Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-10-18

Today who have Liquor IN their pos
session which cannot be seized by the
government because it was in Their
possession before the prohibitory laws
went into effect.
If all the governors who come here
to attend the conference on law en-
forcement shall declare their lnten-
ton to give over their occasional ana
semi-occasional and also legitimate po-
tations, it may be that the residents
of the various states will follow tue
lead of their excellencies, the govern
ors thereof, but a good many persons
have their doubts.
If the taking of the pledge shall De
proposed to the governors, Washing
ton probably will set down the pro-
posal as being inspired by what
George NJ. Cohan calls "a mean dlspo-
sition." At any rate, the outconie Is
awaited with high interest.
Waters Contaminated by Oil.
The United States government hnal-
ly has taken note of the fact that the
greatly increased use OF oil as fuel
for river, lake and ocean vessels mas
become a menace to several indus
tries, and also menace to the 1000
supply of the people. An interna-
tional conference is to be called Tor
the purpose of discussing control OF
pollution by oil on the rivers and
coastal waters of the interested coun-
tries.
The bureau OF mines, which has
among its officials men who under
stand all about chemicals and things
pertaining thereto, has decided that
the contamination of the water by oils
can be prevented. And on the strength
of this finding the State department,
acting under resolution of congress,
soon will call conference on the sub
ject.
Nearly everybody eats fish and oys-
ters. In these days of rapid transit
inland folk get their oysters fresh
from Cape Cod, the Chesapeake or
the Gulf, and their sea-fish from scores
Of different places. The consumers OF
these delectables probably will be glad
to know that eventually there will be
removed from them the suspicion OF
having been dosed with crude oil be-
fore they left their native sea BEDS
Sources of the Pollution,
For some years ship owners, oyster
dredgers and coasr-wise fishermen
have complained of this pollution OF
the water. They never could get any
body to pay any attention to their COM
plants until comparatively recently
Last year congress passed a resolu'
ton authorizing an investigation by
the mining bureau The Investigation
has been made and the report has been
turned in.
1t is said that the chief sources Of
pollution come from oil f1oated in from
the deep sea, waters contaminated by
oily material from oil-burning ships,
refuse oil from shipping yards, oil
waste and Oil water mixtures coming
from oil fields and refneries oil from
gas plants, oil from sewers and oil
from various kinds of manufacturing
industries
Pollution was found at thirty-1ve
different localities which were selected
after study, but the greatest trouble
was found, it is said, near Philadel-
phia, near Pensacola, Fla, and near
Houston and Port Arthur, Texas.
In the report this is said concerning
the public health:
''The possible effects of oil pollution
on the public health cannot be ignored.
The loss of the use of bathing beaches
as the result of oil contamination must
be regarded as a more or less serious
factor. The same may be said regard
ing boating, fishing and hunting. Oily
refuse may render the appearance of
a locality unsightly, and thus tend to
lower the hygienic standards of the
community. The effect upon the ed
Utility of sea food, and the possibility
of oil retarding the normal oxidation
of sewage must be carefully consid-
cred. Attention is called to the pos
sible effect Of oil in causing skin dis
eases and the nuisance created by the
odors directly and indirectly attribute
able to oil pollution.