The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-09-09
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Issued Every Thurday by
ARTHUR d. MOE, Publisher
REPORT OF STATE THE BOARD

ARTHUR ID. MOE, Publisher
REPORT OF STATE THE BOARD
In another column we publish the
report of Drs. Yenney and Pierce tt
the water commission. 1t Is u vol
luminous document, full of criticism
of the present water system and oil
the common council because OF the
conditions which exist.
The members of the state board OF
health came up here at the request OF
certain members of the water COM
mission. Although they bad been
repeatedly asked up on the same
mission by the city authorities, they
saw fit to entirely ignore them in the
matter and listen to other parties
The report states that the present
water System is 10 bad condition,
that the source of supply is a surface
drainage system, both lower and up
per spriugs, draining from large
area. and therefore subject to contain
ination at all times. 1t states that the
upper system is drained from
swampy land, which covers large
area in which are farm houses, barn
yards, camps for fruit pickers, etc.
1t admits all these things yet 1t states
that II the common council will re-
move or canse to be removed all cause
of pollution OF the soil In this large
drainage area, the water will be III
for use. To do this would require
crew of men to patrol the district
which drains into the springs and
wells of the company, and 1t is q
question how the farm yards which
drain into the upper system could
be cleaned up and kept clean. 1t Is q
question whether the CITY has the
power to cause to be removed the
barn yards, outhouses, etc., In the
oouptry outside OF the city limits.
So far az the city Ia concerned, CON
ditions can be improved, and several
members of the council have stated
that they would do all in their power
to have the land cleaned up In the
drainage area in the city limit. IL
ia a question whether the soil can be
kent free from infection or unolean
matter no matter what efforts are
made toward the end. The report
admits that the spring is In constant
danger of such contamination, as the
following, taken from the report,
will show:
"Ihat existing conditions are such
ma To render a sudden outbreak I'M
possible however, Is untrue. Inc
possibility OF sudden outbreak ID
such diversified system Is always 10
be feared"
At first thought the report would
indicate that the conditions which
exist and which are stated in positive
terms to be dangerous to health, can
be remedied by extraordinary precau
tions upon the part OF the city coun'
Gil, with unceasing surveillance OF
the large drainage area, and an ex
animation of the water once week.
1t might be cheaper, and 1t would
certainly be safer, to put In large
sterilizing plant and boil all the
water flowing out Of the spring.
Even this would not give fire pro-
lection or sufficient water use In the
higher elevations of the CITY. While
the state board have been careful not
to advise seeking another and better
water supply in Its reports, they have,
In their bi.monthly bulletin, stated
as follows:
"What In some instances was a
good, wholesome water supply In the
beginning may have become either
absolutely dangerous, or likely to
become 20 ut any moment, on ac'
count of increased facilities for con-
tamination from increased city
growth. Under these circumstances
no city 10 justified in further main
tanning such "a water supply, when
another of superior quality can be
secured"
We think the state board Ia subject
to criticism In not taking up the
matter with the proper city suthori.
ties upon their visit to the city and
obtaining as much information as
possible. They have stated privately
that the water question lad centered
into factional fight in the city,
yet they deliberately go into the camp |
of one of these factions for their sole
information, ignoring the official
representative Of the city, and not
seeking for information on all sides
of the question.
In spite of the injunction laid down
in their bimonthly bulletin, that "no
city Is justified in further maintain.
ing such water supply, when another
of superior quality can be secured"
they recommend patching up the old
system by cleansing process, while
that the conditions which
exist are an ever increasing and men.
acing danger to the health and pros.
perity of the city.
ln pursuance of custom that has
some to be almost solemn rite,
Major George Tate, U, s. A., retired,
Of Lenox, Mass, makes annual visits