The Monticellonian., 1895-11-22

system Of Making Crop Reports-Recon-
 mendations to Congress.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 1s The report of the secretary of agriculture begins with review of the work of the bureau of animal industry. The total sum of animals inspected at the slaughter houses was considerably over 1s,0O0, 900, an increase of more than 5,500,000 over the previous year. During the year ante-mortem inspec- tion was also made of 5000, GOO ami mals. The cost of inspection was re- dueed to Il cents per animal. In 1883, inspection cost "A cents per animal, and in 1894 it cost 4 cents. Over l, 360, 900 animals, cattle and sheep, were inspected for foreign markets, of which G75, ,000 were shipped abroad. Oyer 45, ,0O0, GOO pounds of pork was in- spected microscopicat1y for export, against 34, 900, 900 in 1s94 and 22, 600, 900 1892.
 !, Of the amount exported last year nearly 23, 000, 900 pounds went to Ger many and over 5000, GOO pounds to France. This inspection involved the placing of over 1900, 900 specimens un- der the microscope. The cost Of the examination was less than cents, or for each pound of meat mills. The loss of cattle in transit to Europe was greater than in 1894. being re- spectively for 1895 and l8a4, 62 and .37 per cent
 Over 30,000 cars, carrying over S20,- 900 animals, were inspected for Texas fever at quarantine pens during the quarantine season; nearly 5000 car loads of cattle were inspected also in transit, and over 2s, QUO cars were cleaned and disinfected. Besides over 150, 900 cattle from the noninfected dis tricts of Texas were inspected for shipment to northern states
 The secretary urges their importa- tion free of duty as advantageous to feeders having surplus of feed, and to the consumers, who outnumber the producers.
 Much space is devoted to discussing the opportunities for American meat products in foreign markets. Of 341, GOO tons of meat received at the London central market ill 1891, Fl 900 tons were American, While nearly 50, 080 tons came from Australia. The American proportion has not been maintained 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 1893 Argentina's ship ments have greatly increased During the first eight months of the year these shipments amounted to over 25.O0O head. Although the meat of the South American cattle is not as sala ble as the American, the business is profita Ble and likely to increase. American cattle sell, though slaughtered soon after landing, at prices equal to the average paid for British carcasses.
 The export of American horses to Great Britain has increased steadily, having more than doubled since 1893, amounting in the first eight months of 1893 to 22,755 head, valued at nearly S5 00o, GOO. American ge1dings aver aged this year in the English market Sl55. A rigid inspection of horses for export will be undertaken. The for eign trade in dairy products is careful ly reviewed
 In cheese the United States, while large shipper to British markets, holds the conspicuously unhattering place in the extreme fear as to quality and price, and is the only one of the com petitors for this trade whose business shows serious falling off
 In butter the United States is out of the race, supplying less than per cent. of the British demand for foreign buffers, notwithstanding the fact that Great Britain imported in the eight months S4G, 0O0 GOO worth of butter.
 Referring to our standing in the for eign dairy market, the secretary warns shippers of the consequence of their methods, adding:
 We have a graphic illustration oi disastrous effects in all trade of disre> gardlng the tastes of consumers and of acquiring bad reputation.
 The secretary says the crop-re port ing work is the subject of constant criticism As at present organized it can hardly fail to be otherwise, though more satisfactory ut present than ut any previous time. The secretary thinks the duty of ascertaining the acreage of staple crops in each state on June of each year might be imposed upon the authorities of agricultural colleges and stations in consideration of the annual appropriations they re- celve from the national treasury. Such acreage being given and the character of the soil known, with the climate conditions published daily by the weather bureau, approximations as to the yield of each crop could probably be computed with more accuracy than under the present method.
 The mortgage on farm values does not exceed l6 per cent. "a less incum- brance on capital invested than in any other line of industry.
 lie commends the extension of the civil service, which now includes all the chiefs of division in the depart- ment. He regards an extension of the law to include all non n-political officers as essential to efficient service; recom- mends radical reorganization in the matter of salaries, to conform govern ment service to that of reputa ble com mercial establishments throughout the country, and condemns the spells sys- tenn as one by which 'favoritism," in justice and dependence upon political influence saturates the service with mediocrity, incidence and inetficiency
 The report closes with 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 $2, 900. The value of imple-