The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-23
States Along North Atlantic More
Heavily Burdened than AgricuI-
tural CommonweaIths.
OUR GOOD WEATHER PROPHET
CHIEF MOORE SHOWS HOW HE HAS
SAVED LIVES AND PROPERTY.
Great benefit of the Forecasts to the
Hardy Mariner on Both the Lakes
and the Ocean.


public. shows that with 900 which may
be saved from the appropriations for the
current fiscal year. there will be covered
back into the treasury since March Z, 1888.
over s. 100000 out OF Q total appropriation of
$11.179 455.45. That this great economy was
effected without any loss or efficiency he at
tributes in large dergee TO the improve
ment in the personnel of the force under
civil-service rules, which he declares to be
absolutely indispensable to the mainte-
nance of economic and efficient edmin-
istration of the public service"
To complete 1.-The already almost perfect
system OF civil service in his department
the secretary recommends the appointment
of a permanent director in charge of bu-
reaus and scientific Investigations. The
chiefs of scientific bureaus and their as
sistants. he declares. are not adequately
compensated, and strongly recommends
that the salaries of this class of employees
be increased. The inspection of animals in
tended for food is treated at length. and
stress is laid on the increased efficiency of
the work. due 10 the extension Of civil-serv-
ice rules. which have been very rapid in this
services. The total number OF Gnte-mortem
inspections of cattle. sheep. calves and hogs
during the year 30. 917.419, an increase
over the previous year of over 80 per cent.
The total number of post-mortem iEspec-
tions was 23.164.S5s. an increase ri % pr
cent. The total number of abattoir inspec-
ton in 1896 was 1O2 IN twent y-six cities; in
1882 there were but twenty eight in twelve
cities.
For the sake of econoIny the exports CT
microscopically inspected pork to countries
not exacting such iaspe ctlcn have been
greatly discouraged. The total amount
thus inspected was in round numbers 23,
100000 pounds, OF which 21.500,000 went to
countries requiring inspection. Clearances
We're issued 10 sl9 vessels carrying cattle
and sheep. OF cattle there were tagged tor
export 3a7.639 and 422.603 inspected sheep
were exported. The percentage OF loss in
transit was considerably less than ever be-
fore. Mr.. Morton urges strongly That gov
ernment inspection should be sAtsndci 20
whether for consumption in the United
States or abroad
LIVE STOCK EXPORTS
The cattle and meat trade OF CIR at Brit
ian is reviewed at length. OF live meat
arriving in the United Kingdom during the
first six months of 1895 the United States
supplied 70 per cent. of the cattle and 45
per cent. of the sheep. The testimony Of
the. department representatives abroad is
that cattle from the United States arrive
IL English ports in excellent condition. The
Glasgow market is especially commended
to American shippers. The report shows a
steadily increasing demand in England for
American horses. During the nrst nine
months OF the present year more or these
animals were shipped TO that country than
for any previous entire year.
Reviewing the work of the weather bu-
reau special stress is laid on the value of
the many timely storm warnings which
have been isused by the bureau and nave
resulted in the protection from loss or
property. to say nothing OF the many lives
saved from impending danger. An increase
In the percentage of verihcation Is noted.
During the year the department issued $40
publications. mainly for gratuitious diStri-
button; The aggIroegats number OF copies
has grown enormously during the last few
years, and increased appropriations must
neither the Department of Agriculture nor
the government itself can continue for the
next i've years TO Increase its publications
for gratuitious distribution in the same
ratio for the last five years without dis
bursting millions of dollars. He protests
against the intrusion in the act of appro-
fiscal year of $50. 500 for reprintng horse
books and cattle books to be given away
The Secretary again takes occasion to
express his opposition to the gratuitous dis
that the practice will be discontinued The
work of the experiment stations is re-
viewed at some length He opposes for the
present the establishment or an agricul-
tural experiment station In Alaska. but
recommends an appropriation of 5000 for
turaI resources of the Territory. The Sec
rotary suggests some form OF cooperation
tctween the horticultural colleges and the
Civil-service Commission. with view to
certifying more readily persons adapted for
employment in the scientific divisions of
the department.
FARM MORTGAGE QUESTION.
The report concludes with a compre-
hensive review of the condition of Amer
lean farmers. Seventy-two per cent of the
farms in the United States occupied by
their owners are absolutely free from mort
cages or other membranes. The Secre-
tary refutes the idea prevailing that the
farms of the West and South are more
heavily burdened with mortgages than
those OF the East and Northeast. States
along the North Atlantic he says. are quite
heavily incumbered with farm mortgages,
and New Jersey carries debt of this kind
greater in proportion TO its farm valuations
than any State I'm the Union. The FREQUENT
claim that the farmers are almost univer-
sally In debt Respondent and suffering he
declares 20 be without any foundation n
belittlement of agriculture and an indignity
TO every intelligent and practical farmer
The farmers are not mendicants nor wards
or the government TO be treated to an
nuitfes. but the representatives of the old
est. most honorable and most essential oc-
cupation OF the human race upon which
All other vacations depend for subsistence
and prosperity.
nor plant. The intelligent practical and
successful farmer needs no aid from the
government. The ignorant. impractical and
.indolent farmer deserves none. IL Is rot the
business OF the government to iegislate in
behalf OF any class OF citizens because they
are engaged in any specific calling no mat
ter how essential the calling may be to the
needs and comforts OF civilization. Law
makers cannot erase natural laws nor re-
strict or cfface the operation of economic
laws. IL Is beneficent arrangement Of
the order OF things and the conditions Of
human life that legislators are not per-
mitted TO repeal. amend. or revise the laws
or production and distribution
referring 70 the stress OF competition
winch the American farmer is compelled to
endure. Mr.. Morton calls attention TO the
Etarly TWO million OF farms OF eighty acres
each given away by the government under
tne homestead act OF 1865, during the past
thirty years. and TO the amount donated
under the timber culture law eauiya Ient to
over $4,000 more farms OF the same size
Lands long titled and rendered partially
unfcrtile could not. OF course enhance in
value and sell in competition with virgin
soil donated by the government no legis-
lation relative TO the public domain has
been so directly inimical 10 the farmers
who had bought and paid for the lands
upon which they had lived and labored In
was impossible for farmers In the old States
10 probably sell their products In competi-
ton with those OF the newer States grown
on lands which cost their owners nothing
Referring TO the impression that greater
rates or interest are charged for money
loaned on farms than for that loaned on
other kinds Of real estate. Secretary Morton