Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1904-08-17
In a Letter TO the Evening News
He Gives Results Of His
Work Elsewhere.
OF THE SAME OPINION.
He Declares that His Experiences During
the Present Season Has Not Changed
Belief as to the Work Along the RarI-
Rivers Says Ne Is Ready to Begin wark
tan Anytime.

Editor Evening News:
The note on "rhe Mosquito Pest
in your issue Of the Sd was brought
to my attention day or two after Ii
appeared; but delayed writing until
l could verify some points to which
would like to draw the attention Of
your readers.
First: Nothing has developed dur.
ing the season of 1904 that has led me
to change my views Of the extent Of
the breeding places on the Raritan
river and all the observations made
this year confirm the correctness Of
the maps made last year.
Second. EARLY in the spring the
marshes on both sides OF the Shrews-
bury river were ditched under super
vision of one Of my assistants. About
150, 900 feet of bitches were dug or
cleaned out before the first brood OF
mosquitoes developed and while New
ark, Perth Amboy and other places
were fighting and using language.
Monmouth Beach and Rumson Neck
were free from the pest. IEss-se date
this territory has been Arnzs5 5nflfely
free from marsh mosquitoes. There u
a breeding place within the limits OF
North Long Branch that Turns out
few; but practically no mosquitoes
have bothered the Shrewsbury river
residents this year. Thera nro yet q
few places for breeding the r,.'inary
house mosquito on the uplanuA, hut
these are under observation. The
owners of property on Monmouth
Beach and Rumson Neck are hard
headed business men who have in
vested many thousands of dollars in
their summer homes and they know
the value of land. One resident Of
Monmouth Beach, prominent New
ark man, assured me that the value
of his holdings had increased $4,000
because of the freedom from mosqui-
toes and another, New York man,
resident at Rumson Neck, placed the
added value of his land at from 90 to
33 per cent.
Monmouth Beach is not so far Off
and the. .correctness:of my statements
is easily tested. If there be any at
Perth Amboy that are anxious, but
doubtful, trip to the Shrewsbury
will prove of interest.
Third: The city of Newark spent
s5, 900 in,draining $500 acres of marsh
land and built nearly sixty-five miles
of bitches, also under the supervision
of my assistant. The work was done
so late that he first brood of mosqui-
toes got ahead of the bitches, but at
present practically not q mosquito
breeds OIL the entire $500 acres.
II any resident of Perth Amboy de-
sires an object lesson let'him make
trip along Bound creek which forms
the dividing lihe beween Newark and
Elizabeth. On the north or Newark
side he will find firm dry meadow
with not mosquito lava to be found
some mosquitoes of course, because
of the bad territory nearby, but no
lava. On the south or Elizabeth side
of the creek, rotten meadow where
rubber boots were needed and where
every water flied bole has thousands
of wrigglers am making no, argu
ments. l offer proof.
Fourth: The valley Of the Raritan
is SO situated that when this mosquito
breeding marshes at it's mouth are
cleaned mp lie cities along its Qpurse
AFRO not likely q get b sup from
other sources except staRnaiit water
within their own limits. Tho marsh
mosquitoes would be cut ont entirely.
Fifth. Why does not the News in-
vestigate the matter and. il my asser-
tions are found to he true. urge the
campaign; its influence is sufficiently
great to stir the people into action. !
will furnish q man to lay out and
Isuperintenn the work
New BrunswicK, Aug. IS, 'o4-
JOHN B. SMITH.