The Washington times., 1911-02-28
DEATH TO ALL RATS
TO Be SLOGAN HERE
War of determination Will
Begin in Capital About
July l..
$500 APPROPRIATED
$500 APPROPRIATED
INDISTRICT BILL
Modest Item Tucked Away Unob-
truSively Agreed to by Both
Houses.

For the destruction of rats, to be
expended in such manner as the Com
missioners may deem proper, $500
This modest item, tucked away in an
obscure corner of the pending District
appropriation bill, between provision
for a site for a new pound and another
provision for a reporter for the Court
of Appeals. holds a world of interest
for the people of the District of Column
bia. 1t has been agreed to by both
houses of Congress, and ii means that
soon after July l next the District
Health Department will launch a cam
paign for the destruction of rats in
Washington.
The $500 will be divided into a number
of prizes, to be awarded to the citizens
or to boys and girls-of the District
who kill the greatest number of rats
in a given length of time. This policy
has already been decided upon bv the
Woodward. It's details will be worked
out by Commissioner Johnston, who has
jurisdiction over the Health Depart
ment and DR.. Woodward, between now
and July l, when the appropriation will
be available.
Serious Evil"
"One naturally smiles when one learns
that Congress has appropriated $500 for
rat-killing in the District" said DR..
Woodward today, but Congress has
made the appropriation in all serious
ness and it Will be expended in all Sc
riousness in remedying an evil which in
itself ! believe is most serious. The rat
is no joke, no matter how much Of
joke may be turned at his expense. The
rat is a serious menace to the health
of any community and he should be
dispensed with. i am particularly graft
fed that the initial appropriation Of $500
has been provided, as l hope ii will
ultimately lead to the eradication of
rats and mice in Washington"
The greatest danger to humanity from
rats is in the rats ability to spread
bubonic plague. Investigation in the
San Francisco epidemic of plague and
research by scientists elsewhere have
demonstrated that rats, mice, and sQur-
rCls spread bubOnic plague, and that the
disease is seldom conveyed by any 9TH
er agency.
Discussing the rat appropriation fur
ther today, DR.. Woodward said:
Il see no reason why We should wait
until we have bubonic plague before
cleaning out our rats San Francisco
waited, and as a result had 100 cases of
the plague, of which Seventy-seven were
fatal. San Francisco then woke up to
its danger, selected a rat-killing com
mittee, and got the help of the United
States Public Health and Marine Hos
pital Service. The whole town went on
a rat-killing crusade, and practically
wiped rats and mice out of the COM
munity.
Not Immune.
The fact that We are not a large
seaport like San Francisco docs rot
mean We are immune to an epid" mic
Of bubonic plague. In San Francisco it
was found people VINO had been exposed
didn't becomeiII for from five days to
two weeks. It's nothing but blind luck
that people who mad te"n exposed didn't
happtn to go to other cities and carry
the plague with -hem Five days would
allow person with the plague to cross
IL" Cnrtinent.
And the plague has rot yet been
stamped out Of California As late as
last August C2sc vas fUurd In Ala
media county. showing that some rat,
mouse, or squirrel, which had been in
feCted in san Francisco had carried or
epidemic was supposed to have been
wlDed ont.
The best policy is to get rid of our
rodents before we hIv" the plague. |
believe This appropriation of 500, al |
though comparatively small, will help |
great deal. I tlli.Ik the hest results |
can be obtained ny Offering one sub |
stantial prize for the greatest number |
of "ats killed by one person. and a |
large number Of smaller prizes, graded |
down to small amounts. That method |
OF spenGing the money, I believe. will !
mean more dead rats than tho Cffer of |
q bonus Tor each animal Between now
and July l we viii work OFT the Plan ,
OF prizes, and will probably conduct .
the campaign during the summer, when
the rats are more likely to be in the ,
open"