The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-07-12
BLAME POLITICS
FOR POLLUTION
OF LICK CREEK
Hartford City'S Republican
Council Refuses u. S.
Loan for Plant.
Continued From Page One

mits its sin and already is going
about rcmedylng the situation.
one need only 70 have read the
Cappv Kicks stories TO know G.. D
Stevens, plant manager of the Fl
Wayne Corrugated Paper Company
and Hartford Citys self-admitted
stream pOIuter.
Outlines Plants Plans
Mr.. Stevens. white-mustached.
with a walk Of a supreme court jur-
$50 and the bluntness Of a mule
team skinner. says. We know
we're pOlluting Lick creek, We know
what were dumping and we're try
ing 70 do something about It."
We recognize that creeks and
rivers naturally have outgrown in
dustrial plants. Now we're working
on system to use all of our water,
over and over, without pouring our
wastes into the creek"
Then ne cracked down out OF his
years Of experience IN building and
managing StrawbOard and paper
mills and discarding the antiquated
ideas Of years ago. saying: Settling
ponds don't work and never have
III caring for paper pulp or straw
board wastes. Say, we use 100000
gallons Of water a day. Where
would we put ponds? We'd have
enough ponds to fill this district"
He says thousands of dollars OF
machinery have been purchased to
revamp their plant TO care for an
inside system Of handling the
wastes.
Public Health JeOpardized
A mention Of Hartford City and
its lodging the issue of freeing the
creek from municipal contamination
and the aged engineer puts on a
calm countenance and says nothing.
He leaves Hartford City to run
its own affairs.
In the years of 1923 to 1881, the
department of sanitary engineering
OF the state board Of health made
survey Of the MissiSsinewa river into
which Lick creek feeds Hartford
City'S ofTal.
The report saws. IN part. Of the
Hartford City pollutions: The Mis-
SlSsineWa river is polluted by the
sewage and industrial waste Of
Hartford City, which is discharged
through Lick creek to the extent
that public health and welfare are
JeOpardized.
Water Supply Ruined
The bacterial load entering the
stream produces a serious condition
as far down stream as Marion. In
its present condition. the MiSsis-
sinewa river could not be used as
a possible source of water supply for
This is important. for al
though Marion depends on wells, in
the near future the river will be
resorted to as a source of supply.
The pollution by wastes of Hart
ford City interfereS with the use of
the stream for watering livestock
and beneficial water and vegetable
life are jeopardized."
The report points out that a
disposal plant and intercept
ing sewers are needed to remedy the
Hartford City pollution Of Lick
creek and the resultant cessation of
a sewage flow into the Mississinewa
river.
Below Marion. the MisSissinewa
river is dotted with summer cot
tages with several small pools for
OatherS
Sewage from Hartford City as well
as Marion and a Strawboard plant
At Eaton pour a combined load of
murky Sludge loaded with bacteria
into these summer Fairgrounds.
Game Fish Are Rare
BluegiH and crappie are few and
far between along the river. while
Lick creek is merely spawning
place for Scavenger fish.
Residents OF Hartford City. along
the creek. find the obnoxious odors
from the bitches flowing into the
creek unbearable on summer nights.
But OptlmiStS of the town point
out that the general election is only
a few turns Of the calendar away
and they believe there's a possibility
of having four converts in the city
council TO the cause of sewage dis
pOSal. the right of the farmer TO
permit his stock 10 drink from
creeks that biSeCt his land. and the
capability Of sticking ones own nose
out in the night air without hold
ing It.
They believe that perhaps when
the votes are counted that public
health may be uppermoSt.
(Next-The River You Couldn't
Give Back to the Indians.)