The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-05-10
TIE UNITED STATES METEOROLOGICAL CoKgIs-
SION IN WICHITA.
Encouraging Nsws--What the Hopper has
Done and What he Will do.

No question Just now interests our farmers
and our people generally more thoroughly
than the locust or grasshopper prospect.
Prof. q. V. Riley, who is chief OF the United
States Entom illogical Commission, and whose
opinion every one places faith in, has been
travelling and investigating in Texas and in
| various parts OF Kansas during the past fort
night He arrived in wichita Sunday night
in company with Gov. Anthony and Mr.. AS.
johnson of the Atchison, Tapeka & Santa Fe
Railroad, and spent Monday in visiting with
several Of our citizens the country for some
miles around. The Professor is 4 cautious
man, and we iouno him somewhat slow to ex-
press opinions. He says that ne intends
spending another week in the State and max
| ing further observations before he will feel
warranted in speaking with any degree of as
surance. We gathered from him, however.
| these facts In South Texas the insects have
been flying for the past fortnight, leaving as
he predicted IN a north and northwestern d.
rcction. They have done considerable injury
| in spots from Denison southwark and south
westardly, clearing out gardens and rendering
the wheat in many fields unfit for the harvest
err. The damage is greater than would be
supposed from the tone OF the press, but Is
perhaps made up by an increased acreage.
In Kansas, along the Missouri, Kansas & Tex
as, the eggs are largely unmatched yet and
mostly sound, and considerable injury may
yet occur, whereas so soon As the more sandy
warmer soil is struck the eggs are found TO
have all hatched with very exceptions and the
insects three or four weeks old though not
more than one-iourth grown Around Wich-
ita he thinks there is 10 real danger A few
wheat fields may suffer when heading out but
there will scarcely be any perceptible general
injury. He attributes the disappearance of
the grasshoppers more to washing away by
heavy rains and being devoured by birds
than to dying. Altogether he speaks encour
agingly OF this part of the State.
The Professor, Gov. Anthony and Mr.. John
son were called upon by many of our citizens
on Monday evening. While here Gov. An
thony received dispatch announcing that
his brother at Detroit, Michigan, was not ex-
pected TO live. lie left Wichita direct for
that place on Tuesday morning. Before leay-
ing, Prof. Riley addressed Us the following
which will be read with interest:
To TIE Editor Of The Eagle:
Everything pertaining to the migrations of
the Rocky Mountain Locust, or ''grasshop-
per- is Of vital interest TO the people Of the
country subject 10 its rayages. The question
as to how far the northern breeding grounds
are recruited by the insects which batch IN
the more fertile country in which the species |
is not indigenous, is most important; fer il |
thus recruited there is all the greater incent- |
i've for us 10 exterminate the young insects |
when they are with US.
For the past fortnight the loeusts have been |
leaving Southern Texas on the wing and as it |
is one OF the important objects of the Com
mission, which l have the honor to represent /
here, TO trace these return migrations TO their |
ultimate destination, desire to call your at
tention more particularly to the following |
questions from our Circular No. l.:
l. Date, and time OF day of the arrival Of
swarms.
Ia. Direction ami force of the wind at the
time.
ID. Temperature and character of the
weather at the time, (cear or cioudy.) |
lie. Direction OF the flight, density, height
and extent OF the swarms
=. bate anu liine OF DAY OF Inc departure Of
swarms.
Ia. Direction and force of the wind at the
time.
%. Temperature and character of the
weather at the time.
-2e. Direction Of the flight, density and
extent of the swarms.
You will do me favor if you win appeal to
your readers throughout the State, and espe-
eia!iy in the western portion, to make Eotes
in accordance with these questions and send
them to me al St. Louis, Missouri Any per-
son thus sending information will be furnish
ed with the publications Of the Commission
and given such other assistance in the way OF
postage, etc. as may be desired. | shall also
be pleased to have all other papers in Kansas
or in any of the States and Territories west of
The Mississippi copy this appeal TO their OBJ
serving readers.
Yours very truly,