The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-07
IOW0yC
Temperatures
ORRIS w. ROBERTS,
Meteorogolist.
DESTRUCTIVE TACTICS.

ACtlOn or inc dLLOIuoy 6oAoloA Oh"
the state board of health makes 1t
necessary for the Tribune to state
some unvarnished truths. Silence
longer, since officials have entered
the controversy, would seem to give
consent and appreciation.
Without investigation, but on the
strength of rumor and falsehood, ex'
ecutive officers of the state board Of
health have joined in putting ban
upon the water supply of Bismarck,
the best in the state.
Analyses Of the most competent
chemists in the United States show
the Missouri river water to be one Of
the purest sources Of supply any,
where. Experience in other states
where the same water is used sub.
stantiate this.
Other points on the Missouri river
using the water are not disturbed by
the state board of health. It seems
strange that Bismarck is singled out.
But admitting, for sake of argu'
ment, that Langer's position is ten
able, tactics adopted by him and the
state board of health show venom
unequaled by any official action ever
taken in the state. Notices of an or
der to shut off the water supply were
given in advance to the press and
every facility to spread the news
was utilized. So eager was Mr.. Lang
er to damage the city, that he allow
ed to be connected up with his order
the fact that no mobilization of
troops would be permitted here and
that his assistant, Mr.. Bronson of
Grand Forks, had called upon the
war department and set the facts
before that body.
While this action was taking place,
not one case of typhoid had been re-
ported to the health authorities in
more than a week and during the en-
tire month of April only eight cases
had been reported from Bismarck,
fewer than those of Grand Forks or
Fargo for like period and much less
than those reported from several 9TH
er cities of the state for April which
are still drinking "uncensored" wa
ter.
1t is reflection upon the Univer-
sity of North Dakota that DR.. Cox,
head of the health laboratory, should
lend his name to the intrigue. One
chemist assigned to Bismarck was
discharged recently for gross incom-
potency. His reports, like those CIV
en-. by the present incumbent, have
been checked up by st. Paul chem
lists of recognized merit and results
are easily available. 1t is notorious
fact that the equipment and facilities
here are inadequate to make suit
able examinations. Local physicians
in important cases do not rely upon
the laboratory, but send most of
their specimens and cultures else
where. One firm has its own labora-
tory.
The conduct of the state health
laboratories under DR.. Cox approach.
es almost a public scandal and
should be probed by the board of re-
gents without delay. Misrepresenta-
ton as regards the water of Els
marck is sufficient ground to attack
the efficiency and honesty of the en-
tire system.
There is no necessity for boiling
the water It is as safe and pure as
It has always been. For years the
United States maintained thousands
of regular soldiers at Fort Lincoln.
Reports of the general health on file
at the war department give the lie
to Mr.. LANCER, DR.. Cox and the local
bacteriologist, just as the absence Of
any epidemic or considerable number
Of diseases attributable to water sup