Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-17
SHELTERS SWARM
AND C|TRONELLA
PRICE IS BOOSTED
Sudden Arrival of Pest Army
Creates Unprecedented De-
mand for Oily Weapon.

II some unknown reason a tre-
mendous army of mosquitoes descend
ed upon Newark last night and sue
ceeded in making life miserable for
residents in all sections of the city.
Druggists in Forest Hill, Woodside.
Vailsburg, Weequahic Park and
Down Neck sections reaped a har-
vest on the sale of citronella, the
liquid known as being particularly
disagreeable to the pests.
The demand for this strong smell
Ing solution has been so great during
the past few days that pharmacists
have raised the price and now sell
only half the quantity for the same
price. For instance, the ten-cent bot
tie which the victim formerly had
hiied at the druggists costs just
twice that amount Complaints that
the mosquitoes were again too much
In evidence have been numerous dur
ing the past fortnight, but last night
appears to have been the banner
night for the singing visitors.
Swatsmiths at Work
The slogan: Swat the flyl" was
succeeded last night by swat the
mosquito With alarming regular
ity the swats were heard last night
In various apartments, in many in.
stances accompanied by male voices
designating even a warmer climate
for the unwelcome visitors. The
swatsmiths kept up the attack with a
persistence which would put to rout
any ordinary foe. The druggists an
tidote for the pests was smeared all
over the homes of the afflicted, as
well as the arms, legs and other parts
of the anatomy which were exposed
to the attack
Finally the swatsmiths, who were
composed of fathers, mothers, sisters,
brothers and other relatives, became
exhausted and gave up the fight
tossing upon their beds for a few
hours of disturbed slumber.
Following on the reports of these
lively conflicts which came from all
parts of the city, the Essex County
Mosquito Extermina ton Commission
was called upon to explain the terrific
onslaught by the pests. j. w. Dob
pins. chief inspector of the commits
sion, said that the swarm was only
temporary one and that he had the
pests in check
'Skeeters Pick Their Victims.
we have reports that mosquitoes
were about last night" said the in
spector, land in the Vailsburg sec
ton, where l live, l know positively
we had no trouble at ALL We sat
on the front porch last night with
out any screens and were not both
cred
ut happens though that the mos
Quitoes will swarm into one house
and torture tho inmates there, while
the person next door will not have any
of them. We do know that the mos
quitoes have been plentiful in the
Forest Hill and Weequahic Park sec
lions, but we Nave the inspectors at
work there nov and they are doing
all they can to relieve the situation.
Dobbins Says Count Is Less.
There are less mosquitoes in New,
ark this year than ever before, but it
is impossible for any one to expect
that we can overcome such a problem
in year and half 1t is going to
pests. Not only have we to destroy
the nests here in Essex county, but
must suffer because the authorities in
surrounding counties have not been
successful in combating the mosqui-
toes"
The chief inspector went on to de-
tail the plans which were made to
rout the pests and the difficulties con-
fronting the inspectors. He prophe-
sled very pleasant future when the
systematic war on mosquitoes in New
Jersey would be entirely successful
But many are wondering II tonight
will bring a repetition of the terrible
struggle of last night The chief in
spector sees no reason why the attack
should be continued so let's hope for
the best.