New-York tribune., 1908-02-25
CITY WATER In DANGER
PEEKSKILL POLLUTION.
Erperts to Confer on Source and
Nature of Epidemic.

So serious is the situation N feehshli IT,
esrded by the authorities in this city that there
sre 10 be special conferences in fe" DAYS 10
consider the reports Of the experts sent up to
make an investigation While the Health Board
,f r,esksl,iu has received the reports of III
rases = canvass of the physicians in the town
bss shown over $50 cases Of typhoid. and some
of these ALLEGED typhoid cases have shown
z,-7prorns that place them in the spotted fever
class
Fur in the main the typhoid diagnosis is un-
rnis,akable It was reported yesterday that
some of fhe cases that have not resulted fataiiy
are showing evidences of convalescence, but
.rs-e ss still fear that the death rate will be
unprecedented
resnite the rreysIence Of the disease which
hss been diagnosed by the town physicians as
-.zrlhosa. desujte the unusual death rate and
dexrire the fact that there is grave doubt as
70 the actual nature Of the ailnlent. the health
authorities Of Peekskill have not taken steps TO
have a scientific investigation TO establish the
character of the enemy they have 10 fight The
city and state have been compelled TO take steps
10 supplement the work of the town authorities
and these steps are designed TO be thorough
The city authorities have fresh in mind the
Kafcnah experience and an investigation of the
PesksliI situation although rather cursoriy
made has shown that the New York city water
supply is in almost as much danger as il the
disease were in the near Croton watershed.
CONDITION OF LABoRERS CAMP
The McNally camp. which is giving the .Peeks
xii authorities and the water board IN this city
50 much concern on account of the typhoid
cases in Peekskill. is situated on what is called
the Todd farm and is the apex Of the dITis-
,or between the PeekskiIl watershed and the
croten watershed. All Of the apparent contain
nations are in the Croton territory, and that is
why the Health Department has been so active
in an effort 10 scent the trouble at Peekskili-
On the Peeksk side there are no visible means
Of contamination
The contractors have been desirous OF pro-
-ecting the water from contamination. re
Porter for The Tribune found that a ditch
something like q most before castles in Europe
had been constructed around the camp. The
drainage from the camp leads TO this moat
with pride the contractor pointed TO this ditch
Its bottom was of sand. Its drainage properties
were perfect but this very fact made it source
Of suspicion TO those who were investigating
the situation The drainage TO the ditch had
free outlet 10 either watershed But il was re-
ported that the health of the inmates Of the
camp mas perfect Nevertheless. the laborers
are italians. and their health condition will be
soon establishe by the Health Department of
this city. which does not purpose 10 take sur
face conditions for granted.
SURE IT Is TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.
Tr RoldUan Of the Health Department of this
ritv sent IL his report 10 DR. Darlington yes
7erdav In II DR. Bolduan said that the disease
could not De traced the camp near Peeks-
kill He called attention 70 unhygienic Condl-
7icns IL 7he watershed Of the town and said
that TIE Crotcn watershed was beyond the dan
zer zone. He was in doubt regarding the
nature Of the epidemic. He was sure it was
typhoid But he recommended that the camp
should kept under surveillance throughout
the construction Of the Catskill aqueduct
s reporter for The Tribune learned yesterday
ttat he health authorities Of Peeksklli had
-7ade an examination Of the reservoir in the
last few days since The Tribune report sug-
getting that II the source of the cpl
cernic. i was said that the bodies of animals
.vcre found IN The water. This was denied by
the town authorities. but they refused TO say
what the result Of the examination. was At the
same time the word has gone out TO boil all city
water before using. II has been proposed TO
drain +hc reservoir. and il is expected that this
-giu n done IN 4 few daHs
Ferhars the most strenuous urging To cleanse