Evening star., 1898-03-12
can obtain drinking water from either of

can obtain drinking water from either Of
these sources.
Fifth. As rapidly as possible, pari passu
with the extension Of the conduit system
of water supply and system Of sewerage
the owners of every habitable and inhab-
tied house should be compelled to make
satisfactory connections with such sys-
TENS of water supply and sewerage, and
all privy boxes. cesspools and other meth
DDS of disposal Of human excreta be ef-
fectively abolished.
Sixth. Without adequate supply Of pure
water for all domestic purposes and sewer
connections of habitable and inhabited
houses, pollution Of SOIL foods and drinks
and the diseases due to such pollution
cannot be prevented"
At a public meeting Of the board Of trade
February Is, 1896, at which the report Of
it's committee on public health was con-
sidered. the foregoing propositions. sub
mitted by the chairman of its committee,
were adopted, with the following addition
al recommendations:
'Whereas the numerous and constantly
increasing area of marsh along the eastern
border OF the city Is a constant menacs
to the health Of the residents of the east
ern section of the city, and especially so
to the inmates Of the almshouse and hos
pital. st. Elizabeth's Asylum and army
and naval forces, officials and employees at
the marine barracks and navy yard; there
fore,
BE 1t resolved, That the reclamation OF
these marshes is fmperatively demanded
essary delay
During the same year, 1896, this society,"
through its committee on legislation, had
a hearing before subcommittee having
charge OF the appropriation bill for the
District of Columbia, at which the neces-
sity of speedy completion of the system of
sewage disposal and extension and purifi-
cation of the water supply were fully dis
cussed.
On January Is, 1897, the Civic Center
of the City of Washington adopted the
following preambles and resolutions:
Whereas the statistics of the health
an almost uniform increase and excessive
prevalence of typhoid fever during the
past fifteen years; and
Whereas the experience Of the civilized
world points to contaminated water sup
ply as the most important factor in the
causation of this disease; therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That we the Civic Center of
the City of Washington, body composed
OF members who are working for the pub
lie good, most earnestly pray the Senate
and House of Representatives in Con-
gress assembled, that you will create a
commission for the purpose of de-
ternining the present sources Of contami-
nation of the Potomac river and the meas
ures necessary to remedy, remove and
prevent such pollution, If found to exist
AT recent discussion, November 1897
(see Evening Star, November 20, 1S9O of
the pollution and sources Of contamination
OF the Potomac water supply, before the
National Geographic Society, by DIR. E.
K. Sprague of the marine hospital service
and Prof. A. P. Davis, photographer of
the United States geological service. the
conclusion was set forth that properly
constructed filter beds was the only prac-
tical means of purifying the public water
supply.
More recently. at public meetings of the
board of trade held January 20 and Feb
ruary 4, 1898, to consider the reports of
committees on public health and water
supply, the agitation of the subject was
renewed and the opinion expressed that
and publication and sewage disposal were
1mperatively demanded by every consider
alton of public sanitation.
In the letter of the acting secretary of
war. in response (senate document No. "a,
second session. Fifty-fifth Congress) to res
olutions Of the Senate Of January 10. 1SDS.
the reports from the surgeon general of
the army and of Capt. D. D. Gaillard,
Corps OF Engineers. relative to the fill
tratfOn of the water supply of the District
of Columbia" Gen Sternberg sums up
the result of his investigation in the state
ment as follows:
80 far as am able to judge at present.
the most reliable and practicable method of
attaining the object in view would be the
construction of filter beds similar to those
in use for purifying the water supply of
London. Hamburg and other European cit
les. ana at Lawrence. Mass, in this
country"
And Capt. Gaillard in the third of his
conclusions says:
The drainage area of the river above the
Great Falls is so large and lies in SO many
dfnerent states that it is believed that it
will be utterly impracticable either to pass
or to enforce such laws as will entirely
protect the Potomac from pollution and
when the citizens of the District demand
a water supply free from suspicion it must
be secured by filtration"
And, lastly, at the meeting of the medical
society, February %. 1898. this subject
was reviewed from the beginning of the
agitation to the present time, with the ci-
tation of such additional facts and informa-
ton as seems to establish the imperative
and immediate necessity of legislation to
secure an adequate supply of unpolluted
drinking water. The report of the COM
mittee on public health and the papers by
Drs. kober, kinyoun, Smart, Johnston and
Woodward are conclusive In favor Of puri-
hcation of the water supply by sedimenta-
tion and filtration.
The foregoing resume of the history of
this agitation sets forth the active efforts
of this society to complete the sanitation
of this city. Every investigation has led
to the same conclusions. The board of
Commissioners has added the force of off,
cial Endorsement and approval to it's rec
concentrations and in various ways sought
to secure necessary legislation; the board
OF trade has added the weight of popular
Judgment and Endorsement, and recently
the local press, more especially The Even
ing Star, have contributed the influence of
their editorial columns to the promotion
of such legislation as would secure an
adequate supply of unpolluted drinking
water. All these efforts have proven fu-
tile, and the city remains today the prey
of a single preventable disease, which has
cost its citizens in loss of life and actual
outlay, in the past ten years, more than
would have been required to complete the
systems of water extension and purifica
ton and sewage disposal
On tha Edmcnfgon oF Ifous