Evening star., 1918-07-14
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING

In order to provide pure drinking
water for the men in the trenches
and other sec
0rinkinO Wat, tions where per-
Tor the Army. works have not
been established, mobile water trains
have been constructed and are now
operating in France under the direc-
tion of the Army medical department.
according to officials of that branch
OF Uncle SANS service. These trains
are miniature water works, which
chemically treat. Alter and steriiiss
water. making It ht for consumption.
They are said to do everything that
a municipal water works does to in
sure water to the people of a city.
Chemical treatment and filtration
remove those substances that make
water muddy and disoelored. The
hltratton process also removes a GER
tain number of germs. The removal
81 the germs is accomplished by ap..
plying liquid chlorine, the agent most
universally used In the sterilization
OF water. Chemicals are also added
to remove the excess of chlorine that
gives the water an unpleasant taste.
A number of these publication units
with their attached motor tank
trucks constitute a train. Each unit
complete filtration plant, including q
laboratory. Arriving at a stream. it
sets hose into the water and thon
pumps tho water through a pressure
tank. Before the water passes
through the sand filter 1t is chemi-
on fa
passed out of the truck It is free
from all disease germs. The pure
water Is then pumped into tanks
mounted on trucks, which carry 1t to
the soldiers.
Each mobile unit carries an expert
chemist. bacteriolosist and pumpman.
There Is : complete laboratory in the
front OF the machine for the testing
Of water. Tests are made every two
hours and oftensr when it is
thought necessary. The water is
lifted into the alter by q gasoline
pump engine. and Q complete supply
SO that ali repairs either from acei-
dent or shell fire can be made on the
spot. The trucks are also equipped
with electric lights so that the work
can be carried on at night II desirable.
Many OF the chemists and bacteriol-
ogtsts assigned to ths mobile labora-
WI ZOE SohheStSo
municipal water work and filtration
plants. These publication units are
operated by the personnel of the
Sanitary Corps Of the Medical Depart
ment Of the Army.
Governmental agencies dealing with
highway problems fully recognize the
vital military and
Governments economic Importance
Road Work. Jo,ds' ~ according to
road experts of the Department of
Agriculture.
Of1cials of the department admin
lister the federal aid road act, and
they say that the government recog-
mixes that it is necessary to construct,
reconstruct or maintain roads essen
tial for military and vital economic
purposes and to defer action on roads
not Of this class. and that it is desir-
able, wherever possible. to use local
materials for road building and main
tenance in order to relieve railroad
traffic.
Important highways. in the opinion
of thesa experts, include only those
utilized. or to be utilized, by the mill
tary establishment. those which carry
and supplies essential to war indus
tries. and those which have a bearing
on the production and distribution of
food supplies. connecting population
and shipping centers with surround
fnR agricultural areas.
When the United States entered the
war the work of planning state high
way systems. SO that. as far as nee
essary and feasible, they would con-
meet with the systems of other states
was we'll under way. This resulted
from efforts to administer the federal
aid road act. so that the roads of vi
tai importance for economic, military
and other purposes should first be
dealt with. The federal aid road act
involving an aggregate five-year ex-
penditure, directly and from state and
local funds. Of S1so.o00.0 900 in addition
to at least $500. 900. 900 spent independ-
emily each year by the states-pro-
vides that the states must maintain
the roads and that before any money
can be expended the roads must be Sc
lected and approved and plans. speci-
fcations and contracts submitted. 1t
also provides that the federal govern
ment must inspect the construction of
the roads.
Soon after the United States en-
tered the war the Department of Az
riculture requested the state high
way commissions to Join It in direct
Ing expenditures only on roads of
prime Importance for economic and
military purposes. In this undertak-
ing, the ofiicials of the department
say, they have received the co-opera-
tion of state authorities.
The postal service is Of vital i'm
portancs to the successful operation
of all kinds of
Extending Our business. and 1t is
p...., s. especially impor-
fostal service. tant at this time
so that the agencies which are neces-
sary to the success Of business shall be
maintained at the highest degree of
efficiency.
It is pointed out by officials of the
Post once Department that while
other countries involved in the war
have found It necessary to curtail and
restrict their postal service, no such
action has been taken in this country,
nor 10 any such action contemplated.
On the contrary. the service general
iy has been extended and improved
wherever the circumstances would
warrant. This has been accomplished
Notwithstanding the unusual condi-
tions resulting from the war. These
conditions as they have affected the
postal development have taxed the re-
sources of the service and the tnttia-
tive OF its officers to meet new and
existing exigencies.
In accordance with this policy. dur
ing the past year 8i5 additional post
offices were established and 1870 ad-