The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-15
PROF. C. Y. RILEY DEAD
He Was the Father Of Modern
Economic Entomology.
WORLDS GREATEST BUG EXPERT
Killed bya Fall From His Bicvcie-The
World Owes Him Deep
Gratitude.

Washington City, Sept A-Pros. c. V.
Riley, for many years entomoiogtsr or the
department Of agriculture and well known
among scientists In this country and Eu-
rope. while riding a bicycle was thrown,
his head hitting the curhstone with such
force that his skull was fractured. His in
turies, IL is believed. will cause his death
Prof. Riley was a man OF considerable
means. and since he resigned Office had
lived in the suburbs OF Washington City.
Prof. Riley died shortly after midnight
Charles Valentine Riley was born IN
London. England. September Is. 1siS. He
attended schools at Chelsea and Bays
water until he was II years old. was then
sent TO the college OF st. Paul In Dieppe.
France, and three years later went 20
Bonn, Germany. In 1880 he came 10 the
United States and settled on a farm in
Illinois. whore he acquired a practical
knowledge OF agriculture. Subsequently
he became editorially connected with the
Chicago Evening Journal and the Prairie
Farmer. He relinquished these appoint
sents IN May. 1854. TO serve with the
154th Illinois volunteers, and when his
regiment was disbanded toward the close
OF the war he resumed his connection
with the Prairie Farmer. In 1858 he &C
cepted the office OF state entomologist OF
Missouri. which he held until 1877. and
then he was appointed chief OF the United
States chronological commission that had
been formed under the auspices Of the de-
partment OF the interior for the purpose
OF investigating the Rocky mountain To-
Gust He was made entomologist 20 the de-
partment of agriculture in 1878 but soon
gave up this office and returned 70 his
work I'm the chronological commission. for
which he edited and wrote the more impor-
tant original and practical portions of its
four large reports. In 1881 he organized
the chronological division OF the depart
ment OF agriculture, TO which the work OF
the commission was transferred. and he
continued until recently in charge OF that
division. also holding the Office Of curator
OF insects in the United States national
museum. 10 which he presented his private
chronological collection of more than $4,000
mounted specimens. including about 5000
species. This is the largest general collec-
ton in the United States He lectured on
entomology a Cornell university. the Kan
sas state agricultural college, Washington
City university and the Missouri state uni
versity. Prof. Riley's great services TO the
world have been accomplished by his val
liable researches on the insects most IN
furious 10 American agriculture, including
the Rocky mountain locust, the army
worm. the chinch bug. the canker worm.
the cotton worm. the potato beetle. the
phylloxera and the hop louise. His re-
searches on the phylloxera attracted the
attention of the French authorities, and
in 1873 he was presented by that
government with gold medal that was
designed for the occasion. For his services
to agriculture in general the French gov
eminent honOred him with the cross Of
the Legion Of Honor. In 1854 he received
a gold meCIl for a collection Of insects
that he exhibited at the international for
estry exhibition in Edinburgh. He was a
O., -. he
United States and abroad, was general
secretary of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science in 1881. and
vice president of the section of biology in
1888. president of the St. Louis Academy
OF Sciences in 1868, and first president
OF the chronological Society OF Washing
ton City in 1854. In 1873, with BENJAMIN
D. Walsh. he founded the American En-
tomologist. but il was discontinued at the
end of the second volume. II was re-
sumed in 1880. but given up again at the
close OF the volume. Prof Riley contrib
uted largely to the press. TO cyclopedias
and to the government magazine. Insect
Life. He wrote several hundred papers,
and published a number Of reports in book
form
Prof. Riiey's name stands at the head
of modern economic entomologists.
Wherever in the civilized world this
science is studied. wherever the intelligent
farmers endeavor 10 control the insect
enemies Of their crops. his name is known
and his writings studied. While holding
high rank as a scientist he was eminentiy
practical. Not long ago the "fluted scale"
was doing immense injury 10 citrus fruit
in Southern California. Prof Riley learn
ed that in its native home In Australia il
was kept in check by its natural enemy.
a lady bug. After great effort Prof. Riley
introduced into California hundreds of
Australians lady bugs: and the pest was
speedily reduced to harmlessness. Prof.
Henry. Of Wisconsin. speaking Of
the enthusiasm OF Californlans over
the results OF this novel i'm
portati0n. says: without doubt
it is the best stroke ever made by the
agricultural department at Washington
CITY"
His studies Of the Hessian fly and hop
fy in England had direct hearing on
English agricultural prosperity. and he
was elected an honorary member OF tho
Royal Agricultural Society and also OF
the EntomoloEical Society of London.
HIS nine annual reports while state en-
tomologist Of Missouri have become stan
dard reference books among scientific
men. These reports attracted the admir-
alton OF Darwin. and led the Entomolo-
sists' Magazine Of London 10 rank their
author az the foremost economic ento-
moloCjst Of the day"
Prof Riley was not only a specialist
hut also a man of wide general culture
and interests. His inventions and prac-
teal applications Of scientific knowledge
Ter checking the ravsgcs OF injurious in
scots have in several instances been OF IN
caleulabie 75lu" 10 the world at large
When j. Sterling Morton. q Nebraska
politician took charge Of the Office OF Sec
ret4:y ot agriculture there were I'm the
employ or the department two Of the
FOREMOST SCIENTISTS IN the world. Prof. Z