, 1884-02-23
PROTECTING sroCR INTERESTS

PROTECTING sTOCR INTERESTS
For some time past, certain Euro
pean nations have been i%nveighing
strongly and u~njustly against such
American meats as are extensively sent
into their midst. The reasons for this
course are really more sinister than
sanitary in their promptings as facts
will clearly demonstrate. However,
these foreign prejudices must be per
sistently combated, and the most rat
ional way to this important end will
unquestionably prove to be the best.
At a recent meeting Of prominent gen.
tlsmen largely interested In American
live stock and export meats, which
was held at the Union Stock Yards of
Chicago, the following resolutions we're
enthusiastically adopted:
WHEREAS, The present condition
of the foreign trade in our live stock ID
extremely unsatisfactory and must re-
suit in great loss to the animal indus-
try Of this country as soon as, with
abundant corn and grass crop, we,
shall have a surplus of meat food; and
WHEREAS, For several years past
sundry meddling and otficious persons
have, under quasi official position, ex-
tensively and continuously circulated
false and exaggerated reports Of the
diseased condition of our live stock,
which reports have been and are &C
copied abroad as representing the true
condition of the health of oar live stock,
and the policy pursued the past few
years by the persons circulating such
false or exaggerated reports has been
followed by the total expulsion of our
pork product from the German Empire
France, and other foreign countries,
and the possible early total exclusion of
our live cattle from English markets;
and such unfavorable condition of aft
airs has resulted in damage TO the live
stock interests Of this country hereto
fore to the extent of millions Of dollars;
and,
WHEREAS, History teaches us that
any and all cases of contagious lung
plague and foot-and-mouth disease in
the United States may be traced direct
" to importations of live stock from
Europe, and during the year 1888 up
wards of 5000 head of cattle were i'm
ported into this country from different
countries in Europe, which countries
are known to be extensively infected
with contagious animal diseases, and
the term of quarantine enforced
against such importations 100 days
from date of s%hipment) has proved to
be Intellectual against contagious lung
plague, and such quarantine has been
known to be evaded on more than n
occasion ; therefore, be it
Resolved, That this meeting does
most earnestly protest against such
false or exaggerated statements going
forth under a semi-oficial endorse
ment, and that 1t is the sense of this
meeting that the administration of a
department. of our Government by
which such condition of affairs obtains
is wrong, and should be remedied to
the end that u live stock and meat
trade abroad may be placed on a sound
basis.
Resolved, That the stockmen here
assembled, being stock r~aisers, feeders,
owners and dealers, and being in close
and constant contact with the entire
animal industry of the United States,
and by virtue of such intimate relations
with the raisers and feeders of live
stock being well informed as to the
general health of the same, do hereby
declare that the cattle and hogs of this
country have not been for many years
in so universal good health, and that
from the active and tenacious character
of contagious lung plague that this
meeting does not understand how 1t
can have prevailed for the past years
in Eastern states and yet be still con-
fined to few restricted localities on
the Atlantic seabord, as the move
ment of cattle in Eastern markets is in
and out constantly from stock yards
and cities, and as there has never been
a single case of contagious lung plague
west of the Alleghennies. not with
standing the unrestricted movement of
hundreds OF thousands of our native
catti5 to the West from the states east
of us; therefore, be it furthermore
Resolued, Tnat it is not from our
own cattle, but from these large impor-
tations of cattle from Europe, this
country should look for danger of in
fecting the vast herds of the west, and
that the danger therefrom Is Imminent
and that the quarantine against foreign
animal diseases is Intellectual By reason
of too short a period of quarantine and
loose manner OF enforcing the same,
and that when live cattle are allowed
to come in the period Of quarantine
should be extended to not less than n
hundred and eighty days, counting
from the day Of debarkation, and in
this case there should be such provision
made as will insure the total isolation
of each and every importation during
the time OF such quarantine.
Resolved, That a printed copy of
these proceedings be sent to the Presi-
dent, Secretary of the Treasury, and
each member OF the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States