The Penn's Grove record., 1915-10-22
WATER PROTEST MEETING
CONTINUED from page y

CONDITIONS UPSET THEORIES.
William A. Summerill said that the
law under which the citizens had been
prosecuted was the Sanitary Code"
of the Board of Health of the Borough
of Penns Grove. The local Board, or
n three Inembers on it, could by vote
change the "Uode," and direct or with
hold prosecutions which had been
made at the instigation of State inspec-
tors who we're no more than foreign
spies employed to convict in a foreign
court on a law practically made at the
instigation of a State official irrespon-
sible to the people. That may be Ger
man and Russian methods. They were
not American. Therefore, the remedy
is to have a Board of Health who will
change the Sanitary Code"
The scientists declare that all water
in wells less than twenty feet deep is
surface water. Surface water is liable
to be contaminated and must necessar-
lily be so with the large increase of cit
liens in Penns Grove. Further, that
much sewage in water gives up salt
which is retained in the water. Be
cause much salt has been found in
Penns Grove wells which are shallow
they must necessarily be contaminated
with sewage. We are on the verge of
an epidemic OF typhoid fever and all
are liable to be ready for the doctor
and grave yard at any time. Scienti-
fc theory.
The facts are that the analysis of
four wells which show qualities of salt
a mile apart is not from sewage, be-
cause the organic matter found is very
small. Because a small quantity of
oxygen is taken to consume it shows
there is no ray sewage in the water
and the organic matter has been dis
solved into it's elementary state.
Why Is not the water contaminated?
Because the scientists have not taken
into consideration the geological con
dit1ons of the soil strata under Penns
Grove. There is a strata of hard clay,
more irony in some places than in 9TH
ers, from n to four feet below the
surface imperVious to water. Ponds
and pools lie oVer Penns Grove until
eVaporated or taken off by surface
drainage because the water will not
soak through this clay. At a depth of
from four to fifteen feet a strata of
hne gravel and shore sand are found
which are natural filter beds. This
Was river or ocean shore at one time.
Water is very brackish in the river at
dry times. Salt was deposited in these
stratas.
While scientists come here and tell
us we should all be dead or soon will
be from drinking surface water most of
the men at the meeting were over sixty
years of age, In good health and living
witnesses that the water they have
been drinking for twenty-five and some
of their ancestors before them for over
200 years, is good and wholesome.
With only two serious cases of ty-
phoid fever in Penns Grove within a
year and no dysentery, and those not
traced to drinking water, under alleg-
ed ~unsanitary conditions, declared by
new corners to be very dangerous with
u sewers, is not amazing to the old
inhabitants, although startling to the
new corners. Salt in the soil and he
clay strata upset scientific theories.
Notwithstanding this it is well to
look after the drainage from the wells.
and have them cleaned and pumped out.
Motions were adopted that the Board
Of Health be requested to change the
Sanitary Code to a more reasonable
and just procedure against n~uisances
and that each person whose well is
condemned be presented with a card
from the State Board of Health show
ing the complete analysis of their
water.
Another meeting will be held soon.