The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-09
RAT PROOFINC
TOBE ENFORCED
Warehouses Must Comply With
Law or Suffer Consequences
of Individual Quarantine.

Warehouse and storage house owns
ers will be given 40 days more in which
to start the work of ratproofing their
buildings but at the end of that time
individual quarantines win be en-
forced against each one OF them, un-
less the work is under way, announced
health officials yesterday. Washing
ton was notified of the exact eondi-
tions existing in Pensacola and steps
about to be taken We're outlined to-
tue health department.
Authority for quarantine against
any building where the owner who
would not carry out the provisions of
the ordinance. was sent TO the local
officials by the federal headquarters
and upon this authority was based
the statement that the city as a whole
would not be quarantined. At the
conclusion Of the 10 days notice. the
officials stated Yesterday an order
would be delivered TO the railroads
not to lake any freight from certain
houses in the city. The names OF the
owners of these houses have been
forwarded to Washington.
1--WE have been very reasonable and
patient with the merchants in Pensa-
cola. stated DR.. Spencer yesterday.
"but the time has arrived when a
more drastic step must be taken IL
the health Of other communities is
to be protected We save a double
length OF time as positive notice that
rat proofing must be started at ware
houses, especially those in which food
is stored, and the owners of some Of
those places have intimated by their
actions that they do not intend to-
carry out the city law.
1T is against this set of men that we
are going to establish the individual
quarantine. Some Of the houses have
done everything possible to get the
work started and these will not be
affected in the quarantine recommen.
dation. If a merchant has honestly
endeavored to have his building rel
proofed and could not get It started
he will be treated leniently. The ones
who do not intend to rat proof until
we make them win either get the
work started at once or his place Of
business will be quarantined against
outgoing freight movements"
In speaking OF individual firms
which have been making determined
effort to rat proof the place of bUsi-
ness he spoke of the West Florida
Grocery Go. Correspondents and 9th
er proof had been given him that this
firm had been making determined ef.
fort to get cement and material he.
said, since July % to make its build
ing rat proof The shipments Of coE2
crete have been delayed from time to
time and the health officer said that
The firm was doing everything nos
sible to cooperate in the compliance
of the law "Sonie other firms are sim
fairly situated, continued the officer
and we are convinced some are trying
TO comply but cannot.
at is not against these that we are
rigidly enforcing the orders sent from
Washington. but these orders will be
rigidly enforced against the ones who
are not cooperating with the health
department and who are not doing
everything they can TO make their
buildings rat proof"
Dudley Saunders was fined $50 and
costs in two cases yesterday in the
city court on charges Of violation Of
the ordinance This was the only
case that was tried yesterday and
notice OF appeal was flled with the
court. The other cases were contin-
ued until next Wednesday.
When asked about the cases being
Spencer stated that be did not object
nor blame any one for testing out the
law. In the meantime. he continued
he intended to establish individua