Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-02-09
RATS LLECTROCUTnD.
Electricity Used to Kill Rodents in
Rochester Warehouse.
Novel Plan for Exterminatins the
Pests That Has Proved Success
full and Cats and Traps Have
Been Discarded.

The owners of grain warehouses suffer
great loss and annoyance by the depreda-
lions Of the rats that usually infest such
places, and rs yet no effective means
have been devised of getting rid of them
A drm Of warehousemen at Rochester, N
Y, in whose place OF business the rodent
family has been particularly numerous
and destructive, has devised a method
Of getting rid Of them that has proved
eminently successful. Since the intro
duction Of scientific methods, however
the rats have been killed of SO rapidly
that within short time they will be
practically extinct.
When the rats first began to overrun
this particular warehouse the aid Of thei1
time-honored enemies, cats, was first
called in. The cats meant well and were
energetic. But they could not follow the
rats down their holes, and the rodents
were so sly, as well as numerous, thatit
was soon evident cats could not solve the
problem Of getting rid Of them.
Traps Of various kinds were then
tried. At first they worked well. But
after a little time the rats came to un-
derstand and avoid them. The same
proved true Of poison.
Then clerk with an inventive turn Of
mind tackled and solved the rat ques-
ton. The warehouse is lighted with In
candescent electric lights, which, how
ever, are seldom used at night First,
the clerk placed nat piece Of copper on
the floor in one OF the corners Of the
building and wire was run to it from the
incandescent light circuit. On this cop
per plate was placed a large and appetiz-
ing piece Of cheese. Then second cop
per plate was placed on the floor almost,
but not quite, touching the first copper.
The return wire of the incandescent light
circuit was connected with this second
plate.
The cheese, Of course, was in full view
on the floor and nothing could have
looked more innocent. But to reach i,
rat would first step on the copper plate
connected with the return wire. So far
nothing would happen to disturb the
peace of mind of his ratship. His next
move, however. would be to place his
forefeet on copper place No 1. on which
the cheese had been placed The instant
the front feet of the rat touched this
piece Of copper, as his hind feet would
still be on the second copper, he would
complete the electric circuit. The cur
rent would shoot through his body ant
he would drop dead before he had tim,
to utter squeak.
There was nothing about the contriv
ance to indicate trap, even to the oldes
and wisest rat. The cheese was in plail
sight. and apparently easy to get, and b,
J Its smell attracted rats from all over tn
warehouse. The whole arrangement
looked SO innocent that even the sigh
| Of the bodies of their predecessors di
not frighten away the hungry rats. o.
] the morning after the Frat electrocutio
trap" was first tried over score of dea
rats were found. The next evening hal
dozen similar traps were set, all meet
ing with the success Of the first It wa
plain that the rat question was settled
SO far as that warehouse was concerned
Il think ought to get out paten
for my electric chair for thieving rats,
said the inventor Of the novel trap
proudly. "And, besides any money whicl
my scheme might bring me, think
am entitled to large medal from tn
Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty t,
Animals. For the rats don't suffer tn
least pain. They are dead before the,
know what has happened