1906.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT- -No. 73. 115 



MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAY COMMISSION, 

 BOSTON, Jan. 1, 1906. 



Mr. A. H. KIRKLAND, State Superintendent, for the Suppression of 

 Gypsy and Brown-tail Moths, 6 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. 



DEAR SIR: The Acts of 1905, chapter 279, gives the Massa- 

 chusetts Highway Commission exclusive care and control of all 

 shade trees within the limits of the State highways. 



The records in the office of the Superintendent for the Sup- 

 pression of Gypsy and Brown-tail Moths show that there are 

 approximately 80 cities and towns in which State highways are 

 located where the pests have been found. It is probable that the 

 trees on the State highways in many of the towns are not infested, 

 although colonies may have been found within the municipal limits. 



The reports of the engineers of the commission indicate that in 

 most of the towns the moths have not yet made much progress, but 

 that in a few instances, notably the State road from Stoneham to 

 Lawrence and the State road from Arlington to Burlington, the 



o o 



trees are badly infested by both pests. 



The commission intends to suppress the moths wherever they 

 may be found within the State highway locations, and several 

 contracts have already been let, with this end in view. Work is 

 already in progress on the roads before referred to as being badly 

 infested, under a contract with a private firm of contractors. All 

 other contracts thus far made have been with the local authorities. 

 In the opinion of the commission, it is probable that most of this 

 work will be done in this manner, for the reason that the municipal 

 officers are already at work with organized forces on the town 

 roads, and it is thought that the State highway work may be done 

 more economically by them in connection with the town work than 

 by outside contractors. 



Yours truly, 



(Signed) A. B. FLETCHER, 



Secretary. 



At the Danvers Asylum and also at the State Hospital in 

 Tewksbury, both properties being infested by the gypsy 

 and brown-tail moths, operations to suppress the pests are 

 under way. 



At the United States reservation at Nahant, owing largely 

 to the activities of Mr. George Abbot James, tree warden, 

 the badly infested area is being thoroughly cleared. At 

 the United States naval nitre depot, Maiden, and also at the 

 various fort reservations along the harbor front, the authori- 



