The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-14
BAD WATER THEIR THEME.
Papers by Henry Talbot md DR.
Kobcr Read Last Night.

Two papers were read last evening At the
Central High School under the auspices
Of he Civic Centre, one by Henry Talbot
on the pollution Of the waterways and wa
ter supplies Of the country, and one by Dr.
Kober on the germs OF typhoid and their
eradication Mr. Talbot Is the chairman
OF the committee on river pollution Of the
Game and Fish Protective Association Of
the District of Columbia, and Or. Kober is
the sanitary expert of the District There
was a very small audience TO reward the
speakers for two interesting and instruct
i've papers. .-..
Mr.. Talbot said. in part. We send ships
to the south seas to return with the guano
Of petrels and penguiHs and east into the
sea the incalculable wealth at our hands.
Civic sanitation is divided IKE Gaul. into
three parts-street sweepings. garbage, and
sewage. In the city OF New York they
have now established plant that will in
cinerate the garbage for = cents q ton.
The light ashes are utilized as fertilizers
and the heavy for the making Of artificial
granolithic pavements.
George Westinghouse says that garbage
can be used TO make a commercial gas,
and 1t would not be d bad idea 10 test his
plan. Il is well known that dye works ami
sawmilIs pOllute streams more than any
thing else. The remedy is not in the less
euiug or the evil but i'm its absolute eradl-
cation. Fish are killed in all the rivers
where are located these works. and where
fish cannot live the water cannot be good
for mankind We should ask the Govern
meut to protect the game and the people
by compulsory incarceration Of garbage and
to prevent the pollution Of all streams.
1frF.r -.
garbage Of the city are indecent and inhu-
man. The water which is supplied to US
is not At 10 drink. II is filled with germs
OF all sorts and IN the fall Of the year Oh,
river is thick with slime Must the beau
tiful Potomac get TO be like the unspeak-
able Chicago before he people are aroused
to indignant protest and decisive action
The waterworks should have filters. and
the Government should keep the river clean
and free from pollution. Pure food is de
sirable. but pure water is a necessity 10
life"
In dealing with the question Of typhoid
fever germs Or. Kober said. There was
an epidemic OF typhoid fever in Cumber-
land few years ago in which the cause
was traced 10 a single patient, who had
come from Ohio. and who had lived near
Wilson Creek small stream which emp
tied into the Potomac II requires four
days for the water OF the river 10 pass
from Cumberland into the Washington
aqueduci and since il Is well known that
+he germs of typhoid will exist FOR longer
period than that. there is no reason 10
suppose that they cannot be conveyed into
the aqueduct as well and distributed INTO
this city to spread contagion.
Hundreds OF cases are to be cited
which will show that typhoid epidemics
have been traced to one person Con;ami-
mating the water supply Of the Infected
district In the great cholera epidemic Of
Hamburg. where 1000 people were
stricken down and more than 5000 died.
the origin was traced to a gypsy who had
the disease and who had camped on the
banks OF the River Eibe above the city.
And Hamburg had no filters IN its water
system. Surgeon General Wyman says
that there are g.. 600 deaths in this cOuu-
try every year from typhoid fever and that
this represents $4,000 cases Of the dis
ease which can readily be prevented by
proper care OF the water supply. The bill
IN Congress 20 prevent The pollution of
streams was defeated bur that body ap-
propriated 10000 for the destruction OF
the gypsy moth The wat 10 prevent dis
ease is 10 keep your wafer supply free from
all contamination