The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-26


Health Commissioner Keogh went
before the city council last evening
with a chip ON his shoulder and came
out second best in the scrap. DR..
Keosh submitted communication eX-
planning why he had not complied with
the ordinance requiring him 10 analyze
every three months the water fur
nished to the inhabitants of Salt Lake
City. In it DIR. Keogh endeavOred to
Show that the council and not he is to
blame for his neglect of duty. Instead
of scoring a vindication, the health
commissioner was censured most Sc
verely for various and sundry alleged
acts OF neglect of duty.
Councilman Fernstrom was DIR.
Aeoghs only friend and every other
member of the council took swipe at
the offending official. The health COM
missioner's communication was return
ed to him, with the admonition TO at
tend to all his sworn duties under pen
atty of further chastisement by the
council.
Health Commissioner Keogh's COM
munication stated that the council in
fixing the allowance for the health de-
partment's maintenance for the years
1888 and 1899 made no provision for the
expense of taking quarterly analyses of
water.
The health commissioners commu-
nication added: Again, in my annual
report of Jan. /, 1899. to his honor the
mayor, l urgently called attention to
the necessity of an appropriation for
fitting up a laboratory for analytical
and archaeological purposes, making
special reference to water eXamina-
tions, showing the necessity of finding
fits purity, etc, and that said analyses
should be made by the department.
The mayors annual message to the
council called attention to these rec
concentrations as worthy of your care
fpl consideration. but no action has
been taken. Owing to above condi-
tiohs no quarterly analysis of water
has been made
Defense Of Keogh.
For The purpose of showing the coun-
ell had been unjuStly cenSured in the
public press for permitting the pollu-
ton of Parley's canyon water and that
the city engineer had exaggerated the
conditions in the canyon, Councilman
Fernstrom submitted a. report of an
analysis made by Chemist Herman
Harms on a piece of ice harvested last
winter from near the penitentiarY, the
water for the ice pond coming from
Parley's creek The analysis was made
for Sanitary Inspector IRE of the
health department on the 17tn inst, and
showed as follows:
Clear, free from odor, sediment and
suspended impurities: comparatively
small amount of organic matter, rem
dering the ice first-class and fully meet
ing the requirements OF the health de-
partment'
Roasted By Callister.
Then Councilman Callister went after
the health commissioner in this fash
ion: "A city official who has neglected
his duties as DR.. Keogh has, and shown
no excuse for it, should be removed.
The health commissioner comes to his
Office only to draw his salary. He never
attends the council committee meet
ings. is never in his office in this build
ing. and seldom inspects the sources of
water supply If a child wants to get
a health certificate to so back to school,
DR. POLAND issues it, Councilman
Diehl here tells me that DIR. Witchar
has to be employed to do his work in
the police and jail departments. He
does not even employ the men in the
health department. l think it is about
time the commissioner be brought be
fore this council and removed"
Replying to Fernstrom. Buckle re-
sented the inSinuation that the agita
ton over the water question was start
ed for political purposes. He added
that the death rate is higher in that
part of the city where Parley's water
Is supplied
Fernstrom thought Buckle had no
cause for complaint about the diStri-
button of. patronage in the health de-
partment, because the Republican
councilman from the First precinct had
partment.
That statement is a deliberate I'M
truth. retorted Buckle.
Robertson s motion 10 refer the health
commissioners communication back to
the author. together with a demand
that he perform his duties as laid down
In the ordinance was amended by Cal |
lister adding. and that he report why /
he does not keep regular office hours |
In this building"
The motion as amended was adopted |
by a vote Of fourteen TO one. Fernstrom /!
being the only negative vote.
Discussing the Engineer.
Later in the evening the council con- !
sidered the irrigation committees re- |
port on City Engineer kelsey's protest /
against the making Of a new contract |
ry3th the Pleasant View Irrigation COM |
pany Tor the use of its ditch through |
which to carry the Parleys canal, par
Rlleling the conduit. Action on the I
committees report has been pending |
month. 1t stated:
Your committee sees no reason to
withdraw from its former position, ana |
thinks further comment on this extra /
ordinary document unnecessary. The !
communication of the superintendent /
Of irrigation fully sustains the position |
of the committee. and answers the COW |
ert attack made upon him by the COM /
munication of the city engineer"
The irrigation committees report on (
Tie engineers protest was adopted over f.
The negative votes of Callister, Buckle, |
Diehl. Robertson and Wallace.
Relative 10 the city engineer recon- /
rpOsdation that measuring Weirs be |
placed in the streams of water in which |
The city has an interest, the committee
on irrigation reported in favor of allow
Ing the expenditure Of $3.50 for con-
stluction of permanent weirs in Par
ley's ard Emigration creeks. The COM
nlittee advised against the placing of
1veirs in City creek, and as to the pro-
posed weir in the Jordan river, the re-
port recommended that the WATERWAYS
Ter be directed TO immediately aScer-
tain if the canal companies Jointly in
ferested with the city viii bear their
proportion OF the cost of such weirS. |
The committees report was adopted.
Assessing Water Rates.
The majority of the committee on
recommended that an en-
lire new assessment of water rates be
made for the ensuing fiscal year the
same as was done last year. a minor