The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-18
MORTONS REPORT
The Secretary Reviews Agricul-
tural and Animal Industries.
More Meat Has Been Inspected
Than Ever Before.
OUT OF THE RACF.
~
U. S. Dairy Products Have Poor
Standing in Europe.
Many Reforms in Crop Report
ing Are Suggested.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18-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 $4,000, 200, an increase of more
than $500, 900 over the previous year.
During the year ante-mortem inspec-
ton was also made of 10000 600 ami
mails. The cost of inspection was re-
duced to IL cents per animal. In 1898
inspection cost 80 cents per animal
and in 1894 it cost ~ cents. Over
1850, 600 cattle and sheep were in
spected for foreign markets, of which
CTS, 900 were shipped abroad.
Over as, 900, 600 pounds of pork were
inspected microscopically and ex-
ported, as against 5000, 900 in 1894
and 5000, 600 pounds in 1858. OF the
amount exported last year, nearly
$4,000, 900 pounds went to Germany
and over 5000, 900 pounds to France.
This inspection involved the placing of
over 100000 specimens under the
microscope.
MucL space is devoted to discussing
J the opportunities for American meat
! products in foreign markets. OF 341,-
| 600 tons of meat received at the Lon
don central market in 1894, II coo tons
were American, while nearly so, 900
| tons came from Australia. The Amer
lean proportion hass not been main
tanned during 1925.
| 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 %, 775 head, valued at nearly
So, coo, Oo0.
The foreign trade in dairy products
is carefully reviewed. In cheese the
United States, while a large shipper
to British markets, holds the con-
spicuously 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 a
serious falling off.
In butter, the United States is out of
the race, supplying less than one per
cent of the British demand for foreign
buffers, Notwithstanding the fact that
Great Britain imported in eight
months $4,000, O0O worth of butter.
Referring to our standing in the for
| eign dairy market, the Secretary
warns shippers of the consequence of
their methods, adding: 1--WE have here
a graphic illustration of the disastrous
effects in all trade of disrega riding the
tastes of consumers and of acquiring q
bad reputation"
The secretary says the crop report
ing work is the subject of constant
cri ticism. AS at present organized, it
can hardly fail to be otherwise, though
more satisfactory at present than at
any previous time.
The secretary thinks the duty of re-
porting the acreage of staple crops in
each state on June 1 of each year
might be imposed upon the authorities
of the agricultural colleges and sta
tions, in consideration of the annual
appropriations they receive from the
national treasury.
OF the savings in the department., he
says the total amount remaining unex
pended out of the appropriations fOl
the years 1893, 1894 and 1895 aggre
gates 81, 300, 600 available for return
into the treasury.
He commends the extension of the
civil service, which now includes al
the chiefs of division in the depart
ment. He regards an extension of the
law to include all non-political Officers
as essential to efficisnt service.
The average value of farms by thu
census of 1890 was So, 900. The valu,
of implements, domestic animals anC
sundries will make total farm plan
of 81 900 for a family averaging si1
persons. Those farms have fed tn,
farmers and their families and 40, 900,
900 urban residents, besides supplying
$500, 900, 900 worth of products to for
eign consumers.