Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-09
NOT RUSHING WORK
Typhoid Does Not Affect
Filtration Plant.
READY IN A MONTH
LITTLE CHANGE IN THE LOCAL
SITUATION TODAY.
Commissioners Ask That Single Fill
ter Beds Be Started for Relief
of the Citizens.

of the Citizens.
With epidemic of typhoid fever as
the result Of drinking impure Potomac wa
ter, staring Washingtonians in the face,
the work at the filtration plant. which is
the only possible means OF genuine relief,
pursues the even tenor of its way.
This much was learned from an author
itative source by n reporter for The Star
today. Further than this 1t was stated
that no special effort had been made to
hurry the work on account of the increas-
ing number of cases of typhoid, but that
everything is beine; done to get the filtra-
tion beds in such shape that they can be
used within a month at the latest, and
even this assurance Is contingent upon
everything being In good working order
from end of the beds to the other
when the water is turned into them
Twenty-one of the beds are practically
ready to turn the water into" said
Lieut.. Dent, in charge of the work, to
Star reporter today. "All that is needed is
some material that have been delayed
in getting. When this is in place which
will, think. be in thirty days. then We
can turn the water OF course, 1t is
best not to raise the hope of the people too
high, when the water is finally turned
on it may be found that there are some de-
fects that must be remedied. some breaks
of apparent minor importance that have
been overlooked and can only be found
after the operation of the plant has been
begun.
IF ii should be found that there Is no
trouble with thy plant, then the citizens Of
the District should have plenty of pure
water for economical use, and within two
or three months the entire plant should be
running nicely. with d bountiful supply of
Uttered water to answer all necessary pur-
poses"
Work Only in the Daytime.
1t was suggested to the authorities In
charge of the construction of the filtration
plant that the people of the District of CO.
Iumbia are gravely in need of immediate
relief from the impure conditions of the Po-
tomac river water they are now compelled
TO use for all purposes. and that the citizens
generally are counting the filtration
plant to remove the germs not alone of ty-
phoid but of malaria and other kindred dis
eases. and that effort should be made by
hose authorities to rush the work as rapid
ly as possible. 1t was learned that work is
only being done on the plant during the reg
ular working hours of daylight, and that no
effort had been made to increase this force
in order that the work might be accom-
plished within a shorter space of time than
that promised by the engineering authori-
ties.
When this matter was called to the at
tenton of the authorities 1t was stated that
everything that Is possible is now being
done to get the work completed. 1t was
stated that owing to the character of the
work at this time IT cannot be pushed at
night, and that the day force is sufficiently
large at this time to complete the work
within the time specified in the contract.
1t appeared to be the idea of those in
charge of the work that relief may possibly
come within a month; will certainly come II
no break in the plant makes 1t necessary to
cut the water OF as soon IL cut on, and
that within two or three months every
thing. they hope. will be working smoothly,
and that this state of affairs should satisfy
those most concerned In the matter
In the meantime II has been suggested the
citizens of the District had better satisfy
themselves with boiling all the water they
use for drinking purposes and console them
selves with the thought that at the expira-
ton of a few months they will be able to
get all the clear. pure, filtered Potomac
water they want for drinking purposes.
Rush Work Asked
The Commissioners today, motion OF
Commissioner Macfarland wrote the War
Department asking that the beds at the
filtration plant be connected with the Dis
trict distribution system as rapidly as COM
pleted without waiting for the completion
Of sufficient number to handle the entire
water supply. This was done upon a sug-
gestion from the health officer Dr. Wood
ward. that the danger from typhoid fever
germs IN the water supply might be dimin
shed by just the amount of filtered water
which could be furnished as soon as a sin
gle filter bed could be connected with the
distribution system. AS each filter bed has
minimum capacity under ordinary condi-
tions OF about 100000 gallons per day. that
much water would be freed from germs. ac-
cordlng TO the experts, with every filter bed
put into use.
Commissioner Macfarland made some in
formal inquiries this morning and learned
that some of the filter beds might soon be
ready for use and that the officer in charge
was hopeful that enough to handle the en-
lire supply would be ready by the first of
october and perhaps earlier. For the pur
pose of reducing soon possible and
IN SO far as possible the danger from the
pollution of the Potomac water by typhoid
fever and other disease germs, Commits
sioner mcfarland felt that beginning
ought TO be made as soon as practicable
with even two or three filter BEDS increas-
ing the number rapidly as possible.
Therefore, the recommendation to the War
Department.
The District water department has been
ready for some time with all the machinery
and mains for taking the water from the
filtration plant as soon as 1t could be turn
ed In and there would not be an hours de-
lay on the part of the District. The Com
mssioners would not approve the sugges-
ton that the water from the first few filter
beds that might be connected up with the
District distribution system should be dis
tributed to any particular section. They
think that all water takers ought 10 share
in the advantage of the iltration, ana that |
therefore, whatever water can he obtained
from the filtration plant Slou1 be distrib-
uted generally, lowering 10 that extent the
danger Commissioner >Iacfarland hopes
that within short time and during the
present month some of the flte~ beds may
be connected with the distribution system
Fountains Turned OFF.
At the suggestion OF me health o,scer
Commissioner mcfarland asked the officer
N charge OF public buildings and grounds
today to stop the drinking fountains in the
parks, so as to cut of the danger OF ty-
phoid fever germs. and this was done
When asked about a possible adoption OF
the copper sulphate system of publication
OF the water supply. both Commissioner
mcfarland and Health Officer Woodward
declared their belief that the applicat ton OF
copper sulphate had not yet been proven to
be sufficiently safe and sure to warrant its
use. 1t may be all right to combat algae
in water" said both officials, but we are
not troubled with algae." To this Commits
sioner mcfarland added that the applIca-
ton of copper sulphate to various uses had
been kept under constant observation by
h. l.,.t se