davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22
By H. L. Pomeroy

II WELVE thousand mice to an acre.
And then they lost count.
Not one acre alone, but valleysl
There were mice everywhere. thicker
than grasshOppers, pockmarking the
face OF the land with their holes; un-
dermining 1t, so that the foot at every
step crushed into a network of minia-
ture subterranean highways; hopping.
browsing and creeping mice. so many
and so active that the surface OF the
country seemed to be a rolling, rest
les sea-
Whole counties IN Nevada and Utah
have suffered from this strange migra-
ton, more destructive than locusts,
more killing than frosts. annihilating
every living thing on the surface and
eating down until the last tendru of
the roots is devoured-
The rsnchers have been helpless be-
fore it II comes upon them gradually
and they DO not pay much attention
until some day they wake TO the fact
as they cross their fields that there are
scurying mice IN every direction. The
baby mice do not always escape their
heavy boots and they turn to find
young mice gasping their last all along
the trail. Reaching down to see what
can be done for the apparently harm
less little things. they notice tiny bur
rows in every direction. Then they
realize that they are being visited by
g plague.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22

jury to the crops viii be small anA
the valuable orange crop, which wonid
otherwise be wholly destroyed. wf1 be
saved.
The amount OF arsenic or othar
poison to use has not been fully deksr-
mir ed as yet, but II VIII be 50 small
thss IL child succeeded IN scrswtng
on the top OF the poison Jar and suck
ing the sponge IL would probably not
be injured.
As long as one queen remains the
Argentine ants will be with Us, SO
that there Is little hope OF absolutely
annihilating them, but they can al
ways be kept In control by the use OF
the poison remedy.
There are several ways OF discover
ing whether ants are OF the Argentine
family. The easiest OF these II to
crush a few and smell their odor; Il
they have none they are Argsnttnss;
all other ants have a disagreesbls
smell when crushed They are black.
and the worker@the ones seen-arO
rarely above one-eleventh Of an inch
long.
Scientists make certain OF their idsn-
tity by two characteristics which no
other ant has; the swelling Of the
waist is long and pointed instead OF
being almost a portion OF the lower
emu oA tHo UOuJ' anu inc aAA al ; 0Ai ~
of the teeth" which are really but
the rough edges OF their bill like
mouths, begin with two long teeth"
followed by three short. one long.
three more short. one more long, three
short. two long and two short.
Louisiana did nothing TO rid itself OF
the Argentine ant and has suffered the
loss of millions. California has dis
covered a remedy. and 1t will do we'll
to take heed Of what happened in
Louisiana.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22

will continue to do so all summer. As
every garden has several hundred thou
sand queens waiting at home below
the surface for the workers to bring
the food and care for the larvae, the
rate of increase is seen to be almost
beyond reckoning. To each queen there
is an average of 200 workers.
In their domestic economy the work
ers attend to the eggs at all stages.
nursing the larvae and carrying them
from hot to cold and wet to dry places
as necessary. They also bring the food.
When they become dissatisfied with
their surroundings, which happens fire.
quently, they move and colonize some
where else.
Queens often get the wander fever,
and, forsaking their followers, set out
on adventures by themselves, picking
up other followers which. being re-
tainers by caste, will follow one queen
as readily as another. The new colony
establishes itself across the street or in
the next garden. In this way their
work is thorough, and as they leave no
crack unentered, they spread rapidly.
The warmer the weather the harder
the ants work and in the middle of
summer they frequently force people to
close their houses and go to unaffected
districts until the heat has passed.
AhAoHlS Snh never p6 iSit dlOH6 Wn6ro
there are Argentine ants, the prying
little creatures lining up in rows about
the child's mouth and distressing 1t
with their bites.
There is really no effective way of
keeping them from any place which at
tracts them except by solid construc-
tion. Kerosene on water frequently
acts merely as a convenient footing
upon which they can pass. The sur
face of fresh water is almost a suf1-
cient support and as soon as slight
coating of dust collects they can skip
across with impunity. Running water
is the only effective barrier. Bands
of kerosene, crude oil, tar, oils of sas-
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22

had reached a state where life on the
block was almost intolerable Abso-
lutely all means to keep the ants out
of the food had failed, and anything g
that was not eaten at bedtime was
gone in the morning. The fruit blossoms
had been injured and the trees were
so covered with apnis that the fruit
had in no case progressed beyond the
first stages. 1t was an extreme case.
The ants could hardly have been worse.
First he placed one jar containing
syrup in each yard. poisoning each
with arsenic after four days. Two
days later there was already a notice
able decrease and many ant nests were
found on investigation to be full OF
dead ants. Within the next few days
he placed 200 jars on the block and
within three weeks from the beginning g
of the work 30 per cent of the ants
were killed.
Mr.. Day is now experimenting with q
formula giving the exact number OF jars
which should be used to the acre. when
the poison should be introduced and
how often the Jars should be changed.
Where there are fruit trees or houses
to attract the ants in numbers jars 40
feet apart will probably be recommend
ed by him, exchanging jars containing
only syrup for jars containing arsenic
or other poison yet TO be decided upon
every few days for several weeks, and,
after that length of times leaving ex-
posed the poison jars until the ants
have all sought winter quarters.
In a territory like East Oakland, il
the recommendations are followed, in
stead of being overrun with the in
sects. the number can be kept down
to a few per cent-hardly more than
the native ants. Wherever there are
fruit trees this plan will undoubtedly
be followed, so that the ultimate In
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22

TIN ANT that works its way
through walls. walks with ease
on water, slides down wire.
strolis into the habvss ,,.,,.A
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22
By R. R. Broughton

TIN ANT that works its way
through walls, walks with ease
on water, slides down wire
strolis into the baby's mouth
sstS kittens. protects all fruit lice AND
LIS us enemies, destroys orchards
Anos IN time, renders life fn a CO.,
munity not only prohtless. but tntoIe--
aole' has come to California with the
lhtention OF staying. And as AZ bas
slayeo everywhere else it ever visited
mere would be every reason to beIieve
tnat u would within q few wears tal,s
complete possession of the state. do
10y with fruit. especially oranges
renoer pale and sickeninR the brf1lia =,
flowers and make of this lovely co,1r4-,
but feeble imitation of itself. were n
not tor the fact that a young man
working In a quiet, prosaic garden in
East Oakland has solved the problem
OF its destruction.
Lhis ant IS from the tropics. but II
has none OF the easy going ways ac-
credited 10 that cline It Is beyond
al comparison the busiest little ant
there ever was and would serve to point
the favorite analogy. Moreover, II sup
ports the analogy, which modern nature
observers would discredit. by working
with definite purpose. As an en-
pire builder humanity offers no parallel
II drives out all other ants before II
and takes entire possession Of the field
II increases at an unbelievable rate-an
ordinary garden producing perhaps
aoO,oOO,ooo IN summer. If left alone
- VIII eat you out OF house and home,
and Il is next 10 impossible to keen
groceries out OF its reach. As q house
pest alone IL is almost uncomfortable.
The FIRST scientist who made note O.
~ discovered II IN Argentina, but IT is
even more common IN Brazil, and IL IS
from that country that it migrated 10
America. It was met in this country
FOR the first time on the wharves OF
New Orleans, having Travelled from
Rio Janeiro on coffee ships. That was
tn 1892. Nothing was done about ii
there until very recently. and In II
years II has spread over 5000 square
miles IN Louisiana, completely destroy
ing the orange trees and stopping the
large and hourishing cut flower in
dustry.
Somehow a colony was shipped IN g
bale OF cotton from New Orleans te the
plant OF a cotton works st the foot OF
TwentY-second avenue IN East Oakland
shout eight years ago. They immedi-
steIy migrated farther, according TO
their restless habit, and now they have
> established themselves in the whole
section lying between Lake Merritt and
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22

the winter time With the coming OF
spring the mice will be decimated and
the end OF the plague In sight.
This preparation broke the plague IA
the Humboldt valley after It had had
its own way for three years. During
that time the yearly average loss per
acre was $40. Ordinary crops in that
section bringing about $40 to the acre
the loss was exactly half, and the half
saved was represented mostly in fields
which escaped altogether on account of
their isolation. Where the mice had
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22

with them can be considered the wea-
sells and wildcats, who come down from
the mountains of nights to gorge on
the mice. Birds are not wanting either,
hawks and owls congregating by the
thousands. But all of these together
are not able to stop the plague OF mice.
These able assistants failing, either
from the overwhelming number Of mice
or the poison spread, some of the more
up to date ranchmen have attempted 70
start contagious diseases among the
mice, but they are robust little
creatures and throw or the bauiili.
This remedy has never been known te
be successful where mouse plaque
had really started.
It was not until year ago, when
the destruction was beginning to mount
into the millions, that a solution to the
problem was found. At that time
George S. webb. who owns big ranch
in the Humboldt valley which had been
practically ruined by the mice, called
upon the biological survey for assist
ance. The response was prompt, and
after exhaustive experiments there and
in various places in the west an effective
remedy was discovered All farmers
would do we'll to remember it: Alfalfa
or other hay, poisoned with strychnia
sulphate. scattered over the fields ia
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22

been at work they left nothing but
honeycombed earth. There was no ad-
vantage in changing crops, the mice
ate everything.
The first time great damage done by
mice was ever noticed on this continent
was on the Rodgers ranch. in the lower
Humboldt valley. in the spring of 1906.
Nothing much was done about 1t until
the winter of 1907. and by that time the
whole lower end of the fertile Hum
boldt valley was beginning to suffer.
The hay crop had been reduced by a
third, all potato and root crops had
been destroyed and the mice were con-
centrating their attention on the al
falfa roots.
Millions of mice, little over two
inches long, with beautiful fur and
dainty little feet. were at work above
and below ground. No serious attempt
had been made to exterminate them
except by the birds and animals.
Under the rows of poplar trees, about
the base of fence posts and scattered
everywhere throughout the fields were
scraps of bones and pieces of fur from
the tiny destroyer-evidence of the
good work of the birds. Holes dug
by eager paws and upturned nests
showed where the skunks and coyotes
had done their share But before the
snow came tnat year the country was
practically ruined. AS many as ITS
mouse holes were counted to the
square rod and the ground broke be-
meath the foot like the Arctic tundra
in the summer when the frost has left
it soft and spongy. Fields were
plowed up as hopeless. fruit trees were
girdled and even the hardy Lombardy
poplars were killed.
The plague spread rapidly up the
H1rrn and ITS frihrf& a ri ioc int
Paradise and Little Humboldt valleys
and about Winnemucca and Battle
mountain. Most of the country is
covered with a natural growth of wild
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
Rice Land Bill Passed

By unanimous vote of all the members present the Senate passed Senate Bill No. 27 to give canal com panics in Arkansas the right Of eminent domain. listened 10 speech from Senator CarloCk against in creasing the salaries of the circuit judges. adopted resolution origin ally adopted in the house for the in vestigation of all the furniture be longing Io the General Assembly and 10 see what disposition was made of the stamps that were refused by legislators al the las session. and ad journed for the day at 1le1a o'clock so that the senators could attend tue good roads convention
 The debate OF the eminent domain bill fer canal companies was short Senator Rasco of Arkansas explain ed the bill ana declared that is passage and approval would mean that small farmers iu The rice belt would De enabled ta engage ln Flee culture without having 10 go 70 the eN- pense af installing private water supply Senator Yopp author ot the bill. also made brief speech in support of the hiHl
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
JOY WORK
And the Other Kind.

Did you ever stand on 9 prominent corner at an early morning hour and watch the throngs Of people on their way to work? Noting the number who were forcing themselves along be- cause il meant their daily bread, and the others cheerfally and eagerly pur- suing their way because of love of their work
 Il Is a fact that ones fcod has much to do with it. As an example.
 If an engine has poor oil. or a boiler Is fired with poor coal. a bad result is certain. isn't it2
 Treating your stomach right is the keystone that sustatns the arch of healths temple and you will find "Grape-Nuts" as q daily food is the most nourishiRg and beneficial you can use.
 We have thousands of testimonials. real genuine little heart throbs. from people who simply tried Grape-Nuts put of curiosity-as a last resort-with the result that prompted the testimo- nial.
 If you have never tried Grape-Nuts it's worth while 10 give it a fair impar. tial trial. Remember there are mil lions eating Grape-Nuts every day they know, and We know if you will use Grape-Nuts every morning yom work is more likely to b. jov-work. be. cause you can keep well, and with the brain well nourished work is a joy Read the Road 10 Melville in eveH package There's a Reason"
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
In the Senate.

The passage of the house bill ap- propriating $50.00o for the Use of the governor and the Railroad Gommis- sion to fight the rate eases through the federal courts. the introduction of a bill to domesticafe railroad companies chartered in Arkansas. a bin prepared br Senator Oldham Of Pulaski and introduced by Senator Rowland of Boone to establish the Arkansas Tuberculosis Sanitorium and apFropria1ing s5e,ooe for the puH- pose and the defeat of the bill 10 increase the salaries of circuit judges from s20ao to S3.o00 per annum con. stituted the business Of stade-wide interest in the Senate on Wednesday. The debate on the salary increase bill was sharp. the principal speech against il being made by Senator Car lock of Madison Senator Hamiter of Pulaski was prominent in support of the bill
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
Too Much for His Mind.

My first impulses. walled the Sad Eyed Individual are invariably good. In fact. l think that l mav venture. without fear of undue exagseEa1ion. to say that they are very eood But I never aet on them. always act on second thoughts. This trait in ny char acter has ruined my career because m second thoughts are always badi In fact. l think I may say. without fear Of misrepresentation. that they're punk
 We'll suggested he who was lis teuiug. why don't you wait until third thoughts. an aet on them 2'
 Mournfally, despundeutly. the Sad Eyed Individual shook his head
 My dear sir he groaned. T never had three successive thoughts about anything in my lifei"
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29

grew stronger, ana within three 140ntn l was perfectly well woman.
 want this letter made public bl show the benefit women may derive from Lydia F. Pinkham's Yegetabls| Compound Mrs. JoHN c. HoLDAx, 2115 second St. North, MinneapoHs Minn.
 Thousands of unsolicited and genu. inc testimonials like the above prove the efficiency of Lydia l. TinkhamsI Vegetable Compound which k made exclusively from roots and herbs.
 Women who suffer from those dis treSSing ills peculiar to their sex should not lose sight of these facts or dout. the ability of Lydia l.. Pinkhams Vegetable Compound to restore tbsr health.
 Ifyou want special advice write to Mrs. Pink ham, at Lynn, Mass She will treat your letteras strictly confidential. For 20 years she has been helping sick women in this way, free of charge. Don't hesitate - write at once.
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
With The Legislators
Pay Day Bill Passes.

4 prolonged fighe over the bi-month- ly pay day bill. resulting in the pas sage Of the bill The fight opened immediately after the reading of the journal and the bill finally passed by vote of S4 to :. a majority which did not indicate the strength of the opposition to the speedy passage Of the bill, as the vote on he motion to place the bI1 on second reading and refer it to a committee was bS to 24.
 Mir. Monroe of Hampstead moved that the bin, which had passed the Senate and which was made 8 special order Of business be placed ou see. ond reading and referred t3 a com mittee for further delleeeaf5aR. H. said he was opposed Co -FaiifuadlHE measures through. This stand Has taken by practically al those WH1 spoke against the passage ef the niti.
 On he other hand those supporting the biii and culfeudlu- i1r speeat passage held Ina T Was useless = refer 1t 70 a Committee because 4# Was sh8ft aGa simple and eaaa.d he understood as well by tae house q. that time as r could after com miUee had considered it
 Among other HlIIs passed ~as one prohibiting los pistols 3H Arkansas and another prohibiting telephone companies from char-iuz more than g. for business telephone CT S- for a residence phone Several laeal bills were passed.
 A hiH prohibiting persons in public service rom employing relatives HI that service failed to cafFs. Another attempt ta employ another t.etk net failure. also.
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
IN THE SENATE.
Bills introduced.

btitS lHAI
 Senate Bill No. 5S Henderson. providing that a widow shall receive one-third of all the lands with which her husband died seized unless oth- erwise provided for by deed or will Referred 10 judiciary committee.
 Senate Bill No. 69 fGloverl. 10 amend section 5940 of kirbys Digest Under the amendment all indlgent pensioner shall not own property iu excess Of S300 Present act makes the limit Si0e Referred 10 commit lee on judiciary.
 Senate Bill No 65 (McKnighu. 10 repeal section 6612 of kirty.s Digest which permits a railroad company to charge = cents for receiving or dis char elHE a passenger al other than regular stations Referred 10 com mir,ee oH railroads
 Senate Bill No. Il tRowiandl. to require real estate agents and hrok= CTS 10 obtain a written authority from he owners to sell or barter real property Referred 10 committee on iad tIasx
 Senate Bill No. - CFletcherl. to aA the Term Of service ot the board of trustees or he University or Ar kansas Governor fo be al ex-oihcio member of the board win q vote in case of lie Referred to committee ea education.
 Senate Bfl Ne. 55 tNeKHieht1. to prevent he iieaaI sale e WhiskeE ef other alcoholic liquors BiH pro Ides seller mus give purchaser | h.H of sale. Referred To committee ea temperance.
 Senate Bill No II t8ruold1, to amend sections fae4-s7-7I Of kHby ; Digest. Inspection ef oils and .....asz Makes inspectors fee 1o cents per barrel Referred to committee OIL iadiciarE
 Senate Bill No. = tDeBosfts1. 70 essablisH a state Board of Esmbalmess and provide for he licensing of em. aalmeFs Bill e&ceHts all emhame1z who may be actively engaged in the business at he passage O. ahe pro posed law. Referred 10 committee oH public health
 Senate Eal Nc 56 6Rasea4 10 pc. feet IhE culyerts and bridges on the public highways Makes F mi=- demeanoF Ter a traction engine 10 be run over bridge Vith0ut fiHst plank ing the bridge with boards oi de- mittee en public roads
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
At His Own Risk

Caller ion crutches and with band. age over one eyel-I have cone. sir. 10 make application for the amount due on my accident insurance policy. l fell down a long flight of stairs the other evening and sustained damages that will disable me for month 10 come
 Manager of Company-Young man, l have taken the trouble to investigate your case. and l find you are not en. titled to anything. It could not be called an accident You certainly knew the young lady's father was at home.-Stray Stories.
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
SKIN ERUPTION CURED,
Was So Sore, Irritating and Painful That Little Sufferer Could Not Sleep Scratched Constantly.
cuticura's Efficacy Clearly Proven

When about two and a half years old my daughter broke out on her hips and the upper parts of her legs with a very irritating and painful eruption. It began In October: the first l noticed Was little red surface and a constant desire on her part to scratch her limbs. She could not sleep and the erupuons got sore. and yellow water came out Of them. I had two doctors treat her. but she grew worse under their treat ment. Then I bought the Cuucura Remedies and only used them two weeks when she was entirely we'll. This was in February. She has never had another rough place on her skin. and she is now fourteen years old. Mrs. R. R. Whitaker, Winchester. Tenn. Sept. 9, 1908
 Potter Drug i Chem. Corp sole Props. Boston
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
A Difference Tn Decree

FI just love cake. said Johnnie. feel ingly. Its aWfal nice
 You should naf say love cake z corrected hls mother. Yal should say like. And do not say awful- say very And saE good Instead of 'nlee. Now soc [ you caa repeat the sentence correctly
 like cake. repeated Johnnie. It's very good
 That's better
 T know. ma complained Johnnie. but j. soGnaS 5asf as if vas tatk.nt bout bread '-Everybosv.
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
Editorial Verdict.

From seri8ss-m#ua uaea jester the editor received this Eozs together with 8 consignment of hluar that was heavy enough to go by freight
 Dear Sir. read all these jokes 10 my wife. and she laughed heartily Now, have | or good authority that when mans wife Will laugh at his jokes they are bound 10 be very good -or she is Yours. etc.
 The editor slipped them mo the re- turn envelope With the letter. after writing on the margin. She Is.
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
For the PuhIic Taste

The following makes very popular dish. the usual name given it being funny paper" Take three mothers ln-law, two Irishmen, one German one or two tough kids and a coon mix and stir well A jag is considered to add flavor. Sprinkle in a little spice and ginger. and garnish with drawings. The addition of a pinch of hardsense is advisable. though not es senual. Chestnuts are used for stuff ing. The dish is usually roasted though poaching is not uneommon.- The Bellman.
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
Do Not ocposa War sLll.e

The Senate Committee oa Railroads held d three aour session c4r.aE which II considered ali The 5i.5 before lt tae mos important Q9 which - House B5H No 85 bg Mi Parks aaaHopE3at= iuz S5# sH ta aa U The Al kan sas Railroad Commission ln eia- uI9rlnz counsel 70 defend l1a eEals s luteras- .u the IaiIroal rate c0u-ro- Nersy. and hy u2.ElE4as vote Il was 8eelaea t5 report it faTs.aa y.
The Forrest City times., 1909-01-29
t.ss.a.e Eron1 the Governor.

A special message from tae goFeH= HOT telling Of he telegram from United States Sana OF lanes l.. Clarke to the eHee# that a hattleshlp would soon be huils so be named the Arkansas. and recommending thai the legislature take steps to thank Senator Clarke and also make a. rangemenfs to take such other steps as is customary on the part of states about io be so honored, Was read