Evening star., 1945-02-07
Rat Campaign
Plans sMappedin in
Prince Georges
Commissioners
Provide SIT, 900;
Ordinance Voted

NAoiAo All q CdiliPdikl W IlQ ETulCc
Georges County of rats were being
prepared today by County Sanitary
Of1cer Charles l.. Wood after an
ordinance providing for the rat
proofing of all buildings in the
county was adopted yesterday by
the county commissioners.
The drive, for which the commits
sioners appropriated $11 900, will be
carried on with the help of six labor
ers,, supervisor and an inspector
and will be permanent.
The ordinance authorizes county
health authorities to make periodic
inspections of all buildings in the
county to determine whether they
are rat infested"
Must Be Ratproof.
1t also sets up requirements for
the installation of ratproofng
equipment and makes 1t unlawful
for any person, firm or corporation
to construct a building in the coun-
ty without first making it ratproof.
Written notice will be given the
owner or occupant of any building
In which there are signs of rat in
festation to undertake rat control
measures Immediately and to main-
tain the premises free of rats in the
future.
Unless the work is done within Is
days after the notice is received, the
Health Department may either take
the proper corrective measures itself
and bill the person responsible for
the building or take court action.
Severe Penalties.
Those found guilty of violating
any provision of the ordinance are
subject to fine not to exceed $500
or 80 days in jail. Each day of vio-
lation shall constitute a separate
offense, according to the ordinance.
The commissioners also approved
two petitions for rezoning property
from residential A to commercial D
and two for rezoning from residen-
tial A to residential C.
The requests for commercial zon-
ing were filed by Daniel Weldon,
owner, lots "a. IS and 36. block T,
Glenarden, and by Max Hornestein.
owner, lot 2, block B, Hyattsyille
Hills, Hyattsville.
Petitions for rezoning to residen-
tial c were filed by the West Bros.
Brick Co., owner of a 5-acre tract
on Eastern avenue, New Hampshire
avenue and Sligo Mill road near Ia
koma Park, and by Joseph and Leo
Dal Masco, owners of a AZ acre
tract on New Hampshire avenue and
Sligo Mill road near Takoma Park.
s502 in Fines Collected.
Trial Magistrate Walter L. Green
reported the collection of $500 in
fines and costs last month, of which
S237.30 goes to the commissioners.
The commissioners received let
ter from Charles E. Prince, Calvert
Hills, praising the courtesy and CO.
operation" of the county police
force, particularly Policemen Regi-
nald Austin and Adam Lindsay, who
investigated an automobile accident
last October in which Mr.. Prince
said he was injured.
A delegation from Morningside re-
quested the commissioners to with
hold payment of $1,000 to the Nc
Dermott Construction Co., which
built a road in the subdivision last
year at a cost of about S23, 900. The
payment represents the unpaid bal
ance.
The group complained that the
road is so bad that buses are unable
to travel on it and asked that the
money be withheld until the road
is repaired.
Pointing out that they are with
out authority to comply with such
a request, the commissioners said
they have instructed their engineer,
Albert E. Pohmer, to inspect the
road and to meet with the residents
to recommend necessary repairs.