The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-01
They Exchange Compliments
Over Dumping Garbage.
City Physician Says Former
Board Was Negligent.
SWAN STANDS FIRM
Reiterates That Sewage Should
Not Be Dumped into River.
Says That He Resigned From
City Board Of Own Accord.

Members Of the Topeka board Of
health say that DR.. w. Z. Swan is sore
because he did not get an appointment
on the Topeka board. DR.. Swan IS sec
rotary Of the state board Of health, and
he landed on the Topeka board for
planning to establish city dump
where refuse might be placed in the
bosom of the Kaw river
ssIf Dr.. swan had done his duty while
he was a member Of the Topeka board
of health" said City Physician Judd
today. I'VE would not now be forced
to establish a city dump to dispose OF
the city garbage. This dump is
temporary affair which we propose 70
establish to help US in catching UP
with the work which was left undone
by the former board.
"Dr. Swan has discovered" con-
tinued DIT. Judd, that it is highly un-
sanitary for US to dump garbage into
the river. 7 wonder why it is not just
as unsanftary Tor the city sewers to
empty into the river MI swan never
objected to that The river water IS
not polluted by dumping garbage into
the river By the time the river reaches
Lawrence, which city is just now max
ing such a kick about this affair, II
viii be impossible to detect by chem
icai analysis that any extra garbage
has been deposited in the river at To-
peka 1t is the business of Lawrence
to see to 1t that its water company
does not pump water direct from the
river. That is the way we are doing
to protect ourselves from the vast
amount Of garbage and sewerage whicn
is dumped into the river west OF To-
peka That is the only way to pro
tect the city from water which is sure
to be more or less contaminated.
1T would be a more valid ground or
objection, probably, If Topeka proposed
to make this dump a permanent affair.
But we expect to run this dump only
long enough to get rid of the stun
which has been accommodating here dur
ing the time which Mr. Swan was on
the board of health Then we VIII re-
turn to the present plan of cremating
everything"
The following extract from the Law
renee Journal gives the ideas Of that
publication on how sham efully Law
renee has been abused by Topeka:
"Dr. W. B Swan. secretary Of the
state board Of health. is all right. He
has called down the city Of Topeka
good and hard for ordering the gar
bage to be dumped into the Kaw river.
Lawrence has taken and cared for To-
peka paupers; we have cheerfully con-
tributed to the support of the fellows
who draw official salaries for running
the politics Of the state; we have not
complained when Topeka put hobnails
in her boots and walked on us-but We
were getting ready to draw the line
when they dumped their garbage into
the river to float down for US to mix
with our food Lawrence is pleased to
see that she has a friend In DR.. Swan
Billy he used to be before he became
one Of the best physicians of Kansas,
and when he stops his town from
poisoning the Kaw river with it's rotten
garbage Lawrence ought to vote him a
medal"
DR.. Swan replies to the board that
there are no sore spots on him because
he IS not now q member OF the board
Indeed, he asserts that he was so anx-
iOus to get off the former board that
he resigned when Mayor Hughes went
into Office. He says it is no new dis
covery for him to object to the empty
ing Of sewage into the Kaw His off,
cial records show that he was opposed
to such doings two years and more ago.
Furthermore, he proposes to so on say
ing that 1T is not right.
Because the method Of emptvine
sewage into the Kaw has been followed
for years is no reason that Topeka
should continue to do SO If 1T is fnan-
cially able to provide another way he
said Il have said 1t is not right. and
viii keep on saying it, although I will
do nothing to antagonize the board
when it does the best It can In my re-
port two years ago in relation to the
sewage Of the agricultural college.
strongly deprecated the emptyfng OF
sewage into the rivers Of the state IL
IS not new objection with me. have
been consistently against such pollu-
ton for years The only hyEienic way
for the disposal of sewage is the Euro
pean system of filter beds in series the
residue to be distributed as fertilizer
or burned in the crema tory
''As to being sore because I am not
a member Of the board, the absolute
contrary IS the fact. resigned when
It was established that Hughes was
mayor. was the minority member of
he a -ea4 Nr1 ~1-r1.-
suppose the board met oftener Than
once in two months. which was Ger
tainly not enough tried to get meet