The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-01-23
CATTLE TICK ERADICATION.
Big Saving to Farmers of the State
by Work of Past Year.

The Sumter Chamber Of Com
merce- through it's managing secre-
tary, Is interested intensely in a mat
ter Of supreme Importance to the en-
tire agricultural and commercial in
terests Of South Carolina in the re-
newal Of the appropriation for the
| completion of the eradication Of the
cattle tick in this state.
Sumter county having been released
from the State and federal quaran-
tine laws because Of the eradication
OF the cattle tick last year desires to
Gee the good work carried on for an
other year to insure permanent eradi-
cation.
The federal government appropri-
ates thirty thousand dollars annually
and the State Of South Carolina thirty
thousand dollars for this purpose, the
United States Department Of Agricul-
ture working in cooperation with
Clemson College. The entire sixty
thousand dollars is spent in this State.
South Carolina inspectors being en-
ployed.
Secretary Reardon, Of the Sumter
Chamber Of Commerce went after Dr.
w. X. Lewis. inspector in charge Of
the tick eradication. an inspector of
the bureau Of animal industry of the
national department of agriculture,
for information as to the results of
the tick eradication work in this State
last year.
DR.. Lewis was somewhat reluctant
In giving QUO information as he fear
ed that people might think he is try
ing to influence legislation. AS he has
no personal interest in the appropria-
ton, however. his job not depending
on the appropriation he can not be ac-
cused of being partisan. He gave
to the Sumter secretary the follow
ing facts:
II submit brief summary Of the
tick eradication work as II was con-
Quoted In South Carolina. during the
last year, between the United States
Bureau OF Animal Industry and Glenn
son Agricultural College. The erad-
ication work began April, 1914, and
was conducted in twenty-five coun-
ties embracing an area of 13,26S
square miles. approximately one-half
the area Of the state with the follow
ing results:
"On September 1st, 1914, the coun-
ties Of Dillon. Lee, Newberry and
Sumter were released from federal
and State quarantine. The counties of
Florence (north Of Lynch's River)
and Chesterfield are in condition for
release early next spring. Also Marion
county. These counties embracing an
area Of 4.026 square miles were freed
from cattle lex. In addition to this
territory, released work has been car.
ried on In and half finished in nine
other counties. and completed in six
counties In which work has been
started prior to 1914, and in each of
which a few premises remained under
local quarantine.
THE last general assembly appro-
priated $4,000. which was supple
mented by with an equal amount by
the United States Bureau of Animal
Industry. AS a result of this eXpen-
diture the benefits already derived arc
as follows:
There are $500 head Of cattle in
the area released last year. They
have increased in value s3.3S a head
or a total Of s119,3S1.
There has also been a Is per cent.
increase in milk production. a 13 per
cent. saving from loss by death due to
cattle tick fever and an increase in
value of hides. these amounting to at
least one hundred thousand dollars.
This makes a total of S219,3Sl.OO in
crease In values derived from one
years work alone with an expendi-
ture of 60.O0O.OO.
THE cattle owners in the released
area are now shipping their stock to
the open competitive markets and
are also importing safely pure bred