The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-12-03
Report Of the Commissioner OF Agri.
culture.


Commissioner lie Due, in his annual report,
strongly recommends that new building for
the Department of Agriculture be erected. The
plans of the proposed structure have already
been finished. In appearance the building, rs
shown in the plan, reminds one Of the pictures
Of the Sydenham Crystal Palace. The offices
and work-rooms Of the department are ar
ranged upon the four sides of a hollow parallel
ogram 1000 feet in length by 500 feet in
depth, the Enclosed space to be made q conser-
vatory for the preservation of specimens of
plants and trees valuable for economic or orna-
mental purposes which can be grown in any
portion Of the country. 1t Is proposed to place
these in the space allotted to the States where
they can be the most easily and prohtatly
grown. An exhibition Of agricultural imple-
ments to be furnished by the manufacturers is
also provided for.
Commissioner LIE Due will use his influence
in opposition to tie scheme Of the stock-raisers
and cattle-dealers to get an appropriation from
Congress for the investigation Of diseases Of
animals. This work the Commissioner saws has
been progressing under the auspices Of his
department for the last two or three years,
and has been performed by the most renowned
and skillful veterinary surgeons in the land.
The original work il in fact nearly finished,
and all that the proposed commission could
do would be to- go over the same ground
again. As a result Of the work performed by
the agents Of the department bill is now
pending before the Senate Committee on Ag-
riculture embodyng the remedial suggestions
of the gentlemen who have conducted the
investigation. This bill was introduced last
April by Senator Johnston, who says he will
endeavor to secure its passage at the approach
ing session of Congress. BY its provisions il
ia r1nH do N off nnniobo hIa Inv I'm
prisonment for any person to deliver for trans
portation, or for any railroad official to receive
for transportation, live cattle affected with any
infectious disease, and especially with con-
tagious pleuro-pneumonia. Section provides
for a commission to be composed of the Com
missioner of Agriculture the Second Assist
ant Secretary of State and the Second Assist
ant Secretary Of the Treasury, whose duty
1t shall be TO take measures for the suppression
oil infectious and contagious diseases of domes-
tic animals. Appropri .tions to be made by
Congress are 10 be awarded to the several
States which shall signify their acceptance of
the rules and regulations formed by the board
in sums sufficient to purchase all diseased ami
mails at two-thrds the value of sound animals
which diseased animals are to be slaughtered.
Commissioner LIE Due says the investIga-
tons Of the agents Of the department have
resulted in the discovery of the present ter
rito-'ial limits OF the pleuro- pneumonia, and
remediable. 1t is gradually, but very slowly
extending south, being communicated from
farm to farm Its eradication, he believes, may
be easily accomplished but 1t can only be done
by killing all diseased animals and all who have
been exposed to the disease. comparatively
small sum will be sufficient to accomplish this
now. Among the later results of the work
of the veterinary su geons working under
the auspices Of the Department of
Agriculture, and which have not
yet been published, are the following; DR..
ID. L. Salmon has made some valuable discov-
cries i'll regard to chicken-cholera. Prof.
James Law has been experimenting to see if a
diluted preparation of the virus of the swne-
plague will not give the animal slight
attack of the disease, resulting in the ex-
emption of the animal from the more Sc
rous attack. He has met with only partial
success. DR.. II. j. Detmers OH the other
hand, has been experimenting with prevent
ives, and believes he has met with success
There is no remedy for the disease, but the dis
covery OF a preventive, If it is effective, Will
save many millions annually. new disease
has also been discovered. It's presence was not
suspected until it was noticed that the English
Government scheduled American cattle and
sheep. 1t is known as apthous fever, or the
foot-and-mouth disease. Sheep, cattle, hogs,
horses and poultry are all liable to the attacks
of this disease, and as long it exists animals
shipped from American ports are liable to he
placed at disadvantage in the European
markets