Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-05-30
.BUBON|C PLAGUE WAR.
Two Thousand Rats Slain Daily
In San Francisco.
CAMPAIGN ACTIVELY WAGED.

Health Officers Report $63,330 Contrib
uted to Fight the Disease-Two Hun
dred Men at Work Destroying Ro-
dents-Plasue Prevention Taught In
Public Schools.
The campaign in San Francisco
against the bubonic plague continues
to be vigorously conducted, and the re-
suits, the health officers declare, are
becoming more satisfactory DR.. Ru-
pert Blue Of the United States marine
hospital service, who is in charge of
the campaign. said that the co-opera-
ton Of the citizens in the movement to
prevent the spread of the contagion is
gratifying, and he and his assistants
are greatly encouraged.
''Since Jan. l there have been only
three cases. said DR.. Blue, land one
suspicious case was brought to light
the other day, that Of a man who had
been vagrant for several months.
He had been sent to the isolation hos
pital, and we will know about his case
after he has been there short time.
None Of the new cases has resulted
fatally.
"The work of exterminating the rats
is progressing very satisfactorily. They
are being killed off at the rate of 1000
or more day. The rat infection in
the infected districts averages about
the same about ] per cent. FIeas.
which carry the disease, are increasing
in number on the rats as the weather
grows warmer, and the citizens should
therefore redouble their efforts in the
battle royal against the rodents. The
work of the citizens thus far is GER
tainly to be commended, and If 1t is
maintained have no doubt that we
will be able to steer clean road from
DANGER
The first announcement made by the
finance committee of the citizens
health body shows contributions of
$63.33O toward the $500, 900 fund which
is to be raised for the purposes Of sani-
tation.
Money is reaching the committee in
large amounts. The Southern Pacific
heads the list with a contribution of
10000, with the Santa Fe second,
with $4,000 A small sized army of
men is being used in the work Of sani-
tation, and it is figured that the cam
paign will extend through the entire
summer. At least $500, 900 in addition
to the government appropriation will
be used.
The approach Of the time when the
! thousands Of American sailors from
the battleship feet will be given lib
erty in San Francisco has aroused Its
inha bitants and business interests tt
| the need for showing a perfectly clear
bill Of health. The garbage collection
| and destruction service is being reor
ganized. and where residents cannot
| pay for the removal Of rubbish it il
done at public expense.
The eradication Of the rats is an in
teresting feature of the plague war
| The city employs large force of mer
doing nothing but spreading poison
upon brown bread, which is scattered
/ Systematically in certain squares o.
1 the city. Two hundred men are nov
| employed. These men are trained il
rat catching and as soon as they ar
competent are sent out to work in TIN
districts into which the city is divided
The campaign is one Of education
and meetings Of every line of business
have been held and the aid of tn,
Church federation asked. Teachers IL
the public schools have incorporates
plague prevention as portion Of tn,
curriculum, and women's clubs ever
have inspectors at work doing volun
teer duty. Drug stores have been dis
tributing rat poison free, and rat trap
and garbage cans cannot be obtaine,
as fast as they are required.