Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-30
RABIES IN THE DISTRICT
COMMENT IN THE SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE'S REPORT.
Talk of Trade i'm the Orient and Rec
Ommen dations Made as to
Experiment Stations.

Omme ndatfOns Made to
Experiment Stations.
In his annual report Secretary Wilson OF
the Department of Agriculture expresses
the hope that in the near future craft en-
ployed in coastwise commerce will be able
to communicate with the stations of the
weather bureau located at the principal
forts by means of wireless biography. The
weather bureau. he says, has devised new
appliances more delicately constructed than
any heretofore used for communicating
without wire and has already been able to
transmit messages over sixty miles of land
presenting a rough and irregular surface.
Special storm forecasts for the north At
lartic will be undertaken shortly through
the use of reports received from West In
dies the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Azores
and Portugal the new cable system con-
Meeting Lisbon with New York via the
Azores making this possible.
During the year ante-mortem eXamlna-
tons were made by the bureau of animal
industry of "a ,737,6l3 animals. He shows
the extensive work that has been done TO
stamp out disease in animals.
Rabies in the District.
With regard to rabies the Secretary de-
clares that this disease Is unfortunately on
the increase in the United States, and that
local authorities have in most cases not
efficiently controlled it's outbreaks. He re-
fers especially to its existence and increase
in the District of Columbia. and points out
the special danger to children from rabid
dogs. Owing to the very serious expense
to families in moderate circumstances in
subjecting their children to the Pasteur
treatment, he recommends either that the
Secretary of Agriculture be authorized to
pay for such treatment for parties bitten
in the District, that one of the medical
services of the government be directed 10
furnish such treatment free of charge.
Careful Tests.
Zone Of these outbreaks of rabies he
said, occurred during the year in the Dis
trict of Columbia, extending into adjoining
portions of Maryland and Virginia, and was
very carefully studied by the bureau of
animal industry. Between July !, 1899, and
June 30, 1900, the disease was demonstrated
by the most careful laboratory tests in
forty-five dogs, one cat four cows and one
horse. Other cases occurred which were
not submitted to this critical scientific
study. Four men and sixteen children were
bitten by these rabid animals.
For various reasons the local authorities
have not in most cases efficiently controlled
these outbreaks of rabies. In the District
of Columbia under federal laws and ad-
min!stration, the disease has existed for
=
states it's presence has scarcely attracted
official attention.
Should lie Eradicated.
LAS this is one of the most terrible and
fatal Of diseases, as it is communicable to
man and to most or all species of warm
blooded animals, it is extremely desirable
that the contagion should be eradicated
That this can be accomplished without ex-
traordinary efforts is clearly shown by the
recent experience of Great Britain and
other countries. The continued existence of
the disease at the national capital is a sub
ject for regret, and shows a lack of efficient
measures for protecting human and animal
life
The adapta bility to this country OF many
new seeds and plants introduced from for
eign countries has been demonstrated. 1t
has been shown that a good grade of tea
be produced for 10 cents pound or
about $500 acre. and such tea should be
sold for 80 cents pound.
Hawaii and Porto Rico.
AS the result of investigation In Hawaii
and Porto Rico, the Secretary believes that
experiment stations should be established
in these dependencies, and that they should
receive for this work an annual appropria-
ton equal to that given to the other terri
tories. During the fiscal years 1S97-1900 our
total sales of domestic farm products to
foreign countries aggregated the enormous
sum of So, 1856 900 600, an excess of $500, 0O0,
900 over the preceding four-year period.
The agricultural exports of the United
States for the past fiscal year amounted to
SS44.00O.OOO. The rapid growth Of
port trade to the orient in recent years is
most striking. Five years ago our total
shipments OF domestic merchandise to Asia
and Oceania were valued at $43, 100000, of
which only S9.7UO,OOO were agricultural
Trade in the Orient.
There has been a steady increase in each
succeeding year until in 1900 our export
trade with the orient amounted to $107 ,O00,-
600, of which $3O,000.000 worth was farm
produce. OF this great increase in the
growth Of our agricultural exports to that
quarter OF the globe, amounting to some
thing over $4,000. 600. $11 800, 900 consisted
of cotton, and 81, 100000 of wheat flour.
During the past fiscal year Cuba Porto
Rico, the Hawaiian Islands and the Philip
pines furnished a market for $45, COO
worth of our domestic products. Five years
ago these islands took but S13, 600 900 worth.
During the fiscal year 1900 We sold to these
islands $2o,Oo0,o00 worth of larm produce,
an increase of $13, 100000 over 1896.
Appropriate tons for the department for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1890, amounted
to $3GD6,022, an excess 1899 of SIG,
800 In addition, the usual sum of s72o,oOO
was provided for division among the state
agricultural stations. Expenditures and liza
billties incurred during the year We're
for the rental Of leased buildings in Wash
ington.
An urgent recommendation is made for
the erection of new, fireproof laboratory
buildings, which, it is estimated, will cost
about 100000.
Difficulty of Retaining Experts.
One Of the problems constantly recurring
TO the head of the department is the diff
Guilty of retaining in the service some of the
most capable and efficient Of its workers
During the past year three valuable work.
ers were lost to the department. and other
losses are threatened, owing to the tempt
ing offers made to department experts from
other sources. The Secretary recommends
that Congress place it in his power to eXer-
else wider discretion in the matter Of sal
aries to responsible officers.
The Silk Industry.
In 1880 the United States paid over $50
100000 for imported raw silk and in 1900
over $45, 100000 The Secretary believes that
largt amount of cheap and now unem-
poyed labor among the colored youth in the
southern states could be made available for
domestic silk culture; and he desires an an
preparation of $4,000 to set foot research
regarding the production of silk, to the end
to Lob