The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-08-03
INVASION
OF LOCUSTS
DESTROYED

Population Thrown into Panic
for Time and Women and
Children Join in Fight.
SAN JOSE, Costa RIGA. Aug 81
This country has recently completed
the destruction of an invasion OF lo-l
Gusts. 1t was the first appearance
OF the insect here since 1878. and was
SO extensive that 1t called forth the
of the government TO
check.
The population was for a time
thrown into a panic and even women
insects. Some Of the methods used
in discriminating the pests were not
unlike those employed in destroying
human beings on the European bat
tlefields, and gave to the fighting a
semblance OF real warfare.
The invading army was bombarded
with cannon loaded with sand, ana
with rockets, sprayed with asphy-
xiating gases and blown up with
gunpowder. The torch was also
used and there was likewise let loose
to attack the insects an army OF COCO
bacilf, which has been discovered To-
be q mortal eenmy of the locust.
Disease among the locuats them
elve. however, did most to destroy
them as has sometimes been the case
in human armies.
Locust Plague.
The locusts came over the border
from neighboring Central American
republics. The press of the latter had
Ibeen reporting the devastating effects
of a locust plague for q year, which
were SO alarming that the Costa
Rican government made preparations
for an invasion of its territory. Dis
haartening reports reached here not
only from Guatemala and Honduras,
but also from Salvador and Ntcara-
qua where through neglect OF TOT
other reasons no efforts to eradicate
the plague were made either by the
tural interests. The damage the In
sects wrought on crops In those
countries advanced cereal prices to
such an extent that their govern
ments were forced to import large
Shipment Of grain which were sold
at moderate prices
This. together with the increase In
the rate of exchange caused by the
European war, caused dealers In TINS
country to ship large quantities OF
grain to these markets. This resulted
|in a considerable increase in the
load market price and all grain I'M
derwent what might be termed q,
In view of the excellent prospects
for the sale of the next crop all
farmers in this country, nothWtth-
standing the threatening plague.
were attracted to the planting OF
cereals and large tracts OF land were
prepared and cultivated.
Given.
AS a warning of the impending
peril. small swarm of locusts In
yaded Costa Rican le7rftorv hv the
province Of Guanacaste, but owing
ia the prompt action on the part of
the government with sand-loaded
cannon and rockets, the swarm was
easily repulsed and turned back into
Nicaraguan territory.
After this two or three months
elapsed In which the government had
time to make more thorough prepara-
tons and adopt special measures. A 4
certain quantity of coco-bacili was
imported by the ministry OF pubic
works whic was cultivated In the
national laboratory and held in readi-
ness. Almost all signs of the dan
ger seemed to have disappeared.
when about the middle Of May one
horde after another invaded Costa
vi L
border.
No locusts had visited this country
for ttirty-seven years and therefore
the panic amongst the inhabitants
was unprecedented. The daily news
papers published columns and col
umns of reports on the advance OF
the plague: the government sent ex-
perts with thorough equipment to
fight the invasion and Congress en-
acted special law by which every
citizen was forced to pay special
and direct tax for covering the ex-
penses OF discriminating 1T.
The swarms were numerous and OF
huge proportions. Everybody. with
out exception, helped IN one way or
another to destroy the insect. PIT
yate subscriptions were raised and
In many towns invaded the women
and children turned out with torches
lanaps and other implements to aid
IN its humiliation.
Disease Kills Them.
Although blasts of sAnd from cam
non. trains Of gunpowder. asphyxia-
ting gases and rockets were all used
with more or less success. 1t was
thought by the government officials
that had 1T not been for the appear
ance Of disease among the awarms,
the coco-bacili would have undoubt-
edly proved the most efficient means
Of getting rid of the pests. This
disease killed the 1ocusts by mil
Hons. IT consisted In the develop
ment OF q worm In the stomach Of the
insect. which gradually. increased In
sic until the insect was unable toi