The Washington times., 1922-04-25
DR|vESTARTS
/. To R|DCAP|TAL
Of RAT ASPEST
Federal and District Officials
Support Campaign as
Health Measure.

ness men and the Washington public
generally today urged a "no-quarter"
campaign on the city's greatest pest.
the rat
Invaluable Government documents.
commercial and food stocks and
household necessities amounting In
trinsically to more than 1000 900 are
destroyed by rats in Washington
annually.
To put a definite check to this
destruction, Washington today is
united in open warfare against the
latest invasion Of rats.
Campaign Favored.
IT am heartily in favor of the anti.
rat campaign" said Cuno II. Ru-
dolph, chairman of tho Board OF Dis
trict Commissioners. II am well
aware Of the tremendous amount Of
damage they do in Washington, and
l hope that all means will be taken
to kill off rats hero. i was bitten by
= rat when I was q boy, and / have
been an unrelenting enemy OF all the
rat tribe ever since"
The United St4tes Patent Office 10
literally overrun with rats, which
as soon as the workers have gono
home, according to William /.
Wyman, chief clerk Of the Patent
Office.
we have tried traps and poison
and every other method known to
reduce the number of rats in the
building" said Wyman, but nothing
seems to have any effect upon their
depredations. Important records OF
this office are in danger OF being
ruined by tho pests, and now wo
don't know which way to turn for
aid"
wyman gladly accepted the sug.
gestion that the expert rat-killers
Of the Biological Survey OF tho De-
partment OF Agriculture might be Of
help at the Patent Office.
III they can do the work. he
said, wen be very gratefui indeed.
We had about given up hope Of set.
ting rid OF tho rats"
Merchants Support Plan.
Gen. Anton Stephen, president OF
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association. stated that he would
be glad to take up the matter OF the
rat compaign with tho board OF
governors OF the association.
Il am strongly in favor Of the
plan" he said, and I think that
business men and the public will
cooperate in the campaign"
DR.. William c. Fowler. District
Health officer. advised wide use Of
traps in tho campaign.
III poison is used" said DR..
Fowler, lit must be used with great
care. Rubbish and scraps OF food
should be removed and never al
lowed TO accumulate. as these at
tract more rats ana the results
from an active campaign would
never he seen.
There are plenty OF rats here,
and they are scattered all over the
city. think that especial care
should be taken against rats in
Wholesale warehouses. although
householders and storekeepers should
do their bit. also. Our sanitary
and food inspectors are always
looking for places whore rats seem
to be NUMEROUS.
DR.. Fowler said that Superintend.
ent Of Schools Frank w. Ballou had
not reported rats in any other but
tho Thomson School, which is be-
inS cleaned Of the rodents as fast
principals Of all local schools 10 tell
him If rats appear in school build.
ings.
c. w. Kitchen. In charge of tho
Center Market for tho DEPARTING ont
Of Agriculture. said today that the
work against rats in the markets
WAS but one step in . program 10
make the market q model in man.
a QeDlent effiCionoy and 6anitatiop
as far ss fundam entail conditions,
such as construction, would permit.
Approximately $50 rats were killed
by poison placed throughout the
market by workers of the biological
that we can kill as many more
next week"
Market Food Safe.
He said, however. that buildings
around the market must enlist In
the rat campaign, II it's effect in
tho market Is 70 be seen.
Dealers in the market are CO.
operating finely" said Mr.. Kitchen.
Center Market 10 really a good mar
ket, and the number OF rats found
there might have been found in any
other market"
Some dealers At the market feared
that customers would be diverted
from their stalls II the rat hunt there
were given publicity. 1t was pointed
out, however, that all salable food
at the market ID safe from the pests.
who eat scraps and left-overs thrown
into corners.
Km1C AlC w1CE T0vlMC