Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-19

Plans for ridding Ell Centre and
Imperial Valley from the mosquito
pest, which is a source of great
annoyance during the summer
months, were outlined at the Cham
ber of. Commerce luncheon today by
DR.. Il. l.. Palmer, who has made in
vestigations into the causes and pos
sible remedies for this condition.
AS yet, Imperial Valley has not
been invaded by the yellow fever
or malarial varieties of mosquito, the
insect which is prevalent here being
known as the pest mosquito, said DR..
Palmer. However, the two former
species are likely to follow the pest
mosquito and the possibility of ma
aria or yellow fever epidemics is
something that must be, considered
i'll waging war on the mosquito.
Bermuda grass, which is present
in practically all parts of the Val
ley, makes an excellent breeding
place for mosquitoes, the speaker
said, and when the ground in which
the grass is growing is allowed to
become damp, the mosquito flourish
es. Two common practices in I'M
perial Valley are responsible in
great measure for the prevalence Of
the mosquito. One of these is the
habit of allowing ice from refrig-
orators to drip off through a hole
in the floor onto the ground beneath
the house. The damp ground, heav-
lily shaded, makes an ideal breeding
place for the mosquitoes. The pree
sence Of leaky faucets on outside
premises, was also mentioned. as an
other contributing factor to- the
mosquito pest. These practices are
prevalent in the cities as well as in
the rural sections.
Road Flooding Aids
Road flooding, it was pointed out,
also aids in increasing the number
of mosquitoes. Frequently the roads
are flooded so long in the summer
that the water becomes stagnant, al
lowing millions of mosquitoes to
hatch out. So
Crude oil was recommended by DR..
Palmer as the best method of at
tacking the mosquito. A small guam
tity dropped down the drain pipe
would eliminate the menace arising
from melting ice in refrigerators,
and the oil could also be placed
around leaky faucets. While this
oil is not non-inflammable, it is
rather difficult to set it ON fire ac-
cidently, and its presence in small
quantity about a house could not be
considered real fire hazard
The chief source of mosquito
breeding, DR.. Palmer stated, are the
open canals which abound in the
valley. These can be treated with
oil too, in his opinion, without in
Jury to human beings, notwithstand-
ing the fact that the canals supply
water for domestic uses. The oil
could be sprayed on the canals, and
would seek the sides of the ditch
bank, the real breeding place of the
mosquitoes and eradicate them, and
would have very little effect on the
water itself. This method has been
used in Washington and Oregon with
a great deal of success
Reers to Dr.. Gorgas
.Dr. Palmer referred to the work
done by DR.. Gorgas in cleaning up
the Panama Canal zone as sample
of what can be done in eliminating
the mosquito, and recounted the de-
Wasting effects of yellow fever and
malaria plaques in Laredo, Texas,
and other cities. He is now in cor.
respondence with the Rockefeller In
stitute on ways and means of elimi-
mating the mosquito and expects 70.
have definite plan worked out by
the time the mosquito makes it ap-
pearance in the carly summer.
Aten Talks on Tax
Ira Aten, president of the Imper-