Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-05-25
DRANACEOF !
TOWN RESACA :
EPROPOSED
Federal Government Would
Give Financial Assistance
to Plan for Eradication Of
Mosquitoes

Drainage or the town resaca In the
eastern and northern sections or the city
for the purpose of mosquito control.
was suggested yesterday by u. y. Sani-
tary Engineer A. r.. Allen OF Washing
ton. ID. g.. who has been placed In charge
Of the mosquito eradication work in
South Texas. Engineer Allen expressed
the opinion that no difficulty would be
encountered in securing federal aid i'm
this work. and that 1t is probable that
an appropriation Of approximately 500
per month could be secured II the City of
Brownsville viii Indicate to the federal
government that 1t IL willing to cooperate
in the work.
Engineer Allen spent Thursday IN
Brownsville making a thorough survey
Of mosquito conditions here, and compli-
mented the work which DIR. Spivey.
city health officer, and J. NJ. Billingslea,
federal inspector. have accomplished.
He called attention. however, to the fact
that unless this resaca Is drained
Brownsville will find It impossible to
eradicate the pests. After making Z sur
vey OF the resaca and ascertaining its
depth In various parts. he suggested that
it be drained TO the lowest point near the
new dam on Eighteenth street, ard from
that point the water would be pumped
into the sewer or river. using electric
pumps. This would necessitate the p1ac-
ing of pipes or culverts under all the
streets crossing the resaca and digging
Of bitches to connect the low spots In the
resaca and direct the flow 10 the low
est point. He stated that in his opinion
it would be impracticnble to drain all the
water holes in the resaca. but most
Of them could be drained and that mos
quito control by the use Of minnows
would be feasible in what water re-
manned. This plan would remove prac-
tically NIL water from the reraca as far
as the belt line railroad. and would exter-
inmate the mosquitoes In district which
is now considered the worst In the city.
Engineer Allen left this morning for
Corpus Christi. and will also visit Il0bs-
town and several other points in bis
territory. but expects 10 return 70
Brownsville in = few dsys and will
again sake up the drainage prop0sltion
with Mayor Cole. the city engineer and
DIR. Spivey. and expressed the opinion
that he was confident that with the aid
Of the federal government the resaca
could be drained.
Engineer Allen has been in the Waller
a week. and reported that he II well sat
isfied with the progress which has been
made in mosquito eradication on the
lower border. Every town and commun-
ity in the Valley Is cooperating with the
federal inspectors in every manner poss-
ible, he stated. The federal t5vernment
Is expending approximately $500 PER
month in mosquito eradication work on
this part OF the border, and II deter
mined that the yellow fever menace.
which il reported to b increasing In
Mexico with the advent n hot weather.
shall be completely eliminated through
the eradication Of the stegomya mos
quitoes along the border.
The announcement was also made this
morning that nm effort will be made 10
secure the cooperation Of Matamoros
officials in the mosquito war. ard the
proposition of extending to that city the
services of Inspector Billingslea. who
has done excellent work IN the Valley
counties. has already been taken up with
the department. DIR. Cicero. public
health officer in Matamofos. has taken
great interest in the mosquito campaign
on this side of the river. and has taken
great interest in the mosquito campaign
on this side Of the river, and has given
local officers the assurance that his
department win cooperate In every way
possible and would be glad To secure the
services Of nm inspector Of proven ability
to assist in eradicating the mosquitoes In
that city.
The mosquito menace In Matamoros
is even greater than ON this side of the
river Dr. Spivey stated this morning.
-and we will BE- glad 10 assist that city
in eradicating the pests. and will make
every possible effort 70 have Alatsmoros
assigned spa-t Of Inspector Billings
lea's district Our quarantine protects
this country to a great extent from the
yellow fever menace but In Matsmoros,
which IN without quarantine the yellow
fever district is in far greater danger
Of nm epidemic. and every effort should
be made TO rid that city Of the stegomya