Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-21

Copyright Gsns1.nse lslSi NssiSn Mis. are ready to
zine, begin next
Monday a two-week fight that
will make it an actual fact-a
proud boast. Juvenile Washington
is busy today planning its part in
the battle. All sorts of schemes
are being devised to trap the wary
disease carriers and experiments
are going on in every quarter of
the city. There's a hard time
ahead for the fly.
Hundreds Of Washington children TO-
day are busy mapping out lines Of bat
tie and arranging various campaign
details preparatory to the big war on
flies which they are going to start In
the capital bright and early next Mon
day morning.
The word has gone out that the ny
must go and Washington youth have
determined that the capital shall be q
fyless city.
Following the announcement yestsr-
day Of The Stars ''Swat-the-fly'' con-
test, in which prizes aggregating 800
are to be awarded. the inventive genius
Of the young of the city is turning It
self loose with the object OF making It
impossible for a single fly to survive
the great campaign.
Homemade traps and other devices
for putting the fly out Of business are
being designed and manufactured in
almost limitless number. Experiment
tation with bait is being made on a
large scale In fact. the whole ques-
tion Of fly determination Is being gone
into and the result promises to be the
doom of the fly family in Washington.
Long List Of Entrants.
Star today concerning further details of
the contest indicate that DR.. Murray and
his associates at the health department
will have their hands full keeping the
records Of the entrants up to date. The
interest being taken in the campaign u
exceeding expectations. and indications
are that thousands Of boys and girls will
participate in the contest.
Dr. Murray will have the records Of the
entrants ascertained Immediately after
the close Of the contest. so that the re-
suits can be announced in The Sunday
Star August g. The winner Of the first
prize WILL receive $25 while the second
prize will be worth $40. Twenty seven
prizes in all. making a total Of 800. are
to be awarded.
AS announced yesterday. sticky flypaper
for catching the insects is eliminated un-
der the rules of the contest. This is
largely responsible for the extensive
preparations now being made to exter-
fa The f1V hv other nlaans
Chance for Inventive Genius.
The boy or girl who invents a practical
fly trap may not only be able to make
a large score, but may achieve a consider
able reputation as an inventor. In q
..Swat-the-fy' contest conducted IN
Worcester, Mass, the boy who won the
first prize used traps Of his own design
and make. His score was more than q
million for the fifteen day campaign
waged there. Incidentally the fly family
terminated.
with a good trap for catching flies the
fight is only half won. however unless the
subject of batting has been investigated.
best bait for flies has been exploded. Ex-
periments by the Department OF Agr1-
culture have shown that bread saturated
with milk is 100 per cent more effective
in attracting nleS tldH is hioioooSe "
other sweets.
II is not Improbable that a better bait
than bread and milk Will be discovered by
one of the contestants who is out Tor
The Stars first prize. and In this event
he Is sure to win recognition not only
with local health officials, but with Dr.
Howard and the experts OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
Ways of Killing Trapped Flies.
The problem Of killing flies. after they
have been caught in traps. is one that
will be worked out in different ways. but
a valuable suggestion as to this feature
has been offered by DR.. Murray.
pinch Of sulphur. according to DR..
Murray, ignited under fly trap VIII
produce sufficient fumes to kill all the
insects imprisoned. Drowning the flies
Is another method.
Not only has The Stars contest led to
pr eIj,ninary regime of invention, but
washington stores are getting out their
stocks of fly traps and displaying them
conspicuously. A drug store in George
town has given up an entire window to
display of poison ny paper me youth
who hasn't an inventive turn Of mind
will have no difficulty purchasing a fly
trap for small amount.
With preparations for the big war going
on actively in the homes, DR.. Murray and
his assistants today completed details OF
the work which they are to perform
during the campaign.
Boxes Furnished Free.
At the paper box factory Of the George
N Svnt