The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-02-01
MANY TESTS ARE CONDUCTED
Racine onicials Furnish Interesting
Data for Use of Special Committee
Investigating Conditions II Eenosha.
Racine May Install Big Filter Soon.

| The city of Racine has furnished
some interesting data for use of the
special committee Of the common coun-
ell of Kenosha studying the conditions
| Of the water supply of this city, for
working along the same lines as the
city of Kenosha the city of Racine has
caused an examination to be made of
the lake water and it is declared that
| the results of tests made IN the state
Laboratories and in other laboratories
/ throughout the country indicate that
| the lake water at Racine is unfit for
Iuse. local officials declare that Keno
sha water is even more polluted than
that to be found at Racine on account
of the fact that in addition to all the
impurities found in the Racine water
Kenosha has the pollution which comes
from big manufacturing plants enter
ing their sewage into the lake.
A little less than a lear ago the Ra
cine council named a special committee
to test the lake water there. Ten
samples Of the lake water were Sc
cured, some of them being taken from
the water close to the shore and others
from points far out in the lake.
These samples were forwarded to
the hygienic laboratory at Madison for
analysis, but the reports received were
not given out when returned, the city
authorities not desiring to agitate the
patrons Of the water company, and
| brighten them into the belief that the
water was dangerous.
At the time of these Investigations
it is known that koli, or the bacteria
from human colon, was found in the
water, in considerable quantities and
while this was not dangerous to the
health of the people, clear evidence
that the water supply is rapidly be-
coming contaminated from the millions
Of tons of sewage deposited therein.
After the investigation by the city
it is understood that the Racine Water
company proceeded to examine the
water. Mr.. Bunker, official chemist
for the American Waterworks and
Guarantee company, was there and
made an analysis of the water supply
and he also found traces of koli and
other impurities, and he informed the
company that filtering plant would
be an absolute necessity in the very
near future, in order to remove the
impurities and unless this was done,
the water in time would become so
POLLUTED that boiling would be neces-
sary.
Recently when Mayor Goodland ad-
fdressed the Racine Manufacturers as
Isociation on the waterworks purchase
question, he told them that koli or im--
purities were found in the water sup
ply, but that he did not consider it
alarming or dangerous to the people, in
fact, it is his opinion that a filtering
plant will not be necessary for many
years to come.
Local chemists declare that while
some times the koli or other impuri-
ties are found that other days the
samples do not show any traces at all.
At the present time the water sup
ply from Lake Michigan at Milwau-
kee is far below the usual standard
of purity, and statements have been
sent out that it is dangerous even to
brush the teeth unless the water has
been boiled.
Again it is said that the health de-
Ipartment of Milwaukee is making an
attempt to minimize the danger, re-
fusing to do more than to suggest the
boiling of water and milk in a more or
less perfunctory manner.