The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-12-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
lFrom our Special Correspondent
IU r. ~

FROM our special C0rrespondent.l
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 1917.
The annual report of the Commission
er of Agriculture, just issued and ready
for distribution, contains many things Of
interest to the general reader. The vol
ume is unusually compact and well ar
ranged, and there are several new sub
jects treated. In looking through the
book / notice an article concerning "A
Successful Insect Destroyer" accom-
panied with drawing or t Of the in
vention. 1t is new thing, patented
during the year, and promises to be
great benefit to the farming and fruit
growing community. The annual des-
truction of crops of fruit, cotton, corn,
tobacco and vegetables by the curculio,
cotton-ball, army,c cut, and tobacco worm,
amounts to millions of dollars. Of all
the numerous remedies tried none have,
so far, proved successful. The "Little
Turk" as the curculio is called, has
almost driven plum culture from the
country, while the ravages of the other
species named are immense. The worms
are all Matched from eggs laid by miller
and beetle insects that fly at night, and
are easily caught by a properly arranged
light. 1t is estimated that these insects
deposit from 10000 to 100000 eggs
each, according to the species, in the
seventeen days of their average life. If
therefore, the insects can be destroyed
before appearing in the worm stage Of
existence, this will prove the most sue
cessful point of attack. The device re
ferred to by the Commissioner was pat
tented by firm in Russellville, Arkan
sas,-Patton & Duke, l believe-and con
sists of peculiarly constructed lamp
which is to be lighted and set on a pan
filed with water, the bottom of which
receives stuck or other support, so as to
raise the light to the desired height for
the crop or tree to be protected. Every
body knows the proneness of insects to
''go for" light. 1t is one Of the curious
facts connected with insect life thattheir
eggs are always deposited at night The
miller species never fly by day. On
warm dark night, when there is no rain
or wind, they are, in season, almost
numberless and can readily be destroyed
by this device. The Commissioner says;
THE moths being attracted by the light,
dart against it and fall into the pan, and
are destroyed before depositing their
eggs upon the tender leaves of the grow
ing plants" The patentees, 1 learn, on
inquiry, have just started factory at
RussellvilIe and are manufacturing the
lamp, &c, in great quantities, and selling
rights Of territory.
Democratic Congressmen not wholly
Indifferent to public opinion are casting
about for some pretext that will, in a
measure, relieve them of the odium OF
black ingratitude contemplated towards
the Administration, and which was very
definitely foreshadowed in a recent
speech by Thurman and by the tone
lately assumed by Lamar, Hill and others
of the leaders. The solid Republican
vote in favor of Kellogg and the we'll
deserved structures upon the character
of Hamburg Butler appear most avail
able for their purpose; and it now ap-
pears settled that President Hayes may
look for aid from that side, just to the
extent it promises to widen the existing
breech beteen him and the representa-
tives of the Republican party, and not
the fraction of an inch farther, however
meritorious the measures appealing for
their vote. The degree to which the
members of this old Jesuitical, hide
bound organization are committed to
sustaining it, right or wrong, is shown
IN the unanimity of the Democrats OF the
Committee in favor of seating Colorado
Patterson, whose claim to an election IN
accordance with the spirit of the law is
no more valid than that Of Massacre
Butler. Both are to have their seats.
The outrage perpetrated would have
been no greater in the Cronin conspir-
acy had that trick of the "Reformer
tbeen successful. The vote 'excluding
whiskey-seIlers from the Capital may be
regarded as blow struck against DEM
ocratic supremacy, in this way: A por-
ton of its representatives wiH absent
themselves long enough to obtain their
accustomed potations even at the risk OF
a partisan defeat for their side; and II
the venders cannot be found on :se
premises they viii be soug1fat the near
est point outside. Man econd and
third rate drug stores in the vicinity oi
their boarding places find the sale oi
liquors much the most profitable branch
of trade during the sessions Of Congress
Grocery stores ditto.
All evidence thus far elicted before
the Naval Court of inquiry goes to con-
firm the now general belief that the loss
of the Huron and the fearful sacrifice ol
| life is wholly attributable TO the ignor
ance. gross carelessness or criminal IN
diferance of the officer or officers charg
ed with her navigation.
1t is thought probable that Ku Klu1
Democracy will be further strengthened
by the admission of Eustis before the
holiday adjournment, and Iha, the Silver
Bill will be forced through the Senate
substantially as it passed he House, BE-
fore Saturday night Its friends have
recovered from the demoralizing bio"
dealt it and anti resumption by the mes
sage; and their present aggressive atti
tude is, likely, based on the belief that Ii
can command sufficient votes in both
Houses to force it through, Presiden
tial veto notwithstanding.
i A meeting held here Saturday TO per
feet the organization Of a Greenback
Party throughout the country, was nu
merously attended by men of some note
in and out of Congress.
Harrison, the funny illinois Demo
crat, has introduced bill reyiving the
income tax.
Holiday trade is brisk. the weather
seasonably pleasant, and the proposed
recess frum the 18th inst to the 10Th
pro1imo viii be more than ever gener