Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-09

other states. He has accumulated ana now
owns ST. 443. 900 of farm property: ana the
value of his agricultural products last year
was ST. 1876. 400. The total value OF all or ms
AGRICULTURAL products on farms owned ana
rented by negroes and on farms where ne
groes are employed exclusively as laborers
In Texas was S24.3Ss. $40. This Is one nun
dred per cent more than the average OF the
other states of the south.
1t Is the popular impression that negro
labor is necessary to raise cotton, but here
in Texas l am told that the contrary mas
been demonstrated. The greater part OF
that staple produced In this state Is raised
by white people. Eleven counties in Texas
produced ten per cent of all the cotton IN
the United tSates-an average OF mlihol
and quarter bales year. In these couh-
ties there are only 63,SS3 negroes ana
90 400 of them live in cities and towns OF
. 500 inhabitant and over leaving only
AZ 453 colored people upon the farms. 1hat
includes men, women and children ana Is
less than eight per cent or the populatlon
While 1t cannot be determined exactly. IL Is
safe to assert that more than eighty per
cent OF the cotton crop of Texas Is produced
by white labor. In Ellis county, which Is
the heaviest producer in the state, there are
less than 5000 negroes. all told.
The Prairie Dog Nuisance
The legislature of Texas has passed law
requiring farmers to exterminate the pral'
RE dogs upon their lands, because these
amusing little animals have become such
terrible pest. They did comparatively little
harm when the state was given over TO
cattle ranges and land was selling for 40
cents an acre; but now that the ranches are
being broken up into farms and are being
sold for Sc. SO and 80 an acre the prairie
dog becomes an important factor in polt-
ical economy, and the grass and other
vegetation he consumes. and the damage
he does by burrowing under and eating the
roots of the plants is estimated at several
millions of dollars year. You would not
think it, but If you will examine any field IN
Texas where the prairie dog lives or has
lived you will Immediately see that 1t Is So
Experts calculate that it requires from
one-eighth to one-fourth of an acre or land
to support single family of prairie dogs,
and If you multiply this by the millions
upon millions of these little animals that
pop out of their holes in such cunning
way you will realize that there is another
side to the story.
Professional dog killers are going about
the state poisoning the animals with mix
ture of meal wheat and strychnine Ihey
charge 10 cents acre for clearing a farm
In one county. in the central part of the
state, more than 5000 was paid last year
to exterminate the little pests
When a prairie dog eats poisoned meal
he crawls into his hole to perish Hence
his home becomes his grave. He does not
pollute the atmosphere or compel the
farmer to take away his carcass
Facts About the Dogs.
1t has long been mystery where prairie
dogs get water. They are usually found In
villages in the dryest places. They are
seldom found near streams or pools, and
never heard any one tell of seeing prairie
dog drink. There is theory that they DO
not need to drink. but that is improbable
There Is another theory that all OF the in
diyidual holes of a village lead to a CEN
trail chamber where there is water. far I'M
derground. and when the animals get
thirsty all they have to do Is go down.
stairs.
It is a popular fallacy that rattlesnakes.
owls and prairie dogs live in friendly re-
Iations In the same holes. but naturalists
say that is not true. They declare that the
snake Is the worst enemy of the prairie
dog, and goes into his hole only for the
purpose of eating his little ones. When
snake goes into hole the dog clears out
, and usually abandons 1t. l have heard peo-
ple relate how they have watched the dogs
irving to catch snakes that have invaded
their homes. They root up the dirt All
around the hole in which the snake has en-
tered and gradually close it, so that the
invader cannot get out. This story, how
ever seems TO contradict the theory that
all holes lead to a central chamber
Owls frequently live with prairie dogs
and often occupy abandoned holes, because
thew cannot dig for themselves.
The act of the Texas legislature requfr-
ing determination of prairie dogs goes INTO
effect on the 1st of January next. After
that date all farmers are liable to a nne
Of 50 an acre for every year that they
permit the little pests TO survive