Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-11-09
Of
north DAKOTA
VETERINARIANS
DR.. w. F. Crewe Invited to At.
tend National Gathering
in Chicago
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
WILL BE MAIN DISCUSSION
Attempt Will Be Made to Go.
ordinate Work Of Federal
and State Departments

DR.. W. F. Crewe, state veterinarian
is in receipt of the following letter
relative to the general conference Of
state veterinarians to be held in Chi
'cago Nov. 20 and 80.
DR.. w. F. Crewe, State Veterinarian,
Bismarck, North Dakota.
Dear Sir:
During the recent outbreak of the
foot-and-mouth disease, the govern
ment had to contend with four ex-
tremely serious avoidable difficulties.
First, a lack of preparedness" on the
part Of the federal, state and local
authorities, owing to the fact that but
few veterinarians experienced with
foot-and-mouth disease we're available
to cope with such an extensive out
break as confronted us from the very
beginning. Second a lack Of ready
money on the part of state and feder-
al governments. Third, lack of prop
er coordination of efforts between
federal, state and local authorities
and live stock owners. Fourth, the
lack of knowledge on the part of peo-
pie generally as to the extraordinary
righteousness of this disease.
1t is greatly to be hoped that this
scourge will never again break out on
our continent, but while hoping for
the best, the federal department of
agriculture is already at work prepar-
ing to minimize the worst, in ase
it again should fall to our lot. During
the past three months, while stamp
ing out the last sporadic outbreaks Of
the disease throughout the country,
the department has been busily en-
gagged preparing plans and speciflca-
tons, down to the minutest detail, for
promptly combating any future out
break. .5 @1ai4
In the future, it is hoped to take
such precautions that no fire depart
ment will be in greater readiness for
instant action when the alarm sounds,
than will be the department of agri.
culture when the next call comes to
do battle with the foot-and-mouth d.
sease. From letters, posters, news
paper articles and minute instruc.
tons for meeting every possible emer.
gency. are now being prepared, so
that they may be ready at all times
for instant use throughout the entire
United States upon telegraph order.
So much for our newlpolicy of "pre-
paredness."~
Two. other difficulties, however, still
confront us: That Of properly finan.
cling the next campaign against the
foot.and-mouth disease, and that of
properly c~o-ordinating the work Of
federal and state authorities. These
difficulties the federal department has
no power to overcome without the aid
of congress-, of state legislatures and
OF state livestock sanitary officials.
The federal department of agricul.
ture has decided, therefore, to call a
conference of state livestock sanitary
officials, agricultural college experts,
practical stock men, and representa-
tives Of livestock papers, t%ransporta-
ton companies, stock yards. county
banks, and of the federal department
Of agricultural for the purpose Of dis.
cussing ways and means of solving
these and other important problems.
This conference will be held at Chica.
go. November 20 and 30, and will be
purely advisory. The federal depart
ment hopes at this conference to Sc
cure all possible light on the problem
under discussion, but with regard to
federal administrative problems it OF
necessity must be the final judge as
to what suggestions are helpful and
which are impracticable.
State officials likewise will be ask
ed to attend the conference, for the
double purpose of throwing what
light they can on the various prob.
lens under discussion, and of learn.
ing all they can from other delegates,
but they likewise must. reserve the
right to form their own judgment as