Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-16
Press Carrier Pigeons. :.

One OF the most curious incidents CON
nected with modern journalism is the regl-
lar employment of carrier pigeons in col
lecting intelligence for the daily and weekly
newspapers. ia the competitive cNcrtions
TO procure the " latest intelligence" it has
been found that for short distances uewspa-
per report, can be sent reaiicr cheaper and
quicker 10y press carrier pigeons. flying a
mile per minute, than 10y the postal telegraph.
These Erial postmen are iutrusted 10 resi-
dent correspondents in various places, ready
20 be dispatched 40 any moment, whilst other,
are sent out by reporter, to places where i'm
portant events are tIanspiring. IL Is no un-
common thing t0see reporters go police courts,
inquests. public meetings etc. dispatch folio
after tolioof copy hy pres, carrier pigeons
tossed through the nearest window. orthruwn
ont of train or steamer going at fun speed
The attachment of these birds to the place
OF their birth. and their ability TO fiud theu
homes from marvellous distances, are OF
course their distinguishing characteristics
\ columhicr - or home Is established at the
various newspaper offices, and whenever a
birdanives with amessage the act of pigeon
entering its cot sets a call-bell ringing in
the editors room. the bell machinery contin.
uing in motion until attended to. Press car
rier pigeons owe their origin to Darwin's
principle of "natuml selection. or the " sur
yiyal Of the fttesi"
In the struggle for life in connection with
the compulsory flying powers of long dis
tances, the homing and flying powers of the
pigeons are developed to large degree, whilst
the birds which cannot do the distance are
necessarily lost and eliminated. The suryiy
ing or winning yoyagors become thus edu
Gated TO the highest standard of perfection
and this system being continued through
many generations Qhe flying distances in
creasing every year,) a race of pigeons hay,
been produced with powers which few years
ago would have been thought impossible
Press carrier pigeons though AS a rule onl
used for short distances, in competition Will
the electric telegraph, can be specially traine,
to distances of FIVE hundred miles, and FIRE
quently hy TO England from Dublin, Brus
sells Paris, Lisbon and even Rome. Tn,
utilization of the instinct of birds for pres
purposes is being carried even further than
this. An ocean homing bird, of great docil
! ity, intelligence and spirit has been found il
| Iceland, which flies at a meteor-like speed o
one hundred and fifty miles am hour and i
| able TO find its home. over sea and land, iron
any part of the inhabitahle world A pal
of these birds, a few days ago, brought dis
patches from Paris to a lonely spot, congenia
to their nature, in a wild and rocky part o
Kent, within ten miles Of London in on
hour and a quarter. Press carrier pigeon
took the dispatches ON To the city, the who'll
distance from Paris to London, by actua
parcel mode OF conveyance, being done within
one hour and half. Ii the experiments a
present being made in training and educa
| ting them continue successful, it is hoped b,
next summer to establish daily miniatT
ocean mail between America and Europe, tn
whole distance to be traversed between sun
rise in one hemisphere and sunset in the Other