The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-16
THE SOURCE LOCATED
BROAD RIPPLE VAULT CLEANER
POLLUTED THE RIVER.
Board of Works and Board Of Health
to Meet Mr.. Davis This Morning
and Discuss Water Supply.

An investigation set on foot by the health
authorities, following a clew given them by
F. A. w. Davis, vice president Of the In
dianapolis Water Company. has resulted in
discovering the cause of the recent pollution
Of the city water and will shortly result in
remedying the trouble. About three weeks
ago Mr.. Davis wrote to the State Board
of Health complaining of the danger of
possible pollution from some vaults at Broad
Ripple Park and asking that they be abated.
He also asked that an investigation be made
of the state of affairs in that vicinity. He
said in his letter:
1.-The deep interest of the water company
in keeping pollution from the river lies in
should compel the use of the river water ii
would be presented in as good condition as
possible. This same interest of the water
company extends to the keeping clean and
free from pollution the region in the neigh
borhood of their supply. From the water
company's station. by the meanderings Of
the river, Il is sixteen miles to Broad Ripple
and this has much TO do with the dilution
ard oxidation of the washings, and so rem
dering them harmless"
Accordingly Dr. Hurry, secretary of the
State Board. requested DR.. A. L. Wilson to
join DR.. Bates, health officer of Broad Rip
pie, in making sanitary survey of that
region with particular reference to the banks
of the river and canal. Thursday night 1t
was reported that unknown vault cleaners
had dumped quantities of their refuse at the
rivers edge between this city and Broad
Ripple. They had also dumped a part Of
the refuse into the stream and washed their
tubs IT. the water. 1t was plain that the
pollution discovered by DIR. Ferguson had
been added to the river below Broad Ripple.
The health authorities hurried at once to
c~af som Of
petrators and finally succeeded in tracing a
part Of 1t to w. w. Petit, vault cleaner
who travels about from town to town In
the State, pursuing his business. Petit was
considerably frightened and extremely sorry
when tod Of the consequences of his care
less action. He replied that he had no idea
any trouble. He was willing to do anything
that he could to repair the injury and came
down for long conference with Dr. Hurry
Yesterday The health officers. were con-
vinced that he had made the blunder
through ignorance and did not cause his ar
rest. He now has all his assistants en-
ployed in cleaning I'D the refuse that was
dumped on the banks of the river and is
taking 1t inland. where it will be spread
thiniy over the ground and disinfected with
the future he will dump no more in the
streams Of the State. but Will follow this
plan Of spreading the refuse, exposing 1t
10 the sun a couple of days and blowing
1t under the ground. DIR. hurty has secured
a complete list of these peripatetic vault
cleaners throughout the state anu Will TAKE
measures to have them follow the same
method
Dr. Ferguson thinks this discovery has
thoroughly INDICATED his action in making
his report on the condition of the water
In a conversation yesterday he said: Il
think Mr.. Davis must now draw in his horns
and admit that my evidence as to the pollu-
ton of the water is correct ana ask for no
evidence Of others more experienced in this
line of work than /. Further than that, it
seems to me that Mr.. Davis should not
have been so positive in denouncing my
work in the light of his letter to DR.. Hurry,
calling attention to the fact that he under
stood vaults were polluting the river. He
surely must have known when | made my
report that / had found Iecal bacteria that
it was simply verifcation of the report he
had received from Broad Ripple. 1t seems
to that his duty to the people would
have been 10 have made thorough, exam.
ination of the river when ne first heard the
report from Broad Ripple and not wait for
il to be discovered by an analysis of the
water after an unusual number of cases
of typhoid fever had occurred. L think the
late developments are conclusive proof that
the typhoid in this city has partly been
caused by the city water. Our investigation
at Broad Ripple this morning shows that
there have been cases of typhoid fever there
and il is more than probable that the typhoid
bacilli was placed in the river with the other
matter
condition of the river exists, DIR. Ferguson
could not help showing his joy that he had
so soon been indicated and that his analysis
had been proved correct beyond a reason
able doubt.
The Board of Health and Mr.. Davis of the
water company, have been asked to meet the
Board of Works this morning at O'Clock.
in regard to the resolution of the Board
of Health asking that analysis of the
water be made according to the terms Of
the contract, but ii is probable, in the light
analysis will be considered unnecessary by
Mr.. Davis.