Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-12-15


EUEEAU Of ANIMAL INDUSTRY.
The amount appropriated for the
bureau Ol animal industry for the cur
rem; FISCAL year j.. $4,000. The cSti-
mate for TIN ensuing year l. f1n0n0.
Tho regulations Of 1872 concerning
Texas fever have been enforced during
the last year, and the largest stock
yards Of the country have been free
from infection. The occasional local
outbreaks have been largely such a.
could have been etlectually guarded
against 10y the owners Of the affected
cattle. While contagious pleuro-pneu-
munia has h,cn cradicated, animal tu-
hcrcUio,is, a disease widespread and
more dangerous to human life than
I pleuropneumonia, is still prevalent.
Investigations have been made during
the past year as TO the means OF its
correct diagnosis. Much progress has
been made in this direction by the
! studies OF the division OF animal pa
tholOgy, but the work ought to be ex-
tended in cooperation with local au-
thorities until the danger to human
life arising from this cause is reduced
/ to minimum. The number OF ami
mails arriving from Canada during the
! year and inspected 10y bureau officers
was 4G2,U92, and the number from
transatlantic countries 1897. No
contagious disease was found among
! the i'm nOrtal animals
| EXPORTS OF CATTLE AND PORK.
The total number of inspections OF
cattle for export during the past fiscal
year was Gil ,542. The exports show a
falling off of about % per cent from
the preceding year, the decrease oc-
curing entirely in the last half of the
year. This suggests that the falling
off may have been largely due to an
increase in the price of American ex-
port cattle.
During the year ended June 80,
1893, the exports of inspected pork ag.
gregated 2O,677 ,4lO pounds, as against
3S,l52,S74 pounds for the preceding
year. The falling off in this export
| was not confined, however, to inspect
ed pork, the total quantity exported in
1892 being Cos, 490,6l6 pounds, while
in 1898 it was 52l ,30S,695 pounds.
MUST BE A VETERINARY SURGEON.
In the Secretary's report he recon-
mends that hereafter each applicant
for the position of inspector or assist
ant inspector in the Bureau of Animal
a
precedent to his appointment, to ex-
hibit to the United States Civil Ser
vice Commissioners diploma from an
established, regular and reputable vet
Urinary college, and that this be sup
plemented by such an examination in
veterinary science as the commission
may prescribe.
AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS.
The exports of agricultural products
from the United States for the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1892, attained
the enormous figure of $500, OOO,OO in
round numbers, being 1871 per cent of
our total exports. In the last fiscal
year this aggregate was greatly re-
duced, but, nevertheless, reached
$3.50, GOO, 900, being ISL per cent of all
American commodities exported. A
review of our agricultural exports,
with special reference to their destina.
ton, will show that in almost every
line the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland absorbs by far the
largest proportion. The total cattle
exports aggregated in value for the fis-
cal year ended June 30, 1898, $26, 0OO,-
900, of which Great Britain .ook con.
siderably over $25,OOO,OOO. OF beef
products OF ali kinds our total exports
were $2S 900 900, of which Great Brit.
ain took $24,0O0,OO0. OF pork prod
ucts, the total exports were $4,000
OOO, OF which Great Britain took $780,
10000, in breadstuffs, cotton and mi.
nor products, q like proportion sent to
the same destination is shown.
THE STATISTICAL DIVISION.
The work of the statistical division
OF the Department of Agriculture
deals with all that relates to econo-
mics of farming. The main purpose
OF its monthly reports is to keep the
farmers informed as fully as possible
of all matters having any influence
upon the worlds market in which
their products find sale. Its publica.
ton relates specially to the CONNER.
cial side OF farming. 1t is therefore of
profound Importance and vital con-
Germ to the farmers of the United
States, who represent nearly half of
our population, and also of direct in
terest to the whole country, that the
work of this division be efficiently per-
formed, and that the information it
has gathered be promptly diffused. 1t
is matter for congratulation to know
that the Secretary will not spare any
effort TO make this part of his work
thoroughly useful.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF SEED.
In the year 1889 Congress appro
priated $1,000, to be taken from the
patent Office funds, for the purpose of
collecting and distributing rare and
improved varieties Of seeds and for
prosecuting agricultural investigations
and procuring agricultural statistics.
From this small beginning the seed
division of the department has grown
to its present unwieldly and unjustifi-
ably extravagant proportions. During
the last fiscal year the cost of seeds
purchased wac $66,548 81. The re.
mainder of its appropriation of $780,
600 is expended in putting them up
and distributing them. 1t surely
never could have entered the minds of
those who first sanctioned appropria-
tons of public money for the pur-
chase of new and improved varieties OF
seeds for gratuitous distribution that
from this beginning would grow such
large appropriations for the purchase
and distribution by members of Con-
gress of ordinary seeds, bulbs and cut
tings, which are common in all the
States and Territories, and easily OBJ
tainable at low prices in each State
and Territory.
An agricultural experiment station
has been established. These stations,
by their very character and name, are
the proper agencies to experiment and
test new varieties of seeds, and yet
this indiscriminate and wasteiul dis
tribution by legislation and legislators
continues. 1t answers no purpose,
unless it be to remind constituents
that their representatives are willing
to remember them with gratitude at
at public cost. Under this action of
legislation there was sent out from the
agricultural department during the
last fiscal year enough cabbage seed to