The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-10-28

ence Of the epidemic in neighbor-
] hood.
There Is urgent need Of such action
as that advised above, SO that normal
market conditions. full live stock
values, and renewed conf lence in the
live stock industry may be restored
as soon as possible, which can be
done only by quickly wiping out all
traces of foot and mouth" disease in
| thc United States, and all obstacles
should be removed and all encourage
ment be given to that end.
| The present epidemic Of foot and
mouth" disease is costing the live
stock producers of this country hum
reds of thousands OF dollars daily in
reduced market prices resulting from
disturbed market conditions and re-
duced demand. Unless the authorities
are given proper assistance, ready CO.
operation and every opportunity to
speedily exterminate the disease, the
losses directly and indirectly result
ing from il will mount to higher fig
ures still. There Is no more impor-
tant question before the agricultural
interests OF the United States today
than whether the federal and state
authorities shall be upheld by the
farmers stockmen and country bank
ers in their efforts to stamp out this
disease, and they certainly will not
receive all the cooperation they will
need to accomplish their purpose I'M
less there is larger and better I'M
Outstanding of the situation by farm
ers, dairymen and stock raisers gen.
orally.
There are tremendous interests
awaiting the outcome of these efforts.
The whole live stock industry will de-
cline unless they succeed soon and
with il will decline the market value
OF corn and other crops. and of land.
while soil fertility will suffer further
general reduction. This season has
! produced vast quantities Of rough feed
all over the country. which will be
very valuable If utilized, but which
will be wasted If not fed during the
coming winter, and besides there will
be a large amount OF frosted corn fit
only for feeding and which will be a
| loss IL not fed before spring. The in
| reference of quarantine regulations
with the movement of feeder and
stocker cattle and sheep between vari-
GUS states. markets and feed lots, to-
gether with uncertainty as to spread
Of confidence in future values in con-
sequence. are seriously reducing the
number OF animals going into feed
lots to consume the over-abundance OF
feed. which will cause enormous losses
to farmers generally throughout the
corn belt while an abnormal scarcity
of meat animals ready for market lat
er on will be inevitable. unless the
country is soon relieved of the preva-
lence Of this scourge. Moreover. the
continued presence OF foot and
mouth" disease and scarcity will both
tend to discourage consumption. while
the reduced demand for meats will
lower market prices for live stock
The epidemic of 1914 cost the fed
eral and state governments over s10.-
900 600, but that was a very small sum
compared to the enormous losses suf-
fered by farmers and feeders who
either sacrificed their healthy stock
prematurely to escape infection, or
else we're compelled by necessary
quarantine regulations to hold It after
ready for market at large expense
and to finally sell at heavy loss.
The same thing is happening now in
many sections, and the disturbance in
the market distribution Of live stock
Is working further losses to producers.
The only solution for all these seri-
Gus troubles and disturbances in the
live stock industry is for farmers and
gtockmen all over the country to
clearly understand the situation in
its true features and bearings, and to
cooperate fully with the federal and
state authorities in their efforts to
stamp out the disease in the only way
which the experience of the world for
more than century has demonstrated
20 be safe and efficient, which Is i'm
mediate slaughter and burial in quick
lime OF all infected and exposed ami
mails. followed by cleaning and disin-
fecting the premises where found.
Whatever you can do to explain
and convince the producers and ship
pers Of live stock along these lines,
win probe a most valuable help to a
much needed service in critical
emergency. and will certainly benefit
your interests along with those OF the
entire live stock industry.