The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-03-05
1t is the Water,


The above are the same words Tn
News used few weeks since, only they
are t-ansposed. Then they were SIS it ?
now they are cit is" This change il
based on the report of the Board Of
Health of Northampton township, giver
out after an investigation of the situation
and conditions. The report is as follows
AFTER careful investigation of the
present outbreak of typhoid fever we are
enabled to eliminate all other possible
causes except the public drinking supply.
An analysis of this water made on Febru.
airy z, shows that the filtered water con-
tanned the same quantity of B. Coli as
the raw water from the stream itself An
inspection of the stream shows it to be
contaminated in so many ways and so
many places that 1t is practically a sewer
Consequently, in our opinion, the cause
of the outbreak is due to the condition of
the drinking water and the only safe plan
Is to boil the water always"
This is a condensed form of the report
made by the health officer of this town
ship. For several weeks past he, in com
pany with state inspectors, has been in
vestigating conditions along the source of
the water supply for this town.
The picture drawn is anything but
pleasant. Starting up in the pine districts
where there are numerous cranberry Dogs
1t was found that those who make that
portion of the county their home at GER
tain seasons of the year are not under any
special sanitary restrictions, and are not
as careful, possibly, as they might be-
The cranberry boys are drained yearly,
the water drawn off, with its sewage de-
posts, finding its way into the creek
This naturally comes past Pemberton, and
the query is why does that town escape
the typhoid feYer2" 1t is not sure it does.
1t can be shown that at least once during
the past year there were in the Burling-
ton county hospital two typhoid fever
patients whose home was near the Ran
cocas creek above Pemberton.
Before getting to the town it may be
well to go to the county institutions. The
asylum has sewage filter and the CON
tents from that reach the creek below the
intake of the Pemberton water company
The State Board of Health has discovered
that the drinking water furnished the asy-
lum and which is taken from the creek is
polluted.
Then we get to Pemberton and on a
reliable authority we have it that, not
withstanding the idea the authorities of
that place have on the subject, sewage
from that town does reach the creek.
Leaving Pemberton we come down the
stream and all along we find places from
which filth is deposited In the stream.
This is not small affair, for these places
are numerous. In one instance the State
inspector secured a photograph of the
actual pollution of the stream.
This is not fancy picture but one of |
reality. The creek is a common sewer |
polluted by filth of all descrip-
lions, the water of which is not fit to |
drink, without boiling, and hardly fit |
then. at any time during the year
What stands between the people and this |
filthy condition? A filter that, according |
to the analysis of February z, does not
always work. What protection have the
citizens in this matter2 None. Those
who drink theraw water do so at their own
peril. The local Board of Health has gone
into this matter deeply. Milk supplies, !
food products, everything that could be
considered as a possible cause for the
fever, have been thoroughly investigated,
and the report as above, is that I'VE are
enabled to eliminate all possible causes
except the public drinking supply"
What is the remedy2 There is one very
safe rule to follow Remove the cause
and the effect will disappear But with
,he conditions above US as they are and as
hey are likely to continue, it will not be
easy to remove the cause. The only thing
hat will be of substantial benefit is a
supply of drinking water above suspicion
It is remembered that an attempt was
made to drive an artesian well. This was
abandoned on the report that the flow of
water would not be sufficient for the towns
needs and that the water was not of the
desired owing to the iron de.
Dosits.
At the factory of R. G. Chance there
ire two artesian wells in constant use.
)ne of them shows a heavy deposit of
ron. the other light deposit. The water
rom the latter is used by the employees
or drinking and is liked by them. Mr.
Chance has the opinion of chemist that
his iron deposit may be taken out of the
water by chemical process and sample
If the water has been sent to the chemist
who will not only analyze it but will re-
bort on what may be done with it.
But, bear in mind that 1t is necessary for
Lbsolute safety to boil all of the water you
Use. not only for drinking purposes but
or washing dishes, rinsing vegetables, in
act for everything whora row u,otor 10 |
low used.