Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1920 — It’s Upkeep that Costs. [ARTICLE]

It’s Upkeep that Costs.

Experts have just completed an estimate for the high cost of maintaining a rat. If you have a rat on your premises, he is costing you $1.82 a year, according to these experts. They find that one pair of rats is directly responsible for 650;000 more rats in three years, the rat being a strong believer in the Roosevelt theory of large families. The damage in the United States in one year caused by these rodents is over $100,000,000. Over $15,000,000 in property losses is occasioned each 'year from fires started by rats gnawing the electric wires and gas pipes. The rat also is accused of spreading disease. An intensive campaign to demobilize the rat army Is now In progress.