Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-27

v T-sss1ss'o"n.: 1855 1850 e s sss
Total. ......,... 100 -.
"A mortality rate in the northwest Sec
ton of LII per 10000 Inhabitants does not
indicate very dangerous contamination OF
the water supply, which is the same in
this section in other portions of the
city. But in estimating the value of the
rate of 49, per 10000 for the whole city
for five months we must not overlook the
fact that many of the residents of the
northwest section use Potomac water
of domestic filter, while others drink
only the various bottled spring waters
which are extensively sold to the wealthy
residents of the CITY,"
Pollution Of the Potomac.
Researches recently made under the d.
rection of the geological survey by Mr..
F. H. Newell, photographer, show the fol-
lowing sources of pollution of the Potomac
river water:
ION the headwaters of the north branch
of the river are eighteen sawmlls dis
charging their sawdust directly into the
stream Besides these are several tanner
les pouring effiuents directly into the wa
ter, and at one of these the refuse tan
bark is placed where it will be washed
away. Numerous mines also contribute
coal dust and drainage waters heavily
charged with iron and other mineral mat
ter in solution. At Luke. Md, small viii
lage about thirty miles above Cumber-
land, is located a large paper mill with a
capacity of more than 100 tons of paper
per day. This is made from wood, disin-
tegrated by chemicals and heat. the refuse
being discharged into Potomac river at
the rate of over 100000 gallons per day.
Below this mill is the town of Piedmont,
w. Va, contributing offal to the stream.
On the opposite side. at the town of West
ernport, Georges creek debouches, bring
ing in the drainage from several thickly
settled communities and about twenty coal
mines. These waters are exceedingly bad,
although apparently clean. At Meyser are
a number of factories, including tannery
and a wooden MILL each with it's character
istic eff1uent At Cumberland the drain
age water from several mines and the re-
fuse from a paper mill, brewery. distillery,
cement mill. tannery, dye works and gas
works is brought in by Wills creek. Below
the mouth of this stream is tight dam
raising the waters of the Potomac and
ponding them for nearly three miles. This
relatively dead water receives all of the
pollution above noted, together with the
sewage of Cumberland. city of 1900 in
.habitants. About 400 yards above the dam
is the intake of the Cumberland water
works, supplying a fluid whose qualities
have long been catfse of extreme dissat-
isfaction. o. -
THE south branch of the Potomac and
other tributaries down to Harper's Ferry,
the junction of the Shenandoah were found
to be relatively clean, the only cause Of
pollution of note being several tanneries
In the Shenandoah valley are also a num-
Der of tanneries and small manufactures
with drainage FROM, small agricultural
towns. AT Harper's Ferry are pulp mills.
one each on the Potomac and Shenandoah.
Below Harper's Ferry are no pollutions of
consequence down to- the intakes of the
Washington water works. man,. =.
Means of Publication.
Gen. Sternberg says:
Evidently. the water of the Potomac
below thu dam above referred to (heIow
Wills creek is polluted to such an extent
as to be entirely unfit for domestic use.
Partial publication occurs before this pol
luted water reaches the mains for d;strf-
button to the residents of this city through
the following agencies: (a) Dilution (b, OK
1dation, (c) sedimentation. That these
agencies do not suffice to purify the water
so far as visible impurities are concerned
Whlch render 1t more or less turbid or opal
escent, is evident to those who use it,
The more injurious chemical impurities
are no doubt rendered harmless by dilution
ana oxidation before the water polluted by
the sewage of Cumberland and other towns
mentioned reaches the consumers in This
CITY But there is no reason to believe that
the same agencies suffice for the complete
obstruction of pathogenic bacteria con-
tanned In the sewage Of these towns al
though diution, oxidation and sedimenta-
ton no doubt cause a very considerable
diminution in the numbers of these inju-
ricus micro organisms
observations made by bacterioIoeists in
this city show the almost constant pres
ence OF certain bacteria, the presence of
which Is satisfactory evidence of contami-
nation by fecal matters of man or the
lower animals. Focal contamination Of a
stream the water of which is used for
drinking purposes, is always an indication
of possible danger.
In Cumberland and Washington.
Typhoid fever prevailed as an epidemic
in Cumberland during the winter of 1889,
and an increased number of deaths from
this disease was noted In the city of Wash
ington during the prevalence of this cpl
demic. With reference to this. quote from
the excellent report made by Dr. George
NJ. kober. special sanitary inspector, to
the health officer Of the District, Deem
Der 2. 1895.
Typhoid fever at Cumberland and its
possible relation to the increase of the dis
ease in the District In 1SSa-9O.
"A study of the typhoid fever epidemic
which prevailed in the above city from De-
cember. 1889, until the spring of 1890 shows
that the disease was not present until the
discharges from a case Of typhoid fever
living on one of the little runs which emp
ties into the Potomac about 300 feet above
the pumping station found their way into
the city water supply. DR.. w. w. Wiley
of Cumberland wrote me June 25, 1880:
This epidemic first appeared in a young
man who returned from Ohio quite i'll
ABOUT the lOtH OF december. 1881 i ne case
terminated fatally on the Goth of the same
month The next case appeared January
10, 1890, and since then we have had about
4s5 cases. Our population is 1900. Every
case but one cal be straSed to the use OF
our river water. am not aware of any
case occurring just below Cumberland. as
M one used the watefs but am informed
that several cases occurred at Hancock,
which Is thirty miller below Cumberland.
ard which could be traced to the drinking
of the river water. "a q
1.-The records Of yoIr Office show that ty-
phoid fever prevailed 40 I'm unusual extent
in this city from DedenEAr. 1889, to April
80 1890, as the Deaths for these months
from typhoid fever amounted to seventy
four. as compared with forty-two for the
year Fsa
.'sanitarians in ala parts of the world
look upon the typhoid fever mortality of
city as the best indexa6f IFS sanitary condi-
ton, and 1t has beeNi E4peatedly demon
strated that the introdpct5pn of a pure wa
ter supply or the Allegation of a sewage
polluted water. togethfr. Nth the introduce
tion OF well-devisei. system of sewers.
has notable effect In diminishing the
mortality from this disease.
''This is well illustrated by the appended
chart WHICH !. take from g. recent article