The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-10-12
THE IMPORTANCE
OF PROPER SAM
TARY ENGINEERING
Given Consideration by the State
Board of Health
ADDS TO IT'S EQUIPMENT
Department Under the Manage
ment of an Experienced Scien-
tifc Man - Advisory Service
Free to Citizens of Florida

When the erection of a great
bridge spanning deep waters OF
building of sky scraper for the
housing of millions of dollars OF
business interests is contemplated
the first thing is to prepare plans
to the minutest details. The
character of the foundations, the
strength of the materials and
number-less other minutiae are
considered, and the work of the
engineer is the first and most i'm.
portant of all.
1t hasn't occurred to business
men, until within very recent
years, that the services of the en-.
gineer are quite as necessary in
the even more important work OF
building up and conserving health
the physical welfare, the per-
manent well-being of the commun-
ity which is the foundation of all
its chances for prosperity.
Taking the lead and establish
ing precedents in its work for the
lasting betterment of the public
health in Florida, the State Board
of Health has quite recently added
to its equipment a Department of
Sanitary Engineering. Hardly
three months ago this work was
inaugurated, under the manage
ment of an experienced scientific
man who has made special study
for years of the problems that af-
feet the purity of the water sup
ply 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 con-
struction of municipal waterworks
and sewers know as much about
the elements of the problems, a.
bout the dangers of improper
construction and maintenance as
they know about their abiding
place in the hereafter. Thel call
for advice from engineers who are
quite competent to estimate the
flow of water from given sources,
the cost of laying pipe and other
generalities, but they don't know,
or are Indifferent as to whether
that water is fit to drink or wheth-
er it may be contaminated now or
hereafter from known or suspect
ed sources.
Too often, INSCRIPTIONS engin-
eers-and contractors will persuade
gullible municipal authorities into
unwise investments of public mon
ey in public Improvements. TAX
ing advantage Of incompetent in
Spection of construction and me-
terials, city may be robbed of
large sums by imperfect and un-
scientific workmanship and low
grade materials.
1t is to remedy such possibilities
in Florida cities and sections, that
this new department has been Gre
ated: 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 func-
tions of the department are advi-
sorry and free to the citizense of
Florida.
The water supply of the COM
mmit yis like the blood of the in
dividual if it isn't pure and
wholesome it becomes a poison.
The problem in each city and town
is a subject for special study for
it is not exactly alike in any two
places. The natural suoree 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
uncontaminated are some of the
elements to be settled by scientific
investigation before construction
may be begun wisely or safely.
The artesian water supply thru
the state is much the same as to
chemical content. Yet although
it comes from varying depths in
different sections, there is the pos
sibility in numerous places that
it may be polluted by drainage
from inhabited territory, to insure
clean water and keep it clean is
the province of the sanitary ex-
pert. The construction and loca-
tion of sewers and drains and the