The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-12-09

/ Opposition --Rattle-snakes and Sens
in the ck.ground-Preston Count.
| Genius to the Front.
Special Correspondence.
KIsGwoop, w. Va, Nov. 30-A
new industry, unique and yet ap-
parently useful, has been established
here. 1t is for the manufacture Of
rabbit boxes and srares, The firm,
known as the Rabbit DISCRIMINATING
Company, also manufactures other
game traps, snch as for bear, wild
cats, mountain lions, kangaroes, etc.
The company is capitalized for a
large sum and does business upon a
large scale.
1t can be readily seen that manu-
featuring rabbit boxes and shares
would be profitable. Thousands and
tens OF thousands Of rabbits infest
the hills OF this region. They are
of unusually large and destructive
species. Sometimes they march In
armies and have been known this
season to gnaw down whole orchards
in single night, chewing off the
trees al the ground.
The boxes vary in size, and are
made to suit the fancy oil the pur-
chasefs who enjoy trapping them
for pleasure and profit 1t would
seem that the ginseng and snake
industries will be supplanted in
Preston county by the hare industry,
However the latter is only followt d
in the winter season and the Others
in the summer. Some of the boxes
are made plain, bnt durable Others
are venecred with walnut and
mahogany, ornamented with inla d
mother OF pearl and sometimes more
valuable materials, to suit the fancy
of the children of rich parents, es-
pecially those in the cities who own
parks and suburban country places.
Messrs. Ben Bowerms ster and
Hoy Jackson are tue principal stock
holders in the company and in
conversation with your correspond
ent said that they have orderco
materials in carload lots, the home
mills not being able to supply the
demand. They have Slipped several
car loads OF the traps, and are doing
a good business.
I'VE expect to begin early next
season, and have several car loads
made before the winter rabbit season
opens. We were late in starting
this year, and find it difficult to
obtain sufficient expert hands, which
are required to carry out the diff
cult patent contrlvances we have for
these traps, Next summer we will
ship a ship load Of our kangaroo
traps to Australia" said one of the
firm.
A continuance upoa the Traps
shows the owner when they have
made catch, which saves time in
going up to each trap to make a
close investigation This is especial
ly convenient when one person at
tends several hundred traps A
survey of the field will be sufficient
TOR whenever a trap contains a
abbit, a little red flag springs up
rbove ON little pole, being es
aecially good for deep SHOWS,
. These inventors are working hard
upon u ,oltiivapce which will be
attached to each trap. whereby a
rabbit will be skinned and dressed,
automatically, ready for the kitchen
stove, as soon as the trap is sprung.
1t has not been perfected as yet.
This firm also manufactures sleds,
large and small, and have one patent
coasting sled for young people. which
upon reaching the bottom of the hill
will Immediately run back to the
top as soon as the riders get otl,
thus making coasting a delightful
pleasure, without the annoyance of
dragging the sled back up the hill.
These of course come high.
Pre- ston county thus is keeping
abreast of the times, and the rabbit
nuisance will soon abate One fine
feature o! the snares, as old and
young men will appreciate, is that
they can he sold already set, and
baited.