New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-09
/ SECRETARY RUSK'S REPORT
A YEARS PROSPERITY AND PROGRESS.
ABUNDANT CROPS, GOOD PRICES AND HEAV
DEMAND-BENETTs OF RECiPRoOff-
USEFUL SUGGESTIONS TO FARMERS.

USEFUL SUGGESTIONS TO FARMERS.
,BY IsLEoRApH I'd TIE ThfpCSE.l
Washington, Nov. s.-Thls year, as in 1889 ana
1900 the annual report OF the Secretary OF Agriculture
Il the first OF the Departmental reports 10 be subnttcd
10 the President and given to tile country IL is
document Of unusual importance and general he'eS''
Since his appointment SECRETARY. General husK mas
toled with unfagging zeal and energy 10 "ideh anu
strengthen the influence and usefulness OF the Depart
ment OF Agriculture and his labos have been marked
nv "A degree of intelligence and practical business sense
which have gained the respect and confidence OF tiie
country in general as well the agricultural interests
IN particular This report is the record oil years
faithful work which has been crowned with fuli meas
ure OF success and opens bright prospects ior thc tuc
In his last annual report Secretary Rusk pointed
ont the Indications which justified the behef that te
agricultural interests OF the country were soon 10 ENJOY
greater prosperity belief which, a. this report shows
has been realized in surprising degree. ihat inc
increase in values OF most agricultural products mas
been large and uniform Is shown by series N moles
giving tho wholesale prices OF such pro1ucls III So"
York. Boston, Atlanta, NewOrleans, tihcih''u'
Chicago ST. Paul st. Louis and San Francisco on
the business Of August, september ana oc.ooer' III
the wears 1880 1890 and 1901. Although the crops
of 1891 have been heavy, values have been so wei
sustained that the Secretary feels justified In estmat-
Ing that the total value OF the crops OF this year e
ceeds by at least 800 900 900 the total value OF he
crops of 1890. The Increase In the value OF the corr
crop alone he estimates at 200,000,O00 to $780,
OO0 O0O Wheat with crop 90 per cent greater taii
last year. and the largest yield ever recorded
I'm this country, and the largest product ever mar
vested in any country, commands about the same
prices i'm the great markets last year Oats are
lower with an immense increase OF production Bar
lev has held its value, despite large Yield wan III
creased acreage, las the new duty has Kept OUT u
large part Of the usual imports, and At least portion
OF the duty on the little imported has been Virtually
paid by the foreign growers" The increased Naiae
of meats those prevailing in October OF last year
is about 10 per cent export values OF becves ana
meats exported and 10 to 20 per cent on Chicago
prices Of beeves of different grades Cotton Is lower
this year, and the largo product ana g0Vd prices Oh
fruits will than double fruit values of last year
The increased value of all cereals on the basis of
October is not less than 100000 OoO and tile in
crease in wholesale values OF all meats on the basis
Of current prices may reach $15OyO0OO0O. In the
same relation the Secretary shows that there has been
an enormous increase OF export OF agricultural oducts
and large dimlnuton In the imports OF agricultural
products which compete with like products OF the
United states. During the first three months Of the
current fiscal year the vaIe OF cereals exported ex
ceeded $4,000 600, and the indications are that the
sales abroad the surplus of American farms during
the current year will exceed those OF any previous
year. While there was an increase OF $e6,O00,000
ten months under the new tariff. compared with
the corresponding period OF last year. it mainly
confined to such noncompeng products coffee. tea.
etc.. and the fact IS emphasized that the duties
have checked the importatons OF such agricultural
products be produced at home in Quantities sui
Gent to supply the domestic demand
The Secretary notes decrease in tobacco from
ST. 900 600 to $4,000 900; a falling of in foreign
barley of nearly three and a half Millions in eggs,
one and q quarter million in horses. falling off OF
nearly a million and IA half, and gradual decline in
the imports of all livestock Referring to the import OF
hides admitted free OF duty he says that this causes
great depreciation in prices realized for hides of home
production and earnestly recommends that the duty
provided for In Section . OF the Tariff act approved
october l. 1890, be imposed in all cases where the
countries from which such hides shipped have not
granted equal concessions In regard the admission of
the agricultural and other products OF the United
states.
lie speaks at some length of the withdrawal by the
Governments OF Germany. Denmark and Italy OF the
prohibition against American pork and expresses his
high appreciation Of the Presidents personal interest
in the matter without which, lie says, q this grand
suit could never have been attained
In speaking of the inspection of meat for exporta
ton. the Secretary says: d" In this respect in
Others, we have met the objections which have been
raised to American products and have not only re
moved the cause, but have gone beyond what was
inspection of animals, and their marking for identified
ton. may be accomplished for a sum not exceeding
three cents head and that the cost OF mcrcscoplcal
inspection Of hogs will not exceed cents per animal
He earnestly recommends that Congress DC asked 10
make appropriation sufficiently large to extend the
inspection to all applicants He estimates that the
losses TO American pork ralsers during the last ten
years, owing TO the prohibition by foreign countries
aggregate over $500 ,OOO, 900.
Pleuro-pneumonia he regards as under control and
limited In territory TO two or three counties on |
Long Island and in New-Jersey, over which a thor.
oush quarantine IS exercised. Inspection by Amcri- |
can veterinarians Of cattle landed in Great Britain
has been continued as well as the inspection of |!
such animals before shipment. Since the beginning |
OF this work there have been inspected, altogether
up TO october l, 1891, 800, 519 head of animals |
very slight decrease in the number OF cattle exported
IS noted which Is attributed TO the increase i'm price
cattle bringing in june 1891. from 81 % to 81 so
head more than IN June, 1890. The inspection Of I'M
ported animals has been rlgidly maintained. The |
supcrN slon by the Bureau OF the Movement OF South
ern Cattle has involved the separation, and keeping
distinct In transportation 40 900 cars containing
over million head of cattle. While the results OF
this WORK have been highly beneficial he asks for |
further powers 10 enable him compel a strict COM
pliance with his regulations In the movement of all
southern cattle.
Tile secretary points out the fact that for more than
4 year there has been no we'll authenticated case of |
pleuropncumonia In American cattle exported to |
foreign countries and adds that the condition OF the
United states trade and the vigant supervision Of the
Government justify the strongest presentation TO the
British Government Of the grievance which American |
cattle raisers suffer uniustly BY of its arbitrary
regulations enforced against American cattle coupled
with an urgent demand for their removal adding that
they have been clearly shown TO be useless and that
their maintenance only be regarded as an evidence
OF unirendllncss.
In regard to markets abroad for American farm prod
ucs he that tc wise enlargement OF the channels
OF foreign trade the result OF reciprocal concessions
hold out great hopes 10 American agriculture. and re
gre.S that his facilities. based appropriations est
mated for when comparatively little opportunity for
tho iurthcance Of such plans existed have restricted