The San Francisco call., 1910-07-23
PLAYGROUND DRINK
SUPPLY CONDEMNED.
Board of Health Declares Park
Water Unfit for Use as
Beverage
Mayor Orders Discontinuance
of Well Usage on Ground
of Contamination

The water used for drinking pur-
the cyclers' rest in Golden Gate park,
! drawn from wells has been condemned
by the board of health as unfit for use
for adults and children. Mayor Nc
Carthy was given notice that the park
commissioners had been informed of
this, and yesterday afternoon he tele-
phoned to the superintendent of the
park that there must be an immediate
change In the supply of drinking water
at these points. Later in the afternoon
he rode out to the park for a per-
Sonal investigation of the matter.
THE water has been pronounced un-
fit for drinking purposes" he said. 1T
appears that the supply now in use
comes from the wells in the park and
that it is contaminated with matter
that renders it unwholesome. 1 feel
it my duty to- protect the health of the
people who visit the park and the
children as well as the men who are
employed there. 1 have ordered that
the drinking fountains be at once sup
piled with water from the Spring
Valley water mains"
rs there any connection in the park
with the company's mains?" was asked.
Il don't know but If there is none
there will be, for there must be pure
water for those who want to drink 1t,
and they are going to have it,
TEST DISCLOSEs BAULLI.
At the board of health it was stated
that at certain periods water used for
drinking purposes is tested and that
recently samples We're obtained from
the park Fairgrounds and rest. 1t was
discovered that each contains bacilli
coli communis and is evidence of sew
erage contamination, which is product
i've of typhoid fever and other diseases
of that character.
I'VE notified the commissioners and
asked them to discontinue the use of
that water at each of these places,
said the secretary. I'VE have done our
duty. Whether the commissioners will
act or not we do not know. It's up TO
them
While in the park the mayor made
inquiry as to what progress is being
made in the erection of the log cabin,
typical of the early day habitations of
the mining camps of California, as re-
quested by the association of pioneer
mothers. He was informed that as yet
nothing has been done in that direc-
ton, whereupon he remarked that he
will give his attention to this at once,
as he is anxious that this structure
(Which is planned to be located in the
immediate vicinity of the historic trees
that are growing near the site of the
and represent the 13 original states)
shall be finished and ready for dedica-
ton on Admission day.
HISTORIC ENGINES FOR MUSEUM
David Hewes, one of the pioneer
street contractors of this city, has noti-
fed Professor Barron, curator of the
park museum that he will donate two
engines to the park. These were en-
ployed in leveling the sand hills of the
city as far back as 1851. One was used
TO operate the steam paddy that scooped
up the sand and the other to draw the
sand trains. The steam paddy was
started at Sansome and Bush streets to
make room for the Ressette house,
and the sand removed was used to fill
in from the line of Bush street to Clay.
subsequently it was used to cut away
the so foot sand hill at Third and Mar
ket streets where now stands the home
of The Call and then mooved west
ward to scop up the hills and dunes
as far as Ninth street, along Market
street and south of 1T.