The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-26
PUBLIC CUP IS
SURELY MENACE
City Physician s. G. Paul
Strongly Urges More SAM
tary Drinking Fountains.
FREE USE OF WATER
CONDUCIVE TO HEALTH
Disease Germs Can Find No
LOdgment in the Sanitary
Fountain.

Inc sanitary drinking FOUNTAIN IS
a public blessing that should be estab.
lished wherever required
In these emphatic and plain words
DR.. S. G. Paul, city physician of Salt
Lake, summed up his views on the
question of furnishing drinking water
to the masses in public places.
While Salt Lake occupies a position
we'll to the front among the cities of
the country in the evidences of keep |
ing step with tho spirit of the times
in this regard, there are still a mum
Der of fountains and public drinking
places here that. measured by modern
standards, are not sanitary and DR., |
Paul is taking steps to have this con
dition remedied with the least possible |
delay.
There is no need for scientific ar
gumcnt to bolster up these statements.
Even to the layman they are clearly
and indisputably true.
Many Sanitary Fountains.
1t was two years ago that Salt Lake
began the installation of its sanitary
IS one on nearly every important corner
Of the city and in the heart of the
business section they are to be found
in profusion even IN the middle of the
blocks, BY the sanitary fountain Is
meant the type wherein the drinking
cup is dispensed with, the thirsty
passer-by merely stoops slightly and
drinks of the pure mountain water
welling up from central fountain and
distributed through channels TO a cup
shaped mouthpiece, which is so con
structed as to obviate the necessity
of the drjnker touching his lips to any
portion of the cup, the flow being con
4 e hal
requisite volume. These fountains
were opened yesterday for the season
and during the entire year, day and
night. except for the brief season of
severe winter weather, afford oppor-
iunity for all to drink of the best water
in the country, for the supply which
flows from snow-fed mountain streams
into Salt Lake is noted throughout the
world for its excellence.
Advantages Are Obvious.
Speaking directly to the point re-
public with drinking water, DR.. Paul
said: 'EThe advantages of the sani-
tary drinking fountain are obvious.
These fountains are truly sanitary and
promoters Of rublic health. 1t is not
probable that any one who drinks will
touch his lips even to the rim of the
little cup through which the water
WcllS up. oul oven IL duf buo
the constant flow of the water would
thoroughly cleanse it before another
person sought to drink. These foun-
tains may also be properly regarded
as promoters OF the cause of temper
ance, for it is doubtless true that many
a thirsty man seeks beer saloon if he
finds no means of securing pure and
fresh water without Inconvenience.
While water is not cure-all and should
not be go regarded it is a good thing
for people to drink plenty of, and its
free use should be always encouraged.
Drinking plenty of water promotes per
spiration, and no one who perspires free
ly is liable TO be overcome by heat, -
Abolish Drinking Cup.
There are still few fountains in the
city where the old style cup OF dipper,
chained to the fountain, is in evidence,
but these DR.. Paul is taking steps TO
have the city council by ordinance abol-
lsh as soon rs possible.
GA person afflicted with tuberculo-
sis, diphtheria or other disease that af-
fects the mouth and throat may easily
communicate it TO another who uses the
same drinking cup,' explained the ply
sician. "The afflicted person may
leave the cup hanging at the side of the
fountain, and the edge, loaded with
germs, will in a few minutes become
dr. and hold captive the disease germs
until they are moistened by the next
user of the cup and so received into his
system. There are in use today in stores
and other public places drinking cups
used indiscriminately by all who NAV
PASS by that should by all means be
abolished and I shall work TO the end of
the establishment of the sanitary drink
ing fountain in every public place"
Eliminates Dust Danger.
There was another point to which Dr.
Paul called attention that is likely TO
escape consideration bv one who has
not given the question close considera-
tiou This is the elimination of the
I'D dust danger by the use of the sani.
tary fountain. It will be apparent to
every one who stops TO consider that
the dust Of the streets. coming from a
thousand different sources is always
more OF less infected with disease germs
that may or may not be dangerous.
GA iust-used wet cup hangs at the
side Of the old ntve fountain. - said Dr.
Paul by way OF illustration '.The pass
ing throng. with even a slight breeze
raises enough dust so that the moist
surface is quickly covered with an in.
visible coating that may contain
thousands of disease germs. The chance
for communication to the next person
using the emp, if he be susceptible, is
thereby augmented. The sanitary foun-
tain docs away with this danger. the
water steadily flows over the edge Of
the mouthpiece from which vou drink
and no dust can possibly find lodg.
ment' -
One Improvement Suggested.
While no enc has complaint TO make
or fault To find with the sanitary drink.
ing fountains uow Installed by the city
one citizen who was praising them YES
terday suggested an improvement that
would doubtless find favor with MANY
He said: 81 often sce children of four.
five and SIX years OF age. trying to pull
themselves up to Il position to where
they can reach the flowing water. I
also see mothers, sometimes with an in
fant in their arms. sometimes encum-
bered with bundles or packages. put
snail children so that they can reach
the fountain. | would suggest that on