Scranton Wochenblatt. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1865-1918, 1910-03-31
For Pure Water.

For Pure Water.
In fighting such a widely prevalent
disease as typhoid fever, the useful
ness OF a central state health organi-
cation is especially demonstrated.
Against typhoid local board is prac-
tically helpless This is because the
chief sources of infection are the wa
ter courses. Our rivers unfortunately
do not recognize state OF county lines.
municipality may prevent water pol.
luton from the banks within its own
Jurisdiction. but cannot prevent 1t in
other sections. Pittsburg may stop its
own citizens from sewering into the
streams, but she cannot stop other
communities from polluting the wa
ters from which she draws her own
supply. And the discouraging fact is
that. while one town may refrain from
polluting the stream so that another
further down may not have to drink
its filth. its own water supply may be
polluted by less conscientious neigh
bors living upstream. Up to the year
1905 man in Pennsylvania appeared
to have lost the natural instincts Of
the lower animals and seemed indif-
ferent to the danger of loading his
system with that which nature has
once thrown off as poison. Man, un-
like the beasts of the field. had taken
on the habit of discharging his offal
into the streams from which he took
his drinking water Only some central
body, which has absolute control over
all water courses, can accomplish
general publication of the streams.
The legislature recognized this ne
cessity for central control when. in
1905, 1t placed all water courses. 90
far as public sanitation was concerned,
under the Jurisdiction of the governor.
attorney general and commissioner of
health. But there are also other pri-
vate sources Of pollution-especially
the old-fashioned privies and wells
which still are found in large num-
bers. overfiowing into streams. These
the department of health has now the
power to abolish. The department has
in file complete and detailed maps
showing all the states water courses,
large and small Whenever a case of
typhoid fever is reported It can i'm
mediately put its finger on the water
shed where the disease originated and
investigate accordingly. No municipal
ity can now construct water works
without first obtaining the states ap-
proval of its plans. It cannot build
sewerage plants without similar con-
sent. Acting through these broad pow
ers, the health department, through
its army of inspectors, has penetrated
| the remotest recesses of the state, in
specting premises, noting palpable
nuisances, investigating water and
sewerage systems. A wholesome
| cleanup has ensued. In most cases the
| individuals and municipalities affected
have realized the necessity OF rene
dial measures and have accepted the
work in a proper spirit. Up to date 1t
has inspected 256.62s premises in rural
| districts and caused the abatement of
1S,945 pollutions. 1t has issued 204 de-
crees requiring changes in public wa
| ter works Under its advice and sug-
| gestion, all over the state, cities and
municipal bodies have awakened and
voluntarily begun to improve their
water supplies. Under the supervis-
ion of the department sixty-seven sew
age disposal plants and thirty-five wa
ter filter plants have been built or are
now under construction.
Typhoid Cut Down.
The publication of the states drink
ing water is large task and will take
many years. but already the improve
ments have cut the typhoid death rate
in half In 1906, 56.5 out Of every 1o0,-