Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-26
SEWAGE IN RIVERS
SUBJECT OF PROBE
international Joint Commission
Takes Up Question Along
Great Lakes.
POLLUTION is ALLEGED
AT DETROIT AND BUFFALO
Many Important Problems to Come
Before Body in Which Canada
and U. S. Are Interested.

Extensive field work is being done by
the international joint commission this
summer. preparatory to deciding many
problems in which Canada and the United
States have a mutual interest.
One of the most important matters be-
fore the commission has to do with the
alleged pollution of the Detroit and the
Niagara rivers by sewage from Detroit
and Buffalo, respectively. Parties of ex-
perts have been since early spring MAX
ing tests of water on the great lakes
With a view to submit ng report which
will bear upon the pollution charges.
These tests are being made both on the
American and on the Canadian sides on
the boundary. Probably by the early
part of September the report will be sub
mitted. The case is important, because
II the pollution charges are well founded
there must be a reconstruction of the
sewer systems of the cities named, and
pro- ably of other AXE cities near them.
Frank S. Streetef and Henry A. Powell.
members of the commission, the latter
from the Canadian end of it. are in
charge ot this work on the great lakes.
Dr. Allen j. Mclaughlin of the United
States public health service, who made a
report on the effect of sewage disposal in
some parts of the great lakes, is working
with the commission. According to Sur
geon General Rupert Blue of the public
health service the study made by DR.. Nc
Laughln will be much more extensive
now than it was before. 1T is the pres
ent plan to make an exhaustive study of
all the great lakes said DR.. Blue. Hun
dreds of samples of water are being taken
from all localities. Analyses of these are
made at our laboratories along the great
lakes DIR. Mclaughlin will make his re-
port to the commission. and it doubtless
will be many months before 1t is submit
ted
Cannot Make Final Decision.
T'he commission can make no final de-
cision with reference to the question OF
whether great lakes cities are poilutn2
the water. This question was referred TO
I By the United States and Great Brit
ain, Jointly, and an examination into the
facts requested. The two governments
will thresh the question out through dip
lomatic channels, should such course be
necessary following the report Of the In
ternational joint commission.
Another important question before the
commission has to do with the water lev
els in Lake of the Woods in the extreme
northern part of Minnesota. chairman
James \. Tawney of the American sec
ton of the commission, and {. A. Nc
Grath, one of the Canadian commission
ers, are directing this work, and 1t is eX-
pected that the three engineering parties,
which have been in the field for several
months, will be ready to make a report
by October l. This will be followed by
review of the case by the commission,
and then a decision establishing the
water levels for the future 1t is eX-
cd he q dISD0Spd
the coming fall or winter
Interests Are Divided.
Certain interests want high water in
Lake Of the Woods. both on the Canadian
and on the American sides of the bound
airy line while certain other interests
want low water.
The commission will decide between
them. The town of Kenora and the
navigation interests on the lake want
the high water. while the American
owning land on the lake shores and the
fishermen want low water. The inter
ests at International Falls, where dam
has been installed, incline to side with
the low-water people. kenora wants
high water because of the great water
power that has been established through
d dam at that place. The navigation in
terests, of course, want the higher water
so as to get along better with their
boats The fishermen. however, say that
high water interferes with fishing, and
the land owners complain because it
overfiows considerable part Of their
property.
The commission has had referred TO it
by the War Department contract
which it il proposed the government
make with the Michigan and Lake Su-
perior Power Company. with reference to
the use of power at the 500. This is
the first contract to be made of the
kind noted since the Supreme Court de-
cided the Chandler-Dunbar cases in IA
yor OF the government, and held that
the latter was entitled to all the power
created by the 500 improvements The
War Department wants the contract
looked over by the commission, since 1T
relates TO water at the Canadian as well
as the American 500. The commission
will meet in the early fall, at which
time the contract will be taken up.