Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-29
SERIOUS CONDITION.
Foot and Mouth Contagion in
Massachusetts Is Alarming.
United States Authorities Active and
Take Decided Stand.
Quarantine Established and Disease
Will Be Stamped Out.

Boston. Nov. 2S.-The cattle bureau
of the State Board of Agriculture up
to today had received about 100 indi-
vidual reports of the presence of the
foot and mouth contagion. which has
caused the secretary of agriculture to
prohibit the expectation of cattle from
Boston and to establish quarantine
of cattle. sheep and swine in New Eng
land.
The bureau could not quote figures.
today, to show to what extent the dis
ease prevailed in this section. but 1t
was stated that all reports received
had come from localities within %
miles of Boston situated mainly to the
west and southwest of the city.
Ii is admitted that the action OF
Secretary Wilson in closing the port OF
Boston 20 cattle shipments is matter
of great importance to transportation
companies. but in view of the serious
nature Of the infection and the diff
Guilty in discriminating it. the step rs
considered the only safe one to De
taken. Concerning the highly contag-
ions character of the disease. DIR. Aus
tin Peters, chairman of the state cat
tie bureau. says:
Cattle passing over the same road
:raversed by infected animals will con-
tract the disease. Only the most strln-
CERT quarantine will prevent a scourgc
hitherto unknown in this country.
The closing of Brighton stock yards.
the principal ones in New England, by
the state board of agriculture, VIII
came an interruption to traffic which
under ordinary circumstances aggre-
gate 500 to 700 head of cattle day.
| The cattle bureau have strong hopes
that the halt in business at this point
will enable them to trace out the dls-
ease and reduce the prevalence of 1t.
! II il figured that a loss of some $y9eO
70 steamship companies will result IL cat
tie traffic is held up for even two or three
weeks. The present freight rates on cat
,,e are about $50 q head and one sheep
IS7i. cents apiece
| Hetweeu 900 and 1000 head of cattle and
| from 4,uO to 500 sheep are booked to leave
here tomorrow and Sunday, on me
| steamers Sylvania and sycamore TOT
Liverpool and the Columbian FOR Lo'-
don. a., -.
| The Cunarder Sylvania, which saiis. to-
morrow for Liverpool. was booked tc
| take 664 cattle ana 80 sheep; SagamoIe'
sailing Sunday for Liverpool. ~ catttS
land 1914 sheep: Columbian. sailing sun
day for London. so cattle and 100 sheep.
| Other bookings of live stock for steam
ers leaving here within the next ~ ga! :
are as follows: Englishman. Liverpool.
al cattle: Merton. Liverpool, $40 cattle
Titonia, Liverpool. 54s cattle: Armenian:
liverpool, $50 cattle and M" snesp
sheen: Columbian. London, go cattle, l2Vo
| sheen: Virginian. London, 425 cattle
| The shipments figure up more than >f9 :
Loon I'm freight charges.
Shinments of live stock from Boston
for the week ending last Saturday were
DO. he. DIS of cattle. 2sl5 sheep. There
| ~ haaf These were taken in the Sa-
| chem and Winifredian from Liverpool.
the Cambrian from London and the Ii
| youian for Glasgow.
Of cattle. 1854 sheep. ls..a quarters oil
|