The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-03
@. G. FRENCH'S
REPORT AND
RESIGNATION
Secretary of Livestock Com
mission Makes Recon-
mendationS
TO GOVERNOR FERGUSON
All Work of Commission Is
Shown in Full.

H.
arst of June to December 81. 1901.
Secretary French took charge of the
Office on June g. and the commission con-
Eists OF the following members:
w. z. Bolton of Woodward, president;
Thomas Morris Of Guthrie, vice president;
o. c. French o. Cherokee, secretary.
DR.. i. ]. allen Of Oklahoma City, fed
eral inspector and graduated vetinarian,
is serving the commission as vetinary,
and a part of his time as inspector.
There are two regular Inspectors: J. L.
Watkins Of Woods county, and T. w.
Dale, OF Ponca City.
In his report to the governor, Secretary
Trench says, in part:
Early in June complaints were made
that large number of cattle in Greer
county were infected with Boophilus An
uulatus-Texas fever ticks, and the in
spectors were directed TO make thor
ough investigation of the conditions.
Through the kindness OF Albert Dean,
agent in charge Of the United States
bureau of industry at Kansas City, No..
Dan Cunningham, a federal Inspector.
was also assigned to duty in Greer county
4
Of conditions was made there. AS a re
suit of such Investigation, it was found
that a large portion of Greer and several
area of Roger Mills and Washita coun-
ties were infected with Texas fever
ticks; as a result of the first investigation
5orty-eight punches of cattle were placed
under quarantine in pastures in Washita,
Roger Mills and Greer counties in June
ana July: and a further investigation
was ordered in Greer county, which re-
suited in a joint recommendation by the
federal and territorial inspectors that all
of Greer county be placed under quaran-
tine except five townships in the immedi-
ate vicinity of Mangum. and this was done
September l6, 1901. While this resulted in
Inconvenience o the cattlemen of Greer
county, it was necessary 20 prevent the
county from being placed below the fed
eral line. and the cattlemen acquiesced
and made no protest
"Twenty-six other Quarantines have
been placed upon pastures and the cattle
contained therein, in the above named
courties. While these Guarantines work
q hardship for the owners. it has, L he
lieve. resulted IN preventing a general
outbreak of fever and has saved the loss
by death of many cattle which would
have been brought IN contact with the
infected cattle.
1T is source OF much qualification to
this commission to be able to state that
90 pei. cent of the owners Of cattle sustain
and assist me commission in its work.
The danger lies. however, in the remain
+re~ 70 rrf
their cattle across the quarantine line,
regardless Of VINO may be injured. If a
stockman offers special inducement to get
his cattle above the quarantine line on q
superficial and imperfect inspection-or
without inspection-it is conclusive evil
dence that his cattle are infectious. Such
efforts have been made, and no matter
how hard the men with good intentions
try to stamp out disease and keep their
cattle clean, they have no guarantee OF
safety II infected cattle are allowed to
be driven through the territory. TO scat
Ter disease and fever. These cattle may
be and in many cases. no doubt, are i'm
nunes. having been raised in an infected
country. but the cattle raised here and
those that come in from the northeast
disease and death If exposed.
The home of the fever tick IS dan
gerously near the south line Of the ter
ritory, and this fact calls for diiigent
work and stringent measures on the part
Of the sanitary commission TO ward off
the danger TO Oklahoma cattle and pre-
vent loss to owners The situation here
IS peculiar owing 70 the fact that large
numbers of homesteaders and other set
tiers are coming in from north and south.
from the infected area where the ticks
originate and from the area where emil
grants have little or no knowledge Of
infection. The settler coming from the
north and east VIII bring with him
a small bunch of high grade or thorough
bred cattle. The emigrant from Missouri.
Texas. Arkansas and Tennessee VIII bring
with him d herd Of cattle infected with
ticks. claiming his cattle never die from
fever. and the northern man viii claim
the RIGHT to bring his cattle in for the
reason that he owns Sis land and should
he permitted TO place his cattle upon il.
The result Of these conditions produce
trouble unless strictly guarded against-
"I'ive hundred and seventy-four in
spectfons have been made uuder the di-
rection OF this commission since June 10.
1901. including 425S head of cattle Of
these, 80 per cent have been found infect
cd. These inspections include 2 large
number Of cattle that were driven across
the line from Texas and Indian Territory
into the Hiowa aud Comancbe country.
During the omen period there is q Iarse
number of cattle seeking admission, from,