spotted fever tick,
which have a bearing on the health of
rural 'populations. Satisfactory prog
ress has been made in a study to dis
cover means whereby the breeding of
fles in manure may be prevented with
out lessening its fertilizing value.
SOIL SURVEYS.
The value of the soli survey work
will be enlianched by glvjng prece
dence in surveys to those States which
offer active co-operation nineteen
states during the past year have en
tered Into this plan. Rconnaissance
surveys will be confined to classifica
tion of agricultural'lands in the nation
al forests and the undeveloped areas
of the the community.
THE FARM PROBLEM.
I To gain information that wouM en- j
able the department better to sorve
rural women, the secretary addresses
letters of Inquiry to the women on 55,
000 selected farms covering every |
county. Other surveys and studies
were also conducted. Analysis. of the j
small part of the lettefs as yet digest
ed shows that farm women desire as- {
slstance in all phases of home man-',
agement. especially as to ways of se- |
curing running water, Introducing '
household power machinery and labor
saving arrangments, and providing bet
ter hygienic and sanitary conditions
; Many seek advice as to the better mar
keting of the articles they produce.
| Others ask the department to proVe to
; the man that their work is worth
something in dollars and cents. The
overwork of women and children and
difficulty of securing domestic help are
mentioned by a number of the writers.
These letters have furnished valuable
sugestions for constructive work In
this field. The department believes
that Intelligent help to women In mat
ters of home management will con
tribute directly to the agricultural suc
cess of the farm. It purposes, there
fore, to ask Congress for means and
authority to make complete studies of
domestic conditions on the farm, to
experiment with labor-saving devices
and methods, and' to study completely
the questions of practical sanitation
and hygienic protection for the farm
family. - v
RELATIONS WITH STATE COLLEG- '
ES AND 8TATIONS. j
To eliminate duplication of effort
and friction and bring about greater
co-ordination between the State land
grant colleger and experiment stations
And the department, several confer
ences were held witfr\ representatives
of these Institutions. The executive
committee and the secretary signed a
memorandum formulating certain
views. In substance this memoran
dum holds that the Federal depart
ment's primary function Is to under
take the study of problems and regu
latory work that are more particularly^
regional. Interstate and international
In character and that upon the Btatlon
should rest the responsibility of in
vestigating problems within its state.
Provision is made for union exort
where co-operation seems necessary
Committees on projects and correla
tion of work, relations and publication
of research will be appointed to bring
about closer relations. . It was agreed
that the extension and demonstration'
service through which information is
carried directly to the people should
be administered under the Immediate
direction of the colleges; that exten
sion service projects maintained by
Federal funds should be entered upon
only after mutual approval by the de
partment and the colleges and that
Federal funds be distributed and ex
pended under proper federal check;
and that extension appropriations by
the States be under State control, The
Congress will be asked to provide nec
essary legislation which is embodied
In the Smith-Lever bill to stabllsh ma-'
chinery for extension work through
out the States, bring about a decen
tralization In this work and' enable the
department to conduct this service
with the full co-operation of the agri
cultural colleges. Legislation where
by the department, the colleges and the
stations may co-ordinate their re
search activities and avoid duplication
of work should be enacted. The de
partment Is of the opinion that in the
administration of the Hatch and Adam
acts. It will regard unwarranted
change in the personnel and unneces
sary Interruption of projects as call
ing for inquiry and possibly warrant
ing the withholding of funds.
FEDERAL ROAD POLICIES.
There has been a steady movement
for better roads during the past 20
years, and today about 34 States have
highway commissions or some other
State highway agency. The total an
nual expenditure of the States for con
struction and maintainance of roads
which ten years ago amounted to but
$2,000,000, has grown to $43,000,000 in
j 1912. The Federal Government should
take th? lead in investigational and
experimental work, and there is need
for a central agncy which can furnish
lowest information on all problems of
road building and maintenance. Re
cently Congress made an appropria
tion of $500,000, for improving post
roads, expenditure to be contingent on
the appropriation of double^the amount
of money by the State or local subdivi
sion. If Federal aid Is to be further
extended in highway development, leg
islation to that end should incorporate
this co-operative principle. The Fed
eral Government should deal with the
State as the lowest unit, through an
expert highway commissioner as its
agency. The plan should provide for
maintenance as well as construction.
Preference should be given to the im
provement of roads over which prod
ucts from the farms can be taken to i
the nearest railway station. A scheme j
of road construction and maintenance
within a State should be developed and j
mutually agreed upon. Money appro
priated by the Federal Government ,
should be apportioned on the basis of
such factors as total population, farm !
population, area, taxable valuation. |
and mileage. *
POWT3TR AND RSCRKATIONA*
MITS IN THE NATIONAL FORESTS
The National ForestB are being clas- j
sifted to segregate lands valuable for I
agriculture and to establish "perman- .
ent boundaries for timber production
and water proceo.'li \ The earnings
froifl theit* timh?v sales and of bar ?
sources increased $300,000, or 15 per j
cent over 1912. The forests should !
produce all the timber they can and
supply tfie public need at the lowest
possible cost under conditions that pro
tect the public against monopoly.
Seventy-six water power projects
have been developed and thirty more
are under consideration. The law |
permitting only a revocable franchise j
should be changed to allow a 50-year
permit for power purposes, under pro- '
visions protecting investor and the
pubtife.
Future use of the 167 million acres,
which does not Interfere with more
important employment, should be en
couraged; the people should get the
highest net total of recreational
other benefits from them. 15,000 spec
ial permits for various purposes are
In force, and last yeear over 1,500,999
visitors made recreational use of the
forests. Legislation Is needed to allew
term permits for the construction ef
hotels and cottages and for certaia
recreational use of the forests, with
safeguards against damage, vandal
ism and contamination of water. 1,
200 cities and towns now draw their
water supply from these watershed*.
Adequate legal authority te
prevent water pollution and permit
sanitary regulation o( watersheds is
sorely needed.
THE CROP OUTLOOK.
Special emphasis is laid on the fact
that the figures for crops quoted are
estimates, and it is pointed out that
this fact should be constantly kept la
mind. From the estimates at hand It
appears that the production of croqa
In 1913 was materially below the aver
age, tht yield per acre of all crops
combined being smaller than in aajr
past decade with the exception ?t
1911. The corn crop, the most val
uable product of this country, accord
ing to the estimates fell belftw 2,60#,
000,000 bushels, which Is smaller than
any crop since 1903. Wheat produc
tion, with an estimate total of 753, 009,
000 bushels, Is the largest ever record
ed In this country. This crop was
matured beore the drought became ef
fective. Brief mention Is made as te
crop conditions throughout the world.
Prom the estimates it apears that
there were increased areas sown to
wheat, oats, barley, rye, and corn, aad
that the wheat acreage has probably
yielded a record out-turn. Barley,
oats, and rye are bountiful crops, but
corn will probably give the poorest
result in zO^ears.
Homy Kln^s on Liquor Dealers.
Ashevllle, Dec. 2. ? The investiga
ting of the alleged illegal traffic in
whiskey which has been conducted by
Judge Frank Carter here for the past
several weeks, came to an abrupt close
this morning when the presiding of
ficer announced that the defendants
in the various cases have agreed to
pay the heaviest fines ever imposed in
a North Carolina court for a similar
offense, donate their intoxicants to
the Mission Hospital tor use In the
charity wards, destroy barroom fix
tures in their possession and refrain
from the sale of whiskey for the nex^
three years.
Under the terms or the compro
mise a fine of $4,000 is imposed on
John H. Lange and Gay Green, the
former paying $2,66 .67 and, the lat
ter being assessed with $1,333.13
James L. Alexander pays a fine of $2,
000. J. Bayliss Rector pleads guilty
and judgement is suspended for three
years. D. Macon McKay forfeits his
liquor license and agrees never to ap
ply for another and a similar entry
is made in the case of F. F. McMul
Icn.
I The costs of investigation amount
it g' to approximately $1,500 are divid
ed equally among Messrs. Alexander
Green and Lange. Each of the de
fendants pleat &u:.ty <c two charges
of violations of the prohibition laws,
judgement Jung entered in one case
and being suspended for three years
in the other. The announcement came
as a surprise to the witnesses and
court attendants who w6re present
at the morning session of the court
and when Judg-* Carter immediately
alter court convened remarked, "Gen
tlemen somebody has seen the judge
i and these investigations are about to
?Icp. The situation w?r* tense.
Following the announcement that
t:>c defendants ha.e agreed to accent
tfie twins outlined by the cj'irt ^fuclge
? Carter stated i1 at no fuither'pio
jceedlngs will be instituted against tho
defendants in the present investiga
tion although he made it clear that
the ending of this phase of the in
vestigation docs not mean that he
; will not investigate prescription files
in an effort to learn whether or not
1 physicians have been writing pre
scriptions for persons other than bona
fide patients.
Wins Another Trip.
I The Missouri State Life Insurance
Company has a plan of giving prises
for the efforts of its agents each year
or quartor and it has been the espec
ial distinction of Mr. W. D. Egerton
their efficient agent here to win in ad
dition to the trip to Mackinac Islands
tlie past summer to win another to
Columbia, S. C., to attend a banquet
given the successful agents the latter
part of this weetL Mr. Egerton left
Wednesday and will be out of town
several days. The winning of these
trips speaks well for Ite'Kgerton, and
come as a- just reward for the special
energies he is putting forth.