The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-06-11
RATS COST MILLIONS
SAWS UNCLE SAM IN REPORT
JUST ISSUED.
GOVERNMENT CRUSADE DESCRIBED
Measures Suggested That viii Help
70 Lessen the Number Of the
Varmints.

Washington. Special: What can a
rat dor or speaking more accurately.
"What can't rat do?" is the theme
Of most remarkable report lust
Issued by the Department OF Agricul-
lure.
The graphic and startling accounts
Of depredations by rodents that fill
the pages OF this pamphlet show that
he rat is a powerful engine OF de-
Nruction
One of the principal crusades OF the
Department OF Agriculture during
more than a year past has been d.
rected against the common brown rat.
A group OF the most skilled scientists
OF the department was instructed by
Secretary James Wilson TO 20 forth
and study the rat, TO learn its habits
and ascertain 70 what extent II dam
ages property and menaces public
health The result of this investiga-
ton Is now laid before the public in
an Illustrated pamphlet OF fifty-four
pages OF exciting reading matter.
While enumerating an enormous
list Of depredations caused by rats.
the government scientists are careful
70 explode the theory that the rat ever
picks a quarrel with human being or
bites children when they are asleep.
Concerning the per capita cost OF
maintaining rats the report says
Experiments show that the average
quantity OF grain consumed by full
grown rat Is fully two ounces daily.
A halfgrown rat eats about half as
much as an adult. Fed on grain a rat
eats iorty-fiye TO fifty pounds a year,
worth about 60 cents If wheat or $50
II oatmeal Fed on beefsteaks worth
p cents a pound or on young chick.
ems or squads with a much higher
prospective value the cost OF main
tanning a rat is proportionately in
creased Granted that more than half
bali The food of our rats Is waste the
average cost OF keeping one rat is
still upward of 25 cents a year.
10 an accurate census OF the rats
OF the United States were possible a
reasonably correct calculation of the
minimum cost OF feeding them could
BE- made from this data If the rats
supported by the people Of the United
States were equal TO the number of
domestic animals on the farms, horses,
cattle, sheep and hogs-the minimum
cost Of feeding them on grain would
be upward Of sl00.000,000 a year. To
some such enormous total every farm
q. and indeed every householder who
has rats on his premises. contributes
share
The scientists summarize their rec
concentrations OF steps that might
prottahly be taken toward the abate-
ment % the rat nuisance, as follows:
i Protection of hawks. owls and
smaller predatory mammals-the nat
ural enemies OF rats.
. Greater cleanliness about stables.
MARKETS. grocery stores, warehouses,
courts alleys and vacant lots in cities |
and villages and like care on farms |
ana suburban premises. This in I
ciudes the storage of waste and gar
base in tightly covered vessels and |
The prompt disposal of IL every day.
:. Care in the construction of build |
ings and drains so as not to provide |
entrance and retreats for rats and the |
permanent closing of all rat holes in |
old houses and cellars.
4 The early thrashing and market
ING % grains on farms so that stacks |
and mows shall not furnish harborage
and food for rats.
.. Removal of outlying straw stacks
ana piles OF trash or lumber that har-
Dor rats in the fields.
Ratproofng of warehouses. mar
Aels cribs. stables and granaries for
Storage Of provisions. seed grain and
oodstufs
Keeping effective rat dogs. espe-
Tally IN city warehouses.
The systematic destruction OF
ats whenever and wherever possible.
y trapping, poisoning and organized
hunts.
v The organization of rat clubs"
lnd other societies for systematic war
are against rats.