The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-14
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
Tick Eradication
Editor of The .Age-Herald.

"a ''N' montgomery, Lowndes and Dali
las counties began tick eradication: Ell
more and Sumter began in 1909, and Mad
ison In 1910. Limestone county proposes
to begin March !, 1911. Thus have six
Out OF sixty-seyen counties begun the
work within three years; three of them
one each year. At this rate, when will
Alabama be free from quarantine and
the losses caused by ticks?
The 81 remaining counties at ono
year gives 1870 as the date If nothin.
nappens. Ii any counties are now think
ing of beginning. the work some tins
when neighboring counties do, they should
await IN patience; there is plenty of tins
between 1910 and 1870.
From the present outlook one must con-
Guide that the majority of Alabamians
nave either decided that tick eradica-
tlon is a joke or a graft or have not
thousht or 1t at all. Farmers in Texas
Louisiana, Georgia and Florida seem to
agree with them. Yet in Oklahoma. Ar
kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, South and
North Carolina, Virginia and California
an area more than twice as largo nc ~.
state of Alabama has been cleared of its
49, 'i'iiiii the past TOUR years,
Inc business men of the released dis
triets are proclaiming that it is the best
thing that ever happened to their cattle
industry. Which is the more proyident?
Those ON the Alabama side of the o,es-
rion or those others who are now enjoy
ing the fruits of their industry?
When asked In 1905 If it would require
10 years to eradicate all cattle ticks frov.
southern states, the writer replied that
the farmers could finish within that time
II they would, but would more likely
take rs years" He says now that Ala
pama can clean up in the next five years.
put the record makes 1t look like 60 now
Would 1t pay? Is 1t profitable to invest
5000 or less than $4,000 for each county In
order to save 100000 annually, as con-
servatfvely underestimated by govern
ment and state authorities? The former
sum VIII more than suffice to clean the
state; 1t is one-fourth or thereabouts Of
the annual loss. The cattle OF county
gain In value more than the amount ex-
pended on them while the work is going
on There has been no sound argument
profered> In the last Is years that tick
eradication would not pay, although all
southern states have investigated through
their experiment stations. Killing ticks
Is like picking up money.
Al iIHiestoHe county a cattle trader re.
Gently stated that the loss on the 10 an
cattle therein was not less than sso no
annually. This statement, taken together
with known conditions, decided the COM
missioner's court to kill the ticks that
were running the cattle trade. The loss
on 100000 cattle in Alabama is on the
above basis not less than 100000 annual
~ loss which VIII continue in propor-
ton to inactivity In tick eradication Cat
tie In Limestone county will not only in
crease-doubling and trebling their num-
bers-but rise In average values which IN
now about SO less than the average for
the United States. With increase in num-
bers and better care and use of the stable
manure there will result more fertile. val
liable lands. These prospective increases
have not been considered In the estimate
of losses. They include losses incurred
by death. loss of flesh, dimnution OF
milk, quarantine, etc.
Millions loss to be stopped by less
than S6o0000 and little work and atten-
ton seems like nonsense. does 1t not?
Does 1t look so much like a gold brook
that Alabama farmers are afraid to more
than touch 1t for fear of burned fingers
VIII some one not figure out the loss IN
coming years II tick eradication proceeds
at the present rate, one county a year.
If Alabama hesitates on account of the
cost, she may feel assured OF greater
losses by not Graduating ticks.
Limestone, Madison. Sumter Dallas and
the others have not hesitated, and are
assuming the burden Of expense. RECEIVE
Ing little or no pecuniary aid from tho
state. Indeed. all the financial encourage
ment the state gives toward stopping this
100000 loss Is 5000. No. not this sum.
for the appropriation il for Cattle ticks
or other infection contagious or COM
munfcable disease Of live stock"
Mississippi last year appropriated $780,
COO annually. and Immediately 10 or more
counties signifed their intention Of TAX
ing up tick eradication. But the state
aid is supplemented by each county maxi
Ing its own appropriations. Counties IN
this state which have undertaken the
work with no desire for outside aid ex-
cepting federal supervision have acted
wisely and more economically than those
who for thousand or two dollars aid
suffer loss of tens of thousands through
the ticks while awaiting action.
There are "a stock-aw counties in Ala
bama, in which work could be under
taken on July /. 1911. and which are sc
situated that by work simultaneously
they could avoid vexatious and costly In
ter-county guarantees.
All that is necessary is resolutions by
their commissioners courts, conforming
to the tick law; appropriations by the
court for employing inspectors, and an
appeal to the state veterinarian to apply
the law locally. One thing more is that
farmers shall each be willing to do their
share.
BY notifying their people and other coun-
ties in advance that tick eradication will
officially begin in Limestone county on
March /. 1911, the commissioners have
done we'll They have also given notice
by Inference that tick eradication pays
and that other counties in Alabama are
mistaken in rejecting 1t.
win the 81 stock-law counties follow
this year or be some of those still re-
naming infected in 1880? Tick eradica-
ton has withstood the test OF II years
actual practice. While recalling that an
area twice as large as Alabama has been
freed from quarantine within four years,
will Alabama take five years or fifty for
its share of the work?
DIR. COOPER CURTICE.
Huntsville, Ala, August IL.