The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-23
WANTS SOUTHAMPTON TO
Be FREED OF DIPPING
Argument Heard BY Legislative AgTt-
culture Committee On Fever Tick
Quarantine BIZ.
LIVESTOCK BOARD OPPOSES.
Mr.. Musgrave Declares Enforcement
of Present Law In Southampton
Work Operate Seriously Against
Smithfield Ham Industry.

For more than three hours Monday
night the Senate and House commit
tees on agriculture and mining. in
Joint session in the hall OF the House,
heard of the cattle tick. the fever
tick, razor-back hogs of which are
made the famous Smithfield hams,
and the work of the State Livestock
Sanitary Board and State Veterina-
rian Ferneyhough, in cutnng down
the fever tick quarantine in Virginia
from thirty-four to four counties. The
committee arose without acting on
the Musgrave bill, which was under
consideration.
The Musgrave bill would raise the
tick quarantine from Southampton
County by amending the law which
has stood for some eighteen years so
as to make 1t imperative in that
county. The measure Is opposed by
Dr. Ferneyhough. who plans to event.
uaIly raise the quarantine from the
county after the eradication OF the
tick by means of the dipping vat.
Local Conditions Peculiar,
Delegate Musgrave. speaking of the
county he represents. described pecu-
liar conditions in Southampton which
would cause the continued operation
and rigid enforcement of the quar-
antine law to conflict with the prin-
cipal industry of his people-the hog
industry. He told that only from the
razor-back hog can the Smithfield
ham be made. He explained that
both the hogs and the cattle run on
range and contended that unless the
bill exempting Southampton was pass
ed the county's chief industry would
be damaged. He said that much of
the cattle in the county is wild. and
that IL Is an impossibility for their
owners to catch them and run them
through the vat twice each month as
the law requires.
DR. Ferneyhough told how the cat
tie tick had been eradicated in all but
four counties, of which Southampton
Is one, and declared the fever tick
could be eradicated there by the Dip
ping watts, which the state Livestock
Sanitary Board will put IN and on
which it will defray part of the ex-
pense He insisted that the law be
not amended so as to prevent him
from applying It to any part OF the
State To so amend a law, he said,
would tie his hands. and II that was
to be done, his office might as well
be abolished.
Success of Dipping Watts.
J. Peter Holland, of southampton,
spoke for the Musgrave bill. He de-
clared that he had lived in the county
forty years and that he does not know
of a single death among native cat
tie In that time due to the fever tick.
Former Senator watkins, OF Ches-
terrified County, told of how the dip
ping watts had removed Chesterfield
from the quarantine. He said ne had
not believed It could be done, and that
he is now thoroughly converted to the
dipping vat method.
J. Thompson Brown. chairman of
the State Livestock Sanitary Board.
spoke against the Musgrave bill. He
urged that the law be permitted to
stand and that the state veterinarian
be permitted to exercise his authority
in enforcing it. He paid high compl-
ment to DR.. Ferneyhough for the
work he has done, not only in the
fever tick. but against the foot-and-
mouth disease outbreak. and other dis
eases In live stock.