Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-13

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in Lawrence. Mass; Hamilton and Mt.
Vernon, N. Y, and Ashland, Wis.
Comparison Made.
Tables are furnished showing the rela-
tive effect Of unfiltered water and water
filtered by the mechanical and sand meth
DDS. respectively, and also tables of figures
collected by DR.. Kober Of this city show
ing the comparative results Of the sand and
mechanical filters. These show the effects
Of the English or sand filter to have been
uniform in a large falling off of typhoid
deaths, from 70 per cent to 95 per cent, or an
average Of 7S.5 per cent. The mechanical
or American filter system has been intro
duced in eight cities resulting in reduc-
ton Of 20 per cent of typhoid fever deaths
In three Of the cities. however, following
the establishment Of this system typhoid
fever increased.
It cannot justly be said. however. that
mechanical filtration was the cause of the
increase in the typhoid death rate. Such
increase must have been due to conditions
having no relation to the method of filtra-
tion The table has its value, however, In
showing the failure to prevent mortality
from typhoid fever in the cities named
where such filter is in use.
According to the report Of Col. Miller, as
a result of experiments conducted under his
ulEeCtlOI, DOtH IHetHOuS uHucI dScld Soi-
ditons are equally successful in clearing
the water and eliminating bacteria In the
laboratory tests made. In seasons when the
Potomac water Is turbid, this being es-
pecially the case in winter, by increasing
the quantity Of the alum coagulant the re-
sulting outflow of water was clearer and
had fewer bacteria than from the expert
mental sand filter. The average for the
alter, as by this process 97.3 per cent of the
contained bacteria were eliminated, the me-
chanical filter giving bacterial reduction
of 957 per cent.
Would Produce Pure Water.
In the opinion Of the committee the in
stallation of filter beds constructed in &C
cordance with the so-called natural en-
glish) method would insure to the city of
Washington supply OF water Of a salts
factory degree Of purity and would greatly
reduce the typhoid death rate in this city.
This system has In its favor the fact that
1t has been tested in practical way In
numerous cities Of Europe and in several
in this country with excellent results AS
regards the so-called mechanical (Ameri-
CAM system, which depends upon the use
Of alum as a coagulant, the committee is
not prepared at the present time to give
positive opinion. The experiments made by
Col Miller under the direction Of the chief
of engineers show that it is capable OF CIV
ing satisfactory results. when properly
managed, in reducing the number of bac-
terra and in clarifying the water. In the
opinion of the committee 1t should not be
adopted without fuller investigation as to
its practical working on large scale, and
the results attained in lessening the typhoid
death rate in cities where 1t has already
been installed.
the malarial disease-breeding flats on the
Anacostia river which are worse than ever
before. From statistics gathered 1t Is
shown that on the east side OF the Ana
spSv n
population of the District, there occurred
20 46 per cent of the total cases in the Dis
trict. In Northeast and Southeast WASH
ington and east of the Anacostia river, con-
taining 2645 per cent of the population.
there were So per cent Of the total number
of cases In the District. This covers the
period of July, August and September OF
this year.
Hospital for the Insane show that in the
year 1s97-1S9S 1880 per cent, and In 1889
over so per cent, Of the sick In the hospital
were affected with malarial diseases In one
form or another, and during the months Of
July, August and September last there were
5O3 cases, or 25 per cent Of the total num-
Der of inmates.
Malarial Flats.
Undoubtedly the whole District is af-
fected somewhat by the existence Of these
malarial flats. Such a statement of facts,
having a direct bearing upon the health
and lives Of the people, with known posi-
tive remedy, should arouse Congress to
speedy action to reclaim these marshes of
the Anacostia river, which could be turned
into parks and pleasure grounds healthful
and beautiful, some to be utilized Tor pup
lie purposes by the government.
The committee is obliged to report In ref
erence to impure or adulterated milk sup
piled and consumed in the Distfct OF Co
iumbia that although the health officer has
wisely and diligently used the power given
him to inspect the dairy farms and diaries
and prosecute offenders, yet owing to the
laws not being sufficiently stringent bad
condition exists, which should as soon as
possible be remedied. During the past year
an outbreak of scarlet fever affecting thir-
ty-three children was traced TO nlecteo
milk from one dairy. Remedies are pointed
out by the committee. to which attention
should be given and efforts made to secure
their adoption.
The Railroads.
During the past year considerable has
been done in abolishing railroad grade
crossings by elevating and depressing
tracks and in securing better terminal IA
cilities. Elaborate engineering plans have
been prepared by the Pennsylvania and
Baltimore and Ohio railroad companies
which were approved and recommended by
the Commissioners. A bill for each road
had been prepared and introduced into
Congress last winter to enable the roads
to make the proposed improvements Both
passed the Senate and are now before the
House of Representatives. These bills were
carefully considered by the board Of trade.
The main propositions in the bill of the
Pennsylvania railroad were that they
should be permitted to acquire the balance
of the Armory Square reservation, except
a strip of land on the west of 7th street
side to be used for shrubbery or ornament
al purposes, and to acquire certain squares
and be permitted to occupy certain streets
In the vicinity Of Long bridge and Mary
land avenue; also strip of land through
Garfield Park. The bill provides for no
compensation to be paid the government
for these public grounds, the estimated
| value of which Is $4,000, 600. Should Con-
gress grant these privileges the position
of the board of trade is that no part Of
the engineering expenses, either for tracks
or approaches. should be paid for by the
District of Columbia or general govern
ment, and that the railroad should be re-
TI,A na~< presopfnffn for Malaria