The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-24
WATER At WALLA WAL[A.
ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE ARMY
SAYS IT Is CONTAMINATED
Recommends Changes I'm the supply
Furnished the Fort-washtngton
Delegation Forctbiy Objects to the

special Dispatch to the ost-Iatells Sencer
| WASHINGTON. Dec. ss.-The water sap
Ply al Fort Nalia Walla is receiving atten-
ton from the war department. The sur
geen-general OF the army has considerable
10 say about IL in his annual report. Ii
appears from the reports OF the post sur
seon. and the Endorsements thereon of post
and department authorities that the water
supply or Fort Walla Waila is exposed to
contamination from the surface Tha
springs from which the supply is derived
are within 100 yards of the nearest houses:
ana recently. near and above the water
source, gardens have been laid out IL IS
SAID, the frequent manuring of which viii
probably affect the water injuriously. Ac-
cording 70 Capt. John J.. Phillips typhoid
fever is endemic in the city OF VvaIla
Naiia, becoming epidemic in summer. lie
therefore considers IL nadvisahfe 20 supply
The post by connecting IL with the city
water system.
Another report on file in the war depart
ment says:
The unsatisfactory health Of the Fort
Naiia NaEa garrison is believed 10 tie
largely due 10 the lnsuiticiency and quality
OF its water supply. In that belief the post
surgeon recommends that the post com
msnder direct the thorough boiling of all
drinking water during the warm months
OF the year. The supply is obtained from
springs doubtless surface springS} stu
ated IN marsay land close 10 the city OF
Naiia W ALA. in the Immediate vicinity Of
Whieh dwellings are constructed. 1t Is
pipsd 10 the post and costs the govern
ment the yearly rental CT 500. In all ex-
Ceptlng the dry months the quantity ap-
pears 10 be abundant, and nG complaint IS
then heard of the quality: but IL Is evident
that i Fort Wslla Walia IS 10 he main
tanned. some other source OF water supply
must be secured"
1t Is now a subject of investigation by
war department officials whether or lot
II Is best 10 30 20 the exepense OF proeiI-
Ing new water supply for the fort or
whether II would not be better 10 act
upon the suggestion of Brig. Gen. Mer-
ria;n. VINO has recommended the abancon-
ment of the post entirely. There VIII ne
strong objection on the part of the various
members OF Washin2ton's delegation in
congress 10 any action looking 10 the
abandonment of the fort, as ii is thor
onghiy understood here that the people
81 Naih Naila do not want to lose their
agreeable garrison society; but the war de-
partment is not arranging its army posts
so much for social purposes as Il once used
TO do. and should II be deemed 10 the best
interest of the service to place the troops
Of cavalry now stationed at Fort Waila
Waila elsewhere. that post will be aban-
doned, despite all congressional protests.
IN several of his reports to the surgeon
general of the army. Surgeon Hon, sta
toned ut Vancouver barracks has invited
attention 10 TIE unsatisfactory ventilation
of the barracks. He urges that a man
who sleeps under window or near A door
will not keep 1t open TO his own discomfort
In order that those al distance may have
fresher air. To give definite basis to
these complaints the ASSISTANT surgeon Il
the post. DIR. Kuip. made an analysis Of
the air in the barracks OF Company q.
Fourteenth infantry. at O'Clock one
morning The report OF this IL filled with
ha ciG Of yhi- T..
the air was too foul for the health of the
sleeping men.
The recently appointed postmasters who
have filed their bonds and been sent their
commissions are: William T. Ely. of Kel-
so. Wash; John Herzig. of washougal:
Arthur Il. Keller. OF Meyers Falls; George
T. Jenkins. of Ophir: Nathan Z. Sandai.
OF Tnorp.
A star mail service has Just been estab-
lished from Marr's Landing, Wash. to
Warrendale. Or, across the Columbia
river, distance OF four miles, and a con-
tract has been let TO carry the mail unril
June 20. 1895.
The Pacific Coast Steamship Company.
in their contract for carrying the mail
from Portland TO Stka. has been permitted
to omit their agreed stop at Metiakahtla.
The contract has also been changed by
inserting the name OF c. J. Smith as pres
ident of the company in place OF Charles
Goodan.
A steamboat service has been establish
ed from Whatcom by beach to Point Pch-
erts and back three times a week Tho
contract for this service has been AWARDED
to c. r. Curtis. OF Whatcom, until June
80. fSas. with the understanding that II IL
becomes necessary for the contractor to
withdraw his boats from that route be-
fore the expiration OF the contract term
tvur ~ x.-ftf ha ia
ment made only for actual service per-
formed.
Patents have been issued TO Harold +.
N. Baker. Of Port Townsend, for a lug
gage carrier for bicycles: to Frank ".
Gilbert. of Ridgefieid. Wash. for a sack
holder. and 10 Jesse F.. Stops. Of Day
ton. Wash. for a bicycle driving gear
First Lieut.. John a. lockwood. Fourth
cavalry. has been detailed temporarily "a
professor Of military science and tactics
AZ the West Virginia university. Morgan
town W Va
The leave Of absence granted Second
Lieut.. Perry /. Miles, Fourteenth infan-
try. department Of the Columbia has been
extended one month. Leave Of absence for
fourteen days 10 take effect December %
has been granted 10 Second Lieut.. Lewis =.
Soriey Sixteenth infantry
commissary Sergt Charles Cone, ap-
pointed December 6. 1897 from sergeant az
Company A. Twenty-third infantry, now
al Fort Mcintosh. Tex. has been ordered
TO Boise barracks. Idaho.
Private William G. Barlow. Company
II. Fourteenth infantry neg al Vancou-
yer barracks, Wash, is Transferred m