The Washington herald., 1909-02-07
RAILROAD COMPANY
AIDS GOVERNMENT
The Two stamp Out hoof
and Mouth Disease.
PENxsY DIsINFECTs IT'S CARS
Stringent Quarantine Maintained by
Federal Authority Adhered 50 by
transportation Lines Quickly
Heads on Epidemie-Shut-Of Ter
ritory Now Being Opened TO Traffic.

general Offices Of the pennsylvania Kali
road. cne OF the most remarkable cpl
denies among cattle IN the history Of the
country-thaJ Of the foot and mouth dis
ease-has been practically stamped out.
The Secretary Of Agriculture has lifted
the embargo upon the movement Of cat
tie from the States of Pennsylvania New
York. and Maryland To guard against
the possibility of another outbreak. quar-
antine viii apply 10 cattle moving from
certain counties lu those states though
even this embargo is likely 70 be lifted
within a short time.
The methods which have been used 70
bring about this result constitute strik-
Ing example OF cooperation between gov
eminent agencies and the railroads
Four Counties Closed
On November Z the Secretary Of Agrl-
culture placed an interstate embargo on
cattle moving from four counties in the
State OF Pennsylvania. As the trouble
was acute oli its lines. the Pennsylvania
Railroad acted promptly 10 prevent any
cattle moving out OF or into the affect
ed area. Shipments were also stopped
outside the area and cared for. facilities
being hired when necessary.
The quarantine wss subsequently eT-
tended 70 the entire state of Pennsylva-
MA. New York Maryland. and Michigan.
Those sections we're not permitted 10 en-
gage IN any interstate traffic in cattle
hides. hay. straw. and fodder. Shortly
afterward Canada placed al embargo on
New Jersey and Delaware in addition q
the above States. and also imposed a
quarantine 10 cover even goods packed in
hay OF straw.
Pennsy Takes a Hand,
As soon as the epidemic became appar.
ent the Pennsylvania Railroad set about
en exhaustive inquiry through its OWL
organization TO ascertain the source Of
Infection. II was able to learn definitely
that the disease had emanated from
Buffalo. II was then comparatively easy
20 trace what had become Of the ship
ments from Buffalo and 10 locate the
area OF possible Infection.
The State authorities also intervenet
IN the matter and actively cO-opeTated IL
imposing legal obstacles 20 the movement
Of cattle between different parts of TIT
States The Pennsylvania Railroad 10
only issued orders al the very start Z
execute the guarantees made BY ire Fed
/ eral and state authorities. but in al cases
sent Instructions 70 its agents by tele
graph as 70 the restrictions which should
be observed. The telegraphing required
by this effort exceeded that occasionet
by any other similar event on record
Repacked Many Packages.
BY reason Of the rigid quarantine
against shipping goods into Canada whici
were packed IN hay and straw the com
psny. in order TO avoid delay IN deliver
I Ing Christmas packages, unIoaded and -
packed in sawdust and excelsior at points
on the Buffalo division many package
destined 20 the Dominion
AS a further precaution against th'
spread OF the disease all stock which ha,
/ been shipped from the infected areas q
I Pittsburs, Lancaster, Baltimore an
/ Philadelphia. as well as many other I'm
pOrtant points on the road. was segTegat
Z ed in separate pens
+ Il was also arranged that every ca
used for the transportation Of cattle O
stock Of any kind should be thorough,
/ cleaned both before and after every trip
An important subsequent step was III
/ Issuance by the Department Of Agricul
ture Of Instructions imposing the sam
| regulations for cleaning cars al all points
I II had been found at first that the rule
/ enforced at some places differed mateTi
ally from those at others.
stock Cars Cleaned.
It IS estimated that approximately 2I'
lstock cars have been cleaned each wee
since November y according 10 the regu
lIations established by the Department @
Agriculture. Thus a total OF some 16.S
Icars have been cleaned on the Pennsylvs
MIA lines east OF Pittsburg. az g cost c
about Ss FOR each cleaning Cattle car
are ordinarily cleaned with brOoms an
shovels after each trip. with q very tho,
ough cleansing when necessary
Since the outbreak OF the foot an
mouth disease. however. railroad cor
panIes have been required al their Ow
expense after each trip 20 scrape al dil
out Of each car. disinfect with solutio
lof carbolic acid and when refuse on th
floors Of tho cars was frozen 10 stesI
them. All Of this has been done unde
the direction Of government Inspector
and every car has been marked an
Isealed by an Inspector after each clean:
ing.
To do all this the railroad company hs
been compelled 10 Increase It's force {
cleaners at Baltimore, Philadelphia Lar
lcaster, Harrisburg. Pittsburg. and Je-se
lCity The result has been that all catt
cars have been made practically asept
at the beginning and end OF each trip
Federal Authorities Act.
The Bureau OF Animal Industry &
Washington. K Is stated. has had a fore
of 80 veterinarians and as many moi
nonprofessional men engaged in eradica
ling the disease. the cost OF which. it
estimated, viii be fully s5O0e0o in Penn
syIvania. Maryland. and Michigan. tt
total number OF animals slaughtered q
TO December 81 was S1e05. valued at SIS
losS. Of which the Federal government vi
nav two-thirds and the States afecte
one-third.
To-day the quarantine Of the Feder
government extends only 70 Carroll ar
Baltimore counties in Maryland: Phil,
ideiphia. Delaware, Chester. Lancaste
Dauphfn. Lebanon. Berks, Montgomer
! Bucks. Lehigh, Northampton, Cerbo
Schuyikill. Luzerne. Columbia. Montou
Northumberland, LycOmiDg Clinton. Gel
ter. Union. Snyder. AiifIlin, Juniats, PER-
ard York counties IN Pennnsylvania; fl
counties in New York. and four in Mich
gan. The Federal government is no
considering the request OF DT. l. PearsO
: OF the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvani
to remove the quarantine from addition
sections OF Pennsylvania
A cheap paint may be made from a s