The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-02-13
SEVEN COUNTIES
DECLARE WAR
ON RODENTS
Plan of determination is Outlin-
ed at Local Conference of
County Agents
GOVERNMENT COOPERATES
Poison Mixture to be Supplied to the
Farmers at Cost-Start Work
First Week in March

War has been declared on the ro-
dent. During the spring months de-
,termined and concerted effort will be
nut forth in seven of the chief agri-
cultural counties of eastern Washing
ton to extern1inate ground squirrels,
sage rats, orchard mice and other pests
that evey year destroy thousands of
dollars worth of crops.
Plans for conducting the campaign
of determination were discussed and
adopted at conference here today be-
tween Theo. H. Scheffer, of the U. s.
biological survey, Prof. w. S. Thon-
Der, director of the extension depart
ment of the State College, R. b.
Coghlon, state director of county
agent work, and county agents from
the seven counties in this district.
Under the plan the government is
to furnish tho farmer poison at cost,
instruct him how to mix it properly
and direct his efforts in spreading it,
the work to be done under the direct
supervision of Mr.. Scheffer, assisted
by the county agents and his agricul-
tural bureau. The campaign is to be
financed by revolving fund to be pro-
vided either by the county commits
sioners or obtained by loan from the
banks. Funds thus obtained will be
used to purchase in quantities the poi
son and the grain and will be paid
back as the material is issued to the
farmers.
To make the work thoro and effic-
lent each. county is to be divided into
poison districts, each with its own
working, organization. At today's
meeting definite schedule of dates
was worked out for conducting the
campaign so that the work in each
county will be carried on under the
direct supervision of Mr.. Shelter and
his assistant. The first work will be
done in Benton. county for the reason
that the sage rats are busy here when
the ground squirrels are still in win
ter quarters in most of the other
counties. Mr.. Scheffer will come here
the first week in March. In the mean
time County Agent Lee M. Lampson
and his assistant Raymond Dorsey,
will prepare estimates and make re-
quisitions for the amount of materials
needed here.
No attempt will be made this year
to extend the campaign to the Horse
Heaven district in this or Yakima or
Klickitat counties for the reason that
the district is SO sparsely populated
and with so much virgin or aban-
doned land between the cultivated
farms as to levy an excessive burden
on the farmers and render good re-
suits impracticable. Relief in the
Horse Heaven district is expected
from bill which will come before
this session of the legislature, making
possible to create poison districts
along lines similar to irrigation dis
1ricts. With such legislation enacted
the cost .of exterminating the rodents
vail De assessed on per acre basis
against the land, regardless of wheth-
er 1t is cultivated or not. Under pres
ent conditions, as Mr.. Lampson ex-
plains, to get results the farmer of
quarter section would have to poison
tne squirrels on thousands of sur
loundlng uncultivated acres which are
Deing held for speculation by some
nonresident owner.
The campaign of determination is
20 continue over a period of at least
ohree years. At today's meeting Mr..
scheffer cited instances of where GER
.ain counties had been almost entirely
freed of rodent pests by similar cam
paigns. :.
tomorrow Mr.. Scheffer will accom-
pany Mr. Lampson to Benton City
Wnere orchard mice have been doing
considerable damage and the govern
man will demonstrate the best meth
Ous OF overcoming this pest.
0ounty agents who attended today's
meeting are: J. N. Price, of Yakima;