No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 281 



^Vhen the farmer desires to ship interstate commerce, he certiflea 

 to the carrier that he is a farmer, that the carcasses are those of 

 animals Ivilled by him on his farm, and that the meat is sound, health- 

 ful, wholesome and fit for human food. 



The farmer does not need a permit from the Department of Agri- 

 culture. The forms of certificates are furnished and usually filled in 

 by the agents of the carriers, and all that is required from the ship- 

 per is his signature. However, if any person sells, or offers for sale 

 or transportation, any meat or meat-food products which are dis- 

 eased, unheal thful, unwholesome or otherwise unfit for human food, 

 knowing that such meat or meat-food products are intended for 

 human consumption, he is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is subject 

 to a fine and imprisonment. 



Now, let us briefly consider the bearing of the Meat Inspection 

 Law upon the production and, handling of meat. The first and most 

 essential thing necessary is to insure the success of the breeders, 

 feeders and packers of this country is as large and as open a mar- 

 ket as can be secured for the food animals, and for the .meat and 

 meat-food products produced by these. Any measure which will 

 widen the present domestic and foreign markets is a benefit to 

 breeders of live stock, and to the producers of meat. It has been 

 stated with truth that coincident with the passage of the meat- 

 inspection law there was a striking falling off in our exports of meat- 

 food products to foreign countries. This condition was caused by 

 the reports of investigating committees on the condition of the 

 packing houses in the city of Chicago, and of the subsequent publica- 

 tion and agitation of the matter in the newspapers of the United 

 States and of foreign countries. 



The Meat Inspection Law and the shrinkage of exports of meat- 

 food products were the immediate results of the conditions found m 

 the Chicago packing houses. It is interesting and instructive to 

 discuss for a moment, showing the value of canned fresh meats ex- 

 ported during the months of July, August, September and October 

 for the past five years. During that period of 1902, the value of 

 canned meats exported was |3,629,508, and the value of fresh meats 

 was $8,485,352. During the same period of 1903 the exports of canned 

 meats amounted to 13,581,220, and the fresh meats to |9,509,362. 

 In 1904 the canned meats amounted to |2,479,848 and the fresh meats 

 to $6,896,063. In 1905 the canned meats amounted to |2,971,648 and 

 the fresh meats to |7,896,063. In 1905 the canned meats amounted 

 to 12,971,648 and the fresh meats to $7,547,199. For 1906 the canned 

 meats amounted to only $1,031,148, and the value of the fresh 

 meats was $7,909,413. 



It is, of course, to be borne in mind that during some of these 

 years special causes, such as foreign wars and tariff charges, led 

 to a large increase in our exports of meats; nevertheless, the con- 

 clusion is irresistible, from the figures given, that the export trade 

 in canned meats has shrunk temporarily at least 50 per cent, while 

 the average value of exports of fresh meats has been maintained. 

 Practically all the force of the agitation in this country was felt in 

 the sales of unprepared meat-food products, and that the sales of 

 fresh meats have not been materially affected. At no time during the 

 investigation of the packing-house conditions was there any consid- 

 erable complaint against fresh meats. 

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