Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-05
TUBERCULOSIS.
Cattle Commissioners Say 1t
Must Be Prevented.
While Maine Animals Are Afflicted
Less Than Some Others
There is Danger from It-Report Of Cattle
Commissioners.

The annual report for 1896 of DR..
George III. Bailey of Portland, Hon. F.
o. Beal of Bangor and Hon. John NJ.
Deering of Saco, has been presented
the Governor and Council, containing
matter of great Importance to the cat
tie interests of this State.
The dread tuberculosis is the point
at which the commissioners have been,
and now are directing their attention.
1t has been the cause of heavy inroads
on the appropriation of $4,000 for the
past two years, which was expended
long before the close of that period.
To continue the work of arresting the
disease, which is fast increasing, the
commissioners will require increased
appropriations, and will present bill
at the coming Legislature for the
necessary means Of carrying on the
work. so widely acknowledged as one
of great Importance.
The report says in part:
A summary of the business of the
year shows that the commissioners
have ordered ana attended over 800 in
SpectionS during 1896. scattered all over
our State, containing a cattle popua-
ton of 32S. 543, and 110,719 horses either
bred or owned upon G5,400 farms in
Maine.
This amount of work is so largely in
excess of the demands upon our SER
vices of any other year since the pres
ent law went into effect, that Ii is ap-
parent upon the face of it. that with a
total amount of appraisals for the
years 1895 and 1896 largely in excess
of the whole bi-annual appropriation,
together with the almost certain
knowledge that the new and much
more certain methods of diagnosing
and controlling the disease through
the aid of tuberculin tests will compel,
an increased expenditure of both time
and money: that the amount thus far
appropriated is entirely insufficient to
insure any reasonable or effectual con-
tinuance of the work.
In 1895, AZ head of horses were con-
demned and destroyed at an appraisal
of $1927.50, and 10 head of cattle were
also condemned and destroyed at an
appraisal of $2459.00, the total amount
of appraisals for that year being
$;3S6.00. In 1896, As head of horses were
condemned and destroyed at an APP
praisal of $196700 and 202 head of cat
tie were also condemned and destroyed
at an appraisal of S7063.50, the total
amount of appraisals of the year being
S9030.50, amounting in the two years to
S13, 1850. for which was appropriated
at the last session of the Legislature
the sum of $4,000 ont of which was .ex-
pected to be paid all the expenses and
pay of three commissioners and for all
animals destroyed under the pro-
visions of this act.
The same difficulty has been expert
enced for the past two years as in all
previous bi-annual appropriations; we
can meet the first years expenses by
paying out of the second years funds
whatever deficiency proves to exist at
the end of the first year; only to find
ourselves entirely out of money early
in the second year, and then continue
to do business on credit. become in
debted to every owner for whom we
condemn an animal. until such time
to the great inconvenience of all con-
cerned.
The largely increased business of 1896
over that of 1895 is a case in point.
At the close of business in 1895. we had
overrun the amount of the annual APP
Precipitation over $4,000. which amount
could be rendered available January l,
1896. by paying out of the second years
funds the Indebtedness of 1895, only to
find ourselves with approximately one
half the annual appropriation to con-
tnue the business of 1896, so that early
lin the present year we We're entirely
out of funds. and only able to continue
the business of the year by the special
authority of the Governor and Council
as the law provides. The incon-
veniences and hardships to many men
and even women, to whom money is
now long since due for animals de-