USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 13
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The directors of the Swine Breeders' Club ordered that the expenses of the work of organization should be paid out of the Club's treasury, so long as the club was not run into debt. The program of the president and secretary in organizing the county was as follows: March 19, Hector: March 20, Franklin; March 21. Bird Island ; March 23, Buffalo Lake ; March 24, Sacred Heart; March 25, Renville ; March 26, Morton ; March 28, Fairfax. Dan- ube and Olivia organized early in April. Several township or- ganizations were formed in the period of greatest activity, among them the Farmers' Clubs of Norfolk, Hawk Creek and Melville. At all meetings the officers and County Agent Morris explained the requirements of the government for organization, taking the census of hogs, etc.
At first separate clubs were not formed in each town. To A. J. Olin, of Franklin, eredit is due for the plan of organizing the county by trading points. Fairfax had such a club. Franklin organized its own club as a branch of the Renville county organi- zation. Similar clubs were organized in Olivia and Danube in April, 1914. Branches of the county organization, now incorpo- rated as the Renville County Swine Breeders' Association, werc organized in Sacred Heart and Buffalo Lake in the spring of 1915. Every town in the county should have its local club affili- ated with the Association. When the government demonstra- tion is discontinued, the county will be thrown upon its own resources in controlling cholera.
The government veterinarians, with Dr. G. S. Weaver as In- speetor-in-Charge, established headquarters in Olivia, April 8, 1914. Immediately after the selection of Renville county as a demonstration county, the Secretary of the association commenced to bombard the Burean of Animal Industry at Washington with telegrams informing the officials of that bureau that the county was organized and asking for the form to be used in getting the census. When no form was sent, the questions used on the census card in Pettis county, Missouri, Missouri's demonstration county in 1913, were telegraphed for and then submitted to Washington. In every possible way were the authorities impressed with the readiness of the county for the work and the willingness to co- operate in making the work a success.
775
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
The proper form for taking the census was not obtained until seeding time when the farmers were all busy. To rush the tak- ing of the census, each town of the county was visited by an officer of the association, Dr. Weaver and County Agent Morris. In the respective towns, business men co-operated in getting men to take the census of the hogs. In the towns having agricultural teachers, Olivia, Renville and Hector, the census was left to these men. For taking the census, one committeeman was appointed for each four sections, making nine for each township. One of the nine was designated as chairman of his township. Each com- mitteeman visited the farms in his four sections filling out a census eard for each farm. Below is given a copy of the census card and a set of instructions such as were given out to committee- men.
Instructions to committeemen :
Before the federal men can commence vaccinating hogs and practicing other control methods against cholera in Renville county, it will be necessary that a hog census be taken. The sooner this is taken, the better it will be for all concerned. It is, therefore, desirable that your heartiest co-operation be given in this work.
As a committeeman, you will serve permanently without sal- ary. Your duty is to take a hog census of the four sections al- Jotted to you. In taking this census, fill out the cards and return them to the chairman of the township committee. Cards must be filled out for every farmer whether he is a swine raiser or not. Secure all the information asked for on these cards. Have each man give you definite answers to all questions and write plainly.
After the census is completed, your duty will be to keep the United States Inspector-in-Charge advised concerning the condi- tions in your territory, such as cholera outbreaks, negligenee, ete. The Inspector may be reached by telephone in his office in the Court House at Olivia.
The results of the census are here given by townships. In 1915, there were sixteen United States Government demonstra- tion areas for work in hog cholera control, similar to that of Ren- ville county. The eensus taken in Renville county was probably the most complete of all.
A meeting of all interested in hog cholera control was held at the Armory in Olivia, April 30, 1914. Dean Woods of the College of Agriculture, Dr. Reynolds of the Veterinary Division, Dr. Niles of the Bureau of Animal Industry and Dr. Ward of the Live Stock Sanitary Board were present and spoke.
The following is taken from an article written by William A. Sehummers of Olivia, an excellent account of the Bureau of Ani- mal Industry's work :
776
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
"The Minnesota station in Renville county is in charge of Dr. G. S. Weaver, who is assisted by three veterinary inspectors, Dr. L. R. Smith, Dr. Il. L. Duell and Dr. Morris Zurkow. The State Live Stock Sanitary Board has a local representative, Dr. H. Evenson, also located at Olivia, and the State Agricultural Col- lege is represented by W. E. Morris, Agricultural Agent of Ren- ville county. These ageneies co-operate in the county work. Generally, the vaccination and the treatment of deceased hogs is taken care of by the federal authorities. Sanitary conditions and quarantine are enforced by the representative of the State Sani- tary Board, and the educational work in the matter of hog cholera prevention is in charge of the County Agent.
"Veterinary science has not yet produced a specific that will cure hog cholera. The method of treatment is an immunity pro- dueing process. Serum is prepared in the federal laboratory from the blood of hogs that have recovered from the disease. It is found that such hogs have in their blood imme bodies which transmitted into the blood of other swine offer resistance to in- fection or minimize the severity of the disease if already con- tracted. This immunity is of a temporary nature. Permanent immunity usually follows an attack of the disease if the animal recovers. The administration of the immunizing serum is usually referred to as the single treatment. For the purposes of pro- ducing permanent immunity a double treatment is employed, which consists of giving the immunizing serum, together with active virus from afflicted hogs, with the intention of producing a mild form of the disease, which will be so controlled by the im- mune bodies that the hog will recover without serious results, and then will have permanent immunity. The single treatment is the method employed in most cases among the afflicted and exposed
CENSUS OF HOGS AND CHOLERA LOSSES-RENVILLE COUNTY.
Township.
Hogs. Shoats. Pigs.
1914.
1913.
1913.
1912.
1912.
Bandon
443
100
1,00G
40
3.345
2.780
2,514
Beaver Falls
404
194
4
2.77%
1,862
2.241
378
Birch Cooley
S52
350
1,01×
5.254
4.102
4,055
130
Bird Island.
533
170
861
26
3,087
1,981
1.922
218
Boin Lake
073
490
1.011
121
3,650
1.619
2.095
1 22
Cairo
832
378
2.349
161
3.574
428
2.511
....
Camp
492
103
975
G5
2.642
1.781
1.880
Crooks
1.30%
287
1.18J
20
2,613
647
2.994
1,359
Emmet
406
021
1.413
2.504
454
3,076
1.542
Ericson
736
119
847
15
2.502
890
2 708
948
Flora
473
240
976
2.439
971
2,048
13
Hector
530
1º9
1,337
193
3 174
2,330
2.247
345
Kingman
507
45
913
64
2.960
1 602
2,178
146
Martinsburg
861
310
1.234
3.17a
902
3.326
498
Osceola
829
176
S41
13
3,649
1,564
2.168
30
Palmyra
5.87
305
1.71.
15
3,724
1.559
2.468
.
Sacred Heart
322
727
10
3,525
2.148
3.541
718
Troy
417
115
56:
2.246
1.190
2.592
Wang
816
250
1.110
2,753
500
1.989
58
Wellington
524
2,084
54
803
2,600
45
Winfield
436
93
895
145
2. THO
1.603
2.346
472
14,787
6,353
29.593
1,960
85,090
43,403
85,790
8.998
Old
Lost
Raised
Lost
Raised
Lost
Brookfield
499
943
2.536
1.219
2.307
784
Hawk Creek
Henryville
430
230
$73
2.645
1.742
1.889
Melville
607
148
997
3.447
2.108
361
Norfolk
.23
1.000
3.996
3.377
2.625
Preston Lake
40
3.975
2,611
377
1.144
193
Number of hogs in County May 1. 1914.
52,733
777
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
herds, whereas the double treatment is sometimes used on valn- able blooded stock and stock for shipment out of the county. A very great objection to the double method is the danger of start- ing an epidemic of the disease where it is not already prevalent, which results at times from the infection getting beyond the con- trol of the sermins used to restrict it.
"It is probably true that the occasional cases where the single treatment has failed and resulted in great mortality are mainly those in which defeet or impurity in the serum has resulted in giv- ing the vaccinated hogs blood poisoning, and the mortality in these cases is usually from that cause rather than from cholera.
"On one of the walls of the Federal Station at Olivia hangs a map of Renville county with colored tacks to indicate the pres- ence of the disease. In August, 1915, only half a dozen of these taeks adorned the map at various points. It affords a striking illustration of the success of the government fight against hog cholera. The disease has practically disappeared, but quarantines are being maintained to prevent a recurrence of the outbreak.
"This free government aid has been of immense value to the farmers of Renville county engaged in the production of pork. Every dollar spent has brought manifold returns in hogs saved. As an educational campaign for the prevention of this disease, its benefits will be projected many years into the future."
Statement of the Work of the Bureau of Animal Industry in Renville County (Furnished the Renville County Swine Breeders' Association by Dr. G. S. Weaver). 1. General statement: 1. Number of hogs raised in Renville county in 1912, 65,790. 2. Num- ber of hogs raised in Renville county in 1913, 85,699. 3. Number of hogs that died of hog cholera in Renville county in 1912 (this number is included in the number raised in 1912), 8,998. 4. Num- ber of hogs that died of hog cholera in Renville county in 1913 (this number is included in the number raised in 1913). 5. Date headquarters were established in Renville county, April 8, 1914. 6. Date on which first herd was treated, May 8. 1914. 7. Number of outbreaks in Renville county from January 1, 1914, to time of treatment of first herd, 135. 8. Number of hogs that died from hog cholera from January 1, 1914, to time of treatment of first herd, 1,960. 9. Total number of outbreaks of hog cholera in Renville county since treatment of first herd. 481. 10. Total number of hogs that died of hog eholera in Renville county since treatment of first herd, 3,109. 11. Number of hogs raised in Renville county in 1914 (estimated), 100,722. 12. Number of farms in Renville county on which active infection existed at time of treatment of first herd, 13. Il. Results in infected herds treated exclusively with serum alone: 1. Number of herds treated, 456. 2. Number of hogs treated, 13,524. 3. Number of hogs showing high temperatures (above 104 degrees) or other
778
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
symptoms when treated, 3,246. 4. Number of hogs showing high temperatures (above 104 degrees) or other symptoms when treated that have died, 873. 5. Total number of treated hogs that have died, 1,094. 111. Results in exposed herds treated ex- elusively with serum alone: 1. Number of herds treated, 13. 2. Number of hogs treated, 165. 3. Number of hogs showing high temperatures (above 104 degrees) or other symptoms when treated, 1. 4. Number of hogs showing high temperatures (above 104 degrees) or other symptoms when treated that have died, 0. 5. Total number of treated hogs that have died, 0. IV. Results in infected herds following the use of serum alone on pregnant sows: 1. Total number of pregnant sows treated, 72. 2. Total number of treated sows that aborted. 11. V. Miscellaneous data : 1. Number of infected herds treated with serum alone in which cholera later reappeared, 20. (If cholera reappeared a number of times in the same herd, each reappearance should be elassed as a herd.) 2. Number of exposed herds treated with serum alone in which hog cholera reappeared later in the season, 1. 3. Percentage of abscesses resulting from treatment, 4 10 of 1 per cent. 4. Total number of hogs left untreated on account of ad- vanced disease, 2,419. 5. Number of hogs left untreated on ac- count of advanced disease that have died, 1,956. VI. Sources of infection or ways in which hog cholera is spread: 1. Exchanging labor and visiting neighbors, 104 cases, 21.62%. 2. Exposure to sick hogs in adjoining pens or pastures, 14 cases, 2.91 . 3. In- fection harbored on premises, 141 eases, 29.31%. 4. Carried by dogs, 31 cases, 6.449. 5. Infected cars and public highways, 1 ease, .21. 6. Purchase of new stock, 7 cases, 1.454. 7. Con- taminated streams, 6 cases. 1.25". 8. Birds, 14 cases. 2.91%. 9. Ilogs running at large, 6 cases, 1.25'7. 10. Result of double treatment. 2 cases, .42%. 11. Visiting stockyards, 6 cases. 1.25 %. 12. Indefinite sources, 149 cases, 30.98%.
Other counties are adopting the Renville county plan of eon- trolling hog cholera. In April, 1914, President Leindecker or- ganized a Swine Breeders' Chib at Glencoe, MeLeod county, which was the only factor preventing a general outbreak of cholera in that county that year. That elub used forty-five thousand cubic centimeters of serum, saving 83.6 per cent of all hogs treated.
In February, 1915. Mr. Leindecker was called to Mankato to present the Renville county plan before a two days' meeting of the Southern Minnesota Seed Growers' Association. The plan was adopted by that association. The plan was similarly adopted in clubs organized by Mr. Leindeeker at Litchfield, Meeker county, and Stewart, Meleod county. In the four above named places, the local agricultural teachers are serving as secretaries of the respective clubs. In the summer of 1915, the agricultural teacher at Stewart vaccinated about six hundred hogs with a sav-
779
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
ing of ninety per cent. Each member in joining a club under the Renville county plan pays a fec of two dollars. Of this sum, fifty cents goes toward the running expenses of the club and one dol- lar and fifty cents is placed in a revolving fund for the purchase of serum. Serum is kept on hand at the trading points of mem- bers. If a member's hogs become sick with cholera or are ex- posed to the disease, the member goes to the secretary of the club for serum, paying cost price for it.
Accomplishments of the association :
Fourteen local farmers' organizations supplementing the work of the Swine Breeders' Association in the county have been formed. This number ineludes two stock shipping associations.
Two University Weeks were conducted by the Swine Breeders' Association in 1914 and again in 1915. These programs were given in the towns of Bird Island and Sacred Heart. The profits from these enterprises have been placed in a fund to be used for the benefit of the entire county. When the Bureau of Animal Industry discontinues its work in the county, this money will be spent for a supply of serum, to be kept on hand against cholera outbreaks.
In the fall of 1914, a movement to build a creamery in Bird Island was launched in a Swine Breeders' meeting. This move- ment bore fruit in the fall of 1915, when a modern creamery was erected in Bird Island by a cooperative association formed for that purpose.
When the association was organized, it was the natural desire of the farmers to find a "eure" for cholera. Now it is known that there is no "eure." But the work of the association has demonstrated and is demonstrating, here and in other counties. that there are successful methods of controlling the disease. The principal elements in this control are: Organization. Education, Sanitation and Vaccination. These elements are of importance in the order named. The swine industry of Renville county has been greatly benefited, and the way has been opened for a great sav- ing to be made in the raising of swine in the state and nation, forestalling the great losses that are now incurred each year from cholera.
Record of the association's achievements :
The great risks involved in raising hogs in Renville county have been eliminated. This is the experience of E. J. Butler, for many years a prominent citizen of Martinsburg township. The first time cholera was epidemie in the county, Mr. Butler lost thirty-eight hogs, saving only one. In the epidemic of 1908, he lost eighty-three, saving eighteen. When the epidemic of 1914 reached Martinsburg, Mr. Butler had eighty-one hogs on hand. Cholera appeared in his herd. The government veterinarians were called. One hog was killed to make a positive diagnosis of
780
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
the disease. Five more were too sick to treat with sernm. Sev- enty-five were vaccinated. All of the five too sick to treat died. All of the seventy-five treated were saved.
An annual sale of pure-bred hogs has been instituted. These sales greatly encourage the raising of pure-bred hogs in the county. In 1913, not a hog was shown at the county fair on account of the cholera epidemic. In 1914, one hundred and twenty hogs were shown, all pure-bred, and fifty were sold. Among those making a specialty of pure-bred Duroc-Jerseys the past few years are: E. J. Wilson and H. S. Hanson of Renville, F. H. Manderfeld of Olivia, and Porter Bros., R. V. Frakes, Jos. Kien- holz, Ed Kienholz. John S. Johnson, John Boyland, A. Ziller and Jos. Ziller of Bird Island. Breeders of the Chester White hogs are : O 'Connor Bros. of Renville, G. I. Pregler of Morton, II. W. Leindecker and H. J. Broderins, Jr., of Bird Island, F. Hager- meister of Hector, and Elwin Borden of Buffalo Lake. Well- known breeders of Poland Chinas are C. F. Gummert and Gustav Grabow of Renville, Heins Bros. of Olivia, and Ileikka Bros. of Franklin. Wright MeEwen of Buffalo Lake is the leading Berk- shire breeder of Renville eounty.
These are the suggestions coming from Renville county's ex- perience in controlling cholera. They are adopted as rules for guidance in all counties accepting Renville county's plan :
Efficient hog cholera control depends on four factors, namely : (1) Organization, (2) Education, (3) Sanitation and (4) Vaccina- tion. If we have organization, it is easier to spread a knowledge of necessary sanitary and preventive measures. This lessens the amount of serum required. By organization, the serum that has to be used ean be obtained of guaranteed quality at a fair price, and it can be administered efficiently.
A few dont's applicable on farms where hogs are kept :
1. Don't vaccinate unless there is cholera in your herd, or unless your hogs have been dangerously exposed.
2. Don't waste a moment before notifying the Secretary of your club when your hogs are sick.
3. Don't vaccinate hogs intended for market that weigh 175 pounds or more. It is not a good business proposition. Ship them.
4. Don't violate the regulations of the Live Stock Sanitary Board. Get a copy of the Sanitary Board's rules from your local agricultural teacher or County Agent.
5. Don't feed carbolic acid or lye to hogs. It does them no good. You would not want to eat such things yourself.
6. Don't endanger your neighbor's hogs by needless visiting and exchanging work when you have cholera on your premises.
7. Don't leave dead carcasses about to afford opportunity for the spread of disease. Burning is better than burying.
781
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
8. Shoot useless dogs and pigeons.
9. Don't use any serum except that furnished by the State Agricultural College or serum known to be reliable. If you are in doubt, ask the Secretary of the Renville County Swine Breed- ers' Association (Address, Bird Island, Minnesota) for a list of reliable firms manufacturing serum.
10. Don't use double vaccination unless you are taking a herd of hogs out on the show circuit. Other occasions where double vaccination is justifiable are seldom found. Get the ap- proval of the Swine Breeders' Association before double vac- cinating.
11. Don't buy the so-called "cholera cures" so often sold by fakers through the country. The only known preventive for cholera is serum prepared from the blood of a specially treated hog.
12. Don't take everybody's advice when you get sickness in your herd of hogs, if you can get expert advice from people that have made a study of cholera.
13. Don't forget that organization is necessary to handle a cholera outbreak efficiently. Organization is the first step toward controlling the disease and it may lead to eradication.
14. Do you have an agricultural department in your local schools? If you don't, get one. Most of the agricultural teacher's salary will be paid by the state. He is the logical man for Secre- tary. The agricultural teacher is paid by the state and by the school district to do such work. You would never get better re- turns from any man than you would if you used him for Secre- tary. Such a plan has been tried with success and satisfaction to all parties concerned.
.
782
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
CHAPTER XXXIII.
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
Advantages-Climate-Drainage-Rotation of Crops-Live Stock -Educational Work-County Agent-Farm Bureau-Ship- ping Associations-Crops-Government Report-Assessment Statistics-Early Drawbacks-By William E. Morris.
Renville County is situated on the northern bank of the Min- nesota river, in the central portion of the state. It is about 75 miles from the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, with which it is connected by the C. M. & St. P. and the M. & St. L. railroads, which traverse the northern and southern portions of the county.
The area of the county is 981.31 square miles, 621,650 aeres is land divided into 2,871 farms. The population is about 24,000. The total assessed valuation of Renville county is approximately $18,000,000.
The agriculture of any seetion is controlled to a great extent by its climate. The main factors which limit the growth of crops are temperature. rainfall and the amount of sunshine. In Ren- ville county these elements are so favorable that a majority of the crops common to the temperate zone may be successfully grown and a failure in the important erops is unknown.
Rainfall is an important factor for most crops, because the amount of water in the soil at the critical period of development of the plant is necessary to produce a large erop. The length of the growing season is also very important and probably no other factor from the standpoint of the farmer should be given more consideration.
Renville county is favored with these factors which help to make successful production of crops. The following statistics on the elimatie conditions of the county are from the reports of the United States Department of Agriculture Weather Bureau from observations taken at Bird Island over a period of twenty- two years.
Average precipitation (rainfall), 24.57 inches ; average precipi- tation (snowfall ), 25.8 inches ; highest temperature recorded. 105 degrees; lowest temperature recorded, -38 degrees: prevailing wind direction, northwest : average date of first killing frost in autumn, September 25 : average date of last killing frost in spring, May 9; earliest date of killing frost in autumn, September 9; latest date of killing frost in spring, June 7; elevation of county above sea level, 1,000 feet.
The distribution of the rainfall is particularly favorable to agriculture, being heaviest during the erop season and ample for
783
HISTORY OF RENVIELE COUNTY
the full development of erops. The most rainfall from the reports is shown to be in the months of April, May, June, July and Au- gust. The average date of the last killing frost in the spring and the first in autumn are May 9 and September 25, respectively. This gives an average length of growing season of 139 days which is ample for the growing of corn.
The soil of Renville county is very uniform, being a black elay loam with a yellow clay subsoil carrying an abundance of lime. On account of the very high content of nitrogen and or- ganie matter in the surface soil and the abundance of lime in the subsoil, it is properly regarded as an unusually fertile type. There are many shallow depressions in which the water at pres- ent remains until late in the season and which are at present used for meadows. When these are drained they will soon become as productive as the remainder of the land. Technically the soil is a till or boulder elay brought from the northwest during the last advance of the continental ice sheet.
The surface is undulating prairie interspersed with frequent domestic groves of hardwood timber as well as wild timber along the streams.
Most of the early settlers located along the Minnesota river or in the ravines of the streams flowing into that river, though a few eame down from the "Big Woods" and located in Boon Lake and Preston Lake. Some of the settlers eame up the river in boats. Others had made their way from Fort Snelling, St. Paul, or St. Peter and New Uhn. Through the dense forests, across the sweeping prairie, or over a winding trail they had made their way, fording brooks, passing through swamps. entting away fallen trees, and swimming rivers until they reached their chosen location.
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