The Washington herald., 1908-07-07

Notwithstanding the fact that Wash
ington is looked upon as one Of the clean
est cities in this country, it houses an
unusually large population Of rats, and
the various superintondents Of the gov
ernment buildings are constantly at war
with the destructive rodents.
IT Is particularly in the public build
ings, with their many hiding places in
cellar garret. unused rooms. and storage
places, that the rat thrives and multplies,
comparatively undisturbed with the ex-
ception Of a periodical chase by Wash
ington's ferret man and rat catcher. the
animals lead life Of ease and comfort.
Government Pays Their Salaries.
Regular provisions are made in the
annual programmes Of the various build
ing superintendents OF Uncle Sans de-
purtments for the destruction Of the
rodent, but when it is considered that
annually about 100000 young rodents are
added 20 Washngtoa's rat population. il
Will be seen that undertaking TO exter-
inmate them is not an easy task.
Never before IN the history II the
United States Marine Hospital Service
has there been waged such "a determined
warfare against the admission OF rats
into this country than since IL has been
fully established that rats are more dan
gerous and prolific I'm carrying the most
Vrulent diseases than any other agent.
Travel on Ocean Liners
Rats inhabit nearly all vessels. whether
built Of wood OF Of iron, and they come
and go with the freedom Of passengers.
with tickets prepaid 10 distant ports.
Sometimes they become too numerous.
| Then the professional ratcatchers have
their hands full. chasing the rodents with
! ferrets and dogs from one part OF the
/ ship 10 another. and the slaughter is
great But these spasmodic attempts 10
/ clear the ships of rats are like taking a
| few drops Of water from the ocean Phcre
! seems 10 be no appreciable diminutiOn
\ in their number. and when the ship warps
! up 20 her pier and loads with another
/ cargo OF gCain. she may carry in her
/ hold as many rodents as when she en-
/ tered the harbor. This is due TO the
/ fact that regular migration Of rats Is
/ going on all the time.
/ Sailors do not object 20 the presence
/ Of rats on shipboard. Indeed, they con-
slider them safe shipmates and sure signs
that the vessel is seaworthy and not IN
I danger OF sinking The sight Of rats
dcserting a ship is sufficient 10 discourage
any sailor from going on board FOR a trip
( but, on the other hand. too many rats
aboard spoil everything. Numbers make
them bold and instead OF staying IN thC
/ hold. where the cargo is stored, they vii
appear in the sailors quarters. and even
| in the captains cabin. A ship overloaded
with rats becomes an unpleasant abiding
place.
Rats Enemies OF StOwnways.
Strange experiences have been related
Of stowaways being driven from theil
hiding place In the holds Of ships by n,
nightly appearance OF the rats in sucl
numbers as 20 threaten their lives. Few
can stand the nightly company Of severa
hundred inquIsitive rodents almost a,
large as kittens. especially when the holC
OF the ship is unilrminated by the slight
est ray Of light. and a species of uncon
trolable terror generally seizes the stowa
way before the ship is two days out /
is easier 10 face an irate and ugly captain
than the fierce-eyed deniZens of the hold
There are merchants around Center
Market who assert that there are rats il
that vicinity at least fifteen years old
and that every effort 20 eXtermiuate then
has been futile. The rat has more enc
mics than any other living being. Poison
traps. dogs. cats. ferrets. and men ART
the animals sworn enemies, and Yet th'
washington rat family is just as numer
Gus as Of yOre.
Rapid Increase of Rodents.
This is probably accounted for by th'
fact that the gray rat sends forth three
broods of young year, and one brooC
seldom numbers less than ten babies. an,
frequently it exceeds sixteen. Takins
twelve nestlings as the average family
each pair of gray rats viii present 10 TIT
/. world each year thirty-siX OF its kind
Now. on basis Of 100000 pairs of rats
it viii be seen that each year there ar
added 20 the rat pOpul-don Of Washing
ton 12,Oo0.6O0 young rodents.
Considering the damage done by rats
and their reputation as disease-carrier
and conservers of fifth. the question j
often asked why more active steps 10
the determination of the rat are no
taken by the government. as a measur
Of protection Of the publics health ant