New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-20
Il NOVEL Rat TRIP.
Rodents KILLED By Electric Current
IN Rochester Warehouse.

The latest and most efficient well ths most
humane method OF getting rid Of a pest OF rats
is by the OF electricity Such. at any rate, 50
the opinion Of the proprietor OF a large grain
warehouse in Rochester. where the rats until re-
Gently abundant that their dspredations
actual OF financial loss Since thu
introduction of scientific methods. however. the rats
have been killed on so rapidly that within short
time they will be practically extinct
When the rats first began TO Overrun this par
ticular warehouse the aid OF their time honored
enemies. cats. first called in The cats meant
well and were energetic. But they could not follow
the down their holes, and the rodents were so
sly. well as numerous. that it svidens
cats could not solve the problem OF getting rid OF
them
Traps OF various kinds were then tried At nrsr
they worked we'll But after a little time the rats
came to understand and avoid them The same
proved true OF poison In the mean time the rats
who had first selected the grain warehouse as a
place where easy living could be procured had
evidently Informed their rat friends and these
called IN others. until il seemed as II most OF the
rats in that part OF the State must have estab-
hshed headquarters in that storehouss
Then clerk with inventive turn of mind
tackled and solved the rat question The ware
house is lighted with incandescent electric lights
which. however, are seldom used at night. First
the clerk placed fiat piece OF copper on tho
floor In one Of the corners OF the building. and
a wire to 1t from the ineandeseent
light circuit. On this copper plate was placed a
large and appetizing piece OF cheese. Then u
second copper plate placed on the floor. almost
but not quite. touching the first copper. The
wire OF the incandescent light circuit
connected with this second plate.
The cheese. Of course. in full view the
floor and nothing could have booked more inno-
cent. But to reach Ii a would first step tho
copper plate connected with the return wire. So
far nothing would happen to disturb the peace OF
mind OF mis- ratship- His next move. however.
would be place his fore1eeI on copper plate num-
Der one. which the cheese mad been placed
The instant the front feet of the touched this
piece OF copper. his hind feet would still be on
the second copper. he would complete the electric
circuit. The current would shoot through his body
and he would drop dead before he had time utter
a squeak.
There was nothing about the cOntrivance to indi-
cate a trap. TO the oldest and wsest rat. The
cheese was in plain sight, and apparently easy to
get and BY it's smell attracted rats from an over
the warehouse The whole arrangement looked so
innocent that the sight OF the bodies their
predecessors did not frighteu away the hungry
rats. On the morning after the rat eectrOcutiOn
trap first tried. score of dead rats we're
found The next evening half dozen similar traps
set. all meeting with the success OF the frst
IL plain that the rat question settled. SO
far that warehouse was concerned.
Il think ought 70 get out a patent for my cleo
trio chair for thieving rats said the inventor OF
the novel trap. proudly. And. besides
which my scheme might bring me- I think I am
entitled a large medal from the Society for the
Prevention OF Cruelty to Animals. For the rats
they know what has happened"