66 Appendix A. 



to July I, were printed by the fund and about 4,000 copies distributed 

 in the section as stated, in order "that many who do not understand 

 the plans and scope of the idea may be led to do their necessary part in 

 the campaign. . . . The cooperation must be general. . . . 

 There are conditions about here that are a shame in a civilized com- 

 munity, the result of man's carelessness, to put it mildly. (See photos 

 between pages 66 and 67.) We think it will be seen from the report 

 that while the smaller features of the work have not been omitted, there 

 has been an effort, not always yet successful, to carry out comprehensive 

 plans which will largely reach the root of the trouble in the section." 



The one used above as an example (numbered twelve in some thirty 

 points and methods of work reported on) quotes the original Report 

 to the Board, of which the following is part : 



"I beg to call your attention to some of the features involved and 

 respectfully urge that you make a personal examination of the situa- 

 tion, inasmuch as many of the conditions are quite beyond the power of 

 words to describe. 



"Coney Island Creek is a narrow tidal stream running between 

 Sheepshead Bay and Gravesend Ba}'. It has numerous inlets extending 

 from both its sides, those on the north, for miles up into the almost 

 level country. These inlets are, at their extremities, generally only 

 slightly affected by the tides. At the period of monthly high tides, 

 the land through which these tortuous streams run is overflowed and 

 at extraordinary tides is submerged for some feet. Between the 

 monthly tides, especially during a rainy period, the many marsh holes 

 throughout hundreds of acres of adjacent marsh lands, become most 

 favorable brackish breeding places for mosquitoes. Occasional springs 

 along the edge of the uplands add another source of like difficulty, only 

 graver, for they become the habitat of the Aiiopheles mosquito. 



"These marshes, incomplete as the marsh holes indicate, are, in 

 the present condition of things, saturated, though not overflown, twice 

 a day. This saturation increases the difficulty by reason of its pre- 

 venting a rapid absorption of the water of the monthly high tides and 

 of rainfalls. 



"Along the edges of the uplands, as well as in the creeks and inlets, 

 there are accumulations of filth and wastes such as are likely to occur 

 among persons who live in such situations. 



"The conditions on the south side of the Coney Island Creek, which 

 may aptly be termed the back yard of Coney Island, often caused by 

 streets and railroads being run through and enclosing stagnant water, 

 are frightfully foul and produce odors which often become sickening. 

 Debris of all kinds is here deposited. (Photos between pages 66 and 67.) 



"The situation, taken as a whole, is one of grave magnitude. The 

 conditions for breeding mosquitoes are perfect, and such as to earn 

 for the section an unenviable reputation of monumental character. 



"It will easily be appreciated that, if the saturation of these hun- 

 dreds of acres of practically level land can be prevented, the breeding 

 places of the mosquito will be obliterated as to these features of nature. 

 The result of keeping tide water from this soil would have the effect 



