126 Third Annual Report of the 



profits in their vocation than those whom they feed when the 

 latter supply less than 31 per cent, of the exports of the country? 



I believe in the immediate future in a general improvement in 

 business and that our farming population, in common with all the 

 people, will see much better times. The tillable area of the United 

 States, and particularly of that of old States like the State of New 

 York, that can be used for farming purposes, is very largely occu- 

 pied. In fact, the increase in total acreage in the immediate future, 

 as compared with the increase of population, will be very small. 

 This, within the next twenty years, must readily enhance the value 

 of good farm land, particularly in States like this, near and within 

 easy reach of the great markets of this country and all the ocean 

 ports where our farm products must come for export. We have 

 within our own borders certainly the greatest market of this 

 continent for farm products^ and in no distant future the greatest 

 market of the world. 



It should be the aim and care of those having charge of the 

 work of this Department to foster the interests and, by wise legis- 

 lative enactments^ secure to our people the benefit at all times of 

 unadulterated, pure foods and farm products. In this age and 

 generation when there is such a scramble to get rich and a tend- 

 ency to impose fraudulent products upon the people, there is no 

 one thing requiring more constant surveillance than the articles of 

 food which enter into the every day consumption of each family 

 in the land. The public interests and the public health demand 

 that this should be carried out in the strictest way, and in this 

 necessary surveillance the work of this Department will neces- 

 sarily be extended and increased from time to time. I believe, in 

 fact, that all food products should be put under the inspection of 

 this Department, and that ultimately they will be. 



I have been met at all times with a courteous and kindly spirit 

 by the Assistant Commissioners and employes of this Department, 

 and there has been an evident determination upon the part of all 

 our employes to make my incumbency of the ofiice as pleasant as 

 jwssible. I believe that no Department of the State service hav- 

 ing an equal number of employes as ours has had a more thor- 



