30 N. J. Mosquito Extermination Association 

 Progress in Mosquito Work in Cape May County 



BY WII.UAM PORTER, CAPE MAY CITY, N. J. 



Mosquito control is primarily the progress of the governing 

 body or commission in obtaining, by carefully organized efforts, 

 the authority and financial support for mosquito elimination, 

 and for the up-keep of completed work. While the field work of 

 elimination, control of breeding and freedom from the matured 

 mosquitO' are the tangible results, only by comparing conditions 

 at the time of organizing the commission and those of the present, 

 together with intervening facts, can we obtain the degree of 

 progress in mosquito control in this county. 



Cape May County is computed to have 2,295 acres of fresh 

 marsh and 6,355 acres of cedar swamp land to be cleared of 

 breeding, also 45,000 acres of salt marsh to be drained, with 

 flood-gates needed at many outlets. 



The farmers, certain that ditching would ruin hay land, resi- 

 dents of cities and towns and many ofiicials could only see taxes 

 wasted, and the ever-present hordes of mosquitoes. The truth 

 had not been brought to the people. They were justified in their 

 belief. 



The Hon. James M. E. Hildreth, who assisted in introducing 

 the first bill for mosquitO' elimination before the State Legisla- 

 ture, now became the local pioneer, being instrumental in form- 

 ing the first Cape May County Mosquito Extermination Com- 

 mission in the year 191 2. Mr. William Tyler was president; 

 Hon. Lewis Stevens, secretary, and Joseph Camp, treasurer. 

 The criticism and lack of support by the public for two years 

 almost crushed the spirit of the undertaking, but the first rift 

 occurred when Dr. Headlee addressed a small audience at Cape 

 May in 19 14 on mosquito control and elimination. 



Somewhat later the commission received a new member, Mr. 

 William Porter, who, in a joint meeting with the Atlantic County 

 Commission, September i, 191 5, in Atlantic City, assisted in 

 bringing about a complete reorganization. The first meeting 

 was held at Cape May Court House, October 15, 191 5. 



Then came a campaign of education. The spread of the truth 

 was rapid, and with the aid of the County Chamber of Com- 



