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About The Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 19??-1984 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1921)
Chemical Gases to Kill Pests * - ---------------------------------------------------- Chemical W arfare Service Co operates With Agricultural and Interior Departments. WAR ON RODENTAND INSECT Permanent Artillery Against the Boll Weevil and Other Pests Hoped for —Research Work Since the War Has Been Fruitful. Washington.—The War department has recently asked the secretary of agriculture and the secretary of the Interior to co-operate with the chemical warfare service of the army In devising peace-time gases to com bat the boll weevil and other civic and Industrial pests. It Is the belief of the army that so many new chemical gases and other chemical products have been developed as a result of re search work since the war that at last the government Is In a position to extend the hope that it may be able not only to exterminate the rodents that Infest the disease breeding quarters of cities, but be able as well to cope with and destroy the rodents and in sects that destroy the agricultural crops. The developments of war must be the Implements of peace, according to Brigadier General Amos A. Fries, chief of chemical warfare of the army. Accordingly, the chemical warfare ser vice has begun a campaign to develop gases that will attack and exterminate not only the rats that Infest sewers, but the bugs and worms that eat up the leaves and fruits of various agri cultural products. Blackbirds a P est At present, the army Is working on a request from Representative Philip D. Swing, of Imperial Valley, California, In the hope of finding some thing that will exterminate the black bird pest In that community. Congressman Swing was a recent visitor nt the Edgewood Arsenal, at Edgewood, Marylnnd, where the chemical warfnre gas research Is be ing carried on. lie had already asked the government to devise some preven tive against the blackbirds, lie com plained that the blackbirds bred In millions in the delta of the Colorado river, Just below the Grand Canyon, and caine over in raid-summer to dev astate the kafilr corn fields sowed by the farmers of the famous Imperial Valley. As a result of Ills visit he was as sured that the Chemical Warfare Service could devise n poison that would kill some of the birds and drive off the others. lie was told, however, that to use It the fanners would have to content themselves with using their products for food and fodder alone, as the chemicals would destroy the re seeding value of the fruit. In re sponse, tlie congressman pointed out that as things stand the farmers get neither food nor seed. Mr. Swing was assured that the government would undertake a new series of experiments to attempt to develop sometlilng that would both protect the grain and Its re-seeding qualities. The effectiveness of chemical war fare ugalnst rodents had already been proven. The army recently sent a group of experts to Cuba with chemi cals and Instruments for destroying rats nnd other vermin. The result of tlielr efforts Is reported to have been most satisfactory. Come From Coal Tar. Many of the chemicals used by the government’s synthetic chemists In tanking up the formulas for wiping out these nuisances come from basic pro ducts developed from coal tar. It Is because of the Importance of this product In chemical warfare that the government is Inclined to encourage the new American dyes Industry which has grown up In this country since the war. Trior to the war, practically all of the aniline dyes were German made products. The German research chem ists had the. secret formulas nec essary to develop such products and there was no Industry In the United States able to cope with them equally. In addition to the Importance of the dye Industry to the first by-products that go to make up both belligerent and peace-time chemical warfare, the government Is greatly dependent upon the personnel of the dye factories and other such Industries for Its war-time personnel. In w’ar time as well as in peace It Is a question not only of getting chemists who can master such problems of composition but also of getting trained labor that can handle the great manufacturing processes. It has been an experience of the government, as well us o f commercial Industries, that. In chemical work trained labor can save what are some times dangerous losses of material and, In nddltlon, can make practical suggestions to the chemists that they never before had thought of. The present plans of the War de partment are to get from the Depart ment of Agriculture nnd the Depart ment of the Interior such suggestions as they may care to make on the peace time work to be done against rodents nnd pests and then turn the wur-tlme forces of the array to work against them. Both the Agriculture nnd Interior departments are working on the new problems and efforts are be ing made to get from the farmers of the country and from the heads of city governments suggestions as to the best problems against which to use the new chemical developments. Wife Starts Distillery, Husband Asks Divorce. Toppenish.—Charges that his wife “opened op a distillery” are Included In the cross complaint filed today by W. B. Gunnoe In answer to the suit for divorce Instituted by his wife, Bessie Gunnoe. Gunnoe, who Is deputy coun ty game warden and was former ly connected with the govern ment force fighting predatory animals, says that he dutifully brought home his pay check right along and was assured by his wife that she used his earn ings to pay the household bills. In reality, he asserts, she spent the money In riotous liv ing with one R. N. Brown. Gun noe alleges that his wife bade him good-by In December, 1919, and that for two weeks there after lived with Brown, return ing to Toppenish to "open a dis tillery.” JUDGE PADDLES 4 TRUANTS Takes Off Shoe In Court and Applies It With Vigor In Historic Way. $300,000 U. S. GRANT ASKED Evil Can Be Overcome by Removing Currants and Gooseberries From Nearby Areas— 15 States En gaged in Battle. Washington.—Blister rust has been doing such damuge to the white pine forests of the country that concerted action is being taken to overcome the evil by the United States forest serv ice and the United States burenu of plant Industry, the forest departments of 15 states, the New York Association of State Foresters and the conserva tion commission. Millions of dollars worth of the white pine timber will be Injured and great areas of the white pine forests killed unless prompt work Is done In carrying out the method that has proved effective In the eradication of the white pine blister rust, says the conservation commission. In a bulletin Issued from Albany. The white pine Is recognized as the most valuable timber tree of the east ern United States. The white pine blister rust which attacks It wns brought from Europe. It Is said this "Infectious disease’’ can be controlled and eventually eradicated by the re- Hays Inspecting a New Mail Truck The finest motor transport service In the world. Is the goal set by Poet- master General Hays for the motor service of the poetoffice department Mr. Hays Is shown Inspecting one of the 3.000 government-owned trucks received from the War department. In the center of the group Is Ralph II. Matthles- son of New York, who hns l»<en appointed special assistant to Mr. Hays for the purpose of reorganising the service. A troop train filled with Spanish soldiers. Is shown leaving Madrid for Santander, there to take ship for Me- ■llla and fight against the Moors. Trawler Sails to Find Riches * ------------------------- ---------------------------- Kansas City.—Judge E. E. Porter field, presiding over the Juvenile court, moment the steamer listed on her side stopped a session of that court, re Crew of Twenty Hopes to Sal and wallowed In the heavy swell. moved one of his low shoes and vage $2,000,000 From Wreck The Admiral Farragut of the Amer spanked four Juvenile delinquents with ican Mall Steamship line had rammed of Steamer. It. her amidships, shearing a hole in her The four boys, In court for truancy side big enough for a tugboat to enter, from school, told the Judge they and now the two ships lay locked In a would not go to school and asked him deadly embrace. to send them to the McCune home, Wireless Calls for Help. the county home for youthful offenders. The Merida’s wireless set was The Judge sent out for a suitable stick, U ser Merida Rammed Amidships by smashed, a id she lay helpless and the Admiral Farragut Off the Vir but none could be found. He then mute, but the Farragut backed away used his shoe. ginia Capes—Treasure Went In the fog and began to lower away “Wbat about school now?” he asked Down With Vessel, but No boats. Although the Farragut had a when he had replaced the shoe. Lives Lost long ragged hole In her bow, her bulk The four agreed to return to school. heads held and she was able to send F ifteen men on the dead m an's chest. out wireless calls for assistance while To ho ho and a b ottle ot rum. her boats were being lowered to take Drink and the devil had done for the off the passengers o f the sinking rest. Merida. Captain Robertson spoke To ho ho and a b ottle of rum. words of encouragement to the pas New York.—But there was no roar sengers, who ran about the decks ing crew of drunken buccaneers on overcome with fright, and only half board the steam trawler Ripple as clad. But the captain’s calm voice re Captain Carmichael, a serious, stocky stored order, and lifeboats were low man with steady eyes and a black mus ered In drtll-llke fashion, while he su tache, climbed the short ladder to the perintended the launching and told moval of currants and gooseberries trawler’s wee bridge and bawled, "Cast them the Meridn would not sink for from all areas within 200 yards of off!” Deck hands unlooped the lines several hours. white pine forests. A federal appro from the ancient bollards on Pier 3, The accident took place not long priation of $300,000 Is sought for dem North river, the propeller wash swirled after the famous Republlc-Florlda dis onstrating methods of control to pine ! under the sturdy little ship’s counter, aster, and Captain Robertson and owners. In co-operation with the states, and with a lusty cheer from the crew Chief Officer George W. Nordstrom and for strictly enforcing the federal the dingy looking hulk steamed down were anxious to get the passengers off quarantine prohibiting shipments of the river and out to sea. as promptly as possible without loss blister rust host plants. The treasure-hunting cruise was un of life. All hands were In the boats Flftsen States Represented. In 22 minutes save the captain and der way. The Association of State Foresters Had Robert Louis Stevenson stood chief officer. In the hurry of the oc; having made a three-day tour of In on the wharf and watched this Twen caslon, the purser, who alone had the spection In Essex and Warren coun tieth century Hlspanola puff down combination of the ship's safe, had ties, studying white pine blister rust stream and fade away In the harbor left the ship, and when the Merida Infections, a meeting was called at mists, he would no doubt have gone did not sink so rnpldly as expected. which were present representatives of straightaway to his desk and woven Captain Robertson and Mr. Nordstrom the forest departments of California, from the fact, instead of fancy, a tale made every effort to break into the Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, of treasure trove as gripping as safe with axes. But the heavy doors New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, “Treasure Island.” At first glance the of the strongbox glanced off the New Hampshire, Maine, Massachu facts might seem less romantic to a blows of ax and sledge, and the two setts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Mnry- staid observer, but IL L. S. would find officers finally left the ship with empty lnnd and Delaware; also of the United characters among the Ripple’s crew of hands at 5:20 o'clock. Twenty-five States forest service and United States more than twenty, as fascinating as minutes later there was a last gurgle bureau of plant Industry. Long John Silver, the Doctor, the and whirl as the rammed ship nosed The conservation committee’s work Squire, Jim Hawkins and Billy Bones. under and pitched to the bottom In the last four years In connection with To be sure, the Ripple had no pirati 210 feet of water. white pine blister rust was carefully , cal parrot to scream, “Pieces of eight, The passengers were picked up by Investigated. pieces of eight 1” but, none the less, the Farragut, herself near sinking, and Under the guidance of Clifford R. there will be quiet conversations In later transferred to the Old Dominion Pettis, superintendent of state forests, the fo’c’sle of the clink of Mexican liner. Hamilton, which brought them nnd William G. Howard, anslstnnt su gold and the heavy clink of silver bul into New York with only the clothes perintendent, the extensive forests of lion, and although there Is no wallet- on their backs. white pine In Essex county were ex- ! worn chart of Treasure Island with Captain Robertson has since died nmlned to note the Infections of the Its three red crosses and Skeleton nnd Captain Nordstrom, who was first blister rust, nnd Its distribution from Island and Spy Glass hill, yet there officer of the treasure ship. Is now the pine trees to currant nnd gooseberry are those on board who saw the $2,000,- only man who accurately knows the bushes, and back to the pine; and the 000 treasure burled. position of the Merida, where she lies disastrous effect of these Infections. with holds bulging with rich bullion. Buried Ten Years Ago. There was found every gradation be Rockefeller Falls at Salvage. This treasure was burled ten long tween trees wholly killed and recent An attempt was made In 1816 to sal years ago, and not by blowing, swear Infection, Including partly killed trees. vage the valuables, but the expedition In some of the cases damage wns re ing, cutlass-bearing pirates, but the which was said to have been backed ported as almost equivalent to a forest ocean Itself, and the Ripple's treasure by Percy Rockefeller nnd James A. Island Is one that would not scratch fire. the hull of the deepest ship, for It lies Stillman, ex-president of the National Resolution Adopted. City bank, was unsuccessful, partly The resolution adopted by the asso 35 fathoms under the surface of the ciation, which will be sent to congress, sea. 55 miles east and one-half north on account of heavy weather and partly because the navigators did not the United States Department of Agri of Cape Charles. have the correct position of the treas The story of the “burying” of this culture and to state officials, says; “The association strongly urges that treasure Is not a long one, and not so ure ship. A short time ago a syndicate was a federal appropriation of $300,000 be dreadful as It might have been, for formed to search for the treasure, and made for demonstrating methods of not a single life was lost. May 12, 1911, the Ward liner Merida, It is this syndicate which fitted out control to pine owners In co-operation with the states, and for strict enforce a crack 19-knot twin-screw steamer the Ripple which sailed recently. This ment of the federal quarantine prohib hound from Havana via Vera Crus for expedition has the co-operation of iting shipments of blister rust host New York, was lurching through the Captain Nordstrom, and, with expert dark 50 or 60 miles off the Virginia divers and a new type of diving suit plants. capes. She carried 300 passengers, 21 recently Invented which is said to "It Is recommended that states with firs leased pine Interests take Immedi tout of bar silver, kegs of gold coin, make possible work at depths never ate steps to bring the danger from this vsluable Jewelry, and a rich cargo of disease to public attention through copper and lead from the Mexican It was whispered about on suitable publications and other means mines. and to appropriate adequate funds for board that $2,000.000 would hardly buy j Pistols Used in ; the shining stuff packed deep in the the control of the disease." > Duel for Baby ; The association also adopted resolu holds. — Î It was an ugly night, pitch dark, • tions advocating the passage of a bill » Geneva.—A revolver duel for ! before congress making an appropria made mora opaque by a thick fog « the possession of a baby daugh- J tion of $150,000 for the control of the that rolled In toward the capes and * ter has taken place at Bregenz. ! pine hark beetle on government-owned wrapped everything In a clammy ! on Lake Constance, between the J lands In Oregon and California, and blanket. Eight bells—midnight—had * father and mother, a wealthy « favoring the retention of the foreat clang-clanged over the ship some time « couple, named Keller, divorced J service In the Department of Agricul l>efora, reaching the ears of the watch J a few months ago at the demand » officer on the bridge in muffled tones, ture. ‘ and he struck his hands together t of the husband. J It Is charged that the young » smartly and peered Into the black Good Year for Groundhogs. The quartermaster stepped # and pretty wife, aided by her J Reading. Pa.—Thia la a great year ahead. through the darkness to the bell lan J chauffeur, who waa the cause of * for groundhogs. In ordinary years • the divorce, entered the Keller * many baby groundhogs are drowned yard to give It a single stroke, for t villa at midnight and revolver * when heavy summer rains flood the the dim clock In the wheelhouse stood » In hand, demanded the child. ! at 12:30 In the morning. But the gong holes In the hillsides. There have i Several shots were exchanged J been no such rains since the 1921 crop never sounded, for at that moment J and the husband fell, wounded a of groundhogs arrived, and the little came a rending crash that pitched offi ! In both arms. » fellows In Berks county all promise cer and man to the deck and brought J The mother took the baby a Captain Robertson running to the to reach maturity. Mother ground a from its bed. carried It to the J hogs with large families In tow are bridge. a The Merida staggered, the engine J automobile and disappeared. reported to be emerging from the bur telegraph clanged "Stop,” and the next — .„» .J rows to feast In the clover fields. Fighting Pine Blister «------:- Rust ----- Imported “ Infectious Disease” Has Caused Much Damage Throughout Country. Spanish Troops Starting for the Moroccan War WAS BURIED TEN YEARS AGO leached before, expects to be success ful. The Ripple was chartered and fitted out at Pier 3. Under command of Captain Carmichael she also car ries Captains Nordstrom and M. Ruy- grok, both experienced “deep sea” officers, these latter being the wreck ing masters who will have charge of the salvage operations. The trawler carries wireless and a crew of 25, In cluding three divers, one of whom Is Frank Crllly, who was chief diver In the salvage work of raising the United States naval submarine E-4, which sank off Waikiki beach, Honolulu, In 300 feet of water. Ctllly has worked at greater depths than any other diver has ever done, and with the Merida lying In 35 fathoms, and with her position known, he expects the sal vage expedition to be successful. The men behind the treasure hunt ing cruise of the Ripple, while they have faith enough In the practicability of the expedition to lend It their backing, do not regard success as a foregone conclusion. They look upon It as a chance, but one well worth taking, since If so well-equipped and managed an expedition falls It will prove once for all that the rich bul lion of the Merida Is beyond all re covery. Expedition Kept Secret Because they regard It as a chance expedition, they have so far kept their intentions secret. Among the men who are backing the expedition are said to be Converse F. West of 47 Beaver street and L. F. Gotham of 15 Park row, who are reported to have taken up the ex pedition as a personal and private ven ture. The trawler Ripple, although per haps lacking the piratical air that a good treasure hunting ship Should pos sess, makes up In stoutness of appear ance what she lacks In adventurous mien. She was built In 1910 at Fort River, Mass., for A. Elder & Co,, at Boston, and at the outbreak of the war was taken over by the navy for use as a mine sweeper. She measures a trifle over 114 feet In length and has a beam of 22 feet 5 inches and a draft of 11 feet 6 inches. Her decks are littered with salvage gear. On the starboard side forward Is lashed a specially built air compressor and large reserve tank to supply air to the divers, and on the port side she carries a 28-foot motor boat to be used as an auxiliary. Among the crew Is Tommy Jonkers, protagonist In William McFee's “Cas uals of the Sea,” and Tommy Is tricked out In the uniform of second mate, an old Job to him. But despite Tommy’s high place In literature he Is as uncommunicative as the Sphinx concerning the cruise of the Ripple. He meets all questions with a blank smile. "What’s that gear for, Tommy?” Tommy smiles grimly. “What time does the Ripple sail, Tommy?” Not a word In reply. And then In a sudden burst of com passion Tommy says: "Ask Captain Carmichael. I don’t know a thing about IL Ask him.” As a news source Tommy is a notorious failure. Although at the time of the sinking of the Merida the treasure In her holds was reported to be worth $2.000,- 000, Mr. West said that this valuation was In Mexican dollars, and that In fact the actual value at present was probably less. Florida to P-oduca Silk. S t Augustine, Fla.—Florida soon will be producing raw silk on an ex tensive scale, the result of experiments conducted here during the last four years by Dr. Thomas Deramphlllls, who also had studied silk conditions In Raly and Asia. Doctor DePamphllils asserts Florida has many advantages He has on his place now 2.000.000 silk trays, which are expected soon to be producing 10.000 pounds of raw silk every 40 days. Youth Fined for Painting Dog. Denver, Col.—Jack Conger, eighteen years old was fined $10 and costs af ter he had been found guilty of apply ing a coat of paint to a dog. Conger, witnesses said, waa painting a fence at No. 1165 East Twelfth avenue, when a fox terrier approached him. Conger seized the dog, applied a coat of yel low paint to him and released him. Only Bulgarian Healthy May Wad. Pofls. Bulgaria.—The draft of a public health law, placed before parlia ment by the Bulgarian government, re quires that all persons desiring to m ar ry shall produce a doctor’s certificate showing their state of health.
