New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-11
TYPHOID NEAR THE CROTON.

lIAO4D Arm III 'A'CA 49,
The announcement Of several cases of typhoid
fever at Katonah which unhappily seems 10 be
confirmed may. We trust, be regarded more as
warning than as Il menace though it cannot be
ignored that It does partake Of the latter char
acterstIc 10 some degree EIatonah is a populous
village situated entirely within the Croton basin
and directly upon the banks Of the great Cross
River arm of Croton Lake. 1t has its own local
waterworks, with we'll. pumping station and res
erv0ir, and its supply has always been esteemed
exceptionally pure and secure from contamina-
ton The source of the disease IS therefore
probably 10 be found elsewhere in some private
well in milk supply. II il should be found
10 be in milk. 1t must be remembered that the
dairy farmers of that region ship most of their
product 10 this city. In any case it must be
borne in mind that a large part of the drainage
OF Katonal-practically all of Its surface drain
AGES directly into CrOton Lake. that Is, into
New Yorks supply of potable water. We as
sumo that the local physicians and health
officers of KatOnal who are enlightened and
competent men, are exercising all possible care
10 prevent paguebearing sewage from getting
into the Cr0ton. Yet unQueStionaby the Incl
dent is calculated To cause some concern TO the
water purveyor and Health Commissioner of
New York.
1t is. however as a warning of future posi-
disaster. that we prefer TO regard it. We assume
that Katonah will take care of the sick, eradl-
cate the disease and prevent its extension TO
this city. But what guarantee IS there against
a repetition of the outbreak with all its menace,
next MONTH or next year, or again and again in
the future? IT is quite evident that New Norks
water supply is not now secure against the most
serious morbific contamination, and thar 1t VIII
never be free from danger Of such cOntimina-
tion SO long primitive methods of sewage
disposal prevail in the CrOton basin. or so long
rs there is 10 thorough filtration Of the supply,
This city has spent. it is true. vast sums for the
protection Of the Croton; but the Croton is still
unprotected. All through the valley there are
residential and industrial communities, whose
natural drainage is into Croton Lake or its
tributaries. This very village of katonah was
purchased outright by the city, and was COM
PEELED to move, wholesale, to a new site. But
in its new site. where it is probably more popu-
Ious than before, it is little further removed
from the banks of Cross River than it was and
4 large part of its drainage still flows into that
stream and thence into the Croton.
Attention was called in these columns year
or two ago 10 the abominable state Of affairs
existing in other villages. including the direct
drainage of livery stables. yards, pigsties
and the overlooking Of cesspOos and sewage
vaults directly into important affiuents of the
Croton Some OF these nuisances have been
ahated. while some of them still exist. Gener-
ally they do no more harm than TO dirty the
water TO an imperceptible degree. Of the en-
tire contents of a cesspOo say 1000 gallons.
were poured into the CrotOn, il would require
chemical analysis 70 perceive a trace of them,
when diluted with the 25000G000 gallons of
daily fow) But the moment some cases Of ty-
phoid fever. or cholera, other such disease
appear in the numerous population OF the Gro
ton valley these things become q positive
menace 10 the health of the metropolis. OF that
fact. the recent experiences Of Pittsburg,
Ithaca and other places are ample reminder.
Against such menace however, sanitary science
affords complete protection in the employment
OF measures for the disposition Of sewage which
will render it perfectly innocuous and will pre-
vent any portion of IT, save that which has he
come quite limpid. from mingling with surface
drainage or soil water and from entering any
Watercourses.
Such measures have been applied, with note
worthy success, TO the sewage of many places,
including the largest two cities on the Continent
OF Europe 1t ought not to be too great or too
costly task TO apply them 10 all the communi-
ties lying within the drainage areas from which
New York receives its drinking water. 1t is only
in such way that the occurrence Of even re-
mote and sporadic cases of infectious pestilence
along the Croton-such are now reported
from Katonah-will cease 10 he n cause of
alarm and an actual menace to the health of the
metropolis.