The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-24
FIELD AGENTS OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY
 IN SESSION HERE Tick Eradication Feature of Meeting - Reports Show Much Progress - Dr.
 Ramsay Presiding

Field agents of the United States de- partment of animal industry and repre- sentatives of the live stock sanitary boards of the 13 southern states are holding conferences at the Motion ho- tel in this city for the purpose of areusing greater interest In the move ment to eradicate the COW tick.
 These agencies cooperating for number of years past made splendid progress in that direction. but in view of the vast amount of work still to be done the officials and representa- tives attending the conference ex- press the belief that a larger appro- priation is needed to get the best possi- ble results.
 Dr. R. A Ramsay of Washington in charge of the field inspection work, is presiding at the conference which begun yesterday morning and will con tinue until this afternoon. There are about 35 officials and delegates pres- ent, representing every one of the IS southern states. Among those attend- ing the meeting are: Dr. Carey, state veterinarian and Fred H. Jones, presi- dent of the Southern Cattlemen's as- sociation.
 CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION
 To the activities of the Southern C attlemen's association is attributed large share in the results already obtained in the movement to eradicate the tick, according to statements and reports Since its organization seven years ago the condition in Alabama has improved from 100 per cent tick infested to 69 per cent tick free.
 The government appropriation avail able for the southern states in ths fight against the tick for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, is $740O00 The representatives at the conference now in session will ask an additional appropriation of $2Oo,o0o for the fiscal year beginning July I, 1919, making the total $940,000.
 Representative J. Tom Heflin of the Fifth Alabama district is member of the agricultural committee in the House of Representatives. and as he has shown friendly disposition to- wards this work in the past it is be-
 
 in getting an increased appropriation for the next year. The Chamber of Commerce, the Civic association and similar organizations in all the cities of the states represented and the fair associations will be asked to oo -oper- ate in this movement.
 SOUTHERN FAIRS Since 1910, when the tick eradication | movement was started in the south according to reports madS yesterday at the conference. conditions have inn l proved to such an extent that lall ol l the fairs in the southern circuit which includes the State Fair at Bir. mingham and fairs at Montgomery Meridian Jackson, Memphis and At l lanta, are now drawing their cattl, exhibits from noninfected districts. | was shown in these reports that 70,0ot | square miles were released in 1917 a. 1 tick free and on December 1, 1918. thi. I area will be increased by 90000 square miles.
 1 The average increase in the value oi cattle per head in Alabama in tha' l period has been IA per cent as against lo4 per cent for the entire country and the total increase m the value oi cattle in Alabama has been 154 per cent. The number of head of cattle ir Alabama has increased 7S per cent in that period while there has been an average increase of 90 per cent in dair, products Tn 1910 there were 9S5.no0 head of cattle in Alabama. while in 1918 there were .000
 Of the 67 counties in Alabama S9 are now free of ticks and by December four other counties will be added to the list. making the tick free area 69 per cent of the total area of the state This compared with 100 per cent tick infested area seven years ago, when there was a quarantine against he whole state
 Important Notice
 Effective Sunday September 22d, South ern Railway train No. g. Birmingham