The Paducah sun., 1902-11-01
Health Officer Graves Gives His
Views on the Filtration Plant


tered water is to be determined by the
voice of the people at the polls on No
vember 4, 1909, and as your health
officer, being familiar with the sab
ject, and having been closely idonti-
fed with the matter for one and one
halt years, / take this liberty through
the columns of the press OF calling
your attention TO few serious facts
and statistics in a sanitary sense rela-
tive to the matter. While claiming as
do a civic right and prerogative in
common with the wealthiest or poor
est taxpayer of the city, II is not the
purpose in this communication 90 at
tempt to discuss the economical or po'
litical aspect Of this question.
But realizing that the council, the
executive body Of the city, having
been convinced after so long a time Of
the unwholesome condition Of the Pa
ducah water supply. and in a confer
enoe with the water company, with
due diligence and perseverance,, have
affected compromise in formulating
a poposition to say the least in my
humble opinion, is wholesome, and
now demonstrating their loyalty and
honesty of purpose in the matter, have
submitted this proposition to the le-
gslized voters Of the city to be ratified
on November 4, 1902. The consider
alton Of the health officer in urging
the water supply of the city to be fill
tered is altogether q matter Of hygi-
enc. When the sppeal.is made for fl
tered water, instead Of the thick, mud
dy, unsightly and unwholesome stuff
we get, II is not simply voicing the
sentiment of an intelligent populace,
but In the city Of Paduoah when as
your humble health officer / ask for
water filtered in the sense Of santa
tion. bright, pure, clear as . crystal,
free from turbidity. not orly sight
ly and palatable, but wholesome for
any and all purposes. and especially
so in q hygienio and sanitary sense.
Il IL not every person in a city
even the size OF Paducah that can
own and operate to hygienic sue
cess q house filter nor will they take
the time TO do so, and naturally get
careless and Indifferent.
I regard this proposition before the
citizens Of Psduoah today 10 be one
Of the most momentous Importance.
Il should engage the serious oonsidera-
tion Of every inhabitant, male and fe.
male, in the town. Il cannot be prop
erly disposed OF with any degree Of
levity whatever, as you would COM
mon current event, only 10 be seen to
be adjusted at sight, but indeed IL is
a matter Of serious import, involving
as il does the health, happiness and
lives Of our people.
The mortality rate in Paducah Is
too large averaging with monthly fuc-
tuations, 23 TO 90 TO the thousand
yearly. and Is maintained TO q ma
teriRl extent by thoss diseases that
are peculiar TO unwholesome water.
Since this country has had charge Of
the government Of Havana, Cuba, the
mortality has been reduced in that
town and maintained for tine last three
years to less than go 10 tine thousand.
The mortality rate Of Tampa, Flori-
da, is II $40 yearly to the thousand
and is calculated and averaged in the
aggregate regardless Of disease, cause,
age or color Why not let Paducah
reduce her mortality rate, which can
be done by filtering her water supply.
| feel safe in saying that the number
Of deaths in our city each year is at
least one hundred more than il should
be.
The latest analysis of Prof. Hasten.
bine, Of Louisville. KY, contains ~
it does i.1s parts Of organic matter
to the thousand when Is low as two
parts to the ten thousand, is considered
unwholesome. In making my report
to the joint committee of the council
last summer, in order to be explicit
about the state Of water containing or
gsnic matter, produced q letter from
Kastenbine IN answer to one had
written him q few days previously,
which read as follows;
Louisville, KY, June 90, 1902.
W. T. Graves, NJ. D., Paducah, Ky.
Dear Doctor: In reply to your inter-
rogatory-"whether organic matter
in drinking water is wholesome or uD-
wholesome ?" l will state that IL is
UNIV holesome. I will state that II
is unable quantity, especially Of ami
NAL origin. A complete qusntitative
analysis is worth fifty dollars and
gallon at least will be required.
Yours truly,
LID. KASTENBINE, NJ. D.,
SO st. james Court.
The mechanical filtration plant as
proposed by the New York Continen-
tai Jewel Filteration company when
Installed with the Psducsh Water Cos
plant, will come at cost Of one hun
dred thousand dollars. The structure
when complete occupies an area Of
ground 50xl60, the entire structure
under one cover. The plant consists OF
series Of large water tanks, ten or
twelve In pumber, each Of which has
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