The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-05-14
Camps Must Not Be Allowed
to Become Menace to Health,
State Health Officer States
Departments Regulations
Are Announced

Close attention to rules laid down
by the state health department will
make North Dakota's tourist camps
the safest in the country, and do
much to encourage motorists to
visit this state, in the opinion Of
DR.. A. A. Whittemore, Bismarck,
state health officer. Close atten-
ton to the rules Is necessary, how
ever, to keep the camps from be-
coming a menace to health, White
more warned.
BY a recent reorganization Of
tourist information bureaus, with a
head office in each state and
branches in almost every locality,
the Offices have other duties than
the mere guiding of visitors, DR..
Whittemore said. At the present
time, he explained, thousands Of
tourists call at such bureaus annual
", and inquire after the general
health conditions Of camps along
their respective routes.
Will Gather Information
As a means of improving the con-
dition now existing in some Of the
North Dakota tourist camps, DR..
Whittemore plans to write to each
commercial club and health agent
in the state for information regard
ing health conditions in their local.
ty.
With this information in hand, he
said, the state health department
will be able to take any steps which
are found to be necessary to bring
the camps to a high standard.
1.-THE people who take advantage
Of these camps are summer auto
tourists, travelling either for pleas
ure or business" he said. "They
come from all walks of life and
from nearly all countries Of the
earth. They may be and many Of
them are potential carriers of many
dangerous diseases and may become
q serious menace to the health OF
the local people and to each other,
if not properly cared for.
1.-THE tourist, or night camps, vary
from improvised camping places in
some vacant lot with no water sup
ply, garbage disposal system or
toilet facilities, to the most elabor-
ate equipment including laundry,
showers, electric lights, telephones.
and even swimming pools. Many Of
the camps that are well equipped to
begin with Ore neglected and soon
become a public health nuisance"
Poor Advertisements
A poorly equipped, badly man.
aged, unsanitary camp with unsafe
water supply and unsanitary sur
roundings is the poorest advertise
ment any locality could devise. DR..
Whittemore said, pointing out that
"there is no better way Of telling
the world that we have the best,
most healthful and most prosperous
country on earth, than safe, we'll
managed tourist camp"
Regulations drawn up by the state
health department for the tourist
camps follow:
"All tourist and recreational
camps must be inspected every 80
days during the tourist season by
the county or city health officer
having jurisdiction. He shall make
q report of all unsanitary conditions
and violations of the sanitary code
nertaining to such camps, to the
state health officer.
water supplies of all tourist
camps shall be accessible and free
from dangerous contamination. All
bored, dug or drilled wells shall be
thoroughly cleaned each year. The
curling, top covering and drainage
shall be 50 arranged to prevent con-
tamination from surface seepage.
Must Examine Water Supplies
1.-THE local health officer shall see
that all water supplies are examined
microscopically by the public
health laboratory every 80 days.
1.-THE local health officer shall
post a card at each water supply in
q conspicuous place after each ex-
animation, stating that the water
either is safe or unsafe to drink,
giving the time Of examination and
name and location of the laboratory
where it was tested. The card must
bear the signatures Of the persons
making the tests.
"All toilets must be weather
tight, well ventilated, fly-proof and
not closer than 100 feet to any
water supply or eating place.
"Metal garbage cans with tight
metal covers must be supplied In
sufficient numbers to contain all
garbage accumulation and must be
emptied twice q week.
"A copy of all local rules, regula-
lions and ordinances governing tour
ist camps must be filed with the
local and state health officers"