Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1907-07-12
Mosquito Raid.

-MUSuullU ndlu'
The residen of this city are max
ing a great hue and cry because of |
the prevalence of those annoying |
This section has
been reasonably free from these in
sects. At any rate they have never
before been so numerous as to create |
general comment, or universal annoy
ance. We have always, so far, been
able to dispense with mosquito bars
and other devices to ward OFT The
nocturnal attacks of these gnsts.
Not so this season. Every nody Is
complaining about being kept awake
by the Duzzing and biting OF mos
quitoes. And the question Is raised
Oh all sides, What has brought about
such a sudden increase of these
Undesirable" creatures? Any num-
Der of theories are suggested to
account for the situation. The fact
confronts us-they are here-why?
What different conditions exist to-day
to account for the change? Is 1t a
mere temporary visitation, that. will
cease with the present season; or is
it due to conditions that are likely to
make the nuisance permanent. unless
the procuring causes are removed.
One fancifuI explanation is that
they are caused by the failure of pro-
petty holders on Main street to con-
meet their drainage with the public
sewer put in on that street last year.
The waste refuse water is allowed to
seep under the buildings. and soak
into the ground, or form stagnant
pools. These are thought to be the
breeding grounds of the pests. We
depIore the unsanitaIy conditions in
this respect, and believe property
holders should be made to correct
them within a reasonable time; at
the same time we take no stock in
the mosquito theory founded thereon.
The seepage is no greater now than it
was years ago, not so great in fact.
So this explanation falls to the
ground. Besides which, it is by no
means clear that stagnant water under
dark floors could possibly become the
nurseries of mosquitoes. They breed
in stagnant pools, but air and sun
light are probably necessary to their
development. 1t is quite within the
range, not of possibility, but pro-
liability, that the very remedial
measures overwhelmingly, connect
ing Main street and other property
with the sewers-will increase rather
than decrease the mosquito nuisance
This statement may be startling, but
there is logic behind it. If mos
quitoes breed in stagnant water, and
thrive on filth, as scientists claim,
the fact remains that jackson is
running more sewerage into the
several branches of jackson creek
to-day than ever before. This sewer
age is all dumped within the city
limits. 1t furnishes food upon which
the mosquito Iarva deposited in the
still water on the margin of these
streams fatten and mature into the
pestiteroGs mosquito.
MoraI-As the offaI cannot under
present conditions be carried a re-
spectacle distance beyond the city
limits, the only remedy if it be one
at aIl-is to flush out the creek beds
thoroughly and often.
1t perhaps has not escaped the
notice of our readers, that not a |
word has been said by the county
administration gang or their satel-
lites' in explanation or extenuation
of the exposures made IN these |
columns concerning the methods |
pursued in contracting for supplies.
where contracts have been called for
in some instances, and the failure to
establish rates In other matters,
where the law is imperative that such
action must be taken annually. We
have shown by facts and figures how
the taxpayers have been cinched by
the undetermined methods resorted to
for years, and are still being cinohed,
and yet not syllable come from any
quarter in defense of the supervisors
actions. The only explanation of
this silence is that the position of
the Ledger on these matters is un-
answerable The most damaging
thing IN the whole business is that no
action is being taken to correct the
loose methods referred to, or try to
palliate them in any way. From one
end of the county to the other the
people are talking about the laxity in
administering county affairs, the dis
regard for the plainast provisions of
law, the sacrifice of the taxpayers
interests, and still those concerned
sit like SO many sphinxes, and say
nothing.
Garden hose, lawn sprinklers, lawn
mowers, rakes, hoes and spads, in |
fact everything needed for lawn or |
garden at V. Gievannoni Il Co.