Arizona republican., 1912-04-29
LONG SERVICE 1. OF DR. NORTON
Story of Arizona's Excellent Live Stock Sanitary Laws and the Commendable Record of the Man Who Inspired Them

The passing of Dr. J. C. Norton l from the office of state veterinarian l to unofficial life has thus far re- l ceived only casual mention. It is timely to pause for d more extended consideration of his achievements while the facts are yet fresh in the minds of Arizona people, and this not so much in exploitation of the doctor as to review the proud accom- plishments of the state in the years i of its territorial minority Without intended boastfulness but with justifiable self complacency. it can be said that few if any of the states have better live stock sanitary i laws than Arizona, which in many ways has been pioneer in this field l of progress. That most of this work i has been done with the coopera l tion of pr. Norton. is mere inci dent of history. That he retained his official position during nineteen years of succeeding administrations. 1 both republican and democratic. is a | testimonial of record to which noth- ing can be added by complimentary newspaper mention. That he has | 1 not lessen the value of his services nor reflect upon his efficiency for an end must come to the activities of every man in any particular field of endeavor and no man ever laid aside official responsibilities under more satisfactory auspices. Nor is there reason to fear that in surrendering his duties to w. E. Severn of Mesa | tt-iH h, from the high standards that have been established by Dr. Norton Dr Severn is young and promising veterinarian and relations between | the two men are amcable. The former official has acquired q private ! business that will occupy his full time and attention; indeed he would long ago have willingly left official life had its attraction been merely that of financial emolument. but he has felt a personal interest in his 1 work that has been a far greater in centive than his salary. for it has been with him in a large sense d matter of life achievement. No studied encomium nor published plaudits can equal the record of his useful career as written in the laws of the land and reflected in the gen. eral prosperity of the livestock indus try of the state.
 That the doctor surrenders his trust in full possession of the confi- dence of the state' irrespective of partisan interests is shown by the following letter mailed to him by Governor Hunt in accepting his re- signation:
 Governors Office
 Phoenix, April 13, 1912.
 My Dear Doctor
 In accepting your resignation as state veterinarian which was tender ed under date of February fl. want to again express to you my hearty appreciation of the very great service you have been to Arizona and to her live stock interests and to congratulate both yourself and the state upon your splendid record and the high standard you have set and maintained. The remarkable freedom of Arizona's live stock from all forms of contagious diseases. which is all the more remarkable by reason of the states location on the border of Mexico where altogether different conditions exist is a tribute to your ability and watchfulness
 With all good wishes for your fu- ture prosperity, I am
 Yours very truly.
 GEO ". P HUNT Governor of Arizona
 pr. J. C. Norton came to Arizona in 1892 after graduating from the Iowa state college. In 1893 he was IapDointed territorial veterinarian by Governor Hughes succeeding Dr. A J. Chandler who had held the posi- tiOn six years. pr. Norton has been reappOinted by every succeeding gov ernOr since then until the advent of the present administration But a review of the development of Ari- ZOna'S live stock laws is a subject of still wider interest and in no depart iment has the state been more willing to learn and profit by experience. In the fight against glanders for in- stance Dr Norton as a witness had the pleasure of sustaining his pre- decessor in the killing of certain horses. as being the proper course to pursue from a scientific viewpoint. notwithstanding there was a techni- l cal weakness in the law as it then stood that made the official amen- able. A jury in the case brought a judgment against him of S1 merely to comply with the law which was amended to meet the eXigencies of the situation, but in effect virtually eXonerating the veterinarian who could not have done differently in the protection of the public.
 The first territorial live stock san itary law was passed in 1887 as protection against the introduction of contagious pleuro- pneumonia which had been carried as far west as Chicago and it was feared might sweep the country. Fortunately it did not reach the western states but it's effect was the best thing that could have happened for Arizona in developing the foundation of the present sanitary regulations, even though the first law was crude and imperfect Congress appropriated large sums in 1886 to fight this dread disease which was a menace to both man and beast and it was eradicated