Tag Archives: screw-worm

December 30, 1936

Stationery from Chalfonte-Haddon Hall, Atlantic City, NJ.

Wednesday Night.

My dear Sweetheart,

Most of the meetings are over and by tomorrow noon all of them will come to a close. I have been before different groups so much that folks will look at me and think of screw worms. Judging from the number who commented of the Myiasis of Man speech, I am of the opinion that I made myself understood. I hope so, because the chief sat on the last row in the rear of the auditorium. Dr. Breman’s paper was well received, and I am continually receiving compliments on the exhibits. Mr. Hall is full of praises for Claudelle’s work. The Bureau people, including Dr. Bishopp are complimentary on the screw worm control work, and I wonder what next week will bring. They have a way of making one the King’s cup bearer for a while and then with a spanking demote him to custodian of the incense pot. I wonder if I have something in store next week. I think I am on solid ground, and the evidence I am able to obtain makes me feel that way.

December 30, 1936

December 30, 1936

The surprise of the year was Dr. Bishopp’s election as president of the Econ. Ent. Association. It was a complete surprise, and Eula Lee is as proud as a male peacock. I am mighty glad because it makes for harmony and good feeling. We need a lot of it. Our relations have been most pleasant and on several occasions I am pleased to say that I made nice mentions of him and the M&A division. There has been no evidence of friction of any kind.

The Society passed a resolution on good will etc. to the old timers including appreciation of Dr. Howard’s visit here. The only item affecting appropriations asked for an emergency appropriation to be used as & when needed for control work. From grape vine news it is my understanding that Congress will be requested to appropriate five million to be used if needed for grasshopper, chinch bug & screw worms. I have had no official word of this. In presenting needs on SW work I intend to give a very definite program with an estimate of needs. From tomorrow until Monday morning I expect to be in solitary confinement at the Hotel Bellevue in Washington. Cushing thinks I am going to Baltimore from here. He and Hall returned to Wash. today.

Roarks, Bishopp, Dr. Howard, Dr. Anderwort & perhaps others asked about you. Anderwort says that every time they have toasted cheese on crackers they think of you.

I appreciated your letter. It helped lots. With lots of love, your
Walter.

October 4, 1936

Stationery from the White House Hotel, Gainesville, FL.

Sunday 11:30 AM.

My dear Sweetheart,

The conference was successful but with some controversial discussions. We got 20,000 from the state for the winter program and with leeway on purchase of materials and free distribution. The bulletin by Bruce & Sheeley was received yesterday & approved for publication by the state of Fla.

October 4, 1936

October 4, 1936

A meeting called by Mr. Anderson will be at Memphis on October 19th & Strong promised to attend. As yet I have had no word to attend but presume that I shall.

Will be here tomorrow on personnel matters & may go to Atlanta tomorrow night. Would like to hear from Chief about Memphis meeting. When we don’t hear from him we do not know how he thinks or what he might do.

Dr. Newell, Dr. Knapp & the University group were mighty fine about the program & new plan. They are thinking eradication and quarantine work.

I talked to Leman Anderson, Russell’s sec’y, yesterday. He will come to Fla. in about a week and spend a few days with Yeomans.

Caught a miserable cold on the sleeper the night I left San Antonio. Fighting it and it seems to be much better. Yeomans & I are going to a Mr. Boyd’s this PM & may fish some. Bruce is almost under the weather so Mrs. Bruce is keeping him at Gainesville.

With love, to all of you,

Your,
Walter

August 30, 1936

Stationery from the Bellevue Hotel, 15 E St. NW, Washington, D.C.

Sunday Night 9 PM.

My dear Ina & Sons,

The trip was a quiet one and comfortable with no special happenings. The Pullmans on both the SP and the Southern were air conditioned and rather cool. At stations where I could get outside I felt more comfortable from the warmer air. Spent a good lot of the time on the paper and hope I can get it copied tomorrow. Met two young boys about 23 who were completing a trip around the U.S. They left at a North Carolina point this morning, having been with me from San Antonio. They go back to college in N.C. soon.

August 30, 1936

August 30, 1936

Received some material from Mr. Townsend and Mr. Yeomans sent by air mail and I think I have everything for the conference tomorrow. Most anything can happen but if it concerns the winter program I think I am fortified.

This is a nice little hotel. New and comfortable and I am glad that I discovered it. It is about five blocks from the station. You will remember several hotels in a group near the station and this is one of them. Room and bath for $2.00 so it looks like I can eat out of the per diem. It cost exactly $5 per day to eat on the train plus tips. I made a reservation for Atlanta leaving here tomorrow night at 7 PM but I have no idea when I’ll get through. Just in case I need it, I’ll have it. The last time I had to take an upper and I did not sleep. The train is too fast for an upper berth. One rolls too much.

Wish I could tell you something but so far nothing has happened. If you went to Uvalde I hope you enjoyed the trip and that the traffic did not give you trouble. Hope you found Mother Lewis and all OK.

With love to the Big boys, Claudelle, and lots and lots to my wife.

Your
Walter.

June 27, 1936

Saturday Night 6/27 – ’36

My dear Sweetheart,

Was mighty glad to get your letter at College Station during the conference and the other came this morning. Claudelle had saved one you sent to Uvalde so I feel that I am getting news more often than I am sending news to you.

June 27, 1936

June 27, 1936

The conference was first rate and we have a good bunch of men for Texas. They returned home Wednesday night and Mr. Townsend & I came back to San Antonio. R.A. came back yesterday and I met him at Austin & held a conference with the Commissioner of Agriculture. He is giving some splendid cooperation. Frank made a talk to the state veterinarians’ meeting at Albuquerque today and his resignation became effective today. He reports to the Public Health Service at San Francisco on July 1. Mr. Yeomans left yesterday for Illinois with two scouts and the third will join him at Pittsfield Sunday night. Screw worms (Americana) were reported to Dr. Bishopp and he sent Schroder to the scene. We are now getting our forces out there. Things happen so frequently and at so many different places at one time, that happenings a few hours old soon seem like history. R.A. selected a steno today and within a week we think he will have some help. Also we are trying to get Kenneth appointed as his assistant. We want to get word from Washington before we ask him to start. Rainwater is recommended for a Civil Service job at Savannah and may soon report down there. If so, and he stays at Savannah he will want a furnished place. They would take good care of our place if we rented it furnished to them.

This may be the best thing for a while, so that you can come to Texas. The screw worm control work may continue often this year, but no one can tell. The grief and opposition is more than any of us anticipated. So many things pop up. The research men are quiet now and appear OK but they would like to pin me down for something. On the surface we are getting along. The extension folks in different states are anxious for our program and this causes some worry that we did not have last year. I have not finished going through my mail for this week, that is what I should answer, so you can see that I am behind. Tomorrow I plan to get over & sort all of it so that it can be answered Monday. The wires have kept me going most of this week. So much of it is by wire. Strong is out of Washington and may show up at any place in the field at any time. He is expected in La. about now. Claudelle’s exhibit at A&M is splendid and now she is getting one ready for New Mexico for Wednesday. She visited the fair at Dallas on Tuesday & Wednesday & worked up some publicity for the one up there. It seems to be a good one.

Yeomans is apt to be in the North for about 3 weeks & I do not see how I can come East before he returns. It looks like your husband will not see you real soon, but of course it would not take long to come if I can. We have a short time to make a record in the SW and every minute counts right now.

When I get my nose through this stack of things, I’ll write more & perhaps the next one will sound more like myself.

I love you and you and you, all 3 of you and I wish I could see you.

Your
Walter.

June 21, 1936

1010 Travis Bldg.
Sunday A.M. June 20, 1936*

My dear Sweetheart,

I am at the office this AM and shortly after noon Mr. Townsend and I will drive to Bryan. The training conference starts tomorrow morning and lasts three days. From the conference I plan to go to Albuquerque New Mexico to talk to the veterinary association of the state. Had planned to pass this up, but Babcock wanted me to write his speech and mail it to him. R.A. and I had declined on meetings out there until the Texas work was under way, but I don’t think we can afford to take the chance of letting Babcock run wild. I’ll probably get back to S.A. about next Saturday night or Sunday. There is a chance that Roberts can go from College Station to the veterinary meeting and if so, I’ll let him make the trip. Mr. Yeomans will probably leave here about next Friday for Atlanta and will join Bruce in the rounds.

June 21, 1936

June 21, 1936

Things seem to be shaping up very well, considering the man made obstacles in our way. Most of the appointments are made for Texas but none for District men for New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma. We have about five places in Texas to be selected for, and will have to get additional names before this can be done. The cattle men seem to be with us in better shape than the sheep and goat men, but I think we are going to be able to make a go with even them. All of them resent the idea of being educated to S.W. control, but they seem willing to try our recommendations.

Claudelle completed a nice exhibit yesterday for College Station. Tomorrow night she is going to Dallas to see the exhibit up there. She will call on Mr. Schoefelmeyer of the Dallas News (Agricultural editor).

The office seems to function in harmony and with practically no interruption on account of the move to S.A.

Invited Mr. Strong to the conference but Rohner wires that he is not in Washington & unable to attend. We are expecting him to drop in on the meeting at College Station unannounced. We think he is in Louisiana or will be there in a day or two.

Have not looked at houses any since Mr. Townsend and I looked at one evening, but will do so when the conference is over. They are not as plentiful as one would expect. Mother Lewis is anxious for you to come out there for a while but I told her that you would have to find a house and get the furniture unloaded before you visited.

I enjoyed Walter White’s letter and I am glad that he is trying to be a good boy. I hope he succeeds. It is pretty hot out here but I think he can stand the heat. The Mexicans don’t care how hot it gets.

With love,

Your
Walter.

P.S. Will try to get there in time to claim the bonus before 30 days is up. Ask if they can forward or if I can write & have them forwarded.

* The 20th was a Saturday, so I’m assuming Walter got the day right and date wrong.

June 16, 1936

YMCA, San Antonio TX
June 16, 1936.

My dear Sweetheart,

Pardon the pencil but my fountain pen is on the 4th floor in another coat pocket and this “Y” does not have an elevator.

June 16, 1936

June 16, 1936

Your letter was a life saver this morning. I saw a card you had written to Mother Lewis on the 8th, but had not heard from you since I came here. The letter was just fine and I am glad that Walter White is a gold pin citizen. Wish you could sell your office so you could move to San Antonio and be with your husband. Before long I think you will sell and it won’t take long when you get some prospects. I am sure that the house will help sell itself.

Claudelle and I drove to Uvalde Saturday afternoon and returned Sunday PM. Saturday night we went to Thelma’s and spent a while. Mother and Daddy Lewis went with us. We saw Reitha and her boy friend. Thelma Lee was at home after turning down about three dates. She seems to have a good friend who returned from college recently and she saves her dates for him. She is pretty and very attractive. Reitha is growing and is somewhat of a young lady herself.

Next Monday Tuesday & probably Wednesday we will hold the training school at College Station for the new supervisors. RA and Frank are going up there tomorrow. It is possible that Doward may be at Beaumont on a short call notice as Mrs. Doward is expecting a youngster about the 18th. We may have to run the school without Doward.

The office work seems to be pretty well organized, and we have a hand picked personnel. I am real proud of the set up.

Enclosed you will find a signature card for the San Antonio National Bank. Please sign on the second line and return the card to me. I made a deposit today in our joint account and they need your signature before you can write any checks against the account. When your card is signed Mrs. W.E. Dove, I’ll sign and return it to the bank. My address is 1010 Travis Bldg., Personal, and I’d be pleased to hear from you as often as you care to write. I know that you are busy and I won’t expect letters often.

Should you want to write to me at College Station the address is care Mr. Kelvin Doward. He has a box but I do not remember the number. I’ll get it OK.

With love to all three of you and looking forward to seeing you.

Your
Walter

June 12, 1936

YMCA Friday 10 PM. 6/12

My dear Sweetheart,

Guess you think your husband is neglecting writing his family. The new office and so many things seem to require some of my time. We are getting in better shape now and most of the office people are finding their duties. The office set up is first rate. Gradually we seem to be getting the sheep and goat raisers to see that our program is right. At their meeting in Kerrville yesterday they received Prof. Mackey very cordially and promised to work with us.

June 12, 1936

June 12, 1936

R.A. reacts in true form to many things. He did not favor demonstrations when the work program was written but now sees that it is the only way to get the program over in Texas. His individualistic damn cussedness has taken root in Frank, who seems to be a supporter of his. Think I can handle the situation but it will probably mean that I’ve got to dictate in no uncertain terms and see that they carry out orders. I made the mistake of assigning Frank with R.A. He should have been under a different man this year. It may be necessary to separate them yet. Frank is on the civil service list and was reached by the Public Health Service for a job at $2600 in California. He would identify fleas and mites from rats. I encouraged him to accept it, because it would get him a civil service status. I think screw worm work would profit if he accepted. Tomorrow I am going to offer more encouragement to that job. He and R.A. are going to headquarter across the hall from my office. They do not have a steno yet, and the problem is about the same that it was last year, except that they want to use my best steno. I think your old man is going to be pretty hard boiled and dictate what is what.

Tomorrow we are going to drive to Uvalde. Mr. Townsend and Yeomans want to go in Townsend’s new Packard and carry Claudelle and Miss Peets. We will return Sunday afternoon. It will probably be a week from Monday before we start the training conference at College Station.

With love to all three of you,

Your
Walter.

June 9, 1936

Postmarked San Antonio, TX.

Tues. Night

Arrived yesterday PM. RA Prince and Claudelle were at the new quarters. Today the other stenos and Mr. Townsend arrived. Furniture is being placed & some business is being transacted. Within a day or two things should become settled. The new offices are fine & we have no regrets on the space. With love to the three of you.

Walter.

June 9, 1936

June 9, 1936

June 5, 1936

Stationery from the Gay-Teague Hotel, Montgomery, Ala.

Friday Night 11:00 PM

My dear Sweetheart,

Have been trying for several days to get the office moved to San Antonio, and today it looks like we are succeeding. Mr. Mitchell left about 4 o’clock with a truck load of furniture and supplies and I got away about 5:30 PM. Mr. Townsend leaves tomorrow morning in his famous car and Miss Anderson leaves by train tomorrow PM. Miss Ausley leaves Orlando Sunday and Miss Peets is to arrive at San Antonio Wednesday. I telegraphed Claudelle that all would be at 1010 Travis Building between Monday and Wednesday. R.A. and Mr. Dormand are busy on the applicants at College Station.

The air trip to Washington was almost like riding in a bus. There were no thrills connected with it.*

June 5, 1936

June 5, 1936

Mr. Strong is certainly supporting me even on protests and complaints from Dr. Bishopp. My conferences at Washington were very satisfactory. Had another complaint letter up there from Dr. Bishopp through the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers which required an answer. This was prepared for Mr. Strong’s signature. Bish had written a letter to me asking me to answer 7 questions on our recommendations for control. During the conference Strong told him that I did not have time to do that, and that the answers should come from the research unit. He told Bish to write out the answers and submit them to me. Bish is trying to get some letters in the files which can be used against me and Strong told him in my presence that he was guilty of just that.

Expect to be at Baton Rouge tomorrow night and I want a talk with Anderson the state entomologist then. Will try to be in San Antonio on Monday and will stop at the YMCA until I can find quarters for my family. This will depend on when my family can move from Savannah. Bids on the furniture moving are yet in Wash. but they seem to be in order. Bill was passed by both houses and is awaiting signature of the President.

With love,

Your
Walter.

* Longtime readers will recall that Walter’s previous experience of aviation involved Sopwith fighter-bombers over France in 1918, so his expectations for the thrills of flight might have been a bit high.

June 4, 1936

Thursday PM

My dear Ina,

Am trying to get on my way to San Antonio tomorrow, and I expect to be on the job there Monday.

June 4, 1936

June 4, 1936

The conference at Washington was very good. Dr. B. tried some funny business & is still trying but it didn’t work so well. More about this later on. He asked me in a letter to write my recommendations on about 7 questions. Strong asked him to write his answers and submit them to me.

Lots of love,

Your
Walter.