Arizona republican., 1905-10-09

the bureau since it was established twenty-one years ago and prior to that
 time had been doing special work fqr several years under the direction of
 the commissioner of agriculture. His
 first work was in connection with
 pleuro- pneumonia which was eradi-
 cated from this country in five years time at an expense of about $1,5OO,OOO
 or only one half per cent of our an
 nual export trade in live stock and their products. The regulation of the movement of Texas fever infected cat
 tie the eradication of contagious foot
 and mouth disease while it was still in
 the eastern states, and the control of cattle and sheep scabies and other dis
 eases has been a part of the work ac- complisned by the bureau of animal in dustry under Dr. Salmon's administra- tion.
 This would indicate that politics has not greatly affected this bureau in the past and it is reported that Secre- tary Wilson who has the appointing power in this case is taking time to de- eide upon the proper man to fill this important position.
 Arizona as well as all other parts of the country is interested in this ques- tion for the head Of this bureau has largely to do with directing sanitary work that is done in connection with state and territorial officials. The chief
 of this bureau decides upon the loca- tion of the federal quarantine line which prevents the shipment of cattle from fourteen southern states. The line now runs west and south of Ari- zona but there have been many times when it was feared by the sanitary board that portions of Arizona would be placed below this line.
 There have been several persons spoken of as suitable for chief of the bureau but three are more prominent than others at present. One is pr. A. D. Melvin, who has been assistant
 chief of the bureau for some ten years
 and has been connected with the work
 as field inspector and other capacities
 for about twenty years He is thor
 oughly familiar with all branches of
 the work. He has spent most of the past four years in the west and has
 visited Arizona each winter and is
 therefore acquainted with the live
 stock sanitary conditions and the work
 done by the officials of this territory.
 He is endorsed very generally by those
 connected with the bureau work.
 Another prominent candidate is Prof. c. r. Curtis. dean of the '---ltural department of the Iowa state college at Ames. who was assistant to Secre-
 Jary Wilson when that gentleman was connected with the school prior to his entering the cabinet. He is prominent as an educator and stockman. He was
 one of the judges of stock at the Chi cagO. St. Louis and Portland fairs. lie is endorsed by many stock papers and stockmen over the country.
 \ third candidate for appointment is Dr. Leonard Pearson. state veterinar- ian of Pennsylvania for the past ten years, and dean of the veterinary de- partne1t of the State College of that state. After finishing his education in this country his state sent him abroad for post graduate work and nearly every year since the state has sent him to some foreign country to become familiar with some special line of sanitary work The legislature of Pennsylvania appropriated S30O,0 ct one time to be used in eradicating tu- bercUlosis among the dairy cattle of that state, and last year set. aside S50,- 900 for building a building for the ex- elusive use of the veterinary depart mcnt Of the college. Dr. Pearson is one of the most prominent veterinar- ians of the world and is quoted largely in scientific periodicals, as he has done much original investigation work.
 Dr. Norton. territorial veterinarian, has been solicited by different ones to support each of the above candidates as he is personally acquainted with them all. Dr. Melvin has visited Ari- zona and in official ways done much for the territory. Professor Curtis was a clasSmate Of 9 brother of Dr. Norton and an instructor in the Iowa college while ne was a student. His acquaint- ance with pr. Pearson is through hold ing similar positions for many years and in association meetings.
 Dr. Norton says that he does not think that Professor Curtis will get the position because Wilson and his assist | ant, Hays of Minnesota, recently ap- pointed, are both from the Iowa col lege, the latter being a graduate Be sides the original act establishing the bureau requires that the chief be a ! veterinarian. Though the chief must l be business man yet his principal l work is along scientific lines and the | of the sanitary work of the country is estimated in other coun- | tries by the position taken by the head of the bureau of animal industry who | certainly should be a veterinarian of | the highest rank. It is possible that | some of the other candidates may se- cure the position but in any case Ari- | zona will receive all that is due her in | the way of assistance under the pres | ent administration. The sanitary | boards last report indicated that the | territory was practically free from | contagious disease affected animals.