The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-24
RECLAMATION OF
SWAMPY REGION
Commissioner Of Health
Proposes to Eliminate
Malaria in South

OKLAHOMA CITY. May ga
reclamation project through which
thousands OF citizens OF Oklahoma
would be rescued from chronic ma
larln and thousands Of acres OF
swamp land drained. In now in its
preliminary stages with actual work
expected to begin this summer. ac-
cordlng 10 an announcement OF Dr.
A. NJ. Lewis, state health commits
sioner. who is active In promoting
the propect
Parts OF four counties IN south
eastern Oklahoma. where swamp
lands exist and malaria Ia preva-
lent, are TO be cleaned up through
the united efforts OF county Of
flcinls, city authorities. private
citizens and corporations holding In
tercsts In the district. the state
health department and the Rookie
fcller foundation officials The
countios In which the areas arc To-
Gated are Chuctaw. McCurtnin,
Bryan and Lcflore.
J. T.. McAfcc. community coun-
selor for the University OF Okla
hOma, ~ this week making tour
Of tho counties embraced In the
project with a view to learning
Gus parties to tho program. Or.
Lewls had planned TO make the
| trip nlso, but was unable to do so
on account OF other business. MIR.
| McAfee will submit n report to DR..
| Lewis upon completion OF the can
vass.
Details OF the campaign against
| disease in the various districts have
not been completed. but tho first
move Is to se the elimination OF
| thousands OF acres OF stagnanl
swamp water which affords n
breeding place for mosquitoes. TC
do this. n corps OF engineers will be
| engaged who viii construct drain
age canals. This will not only dc
away with the principal cause oi
malaria. It was pointed out, but vii
also reclaim much land that Is now
useless.
Following completion OF the
drainage project. the men at th'
head OF the program plan to set M
a system OF treating the natives foi
malaria and hookworm. the two
chief scourges OF tho district, DR.
Lewis said. Details OF this pro
gram are not complete.
| DR.. John A. Fcrril, director foi
|
tional health board OF the Rocke
foller foundation, has promised Mr.
McAfee and DR.. Lewis that the
foundation will aid the project pro
vlded sources within the state will
do likewise.
Much interest has been shown "
the project by citizens OF the coun
ties in which the effected districts
are located. according to Doctor
Lewis. Many letters have been re
ceived from chambers Of commerce
and civic clubs NJ well as from city
officials and individuals. One larg'
lumber company is talking oi
active part In furthering the proj
sct and has promised to contribute
n large sum. The company EN-
ploys hundreds OF people In IN
: district and owns much land whic
is being cleared OF timber. he
cause OF the prevalence OF malaris
: this land cannot be sold. The com
pany hopes, by improving n
health conditions OF the area, TO at
tract farmers from north and eas
to buy the land as II Is cleared.
"If this matter can be carrie
through II will be one or the big
gest projects ever attempted In tn
southwest" said Or. Lewis. and
\ will mean more TO OklahomS fror
} n health standpoint than anythin
that has ever been done In III
state. 1t will require n large out
lay OF money, lut the returns wi
= be proportionate, and we expect
3 accomplish our aim"