South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-30
TRACE TYPHOID
EPIDEMIC TO
OLD RESERVOIR
COntainer Near Central Pump
ing Station Abandoned 20
Years Ago Used Again
Until Recently.

The cause for the typhoid ep-
idemic in South Bend has again
been unearthed.
An old reservoir located near the
central pumping station, abandoned
by the city nearly 20 years was
put into commission by Supt. John
w. Toyne Of the city water works
about three years ago, according 10
his own statement last night. This
reservoir has always held about l 5
inches of river, or race water
daily. is the statement of former
officials of the water department.
and for this reason has been a hole
filled with quick sand at different
times during the period which has
elapsed since ID. b. j. Shafer was
mayor of this city.
The reservoir was used until
about one week ago when it was
again drained at the order of Maj.
]. O. Cobb of the United States
public health service. Containers
filled with the water were analized
by Mai. Cobb and the report show
ed that r. Coll. baccili similar TO
h. Typhus was found in the water.
Scientists state that where b. coli
is found. b. Typhus lies close by.
Reservoir Held Scepagc.
This central reservoir contained
seepage from the race following its
drainage at Mai Cobb's order, ac-
cording TO Supt. Toyne.
There are about 1872 miles of
water mains in South Bend. The
question is:
How long would it take a typhoid
fever to break out if water had TO
be pumped through 1872 miles of
mains. allowing for the time 1t
would take for the germs TO col
| lect in such quantity as to cause a
general epidemic. if, the water
came from a reservoir filled with
several inches of filthy race water.
Supt. Toyne stated that the cen
trail reservoir was placed in use be-
cause he favored the reservoir
system. He also admitted that he
knew the container had been aban-
doned years before and found places
= in the concrete floor that had been
patched.
Former Head Gives story.
Thomas A. AyreS superintendent
of the city water department dur
| ing the Goetz administration, said
last night that had the floor Of the
! reservoir concerted when ne dis
covered that il was being weakened,
but that there was so much seepaSe
! that the concrete bulged and broke
M. According 10 Mr. Ayres. at
least 10 inches of water was found
daily in the reservoir while he was
superintendent. It was never used.
he said.
THE department was able to
handle more water at the lowest
cost" is the reason given by Mr..
Toyne for his placing. what had be-
come a quick sand hole back INTO
commission three years ago Ihe
superintendent stated that II had
been cleaned probably four times
since its reinstatement.
This seepage is surface water II
is due to the fact that the west
race is several feet higher than the
floor of the reservoir.
The second instruction in MAI.
Cobb's report is TO the effect that
the operation Of the central reser-
voir be discontinued Immediately
pending reconstruction.
! His first instruction orders imme-
date installation Of chlorine treat
ment apparatus.
Cause of Epidemic.
! Mr.. Toyne's statement saturday
night coupled with Information re-
ceived from former city officials
verify the report that has been cir
culated in the city that the central
reservoir was the cause OF the
epidemic. It seems that this con-
itainer was not used since the water
works trustees became thing OF
the mast until the Keller admins
tration took over the affairs of the
CITY. Four superintendent avoided
using il 70 supply the city with
water. Mr.. Toyne gave IL clean
bill three years ago, water from
that and the north reservoir has
lbeen consumed by the public Tor
three wears. and now along comes
a United states army man and finds
the same seepage of river water
that was true OF the same mole Tot
nearly 20 years.
Ayre's Statement.
| Neither ], nor my preoeee7ssol :
used this central reservoir since the
time OF Mr. Rogers superintend r
encv. During my time the resef-
voir would fin with about 1 inches
of river water over night. saw
that II was fast becoming pad
hole and covered with quick sand.
consequently the board OF PUBIC
works ordered a floor OF concrete
nlaced in the container Prior "a
J CONTINUED OK PAGE THREE)