The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-05
INSPECTION OF WATER SHED
AND ANALYSIS OF WATER
REQUIRED EVERY THREE
MONTHS
BOARD OF HEALTH WILL SEE TO IT
Only Seven of the Fourteen Companies Using
Surface Water Have Had Analyses Made
in the Past Six Months. Danger
to Health.

l went around yesterday 10 see Dr.
r. III. Lewis TO get some information
about water and water works, and said
to him:
Il notice, doctor, statement in the
Wilson News that at the recent Health
Conference there you spoke in comph-
mentary terms of the Wilson Water
Works. What is your opinion of their
system, and do you think it possible for
Raleigh to have as cheap water as Will
sop?'
1The cost of water I'M Wilson is 10
cents, in Raleigh 40 cents. The town
owns the system in Wilson. .-Editor.l
DR.. Lewis replied:
Our examination in the very short
time at our disposal between the ses-
sions of the Conference was limited to
an inspection of the stream at the in-
take and the pump house, and l am,
therefore, unable to give an opinion in
detail l take pleasure in saying this,
however, that the Wilson water supply
possesses the three prime requisites
abundance, quality Tor it ought to be
good if properly looked after and
cheapness. | am not prepared to say
that Raleigh could with justice TO tine
water company have as cheap water as
Wilson because | do not know all the
facts 1t has been said that the Raleigh
plant was intended as an advertisement
by the promoters, and that it IS excep-
tional in quality of material and work
manship-and therefore more costly
whether to the extent of the stock is
sued or bonds sold is for some one
better informed on those features to de-
clare.
IL co not hesitate to say, however,
that in my opinion the price charged for
water by the Raleigh Water Company
is unreasonably high. 1t is simply pro-
hibitory to the very class chat most
need it. 1t is among the poor and ig-
norant that unsanitary conditions chief
ly prevail and disease is more likely TO
originate and spread. OF all others
they most need an abundant supply Of
pure water and sewer connections. But
they cannot have them at such prices.
This condition Of affairs should not be
permitted to last a day longer than is
absolutely necessary. | was positively
shocked TO see in the papers that the
idea of renewing the franchise of our
water company was being entertained.
! have my doubts about the wisdom Of
, municipal ownership in general, but the
water supply should undoubtedly be
owned by every city, even if as result
Of political fayoritiSm it should be run
ostensibly at loss. for if all the people
could be furnished an abundance of
good water there would be net gain
to the community even then.
Doctor, what is the law in regard
to public water supplies and the juris-
diction Of your board III connection with
them:''
II haven't the time nor you the space
to fully answer your question, so |
will have to refer you for our powers
in general to section 3, and specifically
to sections Is and 10 of chapter I'll,
Laws of 1893. As disease can be, and
not infrequently Is, conveyed wholesale
by contaminated public water supplies
their oversight constitutes consid
cradle part of our work. As supple
mentary to the original act relating 10
the Board Of Health just referred to we
secured the enactment by the last Leg
islature of AN act to protect water sup
plies" I'M somewhat ennsculated form,
however, | regret to say. But 1t is
not entirely without virtue, for it re-
quires regular inspection or Watersheds
every three months or oftener if in the
opinion. of the health authorities there
is reason to suspect the water supply;
and quarterly analysis, both chemical
and bacteriological-at the expense OF
the companies. A copy of this law
printed in the Monthly Bulletin OF the
Board was promptly sent to all water
companies and to all mayors of cities
and towns having public water supplies.
1t is the duty of the municipal authori-
ties i'll the interest Of their citizens to
see that its provisions are obeyed, but
whether they have done so or not / am
not prepared TO say. ! am pained TO
state, however, that only seven of the
fourteen using surface water have had
the analyses made in the past six months,
so far as i have been informed. This
matter was considered by the Board in
private session at the recent Health
Conference, and the inference drawn
from the failure of the water companies
to have these analyses made as the law
requires was that they We're suspicious
of their own water. These examina-
tions at comparatively short intervals
are necessary to ascertain if the water