The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-29
SHALL WELLSBE CLOSED
City Physician Says Yes-President of
Health Board Says No.

A difference of opinion exists among
che members of the city board of
that every well in the city should be
condemned and that he intends to
have resolution introduced into the
council for that purpose. He modf-
mean to have the wells closed.
DR.. Plummer, the president of the
board, says that it is impossible to
close up all the wells; that it is too
sweeping. and that if a resolution to
condemn does not mean to close up
It is useless to pass it.
Dr. H. B. Hogeboom, city physician,
states that every well in the city
should be filed in and closed up. He
claims that they are unhealthy and
that typhoid fever germs are to be
directly traced to existence of the
wells The city contains a great
many wells and z large percentage
of the inhabitants of the city use we'll
water. The city physician states that
ne will introduce a resolution at the
next meeting of the board of health
asking that the wells over the city be
condemned. The resolution will be
board for their endorsement, and if it
secures such an endorsement it will
be recommended to the city council
Tor passage. He said:
There is not a single we'll in this
city from which water should be used
by the public. At the next meeting
of the board of health we propose to
condemn every well in Topeka and
close them up Something has got to
be done to stop this spread of typhoid
fever. and this seems to be the first
step. Typhoid fever is a preventable
disease. For that reason there is lit
tie excuse for any city to allow it to
become as widespread as it is here in
Topeka at the present time. I do not
think that the statement that there
Is not a we'll in Topeka from which
water is fit to be used is too strong.
AS matter OF fact, it is an impoSsi-
biltty for the water in these wells to
be anything like pure. There are too
many sewers and too many vaults.
There is bound to be seepage from
these that will reach the wells and
contaminate the water. I know OF
places In this city where there is an
open well within ten feet of an out
house vault. And people are using
water from these wells all the time.
All these cases of typhoid fever can
be traced either to the drinking of
well water or to milk
what do you mean by condemning
all of the wells. That would be rather
radical, wouldn't it?'' was asked.
We'll, don't mean to have them all
closed up. When I mean condemning
mean to have it understood that they
ought TO be closed up returned the city
physician.
You can't condemn and close up all
the wells of the city" said DR.. Plum
mer, president of the board of health.
What would you do for a private wa
ter supply il you should have them all
closed up? You would seriously embar-
rass q great many people and probably
work a hardship. No, you can't order
them to be all filled in and closed up.
There is no use either in condemning
them unless you expect to carry that
intention out. If DR.. Hogeboom means
that they should be condemned simply
be closed up it would be q useless waste
of instructions, because you are not GO
ing to observe the Instructions any way
/ don't think that the wells in North
Topeka are unhealthy. The wells in
North Topeka are bored wells. They
furnish the same kind of water that the
city furnishes through the water mains.
The open dug wells are no doubt IN
healthy and I think there is no question
but what a great many cases Of typhoid
originate from drinking water from
that type of well. That kind of well is
prevalent on the South side. If the peo-
PIE would boil the water they would
kill the germs and not run the risk of
catching disease. I don't think that
have had a single case of typhoid fever
in this side which could be traced to
drinking water from wells on the north
side of the river. I have had a num-
Der of cases but they were of parties
who worked on the South side and
drank well water from the dug wells
there
DR.. c. B. vanIIorn, the remaining
member Of the board stated that he had
not considered the question at suff1-
Gent length to give out his opinion 81
will vote upon it at the meeting of the
board and you will know my senti-
ments Them said he.