Smyrna times., 1932-12-28
NEED S5OO,OOO TO
RID STATE OF PEST
Would Take This To Combat
Mosquitoes and $4,000 To
Keep Them Out
REPORT OF THE SURVEY

It would cost $500 600 to chase
all the mosquitoes out of the State
of Delaware and S12 900 year to
keep them out. These are the two
conclusions in a comprehensive re-
port just complpied after long
and thorough survey, instituted BY
Mrs. Henry B. Thompson and con
Quoted under the direction Of DR..
A. L. Stevens, New Jersey entom-
oIogist and Dean CA. McCue, head
of the Agricultural College Of the
University Of Delaware. If the
program outlined in the report Is
to be started Immediately, il is
pointed out by those interested in
the work, it would be ideally
adaptable to State plans for relief
of the unemployed At least two
thirds of the 100000 would be
spent in wages. Furthermore, it
would not be necessary to trans
port labor around the State, since
it was found there was not a single
town in Delaware that does not re-
quire some sort of corrective work
for mosquito control Practically
all the men needed could be EN-
ployed in their own communities
Hc
The initial cost would cover rel
clamation work and sanitation pro
jects, such as drainage Mosquito
control methods have been develop
ed to such an extent, it is pointed
out, there would be no doubt the
program would be effective. Both
the initial cost and the yearly
maintenance cost are considered
small in view Of the benefits to
accrue from elimination of the di-
i sease-spreading pest. Efforts are
4 being made now to raise about
/ S400 to have the report printed in
pamphlet form before the conven-
ing of the Legislature next month.
It is planned to print 5000 copies,
which would require about three
weeks. Dean McCue said last We'd
nesday night that the details Of the
report would not be made public
until it is printed The pamphlet
will be profusely illustrated with
photographs, drawings, maps and
graphs accumulated during the
survey. 1t will present care
fully considered program of State
wide mosquito control together
with the estimated costs itemized.
Good Work Done at RehObOth
The report will include many in
teresting facts about sanitation in
Delaware communities. One large
town in Sussex county was found
to be equipped with drainage IA
cilities that would have done little
credit to a medieval community
All the sewage and waste water
it was discovered, is dumped into
one open ditch. Conditions are
reasonably good in other towns
but are nowhere anything like per
feet. The worst mosquito town II
the entire State was found to be II
New Castle county, where ever
malaria-carrying insects were dls'
covered. The most progress has
been made at Rehoboth, where the
residents and summer dweller'
. have an intense interest in tht
work. The pest has almost beer
eliminated from that ocean resort
Only seven varieties were tounC
: there, whereas similar communities
2 on the Atlantic seaboard common
: ly have thousands. Last summe!
D the residents OF Rehoboth contrlp,
s uted 5000 for an airplane survey
: of the section to chart all mosqultS
0 breeding areas.
Sees Statewide Program Neede'
Mrs. Thompson first became II
terested in the work at Rehobolh
; where she has a summer home
+ After seeing what could be accom-
plished in that community, she D.
came persuaded a Statewide pro
, gram of control should not be ue'
layed. New Jersey and Long
i Island, she says, are the two sec'
: tions of the United States wnet'
r most has been accomplished. NeM
j Jersey long had the reputation :. .
. being one of the worst mosqui',
= sections of the country. InasmucL
, as the work has not progressed
; very far in other states, it IS pom, ~.
o ed out, Delaware, by taking IN ~.
Z mediate and effective steps '., W.
. be seizing an excellent opportunity