Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-18

outbreak anu 10 prevent us spread. ~
has worked in close cooperation with
the state authorities and with great
numbers of individuals and of associ-
ations of individuals. IL has pursued
its former policy of purchasing dis
eased and exposed cattle at an ap-
praised value and OF slaughtering and
burying them. II has established and
maintained a very strict quarantine.
The expense of this task will be very
great. and Il will be necessary to ask
the congress for an emergency appro-
priation OF several millions of dollars.
The interests at stake are vast and
justify any reasonable expenditure.
The disease may be carried by
birds. dogs, cats. rats. or ruminants,
or by human beings passing over yer
ritory which diseased animals have
traversed. Horses going over infected
ground may convey the disease In
dirt adhering TO their feet. When
one animal in a herd becomes affected
IL has usually spread TO all others. As
has been stated. the outbreaks OF
1902 and 1905 we're traced 10 vac
cine virus The most plausible sug-
gestion as TO the origin OF The present
outbreak is that IL was introduced
with importaticns of an article used
in tanning This article is imported
from several countries. There Is IN
the vicinity Of Niles. Mich. small
tannerv using the article in question,
and swine owned by employees OF the
,annery kept in this vicinity we're the
first animals known to have contract
ed the malady.
since the disease exists in a great
mar Of Europe. in the Orient, in south
America, and other places. there VIII
be danger so long as there Is any
trade or travel WIKI such countries.
Apparently the only certain way 10
prevent the intrcduc ion OF the dis
ease into this country from abroad Is
absolutely to isolate this nation from
others The only reasonable thing
which can be done IL to enforce as
carefully as possible The Inspection
Laws to give the department n agri-
culture sufficient authorization ana
emergency funds t. cope with the dis
ease when it does appear. and to in
sti-ute such scientific inquiry ana eN-
periments under absolutely safe CON
ditiCns as may he practicable N an at
tempt TO discover the cause OF the
disease and to ascertain and apply
the remedy. The Tresan situation
suggests the wisdom OF legislative ac-
:ic1 L this effect. II the interval be-
tween the sessions Of congress had
been longer. the department would
have been without adequate funds to
deal with the problem.
An Interesting phase Of the inquiry
by The Office of markets is the fact
that cooperating marketing and pur-
chasing in some form is found to be .
much more prevalent in the United 4
States than is generally believed. Al I
ready a record of over $500 market :
ing associations. of about 200 CO. Z
operative and farmers elevators. of .
:. 500 cooperative and farmers cream .
cries. and of more than 1000 coopera- \
tive fruit and produce associations has /
been secured. While the survey is not .
il is reported that over a .
million dollars worth of agricultural .
products is annually marketed by CO. I
operative anu farmers marketing as
sCciaticns.
During the present grass season,
fer example. Chicago has received .
Canadian and Florida cattle .
a about the SINE time. Steers raised 4
in California by an Oregan operator I
have been shipped through Denver to !
Omaha and their beef sent to points
on the Atlantic coast Hogs raised in
Illinois and sold at indianapolis have
been slaughtered at Bos on and a part .
OF their cured bacon shipped to Los
Angeles. Michigan dressed veal calves
expressed TO South Water street com
mission houses at Chicago have been
returned 10 thu identical shipping
pCiH-s from which they came TO fill
orders from local retail markets. The
Importance OF this work and the re-
suits thus far obtained Justify larger
support Of this service
On the subject Of STANDARDIZED ion
the report says in part:
During the last year the adequacy
Of the data accumulated with regard
TO corn made possible he formulation
and PRONUNCIATION Of grades fer that
grain which. il generally adopted and
uniformly applied throughout the
country. will simplify the relations be-
tween producers. dealers and consum-
err
his methods. no matter how sound and
well intended. viii not. and ought not.
10 make much impression upon him.
unless il can be clearly demonstrated
ha- it will pay him TO improve his
product and his handling methods.
Concrete evidence OF the profitable
ness Of this course in the form OF larg- ;
r net returns for his output will do I
more than any other single fac.or TO ,
arouse action and effective interest in
rep Improvement
There seems TO be no emergency
which requires or justifes govern .
nent assistance 10 the farmers direct
' through the use OF the governments !
ash or the governments credit. The Z
american farmer Is sturdy, independ- s
mt and self-reliant q
The students Of rural credit recog- 7