Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-29
WAR ON RATS
IS DECLARED
SAN FRANCISCO FEARS ANOTHER
PLAGUE OUTBREAK
Rodents and Fleas Must Co and Sani-
tary Conditions Must Be Inn
proved is Decision at
Mass Meeting

Ply Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 2s.-"The
rats must go" was the tenor of the
speeches made at mass meeting Of
citizens held this afternoon on the floor
% the Merchants exchange. and called
for the purpose Of considering the sani-
tary condition of San Francisco and
its relation to the health of other cities
in the state.
The meeting was presided over by
George X. Vending, vice president of
the Merchants exchange, and among
the speakers were Governor Gfllett,
Mayor Taylor, DR.. Rupert Blue of the
United States Marine hospital service,
who has been conducting the campaign
for the eradication OF bubonic plague
since last August; Dr. Martin Regens-
burger, president of the state board of
health; DR.. William Ophuls, president
of the local board Of health, and DR..
Frank Hobby, federal quarantine Of
ficer at this port.
All the speakers ADVOCATED necessary
reforms in the building laws, with a
view of making all structures ratproof,
urged more stringent ordinances and
regulation with rigid enforcement by
the police and health officers. and APP
pealed to the citizens to come to the
support of the federal and local health
authorities by cleaning UP their prem
ises
Danger of Plague
While no case of plague has been re-
ported for two weeks, DIR. Blue pointed
out that plague infection among the
rats had increased considerable hence
a vigorous campaign against the rats
and general cleaning up of the city
is absolutely necessary to prevent an
outbreak of plague next summer. He
was followed by DR.. Regensburger, who
urged as vigorous campaign against
rats and fleas" in this city as now
waged successfully against mosquitoes.
Governor Gillett, the next speaker.
said the state would support the fed
eral authorities in any measure deemed
necessary, but this was insufficient
without the Individual cooperation OF
every citizen.
He dwelt at length upon the relation
of the sanitary condition of San Fran.
cisco, so far as any contagion was con-
cerned, to the health of the entire state.
The governor advocated the plan of
dividing the city into small districts
for a cleaning up" and appealed to
the press to do its share by inaugural
ing a campaign of sanitary education.
DIR. Ophuls told of the work of the
local health officials in cooperating
with the Marine hospital service corps
under Dr. Blue, and Mayor Taylor an
nounced the appointment of a commit
tee of twenty-five, thirteen laymen and
twelve physicians, to consult with and
assist the health authorities in the
campaign and preparation of the proper
building and sanitary ordinances.
1900 Vessels Fumigated
DIR. Frank Hobby, quarantine officer
at this port, said that since last Sep
TENDER 1900 vessels had been disin-
fected. In this work, he said, 100000
pounds of sulphur and 5000 gallons of
alcohol had been burned.
Resolutions were unanimously adopted
requesting the board of supervisors to
provide Immediately all necessary regu-
lations for the collection and disposal
of garbage, the determination of rats
and instituting all precautionary meas
ures necessary for improving the sani-
tary conditions of the city; calling
upon the police department to strictly
enforce all building. sanitary and gar
bage regulations and ordinances; re-
questing police judges to severely
punish all violators and asking the
press to cooperate with the author
tiles in impressing upon the public mind
the necessity of such sanitary measures
to insure a clean and healthy city.