The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-09
CITY WATER PIPES
NOT CONTAMINATED
Trouble About House Pipes
at One Residence.
REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE
An Item That Caused Much Excitement Last
Night Especially 10 Residents in
The Vicinity of Polk
Street,

Behold what great fire little matter
kindleth.
In the afternoon paper yesterday there
appeared among the local items the fol
lowing:
1T is stated that the water pipes and
sewer main have in some way come to-
gether in the Polk street locality and the
doctors have warned no one to drink the
water before boiling it,
The item was heard of in Polk street
locality and soon there were inquiries
coming to this office. asking about the
reliability of the report.
Fortunately the matter had been heard
of early in the day by reporter of this
paper, who had found that there had been
fear expressed lest the water supply at
No 112 Polk street might become con
taminated He was able to assure all who
asked that there was nothing in the
statement that ''the water pipes and
sewer main had in some way come to
gether.'
An interview was had last night with
Mr.. T. p Sales. who was asked concern
ing the trouble. In reply he made the
following statement:
1.-THE statement made by the evening
paper that the sewer and water pipe had
become contaminated seems to be mslead
ing. The facts are these: In the resi-
dence in the rear Of the Lyman property
on Polk street, the sewer-pipe had been
lowered on account of an old well through
which the pipe runs. This in no way
could possibly contaminate the water. The
sewer has been Strengthened and repaired
and it is now all right"
The residence referred to is at 112 Polk
street, and is now occupied by Mr.. C. w
Huff, connected with the Seaboard Air
Line, who has lately removed to the city
from Henderson. His daughter is i'll with
a mild case of typhoid fever and is being
attended by DR.. A. w. Knox.
In caring for the case DR.. Knox mvesti-
gated the matter OF water and found that
there was probability or possibility of
danger if the condition that then existed
about the water pipes remained. He notl-
fed Mr. ]. M. Broughton Of the condition
of affairs and it was found that a large
quantity of earth supposed to be impreg
mated from the sewer pipe should be re-
moved. Mr.. Broughton wished to do this,
but the neighbors objected. Dr. Knox ad-
vised the family to move, as the water
might be in danger of contamination. He
states emphatcally that he did not say
that the water was contaminated, but
that there might be danger if the con-
taminated earth was not removed and
the sewer repaired. He says that he made
no reference to the water mains, which
are some forty or fifty feet away from
the sewer pipe, giving trouble, this being
on the south side of the house.
Superintendent Balm, of the water
works, was also interviewed last night
He says that the first he had heard OF
the matter was when some one had called
his attention to the item about the pipes
He stated that he has heard no complaint
and that with a pressure OF fifty pounds
to the square inch in the iron water pipes
that there is absolutely no danger of I'M
purties getting into the water main from
the sewers or otherwise. If there was 4
break or a hole, he states the out rushing
water from the pipes would wash away
impurities, in place of admitting them to
the water main.
With these assurances the troubled citi-
zens may rest content that there is no
trouble with the supply of water in Raj
eigh, in so far as the reported puncture of
sewer pipes and water main is concerned