Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-11-23
Mr.. MoRToN's REPORT.
The Secretary of Agriculture Gives Som,
Interesting Facts and Figures.


Interesting Facts and Figures.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-The report of
the secretary of agriculture begins
with review of the work of the bu-
reau of animal industry. The total
number of animals inspected at the
slaughter houses was considerably over
18,00O,0 900, an increase of more than
$500, 900 over the previous year. Dur
ing the year ante-mortem inspection
was also made of 5000, 600 animals.
The cost of inspection was reduced to
/. l cents per animal. In 1898 inspee-
ton cost Az cents per animal and in
1894 it cost ~ cents Over 1850. 600
cattle and sheep were inspected for
foreign markets, of which 675, 900 were
shipped abroad.
Over 45,OO0,OOO pounds of pork was
inspected microscopically and export
ed, as against 35, 900. 600 in 1894 and 3d.
900, 900 pounds in 1898. OF the amount
exported last year, nearly %, 900, 600
pounds went to Germany and over
1900. 600 pounds to France. This in
spection involved the placing of over
1900, 900 specimens under the micro
scope. The cost of each examination
was less than cents, or for each
pound of meat . mills, a considerable
reduction over any previous year.
Losses of cattle in transit to Europe
were greater than in 1894, being re-
spectively, for 1895 and 1894, O.6 and
0. 81 per cent
Over 30, 600 cars carrying over $50, 900
animals were inspected for Texas
fever at quarantine pens during the
quarantine season; nearly 5000 car
loads of cattle being inspected also in
transit, and over CSC cars were
cleaned and disinfected. Besides, over
10000 cattle from the non-infected
districts of Mexico were inspected for
shipment to northern states.
Much space is devoted to discussing
the opportunities for American meat
products Ill foreign markets. Of 341,-
900 tons of meat received at the Lon
don central market in 1894 II, 900 tons
were American, while nearly $4,000
tons came from Australia. The Amer
lean proportion has not been main
tanned during 1895.
In the imports of live cattle to Great
Britain the United States and Canada
had practical monopoly until the last
two years. Since 1898 Argentina's ship
ments have greatly increased; during
the first eight months of the year the
shipments amounted to over 25, 900
head.
The export of American horses to
Great Britain has increased steadily,
having more than doubled since 1898,
amounting in the first eight months of
1895 to %, 755 head, valued at nearly
c .
aged this year in the English market
sf55. A rigid inspection of horses for
export will be undertaken.
The foreign trade in dairy products
is carefully reviewed. In cheese the
United States, while large shipper to
British markets, holds the conspicu-
ously unfattering place in the extreme
rear as to quality and price, and as the
only one of the competitors for this
trade whose business shows serious
falling off.
In butter, the United States is out of
the race, supplying less than l per
cent. of the British demand for foreign
buffers, Notwithstanding the fact that
Great Britain imported in eight months
$40, GOO, 900 worth of butter.
The secretary thinks the duty of re-
porting the acreage of staple crops in
each state on June l of each year
might be imposed upon the authorities
of the agricultural college stations, in
consideration of the annual appropria-
tions they receive from the national
treasury.
The report closes with a discussion
of the question of the future of farms
and farming in the United States. The
average value of farms by the census
of 1890 was So, 900. The value of inn
plements, domestic animals and sun
dries will make total farm plant of
S4, 900 for a family averaging six per-
sons. Those farms have fed the farmers
and their families and 40, 900, 900 urban
residents, beside supplying $500, 600, 600
worth of products to foreign consumers.
In the presence of these facts the Sec
tary asks: How can anyone dare as
sert that farming is generally. unre-
munerative and unsatisfactory to those
who intelligently follow it?'' The
mortgage on farm values does not ex
coed I6 per cent.-a less incum brance
on capital invested than in any other
line of industry. He foretells con-
6dentlv a steady increase in the value
of farm lands as the population of the
country increases.
ANOTHER BOND ISSUE.