Yankton daily press and Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1875, 1875-07-03
The LocMsts us .. suhjccl of State
nntt Congressional 4 IA. e Z 8 siK-----
latiOn.
From the ST. Paul Pioneer-lres.

From the 81. Paul Pioneei-lress.
Minnesota, thanks TO the sagacious
inspiration Of an honest farmer OF lie
-ssucur county, deserves the credit of
originating, or rather OF Introducing
on this continent,-a system which, il
initiated in other western states and
territories, will ensure their nearly
complete protection sin future from
the depredations of grasshoppers. In
China, southern Russia, the Danub;an
principahtics, and other countries,
subject to locust visitasons, the bonn.
ty4system has been long in vogue; the
authorities are compelled, under Sc.
we're. penalties, to see that the locasts
arc destroyed, and the whole popula-
iiaa-iS-ea!Ie4 Ie4!-a. ( a-aiisl-iu-tteir=tii
struction, being paid for. their work
at so much per bushel and for the
damage done to the crops while de-
stroying the insects The result is
that, in those countries, the locusts
have ceased to be regarded with-alasm,
and though they periodically come up
from the deserts, they do but little
damage before they are stamped out,
and few Of them return TO the great
interior steppes, where, us insthc wide
arid plains OF our Observation-Disclosures,
they have their congcnial habitat.
The experience OF the Minnesota
counties which have applied this sys.
TEN, has demonstrated that ut fifty
cents !. buslcl, or when the hoppcrs
are full grown even at half that sum,
any active person can make better
wages catching them than at any 9TH
er kind Of employment; and that il
is therefore aIl ample induccmcnt to
enlist the whole unemployed .popula-
,ion, men, women and children, in the
destruction4of-tlIc pests. and it is the
conyiction Of intelligent people in the
infested counties that il this plan had
been put in operation last fall when
the flying locusts settled down, and
before they had deposited their eggs,
they could have been destroyed at u
fifth Of the cost and trouble now re-
quired to externinatc their multitud-
|inous progeny. And ifall the atllict.
ed counties had known as much as
they do now, and acted promptly the
moment the hoppers began to gem
crate the entire brood would have
been extirpatea before they could
have inflicted any appreciablc dam.
age. The chief obstacle which has
retarded the corporations Of the in:
tfcsted counties has, of course, been
the want of legal authority to pay
bountics. We venture to suggest
that this obstacle should not be al
lowed to remain beyond the next ses
sion Of the Legislature. This and all
other western states and territories
are exposed to periodical visitations
Of locusts. Once in every seven OF
ten yea,s they are pretty sure-te pat
/, in an appearance; and it is the part
! Of wisdom now that We have learned
how TO deal with them, to provide by
u law. in advance. .for,visitations Of thi!
character. To this end state Law
/, should be enacted, making it obliga
/; tory upon the county and town au
thoritics in those counties where To-
Gusts make their appearance to cal
upon every able bodied man to catcl
: and cxterminate them, aud providing
I. that all entering ons the work-mel
e women and children should be pais
/, rt the rate ofttwenty-five cents
:, bushel, from the state treasury, TO
all dead grasshoppers delivered" t
. designated officials. Such a Law
with proper guards against frau'