The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-18
FUTURE OF FARMING.
Values Mortgaged Less Than
Other. Lines of Industry.
CATTLE AND DAIRY SHIPMENTS.
Secretary Morton Saws Political Infius
euce Saturates the Departments
With Nediocrity and Incidence.

of the secretary of agriculture begins with
the repert Of the work az the bureau OF
animal industry. The total number Of
animals inspected at the slaughter houses
was considerable over lS.ec0.eQ, an In
crease or more than 6.eoaeoa over thu pre-
vious wear. During the year ante-mortam
inspection was also made Of 5.o10 9e0 ami
mails. The cost Of inspection was reduced
70 IL cents per animal In 1875 inspection
cost ~ cents per animal. and In lisa ir
cost ia cents. over 80. 0aa animals. cat
tie and sheep. were inspected for foreign
markets. OF which Ssa0ea were shipped
abroad. over 100000 pounds OF pork
was inspected mierosoopieally. and ex-
ported. as against S5.00o.eo0 IA 1894 and o.,
ea0oo pounds in issS. OF the amount ex-
ported last wear nearly 2SDeoe1 pounds
went 70 Germany and over e,0g0.0oe pounds
20 France. This fspection involved the
placing OF over l.aAa. 40 specimens under
the microscopes. The cost Of each exsmi-
nation was less than cents. or Tor each
pound Of meat . mills, n considerable re-
duction ever any previous year. Losses
Of cattle in transit TO Europe were great
er than in 1894. being respectively for 1895
and 1884 81 ard 81 per cent. over soeo
cars. carrying over $4,000 animals, were
inspected for Texas fever at quarantine
pens during the quarantine seasons, near
" 1900 car loads Of cattle being inspected
also in transit. and over 5000 ears were
cleaned and disinfected. Besides. over
$4,000 cattle from the non-infected dis
trictS OF Texas were inspected for ship
ment 10 Northern states. The secretary
urges their Importation free Of duty "a
advantageous to feeders having a surplus
Of feed. and 70 the consumers, who OUT
number the producers.
Much space Is devoted 10 discussing the
opportunities for American meat products
in foreign markets. or 81. 600 tons OF meat
received at the London central market In
1894. 71.0l0 were American, while nearly
$4,000 tons came from Australia. The
American proportion has not been main
tanned during 1888. In the imports OF live
cattle to Great Britain. the United states
and Canada had practical monopoly un-
Ill the last two years. Since 1898 thu Ar
gentine shipments have greatly increased.
During the first eight months OF the year
the shipments amounted to over 2A.0oo
head. Although the meat of the South
American cattle is not as saiabie as the
American. the business is profitable and
likely to increase. American cattle sell.
though slaughtered soon after landing. at
prices equal 10 the average paid for Brit
ish earcasses.
The exports of American horses to Great
Britain have increased steadily and have
moro than doubled since 1888. amounting
in the first eight months OF 1876 TO 22.sT5
head. valued at nearly 5000. COO Ameri-
can gCldlngs averaged this year I'm thu
English market sl55. 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 a large shipper TO British
markets. holds a conspcuously unfiatter-
ing place in the extreme rear as 10 quail
ity and price. and as the only one OF the
councillors for this trade whose business
shows a serious falling of. In butter, tho
United States is out OF the race, supplying
less than ! per cent. Of the British de-
mand for foreign butter. Notwithstanding
the fact that Great Britain imported I'm
eight months 100000 worth OF butter.
Referring to our standing in the foreign
dairy market the secretary warns ship
pers OF the consequences OF their meth
DDS. adding: we have here a graphic IL
lustration or the disastrous effects In all
trade Of disregarding the tastes OF con-
sumers and Of acquiring a bad reputa-
ton"
the secretary says the crop reporting
work Is the subject OF constant criticism,
As At present organized. It can hardly fail
10 be otherwise, though more satisfactory
az present than AT any previous time. The
secretary then says thu duty OF reporting
the acreage OF staple crops IN each state
on June I OF each year might be imposed
upon the authorities OF the agricultural
colleges and stations, in consideration OF
the annual appropriations they receive
from the national treasury. Such acreage
being given and the character OF the coil
known. with the climatic conditions pub
lshed daily by the weather bureau. ap~
proximat!ons as to the yield Of each crop
could probably be compiled with more ae-
curacy than under the present method.
or the savings OF the department. no says
the total amount remaining unexpendea
out OF the appropriations for the years
1893. 1894 and 1855, aggregate $4,000 avail
able for return into the treasury. Bo
commends the extension OF the civil ser
vice. which now includes all the chiefs OF
divisions in the department. be regards
an extension OF thu Law 10 include oil not
political officers as essential to efheient
servico. he recommends radical reorEan-
isron IN the matter or salaries TO con
form the government service 20 that or
reputable commercial houses throughout
the country, and condemns the spells sys-
tenn as one BY which favoritism. ininstiea
and dependence upon political innuencs
saturates the service with mediocrtty, III
dolence and inefficlency.
Tho report closes with a discussion OF tbs
question Of the future OF the farms and
farming IN the United States. The average
vaine Of farms by the census OF 1880 was
g. go The value OF implements, domestic
animals and sundries win make total
farm plant ~ 5000 FOR an average FAMILY
or six persons. Those farms have fed the
farmers and their families and 100000
urban residents, beside supplying E'0o.VO0
worth Of products OF foreign consumption.
In ths presence OF these facts. The secre-
tsry asks: How can any one dare 70 as
scrt that farming Is generally unrsinnnsr-
alive and unsatisfactory 70 those VINO IN.
teHigentiy follow itT' The mortgage on
farm values does not exceed le per cent.
a less fncumbrance on the capiia invested
than IA any other line ~ incustry lie
foresclIs confidently a steady Increase m
the value ~ farm lands as the populauon
OF the country increases.