The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-12-05
THE FARM MINISTER
SECRETARY MORTON SUBMITS HIS
ANNUAL REPORT.
Considers the American TflIer of
the Soil More Fortunate Than
His Foreign Brothers.


in his fourth annual report, just male
public, shows that with S2SO,OOO' wnlcn
may be saved from the appropriations FOR
the current fiscal year, there Will nave
been covered back into the treasury since
March Z, 1898. ever S2.0OO,0OO out of a total
appropriation of $11,174, 45545 That TINS
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 20 be absolutely in
dispensable to the maintenance of eff
Gent 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 N
charge of bureaus and scientific inveStl-
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
laid upon the increased efficiency of the
work, due to the extension of civil service
rules, which has been rapid in this ser
vice. The total number Of ante-mortem
Inspections of cattle, sheep, calves and
hogs during the year was 1873 49, an in
crease of over so per cent over last year.
The total number of post-mortem inspec-
lions was 30 1854, $685. an increase of 20 per
cent. The total number of abattoirs I'M
der inspection in 1896 was 1O2 in 26 cities;
in 1892 there were but 50 in y cities For
the sake of economy, the exports of mi
r1nrlx n pOuntriRS
not exacting such inspection have been
greatly discouraged. The total amount
thus inspected was, in round number, 49,
100000 pounds, of which 21,5OO,0OO pounds
went to countries requiring inspection.
Clearances were issued to S19 vessels
e. carrying cattle and sheep. The number
of cattle tagged for export was 377,6S4, and
622, 62S 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 meat
arriving in the United Kingdom during
States supplied 70 per cent of the cattle
and 45 per cent of the sheep. The testi.
mony of the inspectors abroad is that cat
tie 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 were
shipped to that country than for any pre-
vious entire year.
Condition of Farmers.
Reviewing the work of the weather bu
reau, special stress is laid upon the valu
OF the many timely storm warnings whicl
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 dangers
An increase in the percentage of verifi
cations is quoted. During the year tn
department issued $40 publications, main
ly for gratuitous distribution. rhe pub
fishing work has grown enormously dur
ing the past few years, and increased 1p
preparations must be provided, but tn
secretary declares neither the department
of agriculture nor the government ttsel
can commune for the next five years to in
crease its publications for gratuitous dis
tribtuion in the same ratio as for the las
five years without discussing millions c
dollars.
He protests against the intrusion in II
act of appropriations for the department
for the current fiscal year or SS2,5OO for re
printing horse books and cattle books,
be given away by congress.
The secretary again takes occasion
express his opposition to the gratuitou
distribution of seeds and to express ii
hope that the practice will be disconriI
ued. The work of the experiment station
is reviewed at some length.
He opposes for the present the estal
lishment of an agricultural experimel
station in Alaska, but recommends an a
preparation of $4,000 for examinatio
of the agricultural resources of the terri
tory.
The secretary suggests some form oe C
operation between the agricultural 60
leges and the civil service commissiC
with a view to certifying more readi
persons adapted for service in scienSi
divisions of the department
Work of the Weather Bureau.
The report concludes with a comprehe
sive review of the condition of Americ;
farmers. seventy-two per cent of t
farms in the United States, occupied
their owners, are absolutely free fro
mortgages or other membranes. T.
secretary refutes the idea prevailing tn
the farms of the west and south are no
heavily burdened with mortgages tn
those of the east and northeast. stat