124 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc 



of the appraisements promised the owners of livestock amounted to 

 nearly |360,000. As soon as the outbreak occurred, the Board 

 dropped all other work. The agents and assistants devoted their 

 whole attention to this work from the time the disease was discovered 

 until it was exterminated and the quarantine removed. 



The Legislature met in January, 1915. A request for |500,000 

 was made by a special order of business as soon as the legislature 

 was organized. This amount Avas promptly granted without a dis- 

 senting vote or a word against it from either House. Later it was 

 necessary to ask for |125,000 which was as willingly granted. 



The total amount of money used by the Board for paying indemnity 

 on cattle and property destroyed, disinfectants, pumps, supplies, 

 unskilled labor, traveling expenses, services, clerical and miscel- 

 laneous items necessary to exterminate this disease, was |668,441.66. 

 128 barrels of Cresol, 75 kegs of Formaldehyde, 2,000 pounds of Potas- 

 sium Permanganate and 5,500 pounds of Bichloride of Mercury were 

 used during the outbreak. 



This represents but a small part of the losses that this disease 

 caused the people of Pennsjdvania. It is not possible to estimate in 

 dollars and cents the amount of loss to those engaged in raising or 

 handling livestock, farm produce, etc., through the loss of business 

 caused by restrictions, embargoes, etc. 



A bill was introduced which raised the limit to full value on all 

 kinds of livestock that it might be necessary in the future to destroy 

 on account of foot-and-mouth disease. This bill passed both houses 

 of the Legislature without a dissenting vote and was promptly signed 

 by the Governor. 



In the 1908 outbreak it was possible for the Board to pay its 

 full share of indemnity in all cases for the reason that the State 

 paid but one-third of the indemnity while the Federal Bureau paid 

 two-thirds. One-third of the value of animals destroyed at that time 

 did not exceed the limit of |40.00 whicli was permissible under the 

 State law for non-registered stock and |70.00 for registered animals. 

 In the last outbreak when the State paid one-half of the indemnity 

 these limits were sometimes exceeded. The records show that about 

 f 11,000 more would have been suflScient to settle with tliose whose 

 appraisements were reduced on account of the limit placed by law. 

 A bill was introduced in the legislature for the purpose of obtaining 

 this sum to pay these claims, but for some unknown reason it never 

 got out of the Committee to which it was referred. Every legislator 

 spoken to on the subject thought it was justly proper that the State 

 should pay full market value for all animals destroyed for the protec- 

 tion of the public. The greatest injustice under the old appraisement 

 was the amount allowed by law for sheep and hogs. The limit was 

 $10.00 per head, while the value of many purebred hogs and sheep 

 is many times this amount. 



During the past year some states have set aside certain amounts 

 to meet emergencies like foot-and-mouth disease. Colorado has made 

 it possible for the State to issue certificates that shall be paid by the 

 next legislature. These certificates are bankable and bear four per 

 cent, interest, and are much more desirable to those who meet losses 

 of this kind. 



Pennsylvania has paid its share for all animals and property de- 

 stroyed on account of foot-and-mouth disease; yet in some cases it 



