EFFECTS OF TICK ERADICATION. 23 
I can not too highly indorse the work of tick eradication, judging by the 
benefits already received. As conditions in this county have changed to such 
an extent by the introduction of the boll weevil in the last few years that it 
is now impossible to raise our staple crop — cotton — in paying quantities, wo 
must depend on cattle as our source of ready money from this time on ; and 
they can not be raised with profit without tick eradication. 
From Hon. George P. Burnett, county judge of Cumberland County, Cross- 
ville, Tenn., April 19, 1912: Some five or six years ago Cumberland County be- 
came infected with the cattle tick. Steps were immediately taken by the de- 
partment to eradicate the tick, strict quarantine regulations were established, 
and all proper and necessary steps taken for the complete eradication of the 
disease. Within 12 months the quarantine was raised, and our county has been 
free from the cattle tick ever since. There is not to my knowledge a single 
neighborhood where the tick can be found. 
The injury to our county by the infection was great, since cattle raising is 
one of our chief industries, and had the disease continued I know of no other 
one thing that could have brought a greater loss to our farmers and cattlemen. 
From Dr. E. W. Hale, commissioner of health for Shelby County. Memphis, 
Tenn., May 14, 1912: In answer to your letter in regard to the results of the 
work of tick eradication in Shelby County, would say that we have been en- 
gaged in this work for about five years. When the work was begun the cattle 
from this county sold for about 3 cents a pound gross weight ; now they bring 
from 4 to 5 cents per pound. Much of this results from tick eradication. When 
we first began this work cattle could only be shipped to other markets three 
months in the year, and then only for immediate slaughter, and now they can 
be shipped out of the county to any market at any time and without any 
restrictions. 
For the first two or three years there was great opposition from the farmers 
and great difficulty on the part of this board in carrying on the work; now the 
farmers see the great advantage of it, and they cooperate with us in every 
way. There has been new interest felt in cattle raising in this county, better 
grade of stock, more buyers, better prices, and many more shipped to other 
markets. 
The ticks have been practically eliminated from the infected pastures. In 
short, the cattle industry has been revolutionized in this county, and in a few 
years the value of the cattle industry will be increased to an extent that would 
seem incredible. The work is now being fully appreciated, and what was at 
first condemned and opposed from almost every quarter is now being praised 
and assisted by all our farmers. 
From Hon. J. R. Hogue, county judge of Overton County, Livingston, Tenn., 
April 20, 1912 : The people of Overton County are highly pleased with the result 
of tick eradication here. The quarantine has been lifted and our cattle go on 
the market in much better condition than before and therefore bring better 
prices, because they get much more flesh, both on the wild ranges and in the 
inclosed pastures. 
We have absolutely gotten rid of all ticks of every kind which were here in 
abundance four years ago. The eradication of the cattle tick was the greatest 
boon to our stock farmers of anything that ever has been or could be done for 
them, and now they know it ; but when the movement first struck this county it 
was the most unpopular thing ever heard of, and now is the most popular. 
From Hon. W. H. Potter, county judge of Scott County, Huntsville, Tenn., 
April 22, 1912 : In answer to your letter of the 18th instant in reference to the 
tick question, we had some ticks up to last year, but for the last year no ticks 
