Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-11
WATER HEARING.
Work Of Fourth Week Begins
At 100 P. NJ, Today.
Examination Of Chemist Whipple
Begins Saturday Morrirg.
Richmond Physicians Tell of Typhoid
Epidemic of 1908.

W III sodtii'ltN > morning session the
third week of III" water hearing closet
The forenoon was devoted to the brief
examination of two leading Richmond
physicians us to the typhoid epidemic
there i'll 1903, ana to the beginning of
the examination of Geo. c. Whipplc,
the eminent New York chemist, who
has made frequent analyses of the river
water here.
ON account of personal business in
Portland, this forenoon. one member of
the board cannot get here till noon an |
there will be no forenoon session Of tho
| appraisers, today. The board will
| meet at 1.30 to begin the work of the
fourth week. An adjournment will also
be taken over Thursday. The district !;
| case will probably be pretty we'll in Ey
the end of this week, though sessions
may be necessary. next week Then
| there will be a recess before the final
IadjournmcntS are made.
Dr. Wallace n. Price of Richmond
| was the first Witness Of the day. Pop
| ulation Of village Of Richmond within
pipe lines of water company is DO
| tween 1000 and 1900. In winter and
spring of 1908. treated Is cases of ty-
phoid fever Can give the names Of all
| the Patients. At their homes and
whore they worked they were supplied
with kcnncbcc river water Some had
water available from wells and springs.
Have had typhoid cases in previous
years. These were usually in late win
| ter and early slrinS''
| Crosse examined: Have personal
knowledge OF water supply of families
treated. Diagnosed the cases OF tE-
phoid myself. Two of the patient 5
died"
Or. c. w. Price Of Richmond was tn
next witness: Have prrc;iccd in
Richmond - years. Treated six o."
seven cases Of typhoid in that village
in the winter Of 1909. They occurred
in February ami MaIA.h. Since water
works We're put in Richmond there has
been more typhoid in winter and spring.
Earlier than that most cases were in
III" late summer or carly fall The
water supply in the winter of 1903
among my typhoid cases was from the
kcnnebec river. though most families
had wells also" O
Cross examined: cone patient was
on Swan island. No frmily that I
treated took spring water for drinking
purposes. One family had well on
premises which was not used"
pr. J. F. Russell of Augusta, was
next called. "Graluated at Bowdoin
Medical school. Am now director OF
state laboratory here under direction
Of State Board of Health. Have made
daily blcteriolyiz"d tests Of river wa
ter, both from the Itself ana some
from the tap in the laboratory. Have
sent results of tests to Mr. Whipnle.
Have kept record Of all tests. Have al
so aralyizcd spring ana well water
samples. and samples from Wcbber
pond. Have used the meth IDS of test
approved in American Public Health
association"
The book containing DR.. Russcli's re-
cord of tests WAS then put in testimony.
Geo. c. Whipple, sanitary chemists,
was the next Introduced. Have charge
Of the laboratories for testing water
supplies of New York. Have been in
this position since 1897. Graduated
from Massachusetts Institute Of Tech
nology in 1850. For eight years was in
charge of biological laboratory of CITY
of Boston. Have made special Study
Of typhoid fever cpidcmics. Have tcs;i-
fed at Watcrville. Long Island CITY.
st. Louis. Ninccnnes, Ind. and .ot her
cities. Began Investigations here. last
August. Had samples taken daily from
the river near the intake ana from III,
tap at the state laboratory, 191 Water
street. Also took samples from SIR
face of river above the dam, and at in
tervals between there and WatcryilJn
Made personal analysis of samp!cg
sent to New York. The physical evan
ination shows that at times the turhid
ity OF kcnnebcc water is within the
limits of acceptability. When turbiI-
ity of water is above 80 sand filter
will not do work alone. In some cas,e
turbidity runs into thousands. Wen
water should show no turbidity. II
such cases turbidity means s,lrfar,.
wash. The turbidity in the river water
is due to substances i'll suspension
This is Increased by rainfall and Az,
by fast water. The water was low last
summer with very little surface wash
The microscope shows the turbiditv to
be due to wood fibre and organisms If
various kinds. There is also sawa~o
fungus in almost every SIMPLE. Thi.;
organism is called lept0thrix. Tho
true color of water is due to substances
in solution. usually due to extracts of
leaves and vegetation. When the color
gets above 50 it is very evident and OBJ
iectionabe The color of the Kennebec
water is highest in summer. The rain
fall makes the color higher. Sand AMI
filtration will remove one-third to one