Z7^ AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



of mosquitoes to Elizabeth, owing to its greater proximity. The results of 

 this work, which were not so appreciably felt last year, have been quite 

 apparent this season. The remainder of the appropriation was used for oil- 

 ing, etc., within the city. 



In 1904 no money has been appropriated for permanent work, but 

 enough oil has been used to treat all catch-basins and a few pools of water 

 which could not be readily drained this year. 



We have, however, taken advantage of the amendment to the Public 

 Health Act in relation to mosquito-breeding areas, and numerous low-lymg 

 lots have been filled in, or drained, and one inland swamp, requiring several 

 thousand feet of ditching, has been drained. This has all been done at the 

 expense of the owner of property treated. 



It is too early to state whether enough can be appropriated for 1905 to 

 drain our remaining marsh area, but every effort will be put forth to bring 

 the matter forcibly to the authorities. The use of oil for catch-basins and 

 fish for cisterns will certainly be continued. 



(Signed) LOUIS J. RICHARDS, 



Health OMcer. 



The following is the report referred to by Mr, Richards : 



Report of the Study of the Mosquito Pest in BHsaheth, N. J. 



BY DR. WM. F. ROBINSON. 



Man has many ills that disturb his mental peace and bodily comforts. 

 When disease visits him he quietly accepts the inevitable and puts his 

 faith in the attending physician. If a pest attacks his fruit trees, destroys 

 his harvests, or kills his pigs and cattle, he spends large sums for imme- 

 diate relief. But it remains for a future philosopher to explain why he 

 will submit for centuries to a pest so widely spread as that of the mos- 

 quito, with no greater protest against its persistent attacks than an im- 

 patient slap, or the barricading of his house with wire meshes. 



The study of the mosquito has engaged the attention of numerous scientists 

 for several years, and ways and means have been gradually evolved for rid- 

 ding communities of this pest and nuisance. 



At the April (1902) meeting of the Agassiz Society for Scientific Review 

 I read a paper on " How Mosquitoes Transmit Disease and What We 

 Should Do to Rid Ourselves of the Pest." This was published in the local 

 press and attracted so much attention in our community that the Elizabeth 

 Daily Journal generously gave the funds for starting a practical investigation 

 and experiment in this locality. The Civic Federation sent $50, with en- 

 couraging words, and the following gentlemen, Messrs. A. B. Carlton, A. 

 D. Mulford, F. H. Davis, C. B. Orcutt, Fred. H. Levey, John C. Rankin, 

 Jr., P. J. Ryan, George W. Rogers, Frank Bergen, Charles H. Moore, W. 

 W. Willett, P. H. Gilholly, George E. Dimock, George T. Parrot, A. F. 

 Young and Dr. V. Mravlag, gathered at a meeting held in the parlors of 

 Comptroller Carlton, gave $25 each to complete a fund for carrying the work 

 forward during the season. Later, an additional sum of $10 was sent to 

 the treasurer by Mr. Benjamin Whitley. The above-named gentlemen 

 effected an organization, with Mr. A. B. Carlton as president, Mr. C. C. 

 McBride, secretary-treasurer, and Mayor Ryan, Comptroller Carlton, ex- 

 Mayor Rankin, A. D. Mulford and Hon. George T. Parrot, Executive 

 Committee. 



The " Downtown Taxpayers' Association " invited me to speak before 

 them and generously offered to contribute funds to the cause, if needed, 

 as did many other citizens, but a unique feature of the history of this 

 movement is that no funds were solicited and the treasurer's report will 

 show a balance on hand. 



