The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-09-14
County and City Official Press.
Thursday, Sept. Ia, 1879.
THE CHRISTOPHER
SCOURGE.

We have been shown letters lately
received ia thi. city from Nebraska,
which give dolorous accounts Of the
continued ravages Of the grass-hoppers
in that State. One correspondent writ
ing from Huntsville, in Buffalo county,
states that he has had between forty
and fifty acres Of grain destroyed by
them, and desires TO emigratc to Wash
ington Territory. Another writes that
he and large company Of his neigh
bors would remove hither, but that the
grass hoppers have 50 crippled their
resources. that they are unable to make
the Journey, but there are many who
will come not withstsnding
A. this extraordinary plague that has
81 long afflicted the Rocky mountain
States is . curious phenomenon in Its
way, we have taken the pains To gather
some facts relative to it, that might be
of interest TO the public.
The grasshopper district embraces
Western Iowa and Minnesota. Ncbras-
ks. Kansas. Texas. Dakota, Pembins.
Wyoming. Colorado, Montana and In
dian Territory in the United States,
and the Manitoba and Saskacha wan
districts in the Dominion. Tho first
tradition we have Of their inroads, was
ia 1916, ever since which time they
have been more or less troublesome at
seasons in the districts above mention
cd. Their depredations, however, have
not attracted much national attention,
until quite recen, date. for the reason,
it Is said, that it has only been since
the settlement of the country. within .
few years past. that the region In ques-
ton las supported sufficient vegetation
to sustain them in amy great number.
The method of their operations is
thus described. Their principal rayages
ARE committed upon the corn, and other
grain crops They nip of the stalks Of
the wheat and barley below the head,
feeding only upon the leaves Oats are
cut off kernel 10y kernel. whilst corn is
devoured bodily. They seem to have
"A special fondness for garden Sass, :
and show discriminating fondness
that ia almost human, for tho highest
favored products, ~ onions. red pep
pers. garlic and tobacco. They eat OF
the tops of growing potatoes but do
not trouble the tubers, although they
eat onions down to the root \ few arti-
cles as sorghum and..castor-oil beans, are
emempt.
They lay their eggs in the feeding
grounds, and the young tiedglings in
the spring are ready to take the first
sprouts, but ~ soon AZ Able to fy they
migrate. usually going towards the
southeast When the wind blows in
any other direction. they do not beat
up to windward - the shippers do. ex-
ao,ly. but lie TO on tho ground. In the
distance. they look like cloud Of black
smoke. and as they come nearer. they
resemble snow storm driving about
You. The noise Of their wings in the
distance sounds hike . heavy wind sp-
preaching. They usually camp over
night whore they happen TO arrive at
dark. and are of again 10 tho morning
il the wind 10 favorable and il does not
rain, otherwise. they are liable to for.
age around ut change in the wca-
IN r.
One Of our correspondents suggests
the advantage of distributing through
out this region. large number Of cir
culars setting forth the Inducements of
oar Territory TO ssstlers-stssing that
oac Of these advertising pamphlets relA-
tive to Oregon, received from Portland i.
was read With aviii,y by him. and 81
terward circulated throughout the
neighborhoed until worn out, resulting
in some migration. lie believes that II
few thousand copies of such publ
cation were scattered Throughout, Iowa.
and the neighboring States aud Terrific
r,es. they would bring US heavy immi.
grafton.