The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-08-31
SOUTHERN UTAH
NEEDS CLEANING
CONDITIONS RE-
PORTED BY INSPECTOR
TO BOARD.

The sanitation of southern Utah
is the subject of report made yes
terday by State Sanitary Inspector F.
e. Clark, who has just returned from
trip which extended through the
southern part of the state. The re-
port states that although there seems
to be an awakening among the resi-
dents of that section to the need of
sanitation, still many reforms need
to be inaugurated before anything
like good sanitary conditions can be
expected.
That the water is of an inferior
quality, that the district is in need
of a general cleaning up, and that
steps should be taken to kill off the
hordes of mosquitoes that infest that
district, are among the comments and
recommendation of DR.. Clark
His report to the state health de-
partment follows
From August LIST to August 9th,
inclusive, l visited the towns of Cen
trail, Marysvale, Junction, Circleville,
Panguitch, Kingston and Koosharem,
in the order named. All through this
country there seems to have been an
awakening; the towns of Marysvale
and Panguitcn are agitating water
systems, and in all probability such
systems will be instituted before
long. Generally speaking, the sani-
tary conditions of these southern
towns are very bad; like SO many of
the towns of Utah, the water is of
an inferior quality; very little at
tention is paid to the cleaning of the
corrals and outhouses, thereby fur
nishing an excellent breeding place
for flies. | was greatly impressed by
the great number of sloughs through
out the country, and the armies of
mosquitoes inhabiting these sloughs
are constantly increasing in number.
THE Sewer river, or perhaps a
more appropriate name would be the
Sewer river, has its source in this
southern country; it is formed by
the Otter creek and numerous other
small streams. For long time |
have wanted to follow the stream up
to it's source, for | have heard so
many times about the filth that emp
ties into it. Several times in passing
along I encountered decayed matter
waiting for the next rain to sweep it
into the river; heads and bones of
cattle were scattered along the banks
sometimes within a few feet of the
river and sometimes quarter of a
mile; almost all the draining of the
entire country eventually reaches the
river, making it an open sewer. In
addition to these sources of pollution
| noticed that several alkali streams,
almost black in color, empty into the
river.
There are three or four small
towns along the river which derive
their water supply from its waters.
1t is a positive fact that there is no
other source of supply in many cases,
and the problem of pure water is
serious one. In one of these towns
several cases of diphtheria and scar
let fever have broken out, and but
for the timely intervention of the
health officer, serious epidemic
might have resulted.
Another feature that greatly i'm
pressed me was the poor drainage
of most of the towns; when the towns
were located no thought was given
to sanitary principles; and low land
with poor, loose soil was invariably
chosen for the townsite. | am glad
to report that almost without eXcep-
lloll tHe ScuooI DuiiuiHSs are Neiy
satisfactory; they nave been erected
within the last six or seven years,
and are amply large to care for the
natural increase of students for sew
eral years. The outhouses are not
we'll cared for, and the water ques-
ton is still very serious one. 1t is
very easy to point out defects in the
sanitation, but to institute remedial
measures is a most difficult task.