PLAGUE OF RATS. RODENTS INFEST THE WHITE HOUSE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 421, 20 November 1889, Page 3

PLAGUE OF RATS. RODENTS INFEST THE WHITE HOUSE.

For a great many years, says a W ashington despatch, the Executivo Mansion has been infested with vast numbers of ratw. Many of these unwelcome residents of the mansion havo been domiciled within its confines during many decades. But lately the inroads of the rodents havo become &o great as to become very annoying to theoccupants, and Major Ernst, the new Superintendent of Buildings and (i rounds, is givine the matter his especial attention, as did Colonel Wilson, his predecessor in office, just before his transfer. The burrowings of the rats have undermined certain portions of the basemont wall, while they have even invaded the executive bedroom, as well as two other apartments in the upper storeys. On Wednesday a contract was entered into by Major Ernst with A. H. Hosmer, of this city, to clean out the entire building of rats. The contract allowed Mr Hosmer $10 a day, with time unlimited. Ferrets and dogs were to bo used in the work of extermination, and the job is to proceed until it is completed, if it takes all winter, the Government to pay for oil loss of ferrets, etc. While examining the building on Thursday Mrs Harrison requested the contractor to begin work at once in her room, as there was pne impudent fellow who nightly invaded the room and gyrated around, much to her annoyance. The work will begin early on Monday,' and the ferrets used will be brought from New York.

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