The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-05

terial Benefit in Saving Property
and Human Life.
nual report of the secretary of agriculture
is particularly interesting because of it's
reference to current troubles with foreign
governments over the Importation Of Ameri-
can products.
He reviews the subject of foreign mar
kets and gives figures of four agricultural
exports, especially those of Great Britain.
That country paid during the year 1893 for
American breadstuffs, provisions, cotton
and tobacco, over 1924, COZ, 900. Including
about S1O,O00,O0O worth of mineral oils with
agricultural exports. the United Kingdom
took 54.3 per cent of all exports of bread
stuffs, provisions, mineral oils, cotton and
tobacco. or dressed beef Great Britain took
from us dlEing the first six months of the
year 1894 100000 worth. Australasia is
our chief competitor for the trade.
Mr. Morton deems it probable that the
American farmer will find more advantage
from the shipment of dressed beef than
from the expectation Of live cattle.
referring to the frequent allegations on
the part of the European government that
live animals from the United States are
diseased. the secretary expresses the opin-
ION that these allegations are sometimes
based on fear of infection, but at are other
times made for economic reasons. He ar
We're shipped in the carcass bearing the
government certificate as to wholesomeness
1t certainly could not be shut out on
count of alleged diseases. He suggests that
II certain European nations continue to in
sist on microscopical inspection Of Ameri-
can pork and veterinary inspection of
beef with governmental certifcation to
each, the government of the United States
might well insist upon such inspection and
certifcation by such foreign governments
of all importations therefrom, whether edi-
ble or beverages intended for human con-
sumption. He reports
VERY LARGE INCREASE
in the exports Of beef and hog products
over the year previous, with, on the other
hand, marked decline in the exports of
wheat. The review of the foreign market
leads him to certain conclusions as to the
future of our export trade in agricultural
products as follows:
Competition of Russia, Argentine, Aus
tralia and other countries favored by con-
ditons which enable them to grow wheat
at a low cost, and especially by the prox-
unity of their wheat growing regions to
water communicatons~ warns American
farmers to no longer depend upon wheat
as staple export crop. On the other
hand, good market at fair prices is to
be found in the United Kingdom for barley
and corn, and owing to the great variety of
uses to which it may be applied, promises
to be in constant and increasing demand.
The secretary reports the inception of two
important scientific Investigations, the first
relating to grasses and forage plants the
other to agricultural soils and crop produc-
ton. The secretary believes that the i'm
portance of these Investigations justifes
the erection of each into one independent
division, and he has so provided in the
appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year.
THE WEATHER BUREAU.
With reference to the weather bureau
the secretary shows that nearly $4,000
have been saved from the appropriation
and received back into the treasury. He
shows that by needing the admonitions of
the bureau relative to the great tropical
storm of September, 1894, vessels valued al
over $4,000 coo were saved. SO in October,
when over ], 200 vessels, valued at $19, 600 600,
were kept in port, owing to the bureaus
warnings. Moreover, many human lives
were preserved. The secretary concludes
that the investment is a paying one and
may properly come within the functions of
the government.
The work of the bureau of animal in
dustry during the last year has been
greatly increased, Notwithstanding the re-
duction in the appropria ton. The secre-
tary concludes a review of the inspection
of export and interstate meat, with the
recommendation that the law providing
for the same may be SO amend
ed as to compel the owners of
the meat inspected to pay the
cost of inspection. If, he argues, the
inspection widens the markets, thus en-
HANGING the price of the property, they,
as the direct pecuniary beneticiaries,
should agree to pay for it. The inspection
of animals received in the United States
has been continued in Great Britain and
it was hoped that having demonstrated
that there is no danger of introducing
contagious diseases, the result would be
the revocation of the British restrictions
upon our cattle trade.
More than two years have passed with
out the development OF any pleuro-
pneumonia or other disease in this coun-
try which might be dangerous to British
stock interests. The hoped for revocation
nevertheless remains unrealized. The
scientific Investigations of the bureau
have progressed steadily. Special atten-
ton is paid to tuberculosis, owing to the
DANGER OF HUMAN LIFE,
the sterilization of milk has been thor
oughly explained in a leafet which has
had wide circulation. 1t appears that
sterilization of milk may be a perfect
safeguard wherever milk is used.
The Russian thistle is made the text for
a suggestion that seeds of new grasses
and other plants from abroad must be
hereafter very carefully inspected.
The report CONCLUDES with the statement
showing that with the export of products
for the year 1894 farm products aggrega led
S62S OoO. 600 or 725S per cent of the whole
The markets Of the world, he says de-
mand from the American farmer the very
best quality of breadstuffs or ma terial. The
farmer changes his products, the result OF
his labors which have specific purchasing
power, for money having a general purchas-
ing power Under the heading, For prime
pork give us prime currency the secretary
asks, Would the 5000. 900 worth
of farm products froW the
United States sold last Year to
foreign nations have been as remunera-
tive to the American farmer if they had
been paid for in silver as they have been
when paid for in gold or its equivalent?
When the standard coin of the republic
shall be made of metal worth as much
after it is melted as it purports to be worth
in coin, and the mint values and the COM
modify values of all metallic money ap-
proXimately equal it, will not the American
farmer and all other citizens become more
permanently prosperous? If the American
farmer, laborer and manufacturer are COM
PEELED by law to submit to the measure
ment of the value of the products Of their
efforts by silver standard will not the
foreigner in buying those products always
use the same measure? With his beef
pork and cereals. the American farmer buys
money and why should he not demand as
superlatve quality in that which he buys
as the domestic and foreign purchasers
insist upon in that which he sells? If
those buyers demand prime beef and
prime pork why should not the farmer