Evening star., 1912-06-10

If every householder In Washington
would endeavor to locate and abolish the
breeding places of flies within radius
Of 200 yards Of his dwelling the National
Capital soon would become fyless city.
This is the opinion Of DR.. Arthur L.
campaign. based on a careful study of
the migratory habits Of the insects. He
is convinced that the germ-carriers sell
dom travel farther than 200 yards from
the places where they are born.
While the health department Is con-
cerned with abating the more important
nuisances In the D strict. where flies are
developed in large numbers there are In
Vulnerable smaller breeding places, which
the department, with the limited force OF
inspectors at its command. cannot give
attention to. The destruction Of these
germ-producing centers must be accom-
plished by the effort OF citizens. and, n
the opinion of DR.. Murray, 1t need not be
highly cooperative effort beyond the
extent Of each property owner endeavor-
ing to improve the sanitary conditions
within a 20O-y radius of h 8 premises
Kidding a city OF flies is not an i'm
practicable proposition" said DR.. MUIR
ray today, ''but citizens generally must
participate in such an undertaking or 1t
will not be a success. The municipal
government can be relied upon to abOl-
ish nuisances Of a character which indi-
vidual effort should not be expected to
remove. All other nuisances citizens
themselves should provide for the dispo-
sition of. II each householder would
abolish all fy-breeding places within a
radius of 900 yards OF his home. and in
addition would prevent any food being
exposed on which the insects cou.d SUBJ
sist. his premises apidly would become
flyless, and 1t would be only a short time
until the city was rid Of the principal
enemies Of its health
DR.. Murray believes The Stars anti
fly campaign is accomplishing great
deal with respect to the destruction OF
flies and billions OF insects are thereby
prevented from develop ng. Its educa.
tional influence on the adult population o1
the city rapidly is becoming more ap
parent every day. Washingtonia.ls gen.
orally, he asserts, already are impressed
by the fact that there are fewer flies In
the capital this summer than has beer
the case in years, and are beginn ng te
realize that 1t S possible to make serious
inroads on the SIZE of the pest horde II
everybody takes hand in the fight.
Flyless Era Due Soon.
With more of the older residents of tn,
city, impressed by the results accomplish
ed by the Juveniles engaged in the cam
paign, entering the fight for the extermi.
nation Of the fly and new methods OF
making the warfare effective constantly
being adopted. Washingtonians may lool
forward to a flyless era as a reality at nc
distant date, in the opinion Of the health
expert.
An interesting experiment that is to be
conducted this week will be the placing
of one of the giant fly traps purchased
by The Star on the fish wharf, 7th and
Water streets. As flies are to be found
In great numbers at this location, DR.
Murrays initial experiment will be to as.
certain what kind of bait attracts them
most. The first bait to be used will be
a quantity Of stale beer.
It is expected that contestants in the
June campaign will deliver several thou
sand flies to the headquarters In Room 8
of the Municipal building this afternoon.
OF the campaign will pass the one-miilior
mark. Already this month the competi-
tors. according to DR.. Murray's records,
have killed more than q quarter Of q
million insects Health officials look for
continuation OF the heavy onslaught
Flyless Era Due Soon.
District health authorities and resi-
dents Of TIE territory affected are elated