The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-27
PURITYOf WATER SUPPLY
DIR. WILLIAM CHARLES WHITE HAS
MADE NO REPORT.
City Board of Health Will Investigate
'Leak"-Statement by DIR.
House.

Reports of the progress of DR.. William
Charles White, the bacteriologist appointed
by the Board of Health to make a survey
of the city water supply and analysis of
the water, have been gaining publicity in
a way that has led DR.. White to transfer
the scene of his labors from the Health
Board laboratory to his own private lab
oratory. These reports, made highly SEN
sational in print, were to the effect that he
had discovered colon bacilli, recognized as
indicative of typhoid germs. in samples Of
water taken by him from the reservoir at
the north pumping station of the Indian
apolis Water Company. These reports add
ed that DR.. White had found strange
current of water in the reservoir, which
might indicate that water from the river
gained access to the reservoir.
DR.. White declined to discuss the reports
last night. He said his work was for the
Board of Health, and that he would report
to it only. He had made no report, he
said, nor had he talked to any one as to
the development of his cultures.
DIR. White said his work was done at the
city laboratory, which adjoins the office of
the Board of Health. He says he shall do
nothing more there. When DR.. White was
appointed it was understood that he would
develop the water cultures in his private
laboratory.
DR.. White has worked in the laboratory
with A. r. Moffatt. the chemist who. about
six weeks ago, announced analysis, which
City Sanitarian Buehler indorsed, showing
that city water contained typhoid disease
germs. The Board of Health declined to
recognize Moffatt's analysis as official and
eliminated the title "city chemist" which
was given to him. He has, however, con-
tinued to use the city laboratory.
A LEAK SOMEWHERE.
President House, of the Board of Health,
said last night that he was unable to un-
derstand how DR.. Whites report could be
anticipated unless some one had access to
his data. DR.. House said the board had
specially cautioned DR.. White to preserve
secrecy as to his work until his report was
acted on by the board. DR.. House said he
had been assured by Moffatt and City SAM
tartan Buehler that they had given nothing
out about it. DIR. House said the board
would investigate the leak,
The unofficial and unverified report as to
DR. Whites findings may have a serious
effect on his work. 1t was the boards idea
to permit him to make his Investigation
secretly and base action on the result Dr.
NulSiiS WHAT Has ueeH accomplished In one
step may thwart plans which the board
had.
Ii is understood that Dr. White took
samples from the reservoir March IL. 1t is
the cultures developed from these samples,
il is reported. that showed disease germs.
The water company now has two experts
engaged constantly in testing the water
supply. During January last the company
not understanding that DIR. Gels was to
quit permitted the month to pass without
chemical analysis After Moffatt's an
alyses were printed the company engaged
DIR. Edmund ID. Clark, former city sani-
tartan, and DR.. John +. Gels, deputy cor
oner, to make analyses. Or. Clark's work
is exclusively ARCHAEOLOGICAL and Dr. Geis's
chemical. DIR. Clark said last night that
his cultures had all shown that the water
was potable. DR.. Cess chemical analyses
have also sustained the potability of the
water.
officials Of the water company say they
cannot understand why the Health Board,
If ii desires TO test the purity of the water,
does not have the analytical work done
elsewhere than in the city laboratory,
where ii is open to discovery as well as
possible contamination. They also say they
are still ready to select a competent bac-
teriologist or chemist and let the board Sc
lect another, the two TO investigate the
whole question provided for in the water