Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-11-13
WAGE WAR ON
RATS AND MICE
u. S. Department of AgricuI-
ture Advocates Organized
Attack on Rodents

Rat clubs, the purpose of which is |
to trap, poison, shoot, build out" and T!
otherwise combat rats and mice, are
advocated by the United States depart. /
ment of agriculture as effective agen. !
cies TO help in getting rid of these I!
pests and in making the country a |
safer, more healthful, and less expen- !
sive place TO live in. Measures to com. !
bat the destructive rodents are espe. |
cially desirable, in the opinion of the !
department, now that special efforts
are being made to reduce waste and
so assure a sufficient food supply in
spite OF war conditions.
The rat, the department points out
in recent Farmers Bulletin, Home
Rates and Mice" is one of the worlds
worst animal pests. II lives in filth
and carries filth with il on its visits
to dwellings and store.rooms. to pol
lutte and destroy human food. 1t car
ries bubOnic plague and other dis
eases fatal to man and so brings about
| the death of great numbers of persons
annually. II destroys crops, eggs and
| young poultry, stored food and IA
brics; causes fires; ruins artificial
! ponds and embankments by burrow-
ing; and, by gnawing, damages foun.
dations, floors, doors, furniture, and
much other property. The mouse,
though smaller, is almost as destruc.
tive.
Ii would be eminently desirable, the
bulletin shows, completely to eXter.
inmate rates and mice. The task is a
difficult one, however, since these ami.
mails breed with alarming rapidity and
adapt themselves to almost all condi
tions. Individual effort will accom-
plish little. since a dwelling or farm
freed from the pests is soon repOpu-
lated by migration from adjacent ter.
ritory. II Is for this reason that the
department advocates the waging of
, organized warfare on rates and mice,
Il
, These organizations are not un
tried the bulletin says, since they eX
list both in the United States and in
some foreign countries. A club in
, Kent. England destroyed 10000 rats
in three seasons at an insignificant
, cost Women's municipal leagues in
taL IN
. up the matter of rat eradication, not.
ably in Baltimore and Boston. The
department believes there is an eX-
ccllCnt opportunity for these activi.
ties TO spread, and expects boards of
trade, civic societies, citizens asso.
Citations, women's clubs. both in town
q and rural communities, boys corn
clubs, Boy Scouts, and similar organi-
cations TO take up the work.
In addition to the work of local
organizations, there is much that can
be done toward rat eradication by
States and cities. the bulletin points
out. Through laws and ordinances,
! builders and owners can be required
to ratproof all new buildings, and
specifications can be adopted In the
construction OF sewers. drains,
> wharves. railroad loading platforms,
and other structures, that will pre-.
vent rats flndnE harborage about
. them. Better sanitary measures can
be enforced about marekis and stores
and throughout cities, villages. and
. country districts. States may help
. the work by protecting native hawks,
owls. and other enemies Of rats which
r destroy fewer poultry than rats them
l selves. Farmers may do their part by
/ rat. proonng dwellings and barns, by
/ threshing grain earlier, and by moving
, Il from the farm promptly, so that
rats and mice will not be harbored