New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-23
USING RIVERS AS SEWERS.

Every one who is alert TO the danger result
ing from the contamination of public water
supplies will be interested in a decision handed
down this week by Justice Holmes. of the
United States Supreme Court. Years ago Chi
cagO discharged its sewage into Lake Michi-
gan, and then drank ii, greatly diluted. Con-
Guiding that the latter practice was the cause
OF great mortality, the city decided to get rid
Of the sewage in another way. A costly drain
age canal was constructed which led TO trib-
utRry Of the Illinois River which empties into
the Mississippi only a few miles above st.
Louis. Shortly after the new system went into
operation st. Louis thought il discovered that
the prevalence of typhoid fever within its Dor
ders had sensibly increased. and the suspicion
was entertained that Chicago was responsible
for the trouble The state of Missouri in be-
half Of the one city, thereupon brought suit In
federal court against the state of Illinois
10 secure an order fOrbiddng the other city TO
use the Mississippi River as sewer
The highest tribunal denies the application
on the ground that the fault of Chicago is not
clearly proven. Either some doubt was enter
tained about the genuineness of the alleged in
crease of typhoid fever or else other possible
sources OF contamination We're not logically ex-
Guided from consideration. The decision is rem
dered without prejudice" That is 10 say St
Louis is at liberty TO try again. if it thinks it
can make out a stronger case. but for the pres
ent Chicago will remain undisturbed
Dlslnterested sanltarians have followed these
proceedings closely, in the hope that facts would
ne adduced which would be useful in future
litigation Of the same kind elsewhere When
they took note Of the distance which the ont
1ow from Chicago must travel before reaching
81 Louis 300 or $50 niles they might well
feel uncertain whether any impurity contained
III II would stand so long a journey without
undergoing changes vvbi
solutely innOcuOus. When they recalled how
much harder the typhoid bacillus is than other
bacteria they not so certain about the
result There was some reason TO suspect that
al epidemic of typhoid fever in Columbus
OHIO. two or three years ago was caused by
the discharge of germs into the Scioto River at
henton sixty or seventy miles above the capt.
tai city. No one yet knows exactly how far
such microbes may be conveyed without losing
their vitality and viruIence. Hence. If evidence
had been presented strong enough TO convince
the supreme Court that typhoid fever could be
caused IN St Louis by sewage from Chicago
IN important precedent would have been es-
taDllShed. As il is the world is no wiser In
consequence OF the suit just disposed of than
II was Few years ago Disa ppointment will
De felt at the failure. but this is the onlv
rational cause for regret Mt the outcome Tho
court was particularly careful not to denv the
responsibility of one community for the health
OF others situated below ii on the same stream
II 81 Louis should determine not TO renew
the fight it may conclude to adopt other meas
ures for the publication of its water F1ltrs-
ton Is obviously the most promising expedient
1t would remove coloring matter as well as dis
ease germs from the water Of the Mississippi
on which ST. Louis now relies and on which II
VIII probably be dependent always The reouI
site plant would be expensive no Doubt hu+
IN introducing it st Louis would be pursuing
the policy already adopted by PhiladeIDhis and
strongly recommended by the Health Commits
sioner of the metropolis for this city as well