The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-12
An EPIDEMIC OF TYPHOID
DRIED CASES-THIRTY DEATHS
REPORTED
SEWAGE IN THE CITY WATER
Likewise Considerable Politics
Mixed Up in It-Cfty Will Insti-
tute Suit Against the
Water Company.

ASHLAND, Wis, March LIT is as
serted that the waters of Cheuuamegon
pay are permeated with typhoid fever
germs and the consumption of this water
for drinking and household purposes has
caused a second epidemic of fever, in the
midst Of which Ashland is now strug-
Cling
The great epidemic of 1894 caused some
45o cases and about forty-hVe deaths Up
to date the present epidemic has caused
from 300 to 500 cases-physicians differ as
to the exact nuInber-and thirty deaths.
The residents Of the fever-stricken city
are greatly aroused, and claim they are
helpless in the hands of the Ashland
Water company, which many say, fur
nishes unwholesole water The city's sew
age empties within a short distance Of
the company's intake and filtration sys-
tenn, and 1t is this water that these peo-
pie of Ashland drink, who cannot afford
to buy spring water.
ATTRIBUTED TO POLITICS.
With every physician in the city as
sorting that the illness is typhoid some
cases in its most malignant type Health
Commissioner J. A. Marchessault shows
apparently a spirit OF indifference and
contends that much Of the sickness is the
grip and not typhoid. He goes still fur
Their, and says that the agitation under
which the people are now laboring be-
cause their relatives are being daily
stricken down, is due largely to poll
tics
Mayor Thomas Bardon asserts that
bad water, bad blood and bad politics
have aroused the people and while he
does not defend the water, neither does
he condemn it.. But regardless of what
the contention of the mayor and the
1na or
no politics, the fact confronts the city
administration that it has the fever on
it's hands and that hundreds of its ctti-
zens are victims
CITY ATTORNEY TO BEGIN SUIT.
City Attorney E. F. Gleason several
weeks ago went to Madison and consult
ed with Attorney General Hicks on the
subject. At this conference the water
company was represented by Attorneys
w. NJ. Tomkins and c. A. Lamoreux.
Mr.. Gleason told the attorney general OF
the state of affairs here. He asked that
official to begin proceedings against the
water company and annul its franchise,
which covers period Of fifty years from
1887. Mr.. Hicks would not consent to
this proceeding, but he authorized Mr..
Gleason to use his name and the city at
torney, on March % in the name of the
the supreme court for authority to begin
suit for annulling the franchise. The
water company's attorneys will be on
hand to fight the action.
CITIZEN LOST A SUIT
Some years ago a man named Green
brought suit for $1,000 damages for
typhoid fever from the use Of the
company's water. Green got verdict in
the lower courts, but the supreme court
held that his son was guilty of contr1bu-
tory negligence because the newspapers
had warned the people against the use or
the water and that when he used it he
must have known the chances he was
taking.
IS SEWAGE PUMPED INTO MAINS?
In order to understand the origin of the
trouble, a description of the surround
ings of Ashland is needed. The city Is
located on the south shore of Chequame-
gon bay. The citys sewage empties into
thesbay on the south shore. AT various
points are long piers and ore DOCKS ana
in order to carry the sewage away with
the current, which comes down the north
shore. winds past the city and flows east
ward into the lake, the waste must nrsr
be carried into the bay to get past the
docks and pier. Well toward the east end
of the shore is the water plant. IL IS
located four blocks from the opening Oh
the principal sewer main that emptles
into the bay The water works intake
extends $500 feet into the bay and takes
its water from a depth of nineteen ana
Cne-half feet. A short distance oeyonu
the intake is the government oreaKWaCef'
It extends well into the bay, ana the
claim is made that it stops the sewage
being carried out into the lake by the
current. Being unable to escape, phy-
sicians say the sewage is carried PACK
to the water works intake and pumped
into the city's water supply.