The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-31
ENGINEERS MEET AGAIN
THEY SAY PLATING IN INDIANA Is
INIPERFECTLY DONE.
A Visit Paid I'm the Afternoon to the
Pumping stations of the Water
Company.

I
and towns of Indiana was brought up. The
question, after 1t was preached became
the medium for much earnest discussion.
AS the system now stands, it is said any
one may prepare plat for an addition.
Many times survey is not even made
This causes vagueness in the records as
/ the plats submitted TO the board of
public works or city council of a city for
approval. Generally these officials know
little about surveying as the average prop
/ erty-owner does. the engineers said.
The engineers desire the Legislature to
decree that all plats shall be submitted
to county or city engineer or some per-
son who is competent to pass on them.
After much discussion the matter was
finally referred to the resolution committee,
which is TO prepare strong resolutions to be
/ brought before the next Legislature.
/ F. A. w. Davis, vice president Of the
! Indianapolis Water Company. gave short
talk during the session yesterday after
noon. Mr.. Daviss remarks were merely
an invitation for the members of the
! ciety to visit the two pumping stations of
/ the water company. When the speaker
/ had concluded his remarks a long line of
/ carriages appeared outside the east en-
] trance to the Statehouse. The party first
went TO the Riverside pumping station and
/ admired the huge engines; IaJer it returned
/ 10 the pumping house on West Washington
/ street. After inspecting this plant it went
over to the wrecked bridge at Washington
! street
F. A. w. DAVIS PROTESTED.
F. A. w. Davis, vice president of the In
dianapolis Water Company, created some
what of a sensation at the meeting of the
Indiana Engineers Society last night at
paper read by r. L. Sackett, of Rich
mond. on Health Laws and Court Deci-
sons on Stream Pollution" Mr.. Sackett
declared that it is openly charged that the
| farmers near many streams in the State are
making more money prosecuting owners
| of straw board and tin plate works than
they do by farming. Mr.. Davis declared
! this statement to be slanderouS and said
/ there evidence to bear out the
| statements made by Mr.. Sackett. Mr..
| Davis made motion TO have the paper
! discussed at the meeting this morning, and
some interesting things will probably de-
Velop.
Mr. Sackett's paper was one of three on
| the question Of stream pollution. Regard
ing the conditions in Indiana, he said. in
part:
I'm Indiana the laws governing the gath
ering of vital statistics have been inn
! proved so that the data is reliable A law,
/ supported by the Health Board, was pre-
passed by the Senate. 1t reached the third
reading in the House. but was there held
! up. This law contained many features
! of the Massachusetts laws which we
! adapted to our needs. 1t gave the State
/ Board of Health power to suppress pollu-
/ ton whether by a city or by an industry.
/ Where owners of factories refuse to take
! remedial measures the Board of Health is
/ powerless. This condition has led to suits
being brought by property owners dam
aged. One factory proprietor spent $4,000
/ farmers
THE State Board of Health ought to be
held responsible for the sanitary condi-
! tiOns of State institutions, and the latter
ought TO be models in this respect, which
they are not now. A stream rendered foul
! by the sewage from an insane asylum 500
| strong is nauSeating TO think of and much
| more to see and smell. There ought to
be an engineer member of the State Board
| of Health. His knowledge of hydraulics
! and water supply of methods OF filtration
| and sewage treatment would be valuable
! in cases brought to trial and in selecting
/ proper means Tor avoiding nuiSances. The
| aesthetic side of stream pollution has not
| claimed much attention. Longfellow tells
| US that there are sermons in stones and
books in brooks. fear that some Indiana
| brooks would be classed as impure litera-
| ture and not fit for perusal."
Mr.. Sackett also said cities and towns
| should be prosecuted for pOlluting streams
the same as strawboard works or tin plate
mills.
Severance Burrage, Of Lafayette spoke
on Chemical and Bacterial Side OF Stream
Pollution" He illustrated his talk with
stereopticon views of the condition of water
of streams that were polluted from differ
ent causes. Several views were shown
of disease germs that form in polluted
water
a. ]. Hammond. of South Bend, spoke
on Present Condition of the Streams of
the Counties of the State Regarding Pollu-
ton" He called attention to many of
the streams that have been polluted and
said 'the pollution of these particular
streams may prove a larger benefit in mold
ing ana developing PUBIC sentiment
which will ultimately cause the investiga-
ton and abatement of all sources of pol
luton throughout the State The pollu-
ton Of town and city sewage has increased
quite as rapidly perhaps as the factory
waste Regarding the condition in Marion
county ne said: I'VE have shown that
the chief factor in the pollution of White
river above Marion county is factory waste.
But in Marion county the chief
source of pollution may be said
to be the sewage of indianapolis and
an authority says that White river is a
noisome sewer for miles and miles on ac-
count of indianapolis sewage. At some
points within the region of pollution fish
are found. but invariably these fish dis
eased, containing worms and minor organ
isms.'
E. c. De Wolfe of Mishawaka. spoke on
Power of Transmission a Distinctive
Branch of Mechanical Engineering He
hydraulic pneumatic, electric and me-
chanical each possessing individual fea-
lures which give 1t superiority over the
others under il. The use of hydraulic and
pneumatic systems is increasing he said,
while electricity is working wonders in its
widening application to the valuable serv-
ice OF bringing TO available industrial mar
kets large portions Of the heretofore wasted
energy Of commercially inaccessible power
sources.
E. w. Goldsborough. of Lafayette, who
will have charge Of the St. Louis world s
fair lighting, talked on electric street light
ing illustrated with stereOpticOn views. He
showed the advantage of the inclOsed arc
street lamps over the open lights Regard
ing the direct and alternating currents OF
| incosed arc lamps he said their respective
advantages were about equal.
The election of officers reported by
the nominating committee at the morning
session resulted in the present officers be
/ ing reelected and j. :. Humphreys, OF
Alexandria added TO the executive board