The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-30

SuSScSIlO1 Ilduc ny JuUSS DaV1u q.
Simpson regarding the ACCESSIBILITY of
pure water commission to study the
matter in its entirety will be adopted.
There were five aldermen present
yesterday Observation-Disclosures D. p.
Jones, F.. L. Schoonmaker, G. w.
Clark, G. B. Holmes and James S.
Lane-who are committed to the gem
eral proposition of supplying water
that is pure and not poisonous.
Not New Problem.
Judge Simpson had the honor Of
making the opening address. He re-
ton for pure water was not new one.
He recalled a similar agitation ten or
twelve years ago. The council took
one step and built the reservoir in
spite of a very strong protest from
certain taxpayers. Those present
were reminded that their duty toward
the city was as manifest as that Of the
aldermen. There was always an ele-
ment Of opposition to every public
improvement regardless of it's merits,
and unless the people made known
their wishes in anemphattc manner
the aldermen would be in doubt ais to
just what the majority Of the people
wanted. The Improvements sought
by the people now would probably
have been completed many years ago.
but for the active and persistent hos
tllity from several sources.
Judge Simpson, in conclusion, sug-
gested the appointment Of a commits
sion of engineers and water experts
to study the whole situation with re-
gard to Minneapolis and its water sup
ply and to make a report to the coun-
Gil Even If $4,000 was expended on
this preliminary work, the money
would be well used. The idea seemed
to find much favor with those present.
state, university spoke in detail Of the
possible sources Of water supply for
Minneapolis, mentioning Lake Supe-
rior and Mile Lac. He favored the
| Mississippi river for several reasons.
but a filtration plant was absolutely
| necessary. He also approved of a
commission. But there must be no
delay, for, as he stated in closing,
Delay means the sacrifice Of human
lives"
Giving the People Poison.
DR.. w. w. Folwell, who presided.
next called upon President Cyrus
made.:a most VICTORIOUS u He made
some OF fheaaldermen sqtiirm when He
charged that the officials who were
| wilfully pumping poison u into the
drinking water Of the people were
guilty of murder, and there was a law
! for their punishment. lF,a
THE present conditions are intol-
erable," he declared, "and condition
under which, poison is given to the
peoples In the water supplied them by
the city is unspeakably horrible. It is
worse than barbarisn.'' The ques-
| ton of expense should not be consid-
|ered, for life was above money. Min
way IL the council did not rise to the
occasion and provide water which
would not kill.
Dr.. Northrop took occasion, while
| on his feet, to deny the statements that
university students obtained city wa
ter at that institution. No city water
had been supplied for drinking pur-
| poses since last october.
T Mayor Haynes told why Minneapolis
did not already have a filter plant. It
! was included in the estimates Of F..
w. Cappelen for the reservoir. This
work, it was predicted. would cause
the political death of many aldermen,
but they built the reservoir. They
weakened, however, in the face of
opinion, and decided to wait awhile.
Personally: he was very glad that the
| agitation had been started. The al
dermen were most susceptible to in
fuences from. the body polite. IF
there Is anything that a public official
j
heart he declared, fit is public opin-
ion. Let them be sure that there is
a public opinion and they will act"
.a. DR.. Halls Idea.
| Health Commissioner p. M. Hall
submitted a carefully prepared report
showing that reservoir water was not
the epidemic Of typhoid in this city
followed the operations Of either or
both of TIE two lower stations.
He thought that the Mississippi
should be relied upon to furnish water
for Minneapolis. If it was necessary
Elk River and the polluting waters Of
Rice creek. Coon creek and the Rum
and Grow rivers, good place for the
intake might be found just above Elk
River, twenty-six miles UP. There
were three rapids between Monticello
water. A dam might cost about $780,
900 and the pipe lines would probably
Ebe laid at a comparatively small cost.
DR.. Hall summed up his conclusions
as follows:
First, that Minneapolis has had
an unnecessarily high typhoid fever
death rate; secondly, that the princi-
pal sources Of contagious injection
have been the two lower pumps and
an unusually large number of pol
i luted wells; that the North Side pump,
/ which Of all those in operation fur
nishes the best and purest water, has
Il to the city for but four months CON
! tinuously since It was built In 1899;
fourth, that the reservoir water is
] safe and If used exclusively the death
rate from typhoid fever will be
klower.''
Results Graphically Shown.
L ~ 4 Z r 4 II =