Evening journal., 1914-05-06
now FOR REAL
WAR ON MOSQUITOES
Civic Committee Locates
Breeding Spots and Will
Begin determination
HEALTH BOARD
AIDS IN CAMPAIGN

At the meeting of the anti-mosouito
committee of the Chamber of Com
merce, which was appointed to con-
slider methods of eliminating mos
quito breeding places, held in the Of
flee of George A. Elliott. in the Eoui-
table Building, last night. plans were
iald for the determination Of the dis
ease bearing insect. If any "slxee-
ters' invade Wilmington this summer
TO annoy the citizens with their stines
and buzzing, they are to be congrat-
ulated for their skill in evadinp fhe
efforts Of the above mentioned COM
mttee, for the plans for the active
war 70 be waged against the "pesti-
ierous insect, as made last nighe
are complete in every detail.
colonel Elliott's committee has had
prepared a plot that resembles
Mexican war map, showing the loca-
tion OF evils that are likely to be
breeders Of mosquitoes. Names Of
owners of such properties are now
Delng obtained. The Board of Health
IS cooperating with the committee.
Although the Investigation has not
been completed in any of the wards.
and IN many sections is barely begun.
forty-three different properties were
reported which afforded excellent
breeding places for mosouitos.
These properties are located in diff
erent sections of the city, but are es-
peoially numerous in the lower end Of
lie Ninth ward, and in the section of
the city south of the Market street
and Third street bridges.
The reports submitted nv the
health officers stated that the inves-
tigation brought to light numerous
stagnant ponds, low, swamp land, OBJ
structed bitches, quarries and ponds
with no outlet, all of which made ex-
cellent breeding places for mosaui
los. The sections in which these
conditions were reported were the
lower end of the Ninth ward, East
lake, and west end of the Seventh
ward, and southwest end of the
Twelfth ward, near the city line. the
Eleventh ward. south of Lancaster
avenue, and the low lands south of
the Christiana river.
The committee will make an effort
TO prevent the breeding of mosouitog
IN the large areas of swami land and
IN order to have their efforts supple-
mented on the smaller properties will
send out a letter to the owners Of
properties which are reported as af-
fording breeding places for the mos
quito, asking the cooperation of the
owners in securing better conditions
IN the low sections Of the city. The
committee will ask that stagnant
pools be drained and lowlands be
filled in
The committee in sending out the
letters is making suggestions for ef-
tective means OF exterminating the
larvae of the mosquito before ii
reaches maturity. Among the most
effective methods thus suggested ia
the perfect screening of all drains.
water barrels, and tanks the period
lcal draining of pools, ponds. and
marshes; or the coating of all such
places with fine coating of petrol
cum. The coating of petroleum
forms a heavy surface through which
the larvae are unable to force their
way to breathe when in the advanced
larVea stage Of development.
Colonel Elliott and the committee
expect to make an inspection of the
south side soon to try to devise
method for routing the MOSQUITOES
from lowlands and marshes. When
the new dredge for Wilmington har-
Dor arrives, probably early next
year, the lowlands can be filed in
with dredgings from the river. II
is expected that considerable more
than forty-three breeding places for
the pesky mosquito will soon be
on the war map The committee be-
lieves that property owners generally
will be willing to cooperate in i'm
proving conditions to exterminate
the troublesome and disease carrying
insects.