New-York tribune., 1899-02-12
BOroughs OF Manhattan and Ine BronN'
L,nnt ~ Ell TYantN-s sIYi h-st-. NeN- y 0r

OF Mammalian
Foot of East Twenty -sixth-st. New. lorK: y
roaches and waterburs from The institutions Of this
Department during the year He .,.,.,
WoI@ IosS,,, az ' egi5g Hoas. for Homeless Men Aims
house. City Hospital: IDIOT AsyluH mani 4YIJ,l
Harlem Hospital Fordham Hospital. Eplleptic fios-
pital and all small huildngs eoiheceu ~, 80 .iIi
be- received at tho ofice ot the Department o. Pub
city OF New-YOrk etc.
This seemed 10 be a new departure in the work
O. the CITY administration and Tribune reporter
called on John ". Keller the head Of the Charities
DeDar-mert. 70 discover how the Department meant
to deal with difficulty in regard 70 which good
many householders would also Ike some iniorma-
ton.
The reporter found however, that the ADVERTISE
rnent was not 50 much an attempt 10 get Td OF an
existing nuisance measure 10 save the money
OF the taxDavers. Tho Institutions mentioned In
the advertisement have been free from cockroaches
v.a.erbugs and other kindred uupleasantnesses for
more than a year When the reform administration
was In power a certain firm OF insect powder man
ufacturers offered TO tree all the buildings uader
the control Of the Department Of Charities from
vermin for the sum of {2J0 year Before the
contract was entered into. however. Commissioned
Keller had taken charge of the Department lie
was quick TO recognize the desirability Of freeing
the institutions under his control from undesirable
visitors and told the company 70 60 ahead Ihey
did so and performed their work satisfactorily and
their bill was paid. The understanding had been
that nothing was 10 be paid by the Department l.
snv cockroaches or waterbugs remained.
This year Commissioner Keller was about 10 re-
new the contract but short time before the agree
ment was 10 be signed he began 10 receive by al
most every mail letters from other firms Offering
10 do the same work for less money. He therefore
thought that the best way would be 70 advertise.
Hence the announcement IN The City RecoIA
You must understand said the Commlssloner ~
70 The Tribune reporter, that the Departmenl
runs risk Of wasting its money. me people
who undertake tho work have got 70 90 u DeloI =
they get cent II find any cockroaches o.
bugs anywhere after the process has been app.ied
We shall not pay anything. The process that mas
hot oniy die them rnselves after they have walked
over n but carry II on their feet 70 the cracks and
holes where their companions collect
The Commissioner grew so interested In me SUD
iect while ne was talking about II that nothing
would satisfy him but TO can up an ,sor yte d
institutions under his control ny telephChe: i atl
from cockrOaches and waterbugs. but also rom
mice. rats and those creatures which the II AEngLsA
perintendent Of the city Hospital was among those
who replied 20 the questions. re SaId tlat !tIeIe
any Norfolk Towards" The only animals that
wen. don't YOU do anything TO get rid Of them
56b vi You DO" hs repeated as the reply came.
let me know what II Is 80 that can te4 '"e pe'-
pie al the other places.
Cats" the answer . D.,
The Commissioner did no, apparently think !,
Hecesi4I 20 sner,nenden 10 the managers Of
other Institutions although most o. the 4at,er sul
fered IN the same way \. be4erIe IA tiPsP-, t =, =.
were driven into buildings by The tides This l
sance: however, IS only o. minor ,seIf %
al present on being remarkably free from oDJec-
uOnaDle NeiHln.