The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-09-12

stations for fly pamphlets and circu.
lars. Each bit OF educative literature
as 1t came out was placed in the
hands of every child in the schools
OF Cleveland, and thence carried into
the homes.
The striking fact about all this
campaign was that it was waged not
during the fly season, but before it
During a clustering March and a
wild, weeping April, while flies were
as scarce as straw hats, the battle was
at its height. 1t was directed against
the winter hies'-the few which had
| survived the cold season and would
soon begin laying eggs. The reason
tor these tactics was set forth in a
fly catechism' issued by Miss Daw-
son. One question and it's answer
read:
How many flies may breed from
pair in spring?
-" Allowing six patches OF eggs, OF
$50 each, supposing all to live and
find filth to breed in, the number
would be l91,OlO,OOO, OOO, OOO, 100000
enough to bury the entire earth ~
feet deep. Why not kill the fly in
the winter or early spring.
Even If the actual progeny of a fly
does not nearly approach the posi-
bilities, it is apparent that the killing
OF one sluggish winter fly means the
prevention of thousands of summer
infesting insects.
An enterprising ice-cream COM
pany contributed 100000 'swatters',
and all the school children of the city,
whether they were members OF the
junior sanitary police or not, were
armed. A bounty of 10 cents a hun
dred was offered for all flies brought
to Miss Dawson's Office at the city
hall. The campaign was financed by
popular subscription. At first there
was complaint that no flies could be
found--but sharp eyes soon sought
them out in attic windows, barn lofts
and odd, outof-the-way corners, and
they began to pour in at headquarters
at the rate of 10000 a day. Clergy
men were urged to preach fly ser
mons, and many responded. A pic
ture film, The life Of the fly was used
to good effect in many churches and
theatres. In addition to head 'em off
and swat the fly, triple SLOGAN ran
clean your yard; make a garden;
swat the fly and in many a back
yard gardens began to blossom where
fy-breeding rubbish heaps had been.
When the winter campaign closed
May Is, 4o0,835 flies had been accept
ed and paid for-and this before the
beginning of the season and in a
city which had suffered very little an
noyance from flies during the preced-
ing summer, thanks to the antihy cam
paign then in progress. You have
brought about famine in fies,' la
mented one man who had six cham
eleons to feed. My pets are starving.
There are no flies to be had about my
house, and my neighbors can't seem
to help me out I'll pay, and pay
well, for every fly your children can
bring me- And he did One of the
best fruits of the movement has been
a public demand for fy-free stores.
Merchants have been quick to sense
the demand. Recently 100 normal
school girls inspected 511 grocery
stores, confectioneries, meat stores,
restaurants and milk depots. They
reported that in 500 of the stores
not solitary fly could be found; in
only $3.50 were flies at all numerous!
"The early spring head 'em off
is remarkable success.
Over 100 towns and cities have writ
ten for information concerning the
methods used in Cleveland The
coming year will doubtless see the
plan in operation in many municipali-
ties. The more commonly it is |
adopted the worse luck to Mr. Fly |
and all the diseases of which he is
the herald"
OBSERVER.