The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-02-06
Is It the Water?

Holly has caused the above question t
be asked and the answer has not yet bee
definitely given. Since the Goth of De
cember there haye been 20 cases of this dis
ease In Mount Holly, many of which ar
still in bad condition. This does not in
some of the patients being those who dali
visited the county seat.
The report of the Board of Health 10
dictates that there is more typhoid fever II
Mount Holly than has been the case TO
the past ten years. Up to and including
Saturday, there had been reported, sine
December 20, total of 20 cases. Nine o
them came In last week. In addition t.
this there were three cases of diphtheri,
and one of scarlet fever.
About this time of the year there SEEM
} to be some cause for an outbreak of ty
phoid fever. The melting SHOWS and thu
drainage into the creek from nearby land
would seem to indicate that the watel
needs especial attention during suct
periods as we'll as at other times. At vari
GUS times an analysis of the water has beer
made by the state board of health and the
reports appear to be favorable, although
there have been times when 1t was shown
that traces of sewage were noticeable even
in the filtered water. This would appear
to make it absolutely necessary to filter
every drop Of water.
| Reports have been In circulation, how
ever, that this precaution has not been strict
| ly,observed. Some months ago there was a
discussion on this point and a gentleman
connected with the water company, in
order to show that there was no foun-
dalton to any such such story. called up
the engineer at the water works and to his
surprise found that water had been pump
ed directly from the creek into the reser-
voir. Orders were given over the phone
to stop that practice, with the additional
remark that the engineer had been told
never to do such thing The latter's ex-
cuse was that some of the filtering appa-
ratus was out of order.
Another report is In circulation that
citizen of this town, within two weeks,
paid visit to the water works to look at
the new power system. which he had
never seen. In conversation with the
engineer the citizen asserts that the form
er said he was not always able to use the
filter but was compelled at times to resort
to direct pumping. The managers of the
company think the citizen misunderstood
the engineer. Possibly, but there was no
Misunderstanding the case first mentioned.
Coupled with this is the fact that the
water has, at different periods lately,
been discolored, foul smelling, and
that dirt has run from the faucets into
bathtubs. Then it does not appear hard to
believe the other story.
To be sure there have been reports that
the water has been analysed by the state
authorities and the results haye been very
satisfactory. From these reports some
people have been led to believe that it is
not dangerous to drink the water from
spigots. This was the case with physi-
clan who did not object to his family so
doing, and now he has case of typhoid
fever in his household. While it may be
argued that plenty of people In the town
drink the water without boiling and do
not get infected, the fact remains that in
most of the cases the patients had been
drinking water direct from the faucet
Then We are met with the argument
that there is danger in celery, cabbage,
lettuce, etc., and that If one wants to be
so very careful, these vegetables should
not be washed except in boiled water.
There is some truth in that statement.
Another story that comes In q pretty
direct way Is to the effect that gentleman
had some conversation with q member or
officer of the State Board of Health, In
which the water question at Mount Holly
was mentioned. The official said the
Board had had trouble with two places
where water was pumped direct into the
reservoir instead of going through q filter
One of these places was Gloucester, the
other Mount Holly. He added that seal
had been placed upon the direct pipe at
Gloucester so that 1t was impossible to use
1t, and that such course would probably
follow at Mount Holly.
Summed up the whole situation Is that
there are many cases of typhoid fever In
town and that the danger of an increase
Is not past. 1t is also apparent that there
has been carelessness or neglect In the
manner In which the water supplied to
our citizens has reached the reservoir. We
are paying for pure water, and we have
right to receive 1t as near that state as
possible. What do we getf We get
fluid that we are warned must not be
taken into the system unless 1t is made
harmless by boiling. For this privilege
we are charged big price, with an addi-
ton of 12a per cent, which was put on to
pay for filter, and which was to be taken
off as soon as the company could afford to
do so. That time has not arrived, 1t may
come some time, but the company pays
dividends on its stock.
The public schools pay 5000 per year
for water, and have been compelled to put
in boiling apparatus In order to give the
children what the water company ia paid
for furnishing pure drinking water.
Some Of the pupils will not drink the
boiled water, but the order has been given
that they are not to use what comes from
the spigots in a natural state. Conse-
quently many children go all day without
drink of water
There is nothing right or fair In this
proposition. If the statements made about
the direct pumping are correct-and we
are certain at least one of them is-then
there is situation which demands imme-
diate attention at the hands of the officers
of the water company. Until something
is done to give the people what they pay
for there is but one thing to do and that
is to boil your drinking water every day
from the first of January until the thirty
first of December.
Valentines and valentine post cards at
Boyce's, 81 Main street.