The record-union., 1898-05-14
AMERICAN RIVER POLLUTION
PROSPECT THAT IT WILL SOON
BE STOPPED.
Folsom Prison Sewage to be Taken
Care of in an Eject
tive Way.

There is very good prospect of the
State Prison Directors soon taking ac-
ton that will relieve the American
River of the chief source of pollution
the sewage of the State Prison at Fol-
som.
While there have recently been some
very exaggerated statements published
in certain San Francisco papers regard
ing the extent of this pollution and its
possible effects the coming summer on
those who use the water for domestic
purposes, it is true that the people of
this city have been considerably worked
up over the matter
The other day d. A. Lindley, Presi
dent of the Chamber of Commerce, went
to Folsom in company with Engineer
William Graham of the South Yuba
Canal Company, for the purpose of
making a careful investigation of the
situation and discussing the matter
with Warden Aull, with a view to the
possible abatement of the nuisance.
Before doing so Mr.. Lindley and other
officials of the Chamber of Commerce
had conferences with Governor Budd,
Secretary of State Brown and the At
torney-General, comprising the State
whether or not the Prison Board might
exceed its appropriation for the pur-
pose of otherwise disposing of the pris-
on sewage.
They were informed that the Board
of Examiners would sanction a def
cheney for that purpose, realizing that
the State should not lead in a matter
of river pollution, against which there
is stringent law.
Mr.. Lindley was asked by a Record
Union" reporter yesterday as to the
result of his visit to Folsom and the
investigation made there.
I'VE did not find the situation as bad
as it has been painted said Mr.. Lind
ley. ''Of course it is bad enough, and
we want to have the prison pollution
stopped; but there is really less of it
than the statements and illustrations
in the San Francisco papers would lead
one TO believe.
For instance, one of these big pic
lures shows two openings in wall
through which apparently pour big
streams of sewage. AS a matter of
fact, only a small portion of this is
sewage, the major portion being muddy
water from the canal, which furnishes
the power for running the dynamos,
etc.
''The prison officials deal as effectively
as possible with the sewage. 1t is first
subjected to treatment with chloride of
lime, and everything about the tanks is
kept as clean as possible. However,
this thing is Objectionable at best, and
believe there will soon be no further
cause for complaint"
Mr.. Lindley then explained that it is
proposed to introduce a modern sewage
disposal system by which all refuse
matter from the prison will be sub
jected to chemical action, purified and
used as a fertilizer on the prison lands,
far away from the river. The sewage
Will be liquefied and pumped from the
prison back to the top of a distant
hill, where it will be treated as stated.
The Prison Directors, the Warden and
State Board of Examiners all favor the
plan, and Mr.. Lindley thinks it will be
but a short time until the river will
cease to be polluted by the prison.
AS to the town of Folsom itself there
is no sewerage system in use there, and
comparatively little sewage matter
reaches the river There is some pollu-
tion this side of Folsom during a short
season in the fall, but that can be at
tended to later on, after the chief source
of trouble shall have been removed