The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-18
TYPHOID GERMS NOT
 FOUND IN THE WATER
 SOLD IN BIRMINGHAM
tContinued from Page Five)

Is a perfectly harmless germ. It exists
 in untold millions in the intentines of every healthy human being and in the intestines of every warm blooded ami nal It is found in almost every glass of milk. It's presence Tn water does not indicate the presence of disease germs but may indicate the possibility of contamination. The water furnished by every water plant in the United States if drawn from lakes or rivers vii at times show the presence of B. coli. Doubtless if large enough quan- titles of any such water were exam ined at any time coli would be found to be present The question as to wh ether or not a water is to be con- sidered pure and wholesome is not to tt determined by the question as to whether or not it ever contains B. coli in any quantity but as to whether coli are found with such freqeuncy and in such quantities as to indicate the probability of sewage contamination.
 Tests in Other Cities
 'The scientific test for determining the presence of B. coli is customarily made by the examination of samples of water containing one cubic centimeter or about a thimble full Waters that are recog- nized as being wholesome, and satisfae- tory, such as the waters used in New York and Chicago show the presence of bacillus coli in one cubic centimeter from 5 to 15 per cent of the times examina- tions are made. The city of Cincinnati has had for years one of the lowest typhoid death rates in the United States. It's water plant is municipally operated. It Is managed according to the most modern and scientific methods. m an article recently published by MT. Films, superintendent of the Cincinnati plant, he stated that every glass of filtered Cincinnati water would show the pres- ence of bacillus coli. On the other hand 1 it is rarely, although at times, fs md in | one cubic eentimeter.
 'The Birmingham Water company not only treats it's water by the processes oi | of hypochlorites, but in addition it has | daily examinations made by skilled l bacteriologist as to the purity of tht l treated water from both the North Bir
 mingham and Cahaba supplies. These records are open to the examination oi the city authorities, of the city health | officer, of the city bacteriologist and oi anybody else interested in the subject
 Since January 1, 1914, as a result of tho daily meteorological examinations made | by the water companys expert bacillus coli have not been found a single time in one cubic centimeter of water taker either from the Cahaba or North Br. mingham supplies.
 Few Can Equal Birmingham "The Birmingham Water company con 1 fidently asserts that few cities in thu
 United States eau equal the record oi l the Birmingham Water company for ths month of June and so far in July. fol I the entire period since January l, ant | in fact for several years past in thu 1 quality of water furnished. The Birming | ham Waterworks company does not de | sire to criticize general sanitary condi | tions in the city of Birmingham The 1 facts with reference to the existence oi 1 thousands of dry closets and of othe
 insanitary conditions have been recently pointed out by the city health officer.
 "The Birmingham Water company be
 lieves that intelligent and earnest effort:
 are being made to bring sanitary condi l tions in Birmingham up to a high stand l ard, but it is due to the people of Bir
 mingham as well as to the Birmingham ] Water company that the widest publicit, should be given to the fact that the wate now being furnished by the Birmingham l Water company and the water whicl has been furnished by that company 10
 long period in fhe past is remarkable for it's purity and whoIesomeness. 1t f | absolutely beyond intelligent criticism. l
 is equaled in but few cities in the United
 States. Mir George w. Fuller. America
 leading sanitary expert, recently testi
 fled. under oath, that the quality of tn
 water furnished by the Birmingham
 Water company was the very best, tha
 it was treated in accordance with tn
 most advanced modern science and tha
 the character of this water should b considered as an asset of great value t
 this community.
 WALKER PERCY.
 Attorney for the Birmingham Water | works Company"