308 
and Del Eio only — in short, all along the lower Bio Grande on the Texas 
side for a distance of about 50 miles into- the interior, and in the Del 
Rio region on. the upper Eio Grande. We- would then have a non- 
cotton belt on our frontier that would, in conjunction with proper quar- 
antine regulations, present an insurmountable barrier to new importa- 
tions of the weevil. More valuable crops than cotton by far could be 
raised in. all this territory (except perhaps at Del Rio), as there is 
plenty of water for irrigation, or certainly will be as soon as the two 
Governments agree on the use of the waters of the Rio Grande for 
irrigating purposes. 
THE SERIOUS ASPECT OF THE QUESTION, AS IT AFFECTS THE 
COTTON MARKET. 
I estimate that one fifth, or at least one-sixth, of the entire cotton- 
producing region of Texas is infested with the weevil. The damage 
this year in the infested region averaged 90 per cent, which is about 
15 per cent of the entire crop of. the State. If the weevil is not exter- 
minated or greatly reduced in numbers this winter it will spread over 
a considerable additional area the coming season. If the conditions 
for its spread are at all favorable, as they are very apt to be, the new 
area that will be invaded next season will doubtless equal in extent 
the area already infested. The damage to the crop in such case will 
range from 75 per cent to over 90 per cent in the whole region infested* 
Thus, it is extremely probable that, unless some means are speedily 
taken to prevent, the cotton crop of Texas in 1895 will be reduced by 
more than 25 per cent. 
These conditions will continue to grow indefinitely worse in succeed- 
ing years, until cotton raising will have to be abandoned in many 
districts (as at Monclova, in Mexico), if not in all; and the least un- 
favorable outlook that can be predicted is that a much greater outlay 
of expense and labor will be necessary to raise cotton than formerly. 
At the same time it is true that it will command a much higher price, 
but all far-seeing persons will realize that the gain in price can not 
begin to recompense either the State or the individual planter for the 
immense decline in production that will ensue. 
CONCERTED ACTION AND COMPULSORY LEGISLATION. 
In. attempting to exterminate the weevil or reduce its numbers to 
any appreciable extent, the most thoroughly concerted action of all the 
cotton growers in/the infested regions will be necessary. Every infested 
field must be treated in the same way, else the weevils will spread from 
untreated fields and again (overrun the whole region. 
Concerted action over a large area like this can only be secured by 
the aid of legislation. Laws should be passed compelling everyone 
who grew cotton in 1894 in the infested districts to thoroughly treat 
every one of his fields according to the best means that can be sug- 
