Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-28
HEALTH IN CITIES
TO Be PROTECTED
Sewer Work and Water viii Cost
S4,OOO,OOO in California
This Year
Especial to The HERALD

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 27.-Approxi-
mately S4,10O,OOO will have been ex-
pended by the end of the year in this
state for sewers and better water, ac-
cording to statistics compiled by the
state health boards engineer inspector
This outlay may be taken to represent
the attempt of California citizens 10
G dge the annual typhoid tax In pre-
vious years it is estimated typhold
fever has cost the people of the state
at least 81, 900 in doctors fees.
nurses bills and loss of time. Largely
by the expenditure of large sums for
better sanitation this typhoid tax has
been cut down from 81, ,440, 900 to $780,
900 in the last two years. The saving
of nearly half a million of dollars has
been brought about by reducing the
typhoid death rate of 800, representing
a probable total of 1890 cases, to 400
deaths, or a probable total of 3200 cases.
The loss estimate of $500 to the case is
very conservative as there are in
stances where sickness from typhoid
causes an outlay of $4,000 or even $4OOO
for doctors and nurses bills alone.
IMPROVED SEWERS AND WATER
Ninety-three California towns and
cities will contribute to the grand to-
tai of $4,126S6 which it is estimated
will be spent in the state this year for
sewers and better water. The bulk of
the amount will be raised by small and
mediums sized centers of population.
The places represented are scattered
through the state all the way from
Calexico, the border city, where it is
proposed to install a sewer system in
volving an outlay of $35. 900, to Alturas
the inland metropolis near the northern
boundary, where preliminary considera-
tions have been made for a sewer and
water system.
An analysis of the data compiled by
the state engineer inspector results in
the following tabulations. The total
probable expenditure in the state for
sewers and better water will amount to
81 4,126,SS6 by the end of the year. A
total of $917, ,094 has already been voted
on for new sewers and disposal plants,
and $83S,772 for extensions and i'm
provements of established sewer sys-
tens. The cost of proposed sewers yet
to be voted on is estimated at SLIPS, 300.
This makes a total probable expendi-
ture for sewers during the year of 81
9S1, ,166. Bonds for new water systems
have been voted on to the amount of
$S46,000, and there are planned eXpen-
ditures estimated at 5000, 900, or a total
probable expenditure of 81, 900 for
better water by the end of the year.
HEALTH TO BE sAFEGUARDED
The large outlay for sewers and sew
age disposal plants by California towns
and cities protect the health and the
money interests of the farmer. These
measures dispose of wastes which
would otherwise flush or drain into
streams, thereby making the surface
waters of the state unsafe for human
use, unfit for stock and defling, be-
sides, the wooded retreats along creeks
and rivers. If an equitable basis of
health reciprocity was established be-
tween rural and urban districts the
dwellers of the country would be more
careful about locating their toilets
along streams that supply the towns.
The farmers who produce milk and
vegetables would see that no disease
germs were carelessly conveyed to the
consumers in the city. Under the cir
cumstances county boards of super
visors would be justified in increasing
their health appropriations in order
that measures may be enforced which
will protect the cities and towns from
the country.