The Washington herald., 1907-06-28
END OF CITY'S WELLS
Commissioners to Close All
Shallow Ones.
ONLY THREE OUT OF So PURE
Congress 10 he Asked for Money to
Establish Deep Driven WelIs-Mr.
West Says Action Was Taken on
Expert Advice and as n Duty to
the Whole Community.

As recommended by the Public Health
and Marine Hospital Service the shallow
public wells of the District are to be
closed, Notwithstanding the protests Of
numerous citizens.
This decision was reached by the Com
hearing at which was discussed the quail
ty Of water found in twenty-three of
the wells.
In opening the meeting. Commissioner
mcfarland stated that in June last the
Commissioners asked the Public Health
and Marine Hospital Service to investi-
gate the typhoid-fever situation IN the
city. and that in its report it was recon-
nended that the shallow public wells be
closed owing TO the fact that bacteria
logical and chemical analyses had shown
that only three out of the whole number
Of sixty-three were free from pollution.
Il was upon this report that the Com
missioners ordered the wells closed.
No Ill Effect from Using Winter.
In each instance DR.. W. c. Woodward
health officer. read the report Of the
analysis of the water of the well under
consideration, followed by the arguments
Of the protestauts. Among the speakers
In favor Of the wells in various parts Of
the District were John W. Butterfeld
John S. Mccarthy. J. Praise Richard,
William f. Johnson. J. Schewiss. John
Scott, +. D. Clamp. Mrs. J. II. McAllister,
j. H Smith, James G. Chambers. J. II.
Chamberlain, and A. L. Smith The ar
guments were TO the effect that the water
from the wells had been used by the sur
rounding residents for years, with no in
furious results. and that TO close them
would be 70 impose a hardship.
At the conclusion of the hearing Com
missioner Mcfarland stated that the
question OF substituting deep driven wells
for the shallow wells VIII be considered
by the Commissioners in the preparation
Of the next estimates TO Congress. as
there is at present no appropriation for
that purpose
Closed as n Matter of Duty.
1.-THE decision 70 close all the public
pumps and wells in the District is one
that IS forced upon the Commissioners by
the recommendation Of Surgeon General
Wyman, whose expert knowledge Of pub
lie health matters Is admitted. and who
has said that the existence Of the wells
IS a serious menace to the community"
said Commissioner West yesterday THE
National Capital has, unfortunately, an
unenviable reputation because Of its ex-
Cessiye death rate, and any action which
is suggested as a means Of reducing this
record must. as a matter Of duty. be
adopted. I admit that the preponderance
Of testimony IS In the other direction
Hundreds Of people have testified 10 the
constant use Of well water for many
years without Injurious effect and to the
benefit which the cool water is 10 the poor
people who cannot afford ice. At the
same time, the highest health authorities
assert, after analysis, that the water Is
contaminated by sewage pollution. and is,
therefore, unhealthfu. Under these cir
cumstanCes there is no alternative. The
health Of the people of Washington Is and
must always be the paramount consider
alton