Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-01-17
DECLARE WAR
ON RODENTS
Intensive "No-Rat" Program to
be Carried Out in Vir-
ginia Next Week

will launch, on Monday, an inten-
siv@ campaign against rats. DR..
Hutchinson, Of the Extension Di-
vision, Virginia Polytechnic In
Stitute, at B!acksburg, Virginia,
will begin the Statewide cam
paign on the same date. working
with County agents and demon
Strators through Virginia. This
campaign is under the supervis-
ion of the U. s. Department OF
Health and the U. S. Biological
Survey. Governor Tyinkle has
issued q proclamation, setting "a
side officially, this week for the
campaign.
DR.. Fohlks, city health officer,
announces the reception of four
hundred pounds of Barium Car
bonate. which will be held at the
local Health Department for free
distribution. Barium carbonate
is the most effective poison known
for the determination of rats. and
the Government, instead of max
ine even the slight charge of last
wear, for supplying IT, is Offering
lit free.
Mr.. Carlyle Carr, Of the U. S.
Biological Survey, was in the city
yesterday for conference with
DIR. Foulks on the subject of the
local campaign.
The public is familiar with the
depredations of rats in the cities
of New Orleans and New York,
where millions of dollars in
property is destroyed annually.
But the fact that rats damage
property in Alexandria to the
amount OF several thousands OF
dollars annually, IS little known.
All along the Alexandria water
front merchants wage a war
against rats during the entire
wear but through other sections
of the city scant attention is paid
TO them. This campaign is launch
ed with view to eXterminatlng
every rat in the city and the
Health Department calls on all
citizens to help in this needed
work.
The brown rat is not = native
Of North America but came here
as a stowaway years ago and
since that time has acted the part
Of an alien enemy in every sense
of the word. The Government
means rot to deport these unde-
s;rables but to exterminate them
and to prevent further spread OF
+bo;r menace to life and prop
erty. -
There are several instances on
the records OF the local Health
Donnrtment Of Alexandria chill
dren who have been bitten by
rats. Only last year baby was ".
bitten so severely that Its NE
was endangered.
The proclamation Of Governor
Trinkle, calling on all organlza-
t;ons of the State to aid IN TINS
crusade, is appended:
PROCLAMATION
ANTI RAT WEEK
WHEREAS the rat is the
,,,o,st MAMMALIAN pest known TO
Nan. their depredations inciud-
NC inc injury to growing grains
e;+s t"n vegetables and all otner
farn nroducts; to poultry and
man, birds and even larger DO.
s'ostic animals; to all manner OF
sondstuffs and merchandise IN
stores, markets and warehouses,
~ furniture and even to build
ings by their incessan' shs"'"ss
and tunneling, and
WHEREAS such Iosses IN our
State amount to millions OF dol
lars annually and to this must
10 added the greater menace OF
therst as a disseminator of DIS
case. and
WHEREAS the normal repro,
duc,;op of the rat in Virginia
has greatly exceeded the rate OF
destruction, it has become evident
that concerted and sustained drive
must he made against them : il
fror+;nued on pare eighty