446 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



Monmouth Beach to Branchport, and incidentally this appeal is intended for 

 the entire townships of Shrewsbury and Ocean. 



The co-operation is for each and every householder and property-owner 

 to fill in all low spots where water would become stagnant, to do away with 

 all barrels and cans of any kind holding water, as these are particularly 

 objectionable as places for deposit of larvae and for breeding of inosquitoes. 

 Further, that where the area is too large for filling in of low spots that 

 ditches be dug of not more than eight inches and of such depth as to carry 

 off the water and dispose of it in such manner as to remove the possi- 

 bility of breeding grounds. With co-operation such as suggested the com- 

 fort and health of the community-at-large will be greatly benefited, as it 

 has been definitely settled that mosquitoes are carriers of disease, and the 

 value of property will be much enhanced. There has been 150,000 lineal 

 feet of ditching on the shores of Rumson Neck and Monmouth Beach, 

 besides filling in of low places, and it is supplemental to this that prompts this 

 appeal by the chairman of the committees of Rumson Neck and Monmouth 

 Beach, respectively, Messrs. William A. Street and Henry L. Thornell. 



June loth, 1904. 



* * * * 



New York, September 22d, 1904. 

 Prof. John B. Smith, New Brunszuick : 



Dear Sir— I am to-day in receipt of your esteemed favor of 21st instant, 

 and have pleasure in saying that the work which was done on Rumson Neck 

 last spring has proved satisfactory, and it has been supplemented by the 

 employment of labor to keep open the ditches and fill in low spots which 

 may have been overlooked, as a result of which we have been practically 

 free from mosquitoes, excepting very occasionally, and the source discov- 

 ered, and altogether we may all congratulate ourselves on the satisfactory 

 progress and result of our labors. 



I only speak of Rumson Neck, but have understood that conditions at 

 Monmouth Beach are similar, although, perhaps, the problem there has 

 been a little more difficult to solve than in our case, but you can obtain more 

 definite particulars through Messrs. Thornell and Stimpson, who had the 

 work in charge, and with sentiments of esteein and confidence, I remain, 

 dear sir. Yours very truly, 



(Signed) WILLIAM A. STREET. 



* * * 



New York, September 22d, 1904. 

 Prof. John B. Smith. Rutgers College, N'ezv Brunswick, N. J.: 



Dear Sir— In reply to your letter of September 21st, just received: 

 It would certainly seem that in weather of this kind mosquitoes would not 

 readily develop to maturity, but examination of some of the infested spots 

 near Monmouth Beach discloses large numbers of larvse. Our association 

 is satisfied that the draining of the region done under your superintendence 

 last spring was the immediate cause of our comparative freedom from the 

 pest during the summer just past. While this immunity may have been in 

 part attributable to climatic conditions, we are not able to satisfactorily 

 determine just what the favorable conditions were. Like conditions in 

 other years have been attended with rapid progress and development, so 

 that our temptation is to conclude that relief is entirely attributed to the 

 remedies which have been applied. The work done by the association was 

 not properly seconded and supported by the efforts of individual property- 

 holders, but we trust that coercive measures will next year remedy this 

 defect. We are convinced that the proper maintenance of the drainage sys- 

 tem will, in our region, require the services of a number of men constantly 

 employed in that work. This necessity is, in large part, due to the entrance 

 of seaweed into such ditches as open into the Shrewsbury river. We shall 

 further extend the system during the coming winter and spring in order that 

 we mav obtain complete drainage. Very truly yours, 



(Signed) F. J. STIMSON, 



Secretary. 

 (Monmouth Beach Protective Association.) 



