Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-01-16
Poisoning of City's Water
Source Theory Without
Scientific Foundation

AuStC u0o OSSu q ctOTy alUAI III
Browning which has persistentiy
grow n exsg9erating dangers
which might exist from the pos
sibiIity of poisoning the water
supply of the Town of Browning.
1t possibly originated fro m u
story that the Government was
gathering poisoned oats and bran
which had formerly been used in
destroying gophers and cut
worms. 1t was said that the reason
for gathering the unused poisoned
oats and bran was because i t
might be dumped into the city
water supply and thus poison the
community.
People became alarmed IN d
then the suggestion was promot-
ed that guards should be hired
and sent to the spring to watch
dav and night. Finally the Town
Council called a meeting to con-
slider the situation to plan to dis.
prove the story and make people
Of the community realize that
there was little danger of any
such thing, that it was complete.
ly impractical to cause any dan.
from this source.
In t b first place. probably
there is not sufficient poisoned
grain left in the whole country if
it could be gathered to cause any
damage by putting it in t h e
spring or elsewhere. The pos
sibility o f getting q sufficient
quantity of poison into the water
of the spring il completely i'm
practical.
The conversation was about ar.
senic poisoning and it is esti-
mated that 400 pounds of arsenic
would be required t. show a trace
Of this poison in solution any
where within the city system if
dumped into the spring which
served the town.
1t is of sufficient size that if
400 pounds were dissolved in the
water and delivered directly to
the city system it probably would
do harm but show trace of pois-
on which might be detected. Ar
senic is n o easily soluble n
water and if, dumped in the
spring slight quantity would
float and not dissolve.
The greater portion would sink
Immediately to the bottom of the
spring and could not be dissolved
in the lev cold water at the bot.
tom of the spring. Furthermore,
if it entered into solution and
6rifted down the mains, a great
portion would be run off in the
settling tank which is about half
way between the springs and the
city. If it re a c h g d the Is
thousand gallon supply tank at
the city. a portion would again
settle to the bottom of the tank
and would not go into the city
water system.
The suggestion is absurd fur
Their because if anyone attempted
to purcha se or acquire 4l0 pounds
of arsenic or any great quantity
of other poison at this time, its
use would be 80 carefully check
ed that a sufficient quantity
could not be acquired by any per-
son for any purpose without show.
ing the necessity for its use.
Furthermore, with reference to
the situation it was proposed that
guards b e hired for full time
which would require at least 3
guards and possibly 4 who would
alternate in guarding the spring.
This would involve a consider.
able daily expense which could
not be provided for under the
present financial condition of the
Town. The drawing of funds al
lotted for other purposes for
service which should not be neces-
sary in a community of this kind
would work hardship financial
ly.