Las Vegas optic., 1913-03-05
new YORK women
Plan WAR ON
RATS
ORGANIZE UNIQUE CAMPAIGN TO
TO RID THE BIG CITY OF
THE RODENTS

rats on a scale hitherto never at
tempted is now being planned here
in an effort to make this the coun-
try's first rat1ess city by exterminat-
ing the rodents which aside from
their inroads on the health Of the
city caused through their depreda-
tions property losses which are esti-
mated at more than $5,0O0,0O0 year
ly. While this city has long realized
the need of Pied Piper, the rats un-
til now have been little molested, so
that experts now declare that the 10
cal rat population is the largest in
the country While it IS OF course
impossible to estimate the number of
rodents accurately, it is held that the
city harbors at least 100000 of
them. Curiously enough the war on
rats is not to be undertaken by the
city authorities but by an organiza-
tion of women who propose to enlist
in their fight of determination the
assistance of all those upon whom
the rat is now inflicting financial
loss. They are not yet ready to open
their campaign but when they are
they will undoubtedly be aided by
merchants, hotel men, keepers of res
taurants, owners of buildings and
store keepers who suffer losses of
millions of dollars annually from the
depredations of the rodents. AS an
example of the conditions Of affairs
now existing one downtown restau-
ranteur states that the rats cost him
several thousand dollars year in
spoiled foodstuffs and the wages oi
exterminators. So rapidly has the
damage which they fnflict been in
creasing that it is now recognized tha
the only efficient protection is to Dt
found in an organized warfare which
shall have for its object the achieve
ment of ratless city. Dealers il
one Of the city's largest markets re
port that the place is 50 overrun a
night with rats that it is necessar!
to turn loose the largest possible
number of their natural enemies. II
the war which is now being planned
by the women, it is proposed tt
make extensive use Of ferrets, since
they have come to be regarded al
the most effective agency in freeint
the city from the great financia
loss which the rats now exact every
year.
New York is Earthquake City.
That the construction of the new
subways will again make New Yorl
an earthquake city is fact which is
causing no alarm. Indeed 1.-THE cessa
tion Of subterranean tappings anC
quakes caused by the completion o.
the present subways and tunnels
! robbed the seasoned New Yorker O
one means of discomfiting the visit
ors who refused to be phased either
by high buildings, high wines OF
high prices. 1t was one of the aciC
tests of those to the manner born tC
experience the uncanny shocks anc
sounds which for many years were
frequent while the blastings were un
der way beneath this city. Anyone
who could keep the thread of a con
yersation and betray no emotion
while the glasses ratified and The
music was drowned by underground
shocks and roars was regarded as
having good standing in the elect
There are some who even invite theiI
friends on a pilgrimage to Montrea
nowadays that they may cynically
| N"NNh thS SllSCb VI SuDI6FTdQedI
happenings, for the heart Of Montrea
is now subjected to frequent Thrills
as blasting proceeds through the
heart of Mount Royal for a tunne
which will furnish a railroad with {
short cut from the congested bust
ness district to the famous melor
farms on the farther slope. In the
offices and homes the shock OF blast
ing is distinctly felt and much sough,
after by those who miss the sensa
ton from the vicinity Of Broadway
The bore through the mountain
pierces solid rock and no mild explo
sives will serve. It is said the cos
will be approximately $4,000 600 bu
that i will be partly recouped by III,
creation of new city OF homes OF
the slopes which for generations hay.
held pastoral fame as melor
/, patches. The Canadian Northern
railways plans for the tunnel were
p, not announced until purchases had
been made quietly Of all the farm,