The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-08-21
A FULL LABRATORY
At INDIANA HARBOR
Samples Being Taken Near Each
Pumping Station for Hammond,
Whiting and East Chicago, to
Make Tests of Purity. Intake fol-
Cities May Have to be Extended
fsneciaI to The Times }

Indiana Harbor, Aug. 21.-Work
which is of vital Importance to every
man, woman and child in East Chicago.
Indiana Harbor, Whiting and Ham
mond, and in fact the entire Calumet
district. is now under way. The OBJ
ject of this is the abatement of ty-
phoid fever, which for years has been
an awful menace to the inhabitants of
this region and the work in hand is
the first scientific step to such an end.
Complete Laboratory.
A laboratory with complete bacteri-
oligical equipment has been established
under the supervision of the state at
the pumping station on the lake front
in Indiana Harbor for the purpose of
analyzing the water of Lake Michigan
from Indiana Harbor to the Grand
Calumet river. Mr.. J. Herbert Brews-
ter represents the state board of health
which is working in connection with
the city boards of health of East Chi
cago. Hammond and Whiting. These
interests have combined to accomplish
the work to be done.
Mr.. Breyvster's Statement.
Mr. Brewster. in discussing his work
said: The purpose in view is TO de-
termine exactly the quality of the
water which borders these cities. To
determine the kind and quantity OF
sewage that is being emptied into the
lake. the effect of this sewage upon
the water supply of each city, under the
varying weather conditions and the
different lake currents. The idea OF
this is to find some way by which
g
and wholesome water for drinking and
domestic purposes and also to find out
how the sewage can be properly dis
posed of.
Samples Being Taken.
Samples are being taken daily a
each pumping station and sewer outle
between the points of the survey
These points are in the form of
radius around each waterworks station
at intervals of one-half mile, one, TIVE
and three miles each, and will exten'
as far into the lake as the sewage cal
be traced.
..Inasmuch as it is desired to prov
the quality of water under all possi
BILE conditions the survey will occup,
from two to three months During thi
time it is desired to look after the pri
wells are being used and give advic
as to their potability.
Normally Its Good Water.
The quality of the water of LAX
Michigan in its normal state, is with
out exception the best that can b
produced. Only in places where gros
amount of sewage is being continuous
ly added is it found to be of an un
wholesome character.
THE water now being supplied t
each of these three cities is taken froI
two to three thousand feet off tn
shore. and is in a sewage belt whic
is abominable in character renderin
the water unfit for anything exceI
fire purpos es."
Mr. Brewster was emphatic in hi
denunciatfon of the conditions tina
made this situation possible. Continu
ing he added: This condition is moth
ing short of criminal in character q
it is entirely unnecessary to force til
public to drink polluted water whe
there is an unlimited quantity of til
pure article at it's command
At present this invaluable water ca
be had by extending the intakes farthe
into the lake But this is not the proI
er solution of the problem. for in a ver
short time the ever increasing sewag
will encroach upon the new intake
thus nullifying the advantages sough
The result would be that ult
mately different system of disposin
of the sewage would have to be e.
tablished. The saving accomplished /
putting this system IN force would |
sufficient to pay for its installatio
This does not take into account IL
expense to city from typhoid few
alone. which in itself is enormou
Last year the city of Hammond hs
one more than half as many cases
typhoid fever as Chicago and when II
cases of Whiting and East Chicas
are added, the total is greater ths
that of the city of Chicago.
Michigan Cfty's Experience.
AT Michigan City during the vel
fContinued ON psge 81