The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-14
WATER ISN'T GOOD
Kansas River Polluted by
Sewage Says Crumbine.
Health Secretary Makes Start
ling Assertions.
TAKES A LONG TRIP.
Finds Water Bad Above Topeka,
Worse Below.
Recommends That State Board
Take Some Action.

That the Kansas river is badly
| polluted by sewage from Topeka and
other cities along its banks is the re-
| port made today to the state board OF
health by DR.. S. J. Crumbine, its secre-
tary.
The annual meeting of the state
board commenced at 1870 this after
noon, and one of the features of the
proceedings was the annual report of
DR.. Crumbine. The question of river
and stream pollution was one of the
principal propositions discussed. DR..
Crumbine said in part:
I'm order that this department might
have some definite data as to the de-
gree of publication of running streams
containing sewage, and to determine
also the approximate degree of pollu-
ton which the discharge of sewage
from the city of Topeka contributes to
the Kansas river, as we'll as the state
of the water upon its arrival at Law
renee, trip upon the Kansas river was
planned by the secretary, who in COM
pany with Prof. Barber, on September
Is started in frail steel craft to go
down the river, taking samples at regu-
lar intervals between Topeka and Law
renee. The first samples were taken
west of the city of Topeka before being
contaminated by the city sewage. After
that samples were taken every few
miles, some eighty odd being taken
the analyses have not yet been COM
pletely worked out but sufficient data
are at hand to warrant the assertion
that water in the Kansas river before
reaching Topeka, is not pure, whole
some water, and it's pollution is
largely increased by the sewage from
the city of Topeka, and that the purif-
cation of such sewage between this
city and Lawrence is very slight, al
though there appears to be some slight
publication as time is probably the
most important element in the puri-
hcation of streams, and as the Kansas
river is a swift running stream, suff1-
cient time can not elapSe between the
flow of water between the two places
to hand very much hone, if any, upon
the publication of sewage contamina-
ton in that distance.
Similar experiments are contempla-
ted in a number of other important
streams of the state. In this connection
we might venture the prophecy that the
considerations in other streams which
are used as a source of water supply,
are about the same as the Kansas
river. That is to say, they are entire
ly unfit for water supply without a
system of efficient liberation.
Moreover, I believe that the time
has arrived when the state board of
health should definitely announce their
attitude on stream pollution and go on
record to the effect that the further pol
luton of the natural waters of this state
cease. 1 strongly recommend that the
board give serious thought to this mat
ter so that it may form the basis of
an intelligent righteous action in which
the water supplies of the state may
have the protection which the people
are expecting"
The committee appointed at the last
meeting to investigate the feasibility of
free distribution of antitoxin to desti-
tute cases reported that the finances of
the board of health did not permit the
of this work, but it was
recommended that the next legislature
be asked to make a special appropria- |
ton for this purpose.
The committee which visited the state
oenitentiary and Osawatomie insane |
lition reported that the penitentiary |
was in exceptionally fine condition, but |
hat the water supply at Osawatomie is |
1ot above suspicion
Nearly all of the members of the
BOARD are present today. DR.. E. H. S. /
Bailey of Lawrence, DR.. J. T. Willard |
If Manhattan and DR.. L. H. Sayre of |
Lawrence the official chemists of the |
BOARD, are also in attendance at the
Meeting.
Tomorrow the annual conference of
itate county and city health officers
will be held. This meeting will be at
hall. 1t is expected that
about so of the health officers of the
state will be present.