Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-03-27
THE oOvEENOn,s MESSAGE

10 the Legislature Convened In Special
session to Stamp Out the Foot and Mouth
TOLae Legislature:
It was with great reluctance and hes
station that I issued a proclamation
Z converting you In special session. / was
apprehenslve that your body and the
people might not fully appreciate the
gravity of the situation and the import
Rnce of such action. The proclamation
converting you fully explains my reasons
for my sction. Additional outbreaks of
the cattle disease confirm me in the opin-
ion that such call was absolutely impera-
tive.
/ was notified by Hon. D. W. Finney
that peculiar and highly-contagious af-
lection had attacked the cattle in the
vicinity of Neosho Falls, and that the
disease was supposed to be epizootic
aphtha, or the foOt-and-mouth disease.
AS soon as this information was re-
ceived was satisfied if it was that dis
ease that the effect would be disastrous
to the livestock interests of the State,
and materially affect all other industries,
If it was not at once eradicated. I at
once asked Brigadier General Augur,
Commander of the Department of the
Missouri, if he would send me the veteri-
nary surgeon employed at Fort Leaven-
worth, and he readily and cheerfully
complied with my request by permitting
DR.. A. A. Holcombe, an educated and &C
complished veterinary surgeon of the ..
s. Army, to report to me for orders.
/ also advised Gen. Geo. B. Loring,
Commissioner of Agriculture, of the
nature of the supposed disease. and re-
Quested him also to detail veterinary
surgeon to make an investigation of the
nature of the disease, and he complied
st once by detailing DR.. M. r. Trum-
bower, of his department, for the pur-
pose of making an investigation. Both
gentlemen have been at NeoshO Falls
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 stock against the attacks or
spread OF the COntagiOn.
The citizens of the infected district
have shown a commendable zeal in
Quarantining infected herds and locali-
ties, and have co-operated with the
veterinary surgeons in all practical meas
ures to prevent the spread of this disease.
The Executive made two visits to the
infected locality, and has rendered all
the aid possible in this emergency; but
he is absolutely 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
destruction, in any manner except by
advice and suggestions. All that has
been done and accomplished has been
done by the voluntary action and assist
ance of the good people in the infected
localities. They have been liberal in
their contributions of money, labor and
time, and energetic and Vigilant in try
ing to enforce quarantine regulations.
There being no law authorizing the
Executive or any other department Of
the State or local government, to aid, as
sist or enforce quarantine 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
infection cannot be stopped or eradicate
ed. 1t will involve our entire cattle and
sheep interests, and cause incalculable
loss. 1t will strike down and practically
destroy the cattle interests of our State,
which are now assuming vast proper
tions and giving immense financial re-
turns on the capital invested. The num-
Der of cattle in the State is now nearly
two million head, which has been in
creased during the year 1888 nearly 200,-
600 head, valued at 100000, with a
total value now of at least $50 100000.
I am advised, and investigation 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 in the next Ifinety days, and that
that large sum of money will be paid to
the cattle growers of this State, If their
cattle are not Quarantined against by
other States and countries on account Of
the prevailing disease.
In this connection I call attention to
the following extract from my biennial
message of January, 1888:
'The livestock interests Of our State
are of vast importance, and are becoming
more important and valuable yearly, and
IN the near future will constitute the
foundation of more real prosperity and
wealth than perhaps any other interest.
ave have all the advantages that rem
der stock-raising profitable, and the in
terest is rapidly growing into vast pro-
portions, and laying the foundation for a
solid and enduring prosperity In our
State that will place it in the front rank
Vi meat pi OuuClAS COUAAUlA 0S AZ Iti0 "OtiOS
and will bring more money into the
State than any other industry that can
be established within our borders.
az learn from the Office of the Secreta-
ny of our State Board of Agriculture that
at the present time there are in our State
I,404, 48S head of neat cattle, valued at
SAC, 1872 ,408; swiue, POS, 6S3 head, valued
at ST., 2S6, $50; sheep, 9S0,767 head, and
valued at 50, 942, Boil This vast number
of meat producing animals is not 1.-THE
of what our State is capable of produc-
ing. This interest is capable of being in-
creased to such vast proportions, and OF
being the foundation of so much wealth
oo1 S1rOevor;t1, +bot A. &c I'm pOrfopt thot