The age-herald., 1901-12-04
DOCTORS ASK FOR 4
 FILTR: TON SYSTEM
Commission Will Take Preliminary Steps to Employ Engineer-The Water Co. to Move Village f-
 From Banks of Cahaba.

or BlrmlnBnan one IS lnaL lhe JeileI- son County Sanitary Commission fecom- mends that the water works system be and another is that the water company will move a village of twenty-six houses from the banks of the Cahaba river to prevent possible contamination. .s
 At meeting of the sanitary .commis- sion last night a resolution was passed declaring 1t the sense of the commission that an expert sanitary engineer be em- ployed to make a complete and thorough examination of the sanitary sewerage system and the water supply and in- structing the secretary to Immediately write prominent specialists secure in- formation regarding the cost of such ex animation and to report these facts to a called meeting of the commission.
 This resolution comes as direct result of the interest the Jefferson County Med ical Society has taken in the water ques- tion and the report the special commit mission while in conference with it's members last night. This committee con- sisted of Dr. J, c. LeGrande, Dr. George s. Brown, Dr. L. c. Morris, Dr. J. M. Mason and Dr. F. P. Riggs. ,Y
 Wanted Session Executive.
 When the commission was called to or- der E. J. Smyer moved that the session be made executive insofar as newspaper reporters were concerned. He urged that if Birmingham had bad water system it would be wrong to tell the citizens and outside public, and that more could be accomplished by working wit hout al- lowing the public to know what was be- ing done. 44s"
 Commissioner Mouton objected to ex- was a grave one and should be made known to the public; also that the public should be asked to give to any movement to correct any evils that might be found to exist its support.
 The vote on the motion resulted in its passage, and the only newspaper repre- sentative present walked out. U
 Immediately after the exclusion of the reporter Dr. J. c. LeGrande, as chairman of the committee from the Jefferson Coup- ty Medical Society. read the report on the investigation made by that body. While the exact words of this report are locked in the secret archives of the com mission, it's text was stated In general introductory and six special clauses. fol- lowing which were the committees recommendations as follows: ,.ssa.y
 Say Water Is Suspicious.
 After a thorough examination of the water used in Birmingham. its sources city, and the reservoirs in which 1t Is kept, we have reached the conclusion that the water is suspicious.
 The Five Mile Creek water is liable to pollution.
 The water in the open canal along to pollution.
 The reservoirs in which the water is stored are not lined.
 Sections four, five and six referred to the conditions of the Cahaba river, it's reservoir and the fact of its being liable to pollution and being unprotect ed from persons residing above the point where the city gets its supply.
 The committee recommends that a pipe canal be constructed for the transmits sion of the water to the reservoirs.
 Also that the reservoirs be lined.
 Also that complete and perfect system of filtration be put in by the Water Works Company, and that a sanitary engineer be employed to make an examination.
 Has Commission Power?
 When the recommendations of the com mittee were read MT. Smyer asked, that in case the commission did not have power to order the construction of a filtration system, what would be consider ed next best by the physicians. Before this was answered pr. Mason read section IA of the law granting powers to the comm ission and asserted that that sec ton gave the members power to act. ac- eording to his opinion.
 It was announced then that several at torneys had said such power was not granted the commission. It was stated that the law was not sufficient to cover this point The commission could re- auire the removal of anything poiluting the water, placed in the stream by any person, but could not require the clearing of bacteria and microbes as Is done by filtration. .4.
 Dr. Mason submitted what he termed a minority report in which he only asked that a sanitary engineer be employed to make an examination of the water. After, such an exam ination the board could then decide what orders should be issued upon the recommendations of this expert
 The commission discussed the subject at considerable length, asking the physi- clans what effect the examination would have and many questions of detail. Dur ing this talk the question Of making the report of the committee public was also discussed.
 Publicity Question Again.
 Several of the physicians insisted that much good could be done by allowing the press to assist in the work of secur- ing moral support Several commission CTS were also of the same opinion. MT. Moulton especially made strong talk in favor of such action. Finally it was decided that all action should be execu- tive.
 MT. ,Moulton then made am otion that in as much as the commission had no power to. act the report of the commit, tee with an endorsement from the com.