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cities would be light, for there the circulation is

unimportant.

paper

Moneyed corporations are naturally cautious in their movements, and are inclined to hesitate and deliberate much before adopting new methods. But whatever may be the operation of the Secretary's system on the New England banks, there can be no doubt of its great usefulness to the West, where an abundant and safe currency has never existed, and thus indirectly the whole country will derive a benefit proportional to the advantages of a national currency, simple, uniform and of unquestionable value. Should Congress adopt the system proposed, securing to the United States some part of the profit derivable from the issue of money, while it would probably compel Massachusetts to abandon the revenue received from its tax on the banking capital of the Commonwealth, it would at the same time relieve the people from their liability to other taxation for the support of the National Government and the payment of its debts, to an extent equivalent to the revenue realized to the Treasury of the United States from that source. And should the measure be adopted, it is questioned even by some of its supporters whether the prosperity of our country banks would, after all, be permanently injured. But, much as I should regret to see any proper investment in the

Commonwealth rendered unproductive by legislation, that regret would be tempered by the consideration that the same capital would never need to be inactive, whenever and wheresoever safe business should present itself to the enterprise of industry and skill, while whenever or wherever such business opportunities do not present themselves, the loans of banks are of necessity less profitable and secure. Nor can it be doubtful that the substantial pecuniary advantage of New England business interests demands the nationalization of the currency, so that the paper representative of a dollar shall be alike valuable in Boston and in Chicago, and the indebtedness of the West to the East find at all times a medium of adjustment, and the trade between the two sections of the Northern States flow unimpeded by oppressive and ruinous rates of exchange.

Pleuro-Pneumonia.

Under the Act of February, 1862, three Commissioners were appointed on contagious diseases of cattle -one a veterinary surgeon, one a doctor of medicine, and the third a member of the Executive Council, all being of some agricultural experience. They were immediately called by the Selectmen of Milton to investigate cases of disease among neat cattle which

had broken out there and was creating alarm. The animals were carefully examined and found to be infected by Pleuro-Pneumonia. The Commissioners ordered the entire isolation of all herds of cattle in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Plymouth and Worcester, which could, by any possibility, have come into contact with any of the infected animals. One hundred and fifty-four animals have died or have been killed by order of the Commissioners, of which number seventy-seven, or just one-half, were found diseased, and in every case but one, contact has been proved.

The Commissioners are satisfied that the disease is never generated from local causes; that it is altogether an imported disease; that it is generally communicated by contact of breath; that it cannot be eradicated by treatment; that those cattle which have apparently recovered are really the most to be feared, from the danger of relapse; and that, by care, the disease may be prevented from extending from one herd to another. The expenses of the Commission, as nearly as can now be estimated, are about $5,700. The appropriation being but $5,000, there will be a deficiency to be supplied by legislation. The disease is apparently extingished, and has now no visible foothold in the Commonwealth. The ease and celerity of its eradication by prompt treatment on its re-appearance

last year, removes all apprehension that it may hereafter become unmanageable, unless precautionary measures, when needed, shall be too long delayed.

Farming.

The cultivated crops of the farm, the last year, were usually quite up to the average production, while fruits of nearly every description were more than ever abundant.

The increasing attention paid to sheep husbandry promises to lead to important and satisfactory results. It is for the interest of the several towns to encourage the keeping of sheep by a more rigid enforcement of the law enacted for their protection. By the returns from two hundred and ninety-seven towns it appears that the number of dogs licensed in those towns in 1862 was twenty thousand nine hundred and fifty-two, for which the amount paid was $22,630.20. The estimated number in those towns unlicensed, was twelve thousand five hundred and thirteen. I recommend the adoption of adequate penalties to enforce the law. Apart from the mere question of cheap production of wool, the experience of the most advanced agricultural nations, like England, Germany and France, goes to show that sheep are a necessity of a good

general system of husbandry, on even the highestpriced lands, and amid the densest population. Yet the number of sheep has for many years constantly decreased in this Commonwealth, until within the last two years. Thus in 1840 there were three hundred seventy-eight thousand two hundred twenty-six, by the census of the United States; while in 1860 they had diminished to one hundred and fourteen thousand eight hundred twenty-nine, and the production of wool from one million sixteen thousand two hundred thirty pounds in 1845, to three hundred seventy-three thousand seven hundred eighty-nine pounds in 1860, although meanwhile, the number of neat cattle and horses had largely increased, so that the gross value of live stock, which in 1850 was $9,647,700, had, in 1860, become $12,737,444, notwithstanding the constantly growing claims of manufactures and the mechanic arts upon the industry of our people.

The Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture spent several months of the summer and autumn in Europe, where he had unusual facilities for the study and observation of the agriculture of the old world. Some account of his observations will be presented in his Report to the Legislature.

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