The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1922-06-29

The Board Of Mayor and Aldermen,
at special meeting Tuesday night.
favorably considered a proposition
advanced by the State Board Of
Health to cooperate with the city ia
local malaria control work. G.. N.
Harrub, director of the Division, of
Sanitary Engineering, appeared be-
fore the board to outline the work
needed to eradicate the mosquito.
According to the cooperative plan
Of the Tennessee State Board of
Health for malaria control and mos
quito eradication, the state board
would be willing to pay one-third Of
the cost of the work and contribute
the services of a state engineer with
out cost to the city.
A malaria survey was made of
Covington on April IL, and as a re-
suit it was found that at certain
times of the year there is much
flood water in the vicinity of Gov
ingtOn. To alleviate this condition
much drainage work has been done
and some is now in progress. A ca
nal takes care of the drainage lust
east of the railroad. Flowing into it
are two water courses, which drain
the city. One drains the section ad-
lacent to the railroad. 1t is a small
meandering stream, crossing private
property here and there, and then
Tor awhile it will flow along a street
ditch. Il finally reaches the railroad
below the bottling works. Just be-
low here a large ditch has been cut
'tocarry the water to the main drain
age canal Cleaning and clearing
out will be necessary at many points
along the upper part of the lateral
ditch.
The other drainage area is in the
central part of the city, and its water
course goes by the light and water
plant. This stream is meandering
and is very crooked Just above the
colored school. In this vicinity there
is much rubbish in the stream and
many pools, which form an excellent
breeding place for mosquitoes. Ac-
cording to the plans recommended.
this stream could be easily straight
ened, cleaned out, and the old chan
mel would have to be filled I'D or oiled.
1t would be Strengthened wherever
economically advisable and enlaread
and all water pools drained, Also
all grass and weeds would be cut and
kept out Of the stream proper.
An estimate was made of the cost,
OF clearing and cleaning out these
bitches and Of oiling and of mainten-
ance An estimate was not made or
the cost of Strengthening Of the ditch
north of the colored schoolhouse, be-
cause it was not known whether or
not the property owners would OBJ \
ject and, too, it was not known
whether the city would increase the
size ditch large enough to take care
OF storm water also to prevent flood
ing.
For malaria control work. it was
stated. no tools would have to be
purchased, as the street department
has an adequate supply Of shovels,
picks, etc. The inspector and fore
man required in charge Of ditch work
and oiling would be employed by the
city, and has had experience prev
iously on such work.
The entire cost of the work is es-
timated at approximately $1,000, and
the city, if the work is secured, will
be required to pay two-thirds of the
cost. After the first year the town
would be expected to continue the
work without financial aid from the
State Board Of Health. The new
ditching would cost in the neighbor-
hood of $780,
After the first year the work can
be continued at a very small cost to
the city as all the drainage work
would be done and nothing left to do
except oiling streams and cleaning
out breeding places.
In the event the board makes the
appropriation the work will
begin at once Action will be taken
by the board at their next regular
meeting Tuesday night, July a. 1t
is expected that they will take adj
vantage Of the proposition without a
hitch. The work is being done in
other counties of the state very sat
Health authorities claim
that if this step is taken malaria can
be controlled here