Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-27
FROM WiAsHiNoiToN.
InroRrED CATTLE.
The Question Of AccOmmOdating Them
Outside the Regular Quarantine.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.
The acting secretary of the treasury has
prepared circular letter in regard to the
accommodation OF imported cattle outside the
regular quarantine stations, of which the fol-
lowing is a copy:
Sir: enclose. for your consideration,
request from Mr.. William Kpoch. that the
secretary of the treasury will permit six head
of Swiss cattle, now in quarantine at Garfield
to be transferred to the owners farm on
Staten Island. Similar requests have been
received for the transfer OF cattle from the
quarantine station at Walrham. Mass, near
Boston, to the farms of the owners in Yer
mont. Such requests are frequent, and it is
quite natural that each importer of cattle
should desire that his herd be excepted from
the general rule requiring that imported cat
tie be kept in quarantine 80 days from the
day Of shipment. Each importer is sure that
he can provide for his own stock cheaper and
better than the government can provide for
them. and he is equally sure that his cattle
are free from infection, and that he can keep
them so better than the government can. At
every meeting. however, of the breeders and
dealers in cattle, all agree that the quarantine
system should be maintained, and Congress
has provided for its maintenance. The sys-
TEN is new and Its Inauguration 10 attended
with many embarrassmsnts. The amount of
money appropriated for the purpose is lin
tied, and importers uncoDsiderately bring
their cattle into port with little or no notice
of approach. During the present season two
or three times a. many cattle have been i'm
ported as could have been reasonably expect
ed from the importation of former seasons.
1t is evident that this system cannot be ad-
ministered by making exceptions to general
rules unless such exceptions are imparatively
demanded. BY the department circular of
July 80, 1888, it is provided THAT where
there are more cattle for quarantine than the
regular government stations can accommo-
date. special arrangements fo- quarantine
outside of the stations may be made by the
collector of the port where they arrive, upon
consultation with the cattle commissioner or
the superintendent in charge" You will OBJ
serve that the responsibility Of this latter
rests upon the collector of the port in whose
immediate custody the quarantine stations
and the cattle therein are placed. While it
is desired that the collector shall be in con-
slant communication with the cattle commits =
sion, and that he should act in harmony with
their views, they will not assume to make
orders with regard to the cattle; and this de-
partment will issue no instructions regarding
the quarantining of cattle or for their trans
fer from one station to another, or to any
otner place, except through the collector OF
the port where stations are crowded The
department will rely upon the collectors at
the respective ports to make such arrange
ments for quarantining cattle outside of the
station as the circumstances of each case
shall seem to require, holding itself always
ready to advise the collectors should they re-
quest advice upon the subject. A copy of
this letter will be sent to Mr.. Knoch, and
such other parties as have made or shall here
after make application for quarantine accom-
mediation for their cattle outside of the regu-
lar quarantine stations.