Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-01
ANTtF[Y WAR IS ON
Opening of Crusade Which Will
Last Five Months.
CONTESTANTS IN THE FRAY
SWEATERS Free of Charge, Merely
for the Asking.
DR.. MURRAY INvENTs A TRAP
Interested Citizens Make Valued
Contributions to the Equip
ment of Pest Fighters.
DR.. MURRAY INVENTS A TRAP

The Stars second anti-fy campaign,
which Is to last five months. and in which
nearly $500 in prizes will be awarded to
children who destroy the greatest number
Of the winged disease-carriers, began to-
day
The Fidelity Storage Company Of Wash
ington is interested in the campaign and
has offered to supply "swatters" to the
participants free of charge. 1t is not I'M
likely that the SWEATERS" will be dis
tributed from the campaign headquarters,
in the municipal building. DR.. Murray
has taken tho matter up with the COM
pany and the "swatters" will be ready
for distribution within few days
Although the result of the first days
slaughter will not be known until this
afternoon, preparations that have been in
progress in every part of the city in
dictate that the fly will suffer a severe
blow at the outset of the campaign.
Participants will be required to deliver
the boxes containing the dead flies to
the headquarters in room s OF the
Municipal building between the hours Of
3 and 3 pm. daily, and DR.. Arthur l..
Murray, who is supervising tho crusade,
will be on hand this afternoon to check
up the first days showing.
Weather Not Favorable to Flies.
The fly season this year has been de-
layed fully two weeks, on account of the
weather conditions. and but comparatively
few Of the insects have appeared. DR..
Murray is of the opinion that only a few
flies will be delivered today and during
the remaining days Of the week. But
with the insects striving to overcome the
natural conditions that have retarded
their development and many of them sue
cumbing to these conditions, every fly de-
stroyed at this time will have ire
mendeus effect In reducing the number
ultimately to be developed. and will. the
health officials say, mean much for the
health interests of the city later on.
In fact, the health authorities regard
May as the most important month of the
campaign. The prizes offered this month
are greater than those to be awarded
during June, July and August because
of the scarcity Of flies in the first month
and the desrability of killing them as
fast as they appear. The grand prize in
September will be awarded on the basis
Of records established during the entire
campaign.
George P. Killian is one Of the heaviest
contributors Of the sinews OF war. Mr.
large number Of the boxes which the
competitors will use in conveying the
dead insects to the District building.
Mr.. Killian furnished free the boxes that
were used in last years campaign.
Trap on Exhibition.
Children who call at the campaign head
trap designed and made by DR.. Murray.
This device is capable of holding 1000
flies. DR.. Murray will give any of the
participants pointers as to construction
of fly traps, and the carrying out Of his
suggestions should lead to increased
scores among the contestants.
This years campaign differs from last,
not only because 1t is to last much longer
and prizes of greater value are to be
conducted on q more centralized scale.
Children We're permitted to deliver the
flies last year to any of the Associated
Charities stations This year they or
their representatives must deliver them
direct to the campaign headquarters in
the Munic pal building. The files will be
counted and disposed of in the shortest
time possible, which will remove the de-
lay exp erienced last year through the de-
livery Of the insects first to the charities
stations and later to the health Office,
where the scores Of the contest were kept
Supply Of Boxes Ample.
Contestants should deliver to the mu-
nicipal building. daily, If possible, the
boxes containing the flies they destroy
New boxes will be given out in place of
the old ones. as fast as the latter are
rendered useless for service
Not only is Layton H. Burdette of the
Industrial Home School, winner of first
prize in last years contest. again to COM
pete but, according to DR.. Murray,
number OF last years competitors will
participate in the crusade. 1t is DIR. Muir
rays opinion that the contest this month
will be spirited. on account Of the scarcity
of flies. which should make close margins
between the various scores.
Health Office Bulletin.
The weekly report Of the District health
office. issued today. contains the follow
ing reference to The Stars second anti
fly campaign:
Renewed interest is becoming mani
fesst in the direction Of the second
crusade against the fly. and the apparent
enthusiasm of the youth Of our city In
the matter is. Of course, commensurate
and their efforts will. no doubt, result in
materially reducing the number of these
filthy disease carriers and annoying
pests, but complete determination can
not be hoped for, and many will survive
to breed millions for the succeeding sum
mers.
THE real fight, therefore. ought to
take the direction for the removal of
their breeding places: Destroy the filth
the stable filth-and more
will be done to destroy the flies than
an army of fly killers. If flies abound
in neighborhood it Is an index of UNI
tidy conditions. for cleanliness and flies
are Incompatible. Cleanliness, there
fore. ts the sovereign remedy for the |
fly evil. and while the wholesale de- |
structton of live fiies-espeoially when
they first make their appearance In the |
early spring days-is a step in the |
right direction. the organised corps OF
fly killers will be put out of business
II the District of Columbia is thor
oughly cleaned and kept So"
GOES OVER UNTIL TUESDAY.