Fitzgerald enterprise., 1906-09-22
INVESTIGATION NEEDED.


splendid and timely task of DR.. S.'A. Knapp be-
fore the Monroe Progressive League recently,
calls attention to an article in this paper yester-
day in which an eminent authority asserted
that there was practically no hope to check the
ravages of the boil weevl, and it was his opinion
that the whole cotton belt would be devastated
in comparatively short time, leaving ruin and
wrecks in it's wake.
This is, appare ntly.a gloomy and greatly
exaggerated picture of the future tor portion
of the country that in ten years gone by was re-
garded as the finest cotton growing section in
the world. But the actual facts and bitter ex-
periences of the farmers of Texas amply 1usti-
fv the prospect. Once the Texas cotton farm
ers waxed eloquent in telling of the wonderful
productiveness of the soil. But an enemy in the
shape of the pestterous boil weevil came, and
bright hopes and prospects of bountiful cotton
crops faded away leaving bankruptcy and hard
times" where prosperity formerly existed.
Has Louisiana-has Ouachita parish-any
right to hope to escape the ravages and destruc-
tive Influences of the boil weevil? In fact some
authorities assert that it is with us in large
quantities, especially to the south and west, and
that its advance is certain Does it not seem
reasonable to accept the inevitable and prepare
to avoid repetition of the>disasters that visited
the farmers Of Texas? The cotton planters
are masters of their destiny after all, and can
win a glorious victory over the boil weevil if
they will only make the effort
The key to the situation, and it is one that
will unlock the rich resources of nature and fill
the land with peace and plenty and cause our
farmers to rejoice, is given in one word-Diver-
M E.
more attention to barnyard fowls and stock rais-
ing. Give less time to cotton and the corner
grocery and more to producing the things that
can be grown on a farm, and the boil weevil will
not be source of terror to the average farmer.
A farmer can never be prosperous who has
his smokehouse and granary in some western
city. Yet thousands of hard-working, earnest
men till the soil and wonder why their efforts
are not crowned with success, who year in and
year out buy western corn, oats and meat at
fancy prices to be used on the plantation, and
neglect the chicken industry and other sources
of revenue that abound on the average farm.
An allcotton crop will bankrupt any communi-
ty and cover the country with mortgages.
The Star suggests that the farmers, big
and little, cut the acreage in cotton and devote
more land to the cultivation of hay, corn, oats,
Irish and sweet potatoes, cabbage and other
necessaries, and raise chickens, turkeys, hogs
and stock.
Do this earnestly and faithfully and the
evil effects of the boil weevil will not be manifest
in this section of the countrv.-Monroe Ua.)
Star.
The Cordele Rambler says that South Geor-
gia is going to have many counties,
that the larger counties must be cut up. Edit
or Shipp thinks that the small counties are more
satisfactory. He calls attention to Glascock,
with less thas hundred square miles and small
er than Ben Hill. He says that they are satis-
factory and do not want any more territory.
We arenot in position to state exactly what the
people want but are in position to say what
Fitzgerald and Ben Hill county need. We need
new county and must have it and we believe that
the state will ratify the Constitutional Amend
ment by an overwhelming majority.
The two Macon dailes supported Clark
Howell, but Hoke Smith carried Bibb county.
The two Rome dailes supported Clark Howell,
but Hoke Smith carried Floyd county. The
two Columbus dailies supported Clark Howell,
but Hoke Smith carried Muscogee county. The
Augusta daily went against Hoke and Richm mond
county went for Hoke Smith. The Thomas svie
daily went against Hoke and Thomas county
went for Hoke Smith overwhelmingly Great
are the dailes!-Bainbridge Democrat.
And the Democrat might have added that
the Bainbrdge dai1y. the Brunswick dai1v, the