Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-12-22
No. 8

a farmer IN from rancho about tWeis-
ty miles below PAnaca yesterday iB-
formed US that the fields Of gros-
ing vegetation, etc are totally de.
stroyed by large armies Of rabbits ths.
infest that section Of the country
These pests visi.s the different ranches
| every morning and lnake a genera
tour through the grain and vegetable
crops, devouring and destroying every
thing in their march. One farmer
whose ranch is IN Meadow Vale,
Wash, had his entire crop of cabAagss
and grain destroyed one day last week
The farmer had been patiently culfi-
vating this plat Of ground for the ihsf
three months. with the expectation ID
laying IN enough provisions for the
winter and when about ready for the
market these pests made their ar
pearance on bis rauch with the above
result. His loss issestimated at about
$500. Prairie's ranch SO miles north
of Pioche, has been visited By an army
Of these animals, and 80 acres of the
finest barley destroyed; and at the
ranch of Judge Rives, in the valley
below town, as soon as the grass Of al
faIfa shoots above the ground il is de-
voured BY The rabbits. Poisoned
wheat is going to be freely used by
the farmers. with the hope of killing
them off -Erchon9e.
DECREASE OF WALKER.-The Wen
ma Academy of Science has addressed
to the scientific societies of Europe,
circular, accompanied with an in
structive report, inviting them to unite
in observations having for their object
a determination Of the causes of de-
crease of water in springs, rivers, aud
water courses. Attention is called to
the fact that, for certain number of
years, the waters of the Danube and
other large rivers have been diminish
ing The Austrian Engineers aud
Architects Union have taken up the
same question, and have appointed
hydrostatic commission to collect facts
and prepare report. Two members
will observe the Danube. the Elbe, and
the Rhine. and two others will study
the meteorology of the subject aud the
influence that the Alpine glaciers and
torrents may bear upon it. The COM
mission regard the devastation of the
forests as the prime cause of the. dis
astrous decrease Of European waters,
and urge an immediate adoption Of
measures to remedy the evil.
BARRELS MADE OF PAPER.-It is
very probable that paper will soon, aud
largely supercede wood as mater al
for barrels. The paper is made of
straw, is very strcng, and the barrels.
being of uniform cylinder, can be
slowed away without loss of space.
No hoops are required though they
may be used where rough handling is
expected. In some recent expert
ments paper barrels have shown re-
markable strength, and resisted heavy
inside pressure without bursting.
They are not only made water tight.
but impervious to air or moisture. saw
ing their contents from being affect
ed BY odors or the holds or vessels.
The cylindrical form, also, gives great
advantages in handling the barrels.
rolling in straight line, while the
stave barrel from its shape, always
rolls on one corner.
A RUSH FOR FLoRIDA.-There is
already grand rush of winter visitors
to Florida, and the hotels and board
ing houses are rapidly filing up.
The Jacksonville papers say that half
dozen Northern steamboats, are to be
sent to the St. Johns, and two or
three fine yachts (Astors and Buffers
included) are to be there for the win
ter. The st. Johns will be a lively
and brilliant winter scene, even. the
present winter, and more yachts and
steamers will 60 there each succeed
ing winter. New hotels are in pro-
cess Of erection and several points
along the river. Among the promi-
nent arrivals are ex. Treasurer Spin
ner and Hon. Reubon e. Fenton, Of
New York. The weather continues
free from morning frosts, and the
temperature rises daily to about seven-
ty degrees in Jacksonville.
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