Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-07-09
Keeping Streams Pure Of Sewage
Requires Support of Next
Legislator
DIVORCES MUST BIZ REDUCED
Increasing to an Extent That Stability
of state Ia Threnv ened-WhoOp-
ing Cough as FntRl as Diph-
thcrin--C;rcnt Attention
Imperative.

The State board Of health through ia
secretary, Or. r. y. Holton Of Brattle-
boro, has submitted it's biennial report to
Governor Proctor, Its more interesting
features follow:
ION April a. 1904. under the authority
of section >, We issued An order that after
that date no city, town village, commu-
nifty public institution or individual
should empty any sewage into any body
OF water, spring, or stream tributary
thereto when such water is used tU any
city. town. village. public institution, In
dividual. or by any water or Ice company
as source Of water or ice for domestic
use This order was not retroactive.
hence the many instances in which. for
. long or short time previous to this
date, various streams or bodies Of water
had been polluted by persons or towns
discha rging their sewage into them. 1t Is
claimed that they had a right to do so.
We are Of the opinion that neither indi-
viduals nor corporate bodies can ever ac-
quire right to do or cause to be done
any act which shall In any way become
detrimental TO the public health or to
that Of individuals. This Ia apparently
question for our courts to decide
I'm our last biennial report We stated
that there were several cities or villages
having a water supply so polluted that II
was menace TO the health of all users
Of such water. hence we had issued a
warning notice to the cities and villages
that they must, within a year, procure
a pure water supply. Some Of these
towns began a serious consideration Of
the problem. and all but two have pro-
vided q system which promises to give n
pure and wholesome water supply. In
der n section Of the public statutes we
are obliged to ask the court of chancery
to enforce the prohibition OF the domestic
use Of this polluted water. At the pres
ent time there exists no authority by
which any unincorporated village can le-
galy provide Itself with system by
which they may dispose Of their sewage.
The selectmen of town can lay drains
for the purpose Of disposing Of surface
water hut cannot provide for the laying
Of pipes for the disposal OF sewage
GENERAL Law ASKED.
I'VE would recommend that the next
Legislature provide by general law.
that the selectmen Of a town shall. on
petition of certain number OF citizens
or by order OF the board of health, pro-
vide a system by which sewage IN any
portion Of their town mag he disposed Of
IN a sanitary manner. without dischars-
ing into any stream or body OF water.
I'm providing pure water supply, or
a system for drainage disposal for a mu-
nicipalty, the most efficient and eco
nomica method to pursue most often re-
quires the skilled work and Judgment OF
a trained sanitary engineer; hence We
recommend that the State board OF
health be- authorized TO appoint such per
son possessing the requisite qualifications
to he known as sanitary engineer to the
state board Of health, such engineer to
render such aid and perform such duties
AS the board may require of him, from
time to time. and make reports and rec
concentrations to the board as to the best
manner of installing water or sewage
systems.
CHECKING TUBERCULOSIS
"In 1855, the Tear before the establish
nlont Of the State board Of health, the
number of deaths from tuberculosis, in
this State, was sos Since then there has
Been gradual reduction IN this mortal
ICY down to the presen, time. in 1907
when the number was 463. We believe
lhe reduction in mortality has been the
direct result of the gradual adoption Of
improved hygienic conditions In general.
better living in families, especially great
or care In the use OF impure milk and
meats, the further protection from the
Indictment seasons. better ventilation OF
school houses although in all these re-
spccts there is much room for further
Improvement These changes have rem
dered the individual less susceptible to
the specific germs. BY means of contin-
ued efforts along educational lines. and
The added force of example and precept
from the sanatorium at Pittstord. there
Is reason 70 expect more rapid decline
than has already taken place"
The muni1cent Gift by the late Sena-
tor Redfeld Proctor of a sanatorium for
consumptives is referred to as having
caused Vermont TO he recognized as be
ing In the front rank Of those who seek
to stay this great destroyer. AS a just
appreciation Of the philanthropc purpose
OF the gift the board recommends that
an of11cial delegation he appointed to rep
resent the State at the International con-
gress on tuberculosis at Washington In
September.
MORE CARE HANDLING MEATS
1t Is urged that the pure food laws he
revised to make them more fully har-
monize with the United States law, es-
pecially with reference to slaughter
houses and the care and handling OF
meats.
The reports from the various towns fo4
the last examination OF the eyes. ears
and throats of school children show that
so per cent. of the children have defects
in some of those organs.
"The number of divorces" says the
board, "is increasing to such an extern
as to threaten the stability OF the State
In 1856 the number Of divorces to The
number of marriages was l In 20O3. Ir
1897 1t was In 1876. In 1907 II was ! II
852. At this rate It will be but a shor
time before the divorces will equal thu
marriages In number" The board be
for which divorces should be granted
should be reduced and that the church
should make more emphatic Its teaching
OF the sacred character OF marriage.
CAUSES OF DEATH IN 1907.
a. hot ~ AhA