New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-21
MAYOR In RICHMOND
SEES MOSQUITO WORK.
Cold Trip an AUTO to ApproUc
DR.. DOty's Cam paign.

Mayor Mcclellan. hidden in the folds Of
protecting bearslzin coat. invaded the Staten
Island marshes in an automobile yesterday
TO put an official 80. X" on the irrigation
campaign there against the mosquito
scourge. DR.. Alva II. DOty. Health Officer
OF the Port Of New York. who directed the
work. and the Mayors secretary completed
the party. Twelve square miles OF low
lands. which resembled a Western prairie
because OF the long frozen grass and tho
intersecting drainage bitches. were covered.
Most Of the journey. which lasted three
hours. was made I'm sight OF the bay. and a
cutting wind was the portion NJ the
investigators.
The party drove first TO South Beach. and
after short stop continued 70 Great Kills
and Fresh Kills. The automobile was
steered between the bitches and over the
irrigation bumps but a good road was
found all the way In the same territory that
was covered two or three years ago with
stagnant water. affording fruitful breeding
places for the malaria spreading mosquitoes
The Mayor didn't expect to meet any of
the muscular Staten Island specimens OF
mosquito Yesterday. partly because there
are none in winter and partly because DIT
Doty explained that the work had prac-
ticslly nd the section Of the insects The
visit made merely 70 permit him 20
view the changed appearance Of the land
The Mayor had a chance 10 hear from
other lips than Dr. Doty's that the section
had been benefited by the work. On the
journey across the island from South Beach
10 Great Kills the automobile was stopped
10 allow the Mayor 10 talk with a farmer
who was passing on the road with his
wagon loaded with milk cans.
The Mayor hailed him and asked: What
d. you think OF our work out here?"
We'll. BY gosh"' responded the farmer.
enthusiastically. y can't say too much OF
the way that DR.. Doty has helped us fel-
lows out here. Before the bitches were dug
the mosquitoes had everything at up. Ny
farm was run down so far that I was
thinkin' OF Eivin' up and starting some
where else. The COWS couldn't get time 10
eat. they were so busy switching OF the
little pests But now everything is changed.
The mosquitoes are gone. the cows can
eat and have grown fat, and the mortgage
is paid of the farm. The farmers down
here are surely gratful for what the city
has done for US
Mayor Mcclellan said that he was glad
he had taken the trip and was entirely
satisfied with the result or the work
DtCdlue convinced IN lN.. ne sara.
that the spread OF malaria was accom-
plished by the mosquito. and that this
was particularly true in New Jersey and
Staten Island. At that time there were
tlIrty-one cases of malaria I'm Staten
Island and I can't say how many I'm New
Jersey. OF course. we had authority 10
remedy conditions in Staten Island only.
The method OF draining the land had been
m me rs off
cordingly ! asked the Board OF Estimate
for an appropriation OF $500 They were
disposed 10 laugh al me then. but after
some argument the appropriation was
granted and the work begun. Since then
additional appropriations have been Sc
cured TO bring up the total cost Of the
work 70 about $500. DR.. Doty has done
a great work here. The cases OF malaria
IN Richmond Borough have been decreased.
until now 7 am informed that the disease
has only one victim here"
The Mayor paid particular attention 10
the bitches. They were about two feet
deep, approximately foot wide. and from
800 10 go feet apart. They connect with
immense main drains and discharge into
the sea. DR.. Doty said yesterday the work
was in a measure experimental but had
Leen so effective in the small summer To-
sorts, such as South Beach and Midland
Beach. that dinner could be served on the
verandas OF the hotels without annoyance
from the mosquitoes.
The Mayor was shivering from cold when
the Quarantine station at Tompkinsvile
was reached on the return trip. and the
whole party Rugged the radiator IN the
cabin OF the Governor Flower as she
steamed across 10 the Batterv
The Mayor was asked n the vicinity of
New York would have been freed from
mosquitoes had the New Jersey authorities
Joined the campaign.
Not necessarily" was the reply. I've
are directing most Of our light against the
brown-legged kind that spreads disease
New Jersey might have done as we arc
doing TO kill of this variety. But then
there are the brown-legged kinds remain
ing that are harmless but uncomfortable
They breed In salt water. and il will be a
new proposition 10 kill them of"
ROMB TPTGETrNG TTATTANc