The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-12-28
AN EXPENSIVE BUG.
The 0ypey Moth Cost the CIV
ernment o2o, 900.

Il Wa Hunted for Months BY An Expsdi-
ties ThroagAout the Whole Coaasry-
The Insoss Cese Massachusetts,
. Eortane.
The other day made q trip with
Secretary Morton about his preserves.
Every once in two or three months the
secretary makes q progress through his
domain, which extends a. far as the ex-
perimental station at Bennings, near
Washington, D. c., and about four miles
from what might be called his head
quarters in the Mall. AS we stepped
outof the door of the agricultural build
ing Secretary Morton pointed to q
small brick structure to the east.
That's where we keep our insects,"
he said, "and no one need laugh at our
collection. regard it as fine an array
of bugs as any on earth. Yes, sir, re-
marked the secretary, while his eyes
twinkled, for be it known the secretary
doesn't think much of bug investiga-
tions. I've got bug in there that cost
the government $4,000; he doesn't
look it, but he did. It's fact. One day
an outfit of scientists started in pur-
suit of this bug. They ranged all over
the hemisphere and stuck to his trail
like bloodhounds. They ransacked
North America all the way from the
isthmus to Alaska. After the most re-
markable adventures by flood and field.
they treed their bug and took him
prisoner. He was then brought captive
to Washington and he's right there
now, in that brick house, the highest
priced bug on earth. A roundup OF the
total expense of that one bug hunt
came to over $4,000. But we got the
bug.
There's nothing like science" re-
marked the secretary, "or scientists to
bring some bald detail of government
properly to bay.
"For instance, there was Prof. Har-
rington, at one time chief of the wealth
er bureau. He was scientist, and
good one, and used only scientific meth
DDS in everything to which he turned
his hand For example, one day our
weather fellow at Baker City, Ore.
failed to send in report for four
straight days. We didn't know whether
he was in the midst of storms or calms;
we couldn't hear from him. This Baker
City silence grew tedious. My first no
tice of it, however, was one morning
when 1 received communication from
Prof. Harrington, wherein he set forth
the deathlike stiffness which prevailed
in the case of our Baker City man and
wound up by recommending that gen
tleman named Smith in San Francisco
be instructed to proceed to Baker City
at an expenditure not to exceed 500.
and explore the observatory, as well as
the man in charge, and discover the
reasons of his silence. It struck me as
a scientific case of going all about
Robin Hoods barn, and remarked TO
the professor after reading his recon-
mendation:
"I guess we'll follow your recon-
mendation after I have wired him
that is, if it should then be necessary
'sThereupon took telegraph blank
and wired my tongue-tied friend at
Baker City, and briefly asked why he
had failed to send the weatherreport for
the last four days. In about an hour
his reply came in. -.
"sBecause the wires were down until
this morning. They have just been re-
paired :,
"That was oil he said, but it was full
enough for our purpose. OF course, We
didn't get the information scientifical-
". but we got it just the same, ana II
| only cost rs cents instead OF 500.
"Still, there is nothing like science"
continued the secretary" only one
should be mighty careful how he fools
with it. A scientific mishap is apt TO
broaden into disaster rapidly. TWAS
| onlv recently that some earnest French
scientist imported from Europe an In
rect called the gypsy moth He In
tended to cross this foreign moth with
some local bird of kindred feather, and,
while I'm not clear as to his ultimate
expectations, my impression is that be
thought that this mule moth which ne
was after would take some important
part in silk culture.
$50 he brought family OF gypsy
moths and established himself with
these interesting insects in some town !,
in Massachusetts. He had them All
locked up in a sort Of mosquito-netr
ting cage. This was hanging near an
open window. in order to give the cap.
t;ves q chance at the fresh air, ana
wind came along, when the French,
mans scientific back was turned, sno
blew the whole business out OF doors
The gypsy moths got away ana since
then they and their descendants nave
nearly eaten up every green thing IN
! Massachusetts, except Congressman
Morse. l hear the moths missed him
It's the truth; the moths simply iaao
waste the state, and the legislature mas
already been driven to appropriate over
S40o. 900 toward their DETERMINATION
! That happened as the result OF tha'
scientific experiment. Oh, mol an
not saying anything against science
/ ! only wish to emphasize the tact tha'
neopie who fool with it ought to have
care."-N. Y. Journal.
/ vitality Of Disease 0srns'
/ Dnrin9 the summer OF 1894 the notet
hacteriolo9ists of Europe, Koch, OF Ger
II -, :. - Et~nnA EwArt a