The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-09
GOVERNOR SENDS INTERESTING
MESSAGE On STATE AFFAIRS
To THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

ton OF agricultural education, and the
general interests OF husbandry through
out the state" In addition 10 this the
board is given authority 70 appoint GER
tain officers ito visit and inquire into the
condition OF any domestic animal In their
respective counties whenever there is rea-
son TO suspect that any such animal, or
the carcass Of any such animal. is AFFECT
ed with tuberculosis. or other contagious.
infectious, or communicable disease"
There is appropriated annually the sum
OF twenty thousand dollars for the use OF
this board, and about seventeen thousand
dollars OF that amount are expended In
the inspection and killing OF cattle found
10 be sufferig from tuberculosis and I'm
compensatng for the cattle killed. The
chief business OF the board now relates to
the killing Of such cattle, and the more
general duties of the board receive little
attention
When this law relative to tuberculosis
In cattle was first passed, the board was
given the responsibility OF searching out
the diseased animals on It's own initiative.
and the rules and officers necessary for
such an effort were provided. great care
being taken 20 prevent any possible in1us-
tice being done TO the owners OF suspected
cattle. But after a very short practical
experience IL was proven that II such
search were made for the cattle the ex-
pense Of killing them would be so great
that the appropriation then available, or
any likely TO be available, would not meet
IT,
Thefore the method was changed. with
the result that now II Is the owner OF
the diseased animal that first moves to
have the COW examined. unless his neigh
bors. for some reason. interest themselves
enough TO do so. When the owners no.
tice reaches the proper officer OF the
board the machinery Of investigation is
set inmotion. and the COW. II found dis
eased. is killed, and the state pays one
half OF the value placed upon 1t by two
of the states representatives befOra the
killing.
CANNOT ACCOMPLISH PURPOSE.
1t will be readily seen that this method
does not, and can not. accomplish the
purpose OF the law. The large majority
Of the owners OF COWS kept for furnish
Ing milk for public consumption are in
tent on securing from each COW the
largest possible amount OF milk Hence
a COW which may not look just right is
often kept in service until the disease
becomes so evident that something must
be done. This Is not the universal prac-
tice, because there are some milk pro-
ducers who are anxious to keep their cat
tie I'm tho very best OF condition; yet the
general rule Is as stated. But I'm most
cases the attention OF the board is not
called 10 the animal until It has become
unfit for use. and it's milk has been con-
sumed and If the milk from such an
animal carries tuberculosis, then the pos
si2le damage has been done, even before
the first notice is sent to the board or its
officers
The original idea OF the act has been
entirely abandoned, and the state is sim
ply providing lot OF machinery for the
killing OF COWS whose owners have found
them TO be diseased. In sentence, am
convinced that this amount OF money, an
nually appropria ted, Is no longer doing
for the state what II was intended to do,
and that II can not do It until the whole
system under which it IS expended Is
changed.
SHOULD BE EFFICIENT BODY.
The board OF agriculture should be, and
can be, one OF the most important and
beneficial in the state. In order that IT
may be such, it should be composed OF
men who have agriculture or its kindred
vocations at heart, and IL should be given
ample power Ito look after the agricul-
tural interests OF the state, the promotion
OF agricultural education, and the general
interests Of husbandry throughout the
state. | am convinced that this result
Is not being accomplished at this time,
and that the $1,000 600, more or less, which
are being expended ostenslbly for the pre-
vention Of tuberculosis among cattle are
not accomplishing anything particular IN
that direction
l would recommend 10 the general as
sembly the desirablity OF appointing
joint committee TO look into this whole
subject, with Instructions TO report at
this session some legislation that will
make the board more OF a benent to the
interests which IL is intended 10 foster
and that VIII provide some way for the
wiser expenditure OF the money annually
appropriated.
WORK OF THE CENSUS.
In accordance with the provisions OF
chapter SO OF the General Laws. a census
OF the state has been taken during the
past year, the results of which have been
partially compiled and tabulated. This
census shows a gratifying increase I'm our
population and noteworthy distribution
Of this Increase. The population OF the
state on June 1st, 1905, was 4S00S2. an In
crease OF 96,324 over the state census taken
ten years previously and OF 5l.b6 over the
federal census taken fve years ago. such
an Increase must be gratifying 90 the peo-
pie OF tho state as II proves that we
have shared In the general prosperity Of
the whole country during the last de-
cade.
The figures show two conditions which
are especially worthy OF note first. the
greatest increase is IN the cities and such
towns as are adjacent thereto. while the
purely agricultural towns have either
barely held their own or have actually
lost I'm population; and second tho towns
making the largest Increase are those
which have frequent and convenient
means OF communication with other
towns These relative changes I'm town
populations arc the outcome I'm no small
degree OF the changes I'm our general con-
ditlons As our state has become more
and more an industrial state. the people
have come 20 live more and more In our
business centres
The necessity for increased agricultural
products. especially such arr-arr-urcd
i'm our every day consumption, has re-
aulred more intense farming. and that Of