Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-02-05
REVIEW OF WORK DONE IN PRE-.
SERVING HEALTH OF CITIES
AND TOWNS.
WATER AND sEWAoE PLANTS
MEET WITH APPROVAL
City Officials Appear WiIIins 70 Accept
Corporation Of okate Health Board
in Protecting Publie-9ssssino to
Avoid Outbreaks Of Prsvsntabls Dis.
eases.
'pecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Feb. 5.-Lafayette Hig-
gins, state civil and sanitary engineer,
who has charge OF the sanitary investi-
cation of Iowa for the state board of
health, Of which he Is q member, has
been unusually busy out in the state
recently and has q great deal Of work
ahead. He has just made the follow
ing brief report on the work done and
objects to be attained:
The following is an approximate list
of the work done by the sanitary en-
gineer Of the state board Of health. and
of work to be done in the immediate
future
New water supplies.-Storm Lake,
Lenox, Mount Ayr. Fontanelle, Chelsea,
Centerville. Mitchellville.
Water supplies (Old)-Guthrie Cen
ter, Fort Madison, Mount Pleasant,
Cherokee. Greenfield, Valley Junction.
The work Of the sanitary engineer in
these cases has been advisory, and in
the case Of the new water supplies has
involved a sanitary survey in prac-
tically all cases. With the old water
been made or will be made during the
months Of February. The analysis OF
these waters has been made by the
chemist of the state board of health.
From inquiries it is estimated tina:
about fifty towns will either install wa
ter works during 1914 or take the
initiative looking toward such installa-
ton. From Information at hand it
would appear that at least twenty ct
the towns already having a public
water supply will require investigation
and assistance from the state board
of health, looking toward the improve
ment or extension of such water sup
plies.
Sewage Systems.
OF the towns that have lately put In
sewers for sewage disposal where the
sanitary engineer Of the state board
has been more or less directly of as
sistance, following named valley juno
ton, Abba, Knoxville, Sigourney. STRAIT
ford and Usage are towns now adver-
Using for the construction Of sewers
and sewage disposal. About 20 towns
have asked for advice or assistance IN
operation of disposal plants now In
stalled. Inquiries that have reached
the sanitary engineer indicate that at
least Is towns will either install
sewers or sewage disposal. or take the
initiative looking thereto, during the
year 1914.
Sanitary Survey.
Since July 4, 1914, sanitary surveys
have been made Of the following towns:
Rex, Maple, Andersonville, Hawkeye.
Ogden, Maxburg, Pennington, Council
Bluffs. Keokuk.
Sanitary surveys of the following
towns will be made during February
and March, 1914.
Bear Creek, Foster, Yoder, Scandal,
Mystic, Guthrie Center, Oakland, Sey-
mour, Ellsworth. Mt. Pleasant, Cedar
Rapids and Des Moines.
Calls are in for surveys at about lO
other towns, and in about rura!
localities
Sanitary surveys of proposed hospital
locations have been recently made at
Clinton, Davenport, Sioux City and at
the county farm, Polk county. A re"
surveys of this character will be made
within the next two months.
Assisting Local Boards.
The purpose Of the several sanitary
surveys of towns is to assist the local
boards of health in remedying the un-
healthy conditions in these towns. 1t
is fact recognized by the local boards
Of health that the time has arrived for
intelligent. comprehensive, and decisive
action on their part for the betterment
of existing conditions. The sanitary
engineer of the state board of health
has received the earnest cooperation
of local boards of health wherever
these surveys have been made. 1t Is
the intention that at least 100 towns
may receive attention during the year
1914 in matters pertaining to SANTA
ton, by actual field investigation ny
the sanitary engineer, the chemist and
the bacteriologist of the state board OF
health.
1t rs the purpose of the state board OF
health to reach all of the mining towns
of the state either by direct sanitary
surveys or by rules and regulations
specifically relating to such towns.
early in the spring of 1914, in order that
a general cleanup OF these towns may
be made and the sanitary conditions be
made satisfactory.
Complying With Rules.
The rule of the Iowa state board OF
health recently passed and requiring
the submission and approval OF plans
and specifications for water. works ana
sewage disposal mas met Win the sen
eral approval Of the engineering profess
sion and also with the approval OF the
towns and municipalities of the state
so far as the rule has become known.
This rule also provides that the Iowa
state board of health shall have super
vision over water supplies and sewage
and garbage disposal plants.
The constant application of this pro-
vision Of the rule will successfully
safeguard the health Of the people in
the average Iowa municipality. If the
water supply of city is safe; If the
sewage is properly disposed OF; and
IL proper provision Is made for garbage
disposal and for the proper surface
drainage of the city. epidemics will be-
Protect Yourself