East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-06-21

According to the following from the
Yakima Republic, the sewage problem
bids fair to be an acute one in all
the cities of Washington ere long.
The state board of health will at an
early date take steps to prevent the
cities from running sewage into the
fresh water streams If the plans of
the board are carried out the city of
North Yakima will have to spend
about $4,000 to correct its present
method of getting rid of its sewage.
which flows into the Yakima river and
all the other cities along the stream
and in other parts OF the state will
have to correct the same abuses.
The state board is preparing to
take steps to carry out the law in
this re gard and those cities that do not
comply with the request of the board
will be mandamused to compel them
to comply. AS a means of starting the
movement. DIR. ]. NJ. Semple, of Spo-
kane, president of the board and DIR.
p. Frank, of this place, secretary,
have gone to Vancouver. B. c., to in
spect tank that has been built there
for the disposal of sewage.
This tank is the latest method of
getting rid of the solid matter in the
sewage from cities. BY this system
the sewage runs into the tank and the
liquid is separated from the solids
The solids are converted into a fertil-
izer that will bring in u good revenue
to the city adopting the system. The
liquid is then made septic.
The hoard will take steps against all
the cities Of the state where the sew
age from the same run into the fresh
water streams. All the large and
small towns along the Yakima will
have to provide means of getting rid
Of their sewage. Walla Walla, Spo-
kane and every other city in eastern
Washington will come under the new
ruling of the board, while the cities
of the coast with a few exceptions, will
he exempt on account of the sewage
from the coast cities running into the
sound or other salt water bodies.
There will probably be no objec-
! tions raised by the present administra-
| ton of the city to carry out the plan
of the hoard. Mayor Reed is in favor
Of 1t and several of the counci!men
will support him. The proposed ac-
tion of the state board is for the good
of the people of the whole state. With
less pollution in the streams the pos
sibility of epidemics of diseases will
be reduced to a minimum.
a great amount of sewage runs into
the Yakima river from this city. The
river water is used by all the inhabi.
tants below this place for irrigation
and domestic purposes. With the water
filled with sewage from a city thi!
size it becomes filthy and unfit fol
domestic purposes. BY the esta ablish
ment of the sewage tank as it is useC
at Vancouver the city will not be liza
BILE to prosecution by the people below
who use the water.
City Attorney Forsyth was seen to
day and asked about the power of tn.
state board to enforce its rules agains
polluting streams from sewage from
cities. He said:
"The board of health has full power
under the law of the state to TAX
such steps as are contemplated TO
maintaining the purity of the fresl
g., water streams. But there is no reasol
why the CITY of North Yakima or an
other city should oppose the matter
There is no reason why the peopl
living below us should drink waite
that is polluted by the filth from ou
= city. The best thing for any city q
!, town to do is to provide one Of tn
; septic tanks for the disposal of tn
= sewage"