The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-14
BAD FOR CITIES.
Drastic Law Relating to City
Water and Sewer System.
Board of Health Has Power to
Close Them.
PENALTY Is SEVERE.
municipalities Must Obey Order
in Ten Days.
Step to Prevent the Pollution
of Streams.

cities of Kansas have not yet awak-
ened to the fact that the session of the
legislature just closed enacted law
which gives to the state board OF
health the right to step in and stop up
every sewer system in the state put
out of business every private or
municipal water pumping station ana
which absolutely requires every mu-
nicipalitv or corporation to file lmme-
diately with the state board OF health
a complete chart showing the iocalloh
of all sewers, the plans and surveys OF
all waterworks, with description OF
the source of water.
This law, one of the most drastic
ever written, is enforced in some OF
the eastern states, but it is new
thing for the west, wnere IL mas 80
the common thing for cities to empty
their sewers into the streams, ana
often secure their water supply IRON,
the same streams. The law is INTENDED
to protect the people OF the state from rom
contamination of the water supply,
and to check the amazing prevalence
of 1yphoid fever, which seems to nave
been gaining a stronger foothold IN the
state each year.
the state board will exercise all the
power which is given it to change the
existing state of affairs Some OF the
cities of the state have sewer systems
costing millions of dollars which would
be rendered useless if the state board
should declare that the sewage must
be kept out of the streams or course
the state board will not endeaVor 10
change all this, but here is the secCon
of the new law which gives the board
tho right to do this if it deems best:
"All individuals, private corpora
tions and companies that at the time
of the passa ge of this act are discharg-
SN,fr of
the state may continue to discharge
such sewage unless. in the opinion OF
the state board of health, the discharge
of such sewage may become injurious
Il, the public health. If at any time
the state board of health considers
that the discharge of such sewage into
any of the waters of the state may be-
come injurious to the public health 1t
may order the discharge or Sucn
sewage discontinued"
The law further provides that this
regulation must be compiled with
within 10 days, under penalty OF hne
or i'm Drisonment or both
Permits for New Sewers.
The above regulation relates entire
" to sewers already constructed. AFTER
the city has filed With the board a plat
of its sewer system, it IS proh1olted
from building any further sewers
emptying into the stream without
permit granted by unanimous vote
of the state board of health This per-
NIT can be revoked at any time rms
probably means that no more sewers
can be constructed in Kansas empty
ing into the running streams of the
state 1t means that cities and towns
desiring to construct or enlarge sewer
systems must provide septic tanks, or
some artificial means of purifying and
disposing of the sewage.
In relation to water works 1t is
provided that none shall be construct
ed in the future. nor any existing
plants enlarged. without permit from
the state board of health This does
not apply to extensions of mains, but
to engagements or extensions on the
present source of supply
A provision is made for appeal from
the rulings of the board to the district
court.
Examine All Watercourses.
The legislature went even further in
the campaign against pollution of the
streams of the state. Tt appropriated
$4,000 to be used during the next two
years in hiring an expert engineer
from the United States geological sur
vey at Washington to make system
attic investigation of the streams of the
state. The government at washington
adds $4,000 to this fund, and has al
ready sent an expert by the name OF
Parker to Kansas to take charge of
the work. Mr.. Parker makes his head
quarters at Lawrence, and he is re-
ceiving samples of water IN large
number from nearly all the streams
of the state These samples are an
alyzed and submitted to bacteriologi-
cal examination, and careful records
made of all results. The purpose of
the Investigation as set forth in the
appropriation bill passed by the state
is as follows:
ITO determine the nature and condi-
ton of the natural water supplies OF
the state.
ITO determine to what extent the
natural waters are being contaminated
by sewage from cities.
ITO determine to what extent the
natural waters are being polluted by
industrial wastes such as come from
glucose factories. creameries, smelters
refineries, oil wells, packing houses,
etc. and in what way these wastes
might be utilized for benehc1al pur-
poses. -.
'+To investigate water-borne dis
cases. and assist in determining the
best sources of water supplies
1t is expected that by the END OF
two wears. this examination Will be
practically completed, and the state
board of health will begin active work
in purifying the streams which seem
to need purifying by compelling cities
TO cease using those streams as dump
ing places for their sewage
Jordan Signs With Brooklyn.
New York, March 14.-Tim Jordan,
first baseman of the Brooklyn Nation