The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-07-24
JACOBS WRITES
OF THE TETON

ton service has become unnecessar-
lily alarmed over an article and edi-
torial appearing in tne Sunday Her.
aid and writes an interesting letter,
which is principally interesting from
the fact that he substantiates in ev-
cry particular the story and editorial
of this paper. The article was to
| the effect that Jacob Kaufman mad
been appointed deputy county health
officer and went ON to state tnat
reclamation officers asked for this
| appointment; that the government
was doing all in its power to make
the conditions better. In the edit
torial the statement is made that the
towns below North Yakima should
be protected in the same manner
that this city is protected from the
government camps. There was no
intention of injurng the government
reclamation service in any way and
furthermore there was no statement
which could possibly be injurious.
On the other hand. it was very plain
ly shown that the government is
making every attempt to protect the
interests of this city and this fact is
greatly appreciated by the citizens
who watch every movement on the
immense Tieton project with
unbounded interest. Following
is the letter from MIR. Jacobs,
which is very interesting from the
standpoint that the chief engineer
explains the situation on the Teton:
North Yakima, July 81, 1907.
The Editor Yakima Herald, North
Yakima, Wash.
Dear Sir note in your today's is
sue of the Herald, both in the edito.-
lal column and among your local
items, statements which give an en-
tirely erroneous impression of the
condition of the reclamation service
camps, and which / trust you will
take occasion to correct.
The impression l gather from
your articles, an impression I dare
say others have also obtained, is
that the camps of the reclamation
service are not maintained in good
sanitary condition, and that Other
wise more or less complaint is made
by residents of North Yakima on
az count of possible infection of the
water supply of the city.
| have to advise that the strict
est sanitary regulations obtain in all
our camps, and that not an ounce of
sewage or camp waste of any kind is
permitted to be dumped into the Tie
ton river. All waste is by contract,
Systematically and regularly taken
from our camps, and either dumped
into vaults a safe distance from the
river, or fed to hogs. The mess
houses are whitewashed, both for
appearance and for it's sanitary effect;
screens have been placed upon the
doors and windows, to keep out flies;
and the houses are kept in every way
clean and slightly. Our bunk houses
are swept and cleaned daily, by
man employed specifically for that
purpose. l have during the past
fifteen years been intimately connect
ed with grading camps for various
classes of work, and l know of none
that approach those maintained by
the reclamation service in the Tie
ton canyon for cleanliness, careful
observance OF sanitary matters, and
general orderliness.
Your article regarding Mr.. Kauf--
mans appointment as deputy health
officer seems to indicate that this
was done as special protection to
the county. I have to advise that
while the county commissioners and
county health officer have been and
still are cheerfully cooperating with
the reclamation service in all these
matters, Mr.. Kauffman's appointment
was made at the request of the rec
lamation service, and his salary is
paid by the service. We desired a
deputy health officer in the canyon
as a protection to ourselves against
the occasional careless dumping of
Objectionable matter into the river
by ranchers and campers in the can
yon. On more than one occasion
| the reclamation service has been
obliged to remove dead animals from
the river not placed there by them
| selves, and it is to protect ourselves
against such occurrences that the ap-
pointment of "a deputy health officer
was desired
In addition to the above, / would
state that a physician regularly Wis
its all our camps, and promptly re-
ports any neglect of sanitary precau-
lions.
JOSEPH JACOBS, Dist Eng.