The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-09
GOOD FOR FARMERS.
Secretary Rusk Shows Vastly
Increased Products.
CATTLE INSPECTION A SUCCESS.
Many Millions Foreign Geld VIII
Come In to Pay for Surplus
Agricultural Products.

WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. S.-Secretary
Rusk, in his third annual report, estimates
that the increase IN value of agricultural
product over last year will not be less than
500, 100000. He states that during the
first three months of the present fiscal
year the exports in cereals aggregated $751;
100000, adding that the indications now
are that the exports of this year will
largely exceed those of any previous year.
He notes the increase of come $2s, 900, 900
in the imports of agricultural products
during the first ten months under the
present law. but emphasizes the fact that
the increase is confined largely to articles
not competing with home products, such
as sugar, tea, coffee, etc. At the same
time changes in the rates have checked
the importations of products which may
be produced at home. Speaking of the
inspection of meat for expectation, the
secretary says:
Our people demand something more than pro-
lection from communicable disease In most,
IL not all, European countries, inspectors, &C.
cording to their reports, freely pass for eonsump
ton meat of animals affected with foot and
mouth diseases, pleuro- pneum"2's and similar
diseases. which, according &C. "a views and Gus
toms OF this country, mus "a condemned, but
meat for the foreign market Is inspected the
same as that designed for home consumption in
this respect as In others. We have met the OBJ
tections raised to American products, and not
only removed the cause, but have gone beyond
what was asked by our critics Up to October
there was total OF 1,016,6 l4 animals inspected,
63,672 carcasses of hogs were examined micro.
scopally and the total number condemned was
but 1876.
The secretary earnestly recommends
that congress be asked to make an appro-
priation sufficiently large to extend the
matter of cattle inspection. He estimates
that the losses to pork-raisers during the
past ten years, owing to the prohibition
by foreign countries, aggregate over
$3.50, 100000. The inspection Of i'm
ported animals has been rigidly
maintained. The result has been to ma
terially reduce the losses resulting from
lack of ventilation, overcrowding and
weak fittings on vessels. The secretary
points out that for over q year there has
been no well authenticated case Of pleuro-
pneumonia in American cattle exported
to foreign countries. He regards
it as highly desirable that the
people of foreign countries should
be informed of our resources and
facilities for supplying their wants. The
secretary deems it the duty Of his depart
ment to keep the farmer fully informed Of
market goods and just what their value is.
He congratulates the country upon the
success of the experiments in the extract
of sugar from sorghum.
He notes with satisfaction the general
and growing interest shown by all classes
in the cause of agriculture, and expresses
a desire for closer cooperation between
the various educational forces in the coun-
try for the advancement of practical agri-
culture, and urges the slender thread con-
nectingssthe department with agricultural
colleges and stations be strengthened.
In reviewing the work of the division of
chemistry with reference to the adultera-
ton of foods, the secretary emphasizes
especially the authorizations of coffee, which
are found to extend to large percentage
not only to ground coffee, but to the
coffee bean. wholly artificial beans
having been introduced into the
market. In large measure the artificial
beans are imported and the secretary
urges that such importa:ions. as well as
their manufacture and use in this coun-
try, be absolutely prohibited.
Touching the experiments in producing
rain, he states briefly that they have been
made, but he has no data yet at hand
which would justify HIM in making any
conclusions on the subject