34 N. J. Mosquito Extermination Association 



always found them most willing to co-operate with us in forwarding 

 mosquito work in Bergen County, we readily yielded to their judg- 

 ment in this matter. The question then was either to postpone part 

 of the work we had hoped to do or finance it in some other way. 

 The first course was most undesirable because it is our earnest hope 

 to do more work of this nature each year rather than less. The 

 second course therefore appealed to us greatly, but presented prac- 

 tical difficulties. The sum we needed above our regular appropri- 

 ation was approximately $10,000 and would have to be raised among 

 the towns and property owners directly benefited. It seemed improb- 

 able that it could be done. But we went after it hard and before 

 the work opened in the spring, we had signed contracts for over 

 $16,000 of which about $7,500 was to be paid by the mosquito com- 

 mission and the balance by the borough or property owner and 

 before the season closed, our receipts from this source totalled $10,- 

 889.03. 



Perhaps it might be of interest to note briefly our course of pro- 

 cedure in obtaining this outside support. First, we pick out the 

 place which should be drained and prepare a complete survey and 

 map showing location and extent of swamp, general system to be 

 used in draining, and the estimated cost of such drainage. Tlien we 

 correlate our data relative to breeding, oiling, and other proof that 

 the place is a nuisance and a menace to health. Our next step is to 

 appear before the local board of health and ask them for co-opera- 

 tion. If they approve, as they cannot well refuse to do, we then 

 take the matter directly before the mayor and council and ask that 

 an item sufficient to cover the estimated cost be included in the 

 town's appropriation for that year. In doing work on private prop- 

 erty, the contract is, of course, directly with the property owner or 

 his agent. In municipal contracts, the work to be done covers the 

 lands of so many property owners that it is impractical to attempt 

 to deal with them directly. The benefit of the ditching is felt by 

 the people of the whole town and it seems equitable that the expense 

 should be met in this way. In some cases, however, the board of 

 health assesses the cost of the work done directly against the prop- 

 erty and collects the cost from the owner of the land. In contracts 

 with boroughs, we ask them to contribute 50%. In dealing with the 

 property owner, we ask that he pay ^ of the cost. 



The total cost of the mosquito work done in Bergen County dur- 

 ing the 1*920 fiscal year was $34,364.21. The per capita cost was 

 approximately 15^ cents and the cost per square mile $141.73. Of 



