Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-02-03
Statement from the City Health
Officer.

Regarding the supply OF ditch wat
| er last week: AS soon as l learned
that ditch water had been turned into
the city pipes l went out and hired
| man to get assistants and to go
through the town to each house and
to say to those in the house that
| dich water was in the mains and the
health officer again urged the boiling
of all water used for drinking pur-
poses. To make sure that all were
| informed as rapidly as possible
phoned to the superintendent and
principals of the public schools and
asked them to announce to all the
pupils the fact of ditch water in the
mains, and to say to them that the
health officer again urged everybody
to boil the drinking water.
Late the next day |, found that the
men l had employed to go to the
houses had failed to do so. But by
this time it had been announced in
the schools and had become SO gen.
orally talked about through town. that
! decided it would not be necessary
learned that the ditch water would
be probably turned off that night.
Still further. the citizens of Rocky
Ford will recall the fact that l have
continually urged the boiling of all
drinking water.
All the cistern water. unless it has
been frequently tested and found
| clear, should be boiled. The city
water also should always be boiled.
so long as we have the present sys-
tenn of water supply. Twice during
the spring and summer. it will be re-
| mcmbcred. ! had handbills distributed
giving this advice. Again in Septcm-
ber ! went to the schools and talked
to the pupils on sanitary matters.
and particularly urged the boiling OF
all drinking water. Regarding the
drinking water and the keeping OF
the town clean ! have pretty nearly
carried out the biblical instruction OF
cent upon preccpt, precept upon pre-
cept."
A word or two now upon Our water
| supply. | have given no little thought
, to this matter since l have lived in
Rocky Ford. 1t is something we
| must solve. One solution proposed
is the use of the underilow from the
river, such as is used at La Junta.
This will give, undoubtedly plcnti-
ful supply. and at no great expense.
But it is not good water, and person
! ally | am opposed to it.
Another solution is the use of two
} systems of water. Using artehian
water in one system of pipes. for
household purposes only. In an
other system use ditch water for the
water closets. irrigation and for fire
protection. This | am opposed to,
as it will be extensive and not salts
factory in other ways.
Then there is the nlan of obtain
ing water from the divide-the Horse
Creek country. This should be thor
oughly INVESTIGATED by the city. II
a plentiful supply of good water can
be had within thirty miles of the
city. that can be brought here by
gravity. it is my impression that that
is the thing to do.
Finally we may be compelled to
rely upon the artesian wells. There
is much to study and try yet regard
inc such wells. We have not yet cx-
haustcd their possibilities. 1t is true
this water is strongly mineralized.
This makes it Objectionable as a
household water. But on the other
hand if the wells are properly cared
for the water is free from disease
germs. Such water too. will always
be expensive. But it may be, our fin
al and only resource. Let all of us
study and investigate along all these
lines and see il in a multitude OF
counsel there is wisdom to reach a
satisfactory solution.
Respectfully.
L. p, BARBOUR.