The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-17
1T WILL BE EXAMINED
Water Company Unable to Find
the Source of Pollution.
Board of Health Recommends
Boiling the Water.
1t May Not Be Unhealthy But
Analysis Will Show.

Do you use water furnished by the
water company? If you do be sure the
water is boiled before it is used.
This is the order issued today of the
Topeka board of health. No one knows
what the water contains or what is the
matter with it and the board of health
mas decided that if the water drinking
public expects to enjoy good health
they had best boil the water before
they drink it.
For three weeks the city water has
been in a condition that indicated mi
aSma and typhoid People drank it and
made faces but the Topeka public has
learned not to object to anything and
so deferred making complaints until re-
Gently. This week protests have been
pouring in upon City Physician Mitch
ell from all parts of the city. People
said the water tasted like decayed wood
or like water from a stagnant pond. DR..
Mitchell listened to the complaints and
made some personal Investigations and
found that they were we'll founded.
City Physician Mitchell had an inter-
view with the authorities of the water
company but they were unable to offer
any explanation. They said that few
complaints had been received at head
quarters but that they were in no
sense general and that they were salts
fed that in some localities the water
was not tainted.
The source of the trouble is still
shrouded in mystery. Manager O'Ne1
of the water company says that force
of men is at work at the pumping sta
tion endeavOring to locate the source
of the pollution, if pollution it iS-but
without success. He said today that he
is at a loss to offer an explanation.
There is a great deal of malarial fe-
yer in the city and physicians think the
disease may be due to the water. DR..
L. NJ. Powell said today that he has
several cases of malariaI fever which he
thinks may be due to the water. All
the people effected use city water and
a q it
to the health to use the water without
boiling it. 'It may be-" said he, that
the disease is not due to the water. 1t
can only be determined by analysis
whether or not the water is not whole
some but the taste indicates that there
is something wrong and it is not safe
to use it as it comes from the hydrant."
City Physician Mitchell said: The
people are worked up over the condition
of the water and they have good cause
to be. I have received great many
complaints and a chemical and bacter-
iOlogical analysis has been ordered
That cannot be completed before
week and in the meantime, as a pre-
cautionary measure, we have deemed 1t
necessary to issue this warning.
Il have had conference with Mr..
O'Nef of the water company and he
does not know what is the trouble and
I am free to confess that have been
unable to secure any facts which will
assist me in determining the cause of
the condition of the water.
1T does not follow because the water
tastes and smells bad that it is danger
Gus to the health and it will require a
chemical analysis to determine that.
Pending that investigation cannot
give an opinion. If this taste comes
from decayed vegetation or animal mat
ter the use of the water will induce
typhoid malarial diseases and It may
also induce diphtheria. 1t will harbOr
germs of all kinds and would be very
dangerous to use.
Il shall drive out to the pumping sta
ton tomorrow with Mr.. O'Neil of the
water company and we will make an eff
fort to discover the cause of the condi-
ton of the water. Meanwhile if the
people will take our advice there will
be no trouble from the use of the wa
ter
Following is the statement issued by
the board of health:
1.-The city water furnished by the city
water works is seriously affected by
some impurities. The officers of the
company have men at work trying to
find the source of the trouble.
'''The city physician has engaged sci
entific experts to make a thorough
chemical and meteorological analysis
In the meantime people are advised
to boil the water before use.''
Mr.. O'Neil was seen by Journal re-
porter He said that the company had
received a few complaints. Il do not
know what to make of this said he.
There are localities where the water is
all right. At my house in POtwin there
is unpleasant taste and Mr.. Shaw
says he notices nothing at his place.
think that the water will be all right.
Topeka people have had such good wa
ter that when the least taste is de-
tected they think that something is
wrong. We have had a force of men at
work at the plant but we have been un-
able to find the cause of the trouble