Crittenden record-press., 1916-08-24

rid the city of the pests. After much
and mature deliberation il adopted the
modern plan prevalent in the Wesdern
states in their war on the coyote ard
the jack rabbit, they offered a bonus.
Under the bonus plan the city pays ten
cents the pint for flies. and two cents
each for rat tails. The success of the
plan was speedily apparent. From the
date Of the announcement that the city
was in the market for flies, rats ard
mice, the pests were doomed. Small
boys and large boys, and not few
! girls entered the new field of industry.
Flies began coming in by pints and
then by gallons. Rat tail began show
ing up by dozens and then by hundreds.
As a result the city has been put to a
little expense. According to figures
kept by the Mayors Office there have
been 3 GIL pints Of flies put out of bus
mess since January /, 1916 at cost to
the city Of $39ll0. From January l,
1915. $3.50 rats and mice have been
forced to sacrifice their caudal append
ages at cost to the city of s65. go
Rat do more harm in community
than can be repaired by ten sanitary
institutions. 1t has been estimated by
reliable authority that half the cases
Of typhoid and consumption treated in
hospitals are caused either directly or
indirectly bv rats. They feed off the
most poisonous food as well as off the
best. A rats whiskers carry poison
Gus germs which they leave on every
thing with which they come in contact.
UNIQUE METHODS EMPLOYED.
In the prosecution Of the local war
fare on rats many unique methods are
employed. OF course the inevstable
rat trap plays q prominent part as
doss the deadly an gun. One fshce>
man operating along the river bank
has adapted fish trap Of ingenious
design. His daily receipts run about
fifty cents. His method is simple.
He simply sets the trap and visits It
three times week.
Various poisons are used with vary
ling success. The ratcatchers. how
ever. are learning that rats never get
caught by the same kind Of poison but
once. That is to say. that when one
or more Of rat colony fall victim to
a specific poison the remainder Of the
colony will not eat Of it.
0 One woman utilizes the primitive
rule Of gravity She props q large
washtub up on stick connected with
a trigger projecting inward. Food Is
scattered under the tub and the rat
O traps himself.
n But the best and most successful Of
a the rat catchers is the small boy about
e town. Hardly day passes but what
Ie from three to a dozen youngsters cal
" on the mayor for the purpose Of present
ing him with certificate from the po
:, lice department that he has turne'
,e over so many rat tails. And like mos
n successful business men the small boy
4. never makes the mistake Of expll ninl
\ his system. He delivers the goo = ant
c he gets his money
Il The plan adopted by the city has no
10 been without its beneficial results
,e Crude perhaps, It has, nevertheless
IA caused the re dIet.Un Of rats. mice an
no flies TO a noticeable extent Much ca
, vet be desired Manure heaps and opel
garbage recepatcles can be done ava
IA with by ordinance. Premises ordere
N. kept in sanitary coGditlonunder penali
is OF punishment and many other salt
On tary police regulations enforced B.
ch until a better plan Is suggested. It is
g. be hoped that the bonu. system wi,i q
main in full force and effect owen
" boro Messenger.