Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-11-27


in his fourth annual report, just male
public, shows that with $2SOOOO, which
may be saved from the appropriations for
the current fiscal year, there will have
been covered back into the treasury since
March Z, 1893. over 100000. out of total
appropriation of $11,174 455.45. That this
great economy was effected without any
loss of efficiency, he attributes in de-
gree to the improvement in the personnel
of the force under civil service rules,
which he declares to be absolutely in
dispensable to the maintenance of eff
cient administration of the public ser
vice" To complete 1.-The already almost
perfect system of civil service in his de-
partment, the secretary recommends the
appointment of a permanent director IN
charge of bureaus and scientific investi-
cations. The chiefs of scientific bureaus
and their assistants, he declares, are not
adequately compensated and strongly
recommends that the salaries of this class
of employees be increased.
The inspection of animals intended for
food is treated of at length and stress Is
NAAO
work, due to the extension of civil service
rules, which has been rapid in this SER
vice. The total number CT ante-mortem
inspections of cattle, sheep, calves and
hogs during the year was So, 917, 479, an in
crease of over so per cent over last year.
The total number of post-mortem inspec-
tions was %, 1854, $685. an increase of 25 per
cent The total number of abattors un-
in, in Dc nitiaS
in 1892 there were but 50 in II cities. For
the sake of economy, the exports of mi
croscopicaly inspected pork to countries
not exacting such inspection have been
greatly discouraged. The total amount
thus inspected was, in round number, &c.,
100000 pounds, of which 21,5OO,OOO pounds
went to countries requiring inspection.
Clearances were issued to S19 vessels
carrying cattle and sheep. The number
of cattle tagged for export was 1884, and
622, 623 inspected sheep were exported. The
percentage of loss in transit was consid-
erably less than ever before.
Mr.. Morton urges strongly that govern
ment inspection should be extended to all
animals intended for human food, wheth'
er for consumption in the United States
or abroad.
Cattle and Meat Trade.
The cattle and meat trade of Great
Britain is reviewed at length OF live meal
arriving in the United Kingdom during
the first six months of 1885, the Unitec
States supplied rs per cent of the Cattle
and 40 per cent of the sheep The tesI
mony of the inspectors abroad is that cat
tile arrived in good condition. The Glas
gov market Is especially commended t.
American shippers.
The report shows a steadily increasing
demand in England for American horses
During the first nine months of the pres
ent year more of these animals Wef
shipped to that country than for any pre-
vious entire year.
Condition of Farmers.
Reviewing the work of the weather hu
reau, special stress is laid upon the valu
of the many timely storm warnings Whic
have been issued by the bureau and hav
resulted in the protection from loss o
damage of many thousands of dollars
worth of property, to say nothing OF tn
many lives saved from impending danger:
An increase in the percentage of verif
cations is quoted. During the year tn
department issued 376 publications, main
ly for gratuitous distribution. The pun
fishing work has grown enormously luI
ing the past few years, and increased 81
preparations must be provided, but tn
secretary declares neither the departmer
of agriculture nor the government ttse
can continue for the next five years to il
crease it's publications for gratuitous Ill:
trbtuion in the same ratio as for the Ia:
five years without discussing millions
dollars
He protests against the intrusion in IL
act of appropriations for the departmel
for the current fiscal year or $4,000 for r
printing horse books and cattle books,
be given away by congress-
The secretary again takes occasion
express his opposition to the gratuito
distribution of seeds and to express t
hope that the practice will be Discount
ued. The work of the experiment static
4 is reviewed at some length.
He opposes for the present the esta
lishment of an agricultural eXperime
station in Alaska, but recommends an &
preparation of $4,000 for an examinati
of the agricultural resources of the ter
tory.
The secretary suggests some form OF {
operation between the agricultural .
leges and the civil service commissi
with view to certifying more read
persons adapted for service in sciene
divisions of the department.
Work of the Weather Bureau.
The report concludes with a compreh'
sve review of the condition of Americ
farmers. Seventy-two per cent of
farms in the United States, occupied
their owners, are absolutely free fir
"A mortgages or other membranes.
secretary refutes the idea prevailing t
the farms of the west and south are IL
heavily burdened with mortgages II
those of the east and northeast. Sta
along the North Atlantic, he says,
quite heavily incumbered, with farm me
cages, and New Jersey carries debt
this kind greater in proportion to its ia
valuation than any state in the Union.
The frequent claim that farmers
almost universally in debt, despond
ana suffering, he declares to be with
any foundation, belittlement of agri
ture and an indignity to every int
gent practical farmer. The farmers
rot mendicants nor wards of the COVE
ment, to be treated to annuities, but
representatives of the oldest, most
orahle, most essential occupation of
human family, upon which all other
cations depend for subsistence and p