The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1884-01-18

the past year, and which comprised not
only the leading scientific, but the lead
ing representatives from twenty-one
states OF the practical live stock inter
ests of the country, developed the fol-
lowing facts:
First, that contagious pl~euro-pneu-
monia exists in active form In a num-
Der Of eastern states, and that the eff
forts Of those states to eradicate it
permanently have been, and must bs,
fruitless, so long as they are unaided
by the national government, owing to
the constant transit of cattle Without
quarantine from theNgreat markets of
mt state to those of another. Sec
ondly, that contagious anthrax exists
in most of the western states, includ-
ing those between the Mississippi and
the Missouri rivers, and that little or
no effort is being made to suppress it.
And thirdly (which intimately concerns
usl, that Wyoming received in 1888,
from the states Of Iowa, Missouri, Ken
lucky, Illinois and Wisconsin, an
amount Of cattle the magnitude of
which can be best understood by the
fact that 81, 500 900 was paid therefor
by our people.
The possibility and probability of the
introduction of disease is vastly in
creased by 80 large an importation
drawn from such widely separated To-
c~alities. The imposs1bility of extir-
pating 1t, If once introduced among our
wandering herds and on our vast ranges
(similar TO those Of southern Russia,
where these diseases have ravaged for
c%enturies), is too apparent to need COM
ment. Prevention is the only safeguard.
1t lies in the enforcement Of the exist
ing law and such amendments thereto
as experience may suggest.
The fact that Wyoming possesses the
most comprehensive veterinary law In
the United States, and that it was unly
preceded In that step by one state, and
that n in a far less adequate manner,
is a matter of which we may be Justly
proud, and which has already excited
admiring commentator from many Of
the older commonwealth.
In conclusion let me say that, in my
judgment, true economy and wisdom
demands the most careful and consider
ate action on your part to give the ut
most efficiency to existing laws, and to
command the best quality of scientific
attainment In their execution.
TERRITORIAL LIBRARIAN.
The report of the territorial librarian
which accompanies this message Is re-
spectfully referred to as containing
much useful information. The recon-
mendations of that officer are especially
mentioned as worthy of your careful
study, coming as they do from an en-
lightened public official. Among other
things he advises the purchase of a
greater number Of miscellaneous
works.
The public schools are prospecting,
and public opinion strongly In favor of
the fostering care of the law and of
liberal appropriations to promote edu-
cation.
In a territory like Wyoming, where
so many Of the people are interested in
the development of the precious metals
and other minerals, simple justice
would suggest that books containing
the best and most advanced thought on
geology and mineralogY. together with
the best scientific works on all kindred
subjects, should be found In the public
library.
The gathering of statistical informa-
tion in a country without annals is one
of the most difficult tasks with which a
public official has to contend. In the
matter of the public schools of our ter
ritory the librarian has overcome this
difficulty and presented for your use a
great deal of profitable information.
Among other things he shows that the
number of volumes in the territorial
library reported to the fourth legisla-
tive assembly WAS BOIL; to the fifth,
1896; to the sixth, 5,233; to the sew
enth, 6,687; and the present number is
$3.50.
These figures include maps and
charts, but do not include the laws
and public documents of Wyoming ter
ritory.
PENITKNTIARY COMMISSIONERS.
The board of ~penitentiary commits
s%ioners, after having made a thorough
and careful investigation into the cost
OF maintaining territorial prisoners
within the territory or placing them in
some established prison outside, be-
came satisfied hat they could be trans
ported to the Illinois state p~enitentisry
at Joliet and maintained therein at the
least expense. They found that while
the cost of maintaining the prisoners at
the United States penItentiary at Lara
mie City was one dollar each per day,
and at the Nebraska state penitentiary
at Lincoln forty cents, they were
able to make a contract with the au-
thorities of the penitentisry at Joliet
for no greater expense to the territory
than that Of furnishing to each prisoner
discharged by pardon OIL expiration of
sentence the sum of five dollars. The
report of the commissioners further
shows the total number Of prisoners re-
naming in the several penitentiaries
January l, 1884, distributed as fol-
lows: