The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-26


mony to the same effect.
When one undertakes to estimate the
loss to the south during recent years be-
cause of this little insect, and then tries
to estimate the probable loss in the future,
the result must be appalling.
Establish Prohibition Zone
Some time ago the suggestion was
made to establish across the entire cotton
belt east of the areas infested by the
weevil, a zone of 100 miles, in which no
cotton should be planted. 1t was argued
that this would check the eastward ad-
vance of the weevil, as it subsist only on
the cotton plant and it was also argued
by entomologists and other experts on
plant and insect life, that by moving this
zone westward from year to year all the
weevils In the cotton states could be
starved out and entirely exterminated
until the Mexican border was reached.
The idea appealed to me very strongly,
and have given the subject a great deal
OF study ever since. I believe this plan is
entirely feasible, and, while at first
thought the cost may seem prohibitive, yet
When the estimated cost is compared with
the estimated saving, the zone plan must
be looked upon as a very sound business
proposition The government entomolo-
others admit that if this zone plan is put
into operation it will undoubtedly check
and finally exterminate the boil weevil,
as it will have nothing to feed upon, and
they admit at the same time that no other
plan that has been tried so far has been
at all effective.
"A few weeks ago I asked some of the
officials in the department of agriculture
to give me an estimate as to the losses the
farmers of the south have suffered as the
result of the boil weevil. The figures fur.
nished me are startling From the report
I make the following extracts:
Studying Average Production
The only adequate way of arriving at
the losses due to the boil weevil is by
studying the average production per acre
by states. comparing years of non-infesta-
tion with years of infestation. 1t is quite
noticeable that every state by the third
year of infestation has shown a decided
reduction in average yield per acre. This
average production is sused in connection
with the acreage planted to obtain an es-
innate in money value of the loss from
the boil weevl to the producers. This is
only the primary loss and is turned over
and over again as it reacts upon ginners
oil mill men, merchants, bankers, property
values, manufacturers of the textile and
the final consumers.
''rhe total loss to producers obtained by
this method from 1895 through 1912 is SS41,-
521125, or an average during the IS years
of SAG, LIZA per annum. with the loss now
reaching over $OO,0OoOOO per annum
"Only the more obvious losses from the
ravages of this pest can even be esti-
mated. These are the losses in produc-
tivity suffered by the producers, and the
losses in business of the first processes III
manufacture.
Figures are presented to show the
losses to the planter. the ginner, and the
oil mills, as follows, for the period from
1895 to 1872:
Loss to the planters .........$ S41, ,521 1S5 |
Loss to the oil mills ............ 72.27012l |
1891, ,2s7 ,s52
TO these must be added losses in busi- |
ness suffered by cotton buyers and
brokers' merchants, bankers, and cotton
mills; the loss in property values: the ulti- |
mate effects upon the consumer.
I'm other words, officials of the depart |
ment of agriculture estimate that the loss
to the south from the boil weevil between
1895 and 1912 has been considerably more
than billion dollars. This is staggering. |
Cost of Proposed Zone
Now, as to the cost of the proposed
zone. Here is an estimate that l have
made and l think the estimate is very |
liberal one:
The cessation of cotton growing over
an area of 46.245 square miles, in which
the crop is valued at sos, 9e0,047 per an
mum, is at first glance ssuch an appalling
suggestion that few have even thought
to look deeper. We must add also to this
the loss in ginning business, which is
computed at S29l5,5lS per annum, and the
loss in seed products totaling S5,633,562. |
This means that there must be compensa- |
tion for a loss in earning value of s107, $780, |
127 per annum.
In the first place, any scheme which !
would call for the cessation of cotton |
growing must provide the means and
knowledge for growing something else in
the place of cotton. A large corps of
trained agriculturists instructing in the
cultivation of new and profitable crops
and in the principles of rotation, main
tenance of soil fertility. etc, would help |
the people to double and treble the output |
of their land within very few years It |
would also be necessary to supply seed |;
for planting the 2573.672 acres of cotton |
land in other crops Thus the greater |
part of the prospective loss can be met at |
a reasonable expense.
The loss of the ginners and part of the !