The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-03-20
THE GovERNoR's MESSAGE.
The suggestions Of His ExeeIIency to the
Legislature Regarding the Pur-
pose OF the Extra Session.

4
| apprehensive that your body and the
people might not fully appreciate the
| gravity OF the situation and the impOr-
lance OF such action. The proclamation
conVening you fully explains my reasons
tor my action. Additional outbreaks OF
the cattle disease confirm me in the
| opinion that such call was absolutely
imperative.
i was not fi,d by Hon. D. w. Finney
that q peculiar and highly-contagious
affection had attacked the cattle in the
vicinity of NeOsho Falls, and that the
| disease was supposed 10 be epiZootic
! aphtha, or the foot and mouth disease.
As soon as this information was re-
ceived / was satisfied if 1t was that dis
ease that the effect would be disastrous
to the live stock interests OF the state
and materially affect all other industries.
at once asked Brig Gen. Augur, com
maDder of the department of the Mis-
/ souri,, if he would send me the veterIn-
AIRY surgeon employed At Fort Le1Ven-
worth, and he readily and cheerfully
complied with my request by permitting
| DR.. A. A Holcombe, an educated and
accomplished veterinary surgeon of the
| U B army, TO report to me tor orders.
l also advised Gen. George q. Lorlpg,
commissioner of agriculture, OF the ma
ture of the supposed disease
and requested him also to detail a
veterinary surgeon TO make an investiga-
| ton OF the nature of the disease, and he
complied ut once by detailing DIR. NJ r
Trumbower of his department for the
| purpose of making such Investigation.
Both gentlemen have been at NeoshO
Falls ind o her Localities wht re- diseas-
ed animals were reported 10 b.. They
have done faithful and energetic work :;
aided in establishing quarantine regula-
lions, advising the people as t. the best
and most efficient means for the protec.
ton of their stock against the attacks or
| spread of the coHiagicn.
The citizens of the infected disuict
| have shown IA commendable zeal In
| quarantinng infected herds ard iocali-
| ties, and have cooperate d with The vet
Urinary surgeons in all practicable
measures 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 en-
forcing anv measures to prevent the
| spread, OF stamp out this infectious dis
ease, or help the people who have ap-
pealed to him for aid ard assist tnce 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 YOluBtaIy action and assist
ance of the good people IN the infected
| localities. They nave 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
| at local IN aid
assist 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 ranch
es. When this is done, the spreading of
the infection cannot be stopped or eradi-
GATED II will involve our entire cattle
and sheep interests, and cause Incalcua-
Bile loss. 1t will strike down and practi-
| cally destroy the Industries of our state
which are now assuming vast proper
tions and giving immense financial re-
turns on capital invested. The number
of cattle IN the state is now nearly two
million head, which has been increased
during the year 1888 nearly 100000
head, valued at $9.00O,0O0, with a total
value now now Of at least $50 600, 900.
| am advised, and investigation has
convinced me, that there are at least
| $10,000000 worth of fatted cattle that
are now or Will be ready for the market
in the next ninety days, and that that
large sum of money will be paid to the
cattle growers of the state if their cattle
| are not quarantined against by other
states and countries On account of the
prevailing disease.
In this connection call attention to
the following extract from my biennial
message of January, 1888:
The live stock interests OF our state
are of vast importance, and are becom-
ing more important and valuable yearly,
and in the near future will cons ituts
the foundation of more real prosperity
and we lth than perhaps any other inter
est.
ave have all the adv sntages that rem
| der stock-raising profitable, and the 10
terest is rapidly growing into vast pro-
portions, aud laying the foundation Tor
solid aud enduring prosperity IN our
state that will place 1t in the front rank
of meat-producing countries IN the
world and will bring more money into
the state than any other industry that
can be established within our borders
~ learn from the Office of the secre-
tary Of our state board of agriculture
that at the present time there ale IN our
st tie 1.404 ,4SS head of neat cattle. val
ued at $49, 1872 40S; swine, 228 6S3 he ad,
valued at $l2. 2S6,S30; sheep, $50. 767
head, valued at So 942, 301. This vast
number of meat producing animals is
not 1.-THE of what our state is capable
of producing. This interest is capable
OF being increased TO such vast
proportions, and of being the
foundation of so much wealth and pros
periiy, that it is important that it should
have whatever legislative encouragement
and protection that can be given Il it so
that it shall be protected against de-
struction by contagious, eplzootlc OF 9TH
er infectious diseases that come silently
and Unexpectedly and without warning,
and that may lay waste the fiDcks and
herds of the state, anG destroy millions
of dollars worth of property, with no
! power to thy the stream of devastation.
| This wealtb-produciDg factor in our
state is not affected materially by floods
OF drouth or The capricious cOntingen-
cies of sun or sky, AID hence it is Ger
tain IN its reward to- him who t.us adds
wealth 10 the state and furnishes meat
for the markets of the world, and thus
supplies money for our people when
| cereal crop fails. 1t is not, therefore,
too much tor the stock raiseTs of the
state TO ask that an industry of such vast
capabilities, and worth SO many millions
of money To the state, should have
some protection against the dan
gerous and destructive diseases that may
lay waste so much valuable property =.
| I would therefore recommend that you
provide by law tor the appointment of n
state vett rinariSn in connection with the
state board ut agriculture, who shall he
charged with the duty of looking after,
and aiding the people in protecting the
| live stock against contagious diseases,
warning them of their approach and di-
| rect ng what remedies to use, and the
| proper sanitary methods tn adopt as
means OF wsrding of and project Bg the
live stock of the state against the intro
duction and spreading of dangerous dis
cases. precaution rendered more i'm
| portant on account of the law allowing
caille TO roam unrestraIned IN the state,
and thus more rapidly and etiectually
spreading destructive diseases among
them"
Gu the 10th of March DIR. HoIcombe
made a report to me of the nature and
character of the disease, and uf Its dis
astrous effects in case il should obtain q
tOothold in this state The concluding
portion of his report is as follows:
THE infected district has been sur
rounded with quarantine notices, but &C
all intents and purposes they are mop
erative.
THAT the disease will appear in other
herds unless efficient measures OF eradi-
cation are adopted, is patent to all who
are acquainted with the past history of
foot aud mouth disease.
in my opinion, the infected herds
should all be destroyed and the infectt d
premises quaranIined against all calIie,
sheep and dogs for period OF one year.
The bedding, manure, hay, fodder,
fences, etc. should be destroyed with the
cattle, and the stables thoroughly cleaned
and disinfecteI. The disease Is now so
near to the great cattle ranges of the
west, to which it may resdily be carried
and where its disastrous effects would
| H..