lo Proceedings of the First Convention 



to participate declined, and then generally with words which 

 showed their great interest and sympathy, and regrets for other 

 engagements. Mr. Cornelius Fellowes voiced this sentiment in 

 his note: "I am with you heartily and prepared to fight the 

 enemy to a finish." 



To attempt to get a convention in the middle of December 

 to review the mosquito question — though really the best time — 

 was, as some have said, a large undertaking, but the response 

 shows that those who antagonize the mosquitoes and mosquito 

 conditions are the men of the real crusader type — willing to 

 forego everything to carry their plans. Many already have 

 given most valuable time and large sums of money to forward 

 the crusade. 



A year ago a few talked of a convention, but only of en- 

 gineers to look at the subject from their standpoint, but the 

 matter passed and no convention was held. At the end of this 

 year's work in the field — in October — the matter came up 

 again but in a broader scope, viz., to consider the subject 

 in all its bearings, and though the printed program touches 

 many of the points it does not, and, in so short a time, 

 could not touch all. For instance, you will notice there is no 

 special representative of real estate announced, and yet there 

 are numberless men dealing in realty who could have told us 

 of the depressing effect of the mosquito evil on values in beau- 

 tiful and otherwise desirable parts of the country — of invest- 

 ments of hundreds of thousands of dollars in places where it 

 has been sunk on account of this evil. And there are some I 

 know who could have told you of the hope that many owners 

 have, that this movement is going to restore lost fortunes. 



One gentleman suggested another omitted topic — the need 

 of a Publicity Bureau, that would force the people to know 

 about this matter. The idea is gaining rapidly, but all will say 

 there is room for it to gain. The dense ignorance even among 

 educated people, the willful opposition, the careless habits, have 

 all to be overcome. The press has much to do, and is now gen- 

 erally doing it splendidly as you will see by these imperfect 

 statistics : 



One person's mosquito clippings from general press : 

 1898 — 4 1900 — 31 1902 — 141 



9—6 1—53 3—366 so far 



From about i a year to i a day. 



