224 CONTAGIOUS LUNG FEVEK OF CATTLE. 



place myself at your orders for Tvliatever professional assistance I may be able to give 

 your department in overcoming this great danger to oui- European cattle trade and to 

 our own live stock. 



I am, sij.', your obedient servant, 



A. LIAUTARD. 

 Hon. W. G. Le Due, 



Commissioner of Agriculture. 



On the 4tli instant I received the following telegram from Mr. J. B. 

 Sherman, superintendent of the Chicago Union Stock- Yards : 



U^'ION Stock-Yards, Chicago, III, February 4, 1879. 

 The Commissioner of Agriculture: 



The most important blow struck at the interest of tbis city, State, and Nortbwest is 

 the report in circulation in reference to the prevalence of cattle disease in the West, 

 aEd these reports are absolutely false. I have sent a telegram to the Secretary of 

 State, on whom I -wish you wouid at once call. 



This business of the exjiort of live cattle to England has developed immense propor- 

 tions in the last year, and we must not, cannot, remain quiet and see it destroyed. It 

 is worth millions to the country, and aflects directly every farmer in the Northwest, 

 while the whole country feels the effect of this large increase in its exports. The 

 action of the British and Canadian Governments is based on a misconception of the 

 facts, and we need such final investigation as will put the matter at rest. 



J. B. SHERMAN, 



iSupo'intendent. 



To which the annexed reply was at once forwarded : 



Department of Agriculture, 



Washington, D. C, February 4,1879, 

 J. B. Sherman, 



Sujperintendent Union StocTc-Tards, Chicago, III. : 



The disease to which your tele^am refers appeared in this coimtry as early as 1843, 

 and there is no more reason for trie present action of the British Government in this 

 matter than has existed for years past. Pleuro-pneumonia has never troubled the cat- 

 tle-breeders of the West, from whence alone cattle for exportation are derived, but the 

 existence of the disease on our eastern coast at all is a constant threat to the cattle- 

 raising country beyond the Alleghany Mountains, for the extermination of which 

 I have asked authority of Congress. I hope and expect that action will be taken 

 that will speedily remove all excuse for the objectionable orders of the British Govern- 

 ment. 



WM. G. Le DUC, 

 Commissioner of Agriculture. 



On the recommendation of gentlemen largely interested in the live- 

 stock trade, I at once made the following api)ointment of an examiner 

 for the port of New York : 



Department of Agriculture, 



IVashington, D. C, February 5, 1879. 

 Sir: You are hereby appointed an examiner, and directed to make as thorough in- 

 quiry and examination as the owners and shippers of stock will permit into the con- 

 dition of the live stock sent, or about to bo sent, from your port, and certify daily to 

 this department the health of each jiarticular shipment, so f;ir as possible, examining 

 particularly as to pleuro-pneumonia in cattle, and noting the presence or absence of 

 this disease in each case. You are authorizecl to give a copy of your certificate for the 

 department to the shippers, if desired. 



WM. G. Le DUC, 

 Commissioner of Agriculture. 

 Dr. John J. Craven, 



Jersey City, N. J. 



I also forwarded a like appointment by telegraph to H. J. Detmers, 

 V. S., Chicago, 111., and received prompt replies from both accepting the 

 positions tendered. 



These examiners were also directed to furnish a certilicate of health to 

 such sliippers of live stock as might desire it, a copy of which is here- 

 with appended; 



