New-York tribune., 1909-09-15
TYPHOID AND THE CROTON.

II must be regarded highly significant that
expert opinion points more and more to the
CrotOn water supply as the source of the typhoid
epdemic-for epidemic there is in effect if not
IN Official name We are told that more than
thousand cases of the disease have been reported
III the city in the last ten weeks. Perhaps that
record is not sufficient 10 warrant alarm. but it
certainly gives occasion for grave concern. and
II inevitably raises a question concerning the
efficiency of the authorities who have the safe
guarding OF the cltys water supply in charge
If this "autumnal typhoid" could be traced TO
sources outside of the city, as we have been in
clned 10 think some of IL could be, the city au-
thorities would be absolved But these authori-
ties themselves assert that such is not the case,
but that the disease originates chiefly right here
in the city and is due 10 contamination of the
water. If that is so, a heavy responsibility
rests upon those who are intrusted with the adj
ministratiOn of affairs in the Croton Valley.
During long term Of years enormous sums of
money have been expended by the city for the
express purpose OF freeing the Croton supply
from danger OF contamination. II after that
there is more typhoid here than before there
should be a serious reckoning for somebody
The theory is now advanced that the tor
rental rain few weeks ago swept a great
deal Of communicating matter from the shores
of the lakes into the water. which is plau-
slble. The ground was baked hard and dry,
and if any filth had been deposited on its sur
face the sudden and heavy dOwnpour prob
ably washed it into the lakes. But only mat
ter Of a certain kind could cause typhoid and
the question arises, How came ii TO be de-
posted on the shores Of the lakes? This city
has spent millions OF dollars in buying whole
villages and vast tracts of land in order to rid
the lake shores Of possible contamination How
then comes IL that summer shower can fill the
water with typhoid germs? 4 few years ago the
city authorities seemed TO be ignorant of the
fact that their own employees were using CrotOn
Lake or its tributaries TO battle in and to wash
their soiled clothes in, and that their camps
were 50 constructed that all the sewage ran
directly into the water, until The Tribune in
formed them of the fact, and then there was
hurrying and scurrying on early Sunday morn
ing trains and stringent orders were issued for
the policing of the lakes and the summary ar
rest of any village urchin who might be found
fishing for sinners" Possibly inquiry into the
sewage disposal plants OF the summer camps on
the shores of the lakes and into the sanitary
practices Of the fishing and boating parties
which frequent those waters might elicit facts
which would be exceedingly interesting TO all
who drink CrOton water.
1t will not do TO lay the blame upon the
scarcity Of the CrotOn supply. Figures are ad-
duced 10 show that the water in the lakes is
now far below the normal level. We have no
doubt that such is the case. We have for years
been cOntending that the Croton supply was in-
sufficient and that a large addition should be
made to It from some other source. Those who
recently raised pother over the fact that for a
little time some water ran over the CrOtOn Dam
spillway will do well TO observe that now the
level Of the lake is twenty-one feet below the
spillway, while nearly all OF the upper lakes
which feed the big lake are also far below the
full water mark. But those circumstances afford
no excuse for contamination OF the water or for
laxity I'm safeguarding il from pollution. Nor
will IL do TO use or 10 exploit the unsatisfactory
condition Of the Croton supply as an apology for
profigacy in the Catskil enterprise. The latter
undertaking has received cordial support on the
ground that il was necessary for the welfare of
the city. and the character OF the commissioners
and engineers in charge of it and most of their
actual achievements have justified confidence in
the integrity OF the work. But lf over the heads
Of the commissioners politicians with influence"
are 20 make the purchase or condemnation OF
lands for reservoir purposes prolific source OF
graft and other evils similar to those which
have been so gross scandal in the Croton. but
as nnuch greater than the latter the Catskil
enterprise is greater than the Croton, there