Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-21
TYPHOID DECLINI IN c
Decrease Noted in the Num-
Der of Cases.
FIGURES FOR TODAY
EIGHT NEW CASES ONLY SINCE
LAST REPORT.
FIGURES FOR TODAY
Three Deaths and One Recovery IL
Fortnight Hours Effect Of
Filtered Drinking Water.

Still increasing, but not so rapidly as at
the beginning of last week, typhoid fever
in the District has not yet reached the
maximum of its development for the pres
ent outbreak. Not one case was reported
yesterday, and, even though no mail was
delivered to the health Office Saturday
afternoon, 1t developed this morning that
notifications of new cases of fever were
contained in the delayed letters. SO that the
cases for Saturday totaled only three. This
morning another slight rise was noted when
eigh. new cases were reported. making a
total OF $40 new cases since July l. Within
the past forty-eight hours three deaths and
one recovery were entered on the health
Office record, so that at noon today there
were 269 typhoid fever sufferers under treat
men in the CITY and county. Between July
/ and August 81, 1904, there were reported
213 cases of typhoid fever, so that 1t is
obvious that the present outbreak is much
more severe than was that of a year ago
Filtered Water Turned In.
At 6 o'clock this morning the water from
filter bed No. l of the filtration plant was
turned into the District distribution sys-
TEN. Notification to this effect was received
by Commissioner Mcfarland when he ar
rived at his office this morning. In view OF
the assurances of the War Department, 1t
is expected the other filter beds will be
connected with the District distribution
system at the rate of at least one every
other day until the number necessary to
turn out pure water to the amount OF the
present consumption in the District Is COM
plete.
Commissioner Macfarland was informed
today that during the six days since the
water was let into filter beds numbers one
and three, the process of testing and other
wise preparing the rest of the twenty-one
beds which have been supplied with sand
was being carried on so that there might
be no undue delay in carrying out the
promise to hasten as rapidly as possible the
use of the filtration plant.
At the minimum rate of 100000 gallons
per day per filter the twenty-one filter beds.
when all are in service. will filter 63,0D0,OO0
gallons per day, which is about the average
daily consumption in the District. Eight
other filter beds are in course of construc-
ton.
Provision for Increased Consumption.
1t is regarded as necessary. however, to
reserve several in order to rest and clean
those in active service from time to time,
so that the entire twenty nine will never
be all in use at the same time.
By increasing the flow from an average of
5000, 600 to 900 OOJ or 5,0OU,OJ0 gallons day
any unusual increase in consumption can
be handled. This, however, would wear the
rest and reinforcement a shorter intervals.
1t is hoped that by the 1st of January the
entire filtration plant will be in complete
working order. but from now on the water
takers will be getting the benefit of the
cleansing of the water supply to the extent
of at least 100000 gallons a day, each
filter bed is connected with the District dis
tribution service.
Acting Superintendent Garland of the Dis
trict water department, informed Commits
sioner mcfarland that the arrangements
made for taking over the water from the
filtration plant and distributing it through
the mains worked perfectly this morning,
and there would be no hitch IN the process
Boil the water" is, however still the ad-
vice which the District authorities give.
While the danger is reduced by the be-
ginning of the operation of the filtration
plant. and by every filter bed that is here
after connected with the District service, it
will be necessary to boil the water to in
sure safety. Commissioner Macfarland said
today that 1t might not be generally known
that the boiled water which seems so nat
as to be unpalatable to many people, could
be aerated In very simple fashion by pour
ing it back and forth from one receptacle
to another