The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1916-10-13
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When the erection of a great bridge
spanning deep waters or the building
of sky scraper for the housing Of
millions of dollars of business inter
ests is contemplated, the first thing il
to prepare plans to the mlnutest de-
tails. The character of the founda
tions, the strength of materials anC
numberless other minutiae are consld
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
public health-the physical welfare
the permanent well-being of the COM
munity which is the foundation OF all
its chances for prosperity.
Taking the lead and establishing
presidents in its work for the lasting
bettermcnt of the public health in
Florida, the State Board OF Health has
quite recently added to its equipment
a Department of Sanitary Engineer
ing. Hardly three months ago TINS
work was inaugurated, under the
management of an experienced sclen-
tifc man who has made special study
for years of the problems that affect
the purity of the water supply and
the disposal of sewage in Florida
communities, 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 malnten-
ance as they know about their abiding
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 general
ties, but they don't know, or are indif-
ferent as to whether that water is fit
to drink or whether it may be con-
taminated now or hereafter from
known or unsupported sources.
Too often, INSCRIPTIONS engineers
and contractors will persuade gulllble
municipal authorities into urwise in
vestments of public money in public
improvements. Taking advantage of
incompetent inspection Of construction
and materials, a city may be robbed
of large sums by imperfect and I'M
scientific 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 citi-
zens of Florida.
The water supply Of the community
is like the blood cf the individual. if
it isn't pure and wholesome it be-
comes a poison. The problem in
each city and town is subject for
special study for it is exactly alike
in no two places. The natural
source of water supply, whether that
water is wholesome chemically and
pure bacteriologically, whether and
how it may be contaminated and how
it may be kept perpetually uncontan1i-
mated, are some of the elements to be
settled by scientific investigation be-
fore construction may be begun wise
ly or safely.
The artesian water supply through
the state is much the same as to chem
ical content. Yet although it comes
from varying depths in different Sec
tons, there is the possibility in numer-
Gus places that it may be polluted by
drainage from inhabited territory, to
insure clean water and to keep it
clean is the province of the sanitary
expert. The construction and loca-
ton of sewers and drains and the dis
posal of garbage and refuse are sub
iects that call for most serious study
by scientific engineers, and through
this department the State Board of
Health offers expert advice on these
matters affecting public health.
Already the engineer in charge is
having made chemical examinations
of water supplies. With the estab-
lShmenC OF lCS own laboratory lHe ue-
partment will soon be prepared to
make meteorological examinations al
so.
While the services of this depart
ment are advisory, it has already sur
veved without being called specially
into consultation, the water supplies
and drainage systems of several CT
lies and reports are being prepared on
,hese Investigations. The depart
nent has and will exercise the func-
ion of Independent sleuthing, and |
some Florida communities may be
and shocked when they are
that they are drinking and
bathing in water that far below the
surface is mixed in the same cesspool |
With their sewage, or that of some
town, miles away.-State