Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-15
ALL RECORDS BROKEN
Typhoid Fever Makes o
Rapid Gain.
MANY MORE NEW CASES
REPORTED TO HEALTH OFFICE
DURING PAST "a HOURS.
Two Filter Beds Started Into Operas
ton This Morning-Capacity
Of Pumps.

All records FOR the present outbreak d
typhoid fever were broken yesterday when
total of thirty-two new cases were rec
ported to the Health Office. Twenty Of
this number were included in the Stars re.
port OF yesterdays development of the
fever, but twelve additional cases were
brought to the attention of the authorities
in the evening mail Five new cases were
reported this morning, making a total Of
seventeen since the last record published by
this paper, and a grand total OF 200 new
cases since July l. OF this latter number.
24o patients were under treatment at noon
today. During the twenty-four hours end
ed at noon there were also six recoveries
and two deaths reported. and one case
proved to have been twice reported
one of the most encouraging develop.
ments or the day was the announcements
made by Commissioner Macfarland. after a
visit to the new filtration plant, when he
said that two of the filter beds instead of
only one, as originally promised by the
war Department engineers In charge had
peen started into operation.
- year ago today there were seven cases
OF typhoid fever reported, a total TO that
GATE from the preceding July /, of 193
Col. Hoxie's Report.
Commissioner Macfarland received thfs
morning from Gen. Chaffee acting secre.
response to his letter of last Wednesday,
stating that Gen. Mackenzie, chief OF en-,
gineers reports that Lieut. Col. Hoxie.
corps OF Engineers, has arranged with the
contractors of the filtration plant to utilize
the pumps before the final acceptance test,
SO that water will be turned on the first
filter bed today. and upon the others sue
cessively as they are finished.
In his report to Gen. Mackenzie after
stating that the request of the Commission-
q N no 1iad ~,
The vitals of the whole filtration plant
are the pumps. These take the raw water
from the Washington city reservoir and
give it the elevation which is necessary to
distribute the water to the filter beds and
deliver 1t filtered to the city mains. These
pumps have such capacity that under ordi-
nary conditions one is held in reserve, but
under the most unfaVorable conditions the
maximum capacity of all the pumps will be
required to maintain the normal output OF
the filter beds. A break down would then
mean more or less contamination of the
water supply by the use of raw water to
make up the deficiency. 1t Is Of great inn
portance that every precaution be taken by
careful installation of the pumping plant
to minimize the danger of the breaking
down of the pumps.
The contractors are still at work upon the
pumps to develop their greatest efficiency
and not ready for the test which must
precede their acceptance by the United
States. The pumps, however, are believed
to be in good working order, and can ba
used in the operation of the filtration plant
without interfering with the contractors
work, since he would have one or more re-
serve units always at his disposal. In view
of the emergency requiring the earliest pos
stbe of the filtration plant, l have this
day concluded agreement with the con-
tractor for the pumps under which the
pumps are to be put into service at once,
at the contractors risk, and under the SUI
pervision of of his men. the contrac-
tors responsibility to continue until after
the test has been made and the pumps ac-
cepted by the United States. The water
will be turned in upon the first filter bed
Tuesday, August 10 Considerable work re-
mains to be done, but 1t is so well co-ordi-
mated that the service begin at once.
and the filter beds be brought into use as
rapidly as consistent with good practice In
the operation of the plant"
Commissioner Macfarldnd has written
letter expressing the gratitude of the COM
missioners and of the people of the District
to the War Department for this prompt
compliance with the request for the imme.
diate use of the filtration plant in the in-
terest of public health.
Witnessed the Opening.
Shortly before IL o'clock this morning
Commissioner Macfarland left his office to
visit the new filtration plant and to witness
the informal opening of the valves. This
latter act marked the accomplishment of an
end toward which the progressive citizens
of the District and the District authorities
have been laboring for years. Asked what
the noticeable effect of the addition of this
small proportion of pure water to the Co.
000,000 gallons of untiltered water run
through the mains each day to suppy the
wants of the city, Commissioner Macfar-
land reiterated his frequently expressed
theory that the eliminat ton of germs, ty-
phoid and other kinds from 100000 gall
Ions of pure water produced by each filter.
will mean just that many less germs to ba
fought against by the populace.
Each filter bed opened" he said, means
that just one-twentieth OF the city's water
has been purified, and in the near future
when probably half of the beds are run
ming to their full capacity, the effect should
be marked. 1t is on the same principle that
the addition of water to whisky reduces
the harmful effect of the liquor In just the
proportion of its dilution. 1t is obvious
that man swallowing a drink of half
whisky and half water would imbibe ex-
actly SO per cent of the alcohol taken by
the man who swallows his whisky
straight.
Many people have conceived the er-
roneous idea continued the Commissioner.
that there is danger for them in swallow
ing one germ, whereas the danger lies IN
getting into the body multiplicity, or an
excess of germs OF course, the number o!
these tiny organisms relatively requireo
to gain foothold within the body depenos
entirely upon the vitality OF the perso"
subjected to their ravages.
Even though a certain percentage OF the
water supply will be filtered. and conse-
quently pure, from this time on, IL VIII Do
well for residents of the city TO continue
all preventive measures, such as pohink
the water until the time comes when our
whole supply has been subjected to puri-
flea ton
I'VE should regard it as great victory,
said the Commissioner in conclusion, TOT
what we have accomplished in thus having
the filtration plant started into operation
now means that the date OF opening mas
been advanced a full month 1t was the
intention of the engineers in charge to give
the city filtered water on about the 18th
of September"
To Be Added To.
Two filter beds filled with water :.
t. and on an average one additional
filter bed will be filed every other day un-
til the whole number necessary for the
water supply is in service. The process OF