New-York tribune., 1909-09-17
INSPECT WATERSHED
NO TYPHOID GERMS YET.
Drastic Search for Any Sources of
Pollution in CrOton District.

CITY officials were securing the Croton Water
shed yesterday looking for Of pollution and
cases of typhoid fever that might have been omit
ted from the town and village reports. At the big
Croton Reservoir they found long reaches OF eX-
posed bottom land and I'm section there was
stagnant water I'm the reaches.
The great reservoir is twelve feet lower than II
was year ago. Then the reservoir was kept as
full as possible. that If there were any typhoid
germs in the water they might he as lonesome as
possible. Then came heavy rains. and thousands
of million gallons of water went to waste over
the spillway. Now the reservoirs further up the
watershed are not drawn upon to fll the big one
that heavy rainfall will not go to waste.
It is from this supply that the water comes d.
reCtly to the city. Samples have been taken, as
usual. from time to time, for analysis. but neither
typhoid germs the ingredients that indicate the
presence of pollution have been found. But the
great dam looked yesterday 1t loomed up TWEEN
ty-one feet above the water II it's occupation
gone. Cross River is running over. but what
it loses goes down into the final storage place,
the big Croton The whole Katonah section, once
a menace 10 health, has been thoroughly cleaned
and all the valleys thereabout hlltd with water
behind the dam that supplements Crotou
At Croton Falls the examination will he drastic
The dam under construction there has not been
completed. and there about thirteen hundred
Italians and other foreigners at work. They are
housed in camps, but the contractors. the CrOtOn
Falls Construction Company. have taken and
taking sanitary precautions tn prevent pollution OF
tho water supply. There are three physicians to
look after the health OF the men
The Titicus looked clean and there were no stag
nant reaches II was only eight feet down. while
Bog Brook and the East Branch were much lower
and the edges looked dusty The work of the in
spectors was more I'm evidence yesterday and the
day before than 1t was last year. People living
in the watershed getting accustomed 10 the
necessity OF avoiding poutng the river or tho
streams that feed the reservoirs In Mount Kisco
many foul sections the railroad have been
cleansed and the citizens eager for tho sewers
to be put into use.
When Mount Kiscos sewer system is completed
II will have cost about $4,000. II almost ready
for use. and the finishing touches will be put on
when the receiving beds completed by this city.
They are 10 cost about $4,000 but. with the land
which had to be bought by the city. the cost will
be more than 100000 The Mount Kisco streets
are dusty now, after the tearing up for the sewer
construction. but when connections with houses
nave heen made and the receiving beds have been
finished the streets Will get prompt attention.
There was model town look about the places
throughout the watershed. II was evident that
the inspectors had left their mark. But this does
not mean that there many sources Of
pollution yet The city do nothing under the
present law. Complaints made. property own
ers are warned. and that Is the extent Of the
City's power. Threats have effect because the
people up there know there is power back OF
them Another attempt will be made in Albany
10 give the city. through legislation. the power 10
punish for failure to remove a source OF pollution.
II was expected at time that the re OF
the roads in Westchester would give an oils tlste
20 the water after heavy rains None has been
noted. however, and ~ is believed that tie
volume OF water stored Is too great for the oil
TO impart a flavor. When the city officials com
plete their special inspection "A report will Re
made.