The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1909-12-30
THE CAUSE

/ ground tor dispute. ne one true
cause is microscopic germ which
is alone conveyed and transmitted
by that peculiar tick--a parasite OF
domestic cattle, and which is the
very rattlesnake of the entire tick
tribe-which is known to science
as MARGARoPUs ANNALATUL. AS
these pestilence bearing ticks are
alone carried and scattered, all over
and through the south, from Mex
ico to Maryland, by the careless
handling of tick-infected cattle,
and especially by letting such cat
tie to run at large, and in no other
way in the world.
Such is the absolute verdict OF
clear and exact science.
THE COST
The cost, the utter waste, and
the worse than useless yearly tax
which these pestilent ticks impose
on the country is really appalling.
Mr.. James Wilson, our really great
Secretary of Agriculture, after a
close and careful examination, es-
/
Inmates the yearly loss at IS, at
least, on the average for the 20,
600, 900 head of horned. cattle now
owned in the South. And while
these are appalling figures, for they
reach the enormous sum of 500,
900, 600, yet the misery of the mat
ter is that they are sadly true! But
how can this be possible7 Well,
the ticks prevail all through the
South, and every year a vast mul-
titude lie down and die of the dead
| ly fever-and this is surely dead
loss. And the number which dc
not actually die, but are rendered
simply worthless exceed the mum
Der which die. And next the great
deterioration in the stock of Cattle
which is fast reducing our South
ern herds into ga race of runtS
and worthless scrubs, must be
fully considered, and the result is
vast sum. And then, too, the
great loss of milk and butter from
hundreds of thousands of milk
cows must also be counted anc
fully understood, not in quantity
alone, but also in quality. Be
cause no COW, infected with cattle
ticks, and sick as it must be with
Texas fever, can give milk for any
one to use and consume, and ye
thousands of children are daily fec
such milk. And this is not rem
ldered fit to use by the ignorance o
1.-THE parents. It often kills. Ii
Kentucky it is a crime to sell suct
milk. It will yet be SO everywhere
i But there is one cause of loss and
IVA ste which the dulleSt must SEE
when once pointed out. And there
lis the great shrinkage and loss II
1.-THE sale price of all Southern cat
tile. The fact is that all Southerr
cattle put on the market are undel
suspicion and under the ban. They
can only be reared into great cattle
pens, which are placarded in grea
letters, and which can only be sold
for immediate slaughter. And this
Ifact, known to all cattle buyers
does absolutely slaughter the pric'
of all such cattle. They are th'
victims of great prejudice. They
can only sell for great shrinkag'
in price. And this must and doe
send down all over the South, th'
price of cattle.
But how great is this shrinkag
and loss in price7 Well, the ex
perience of the farmers of Tennes
see tells the whole story. In Ten
nessee the work of tick eradication
is largely advanced The grea
number of counties is now free
from ticks. Only about doze
counties are now fully quarar
timed. And now and to-day wher
the people have kicked against tic