Evening star., 1918-07-08
ALEXANDRIA BEGINS
SANITARY CRUSADE
State Health Office Takes
Charge Following Camp
Humphreys Order.
MASS MEETING IS HELD

ALEXANDRIA, Va, July 8.-This
city today is in charge of the state
health department, and physician from
the office Of Surgeon General Rupert
Blue, United States public health
service. is expected here this after
noon to begin the work Of looking
after the health of Alexandria with
view of putting the old city in better
shape.
The announcement of such action
was made by DR.. E. G. Williams, state
health commissioner. at a mass meet
ing of citizens, numbering about 200.
held yesterday afternoon in the rooms
of the chamber of commerce.
Camp Order Causes Action.
This action was taken because of
the fact that. Saturday. Lieut.. Col.
Park. Camp Humphreys. Va. issued
an order prohibiting soldiers of that
command from purchasing any article
of food or drink in this city.
The meeting was presided over by
Robert l.. Payne. and ]. 7. Preston
acted as secretary. Attending were
number of officers and directors OF
the Alexandria Water Company. DR..
Williams said the real cause of ty-
phoid may come from eating or drink
ing or from flies. If 1t were the wa
ter supply alone, he declared, there
would be as much typhoid in winter
as in summer.
In making the announcement of the
change in the handling Of the health
of the city, he declared it was no
reflection on the present health de-
partment.
Water Not Proved to Be Cause.
An investigation. he said. showed
about fifty cases Of typhoid fever
here. There was no direct evidence.
he said. to show it was due to the
water supply.
phreys. Va, said that on Friday he
learned there was good deal OF ty-
health officer had told him that eleven
cases had been officially reported up
to that time, although he did not be-
lieve all of the cases had been re-
500 cases of dysentery and later
learned there were at least 200 cases
of It here. Maj Brewer sail he took
the matter up with the commanding
officer at that camp Immediately, as
they could not afford to have large
number Of sick soldiers" as every
one sick helps the kaiser.
Upon motion of Judge L. c. Barley
vote of thanks was extended the
| state health department for taking
over the situation.
Water Company to Aid.
Carroll Pierce. q director in the
Alexandria Water Company. stated
that on behalf Of the directors Of that
- 90 .sa 20 n
! do whatever is necessary and CO.
operate in the work of putting the
city in q sanitary condition.
DR.. e. A. German. city health officer.
said that he was pleased that the
situation had been taken over by the
state health department. as his de-
partment had no funds or assistance
in its work.
Mai. Brewer said the question of
lifting the ban will depend on the re-
suits obtained in the work OF clean
ing up the city. In order to get re-
operate and also give their money for
the work.
Physicians Testify.
According to DIR. NJ. D. Delaney
three cases Of typhoid he had under
treatment were caused. by swimming
in the river. The installation of fil-
tration plant in a town near Scran-
ton, Pa. has eradicated typhoid fever.
Dr.. George T. Klipstein stated that
typhoid fever exsists on some of the
best farms in the state. He said he
only had one case of typhoid and sew
eral under observation.
DR.. w. NJ. Smith declared Alexan-
dria has only her share of dysentery
cases. He said he went to the plant
of the Virginia shipbuilding Corpora
tion and, after looking over the situ-
alton. learned that water boys at that
river water for drinking. which
caused the disease among several of
those who used II. The situation here,
he declared, was now clarified, and he
could not see why the ban could not
DR.. Hugh MCGUIRE said he was glad
the situation had been brought UP, and
he added "The soner We clean up the
better Off we will be-"
Wants Full-Time Health ohicer.
DR.. Smith expressed himself a.
favoring full-time health officer and
then. he said, such conditions never
again will happen.
Julian Y. Williams. business man
ager Of the chamber of commerce,
read figures as to the amount spent
per capita by other Virginia cities for
health purposes, and he said Alex
andria spends only cents per
capita. He added that Alexandria had
attained national prominence for the
here.
Attorney John NJ. johnson hoped
something practical would be done.
He declared the water here had not
been clear for six months. He said
Washington and Richmond had ex-
x.s
stallation of filtration plant had
ended the trouble.
May Order Filtration Plant.
Attorney Gardner L. Boothe said
the state corporation commission has
the matter under consideration. and
on Wednesday will meet to decide the
case and he believed they will order
the company to install a filtration
plant.
Edward L. Daingerdeld, a director
in the water company. desired to
know where the money was coming
from for the installation of q ultra
tion plant, and Attorney s. q. Brent
replied that they could pass a divi-
dend for a couple of years and get it.
Attorney johnson also suggested that
this company pass a dividend for the
money to install such q plant.
Or. .As F.; A. German, eeSan , city health Of
lcer, kldtCu IOu6y ludt OH
he wrote q letter to the United States
public health service requesting
them to send a man here to help
ascertain the cause Of typhoid and also
eradicate ito
Merchants Heavy Losers.
Merchants here are suffering a big
financial loss as q result Of the strict
enforcement of the order prohibiting
soldiers from either purchasing food
or drink here. All are anxious to
know how long tho order will stand.
rS. >ntirn cffv fs aroused and ev-