Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-01-31
That Dam NUISANCE AGAIN.
To The Editor o.the Escle:

CT: such WAS the case but this second suit
being confronted by the change of venue to
the court OF a rival county in i competing
rival city, where in tho light Of common
reason We could not expect an unpreju-
diced consideration Of this vitality impor-
taHt question In vain, We should exhibit
the erection Of this dam withou: compe-
tent charter privilege; that the commits
sioners Of assessment. awarded a privilege TO
erect dam only two and half feet high
| that it Is erected abou; eight feet high; that
the entire flow OF beautiful river is totally
perverted from its natural channel for a
mean-doing Aow of some ten miles, that
many valuable mill sites were thereby de-
s.royed; that no compensation was ever
made to the parties thus damaged: that the
city Of Wichita is hereby defrauded out of
valuable advantages these power sites would
offer 20 our much needed manufactures; tina.
the river IS no longer flowing stream be-
low the dam; that the bed of the river for
the most part is now a putrid sinking pond,
being filed up by the washing of every rain
tie cfan Of all animal and vegetable de-
composition along It's banks, which sinking
to the bottom Of this sluggish pond, cover
what was once the sparkling, beautiful sand
Of the rivers bed, with this rotten silt form
ing nutritious foundation, on which grows
an equatic brass moss and flag which when
disturbed at the bottom of the pond emits
an odor so offensive that the least
sensitive uO.tril or stomach revolts at
It, Initiation; that from this foul nalarious
decoc;ion alone the supply of water for the
city is available. In vain, We say, these facts
would be pressed upon the jury of a rival
county and city as they have been pressed
upon. the representative council Of this city
for years without actuating an effort at re-
dress Of this fragrant imposition upon both
public and private rights. Hence, and for
all these reasons, all legal proceedings look
ing 10 the abatement of this foul nuisance
are withdrawn, of which tie public are here
in duly advised, so that if they desire an
abatement of this menace to their health and
comfor; It Is with them to find the remedy.
II would seem pertinent, however, in con-
junction with this explanation to call the at
teation Of the people TO the prevailing sani-
tary condition OF both Europe and America
at this time. Asiatic cholera is rampant on
the continent Of Europe, yellow fever is
meiiacing our cities on the Gulf Of Mexico,
the record Of our last years fatality speaks
tor itself. whil>: the ink Of the reports of the
pestilcntial scourge % Kentucky and Vir-
sinia i scarcely We; dry. OF that let US re-
Ter t., few paragraphs" published from the
reports Of the medical investigators and re-
portcrs Of the cause Of that epidemic.
The Louisville journal of November %,
lsS4. says; This season lin the pest ridden
rc-iua) has been very dry, and the streams
are diminished to narrow threads of muddy,
foul smelling and foul tasting water, with an
occasional pc: Of the poisonous stuff:
1t is neither pleasant nor of moment to refer
to our tao thousand deaths in less than thir-
" days. In whole neighborhoods
there is not enough well persons TO bury the
dead. All reports agree as to
the cause Of the epidemic being
the u-e Of impure water, etc Again, De
cc'nb,. :. DIR. Wintris, Of Crab Orchard,
by, SAYS: Il have venturcd in three coun-
ties Of the infected region and all sources of
Information agree both medical and other
wise that 10 impure water is attributed this
most terrible .rourge
have examined the waters and they would
turn The e-outest stomach or cause the
hcalthie-t to turn sick
Dr.. !. .. Carm, of Boiling Greene, Ky,
Inspector Of the health for the state. SAYS:
attribute it 70 malaria well as impure WA
ter and am not sure whether it is mineral or
vegetable poison which has been So baneful
etc.
Thc-r extracts conclusively show that it
was putrid poisoned water that had perme-
atod tine system Of this people, the seeds had
been sown in the progressive season, the
harvest Of death mstured suddenly and ut
once, without notice or prcmonitory warn
ing, il was the natural result Of natural
oa,i-e, ami those who will not profit BY the
example are subject at any moment to u
similar fate.
The cause of this terrible epidemic is
identical with the elemental waters of the
Little Arkansas river. from where our city
water supplies are now derived, In the last
four years this pond has filled up with this
offensive ofiall from some twenty feet in
depth to some four feet, and this grass, moss
slime tili- the remaining four feet. until it
wa. difficult 10 saw ice from its surface free
from moss to I'LL the ice houses on the banks
Of the pond. We have long distinctly
fell the growing mcasmic effects OF this pu-
trid water upon the systems OF our people
'hc river is just now in that passive condi-
ton where it requires but the return Of sum
racr weather 10 intensity its malarial poisons
To the development of epidemic. We pre-
sent these facts IN the knowledge of our re-
sponsibjlity to an appreciative people, one
tenth e whom are not aware Of the dangers
by which they are threatened, and they only
know a. they have tasted or smelled of our
rcrugnaut hydran; waters.
Make them As liberal allowance as YOU
may for the evils under ordinary circum-
stances. which surround our home fircsides.
and 10 whom the terror Of the approaching
epidemic, Of cholera and yellow fever, both
of which Viii be induced by the inviting
of these evil waters upon our
systems 10 make our city their
especial abiding place.
Ii We would avert these cslamities, the
line IS even hate now. There Is no doubt |
sith tie dam removed from the river. with |
Is natural i'ow and the spring rises Of the
liver. it Will surge out this still, and cventu-
,lly pvr;fy The river But this takes time;
md missing the spring floods, we will be
doomed to all the menace now threatening
,ur situation for the approaching summer.
The dam, - nuisance. Is within the
each and Jurisdiction of the city govern
aout-thcy 80 understand it-snd appointed
committee some two or three wears ago to
investigate and report upon the subject
That committee siumhered the KNAPP of
.cath. hu,. io7 the time being. it nppessed
,uhic clamor. Again las; tall. in response
o public ciauor. another committee was
ppoiu;ed ior prompt, immediate and eff
;eut action. That has taken sepuichrc with