Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-03-18
ExrERM1SaTE THE GOPHER BRITISH

The County Commissioners met some
IS farmers at Dietrich March 8 10
discuss plans for war on gophers and
other rodent pests. w. r. Crouch. Of
the Il. s. Biological Dept, viii be at
Dietrich March Is to start the cam
.aign by employing the men necessary
10 make most thorough and system
stic war Of determination on the pests.
Tne following letter to Mr.. Maroney
viii explain the system and method Of
q procedure:
Dear Mr. AsrOney:
In accordance with my promise, I
wish 20 outline in this letter plan for
the determination Of ground squirrels
On the Dietrich tract as discussed with
you and two of the county commiss-
ioners. The plan is as follows: The
object in view in this plan is 70 have
al land infested with ground squirrels
! IN the district in which it is decided
to make a cleanup. treated with poi
-on by a crew of men hired especially
for that purpose. In this way, adjoin-
ing lands will be covered practically
II the same time, overcoming the pos
sibflity of reinfestation, and also in
suring TO a great extent, the thorough
treatment Of the land. / would sus-
rest that a party of six men be put
IN work on this proposition The ex-
penses covering the wages of these
men and the poison bait used on prl-
vate land would be charged against
the land poisoned, accurate accounts
being kept of the time being spent on
each mans land and the amount OF
uoison used on his land. These ex-
9enses then would be charged against
each tract of land in the form of taxes,
as provided for in the Idaho Rodent
Control law This office agrees to
furnish a man to supervise the work
OF this crew. at no direct cost to the
county or land owners. His salary
and expenses being paid from state
and Federal funds. This office will
also furnish all Of the poison and labor
REQUIRED for the treating Of any pub
lie land such a school land. state land.
and federal land that may be included
in the district set aside fortheextermi-
-atio, of ground SQUIRRELS. This
Imposition can be carried on under
the provisions OF the Idaho Rodent
Control law. In other words. in order
to conform with the law. notices could
be sent to all land owners Of the dist
rfcf ana tIen GIttf TN d1Gc thN N-~'' P
could 90 to work in this district, and
then be tSrned in to the county COM /
nissioners and collected in the form
of taxes. The county commissioners
Of course. advancing funds to pay for
the labor and poison bait used on the
rrivate land. and then being reim-
bursed when the taxes are collected
There may be some cases where the
maximum rate of SIG per 100 acres
would not be sufficient to cover the {
land. and in this case the amount over
this rate would have to be paid out
OF county funds.
The man who is put IN charge OF
this work could send notices out to the
land owners, and in this way he would
become acquainted with the land avn
ership and where each tract OF land
was located and could also serve the
notices at such times so that the crew
would be ready to work on the lands
Immediately after the expiration of the
required ten days Which would allow
sthe land owner to do all the work on
his own land that he desired before
the crew gets to his land
1 wish TO say, that this proposition
Should not he undertaken unless
practically all concerned are agree
able to the plan. This matter should
be taken up with the farmers on the
Dietrich tract. as suggested, at meet
ing in order 70 ascertain whether or
not they desire TO undertake this work
end il also should be definitely agreed
nuon bv the county commissioners. il
il is decided to carry on the work
This office is in a position TO carry
out this work as outlined above, pro
vided that nothing is done by the
present Legislature to interfere with
our work
an, herewith enclosing = copy OF
= cire,ilar letter issref hy Mr.. r NJ.
Jesness last wear in Camas county.
Thi circular letter was sent out TO land
owners ~ the time the notices were
sent to them. The average cost per
sore Of the work done in Camas county
last year was Ssc This included the
entire cost CT labor poison and super
vision would estimate that the
average cost per acre on the Dietrich
tract would be approximately &c per
acre. This of course, YOU realize is
the average cost per acre and no bOubt
there would be several farms that the
cost would exceed this amount.
As soon rs YOU have held the meet
ing at Dietrich. kindly advise me
or not it was decided to carry
on the work so that can make ready
10 carry out the plan if so decided and
n fhe LeEislature does nothing to
Interfere with our work.
Very truly yours.
w. f. CROUCH
Biological Assistant in charge