Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-12-06
DEPARTMENT. AGRICULTURE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Annual Report of Secretary Morton-Our
Trade with oreiSn Countries-Competi-
ton of Russia, Argentina. Austria, Etc.
The Weather Bureau--Scientific Investi-
gations--Inspection of Meat, Etc.
WASHINGTON, Nov 30.--The annual report
of the secretary of agriculture is particularly
interesting, because Of its reference to current
troubles with foreign governments over the
importation of American products. He
views the subject of foreign markets, and
gives figures of foreign agricultural experts, es-
pecially those of Great Britain. That country
paid during the year 1898 for American bread
StuffS, provisions, cotton and tobacco, over
1924 600, 600. Including about $10,0OO,0OO worth
of mineral oils, with agricultural exports, the
united kingdom took 54.31 per cent. of all ex-
ports of breadstuffS, provisions mineral oils,
cotton and tobacco.
OF dressed beef Great Britain took from us
during the first six months of the year 1894
S,1,t0.0fO worth. Australia is our chief COM
pet,uor for the trade. Mr.. Morton deems it
pro able that the American farmer will find
N q advantage from the shipment of dressed
be than from the expectation of live cattle
referring to the frequent allegations on the
pt-.t of European governments that live ami
n g from the United States are diseased, the
So :etary expresses the opinion that these al
LEGATIONS are sometimes based on the fear OF
infection, but are at other times made for
economic reasons. tie argues tndu II all Amer
lean beef going abroad were shipped in the
carcass. bearing the government certificate
to wholeSOmeneSS, it certainly could not be
shut out on account of alleged diseases He
suggests that If certain European nations con-
tinue to insist on microscopca1 inspection of
American pork and veterinary inspection
of beef. with governmental certifcation of
each, the government of the United States
might well insist upon such inspection and GER
LITIGATION by such foreign governments of all
lst,rz
erages, intended for human consumption 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 FOREIGN MARKET.
The review of the foreign market leads him
to certain conclusions as to the future of our
export trade in agricultural products, as fol-
lows:
Competition OF Russia. Argentina, Australia
and other countries, favored by conditions
which enable them to grow wheat at a low cost,
and especially by the proximity of their wheat
growing regions to water communications,
warns American farmers to no longer depend
upon wheat as a staple export crop. On the
other hand. good market at fair prices is to
be found in the United Kingdom for barley,
and corn. owing to the great variety of uses to
which it may be applied, promises to be II con-
slant and inceSSant demand.
The secretary reports the inception Of two
important scientific Investigations. the first re-
latng to grasses and forage plants. The other
to agricultural soils and crop production. The
secretary believes that the importance of these
Investigations juStifieS the erection of each
into independent division, and he has sc
provided in the appropriations for the ensuing
fiscal year.
With reference to the weather bureau, the
secretary shows that nearly $4,000 have been
saved from the appropriation and covered
hDrty to no tTalS q
ing the admontionS of the bureau relative &c
the great tropical storm of September 1894
vessels valued at over S17,0OOOO were saved
Also, in October. when over loo vessels, val
ued at $40 600 600 were kept in port owing to
the bureaus warning. Moreover many human
lives were preserved. The secretary concludes
that the Investment is Il paying one. and may
properly come within the functions of the gov
eminent.
The work of the bureau of animal industry
during the year has been greatly increased.
Notwithstanding the reduction in the appro-
priation.
INSPECTION OF MEAT
The secretary concludes review of the in
Spection of export and interstate meat, with
the recommendation that the law providing for
the same may be so amended as to compel the
owners of the meat inspected to pay the cost
of inspection. If, he argues, the inspection
widens the markets. thus enhancing the price
of their property they, as the direct pecuniary
beneficiaries, should agree to pay for 1t. 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 danger of introducing contagious dis
eases, the result would be the revocation OF the
British restrictions upon our cattle trade. More
than two years have passed without the de-
velopment Of any pleuro-pneumonla or other
disease in this country which might be danger
Gus to British stock interests. The hoped-for
revocation. nevertheless, remains unrealized.
The scientific Investigations of the bureau
have progressed steadily. Social mention is
made in the appropriation bill for the current
year of tuberculosis and sheep scab as diseases
the secretary of agriculture is authorized to
guard against. and the danger to human life
from tuberculosis The sterilization Of milk
has been thoroughly explained in leahet,
which has had wide circulation. 1t appears
that sterilization of milk may be perfect safe
guard wherevermilk is used.
The Russian thistle is made the text for dis
cuSSiOn, as other plants from abroad, which,
hereafter, must be very carefully inspected.
"PRIME CURRENCY
The report concludes with statement show
ing that of the total exports of this country for
1894 Fiscal year, farm products aggregated
1923 OOO, 600 or 25S per cent of the whole. The
markets of the world, he says, demand from
the American farmer the very best quality Of
breadstuffs and materials. The farmer ex-
changes his products, the results Of his labors.
winch nave SpeClHC power lOE HOucy uds Ing
general purchasing power. Under the head
ing For Prime Pork Give Us Prime Cur
rency,' the secretary asks:
Would the $500 900 600 worth of farm prod
ucts in the United States sold last year to for
eign nations have been paid for in silver. as
they have been when paid for in gold. or its
equivalent? When the standard coin of the re-
public 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 approx
mately equal. will not the American farmer
and all our citizens become more permanently
prosperous? If the American farmer, laborer
and manufacturer are compelled by law to SUBJ
NIT to the measurement 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
| the domestic and foreign purchasers insist up
on in that which he sells?
If those buyers demand prime beef and
prime pork. why should not the farmer de-
mand prime currency, the best m easure OF
value. the most fair and facile medium of eX-
| change, in the most unf1uctuating money which
the world of commerce has ever evolved:'
Cotton Compress Burned.
BIRMINGHAM, uAla., Dec. 1.-The
| Birmingham cotton compress, owned
| by Inman & Co., was burned Thursday
nioht with 600 bales of cotton.