INITIATING THE CAMPAIGN 79 



• 

 the person in charge, point out the necessity of complying with 

 the anti-mosquito ordinance, make suggestions as to the best 

 methods to follow, give, if desirable, some idea of the cost and 

 offer free supervision. In case the problem is one of considerable 

 magnitude, in relation to the value of the property, it may not 

 be amiss to offer to participate in doing the work. 



It has been the writer's experience that, in most cases, people 

 will voluntarily co-operate along the lines indicated, if the matter 

 is properly placed before them. In cases where they will not, 

 prominent local persons may exert pressure upon them. If 

 this fails, the only alternative is prompt prosecution. 



PLANNING THE WORK 



When the above-mentioned canvass of the situation is com- 

 pleted, the director of the campaign will have a pretty good idea 

 of what work he will have to do — that is, how much drainage, 

 oiling, etc., will have to be done by his own forces. The next 

 step is to lay plans for doing it seasonably and effectively. 



It is a good idea to start the actual work early. In the Public 

 Health Service demonstrations in the South, it was generally 

 the rule to begin active work by March 1 or shortly thereafter. 



In planning the work, it should be remembered that work 

 which will benefit the largest number of people should be done 

 first. Hence, problems in the center of town should ordinarily 

 be tackled before those on the outskirts. 



As a general rule, drainage should be completed as early as 

 possible, since the earlier it is done, the less will be the amount 

 of oiling required. Furthermore, with the direction of the drain- 

 age gang off his hands early, the director will have more time for 

 inspection and supervision of oiling and fish control just as these 

 matters are becoming of greater importance. 



If active work is to start by March 1, enough laborers should 

 be put on, if practicable, to complete the drainage work in not 

 more than 3 months, since, by June 1, the director will have 

 enough other problems before him to keep him busy. 



If there is much drainage to do, two or more gangs of laborers 

 should be organized, each gang having its own foreman. In 

 this way, it is possible to compare the work of each gang, so that 

 poor men may be weeded out. The principle of competition 

 or rivalry also may be utilized in this way to hasten the work. 



At the same time, an inspection, oiling and fish control service 



