Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-10-21
idaho Has Individual Problems
to Consider in Use for Do
mestic Purposes, Says Rhod-
enbaugh.
CITES LAVA FIssUREs
Citizens May Obtain Free Tests
at State Laboratory to De-
termine Purity of Sources
Used in Homes.


much about irrigation that visitor
from Mars might conclude that Is the
only use we have for water, says Ed
ward r. Rodenbaugh. chemist for the
state public welfare department. Re
cent historical events and other hap
penings that are still to occur, how
ever all tend to make us appreciate
more and more the worth of good old
Adams ale.
I'VE have long noted that visitors
from the middle west and gulf states
are astonished at our clear snow-ted
mountain streams--veritabe rivers of
the clearest. coolest and purest drink
ing water imaginable, They are used
10 streams like the taWny Missouri or
the innumerable little creeks that pour
their murky waters into some trunk
stream.
THICK AND THIN.
Some wag has said of such waters
that they were too thin to walk on and
too thick to swim in.
NO one would think of drinking
such surface washings even though
clarified by settling or other means,
and yet shallow wells in such coun-
tries where live stock is plentiful and
human population somewhat dense
can beSless polluted in degree only
lin this connection we are told by
returning soldiers from France and
Belgium of the village well near the
center OF each hamlet and of the we'll
founded reluctance of the inhabitants In
the matter of water drinking. Every
densely populated country faces the
same conditions.
OF INTEREST TO IDAHO.
Until comparatively recent years
and with her sparse population, Idaho
has had little interest in this prob
lem of such pressing Importance IN
older states, but with the coming of
irrigation and the formation of thickly
communities
sents itself.
I'm such tracts the water table in
variably rises as irrigation proceeds.
It invades cellars and shallow wells.
Too often the farmer is careless and
floods the yards around the well, thus
putting into solution all manner of filth
and debris which thus percolates down
Into the well. No dug well is safe or
complete without good wide con-
crete platform which helps greatly in
keeping out such surface drainage.
MANY WELLS UNSAFE.
Even in the larger towns of the
state which have excellent city water
supplies there are some dug or driven
wells. Boise has some of these near
its environs. Those near the foothills
penetrate nearly impervious layers OF
OVERLAPPING shae, etc, and are compare
lively safe but the usual one is a
menace to health.
"Chemical analysis shows indubitabe
evidence of past pollution even though
the water should pass a meteorological
test at the time. Unless previously
boiled for 20 minutes such water is un
safe. Such water If used for washing
milk utensils might easily start an
ODD SITUATIONS.
Cities and towns like those of the
Twin Falls tract built as they are
upon deeply assured lava beds present
a peculiar situation. The soils OTTER
are but few feet in depth and witt
n no sewer system the teachings from
waste and garbage find ready channels
through the creviced lava into nearb,
wells. Deep wells, unless carefully
cused are subject to the same troubles
4 ITO illustrate the pranks played by
lava assures we might cite the case
where town in Idaho enjoys CD an OF
boom. Some small but evidently higi
grade samples were skinned from thu
waters of several wells and the boon
was on Considerable boring has re
vealed no. further supplies but vast
oils were thrown out from garage no
far away and this face together will
the nature of the ground furnishes
possible explanation.
TEST YOUR WATER.
TOO many Idaho people, II Will b
news to learn, that they can secur
q water container from the Public Wei
fare department and a chemical o
save for the transportation charge
both ways. At present the Orego
Short Line Railroad company make
good use OF this service by collectin
samples regularly from its many sta
tions where thousands of passenger
and others consume water. City an
town officials frequently send sample
but not as regularly as should be don
I'M individuals send in the remainder {
the samples Tests totalled $50 chem
cal and SGT meteorological for 1917 an
1918.
'sThere is need for a more wide
spread use Of this public service
the interests of health. as in many ir
stances the initial pollution of a wa
ter supply would thus be detected an
IN epidemic Of typhoid. intestin'
disorders, ETC.. be either forestalled {
else limited in its extent.
WATER AND FOOD.
with the single exception OF al
We must regard water as the most I'm
portant substance taken into the hi
three times q day but drinks mar
times and to the extent of sever
quarts or water in "a hours. Unfortt
nately he ID not SO insistent for pul
water AZ ne Is for pure food. We nee
more education along this line.
THAT the physical conditions arour
i source Of water Is of primary in
portance 10 being recognized more al
more. Recently the federal govern
lbent has advised the railroads tn
water reports to be complete shou
show the sanitary conditions SUI
ooNsiDER CONDITIONS.
This 10 absolutely sane and rigf
The private householder of necessi
knows little or nothing about the tecl
ulcAi analysis Of water, but he c,
Judge accurately Of the sanitary col
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