The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-05
CAT TIE INFECTED
. BY BLOCKADE HERDS
Georgia Crackers Disregard
the Quarantine.
TO HURT OF THIS STATE
WHAT DIR. CURTICE FOUND IN
THE WEST.
COUNTIES SUFFERING FROM INFECTION
Steps Taken to Protect the Growing Stock.
interests of the Transmontaine Sec
ton of North Car
DINA.

DR.. Cooper Curtice, State Veterina-
rian, has just returned from three
weeks trip through the extreme western
part of the State, and along tho Geor-
gia and North Carolina line DR. Cur.
tice found on this trip that the Georgia
Cracker does not confine his blockade
operations to the manufacture of sow
paw, but that in disregard of The quar-
antine regulations he drives his lean
and splenic infected cattle over the bor-
der and across quarantine lines. leay-
ing a trail of infected cattle and pas
lures behind him. Then the representa-
tive of the National Bureau of Animal
Industry comes along and new lines
are esta blished and North Carolina cat
tie are cut off from the profitable North
ern markets.
Georgia has no effective law against
the moving of cattle infected with sple
mic fever. and so the diseased herds
may be moved with impunity. Nor are
North CarolinianS over Scrupulous n
this respect, and though, the State has
a stringent cattle law, it is often dis
regarded, and so the mischief spreads,
and innocent herds are injured. All this
it is proposed, so far as possible, to
remedy.
DR.. Curtice found the chief points of
infection at Clllberson, Cherokee county;
Irvine and Hot-house Mountain, Clay
county. and in the Watauga creek sec
ton of Macon county. This infection
has resulted from the early spring driv-
ing of cattle from the Hiwasee and
Young Harris sections of Georgia, where
nearly all range cattle are infected. The
infected pastures of Blai1-sville, Union
county, Georgia, have also contributed
their share of trouble These sections
of Georgia had previously been exempt
ed from the quarantine by special order
of the United States department Of
agriculture. When DR.. Curtice rece we'd
complaints from the border counties of
this State he protested to the depart
nlent, and the latest answer is that no
movement of cattle from these regions
has been authorized by the United States
department this year. While the matter
is still in allegiance it is unlikely that
cattle from the mountain section of
Georgia will be admitted this year, or
until Georgia prevents the driving of
cattle from the infected counties of the
south. A determined effort will be
made to stop these Georgia blockaders
from driving infected cattle across the
border next spring.
DIR. Curtice found that a herd of cattle
which had been quarantined near Dills-
boro, because previously exposed to in
lection, had been shipped to Baltimore
despite the regulations, thus endanger-
ing the cattle trade of the whole noun
tain section. The matter was promptly
reported and the outcome is not yet
known.
A herd of thirty head near Hot-house
Mountain was found infected and quar-
antined ON this trip. Two large dairy
herds out of eight, near Charlotte, were
found to be infected, and a milkman's
herd, near Greensboro, was found in
the same condition. Mecklenburg and
Guilford counties, however, can be easily
cleared of the infection if proper care
is exercised.
DIR. Curtice found while in the west
the greatest readiness on the part of
stock-raisers to cooperate in the effort
to stop the driving of infected cattle.
The stock interests of all that section
are looking up, and the heavy shipments
resultant from the rise in the price
Of beef has nearly cleared out marketa-
bic cattle The undercurrent of opinion
is for an improved grade of cattle.
DIR. Curtice was accompanied on his
trip by DIR. II. +. Steddom, an inspector
of the United States Department of
Animal Industry.