The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-06-18
FAIRFIELD'S WAR ON THE
 MOSQUITO GOES ON WITH
 VERY FAVORABLE RESULTS
Improvement Association Has Done Much to Make Fairfield 8 Better Place in Which to Live-Read
 About the House Mosquito.
Especial to the Farmer.)

Fairfield June 18.-That the drain age last summer of the marsh mead ovVs of the town in an effort to e1innin- ate the mosquito, was a scomp1ete success has been once more clearly demonstrated. For once in their lives, Fairfield residents are able to sit up on their verandas and lawns without being driven to cover by the once ever present pest. The names Fairfield and mosquitoes have long been asso- ciated much to the detrfment of the town It was the only tfblack eye'' Fairfield ever had, but that was enough to keep many people away from the town.
 Said one prominent resident yester- day to a Farmer correspondent: My self and family were able last even ing to enjoy several hours of a most beautiful evening upon -e front porch. Not one of the members of my family complained of mosquitoes. I did not notice one myself. That is something I could not say in past seasons
 The work of draining the salt marshes in the southern section of the town was undertaken last Spring by the Association for the Improve ment of Fairfield and Vicinity. A contracting firm which makes a spe- ciaIty of draining marshes for such purposes was engaged. A contract was entered into, the contractors last season receiving $s,4o0. This fund was collected from private sources, residents of the town who realized that the elimination of the pest would make of Fairfield a mighty good place in which to live.
 The officers of the association i'm c1ude Oliver G. Jennings president; Col. Valerie Havard, secretary and treasurer A. Holland Forbes, Judge Fillmore s. Banks, Samuel Wheeler. Clarence Sturges and Frederick Nor throp of Southport. The association has a mem bership, of about 200, in c1uding the most influential residents of the town.
 This year the drainage company has received $55O, which amount has been appropriated by the town to con tinue the contract. When the con- tract was signed last season, the com pany agreed to patrol the drained sec ton and keep in repair all ditches for five years at an expense of $550 each year.
 In the last state legislature a bill passed both the house, and senate, whereby the state would take charge of all drained meadows and would complete such work in undrained To- ca1ities This was a bill drawn up by committee representing such improvement societies such as has had charge of the work here. Col. Valerie Harvard was a member of the committee. The passage of the bill seemed assured, but last week Cover nor Baldwin refused to attach his name. There is no doubt the bill will eventually become a law as the socie- ties will attempt again two years hence to have a similar bill go through both houses.
 The passage of the bill with the work in charge of the state would assure improvement associations pro- lection from citizens who might ob- ject to drainage being made on their property. As the matter now stands any marsh land owner could complete Iy dem oralize the whole drainage sys- tenn by refusing to allow ditches to be dug or filling in what ditches have already been constructed on his prop erty. Said a. m member of the associa- ton yesterday: Any marsh land owner could upset our plans, but in doing so he would undoubtedly bring public resentment down upon himself. It's the public sentiment that secures us.''
 "A constant flow of water is the se- cret of elimination of the mosqutto,' said a mem Der of the association. Wa rious methods have been tried with varied successes, but 1t is the con- sensus of opinion now that through the construction of ditches the pests may be ridden Continuing the speaker said Eventually I believe that the town marshes will be entirely mosquito ridden. The ditches are constructed on the level with the