Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 203, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1919 — Page 3

BHILE the appropriations for the department of agriculture were under consideration in the house the following memorial from New Mexico was read: “Whereas, we believe that the work of exterminating predatory wild animals and range-destroying rodents carried on under the direction of the biological survey duriug the past few years has been very successful, and that under the thorough organization and efficient plans of that bureau this evil will be largely minimized, if not entirely removed, provided the different states will heartily co-operate with the federal government in its plan of work; and “Whereas at the present time the funds appropriated by congress for this purpose are wholly inadequate to meet the real requirements of the biological survey in carrying on this work, and on that account the results obtained are not satisfactory in most sections of the West; and “Whereas It is our belief that the present laws of the states should be repealed, and in lieu thereof the various states should, through their several legislatures, enact laws appropriating sufficient money to equal the amounts to be expended by the federal government in the different states, and that such state appropriations should be expended under the direction of the biological survey, to be handled in conjunction with the funds appropriated by congress; therefore be it “Resolved by the New Mexican Cattle and Horse Growers’ association, in convention assembled at Albuquerque, N. M., March 25, 26 and 27, 1919, that we urge congress to appropriate the additional sum of $300,000 for Immediate use in the extermination of predatory wild animals and range-destroy-ing rodents, and that we petition the various states to make appropriations at least equal to the amounts expended by the federal government in the various states, said money, both federal and state, to be expended under the direction of'the biological survey.” This question of predatory wild animals and rodents —which are also predatory animals in the true sense of the word, Inasmuch as they raid and pillage the crops—is a serious one in many parts of the West. The case of New Mexico is typical; so the remarks of Representative Hernandez, of New Mexico concerning the situation are of Interest. He said In part: “One of the serious problems confronting- these engaged In promoting production of food crops and meat animals was the tremendous damage to growing crops and to range grasses caused by prairie dogs and other rodents, and the loss of cattle, sheep, and poultry from wild animals, investigations by the United States biological survey show that the annual losses in the United States from predatory wild animals amounted to several hundred million dollars, and the loss from rodents is probably greater. The annual loss in New Mexico was variously estimated at from fifteen to twen-ty-five million dollars. The method used by the biological survey has been perfected by years of Investigation and experimenting and Is very successful. The “kill" of prairie dogs is generally from 85 to 95 per cent by the use of poisoned oats. They followed up the work by using poisoned rolled barley and later by using fumigants, such as bisulphide of carbon, with which, if carefully and thoroughly used, a good Start has been made. “The biological survey had co-opera-tive arrangements in several states for

Couldn’t Hurt That Toad

There are many surprising stories «*hout toads, observes Philip Hale, editor of the ’‘As the World Wags" colainn in Boston Herald. Here is one of ♦hem. taken from a book containing the■bames and crimes of people in Northumberland, England. In It 93 a stone mason, Mr. George Wilson, “wantonly immured" a toad in a wall he was ,building, making for the toad a close

Killing Off Predatory Wild Animals

by John D. Sherman

exterminating rodents and predatory wild animals, and in every case the results are much more satisfactory and less expensive than under the bounty system. I have before me now a partial report made by the men in charge of this work in the southwestern part of the country through the council of defense of the state of New Mexico. “In the spring of 1918 the governor of the state authorized the use of $25,000 from the fund known in our state as the war fund, and under an agreement covering the plan for the co-oper-ative work as executed. Under this agreement SIO,OOO of this amount, in conjunction with an equal amount by the department of agriculture, was set aside and applied in reducing losses in live stock due to predatory wild animals, an Increased force of hunters was placed in the field, trapping was resorted to by this experiment; the results have been very satisfactory. “State hunters have a total of 1,972 days, at a cost of $5,741.44. They have taken 642 coyotes, T 24 bob cats, 14 gray wolves, 5 predatory bears, including 8 grizzlies. The average cost of animals in June was $88.87; in July, $8.53; August, $5.93. The government operations in the state during the same periods cost $9,225.70, and resulted in the killing of 417 coyotes, 77 bob cats, 41 gray wolves, 13 mountain lions, 2 bears. No reasonable estimate of damage inflicted by predatory animals that has been advanced can show anything other than the return on this investment of a very high rate of interest. The estimate generally accepted—and it is conservative, indeed, in view of the present high value of live stock — js that eachgray wolf destroys annually SI,OOO worth of live stock; each mountain lion, $500; each coyote and bob cat, SSO worth; predatory bears may be rated in the same class with wolves.' On this basis the saving represented in this co-operative work is nearly nine times the amount of expenditure. Thus you will observe that the estimated saving to the people of the nation, you might state, is $131,500, at a cost of. about $20,000.” While the facts presented by the New Mexican representative are not clearly arranged, they afford a glimpse of the situation that prevails pretty much all over the far West, and the whole nation is interested, too, as Mr. Fernandez said in closing: “We are all interested in that industry. We send our wool —20,000,000 or 25.000,000 pounds—to the cities of Philadelphia and Boston, so that those merchants can have that product, which will Increase the employment of their people. We send our meat to the packing houses. All the American people are interested in that. There was a time when the people did not

cell of lime and stone, to fit it snugly, and plastering to prevent the admission of air. Sixteen years afterward I a gap was made in the wall so that fearts could pass through. The toad Swas found alive. Torpid at first, it (was soon active, so that it made its way to a pile of stones and disappeared. There were cruel men in Northumberland. Mr. Thomas Anderson

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

care how many animals were destroyed by predatory beasts, because meat was plentiful. But since meat has become all the way from $lO to sls, instead of from $1.50 to $2.50, we urge that the department give us experts in co-oper-ation with our own activities for the extermination of these pests.” ft is true that predatory wild animals, like the mountain lion and wolf, are expensive. The biological survey is emphatic in Its statement that the average gray wolf kills SI,OOO worth of live stock a year, and a mountain lion SSOO w’orth. The coyote, which Is the smaller prairie wolf, rivals his big cousin in destruction. The biological survey claims to have reduced the wolf population of New Mexico by 260 Individuals in three years. Incidentally, naturalists and sportsmen will be Interested in the statement by the biological survey that in the Pecos mountain region bears have been very destructive. The survey uses these words: “During the recent grazing season bears killed approximately 125 head of valuable cattle in the Pecos region. Similar damage in the Black range and in the Mogollon mountain makes it evident that a total of at least 250 head of cattle as well as a large number of sheep were killed by bears. These facts are worthy of consideration, in view of the general and concerted efforts now under way on the part of sportsmen to enact legislation that will prevent trapping of bears or hunting them with the aid of dogs.” Naturalists and big game hunters hold that bears seldom kill big game or stock, and that when Individual bears get the stock-killing habit it is an acquired taste. Big-game hunters holding these views have been active in promoting state legislation for the protection of grizzly and black bears, which otherwise are doomed to speedy extermination except in the national parks, which are wild life sanctuaries. Tfra warfare against prairie dogs, chipmunks and other rodents is less exciting, but there is much more money at stake. In New Mexico in four summer months co-operative work in exterminating prairie dogs was conducted over 652,000 acres of Infested land, 3,403 landowners assisting in the work. An average of over 90 per cent of ..the prairie dogs was killed. On the . untreated land the total loss of the crop, or at least a 50 per cent loss, often occurred as a result of prairie-dog infestation. It Is estimated that the crop saving effected by prairie-dog control amounts to approximately $500,000. Multiply this by a dozen or more — the number of states doing the same kind of work —and the size of the job is apparent. A new angle to the situation is the recent public announcement that prairie dogs are good eating and that various towns in the infested areas are going to put them on the bill of fare.

was punished in 1681 for playing on a bagpipe before a bridegroom on a Sunday. Among the women, Elizabeth Milli? was brought into court for scolding and drying fish on the Lord’s day.

No Wife for Him.

"This coat w’as made by some sentimental girl. I found a gushing note In one of the pockets.” “Did you write to the writer?" “Not L The coat was poorly made and the buttons not half sewed on."— Loulsv'Ue Courier-Journal.

FAMOUS NAMES

There Vre quite a few famous names in the National league pitching ranks this year. Grover Cleveland Alexander and John Calhoun Benton have been famous around the league for some time. But now the Cubs have a splendid running mate to Alexander in Abraham Lincoln Bailey. Fred Mitchell, the Cub manager, started to call Bailey “Abe” on the training trip, when the rookie Interrupted him and said: “The folks back home ail call me ‘Line’ for short." And Mitchell wouldn’t quarrel about a little thing like names.

VETERAN CRAVATH IS BRAINY BALL PLAYER

Newly Appointed Manager Is Oldest Man on Team. Doing Better Work for Phillies This Season Than for Several Year®— Batting Pacemaker of Na* tional League. The one real, outstanding platinumplated star of the Phils is the oldest player on the team’s pay roll, namely, the well-known and dangerous Clifford Carlton Cravath, who has just been appointed manager of the club, succeeding Jack Coombs. Mr. Cravath hit the thirty-seven-year mark on March 23 last. Hitting the thirty-seven mark is the worst thing Gabby has done in his life. He hits the ball much harder. The only active player now in baseball who is older than Cravath is Dode Paskert of the Cubs. Paskert will be thirty-eight years old next August. Cravath, on the road to thirty-eight years of age, is the wonder of baseball.

Clifford Carlton Cravath.

Today finds him the batting pacemaker of one of the major leagues. He Is playing better ball this year than he has done in the last three or four seasons. A common estimate of Cravath is that he is a slow-thinking, slow-mov-ing, slow-fielding, good-natured chap who pounds out base hits by sheer might. If it is the common analysis it is the wrong one. Cravath is probably the headiest ball player on his team. He is lasting years after most players pass into retirement, because of brains. , Cravath can divine the intention of an opposing pitcher far better than his younger and more agile pals. He has a pair of sharpshooter eyes and uses them for seeing purposes. ' When Cravath drives out a smoking hit you can rest assured that he knew what was being served to him and was set for it. There is mo hit-or-miss style with him. He knows how to play for batsmen tn right field and plays hits against the wall at the Philadelphia park better than any other right-flelder with the Phils or on an opposing team. Cravath makes his defensive skill all the more valuable by his uncanny throwing. Cravath actually is une pf the best throwing outfielders in America. Speaker can heave a ball faster, but even Speaker can’t throw with the judgment of Cravath.

HOT AFTER PETTY GAMBLERS

I !■■■ / New York American League Club Making Usual DrtVlSAgalHStßet-—' ting at Polo Grounds. Officials of the New York American league club are making their usual drive against the petty gamblers who infesff the main grandstand back of third base and the list of gamblers who find it impossible to get into the Polo grounds when the Yankees are playing is growing .as a result, says a New York Evening Sun critic. Since the activity against these bettors w’as started by Yankee officials many gamblers have been led to the gate, given a refund on their admission and told to keep out. Some have attempted to return, but find themselves barred and must do their small fry wagering over the ticker tape, if at all, when the Yanks are home. Baseball’s hold on the American public is due in the most part to the integrity of the players and the fact that the finger of suspicion canot be pointed at the result of the gynes. For this reason it always has been the aim of those identified with the sport to drive out the gambling element. The game is better. off without persons of this ilk, and the owners of the Yankees are to be commended on their stand. These gamblers make themselves obnoxious and objectionable not only to the club management but to the other fans who put home loyalty above a paltry dollar or two.

QUESTION ARISES AS TO MOST FORM OF THROWING WITH INFIELDERS

Infielders Who Have Their Own Peculiar Way of Throwing.

What is the better form in baseball, to throw underhand, side arm or overhanded? We will not venture an opinion. We leave pundits of the pastime—and t£L the goTf'-ptaj; ers, writes Tom Rice in Bboeklyn Eagle. In their recent series with the Bqs--tan, Brayes, the Brooklyn Superbas had to face theihprtstop-work of Maventure the opinion that Maranville is the best thrower we have ever seen. In that we are supported by the Brooklyn papers. Larry Cheney remarked that Maranville could shoot a ball faster and with more accuracy than any other athlete he knew r . Larry wrns right. Maranville Is a Puzzle. Maranville seems to get the ball away without making half of the usual motions. He can under or over handed, but his best trick is in-shoot-ing from a sort of side-arm overhand. That; is not a clear description, but it is not our fault. Maranville’s throw has always been a puzzle, even to players on the field with him. He seems to push, rather than throw, the ball. Another peculiarity is that the players on the same team say he has a “light” throw. That is, it hits the receiver’s hands without jarring them. Why that should be so Is one of the mysteries of baseball. It is notorious In the profession that a throw from some players will nearly knock the receiver down, even when the thrower

PECKINPAUGH IS SENSATION

New York Yankees’ Star First Baseman Leads League In Batting— Run Scoring High. Boger Peckinpaugh Is the real American league sensation of the year. This Is Peck’s eighth American league season, and his best mark In hitting was in 1913, when he hit .268. Most of the time he has been below 250, and now he leads the league with approximate-

Roger Peckinpaugh.

ly a .400 average. His run scoring is as remarkable as his batting. He has crossed the plate 43 times in 54 games. If this rate is maintained until the end of the season he will practically tie Cobb’s mark of 147 runs, made in 1911.

BROWN SIGNS TWO PITCHERS

Manager of Terre Haute Team Gets Two Hurlers to Bolster Weakened Pitching Staff. Hope of bolstering the weakening pitching staff. Manager Brown of Terre Haute has signed two promising semipro pitchers, William Raatz and W. BL Jensen. The latter has been winning slabman with the Wesleyan college team.

Is by no means famed for his supposed speed. On the other angle Is the player whose throw falls into the glove lightly and gives the other fellow plenty of time for making the play. The reason for that has never been explained. It may be that the thrower unconsciously twists the ball as he lets it go, but in that <?ase it should curve. Sweeping Side-Arm Throw. Take, then, Mickey Doolan, who played short for Brooklyn on various occasions. Mickey has the most beautiful sweeping side-arm throw we ever saw, and the motion was totally different from that of Maranville. Which has the better form? There ain’t no such animal as “form" in baseball, as It is applied to golf and other sports. Doolan made his reputation on the side-arm stuff. Of course he could throw from other positions,, but that was the efficient element which made him a star for ten years, although he seldom batted over .230. Smith Throws Overhand. Another case is that of J. Carlisle (Red) Smith of the Boston Braves. Smith for nearly ten years has been a third baseman. The best asset of a third baseman is supposed to. be an underhand throw; yet Smith has always been an overhand thrower. He never learned the other style, and does not use any other to this day. 'll “form,” as ordinarily understood, had counted, Smith never would have gotten a job on an amateur team.

BASEBALL STORIES

Oklahoma City added a new pitcher to its staff in Yonkman, who got away good for a starter. - • • Pitcher Turkey Boman is out of the army at last and rejoined the Little Rock Travelers the other day. * • • Ellis Johnson, former pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics, recently out of the army, joined Baltimore. Before the Chicago Cubs got Lee Magee from Brooklyn, Manager Mitchell tried to deal for John Rawlings of the Braves. Memphis announced the release of Catcher Gil Meyers, but changed its mind and the young collegian was<told he could stay on. < • • • ' >'• Rube Marquard is not coming on so well with his broken leg and it is doubtful that he wfll pitch another game this season. • • • Jack Dunn says that hla Jjest bet of several seasons in the way of finds is Boley, the youngster playing shortstop for the Orioles.. • • •• Sothoron is pitching the game of his career. His control is perfect and he seldom gives a good hitter a good hall unless he is forced to do so. ♦ • • There is another new Johnson In the pitching arena. He has joined the Columbus team. His identity is not quite clear, as he is described as “a youngster just returned from France.” • * • Walter Golvin has succeeded Soldier Brown as first baseman for the Mobile team. Golvin seems to have suffered no ill effects from his long service in the north of Russia. • * • Kid Gleason is quoted as praising JDlck Kerr with qualifications. The Ktd says Kerr has everything but height, but he is three Inches shy of what a real, honest-to-goodness pitcher should be. *♦• ■ ' Young Unglaub, nephew of the veteran Bob UnglaUb, now dead, seems to be a find from Petersburg. He fanned 14 batters in the first game he pitched, and the next time out pitched a twobit game.