Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1886 — COMMISSIONER COLMAN. [ARTICLE]

COMMISSIONER COLMAN.

The Second Annual Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture. Norman J. Colman, Commissioner of Agriculture, in his annual report, describes in general terms the progress made in agriculture during recent years and the conditions which contribute to make this “th® best-fed nation on the globe.” He urges the passage of the bill now before Congress for the establishment of agricultural experimental stations in connection with the agricultural colleges. In commenting upon the work of the bureau of animal industry, he describes the spread of pleuro-pneumo-nia, and says: “Every effort possible under existing laws has been made to locate the diseased animals and isolate all that have been exposed. It would have been most fortunate if every animal exposed to the disease and. liable to contract it could have been summarily slaughtered and the contagion thus eradicated. With a disease of this character at Chicago, it has been truly said that the cattle industry of this country has reached a crisis. There can be no doubt that it will be soon and widely disseminated unless prompt and effectual action cun be instituted for its speedy suppression. Even now it may have been scattered to some extent in the West, and the investigations of the next year will probably bring other outbreaks to light. The matter is a most iinpoi tantone, overshadowing in urgency all others affecting our agricultural population, and of v ital interest also to every consumer of beef, of milk, of butter, and of cheese. To prevent ths spread of tiis scourge, which has already greatly affected our foreign and interstate commerce, additional legislation by Congress is now essential. “Much valuable work has already been done in Maryland, and the danger of the dissemination of the contagion from that State has been greatly lessened. No work has been done in the State of New York, because it was evident that the appropriation was not sufficient to secure any favorable results there on account of the infection. The disease also exists in New Jersey. Pennsylvania, and Virginia, but the State authorities have not yet accepted the rules and regulations of the department for co-operation. I greatly regret the necessity of announcing the existence of this dangerous disease over such a wide area, but the serious results to be apprehended from it make it imperative that the truth should be known, in order that such legislative action may be taken as is indicated by the emergency.” A young woman informed her three lovers that she would many the first one that presented himself the next day. Two of the suitors were brothers, and the other was playing a lone hand., The latter procured his license, and was on hand before the others. The girl kept her word, and when one of the belated brothers appeared the ceremony was going on, while the other was just in time to kiss the bride. -J More than four thousand devices for coupling have been patented, and yet thousands of bachelors and maidens go it alohd in this eonntiy still.