Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-05

COTTON QUARANTINE LAW.
Efforts to Keep Out Boil! Weevil en-.
barrasses Mills.

Efforts to Keep Out Boil! Weevil en-
barrasses Mills.
Considerable disquietude Is being
manifested among cotton manufacrur-
ers and cotton brokers in South Caro-
lima over the recently issued order of
State Entomologist A. F. Conrad, stat
ing that beginning with the 10 of Sep
tember, the state law prohibiting the
importation into this state of cotton
from territory infested with the boil
weevil will be rigidly enforced. This
law was enacted during the
legislative session of 1904, and
amended at the session of 1908.
Since the issuance Of the order by Mr..
Conradi, Commissioner E. ]. Watson
has received several letters from man.
ufacturers and cotton brokers inquiring
about the law, and asking information
as to the boil weevil territory. Thurs
day afternoon a letter was received
from Capt. E. A. Smyth of Greenville,
president Of the South Carolina Cotton
Manufacturers association, and Friday
morning another letter was received
from Messrs. Cooper & Griffin, prom
inent cotton brokerage concern, hav-
ing offices in Greenville and other
points in the state.
From the tone Of these letters, It is
evident that dealers and spinners think
the enforcement of the quarantine law
this year will hamper the cotton mill
industry in this state to considerable
extent. The law, however, is in pro-
lection of the cotton crop of the state,
which is a greater industry than even
that Of cotton manufacturing, and
there seems to be nothing for the cot
ton manufacturers to do except to get
along the best way they can under the
provisions of the law. The territory
infested by the boil weevil Is constant
ly growing larger, and thus the terri
tory still left open for the manufactur-
ers in this state to draw upon contin-
ues to grow smaller each year.
Although Commissioner Watson is
deeply interested from his position, in
the industrial and agricultural devel-
opment Of the state, he Is informing
the writers Of the letters that he has
no authority whatever in the matter.
He calls attention to a circular recent
ly issued by Mr.. Conradi, in which 1t
is explained that clean compressed
cotton can be imported from infested
territory without danger during July
and August, and for that reason the
law was not rigidly enforced during
those months, but with the coming Of
the Information season Of the insect,
the law must be rigidly obeyed to pro-
tect South Carolina farmers.
According to Capt. Smiths letter,
the enforcement of the law will seri-
ously handicap the cotton manufac-
turing industry in this state, since the
South Carolina mills purchase during
the year from 250,0O0 to 100000 bales
from other states. He has desired a
conference with Mr.. Watson on the
matter. but the commissioner does not
hold out much hope for any change to
come from such a conference.
The mills in this state use to large
extent the long staple uplands cotton,
which is mostly imported from other
states. At the end Of the year 1910,
the boil weevil infested territory COW
cred a large part of the south, leaving
free only the Carolinas, Georgia, Flor
ida, Tennessee, a large part Of Ala
bama and about two-fifths Of Missis-
sippi. It Is stated that II the weevil
makes this year an advance proper
tionate to that of 1910, it will cover
over half Of Alabama, and will fur
ther limit the territory from which the
cotton mills can draw raw material.
There is a possibility that the cotton
mills in this state may be obliged to
close for a time, or else bring In cot
ton of the kind desired from some 9TH
er country, such as Egypt.
The annual, product Of cotton manu-
featured goods in this state is given as
about $72,OOO,OO0 in value. Heavy cur
tailment resulting from enforcement OF
this quarantine law would occasion,
1t Is claimed, much loss to the cotton
manufacturing industry.
However, the law Is made in pro-
lection of the cotton growing industry
of the state, which represents an an
nual product of the value of about
sos, 100000, which is a more important
industry than that Of cotton manufac-
turing, and one upon which the pros
perity of the state Is in a measure
based.
This situation, it is stated, Is the
first direct effect that South Carolina
has felt of the approach of the boil
weevil, which Is said to be slowly ap>
preaching this state. The efforts OF
the department of agriculture 1t Is
stated, have been for several years
along the line of preparing South Car
olina for the advance Of the insect, and
the planting Of the long staple cotton,
in order that the mills might draw d.
rectly from growers IN tnelr own stdte'
has been urged, but the effect has been
comparatively insignificant so far.
Other means, such as diversification Of
crops, have been urged, preparatory to
the arrival Of the weevil.
Inquiries from cotton merchants are
for information as to the territory now
quarantined, in order tnat there may
be no conflict with the law. Mr.. Con-
radi is out of the state at this time,
and he will probably find some puz-
zling problems before him upon MS
return.-Columbia Record.
THANKS TO THE PRESS.
n.kk. of lnI0n Ia