12 N. J. Mosquito Exti:rmination Association 



itself. For it is an unquestionable fact that when an organiza- 

 tion has a financial interest in a project it is interested in checking 

 that work to a satisfactory conclusion, and that is the goal 

 toward which we have been striving — ^puiblic interest. 



This spirit of cooperation has also' extended to our house in- 

 spection. The householder now realizes the value of a clean 

 yard, and with this realization, the number of house nuisances 

 has been cut in half during the past two' years. 



With O'ur salt marsh and inland systems of drainage so well 

 advanced, it was with equanimity that we learned the intentions 

 of the United States Government tO' erect an embarkation camp' 

 within Bergen County. This camp, which was erected last fall, 

 houses 30,0001 soldiers. Being purely an embarkation camp, it 

 gathers men from all parts of the country. This fact may not 

 seem important, but when it is known that the region surround- 

 ing Camp Merritt is an habitual breeder of malarial mosquitoes, 

 the attendant danger can be seen readily. 



It is reasonable tO' suppose that some of these soldiers will be 

 brought to the camp infected with malaria. The malarial carriers 

 being present, the cycle will be complete, and we shall have an 

 epidemic of the disease, which must be avoided. As soon as the 

 camp was well under way we approached the commanding officer 

 of the base hospital, Major Tarleton, and explained the danger 

 to him. Major Tarleton is a man of great foresight and quickly 

 saw the need of strenuous efforts to make Camp Merritt mos- 

 quito-proof, so we immediately started work. The government 

 furnished the labor and tools; we furnished the supervision. 

 We were able to cut and clean 52,000 feet of ditching and filled 

 in over 300 cubic yards of pools and pockets before winter set in. 

 This was^ a very satisfactory beginning. We realize that the 

 work is still in its elementary stage, but that we can, by hard 

 work in the spring, present a strong defense against the mosquito. 



We have bieen aided greatly in the past and also' at the present 

 time in having an interested and sympathetic Board of Free- 

 holders. They have realized the importance of mosquito^control 

 measures and have sought to give them piublicity in every way. 

 With ouir present Board of Freeholders, with the approval of 



