Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-03-28
KANSAS STATE NEWS.
Message Of the Governor to the Extra ses-
sion of the Legislature Upon the Cattle

Plague.
! To The legislature.
IL was with great reluctance and hesitation
that issued a proclamation converting you
I'm special session. 1 was apprehensive that
your body and the people might not fully an.
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 that
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 Fails, and
and that the disease was supposed to be cpl
Eootic aphtha, or the foot-and-mouth disease
AZ soon as this information was received 1
was satisfied lfitwas that disease that the effect
would be disastrous to the live stock interests
of the State and materially affect other indus
tries, II il was not at once eradicated. ut
once asked Brigadier-General Augur Com
/ mander Of the Department Of the Missouri. IL
he would send me the veterinary surgeon en-
ployed ut Fort Leavenworth, and he readily
and cheerfully complied with Iny request by
permitting DIR. A. A. Holcombe. an educated
and accomplished veterinary surgeon OF the
United States army, to report TO me for orders
| also advised General George b.
/ LorIng, Commissioner of Agriculture of
the nature of the supposed disease and re-
/ quested him also to detail n veterinary surgeon
1 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 Ncosho Fails
and other localities where diseased animals
/ were reported TO be. They have done faithful
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.
/ nj tod rfpf
have shown commendable zeal in
/ 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
fected locality, and has rendered all the aid
| possible in this emergency; but he is ahsos
lutely helpless in adopting or enforcing any
! measures to prevent the spread, or stamp out
j 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
s seSiGn ana assistance OF the good people in
/ eral in their contributions of money, labor
and time, and energetic and vigilant In trying
/ 10 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 in the State is now nearly 100000
head, which has been increased during the
| year 1888 nearly 100000 head, valued at
! $9OOO,OO0 with a total value now of ut least
1 kDO.UUlOD. i advised and
has convinced me that there are at least
ten million dollars worth of fatted
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
tie growers of this State, If their cattle are
not quafantined against by other States and
countries on account OF the prevailing dis
ease.
In this connection call attention to the
| Following extract from my biennial message
| of January, 1883: ..
''The live stock interests of our State are of
| vast Importance, and are becoming more i'm
portant and valuable yearly, and in 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 prop0r.
| lions, and laying the foundation for Il solid
and enduring prosperity in our State that
| Will place II in the front rank of meat-produc-
ing countries in the world, and wifi bring
more money into the State than any other in
dustry that can be established within oiir bor.
ders. learn from the Office of the Secretary
OF our State Board of Agriculture that at the
present time there are in our State ,404, 4SS
head of neat cattle, valued at $40 182 40S; swine
~, 1888 head, valued at $l2 2S6, $50; sheep, $780,
767 head, and valued at $2,942 30l. 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
foundation of so much wealth and prosperity,
that 1t is important that 1t should have what
ever Legislative encouragement and protection
that can be given to it so that it shall
be protected against destruction by con-
tagious, epizootic or other infectious diseases
that come silently and Unexpectedly and
without warning, and that may lay waste IN
the. hoeks ard herds 81 the State, and destroy
millions of dollars worth of property, with no
power to stay the stream of devastation. This
wealth-producing factor in our State is not
affected materially by floods or drouth or the
capricious contingencies or sun or sky. and
; hence Il Is certain in its reward to him who
nishes meat for the markets of the world, and
thus supplies money for our people when
cereal crops fail. 1t is not, therefore, too
much for the st0ck-raisers of the State to ask
that an industry of such vast capabilities and
worth so many millions of money to the State
Eerous and destructifts DISEASES thai NAV law
waste To So much valuable property. i would,
therefore, recommend that you provide by
law for the appointment of q State Veterina-
rian in connection with the State Board of Ag-
riculture, who shall be charged with the duty
of looking after and aiding the people in pro-
tecting the live stock hghinst cbntaglOus dis
eases, warning them of their approach and di-
recting what remedies to use and the proper
sanitary methods to adopt as a means of
warding of and protecting the live stock of
the State against the Introduction and spread
ing of dangerous diseases-a precaution rem
dered more important on account of the law
: allowing cattle to roam unrestrained in the
state, and thus more rapidly and ehectually
spreading Obstructive diseases am0nE thcfn.'
On the 10th of March DIR. Holcombe made a
report to me of the nature and character of
the disease, and of its disastrous effects in
case il should obtain foothold in this State.
In fol
lows:
''The infected district has been surrounded
with quarantine notices but to all intents
and purposes they are imperative. That the
| disease will appear In other herds unless eff
Client measures OF eradication are adopted, Is
patent TO all who are acquainted with the past
history OF foot and mouth disease. In my opin-
ion the infected herds should all be destroyed,
and,the infected premises quarantined against
all cattle, sheep and dogs for a period of
one year. The bedding. manure, hay, fodder,
fences, etc, should be destroyed with the cat
tie and the stables thoroughly cleaned and
disinfected. The disease Is now so near to
the great cattle ranges of the West, to which
Il may readily be carried, and where its
disastrous effects would be incalct1lable. and
its eradication impossible, that any delay of
action is most dangerous to the great interest
at stake"
This dangerous caHdition of affairs is alarm
ing, and is rapidly deprecidtins the value of
our cattle, and requires vigorous. de-
cisive action to stamp out the disease
II such action is had by the legislature as
the gravity of the situation requires. the
work Of eradication may be speedily accom-
plished and made effective, and security for
the future secured. The pleasures to be
adopted and the means to be employed are
matters entirely for your judgment to dictate
but hope may not be regarded as presump-
| tuous IL offer Some suggestions as to the
necessary methods to pursds. IL is important
that the State should at all times have in ite
employ an educated, competent and faithful
veterinary surgeon, whose duties should DC
fully and clearly defined by law. The tenure
of Office shoIiid be three or four years and
, the salary should be afhple enough to secure
a lrst-class man. With a short tenure and
small salary, neither object can be Secured
Ample provision should be provided for QUAR-
antfning stock brought to this State from
other States or countries where infectious OF
contagious diseases exist, so as to secure the
utmost Immunity against the introduction OF
such plaques In the future. The moving
about the country, selling or turning
on the highways or commons, animals
afflicted with contagious or infectious
diseases. should ,,,d De .r,d made sFim