The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-09-16
DANGER OF BOIL wEEvILs.
Augusta Stocked With Texas Oats to
be Dumped on Us.

be Dumped on us.
The Columbia State says 1t has been
stated that the act OF the last leglsla-
ture prohibiting the importation OF
oats and other grains from the boil
weevil infested sections Of Texas and
Louisiana is practically without effect
because under Its terms witnesses
may have to be brought from the
other end Of the line to prove any case
of violation, thing that will be next
to impossible to do. There Is no way
to compel the attendance Of witnesses.
No official opinion has as yet been
rendered but that is the conclusion
reached at conference of State h. use
officials. An investigation OF the
laws Of the southern States on this
subjct discovers the additional re-
grettable fact that the Georgia board
Of entomology, which has charge OF
this matter In that State, has not
Outlawed the Texas oats, although 1t
has forbidden the Importation Of cot
ton seed, hulls, squares or bolls from
Texas.
All Of which facts and circum.
stances recalls to the mind Of prom.
inent Columbia merchandise broker
that while he was in St. Louis last
week he was shown letter by dealer
In western grain from the western
dt aler's correspondent at Augusta, in
which the Augusta man explained why
there was practically no market in
that territory for western grain by
saying that the town was stocked up
with Texas oats. The letter said tt at
there were then over 100 cars OF Texas
oats in Augusta. lnasmucb as a
large part Of South Carolina contigu.
Gus 10 Georgia does lis buying in
Augusta the fear Is felt that these
infected oatS are being dumped into
South Carolina.
Commissioner OF Gmmigra' ion Wat
son recently n ale the following sum
mary OF the laws of the southern
States regarding the introduction Of
oats and farm products from Texas
for the information and guidance Of
the railroad commissions:
In reference to your r quest as to
regulations of the Unitea States or
State government bearing upon the
introduction OF oats shipped from the
State Of Texas into this State, l will
say that under the law If these oats
come through any OF the boil weevil
infested districts Of Texas or Louisi-
ana the person or corporation bring
ing them in is guilty OF a misdemean-
or with fine not exceeding 500 or i'm
prisonment not exceeding 80 days.
With regard to the laws Of the States
OF Alabama, Georgia. North Carolina,
Mississippi and Louisiana, nearly all
Of which prohibit the movement Of
products infested with the boil wcevil,
it would be we'll nigh impo ,sible for
any common carrier to get any such
product as far as South Carolina. The
law in Alabama for instance, enacted
in 1903, provides fine OF $500. The
Lou siana law Is almost as severe and
inc I'D oats.
For further information l will say
that the infested di. tricts OF the
State OF Texas may b, mirke1 on the
map cf that State by drawing a line
from north to south through the
northwestern edge Of Starr county to
the northern edge Of Stephens coun-
ty, thence northeast from Stephens
county to north end OF the division
line between Grayson and Fannin
counties, thence In a southeasterly
direction to the centre of Sabine par
ish, La, thence almost due south to
the southwestern point of jefferson
county, Texas. The act of our legis.
lature clearly prohibits common car
riers from bringing into this State
any product whatever through the
medium of which the boil weevil
might be introduced, provided that
product comes from districts indicated
within the boundary lines given
above.
"There seems to be NJ United
States regulation In regard to this
matter, all OF the States having act
ing upon the recommendation OF en-
tomology OF the United States depart
ment Of agriculture. Should you, or
those making the inquiries of you,
care TO examine the acts of the sew
eral States referred to other than
South Cardinals act and read the
recommendation Of the special agent
who has been conducting the boil
weevil Investigations for the federal
government, they are upon file in this
office and | would be glad to AFFORD
you the opportunity.
NEGRO ATTEMPTED ASSAULT.