The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1905-11-17


While the analyses of these well
waters show considerable alkaline
they can not be detected
by taste. On the whole the waters
from these wells must be considered
as free from organic contamination
and the high amount of mineral mat
ter does not detract from their cha
racter as a wholesome and safe water
for drinking and domestic purposes.
POSSIBILITIES OF AND DIFFICULTIES TO
BE ENCOUNTERED IN SECURING
WATER FROM OTHER SOURCES
THAN MILK RIVER.
A fairly large percentage of the
ranchers living along the course of
Milk river, between Havre and Chi
nook. have wells We drank from
several of these wells and found the
water clear and very pleasant to the
taste Questioning people regarding
the depth of their wells we did not
meet one whose we'll was more than
Is feet deep, so that we believe we are
safe in asserting that any rancher liv-
ing in the valley between Havre and
Chinook can secure water of the cha
racter indicated by the above analy-
tical report within 40 feet Of the
surface. The work expended in haul
ing water from the river would, in the
course of year, be sufficient to dig
such a we'll on any of the ranches not
having wells. In other words, every
rancher has within 40 feet of his door
a supply of better water than he can
secure from Milk river
HOW CAN THE BEST SANITARY CONDI-
TIONs BE OBTAINED IN MILK
RIVER VALLEY AND IN THE
MOST PRACTICAL MANNER?
The city of Hayre has $500 people.
Population claimed) They have put
in a sewage system which enters Milk
river at point very close to the river
bed They are now putting in water
works. The sewage system is used by
only two or three places at present.
The water works will not be completed
before the first of November at best.
After that the sewer connections must
be made, which will take several
months, SO that it is very probable
that small percentage of the con-
nections will be made before next
summer and most of them will not be
completed before the middle of next
August. With the sewage system in
| place the only practical method APP
parent to us for using a septic tank
would be to pump the sewage into
the tank out of the septic tank into
another tank and out of this tank
into the river, a very expensive pro-
cess. With such system installed
there is still the possibility Of con
veying typhoid fever, for we now know
that septic tanks do not destroy the
typhoid bacillus, so that some kind OF
a filtration bed would be necessary
and this would require another pump
ing For these reasons we deem {
septic tank impractical for Havre
There now remains the question Of
sewage farming. This could be &C
complished by piping the sewage fol
a distance sufficient to reach land suit
able for that purpose. The practic
atty of such a method would require
the opinion of civil engineer.
Should it appear to this board that
the sewage from the city of Havrt
being put into Milk river would en-
danger the health or lives of the
people of this state or any OF them
still another question arises, namely
the numbers affected. In the course
of few months the Havre water
works will be completed. The people
will put the water into their houses
The sewers as now constructed car
not be used because of the pollution O
the waters of the river. The natura
result will be large number Of cess
pools. The water, together with tn,
impurities, from these cess-poOls will
seep into the nearest wells. So Ions
as the people are not using the waite
, of the wells for domestic purposes, III
harm will result, but it must be re
, membered it will be some time befor
all the people of Havre will give VI
| the use of their wells and depend Ell
tirely on the water works for domestic
water. Such condition might resul
, in much sickness among the people o
Havre.
To consider the city of Chinook
, Here we have a thriving town Of som
800 people which has recently installe'
: water works. The water is pumpe'
from Milk river into a settling tan
and from there to water tower. A
the same time water Of the characte