The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-05
Slmple Drainage
 Recommended To
 Banish Mosquito
Committee of Representative Fairfield Citizens at Work
 on Problem
Land Values to be Enhanced Under scheme They Offer For Blotting Out the Marshy Pest
fspecial to the Farmer.)


 Especial to the Farmer.)
 Fairfield, Dec. 5.-The committee of citizens raised for the purpose of in vestigating the mosquito nuisance of this town, has made a comprehensive report of its scheme to abolish the winged pest that for years has made life along the shore at certain times almost intolerable.
 The committee has evolved plans that are believed not only to solve the mosquito problem, but also to suggest a way to the enhancing of land values in the marShy tract in which the mos quitoes breed.
 The committee brands the existence in it's present condition of the salty marshes from Ash Creek to Sasco Hill as a reproach to Fairfield and a dis credit to the enterprise and public spirit of it's citizens.
 Following is a portion of it's report:
 Two species of mosquitoes breed in our salt marshes. both much alike and characterized by white spots or rings on the legs and a white band at the middle of the sting; hence their usua. do not winter in the adult stage like other species of mosquitoes, but all die in the fall. They are perpetuated by the eggs laid in large numbers. some times on water. if available, but often CT on mud or the bottom Of dried pools and. depressions. These eggs are In no. way affected .bys the winter cold. As soon as they are covered with wa ter and the temperature is sufficiently warm, in the spring, they hatch, giv- ing birth to the larvae or wrtgglers. In eight or ten days these wrigglers = A..r1 a@I< and the seasons breeding is started. The first spring swarms are part1cu- 1arly active; they live from six weeks to two months, and produce several broods which, in turn, become the pro- Eenitors of several generations, so that a- comparatively small pool may pro- duce millions of mosquitoes during the summer season.
 ssDyking and dredging, that is. bank ing the creek, raising low levels and constructing such dams and tide gates as may be required to keep out tide water, Is the usual method to reclaim marsh lands for agricultural purposes. This reclamation Is much to be desir- ed and should be our ultimate end. 1t would convert most of our salt marsh es into truck gardens, thereby increas- ing the value of the land manifold. Such radical improvement, however. demands considerable outlay of cap- ital and, when accomplished much care in maintaining it in pro per con dition. In the words of Piof John B. Smith. the eminent authority who directs the mosquito work in New Jer- sey: "To keep this reclaimed land in it's reclaimed condition requires the constant supervision of the dykes and keeping them in proper condition. The tide gates must be constantly looked after and periodically renewed, and as the meadow sinks there must be means fI0 rsafi ir7rr drainage water behind the dykes.' This means that the complete reclamation of salt marshes involves somewhat ex- pensive engineering work and should not be undertaken until thorough study of all the conditions of the problem has been worked out.
 :"The opinion of the Committee is that simple drainage, supplemented so far as convenient and practicable by filling. is an easy, efficient and com paratively inexpensive method of at taining our present ends, namely the destruction of mosquitoes and improve ment of the hay crop, and that 1t should be at once undertaken and car ried out to successful completion. Meanwhile an effective system of dyk- ing and damming can be- studied with view to it's application later, when ever the agreement of land owners and sufficient funds can be secured.
 Extended observations made in New Jersey have shown that partial dyking, that is, any material interfer- fence with the play of the tides, changes the character and value of the it's best development, a dive meadow; that is to say. a meadow in which water freely circulates, with ditches enough to keep the surface dry and the soil wet. Dyking renders the meadow stagnant; the water lies in poo s, the rrf nd no6 lxy sedges; If the meadow is too dry, the grass gets thin, short and wiry. Therefore dyking, as method of inn proving our salt meadows and increas- ing their production, is not to be rec commended; 1t is more expensive than drainage and far less satisfactory.
 "It Is hardly necessary to mention that this drainage, to be effective and successful, must be based on a gener- al and uniform plan worked out by experts so as to adapt itself to the va rious requirements of the different sections of the marsh, and yield the desired results with minimum of ditching and interference with the cut ting and hand. ing of the crops. There fore 1t is not desirable that each own CT should undertake the ditching, which he may judge necessary on his land, according to his own views and discretion, and without any reference to the work of his neighbors; such in divfdual treatment, besides involving much labor, would produce very indif- ferent results. After the plans and specifications have been drawn up, each owner. may do his share of the drainage in accordance with them, un- der proper supervision, should he so prefer. or else allow it to be done by the contractor.
 The committee confidently expects that no serious opposition will be of- fered by any of t'le owners of the marsh to plan inlended to work in tirely to their advantage and benefit; but should it become necessary, the committee may, with the approval of the citizens obtained at a regular or special town meeting, submit a bill to the State Legislature for the grant ing of such power as would permit the town authorities to drain or reclaim the marshes, always with the under standing that the larger part of the expenses is to be met by private con- tributions.''
 The report is made by the executive committee, as follows: c. B. Sturges, o. c. Jennings, w. H. Donaldson, S. H. Wheeler, ". Havard.
 STATIONARY ENGINEERS.
 The Bridgeport branch, National as.