In 1916 the commission continued the work and plans of local organizations in Great Neck, Manhasset, Plandome, Port Washington, Roslyn and Locust Valley. The results accomplished in these villages have shown the possibility of the elimination of malaria from the north shore in a short time. In 1916 no cases were reported in Plandome where, in previous years, malaria had been prevalent. For the entire season there were on the average in each village less than ten cases, including recurrent cases. This is a very marked decrease from 1915, and at least a 75 per cent decrease from 1914, previous to any anti-mosquito work in these localities. This has been made possible by a careful planning of mosquito extermination, using the well accepted methods used in Panama, and elsewhere. This consists of (1) careful inspection of all fresh water swamps, pools and ponds; (2) drainage, when possible, of all swamps and the cleaning of the edges of ponds to keep them free from grass and any kind of vegetation; (3) temporary oiling of all places where either of the above is impossible. From August 28, 1916 (date of last report), to June 1, 1917, the following amounts were expended in fresh water drainage: 1916 1917 These expenditures are for the closing of the season of 1916 and the beginning of 1917, and do not include the drainage planned for 1917 and now under way. Salt Marsh Ditching. There are approximately 125,000 feet of ditching on the north shore, all of which had been thoroughly cleaned in 1917, and about 1,000 feet of supplemental ditching cut. The cost of cleaning the old ditches in the spring of this year and the additional ditching was $196.06. A survey has been made on the north shore marshes to plan for the additional ditches needed in Great Neck, Locust Valley and Oyster Bay, to be installed this year. Oiling. The oiling begins coincident with the fresh water breeding, which does not occur to any great extent previous to June, so that only a limited amount of oiling has been done to date (June 1, 1917). In 1916 all the breeding places on the north shore in the village named above were oiled regularly about every two weeks. Sixty barrels of oil were used in this work at a cost of $253.09. House-to-House Inspection.— In addition to the inspection of swamps, pools and ponds, a systematic inspection from house to house was made of all breeding places in Locust Valley, Glen Cove, Roslyn and Oyster Bay. The following is a list of breeding places found: No. of Houses Actual and probable breeding places: Roslyn Locust Valley 578 395 Cisterns Along with the inspections instruction has been given to residents as to the mosquito problem and its control. This has proved an invaluable aid in securing the cooperation of the public. In the central section of the county there has been comparatively little work VOL. II-23 done to date. The number of breeding places found upon our investigations thus far has not been large and many of these are being gradually eliminated by property owners as the mosquito problem becomes better understood. At Woodbury two ponds and a large piece of marshland were successfully drained under the supervision of the commission at a cost of $3,845, the entire expense being contributed by neighboring property owners. Investigations by the commission lead to the conclusion that 90 per cent of all the mosquitoes in the county breed on the salt marshes. The elimination of this breeding will prove beneficial to the central part of the island, also as the salt marsh species are migratory. The following is a correct list of the amount of money expended by the commission from August 28, 1916, the date of the last report to the present time, June 1, 1917: 10 G. Bennet Smith, purchase of bicycles. 14 Sarah Ehrenberg, typewriting 32 C. C. Adams, postage.. 33 W. R. Talbot, salary and expenses. 34 Great Neck Assn., labor.. Payroll for August: Nelson V. Smith, inspector.. 38 A. F. Mills, account books. 39 H. C. Hegeman, insurance. 40 Village of Lawrence, oiler and helper. 43 John Lee, teams and labor. 135 Queensboro Gas & Electric Co., heaters. 137 Keuffel & Esser Co., supplies. 138 Postal Tel. & Cable Co., furniture. C. Painter, secretary P. L. Buttrick, chief inspector. 154 S. T. Sealy, labor, etc.. 155 H. I. Eaton, ditching spades. 157 M. M. Kennerly, lectures and exam 159 Theo. Albro, boat hire and labor. C. Painter, secretary P. L. Buttrick, chief inspector.. W. H. DeMott, inspector. CHESTER PAINTER, Secretary |