The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-26
Prof. Riley and the Riley Nozzle.

Prof c. V. RILEY, the entomologist OF the
Department OF Agriculture, writes to THE
Sun that lie is not the patentee OF the RILEY
nozzle which is described, advertised. and
recommended in circular issued by the
Division Of Entomology. l1o explains that
in the course of his investigation OF the hop
louise he was led to tho invention OF the class
of noZzlcs OF which the cyclone or RILEY
nozzle is modification, and that his name
was given to this nozzle by other persons
and that he has no pecuniary interestin itand
has received no pecuniary benefit from this
or any other invention which he has made
in the course of his services rs an official OF
the Government We quote his words:
~ have been officially engaged for over twenty.
three years whether as state or Government
officer in ORIGINAL work having for its main OBJ
ject the control Of tho numberiess insects which
injuriousy affect our agriculture During that period
l have either personally with the assistance OF
others made many discoveries Of value. some OF them
OF world wide application and importance AID, from
a nu ess standpoint, of great money vAlue.
with pride. but without vanity. let mo add that
during ali this time where many have benefited largely.
and have made fortunes out of these discoveries
l have not received ono cent therefron beyond my
legitimate salary have mover taken fee for intor.
nation given Chough often pressed to do so BY honest
and grateful henehcsrios who saw nothing wrong in
the p-oaer). have never attempted to control any OF
these discoveries for my own benefit have never
applied for patent on any Of them and have strenu
ousiy opposed all attempts 70 do so that have come to
my knowledge whether by those employed under me.
or by those not so employed. few examples will
perhaps. give force to these statements:
"In 1864 for the Colorado potato BEETLE and again
in 1873 for the the value of the arsenes
was made known chiefly by my labors. Vast sums
made in the sale Of various preparations of these In
ssctcdes for those purposes and was vainy urged to
lend my influence and Join in the resulting business
in 1871 my discoveries in onnec;ion with the
grape phyoxera were tho basi, of vast indus
try which has yet ceased. and which has greatly
enriched some of our vneyardsts Tho first arplica-
tons from France for cuttings of such resistant stocks
came me- and prominent Missouri grape grower
vuinly urged to join him In business capacity In
connection herewith
with cy clone nozzle and the kerosene emri
sion OF the effective and universally In.
secticl1es. In each large profits have been and
ara being made by those who oner them in various
notifications, and under various names and in each
case l have been urged In vain to lend my name
share the proceeds of some business enterprise in
| nsction with them
Ny work a. a public officer has been for the public
good. The nducement TO 1t has been neither the pttu
salary of tho United states Entomolog!s.. any other
mcrcenary end 1t ha, been rather the owe OF nvesti
| CATION and tie consciousness o: dong good"
In The Sun Of Monday We pointed out tho
OF the Govcrnmen: to advertise the inven-
lions OF Government official. We arc glad
| to know that Prof.! RILEY has not been
guilty Of that improperly, and that in his
services TO the Government lie has kept in
nind constantly tic Gi,rteresc cd devotion
| to SCIENCE which is expected aud usually OBJ
| tanned from mon o! science. 1t Is Ios5iblc,
| however that in lIis prniscworthy zeal iorthc
destruction Of The hop louise lie has forgot
ten Ia consider whether it is in the best OF
taet" for him to cnloyiza the nozzle which
bears his name. Moreover. 1t is scarcely tho
! business Of tho Department oi Agriculture
| to advertise HoHZlno or anything else. Some
! body makes money uNt OF III" sale If the
| ErLLl no2,. @, ami thaC somebody is not on
| titled to gratultuils advertising in tho circu-
| lars OF lie Division of Entomology.