Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-05-24
OVERFLOW BRINGS OPPORTUNITIES.
The Cattle Ticks are Down and Out,
Why Not Keep Them Out7


The overflow of nearly all the alluvial
lands along the bank of the Mississippi,
has caused enormous losses, especially to
the owners OF live stock.
There win probably be some who are
so discouraged that they will feel like
quitting, but not many, for this is not
characteristic of the people of this sec
tion,-they do not know how to give up.
1t is a notable fact that they recover
from the effects of disasters like this in
shorter time and with, apparently,
more ease than those of other parts of
the country under similar circumstances.
This is due largely to the perseverance
and indomitable spirit Of the people, but
principally to the fact that we have soil
and climate that yield more returns in a
shorter time, when they have an oppor-
tunity, than any land under the sun.
The mild winters, long summers, dur
ing which many native grasses grow lux
uriantly, such as Bermuda grass, than
which there is no better, not excepting
the famous ''Blue" grass, and the nu-
merous forage crops, that can be success
sively grown throughout the entire year,
make this an ideal country for stock
raising.
There are two obstacles, however, that
must be overcome, and viii be some day,
though one of them, it has seemed, would
be at the cost of much work, time and
expense. One of these obstacles: the ne
/ cessity of making and maintaining fences
Ground large tracts of land to protect our
Property and crops from the stock that
is allowed to run at large is practically
overcome by the present overflow. All
the fences having been destroyed, it will
be physically impossible to replace them
and make crop this year, and the mo
Fence law will of necessity, prevail.
But this law should, by all means, be
made permanent, that the endless ex-
pense of maintaing so much fencing may
be saved, and, by combining cattle to their
pastures by much less fencing, prevent
the spread of ticks over tick-free land.
The other obstacle is the prevalence Of
the cattle tick which, by infesting the
cattle, cause constant drain on their
vitality and also fever that is often fla
tai. We cannot import well bread ami
mails from tick-free territory without
great danger of losing them and are
quarantined, so that we have not an
equal show when We wish to market our
stock. In fact, it is estimated, conserv-
atively, that the tick costs the South fifty
million dollars, and we have been pay
ing our full toll.
Now, the greatest benefit, in my hum
BILE opinion, that can accrue from this
disastrous overflow, is the fact that the
flood waters have eradicated this blood
thirsty little insect from practically all
these alluvial lands, in this State, from
the Arkansas line to the Gulf, some Is
parishes. This end could only have been
accomplished, otherwise, at the cost Of
about half million dollars, the time Of
hundreds of men and, at least, decade
of time, and yet, it would have been well
worth while.
To reap this benefit, we must act at
once, and now that this territory is free
from tick, keep it free. Can it be easily
done2 Yes. Require any cattle left in
the country to be dipped, establish a
quarantine around this territory and al
low no cattle to come in without being
dipped.
II we do not grasp this opportunity,
the whole country will again be thorough
| ly infested in very short while and we
win have lost the best opportunity we
may ever have to aid the people to re-
cover large part of their loss.
If the state and national officials do not
grasp this golden opportunity, then the
local authorities should. Not to do so,
would be criminal negligence.
Yours truly,
OTTmIIDTE