Disinfection, of Hides. 



513 



assistance from various local associations (" Kommunalver" 

 bande "). In April, 1895, however, the Prussian Government 

 came to their aid with a grant of 50,000, to which it added 

 ;£4oo,ooo in June, 1896, and a further ^^400,000 in June, 1897, 

 making a total of £1,050,000 up to date. These sums were to 

 be applied to create such light railways as were deemed 

 necessary in the interests of the public, but which could 

 not be built otherwise than with State aid, and only on con- 

 dition of there being no reasonable prospect of private com- 

 panies obtaining a fair return on the capital to be invested. 

 Up to 1897 some 50,000 had been granted or promised in 

 different forms of subsidy, and these grants were made to 

 railways having an aggregate length of 625 miles. In only 

 one case, apparently, have these subsidies been accorded 

 without stipulating for a return of interest. 



The agricultural party contend that these narrow-gauge 

 lines are very necessary to develop the agricultural 

 resources of the country, and should form an important part 

 of home politics. They urge, that, to a great extent, indus- 

 tries follow the broad-gauge lines, but that this is not possible 

 in the case of farm produce, which must be carried by light 

 railways in order to quicken the latent possibilities of 

 agriculture. 



[" Development of Commercial, Industrial, Maritime, and Traffic Interests in 

 Germany, 1871-1898. Foreign Office Report, Miscellaneous Series, No. 490.. 

 Price 3^d.] 



Disinfection of Hides Exported to tfie United 



States. 



The Board have received through the Foreign Of&ce a copy 

 of a circular, issued on January 23rd last by the Division of 

 Customs of the Treasury Department at Washington, which 

 relates to the disinfection of hides of neat cattle shipped to 

 the United States. 



The present document refers to a previous circular of 

 November 22nd, 1895, which provided for the disinfection of 

 hides of neat cattle, other than those which have been arsenic 

 cured or dry salted, when imported from the countries of 

 Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America, and 



I I 



