The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-08-07

II
sink a set of three wells so that i
| would have an abundance of water t.
flush the pipes. This is the cheapest
and best way to clean the system
and is preferable to chemicals oil
steam.
Steam a Failure.
President Nyquist stated that hi
had asked H. f. Carney while il
Duluth day or so ago to inquire
as to how the water mains there
were cleansed after the epiemic
of typhoid fever several years ago
Mr.. Carney had learned that an at
tempt was made to clean them by the
use of steam, but that it had beer
found impossible to force the steam
into the pipes more than 100 to l5C
feet, when it condensed and turned tic
water. This plan had to be abandoned
and the pipes were thoroughly cleaned
by continued flushings, as, is being done
in Mankato at the present time.
DR.. Bielland, the city health officer
was present and was called upon. He
said that he had done the best that
he could with the situation, and asked
for, the help of the club to assist I in
suppressing the epidemic. He would like
to have, suggestions. His first move
had been to get at the source of the
trouble, and the Third street well had
been shut off, the reservoir cleansed
and the mains flushed He had con-
sidered the matter of usino disinfec-
tants in the mains and had taken
it up with representatives of the state
board of health, but all had looked
upon it as not being feasible. In
fact, they considered it more danger
ouse than useful. The state board
had concurred in the frequent flushing
of the mains, which was considered
the only way to proceed. He had
gotten to work two weeks before the
first case of typhoid fever, having
feared the outbreak, and had been
working ever since. The cleaning up
of the city, getting an emergency hos
pital, and any number of other mat
tiers had come up and been acted
upon, and every resource had been used
to combat the outbreak, and the situa-
tion now looks great deal better, and
he thought that the epidemic was go
ing to be gotten under control. It
would be two weeks yet before this
would be known. All of the city water
now comes from a pure source, which
cannot be improved. There was every
thing to contend with in city like
but he had done much and
he would try to keep it up. The physi-
clans had done all that they could
to help, and had worked day and night
for the sick and had done noble work.
They had sacrificed money, strength
and sleep, and had done it all without
having to call in the aid of outside
doctors.
Citizens Must Help.
DIR. Bielland said that great eff
fort had been made to clean the city
and keep it clean. 1t was necessary
to force some people to clean up. 1t
was up to the citizens to help the
health department and see that their
own and neighbors' premises are kept
clean. The people have got to step
in and do their level best and wipe
out the epidemic, and he thought that
it would be done as no other such
epidemic was ever suppressed. Unless
the citizens helped, the department
would be overburdened. 1t was try
ing now to prevent the spread of the
disease from one person to another.
He was not afraid of patients who
are under the care of physicians, but
it was the walking cases and few
cases where there was indifference
and carelessness that would have to
be looked after. The citizens must
help to locate these.
What is wanted now is sanitary
engineer, to look into the sewer sys-
TEN and build it right and cheapest.
He would have to be paid good sal
ary. The board of public works, en-
cheering and health departments have
got to be made the most important
in the city. They have got to be
taken out of politics. (Applause.) The
city has got to have safe water
supply and more sewers. 1t cannot
do business any longer like a village.
1t has got to get a charter that it
can do business with. A proper sewer
and water system will not cost one
tenth what will be spent in this cpl
demic. It is good thing for the
future of Mankato that it has come
to a crisis. and it has got to do bust
ness. (Applause.)
Mr.. Hunt moved that the club en-
dorse what the health officer had done,
and assure him of its hearty support
in his future efforts to head off the
epidemic. This was carried unani-
mously.
Allan Jackson thought it an appropri-
ate time to secure a new charter.
Caakiuo Carsko~xy