101 



You may want to know just what the people who pay for the 

 work think of our efforts. We wanted to know, too, so we 

 decided to find out, through a post-card census, the names of 

 which were selected at random from the telephone book. 



Number of cards mailed, 950; number returned, 314. 



The cards read as follows : 



In order to ascertain public sentiment in the county, we would respectfully 

 request answers to the questions on attached card. 



Our appropriation for 191 5 was $55,000, representing a per capita tax of 

 $0,097, based on 191 5 census, the population being 566,324. 



We present herewith table of work accomplished the past summer : 



Containers found breeding mosquitoes, 13,526 



Containers not breeding, but emptied, 52,896 



Gallons of oil used, 63,060 



No. feet ditches cleaned, 955,883 



No. feet new ditches dug, 30,098 



No. feet dikes constructed, 21,915 



No. yard inspections, 600,622 



Respectfully yours, 

 Essex County Mosquito Extermination Commission. 



"Have you noticed a decrease in the number of mosquitoes the past four 

 summers?" Yes, 289; No, 26. 



"Were they troublesome for long or short periods of the summer?" Long 

 periods, 27; short periods, 249. 



"Were they troublesome indoors or outdoors?" Indoors, 42; Outdoors, 

 233. Explain. 



"Are you in favor of the continuance of this work?" Yes, 312; No, 3. 



In the work of four years we have deemed it unnecessary to 

 take court action compelling property owners to abate nuisances. 

 Only on two occasions has it been necessary for us to resort to 

 the court — in each instance our inspectors were ill-treated during 

 the performance of their duties. 



The President — Gentlemen, just a moment before we close. 

 I think that some little honor has been conferred upon this Asso- 

 ciation by the City of Toledo. The Board of Trade of the City 

 of Toledo, as I understand, has two representatives whom they 

 have sent on here to see what we are doing. I would like to ask 

 one of those representatives if he will give us a word. 



