The Evening critic., 1884-09-23
TowNsHENp,s OFFICIAL REPORT

OF what He Saw in His Tour OF OBJ
servation-The Reports About the
Hogs Exaggerated, Hut still the
Prompt Action Was Good.
Health Officer Townshend has submitted
the following report Of his inspection Of the
condition Of the upper Potomac with re.
spect to tho pollution of the water by the
carcasses of hogs that died with cholera:
HEALTH OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 1891.
To ne Commissioners Of The District.
GENTLEMEN: Referring TO the reports re-
epectlng the throwing OF the carcasses OF dead
verbal instructions In regard thereto have
the honor to present the following;
on Thursday, the 18th instant, In company
with MIR. Mcdinn, I drove as far as the Great
Falls, and there taking n small boat, explored
the dam, the reservoir and tho river for some
two or three miles above the entrance 10 the
Aqueduct. This inspection failed to reveal
any evidence OF the pollution OF the waters by
means referred to, and the superintendent OF
the water works at the Falls reported that,
although no had kept careful lookout, no
thereabouts.
am informed, however, by numerous boat.
men i on the canal and by other persons that
river and canal further up.
=. Deeming u advisable to mako further inves-
tigation on tho reports received, 1 secured
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company, and on
canal.
on the morning OF the Goth instant the dam
at Seneca was thoroughly explored from shore
TO shore, and only one dead hog was found.
From this point to the Point OF Rocks care.
full survey was made, but very few hogs were
found. The boatmen, iocktendors and store.
keepers all reported that there had been q
large number OF hogs floating principally In
the canal some time since, but recently they
had noticed very fGW, and they of the
opinion that the cholera which had been pre-
vailipg extensively among the hogs was about
dying out. From Point or Rocks we ran up as
far as -, and there sent the packet back to
the Point, and, taking two small skins, we ran
down over about seven miles ofthe river. This
portion OF the Potomac is wide, shallow, and
The water at present is very low and clear
as crystal. Hero, am satisfied, II at any point,
we would have found the carcasses had they
course We found not single carcass. This
point being some thirty odd miles above
S Thsre , the water enters aque
cause for alarm respecting tho waters pol.
luton and, accordingly, started on the return
rho circulars and posters which had pre-.
pared for the occasion, calling upon tho people
OF the upper Potomac region to assist us In
preventing q pollution OF our water supply,
were freely distributed, and II was gratifying
to note the universal recognition given to the
terms OF the request and the hearty promises
OF cooperation on every hand.
The residents along our course, one and all,
condemned the practice which they stated
had been in their opinion thoughtlessly In
dulged in, and promised to render all possible
assistance toward preventing repetition
thereof.
Therefore I think that the inspecting tour
while IL fortunately left little or no cause for
tho alarm respecting the pollution OF our
water, Will have a ealuatory effect In having
brought TO the minds OF good citizens along
the shore OF the Potomac above us the fact
that there Is danger to the people OF this Dis.
trict In the pollution OF the waters OF that
stream, not alone by the throwing in OF dead
animals, but BY any means whatever.
In conclusion, desire to return thanks TO
the superintendent OF tho canal company, who
kindly placed at our disposal the packet, by
means OF which we were enabled to make this
inspection, and to the people along our route,
who gladly rendered every assistance In their
power. Very respectfully,
SMITH TowNsHEND, Health Oficer,