, 1885-01-21

The opinion Is becoming quite VIDE
spread that the bureau Of animal indus
try is little less than a chronic nuisance
and a very ornamental branch of the very
ornamental agricultural department Re
Gently a bunch Of thoroughbred jersey
cattle was shipped from Kentucky to
Texas. They were provided with a clean
bill of health by an expert recommended
by the bureau, and another document of
the same sort by an eminent veterinarian
attached to the bureau itself. Before the
cattle reached Texas a telegrar was sen
to Governor Ireland by DR.. Salmon, chief
Of the bureau, conveying the information
that the cattle were diseased and should
be q~uarantined and inspected. This was
accordingly done, and another eminent
veterinarian sent all the way from Hi
nois to Austin, Tex, by the bureau,
to personally examine the herd. Upon
his arrival in Texas the eminent veteri-
marian fixed a day for the inspection and
stated that if the cattle were well he
would not give a certificate to that effect,
but if they were diseased he would notify
the bureau at Washington. The owner
refused to let the eminent veterinarian
look at the herd, and telegraphed a ON
plant to Washington hat he would not
be subjected to such injustice; that if his
stock were free from disease, which he
knew them TO be, he desired that the gov
ernment, after raising the question Of dis
case, should not do him the injustice to
withhold the declaration that the cattle
were in health.
In response to this an answer was re-
ceived from DR.. Salmon, that most emf
nent Of veterinarians. stating that he
himself would 20 all the way to Texas to
view the herd. Matters still remain in
statu quo and up to last report all Texas
was awaiting in an acute state of anxiety
for the arrival Of the most eminent vet
erinarian, DR.. Salmon.
Besides the great inconvenience to
which the owner Of the herd was sub
jected. there was the heavy expense TO
the government Of the several inspections
in Kentucky, the subsequent fees and ex-
penses of the eminent veterinarian sent
all the way from Illinois, and to this is
now superadded the travelling expenses OF
the emip' 4 and luxurious DR.. Salmon.
This same bureau is now hammering at
congress for an appropriation Of $50, 900
to cover expenses for the next year, and
at their present rate Of procedure every
cent Of it will be required. Some dis
lance outside Of Washington the bureau
maintains several sheds with concrete
Hoors. which the officials have seen ft to
duh experimental stations. In these
sheds are maintained a few spawned and
superannuated pigs, several invalid cows
and we believe one or two dropsical sheep
in the last stages Of a dreary existence.
A few months ago THE LEADER re-
ceived a quite voluminous work said to Be
the report Of DR.. Salmon. II contained
several finely tinted views of the cattle
infrmary, a few highly colored sketches
showing speckled hunks OF diseased lungs
and a good deal of abstruse rot about the
ills that animal flesh is heir to.
Since the organization of the bureau
we have yet to learn OF a single instance
IN which practical benefit has been confer
red through its agency. Several unwar-
ranted scares have been gotten up direct
ly through its agency, and through them
dollars was made BY the government