New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-11
mo DANGER FOLKSSAYS
Opposition to Tuberculosis
Hospital GrOundIeSS."
POLLUTION SAFEGUARDED
"Only Understandable 0pposi-
ton to Westchester Site Is
from Property Owners.

Opposition to placing Westchester
County's new tuberculosis hospital in a
part of the Croton watershed on the
ground that It might lead TO the COM
munication of the disease to people In
the city through the water supply. is
based on misrepresentation Of conditions,
according to Homer Folks, secretary Of
the State Charities Aid Association, the
organization which is working for the es-
adjustment of county sanatoria through
out the state.
80 far from being a menace to the
people of New York" said Mr.. Folks,
the establishment of a carefully planned
tuberculosis sanatorium, conducted under
public supervision and control, would be
measure of protection to New York by
gathering into its care the tubercular
persons now scattered throughout the
watershed and other portions of the coun'
ty under no regulation whatever.
1T should be borne i'm mind that these
watersheds are now open to private use
and are dotted with towns, villages, set
Elements and camps Of one kind or an
other These people are not under con-
troll to anything like the extent to which
those occupying the proposed institution
would be-
Two hundred people in an institution
e rfaIy IF
municating disease than do two hundred
people in a village. The provision OF an
effective sewage disposal plant makes
the transmission OF disease practically
out OF the question in the former case,
while I'm the latter such provision is lack
ing and such villages are scattered all
through the Croton watershed, only the
edges Of the lakes and streams being
protected.
The committee Of the Merchants AS
ISOLATION is wisely making an extended
campaign against the pollution of streams
and water courses by cities towns and
villages. 1t calls attention to the de-
plorable results arising from the dis
charge of sewage into the Hudson River
and other streams. II is urging that
cities and towns, and also factories,
should be required to install sewage dis
posal plants, so that the sewage may be
purified before It finds its way, as all
water ultimately must do, into the
streams, rivers and other water courses.
Now as a matter of fact this pro-
posed institution would Of necessity be
equipped with every provision for the
publication Of it's sewage, because ITS
plans must be subject to the approval Of
the health authorities. IN other words,
what the committee Of the Merchants
Association is trying to secure for the
cities. towns and villages Of the state Is
required already OF this institution
When it speaks of the pollution Of the
water supply In other instances it means
pollution by pouring into streams raw
sewage. An array of the highest sani-
tary authorities in the country, including
Dr. Herring, president OF the American
Public Health Association. and the ac-
lnowedged head OF his profession has
testified that there is no danger, even Of
the remotest sort. from this tuberculosis
hospital at the place proposed
THE only opposition to the selection OF
this site which is understandable is that
arising from a few immediate, adjacent
property owners. Let any one who
wishes To do so try 10 place public in
stitution in Westchester County, outside
of the watershed and stlll within any
moderate degree OF accessibility TO rail-
way. and at anything like a reasonable
b.. NTH fnl Instead A
there being endless areas OF choice there
is practically no choice, except some
where within the territory which drains
into the Croton water system.
1t should be observed that in the con-
troyersy which has occurred, no repre-
sentative OF the Department Of Health
has appeared IT is incorceivable that II
that department. which is specially
charged with the duty OF protecting the
health of the people OF the City of New
Yorl, felt that any danger existed, 1t
would not have made its voice heard.
1T is easily understood, OF course, that
property owners In the immediate vicinity
cannot successfully advance their partic-
uIar claims as against the public inter
est. and can only make an effective OPP
position by urging other considerations
and by working up other opposition
which proceeds ofttimes from inadequate
consideration of the facts in the case.
eft IL TO be regretted that representa-
tiyes Of any civic body should lend them
selves so hastily to an Iii considered OPP
positlon TO a meritorious Undertaking
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