The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-25
THE DISEASED CATTLE.
The Illinois Livestock Commission Decide
that All the Beasts Must Be Killed.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24.-Commissioner Col
man. of the Department of Agriculture, who
sent DR.. Salmon, of the Bureau of Animal
Industry, to Chicago to ascertain if the disease
that has broken out there is pleuro- pneumonia,
received by telegram to-day tbo following report:
There is no doubt that the cattle disease here
Is pleuro pneumonia. The authorities find much
difficulty in dealing with it. Seventy five thou
sand dollars worth Of cattle are to be slaugh-
tered and less than fifty thousand dollars is
available in the State appropriation. The de-
partment cannot pay for diseased cattle here
because the State law requires their slaughter
without compensation ! have offered for the
department to meet the expenses of slaughter,
excepting compensation of owners, disinfecting,
and also to make an inspection of suspected dis
tricts. Do you approve of what have done?
The State commission is now arranging details
of slaughter"
Commissioner Colman sent the following re-
ply:
Telegram received and your action approved
You are also authorized to take any steps neces-
sary and expedient to still further confirm your
diagnosis and satisfy the most exacting that the
disease is typical pleuro pneumonia
CHICAGO, Sept 24.-At the conference between
members of the Livestock Commission and Off
cials of the Stockyards Company, this morning
Mr.. Pearson said to the stock yards representa-
tives that the commissioners had decided to kill
all the cattle now in the Phoenix and Shufeldt
distlleries-over two thousand head-and that
after post-mortem examination all diseased
cattle would oe cremated, and all healthy
cattle sold to the highest bidder. Presi-
dent Sherman, of the Stockyards Company
replied that millions Of dollars would be lost to
the packing interests of Chicago if the report
went out to the world that beef from the infect
ed distileries, whether healthy or not, wa3 being
shipped from Chicago. Mr.. Pearson then in.
formed the gentlemen that the State only had
$40, GOO with which to compensate the owners of
healthy cattle, and that if none of the healthy
beef was utilized the State would be at an ex-
pense of at least double that amount. He then
suggested to the stockyards men that they buy
up the healthy beef and help the commissioners
out of their dilemma. He said the commission
would, of course, exhaust the appropriation al
ready in hand. No decisive answer to this prop.
Osition was given.
The commissioners, late this afternoon, held
a conference with DR.. Salmon the United States
veterinarian DR.. Caswel the State veterina-
rian, and veterinarians from Wisconsin, Michi-
gan and Iowa Dr. Salmon said that ne had
been in telegraphc communication with
United states Commissioner Colman,
of the Department of Agriculture
who had authorized continuance of
the quarantine at the expense of the national
government until it should be decided what dis
position to make Of the carcasses. Dr. Salmon
said he was authorized TO double the quarantine
force now existing, which would cost the gov
ernment about eighty-seven dollars per day.
The quarantine force would then consist of
twenty nine deputies-two during the day aud
four during the night at each of the four dis
tilleres; ard five at the Harvey farm. The COM
missioner decided to detail the extra force
Excepting 400 head of cattle owned by the
Fairbanks Canning Company, of which Nelson
Morris is president, the majority of the 3, 900
animals under quarantine belong to men depend
ing on their two three cows for a living.
When the news of the extension of the quaran-
tine reached them to night, they were thoroughly
aroused. They say the State will be obliged to
destroy all the beef and. as only healthy cattle
will be appraised, the quarantine extension is a
conspiracy to spread the disease as far as posi-
BILE among the quarantined cattle before the
slaughter takes place.