Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-07-11
THINGS TALKED ABOUT.

WoouDuTy tne past week has raised
Ithe Water Question subject even above
that of politics. It is, perhaps, unfor-
tunate that this epidemic should have
occurred at time when doubt existed
IN some quarters as to the purity of
our water supply.
1t is very difficult to act wisely when
the public is suddenly aroused. Ii Is
to check the sudden and violent express
sion of opinion that laws are made for
constitutions evolved. Opinions sud-
denly formed are easily expressed.
and, doubtless, that is the reason that
many people do not attach much inn
porsanee to petitions. They do not
question that the people are right
Wnen they take sober thought, but
opinion given on the spur of the mo-
ment and without much investigation
should not be given the weight that
Investigation and scientific knowledge
perforce carry with them.
****
II We should not be aroused SO greatly
and say such evil things against
Woodbury. water till it is proven that
Jour water has been the source of
sdisease. 1t is authoritatively stated
e--s-S cA-S VI tAC pCISOuS ullOSL SICK
with the fever has not tasted Wood
bury water for many months.
Typhoid may come from Mflk.a sea-
shore epidemic was once traced to
oysters, while various foodstuffs may
contain the germs. We would not say
that Woodbury. water did not cause
this disease because we do not know.
Rumor says that a certain chemist
tested our water and found it full of
typhoid germs. Science will tell us
that typhoid germs cannot be found
they cannot be isolated.
The report of the State Board of
Health will be awaited with interest.
1t will be given within a few days.
They have been investigating all pos
sible sources of contagion, and hence
their report will be of real value.
ii The water problem as it affects
Woodbury. is a two-fold proposition.
AThere is the health side and the busi-
Hness side Every member of Council
twill tell you that the health side is
lall-important, but the business side
must not be forgotten.
Z NoIOA 10 T41dt W e oil VAIL d1lU
what we have right to demand. If
we can get pure water supply from
our present source, it would not be.
good business to go into the artesian
! proposition. If we cannot get good
water from our surface stream, it
would be very poor business to CON
tlnue with it Some of our Council
men and doctors and citizens con
tend that we can get as good wat
/ eT as ever from our present source.
and make our supply germ proof by
the expenditure of less than four
thousand dollars in improving the
watershed. 1t would be policy to in
stall filter too, which would cost
T in the neighborhood of twelve thou
sand dollars. The artesian water
might, it frequently does, require filter
ing. The filter specifications call for
water 9S per cent, pure.
We should not forget that Council
individually and collectively is as
much interested in pure water as any
Zone. Any action they may take will
Ybe with the single purpose of giving
/ good water at the smallest cost-but
always. good water If there are two
ways of giving good water, they would
scarcely be justified in choosing that
which is the more costly. 1t must not
be overlooked that the future may
require more improvements and
greater expenditures. and that pre-
sent small expense may lead to a
heavy outlay
Our present source of supply and
equipment has cost considerably more
than 100000 We should not be too
eager to abandon it. 1t has been said
that an artesian plant can be installed
for $25,000; Colonel Pfeifer roughly
estimated it at $4,000
If we cannot get good water except
from artesian wells. we must have
artesian wells whether the cost be
$4,000 or $4,000