Evening star., 1901-09-27
TO RECLAIM COAST MARSHES
A QUESTION NOW RECEIVING MUCH
ATTENTION.
Would End the Mosquito Pest at Sea
Shore and Would Yield Fer
tile Territory.

The United States Department of Agri-
culture Is taking much more interest in
the subject Of getting rid of mosquitoes
than has generally been supposed, and in
bulletin just issued 1t is stated that about
six months ago DR.. L. O. Howard, the
entomologist, requested the cooperation Of
the division Of soils in some practical
demonstrations of the feasibility Of getting
rid Of the mosquito pest in certain tidal
swamps of the Atlantic coast
Tidal swamps or salt marshes the bull
letin states are a prominent feature in
nearly all states which border the Atlantic
or Pacific oceans. A few years ago much
was heard of their reclamation. Their
value as farming land was clearly shown
and the fact that they were a serious
menace to the health of people in the vicin-
1ty was dwelt upon. About this time sew
eral government reports were issued.
Notable among these reports were Sea
Coast Marshes of the United States, by n.
s. Shaler, published in the sixth annual
report of the United States geological sur
vey; Tidal Marshes of the United States"
by D. M Nesbit, published as special
port No. of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, and numerous notes
and reports In the publications of the New
Jersey geological survey.
Investigations Regarding Mosquitoes.
Within the last ten years Investigations
have been pursued by scientists in Europe
and this country which have conclusively
proved that certain species of mosquitoes
are the most common, If not the only,
means Of conveying malarial germs and of
introducing those germs into the human
system. More recently mosquitoes have
been found to be the cause, and so far the
only proved cause, of the infection of yell
low fever. Marshes and stagnant pools of
water are the principal breeding places of
nd 70 fI4 ,,o1,
places should be drained and the lands re-
claimed for agricultural purposes In Italy
the mosquito pest has been the cause Of
the abandonment of vast areas of land.
The salt marshes do not seem to offer
the condition necessary for the breeding Of
the few species Of malaria mosquito exist
Ing In this country, but they are breeding
places for vast numbers of individuals of
other species which annoy individuals and
stock along much Of the coast line and in
certain places impair the property valua-
ton.
These recent discoveries of the cause Of
the infection from malaria and yellow
fever have resulted in a renewed interest
In the means Of eXterminating mosquitoes
and incidentally in the drying out of
marshes and swamps. The writings of Dr.
L. O. Howard on mosquitoes have aroused
the interest of the inhabitants of mos
quito and malaria-infested localities in the
subject Of swamp reclamation; and the bu-
reau of soil is in frequent receipt of letters
1nquiring about the agricultural value of
the marsh lands and methods for their
reclamation. A great many people seem
willing to undertake the drainage Of these
marshes and tidal meadows If 1t can be
shown to them that there will result a
pecuniary profit.
Reclaimfng Salt Marshes.
In European countries salt marshes are
regarded as the most fertile Of lands. Large
areas in Holland, Denmark, Germany and
Belgium have been cultivated for many
years. In England the fens to the extent
of probably more that 100000 acres have
been diked and ditched and are now in a
state of matchless fertility"
The reclamation of tidal lands to be sue
cessful at minimum expense should be
managed by a man of experience in such
matters. The question Of how to build dikes,
the cheapest and most efficient method Of
drainage to be employed, and the subse-
quent management of the soil to bring 1t
into state of fertility at the earliest posi-
BILE moment, are all problems which require
experience and judgment If the work Is to
there are no trained agricultural engi-
neers, nor is there an institution of learn
ing which claims to train expert agricultu-
raj engineers. The best person, then, to
plan and manage the reclamation Is civil
engineer who has had experience in some
related work. Men Of experience have a
habit Of charging well for their services,
but the money spent in fees to the right
man is well invested. Dikng and ditch
ing done by inexperienced or careless per-
sons will require more in repairs each year
than would have been necessary to insure
proper supervision in the first instance.