Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-24
TEXAS DAILY PRESS LEAGUE
Foreign Advertising Representatives
Sensible Economy

The federal government viii have %s5.OO0,oOO avail
able to fight the pink boil worm, congress having a.
propriated that sum, and the bill was signed BY Pres
ident Coolidge Monday. The major part Of the fund
will be used in paying compensation to farmers in the
n~on-cotton zones. the remainder to be used in research
work to determine means OF eliminating the menace
to the Southern cotton fields.
II is gratifying to note that the expected opposition
TO the bill from Northern and Eastern senator's and
congressman did not materialize. The measure, intro
duced by Congressman Buchanan Of Texas, had the en-
dorsement and full support Of the Y. S. Department
Of Agriculture, whose specialists pointed out that the
only way to combat the pest would be in the estab-
lishment Of non-cotton zones. They drew a parallel
between the depredations Of the corn borer and the
millions the governmSSt has expended to eXterminate
that pest and the damage that would result and the
enormous cost that would fall upon the government m
the event the pink boil worm became established -
the cotton fields OF the South. They argued thss
four or five millions expended for prevention would be
more economical than the future expenditure Of tens
OF millions to eradicate the pest.
Back in the nineties when the boil weevil was
brought across the border at Brownsville and spread
in ever widening circles year after year, the eNpendi-
ture Of a comparatively small amount would have pre-
vented the loss Of billions OF dollars which the cotton
farmers Of the South have sustained as a result Of the
depredations Of the pest. The scope Of the boil wee
vii had extended over the entire Southern part # the
cotton belt before the federal government awohe 10 20
necessity Of making appropriations to fight the pest.
The first appropriations met bitter opposition from tc
North and East. Countless millions Of dollars have
since been expended in the annual battle 70 curb TIC
depredations Of the boil weevil, and each year the
pest takes a toll the value Of which amounts to mary
millions.
Entomologists have failed to find a means 70 Grad
icate the pink bollworm. and the only method evolved
for combating the pest IS the establishment Of non
cotton zones. Fortunately, the pest has never invaded
the cotton fields along the eastern part Of the border
on either the northern or southern sides Of the Rio
Grande. In those sections where IL has been aisccy-
cred on the American side the cotton acreage Is COM
paratively small and the cost II establishing non-cot-
ton zones will be reduced 70 the minimum.
The action taken By congress will result in careful
investigation OF the border country on both sides OF
the Rio Grande. Mexico has indicated a willingness
10 cooperate By establishing non-cotton zones wherever
the pest is found. However, the American entomolo-
gists will maintain a careful watch along the entire
border. and the first indication Of infestation viii re-
suit in prompt action. Smuggling Of cotton presents
the most grave menace to the cotton industry Of the
lower border country, and to prevent this the govern
ment agencies should and will have the active coop.
Grafton Of every farm and business interest.