Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-27
Novel Rat Trap.


The latest and most efficient as we'll
as the most humane method of getting
rid of a pest of rats is by the use OF
electricity. Such, at any rate, is the
opinion of the proprietor of a large
grain warehouse in Rochester, N. ",
where the rats until recently were SD
abundant that their depredations we're
an actual source of financial loss Since
the Introduction of scientific methods,
however, the rats have been killed OIL
so rapidly that within a short time they
will be practically extinct.
When the rats first begun to over
run this particular warehouse, the AID
of their time honored enemies. cats,
was first called in. The cats meant
well and were energetic. But they
could not follow the rodents down their
holes. and the rodents were so SLY as
we'll as numerous, that it was soon evil
dent 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
understand and avoid them. The same
proved true of poison. In the mean
time the rats who had first selected the
grain warehouse as place where an
easy living could be procured, had eVl-
IDENTIFY informed their rat friends, ana
these called in others until 1t seemed
as If the most of the rats in that part
of the state must have established
headquarters in that warehouse.
Then a clerk with an inventive turn
of mind tackled and solved the rat
question. The warehouse is lighted
with incandescent electric lights,
which, however, are seldom used at
night. First the clerk placed a fit 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 copper place was plac-
ed a large and appetizing piece OF
cheese. Then second copper 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 it 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 rat
ship. His next move, however, would
be to place his forefeet on copper plate
number one, on which the cheese had
been placed. The instant the front
feet Of the rat touched this piece of
copper as his hind feet fould still be
on the second copper, he would COM
plete the electric circuit. The current
would shoot thru his body and he would
drop dead before he had time to utter
a squeak.
There was nothing about the con-
trivance to indicate trap even to the
Oldest and wiset rat. The cheese was
in plain sight and apparently easy to
get, and by its smell attracted rats
from all over the warehouse. The
whole arrangement looked so innocent
that even the sight Of the bodies OF
their predecessors did not frighten
away the hungry rats. On the morning
after the rat electrocution trap" was
first laid, over a score of dead rats
were found. The next evening half
dozen similar traps were set, all meet
ing with the success of the first. 1t
was plain that the rat question was
settled so far as that warehouse was
concerned.