The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-02-22
Somebody Is
to Blame.

The state health department has fol
several years been publishing propa-
eanda relative to the necessity Of pro-
tecting communities against the fly and
mosquito plague. SO important has
this been deemed that a crusade
against these insects has been waged
and moving picture films have been
used TO impress the lessons Of cleanli-
ness and the danger OF carelessness
and columns Of space have been given
to the danger Of the MOSQUITO and the
nv.
Last summer through the neglect
Of some person Or persons, Pensacola
was visited by q mosquito plague
Many letters were written about it
editorials were published about it, and
there was much talk about It but
nothing was done TO remedy the situa-
tion.
The Civic League has recently i'm
terested itself in inquiring into the
cause Of the MOSQUITO plague last sum-
mer, and it seems. placed the blame
on the distillery
Counter claims have been made that
the distillcry - not responsible FOL
this nuisance. and IL not now a menace
to the community. inasmuch as the
conditions are not the same now which
obtained last. summer
Saturday afternoon members of the
civil League. a member OF the state
board OF health. an assistant to the
state health officer. the city physician,
the mayor member OF the city COM
mission. and a state bacteriologiss, Wis
tied the western section OF the cits
and found. apparently, things much
worse than they had been painted.
The distillery was first visited and
II was found that no waste of any
character coming from that plant could
cause the mosquitoes or supply a
breeding place for the reason that a
pipe carries OFF all refuse to the bayou.
The physicians therefore were Of the
opinion that the distillery cannot now
be blamed for supplying the breeding
place for the mosquito.
There are, however. in that vicinity
several places where mosquitoes will
not only breed during the summer
months, but where they now exist
There are two cypress swamps In that
vicinity and the stsgnant water in
these will furnish breeding places for
thousands of mosquitoes as soon as
warm weather arrives Another breed
ing spot is supplied at the crematory,
where thousands OF cans have been
dumped by the city, as well as quanti-
ties Of other refuse which will not
burn in the crematory. THESE cans are
partly filed with water and unless
some steps are taken to remedy condi-
TONS residents OF that section of the
city MAY EXPECT MORE MOSQUE
TOES THAN DURING THE PAST
YEAR.
It is claimed that these places are
out OF the city limits. and that there.
fore it is not within the province OF
the city commissioners to apply any
remedies.
1t Is up to somebody to apply RENEE
dies. that is certain. and at once. II it
Is not the city's business. It Is the
county's business. II it is not the coun-
TVS business. It is the states business.
In case Of this kind 1T rs SOME
BODY's BUSINESS to act and to act
at once.
II would seem that the city must
be responsible. In some measure, for
the conditions that exist in that sec
ton. and in other sections. where mos
quitoes breed prolihcally.
From time to time the householders
are reminded that unless each house.
holder keeps his premises clearly and
sanitary the conditions which his care
lessness induces become a menace to
others about him. and are therefore
unlawful. Is the city. or the county.
or the state, less liable for conditions
that are menace not only to one
neighbor but to an entire neigAbor-
hood. and an entire city7
III 1T is NOT THE cITY,s BUsI-
NESS. 1T MUST BE TIE coUNTY's,
OR THE STATES to see that the con-
ditions which exist are remedied. and
az once n the mosquitoes are already
breeding there is no time to lose.
Il is futile to wrangIe over who is