The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-01-30
PATTERSON ASKS
FOR FEDERAL AID
In DISCRIMINATING the Cat
tie Tick.
APPEAL TO CONGRESS
Emphasizes the Importance of the
Eradication of the Greatest Pest
to the South's Cattle Industry.
North Carolina Leads i'm
the Movement.

Hon. 8. l. Patterson. COMMISSIONS
Of Agriculture. zealousIy sent an ur-
gent letter to North Carolina reprcsen-
tatives in Congress. and he asks them
to support a bill which will be intro
duced i'm Congress, it's object being to
obtain for the Southern State govern
ments Federal cooperation in the eX-
termination Of the cattle tick, the pest
which has destroyed the South's cattle
industry.
Commissioner Patterson's letter is
as follows:
AN effort will be made to secure
the cooperation and aid of the Fed
eral with the Southern State govern
ments to exterminate the cattle tick.
Cattle raising must play d far more
important part in the future in our
Southern farm economy than it has
done since the war. The tick is its
menace.
This department. taking the lead
in this, as it has done in several 9th
er has secured the kemp
ton of all the trans-mountain coun-
ties and several of the Piedmont coun-
ties from the restrictions of the Fed
eral quarantine laws. Getting away
from the cattle ranges. some
of which have been badly infested
with ticks, and reaching the stock
law section OF the state, we Will make
rapid strides eastward. We will reach
Mecklenburg. Rowan. Davie. Yadkfn
and Stokes, and every subsequent year
Will mark a substantial addition of
territory to the exempted area. But
it is an Interstate question and the
government ought to give it's aid. AS
our exempted territory extends east
ward, longer stretches of Virginia
and South Carolina border lines are
eft exposed, unless these States shall
faster step in their respective terri
tories.
Let me give 0 just a few figures: |
According to the last report of the
L. S. Department of Agriculture. there
are in the southern States, excluding
Virginia., Tennessee. Oklahoma and |
Indian Territory, 97,474,S76 cattle;
that many cattle subject to quarantine |
restrictions. except in those localities
where the tick has been eradicated. |
suppose these cattle average $50 |
pounds in Weight-low estimate. is it ,
not? and suppose the increase of value |
consequent upo the: extinction of
thelr deadliest enemy, is placed at on |
~ IA of a cent per pound-another |
too low estimate-the increase of alu |
would at once amount to $109,659.-
235. Or suppose We say in. a rough |
way that a value Of $1.00 a head will
follow, and ives add to our cattle
worth $9I,444,S76. This is not all or
the greatest benefit to come.
1t has not been safe to import |
clear blooded cattle into the tick re-
slon of the South. They died. With
the tick removed. cattle could be
transported here from any section of
the world in safety. y new impetus
would be given the industry. such as
has not been known for many years.
Il ever before, i'll the history of the
South. More cattle of good breeds
would be introduced. feeders would
utilize their own rich cattle foods.
such as peavine hay. corn stover. cot
ton seed meal and hulls and our big
fertlilzer bills might be reduced by
the substitution of increased say
lngs of home made manures
"All this can be done. Secretary
wilson is in favor Of the bill. know
you will give us your aid
Il am trying to make nv letter as
snort as possible, but | want to add
mat. of the lumber of cattle quoted,
North Carolina is accredited with O.
1'o,'S2- They are of larger size than
cattle farther South. 1t would be GER
talnly safe to count their added value
at $4,000. GOO. 90"