The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-05-04
RAT CONTROL E
 DISGUISED, CITY
 COUNCIL SESSION

piASue were uSeO at ldSl IDglt city council meeting by Sanitary Engineer James Stone, Territorial Health Department head, in con- nection with a report of the De- partment's Rodent Control Commit tee.
 Describing the rat infestation here as quite menace" and add ing that the average person doesn't t realize the town is overidden with rats" Stone said bubonic plague ex- isted in the Puget Sound area and must not be allowed to reach Alas ka.
 He asked that the Council adopt the following preventative program:
 tD Adopt an ordinance calling for mandatory garbage collection.
 (2) Make proper elevation and storage of such material as lumber compulsory to eliminate possible rat-harborage.
 (3) To enforce elimination of rats by building owners and tenants when notified of rat infestation by the Health Department.
 t4 To require adequate rat proofing in all new construction
 (5) To require that land-locked tidal areas be filled with rock be- fore buildings are constructed there on. Stone said in this connection that if the councilmen would look under the docks they would see many things you did not know ex- isted."
 t6) Institute a continuous con- struction survey program to con- demn unsanitary ancient buildings and see that usable buildings are kept in repair.
 tO Gradually eliminate all wooden sidewalks.
 (O Gas and poison rats collect ing in the city dump and other areas particularly attractive to rats.
 Stone said that the rat menace was not confined to any one dis trict, but was dangerously wide spread Mayor Waino Hendrickson assured him that the city would take action on the report.
 AB Hall Purchase
 The councilmen, who have ten tatively considered purchase of A. B. Hall for several weeks, voted to sign a mortgage on the building now held by Louis Derdan. Terms under which the city will purchase the property are $500 down pay lnent and $14,400 by November l, including three percent interest on the unpaid balance to bring the to- tai purchase price to $l5,0O0 plus interest.
 !. Councilman James Larsen nov cd that the city set ceiling price of 60 cents per square foot on flat, concrete sidewalk with the under standing that the property owner, who now pays two-thirds of the costs, will be allowed to have the work done for less, but the city will pay no more when footing the bill for its one-third costs. The motion was carried with the provision that property owner pay for the en- tire job and then apply for a one third costs refund within the pre- scribed ceiling.
 Waterfront Improvement
 The waterfront came under con- siderable discussion as Councilman Henry Sully, chairman of the Boat Harbor Committee. reported that the city float and the Northland Transportation Co.'S float were lin critical condition -practi- cally useless, not to say dangerous" He added that a similar condition existed at the Small Boat Harbor where the piles were generally fallen down or eaten up.' He es- timated that $366Q (including ma terial and labor) would pay for needed repairs. A motion to or der 125 creosoted piles immediately was carried.
 In connection with the report Mayor Hendrickson noted that Councilman Sully and Stanley Grummett had traded chairman ships of two committees with the net result that Sully now heads the Boat Harbor Committee, and Grum- melt the Schools and Library Con- mittee, although both men con- tinue as members of both commit tees.
 S Insurance Bids
 A motion to ask for bids on in- surance called for in the new Green -Shattuck Workmens Con- pensation Act was carreid with the specification that bids be in by June 2. The motion was made fol- lowing receipt of a letter from Commissioner of Labor Walter Sharpe notifying tke council that the Act becomes effective July l.
 Communications were received from the U. s. District Court. mo- tifying the city that Marshall Err win had applied for liquor li- cense; from Delegate E. L. Bartlett, to say that he was making every effort to have Gold Creek and it's tributaries included in a flood con- trol bill now pending before con-