New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-12
TYPHOID I'm WATERSHED
THREE CASES REPORTED.
Cal on State Department of Health
to Act.

Tvnhoid in the Croton watershed is spreading.
The Health Department OF this city has heard
OF three new cases. one at Cross River and two
at Cfolden's Bridge. These places are above
Katonah II was further learned by reporter
for The Tribune that there are cases at Croton
Falls although. before fixing-their status. it is
the intention of the authorities TO take blood
tests for diagnosis Furthermore. there is a
case at Mount Ksco.
AS a city official said yesterday. the districts
in the Croton watershed. where the Italians
have been working for the last FIVE years. are
saturated with contagion. Above Mount Kisco
all cases have been attributed to the descend
ants of Caesars egions. But these descendants
have lost the hygienic instincts which the great
master of the Roman empire inculcated.
The Health Department has admitted that the
only thing that has prevented a decided typhoid
epidemic In this city has been the vigilance of
the inspectors Of the Health Department and
the Water Department. These departments
have long been suspicious of the conditions IN
the Croton watershed. They have been striving
to get the State Department Of Health to take
tho matter in hand but so far the state has
taken no action. The state department is still
in that Iethargic condition, according to the
president of the village OF Mount kisco VINO
yesterday. as,s
The president OF the village. Isaac W. Turner
said that there one hundred CesspoOls In
the village overlooking into the brook that Is
one of the feeders of the New York City water
supply. He said that the village has made every
effort to obtain the cooperation of the State
Department Of Health. but had failed most sig
nally. He said, furthermore, that the City OF
New York had frequently made promises TO
remedy matters. at least to assist in making
conditions better, but that all promises had
proven to be "moOnshine.' or something equally
intangible.
Sanitary Engineer Matthew Belts went to WAL
halla yesterday. He did not go to see the ancient
"a rrO ygb sod IN az 0T1hl
Valhalla of the old world, but he went on
still hunt for diseases that might prove danger
GUS To this city. 1t has been largely through
the strenuous efforts OF Mr.. Belts that this city
has been spared epidemic. He is IN the
watershed on sleuthlike errands every week.
Nothing OF dangerous character escapes his
attention, although he may occasionally slip up
on typhoid cases. But so far as II IS In their
power the responsible city departments have
safeEuarded this city.
Colonel John Y. Cuyer who Is resident OF
Mount Kisco and had much TO do with public
engineering affairs in Brooklyn, has made the
suggestion that Governor Hughes get after the
State Department of Health. He said that this
department had the power TO correct the abuses
in the Croton watershed. 1t was clothed with
all authority, and yet did nothing. Colonel Gull
yer said that sewer system through the water
shed should supersede filtration plant and this
sewer system should not be led into the Hudson
River. but 10 the White Plains sewer, and thence
throuEh the Bronx valley into the sound He
said the idea entertained by the Mount Kisco
authorities that they had the right 10 polluts
the brooks was beyond all reason. He has sug-
matter be taken 10 the courts against this city
on the ground that the village was helpless The
village should have an outlet for a sewer. It has
none under eXistlng conditions To reporter
for The Tribune Colonel CuIyer said yesterday;
They (the Mount KiscO authoritiesl are too
ignorant understand the significance Of the
situation ct Mount Kisco and adjacent territory
/ or polite that their administration Is a SEE
rious detriment to the people they serve To
avoid possible increase OF taxation TO remedy
an undesirable condition. they have been
mised into waiting policy. looking 10 New
York to do what IT has been their duty 10 do
10 make provisions for the care OF their seVva
and 10 establish sanitary conditions which the
age. the right and the welfare OF the community
demand.
viding an outlet for the sewage OF the places
In the valley OF the watershed Then all these
places, by vigorous law. should be compelled
10 build sewers and clean up and maintain In
good order the area within their boundaries"
The Water Department has a plan for a sewer
system for the watershed This plan is ready 10 be
put into execution. as told by The Tribune IL
provides for a trunk sewer from Brewsters to
Croton Landing. There are TO he branches to
connect with this 20 Croton Falls 20 Purdv's
Station. to Golden s Bridge. 10 Katonah. to Bed
ford. 10 Mount Kisco. and thence to the trunk
sewer. That viii be the east side branch. On
the west branch the sewer will he from Carmel
10 Lake MahopRc to Yorktown Heights and
thence TO the trunk sewer. The trunk sewer
and collateral branches will be about forty miles
I'm length. and the cost is estimated at below
$1,000. 900 The trunk would. under the
plan proposed. be an eighteen inch pipe.
Controller Metz, who Is opposing the i'm
mediate appropriation for a duration plant az
tho Jerome Park reservoir. intends to send hts
engineers over the watershed 10 gather facts
for him. They were To start last Monday but
the weather conditions kept them in the city
and they have postponed their Investigations
until next week.
There was dip in tbs syphOid cases in this
city from 40 for the week ended March 30 TO
ninety-two for the week ended last Saturday
and since then there were reported on the 9Th
six cases on the 1th and Sth total OF five
cases. 9th four cases. 10Th twelve, and the
18th sixteen cases.