Many rats killed in gas demonstrationThe following was an article in the Rock County Herald printed July 18, 1930:More than 1,200 exterminated in six demonstrations of poison gas method conducted last week Approximately 1,200 rats were killed in the series of six rat extermination demonstrations conducted in Rock County the latter part of last week, in the judgment of County Agent C.G. Gaylord. More than 400 people witnessed the demonstrations in the role of spectators. Calcium cyanide gas was used, under the direction of H.L. Parten, of University Farm, who was assisted by Mr. Gaylord. These anti-rat crusades were staged on the T.T. Rogness farm in Battle Plain, E.A. Brown Company elevator at Jasper, Jas. Crawford farm west of Beaver Creek, Carl Westlie’s in Martin Township, Wm. Groth’s in Clinton Township, the Luverne public dump grounds, and at the Lee English dairy farm. All of the drives were considered very effective, with the exception of that at the dump grounds, where the huge piles of rubbish were so open and honey-combed that the runways could not be effectively penetrated with the gas. A crowd of fully 200 people were present to witness this crusade and when the gas failed to produce results the delegation repaired to the English dairy farm. There a total of 34 rats were forced out of their runways where the gas method seemed very effective. In fact, it is estimated that where the gas is used fully 80 percent of the rodents die in the runways and only 20 percent seek the open air. In one of the barn feeding alleys at this place five rats were found under one board where they had taken refuge in order to escape the gas fumes, this being characteristic of the rodents where gas is used. In the opinion of those in charge of the demonstrations, the most effective work was done at the Brown elevator at Jasper, the Crawford farm in Beaver Creek, and the Groth farm in Clinton. At the last named place 34 rats were killed under a small woodpile with gas. After the unsuccessful attempt to effectively use gas at the dump, Mr. Parten recommended that the rodents be disposed of by using barium carbonate as a poison under a feeding station system. The poison is inexpensive, and being tasteless and odorless, is very effective with proper bait. The feeding station requirements are deemed necessary in order to protect dogs, cats and bird life. It consists in the main of using boxes so that only the rats can get at the poisoned food. After rats eat this form of poison they seek water and usually die in the open. For this reason this method is recommended for use on farms where the bait can be placed under buildings or in places where it is too open to effectively use gas. County agent Gaylord is now working out detailed plans for the construction of a rat booth for Rock County at the Minnesota State Fair. He states that 20 percent of the farmers of Rock County have adopted the new methods of killing rats within the past 18 months, which in itself makes the selection of Rock as the county to furnish such a booth at the Minnesota State Fair, a very logical one. This booth will show that each rat eats approximately $2 worth of feed each year; destroys more than he eats, and that the total destruction from rats is annually more than $200,000,000 in the United States.In this connection it is recalled that a number of years ago Chief of Police P.J. Connell staged a very successful rat drive at the city dump grounds by spreading a large quantity of poisoned pieces of bread in likely places. For more than a year afterwards there was a pronounced decrease in the number of rats seen there. Strangely enough, during the demonstration last Saturday at the dump grounds, hardly a rat was seen, but anyone who does not think that the dump grounds are fairly "lousy" with the pests, should pay a visit there just at sundown any evening. It is said they come out in droves at that period and literally fight for every bit of rubbish of an eatable nature that has been deposited there during the day. Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
