The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-11-09
UNCLE JERRY'S WORK FOR FARMERS.
Some Matters Mentioned In the
Report OF His Department..
Efforts to Provide Foreign Custom
ers with Good Meats.
This Years Big crops-The Hogs
Reception Abroad.

WASHINGTON. November 8.-Secretary
of Agriculture Rusk, In his third annual
report, says that Notwithstanding the
abundant Iyield of crops this year values
are we'll sustained. He estimates an in
crease In the value of agricultural pro-
ducts over last year of not less than $780,
100000. He states that during the first
three months of the present fiscal year our
exports In cereals alone aggregated $76,-
10000, and indications now are that the
sales abroad of the surplus from our
farms will, during the present year. large
ly exceed those of any previous year. Sec
retary Rusk notes an increase by some
SIS. 100000 in the exports of agricultural
products during the first ten months under
the present law, compared with the same
period during last year under the old law,
and emphasizes the fact that the increase
is confined largely to articles not compet-
ing with home products, such as sugar, tea,
coffee, etc. He notes decrease in tobacco
10 foreign barley of nearly three and one
half millions, in eggs one and a quarter
millions, in horses OF nearly a million ana
a half, and gradual decline In imports of
all live stock. The import Of hides, ad-
mtted free OF duty, causes great depreci-
alton In the prices realized for hides of
home production. He recommends that
the duty provided fer In section 8 of the
tariff act, approved October /, 1890, be in
posed In all cases where the countries from
which such hides are shipped have not
granted equal concessions In regard to the
admission Of the agricultural products of
the United States.
The report deals at some length with the
withdrawal by the governments of Ger
many, Denmark and Italy of the prohibi'
tion against American pork, and expresses
high appreciation of the Presidents per-
sonal interest in the matter, without which,
this grand result could never have been at
tained. In speaking of the inspection of
ment for expectation, the Secretary says
our people demand something more than
protection from communicable diseases.
Even our working people would not know
ingly accept for food. at any price, the flesh
of animals that were feverish from injur-
les received during transportation or any
other causes. In most, Ii not all, European
countries, the inspectors, according to their
reports, freely pass for consumption the
meat of animals affected with foot and
mouth disease, uropneumonia, localized
tuberculosis, actinomycosis.; and similar
diseases which, according to the views and
customs Of this country, must be con-
demned.. All meat for the foreign
market, is inspected here the same as that
designed for home consumption and has
been much more vigorously dealt with than
Is the meat produced In countries to which
tits shipped. The report says that up to
October 1, there have been 1.016, ,614 animals
inspected both before and after slaughter,
and 63672 carcasseS Of hogs examined
microscopically. The total number of ami
mails Condemned and sent to the fertilizing
tanks was but 1876. Secretary Rusk Is Of
the opinion that the inspection of animals
and their marking for Identification, may
be accomplished for not exceeding three
cents per head, and the cost of microscope
cal inspection Of hogs will not exceed five
cents per animal.
The Secretary states the enlargement of
channels of foreign trade, as result of
reciprocal concessions, holds out great
hopes to American agriculture. He re-
CARDS 1t as highly desirable that the people
Of foreign countries should be informed of
our resources and facilities for supplying
their wants, and commends the work done
during the past year by the special agent
charged with introducing Indian corn and
its products to the attention of Europeans.
He congratulates the country upon the sue
cess of the experiments In the extraction of
sugar from sorghum. and says there seems
to be no reason why we should not look
forward to the day when the $100, ,000, 900
paid by Americans to foreign producers
should be turned into the pockets of our
people.