The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-03-28
KANSAS STATE NEWS.
Message Of the Governor to the Extra ses-
sion of the Legislature Upon the Cattle

4
sion OF the Legislature Upon the Cattle
Plague.
To the Legislature:
1t was with great reluctance and hesitation
that issued proclamation converting y0l
in special session. was apprehensive tha
your body and the people might not fully ap
preciate the gravity of the situation and the
Importance of such action. The proclama
ton converting you fully explains my reason
FOR my action. Additional outbreaks of the
cattle disease confirm me in the opinion tina,
such call was absolutely imperative. ! was
notified by Hon. ID. W. Finney that peculiar
and highly contagious affection had attacked
the cattle in the vicinity of Neosho Falls, and
and that the disease was supposed to be cpl
zootic aphtha, or the foOt-and-mouth disease.
As soon as this information was received /
was satisfied If twas that disease that the effect
would be disastrous to the live stock interests
Of the State and materially affect other indus
| tries, III it was not at once eradicated. at
once asked Brigadier-General Augur, Com
nander of the Department of the Missouri, If
he would send me the veterinary surgeon EN-
ployed at Fort Leavenworth, and he readily
and cheerfully complied with my request by
permitting DIR. A. A. Ho,combe. an educated
and accomplished veterinary surgeon of the
| United states army, to report to me for orders.
| also advised General George b.
Lorlng, Commissioner of Agriculture, of
quested him also to detail a veterinary surgeon
| to make an investigation of the nature of the
disease. and he complied at once by detailing
DIR. NJ. X. Trumbower of his department for
the purpose of making such investigation
Both gentlemen have been at Neosho Pals
| and other localities where diseased animals
were reported to be; They have done faithtul
and energetic work; aided in establishing
quarantine regulations, advising the people
as TO the best and most efficient means for the
protection of their stocks against the attacks
or spread of the contagion.
The citizens of the infected district
have shown commendable zeal i'm
quarantining infected herds and localities
and have co-operated with the veteri-
nary surgeons in all practicable meas
ures to prevent the spread of this disease.
The Executive made two visits to the in
possible in this emergency; but he is abso-
lutely helpless In adopting or enforcing any
measures to prevent the spread, or stamp out
this infectious disease, or help the people who
have appealed to him for aid and assistance
to protect their stock from the threatened de-
struction, in any manner except by advice
and suggestions. All that has been done and
accomplished has been done by the voluntary
action and assistance of the good people in
the infected localities. They have been lib
eral in their contributions of money labor
and time, and energetic and vigilant in trying
to enforce quarantine regulations. There
being no law authorizing the Executive or
any other department of the State or local
Government to aid, assist or enforce quaran-
tine or sanitary regulations, this state of
affairs cannot long continue. Spring is here
Feed is becoming scarce, and will compel the
turning of cattle on pastures and ranches.
When this is done, the spreading OF the infec-
ton cannot be stopped or eradicated. 1t will
involve our entire cattle and sheep interests
and cause incalculable loss. 1t will strike
down and practically destroy the cattle indus
tries of our State, which are now assuming
vast proportions and giving immense financial
returns to the capital invested. The number
of cattle I'm the State is now nearly 10000
year 1883 nearly 100000 head, valued at
S9.UOOO0, with a total value now of at least
S5OOOO,0o l am advised, and investigation
h an c0Gx inG d me .9at there are at Least
cattle that are now. or will be ready for
the market i'm the next ninety days. and that
large sums of money will be paid to the cat
not quarantined against by other States and |
countries on account of the prevailing dis |
case.
In this connection call attention to the
following extract from my biennial message |
of January, 1883:
1.-The live stock interests of our state are of |
vast Importance, and are becoming more i'm |
portant and valuable yearly, and i'm the near |
future will constitute the foundation of more /
real prosperity and wealth than perhaps any |
other interest. We have all the advantages
that render stock raising profitable, and the |
interest is rapidly growing into vast proper.
tons, and laying the foundation for a solid
and enduring prosperity in our State that
will place 1t in the front rank of meat-produc-
ing countries in the world, and wifi bring
more money into the State than any other in
1ustry that can be established within our bor-
1erS. i learn from the office of the Secretary |
Of our State Board of Agriculture that at the
present time there are in our State 1,404, ass
head of neat cattle, valued ut $40, la HOS; swine
~ GSl head. valued at $l2,1 $50: sheep, 9S0,
i6i head, and valued at s29422, ;0l. This vast
number of meatprOducing animals is not a !
1.-THE of what our State is capable of prOduc- |
ing. This interest is capable of being increased
to such vast proportions and of being the |
of so much wealth and prosperity |
that it is important that it should have what
ever Legislative announcement and protection
that can be given to ii SO that ii shall
be protected against destruction by con-
agiOus, epizootic or other infectious diseases
hat come silently and Unexpectedly and
without warning, and that may lay waste to
he fiocks and herds of the State, and destroy
millions of dollars worth of property. with no
power to stay the stream of devastation This
factor in our State is not
affected materially by floods or drouth or the |
contingencies of sun or sky. and
lence II is certain in its reward to him who |
hus adds wealth to the State and fur
fishes meat for the markets of the world and |
hus supplies money for our people when
,ercal crops fail. 1t is not, therefore, too
much for the stock-raisers of the State to ask |
hat an industry of such vast capabilities and
worth so many millions of money to the State
hould have some protection against the dam
,erOGS and destructive diseases that NAV Law
waste TO so much valuable property. would.
recommend that you provide by |
aw for the appointment of a State Veterina- |
ian in connection with the State Board of Az
iculture, who shall be charged with the duty ,
II looking after and aiding the people in pro- |
Getting the live stock against contagious dis |
asses. warning them of their approach and di- ,
Getting what remedies to use and the proper .
anitary methods to adopt as a means of
harding Off and protecting the live stock of
ne State against the introduction and spread
ng of dangerous GiSeaSeS-a precautiOn rem
cred more important on account of the Law
flowing cattle to roam unreStraincd i'm the i
tate, and thus more rapidly and effectually
preadng Obstructive diseases among them"
On the 10th of March DR.. Hoicombe made a t
eport to me OF the nature and character of I
he disease, and of its disastrous effects i'm
ase it should obtain a foothOld in this State '
he concluding portion of his report is as fol- |
,ws:
1.-The infected district has been surrounded
nth quarantine notices. but to all intents
nd purposes they are imperative. That the s
isease will appear in other herds unless eff
atent to all who are acquainted with the past b
istOry of foot and mouth disease. In my opin- | ,
IN the infected herds should all be destro.;ed,
nd the infected premises quarantined against I
IL cattle, sheep and dogs for a period of a
ne year. The bedding. manure, hay, fodder,
.nces, etc, should be destroyed with the cat
e and the stables thoroughly cleaned and n
isinfectcd. The disease is now SO near to s
re great cattle ranges of the West, to which 3
may readily be carried, and where its 9
sastrous effects would be incalculable and | '
S eradication impossible, that any delay of =
ction1s most dangerous to the great interest .
stake"
This dangerous condition of affairs is alarm I
lg, and is rapidly depreciating the value of r
nr cattle. and requires vigorous, de-
siye action to stamp out the disease v
such action is had by the legislature as
he gravity of the situation requires, the
DIRK of eradication may be speedily accom- IL
ished and made effective, and security for o
lie future secured. The measures to be o.
1opted and the means to be EMPLOYED are 9
ALTERS entirely for your Judgment to dictate, b
ut hope l may not be regarded as presump- n
lous If offer some suggestions as to the .
ecessary methods to pursue. 1t is important d