The herald., 1894-12-04


amended as to compel owners OF the
meat inspected to pay the cost of such
inspection, and call attention to the
arguments presented in his report in
support OF this recommendation.
The live beef cattle exported and
tagged during the year numbered $685.
535. This 10 an increase OF SO, ,533 head
over the previous year. The sanitary
inspection OF cattle shipped to Europe
has cost an average OF 10s4 cents for
each animal, and the cost OF inspecting
southern cattle and the disinfection Of
stock cars averaged 2-7 of O cent per
animal.
The scientific inquiries Of the bureau
Of animal industry have progressed
steadily during the year. Much tuber-
Gull and MULLEN have been furnished to
state authorities for use in the agrioal-
tural colleges and experiment stations
for the treatment of tuberculosis and
glanders.
Quite recently this department has
published the results of its investiga.
tions of bovine tuberculosis and it's re-.
searches will be vigorously continued.
Certain herds in the District OF Colum-
bia will be thoroughly inspected and
will probably supply adequate scope for
prosecute its scientific work and
furnish sufficient material for
purposes OF illustration. description and
definition. The sterilization Of milk
suspected of containing the baccilli OF
tuberculosis has been during the year
very thoroughly explained In . leahet
| by D. E. Salmon, the chief the bureau,
and given general circulation through
out the country.
EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS.
The Office of experimental stations,
which is part of the United States de-
! partment OF agriculture. has. during the
past year, engaged itself almost wholly
in preparing for publication works based
upon the reports of agricultural experi-
for agricultural inquiry in the United
| States and foreign countries.
! The secretary in his report for 1893
called attention to the fact that the ap-
propriations made for the support of
the experiment stations throug hout the
union were the only moneys taken out
of the national treasury, by an act Of
congress for which no accounting
| to federal authority was re-
quired. Responding to this sugge stion
legislation was enacted requiring re-.
| ports relative to the condition of the
various agricultural prod ucts throughout
the country and to such causes which
produce the conditions, to the end that
| the facts ascertainsd may guide their
intelligent treatment. In obedience to
this law, the department OF agriculture
| Immediately sent ont blank forms of
| expense accounts to each station, and
propose in addition to make the
thorough trusted experts systematize ex.
animation of the several stations during
the year, for the purpose OF acq quiring
by personal investigation the detailed
information necessary to enable the sec-
retary Of agriculture to make -
the statutes provide, q satisfaot-
ory reportto congress. The boards Of
management of the several stations
with great alscrity and cordiality
have approved the amendments to the
law. providing supervision of their
expenditures, anticipating that it will
increase the efficiency of the stations
and protect their directors and managers
from loose charges concerning their use
of public funds, besides bringing the
! department OF agriculture into closer re.
lstions with tho experimental otstions.
and through their joint service largely
|
/ ture OF the country.
Acting upon q reoo ommenda alton con.
tanned in the report of 1898. congress
appropriated $4,000 to enable the sec.
retary of agriculture to investigate and
report upon the nutfitive value OF var
ious articles and com modities used for
human food, with the special suggestion
of full investigation of wholesome and
edible rations, less wasteful snd more
economical than those in common use.
Under this appropriation the
department has prepared, and
now has nearly ready for dis
tribution, an elementary discussion
Of the nutritive value and pecuniary
economy Of food. When We consider
that fully one.half of all the money
earned by the wage earners of the civil.
lied world il expended by them for food ,
the importance and utility of such in
vestigation is apparent.
The department expended in tho fl.
cal year, 1892. $2,354. .809.56. and out
OF that sum the total amount that
was expended in scientific research
was 45. 6 per cent. But in the year end
ing June 80. 1894, out of . total sxpend-
iturs of 81, 1,94S. .9S3.3S, the department
applied 5l.6 per cent OF that sum to
scientific work and investigation. 1t is
therefore very plainly observable that
the economies which have been prac-
ticed in the administration OF the depart.
ment have not been at the expense Of
scientific research.
The commsndation contained in the
report Of the secretary for 1898, that the
vicious system Of pro misouous free dis
tribution of its departmental documents
be abandoned, Is again urged. These
publications may we'll be furnished
without cost to public libraries, educs-
tional Institutions. and the officers and
libraries of states and tho federal gov.
ernment, but from all individuals ap-
plying for them, . price covering z
| the cost of the document asked for,
should be required; thus the publica-
! tions and documents would be secured
by those who really desire them for
proper purposes. Half q million OF
copies OF the report OF the secretary OF
agriculture are printed for distribution
at an annual cost of about 1900, 900.
Large numbers OF them are cumbering
store rooms at the capitol and the
shelyes of second hand book stores
throughout the country. All tkis labor
and waste might be avoided. if the rec
concentrations of the secretary were
/ adop ted.
The secretary also again recommends
that the gratuitous distribution Of seeds
cease, and that no money be appro-
| priated for that purpose except to ex-
! perrin ent stations. He reiterates the
reasons given in his report for 1898 for