Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-14
WORSE THAN THE HINDOOS.

When the Hindoo pilgrim bathes in and
drinks of the holy and dirty water of the
Ganges, he spreads the cholera: but he has
the justification to his mind that he is pay
! ing reverent tribute to the immortal gods.
1t may indeed be questioned whether in the
ecstasy of his religious devotion he think s
at all of that transmission of the plague
for which indignant Christendom holds
him responsible. In any view of the case
he is doing the best according to his
| lights.
/ A calm reading of recent literature con-
cerning the water supply of Allegheny Ci ty
and part Of PittS5urg seems to raise the
question which would be grotesque-if in
certain circumstances it were not liable to
! become appalling-whether our good peo-
pie at home are not duplicating the pesti-
lential methods of the Hindoo, without
any of the extenuation which can be
pleaded for the benighted heaGhen. Per-
hapS here it is well to take into account
the plain and pointed words of DR.. Lee, of
the State Board of Health, Who designates
the local offenSe not as folly but as crime.
By accurate count of the main arteries of
sewage which pour into the Allegheny
river above and near the point from which
the sister city of Allegheny obtains her
supply there are thirteen large and foul
sewers stated to be contributing the
agencies of disease to her reservoirs. This,
like many other unpleasant conditions, has
been borne for the sake OF economy. 1t is
alone the menace of the cholera which now
arouses officials and physicians and think
ing citizeIs to take note of the state of
affairs, and to contemplate the enormous
possibilities for a plague which are thus
established. What wonder that Dr. Lee
designates the negligence as criminal, and
the liquid which enters into daily con-
sumption in Allegheny as rankly poi
SOnouS?
1t is not, however, Allegheny alone that
is concerned. The S0utnside of Pittsburg
gets its water from sources also notably
contaminated. Some years ago THE DIS
PATCH caused examinations and analyses
to be made that were far from agreeable
then. The conditions since can hardly
have been improved.
In time-and but short time at that if
our suburbs go on growing-Plttsburg'
chief water supply will invite just such
criticism as IS now visited upon Allegheny.
We see towns multiplying along the banks
of the Allegheny and can conceive of the |
period not far distant when the future |
officials of the State Board of Health will |
be as shocked at Pittsburg'S water as those !
OF Today are at that upon which Allie |
gheny depends
The manifest fact is that if Allegheny |
would cease to invite pestllence it must |
look out Immediately for supply of
pure water drawn from point far higher
up than the present source. And, if
Plttsburg does its duty, it too, though
under less pressure of urgency, will begin
1t once little investigation. The dreadful
experience of Hamburg is proved to be
2rgely owing 20 the vitiated, disease
aden waters of the Elbe. When the
cholera came these waters proved a most
powerful agency for its spread and main
5enance. In ordinary times, 1t is said, the
of those who use such water
nay become, by constant use, hardened
lgainst what may be termed the ordi-
lary and resident bacteria; but
he energetic bacilli of the Asiatic cholera
eem to acquire a death-deaIing potency
n such fluid which is enough to startle
wen the most Iethargic community into
measures for preservation. Even
without the cholera there is scientific tes-
imony that polluted water is bad enough.
The State Board of Health OF Pennsyl-
'ania estimates upon statistical inquiry
hat no fewer than 10000 deaths are
auSed in this State every year by infec-
ious diseases, for which polluted water is
mainly responsible. We turn up our eyes
t the heather Hindoo because he spreads
he cholera by his ceremonial ablutions in
h GaTgcs; and yet, without the warrant
# sanctified ceremonial, and in the face
# nineteenth century science and civili-
alton, we support a condition of things
II our own cities and State which, if that
'e possible, is even more disgraceful.
This matter should be rectltied. There
hould be commission of citizens repre-
enting the best intelligence of the two
Itles and surrounding boroughs to devise
plan for securing pure water from the
mountain streams so easily accessible. 1t
hould be a commission of scientific men
0 secure the best method, and of business
nen to see that the work is done at the
east cost and without jobbery or unneces-
airy delay.
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