The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-09-28

DOllblCdI WOIh are IGQ u1lSu'
a. filtration system in conneetlon
With the plant Of the water company
may be the one thing needed to insure
pure water for the city and then again
it may not, but it is certain that at
present there is not very much de-
oendable evidence on which to base an
opinion one way or another. Upon
investigation it may be found that the
extension of the intake would insure
lust as pure water as the building OF
filter. No one knows at present
which way would be best and the
members Of the council committee on
buildings and water works who are
standing out against the proposals to
commit the city to the proposition of
building an expensive filtration plant
without giving the matter anything
but the most superficial investigation
should be supported by the people of
tho city, assuming that the people of
The city are to have a voice in the
matter. A filter plant such as the city
would need to care for the demands
Of it's rapidly increasing population
would cost anywhere from $4,000 to
100000 and that is a good deal of
money without better evidence that
the expenditure is justified than there
is at hand at present. The first thing
to be done is to have thorough ex-
animation Of the filtration plants in
other cities made by an expert to as
certain whether they are doing what is
claimed for them by their builders and
then to have scientific tests of the lake
water from which the city draws its
supply made under varying conditions
and extending over considerable
period of time and made by an
authority in such work whose conclu-
siOns can be relied upon, before any
recommendations are made to the
council one way or another. A snap
Judgment in a matter of such import
ance will not do. AS for the opinions
of the "experts representing differ
emit makes of filters, each of whom will
investigate conditions" and report
that a filter of the particular brand he
is selling is the only thing that will
save the health of the city, they may be
taken for just what they are worth
which is nothing at all. It may be
taken for granted that they will all be
in favor of building filter. AS for
the present condition Of the water sup
ply, the health report indicates that it
is as good as is any of the cities along
the lake. The people of the city have
managed to worry along with it for
quite a few years without developing
any more cases of diseases due to i'm
pure water than other cities average
which is proof positive that the water
is generally healthful. If the health
department could be depended upon to
make regular tests of the condition of
the water and warn the people when il
is unfit for consumption and should be
boiled before using the health record
might be improved. Other cities take
this means of warning the water con
sumers of the presence of dangerous
impurities in the mains and this plan
has worked we'll These regular tests
would have to be made even after the
filter was put in before there could be
any absolute certainty that the water
was fit for use at all times. The city
must have pure water. There can be
no argument on that point, but there
may be decided difference of opinion
as to whether very expensive filtra
ton system is the only way to get it
1t is possible that the same results
may be obtained by the extension OF
the intake and at the expenditure OF
less money and the aldermen should
not commit themselves to either plar
until after the most thorough invest
cation has been made and facts and
figures which can be relied upon Sc
cured on which to base an opinion
AS for the 'tgreat increase in intestinal
diseases" which we may expect to hear
a good deal of while the discussion is
going on, if there is any increase il
is just as likely to be caused by i'm
pure beer or milk as by impure water
At present there is no evidence to the
contrary.