466 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



enjoying the best the land affords, yet crying for more, more! The 

 scheme to impose upon the country some two thousand uplifters (one 

 in each county in the country) did not originate from farmers, but 

 was promoted by a number of railroad officials, bankers, politicians, 

 a few editors and manufacturers styling themselves "The National 

 Fertility League," through their activities had the Smith Lever bill 

 passed. It is quite surprising to know how the farmers are esteemed 

 these days and tickled like aphids are by ants to yield up sweet se- 

 cretions to their tormentors. 



Now that there is some show of prosperity in some lines of agri- 

 culture due to European conditions, it is worth while to watch Con- 

 gress where the demand will be for appropriations and more appro- 

 priations for a variety of uses — good, bad and indifferent — only to 

 increase the cost of extravagance and burden upon the honest in- 

 dustry. 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON COUNTRY LIFE 



It is six years since the then President (the same who may be 

 again President) reported after traversing many states and collecting 

 information through circulars on the condition of agriculture and 

 rural life. 



Among the recommendations to improve conditions are the follow- 

 ing: Schoolhouse meetings, the preservation of natural resources, 

 preservation of forests and streams, etc. 



They condemn the holding of land for speculative purposes, mo- 

 nopolistic control of water power, restraint of trade, and, in a gen- 

 eral way, trusts, combinations and monopolies, also intemperance. 



In this way they touched a vital spot on economical problems 

 which was not appreciated by the beneficiaries of the so-called "men 

 of affairs," so that instead of publishing the report in detail for gen- 

 eral circulation as a public document it was confined to a limited 

 issue for members of Congress. 



The representatives in Congress and agents of "Divine Providence" 

 evidently saw that it reflected upon special interests, promoters and 

 speculators who did not care to see it published to the world that 

 American farmers are exploited by combinations of capital, transpor- 

 tation, mining and manufacturing interests. 



The commission received the same compensation that many of us 

 receive only having their expenses paid. 



With a view to get the report before the public and obtain a little 

 compensation for their time the commission placed the report in the 

 hands of a publishing house, and any profit derived from the publi- 

 cation accrues to the members of the commission. 



Sturgis & Walton Company, N. Y., are the publishers. 



REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC GEOLOGIST 



By BAIRD HALBERSTADT, F. G. S. 



During the eight years of my encumbency of the office of Consulting 

 Specialist in the Department of Mineralogy and Geology, fully ninety 

 per cent. (90%) of the specimens of minerals forwarded to me from 



