The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-12
SANITARY ENGINEERING
Board of Health Bulletin)

| of sky scraper for the housing of
millions of dollars of business inter
ests is contemplated, the first thing is
to prepare plans to the minutest de-
tails. The character of the founda-
lions, the strength of materials and
numberless other minutiae are consid
cred, and the work of the engineer is
the first and most important of all.
1t hasn't occurred to busy men, un-
til within very recent years, that the
services of the engineer are quite as
necessary in the even more important
work of building up and conserving
Ipublic health-the physical welfare,
the permanent well-being of the COM
munity which is the foundation of all
its chances for prosperity.
Taxing the lead and establishing
pl ecedents in it's work for the lasting
betterment of the public health in
Florida the State Board of Health has
quite recently added to it's equipment
Ia Department of Sanitary Engineer
ing. Hardly three months ago this
work was inaugurated, under the man
agement of an experienced scientific
man who has made special study for
years of the problems that affect the
purity of the water supply and the dis
posal of sewage in Florida communi-
ties, whether they be cities or rural
districts.
Usually the body of citizens who
award contracts for the construction
of municipal waterworks and sewers
know as much about the elements of
the problems, about the dangers of
improper construction and mainte
nance as they know about their abid-
ing place in the great hereafter. They
call for advice from engineers who
are quite competent to estimate upon
the flow of water from given sources,
the cost of laying pipe and other gen.
eralities, but they don't know, or are
Indifferent as to whether that water
is fit to drink or whether it may be
contaminated now or hereafter from
known or unsupported sources.
Too often. INSCRIPTIONS engineers
and contractors will persuade guilt
able municipal authorities into unwise
investments of public money in public
Taking advantage of
inspection of construc-
ton and materials, city may be
robbed of large sums by imperfect and
workmanship and low
grade materials.
1t is to- remedy such possibilities in
Florida cities and sections, that this |
new department has been created, it
Is for the benefit of cities and towns !
and individuals. Like a large share !
OF the work Of the State Board of
Health, the functions of the depart
ment are advisory and free to the cit.
lzens Of Florida.
The water supply of the community
IS like the blood of the individual. if
It isn't pure and wholesome it becomes
poison. The problem in each city
ana town is subject for special study
for it is exactly alike in no two places.
me natural source of water supply
that water is wholesome
chemically and pure bacteriologically.
and how it may be contami.
hated and how it may be kept perpet.
Tally uncontaminated, are some of the
elements to be settled by scientific in.
'estigation before construction NAV
'e begun wisely or safely. IL
The artesian water supply through
ne state is much the same as to chem.
cal content. Yet although it comes
rom varying depths in different sec.
ions, there is the possibility in num.
rous places that it may be polluted
y drainage from inhabited TERRITORY
0 insure clean water and to keen it
lean is the province of the sanitary
xpert. The construction and location
I sewers and drains and the disposal \
I garbage and refuse are subjects H
nat call for most serious study by |
cientific engineers, and through This II
apartment the State Board of Health /
Hers expert advice on these matters l|
ffecting public health.
Already the engineer in charge is /
aVlng made chemical examinations of
'ater supplies. With the establish. /
nent OF its own laboratory the depart. /
lent VIII soon be prepared to make /
astrological examinations also
While the services of this denart.
leht are advisory. it has already sur.
eyed without being called specially /
nto consultation. the water supp,ies !!