The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-12
CATTLE COUNTRY IS
FREED FROM TICKS
Governor of Mississippi Declares De-
cember Day OF Special Rejoice
ing Among Cattle Men

Washington. d. c.. Nov. 11.--witi
a broad wedge driven through thu
cattle-tick army right to the Gulf and
with new area of $500 square miles
In nine states cleaned from tick to b.
freed from federal quarantine, De
cember ! will he red-letter day fol-
tho cattle and 6airying industry Of
the South.
This release breaks all record II
tick eradication. The total territor,
released during the year 1917 through
the cooperative efforts of the state,
and the United States department OF
agriculture amounts to 70,754 square
miles. or 10000 more than were re-
leased in 1914. until now the record
year.
Throughout Mississippi. and In nine
ty counties and parts of counties in
eight other Southern states, local Of
ftt ials and citizens are arranging local
celebrations to mark the dipping on.
of this costly parasite of Southern
agriculture.
Tick-Free Day.
The governor of Mississippi, by
special proclaim alton has declared
.rcernSer /, WREN by the release OF
twcnty-eigh counties. his entire state
will be freed from quarantine. q day
of special rejoicing. At the state
house he will receive the congratula-
OF agriculture for the states effective
cooperation in dipping out the tick
and driving a wedge OF free territory
through to this Gulf.
Congratulatory messages are 10 be
sent also to the governors of the other
states and be transmitted to each coun-
ty celebrating it's entry into the free
cattle 'erritory of the nation.
Before the ticks were dipped out,
these parasites annually killed many
cattle with tick fever, steadily sucked
out OF cattle vast quantities Of blood
which should have gone to make meat
or rrilk; wasted. therefore, much of
the grain and forage fed to cattle.
and. finally. pl evented tho introduction
of non-immune breeding stock for the
improvement of local beef and dairy
herds. The presence of the tick barred
shipments OF local cattle from the open
competition OF the free pens at the
packing centers and forced their
owners to sell them at n disadvantage
fr ON quarantine pens for Immediate
slaughter only.
Tick Now Dipped Out.
The South since 1905 has succeeded
in releasing from quarantine 27s.312
square miles or over 5 ! per cent OF the
quarantined a. ca Missis-
sippi is the fifth state to be declared
entirely free. the states of California
Kentucky. Missouri. and Tennessee
previously having been released.
Special credit. however. is due to Mis-
slssippi because much of the area
freed was heavily infested with ticks.
There remain in the entire South
34s.2s0 square miles yet infested and
TO be cleaned and released from feder-
al quarantine. The example of Mis-
sissippi however, II is believed. will
serve. as a ~tEaaS Incentive 10 neighbor-
ing state. to widen tina wedge to the
tie entire South
To Break New Record.
That this years record will be ex-
ceeded In 1913 and that the tick will
be banished from the nation by 1891
are strong probabilities. The states
OF Arkansas and Louisiana, following
the example 81 Mississippi, have pass
ed statewide laws making the eradica-
ton OF the tick compulsory in every in
Tested county. The legislature of the
state Of Texas has recognized the i'm
portanee of tick eradication, although
It's laws do not make eradication COM
pulsory In its various counties for some
lime TO come. Indications from ali the
tlck-infested states are that in many
sections the, people have grown
tir~if, ~ the fo5l tha sirs-
IS taking and *patriotically are build
In dipping watts and making prepare
ions TO free their cattle dufing the