The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-09-27

Island experiment. by the way. hal
made II possible this summer for resi-
dents to sit on their front porches
which is a distinct improvement over
psst conditions. This In turn has At
tracted the attention Of people In the
surrounding towns. SO that the North
Shore Improvement association, com
prising most Of the well to do inhab'
itants Of that part Of Long Island. In
Guiding Oyster Bay and Cold Spring.
has raised a sum OF money and IL en-
ploying experts to undertake a similar
work over a stretch Of country com.
prisIng 25 square miles.
This suggests that mosquito warfare
offers opportunities for young men de-
string an occupation. 1t requires some
training and experience TO survey q
country infinitely. as well as some
knowledge OF engineering to devise the
best plans for meeting all the condi-
tons presented. particularly In draining
and dikIng. Mosquito engineering
VIII probably be the title OF a new pro-
fesslon. Its opponents will have to
bear In mind the value Of soils for agri-
cultural and other purposes. so as to
combine In their plans for the reclama-
ton OF swamp lands all the economic
advantages that may accrue. 1t might
not pay TO reclaim great marsh tracts
for the mosquito alone, expensive as
quinine and medical attendance have
become: but IL. at the same time that
the mosquito and malaria are undergo
ing extinction, good land could be
brought into use for agriculture-and
reclaimed swamps have the richest soil
In the world-the combination might
pay. New Jersey is already taking the
matter up and probably the most I'm
portant legislation to be considered at
Trenton next winter VIII be that relat-
ing to the amendment Of the drainage
laws OF the state. The trouble with
New Jersey Is the number and abun-
dance OF Its railroads. extending from .
narrow region along the coast. which
affords mosquito breeding ground, into
every upland part OF the state. The
mosquito itself is not a great traveller,
ordinarily plying its trade within q
quarter OF mile Of the place Of its
birth. In strong wind 1t will cling to
the first object to which 1t can attach
itself, but In a light, gentle breeze II
may be waited on for n long distance.
According to credible records, 1t has
been fioated in this way as far as Is
miles. but this Is believed to be about
the limit. On railroad train. however,
IL can 60 as far as II Is carried. and II
two or three insects alight at station
the tone OF the community few weeks
later may be imagined. 1t Is the rail-
roads which have made New Jersey so
famous as mosquito state. South
Carolina, with an equal mileage. would
be UNNECESSARILY worse Off.
The question may arise whether any
general determination of the mosquito
Is possible. 1t would doubtless be very
expensive and long in coming. but that
tremendous Improvement may be
brought about during the next ten
years Is entirely probable. Every town
that moves in the matter helps all the
other places with which 1t has railroad
connections. Winchester. for example,
has greatly reduced the number OF Its
mosquitoes, but the war will have to be
kept up so long as trains go there from
Baltimore until nj least the Monument
City takes equally effective measures.
Just now there is considerable prospect
that Baltimore will move In the matter,
and then each city will strengthen the
other. So II will be with every station
along the line.
One of the most interesting Of current
experiments Is that In Charleston,
where a mldwinter exposition Is now In
preparation. The city Is going to take
this occasion to see what 1t can do to
drive out the mosquito. and perhaps by
the time its visitors arrive they will
find that the old fashioned nettings
have become obsolete. After the mos
quito Is gone and forgotten. II that
good time ever comes. the house fly will
have to make the fight Of his life to
survive.