Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-09
Council Bluffs
WATER TESTS UNDER WAY
Prof. Birdsall Here to Make Analysis
Of Water Samples.
PEOPLE MAY BRING WELL WATER
Company win soon Know
from Authority whether supply
Is Contaminated in Any
Way.

At the meeting OF the Board Of Health
following the council session last night
reports from local physicians showed that
there were forty-six cases OF typhoid fever
at present in the city. These reports were
from eleven different physicians. who were
OF different opinion as to the cause OF the
disease. But two OF the physicians report
ing blamed the city water supply fer the
disease.
At the suggestion OF Councilman Jensen
It was decided that the Board Of Health
meet every week until further notice in
order to hear the reports Of Prof. BirdsaI'
an expert secured by the Council Bluffs
City Water Works company 20 make a tho
rough analytical and meteorological test
OF the water supply. Prof. Birdsal ar
rived IN the city yesterday and has estao-
lished a temporary laboratory in the Bald
win block. II was stated, however, last
evening By e. w. Hart, receiver OF the
water works company, that nothing would
be given out b. Prof. Birdsall until he mad
made a thorough and complete test OF the
water.
The water works company. taking adVan-
tage Of the presence Of Prof. Birdsall' an
nounced yesterday that it would be pleased
to have him make tests Of well water as
used by those who are not supplied with
city water. Persons desiring such tests
made can make arrangements at the water
works office any day this week.
wage Increase Not Yet.
The petition from the members of the fire
department that they be given extra pay
on account Of the increased cost of living,
which had been first presented to the Fire
and Police commission and then referred
to the city council. was at the suggestion
Of the finance committee Of the council last
night sent to the committee of the whole.
Although no formal petition was filed, 1t is
understood that the members Of the police
department will ask for an increase In their
pay, In the event of the council favorably
considering the application OF the firemen.
Contractor Wickham who has the con-
tract for the new concrete bridge over In
dian creek at North Eighth street was
requested by the city council some time
ago to remove the present structure and
erect a temporary foot bridge over the
stream, but u~p-to-date, has made. no move
to comply with the request. Fearing that
a spring flood might cause trouble at this
point the council instructed the city clerk
to make another formal demand on Mr.,
Wickham tina he take down the present
bridge and erect a temporary foot passage
across the stream.
The proposition of Attorney Aylesworth to
place on the tax rolls. places where liquor
was being sold without a local license
which had been previously assigned to the
pigeonhole, was brought up again as some
Of the councilmen evidently had taker
alarm because Aylesworth had called At
torLey, General Byers' attention to the mat
ter. After some discussion the proposition
was referred to the city solicitor and nj
chief of police. The council adjourned q
Thursday afternoon at which time the as
sessment on recently completed sidewalks
will be taken UP.