The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-03


people OF the country. especially the aEri-
cultural classes. than any other depart
ment Of the National Government. Among
the most useful and most interesting OF
the numerous bureaus Of this department
is the division of entomology. The chief
Of this division, Prof. L. o. Howard, is
one Of the leading entom0logists OF the
country. and his services in connection
with the dissemination OF information for
the benefit Of horticulturists. in particu-
lar fruit growers. has proved Of the great
est value 10 the general public. Mr. Row
ard has been in the service Of the Agri-
cultural Department since 1873. and be-
came the chief OF the division upon the
death Of Prof Riley. VINO was killed in
a bicycle accident.
The division OF entomology. under the
charge Of these two gentlemen and form
erly under the chiefship of Prot Glover.
the well-known scientist who acted as its
first head. has followed the history and
work OF destructive and beneficial insects
most closely and in this has made some
most remarkable discoveries. Prof How
ard. in speaking Saturday Of the Iabors
Of his division, referred in particular TO
the recent study o. the san Jose scale
and the introduction Of The Lady Bird
Beetle" into The fig orchards Of Califor-
mia and other sections of the country
The stories of these two pieces Of work
are Of interest. Regarding the former. the
San Jose scale has for a number Of years
been almost completely destroying the
fruit crops of some OF the States and has
been blighting thousands OF apple trees
each season.
The sntOmologists Of the national de-
partment took the matter IN hand. and
short time ago brought out by an lnves-
tigation that the pest originated in China
and was later taken 10 Japan This
knowledge, il is hoped, will prove beneh-
cial 70 this country, for IL is through il
that the scientists have been able 20 dis
cover an insect which destroys the germ
of the destructive disease. and BY it's in
PRODUCTION viii be able to put an end to
its growth, and finally eItinguish &c. A
large number of these insects are now be-
ing raised st the department and when
they have reached maturity viii ne dis
tri5uted among reliable apple growers in
different sections of the various States.
The Lady Bird Beetle was imported
several years ago and has already shown
10 great extent the good effects Of its
work. Some Of this species OF insects
were placed in one OF the large hg groves
Of California last year. and the groves in
" hich the owners have been greatly trou-
bled With a blight upon the fruit and al
most unable 10 produce saleable ngs. are
DOW securing excellent yields.
The present chief has supervised and
prompted much OF this good work. and
his assistance and reports have been very
helpful to American horticulturists.
There has been a great deal Of sickness
OF late throughout the different branches
Of the Government departments and the
chiefs OF many OF the divisions report
lirge lists Of absentees. In the. division
Of accounts Of the Treasurer's Office,
number Of the clerks have suffered with
severe illnesses Mr. J. W Denham. who
was formerly well known as an emDlOye
Of the District government, has been one
Of the longest sufferers. Mr. Denham has
been away from his Office for twenty-eight
days and is yet only recovering from a Sc
rious attack Of influenza.
A story has come to light in connec-
ton with the work Of one OF the special
employees" Of the Treasury Department
that almost equals chapter from one Of
Conan Doyle's books. The hero is Mr..
Charles !. Lewis. who has been connect
ed with special customs work Of the
Treasury Department for a number OF
years. and the story Is Of the capture Of
q smuggler and the seizure OF S., coo
worth Of diamonds.
The affair happened at 81. Adams. Yer
mont il the latter part Of January. but
the story OF the capture and indictment
has but recently been made public. It
seems that suspicion had been centeTed
for some time previous TO the final arrest
on Hierst StavitZky, OF Montreal, and
Lewis was sent 20 investigate the case.
While In the North be received notice
from the Montreal authorities that a reg
istered package, containing 294 unset dia-
InOnds had just arrived from Belgium
marked for "Hierst StavitzEy," and that
q card notifying him Of their arrival had
been sent TO him at an address IN Mon
treal. Ar. Lewis started Immediately for
that city and waited for the man 70 ap-
pear % claim his package A short time
after the officers arrival, Stavitzsy
showed I'D al the customs house with
Jewish tailor OF the city. named TOdor-
ofsky. and secured his diamonds.
The special emplOye" then tracked the
two men to the home OF the latter and
awaited Developments. It was a tiresoH1e
task. and from. his own account Of tbs pro-
ceedings lasted the entire day, but in the
evening bis efforts were awarded and
stayitzky came out from the tailor shop
and made hts way for the railroad sta
tion. He. and the officer. for hr. Lewis
was now pretty sure Of his guilt, boarded
the train for the South. and started Tor
Boston. The Of1ceT took a seat near the
suspected smuggleF, and when the bag
gage OF the passengers was inspected by
the customs officer Of the st. Adams force
ct St. Johns, QCebec. Lewis heard his
man deny that he had In HIS possession
any dutiable merchandise. When The
train reached ST. Adams, Mr.. Lewis put
the man under arrest and requested the
surrender of the diamonds, but stavitzky
denied that he had them IN his possession.
A search was necessary and II was only
BY a removal Of all the smuggler's cloth
ing and q careful eTamipatiOu Of every
article that the Jewels were finally found.
They had been sewed 20 the inside Of the
mans wooden mGeFGhirt "a such a clever
manner that came directly gnder his
arm pits. being almost impossible 90 de-
tect. The diamonds were conhscated by
the Government and the man was sent TO
JAN until a hearing coult be secured be-
fore the United States Commissioner a.
Rutland. Mr. George F. johnson, for at
tempting 20 smuggle into the country
dutieble merchandise. Stavitzky then
made the statement that hs was in the
employ az A salary OF so a week OF an
Isaac Pollock, Of Autwerp, Belgium. TO
whom be Was TO deliver the Jewels and
who was then IN New York. SIR. Lewis
made the further arrests Of Pollock and
TodOroisky and a few days ago the three
men we're sent TO the DenItentiary.
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