New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-13
NO FEAR OF EPIDEMIC.
NR. Belts At K4TONAH.
No Danger Of Typhoid Spread, Says
Assistant Engineer.

Assistant Engineer Betts OF the Water De-
partment. who has supervision OF the sanitary
work under Commissioner OBren. IN
Katonah early yesterday on still hunt for
danger. but he found that there had been no
increase in tho number Of typhoid cases beyond
those reported in The Tribune. and also that
none Of the usual precautions had been over
looked. But he so much concerned over
the appearance o. one OF the cesspooIs belonging
10 the home OF patient that he ordered the
immediate use Of liberal quantity Of quickime.
Mr.. Belts made a thorough investigation OF the
whole typhoid section. and said that there
seemed TO reason to fear an epidemic in Kato-
nah, or contagion in New York City.
a heavy thaw would not be a good thing for
Katonah at this time. and consequently not
benefit to this city The very boast at the VII
lage that the soil in the place is sandy might
prove menace, for the cesspools are sunk in
this sandy SOIL and only one of those where
typhoid patients are is protected by cement.
The contents of these goes into the soil and
Joins the general drainage to the brooks. Quick
lime VIII be literally used TO overcome the dam
ger from this source
The extra inspections were made yesterday.
Samples of water were taken at the springs and
elsewhere for analysis. This viii be continued
until the immediate danger OF infection has
passed. The springs near the school are now
receiving renewed attention. 1t does not follow
that. because the water taken soon after
pupils OF the school were stricken with the
disease was pure. there was no infection In the
water at earlier date when the patients
were using it for dSinking purposes. The springs
are small and the infection taken one day might
easily be washed away the next The springs
not protected. The surface drainase Of the
slopes round about runs into them. There is no
safeguard whatever against contamination It
Is beginning to be believed more and more that
the children who are Ill were infected by these
springs. The Illness of the fourth patient. the
painter. IS believed TO have been an unfortunate
coincidence.
Miss Smith, who one OF the victims OF
the accident the Harlem division on Feb
ruary IS. taught in the Katonah school. There
about 100 pupils Of all grades A new
building IS going up. and in it the village water
will be used. This water comes from protected
springs. Is pumped to a tank on the hill back OF
the village and is conducted thence to the
homes The springs and the tank are carefully
guarded against contamination.
Nothing is safe from contamination from the
many aliens brought in by the contractors. At
the Cross River dam. less than mile from
the village. there are about twenty temporary
houses for the laborers. Some of the houses
more than twenty feet long, but will con-
tain more than ten men. The snow covers I'M
sanitary conditions, but a reporter for The
Tribuns yesterday the improvised cesspOOls
used by the labOTeTs They are on both high
and low ground. and the contents may drain
int the water supply streams without him
drance. The garbage is periodically burned the
cesspoo! contents are not. But so far as could
be learned the laborers are very healthy. 1t
said that only one man was being attended by
a doctor, a pneumonia convalescent. "a physi-
clan from a nearby sanatorium visits the labor
ers occasionally
Drs. Carpenter and Chapman, when seen yes
terGay, said that their Satients were making
good progress toward recovery and that neither
was in danger of death The suspected case
had not developed. II might be typhoid event.
ually but DR. Chapman said that the patient at
this time was absolutely free from every symp-
tom Of that disease. Dr. Chapman said that
there had been suspicious cases OF disease I'm
the village little before the typhoid attacks
were reported, but that none OF the former pa
tients i'll any longer. and a diagnosis had
been unable TO establish the nature OF the dis
ease
The time of danger to the whole water sup
ply is fast approaching When the general
spring breakup occurs the Italian camps will
be the object of careful scrutiny by the in
spectors. The latter will demand a cleaning up
as soon as the snow has gone and the dirt has
been laid bare And the Water Department has
been urgent In It's inSistence that the spring
coloring OF the water supply in this city does
not necessarily mean contamination or the pos
sibnty Of infection.