Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 215, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1915 — ROUGH ON RATS [ARTICLE]

ROUGH ON RATS

The "Electric Chelr for Rodents" Will Be Welcomed by the Rat Family. From time Immemorable we have employed all sorts of “rough on rats” methods to rid our premises of the devastating and repulsive rodent, and most of these methods were rough indeed. We have had powerful steel traps with merciless clamps, wire rages from which the imprisoned victim could read his fate in the sharp, Shining teeth of the prancing terrier, the bob-nailed heels of hit-or-miss masculine boots, the horrible burning fluid anti match method, and the countless poisonous pastes with which to spread the bait laid to lure the hungry rodent to his lingering demise beneath the barn or kitchen floor. Now comes the roughest of “rough on rats” devices, and yet it is probably the most merciful. The humane way was discovered or Invented, to free a Pennsylvania RaHway station from a recent invasion of rats. The invention consists of the seductive baiting of an electric current in such a manner that the rat venturing upon the bait suddenly finds Itself transformed in the missing link of a destructive circuit. Instant electrocution follows the sinking of its teeth into the decoying morsel. This latest advice Is one of great promise. It Is simplicity and expediency itself compared with either the trap or poison. It Is also a greater kindness to the rat to snuff out his life with merciful instantaneousness at a moment when he is all smiles of anticipation. Such seems to be the advantages of the “electric chair for rodents.” The idea was developed by the railroad men after rats had Invaded the new station’s basement by way of a coal chute. They constructed their “chair” of an iron plate with a steel spike suspended above it, both the plate and the spike oelng connected to the two wires of an electric circuit. The spike was baited with a turing upon the plate would reach upward for the cheese, thus completing piece of cheese, and the rodents venthe circuit. Death was Instantaneous with the passage of the current.