The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-12-03
LOT OF THE FARMER
A Prosperous One Compared
With Many Callings.
SECRETARY MORTON's REPORT
Treats of Food Inspection, Farm
Mortgages, the Weather Bureau,
Free Seeds, Foreign Markets.


Washington, Nov. a. - Secretary
Morton, in his fourth annual report,
just made public, shows that with
$3.50, 900, 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 of total appro.
priation of $11,179,455.
That this great economy was effected
without any loss of efficiency, he attri-
butes in large degree to the improve
ment In the personnel of the force un-
der civil service rule, which he declares
to be absolutely indispensable to the
maintenance of an economic and eff.
oient administration of the public serv.
ice.''
To complete the ALREADY perfect sys
tenn of civil service" in his department.,
the secretary recommends the appoint
ment of permanent director in charge
Of bureaus and scientific Investigations
The inspection of animals intended
for food is treated of at length, and
stress Is laid upon the increased effici
ency of the work, due to the extension
Of oivil-service rules, which has been
rapid in this servi Co.
The total number of ante-mortem
inspection of cattle, sheep and hogs
during the year was 35, ,479, an in.
crease over the previous year of over
80 per cent. The total number of post
mortem inspections was 23,164,9 1858, an
increase of 25 per cent.
For the sake of economy, the exports
of microscopioally inspected pork to
countries not exacting such inspection,
have been greatly discouraged. The
total amount thus inspected was in
round numbers 100000 pounds, of
which 81, 500, 900 pounds went to coun-
tries requiring inspection.
Clearances were issued to 891 vessels
carrying cattle and sheep. The num-
Der of cattle tagged for export was
S57,369, and 422, inspected sheep
were exported. The per centage of loss
in transit was considerable less than
ever before.
Mr.. Morton urges strongly that gov.
eminent inspection should be extended
to all animals intended for human
food, whether for consumption in the
United States or abroad.
The cattle and meat trade of Great
Britain is reviewed at length. OF live
meat arriving in the United Kingdom
during the first six months of 1896, the
United States supplied rs per cent of
the cattle and per cery of the sheep.
The testimony of the departments
representatives abroad is that the cat
tie from the United States arrive in
English ports in excellent condition.
The Glasgow market is especially com.
mended to American shippers.
The report shows steadily increas
ing demand in England for American
horses. During the first nine months
of the present year, more of these ami
mails were shipped to that country than
in any previous entire year.
The secretary again takes occasion to
express his opposition to the gratuitous
distribution of seeds and to express the
hope that the practice will be discon.
tinued. The report concludes with
comprehensive review Of the condition
of American farmers. Seventy two per
cent Of the farms in the United States,
occupied by their owners, are absolu.
tely free from mortgages Or other in
cumbrances. The secretary refutes the
idea prevailing that the farms of the
West and South are more heavily bur-
dened with mortgages than those of the
East and Northeast. States along the
North Atlantic, he says, are quite
heavily encountered with farm mort.
cages, and New Jersey carried debt
of this kind greater in proportion to it's
farm valuation than any other state in
the Union. The frequent statement
that the farmers are almost universal
" in debt, respondent and suffering,
he says declares to be without any
foundation, belittlement Of agricul-
ture and an indignity to every intell-
gent and practical farmer. The farm.
ers are not mendicants nor wards OF
the government to be treated to annul-
ties, but the representatives Of the old.
est, most honorable, most essential oc-
cupation of the human race, upon
which all other vocations depend for
subsistence and prosperit y.