The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1908-07-03

laws are strictly CONSTITUTIONAL ana
that they must be obeyed, and will
De, if Uncle Sam Is strong enough
10 enforce their obeisance, and this
IS not a bit IN question or doubt.
1t held that Asbell was properly
/ convicted and must pay his fine and
20 to Jail, and he is now a sadder
but wiser man. Case after case
could be cited from the United States
subordinate courts showing the gov
eminent is determined TO enforce
It's quarantine laws. The Quaran-
antine laws have come to stay as
long as the ticks stay, and that viii
/ be forever or until the ticks are
stamped out
MISSISSIPPI.
How does all this concern or af-
feet the state of Mississippi?
Well, Mississippi IS entirely be-
low the United States quarantine
line, and below the line Of Tenues-
see. 1t is a. badly tick infected as
any State in the South. The prev
alence Of the fever tick is fast re-
+. ducing its herds into races Of scrubs
runts and stunts. All Mississippi
/ cattle are now under suspicion ana
under the ban. Why Because no
/ Mississippi raised cattle can be ship
ped to the great cattle markets that
surely fix the sale price Of all cattle,
+ without strict compliance with
quarantine law which has a stern
grip ON an the railroads and steam
boats. When Mississippi cattle have
run the gauntlet Of quarantine and
/ are gotten to market they are then
met by local quarantine regulations
and can only Toe sold, mark you. for
| immediate slaughter, and the inev-
liable result follows. The fact is,
/ the shipper Of such cattle is at the
mercy Of the local sharp and greedy
/ buyer. The certain result and sheer
/ fact is that all such cattle, and all
1 Southern cattle from below the quar-
antine line bring less or about one
half the price. or from 40 to 80 per
cent. of the price which they might
and certainly would bring were it
not for the fever ticks and the quar-
antine laws. What them Shall
the slogan be down with the quar-
antiue laws? Not SO fast. They
have come to stay. Mississippi can
not uphold them Her jurisdiction
stops at her borders-just like that
+ Of every State. This mighty loss Of
only getting half price for her cattle
+ is only the beginning Of her misery,
which threatens 10 annihiIate her
cattle industry. Because, great
many cattle lie down and die each
year, and a still greater number
which do not die are rendered by
the tick contagi0n so worthless as
to be of little value. Add to the
value Of all of these the costs, and
fees. and vexatious delays incident
to any quarantine, the loss Of but
ter and milk and meat, and the
score Of other but certain losses, and /
it must be seen and admitted that
the yearly loss caused To Mississippi /.
by the ticks and Texas fever must /
and really does mount into the mill +
lions.
Now, how long shall this condi- +
ton remain in Mississippi, a State /
that in natural aptitude is not and .
cannot be surpassed as a cattle re-
gion by any State in America? Sit
uatp as the State is, in the great
corn belt, with her genial climate,
her short winters. her unrivaled +
pastures, her contiguity to growing I
cattle markets, her shipping facllI- i
ties by railroads and steamboats,
all these, and more, must make
Mississippi a great cattle raising 4
State But how long must the pres
ent evil conditions remain2 They
will remain while the ticks remain. T
But can they be utterly stamped T.
out? Yes, assuredly. Last year by
the active cooperation of the state
and local authorities, with the eX
pert inspector Of the Bureau of An
imal industry, and the support Of
the people, As, 600 square miles OF
territory, situate III several States
were entirely cleared Of ticks, and
the quarantine lifted To stay lifted
Had this territory been all conugu-
Gus it would have made a section
larger than the entire State of Mis-
sissippi. This demonstrates that
the State of Mississippi can be ut
terly and most completely cleared
Of the cattle tick curse. But when2
Just when the public opinion Of the
State Is aroused to effort and action.
But you cannot talk the ticks to
death. Public opinion must be
aroused. When the viii comes the
way Will be found. But public opin
on is the only king in this free land.
But it is a king, and you, Mr.. Ed
tor, you men of ink, by your argu
nent and constant statement Of
acts, by your publications and APP &
oeals, do really make public opin-
on. Hence this letter in which |
rave only been Ringing a fire bell &
n the night" VIII you not help B
ne TO ring that belI2
/ am yours seriously,
A. H. PETTIBONE,
Department Of Agriculture
Newt Harder, Of Elton, Wis, says 81