Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-13
Photographs illustrating this article Will
be found on the Pictorial Page.

]
An early appropriation by Councils is
! necessary If any determined, concerted
| effort toward the abatement of the mos
| quito menace and nuisance In Fhila-
delphia is to be made next summer so
| say officials at the Navy Yard and
| others connected with the Department OF
| Health.
The time to begin a campaign against
the buzzng and biting insect pest, 1t is
said is not after the mosquito season
has opened in the late spring but now,
before the temperature has fallen low
enough. and stayed low long enough to
carry frost a few inches into the ground
If the work against the mosquito now
being carried out systematically under
direction of authorizes at League Island
Navy Yard were followed in method by
the city authorities in South Philadel-
phia 1t is said there would he a marked
difference next spring I'm the number OF
mosquitoes that make South Philadelphia
their happy hunting grounds and, In con-
sequence, material Improvement In con-
ditions of health and comfort in and
about League Island and the popuous
section of Philadelphia Immediately TO
the north of it,
DR.. William II. Belt surgeon, United
States Navy stationed at League Island
Navy Yard, who has made special study
of the mosquito pest there and was pri-
marily responsible for the creation OF
special board appointed by the comman-
dant Of the yard to look into the situa-
tion, is an enthusiast upon the question
of making League Island and South Phil
adelphia moro habitable for outdoor life
during the mosquito season. condition
for the last few summers which was all
most impossible.
During the mosquito season, ranging
from late April to the first frost of au-
tumn, the Philadelphia Navy YARD is
an entomologist's paradise" said Doc
tor Bell 'In large measure, this state
ment applies to all of South Philadelphia,
and particularly that portion of 1t known
as the South Philadelphia Improvement
destined eventually to become park ana
recreation ground.
DANGER OF INFECTION.
According to statistics, there are $40
odd varieties of mosquito to be found In
North America. Most of them are merely
annoying save when their bites become
infected through scratching. About ~
per cent are disease carrying and breed
ing. spreading malarial and other fevers.
While | would not like to say how many
hundred varieties of mosquito we have
at the yard. | know and say in all
seriousness, that there are varieties in
sufficient entomological quantity down
here to satisfy the most fastidious COM
During something over five months of
each year myriadg of mosquitoes YER
itably blaclSen the air at League Island,
making life unbearable out of doors.
When / say myriads l do not eXagEcrate.
Here Is a photograph made August 26,
of this year. of n screen covering an air
intake, which is unit of the ventilating
system on the Dakota. There are many
thousands of mosquitoes on it. IT is
typical of conditions confronting us, and
which we are trying to ameliorate as
far as we can within the yard. Our work
will count of course, but 1t will not be
of great material advantage unless the
city does its share outside the gates of
the yard
Inside the yard gates we have found
to a marked extent the efficiency OF a
large body of marines. sailors of the re-
serve fleet, officers and the several thou
sands of civilians employed at the yard
to be seriously affected through annoy
ance caused by mosquitoes. Then there
is the far more important matter of seri-
Gus menace to general health, through