Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-04-07
vntsrsd ut the Postofiice at Staunton,
Va, ~ second class mail matter.
Friday. April 7 1911
OUR STREAM POLLUTION

When the State was seeking site
for what is now the Western state
Hospital, the Commission that selected
the present position stated as recon-
mendation that ssthrough the grounds
was q stream of pure water that will
furnish q water supply to the Asylum
that is ample for all needs" 1t is
hard to recognize in this description
the Lewis Creek of today, a malodor-
Gus stream of foul, filthy water to
which our city papers called attention
a few days since as menace to public
health. Throughout the length and
breadth Of our land this reckless be-
fouling of our streams has been per-
nittsd to 60 on unchecked, until a
condition has arisen that is grave in
the extreme.
Rivers and streams are the natural
sources Of water supply for the towns
and cities that are situated on them,
and if the streams be polluted serious
injury is inflicted on these communi-
ties. Some twenty-five years ago, the
professor of practice Of medicine in
Columbia University used to close his
lectures on typhoid fever by saying,
ssRemember that every case Of this
disease is case of water poisoning"
and experience has borne him out.
Typhoid and many other diseases are
due to contaminated water, and by
ksepingl our water supplies pure, a
large proportion of sickness among
men and domestic animals will be
avoided.
Whsnl the early settlers came to
Acknowledgements quantity OF edible
fishes in our streams and costal waters,
was oneIof:the first things that at
tracted their attention. AS the coun-
try has become settled, this supply OF
healthy, nutritious food has diminish
ed in direct proportion to the pollution
of the water. The day has long passed
when shadlwas regarded as STOOD for
lnjuns and:niggers, and despite the
efforts Of National and State Fish and
Game Commissions, the average catch
is steadily falling because of the pollu
ton of thelstreams and the destruction
Of the spawning beds. Recent inves-
LEGATIONS have condemned the oysters
of Long Island Sound as being carriers
Of disease-and Virginia now leads the
Union inHits fisheries. Careless and
reckless stream pollution may soon de.
stroy an industry worth many mil.
lions to our people annually, as it has
destroyed the fisheries of New Eng
land and New York.
Finallyithe economic unwisdom Of
stream pollution should be considered
In large part of our country fertil'
izers are necessary to make our soils
productive. OF the three essentials fol
plant growth, ammonia and potash
are two, and the latter is imported
from Germany. The Germans, hav
ing a monopoly, Ihsve naturally used
1t to extort an excessive price and be.
tween our nation and Germany there
are threatenings of tariff war, if not
war of more serious nature. In the
sewage and filth of our cities are large
supplies of potash, ammonia and
phosphates. We import these fertil-
izerC in thousands of tons and at high
prices, while we throw away millions
of tons of fertilizing material, imperil-
ing OFF health, imposing heavy bur
dens on our cities by making them go
far afield for supply of water and
destroying our fisheries in the process.
Such policy is unworthy an intelli-
gent people and the time is at hand
for it to be stopped.