The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-11-11
RUSK'S REPORT.
p. 10 y b u .N
Statement by the Agricultural De-
partment's Chief
A BIG INCREASE IN VALUES
OF Farm Products During 1891 Over
Those Of Any Previous Year.
A SYSTEM OF INSPECTION
BIG INCREASE IN VALUES
A SYSTEM OF INSPECTION

How the Middleman Limits the Farm
era Profits.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9.--Secretary Rusk
has presented TO the president his an
nual report as secretary Of agriculture.
The report opens with general ex-
prsssion Of congratulation upon the out
look for agriculture and calls attention
to the especially noticeable feature re-
garding the crop values of the present
year. They are so well sustained in the
presence of abundant yields that the
secretary estimates the probable in
crease in value of agricultural products
for 1891 over 1890 at not less than $780,
900, OOe Reviewing our exports and i'm
ports of agricultural products, Secre-
tary Rusk states that during the first
ten months Of the present fiscal year
our exports in cereals alone have ag-
gregated in value over S75, 900, add
ing that the indications are that the
sales abroad OF the surplus from our
farms wi |, during the present year,
largely exceed those Of any previous
year.
The secretary in speaking OF the
withdrawal by the governments OF Ger
many, Denmark and Italy Of the prohi-
bition against American pork, expresses
his high appreciation of the presidents
personal interest in the matter, without
which, he says "this grand result could
never have been attained" He reviews
the subject of meat inspection, stating
that it was not only demanded to keep
our foreign markets and develop them,
but there was a very general demand
for some such inspection by the people
of our own country, in many states OF
which, indeed, laws had been passed
providing for local inspection, which
laws had, however, been generally con-
demned as an interference with inter
state commerce. He urges system OF
inspection for all articles Of food which
are the subject of interstate or foreign
trade.
He offers considerable evidence as to
the efforts OF this government TO meet
all reasonable demands from foreign
countries with view 70 preventing the
transmission through our cattle exports
of communicable animal diseases 70
foreign cattle, citing especially the ex-
cellent control of all such diseases
within our own country, the rigorous
inspection of oil animals coming into
the United States, the inspection Of all
animals exported. and even Of cattle
carrying vessels, in order TO secure the
we'll being and humane treatment OF
cattle ON shipboard. He points out the
fact that for more than year there has
been no well authenticated case Of
Transmission to foreign countries Of a
single case Of pleuro-pneumonia in
American cattle.
The condition Of the United States
trade and the vigilant supervision OF
our government he says, justify the
strongest presentation to the British
government of the grievance which our
cattle raisers suffer unjustly by reason
Of It's arbitrary regulations enforced
against American cattle, coupled with
an urgent demand for their removal,
adding that they have been clearly
shown 10 be useless and that their main
tenance can only be regarded as an evi.
dence Of unfriendlinesa He adds that
he shall, in the absence Of the removal
of such unfriendly restrictions, feel II
his duty TO suggest the rigid enforce
ment Of the law now In existence pro
hibiting imports into the United States
Of all live animals, but at present sus'
pended as a matter of friendship TO for
eign governments
The secretary deyotes paragraph 70
the middleman, and the extent to which
he is enabled by various conditions, es
pecially prevalent in America, 10 alb
sorb large proportion Of the prices
paid by the consumers for farm prod
ucts, thus unduly limiting the profits OF
the farmer. Admitting the difficulty o.
remedying this evil, he points out thai
a partial remedy, to provide which II
the duty OF the department, is TO keeT
the farmer fully informed in regard tc
the market values OF his wares
He congratulates the country upor
the success attending the practical ap
plication at the department experiment
station in Kansas OF the alcoholic pro
cess perfected in the laboratory OF tn,
department last year for the extraction
OF sugar from sorghum. The cost oi
the process Is found TO be SO trihing a
10 be practically insignificant "Ther'
seems TO be no reason" he says, "whJ
we should not therefore look forward
with confidence TO the day when the
500, 900 paid by Americans TO for
eign producers for sugars should b,
turned into the pockets Of our own peo
pie"
The transfer TO his department OF tn,
weather bureau has been generally re
ceived with great satisfaction He In
stances the great increase in sigma
stations-630 TO 1,200-and OF voluntar.
observers from /, $40 TO 1900.