Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-05-03
FOR PURE WATERS
AND BETTER HEALTH
Health Commissioner DixOn'S Great
Task Is to Reclaim the Waters
of the State From
Pollution.
The DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE

tanitsry Engineering Division Of the
Department Of Health Is Teaching
Munici cipalities Efficient and
Economical Methods of
Drainage.
A lamentable and tremendous
amount OF needless suffering. sickness,
expense and death annually result
from the wanton pollution of the
streams OF PENNSYLVANIA among those
individuals dependent upon these
sources of supply for drinking water.
hundreds OF communities hang in the
balance and at any time may have an
epidemic Of typhoid fever stalking
through their midst and decimating
their numbers Hundreds Of the young
end best lives of the commonwealth
are annually sacrificed 10 the unsani-
tary customs Of sewage disposal. Poi
son material OF human origin from
public and private institutions, sewers
and priyies are emptied into streams
al points but short distances above wa
ter works intakes. and in a few hours
thereafter are delivered through the
water pipes OF public systems TO many
innocent and unsuspecting individuals,
who rest secure in the belief that the
public authorities having in charge
thu furnishing OF drinking water, and
who are responsible for the purity OF
the water thus supplied, are faithfully
performing their obligations.
Public and private corporations,
however. even when earnestly inclined,
are often limited in their powers to
prevent sewage contamination of the
sources OF water supply.
After years OF afIliction, and al a
terrific cost in human life, it has finally
dswued upon the people that higher
authority than the municipality must
trapple VITA the problem and afford a
remedy ID is. therefore OF interest
ID every citizen of the commonwealth
u Know about the work that Health
Commissioner Dixon is doing to pre-
serve the purity OF the waters of the
state III fulnllmeEt of the duty laid
upon him 1y the act OF April %,
1905
The enormgy of the task Is com
pretended when one realizes the fact
that almost without an exception
every city. borough and municipality
ia Penns ylyauia having a sewer sys-
TEN discharges its filth into the most
convenient nearby stream. regardless
u consequences to the user of that
atream al some point below
Further where there are no sew.
ere privies are almost universally To-
Gated on or near the banks OF natural
water courses, which thus serve as
open sewers By no known mathe
matics is Il possible 10 compute the
extent OF evil, the misery. expense,
poverty. lifelong suffering and death
which this custom entails. but 1t is
tact that large amount OF it all would
be driven from the state if sanitary
methods OF sewage disposal were
adopted
Il Is the privilege. as well as the
duty. OF the State Health Commission
G. To bring about just this result No
short sighted yacillating and radical
policy could be successful in such a
great undertaking II will necessarily
be the work OF years to undo the Gus
toms of genera lions and establish uni
yersal healtAfGl conditions Its sue.
cess ia measure depends upon the
enlightenment and cooperation Of the
people The stupidity and skepticism
of d preoccupied and selfish populace
is a barrier 20 quick results. Where
Ghe public conscience is quickened,
voluntary reforms will be inaugurated
aud benefits will be at once secured
In other cases the law will have to be
invoked and enforced.
The Chief Engineer of the Depart /
ment r. Herbert Snow. and his assis- /
tants are now traversing every part of
the State. making examinations OF
sewerage systems and water supplies
and collecting data with respect to the
quality OF ali Of the waters in Penn (
sylyanis More than this is being done, F..
sources Of pollution and menaces which .
can be abated az once are reported TO
the commissioner. and in many cases
request on his part to the owner .
of the premises is sufficient TO cause
removal the nuisance The num- I
ter OF letters OF encouragement and ]
cooperation in this kind Of reform
received by the commissioner splendid /
ly illustrates The willingness of the cit I
izeus 0i the state 10 do what is right. .
In few cases owners wilfully refuse
70 DO away with the causes OF disease,
IN which event they are being brought
into court or forced to comply with the
law
Another important feature Of the
commissioner = work is appealing To
The munlcipd namely, the uuliZ- /
ing free Of cost 10 them OF the services .
81 the engineering department in con-
sultstion and advice respecting the in
stallatlon q new water works and sew
er systems and the extensions of exist
ing systems This engineering service
does not interfere with the work Of
the engineer IN private practice, but
Increases g. The state department
gives free of cost the very best engi-
ne-rug advice prosurable. which has .
already resulted in saving TO munich +
paiities large sums OF money by OBJ I
Waiting costly mistakes In carrying .
out The general advice and suggestions f.
% the state department the municipal .
iiies must employ their own engineers.
but before plans are finally adontad .