The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-05-10

voiyed, until now II II not only es-
sf1tia' that compunities are able TO
river does mol become unsttrsctive
and that bathing beaches be other
than dangerous disease producing
Naturally. with the increasing
attention has been paid TO the In.
d the people eSIS'e q both n VI CANADA Sp: and
The trsxiiss between the United
the S' united 80 st..ss and Sse canss" on on
ternstionsi aoint comm's.ien Tor In
and ns ssDS. ' aSs.
ss Sn ss.r iG' sS'Ss'ss q
this e9nplsint. pr; Allan J, No
Health service. Was e s '' by
the Commission as Chief Sanitary
and. thereafter. and until septsmber
r:d i on by an br McSinsh ma' under sss
the supervision and direction. OF a
committee sson'istins q Me.srs.
tion. Observations on the Detroit
river were made. internationally. from
May to October. 1919. and on the
ssssion Of n the Contradiction MIMI h. RS'' n
Washington. the nnal report OF the
sanitary expert was presented.
After the date. January 10. 1914.
hshed 80 much Of the report Of this
committee as was relevant TO the
first branch OF the Investigation.
Public hearings with the city and
September 20 and 80. 1914: and pub
lie hearings relative to the pollu-
ton from navigation were held in
Detroit on November 10 and II. 1914.
cation OF the extent and source OF
pollution of boundary waters by DIR.
Mclaughlin. the International Com
P PsSn a Employed osS the Pr Gn. aAr States
Health service. az consulting engi-
neer. To make studies and formulate
plans for remedial measures. pos
under the direction Of prof. Phelps
district offices were established in
Detroit in charge OF Mr.. H. &. Nc
Crae, formerly division engineer OF
in charge OF the construction and
operation Of the Baltimore sewage
disposal plant. The studies OF the
conditions in the towns and cities To-
Gated on the st. Clair and Detroit
rivers were carried on for nearly
year. and the result of these inves-
tigatlons are now in the hands OF
the International Joint Commission.
Realizing the lack OF Information
concerning Detroit conditions. the
writer sent a communication TO your
honorable Body. October s. 1914. as
follows:
To the Honorable the Common
'Gentiemen:-As your Honorable
Body is aware. sessions OF the Joint
International Compassion. appointed
to consider the pollution OF boundary
waters. were held In this city and
Windsor during the past week IL
seems TO be conceded that pollution
the Commission. but by your own
Health Department as well. and the
discussion seems to be taking on the
form Of an inquiry as to the best
officials 10 correct existing conditions.
No DEFINITE plan or Investigation with
this end In view has been made by
the officials OF the city OF Detroit
or facts. which could be presented to
the commission In concrete form.
In view OF the Importance Of the
matter II would seem desirable that
by Detroit city officials as to what
means OF disposal or treatment OF
our sewage. u any should be under
taken. In order that the subject
might he more intelligentiy discussed
AZ future sessions OF the Joint In
ternational Commission. which will
undoubtedly be held here.
To start the matter. I would rec
ommend the appropriation OF $4,000
10 be expended under the supervision
OF TINS department.. and the refer
ence :" this communication to your
Committee on Ways and Means
Respectfully submitted.
GEORGE H. FENK ELL.
Commissioner"
or $4,000 above referred to. was al.
IN December. 1914. Mr.. Clarence w
Hubhell was employed az consult
ing engineer TO review the work
s,nn,r report Of the international Joint
measures necessary and advisable for
Detroit. ON May /, 1914. further
sum sum OF $4,000 was appropriated for
This report has been prepared with
a great deal Of care and research A
lsporatory was established In charge
or competent chemist and bacteri-
ologist: the condition of the river
was carefully observed from April
to November. 1915, continuously, and
over l.s00 samples OF water were
{, to determine the extent.
distribution and seasonal variation
OF the pollution In the river. The
river work was carried on with the
aid OF power launch and extensive
collected, covering the many phases
of the problem.
The conclusions established are OF
vital interest to every citizen of
Detroit and especially so to those in
terested In sanitary problems, Some
of the facts determined are of pe-
euliar interest at this time: as for
First-There are times when the
current in the Detroit river In re-
versed and the water flows toward
Sccond-fhe polluted shore wHter.
IN Its course. hugs the shore on
j. Third--The water OF the river puri.
nes itself considerably as IL hows
1t Is further shown that the site
81 Fort wayne Ii admirably adapted
plant and that this can
be operated without In any way UNI
hitting the property for park purposes
,r creating nuisance of any kind.
Mr.; Hubbell also found IL necessary
~ Detroits water supply. and the
facts brought out in that connection
are well worthy Of consideration.
The question OF pollution OF near
Is one that nearly ali OF the larger
cities have had to consider to some
extent. and the writer In submit
ting herewith brief compilation OF
data as to what has been accom-
throughout the country. especially
those situated around the Great
Lakes:
Milwaukee. Wisconsin. for many
years recognized the necessity for
terment OF It's rivers and lake front.
Temporary measures, such as river