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THE THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH
OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
1908
IIAURISBUKG:
C. E AUGHINBAUGH. PRINTER TO THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
1909.
JAN I 9 1911 ^
!fi!fi!fiS!{i!fi!fi!fi!li>5
i ^
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. No. 17.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page.
Letter of Transmittal, 1
Third Annual Report of the Commissioner [ '_ _ 3
Vacancy on the Advisory Board ' ] ] 3
Appointments 4
Establishment of additional Tuberculosis Dispensaries, 4
Assistants to County IMedical Inspectors and Physicians-in-Charge,! ! 5
Organization of the Department, .' . . g
County Medical Inspectors \[\[ 6
Railroad Medical Inspectors . . . . 7
Sanatoria and Dispensaries for Tuberculosis . . . . 9
Medical Inspection . . . . 9
County Dispensaries for Tuberculosis ; ,//_ 9
Central Bureau of Vital Statistics 10
Division of Sanitary Engineering, _[\ 11
Division of Laboratories and Experimental Station '.'. 12
Division of Distribution of Biological Products, 12
Division of Accounting and Purchasing, I3
Division of Supplies ' 13
Establishment of new Boards, ] . . ] 13
The Prevention of Blindness, \\]\ 14
Campaign against Tuberculosis, [ /_ Ig
Representation of the Department at the International Congress on
Tuberculosis at Washington, D. C 21
Morbidity Reports, ' ' 22
Summary of work of Health Officers, 23
Mortality, 23
Communicable Diseases ' 23
Smallpox 23
Tuberculosis, [[[ 24
Typhoid Fever [[ 24
Scarlet Fever 24
House and Room Disinfection 25
Division of Laboratories 25
School Inspections 26
School Inspections, Fall of 1908 [ , 28
Dairy Inspection ]'] 29
Dairy Inspections. Fall of 1908 32
Epidemics 33
Fourth of .luly Tetanus 36
Leprosy 37
Summary of work by ^Tedical Inspectors, 37
Conferences. Conventions and Addresses 37
Operat^ions of the Divisions 45
Division of Medical Inspection 45
Sub-Division. School Inspections 91
Sub-Division. Dairy Inspections IO3
Division of T>aboratories and Experimental Station Ill
Research work of the Laboratory 122
Special Reports I45
Improvements in sterilization of culture media 147
Smallpox in Cumberland county 153
Protocol of necropsy of leper 155
Typhoid Fever at Reading 160
Division of Vital Statistics I73
Sub-Division, !\Tarriac:e Statistics 367
Suit-Division, ^Torhiditv Statistics 353
Division of Distribution of Biological Products 377
Distributors of diphtheria antitoxin, list of 380
(i)
ii THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Page.
Division of Sanatoria and Dispensaries for the Treatment of Tuberculosis, 421
Sub-Division of Sanatoria, .• 421
State South Mountain Sanatorium at Mont Alto 423
Medical and nursing staff and employees, 423
Report of Medical Director 425
Classification of Patients 435
Sub-Division of Tuberculosis Dispensaries, 453
Ofl5ce, Medical and Nursing Staff 453
Location of Dispensaries 454
Dispensary physicians, list of, 458
Statistical report, 464
Forms, 469
Descriptive catalogue of exhibit at the International Congress on Tuber-
culosis, 485
Division of Special Medical Inspection, 516
Division of Sanitary Engineering, 527
Organization and Administration 530
Assistant Engineers, 530
Regular force, 533
Office work, 535
Engineering, 542
Water works, applications, permits and decrees, 545
Sewerage and sewage disposal permits and decrees, 745
Designs and Construction, 1126
Pennsylvania South Mountain Sanatorium Water Works, 1126
Sewers, 1148
Sewage disposal works 1161
Garbage incinerator, 1179
Miscellaneous Work, 1186
Sewers and sewage disposal for State Hospital at Polk 1187
Sewage disposal plant at Wernersville State Hospital, 1205
Special Work, 1210
Sanitary Survey of the Allegheny watershed, 1210
Field Inspection 1213
Epidemics, 1220
Typhoid fever epidemic at Altoona 1220
Emporium, 1221
Hastings 1224
Lititz, 1236
Pennsylvania Reform School, Morganza, . 1243
Reading 1247
Kutztown, 1259
Fleetwood, 1265
References to Special Counsel, 1302
Conclusions, 1306
Division of Supplies, 1307
Division of Accounts, 1313
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. No. 17.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
State Capitol Harrisburg,
December 31, 1909.
To His Excellency, Edwin S. Stuart, Governor of Pennsylvania:
Sir: In compliance with the requirements of Section 13 of the
act "Creating a Department of Health and defining its duties and
powers," approved the 27th day of April, A. D. 1905, I have the honor
to submit to your Excellency my third annual report upon ''the vital
statistics and sanitary conditions and prospects of the State," cov-
ering the year ending December 31, 1908.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
(1)
1—17— 1908
(^)
OFFICIAL D0CUMEN1\ - No. 17.
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Commissioner of Health
OF THE
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
It is my sad duty to call your Excellency's attention to a vacancy
(existing on the Advisory Board of the Departinont, caused by the
sudden death of Dr. Samuel T. Davis, while on a hunting trip in a
lemote valley in the mountains of Mexico, Dr. Davis was tlie only
member of lliat Boai'd who had served on the old State Board of
Health, in the ci-eation of which he took an active part, as a member
of the Legislature, and of which he was President for many years.
His large experience made him a valuable member of the Board and
his genial (iiuilities constituted him an acceptable associate.
The approaching completion of the Tuberculosis Sanatorium at
^H. Alto and consequent rapid increase of \ho number of patients
rendered necessary an increase of the resident medical stalf at that
place. Dr. Fred C. Johnson, the Chief of the Division of Medical
Inspection, was therefore transferred to the South M<»untain Sana-
(8)
THIRD ANlSrUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. £)66.
torium, becoming Medical Director, while Dr. A. M. Kothrock, the
former Eesident Physician, continued in service with the title of
Vice Medical Director.
Dr. A. B. Moulton, former Assistant Medical Inspector, was pro-
moted to the position of Chief Medical Inspector, and his desk was
occupied by Dr. B. Franklin Eoyer, who for four and a half years
was Chief Resident Physician to the Municipal Hospital of Phila-
delphia, thus enjoying unusual opportunities for becoming familiar
with the diagnosis of communicable diseases. Dr. Royer's title is
Associate Chief Medical Inspector.
The increasing claims upon the Tuberculosis Dispensaries have
made it necessary to establish additional Dispensaries in many
counties, and as it was often impossible for the County Medical In-
spector in those Counties to take charge of two dispensaries, this
necessitated the appointment of Physicians-in-Charge.
The Counties in which more than one dispensary is established
with the names of the Phvsicians-in-Charge are:
County.
Town.
Physician-in-Oliarge.
McKeesport, -
Dr. D. P. Blose.
Dr. F. E. Harriott.
Dr. A. P. Fogelm<in.
Dr. Bruce Snodgras.s.
Beaver Talis, - .-
Blair -
Tyrone, -
Bristol,
Dr. W. S. Musser.
Bucks
Dr. J. de B. Abbott.
Dr. D. S. Kice.
Dr. J. H. Young.
Dr. 0. E. McGirk.
Dr. C. A. Yocuui.
Dr. R. R. Jordan.
Dr. S. B. AriiR'nl.
Dr. J. M. Waide.
W Fairview, - --
Dr. Harvey Biishore.
Dr. M. D. Lelir.
Frie
Dr. 0. B. Kibler.
Dr. T. B. Ecliard.
Dr. J. A. Haven.
Dr. W. .J. Lowry.
Dr. J. P. Kennedy.
Dr. W. C. Gayluy.
Plttston,
Dr. S. L. Uniicrwood.
Montgomery
Dr. W. B. Jamison.
Dr. T. K. Wills.
Dr. H. S. Shoncr.
H Hcthlchem,
Dr. W. 1). Clia.sc.
Northumberland,
Dr. W. '1'. Williiiin.s.
Milton
Dr. R. 1!. Tulc.
Phiiadelphiu,
Ptiilu. d'Yankford),
Dr. Alfred Stengel.
Hcliuyllcill
Dr. 11. M. Wiisley.
Dr. E. I-;. ShIiTcrslrln.
Dr. Sam'l Blrdsnll.
Tioga
Dr. Penrose lioiiscr.
Ki!uil<lln
Dr. H. K. McDowell.
WastilnKton
Dr. K. JVI. Ilii/lctt.
Westmoreland
Ml. Pleasant,
Dr. IVl. W. Ilorner.
MoncHScn,
Dr. M. J. Cramer.
York.
Dr. J. H. Bittlnger.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
At many of the Dispensaries the niiniber of the patients has been
so great that it was absolutely impossible for one man to do the
work with anj'thing like justice to the patients. It has therefore
become imperative to appoint assistants to the County Medical In-
spectors and Physicians-in-Charge. These appointments have been
as follows:
Name.
Place.
Dr. I. H. Alexander, . Pittsburg.
Dr. J. M. Lon?, ' Pittsburg.
Dr. J. F. Kriwards, ..: Pittsburg.
Dr. S. Hainilton, .; Pittsburg.
Dr. 0. J. McKee Pittsburg.
Dr. F. Stalzenbach Pittsburg.
Dr. C. W. .Sample i Pittsburg.
Dr. G. H. Boyd. ! Pittsburg.
Dr. H. B. Stone, '. | Kittanning.
Dr. E. B. Miller | Altoona.
Dr. T. M. Maxwell, i Butler.
Dr. J. Mc.Aneney, _.. ..i Johnstown.
Dr. Thorn, Johnstown.
Dr. Jos. Cohen ._ ' Berwick.
Dr. W. E. Hyskell Meadville.
Dr. R. Plank. ; Carlisle.
Dr. J. W. Ellenherger, Harrisburg.
Dr. C. R. Phillipps, Harrisburg.
Dr. E. S. Haines (resigned), — : Chester.
Dr. J. W. Wood, ; Chester.
Dr. A. H. Roth i Erie.
Dr. O. Falkowsky, , Scranton.
Dr. Jos. Wagner, 1 Scranton.
Dr. S. H. Heller, Lancaster.
Dr. H. F. Myers, Lancaster.
Dr. J. D. Tucker New Castle.
Dr. H. E. Maulfair, J.ebanon.
Dr. W. D. Kline .\llentown.
Dr. F. O. Bausch, Allentown.
Dr. J. W. Geist, Wilkes-Barre.
Dr. S. Reieliard Wilkes-Barre.
Dr. S. D. Wyekoff. Wilkes-Barre.
Dr. G. W. Carr Wilkes-Barre.
Dr. J. A. Hilbert Wilkes-Barre.
Dr. G. R. Grosser, Wilkes-Barre.
Dr. R. Wadhams, Wilkes-Barre.
Dr. Walter Davis, WlJkes-Barre.
Dr. G. H. McOonnon, '. Wilkes-Barre.
Dr. T. C. Zulick, Easton.
Dr. W. P. Thompson .- Easton.
Dr. W. H. McTlkaney, Easton.
Dr. J. E. Yretz, Easton.
Dr. C. H. Malone, Shamokin.
Dr. A. P. Franclne, „ „ Philadelphia.
Dr. W. G. Turnbull. Philadelphia.
Dr. George Wood, Philadelphia.
Dr. Fannie Davis Oil City.
Dr. Roland Jessup, York.
Dr. B. V. Parker, York.
Dr. J. H. Bennet, York.
Dr. L. S. Weaver York.
Dr. H. D. Smy.«er, York.
Dr. E. Meisenhelder, York.
Dr. B. W. Shiroy, York.
Dr. L. M. Hartman, York.
Dr. W. C. Smith, York.
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE
Off. Doc.
At the close of the year therefore the organization of the Depart-
ment was as follows:
STATE CAPITOL, HARRISBURG.
Commissioner of Health, Samuel G. Dixon, M. D.
AD^'ISORY BOARD.
Adolph Koenig, M. D. Lee Masterson, C. E.
Leonard Pearson, M. D. Charles B. Penrose, M. D.
B. H. AVarren, M. D.
Assistant to the Commissioner, Benjamin Lee, M. D.
Secretary to the Commissioner, AVilbur Morse.
Stenographers, Miss Ivy E. Huber.
Miss Mary Stephen Mark.
Messenger, Edward F. Eisely.
Janitor, John B. Sample.
MEDICAL DIVISION.
Chief Medical Inspector, Arthur B. Moulton, M. D.
Associate Chief Medical Inspector, B. Franklin Koyer, M. D.
Stenographers, Miss Fannie A. Houseknecht.
Miss Dorothy Sterline.
Connected with this Division are 723 Township Health Officers.
COUNTY MEDICAL INSPECTORS.
County.
Inspector.
Post Ollice.
Adams
Gettysburg.
Xorthsidc, Pittsburg.
Armstrong,
T N McKee
Klttaniiing.
Beaver,
E. H. 11. McCnuIey
D. do la M. Hill,
fsreal Clonver
Wni M. FIndley, --
Beaver,
Bedford - -
Everett.
BcrkH
Reading.
Blair
Bradf<ird
S M Wonrtbum
BuckH
I 8. Plyiiilre
Doylcstown.
Butler
West Suribury.
Wm E Mattlicws
.Johnstown.
Cameron
II S Falk
Ernporliiiii.
GarboD .
Maud) ('luiiik.
Centre
Bellefonte.
Chester
West Chester.
Clarion
J. r. Rlinor
Clarion.
Clearfield,
S. (' Stewart
Clearfield.
Clinton
R M WalHon
I,ock Haven.
Columbia
H. IS. Arnciit
HlooinHhurg.
•T. n RobortH
Mcadvllle.
Cumberland
Harvfjy B. UaHhore
West Fair view.
Daupliln, .... .
Ilarrlsburg.
Delaware
Elk
W. L. WIlIlainB
RIdgway.
Krie
J. W. Wrijrht
Erie.
Pay«'tte, .
0. R Altrnan
Unlontown.
Forent
T. .1. Bovard
Tlonesta.
Franklin
H. X. Bonbrake
Fulton ,.
J. W. Mosser
McConnellnburg,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
COUNTY MP^DICAL INSPECTORS.— Continued.
County .
Inspector.
Post Oflioe.
Greene
Huntingdon, -..
Indiana,
Jefferson ---
Juniata,
Lackawanna, ...
Lancaster,
Lawrence
Lehigh.
Lebanon,
Luzerne,
Lycoming, -
McKean,
Mercer,
Mifflin, .-
Monroe,
Montgomery, ...
Montour,
Northampton, ..
Northumberland,
Perry,
Pike, -
Potter,
Schuylkill
Snyder,
Somerset --.
Sullivan, .-.
SusQuehiuma, ..
Tioga,
Union,
Venango, --
Warren, -..
Washington, ...
Wayne
Westmoreland, .
Wyoming
York
John T. lams, Waynesburg.
W. C. Frontz - Huntingdon.
N. F. Ehrenfeld, Indiana.
J. E. Grube. -- Punxsutawney.
William H. Banks -- MifTintown.
J. C. Reifsynder, Scranton.
J. L. Mowrey, Lancaster.
J. D. Moore. -- New Castle.
Morris F. Cawley, AUentown.
A. J. Riegel - Lebanon.
C. H. Miner, - Wilkes-Iiarre.
Charles H. Youngman -- Williamsport.
W. C. Hogan, - Bradford.
P. P. Fisher, - Sharon.
C. H. Brisbin I.cwistown.
W. E. Gregory, -— Stroudsburg.
H. H. Whitcomb, Norristown.
G. A. Shock Danville.
E. M. Green, Easton.
R. H. Simmons, Shamokin.
A. R. Johnston New Bloomfleld.
Wm. B. Kenworthy Milford.
E. H. Ashcraft, -- Coudersport.
L. T. Kennedy. Pottsville.
F. J. Wagenseller, Selinsgrove.
Charles P. Large, -- Meyersdale.
J. L. Christian, Lopez.
H. B. Lathrop -- — - Springville.
S. P. Hakes, Tioga.
0. H. Dimm, Mifflinburg.
J. P. Strayer, Oil City.
M. V. Ball, Warren.
C. B. Wood, Monongahela.
H. B. Ely Honesdale.
1. M. Portser Greensburg.
E. E. Bidleman, - — - Tunkhannock.
J. S. Miller. York.
RAILROAD MEDICAL INSPECTORS.
(Commissioned by the Commissioner of Health but not paid bj* the State.)
Dr. D.
Dr. E.
Dr. J.
Dr. S.
Dr. C.
Dr. S.
Dr. H
Dr. C.
Dr. D
Dr. J.
Dr. W
Dr. I.
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY.
Dr. S. W. Latta, Chief Medical Inspector, Philadelphia.
W. Nead, Philadelphia. Dr. J. L. Bower, Reading.
C. Town, Philadelphia. Dr. W. T. Bishop, York.
L. Wright, Columbia. Dr. A. T. Poffenberger, Sunbury.
M. Crawford, Harrisburg. Dr. J. B. Lincoln. Renovo.
J. Roberts, Williamsport. Dr. R. 11. ^.loore. Huntingdon.
A. Bonnafon, Erie.
W. Pownall, Tyrone.
F. Hough, Cresson.
N. Easter, Youngwood.
B. Hileman, Pitcairn.
. B. Reynolds, Olean.
H. Boyd, Philadelphia.
Dr. W. B. Diefenderfer, Altooua.
Dr. C. W. Banks, Derry.
Dr. W. K. T. Sann, Pittsburg.
Dr. J. C. Lemmer, Oil City.
Dr. H. E. Westhaeffer, Mononga-
hela Citv.
g THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
PHILADELPHIA AND READING RAILWAY COMPANY.
Dr. Caspar Morris, Chief Medical Inspector, Philadelphia.
Dr. Frederick E. Briester, Phila. Dr. Francis S. Ferris, Phila.
Dr. Norris S. :McDo\vell, Phila. Dr. Charles F. Detweiler, Reading.
Dr. J. Henry Ortf, Reading. Dr. Thomas F. Ileebner, Pottsville.
Dr. Albert F. Bronson, Tamaqua. Dr. Wm. R. Brothers, Harrisburg.
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD COMPANY.
Dr. John L. Burkholder, New Castle Junction.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
J
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
I. D. Chaney, Connellsville.
W. A. Funk, Pittsburg.
M. H. Koehler, Connellsville.
W. B. Rogers, Pittsburg.
Dr. W. S. Foster, Pittsburg.
Dr. J. S. Garman, Berlin.
Dr. W. D. Haight, Johnstown.
Dr. James M. Hess, Marienville.
H. F. Atkinson, Connellsville. Dr. A. M. Hoover, Parker's Land-
E. M. Baker, Valencia.
J. A. Batton, Uniontown.
H. J. Bell, Dawson.
F. C. Blessing, Pittsburg.
W. J. Bryson, Pittsburg.
M. C. Cameron, Pittsburg,
C. L. Clover, Knox.
Arthur E. Crow, Uniontown.
C. L. DeWolfe, Chicora,
E, L. Dickey, St. Petersburg.
E. A. Donnan, New Castle.
John Foster, New Castle.
E. A. Fleetwood, Pittsburg.
G. R. Gaver, Pittsburg.
A. L. Porter, Philadelphia.
mg.
Dr. T. L. Kane, Kane.
Dr. Bruce Lichty, Meyersdale.
Dr. A. K. Lyon, Allegheny.
Dr. H. I. Marsden, Somerset.
Dr. G. B. Masters, Rockwood.
Dr. W. T. Messmore, Smithfield.
Dr. E. S. Montgomery, Pittsburg.
Dr. E. J. Morris, Philadelphia.
Dr. William F. Morrison, Phila.
Dr. W. S. Mountain, Confluence.
Dr. W. D. O'Brien, Pittsburg.
Dr. Benj. W. Phillips, Tylersburg.
Dr. R. T. Pollard, (Jarrett.
Dr. S. E. Ralston, Zelienople.
D. E. Stephen, New Castle Dr. F. P. Rigliter, Markleton.
unction.
W. J. Bailey, Connellsville.
n. liaker, Connellsville.
J. E. S. Bell, Plt1sl)urg.
J. B. Black, Cristy Park.
Robt. W. Brace, Philadeli)hia
Dr. J. Q. Robinson, West Newton.
Dr. W. T. Rowe, Meyersdale.
Dr. W. A. Shannon, Ell wood City.
Dr. M. B. Shupe, Connellsville.
Dr. J. N. Sprowls, Claysville.
Dr. C. J. Siyber, Allegheny.
L. N. Burdiinal, l*oin( Marion. Dr. B. Tli()mi)S<)n, Jjandenburg.
W. H. Cameron, Pittsburg. Dr. J. N. Timmons, W. Alexander.
John B. Crilchficld, Ralphton. Dr. W. E. Walker, McKeesport.
C. L. Curll, I'il(sl)ijrg. Dr. W. A. Garman, Berlin.
W. L. DeWolfe, Butler. Dr. H. R. Hardtmayer, Allegheny.
W. F. Donaldson, Pittsburg. Dr. Hiram Miller, Chester.
F. H. Evans, Chester. Dr. E. O. Kane, Kane.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
Dr. A. M. Lichty, Elk Lick.
Dr. D. C. Lindley, New Gastle.
Dr. F. L. Marsh, Mt. Pleasant.
Dr. R. S. McKee, New Haven.
Dr. H. A. Miller, Pittsburg.
Dr. R. H. Pillow, Butler.
Dr. J. H. Price, Allison Park.
Dr. D. T. Kees, llyndman.
Dr. W. F. Robeson, Pittsburg.
Dr. C. C. Ross, Clarion.
Dr.. J. H. Shannon, Washington.
Dr. J. C. Sheridan, Johnstown.
Dr. A. R. Shuster, Finleyville.
Dr. W. S. Stewart, Braddock.
Dr. V. F. Thomas, Evans City.
Dr. W. R. Thompson, Washington.
Dr. A. W. Urmson, New Castle.
Dr. W. W, Weaver, Philadelphia.
Dr. F. H. Weidmann, Confluence.
Dr. C. H. Wilson, Glenwood.
Dr. W. M. Woodward, McKees-
port.
Dr. T. H. White, Connellsville.
Dr. H. R. Wilson, Callery.
Dr. H. A. Zimmerman, Holsopple.
SUB-DIVISION, SANATORIA AND DISPENSARIES FOR THE TREAT-
MENT OF TUBERCULOSIS.
Medical Director, Mt. x\lto Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Fred C. John-
son, M. D.
Chief Resident Physician, A. M. Rothrock, M. D.
Medical Inspector of Dispensarie«, Thomas H. A. Stites, M. D.
Stenographers, Miss Olive E. Jamison.
Miss Nellie M. Tittle.
Miss Josephine Hill.
SUB-DIVISION SPECIAL MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Special Medical Inspector, John A. Bouse, M. D.
Stenographer, Miss Mary E. Sandoe.
COUNTY DISPENSARIES FOR TUBERCULOSIS.
County.
Location.
Chief (Assisted by Medical
StatT and Nurses).
Adams Gettysburg ,1. R. Dickson, M. D.
Allegheny, - Pittsburg S. il. Rinehart, M. D.
I J. P. Edwards, M. D.
Amstrong, .- Kittanning
Beaver, Rochester,
Bedford -., Everett
Berks '. Reading,
Blair - Altoona
Bradford, Towanda
Bucks, Doyiesitown,
Butler, Butler
Cambria, .. Johnstown
Cameron, Emporium H. S. Falk, M. D.
Carbon Mauch Chunk - J. K. Henry, M. D.
Centre Bellefonte, Geo. F. Harris, M. D.
--; T. N. McKee. M. D.
— E. S. H. McCauley, M. D.
.- W. de la M. Hill, M. D.
.— Israel Cleaver, M. D.
.— Joseph D. Findloy. M. D.
— S. M. Woodburn. M. D.
— I I. S. Plymire, M. D.
.—I H. D. Hockenborry, M. D.
Williani E. Matthews, M. D.
10 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
COUNTT DISPENSARIES FOR TUBERCULOSIS.— Continued.
eounty.
Chief (Assisted by Medical
Staff and Nurses).
Chester, West Chester,
Clarion, Clarion,
Clearfield, Clearfield,
Clinton, Lock Haven,
Columbia, Berwick,
Crawford, ileadville,
Cumberland, Carlisle,
Dauphin, j Harrisburg,
Delaware - 1 Chester,
Elk -- -- 1 Eidgway,
Erie, — Erie,
Fayette, Uniontown, —
Forest, Tionesta,
Franklin, Chambersburg,
Fulton, jVIcConnellsburg
Greene, - Waynesburg, ..
Himtingdon, Huntingdon, ..
Indiana, Indiana,
Jefferson, Punxsutawney,
Juniata,
Lackawanna,
Lancaster, —
Lawrence, —
Lebanon,
Lehigh, -.
Luzerne,
Lycoming,
McKean,
Mercer,
Mifflin,
Monroe
Montgomery,
Montour,
Northampton,
Northumberland ,
Perry,
Philadelphia, ....
Mifflintown,
Scranton, ...
Lancaster, ..
New Castle, .
Lebanon,
.'^llentown, ...
Wilkes-Barre,
Williamsport,
Bradford, --.
Sharon,
Lewistown, ..
Stroudsburg,
Norristown , .
Danville,
Easton,
Shamokin,
New Bloomfleld,
Philadelphia, -.
Pike I Milford, ...
Potter, -- j Coudersport,
Schuylkill - ! Pottsville, ..
Snyder, , Solinsgrove,
Somerset Sf)rnerset, ...
Sulliran ..i Dushore,
Susciuehanna, | Montrose,
Tioga Tioga,
Union,
Venango, ..
Warren, ...
Washington,
Wayne Honesdale,
Westmoreland, «.< Greensburg, .
Wyoming Tunkhannock,
York, '< York,
Miffllnburg
Oil City
Warren,
Monongahela City,
Joseph Seattergood, M. D.
J. T. Rimer, M. D.
S. C. Stewart, M. D.
R. B. Watson, M. D.
S. B. Arment, M. D.
J. K. Roberts, M. D.
H. B. Bashore, M. D.
Paul A. Hartman, M. D.
J. W. EUenberger, M. D.
Robert S. Maison, M. D.
J. E. Rutherford, M. D.
J. W. Wright, M. D.
0. R. Altman, M. D.
T. J. Bovard, M. D.
H. X. Bonbrake, M. D.
J. W. Mosser, M. D.
John T. lams, M. D.
H. C. Prontz, M. D.
William A. Simpson, M. D
J. E. Grube, M. D.
William H. Banks, M. D.
J. C. Reifsynder, M. D.
J. L. Mowery, M. D.
J. D. Moore, M. D.
A. J. Riegel, M. D.
Morris P. Cawley, M. D.
C:has. H. Miner, M. D.
Prank Seely, M. D.
W. C. Hogan, M. D.
P. P. Pislier, M. D.
C. H. Brisbin, M. D.
W. E. Gregory, M. D.
H. H. Whitcomb, M. D.
George A. Stock, M. D.
E. M. Green, M. D.
T. C. Zulick, M. D.
R. H. Simmons, M. D.
A. R. Johnston, M. D.
Alfred Stengel, M. D.
A. P. Prancine, M. D.
Wm. B. Ken worthy, M. D.
E. H. Ashcraft, M. D.
L. T. Kennedy, M. D.
P. J. Wagcnseller, M. D.
Charles P. Large, M. I>.
J. h. Christian, M. D.
P. G. Biddle, M. D.
H. B. Lathrop, M. D.
J. G. Wilson, M. D.
S. P. Hakes, M. D.
C. H. DImm, M. D.
J. P. Straynr, M. D.
M. V. Ball, M. D.
C. B. Wood, M. D.
H. B. Ely, M. D.
1. M. Porster, M. D.
B. E. H. 'leinan, M. D.
J. S. Miller, M. D.
CENTRAL BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS.
State Eegislrar, Wilmer R. Batt, M. I).
Chiftf Clork, HcmImtI B. Nelson.
ClerkH, Elrnci- W. lOliler.
II. E. Fox.
8tenograph(;rK, Miss Erina TJ. Lr)ngr"nookfM'.
Miss TJIa If. Conru'lly.
Miss Anna Madebiirg.
Miss Margaret D. Prescott.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 11
Morbidity Statistics Sub-Division in charge of Wilmer E. Batt, M. D.
Clerks, Mrs. Edith L. M. Huber.
Miss Katharine Irene McCauley,
Miss Martha E. McGranagan.
Marriage Statistics Sub-Division in charge of Wilmer R. Batt, M. D.
Clerks, Miss Emilie Charters.
jyiiss Teresa Neupert.
Miss Josephine Suavely.
Miss Martha Ziegler.
In this Department are employed 972 Local Registrars, each with a
Deputy, and 214 Sub-registrars.
DIVISION OF SANITARY ENGINEERING.
Chief Engineer, F. Herbert Snow, C. E.
Principal Assistant Engineer in charge of General Office Work, Wal-
ter S. Hanna.
Principal Assistant Engineer in charge of Special Investigation,
Charles H. Cummings.
Principal Assistant Engineer in charge of design and construction,
Thomas Fleming.
Assistant Engineer, William H. Ennis.
Engineer and Draftsman, John M. Mahon, Jr.
Chief Draftsman, James L. W. Gibbs.
Engineering Inspector, II. A. Otto.
Engineering Inspector, F. L. Gardner.
Transitmen, Chester A. Eckbert.
C. B. Forbes.
Rodmen, Edgar R. Barnes.
Ivan M. Glace.
Tracers, J. W. German, Jr.
Max Matthes.
F. M. Sourbier, Jr.
Chief Clerk in charge of nuisance complaints, Daniel \'. Ness.
Chief Clerk in charge of local health officer work, B. C. Dickinson.
Clerk, Mrs. Ellen Johnston.
Stenographers, Miss M. Irene Cuenot.
Miss M. Louise Eckels.
Miss Jane Gilbert.
Miss M. Ethel Hurst.
Miss Mary E. Russell.
Mrs. Mary K. Sourbier.
Chief Sanitary Inspector, M. K. Ely.
12
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
Field Officers in charge, James M. Clark,
David H. Coleman.
John J. Considine.
J. B. Nightingale.
John W. Pinkham.
William E. Teats.
Special Field Inspectors, Wilson W. Eitter.
Daniel Zellers.
Ira F. Ziegler.
Field Officers, Henry Andrews.
W. E. Clavpool.
John W. DoAvnes.
Eichard F. Einstein.
Morris Z. Frederick.
Howard M. Haines.
Thomas Hickey.
Warren S. Hood.
J. Alfred Judge.
H. S. Kauffman.
W. F. Lerch.
Chas. T. Maclay.
William P. Miller.
Thomas E. Nicholson.
Otto F. Nickel.
W. W. Eeno.
Eoy Souder.
Chas. P. Spelker.
H. C. Weirick.
LABORATORIES ASD EXPERIMENTAL STATION.
Director of Pathology ,Alleu J. Smith, M. D., University of Pennsyl
vania, Philadelphia.
Chief of the Laljoratories, Herbert Fox, M. D.
Bacteriologist, Damaso Eivas.
Assistant Bacteriologist, James B. Eucker, M. D.
Assistant, Miss Lucy H. Irwin.
Stenographer, Miss Helen M. O'Donnell.
Laboratory Diener, John E. Taylor.
Animal Diener, Leon J. Harris.
DIVISION OF DISTRIP,UT10X OF BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS.
Chief of Division, Henry W. Pierson.
Steriograiiher, Mrs. Lucy A. Thompson.
Clerk, Miss Mabel E. Thorn.
Theie are 5:52 Antitoxin Distributors thi-oughout the State.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 13
DYISION OF ACCOUNTING AND PURCHASING.
Office 1900 Race Street, Philadelphia.
Accounting and Purchasing Agent, E. I. Simpson.
Bookkeepers, Miss Agnes E. Bean.
Miss Mary L. Thompson.
Stenographers, Miss Minnie A. Light.
Miss Mary G. Lynch.
DIVISION OF SUPPLIES.
Superintendent, Charles Hartzell.
Clerks, Miss Susan J. Riegel.
Miss Eosie E. VanHorn.
Miss Maud E. ^'anOrme^.
ESTxiBLISHMENT OF NEW BOARDS.
Allusion was made in the last annual report to the absence of or
defective organization of the health boards in many boroughs and
first-class townships and to the serious handicap which this condi-
tion entailed in perfecting the sanitary organization of the State.
The action then taken in appointing a special Medical Inspector to
inquire into this condition both by correspondence and by personal
visitation has been amply justified. Ignorance of the requirements
of the law and the methods of sanitary procedure together with
the entirely inadequate appropriations made by councils for this pur-
pose were found to be the main causes of our backwardness in these
matters. The personal interest taken by the Department in the sani-
tary welfare of the smaller towns is, however, awakening a gratifying
response. During the year, seventy-two new boards were organized
in fifty-two separate counties. Many of these were in towns remote
from centres of population and in the mountainous districts of the
State. In the month of September the report of this officer showed
that the number of boroughs in the State was 882, of which 718 had
organized boards. Of these 449 had filed reports with the Depart-
ment. This left 173 still unprovided.
The number of counties in which every borough organized was 18.
The number in which five or less than five boroughs were unorganized
was 38, and the number in which more than five were unorganized
was 11. The circular of the Department on room disinfection was
warmly welcomed, on account of its clearness and definiteness, and
was adopted by many of the old boards as well as those just organ-
ized. A detailed report of this work will be found under the Opera-
tions of the Divisions.
2
14 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
THE PEEVENTION OF BLINDNESS.
The American Medical Association at its last annual meeting
authorized the issue of the Keport of the Committee on Ophthalmia
Neonatorum, which called attention to the fact that a very large
percentage of the cases of blindness which the State is called upon
10 support is caused by that disease, which is an easily preventable
one, and urged the necessity for concerted action on the part of the
medical profession in all the States of the Union to curtail this
serious evil. That this appeal is timely is sufficiently indicated by
a recent report of the Pennsylvania School for the Blind, which
shows that in the past eight years more than one-third of the per-
.«?ons admitted to that institution have owed their affliction to this
cause.
It was therefore thought desirable to revive and put into effect a
law which has for many years lain dormant on our statute book,
which reads as follows:
AN ACT.
For tho prevention of blindness, imposing a duty upon all midwivos, nurses or
other persons having the care of infants, and also upon the health officer, and
fixing a penalty for neglect thereof.
Whereas, Statistics compiled in this country and Europe demonstrate that fully
twenty-five per centum of the blind owe their affliction to an inflammation of the
conjunctiva appearing a few days after birth;
And Whereas, Experience lias proved that the inflammation can be cured and the
eyesight saved in the majority of ca.ses if treatment be instituted at an early stage
of the disease ;
And Whereas, Destruction of the eyes and blindness are usually the result of
delay of treatment.
Section 1. Ue it enacted, etc., Tiint should one or both eyes of an infant become
inflamed or swollen or reddened at any time within two weeks after birth, it shall
be the duty of the midwife or nurse, or other person having the care of such infant,
to report in writing, within si.\ hours after the discoveiy thereof, to the health of-
ficer or legally Qualified practitioner of tiie city, town or district in which the mother
of the child resides, the fact that such inflammation or swelling or redness exists.
Section 2. That it shall be the duty of said health oflicer, immediately upon re-
ceipt of said written report, to notify the parents or the person having charge of
said infant of the danger to the eye or eyes of said infant by reason of said condi-
tion from neglect of proper treatment of the same, and he shall also enclose to them
directions for the proper treatment thereof.
Section '.i. Every health officer shall furnish a copy of this act to each person
who is known to him tf. net as midwife or nurse in the city or town for which such
health officer is appointed, iind the Seeretary of State shall cause a sufn(;ient num-
ber of copies of this act to be i^ririted and siipi)ly the same to such health officers on
application.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 15
Section 4. Any failure to comply with the provisions of this act shall be pun-
ishable by fine not to exceed two hundred dollars, or imprisonment not to exceed
thirty days, or both.
APPROVED.— The 26th day of June A. D. 1895.
DANIEL 11. HASTINGS.
Copies of the above law were distributed to all physicians and
midwives throughout ^the State, together with letters of explanation
and instruction.
The following instructions were sent to Health Officers of the De-
partment of Health:
"In order to carry out the provisions of the above law, it becomes
your duty to acquaint yourself with the names and adddesses of all
midwives and nurses residing or practicing in your district and to
place a copy of the law in the hands of each, instructing her as to its
requirements.
"Immediately on receiving notification from a midwife or nurse
of the occurrence of a case of red or swollen eyes in a young infant,
you will inform the attending physician of the fact, and will place
in the hands of the midwife or nurse the accompanying instructions,
explaining that she is to follow them ONLY UNTIL A PHYSICIAN
AKRI^^ES to take charge of the case. If no physician has been
employed you will urge u])on the family the necessity for obtaining
one, as otherwise the child may become permanently blind."
"Instructions to Nurses and Midwives for Treating Inflamed
Eyes in Newborn Infants UNTIL THE PHYSICIAN ARRIVES:
To one pint of boiled water add two teaspoonfuls of boric acid
and half a teasjioouful of table salt, and keep covered in a jar which
has been boiled. ^Vith a perfectly clean cloth or a wad of absorbent
cotton bathe the lids with this solution, and drop a few drops in the
eye three times a day."
Of course the intention of the law is that the physician shall
treat the eye with a salt of silver, or some equally efficacious agent,
but deeming it inexpedient to entrust the use of so strong an appli-
cation to the unsldlled hands of a nurse or midwife, we suggested
the use of the above harmless but efficacious detergent until the
services of a jjhAsician could be secured. It is hoped by the enforce-
ment of this law to put an end to a fertile cause of misery and dis-
ability and save the state from a serious burden. In this connection
the following communications were addressed to County Medical
Inspectors and loi al boards of health :
Dr. ,
County Medical Iusi)ector.
Dear Sir: Your attention is called (o the enclosed copy of the
law of June 2(5. 1SJ)5, V. L. 'M'.i, designed to prevent blindness in a
large and increasing number of cases in this state.
The statistics of the Pennsylvania School for the Bliiid show that
the average annual percentage of cases of blindness received in that
16 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
school for the past eight years directly attributable to Ophthalmia
Neonatorum, has been 3:>. All of this misery and disability is pre-
ventable.
As you will observe the onus of the enforcement of the law rests
upon the health officers and midwives and nurses. I trust, however,
that you will lose no opportunity to use your influence to aid them
in the discharge of this important dut}'.
Yours very truly,
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner.
To the Secretary of Board of Health of
Dear Sir: Allow me to call your attention to the enclosed copy
of the Act of June 26, 1S95, P. L. 373, having for its object the pre-
vention of blindness. If its provisions are carried out there is reason
to hope that one-third of the cases of that sad affliction, which so
greatly diminishes the productive value of the individual and too
often renders him a burden on society, may be prevented.
This Department is already taking steps through its County Med-
ical Inspectors and Health Officers to enforce the law in the rural
districts. I venture to express the hope that your Board will appre-
ciate the serious importance of the question and adopt such meas-
ures as will lead to its early enforcement in the municipality under
your jurisdiction.
Yours very truly,
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner.
THE STATE'S OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST TUBERCU-
LOSIS.
The opening of the year found the campaign of the Department
against Tuberculosis fairly inaugurated. I was able to report the
Dispensary system as llioroughly organized, seventy-two dispensaries
fully officered and equipped being in active operation and four hun-
dred and thirty-five applicants having received attention.
Kighly-lhree have l)een o])ened during llie year, making the present
number omt hundred and live, and a I'urllier extension of the system
is in contemplation. Under the report oC the Medical Inspector of
Disfiensaries will be found a list of the location and a statement of
the e<iuipm('nt of the dis])ensaries and of tlie method of dispensary
work, and other details of interest.
It was felt that in addition to notic(\s in the public press it was
desirable to give the fact of the inauguration of this movement the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 17
widest publicity in those quarters where it would be most likely to
reach the sufferers. The following letters were therefore addressed
to different classes of individuals, private and well as official:
To the Secretarv of each local Board of Health.
^'Dear Sir: It is desirable that you and the members of your Board
should have accurate information with regard to the campaign
which this Department is inaugurating against that deadly foe of
human life, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, generaally known as Consump-
tion of the Lungs.
"By your own personal investigations, as well as through your
Health-officer, you become acquainted with the health conditions
of every family in your town. You are informed through your sys-
tem of vital statistics of every death from this disease that occurs,
and you have learned that it is a communicable disease.
I therefore earnestly request you to make use of the facts which
3'ou thus officially obtain to disseminate to all whom it may especially
concern a knowledge of the fact that the State Department of
Health has opened a Tuberculosis Dispensary at under
the care of Dr. , County Medical Inspector, at which compe-
tent medical advice will be given and milk and eggs, the principal
food of consumptives, will be furnished free of expense to indigent
cases as well as such medicine as may be necessary.
In order to secure speedy recovery, cases should apply in the earliest
stage of the disease.
Trusting that we shall have your earnest support in the contest
against this inveterate enemy of the human race,
I am. Yours very truly,
Commissioner."
To the Secretary of each County Medical Society.
''Dear Doctor: Your Society is of course deeply interested in the
wave of enthusiasm which is spreading all over our Country in a
combined effort to check the ravages of Tuberculosis Pulmonalis. I
feel sure, therefore, that the State Department of Health will have
the active cooperation of your Society and of every member of the
same in its endeavor to put our own State in the fore front of this
important movement. In addition to the Sanatoria which the Legis-
lature has authorized we are establishing a Tuberculosis Dispensary
in each County of the State. In your own County it is located at
and will be under the chai'ge of Dr. , County Medical
Inspector.
Our object will be to place reliable medical advise within the
reach of those whose means are so limited as to make it impossible
for them to consult an expert or go to a pay Sanatorium.
To such persons as it seems necessary we shall also furnish milk
and eggs and such medicines as seem to be essential free of cost,
Kecent experience, as you are well aware, renders it of the utmost
importance that the treatment of these cases should be begun at the
earliest possible moment before the bacillus has produced much de-
struction of the lung tissue.
You are in a position to see and recognize suspicious cases long
before the patient or the patient's friends suspect the presence of
the organism.
2—17—1908
18 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
I have most earnestly to request that whenever in your practice
you meet a case that you feel to be needing and deserving State aid,
you will lose no time in giving the necessary information, which may
in a large proportion of cases lead to an arrest of the disease and
the removal of a menace to the community.
Believe me, dear Doctor, Yours very truly.
Commissioner."
To each Township Health Officer.
''Dear Sir: The Department of Health desires to avail itself of
your services in carrying on its campaign against Pulmonary Tuber-
culosis or Consumption of the Lungs. In order to reduce the preva-
lence and mortality of this most deadly of all diseases, we are es-
tablishing a Tuberculosis Dispensary in each County in the State,
at which indigent persons threatened with or suffering from this
disease can not only receive competent medical advice, but also food in
the shape of milk and eggs and medicine, if needed.
Your duties give you an intimate knowledge of the conditions of
life and pecuniary circumstances of the population of your district.
You will be likely to learn of consumptives or of persons in failing
health, and you will therefore enjoy an opportunity of advising such
persons of the hope of recovery thus held out to them.
You are, therefore, instructed, in your visits throughout your dis-
trict, to lose no chance of spreading this information as generally
as possible and especially in families where you have reason to think
that it is needed.
The dispensary of your County is located at , and the
physician is Dr. , County Medical Inspector.
Yours truly.
Commissioner."
To the Secretary of Womens Clubs and Aid Associations, through
clergymen :
"Will the pastor kindly see that this letter is placed in the hands
of the Secretary of the Ladies' Aid Society or similar organization
of the church and make such public announcement of the dispensary
work from his pulpit as he may think best?
"Dear Madam: The Department of Health of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania is desirous of obtaining the co-operation of yourself
and the mfmbei-s of 3'our association in its great fight against Tuber-
culosis of Ihe Lungs, usually known as Coiisiiiiii)(ion. It is now es-
tablishing in each county in the State a dispensary for the treat-
ment of indigent persons suffering from this disease, a disease which
is responsible^ for ihe deaths of a larger number of oui- j)eople than
any oilier-. In your own county Ihe disi)ensary is located at
and th(; County .Medical Inspecloi- wlio lias charge of it is Dr.
Any jx'rsons who susj^ect llial their lungs are becoming affected
and whos(* nicaiis do not ])erniit them to go to a ])rivafe sanatorium
or expert, can, on a})plying at the disj)ensary on IIk; advei'tised days,
obtain a n*liable opinion as to whether or not they have the dis-
ease in its eai-ly stage If they prove to need the s[)e('ial care here
given they will receive exact instructions as to their diet and mode
of living, and in cases where it seems desirable and practicable, they
will l)e fujiiished the milk and eggs, which should constitute the
greater j)art «»f their food, free of expense. Medicines, if needed,
will also be furnished free.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 19
Patients will, of course, be treated in any stage of the disease, but
so far as the work of these dispensaries is to be curative, it is a
matter of the utmost importance that cases should be seen as early
as possible. It is here especially that the knowledge which your
members possess of those needing aid can be of the greatest possible
assistance. The patients themselves will be missionaries and educa-
tors in their own family and circle of acquaintances, disseminating
the knowledge of the precautions which are absolutely essential for
the protection of those around them from acquiring the disease.
''Nurses will also visit the homes of the patients in order to make
sure that the instructions of the physician are faithfully carried out
as well as to detect unsanitary conditions which might retard the
patient's recovery. Trusting that you and your public-spirited as-
sociates will appreciate the field "for usefulness thus opened and lend
us your valuable assistance in this most important effort, in which
to insure success, the whole people must join, I am Yours very truly,
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner."
To employers of Labor.
''Dear Sir: As an employer of large numbers of operatives it is
a matter of considerable importance to you that a high standard of
health should be maintained among these whose daily labor con-
tributes to the success of your enterprise. The experience of our
Department will probably be corroborated by your own that Pulmo-
nary Tuberculosis or Consumption of the Lungs is one of the most
constant and serious obstacles to the steady prosecution of labor,
striking down its victims, as it does, just at the time of life when
their services are most valuable. I feel sure, therefore, that the
State Department of Health will receive your ready co-operation in
the effort which it is making to restrict the spread of this most
serious of all infections.
The plan which this Department is developing is, in addition to
the forest sanatoria authorized by law, to establish a Tuberculosis
Dispensary in evei-y County in the State, where sufferers from this
deadly disease whose pecuniary means are limited, may obtain com-
petent medical advice, food in the shape of milk and eggs, and, if
necessary, medicine, free of expense.
The instructions which they will receive as to the precautions nec-
essary to be taken to prevent them from transmitting the disease to
other members of their families will be conveyed by them to the others
and thus becomes a means of education to the entire community. In
this way it is hoped to soon diminish this terrible leak in the pro-
ductive resources of the country.
Allow me to suggest that it might be a remunerative scheme for
you to institute a systematic Medical Inspection of your employees
in order to detect the disease in its earliest stage when it is cai)able
of cure, and to advise all suspicious cases to apply to the State
County Dis])ensary for advice.
The Dispensary for County is located at It is
in charge of and is open
Yours very truly.
Commissioner."
20 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
It was owing to this etfort in part as well as to the kindly and
imirersal aid of the newspapers of the State that patients began to
flock to the Dispeusaries as soon as they were opened.
The total number applying at the Dispensaries during the year
was 8699. The number remaining under treatment at the end of
the year was 5204. The number in whom the disease was arrested was
105, and of those who left improved 1041. There were 500 deaths
and 1249 applieants who paid only a single visit. The total number
of visits at the dispensaries was 47,318, and the number of visits to
patients at their homes by the nurses was 33,305. The number of
quarts of milk dispensed was 385,818, and the number of dozen of
eggs 54,403.
THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN SANATORIUM.
The work in preparation of the Sanatorium near Mont Alto in
Franklin County was then described as well advanced and the tem-
porary accommodation of a large number of incipient cases in new
tents, manufactured for the purpose, under the direction of the Ad-
jutant General was reported. Although the winter was a somewhat
severe one, as the supply of blankets of good quality was adequate,
there were few complaints of the cold, and not a single case of
Penumonia developed. During the year the cottages then in pro-
cess of erection have been completed to the number of forty-one
and have proved to be entirely satisfactory. These afforded accom-
modations for 328 patients.
The advantage of the cottage system over that of the huge and
costly hcjspital, with its magnificent architectural display and its
large, crowded wards, is daily impressing itself on the minds of
those in charge. Apart from the more complete ventilation thus
secured, during the hours of sleep, the necessity of going into the
open air for meals, and for visiting the bath and toilet houses, is of
the greatest importance, as it overcome the inevitable tendency of
patients to remain unnecessarily in bed, M'ithout the exercise of
compulsion on the part of the physicians or other officers, which is
always resented.
It is undoul)t(Mlly theoreti<;ally ])ossible to restore an incipient
consumptive to health in a city or near the sea level, but there is also
practically no room for doubt that a moderate altitude, remote from
the contaminating influences of the city, ensures a purity of atmos-
phere and equal)i]ity of temperature which greatly hasten and facili-
tate the cure. Add to this an environment of balsamic forests
through whicli the outside air is, so to speak, filtered and which
serve to check violent meteorological commoticms, and you have all
the conditions usually sought after for a tuberculosis sanatorium at
home or abroad.
No. 1?. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 21
Such are the natural conditions which prevail at South Mountain.
A copious supply of pure water, adequate modern drainage and
sewerage facilitates, with a disposal plant, good roads and paths,
and a careful selection of sites for the camps have so enhanced these
natural advantages, as to have led an enthusiastic visitor to entitle
the settlement "The Hillside City of Hope.''
Detailed descriptions of the cottages, pavilions and otlier build-
ings in the camp will be found in the Catalogue of the Exhibit of
the Department at the International Tuberculosis Exhibition under
the head of Operations of the Divisions.
The Representation of the Department at the International
Congress on Tuberculosis at Washington, D. C.
Early in the year the following communication was received from
the Governor of the State, with the request that an exhibit for this
purpose, adequate to the importance of the Commonwealth and the
occasion, should be prepared and forwarded to Washington.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, December 26, 1907.
Sir: The prevention of tuberculosis is engaging the increasing
attention of public health authorities and philanthropists throughout
the world. There is certainly no more important public health ques-
tion demanding the activities of sanitary olticers at the present
time, and it is desirable that our people generally recognize its im-
portance and enlist in the campaign against tuberculosis.
The diffusion of knowledge with respect to the disease is no doubt
one of the most important measures that can be instituted by
public health officials. With the view to this end, an International
Congress on Tuberculosis will be held in Washington, D. C, Septem-
ber 21 to October 12, 1908. At this Congress all phases of the prob-
lem will be considered, a number of eminent specialists from abroad
having signified their intention to participate in the deliberations.
Section VI will be devoted to the National, State and Municipal
control of the disease, and it is urged that all public health officials
attend its sessions, participate in the benefits to be derived from
discussions of the governmental responsibilities and activities, and
as a result be better prepared to assist in a systematic campaign
aginst the disease throughout the country.
Respectfully,
WALTER WYMAN,
Surgeon- General.
By request of Surgeon-General Wyman I accepted the appoint-
' ment of \'ice-President of the Section referred to, of which he was
himself the President. As Chairman of the Pennsylvania State
Committee of the Congress, I shared in the preparation of the ex-
hibits of the various voluntary organizations for the prevention of
22 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
tuberculosis throughout the State in addition to devising and
arranging that of the Department. The State Eegistrar of Vital
Statistics was deputed to supervise the transportation and installa-
tion of the latter. A descriptive catalogue of the Exhibit iu pamphlet
form, 31 pp. octavo, was distributed to visitors. This will be found
later iu the report.
Several members of the medical staff of the Department were
present during the congress, explaining the exhibits in detail and
giving lectures; Personally attending and presiding over the Sec-
tion referred to, I read a paper, entitled ''The Governmental Con-
trol of Tuberculosis Patients in Pennsylvania." Further reference
to this congress will be made later as well as to the Seventh Inter-
national Conference held at Philadelphia in September, where also
I read a paper. These occasions assembled scientific students of
the problems of tuberculosis from all parts of the world and un-
doubtedly gave a great impulse to the popular awakening on this
question which the last few years have witnessed. It is proposed to
install the Exhibit of the Department in the State Capitol for the
information of the members of the Legislature and the citizens of
Harrisburg during the coming Winter, and, after the adjournment
of that body, to despatch it on a tour of instruction through the
State, accompanied by a corps of carefully selected demonstrators
and lecturers.
MORBIDITY REPORTS.
In a State where the reporting of disease has been to a great
extent neglected, and in which indeed by many of the population the
attempt to take a census has been violently opposed on religious
grounds, it could not reasonably be expected that the first efforts to
collect such figures would be in the least degree successful. In
regard to mortality returns, the case is quite different. The neces-
sity for burial affords a lever which can be worked with an approach
to certainty. The number of deaths which fail of being reported is
extremely small. But in illness there are elements of uncertainty
apart from the carelessness or tardiness of the physician. In many
cases no i>hysician is called. In others the fear of quarantine leads
to concealment. Hence it need not surprise us that the total number
of cases of communicable diseases returned in 1908 was 113,357 as
compared with 70,864 in 1907. An increase of 37 per cent, in a
single year is of course not for a moment to be thought of and can
only be attributed to increased faithfulness on the part of x>iiysi-
cians in reporting and increased vigilance on the j)art of health"
oflicerH and registrars.
Scarlet Fever has been extremely prevalent all over the State.
It has, however, been of the same mild type which has marked it of
late years.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 23
Measles, too, has been epidemic in many places. Until the popular
heresy that this is so mild a disease as to be negligible and that it is
a good thing lor children to "have it and be over with it," ceases
to be held, this disease will continue not only to reap a large harvest
of young lives, but to leave in its train an army of the blind, the
dumb and the consumptive to be a burden on the community.
It is encouraging to notice that physicians are becoming alive
to the importance of reporting that serious contagious infection of
the eye. Trachoma, which is responsible for so many cases of blind-
ness.
WORK DONE BY HEALTH OFFICERS OF THE DEPART-
MENT FOR THE YEAR 1908.
No. of reports received from physiciaas, 30,671
No. of premises placarded , 12,369
No. of quarantine permits issued, 8,634
No. of premises disinfected , 13 , 705
No , of rooms disinfected , 27 , 290
Total amount of air space in cu. ft. disinfected, 29,686,501
Total number of pts. of Formaldehyde used, 297,045
No. of measures of Potassium Permanganate used (8 oz. to
the measure) , 312 ,348
Bichloride of Mercury used , 153 bottles
Carbolic Acid used , 35 lbs.
Sulphur used , 420 "
Lime used 1 , 014 "
Chloride of Lime used , 114 "
No. of Creameries inspected , 178
No. of Dairy inspections made 15,359
No. of schools inspected, 19,027
MORTALITY.
The total number of deaths in the State for the year was 112,246.
This was a decrease as compared with the year before of 3723.
The principal cause of death was Tuberculosis, which claimed
10,180 victims. Of these 8,688 perished from the pulmonary form
of the disease and 1,492 from other forms. Pneumonia was an easy
second in the race of death, carrying off 7,264. This, however, was
a diminution from the showing of the year before, which was 7,849,
a decrease of 585.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
SMALLPOX.
We are fortunate in being able to record the fact that during the
year not a single death from this disease took place. This is a de-
crease of a hundred per cent, from last year, when one death was
reported.
24 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
From one point of view, however, it is not so fortunate, as it will
throw our people otf their guard and thus strengthen the argument
of the antivaccinationists that smallpox is now a negligible disease
and that vaccination is, therefore, an unnecessary hardship. No
doubt the next Legislature will see a renewal of the hysterical
efforts which were made before the last Legislature to procure the re-
peal of the excellent law which makes vaccination a prerequisite to
admission to school.
TUBERCULOSIS.
The mortality from Tuberculosis in all its forms amounted to
10,211, a decrease of G14 from the year 1907.
^Vhile this is gratifying as a general statement, still more gratify-
ing is it to be able to state that all of this decrease was in pulmonary
tuberculosis, against which the Department has been making its
especial fight, the actual decrease having been 614, a reduction of
more than six per cent.
TYPHOID FEVER.
This disease, which is the special opprobrium of Pennsylvania,
carried off 2,450 of our population. This is fewer than the number
of typhoid deaths for 1907 by 1,088, a reduction of more than 30
per cent. When it is remembered that the 1907 report showed an
improvement over 190G of 379, it is impossible to escape the con-
viction that the faithful labors of the agents of the Department in
the removal of sources of pollution from the watersheds combined
with the improvements in municipal water supplies, the latter prin-
cipally in the matter of Alteration, are bearing fruit. The reduc-
tion in three years has been from 5G.5 per hundred thousand in
190G to 50.3 in 1907 and 34.3 in 1908.
SCARLET FEVER.
The deaths from Scarlet Fever were greatly in excess of those for
the year previous and indeed for many j^ears, reaching the figures of
1,217, the tendency to increase malignancy as well as to numerical
increase observed in the last report having continued throughout
the year
Measles also exliibited increased virulence, having caused 1,215
deaths, as compared with 714 in 1907, and more than scarlet fever.
Whoopingcough was responsible for 1,2G4 deatlis, 23 less than in
the preceding year and 28G fewer than in the year before than.
Measles and whoopingcough combined, therefore, carried off 2,481
children, notwithstanding that tlicy are so lightly regarded by the
public.
Diphtheria is credited with 1,970 deaths. This is a gratifying
diminution from the year 1907, which also showed a decrease from
190G of 300, the decrease in the two years since the free distribution
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 25
of antitoxin to the indigent by the Department began having been
408. As pointed out by the Registrar of Vital Statistics, if the same
death rate from diphtheria as prevailed in the U. S. registration
area in 1890 had prevailed in Pennsylvania in 1908, the number of
deaths would have been 0,980 instead of 1,970.
The attempt by the Department to fight Malaria and therefore
to abate the Mosquito pest, which is responsible for it, was by the
majority of people looked upon as chimerical. Our tables, how-
ever, seem to show that we are actually making headway in this
unequal contest, the number o* deaths from Malaria having been
99 in 190G, 81 in 1907 and only 44 in 1908, a diminution of more than
one-half in two years. This certainly is a sufficient reply to the
inquiry whether the Department was justified in making a mosquito
survey of the State.
HOUSE AND ROOM DISINFECTION.
The duty of disinfecting premises after the presence of an in-
fective disease is assigned to the Health Officers. For the destruc-
tion of the germs of communicable diseases the Department de-
pends principally on the action of formaldehyde gas, as evolved
from an official (U. S. P.) thirty-seven and a half per cent solution,
by the action of Potassium Permanganate, in an apparatus provided
by the Department.
The dimensions of this vessel have been fixed by empirical trial as
ample for the diffusion of the gas, thus preventing its ignition when
in contact with a live flame, an accident which might have most
serious consequences. Each health officer is furnished with a supply
of chemicals, the unit of supply being 5 pounds of formaldehyde
and 22 pounds of potassium permanganate. During the year 3,485
units have been sent to the different health officers, besides 176
pounds of formaldehyde, and 170i pounds of Permanganate, mak-
ing a total of 153,516 pounds of Formaldehyde, which equals approxi-
mately 17,425 gallons, and 76,777 1-2 pounds of Potassium Perman-
ganate.
Health Officers are instructed to notify the Department when
their supply of disinfectants is running low, so that they may be
ready for any emergency.
DIVISION OF LABORATORIES.
While the physicians of the State have been quick to appreciate
and avail themselves of the inunense advantages afforded them in the
matter of diagnosis and prognosis by the laboratories of the De-
partment, they have not yet learned the importance of furnishing
clinical data and other information together with their samples,
and this has greatly delayed the service by reason of the time con-
sumed in correspondence.
26 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Daily reports have been made to the Division of Medical Inspeo
tion by my instructions in order to act as a control on the Morbidity
reports of communicable diseases. The rapid increase of work has
necessitated the appointment of a Diener of Supplies to care for all
outfits for the sending of specimens. The number of examinations
made during the year has been 9,065, more than twice as many as
during 19U7, the greater number being in sputum and water.
During the year our Chief Bacteriologist has introduced improved
methods of analysis of water, enabling us to differentiate the Bac.
coli from allied species in water, making the diagnosis more exact
and gi'eatly shortening the time required for the search of this
micro-organism.
The research work has been continued, covering investigations on
the products of the tubercle bacillus and efforts at the production
of immunity, the effects of repeated injections of Old Tuberculin in
cows, the similarity between Barium Carbonate Poisoning and Rabies
in dogs, and the study of the specimens from a case of combined
leprosy and tuberculosis. Full details will be found in the report of
this Division.
Experience has demonstrated that the examination of the sputa
of tuberculosis patients is by no means devoid of danger to the
examiner and even to others working in the laboratory. A device
was introduced early in the year with the object of minimizing this
risk as far as possible. This consisted in the erection of a cage over
the desk at which the spreading and dr^^ing of the sputa is done.
This was made by supporting a glass plate on the sides and front
by a wooden frame fitted with a wire screen, and so slanted that it
shall be two inches higher at the back than at the front.
At the back is a solid wooden partition, from which a vent leads
to a six-inch galvanized iron pipe containing a large Bunsen flame.
All the dried particles escaping into the air go up this flue and are
destroyed by the high temperature of the air or walls. The top of
the shelter is hinged so that it can be lifted when not in use. When
the specimens are dry they are rendered innocuous by fixation in the
flame. Notwithstanding the liberal accommodations furnished us
by the University of Pennsylvania, the work is growing to such an
extent that tlio possibility of being forced to seek additional space
outside is forcing itself upon us.
SCHOOL INSPECTION.
Early in the year the following instructions were sent to the town-
ship hetilHi officers:
"The second insijcction of township sdiools in your district is
hereby authorized.
Advise us fori h with of the number of schools in each township in
your district that we may make permanent records of same and
send you Form 51.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 27
When making returns note on the reverse side of the sheet existing
nuisances or conditions otherwise prejudicial to the health of pupils,
as well as sanitary improvements in such conditions efifected since
your first inspection.
In addition to answering the question on the blanks you will
please note on the reverse side of the blank the schools not complying
with the following laws, and mention specifically wherein the re-
spective requirements have been violated in each instance.
'That boards of schools directors and controllers shall provide
suitable and convenient water-closets for each of the schools under
their official jurisdiction, not less than two for each school or school
building, where both sexes are in attendance in their respective
school districts, with separate means of access for each; and unless
placed at remote distances one from the other, the approaches or
walks thereto shall be separated by a substantial close fence, not
less than seven feet in height, and it shall be the duty of the directors
or controllers to make provision for keeping the water-closets in a
clean, comfortable and heathful condition.'
'That the boards of school directors and controllers of each school
district of this Commonwealth be and they are hereby required at
least once during each full school term, and prior to the first of
January of each year, and within thirty days after the close of each
annual school term, to have taken out, removed and hauled away
all excrement and waste matter from every outhouse or water- closet
connected with or standing upon the premises of every public school
house in the Commonwealth or have the same properly disinfected ;
and they are required to have every outhouse or water-closet prop-
erly scrubbed, washed out and cleaned, the inside walls whitewashed
and the vaults or receptacles covered with a layer of fresh dirt or
slacked lime within ten days of the opening of each annual school
term.'
On a separate sheet of paper, but attached to each school inspec-
tion blank, we desire you to copy the names of unvaccinated school
children attending school, as well as the name and address of their
parent or guardian as recorded in the school register, observing the
following arrangement :
Pupil, Parent, P. O. Address,
Observing the same arrangement, record on an additional sheet
(also appended to the blank) the names of all children debarred
from this school for not complying with the vaccination law.
Your are to take no action otherwise, and any remarks tliat may
occur to you should be made onhi to the Department on the separate
sheet upon which such names are recorded."
The results of this inspection are seen in the following report it
will be observed that the school directors in the country are far from
appreciating the requirements which the Legi^ilaiure makes foi* the
ol>servation of the laws not of sanitation only but even of decency.
Still a slight improvement may be noted over the conditions observed
.'ast year.
The apparent discrepancy between the rating of the schools for
the Spring and Fall inspections for this year does not indicate, a.s
28 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doft
might at first appear, a deterioration in the condition of the schools
in the Fall as compared with that in the Spring, but simply a differ
ence in the plan of rating, with greater precision as to details and
more care in analysis. The general designation of ''sanitary" ap-
peared unsatisfactory and was therefore omitted.
SCHOOL INSPECTIONS, FALL 1908.
Number of Schools Inspected , 11 , 392
Number in excellent condition , 5S8
Number having one or more insanitary condition, 10,804
/
DETAILS OF INSANITARY CONDITIONS.
SCHOOL HOUSE.
Rooms overcrowded , 309
Ventilation poor, 658
Light poor, • 107
Rooms not warm , 628
Stoves not jacketed , 5 , 859
Floors not warm , 1 , 107
Rooms not clean , 321
Cloak rooms not clean , 274
No cellar, 2,382
Cellar not clean , 98
Cellar used for storage , 60
WATER SUPPLY.
Water not clear, 416
Water not free from odor , 352
Water unpleasant to taste 990
Bucket not covered , 8 , 227
Bucket not scalded daily, 8,0G8
No individual cups, 10,093
Cups dipped in bucket, , 8,390
Fresh supply not secured for each session, 1,620
Water carried by scholars 9,329
No provisions to exclude surface drainage 1 .412
Waste water can seep back , 1 ,032
Nuisances within 200 feet 509
GROUNDS AND OUTHOUSES.
Grounds not clean •'504
Ouly one privy , 293
Not separate '"^O?
Privies in bad repair, 2,64o
Privies not clean, 8,2.39
Approaches not screened, 7,333
No dividing fences 7,799
Fences in bad repair 141
No pits or vaults 4 , 153
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 29
Vaults not tight «,498
Vaults full, 1,489
Vaults overflowing , 1 , 143
Privies offensive , 3 , 433
Lime or ashes not used , 6 , 823
Drainage not prevented , 4,933
Can drain into stream 2 , 139
DAIRY INSPECTION.
Every coniinimily of any size in the State avail.s itself of the law
to prevent the sale of impure or adulterated milk, but this effort only
touches the circumference of the evil produced by the consumption
of infected or filthy milk. The place to attack this serious source
of disease is rather at the centre, where the milk is produced. For
this reason I waited only until a sufficient number of township
health oflicers had been appointed and had become somewhat familiar
with their routine duties, to institute a systematic inspection of the
dairies of the State, with a view to eventually weeding out all such
as failed to conform to the regulations prescribed by the Depart-
ment and thus securing an approximately pure food suppl}^ of this
most important of our food products, especially important during
the period of infancy.
It is true that some cities had already adopted a scheme of inspec-
tion of their own, but this was always rendered more or less ineffec-
tive by reason of absence of legal authority and could not be ac-
complished without the permission of the dairymen. With an abso-
lute knowledge of the responsibility of this article of food for the
spread of many of the most common commnicable diseases on the
one hand and of the comparative ignorance of the average farmer
of the precautions necessary to be used to protect its purity on the
other, the duty of the Department seemed very plain. In the month
of July, therefore, the following letter of instructions was issued to
the township health oflicers:
"To the Health Ofiicer.
Dear Sir: We enclose dairy inspection blanks with the request
that all dairy farms supplying milk to the general public in your
district bo inspected prior to August 20th.
We wish you to learn the name and location of dairymen, arrange
your route and complete the work with as little expense and loss of
time as possible.
See that all questions are answered definitely and legibly, leaving
nothing for conjecture.
In answering question No. 5, 'Is it polluted?' it should be borne
in mind that any water supply which receives drainage from sewers,
privies, barnyards, manure piles, slaughter houses or industrial
waste can onlv be considered as polluted. If you report pollution
3
30 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
of any water supply the eyidence of siieli pollution should be appar-
ent to the casual obseryer. Question No. 7 is especially important.
The presence of stagnant pools, streams or swamps receiving sewage,
through which the cattle may wade should be noted.
With regard to the cooling of milk, the appearance of the water in
the cooling tank should be noted, whether it is clean and without
sediment or whether ill-smelling, with or without sediment.
In yiew of the natural feeling that a man's home is his castle
and that condition*;; existing thereon are nuitters of i)urely personal
responsibility, the Health Ofticer's attitude must at all times be
kindly considerate and his remarks free from criticism. The Health
Officer is sent to the premises to obtain information only and the
questions asked should be presented as tactfully as possible in order
that no antagonism may be aroused. Our work is in the interest
both of the milkmen and the consumers. The Department's aim is
to be helpful to the farmer and not meddlesome.
After securing the data required, a copy of the accompanying cir-
cular of suggestions should be giyen to the farmer, with the request
that same be tacked up in the stable.
Should any difficulty be encountered a detailed report of same
should be made to this Department forthwith.
If more inspection blanks are required, adyise us at once. If the
whole supply is not needed, return those not required."
The following is a copy of the card furnished the inspector to
guide him in his investigation:
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF DAIRIES.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROTECTING THE MILK FROM DIRT AND DISEASE PRODUCING
GERMS.
Owner of Farm,
P. O. Address,
Township,
Sold at wholesale or retail,
Place marketed,
Name of Dealer,
P. O. Address,
CLEANLINESS OF COWS.
1. Are teats clean?
2. Are udders clean?
3. Are flanks clean?
4. Are tails clean?
WATER SUPPLY FOR CATTLE.
'). From Spring? Running Stream, Public Supply?
H. Is it polluted?
7. If polluted, what from?
8. Can cattle wade in polluted water?
STABLE.
U. Ih the floor of the stable clean and dry?
10. Is the ccilin^j clean?
n. Ih the ceiliuK tight?
12. Ih the manure removed daily?
13. Can the cows lie down in their droppings?
14. How is the stable ventilated?
15. Has it sunlight? ;
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 31
COW YARD.
IG. Is the stable manure .scatlered (ni thi- ki"""'! ^<' llie cattle oan lie in the
sameV
17. Are there any \u>n\s <>( nianmc waler in the .v;n<lV
MILK HOISE.
IS. If not si'pnralt". what I'lse is kept in the same l)nilflin^'V
19. Are all the windows, doors and outlets screened from flies?
20. Is there any provision for hot water where the utensils are washed''
21. Are the (ilensils clean?
22. Is the water supply used in the milk hou.sc from S()rin;;?
Rnnnintr water? I'uhlic supply?
23. Is it polluted?
24. If polluted, from what? "
MILKINH.
2.". I»() ihi' Miilkeis wear a clean covering; over their clothes when milking?
2<i. I >o thi'y wash their hands before milking?
27. Do they wash the teats and udders of the cows?
25. Are the milkinu: stools which they handle clean?
20. Do they milk the {<>vi- milk into the can?
IM). Do they use luilk on the hands and teats whcu milking?
HANDLING OF MILK.
31. Is milk cooled immediately after milking? How?
32. What dirty hat)its did you notice?
33. Has scarlet fever, typhoid fever, dysentery or any diarrhoeal condition
existed within the household or among the employes of the dairy farm
during the past year?
If so, which? Dates?
Doctor's name?
P. O. Address?
The circular of suggestions to the farmer was as follows:
"TO DAIRYMEN,
My Dear Sir:
Milk being one of the most valuable of food stuffs, the following suggestions are
oflered that it may be more generally used than at present and to prevent disease
that is produced by dirty milk.
THE STABLES.
1. The floors, walls and ceilings of the stable should be tight, walls and ceil-
ings being kept free from cobwebs. There should be as few dust-catching ledges and
projections as possible.
2. Do not allow musty or dirty litter or strong smelling material in the stable.
It is well to sprinkle the floor with air slaked lime or land plaster daily.
' THE MILK HOUSE.
3. Cans should nwt be taken into the stable to be lilleii. Remove the milk of
each cow at once from the staiile to a clean room and strain immediately. Canton
flannel or absorl)ent cotton* makes a good strainer. The milk should be cooled as
soon as strained. All milk houses should be screened from flies.
4. Jlilk utensils should be made of metal, with all joints smoothly soldered, or,
when possible, should be made of stamped metal. Never allow utensils to become
rusty or rough inside. Use milk utensils for nothing but handling, storing or de-
livering milk.
5. To clean dairy utensils use pure water only. First rinse the utensils in cold
water; then wash inside and out in hot water: rinse again; steriliz.e with boiling
water or steam; then keep inverted in a clean place or expose to the sun where no
dirt can be blown or dropped into them.
MILKING AND HANDLING OF MILK.
(!. The milker should wash his hands immediately before milking, 'i'he practice
of moistening th<> hands with milk when milking is most vicious and uneleanl.v and
should bi> avoided. He should wear a clean outer garment, which should be kept in
a clean place when not in use. Tobacco should not be used while milking.
7. The first few drops of milk from each teat should not be milked into the can
as it will be apt to injure the milk both as to keeping qualities and as to health-
fulness for food stuff.
S. If any part of the milk is bloody, stringy, or unnatural in appearance, or if
by accident dirt gets into the milk pail, the whole mess should be rejected.
9. Never mix warm milk with that which has been cooled, and do not allow milk
to freeze.
10. Do not feed dry, dusty food previous t.o or durin? milking time.
32 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
11. Persons suffering from tuberculosis or skin disease, or tliose suffering from
or exposed to those suffering from a contagiovis disease must not liandle either the
cows, the milli or railk utensils.
12. It is needless to say that the shorter the time between the production of milk
and its delivery, and between delivery and use, the better will be the quality of the
milk, providing it is cooled before transported."
The total number of daii-ies inspected was 17,(;i8. Of these 2,442
were found to be in a condition which entitled them to the highest
commendation. Of the remainder many were comparatively clean
and carefully conducted but failed in one or more of the eight par-
ticulars noted in the card of questions.
For instance, on 480 farms the cattle were found to be drinking
jiolluted water. In somewhat more than twenty-tive hundred the
Hoors of the stables were in an extremely filthy c(mdition. In about
tlie same number the milkers did not wash their liands or the udders
of the cows before milking or wear clean protective covering to pre-
vent dust and filth from their clothing falling into the milk.
Possibly about half would have passed without criticism by an
ordinary uninstructe-d observer. It was gratifying to discover that
so far from appearing antagonistic, the dairymen were generally
most ready to co-operate with the agents of the Department in the
inspections and to afford every facility, evidently appreciating that
it was to their interest to comply with all the instructions fur-
nished by us and thus secure the confidence of the public in the
purity of their product.
DAIKV INSPECTIONS, FALL 1908.
Total number of dairies inspected 17,618
Number in a sanitary condition 2,442
Number in an insanitary condition, 15,170
INSANITARY CONDITION OF ("OWS.
Teats unclean , • 451
I'dders unclean , 487
Flanks unclean 1 ,077
Tails unclcjin 1,1^7
WATER SUPPLY FOR CATTLE.
Water polluted , 451
Cattle can wade in water 737
ST A RLE.
Floor wet or uMcleati 2,XSS
Oiilinj? unclean (!,2(r
CeiliuKs not tit'ht <),()72
Manure not removed daily 2,427
CowH can lie in their dro|>pinKS, 5,80(5
Stable not well venliial.-d , 427
No Runlight, 2,105
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 33
COW YARD.
Stable manure scattered so that the cattle can lie in it 0,723
Pools of nianui'o water in the yard , 1 ,586
MILK HOUSE.
Not separate 751
Dooi-s and windows not screened against flies, 0,544
No provisions for hot water, 505
Milk utensils not clean , 134
Water supply polluted ItiU
MILKING.
I^Iilkers do not wear clean coverings when milking, 10,314
Do not wash their hands before milking, 2,789
Teats and udders not washed , 7 , 768
Milking stools not clean , 1 ,889
Fore milk not discarded , 9,972
Milk used on the hands and teats when milking 3,609
HANDLING OF THE MILK.
Milk not immediately cooled , 833
DISEASES.
Typhoid fever has existed within the last year, 61
Dysentery has existed within the last year, 8
Diarrhoeal conditions have existed within the last year, 5
EPIDEMICS.
TYPHOID FEVER.
The epidemic i)revaleuce ol" Tyi>lioitl Fever in Pittsburgh to an
alarming extent led the Mayor of that city to institute a special
investigation Avith the object of discovering its cause. F'or that pur-
pose he appointed a commission, consisting of three distinguished
sanitary authorities from different parts of the United States, and
re(iuested me to join them in their study. A full acc(mnt of the
meeting, which took place late in May, will appear under the head of
('onferences. During the early part of the year there was little
alarming prevalence of the disease in the State, but towards mid-
summer the excessive drought which prevailed began to deplete the
water supplies and intensify the organic poisons which they con-
tained. In January there was a slight outbreak at Reading and in
the Lehigh N'alley aUmg the Lehigh, Jordan and Little Lehigh
Rivers, which called for activity on the i)art of the Department's
officers. In July a threatening condition at Hastings, Cambria
County, led the Department to issue a bulletin stating in a general
way the measures to be adopted when this disease made its appear-
ance in a community in ferreting out its cause and checking its
spread, and wliich would be pursue>d by its ofticers in all cases, thus
outlining ilic (ampaign which it was forseen was necessarily soon
3—17—1908
34 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
to be entered upon. This statement, wliic-li was given a wide pub-
licity in tlie public press, was substantially as follows: "When the
State Department of Health takes hold of a typhoid fever epidemic
with the local health authorities a census is at once taken of the
existing cases to learn what possible medium of infection has been
common to all or the majority of existing cases. That is, are the
victims using the samo milk or ice supply; have they been getting
shell fish or oysters from the same source, and more particularly,
is there a common water supply? Of course, in the meantime,
strict precautionary measures have been taken to shut off all possible
avenues of infection. ''Boil all water and milk" is insisted upon from
the first If the census cases point to an infected milk supply, it is
quite possible that upon the dairy farm from Avhich the milk sei'ved
to these patients has been secured, will be found a case of typhoid
fever. If so, this particular supply is at once stopped, and the
health authorities do not permit the milk to be nuirketed until the
recovery of the case and thorough disinfection, or unless the milk is
handled entirely by persons not living on the premises. If there
is any suspicion of the dairy farm water supply prior to examina-
tion, the use of such water is not permitted in conducting the dairy.
A study of the case, however, may convince the health authorities
that the epidemic is the result of a polluted water supply, and a
rigid search will probably locate a typhoid fever case somewhere
on the watershed. If so, the premises are thoroughly disinfected and
all existing nuisances abated. Should the municipality have a stor-
age supply, the reservoir is treated with copper sulphate for the
purpose of de-stroying or inhibiting the growth of bacteria without
being harmful to human economy. Where possible, the discharge
pipe from such reservoir is elevated so that the discharge of water
containing sedimeni; that may be laden with the specific organism
of typhoid fever is avoided. A system of flushing the main is in-
stituted, the ])recaution being obsei-ved to thorouglily open and llnsh
liousehold taps and any (load ends that may exist in the system.
Where a municipality has no syslem of sewerage, the Depailiiicnl
urges a systematic disinfection of all ])rivy vaults with lime. This
is d(me with a doubU; object — first, to i)revent IIk; rnrlhei- spread of
the disease through the medium of (lies and also l<» jtrcvcnl pollulion
of surface walls, which occasionally iVjllows and pi-oiongs an epi-
demic, as was the case at I'lynionlh in 1885.
In fighling an epidemic of lyjihoid fever or, in fact, all other coni-
mnnicable diseases, it is most inij)ortant to safeguard (Ik; purity of
the milk supply. I'lie Slate* Department of Health during ihe ex-
istence of such !in e|ti(h'niic r<'(|uires the aholitioii of milk hollies,
which are a source of so mu<-ii dang(;i' during epidemics (»f ly|)lioid
and olhei- connnunicahb* diseases. lOach householder is re(|uired
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. ' 35
to fuinisli his own container and into this the milkman is directed
to pour the milk without handling- or allowing his own can or other
vessel to come in contact with that of the householder's. The in-
destructible milk ticket is also tabooed and milkmen are required to
i;dopt the coupon ticket, that can be used but once and destroyed.
Warning notices are placed on all piemises within which there
are cases of typhoid fever. This is useful to the nursing corps,
which is frequently made up of strangers, and is an aid in carrying
out milk regulations. Such warning placards also prevent many
people from entering the premises who might be of annoyance to
patients and who might carelessly contract the disease themselves.
Warning notices cautioning the citizens to boil all water and milk
before use are jjosted everywhere throughout the town and thus the"
stranger particularly is warned against the danger of infection.
The employment of a corps of visiting nurses is one of the most
el^ficient weapons in combating an epidemic of typhoid fever. These
nurses as they go from one house to another give practical demon-
strations of the technique of disinfection. Thej' instruct the mem-
bers of the household in the precautionary measures that are neces-
sary in order to escape contracting the disease. Such precautionary
measures are particularly important in the prevention of secondary
cases. The condition of the patient is under the constant observa-
tion of the trained eye of the nurse and emergencies are promptly
reported to the attending physician.
The physicians of a town are usually taxed almost beyond the
power of human endurance at such a time and the service which a
well equipped and properly managed corps of nurses can give in
fighting the spread of the disease cannot be overestimated.
It has been too comm(»n in the past for the town authorities to try
to suppress all news of the presence of an ejiidemic of typhoid,
whereas safety lies in the widest publicity.
This step was justified by the appearance of the disease in rapid
succession in Spring City, Koyersford and East Mncent, Chester
County; Pottsville, Schulykill County; Easton, Bethlehem and South
Bethlehem, Northampton County; Canonsburg and Morgauza Ke-
form School, Washington County; Carbondale, Lackawanna County;
Wilkes-Barre and Avoca, Luzerne County; Altoona, Blair County;
IJeading, lierks C<»unty; Conlluence. Somerset County; Darby, Dela-
ware County. ]S'(me of these presented any features making it
worthy of esi)ecial mention except that at Keading. A few cases had
been noted in that city in January; these disappeared, and again in
August there was a sudden and rather alarming outbreak. This in
its turn abated, to a great extent, a few ca.ses, however, coniiuuing
to ai>pear until in Xovember they suddenly began to multii)]y with
startling rapidity. The Mayor ihcn npi>lied to this Department for
36 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
assistance. The Chief Engineer and the Chief Medical Inspector
weie theiefore despatched on the thirtieth of the month, and join-
ing forces with the local authorities, they immediately inaugurated
a campaign as above outlined. Before the end of December 626
cases and 26 deaths had taken place. As the epidemic continued
until February, 19U9, a full history of it cannot be presented until
the report of that year.
EPIDEMIC OF SMALLPOX IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Early in September it was rumored that there was much chicken-
pox in the eastern part of Cumberland County. An investigation
was ordered, and on September 16th twenty-;nine cases of true
(though mild ) smallpox were discovered. Soon after the Postmaster
of one of the villages was attacked. The office was immediately
closed and thoroughly disinfected and then turned over to the U. S.
authorities. Fifty cases occurred before the disease was checked.
All the patients were unvaccinated but one, and that one forty years
ago. Vaccination within two days after contact usually prevented
the development of the disease; but not later. The unvaccinated in
the quarantined ]iouses were always attacked.
One hundred and fifty children were kept out of school for eigh-
teen days, making a loss of twenty-seven hundred days of schooling
for this little section of the county, vastly more than the vaccination
of all the children in the county would have necessitated.
FOURTH OF JULY TETANUS.
As in the previous year a warning was addressed to the public in
the liope of diminisliing the death list from injuries due to the sense-
less and bai-barous manner in wliich our national birthday has been
celebrated of late years. While it referred to the danger from Te-
tanus alone it was hoped tliat llie attcniion of parents and guardians
would thus lie attracted to the subject in g(;neral and that lluis a
diminution of the evil might be effected. Tlie following was (he
notice which was widely pultlishcd by I he pajters of the State
"Every explosive wound, no ma Iter how slight, should be tivalcd
as Hcrious, for Uie germ of tetanus may be there.
"Not a moment should be lost in sending for a physician, and in
the meantime the wound should be cai-cruily washed and then
fomenl(<d witli a hot anlisej)tic solution. A fnliil result may often
be ])rev(*nt('(l by inirncdiatc^ trcatiruMit.
"The wound Iroiii a toy j)istol oi- other explosive may seem slight.
The miniilc punctui-e may scarcely leave a trace (m tin; skin. The
deadly genu of Iclaiius, howevei-, may have ])uri('(l its(*ir in the
child's hand and liic lit lie oik-'s lite may so(m |)ay the pcaialty."
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 37
LEPROSY.
The young Chinese who has been under the coinijined care of the
Department and the health authorities of Harrisburg since July, 1907,
died at the close of the present year. The necropsy, the protocol of
which will be found later, disclosed the following conditions as the
cause of death: Pulmonary tuberculosis with many cavities, broncho-
pneumonia, and extensive tubercular ulceration of the intestines.
The leprosy lesions had made very little progress since he had been
under observation.
WORK DONE BY THE COUNTY MEDICAL INSPECTORS FOR THE
YEAR 1908.
No of cases examined, re[)ort('(l by Health Officers, supposed to be:
Variola 113
Typiioid Fever, 529
Diphtheria 267
Scarlet Fevei- 621
Cerebrospinal Meningitis , 1
Varicella , 6<!0
Pertussis 975
No. of Dairy Farms inspected on account of:
Typhoid Fever 188
A'ariola 20
Diphtheria 57
Scarlet Fever, 108
Cerebrospinal Meningitis, 1
Stock ordered transferred on 33
Sale of milk stopped on 93
CONFEIIIONCIOS, CONVENTIONS AND ADDRESSES.
EASTON.
On February 14;, 11)1)8, 1 met the citizens of Easlon in mass meeting
by the urgent request of the authorities, the occasion being the dis-
cussion of a proposal to issue bonds to the extent of $241,000.00 for
the purpose of constructing a sanitary sewer, and the vote to bo taken
on the Tuesday following.
The situaliou arose out of (he fact that inasmuch as the city of
Easton had failed to hand in lo the Commissioner of Health plans of
its sewer system wiiliiu the limit of time fixed by the law it thus made
itself liable to State jiroliibiiion of the extension of its sewers.
The Commission, cousisiinii of the (Jovernor, the Attorney CJeneral
and the Commissioner of llealili ilierefore refused to issue such permit
on llie <;roini(l that the general interests of the public health would not
be subserved thereby, as the system is at present constructed.
38 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
It was to provide for the substitution of a complete modern system
instead of the old imperfect and antiquated system that the bond
issue was proposed.
1 endeavored to make the situation entirely clear to the meeting,
and then appealed to the patriotism and humanity of the citizens not
to continue to poison the waters of a stream which Mas used as a
source of drinking- water by so many hundred thousand of their fel-
lows.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CON-
GRESS ON TUBERCULOSIS.
On the 24th of February, 1908, a meeting of the Pennsylvania State
Committee of the International Congress on Tuberculosis was held in
the office of the Commissioner. The Commissioner, as Chairman, pre-
sided and took occasion to define distinctly the limitations of the
scope of the Committee as distinct from that of the State Department
of Health in the matter of exhibits.
Several subsequent meetings of this Committee were held at the
same place.
ALUMNI OF LAFAYETTE COLLEGE.
By invitation of the faculty of Lafayette College I addressed the
Alumni of that institution at their anniversary meeting in commem-
oration on the founding of the college, held in T»hiladeli)hia, iNIarch 12,
pointing out the necessity for the co-operation of educational bodies
with the State departments which are striving for the uplift of the
people.
TIIH ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES.
March 2S, in response to a request from Ihe Biological Section of
The Academy of Natural Sci<'n<-es of Philadelphia 1 i-ead a paper on
'•\Vli;it the Mis( rope has done lor Medicine."
MEDICAL <'l.(;i', OF IMIILADELI'IHA.
On Ajiril 10th, in acknowledging the coniplinient of a recej»tion by
the Medical Clnl) of IMiihidel|(liia, 1 took occasion to urge the impor-
tance of Ihe active and cariu'st suj)i)oi( ol' tlie medical profession in
the efforts of llic Shilc lo <licck llie s|>read of epidciiiic disciises, and
to('X|^r(•^s iii\- ;i|i|ii<'ci;il ion of tlicjiid air<'a(ly given.
No. 17. COM.MISSIOXER OF HEALTH. 39
AMEKK'.VN s< iiii(»i, hv(;ii:m; association.
Ill i('s|Knis(' 1(1 ;i rcqiicsi troiii the American School of Hygiene As-
sociation 1 j)iesentcd a paiicr at the meeting of that body at Atlantic
City, April IT, on "The Medical and t^anitarv Insj)ections of Schools
and Iheii- Kelation to tlie Tuheiculo.sis l*iol>leiii.
AXNIAL CONrKRHXCI-: OF STATE AND TERRITOKIAL HOARDS OF
HEALTH WITH THE SUROEOX GEXERAL OF THE P. H. AND M. H.
SERVICE.
Being unable to attend the annual conference of the State Boards
of Health with the Surgottn (Jeneral of the Public Health and Marine
Hospital Service at Washington, April 27th, 1 commissioned Dr.
Herbert Fox, the Chief of the Laboratories of the Department, to rep-
resent the State on that occasion.
MEETLXG OF THE COUXTY MEDICAL IXSPECTORS FOR THE STUDY
OF TUBERCULOSIS.
In taking up the grave duty of the adoption of means to prevent
the s{»read of Tulterculosis in the State, a duty imposed upon the De-
parniient Uy tlie last Legislature, it seemed desirable to establish a
well equipjied Tuberculosis Dispensary in every county. It also ap-
peared wise to assign the duty of conducting these dispensaries, so
far as possible, to the County Medical Inspectors of the several coun-
ties. This, of course, made it necessary that these oflScers should be
men in the piime of life and full of vigor of health, and should also
possess a reasonaltle knowledge of modern methods of diagnosis of the
disease in question. Certain changes in the personnel of this corps
thei-elore became unavoidable.
Fni'tliermore, as the ojiportuniiics for physicians living remote
fioiii ilii' great medical (ciiti-cs for beroming raiiiiliai- with the niceties
of iiiaiiipnlation jind use of iiistninienls of jirecision in the study of
l»iiliiionaiy affections introduced <»f recent years are extremely rare,
it seemed important for the credit of the Department, for their own
satisfaction and for the welfare of the State, that the physicians,
taking up this special line of work, should be atforded occasions of
witnessing demonstrations and listening to lectures by acknowledged
leaders in the diagnosis of tubei-culosis.
The first meeting of this kind took filacr in ihc rity of Philadelphia,
Tnes(l;iy ;tinl Wednesday. May IweHlli ;iiul thirteenth, 1908.
Arrangements h;id been made with |ii-omineiit medical teachers of
that city, wlio h;i(l given especial attention to this department of
medicine, and who kindly volunteered their services to deliver a
.series of clinical lectures on the diagnosis of the disease in its various
phases. The subjects were assigned as follows: To Dr. William E.
40 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Hughes. Philadelphia General ITo.spital, ••Miliary Tuberculosis;" to
Dr. Alfred Stengel, Hospital of the laiiversity of Pennsylvania, "Pul-
monary Tuberculosis," to Dr. James M. Anders, Medico-Chirurgical
College, "Tuberculosis of the viscera and serous cavities;" to Dr.
James C. AVilson, Jefferson Medical College, "Tuberculosis in Chil-
dren." ^'isits were also planned to the Laboratories of the Pennsyl-
vania Department of Health at the University of Pennsylvania and
the Bacteriological Laboratories of the Philadelphia Zoological Gar-
dens, in which so many researches have been prosecuted on tubercu-
losis in animals.
The members of the Advisory Board and the heads of the several
Divisions of the Department also attended the demonstrations, which
were most instructive. I took occasion to address a few words to the
assembled inspectors on the subject of tlieir relations to the Depart-
ment and their general duties as well as their special work in con-
nection with the dispensaries. The opportunity for personal inter-
course and interchange of views and experiences between the inspec-
tors must result in mutual improvement and in the development of an
esprit de corps which cannot but be most beneficial.
MEETING OF THE COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSES OF
TYPHOID FEVER IN AND ABOUT PITTSBURG.
On ^lay 22nd I attended a meeting of the Commission appointed
by his Honor, ]\[ayor Guthrie, of Pittsburgh, and the Director of the
Russell Sage Foundation, to incpiire into the origin and prevalence
of Typhoid fever in and and in the neighborhood of that city and to
determine its cause or causes. It consisted of J. F. Edwards, M. D.,
Suitei-inlendent iiureau of Health, Chairman; Samuel (i. Dixon, M.
D., State Commissioner of Health ; John W. Boyce, M. D., Pittsburgh ;
W. T. Sedgwick, Ph. D., Mass. Inslitute of Technology; Milton J.
Kosenau, M. D., I)ij-ector Hygienic Laboialory, U. S. IMiblic Health
and Marine Hospilal Seivice; Morris Knowles, C. E., Consulting En-
gineer; Frank V2. Wing, A. B., Assoc. Director, Pillsburgh Survey,
Secretary and Treasurer; and E. G. Malson, M. D., I'Lvecutive Officer.
'I'iic siibjecl was discusK('<l Iroiii all jtoiiils of view and a committee
was appoiiilcd t(» foi-jmilatc! a i-cport.
rOXFEREN<;K WITH I'OIM ;ST^^ V flOMMrSSFON.
Oil .Jiiiif lOlli I iiici (lie l-'orcslry ( '(tniinissioiicr of I lie State and
other members of the Forestry Commission and of the School of For-
estry, ex|)lainc(l fo IIhtm the modern llieory of th(^ Irealment of Tu-
Ix^rcnlosis. and :m ((iiiiiijiiiicd lliciii in an inspecMon (»r (lie Slalc South
Mdiinijiiii S;iiial(»iiiiiii for 'riibciciilosis al M(. Alio, I'''i"iiil<liii (-oimlv.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 41
PAN-AMERICAN MEDICAL CONGRESS.
The ran-Aiiieiican Medical Congress held its annual meeting at
the city of (luateinala on xVugust 51h, and the U. S. Government com-
missioned me to represent it. Being unable on account of the length
of time which it would have consumed to attend, T forwarded a com-
munication to the Secretar}', in which I gave a detailed statement of
the history and working of this Department, accompanied by docu-
ments and forms.
AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.
Being for a similar reason prevented from attending the annual
meeting of the American Public Health Association at Winnepeg,
Manitoba, 1 contributed a paper on "Pleasures to promote the Health
of School Children," which was read by Dr. Wilmer K. Batt, State
Kegistrar, who was conmiissioned to represent the Department on the
occasion, which took place August 25-29th.
CONFERENCE OF STATE AND PROVINCIAL BOARDS OF HEALTH OF
NORTH AMERICA.
On S^eptember 10th the Department was represented at the Annual
Conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health, held at Wash-
ington, by Dr. Wilmer K. Batt, State Kegistrar, who presented a
paper on "Suggestions for New Kegulations for the Transportation of
the Dead."
SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL TUBERCULOSIS CONFERENCE.
At Phihulel{)hia, September 25th, 1 attended the Seventh Inter-
national Conference on Tuberculosis, and read a paper on "Legal
Eights and Tuberculosis."
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON TUBERCOLOSIS.
From September 28tl> to October l^rd I attended the meetings of
the third International Cimgi-css on Tuberculosis at Washington as
V'ice-President of the Section on State and Municipal Control of
Tuberculosis, and presented a paper on "The Onvernmeutal Coutrol
of Tuberculous [•aliculs in i'euusylvauia."
The Department \v;is ;ilso represented by Dr. Wilmer K. Batt, Stale
Registrar, and Dr. T. \. MeKee, County Medical Inspector, who were
in charge of the installation, care and demonstration of the Depart-
42 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
ment's exhibit, and by Private Secretary Wilbur Morse, Dr. Benjamin
Lee, Assistant to the Commissioner, Chief Engineer F. Herbert Snow,
Dr. Thomas H. A. Stites, Medical Inspector of Tuberculosis Dispen-
saries, Dr. F. C. Johnson, Chief Medical Inspector, Dr. A. B, Moul-
ton, As.sistant Medical Inspector, and by County Medical Inspectors
Joseph Scaltergood, J. C. Keifsnyder, Charles H. Miner, Edgar M.
Green, all of whom gave demonstrations, and Dr. A. M. Jiothrock,
Kesident Physician of the Mont Alto Tuberculosis Sanatorium. A
paper was read by Dr. T. II. A. Stites on the day known as "Social
Workers' Day," on the "Tuberculosis Dispensaries of the Department
of Health of Pennsylvania."
Although I had expressly stipulated in sending the exhibit that it
should not be considered as "in competition," the Committee on
Prizes and Awards saw tit to make the following awards. ''Gold
Medal to the Department of Health of the State of Pennsylvania in
recognition of its work in establishing a magnificent system of dis-
pensaries and sanatoria."
''Silver Medal to the State Department of Health of Pennsylvania
for a model cottage for incipient cases of tuberculosis."
"Honorable mention to the Department of Health of the State of
Pennsylvania for twelve beautiful autotone films of human lungs,
showing tuberculosis conditions, this being the first application of
this process in medical uses.
Silver Medal to the State of Pennsylvania for best exhibit of any
State of the United States illustrating organization.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF
PENNSYLVANIA.
The 58th Annual Session of the Medical Society of the State of
Pennsylvania was held at Cambridge Springs, September 15-17. The
Dej)arlinent was reijresented l>y Dr. A. P. Moulton and Dr. T. H. A,
Stites, Inspector of Tuberculosis Dispensaries, the latter of whom
presented a y)aper before (he Section on Medicine on "The Dispensary
System of the Pi^uusylvania Departnieut of Health. A sketch of its
(Organization and Methods."
ANNUAL co.NI'KltlOM'l.; Ol' SANITARY (>I*M'M( ^lOltS OF Tl 1 10 S'I'ATE OF
MOW YORK.
liy invilaliori lioiii Dr. lOugeiie Porter, JleaKii Commissioner of llui ,
Stale of New York, on i)e((!iiiber '{rd I a( (ended the annual confer
ence of llie Saiiilary ()l'(icei-s of (Ik^ S(a(e of New Yoi'k a( Albany,
and a( his snggeslion addressed (lie nienibeis on "The l*id»lic Health
Administralion in Pennsylvania."
\o. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 43
STATE CUJJJOCJE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
"Farmei-s' Week."
By request of the Faculty of the State College of Pennsylvania 1
prepared an address to tlic^ assembled farmers and students on the
subject, "The Control of Tuberculosis in Man." In this address I
called attention to the effort the Department is making to stamp out
tuberculosis and to the facilities for diagnosis and treatment afforded
by the one hundred dispensaries uuiintained throughout the State, as
well as to the fact that the period of college life is one especially
liable to the attacks of the tubercle bacillus. Being prevented by
stress of work from visiting the college personally, I deputized Dr.
T. H. A. Stites, Inspector of Tuberculosis Dispensaries, to attend
and present the address as well as represent the work of the Depart-
ment in that important field. Occurring as it did on the evening of
the last day in the year it formed a fitting close to twelve months of
incessant activity on the part of the Department, much of which was
devoted to this especial object.
5>fi!ii!fitfiiliiii!fi!fi!fi
^xa^
i a^ I
!fi
»!ii!inii!iiW!fi!ii!fi!ii
(44)
DIVISION OF MEDICAL INSPECTION.
ARTHUR B. MOULTON, M. D., Chief Medical Inspector.
(45)
(46)
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. No. 17.
THE D1\1S10N OF MTODICAL iNSPECTION
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
During the past year this Division has taken part in the suppres-
sion of coniinnnicable «liseases as l"(>lh»ws:
SMALLPOX.
CHESTER COUNTY.
Dr. Joseph Scattergood, C M. I. Coatesville. On December 9th,
on receipt of information from Dr. A. Carmichael that a case of small-
pox existed just outside of the borough limits of Coatesville, special
investigation \vas begun at once, the diagnosis was confirmed, abso-
lute quarantine was established and the following history elicited:
The patient, a young man had been with a threshing crew in the
vicinity of Toledo, O., for a considerable time and had left there on
the morning of the .^th of December, arriving in Coatesville at 5.40
A. M. Sunday, going immediately to the residence of his father. He
gave a history of having been vaccinated in Toledo and of having
failed to secure re-vaccination three years ago. Notice was at once
sent to the Agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad so that the coach
might be located and suitably disinfected.
LINESVILLE, CRAWFORD COUNTY.
Dr. J. K. Koberts, C. M. I., Crawford county. August 7, 1908, Dr.
J. K. Koberts writes as follows: "1 have the honor to submit to you
the following report in regard to the smallpox in Linesville borough
and Conneaut township, this county.
'•On Monday morning, August 3, I was notified by Dr. Carpenter,
one of the physicians of the borough that they had a suspicious
enii)tive disease in the community and that no doctor had been
called and that tliere was no disposition on the part of the local
iioard of Health to take action in the case. 1 immediately visited
the case and found the jiatient had developed variola in the pustular
stage and advised that a i)hysician be called. Di-. Collins saw the
case with luc and agreed wiili the diagm>sis I had iiiatle. The case
was regularly reported to the local Iioard (»r lleallli and has been
properly quarantined." "The Misses E. and F. D., of Erie, had been
(47)
48 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
visiting in tliis G. home but liad gone liome on Saturady previous to
the quarantine. I understand that they have been vaccinated. No
other precautions were used."
"While investigating the above case I found that the family had
recently come to Crawford county from Troy, Ohio, and had been
visiting at C. P.'s in Conneaut township. I went to the home of Mr. P.
and found him sutfering from smallpox in the pustular stage with
the date of onset about the same as R. L., in Linesville. I saw that
the home of Mr. P. was properly quarantined and inmates vaccinated
as well as the homes of W. P. and H. L., of Conneaut township, who
had been exposed."
"I understand that there is an epidemic of variola at Troy, O., and
that there were twenty cases under treatment when these people left
there."
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Dr. Harvey B. Bashore, C. M. I. A great many cases of mild
smallpox developed in the southern section of Cumberland county
during the last quarter of the year. A brief report by Dr. Bashore
follows :
"Sometime in August, 1908, a farm hand from Reading came to
H. H.'s, back of Camp Hill. He became slightly ill and developed a
rash ; no doctor. In due time H. and his entire family became sick
with the same disease: no doctor. H. had a milk route in the West
Fairview-Enola district and continued to serve his customers, al-
though there were many scabs on the face and hands ; so much from
heresay."
"In September there were cases of chickenpox reported to the De-
partment in the B., H., C, G., and K houses at Enola. B. and H.
being related to H. (1), and C. G. and K. being neighbors and visi-
tors at Ji.'s. These cases reported by four dilTerent doctors were
claimed to be chickenpox, although in every fauiily adults were
attecled."
'•On SepHMiiber 1(], the Department began investigation and found
every case lo be typical smallpox. The H. house was thoroughly
fuiiiigalcd, and llie other families quarantined for smallpox. Mean-
while I he liciiltli ollicers were hunting "contacts." Ninety-three fam-
ilies (((midisiiig the II. relatives and milk route were ])ut under sur-
veillinice. One of th(!se, W. liitlKM- in-law to H., having a case in his
rciiiiily, was (juiii antined. Al'tei- this only Coni* r;iMiili(»s became in-
feeled. A lew inoi-e '(Mjulaets' wer(! hunted ii|) ;ind I Ik; (Epidemic at
this pliice ended with (1 !>., who was (|ii;ir;intiinMl on October 17,
and wiili w lioiii ilieritliad l)(*en no 'eonlacls.' In ;ill I wenty-nine cases.
At the outset of the epidemic Health Ollicer Hoover i-esigned, and I
immediat<;ly sent for Health Officer Weaver, who served me most
faithfully.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 49
"Oil SepliMiilici- 17, roshiiasliT II. wiilked into iiiv ofiit-e with a
third-day eruption of snialI[iox, having just returned from a con-
vention at Ford City, I'a., and having left home four days before; he
probably contracted the disease from one of the 'perambulating' cases
from Kiiola. The postollice was immediately closed, tlKjntughly dis-
infected and then turned over to the postotftee authorities. 1 noti-
fied the Department of Mr. H.'s trip, his stopping place while at
Ford City and the coach on which he traveled. From his case I
believe only two or three new ones developed but of this the Depart-
ment has record."
"Although extreme vigilance was used in hunting 'contacts' one
escaped, Mrs. C. \V., of New Kingston, related to C, in whose house
she probably was the day it was quarantined. She went home and
in due time, so the story goes, she herself and children became ill
with a rash (no doctor) and the disease was concealed for the time.
Her husband became ill and on October 22, the second day of the
rash, was found working in McC. store in Carlisle. He was imme-
diately sent home and all 'contacts' in Carlisle vaccinated and put
on parole, the local board following my advice in every particular."
"Meanwhile we learned that the W. woman in the role of a book
agent, had \dsited practically every house in ]S'ew Kingston, and the
whole community was put under surveillance. Health Officer Mackey
being ordered to take up his residence in the village."
''In fourteen days the first crop of 'contacts' developed in H., H., P.,
B. and C. M., a teacher in Fairview High School in Middlesex town-
ship. All were quarantined and about twenty-live 'contacts' vac-
cinated and put on parble."
"In fourteen days the second crop developed in the houses of P.
and H., already quarantined and only one outside — the B. family
wliicli had been iindci- (luarantinc, tliev having been vaccinated three
days alter the contact, in this family one child developed a very
iiKtdilied case which consisted of only live j)()cks, but they were per-
fectly typical. Cases in this jdace all told, twenty-one, making a
total of fifty for oui- epidemic and about four hundred 'contacts.' "
"On December 1, \\. ^^'., of Carlisle, who had been in a factory
visited by one of the H. children from New Kingston, was found to
have smalljiox. On December 17, two other families infected by Mrs.
K., who evidently had a mild attack, contracted from the same fac-
tory, (i('V('lo])e(I. These cases of course belong to I he borough of
Carlisle."
"\\hile (his eitidcmic seemed lo dilVer in no wise from any other
smallpox epidemic, the rollowing lads attracted my attention:
1. The uinaccinated in (he quarantined houses invariably got
smallpox, except in one instance, while the vaccinated did mil get it.
4— 17— 1908
50 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
2. Vaccination one or two days alter 'contact' generally pre-
vented the development of the disease, three or four days after did not
prevent.
o. One luindred and tifty childien wei-e ke])t out of school for
eighteen days, which is efjnlvalent to Iwenty-seven hundred days
of schooling lost to the children of Cumberland county on account
of smallpox; likely more than would have been lost by the enforce-
ment of the vaccination law.
i. Five (5) doctors called the disease chickenpox although in
each house adults were affected.
5. A number of children were reported to be vaccinated and had
certificates of A'accination, but were not successfully vaccinated as
shown by entire absence of scar.
6. All patients were uuvaccinated save one, and that one forty
years ago."
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Dr. Paul A, Hart man, County Medical Inspector. The first case
of smallpox in 1908 really commenced in December 17, 1907. This
was a mail clei-k i-unning between New York and Pittsburg who is
supposed to have contracted the disease while handling foreign mail,
while on duty in his car. This man while sick and on duty slept in
the dormitory Itolii in the New York postoffice and in Pittsburg,
giving full opporl unity for a great epidemic. From this case we have
had but two others in Harrisburg. Great precautions Avere taken by
the Pennsylvania Railroad, the U. S. postal authorities and the city
of Harrisburg, in vaccination of mail clerks, disinfecting cars and
sleeping quarlei-s of clerks, and the hunting down of contacts for
vaccina lion to the end that an ejndemic might not occur, which proved
siicccssfiil. Marcli 10, (190.S), [ was called to Millersburg to see a
subject l)y I)i'. Ilottcustein. 'i'liis case pi'ov(^d to be smallpox in the
convalcscciil singe and was at work in a factoi'y employing several
liniidrcd liands, and examination of the hands in the cutting dej)arl-
nicnt \\;is made at that time and four or live were sent home into
(|iiaianiin(', llicy having almost passed through llic disease. The fac-
tory was Icmftoi-ai-ily shut down and thoroughly disinCecled and then
thr«»\vn open to tli(^ hands. Fi-om this e[)id('niic lliei'(! i-esult(Ml about
L'O i<i :',0 rases (Ihe re|K»i-ls of cases are on (ilc in your office). This
tr(»\il>l(' was started by a mail clerk in the ixtslolTices of MilN'rsbnrg,
he having lia<l Ihe disease in a mild Conn which was not; recognized
and wliicli he conl lacled by handling mail I'roni t he crews in the Penn-
sylvani;i l.';iili();i(l between N(!\v York and i'iltsbnrg.
A|»ril 11,1 saw a case in Halifax, 'i'his was a young man who had
been exposed to the disease in the Millersburg factory.
No. 17. COIMMISSIOXER OF HEALTH. 51
On Octoher .'{, I wiis cnllcd in to see 1\. M., livinj; just outside of
Harrisburg, in Susquehanua township. He was then in the pustular
stage of smallpox. He had been attending a ((invention of some secret
organization in the State and while there loomed with a man who was
post-niastcn- of a Cumherhiiid county, who was sick at that time
with an eruptive disease ^\■hi(•il jirovcd lo he smallpox. Fortunately
for us no other easels occurred li-om this one.
Decembei- IDth, a case occurred in the upper part of this city
(Emerald St.) in ii young woman wiio conducted a millinery business
and who had been in contact with numerous other people. From
this ease we have to this time (-June 2(lthj but one other, and I
believe the trouble is now over. None of these cases had ever been
vaccinated.
SMALLPOX IN CON\'ENT10N, FOKD CITY, PA.
On the 17th of Se})tember, F. H , Postmaster of West Fair-
view. Cumberland county, walked into the office of the County
Medical Inspector, Dr. H. B. Bashore, with a three-day eruption of
Smallpox covering his body. Dr. Bashore in eliciting a history of
his illness and travels, learned that this man had just returned
from a Convention of the State Council of the Order of Independent
Americans in Ford City, Pa., the sessions of which were held on
September IHth and IfJth, and that the eruption was appearing on
his body during a ]iart of the time when he was on the tloor of the
convention hall. Information of this exposure was at once forw'arded
to the Commissioner of Health and ste])s were immediately taken
toward learning (he name and address of every i)erson attending
this Convention, to\\ard learning the destination of the car on
which he returned and to give as wide i)ublicity as ])ossible to this
information so that those \\'ho had been exjiosed (o the contagion of
Smallpox might avjiij themselves of vaccination.
The Secretary (.T tlie State Council of this Order, Mr. W. A.
Pike, co-operated willi (he I)e]>artment of Health in every possible
way, sending (<• llic Dcpnihnent a complete list of all the 109 delegates
who attended I lie convendou, together with their post-office addresses
and street numbers. In additi(m the following circular was issued
by the State Coniuiloi-, Mr. I'dwnrd Wilson, with (he Secretary's
attest, and was mailed to cacli iiiciiiImt of (he (~)rder.
52 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Organized June 25, 1904. . Incorporated July 22, 1905.
STATE COUNCIL OF PENNSYLVANIA
ORDER OF INDEPENDENT AMERICANS
IMPORTANT.
Philadelphia, Pa., September 19th, 1908.
To tli€ Officers and Members of the Councils of the State Council of
Pennsylvania, Order of Independent Americans, Incorporated.
Dear Sirs and Brothers:
Your attention is called to the fact that one of the Representatives
who attended the Session of the State Council held at Ford City,
September loth and 16th, 1908, was sick with Small-Pox, and was
compelled to leave for his home, w^here he has since been quarantined
by the State Department of Health.
On my return to the City, I was immediately communicated with
by Dr. Josej)h Neff, Director of the Department of Health and
Charities of the City of Philadelphia, who requested that we co-
operate with the State and City Health Departments to prevent the
spread of the disease.
In compliance with that request, 1 hereby recommend to the mem-
bers of the Order, and especially to the Representatives and members
who attended the Session, to take every necessary precaution by
having tliciiisclves vaccinated and complying with the requests of
the hoiiltli Miitlntiilics of their respective communities in which they
i-<'si(|('.
'I'll is is iHil only our public duty, but also a possible saving of
iiioiKv lo tlic various Councils, through the payment of sick and
death l)ene(its.
A strict coinpliaiKc witii the above will be appreciated.
Fraternally yours,
EDWARD WILSON,
Attest : State Councilor.
WM. (I PIKE,
S. C. Seci-etary.
On rcccipl of the list of d(;l('gal<'S the Dcpai-hnimt got into tele-
jjliouir or l(l^i;i|)liif coniinunication with Ihe Secretaries of the
r.o;ii<ls ot Ilf;ilili III' ciicli of (lie dislricls whence these delegates
(•anic, and williin ii lew days all of llicni wci-c oH'ered vaccination
and placed under observation.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 53
Notice wa.s at once sent to the Superintendent of the Railway
Mail Service telling- him that the J'osliiiaster ha<l sickened with
smallpox and with his co-operation the Postottice building and all
mails were disinfected; the mails which had beeJi sent from West
Fairview to Ilarrisburg were apprehended and together with the
Harrisburg Post OlTice were disinfected. Fortunately but a single
mail had left the I'ost Oflice and it was easily located in Harrisbui-g
and held for ])ropei' disinfection.
The coach of the Pennsylvania Railway on W'liicli Mr. H ,
returned from Ford City was located and di.sinfccted, as well as
the electric car on which this man traveled from Harrisburg lo
West Fairview.
It is very gratifying to note that but three of those who came in
contact with Mr. M , sickened with smallpox, li. M ,
No. 1834 State Street, Harrisburg, who slept with H , in Ford
City, sickened on September 28th — the characteristic eruption of
smallpox aj>[)earing on October 1st. E. E , a delegate to this
Convention, living in Coventry township, Chester county, sickened
about the first day of October with small])ox of a mild type; and
M. C , an nn\accinated girl of 14, at the residence of M. S ,
in West Fairview, developed the disease about the 1st of October.
She had ])robal)ly come in contact with this nmu at the Post Office.
NVhile it is gratifying to find so many of these men willing to
cooperate with the Department and have vaccination practiced at
once, if is doubly gratifying to know that where these contacts
refused vaccinatiim and cont;racted the disease with the rigid quar-
antine regulations established and thorough vaccination practiced
no secondary outbreaks occurred.
SMAI.LI'OX ]\ 'JMIK ItAlLWAY MAIL SERVICE.
About the Kith of December, 1J)()7, a case of smalli)ox developed in
a clerk in the Jiailway Mail Service of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
In spite of active cooperation on the jiart of the Railway .Mail and
wides|>read disinfection of doi-mitories, coaches, etc., Iliree cases
sultse(piently develojted and gav(^ the Department considerable anx-
iety during the entire month of -lannary. It is indeed a pleasiiif^
to note the cordial co-operation (»f .Mr. \'. ,]. Rradley, Sn|)erinteudent
of Ihe Mail Service and .Mr. l>urkhill. Superintendent of the lian-is-
burg Service. The following special orders were issued to assist the
Dej)artme.nt in stamping out the infection.
"On account of tln-ee cases of smalli)ox having (leve]u|ie(l among
the Xew York and IMttsburg clerks between December Kith and 31,
precautionary measures of fumigation were generally taken and all
clerks on the line instructed to be vaccinated. As nearly three weeks
had (»1a])sed since tlu^ last case was reporljMl thei-i^ was reason to
54 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
believe tbat these precautions had beeu ell'ective and final. A case
of snuillpox is now i-eported on the Elniira and Baltimore line, and it
is neces.sary that all clerks running in connection with the iS'ew York
and IMttsburg or I'^lniira ^V: Baltimore lines be vaccinated if they
have not l)een recently vaccinated, and in either case submit certificate
to the Chief Clerks at llarrLsburg or ^"\'illiamsport to this etfect.
It is desired that this action be taken immediately and Chief Clerks
will report any undue delay.
A number of cases of smallpox are reported in New York State,
although not in the K. .M. S., and it is therefore recommended that
all clei-ks running in the Second Division be vaccinated without delay,
not only as a duty to the i)osition they hold, but in the interests of
them.selves and their families." (Issued 1-24 c^ 1-27-08).
"In order that the Post Office Department and the Department of
Health of Pennsylvania may be assured that the clerks of this
Division, referred to in General Order No. 4;>93, Sec. 44, dated Jan.
27, 1008, are immune fi-om smallpox, it is necessary that all of these
clerks submit to their Chief Clerks certificates of successful vaccina-
tion. Arrangements have been made by which the Medical Examiners
of the Pennsylvania Bailroad lielief Association will examine the
cicatrix on these clerks and endorse their certifitates when their
vaccinations are found to have been successful. These examiners
will be found at their offices during the business hours of the day at
Pittsburg, Harrisburg, Williamsport, Philadelphia, Trenton and
Jersey City. Where it is not convenient or practicable for a clerk
to call at the office of any of these b^xaminers, he may have such
examination and endorsement made by any physician representing
the Pennsyh'ania State Department of Health. No fee will be charged
for these examinations.
The Chief (Jlerks at Harrisburg and Williamsi)ort will supply
clerks with blank certificates (Foi-m 11 j for this purpose, and clerks
will be expected to give this matter immediate attention." (Issued
2-2«-08).
As i"i|»i(lly as coiilacis were localed in these cases the Boards of
llciiltli ilii()iigli(»ii( ilic Slate and in adjoining states, were warned
and williiu a lew wcm^vs the coudifions were; brought under control.
In order that the D(;partmenf of Health should assist the Railway
Service in enforcing the orders rcnpiiring vaccination certain of our
(.'ouTily Medical Inspeclors were detailed to insi)ect vaccination
scars at terminals and stations whei-c^ uumbei-s of these employees
were apt to report and in this way tJie (Miliic (oips of Railway Clei-ks
A*ere satisfacfoi-ily vaccinat<'d, or were forced lo siibinit foi- ins|>e(lion
Ncai-s showing a good vaccination.
Ill addilion lo securing llie services of onr ('onnlN' M('(li<al lns])ec-
loi'S lor III is verification, throngh I he good oltices of Dr. Cas|)(^i*
Morris, ("hief Medical lOxaminer- for the IMiiladelpliia & Reading
Relief Association and Dr. Samuel W. Lalla, Chief Medical lOxamiiua-
oi lh(! I'eiinsylvania l{ailroad N'olnntary Ifelief Department:, certain
of their Medical Ivxaminers alr(?ady commissioned as special Inspec-
toFH of the Dejjartmenl loi- their roads were called upon to assist
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 55
in tliis work. 'J'lirou'i.lj ilie coniliiiiod offices of all llipse medical men
more tluin five Imndi-etl ceii ilicales of vaccinal ion were inspected and
verified and nearlv as many iiailwiiy Ciciks were vaccinated.
As will 1)(* s(HMi by refei-i-ijij;- to tiie orders, these precautionary
measures extended f(i the states of New York, New Jersey and the
adj(»inin<i divisions of the iJailway .Mail Seivice and resulted in
•general observation of vaccinal ion.
FAYi;'!"!"!-; COrXTV.
Lenionl. On recei|)t of lele^rapliic iiiloi iiial ion that a smallpox
case had Ix'cn i'e|)orle(i at Lemont, Fayeitc; county, an i.nvestigation
was undeilaken by Dr. (.'. li. ^Vood, County Medical Inspector for
Washin*rton county, iti wliicli he I'ound tlie attending physician and
Health OITicer had already secured absolute (|uarautim^ with guards
and was actively engaged in vaccinating all conlacls.
"Tliis y(uing man arrived in New York City on the Baltic — one
of the ^^'hile Star IJners, — on tlie 14th of March, lOllS, going directly
to J^emont, Clearfield county, thence to Lemout Furnace, Fayette
county. Tlie eruption of smallpox appeared on the 2()th of March
and was diagnosed by Dr. Salisbury, the attending physician on
the 27th.
The patient is 24 years of age and gives a history of having been
successfully vaccinated at the age of one year ami of never having
been revaccinafed.
All contacts were held under observation until the period of in-
cubation was over and several of tliem were provided with the neces-
sities of life duiing this time, through the good ollices of the Superin-
tendent of the A. C. Flick Coke Company.
J.KHKJH COUNTY.
New Smi 111 field. Dr. M. F. Cawley, C. .M. I. "On receipt of a
lelcplioiie message, March 'M\\\, from Dr. Ilotfenstein, Kutztow'n,
rep<»rliiig a case of siiialljio.v at New Smitlilield, in the family H.
(i , an immediate inspection was made. The patient was found
1o have varioloid; his wif<* and the other members of the family were
xiiccinated ami llie usual (|iiaraiitine wiili guards was established.
On oldaining a histoi-y of two jteisons having visited this man, 1
/)ej;»an lo search for the coufacfs ami found that .M. F , aged 2;i.
was then in the tliird week of the disease. The attending physician
had jfiduounced this lallei- illness chickenpox ajul mumps. Tlie
usual (piarantine \\as established and the names of other contacts
wei-e secni-ed and llie <as(s investigated, 'fliis investigation reveJlled
no more cases of smalljiox bul did uncover several unreiiorted cjtses of
chickeiipo.v and led lo the proper disinlecl ion after this disease.
56 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
It is very gratifying to the Department to know tliat after rigid
qnaranline had been eslahlished and vaoeinati<ii» practiced no se<'Oiid-
ary cases devekiped.
SCARLET FEVER.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
Dr. S. ]\[. Kinehart, C. M. I. On receipt of telegraphic orders,
September Sth, special investigation was made of alleged brealving
of quarantine on the premises of 11. D. \\' -, of Verona, on the
part of Ihe Librarian of the Carnegie Library at Bessemer in Peuu
township. By special arrangement with this man and the local
Health Officer, careful disinfection of his personal clothing was per-
formed and an antise])tic bath Ayas taken and the gentleman remoyed
to a house with the distinct understanding that he would remain
away from his home until quarantine had been lifted.
ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
Gilpin Township. Dr. T. N. McKee, C. M. I. At the request of
Mr. C. G. S , a school director, I visited Gilpin township where
I found that two children with well marked scarlet fever have been
attending the Kiggle School in said township for some days. I also
found two other cases in that district — one confined to bed and the
other to his room — with the same disease.
in order to protect those not already infected I ordered the school
closed until the building was thoroughly disinfected. The Health
Officer was directed to enforce the usual rules in the house where
the disease exists."
BRADFORD COUNTY.
Dr. S. M. Woodbuin, G. M. 1. An unusual amount of scarlet fever
was present througlioiil llie cntii-e coiiiily (luring the year, morbidity
rates frf^m this disease nmiiing umisnall.v liigli lioiii Ihe boi-oiiglis as
early as Ajiril — tlie greatest i)i-evalence in liie lui-al <lislrirls l»eing
reached during .August, Seplemlter and Oclobei-. The JJeparlmenl
was called upmi in many instances to rendei- aid.
EAST TROY.
By order of the Dejiartment a visit was )nad(? to JOast Troy Fel)-
ruary 7th to investigate alleged violation of (inai-anline in n^gard to
scarlet fever where; "I I'onnd tlial llierc; wer(; two cases of scarlet
fever, one at L. V , and one at (1 L , both under (|uar-
antiD(;. At V some 'S.i cows were milked and the milk taken
to the creamery. V was helping wilh (he milking and helping
to care foi- flu! sick child. I informed liinj Ilia I lie could not be pei*-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 57
mi((('(i (<» Iiiivc iinylliiiij; lo d(t with llic milk oi- milk iilcnsils, if the
milk was disposed of to the public. He promised to make other ar-
raiiji^emeiUs for cai-iujjj for Ihe milk."'
"It appears that there were a coiii»le of eases of scarlet fever in
thai vicinity the latter ]iai-t of December in which the (piarantine was
not Avell observed. The.v liaxc recovered, the houses have been dis-
infected and the (piaianliue has been lifted.
AVVALUSIXG TOWNSHir.
Ill Wyalnsiu.u Inw iisiiip in a coiiiiiiuuity of four or live fauiilies of
lawless individuals eleven patients were found sick with scarlet fever
at the same tiuie. It became necessarj' to provide absolute (luaran-
tine and place a j;uard lo enforce it in order to preserve the regula
tions of the l)ei»artment.
COLUMBUS TOWNSHIP.
A special inspection of the dair}^ farm of T. A , in Columbus
township, was made. The dairyman was found in contact with his
three children ill with scarlet fever and was taking care of 15 cows
and delivering milk to a creamery twice a week. He was ordered
to take an antiseptic bath, put on a clean suit of clothes, to remain
out of the house during the illness and to make special provision for
handling the milk utensils at a point far enough distant from the
house to be free from danger.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.
On July loth special investigation was uiade of quarantine condi-
tions on the dairy farm of R. Y , in Springfield township, and
th(; regulatious of the De])artment were foujid to be neglected. Strict
enforcement of the regulations was instituted and satisfactory ar-
rangements made for the couiplete isolation of the patient and her
care taker during the remainder e»f the illness.
wyalusinCt township.
(Ml receipt ot iiiloniialioii ilial scarlet fever was ])revalent in
\\'yalusiug towiisliip aud the cases were not being treated by a physi-
cian a special investigation was made on the lllst of September, result-
ing in the location of a nine year old girl, L. Ij , who had been in
attendance at the AA'yalusiug School tyjiically ill with scarlet fever;
in finding a five year old girl, 1*. \' in the home of F. E ,
about two miles from this school, in an active stage of desquamation
58 THIRI> .\\XrAT> REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
one month after <lie onset of wlial was believed to have been scarlet
fever, and in the hn-ating of wliat was believed to have been scarlet
fever in the home of F. E and II. Y in the same com-
mnnity. Patients in both instances beinjj; well and throngh de-
.sqnamating. It is probable that througii these sources others were
infected.
STEVENSVILLE.
I'nder order from the Departiiieiil a sp<'(ial investigation was
made at Stevensville uu the 10th of November; "[ found four families
under (luarantine in Stevensville and vicinity for scarlet fever. L.
(i- , I'l months" old babe had it some three weeks ago. Three
children in the family that have not ha«l the disease. A girl thirteen
years old at home of J. G had the disease three weeks ago.
Six youngei- children in the family have not had it.
The 12 year old daughter of M. W , living two miles from
Stevensville, was taken Avith it about three weeks ago. I passed
Mr. W on the road with his team coming from the mill. He
said he had a permit from the Health Officer. On inquiry he admitted
that attendants of the patient came into his rocmi, and on inquiry at
the house, learned that he went in and ate with the family in the
same room with the patient. Orders were issued that he must stay
on his premises until disinfected."
''1 found four cases at 1. E 's about four miles from Stevens-
ville, four children seven to sixteen years of age, sick about one
week. Three families had l)een released from (piarantine. One case,
Qeo. C had died a couple of weeks ago. He lived alone. The
house has been disinfected."
{'.VRI'.OX rolFNTY.
Scndel School. Dr. .1. K. Ileiiry, C M. I. A special investigation
of an eitidemic of scailet lever in Mahoning Valley in the Sendel
School in the early i)art of March led to the closing of the school
and of an investigation of the scarlet fever conditions in the houses
of the community. A total of 28 cases of scarlet fever was found in
11 families. Many of these childi-en had not been treated by a physi-
cian bill certain evidence seemed to show I hat reports of some of the
fiisl ca.ses were suppressed. The physicians who were at fault in
each case ex<'iised themselves on the gi-onnd oC not having received
from the Di'partmeni proper car<ls on which to send uotic(; (o IIk;
Health oriicer.
The nsual (|iiarantine was established at each Intusehold, the school
disinlected and cases were properly k(!pt under observaticm until the
close of the quarantine period. It is probable that from one of these
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 59
hoiiseliohls ijilcctioii \\;is can-icd hv a milk supply to a household in
the boi-oujfh of Maucli CliunU. Evidence was not convincing enough
to lead to jrosoliitc discdiiiimiancc of the sale of milk and the transfer
of the stock.
liy the middle ol' A]iril the epidemic liad jtracticallv subsided. The
Seiulel school was leopeued ou the loth of Ajuil and the children
gi-adiuillv returned as release froui quarantine was gninted.
CARHn.N coiXTV.
Palmerl(»u. I)r. .1. K. Henry, C. M. 1. An ejddeuiic of considerable
proportion was studied in Pahuerton on the isth of May. The onset
was sui>[)osed to have been about the 5th of May and the early cases
were appiireiilly not recognized because of tlieir mild character. In-
vestigation led to the closing of oiu' millinery store and one dental
office, the closing of the Sunday Schools for several weeks and the
location of a case that had escaped quarantine and succeeded in
reaching the town of Bethlehem, where suitable supervision was
enforced by the health authorities.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Upper Mifflin township. Dr. H. B. Bashore, C. M. I. The following
report received from the Medical Inspector: "I beg to report that
I visited the farm of L. M , I'pper MitTlin township, August
2!ind, on account of sale of milk from a house placarded for scarlet
fever. The neighbors agreed to undertake the milking and marketing
of the milk and 1 therefore permitted the sale to continue."
DELAWARE COUNTY.
Darlington Creamei-y. l>r. liobt. S. Maison, C. M. I. "On receipt
of information from the Health OtTicer, December 24th, that scarlet
fever existed in the family of one of the employees of the Darlington
Creamery, 1 visited Darlingtcm, Middletowji township, and arranged
Avith the man to board away from the Creamery and remain away
during the entire period of quarantine. The personal clothing and
the body of the man were properly disinfected before allowing him
to move to his new (pmrters.
ASTON TOWNSIIII'.
Dr. Kobt. S. Maison, C. M. I. On receipt of a request from
Aston (First-cliiss lownshijn Board of Health for advice in re-
gard to handling a case (»f scarlet fever in the township, in which
case the mother refused to keep the child isolated, and as to their
best method of procedure in securing a physician and as to methods
60 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
f(»i- the siij>])ort of the family in case of absolute quarantine, Dr.
Maison took up the matter with the Board and the following advice
from this Department was issued: —
^'Keplying to vour letter of the ith inst., concerning the conditions
existing in Aston township, 1 would say that since the Board of
Health in tirst-class townships has the same- power as Boards of
Health in-boroughs and third-class cities, it is perfectly proper that
they should have the physician for their Board visit the family, make
the diagnosis and prescribe the precautionary measures that are to
be carried out by the family and who is allowed to leave the premises,
and if they are unwilling to observe such precautions it will be neces-
sary to establish absolute quarantine and guards to enforce its pro-
visicms — such guards to be paid by the Board. An Order of Relief
should however be issued, which ]>rovides for medical attention and
the necessaries of life, as stipulated in the Act of May 7, 1907, a
copy of which is enclosed. If requested, you are authorized by this
Department to visit the case in question and assist in diagnosis."
GLEN MILLS.
November 1st, on receipt of infomiation from Health Officer
^peakman that scarlet fever existed on the dairy farm of J. M ,
(ilenn Mills, Tliornbury township, I made an inspection and found
that they ship 45 quarts of milk to a milk dealer named E. W.
W , 4709 Lancaster Ave., Via. P. K. li. house, no milk brought
to the house except that used for the family and that all scalding and
cooling of the cans was done at the spring house and every precaution
was being used."
AVn.LLVMSON SCHOOL.
(^)n receipt of information from the Commissioner of Health
thill a patient, O. H , ill with scarlet fever, had been taken
from tlie Williamson School at his home, No. 9:i7 North 50th Street,
IMiiladeI|)iiia, a special investigation was begun, developing the
following information:
This boy on the 13th of March had reported to the nurse in charge
of I lie Infirmary that he had a sore throat and had been given by her
some local application. On the 14tli he was allowed to go home and
cm Ihe I.")!!! his family physician in Philadeli)hia reported the case to
ihc h.cal I'.oaid of Ilejillh as one of scarlet fever. Tho Superintendent
of the school knew nolhing of the child's symptoms and had no idea
that Ihc (III Id was snllei-ing from scarlet fever. The particular
cottage in Ihc school in which Ihe boy lived was (luarantined, dis-
infect cd ;in(l a systematic examination of the pupils in this cottage
and other cottages, where exposure placed its inmates under sus-
{(icion was begun by i\\(: inirse and the s<hool jdiysician. A distinct
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 61
understanding? was had with tlie Snperinteiident that on the .slightest
symptoms of scarlet lever the boys would be isolated in the Infirmary,
with the result that what promised to be the beginning of an ejji-
demic was stamped out in a very short time.
*'I investigated eonditions existing at Konco, German township,
as reported by J)i-. J. J. Meehem, yesterday (October 18). Health
OCIieer (leo. .la((il)s and Dr. Meehem accompanied me. I found con-
ditions worse than reporte<l by the doctor. Mr, Jacobs the Health
Officer has certainly done his part, as he spent over one week having
the town cleaned and drained i>roiierly, besides disinfecting a number
of houses as well as the school house, the latter was under my instrc-
tions, and the school board agreed to pay for all materials. The first
home 1 visited was Jl. W , the house was disinfected last week
for typhoid fever. Five of the family are in the hospital suffering
with the disease, the first boy affected with the disease was at home
supposed to be well, his only nurse a sister seven years old. I found
this boy in bed with a relapse seriously sick. I ordered the house
placarded again. My next visit was to an adjoining house, No. 16G.
I found a bad case of scarlet fever and two children desquamating.
I ordered a quarantine with strict observation. I next visited No. 153,
the home of J. C and found a case of typhoid. This house I
placarded. These were all the new cases found. 1 also visited No.
203, L. F , suffering with diphtheria. No. 13, F. P , one
child with scarlet fever, one child with diphtheria, the home of L.
J , No. 19t), three children with scarlet fever. These homes
were under quarantine.
From very conclusive evidence many cases have existed that were
not reported and in this way many have been exposed to diphtheria
and scarlet fever. I established quarantine and the Health Officer
who seems to be doing all possible, will keep in close touch with
conditions. If the spread continues the school and church will be
closed, but these conditions can be checked if every one will do their
part. The Superintendent of the works has been faithful in cleaning
the whole town. He has had a big squad of men cleaning and dis-
infecting under the supervision of the Health Officer, for ten days,
so I don't see what can be done further at this time. If the disease
continues to spread I would suggest a guard.''
*'P. S. — The Health Officer informs me by 'phone that the families
quarantined for scarlet fever refuse to keep their children in the
house. Would it be too severe to place a guard over these families?
It seems im])ossible to keep them in check. It is a coal town and
thickly populated."
Telegram — "Place guards scarlet fever, Konco." Sam'l G. Dixon.
62 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY.
Blakely. Dr. J. C. Reifsuyder, C. ^I. I. "Pursuant to instructions
from the Chief Medical Inspector, I met the Board of Health at
Blakely by invitation, on Sunday morning, April 12th, and discussed
with them the outbreak of scarlet fever in the borough of Blakely.
This outbreak was easily traced to the house of II. M , and it,
in turn, to an infected house in Priceburg.
The liigh water mark of the epidemic was reached on the Gth of
April when 11 cases were reported.
It was evident in this meeting that the call upon the Department
for assistance was more for the purpose of obtaining your approval
of what is being done by their Board than for the reason that any
particular need existed. Their Board seemed to be doing everything
that was necessary and are active.
The points taken up were quarantine — absolute quarantine was
being enforced and so far no need for assistance was found. The
Board are perfectly conversant with the fact that pecuniary relief
must come from the same source as any other case of borough pov-
erty. I suggested that wage earners be given permits under suitable
restrictions.
Disinfection — they were using the system of evaporating formalde-
hyde by artificial heat. My suggestion was that they adopt the Depart-
ment's method by using potassium permanganate with formaldehyde
in the proper proportions.
The schools and churches had been ordered closed and it had al-
ready been determined that they should be kept closed so long as
nei-essity existed.
I suggested that the teachers make a list of absentees for the last
ten days before closing the schools and that special inspection be
nmdc in vvcry family in wliidi an absentee was noted, and that books
found in tin; hands of any child with Die disease should be burned.
Milk — Orders had already been issued to discontinue the sale of
milk from infected dairies, against the serving of milk in bottles,
and requiring consumers to furnish receptacles at the door. Sugges-
tions were made as to tracing the possible source of infection in
conjunction with the milk routes.
Doctors were found to be very careless in reporting to their local
Board. I strongly urged action in one flagrant violation on the part
of a physician, discussed at this meeting.
Subsequent to this meeling arrangciiKiuts were inade for joint
action with the Board of Health and School Board to determine the
time for reopening the schools." ,
Xn. 17. COMRllSSIO.NKIi OF HKALTH. 63
r.ANC A S'i' Kit < ,T> U N 'I' \' .
T>r. J. r.. .Mowcr.v, ('. .M. I. '•('(Hiipljiiiii having reached ino that
scarlet le\('r was i»r('S('iil in the Pleasant Hill School, West Donej^^al
lownship, a s[»ecial investigation was begnn on the 7th of October.
Fonr children were fonnd attending school in various stages of
descjuamation. The infected pupils were susjjeuded and ref>orted to
llie Health Oflicer for quarantine.
On the same day, Inning received rej)or(s of scarlet fever in East
ileniplield townshiji. 1 visited school and found one case of
pronounced scarlet fever, (juarantined one tyj)ical case not reported
who was being attended by Dr. K of Mt. Joy, two of the
children in the family attending school and no precautionary measures
being taken. In this district I also found several families having
illness among their children accompanied by rash of a very evanescent
type in which it was impossible to determine the diagnosis. The
usual modified quarantine was established in each instance. The
schools w-ei-e closed and disinfected. I would respectfully recommend
that action be taken against the delinquent.
LEHIGH COUNTY.
Summit Lawn School fSalisburg township). Dr. M. F. Cawley,
C. M. I. "I was notified by Health Otficer Brown that, at the Summit
Lawn School in Salisbury township, a child became sick during the
session and vomited in the school room, and that it undoubtedly had
scarlatina. This is the school in which the epidemic occurred which
is just about over and in which four deaths occurred. The first case
in school began in this way and the whole school was infected so
that out of about 4") pu]»ils only 10 remained for a long time. There
are 14 attending now. This report was a false alarm as the child
had had the disease four years ago. [ made the inspection yesterday
morning and r('i)ort at length because it might seem as not having
been necessary."
POTTER COUNTY.
Austin. Dr. E. H. Ashcraft, C. M. T. April 21st. "In response
to telegraphic orders an inspection was made in Austin with reference
to scarlet fever, which was not being well handled by the local Board
of Health. Investigation showed that but live cast's were present in
the town and in one or two instances a dispute as to the diagnosis
had led to neglect of quarantine mc>asures — in one case the child of a
laundryman in the house from which the agency was conducted —
it was deemed wise to advise complete fumigation of the entire lower
part of the house, and that all wrapped bundles of laundry be opened
and disinfected at the same time; and that the father of the child
64 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
should have the usual antiseptic bath aud liave all his personal cloth-
ing disinfected and remain away from home during the remainder of
the quarantine period. This was agreed to and was entirely satis-
factory to all parties cimcerned.''
MEASLES.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
Dr. S. M. Ixinehart, C. M. I. On February 12, by order of the
Department, inspection was made of the schools at Blythedale where
an epidemic of measles had been reported. ?A children out of a
total of 79 were out of school, on account of the disease. Dr. Eine-
hart reports as follows: "This is a mining community, made up
almost altogether of foreigners. In this school of seventy-nine, there
are only ten children of American i)arents. A good many cases of
measles have occurred in this community that have never been
reported, on account of the parents never having a physician for the
children, so that it has spread very rapidly. At present, however,
the doctors seem to be reporting the cases to the Health Officer, Mr.
Jones, and I have no doubt the progress of the disease will be checked
soon. I visited two or three of the cases that had not been reported
and found them to be measles in a stage of convalescence, so that
there can be no doubt about the nature of the epidemic. Most of
those children at present in the school have had the disease by this
time."
ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
Yatesboro. Dr. T. N. McKee, C. M. I. ''At the request of the
Health Officer and school authorities of Cowanshannock township,
I visited Yatesboro November 12th and after going over the situation
carefully with the Health Otificer, l*rincii)al of the Schools and local
physician, de<"med it advisable, on account of number of cases of
measles developing within the last few days, to order the school
(4 rooms) in that district closed until the building had been thor-
oughly disinfected and the e[)idemic gotten under <-<»n(rol."
"1 am glad to report that the school authorities manifest a desire
to cooperate with the Department in protecting the health of those
under their care."
CLARION COUNTY.
Fairmount City. Dr. J. T. Itimer, C. M. i. On receipt of telegraphic
orders, the schools of Fairmount City, consisting of three public
Hchool-rooms and one high school room, were closed on the 3t)th of
March because of a general epidemic of measles in lied Hank town-
ship. Dr. C. K. Sayres, Health Officer, was especially deputized to
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 65
investigate the alleged cases in the district and found measles in active
or declining stage in torty lour dwellings, totalling al>out one hundred
cases. The school rooms were closed and disinfected. The children
from the uninfected houses were readmitted.
As moditied <[uaranLine had been estal)lisiied about the same time
in all of these houses, it became necessarj'^ to employ additional
disiufectors in order to accomjilish j^roiiipt ivlcase from quarantine
and cany out the wislies of the DeparliiKUil.
TIOGA COUNTY.
Crooked Creek. Dr. S. P. Hakes, C. M. I. "I beg to report that
today (February 1) I examined cases reported by Health Officer
Howell, alleged to be measles, whom he states had no attending
physician. I found one case at G. W , Crooked Creek, and
four cases in the family of J. N. L , Crooked Creek, both
families residing in Charleston township; two cases in W. C 's
family, Crooked Creek in Middlebury township. All these families
had been visited by Dr. C. W. H , of Wellsboro, and none had
been reported to the Health Officer.
On communicating with the physician by telephone he very willingly
consented to make re})ort of any future cases he visits and consented
to assist the Health Otticer in locating any other cases that have no
attending physician. He realizes that he did wrong and I think in
the future he will do better."
LEHIGH COUNTY. .
Slatedale. Dr. M. F. Cawley, C. M. I. "April 1st, having been
notified by Health Officer Heiutzleman of a number of unreported
cases of measles at Slatedale and Keiningers School, Washington
township, I visited seven families, examined twelve persons and i-e-
l)orted eleven cases sutTering from the disease. Two of the physicians
in the viciuity were plainly violaiing tlie law and evidence is hereby
submitted which seems 1o be sufficient to secure their conviction. I
would respectfully recommcjid that proceedings be instituted against
them at once."
BLUE CHURCH SCHOOL.
"January loth I visited Blue Church School, in Upper Saucon
township, near Coopersburg, and ordered the school closed for
disinfection. Out of an enrollment of 50 pupils there were about
one dozen left. All the others are now sulfering with lueasles.
In nine families physicians had not been called and tJie cases had
not been reported.
5—17—1908
66 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
REXTOWN.
Eextowu. Maicli l'4tli. "I desire to report an iuspeetiou of Rex-
town and vicinity in ^^'ashing•ton township on aeconnt of the existence
of a numbei- of cases of measles without any medical attendance.
1 vi.sited fonr schools and nine families, examining in all a total of
15 persons, finding 12 of them having measles. In two instances I
closed the schools for disinfection."
SLATEDALE.
Slatedale. December 2Gth. ''1 desire to report an inspection of
schools for measles at Slatedale, today. Fourteen cases — seventeen
persons examined. Found the teachers in Slatedale were admitting
children from houses placarded for measles."
DIPHTHERIA.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Carlisle. Dv. H. 13. Bashore, 0. M. I. ''I beg to report that I visited
Carlisle, August i:Jth, on account of sale of milk and butter from
H house in North Middletown township, placarded for diph-
theria. I found that the patient had died a short time before my
arrival and that there would be no sale of milk or butter until after
disinfection. 1 gave instructions for a private funeral to be held
within tliirty-six houis. As this is the second death from diphtheria
the last month in the county, it looks to me as thougli some of our
physicians are afraid to use antitoxin sufliciently early."
Li;iii(;ii coi'N'i'V.
Dr. M. F. Cavvley, ('. M. I. On recei]»l of inridiiiatiou (hat diph-
lliei-ia was itrcxah'Ul in tiie Children's Home, an asylum for orphan
chihircii, having u po[»nlalion of '.>~) inmates, located in Salisbury
township, jnvesligalion was made on (lie 14(h of May and developing
Ihe fast llial tlic at lending j)liysi(ian had jio( diagnosed the eai'liest
cases as dijdiihcria and it was only when the child of (he Superin-
tendent sickenwl with tlui diseas(,' and Dr. S of Bethlehem
was called that the dis<'as(; was pi-ojicrly diagnos('<l. All of the
cliihli'cn with a history of soi-c lliroat were isolated from tJiose who
wer<; well, given cnratis-e doses of antitoxin an<l the nsnal regulations
of the Department wei-e inslitnted. All inmates who were exposed
to the infection wei-(* given inimnni/jng doses of aniitoxi.n with tlu;
result llnil no lintlier spread <ir the disease occurred. TIh! tolal num-
ber of casc-s contracting the disease wei-e six oC (In; or|)han childi-en
and the one child of (he Superinlendent.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 6?
WHOOPING COUGH.
LANCASTER COUNTY.
Western School, Eai-l township. Dr. J. L. Mowery, C. M. I. "On
receipt of information October 0th that Whoopingcough existed in
the Western School, I made a special investig£),tion and found three
cases of well developed ^^'hoopiugc()Ugh and three somewhat in doubt
and in whom I think the disease is developing, in attendance at
school. The school was closed to be disinfected and the regulations
of the Department enforced with regard to school exclusion."
BROWNSTOWX & TAL^LVdK SCHOOLS, WEST EARL TOWNSHIP.
Brownstown and Talmage Schools, West Earl township. "On the
12th of October J investigated the Brownstown and Talmage school
districts in West Earl township, in which ^^'hoopiugcough was alleged
to exist and found twelve cases in the school actually suffering from
the disease. 1 ordered the school closed and disinfected and the
children excluded for the usual time.
WEST EARL TOWNSHIP.
West Earl township. "On October 23rd, by ai>pointment with the
school board of West Earl tuwnsliip I visited with a representative of
their Board two schools for the purpose of determining whether or
not wh<>(»]»ingcough existed. We took uj) the cases in these schools
and found whoopingcough in each. The Directors wish to eliminate
as much as possible all counuunicable diseases from the schools under
their care and willing to co-operate with the work of the Department
in every way."
PROSPECT SCHOOL, EAST DRUMORE TOWNSHIP.
Prosepect School, East Drumore township. "On receipt of infor-
mation from the teacher at Prospect School in East Drumore town-
ship, on October 21st, that Whooj)ingcough existed among his pupils,
1 made a special investigation and found a number of cases in the
school, ordered the schools closed and disinfected and infected
children dismissed.
On the same day, wilh Dr. Jlcller, we completed our investigation
at Brownstown where whoopingcough was alleged to exist in the
village and succeeded in tinding 40 cases. In each instance the regula-
tions of the Depart Mienl were enforced."
LEHIGH COUNTY.
JIartzel's School (T^i)per Milford township). Dr. M. F. Cawley,
C. M. T. "I made an inspection today at ilartzel's School in Upper
Mllford township on account of alleged cases of whoopingcough.
68 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
I visited two families and the school, and Avhile it is quite probable
that whoopingcouj^h is developing it has not reached the stage at
which I would feel jnstiiied in making the diagnosis. The people
have promised me however that should cough become severe, or should
whoopingcough be noted thev would keep their children from school.
''I also visited Eiegel's School in the same township for the same
reason; these children have paroxysms, which, though I have not
seen them, from the description given by the mothers, I would pro-
nounce to be whoopingcough. 1 visited two families here and saw
seven children.
*'I visited these places because the Health Officer reported to me
that people were complaining and that they were afraid of sending
their children to school for fear of their contracting the disease."
TIOGA COUNTY.
Morris. Dr. S. P. Hakes, C. M. I. October 30th. "Last week
complaint was made to me that children with pertussis were attending
school at Morris, Pa., and requested me to correct the conditions.
I am also enclosing a letter with complaints along the same lines and
at the same time the Health Officer of that district called my atten-
tion to the matter. I have made an inspection and submit the follow-
ing report :
''Morris is an unincorporated settlement of about 1,500 to 2,000
people, having a large tannery, some small coal mining interests
and some agricultural interests, etc. They have a Township High
School, with four rooms and four teachers and an attendance of from
160 to 170 pupils. I met Health Officer Vandergrift there and with
him visited the school. We insjx'cted all rooms and from the history
given us by the teachers and jiupils themselves, and by the physical
examination wliidi i made, I picked out about thirty pupils in whom
I could safely make a diagnosis of })ertussis."
"I made (»ut the Forms M. S. No. 1 for the Health Officer and he
did the placarding. 1 went over the matter with the school directors,
and i-cfujcsted I Ik; President of tlie School lioai-d to close the school
until the rooms w(;re disinlVcted. 'J'he Health Officer writes me this
was done."
TYIMIOJD FEVER.
ADAMS COUNTV.
Dr. J. li. Dickson, (". M. 1. On receipt of notice that tyj)hoid fever
was existing on IIk; daiiy lai in of J. Ah; in SLraban township,
special inspection was mndc :iii<l llic Collovving report submitted:
"August Stli, lf)OS. 'J'lie conditions ai-c; as follows: — Patient is iso-
lated. No one connected with tlic; milk, utensils oi- slock conies in
contact with llie jcilieni, or goes into his i'()()in. No one coming in
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 69
contact with the patient, or who enters his loom, comes in con-
tact with the milk, utensils or stock, or with any one having such
contact in charge. The cattle are watered l'r(»m a well and from a
stream. The well is at the edge of, but within the barnyard. The
well floor is not impervious and excrementations matter is deposited
on it from the feet of the farm laborers. The well wall does not
exclude surface drainage. The stream Rock Creek, receives the barn-
yard drainage at a point ])rol)al)ly four hundred and fifty feet distant.
The stream also receives about one hundred and fifty feet above the
point of entrance of the barnyard drain, drainage from a spring.
This spring drain passes through a small lot of ground, used, recently,
as a hog pasture. Less than two hundred feet froui the spring drain,
on slightly elevated ground, sloping toward it, is located the water
closet, rt stands on the surface of the ground and is used regularly
by not more than three people daily, througliout the year.
The spring is the source of water supply for the family and also
supplies the cemented trough in the spring house with water, into
which milk containers are placed. Water from this spring is used to
wash the milk utensils, after previous boiling, it is claimed. The
spring is distant from the drain carrying the barnyard waste about
eight}' feet, and at a lower level by probably two feet, but owing to
artificial protection does not receive such waste except during a
freshet which it is reported has not happened within two years.
Water is obtained from the s}»ring by pump, a wooden one, surrounded
by a floor. Waste water from mouth of pump returns directly to
spring by a wooden receiver."
BLAIR COUNTY.
Altoona. Dr. Jos. D. Findley, C. M. I. The Departmejit through
Dr. Findley investigated an outbreak of tyj)hoid fever in the city
of Altoona and was able to assist in tracing it j)retty definitely to a
dairy farm supplying a number of people with their milk. More
than families were taking milk from the dairy of one J.
W , Avhere a careful inspection revealed the following con-
ditions:—
"On May 2nd W 's brother went lo the Altoona Hospital and
develoi)ed a mild case of typhoid. Nothing further occurred to
attract attention until less than two weeks ago when we began to
have some cases of tyj)hoi(l iu fainilios that used W 's milk.
Almost all of these cases had been away from the city within three
weeks and the Altoona authorities explained them on that ground.
But a week ago last Sunday, August KJth, a girl working for W
was removed to the hospital with symptojus of typhoid. As soon as
we learned of it we went to W — and told him that he could not
handle any more milk at his own house and barn."
70 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Siuce then lie has kept his cows away from his own water supply
and used the supply of a neighbor to water them and to scald his
cans and has boiled all the water used on his own premises and washed
his hands before milking.
As soon as knowledge- of this serious condition reached the Depart-
ment the following letter was addressed to the Secretary of the Board
of Health :—
August 27, 1908.
Mr. Samuel B. Trees,
Sec. Board of Health,
Altoona, Pa.
My dear Sir: — A\'e have your valued favor of the 20th of August
at hand, and are pleased to learn that your board is so active in its
endeavors to avoid the further spread of typhoid fever in your city.
While we presume that your board has taken up nearly all, if
not all of the points which would occur to us in the control of this
disease, we beg your indulgence for outlining a few of the points
which occur to us as requiring attention and which may perhaps in
some (Uie instance prove of value to 3'ou.
\\'henever typhoid fever becomes at all prevalent, Ave believe it is
absolute]}' necessary that notices warning the public to boil all milk
and water intended for domestic use for at least twenty minutes
before using should be posted about town, especially in the atfected
neighborhoods. All premises where typhoid fever exists should be
placarded. It is valuable in that the dairymen who may have routes
in your town shall know where the disease exists and thereby may
be able t(^ carry out your instructions relative to the leaving of milk
bottles. We presume that you have already given orders that no
milk l)otlles should be left at or taken aAvay from premises where
typhoid fever exists. If this is not done through the interchange
of milk in the bottles or perhai)S by infection of the general milk
sujiply, the milk may become a great factor in spreading this disease,
instead of leaving milk bottles, the families should ])i-ovide a container
into which daii-ymen may ])our the milk without the necessity of
liandliiig tlu; conlaiiiei-.
IJiiie should be (list ributcd to all homes wlicre this disease exists,
in ordei- that the pi'ivy vaults may b(; Ihoi-oughly limed, which will
materially assist in pi-cnenting the iiireclioii of disease by transmis-
sion through flies.
One or more visiting nurses should be emjiloyed to go fi'om house
to house, instinct ing those having cai-e of the; sick, wliere a trained
nurse is not in attendance, in Ihe {ii-ojjer method of disinfecting IIk;
dischai'ges and caring for the pali<'nt in ord(!r Ihat secondary cases
may be limited.
We hav(! taken th(! liberty of sending to F)i*. I^'indley, i<> be used
in this emergency, tyj)hoi(l cii-cnlais and as many placai'ds.
A copy of the repor-t li-om our laboratory r(!lativ(^ to the examina-
tion of watei- specimens and milk sent to tlu; laboialoi-y lies before
us, and while we tail to n(»te that these repoi-ts show pollution by
sewage, we would deem it :idvis;d»le that your boai'd have otlier exami-
nations iiiinle of the j^cneinl \\;ilei- supply used by llie lamilies now
iilllicled or wells which iii;i>- exist in their neighborhood iind oC the
No. 17. COMxMlSSlOXER OF HEALTH. 71
milk susjKMted, as well sis jlic wells located on the jM-eiiiises from which
the milk is taken. Foi- this ])nrpose we are having sent to you a
box of bottles for the collection of water specimen samples.
Assnrin<i you that we shall be pleased to advise you with regard
to any troublesome conditions which nmy arise, and trusting that
this outbreak may be speedily suppressed, I remain,
Yours very truly,
SAMUEL G.. DIXON,
Commission of Health.
This letter was pulished in all of the daily papers of Altoona.
The Board of Health of Altoona having definitely determined that
the milk supply was at fault, had it discontinued. A campaign of
educatiim was waged with householders so that all reasonable pre-
cautions were taken throughout the city to protect the well from
those already sick, and the epidemic quickly subsided.
Such epidemics show us the very great importance of having every
case of typhoid fever on dairy farms reported at the earliest possible
moment, and impress upon us the importance of keeping such farms
in first-class sanitary condition.
BRADFOllD COUNTY.
Dr. S. M. Woodburn, C. M. I. Many investigations were made of
typhoid fever on dairy farms, and the regulations of the Department
enforced in all cases where laxity was found in their observance.
CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Hastings. Dr. W. E. Matthews, C. M. I. In July, 1908, the Depart-
ment was called upon to render assistance to the borough of Hastings,
where an epidemic of typhoid fever developed. The County Medical
Inspector, Mr. K. E. Trwin, of the ]Ongineering J)ivisi(m and iliss
O'Halloran of the Nursing Stalf, were detailed to study the situation
and render all assistance ]»ossible to tJie borough Board of Health.
A careful study of the water supply and milk supply of this borough
pointed pretty conclusive]}' to a polluted water supply as the direct
cause of the ei)idemic. A sanitary survey showed tlie entire town to
be filled with nuisances and gross pollutions of all sorts were readily
found.
At joint nuttings of (lie borough Boai-d of ll(>altli and Borough
C(uincil it was decided lo raise funds \\)V enforcing (he abatement of
nuisances, for (he e(|uijipiug (A' an eiiiei-gencv hospital and for such
other sanitary measures as might be deemed necessary in s(amj>ing
out the e]>idemic. Work was at once begun under the general super-
vision of the borough B«»ai(l of Health and Di-. Afatthews; notices
were served on all ])ropcr(y owuei-s (o abale nuisances within 24 or
4S hours; lime wagons (listriltu(ed disinfecting agents to every house
72 THIRD AI^NUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
in which fever existed and to evevy house where nuisances were
reported; full and overflowing privy vaults were emptied by an
organized corps who distributed the contents on a farm at a distant
point from the town and where it was plowed under each night;
the town was placarded with warning signs ; an educational cam-
paign was begun to induce every one to boil all drinking water; the
Nursing Corps, by house to house visit and hy means of the emergency
hospital, conducted an aggressive campaign for carefully disinfecting
all excreta, and bed and body linen; and the Water Company began
systematic efforts to prevent surface drainage entering the springs
supplying reservoirs, building water-tight wells, condemning polluted
privated water supplies and conducting a general sanitary campaign.
The Engineering Division secured 240 samples of milk and water
for laboratory study, made special search for pollution on all premises
infected with typhoid fever and aided the borough in supervising the
disinfection of all open sewers ; assisted with disinfection of the water
supplies and with the cleansing and Hushing of the water mains.
A total of 58 cases were reported as having typhoid fever, or were
found by making a house to house canvass. Three secondary cases
developed in the interval while the work was being prosecuted.
The suspicion that the water supply was the source of the outbreak
was confirmed by detailed study of the milk and water samples sent
to the laboratory.
The Pennsylvania Railroad, during the height of the trouble,
while the wells were being repaired and water supplies disinfected,
gave the borough, gratuitously, 0,000 gallons of pure water each
day, from one of their tank cars.
An emergency hospital was opened by renting a seven-room house
and placing it under the charge of Miss O'Halloran and a corps of
nurses.
CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Richland township. Dr. W. E. Matthews, C. M. I. The following
correspondence indicates the activity of the Health Department in
other parts of Cambria county: —
''Yesterday CSeidcinbci' I 1 i, I received nolice dial ;i case of (yphoid
fever exist(*d in the home of II. II - — -, i\i<'lilaiid (owiisliip. I at
once nia(l(! an invesligalioii and fonnd a liHIe girl siill'ering IVora
typhoid fev(*r. Mr. If cojidiicls a dairy farm, sui)plying milk
to the greatei- part of the borongli of VVindber. We went over the
silnation very I'lilly with Mr. II and an-anged (o have the cows
rcMiioved at once to the adjoining |»nMiiises and (Vtr (he disinfecting
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 73
and cleaning up of tlie premises in general. The water supply is
from two springs; one has not been used for some time except for
watering the cattle. When the water was low in the spring used for
drinking purposes they began drinking the water from the spring used
for the cattle. Two weeks following this the little girl developed
typhoid fever. From the history of the case it seems about the only
source from which the child could liave contracted the disease. This
spring is located very near a public rcjad and the water being cold
many travelers would stop and drink fr<jm it. Until we can deter-
mine jiositively that tliis is the source of infection T nailed the spring
shut placing a warning sign on the same. I also sent to Dr. Herbert
Fox, last evening, samjjles of water from each spring."
CAMERON COUNTY.
Emporium. Dr. II. S. Falk, C. M. 1. In the early part of November
an unusual prevalence of tyi)hoid fever was noted in the borough of
Emporium, and the good offices of the Department were solicited
toward helping to determine the source of ixifection and to help stamp
out the disease.
With the assistance of the Laboratory Division, 10 samples of water
were examined bacteriologically, from the various intakes, reservoirs
and spigots of the borough and from wells, and four samples were
examined from a dairy farm sup])lying a good part of this borough
with milk, Q'hese studies, together with an analysis of the cases in
the borough, pointed conclusively toward the water supply as the
source of the infection, and pointed especially toward the West
Creek Keservoir of tJie Emi)orium Water Company.
Among those who contracted the disease and lost their lives in the
early jiart of the epidemic was the young man who ran the pumping
station supplying this reservoir with Avater.
During the course of this outbreak the people of the borough were
assisted for a time by Miss O'Halloran, the nurse usually detailed
for this kind of epidemic work, and from her notes it appears that
16 families were afflicted with typhoid fever. Of this number, at
the time of her arrival, 7 had trained nurses — the remaining 9
families were assisted in every way by having the visiting nurse see
the patients once or twice a day, and, in some cases requiring a great
deal of attention frequent visits were made. Families were taught
t<» care for tlie bed and body linen of the patient and were «Tiven
instructions as to the proper disposal of the excreta, the care of
dishes, and practical instructions as to the ventilation of the rooms.
One ])atient was found living in a miseralile shanty on the side
of a mountain, being nursed in a small room, used as a kitchen and
general living room l<»r a family of seven. Miss O'Halloran succeeded
in getting the consent of the father of the patient to have him enter
74 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
a hosi)ital. An-angements were made by which he was removed in
an ambnlanee To the railway station, thence to the Eidgway Hospital,
where suitable care was given. The house was then disinfected by
the Health Otticer and cleaned up in the usual fashion.
The work of the nursing corps, together with the aggressive cam-
paign waged by the local Board of Health, stamped out the disease
during the month, and no new cases were reported for a i)eriod of
two weeks prior to the nurses leaving.
CARBON CULNTl',
Bowmans and Hazards. J. K. Henry, C. M. I. "On receipt of
information that an e])idemic of typhoid fever was impending at
Bowmans and Hazards an inspection was made at once. Dr. J. K.
Henry and Health (Jllicer H. N. Blunt met me at Hownmns on the
9th of September. Their study of the existing cases of typhoid and
conditions in the community led to an immediate inspection of
certain dairy farms in Lizard Creek \ alley, East Penn township.
The first farm, that of Mrs. O, S was in a sanitary condition
and gave no history of contagious or infectious disease in its build-
ings for several years. The second farm, that of A. S No. 1,
was in good sanitary condition, but two cases of typhoid fever had
recently been treated in the farm dwelling. The water supply for this
farm house is secured on the adjoining farm of A. S No. 2.
The sanitary inspection of the last named farm showed stabling con-
ditions to be satisfactory, no milk was sold, but the spring from
which the water supply for both farms is secured in insuliticeiently
j>rotected. A historv was elicited of a possible pollution by the
wallowing of animals in the spring and by surface drainage. The
milk from the farm of A. S No. 1 was not retailed by A. S
but was sold at wholesale to Mrs. O. S and retailed by her
with product from her own daii-y, wilh the residenis oC liowmajQS
and Hazards.
A history of 12 cases of lyplioi<l htvcv was elicited in the occupants
of the house and farm of A. S No. 2. x\ll cases of typhoid in
Bowmans and Hazards secured llieir milk supply from Ihe retail
delivery of Mrs. O. 8 .
It looks at this lime as if (he water of the spring of A. S
No. 2 is the sour((! (»!' h-ouble and that A. S No. 1 in securing
the water Hupi)ly for his family and daii-y in lliis spring has infe^-ted
not only his family bnt also his iriilk ami Ihiil I his mill< lias been 1li(?
source of infection along the dairy ronle of Mrs. O. S . In all
about in cases of typhoid iirc itrcscnl in Iliiz;n(ls .ind lonr in
Bowmans. An order \\;is issiie<] (o Mi's. (). S (o discon(inu(^
the sale oi milk loi- ;i lew diiys nntil bacleriologic studies had been
completed.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 75
Siuuples of water I'loui the spriug- were sent to (lie laboratory, the
spring was disinfected and siifHcieutl.v protected to pievent the same
sources of pollution occurriuu- auaiu.
CHESTER COUNTY.
Spring City and Koyersford. On receipt of iufoi-niation from two
citizens of Spring City, one of whom enclosed a clipping from a local
paper, giving us information that typhqid fever was unduly prevalent
in Koyersfoi'd and S[>ring (Jity. the Department assigned County
Medical Insj)ectors, Joseph Scattergood and 11. 11. Whitcomb, to take
up with the borough Boards of Health the details of the outbreaks,
and the Engineering Divisicm detailed Messrs. W\ W. Ritter and Ira F.
Ziegler to visit these boroughs and study their water supply and
examine carefully the sewage disi)0sal methods on each property where
disease Avas said to exist, and within twenty-four hours special nurses
were detailed to report in both towns for the purpose of making a
house to house canvass and establishing a system of training the
nurses and care takers in proper methods for the disposal of excreta
and methods for general care of those having typhoid fever.
The first reports submitted by Dr. Scattergood convinced us that
at least eighty cases of typhoid fever were then under treatment in
Spring City and vicinity and that of those ill a large proportion of
them were using the Spring City public water supply and that a
goodly number were using water from dip wells.
The first preliminary study made of the outbreak convinced us
that the water in good part was responsible for the outbreak of the
disease. As soon as these facts reached us the following letter was
addressed to Dr. J. C. Mewhinney, Secretary of the Spring City
Board of Health and a duplicate letter was sent to Mr. C. O. Grander,
Secretary of the Board of Health of Royersford : —
August 22, 1908.
Dear Sir: — The reports sent to us by our County Medical Inspector
and by citizens of your borough bring to our attention the fact that
your i>oiir-d has to deal with a tyi)hoid epidemic.
The loilowing points are brought to your attention.
In handling of any epidemic of typhoid fever there are a number
of things which assume a considerable importance and 1 desire to
bring these matters to your attention and would ask whether you
have instituted any regulations aliuig the lines indicated and if so,
to what extent ?
Es]>ecially in time of epidemics of any disease the physicians should
be coiiijx'llcd to proiui»tly rejtort all cases either conclnsively diag-
nosed or presenting the clinical syiiijttoms of ihe <lisease in (|uestion.
If physicians are negligent in ihe matter of rejtorting typhoid fever
to your Itoard at the ])resent time they should be arrested and fined
in order that no case may be neglected and thereby allowed to become
a focus for secondarv infection.
76 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
All houses in which typhoid fever exists should be placarded with
a penalty attached for the removal of such placards. Circulars setting
forth the rules and regulations to be observed by nurses or attendants
having the care of typhoid fever should be distributed In every house-
hold where the disease exists and for this purpose I am sending you
under separate cover a number of the Department circulars on
typhoid fever.
The Health Officer should placard the house and ascertain the
conditions existing on the premises, character of the privy, cesspool
or whatever means are used for the disposal of excreta and the needs
of the family, reporting the same to your Board and a lime wagon
should be started to distribute freshly burned unslacked lime to the
houses Avhere the owners or occupiers are unable to provide the same
for their individual use, this lime to be used in the form of milk of
lime for the disinfection of excreta and for use in all closets or privies.
The work of the lime distibutor should be checked up by the district
nurse, who should visit each home where typhoid fever exists and
where they are unable to procure the survices of a nurse, directing
them as to the precautions to be observed and seeing that the instruc-
tions of the physician are carried out.
Wherever possible in indigent families the patient should be trans-
ferred to a hospital at once and the room and its conteiils (horoughly
disinfected, together with the privies.
Warning placards should be posted in conspicuous places ; prefer-
ably on telegraph poles, in saloons and in the street cars directing
all people to boil their water and milk for at least thirty minutes
prior to its use for domestic purposes.
The delivering of niilk in milk bottles should be prohibited and
all dairymen should be compelled 1o deliver their milk into an in-
dividual container supplied by the householder, this container not to
be handled by the dairyman at all. Unless this precaution is taken
due to the interchange of individual milk bottles or the infection of
the general milk su])ijly of the dairyman, the infection is very apt
to be carried in this manner.
All proprietors of meat markets and of meat carts which go about
the streets peddling m(?at should be comj)elled to have their meat so
})laced in their mai-kets that the handlings of the same by customers
should be [jrohihited and all (hose delivering meat from wagons should
be instructed that the customers must not handle meat before ]mr-
chase, that the rear curtain of their wagcm should be closed and that
sales should be from the front of the wagon. In other words, no meat
should be handled by prospective customers.
Jf the mnni(i|)al water supply is found to be at fault the mains
should be i-ejx'alcdiy Unshed, all dead ends ))led and copi)er snl])ha(e
inlrodiH-ed into the rcsei-voir oi- sci-eeiiing chanibeis in tlie ])ro])or(ion
of one to a million, Ihis addilion to ]»e ke|)t np for a( least ten days.
(Jur r(;cords show thai yonr l>oard has been (Icrclict in making
reports, and we expect weekly i-ejtoils (o be seni (his office promptly
hencefortli.
Yours truly,
SAMUEL G. DIXON.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 77
A detailed report from Dr. Wliitcoml), prepared on the 2lst of
August, led us to believe that the situation in Koyersford was not
so serious and that about 40 cases were ill with the disease in this
borough. Further investigation showed that many of the patients
were being well cared for bv professional nurses.
Those detailed to study these outbreaks received little aid from the
lioard of ileallh records in S])ring City. Physicians up to this time
had not been reporting typhoid fever and no records had been kept
in the office of the secretary.
In order to determine the location of all persons sick with the
disease every physician in the two boroughs was communicated with
and from them were secured fairly complete lists of all typhoid cases
treated since July 1st, and all cases under treatment at the present
time in which a diagnosis had already been established or in whom
they had reason to suspect typhoid might be developing.
On the 22nd of August the nurses detailed for special investigation
and instruction began a routine canvass resulting in their visiting,
in the period of sixteen days, ninety -nine patients in the borough
of Spring City and vicinity and forty-two in the borough of Koyers-
ford. In each instance nurses and care takers were taught by practi-
cal demonstration the precautionai-y measures to be observed regard-
ing excreta, bed and body linen of the patient, etc.
Investigation on the part of the representatives of the Department
showed gross violations of the law on the part of nearly all physicians
practicing in Spring City and on the part of some of those practicing
in Koyersford. So flagrant were these violations that it was deemed
wise by the Department to secure enough evidence to convict two of'
the physicians practicing in Spring City. Information was therefore-
secured by Dr. Scattergood, charging two of these physicians withi
failure to report forthwith communicable diseases, under the Act.
of June 18, 1895. Conviction was easily secured in each instance
and on the 16th of September one of these physicians, after pleading,
guilty of the charge, was lined |25.U0 and costs, amounting in the
total to $52.50 ; and on the 28th of September the other physician was
convicted and fined $25.00 and all costs save that of bringing witnesses
from Harrisburg.
A careful study of the water and milk supplies — a total of 93
sam]»le.s — showed positive indication of sewage pollution in the some
of the water sujiply; and on the dairy of A. II , .showed a total
of 12,500 colon in (tnc cubic centimeter of the milk. A detailed study
will be found in the re|)ort of the Engineering Division.
The following tables show the numl)er of cases found to have
sufl'ered from the disease between the 1st of July and the end of the
year. They are arranged in quinquennial age periods, by sex, and
are classilied by age and attending physicians. A total number of
6
78 THIRD AXXUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
129 cases occurred in Spriug City, 49 in Koyersford and 16 in East
^'incent, Chester county. Three patients died in Spring city, 4 in
Koyeisford and 2 in East A'incent township.
CLASSIFIED BY AGE.
1 to 5, 19 31 to 35, 8
6 to 10, 39 1 3G to 40, 13
11 to 15, 25 1 41 to 45, 1
10 to 20, 36 1 46 to 50, 3
21 to 25, 22 1 51 to 55, 1
26 to 30, 18 i 56 to 60, 4
BY SEX.
Male, 90
Female, 94
Note. — During the time covered by this outbreak, 15 cases were
reported to this Department in the borough of Spring City and
7 cases in East Mncent township — a total of 22. There should have
been reported during this time 124 cases in the borough and 16 in
East Mncent township.
In Boyersford during the same period of time 45 cases were re-
ported to the local Board of Health in the borough and 4 cases in the
iidjoining rural districts; in other words Royersford the physicians
sujjported the Board of Health and the Board of Health was active
and alive to the interests of the people. In Spring City the physicians
were careless and the Board of Health did nothing.
CHKSTKK COUNTY.
Dr. .Jos. Sciil Icigood, ('. M. T. W. Bradford Townshi]). An inves-
tigation was \niuUt ()<'tol»er 12th of a small ei)idemic of typhoid fever
in West I'rjidl'ord township, on the daii-y farm of I. L , result-
ing in the (Mi(orc«Mn<Mit of the regnhilions of the Dei)artment in regai'd
to ilif cjiic of llic |»;iii('iits :ui(l the cxcrcl;! jind the transfer of the
cows lo :i iH'i^lilioiiii;^ I'linii (lining Ilic rcmiiindcr of tlie illness.
SI'I{I\(; CITY.
roiisidciMlilf lime \v;is spcnl in investigating (he epidemic of
typhoid lever in Spring City (See special rej)ort of typhoid condi-
tions in Koyeisloi-d :ind its vicini(y),
(JroHH violatioji <»r the Av\ of .Jnim IS, 1S95, was easily proven
against sevenil iiliysiciiins in llie dis(ri<-t who had wilfnlly neglected
to leport cases of lypiioid fever, and some of the County Medical In-
No. 17. COAI.MISSIO.XEK OF HEALTH. 79
spector's eflorts were expended in securing tlie evideiu-e upon which
the Depart nient i^rueeeded to secure convict ion against tlie physician
violating tlie law.
CLARION COUNTY.
Dr. J. T. Kinier, C. M. I. Fairniount City. On receipt of com-
plaint August 14, Troni cerlain citizens of Fairniount City that the
reguhitions of the Dej)artinent were being violated in a tenement
house on the banks of a small stream just outside of this village, Dr.
J. T. Ikimer made a si)eiial investigation and reported as follows:
1 found an American family occupying half of the tenement house.
They had one case of tyj)hoid ionvalescent. They had carried out
the doctor's ijisl ructions. In the end of the house next to the street,
and next to the stream, lives an Italian family, with one case of ty-
phoid convalescing, and four others with all the premonitory symi»-
toms of typhoid. They were using the closet with a vault dug in the
ground, and paid no attention to disinfection in any particular.
All waste iuid house sewage and excreta from the patient already
ill with typhoid were being thrown into the stream or on the ground
between the house and the stream.
I ordered H) pounds of copperas and a half bushel of unslaked lime
to each vault to be used every other day until thoroughly disinfected
in the double closet. I ordered a trench dug on the upper end of the
lot above the closets 3 feet deep, 1 foot wide and :\ feet long, had them
put two inches of lime in the bottom, to receive their slops, and cover
it with a board. I insisted that the weeds be cut from the banks of
the little stream passing the house and that lime be thrown along the
l)anks of the stream. I also ordered that the people along the street
further down the stream to cut the weeds in front of their houses and
put linu^ along its course. The constable was ajtpointed as policeman
to see that the family of Italians carry out their instructions with re-
gard to the disinfection of excreta and the care of their slops, his
a])i)ointment to continue for a short time, at f2.00 a day until they
were sure that everything was thoroughly cleaned up, and that the
instructions were being faithfully observed.
The well is underneath the kitchen part of the house from which
both families have their water for cooking lUid drinking and all house-
hold purposes. They have been instructed to boil the water.
On receipt of the report from the Medical Ins[)ector the following
nu'ssages were telegraphed the towns of South Bethlehem and New
liethlehcm and letters were written the secretaries of the lioards of
Health of these boroughs advising them of the possible polluiion so
that warning messages might be issued to their peoj)le.
80 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
"J. B. Dobson,
New Bethlehem, Clarion Co., Pa.
Dr. Eimer, Clarion, reports possible pollution water supply. Would
suggest warning people boil water. Letter."
(LETTER.)
"We confirm telegram of to-day noting the fact that we have been
advised by our County Medical Inspector, Dr. J. T. Kimer, of Clarion,
of the existence of cases of typhoid fever among Italians in Bed Bank
township, in which it is feared that pollution of the Citizens' Water
Company supply may have resulted through carelessness in the man-
agement of cases on these premises.
"While Dr. Kimer personally supervised the abatement and disin-
fection of existing nuisances on the premises and placed a guard to see
that our instructions were carried out, we are of course unable to state
what harm may have occurred before the matter was brought to the
attention of our representative and would suggest therefore that con-
sumers of this water supply be instructed to thoroughly boil it before
using for drinking purposes."
Dr. J. T. Kimer, C. M. I. Rimersburg. The aid of the Department
was invoked, July 20, in caring for certain cases of typhoid fever
near the borough of Rimersburg in Toby township. In this particular
outbreak auumg Italian miners, the first cases were reported in a
house on top of the hill, and subsequently a series of cases in homes
further down the slope. Inasmuch as these houses have been seats
of former outbreaks it was deemed wise to have an investigation and
the bacterial content of waters from the spring supplying this com-
munity tested in our laboratory. Notices were posted urging the
boiling of all water used for domestic purposes, from these springs,
and the usual precautions of the Department were enforced with
regard to the disinfection of the excreta. The laboratory report
showed no evidence of sewage polluliou.
CUMBEULAND COUNTY.
Dr. II. B. Hashore, C. M. T. H. Newton Township. "I beg to re-
]>ort lliat 1 visited (he Iiome of II. ii. in S. Newt(m Township, Cone-
doguinettt; WiileislMMl, Seplcmbci- 5, on account of the jircsence of
typhoid fever. J ordered every precaulion lo be hiUcii in (lie disjtosiil
of <]iscli;M-g<'s. and riolilicd (In* llcaKli lioai-d a( ("arJisic of my acdon."
DKLAWAlii': (XXJNTY.
Dr. Kobt. H. Maisim, (1 M. I. lii-oniall. "On receii)( of infoi-ma-
tion, Noveinber 2, from Health Ollicei- Meld, I visited Jiroomall, on
account of the existence of typhoid fever. The patient is a daughler
of A. M., and has Ijcen nndcr the care of Di-. d. (J. Thoinas, of New(own
Square for the i)ast three weeks."
No. 17. COMMlSSlOxXER OF HEALTH. 81
"There ai'e 2,s cows on (liis <laii-y with a daily output of 200 quarts
of milk. It is sent to IMiiiadclpliia to a milk dealer named W. who
lives at i^lanerch. The milk dealer cleans all the cans and they are
taken directly to the sprini;- house which is 000 feet frtmi the house
and are chilled there. Those who come in contact with the sick have
nothing to do wiiii I lie milk. 1 can see no reason to apprehend any
infection from tlie case of typhoid fever at this place."
BRANDYWINE SUMMIT.
"On recei[>( (»! information from Health Officer Speakman I visited
BraJidy\\ine Summit on July 25, on account of butter being sold from
a farm where tyjihoid fever existed. The patient, a child of I. B. was
lying in the front room on the first floor with thousands of flies
going from this room at meal time to light on the food in the dining
room and kitchen adjoining. The butter is made in the cellar and
the separator smelled mouldy. I ordered thie patient's room to be
properly screened and all dejecta to be disinfected. I also directed
the Health Oilrtcer to visit the house in a few days to see if the orders
had been carried out and, if not, to stop the sale of the butter."
HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
Dr. n. C. Frontz, C. M. I. Eobertsdale. On receipt of a letter
May 29, from A. E. Bachert, General Superintendent of the Rockhill
Iron & Coal Company, Robertsdale, Pa., stating: "That there existed
in Eobertsdale a case of typhoid fever in the person of J. C, at the
home of Mrs. P., and that the stools from this i)atient without being
disinfected were being dumped into Trough Creek, which flows back
of the house and through part of the town of Kobertsdale, and that
all the efTorts of Dr. 10. W. Black, the {)hysiciau and himself, were of
no avail toward correcting the condition." l>r. 11. C. Frontz was
detailed and reported as follows :
"I communicated by telephone with Health Officer of District No.
493 and directed him to go to the ])lace and have the stools of this
patient dis])osed of in accordance with tlie re<|uireuieu<s of the De-
partment of Health. He 'phoned me on the evening of June 1st that
he bad been to Kobertsdale and Ilia I lie did not believe the things
would be corrected properly."
"A ])ersonal inspect ion ^\•as made. Mr. Batlicil ami Di*. Black ac-
companying me. 1 found (lie home of ]Mis. V. in a very unsanitary
ccmdilion. The stools were beini;- dnmped into a ditch about fifteen
feet from Trough Crin^k. I found the i)rivy located i-ight on the bank
of the creek and its contents could easily diain inio it. The house
belonged to the TJnckliill lion I'i: Coal Co.
6—17—1 008
82 THIRD ANNUAI. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc,
^'I asked Mr. Baebert to remove the privy to a safe distance from the
creek, and directed that a ditch be dug at least one hundred feet from
the creek, in accordance with the instructions of the Department of
Health, and that all stools be deposited in it and that lime be used
as per regulations. These things I believe will now be done as Mr.
Bachert is in position to see that my instructions are carried out,
and is very willing to cooperate in the work."
*'I endeavored to discover the source of this case of typhoid fever
but could find no source other than that it might have developed from
the drinking water which comes from the head-waters of Trough
Creek which supply the Woodvale reservoir some distance above
Eobertsdale. As this water is being used by almost all the residents
of Eobertsdale I thought it wise to have a specimen of it examined,
and so wrote you last night to send a bottle to Dr. F. W. Black, Eob-
ertsdale, for the i^urpose."
LACKAWANNA COUNTY.
Dr. J. C. Eeifsnyder, C. M. I. Carbondale. On receipt of a letter
from the Secretary of the Board of Health at Carbondale, August 21,
1908, relative to an outbreak of typhoid fever in that city, stating that
20 cases were then under treatment and that during three days of the
week in which the letter was written 18 cases had been reported to
their ollfice, Dr. J. C. Eeifsnyder was detailed to go over the condi-
tions Avith them and special arrangements were made to make imme-
diate inspection of every dairy supplying the city with milk. Per-
mission was granted for a laboratory study of the water supply of tlie
city, and Dr. Fox reported to their Board on the various samples, as
follows:
No. 4 r(»ii(l: Bacteria ]»(')• cubic (•(>n(imeler, 420. Bac. Coli found
in one <ubic centimeter, 4.
(.'rystal Lake: Bacteria jtcr ciihic cisnlimeter, 720. No. Bac. Coli.
Brownell Dain: Bacteria per cubic centimeter, S. No Bac. Coli.
Alter i-('(('i\ jiig Ihe r('p(»rl of (Ik; Ah-dicjil [jispecloi- and studying
the Icitci- (»r the Secretary of (licii- Boaid to this oHIce together with
llie laboi-atory reports of Dr. Fox, (lie lollowiiig r('|)Iy and advice was
addrr'ssed to (Ik; Secretary:
'Mi-. Tied \V. Lewis,
Dear Sir:
( ■arboudale, Aug. 25.
Voiifs of recent (hitc witli regard to (yjtlioid lever a( thai plac(! is at
hand aii<l c(»iiteiils noled. I'^-diii (lie r-eporls i( ap])ears that water
sujjply known as *'.\o. 4 I'ond" shows evideifce of sewage pollution and
we would strongly urg(! ufxm you to warn hons(;liolders to boil this
and other Kiisi»icioMS water Kui)j)Iies before using for drinking ynir-
poHes,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 83
If you will kindly advise us of llie iiainc and to\vnsliij» location
of daii-yjiKMi fi-oui ^\•llose premises milk is marketed in yoni* borough
Ave will be jilad to have ihein inspected at once. A representative
of the J)ei)artment has been detailed to make a sanitary survey of
your watershed.
A'ery truly yours,"
Tnsi)ection of the dairies su|)plying milk to the city resulted in the
linding of active typhoid fever on one farm, that of A. K. and, in con-
valescent typhoid fever on a neighboring farm, a full-tledged dairy,
that of G. I\. The regulations of the Department were enforced in
each instance.
I ,A X« 'A STK I J < •() t ' XT Y.
Dr. J. L. Mowery, C. M. I. "On receipt of information that no re-
port had been made of a case of typhoid fever existing on the farm of
eT. S., in l']ast Earl township, near Goodville, a personal inspection
was made and Dr. W. was fonnd in attendance upon the patient, when
1 called. The doctor admitted that the patient had had typhoid
fever since the 2lind of August and was unable to give any reason
why he had not rei)orted it to the Department. He told me he would
report the case at once, and after I had defined the regulations of the
Department to the family and arranged for the exclusion of one of
the family to take care of the milk, I stated to the physician that I
would report his derelict procedure to the Department to be consid-
ered by them. I might say that in searching for the source of infec-
tion, suspicion was plainly directed toward the small spi'ing from
which the house supply of water is drawn, coming underground by a
pipe. Above this sjtring is a small watershed through which ])ours
an open drain and near which are a number of surface closets. T'ndei'
my direction the Health onicer will undertake to have ihoso nuisances
abated at once."'
I'ENN TOWNSHIP.
"On receipt of inrormation on the L'l'ud of Seiiteinber iliat milk
was retailed to individuals from the ])remises of J. G., in Penn town-
ship, where tyjthoid existed, I made a personal inspection, and aftei*
being unable to make satisfactory arrangements to completely isolate
some mendier of the family to continue handling the milk, T fixed
ui)on the only remaining plan. vi/. : discontinned the sale of milk. I
would say in connection with this case ihal the patient has been ill
for a i)eriod of six weeks and was for the gi-eater ]»art of this lime
under the care of Dr. S. B., of Manheim, ami that it was reported a
few days ago at a lime when it seemed as if the patiejit's life was in
great jeopardy.""
84 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
LEBANON COUNTY.
Dr. A. J, Eiegel, C. M. I. Myerstown. On receipt of a
letter June 24, from Mr. E. K., whose son was sick
with typhoid fever, telling ns that a number of cases had appeared
in this town and in the adjoining country, a special investigation
was ordered, and report from Dr. Kiegel detailed a most disgraceful
amount of pollution in the abandoned canal running parallel with
Tulpehocken Creek, in the section of the town adjoining the properties
of Mr. J. B. and A. Z., on both of which places slaughter houses were
conducted with tlie filth from each handled in complete disregard of
the health of the community, and giving rise to odors so abominable
as to cause many complaints in the community and to furnish good
cause to have our engineering division abate the nuisance at once.
About eight cases of the disease were specially investigated by Dr.
Eiegel without being able to find any one assignable cause as to the
source of the infection.
POTTER COUNTY.
Lumber Camp, Dr. E. H. Ashcraft, C. M. I. '*In accordance with
your instructions of August 22, I made an inspection of the lumber
camps on the Nine Mile on the 26th, where I found the following con-
ditions :
"Two camps situated about 30 rods apart, one oAvned by Mr. F.,
of Roulette, this county, and one owned by Mr. C. C. R., of Couders-
port, the former having a capacity of about 20 men, and the latter 30.
Both are using water from the same spring properly piped to each
building and appai-ently of excellent quality, and the spring not sit-
uated where likely to be contaminated.
''The first two cases of typhoid fever occurred in Mr. F.'s camp.
They were his own .sons wlio woi-e in (he ]ial)it of spending their Sun-
days ill Jlicii- home in Roulette where, you will note, several cases
of lyi»lioi(l fever have been reporled.
"Suhsequenlly eight cases were contracled in the camp of C. C. R.
None of the men in F.'s camp have contracted fever except those vis-
iting Roulette. I found F.'s camp excerpt ioually clean and sanitary;
all that could be expected under tlu; circumstances, but the cam[) of
C. C. R was the most insanitary of any camp I ever visited. There
arf! about tlii-ee small spi-ings cf)ming out near and under the camp
with no ditch to convey tlic water away, and the liogs have a real
heaven in I he iiiiic
"Bnt'tlie worst feature of (lie cani|» is (hat a privy was placed over
the spring run about L'() feet from the back door, and this privy was
used by the first case in I liis c;inip. The water below the privy spreads
out over the low groniid which is also used as a dinnj>ing ground for
kitchen refuse ;ind among this nibbish (heie wei-e numerous hog
wallows.
$PBI«C
R. R.
i.vfsv^lxr *«-^^ii>t45 . -vU'oj-Cjo. //pxt-VuCt, Ki
Outbreak of Typhoid Fe\fr.
No. 17. COMiMISSlONER OP HEALTH. 85
"The surroundings luruisli sueli a clear deiuonstraliou of the causa-
tive factors that I enclose you a rough sketch of the same, which will
speak louder than words. It iurnished such a good example of the
means of contagion. 1 wish it could be spread broadcast throughout
the State as an object lesson.
''These ]U-ivics are infested with Hies that go back and forth from the
privy tlirough the always open window to the dining room, alight
upon the dishes, which are left, together with portions of food stuflF,
from one meal lo another, and thrre jterched upon these things they
make their loilet. scraping oH" their gciiii laden legs on the food and
dishes.
"The hogs wallow in the ooze Howing from the typhoid stools below
the closet and then bask in the sunshine until their coats dry and
they begin to itch, when they grunt and rub themselves on con-
venient stumps until the ground is literally reeking with germ laden
dust. The men with their corked shoes track it in on the floor, and
after the dishes have been washed and returned to the table the cook
sweeps, a cloud of germ laden dust settles on the dishes and food,
the men eat it with their food and wonder where they contracted
ty})hoid fever.
"It is the old story. A previous case, flies, insanitary surround-
ings.
1st. I recommended that one of these closets be burned, and that
the others be moved to a place which I designated, and log heaps be
built over the vaults and a fire continued there for two days.
2nd. That a fence be built around a dry knoll a distance from the
camp and the hogs removed to it and there confined.
.*?rd. All stagnant pools and wet ground be ditched, the weeds cut
allowing the sunlight and air access to this wet ground.
4th. That the floors be flooded wiih a 1 to 1,000 Bichloride solu-
tion which I left.
5th. That slaked lime should be libcially scattered over such
ground as I designated.
0th. That all emi>ty cans and other garbage should be collected in
a suitable receptacle and carried some distance from the camp and
there burned periodically."
LEBANON COUNTY.
Dr. A. J. Kiegel, C. M. T. Auuville. "On rt>ceipt of information,
August loth, that a typhoid eiiideniic was impending in the town of
Annville, special investigation wiih inspection of i)roperties at the
residence of eight of those who were ill showed no definite source of
infection. In the cour.se of the ins]»ection attention was directed to
the Keading Dairy Company's milk siation, which furnishes milk and
cream to many ol the residents of Annville, and on a detailed inspec-
86 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
tion this buildiug was found to be iu a most iusanitary condition. A
full report of these tindiugs was submitted by the Health Officer and
this nuisance abated by order of the Engineering Division."
LUZERNE COUNT i'.
NVilkes-Barre. l)r. Chas. H. Miner, C. M. I. In searching for a
source of infection in cases of typhoid fever in the city of Wilkes-Barre
late iu August, information led to the inspection of certain dairy
farujs where typhoid fever was believed to exist. The dairy of R.
showed a considerable number of cases along the route of his delivery.
Ius[>ecri()U showed the farm to be iu a very insanitary condition, but
iuiprovemejits were uuder way that would greatly remedy the condi-
tions found. The water at this dairy was piped from the spring on a
neighboring farm and on this neighbor's farm a case of typhoid fever
was under treatment.
On the recommendation of Dr. Miner, County Medical Inspector,
the Sanitary Committee stopped the delivery of milk from this dairy
until such time as the ijossibility of infection had been definitely de-
termined and sanitary conditions had been improved.
]n all, a series of 24 cases develojjcd iu the families of those who had
used this milk. Bacteriological examiuatiou of the Avater supply on
the farm showed no sewage contamination. The bacterial content
of the milk was high, however, and for a considerable time the milk
of this dairy was refused by the Sanitary Committee of Wilkes-Barre.
Conditions improved by the end of October and the services of the
Department were no longer solicited.
SOMERSET COUNTY.
Boswell. Dr. Chas. P. Large, C. M. I. On receipt of information
that tyj)lioid fever was unusually prevalent in I>oswell, Dr. Charles
P. J.arge, Medical Inspector of the county was dii-ected to confer with
the officials 0})erating the com])any suj)i)lying Jioswell with water and
Id if|)()it ii|»()n conditions found. His investigaticms developed the
fact lha( picjvious to Decemlxa- 15, 1907, the town of lioswell received
its water supply from artesian wells; that about this date the pumps
used in drawing this water from the wells were so damaged that the
officials dec'iiied it necessai-y to lake (heir sup|)ly from Quemahoning
Ci'(;ek at a poiul in tlu; stream bebtw wliich a jjart of Die sewage sup-
]»ly ertij)ties and iieai- a jtoinl wiiei-e slaughter house olfal is re-
ceived. This creek two miles furdier up received sewage from a
mining town known as Jenner No. 2.
Shortly after this change of water supply was authorized typhoid
fever developed and witliin sixty days from 150 to 100 perscms were
ill with this disease. It happened that })revious to this change of
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 87
water sui)ply the town had suffered from an epidemic of measles
and la grippe and many of those sulTering with eulerie fever were
convalescent from these diseases.
In Dr. Laroe's study of the situation samples of water were taken
from the Creek at the intake above and below the point polluted with
slaugliter house offal and at the pumping station, and from three
wells in tlie couiuuinity, establishing the fact that colon bacilli were
present in three samples taken from tlie creek.
After a conference with the authorities the artesian well supply
was at once restored; notices were posted in public places advising
that all water for drinking purposes be boiled and a campaign of
education was instituted with such vigor that within a ftw weeks the
disease was practically stauiped out.
Eighteen deaths were re[)orted in this ei»idemic and they may be
justly charged to tliis unwise use of a visibly polluted water supply.
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
» Oakland. — Dr. H. B. Lathrop, C. M. I. On receipt of a petition
signed by SO citizens of the borough of Oakland and complaining of
the insanitary conditions of the town and disregard of quarantine
measures, special investigation was begun by Dr. H. B. Lathrop,
who rei)orts as follows, November 8th:
*'Tn accordance with your instructions I visited Oakland, Novem-
ber 4th to investigate the conditions complained of in the petition
which you forwarded to me and which 1 return lierewith.
"1 interviewed several of the petitioners and other citizens as to
the cause of their complaint, called upon the Secretary of the Oak-
land Board of Health and found that a meeting of the board had been
called for that evening. I was retiuesled to meet with them and did
so. At this meetii>g we discussed the nmnagement of communicable
diseases, the regulations they have adopted aud the individual cases
c<»mplained of.
"Since October 1 there have been ten cases id communicable
diseases reported to the Board: four of tyidioid fever — no deaths —
two of scarlet fever with one death and four of diphlhei-ia with
two deaths. At the present time there are in the borough three cases
ol' typhoid fever, one of scarlet level- and ojie of diphtlu'ria, all sai<l
to be convalescent. No new cases during the past ten days.
"From what 1 learned concerning these cases I concluded that
quarantine had not originally been \'erv sli-ictly maintained.
"One of the cases particularly complained of was that of a child
who was ill with scarlet fever in a boardinu imnse where a number
of workmen boarded. Tliese mcMi were allowed to come and jro as
88 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
they wished. The physician in attendance and the Health Officer ex-
plain this by saying that the child was kept upstairs in a back room
and that the men did not go near the patient or her nurse.
"I do not think that the rnles of the Department as given in
Circular 2s'o. 4 were strictly adhered to, and I suggested to them that
in all such cases the rules as laid down should be observed to the
letter or else the case placed in absolute quarantine. This child
died, the house has been disinfected and no other cases have arisen
from it.
''The Board of Health have adetpuite regulations and I think they
are at present taking good care of their cases of communicable
disease.
"Oakland is a borough of about 1,000 population on the opposite
side of the Susquehanna River from Susquehanna borough. Most
of the town is on a steep hillside. The town lias an excellent water
supply but is badl,y sewered. Only two streets have sewers and these
do not extend very far. Consequently filth accumulates in some
places until the rains wash it away. The cesspools and private
drains should be looked after more thoroughly."
TIOGA COUNTY.
Mansfield. Dr. S. P. Hakes, C. M. I. "Testerday (September 7)
and to-day, I have been in Mansfield with the Borough Board of
Health and the superintendent of the water works and on the water
shed going over the matter of preventing the contamination of the
water supply from the typhoid on said wa lei shed.
"The superintendent of the water works sent workmen to the
watershed and I have been there directing the placing of the typhoid
fever premises in sanitary condition or so near that as possible.
The outhouse that was located on the ravine close to the bank of
Lambs Creek that was so objectionable because a patient had used
it until taking to his bed, we removed to a safe place; and the con-
tents were removed with a goodly amount of the suri'ounding earth,
j)la(ed in a deej» ]>it, and tlioroiiglily covered with unslaked lime.
^\(^ tlii'ii III led I lie ('X< aval ion willi fi-esh earlli well rounded up."
WASui.xfrrox county.
Morganza J Ionic Dr. C. Ji. Wood, Cj. M. F. "By order of the Chief
Medical Inspector I visited the Morganza Jieformed school on the
isili (];iy of Aiigiisl and investigated an (q)idemic of typhoid fever
repoih'd in the inst i I ill ion, lleallli Ollicer Dr. Itiinion going wilh me.
Dr. .lolmson, llie alleiMJing j)hyHician, had i'(;ported 20 cases of well
(le\clo|>e(l enlei-ic teN'er-, eiglil or leii boys were under observalion. We
found llie dairy bai-n, catlleand milk house all in excellent (tondilion
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 89
and at tlie proseni tiiiu; it looks as lli<Min;h llio wahM- sui»[)1y is respon-
sible for (he outbreak. The source of water for all (ioiiiestic purposes,
excepting for drinking, is Chart iers Creek, at present a very small
stream and not much l»etter than a sewer. This creek water is
pumped into reservoirs on the hill above the ilome and is distributed
throughout the buildings. The water used for drinking purposes is
taken from two strong si)rings with perfectly clean surroundings
and without visible evidence of pollution.
The superintendent of the Home has done all in his power to pre-
vent the boys drinking water from taps but many do it in spite of his
orders. Samples of the water from the ci-eek, reservoir, the springs,
and samples of milk were sent to the State Laboratory for bacterio-
logic study, and the water in the reservoir was, with the consent and
advice of Mr. Snow, the Chief Engineer, treated by adding chlorine —
eight parts to a million. Infection probably took place through the
water used for domestic purposes drawn from Chartiers Creek.
With the observance of these precautions the epidemic subsided."
The laboratory studies confirmed the suspicion that the water
supply was contaminated and also showed that the milk contained
colon bacilli — this most probably reaching the milk through water
used in washing and rinsing containers.
ACUTE ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS.
ADAMS COUNTY.
Gettysburg. Dr. J. R. Dickson, C. M. I. In July and August cases
of cerebrospinal fever and acute anterior poliomyelitis were reported in
the boroughs of Gettysburg, McSherrystown, McKnightstown, New
Oxford, Cashtown and Fairfield. About the same time scattering
cases of these diseases were reported in rural districts. With both
diseases present in each communit}' some confusion in diagnosis oc-
curred.
On receipt of the following letter from Dr. G. H. S., of New Oxford,
"You have, no doubt, heard that our vicinity is visited by an epidemic
of cerebros])inal fever. The disease seems to be increasing, (Jettys-
burg has a large number of cases. I have two in this town. The peo-
ple are very much alarmed, and I do not wonder that they are. I
have not been able to make a s]>inal puncture in my cases to demon-
strate the germ, cm account of the family objecting, but I consider
my eases acute anterior poliomyelitis and should like very much to
have these cases investigated so we could know better about the isola-
tion, etc. I should be glad for any information you may be able to
give me."
90 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Ofe. Doc.
Dr. Dickson visited New Oxloid and investigated these cases with
Dr. S. and agreed with him that the patients were suffering from
acute anterior })olioin,velitis. They were not able to secure per-
mission from the family to do lumbar puncture and thus to exclude
positively by bacteriologic study the diagnosis of cerebrospinal
fever.
Considerable anxiety was felt in several of the boroughs of the
county. Special action was taken requiring the report of both an-
terior poliomyelitis and cerebrospinal fever by the borough Board
of Health in Gettysburg.
REPORTS OF SCHOOL INSPECTIONS.
908.
(91)
(92)
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT
Nov. 17.
SCHOOL LVSPECTIOXS. SPRING, 1908.
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Allegheny
Armstrong,
Heaver,
Hedford,
Berks, -.
Blair,
Bradford —
Bucks,
Butler
Cambria,
Cameron,
Carbon,
Centre,
Chester,
Clarion, -
Clearfield,
Clinton .--
Columbia,
Crawford,
Cumberland,
Dauphin
Delaware
Elk,
Erie, -
Fayette, ..-
Forest,
Franklin,
Fulton
Greene
Huntingdon, ...
Indiana
.letTersoii
Juniata -..
Lackawanna, ..
J.ani'astor,
Lawrence -.
Lebanon ..-
Lehigh
Luzcnip
Lycoming,
McKcan,
Mercer,
Mifflin
Monroe,
Montgomery, ...
Montour
Northampton, ..
Northumberland,
Perry
Pike
Potter
Schuylkill ,
Snyder
Somerset
Sullivan
Susquehanna, ..
Tioga
Union.
Venango,
Warren
Washington, .-.
Wayne,
Westmoreland, .
Wyoming --
I'ork, -
180
250
71
186
274
134
232
216
172
225
20
80
1»2
236
72
222
67
148
290
182
1,S9
99
71
216
21
158
87
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71
156
1.14
249
76
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258
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48
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104
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168
21
280
163
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118
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. 26
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196
140
84
216
101
198
94
119
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202
120
120
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143
62
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96
56
165
183
46
13
142
68
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.717
.263
.746
.484
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94
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
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COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
95
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THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
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SCHOOL INSPECTIONS, FALL, lOOS.
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Allegheny,
Armstrong, —
Beaver,
Bedford,
Berks, — --
Blair,
Bradford -
Bucks,
Butler --.
Cambria,
Cameron,
Carbon, --
Centre,
Cliester
Clarion
Clearfield,
Clinton, ._
Columbia,
Crawford,
Cumberland, — -
Daupliin,
Delaware,
Elk,
Erie,
Fayette,
Forest,
Franklin,
Fulton,
Greene
Huntingdon, -..
Indiana,
.JcfTerson,
Juniata, --
Lackawanna, ..
I.ancaster
Lawrence -
Lebanon,
Lehigh,
Luzerne
J>ycoming,
McKean,
Meroer,
Mifflin
Monroe,
Montgomery, ..
Montour
Northampton, .
Northumberland
I'erry,
Pike
I'otter
.Schuylkill
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Sullivan,
.Su.ffiuehanna, ..
Somerset
Tioga
Union,
Venango,
Warren
WaHhIiigton, ..
Wayne,
Went iiKirei and,
Wyoming
Vork
Total, ...
159
254
219
83
198
385
137
269
221
209
189
39
81
181
253
151
252
77
154
297
148
162
53
94
209
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73
211
78
161
157
234
162
91
94
384
140
224
172
161
208
135
218
99
67
166
46
189
91
129
44
132
260
61
75
148
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229
75
187
174
259
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367
147
240
243
83
195
3.58
134
262
201
204
185
38
77
182
233
141
2.'?6
72
152
287
135
1.52
49
89
181
2.57
56
205
78
161
157
219
157
91
91
379
136
197
147
1.57
103
130
218
97
67
122
40
159
81
125
43
128
250
61
75
143
334
229
70
187
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COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
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COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
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COMiMlSSlOXER OF HEALTH.
101
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REPORT OF DAIRY INSPECTIONS
1908.
(103)
(104)
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. No. 17.
DAIRY INSPECTIONS, 1908.
Total number of dairies inspected 17,618
Number in a sanitary condition 2,441!
Number in an insanitary condition 15,176
INSANITARY CONDITION OF COWS.
Teats unclean , 451
Udders unclean , 487
Flanks unclean 1 , 077
Tails unclean , 1,127
WATER SUPPLY FOR CATTLE.
Water polluted , 499
Cattle can wade in water 737
STABLE.
Floor wet or unclean, 2,388
Ceilings unclean , t; . 277
. Ceilings not tight t; , 072
Manure not removed daily 2 , 427
Cows can lie in their droppings, ."t..S06
Stable not well ventilated 427
No sunlight 2 . H;r>
COW YARD.
Stable manure scattered so that the cattle can lie in it 6,723
Pools of manure water in the yard , ] ,r>86
MILK HOUSE.
Not separate 7.")1
Doors and windows not screened against flies, i;..">44
No provisions for hot water '>(>',
Milk utensils not clean , 134
Water supply |)olluted ; itjU
MILK INC.
.Milkei-s do not wear clean coverings when milking, • 10,314
Do not wash their hands before milking '. 2,789
Teats and udders not washwl , , 7 . 7tJ8
Milking stools not clean 1 ,.S89
Fore-milk not discarded , !t.!>72
Milk used on the hands and teats when milking 3,t>09
HANDLINC OF THE MILK.
Milk not imiiiedintely cooled, 833
DISEASES.
Typhoid Fever has existed within the last year »;i
Dysentery has existed within the last year M
Diarrheal conditions have existed within Ihe last year 5
(105)
106
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
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108
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
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No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
109
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(110)
Division of Laboratories and Experimental Station.
ALLEN J. SMITH. M. D.. Director of Pathology.
HERBERT FOX. M. D.. Chief of Laboratoriea.
(Ill)
(112)
OFFFTIAL DOCr.MKNT. No. 17.
OPKKATIONkS
OF TUB
LAH()KAT()i:iKS AM) KXI'IOIM M ICNTAl. STATION
FOK THE YEAR 1908.
Tlic cikI of l!M»s <u?iii>I<*l('s (lie second full year of the woik ()i' the
Iial)oi-at(»iies. Duriuj: IIMIT iinicli was learned as to liow the oppor-
tunities would he used. The phvsicians of the State (luickly appre-
ciated the advantaj^e of the Lahoratoi-ies and since the methods became
known, they have been, with very few excejitions. willing, even
anxious to com])ly with our regulations to obtain pailiological data.
The care with which mateiial has been handled and shipped to us has
been considerably greater in the past year than before and we have
had to add but few names to our black list of men who sent specimens
of infective material in a dangerous manner. We regret to report,
however, that so far as data, direct re(|uests and clinical helps from
the doctors, are concerned, there has been lit lie imi)rovement. The
service is (Udayed by this rea.son and time consuming correspondence
rcipiired. We Trust that this condition will improve as the ajipli-
cants becouu' more familiar with our woi-k. Those doctors who
i-eceived letters reipiestiug further information have been vei-y punc-
tual in re|)ly and satisfactory in answeis.
The i-outine procedure of handling s|)ecimens has been the same
as heret(»foi-e. This was described fiilly in our 11I07 rejtort and there
has been iu» occasion oi- necessity for any material change. We have
been more rigid in our re(]uirements. during this year because some
little confiision occun-ed over one or two examinations. No specimen
is examined now without a T-e(piest card properly tilled out by the
]>hysiciau in charge, 'i'he water rejiorls are checked oil' by both
Dr. Kivas and the Chief of the i.al>orat(Mies. thus making the facts
doubly sure. "Near the end of the year the Commissioner directed
that the Labm-atory reports should be used as a help to control the
morbidity reports (m Tuberculosis, Ty])hoid and Diphtheria, and any
communicable disease whose infective agent should be discovered
(113)
8-17—1908
114 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
in fece.s examiuatious. Since that time, in aecoidame with Ibis
Older, the Laboiatoi-y has; made daily repurls to the I)ivi.sion of
Medical Inspection of the positive findings of that day's work.
Diii-ing the year the Laboratory has received the following pub-
lications:
Bulletins of the United States Marine Hospital Service.
Bulletins of the United States Bureau of Animal Industry.
Thirty-fourth Annual Keport of the Bureau of Animal Industry,
1907.
American Medical Directory.
Smull's Legislative Handbook.
Map of Pennsylvania.
The great increase of the work has required an augmentation
of the statf in the position of diener of supplies. This man has charge
of all outfits for the sending of specimens. The University has allowed
us to use a large room in the basement which has been fitted up as a
supply department. These outfits will be described under their repsec-
tive headings. The cages for small animals have been extended so
that we now can accommodate several hundred. Two new micro-
scopes have been purchased for the Laboratory. One is a Zeiss, fitted
with apochromatic lenses and comi)ensation oculars, and is intended
for the finest work. It has already served for some observations upon
the structure of the tubercule bacillus after the treatment in pre-
paring our Product No. 5 according to the formula of the Com-
missioner. The other microscope is the latest improved Bausch and
Lomb, with a lever micrometer screw and achromatic objectives.
It is used for regular work on Sjuitum, Widals and the like. A large
Arnold Steam Sterilizer was also purchased to meet the demands
in the sterili/^ation of sjtutum cans, jind tubercle bacillus and water
media.
EXAMINATIONS.
The nutiiher of cxamiiuitions made during the year (906.5) is tabu-
lated in lh(! accompany iiig chart. This is more than twice as many
as were itia(l(; during 1907. Th(» greatest increa.ses were made in
spill 11 III and water. The spiihiiii hd^es the first ydace numerically
t47^>.")i because of llie dispensai-y service in (he various counties. The
number of water analyses may be seen to lise gradually until August,
then tali oil until December when it took a great leap, due to the
large niimlxM- sent from Heading <liiring the typhoid lever epidemic
in that city. Widals have increased l»iit little (11) during the year;
Augnst has the liighest numbei- until we come to December when the
Heading ejiideriiic again shows its ellcct. All the otiiei-s inci-eased over
1907 ('xcc]ii the malaria blood examinations, which dropped olf '2'.i.
'Die niiiiibcr ol' examinations for the successive* months show .au
irregular but \eiy definite rising course.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF IIKALTH.
lOX A. Ml. NATIONS Dl Kl.NG IT IK YKAll 1!K)8.
115
1908.
January, .
February,
March,
April,
May
June
July
Aupust, ..
•Seiiteinbcr,
Oetober,
No\eniber,
December,
A
B
C
D
E
P
G
H
J
1
20
240
1
4
16
40
4
7
16
248
401
4
5
1
4
8
16
5
1
32
74
3
4
1
3
26
445
2
10
13
2
96
2
13
23
4.S8
336
18
25
6
5
12
15
6
3
31
192
7
3
1
3
45
421
25
4
9
6
3!)6
2
8
50
397
14
2
5
5
538
6
7
44
395
16
10
7
22
492
4
8
:J8
463
15
1
12
1
307
2
2
46
425
6
6
9
6
278
ii
39
52
380
526
4,735
17
7
G
9
889
3
149
60
128
66
3,365
40
K Total.
341
322
535
606
539
607
916
1,0:J0
1,000
853
792
1.522
103 9,065
A— Malaria.
B— Widal.
C— Sputum.
D— I'rine.
J'".— Pathological fluiii.
F— Patholofricrtl growth.
G- Milk and butter.
H— Water.
J— Feces.
K— Miscellaneous .
MALAUIA.
Durino- the year no jxjsitive malarial blood has been foiintl. No
noteworthy number have come from any one locality. The blood
smears are usually extremely well made. It is to be regretted that
the physicians give quinine tirst and then send the blood smears.
It would do the patient no harm if the specimens were taken before
the drug was exhibited. We might then find an explanation to the
source of some unexplained diills or continued fevers.
WIDAI, TEST.
The samples of hbtod for the Widal test have come from scattered
districts excej)t during the early year when they came principally
from the Allegheny \'alley and in December when Reading supplied
the majoi'ity. They have only increased 11 over 1007 and the per-
centage of ])ositive has risen three per cent., being -U4 per cent, in
1907 and 23.7 per cent, in the past year. This can of course bear
no relation to the establisli<Ml c;iscs of Tvj)hoid Fever. Fourteen
(^^7 per cent.) snmplcs lunc Itccn unlit for examination, a thing
wliicli nsiKilly (icciiis liccniisc ilic p;i|i('r is placed in the envelope
before the blood is dry. .Vniong the females the jiercentage of
positive is 'JS.1. high(>r than that of the males which is 20.6.
The dry blodd nietli«»(l. while convenient to collect and mail is not
as accurate as ihe fluid serum technic. The Commissioner has aji-
proved a new ty]>e of outfit which is in the form of a si)indle shaped
glass bulb in wliicli the Mood is collected and allowed to coagulate.
The serum when drawn out in the Laboratory is clear, and permits
of accurate dilution. This will not be j[)ut iij ivse until 1909.
116 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
SPUTUM.
The te.sts ou the sputum have been contiued entirely to the Tubercle
Bacillus. Uur methods of handling, staining and viewing the speci-
mens have remained the same, whether the tubercle bacillus alone was
considered or we were looking for some mixed infection at the
physician's request. The number of specimens is nearly five and a
half times as many as in 11)07. It does not seem worth while to
set down the percentages of positives and negatives of the two sexes,
because many of our examinations are repeated upon specimens from
the same ijatients, as many as live times in some instances; moreover,
the information is sometimes not celar or intentionally misleading.
It was related to one of the stall' of the Laboratory that a i)hysiciau
had sent two specimens from the same patient under ditferent names
to see if any attention would be paid to the tirst examination. No
attention is paid to the patient's name, it might be added here, this
being merely a mark of identification for the physician. For the
same reasons, figures upon occupation would not be accurate. While
a percentage of positive cases cannot be statistically valuable, it
might be well to mention that we expect an average of one in every
three sputums to contain tubercle bacilli. This is, curiously enough,
quite i-egular and while one day or week may run quite low, it will
be balanced by a high j^ercentage during the next similar period.
One thing can be said from our figures about the packing and con-
diti<m of the specimens. Jn lUOT, G per cent, of 869 specimens were
unfit for examination, while in 1908 only 3 per cent, of 4,735 were
unfit.
When specimens are sent by the physicians they should be uuirked
1st, L'lid. or more as the case may be. This is done regularly by the
disi»ensary jdiysicians, but should be done by all. If no tubercle
bacilli have been found in (he first two specimens, it is the practice
of ilie laboiatory to digest the tenaci(nis mucus and centrifuge the
fluid, the sediment being stained as the oi-igiual sputum. This
re<piires three days, a fact which shoubl be borne in mind after
sending the third specimen.
By reason of the euorinous iinrease in this woi-k, 2,000 more double
tin mailing cases were purchased for this service, in some were
placed the screw to|»pe(l salv(! box, as heretofoi'c, and in others, a
new heavy shell \i;il (ontainiug about two cubic centimeters of
1-2000 bicliloiide of niercniy solnlion and fitted with a pitch cork.
These are intended lor s|iiiliini only and ai-e so marked.
At the beginning of the year a cage was ere(;ted over the desk at
which the spreading iind drying of the sputuin is done. This cage
consists of a glass jdale sn|t|t(irted on (he sides and fi-onl by a wooden
fianie (iiteil with wire scr»M'n and slanted, so (ha( i( is two inches
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 117
higher at the back (luiii ;il ilic Iroiii. At the Ituvk is a solid woudeii
partition from wiiidi a nciii Jcads to a O-iucli galvanized iron pipe
containing a lai-ge Buiisen llaiiie to create a draught . All the dried
particles go u]) this Hue and ai-e destroyed by Ihe high tcniixn-alure of
the air or walls. The t<)]» of the shelter is hinged so that it can be
lifted up out of the way. M is down while the oi)erator is liaudling
the specimens and wiiilc they ai-e drying after lieing spread. \\'hen
dry, they are rendered iuiiocuous by lixatiou iu the llame and the
shelter is not used furthei-. The device serves to protect all mendteis
of the laboratoi-y slaH" but esjiecially tlie worker who examiiu^s Hie
sputum.
URINE.
These examinations have been greatly increased this year by
reason of special examinations for the local dispensai-y. The Labora-
tory stands ready to examine any case for tubercle bacilli. The
requests for diazo have been few (l-S). It is curious that more
physicians do not avail themselves of the facility to gain one more
fact to aid in the diagnosis of Thyphoid Fever.
TATHOIXXilCAL FLUIDS.
These maintain the usual character. The reque.'^ts and descrip-
tions have l)een fuller and clearer than in former years. They in-
creased but few over the pi-evious year.
r.\THOun<;iCAL okoavths.
These specimens have been handled as described in oui- last report.
They increase<l nearly (ifty j)er cent. 'IMie descriptions ai-e too
meagre and many cards contain such woi-ds as "Don't know," giving
no source, or hint of clinical conditions. The examination is in
charge of Prof. Allen .1. Sniitli. Tlic.x coniitrise the usual kinds of
material subuiillcd lo a pailiological lal>oratoi'y loi- diagiKtsis. jn-in
cipally taken by operation.
AiH.K.
These specimens have increased only '2. They ai-e si-ni well for the
most part. The .senders arc usually uit-n who have direct interest in
the character of the milk. The larger part have been to exclude the
milk as the source of Typhoid infection. No butter has Iieen examined.
The method of examining the milk is llie same as for water and llu'
(h'tails given are the same unless special i-e(piests. such as leucocylti
118
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
count and streptoeoct-i. are made. The folloAving is the tabulated list
as to county, of towns fioui which milk has been sent. The tigures
indicate the number of samples from the respective places:
BLAIR,
Altoona,
CHESTER,
E. Vincent Twp. ,
Mendeuhall
CLEARFIELD,
DuBois,
FAYETTE,
Uniontown, ....
FRANKLIN,
Mont Alto,
INDIANA.
Indiana, ,
LAWRENCE ,
Wampum
LT'ZERNE,
Nantieoke,
Wilkes-Barre, . .
LYCOMING,
Jersey Shore, ...
MIFFLIN,
Lewistown ,
MONTGOMERY,
Royersfoi'd
Reedsville
I^ansdale,
Trappe ,
SCHUYLKILL,
Pottsville,
SUSQUEHANNA,
Susquehanna , 3
WASHINGTON,
Morpjanza , 1
Monongahela , 1
YORK ,
Dallastown , 3
WARREN,
Warren 1
11
4
1
1
2
WATER.
The analyses of water come next to the sputum in number. They
have increased about thirty per cent. The method of receiving,
handling, labelling and examining the samples has remained essen-
tially the same. Bacteriologist Kivas has made a few improvements
in his method, which will be described further on.
The same type of l)otlle is still used ; a ground stoppered flint
glass bottle of 4 ounces ca})acity. To insure a light litting of these
stoppers and necks, they are ail immbered in the pairs as originally
received fr<jm the manufactureis before they are put into service
at all. Until the Autumn these bottles had been titled with string
by which they could l)e drawn from the water after filling. After
consultati(m with the Chief lOngiiieer this was abandoned and a muslin
cover substituted. This caj) is so cut that it can be tied over the
stopper and neck far enough to protec.'t the junction ol the stoppei*
and neck from contamiiiiitioii with dust or dirr fi'om melted ice. A
new tag form was also adopted containing spaces foi* the name of
sender, source and time of (((Heclioii. 'IMiis last is extremely valuable,
esiiecially in the warrnei- |)arl of the year, ImiI is rarely given excei)t
by the department's Insp(M'lors.
During the year 1908 several improvements have been made in the
bacteriological analysis of the walei- by Dr. IJivas, the most important
of which is the dillcrenl iai ion of Macillns coli commnnis from allied
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 119
species in water, in which by certain reactions and ditferential tests
it has been possible to make a more exact diagncjsis and to lesson
by one-half the time required lor the search of this micro-organism.
The work is fully described in the 1!M)7 Kcport and has been repeatedly
verilied. Dr. Jiivas has also succeede<l in elal><)ratinj;- a simpler method
for the presumptive test for Bacillus coli communis in water, at
present in j)rint, a resume of which follows:
One cubic centimeter of the suspected water is j»lated on litmus
lactose agar and inoculated at HI degrees for 18-24 hours at the end
of which time a number of the suspected pink colonies, resembling
Bacillus coli communis, are inoculated on 1 i)er cent, dextrose fermen-
tation tubes and kcj»t at ;>T degrees C lor 24-48 hours.
Based on the principle that Bacillus coli communis, due to an
excess of lactic acid jiroduction in dexti-ose bouillon, does not show
a complete exhaustion of the sugar in the medium, while allied species
called "Saccharolytes," also fermenting dextrose, exhaust the sugar,
tests for remaining sugar may be made after 48 hours and those
showing its al)seuce can be ])ositively excluded as Bacillus coli.
The number of liacillus coli communis by this method can be
detemined with fair accuracy as follows:
(Jiven the case that 1 cubic centimeter of water i)lated on litmus
lactose ajar, twelve suspicious pink colonies are found and four
inoculated on 1 per cent, dextrose fermentation tubes, from which
two are found to ferment without exhausting the dextrose, it is
assumed that such a water contains about six Bacillus coli communis
per cubi(r centimeter, which can be proven by aj)i)lying the other
tests characteristic of this micro-organism.
By means (»r this method most of the dilliculties of the old pre-
sumptive test methods have been eliminated and it has been possible
for the laboratory to make a i)reliminary report of the suspected
water 72 hours after it has been received for examination.
The importance of such a method is obvious. It gives not only a
general idea as to the quality of the water, but it abso predicts with
a certain accuracy as to the degree of pollution if such should be
found to exist, and what is more, the short time r(H]uired for such
preliminary research has proven to be an important factor in quickly
locating polluted sources, thus greatly shortening the time in con-
trolling epidemics due to contamination of the water supply. By
the use of this test, the laboratory was able to assist the Division of
Sanitary Engineering in the Reading Epidemic by showing in three
days just when* the ])()11ution was.
120
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
The following is a list of places as to county from which water has
been received. The tigiii-es opposite the names indicate the number
of samples from the respective places.
ADAMS.
Cashtown , 6
Gettysburg, 3
ALLEGHENY.
Coraonciis , G
Glenshaw 2
Homestead , U
Oakmout , (J
Pittsburg 34
ARMSTRONG.
Ford City, S
Freeport 4
Gastown 1
Kelly Station , 2
Kittanuing, 117
BEAVER.
Rochester 1
BEDFORD.
Bedford , 4
Everett, 4
Saxton, 3
BERKS.
Reading, TSO
Heidelberg 'J'vvi). , 2
Shoemakers vi lie, 2
Stony Run , 1
BLAHl.
Altoona 24
Duncanviile 1
'I'yrone 11
Williamsburg 1
1'. RADFORD.
Athens, 4
Siiesheguin , 1
Tovvanda 1
Wyalusiri'-' '!
hu(;ks.
Cliallonl (;
J vyhind, -1
Newhope, 3
Selinsgrove, l>
Soiiliiainplon Ij
'rnimbiiiii-rsNilli' 1
I'.l Tl-Klt.
Jiruiii , (J
CAMBRIA.
CreKHon , 1
Daisylown (!
lOmigh ,
1
JIiiHtiiigs, 24<i
CAMBRIA— Contiued.
Johnstown 15n
South Fork , 7
I'atton, 2
CAMERON.
Emporium , IG
CARBON.
Lehightou , 7
Palmertou , 48
CENTRE.
Fleming, 1
Milesburg , 1
CHESTER.
Avondale 3
Coatesville, 4
East Vincent Twp 4
Kennett Square , 1
Landenburg, 5
Malvern , 1
Mendenhall , G
Spring City 70
Phoenixville 2
West Grove, 1
Devon, 4
CLARION.
( 'larion 5
New Bethlehem 13
Rimersburg 2
('MO,\R FIELD.
JiU Jose, 8
Madera , 2
Mahaffey 21
(>.s(:eola Mills 2
Woodland, 2
Clearfield G
("nl.IAIBJA.
I'.'Twi.k 1
J '.louiiisblll'g, 13
< 'alawissa , IG
Millville 10
Niiniidia 9
ClhVII'.ERL.ANi).
< iini|, Hill, 1
Carlisle 2
ShippeuHburg 1
West Faii'vie\>' 1
WortnlcyHburg G
('itAWFORD.
Cambridge Springs, 2G
No.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
121
DAUl'HIX.
Eliziil.othvilli- <)
Hanishms I-
Hf'i-shcy .".•'•
HiKlispii""', ^
Himiinelstown 23
Steelton , 3
Temple n
raxtaiiK 2^
Wiconisc'o, 1
DELAWARE.
Chester, 0
Fairview-Kidle.v -
Lans<lo\\ ne,^ '.)
Linwood 2
Media t;
Rutledjre I
Swarthmoie (5
Trainor, o
Kidley Park, 1
I'pper Providence, 1
Waj'ne , 31
ELK.
St. Mary's 1
Ridgway 12
EIME.
Corry 3*1
Erie, 14
Nortiieast G
FAYETTE.
lU'ownsville, 3
Cniontowu, I
FOREST.
Marieiisviiie 3
FRANK LL\.
Chamher.shurj: 17
Fannet tshnrti 1
(ireeiicastle 2
Mont Alto .",7
Waynesl)()ro 13
FULTON.
Mc( 'oiinejisliiiru 1
Needlliore 1
HINTINODON.
HuiitiiiKddii 17
.Mt. Union H
Shade (Jap 12
Shirleyshuri; 1
Rohertsdale 1
Union FiirM.ice 1
INDIANA.
V,huk \Ark 1
Rlairsville 1
Homer City 1
Indiana , 3
Kent 1
Saltsbnr^' 2
.lEFFERSON.
I'liii.Ksvitawney , 1
JUxNIATA.
East Waterford 1
.Mifflin 3
Mifflintowii 2
LACKAWANNA.
Carhondale, 3
Clark.s Siiininitl 2
Dalton 1
Scranton 1
LANCASTER.
Bowmansville, 3
Columbia 2
Lancaster 13
Lititz, 31
Marietta 1
Maytown 1
New Holland 4
Peters Creek , "J
LAWRENCE.
New Castle , 8
Wilmington .Tiuutiun, 1
Wanipiini 1
LEBANON.
Annvilh', 10
Lebanon 1
Mt. Gretna , 27.1
Myerstown , 2
LEIIUHL
Catasa(|ua 'i
MacniiKie 4
Slatinu:tnn 2
LUZERNE.
Beach Haven 1
IIa7,leton 1'5
Jeddo n
Latlinier 7
Nanticokr 5
Nescopeck , 4
Wilkes- Barre
LYCOMLNC;.
Jersey Shori', !•
Picture Rucks I
.McKEAN.
Kane Ci
Bradford 2.">
.MIFFLIN.
Lrwisiowii 2
.McVcvlowii 2
Ucedsvill.< 2
.MONROE.
Gilberts, 1
122
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
MONTGOMERY.
Ambler 1
Bridgeport '•>
Consholiockfu •"•
Hatfield, 6
Hoopeston , 1
Lansdale, o
Lower Providence, 1
New Hanover, 5
Schwenksville, 1
Norristown 6
MONTGOMERY.
North Wales 5
Red Mil! 1
Royersford , 40
Pottstown n
Trappe, lo
Evansburg , 1
MONTOUR.
Danville , 7
\Vashin,!,'tonville, 2
NORTPL^MPTON.
Bath 1
Bethlehem Borough , 6
Easton 29
Northampton (!
Fountain Hill , '»
NORTH UMBERLAND.
Sunbury , 1
I'OTTER.
Austin 30
Galeton , 37
SCHUYLKH.L.
Ashland, 3
Auburn <>
Ciirardville 1
Schuylkill Hiiveu 3
Tiima(iua , 7
I'ottsville, 1!>
SNYDER.
Freeburg , 2
SOMERSET.
Boswell , 6
('onfluence 12
Jerome , 2
Myersrlale , 3
Sand Patch , 1
Windber II
SUSQUEHANNA.
Lynn G
Spriugville 1
Susiiuehanna , 7
Dimock , 6
TIOGA.
Austinburg 6
Lawrencevillc, '. 32
Mansfield , 5
Nelson , 6
Tioga, 6
Osceola , 1
^Vellsboro, 6
Westfield, ., -. 1
VENANGO.
Emlenton 38
Franklin 12
Oil City 70
WARREN.
Sheffield, 7
Warren , 13
WASHINGTON.
Amity , 2
Canonsburg, 8
Charleroi 8
Meadow lands , 1
Mongahela , 7
Morganza, 11
Prosperity, 3
WAYNE.
Honesdale , 26
WESTMORELAND.
Bolivar 1
Jeanette 4
Latrobe , 78
Mt. Pleasant (>
Livermore 2
Scottdale , 5
Vandegrift 2
W. Newton 3
Greensboro , 2
WYOMING.
Noxen , 6
YORK.
Dallaslown , 16
Glen Rock 2
Hanover 4
FECES.
Tlie.se have increased ten in number, 24 liaving some bearing npon
Tuberculosis. Of this 24, six or 25 per cent, were found jmsitive for
the tubercle bacillus. This of course does not indicate such a fre-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 12^
quencv ol' tubeituhtus enteritis, because many phthisical indivitlnals
are constantly excreting the organisms with the dejecta. The remain
ing sixteen have been sent for parasites, occult blood and Typhoid
Fever. Only one in four of the last were found positive. The exami-
nation of feces for occult blood is difficult and misleading, because
of the manifold sources of error. It has not been done by chemical
tests; when such a request was made the report was made upon the
microscopic findings.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The specimens classed under this heading consist of diphtheria
culture and swabs almost entirely, with a few such specimens as
gall stones, skin scrapings and wine from a communion cup, upon
which our opinion was requested. Most of these unusual things
have been satisfactorily examined. We were not able to discover
any tubercle bacilli in the wine from a communion cup or from
swabs made around the rim, although a phthisical person is said to
have -drunk from it but a few minutes before the specimens were
taken. The examinations for diphtheria bacillus are made as formerly
upon cultures or swabs sent or brought to us and report has been
made frequently by telegraph at the request and expense of the
physician.
RESEAKCH WORK OF THE LABORATORY.
During the year the Laboratory has had the following subjects
under investigation. tr>e[)arate copies and reprints of published arti-
cles accompany this report.
1. First report on tlie products of tlie Tubercle bacillus and notes on efforts at
producing immunity.
Separate report.
Work still in progress, discussion in text.
Directed by Dr. Dixon.
2. First report on the Effect of Repeated Injections of Old Tuberculin into
Healthy Cows.
Reprint separate.
Work still in progress, discussion in text.
Directed by Dr. Dixon.
3. Note on Similarity of Barium Carbonate Poisoning and Rabies in Dogs.
In progress.
Directed by Dr. Dixon.
4. Note on the use of the Products of tin- Tubercle bacillus on Cows.
In progress.
Directed by Dr. Dixon.
5. Notes on the autopsy of Mock Sem, Leprosy and Tuberculosis, Dr. Allen J.
Smith.
124
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
I'KODUCTS OF THE TUBERCLE BACILLUS.
The tiist part of this experimental work is presented Avith this
report. It was handed to the Commissioner during the Summer of
1908. The work has continued, our efl'orts being to find some method
of administering tlie dose, wliieli would give the highest resisting
power to the experimental animals.
The text nui.v he conveniently divided inio subheadings as follows:
I. Dead Doy:iva.s(,'(l Tubercle Baeilli.
a. Injections before infecting witb Tubercle bacilli.
b. Tubercle bacilli first followed by injections of the dt^sreased organisms.
c. Effect of Sensitization by 2 doses at proper intervals upon subsequent
injections of tubercle bacilli.
II. Tubercle Bacilli Toxin.
a. Injections before infecting witb tubercle bacilli.
b. Tubercle bacilli first followed by injections of toxin.
c. Effect of sensitization by 2 doses at proper intervals upon subsequent
injections of tubercle bacilli.
III. Combined Effects and Special Experiments.
a. Effect of alternate injections before Tubercle bacilli.
J b. Effect of alternate injections after Tubercle bacilli.
0. Special work on Cows.
lY. Therapeutic use, syringes supplied to Department.
I. Dead Degreased Tubercle Bacilli.
a. Injections before infecting with Tubercle Bacilli. The later
experimentation on this point has but confirmed our earlier work.
There is no protective power develoi)ed in guinea pigs and rabbits
by the repeated injections of a (piantity, wliich will cause no con-
sistent loss of weight. The following cliai-t will show this better
than notes.
■S
<u
bti
s
a
^-^
a
•a
O
o
Post Mortem.
a
n
be
M
o
o
a
a
»
55
<y
Eh
^
^
G. P. 2(J4
23
jm mg.
.a mg.
29 d.
-1:V» gr.
ICxteii-sivc difl'use caseous
tiiboi'culosis.
220
22
.001 mg.
.5 ing.
:m d.
-2X0 gr.
.Same as 204.
232
22
.001 mg.
.r> mg.
30 d.
—30
Kxten.sivo caseous tuber-
culosis of liver, spleen
and site of injection.
449 0.
0
0
..5 mg.
.10 fl.
— 4.0 gr.
General diffuse caseous
4.50 C.
0
0
.'> nig.
:«■) fl.
—18 gr.
tuberculosis.
Rabbit.
9
I.'.
.or, mpr.
2. mg.
ffl d.
—■Mr> gr.
(JciK^ral caseous inflltra-
27 C.
0
0
2. tug.
38 d.
tioii of solid orgiiiiH,
iiodiilar tiibcrculoHls oi
giamls iind omcntinii;
(■ o 11 t r o 1 luul caseous
piicuirioriia.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. t2.T
Altli(»iij;li ilicsc jH<is li;i<l i-('c('i\('(l wccklv iiijcft ioiis ol' a dose wliu-li
did not cause loss of Aveighl during the treatment, lasting over 5
nioiillis. there was no development of iinniunitv. The rahhit lived
longer than its control hut the lesions were <iuite a.s advanced if not
more so, hecanse the jmeiiiiionic process shortened the life of the
latter. These are the ])igs reported in the se]»arat<? report as having
heen treale<l a long time IieCore injecting the organisms. They re-
tained their weight lor scmiic time altci- infection and then rapidly
went to pieces.
1). Tnhercle hacilli liist, followed Ity injections of the degreased or-
ganisms. The well known susceptibility of the guinea X)ig to the
tnhercle bacillus and the irregularity v/ith which rabbits behave when
infected has made it difiicnlt to establish a proper dose to administer
before proceeding with the therapeutic use of the product. It is con-
sidered wise to use a dose which will kill the controls in two or three
months but occasionally this dose will be overcome or the infection
may be so slow that the effect of the therapeutic injections becomes
problematic. However, the results reported in the first article have
been followed by others. A very large set of animals was injected
with a minute quantity (about 1-30 mg. ) and then weekly inoculations
of No. 5 made in doses of .001 mg. One died after three injections
and showed only a few miliary tubercles in the liver. Another died
without lesion apparent microscopically, while a third showed a few
miliary tubercles. Three are still living (about 8 months) and main-
tain their weights. In our report attention is drawn to the fact that
while the life of the animal is not materially lengthened there is
some change in the character of the lesions. This is well illustrated
in one small experiment where the tubercle bacilli were introduced
under the skin in fine emulsion. Two of the animals receiving doses
of No. 5 therapeutically, developed caseous pneumonia while the
control had miliary tuboi-culosis. This experimentatiim must even-
tually lead to something since all our experience is toward the modifi-
cation of the process in intensity and rapidity of development. Many
other sets are now under way. The regulation of bacterial dosage
is most j)u/>zling since the optimum dose cannot be expressed in
definite terms.
c. Effects of Sensitization by 2 doses at proper intervals upon sub-
sequent injection of tubercle bacilli. Although we have shown in our
previous work that an injection of tnbecle bacilli will not sensitive
for a subsequent injection of No. 5 and that the reverse is likewise
true, it was hoped that something might be learned if No. 5 were to be
used on the same ])ig tAvice and tubercle bacilli given after the period
of sensitization had jiassed. The result suggests that while anajihy-
laxis is not acutely shown, thei'c must be some senitization because
9
126
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
the animals died with verv active productive lesions, a little sooner
than the controls. It seems that this is comparable to the results of
attempts at active immunizatiim described in the first paragraph,
only perhaps more pronounced because of the larger does used.
II. Tubercle Bacillus Toxin No. 10.
a. Injections before infecting with tubecle bacilli. Attempts at
establishing tolerance for the tubercle bacilli by injections of this
material have met with the same results as heretofore and pre-
cisely to those with No. 5. They have been run along together,
one set of pigs received 10 doses and another 18, but I hey died
after the same average length of time as the controls. liabbits are
being continued and we are not ready to report on theui.
h. Tubercle Bacilli injected first followed by the Tubercle toxin.
This has had the same results as before, but we have not been able
to lengthen the life of the animal to any material extent. The lesions
seen in the animals ditter from those of the set treated with dead
degreased tubercle bacilli in that they are more limited in extent but
show greater tendency to softening of the caseous material.
The following shows one set of animals which is being carried along
with the hope that the living control will have more extensive lesions
than the treated one. It shows well the irregularity of infection and
how one can easily use less than the (>i)timuui dose. Tliis work is
being followed assiduouslv and should' liave good results.
Be.
d
&i
d
a
a
43
a
t-.
t»
>.
o
a
'a
;^
-M
a
a
•
M
*-'
>5
O-
y,
6
5
&:
o
.■jiac.
1-40 mg.
0
0
living
313 c.
1-40 mg.
0
0
21 d.
—SO gr.
Pfiw iniliiiry tiiborclos in
liver iinil spl(H'ii.
314
1-40 mg.
16
1. mg.
living
-f 195 gr.
816
1-40 mg.
6
.1 mg.
60 d.
—105 gr.
Pew iiillliiry tubercles In
spleen and liver, case-
ous tubercles on omen-
tum.
316
1-40 mg.
1
.1 mg.
12 d.
-25 gr.
c. Effect of Sensitization by two doses at proper intervals upon
subsequent injections of tubercle bacilli. This experimentation has
had the same resulls as described under Dead Degrease<l tubercle
bacilli. The large doses necessary lo produce the I'cw syin])(oms of
hypersuHceptibility must have power of reducing the resistance to
the tubercle bacillus. There have been no sudden deaths or hemor-
No. 17. COiMMISSIONEK OF HEAI/rH. 127
rlui^cs in iIh'sc IcsIs. Injecliii^' the tubercle l);i(ilhis iiiio ilir animal
lii'st was (|(»iie oiicc \\itli no ap|)i'ecial)lc (liHVicnce in ilir |i.itliologic
exiK'i'iniC'Uls.
III. ( 'onihincd I'^llcrls and S|i(Mial l]\|iri-inM'ii is.
a. Effect (if allci-naU' injcclinns hcCorc Inlx'i-cic hacilli. I'"i'(iiii tliis
line of work inncli was liojied hecjuise llie lw(» prodncts i-epi-esent
file p?-iiMi|tal coiisiilneiils t)\' (lie orjianisnis, in wlial we lliiid< should
1k' Ihe easiest form I'or the (issues lo conilnne \\i(li. < )ui' expecta-
tions were no( liiltilled howC'Ver, hecause ij,uinea pij^s will not stand
the alternate use of (hese i)ro(lucts. \\'lien combined in one inpec-
tion tbe loss of weight is dangerously lapid even when using smaller
'loses than has beon our i-nle. Tlicse experiments liave therefore
nevei* reached the stage at which we could dotermine the etfects of
combined or alternate dosage.
h. Effect of alternate injecti(ms after the Tubercle bacilli. Of
this work we can only rejiort progress. The accident in our animal
room prevented us from having animals far enough advanced to note
their ccmdition.
f. Sj)ecial cow A\-ork. The accompanying chart illustrates the num-
ner in which ilic work was carried out. A herd of cattle, consisting
of three infected animals (No. 4 adult dry Holstein, No. 5 adult dry
lied I'ol, N(». (I — 14 month Jersey bull) 2 suspicions (No. 3 adult dry
Holstein, No. 7 — 1 year llolstein heifer) and 2 healthy cows (No. 11
adult dry .Jersey, No. 8 — 1 year llolstein heifer), was divided as per
chart for straight dosage with 5 or 10 or for combined treatment, at
first under the skin and latterly into the jugular vein. They are ar-
)'anged as far as jiossible, to represent all phases of the work in im-
munizaticm that we have tried on smaller animals. In order that the
test might be severe and final we decided to put the tubercle bacilli
into the vein. As a pre]»aralion foi- this, the last two injections were
also made- into the vein.
The courses of treatment consist of i-egular doses of No. 5 (2 cows)
regular doses of No. 10 (1 cow) and alternating do.ses of Nos. 5 and
10 (3 cows) until the two intravenous injections when they are given
together. A week after the last dose, the bovine tubercle bacilli
were given. This was on the last day of 1908 and the experiment
will not be comi»leted for 3 or 4 months. Tt Avill be reported later
separately. The imniuni/.ijig injections lasted from June to December
1008.
THIRD AXXUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
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No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 129
IV. 'riicnipculic use and S_\ riiiucs Sii|i|)li(Ml Id ilic 1 )(']i;iri iiiPiit.
>\'e Lave com iniM'd in piii iiji I liese exijoriiiiciiial products in .small
syringes, eacli conlainin^ one dose dilnted in one cubic cenlinieter of
physiologic salt solution. 1'lie doses in use are as follows: Dead
Decreased Tnli<'i-cle I'.arilli Xo. ."», .()()()()(H ^i-am. Tidterclc Had I! us
Toxin, .0.001 gram. This hiiici- tigure means that a (piantily of the
germ free liltrale e<|nal to iliai weight of li\ing lulKade hacilli is
present in (»ne cuhic cenlinieter of the dihiiion in sail solution. All
syi-inges are controlled foi- purity by animal inoculations. The
syringes are sent to the Depai-tmenI al liarrisbnrg for distribution
to Disj»ensaries oi- i)hysicians comjxMeni to handle ilu^ toxin. A
few private individuals have been supidied. The syringes tilhMl,
c(»ntrolled and sujijilied by the J>abora1oi-y are as follows:
Dt'pni-tiiicnl of Ilc;iitli 1 1.-irrisltiii-g.
No. 5—747, No. 10—901
Stale Saiiatoriiiin al .Mont Alto.
No. 5.-54.". No. 10.— 480
11(111. Ciiaiifs IIo(l,i;('tls, Tdidiito. Canada.
No. 5—4 No. 10 — i
Dr. Morris ("awlcy. Alh-iilown , Poiinu.
No. 5—5 No. 10—5
Dr. W. C. Pos.'.v, Wills Ey.' Hospital. Tliila.
No. 5—10 No. 10—10
2. Effect of Kepeatcd Injections of Tid)ercnlin into Healthy Cows.
Oni- lirsl work, presented as a rei>rini in this report, has led ns to
continue Ihe e.\])eriiiients and lind out the fate of those minute ai-eas
of necrosis in the lymphatic organs. Tlieii- chai-acter and location.
described in the liist article, led us to speculate as to their probable
i-elatioii to blotxl deslructi(»n and the vari<»ns degenerations con
se(pienl upon clioi-oiiic i lit oxica I ioii.^s such as the repeated use of
tuberculin would |)roduce. To coiitinne this, three new cows were
obtained in the late Autumn and are now being injected every two
weeks and will be so treated until S nioiiths lia\'e jiassed. 'i'liey
will then be killed and a thorough study ol' their organs made.
l^. Note on the Similarily of I'.aiiiiiii ("arlxniale roisoiiing and
Kabies in Dogs.
Since the I'liiled Slates Dejiail iiielil of .\gricult are recommended
the use of Uariuiii Carbonate as a poison for small rodents, many
cases of so called iiabics lia\c occurred around stables whei'e it was
!»- -17— IDOS
130 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
used. This line of experiments was started with the idea of calling
attention to the course of sjiuptoms produced by this chemical and
to emphasize the differences from Eabies, We have been able to
establish the picture of an acutel}' fatal dose of this drug and outline
somewhat vaguely however, the effects of very minute repeated doses.
If the toxic dose be given in a capsule the dog will either vomit the
body undissolved or in pieces. At any rate the symptoms appear to
a slight extent and then rapidly subside. If however, natural con-
ditions be approached by giving the drug in milk or meat the course
is quite regular. It has been found that a quantity of .2 or .3 gram
will kill a dog of 12-15 pounds in eight to fourteen hours. A half
starved dog will not always eat the full amount of food given and it
seems that he knows the presence of the chemical. Stomach tube
administration was not tried because we did not wish to induce
vomiting. About three hours after the dose mentioned above, the
dog will seem restless and whining and will probably vomit small
quantities of fluid green material in which barium can be found.
A little later he will be noticed to drink a small quantity very
f re^iuently. A green froth may be present around his lips and teeth.
When he drinks there are no convulsive movements of head, jaws or
neck. He will next start to tremble and lie on his side by preference.
A looseness of the bowels occurs lirst about 4 hours after giving the
poison. The passages have no special sign of recogniticm at this time,
but later will be fluid green. Vomiting continues Avith considerable
regularity every quarter hour and the vomitus has the same character.
Thirst increases and the animal may consume a gallon in the last
three or four hours that he is able to stand. Much is of course
vomited. Urination is not frequent. In the urine barium has not been
found, but in the stools, early in the course of the symptoms the tests
arc ])osilive. About 5 hours after receiving .2 to .3 gram a paley of
llie i)Osterior extremities appears Avliich rapidly progresses to paraly-
sis. If this latter appear, the dog never recovers. The paralysis
advances to tlic^ aulcrioi- extremities and neck in another hour and
in S hours all tlic body is inolionlcss except the eyes. In barium
cai-bouate poisoning there is a notable slowing of the heart similar
to the digitalis ellccl. II starts to deci-ease in rre(|nency about the
."III hour inid Iroiii then iiiilil jiisl hefore dealli, will run down to (50
or (»1. A lew niin\it<'s liel'ore dealli, the |)ulse Ix'couies i-ajtid, thr(»a<ly
and cann(»t Im; counted. The abdomen starts to swell about .'{ hours
beloi-e death. This is |Hol)ai»ly due; to intestinal paralysis because
the siriall gut is enormously distended and the jteristaltic movements
were absent in on<' dog killed a few niin\ites befoi-e death would
niilurally have ensued. The aniiiial linally dies rrom respiratory
I'jii I lire.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 131
During the course the animal will rarely eat. When non lethal
(lose.s have been given, he may take a little loud after the critical
height of his symptoms has passed. At no time is there any sugges-
tion of convulsive movements of [iharynx, larynx or of the general
musculature. The animal is entirely tractlihle and seems to desire
to be helped in drinking and eating.
We have not been able to lind a case of dumb or jiaralytic rabies,
indeed any well estal)lished case, with which to compare these symp-
toms. The above outline seems to be clearly enough defined and
should not be mistaken for hydi-oj)hobla. The desire for water, the
shjw ])ulse, the vomiting and purging all pcjint against this latter.
^\'hen small repeated doses are given (.01 gram was used in this
work) the elfect is transient. There may be a little vomiting with
very j)ronoumed distaste for food on that day, and on the morning
after the dose, two or three rather loose stools may be found in the
cage. The dog then proceeds to take food and water with relish.
One dog was given 8 doses in three weeks, losing only 4 ounces in
weight. This quantity would seem to approximate what a dog might
pick ui> around a stable on stray objects which had been soiled with
the drug or carried by vermin.
The following is an autopsy report on one of our dogs. The picture
is vei-y clear as against that of Kabies. There are no negri bodies or
anything which might be mistaken for them. The pronounced con-
gestion is conmion to irritative poisons. This work is being continued
and we l)oj»e to be able to publish a tabulated list of symptoms of the
two conditions wliiih may help in diagnosis and prevent the killing
of dogs which are not mad.
Dog Xo. 5, Autopsy performed 9 hours after death.
Well j)reserved, well nourished dog, evidences of vomiting, frothy
mouth, mucous membrane of the mouth slightly congested.
Lungs congested and edematous with a narrow rim of emphysema
just beneath the pleura. No consolidation.
Ljpnph (ihnuU, snuill, soft, homogeneou.s, congested and anthracotic.
Heart distended, stopped in diastole. Chambers distended, with
dark semi-clotted blood; in the conns arteriosus chicken fat clot.
Muscle pale, homogeneous except near auriculoventricular septum,
where it and the areolar tissue are congested. Valves are negative
and seem competent.
Liver, normal in size. f(»rm and consistency. Edges sharp, section
uniformly congested, slightly opaipic and shows dense cai)illary con-
gestion.
^SpUrn. normal in si/.e and coloi-. Slightly softer than normal.
Uniform on cap.<;ule. Section shows slightly hyjierplastic follicles
with congested jmlp esiiecially around the follicles. Trabeculae not
visible.
132 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
Kidneys. norDial in size, shape and color. Capsule smooth, strips
with a little diltieiilty but does not tear the surface. The normal
purple zone between tlie cortex and medulla has a pale area in the
middle, thus giviny the impression of two ptirple lines, one at the
junction and one in the medulla. The striae are normal, glomeruli not
visible; on the surface beneath the capsule are several small, pearly,
white, sharply marginated, slightly depressed areas about 1 m. m.
across which have some>\hat the appearance of a hyaline tubercle.
Stninach, congested on serosa, slightly foul, gray granular tiuid,
mucosa is dull, pale i»urple color; the rugae are not enlarged, but
slightly more tortuous than normal.
Pylorus is normal; the gall duct is patulous, the gall bladder is
filled with dark viscid brown liuid. Mucosa of the duodenum is
swollen, especially at the tops of the folds, and the evidences of violent
contraction may be seen in the alternate pale and congested areas
from the mucosa all the Avay through to the serosa. The jejenum is
violently congested, mucosa soft and almost entirely disintegrated
in places while in others it maintains its position. In the ileum the
mucosa becomes paler and there are many stib-mucous hemorrhages
varying from 1 to 5 m. m. in diameter; still further on the mucosa
becomes almost normal in color and consistency, and the gut contains
only a little tenacious yellow mucus. No food is present in any
place. Ileocecal valve is normal in color and the cecum contains a
little inspissated feces, the longitidunal folds are swollen and more
tortuous than normal, and their to]>s are markedly congested, almost
hemorrhagic.
Brain; dura fairly adherent along the longlliduual lissure, oilier-
wise negative. Brain itself slightly congested on the surface. Section
negative. Section of cerebellum into the brain of rabbit No. .35.
Sec1i(m of cerebral cortex into rabbit No. 3-}. Section of amnions horn
into rabbit No. M. None of (liese rabbits developed aiiytliiug ab-
normal.
MICKOSCOriCAL NOTES.
(1) Cei-cbellum: as in llie lirsl animal similarly poisone<l and ex
amined Iiislologicall.N' there ar(; to be noted moie oi- less evidences
of oedema and cytolylic cliiingcs involving the cells of Pnrkinje.
No ap|)carances at ail suggest iiig Negri bodies.
(ti) In the section of rornn amm(»ni ther<' are minor evidences of
oedem;i lioni the ijiiIkt hirge spaces about the large unillipobu-
cells and hlood vessels ; hut the ganglionic cells are |)ract ically normal.
In tin; cerebral coi-tex less marked oedema and a moderate* injection
of the pial vessels exist; and IIk; ganglionic cells' here; show slight
rcitrograde changes, niinh less marked however, than in case; of the
cerebellum.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 133
{[\) Cardiac muscle; presuiiiably lioiii the .sliaj)e of tlie spction taken
from tlie right ventricular wall, shows some slight loss in the deliuite-
ness of the transverse striations and at places a little undue granu-
larity of the muscle substance (i)rol)al)ly a slight cloudy swelling).
It is not marked, and there are no other features of importance noted.
(4) Wall of stomach, section taken from the cardiac end shows
nothing of importance. There is a slight loss of the surface epithe-
lium, which may well l)e from artefact. The glands are large, the
acid cells particularly prominent and well defined; the j)eptic cells
less well preserved and smaller. JS'o especial injection of the mucosa,
athough here and there are individual vessels injected with blood.
No oedema of this membrane. The wall has in the sections separated
below the muscularis mucosa; in this coat a number of the veins
are turgid with 1)]()()(1. The muscles and outer coat seem practically
normal.
(5) Several sections from the small intestine all show more or less
catarrhal inflammatory change, injection of vessels, some destruction
of surfa( e e] ithelium and of the villi themselves; a variable but
notable number of goblet cells in the crypts, some oedema of the
villi and interglaii<lular tissue of the uiucosa. Similar congestive
and oedematous changes in the submucosa and muscular coats.
(6) Liver; shows as its most marked feature a fairly distributed
hyperemia, portal, central and capillary. There is no appreciable
abnormality in the capsule or in the perilobular structures. The cells
stain well, but are perhaps a little too granular and perhaps slightly
swollen, — in neither case A^ery distinct,
(7) Pancreas. This section is ]»oorly shown, probably mainly
from some fault in preparation (looks as if overheated). There was
evidently a ratlici- luaikcd liyiicrcmia and the tissue seems quite
loose (either <»edema or artefact I. The cells stain densely and with-
out definition, seem to have largely fused together within the acini.
(S) Kidney, shows widespread injection, involving the arterial as
well as the venous side of the circulation of the organ. There is well
nmrked clomly swelling and at i)laces necrosis and desquamation of
the tubular cells (tf ilie cortex, ami mainly in the tubules but also in
slight jneasiu'c in the I'.owman's capsules, there is more or le.ss graular
coagulate of an albnminons exudate. The interstitial tissues are
mainly nninvohcl, bul at i>laces show a little oedematous looseness.
(!)) Spleen, c.iiisule normal. Malpighian bodies large and abnut
the perij)heries loose and showing a slight j»erir(»lliculai' space because
of oedema. Pulp genei-ally markedly congested, not lienn)rrhagic and
not ])igmented. No s]»ecial hypei-plastic changes in pnlp. follicles, or
tralxM'ulae. Capsule normal. Microscopical diagnosis; Oedema of
brain, catarrhal enteritis; acute pai-euchynmtous nephritis.
134 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
V. Autopsy Xotes on Mock Sem. I.eprosj and Tuberculosis.
Specimens from the post mortem examination of the Chinese
patient of the Department of Health were sent to the Laboratory and
examined by Dr. Allen J. Smith who reports the following:
The lungs Avere found extensivel}'^ involved, showing both marked
diffuse caseation and chronic ulcerative lesions, with enlarged and
caseated bronchial lymph nodes. There was extensive ulcerative tu-
berculosis of the intestines, the ulcers large, numerous, with thick,
overhanging edges, smooth, indurated bases and numerous miliary tu-
bercles showing peritoneally in the wall of the intestine at the base of
each ulcer.
For histological purpose there were sent to the Laboratory portions
of the lungs, heart wall, liver, spleen and kidney, several cutaneous
nodules from the ear lobes and a small bit of thickened and indurated
skin from the face.
(1) A section of a nodule from the ear lobe shows the characteristic
features of an active leprous hyperplasia, and with special staining
exhibits a vast number of typical leprosy bacilli, in and between the
deeper epithelial cells of the epiderm, in large lepra cells and smaller
endothelioid cells and in the tissue spaces between the tissue elements
of the thickened corium. Some proliferation of the epiderm, with a
slight but clearly excessive penetration of the interpapillary portions
into the corium, has taken place, and at least one epithelial con-
centric nest was noted quite a distance below the surface. The main
elements forming the nodule are in the corium, where the old iibrou.^
matrix is thickly infiltrated by embryonic cells of fibroblastic and
endothelioid tyi)e, these constituting the bulk of the tissue in nu>st
microscopic fields. Scattered mast cells, lymphocytes and small
plasma cells, and occasional large endoliiclioid cells (lepra cells) and
occasional polynuclear leucocytes (some eosinophilic) are encount-
ered.
in llic skill of I he face the process is evidently older; the corium is
IhickeiH'd lai-gcly by a librosis, with iimch smaller iniinber of the
inliltraliug cells mentioned in coniiectitm with the preceding se<;tion.
The epiderm shows a more definite penetrating growth, at placets
f'xliiltiting slcndor rool-likc; extensions into the corium which often
unite into ;i rather tine reticulum just under the major part of the
cnti( le, reminding one of Unna's reticulate type of epithelioma, and
occMsioiKilly showing well developed (^i)itli('lial j>earls. With these
dill'eieuces, however, the geneial <-haracteristics are the same.
(2) Sections of hits of inilnionary tissut; all show tuberculous
changes, ranging Ironi ty|)i(al niihiry tubercles to ratli<'r lai'ge eon-
glonieiates with extensive caseation. I^'or tin; rest catarrhal changes,
liy|ter;ienii;i and oe(l<-ni;i wilh (MCiisional I'oci of suppuration in ail(|
aliont liionchioles makeup the general picture!,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 135
{'*} Willi of li(*;n-t. Ki»i(ai<liniii iiiis.sino- i'l-om ^<eclions exaiiiiued.
N<j alleratiou ol eudocardiuiii. Myocardium s(jme\vhat congested and
fibres rather loosely separated from each other, probably by an
oedema. The tilires theiiisHws arc typically rather slender, but show
no loss of slriation and no pigmentation. The nuclei are as a rule
well stained and clear; are for the most part of relatively small size.
No fibrosis of the tissue, and no alteration of the wall of coronary
branches caught in the section.
(4) Liver. Capsule normal. No overgrowth of Glisson's capsule
and no important vascular changes. IJver cells generally rather
granular and somewhat swollen, a few showing fatty infiltration
appearances. The main feature of the sections examined is in the
]»resence of a number of miliary tubercles, mainly of gray type met
here and there both in the perilobular tissue and in the interior of
lobules.
(5) Kidneys, are not, from the sections examined, seriously changed.
There is a scattered cloud.v swelling of the cells of the cortical tubules ;
and in contrast there are many tubules which show no such alteration.
At places the tubules ai-e widely distended by a granular coagulated
material within them, and occasionally such material exists in Bow-
man's spaces. No special interstitial change but a few of the tufts are
more or less fibrosed. There is a moderate capillary injection; blood
vessel walls normal.
(6) Spleen. The main feature here is a rather marked ditfuse,
endothelial hyperplasia of the pulp. A few miliary tubercles have
been noted in the tissue in addition. The tissue is moderately
hyperemic, not pigmented; the malpighian bodies are of normal
size and structure; no imj>ortant change in the wall of blood vessels;
no maiked overgrowth of the trabeculae of the organ.
PRODUCTS OF TIIIO TrFiKKCIJO HACILLI.
The f.aboi-alorics of llic Dcparl iiiciil of Ih-nllli have been busy
siiirc Micii- n|(('niiig following a line of work begun nearly a scoi-e of
years ago by ihe ( 'omniissioiuM- of lieallli, with dead, avii-ulcTil oi-
allei-ed tubercle bacilli and an exti-action by salt solution of virulent
oiganisiiis aftei- the wax of the bacteria had been softened by ether.
The woi-k at that time was not done in a manner peiiuitting standardi-
zation of the ])rod\icts in terms of the organisms. Indeed no one
ha.'< elaborated an exact nieilidd ]>y wliicli prmlncts of the tubercle
bacillus may be standardized in any terms. (Hir work has not allowed
any more delinite statements in regard to toxicity of our products
136 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
thtiu could be said of Dr. Dixon's original solutions or of the more
widely used old Tuberculin of Kocii. This presentation will intro-
duce our present methods of production of the vaccines or toxins
which are based upon weights and percentages. A description of the
cultures which are used for making our toxins is as follows:
1 a. An old bovine stock used in this Laboratory for 2 years with
2 passages. The original stock Is practically as virulent as the newer
growths. One milligram will kill a guinea pig of J:00 to 500 grams
in six to eight weeks.
2 c. A human stock used the same length of time Avith one transfer
through animals, one milligram will kill a 400 to 500 gram guinea
pig in six to ten w^eeks.
Our solid cultures are ke])t on blood serum plus neutral dextrose
broth. The organisms are grown on neutral 5 per cent, glycerine
veal boullion. The growths from which these products are made are
of ten weeks duration on the fluid medium. Cultures are grown at
37 degrees C. When the growths are nifiture they are killed by
raising to the boiling point in the autoclave and then allowed to
remain in the Arnold Sterilizer Avith the door open two hours after
the water has reached tlie boiling point. The organisms are then
filtered off and kept under sterile precautions while the fluid filtrate
in used for old tuberculin. The handling of the cultures for the pro-
duct made of living organisms will be described later. The products
to be described consist of dead and partially degreased organisms
called No. 5, and a salt solution extract of living tubercle bacilli
called No. 10. The facts to be considered about these products are
in<-lnded in the following headings:
.\(>. .-., i)i;.M> AM) i'.Mrri.\i.i,Y ihicimoashd 'ri:r.i-;K('Lio hach.li.
NO. |o. SALT S(H,r'l'H».\ KXTItAC'l" OF I,l\ INC \ IKII.ENT TUBRCLE
r.ACJLLI.
I. M. 'III. 1.1 rf I-nidiiclinli.
'2. .Mi'tlioil of S(:iii(l;inlizsiti(»ii.
;;. Mi-iIkkI of Arriving nl. Dosage.
•J. 'I'oxicily.
.">. lOffcci upon 'rfni|>''r:il iiri' of llc;il(liy A tiiiiuils.
<;. j;frii I of 'I'ciniicialiiif of 'rultcn-nloiis Aiiiiiiiils.
7. lOffcci of Uc|ii'iili'(l liijiTlioiis iiilo IlcaKli.v Aiiinials.
■S. lOn'fi-i of |{f|M'al<'<l III jictioiis iiilo 'I'lilii'r.'iiliiiis Aiiiiniils.
'.». Effect of Seeoiid I »i.se arid- I liclll.a I loll rerioil.
10. EITeel of Injection of 'I'llliercic I'.acilli aller I iiiii lia I ion I'eriod.
11. lOffeel of Lai'Ke Dose Sll l.seqiicn I lo llijeclioli of 'I'lilirrcle I'.acilli.
A<"tion of thf two prodnets lo\vard one anotlier.
^'2. Effeel of Sensitization fof one another.
i:;. i;rieii .,f .Miemai.' in.i<'ctioii.
I I. ElTeci of Doiilile Injection into Tnl>en:ulous I'igs.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF IIP^ALTII. 137
SO. .",. DEAD A\I> I'AUTI.M.I.V Di:(;iJEASED Tl'HERCr.E P.ACir.LT.
1 aud -. Metliod ot i'l-oductidii ;iih1 Shiiidai-dization. Allcr the
bacillary mass is removed from llic liliiaie i! is dried of excess of
moisture, over ni^hl pei-liaps, in (he iiicabaloi-, and ihen it is dried
in a va<-num dessicator over snljdunic acid until ii becomes brown
and brittle. The iiiassec^ are then binken iiiio small fragments and
j)Iaced in a soxlilet. An equal (luauiii.v by \vei«;hl of liuman and
bovine bacillary mass is used. The tiisi extraction is done with
absolute alcohol and is continued iiiilil the l»ro\\ n coloi- of the distil-
late has disapjieared. The alcohol is then replace*! by ether and
the exti-aclion is continued until the cooled ethereal distillate is
practically clear. Absolute- cb'al•n(^ss is imju-acticable to obtain
because it seems impossible to exaci all fat and wax from the tubei--
t le bacillus. N'audreiiiei- and Martin say that six weeks extraction
with j>etroleum ether will not remove all the I'at. The extraction
necessary to bring about the above result will last six to eight days
of nine hours each, depending upon the size of the clumps. When
the ether extraction is complete, the mass dried twenty-four hours
at 45 degrees C. The resulting mass consists of dirty yellow gray
granules which break up easily into a slightly greasy powder. This
is not soluble in water, salt solution, alcohol or ether and when used
must be ground up in definite quantity and the })er volume weight
determined. The usual niethod is to grind up a large quantity, with-
out previous weighing, in a ball mill with a small quantity of salt
solution. A definite quantity of this suspension, say 20 cubic centi-
meters, is evaporated to dryness in a tared watch crystal aud the
same quantity of the salt solution used to make the suspension is
also evaporated. The difference in these weights will etpnU the weight
of the degreased organisms in amount of sus])ension used. In order
that the emulsion shall be homogeneous, the suspension after grinding
is centrifuged, the supernatant liipiid removed and resedimented
in the nuichine. After a third centrifugalization one obtains a homo-
geneous emulsion which will stand without sediment ing for a long
while. Any slight sediment \\hich occurs after three to four weeks
will shake up into perfect homogeneity. S.CtA milligrams to the cubic
centimeter is tlu' highest strength 1 have lieen able to obtain in per-
fect emulsion. The salt solution used is .(> per cent.
Microsco])ic examination of the mass after extraction shows chiefly
unbroken organisms which take the acid-fast staining methods verv
faintly but cleaily. The irregularity of staining characteristic of
the tulx'fcle bacillus is more ])ronounced. ('ai-eful obsei-vation with
high objectives and obli(|ue light shows no in-egnbii-ity in (he contour
of the single cell but the edges of the stained jxirtioiis seems more
irregular than the initreated bacillus.
Microscopic (^\amination (»f the grtniiid emulsion shows manv frag
meuts chiefly single organisms and only occasionally two. neser more.
138 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doo.
I'linging together. The staining is apparentl}' the same as before
grinding.
3 and 4. Method of Dosage and Toxicity. The difticulty of ex-
pressing the vahie of these prodncts in any unit of toxicity or other
property, has compelled ns to adopt a dose which when repeated
ever}' ^xm^k or ten days causes no loss of weight in a healthy or
tuberculous guinea pig of 400 to GOO gi-ams, the latter with a con-
trol pig of the same stock and injected with Tubercle Bacilli ill
the same, manner, but not with this product. It is not necessary
to give all the details of our primary experiments, but it will be
enough to state that weekly injections of .000001 gram of the organ-
isms will be withstood without loss of weight. Repeated doses of
.001 gram will give emaciation in healthy animals and rapid loss
will) death in infected pigs. No limit can be set upon the dose how-
evei-, as (me pig will endure larger doses or more frequent repetition
than another, ^several tests u])on iul)erculous pigs to obtain a defi-
nite relation betAveen the degree oi iniection and the dose of this
product have had no satisfactory result. Large doses such as .025
to .05 gram will cause loss of weight in healthy pigs and in tuber-
culosis pigs rapid emanciati(m and death, but not in a few hours
or with a hemorrliage into the peritoneum, such as Vaughan and
Wheeler hmnd with their cellular su))stance. Ilabbits withstand
larger doses in proporti(m to their weight than do guinea pigs, but
they are nevertheless subject to the same general rules.
5 and G. Effect ujjoii the Temperature of Healthy and Tuberculous
Animals. The elfect of .000001 gram up(m the temperature of healthy
rabbits and guinea pigs is nil. This dose will produce no reaction in
tul>erculous rabbit but a slight rise is appreciable in an infected
guinea pig's temperature after this dose. Doses of .0001 or .001'
gram will produce a rise in boih animals varying from .G degrees to
1. degree F. Doses of .005 and .01 gram will give a rise of 1 degree
to 2 degrees F. These large doses will hav(? no effect in raising the
temperature of either animals if liealliiy, but .005 to .01 gram will
sometimes depress the temjieiature of a healthy guinea pig .G degrees
to 1. degree F. if given info Die abdomen, but not when given under
the skin. Tnjeclions of .01 to .02 gram have no effect upon the
temperatnif of lieallhy i-ows ; such doses given to tuberculous cows
are follo\ve<l by a slight irregiilaiily with a IcMulency to rise but with
no sharj) reaction.
7. lOlfect of liepeated Injections of Hc-alfhy Animals. If the
standard dose of .OtHlOOl gram be gi\'en cither uncUa- (he skin <»i-
into the pei-itonemn of healthy pigs or lahbits, al intervals of om^
week, no loss of weigh! or olhei- sign a|)pears. If loss of weight
occur, it will be regained if the injections be discont iniUMJ foj* one or
two weeks.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
139
Atteiii])ts at iiclivc iiiiiiiniiizaiinii have Ikm-ii made- liut ax vet we
can say lit Me jiosiiivc in iliis icspect. One set of three pig.s lived
on the avera}j;e of two wecls loii^fi- than the eontnd. This was
howevei', while we were still using the large doses (.0001 gram) and
a table would sIkjw nothing more than this statement. Of our later
expeiiiuents we have three }>igs which received twenty-three injections
before the organisms. They still live. They have gained from o50
to GOO grams in nine monilis and have lost no weight since injections
of the oi'gauisnis.
S. EUect of Kepeated Doses into Tuberculous .\.uinials. The
vaccinations of infected animals with this material has had about
the .'<anie history as the attempts at active immunity but with a
little better suece«<s. Our tirst attempts were with virulent organ-
isms but it was found necessary to use less virulent ones. Since
introduction of our small stable dose, the results have been much
better. Herewith is a chart of one set of animals. It will be seen
that the animals had some resistance from the degree of infection and
length of life. Two unfortunately died of i>neumonia.
Post Mortem.
277
78
279
2.mg.
2.mg.
2.mg.
2.mg. Control.
a05 grm.
60 grm.
33 days. Caseous of liver, spleen, omentum and
I gland.
10 days. Nodule at site of inoculation catarrhal pneu-
monia.
21 days. I Nodules at site of inoculation, cheesy T.Bc.
in liver, omentum infiltrated.
9 days Miliary and dilTuse exudative.
^Ve have three animals which have received sixteen doses each.
They and the control still live, so that little can be said aside from
the fact that the Aveight change is grojiter in the control than in the
infected animals.
9, 10 aud 1 1. Effect of Sensitizing doses of No. 5 for itself, and for
TubercJe iiacilli and the effect of the latter as a Sensitizing body.
Injection of .005 to .01 gram of No. 5 will sensitize a guinea pig
so that a subsequent dose of the same or larger doses will cause a
condition of i-esllessness and irritability for a short time followed
rajndly by depression lasting a few hours. This .same do.se will not
sensitize for subseiiueiit injections of lubcrcle bacilli. These reactions
will occur if the injections be made under the skin oi- into the abdo-
men. Two doses of .01 gram will not cause a condition of hyper-
susce])tibility to the tubercle bacillus aud from one experiment no
140
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
resi.stauc-e seems tu oceiii' iu refractory pig, either those made so by
two close inocuhitions or iu those which have passed through the
secoud iujectiou. An iujectiou of .01 gram of No. 5 and .5 milligram
tubercle bacilli will not sensitize for a subsequent injection of No. 5
in doses of .005 or .025 gram. In the presence of tubercle bacilli,
injections of this material wonhl seem liarmless.
NO. 10. SALT SOLUTION EXTRACT OF LINING TUBERCLE BACILLI OR
TUBERCLE BACILLI EXTRACT.
1 and 2. Method of Production and Standardization. This pro-
duct is made from living organisms removed from fluid media. An
equal weight is taken from human and bovine strains, dried of ex-
cess water in the incubator and then washed in an excess of ether.
This is renewed when it has removed the last remnants of water.
This fat separates so that it collects at the bottom of the vessel and
may be removed b}' a Pasteur Pijjette. After removing the second
ether, the mass is allowed to dry until no more ether odor is per-
ceptible. Then the separated fat is removed. The mass is weighed,
ground thoroughly in a mortar and suspended in ten parts of .6 per
cent, salt solution. This suspension is carried in a shaking machine
eight hours and allowed to stand sixteen hours at room temperature.
It is then Altered several times through porcelain, the filtrate being
a light amber or pronounced straw colored fluid, our product No. 10.
The standardization of the extract must depend upon its equivoleut
in tubercle bacilli. One cubic centimeter represents the extract of
.1 gram of the organisms. IJepeated microscopical examination of
the sediment of large (luantities fails to reveal any bacteria and in-
jections of a single large or repeated small doses do not produce
tuberculosis.
The following is a chemical analysis of the product No. 10.
Color -
Reaction, - -
Total residue, - —
Sodium chloride, — - -
Organic matter,
HulphatcH, ---
Calcium, - -
Odor of residue on evaporation
Color tcHtH of rcHlduc ultli strong: adds and
alkalies - -
Tanrct'M tests for albumens, -
'rrlchlnracctlc add test for albumens
Sallcylsulphonlc add test for albumens,
Nitric add and licat test for albumens,
Mayer's reagent for alkaloids,
Alphanaphtliol test for carbohydrates
Nessler's test for aiiiiiioiiliiiii compounds -
Ammoniuiij iiiolybate ti'st, - — - —
Tannic add test, - —
liuman.
Deep straw yellow, .
Faintly add
1.27%
0.74%
0.46%
Slight, ----
SllKht
Slightly ammonlaeal
None -— — -
Positive,
Positive
NoKatlve,
NejfMtlve,
Negative
Faint
Strong
Positive
Very faint turbidity,
Bovine.
.Straw yellow.
Faintly add.
1.2.S%
0.08%
0.14%
Sliffht.
Slight.
Slightly iiniMJoiiiiical.
None.
Very faint.
Faint.
Negative.
Negative.
Negative.
Negative.
Positive.
Positive.
Very faint turbidity.
No. 17. COMMISSIOXRR OF HEALTH. 141
We arc now at woi-k \o dcteijuiiie (lu* idciitily of the small quantity
of proteid indicated in the analysis.
3 and 4. Dosage and Toxieit}'. As is the case with No. 5 and
other tuberculins, we were compelled to establish the dosage of
No. 10 by exi>eriment. This ju-oduct is distinctly more toxic than
No. 5, but not so much so as old tuberculin. The glycerine content
of the latter is undoubtedly Ihe largest factor in its toxicity. In No.
10 this is entirely absent. K'epeated injeciions of .001, .002 grams
or more will cause a rapid loss of weighl in both healthy and in-
fected guinea pigs, in the latter case more rapidly than infected
animals of the same stock not receiving the toxin. (Juinea pigs
will reccner Iheir weight if allowed to rest after one or two in-
jections, but usually fail to do so if they have received several doses
of this size, (luinea pigs of 400 to oOO grams will withstand weekly
injections of .(lOdl gram if their weight be watched and rest given
should any loss occur; some have actually gained a great deal under
careful treatment. Doses up to .2 gram will not kill in a few hours
or days as is the case Avith some solutions of bacterial proteids. The
dose of .0001 gram has been taken as our siandard therapeutic dose.
Efforts to establish a quantity of this product which will prove fatal
in tuberculous guinea pigs of standard weight have resulted in
failures. Normal rabbits will withstand large quantities of this
solution but tul)erculous ral)bils seem quite as susceptible as guinea
jtigs, if not more so. One rabbit died in six days after a dose <»f .01
gram while controls of the saiiic lot lived six weeks longer.
5 and 0. Effect ui)on the Temi)erature of Healthy and Tuberculous
Animals. The effect of all doses of this tubercle bacilli extract upon
the temperature of healthy guinea ]»igs, rabbits and cows when given
under the skin is nil. There may be a slight fall of temjterature in
the first named animal when the dose is given into the i)eritoneum.
The following is the etfect u]>oii rabbits and guinea pigs, three to four
weeks tuberculous by the iiijcriinu of 1. milligram bo\ine tubercle
bacilli.
R:il)ljirs. Guinea Pijjs.
.0001 grm O 4 ,leff. F.
.01 1 .<J ih-}i. V 1. deg. F.
.1 1.8 (leg. V 2. deg. F.
1. Not trit'd.
Injection of .4 gram into a tuberculous cnw subcutaneonsly results
in a slight but definite rise averaging .0 V. This is not suHicient
and a more pronounced rise will be obtained when the ajjpropriate
dose is determined.
10
142
THIRD AXXUAL REPORT OP THE
Off. Doc.
7. Eepeated Injections into Healthy Animals. Wlien starting
this work the dose of the tiltrate equal to the extraction of .001
gram was used. This has however, proven too great. In one
set of animals in which this dose was used, both the prepared pigs
and the controls died within one week of one another, and with
the same kind of lesions. Since the dose has been decreased, several
pigs remain having received eighteen to twenty injections with either
a stable weight or a slight increase and no loss since receiving the
tubercle bacilli. Nothing can be said at present in regard to the
active immunity stimulated by this product. By careful watching
tlie pigs willistaud weekly inoculations of .0001 gram quite well.
8. Effect of Eepeated Injections into Tuberculous Animals. Re-
peated injections of this solution into infected guinea pigs does
not seem to postpone the fatal issue to au}^ material extent, but
they seem to have some effect upon the character of the lesions.
The animals which live the longest show a tendency to regression of
the lesions. In one or two animals of a later experiment this has been
repeated. Especial attention is called to animal No. 293 in the ac-
companying cliart. It lost 130 grams in twenty-seven days yet
showed more resistance than the others.
Lesions.
No. 2VS
l.iiig.
2
—1.30 grains.
No. 292
l.riJK.
2
—7.'} grams.
No. 2a>
l.mg.
0
—.30 grams.
No. m)
No. 291
l.mg.
l.nig.
2
2
—.30 grams.
—45 grams.
27 days.
31 days.
20 days.
23 days.
21 days.
Caseous in sploun, omentum but Arm, few
small tubercles in lungs, diaphragm and
glands.
Similar to No. 289 but not so much de-
generated. Firm congestion and exuda-
tion around process.
Pleurisy. Caseous tuberculosis of liver,
spleen and lymphatics active i)rogrcssive.
Same as 289.
Same as 280.
\), 10 and 11. Effect of Sensitizing Doses of No. 10 for itself and
for Tnhcrcic liacilli, and jlie l':ir('ct of fhe lafler as a SensilizingBody.
One inject ion of No. 10 will jn-oduce a conditi<m of liypersuscepti-
bilify for a second injection, allci- fbe lapse of fifteen days incubation
jjeriod. Tin* .synipfoins following the intoxicating dose consist of
depression and nervousness willi grctat irritability and excitement
upon flie slightest dislui'ltancct. A sensitizing dos(^ ol' .01 gram of
No. 10 will |)i-epare for an intoxicating dose consisting of (ubercule
bacilli.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HPLAJ.TH. 143
The symptoms are irritaltility, iiciNoii.sucss, scrak-liiiig at the head,
irregular resi-iralioii and trcmbliii;;. Tliis (occurred iu the tirst few
minutes after injection and \v;is lol lowed in twenty minutes by
quietness and dej)i-ession which his led a lew liours. On the other
hand a primary injection ot tubercle bacilli also prepared for an
intoxicating- dose of .NO. K). The symptoms are the same as those
just menti(»ned but noi (piite so nuirked. The practical indication
lierc scciiis to be to pernnni I he tirst two injections in any animal
williin ihe incubation period and throw it into the refractory stage
ai onic. Two injections of .{)'2 gram of 'So. 10 will cause no suscepti-
bility to a tliird injeclion consisting of organisms and from one
experiiiieni, no refractory state lo this third injection is established.
Action of these two jtroducts toward one another.
12. ElTect of sensitization lor one another. As has been stated
above each of these products will sensitize for itself but our experi-
ments show that (me injection of No. 5 will not prepare for a subse-
([uent dose of 2so. 10. The reverse is also true. The practical indica-
ticm is that no harm can come from these materials in therapeutics
if used together alternately.
lo and 14. Alternate and Combined use. The suggestion made at
the end of the last paragraph that the alternate use of No. 5 and
10 would ]>e harmless refers to symptoms of anaphylaxis in healthy
animals. Experimentation must show whether or not this method
is available for treatment iu active tuberculous cases; healthy pigs
withstand alternate doses fairly well but a close observation must
be made of their weight because it sometimes falls. This iu an indi-
cation to stop injections until the animals regain their loss. Our
first ex})eriments upon the effect of alternate and combined doses in
tuberculous animals were cut short by an accident in our animal
room. Tlu'v so.'med to indicate from the first few tests that a marked
loss of weight and irregularity of teiii]ierainre will occur and that a
very small dose must be used.
PATIK ) I.OG I CA L NOTKS.
Our observaticms upon the i)athology in guinea pigs after being
injected with these products are intesting. Our attention has been
directed principally lo the spleen and the regional lymjili nodes. The
forujer is the moi-e important. After treatment with No. .1 there are
often many small pale areas on and near the surface of the spleen
(piife suggestive of tubercles. There are centres of endotlielial hyper-
l)lasin both in the follicles and in the pulp, chietly the foinier. These
areas arc siiironnded by a /.one of sinall lyni| lioid cells. The picture
is not thai of a specitic inlx'rcle. There are no |>olyniicIe;iis in tln^
vast majority of iheiii. riactically none (»f them have softened or
degenerated as seen in the areas of endotlielial hyjierplasia in this
144 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
organ after treatment with old tuberculin or serum extract. In no
case were acid fast organisms demonstrable in them. The regional
lymph nodes also sht»w endothelial hyperi»lasia but by no means as
marked as in the spleen. A non-specific focal necrosis is very oc-
casionally encountered but it is not nearly so plain as those seen
after serum extract or tuberculin treatment.
In spleens of guinea pigs dying from or being killed after injections
of No. 10, the only histological change is a follicular lymphatic
hyperplasia. The ])resence of necrosis has not been noted. This
follicular jti-olilVi-atioii is also met in the regional lymph glands.
SPECIAL REPORTS.
(140 J
10— 17— ll»U8
(Hfi)
OFFICIAL DOCUMEXT. No. 17.
SOME IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE
STERILIZATION OF CULTURE MEDIA, WITH ESPECIAL
REFERENCE TO THE FRACTIONAL METHOD.
BY D. RIVAS, BACTERIOLOGIST.
I'enusylviinia State Department of IIcjillli Lahoratory.
The not infrequent occurrence in the course of bacteriological
research of discrepancies of results, or even of total failure of the
experiment when apparently the technical procedui*es were faultless,
coupled with apparently inex[)licable contaminations in culture or
in a medium after storage for a time, have led the writer to suspect
the methods of ])rimary slerilizalion in vogue as lacking uniform
sufficiency and induc<'d Hie lollnwing study of ihis subject:
In a medium wliicli liad been sterilized in llie autoclave at 15 to
20-]»()unds jtressuic I'nr Irom lifteeu minutes 1o one-half hour, and
thereafter kepi a I inom temperature and examined daily, it was
sometimes observed thai in the course of a few days a growth had
occun-ed in some of the lubes, and only in exceplional instances
were the Inbes ;ill fi-ee fioiii cnnlaminni ion jifier a ])eriod of fi-om
three to six montlis. In cjise of nnlrieni gelalin, sterilized at 10-
jjonnds ]>ressuve for len to liriecn )iiinntes, no instance was observed
during tlie pei-iod of iliis study in whicli ail of tlie tubes remained
permanently sterile: and in one lot, after maintenance of the tubes
for one to two weeks at ;'.7 degrees C, ovei* one half were found con-
taminated. Similar rcsulis were o1)tained wiili culture media steri-
lized by the fraction;ii nielliod. as usually reeonimended (heating on
tlijee successive days at 101) «legrees C. for thirty niiuutes, with the
(HT)
148 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
media left at room temperature in tlie intervals). With such faults
in mind it was deemed desirable to make a close study of the causes
of these irregularities and to attempt some modification of procedure
promising greater certainty of complete sterilization.
Satisfied from comparative examinations that the fault is one
entering from incompleteness of primary sterilization, it at once sug-
gested itself that an important proportion may be due to the presence
of spores resistant to the ordinar}^ measures to which the medium
is subjected. Apparet, a century ago, was the first to discover the
method of conservation of preserves in stoppered bottles after the
bottles had been boiled; but in his experience, in spite of boiling the
containers well for several hours, it was not an infrequent occurrence
that the preserves spoiled. Globbin, in 1888, observed in case of
an organism isolated from potato that the spores were capable of
resisting 100 degrees C. for from five to six and one-half hours, of
withstanding 100 degi'ees to 113 degrees C. for three hours, and
required for destruction exposure to temperatures of 113 degrees C.
to 116 degrees C. for twenty-five minutes, or of 130 degrees for three
minutes. In the same year Koch found the spores of B. carotarum to
resist 100 degrees C. for eight hours, and to require four hours' ex-
posure to 130 degrees C. sterilization. In 1894 Flugel obtained
similar results with spores of certain bacteria isolated from milk.
Christ, in 1895, found spores of organisms isolated from the soil
capable of resisting 130 degrees C. for one minute. The valuable
researches of Heinze, in 1903, are well known in connection with
B. megatherium, B. ellemba(;hensis, and B. subtilis, the spores of the
last capable of resisting 100 degrees C. for three hours. I was able
to observe in experiments made along the same line in the Institute
Pasteur llie capabilKy of the s])()res of B. subtilis to resist exposure
for two and onc-IialC lionrs lo 100 dcgi-ees 0. In case of (he bacteria
isolated from fresh bread i( is rmiiiiiar knowledge (liat their spores
have resisted the heat of tlie liaUing oven. Aiany similar common
examples of such resislive powei* i-eadily occur to mind; and literature
records numerous observations of fads of the same import, indicat-
ing 1he ])ossibilil\- of Hie dejx'iMlciicc! of failure to deslroy original
coiilaiiiiiialion of inalci'ial l>y siicli lieal-resisting entides.
M iriiisl be quite jirobabic, (o(», llinl in addition (o I he above possible
fault lln* j)rot<*ction alToi'dcd to contaminating oi-ganisnis against the
sler-iiization cxposnrc may (•ontrii)n(e in no nniinpoi-lant measure
lo lin' same end. W'liilc (lie 11. ( nhci-culosis and (Ik* other non-spore-
hcaring organisms arc easily destroyed by a direct ex|>osur(; to GO
degrees ('. foi- from ten to tifleen minnles tliey ai'e capable; when
|)rote(ied by ;i lliiimenoid sniislances fs|)nlnm, feces, etc.) of resisting
for l(Mig (ime ;iii exposnre of 100 degrees (-. Wliile in Berlin the
writer bad (lie oj»j»or( nni(y of observing in (lie case of (he (uborcle
No. 17. COMMISSIOx"^JER OF HEALTH. 149
bacillus, tlie retention of virulence Itv <u-^anisnis obtained in scrajjings
from the walls of one (»r the lubeiculo.sis wards after the room had
been empty for over four months. Explicable in the same principle,
it is a well-known laci tiiat the sterilization of bouillon or any liquid
medium is moi-e easily accoinplishcd than of atjar oi- more especially
nutrient j^elatin; in fad. the wi-iier has observed the <'omplete sterili-
zation of bouillon nfler a sin<;le e.\i)osure of tiiirty minutes lo Km
degrees ( '.. bul has never obtained similar icsulis with <>clatin.
Althoiii'li iIk' abo\-e factctis (special icsistaucc of contaminat inj;
sjiores and tiu^ protection alforded coniaminations by the medium)
might well explain imperfections of sterilization by the autoclave,
it suggested itself iliai in case of fiadional sterilizaiicm (in which
as is known tin* s|)ores are permitted to germinate in the intervals
of heating and in tlieir vegetative form become susceptible of <lestruc-
tion by the subsequent heat exjiosuresi this failure might find
another explanation, and with this in view the following invesiigation
was pursued.
Nutrient gelatin was distributed in tubes previonsly siei-ilized by
dry heat at 180 degrees to 1*00 degrees C. for fifreen minutes or longer
(until a browning of the cotton plug appeared, which indicated the
decomposition of the organic nuitter or complete sterilization i and
sterilized by fractional or intermittent exposure to 1(10 degrees C.
for fifteen to thirty minutes on three successive days, being left at
room temperature during the intervals; but in spite of all i)recauti<m
taken, in a ninnber of these tubes, after storage at room temperature
or in the incubator at 37 degrees C. in the course of from twenty-
four hours to several days' contamination became apj)areni. the
varying time ai)parently being related to the temperature of storage
locality. This last at once suggested that in case of contamination
by spores resistant to heat the room temperature exposure of the
intervals might very well not be the most favorable temperature
for germinati<»n of such S])ores in the vegetative forms; in other
words, the s]»ores jiresent originally ami not destroyed b\ ihe ex
]»osure to 100 degrees (\ in the first might at the temperature of ilie
interxal remain as such ( unchanged i and be e(]ually resistant to
the heal of ihe slerilizing process on ihe second day, and that the
same i-esults might follow for the second interval and on the third
healing, and that subse<|uenily dui-ing the jirolonged storage of the
medium they might germinate. An experiment made in tjiis line
j>roved such to be the case.
Old cultures of Bacillus siilttilis and spore-bearing moulds were
inoculated in different media and left at i-oom lempei-atui-e. «laily
observation showing the medium to I'emain ]>erfecily clear for from
one to seven days, according to the 1em]»eratui-e of the i-<iom and
season of the yeai*. These two organisms were ju-eferred because,
150 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
in the writer'.s experience, these have been found the most common
and in many cases the sole agents of medium contamination. This
variation in rapidity of development suggested that in the process
the room temperature intervals might prevent the germination of
spores,- as this might well be deficient, and that, therefore, it must
be desirable to provide in these intervals of sterilization surround-
ings of a temperature more favorable for the spores to germinate
and cause the vegetative stage of growth. With this in view gelatin
medium, after the first exposure to 100 degrees C. for thirty' minutes,
was tubed — the tubes divided into groups. Part were placed in the
incubator at 37 degrees C. for six hours, other series were incubated
at the same temi)erature for twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four hours,
res])ecti\'e]y ; after such periods resterilization at 100 degrees C. for
thirty minutes was again performed for each group and the tubes
stood at 37 degrees C. for observation. As was expected, but few
tubes subsequently were found contaminated, the results being much
more favorable than when the room temperature had been employed
in the intervals of heating. Further, it was noted that the short
interval of incubation, for but six hours, Avas too short for germina-
tion of the spores even at body temperature; and that on the other
hand, eighteen to twenty hours' incubation was too protracted,
since in these periods the medium became undesirably clouded for
growth of the organisms, while intervals of incubation for from
twelve to eigliteen hours gave the most favorable results. Following
these delerminations another series of observations were made for
the })urp()se of comj>arisons between the common practice of heating
lliree times in fractional sterilizaticm and two exposures. A series
of lubes wei-e heated for thirty minutes to 100 degrees C, then
incubaled at :\7 degrees C. for frrmi twelve to eighteen hours and sub-
mitted to a liiial sterilization at 300 degrees C. for thirty minues.
A second series of tubes were exposed on three successive days for
thirty minutes at 100 degi-ees C. and incubated at 37 degrees C. for
twch'c Ii(»nis ill tJK^ first interval, and for twenty hours in the second
inl('r\';il. The rcsiills in these two series w(!re ])ractically identical,
both being sat isfactory.
With a view (»f (N'tcnnining the ]>ossil)ility of completing a frac-
tional siciiliziil ion in ;i single day, as in case of need of some media
for which the use of the autoclave is unsniled, as a sugar or gelatin
medinni ( the high leniperal iii-c of \he autoclave ])roducing undesirable
changes in such media i, a incdinin was prepared early in the morning
and siciilized at 100 degrees ('. as usual at about eight o'clock, then
incubated at 37 degrees ('. until about five o'clock in the evening, when
it was again sterilized as previously. The results were quite satis-
factory, agjiin jn-oving the efficiency of the method and establishing
the advantage of rnalerial saving of time. Such procedure can,
No. 17. COiMMlSSIO.VER OF HEAl/fH. 151
however, be reconiinended oiil.v lor use in enierjiencies, as the writer
feels the need of strongly eniphnsizing the desirability of incubating
any medium for at least forty-eight hours after sterilization is sup-
posed to be I'oniplcte, in oi-dcr to detect and then eliminate any pos-
sible contamination.
It is deemed unnecessary to recoiimicud tn- out line an.\- special rule
for the above j)ro(edures. Good results may be obtained by the
usual practice of sterilizing on lln-ee successive days, with a first
interval of twelve hours for incubation and a second interval of
twenty-four h(»urs; or by sterilizing but twice, with an interval of
twelve hours for incubation; and as just stated, the sterilization
can be completed in a single day. The routine method followed by
the writer, with most satisfactory results, includes the preparation
of the medium early in the morning and at once exposing it to 100
degrees C. for about ten or fifteen minutes, then incubating at 37
degi'ees C. for six to eight hours during the same day, and toward
evening again subjecting it to lUU degrees C. for fifteen to twenty
minutes, followed by a second interval of incubation at 37 degrees
C, over night, and a final heating the next morning to 100 degrees C.
for thirty minutes. This shortens the general routine by one full
day, and, too, the heat exposure is reduced by one-third, each a
material advantage when at the same time the final result is not
iuij)aired, but, as above indicated, rendered more sure of success.
The precise method may vary with the judgment of each worker,
the writer's only desire being to j)oiut out the necessity for providing
a temjteratture during the intervals of heating which will favor the
germination of the spores, so that in their vegetative form they may
be the more certainly destroyed at the next period of heating, and
at the same time to urge the fact that the ordinary room temperature
cannot by any means be regarded as favorable for this purpose in
the intervals comnionly allowed between sterilizations.
There is a further feature bearing upon the above which it is not
inapi)ropriate to l)ring forward in this relatiim. In spite of all i)re-
cautious ordinarily tai<en in sterilizing media eillici' in the autoclave
or by tlie above outlined fractional method the writer has not found it
always possible to avoid contamination of some of his tubes. It
must be recalled that by either method the cotton jdugs become more
or less wet from exposure to the steam atuKtsjilicre and from the
vapor arising fr«»m the healed licjuid medium; and it is to be ex-
])e('ted that by mere caj)illarity a more or less continuous thin shee*^
of the condensed moisture will intervene between the ]>lug and the
glass of the container i j)resent in the cotton jdug as well, but. perhajts,
not in as perfect continuityl. Through such a continuous liquid
it is possil)le that o<casionally organisms coming from the air of the
152 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
open room in wliieli the tube is cooling might be afforded a path of
euti'v from the exterior to the interior of the tnbe; and it must be
realized that the lower the room temperature when the tube is first
brought from the heated sterilizer the more decided a current of
air is drawn through the plug as the interior air becomes cool and
contracts, possibly aiding in the iutroductiim of organisms, as just
suggested. To avoid such a jxtssibility the transference of the
medium from the sterilizer to an incubation oven at ?>7 degrees C.
for at least forty-eight hours most clearly aid. drying the surface
of the plug more ([uickly and at the saiue tiuie permitting, to a less
degree, the rarelied air in tlie tube to cool and condense rapidly.
Personally, ihe writer is inclined to believe that lack of this pre-
caution is not infi-e(iuent]y res]K)nsible for the contauiinations which
enter to spoil this oi- that experiment, to cause contradiclory results
in the work of the sauie or different investigators, and which have
added much to ihe uncei-tainties and volumes of our bacteriological
literature.
Some may be disposed to hold that if the medium has been jn'op-
erly sterilized, subset [uent incubation for forty-eight hours, as above
suggested, at 37 degrees C is unnecessary. This is in theory true,
but in practice what means do we possess of knowing surely whether
the mediuui is pure, save by subjecting it to conditions known to
be most favorable for growth of conlaminatiou, if ])erchance contami-
nation exists? The time is jiast wlien water analysis was limited
to its ])hysical ])ro])erties alone; and just as today no one would
jiretend to estimate the number of bacteria in a sparkling water or
its sanitary condition l)y its clearness in the sauu^ way, we are not
justified in assuming that because a sample of bouilhm or other
medium remains transparent after storage at room temperature or
in the refrigerator, as usually recommended, under conditions un-
favorable for the germination of spoics possibly jtresent, it is, there-
fore, a stei-ile medium. 1'lic itioccdni-e i-cconnnended is logically
correct and so siinpic Ilia I no objecl ions of inconvenience or lack
of necessity should be held nialeiial against it ; and it may be urged
as }i detinile iMilc of jn-occdni-c llial in all sterilization by steam,
wlielln-i- in tlic int('p\';ils or- aftci- llic li-iicl ional niclliod, oi- aftei* the
use of the autoclave, the medium slionid not be directly exposed to
room tenipeiatni-e oi- a lower tempeiatni-e, but sliould be placed in
tlic in(iil)ator at 'M degrees C. because this condition will both aid in
early and certain dete<-tion of possible contamination, and will in
some measure favor lli<* exclusion of organisms, liable (o be di-awn
into the contiiincr Ity air sndion in undue moisture of the cotton
plug. 'IMie wTitei- might a<l<l, in conclusion, that it is his opinion
that the fra<ti<»nal method of stei-ilizat ion, as a])ove recommended,
might oricii Willi llic advantage repliicc tlic antoclave not (mly in eifi-
No. ]7. COMMISSIONER OF HEA1>TH. 153
ciency ol" sterilizalion. Imi nunc ('s|t('(i;illy ;is cxiidiug the pi'oductiuu
of undersirahle cliiin^cs wliirli the hi-ili prcssui-e and temperature of
the aiitothnc hnvo hccii loiiiid lo piodncc in cnliure media.
SMALLPOX IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
REPORTED BY HARVEY B. BASHORE, M. D.
County Medical Inspector.
It is reported that some time in August, 1008, a farm hand from
Keadinji' came to Harrv Hoopy's, 1)ack of Camp Hill; he became
slighlly ill and developed a rash. No doctor was eniph»yed. In due
time Hoojty and his family became sick with the same diseai>e; no doc-
tor eriii)loyed. I{o(»i)y had a milk route in West Fairview-Enola dis-
trict, and continued to serve his customers although there were many
scabs on face and hands; so much for heresay.
In Se])tember there were cases of chicken-pox reported to the
Department in the Bretz, Horniuji, Campbell, (Jardner and Kunkel
houses at Knola. Bretz and Horning being related to Iloopy, and
Cauij)l>rll, < iiiidnci- and Knnkel being neighbors and visitors at Bretz's.
These cases rcpoilcd by i'niir ditfcreut doct<us, — were claimed to be
chicken-pox, altlionuh in every laniily adults were affected.
On Keptembei- H.ili liie I )ei»aiinient began investigation and rnund
every case to l»e typical smallpox. The Hoopy house was thoroughly
fumigated and the other families (piarautined foi- smallpox. Mean-
while the health ollicers \\ere hunting "coutacis." Ninety-three
families comprising ilie Iloopy relatives ;ind milk route were jtut
umler surveillance; one of these, ^^'est^all. father in-law to Bretz,
having a case in his family, was (juarantiiied. After this only four
families Itecaine infected.
154 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
On Se]tlemlit'i- JSih LVisiniastcr Ilawbaker Avalked iuto my office
with a third-day eiiiptioii ol' smallpox, having- just returned from a
convention in Ford City, l*a., and having- left home four days before;
he proliably contracted the disease from one of the '*])erandmlatiug-''
cases from JOnola. The INist Office was immediately ch)sed and
thortmghly disinfected and then turned over to the Post Office
authorities. I notified the Department of the trip of Wm. Ilawbaker;
his stopping- places while at Ford City and the railway coach in
which he traveled; from his case 1 believe only two or three new
ones developed.
A few more "contacts" were hunted u]» and the epidemic at this
place ended with Clara Boughter, who was quarantined on December
17th and with whom there had been no ''contacts." In all twenty-
nine cases. At the outset of the epidemic health officer Hoover
resigned and 1 immediately sent for health officer Weaver, who served
me most faithfully.
Although extreme vigilance was used in hunting ''contacts" one
escaped — ]Mrs. Curtis Walters of New Kingston, related to Campbell,
in whose house she was jjrobably the day it was quarantined. She
went home and in due time so the story goes, she herself and
children became ill with a rash (no doctor) and the disease was
concealed for the time. Her husband became ill and on October
22nd, the second day of the rash, was found working in McCullough's
store in Carlisle. He was immediately sent home and all ''contacts"
in Carlisle vsiccinated and put on parole.
Meanwhile, we learned that the Walters woman, in the role of a
book agent, had visited practically every house in New Kingston,
and the whole community was put under sui-veillance, health officer
Mackey being ordered lo take uj) his residence in New Kingston.
Tn fourteen days the lirsl cro]» ol' "contacts" developed in Harris,
Hertman, I'owley, TJislio]) and Cora Martin, a teacher in Fairview
Hall School in Middlesex township; all wei-e quai-antined and about
twenty-five "contacts" vaccinated and i)ut on parole.
Tn fourteen days moi-e the second crop develoj)ed in the houses
of Po\\'ley and Hertman, aheady <iuarantine<l, and only one outside
the Jilack family, whicli had Ixien under quarantine; they having
been vaccinated thi-ee days after contact. Tn this family one child
developed a v(try modified case which consisted of only live pocks,
but they wen; perfectly typical. Cases in this place all told twenty-
one making a total of tilty for oiir eindeinic and about four hundred
"contacts."
On December 1st, William Walker of Carlisle, who had been in a
factory visited by one of the Hertman children from N<nv ICingston
was found to have smalljtox. On Decemlxa- 17th two other families
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 155
infected hv Mr.s. Knoclie, wlio evidently had a mild attack, contracted
from the same fact<n'y, developed. These cases of cour.se belong to
Carlisle. While this epidemic seemed to dilfer in no wise from any
other smallpox epidemic the following Jads attracted my attention.
1 — Ail (latients were unvaccinated save oik- iiinl iliiU fuit.v years ago.
2 — The unvaccinated in the (juaiantined honses invaiialjjy j;ot snialh^ox except
in one instance, wiiile the vaccinated did not get it.
3 — Vaecinalion une oi' Iwo days after "contact" generally prevented tlie develop-
ment of the disease; three or four days after it did not prevent.
4 — One hundreil and fifty (l."0) children were kept out of .school for eighteen days,
which is e(iuivalent to twenty-seven iuindred days of schooling lost to the
chihiren of Cuniherland County on account of smallpox: vastlj' more than
would have heen lost by the enforcement of the vaccination law.
5 — Five doctors called the disease chicken-pox, although in each house adults
were affected.
G. — A number of children were reported to be vaccinated and had certificates of
vaccination, who were not successfully vaccinated as shown by the entire
absence of scar.
The epidemic was of the non-fatal type, although some of the cases
were severe.
LKPKOSY.
PROTOCTOL OF NECROPSY PERFORMED ON THE BODY OF MOCK SEM.
DECEMBER 23, 1908.
By B. Franklin Royer, M. D., First Associate Chief Medical Inspector, and Paul
A. Ilartraan, M. D., County Aledical Inspector Dauphin County.
EXTERNAL EXAMINATIOX. The body of a very much emac-
iated male, about five feet long, weighing approximately eighty pounds
and having the facies of the Chinese race. Kigor mortis is beginning
in both extremities but is not yet nuirked. There are no marks of
external violence. The skin over the lobes of both ears and over
both malar bones and for a distance of 1.5 cm. below each malar bone
is very slightly elevated, feels thick to the touch, leathery and indur-
ated. Over the neck and trunk the skin shows no gross abnormality.
Beneath the left scai)ula souk^ suggillation is noted. On both lower
legs, beginning below the head of the tibula and extending to the
external malleolous, and across the crest of the shin anteriorally,
156 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
and to the mediiiia line posteriorly, is au area oi" harsh, very dark
brown skin, scaly and inelastic in character, badly nourished and
presenting- some resemblance to the skin of an alligator. The external
genitals are apparently normal. A horseshoe slongh said to be an
ischio-rectal abscess is noted, (m the left side of the anns, jnst outside
the si)incter.
L\Ti:jr.\AL i:.\AMI\.\TI<>\. \'ery little subculaneous fat is
found beneath the skin. The imisrles are thin, tlabby and paler than
normal. The alidominal and thoracic viscera are still warm. 250
c. c. of straw-colored serum is found in the ])eritoneal cavity. The
intestines bear a normal relation to each other and to the other
abdominal viscera. ()n i-emoving the breast-plate the lungs do not
collapse. The thoracic viscera are apparently in normal position.
PLEURAE. The left pleural cavity is almost obliterated by old
adhesions extending from the apex to the base "and across the dia-
phragm. The right cavity is absolutely obliterated and it is with
the greatest difiiculty that adhesions can be broken up. At the
apex of the right lung, in attempting to break up adhesions the
visceral pleura was lacerated and the hand plunged directly into a
large apical cavity.
HEART. The heart is large, being about 12 cm. long, 10 cm. broad
and 0 cm. thick. The right wall is thin, the muscle is a light brown
in color, is fairly firm and can with difficulty be lacerated with the
thumb and foi-efinger. The right auricle is apparently empty. The
right ventricle contains a small amount of chicken-fat clot. The
left wall is thinner than normal. The color and texture correspond to
the right. The left auricle is en)pty, the left ventricle contains an
ii-)-('giilai' mass of chicken-fat clot, extending a little way through
Ihc aortic orifice. Careful examination of the endocardium in all
cavities (ails to i-eveal any microscopic abnormality. The valves of
l)oth aiuiciilo-vcMitriculai' o]K'niiigs and of the jmlmonary and aortic
onth'is iiic pi;ictic;illy nornuil. IMiei-e is no pal])able evidence of
arteri(j-sclei-osis. The coronary arteries are patulous.
Ij(/\(i>S. The lel't lung was removed with considerable dilficulty
5111(1 on <'x;itiiiii;iti(tii shows slight crepitation in the middle part of
the left lobe and very sliglit crepitation in the up])ei- pai't of the
upper lobe. It is of a grayish i)ur])le color thi-oughout the upper
lobe ;iiid anterior and nppei- portions of the lower lobe, and at the
bas<' i)oslerio)-Iy is of a much darker and moi'(! solid pnr])lish gray
color. (Jn section the lung cuts with gritty resistance and drips
blood freely sit the base, less freely in the upper portions. A con-
siderable mass of piii-nlent matter exnded as the section was made.
'I'Im' incision i-evealed Com- cavities in the lower j»art of 1h<^ U}»per
and in I lie npper part of llic b>\\cr btbcs, varying in si/<e from 2 cin.
to;") cm. in dianiclcc. \o IHiiher seel ion of this viscUtS .was made.
Xo. 17. COMMISSIONER OP" HEALTH. 157
The right lung, as already slated, was hicerated at its apex on
removal. Slight crepitation was noted at the base of the upper lobe.
There is no true middle lobe. A slight attempt at middle lobe forma-
tion can l)e noted in the lower [larl of what is really the upper lobe, at
i(s anterir)r aspect near the median line of the body. In color the
lung is grayish piiriilc lh]-oughou( with an added darker purplish
color at the base. ()ii section the lower portion drips blood freely
while the upiici- |»(»riion drips less blood. The cavity which was
opened on removal is of irregular shape and is approximately 8 cm.
l)y 0 cm. by 4 cm. The .section passed through three cavities, two
<»f them in the lower lobe and one in the upper, varying in size from
1.5 cm. to iJ.o cm. Several snmller cavities were found in the posterior
portion of the upper lobe, but not more than a centimeter in diameter.
The bronchi contain considerable mucus and purulent brownish-
colored fluid. The mucous membrane of the bronchi is slightly
injected in irregular areas. The peri-bronchial glands are enlarged
and cut with resistance. Some of them contain calcareous deposits.
THY Ml. The thymus gland was barely demonstrable.
i^PLI'JEX. The spleen is about 17 cm. long, 11 cm. broad and 8 cm.
thick. It is a light purple in color and is soft and pliable. On section
no retraction of the capsule is noted nor can it be stripped from the
organ without laceration. The splenic substance is dark purple in
color and on section drips blood slowly. The splenic nodules are
demonstrable.
KIDNEYS. The left kidney is about 12 cm. long, 9 cm. broad and
G.5 cm. thick. On section the tissue cuts with slight resistance, the
capsule does not retract but can easilj' be stripped from the surface
of the organ, striation is demonstable in the cortex. The cortex is
narrowed and the tissue is paler than normal.
The right kidney shows practicall}^ the same conditions as its
fellow and is ajjproximately of the same size.
Both ureters are apj)arently normal. The bladder is almost empty
and shows no macroscopic lesion. The genitals are apparently
normal.
LIVER. The liver in situ extends from the fifth rii) anteriorally
to about .">.") cm. below the costal margin, and from the right side to
a point 10 cm. beyond the median line of the abdomen. The capsule
wrinkles on its snjiorior surface when removed. In color the oi'gan
is a very dark ])ur]tle. on section blood drips freely from the cut
surface and on removal of the blood the color is uniform throughout.
The oi'gan is MS cm. in its longest measurement, 1'4 cm. in greatest
breadth and 1." cm. in greatest thickness. The gall bladder contains
about li) c. c. of bile and is apparently normal.
PWCRFjAS. The pancreas is soft and is ajiparently normal in
color and resistance. The organ measures about \1 cm. in lengfli,
3 cm. in width and l.."* cm. in thickness.
11
158 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
STOMACH. The stomach lies in the usual position and appears
to be normal in size. It is practically empty and the mucous mem-
brane shows no gross abnormality.
IXTESTIXES. The intestinal canal was removed intact, and be-
ginning in the jejunum and extending throughout the ileum and
greater portion of the ascending transverse and descending colon
are to be found ulcers, deep, sluggish, and having overhanging edges,
varying in size from one centimeter to 5 cm. in diameter. At one or
two points in the ileum these ulcers are almost annular. The in-
testines contain very little fecal matter. They were only partially
emptied before being sectioned, and were not carefully cleansed before
being sent to the laboratory for detailed examination.
The brain and spinal cord were not removed. The organs could
not be weighed.
PATHOLOGICAL DLiGNOSIS. Widely distributed pulmonary
tuberculosis with the formation of many cavities, widely diffused
broncho-pneumonia, hypostatic pneumonia of both bases, extensive
tubercular ulceration of the intestines, chronic congestion of the
liver, ischiorectal abscess.
Sections of skin showing induration were removed from the outer
portion of the right lower leg, from the lobes of each ear and from
the left cheek beloAv the malar bone, for histologic study. Blocks of
tissue were removed in duplicate from lung, heart, liver, spleen, kidney
and pancreas and placed in 50 per cent, alcohol and 5 per cent, for-
maldehyde solution respectively. The entire left lung and these
tissues were sent to Dr. Herbert Fox for accurate study in the labora-
tory and for preserving. All other tissue was replaced preparatory
for burial.
Note. — The clinical report of this case can be seen by referring to
the Eeport of the Commisioner of Health for the year 1907, pages 28
and 29.
PATHOLOGICAL REPORT ON THE SPECIMENS SUBMITTED, FROM
MOCK SEM, A CHINESE LEPER.
D. Rivas, Bacteriologist.
No. 2,350. Philadelphia, Jauuary 14, 1909.
A specimen, received from State Health Department, December 28, 1908.
Source. Autopsy Material.
Name and address of patient. Mock Sem, a Chinese leper seKi-oRatcd by State
Health Department, near Ilarrisburg, Pa.
DiagnoHis: Leprosy (skin); tuberculosis of Inns, liver and spleen; cloudy swelling
of liver and kidney.
ALLEN J. SMITH.
In communications with reference to this specimen, please mention above number.
i
I
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"'''■l-il .
90 f
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Louis Schmiat '09
Sfctiiiii i>f Nodule froii] K.ir; Drawing front a Portion of 'I'liicknicij (Orinni, Shuwirijj
l.rpra Ormmisiiis,— X 120(1.
No. 17. COMMISSIONKFt OF IIKAI>TH. 159
GROSS AN'K MINI 'I'l; .M'I'KAKANC 'ES.
Thp siil>j<'<H (if this <MS(^, ;i .vrniii^' <'hinam;iij, Mjjed from 25 to ."jd ypais. is be-
lipvpfl (<i h!i\c lir-cii |p|ir(iiis when liP tii-st cam*' into this country threp or four
years bpforp his dpiiih. lie <ainp from China into British Columbia originally and
managed to slip inin the Cnitecl States, as nearly as can be a.scertained, by shipping
in a coasting vessel and landing in San Fran<is(<p. IIi- at on<'e made his way to New
York City where undetectpd he worked for a lime in m restauraul. Thence he came
to Harrisburg, when' he was working as a restaurant waiter when he was de-
tected as a leper. The city authorities an' said to havp sent liini to Haitimore, b>it
he at once returned and for a tiin(> remained in thi> neighi)orinu: town of Steeltou,
IVnna. Then the State Deiiardm-nt of Ilcaltli with the Harrisburg authorities
provided a small house of isoiatiuu for him. It was recognized at tlie time that not
only was he siiffei-ing from a well dovelo[)eil case of nodular leprosy but he was also
aflected by pulmonary tuberculosis.
After a year to two years of isolation, during which the tuberculosis made rapid
progress, he died in December of lUOS from the latter disease.
The lungs were found extensively involved, showing both marked diffuse caseation
and chronic ulcerative lesions, with enlarged and caseated bronchial lymph nodes.
There was extensive ulcerative tuberculosis of the intestines, the ulcers large,
numerous, with thick, overhanging edges, smooth indurated bases and numerous
miliary tubercles showing superitoncally in the wall of the intestine at the base of
each ulcer.
For histological purpose there were sent to the laboratoiy portions of the lungs,
heart wall, liver, si)leen and kidney, several cutam-ous nodules from the ear lobes
and a small hit of thickened and indurated skin from the face.
(1) — A section of a nodule from the ear lobe shows the characteristic features of
an active leprous hyperplasia, and with special staining exhibits a vast number of
typical leprosy bacilli, in and between the deeper epithelial cells of the epiderm,
in large leprous cells and smaller endothelioid cells and in the tissue spaces between
the tissue elements of the thickened corium. Some proliferation of the epiderm,
with a slight but clearly excessive penetration of the interpapillary portions into the
corium has taken place, and at least one epithelial concentric nest was noted
quite a distance below the surface. The main elements forming the nodule are in
the corium, where the old fibrous matrix is thickly infiltrated by embryonic cells of
fibroblastic and endotheloid type, these constituting the bulk of the tissue in most
microscopic fields. Scattered mast cells lymphocytes and small plasma cells, and
occasional large endothelioid cells ("lepra cells"), and occasional polynuclear leu-
cocytes (some eosinophilic) are encountered.
In the skin of the face the process is evidently older; the corium is thickened
largely by a fibrosis, with much smaller number of the infiltrating cells mentioned
in connection with the preceding section. The epiderm shows a more definite pen-
etrating growth, at places exhibiting slender root-like extensions into the corium
which often unite into a rather fine reticulum just under the major part of the
cuticle, reminding one of Fnna's reticulate type of epithelioma, and occasionally
showing well developed epithelial pearls. With these differences, however, the gen-
eral characteristics are the same.
(2) — Sections of bits of pulmonary tissue all show tuberculous changes, ranging
from typical miliary tubercles to rather large conglomerates with extensive caseation.
For the rest catarrhal changes, hyperaemia and oedema with occasional foci of sup-
puration in and about bronchioles make up the general picture.
(3) — Wall of Heart: Epicardiura missing from sections examined. No alteration
of endocardium. Myocardium somewhat congested, and the fibres rather loosely
separated from each other, probably by an oedema. The fibres themselves are
160 THIRL) ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc
typically ratlun' sIcikIpi-i lm( show no loss of sti-ialion and no |ii,t;nieiitatioii. Tiio
nuclei are as a rule well slaincd ami ilcar: arc for (he inosi part of relatively
small size. No fibrosis of the tissue, and no alleiation of the wall of corouaiy
branches cansbt in the section.
4) — Liver: Capsule normal. No oxerurowtli of ( 'lissou"s capsules and no im-
portant vascular cbanfjes. Liver cells uiMierally rather jjranular and somewhat
swollen, a few showinii fatty infiltration appearances. The main feature of the
sections examined is in the presence of a nund)er of miliary tubercles, mainly of
g:ray type met here and there both Iti (lie iieriioliular tissue and in the interior lo-
bules.
(5) — Kidrufs: are not from the sections examined seriously changed. There is a
scattered cloudy swelling of the cells of the cortical tubules ; and in contrast there
are many tubules which show no such alteration. At places the tubules are widely
distended by a granular coagulated material within them, and occasionally such
material exists in Bowman's spaces. No siiecial interstitial change ; but a few of
the tufts are more or less fibrosed. There is a moderate capillary injection ; blood
vessel walls normal.
(6) — Splern: The main feature here is a rather marked dilTuse endothelial
hyperplasia of the pulp. A few more miliary tubercles have been noted in the
tissue in addition. The tissue is moderately hypermic, not pigmented; the Malpi-
ghian bodies are of normal size and structure; no important change in the wall
of blood vessels; no marked overgrowth of the trabeculae of the organ.
K1:P()KT ox TllK KIMDIOMIC OF TYrtlOlD FKVEII AT EEAD
ING, N()\'KMBEII AND DECEMBEJl, 1!)(I8.
A. L. .MOI'LTON, M. I)., Chi.'f Medical Inspector.
On the first of Scplcmhci- llic M(ti-I)i(lil y i-cixn-ls i-cceivcd I'l-oiii
Reading sliowed that Tvplioid Fevei- was tinustially ])i'evalent in that
city, ninety-one cases havinj;- been i-eported for the month of August,
distributed by days as follows. During the first twenty-one days of
the month 24 cases were repoi-ted. Followinj; this day Ihere was a
rapid rise in liic ntinibor of cases reported:
A ngii.sl l!l' '2
August 24, 11
August 2."), 7
August 2(;, 11
August 27, 20
August 2S, :{
Augnst 20 1
August :{l, 12
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 161
As shown by these figures, the iinieiisc was especially rapid' dur-
ing the last ten days <»f ihe niontli, 5.'> cases being reported during the
week ending August 28th. In view of the great increase during the
]ast ten days of the month, a Icttei' was written to the Secretary
of the lioard of Healtli of Keading noting this rapid rise in the
Typhoid rate, and suggesting the probability of a widely disseminated
infection which was being transmitted either through the water or
milk supjily. We further stated that there was a possibility of a
severe epidemic in tlieir city, and requested that they advise us of the
steps which were being taken to discover the source of these new
cases and the means by which it was being transmitted. At the
same time we outlined the method which this Department uses in
([nelling such (>ull»r<*aks. and asked them to advise us what measures
theii- Hoard had taken to prevent the further spi'ead of tlie disease.
Replying to this letter, the Secretary of the Board stated that our
communication had been laid befoi-e the Board, and that he was an
thorized to give the following reply:
"That the local health authorities are investigating the water and
milk supplies in order to ascertain their bearing on the spread of the
disease; that the great majority of the cases are of a very mild type,
as stated by the attending ]»hysicians and ])roven by the low mor-
tality, only 11 deaths having occurred during the year 1!)08 to date,
in 170 cases reported, that physicians are really reporting in har-
mony with your suggestions, and that other reconmiendalions will
be followed as far as possible."
At that time the situation was not looked ui)on with any degree
of apprehension by the local lioard of Health, and nothing was done
other than to have printed in the local jtaper a request that the
people boil all water and milk. No census was taken to determine
any common source of infectioji, and tliere was no hint of a susj»icion
on the paiM of the local Itoard thai llic gcnci-al water supply was in
fee ted.
On the L'Slh of XoNcmber llic .Moilddiiy IfciMUis showed ijiat
Typhoid Fevei- had assumed epidemic pi-o|tori ions in dial city, and
in a •jihoue c(tmmunication witli .Mayor ICicU. the h('|iartmeut was
asked to alford assistance in theii- endeavors to oveicoiiie Ihe e](i
demic. After a careful rr\ iew of the silnalioii, ilie oiler was made lo
the authorities in Keadijig that if they so desired the i)epai!n>eni
would take full charge and institute the necessary measures lo sr.]t
press the epidemic, furnishing ilie necessar\ corps ol' engiueeis.
nuises and jthysicians i'(M|uii'ed. At a conference between the .May(»i-,
local I'.oard of Health, Select Council, City Solicitor and representa-
tives of this ]>epartnient, the <>ll'er made by ilie Conimissior.er of
Health was accepted, it being agree<l that all orders were to be
issm'd over the signature of the Connnissioner of Health and the
signature of the local Board of Health; all expenses outside of those
1!— 17-llMIS
162 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc
of the officials sent by the State Department of Health were to be
borne by the city, these expenses including that for district nni'ses,
printing and snch supplies as might be furnished to the poor, the
work on the watersheds outside of the city limits being directly under
the control of the Department. On the 30th of November Mr. Snow,
the Chief Engineer of the Department of Health, and the Chief Medi-
cal In.spector, entered on the work of suppressing this epidemic. Fol-
lowing the acceptance of this offer a special meeting of the Board of
Health was called, at which time a regulation was draAvn up and
signed by the President of the Board of Health and the Mayor re-
quiring that premises where Typhoid Fever existed should be pla-
carded. This was necessitated in view of the fact that placarding of
premises where Typhoid Fever existed had not been enfv)vced in
Reading prior to this time. Your representative was authorized to
issue such orders as might be necessary to meet any emergency.
Models of warning placards, Typhoid placards. Health Officer and
Nurses' cards, orders to milkmen, employers of labor and hotel pro-
prietors were prepared and submitted to the local printers for
proofs,
A study w^as made of the records of Typhoid Fever as reported to
the local Board during the year 1908. Their records showed the cases
occurring each month as follows:
January, 8
February, •">
March, '-^
April, 7
May, ^»
June, ^
July, 16
August, ^1
Heptembei', 94
October, 4:5
Novemljer, '*'-^>'>
December- '-^8(;
Yoii will note thai only r»2 cases liad occurred in Ihal city from
Jainiary to July, inclusive, 220 cases liad occurred during August and
September. At the time when lh(< con-espondence, lo wliidi refer-
ence is uinde above, llie lohil niimltei- of cjises lor llie eleven months,
en<ling November :'.()tli, were (i.'.:'., .^»S| of which oc<'urred between
August Isl ujid November .">(Mli, inclusive, which seenu'd to i.ndicat(i
th;il the?-e was ;in inredion of the wiitei* su|)|)ly sometime in the
early [(art of July, the etl'ect of which wiis last disiippearing in the
early part of November, since during tin; lirsl sixleciii days of the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 163
month only 14 cases had been reported. Following this date there
was a rapid rise in llie niiiiiber of cases reported, as shown by the
following table:
Cases.
November 17, 2
November 18, 13
November 10, 13
November 20, 25
November 21, 45
November 23, 61
November 24, 33
November 25, 43
November 26, 23
November 27, 53
November 28, 18
November 29, 9
November 30, 11
This sudden rise in the last half of November seems to show that
there was another ])ortion of the infective material introduced into
the stream the very last of October or the first of November. As a
check upon these reports we went over the years from 1895 to 1897,
inclusive, which showed an average number of cases approximating
200 per year, the greatest number of cases usually corresponding to
the Fall months. The greatest number for any single year was in
1900, when they had 413 cases, and the lowest number for any single
year was in 1897, when they had 139 cases. From these reports it
seems that typhoid fever had been endemic in Reading for a number
of years.
A telegram was sent to a head nurse to immediately proceed
to Reading to take charge of the nurses. A list of the milk dealers
and the dairy farms from which their sup])ly was obtained was im-
mediately prepared, and the Health Othcers in the districts where
these dairy farms were located were ordered to immediately inspect
each and eveiy dairy farm to determine whether Typhoid Fever ex-
isted ujton llie premises or had existed ujton tlie ])remises during the
past year. Wherever cases had occurred tliey were to uiake a re-
])ort, giving the date of onset, and date of recovery in each instance,
with the precautions that were observi'd to i)reveut the infection of
the milk supply.
The records in the office of the Board of Health were studied and
it wa^ determined that al)(>ut one-lliird of all the cases of Typhoid
existing in the city came from the thirteenth ward, which was sup-
plied witli water from tlie Maiden Creek Reservoir, and the Chief En-
gineer innnediately began the investigation of conditions on the
watershed. A force of men was at once secured, sworn in as Special
164 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Health Officers, and set to work placing warning placards about
town, on telegraph poles and in saloons, warning people to boil all
water and milk before using for domestic purposes. As soon as this
work was completed tliey were detailed to placard houses where
Typhoid Fever existed and make inspections of the outhouses and
alleys.
On the head nurse's arrival slie took charge of the nursing force
and made visits to the homes, determining the needs of the indi-
vidual families, teaching them how to care for those who were ill.
The work was extremely heavy both for the nurses and Health
Officers in the first few days owing to the large number of cases re-
l)orted before the work was commenced.
The folhiwing routine procedure with regard to cases was carried
out:
T'pon receipt of a report of typhoid fever, the name and address is
transferred to an alphabetical list, liealth officer's census card, nurse's
information card and case card. In this way the list is cross-in-
dexed both as concerns healtli officers and nurses, tlie census and
information cards being arranged serially in order of tlie receipt of
the report. The Health Officer immediately visits the premises, se-
cures tlie information recpiired of liim, leaves the circular setHng
forth the precautions wliich should be observed in the household, and
on leaving the premises posts the placard.
A census of the cases shows that by far the larger majority of all
the cases secured or drank water from the Maiden Creek sup-
j)]j, while the milk was secured from 145 different sources, involving
some 2.^0 dairy farms, in one instance 29 cases occurred on one man's
milk route, and in two others 20 were found im a single route. All
of these were in the district sujiplied exclusively by the Maiden
Creek water, where the grealesi ]»ercentage of cases occuri-ed.
The nurse in whose disli-icl the case has occurred visits (he house-
hold, learns the condilioii of llic iialicul, llic ciivii-oHiiicnts of (Im^
j)a(ient, and the needs and Ihe necessity of subsc(|ue)il visits. At this
visit the nui-se is instructed to be extremely carelnl to make plain
the necessity of disinfecting the discharges, and inslrncts llieni how
1o do this propei-ly. H' lime is not ])rovided, ;i note to Ihis etVect is
made and the lime Wiigon sent there the following day. The men
having charge of the lime wagon secure? Iheii' snpply from Ihe Kcad
ing Sujiply Con)pany, receiving a check for the same, 'i'hese checks,
1og<'ther with Ihe names of those to whom lime is supplied, the same
amount being furnished in each instance, are tui-ned ovei* to tlu^ City
Controller in order that he may make certain there is no leak, and at
all times may know how much lime is being used.
At a joint meeting of the various guilds, churclies and (lie Asso-
ciated Charities at the Common (Jouncil Jtooms in City JIall, ihe
head nui-se was gi\'en full authority to secui-e su|»i»lies from the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 165
various grocers in town wlienever needed. At this meeting a con-
siderable sum of money was also raised with which to buy muslin
for the making of night clothes, sheets and pillow slips to be used as
required. See report of supplies furnished.
On December 7th the watershed was visited by the Chief Medical
Inspector and specimens of blood for Widal reactions were secured
from Wilmer and Myrl (ieary, and also from Eva and Mrs. Leinbach.
Mrs. Leinbach showed a positive reaction. The premises of Mr.
Moyer, near Fleetwood, were also visited, where a case of typhoid
fever exists in the person of his daughter Eva. This case was prob-
ably contracted in Reading, as the girl was visiting an aunt of her's,
who lives in the infected district, during the last week of October,
and has been ill for about three weeks. Mr. Moyer ships some 30 or
40 pounds of milk to the New Jerusalem creamery daily, and besides
works there himself. Since there was some probability that he came
in contact with the patient, it was considered advisable to order that
he cease working at the creamery until the recovery of his daughter
and the disinfection of the premises.
As only a small proportion of the houses in Reading are connected
with a public sewer, the seAverage being discharged into cesspools or
wells, it was deemed advisable to investigate the condition of the
outhouses and privies, and for this purpose special officers were de-
tailed by the Mayor, and a house to house inspection was made of all
the privies and cesspools, and orders of abatement issued wherever
the vaults or pits were found full, overflowing or extremely offensive.
Since the alleys in this city belong to the abutting property owners,
and in many instances are in very insanitary condition, it was
deemed advisable that they should be inspected at the same time.
Along these alleys run small gutters, which empty into larger gutters
at the sides of the street, and finally terminate in manholes, which
connect with a storm sewer. These various surface drains might be
called open sewers, since all the wash-water, both from the kitchen
and laundry, finds its way into them.
The following tables will be found interesting. Of the 924 cases
which occurred during 1908, among which are included those occur-
ring in the epidemic during November and December — with few ex-
ceptions and in these few exceptions there was a question of doubt —
the entire number secured water either constantly or at times in
that section of the city supplied by water from Maiden Creek — 494
males and 4.^0 females, (jrouped in five-year periods their ages were
as follows:
0 to 5 years, 26
5 to 10 years 117
10 to 15 years, 140
15 to 20 years, 141
166 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
L'O to 25 years, 121
25 to 30 years, SI
30 to 35 years, 81
35 to 40 years. 45
40 to 45 years, 32
45 to 50 years, 32
50 to 55 years, 12
55 to 60 years, 12
60 and over, 5
Not given, 94
Of occupations they were grouped as follows:
Professional, 37
At home, 215
Domestics, 20
School children, 215
Laborers, 115
Employees in stores, 42
Kailroad Employees, 60
Mill hands, 36
Factory employees, 127
Not given, 57
Of this total 743 were treated at home and 158 were treated in
hosftitals. 106 of these premises were connected with the sewer, 159
with cesspools, while the others had outside dirt closets.
During the mouths of November and December there were 31
deaths from typhoid fever, showing a case death late for these two
months of approximately 5 per cent.
Milk was supplied to these patients by 136 uiilkmen. The largest
number of cases occurring in any one milk r(»u(e was 29, while 73 of
them had each only one patient on his roiile.
Of 426 patients treated at home, .">9() were nursed by members of
the family, 20 by experienced nurses and 16 by trained nurses.
In 583 cases a s|>ecial study was iiiiule by tlu; visit iug nurses with
regard to the disiulVclion of the discliarjics, and it was fouud thai
lime was used I)y 196, chloride of lime by 243, cailxtlic acid by 67
while 25 made no jircleuse of disinrcctioii, and 52 ji,av(' no outline of
the met hod pni-sued. Where cai-bolic acid was nsed, and in some
instances wImm-c chbtridc of lime was ns<'(l, snch small ((uanlities
were employed thai the etlect was pT-ac(ically nil. Disinlcction was
allowed lo '^o on for a few minnfes l>y SO, jind one-lialf lioni- by 117,
one houi- by 112, and an indetinite pci-iftd, wliicli vaiicd widely, by
197.
The niimltf'i- (lisinrcctinj; dishes, 2 IS ; by simply l)oiling, 245; by
I lie use (»r clijdiide of lime, .'!. The inimber not disinfecting dishes,
I.'d : niimlMT jiixinji no salisractory reply, 2S4. Tlie number of
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 167
piiticnls nsiiifi l»()il«'«l milk, .""» ; iincertain, 829. Nurnljer of patients
ii.sinj; l)(>il(Hl water, 800; inmiber not using boiled water, 8; unable to
cleteriiiine, 309.
Tn a few instances wlici-e a case of Typhoid Fever occurred in fami-
lies, they maintained that tiiey had been l)oiling both water and milk
since the outbreak of Typhoid Fever in September, and they further
staled that the patients had no! drank water or milk away from
home.
Since cases of Typiioid Fever occur almost constantly in Reading,
and as there are vei-y many paik.s and picnic grounds and small
camj)s, where the populace assemble on Sundays and holidays for
social gatherings, the danger of these local water supplies becoming
infected is great, esjiecially when we remember that it is claimed that
one i>er cent, of typh(»id patients harbor the germs of this disease in
their system and pass them off in the excreta for long periods after
the clinical systems have ceased. Special care was enjoined upon the
local health authoi-ities and the populace to safeguard these local
springs and stream.s in order that the possibility of infection may be
reduced to the minimum
REPORT OF THE NURSE IN CHARGE.
The following is a report of the work done by the District Nurses
during the Typhoid Fever epidemic in Reading in the fall and winter
of 1908:
The city was divided into districts, one nurse assigned to each dis-
trict, eight nui-ses being employed. The total number of cases re-
poited was six hundred and seventy-seven. Of this number ninety
cases were found to lie of secondary origin. Thirty deaths occurred.
The nur.ses visited the homes of each jiatient. Some had trained
jiurses, others competent caretakers, while many were transferred to
the various hospitals. After a thorough canvass of the city, which
included instructi<ms in the various households, where other than
trained help were caring for the patient, sixty-eight families were
found to require the services of the District Nurses. The patients
were visited once or twice daily, or oftener, as the needs of the
]»atient demanded. P.esides the actual care of the patient, the nurse
instructed a mend)er, or members, of the household just what to do
and how to care for the patients between the times of her visits.
We impressed on these the importance of isolating the patient, abso-
lute cleanliness, and instructions were given how to properly disinfect
the excreta, bed and body linen, and dishes used by the patient, etc.,
excreta, bed and body linen, and dishes used by the patient, etc.,
etc.
168 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Many families having compel ent cai'etakei'.s, but worn out by the
long vigil, secured an occasional night's rest by the nurse remaining
with the patient during this time. Sev^enteen families received such
service. One family having seven patients (tive of these were in a
precarious condition and could not be removed to the hospital) re-
quired the entire attention of two nurses. Prior to the arrival of the
nurses in the city the mother of this family died. The father being
the (Uily member escaping the- disease, tried to be nurse and house-
maid. The distress of this family and of many others who were
found unable to secure the many extras incident to a siege of this
kind — many of the afliicted ones wvre the Avage-earners, others had
been out of employment for a long time — prom^jted me to lay these
facts before Mayor Kick and members of the Board of Health, sug-
gesting that the ^fayor call a meeting of the various church and
charitable organizations, needlework guilds, etc., asking them to
raise ways and means to meet the demands of the needy poor. With
great promptness the Mayor called a meeting of the ladies from the
various societies. These responded quickly and in a very substantial
manner. Sufficient funds wei-e raised at this meeting to purchase sup-
plies, and a committee was appointed to take charge of the distribu-
tion of same under my direction. This work progressed in a very sat-
isfactory manner. Through this system of relief ninety-six families
were supplied with bed, bedding and wearing apparel. One hundred
and ten patients received sick-room supplies, such as alcohol, hot-
water bags, chloride of lime, etc., etc. These also received delicacies
when convalescent and their families were supplied with general gro-
ceries. Fifty-six were supplied with coal, amounting to one hundred
and twelve t(ms; twenty-seven sujiplied with milk, amounting to fifty-
one quarts daily.
Each day found (he committee at the post oC duty and no delay was
occasioned in filling the wants of the needy.
The ei»idemic occurring during the (-hrisinuis Holidays, many of
the afflicted families with childien to whom Christmas would have
passed without any sign of a Holiday, found cheer through the gen-
erosity of some citizens. These subscribed to the amount of one
hundred dollars. This amonnt was exftended for toys, books, candies,
etc. One bundled and seven l,\ -six chiblren \ver(; thus made happy.
A merchant of the city (en(bM-ed his wagon iind a real Santa Claus
to distrilnilc liic gifts. The l>. I*. (). 10. suitplied fowl (o twenty-three
families f'oi- Cliristnias dinner. Members of the Needlework Guild
made all the garments distributed. The United Tracti<m Company
supplied llic nuiscs willi i'vcc 1 1 aiis|»(tr(iilion.
The tol;il ;inioiin( of money rcceiNcd by ((Mih-ibni ion toward the
general i-elief fund ainoiinlcd to |7!).').2."i ; IIh; (o(al amouni (»f money
expended lo cover expenses of same, ^7J)2,87, The one hundred dollars
for toys w;is ;i separate item.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 169
l>et1eis of tliank.s were sent to tJiose co-operutiiif; in the coiuhatting
of this epidemic. The uur.ses, tlii'ou{i:h their iudefatigable elforts, did
iiiiich to relieve the suttering of those afflicted, and went about their
work in a cheerfnl manner, always ready to respond to a call at any
time. Besides the many duties of caring for the sick, they followed
up the work of the Health Officer, kept check on the distribution of
lime, reported condition of cesspools, and the general sanitary con-
dition of premises. Milk supplies were carefully looked after. The
total number of visits made by the nurses was fourteen hundred and
forty-seven. Total number of baths given, seven hundred and twenty.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE M. O'HALLOKAN,
Nurse in charge.
OFFICE OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
Reading, Pa., December 1, 1908.
Dear Sir: You and your employees are hereb\' ordered to dis-
continue the delivery of milk in bottles or such containers as are again
collected for use until otherwise ordered by the Board of Health.
SAMUEL Ct. DIXON,
(Jommissioner of Health.
WILLIAM RICK,
Mayor,
JOHN BECKER,
President Board of Health.
Direct inquiries to the Board of Health, City Hall.
OFFICE BOARD OF Hl^ALTH.
Kcadin.ii, l*a.. December 1, 1908.
Dear Sir: (Jwing to the exislcncc of ly|»hoid fever in our city,
you are hereby oi*dei*ed to rniiiish lo yoni- cnijdoyees for diinking pur-
l»oses only such water as has been boiled for a! least twenty minutes.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
WTLLT.\M TJiriC,
.Mayor.
• lollN liECKER.
President Hoard of Health.
Direct inquiries to the Htiard of Health, City Hall.
170 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
No
INSPECTION BLANK.
Street, No
Occupied by
Owned by
Address
Connected to Sewer
Surface Closet.
Cesspool.
Condition — Empty.
Half Full.
Overflowing.
Offensive.
Condition of Alleys
No cases of Typhoid on preini^u.s.
Date, 19
Inspector.
DIST. NURSE CARD.
Street No Householder
Name Age M. F B. W M. S. W. D
Date Insp. Nurse
No. of rooms Cleanliness
No. of Boarders No. of Children
Sep. Bed Sep. Room Light
Nursed by Other cases in the family
Dates of onset Circumstances of family
Do they have lime Chlor. Lime
Were discharges disinfected Are discharges disinfected
What disinfectant What strength
Stand in disinfectant solution, . .1 hr J hr few niin
How disposed of, Buried , sewer, pnvy ,
Bed and body clothing disinfected What disinfectant
What strength Allowed to stand 1 hr. J hr. lew min.
Are the eating utensils boiled How disinfected
Are milk and water boiled for 20 minutes
Does the nurse always disinfect her hands after handling the pntienl , bed or body
clothing What disinfectant
What strength Are daily visitK required
Needs of the family
Suspects 1 II since All. physician
Total number of visits
Total number of baths
Result
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 171
H. O. CENSUS CARD.
Name Address Age. .M. F B. W M. S. W.. . .
No
School attended
Occupation No. in family Wliere employed
Date of onset Date Dr's. first visit Dr's. name
Water supply: Regularly Occasionally
Milk supply: Regularly Occasionally
In bottles Individual containers
Ice: Regularly Occasionally
Dates and place of Picnics
?icnics 1
Visits i I^"i'''iS P^ist 30 days
Uncooked vegetables used Washed with what water?
Was water cress eaten past 30 days? From whom secured? . . .
Shellfish uncooked Where secured ?
Soda water used ? Where secured ?
Is the house connected to a sewer? Outside privy? . . .
Patient to be treated at home .... )
Hosoital f ^'^'^^'^ ^^'^y °^' ^^''" '-''^i' ^^^^^ ^ trained nui
Are discharges disinfected? With what? What strength? . . .
Are the discharges allowed to stand for one hour after disinfection?
What is done with the discharges? Sewer
? Sewer )
Privy j"
Is the bed and body clothing disinfected? With what?
In what strength ? How long?
Are the eating utensils boiled ? If not , how disinfected
Does the nurse or attendant always disiufect her hands after handling the patient,
bed or body clothing?
How ? In what strength ?
If family is needy, state needs
Will the patient be allowed to go to a hospital ?
Is lime provided? Are milk and water boile<l for '20 minutes
before using? Are there other oases in the house?
Dates of onset • • Dr's. name
Placarded Circular left
Do they keep a cow? To whom is milk sold?
172
isarae,
No.
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
Dr.
DATK
Hour T P R ACTION
REMARKS
A. U.
P il.
A. M.
1
P M.
A. M.
1
P M.
A. M.
P M.'
A. M.
P M.
A. M.
DIVISION OF VITAL STATISTICS.
WILMER R. BATT. M. D.. Slate Registrar.
(173)
12
(174)
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
No. 17.
MORTALITY.
One hundred and twelve thousand two hundred and fortj-six
(112,246) deaths, exclusive of still births, were registered during the
calendar year. The death rate was 15.7 per 1,000 of population; a
decrease of .8 in rate and of 3,723 in total deaths as compared with
the previous year. When applied to the increased population of the
State, this death rate represents a decrease of 5,519 deaths in 1908,
as compared with 1907.
This rather remarkably low death rate in Pennsylvania was shared
by other States composing the registration area of the United States,
and indicates a prevailing absence of fatal epidemics, as well as
an abatement of some of the ordinary causes of mortality throughout
the country.
From the following table showing the death rates for the registra-
tion area, and for each of the individual States composing the same,
it appears that the death rate for the entire area decreased 1.1 per
1,000 of population, between the years 1907 and 1908.
The rate for 1908, however, includes the States of Washington and
Wisconsin, which were added to the registration area for that year,
both of which have death rates considerably lower than the average
for the registration area.
The av^erage death rate for 1908 for the tifteen States included in
the registration area in 1907, was 16.0.
COiNII'ARISOX OF DEATH RATES OF THE STATES COMPOSING THE
KECISTRATION AREA FOR THE YEARS 1!)W, 1907. 1008.
1907.
Average rate for registration states ,
t'niiforniu, ,
( 'oltirado
('i)iini(tifUt
Iiidjaiiu - -
Maine - - -
Maryland,
Mnssaehu.sett.s
Mic'liigan
New iiaiiipsliire, -
New .Jersey, -
New York
Pennsylvaniu
Rlioile Island
South Dakota — .-
Vernjout, -
Washington - -
Wisconsin,
16.1
16.4
15.3
17.4
18.6
18.4
15.9
17.6
17.0
l(i.7
17.1
15.4
12.5
12.5
12.3
16.2
16.6
16.0
15.7
16.1
15.5
Ki.O
17.5
16.5
14.3
13.9
13.8
17.3 i
17.1
16.3
16.2
16.6
15.4
17.5
17.5
16.3
16.5
16.5
15.7
17.5
18.0
16.2
8.8
9.8
10.1
10.8 1
16.2
16.0
14.8
11.6
(175)
176
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doe.
DEATHS BY MONTHS AND QUARTERS WITH CORRESPONDING AN-
NUAL RATES PER 1,000 OF POPULATION.
By Months.
Deaths. Kates
By Quarters.
Deaths. Rates
January,
February,
March, ...
April,
May
June
July
August, -.
September,
October, .
November,
December,
11,620
10,639
10,478
9,365
8,455
7,666
9,534
9,708
8,999
8,428
8,526
8,828
19.3
18.7
17.3
15.9
13.9
13.1
15.8
16.0
15.4
13.9
14.5
14.6
32,737
25,486
28,241
25,782
18.4
14.3
15.7
14.4
The month of January furnished the highest death rate, and in all
of the months in the first quarter the rates exceeded those of 1907.
In the remaining months the rates were all below the corresponding
rates for the previous year with the exception of November, in which
the rate was greater by .1.
Of the total deaths, 60,861 occurred to males and 51,385 to females,
giving a death rate per 1,000 of each sex of 16.8 for males and 14.6 for
females.
The death rates of children under 15 years of age show a slight in-
crease over 1907, while the rates at all subsequent age periods show a
decrease. In like manner the percentage of deaths in each age period
to the total at all ages shows a slight increase in the ages less than 15
years and a decrease at subsequent ages.
CM.MI'.VJilSO.N (»F I)E.\'I'1I R.\TES AT CERTAIN A(;E i'ERIODS FOR THE
yE.XRS I'.Mh; 1!M)S, IN'dElISIVP].
Age Pi;rioilB.
Death rates per 1
Jatlun at corr
ajTc^H .
000 popu-
'Hpolirllntf
1906.
1907.
1908.
Under 1/ year*
48.6
3.3
6.1
7.0
10.1
14.8
30.2
.01.4
133.4
282.9
44.7
3.0
6.0
7.9
10.1)
U.Ji
■M).r>
li:iJ>
140.8
'.m.o
46 3
.'» to 14 yituTH .
3.1
LO to 24 yi'UTH, . .
6 3
2f» to 'M yi-UTH, . ..
7 0
36 to 44 yi-ufM, . .
0 !>
46 to CA yciirn, . .'
14,9
66 to 64 yf!urn, .
27.8
.'-.8.7
134. C
283 7
06 to 74 yeftrH,
Over 86 yimrH .^..,. ...
0
■?
0)
t 0 c
? Z 0 DD H
H
0
0
>
m V
0 I
< -i
>
n
n
I I 0
) ^ "D 5 <
X}
0
>
D
^ z
J. n
n <^
n
s
>
i>
s i If
ffl ^ "
1 {: I Q "D
n
z
7
0
0 P
o >
0 01
(1)
71
> S H ? ^
I
0
n
V
J c
!„ ^
r n
r
ni
0)
r
n
<
ni
1 z 3 I 2
! N g ^ ^
) ' > ^ S
n
C
n
n
z
?
r
>
1
^
MONIA (true)
TS DISEASE
> 0
_ CO
H
C
I
5 ^
n 0
Ci)
0)
0
z
! 1
0)
I I
% ^\\
i i
; j
^ w
1 J_
1
i
i
T T
j :
-^ _!- _°
; 0
U-
':3
i
■
I
-_
ro
i p
^
\
;
■>
i °
\^
)
i
i
1 "
\\l
\
\
' 0
i 0
La ; ; ■
s
•
- - 1
i
; 0
'1
1 i
ii 1
; ;
i o
LJ
U ]
■' ; 0
i ■ '
i 0.
0
0
M
0
~ '
0
LIL ■
; ; 0
o
i i :
i 0
o
0
' ' H
'— '
si d ?
B y §
W'
No. 1 7.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
DEATH P.V SHX AND AGK PERIODS.
177
■'' -'
Per Ci'tit. of Deaths at each
— si
Deaths.
Age to Total at All Ages.
•a -<
Aftes.
i
.
1
c ^
<n 3
c - .i
&«- '^
o
o
5 1 »:
Eos
b^
a
^
fri
a 1 fa
Ph
All ages,
UiifJer 1 year,
1 to 2 years
2 to ;{ years
:t to 4 years,
4 to .'i year-sA
1'otal under i> years
a to !» years,
10 to 14 years, -
ir> to 1!) years,
20 to 24 years,
2') to 2!) years,
a) to :u years
115 to 39 years
40 to 44 years, -
4.'> to ^9 years
.00 to 54 years
.">.■> to 50 years
60 to f>4 years
65 to fiJ< years
70 to 74 years
75 to 70 years,
80 to 84 years,
85 to 89 years -
90 to 'J4 years
95 years anrl over, ...
112,246
26,643
5,820
2,.';02
\,r>28
1,065
37.558
2,870
1,741
3,951
4,2»t
4.:«1
4,202
4,526
4,22fr
4,."k%
4,771
5,057
5,875
6,276
6,. 307
5,719
4,176
2,U36
636
162
60,861
51,.'?85
]4,!»:»
:{,<):!6
1,30.S
796
.%2
20,636
1,444
8ie
1,621
2, 320
2,466
2,377
2,. '587
2,491
2,767
2,706
2,887
3,202
3,260
3,197
2,939
1,931
849
230
49
11,704
2,781
l.llK)
7.32
503
23.7
5.2
2.2
1.4
.9
24.6
5.0
2.1
1.3
.0
16,922
1,426
&13
1,330
1,914
1,865
1,825
1,939
1,736
1,819
2,065
2,170
2,675
3,016
3,110
2,780
2,245
1,187
406
33.4
2.5
1.6 !
2.6
3.8
3.9
3.8
4.0
3.8
4.0
4.2
4.5
5.2
5.6
5.6
5.2
3.8
1.8 i
.6 1
.1
33.9
2.4
1.5
2.7
3.7
4.0
3.7
4.2
4.0
4.6
4.5
4.7
5.3
5.4
5.3
4.9
3.2
1.4
.4
.09
22.8
5.4
2.4
1.4
.9
32.9
2.8
1.7
2.6
3.8
3.6
3.6
3.8
3.4
3.6
4.0
4.2
5.2
5.9
5.9
5.4
4.3
2.3
.8
128
109
108
108
111
101
106
121
121
132
130
133
143
152
131
133
120
108
102
105
86
71
56
43
The doath rate per 1,000 of native jxipulatiou was 14.7; of native
males, 15..") and of native females, lo.S.
The deatli rate jter 1,000 of foreig^n jiopulation was iMl.l ; of foreign
males. 21.2 and of forei<;n females, lO.S.
It would llms appear in coiiiiJaiison wiili tlic year I'.HIT that a re-
duction of the o-eneral death rate was inllncnccd hy the decrease of
deaths amonji- the foreign population, and particularly amonji foreijjn
males. This would seem to he further home out hy a I'efereuce to
the general tahles in which it will he loiiiid ihai there is a decided re-
duction in deaths of males from violence, inclnding those industrial
accidents in which the foreign males are so Ireiniently involved
(mines, mills, ((uarries, railroad, etc.*, as well as in those causes of
death which arc frcMinciitly intlnciiccd hy male occupations through
exposure, etc.
At the same time it must he rememhered tlial the year lOOS was one
of sevei-e industrial dejuession throughout the State and that many
males of foi-eign hirth returned temporarily to their native homes.
Tlierefore. there is a very strong prohahility that the foreign death
rate hased u|)on the estimated ]»opulation appears lower tlian it
really was. -Inst how much the status of forc<ign population was
12—17—1908
178
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
disturbed bv emigration during the jear will not be ascertainable
until the census of 1910. It will be noticed that the death rate of
foreign females, whose number is much less likely to be affected by
temporary emigration, remained practically the same as during the
previous year.
Of the individual causes of death which show decided declines, the
most prominent ones in addition to violence are typhoid fever, tuber-
culosis, diphtheria and pneumonia.
A comparison of the death rates for the several population groups
with similar rates for the previous years (190G and 1007), shows that
there was a decrease in each of the nine groups, with the exception of
group five (cities and boroughs of between 10,000 and 25,000 popula-
tion), and group seven (boroughs of between 2,500 and 5,000 popula-
tion).
It will be noted that during the years 1900 and 1907 Pittsburg ap-
pears in group two, and for the year 1908 in grouj) one. This change
became necessary through the increase in population arising from the
consolidation with the city of Allegheny, which ceased to be a sepa-
rate registration district on January 1, 1908.
In considering the general death rates for individual municipalities
of comparatively small populations, it must be noted that the appa-
rently high death rates in certain places are greatly augmented
through deaths in hospitals and other institutions located within
their limits whose inmates are recruited from a large surrounding
territory, or perhaps, from the entire State. As an example, Norris-
town presents a high death rate, which is contributed to by the deaths
in a large State Hospital for the Insane, and also by deaths in a
Hospital which receives patients from (]uite a large area beyond its
corporate and population limits.
For this reason, general death rates must be used with caution.
It is hoped with the revised statistics, which should be available from
the Federal (.'ensus of 1910, to i)resent death rates for that year for all
of our princijial cities and boroughs which have been corrected so
far as Die deaths of non-residents are concerned, and also so far as
dis1ributif)n of pojmlalion by sex, age periods and nativity may in-
fluence them.
DEATHS HV A(JE PERIODS, 1!»()(;-1J>0S.
1006.
1907.
1008.
All agcH
114,436
116,969
112,264
L'nf|(!r 1 yf;ar . .
27,908
0,12r)
i,:m
1,403
1,000
20,229
r>J>27
2,2H0
i,:i7i)
1,018
26,613
f) 820
1 to 2 y<;ar«, .
2 to :i yi-.aTA,
2 602
3 to 4 year«,
1 628
4 to 0 yearH „
1006
Total under 0 years
38,961
36,433
37,658
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
DEATH BY AGE PERIODS.— Continued
179
1906.
1907.
1906.
5 to 9 years - 2,916
10 to 14 years 1,897
15 to 19 years - 3,402
20 to ?4 years, - 4,744
2.0 to 29 years, - - - - 4,779
30 to 34 years, — - — 4,562
35 to 39 years, - - ' 4,771
40 to 44 years, - - — -! 4,199
45 to 49 years — - - - ' 4,457
1)0 to 54 years, - 4,559
55 to 59 years, - -—- 4,911
60 to 64 years, - 5,571
65 to 69 years, -- 6,026
70 to 74 years, I 6,130
75 to 79 years, ; - I 5,602
SO to 84 years — 3,861
85 to 89 years, - 1,972
90 to 94 j'ears, - - 639
95 + - - - 1 1&4
Unknown 332
2,710
2,870
1.783
1,741
3,249
2,951
4,868
4,234
4,887
4,331
4,717
4,202
4,997
4,526
4,669
4,227
4,751
4,586
4,901
4,771
5,263
5,057
6,150
5,8T5
6,510
6,276
6,731
6,307
5,933
5,719
4,271
4,176
2,199
2,0.36
668
636
172
162
107
5
DEATH RATES FOR THE YEARS lOOC, V.)i)l AND 190S. FOR CERTAIN
CITIES AND BOROUGHS AND GROURS OF POPULATION.
1906.
1907,
1906.
Group 1:
Cities over 500,000 population,
Philiiflelphia,
Pittsburg,
19.3
19.3
Group 2:
Cities between 100,000 and 500,000,
Scranton
Pitt.«burg
Group 3:
Cities between .Oo.chk* and lOo.onO,
Krie
Harrisburg,
Reading
Wilkcs-Barre,
Group 4:
Cities and boroughs between 25,000 and 50,000,
Allentown,
Altoona,
Cliester
Kaston
Johnstown
Lancaster.
MeKoosport ,
Now ('a.«tlr
Norristown
Williamfport,
York
Group 5:
Cities and boroughs between 10,000 and 25,000,
Beavor Falls
Bniildock
Uriidford -
But lor,
CnrhDiidale
('ill lisle
Culiitubia, -
DuBdis,
punsmore, - ..-- , ,
18.8
16.5
19.9
14.7
14.5
14.8
14.5
14.9
17.4
16.3
15.0
16.5
15.7
16.9
14.7
19.9
13.8
25.6
16.4
14.8
15.7
14.7
23.0
12.4
22.2
19.8
12.8
11.6
13.7
17.0
18.8
18.8
18.1
16.9
19.2
15.8
16.0
15.3
15.3
17.0
17.6
17.8
14.1
16.2
16.4
16.1
12.7
19.7
14.6
26.1
18.0
16.1
15.4 I
14.9 I
23.6 ,
10.9
23.1
17.6 I
15.5 :
11.8 I
13.0
14.0
17.1
17.4
16.5
16.5
16.5
16.2
16.0
14.4
14.4
15.8
15.9
17.1
1S.6
15.3
13.4
16.0
14.3
16.2
12.3
2tA
17.0
14.4
15.6
15.2
20.1
10.9
19.8
16.9
14.2
11.1
11.1
15.9
180
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
DEATH RATES FOR THE YEARS 190(J, I'JOT AND 190S. FOR CERTAIN
CITIES AND BOROUGHS AND GROUPS OF POPULATION.— Coutimied.
1906.
1907.
1908.
Group 5— Continued:
Duquesne
Hazletou _ ..
23.0
13.5
19.2
15.7
20.3
13.2
12.8
18.8
12.0
20.0
15.4
16.3
19.0
14.1
18.6
24.3
19.1
18.0
15.1
11.4
21.0
14.3
17.7
16.4
14.0
14.0
19.0
13.2
15.3
24.0
17.6
25.0
12.0
27.3
22.1
18.2
17.8
14.2
17.7
19.1
12.1
19.0
14.0
15.6
18.2
15.1
16.6
11.6
18.9
15.0
17.8
21.7
12.0
24.8
19.7
19.1
18.6
13.7
9.9
23.4
12.9
17.2
18.1
14.6
11.3
15.5
14.3
16.6
18.0
14.6
16.0
15.7
24.9
19.5
17.5
16.0
17.3
20.0
16.2
11.0
Homestead, _
15.2
Lebiinon ___
13.6
Malianny City .
18. t
Meadville, ._ _..
15.9
>It. Carnirl
Nanticoke -. — -
13.5
20.8
Oil Citv,
12.8
Pittston.
22.0
Plynioutli.
Pottstowu, _. ...
1.5.2
15.0
Pottsville, .
21.3
Shamokin,
12.3
Siiaron, . .
17.3
Shenandoah, .. .. ... .
20.1
South Bethlehem,
Steelton. ._
16.7
13.3
Sunbury .. . .__ .
13.6
Warren . . .
10.3
West Che.ster
Wilkinsburg, .
22.0
12.7
Group 6:
Cities and boroughs between 5,oo») ;ind io,(kio,
16.7
18.0
Ashland,
14.0
12.4
Bethlehem,
13.0
Bristol .
- 12.3
16.0
16 7
Chaiiibersburg ... .
19 3
16 0
Clearfield
12 1
20.8
Connell.'iville,
15 3
17 1
Corry
18 0
Danville
13 9
Dickson City,
27.0
22 5
Edwardsville
20.0
15.7
16.3
16.0
10.0
29.6
13.2
17.9
16.1
14.7
12.5
10.2
12.8
20.3
17.0
11.9
25.6
18.1
29.3
13.6
17.2
13.0
16.2
16.8
18.8
15.9
.•«.2
25.0
14.4
20.0
23.8
2.5.2
24.5
10.3
22.0
15.8
17.0
13.2
10.0
21.6
15.2
13.9
14.6
13.3
10.6
9.0
13.7
19.0
24.6
9.3
21.8
17.(1
21 .0
14.6
11.9
13.8
18.0
18.3
24.2
17.2
25.8
:il.2
14.3
20.3
14.9
2:1.3
18.2
11.4
20 0
Ktna,
14 2
Forest City
15.5
Franklin
15.0
Freelaud
13 1
Greenshurg
•'1 1
(Jreenville,
13 2
Hanover
11 8
Huntingdon . .
12 5
12 1
Jeannette
13 7
John.ionburg
8 5
Kane,
Lansford
12.0
I.atrobe
]'.) 8
jAthighUin
12 5
Lewlntdwri
17 6
Lock Haven
MrKe.M Rocks,
IH.d
Mlddl.tf.wn
Mill vale
13. H
1 1 (i
Milton
n.ii
MInerHvllle
17.6
Monoii(,'ahi!la
Mt. PleiiHant,
Now HrlKliton
15.5
23.7
30.0
10.0
North Braddock
OI<l Forge
f^lypliant,
PlKjenlxvllle,
Piinxsutawney
17.6
17.5
16 ')
Rochester
Saint (;ialr
Saint JMarys
10.0
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
181
DEATH KATES FOR THE YEARS lUOG, 11)07 AND 1008. FUR CERTAIN
CITIES AND KOROL'CiHS AND GROUPS OF POl'ULATION.— Continued.
Group 6— Contiuued:
Sayre
Scottdulc --
Sliarpsburg,
Tauiariua
Tarentuni
Tltusvlllt"
Tyrone,
rnioiitown
Wasihington,
Waynesboro,
VVest J'iltston -
Wilnierdiiig
Windber, .
Group 7:
All cities and boroughs between 2, .500 and .5,000,
Group 8:
All boroughs under 2,500,
Group 9:
All rural districts, --
22.8
11.1
13.4
13.6
15.2
13.6
11.0
29.4
27.1
14.1
11.2
15.2
14.1
20.1
13.2
23.8
13.1
14.1
13.8
17.6
14.8
14.1
30.4
21.2
16.5
11.8
U.Jf
11.8
20.0
14.4
23.4
9.0
10.8
15.5
13.7
14.8
16.2
28.9
20.4
12.1
16.U
12.4
22.5
14.7
18.0
13.4
TYPHOID FEVEH.
Two tlionsaiid four hundred and fifty (2,450) deaths from this
cause occurred during llie year, a decrease of 1,()S8 as compared with
1907. The death rate per 100,000 of ].oi.ulati(.n fell from 50.8 to 34.3
during the same period.
The average rale of Ihe regisli-atioii Stales declined 4.7 between
1007 and 10(>8, and among the imlixidiial Stales 7 show increased and
8 decreased rates.
The total decline in the average rate f(»r liie three year period for
the registration area was 7.1! and in reiinsylvania l'l'.i'.
liy reference to the m<trl)idily statistics it will he noted tiiat ir),ir»7
cases of typhoid fever were repmied during Ihe year; the case rale
mortalily, Iherefoi-e, was 1. "».."• per cent.
Pennsylvania's past recoi-d so far as lyplntid I'evei- is cniicerned has
been admittedly had, not <tnly s|>asm<>(lically had. as illustrated hy
Plym(»ulh, Huller, Scranioii and iinnieroiis dther smallei- epidemics,
but consistently and const.uilly had.
In view of this fact the greatly deci-easing death rate is a subject
for congratulation to the people of the Slate.
The actual decrease in ])oint of numbers does not truly represent
the saving of life. While the deaths fr(»m typhoid lever were actually
1,088 less in 1908 than in l!)(i7. IkhI the death rate of 1907 existed in
1S2
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
1908, there would have been 3,590 deaths in place of 2,450, and like-
wise, if the death rate of only two rears ago had prevailed, there
would have been 4,029 deaths.
The same rule applies, of course, to other diseases and indicates
the necessity of applying past and present death rates to the in-
creased population in estimating the actual reduction in given causes.
A comparison of the death rates from typhoid fever per 100,000 of
population for the States composing the registration area for the
vears 3906, 1907 and 1908 is as follows:
1906.
Average rate,
31.6
California,
Colorado,
Connecticut,
Indiana,
Maine,
Maryland -.-
Massachusetts, .
Michigan .-.
New Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New York
Pennsylvania, ...
Rhode Island, ..
South Dakota, -
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin
39.6
56.0
22.1
35.9
18.5
•10.5
16.1
27.8
21.0
16.8
19.3
56.5
16.5
21.0
19.4
32.5
63.7
20.5
34.6
17.7
40.3
12.9
22.7
11.9
18.9
20.3
50.3
11.0
19.5
10.8
24.4
31.4
47.4
18.5
32.7
20.8
38.9
16.7
25.9
18.9
14.9
16.4
34.3
12.9
20.1
19,3
44.2
13.9
The following table shows the percentage of cases and deaths to
total cases and deaths according to months for the years 1906, 1907
and 1908:
Percentage of Cases.
Percentage of Deaths.
1906.
1907.
1908.
1900.
1907.
15.4
10.9
9.3
13.4
10.9
7.9
8.4
10.5
5.8
0.4
7.9
8.3
5.0
5.5
10.0
0.8
4.9
3.8
8.8
6.7
5.2
4.1
5.1
5.0
5.3
6.5
5.7
5.0
9.2
11.2
7.8
7.5
9.7
15.7
8.9
10.5
10.5
11.2
9.4
9.8
9.7
9.3
8.7
8.3
7.8
7.5
10. 0
8.2
•January,
February,
March, ...
April, ...
May,
June,
July
AugUHt, ..
September,
October, .
November,
December,
8.9
9.4
7.7
8.8
7.6
4.9
5.6
8.3
9.6
9.8
7.8
11.6
11.8
10.4
8.8
7.7
5.3
4.1
5.2
9.4
11.9
9.7
7.7
8.0
TIm' diagram showing IIm' dcallis fi-<»m 1y|»hoid fever by monlhs in
compjiiison willi the picccdiiig two years will iliuslrale the Very
general and iinilorin decline of this disease throughoiil I lie State, and
at the same time indicale 11m* conlinned (cmldicy of llic disease 1o in-
crease in the la1(; summer and early aulnninal mondis.
1908
190?'
190&
Diagram Showing the Comparative Mortality from Typhoid Fever by the
number of Decedents for Each Month for the Years lOOG, 1007 and
190S.
No. 17.
COiMRJiSSlONER OF HEALTH.
183
The chart I'iuHkm- shows liv the iihsciui' of ixny siuldeii variations
that no localized epidemics occui iv<l <hiring the year.
In the following- table the deaths hy age periods for 19f)8, in com-
parison with the i»re(ediiig two years, show a decrease in every quin-
qnennial period up to the eightieth year.
The tal)le also shows the tendency of this disease to attack those
in early adult life, reaping its greatest harvest of deaths l)etween the
ages of l.~) and .3.") vears.
DEATHS FROM TVPHOH:) FEVER BY SEX AND AGE PERIODS FOR THE
VEARS l!K)(i-li)08, INCLUSIVE.
Total at all ages
Males
Females
Under 1 year
1 to 2 years,
2 to :i years,
'.i to 4 years
4 to i") years,
Total under 5 years
.5 to 9 years,
10 to 14 years,
Vi to 19 years,
20 to 24 years
2.) to 29 years
30 to 34 years,
lid to 39 years,
40 to 44 years
4ij to 49 years,
.lO to o4 years
;V) to 39 years,
(iO to CA years
().") to an years,
70 to 74 years
70 to 79 years
80 to S4 years,
KO +
3,917
2,393
1,524
234
.5-59
377
294
210
137
120
110
iiS
38
2}>
13
3,538
2,152
1,386
142
2,450
1,449
1,001
155
148
221
158
515
348
063
406
524
.328
:i55
256
291
172
187
114
154
lie
113
99
80
t)5
51
51
40
ii
:«l
16
13
U)
3
5
0
2
The cilies :ili(l l»(ii-uiiglis willi |»o|iul;it iolis exceeding .■■>,(l(l() in which
the death rate exceeded the Stale rate are as follows:
AltOOIlH
Hr:i<ld()(k.
Mutler
Carbondale, ...
Clianibcrsburg,
Cluirleroi
Coatosvilie
Danville
Kric,
<1n?ensl>iirg,
lliirrishiirg,
.lohnstowu, ...
.Mckcfsjiort
.Meiiilvilio
Xfw (.'astle
Norristown,
Oil City
Philadelphia, ...
."iG.
98.
.')5 .
45.
40.
07.
84.
37.
02.
181.
.V2.
87,
86.
41.
67.
45.
46.
35.
I'lioeni.wille. .
PittsbiirfT
Plymouth. ...
Pottstown. ..
Pottsville
Reading,
Ridnway
Rochester,
Royersfonl. .
Sharon
Steelton,
St. Marys. ..
I'liiontown. ..
\Va.-;|iJHL'toii. ,
West C'iK'stcr,
W'ilkiiishurt;. .
Willianisport,
102.7
46.6
41.0
78.4
58.9
.52.5
152.1
109.1
l.W.l
244.4
69.0
66.6
233.3
200.0
121.2
41.9
46.6
184
THIRD ANNUAI? REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
DIPHTHEKIA.
One thousand nine hundred and seventy (1,970) deaths occnrred
from This cause. The death rate per 100,000 of population was 27.6,
a decrease of 108 in number of deaths and of 2.8 in the death rate as
compared with the previous year.
The average death rates tiH>m this disease show a continued de-
crease in the registration area, although the rates in several of the
States are slightly higher in 1908 than in the preceding year.
As an evidence of the efliciency of antitoxin, to the use of which
during the past fifteen years the reduction in the death rate of diph-
theria is very largely due, it is well to recall that in 1890 in the regis-
tration area of the United States the death rate per 100,000 of i)opu-
lation was 97.8, and that this rate applied to Pennsylvania for the
year 1908 would have given 6,980 deaths in ])lace of the 1,970 which
did occur.
A comparison of the death rates from diphtheria per 100,000 of
population for the States composing the registration area for the
years 1906, 1907 and 1908 is as follows:
A\ciaKt' rate,
California
Colorado
Connecticut,
Indiana
Maine,
Maryland
Massachusetts,
Miciiigan
New ilanipshlre.
New .lersey
.New York
Pennsylvania, ..
lUiode Island, ..
South Dakota,
\'eri(iont,
WiishinptJin, --.
Wir-eoiisin
1906.
1907.
14.3
15.1
27.4
14.9
16.2
25.7
25.4
18.1
21.0
iil.O
82.7
.^5.2
25.7
32.2
19.7
22.3
21 ] 5
24.9
12.7
10.7
15.. 3
24.9
15.9
22.2
30.8
30.5
30.4
24.8
1G.8
10.5
22.4
28^4
19.3
11.7
14.1
13.7
24.3
13.1
24.3
23.4
28.3
27.0
29.5
21.8
11.3
35.4
17.9
DRATllS VnOM DIl'llTllKKIA BY MONTHS.
No. 17.
OORIMISSIONKR OP' UKAI/rif.
185
'I'lic iMTcciitii^c III' (Icatlis Id i-c|m)|-I(m1 cjisc.^. or llic cjisc nilc iiinr
Uililv liv iiKditlis. shows ImiI ;i slight \;iii;il ion in lIic ni;ili^ii;in»v of
llic discjis*' ;it (lillcrcnl seasons of the ,v<'ar, Ihc rales J'or .May and
-IiUKN 1\vo of Ihc lowcsi iiioiiihs in poini of deaths, hein^ directly
conij/ai'jdile wilii No\('inl»er and I )eccinlM'i-, ihe iwn hi;:hesl niontlis.
The first <|narter of the year, howcxcr, shows an a\'eraji(' rale ralher
lii}«her than any oliier (inai-lcr:
CASV: It.VTl'] .MOKT.M.ITV HV .\[0\'I1!S.
Average,
.laiiuary,
February,
March, ..
•Vpri), ...
.May
June, ..-
July, ....
.Augu.st, .
Si pteinber
October,
November,
December,
22.4
20.3
15.7
25.5
r
23.6 1
20.2
24.0
20.0 I
21.7
23.9
18.8 I
17.1
22.6
18.8
20.1
22.1
21.7
13.7
15.4
17.9
15.5
20.3
17.3
13.5
27.3
19.8
18.3
21.1
20.9
13.7
20.0
20.7 :
12.1
21.1
18.7 '
13.9
25.6
19.6 i
15.6
Tlio following table shows that while 95.3 per cent, of all deaths
occur under 15 years of age, no single quinquennial age period from
biitli to 75 years is free from Ihis cause of mortality.
DKATII.S KJJO.M nii'irrUERIA BY SEX AND AGE PERIODS. 1906-1908.
INCLTSIVE.
Total at all ages.
Males, ..
KeHiules,
ruder 1 year,
1 to 1 J ears,
2 to 3 years, .
.; tu 4 years,
4 to 5 years,
Total under 5 years.
to 'J
to 14
to 1!)
to 24
to 29
to 34
to 3!)
to 44
to 49
to 54
to .59
to M
to 69
to 74
+ --.
years,
years,
years,
years,
years,
years,
years ,
years,
years,
years,
years,
years,
years,
years.
2,4.-^8
2,138
1,970
1,214
1,115
999
1,224
1,023
971
173
170
168
373
351
S22
363
337
306
319
267
264
303
248
214
1,531
1,373
1,274
64S
.■>29
.500
144
119
10.{
44
48
28
18
22
21
15
11
9
14
8
11
8
6
■i
3
4
f>
4
2
2
2
ft
2
0
2
6
0
2
1
4
3
1
2
2
1
1
2
1
186
THIRL) ANNUAL REPORT OP THE
Off. Doc.
SCAB LET FEVER.
Deaths from scarlet fever nnmbei'ed l/JIT, an inerease of 560 as
compared with tlie previous vear. The death rate per 100,000 of popu-
lation increased from O.o in 1007 to 17.1. During the same period the
death rate in the registration area increased from 9.6 to 13.0. This
increase was most noticeable in the contiguous registration States
of Xew York. New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in which the rates are
rather closely ai>i>roxiniated, indicating the presence of this disease
in an epidemic forui over that territory.
The case rate mortality in 1008 was 8.4.
A comi)arisou of the death rates from scarlet fever per 100,000 of
population for the States composing the registration area for the
years 1006. 1007 and 1908 is as follows:
1906.
1907.
Avorase rate
California,
Colorado, -
Connectieut,
Indiana
Ml
line,
Maryland, -
Massachusetts,
Michigan --
New Hampshire,
New Jersey, -.-
New Vork,
Pennsylvania. -.
Rhode Island ..
South Dakota, .
Veiiijont,
Washington, ..-
Wisconsin,
3.'j
16.5
9.6
4.4
■.i.n
•2.0
2.«
10.1
6.5
2.1
13.9
12.9
9.3
28.4
4.2
2.3
13.0
6.3
28.2
H.O
3.4
2.4
7.4
12.4
7.4
1.4
18.6
20.5
17.1
7.0
8.2
2.3
5.6
5.7
DEATHS FRO.M SfARLET FEVER P. Y SEX AND AGE PERIODS FOR
THE YEARS 1906 TO 1908, INCLUSIVE.
'lotal at all ages.
MaleH, ..
Females,
Under 1 year,
to 2
to 3
to 4
to 5
years,
years,
years ,
years,
Total under 5 years,
5 to 9 years,
10 to 14 years.
If) U} 19 years,
20 to 21 years,
26 to 2t< years,
30 to 34 years,
Over .if) years,
Unknown,
1906.
1907.
577
657
270
326
621
307
331
596
43
26
62
69
.%
-id
90
100
191
92
89
170
62
79
13(J
356
171
28
11
6
6
4
1
1
394
102
88
11
10
5
8
4
0
1908.
1,217
707
DIPHTHETRIA
WHOOPING COUGH
SCAPLET FEVCP
MCA5LE5
Diagram Showing the Comparative Mortality from Diphtheria, Whoop-
ingcough. Scarlet Fever and Measles by the Number of Decedents from
Each Cause by Months.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
187
DEATHS FROM SCARLET FEVER BY MONTHS FOR THE YEARS 1906
TO lOOS, INCLT'SIVE.
Total, ...
January,
February,
March, ..
April, ...
May,
June,
July, ....
August, .
September,
October,
November,
December,
1,217
51
65
109
62
63
KJ8
ae
57
1:J6
67
40
135
72
39 1
99
32
42
65
38
29 '
58
28
41
55
34
52 ■
85
33
63
114
53
77 i
127
48
89 '
126
MEASLES.
Deaths from measles numbered 1,215, an increase (»!" .■')()1 as com-
pared with ]907. The death rate per 100,000 of jxjpiiiation was 17.(1,
an increase of 7.2. The death rate increased in the lejjistration area
1.1 during- the same period. The extent to whicli this disease pre-
vailed during the year may be partially understood by reference to
the morbidity tables, from which it will be noted that ;i7,0Sl cases
of this disease were reported to the Dei)artment of Health during the
year. As large as this number was, it is very probable that many
cases were unreported owing to the slight regard in which the dis-
ease is held by many parents who do not employ skilled medical atten-
tion in its treatment.
A couiparison of the death rates from measles per 100,000 of p<»])U-
lation for the States comprising the registi-ation area for the yenrs
1906, 1907 and 1908 is as follows:
1906.
AveraKe rate.
13.2
9.9
11.0
Callforniu
Colorado
Conuecticut,
Indiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts, ..
Michigan
New Hampshire,
New Jersey -
New York
Ponn.sylvunla, ..
Rhode Island, ..
South Dakota, .-
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin -
10.1
3.4
15.3
2.8
15.2
5.6
11.0
9.9
3.7
10.2
15.3
21.1
24.9
5.6
8.8
10.9
30.7'
6.8
8.2
4.6
10.5
8.7
9.4
4.6
6.6
11.6
10.2
6.2
11.3
2.6
5.2
10.4
8.1
7.4
3.1
6.0
15.5
4.5
4.1
8.1
13.6
17.0
15.9
21.1
2.6
3.4
4.1
188
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THh:
Off. Doc.
DEATHS Fi;(>.\[ ^[KASLES BY SEX AND AGE PERIODS, inOG TO 101)8.
INCLUSIVE.
Total at all ages,
Males,
Females,
Under 1 year,
1 to 2 years,
2 to ."! years, .-
3 to 4 years,
4 to 5 years,
1'otal under 0 years,
5 to 9 years,
10 to 14 years _. .
15 to 19 years,
20 to 24 years,
25 to 29 years, _
30 to 34 years,
35 to 3!) years,
40 to 44 years,
45 to 49 years,
Over 50 years,
1,463
785
380
640
678 !
334
575
5m
206
291
478
231
411
210
112
179
IIG
48
103
70
31
64
1,240 :
628
1,048
129
28
19
16
51 I
9
4
8
2
2
3
2
4
1
1,215
116
19
WHOOPINGCOUGH.
iJeatli.s Iroiii I his (li.seaso iiiiiiibeird l/-^()4, a decrease ol' 2'S as com-
pared with 1!M)T. The death rate per 100,000 of popuhition decrea!<ed
,G during the same period.
The death rate in the registration area of States declined from 11.7
in ]I)07 to 11.1 in 1908. The greatest number of deaths occurred
during the summer months, as in the previous years; 53.7 per cent, of
all deaths from this cause occurred to children under one year of age
and 05.8 per cent, to children under five years of age.
A comparison of the death rates from whooping cough per 100,000
of popuhitifm foi' the States composing the registration area for the
years 1000, 1907 and 1908 is as follows:
1906.
1907.
1908.
.\veraRC rate,
16.5
11.7
11.1
<'a)ifornia
5.9
15.3
20.9
12.0
13.6
30.2
23.1
17.8
19.0
16.7
9.9
22.4
19.0
19.3
6.0
8.4
7.8
12.0
5.9
9.9
11.0
11.1
8.2
15.1
10.0
9.1
18.3
17.0
28.7
14.8
7.8
Colorado
22.3
('oniu'ctlcut,
8.1
Indiana
15.0
Maine "
10.3
Maryland,
10.3
Ma>^HachUHCtt8 - ...
13.2
MIchlKun ^
11.0
New Hampshire, ,
9.3
yi'.^r JerHey, ,
New York, _
10.3
6.0
PenpHylvanla, .' ,
17.7
Rhodi! Island _.
6.3
South Dakota .•.
8.0
Vermont
13.0
WachinKton „.........._ . ..
4.0
Wlweonnln, ... . ,
8.3
No. 17.
CO.MMLS8IONHR OF IIKALTII.
189
DEATHS FROM WIIOOPINGCOUGH BY SEX AND AGl'] I'EIUODS FOR
190G TO 1908, INCLUSIVE.
1006. 1907. I 1908.
Total at all ages,
Males -
Females,
Under 1 year,
1 to 2 years
2 to 3 years,
.3 to i years,
4 to 5 jears,
Total under 5 years,
5 to !) years, -.
Over 10 years,
1,560 1,287
1,264
679
612
532
871
675
732
881
731
879
251
338
312
135
114
122
a.",
52 .
77
58
25
32
1,491
1,260 ;
1,222
51
20
37
6
7
6
TUBEKCULOSIS.
Ten Ihoiisand two Limdved and eleven (10,211) deaths occuned
from tuberculosis in all forms during the year, a decrease of 614 as
compared with the previous year. All of this decrease is to be found
in the deatlis from tuberculosis of the lungs, which numbered 8,T0.*>,
while deaths from tuberculosis of other organs remained exactly the
same as in the previous year, 1,508.
The forms of tuberculosis represented with the percentage in each
group to total deaths from this cause are as follows:
Deaths.
Per Cent.
Tuberrulosis of lunps, ' 8,703
Tuhorrulnsis of larynx 102
Tuberculous meningitis - - - -- - 513
.\b(loininal tuberculosis - - 394
Potts disease -- 110
Tul>crculous abscess - - 16
Wliiti' swelling - .- 54
Tuberculosis of other organs, 117
General tuberculosis, - 202
85.2
1.0
5.0
3.8
1.1
0.1
0.5
1.3
2.0
TIk^ d(MitIi rale per 100,000 of pojuilai ion fidiii lubenulosis in all
roi-nis was l-i:?.(), and of tuber^ulosis of tlic lunus I'Jl.!), a decrease of
♦
10.3 for the former and of 10.5 for llie latter.
13
100
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
A coinpai-ison of the death rates from tiibereiihisis of the lungs per
100.000 of population for the States composing the registration area
for the years 190(>, 1007 and 1908 is as follows:
1906.
1907
1908.
AviTage rate,
California,
Colorado -_
Connecticut,
Indiana .--
Maine.
Maryland -
Massachusetts. -
Michigan,
New Hampsliire,
Xen- Jersey,
New York -
Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, ..
.South Dakota, .
Vermont --.
Washington,
Wisconsin,
231.
2;)2 .
136]
141.
131,
180.
1.55.
90.
129.
171.
17.5.
1.33.
166.
244.1
267.7
149.8
140.2
134.3
177.7
1.')7..5
88.7
111.2
170.6
171.6
1.32.4
163.6
86.2
107.0
235.2
279.3
134.5
136.6
121.7
173.9
145.4
85.0
109.4
160.2
167.8
121.9
170.6
88.0
108.0
134.7
92.7
DEATHS FROM TUBERCULOSIS OF THE LUNGS BY SEX AND AGE
PERIODS FOR THE YEARS 1000-1908, INCLUSIVE.
1907.
1908.
Total at all ages,
Male.s,
remales,
Under 1 year of age,
1 to 2 years -..
2 to 3 yeans,
3 to 4 years,
4 to 5 years
Total under 5 years, .
6 to 9 years
10 to 14 years
15 to 19 years -
20 to 24 years,
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
'.a, to 39 years
40 to 44 years, --.
45 to 49 years,
50 to 54 years,
.55 to .59 years
(50 to 64 years,
«5 to m years
70 to 74 years,
75 to 79 years,
80 to 84 years,
Over 85 years,
Unknown age
9,258
9,317
4,786
4,896
4,691
4,472
4,421
4,012
212
2.39
107
103
96
92
56
51
54
29
36
31
27
23
25
427
445
369
89
92
88
166
174
141
784
679
617
1,207
1,207
l.liyS
1,249
1,175
1,165
1,129
1,112
1,055
1,035
1,014
965
7.32
791
766
617
552
632
473
.516
496
404
408
365
319
:«3
297
243
261
2,50
1!)4
213
171
118
133
109
33
39
40
14
16
18
25
7
1
8,703
1906
190?'
i9oa
DiauiMiii Showinjr the Companitivo .Mortalitj' from Tnbnrrnlosis of tho
Liiiiiis In- the Xuinhor of Doct'donts bv Months for the years 1906, 1907
and lOOS.
No. 17.
COMMISSIOXHU OF I IKA I.TII.
191
DEATHS FJJOM TUBERCULOSIS OF TIIF LUNCS ItY MONTHS FOK THK
Yi;AIiS T.«i<;-1!)08 INCLUSI\i:.
1008.
Total for the year,
9,258
Jaiiunry,
Fpbruary,
March. ..
April,
Way,
June,
July
AuKUst, .
September,
October,
November,
December,
8,703
739
804
819
766
805
829
980
976
919
876
965
786
836
829
795
704
727
692
708
717
655
740
698
624
645
594
626
766
702
586
673
679
683
825
821
684
MORTALITY OF TUBERCULOSIS OF THE LITXGS IN REFERENCE TO
OCCUPATION.
In the annual loport for 1907, death rates were given for certain
occupations and •>r(»n])S of occn])ations based ui)on the number of per-
sons employed in cncli class. ^Vithout repeating this tabJe for 1908,
which difiers Imt slight l,v from the table for 1907, it may be interest-
ing to consider this cause of mortality in reference to age and the
relative importance of certain occupations in connection therewith.
For this ])urpose the following data are extracted from the "Slor-
tality Statistics of the United States Census Office, and cover deaths
from tuberculosis of the lungs throughout the registration area com-
prising ."il.S per cent, of the entire population of the United States.
As evidence that the statistics derived from this source are compar-
able to Pennsylvania it should he realized that Kl.l' i)er cent., or prac-
tically one-sixth of all deaths in the registration area upon which the
data are based are contributed by this State.
The economic value of lives lost through tuberculosis of the lungs
may be better a])i)reciated when it is considered that (Kl |ter cent, of
all deaths fi-om this disease occur IxMween the ages of 2~> and 04
years, and thai this is the jieriod of life most \aluable to the individual
and the State. The average age at death from tuberculosis of the
lungs was .'>.")..") yeai-s.
Deaths of males ti-oni all causes and at all ages in the registration
area numbered .'h."*, 11)7. and of Ihest' l!»(i,iMl7 or ."tL*.;; per cent., were
stated to have a gainful occupation. Deaths of males from tubercu-
losis of the lungs at all ages numbered 38,055, and of these 29,433, or
192
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
77.3 per cent., were stated to have gainful occupations, thus 15.0 per
cent, of the deaths of occupied males at all ages Avere due to tuber-
culosis of the lungs. Between the age periods, 25-34, the deaths of
male wage earners numbered i*7.3:)(), and of this number 8,446, or 30.9
per cent, (almost one death in every three), was due to tuberculosis
of the lungs.
Between the age periods, 35 to 44, the total deaths of male wage
earners numbered 30,632, and of this number 7,453, or 24.3 per cent,
(one in every four), was due to tuberculosis of the lungs.
Between the age periods, 45 to 54, the rate was 14.4 per cent., and
between 55 and 64 the rate was 7.6 per cent.
From these facts it would seem apparent that the mortality from
tuberculosis of the lungs decreases rapidly with advancing years, as
the total deaths from all causes increase, while those from tubercu-
losis decline, thus reducing the proportional deaths from the latter
cause. It must be recalled, however, that deaths from other causes
than tuberculosis assume a growing importance in the advanced
age periods and at the same time the actual population at similar
periods decreases.
Thus it will be clearly shoAvn by the following statistics that al-
though the percentage of deaths from tuberculosis to total deaths in
the several age periods declines rapidly, the death rate per 100,000
of population living at the several ages remains relatively stationary.
Total.
25 to 34
Years.
35 to 44
Years.
45 to 54
Years.
55 to 64
Years.
Male population of the United States
(1900), over 10 years of age (Regis-
tration States;,
0,937,288
15,090
100.0
226.2
1,541,280
4,616 ;
29.4
299.5
1,2:«,.393
3,507
22.4
283.2
841,800
2,164
13.8
257.1
538,704
1,330
Per cent, of flcaths from tuberculosis
8.5
Death rate from tuberculosis per 100,-
00(> of population at the several age
periods,
246.9
Among females, the i>roi)ortion engaged in gainful occupations is
naturally much smaller than among males, and the earlier age period,
15 to 24, i)lays a more coiisi)icuous part. During 1908 there were in
the registrati(m area 316,077 deal lis of females, and of this number
26,065, or only 8.3 per cent., were returned as wage earners. Of the
total deaths, 29,321 were due to tuberculosis of the lungs, and of this
number 5,511, or 18.8, were assigned ginnf'ni ()<('ii|)ati()ns.
Tli(! following table, while disregarding ciilircly any consideration
of the total number of jiersons employed in tlM» s(!veral groiij)S and
occupations, nciverllieless shows some extremely interesting and im
portant facts.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
193
Thus we liiid that of all male bookkeepers, clerks and copyists dying
between the ages, 25 and oi years, 41.1) per cent, die of tuberculosis
of the lungs, and similarly that among barbers and hairdressers the
proportion is 40.1 ])er cent., among serv^ants 40.9 [)er cent., and among
boot and shoemakers 44.1 per cent. These tigures are important as
illustrating the position occupied by tuberculosis of the lungs as a
mortality factor at certain ages and in certain occupations as com-
pared with all other causes of death.
Table showing the number and percentage of deaths from tubercu-
losis of the lungs of males at least 10 years of age engaged in gainful
occupations as com[)ared with deaths from all causes at correspond-
ing ages and similar rates for certain age groups, 25 to 65 years, in
certain specified occupations. (Kegistration area).
i
a
ri be
*' a
«2
Xi
s
CI
'Occupations
and
A SOS.
Number of de
losis of tl
Per cent, to
ALL OCCUPATIONS. Total,
10 to 14 years,
l.'j to 19 years,
20 to 24 years,
2.'> to 34 years,
35 to 44 years,
45 to ;>i years,
55 to 04 years,
65 years and over,
Unknown,
29,433
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE GROUP—
25 to 34 years, _
:!.i to 44 years
45 to 54 years, „
55 to 04 years,
Clergymen—
25 to :i4 years, .
35 to 44 years, .
45 to 54 years,
...< to 04 yeais.
Engineers and Surveyors —
25 to 31 years
36 to 41 years
45 to 54 years,
:").) to 04 years,
Lawyers—
25 to 34 years,
35 to 44 years,
i:') to 54 years,
.").') to 04 years
Physicians and Surgeons-
25 to 34 years,
35 to 44 years,
45 to ;M years
65 to 64 years, _.
13—17-
10
4.7
1,159
21.3
3,586
29.9
8,446
30.9
7,453
24.3
4,770
14.4
2,524
7.6
1,4.58
2.7
27
8.2
.T25
31.8
216
19.3
130
10.5
52
3.9
18
.36.0
20
23.9
25
15.1
1
2.9
113
.32.3
51
23.0
15
8.5
4
3.8
2!)
28.4
1!>
13.7
23
10.4
0
3.5
j
28.7
■J.;
11.6
U
4.7
14
4.9
-1008
19-i
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
P
•^ m
a;
5S
0
3
^-3
fi
OcLupatioiis ail J Ages.
1^
03
0
H-l u-i
'
Oo
J
a
•^■S
S
as
D"
<o
?;
^
CLERICAL AND OFFICIAL GROUP—
25 to 34 years,
35 to 44 years,
45 to 54 years,
05 to (>4 j'ears,
Bookkeepers, Clerks and Copyists—
25 to M years, -
35 to 44 years,
i') to ;)4 years,
55 to 64 years,
Bankers, Brokers and Oflficials of Companies —
25 to 34 years,
35 to 44 years,
45 to 54 years,
5.3 to 04 years,
Collectors, Auctioneers and Agents—
25 to 34 years,
35 to 44 years,
4."i to 51 ytars,
55 to 04 years,
MERCANTILE AND TRADING GROUP—
25 to 34 year.s,
;tj to 44 year-s -
45 to 54 years,
5i> to 04 years, _
Merchants and Dealers—
25 to 34 years, —
35 to 44 years, _ -
45 to 54 years,
55 to 04 years, _- - -
PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT GROUP—
25 to 3t year.s - -
*> to 44 years, -
45 to .54 years, - -- -.-
55 to 04 years, - - - -
Saloon-keepers, Licjuor Dealers, Bartenders and Restaurant Keepe
25 to 34 years, -
;'-■) to 44 .years,
45 to 54 years -
55 to 04 years,
PERSONAL SERVICE, POLICE AND MILITARY GROUP-
25 to 31 years
35 to 41 years - - -
45 to 51 years - - -
55 to 01 years
Barbers and Hairdressers—
25 to 'M years _
.'{.) to II years
45 to 51 years,
55 to <H years,
Polleemen, Watelunen und Detectives—
25 to 31 years
3.5 to 44 years
45 to 54 years,
65 to O'l yi-arit,
LABORING AND SEBVANT GROUP—
25 to '.U years
:v> to 41 years
45 to 54 years, „ „ _
u5 to 04 years,
1,025
545
2(i9
115
877
433
193
76
503
512
321
155
187
186
l.'')6
83
212
226
97
32
190
201
23
248
256
130
66
109
104
33
18
1,750
1,077
1,118
5.05
40.4
26.3
12.9
5.3
41.9
29.6
16.5
6.9
24.4
13.4
10.5
3.5
31.5
19.8
7.5
3.6
34.4
22.3
ll!6
5.6
30.7
17.5
9.9
4.7
.32.8
21.8
11.7
.33.1
23.5
12.7
7.3
33.3
n.v
5.9
40.1
30.1
12.0
11.1
22.4
17.5
9.4
3.9
31.6
27.5
18.8
11.2
Xo. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HF.AI/ril.
1!i:
Occupations and Agos.
Laborers (Not Agricultural)-
25 to 34 years,
35 to 14 years
40 to iA years, -.
65 to 04 years»
Servants—
25 to 34 years,
35 to 44 years,
45 to i:i years,
55 to 04 years,
MANUFACTURING AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRY GROUP—
25 to Si years,
35 to 44 years,
45 to 54 years, -
55 lo 04 years, -
Bakers and Confectioners-
25 to 34 years,
:>5 to 44 years,
45 to 54 years,
55 to 64 years, — .
Blacksmiths—
25 to 3t years,
35 to 44 years,
45 to 54 years,
55 to 04 years.
Boot and Shoe Makers-
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years,
55 to 04 years,
Butchers—
25 to :u years,
35 to 44 years,
45 to 54 years,
55 to 04 years.
Carpenters and Joiners-
25 to ;U years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years,
55 to 01 years,
Compositors, Printers and Pressinen-
25 to 34 years,
35 to 44 years,
45 to 54 years
55 to 04 years,
Engineers and Firemen (not loconiotive)-
25 to :u years
35 to 44 years,
45 to 54 years,
55 to 04 years
Iron and Steel Wt)rkers-
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 04 years
Machinists-
25 to 34 years,
35 to 44 years,
45 to 54 years,
55 to 64 years.
1,477
1,446
1,000
505
273
231
118
50
2,466
2,415
1,642
805
115
83
56
28
149
222
170
127
128
116
53
16
107
109
107
117
81
33
220
106
76
19C
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
3
* ,n
V
5S
3
,n 3
x;
Occupations
and Ages.
o
O o
•
M
a
XI "
CJ
0 o
i"
'A
^
Masons (Brick and Stone)-
2.') to cU years
3o to 44 years,
4.5 to 64 yo;ii
55 to 64 years,
Mill and Factory Operatives (Textile)-
25 to S4 years,
35 to 44 years, -.
45 to 54 ycar.s .
56 to 64 years,
Painters, Glaziers and Varnishers—
25 to 34 j'ears,
35 to 44 years,
i') to 54 years,
55 to 64 years,
Plumbers and Gas and Steam Fittcrs-
25 to 34 years,
3."i to 44 years, -.
45 to 54 years,
55 to 64 years,
Tailors—
25 to 34 years,
35 to 44 years.
45 to 64 years,
55 to 04 years.
AGRICULTURE, TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER OUTDOOR GROUPS-
25 to 34 years,
35 to 44 years .'.-- -
45 to 54 years, -.
55 to (14 years, .- -
Draymen, Hackmen, Teamsters, Etc. —
25 to 34 years, .—
K.'i to 44 years
45 to 54 years, -
55 to C4 years, - -.
Farmers, Planters and Farm T/aborers—
25 to 34 years,
35 to 44 year.s, _
45 to 54 years,
55 to 64 years
Gardeners, Florists, Nurserymen and Vine Growers-
25 to 34 years
85 to 44 years
45 to .54 years
65 to 04 years , '.
Miners and Quarrymen—
25 to .''4 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 5-t years
55 to C4 years,
Sailors, Pilots, Fishermen and Oystermen-
25 t« 'M yearn
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
65 to 64 years
Steam Railroad Employes—
25 to :$•» years,
25 to 44 years
45 to 64 years
55 to C4 years
46
77
00
41
28.2
27.6
17.0
9.2
101
76
57
23
39.8
31.5
21.6
9.6
182
200
132
CO
36.6
30.0
17.5
8.1
132
116
27
10
42.9
35.7
15.3
7.6
115
124
81
32
41.2
30.0
19.7
8.0
1,747
1,.'")18
1,010
723
21.!)
18.7
11.3
7.0
425
38!)
156
58
35.9
31 . 1
■J 5. 7
8.3
828
643
.'•)72
470
25.6
18.7
11.7
6.7
17
27
21
16
21.5
22.5
13.1
6.2
56
110
102
yo
5.3
11.8
11.6
12.8
64
62
81
24
23.4
21.1
10.7
7.1
139
108
45
26
10.5
9.1
4.9
8.5
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
197
• CANCER.
Death.s liom cancer iiiimbered 4.520. an increase of 100 as compared
with 1907.
A compari.son of the deaths tor the three year period, 1906 to 190S,
inclusive, according to locality or organ affected, is as follows:
1906.
1907.
1906.
Total _ 4,208
Cancer of the mouth,
Cancer of the stoiiuich and liver
Cancer of the intestines
Cancer of tlie female genital organs,
Cancer of the breast
Cancer of the skin,
Cancer of other or unspecified organs
4,520
160 !
114
177
1,620
i.mi
l,7:«
440
488
502
595
640
7:J8
399 [
308 ,
452
100 1
188
169
834
926
749
A comparison of the death rates from cancer per 100,000 of popula-
tion for the States composing the registration area for the years 1906,
1907 and 1908 is as follows:
1906.
1907.
1908.
Average rate,
California,
Colorado, ...
Connecticut,
Indiana
Mai
jme.
Maryland
Massachusetts, .
Michigan
New Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New York,
Pennsylvania, .
Rhode Island, ..
South Dakota,
Vermont
Wasliington, ...
Wisconsin,
70.9
73.6
74.6
92.0
95.9
104.2
51.3
55.1
62.7
80.6
80.1
76.1
53.7
57.1
b4.7
86.2
101.3
!)6.4
60.1
60.9
62.9
90.3
93.5
93.7
67.6
66.7
72.9
89.2
95.8
87.3
66.1
65.4
67.5
76.2
78.9
79.5
60.7
62.8
63.3
78.3
91.1
83.6
3.5.4
38.8
46.2
85.3
99.0
92.2
72.0
65.1
From the above statistics the tendency of cancer to steadily in-
crease is quite evident, but four of the States mentioned sliowing a
decrease as compared with the j)revious year. The rather large in-
crease noted in the actual number of deaths assigned to cancer of
certain specified organs or localities, notably cancer of the female
genilal organs, is accounted f(U" to a certain degree by the continued
elVort to secure more definite informal ion on dcatli certificates as to
198 TIIIKD AXM'AL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
the exact loratidii of the carn-er or the special organs affected. As a
result of these efforts it will be noted that deaths from cancer of
other or unspecified organs decreased from J)2G, or 20.9 per cent, of the
total in 1907, to 749, or IG..") per cent., of the total in 1908. We hope
that the day is not far distant when the term "unspecified" can be
eliminated from our cancer statistics.
DISEASEHl OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.
The total number of deaths due to diseases of the nervous system
was 11.372, a decrease of 855 as compared with the previous year.
The death rate per 100,000 of the population was 159.3. The death
rate per 100,000 of male population was 167.4, and of females 151.0.
Apoplexy was the cause of 5,255 deatlis, or 4G.2 per cent, of the total
deaths in this group.
DISEASES OF THE (JlllCFLATOJIY SYSTEM.
Deaths fi-om diseases of the circulatory system numbered 11,345, a
decrease of 432 as compared with 1907. The death rate ])er 100,000
of population decreased from 167.4 to 159.0.
Heart disease was res])onsible for 8:>.7 ])er cent, of all deaths in this
group. 'I'lie age ])(Mio(ls in excess of 60 years furnished 60.3, per cent,
of tiio total.
DISIOASiOS OF TIIIO KIOSPI K'ATOK V SYSTEM.
Tliirtci'ii tlioiisaiid nine liiiiKhcd iind t wciily iiiiic (13,!)2!)) deaths
occurred from disciiscs of lliis groiij), a dcci-case of 455 as com]»ared
^\itll iIjc |ii('\ioiis \(';ii-. The i-ale |»er 100, 000 of |)opidatioii deci-cascd
from 201.5 t(. 1!)5.1.
I'nciimoiiia was ilic iiiosi ini|)ortanl single cause in this gi-onp,
cansing 7,102 dcaflis ;is coiri|»;ir('d with 7, SI!) in 1!M)7. The death rale
per 100,000 of p<i|)iil:i I ion decreased from I 1 1.(1 (o 99.5.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
199
A c()m])arifs<>u of tlie deatli i-atcs from jmeunioiiia per 100,000 of
population for Hie Slates coiiiposiug the registration area for the
years 1906, 1!)()7 and 11)08 is as follows:
190C.
1907
1908.
Average rate.
California, .
Colorado, ..
Connecticut,
Indiana
Maine
Maryland
Massacliusetts, .
Michigan
New Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New York
Pennsylvania, ..
Rhode Island, ..
South Dakota,
Vermont
Washington, -..
Wisconsin
109.5
106.9
147.7
113.1
76.S
106.4
95.6
121.6
74.0
104.2
1.-52.3
123.4
106.9
141.5
50.9
126.4
117.2
119.7
155.2
128.9
76.0
129.7
100.6
126.5
83.8
112.4
140.9
132.8
111.6
140.6
68.8
140.5
104.0
155.7
97.5
63.4
111.6
86.5
112.7
66.1
96.0
110.1
103.3
99.5
119.6
78.2
113.2
83.5
69.8
Broncho-iiiieunioiiia was responsible for 'A^Ml deaths, of which
2,668, or 80.6 per cent., were under five years of age.
DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
Deaths from diseases of the digestive system numbered 16,306, an
increase of 269 as compared with the previous year. The rate per
100,000 of population remained ])ractically stationary, 228.4.
Deaths fr<tm diarrhoea and enteritis numliered 10,o!);?, and of these
9,026, or 86.8 per cent., occurred in children under two years of age.
The increase in the number of (U'aths from this cause (404:) as com-
pared with the previous yi>ar may be largely found in the climatic
conditions which jircvailcd duiiug the months of duly and August.
i)isi:Asi:s OF the genitourinary system.
Seven Ihousaml live hundred and liflylhree ( 7,")."),'^) deaths occurred
from diseases of the genitourinary system as compared with 7.6r)9 for
the previ(His year. The death rate jter 100,000 of population decreased
from 108.9 to 10r).8. Hright's disease and acute nephritis were re-
sponsible for 6,o46, or 84.0 per cent., of the total deaths under this
group.
200 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
VIOLENCE.
Nine thousand six hundred and thirtj-one (9,631) deaths occurred
from violence in all forms during the year, a decrease of 1,235 as com-
pared with the previous year.
The death rate per 100,000 of population decreased from 154.5 to
134.9.
A comparison of the deaths from certain principal forms of violence
as compared with the years 1906 and 1907 is as follows:
1906. 1907.
1908.
971
8C1
566
573
139
150
1,508
1,326
2,134
1,457
406
365
Suicide 780
Burns and scalds _ _. 847
Drowning (accidental) 555
Gunshot woiinds (accidental), 149
Injuries in mines, ' 983
Steam railway injuries, : 2,1.59
Homicide 365
From the foregoing it will be noted that deaths from injuries on
steam railroads show a very material decrease from the preceding
years, which is to be largely accounted for by the decline in transpor-
tation and the number of persons so employed, incident to the indus-
trial depression, which prevailed during the year. Of the total sui-
cides, 761 were males and 227 were females ; 297 employed poison, 287
were by firearms and 180 by hanging. Two suicides were less than 15
years of age. The rate from suicide per 100,000 of population was
13.8.
BIRTHS.
There were registered during the year 194,623 births, exclusive of
still-births.
This was an increase of 18,819 over the jnevious year and an in-
crease in llie birth rate from 24.1 per 1,000 of population in 1906 and
25.0 in 1907 to 27.3 for 1908.
As mentioned in tfie refjoi-t for 1907, this increase in the number of
births docs not indicate an actual increase in I lie bii-th rate, but does
indinite ;m increased accuracy in IIh' re<;is( i-;iI ion of birllis.
A i>ei'sistent etfort has been made lo ovcirconu^ the diniculties that
beset complete hirlli registration, and the results for the pi-esent year
show tliiii these etlorts have not been without some gratifying results.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 201
The native birth rate increased Irom L'U.-i in I'JOT to 21.4, and the
foreign rate increased from 49.3 to 58.8 per 1,000 of each population.
It was among the foreign population, therefore, that the greatest rel
ative gain was made. This is readily understood when we consider
the disproportionate number of midwives who work exclusively among
the foreign born and also the large number of children among this
class born without any attention other than neighborly assistance.
The process of educating such persons as to the existence of registra-
tion laws and that such laws must be observed is necessarily difficult.
The excess of births over deaths for the year was 82,377, and while
it was impossible in the absence of a census enumeration to determine
exactly the actual birth rate of the State, the excess noted when added
to the increase by immigration is somewhat closely approaching the
total yearly increase of population as estimated by the Federal gov
ernment.
Of the total births, 100,517 were males and 94,106 females.
There were 2,078 twin birtlis, of which number 1,315 occurred to
native mothers and 759 to foreign mothers, while in 4 the nativity of
mothers was unstated.
Of triple births there were 17; among native mothers 6 and among
foreign mothers 11.
Illegitimate births numbered 4,401, the illegitimate birth rate per
100,000 of population being 01. 0. For natives the rate was 62.7 and
for foreign-born 53.8.
Table 1 shows the births by sex and months for the entire State, and
for all incorporated municipalities over 5,000 ; also for certain groups
of municipalities, and for the rural sections of each county.
Table 2 shows the births for the same areas by age and nativity of
mothers.
Table 3 shows the births for the same areas by the nativity of
mothers and the number of the child.
Table 4 shows the illegitimate birtlis by localities and nativity of
mothers.
Table 5 shows plural births (twins only) by localities and nativity
of mothers.
202
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
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a — ~ ■
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i'y.^y. i'y.'*-'y.
344
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE
Off. Doc.
Number of Child.
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Nw. n.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
345
■WtkIi rtlrWI OlO-lJi X;^f» I'll '-»~« Mwin-. r-lr-l|i OOl-Ji-H rHrtjI
i i ; i i i i : ; i ; ; :T; I "" i i ; i i 1 i : J 1 i i 1 1 : i i 1 1 ! : 1
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III! I 1 I 1 iH rH 1 1 rt 1 1-1 I 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 I III! III! 1 i 1 > 1 1 1 1
1 1 I > 1 . 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 r-l i-H 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 1 i 1 II rH r-l • ■
III! rHr-lII 111. 0-*mI IIII ,Hr-lII llll III! Dllea> r-<IpHl
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346
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
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COCDOlrH CO 03
-a^ -aa -aa -aa -na
•«!y)a -0)61)3 -(UM-^ •DM-' -a'W)--' -
o n o a
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o a
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
347
P.IRTH TABLE 4.
Ilk>j;itim»ite liirllis by Locality and Nativity of Motiiers
Nativity
Total. Native. Foreign. Unstated.
Entire State, — — - —
Total of all cities and boroughs over 5,000 popula-
tion, -
Totai of all boroughs between 2,500 and 6,000
Ijopulation,
Total of all boroughs less than 2,500 population,.
Allen town, - — —
Altoona, _- , ---
Archbald, --- --- —
Ashland,
BangoPj -- — -
Beaver Kails, -- -
Betlilehein,
Blooii'.sburg, -
Braddock, -
Bradford, -- --
Bristol, -
Butler,
Carbondale,
Carlisle, -
Carnegie, —
Chambersburg, „ -— - -
Charlcroi, — - - -- -
Cliester,
Clearlleld,
Coatesville, —
Columbia, - —
Connellsvillc, - ---
Conshohocken, „
Corry, -
Danville, - —
Dickson City, — -
DnHois. .- -
Dunuiore, _-
Duqucsne, — — -
Duryea, -
Easton,
Kd wards viUe,
Erie ---
Etna, - -- -
Forest City, --
Franklin, .-
Freeland - -
Greensburg,
Greenville, -- —
Hanover -..
Harrisburg, -
Hazleton, - - —
Homestead, - -
Huntingdon, .- -..
Indiana - - —
Jeannette, - —
.Johnsoiiburg, ..-
Jolinstown .— - .—
Kane -
Lancaster, .-.
J.ansford,
Latrobe, -
Lebanon,
Lelilgliton, --
Lewlstown, .- - -—
Lock Haven, .--
McKeesport, -. -
McKeos Rocks, -—
Mahanoy City, --
Meadville,
Middletown, .— .—
Mill vale,
Milton,
Miucrsville, .—
Monoiignhcla
Mount Carmel,
4,401
2,425
211
360
45
39
0
6
1
4'
8
9
8
7
2
9
6
19
6
7
1
28
9
18
14
6
8
1
6
2
6
19
2
6
1
2
26
3,789
2,027 !
182
319
34
38
0
5
1
3
8
9
3
6
2
6
5
19
4
7
1
27
9
18
14
6
7
1
6
0
6
15
2
0
0
1
21
690
27
37
a
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
3 I
1
0
3
1
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
4
0
5
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
5
6
0
0
1
1
0
V
7
6
1
0
2
2
0
0
8
8
0
0
66
53
3
(I
i>
5
0
(J
18
13
6
0
6
6
0
0
6
6
0
0
6
5
1
0
0
0
0
0
:i9
.30
9
0
1
1
0
0
23
21
2
0
1
1
0
0
6
4
1
1
4
4
0
u
8
8
0
0
1
1
0
0
10
10
0
0
12
4
8
0
6
5
0
0
4
8
1
0
3
8
0
0
10
B
1
0
1 3
3
0
0
4
4
0
0
1
1
0
0
7
4
8
0
12
9
8
0
348
THIRD ANXUAL REPORT OF THE
TABLE 4. — Coutinued.
Off. Doc.
Total
Nativity
Native. Foreign. Unstated.
Mount Pleasant ,
Nanticoke,
New Brighton,
New Castie,
Norristown,
North Braddock,
Oil City, --
Old i-orge,
Olyphant, --
Philadelphia, - —
Phoeni ^ville.
Pittsburg,
Pittston, —
Plymouth, _-
Pottsville,
Pottstown,
Punxsutawney,
Reading, .-
Rochester,
St. Clair,
St. Marys,
Sayre,
Scranton,
Seottdale,
.Shamokin,
Sharon, .-
Sharpsburg,
Shenandoah,
South Bethlehem,
Steelton,
Sunbury,
Tamaqua,
Tarentum, - -
Titusville, -
Tyrone,
Union town, .-
Warren
Washington,
Waynesboro,
West Chester,
West Mttston, -
Wilkes-Barre, --
Wilkinsburg, .- -
Williamsport, —
Wilmeniing,
Windber, -- —
York, - — -
Total rural — —
Counties
Adams, —
.\lleghe[iy,
Armstrong, —
Beaver, - -
Bedford,
Blair,
Bradford,
Berks, --■
Bucks -
Butler
Cambria -
Cameron, —
Carbon, --
Centre,
Chester,
Clarion,
ClearflelfJ,
Clinton, - --
Columbia -
Crawford —
CumbiTlund, - --
Dauphin
Delaware,
Elk
Erie,
Fayette
11
3
0
6
6
12
11
6
0
1
6
H
7
19
8
11
1
27
6
24
1
5
29
1,40.5
0
6
5
11
10
6
0
1
6
6
7
10
8
11
1
21
5
22
1
4
27
1,261
0
2
0
2
0
3
0
0
0
166
1
100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
10
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
6
1
2
0
1
2
138
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
7 1
1
0
fi?
24
43
0
13
13
0
0
7
6
i
0
14
14
0
0
28
26
2
0
9
8
1
0
4.')
44
1
0
?A
28
0
0
18
15
2
1
Xi
28
4
0
0
0
0
0
23
21
2
0
31
30
1
0
49
48
0
1
U>
17
2
0
.'■.3
46
7
0
7
7
0
0
16
14
2
0
8
7
0
1
10
10
0
0
24
23
1
0
10
9
1
0
«
4
2
0
4
4
0
0
84
74
10
0
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE 4.— Continued.
349
Forest, -
Franklin, •
Fulton, -- -.
Greene, -- --.
Huntingdon,
Indiana,
JefTerson,
Juniata,
Laclcawanna,
Lancaster,
Lawrence,
Lebanon, -.
Lehigh,
Luzerne,
Lycoming, -
McKean, -..
Mercer, -. .-.
Mifflin,
Monroe,
MontRfiinery,
Jloiitonr.
Nortliaiiipton, ...
Nortliuinberland,
Perry
Pilce,
Potter,
Schuyllcill,
Snyder,
Somerset,
Sullivan, --.
Susquehanna,
Tioga, -
Union, - -.
Venango,
Warren —
Washington,
Wayne,
Westmoreland, -.
Wyoming
lork,
'
Nativity
Total.
Native.
Foreign.
Unstated.
6
6
0
0
3.5
35
0
0
7
7
0
0
19
18
0
1
21
20 1
1 1
0
35
32
3 '
0
21
19 !
2
0
13
13 >
0 1
0
7
6
1 ,
0
68
68
o'
0
5
5
0
0
25
24
1
0
33
32
1
0
20
15
5
0
21
21
0
0
7
6
1
0
10
9
1
0
12
11
1
0
17
16
1
0
35
28 !
6
1
2
2 i
0
0
24
23 '
1
0
28
24
4
0
16
16
0
0
7
7
0
0
5
4
1
0
58
48
10
(
15
15
0
0
29
29 :
0
0
3
2
1
0
10
10
0
0
11
11
0
0
7
7
0
0
11
10
1
0
6
6
0
0
36
29
6
1
7
7
0
0
53
46
7
0
5
5
0
0
33
33^
0
0
BIRTH TABLE o.
IMural Births (Twins), by Localities and Nativity of Mothers.
Entire State - -..
Total of all cities and boroughs over 5,000 popula-
tion, --
Total of all boroughs between 2,500 and 5,000
population, --
Total of all boroughs less than 2,.t00 population,.,
Allen town,
Altoona, _.
Archbald, .._
Ashland
Bangor,
Beaver Falls,
Bethlehem,
Bloomsburg,
Braddock
Bradford. .- '.'
Bristol,
Butler, -
Carbondale,
Carlisle, -
Carnegie,
Chambersburg,
Charleroi,
Chester
Clearfield
Coatesville,
Columbia, ..I "
23
Foreign.
759
456
S4
72
0
3
3
0
0
2
0
0
3
Nativity
Unstated.
350
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TABLE 5.— Continued.
Off. Doc.
Connellsville,
Conshohockeo, --
Corry,
Danville,
Dickson City,
DuBois, -
Dunmore, — -
Duquesne,
Duryea,
Easton,
Edwardsville,
Erie
Etna,
Forest City,
Franklin,
Freeland,
Greensburg,
Greenville,
Hanover,
Harrisburg,
Hazleton,
Homestead,
Huntingdon,
Indiana, -- -_-
Jeannette,
Johnsonburg,
Johnstown,
Kane,
Lancaster, _ .-
Lansford, -
J.atrobe, -- --
Lebanon, -- --
Lehighton, _ -
Lenistown,
Eock Haven,
McKeesport,
McKees Rocks, — -
Mahanoy City, --
Meadville,
Middletown,
Millvale,
Milton, ..
Miners ville,
Monongahela, ...
Mount Carmel, --
Mount Pleasant, -
Nanticoke, -
New Brigliton, -..
New Castle,
Norristown,
North Braddock,
Oil City,
Old Forge,
Olyphant,
Philadelphia
PhoenI cville,
Pittsburg, -
Pittston, -
Plymouth, -
Pottsvllle
Pottstown,
Punxsutawney, —
Reading
Rochester,
Kt. Clair
Kt. Marys,
Sayre
Wcranton,
Hcottdale,
Khamokin
Sharon,
Hharpsburg,
.Shenandoah,
South licthlehem,
Steelton, -
Sunbury,
'J'arnaqua, -
Tarentum, ,
Nativity
Total.
Native.
Foreign.
Lnstated.
4
2
2
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
2
1
1
0
2
0
2
0
3
2
0
8
4
0
5
1
0
1
0
0
10
3
0
2
1
0
16
10
6
0
3
0
3
0
4
4
0
0
2
2
0
0
3
1
2
0
i
2
2
0
1
1
0
0
2
1
1
0
9
7
2
0
7
4
3
0
6
2
4
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
4
1
0
3
1
2
0
14
8
6
0
2
2
0
0
8
7
1
0
5
1
4
0
0
0
0
0
3
2
1
0
1
1
0
0
8
7
1
0
1
0
1
0
24
5
19
0
4
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
1
0
4
4
0
0
2
1
1
0
6
3
2
0
2
0
2
0
1
1
0
0
6
0
6
0
1
1
0
0
11
4
7
0
4
3
1
0
6
3
6
0
6
6
0
0
4
1
3
0
4
0
4
0
355
198
157
0
4
3
1
0
ITO
90
87
2
4
1
3
0
9
4
6
0
6
4
1
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
20
15
5
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
0
1
1
0
0
3
8
0
0
27
15
12
0
4
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
2
1
1
0
6
0
6
0
7
2
5
0
2
0
2
0
2
2
0
0
8
8
0
0
8
0
8
0
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE 5. — (Continued.
351
I Nativity
Total. Native. Foreign. Unstated.
Titusvllle,
Tyrone -
TJnlontown,
Warren,
Washington, -- — -
Waynesboro, -- -
West Chester,
West Pittston, —
Wllices-Barre, - -
Wilkinsburg, -
Williamsport,
Wilmerding, -—
Windber,
Yorli - -
Total rural, -- —
Counties
Adams --
Allegheny, -
Armstrong, -- -
Beaver, - -—
Bedford,
Blair
Bradford,
Berks --.
Bucks,
Butler,
Cambria,
Cameron,
Carbon, - -
Centre, - -
Chester,
Clarion,
Clearfleld, -
Clinton - - -.
Columbia
Crawford,
Cumberland, --
Dauphin,
Delaware,
Elk,
Erie -
Fayette,
Forest, -
Franklin, - -
Fulton, -- -
Greene, - —
Huntingdon,
Indiana, -
JelTerson,
Juniata, -
Lackawanna, -
Lancaster —
Lawrence .— — .
Lebanon,
Lehigh .-
Luzerne,
Lycoming,
McKean, _
Mercer, .-
Mifflin, -
Monroe, -
Montgomery,
Montour, -
Northampton
Northumberland, - —
Perry, -
Pike
Potter, --
Schuylkill, —
Snyder, „.
Somerset, —
Sullivan
Susquehanna, -
Tioga,
Union,
2
1
1
0
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
2
2
0
■1
1
1
0
3
3
0
0
5
5
0
0
2
1
1
0
15
9
u
0
3
2
1
0
7
3
4
0
6
3
3
0
4
1
3
0
8
7 \
1
0
718
521
197
10
10
o|
0
53
28
25!
0
lU
7
3 ;
0
11
9
2 '
0
13 '
13
0 1
0
13
9
4 !
0
5
5
0
0
18
18
0
0
8
7
1
0
10
8
2
0
27
13
14
0
2
2
0
0
6
5
1
0
7
6
1
0
13
12
1
0
5
5
0
0
30
20
10
0
3
3
0
0
7
7
0
0
11
11
0
0
7
7
0
0
10
8
2
0
2
• 2
0
0
U
6
6
0
8
6
2
0
35
16
19
0
3
3
0
0
12
12
0
0
6
6
0
0
6
6
0
0
6
5
0
0
6
2
3
0
17
10
7
0
3
8
0
0
6
4
2
0
28
27
1
0
ti
4
2
0
9
8
1
0
16
14
2
0
28
14
14
0
10
10
0
0
6
8
3
0
4
3
1
0
4
4
0
0
8
8
0
0
11
7
4
0
1
1
0
0
8
6
2
0
12
11
1
0
5
5
0
0
2
2
0
0
1
0
1
0
18
11
7
0
2
2
0
0
16
12
4
0
4
<>
2
0
6
6
0
0
7
7
0
0
1
1
1 0
0
352
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TABLE 5.— Continued.
Off. Doc.
Venango,
Warren,
Washington, .
Wayne,
Westmoreland
Wyoming, — .
York,
Total.
Native.
Foreign.
0
2
4
0
30
1
0
Nativity
Unstated.
THE SUB-DIVISION OF MORBIDITY
STATISTICS.
In Charge of WILMER R. BATT. M. D., Registrar.
(353)
L»:^~17— 1908
(354)
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
No. 17.
MUKB 1 i)I T Y STATISTICS.
One huudred and thirteen thousand eight hundred and twenty -five
(113,825) cases of communicable diseases were reported to the De-
partment of Health during the .year, an increase of 42,961 as coiu-
|»ared with the jn-evious year. From the following table it will be
noted that this large total increase was due chiedy to measles, scarlet
fever, tuberculosis and whooping cough. Measles was epidemic
throughout the State, while the increase in tuberculosis was not due
to any actual increase in the total number of cases but rather to a
more ((tmplete reporting by physicians.
TOTAL CASES OF EACH COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORTED.
DURING 190G, 1907 and 1908.
All communicable diseases,
.Actinomycosis,
Antlirax .._
Cerebrospinal meningitis, epidemic
Cliicken pox,
Diphtlieria
Epidemic dysentery,
Erysipelas
German measles,
Glanders .-
Malarial fever,
Measles
Mumps, -
Pneumonia,
Puerperal fever,
Rabies
Scarlet fever,
Small-pox
Tetanus,
Trachoma. .,
Trichiniasis,
Tuberculosis,
Typlioid fever,
Wlioopini,' coue:h, .- -
1908.
113,825
0
lit
21.-)
i),G40
12.. ^1
0
1,095
477
1
87
37.981
2,548
6,285
97
8
14.413
77
8.-.
74
2
10.418
ir,,l.->7
6,637
( :i", )
356
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
MORBIDITY TABLE 1.
Off. Doc.
Number of cases of communicable diseases reported from the entire
State and from urban and rural districts bv months :
Months.
Total,
January, -
February,
March, -..
April.
May.
June,
July.
August, —
September,
October, _-
November,
December,
113,
13,
12,
1;^,
12,
11
7.
5
4
6
Urban.
83,163
9,091
8,739
8,869
8,847
8,751
5,818
4,128
3,562
4,646
5,829
6,852
7,431
Eural.
30.662
3,460
4,066
3,985
3,279
2,468
1,811
1,247
1,336
1,822
2,346
2,417
2,425
MORBIDITY TABLE 2.
Iiates per 100,000 of jxtulation of all communicable diseases for the
entire State and for urban aud luial districts bj months:
Months.
January,
February,
March, „.
April. ....
May,
June,
July
AUKUKt, .
Sept(!iiiber,
October, .
November,
December,
State Rate.
184.2
179.4
179.5
169.9
157.2
106.8
75.3
68.6
90.6
114.5
129.8
138.1
Urban.
210.2
185.2
192.3
191.8
189.8
126.1
89.5
77.2
100.7
126.1
148.6
161.1
Rural.
136.9
160.9
157.7
129.7
97.7
71.6
49.3
62.8
72.1
92.8
95.7
95.9
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
357
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THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
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No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
359
P^ 2sl Ilii
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360
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
TYPHOID FEVER
Fifteen thousand one hundred and fifty-seven (15,157) cases of
typhoid fever were reported during the year, a decrease of 4,923 as
compared with the previous year. Urban cases decreased 6,705 and
rural cases increased 1,782.
The following table shows the comparison of cases reported by
months for the years 1906 to 1908, inclusive :
:morbidity table 4.
Total, -.-
January,
February.
March, _.
April,
May,
June, - .-
Jul>,
Au.^ust, -
September,
October, -
November,
December,
Total.
24,471
2,177
2,286
1,870
2,122
1,829
1,198
1,404
2,026
2,342
2,396
1,894
2,927
1907.
20,080
3,099
2,206
1,178
1,126
999
1,045
1,092
1,849
1,967
2,123
1,830
1,566
15,157
1,652
1,204
970
838
583
619
945
1,708
2,386
1,702
1,406
1,144
Urban.
1906.
22,520
2,009
2,172
1,751
2,031
1,720
1,128
1,294
855
1,991
2,033
1,705
2,831
1907.
18,067
2,978
2,099
1,107
1,067
961
986
996
1,684
1,671
1,673
1,487
1,358
11,362
1,455
1,401
830
693
448
463
730
1,241
1,556
1,006
987
912
Rural.
1906.
1907.
1908.
1,951
2,013
3,795
158
121
197
114
107
163
119
71
140
91
59
145
109
38
135
70
59
156
110
96
215
171
165
467
251
296
830
363
450
696
189
MS
419
96
208
232
MORBIDITY TABLE .5.
Distribution of Typhoid Fever According to Age Periods for tlie Entire State, Urban
and Rural Districts, by Percentage to Total Cases in Each Locality.
Age Periods.
Under 5 years,
6 to 9 years, -
10 tr 14 years,
15 to 19 years,
20 to 24 years,
25 to 29 years,
30 to 34 years,
35 to 39 years,
40 to 44 years,
45 to 49 years.
Over 50 years.
Unstated ag«,
State.
4.6
13.2
14.2
15.8
15.5
11.0
7.6
5.5
3.1
2.7
4.0
2.7
Urban.
4.8
13.4
14.0
14.8
15.9
12.2
8.0
5.7
8.1
2.7
8.4
2.0
Rural.
4.1
12.4
14.8
16.8
14.7
9.8
6.4
4.8
3.1
2.7
5.9
4.5
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
361
MORBIDITY TABLE 6.
Typhoid Fever by Nativity and Age Periods.
Native,
Foreign,
Unknown
AU
ages.
(M
&-9
10-19
20-29
ao^
12,238
638
1,791
3.831
2.987
1.495
2.401
41
135
526
990 ; 410
518
21
69
115
131
77
4(M9
60-59 :60«9
708 340 118
164 01 18
17 16 7 3
Un.
291
53
62
MORBIDITY TABLE 7.
Typhoid Fever by Color and Age Periods.
White,
Black,
Color unstated
All
ages.
0-4
5-9
10-19
20-29
30-39
4(M9
14,595
663
1.878
4,332
3,948
1,915
874
560
37 1 117
139
160
67
15
2
]
1
50-SO 60«9
407
9
1
138
70
Un.
10
MORBIDITY TABLE S.
Typhoid Fever by Sex and (Jolor.
Color
Black. UBStated.
Total, -
Males, .
Females.
660 2
291 1
269 1
DIPHTHERIA.
Twelve thousand five luindred and nine n2,.^)00) cases of diphtheria
were reported during the year, an increase of 1,!H)9 as compared with
the previous year.
362
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
MORBIDITY TABLE 10.
Diphtheria by Months for the Entire State, Urban and Rural Districts for Three
Years, 1906, 1908 Inclusive.
Total.
1906.
1907.
Urban.
1907.
1908.
Sural.
1906.
1907.
1,914
1,854
218
175
179
97
151
116
127
113
104
79
76
54
71
85
59
113
168
131
319
285
268
305
174
301
1908.
Total, —
January,
February,
March, --
April,
May,
June,
July,
August, --
September,
October, -
November,
December,
10,870
1,042
885
852
703
688
546
437
461
994
1,589
1,458
1,215
10,510
1,095
828
769
737
575
553
473
597
796
1,283
1,501
1,303
12,509
1,098
952
1,008
670
672
597
621
589
1,122
1,857
],7-l2
1,581
8,956
824
706
701
576
, 584
470
366
402
826
1,270
1,100
1,041
8,656
920
731
653
624
496
499
388
484
665
998
1,196
1,002
9,324'
829
685
667
524
506
453
469
403
841
1,379
1,337
1,231
3,186
269
267
341
146
166
144
152
186
281
478
405
350
MORBIDITY TABLE 11.
Distribution of Diphtheria According- to Age Periods for the Entire- State, Urban
and Rural Districts by Percentage to Total Oases in Each Locality.
Under 5 years,
5 to 9 years, -
10 to 14 years,
15 to 19 years,
20 to 24 years,
25 to 29 years,
30 to 34 years,
35 to 39 years,
Over 40 years, .
Unstated age.
State.
Urban.
33.2
36.0
24.8
35.7
36.7
32.7
13.5
12.8
16.7
5.8
4.3
8.1
3.7
3.2
5.3
2.1
2.0
2.7
1.7
1.4
2.4
1.2
1.0
1.9
1.8
1.0
4.0
1.8
1.6
2.4
Rural.
MORBIDITY TABLE 12.
Diphtheria by Nativity and Age Periods.
Native, ..
Porelgn, .
Unknown,
AU
ages.
11,091
998
420
0-4
3,588
447
114
6-9
1,080
174
124
10-19
2,148
116
89
20-29
621
89
22
30-39
315
40
10
40-49
124
25
6
50-591
70
Un.
162
8
64
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
363
MORBIDITY TABLE 13.
Diphtheria by Color and Ago Periods.
All
ages.
(M 6-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 C(W}9 70 Un.
White,
Black,
Oolor unstated
MORBIDITY TABLE 14.
Diphtheria by Sex and Color.
All
Golors.
! Color
White. Black. ' Unstated.
Total, — - - 12,509 12,324 184 1
Males - - -. 5,846 5,702 84 0
Females, — 6,GG3 G,5G2 100 i
SCAELET FP:VER.
Fourteen thousand four hiiiidicd and thirteen (14,413) cases of
scarlet fever were reported diiriu«i the year, an increase of 6,714 as
compared with the previous year.
MORBIDITY TABLE If..
Scarlet Fever by Months for the Entire State, Urban and Rural Districts for Three
Years, 1900, 1008, Inclusive.
Total, ..
January,
February,
March, .
April, ...
May, ...
June, --.
July
August,
September
October,
November,
December,
1906.
879
875
758
687
707
517
378
aiO
425
679
687
784
Total.
Urban.
1907.
7,697
713
572
676
479
495
379
414
528
715
1,085
1,066
1908.
1906.
1907.
1908.
Rural.
1906.
14,413
1,413
1,431
1,500
1,282
1,105
8«5
617
482
967
1,415
1,687
1,669
6,107
652
677
."KO
.129
447
.•?28
:J02
?&1
.549
658
661
6,132
579
430
527
425
391
435
326
362
468
srr
832
760
10,276
918
903
1,008
901
778
a31
492
we,
765
1.102
1.279
1.133
1,663
227
196
196
1.58
119
70
50
48
93
1.S9
129
143
1907.
1,567
134
122
149
1.52
88
60
53
.52
60
138
253
306
1908.
4.137
495
.528
.582
.■Wl
125
116
202
313
408
426
364
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
MORBIDITY TABLE 16.
Distribution of Scarlet Fever According to Age Periods for the Entire State,
and Rural Districts by Percentage to Local Cases in Each Locality.
Urban
Under 5 j-ears,
5 to 9 years, -
10 to 14 j'ears,
15 to 19 years,
20 to 24 years,
25 to 29 years,
30 to 34 j'ears,
35 to 39 years,
Over 40 years.
Unknown age.
State.
Urban.
Rural.
27.1
27.8
25.4
41.5
43.6
36.5
18.3
17.4
20.7
6.2
5.1
9.0
2.4
2.1
2.9
1.43
1.2
1.3
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.5
1.7
1.3
2.7
MORBITY TABLE 17.
Scarlet Fever by Nativity and Age Periods.
Native, -.
Foreign , .
Unknown,
0-4
5-9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70
Un.
3,505
5,424
3,262
456
138
38
5
3
1
193
260 1 354
151
44
13
7
3
0
0
14
135
219
125
23
10
2
0
0
0
38
xMORBITY TABLE 18.
Scarlet Fever by Color and Age Periods.
White,
Black -.
Color unstated
All
ages.
0-4
5-9
10-19
20-29
30-89
40-49
50-59
60-69
70
14,315
3,882
5,940
3,516
518
160
47
8
3
1
98
18
47
22
7
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Un.
242
3
0
MORBIDITY TABLE 19.
Scarlet Fever By Sox and Color.
All
Colors.
White.
Black.
Color
Unstated.
Total
14,413
6,702
7,711
14,315
6,649
7,666
98
63
45
0
jjulg
0
0
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
365
TUBERCULOSIS.
Ten thousand four hundred and eighteen (10,-J:1S) cases of tubercu-
losis were reported during tlie year, an increase of 4,309 as compared
with the previous year. Reference to the deaths from tuberculosis
will show that the increase in the number of cases reported does not
indicate an increase of the disease, but simply a better registration
of the living cases.
MORBIDITY TABLE 20.
Tuberculosis by Months for the Entire State and for Urban and Rural Districts
by Mouths for the Years 1006, 1908, Inclusive.
Total.
Urban.
Rural.
1906.
1907.
1908.
1906.
1907.
1908.
1906.
1907.
1908.
Total, -- -- — .
5,234
483
367
374
370
402
474
563
486
401
499
380
435
6,109
546
530
477
4.50
587
477
475
512
482
478
476
619
10,il8
802
696
7.59
756
744
826
985
9.=i2
813
991
1,0.52
1,012
4.719
434
313
341
333
356
433
532
442
360
460
342
373
5,967
525
504
457
429
569
459
466
491
470
467
451
579
9,537
756
634
707
708
690
767
872
834
720
907
988
954
515
49
54
33
37
46
41
31
44
41
39
38
62
242
21
26
20
21
18
18
9
21
12
11
25
40
SSI
46
62
52
April,
48
54
59
July.
113
.\us-,:st. - - ---
118
93
84
64
88
MORBIDITY TABLE 21.
Distribution of Tuberculosis Accordins to Age Periods .for the Entire State, Urban
and Rural Districts by the Percentage to Total Cases in Each LLocality.
Urban.
Rural.
Under 5 years,
5 to 9 years, .
10 to 14 years,
IC to 10 years. .
20 to 24 years,
25 to 29 years,
.SO to 34 years,
35 to 39 years,
40 to 44 years,
45 to 40 years,
50 to .54 years,
55 to .50 years,
00 to 64 years.
Over 65 years,
Age unstated,
2.1
2.0
1.8
2.2
2.2
3.2
3.5
3.4
4.8
8.7
8.6
10.9
14.6
14.6
14.5
14.5
14.6
16.2
13.0
13.2
10.9
12.0
12.2
9.6
8.4
8.5
7.8
6.9
6.0
4.7
4.8
4.3
4.2
2.9
2.8
3.2
1.8
1.7
1.8
2.2
2.0
3.2
4.0
4.0
3.2
u
366
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE
MORBIDITY TABLE 22.
Tuberculosis by Nativity and Age Periods.
Off. Doc.
AU
ages.
0-4
5-9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
6,072
1,651
164
9
169
15
847
122
1,821
395
1,476
385
783
269
2.926
25
47
304
840
7S8
436
60-59
6fr69
70
Un.
407
149
54
192
132
50
23
20
209
105
26
196
MORBIDITY TABLE 23.
Tuberculosis by Color and Age Periods.
White,
Black, --
Color unstated
AU
ages.
0-4
5-9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70
9,545
864
9
171
37
28
203
28
0
1,151
122
0
2,792
262
2
2,373
223
3
1,381
105
2
706
41
1
289
14
1
97
6
0
Un.
382
26
0
MORBIDITY TABLE 24.
Tuberculosis by Sex and Color.
Total, -.
Males, ..
Females,
AU
Color
Colors.
White.
Black.
Unstated.
10,418
9,545
864
9
6,742
6,252
482
8
4,676
4,293
382
1
the sub-division of marriage
statistics:
In Charge of WILMER R. BATT. M. D.. Registrar.
(367 J
(368)
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. No- !"•
MARRIAGES.
Fifty-four thousand three hundred and two (54,302) marriages were
recorded during the year, a decrease of 5,941 as compared with 1907.
The number of persons married per 1,000 of population was 15.3 as
compared with 17.1 for the previous year. The decrease in marriages
is a reflex of the industrial and financial depression existing during
practically the entire year of 1908. The close association in the
fluctuations of the marriage rate with varying periods of general
prosperity has been frequently noted. For many years in England it
was possible to trace a correspondence between the rise and fall in
the marriage rate and the fluctuations in the price of wheat. In late
years wheat has apparently lost its position as an index of national
prosperity', and the variations in the marriage rate follow more
closely the general wage earning opportunities as reflected in a va-
riety of industrial activities.
A decrease in the marriage rate is of considerable statistical signifi-
cance from the fact that it must have an influence in diminishing the
birth rate, and likewise the infant death rate, as well as disturbing
not only the increase of population, but distribution of poi»ulation by
age periods.
The average age at marriage of both brides and grooms remained
practically stationary. Of the native brides, 67.3 per cent, were less
than 25 years of age, and 73.2 per cent, of the foreign brides were of
similar age.
Among brides there were 49,070 first marriages, 4,572 second mar-
riages, 59 third marriages, and 1 fourth marriage.
Among grooms there were 48,836 first marriages, 5,367 second
marriages, 85 third marriages and 14 fourth marriages.
Of the 4,648 re-marriages among brides, 3,608 had been previously
widowed and 1,040 had been divorced.
Of the 5,353 re-marriages among grooms, 4.487 had been widowered
and 866 had been divorced.
Table 1 shows the number of marriages in each county of the State
by months with totals for the entire State.
Table 2 shows the marriage rate (number of pei'sous married to
each 1,000 of the i)opulatiou) tor each county of the State for the three
years, 1906 to 1908, inclusive.
(369)
24—17—1907
370 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Table 3 shows the ages and nativity of brides and grooms.
Table 4 shows the percentage of brides and grooms by age periods.
Table 5 shows the percentage of marriages by months.
Table 6 shows the number of marriages by age periods for brides
and grooms.
Table 7 shows the ages at which re-marriages occurred among
brides and grooms, and how the previous marriages were dissolved.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
371
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372
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE
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No. 17.
COMMISSIOXER OF HEALTH.
373
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374
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE
TABLE 2.
Off. Doc.
Number of Persons Married to P^ach 1,000 of Population by Counties, for the Three
Years, lOOG to 190S, Inclusive.
1907.
Entire State, -
Adams county, -
Allegheny county, --
Armstrong county,
Beaver county,
Bedford county,
Blair county,
Bradford county, --
Berks county,
Bucks county, -
Butler county,
Cambria county, --
Cameron county, --
Carbon county, -- -
Centre county,
Chester county,
Clarion county,
Clearfield county, --
Clinton county,
Columbia county,
Crawford county,
Cumberland county, —
Dauphin county,
Delaware county, --
K]k county,
Erie county,
Fayette county, — -
Forest county,
Frankhn county, --
Fulton county,
Greene county,
Huntingdon county,
Indiana county, -.
Jefferson county,
Juniata county, — -
Lackawanna county, .-.
Lancaster county,
Lawrence county,
J^ebanon county, -
J.ehigh county, --.
Luzerne county, --
Lycoming county,
McKean county, -
Mercer county, -- -.
iliCain county,
Monroe county, -.
Montgomery county, ..
Montour county, --
Northampton county, -.
Northumberland county,
Perry county,
Philadelphia county, ...
Pike county,
Potter county,
.Schuylkill county,
Snyder county,
Somerset cotmty, -
Sullivan county
Susfiuehanna county, ...
Tioga county,
Union county,
Venango county, -
Warren county,
Washington county, ...
Wayne county, -.
Westmoreland county, .
Wyoming county,
York county,
17.1
12.3
20.1
19.2
18.2
12.1
20.8
9.0
19.5
11.5
17.5
22.0
17.3
16.2
16.7
15.1
13.4
14.9
16.1
16.1
13.1
14.7
23.2
16.1
11.4
13.1
19.0
8.0
13.5
11.2
12.3
17.8
22.0
14.1
17.9
19.2
15.7
16.8
19.0
24.4
15.1
14.3
17.0
12.2
22.1
16.9
20.1
13.5
21.1
10.6
18.7
11.8
21.2
22.5
15.6
15.2
15.2
13.8
12.7
15.8
15.9
16.7
13.5
15.3
22.7
15.2
11.1
14.3
18.7
8.7
13.3
10.5
14.1
17.8
22.2
13.9
17.7
17.3
15.9
16.9
17.3
27.2
14.5
13.8
7.8
19.6
20.9
14.4
14.3
14.0
19.9
16.9
15.5
17.5
6.8
6.0
17.9
17.6
17.8
9.1
18.0
7.8
15.7
16.6
10.0
18.0
9.0
16.6
10.6
16.0
15.3
12.8
17.0
10.4
lU.lJ
11.8
15.0
14.6
15.9
11.4
18.5
16.4
16.4
18.2
13.2
11.8
14.5
15.4
15.3
16.2
15.3
14.1
18.7
12.0
11.4
13.4
13.1
94*
12.4
10.0
14.0
15.0
23.4
13.8
15.0
18.4
15.6
15.8
17.8
22.1
15.8
14.0
6.6
18.1
21.3
9.7
13.6
15.9
16.7
15.1
12.7
18.3
16.2
11.7
17.7
5.C
7.4
17.0
18.9
17.8
10.6
9.3
1 12.3
17.6
17.4
17.3
12.1
14.4
9.6
10.2
17.4
16.7
14.8
10.2
11.4
8.3
15.1
16.8
9.2
19.6
10.1
17.1
11.8
12,3
14.0
16.6
14.0
16.5
11.4
14.1
12.6
17.8
11.0
15.1
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
375
TABLE 3.
Marriages by Nativity and Ages of Brides and Grooms.
Brides.
Grooms.
Ages.
d
i
»
^
03
i
1
la
09
6a
S
0)
>
C3
ba
a
o
03 '»
M
03
o
03 "
<
55
^
!!;
<!
z
P^
»
Total, -- - I 64,
Under 15 years - '
15-19 years, - — - 10,
20-24 years, - - 26
25-29 years, - — - - 8;
30-34 years. — - 3
35-39 years, , 1,
40-44 years, - —'■ 1,
45-49 years,
50-54 years, ...
55-59 years, —
6^64 years, --.
65-69 years, --.
70-74 years, --.
75,
Age unstated,
67
995
515
972
556
813
018
695
312
195
102
45
15
35,145
41
7,746
15,880
6,165
2,501
1,258
674
453
204
118
63
31
9
12,160
14
1,484
7,413
1,771
668
.•Wl
217
129-
56
42
19
4
2
6,997
12
1,765
3,222
1,036
387
214
127
113
52
35
20
10
4
64,302
33,670
13,666
6,966
1
1
1,962
1,588
87
287
23,434
14,516
5,763
3,155
15, .566
8,967
4,762
1.837
6,070
3,921
1,403
740
2,963
1,934
665
364
1,666
1,055
426
185
1,082
676
221
1X5
688
436
145
lor
382
246
93
43
293
179
60
6J
154
94
28
32
85
S3
13
19
5
4
1
1
1
TABLE 4.
The Percentage of Brides and Grooms in Eacli Age Period to Total Brides and
Grooms.
Brides.
Grooms.
Under 15 years,
15-19 years,
20-24 years
25-29 years,
30-34 years,
35-39 years,
40-44 years
45-49 years,
Over 50 years, ..
0.12 1
0.02
20.2 1
3.6
48.8
43.2
16.5
28.8
6.5
U.2
3.3
5.5
2.0
3.0
1.3
1.8
1.8 1
2.9
TABLE .').
The Percentage of Marriages in Each Month of the Year to Total Marriages.
January, 7.8
February 8.7
March, 5.9
April, 7.5
May 6.9
June, 12.6
July, 6.8
August, 7.6
September, 9.3
October .^ 9.4
November, 9.4
December, „ 8.1
376
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TABLE 6.
Re-marriages by Age Periods of Brides and Grooms.
Off. Doc.
Brides.
Grooms
•
Ages.
Total.
1st.
2nd.
3rd.
4th.
Total.
1st.
2nd.
3rd.
4tll.
Total, — - -.
54,302
67
10,995
26,515
8,972
3,556
1,813
1,018
695
312
195
102
45
15
49,670
67
10,972
26,027
8,118
2,663
1,035
438
228
66
35
7
9
3
4,572
59
1
54,302
1
1,962
23,434
15,566
6,070
2,963
1,666
1,032
688
382
293
154
85
5
1
48,836
1
1,961
23,284
14,945
5,212
2,017
830
338
143
54
30
13
7
.-
6,367
85
14
Under 15 yi'ars, _-
15-19 years,
20-24 years,
25-29 years,
30-34 years,
35-39 years,
40-44 years,
45-49 years,
50-54 years,
55-59 years,
60-64 years,
65^9 years, -
70-74 years.
23
488
849
884
770
572
465
237
150
89
33
12
1
150
619
851
932
824
676
531
312
257
136
73
5
5
9
8
8
2
9
9
6
3
T
2
7
10
11
IT
13
12
5
4
4
4
Age unstated, —
2
9.
TABLE 7.
Dissolvement of Prior Marriages by Age Periods of Brides and Grooms.
Ages.
Brides.
Total.
Deaths.
Divorce.
Grooms.
Total.
Deaths.
Divorce.
Total,
Under 15 years,
15-19 years,
20-24 years,
25-29 years,
30-34 years,
3o-'d9 years,
40-44 years,
45-49 years,
50-54 years,
.55-59 years,
60-fi4 years,
65-60 years,
70-74 years,
75,
Age unstated,
4,648
3,608
1,040
5,353
4,487
23
488
856
894
781
580
471
250
162
97
34
12
15
8
310
178
602
254
656
238
615
166
491
89
404
67
228
22
149
13
93
4
33
1
12
4
163
625
764
931
837
687
536
836
251
141
73
3
122
451
658
766
713
610
486
219
244
139
70
1
41
174
206
165
124
77
49
17
7
2
THE DIVISION OF DISTRIBUTION OF
BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS.
HENRY W. PEIRSON, C/i/e/.
(377)
(378)
r
y^ •northeaj
^^ I
/^ ERIE i
WATTSBURO. !
PENNSYLVANIA
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
MAP SHOWING STATIONS
f«r
FREE DISTRIBUTION OF
DIPHTHEmA ANTITOXIN
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S'
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. No. 17.
THE DIVISION OF DISTRIBUTION OF BIOLOGICAL PRO-
DUCTS.
DIPIITUKKIA ANTITOXIN.
From the date of the beginning of the Distribution of Diphtheria
Antitoxin to the indigent Ihroughont tthe State of Pennsylvania by
the Department of Health, in October, 1005, until December 31.
1908, just three years and three months, fifteen thousand four hun-
dred and twenty-nine persons (15,429) afflicted with Diphtheria were
treated for cure, and of this number only thirteen hundred and forty-
nine (1,349 I or 8.74 per cent, resulted fatally.
In addition to the number mentioned that were treated for cure,
ten thousand two hundred and lifty-three (10,253) persons, mostly
little children who were exposed to the disease, were immunized, and
of this number so immunized, only one hundred and sixty-one (161)
contracted the disease, and of those who contracted the disease only
thirteen died, or a death rate of .00126 per cent.
The total number of cases treated among the indigent throughout
the entire State during the year 1908 was 6336, of which number only
542 resulted fataUy, showing the low death rate of 8.55 per cent.
The comparison of results obtained for the years 1907 and 1908
will be found in the Summary of Observations Upon the Use of Diph-
theria Antitoxin for the Year 1908, on page 395 of this report, and
much interesting information in detail taken from the clinical re-
ports received from physicians will be found in the tables beginning
on page 398.
While the distribution of Antitoxin by the Department began in
October, 1905, the establishment of distributing stations and the ap-
pointment of Distributors did not take place until November 4, 1905,
when 473 Distributors were apjjointed at convenient places in every
county in the State outside of the cities of Philadelphia and Pitts-
burg, most of them being duly registered druggists, with the excep-
tion of a few physicians and general storekeepers appointed at places
where no drug stores could be fownd.
The number of stations was increased as the actual need for same,
after careful investigation, became apparent to the Department, and
at the end of December, 1906, numbered 511, an increase of 38 for
that year.
(379)
380 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The demand for additional distribnting stations during the year
1907 became so impei-ative that the Commissioner of Health felt it
his duty to increase the number already established, and December
3], 1907, found us with a total of 529 distributing stations, an in-
crease of 18 over the year 1906.
In this connection it might be well to state that, notwithstanding
the additional number of distributors a])pointed during 1907, the
deuumd became so persistent (the Commissioner of Health having re-
ceived in 1908 over two hundred communications from physicians and
others recommending additional distributing stations at various
points throughout the State), it was decided, after careful considera-
tion, to establish still more Distributing Stations, and at the end of
December 31, 190S, the total number of Distributors amounted to
509, an increase of 40 over the year 1907. A glance at the uuip to the
left will give the reader a fair idea as to the locations of the distri-
buting stations now existing, and the accom])anying list gives the
names of the distributors appointed to December 31, 1908.
DISTRIUUTORS OF
1 )1 IM ITITEIUA ANTIT( )X I N.
A))p(iiiit('il Ity ( "oininissioiicr of Health.
Antitoxin either for curative or immunizing purposes and in ap-
propriate doses may be secured by j)liysicians practicing in this Com-
monwealth upon their agreeing in writing that no diarge of any kind
is to be made for llu^ Anlitoxin, ajid (hat (ho pei-son or persons for
whom it is oljtained are indigent in (lie sense that they cannot j)ro-
cure the necessities of life and at the same time purchase Antitoxin,
and also that the physician will send to tlie Department of Health a
full clinical report as spccided by the (Jomiiiissiouei* of Health.
ADAMS COUNTY.
Auker, Edward T. , Now Oxford. Stover, Dr. .7. (;!., Kendersville.
liuehler, L. M. , GettyHburf,'. Trout, Dr. N. G., Fairfield.
Cashman, Elmer W. , York Springs. Wolf, Charles S. , East Berlin.
Kemp, Dr. J. S., IJttlestown. Wolff, W, E., Arendtsville.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
381
ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
Burns, H. W., Coraopolis.
Chapman, Jos. F., Brackenridge.
Covell, S. W., Wilkinsburg.
DoylG, J. J., Castle Shannon .
Forsythe, Geo. W., Natrona.
Goldsmith's Pharmacy, Tarentum.
Hanna, Frank IL, Springdale.
Haymaker, Milo M. & Co., Pitcaim.
Hollander, Jos. M., Braddock.
Kelley & Havekotte, Sharpsburg.
Itol, Albert I., McKees Rooks.
Johns, John A., Beechview.
McClaren's Pharmacy, Glassport.
Paules, J. L. , Homestead.
Shaffer, P. T. B., Elizabeth.
Shaw, C. E., Duquesne.
Southwick, E. P., Clairton.
Sprowl's Pharmacy, Turtle Creek.
Swearingen, W. H., Bellevue.
Thompson, Harry M. , Carnegie.
Urbon, Harry A., Carrick.
Walker's Prescription Pharmacy,
Keesport.
A\esloski, Andrew C. , Crafton.
^^'hiteley, W. S., Verona.
Mc-
ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
Hoover, A. M. , Parkers Landing.
McClelland Bros., Ford City.
Parks, J. H., Leechburg.
Sharp & Borland, Dayton.
Sturgeon, W. J. Kittanning.
Valley Drug Store, Rural Valley.
White, J. A., Coheenville.
Williams, Jas. E. , Freeport.
Wray, Frank T., Apollo.
BEAVER COUNTY.
Aber, O. E. , Industry.
Bebout, W. I., Darlington.
Caldwell Drug Co., Aliquippi.
Fitgzcrald, Thos., Ambridge.
Hoffman, W. A., Beavor Falls.
Kaye, Walter D. , Monaca.
Mayo, Fred H., Beaver.
Neubig, Chas. J., Rochester.
Pugh, Frank S., Hookstown.
Schweppe, II. L., New Brighton.
BEDFORD COUNTY.
Alexander, vV. A., Everett.
Grubb & Weimer, Clcarville.
Jordan, F. W., Bedford.
Rhodes, C. R., Hyndman.
Saxton Drug Store, Saxton.
Shaffer & Conrad, Osterburg.
Statler, Dr. J. B., New Paris.
Stayer, .Irvin C. , Woodbury.
Tewell, A. L. , Chaneysville.
Zeth, John L., Hopewell.
BERKS COUNTY.
Hoffman, Nicholas J., Birdsboro.
Landis, F. T. , Womelsdorf.
Mayer, Irene F. , Boyertovvn.
Raser, Wm. H., Reading.
Schomo, Chas. C. , Hamburg.
Sellers, E. J., Kutztown
Werley. Dr. C. D., Topton.
BLAIR COUNTY.
Boecking, G. C. , Tyrone.
Boecking & Meredith , Rellwood.
Boecking & Meredith, Altoona.
r>utler, John P.. Altoona.
Davis, H. I., Ilollidaysburg.
25
Hair, Edward, Roaring Spring.
IIe.ss, I. C, Duncansville.
Ketring. D. T. Williamsburg.
MoLanahan, Wm. H.. Tyrone.
Sanders, J. C, Martinsburg.
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
BRADFORD COUNTY.
Allis. I. M., Wyalnsing
Billings, F T., LeRaysville.
Carpenter & Pierce, Troy.
Francke, E. O., Athens.
Jump. H. D. , Sayre.
Kester. E. P., Towauda.
Laquin Lumber Co. , Laquin.
Lomax, F. F. , Monroeton.
Passmore , John E. , Gillett.
Whitman, W. AV., Canton.
Wilcox, Ray S., New Albany.
BUCKS COUNTY.
Fretz,, C. D., Sellersville.
Hellyer, E. F. , Newtown,
llulshizer, Est. of Martin, Doylestown.
Johnson, Dr. H. W. , Riegelsville.
Moyer, Howard R., Quakertown.
Pryor, Frank C. , Morrisville.
Pryor, W. B. T., Langhorne.
Pursell, Howard, Bristol.
Williams, N. B. , Perkasie.
Willard, S. B., Yardley.
BUTLER COUNTY.
Edmonds, A. .J., Bruin.
Hall, Amos, Branchton.
Hindman, H. C, West Sunbury.
Maybury & Pizor, Slippery Rock.
Mershon, E. B. , Saxouburg.
Redick & Grohman, Butler.
Thomas, J. D., Evans City.
Willetts, Chas. E., Mars.
CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Baird, Mrs. Carrie, Dunlo .
Berry , Chas L. , Johnstown.
Davis, Cyrus W. , Conemaugh.
Easly, J. J., Hastings.
Gunn, John A., Patton.
James, E. & Son, Ebensburg.
Keffor, W. O., Frugality.
Kress, F. C, Liily.
Krumbine, Dr. G. W. , Ashville.
Markley, Dr. J. P., Blandburg.
Morris, H. A., Barnesboro.
Perley, R. P., Allendale.
Reed, K. A., Gallitzin.
Scalp Drug Co., Scalp Level.
Sible, L. A. & Co., Johnstown.
South Fork Pharmacy, South Fork.
CAMERON COUNTY.
Barclay Bros., Sinnonialioning.
Mitchell, Wm. II., Driftwood.
Taggart, L. T. , Emporium.
CARBON COUNTY.
Albert, Howard, Lansford.
Davis, T. E. , Summit Hill.
Hess, J. M., East Mauch Chunk.
Iless & Browell, Palmerton.
Latham, Peter II., Weatherly.
Mauch Chunk Phannacy, Mauch
Chunk.
Van Wlckle, Est. of A. S., Beaver Mea-
dow.
Watkins, Wm. R., Nesquehoning.
Wagner, Chas. II., Lehighton.
Green, F. Potts, Bcllcfonte,
Meek, II. D., State Colb-ge.
Melick, W. M., PhiiipHburg.
Meyer, Thos. F., Miilli'im.
CENTRE COUNTY.
AIooi'c, il. A., Ilowiii'd.
Muri'ny, .Inrcd J)., C(iiitr(! Hull.
Sicki'l, Wiliiiini A., Snow Shoe.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
383
CHESTER COUNTY.
Aiken , James , Bci-wyn.
Hudson, Thompson, Hopewell Borough.
Ilutciiisou, David W. , E. Downingtown.
McCullough, C. B., Oxford.
Megillignn, Sirs. II. Y. , Avondalc.
Oberholtzer, Dr. L. Sons & Co., Phocnix-
ville.
Seltzer, Clias J., Parkesburg.
Taylor, W. C, Spring City.
Thatcher, Jesse, West Chester.
Treichler, Galen, Honey Brook.
Walton, Geo. R. , Malvern.
Young, W. S., Coatesville.
CLARION COUNTY.
Corhett, W. W., New Bethlehem.
Craig, J. S., St. Pet-'i-sbnrg.
Greer, Dr. R. J., East Brady.
Hock, W. II., N«w Mayville.
Kerr, J. W. , Rimersburg.
Kuhns, G. W. , Leeper.
McKee, L. R., Sligo.
Mooney, J. A., Curllsville.
Iteid's Drug Store, Clarion.
Snyder's Pharmacy, Shippensville.
AVhitling, W. II., Knox.
CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Currier, Dr. J., Grampian.
Davidson, T. M., MahalTey.
Flegal, Dr. S. J., Karthaus.
Glen Richey Trading Co., Glen Richey.
McCartney, W. C, Coal port.
Miller, Dr. J. S., Madera.
Phoenix Drug Store, Iloutzdale.
Quinn, J. S., DuBois.
Read, F. B. & Co., Osceola Mills.
Shugart, II. C. , Morrisdale Mines.
Spackman, Dr. J. P., Peale.
Tyler Mercantile Co. , Tyler.
Winburne Pharmacy, Winburne.
Woodward & Brenner, Clearfield.
Wrigley, W. K., Curwensville.
CLINTON COUNTY.
Hillton <& Heflfner, Lock Haven.
McGhee, John, Beach Creek.
Mervine, Dr. Grajdon D. , Bitumen.
Swain Drug Co., Renovo.
Waitz, Frank, Flemington.
Valley Drug Store, Mill Hall.
COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Clewell & Currin, Berwick.
Ely, Chas. S., Millville.
Fisher, J. F. , Catawissa.
Goldsworthy, J. W., Centralia.
Hower, Dr. H. V., Mifflinville.
McHenry, Dr. M. , Benton.
Ringler, Geo. P., Bloomsburg.
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
Easterwood , F. K. , Moadville.
Fisher & Fisher, Springboro.
Lydell, James, Cambridge Springs.
Stratton, Geo., Linesville.
Wilkins & Kemble, Titusville,
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Central Drug Co.. INIt. Holly Springs.
Claudy. R. B., Newvillo.
Eckels Bro3. , M''<b;iiiirsburg.
Emrick. B. F., Carlisle.
Fleming & Fleming, Shipponsburg.
Good's Pharmacy, New Cumberland.
384
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Coble, A. C, Dauphin.
Davis, T. B., Williamstown.
Felty, Wilson, Linglestown.
Gross, E. Z. , Harrisburg.
Hay, Dr. J. W., Harrisburg.
Killougb, S. M. , Ilummelstown.
Kuntz, John II., West Hanover.
Peters, D. A., Steelton.
Rewalt, J. W., Middletown.
Smith, A. M. & Co., Halifax.
Steever, Chas. C. , Millersburg.
Stroup, N. W., Elizabethville.
Woods, Arthur R. , Gratz.
Zimmerman, H. M. , Derry Church.
DELAWARE COUNTY.
Cloud, Harlan, Darby.
Concordville Supply Co., Concordville.
Dalton, D. A., Upland.
Davis, Harry M. , Lansdowne.
Ellis, Wardle, Media.
Grafstrom, C. J., Llanerch.
Iladley, II. C, Wayne.
Kershaw , Harry , Chester.
Rea, J. H., Chester.
Shirer, V. C. , Swarthmore.
ELK COUNTY.
Amend, John, Wilcox.
Bennet's Branch Supply Co., Dent's Run.
Luhr, F. A., St. Mary's.
Quinn & Smith, Johnsonburi
Ross Drug Co. , Ridgway.
Sharp, W. N., Ilallton.
Ames, N. F. & Co., Corry.
Andrews, W. C, Erie.
Frantz, G. A., Edinboro.
Gates, William, Union City.
ERIE COUNTY.
Loop, G. D. , Northeast.
Newman, A. C. , Albion.
Smith, A. R. & Co., Girard.
Wilkins, R. B., Wuttsburg
FAYETTE COUNTY.
Bulger, H. II. & Co., Brownsville.
Dunaway, M. G., Fairchance.
Feather, G. A., Smithfield.
Huston, Frank, Conncllsville,
Oglevee, F. E., Vanderbilt.
Rathmell Bros., Cadwallader,
Springer, R. E. , Uniontown.
Steele Pharmacy, Fayette City.
Sterling, Jesse A., Masontown.
Stouffer, Jas C. , Dawson.
FOREST COUNTY.
Detar, C. Y., Kellettville.
Dunn, J. C, Tionosla.
ITehlman, L. A., West Hickory.
Mayburg Supply Co., Mayburg.
Neill, A. D., Mnrionville.
Ingersoll, J. E., Lynch.
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Brinley, J. F., Dry Run.
Carl, Chas. B. , Greencastle,
John.son, Dr. Fred C. , Mont Alto.
Krebs, Harry B., Mercersberg.
Miller, D. L. , Waynesboro.
Montgomery, J. C. , Chambcr.sburg.
Skinner, II. W. , Chambersburg.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 385
FULTON COUNTY.
Barton, C. J., Hustontown. Dickson, W. S., McConnellsburg.
Cunningham, N. G., New Grenada.
GREENE COUNTY.
Gibbons, Dr. A. J., Carmichaels. Ullom & Bailey, Waynesburg.
Hatfield, G. W., Mt. Morris.
HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
Brumbaugh Co., Marklesburg. . Steel, H. E., Huntingdon.
Grove, Harry R. , Alexandria. Wolfe, D. R. , Birmingham.
James, G. W. C. , Orbisouia. Wright, George W. , Mapleton Depot.
Minnick, J. M., Mount Union.
INDIANA COUNTY.
Allison, Elmer E., Indiana. Miller, M. G., Blairsville.
Conner, John B., Glen Campbell. Park, L. N. & Son, Marion Center.
Fisher, James, Rcssiter. Rink, Chas. E., Shelocta.
Goodlin, Elmer E. , Saltsburg. Stephens, T. D. , Peun Run.
McCuUough, II. L. , Cookport. Truby, S. H., Brush Valley.
JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Abbott & Blakeslee, Coal Glen. Kunselman, M. J., Coolspring.
Anita Supply Co., Anita. Mahoning Supply Co., Eleanor.
Guthrie, H. F. , Sumraerville. Miller, J. A. & Son, Hamilton.
Hamilton, Dr. S. S., Punxsutawney. Punxsutawney Ding Co., Punxsutawney.
Henderson & Craig, Brookville. Stoke & Feicht Drug Co., Reynoldsville.
Humphreys, G. II., Brockwayville.
JUNIATA COUNTY.
Banks, W. H. & Co., Mifflin. Ileckerman's Drug Store, Port Royal.
Crawford, M;'P., Mifflintown. McMeen, J. B., East Waterford.
Haines, W. H., Thompsontown.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY.
Bone, J. G. & Sons, Dunmore. Jenkins, Geo. W., Scranton.
Davis, Jos., Taylor. Koempel, Carl, Scranton.
Dennis, F. E., Carbondale. Tiffany, F. M. Dalton.
Foote, M. A., Arch bald. Watkius, C. J., Olyphant.
Graves, J. M. & F. M., Jermyn.
LANCASTER COUNTY.
Bucher, W. L. , Columbia. Quarry ville Drug Co., Quarryvllle.
Dierolf, Chas. B.. Elizabethtown. Reedcr, Dr. M. T., Millersville.
Fry, II. P., Lititz. Royer, G. S.. Ephrata.
Barber, Elmer W. , Mount Joy. Ruhl, H. F., Manheim.
McCloskey. C. E. , Marietta. Weaver, J. G., Strasburg.
Miller, J. A., Lancaster. Wendle, Samuel S., Christiana.
25—17—1907
3S6
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Jewell «S: Martin, New Wilmington.
McKinley & Frautz, New Castle.
Moorhead, Frank B., Volant.
Palace Drug Store, Ellwood City.
Shiokls, F. O. New Bedford.
LEBANON COUNTY.
Bender, G. H. , Jonestown.
Boger, Chas. E., Lebanon.
Kline, W. C. , MyerstoAvn.
Light, D. K., Palmyra.
Seabold, AV. S., Annville.
LEHIGH COUNTY.
Backenstoe, M. J., Emaus.
Barndt, Mrs. S. K., Alburtis.
Duudore, Harry W. , Emaus.
Horn's Drug Store, Coplay.
Horn, Chas. W., Slatiugton.
Keiper, H. L., AUentowu.
Lawall Bros., Catasauqua.
Mohr, J. J., Fogelsville.
LUZERNE COUNTY.
Briggs, Dr. J. F. , Shickshinny.
Colburn, W. T., Ashley.
Durbin's Keystone Pharmacy, I'lymonlli.
Edwards, E. J., Drifton.
Evans, Wm. E., Maltby.
Farrer & Peck, Pittston.
Grover, M. E., Freeland.
James, Henry II., Parsons.
jMaus, II. W. , Hazleton.
Meyer, R. II., Nanticoke.
Renniman & Co., Avoca.
White, W. D. & Co., Wilkes-Barra.
LYCOMING COUNTY.
Harter, C. W. , Muncy.
Hawk, G. M., Slate Run.
Miller, John L., Montgomery.
Mintzer, Dr. L. H. C, Ralston.
Staples, B. E., Jersey Shore.
Sutliff, Jacob, Ilughosville.
Walton, L. L. & Co., Williamsport.
McKEAN COUNTY.
Hogarth, L. K. , Smctliporl.
Kane Drug Co. , Kane.
Mills, John C, Duke Center
Nour.se, AV. J., Mt. Jewett.
Thompson & AVood, Bradford.
AVilliams, J. II., Port Allegheny.
MERCER COUNTY.
Crawfoid, C. E. .1., Jamestown.
Davis, John V., Clark.
Donald.son, L. W. & Co.,
Center.
Farver, It. C. , New Lfb:iiion.
Forker, W. J., Grove City.
Good, J. R., Mercer.
(Ji-iliiii, .Idlm L. , Frc(l(jnia.
lliues, J. P., Sloneboro.
Jackson Jackson, 'J'., Iladley.
Ii(!wis, A. E., West Middlesex.
Martin, E. K. & Son, Slieaklcyville.
Steele, II. A. G., Sharon.
WesI , Harry D. , (Jreenville.
MIFFLIN COUNTY.
Bishop, D. K. , Milroy.
f'ultz. Alien, Wagner.
McDonald, J. A., Reedsville.
Mutliersbaiigh , J. A., Lewistown,
Roche, VVilliain F. , McVeytown.
Shav(;r, Henry B., Newton Hamilton.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
3S7
MONROE COUNTY.
Chainberlin, Edgar W. , Alt. Pocono.
Rod ('ro.ss Pharmacy, East Stroudsliurj
Rhoads, Dr. Goo. H., Tohyhanna.
Seguiue, .7. A., Crosco.
Trcxlor, Dr. J. A., Brodheadville.
Tracli, Dr. D. C, Krcsgeville.
Wortman, Dr. A. A., Tanuersville.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Koshore Drug Co., Pottstown.
Punting, Frauk, Soudcrton.
Craig, Jaine.s D. , Fort Washington.
CuU)(M-t, Jos. W. , Collogovillo.
Iluzzard. Curtis, Norristuwu.
King, A. .1., Arduiore.
King, L. Stanley, Bala.
Kulms, I']. J., Lansdale.
McLaughlin, Harry A., Jenkintowu.
Aledico Drug & Chemical Co., Royers-
ford.
Monsch, James G., Peunsburg.
Moore. Est. Christian, Bryu Mawr.
Nc\illc, Win., C'jnshohocken.
I'onnoijackor & 1-Jromer, Schwenkville.
Rothwell, Walter, Hatboro.
Tiefenbach, J. T., North Wales.
MONTOUR COUNTY.
Gosh, J. D. & Co., Danville.
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY.
Burkhart, H. A., Bethlehem.
Eiseuhart, E. K., Bangor.
Heller, II. D., Ilellertown.
Jacoby, Cyrus, South Bethlehem.
Miller, S. R., Bath.
Scheffler, J. S., Pen Argyle.
"Weaver's Pharmacy, Easton.
Y'ale, Elsworth W. , Siegfried.
Yeakel, Nelson L. & Co., Nazareth
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Armstrong, W. K. , Sunbury.
Clarkson, T. R. & Co., Shamokin.
Dunn, John B., Watsontowu.
Keiser, E. L. , Milton.
Krebs, J. S. , Horntlon.
Mengel, J. S., Trevorton.
Samuel, Dr. E. W., Mt. Carmel.
Standard Drug Store, Mt. Carmel.
Wonck, S. M. G & Son, Nortluunlx'rland.
POTTER COUNTY.
Chapman, G. F. , Genesee.
Cool, W. F. , Roulette.
(Jilbert, W. E., Harrison Valley.
Lane, II. K. , Ulysses.
Lyon, G. W. , Shingle House.
McGee & Miller. Custello.
JNIoine, Dr. Chas. , Germania.
Richardson, L. , Cross Fork.
Robertson, J. AV., Galeton.
Sanford, W. F. , Austin.
Thompson, M. S. & Co., Coudersport.
Armstrong, C. O., Milford.
Giliiiu, Thos. H., (Jreenlown.
PIKE COUNTY'.
Slianiion, W. R., Lackawaxen.
PKUKV CorXTV
Ehy. P. M., Xewi.orl.
Hench, D. U., Plain.
Johnston, A. R. , New Ploomfield.
Lahr, J. B. , Millertowu.
Lakin, Dr. II. .V., New (Jermantown.
Lehman. S. W. , Duncnnnon.
Shuler. S. .M. & Sons. Liverpool.
Zinunerman, Thaddeus, Ickesburg.
388
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Beck, Chas. F. , Cressona.
Bensinger, G. I., Schuylkill Haven.
Bolicb, H. C, New Ringgold.
Brown, Geo. L. , Minersville.
Brown, Frank L., Auburn.
Coble, Dr. J. W., Tamaqua.
Cowen, Wm. S., Pottsville.
Davis, H. R., Coaldale.
Depew , J. A. , Delano.
Driebelbis, G. W., Tower City.
Holt, William P., Frackville.
Houck, Paul W., Sbenandoah.
Krebs, H. J., Mabanoy City.
McBride, John, McAdoo.
People's Pharmacy, Tremont.
Sutton, John, Pine Grove.
Monaghan, Dr. W. J., Girardsville.
Williams, R. J., Ashland.
SNYDER COUNTY.
Charles, Jerry, Freeburg.
Spangler, W. H., Middleburg
Ulsh, Calvin, McClure;
Wagner, J. O., Beaver Springs.
Wagenseller, Geo. D. , Selinsgrove.
SOMERSET COUNTY.
Brallier, J. J., Berlin.
Dobson, G. L., Stoyestown.
Gross, Wm. H., Boswell.
Home Drug Co., Windber.
Jacobs, Dr. T. J., Somerfield.
McCormick, Mrs. D. H., Rockwood.
Mountain's Pharmacy, Confluence.
Picking, J. S., Somerset.
Pollard, R. T., Garrett.
Sembower, A. J., Markleton.
Thomas, F. B., Meyersdale.
SULLIVAN COUNTY.
Hoffa, Chas. W., Dushore.
Lancaster, H. D., Forksville.
Lopez Drug Co., Lopez.
Voorhees, C. D., Sonestown.
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
Davis & Allen, Forest City.
French, A. P., Susquehanna.
Morris, F. D. , Montrose.
Sands, F. E. & Co., Ilallstead.
Taylor, A. J., IIopbotLom.
TIOGA COUNTY.
Babcock, W. C. , Blossburg.
Bates, John P., Mansfield.
Blatchley & Campbell, Wellsboro.
Darling's Pharmacy, Lawrenceville.
Fessler, T. A., Elkland,
Gilbert, F. L., Knoxville.
Holcomb, Frank B., Westfield.
Wells, J. E., Tioga.
UNION COUNTY.
Baker, Dr. T. D. , Lewisburg.
Galloway & Meek, Allenwood.
Glovor, O. W. H., Laurolton.
Steans, J., Mifliinburg.
VENANGO COUNTY.
Curtis, L. C, Utlca.
GoHHor Drug Co., Emlenton.
Griffith, E. J., Oil City.
McClintock Co., The, Kennerdell
Strahl, Henry, Petroleum Center.
Third Ward Pliurmacy, Fj-anklln.
Zeamer, H. C. , Pleasantville.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
WARREN COUNTY.
Clark, A. A., Russell.
Kemble & Son, Tidioute.
McDonald, J. G., Sugar Grove.
Pierce, Wm. S., Warren.
Pryor, G. T., Sheffield.
Simpson Bros., North Clarendon.
389
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Coulter & Co., McDonald.
Donaldson, J. B. , Canonsburg.
Hogsett Bros., Monongahela.
Horn, II. M., Washington.
McMurray, H. B., Burgettstown.
Piper Bros., Charleroi.
Piper & Dague, Donora.
Itotzer, Chas. , Hickory.
Jadwin, C. C. , Honesdale.
Snyder, M. T. , Hawley.
WAYNE COUNTY.
Stevens, W. A., Hamlinton.
Tiffany, J. E., Pleasant Mount.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Broadway Drug Co., ScottdaJe.
Goldsmith, C. F., Mt. Pleasant.
Cook, J. G. , New Alexandria.
Fink, Geo. W., Irwin.
Fox, Chas. E., Vandergrift.
Freeman, J. W. , Perry.
Fry, F. L., Manor.
Hunnell, B. S., New Kensington.
Kirk, W. P., Monessen.
Martin, A. E. , Greensburg.
Obloy, H. A., West Newton.
Smith, Horace L. , Jeannette.
Tassall Pharmacy, Latrobe.
AVilson, J. M. , New Florence.
Wilt, R. A., Ligonier.
Zimmerman, W. J., Delmont.
WYOMING COUNTY.
Besteder, Chas., Center Moreland.
Reynolds, Oscar J., Nicholson.
Sickler, H., Tunkhannock.
Tibbins, Geo. H. , Noxen.
YORK COUNTY.
Britcher, Milton W. , Dillsburg
Emlet & Jenkins, Hanover.
Gable, John W., Hellam.
Soitz, J. E., Glen Rock.
Grove, J. H., New Freedom.
Hoke, Martin, Spring Forge.
Lafean, A. H. & Bro., York.
Meyers, G. A., Dallastown.
Moody, C. W., Red Lion.
Mull, Harry, Stewartstown.
Murphy, J. C. , York Haven.
Overmiller, N. Allen, East Prospect.
Stacks, A. II., York.
Stable, R. S., Emigsville.
Smith, Samuel S., Windsor.
Stewart, T. D., Delta.
Tinsley, G. S., Wrightsville.
Wallace, N. G., Dover.
390 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
COMMISSION.
COMMONWEALTH OF FENNSYLVANLi.
DEFAKT^HONT OF HEALTH.
Division of Distribution of Biological Froducts.
Know all mon by tlies" presents, that
residing at in the county of
State of Fennsjivania , ha .... this day of 190. . . .
been duly appointed Distributor of Diphtheria Antitoxin, at
County, Fennsylvania, under the rules of the Department
of Health.
(Seal)
Commissioner of Health.
METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION.
After appoint ineiit tlie Distributor is furnished witli an initial sup-
ply of soruiii consisting of live packages of 1000 units and five pack-
ages of .'')000 units, and in about fifteen localities in the State, Dis-
tributors are supplied with a stock of live packages of 5000 units of
Antitoxin, at the special request of physicians at tliose points, to-
getlier with l)lank forms, stamped envelojjes, etc., necessarj' for its
distribution ; copies of which forms appear hereafter.
The j)liysician discovering a case of diphtheria anywhere in his
locality among Ihe ]ioor has but to go to the nearest druggist who is
a Distributor, sign a receipt and secure all the Antitoxin he needs
for the treatment of the case or cases he has on hand.
Form r. I". ."Ki.
COM.MON WEALTH OF FENNSYLVANIA.
DEFARTMENT OF HEALTH.
UiviHiou of Oisi ribiii ion of i;iolo;;iciil l'r<jihicts,
INSTKlKrnONS 'J'O DiSTIfliil'TOKS ItEGAKDING THE DIS-
'riMr.cTio.x .\\i) isK of luniTiiioRiA antitoxin.
In llic (]islribuli(»M of l)i|»lilli('ria Anliloxin (here are THREE
I'Iil\TI':i) foitiis \vlii<li MIST be lilied (Mil.
FIKS'I' l.\ IMFOirrANCE, FOH.M l\. F. HIT, is known as the Aj)-
piicatioii and Keeeipt. II is in a small book conlaining 100 nnmlx'red
pages ."0 while and ."0 blue llie while lo be sign(;(l by (he physiciai^
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 391
and forwarded to the Department afler the amounts of Antitoxin
secured by him aro propei-ly lilled out in tlie spaces reserved for this
purpose; the blue pages, on which the carbon copy is taken, remain in
the book for the distributor's own record. A sjtace is especially pro-
vided in the lower left hand corner of this FORM B. P. 517 for a
statement of Distributors stock of Antitoxin on hand, the filling out
of which space will prevent the distributor from ever allowing his
stock of Antitoxin to become ENTIKKLY exhausted, as a careful ex
auiination is made of each Porui B. P. 517 immediately upon its re-
ceipt, and if the stock is found to be low, additional sui>ply is at once
forwarded. This avoids the expense of telegraph and telephone mes-
sages to the Department for additional stock.
A physician having a case of Diphtheria among the poor should im-
mediately APPLY to the nearest Distributor, SIGN a KECEIPT
Form B. P. 517, and secure all the Antitoxin he needs for the treat-
ment of the case. Me agrees, as you will see by the Application and
l^eceipt, to return to the Distributor all unused Antitoxin WITHIN
T1>N DAYS after securing the same.
Our experience teaches us that the Distributor should require phy-
sicians to sign for the Antitoxin BEFOEE securiug same, if at all
possible, because when they send for it the^' often fail to come in and
receipt for same for several days and sometimes never sign for it at
all.
SECOND, FORM B. P. 519, is the little slip found wrapped around
the outside of the box of Antitoxin. It is to be filled out by the phy-
sician, with the patient's name and address, date of use, physician's
signature and address, distributor's signature and address, and
MUST, when returned to the Distributor, be forwarded by him to
the Dei)artment of Health, together with the above mentioned Appli-
cation and Receipt, Form B. P. 517, in tlie printed stamped envelopes
furnished to the Distributor.
THIRD, FORM B. P. 518, is the Clinical Report, and is found in-
side the box of Antitoxin. The i>hysician tills this out, signs and re-
turns it to the Department at the termination of the case. The Dis-
tributor h;\s XOTHIXO ^V^^ATEVER TO DO WITH THIS FORM.
SPECIAL XOTICi:, FOKM B. P. 521 (copy of which is enclosed
herewith), contains instructions relative to sale of Antitoxin belong-
ing to the Stale sujtjtly ONLY in cases of enu'rgency. It sometimes
happens the ]»riva(e sup])ly of the Dislributcu- liecomes exhausted at
a time wlicn a call may come from a ])erson well able to i»ay for same.
In such cases llic Distributor is allowed to take Antitoxin from his
State supply with the distinct undcrslajuling that it MUST BE IM-
MEDIAT]']LY REPLACED P.Y PCRCHASE from Messrs. H. M.
Alexander & Co. at their market i»rice. and in communicating with
them in regard thereto the Distributor should not fail to make it
clear the exact number of either 1000, 3000 or 5000 unit packages of
392 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
STATE goods being replaced. In this connection I would state that
the same record is required by the Department for goods that are sold
and taken from the State supply as is made for indigent cases, the
only difference being that the word *'SOLD" must be written across
the face of all these records for identification here.
Our distributing agents, Messrs. H. M. Alexander & Co., Marietta,
Pa., have been instructed to forward you an INITIAL supply of 5
packages of 1000 units and 5 packages of 3000 units of Antitoxin,
and Distributors should bear in mind that an additional supply will
be furnished immediately upon notification that this stock is
NEAELY exhausted, which notice can be made by simply filling up
the space in the lower left hand corner of FORM B. P. 517, spe-
cifically provided for a statement of stock on hand.
Should an epidemic of Diphtheria break out in your locality, when
a large quantity of Antitoxin might be needed at once, you are then
authorized to telegraph, C. O. D. (using the enclosed code), or to tele-
phone, reversing charges to this office for the necessary additional
supply.
SAMUEL G. DIXON, M,. D.
Commissioner of Health,
B. P. 517.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
APPLICATION AND RECEIPT FOR DIPHTHERIA ANTITOIN.
190..
I hereby acknowledge the receipt of the following named amounts of Diph-
theria Antitoxin ; for use in the family of
••.... packages containing 1,000 units. Laboratory Nos.,
packages containing 3,000 units. Laboratory Nos.,
packages containing .5,000 units. Laboratory Nos.,
from Distributor , Address ,
in the name of the Department of Health. I hereby certify that the person or
persons mentioned for whom this Antitoxin is furnished for the treatment of
Diphtheria are indigent in the sense that thoy (.annot procure the necessities of
life and at the same time purchase Antitoxin. I agree to make no charge for it
directly or indirectly, and if unused, to return to the Distributor within ten
days; also to mail to the Department of Health, immodiately upon termination,
a clinical report for each case, on the blanks furnished for this purpose.
We have in stock at this time:
packages of 1,000 units.
packages of 3,000 units. (Physician's signature.)
packages of 5,WX) units.
(Address.)
(Distributor's signature.)
(Full Address.)
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HBALTli. 393
with blue stub for Distributor's record; being Application and Re-
ceipt to be signed by the physician upon making application to the
Distributor for Antitoxin for use on indigent patients in his locality
found stricken with the disease, which gives the exact number of
packages of Antitoxin — 1000 units (immunizing) and 3000 and 5000
units (curative) taken by him, and which is forwarded to the Depart-
ment with Form No. 519, mentioned below. The blue stub is for the
Distributor's record of Antitoxin issued.
Form B. P. 517.
Blue Stub.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
APPLICATION AND RECEIPT FOR DIPHTHERIA ANTITOXIN.
190..
I hereby acknowledge the receipt o£ the following named amounts of Diph-
theria Antitoxin for use in the family of
packages containing 1,000 units. Laboratory Nos.,
packages containing 3,000 units. Laboratory Nos.,
packages containing 5,000 units. Laboratory Nos.,
from Distributor, Address,
in the name of the Department of Health. I hereby certify that the person or
persons mentioned for whom this Antitoxin is furnished for the treatment of
Diphtheria are indigent in the sense that they cannot procure the necessities of
life and at the same time purchase Antitoxin. I agree to make no charge for it
directly or indirectly, and if unused, to return to the Distributor within ten
days; also to mail to the Department of Health, immediately upon teimination,
a clinical report for each case, on the blanks furnished for this purpose.
We have in stock at this time:
packages of 1 , 000 units.
packages of 3,000 units. (Physician's signature.)
packages of 5,000 units.
(Address.)
(Distributor's signature.)
• (Full Address.)
Form B. P. 518.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPART.MEXT OF HEALTH.
CLINICAL REPORT OF DIPHTHERIA TREATED WITH ANTITOXIN.
Use a separate blank fur each case and forward immediately upon termination of
same to the Department of Health, Ilarrisburg, Pa.
Patient's name Address, County, Pa.
Age, Sex Color, Date of first visit,
394
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
Was treatment immunizing or curative?
// treatment teas immunizing ansivcr only the foUoicing questions:
Date of treatment, No. of units used , .
How long had patient been exposed to the disease?
Did patient subsequently contract the disease? (Yes or No)?
// the treatment was curative answer the folIotcUig questions:
Date of onset of the disease,
SPECIFY EACH TREATMENT.
units used within hours of onset.
units used within hours after first treatment.
units used within hours after second treatment.
units used within. .... .houre after third treatment.
units used within hours after fourth treatment.
units used withiu hours after fifth treatment.
units used within hours after sixth treatment.
units used within hours after seventh treatment.
units used within hours after eighth treatment.
units used within hours after ninth treatment.
State whether disease was Post-Nasal, Tonsillar, Pharyngeal, Laryngeal.
(Specify by crossing out names of regions unaffected.)
State complications , if any
State termination (Recovery or death) ,
Number of persons in household, . . . .Number affected, . . . .Number immunized, ....
What was the probable source of infection?
Remarks ,
Distributor's name, Sigimlure, M. D.
Address
The above is the Clinical rei)ort which gives the complete medical
history of the case from the beginuiiig of treatment to either re-
covery or death, and which is to be signed by the physician and for-
warded to the Department.
Form B. P. 519.
Units.
Manufacturer.
Laboratory No.
Date within which the unopened vial or
attached slip must be returned to
Distributor
COMMONWEALTH OF PENN'A.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
Dipththeria Antitoxin, Units.
Manufacturer Tyaboratory No
I'atient , « . Address ,
Date of use
Physician's signature
Add ress ,
Distributor's signature,
Address ,
Tliis slip when rclunicd to Distributor
must be forwarded to the Department
of Health, together with the applica-
lion for the same.
SAMUEL G. DIXON, Commissioner.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 395
This slip is louud placed jnoiiiid the oulside of the packages of
Antitoxin, and is to be filled out l)y the phj'sieian using same; giving
name of patient and address, date of use, jihysician's name and ad-
dress, distributor's signature and address, and to be forwarded to the
Department with Form B. P. 517, above mentioned.
These slijts. Form li. P. 51IJ, are filled out for KMJO units, immuniz-
ing, and 80U() and .jUOU units, curative treatment, respectively; each
slip of Form B. P. No. 510 representing one package of 1000, 3000
or 5000 units stiength; having also printed thereon the Laboratory
number of the package of Antitoxin produced by the manufacturer.
The three forms above mentioned, B. P. 517, 518 and 519, when
pi-operly tilled out, make a complete record of each ca.se of the dis-
tribution and use of Diphtheria Antitoxin issued by the Department
of Health to the indigent throughout the entire State of Pennsyl-
vania.
SUMMARY OF OBSERVATIONS UPON THE I'SE OF DIPH-
THERIA ANTITOXIN IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE YEAR
1908.
CURATIVE TREATMENT.
The statistics compiled as taken from the clinical reports received
from physicians covering the curative treatment of diphtheria among
the indigent for the year 1908, show a slight increase in the death
rate over the year 1907, and also show that physicians throughout
the State did not as strictly take heed, as they did in the previous
3ear, to the urgent requests of the Commissioner of Health given
from time to time, to use Antitoxin as early as possilde after onset
of the disease and in larger doses.
It will be shown by a comparison of Table No. 1 for the year 1908
with the same Table for 1907, that (>,:'>;Uj persons were treated for
diphtheria with but 542 deaths (an iucrea.se in nund)er treated, of
].(M)5 over the year 1907 1, and that the deaths have been but
slightly increased in the year 1!I0S over the previous year. It will
also be noticed in Table No. 1 for 1908, compared witii 1!)07, in the
treatment of ca.ses of diphtheria within the first twenty-four hours
of onset, that the death rate, though brought to the very low per-
centage of (;.5:{ per cent, is .slightly increased over the death rate in
the previous year. In each succeeding day of treatment after onset
396 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
an increase in the death rate naturally tippears until the seventh day
is reached, when, contrary to what might be expected, the death rati
is found to be only 19.51 per cent., much lower even than the results
obtained in the previous, or sixth-day-treatment.
In Table No. 2, "Showing Kesults of Treatment of Diphtheria with
Antitoxin with Relation to Sex and Age," it will be seen that 2,892
males and 3,444 females were treated in 1908 as compared with 2,493
males and 2,778 females in 1907. It also reveals the fact that in both
years the greatest number of cases of diphtheria occurred in children
of both sexes between the ages of five and nine years ; the females pre-
dominating in 1908, with 1,261 to 1,070 males.
In Table No. 3, showing result of treatment of diphtheria with
Antitoxin according to period of initial treatment after onset and
age, it will be found that in addition to the increased number of
cases treated in 1908, the number of recoveries amounting to 1,379
treated within the first twenty-four hours also occurred in children
between the ages of five and nine years ; that the percentage of deaths
has been reduced to G.5G per cent. ; and that the early use- of Antitoxin
in increased dosage is gradually reducing the death rate among the
poor.
In Table No. 4, showing treatment of diphtheria Antitoxin accord-
ing to areas allected and period of initial treatment after onset of
disease, it will be shown that again, as in tlie previous year, the
largest number of cases treated were of the type known as Tonsillar
diphtheria; there being 2,G11 cases with but 4() deaths, or a death
rate of only 1.7G per cent. The highest death rate shown in this
table appears where the cases developed all the four types, combined
"Post-Nasal, Tonsillar, Pliaryngeal and Laryngeal," producing a
death rate of 42.85 per cent, in a total of 63 cases with 27 deaths.
In Table No. 5, showing results of treatment of diphtheria with
Antitoxin in the several counties by the months for 1908, it will be
seen that diphtheria was prevalent in all the sixty-six counlies in the
State where Antitoxin was distributed for the treatment of diphtheria
among the poor, except Fulton and Pike counties; that Luzerne
county heads the list with the largest number of cases treated, or
844, with 81 deaths; Lackawanna county comes second with 788
cases treated with 72 deaths, and Allegheny county is third with 5G.'*>
cases treated with 35 deaths. The lowest death rate is found in
Mifflin county, where 147 cases were treated among the poor with but
3 deaths, showing the remarkably low mortality of 2.04 per centi
Another inlercjsling f(;ature shown by this table is that the treat-
ment of diphtheria in Jieaver county with 6 cases; Jiutler county with
13 cases; Canienm county with 1 case; Forest county with 4 cases;
Green county with 7 cases; Jlunlingd<m county with 8 cases; Mercer
county with 32 cases ; Perry county with 10 cases ; Potter county with
DIVISION OF DISTRIBUTION OP BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS.
Diagram Showing Percentage of Deaths of Cases Treated With Diphtheria Anti-
toxin According to Duration of Disease for 1908.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 397
1 case; Snyder county with 14 cases; Union county with 10 cases;
Venango county with 7 cases and Wyoming county with 34 cases,
resulted in each county in 100 per cent, of recoveries.
Table No. 6, showing result of treatment of diphtheria with Anti-
toxin according to number of units used and period of treatment after
onset, reveals the fact that the initial curative dose, or 3,000 units of
Antitoxin, was administered within the first twenty-four hours of
onset in 2,010 cases, with only 82 deaths, or a death rate of 4.06 per
cent. It also reveals the fact that much more Antitoxin has been
used in the entire treatment of any single case, the largest amount
of Antitoxin used being 117,000 units to effect the recovery in one
case. A careful inspection of this table shows that the number of
units used for the entire treatment of any one of the cases will range
from 1,000 units by gradual increases until the maximum number of
117,000 is reached. It also shows that double the initial or curative
dose of 3,000 units of Antitoxin was used within the first twenty-four
hours of onset in 922 cases, with but 60 deaths, or a death rate of
G.50 per cent. A still further examination of this table will show
that three times the initial dose, or 9,000 units of Antitoxin, was used
within the first twenty-four hours of onset in 264 cases, with only 32
deaths.
Table No. 7, showing the number of cases where subsequent treat-
ments of Antitoxin were administered after the first twenty-four
hours, it will be seen that the number of units used in these subse-
«iuent treatments range all the way from 1.000 units up to the maxi-
mum number of 33,000 units. It will also be seen in this Table that
subsequent treatments with only 3,000 units of Antitoxin after the
first twenty-four hours were administered in 1,041 cases with 81
deaths, or a mortality of 7.78 per cent. Also that subsequent treat-
ments of douhlc the initial curative doses, or 6,000 units of Anti-
toxin, were administered to 609 persons, with only 84 deaths.
It might be slated just here for the information of the physicians
throughout the State of Pennsylvania, that on or about August 26,
1908, 5,000 unit packages of xVntiloxin were sent as an experiment to
a few distributors for use of physicians living a considerable distance
from the nearest distributing station, but not a sufficient number of
cases have as yet been treated with this increased dosage to admit
of the compilation of statistical data of value at this time. Suffice it
to say, however, that the outlook is encouraging from the few clinical
reports already received from i)hy.sicians.
The total number of cases treated has been arranged into one set
of Tables, numbered from 1 to 8 ; No. 1 to 7, inclusive, covering cura-
tive treatment, and No. 8, immunization treatment, which give in de-
tail the number of cases treated from January 1, 1908, to December
31, 1908, and show the results as tabulated under the following
headings :
26
398
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
1. Period of Initial Treatment After Onset of Disease.
2. Sliowiug- IJesults of Treatment According to Sex and Age.
3. Period of Initial Treatment After Onset and Age.
4. Areas Affected and Period of Initial Treatment After Onset of
Disease.
5. Number of Cases Treated in Ihe Several Counties of the State
by the Months, Avith Result.
6. Eesult of Treatment of Diphtheria with Antitoxin According
to Number of Units Used and Period of Treatment After Onset of
Disease.
7. Statement Showing Cases AVhere Subsequent Treatments of
Antitoxin were Used After the First Twenty-four Hours.
8. Number Immunized, with Result.
TABLE I.
Antitoxin Treatment of Diphtheria for 190S.
Initial Dose, 3,000 Units.
Relation of Initial Treatment to Time of Onset.
Period in Which Initial Treatment was Made.
Results.
1st
day.
2d
day.
3d
day.
4th
day.
5th
day.
6th
day.
7th
day.
8th day
and over.
Total.
Totals - -
3,979
1,464
540
162
103
22
41
25
6,.3;ffi
3,719 j 1,358
462
125
74
15
33
18
5.79t
Deaths -
260 1 116
78
37
29
7
8
7
642
Percentage of deaths,
6.53
7.92
14.44
22.83
28.15
31.81
19.51
28
8.55
TABLE IT.
Antitoxin Treatment of Dii^illicria , 1908.
Initial Dose, ,3,000 Units.
Result of Treatment of Diphtheria with Antitoxin With Relntion to Sex and Age.
Sex.
Age Periods.
Results.
0-1
1-2
2-3
3-4
282
282
4-5
5-9
10-14
16-19
20+
To-
tal.
Tritals .
M..
70
141
260
304
1,070
385
148
232
2,892
F.,
32
133
2.')0
305
1,281
489
230
4.00
3,444
0,.'J36
Recoveries
M..
56
111
21.'-.
2:56
2.58
280
082
368
145
221
2,612
F.,
25
106
216
273
1.170
466
229
4.S9
3,182
5,7!M
Deaths .
M..
15
30
45
47
24
88
17
3
11
280
»
P..
7
27
40
24
82
01
23
7
11
262
642
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH.
399
TABLE II L
Autiloxiu Ti'i'atuu'nt of Diphtheria, 1008.
Initial Dose, 3,000 Units.
Result of Tivatnu'iit of Diph'tlioria with Antitoxin According to Period of Initial
Treatment After Onset and Age.
Period of Treat-
ment.
Results.
Age Periods.
0-1
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-t-
1st day,
Total...
C9
14G
347
324
396
1,404
r,sz
246
451
3,976
Bee., —
54
117
301
298
369
1.379
515
243
438
3,714
Deaths,
15
29
46
26
27
85
17
3
13
201
6. 50
Total,—
18
83
97
152
127
538
213
90
149
1.467
Rec., —
17
69
81
131
116
499
206
88
145
1,352
Deaths,
1
14
16
21
11
39
7
2
4
115 7.83
3(1 day,
Total,—
9
25
43
54
49
197
80
30
53
540
Rec. —
7
19
32
41
38
172
75
28
50
462
Deaths,
2
6
11
13
11
25
5
2
3
78
14.44
■Ith day, - -
Total,—
4
8
11
19
19
65
16
4
16
162
Rec., .-
2
5
5
16
16
48
14
4
15
125
Deaths,
2
3
6
3
3
17
2
0
1
37
22.83
5th day -
Total,—
2
7
11
6
7
31
22
7
10
103
Rec, ..
0
5
7
0
5
27
16
5
9
74
Deaths,
2
2
4
6
2
4
6
2
1
29
28.15
Total,-
0
0
2
3
1
12
3
1
0
22
Rec, ..
0
0
1
2
1
8
2
1
0
15
Deaths,
0
0
1
1
0
4
1
0
0
7
31.81
1th day,
Total,—
0
3
3
3
5
15
7
3
2
41
Rec, —
0
1
3
2
3
14
S
3
2
83
Deaths,
0
2
0
1
2
1
2
0
0
8
19.51
8th day and over, --
Total,-.
0
8
2
3
5
9
2
2
1
26
Rec, .-
0
1
1
8
5
6
1
2
1
19
Deaths.
0
1
1
0
0
4
1
0
0
7
26.92
6,794
542
8.56
400
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
TABLE IV.
Antitoxin Treatment of Diphtheria, 190S.
Initial Dose, 3,000 Units.
Result of Treatment of Diphtheria with Antitoxin According to Areas Affected and
Period of Initial Treatment after Onset of Disease.
Period Within Which Initial
Treatment
was
Made.
Area.
a
03
i
•
03
•a
>.
>.
>>
>>
>> .
c3
oi
ea
03
d M
o
■3
13
t:
-a
"O
-a
■O'S
as
s
^j
S3
fl
SI
S3
S3 O
(2
m
(M
CO
TP
lO
CO
t-
&
EH
Ph
Post-nasal
Total...
66
22
4
1
1
0
0
0
94
Kec., -
62
17
2
1
1
0
0
0
83
Deaths,
4
5
2
0
0
0
0
0
11
11.70
Pharyngeal,
Total,—
139
41
19
8
3
1
0
1
212
Rec, —
129
38
17
8
2
1
0
1
196
Deaths,
10
3
2
0
1
0
0
0
16
7.54
Tonsillar - —
Total,..
1,859
536
145
31
22
3
10
5
2,611
Rec, .-
1,834
528
138
31
19
2
9
4
2,565
Deaths,
26
8
7
0
3
1
1
1
46
1.76
Laryngeal, -- - —
Total,—
404
165
70
26
16
2
6
5
694
Rec., -.
308
126
50
17
9
1
4
5
520
Deaths,
96
39
20
9
7
1
2
0
174
25.07
Total,..
21
20
12
4
3
1
2
0
63
Rec., .-
13
14
6
1
1
0
2
0
36
Deaths,
8
6
7
8
2
1
0
0
27
42.85
Total,-.
18
19
12
1
8
0
0
3
66
Rec, ..
16
18
10
1
2
0
0
3
50
Deaths,
2
1
2
0
1
0
0
0
6
10.71
Pn., Phar., Ton
Total,. ■-
232
125
60
23
17
3
2
8
465
Rec., —
196
113
50
17
9
1
1
0
387
Deaths,
36
12
10
6
8
2
1
8
78
16.77
Total,-.
20
6
6
1
0
1
1
0
88
Rec., -.
18
6
8
0
0
1
1
0
28
Deaths,
2
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
6
15.15
Total,—
29
18
6
4
0
0
1
1
68
Rec., —
22
13
8
4
0
0
1
1
44
Deaths,
7
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
9
16.98
Tod. and Lar., -
Total, -
66
85
29
8
6
1
8
0
136
Eec., -
49
29
24
'
8
1
2
0
113
Deaths,
6
6
6
8
2
0
1
0
23
16,91
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE IV— Continued.
401
Period Within Which Initial Treatment was
Made.
Area.
a
o
■
>.
>.
>>
>>
t»> .
5
ss
OS
la
■a
•a
a
53
■a
a
«
s
4^
J2
X3
j3
.a
ja o
!s
Eh
£^
K
IH
OJ
-«<
lO
«>
i~
00
Ph
, Ton., Lar
Total,—
82
45
26
15
8
6
4
1
186
Rec., —
66
86
23
7
6
4
3
0
144
Deaths,
16
9
3
8
3
1
1
1
42
22.58
Ph
Total,..
669
305
89
20
16
2
5
3
1,109
Rec., -
653
293
84
18
16
1
5
3
1,072
Deaths,
16
12
5
2
1
0
0
37
3.33
Pn.
and Ton.,
Total. -
260
91
47
15
2
3
2
427
Rec, —
241
83
37
12
2
3
1
385
Deaths,
19
8
10
3
0
0
1
42
9.83
Ph
and Lar.,
Total,—
72
28
12
5
0
1
1
120
Rec, —
61
23
11
3
0
1
0
100
Deaths,
11
5
1
2
0
0
1
20
16.66
Pn.
, Ph., Lar.,
Total,—
63
14
5
0
1
3
0
77
Rec, .-
51
12
5
0
1
1
0
71
Deaths,
2
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
6
7.79
Total, - —
Rec, --
5.704
542
Deaths,
8.55
TABLE V.
Antitoxin Treatment of Diphtheria, 190S.
Initial Dose, 3,000 Units.
Result of Troatmcut of Diphtheria with Antitoxin in the Several Counties by the
Months.
County.
1
w
a
a
1-3
.o
C3
a
i
3
<
>
o
i
"3
I
i
a
*>
a
to
Adams,
Total,..
2 2 1 0 0 1 0
9
1
1
1
2
4
6
SO
Rec, .- 2i 2 0| O; 0{ 2
1
1
0
2
4
4
18
Deaths, 0 j 0
0
0 0
0
0 0
1
0
0
1
2
10.
Allegheny,
Total,..
62
9S
27
18 16
13
11 80
76 fts
M
89
668
Rec, ..
60 I 64
28
17 16
12
10 26
71
76
81
82
628
Deaths,
2 1 2
4
1 0
1
1 4
4
6
S
7
S5
6.21
26 -17— 190S
402
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TABLE v.— Continued.
Off. Doc.
County.
o
tu
^v
C3
C
3
(a
si
*n
c
>,
3
-M
o
a
o
t^
«
1-5
^
y
<;
^
i-s
•-5
<;
X
O
^
«
&H
Pj
Armstrong,
Total,—
10
2
! 2
4
2
3
2
7.
5
23
18
17
94'
Rec, .-
10 2 1
4
2
2
2
7
5
23
16
15
1 89
Deaths,
0 0 1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
5
5.31
Beaver,
Total.—
[201
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
6
Rec.. —
'201
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
6
100
Deaths.
0 0 1 0
0
) ^
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Bedford
Total...
9 4 1
3
2
3
5
4
5
3
4
48
Rec.. -.
7,40
1
1
1 5
3
5
4
5
3
2
40
Deaths.
2 0 1
2
1.5
1
1
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
2
S
16.66
Blair,
Total...
9 3 1 16
9
2
6
10
9
5
90
Rec, -.
9 3 14
1.5
1
4
8
2
6
10
9
5
86
Deaths,
0 0 12
0
0
1
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
4.44
Bradford
Total,..
7 4 i 5
3
2
3
1
1
8
3
3
43
Rec., ..
7
2
5
3
1
2
3
1
1
8
2
2
37
Deaths,
0
2
0
0
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
1
1
6
13.95
Berks
Total,-.
10
12
12
S
6
9
5
20
17
13
9
118
Rec., —
9
12
•11
3
5
2
7
5
16
15
10
7
102
Deaths,
1
0
1
0
1
0
11
2
0
4
2
3
2
16
13.55
Bucks,
Total,..
5
5
6
3
3
5
0
7
6
6
10
67
Rec., -.
5
4
6
3
2
10
4
0
7
5
5
10
61
Deaths,
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
6
13
8.95
Butler,
Total, --
7
1
0
0
0
Rec., —
7
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
13
100
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12
0
11
0
16
0
10
0
13
0
22
0
154
Cambria,
Total,-
26
11
16
5
6
6
Rce., —
25
11
13
4
6
6
12
0
9
2
15
1
9
1
11
2
21
142
Deaths,
1
«
3
1
0
0
1
12
7.79
Cameron, .
Total, -
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Rec, ..
a
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
100
Carbon,
Total,-
9
s
8
6
S
2
1
1
8
18
13
20
94
Rec., —
8
i
6
6
3
2
1
1
8
18
11
18
86
Deaths,
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
8
8.51
Centre,
Total,..
7
2
1
0
1
1
0
3
2
6
2
4
29
Rec., ..1
7
2
1
0
1
0
0
1
2
4
2
4
24
Deaths, |
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
2
0
0
5
17.24
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TAULK v.— Continui'.l.
403
u
County.
n
c
3
£l
C
'E
>.
t-i
u
t;
>
e
e
S
a
S
<
<,
•=^
<
a;
C
x;
Q
^
S
Chester, -
Total,..
15
7
5
4
4
s
1
6
9
17
9
11
90
Rec, —
15
6
«
3
4
2
0
1
6
8
17
7
11
84
Deaths,
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
2
6
6.66
Clarion,
Total...
3
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
"
Rec., .-
3
0
0
0
1
1
10
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
9.09
ClearfleM --
Total,..
16
17
10
7
3
5
2
2
2
6
3
77
Rec, ..
15
15
8
6
2
4
2
2
2
6
3
69
Deaths,
1
2
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
10.38
Clinton,
Total, -
8
0
1
8
1
4
0
2
2
2
0
2
30
Ree., .-
7
0
1
8
1
4
0
2
1
2
0
2
28
Deaths,
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
6.66
Columbi!^,, -.
Total,—
.38
26
10
5
20
16
6
10
11
13
19
13
187
Rec., _.
34
25
9
4
20
15
6
9
10
11
16
13
172
Deaths,
4
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
2
3
0
15
8.02
Crawford,
Total, „
5
0
0
3
0
3
0
0
0
1
0
4
16
Rec, ..
5
0
0
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
13
Deaths,
0
0
«
0
0
2
0
0
«
1
0
0
3
18.75
Ouinberland,
Total,—
3
2
2
3
1
1
1
0
0
0
2
16
Rec, ..
3
2
2
3
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
14
Deaths,
0
0
«
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
12.5
Dauphin,
Total,.
3.-.
11
8
4
2
4
1
0
11
12
16
37
142
Reo., -
35
•11
6
3
2
4
1
0
11
14
35
129
Deaths,
1
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
13
9.15
Delaware,
Total, .-
14
15
4
2
2
2
0
1
7
11
7
6
71
Rec, .-
14
13
2
2
2
0
1
1
0
1
11
7
4
64
Deaths,
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
2
7
9.85
Klk
Total, .-
15
9
2
3
4
5
3
1
7
7
2
62
Rec, ..
14
8
2
3
4
5
3
1
6
7.
2
58
Deaths,
1
1
«
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
4
6.45
Krie
Total,-
»
7
0
0
5
1
0
2
9
5
8
47
Rec, ..
5
6
0
0
5
1
0
2
9
5
8
42
Deaths,
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
. 0
0
0
0
5
10.63
Total...
1
1
6
1
1
0
4
3
10
7
10
48
ftec, ..
1
0
6
1
0
0
2
2
10
6
10
42
Deaths,
0
1
0
0
1
0
2
1
0
0
1
0
6
12.5
404
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TABLE v.— Continued.
Off. Doc.
County.
o
•-5
J3
<
03
a>
a
3
1-5
p
<
CO
O
>
o
1
Forest,
Total,..
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
1
0
4
Rec, —
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
1
0
4
100
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
FraDklin, .-
Total, -
1 ^
9
0
2
2
3
4
9
8
4
54
Rec, —
1 ^
9
0
2
5
0
2
3
3
9
7
4
52
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
3.70
Fulton, -
Total,..
0
' 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec, —
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Greeno,
Total,.-
2
1
0'
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
7
Rec, _.
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
7
100
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Huntingdon,
Total...
1
1
0
0
2
1
1
0
8
Rec, ..
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
1
0
8
100
Deaths,
0
0
0
3
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Indiana,
Total,..
4
9
2
3
6
7
9
7
56
Rec, .-
4
7
3
0
5
2
3
6
6
9
6
52
Deaths,
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
4
7.14
Jefferson,
Total,—
1
2
5
1
0
2
6
1
8
9
36
Rec, —
1
2
3
1
0
0
2
5
1
8
8
32
Deaths,
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
4
11.11
Juniata, - _.
Total,..
0
1
0
0
3
3
0
3
8
1
1
17
Rec, .-
0
1
0
0
2
2
3
0
3
3
1
1
16
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
1
0
86
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
5.88
Lnclcawanna, _
Total,-.
117
105
41
51
38
82
57
49
92
101
69
788
Rec, ..
112
97
35
44
83
30
32
52
42
81
93
65
716
Deaths,
5
8
6
7
5
6
0
5
7
11
8
4
72
9.13
Lancaster,
Total...
8
3
2
4
2
5
1
1
8
4
6
40
Rec, ..
7
3
2
3
1
6
1
1
8
8
4
84
Deaths,
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
6
15,
Lawrence
Total,..
6
7
7
8
6
0
1
8
10
12
8
63
Rec, —
6
7
7
1
5
0
1
8
10
12
8
61
Deaths,
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
8.17
Lebanon,
Total,..
7
7
5
1
0
8
8
2
6
1
1
87
Rec, ..
6
7
4
1
0
8
2
•2
6
1
1
83
Deaths,
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
4
10.81
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE v.— Continued.
405
0)
M
County,
«
□
3
J2
M
*E
>.
B
>.
M
>
r,
V
O
3
a
>->
b
y
<
s
•-^
l-»
•<
w
O
>5
Q
H
Ph
Lehigh .
Total,.
38
33
18
17
18 16
16 13
9
14
24
39
79 i 37
842
9.64
Rec.. ..
37
31
15
17
8
13
18
34
73 34
309
Deaths,
1
2
3
0
1 1 1
6
5
6 3
33
Total,..
131
60
36
43
32 36
42
47
82
112
111 Ill2
844
9.59
Bee, -.
127
66
34
38
26 30
6 6
33 45
69
101
103 1101
763
Deaths,
4
4
2
5
9
2
13
11
8 11
81
Lycoming, —
Total,..
16
13
20
8
6 9
6 7
8
10
9
33
13 14
159
5.0S
Kec., .-
16
13
18
8
8 9
9
33
11 1 13
151
Deaths,
0
0
2
0
0 2
0 1
1 0
0
2
0
3
2 1
7i 1
8
19
McKean, .- -
Total,—
1
1
1
1
1 0
Rec., ..
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
1 0
2
2
5il
16
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0 { 0
1
3 ! 2
0
1
2 I 0
3
15.78
Mercer, —
Total,—
10
9
2
1
0 0
1
3
0 1
32
100
Rec, —
10
9
2
1
0 0
3 2
1
3
0 1
32
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0
0
0 0
0
Mifflin,
Total,—
8
2
0
0
0
1 1
1 1
10 24
36
34
20 11
147
2.04
Rec., ..
8
2
0
10 23
36
34
20 9
144
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0, 0
0 1
0
0
0 2
3
Monroe, -
Total, .-
3
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
5
1
1
0
16
Rec, .-
2
1
1
0
0
5
1
1
0
12
Deaths,
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
0 0
4
25.
Montgomery,
Total,..
23
23
9
5
2
It
2
6
6
0
15
9
15
7
11
17
157
Rec, ..
22
22
9
13
9
12
7
11
16
145
Deaths,
1
1
0
2 (J
8
0
0
1
12
7.64
Montour, —
Total,-.
1
0
0
2
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
l! 2
0
1
3
8
15
Rec, —
1
0
0
1
2
0
1
1
3
13
Deaths,
0
0
«
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
13.33
Northampton,
Total,..
23
9
16
7
8
3
3
4
6
4
16
20
119
Roc, .-
23
7
16
6
7
1
1
6
8
12
19
104
12.60
Deaths,
0
2
0
1
1 1 0
2 i 3
0
1
4
1
15
Northumberland,
Total.—
Rec, —
19
16
20
1^
2
2
5
5
8 j 2
7 j 2
2 1 4
7
14
13
23
119
15.96
2 ; 8
7
10
11
19
100
Deaths,
3
4
0
0
1| 0
0 1
0
4
2
4
19
Perry
Total,..
1
3
1
2
1 1
0 1 a
0
0
0
1
10
100
Rec, ..
1
3
1
2
1 1
0 0
0 ! 0
0
0
0
1
10
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0 0
0
0
0 1
10
406
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TABLE v.— Contiuued.
Off. Doc.
County.
1
a
1-5
'in
<
a
1-5
si
3
<
CO
O
o
S
"a
C3
a
Pike, - - -
1
1
Total,-- 0 0 0
' 1
0 1 0 1 0 !
0
0
0
0 0
0
0
Rec., .-; 0 0 0
0
0 0 ,
0
0
0
0 1 0
0
0
Deaths, 0 0 !
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0
0
0
0
0 1 0
0
0
Potter - —
Total,— 1 0 0 j
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
Rec., —
0 1 0
0
0
0 0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
100
Deaths. 0 0
0
15
0
4
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
Schuylkill
Total,- 54 i 46
12
15
11
16
33
72
58
59
395
', '
Kec, —
49 i 43 1 14
2
11
15
10
15
31
70
53
52
365
Deaths,
5 j 3 1 1
2
1
0
1
1
2
2
5
7
30
7.59
Snyder, - -
Total, -1 4 2 j 0
0 1
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
14
Rec., - 4 2 i 0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
14
lOO
Deaths, 0 0 0
0
0
3
_1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Somerset,
Total,- 8
13
5
4
8
2
9
6
16
11
87
Rec., -1 7
13
4
4
3
2
7
2
8
6
14
11
81
Deaths, 1
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
0
6
6.89
Total, -1 8
3j 1
3
4
0
1
6
9
1
1
1
38
Rec, -- 8
3
1
2
3
0
1
5
9
1
1
0
34
Deaths,
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
4
10.52
Total,—
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
8
1
0
12
Rec, -
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
1
0
10
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
1
2
0
2
0
1
2
12
16.66
Total, -
2
0
0
0
0
Rec, —
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
1
10
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
16.66
Total, -
0
8
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
2
1
1
10
Rec, -
0
3
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
1
1
10
100
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total,—
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
7
R«c., —
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
7
100
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total,-
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
1
5
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
6
Rec., —
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
()
0
0
0
0
1
2
az.^a
Total, -
10
7
7
4
1
z
z
0
1
1
0
19
6
10
0
78
Rec, -
8
7
7
2
1
0
14
5
5
10
5
67
Deaths,
2
0
0
2
1
0
1
11
14.10
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE v.— Continued.
407
County.
3
o
a
a
a
a
3
1-5
3
"-5
<
d
o
CO
O
>
"3
o
Eh
a
a
1
Wayne, -
Total, -
9
12
6
4
0
7
4
1
4
7
9
1
64
Rec. -.
9
12
6
4 1 0
7 j 4
1
4
<?
7
1
62
Deaths,
0
0
0
0 j 0
0
U
0
0
0
2
0
2
8.12
Westmoreland,
Total,..
25
18
15
15 j 11
11
6
11
29
58
44
33
271
Bee, —
24
16
12
14
10
10
5
8
27
51
42
32
251
Deaths,
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
3
2
2 1 2
1
20
7.38
Wyoming,
Total, .-
3
4
3
4
0
1
0
0
1
7
7
4
34
Rec., -.
3
4
3 4
0 1
0
0
1
7
7
4
34
100
Deaths,
0
0
0 ' 0
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
York,
Total,.. 11 1 8 8 8
3
4
2
2
8
5
13
9
81
1
Rec., ..j 10 7 8 ] 7
1
4
2
1
8
4
13
8
73
Deaths, 1 10 1
2| 0
0 10
1
0
1
8
9.87
. 1
5.794
542
: i-.-.i
i j , i
8.65
1
TABLE VI.
Antitoxin Tiratiiirnt tif Diplilheria, 190S.
Inili.-tl Ikise, ."j.OUU T'nits.
Result of Treatment of Diplitiieiia with Antitoxin According to Number of I'nits
Used and I'eriod of Treatnii-nt after Onset of Disease.
Number of Units Used.
■a
>.
>.
>.
>>
=:
a
CS
c
rs
a
•O
'C
•o
■a
4j
J3
xs
J=
j=
r-i
d
CO
•*
«
t-
J.OOO,
! Total,
87
16
5
1
2
0
2
0
j R€C
83
13
4
1
2
0
2
0
Deaths,
4
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
1,200, -
Total
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
I
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,500
Total
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
408
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TABLE VI.— Continued.
Off. Doc.
Number of Units Used.
>>
ea
•o
>>
>.
t»
>.
>,
03
03
C!
ea
■o
OS
-o
•a
-o
•O
4J
XI
J3
.a
S3
-a
CO
IH
•^
to
t-
2.000 -
Total,
GS
15
8
3
2
0
1
0
Rec,
05
13
7
2
2
0
0
0
Deaths, :
3
2
1
1
0
0
1
0
3,000, -
Total,
2,019
668
215
66
49
7
19
17
1
Rec,
1,937
635
196
55
38
6
17
13
Deaths,
82
33
19
11
11
1
2
4
4,000, - -
Total,
116
47
22
6
1
1
2
0
Ree
109
41
18
4
1
0
2
0
Deaths,
7
6
4
1
0
1
0
0
4,500 -
Total
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec —
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5,000
Total,
47
25
14
2
1
0
2
0
Rec.,
42
21
11
2
0
0
2
0
Deaths,
5
4
3
0
1
0
0
0
6,000 — -
Total,
922
394
143
41
15
6
6
4
Rec
862
357
118
29
11
3
4
8
Deaths.
60
37
25
12
4
3
2
1
7,000,
Total
48
45
10
6
1
1
1
0
0
Rec,
9
4
0
1
1
0
0
Deaths,
3
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
7,500,
Total,
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Rec
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8,000
Total,
27
24
6
1
0
0
0
0
Rec
23
22
3
1
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
4
2
3
0
0
0
0
0
9 OX) . -
Total
264
99
47
11
12
3
4
2
Rec
232
91
39
10
8
8
8
1
Deaths,
32
8
8
1
4
0
1
1
10,000,
Total
28
18
6
8
1
0
0
0
Rec,
2&
12
6
8
1
0
0
0
Deaths,
8
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
10 500
Total
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE VI.— Continued.
409
Number of Units Used.
-a
>>
>>
C»
>>
>>
(3
a
«
C3
•a
08
■a
•V
•D
■o
4^
s:
J3
Xi
J3
n
"v
Ui
<o
I-
11 000
Total.
11
9
0
2
0
0
0
0
Bee.,
10
7
0
2
0
0
0
0
Deaths
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
12,000,
Total,
141
57
33
12
7
8
1
0
Rec
116
52
29
7
3
1
1
0
Deaths,
25
5
4
5
4
2
0
0
12,500, - -
Total,
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Kec,
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Deaths.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
13,000 -- -
Total,
9
6
2
0
0
0
1
0
Rec..
8
5
2
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths.
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
14,000, -
Total
13
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
Rec ...
12
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
Deaths.
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
15,000 —
Total
59
33
9
3
3
0
0
1
Rec —
49
31
8
3
1
0
0
0
Deaths,
10
2
1
0
2
0
0
1
16,000, - - -
Total.
10
1
0
3
0
0
0
0
Rec —
9
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
17 000 - —
Total,
5
1
3
2
0
0
0
0
Rec..
3
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
Deaths.
2
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
18,000, -
Total.
27
20
4
2
1
0
1
0
Rec..
25
17
*
1
1
0
1
0
Deaths,
2
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
19,000
Total.
5
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Rec —
4
1
0
1
0
01
0
0
Deaths.
1
0
0
0
0
0 j
0
0
20,000
Total
4
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Rec,
2
0
1
0
0
0 1
0
0
Deaths
2
0
0
0
0
0 f
0
0
21,000 -
Total,
19
4
4
2
3
0
1
0
Rec —
18
3
3
1
2
0
1
0
Deaths,
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
410
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
TABLE VL— Coutinuecl.
Number of Units Used.
>>
>>
a
C3
>>
C3
-o
■u
'O
13
-a
13
^
^
^
J3
"-*
N
^
lO
to
I>
22,000,
Total
5
1
0
0
0
0
. 0
0
Rec..
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
23,000, ^- -
Total
3
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
Rec.,
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
24,000, - — -
Total,
13
3
3
0
3
0
0
0
1
Rec.,
9
1
2
0
3
0
0
0
I
Deaths,
i
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
25,000, '
Total,
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec.
1.
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
26,000, i
Total.
2
0
0
' 0
0
0
0
0
Rec.
2
0
0
, 0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
27,000, -
Total.
5
3
1
0
0
0
1
1
Rec.
3
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
Deaths,
2
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
28,000, - -
Total,
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec.
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
20,000, -- --- -
Total
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec.
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
-0
0
0
0
0
0
30.000,
Total
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Rec
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
■
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
81,500,
Total
1
0
0
0
0
0
_ 0
0
Rec
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
32,000
Total
I 2
8
1
0
0
0
0
0
Rec
S
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
83,000, . -
Total
2
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec —
2
4
. 0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TAP.LE VI.— Continued.
411
Li
V
O
"O
Number of Units Used.
a
2
>>
>>
>,
>>
53
>>
S3
>>
a
>>
3
-a
•o
73
•a
■o
■B
■o
■a
-S
■u
■a
■O
j=
x:
g
£
s
^~*
•w
w
O
t-
S
34,000, -
Total.
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Rec.
0
0
0
0
6
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
35,000, - _.
Total.
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Rec..
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
86,000,
Total,
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
Rec,
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
42,000,
Total
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
43,000,
Total.
0
0
2
0
•o
0
0
0
Rec,
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
52,000,
Total,
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec.
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
97,000,
Total
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec,
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
63,000
Total.-
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec, ^..
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
68,000,
Total
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
117,000
Total..
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rec
1 ; 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Deaths,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
412
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
TABLE VII.
Antitoxin Treatment of Diphtheria, 190S.
Initial Dose, 3,000 Units.
Statement Showing Cases Where Subsequent Treatment with Antitoxin were Used
After First Twenty-four Hours.
1
Besults.
Number
of Cases.
1
Units
Used.
Results.
Number
of Cases.
Units
Used.
25
I
1,000
Total,
113
1?/H>
22
Rec, -. -
93
12,000
3
Deaths,
20
29
2,000
Total,
9
24
Rec, '
7
13,000
Deaths, i
5
Deaths,
2
Total '
1,041
3,000
Total,
4
Rec
960
Rec,
3
14 000
Deaths,
81
1
Total, —
78
4,000
Total -
49
Rec, - - --
66
Rec
43
15,000
Deaths,
12
6
Total, -
44
5,000
Total
4
Rec, - -
36
2
16.000
Deaths, - —
8
2
Total
609
6,000
6
Rec, - —
525
4
17,000
Deaths,
84
2
Total, -
19
7,000
28
Rec
15
24
18,000
Deaths,
4
4
Total
81
8.000
Total
2
Rec,
26
2
19,000
Deaths .—
6
0
Total, ,
178
9,000
Total
1
Rec, -
155
Rec.,
1
20,000
Dfaths,
28
0
Total,
22
10,000
Total
14
Rec, .
21
Rec ,
10
21,000
1
4
Total
11
11.000
Total -.
1
9
Rec,
1
22.000
2
Deaths, .......
0
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE VII.— Continued.
41.3
Results.
Number
of Cases.
Units
Used.
Results.
Number
of Cases.
Units
Used.
Total,
3
23,000
Total,
1
Rec,
2
Rec, — ^
1
30,000
Deaths, - .. --
1
Deaths — _
0
Total
9
24,000
Total,
3
Rec.,
6
Rec.,
3
32.000
3
Deaths,
0
Total, --.
1
25,000
Total, -
4
Rec.,
1
Rec,
4
33 000
0
Deaths,
0
Total, .
6
27.000
Rec , -
3
Deaths,
3
27
414
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
IMMl'NIZATION TKF.ATMENT FOR THE YEAR 1908.
In addition to the curative treatment of Diphtheria for which
Antitoxin is furnished free by the State to the indigent, the Depart-
ment of Health also furnishes free for use in preventing the spread
of dijihtheria Avhat is known as an immimizing dose of Antitoxin,
1,000 units in strength, with which physicians are instructed to
immunize all those in the household where the true case of diphtheria
is found as well as all those outside of the house Avho maj' have come
in contact with the patient.
Physicians are also requested and they agree when receipting for
the Antitoxin from the Distributor, to furnish the Department with a
clinical report for all persons immunized as well as for all those
treated for cure, and tlie clinical reports received in which Antitoxin
furnished by the State had been used, for the purpose of the immuni-
zation of persons who had been exposed to diphtheria from January
1st to December 31, 1908, show that three thousand nine hundred and
sixty-five (3,905) persons had been immunized, of which number but
45 were reported as having contracted the disease at some time within
twenty-one days after they had been imuiuuized.
If pliysicians would follow instructions in regard to immunizing
all those in the immediate vicinity of the patient at once, it would
go far toward stoj)ping the spread of the disease, if not altogether
eliminating the chances of an epidemic.
For results in detail of the treatment for immunization during the
year 1008, the following Table is presented:
TABLE A^IL
Showing the Results of Treatment for Immunization, 1908.
Number Treated for Immunization.
o
a
.
>
c
•a .
o5
«
•o
aS
p.
3
•^■5
f-<
.Q ^
■^-9
t-
'5
as
3~
8
P
'A
X
»
1. ..
1, ..
126. -
6, ...
3,507,
07, ..
60, ..
170, -
16, ..
.0,
.5, ...
1, —
1, —
200
1
0
0
300
1
0
0
.500
126
0
0
750
a
0
0
1,000
3,403
44
87
1,500
67
0
0
2,000
60
0
0
3,000
169
1
0
4,000
16
0
0
5,000
fi
0
0
6,000
6
0
0
7,000
1
0
0
10,000
1
0
0
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
415
The following .statement giving the number of syringes of Diph-
theria Antitoxin sni)i)lied to Distributors during the three months of
100.") and dui-ing each month for the years lOOO-liiOT and 1908 shows
a steadily increasing demand for the use of this life-saving agent in
the treatment of (lii)htheria among the poor and also reveals the fact
that from ()cto))er, IJ.'O.j, to December :;i, 1008, there was .supplied
to Distributors of Antitoxin located in every county in the State,
10,.^)r)2 j)a(kages of 1,000 units, or immunizing doses of Antitoxin;
;>0,7G2 packages of 3,000 units and 115 packages of 5,000 units, or
curative doses of Antitoxin.
NUMBER OF SYRINGES OF ANTITOXIN SUPPLIED TO DISTRIBUTORS
BY MONTHS FROM OCTOBER, 190.5, TO DECEMBER, lf'08.
January, .
February,
March, .. .
April,
May,
June,
July
August, —
September,
October, ..
November,
December,
1905.
1906.
1907
190S.
1,000
units.
64
2,517
377
3,000
units.
1,000
units.
3,000
units.
59
2,488
4(32
314
256
289
285
148
118
156
143
564
1,016
824
525
503
394
455
476
295
243
314
330
768
1,408
1,271
1,007
Total. - 2,958
3.009 i 4,638 I 7,470
1,000
units.
3,000
units.
269
327
316
282
221
363
526
347
648
670
804
809
547
648
641
468
433
635
824
702
784
1,297
1,293
1,000
units.
3,000
units.
5,173
8,981
401
380
503
437
515
448
590
4S4
917
725
826
6,793
5.000
units.
807
861
734
752
541
811
605
614 50
920 5
1,504 20
1,534 20
1.619 20
11,302 i 115
GRAND TOTAL.
1,000
units.
3,000
units.
6.000
units.
2,9.')8
3,009
7,470
8,961
11,302
4,6.38
5,173
6,793
115
19,562
30,762
115
1905,
1906
1907
1906
Total,
The following statements show the numl)er of packages of 1,000,
3,000 and 5.000 units of Diphtheria Antitoxin supi)lied, as well as
dispensed by Distributors, located throughout the entire State of
416
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
Pennsylvania, each month diu-ing the year 1908 and also reveals the
fact that the demand for and use of Antitoxin for the treatment of
diphtheria among the poor is steadily increasing every year.
ANTITOXIN SUPPLIED.
l!l()8.
January, _
February,
March, .-.
April,
May,
June,
July,
August, --
September,
October, .
Xovember,
December,
Total.
1,000
units.
467
401
380
503
437
515
448
590
484
917
725
82G
6,793
3,000
units.
807
861
734
752
541
811
605
614
920
1,504
1,534
1,619
11,302
5.000
units.
115
ANT 1 TON I N DI SPKNSED.
inos.
1,000
units.
3,000
upits.
5,000
units.
January, .
February,
March, ...
April,
May,
June,
July,
August, -.
September,
October, ..
November,
December,
Total
427
403
189
127
257
192
230
213
497
603
579
60»
822
4.39
369
527
488
344
307
847
1,234
1,.340
1,251
8,840
61
T]\('. lollowirig statements by years give a concise summary of the
whole niimlicf of cnscs t rented; iiumhci- of dcjillis; pcrcenlage of
deaths; niiinlM-r iiniiiimi/.cd ; niiinhcr iimnimizcd mid hilcr contracting
tlie disca.se; llie mimlicr of syi-iiiges, 1,()()0 iiiiils, :'.,()00 and 5,000 units
of Antitoxin snpj)lied l(» mid dispensed by I)islril)n((»rs ;nid total
cost for each year; iind tlie General Summary Coi- lb(^ years IIXIH,
1000, 1907 and 1908 giving the totals of each item since tlie Depart-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 417
ment of Health began (li.slribuliujj Antitoxin for the treatment of
diphtheria among the poor, in ()ctol)er, 1905, until December 31, 1908,
just three years and tliree niontlis, reveals tlie fact that out of a grand
total of 15,429 cases treated for cure, but 1,349 resulted fatally,
or a death rate of only 8.74 per cent, and in addition to the number
treated for cure 10,253 persons mostly little children who were ex-
posed to the disease were immunized and of the above mentioned
number of persons so immunized only 161 contracted Diphtheria, and
of tliose who contracted the disease, only thirteen died.
The total cost of Antitoxin used in tlie treatment of the 15,429 cases
for cure and the 10,253 cases that were immunized or a grand total
of 25,682 cases treated from October, 1905, to December 31, 1908,
was $54,887.65, or about S2.13 per capita.
SUMMARY.
1905.
Number of cases cured during October, November and Deoeml)or,
1905, 255
Number of deaths , 38
Total number treated , 293
Percentage of deatlis,, 12. 9S
Number immunized , ir.5
Number immunized and later contracting the disease, 5
Number of syringes, 1,000 units, dispensed by distributors 027
Number of syringes, 3,000 units, dispensed by distributors, fil9
Total cost (including "Initial Supply") which cost $0,199.73, .S7,251.S0
1906.
Number of cases cured from .Tanuary 1st to December 31, 190fi 3,1.3f!
Number of deaths , 393
Total number treated, 3,529
Percentage of deaths 1 1 . 1 2
Number immunized 2,33-4
Number immunized and later contracting the disease, (total) 77
Number immunized and later contracting the disease (recovered), .... 74
Number immunized and later contracting the disease (deaths), 3
Number of syringes, 1.000 units, dispensed by distributors, 3,725
Number of syringes, 3,0(X) units, dispensed by distributors, 0,504
Total cost .?16, 192.32
1907.
Numl)er of cases from January 1 to December 31, 1907 4,9S5
Number of deaths, ^70
Total number treated , ' 5,271
Percentage of deaths , 7.13
Number inwnunized 3 , 7«,)<t
Number immunized and later contracting the disease (total), 34
27—17—1908
418 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Number immunized and later contracting the disease (recovered), .... 32
Number immunized and later contracting the disease (deaths), 2
Number of syringes, 1.000 units, dispensed by distributors 3,431
Number of syringes, 3,000 units, dispensed by distributors, G,931
Total cost, $17,387.13
190S.
Number of cases cured from January 1 to December 31, 1908, 5,794
Number of deaths , 542
Total number treated, 0,336
Percentage of deaths , S . 55
Number immunized 3 , 905
Number immunized and later contracting the disease (total) , 45
Number immunized and later contracting the disease (recovered) , . . . . 37
Number immunized and later contracting the disease (deaths) , 8
Number of syringes, 1,000 units, dispensed by distributors 4,320
Number of syringes, 3,000 units, dispensed by distributors, 8,840
Number of syringes, 5,000 units, dispensed by distributors, 61
Total cost, $14,056.40
GENERAL SUMMARY.
1905, 1906, 1907, 1908.
Number of cases cured from October, 1905, to December 31, '1908, . . 14,080
Number of deaths , 1 , 349
Total number treated 15,429
Percentage of deaths , 8 . 74
Number immunized, 10,253
Number immunized and later contracting the disease (total), 161
Number immunized and later contracting the disease (recovered), .... 148
Number immunized and later contracting the disease (deaths), 13
Number of syringes, 1,000 units, dispensed by distributors, 11,819
Number of syringes, 3,000 units, dispensed by distributors, 22,954
Number of syringes, 5,000 units, dispensed by distribulors, 61
Total cost, $54,887.65
THE DI8TKII{ITI()N OF VACCINE AND VACCINE SUPIMJF.S.
The free dishihiilion of \'accine and Vaccine Kuj^plies is made by
llie Dcpjirlinciit of llciillli (lii-ougli llic Division of Distrilnilion of
Jiiological rrodiicis only to sccoTid-cliiss lo\viislii|;K and only lo
those people therein who an; (oo i)ooi- lo pnicliasc. Ilie same, where
no Hoards of Health exi.sl, also to boronj^lis jnsi organi/.ed and to
(•li;irilal)Ic inslilnlions in Pennsylvania uol receiving appropriations
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
419
from the State, at the request of physicians located in any county
in the State — excepting Pliiladelpliia county — upon the recommenda-
tion of the County Medical Inspectors.
Under the urgency of a serious epidemic, however, the stringency
of this rule may be relaxed ; the safety of the people being of vastly
more importance than economy in administration.
During the year 1J)08 smallpox was found in thirty-four different
localities throughout the entire State, viz:
Pittsburg, Allegheny Co. ; Freedom, Beaver Co. ; Sayre, Bradford
Co.; Centre township, Keenan, Butler, Eau Claire, Bessemer Coal
Mines, Venango township, Butler Co.; Croyl township and South
Fork, Cambria Co. ; Coatesville, Chester Co. ; Meadville, Linesville
Boro and Conneaut township, Crawford Co. ; Mechanicsburg, Enola,
New Kingston, West Fairview, Carlisle, Cumberland Co. ; Harrisburg,
Halifax, Dauphin Co. ; Summit township, Erie Co. ; Mt. Union,
Huntingdon Co. ; McCalmont township, Jefferson Co. ; North Ann-
ville, Lebanon Co. ; New Smithville, Weisenberg township, Lehigh
Co. ; Gracedale and Mt. Top, Luzerne Co. ; Lower Merion, Mont-
gomery Co.; Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co.; Glade township and
Sheffield, Warren Co.
Only 770 Glycerinized Vaccine Points and 390 tubes of Vaccine
Lymph for use in the vaccination of persons exposed to smallpox
were supplied upon requisition through the proper channels in twelve
different localities, the entire cost for furnishing same being only
$45.23.
The following statement shows the number of cases of Smallpox
occurring throughout the State of Pennsylvania during the year
1906, 1907 and 1908, by the months.
January, .
February,
March, ..
April,
May,
•Tune,
.luly.
August, .
September,
October, .
November,
December,
Total
1906.
1907
1908.
62
77
•ii!fi!li>fi!{i»i!fi!f;!fi!i;
ili!li!fi!fi!fi!i;>fiifi!f;ir
(420)
SANATORIA AND DISPENSARIES FOR THE
TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS.
South Mountain Sanatorium: FREDERICK C. JOHNSON, M. D., Medical Director.
Dispensaries: THOMAS H. A. STITES, M. D., Medical Inspector of Dispensaries.
(421)
a^^
^
( 42'2 )
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. No. 17.
PENNSYLX'ANIA STATE SOUTH MOUNTAIN SANATORIUM
FOR TUBERCULOSIS.
Keport for the Year Ending May 31, 1909.
MEDICAL AND NURSING STAFF AND ExMPLOYES.
Dr. Fred C. Johnson, Medical Director, McKean County.
Dr. B. S. Putts, Associate Medical Director, Allegheny County.
PHYSICIANS.
Dr. A. M. Kothrock, Chester County.
Dr. J, W. MacMullen, Dauphin County.
Dr. J. Edward Nickel, Dauphin County.
Dr. IT. IT. Thomsen, Philadelpliia County.
Dr. F. C. Hyatt, Philadeli)hia County.
Dr. H. P. Lynch, Dauphin County.
Dr. J. P. Marshall, Berks County.
Dr. H. C. Lacy, Berks County.
Dr. W. G. Marks, Philadeljthia County.
Dr. Benjamin F. Bobinson, Philadelphia County.
Dr. Carl Koenig, Allegheny County.
Dr. George H. Fox, Bacteriologist, Dauphin County.
STENOGRAPHERS.
Martha O. Adams, Dau]thin County.
Caroline B. llailleigh, Dauphin County.
L. Walter Garrett, Clerk, Chester County.
MATRONS.
Miss Maud I'^niery, Clinton ('ounty.
Mrs. Annie M. Klee, Franklin County.
Mrs. Annie Yeager, Assistant Matron, Franklin County.
(423)
424 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
NURSES.
Addah ^ti-ouse. Head Nurse, Philadelphia County.
Myra E. Preble, Franklin Connty.
Catherine Cadden, Luzerne County.
Selina Wilder, Phi hi del phi a County.
Mary E. Lyons, Philadelphia County.
Kachiel Koss, Philadelphia County.
Mary Clark, Sullivan County.
Gertrude Snyder, Northampton County.
Edith Keister, Dauphin County.
Mathielde Bayer, Philadelphia County.
Mary Ekhart, Philadelphia County.
Florence Laskowski, Philadelphia County.
Elenore 0. Kisso, Philadelphia County.
Agnes Martin, Lackawanna County.
Lottie Keyuolds, Franklin County.
Elizabeth McMahon, Lycoming County.
Alice McKernen, Philadelphia County.
Sarah Zimmerman, Philadelphia County.
A. Irene Ramage, Philadelj>hia County.
Helen Gimmell, Philadeljjhia County.
Tusanna Walker, Northampton County.
Emma Ibbetson, Philadelphia County.
Alice Pilkingtgn, Philadelphia County.
Carrie Epley, Cumberland County.
Myrtle Cook, Dauphin County,
Eleanore Lehman, Dauphin County.
14 Orderlies.
7 Ward Maids.
DINING ROOM.
Catherine Strine, Cook, Dauphin County.
Mrs. Mary Souder, Assistant Cook, Dauphin County.
3 Waitresses.
3 Chambermaids.
SEAMSTRESSES.
Julia Jioyle, Dauphin (Joiin(y.
Josie Oarlicr, Lancaster (Joniily.
MAIN J>IMNC; ROOM m;iM)IX(J.
Charley Jliitz, Chef, Franklin Comily.
Elizabeth Kosenberger, Assislaiil ('hcl', l^'raiikliii (^)uiily.
30 Waitresses.
14 Maids and iielpers.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 425
MISCELLANEOUS.
Wilson Reynold.s, Supci iiiieudeut, Franklin County.
Louis Sorg, Steward. Philadelphia County.
J. T. Staley, (leneral Foreman, Franklin County.
George Naugle, Geiu'ral Foreman, I'ranklin County.
C. R Forbes, Kesident Engineer, l^ancaster County.
George C. Melzgar, Slorekeejier, IMiiladelpliia County.
George Thompsi^n, A.s^;istaul Slorekeejjer, Pliiladeljtliia Couuly.
Arthur Yeager, Master jMecIiauic, Franklin County.
J. N. Reed, Foreman over Foiciguers, Franklin County.
Nelson Anderson, Special Ollicer, Lancaster County.
Leo Pavlick, Special Oiliccr, I'liiladelphia County.
Clarence W. Dui-i-, Night Watchman. York County.
J. Wesley l)ix, Night Watchman, IMiiladelphia County.
Charles 11. Hill, Fireman-Carpenter, Dauphin County.
George A. Staley, Fireman, Adams County.
James Daywalt, Fireman, Adams County.
Samuel Staley, Fireman, Franklin County.
Maurice Liglilner, Fireman. Adams County.
Ben ('arbaugh, (Jaretaker ot Filter Plant, Franklin County.
Daniel Staley, Pump Runner, Franklin County.
Harry Baker, Traction Fngine Kunner, Franklin County.
H. S. Hay, Laundrymau, Nortliamijton County.
Levi Wagaman, Poultryman, Franklin County.
Charles Marceline, Chef, Piiiladelpliia County. .
INFIRM A liY.
William Beitzel, ChoC, LMiiladelpliia County.
Daniel Fegler, Assistant Chef, Berks County.
3 Kitchen Helpers.
7 Waitresses.
1 Cliamb(Min;n'd.
REPORT.
At tlie beginning of the year, June 1, IJMIS, tliere were one hundi'(>d
and thirty-lhrce (i:::>i ]»alients under treatment, of wliom eighty (80)
were males and lilly lliiee (5o) females.
During ihe yeai-, seven luuidi-ed and twenty (TlMh males and thriH»
hundred and sixty-nine (.".('.Hi females, a total of one thousand and
eighty-nine (l,08!h patients were treated, while tive hundred and
426 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Ddc.
eight j-nine (589) were discharged, four hundred and seven (407)
males and one hundred and eighty-two (182) females, of whom thirty-
four (34) died, twenty-six (20) males and eight (8) females.
On June 1, 1909, there were remaining in the Sanatorium five hun-
dred (500) patients, of whom three hundred and thirteen (313) were
males and une hundred and eighty-seven (187) females. Of these,
three hundred and fifty-six (356) were under treatment in the In-
cipient Camp and one hundred and forty-four (144) in the Infirmary
Wards.
There were one thousand seven hundred and forty-nine (1,749) ap-
plications for admission, of whom nine hundred and fifty-six (956)
were admitted, one hundred and seventy-five (175) refused to come,
four hundred and ninety-two (492) failed to reply to admission
notices, forty-one (41) had died, and twenty-five (25) were too ill to
travel. Sixty (60) were children under fourteen years of age, whose
moral, mental and physical welfare demands more care and surveil-
lance than is possible to give them under the cottage plan of treat-
ment. The completion of .the Children's Hospital will, therefore,
greatly enhance the usefulness of the Institution.
Over 38 per cent, of cases treated were from Philadelphia and Alle-
gheny Counties.
The exactions with regard to admission have insured a majority of
native born jjatients (78.14 per cent).
Ol the balance, 6.61 per cent, were from Eus.sia; 2.75 per cent, were
from Ireland; 2.02 per cent, were from Germany; 1.95 per cent, were
from England; 1.74 per cent, were from Italy; 1.65 per cent, were
from Austria.
Our statistics bear out the statement tliat Tuberculosis is a disease
of early adult life, as 66.39 per cent, of patients treated during the
year were not over thirty years of age. Of these, 62.51 per cent, were
males.
The occupations of applicants have been varied, but evidence the
fact that Tuberculosis claims more vi('l;ims among those following in-
door occupations.
The completion and equipment of the Infirmary Building early in
Febi*uary added one hundred and forty-four (144) cases to our con-
stantly increasing pojmlatlou. Cases admitted to these wards liave
not all proven hopeless, as many willi (lie disease active have later
improved sulficiently under rest in bed and projjcr diet to be trans-
fix red to the Incipient Canij). Prior to the opening of tlie Infirmary
Wards, cases wearied by a tedious journey were of necessity segregated
in cottages near the dining-room and cared for under great disad-
vanlagos. At jircsent, all cases are giv<!n a preliminary examination
af llui Infirmary, and, if necessary, retained there until j)hysically
able to take up the life and environment of the Incipient Camp.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 4^/
Of the incipient cases discharged, sixty-seven (G7) iu number,
thirty-four (34) were arrested, twenty-eight (28) improved and five
(5) left unimproved.
Our patients generally are unwilling to remain in the Institution
after active signs of the disease have disappeared. The majority of
them are wage-earners and of necessity compelled to leave the Sana-
torium and resume employment as soon as they have regained suffi-
cient strength to do so. It seems a justifiable assertion, therefore,
that the majority of tliese cases, were they able to continue treatment
at the Sanatorium, could be discharged as arrested cases and subse-
quently go on to cure under favorable conditions.
This, in part, is true of the moderately advanced class discharged,
two hundred and fifty-two (252) cases, of whom fifty-nine (59) were
arrested, one hundred and thirty-nine (139) improved and fifty (50)
unimproved, while four (4) died.
Of the far advanced class discharged, two hundred and seventy
(270) cases, thirty-two (32) were arrested, and one hundred and four-
teen (114) improved, ninety-four (94) unimproved and thirty (30)
died.
Of the incipient class discharged, sixty-seven (67) cases, sixty-two
(62) gained in weight, two (2j remained stationary and three (3)
lost weight.
Of the moderately advanced class discharged, two hundred and
fifty-two (252) cases, two hundred and six (206) gained in weight,
thirteen (13) remained stationery and thirty-three (33) lost weight.
Of the far advanced class discharged, two hundred and seventy
(270) cases, one hundred and sixty -four (164) gained in weight,
twenty-two (22) remained stationary and eighty-four (84) lost
weight.
The provision of ciuarters for the treatment of patients with Tuber-
culin ])ermits of llie seU'ctiou of proper cases, wliich has not obtained
heretofore, its use being limited to those who requested such treat-
ment, and, unfortunately, of this class the disease has made such
progress tliat entirely satisfactory results couhl hardly be expected.
Of the favorable cases, however, the results have been such that our
belief in the permanent immunizaticm of tuberculosis subjects with
Tuberculin is stnmgly confirmed. The benefit that will accrue to that
class of patients who so freiiueully suHer from relapses, following the
cessation of Sanatorium treatujeut, is incalculable. This treatment
freciueully begun at the State Dispensaries is continued following
admissioji of the patient to the Sanatorium and in tui-n can-ied on at
the Dispensaries after discharge of the patient from the Institution.
Thus far our work has been contined to the use of Emulsion of Dead
Tubercle Hacilli ( li. 10.) and the Water Extract, jjrejiared after the
method of Dixon (Medical News, October 19, 1889 j. With the con-
428 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
tinuance of this work and with the results anticipated among selected
cases, we feel sure of being able to make material additions to the
literature subsequently.
Besides the specitic treatment we have endeavored to keep firml}^ in
mind the objects for which our State has provided this Institution,
viz:
First: '-Benetit to the individual'' whereby he not only regains
health but again becomes a support to his family.
Second: Increase of the resources of the Commonwealth.
Third: "Segregation," which removes him as a source of infec-
tion while he is returning to health, and in addition provides for the
proper care and treatment of incurable cases who are often excluded
from other Institutions, and become centers of infection.
Fourth: "Educational Features," which do not stop with instruct-
ing the patient how to live and protect others from infection, but
often start an endless chain by their exemplary habits.
The basis of treatment may be summarized as nourishing food, rest,
fresh air and sunlight.
Medicinal agents are used only for the relief of co-incident symp-
toms and conditions 'as they appear.
Impaired digestion is undoubtedly the cause of a great number of
failures, for in no other branch of medicine is this vicious sequel of
nostrums and quackery more apparent than among sufferers from
Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Exercise and light work, carefully graduated, form a part of the
treatment of convalescent patients, both being increased as the con-
dition of the patient permits.
The "Daily TJoutine" observed by our ])ntients is as follows:
DAH.Y ROUTINE.
6:30 A. M. Kising Hour.
7:15 A.M. Breakfast.
7:30 to 9:30 A. M. Temperatures and clean iug quarters.
9:30 A.M. -Lunch.
10 to 11:30 A. M. Kest in jtavi lions I'oi- exercise)
12:00 M Dinner.
1:00 to 2:30 i*. .M. Kest in i-eclining jx^sition on bed.
2:30 P.M. Lunch.
3:00 to 4.30 I'. M. J{est in pavilions (or exercise).
5:00 V. M. Sui)p(*r.
5:30 P. -M. Distributiim of nuiii.
5:45 J'. M. Temjiera hires.
7:30 ]'. M. Lunch.
8:30 P. M. Ketiring Hour.
9:00 P. M. Lights out
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH.
429
The completion of (lie Lal)()rattti-y liiiildiri}^ with its added eiiuiji-
inent affords opportuiiily loi- luoi-e extensive and systematic work
tlian has l)een j)ossi)>le Iieretol'ore.
Our aim lias hcon a nioiillily cxaniinaiion of spnUiin, fojlowinj^ the
examination of bolli I he uiijic and spntum of all patients on admis-
sion.
Examination of the sjMitum cacli month of the cases treated has
been made willi a view 1o eliminating unfavorable cases of mixed in-
fection.
The record (»!' spuluiu exaiiiinaiions is as follows:
a
a
£> .
^ O
m
■° S
o
3O,
Eh
^
June, - — ' 381
July, -- - — 412
August, — - - — ' 346
September, ' 159
October, -. — ' 394
November, ...\ 157
December, 244
January, 139
February, _— -. i 142
March, i 372
April, - — ' 279
May I 100
Grand total, - — - 3,125
263
118
337
75
283
63
117
42
272
122
94
63
150
94
103
36
81
61
191
181
181
98
52
48
2,124
1,001
Re-examination of the s])ntum of arrested cases has largely con-
tributed to the results of examinations in which tnbeirle bacilli were
not found.
A study has been made of tlio sjuihnii wilh regard (o ils p]iag(»cytic
C(mtent. AN'hile the work has proven inleiestiug, 110 noteworthy de-
ductions have been elicited.
During the year nineteen liuiuired and seventy-two (1,!)7l*i urine
examinations were made and detailed reports filed with the patient's
records.
The dilbculty of ohtaiiiiug jieniiission for autopsies has handi-
capped the verilicatiou of clinical symptoms by accurate pathological
findings at post moi-tem. Ilowi'ver. special elforts have Ixhmi made to
work up exceptional cases, of which the following was most interest-
ing from the diagnostic point of view :
L. M., a typical, far advanced case, thirty-two (82) years of age,
was admitted on November 20, 11108. Duration of the disease prob-
ably ten (10) years, althcnigh active symi)toms began only in the last
two (2) years. Upon admission, weighed one hundred and thirtv-two
28
430 THIRD AXNtTAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
and one-half pounds and general condition fairly good. Physical ex-
amination was negative except that the hmgs showed marked soften-
ing at the right upper and lower lobes and left apex, with signs of
cavity at right upper lobe.
During his stay of sixty -two (62) days there was a slight gain in
weight without active febrile symptoms. He was making fairly satis-
factory progress until about four weeks prior to his death when he
suffered from a rather sharp attack of Herpes Zoster. This attack
subsided slowly but the patient then began to exhibit further symp-
toms of spinal disturbance, suggesting incipient tabes, such as girdle
pains, poor station, exaggerated knee jerks, with sluggish pupillary
reactions. Combined with these symptoms was a slight but definite
transitory cerebral excitement. About one week prior to death he
became mentally dull and apathetic, followed by a mild wandering
delirium with slow pulse and sub-normal temperature until his death
on January 21, 1909. An autopsy verified the thoracic clinical signs,
while the following report made by Dr. Allen J. Smith, Director of
the Department of Health Laboratories, cleared up the symptoms
referable to the spinal cord:
"Sections of cord taken from dorsal region show the existence of a
marked meningo-myelitis, characterized by a marked diffuse infiltra-
tion of the surface of the cord, of the perineural sheaths and the
membranes by lymphocytes, and attended by oedema and a minor fibrin
deposit in the distended lymph spaces. Endothelial proliferation of
many of the blood vessels, almost or quite to obliteration, perivascular
collection of lymphocytes, and endothelial formations, and injection
of the vessels prevails. In a few isolated miliary foci caseation exists ;
no definite giant cells noted. The vascular thickening is not of the
fibrous type commonly expected of a luetic process, is rather cellular
in type from i>ro]iferation of the lining endothelium and of the endo-
thelial cells of the perivascular lymph spaces. Special staining sliows
the presence of tubercle bacilli in small numbers.
From the above points the diagnosis of a tuberculous meningo-
myelitis is evident. A lymphocytic collection of small grade exists in
the commisure about the centi-al canal ; and along many of the small
vessels of the cord a slight collecti(m of the same ty[)e is to be seen.
Alteration of the staining quality, discoloration of the nucleus and loss
of shape of mnltipolaj' cells is noted occasionally. Most of the cells
are apparently normal. The process probably exicnded ahmg the
sheaths of the sj)inal nerves for some distance liom (lie cord, judging
from tli(' gi-:i(l(! of changes pi-esent in llic p<»i-lions a( hiclicd. Diag-
nosis: Tuberculous meningo-niyclil is."
The responsibility of preserving (he |>nii(y of ;i food proiduct so
easily conljirriin;iled as milk, in IIk; (iiiiinlily \-o(\\i\i(n], is obviously
considerable. Despite frequent examinations of milk and inspections
No. 17. COMJMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 431
of the dairy farms from which our supply of milk is derived, four (4)
cases of Enteric fever occurred during the monlh of November. The
cases were directly traceable to milk supplied fidiu a dairy farm upon
which three (3) ambulant cases of Enteric fever were discovered by
members of the Department.
A farm hand first showed symptoms of the disease and was sent to
a nearby hospital, where he nuide a satisfactory recovery. After an
incubation period of about sixteen days both the farmer and his wife
contracted a very mild but unmistakable type of the disease.
The physician attending the cases was arrested and fined for his
neglect to report these cases to the Department of Health.
Of the cases stricken with the disease at the Sanatorium, all were
males, quartered in a group of cottages, containing one hundred and
sixty (100) patients, of whom four (4) were regarded as suspects, but
none of these responded to the AVidal test, and recovered promptly
without developing any pathognomonic signs of the disease. All of
the demonstratable cases were of the same cycle of infection, and it
appears probable that the duration of exposure was brief, possibly
but one milk delivery acting as the vehicle of infection. All of the
patients made uneventful recoveries without the development of any
secondary cases.
Of three (3) moderately advanced cases the course of the disease
did not appear to be materially influenced by the added infection,
while in one far advanced case the patient failed progressively after-
ward with evidence of increased activity of the disease until his dis-
charge on January 4, 1909.
No other cases of communicable disease occurred in the Institution
during the year except one case of Varicella and one of Measles. Both
were properly isolated and no further extension of the disease re-
sulted.
On the discharge of patients from the Sanatorium the Dispen-
saries through which they applied for admission are notilied. This
permits of continued surveillance over them by the Local Dispensary
Authorities and thus reduces to a miniuium the relapses that have
been only too common among discharged Sanatorium cases hereto-
fore.
Cases traveling to and from the Sanatorium are provided with indi-
vidual drinking cups and the accessories for the care of sputum, thus
preventing many opportunities of infecticm to the traveling public.
Outgoing mail, as well as the effects of discharged and deceased
patients, are j)roporly disinfected with fonnaldhyde gas liefore leav-
ing the Institution.
Amateur theatricals and the weekly assemblage of patients for
games and social intercourse have added much to the contentment of
the patients. A large phonograph with many excellent records has
also furnished them many enjoyable hours.
432 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
A monthly publication, bearing the very appropriate name of
"Spnnk" has been founded by the patients. It has received many
flattering press notices and as a monthly message of good cheer to the
atHicted serves to encourage and spur on the struggling patient in his
search for health.
Through the generosity of Mrs. Samuel G. Dixon a chapel will be
erected on the grounds in memory of her father, John Gilbert. The
site has been selected and the architect's plans ai-e nearing comple-
tion.
The building willbe so arranged that it may be used for worship by
all denominations.
Through donations received from lime to time the nucleus of a
library has been established.
Through the Waynesboro, Shippensburg and Lansdowne Branches
of the ^Needlework (Juild of America many deserving patients were
furni.shed with wearing apparel.
Several boxes of clothing bave also been received from Mrs. Samuel
G. Dixon.
Children's shoes and overshoes were received from the Jerauld
Shoe Comi)any of Ilarrisburg; also a box containing clothing from
Messrs. Schwartz Brothers, Johnstown.
I am indebted to and wish to make grateful acknowledgment for the
co-operation of the Medical and Nursing Staff, whose arduous and un-
tiring efforts have been with a singleness of purpose that has meant
much to the success of the Institution.
During the year tlie following improvements have been made:
Dining room building, sealing live hundred and seventy-six (576)
patients. Tho building affords ample storage facilities in the base-
ment and piovides (juarters for the help (m the second floor.
A modern sleam laundry, e(iui[)[)ed with washer sleam sterilizers
and oilier devices of recent construction.
Infii-niary Jiuilding and Laboratory, as noted elsewhere.
AcelyhMK* ])lanls liav(i been ])rovided for (he lighting ol" the In-
firmary and iiKiiii (lining i-ooni buildings.
A concrete niorlnaiy with c(dd storage lacililies lor the care of the
dead and pi-ovisions foi- post mortem examinalions.
Three Ic'illi houses, each e!iui|»]ied wilh showers and provided with a
r(»oni in which I he jiatient may i-esL alter Icilliing hel'oi-e going iiilo th(»
<)]K'i\ ail-.
('omroi-iiiMe, well iippoinled (win houses of colonial design, hav(;
b(!en |»i()vi<le<| I'or (he .Medical Direcloi- and (he ol'licials.
All (he buildings on (he gi-oumis, (ogedM'i- wiOi (In; Inlii-mary linild-
ing, have been filled with (ly screens.
An ic(* pond, covei-ing an anni of about 2r),()00 scpiai-e feef, (ogeiher
with an icehouse, with a storage capacity sullicient for the needs of
the Institution iov over two years.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 433
Over two miles of pii)e have been laid, oounectiii'; our sjirings to a
collecting reservoir with a capacity of 45,000 gallons. Engines and
pumps have been installed for use in pumping the water from the
collecting reservoir into the storage reservoir, wliicli has a capacity of
300,000 gallons.
At the disposal plant two sand filters, each 40 x 100 feet, and an
incinerating plant, consuming 1,500 pounds of garbage daily, have
been provided.
Over 1,800 feet of G-inch sewage pipe have been laid in making sew-
erage connections to the Infirmary, dining room building, twin houses,
bath houses and toilets.
Buildings and screened run-ways for five hundred (5()0i chickens
have been erected.
The alterations on the stable have [»rovided more stalls and a spa-
cious Avagon shed, together with suitable ([uarters for the stable
man.
A concrete manure pit has been erected at the stable.
The superstructure is screened from flies and the pit constructed to
permit of the draining and collecting of fluid contents for use as a
fertilizer on lawns.
At the laundry steam and water jets have been provided for cleans-
ing garbage cans.
A road has been built from the township road to the Infirmary, a
distance of 2,450 feet. The road is constructed of crushed st<me, and
although built in the early months of the year, when weather condi-
tions were most unfavorable, the work has proven most satisfactory
and doubtless far better than any road in this vicinity.
Over 4,200 feet of roads and 4,000 feet of walks have been built of
crushed stone throughout the Institution enclosures.
The grounds have been almost entirely enclosed with a substantial
ribbon wire fence and the posts whitewashed by convalescent patients.
A great deal of work has also been done by the patients in the
lower camp that has added very much to its appearance.
The following work is contemj)lated during the ensuing year:
An additional unit to the incinerating ])lant, and additional septic
tanks a< the disj)osal ]»lant.
A road from llie Infirmary to the Incipient Camp via Ihe ice pond;
a road from the ice dam to the sewage disposal ]ilani.
Sixty-four (64) cottages for patients.
Nine (9) toilet buildings.
One (1) bath house.
Eight (8) pavilions.
One (1) Dispensary Building.
A Children's TTospital.
Stall" dining room and nurses* home.
28—17—1908
434
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
Addition to patients' dining room.
Addition to laboratory building.
Addition to blacksmith shop.
Additional buildings and run-ways for 500 chickens.
A carpenter shop.
Seeding grounds about the cottages, the planting of shrubbery and
hedges throughout the grounds.
Planting and fencing about sixty. (60) acres of land on the Mona-
ghan field for farm purposes.
TABLE I.
ADMLSSIONS AND DISCHARGES.
Total.
Male.
Female.
Nnmber of patients in Sanatorinm Juno 1, 1908,
133
956
689
34
500
1.089
80
640
407
26
313
720
53
Number of patients admitted to Sanatorium from June 1, 1908, to
May 31, 190!J,
316
Number of patients discharged from Sanatorium from June 1,
1908. to May 31, 1909,
182
Number of patients died in Sanatorium from June 1, 1908, to May
31, 1909, -- - ._
8
Number of patients remaining in Sanatorium May 81, 1909, —
Total number of patients treated during year,
187
869
TABLE II.
CLASSIFICATION OF PATIENTS TREATED DURING YEAR, BY
COUNTIES.
Female.
Adams,
Allegheny, .
Armstrong,
Beaver
Berks
BlaJr.
Bucks,
Hutler
Cambria, ..
(Jarbon, ...
Centre,
Ohester,
Clarion, ...
Clearfield. .
Clinton, ...
Columbia, .,
(Jrawford, .
Cumberland,
Dauphin, ..
Delaware, .
Elk
Krie
Franklin, ..
FultOD
8
1
91
61
12
8
8
8
11
10
17
10
2
2
in
10
53
20
4
2
4
3
30
24
6
6
, 8
6
7
5
fi
6
11
10
16
10
100
60
46
30
1
1
11
6
17
9
1
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE II.— Continued.
435
Total. Male. Female.
Greene,
Huntingdon, ..
Indiana.
JefTerson
.Juniata
Lackawanna, ..
Lancaster,
Lawrence,
Lebanon
Lehigh,
Luzerne,
Lycoming,
McKean, -.
Mercer,
Mifflin,
Monroe, _
Montour,
Montgomery, ..
Northampton, .
Northumberland
Perry
Philadelphia, ..
Potter,
Schuylkill,
Somerset,
Sullivan,
Tioga, —
Venango,
Warren,
Washington, ..
Wayne
Westmoreland,
Wyoming,
York,
Grand total.
2
1
1
5
3
2
5
3
2
9
5
4
8
6
2
9
7
2
16
9
7
11
5
6
8
8
2
1
1
36
20
16
9
4
5
1
1
4
4
.5
4
i
2
2 ....
1
1
20
16
4
16
11
5
15
9
6
14
9
5
330
236
94
2
2 ....
4
3
i
9
5
4
1
7
3
5
4 1
1
1 ...
1
1
2
1
4
4
11
6
1
3.5
27
8
720
369
TABLE TIL
CLASSIFICATION OF PATIENTS TREATED DURING YEAR, BY
DISPENSARIES.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
20
21
Wilkes-Barre, Dr. C. II. Minor,
York Dr.
Erie Dr.
Carlisle Dr.
Lebanon , Dr.
West Chester, Dr.
Bellefonte Dr.
Johnstown Dr.
Lewistown
Chambci-sburi;,
30
.7. S. Millor 3.1
J. W. Wrijiht 11
11. B. Bashore 12
A. J. RieRcl S
Jos. Scattergood , 34
O. F. Harris, 1
W. E. Matthews ;^3
Dr. C. II. Brisbin 5
Dr. H. X. Bonbrake 10
Chester, Dr. II. M. Hilier, 10
Harrisbnrg Dr. P. A. Hartman , 00
Altoona , I )r. J. D. Findley 17
Butler Dr. II. D. Hockenl)orry , I."
Berwick , Dr. S. B. Arment , H
McConnellsburK Dr. J. W. Moser 1
Honesdale , Dr. II. B. Ely 4
Pittsbnrjj Dr. S. M. Rinehart S7
PhiIadolj)hia , Dr. Alfred Stengel 320
436 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
TABLE III.— Continued.
22 Rochester Dr. E. S. H. McCaley, 2
23 Doylestowu , '. Dr. I. S. Plymire 2
24 Kittanning, Dr. T. N. McKee, 12
25 New Bloomfiekl Dr. A. R. Johnston , 14
26 Mifflinrown, Dr. W. li. Banks, S
27 Coudersport Dr. E. H. Ashcraft, 2
28 Danville, Dr. G. A. Stock, 1
30 Meyersdale, ' Dr. C. P. Large, 9
31 Norristown , Dr. H. H. Whitcomb 19
32 Oil City, Dr. J. P. Strayer, 4
33 Williamsport , Dr. C. W. Youngman , 9
35 New Castle, Dr. J. D. Moore, 11
36 Sharon Dr. I'. P. Fisher, 4
37 Reading, Dr. Israel Cleaver, 11
39 Lancaster Dr. J. L. Mowery, 15
40 Scranton , , Dr. J. C. Reifsnyder, 9
41 Meadville Dr. J. K. Roberts 11
42 RidgAvay , Dr. J. C. Flynn , 1
43 Clarion , Dr. J. T. Rimer , 6
45 Mauch Chunk , Dr. J. K. Henry , 3
46 Lock Haven , Dr. R. B. Watson , 7
47 Huntingdon , Dr. H. C. Frontz 5
48 Indiana , Dr. W. A. Simpson , 5
51 Allentown , Dr. H. F. Cawley , 2
52 Easton Dr. E. M. Green , 8
53 Shamokin , Dr. R. H. Simmons , 13
54 Warren , Dr. M. V. Ball , 1
55 Monongahela , Dr. C. B. Wood ,
56 Tunkhannock , Dr. H. L. McKown , 1
57 Greensburg, Dr. I. M. Portser, 8
58 Tioga, Dr. S. P. Hakes, fi
59 Dushore Dr. P. G. Biddle 1
60 Gettysburg Dr. J. R. Dickson o
62 Clearfield, Dr. S. C. Stewart, .s
63 Waynesburg Dr. J. T. lams 2
64 Pun.xsutawney, Dr J. E. Grube, 7
65 Stroudsburg Dr. W. L. Angle, 2
66 Pottsville Dr. L. T. Kennedy, 4
72 Franklin , Dr. IL F. McDowell 1
73 Jenkintown, Di-. W. B. Jameson, 1
74 Columbia , Dr. J. P. Kennedy', J
75 CoatosviJic? Dr. E. A. (Jraves 1
76 Phoonixviilf Dr. C. A. Yocum, 1
77 Mt. Pleasant Dr. M. B. Horner 3
78 Lykens, Dr. M. D. Lelir, 1
80 PhillipKburg Dr. C. E. M.CJirk :?
81 McKeesport Dr. D. P. P>]os(!, 2
87 Bangor Dr. H. S. Sherrer 1
89 Lansford Dr. J. IL Young, 1
91 Tamarjua Dr. E. E. ShilTorstein 22
92 • Milton , J)r. R. B. Tule 2
95 DuBoiH, Dr. R. R. Jordan, 1
96 West Fairview , I )r. II. B. Biishore 3
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
437
TAP.LK 111.— Continued.
98 South Bethlehem Dr. W. D. Chase, . .
100 Home.stead , I )r. A. 1'. Foglenian , ,
101 Braddock Dr. F. K. Whitfield ,
102 Brookville, Dr. J. A. Haven , . .
103 Beaver Falls, Dr. Bruce Snodgrass,
104 Wellsboro Dr. I*. W. Ilouser , .
105 Washington , Dr. E. M. Hazlett , . .
107 Frankford , Dr. W. G. Turnl)ull , .
108 Waynesboro Dr. W. C. Schullz , . .
Crand Total , 1,0S'J
TABLE 4.
CIVIL CONDITION OF PATIENTS TREATED DURING YEAR.
Total.
Male.
Female.
Married,
{single,
Widowed,
Divorced,
Grand total
4IX)
284
116
G41
iU
228
45
20
25
3
3 ....
TABLE 5.
RELIGION OF PATIENTS TREATED DURING YEAR
Protestant
Catholic,
Hebrew
Confucian. „♦-
Not given
Grand total,
Total,
637
300
1,089
Male.
408
197
73
1
41
720
Female.
229
26
11
369
438
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
TABLE 6.
NATIVITY OF I'ATIENTS TREATED DURING YEAR.
Total.
Female.
United States, —
Ireland,
Roumania,
Russia,
Norway,
England,
Canada.
Italy .-
Austria,
Prussia,
France.
Germany.
Sweden,
Poland,
Scotland -.
Hungary, ...;-__
Syria --
China,
Wales, - — -
Australia, ......
Not given,
Grand total.
851
5-14
307
30
19
11
9
7
2
72
52
20
3
3
21
17
4
3
3
19
14
5
18
15
3
2
2
1
22
1
14
8
4
2
2
3
2
1
9
8
1
7
6
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
8
11
3
1,089
720
369
TABLE 7.
NATIVITY OF PATIENTS TREATED DURING YEAR.
Total.
Male.
Female.
Father born In
United State.s,
England,
Ireland,
Scotland,
France,
Hungary,
Germany,
Russia .,
Austria
Canada
Norway
Italy,
Sweden
Prussia
Rouiiianlu, ..
Wales
Poland ...
Cuba, ,
Syria,
Deniriark,
Australia,
China,
Spain
Not Klvea, ...
Grand total, ..
46
115
17
2
6
81
86
19
7
6
22
6
5
6
11
4
1
1
3
3
1
1
83
387
36
79
14
1
6
68
64
16
222
10
36
3
1
1
28
22
S
1
2
6
2
2
8
4
8
1.089
720
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE 8.
NATIVITY OF I'ATUON'TiS TIlExVTED DUItIN(i YEAR.
439
Female.
Mother born in
United States,
England,
Ireland
Scotland
France -.
Hungary,
Germany,
Russia,
Austria,
Canada
Norway,
Italy
Sweden,
Prussia,
Rouniania, ..
Wales --.
Poland
Cuba,
Syria,
Denmark,
Bohemia
Australia,
China,
Not given, ...
Grand total, .
45
130
18
3
4
59
81
18
i
5
21
5
2
8
4
S
1
1
8
1
2
1
45
87
14
1
4
39
62
16
3
3
16
3
2
7
2
3
1
1
2
1
2
1
24
720
TABLE 9.
CLASSIFICATION OF PATIENTS TREATED DURING YEAR, SHOWING
AGE INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY.
Grand total,
Total.
I to 5 years, inclusive, .
(j to 10 years, inclusive,
II to 15 years, inclusive
16 to 20 years, inclusive,
21 to SO years, inclusive,
31 to 40 years, inclusive,
41 to 50 years, inclusive,
51 to CO years, inclusive,
CI to 70 years, inclusive,
71 to 80 years, inclusive.
3
20
5
65
173
462
227
^
104
,
31
,
4
1,089
Mortality.
Male.
Female.
2
12
37
108
293
160
82
Male.
1
8
28
65
169
67
22
8
1
720
369
Female.
440
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
TABLE 10.
OCCUPATION OF PATIENTS TREATED DURING YEAR.
', Total. Male. | Female.
Agent
Assembler,
Auditor, --
Axe grinder,
Baker,
Banier, --
Bank clerk .._
Bank teller,
Barber, -
Bar tender,
Beamer,
Blacksmith .—
Boatman,
Boiler maker,
Boiler tester,
Bookkeeper,
Box-maker,
Brakeman
Brass finislier, .:
Brick layer,
Broom-maker,
Butcher,
Butler, --
Cabinet maker, ..
Canvasser,
Carriage builder, .
Carpenter,
Cashier,
Cash boy,
Cement contractor.
Chair maker,
Chemist,
Chef -
Civil engineer,
Cigar worker -
Clerk,
Cloak operator, ..
Cloth cutter,
Coachman,
Conductor
Cook.
Cooper,
Core-maker,
Craneman
Cutter,
Decorator,
Draughtsman,
Dye maker
Drug clerk — .
Electrotyper,
Electrician
Elevator man
Embroiderer
Engineer
F;ngraver,
Farriir-r
Fireman
Florist
Frame-maker,
Gardener,
Glass worker
Hatter
Harness-maker, ...
Hostler,
Hotel keeper,
Housework
Huckster,
Iron worker,
Janitor,
Jeweler,
Laborer,
Laundry worker, ..
Law student,
I^eather worker, ...
Lln(;man
Liveryman,
Lumberman,
5
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
15
7
1
10
1
2
1
6
2
2
1
3
1
1
3
2
3
2
8
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
13
52
1
1
3
3
4
2
2
2
1
1
3
1
1
1
6
1
2
4
2
27
3
2
1
1
13
3
1
2
2
190
1
12
1
2
68
10
1
2
4
2
1
5
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
15
7
1 1
':
2
1
6
2
2
1
3
1
1
3
2
3
2
8
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
10
52
1
1
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
3
3
2
1
1
1
6
1
1
4
3
27
S
2
1
1
13
3
1
2
2
"'i'
12
1
2
68
1
1
2
4
2
1
1
190
9
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE 10.— Continued.
441
Total.
Male.
Female.
Machinist -
Medical student,
Messenger,
Merchant,
Mender,
Mill hand,
Miner,
Mining engineer,
Motorman,
Moulder,
Mover,
Music teacher, .—
Newsboy,
Night watchman,
Nurse (trained),
Nurse, -
OflBce boy, —
Packer, --
Painter, -
Paper bag maker,
Pattern-maker
Peddler, -...
Picture framer,
Pipe cutter,
Pipe fitter --
Physician,
Plasterer
Plumber,
Porter, —
Postal clerk,
Priest,
Printer,
Puddler,
Quartermaster, — .
Salesman, -_.
Saleslady,
Sailor,
Saloon keeper,
Seamstress,
Sexton,
Shipbuilder,
Shoemaker,
Secretary Y. W. O. A.
Slate worker,
Solicitor, —
Stage hand,
Stationary engineer, ..
Stage carpenter,
Steel worker,
Stable boss,
Stenographer, — .
Steward, ._ -..
Stockboy, —
Stone carver,
Stone cutter,
Stove worker,
Student
Railroader,
Reporter
Rigger, — -
Railroad conductor, ...
Tailor,
Teamster.
Teacher
Tinsmith, -
Telephone operator, ...
Theatre manager
Tobacco stripper
Tool-niakor,
Trainman,
Umbrelln-maker, .
Weaver,
Waiter
Waitress
Watchman
Wood carver
Wood worker,
Unclassified,
86
2
4
7
1
68
17
1
2
2
1
1
2
1
8
4
1
2
8
1
6
3
1
1
2
1
1
6
2
2
2
14
1
1
30
6
2
1
16
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
4
1
4
1
10
1
1
1
2
3
84
5
1
2
1
10
30
12
8
1
1
S
1
1
1
17
6
2
1
1
1
39
4
1
2
8
1
6
3
1
' 1
2
1
1
6
2
2
2
14
1
1
: 30
G
! 2
1
16
1
1 1
! 2
1
1
2
1
4
1
4
1
8
7
1
1
1
2
3
48
36
6
1
2
1
18
1
10
7
5
--
2
1
1
1
10
29
44:;
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
TABLE 11.
CLASSIFICATION OF RESULTS IN ALL CASES DISCHARGED DURING
YEAR.
•6
13
O
B
$
a
S
a>
S3
s
No. patients discharged during year
No. patients discharged as arrested
No. patients discharged as improved,
No. patients discharged as unimproved, .
No. patients discharged by death,
589
577
12
407
182
277
125
123
2
91
34
36
281
275
6
199
82
147
149
147
2
91
58
81
34
32
2
26
8
13 1
312
89
134
68
21
TABLE ]2.
SHOWING WEIGHT RECORD OF DISCHARGED CASES.
aj
•a
"3
o
■3
5
"a
a
a
03
a
Number of patients discharged
during year,
Number of patients discharged
during year, increased in weight,
Number of patients discharged
during year, unchanged in
weight —
Number of patients discharged
during year, lost in weight, ..
589
577
12
407
182
277
312
432
426
6
299
133
198
234
37
36
1
28
9
18
19
120
115
5
80
40
61
69 1
.73
.06
.21
TABLE 13.
WEIGHT RECORD OF FAR ADVANCED PATIENTS DISCHARGED DUR-
ING YEAR.
■a
e9
4J
'3
o
a
"a
03
a
53
^
^
m
;s
(S
a
Number of patients discharged during
year, -
Number of patients discharged during
year. Increased In welKht
Number of patients discharged during
yeor, unchanged In weight
Number of patients discharged during
year, lost In weight,
270
265
5
-201
69
164
168
1
129
36
22
21
1
15
7
84
81
3
m
27
142
128
87
77
11
11
44
40
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
443
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444
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
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No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
445
TABLE 1.5.
ADMISSIONS AND DISCHARGES IN FAR ADVANCED CASES.
"3
o
3
el
5
a
3
a
B
a
Number of patients in Sanatorium June
1, 190S -
Number of patients admitted from June
1, 1!)08, to May 31, irwi), -
Number of patients discharged from
June 1, 1908, to May 31, 1909,
Number of patients remaining on May
31, 1909 -
28
28
21
7
13
506
498
8
338
168
235
270
265
5
201
69
142,
264
261
3
158
106
106
15
271
128
158
TABLE 16.
CLASSIFICATION OF RESULTS IN FAR ADVANCED PATIENTS DIS-
CIIARCxED DI'RING YEAR.
Total.
White.
Black.
Male.
Female.
Married.
Number ol patients discharged during
year — —
Number of patients discharged during
year as arrested,
Number of patients discharged during
year as improved,
Number of patients discharged during
year as unimproved,
Number of patients discharged during
year by death, „.
270
265
6
201
69
142
32
32
30
2
8
114
112
2
90
24
68
94
93
1
58
36
54
30
28
2
23
7
12
128
24
46
40
18
29
446
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
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ents June 1, 1908
ents admitted during year,
ents remaining to date, _.
tients discharged during
tients discharged as ar-
tients discharged as im-
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ents discharged by death,
ents increased in weight, _
ents lost in weight,
ents unchanged in weight.
No. pat
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No. pa
year.
No. pa
rested
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proved
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ft ft a
d d d
'A'A'A
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
447
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448
THIRD ANNLTAL REPORT OP THE
Off. Doc.
TABLE NO. IS.
ADMISSIONS AND DISCHARGES OF MODERATELY ADVANCED CASES.
<u
•6
a
S
OS
Number of patients in Sanatorium June
1, 1908, -
Number of patients admitted from June
1. 1908 to May 31, 1909,
Number of patients discharged from
June 1, 190S, to May 31, 1909,
Number of patients remaining on May
31, 1909 —
Number of patients died from June 1,
1908, to May 31, 1909,
77
77
43
34
30
370
365
5
242
128
142
252
2.50
2
1,59
93
114
195
192
3
12(!
(i9
.58
4
4
3
1
1
47
228
138
137
3
TABLE 19.
CLASSIFICATION OF RESULTS IN MODERATELY ADVANCED CASES
DISCHARGED DURING YEAR.
o
E-i
V
3
^
o
s
"a
03
B
03
a
Number of patients discharged during
year,
Number of patients discharged during
year as arrested, --.
Number of patients discharged during
year as improved,
Number of patients discharged dufing
year as unimproved,
Number of patients discharged during
year by death --
252
250
2
159
93
114
59
59
.
39
20
20
139
138
1
88
51
68
50
49
1
29
21
25
4
4
3
1
1
138
39
71
25
3
TABLE 20.
WUIGIIT Ri:<'()RD OF .MODERATELY ADVANCED CASES DISCIlAIUiED
DL'RIN(; YEAR.
"0
3
i
C3
03
a
t=
PQ
a
h
a
CO
Number of patients discharged during
year, - -— --
Number of patients discharged during
year, Increased In weight, - —
Number of patients discharged during
year, unchanged In weight,
Number of patients discharged during
year, lost In weight,
Number of patients discharged during
year, by death,
252
250
2
159
93
114
206
205
1
127
79
93
18
18
11
2
0
88
32
1
21
12
15
4
4
8
1
1
138
113
7
18
3
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
449
y.
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450
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
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No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
451
TAIiLE 22.
AD.MJSSIONS AM) DISC 'lIAKiHOS OF I.XCII'IKNT ("ASKS.
•o
"oS
s
o
^
*«
C3
s
H
Is
n
a
Ph
S
CO
Number of patients in Sanatorium June 1, 1908
Number of patients admitted from June 1, 1908, to
May 31, 1909, — — — -
Number of patients discliarged from June 1, 1908, to
May 31, 1909, -- - -- -
Number of patients remaining on May 31, 1909,
28
26
2
16
12
7
80
76
4
60
20
18
67
62
5
47
20
21 j
41
40
1
29
12
*l
TAHLE 23.
CLASSIFICVridX OF UFSFLTS IN INCIPIENT CASES DISCHARGED
DimiNCi YEAR.
*>
aj
■u
a
a
u
s
a
a
u
fH
^
OQ
ll<
Number of patients discliarged during year, „_
Number of patients discharged during year as
arrested,
Number of patients discharged during year as
improved,
Number of patients discharged during year as
unimproved, _.
67
62
5
47
20
n
46
34
32
2
22
12
8
26
28
25
3
21
7
11
17
5
5
4
1
2
3
TABLE 24.
WEIGHT RECORD OF INCIPIENT CASES DISCHARGED DrULXiJ YEAR.
Number of patients discharged during year, ...
Number of patients discharged during year,
increased in weight
Number of patients discliarged during year,
unclian>jed in weight,
Number of patients discharged during year,
lost in weight,
•6
a
o
en
5
s
^
C3
n
CS
B
1^
a
«7
62
6
47
20
21
46
62
58
4
43
19
18
44
2
2
2
1
1
3
^
1
2
1
2
1
1
452
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
fci-i<NlCOi-(QC0C00
CNOOCir-^rH 0000 CI
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No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 453
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARIES.
Dr. Thos. H. A. Stites, Medical Inspector of Dispensaries.
OFFICE STAFF.
Miss Olive E. Jamison, Stenographer.
Miss Mary Sandoe, Stenographer.
Miss Nellie Tittle, Stenographer.
Miss Josephine Hill, Stenographer.
Miss Mary Fitzpatrick, Clerk.
DISPENSARY MEDICAL STAFF.
In each dispensary there is a Physician-in-Charge appointed at the
head of the work. ^A'here the work is great enough to warrant the
same, the Commissioner of Health appoints a first assistant physician
and a second assistant physician, thus making the medical stafif con-
sist of the Physician-in-Charge, one first assistant and one second
assistant physician. Subsequent to August 6, 1908, the Commissioner
of Health decided upon the remunei-ation of the first and second
assistant physicians as well as the Physician-in-Charge for their
services.
VISITING NURSES.
As soon as possible after application for treatment and examina-
tion at the dispensary, each patient is visited in the home by a nurse
from the dispensary.
The visiting nurse is expected to investigate the conditions in and
and around the j)atient's home, the habits of the family, and the
health of the family, while the financial circumstances are also con-
sidered important.
Imiuodiatcly subsequent to the first visit of the nurse a written re-
port on the conditions found is rendered by her to tlie physician-iu-
charge. In addition to investigating the surroundings and circum-
stances of the patient, it is the duty of the nurse to follow up the
advice and instructions already given at tbe dispensary by pointing
out the particular manner in which the advice is to be applied. She
is ex])ected, so far as possible, to assist in improving conditions about
the ])atient. No effort is spared towards re-arranging the rooms and
furniture in such a way as to materially improve the surroundings.
454 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
In many ways the work of the A'isiting uiirse is of prime importauce,
since by coniin*'- into.tlie patient's home she becomes far more inti-
mately acquainted, not only \\'ith the patient, but with the whole
family, than is the case with one who sees the patient only at the
dispensary.
The observations and reports of our visiting nurses are of great
assistance in preventing misapplication of the supplies furnished by
the Department.
OFFICE WORK.
Administrative Work.
The administrative work of the division consists in superintending
the distribution of su])plies, reviewing reports and vouchers, and per-
sonal inspection of the various dispensaries. The Medical Inspector
of Dispensaries makes frequent visits to each dispensary, his coming
never being known to those in charge of the particular dispensary
until his arrival. In this Avay the Department seeks to assure itself
of the maintenace of the dispensaries in proper physical condition,
and that the physicians are doing their work as required by the De-
partment.
LOCATION OF DISPENSARIES.
The original plan of distribution of dispensaries was to open one
dispensary in each County, This program was completed on June
2, lOOf^, with the ojx-ning of Ihc dispensary a( Greensburg, AVestmore-
land ('ounty. Frequent requests and i)etitions, however, were re-
ceived by the Commissioner of Health asking jiim to open other diS'
pensaries. After a careful review of the work of the dispensaries
already in operation and of Iheir geographical relations to Ihe various
districts of the State, it was decided that the Depai-tment should ju'o-
ceed in the extcuision of tlie existing system. This <'xt(!nsion wan
l)egun in October, 1!)08, and uj) to DccenibcM*, iSth, thirty-seven {'M)
additional disjjensaries had been opened for tbe recejition of j)atients.
'J'Iies(; disftensaries are numbei-ed from (JS to 104. Tlicir locations and
names of i'hysician-in-(Jhai*g(; an; shown in th(! accompanying lists,
A further extension of tlie system is under consideration.
It has Ix'cn the effort of I lie Dcpai-tnient to ])lace disp(;nsaries at
j)oints wher<; they ^\'ili best scin'c the n(M'ds of the greatest numl)er of
])eoph*, and to tliis end careful considei-ation has b(H!n giv(;n to lines of
coiiiiiiiinica I ion and ccnlcrs of po|)iilat ion.
Per Cent o^Patients No. -'Visits -^FVients
Receiving medicine per Nurse
1908
1908
PERCErrr •'Patients
SHOWING
iNCREASEDWEIGKT
I9O8
NOo^PvriENTS
reR Doctor
1908
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 455
DATES OF OPENING OF THE TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARIES.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
n
12
13
M
1.0
l(j
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
.3.5
.3(!
37
.•?8
39
40
41
42
43
44
4.'>
46
47
48
49
50
51
r,2
."iS
r,i
55
5(i
.'■>7
Armstrons
Perry,
Juniatii
Potior.
Montour,
Union,
Somerset,
Montponicry
Venango,
Lycoming
Forest
I^awrcncR, ..
Mercer,
Berks,
McKean,
Lancaster, .-
Lackawanna,
Crawford, ..
Elk.
Clarion,
Bradford,
Carbon,
Clinton,
Huntinsdon
Indiana, -
Susfiiiehanna, --.
Snyder,
Tvohich, .-
Northampton, ...
Northumberland,
Warren,
Washington
WyoiiiinK,
Westmoreland, ..
'I'iopa ,
Sullivan.
Adams,
Bedford.
Clearfield,
Greene,
JelTcrson,
Monroe,
Schuylkill,
Fayette,
Luzerne,
I'ambria,
Fayette,
Northumberland,
Venango,
Montgomery,
I,aneaster,
Chester,
Chester,
Wilkes-Barre,
York,
Erie,
Carlisle,
Lebanon,
West Chester,
Belief onte,
lCnipf)rium,
.lolmstown,
Lewistown.
Cli;iliibersl)urg,
Cliester,
Harrisburg,
Altoona,
Butler.
Berwick,
McCouiiellsburg,
Honesdale,
Milford,
Pittsburg,
Phila<lelphia,
Rochester,
Doylestown,
Kittanning.
New Bloomfield,
MifTliiitown,
Coudersport ,
Danville,
Miflflinburg,
Meyersdale,
Norristown,
Oil City,
Williamsport,
Tionesta,
New Castle, ...
Sharon,
Reading,
Bradford,
Lancaster,
Scrniiton,
Meadville,
Ridgway,
Clarion,
Towanda,
Mauch Chunk,
Lock Saven, ..
Huntingdon, ..
Indiana,
Montrose,
Selinsgrove, ...
Allcntown,
Easton,
Shamokin,
Warren,
Moiiongahela, .
Tunkhannock, .
(xreensburg, ...
Tioga,
Dushore, _
Gettysburg, ...
JCverett,
Clearfield
Waynesburg, ..
Pun.xsutawney,
Stroudsburg, ..
Pottsville
I'niontown,
Ha/.leton,
Hastings
Connellsville, ..
Mt. Carniel, ...
Franklin.
.lenkintown, ..
Columbia,
Coatesville, ...
Phocni.wiUe, .
7-22-07
11-12-07
12-lOW
10-25-07
12-21-07
12- 5-07
11- 5-07
10- .5-07
11-26-07
2-18-08
11-10-07
11-12-07
3-28-08
12-10-07
11-15-07
11-15-07
12-10-07
1- 3-08
12- &07
1-21-08
1- 7-08
1-24-08
6-24-08
11- 5-07
1- 9-08
12-17-07
2-24-08
12-14-07
1- 4-08
12- 4-07
1-1308
12-1307
2-22-08
12-20-07
1-24-08
2-18-08
1-1.5-08
2-14-08
1- 3-08
2-25-08
2-13-Oe
1-21-08
1-21-08
1-23-08
4-20^
5-14-08
4- 3-08
2-26-08
3-27-08
2- 4-08
2-28-08
4-28-08
3-10-08
3-14-08
2-20-Oe
1-24-08
6- 2-08
2-25-08
4-18-08
6-19-08
4-14-06
5- 7-08
3-12-08
5-11-08
4-16^
4-28-08
5-30-08
7-22-06
11-24-08
11-2308
12- 2-08
ll-U-08
11-14-06
11-2608
11-17-08
12- 2-06
456
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
DATES OF OPENING OF THE TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARIES.
Coutinuetl.
Dis.
No.
County.
Place.
Date ol
Opening.
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
102
103
104
106
■Westmoreland, - - Mt. Pleasant,
Dauphin, — - Lykens, —
Blair, _ Tyrone, —
Centre Philipsburg, ..
Allegheny — -i McKeesport, ..
Bucks, -- I Bristol, _.
Allegheny. ' Carnegie,
Lackawanna,
Schuylkill, -
York,
Xorthanipton, .
Westmoreland,
Carbon,
Crawford,
Schuylkill,
Northumberland,
Columbia,
Luzerne,
Clearfield,
Cumberland, .-.
Susquehanna, .-
Northampton, .
Erie,
Allegheny,
Jefferson,
Beaver, .—
Tioga, - —
Montgomery, —
Carbondale, _-.
Shenandoah, _.
Hanover,
Bangor,
Monessen,
Lansford,
Titus ville,
Tamaqua,
Milton,
Bloomsburg, _.
Pittston,
Du Bois,
West Pairview,
Susquehanna, .
S. Bethlehem, .
Corry, — .
Homestead, _-.
Brookville,
Beaver Palls, _.
Wellsboro,
Pottstown,
11-20-08
11-25-08
la- 2-08
12- 1-08
12- 2-08
11-24-08
12- 3-08
12- 3-08
12- 2-08
12- 4-08
12- 4-08
12- 7-08
12- ^08
12- 4-08
12- 1-08
12- 1-08
9-30-08
12-10-08
12- 5-08
9-30-08
12- 4-08
12- 3-08
12- 4-08
12-12-08
12- 4-08
12-18-08
12- 6-08
12- 6-08
OFFICE DAYS AND NUMBER NURSES EMPLOYED IN DISPENSARIES.
Pliyelclan-In-Charge.
1. Dr. Chas. H. Miner,
2. Dr. J. H. Miller,
3. Dr. J. W. Wright
4. Dr. Harvey Bashore,
5. Dr. A. J. RIegel
6. Dr. Job. Hcattergood, -..
7. Dr. Oeo. F. Harris,
8. Dr. H. S. Falk,
9. Dr. W. K. Matthews, —
10. Dr. <;. H. Brlsbln,
11. Dr. H. X. Bonebrake, .—
12. Dr. Robert Malson. -
13. Dr. Paul Hartrnan,
14. Dr. J. D. Fliidley,
1.0. Dr. H. D. llockeriberry,.
16. I Dr. H. B. Aniient
17. i Dr. J. W. MoHHer,
18. Dr. H. B. Kly
19. Dr. Wi;i. H. Konworthy,.
20. Dr. H. M. Klnnhurt,
21. Dr. Alfred Stengel,
22. Dr. K. H. H. McCftUley,—
Nurses.
See note.
fcallli ofllccr.
Health offlcer.
-Jealtli ollleer.
leulth ofllccr.
0
1
Dally
Dally, except Sat., .
Tues & Sat.,
Tues. & Frid
Wed. & Sat.,
Wed. & Frid.,
Friday,
Tues. & Frid.,
'J'ues. & Frid.,
Tues. & Frid
Friday,
Mon., Wed., Timrs.,
and FrI.
Dally,
Tues. & Frid.,
Tues. & Frid.,
Tues. & Frid.,
Tuesday,
Tuesday,
Monday
Dully,
Dally,
Tues. & Frid.,
3—5 P. M.
3—5 P. M.
•S— 5 P. M.
12—2 P. M.
10—12 A. M.
2-4 P. M.
1:30—3:30.
1—4 P. M.
2—4 P. M.
10 A. M. I P. M,
2—4 P. M.
2-4 P. M.
3-5 P. M.
2 4 P. M.
10—12 & 1—4 P. M.
10—12 A. M.
1-2 P. M.
2-^ P. M.
2-4 P. M.
3—5 P. M.
11—1 P. M.
3—4 P. M.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH.
457
OFFICE DAYS AND NUMBER NURSES EMPLOYED IN t)lSPENSARIES.
Continued.
23.
Dr.
24.
Dr.
25.
Dr.
26.
Dr.
27.
Dr.
28.
Dr.
29.
Dr.
30.
Dr.
31.
Dr.
32.
Dr.
33.
Dr.
34.
Dr.
.35.
Dr.
36.
Dr.
37.
Dr.
38.
Dr.
39.
Dr.
40.
Dr.
41.
Dr.
42.
Dr.
43.
Dr.
44.
Dr.
45.
Dr.
46.
Dr.
47.
Dr.
48.
Dr.
49.
Dr.
50.
Dr.
51.
Dr.
52.
Dr.
53.
Dr.
54.
Dr.
55.
Dr.
56.
Dr.
67.
Dr.
58.
Dr.
59.
Dr.
60.
Dr.
61.
Dr.
62.
Dr.
63.
Dr.
64.
Dr.
65.
Dr.
66.
Dr.
67.
Dr.
(iS.
Dr.
69.
Dr.
70.
Dr.
71.
Dr.
72.
Dr.
73.
Dr.
74.
Dr.
75.
Dr.
76.
Dr.
77.
Dr.
78.
Dr.
79.
Dr.
80.
Dr.
81.
Dr.
82.
Dr.
&i.
Dr.
84.
Dr.
85.
Dr.
86.
Dr.
87.
Dr.
88.
Dr.
80.
Dr.
90.
Dr.
91.
Dr.
92.
Dr.
93.
Dr.
94.
Dr.
95.
Dr.
96,
Dr.
I. Swartz Plymire
T. N. AltKee,
A. K. Johnston,
W. H. Banks, ..
E. H. Ashcraft, .
Geo. A. Stock, ..
C. H. Diinin,
C. P. Large,
H. H. Wliitcomb,
J. P. Strayer, ...
C. W. Vouneman
F. J. Bovard, ...
J. D. Mooro
P. P. Fisher
Israel Cleaver, ..
W. C. Hogan, ..
J. L. Mowery, ...
J. C. Reifsnyder,
J. K. Roberts, ...
J. K. Rutherford,
J. T. Rimer,
S. M. Woodburn,
J. K. Henry,
R. B. Watson, .
H. C. Frontz, ...
W. A. Simpson, .
J. G. Wilson, ...
F. J. Wagenseller,
M. F. Oawley, ..
E. M. Green,
R. H. Simmons, .
M. V. Ball,
C. B. Wood,
B. E. Bidleinan,
I. M. Portser, ...
S. P. Hakes,
P. G. Biddle, ...
J. R. Dickson, ...
W. de I.a. M. HiU
S. C. Stewart, ..
J. T. lams,
J. E. Grube,
W. E. Gregory, .
L. T. Kennedy, ..
O. R. Altmau, ..
W. O. Gayiey, ..
D. S. Rice ,
T. B. Echard, ...
W. T. Williams, .
H. F. McDowell,
W. B. Jamison, .
J. P. Ketitiedy, .
E. A. Graves, ...
O. A. \ocuiii, ...
M. V. Horner, ...
M. D. Letir
W. S. Musser, ...
C. E. McGirk, ...
D. P. Blose -
J. De B. Abbott,
F. E. Herriott, ..
W. J. liOwry, ...
H. M. Wasley, ..
J. H. BittiiiKer, .,
H. S. Sherrcr, ...
M. J. Cramer, ..
J. 11. Young, ...
J. M. Waido. ...
E. E. ShifTerstlne,
R. B. Tule
S. B. Armcnt,
S. I-. Underwood,
R. R. Jordan, ...
H. B. Bashore, ..
Health officer.
Health officer.
Health officer.
1
Health officer.
1
See note.
Health officer.
1
1
1
Healtli officer.
1
1
1
Health officer.
1
2
1
Health officer.
1
Health officer.
1
2
1
Health officer.
Health officer.
See note.
1
1
1
Health officer.
Health officer.
Health officer.
Health officer.
Health officer.
1
Health officer.
See note.
Healtli officer.
Healtli otlicer.
Health officer.
a
1
1
1
1
See note.
See note.
See note.
See note.
1
See note.
See note.
1
1
1
See note.
1
Health officer.
Health officer.
See note.
1
1
1
Health officer.
See note.
Health officer.
1
Health officer.
See note.
1
Health officer.
See note.
Wednesday
Mon. & Frid
Thursday,
Tues. & Frid.,
Saturday,
i Tues. & Frid.,
Tues. & Sat.,
I Wednesday
Mon. & Frid.,
Mon. & Frid.,
j Wed. & Sat.,
Saturday,
Tues. & Frid.,
Tuesday,
Wed. & Frid.,
Tuesday,
Tues. & Frid.,
Tues. & Frid.,
Mon. & Thurs.,
Tues. & Frid.,
Tues. & Frid.,
Thursday,
Tues. & Frid
Thursday,
Friday,
Wednesday,
Friday,
Tuesday
Mon., Wed., Fri
Mon., Wed., Fri.,
Tues & Frid.,
Friday,
i Thursday
[ Satunlay
Tuesday,
Saturday
Wednesday,
Tuesday,
Saturday,
Thursday,
Thursday,
Monday,
Thursday,
Tups., Thurs., Frid., .
Tues. & Sat
Tuesday,
Tuesday,
Wednesday,
Wednesday,
Wednesday, .
Wed. & Sat
Thursday
Tuesday,
Thursday,
Friday,
Wednesday
Wednesday,
Tues. & Thurs.,
Wednesday
Tuesday,
Monday
Thursday,
Daily, ex. Monday, ..
Friday,
Thursday
Tues. & Frid.,
Wednesday
Friday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Mon. & Wed.,
Mon. & Tues.,
Saturday
Wednesday,
2-^ P. M.
2—4 P. M.
2 P. M.
2—4 P. M.
1—3 P. M.
2—4 P. M.
12—2 P. M.
2^ P. M.
2:30— 1:30.
12:30—2 P. M.
10—2 P. M.
9-11 A. M,
10—12 M.
10—12 M.
3—4 P. M.
1—3 P. M.
3—5 P. M.
2-4 P. M.
3^5 P. M.
3-^ P. M.
2—4 P. M.
1—3 P. M.
11 A. M.— 1 P. M.
2—3 P. M.
1:30—3:30.
11—12 M.
1—2 P. M.
»-ll A. M.
2-4 P. M.
3—5 P. M.
10—12 M.
4—6 P. M.
2-Hl P. M.
11—12 P. M.
2—4 P. M.
12—1 P. M.
11—12 M.
10—12 M.
1—2 P. M.
10:30—12:30.
1—3 P. M.
11—12 M.
2—3 P. M.
11— 12:.30.
12—2 P. M.
1—3 P. M,
10-12 M.
11—1 P. M.
2—4 P. M.
1-3 P. M.
2—3 P. M.
S— 5 P. M.
2-4 P. M.
2—4 P. M.
3—5 P. M.
1—3 P. M.
3—4 P. M.
2—3 P. M.
2-4 P. M.
11—1 P. M.
3—5 P. M.
2-^ P. M.
9—11 A. M.
S— 6 P. M.
2-4 P. M.
2—3 P. M.
3—5 P. M.
10-12 M.
11-1 P. M.
2-4 P. M.
10-1 A. M.
3—5 P. M.
2—4 P. M.
2—4 P. M.
458
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
OFFICE DAYS AND NUMBER NURSES EMPLOYED IN DISPENSARIES.
v'uutiuued.
97.
98.
99.
100.
102.
103.
104.
100.
Physieian-in-Charge.
Dr. Sam'l Birdsall. ..
Dr. W. D. Chase, —
Dr. C. B. Kibler, ....
Dr. A. P. Fogeliuan,
Dr. J. A. Haven,
Dr. Bruce Snodgrass,
Dr. P. W. Houser, ..
Dr. T. E. Wills,
Nurses.
Hours.
Health officer. Saturday,
See note. Tuos. & Thurs
1 Friday, _ ,
See note. Wednesday, ..
Health ofiBcer. Saturday
See note. Mon. & Thurs
Health officer. Thursday,
Health oflBcer. Wednesday, ..
2—4 P.
M
2—4 P.
M
1—3 P.
M
2—4 P.
M
3—5 P.
M
2-3 P.
M
3-5 P.
M
2—4 P.
M
(Note.) In dispensaries where number of nurses is not given, the work of nurse is done by
nurso attached to another dispensary. The instances of these are as follows:
Nos. 7 and 79 and 8U, one muse
Nos. 29 and 28 and 50, .one nurse
Nos. 47 and 61 , one uui'se
Nos. 70 and 67 , one uui'se
Nos. 71 and i53 , one nurse
Nos. 72 and .32 , one nurse
Nos. 73 and 31 , one nurse
Nos. 84 and 40 one nurse
Nos. 89 and 91 , one nurse
Nos. 98 and .■'>2 one nurse
Nos. 100 and 20 , one nurse
Nos. 103 and 22 , • ■ one nurse
DISPENSARY PIIYSICLVNS BY COUNTIES.
Armstrong,
Beaver, ...
B<!dford,.
Berks, ...
Blair, ...
Bradford,
BuckH
Attending Physicians.
JJutlcr, ..
Cambria,
McKeesport,
Carnegie, ..
Homestead,
Kittanning,
Rochester,
81.
83.
100.
24.
22.
Beaver Falls 103.
Kverett 01.
Beading .'57.
Altoona 14.
Tyrone 70.
Towanda, ! 44.
Doylcstown, ■ 23.
Bristol 82.
Butler 1C>.
Johnstown, ... '■>.
OameroD,
HastlngB,
Emporium,
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
.1. R. Dickson— Physician In Charge.
S. M. Rincliart— Physician in Charge.
I. H. Alexander.
J. M. Long.
J. P. I'^d wards.
Samuel Hamilton.
C. J. McKee.
F. D. Stozenbach.
W. Sample.
H. Boyd.
P. Blosc— Pliysiclan in Charge.
K. lloiriott- Physician in Charge.
P. Pogclnian -Physician in Charge.
N. McKee— Physician in Charge.
B. Stone.
S. JI. McCauley -Physician in Charge.
,. B. Armstrong.
Bruce Snodgrass -Physician Iti Charge.
W. do la M. 11111 "I'hysiclan in Charge.
I8ra(!l (Jlcaver— Physician in Charge.
Jos. D. Flndlcy— I'hysiclan in Charge.
K. B. Miller.
W .S. MuHHcr— Physician in Charge.
H. M. Woodhurn- Physician in Charge.
r. H. Plynilrc riiyslclan In (}harge.
J. (!(■ B. Ahhott I'liyslclun In (Jhargo.
H. D. IIiK'kcnhcrry Bliyslclan In (Charge.
T. M. Maxwell.
W. Matthews -Physician In (!harge.
J. MoAneny.
Thorn.
D. 8. Rice— Physician In Charge.
H. H. Falk-PhyBicIun in Charge.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 459
DISPENSARY PHYSICIANS BY rorXTIKS— rontinucd.
Attendine Physicians.
Carbon, Mauch Chunk, 45.
Lansford, 89.
Centre Bcllefonte — . V.
PhilipsburK, 80.
Cliester, West Chester, 6.
j Ooatesville "5.
' Phoenixville "6.
Clarion Clarion, 4:{.
Clearfleld, Clearfield 02.
Du Bois !).").
Clinton Lock Haven •»<).
Columbia, Berwick, Ki.
Crawford,
Cumberland, ..
Dauphin,
Bloomsburg, .
Meadville
Titusville,
Carlisle, _
West Fairview,
Harrisburg, ..
Lykens,
Delaware, Chester,
Elk,
Erie,
■ 134.
Ridgway 42.
Erie 3.
Corry, 93.
G7.
70.
34.
11.
17.
RJ.
47.
48.
64.
102.
20.
Fayette, i Uniontown,
Connellsville,
Forest,..' Tionesta,
Franklin, ChambersburK.
Fulton, McConni'Ilsburg, ..
Greene, Wayncsburg,
Huntingdon i Huntingdon,
Indiana, Indiana,
•Jefferson, Punxsutawney
: Brookville,
Juniata, i Mifflintown, ..
Lackawanna,
Lancaster,
Scranton, iO.
Carbondale,
Lancaster, .
Columbia 74.
New Castle 35.
Lawrence,-..
Lebanon, I Lebanon
Lehigh, Allentown, ...
Luzerne, 1 WilkesBarre,
Hazleton 68.
Pittston ; 94.
Lycoming, Williamsport, I :w.
McKean Bradford ...[ aS.
Mcrcor '' Sharon I ;«5.
Mifflin Lowistown. •. 10.
Monroe Stroudsburg ' CTi.
Moutgoniory, .. Norristown, ', 31.
Jenkintown 73.
Pottstown KHi.
Danville, , 28.
Uontour,
Dr. Jno. K. Henry— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. H. Young— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Geo. F. Harris— Physician in Charge.
Dr. C. E. McGirk— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Jos. Scattergood— Physician in Charge.
Dr. E. A. Graves— Physician in Charge.
Dr. C. A. Yocum— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Jno. T. Rimer— Physician in Charge.
Dr. S. C. Stewart— Physician in Charge.
Dr. R. R. Jordan— Physician in Charge.
Dr. R. B. Watson— Physician in Charge.
Dr. S. B. Arment— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Jos. Cohen.
Dr. S. B. Arment— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. K. Roberts— Physician in Charge.
Dr. W. E. Plyskell.
Dr. J. M. Waide— Physician in Charge.
Dr. H. B. Basnore— Physician in Charge.
Dr. R. Plank.
Dr. Harvey B. Bashore— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Paul Hartman— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. W. Ellenberger.
Dr. C. R. Phillips.
Dr. M. D. Ixshr- Physician in Charge.
Dr. R. S. Maison— Physician in Charge.
Dr. E. S. Haines.
Dr. J. W. Wood.
Dr. J. E. Rutherford— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. W. Wright— Physician in Charge.
Dr. A. H. Roth.
Dr. C. B. Kibler— Physician in Charge.
Dr. O. R. .Altman— Physician in Charge.
Dr. T. B. Echard— Physician in Charge.
Dr. F. J. Bovard— Physician in Charge.
Dr. H. X. Bonbrake— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. W. Mosser— Phy.>;iciau in Charge.
Dr. J. T. lams— Physician in Charge.
Dr. H. C. Frontz- Physician in Charge.
Dr. Wni. A. Simpson— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. E. Grube— Physician in Charge
Dr. J. A. Haven— Physician in Charge.
Dr. W. H. Banks— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. C. Reifsnyder— Physician in Charge.
Dr. C. Falkowsky.
Dr. Jos. Wagner.
Dr. W. J. Lowry— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. L. Mo wery— Physician in Charge.
I Dr. S. H. Heller.
Dr. H. F. Myers.
Dr. J. P. Kennedy— Physician in (.^harge.
Dr. J. D. Moore— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. D. Tucker.
Dr. A. J. Reigel— Physician in Charge.
Dr. H. E. Maulfair.
Dr. M. P. Caulcy— Physician in Charge.
W. D. Kline.
Dr. Fred C. Bausch.
Dr. Chas. H. Miner Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. W. Geist.
Dr. S. Reiehard.
Dr. S. D. WyckofT.
Dr. George W. Ciirr.
Dr. R. L. Wadhaiiis.
Dr. Walter Davis.
Dr. C. R. Grosser.
Dr. J. A. Hilbert.
Dr. G. 11. McConnon.
Dr. James. T. Williams.
Dr. W. C. Gayley— Physician in Charge.
Dr. S. L. Underwood— Physician in Charge.
Dr. C. W. Youngnian -Pliysiciaii in (^harge.
Dr. W. Clyde Hogan -Physician in Charge.
Dr. P. P. Fisher-Physician in Charge.
Dr. Chas. H. Brisbin-Pliysician in (."harge.
Dr. W. E. Gregory— Physician in Charge.
Dr. li. H. Whitcomb— Physician In Charge.
Dr. C. H. Mann.
Dr. W. B. Jameson— Physician in Charee.
Dr. T. E. Wills— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Geo. A. Stock— Physician In Charge,
460 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
DISPENSARY PHYSICIANS BY COUNTIES— Continued.
County.
Location. I No.
N'orthampton, . Easton,
52.
Bangor, 87
South Bethlehem,.
Northumberland! Shamokin, -
Perry,
Philadelphia,
Mt. Carmel, ..
Milton
New Bloomfleld,
Philadelphia, ...
Pike, - i Mllford,
Potter, I Coudersport,
Schuylkiil, ' Pottsville, ...
! Shenandoah,
I Tamaqua, ...
Selinsgrove,
Meyersdale, .
Dushore
Montrose, ...
Susquehanna,
Tioga,
Wellsboro, ..
Mifflinburg, ..
Oil City. ....
Snyder,
Somerset,
Sullivan,
Susquehanna, -
Tioga
Union, ...
Venango,
Franklin,
Warren, - Warren,
Washington Monongahela,
Wayne, Honesdale, ...
Westmoreland,. Greensburg, ..
Mt. Pleasant.
I Monessen, ...
Wyoming Tunkhannock,
York, York
Hanover.
53.
71.
92.
25.
21.
19.
27.
66.
85.
91.
50.
80.
59.
49.
97.
58.
104.
29.
32.
72.
54.
55.
18.
57.
77.
88.
56.
2.
Attending Physicians.
Dr. E. M. Green— Physician in Charge,
Dr. T. C. Zulick.
Dr. W. P. Thompson.
Dr. W. H. Mellhaney.
Dr. J. E. Fretz.
Dr. Quiney.
Dr. Tillman.
Dr. Morgenstern.
Dr. H. S. Sherrer— Physician in Charge.
Dr. W. L. Estes— Physician in Charge.
Dr. W. D. Chase.
Dr. R. H. Simmons— Physician in Charge.
Dr. C. M. Malone.
Dr. W. T. Williams— Physician in Charge.
Dr. R. B. Tule— Physician in Chage.
Dr. A. R. Johnston — Physician in Charge.
Dr. Alfred Stengel— Physician in Charge.
Dr. A. P. Fraucine.
Dr. TurnbuU.
Dr. George Wood.
Dr. S. A. Mumford.
Dr. Wm. B. Kenworthy— Physician in Charge.
Dr. E. H. Ashcraft— Phy.'sician in Charge.
Dr. L. T. Kennedy- Physician in Charge.
Dr. H. M. Wasley— Physician in Charge.
Dr. E. E. Shifferstine— Physician in Charge.
Dr. F. J. Wagonseller— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Chas. P. Large— Physician in Charge.
Dr. P. G. Biddle— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. G. Wilson— Physician in Charge.
Dr. S. Birdsall— Physician in Charge.
Dr. S. P. Hakes— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Penrose W. Houser— Physician in Charge.
Dr. C. il. Dimm— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. P. Strayer— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Fannie Davis.
Dr. H. F. McDowell— Physician in Charge.
Dr. M. V. Ball— Physician in Charge.
Dr. C. B. Wood— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Harry B. Ely— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Idem M. Portser- Ptiysician in Charge.
Dr. M. W. Horner Physiciiui in Cliarge.
Dr. M. .J. Cnuiicr Pliysiciaii in Charge.
Dr. B. E. Bidleman— Physician in Charge.
Dr. J. S. Miller— Physician in Charge.
Dr. Roland Jessop.
Dr. B. F. Parker.
Dr. J. H. Bennett.
Dr. L. S. Weaver.
Dr. H. D. Smyscr.
Dr. E. Meiscnhelder.
Dr. B. W. iShirey.
Dr. L. M. llartman.
Dr. W. Clarkson Smith.
Dr. J. H. Bittingor— Physician in Charge.
Dr. H. M. Alleman.
SKETCH OF A SCHEME OF TREATMENT.
Circular Addri'sscd to Dispcnsfiry I'liysioian.
1, Pati(!nt r(M'('iv('(l, personal liisloi-y, social liistory, etc., weight,
heiglit, pulse, respiralion and l(MM|)ora(nre (akcn and recorded by
assiHtant or nurHC.
2. Car<'riil pliysical exaniiiialion hy physician in charge of clinic.
!i. Obtaining- Hj)(M'iin(;ns of si)nhiin, rorvvarding same to State
Laboratory; containers suppiicid by Department.
4. Advice and prescription.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 461
The intention t)f tlie Departinent is to <;ive as little medicine as
p(;ssil)le. Pi'incijial reliance must he ])Iaced upon fresh air, diet,
and careful rej^ulation of habits of life of the patient.
An exceedingly important feature of the work of the dispensary is
the education of patients and their friends ; the forcing upon them of
a realization of the contagious nature of the disease and the duty in-
cumbent upon each to do everything necessary to protect themselves
and others.
A. Medicines, as little as possible; left to judgment of attending
physician in each case.
B. Fresh air and rest. Kequire each patient to be as much in the
open air as possible. Inquire into habit of sleeping; urge open win-
dows; where ijossible, the swinging of a hammock out of doors; a
bed on the porch ; a cot in a tent. In daytime as many hours as possi-
ble out of doors. Where it can be done this time should be spent in
a semirecumbent position and at rest; a steamer chair or hammock
with a supply of blankets is an ideal equipment. The Hammock is
probably' the chea])er and is as easily arranged as anything. It will
require considerable urging and no little persistence on the part of
physicians and nurses to prevail upon patients to take anything like
as much fresh air as experience shows to be desirable. Stress must
be laid upon the fact that if proper amount of body covering is
provided there is no danger of "catching cold." Too many people
think that strenuous exercise is desirable; this is a fallacy to be
earnestly combatted.
C. Diet. To a certain extent this must be regulated by the diges-
tion of the individual. As a general rule the diet should be liberal
and as nourishing as possible. Milk and eggs are important factors.
Milk should be taken slowly and often, with a small amount of lime
water added in order to prevent gastric disturbances. Eggs should
be fresh and are best taken raw. Few patients will do this without
urging, but seldom is there an instance where it is impossible. Few
patients will consume sufficient milk and eggs without continual
urging; and it will bo found necessary to question each one closely
upon each visit to the dispensary. Probably it will be found wisest
to have patients take the milk and eggs at regular hours between
meals.
In this way the amount of food will be most likely to be increased.
I). Habits of life, etc. These should invariably be investigated,
and where irregular or erroneous, their correction urged. This must
be repeated at frequent intervals. Among the most important fea-
tures will be found:
1. As much lest and sleep as possible, not only at night but by
day.
2. Avoidance of over-exertion at any time.
30
462 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
3. Avoidance oi' imy exeitimi ihniiig proseiu-e of fever or exhaus-
tion.
4. Uegiilatiou so far as i)ossible of the exercise of the sexual func-
tions. The attending physician is urged to investigate the habits of
Ihe unmarried as well as the married, as frequently there will be dis-
covered the existence of habits which are reprehensible, physically as
well as morally. The sexual instinct is proverbially excessive among
4-nnsum]itives. This is a delicate subject to handle and must be ap-
proached with tact. Experience shoAvs that when properly ap-
proached no resentment will be excited.
5. Meals should be taken at regular hours.
6. The bowels should be kept regular.
7. The skin should be kept clean and its function active. Bathing
.•should be regulated and friction with a coarse towel will be found
valuable.
8. Clotliing. Usually consumptives are too warmly clad; heavy
flannel underwear supplemented by thick chest pads is a frequent
occurrence in even warm weather. The evil effects of this continual
over-clothing are so apparent that great care must be taken to give
proper advice in every case. Probably few habits are so universal
among consumptives as is this of over-clothing. Clothing should con-
form to the weather; too much or too little is equally bad. Patients
must be warned to avoid wet feet.
9. Use of stimulants or narcotics. This should be particularly
noted and cut to the lowest possible point. The dispensary cannot
afford to waste effort and help upon those who decline to help them-
selves. Except in extreme cases stimulants are of little or no value,
the effects in the long run being bad rather than good.
E. Education. Each person must be told that his or her disease
is communicable, and that only care on his or her part will stand be-
tween those 'j'onn<l about and the ac(|uiriug of the disease.
Close personal contact is dangei-ous ; use of coniiiioji towels must be
avoided; a separate bedroom slionid l)e strongly uj'g(Ml, and under
no cii-cnnislances should a consuinidive b(; aUowed (o occupy the
sanu; bed wiili jiny ollici- ])('ison. 1 iisl nicl ion must l)e given as to the
jiroper <are and (lisini'ecl ion of clolliing, hcdding, caiing ulensils and
all articles used by llic palienl. 'I'lic pi-opcr disposal of spiiLuin must
be carefully (•x|)Iaine(l ; buining hcing llic only sure. I'oad to saCety.
Kissing is a liahil wliicli is hard (o icgiilalc, bul we do not do our
duly if we fail lo wain against it.
Membej-s of llic r;iiiiily an; vei-y iiiiicli ('\|)os('<l lo inlcclion and any
(•<nigli or loss of weight must i'e<-eive attention. Tlui disjx'nsary is
open I'oi- the examination of all such, in otliei- words, the (lisp(insary
is founded as iiiiicii with the idea of protect ion to the uninfected as for
the curing of the infected.
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No. 17. COMI^llSSIOXER OF HEALTH. 46S
The slatisHcal i-cjtorl on (lisitciisai-y i»a(i('iits appciidcd luM-cto, in-
cludes all paticnis exaniiju'd I'loiii .July I'J, I'JOT, tlie date of openinj^ of
the first dispensary, up to and inrlu(lin<i Degember ^il, 1908. Seven-
teen (17) dispensaries were o{)ened during: tiie yeai- 1!M)7. Fitly (50)
dispensaries were opened between January 1, V.H)S, and June 1, lOOS.
Thirty-seven (37) dispensaries were opened between June 1, 1908, and
December 31, 1908.
A few points of interest to wliidi allcniion may bo specially di-
rected are as follows:
Of all applicanis exaiiiint'd 71. s jtcr cent were found tuberculous.
50.2 per cent, jiatients were males.
49.8 per cent, patients were females.
48.8 per cent, patients married.
95.11 per cent, patients white race.
81.2 per cent, patients native born.
30.8 years average age of patients.
Of the 0,728 tuberculous patients, no less than l.sOl were w^micn
engaged in houseliold duties; 70] were laborers, not including those
engaged in agricultural pursuits; 199 were bookkeepers and clerks;
139 were textile mill and factory operatives; 299 were miners and
quarrymen ; KHJ were farmers and farm laborers; 97.1 per cent, suf-
fered from tuberculosis of the lungs. The average length of time
under treatment was 4.S7 months. 48.5 per cent, of the tuberculous
patients reported that tlicy had at some time been in direct contact
with other tuberculous sullcrers. Tlie average family income per
month was fonn<l to be |24.(i;5. The avei-age family was found to con-
sist of 4.38 members, making the average ]»er cajiiia family income
155.00 per month.
Concerning the seat of the lubcrciilons lesions of the lungs, the fol-
lowing are the facts found :
The upper riglit lol)e was the most freijuent and was found in
5,095 ]iatients. The upj)er left lobe was found involved in 3,498
cases. The middle right lobe was affected in 1,020 ca.ses. More than
one lol»e was foiuid involved in 1J.~(! and in 1,972 but one lobe was
involved.
464
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
STATISTICAL REPORT ON DISPENSARY PATIENTS.
FROM JULY 22, 1907 (DATE OF OPENING), TO DECEMBER 31, 190S.
TOTAL EX-\MINED, ...
TOTAL TUBERCULOUS,
SEX:
Male,
Female.
9,363
6,728
3,316
CIVIL CONDITION:
Married, - 3,284
Single, - 3,024
Widowed, 283
Divorced — i 18
Not stated, -— - 119
RACE:
White, -— 6,402
Black, - 324
Other, - - 2
N.4TIVITY:
Native born,
•Russia,
Ireland,
England,
Germany,
Hebrews,
Others, --
Not stated,
5.467
220
194
168
112
214
379
113
71.8%
50.2%
49.8
48.8%
44.94
4.1
.2
2.0
95.11%
4.86
.03
81.2%
3.2
2.8
2.3
1.6
3.18
5.6
7.3
(63.1% Hebrews.) .
AGES:
— 1
1-2,
2—3,
3—4. -
4—5,
6—9,
10—29
30-^9
50—65
66— or over.
Not stated.
OCCUPATIONS:
Under occupational age.
No occupation,
Occupation not stated, .
PROFESSIONAL GROUP:
Architects, artists and art teachers.
Clergymen,
Engineers and surveyors,
Journalists,
Lawyers,
Musicians and music teachers,
Physicians and surgeons,
School teacliers,
Nurses and nildwives,
Students, -..
Others, •
CLKRICAL AND OFFICIAL OROUP:
Book-keepers, clerks and (^rjpyi.sts,
Colleetors, agents and unctioneers,
Stenograpliers and typttwritcrs,
Telegraph and tcleplione operators,
OtherH,
MERCANTILE AND TRADING GROUP:
Apothecaries and phannaclstH,
Commercial travcflcrs
Merchants and dealers
Hucksters and peddlers,
Others. —
PUBfJC ENTKRTAINMKNT GROUP:
Hotel and hfiarding hous(! keepiirs,
Saloon keepers, liquor dealers and bar tenders.
Others,
6
14
22
36
305
3,215
2,436
524
62
108
819
284
267
199
16
9
84
4
Average age, 30.8 years.
168
262
118
60
*Busiia and Hebrews: Duplication of 189 Hebrews bora in Bussla.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 465
STATISTK'AL REPORT ON DISPENSARY PATIENTS.— Continued.
PERSONAL SERVICE GROUP:
Barbers and hairdressers, .- 27
Janitors and sextons, 23
Policemen, watchmen and detectives, 11
Soldiers, sailors and marines, 1
Others 5 67
LABORING AND SERVANT GROUP:
Laborers (not agricultural), 701
Servants, 198
Laundresses, 42
Housekeepers - 1,891 2,832
MANUFACTURING AND MECHANICAL GROUP:
Bakers and confectioners, 15
Blacksmiths, — - 26
Boot and shoe makers, 27
Brewers, distillers and rectifiers, 2
Butcliers, - 13
Cabinet makers and upholsterers, 15
Carpenters and joiners, .-. 89
Cigar makers and tobacco workers, 83
Clock and watfli repairers and jewelers 3
Compositors, printers and pressmen, 31
Coopers, 9
Engineers and firemen (not railroad), 24
Glass blowers and glass workers, 19
Hat and cap makers, 98
Iron and steel workers, 95
Leather makers, 49
Machinists, 64
Marble and stone cutters, 29
Masons, 118
Mill and factory operatives (textile), — - 139
Millers (flour and grist), — 22
Painters and glaziers, 29
Plasterers, - 31
Plumbers, gas and steam fitters 87
Tailors, 23
Tinners and tinware makers, 10
Artificial flower and paper box makers, --. 12
Milliners, - - 13
Others, — -— 91 l.2fiT
AGRICULTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION GROUP:
Boatmen and canalmen, 1
Draymen, hackmen and teamsters, 54
Farmers, planters and farm laborers, 106
Gardeners, florists and nurserymen, 7
Livery stable keepers and hostlers, 8
Lumbermen and raftsmen, 3
Miners and quarrymen - -- 249
Sailors, pilots and fishermen 7
Stock raisers, herders and drovers, 2
Steam railroad employes, 87
Street railroad employes, 2.'?
Others. - - 32 579
TUBKRCULOSIS-FORM OF:
Pulmonary 6, .534 »7.1%
Non pulmonary, 57
Not determiiii'd— under observation, 137 2.9%
CLASSIFICATION:
Incipient and moderately advanced, 3,1.!2
Advanced _ - 2,429
Far advanced, 900
Not determined— under observation, 177 6,728
CONDITION ON DISCHARGE:
Disease arrested. 180
Condition improveil, -. -- 1,.534
Condition not improved, - 808
Deaths e.'iS
Referred to sanatoria, 602
One visit only 693
Other causes 66 4,541
LENGTH OF TIME UNDER TREATMENT:
Less than 1 month, ^ 1,036
1—2 niontlis - -- -- 680
2—3 months, 7.S1
3—4 months, 850
4—5 months. - 738
6—6 months, _ 538
30—17—1908
466 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
STATISTICAL REPORT ON DISPENSARY PATIENTS.— Continued.
5,176
6—7 months. — - 533
7— S months, — 250
8—9 months, 275
9—10 months, 206
10—11 months, — — 172
11—12 months, 112
Over 12 months, 707 Average 4.87 months
CONDITION OF PATIENTS ON ROLL DECEMBER 31, 1908:
Improved, — 1,389
Not improved, 436
Stationary, 334
Under treatment less than 1 month, 1,036
Under observation — diagnosis not decided, 1,981
FAMILY HISTORY OF TUBERCULOSIS:
None reported 2,898
Tuberculosis present, 3,830
RELATIVES AFFECTED:
Father, 834
Brother. 860
Paternal aunts, 401
Paternal uncles, 279
Paternal grand parents, 23:?
Consort, 366
Mother, 1,005
Sisters 960
Maternal aunts, • -- 402
Maternal uncles, 267
Maternal grand parents, — - 381
Children, 271
Consort's family, 237
Relatives not stated, .— 363
VARIETIES OF FAMILY TUBERCULOSIS:
Lungs, — 3,314
Others, - 46
Not stated, 8
CONTACT AS POSSIBLE SOURCE OF INFECTION:
None known 3,462
Family 2,104)
Friends, - 58l[
Fellow workers, -— 474
Others, — - — - - 107j
DWELLING:
Private hou.se, 5,554
Apartment, .314
Tenement - — - .507
Not stated, 353
LENGTH OF OCCUPANCY:
1 year or less, 3,463
1—2 years, - 789
2—3 years .'542
3-5 years, .348
Over !> years, 1,886
TUHKRCULOfilS FORMER OCCUPANTS:
Ves - 398
Nf»ne known, 3,941
Not Htatcd 2,.'i99
Destitute -less than .$5 1,702
MONTHLY FAMILY INCOME:
5—20 dollars 1,170
20—25 dollars 444
25— :{f) dollars 497
m-?.h dollars, 871
3.5—40 dollars 825
4f)— 45 dollars, - — 180
4.5—50 dollars, .501
50— .55 dollars , Ill
fiTy-m dollars 250
P/»— 65 dolllars - 56
fi.'^ 7(1 dollars 03
Over if7'> 234
Not stated, ,.,. 2r,(i
=51.. 5%
3,266=48.6%
For 6,472 patients aver-
age family income, $24.63
No. 17. COMIMISSIOXER OF HEAT.TH. 467
STATISTICAL liKL'ORT OX DISl'KXSAK V I'ATIKNTS.— Continued.
NUMBER PERSONS IN FAMILY:
1, - 801
2, - 74G
3 — - 1,012
4 - 1,000
5. - - 947
0. -— 724
• 7 - 483
S - 341
9 - . 211
10 - - 83
More than 10, - 00
Not stated, 218
PHYSICAL MKASUREMENTS:
Average family, 4.38.
Average monthly income
per capita— $5.60.
Heiffht—
Under 3 feet, -- - 22
.'! to 4 feet, 1,30
4 to 4 feet 0 inches, - -. 274
4 ft. 6 in. to .T ft., -. a59
6 ft., - - 247
5 ft. 1 in., 327
5 ft. 2 in., -. 481
5 ft. 3 in., 667
5 ft. 4 in., 728
5 ft. .5 in., -— 592
5 ft. 6 in., .- 502
5 ft. 7 in., 596
5 ft 8 in ,
486
5 ft. 9 in., .-
324
5 ft. 10 in
253
5 ft. 11 in ,
148
6 ft.,
b6
6 ft 1 in.
28
6 ft 2 in
11
6 ft. 3 in.,
2
Over 6 ft. 3 in. ,
425
Average height.
5 ft. 3 1-3 inches.
SEAT OF LESION IN LUNGS:
Riglit i/iing—
Upper lobe,
Middle l()i)e.
Lower lobe,
All lobes, -
5,005
1,020
322
380
Left lung-
Upper lobe,
Lower lobe.
Both lobes,
Not stated,
3,498
422
470
377
Note: Bight lung,
2 lobes involved.
lobes involved, ca.ses are not included elsewhere. Same is true left lung.
COMPLICATIONS:
Tuberculous—
None stated, ._ 6,002
Nose and throat, 2.53
Other organs, 323
Non Tuberculous-
None stated, 6,44.";
Nose and throat. _ 48
Heart. 152
Stomach, .58
Other organs, 396
HISTORY OF ANAL FISSURE:
Present, 4
Absent or denied 4,101
Not stated 2,.53:J
HISTORY OF ANAL FISTULA:
Present 10
Absent or denied, 4,187
Not stated, 2,531
(4(i8)
FORMS IN USE IN THE TUBERCULOSIS
DISPENSARIES.
(4G9)
f!ii!fi!li!li!i;!li!li>ii!i;
(fi!fi!li>fi!li!li>fi>fi!fi!ii
( 470 )
OFFICIAL DOCUM FXT.
No. 17.
Form 101.
COM.MUXWFALTII OF I'EX.\SYL\AM A ,
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
AiJijlkiitiou for Treatment Tuberculosis Dispeusary No
To the Commissioufr of lloaUIi:
I hereby make apiilicatiou for treatment for Tul)ercuIosis. 1 am viualile to itay
for medical attention. I agree to comply with the instructions of the D 'partmeni.
No Signed :
Date: 190. . Address:
File this card at the Dispensary.
Form 102.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
Dispensary No Rei)ort. Month Ending -'Hh 1!).
Totals.
Color.
Sex.
Civil Condition.
W.
B.
M.
F. M.
i
S.
Patients Admitted 1
1 i
Dischgd. Disease Arrested, _
i
!
Disehgd. Ref. to Sanatoria,
Did not return after 1st
Visit
Dischgd. Ref. to Fam.
Return Visits,
No. Wt. Increased, .
No. Wt. Unchanged,
No. Wt. Loss,
No. Taking Medicine —
No. Nurses Visits,
No. Exanrd for Sanatoria, .
No. Qts. Milk Ordered
No. Pats. Rec. Milk,
No. Doz. Eggs Ordered,
No, Pats. Rec. Eggs
REMARKS
(471)
472
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
Dates Disp. was open,
Physicians Attending and f.
No. of days each, [.
Signed - - M. D.
Physician-in-Charge.
Keverse of Form 102.
This Space Reserved for Use at Department Headquarters.
Dispensary No at County of
Month ending, — 20th, 190
Date received,
Dispensary No.
Form 103.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
NEW PATIENTS.
Month Endintr
.20th, 190.
Name
Address.
Age.
Date.
Classification.
Previous Institution, Date,
Condition and Reason
for Discharge.
Under claflslflcation Indicate Incipient, advanced, fur udviiriced.
Signed... — - Physician In Charge.
No. 17.
Dispensary Xo.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 47S
Form 104.
commun\vp:altii of pennsyiaama.
department of health.
patients discharged.
Month Ending I'Otli, I'.Mi. ,
NaDie.
Address.
Age.
Date.
Condition.
Reason, Complications, etc.
1
1
1
1
\
i
1
Under condition state whether arrested, Improved, unimproved, died.
Signed — — Physician in Charge.
Form No. 6 Dis.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
Tuborculosis Dispensar.v No at
County of
Name, Date,
Address , No
Please call at Tuberculosis Dispensary of the
Department of Health , at
on at to bo examined for
admission to Sanilorium.
BRING THIS CARD WITH YOU.
Chief of Clinic.
474 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Form lOS.
COMMON \YEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
Rules to be observed by patients, nurses and attendants in the management of
PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS (CONSUMPTION).
Never forget that Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Consumption) is an infectious disease
and can be prevented.
All sputum must be collectKl and thoroughly disinfected, preferably by burning.
If you are careless in this regard, you may reinfect yourself and will become a
menace to others who may inhale the dust resulting from the dried sputum.
Do not spit on the floor or the sidewalk.
A pressed paper spit cup, or a paper cup held in a metal frame, should be used,
and these cups must be burned after usinu'.
If a china or earthen spit cup is used , keep lye or water in it all the time and
scald it out once or twice daily.
Never spit in rags or handkerchiefs. Always carry with you a supply of paper
napkins on which to wipe your mouth, or in which to spit in case of emergency.
Carry a paper bag in which to place the soiled napkins and burn the bag, with its
contents, at the end of the day.
Never swallow your sputum.
You should occupy a well-ventilated, sunny room, from which all unnecessary
furniture, such as carpets and hangings, has been removed.
Always sleep with the windows open, hut have them Avell screened so as to pre-
vent the entrance of insects.
Sleep in a room by yourself, if possible. If not, have a separate bed.
Keep clean shaven, especially about the mouth, as the beard is usually infected
and may be responsible for your reinfection.
Avoid getting sputum on the bed or body clothing, carpets or furniture, or in
fact in any place whei-e it may become dry. The outer covering on your bed should
be of material that can be frequently washed and boiled.
Have your own individual towels, handkerchiefs and toilet articles.
Handle the soiled bed and body linen, i)arlicularly handkerchiefs, as little as
possible. Place such articles in water containing Chlorinated Lime, in the pro-
portion of one quarter pound to eight gallons of waler, uiilil re:i(ly to l)e washed.
Never use a broom or dry duster in your i-ooni. Cleansing, except for metal
fixtures, .should be done with a iloili nioisteneil in :i sniulion made liy dissolving
• eight Bichloride of Mercury tablets in every gallon of water used.
Since Bichloride of Mercury is very poisonous when taken inlcnially, bottles
containing it should be plainly labeled "i'oisoii," nnd phiecd beyond the reach of
children.
Never kiss anyone upon the month. Ii w(jnld be better to avoid this practice en-
tirely as well as handshaking.
Always wash your hands thoron^dily ami clenn your lingei' iiiiils before eating.
Remember that rest, fresh air, siinli'^hl . and u."'>i\ food, are essential to yonr im-
provement.
Take medicinr; only ujion I he advicr- of a iihysieijin. Ciood digestion is one of
the greatest iiu|)leinr!nls in the light against tubcrcniosis. It is often destroyed l)y th(!
use of patent medicines which frequently rob lli<; patient of his last ciiance of re-
covery.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 475
Live in the open air during winter and summer as much as possible. Avoid dust
and smoke.
Those sufferinff from tuberculosis should not follow any occupation which re-
quires the handling of food stuffs.
Dress consistently with the season. Avoid chest protectors and tight clothing,
particularly corsets. Keep your feet dry and warm at ail times.
Take exercise only upon the advice of a physician and then never to the extent
of fatigue.
Go to bed early so as to get rest and if possible sleep at least eight hours.
Keep your body clean, take a warm bath at least once a week and be sure to
rinse the body thoroughly of soap used in bathing. Never take cold douches or
cold baths except by direction of a physician.
Do not eat when phj'sically or mentally tired, or when excited. All meals
should be preceded and followed by a period of rest in bed, or in a reclining chair.
Rinse your mouth before meals.
Eat plenty of good wholesome food at meal time, supplementing this with milk
and eggs as directed by a physician.
Eat slowly, chew your food well and avoid anything which causes indigestion.
Sweet meats and pastry are especially to be avoided.
The teeth and mouth should be kept in good condition, by the use of a tooth
brush, especially at bed time and upon rising in the morning. Always disinfect
your toothbrush after using and never keep it where it will come in contact with a
brush used by any one else.
The use of wines, liquors and tobacco, is prohibited except by order of a phy-
sician.
See that your bowels move regularly every day.
Whenever j'ou have a temperature which is 99.5 degrees, diarrhoea or roddi.sh
expectoration, you should remain in bed.
If you should have a hemorrhage, keep as quiet as possible and send for a phy-
sician.
At all times endeavor to control your cough as much as possible, but when you
are obliged to cough cover your mouth with a paper napkin.
Under all circumstances obey the instructions of yo>ir physician minutely, and
if there is any doubt in your mind as to what you ought to do, consult him.
In order to prevent others cxjntracting the disease, your room should be disinfected
before being used by another person. You arc therefore requested to send word to
the Township Health Officer upon removal, in order that the work of disinfection
may be done by the department.
Sputum cups, paper napkins and bags, are supplied (o patients nttoiiding State
Dispensaries.
If attending the Dispensary, regular visits will be retiuirod until disdiarged by
the physician in charge.
SAMUEL G. DIXON, M. D.
Commissioner of Heallh.
FORM 109.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
HISTORY AND EXAMINATION.
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY NO....
No Date
Name, Age S. M. W. D. Sep. Race, Country Nativity
Address Occupation (usual)
Diagnosis Classification Prognosis
476 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Form 109 Contiuued.
Complications: (Tuberculous) (Non-tuberculous)
Referred by Examining Physician
Discharged Reason Condition
(Date.)
NOTE: — Leave no blanks, strike out terms which do not apply.
FAMILY HISTORY OF TUBERCULOSIS.
Connect relative with type of disease by line — if suffereing from, place (H. T.)
or if died from put date opposite letters.
F. Lungs M.
B. Glands S.
P. A. Bones M. A.
P. U. Joints M. U.
P. G-F. Skin M. G. F.
P. G-M. Meninges M. G-M.
Consort Marasmus Children
Consort's family How long married
Children living, Children dead,
ENVIRONMENT.
f Friends
Contact ■! Work
t Other
f Private house
Dwelling -j Apartment
[ Tenement
No. sleeping rooms , No. occupants ,
I'atient occupies separate bed , Separate room ,
How long in present dwelling ,
History of Tuberculosis in former occupants,
Alcohol: (Non. Mod. Exc.) Tobacco: (Non. Mod. Exc.) Drugs:
Sputum : how collected disposed of
Family Income per mon. .$ Sick benefits, ^
Insurance per mo. .$ Rent per month, $
No. in family No. to support
Stopped former work ,
(Date.)
Present occupation,
Place employed , . .
Employer,
PREVIOUS HEALTH.
Up to adolcHcence, Since
Diphtheria Rheumatism
(Date.) (Date.)
Pneumonia Pertussis,
(Date.) (Date.)
Influenza Pleurisy
(Date.) (Date.)
Measles Typhoid fever
(Date.) (Date.)
No. 17. COMMISSIOiNER OF HEALTH. 477
Frequoiit colds Frequent sore throat
lujuries f Nose
or -j Throat
Operations [ ( 'liest
Moiuli l>n>iithcr Miscarriage
PRESENT ILLNESS.
Began With
Onset probable from history niid examination
Proijable Ijesinning
Cough When most sevi-re
Sputum: Amount character
Blood streaked sputum first
Hemorrhage first Amount
Recurrences
Fever first observed frequency
Chills first observed , frequency
N. Sweats first obsei'ved frequency
Weight : first observed loss Amount
Pain: location character
Dyspnoea When most severe
Hoarseness Deafness
Appetite ,. Digestion
Bowels: Movements daily Character . .
Micturition : frequency pain
Up at night Menses
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.
Height ..ft. ..in. Weight ... .lbs. Highest lbs Lowest lbs
Development Nourishment Color
Eyes: Color Pupils Reaction to light to distance. ......
Tongue Teeth Gums Uvula
Naso-pharny.\: Septum Turbinates Tonsils
Fingers: Clubbed Cyanotic Contractures
Glands: Ilyperotrophy of: Cervical Axilary Ingxiinal .
Thorax : Shape Symmetry
Diameters: 6th Dorsal Spinous process to midsternum opposite junction of 4;h
rib I'liches
Transveree ; at highest points of axilae inches
Circuraberence: full expiration inches: full inspiration inches
Atrophy of scapular muscles R L R. Handed
Depressions above clavicles R L L Handed
Heart : Apex (location) 1st sound
2nd Pulmonic 'Jnd Aortic
Murmurs Transmission
Lungs :
Abdomen :
Stomach :
Liver:
Spleen
Pulse: A'olume Tension Rylhm Rate
Blood pressure: Systolic m. m. Diastolic m. m. Arteries
31
478 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Extremities Successfully vaccinated
History of evidence of syphillis ,
History or evidence of anal fissure , fistula
History or evidence of nervous or mental diseases
Formerly treated at Sanatorium, Hospital or other Institution,
Date of Dicharge 190. . How long an inmate
Condition on Discbarge ,
On Admission T..P..R..On discharge. .T. .P. .R. .Weight Gain Loss
Conduct
Form 110.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
NURSES REPORT.
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY NO
No Date
Name Age , Country Nativity
Address Occupation (usual)
Place of employment
Member of family or boarder Name of bead of household
Number of inmates of house How long has patient been an inmate of present
house ?
Address of last previous place of residence
Means of support :
No. of wage earners in family Who are they?
Usual weekly income $ . . . . Present weekly income $ . . . . No. of people supported ....
Is patient able to work?, . . .If so, what proportion of usual wages can he earn? ....
If unable to work, give date of last employment Place
Does patient (or family) receive financial aid from any .source?
If so , state amount and source
Are milk and egg supplies needed? If so, which?
Any other supplies urgently needed , and what ?
General cleanliness Good Indifferent Mad
Does patient occupy seperate bedroom? Separate bed If no( ,
with whom does patient share room or bed . . . .How many rooms in house?
Give api)roximate size of patient's bedroom. . . .Number of windows in patient's bed-
room
What, if any, business is carried on from the premises?
General condition of family health — Robust. Fair. Poor.
Any invalids in addition to patient If so, how many?
Any Buspicion of tuberculosis in any one in addition to patient
Names. Ages. Disease. Duration of Illness.
Remarks: Note any particulars likely to be of interest if not elsewhere brought out.
Date
Signature
(Health Officer or Nurse.)
No. 17. COMMISSIONl-:i{ OF IIKALTH. 479
Fonn ll;j.
COM M( ) N w i; A I /r II (IF I ' I ; .\ x s v i , \ a n i a .
DEPAKT.MKX'r OF lIFAI/ril.
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY SO
At County of
RECORD OF TREAT.MK.NT AND CONDITION.
Nanuj No
'J'likcn Diiily ■ o
Date.
P. R. T.
Milk.
a
i':gg.s.
0
61
o
Remarks.
(Note pro-
gress of
case. J
Form IIH.
CO.M.MOX WEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY NO
At C()uii(.v of
M No.
Examinod for ;nlini.ssion to Sanatorium
( incipient j
ill- is in .' :i(lvam-(Hl V stage
I fjir advanced |
K('l)url furwjuilfd in
M. D.
Date.
UM)
Physician in Charge.
480
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
Form 117.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANLV.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
SAMUEL G. DIXON, M. D., Commissioucr.
MH.K ORDER.
No Tuberculosis Dispensary No
To At S(.
TOAVU.
Dale
Please deliver to oaeli person uauicd below One ()uart of milk i)er day for four-
teen days only at cent.s per (]uart.
Bejrin 10 , End 19 .
NAME.
ADDRESS.
llExMARKS.
Dealer will specify number of
quarts actually delivered in each
instance.
This order must accompany bill when rendered. No bill honored for any amount
other than called for in above order.
(Signed) M. D.
Physician in Charge.
Form 117 B.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANLi.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
SAMUEL G. DIXON, M. D., Commissioner.
EGG ORDER.
■^f) Tuberculosis Dispensary No
To At SI.
Tow M
Dale
Please deliver to each i)ersoii named eggs per day as specihed below
for fourteen days only at cents per dozen.
Begin IS) , End 19 .
NAME.
ADDRESS.
REMARKS.
Dealer will Hpccify number of
, eggs actually delivered In each
1 Instance.
This order must accompany bill when rendered. No bill honored for any amount
other than called for in above order.
(Signed) M. D.
Physician in Charge.
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No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
481
Progno.sis of Local Condition
Eiiect on (general Ilealtii:
DiagnoHis:
NOSE, TIIKOAT AND EAIl.
Name :
Date:
E.vaminod by Dr.
HISTORY.
Chief Complaint:
Nasal Respiration:
Nasal Discharge:
i Head:
Pain .' Face:
I Ears:
Na.sal Subjective Symptoms:
Pharyngeal Subjective Symittonis:
IIoarsene.ss:
Odynphagia :
Ajihonia:
Dysphonia:
Epiglottis:
Aryepiglottidean Fold
Interarytenoid Fold:
I Left:
Ventricular Bands - „. ,.
^ Right:
Anterior Commissure:
Deep :
I Left:
\ Right:
Deafness :
Tinnitus:
Otorrhea:
Arytenoid Cartilages
I'ostcrior Commissure:
I Left:
Vocal Chords - „• i ..
/ Right:
Trachea :
I Left:
"l Right:
Ulceration
Congestion :
(^Edema :
Left Ear:
Right Ear:
Inliltration
I Superficial :
•<:Mo
l'"..nii ]•_'(».
c< >.M .Ml >.\ w I :.v I ;ri 1 ( ti ■ i 'K.n ns v i .\.\ .\ i .\.
DHl'.MnWIENT OF IILAI.TII.
Identilicaliuii ('ard 'riilierciilosis Disiiensai'v .No
Name
Address
Dale No
Days Hours
ALWAYS BRING THIS CARD.
31— 17— 1!M)8
482
Index Card.
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Form 121.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLA^ANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
Tuberculosis Dispensai'y No
Name , No.
Address County of
M. S. W. D. Sep. Age years Color
Applied , 190 . Classification
Discharged , 190 . Condition ,
Friend or Relative
Address ,
Examined by Dr
Visited by ".
Form 113.
DAILY REPORT OF HOURS.
CONSUMED IN DISPENSARY WORK.
Dispensary No.
Month
jn:nding..
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-
...
...
-
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. 19-
--
-
Doetons.
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Slgiifid.
I'liyMlcliin ill (:iiurK<!.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
483
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THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE
Off. Doc.
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DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE
THE EXHIBIT OF THE
STATE DEPARTALENT OF HEALTH
Of Pennsylvania
AT THK
International Congress on Tuberculosis
WASHINGTON, D. C.
SEPTEMBER 21 TO OCTOBER 12, 1908
By the authority of
HIS KXCHIJ.KNCY, EDWIN S. STUART
( Jinrriior of (lie ( "iiniiiiiimvciilth
SAMUEL G. DIXON. M. D., Commissioner of Health
( 4.sr. )
(486)
: OUTLINE.
The present pliui <if the State governmeutal anti-tuberculosis
\\()il< in Pennsylvania wliicli luis been made possible by the liberal
ap|»ropiiati()ii of the Lcjiislalure in 1!)0T, witli tlu? approval of His
Ivxcclk'ucy, the (Joveiiior, and the details of which are illustrated
in III is exhibit may be suniuiarized under the following headings:
1. The collection and tabulation of statistics relating to tubercu-
losis, through olljcial morbidity and mortality reports of each in-
dividual case.
2. The establishment of one or more sanatoria for the treatment of
incipient cases, including infirmaries for advanced and hopeless
cases.
'.'.. The establishment of dispensaries in each county of the Stafti
lor I he care of cases which can not avail themselves of sanatorium
ticatment, including home visitations and the study of occupational
conditions.
4. The maintenance of pathological laboratories for the free ex-
atnination of sputum and tuberculous lesions, and biological labora-
tories for the possible development of iramunitive and curative pro-
ducts.
5. The restriction of tuberculosis by the disinfection of rooms,
Ituiblings (private and public), conveyances and carriers, and by su-
pervision and regulation over the general avenues of infection.
fi. The dissemination of knowledge relative to the -iommunica-
bilily. care and jtreventioii of tuberculosis.
EXHIBIT NO. 1.
ciiAirr siiuwixo tiii-; Nt'Mi!i;i{ (w deaths fkom tuberculosis as
('(t.MI'AIiKh Wl'I'It OTUEIi I'ltlNCII'AL CAl^SES OF DEATHS FOR
THE YKAIJ I'.MiT.
The total number of deaths from luliereulosis in all forms was
Hl,S-jr) and, as sliowii on the chart, no other singb' alfection con-
Irihnted so extensively lo tlie (Ie;i(h rate.
The regishation of vital statistics throughout the entire State of
rennsylvaiiia was commenced .liuinary 1. I'.MKI. and therefore, no
reliable data for individual years exist piior lo that time. The
deaths from tuberculosis in 1007, compared with the deaths in
loot;, are as follows:
inOfi 10J80
IJ)07 10,825
(4S7)
488 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The rates per 100,000 of population for the corresponding periods
are as follows:
1906 155.5
1907 151.0
The forin.s of iiibercnlosis represented in the total and the number
of deaths credited to each form are as follows:
Lungs 9,317
Larynx 99
Meninges 525
Abdomen 451
Pott's Disease 82
Abscess 10
White Swelling 41
Other Forms 107
General 198
EXHIBIT NO. 2.
MAP OF PENNSYLVANIA SHOWING THE DEATH RATE FROM TUBER-
CULOSIS PER 100,000 OF INHABITANTS FOR EACH COUNTY, AND BY
SHADED AREAS THE COMPARATIVE RATES ACCORDING TO FOUR
PRINCIPAL GROUPS, VIZ:
Under 100, per 100,000.
100 to 125, per 100,000.
125 to 150, per 100,000.
Over 150, per 100,000.
When this exhibit is studied in connection with Exhibit. No. 7,
which contains the population for each county, it will be noted
that with few exce[»li()iis the highest death rates coi-respond to the
areas with the greatest density of population. Franklin county with
a low density and high death rate contains the State Sanatorium
for tuberculosis which ncicessarily adds to the deaths. Aside from
this, however, there is a tendency not only in this but in some other
mountainous counties to intermari-y, with a consequent physical
(IcIcridT-atioT) which predisposes lo tnlxM-cnlosis. '^IMu^ high rate of
.Moiiloiif, a connly sinall iti area, is due lo (he inclusion of a State
Insjinc Asylnm wilh a liigh I nhci-cnlosis dcalh rale.
Tlic rclalivciy high rales of Tike, Monlctur and VVayn(^ are due to
the large number of tuberculosis persons who seek the mountains
of this section for ])ur|)ose of cure, many of whom come from New
York City. liOzerne county is lln^ seal of the "Free; Hospital for
Consumptives" at W'liile Haven, and Carbon county contains a num-
ber of small private sanatoria.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 489
EXHIBIT NO. 3.
CHART SHOWING THE DEATHS FROM TUBERCULOSIS BY AGE
PERIODS.
The impressive feature (if this chart is the fact that tuberculosis
finds the greatest number of its victims in early adult and middle
life, the most jnoilncfive and, therefore, the most valuable period.
EXHIBIT NO. 4.
CHART SHOWING THE ANNUAL COST OF TUBERCULOSIS TO THE
STATE AND TO THE PEOPLE THEREOF.
In computing the cost of tuberculosis each life has been estimated
at three thousand dollars. The loss of earning power of the living
cases has been estimated at seven and one-lialf dollars per week
for one year; the expenditure attendant upon treatment and burial
of each dying case at one hundred dollars; and the expenditure for
special foods, medicines, medical attendants and nursing of each
living case at tift}' dollars. To these amounts has been added the
actual money appropriated by the State and its municipalities, to
be devoted exclusively to tuberculosis work, but no account has been
taken of private contributions for such work.
When it is considered, as shown in Exhibit No. 8, that the greatest
number of deaths from tuberculosis occur in early adult and middle
life, the economic value ($8,000.00) placed upon each death is very
conservative. The majority of sociologists are inclined to place this
figure higher (15,000.00).
EXHIBIT NO. .5.
CHART SHOWING THE AMOUNT APPROPRIATED BY THE STATE OF
PENNSYLVANIA EXCLT'SIVELY FOR TUBERCULOSIS WORK FROM
1803 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
The year 1803 marks the date of the first State appntpriatiim for
tuberculosis work. The amounts appropriated at each biennial ses-
sion of the Legislature since lliat (i:ile and llie iustituiioiis i-eceiving
the same are as r«»ll(»ws:
1S!)3 — Rush Hospital I'oi' the 'rrejiliiieiit oT Consuiiipl i(»n and
Allied Diseases, |10.000.0(i
1895 — Kush Hospital for the Trealiiieiit of ('(»nsnmj»il(in and
Allied Diseases, ^10,000.00
1807 — Rush Hospital lor tlie Treat men I of Consumption and
Allied Diseases, 110,000.00
490 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
1899 — Rush Hospital for the Treatment of Consumption and
Allied Diseases, |10,000.00
1001 — Kush Hospital for the Treatment of Consumption and
Allied Diseases, |10,000.00
Free Hospital for Consumptives, White Haven, |50,000.00
1908 — TJusli Hospital for the Treatlment of Consumption and
Allied Diseases, |47,000.00
Free Hospital for Consumptives, White Haven, |115,000.00
State Forestry Commissioner, $8,000.00
1905 — Eush Hospital for the Treatment of Consumption and
Allied Diseases, |50,000.00
Free Hospital for Consumptives, White Haven, |70,000.00
State Forestry Commissioner, $15,000.00
1007 — Rush Hospital for the Treatment of Consurajttion and
Allied Diseases, 150,000.00
Free Hospital for Consumptives, White Haven, |70,000.00
Pittsburg Sanatorium, |15,000.00
Grand View Sanatorium, |7,000.00
West Mountain Sanatorium, |5,000.00
State Department of Health, |1,000,000.00
EXHIBIT NO. 6.
MAP OF PENNSYLVANIA SHOWING THE DIVISIONS OF THE STATE
INTO SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE SANITARY DISTRICTS.
In each sanitary district a Health Officer is maintained by the
State to whom cases of communicable disease, including tubercu-
losis, are reported by physicians. These officials disinfect {premises
occupied by tuberculosis sufferers or in which patients have died
from tuberculosis; also school-rooms and other i)ubli(' places fre-
quented by them.
The care and management of every case of communicable disease
occurring outside the limits of incorporated municipalities devolves
upon the State Department of Health. A County Medical Inspector
is in direct supervision over the work of tlie Health Officer in each
county of the State.
EXHIBIT NO. 7.
MAP OF PENNSVLVANLV SIlOWINi; THL LO( NATION OF DISPENSARIES
FOR THL FitEF TUEATAIFNT OF TlJIiEROtlLOSIS IN EACH OF THIO
SIXTY-SEVEN COL'NTIES. EMP.RACING AN AREA OF 4(;,0I7 SQUARE
MILES AND A POPFI>ATION OF t;,!)28,r)7rj.
The tiiKt dispen.sary was opened July 22, 1007, at Wilkes lianc,
and the last at Cireensbiirg, June 2, 1908. As noted, the number
of cases under treatment during July 1908, was 8,472, Each dis-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 491
pensaiy is in charge of a chief physician, from one to thirteen assist-
ants, one to five nurses according to the number of patients under
treatment, and is open at convenient hours, day or evening, to
accommodate the occupational demands of those who are able, or
who are compelled to work. The location has been determined with
a view of reaching the most populous centers. The great object of
the dispensary is to reach each individual indigent case of tuber-
culosis, and by competent medical advice, treatment and super-
vision ameliorate or entirely relieve their physical condition, and
at the same time educate them as to the communicable character
of tlieir disease to the end that others may not become infected
through ignorance or carelessness. The dispensary nurses are re-
quired to make visits t(» the homes of dispensary patients and advise
as to the meth<jds of personal hygiene and home sanitation; instruct
nou-aftected persons of the household as to the dangers, and how
to avoid infection ; to spread the doctrine of fresh air, sunlight, rest,
proper foods, temperate habits and obedience to the instructions of
the medical advisors; at the same time discover unsuspected cases.
'i,OOG such visits were made by dispensary nurses during July, 1908.
The occupational pursuits of those who are compelled to work are
likewise investigated, and visits are paid to factories and workshops
where consumptives are employed, in order that unhygienic sur-
roundings may be bettered, and the safety of co-workers as well
as the users or consumers of the manufactured products be pre-
served.
It is from these dispensary patients that the inmates of the State
Sanatorium are largely recruited.
The equij)nient of the dispensary consists of a suite of rooms cen-
trally located, and supplied with only such furniture as is absolutely
necessary for the work to be done. The rooms vary in number ac-
cording to the number of patients under trealment, and their ar-
rangement must conform with modern sanitary ideas, no pains
being spared to keep them in such a condition of cleanliness as to
furnish an object lesson to all who may visit the dispensary. The
furniture consists of a tiling cabinet, tables, chairs, examining stools,
couch, scales, toilet set and a few instruments for measurements of
the chest and simjjle examinations of the nose and throat. It is of
simple, plain design, and was selected with a view to efticiency and
economy.
Dispensary records are kept upon blank forms provided by the
Department, and frequent inspection by an ollicer from Department
Headquarters insures proper recording of the desired informal ion.
The inspecting officer also pays careful attention to the physical
and sanitary condition of the dispensary rooms.
492 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
In all the larger dispensaries the "Class System" has been in-
augurated. Under this system classes are organized among the
patients, each of which contains not over twenty-five members. The
number of classes varies, being governed by the needs of the in-
dividual dispensary. The classes meet at regular intervals, some
weekly but usually every two weeks. The members are instructed
to take and record their own temperature, pulse and respiration.
This they do as frequently as the class leader may direct. Not only
do the patients record these particulars but they are also instructed
to make careful notes of their condition, feelings and actions. Mem-
orandum books are supplied for this purpose.
At the class meeting patients are encouraged to converse among
themselves and compare notes as to their experiences. The note
books are submitted to the inspection of the class leader, who care-
fully reviews each one. Faults are pointed out, and misfortunes
discussed, with a view of avoiding their repetition and minimizing
unfavorable consequences. Often the ingenuity of one patient will
be of great assistance in solving the difficult problem of another.
Patients are weighed and the result commented upon.
Indigent dispensary patients are supplied with nitrogenous food
stuffs. In addition to food supplies the dispensaries furnish liberal
quantities of paper napkins and bags, pressed paper sputum cups
for use in tin forms, and pocket cuspidors.
Earnest effort is made through the dispensaries to educate the
people in each community to a sense of the value of thorough room
disinfection. The Department's Health Officers, of whom there are
over seven hundred districted throughout the State, are instructed
in the work of disinfection and supplied with the necessary equip-
ment. A postal card sent to any Health Officer will secure his
speedy attention. Not only the dispensary physicians, but every
practitioner in Pennsylvania is provided with a list of the names and
addresses of the Health Officers located in his own and adjoining
counties. That Ihe people are becoming aroused to the protection
offered them by this procedure is evident from the continually in-
creasing numljer of re<iuests for disinfection that are pouring in
ujxm tlie Deparlinent of Health and ils officers.
In a number of instances the members of the staff, at a particular
dJKpcusaj-y, liav(; associuled tlieiiiselvcs togelhei- as a society for
the better study of Hmmi- <iis«'s. This a(;(i<)n lias occurred in no less
than nine differcnl counlies, and in a number of these the societies
meet not only for discussion and study by the nieinbers themselves,
but other physycians not connected with the dispensary are invited
to be present at the meetings and to take part in the work of the
society. The s])irit of friendship tiius fostered among tlie j)hysician8
of a community is of value hcyond (piestion, not only to tlie phyai-
cians themselves, but to the community at large.
No. 17.
DIRECTORY OB^
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
493
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARIES WITH MEDICAL
ATTENDANTS.
Oounty.
Location.
Attending Pbysiclan.
Adams, ...
Allegheny,
Armstrong,
Beaver,
Bedford, ..
Berks -
Blair,
Bradford, .
Bucks,
Butler, ....
Cambria, .
Cameron, ..
Carbon, ...
Centre,
Chester, ...
Clarion, ...
Clearfield, .
Clinton, ...
Columbia, .
Crawford, .
Cumberland
Dauphin, ..
Delaware, ..
Elk
Krie,
Fayette,
Forest
Franklin, ...
Fulton,
Greene
Huntingdon,
Indiana,
JefTerson, ...
Juniata,
l.uckawiiiiiia.
Luncasler
I.uwrt'iU'e,
Jyiibuuon,
Lehigh, ..
32
Gettysburg - Dr.
Pittsburg - -- Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Kittanning, Dr.
Rochester, Dr.
Dr.
Kverett, Dr.
Reading, Dr.
Dr.
."Utoona — Dr
Dr.
Towanda, Dr.
Doylestown, Dr.
Butler, - Dr.
Dr.
Johnstown Dr.
Dr.
Emporium _ Dr.
Dr.
Mauch Chunk, Dr.
Bellefonte, Dr.
West Chester, Dr.
Clarion, Dr.
Clearfield, Dr.
Lock Haven, Dr.
Berwick, Dr.
Dr.
Meadville Dr.
Dr.
Carlisle, Dr.
Dr.
Harrisburg Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Chester, i Dr.
' Dr.
' Dr.
Ridgway ' Dr.
Erie, Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Uniontown Dr.
Tionesta. Dr.
Chanibersburg, Dr.
MeConnellsburg Dr.
Waynesburg Dr.
iluiitiiiRdon, Dr.
Indiana, Dr.
Piiiixsuiawney Dr.
Mifflliitown. Dr.
Dr.
Sei-iilitiiii. Dr.
Dr.
l»r.
Kaiicasler Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
New (Castle, Dr.
Lebanon, Dr.
Dr.
.Vllentown Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
J. R. Dickson, Chief.
S. M. Rinehart, Chief.
J. F. Edwards.
I. H. Alexander.
F. D. Stolzenbach.
Samuel Hamilton.
Geo. J. McKee.
G. H. Boyd.
J. M. Long.
C. W. Sample.
Warren Shepard.
Nelson Clark.
Watson Marshall.
G. A. Dillinger.
T. N. McKee. Chief.
E. S. H. McCauley, Chief.
J. D. Armstrong.
W. de la M. Hill, Chief.
Israel Cleaver, Chief.
Freemont Frankhauser.
J. D. Findley, Chief.
E. B. Miller.
S. M. Woodburn, Chief.
I. S. Plymire, Chief.
H. D. Hockenberry, Chief.
T. X. Ma.xwell.
W. E. Matthews, Chief.
J. Mc.Aneny.
H. S. Falk, Chief.
W. H. Bush.
J. K. Henry. Chief.
G. F. Harris, Chief.
Jos. Scattergood, Chief.
J. T. Rimer. Chief.
S. C. .Stewart, Chief.
R. B. Watson, Chief.
S. B. .4rment, Chief.
Jos. Cohen.
J. K. Roberts. Chief.
W. E. HyskelJ.
H. B. Bashore, Chief.
R. Plank.
Paul A. Hartmau, Chief.
J. W. EUenberger.
C. R. Phillips.
R. S. Maison, Chief.
E. S. Haines.
J. Wm. Wood.
J. E. Rutherford. Chief.
J. W. Wright, Chief.
W. R. Hunter.
G. A. Reed.
D. V. Reiuoehl.
A. H. Roth.
O. R. .•Vltniun. Chief.
F. J. Bovard, Chief.
H. X. Bonbrako. Chief.
J. W. Mosser, Chief.
J. T. lanis. Chief.
H. C. Frontz. Chief.
W. A. Simpson. Chief.
J. E. Grube. Chief.
W. H. Hanks. Chief.
F.. P. Walley.
J. C. R«'lfsnyder, Chief.
•Ins. Wagner.
Clias. Kalkowsky.
J. I,. Mowery. Chief.
S. H. Holler.
H. F. Myers.
J. D. Moore, Chief.
A. J. Rlogel, Chief.
II. E. Maulfalr.
Morris Cawley, Chief.
W. D. Kline.
F. R. Bausch.
E. C. Statler.
J. T. Butz.
494
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE
Off. Doc.
DIRECTORY OF TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARIES WITH MEDICAL
ATTENDANTS.— Continued.
County.
Location.
Attending Physician.
Pike,
Milford,
plotter Ooudersport,
Schuylkllir' - -— ' I'ottsville, ...
Bnyder, Seiinsgrove, .
Somerset -- - Meyersdulc. .
Sullivan Dusliore, ....
SuKquehannu - Montrose, ...
Tioga, Tioga,
rnlon, - Mifflinburg, ..
Vonango - - i <^" tJ^ty,
Warren - Warren.
Washington Monongahela,
Wayne Honewdale, ..
Westmoreland I Greensburg, .
Wyoming | Tunkhanuoek,
York,
Luzerne, Wilkes-Barre, - Dr.
i Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
' Dr.
Lycoming — Williamsport Dr.
McKean, Bradford — Dr.
Mercer -- i Sharon, - - iJr-
Lewistown, — I Dr.
I Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Mifflin,
Monroe, - Stroudsburg,
Montgomery - Xorri.stown,
Montour - -- - Danville,
Northampton -- [ Kaston,
Northumberland -- < Shamokin,
PPiry^ _ New Bloonifleld,
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, ...
York,
Olias. Miner, Chief.
Walter Davis.
J. W. Geist.
C. Grosser.
Sara Wyckofl.
R. L. Wadhams.
S. Reichard.
G. W. Carr.
P. E. Seely, Chief.
W. C. Hogan, Chief.
P. P. Pislier, Chief.
R. S. Heilman.
C. H. Brisbin, Chief.
J. R. Hunter.
J. Clarkson.
W. E. Gregory, Chief.
H. H. Whitcomb, Chief.
A. H. Mann.
Reinoehl Knipe.
E. S. Buyers.
S. M. Miller.
G. A. Stock, Chief.
E. M. Green, Chief.
T. C. Zulick.
W. Thorn ason.
W. Mcllhaney.
J. E. Pretz.
R.H. Sinnnons, Chief.
C. M. Malone.
A. H. Smink.
A. R. Johnston. Chief.
Alfred Stengel, Chief.
A. P. Pranciue.
G. W. Norris.
R. Ijavenson.
Annie Turniu'.
W. G. Turnhull.
S. A. Mumford.
Wm. B. Kenworthy, Chief.
E. H. Asheraft, Chief.
L. T. Kennedy, Cliief.
P. J. Wagen.seller, Chief.
0. P. Large, Chief.
P. G. Bid.ile, Chief.
J. G. Wilson, Oliiof.
S. P. Hakes, Chief.
0. H. Dinim, Chief.
.1. P. Struyer, Cliief.
Pannie Davis.
M. V. Ball, Chief.
C. B. Wood, CJhief.
11. B. Ely, Chief.
1. M. Portscr, Chief.
B. E. Bidleiiian, Chief,
.1. S. JV/iiicr, ^:|lil•l.
R. Jessop.
B. P. Parker.
J. H. Bennett.
L. S. W(^aver.
H. K. Siiiyser.
I']. Mels<'iilielder.
H. W. Shiray.
I/. M. lliirtman.
W. C. Smith.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 49.'".
EXHIJUT No. 10.
I'lIOTOGItAI'IIS OF SCUANTOX AND EASTON DISPENSARIES.
EXHIBIT No. 11.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF WILKES-BARRE AND ALLENTOWN DISPENSARIES.
EXHIBIT No. 12.
RELIEF MODEL OF GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS OF THE PENNSYL-
VANIA STATE SOUTH MOUNTAIN SANITORIUM.
Tliis resei-vatioii (•()ni])i-ises (550 acres and is located in Franklin
county near MonI Alio on a plateau of the Blue Moujitains witii an
average elevation of about 1,S()0 Jeet aliove the sea level, its topog-
i-aphy and cliuiatie conditions i-ender it particularly Avell adapted
lor the treatment of tuljerculosis, while its geographical location
makes it readily accessible from all parts of the State. This Sana-
torium had its inception in an appropriation by the Legislature of
Pennsylvania in 19Uo of the sum of |S, 000.00 to the Commissioner of
Forestry, to be used for the treatment of tuberculosis suflferers, and
a further ai)i)ropriation in lOO.o of .|15,000.00.
The lands devoted to the purpose were a part of a large area
(55,000 acres) which had been purchased by the State for a forest
reserv^ation. rp(m this a number of small shacks were erected, and
on June 1st, J 1)07, at which time its management and control were
transferred to the Pennsylvania State Department of Health, 28
patients were under the care of the Forestry Commissioner, The
area is sulliciently large to afford a scheme of development which
will permit the classification and segregation of patients of ditferent
types or degrees of infection, if so desired, and also to suj)ply light
open air eiiipbtyment to those jjhysically cai)able of performing the
same, while the large State forest reservation adjacejit insures the
Sanatorium fioiu all undesirable surroundings. The water .supjdy
is collected from mountain springs on the State reservation. The
spring heads are all walled over that they may not be exposed to
any pollution. 'IMie water is then carried in cast-iron pipes (o a
jiumping well and fi-oiii there it is Icirced into a large res«'rvoir with
suilicient capacity to supply the entire camp with wjiter for iwo
numths in case of drought. The iuMght of the reservoir is sutticient
to give ample jtressure in case of tir(\ The ice is collected from an
ice dam and sutticient storage capacity is jtrovided in an ice house
to meet all i-e(iuirenu'nts. The assembly building serves the purpose
for general nuH^lings and a chapel for religious services. The barn
is constructed of stone and frame with slate roof and atfords accom-
496 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
modation for 10 head of mules and wagon room for as many vehicles.
The ground ai)plk'able for farming comprises an area of about 100
acres. The accommodations as sliown on this model provide for five
hundred patients.
EXHIBIT No. 13.
PANORAMIC VIEW OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION SHOWING
THE GROUP OF SANITORIUM BUILDINGS IN THE DISTANCE.
This photograph shows the large area of forest in which the camp
is located and the manner in which it is protected by natural con-
ditions.
EXHIBIT No. 14.
PANORAMIC VIEW SHOWING SOME OF THE ORIGINAL SHACKS AND
THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW COTTAGES, PAVILIONS, BATH-
HOUSES, ETC.
This photograph taken from the roof of the Administration Build-
ing, gives a good view of the general construction work in the camp.
EXHIBIT No. 15.
PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS FROM ROCKY POINT NEAR
SANATORIUM.
The slightly undulating character of the Eeservation affords oppor-
tunity for graded exercise of the patients while the beauty of nearby
forest and distant mountains is always grateful. ''Green battle-
ments that guard the Health Toit of the South Mountain Sana-
torium." Leiyh Mitchell Hodges.
EXHIBIT No. IG.
PANORAMIC VIEW OF I'ART OF 'I'HF OLD CAMP.
This shows a view of a ])ar( of (he old camp site slarted in 1902.
Here was built the lii-sl lillie cabin 8x8 feet, couslructed out of
second-liand liiinbei'. l''rom Ihis cabin, which is slill in use, grew
the j)reseiit caiiii), wiiich is hiid mil on it scale to iilliinalcl.v acconiiiio
date 4,000 |.('0[>l('.
EXnililT No. 17.
FAXOItAMIC VIKW Ol' SF\VA(;iO IHSI'OSAF. PF.ANT.
Th(; sewage disposal works coiiiin-isc set Ding basins <lesigned to
])e operalerl jis s(;Hling lanks if desired, sprinkling filters, intermit-
Icnl lillcrs iind :i clicMiic;!! slerili'/Jng chamber. The object of the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF llKALTll. 497
works is to completely clianjje the sewage into a purC' water h\ the
absolute destruction of all organic matter in the sewage. The plant
operates by gravity. It is provided with automatic mechanism to
simplify the duties of the caretaker. The site has been chosen re-
mote from the camp and all the buildings, and the layout is adapted
for additions capable of handling the sewage of a population of
4,000 peoi)le.
EXHIBIT No. IS.
MOUNTAIN VIEW NEAR THE CAMP.
*'The pine clad mountains as seen from Pennsylvania's 'Hillside
City of Plope.' " Leigh Mitchell Hodfjes.
EXHIBIT No. 10.
PHOTOGRAril OF MODEL COTTAGE FOR INCIPIENT CASES.
(See description under Exhibit No. 26.)
ICXHIBIT No. 20.
PIIOTO(iKAPII SHOWING THE RELATIVE POSITION OF COTTAGES,
THE CORNERS OF WHICH CORRESPOND TO THE FOUR POINTS OF
THE COMPASS.
This picture shows how the positions of the cottages are arranged
so that no two cottages in adjacent rows come directly opposite
each other .
This scheme gives more air space than if two adjoining rows were
built with the cottages directly opposite, and also prevents them
from throwing shadows on each other. liy having the corners of
the s(]uare cottages ]»ointing to the four points of the compass the
four sides and windows get the nuiximum sunshine during the entire
year.
EXHIBIT NO. 21.
ADMINISTRATION BTILDINCJ AND STATION TEAM.
This building is used for ottices.
Th(^ team of mules represents the style of conveyance used to
transport passengers from the railroad station to the Sanatorium.
EXHIBIT NO. 22.
PART OF TIIK MKDICAL AND MKSINCJ STAFF.
This picture shows souie of the ]»hysiciaus and nurses of the
Pennsylvania State South Mountain Sanatorium in their uniforms.
32—17—1908
498 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
EXHIBIT NO. 23.
(tROUE' OF PATIENTS IN WHOM THE DISEASE HAS BEEN ARRESTED.
EXHIBIT XO. 24.
ONE OF THE PRESENT CHICKEN-HOUSES.
The care of poultry has proven an interesting occupation for pa-
tients who are phj'sically able to perforin light work. A supply of
fresh eggs will be provided when the chicken house now under con-
struction, is completed. The house will be 450 feet long with
provision for the housing and yarding of chickens in lots of 25. A
house for the keeper and one for storing and preparing food will
also be provided.
EXHIBIT NO. 25.
WHITE PINE FOREST ADJOINJNCJ (LVMP.
This beautiful grove of pines is used for park purposes by the
patients. With its lofty canopy of evergreen foliage and its under-
lying carpeting of pine needles upon which the footfalls are noise-
less, it had been christened by the patients who enjoy its stately
aisles, as the "Cathedral Pines."
EXHIBIT NO. 2(>.
MODEL OF COTTAGE FOR IN<'HMENT CASES.
The cofhiges are one story in heiglit with a liberal air space be-
tween th(; ceilings and (he roofs (o giiai-<l against the exirome heat
of summer and the extreme cold of wiiilei-. Tiie (ioorings are double
with water proof maleriaj between.
The first floor is divided into four rooms opening into an entryway
widened in the <'entre by adding sf)ace from tlie corners of the rooms.
The entryway lias a (loor at (!ach end, whicli permits a fi'ee circula-
tion of air to blow past the Tout- dooi* ways Iciuling into tlie rooms
Ivicli door li;is ;i tiiiiisoin oNcr the tn|) wliicli is o|)cii ;it all times in
case a door should l»c closed for any special pnrpose. In lli<* middle
of sumnjer and the e.xireme cold of wint<'r. The lloorings ar<! don]>le
larger ]>'i])i' which opens into the entr-y at the ceiling, so tiial: the
warmci- air of the cottage can be freely forced into tlu^ (bolder out-
side atmosjthere, Ihcreljy making a gravity ventilation. lOach room
has two large windows with sash linng on hall bearing rollei'S, so
that they can be pushed back, leaving tlie entire window space open.
The eaves overhang only four inch<'s so as not to throw any shad-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 499
ow.s on the sides of the luiil(liji<;s. 'JMiis f»ivcs llie cottaj^^es the maxi-
mum of sunlight. This coustiuctiou would not protect the open win-
dows from rain and snow during heavy storms. To provide against
such storms wide shutters are hung with rollers on tracks so that
they hang vertically against the walls in lair weather. They can be
pulled over the windows with perfect ea>se during a storm, and fixed
at any angle desired by aji arrangement of hooks, thereby jtermitting
of a free circulation of air. The floors average about IS inches above
the ground, leaving an open space for the air to circulate under the
cottages during fair weather. Solid shutters, however, are arranged
which drop over the spaces, entirely closing them during heavy rain
or snow storms. This model is constructed on a scale of 1 inch
equal to 1 foot, the original cottages being 27 feet square, con-
structed of wood with foundation i)iers of concrete, and roofs of
ri re-proof asbestos and cement shingles.
EXHIBIT NO. 27.
MODEL OF OrEN AIR PAVILION.
The pavilions are constructed of wood with concrete pier fouuda
tions. The roofs are built of fire-proof shingles made of asbestos
and cement. The buildings are entirely open with the excej^tion of
a wall extending three feet above the (loor. The eaves overhang only
four inches so as to permit of the maximum sunlight. Awnings are
arranged so as to droj) in time of heavy rain or snow storms. These,
however, will only be closed on the stormy side, leaving at
least, two sides open during bad weather. The floor is 36 feet by 24
feet, which will ])ermit of two rows of reclining chairs for the
patients during the <laytime. The width is sullicieul to permit of a
liberal aisle between the rows of chairs. These jKivilions are to take
the places of ])orches around the cottages, whicli would cut off the
sunlight.
EXHIBIT XO. 28.
MODEL OF TENT.
This model, on a scale of 1 inch equal to 1 foot, was made by Mr.
John Quicksell, a patient. Tents of this type are used for the
stronger patients during the entire ye;ir, where they keep perfectly
comfortable during the coldest weatlicr in the winter.
EXllliHT XU. 29.
CHART. FRONT AND SIDE ELEVATION OF DINING HALL.
The kitchen and dining room is ccmstructed of concrete and
frame with asbestos roof. It will now accommodate 500 patients,
and is so planned as to permit of extensions which will seat 1,000
patients.
500 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
EXHIBIT NO. 30.
CHART. FIRST FLOOR, PLAN OF DINING HALL.
There is a half basement which provides cold storage and all other
accessories necessary for kitchen and dining room purposes, such as
butcher shop, storage and heating plant.
EXHIBIT NO. 31.
CHART, SECOND FLOOR, PLAN OF DINING HALL.
The quarters for help are arranged in the second story over the
dining hall, well heated and ventilated, and so situated as to have
sunlight in each of the rooms, which accommodate in all 100 people.
EXHIBIT NO. 32.
CHART, FRONT, SIDE AND REAR ELEVATIONS OF INFIRMARY.
The infirmary for the accommodation of the incurable cases is
beautifully situated in the pines. It is constructed of concrete and
wood, with a fire j)roof asbestos and cement roof. It has all the
necessary modern accommodations of a hospital building, with a
wing to accommodate the nurses and help. The elevation of the
building represents a long narrow construction two and one-half
stories high, so as to permit of plenty of air and sun in all the
small wards. It has indirect heating apparatus and ventilation.
The present construction will accommodate 110 patients, and is so
plaimed as to permit of extensions for 200 patients.
EXHIBIT NO. 33.
CHAltT, FIRST FLOOR PLAN OF INFIRMARY.
EXHIBIT NO. 34.
CIL^RT, SECOND FLOOR PLAN OF INFIRMARY.
EXimtiT NO. :{r).
rjlAKT, i;fj:\ A'I'ION AND FIRST AND SE(JOND FLOOR OF LAUNDRY.
'I'lic l;niii(lr.\ building is constructed of wood, concrete and asbes-
to.s sliirigies. It is provided with slerliziiig wasliers arranged so
lliat llic clolliing can be jilaccd in the revolving washers from the
I'ccciving room, taken ont slei-ilizcd and washed, into another room
where \\\('. biiindicsses rec(MV(! Iheiii lo <airy Ihein Ihi-ongh the dry-
ing Mild ii'oning Muichinery. Accoinniodalicms for Ihe n(M.-essary help
ai'e i)ro\i(l<'(] on the second floor.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 501
EXHIBIT NO. 36.
CHART, EI-EVATION AND FLOOR PLANS OF OPEN AIR PAVILIONS,
BATH-HOUSE, TOILET BUlLDIN(iS AND COTTA(iE.S.
(For model of opeu-air pavilion see Exhibit No. 27.)
The camp is i)i()vided with bath houses constiucted of wood with
concrete foundations and lire-pioof roofs. Each house is divided
off into twelve little dressing rooms with a hand shower-bath room
adjoining. Tliey are all provided with a loniforfable waiting room
for the use of Ihe patients after bathing. The buildings an^ well
heated witli sullieient ventilation and yet not enough to chill the
bathers by causing too rapid an evaporation when wet. The toilet
houses are substantially built of wood, concrete and fireproof roofs
and are conveniently situated for the use of the patients. They are
all provided with water closets and connected with the sewage sys-
tem, the effluent of which is pure enough to drink.
EXHIBIT NO. 37.
PHYSICIAN'S DISPENSARY COAT.
This garment is a samjile of the coat supplied for use of physicians
in attendance at the disj)ensaries. It is washable and in each case
is long enough to fully cover the other clothing worn by the
physician. In this way the physician avoids the danger of carrying
infection from the dispensary to outside patients.
EXHIBIT NO. 38.
DISINFECTOR'S SUIT.
This suit is used by llic Health Olticers when disinfecting houses
so that they may not cany I lie infection from jilace to jdace.
EXHIBIT NO. 31).
THE DEPART.\H:NT'S DISINPECTLNC Al'l'Alf.Vn s.
Each of the State l)ci»ariiiicnt of llc;illli's 733 Healili ( Mlicers
is provided with a disinfecting apparatus that is used in fumigating
rooms and premises that have been occupied by a case of com-
municable disease. The apj»aratus consists of a tin pan measuring
15 inches in diameter at the top, II inches at the bottom, and with
a depth of five inches, and a large funnel-shaped container measuring
15 inches in dianu'ter at the toj), 11 inches at the bottom, the inside
depth of the flaring part being 5 inches, and the depth of the lower
part 6 inches. The dimensions of the vessel have been fixed by
empirical trial as ample for the dilVusion of tlie gas, preventing its
502 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doe.
ignition when in contact with a live flame. The pan within which
water is placed interlocks with the container proper leaving suffi-
cient space between the vessels for the circulation of water which
protects the floor from heat generated by the chemical action. For
convenience in carrying the pan is made to rest in the top of the
container. Eight ounces, by weight, of commercial potassium per-
manganate crystals is required for each pint of the officinnl (U. S.
P.) solution of formaldehyde in disinfecting every thousand cubic
feet of air space and 1*4 ounces of ])otassium permanganate may be
safely used in this vessel without danger of overflow.
EXHIBIT NO. 40.
NURSE'S DISPENSARY GARB.
A sample of the apron or gown provided for the use of nurses and
women physicians in attendance at the dispensaries. It is wash-
able and protects the clothing. Lt is designed to avoid the danger
of carrying infection from the dispensary to outside patients.
EXHIBIT NO. 41.
SPUTUM CUPS.
First, tin form and flller for home use. This si)utum cup is a
combination of a tin form provided with a handle and cover, the
cover kept in place with a spring and the paper flller. The latter,
properly folded, is ])ut into the form, making a receptacle easily
handled and stable enough to be allowed to stand upon the table
at the bedside or near the i)atient's recliniug chair. When full or
soiled this paper filter can be pushed oui of the tin foi-m directly
into the Are of a stove oi- furnace, iu iliis way ])r()vidijig easy and
certain disinfection. The tin form can be boiled.
Second — Pocket Sputum Cups. These cuspidors are for use by
Ihe jiatieiit wlien away from liome. The eulire cus|)idoi- is destrucl-
ible by fire;. Tlie j.'ajier lias undei-goue a walerpi-ooliug pr(M'<*ss.
EXHIBIT NO. 42.
LABORATOIiV OITI'I'I' KOK SI'UTIIM EXAMINATION.
^J'liis ondit is used by llic pliysician to mail s|»iihmi, oilier excre-
tions and 1ub(ircul()us lesions, lo llie I'eniisylvaniii Slate liaboral<»ry
for exarninalion.
EXHIBIT NO. i?>.
ANTi sri'niN*; skjn.
Ado[»lf(| by llie l)e|»;irl iiK'Ml lor Hie Dispensiiries iiiid Siiiialoriiim.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 503
EXHIBIT NO. 44.
BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS.
The possibility of developing a biological product which would
have an iniiuuuiy.ing and curative intiuence in tuberculous infection,
engaged the attention of Dr. Samuel G. Dixon, the Coniniissiouer
of Health, prior to 1S80, in which year in an article in the "Medical
News," date of October 19, branched forms of tubercle bacilli were
noted and two hypotheses presented as to the establishment of
tolerance together with results obtained Ity inoculation. The two
j)rodu(ls here shown, Xn. ."), a siispcnsittn of dead tubercle bacilli
and No. 10, a salt soluticm extract linm liviiiji tubercle bacilli are
the result of extensive experiments upon the sid^Ject, and at the
present tijiie ai'e being used in certain types of cases. The results
which are api)arently favorable are being tabulated for publication
as soon as they reach a number sufficiently large to warrant detlnite
conclusions being drawn. The literature presented by Dr. Dixon
upon the subject nuiy be fomid under Exhibit No. 84.
LABORATOKV MIOTIIODS CONCERNING THE BIOLOGICAL
PKODl'CTS.
1. Method of Production.
2. ]\rethod of Standardization.
3. Method of ai-riving at dosage.
Action of the two products toward one another.
No. 5.— DEAD TUBERCLE BACILLI.*
1 and '2. Method ol I'ntdiiciion and Standardization.
After tin- bacillary mass is removed from the tiltraie it is dried of
excess moisture, over night, ]»ei-haps, in the iu(ubat<tr. an<l then
it is dried in llic \a(uniii desiccaloi- o\'er sul|)liui-ic acid niilil it be-
comes brown and brillic. The masses are then broken into small
fragmenis and placed in a soxlilet. An e([nal (|uantity by weight
of iiuni.'in and l)(»\in(' liacillar.N mass is used. The first extraction
is done with al>s(»lnte alcoliol and is (((nlinm'd until the brown
color of the distillate lias disai>i)eared. The alcohol is then re-
placed by ether ami tlie extraction is continued until the cooled
ethereal distillate is j)ractically clear. Absolute clearness is im-
practicable lo obtain becau.se it seems imjtossible to extract all
fat and wax from tiie tubercle bacillus, \andiemer and Martin say
that six weeks extract i(»n with petroleum ether will not remove all
the fat. The extraction neccssarv to bring about the above result
""Vo.».sil)ility of c.ttnhllsliing tolornnre for the Tuberrle Bntillus." MiMliral News. Oct. 10. 1889.
504 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
will last six to eight davs of nine hours each, depending upon the
size of the clumps. When the ether extraction is complete, the
mass is dried twenty-four hours at 45 deg. C. The resulting mass
consists of dirty yellow gray granules which break up easily into a
slightly greasy powder. This is not soluble in water, salt solution,
alcohol or ether and when used must be ground up in definite quan-
tity and the per volume weight is determined. The usual method is
to grind up a large quantity, without previous weighing, in a ball
mill with a small quantity of salt solution. A definite quantity of
this suspension, say 20 cubic centimeters, is evaporated to dryness
in a tared watch crystal and the same quantity of the salt solution
used to make the suspension is also evai)ora(ed. The dift'ereuce in
these weights will eipial the weight of the diseased organisms in
amount of suspension used, in order that the emulsion shall be
homogeneous, the suspension after grinding is centrifuged the super-
natant liquid removed and resedimented in the machine. After a
third centrifugalization one obtains a homogeneous emulsion which
will stand without sedimenting for a long while. Any slight sedi-
ment which occurs after three or four weeks will shake up into
perfect homogeneity. 8.64 milligrams to the cubic centimeter is
the highest strength heretofore obtained in perfect emulsion. The
salt solution used is .G per cent.
The microscopic examination of the mass after extraction shows
chiefly unbl-oken organisms which takes the acid fast staining
methods very faintly but clearly. The irregularity of staining char-
acteristic of the tubercle bacillus is more pronounced. Careful
observation with high objectives ajid oblique light shows no irregu-
larity in the contour of the single cell but the edges of the stained
jjortions seem moi-e irregulai- than the untreated bacillus.
Microscopic examinations of the ground emulsion shows many
fragments chiefly single organisms and only occasionally two, never
more, clinging togethei-. The slaiiiiiig is ni)]»arenlly the siinic as
before grinding.
3. Melluid of dosage ;iim1 lo.xicily. Tlic (liriiciilly of cxin-cssing Ihe
value of IIm'sc prodncis in any iinil of loxicily or oilier propei-ly has
comy>eHed Ihe adoption of a dose \vlii<li when repealed every w(!ek
or ten days causes no loss of weigh I in henllliy or Inberculous guinea
pigs of 400 jo (JOO grjims. II is not necessai-y to give all the details
of tlie primary exp(irinients, but it will be enough to state that
weekly injections of ,000001 gi-ini of Ihe organisms are withstood
witlioul loss of weight. Of the later exjxM-iments three j)igs received
twenty-Uiree inject idiis of I Ik- pi-oduct before injectitms of the or-
ganisms. They slili live. Tliey have gained from 350 to GOO grams
in nine months and have lost no weight sinc(? the injections of the
ocuanisms.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEAI/ril.
505
No. 10. -TUBEKCLE BACILLI KXTIJACT.*
1 and 2. Method of Production and Stiuidaidization.
This product is made from living organisms removed fi-diii Ihiid
media. An equal weight is taken from human and bovine stains,
dried of excess water in the incubator and then washed in an
excess of ether. This is renewed when it has removed the last
remnants of water and glycerin and the second portion allowed to
act six hours to soften the wax of the organisms. This fat separates
so that it collects at the bottom of the vessel and may be removed
by a Pasteur pipette. After removing the second ether, the mass
is allowed to dry until no more ether odor is perceptible. Then the
separated fat is renujved. The mass is weighed, ground thoroughly
in a mortar and suspended in ten parts of .6 per cent, salt solution.
This suspension is carried in a shaking machine eight hours and
allowed to stand sixteen hours at room temperature. It is then
filtered several times through porcelain, the filtrate being a light
amber or pronounced straw colored fluid, the product No. 10. The
standardization of the extract must depend upon its equivalent
in tubercle bacilli. One cubic centimeter represents the extract of
.1 gram of the organisms. "Repeated microscopical examination of
the sediment of large quantities fails to reveal any bacteria and
injections of a single large or repeated small dose do not produce
tuberculosis.
The following is a chemical analysis of the product No. 10:
Color
Reaction, .-
Total residue.
Sodium cliloride, — —
Organic matter, -— -
Sulpha ti's —
CaU'iuiH —
Odor or residue ou evaporation,
Color tests of residue with strong acids and alkalies
'I'uiirefs test for albumens,
Trichloracetic acid test for albumens
Salieysulphonic acid test lor albumens, .,
Nitric acid and heat test for albumens, .,
Mayer's reagent for alkaloids
Alphaiiaphthol test for carbo-hydrates ^
Nesslcr"s test for ammonium compounds
Ammonium molybdatc test
Tannic acid test, -
Human.
Bovine.
Deep straw yellow, .. Straw yellow.
Faintly acid Faintly acid.
1.27 per cent \.-i:i per cent.
0.74 per cent 0.(>8 per cent.
0.4ti per cent 0.44 per cent.
Slight Slight.
Slight Slight.
Slightly animonical. Slightly anunonical.
None None.
Positive Very faint.
Positive Faint.
Negative Negative.
Negative Negati\e.
Negative, Negative.
Faint Negative.
Strong Positive.
Positive Positive.
Very faint turbidity. Very faint turbidity.
Efi'ect of sensitization for one another.
Each of these products will sensitize for itself but the experi-
nunits show that one injection of No. 5 will not .sensitize for a sub
setjuent dose of No. 10. The rever.se is also true.
"Same as "Fluid of Dixon," Medical News, .Ian. 17, 1801.
506 THIRD AiWHAL RKPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
This Inst ol)sei-vati(>ii. xh: Ol" ilie cHoci of the alternate use of
Dead BatiJli N<». ."», and the FiXhacI of Living Bacilli No. 10, in
healthy animals was made by Dr. lleihert Fox.
EXHII^IT NO. 45.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORIES.
These pictures represent the Laboratories of the University of
Pennsylvania where the Pennsylvania State Department of Health
conducts its bacteriological and chemica work, which consists of
original research work, examinations of pathological specimens for
diagnostic ])nrposes and examinations of water for purity, largely
used by the Sanitary Engineering Division of the Department.
EXHIBIT NO. 4G.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORIES.
EXHIBIT NO. 47.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF STATE CAPITOL.
In which the general oflices of the State Department of Health
are located.
EXHIBIT NO. 48.
F1>00R PLAN OF CAPITOL BUILDING SHOWING THE LOCATION AND
SPACE OCCUPIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
EXHIBIT NO. 49.
PHOTOGRAI'II OF >L\<IIINE USED IN TABULATING STATISTICS OF
MORI'.IDITV AND M(M{TAL1TY.
EXHIBIT NO. .'id.
CARTO-GRAPHIC DISPLAY IN LEAF CABINET.
Copy of the Act of Assembly ci-(;ating the Department of Health
and empowering it to make rules and regulations concerning com-
municable diseases. II is under Ihe authority conferred by this Act
thai lubcrciilosis is mad(; a i-eportabie allection.
EXHIBIT NO. 51.
(A) A copy (tf llic rules and regulations of Ihe [)(*parlm('nt of
llciilili MiaUiiig tulKMculosis a re|M)rlable affection and specifically
pn^sciibing Ihe iiKilhods of reporting both in municii»alities and
rural sections.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 507
(li) Ixcpnil ciU'ds stipplicd <(• |(liysici;ins for llio jmi-poso of rojtort-
ing tiil)Oi(nlosis (•(•ciiiTinj: in i-iir;il «lisfricls lo llcjiltli Otliccrs.
These i-<'|i<mIs jiic in inrii I'orw iiidccl to ilic St^tc l>epartinent of
Health, willi ;nhlil ioiiai i('|M»ri.v a.-< to any aclion taken by tl)e Health
OfTicer. Ipoii llicii- i-cccipt in the Department of Health they are
filed for Inlnrc relcrcnce according to locality and are tabulated
for statistical i)nrposes.
EXHIBIT NO. 52.
Copies of blanks supplied to lioards of Health in municipalities
and to institutions for tnaking relui-ns of communicable diseases,
including tuberculosis, to tiu' Department of Health. Under the
regulations as set forth in Exhibit No. 45, Boards of Health in
municipalities and institutions are required to report at the end of
each week all cases of conuuunicable diseases which have been re-
ported to them by physicians. Upon receipt of these reports in the
Department of Health they are filed for reference according to
locality and tabulated for statistical purposes.
EXHIBIT NO. 53.
(A) Cojties of cards requesting Health Officers to disinfect prem-
ises upon the i-emoval or death of the tuberculous occujiant. These
cards are supplied to physicians for the purpose of making reciuests
for disinfection of premises.
(B) Form 87 is the card upon which the local Health Oflicer ad-
vises the County Medical Inspector of the disinfection of any prem-
ises within his jurisdiction.
(C) Form ."»S is a certificate of disinfection which is issued l)y
Health Ollicers to the nwner or occupant of the premises wliich have
been disinfected for any jiurpose.
EXHIBIT NO. 54.
Copy of directions issued by the Department of Health for room
disinfection following cases of communicaltle diseases, including tu-
berculosis, either by formaldehyde gas or snlpliur. A room is taken
as the unit of liou.se disinfection.
EXHIBIT NO. 55.
A co])V of the Act of Assembly apin-(q)riating the sum of fGOO.OOO
for the establishment of tuberculosis sanatoria and ^400,000 for
the establishment of dispensaries.
508 THIRL) ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
EXHIBIT NO. 56.
(A) Eeqiiest cards for supplies for dispensaries.
(B) Card index tile of dispensary patients.
(C) Notice to dispensary of change of residence.
(D) Notice to patient to call at dispensary for examination for ad-
mission to State Sanatorium.
(E) Kesult of examination for admission to State Sanatorium.
(F) Health Officer's and nurses's weekly report to dispensary of
visits to tuberculosis stations.
EXHIBIT NO. 57.
(A) Application blank for treatment at tuberculosis dispensary.
(B) Tuberculosis dispensary card.
(C) Individual history and examination records of dispensary
patients.
EXHIBIT NO. 58.
(A) Dispensary examination blank for throat, nose and ear.
(B) Health Officer's and Nurse's report.
(Cj Detailed rej^ort of inspections and visitations.
EXHIBIT NO. 59.
(A) Physical diagnosis chart of dispensary patients.
(B) Record of treatment and condition of dispensary patients.
EXHIBIT NO. 60.
(A) Dispensary monthly report of new patients.
(B) Detailed monthly dispensary report.
(C) Order for su[)plying milk to dispensary patients.
(D) Acknowledgment of supplies received at dispensary.
EXHIBIT NO. 61.
(A) Application for admission to sanatorium.
(B) Index card of waiting list for sanatorium.
(C) Index card for inventory of personal property.
(D) File index card for sanatorium patients, and reverse of same.
EXHIBIT NO. 62.
(A) l(i(livi(lii;il hislory and examination record of sanatorium
patients.
(H) SaJialoriiiiii cxaniiniilion blank for nose, throat and ear.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 509
EXHIBIT NO. 63.
(A) Phvsic;il diii^iiosis cluirt for sanaloriuni palienls.
(R) Notes, (i-oalnHMit and diet cliarl lor sanatorium patients.
EXHIBIT NO. 64.
(A) AVeokly case record of sanatoriuiii [tatients.
(B) Kcverse of same.
EXHIBIT NO. 65.
(A) History cliarl for sanatorium cases.
(B) Inspection chart for sanatorium cases.
EXHIBIT NO .66.
(A) Monthly report of new patients admitted to sanatorium.
(B) Detailed monthly report of sanatorium.
EXHIBIT NO. 67.
(A) Keport of a case of tuberculosis on individual report card.
(B) Punch card for tabulating statistics from card (A).
(C) Certificate of death from tuberculosis of the lungs.
(D-) Punch card for tabulating statistics frctni certificate (C).
AUTOCHKOMES.
The development of color photography has afforded an (t]tpor-
tunity to perpetuate the colors contained in fresh palliological speci-
mens.
The color plates shown, were made from soecimens imracdjately
after autopsy, and are, therefore, free from the bleach ings and con
tractions which take place in preserved specimens. \Vliile ilie en-
tire process may be considered more or less in its infancy, tiie results
forecast that color photography will have an ini]>orrant place m
pathological studies.
EXHIBIT NO. 68.
Photograpb No. 1 .
VIEW OF THE COSTAL vSTTRFACE OF LEFT LUNG OF A CASE OF
CHRONIC ULCERATIVE TUBERCULOSIS WITH CAVITY FORMATION.
This photograph shows irregular areas of thickened pleura over
the upper lobe, with tabs of torn adhesions especially along the
fissure. The anterior inferior portion of the upper lobe is solid willi
conglomerate tubercules. The upper part shows a few scattered
caseous tubercules. The lower lobe shows hypostatic congestion with
33
510 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc
diffuse grayish thickening of the pleura, and a few oaseons tubercles.
The apex is the seat of softening perceptible to the touch, vrith but
little evidence of involvement on the ]»lenral surface, wliereas the
lower interior portion of the same lobe is solid but does not sug-
gest a cavity within. The yellowish, gray and red mottling of the
lower half of the upper lobe is due to cheesy-like degeneration of
fused tuberculous areas. The individual caseous tubercles may be
noted by the pale yellowish dots beneath the pleura in the upper
I»ortion of both lobes. The pleural surface of the tissue is appar-
ently uninvolved, except for a few adhesions.
EXHIBIT NO. 69.
Photograph No. 2.
VIEW OF THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF LEFT LUNG SHOWN IN NO. 1,
SHOWING ROOT OF SEVERED BRONCHI AND VESSELS.
To the left center are noticed the two openings of the su^ierior
and inferior bronchus about the former of which is a large semi-
lunar shaped anthracotic and caseous bronchial gland. To the left
of the bronchi is the opening of the pulmonary artery and below and
to the right the opening of the distended pulmonary vein. The
internal surface does not show the extent of the tuberculosis por-
tion that the costal surface showed in No. 1. The thickened pleura
with its torn shreds is visible over the upj)er lobe (upper left hand
corner). The interi(jr surface of the upi)er lobe just above the
superior bronchus and lymj)h gland shows some thickness due to
conglomerate caseous tubercles. The lower internal surface of the
upper lobe is more or less emj)hyseuuitous and the consequent
anemia of that porti(m accounts for tlu; ])earliness and lack of color
in that area. The jxu-lion l)elow and to the right of the large i)ul-
monary vein shows numerous small caseous tubercles. On the lower
lobe the pleura has much the appearance of the pleura <m the in-
ternal surface overlying the are<a of hypostatic congestion and also
shows some scattered individual caseou« tubercles. The bluish
color over the area of hypostatic congestion is due to extravasted
blood and decomposed hemaglobin.
EXHIBIT NO. 70.
Photograph No. :i.
VIEW OF SEC'I'ION StlRFAin-] OF SIH'EFUOR AND FNFIORIOR LORES OF
RKJMT LI NG, 'IMHO M.VVK OF NOS. t AN]> 2.
Ill the center of the j)ic1ure is the parlially o|)ened inferior brcm-
chus, running downward and l(» IIh' righl. To tlu; Icift and upper
center is the opening of the pulmonary vein. The upper lobe is
No. 17. CO.M.MiySIOM'JK OF ilEALTII. .-.II
liddlcd will) (■;ivilit's of vnrions sizes, ilw hir^rsl of wliich is :it
(lie cxliciiM' ii|»iM'i- Icll li;ili(l cnriu'i-. .Iiisl ;il>()V(' tlic (('illci- of the
[lie! III'C arc rolllHi i)|-(ill<'lii(M'l:i lie <lil;il:i I ions nilllli)!^ In\\';il-<| I lie ;| rc;is
(tf jtrcMli'sl iii\ <i|\ ciiiclil. Tlic (oiilKMlivc I issue is seen Id lie
illcrejised |tiiiiri|t;ill\ iil llie exireiiie 1(t|» ol' llie pithire lieside liie
l;ii-«ie cjivil.v ;iJi(I oil ils lower lell liniid \v;ill. Tlie |»oilioiis of tiie
iippei- IoIk' Hot occupied hv the cjivities coiit;iiii iiicieased <onnec
Hve tissue or are involved iu :i clirouic c;iseous tul»ercuIosis in the
loriii of hirjic inilijii y tiiliercles. 'I'lie c;ivity in llie iip|ter rijilil li;ind
cornel* shows no well detine<l \v;i!l hut r;ipid e.xlensioii into the jiiciis
of c;ise<»us tiiiiercles. lOspeciMll.v iipwjird the \v:ill is ulcer;ited ;ind
I'jijfffed. The hiriic cjivily (Ui llie lel't side is lined with ;i sTU(»olh
nieiiil»r;iiie ;ind slutws some delinite liiiiit;ii ittiis. All of the cavities
and hiMUichi contained large t|uanlities of thick creani.v pus wliicli
was eiii|>lied liy ihe section. ( tii the lower left p(M-tion of the upj»er
lohe the pleural covering shows some caseous tulnM-cles shiniiii:
Ihroujih. The lowei- lolie is uniformly coiifjested. Ju the upjier ri^jht
corner there are a few well defined masses of caseous tuheirles.
Following the smaller luouchi downwaid and to the rijjlit, sjn-eadiu';
out in hraiich form are jiale areas markinj:; the spread of the infec-
tion liy means of the liroiiclii. This is in the form of early c(»n
solidatifni around the hionchioles. The larjje bronchus mentioned
first in the descrii)tion of this lunji is the seat of a purulent bron-
chitis and indicates the course of infection in the bronchioles.
EXHIBIT NO. 71.
l'liiit<)i;iii|)!i No. 4.
\ii:\v <»!•• cos'iWL SI i:i-'.\(K of i.fi"|" m N(; sii(>\viN<; .\ .m.vkkfd
< ■(•NIMTIoX ()!' A.\'niI{A<(>SIS.
The tessellated appearance is due to Ihe ju-esence of minute pav-
tides (»f »-oal in the lymph sj>aces separalinj; the grouj) of respiratorv
cells into which they have been carried from the bronchioles or air
cells, by cell carriers with this peculiar function. These deposits
when present in moderate (juantity have no serious ettect. In
larjje (piantities they destroy elasticity, obstruct lymph flow and
impede venous circulation, crealinj; thereby p(»ssil)le em|»hvsem;i
uv in the lympli lilands a chronic hypei-plasia. and esiablishin" a
fertile area for luberculous infection. Coal woikeis are almost
universally alVected with antiira«(»sis. The left mai-gin of the speci
men shown in phofoj^iaph is modeiafely emphysematous, as indi
cated by its uiidulaiin<; character. The lunj,' as a whole shows slight
passive congestion.
012 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
EXHIHITNO. Tl\
riiotogiaiili Nil. "i.
SECTION OF RIGHT HlN(i SHOWING CIIRONU^ IILGERATIA K TUBER-
CULOSIS WITH CASEOUS MASSES IN THE LOWER LOBE.
Above the center of the section is the superior bronchus. At the
center and slightly to the right are two branches of the inferior
bronchus. There are many round nodules slightly anthracotic over
the entire pleural surface. The upper part of the superior lobe
shows several caseous areas with a cavity near the right margin
which contains yellow pus. The wall of the cavity is smooth. The
configuratiou of the apex on the left is distorted by. dimpling of the
surface due to a subjacent conglomerate tubercle. In the lower
lobe there are a few conglomerate tubercles below and to the right
of the branches of the inferior bronchus. There is marked inter-
alveolar anthracosis. This lies chiefly near the bronchi. There are,
however, also many smaller areas extending out to the pleura and
beneath it.
EXHIBIT NO. 73.
Photograph No. 6.
VIEW OF THE RIGHT LUNG SHOWING EXTENSIVE CASEOUS PNEU-
MONIA IN THE LATE STAGE IN THE ANTERIOR INFERIOR HALF OF
THE SUPERIOR LOBE.
The upper ])alf of the supei-ior lobe shows some of tlie configura-
tion of the normal lung with couglouierate caseous lubercles shining
llirough the i)leura. Not(^ the eroded pleura covering this area.
The lower anierior half is solid and tliei-(; is no res])iratoi*y 1 issue
left. The upper part of the luug shows souie of \he lines of an-
lliracosis marking the lyuiph spaces. The contour of the upi)er lobe
is <lest roved by the mass of exu<late on the lower portion. Tlie
upper internal portion r(?lativ^ely less involved is not so prominent
as the upper anterioi- j)orliou which has th(^ caseous masses lying
bcnealh the jtleiiral surface, 'i'he lower lobe is moderately congested
with Ji large number of caseous lubercles showing (ln-ough Ihe
pleura. A lew are;is of aulhracosis in aiiuiihir fonn may b(; seen
iu flic lower pari of liie piclui-c;. Their ceulers un-, pulo. aud lu^re
e;iily hiliercles ;ire |U-e.sent. hi the upper riglil coruer oC llu; lower
]<>])(' the cjiseous poitiou is seen exiendiiig across (he fissure and
inx'olving the aiitei-ioi- sujxM'ior bord<;i'. Alongside oC (his a hemorr-
hage aud several em[»hys(MuatouH bullae are nol(!d.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 513
EXHIBIT NO. 74.
Photograph No. 7.
VIEW OF THE CO.STAIv SUKFACE OF RKillT LUNG, .SH(J\VL\G A
SLIGHTLY CONGESTED (.CONDITION WITH A MODERATELY HKHI DE-
GREE OF SUR I'LEURAL ANTHRACOSIS.
The pleura is opaciue over a large part and slighlly cloudy over
all the rest. The fissure between the superior and middle lobe is
obscured by a thickened pleura and only part of the fissure between
the superior and inferior lobe is visible. The pleura shows the
effect of chronic pleuritis with adhesions to tlie visceral pleura
which have not disfigured the contour of the lung. These adhesions
have been very dense and rej^i-esent either a rejteated mild infection
or a mihl chronic infection to which good resistance lias been
ofifered.
EXHIBIT NO. 75.
Photograph No. S.
VIEW OF THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF NO. 7 (RIGHT LUNG).
Above the center may be seen the section of the main bronclius
above the pulmonary artery. Below and to the right of this artery
is the opening of the pulmonary vein. The tissue spread out to tlie
right is part of tlie areolar tissue of the mediastinum and the peri-
cardium. This was slightly adherent to the lung, an<i a jHU-tion of
the torn surface may be seen near the upper margin. The nodules
seen near the center of the section are lym{)h nodules of normal
size. Above the bronchus the large dark blue object is a markedly
anthracotic superior bronchus lymph gland. The adhesions de-
scribed under Xo. 7 may be seen to the left of the jticture, and the
thickened pleura is stretched out as a gray veil over the poslerioi
.surface to the left. The sub-jdeural anthracosis is uniisnally marked
and ijs profuseuess is v.ery ;ii»piii-eiit on the di;i|tlir;i,<;iii;ii ic .snirnce.
EXHIBIT iNO. 7(;.
Photograph No. !».
SECTION OF J'.o'l'll LORES OF TUBERC^ULOIS 1AX».' (I.KI'I'i oN I'OS-
TERO- LATERAL-COSTA L SURFACE.
The upper half of the superior lobe shows irregular caseous in-
filtration, as indicated by the light colored areas, separated by
partly functionating and slightly anthracotic lung tissue. The lower
lialf of this lobe shows complete consolidation by caseous infiltrate,
probably a late stage of caseous pneumonia. The process has not
extended across the pleural septum to the lower lobe. In the lower
33—17—1908
514 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
lobe vessels may be seen opened longitudinally, toward the extreme
lower end, and on the side of the fewer blood vessels pale areas may
be seen. These represents early tuberculosis areas. The varnisli
applied to this ])late has not dried well ; therefore, cracks are notice-
able on the stai-ched film. ,
EXHIBIT NO. 77.
Photograph No. 10.
VIEW OF TrRERCrLOrs LEFT LUNG, SHOWING SECTION THROUCII
BOTH LORES.
In the center, ()i)cn blood vessels arc noted and around lliem are
enlarged anthracotic glands. These arc not o]»cned but appear
caseous. In the upi>ei- lobe are many areas of dis,scniina1ed caseous
infiltration, and one small cavity is found above but slightly to the
left of the middle of the upper lobe. The lower part of the section
shows moderate hyi»ostatic congestion. The pleural covering in-
tact is noted below and to the right. The other section shows an
opened spleen with caseous masses of various sizes.
EXHIBIT NO. 78.
I'holograpb No. 1 1 .
ANOTHER VIEW OF RHO'l'CXiRAl'H NO. 10.
EXHIBIT NO. 70.
PhotoKiMpli No. 1-.
SECTION OF RKHI'I" I.I'N(; SHOWL\(; C.VNITV AND i NFIO( "IM<:i ) (i LANDS
AROIND llil.lS OF l;FN(;.
The cavit.\' is to liic left and a giajx' lii'ic ari-augciiiciit of the case-
ous nodules is Moled in llie \iciiiily oT (he ciivity. Tlie hitler shows
proje«-ting t<'als of tissue which oiigiiially strelclie<l across it but
liave biMMi divided l»\ the process of nicer-al i(»n.
lO.MIMT NO. Xi).
CH-Mt'l' SliOWlXC INI'IK-'I'IOX WITH rLBERCULOSiS OF TIIF SIUHIES-
Sl\l'; OCCFl'ANTS OF .\N JSOFATEI) FARM IIOFSF.
This chart shows graphically the possibilities of house inrectioii
where carelessness, indilTereiice or igiioi-ance exists on (he pai( of
1 iiheiciilosis siiirei-eis, and when neglecl of disinfect ioii makes evil
results possihie to ii i-eniole degi'ce. Tuberculosis under such con-
ditions becomes a wide s|)rea(l menace not colilined to (he ov«m'-
cifiWfled IcneMieuls of hir^c cities.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 515
The above house is hHated iu Cuiiiberlaud eouuiy. The followiug
is a history of another faiiii-house in Juniata county.
History Previous to 181)8. — No definite history of tuberculosis al-
thou}»h there is reported one suspicious case, a negro wlio underwent
ainputation of one leg because of **some disease."
11)00-1 !)0l*.— Family of J. E. moved into house 1808. Husband's
family history, negative. AA'ife's history, doubtful. First case Mrs.
J. F. died 1002. J)uring 1902 there developed tuberculosis in the
husl)and, one son and two daughters. A short time after moving
from the house one other daughter developed tuberculo.sis and at
the present time one additional daughter is under observation,
there being strong evidence of early infection.
Of the J. F. family within six years after moving into the house
six members died of tuberculosis and two are still living, both
infected.
IDOL'-lDO-t.— T. moved into house 1902. Family history both Mr.
and Mrs. T. negative. 190o one son, one daughter and Mrs. T. de-
veloped tuberculosis and died. One son and one daughter have
developed the disease and are now under treatment.
A Mrs. M. not connected with this family having a good fam-
ily history was a frequent visitor during the occupancy of the house,
and in 1904 contracted tuberculosis.
19t>4-190(;. — Family of K. L. occupied the house. Family history
negative. In 1905 one son contracted tuberculosis and died. Dur-
ing the occupancy of the house three other members of the family
developed tuberculosis.
Since leaving the house one additional member has been in poor
health and is now under observation, numerous signs pointing to
infection.
1906-1908. — Since 190(1 the house has been occupied by a family
of negroes who are all apparently iu healthy condition. The father
of the ])resent occupant is said to have lived in the house previous
to its occupancy by the man whose, leg was amputated for the sus-
picious disease.
Physical Conditions of House — Inspection of the house shows it
to be built u]»on the southwest shore of the Juniata far separated
from other buildings, the grouiul falling away on all sides. In fact
the location might i»e pronounced excellent. The house is built of
wood and is well supplied with windows on three sides, the fourth
side or northwest side, havinn Itut one window.
FX1II1UT NO. 81.
wi:i(;ni\(; .wit .Mi:.\8tiJi.\u scale used in i»isi'i:.\sarH':s.
516 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
EXHIBIT NO. 82.
INSTRUMENTS T'SKD IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT IN DISPEN-
SARIES.
EXHIBIT NO. 83.
COPY OF THE FIRST ANNC'AL REPORT OF DR. SAMUEL G. DIXON,
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, FOR THE YEAR 190G.
EXHIBIT NO. 84.
REPRINTS OF ARTICLES PUBLISHED BY DR. SAMUEL G. DIXON.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, RELATING TO CURATIA^E AND IM-
MUNITIVE BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS.
EXHIBIT NO. 85.
MODEL DISPENSARY.
This room as fitted up is designed to show the general equipment
and furnishing of the dispensaries for tuberculosis which the State
Department of Health lias located in each county.
SUB-DIVISION OF SPECIAL MEDICAL INSPECTION.
John A. Bouse, M. D. , Special Medical Inspector.
During the earlier months of the year this sub-division was engaged
in the organization of Boards of Health in lii-st class toNvnshi{)S of
ihe counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Delaware, Ijackawanna, Lebanon,
Lehigh, J^uzerne, Monlgtjmery and Northumberland. We succeeded
in securing organized Boards of lleallli in all Ihe first class townships
in Allegheny county except ilariison and Keserve. These townships
are now under way of organization.
North \'ersailles townsliij» of Allegheny connly has been recently
reported a llrst class township and now has an organized Board of
Health. The whole number of first class townshijis in the Slate
is 31.
Foster and llazle townships, two second class townsliii)s of Luzerne
county, organized their School lioards into Boards of Health under
the Act of April 7, 1S!)1), and sire now tiiking cliargc of Ihe sjinilary
affairs in these townships.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
517
Special reports from all of the townships above mentioned are on
file in this office. The reports received on communicable diseases
from the secretaries of the various Boards are usually prompt.
Eeports rendered during the year show the following Boards of
Health organized, by counties:
ADAMS.
McShcrrystown.
York Springs.
ALLEGHENY.
Brackenridge.
Clairton.
Glen Osborne.
Rankin.
Spring (Jarden.
West Elizabeth.
West View.
ARMSTRONG.
Applewald.
Johnottn.
Manorville.
Queenstown.
Rural Vallej'.
BEAVER.
Glasgow.
Darlington.
East Rochester.
Georgetown.
Midland.
BEDFORD.
Coaldale.
Hopewell.
Hyndinan.
Mann's f'lioice.
Ilaiiislmrf;.
Schcllslnirg.
BERKS.
Kutztown.
Mohnton.
Shillington.
BLAIR.
Newry.
BRADFORD
Alba.
LeRaysville.
Troy.
BUCKS.
Hulnieville.
Triinibauorsvillc.
BUTLER.
Callery.
Eau Claire.
Harmony.
Prospect.
Saxonburg.
Valencia.
West Sunbury.
CAMBRIA.
Ashville.
Brownstown.
Ferndale.
Loretto.
Scalp Level.
Suiter Hill.
CAMERON.
Emporium.
Driftwood.
CARBON.
Parryville.
CENTRE.
Howard.
South Philipsbiirg.
CHESTER.
Malv(Mii.
CLARION.
Callensburg.
Edenberg.
Shippenville.
CLEARFIELD.
Irvona.
Ijiinibor Cily.
Troutvillo.
CLINTON.
Avis.
Flemington.
Logantown.
South Reuovo.
COLUMBIA.
Stilhvat.'r.
518
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
CRAWFORD.
Blooming Valley.
Cochranton.
Linesville.
Spartansbiirg.
Springhoro.
Venango.
Woodcock.
CUMBERLAND.
Camp Hill.
Lemoyne.
ERIE.
East Springfield.
Middleboro.
FAYETTE.
Dunbar.
Falrcbanc-e.
Ma.sonto\vn.
Ohiopyle.
Point Marion.
HUNTINGDON.
Birmingham.
Broadtop.
Mill Creek.
Orbisonia.
Shirleysburg.
INDIANA.
Armagh.
Clymer.
Creekside.
Marion Centre.
Shelcota.
.TEFFERSON.
Big Run.
West Reynoldsville.
Suinmcrvilb'.
.nXIATA.
.Mifflinlown.
L.\<KA\VA.\NA.
Moosic.
Vandling.
Wav.-rly.
LANCASTER.
AdamHtowri.
Akron.
Monntville.
Wash i nylon Hovownh.
LAWREXrE.
Volant.
LEBANON.
Richland.
LEHIGH.
Emaus.
LUZERNE.
Avoca.
Courtdale.
Hughestown.
Laurel Run.
West Wyoming.
LYCOMING.
DuBolstown.
Jersey Shore.
Montgomery.
MERCER.
Fredonia.
Greenville.
Jackson Center.
New Lebanon.
Wheatland.
MIFFLIN.
Newton Hamilton.
MONTGOMERY.
East Greenville.
Peunsbiirg.
Trappe.
NORTHAMPTON.
Freomanshurg.
Nortliampton Heights.
'J'alarny.
NOR'IMIU.MP.EULAND.
Marion llcigiits.
Snydertown.
Riverside.
I'ERRY.
Landisburg.
PIKE.
Matanioi'as.
POTTER.
Sliiimlchuiise.
SCUIUVLIsH.L.
Mt. (!arbon.
New Phila(li'l[»hia.
Palo Alto.
SNYDER.
Middlcbiirg.
No. J 7.
C0AlI\lISS10i\ER OF HEALTH.
il9
SOMEKSIOT.
Beuson.
(.'assclniiiii.
Garrett,
llooversville.
New lU'tlilehem.
New Centcrvillo.
Rock wood.
Stoyestown.
TTrsina.
Wellcrsl>iir;i.
SUSQUEHANNA.
Diindaff.
Great Beiul.
Hnllsteafl.
fiitlle Mcndows.
Sws(|ti('liiniii;i.
TKXJA.
Kiioxvilli'.
Nelson.
O.sfeola.
UNION.
Harlleton.
New Berlin.
VENANGO.
IMeasantville.
<'lint(«nville.
WASHINGTON.
Elco.
Bentleyville.
Goal Center.
Deem.ston.
Cokeburg.
North Charleroi.
Ilcscoe.
WESTMOKKUANI).
Adaiiisluirff.
Aroiia.
Cokevilio.
Delmont.
Greensburg.
Seward. •
Smithton.
WAYNE.
llonesdale.
Uawlej'.
In conchuliii<; tiiis report I wish to add that our corresjiondeiioe
has been of con.siderable nioinent, as we have taken up the various
requirements and rej?ulations of this Department regarding the
repoi'ting of comunicable diseases tlie proper quarantine pei-iod, and
also the matter of room and liouse disinfection. ^Ve have found
our Circnhii- NO. (! to be an invaluable aid to boriMi^li Itoards dC
Health, niKJ to Ite highly a|tpreciate<l by tlie same.
A\'e are still receiving complaints lioiii I'.oaids ul' ileallh willi
I'cgard In physicians who fail t(» report commniiicable <liseases.
The greatest dilliciilty encountered is that many liorough Councils
refuse adequate tinancial support to Boards of Health. They are
unable to furnish the necessary forms for reporting communicable
diseases to the Secretary, as well as the other necessary literature.
Councils do not seem to undei-stand the provisions of the A<-t of .May
11, 180:?, or carelessly disr<'gard it. ^Vith pioper financial support
many Boards of Ileallh would become activt'. I{egai-<ling fhis'paiticu
lar feature we would snggesi Ihal a circular letter be issued by this
DejKirtment citing the law t<> ( 'oniicils and urging a si rid compliance
therewith.
The following is a resume of infoiinalion obtained by corres
pondence with the authorities of boroughs arranged by counties:
520 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
ADAMS COUNTY.
Arendt.sville. Population 393. Keceut information to the effect
that a Board of Health has been appointed but not organized.
Biglerville. Population 200. No response to our letters.
New Oxford. Population 6G3. Recent advice that organization
will be perfected during the present month.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
Rreckenridge. Advice to the effect that appointments have been
made but no organization effected. Have visited this place but could
get no satisf actorj- assurance of prompt organization.
North Braddocl^. Under process of organization at present.
Osbourne. Population 362. Have visited Osbourne and succeeded
in organizing a Board which immediately resigned owing to some
apparent pique over sewage disposal plans.
ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
South Bethlehem. Population 183. We have failed to receive any
reply to correspondence with reference to organization of a Board of
Health.
BEAVER COUNTY.
Darlington. Population 270. More recent advice to the effect that
a Board of Health has been appointed but not organized. We have
written for the name and address of the Secretary, but no reply.
Frankfort Springs. Population 198. No organization.
Georgetown. Pojiulation 271. Advised that Board is appointed
but have u[) to Hie [trcsent date failed to furnish the name of the
Secretary.
Hookslowii. I'(»|>ulii(i()n 2.">!>. No reply l<» oui* coiimuinications.
BEDFORD COUNTY.
Mann's Choice. Topulaticm 312. l?oai'd resigned. Letter from
Secretary advising of his resignation. This was followed by letter
to President of ('onncil rer)uestiiig liim to fnruisli IIk; name of the new
Secretary. No reply.
New I'aris, Pojtulalion, 20.^(
St. <'lairsvilb', I'opnlation, 102
I'leasantville, Pojiulation,
Woodbury, Poi)ulation, 22(5
Kecently visited lledford county and interviewed the various
officials who promised to procwid at once with the oi'ganization of
Board of lleallli. These (owns are so small an<l are under such poor
innni(ip;il governmeni Mini I (piestion vct-v mneli wliC'tlier an (^ffieienl
I'oard of lleiiKh roiihl ho oi-ganized llMU-ein.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 521
BERKS COUNTY.
Bechtlesville. l*(>j)ulati()ii 'MU. Letter fniin lioroiigh Solicitor stat-
ing that they could not oldain any men to serve on a Board of Health.
Centreport. Population 141. No Board yet organized, but letter
asking for information <-oncerning manner of organizing received and
package was seiii.
BLAIR COUNTY.
Newry. Made a recent visit to this Borough and had a very satis-
factory interview with the President of the Borough Council who
said he would proceed with the a})pointment at once and that in the
early part of ihis month, would, if possible, complete the organization.
BRADFORD COUNTY.
Wyalusing. Populatitm 525. Report Board apjtointed and will
advise this Department as soon as organized of the name of Secretary.
BUTLER COUNTY.
Connoquenessing, Population, 343
Fairview, Population, 235
Karns City, Population, 265
Petrolia, Population, 350
Portersville, Population, 195
West Liberty, Population, 90
The above mentioned towns have all been notified of their duty
regarding the orj^anization of Boards of Health but in every instance
we have failed to receive any response.
Zelienople. Population 903. Board has been appointed but name
of Secretary is not reported.
CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Chest Sj)rings is the only borough in this county not organized.
All the Boroughs in this County except this particular one, have
responded to all requests and a number of these boroughs have
recently organized. Chest Springs reports Board appointed but we
cannot obtain the name of the Secretar}.
CARBON COUNTY.
Parryville. Population 723. Reports Board appointed but not
organized.
Weissport. Population 445. Find it hard to get any one to sei've
on the Board of Health.
522 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
CENTRE COUNTY.
Centre Hall. Population 537. No reply to our communications.
Snow Shoe. Population 600. This Borough reports a Board ap-
pt»iutt'd, but not vet organized.
CHESTER COUNTY.
Hopewell. Pupulatittn 182. No reply to couimunications.
CLARION COUNTY.
Strattouville. Population 002. No reply to communications.
CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Brisbin. Population 666. Tuable to secure the services of any as
members of the Board of Health.
Burn side. Population 647. Unable to get any one to serve.
Grampian. Population 600. Visited this Borough recently. Had a
t inference with a number of the gentlemen of the borough, including
the chief burgess and physicians, who will take the matter up im-
mediately and jn-oceed with the appointment of a Board of Health.
Newburg. Population 314. No reply to our communications.
\\'alla(et(m. Pojiulation 281). This Dejjartment is advised that
the ('(juneil are acting as a Board of Health. We wrote them that
this was illegal.
COLUMBIA COUNTY. ^
Orangeville. Population 439. Impossible to get men to serve on
Board.
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
Ceiitreville. l'o])iilalioii 200. Letter from JM-esident of Council
advising of his inability l<» procure iimmiiIxms Io serve on Hoard.
Hydetown. Population .">-">7. I liable Io gel men to serve on Jioard.
Townville. ]*oi)ulation :'.27. i'.oard apjioinled and this Department
wrote to each individnal niember nrging I heir pronii»t oi-ganizati<m.
Up to date no reply.
This process has been observed with rel'erence Io a nnnibei- of
boroughs reporting ai)pointments.
T'niontown. Population 351). No answer Io our coimniiniciilionH.
During my early connection with this DepiirlmenI I visile<i lliistown
and received promis(^ of this organization bul nolhing has restilted.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 523
ERIE COUNTY.
Plalea. Population iMd. No reply to our (•oiiiniunicatious.
Waterford. ropul;iti<in 1.1."7. Reports a Board of Health ap-
pointed, giviufi' the names thei«M)f to whom we wrote urging the or-
ganization and asking for Ihe name of the Secretary.
FAYi;'i"ri': cotntv.
Fayette City. Population 1,1)1)5. >.'o rejtly to our coniniunications.
Sniithlield. l'oj)ulation ^y'lo. Xo reply to our communications..
Vauderhilt. Population 1,800. Letter giving names of men ap-
pointed to whom we wrote. No reply.
HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
Cassville. Population 168. Have been in recent communication
with this borough and awaiting repl}'.
Markelsburg. Population 200. No reply to our communications.
INDIANA COUNTY.
^lechanicsburg. Population 161. Board appointed but not organ-
ized.
JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Worthville. Population lT)i. I^etter from President of Council
asking for information and instructions which were immediately
furnished with reference to organization of Board of Health.
JUNIATA COUNTY.
Port Koyal. Population 546. Visited Port Royal and had a con-
ference with the Burgess, or President of Council, who assured me
that they would organize a Board of Health promptly.
Thomjtsontown. I'opulation l'T.'>. Visited this place and had a
conference with the President of Council, who promised prompt
organization,
LACKAWANNA COUNTY.
lOimhurst. I'opulation 414. No reply to communications.
Glenburn, Population 307
(Jouldsboro, Population 93
This Department advised of the impossibility to get men to serve
on account of the small population.
LANCASTER COUNTY.
Teri^e Hill. Population 891. Letter from President of Council
stating that he would take this matter up with Council and a latter
report to the effect that the organization is under way.
524 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Oft'. Doc.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Enon Valley. Population o95. Board organized but up to date
we have failed to receive name of Secretary .
Volant. Population 120. Board appointed December 15tli but not
organized.
LEBANON COUNTY.
Jonestown. Population 571. Board not organized.
LUZERNE COUNTY.
Dallas. Population 543. Report Board appointed but we are un-
able to ascertain the name of the Secretary.
New Columbia. Population 202. No reply to our communications.
Warrior Run. Population 965. Board of Health resigned for the
reason that Council refused any appropriation or to support them
in any way. We have taken this matter up with the President of
Council.
Yates. Population 443. No reply to our communications.
MERCER COUNTY.
Clarksville. Population 220. This Department notified that Board
has been appointed, have written for name of Secretary.
Sheakleyville. Population 164. This Department furnished with
names of men appointed on Board of Health. Wrote urging a prompt
organization, but no reply.
MONROE COUNTY.
Stroudsburg. Population 3,654. Secretary resigned. Have not
received name of successor.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
East Greenville. Population 894. No reply to our communications.
Green Lane. Population 272. Board appointed but failed to
organize. Wrote to President of Council asking him to proceed to
appoint a new Board.
MONTOUR COUNTY.
Washingtonville. Population 212. Letter advising the Depart-
ment of inability lo s(Mure men lo serve on Board.
PERRY COUNTY.
New Buffalo. Popuhilion I7L No reply (o our communications.
POTTER COUNTY.
LewiBville. I'opulation 618, Under process of organization.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. &25
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Girai'dville. Population 1,1G5. This borough persistently refuses
to organize, or pay any attention to our eoniniunications. We
have received complaints concerning communicable diseases.
Middleport. Population 540. Letter from President of Council
stating that lioard was ap])ointed October 5th. Has not yet reported
oiganization.
Port Clinloii. P()|»nl:i1i()ii t7S. No rci»ly to our comuiunicalions.
SOMERSET COUNTY. .
Jennertown. IN>j)ulation 9G. No reply lo our communications.
Paint.
Somerlield. I'opulation 178. The above boroughs are all of such
small population that it seems impossible to obtain the services of
any one as members of the Board of Health.
SULLIVAN COUNTY.
LaPorte. Population 442. No reply to our communications.
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
Little Meadows. Population 21.3. Information to the effect that
is is impossible to organize a Board of Health owing to the fact that
it is impossible to get men to serve and that the town contains no
resident physician.
This is also true of many other small boroughs in the Common-
wealth.
TIOGA COUNTY.
Lawrenceville. Population 4S6. No reply to communications.
VENANGO COUNTY.
Utiea. Population 2G8. No reply to comumni»ati»»ns.
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Beallsvillc. Po|»ulation .'U5S. Had a personal interview with the
President (»t' (Council who promised to a]ipoint a Board of Health
which 1 think he endeavored to do. We have received letter to the
fact that the iioard has refused to organize.
Long Branch, I'opulaliou 270
Speers, Po])ulation 869
Twilight. Popnlatiim 186
These are very small municipalities with regard to population.
34
526 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Houston. Reports a Board appointed, advises that they will pro-
ceed with organization immediately.
^[idway. ritpulatiou . Letter from President of Council stat-
ing that tliey could not organize a Board in this borough because of
having no resident i>liy.»;iciau. We instructed them to proceed with
organization leaving tlie phice of physician vacant until such time
as they could secure the services of a physician.
West ^liddletowu. Population 244. Scho(»I directors organized
and acting as Board of Health.
WAYNE COUNTY.
Bethany. Poi*ulation 130. Board appointed but not organized.
Prompton. Population L'oS. Letter stating that there was not
enough people from which to get a Board of Health.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Donegal. Population 157. Too small a population from which
to secure a Board of Health.
East A'audergrift. Population 2,076. Visited this borough and
secured the promise of organization. Up to this time no reply.
Madison. Population 464. Letter stating inability to secure men
to serve.
New Alexandria. I'opulation 364. Board appointed but failed to
organize.
New Florence. Po])ulaliou SOO. No reply to communications.
Youngstown. Population 771. No reply to communications.
YORK COUNTY.
East Prospect. Population 202, Visited this place. Had con-
ference with borough ollicials but they have failed to organize.
Fawn Grove. Population 202. No Board.
Franklin, i'oitiilation :{74. T^uabh* 1o secure a lioard.
.Telferson. Towd Council illegally acting as iioard of Health.
Logan vi He. Pojuilation 343. Visited this place and conferred with
the Chief Burgess but cannot eOect an organizati<m.
Wellsville. I'opulation 20(;. I'nal)le to get men to serve (m Board.
New Salein. Population 241. Unable to procure proper persons to
serve on Board.
THE DIVISION OF SANITARY ENGINEERING.
F. HERBERT SNOW, C. E., Chief Engineer.
(527)
(528)
OKFICIAI. UOCUMKNT. No. 17
THE DIVISION OF SANITARY ENGINEERING.
CONTENTS.
I. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION.
Office and Office Force.
Assistant Engineers
Field Officers.
Regular Force.
Local Health ()ffi(;ors.
II. OFFICE AVORK.
Corporation Reports.
Recorded Plans.
Petitions and Complaints.
Orders of Abatement.
Drafting.
III. ENGINEERING.
Water Works.
Sewerage.
Designs and Construction.
Special Work.
Sanitary Survey of tlio Allegheny Watershed.
Sanitary Survey of Allegheny County.
Public and Private Water Supply.
Tests of Water and Sewage Purification Plants.
Joint Sewerage Projects.
Miscellaneous.
IV. FIEr.L> INSPECTION.
Improvement of Water Slirds.
General Sanitation.
Water Sample Collfclion.
V. EPIDEMICS.
Tyi)lioid Fever Outl)rcaks.
Altoona.
Emporium.
Hastings.
LititK.
Morganza.
Royersford and Spring ('i(y.
Reading.
VI. REFERENCES TO SPECIAI, COl NSEL.
VII. CONCLUSIONS.
(520)
.34—17—11)08
530 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
DRISION OF ENGINEEKING.
The foll()wiiij>' is a detailed statement of the operations of the En-
gineering Division of tlie State Department of Health to the end of
the year 1!M)S, being the third annnal rei)ort of the Division made
since the creation of the Department of Health nnder Act No. 281,
approved April 27, 1905.
I. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION.
OFFICE AND OFFICE FORCE.
Mr. F. Herbert Snow has continued thronghoni the year to dis-
charge the duties of his position as (Miier of the b^ngineei'ing Divi-
sion of the Dejiartiuent.
The offices of the Division are on the ground t1o<u- front, noi-th
corridor, and on the fifth floor, south corridor, of the Ca[>itol, and
are those occupied by the Division during the preceding year.
Six subdivisions of tlie organization have been created in the ad-
ministration of the woi'k ])ut upon the otTice, namely, that of general
office work; that ])ertaining to water works and sewerage applica-
tions that relating to special investigations; that relating to de-
sign and construction ; that of map making and, tinally, that of sani-
tary regulation.
There have been employed in the office nine stenographers and five
clerks.
ASSISTANT ENGINEERS.
'S\v. Walter S. 11 anna has continued io discharge the duties of
Assistant lOugiiicci- iii dii-ect chai-ge of the geueral oHice work.
Afessrs. Ira L. Miller aud Horace I*. Kees were appoiuled in October
and XovemlKM-. i'es|KMtively. aud were assigned to ai<l nli'. Ilanua.
Mr. Cheslei- l<\ Di-ake was aj)pointed in Febi-uary lo the position of
Assistant lOngineei- in charge of the investigations of watei- works
and sewerage applications. Mr. Drake resigned laler to accei)t the
f)nice of Su|)erinlendenl-in-'chai-ge of the municij»al water (iltci- ]>laui
of the city of Pit tsbui-g. •
Mr. William II. Ijinis r<'maine(I at the Mont >M(o Stale Sanaloriuni
as Kesideiit l'>ngineer on consh'U<-l ion woi-k until -Inly, when he was
Iranslen-ed t(t ihe oHice al llan-isbui-g as an AssislanI lOngineer on
water works and sewerage iii\'es( igat ions.
Mr. Howard 10. Moses was ap|)oinle<l in .lune ami sci-nmmI as an
.\ssislan( lOngineer on Water works ami sewerage invest igal ions.
The gi-ealer |)arl of his linie has been devoled to s|)(H-ial sanitary in
vest igal ions in .\lleglieny connly.
.Ml'. I'anI ll(M»ker r-eceived his a|i|K»inl niciH in Sejilember as assist-
ant engine<'r on \\;iler works and seweiage inves'^l igal ions, lie has
devoled miK-li lime lo a special shidy an<l reporl on Ihe Allegheny
river di-ainage basin condil i<»ns with respecl to walei- sup|»ly ami
sewerage,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEAl/rH. 5?,i
Ml". Moyltiii K. Slijiujiliiii'ssy was ti-aiislVri-cd iiom ihe Held in-
specting loice to the water works and sewerage investigating force.
Besides making engineering investigations along these line«, he has
made nnmerons sanitary insjiections and coini»iled niajts for the field
inspecting foi-cc in AHcgheny connty.
Mr. Cliarles II. Cniiiiiiings lias <(»nlinn('(l as priiiciital assisiaiii en-
gineer in cliargc of special engineering investigations.
Mr. Kalph K. Irwin, who was eiiijdoyed during the suiimier iimiitlis
of the previous year, received a ])eriiianent ai>|>ointiiienl in June as
assistant engineer on special investigations.
Thomas Fleming, «Jr., c<mtinned as princii)al assistant engineer in
charge of designs and construction.
Tnder the jiei-sonal sujtervision of .Mr. lOnnis at .Mont Alio was a
surveying party, coui])osed of .Mr. Chester A. ]*>ckhert, transitman;
Mr. Frank \j. (Jardner. engineer and inspector; and Mr. Ivan M.
Glace, rodman. In the olTice. -John .M. .XJaliou. -Ir., and Mr. Ilariy
A. Otto, engineering <li"aftsmen. wei-e eni|)loye(l on the design of
various structures. Mr. lllace was transferred from ti(«ld work
to design work in January, and later was assigned to the draft-
ing force. Mr. Eckhert was transferred to the ottice force in
February, and later to the <liafling force. Mr. Charles K. Forbes
was transferred from the drafting foi-ce to design work in the ottice,
and in A])ril was sent to Mont Alto as a transitman.
Mr. Albert H. Beard was apjioinled to the jtosition of assistant
engineer in July. lie at once rej^orted at Mont Alto and assumed
the position of resident engineer on construction.
Mr. Coleman B. Mark was transferred in August from the field in-
specting force to the construction force at Mont Alto. He had had
previous exi)erience as inspector of constrnctiim work.
Mr. James L. W. (iibbs has continued as chief diaftsman in
charge of map making. The following men were employed under
him to make maps or tracings: -Tohn W. (Jei-man, Ji-., F. Marion
Sourbeer. Chai-les K. Forbes, lOdgar Iv. Barnes, Chester A. Fckbert,
Ivan M. (llace. Max H. Matthes and (TCorge Williams. .Messrs.
Fckbert, (Jlace and Bai-nes has previously been on the construction
work at Mont Alto; .Mr. .Matthes, of the field inspecting force, and
Mr. Williams spent some time in assembling iiiajis and charts foi-
use in the Pennsylvania Ivxhibil of Ihe International Tuberculosis
Congress, held at Washington, I). C. 'i'he ollice force has, therefoi-e.
varied from five men, at tlu' couimencement of the year, t(» eight at
the end.
Mr. Moses K. l">ly, the chief sanitary inspector, has bi'i'ii in charge
of bureau work incident to the supervisi^m of all field oflicer's work.
These assistants have com])rised the permanent force, l)ut at in
tervals during the year eleven otlier engineeis. resideius (.f ihe
Stale, wei-e called u|M»n to rendei- assistance ol' ii specific characier.
These names ai-e jiresenled in alphalx'lical ordci-:
L. K. ('iijipin I'illslmr^'.
Harvey Linton Mldonji.
Ch.-is. V. Mchiis I'liil.-iii.-iplii.-i.
Mnisli.Mll K. I'uirh niilad.-li.hi!!.
Miiscm I>. I'niit IIi\rrisl)nr^'.
V. II. Sliiiw J.jin.ast.T
II. S. Siiiilli Wi!i;.'s-F,jun'.
.IdIiu II. SliiMicli rottsville.
r>. F. .\. Wli.M-lock Wanon .
I''.It.)ii 1». Walker Slate Colleu'e .
(ieoi;:e F. Ilcdkinsun I'liiladeipliia.
532 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Mr. Chapin made an examination and report relative to sewerage
and sewage disposal of New Wilmington.
Mr. Linton made investigations of the sewerage system at Belle-
fonte, the sewerage system in Farmaiigh township, Jnniata county,
and the water-works system of Jnniata borongh. He also made a
special investigation of the watershed of the Altoona City water-
works.
Mr. Mebns made investigations and reported on the sewerage sys-
tems of the city of Chester, city of Wilkes-Barre, borough of Ridley
Park and the borough of Upland. Investigations and report on the
proposed .sewerage disposal plants of the House of Eefuge, Girls De-
partment, at Darlington, and of the Pennsylvania School for Feeble-
Minded Children at Elwyn. He made a report on the operation of
the sewage disposal plant at Wayne and one on the operation of the
sewage disposal plant at Dermady Cottage Sanatorium near Mor-
ton, Delaware county. He also made an examination and report on
the location of a proposed sewage disposal plant at New Castle, and
with respect to sanitary conditions near Ambler.
Mr. Pugh examined and reported on sewage pollution and nui-
sance near Narberth, on plans and proposed locations of a sewage
disposal plant for the Williamson Trade School in Delaware connty,
and on the water-works systems in Emaus borough.
Mr. Pratt made investigations and reported on sewerage and
water-works in the borough of Mt. Union, water-works belonging to
to the Blossburg W^ater Company, and on a sewerage system at
Eaglesmere.
Mr. Shaw made sewerage investigations at Corry and water-works
investigations at Palmyra, Parkesburg, Mountville and Huntingdon.
Mr. Smith reported investigations on sewerage at Winton borough
and Shenandoah borough; also on the water-works system at the
latter place.
Mr. Strauch made a special investigation of the waterworks sys-
tem at Schuylkill Haven and at the State Hospital at Minersville.
>[aior Wlicolock made waler-Avorks investigalions at Austin and
at I'^mlenlon, of the Winburne Water Company, Trotter Water Com-
pany, lieaver N'alley Waler (Jompany and Anihracite Water Com-
pany .systems, lie? made sewerage investigations at the Columbus
Tannery, near Corry, of the Erie Imjuovement Company in Mill
Creek township, Erie county, at Clintonville and Tyrone. Both
water-works systems and sewerage systems were investigated and re-
ported on by him in the following inunicij)alities: Wellsboro, Beaver
Falls, Erie City, Mercer, College Hill. East Vale, Patterson Heights,
New Brighton, Rochester, Freedom, C'onway, Fairchance, Fallston,
West liridgewater, James City, (Jni<m City, Punxsutawney, Reno,
Mars, West End and I'arker ('ily.
I'rofessor Walker reported on the sewei-ag(^ systems of Shar|)sville,
city of McKees[)ort. Alhintown, Danville and State Colh^ge boi'ough.
See Royersford and Spring City for Mr. Hodkinson's work.
FIELD OFFICERS.
Besides the sanitary iiispectoi-s in (he e?iiployment of the Depart-
ment at the beginning of (he year, thirty two additional sanitary in-
spectors have b(!en appointed by the Commissioner of Health. The
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 533
name, place of residence and date of apj)()intnieut of each is given
below :
Charles 11. Olenn I'liilacU'lphia March. 1908.
Stuart 11. IIei.st llairisbiu!; April, 1908.
Timothy Whelau, Clifton Hcishis April, 1908,
James A. Walker, Philadelphia, April, 1908,
Roland B. Slyer [.aueaster -May, VMS.
J. B. Baiinigardner, Chambersburg .May, 1!>08.
.John W. Eiseuhart York .May , 1908.
Richard Baj'ard, Dauphin .Fune, 1908.
Moylan E. Shaughucssy , . . Lcwisiowu, .June, 1908.
Howard B. Moore, llarrisliurg, June, 1908.
J. A. McCleary, Aliooua August, 1908.
Robt. S. Ilansbury I'hiladelphia August, 1908.
Harry E. Magee, riiiladelphia August, 1908.
J. D. Marshall , New Castle August , 1908.
William Ellis, rhoeni.wille August, 1908.
Coleman B. Mark, Harrishurg August, 1908.
Frank H. Lanard I'liiladeljjhia August, 190S.
J. F. McElwee , Bedioril August , 19<»S.
Fred Fletcher ( 'olumbia August , 1908.
J. M. Sillinian Tamatjua September, 1908.
D. M. Irwin (Jreeusburg, Scpiemher, 1908.
Harry A. Miller I^eliauon S( ptciirhiM-, 1908.
William C. Riddle Lancaster Srpl.'mber, 1908.
William H. Bisbing Xorristown October, 1908.
Edward C. Mitchell Bethlehem October, 1908.
Joseph S. Couch Oil ("iiy October, 1908.
John E. Perry, Harrishurg October, 1908.
Ira L. Miller Harrishurg October, 190S.
E. H. Everett New Haven October. 1908.
Jesse E. Dale, Pattou, November, 1908.
William P. Miller Pittsburg November, 1908.*
Thos. W. Templeton Plymouth November, 1908.
Deputy field ollicers, so called, because while being in the employ
of a private corporation, they are deputized to represent the Commis
sioner of Health in inspecting the sanitary condition of property and
to report results to him, were appointed in four instances prior to
1907. During the current year four additional appointments were
made. The name, residence of each and date of appointment is given
below:
H. N. Blunt Palmerton, June, 19tl0.
L. E. Agnew ...Alderson, Harveys Lake, ..June, 190G.
Wm. O. ]']dminids Xanrii-oke June, IdOQ. .
Howard Seabold Calasainpia November, 1900. '
E. M. Stack Scrantun Aiiril , 1908.
John JirowM Scrantou ,\pril, 1908.
Emil Araaiiu , Warren .M:iv. 1908.
Dacid Decker itidgway , Juii.', 1908.
REGULAR FORCE.
On December .'^1, lOOS, Ihe regularly employed force under my
direction — the nauies being given alphabetically — was as follows:
CLERKS.
Bayard C. Dickinson Chief Clerk— Local Health Officer Work.
Richard F. I'^instein ("lerk of Field Insixviion Work.
Howard M. Haines Clerk of Field Inspection Work.
Ellen Johnston, Clerk of Files.
Daniel Y. Ness.. Chief Clerk in Charge Nuisance Complaints.
•Reappointed.
oU THIRD AXXLTAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
STENOGRAPHERS.
M. Irene Cuenot.
M. Louise Eckels.
Elizabeth R. Fleisher.
Jane Gilbert.
Leola R. Hannah.
M. Ethel Hurst.
Clara V. Mahaney.
Mary E. Russell.
•Mary K. Sourbeer.
ASSISTANT ENGINEERS.
Albert H. Beard, Resident Engineer, Mont Alto.
Charles H. Cummings, . . . I'rincipal Assistant in Charge Special Investigations.
William H. Ennis, (General Investigations.
Thomas f^leming, Jr., ....I'rincipal Assistant in ('harge Design and Construction.
Charles R. Forbes Chief — Surveying Party.
I'rank L. (!ardut*r Engineer Inspector.
Waiter S. Ilanna Principal Assistant in Charge General Office Work.
Paul Huuker Principal Assistant in Charge Water and Sewerage
Investigations.
Ralph E. Irwin Chemical and Bacteriological Examination.
John M. .Mahon. Jr Construction Design.
Coleman B. Mark, Coustruclion Inspection.
Ira L. Miller General (.)lhce Work.
Howard E. Moses General Investigations.
Ilarrj- A. (Jtto, Construction Design.
Horace P. Rees General Office Work.
Moylan E. Shaughne.ssy , ..General Investigations.
DRAFTSMEN AND TRACERS.
Edgar R. Barnes.
Chester A. Eckbert.
John W. (icrman, Jr.
James L. W. Gibbs — (Jhief Draftsman.
Ivan M. (ilace.
Max II. Matthes.
F. Marion Sourbeer.
George Williams.
SANITARY INSPECTORS.
Henry Andrews Field Officer.
Richard Bayard Field Officer.
John B. Baumgardner, ....Field Officer.
James M. Clark Field Oflicer-in-Charge.
David .M. <"olcinan Fi.-ld ( Xliccr-in-Charge.
John J. Considitii'. l-'icid Oliicer-iii-( 'luirge.
William K. Clavpool Field Officer.
Josej^ii S. Couch Fidfl Officer.
Jcssf E. Dale Field Odic.-r.
John W. Downes Field Officer.
.Moses K. Ely ('hief Saiiilar.\' Inspector ;iiiil P.tireau Officer.
John W. Fisenharl Field Officer.
E. H. Everett Field OHic.r.
Fred Fletcher Field Officer.
Morris Z. Frederick, Field Office)'.
Charles H. Glenn Field Officer.
Stuart H. Heist Special I'ield Officer.
Warren S. Hood Special Field Officer.
Ilobi. S. Hansbiirv Field Officer.
I>. -M. Irwin Fi.-ld Officer.
Harrv S. Kauflmari Field Officer.
Frank H. Latiard Fi.-ld Officer.
Ilowar.l ]'.. .M.jore Fi.-ld Oflic.-r-in-Charge.
Chart. -s ']'. .Maclav Fi.-ld Ollic.-r.
William I'. .Miller Field Olli.-.-r.
Jra L. .Mill.-r Fi.-ld Ofii.-.-r.
J. I). .Marshall Fi.-l.l Offic.-r.
Edward C. .Mit.-h.-ll Fi.-ld Oliie.r.
Harry E. .Mag.-e Fi.-ld Oliic. r.
J. A. .McCl.-ary Fi.-ld Oili.rr.
John B. .Nightingale, Fi.-ld Offic.-r-in-Charge.
Thomas R. .N'i.-holson Fi.-ld Officer.
No. n. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 535
SA.NJTAUV IXSPHCTOUS— Coutimied.
Otto F. Nickel Fiolfl Otlicor.
John \V. I'inklinm Field Officer.
John E. I'ei TV Field ( Hficer.
Wilson W. KittcT Special Field Officer.
William (". Kiildle Field Officer.
W. W. Reno I'^ield Officer.
(Jharles II. Si.elker Field Officer.
J. II. Sillimaii Field Officer.
Roy Soiider Field ( )tH(er.
Roland B. Styer Field OlKcer.
William R. Teats Field Officer-in-Cliarjie.
Thos. W. Templeton Field Officer.
Timotliv Wlielan Field Olhc^r.
Daniel Zellers Special Fi(d(l Officer.
Ira F. Zei^ler, Special Field Officer.
^Ii-. K. T. lOdwiiids, Cilv Health Ofliccf loi- .Joliiislown, has cdii-
iiiiiKMl to i-ej)r('S(Mil the 1 ><'|»arliiu'nt as a s|H'(ial sanilar.v iiisjiectoi-
iu the liniiUMliatc len-itoiy IicsoihI tlu' jiii-isdici imi <d' that citv.
LOCAL HEALTH OFFICERS.
To better administer tlie work ot tlie Department tln'on<iho\i1
the I,.")!!) .secon<l-chiss lownships of llie Conmionwealth. wherein re-
side over two and one-third millions of ]>eo|)le, entirely without sani-
tary protection such as is afforded by the Boards of llealtii of lirst-
class townships and the borouglis of Pennsylvania, the Commissionei-
of Healtli had the State — GO counties, excludinjij Philadelijhia — di-
vided into sanitary districts. totallin<i" T.'!"t. for each of \\liich he a]t
])ointed a lesident a<>en1.
In so fai- as possible and practicable. titwnshi|) boundaries were fol-
lowed. I'sually a district comprises two or more tctwnshijts. in
eluding' the boi-ouiilis and cities therein. For instance. Lo^an town-
sliij), Jilair county, including within it Altoona City and .luniata
borough, compi-ises a district. The city of Pittsbur<» j>roi>er is a
district by itself, and so is Allegheny City.
The resident sanitary agent of the Commissioner of Health, in so
far as his duties relate to the Medical Divisicm of the I >epaitment.
is C(mtined to the territory wludly w itiiout the borough, city and tirst
class townshijt, because these municipalities are re(piire(l by law to
liave their own organized boards (»f health; but everywhei-e within
his <listi-ict, i-egardless oT the niunici| al boundaries, the resident san-
itary agent is e.\j»ected to imcstigate st i-eani pollutions, w ater w (U-ks
and sewers, to render assistance to Held (dticers. and to report to the
chief of the Kngineei-ing Division.
The woi-k p«Mlormed for the Engineering i>i\isioii of the hejiait
melll a|»|»ears elsewlnM-e herein.
OFFICf: WOKK.
The genei-al ollice work neci'ssary to administer the oi)t'rations of
the Division, inclmling general correspondence, recording corpora-
tion reports and jdans recpiired by law to be filed in the olfice of the
Depai-tment, oi- in compliance with decrees of the Commissioner, at
tention to ]»etitions and complaints, the issuing of oi'ders for the
altalenu'Ut tif uuisam-es ami menaces, :ind tlie |)reparation of plans
536 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
of watersheds for the use of sanitary inspectors in the field, com-
prises the subjects treated of in this part of the report under the
head of office worlv. More or less office work is performed in connec-
tion with the siib-di visions of the organization and it is mentioned
elsewhere.
CORPORATION REPORTS.
Under provisions of Law No. 182 of the Acts of the Assembly of
Pennsylvania, approved April 22, 1905, entitled "An Act to Pre-
serve the Purity' of the Waters of the State for the Protection of the
Public Health,-' it is the duty of every municipal corporation, private
corporation, company and individual supplying or authorized to
supply water to the public within the State to file Avith the Commis-
sioner of Health a certified copy of the plans and surveys of the
water-works, with a description of the source from which the supply
of water is derived.
Under the provisions of the same law it is the duty of the public
authorities having by law charge of the sewer system of every munici-
pality of the State to file with the Commissioner of Health a report
of such sewer systems, which shall comprise such facts and informa-
tion as the Commissioner of Health may require.
One hundred and sixty-one reports were received. Thirty-three of
them were from municipal corporations and 128 were from private
corporations.
The municipal returns comprised 6 water supply reports and 27
sewerage reports.
The private corporation reports perlained to 124 water-works sys-
tems and 5 sewerage systems.
The Deiiartment has now (m file informalion obtained in this for-
mal way relative to water supply- in 788 places, and i-elative to sewer-
age in 427 places.
RECORDED PLANS.
On December 81, 1908, there were 5,01 0 official ])lans registered in
the Department, 2,017 having be«Mi added during tlie year, and of the
grand total, 2,570 a((omj)anie(l watei*-works and sewei-age rejtorts,
of which 779 w(n-e add(;d during the year; 2,.'>58 accompanied water-
works and s<nverage apjilicalions, of which 70(5 were added during
the year; and 472 were of a jniscc^llaneous character, including some
of the office woi'king maps and those used in engineering and in
sj>ection w<iik.
I'l'/ITI'IONS AM) ('<H\iri,AINTS.
The Coinniissionei- ol' lleallli, in addition lo (he j)ow(M's coni'ei'j'ed
])y the new law, has all the poweis coiiferi'(Hl, and must ])erform all
the duties hei-etofore imposed by law up(m the former State Jioard of
Health, or any member, committee or officer thereof, including (Ik*
secretary. 'J'Ik; work (jf sup(M-vising tlie general inlc^rests of the
heallli and lives of (li(i cidzens of (lie (yonimonweaKli has been done
in jiart in answ<!r (o pet i( ions and coniplaints, and re(|ues(s foi' Jid-
vice. The (Joinmissioncr's instructions to give |)roni|)t attention to
jjf!(itions, coniplaints and retjuesis have beeJi coiii|)lie(l with in so fai-
as the I)('par(iiient fo)'c(^ made j>ossib]e.
No. 17. CH)MMlSSrONER OF IlKALTII. 537
MiiiKlivds nl" (•(miiiiiiiiiijilidiis ichitive lo slicaiii polliii ioiis l».y
sewage, or by industrial w;!sfe, or with respect to iiiisanilary oondi-
tions, inferior water supply (»r ice supply, and respect iu},' sewers,
sewa«;e disposal, water suiijtly and j;eneral sanitation, have received
attention.
Four hundre<l and si.\<y-one complaints and pclilions have; been
acted upon durin-- the year. Three Innidrcd and eighty of these
cases have been satisfactorily settled.
Thirty-one reipiests for advices relative to water suiti)ly, sewerage,
garbage disposal, drainage of stagnant water, disposal of creamery
and industrial wastes, and location ami construction of cesspools
have been ansu'ci-cd.
Common nuisances located within the t<'i-ritory of a municipality
having an oi-gani/.cd hoard of health, and made the subject of com-
plaint to (he Commissi oner of Health, have been referred by the De-
partment to such local boards. There have been one hundred and
seventy-six references of this kind during the year, as follows:
stream Pollution. Avondale, Asliley, Bath, Chester, Hazleton,
Juniata, LaPlume, LeKaysville, Lincoln Place, North East (2 cases),
Patton, Tremont, Troy, W^est Conshohocken and West Newton.
Scwacje in ^Street Gutters. Blairsville, Edenburg, Emporium, Ham-
burg, Houtzdale, Knoxville, Lebanon, Littlestown, McKeesport, Mt.
Penn, Mt. Pleasant (2), New Bethlehem, Penbrook, Petersburg,
Piniersburg and Smeth])ort.
Scircr Outlet.. Blossburg, Chartiers township, Allegheny county,
and Mt. Carmel.
Defective Seicer. Apollo, Ashley, Carrolltown, Chester, Glen-
olden, Greensburg, Pittsburg, Punxsutawney, Koyersford, Sewickley
and Southwest Greensburg.
Open f^cwer. Bedford, Bellevue, Benton, .Blairsvile, Blakely,
Brownsville, Chartiers township, Allegheny county, Danville, East
Stroudsburg, Fayette City, lloboken, Lebanon, Mill Hall, Mt. Joy,
New Bethlehem and Pittsburg.
Unsanitaijj Premises. Apollo, Ardmore, Bethlehem, Charabers-
burg, Chester, Coatesville, Curwensville (2), Darby (2), Duboistown
(2)( Dunmore (2), Duquesne, East Mauch Chunk, Ellsworth, Emans,
Ephrata, Everett, Fernwood, Galeton, Greensburg, Harrisburg (2),
Hawley, Highspire (2), Hoboken, Houtzdale, Kane, Kingston, Lacey-
ville, Lancaster, Langhorne, Lebanon {3), Lewistown, Lock Haven,
Logantown, Malvern (2), Middletown, Milton, Montour, Mt. Union,
Narberth, Newburg, North East, Petersburg, Pitcairn, Pottsville,
Punxsutawney, Ilidley township, Delaware county, Shamokin (2),
Shenandoah, Shippensburg, Siverly, South Fork, Susquehanna,
Tower City, Tyrone, Uniondale, Verona, Versailles township, Alle-
gheny county, Waynesburg, Wellsboro and Wyomissing.
f)Nin})iii;f Grounds. DuBois, Grove City, Harrisburg, Lancaster,
Lower Merion township. Montgomery county. New Philadelphia,
Vandergrift and Waterford.
Dead Aitiinnls. Mt. Union.
Slauf/hter liouses. Adanisiown, Coalport, Delta, .lamestown, Jean-
nette, Johnstown, Loganville, Manchester, Red Lion and St. Marys.
Sicamp Land and' Stafpiant Water. Apollo, Avoca, Chambersburg,
Cherry Tree, Columbia, Hartstown, Hyndman, Juniata, Latrobe, Mt.
Union, Narberth, Orrsiown, Pittston and Williamsport.
538 TKIKl) ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Impure Watir a ml h< Siijiplji. Ash lev. lijiincsboro, Cirekside.
Haniiony. Now «l;iliU'e. riiiixsutawnev, Srlmylkill ilaveii aud
TanwKiiia.
Xiffht No/7. Diiliois.
Reduction \\'<nl,s. Lancaster.
At the close oi" the year, of the 17(1 cases referred lo local boards
of health, all hut 2(1 h.ave been adjusted to the satisfaction of the
complainants. The l)ej»artuu'nt will follow the remainin<;- cases to
a conclusion.
Two hundred and Hfty-foui- complaints and i>etitions were made
the subject of special investii^ations and report by the Knoineerinjj
DiWsiou. The localities were usually outside of borouj;hs and <ities
and in territories where the J)epartment of Health has adecpiate jui*-
isdiction. F'ifly-four of these comman<led the services of engineers,
field ins]»ectois and county medical ot1icei-s, and two hundred <'()ni-
manded the services of the local health officers. Classified, these sub-
jects Avere as follows:
Nuisancps in streams by sewage and industrial wastes. . .^. 54
Impure water and iee supply, '. 22
Sewerage systems , 11
Defective drainage 6
Garbage and night .soil dumps, 18
T'nsanitary premises, 66
Nuisances in street gutters by sewage 32
Slaughter houses , 7
Reduction, fertilizer and glue works 5
Dead animals 17
Mine drainage
Swamp land aud stagnant water, l.'>
Sewage disposal plants , ■ 3
254
The hxalities of the cases investigated are shown in flu; following
statement:
Xi(if<ances hi atrediiis hi/ .seir(i</c and iiidiisl rial iraxfes. In Alh;-
gheny county, (.'arnegie; in Hedfoi-d counly, Snli»hur Springs; in
Berks county, Boyertown, Si)angsvi]le and IVrry (ownship; in Jirad-
ford county. Stevonsville ami Wyalusing; in P.ucks county, Ben
Salem townshij); in Cambria county, lObensburg and i.aurel Hun; in
Camei-on county, Fiisf Fork '(Jreek ; in Cenfi-e county, S|)ring Mills;
in Cleai-field county, DuBois aiul Sterling; in Clinton county, (iru-
gan townshiij; in Cumbei'land county, Slii])i>eiisbuig; in I)elawai-e
county, Darby Creek, Millbourne and Dre.xel Hall; in lOrie <'ounty.
Mill ('reek; in Fulton county, Mc('<mnellsburg; in Indiana county,
(rien Campbell; in Jefferson county, Vicksburg; in Lackawanna
county, Scranfon; in Ix'higli counly, ('oopersburg; in Luzerne county,
Tru<ksville and Sybei-lsville; in .Mercer <'ounfy, VVilminglon town-
ship; in .Monioe c(»mify, Saylor-sburg; in .Monlgomery <-oun(y, Mryn
Mawr and Cpitcr Hanover (ownship; in IMiiladelpliia counly, ('liesl-
niil Hill; in Pike counly, .Milford; in Schuylkill connly, Treni(»n( and
Lost Creek; in Snsipiehanna <-ounly, Heai-I Lake, Monlrost;, Sjiring-
ville and Kingsley; in Cnion counly, N'icksburg; in Washington
county, Houston and Washington; in Wayne county, Inglehart, Star-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 539
nifca jiimI Tcxms lowiisliiit : in NNCsliiiorclaiid ((Mihin. .Icnmu'tic.
Manor INmiii Inwiisliip. Snmllci- ;ind West Newlcni : in Wyoniinji
»'(mnty, .Mill ("il> : in York ((tniilv. Hanover and York.
\Ylier<' tlic above places are n<»t (iesiynated as (ownsliijis, I lie places
uained ai-e villatics or snlmriis of hoi-on^lis. Sometimes in llie lattei-
instances (he inspections involved examinations within ilie coropiate
teiTitory (»f the niuni<ipalit \ .
Tmimrc iratcr mid ice ^nppli/. In Allejiheny connty, I'iltshurj;;
in Beaver connty, P.eaver Falls; in Jierks connty, Cnnirn townshiii;
in l{]nir connty, dnniata ; in liradford connty, NYyalnsing; in lintler
(•onnty, Hnllali) townsliiji; in Centre connty, lioalshnr^^; in (.'liester
connty, Snpj)lee; in Danjihin connty, Snsijnehanna townshiji; in
Montj^-omery connty. Limerick and Colmar; in Monroe connty,
Strondshnr*"-; in Xorthami)ton connty, Easton ; in Xortlinmherhnnl
connty, Seven J'oints; Terry connty, Peini townshi]); in I'ottei'
connty, Anstin; in Snllivan connty, llernice; in Tio};a c(»nnty, .Mans
field; in A'enango connty. Cranberry township: in \Yashin<ilon
connty, Canonsbnrg and Washington; in Westnioieland connty, La-
trobe.
Sewerage Systems. In Allegheny connty, l>en Avon. Carrick and
Koss townshijt; in [Jerks connty, ^'irginsville; in Camltria connty,
lirownstone and Spiing Hill; in Lycoming connty, N'ilas; in Mont-
gomery connty, Lansdale ; in Xorthnniberland connty. Mt. Carmel;
in Westmoreland connty, Mt. Pleasant and New Kingstown.
Defective Dniinaijc In Armstrong connty, Kelly Station; in
Dauphin connty, Swalara townshii); in Huntingdon county, Hun-
tingdon; in Jetterson connty. Pnnxsntawney ; in t'nion county, Lew-
isbnrg; in Westmoreland connty. Pleasant Tnity.
(iarb(i</c and JS'if/Jit »S'o// Dumps. In Allegheny connty, McKees-
port and IMtcairn; in Armstrong connty, Georgetown; in Berks
county, .Mnlilenberg township and Heading; in Chester county, An-
selma, lierwyn. Devon and I'aoli; in Cleartield county, DuBois; in
Franklin connty, Chambersbnrg; in Lancaster county, (lap; in I.aw-
ren«*e county, T'nion township; in I^ehigh county. Old Zionsville; in
Moni'oe connty, Pocouo towushij); in MontgonuM-y county, .McKinley
and rpper (Jwynedd townshi|»; in Perry .connty, Dnncannon.
I'nsuuiliirji /'remises. In Allegheny connty, Bellevne. Sandy
Ci-e<'k. Tarentum and \'ersailles township (^>i ; in .Vrmsti-ong county.
Kiskiminelas township; in Bei-ks county, ^YernersvilIe i L* i ; in Biu-ks
county, Lahaska, Trevose; in Cand)ria county. Patton and Stony
Creek township; in Carbon county, W^ei.ssport ; in Centre county.
Walker township; in Chester county, Berwyn, East Fallowtield
township (2), East Marlboro township, Stratford and Warwick; in
Clarion connty, Philli]>ston ; in Clearfield county, DuBois, Madera
and Tylersbiii-g; in Clinton county, Loganton; in Cnmbcrlainl county.
West Eairxiew; in Danphin connt.v, Linglestown, Snscpiehanna town
ship (.">!, Swatai-a township ( L' i and Wi(M»nisc(»; in Delaware county,
Primos and I'pper Darby towushi|»; in ICrie county. I'nion township
and Wesleyvilie; in Fayette coiinty, Perryojiolis and Bedstone t(»\\n
shi]*; in Iluntingdon county, \\'alker township; in Indiana county,
Blairsville; in Lehigh county. New Trijxtli; in T.uzerne county, Nan-
ticoke; in Tiycoming connty. Slate Bun; in McKeau county. Derrick
City; in MifVlin connty, .Mili-oy: in .Monroe county, Saylorsbui-g; in
540 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
^fontfronierv county. Aidiiiore, Hryn Atli.vn aiid Bryii Mawr; in
Noi-Thaniptou oounty, Ml. Hethel ; in Nortluiiuberland county,
Dewai-t, Johnson Cily and ShainoUin; in Perry connty, Duucannon;
in Westmoreland county, Arone, East Vandergrit't and I'enn Sta-
tion; in Schuylkill county, Sheppton and Sheridan; in Snyder
county, Port Treverton ; in Tioga county, Cowanesque; in Wyoming
county. North Melioopany; in York county, Hanover.
Niiisfniccs i)i siirct (flitters hi/ scirof/c. In Allegheny county, Koss
and Scolt townships: in Cambria county, -lohnstown; in Cameron
county, Km{)orium: in Chester county. Berwyn (2), ])evon, Treddy-
frin townshij); in Clarion county, Clarion township; in Clinton
county. Avis and Mill Hall; in Dauphin county, Paxtang, Susque-
hanna and Swataru townships; in Elk county. Kersey; in Lacka-
wanna county, Elmhurst and Simpson; in Lancaster county, Leola; in
Lawrence ccmnty. Oakland; in Luzerne ccmnty, Ashley; in McKean
county, Ludlow; in Mitliin county, Belleville; in Montgomery county,
Berwyn, Haverford, Pottstown, Ui)per Dublin township. Valley
Forge and Willow Grove ; in Schuylkill county, Sheppton and Wade ;
in Westiuoreland county, Claridge; in York county, Y^ork,
8laughf(r House. In Allegheny county, Union Station; in Berks
county, Stouchburg; in Erie county. North East; in Greene county,
Monongahela township; in Montgomer}' county, Zeiglersville; in
Schuylkill county, "S'alley View; in Y'ork county, Springettsbury
township.
Reduction, Fertilizer and Glue Works. In Berks county, Cumru
townshi]); in Cameron county. Emporium; in Lebanon county, Myers-
town; in Montgomery county, Whitpan township; in Y'ork county,
Penn township.
Dead Animals. In Berks county, Shillington and Wernersville ;
in Blair county, Isett; in Chester county, Berwyn; in Crawford
county, Centerville and Sadsbury township; in Franklin county,
<jreene township, Mercersburg; in Indiana county, Buttington
triwnship; in Lancaster county. Florin; in Mercer county, Springfield
township; in Xorthamjston county. Lehigh township; in Northum-
berland connty. Turbotville; in Suscpiehanna county, Hai-mony town-
ship and iJttle .Meadows; in Westmoreland county, Claridge and
Harrisr)n City.
.S'i/;aw«/> f^and and Staffnant Water. In Berks county, Douglass-
ville and Hcidelbnrg township; in Cambria county. Stony Creek
(ownshij); in ('enlei- counly. Rush township; in Dau])hin county,
Snsfpielianna 1o\\-nship; in Erie ' county, IOdinI)oi'o; in Indiana
county, lloilons; in I^ackawanna county, (.'oyne (2) and Hanover
township; in Luzerne county, Pittston; in Philadelphia county, Man-
ayunk ; in Wyoming county. Mill City.
fievjifie Disposal and Disposal Plants. In Allegheny county, Etna;
in (Columbia county, Centralia; in Luzerne county. White Haven,
SoiiK* of the jK'titions came from local Boards of HeaKli and bor-
ough auf hoi-ilies, and in these cases (he investigations were in the
towns.
ORDERS OF ABATEMIONT.
To picvenl causes of disease and mortality, so far as the same may
be caused by [iublic menaces and nuisances, more especially outside
of municipalities on the walers.h»;ds of the S]late, the Couimissicmer
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 541
of Health has the power and authority to order such nuisances and
menaces to be abated and removed. Upon examination made by any
persons dul}' authorized b^- the Commissioner of Ilealth so to do, in-
formation as to the facts is submitted to this office and subsequently
an order to abate or remove may l)e issued. These orders are signed
by the Conimissiimer and served by the field or local health officers.
The abatemenfs listed below were had by formal notification. Many
liundred of i)ro]>er(i('s have been put in sanitary condition on inspec-
tion and verl)al recpicsl l)y llie field or local health officer.
Eiglit thousand llirce hundred and forty written orders have been
prei)ared for issuance during- tlic year. Six thousand two hundred
and thirty-four of them were issued as Ihe direct result of investiga-
tions on watersheds by the division field officers, and all but fifty-
three of the meiuices were found existing on drainage areas feeding
public water supplies. They are more fully reported elsewhere here-
in. The fifty-three written ordei-s Avere of a miscellaneous charac-
ter, reported, in a large majority of the cases, by the local health
oflficers who served the notices. Many of the other notices were also
served by the local health officers under the supervision of the De-
partment's field officers.
DRAFTING.
The map-making force varied from five men during the fore part of
the year to eight men at the latter part, except when assistant engi-
neers and field officers maj' have temporarily engaged in the prepara-
tion of plans in connection with work to which they were specifically
assigned.
During the year maps of twenty different counties were made, each
showing townships, boroughs, cities, post-offices, villages, railroad,
street-car lines and streams. They are to serve as a basis for general
reference, and more particularly as a foundation for future map
making of districts within the county. The uniform scale of these
maps is three miles to one inch. A total of .585 enlarged township
maps were made from smaller maps, and blue print copies thereof
were supplied to field officers for inspection work.
In connection with and to facilitate the work of a sanitary survey
of the sources of minor i)ollutions on the watersheds of I than Creek,
Little Darby Creek, Perkiomen Creek, West Creek and the Shenango
Eiver, a map of each shed has been prepared and copies thereof have
been supplied to officers in charge of field work in these districts.
Special sanitary inspections of the boroughs and townships in Alle-
gheny county necessitated the compiling of the proper maps to assist
the inspectors in this work. Two men were sent to Pittsburg to make
tracings of townships, borough and village maps from the authorized
county atlas in the county court house. Fourteen township maps
and thirty-two borough and village maps were prepared in this way.
For the International Tuberculosis Exhibit at Washington the
Department prepared elaborate maps and charts to demonstrate the
different methods and ways of treating patients afflicted with tuber-
culosis. Statistical charts were ])repared. For this purpose three
maps of Pennsylvania were made, one showing the death rate from
tuberculosis per 100,000 inhabitants for each county, and other data
of a similar nature; another showing the division of the State into
35
542 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
733 sanitary districts, and the last one showing the location of dis-
pensaries for the free treatment of tnbercnlosis in each of the 67
counties. Ten charts were prepared, which show the following:
The infection of tnbercnlosis of snccessive occupants of an isolated
farm house; deaths from tuberculosis V)y age periods; the annual
cost of tuberculosis to the State and to the people thereof as com-
pared with the annual value of certain agricultural products; the
amount ai>propriated by the State of PennsYlvania exclusively for
tuberculosis work from 1893 to the present time; the comparison of
deaths and causes for the years 1900-07 ; the number of deaths from
scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria and whooping cough for the year
1907; the deaths from suicide and heart disease for 1907; the treat-
ment for diphtheria by antitoxin during the years 1906-07. In con-
nection with this exhibit a plan of the first floor of the State Capitol
building in Harrisburg, showing the rooms and space occupied by
the Department of Health, was prepared and the titles of 42 photo-
graphs and 60 cartographs were executed.
Special inspection of the watersheds furnishing the supply to
Hummelstown and Connellsville have necessitated the making of
maps of the village of Hershey and of the boroughs of Ursina, Castle-
man and Berlin in Somerset county, respectively, the latter boroughs
being on the upper head waters of the Youghiogheny River.
Some miscellaneous map making has been done in connection with
pollutions at Devon, Girard borough and the northern vicinity of
Pittsburg, in connection with a typhoid outbreak at Royersford and
Spring City, in connection Avith the problem of investigating the va-
rious water supplies in southeastern Pennsylvania, and in connection
with the consideration of sanitary problems in southeastern Pennsyl-
vania.
Besides the preparation of the various maps enumerated, statisti-
cal and other sheets were made for compiling nuisance reports,
typhoid epidemic statistics and certain medical reports.
Reference to maps made in connection Avith Mont Alto work ap-
pears elsewhere in this report.
Ill, ENGINEERING.
The review of plans of proposed sewerage and water-works sys-
tems, and of extensions to existing systems, and the making of in-
vestigations and rej)r)rts in relation thereto has been an important
part 'of the work pei-lormed ))y the P^ngineering I)ivisi<m.
There were 306 sewerage and water-works ajiplicalions received
during the year, of which 107 pertained to water works and 199 to
sewers. Of the water-works a])i)lications, 83 were received from pri-
vate corjiora lions and individuals, and the remaining 24 were sent
in by muni(i[)alili('s. Of the sewerage applications, 26 wove, received
from private corpdrjitioiis and individuals, and (lie i-cinaining 173
were sent in by iiiiini(i|)alit ics.
The water-works ai)plicalions may be classified as follows: Tiiirty-
two for ground water sources and 7~) for surface sources; in 11
cases of which the plans provided for puriftcation by filtration of
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 543
tlio .sml'jict' wiitt'i', jiiid ill '2V> additional iii.staiuu^s, tlie siiiracc watiM-
was being filtered at the time the application for extension.s were
made, namely, in the following cases:
I New ('lii>str>r W:it('i- (Joinpaiiy to supply \v;it"'r in ("liostcr ln\vi)slii|), Delaware
County, via Kdf^oiiioiit Wator Company.
'2 Afiustrons Water Conii)any of Kiltaiiniiiu.
.'i McKecsport.
4 Sprini^field Water f'onipany, siibiirl)aii I'liila(li'||i|ii;i.
5 Bristol Water Company of Hristol.
II West Side A\'ater <'<mipaiiv of West Hriilewater.
7 CoIIpuc Hill Itoroiiuli Wate"r Company, College Hill.
8 Freedom Water Company of I''reedom.
0 Union ^^'ater ('ompany of r.ea\er Falls.
10 Fallston Water <'on)|)any of I>'allston.
11 P)ea\er A'alle_\- Water Company of Conway.
li: I'atterson Ilei.ulils Water Company of I'atterson Heights.
VA Valley Water Company of Rochester.
14 North Rochester Water Company of North Rochester.
in New Rrifihten Waier Company of New Brighton.
If! Chambersburg.
17 Steellon.
15 Reading.
in Pittsburg.
20 Warr(>n Wati-r Company of Warron.
21 Huntincdon ^^'ater Company of Huntingdon.
22. New J;(>llilehem.
2;{ Danville State Hospital of Danville.
24 Danville State Hospital of Danville (2nd application).
2.") Cambridge Si)rings.
2() Reading (2iid aijplication).
The ai>|>li(atiuiis for water filtration plants, arranged in order of
date of reccMpt, are given below:
1 North East. Erie county.
2 Ridgway, Elk county.
3 Pottstown Gas and Water Company, Montgomery county.
4 Ellwood Water Company, Lawrence county .
f) Pi'eeport Water Company, Armstrong county.
(t Mechanicsburg (ias & Water Company, Cumberland county.
7 Natrona, Allegheny county.
8 Riverton Consolidation ^Vat(>r Co.. Cumberland county.
0 Shirmanstown Water Company, Cumberland county.
10 Riverton Consolidated Water Co., Cumberland county (2nd application).
11 Morgan/,a, Washington county.
The sewerage apjilicat ions may he classified as follows: Eighty-one
f«r separate systems for sewage only, 82 for combined systems to re-
ceive both sewage and storm water, and 33 for sewage disposal works,
and 3 for extension of time.
The application for sewage disposal plants, arranged in order by
dates, are given below:
1 Allegheny City Home, Allegheny county.
2 Butler, Butler county.
3 Allentown, Lehigh county.
4 Palmer Lan<l Company. Carbon count \.
n State Homeopathic lIos|)ital for the Insane, Lejijgh county.
H Derry. Westmoreland county.
7 State Hospit.il tor thi' Insane, Danville, Montour county.
8 Reading, Berks cnuuty.
0 All(>gh(Miy City Home l2nd application).
10 Pitcairn, Allegheny county.
11 College Hill (Robert A. Whiteside), Beaver county.
12 Devon, Chester t'ounty,
1.1 IIav(Mfiir(i CdIIivuc .Montgomery county.
14 A\'illiamsoii Trade School, Delaware county.
1." Reading (2n(l application).
1(> Cheswick. .Mleirheny county.
17 White Haven Sanatorium, liuzerne County,
544 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
IS South Canonsburg. Washington county.
19 Canonsburg, ^Yashiugton county.
20 Biyn Athyu. Montgomery county.
21 Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble Minded Children, Ehvyn, Delaware
county.
22 J. AY. & A. P. Howard Tannery. Erie t'ounty.
23 Beechwood I'ark Amusonieui Coniiiany. Delaware county.
24 Girl's House of Refuge, Delaware county.
25 Ellwood City. Lawrence county.
2i\ Cheswick (2nd application).
27 Edwardsville. Luzerne county.
2S Milton, Northumberland county.
29 Morganza , Washington county.
30 New Wilmington , Lawrence county.
31 AVestern Penna. Hospital for Insane, Dixmont, Allegheny county.
32 Meadville, Crawford county.
33 Bryn Athyn (2nd application).
Three applications foi- exteu-sioii oJ' Hme to Inlltil the terms oi" per-
mits issued to the borough of Youngville, Emporium and Oil City
were made by these places.
;>()(> a]>])]ication8 received during the year, 247 have been examined
and reported upon besides two applications left over from 1905, 2
from 1!)()(! and Hi from 11)07, making a total of :U5 applications in-
vestigated and reported ui)on during the year. In 201 cases conclu-
sions have been reached and a permit or decree duly issued by the
Commissioner of Health.
Of the 201 cases, 72 related to water-works and 129 to seAverage
and sewage disposal works.
With respect to water-works [)erniits or decrees, 49 embrace sur-
face sources, of which in 22 cases adequate liltration Avas recpiired,
and 23 embrace ground sources. The 22 cases where filtration was
required are slated below in order of issuance:
1 Hummelstown Consolidated Water Company, Dauphin county.
2 York Water Company, York county.
3 Dauphin Consolidated AVater Supply Company (Enola), ('luiiberland county.
4 Iiid.g^vay. Elk county.
') Warren Water Company , AA^arren comity.
<; Pottstowii (ias anfl Wati-r Comjiany, Montgomery county.
7 Ellwood Water Company , Lawrence county.
8 North East, Erie county.
9 Danville Slate Hospital, Monloui' couiily.
10 Pittsburg, Alle;rli"ny eounly.
11 Shiremanslowii , ('umbei-jand coniily.
12 Iiiverton Consolidaled Water Company, ( 'unilierhind couiily.
13 r)anville State H()si)ital (2nd application), Monloiii- county.
14 Frecport Water Comijany. Armstrong county.
17i Mccjianicsburg (Jas and Water Company, Cumberland counly.
10 Fairr-hance. Fayette county.
17 Shiremanstown AVal(>r Company (2nd application), Cnmberhiiul county.
15 Riverton Consolidated Water (Jompany (2nd application), Cumberland county.
19 McKr-esport, AlieirlieMy county.
20 Riverton Consolidiited Water Compatiy (3rd application), Cumberland counly.
21 Western I'ennsyhaiiia Reform School (Morganza), Washington county.
22 Natrona Water Company, Allegheny counly.
All bul numliei-s 1, 2 and H! are mcniioiicd in (lif alM»\'(' lisl of
1908 applications.
With lespect to sewerage decrees, 32 involved sewage disposal
woi'ks and llic oilier 97 iclalcd 1o sewers and uKimale lr(iatinent
plants, as more; Inlly lici-cinarier a|)p<'ai's. Scnvagc disposal applica-
(•a1i(jns in 0 instances are pending, namely, Nos. 2, 10, Jl, 27, 28 and
32.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 545
A brief summary of the applications received and acted upon rela-
tive to water-works and sewerage since tlie inauguration of the De-
partment is given below:
A]jpli(;\ti<>iis received iu 100."i and lOOG, l."i.~
Apiilicniions received in IHOT, I'.'Si!
Apijlicalious received iu 1!JUS, oUtj
Total , U97
A|)i)lications acted upon in lllO.j and 190G, 74
Applications acted upon in 1907 , 1~>U
Applications acted upon in VMS, -!<J(j
Total , 4'jy
There were 12o ajiplicalions pending at the end of 11)08. Fifty-six
of them were water and (57 sewerage and disposal api*lications; 34 of
the water-works and 1!) of the sewerage applications were investi-
gated, leaving 70 to be investigated.
The 697 applicatidus comprise 212 water- works and 485 sewerage
systems; 420 of the latter were municipal plants and 58 private
works; and of the former. 105 were owned by private and 47 by
municipal corporations. It may be interesting to note that 07 of
the water applications concerned ground sources, and 140 concerned
surface soui-ces in 'S'A instances of which the water was being filtered,
and in 24 cases new tilierers were conlem[»lated. Also with respect
to the sewerage applications, 188 related to separate sewers, 212 to
combinod sewers, ij to separate and combined, and 7o to disposal
works, 3 having been for extensions of time.
So it appears that plans for 58 water litters and 73 sewage treat-
ment plants have been considered and passed upon or will engage
the attention of the Department at an early date.
WATER WORKS.
Water Works Permits and Decrees Issued by the
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH
Up to January 1, 1900.
This work has been done under Act 182, approved April 22, 1905.
The law is entitled, "An act to preserve the purity of the waters of
the State for the protection of the public health." The term
"Waters of the State" is detined to include all streams and springs,
and all bodies of surface and of gi-ouud water, whether natural or
artiticial, within the boundaries of the State.
Acting under this law. which prescribed that no waterworks for the
supply of water to the i)ul)lic shall be constructed or extended, or an
additional source of supply be secured, without a written permit,
to be obtained from the Commissioner of Health, the scope of inquiry
in each case has been strictly confined to whether the supply be pre-
judicial to ]tublic health.
35—17—1908
546 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc
The virgin waters of the State are pure. Tliev gather in their
devious courses on or below the surface of the ground foreign mat-
ter, oft times of a poisonous character. To preserve the purity ab-
solutely is impossible, but approximations may be achieved. The
results fre(]uently concern the removal of impurities injurious to
public health under conditions demanding continual supervision by
the State.
Precedent to judgment in any partictilar case, the full information
as to the source of supply and capacity, the manner of collection and
the means of distribution, is indispensable; with respect to the
source, principally as to danger to be guarded against and means
necessary for protection; with respect to capacity, because, besides
other reasons, where a supph' be altogether good and limited, con-
sumers may be compelled by shortage to have fre<iuent recourse to
]»rivate wells and neighborhood springs in close jn-oximity to and
]»ollute<l by cessp(iol or ])ri\w drainage, or other sewage contamina-
tion, or because recotirse may be freipienlly had to a polluted
stream as the supplemental-}' supply, and thus spread disease in the
town, conditions which the law does not contemplate the State au-
thorities should overlook or sanction; with respect to details, be-
cause, besides other reasons, the interests of the ])ublic health re-
quire that ample facilities for quick drainage or shutting otf of any
infection in any part of the system shall be provided, or where 'a
filter may amply purify water in ordinary times, during a fire the
speeding uj) may be at a rate entirely beyond the pui-ifying capacity
and thus sewage water may be introduced into town, or direct re-
course may be had to raw creek water for emergencies.
In connection with the subject, it may be imjjortanl 1o know about
the x>i'ivate wells and springs in the town.
For the dissemination of information, (he ]K'i-mi(s sel foi-(h quilo
fully the local situation leading up to the conditions undei- which an
additional source oC supply or an extension to existing water-works
will not be ])rejndicial to ])ul)lic lieallh.
The stipulations refer to provisions for removal of sources of pol-
lution, protective measures, such as sanitary patrol of water sheds
and reports thereof, efficient operation of ])urification works, reme-
dial measures to be adojited by apju-oval or advice of the C(mimis-
sioner of Health in case the supply oi- any pai-t ol' the Avater-works
system l)ecoiiies ])r(;judicial to Hie ])ublic lieallh and oMier mailers,
all appearing in the various cases licrciii sel rorlli in full and
arrang<'d alphal helically.
AX\VJIJ-i:, I.KI'.AXOX t'OliN'l'V.
Aiiiivill"' W'lilfi- ( '(>iii|»iiiiy.
'I'liis ;ip|)lii.'iil ion was iiijuii' ))>■ llif Aiiiivillc W'alfi' ("Diiipany of Amivillc, licbii-
arion county, and is lor ))crinission lo iiKTcasc its soiin'c ol' siipiily of walcf lo IIh(
piiljlic in said viiJaK"'.
Annvilli', J.fljunon (-(jiinty, is a villaLjc of l.wcniy-fivc iiiiiiih-cil poiiulalion, IcKtalcd
irnrncfiiatcly k(jiiIIi of tiic I/chanon N'alicy I'nuicli of the I'jiiiadflpliiji and IlcndiiiK
Railway fiv<' niilfs wi-st, of I.oliaiion city. I'aft of I lie viilayc is in Norlii Annvillc
townsiii|) and itai'l of it is in Srnilii Annvillc lo\vns]ii|). The sources of HU|)|)ly of
water to tlic |,ul)lic a I'c (lci'i\-c(| wliojly froui I he hillsides iiiuiiedin Icly norl.li of
the village and in North Annvillc townsliiii.
'i'hiTc art" two KriiHJl runs wliicli come down fiom llie hills towai'ils the villa"('.
One of tlicrn ijawHCH ntifler llii' railfoail near ihe |)ass(!nKef station o[»i)OHite the
ccnlfal pafl of the villa^je. l<'oriMei'ly the only sujjply was taken finni Ihe ;;rounil
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 547
up this ravine. The water flowed from natural springs up through openings in the
bottom of a masonry reservoir thirty feet wide, fifty feet long and about ten feet
deep. When these springs became insufficient, three wells were driven adjacent
to the reservoir and ituinps were installed to raise the water. The contributing area
above is an uninhabited district. The elevation of the reservoir is sufficient to
afford a u'ravity supply to the village, the water being conducted by an eight-inch
pipe about one mile long. This source, while of excellent quality, proved insuffi-
cient in quantity, and on November ninth, nineteen hundred and five, the Commis-
sioner of Health issued a written permit for an additional water supply, which
has since been installed.
The new source is about one mile distant from the village in the second run
whose area adjoins and is immediately east of that of the first source. It comprises
a watereluMl approximately one-third of a square mile in extent, hilly and cultivated,
at the outlet of which exist Several springs. The water company acquired the right
to the waters of tliese springs, improved and walled them up and conducted the
water to a storage resenoir, located just above the ice pond. This reservior was
to be built of masonry, and to be fifty feet long, thirty feet wide and about ten
feet deep. An eight-inch gravity supply main delivei-s the water from this reser-
voir to the village, following the line of the run past the ice pond. The property
here belongs to the Meyer estate, whereon is a dwelling, privy and barn near one
of the sijrings. Above the Meyer Estate is the farm of Samuel Kettering.
The terms and conditions of the written approval and permit for this additional
supply issued by the Commissioner of Health were as follows
FIRST: That all surface and run water be excluded from the springs, and
for this purpose each spring shall be dug out and walled up in masonry to a suffi-
cient height, and the adjacent land wliei'e boggy shall be sufficiently drained. The
water from said springs shall be piped to the collecting and storage reservoir, and
each such pipe leading Ironi each individual spring shall be fitted with a gate per-
mitting each said individual spring, or any or all of them, to be shut off sepa-
rately or collectively from the said storage reservoir.
SECOND: That the proposed storage reservoir be made tight on the bottom and
sides, and the walls thereof be carried up high enough to always exclude surface
and run water, and that a drain shall be constructed so that the reservoir may be
readily emi)tied and the wat<'rs therein wasted into the mn ; and a gate shall be
placed on the supply main between the reservoir and the village so that the supply
from the proposed source maj' be shut off when occasion may require it.
THHiD: That the present connection between the supply main and the ice
pond shall bo taken out, and that on no occasion shall the waters from said ice
pond or any surface water be introduced into the Annvillo water supply system.
FOURTH: That the water supply company shall not be required to supply the
said ice pond with spring water at any time, except as required by the contract and
agreement with the said David H. Me^er, the owner of the said ice pond.
FJFTH: That Ihe spring upon the said David H. Meyer Estate shall not be
taken or used l)y the water company until the small tenement house and the build-
ings thereon are vacated, and that these buildings shall be removed on or before
the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred and six.
SIXTH: That facilities be provided whereby the system of distributing pipes
in the village may be easily and completely drained whenever occasion may require
it.
SEVENTH: That permission to use the proposed additional source of supply
is hereby granted under the above stipulations and provisions, and under the fur-
ther provision and stipulation:
"That the said Annville Water Company, on or before the first day of December,
one thousand nine hundred and five, shall file with the Commissioner of Health
a complete plan of the entire water works system, present and proposed. This
plan shall show the streets of the village, the location of the water pipes, their
sizes, location of gates and hydrants, and the location and profile of the supply
mains and any gates upon them, together with plans, sections and elevations of
the storage reservoir, their gates and appurtenances, of the pumping station and
the ilriven wells, a plan and section of the ice i)ond , and a toi)ograi)hical map of
the watersheds of the two sources — the old and the new — said topogra|)liical map to
be drawn to scale, giving elevations and locations of the springs and all the build-
ings upon the watersheds, highways and runs."
The company has submitted a plan showing the distributing pipe system and the
watiT shed and the location thereon of dwellings, roads, et cetera, and a general
l)lan of tiie pii)e arrangement ft)r the collection of the water sup|)ly from the springs
and its ilelivery to the reservoir, but the detail plans of the springs, piping and
reservoir have not been submitted.
It ai)pears that during the dry season the present combined sources are inade-
quate for the need of the district in which the company lias laid its pipe lines and
to which it is furnishing water. Furthermore, the petitioners know of no availa-
ble water that can he procured at the present time, except that to be obtained by
drilling or boring wells. The petitioners, therefore, purpose to drill a well along
the line of the new or east supply pipe line at a point fifty-five feet eastward
from the valve immediately below the ice pond. The well is to" be bored to such a
depth as shall secure a proper and adequate supi)ly of water. Its diameter is to
be from eight to twelve inches, to be cased throughout with iron pipe, the outlet
548 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
to be of such elevation as to prevent any surface water from flowing into the well.
It is proposed to install a pump in connection with the said well or wells, if there
be more than one.
It has been determined that the proposed additional source of supply will not
be prejudical to the public health under certain conditions, and a permit is hereby
and herein issued therefor under the followiuii- conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That an accurate record of the strata encmiutered in sinking the wells
shall be kept and furnished to the State Department of Health, and that before the
water is turned into the water district the water company shall notify the Commis-
sioner of Health of its readiness to do so, whereupon the State Department of
Health will collect samples of water from the wells and make tests thereof, and if
found satisfactory, approve the supply.
SECOND: Before the additional supply is used, the water company shall pre-
pare the detail plans heretofore called for but nut yet submitted, of the reservoirs,
springs, pond and pumping station and file the same, together with detail plans of
the wells herein approved, their piping, the pumping station layout and appurte-
nances.
THIRD: At the close of each season's work, the water company shall file a plan
of the extensions of the pipe lines in the streets laid during the y(>ar, with any other
information in connection therewith that the Commissioner of Health may require,
to the end that the said Commissioner shall always be informed of the extent of the
water works and its use by the public.
FOURTH: If, at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
water works system, or any part thereof, of the sources of supply, shall have be-
come prejudicial to public health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted by
the water company as the Commissioner of Health may advise or approve.
It is the purpose of the State Department of Health to make regular inspections
of the water works system and the water company shall assist in such inspection,
and the company shall keep on blank forms satisfactory to the Department weekly
reports of the operation of the water works system and file the same in the ofBce of
the State Department of Health.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 11, 1908.
ANNVILLE VILLAGE, LEBANON COUNTY.
(Annville Water Company.)
This application was made by the Annville Water Company of the village of
Annville, Lebanon county, and is for permission to increase its supply of water to
the public in the said village.
The drilled well for which a permit was issued by the Commissioner of Health
on May eleventh, one thousand nine hundred and eight, was completed and found
to yield at best about forty gallons per minute. This supply was not sufficient in
the opinion of the company to warrant the expense of raising the water.
At the close of the extraordinary drouth of the summer and fall of one thousand
nine hundred and eight the springs which are the source of gi'avity supply to the
company are now in a very much depleted condition, and there is necessity for an
immediate augmenting of the supply.
The petitioners propose to do this by collecting the ground water at and above
the main collecting basin on the Meyers Estate, and also on the Kettering Estate,
Along the bottom of the ravine it is proposed to lay oi)en-joinled, vitrified pipe, to
fill in around with crushed stone and tlicii lo covei' nil Dver with earlii, bringing
this up to the general surface of the gnmnd so that tiie ravine will be entirely oblit-
erated The water in tiie ground roundabout whicli Hows out at the i)reseut time
into the ditch from numerable points will lliiis be collected in the pipes, made avail-
able for the su[)i)ly, to the villagi'. The water will be piped into the main colle<!tiug
reservoir now in use. Spring numbei' six is j'igiiL below Ketl(>ring's house. Jt is to
be walled up and covered over and the water is to l)e jjiped to a two-in(;h ii'on pipe
into th"! main feeder to the colh-cting reservoii'. Thus tlu' [)ossibility of any surface
contamination will be done away with. A part of the How from spring number six
will be delivered into the wati-r trough at tlie Kettering farm, and the details of tliis
ari'arigemeiit av sIhiwh om the plans sulmiitled for ap|ii'o\iil.
From Hjjring niimber five tlii' ravine or gulley flown through LIk? Kettering farm
is to be treated in the sanu! manner and for the same; purpose a.s described with n;-
Hpect to the ravine on the Meyers Estate, and this water Is to be conducted into the
main collecting reservoir.
'J"he Kettering privy is lo be rebuilt and a masonry tight vault provided bo that
no possibility of sub-soil contamination of the water can occur.
The petitioners present at this time detailed plans of existing reservoirs and
HpringH so that there is now on file in the Department all the information which has
been called for.
It has been determined that the proposed additional source of siipiily will not be
prejudicial to th(! public health, and a permit is herein and hereby issued therefor
und<:r the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: 'J'hal tlir.- ciiinpany shall [iny especial altenlion to liie prevention of any
surface water getting into the system of underground collecting pipes herein ap-
proved. Such an occurrence is possible and likely if the gullies should be washed
out.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 549
SECOND: The Department will make systematic collections of samples of water
from the water company's source of supply, and if the examinations of the samples
should indicate any contamination whatsoever, then the water company shall adopt
such remedial measures as the State Dopartraont of Health may advise or approve.
This permit is issued under the conditions and stipulations applicable thereto con-
tained in the former permits issued by the Commissioner of Health to the Annville
Water Company.
Harrisburg, Pa., December 23, 1908.
BERWICK, COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Berwick Water Company.
This application was made by the Berwick Water Company of the borough of
Berwick, (Vilumuia county, and is for permission to increase its source of supply
and to extend water works in its water district.
Ben\ick borough, eight thousand population, a community composed largely of
foreigners, and supported by one great industrial concern, the American Car and
Foundi-y Company, lies on a comparatively level plateau, sixty feet or more higher
than the Susquehanna river and on the north hank thereof. The incorporated ter-
ritory is about one mile square. It is in the extreme eastern part of the county of
Columbia, and is bounded on the west by the borough of West Berwick, popula-
tion, three thousand, and rapidly growing, on the north and east by Briar Creek
township, and on the east for a short distance near the river banks by Luzerne
county. The settlement in Briar Creek township, where one thousand people re-
side, is known as North Berwick.
On the opposite or south bank of the river and in Luzerne county is the borough
of Nescopeck, connected by a highway bridge to Berwick. In this settlement of
about eighteen hundred people there are approximately three hundred and fifty
dwellin-s. Hxrrement is disposed of in privy vaults, there being no sewer system.
Slops are thrown out on the surface of the ground, which is porous. Ten cesspools
are reported and five small private sewers. The latter empty into the river at con-
venient points. The velocity of the stream here is quite rapid. Probably sewage
from Nescopeck does not pass across the river to the pumping station in Berwick.
The streets are quite thoroughly piped for public water, and these pipes are owned
by the Nescopeck Water Supply Company. This company purchases water of the
Berwick Water Company, there being a six-inch main under the river, connecting
both systems.
West Berwick borough was recently incorporated out of Briar Creek township.
The houses are of frame consti-uction and the owners are mostly employed in the
mills. There are no sewei-s, but the streets are piped for public water and the mains
are owned by the West Berwick Water Supply Company, which company buys the
water of the Berwick Water Company.
The Berwick AVator Company was chartered by legislative enactment of January
twenty-seventh, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, on which date the bor-
ough of Berwick was erected. Under this act the company was formed, and it
was incorporated by the Governor on IVIarch thirteenth, one thousand eight hundred
and eighteen. The company was bound to introduce water into the borough and to
erect hydrants to use for extinguishing fires. It is a matter of history that the
works were built in one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, the supply being
taken from a spring on the river bank and pumped into a standpipe.
In contemplation of the increase of stock and extensive improvements to the sys-
tem, tlie com()any accepted the (Jeneral Cori)oration Act of eighteen hundred and
seventy-four in eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, and proceeded to obtain an addi-
tional source of supply, which is still in use.
The West Berwick Water Supply Company was incorporated under the laws of
the State in nineteen hundred and two to supply water to the public at the village
of West Berwick in the township of Briar Creek, Columbia county.
The Nescopeck Water Supply Company was incorporated under the laws of the
State in eighteen hundred and ninety-four to supply water to the public in the tow;n-
ship of Nescopeck, Luzerne county. The incorporators of the last two companies
were men or otlicei-s interested in the Berwick Water Company.
The Nescopeck AA'ater Company was incorporated in eighteen hundred and ninety-
one to furnish water for domestic and manufacturing purposes to the public in
Nescopeck. Luzerne county. This company was dissolved by decree of the court in
July, nineteen hundred and one.
1'he Briar Creek Water Company was incorporated in May, nineteen hundred
and one, to supply water to the public in the townsliip of Briar Creek, Columbia
county. So far as the Department is informed, this company has not erected
water works or attempted to supply the jiublic with water. The incorporators may
not have any interest in the Berwick Water Company. However, the incorporators
of the Briar Creek Water Supply Company, approved March twenty-fifth, nine-
teen hundred and four, for the purpose of supplying water to the public in said
township of Briar Creek, appear to have been the officers or men interested in said
Berwick Water Company. It is presumed that the water pipes laid in the streets
550 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
in the village of North Berwick and the township of Briar Creek are the property
of the Briar Creek Water Supply Company, since the Berwick Water Company,
so far as the Department is informed, does not have a right to sell Avater to the
public in this district. However this may be, the Briar Creek Water Supply Com-
pany has not made a report and filed plans of its water works system in the State
Department of Health.
The ATest Salem Water Supply Company was chartered in nineteen hundred and
three for the purpose of supplyiusi water to the public in the township of Salem,
Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, the incorporators being men interested in the Ber-
wick Water Company. It is not known to the Department that this concern has
laid any water works pipes, or attempted to supply tha public with water.
So it appears that the Berwick Water Company supplies water to the West Ber-
wick Water Supply Company, to the Nescopeck Water Supply Company and to
the Briar Creek Water Supply Company, a district in which reside about four-
teen thousand people.
Berwick borough has a combined sewer system. It practically encircles the town
and the sewage is discharged through a five-foot circular drain into the river at the
foot of Oak Street near the boundary line between Berwick and West Berwick.
There are over fifteen hundred buildings in the town. In nineteen hundred and five
less than two hundred of them had sewer connections. Cesspools are common. The
soil is light and gravelly.
The lower or main plant of the American Car and Foundry Company is located
in the western part of the borough, west of Oak and Vine Streets, and is partly
in Berwick and partly in West Berwick. It comprises the rolling mill, steel works,
wheel, forge, paint and smith shops and foundry, where the vast majority of work-
men are employed. The upper plant, where the frame and wood work is done and
the castiron pipe is made, is in the eastern central part of the borough.
The Berwick Water Company has three sources of supply, namely, Glen Brook,
Terners Run and two alleged springs at the edge of the Susquehanna River in
Berwick borough.
On Glen Brook and Briar Creek township thei'e are two reseiToirs situated about
two miles north of Berwick. Both of them are artificial. The lower one holds eight
million four hundred and twenty thousand gallons, is termed Reservoir Number
One and is used for impounding purposes. Reservoir Niunber Two holds three mil-
lion five hundred and twenty-eight thousand gallons, and is used largely as a subsi-
dence basin. The watershed comprises two and eighty-two hundredths square miles.
It is rugged country. Two streams unite above the upper basin to form the main
stream. The source of each branch is a number of springs near the foot of what is
known as Lee Mountain. On the east branch there are seven occupied homesteads.
On the west branch there are twenty dwellings, one school-house, two churches and
a store. All the buildings on this branch, except eight residences, are in the little
village of Summerhill, on the extreme western edge of the watershed.
Ordinarily, when there is plenty of flow, the water is taken directly from the
stream above reservoir Number Two and piped to the town. The supply main
from the lower dam to Berwick is twelve inches in diameter, and a parallel one
is twenty inches in diameter, each sixty-two hundred feet long to the borough line,
where they connect with the distribution system. On the way they pass thro\igh the
village of Foundryville and the village of North Berwick. In each place the pipe
lines are tapped several times.
The reservoirs are fenced in, and a man who lives in the neighborhood below the
dams is constantly employed on patrol duty.
On Vernr-rs Run, in Salem township, Lu'/('rn(< county, distant al)()ut a mile and
a half dtK- east of the Glen ('reek reservoir, is Reservoir Number 'iliree. It is
smaller than number one, but sufficiently high to fui'nish a gi'avity supply to the
borough. The source of this stream is also a numbi-r of springs at the foot of Lee
Mountain. On the watershed, which is two and fifty-three huridr(>dfhs square miles
in extent, there are eight occupied estates, one cliur<'li, one creamery and a school-
house. This arr'u is also patroicd l)y a man in tin' employ of the water company.
He resides on the watershed about lialf a mile above the i-r'servoir. 1^'rom the dam
a ten-inch supply main, thirteen thousand four h\indred and fifty feet long, ex-
tends to and conneets with the twelve-inch pir)e line from (Jlen Brook reservoir.
The juncture is near North Berwick at a point about five lliousand feet below Reser-
voir -Number <')ne. There ai'e a few t.'ips ofT this ten-inch line.
'^I'lie patrols are maintained because the water company realizes that pure water
infected by n.-isf-ent fecal mailer becomes most dangerous and that, therefore, bucIi
I)oiKf)ns accidently put into the streams on the steep slopes of the mountain shed
might rftacti the water district in a short time and cause disiisler.
The two springs, so called, at the edge of the Sus(|iir.Iiji tuia Kiver in the central
part of the borough, and at or near the low water niark of the i-ivei', are covered
over with long, nari'ow, f'ast-iron, water-tight l)oxes, about thirty-six feet long and
seven feet wide aiul <]('<•]>, often on the bottom jen^fljiwise. Tiiese boxes wei-e ))jace(l
in the gravel ovfir the springs and the sides tliei-eof were imbefidcnl s(!veral feet in
the gravel. The expeetation was that only water which [tasses up through the
gravel into the boxes flowing from the alleged springs wrtuld enter the boxes. 'I'he
box neari'Sl the shore is on Ihe eilge at low water, tuid it is about one hundred feet
from the liarik at high water. In this box about midway tliei-(!of is a small box,
about three U:<:1 square and seven ff^et long, filled with stone. A perforated six-
teen ineli pipe extends out through one end of the main box to a three-million galloQ
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 551
pumping PiiKine in tho nearby pump housp. This is the pump suction pipe by
means of which wat<n- is drawn from tho alleged spring and forced directly into the
water distrift. Until recently and as occasion required, this water was delivered
into the system of street pipes in the town.
The second box, not now in use, is located about seventy feet further out in the
stream. It was formerly connected by twenty-four-inch pipe to the first box.
in the fall of nineteen" hundred and five, when firteen inches of water stood over
the intake, at least oiu." leak in the cast-iron jiipe was observed by a Department
ofKcer and evidence of downward currents could be .seen. As the river rises and the
pressure increases, the leaking and the infiltration downward and thence upward
throuu;h thi! gravel into th" intake chamber correspondingly increases undoubtedly.
It is safe to conclude that all of the water which flows into the intake does not
come from the supposed uurlerground flow.
The sixtoen-incli force main from the i)ump house reduces to a ten-inch main at
the corner of Market and Third Streets, and thence it is a ten-inch pipe all the
way to the lowei- works of tiie American ("ar and Foundry Company, with a four-
inch branch, to the upper works of said company. There is a connection between
the force main and the town system of pipes at the corner of Market and Third
Streets, and two others in Third Street near the said lower works. They are
provided with valves, kept closed. There is no way to introduce river water into
the town system excei)t by o])ening these valves. There is a check valve at the
upper works and also at the lower works of the American Car and Foundry Com-
pany, which prevents river water from flowing into the town system, but admits
the mountain water to the industrial plant when the pumps stop or the pressure on
that side is reduced for any reason.
The river water is now used exclusively for industrial purposes, except at such
times as the mountain supply has become depleted and it becomes absolutely nec-
essary to put tlie river water on the town to obviate a water famine. Then the local
authorities and the public are amply warned to boil all water. It is to obviate this
necessity that (he water company purposes to increase its mountain supply.
At both works of the American Car and Foundry Company there are independent
lines of water pijx's laid to the different mills and shops, through which the moun-
tain water is sui)i)lied for drinking puri)oses. Warning signs are placed through-
out the works calling attention of employes to the danger of drinking the water sup-
plied to and used in the works for industrial purposes.
The supply to West Berwick and to Nescopeck and to North Berwick is taken
off the town distributing pijjes so that whatever water is supplied generally through-
out Berwick is also supplied to these other places. For all purposes the consumption
averages two million one hundred thousand gallons daily, of which one million four
hundred thousand gallons is for manufacturing purposes, and is largely used at the
lower plant. The water company suiiplies the town and shops exclusively with
mountain water as long as this is practicable. This, of coui-se, saves pumping.
The next arrangement of operation is to i^ump river water to the lower industrial
plant and possibly the upper plant, keeping tlie town exclusively on the mountain
water. Finally, when the mountaiu water supply becomes prejudicial for town
purposes, recourse is then had to the river source to make up the deficiency.
There is a second pumjung engine in the station. It has a capacity of abotit one
million five hundred thou.sand gallons. It is held in reserve for fire protection.
Tims it api»ears that there is a domestic system and an industrial system of
water works in tlu; district, they being interchangeable. It is also noted that ordi-
narily the river water is supplied largely to the lower industrial plant.
l)uring August, Sei)tember and October of nineteen hundred and five, following
the outl)reak of typhoid fever at the river town of Xanticoke, a few miles up
stream, typhoid fever broke out among the men employed at the lower works in
Berwick, and it did not disappear until i)ure water liad been furnished at the
works and the epidemic had assumed proportions great enough to scare the em-
l)loyes into the observance of rules against drinking river water. Out of ninet.y-
two cases re|)orted , sixty-three were among men employed at the lower works.
The other twenty-nine cases included eleven women, six boys and two girls, and
ten men variously employed in the town or surrotniding country. Had the infection
been in the domestic supply, men, women and children everywhere in the district
should have been pois(ine(l, which was not the case.
'I'lie i)etitioners purpose to build n new reservoir on (ilen Brook, using the present
reservoirs there and build an ;i(l(liiioiKil supply main from X'erneix Run dam to
the new dam on (Men Brook. The Sus(iueli;inna River affords an al)undant supply
i)ut because its waters are polluted by sewage from many cities along its banks
above Berwick an<l because tlii' cost of purifying this water and pumping it would bo
lirohibitive, the water company prefers to develo]i the mount.ain supply to provide
for (loiihle the present po|)nlation of the district. On the b.asis of a i)er capita
cons\uni)tion f(U- industrial puri)os(>s of an amoiuit ecjual ti> that now furnished, a
supply capable of yielding three million gallons daily is sought.
The projiosed plans are inteniled to afford a suflicient gravit.v supply from the
mountains to meet all donu'stic consumption throughout the year and as much
more as may he possible in order to minimize the use of the river water for industrial
purposes.
With the present impounding capacity of fifteen million gallons, in round num-
b(>rs, it is only possible to store eight days' supply for the domestic consumption of
twenty-three thousand people. There are often periods of drought when this amount
552 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
of storage plus the minimum yield of the watei-sheds -would be totally inadequate
to avoid a -water famine. The petitionee estimate that -with a daily domestic con-
sumption of one million eight hundred and forty thousand gallons and an extreme
low i-un-off of six hundred and ninety-two thousand four hundred and thirty-four
gallons for a period of fifty- four days, a storage of fifty million gallons of available
water should be assured to supply the domestic consumers, the pumps being used
during this period to meet the industrial consumption.
To accomplish this purpose it is proposed to build a third dam across Glen,
Brook valley about seven hundred feet below dam number one. It is to be forty-
seven feet high to the top of the embankment, have a concrete core wall, rein-
forced by earth embankment to be two hundred and sixty feet long with a flood
channel on one side, spillway in the centre and a gate house at the foot of the em-
bankment in the reservoir, submerged, with screens on the outside, provided with
three ports at different depths. From the gate house the supply mains to the town
are to extend. A blow-off pipe at the bottom is provided. This structure will
impound twenty-three million eight hundred thousand gallons.
Dam Number One is about twenty-one feet high and one hundred and ninety-five
feet long. Dam Number Two is fifteen feet high by two hundred and thirty feet
long. Both are earthen embankments. Number One having a concrete core wall.
\s the waters from the brook run directly into the upper reservoir during a rain
storm, the bottom is well filled with mud. Provision is made for carrying the
flood -waters around Number One Reservoir through an open conduit, roughly
made in the side of the hill. "When this ditch was constructed, gates were built at
its enti-ance to control the floods and turn the water's into either reservoir, but
at present there is no arrangement by which flood water can be conserved in periods
of drought or whenever desired. So no advantage is taken of summer showers, from
which much good water might be impounded to tide over a drought.
It is proposed to clean out reservoirs number one and two to give a minimum
depth of water in number one reservoir of ten feet and a maximum of twenty-six
feet, and a minimum depth of ten feet in number two reservoir and a maximum of
thirteen feet. In the new reservoir, number four, the minimum depth of water is
to be twenty-six feet and the maximum forty-two feet. By this arrangement fifty-
three million gallons of water is to be impounded as follows: In the present Verners
Run reservoir, three million three hundred thousand gallons; in reservoir number
one, nineteen million four hundred thousand gallons; in reservoir number two,
six million five hundred thousand gallons, and in the proposed reservoir, twenty-
three million eight hundred thousand gallons available draft.
At dam number one it is proposed to tear out the old gate house, substituting
therefor a new one similar to that proposed at dam number foui'. At dam number
two it is purposed to construct a controlling cliamher by means of which, through
various pipes, the water from the main stream above may be delivered into any
one of the three reservoirs on Glen Brook or into the supply mains in the town.
At the head of reservoir number two there is to be a small feed dam with gates on
the pipes which pass beneath the dam to the control chamber at dam number two.
In each one of the several dams a s|)ilhvay mid-length of the dam will be provided.
It is proposed to conduct the flood waters around nil these structures by an im-
provement in the existing flood channel and by extensions of the same. It is to be an
open channel, graded and lined with concrete .sides and on the bottom, to dam
number one. From this point to below the lower dara it is to be a sixty-inch rein-
forced concrete conduit built in the side hill.
From observations made on the ground it is known how much of a precipitation
rendoi"s the waters yi<'lded from the watershed olijcctionally turbid. There is to be
an automatic flood gate arranged in a chamber in the flood channel at dam number
two, whereby all water of such turbidity is diverted from reservoirs number one and
four, and wasted.
It appears that ample drainage facilities are provided for the in(le|)endent drain-
age and cleansing of each basin.
In order to use or utilize all the dry weather flow from Verners Run waternhed,
it will be necessary to provide a pipe leading from .said reservoir, which is forty-three
feet at hitrli-waler mark above the high water in tlie proposed reservoir, into the lat-
ter. If tliere were, a constant draft up<m the V'ei-iiei-s Run dam fiom the town, the
present ten-inch pipe as now ari'anged and connctcd to tli(> twelve-inch from the
Glen Brook supply might carry all the mean dry w(!ather yield from Verners Run,
beijiiise the tr-n-inch pipe has a maximum capacity of nine hundred and forty-two
thousand gaihms per day. But sncli is not the case in practice, so that water
flows over the spillway of Verners Run dam and is wasted when it is the most
valuable. It is proposed to build a twelve-inch main i»aralleling the teM-incIi main
and connr-ct thr- new twelve-indi main with the I welve-iiicli from (Jlen I'rook. The
old ten inch is to continue a.s now t(j coinujct with the twelve-inch to town, but this
is to be in the future the only suftply to the twelve-inch pii)e to the town ; therefore,
there will be a direct sui)i)ly main from Vei-ners Run rr-sei'voir to Bei-wick and a di-
rect HU[»ply main tw<'nty inches in diameter from the Glen I'rook reservoir to Ber-
wick.
The obsr-rved yield f<ir dry weather periods from the lor';il watersheds, although
hisrh when compared to average watersheds, are still c()mparable with yields from
mountain areas in Pennsylvania, "^riie estimated flow and th(! contemplat(!d storage
are reasonably certain to accomplish an adequate supply of drinking water to a
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 553
population of twenty-five thousand people. What the industrial uses of water
may be remains to be proven. It is clearly impossil)l(' to furnish the demands of
both kinds of consumption from the mountain watersheds even now. It is more
desirable to cdnsi-rve tiie virgin pure waters for general town uses and to use the
river water fur manufacturing, than to supply all purposes from the river after
first filtering such water.
It is easily p(jssible by efficient patrol and the maintenance of sanitary conditions
to keep the streams on the mountain pure and wholesome for domestic uses. Tlie
individual householder there is responsible for the proiKT disposititm of jjoisonous
waste. The waiiM- ("ompany is resiionsible for the quality of water it furnishes to
its consumers, which involves the e.xercise of due care in protecting its source of
supply from pollution. And the State is responsible for the preservation of the
purity of the streams for the protection of the public health.
It has been determined that the jjroposed additional source of supply will not be
prejudicial to public health, and the .same is hereby and herein appi'oved and a
permit issued therefor and for the extensions of water pipes in the borough of
Berwick under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That detail plans of all of the dams, reservoirs, gate houses and
chambei's, location of piping, gates and appurtenances and detail plans and profiles
of the supply mains leading to Berwick, as the same shall be upon the completion
of the work herein approved, shall be prepared and filed in the ortice of the State
Department of Health, together with any other iufuralicjii in connection therewith
that may be reiiuired at the close of the seasons work.
SECOND: An accurate plan of the jiipe lines, gates, liydrant locations, blow-
off and drainage facilities, shall be prepared and filed in the oflSce of the Tommis-
sioner of Health at the close of the current year. And, thereafter, annually, plans
of all extensions made to the street pipe system and water works during the year
shall be prepared and filed in said office, together with any other information in
connection therewith that may be required, to the end that the Commissioner of
Health may be informed of the extent of the water works system and the number
of people supplied with such water.
THIRD: Adequate facilities for the quick drainage of every part of the water
■works sj'stem shall be afforded, and these drainage points shall be adequately desig-
nated on the plans to ba filed with the State Department of Health.
FOURTH: The water company shall maintain adequate patrols of the water-
shed, to see that proper receptacles are provided and used and maintained on all
occupied estates, and that all reasonable precautions be taken to prevent any con-
tamination whatsoever of the waters to be supplied to the public. Monthly reports
of all inspections shall be kept and copies thereof, to the satisfaction of the Com-
missioner of Health, shall be filed in said Conunissioner's office.
FIFTH: If, at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
water supply of tlie water works or any ijart thereof has become prejudicial to the
public health, then the water company shall adopt such remedial measures as the
Commissioner of Health may approve or suggest.
SIXTH: Detail plans of the constnictiou and installation of the check valves
shall be prepared and filed with the Commissioner of Health. The water company
shall make frequent inspections of these valves to see that they are securely seated,
and that no river water can possibly pass by these valves into the town system'.
The only place where river water may be introduced into the town system of dis-
tributing pipes shall be at the three places above mentioned, namely, at the corner
of Third and Market Streets and in Third Street near the lower industrial plant.
However, the gates on these by-passes shall be securely closed and never used ex-
cept in tlie face of a water famine, and not tiien unless the public, the local health
officials and the State Commissioner of Health bo notified and amply warned. The
consumers shall be advised by the water company at such times to boil the water.
SEVENTH: The water company shall see to it that its consumers who use
river water at industrial plants shall keep posted throughout the several mills,
shops and places warning sii;ns notifying all the employes of the danger of drink-
ing the water supplied to the plant from the river.
EIGHTH: Regular inspections will be made of the water works system by a
Department officer. The State Department of Health may suggest rules and regu-
lations to govern the supply of water to the public in so' far as the public health
is concerned, and the water company shall co-operate with the Department and
furnish facilities for inspections and assist in the examinations if required. The
company shall keep a weekly report of the operations of the works on forms satis-
factory to the Department of Health and submit copies thereof to the Commissioner
of Health when required.
NINTH: It is expressly stipulated that this permit for an additional water
supply and an extension of water works, relates only to the supply of water
to the public in the borough of Berwick, or the territory defined by the company's
charter. The mere ownership of stock in the West Berwick Water Supply Com-
pany, the Briar Creek Water Supply Company, the West Salem Water "Supply
Com|)any and the Nescopeck Water Supply Company, in the absence of a purchase
of the franchise and property of these independent cori)orations, or of a consolidation
or merger under the laws of the Stale, does not entitle the Berwick Water Company
to rightfully petitii>n for approval of plans to extend water works for the supply of
water to the public in territory outside of the borough of Berwick.
554 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
It is suggested that the Berwick Water Company might find it profitable to
construct permanent weirs on Glen Brook above the reservoirs and to take daily
observations of the yield of the watershed and of the amount of Avater supplied
to the town. This might also be done on the Veners Run water shed. The first
cost would be trifling and the daily observations would involve no additional ex-
pense to the company. The knowledge thus secured might prove of very great value
to the company. The measurements are recommended.
Harrisburg, Pa., March 24th, 190S.
BETHLEHEM, NORTHAMPTON COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Bethlehem, Northampton county,
Pennsylvania, and is for permission to install the necessary plant and to obtain
an additional source of supply of water to the public within said borough.
It appears that on 2klay twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred and seven, a decree
was issued to the Board of \Yater Commissioners of the borough of Bethlehem by
the Commissioner of Health, in which decree, after reviewing the circumstances,
the Commissioner continued "I have determined that the present source of supply
of water to the public in Bethlehem is prejudicial lo public health, and, therefore,
apprise the Board of Water Commissioners of the danger to the public accompany-
ing the use of the existing source of supply and hereby advise and request the
Water Commissioners to prepare and submit to the State Health Department for
consideration, a plan or plans for the supplying of pure water to the public."
The Commissioner further determined "that on or before September first, one
thousand nine hundred and seven, the borough shall comply with the law requir-
ing the filing with the Department of plans and a report relative to its existing
system of water works."
The petitioners report that the present supply has become inadequate since
the annexation of West Bethlehem, and that an examination of all the possible
sources within a radius of ten miles or more has proved them all to be either in-
suflScient or entirely too expensive. The petitioners therefore determined to buy the
lUick Mill property and to obtain thereon a supply of water from deep wells, which
supply will supplant that now obtained from the limestone spring in the borough.
The Illick Mill property now in the possession of the borough comprises nine-
teen and five-tenths acres and stretclies along the banks of Monocacy Creek for a
distance of about three thousand feet up-stream from a point about a mile above
Bethlehem and West Bethlehem, between which the creek is a natural boundary.
On the property are lUick's dam and a mill privilege.
Above the site of the wells Monocacy Creek has a drainage area of forty-three
square miles, ninety per cent, of which is said to be under cultivation. The upper
part of this area is hilly, and here the geological formation is slate, while at the
lower part of the area it is limestone and here the topography is gently rolling.
The Lehigh and Lackawanna branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey fol-
lows the course of the creek, crossing and recrossing it. There is on the drainage
area a population of forty thousand or more, ninety-four per square mile. There
are also along the creek two boroughs. Chapman on the upper part and below it
Bath, which latter is about ten miles above the site of the wells. Bath has now an
estimated population of nine hundred. Around it. also on the watershed, are several
large cem«-nt manufactories, and this recently-developed industry promises to con-
siderablv increase the i)opulation in the vicinity. In nineteen hundred and six
there were in Bath sevei'ai private sewers discharging into Monocacy Creek and a
number of privies overhanging its bank.s.
The deep wells on the Illick Mill property are already drilled or in progress of
drilling. They are to be below the dam to the west of Monocacy Creek, between it
and tlie mill race. Tlie creek here and for a mile or so above has moderately steep
though not hitih side jiili slopes leadinj; to the coinparatively flat territoi'y beyond.
The lower cell has Ijecin com]ileted, Ijeiti^ located .•il)i)nt one iiundrcd feet from tlie
race and thirty feet from the creek, ami just bi'low an overflow from the former to
the latter. It is said to have been drilled eight inches in diameter to a depth ol
Heven hundred and fifty feet, and to have been lined to a depth of two hundred
and fifty feet witli seven-inch casing. The well is said to extend tlirougli limestone
rock with layers of silicious rock. It is said that praelic;illy no waler was found
until a d(;ptli of two hundred and eighty feet was reached, when the well com-
menced to overflow, and it continued to do so in increasing <|uantities as the
depth was increased. It is said that the natural flow rises to the height of eight
feet above tin; ground at the rate of two hundred thousand gallons per day, and
that the well yields nine hundred thousjind gallons per day when the waler in the
well has been lowered twenty-seven feet below the ground; and further, that n
continuous ten-day test with an air comjiressor yielding one million two luimlreil
and fifty thousand gallons daily with a maximum rate of rlischarge of one million
five hundred thousand gallons per day when the water was thirty-five feet below
the Hurfaee fjf the ^rounfl, and fiirlher that bacterioloj^ical and chemical teats
made at the University of Pennsylvania and Lehitrh University proved entirely
Hatisfactory.
The second well, in procesH of construction, is aboul two hundred feet west of the
one just described and about sixty feet from the ra(,e and one hundred and thirty
feet from the creek. It has been drilled twelve inches io diameter and lined with
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 655
twelve-inch casing to the depth of two hundred and fifty feet, below which the well
is hein;;; continued eight inches in diameter. No tests have as yet been reported to
the Department.
The elevation of the ground around the wells is, speaking roughly, five feet
above tiic ordinary elevation of the water surface in the adjacent part of Monocacy
Creek and five feet below tlie elevation of the water surface in lllick's dam. The
mill is one hundred feet distant from the first mentioned well, and a barn and
several dwellings are within two hundred feet of the well and somewhat further
from the second well.
It is proposed to pump, presumably at least in part by water power, from the
•wells to a twenty-inch rising main nineteen hundred and twenty feet long to a
proposed standpipe, to be located on an emim-nce between the wells and the town
and having an elevation of approximately ninety feet above the wells and little or
not at all above the highest parts of Bethlehem. From the standpipe twenty-two
hundred and ten feet of twenty-inch pipe will extend southerly in or near a public
road to the borough line, and will there be connected to the present mains. The
pump station, force main, standpipe and supply main have not been designed in
detail.
A serious conflagration in Bethlehem might, at any time, require water for
fire fighting at the rate of two million gallons per twenty-four hours or more, in
addition to the ordinary consumption of about one million five hundred thousand
gallons per twenty-four hours, a total consumption of three million five hundred
thousand gallons per twenty-four hours. The storage provided must, during the
continuance of the maximum rate of consumption assumed, furnish water at the
rate of one million gallons per twenty-four hours, the excess of this rate of consump-
tion over the rate of the yield of the wells, liberal assumption as two million five
hundred thousand gallons i)er twenty-four hours. It is not known what storage will
be provided in the new standpipe in addition to the nine hundred thousand gallons
provided in the two existing standpipes, but since these must also take care of the
daily fluctuations in the consumption, a million gallons storage might be assumed
to be always maintained, and this amount would be exhausted in eight hours by
the assumed rate of consumption.
Therefore, it appears that the welfare of the community would demand addi-
tional storage and an additional source of supply of pure water, especially in
view of the proposed extending of the distributing system into AVest Bethlehem.
That the pumps and wells might always be ready for service in case of fire, the
layout of the proposed puming station should provide against any possible flooding
of the machinery or surface pollution of the wells by high water in the creek.
Though the wells are deep and at a considerable distance from thickly built-up
communities, it is nut at all impossible that their water may, at some time, be
polluted by the watei-s of Monocacy Creek or sewage of Bethlehem, more especially
if the water in the wells is maintained at a considerable distance below the surface.
Therefore, frequent bacteriological tests of this water should be made.
It is reported that the pressure in parts of the town is at present insufficient for
fire fighting. Such information as has been submitted with the application does not
indicate that any greater pressure would be obtainable in the proposed system.
It has been determined that the proposed source of supply will not be prejudicial
to public health and it is hereby and heroin approved that a permit therefor be
issued under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: Ample facilities shall be provided by means of blow-offs placed at all
low points whereby the rising main, standpipe and supply main may be completely
drained.
SECOND: Detailed plans of the layout at the pumping station and of the rising
main, standpipe, and supply main showing all valves and connections, shall be
filed with and appoved by the Commissioner of Health before work is commenced
on these respective parts of the system and before water is supplied to the public
from the new source, a description and, if necessary, plans of the construction of
the wells shall be filed with the Commissioner of Health.
THIRD: After the proposed works are completed and the supply of water to
the public from the proposed suurce has been commenced, water shall nut be fur-
nished to the public from any other source without a permit from the Commissioner
of Health.
FOITRTH: It is the purpose of the Department to obtain samples of water for
analyses from the various parts of the system from time to time, and the petitioners
shall render such assistance in carrying out this idea as may be necessary and shall
make such alterations in the system and source of supply as the Commissioner of
Health may suggest or ap|>rove or demand in the interests of the public health to
the end that the water supplied through the water-works of the petitioners shall not
be prejudicial to the public health.
FIFTH: Detail records of the operation of the works shall be properly kept on
blank forms to be suggested by this Department and copies thereof shall befurnished
to the Coiuniissiuner of Health.
SIXTH: The iiermissiun herein granted is given under the express stipulation
that the plans ut the present works already called for in the decree of the Commis-
sioner shall be filed with the said Commissioner of Health on or before September
first, nineteen hundred and eight.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., Juy IGth, 1908.
556 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
BIGLER TOWNSHIP, CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Madera Water Company.
This application was made by the Madera Water Company of Madera village,
Bigler township, Clearfield county, and is for permission to obtain an additional
source of supply of water to the public within its chartered territory and to extend
•water pipes in the streets of said village.
It appears that Madera is a mining settlement of about one thousand population,
located in the center of Bigler township, Clearfield county, on Clearfield Creek.
This stream has its head waters in Cambria county at Cresson and Gallitzin
boroughs in the summit of the Allegheny mountains. Thence it flows northerly
through the county and through Clearfield county, joining the West Branch of the
Susquehanna river near the county-seat, which is Clearfield borough. The terri-
tory so drained is mountainous. Madera is on the stream about fourteen miles
above the county-seat. The direct means of communication between the two places
is a branch of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. The village
is also on the Moshanuon and Madera branches of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The
region round about is rich in deposits of bituminous coal and this resource is
mined extensively. There are several operations in and about Madera. The prin-
cipal ones are the Corona Coal and Coke Company, employing about two hundred
men; the Morrisdale Coal Company, employing about one hundred men, and the
Blyth Coal Company, employing about seventy-five men. There are about one
hundred and sixty houses. Fourteen of them have private sewers to the runs.
Otherwise, the shallow privy vault method of sewage disposal is in vogue. Sani-
tary conditions are of a low standard, but the general health of the community is
good at the present time. There are three cases of typhoid fever, attributed to the
use of contaminated well water.
Large quantities of sulphur water are pumped from the mines and drained into
the streams in the region.
The Madera Water Company was chartered in nineteen hundnnl and four for
the purpose of supplying water to the public in the village of Madera. During
the year and the one that followed, the water works system was built, comprising
springs, a storage and distributing reservoir and the pipe system in the village.
The village is located on the east bank of the creek and on the north bank of a
tributary called Alexander Run. The town site is on a side hill, whose summit
is several hundred feet above the village. Numerous springs outcrop on this hill,
and some of them are used as sources of individual supply to the citizens of the
village.
Alexander Run rises about a mile and a half to the east and drains a very pre-
cipitous, small watershed, on which there are several mine operations. The com-
pany's water supply is three small springs. They are located about a mile and a
half southeast of the settlement in the valley of a small brook, tributary to Little
Muddy Run, which in turn empties into Clearfield Creek before Madera village is
reached. These springs are enclosed in masonry, covered over and kept locked.
There is no chance for surface drainage to flow into the springs. From two of
them the water is piped through a four-inch pipe line, one line for each spring,
terminating in a masonry reservoir, fifty-five feet long by thirty-six feet wide by six
feet deep. The bottom is natural earth. The structure stores eighty-nine thou-
sand gallons of wat(!r, and when full the surface elevation is seventy feet above the
village. The reservoir is distant about one thousand feet from the two springs.
A six-inch drain pipe is provided to empty the reservoir into the brook. A five-foot
board fence closes the basin.
From the reservoir the water is conducted by gravity through a six-inch cast-
iron pipe to the village, aljout a mile and a half distant. This i)ii)(i line follows
the valley of Muddy Run and Clearfied Creek, and is laid in a highway.
lietween the reservoir and the village the third spring is located. It is on the
hillside to the east of the road, or main public line, and at elevation about equal to
the reservoir elevation. The water is piped from it through a four-inch line into the
six-incb gravity main leading to Madera.
There are three and a half miles of cast-iron pipe laid in the streets of the vil-
lage. The diamf'ters range from six to two inches. One hundred and ten houses are
supplied. Probably eight hundred people reside in these dwellings. The remaining
inhabitants obtain their drinking water from i)rivate wells and springs.
Formerly the water c()in[)any furnished the Morrisdale Coal Company, but this
service had to be discontinued owing to lack of supply.
The flow of the thri-r' sjjrings above deHcrilMjd does not exceed twenty-five thou-
sand gallons per day during protracted dry periods. The watersheds above the
BpringH are unpopulated. Eight years ago Madera had a population of two hun-
<lred. It is confidently expectr-d that the; villagi; will lapidly increase! in size b(!-
cuuse of the extensive mining operations now being d<'velii)M'd in the territory. To
meet the present ro<|iiiretnenls and increased (leinands for wati-r consumption, the
water company stands in ni^ed of an adilitional source of sujjpjy. J'l'ior to tlie
present season the three springs constituting llie existing source weie ampil" iu
flow to supply tli<; people with drinking wat(!r, hut the drought of the current aea-
son has practically dried u|) tin; spriiiu;H. The inliabitaiils in the western section of
the village at present are coiniiellci] to seek llieii- (irinking water from dug wells.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 557
The three cases of typhoid fever in this locality are believed to be due to the use
of this dug well supply. The use of ground or spring water taken from the
vicinity of privy vaults and cesspools of the percolating tj'pe, where located on a
hillside subject to surface flow contamination, is a suspicious practice. The in-
terests of the public health demand that proper receptacles for sewage should be
used in order to make impossible the escape of any sewage matter, either from the
surface of the ground or underneath it, to the sources of drinking water supply.
The water company has no additional plans of its street pipe system showing the
locations of pipes, hydrants, valves, drainage facilities and the sizes of the
pipes.
The Madera Water Company purposes to build a collecting reservoir about a mile
northeast of the village near the headwaters of a brook tributary to Alexander
Run. The source is to be a spring. This spring is on the laud of Joseph K. Minds.
_No plans have been submitted of the details of the reservoir, or of the proposed six-
inch cast-iron pipe line from it to connect to the street pipe system in the village.
The petitioners, however, state that the new reservoir will be one hundred and
seventy-five feet above the village, and that it will probably include a masonry dam,
which will dam up the water to a depth of about six feet, storing about one hun-
dred thousand gallons. At the site chosen it would appear that the watershed
will have an area of less than three-quarters of a square mile. The land is heavily
wooded and there is one occupied dwelling on the watershed.
It is impossible for the Department to give a fair consideration to a proposition of
this kind when the petitioners neglect to submit adequate plans and data.
As the proi)ositiou now stands the new reservoir will be one hundred feet higher
than the old reservoir. Then-fore, the old reservoir must be abandoned, or there
must be two services in the village, one a high service and the other a low service.
Since there are fire hydrants distributed in the town, no one would desire to be
on the low service district, and this would result probably in the entire village
being put on the high service so long as the supply was capable of furnishing the
water. Then the old service, or low pressure, would have to be resorted to for
a part of the village. Or it may be that the water company intends to introduce an
auxiliary pumping station or an intermediate collecting reservoir, to be placed at
the same elevation as the old reservoir.
It seems that the details have not been thought over; the great haste at the
present time being for an immediate supply of water to the village. The Depart-
ment's representati^e measured the flow on the day of his inspection and ascertained
it to be about fifty thousand gallons per twenty- four hours.
Within one hundred feet of the proposed new spring there is a dwelling and a
shallow privy vault. By the construction of this vault and its proper maintenance,
and by the walling up and proper protection of the soring there should be no danger
of contamination, but the water company should attend to this.
It has been determined that the proposed source of supply will not be prejudicial
to public health, and a permit is hereby and herein issued therefor, under the fol-
lowing conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: The water company shall on or before December first, nineteen hun-
dred and eight, prepare and file in the ofliee of the Commissioner of Health com-
plete plans of the existing water works, showing reservoirs, springs, pipe line and
watersheds thereabove, the supply mains and distributing pipes in the streets and
all gates, hydrants and drainage and blow-off facilities.
SECOND: Trovision shall be made at all low points for the drainage and flush-
ing of supply mains and distributing pipes.
THIRD: The water company may extend its street pipe lines on the express
condition that at the close of each season's work plans thereof, together with any
and all information in relation thereto that may be required, shall be tiled
in the office of the Commissioner of Health, to the end that the State Department
of Health may be kept fully informed of the extent of the water works system and
the public use thereof.
FOURTH: The water company shall provide a masonry and water-tight privy
vault on the property of Joseph K. Minds, and shall see that this is used and
properly maintained, in order that all contamination of the proposed spring and
reservoir shall be prevented.
FIFTH: That before the water company builds the reservoir it .shall submit a
detail plan thereof, which must be approved by the Commissioner of Health. From
the area which it is pro])osed to flood with water all luani. mud and vegetable mat-
ter shall be removed. I'lans shall include the contour of the high water mark and
the configuration of the sides and bottom of the reservoir.
SIXTH: Surface water shall be excluded from the new reservoir. The new
spring shall be walled ui) in masonry and covered over and pn)tectc^l from con-
tamination and the water from it shall be piped into the storage reservoir. In this
manner the quality of the water should be equal to that now supplied to the
village.
If the company purposes to make a storage reservoir for surface water, then
ample provision uuist be made for conducting all the drainaire from aroutid the
house and immediate vicinity to below the dam. and detail plans of all this im-
provement shall be submitted to and approved by the Commissioner of Health be-
fore the work is done.
3n
558 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
SEVENTH: If at any time the water works system or the source of supply
or any part therefor shall in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health have be-
come a menace or prejudicial to the public health, then such remedial measures
shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health may demand, suggest or approve.
EI(JHTU: The water company shall cause muuthly inspections lo be made of the
watei-sheds above its source of supply, and any change thereon from e.visting con-
ditions, such as the erection of any new buildings or the removal of timber or
other operation, shall be reported immediately to the Commissioner of Health.
Whenever required, detail reports of the operation of the water works system shall
be kept on blank forms satisfactory to the Commissioner of Health and copies of
the same shall be filed with the said Commissioner.
Harrisburg, Pa., September 2ud, 1908.
BIGLERVILLE BOROUGH, ADAMS COUNTY.
Biglerville Water Company. .
This application was made by the Biglerville Water Company, of Biglerville
borough, Adams county, and is for penuission to install a system of public water
works and to obtain a source of supply therefor.
It appears that the borough of Biglerville, with a population of four hundred,
comprises a manufacturing and farming community in Adams county, seven miles
north of Gettysburg on the Gettysburg and Harrisburg Branch of the Philadelp-
phia and Reading Railway. The borough was incorporated from Butler township
in nineteen hundred and three and has an area of three hundred and seventy-three
acres. In nineteen hundred the town had a population of about two hundred and
eighty. Besides fanning in the vicinity, there are half a dozen small manufacturing
plants in the borough, including a canning factory and apple evaporating works.
There is no flowing water in the vicinity other than a small tributary of the
Conewago Creek, which rises northwest of Biglerville. There are no sewers in
ihe town. Of the eighty houses in the borough, six are reported to have cesspools
and the i-emainder shallow privy vaults as the only means of sewage disposal.
Wash water, garbage, etc., are generally thrown on the ground.
Water for domestic purposes is obtained principally from individual drilled
wells, about fifty feet deep. There arc also in the borough, six dug wells and six cis-
terns, so it is reported. In spite of these conditions, typhoid fever has been of
rare occurrence.
The Biglerville Water Company was chartered September fifth, nineteen hun-
dred and eight for the purpose of supplying water to the inhabitants of the borough
of Biglerville.
The water company has already constructed a reservoir on Yellow Hill, oue
mile northwest of the borough in Butler township. This reservoir if formed by a
concrete breast seventy-eight feet long across a natural ravine. The sides of the
reservoir are rip-rapped on a one to one inside slope, and extend above the natural
surface of the ground, thus preventing the run-off from the immediate vicinity en-
tering the reservoir. The basin has an elevation above Biglerville of about one hun-
dred and twenty-two feet, a capacity of about two hundred thousand gallons, and
when it is full the water has a depth of six feet and a suiface area of about forty-
seven hundred square feet. Through the; concrete breast there are two six-inch cast-
iron pipes, flush with the bottom of the reservoir, one for draining it and the other
being the six-inch gravity supply main to Biglerville.
A six-inch gravity main has already been constructed from the reservoir south-
easterly through private property, a distance of aliout thirly-uiue hundred feet, to
the western borough line, whence the six-inch main extends easterly through the
main street of the borough, a distance of about one mile. In the western i)art of
tlie borough a four-inch lateral extenfls from the main five hundred feet south in
I'enn Street. A four-inch lateral is also in process of construction in the central
part of the town, in (Jeltysburg Sln-et, about seven linndi'cd feet south aiul one
thousand feet north from the six-inch main. 'IMiere will thus be four dead ends in
the borough.
The source of supply to the res(^rvoir comprises three siivill springs. One of
these is located thirty feet from the reservoir in tli<! westei'u slope of tlie ravine in
wliieh the basin lies. 'J'liis spring is coiiipleti'ly walled and eoNci-ed liy u masonry
structure, and its water flows through a three-inch teri'a cotla pipe directly into
the reservoir. The slope above tiie spring is cultivated and contains no habitation,
the buildings of the farm to which this area belongs being located beyond the crest
of the hill.
The second spring is located on the land of John P^int in tlie homd of the ravine
about one-f|uarter of a mile north of tin- reservoir. This spring is in a dilaijidated
and roofless spring-house, long sincM; abandoned, and the water flows from it
through an open and natural clumnel to tin; reservoir. About one; Inuidred feet to
the north of this spring, on the slope above it, is tlii' residence of .Tohn Kunt. In
the vicinity are the barn and barnyard and an overflowing privy. 'J'lie sloj>e above
the spring and the sides of the ravine above the run an- largely under cultivation,
although there is some wooflland on the eastt^rn slope.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. D59
The third spring i.5 located on tho land of Edwanl Laiiver at the foot of the
western slope of the ravinu midway between tho Funt spring and the reservoir.
The water flows through an open channel to the run from the Funt spring. This
third spring is in i)oggy ground and is not protected in any way. As already indi-
cated, tho slope above it is under cultivation.
The total drainane area ai)ove the siiring is one hundred acres and contains the
one farmstead mentioned. The flow of the three springs is reported to have meas-
ured sixty thousand gallons per day in July and August, nineteen hundred and
eight. On Sei)temliear fourteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, the flow appeared
to be somewhat le.ss than this. The flow from the Funt spring is probably more thau
the combined flow oi the other two springs.
It is c.vpec'ted tiuit the water system will have forty house connections to it at
ouee and ijrobai)ly most of the forty remaining houses in the near future. It is
also probable that the Reading Railway t'ompany may, before long, obtain water
from the water company for its locomotives. The local industries have their own
drilled wells and will probably continue to use them. Fire plugs have been installed
on the dislril>uling s.\slem.
The domestic water supi)Iy obtained from shallow wells in the vicinity of loose
pri\y vaults and cesspools and where waste water is allowed to run over the surface
of the ground is susi)icious. Therefore, the furnishing of a sufficient supply of pure
water from outside of the borough is desirable.
The proposed suiiply will proliably bo sufficient for some time to come, but it is
doubtful whether the two smaller springs, without the Funt s|)ring, would be sufti-
cient to meet the deinauds of the prosiieetive patrons of the water com|)any. Tho lo-
<'atiou of tho I\int spring and of the open run from it to the reservoir inunediately
below the farm buildings mentioned is extremely objectionable. All the springs
should be completely enclosed to prevent any possible contamination reaching them,
and the water should be itiped from them to the reservoir. The run-off from above
the reservoir, inchuling Ihe .surface wash from around the farmstead, should be con-
ducted around the reservoir by means of an adequate channel, provided for this
purpose. Proper moans should bo provided for sewage disposal at the dwelling, to
whi(-h end the DepartuKuit will use its influence. However, it would be much more
desirable for the water company to purchase this estate and raze the buildings and
strip oil the surface soil in the vicinity.
Tlie capacity of the reservoir, abi)ut two hundred thousand gallons, should be
sufficient to furnish fair fire protection and also to allow- for the daily variation in
consumption so long as the sources of supply are adequate for the town, provided
care is taken in opera tiiui' the system to see that the reservoir is always as nearly
full as is practicable. The six-inch gravity main should furnish two or three mod-
erate fire streams in the tentral [larl of Ihe town, so long as the pipes remain olean
and free from incrustations. At tho extreniitios of the four-inch laterals the fire
service will be loss eflicient.
It has been determined that the jiroposed water works and source of supply will
not be pnOuilicial to the public health and a permit is hereby and herein issued
therefor under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: JSefore water is furnished to the public, the water company shall file
with the State Dei)artment of Health a plan of the watershed, showing the location
of all streams, highways, buiklings and other possible sources of pollution; also,
detailecl plans of the reservoir and springs, a plan and profile of the gravity main
and a plan of the distributing system, showing tho location of all blow-offs, valves
and tho sizes of pipe. At tho end of each season's work a plan showing the exten-
sions made to the distributing system during the y(>ar and such other inf(U-mat'on
as may be retiuired, shall be filed with the State Department of Health, in order
that tiio said I)e[iartment may always be informed of the extend of the system and
of its use by tho public.
SECOND: Refore water is supi)lied to tho public, all the springs shall be ade-
quately protected from surface wash and chance or malicious pollution by means
of closed water-tight ma.sonry structur(>s. The water shall bo jiipod from tlie
springs directly into tho reservoir. The surface run-off from the are;i above the
reservoir shall at no time be allowed to flow into the reservoir, but shall bo con-
veyed around it in a channel ade(pmte to carry this flow at all times.
THIRD: The reservoir shall lie otToctively protected by a fence against chance
or malicious pollution. A screen shall be provided in the reservoir over the inlet to
the supply main and this inlet should preferably be raised somewhat above tin
bottom of the reservoir.
FOFRTIl: Since the main sjiring is near the Funf residence, the water com-
pany shall liave a sanitary inspet'tion made of this properly e\ery month to ascer-
tain whether there bo any exislini; menace to the purity of the waters of the Funt
spring, and Ihe leporls of the insjii-ction shall bo filed with the Department of
Healtli. The water company shall see that a water-tight, masonry privy vault is
constructed at the Funt farmstead and that the same is jiroperly mainlaim>d. and
thai oilier wastes from this property are disposed of in as sanitary way as possible.
Any neglect on the part of any individual or owner of property on the watersheds
above tiie siirings to comply with sanitary regulations shall be promptly reported
by tho water (Himjiany to the Commissioner of Health. The presence of any infec-
tiuus diseases on Ihe watersheds shall bo promptly reported to the said Commis-
sioner of Health.
560 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
FIFTH: The water company shall keep mouthly reports of the operation of its
system on blank forms satisfactory to the State Department of Health and copies
thereof shall be tiled with the said Department.
SIXTH: If at any time the water supply or water works or any part thereof
shall be found prejudicial to the public health, such remedial measures shall be
adopted as the Commissioner of Health shall approve or advise.
Harrisburg, I'a., November 23rd, 190S.
BLACKLICK TOWNSHIP, CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Nant-y-Glo Water Company,
This application was made by an association locally known as the Nant-y-Glo
Water Company, formed and controlled by Montell Davis and E. C. Davis, and is
for permission to install a system of water works and supply water to the citizens of
Nant-y-Glo, in Jackson and Blacklick townships, Cambria county.
It appears that Nant-y-Glo, a mining village in a mining district opened within
the past ten or fifteen years, is in the western part of Cambria couuty, ten miles
northeast of Johnstown, in Blacklick and Jackson townships. It. is on the Black-
lick branch of the Cambria and Clearfield Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
which connects Nant-y-Glo with Cresson on the east (on the main line of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad) and Indiana borough on the west. Ebensburg, the county seat
of Cambria, is on the same branch, seven miles to the east.
The South Fork of Blacklick Creek, one of the branches of the Kiskiminetas
River, separates the two townships, and with the railroad on its eastern bank
divides Nant-y-CJlo, about three-eighth of the town being to the east in Blacklick
township and five-eighths to the east in Jackson township.
Nant-y-Glo is strictly a mining village and has a population of about one thou-
sand. A considerable proportion, though by no means the majority of the popula-
tion, is foreign. The entire town has sprung up since mining operations were
started in this vicinity a decade or more ago.
The South Fork of Blacklick Creek winds from its source nine miles to the vil-
lage of Nant-j'-Glo, where it is joined from the south by Schuman Run, a stream
about three miles long, and from the north by a small run about two miles long.
The village is not built up close to the banks of the main stream on either of the
runs. Twenty-four miles below Nant-y-(ilo, Blacklick Creek joins with the Cone-
maugh to form the Kiskiminetas which enters the Allegheny just above Freeport.
Tiie country in the viciuity of Nant-y-Glo is sparsely populated, but being a new
mining district, nothing definite can be said of the future.
Close to the western bank of Schuman Run on the southern outskirts of the vil-
lage, is a mine of the Nant-y-Glo Coal Mining Company, of Philadelphia, which, it
is said, produces three hundred to four hundred tons daily, and just south of this,
Pennsylvania Mine Number fourteen, of the Pcniisyhiinia , P.eacii Creek and
Eastern Coal Com|jany, of New York, from which fixe hundred or more tons are
mined daily. Two mili's north of the village, near the small run already mentioned,
is the Lincoln mine of the Lincoln Coal Company, (jf New York, which is at present
running with a small shift of men, but it is said will shortly i)i'oiluce three to four
hundre<l tons daily. In the eastern part of the village and northeast of the creek,
is the Ivy Hill mine of the Ivy Hill Coal Company (P.arker I'.rus. , Lhensburg) ,
producing three hundred tons daily. All of tlii'se niiiu^s discharge mine (lrainag(!
•into the streams. 1'he Ivy Hill mine drainage is said to a\crage on;- hundred tliou-
Band gallons daily, based on pump rating, although the pumps lia\c a total capacity
of six hundn-d thousand galhms daily. The stream is niarkcdly polluli'd with mine
drainage. About a quarter of a mile east of Nant-y-(;io, the Springfield Coal and
Coke Company is oji'-ning up a large mine. A mile or so riirliici' up the stream is
a small chemical works, the output of which is said to he largely the proilucts of
the destruction of wcjod. It is said that this works pollutes the si ream to eoiisiderable
extent.
A single bridge connects the two parts of the village. Thai pml to Ihe uorlheast
is on ground which risi-s rapidly from tlie creek to an elexaiiou of nboul sixly-fiv(!
feet. To about six houses on the lower ground water is piped in a two and a-half-
inch pipe fr(jiu a spring and small reservfjir on the hill to the north. This spring
and reservoir are reasonably well itn^tected and are above all haliitation. 'i'lu;
Bijrlng is said to have been recently maliciously oi)ened up to allow cattle tf) water
there, but this dispute will probably be settled. The present applicants for a
permit for a new supply are those persoiuilly inlerestcd in this supply. There are
also several wells in this locality.
On the same side of the creek near the Ivy Hill eonl iniiu' are twenty-eighl
houses, owned l)y Barker Brothers. Four of these are furnished with water ))ii)ed
to the houses from a rn-ighboring spring. The remaining twenty-four carry their
water from four running spouts, to wideh it is iiijied from a second spring' in Ihe
vicinity. Both of Ih 'se springs are said to be above all lialiitation , and although
not protected from surface water, are probably reasonably safe, exce|)t fr<jm thi;
danger of chance or malicifjus iiolhition. 'I'lie boiler su|)|dy (nv IIm- Ivy Hill <'oal
Company is taken from a liore hob; at the powi-r plant, ami is said to be satis-
factory.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 561
To the southwest of the creek and west of Schuman Run the ground rises from
the valley of the run and creek to an elevation of about eighty-live feet. Here the
village is laid out in four blocks, though these are not built up solid, and there are
occasional houses outside of them. Forty-six frame houses in pairs, belonging to
one of the coal companies, extend for one thousand feet or more south ft-om the
principal part of the village. The water supply on this side of the creek is
derived from about fifteen wells (several of them dug) and five or more open
springs, several of which are subject to surface pollution and drainage from houses
above them. . , . , .,
The Tennsylvania, Beech Creek and Eastern Coal Company obtain their boiler
supply from Schuman Run at a point in the outskirts of the village. The Nant-y-Glo
('oal "Company use the less sulphurous mine drainage in their boilers. The Penn-
sylvania, Bench Creek and Eastern Coal Company have in view a supply of water
from one of the tributary runs further up the South Fork of Blacklick Creek. It is
said, however, that they are only doing enough work on the proposition to hold
their charter, and it is not known locally how extensive a supply is contemplated.
The Si)riugfield Coal and Coke Comi)any in connection with opening their mine
will probably develop a considerable village in its vicinity, and may very likely
supply the sam;; with water.
The village consists practically entirely of small frame houses, although many
of them have stone foundations. There is one hotel and there are several stores.
There is neither gas nor electric lighting for cither streets or houses. There are
no .paved streets or gutters. There is said to be only one inside closet. Practically
every house has its privy. Almost all the waste water finds its way to the streams
through natural water courses. Just below the bridge across the creek a slaughter-
house projects over the stream, ancl. is said to discharge its wastes into the latter
and at times to be the source of extremely offensive odors.
Twelve cases of typhoid fever are reported in Nant-y-Glo in the fall of nineteen
hundred and six, and investigations by Department officials indicate that the infec-
tion came from overflowing privies, the drainage of which reached wells and
springs. There were ten cases or more in the village during the last half of nine-
teen hundred and seven.
Montell Davis and E. C. Davis, the applicants, propose to introduce a supply
of water from Davis Run, a small tributary of the run entering Nant-y-Glo from
the north. It is proposed to install a small intake dam, gravity main to the vil-
lage, and a distributing system with fire plugs. Nothing is said of the fire service
in the api)li<atiou, but in the correspondence this is put as one of the urgent reasons
for installing the system at once.
There is no incorporated company, but it is evidently intended that the supply
shall be a strictly public one. In the application it is stated that one hundred and
fifty acres are to he served at once, subject to applications from citizens. Permits
have i)een obtained from the townships to allow the laying of pipes, and an agree-
ments has b(>en drawn up with those owners whose properties are crossed by the
viirious pipe lines. This agreement reads in part as follows:
"That wo, the undesigned, all parties of the first part, and Montell
Davis and Everett C. Davis, parties of the second part,
"It being fully understood, however, that the said pipe line is to
he used by (he said parties of the second part for the purpose of the
water main to supply water to the citizens of the village of Nant-y-
CIo and the various districts surrounding said village or lying adjacent
hereto, and for no other purpose ."
Thus it appears that a public supply is contemplated should tiie source prove
adequate, and also that per-sons not included in the agreement may be refused the
right to connect with the puitlic system.
The area of the wat(M-shed of the proposed supply above the proposed intake is
statefl as one hundred and sixty-six acres, or twenty-six hundredths stpiare miles.
The territory is said to lie entirely uninhabited. It is traversed by peiluips a half
mile of road, which leads from Nant-y-Glo to a solitary habitation beyond the
watei-shed, to which place there is access from another direction as well. This
road crosses the stream at least onci\ Practically the entire area is wooded, and
it is saitl that all of it has been timbered within the last fifteen years. A large part
of the area is covered with a scrul) growth.
Much of the ground is covered entirely with large rocks approaching boulders in
size. Clay was also very evidetit in i)laces.
Assuming a minimum rainfall of live-tenths of an inch per month, the average
daily fall woulil be seventy-five thousand gallons on a quarter square mile anil ji run-
off of fifty i)er cent, would gi\-e an av(M-aw stream flow of ihirty-se\-en ihousami gal-
lons per dny. Probably r(>liable records of rainfall kept at .Tohnstinvn show the
precipitation fi>r October to have b(>en forty-eight hundredths inches in eighteen hun-
dred and eighty-seven and thirty-hundredths inches in eighteen hundred and eighty-
eight, these being the only two mouths in twenty-six yeai"s over a period of thirty-
nine years in which the precipitation fell below seven-tenths of an im-h. From the
eharaclei' of the watershed, it would seem that there shoiihl l)e a very considerable
natural ground storage, hut whethi-r this woulil be suflieieut to maintain the
assumed minimum stream flow throughout the period affected by a thirty-day
36-17— ] 90S
562 THIRD AXXUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
period of mininnim rainfall or to maintain a greater daily flow throughout a longer
period on which the average rainfall would be considerably greater (over two
inches precipitation in sixty days, including October, in either of the two years
already mentioned) is a question to be determined only by a series of stream
gaiigings* such as have not been made on the stream in question.
On September twenty-seventh, previous to wliich weather conditions had been
normal, the watei-shed seemed wither wet. On the morning of September twenty-
eighth, the head of water on an eight-inch weir was about three inches, which re-
duces to one hundred and sixty-two thousand gallons daily. From all reports,
October is usuallj* in the driest part of the year in Cambria county, although the
present year has been a wet one. The petitioners claim that they have watched
the stream carefully during the past summer aud at no time in this period or in
some ten years past, during which they have frequently observed it casually, has the
flow of this sfre<;m been appreciably less than at the time of the Department's in-
y.'Stigation. This is. of course, meager data as to the quantity of water when there
is considerable doubt as to its being a sufficient supply.
Just below the site of the proposed intake another small run joins the run in-
tended to be used, from the west. This second run has a watershed of, perhaps,
one-third the area of the proposed supply. In case of necessity, it might be used
to increase the supply, either by placing the intake below the junction or by having
an intake on each run and joining the pipes. While but little head would be lost
by the fii-st method, every available foot of head will be required for an adequate
lire service. A public mouutain road traverses the side hill above this run.
According to the api)!ication, the intake dam proposed will have a caiiacity of
about twenty thousand gallons. Assuming that the proposed flow of the stream
would be suflicient for domestic purposes, it is very evident, however, that for fire
service storage must be relied upon entirely, Therefore, unless a distributing
reservoir of one hundred and fifty thousand gallons or more capacity be constructed
near Xant-y-Glo the dam at the intake should certainly have such a capacity, or
greater.
A dam of very much greater capacity, such as might be built to supply the ordi-
nary daily demand during a dry spell of several weeks, could not ho built at the
proposed intake site without much excavation, or else a large embaukiueiit for one
side of the dam as well as a breast across the valley. Moi'eovei', w(>re the waters
of the stream backed very far above the proposed dam siti", property above that
owned by the applicants would be flooded, which would be undesirable whether it
would cause trouble at the present or not. As already mentioned, to locate the
dam even one hundred feet or so further down stream would mean the loss of head
in town for fire, and here also the same objections hold as to the practicability of
constructing a storage dam.
Judging from the suiface, any excavation in the vicinity of the intake site would
be almost entirely in rock.
The small concrete reservoir (capacity about ten thousand gallons) on the hill
north of the village in lilacklick township and already referred to as furnishing water
to the applicants and several i)artieH in tli'> lower |)art of the \illage, is fed by a
small sfii-ing in the vicinity, aufl the supiily is carried to the consumers la a two and
a-half-inch pipe. The applicants own tlu; groiuid around this spring and reservoir
anfl a considerable interest in its development. They state that they intend to iiin
the fiipe from the new supply up onto the hill and connect it with the two and a-half-
inch pii)e m-ar the pri'scnt reservoir, cutting <iut the latter entirely. The two and a-
lialf-incli pi|)f,it is hoped, will have a suflicient ca|iacity for the pi'escnt. This
present reservoir is about tliirty-tive feet below the hydraulic gradient for a fire;
service flow in the jtroposcd pipe line.
A distributing reservoir might be built at no great distance up on the hillside about
on the steepest hydraulic gradient for the pi)te pror)osed at i»resent. Such a I'eser-
voir, if built at some time in the future, \vould, with an adiMpiate distributing sys-
tem, insure fire protection and reduce the oi'diiiary pi'essuri' on iiousc coinii'ctinjis
and fixtures.
I'robably for the present tlie stream flow would be suflicient for doineslic purjKiscs
anfl a small dam at the intake for a fire service. If the future deniiiiid exceed the
NUp()ly available here, probably otlier runs in the same valley cidild hi' dcveiopefl
instead of providing storage on thc^ present run, or by buying inoic pi'operty such
storage could b<' (irovided, which would rn-oiiaiily i)e more (lesiralde, since tlier('
would be a smaller watershed to be kept free fi'oin i»olluliou. W'fU'e other streams
develof)i'f| without building storage reservoirs, [)robably the nifisl sntisfacliou would
result from building a large distributing reservoir near Nant-y-(Jlo, which would
also obviate thr,> tiecessity of increasing the size of ihe -.'rnvjiy rn.'iiii in llie \alley for
some lime.
The supply main proposed is to consist of aliout foily-roiir hmiilrcl feet of six-
inch pipe. 'J'here is to ()e two thousand feet of existing two and a-half-inch piF)e
incorjiorated in the sysfem, merging the supply main into the distributing system.
The rlistributing system is to consist of c|e\cn hundrefj feet of six-inch iiipe Ctoin the
lower end of the two and a-half-inch pipe crossiu'.' the creek and in Koheiis Street
to corner of Uoberls and J'aroline Streets, and of Iwetily-nine hundred feet fif i"our-
inch pipe JM i,loy<l and <*aroline Sti-ee|s and in the central North and South Streets.
It is proposed thai at some time in the future a six-iiu-h main be laid connecting the
six-inch f)i[»e from the intake where it joins the two arul a-half-inch i)ipe, straight
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 563
across the valley of the South Fork of Blacklick Creek, with the distributing main
in the western part of Roberts Street. Th^n the two and a-half-inch pipe would
remain in service for distribution, but would no longer carry the entire flow.
The applicants are considering seriously using spiral riveted pipe, at least for
the gravity main.
The fire protection which would be furnished by six-inch gravity and distributing
mains would be poor. Eight-inch pipes would give very much better service. The six-
inch pipe has not been dofinitely decided upon.
In order to connect with ilie two and a-half-inch pipe at the reservoir, the gravity
main would leave the pui>lic road and be carried up on the hill. If continued in the
future as proposed, to the western part of Roberts Street, this would be about the
shortest route to the latter point. This arrangement would have the following advan-
tages: First, the time required for, and the first cost of the installation of the
system would be somewhat less owing to the use of the present two and a-half-inch
pipe; second, the pipe lines from the point on the hill to different parts of the
distributing system would be somewhat of a safeguard against breaks; third, the
gravity main would be near a site for a possible future distributing reservoir.
On the other hand, if the gravity main were continued in the public road and
connected to the six-inch distributing main where it was proposed to connect the
latter to the lower end of llie two and a-half-inch pipe, the gravity main would be on
a more nearly tmiform grade and the full capacity of the system would be realized
from the beginning. The lower end of the two and a-half-inch pipe could be connected
with such a main as part of the distributing system and, if desirable, the connec-
tion with the present reservoir on the hill could be retained in case of emergencien
or heavy demand on the sj'stem, a check-valve being placed at the reservoir.
From the intake to the reservoir on the hill would take forty-four hundred feet of
pipe, and from here to Roberts Street two thousand feet, making sixty-four hun-
dred fert. From the intake to the distributing main (six-inch) in the eastern part of
the village, would take sixty-two hundred feet.
The proposed distributing system would probably be considerably improved both
with regard to circulation and fire protection, by increasing the four-inch pipe in
the principal North and South Streets to six inches, or eight inches from Roberts
Street to Davis Street, and connecting it at the latter point by four-inch pipe in
Davis Street to the four-inch laterals in Caroline Street and Lloyd Street.
With these suggestions, the distributing system would consist of eighteen hun-
dred feet of six-inch pipe and twenty-nine hundred feet of four-inch pipe. The
western three hundred feet in Roberts Street might be reduced to four inches, but
this would not be desirable if the proposed six-inch pipe from near the present
reservoir on the hill is to intersect Roberts Street at its western end.
To summarize, it appears that it is desirable that a domestic water supply and
fire protection system of water works should be installed. The petitioners are
willing to build the system proposed for their own particular benefit and for the
benefit of others.
A very considerable part of the town consists of houses owned by the different
coal companies, many of which are already supplied with water. Moreover, it
seems that a considerable part of the future growth will consist of mine em-
ployes who will probably live in houses to be built by an additional mining
company and some iierhaps i)y the present companies. Therofore, the intro-
dviction of water being a private enterprise, naturally for the purpose of earning
a profit, it is not to be expected that the applicants will spend more money on the
project than reasonably sure profits warrant.
The springs and wells which are the pivsent sources of water supply are evidently
unfit for domestic use, and a pure supply of water would be in the interests of
public health.
From all available information it seems that the proposed source of supply will
be reasonably pure.
While the quantity is small, it will in all probability be adequate for the domestic
consumption for a few years and may be for a much longer time. It is also
possible to provide a fairly satisfactory fire protection. This. howevtM*, and the
augni(>nting of the sujiply in the future are questions to be considered in detail by the
water company. The sizes of pipes have been discussed, but these also must be
finally d(^<Mde(l upon by the a[)plicants.
It has been detiMMuined that the jiroposed water works system and the source of
supply will not be prejudicial to public health, and a permit is hereliy and herein
granted therefor (o the Xant-Y-(ilo Water Company, under the following conditions
and slipuliitioiis:
FlItST: That ample facilities shall be provided for draining both the gravity
main and the distril)uting system and also the intake dam or reservoir.
SECOND: If at any time it is found desirable or necessarj- to include the
present spring or reservoir hereinbefore mentioned in the proposed system, said
spring or reser\oir shall.be adequately protected from surface drainase or chance
polhition and facilities shall be ))rovi<led for draining them. Plans of said spring
and reservoir ami their connections to the pro|)osed sj-stem shall be filed with
the Commissioner of Health.
THIRD: Complete jilans of the intake arrangement for the proposed supply
and complete ])lans for the proposed distributing system as installed and plans
showini: the location of all blow-off outlets shall be filed with the Commissioner
of Health.
564 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Dor.
FOURTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health the
water works system or the source of supply or any part thereof shall become
prejudicial to the interests of the public health , then such remedial measures shall
be adopted as the Commissioner of Health may demand, advise or approve.
FIFTH: No additions to the system or supply shall be made without applica-
tion to and approval by the Commissioner of Health. At the close of each season's
work a plan of the water pipes laid in the streets of the town during the year,
showing the sizes, gates and blow-offs, shall be prepared and filed in the office
of the Commissioner of Health, together with any other information in con-
nection therewith that may be required, to the end that the Department of
Health may always be informed as to the extent of the water works system
and its use.
SIXTH: If any lumber operations should be undertaken on the watershed
or any habitation or source of pollution be established thereon at any time, the
Nant-Y-Glo Water Company, so called, shall inunodiatoly notify the Commissioner
of Health thereof and co-operate with the Department of Health in the enforce-
ment of sanitary regulations to safeguard the water used by said company as a
source of supply to the public.
Harrisburg, Pa., August 15th, 1908.
BLOSSBURG BOROUGH, TIOGA COUNTY.
This application was made by the Blossburg Water Company, of the borough
of Blossburg, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and is for permission to introduce
an additional source of supply of water to the public in said borough.
It appears that Blossburg borough is a community of about twenty-eight
hundred population, located in the southeastern portion of Tioga County near the
headwaters of Tioga River, a stream which flows northerly into the State of
New York and empties into the Chemung River, a tributary of the North Branch of
the Susquehanna River. The municipal territory, which is about two and a half
miles square, is bounded on the north by Covington Township, on the east and
and south by Hamilton Township and on the west by Bloss Township. About
four miles to the east is the borough of Fallbrook, through part of which Tioga
River flows easterly and passing through Hamilton Township enters the south-
eastern corner of Blossburg borough and thence pursues its course northerly about
midway of the incorporated area. The village is built along the east bank of
the stream. The houses are well scattered, the streets are unpaved and there
is no sewer system, but a few private sewers empty directly into the stream.
The principal industry is the tannery plant of the United States Leather Com-
pany. A branch of the Erie Railroad, Tioga Division, follows up the east
bank of the river to Blossburg and thence it forks, one branch extending west-
erly up the valley of .Johnson's Creek and another branch extending easterly up the
river of Fallbrook to Fallbrctok borough. There are doal mines Sn these
valleys.
The surrounding territory is hilly. The customary methods of disposal of house
sewage prevail in the absence of sewers. There are probably one hundred and
fifty domestic wells in use, mostly in the higher portions of the village. Ac-
cording to reports, typhoid fever has not been prevalent.
The original water works plant was installed by the Blossburg Water Com-
pany about eighteen years ago. At the present time the Company supplies four
hundri'd and twenty-five ont of six liundrcd dwellings. It also furnishes water to
1h<' lannci-y and to the Erie Railroad ComiJany. Fire jji-oteclion is afforded by the
system and the pressure in the lower part of the town is said to be one hun-
dred pounds. The following description of ils source of water supply was sub-
mitted by the water company on August twenty-fii'st, nineteen himdred and five:
"The su|)ply of water to the Blossburg Water ('ompany is derived from Taylor
Run, a mountain stream, emptying into the Tioga River two miles south of
Blossburg borough.
"Tlie reservoir which has a capacity of 3,000,000 gallons is located three-fourtha
miles from the mouth of the stream, one thousand five hundred and seventy-six
feet above tide water or two hutidred and twenty-eight feet above the borough.
The water is delivered to the said borough through a ten and eight inch main.
The line has two intakes one in the stream above storage and the other in the
storage, the stream however furnishes a supjjly adequate to meet the demands
of the consumers and the storage is drawn \ipon only during a very short
period each year.
"The said stream runs through a sandstone formation two and one-fourth
mileK to the reservoir and fed entirely by springs. I'lie entire watersluid is cov-
ered by hard wood mostly Meaf:h, P.ireh and Maple. The Water Clompany are
the owners of a large portion of the watershed. ^Htc water is entirely free from any
contamination, there being no residences, barns or oilier buildings of any de-
scription in the territory drained by the stream."
From the Department's inspection it apf)ears that the Taylor Run reservoir
has a capacity of about Wwoc. million gallons, is limber cribbed, ro(;k filled breast
with planked face. The reservoir is apparently in good condition with dry rubble
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 665
wall around about two-thirds of the circumference. Xhe water is clear and in the
deep part has the dark color of water from a timbered watershed. The reservoir
has a sluice gate for emptying, with sluice trough through the center for cleaning,
which operation is carried out once in three years.
The watershed is approximately three stjuare miles in extent. It is uninhabited
and covered entirely with second growth timber about ten years old. Sub-soil is
sandstone, rock and gravel. One or two mountaiu roads pass through the sh<'d
but have very light travel. The sui)ply main from old reservoir on Tajlor Kuu is
about twelve thousand feet in length, is eight inch iron pipe provided with
blow-offs for cleaning.
There is no growth in the water of the reservoir and nothing could be noted
in either taste or odor.
The water pipe system in the village comprises about one-quarter of a mile
of ten inch cast iron pipe, three and one-half miles of eight inch, two and one-
half miles of six inch, two miles of four inch and about three-quarters of a mile of
two inch pipe.
Taylor Kun is a tributary of Tioga River and it enters the same near Hamilton
Township near the borough Hue. The stream rises in Liberty Township to the
south and the source is not always sufficient.
In order to make up for lack of water in dry seasons, a horizontal duplex
Buffalo pump, five inch suction, four inch discharge, operated by steam, was
installed on Tioga Creek at the junction with Taylor Run. This pump has been
operated about one month in each year, but the water supplied by it from Tioga
Creek is open to suspicion as it includes drainage from an old mine workings,
now abandoned containing more or less sulphur. Tioga River here also receives
drainage from bark extract works and from Fallbrook habitations. The water
company, appreciating that this condition is not all that it should be, purposes
to move the pump about one-half mile up stream on Taylor Run where it will
catch the overflow and leakage from the old reservoir. It is expected, however,
that with the supply from the new I'eservoir, this pump will not be used for
some time to come. When the pump is operated, it pumps directly into the supply
lines.
In making an application for approval of the new source, the Blossburg Water
Company submits the following statement:
"The Company files herewith a map showing the plans, surveys and water
works of the Company as existing at the present time, together with a descrip-
tion showing the sources of water supply.
"The supply of water from Taylor Run was not sufficient for the require-
ments of the Company. In order to provide a sufficient supply of water it became
necessary for the Company to use the water of Bellman Run.
"The Company began the construction of the reservoir and pipe line required
for the use of water from Bellman Run on July 7, 1907. The work was com-
pleted about June 1st , 1!X>S. The water has been turned into the line for the
purpose of testing the pipe. It has not been used for domestic purposes.
"The omission of the Company to applj^ for a permit was not due to any
intention to evade the law, but was due solely to the fact that the officers of the
Company overlooked the Act of April 22nd, 190.5."
Bellman Run is a tributary of Johuson Creek. It has several branches and its
watershed of about six square miles lies partly in Bloss Township and partly in
Hamilton Township, south of Johnson Creek and the Erie Railroad.
An additional statement by the Company in reference to the source of supply
is as follows:
"1 herewith submit ft)r filing in your department a Blue Print of a complete
map of the pipe lines and watershed of the Blossburg Water Company. The water-
shed from which the supply is ilcrivcd is about ].!S(K> feet above tide, well
timberetl with Beech, Birch, .M.-iplf and stinic soft wuoils. Then' ar(> mi
dwellings or any other thing to contaminate the supply. In fact the watei-shod
is timber lands uninhabited. The land formation is of sandstone and the points
where the supply is taken are well above the coal measures.
"The reservoir on Taylor Run and Bellman Run are located on the respective
streams. Taylor Run reservoir has a capacity of two million eight hundred
and thirty thousand gallons and Bellman Run reservoir a capacity of one hundred
and twenty-four thousand gallons with tiverllows. The subsoil has been removed
from both reservoirs, leaving a gravel bottom, the sides are protected with
stone walls. The intake at both reservoirs are protected by a screen three feet
square perforated with three sixteenth of an inch holes and thoroughly covereil
with three feet of gravel and broken stone. The Taylor Run reservoir is located
about two hundred and twenty-seven feet above the Borough, the delivery is
made with an eight inch line. Bellman Run reservoir is located two hundred and
forty-five feet above the Borough, the delivery is made with a six inch line.
Bellman Run lipe joins the Taylor Run line at the intersection of Tabor Street and
Williamson Road near the tannery shown on the map.
Respectfully yours,
THE BLOSSBURG WATER COMPANY,
F. H. Stratton, Supt."
566 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The Department has ascertained by investigation that the additional water
supply is required and has* been provided for, as stated, in the reservoir on
Bellman Run, whose construction is similar to the Taylor reservoir and whose
elevation is about twenty feet higher than the Taylor reservoir. The six inch
cast iron supply main about fourteen hundred and fifty feet long extending
down the valley in Williamson Road, paralleling the Erie Railroad, is com-
pleted, and ready for use. The same general conditions obtain and the same
statements may be made with regard to the new supply that have been herein
made relative to the old supply. Negotiations are on foot for complete owner-
ship and control by the water company of the new watershed.
It has been determined that the water works and jjroposed additional soui'ce
of supply will not be prejudicial to public health and a permit is hereby and
herein granted therefor, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: The water cumiiany shall not pump any \\ater from the Tioga River
in to the water district. Before any change of location of the pump house or
plan is made, complete plans thereof shall be submitted to the Commissioner of
Health for approval.
SECOND: Detail plans of the reservoirs and dams, gates, drains and pipes
and valves location shall be prepared and tiled with the Counuissioner lof
Health on or before January first, nineteen hundred and nine. At the close of
each season's work the water company shall make a plan of the water pipes
laid in the streets of the borough during the year and file the same in the office
of the Commissioner of Health, together with any other information (hat may
be required in the operation thereof, in order that the State Department of
Health may always be informed uf the extent of the water works system and
the public use thereof.
THIRD: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
water works system or the source of supply has become prejudicial to public
health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of
Health may advise or approve.
FOURTH: It is the intention of the Commissioner of Health to make tests
of the source of supply from time to time and the water company shall assist
in such examinations, if required. Records of the operation of the system
shall be kept on blank forms from the State Department of Health and copies
thereof submitted , if asked for.
FIFTH: The company shall designate on a map to be prepared of the water
pipes in the streets of the borough and filed in the office of the Commissioner of
Health on or before January first, nineteen hundred and nine, the size of all
water pipes, the location of gates and drainage facilities. And, if it shall
appear that such drainage facilities are not adequate, then the water com-
pany on re(|ui'st of the Commissioner of Health shall improve such facilities
to the (Commissioner of Health's satisfaction.
SIXTH: It is I'specially stipulated that this permit is issued with the under-
standing that the watershed is uninhabited. If at any time any dwellings or oc-
cupations or pei'manent sources of jtollution should be established on these areas
tributary to these reservoirs, then the Commissioner of Health shall be amply
notified beforehand and he will issue and put in force such regulation as shall
safeguard the sources of supply from sewage pollution.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 21st, 1908.
BRADFORD TOWNSHIP, McKEAN COUNTY.
South Bradford Water Company.
This application was made by the South Bradford Water Com|)any, of Brad-
ford Township, McKean County, and is for permission to extend water works
for the supply of water 1o the public in the village of South Bradford, Brad-
ford 'l'ownslii|), McKean County.
It appears that llie Soiitli liradford Water Company was cJiartered Septem-
ber twenty-thirfl , nineteen hundred and one, for tin; purpose of supplying with
water fur domestic and niainil"acturing purposes the inliabilants of that por-
tion of Bradford 'J'ownslii|), McKean ('ounty, lying south of the south line of
Bradford City west of the public highway leading from I'radford City south to
Misard Run Road on the east side of the 'J'uniirigMwant (-reck, north of (he
road leading from the village of DeColia uji Misard Run and east of the
dividing range of hills lying !)etween the east and west branch of Tunungawant
Crer-k , comprising an area of about two squart; miles.
At the time of the incorporation of (lu; water company the principal stock-
holder, James W. Leasiire, had arranged to supply running water to (he green
liouHeH and caretaker's residenc;*; of his farm to Ihesf; phices only, but on request
of adjoining property owners in the neighborhood he dc^cided to form a com-
pany anrl he has since been furnishing four other pi'o])eili<!s besides his own
wi(h water.
No. ]7. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 567
The source is a spring located on the side of the hill west of the water dis-
trict about two thousand feet west of the east branch of the Tunungawant Creek
and elovaled about two hundred and fifty foet above the valley. The ground
west of the sijring conlinucs to rise- to the summit of the range which divides
the east Jind wusl l)ranL-li('s of Tunun,uaw;uit Creek.
About midway on the slope from this range to the east branch is the main
highwiiy leiiding south from the city of Bradford. The water works and source of
supiily are wi-sl and above this thoroughfjire. The elevation of the spring is in the
neigiiljorliood of one hundred and fifty fei't above the road. Tlie land around
the spring is wooded and there are no buildings of any kind on the slope above.
The land is all owned by ^Ir. Leasure kj the summit.
The spring at present is uncovered, but is surrounded by a loose stone wall
which retains the e.vcavation, which is about two feet square, from which the
water flows out from the shale rock and passes away down the mountain brook.
The measured flow is slated to be three hundred thousand gallons each twenty-four
hours. A uiw. iuid a half incli wrouulit iron pipe b/nds from llie spring a dis-
tance of six hundred feet to an uncovered wooden tank ten feet in diameter and
ten feet high. A two inch supply main leads from this storage tank to the green-
hou-ses which are distant about two hundred feet and about fifty feet lower than
tiie tank. A one inch supply pipe is taken off the two incii main and (;xtends
to the caretaker's residence. This one inch piiie also extends across tiie highway
to four other dwellings in the neiglil)orhood. The total jjopulation being supplied
at the time of llie iJepartnu-nt's inspection in nineteen hundred and seven was
twenty people. There are about one hundred families residing in the charter
territory of the South Bradford Water Company. It is evident, therefore, that the
quality of water available is ample based on the above measurement.
The' petitioners' purpose to leplace llie loose stone retaining wall about the
spring by a tight concrete wall so as to make it a receiving basin four feet
square. This is to be roofed over and securely guarded.
Two hundred and fifty feet away from the si)ring has been consti-ucted a new stor-
age resi'rvoir thirty-eight feet hui; and thirty-two feet wide and four feet deep.
Its sides are of stone masonry and the foundations are concrete. A double line
of one and a half inch pipe connects the spring with the storage basin.
A new four inch supply main extends from the reservoir to the green-houses
from whence a three inch distributing pipe leads to the highway and a two inch pipe
has been laid along the roa<l.
At the date of the Department's inspection the changes had been practically
completed.
Should it be desiralih lo fniilier increase the source of suiiply in order to admit
of the extension ol' the water i)ipes to otlier parts of the water district and to
furnisli all of the inhabitants with drinking water, it is reported that there are
other si)rings on the farm owned by Mr. Leasure which may be easily incorporated
into the system.
It has been determined that the proposed source of supply is not prejudicial to
public health and the same is hereby and herein approved, as well as the water
works extension, under the following i:ondilions and stipulations:
KIKST; That the walls surroimding the sining and source of supply be con-
structed and the roof be put on and kept securely locked as projiosed and that
the water company shall i)rovide a drainage ditch around the upper sides of the
spring to carry away all surface water, tliat over the ends of the supply pipes
leading from the spring shall be placed screens and that gates or valves shall
be placed on these pipes to admit of the water being shut off if necessary. There
shall be an overflow pipe i)lace<l in the upper portion of the wall at the spring,
provided with an elbow and a screen over the vertical pil)e.
SI'X!OXI): Ample ov(!rflow and drainage pipes ami screens at inlet and outlet
pipes shall l)e provided at the storage res(>rvoir. Also valves on pipes to admit
of the shutting ofT of the water or drainayie of the basin. A high tight board
fence shall be constructed around the reservoir to i)revenl accidental or malicious pol-
lution of the water. The water company shall properly intercept all surface
water so as to absolutely prevent any of it reachins the reservoir.
TIlIUl): That before any additioiml spring sui)ply bi- made plans shall be pre-
pared thereof and submitted to the Commissioner of llealth f<u" approval, and that
if at any time the w.-iter supply or the water works system or any part thereof
shall become prejiidicial to pul>lic health in the opinion of the Commissioner of
Health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of
Health may advise or aitprove.
llarrisburg, I'a., May .'.tb. I'.HtS.
CATASAUgiA, I.LIIIGII COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Catasanqna. Lehigh County,
and is for permission to drill wells, and install a system of public water works,
and for investigation by the State Health Department and approval of sites for a pro-
positi drilled well sujjply and water works system.
The borough of Catasauqua is a long established manufacturing town, located in
the eastern part of Lehigh County, on the eastern bank of the Lehigh River,
two miles north of Allentown. It is on the suburban outskirts of the district
568 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
recently occupied, as a result of the adaptability of the natural rock, by numer-
ous large cement manufactories. This industry together with iron works and
silk mills furnishes employment to most of the inhabitants of Catasauqua, and
the community of which it is a part and which stretches up both banks of the
river for a distance of six miles from Allentown. Catasaqua had a population
of thirty-seven hundred and four in eighteen hundred and ninety ; thirty-nine
hundred and sixtj-three in nineteen hundred and four thousand or more in nine-
teen hundred and eight.
The borough has an area of about a half square mile, triangular in shape, and
is bounded on the north by North Catasauqua borough, Northampton County, on
the west by the Lehigh River and on the east by Hanover Township , Lehigh County
and Catasauqua Creek, which flows southerly to its couflnence with the river at
the southern end of Catasauqua. The canal of the Lehigh Coal aud Navigation
Company follows the bank of the Lehigh River through the borough, the tracks
of the Central Railroad of New Jei-sey lying between the two water ways. The
canal branches from the river at a dam across the latter about two thousand
feet above the borough. The Crane Iron Works of the Empire Steel and Iron
Company are located on the east bank of the canal near the central part of the
borough and to a very considerable extent make use of the waters of the canal
for power purposes, the level of the canal being lowered five or six feet in a
lock at the site of the Crane Iron Works.
Between the river and Catasauqua Creek the ground of the borough rises rapidly
to an elevation above Front Street, along the canal, of about ninety feet at the
northern borough line. The surface drainage, including considerable domestic
waste water drained to the gutters, is convej-ed, in some cases by storm drains
and culverts, to the canal and the creek. Privies are very generally in use
throughout the borough and the custom prevails of disposing of much of the
domestic sewage into crevices in the limestone formation underlying the bor-
ough. There are springs in the limestone rock both along the canal and the
creek, particularly in the southern part of the borough. Some of these have been
condemned by the local authorities as sources of supply for drinking water. The
dug wells at one time veiy generally in use, are said to have become polluted
and been abandoned almost without exception. On perhaps half the properties
within the borough rain water cisterns are in use.
Catasauqua, incorporated as a borough in eighteen hundred and fifty-three, was,
it is reported, supplied for a time by a Crane Water Company; and later, about
eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, by the Lehigh Crane Ii'on Company. The
Crane Water Company, incorporated in eighteen hundred and ninety-five, and
the Clear Springs Water Company, incorporated in eighteen hundred and ninety-
nine under the laws of the Commonwealth, supplied water to the public in Cata-
sauqua until about the end of nineteen hundred and two. Seven water companies
supplying water in the vicinity, including the Crane Water Company and the
Clear Springs Water Company, were merged under the laws of the Common-
wealth into the Clear Springs Water Company, to which letters patent were
issued April tenth, nineteen hundred and two, for the purpose of supplying water
to the public within the charter territories of the original companies, which in-
clude all of Lehigh and Northampton counties. This water company since nineteen
hundred and two has furnished water for the public and fire protection in Cata-
sauqua.
The Clear Springs Water Company pumping station number two is located
in the borough in the southern part of the (Jrane Iron Works near the canal.
There i.s a drilled well adjacent to the pumping station which is said to be about
two hundred and fifty feel dr^ej) an<i is one hundred feet or more from llie ('auiil.
Water is foi'ced from tliis wc-ll by iin'ans of coinprcsscd air into a small pump well.
Then; is also about a ten inch intake i)i]ie leading from th<! lie:id race (if llic
(Jrane Iron Works to the iiumping station. Tliis head I'ace branches from tlie canal
immediately above the lock and passes throngh (Ik; Cr;ine Iron Works furnishing
water for ftower purposes. 1'he two i)umps of the water company arc; conned ed
so that Ity the operalion of valves eillier pnnip may i)e made to take its supiily
either from tlie intake fnrnishing canal watiT or from the pump well supplied
with well water, 'llic. discharge jiipes unite in a twelve inch rising main in which
the water passed to a standpipe near the pimiping station, about live feet in
diameter, installed for the purpose of relieving the disti'ibniing system of the
jar from the [jiimjis. ]"'i-oni this slandpipe the water passes through the dis-
tributing system and overflows into about a five liundnul thousand gallon standpipe
located on the higii ground in the extrr-me noiMhein jiiirt of the borough. On
July eighteenth, the pumps were operating at about equal sj)eeds, IIh> western one
jjinnping canal water, the eastern one well walei*, so that appiirently about half
the sup|)ly furnished directly to the consumers was being obtained from the
Lehigh canal. Above thr; head race intake from the cnnal the lattei- receives con-
siderable surface di-ainage from Catasau(iua and North t'atasjiiiqua. Within a mile
above the intake on the low lying r-anal hunks are the jirivies of n number of dilapi-
dated frame dwellings and vaults in the iimesLone rock receiving I Ik; sewage of
the employes of a planing mill in (Jatasanqua and the sewage of the employes
of the liryden Horse Shoe f!ompany in North (Jatasauqua, the vault of the latter be-
ing about two hundred feet from the cnnnl, that of the foriner Mltoiit one hun-
dred feet. The Lehigh River above the entrfince of the can;il at the dnm re-
ceives drainage and sewage from White Haven borough and from Mauch Chunk
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 569
and East Maiidi Cliiink, (.weuty-two niilfs above ('atasauqiia . and below Maucb
Chunk, from Lehighton, I'arryville, Slatin?;ton, Alliance, Coplay and other places.
The river also receives larjie Quantities of mine drainage in Sandy Run and Black
Creek from the anthraeite coal fields near Ilazleton.
The distril)Uting system of the water comi)any in Catasauqua comprises more
than six miles of pipes ranging from four to ten inches in diameter. Plugs are
rented by the Imrough for fire protection. It is said that only about half of the
inhabitants use the water, the remainder being dependent principally upon rain
water cisterns. The methods of the water company are said to be generally
unsatisfactory lo the citizens.
At several points along the northern borough line the distributing system is con-
nected with that of the same water company in North Catasauqua. It is .said that
ordinarily valves on lliese connctions are kept closed, but tliat during the trouble
at the ('aiasau<|iia pumping station these valves may be aufl have i)een opened
so that <'atasau(iua at times receives its supply from the otiier source of the
Clear Springs Water Company.
This other source of supiily is obtained from Spring (!reek , also called Mill
Creek. There is an im|ionndii!g dam of about one luiiuhvd million gallons capacity
on this creek in the extreme uortliern part of Whitehall Township, T>ehi;;Ii County,
and about a quarter of a mile from the river. Spring ('reek, above tlio dam, has
a largely cultivated watershed of about three square miles in Whitehall and
North Whitehall Townships, containing a ]>opuiation of two hundred and ninety.
An inspection of this watershed has been made by otlicers of the Department and
(here have been servetl upon jiersons owning property on the watershed for the
abatement of nuisances or menaces to the purity of the water twenty-three written
notices.
The water company maintains a pumping station below the dam near the river.
There is a twelve inch suction pipe from the dam and an auxiliary twelve inch
suction from the ri\er. A Jeansville duplex compound condensing pumping en-
gine forces the water through a ten inch force main about four thousand feet to a
three million gallon distributing reservoir on Lincoln Heights west of the village of
Cementon. From this reservoir the distributing system of the Clear Springs Water
Company extends down stream along both banks of the liehigh River for a dis-
tance of f(Uir miles or more, furnishing water on the eastern side of the river to
the boroughs of Alliance and North Catasauqua in Northampton County and
Catasauqua borough and East Catasauqua village in Lehigh County, and west of the
river to the village of Cementon, Coplay borough, and the villages of Koken-
dauqua, West Catasauqua and Ferndale, all in Lehigh County. The impounding
dam on Spring Creek is supplied principally, during dry weather, by a large
spring in its upper end. On July seventeenth, nineteen hundred and eight, the
flow of the surface stream from the valley, known as Drum Hole, was almost
ini;onsi(leral)le. On the same date the water in the distributing reservoir was
turbid and there were numerous small dead fish floating on the surface. During
October and November, nineteen hundred, a typhoid epidemic at Cementon was
investigated by officers of the State Board of Health. There were reported to
be at least one hundred and sixty-five cases and thirteen deaths in and around
Cementon, although the cases outside of the village were but few and scattered.
The evidence collected seems to indicate as the source of infection Leisenring Spring,
from which the water company furnishes water to the district in Cementon where
typhoid was most markedly present. The cases in the districts supplied with
Spring Cr(>(d\ water from the distributing r(>servoir were attributed to the patients
having \isited in Cementon. However, colon bacilli were found in samples both
of the Spring Creek water and of the Leisenring spring water and the existence
on the Spring Creek watershed of earlier cases of typhoid to which some of the
cases of the epidemic might be attributed was discovered.
Since October, nineteen hundred and five, there have been twenty-two cases of
typhoid in Catasauqua borough, according to the reports made to this Depart-
ment.
The Clear Springs Water Company has filed plans showing the Spring Creek im-
pounding dam, the layouts of the two pumping stations and the lines of the
distributing system. Plans are not on file in the Department showing the water-
shed of Spring Creek, the Lincoln Heights reservoir and the distributing system
indicati'ig the sizes of pipes and the location of blow-ofl"s.
The borough having become dissatisfied with the quality of the water furnished
by and the methods of the Clear Springs Water Company has resolved upon
acquiring or installing public water works. On December twenty-eighth, nine-
teen hundred and seven, the Ixirough filed a petition in the Court of Common
Pleas asking the appointment of three appraisers lo set a value upon the com-
pany's water works in Catasauqua ns provided for in the Act of A.ssembly approved
May thirty-first, nineteen hundred and seven. Thereupon, the water company
filed with the court a disclaimer refusing to sell its plant at any price and for-
feiting any exclusive privileges which it might have in the bon)ugh, as provided
for in the said Act On April (weiity-seveuth , nineteen liumlred and eight, the
court declined the iietition of the borough in view of the filing of this disclaimer
which has been recorded in the ollice of the Recorder of Deeds of the proper
county and expressed the opinion that the borough was free to install its own
water works and supply water to the public.
570 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc
Therefore, the borough contemplatfs installiug its own water works and a
public vote will shortly be taken upon the issuing of bonds to raise money to
cover the expense.
It is intended to install a drilled well or wells, pumping machinery, a standpipe
and distributing system. The entire plant as proposed will bo within the borough ,
except that the distributing system may be extended to outside consumers.
Two alternate sites are considered for the location of the proposed well. One
is in the northeastern corner of the borough, just south of Walnut Street and
about two hundred feet >vest of and twenty-five feet liigher than (.'atasauipia
Creek at this point. If this site is selected, the fuel will, for the i)reseut at least,
be carted to the pumping station and the water will he pumped throu!ih a force
main directly to the standpipe to be located on the high ground near the northern
borough line either within the l>orough or in North Catasaqua borough. The other
site is in the eastern part of the liorough just north of Wood Street and between
American Street and Catasnuqua Creek. The site is within one hundred feet of the
creek and about twenty feet above it and the well would extend through
filled ground in the nioutli of an old limestone quarry. Both well sites are consideral)ly
above the highest freshet elevation of the creek. It is said that arrangements
can be made with a factory having a railroad siding across the creek from the
lower well site, that last mentioned, whereby the borough will he allowed to
install a mechanical conveyor to carry the coal, if this fuel is determined upon,
from cars on the siding to the pumping station. In the case of the selection of
this site the water will be pumped directly into the distributing system and
overflow into the standpipe near the northern borough line and a standpipe of
small diameter will probably be placed at the pumping station with the pumps.
Whichever site is selected, it is intended to carry the well or M'ells if it seems
advisable to build more than one to obtain the needed supply, to a depth of
perhaps seven hundred feet, at which depth it is expected that water can be
obtained from strata beneath the limestone.
The standpipe is to be thirty feet in diameter by seventy-five feet high, so as to
have a capacity of about four hundred thousand gallons. It is intended that the
pumps and well or wells shall have a cajiacity to furnish water at the rate of one
and a half million gallons per twenty-four hours. Therefore, it seems that, with
the exercise of reasonable care in the operation of the plant, a fairly satisfactory
tire protection will be assured, especially as the borough has steam fire engine
servit-e. The fire service furnished by the water company is to be discontinued.
No auxiliary source is to be provided. The Catasauqua Creek, having a water-
shed above the town of twelve square miles, would hardly furnish a source of fire
supply without the installation of an imi)0unding dam.
The distributing system as designed consists of thirty-eight thousand feet of
pipe, consisting of forty-eiglit hundred feet of six inch pii)e, twenty-S(>ven thousand
four hundred feet of six imii jiipe and sixty-one hundred feet of four inch i)ipe. The
system is well supplied with vahes and is so designed as to have but few dead ends.
The location of blow-offs is not indicated.
There is m^ reason to suppose that a satisfactory and wlioh>some supply may not
be oiitaincd from the pi-oposid drilhMl w(>lls. Ilowever, even though the wells
are to be deep and if possiljle to draw^ from strata below the surface limestone and
even thougii every precaution to guard the wells from surface pollulion be taken,
nevertheless, the underground sui)ply fi'om which the well or wells are to draw
may at any lime be ])olluled by the sewage of the borough disposed of in the
crevices of tiie liniestone rock oi' even l)y tiie sewage of n(>ighI)oriiig coTumunities
and liie l)orou;;h must shoulder the respousihilily for endeavoring to obtain a i)ure
supi)ly from the proposed source. The buildinirs of the town are within a few
hiindred feet of either well site. The general dip of the surface limestone in tlu?
nejchiiorhood is to the south as indicated in the old quarry n(>ar the Wood
Street well site and at other outcroi)s in the vicinity, probably, tiuM'efore, there
is a little more likelihood of obtaining contaminated water from the Wood Str(>et site
than from the Walnut Street site. M(Meover, the elevation of the latter is some-
what above that of the former and the distanci- for th(! water to be pumped to the
standpipe will be considerably le.ss if the well is located at the Walnut Street site.
The borough purposes to expend sixty tiiousand dollars for the installation of
this system and it is understood that the mnniciiiality can bori'ow at least ninety
thousand dollars
Tlie water of the Lehigh Uiver, i)olluted as it is with sulphurous mine drainage,
is said to fiirnlKli an extremely unsatisfactory boiler water supply. For this
purpose ahnf)st all the factories in and aroun<l Catasauqua use well or spi'ing water.
If the boroimh i-aii obtain a first class ilnniestic supply and also one suital)le for
boiler purposes and can supply the same at sullieiently I'easonable rates, tiie
water works may prove a good investment.
It has been determined (hat the |)roposed water works and source of supply will
not be firejuflicial to public heallli and a pei-init is hereby and lieicju issued lliere-
foi- utifler the followiritr condilioiis and slipulations:
FIRST: Ample facilities shall be provided by mi-ans of l)l()w-olTs placed at all
points whereby the rising main, standpipe and supply main and distributing
system may be completely drained.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 571
SECOND: Dotail plans of the lay-out at the pumping station, and of the
rising main, standpipe and distributing systom, showing the location of all
valves, blow-offs ami sizes of pipe as finally decided upon, shall be filed with
and approved by the Commissioner of Health before the wfirk is commenied ou these
respective parts of the system. Before water is supplied to the public from the
proposed source a description and plans of the construction of the well or wells
shall be filed with the ( "onimissionei- of Health.
THHU): It is the purpose of the Department to obtain samples of water
for analysis from the various parts of the system from time to time and the pe-
tioners shall render such assistance in carrying <nit this idea as may be necessary
and shall make such alterations in the system and source of supply as the Com-
missioner of Healtl'. may demand, suggest or approve in the interests of public
health to the end that the water supplied by the water works shall not be preju-
dicial to the public health.
FOURTH: Detail records of the operation of the water works shall be prop-
erly kept on blank forms to be suggested by this Department and copies thereof
shall be furnished to the Commissioner of Health.
FIFTH: At the close of each season's work plans shall be prepared and filed
with the Commissioner of Health showing e.vtensions to the distributing system
made during the year, so that the Commissioner of Health may always be informed
of the extent of the water works and the district supplied thereby.
SIXTH: The permission herein granted is given under the express stipulation
that if the distributing system is extended beyond the borough limit.'? for the supply
of water to th<> pui)lic the conditions of all laws pertaining to such extensions shall
be complied with.
SEVENTH: It is expressly stipulated that before the water shall be intro-
duced into the public system of the town, satisfactory chemical and bacteriological
tests of the waters shall be made of enough samples taken over a period of days
to thoroughly and satisfactorily prove the water to be free from all contami-
nation.
That attention of the local authorities is called to the fact that drilling for
a ground water supply, especially in limestone formation, is alwaj-s more or less of
a gamble. The very gist of this whole enterprise proposed is expressed in the re-
quirements as to a test of the waters before they be used by the public.
Harrisburg, Pa., August 14th, 1908.
CHAPMAN TOWNSHIP, CLINTON COUNTY.
(Absalom Farwell).
This application was made by Absalom Farwell of Chapman township, Clinton
count. I'eunsylvania. and is for permission to install a system of water works for
the supply of water to the public in the village of Farwell, said township.
The village of Farwell is the result of a real estate development scheme of the
petitioner. Mr. Farwell was an owner of a tract of land comprising several hun-
dred acres, located along the northern side or bank of the West Branch of the
Susquehanna River about one and a half miles below the borough of Re-
novo and extending back to the top of the mountains which parallels
the river in the region. A portion of this tract was laid out in town lots by the
owner. These lots have nearly all passed to the ownership of separate individuals,
some of whom have erected dwellings on the lots. The development lies between
the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad and the river and thereon are eighty plots,
equivalent to an approximate population of four hundred were every plot occupied
by a house. It is expected that even a larger settlement may eventually result.
The crest of the mountain is six hundred and fifty feet above the river bank
and back therefrom a distance of about three-fifths of a mile. The flats along the
stream are about eight hundred feet wide and terminate about at the railroad. From
here northerly the mountain slopes begin and at an elevation of about fifty feet
above the village there is a public highway on the mountain side which is the main
thoroughfare for public conveyances from Renovo to Lock Haven. The mountain
side is well wooded and unoccupied.
For the convenience of the prospective villagers and to aid in the sale of house
lots, Mr. Farwell constructed a system of water works during the season of nineteen
hundred and six. The source of supply is five springs.
Four of the springs now supplying the i)lant are located along the upper side of
the public highway. Each spring has been walled up with cement and stone and
covered over with flntrstone, the entire structure being water tight so that no
pollution may be introduced to the water from the outside. None i»f the masonrj*
work ai)pears above the ground. The location of three of the springs, however,
may be seen from the highway by reason of the excavation into the mountain side.
The fourth place is obliterated by a landslide.
From the collecting well at each spring a one and a half inch pipe has been
laid underneath the highway and finally terminating in a small collecting masonry
wall at a spring below the public road and distant therefrom about one hundred
and fifty feet. Adjacent to this spring which is walled up and covered similar
to the others, the water is conveyed by a pipe to an adjacent storage reservoir
572 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
fifteen feet squai'e and five feet deep. The construction of this basin is stone
masonry lined with cement and made water tight. Over it is a wooden building
with a door under lock and key or more properly speaking a wooden roof, there
being no floor or platform provided under the roof. There is a three inch overflow
pipe at the reservoir. The water is conveyed to the A'illage by a four inch cast-iron
pipe, the outlet end being raised six inches above the bottom of the resen-oir.
There is a valve on the line outside of the building. There is also a drain pipe.
The supply main is about one thousand feet long. It terminates in Prospect
Street in the eastern part of the village. Connecting with it at the present time
is a pipe line in McCloskey Alley thirteen hundred feet long, the diameter ranging
from two inches to one and a half inches. Off the four inch line other street pipes
are to be taken when required. One branch now leads to the farm house near
the village. The object of the works is to supply drinking water only. The
static head from the reservoir is not over thirty-three feet.
The minimum capacity of the springs is reported to be forty-five hundred gallons
per day, which is an insufiicient amount for the domestic uses of four hundred
people.
There are two other springs further up the mountain side on the Farwell estate
which are available from which the flow is estimated to be greater than the com-
bined capacity of the five springs now in use. The applicant purposes to attach
those m w springs to the present supply and also to drill a well, or more than one
if necessary, near the present reservoir, and to increase the source of supply
sufficiently for the needs of all consumers.
The borough of Renovo is located on a table land hemmed in between the moun-
tains and the river. All the available land there has been taken up, so that the
increased population must seek places of residence outside of that borough. This
they are doing.
There is another plot of ground adjoining Fanvell village to the west upon
which a settlement exists and from which a demand for water may come. It is
the intention of the petitioner to extend water pipes for the supply of water to
the public into this other settlement if such extension should prove advisable.
Detail plans of the reservoir have not been filed. The Department's inspection
makes it evident that the water should be of excellent quality and satisfactory for
domestic purposes. The situation and surroundings at the springs are such that
the probability of any pollution is most remote and , in fact , seems to be almost
impossible. The springs come from the shale rock, are continuous in flow, btit
during times of extreme drought the quantity is limited.
Additions to the supply must be made if the village grows and the demand for
the water increases proportionately. The supply is preferable to that of individual
wells sunk on properties and in proximity to privies and cesspools. The interests
of the public health should be subserved by the extension of proper water works
and the furnishing of a pure mountain water to the inhabitants of the district.
The works, however, should be extensive enough to afl'ord ample supply and
proper pressure at the dwellings of the consumers. And undoubtedly fire protection
will bo demanded ultimately. In the extension of the works and in obtaining an
additional supply of water, these things should be taken into consideration.
It has been detoi-mined that the existing sources of supply are not prejudicial
to public health, and the supply and the water works system as it now exists is
hereby approved and a permit granted for an additional supply and for an exten-
sion of the water works system, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That a ditch be constructed around the existing reservoir, of sufficient
depth to carry away all surface drainage, and that if at any time, in the opinion
of the C'omniissioMcr of Health, the source of stipply or the water works system
or any jmrt thereof is prejudicial to public health, then such remedial measures
shall be immediately adopted as the Commissioner of Health may approve or
advise.
SECOND: No additional springs or wells or other sources of supply, and no
extension of water pipes, shall be obtained or laid until complete plans showing
such sources and the means by which the water is to be collected and until plans
of the water pipe extension's i)roposed shall have been prepared and submitted to
the Commissioner of Hoallh for aproval. The Commissioner of Health may modify
or amend such plans and fix the conditions under which such additional sources
and water works extensions may be obtained and made in order that public health
may be .safeguarded.
In the case wells should be drilled for an additional source of supply, careful
data must be recorded relative to the strata through which the wells have been
Hnrrisburg, Pa.. April 30th, 1008.
CHESTER, DELAWARE COUNTY.
New rihcHter Water Company.
This aijplication was made by the New Chester Water Com|tany, of the City
of Chr-Hler, I>clnware County, and is for permission to ext<'nd its water works
system into the borough of Marcus Hook, Delaware county, and to supply watec
to the public in said borough.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 573
The Commissiouor of Health at first determined that the New Chester Water
Company appeared to have no right to supply water to the public in the borough
of Marcus Hook and the said wati-r ciiiupaiiy was notifirfl accordingly. Whereupon,
its dfhcors fonned ilic ( 'liichcsti-r Water C(jnipauy, which was duly iMCori)orated
on December nineteenth, one thou.'^and nine hundred and seven, to supply water
to the public in the borough of Marcus Hook, its source of supply to be the
Delaware River, tin; water to be taken therefrom at the present pumping station
of the New Clifslcr Water Cduiiiany in the i-ity of Chester.
The Chicliesier Water ('(Hiipany has made an application for approval of its
system of water works and source of supply, which application is now under
consideration by tint Commissioner of Health.
It a[)pears that the New Chester Water Company was incorporated under. the
laws of the State in eighteen hundred and eighty-live for the purclias(?, erec-lion and
mainlemuice of works for supplying water and furnishing tiie same for public
and domestic use to tin- city and citizens of Chester, Delawan; county, and the
suburbs thereof.
At the same liiui! the I'enn Water Company, Upland Water Company and
South C'hester \\'aler Company were incorporated for the same purpose within
their respective districts that tiie New Chest<'r Water Company was incorporated.
The charter territory of tli<.' I'enn Water (Company w:is confineil to the borough of
North Chester, that of the Upland Water Company to the borough of Upland
and that of the South Chester Water Company to the borough of South Chester,
all in Delaware county.
The records in tlu; office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth show that on
April sixteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, the South Chester Water
Comi)any had luircimsed ilie fraueliise and all the |)roperly of the said Upland
^^'ater Comiiany, and of the said I'enn \\'Mler ( 'ompany. In turn the South ("hr-s-
ter Water Company sold an<l transferred its franchises and all its property to the
New Chester Water Company, the sale being duly recorded in the office of the Sec-
retary of the Conunonwealth on November twentieth, Nineteen hundred and six.
On said No\end)er twentielh, nineteen lumdred and six, the New Chester
Water Comi)any had also purehased the franchise and property of the Eddystone
Water Company and the Linwood AVater Company.
The Linwood Water Company was chartered in December, eighteen hundred and
ninety-live, for the purpose of supplying water to the public in the township of
Lower Chichester. Delaware comity.
The Eddystone Water Comi)aiiy was chartered April nineteenth, eighteen hundred
and eighty-seven, for the purpose of furnishing water to the public in all that
certain portion of Ridley township in Delaware county, lying south and west
of Crum Creek and bordered by said Cnim ('reek and by Ridley, and the Delaware
River. The control of this company was effected by the 5sew Chester Water
Company in eighteen hiuidred and ninety-one, and the latter company immediately
laid eight lengths of eight inch pipe on Ninth Street in Eddystone, but no con-
nections with the New Chester Water Company's mains were made or water
furnished. Since that time no further work has been done, so the charter lapsed.
However, on November nineteenth, nineteen hundred and six, the Eddystone
Water Company sold and transferred its franchise and property to the New Chester
Water Company. The said defunct Eddystone AVater Company should not be
confounded with the Eddystone Water Company chartered on December twenty-
second, eighteen liundrcd and ninety-two, for the purpose of supplying water to
the public in the borough of Eddystone, Delaware county. The latter company
immediately constructed water works and is now furnishing water to the inhabitants
of the borough, being operated by the Springfield Water Company.
The act of eighteen hundred and seventy-four and amendments thereto authorize
a corporation to sell, assign, dispose ami convey to any corporation, created under
or accepting the provisions of this act, its franchises and all its property, real,
personal and mixed, and thereafter such corporation shall cease to exist and said
property and franchises not inconsistent with this act, shall thereafter be vested
in the corporation so pun-hased aforesaid. The doubt as to whether the purchase by
one company of the i)roperty an<l franchises of another authorizt>d to furnish water
in an adja<;ent township vested any right in the ijurchasing company, was generally
entertained until the opinion of the Supreme Court in the Hay versus Springfield
Water Company case was handed down. This doubt was reasonable because it
is a well established fact that a company for the supply of water to the public must
confine its operations to a single municipality.
_ Under this opinion the operations of a water company in several districts by
virtue of the purchase of the property and franchises of other companies is not
inconsistent with the act which confines the incorporation of such a company to a
single district. Said decision was in part as follows:
"Under the act of April seventeenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-six, water
companies may sell, assign and convey their franchises and property to other
wafer companies and such |)roperties and franehies will upon such sale and assign-
ment become vested in the purchasing company."
So it ai)pears that today the New Chester Water Company has the right to
supply water to (he pid>lic in the city of Chester, which now* includes what was
formerly North Chester and South Chester boroughs, in Upland boroudi and
Lower Chichester township, by reason of its having purchased the franchises and
property of the above mentioned water companies.
37
574 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Prior to the rights vested in the Chichester Water Company to supply the
inhabitants of Marcus Hook borough the Marcus Hook Water Company was, in
eighteen hundred and ninety-two. given a charter covering this territory, but this
charter lapsed because ihe company failed, to take any active steps towards furnish-
ing the public with water. The Linwood Water Company territory comprised
Lower Chichester township, but at this time (eighteen hundred and ninety-five)
Marcus Hook borough had been organized out of T>ower Chichester township. It was
under the Linwood T^'ater Company's franchise, as previously stated, that the
New Chester Water Company thought it had the right to supply the borough of
Marcus Hook and so it proceeded to extend its mains in the borough and had laid
in the highways therein about three and a half miles of ten, eight and six inch
pipes under a borough franchise, whereby a contract exists between the borough
and the New Chester Water Company for the maintenance of fire hydrants, it
may be presumed that the Chichester Water Company will become possessed of
the water pipes and appurtenances and will assume the oliligations of the contract
under which the Now Chester Water Company laid the pipes in Marcus Hook,
if it should supply the public there.
The petitioners claim that the Marcus Hook borough franchise is valid and to
substantiate this claim call attention to a supplement to an Act entitled, "An
Act to enable the south ward of the city of Chester to procure a supply of water,
approved the second day of March, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven and the
supplement thereto, approved March 24th, 18K9," which final supplement was
approved March twenty-fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy, and provides as
follows:
"Sction 1. — That the corporators named in the said act or majority of them,
or their successors, or majority of said successors, shall have full power and
authority to extend theii pipes into any I'oad, street, lane or alley of any township,
district and borough in the said county of Delaware, adjacent to the said city of
Chester, and shall have full power and authority to supply the inhabitants of the
said township, district and borough, or either or any of Ihem with water, and
to use all necessary means therefor, as fully as if such township, district or borough
had been named in the said original act and its supplements."
"Section 2. — That the proper authorities of any such township, district or
borough, or either or any of them, are hereby authorized and empowered to enter
into and fulfill all and every such contract and agreement on behalf of such town-
ship, district or borough, as may be necessary to fully carry out the purposes
of this Act, etc."
It appears that in eighteen hundrod and sixty-six a large majority of property
owners in the South Ward of the city of Chester voted for a domestic and a fire
protection supply of water, and that in the following year a law was passed
authorizing the members of the city council of the said South Ward, or a majority
of them or their successors, to contract for the erection of works to supply the
said South Ward and the inhabitants thereof with an adequate supply of water,
and for the purpose power was given to luse and occupy the roads of Delaware
county, the streets of the city, the streets of said South Ward and other property
in the said county, city and ward, with the same rights and privileges, and
Bubject to the same restrictions as are now by law given to and imposed upon water
companies in this Commonwealth, et cetera.
The water works, iirivilogi's. revenues and franchises were the property of
the South Ward and its inhaliitants. The s('c\irity for the payment of the loan
contracted for tho erection of the wati-r works was all the property in said South
Ward, real, personal and mixed.
In oightoon liundrod ami eighty-seven, the Now Chester Water Company bought
out the South Ward water works, paying for tho system, as it is reported, three
hundred and rliirieen thousand dollars, and luidcn- this purchase and the franchises
accompaning it, the petitioners claim the right to extend the pipes of the New
Chester Water Company into the borough of Marcus Hook.
This permit is based on the assumption that the said law of eighteen hundred
and seventy can be rightfully construed as authorizing tho petitioners to supply
water in Marcus Hook, although it does not appear that in eiglit(>en hundrod and
seventy any township or borough in Delaware county was adjacent to the city
of T'hester except Chester township, Ridley township, and the boroughs of Upland,
North Chester and South Chester.
The city of Chester is a manufacturing commimity and historical town located
on the north bank of the Delaware River in Delaware county a short distance
above the Delaware-Pennsylvania boundary line and about nine miles down
Htream from the mouth of the Sehuylkill River in Philadelphia. The municipal
territory is very irregular in shape and is bounded on the east by Ridley Creek
which separates the oity from Ihe townships of Nether I'rovidence, Ridley and
the borough of Eddystone, the latter being opposite Ihe city along the Delaware
River, at the mouMi of the creek, on the south by the Delaware River, on the
west by Lower Chiehesler and a part of Ijjper CMiichester township, and on the
north by Chester township and Upland borough.
Within this territory which is quite flat and extends along the river bank for a
distance of three miles, there is a population of forty thousand people, or there-
abouts.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEAT.TH. 575
Coiiiirii; clown from tlu- north tlirough Iho city to thn rivor arp nnmerous
strenms, the principal oih' hoin;j C'hestpr Creok. It and Ridlpy Crook and Cmm
Creek to tiie east are parallel streams, heading in tiie hills baek in the county
and (Iraininj; faiminu: territory. Their courses are such that numerous mill
privileges ar(? alTorded. The h<ad waters of Crum Creek furnish a water supply
and till' head waters of the two other creeks might be availahli- for this puri)Ose,
were it not for the excessive damages to mill owners which would have to be paid
by any one attempting to divert the water from the streams for public supply.
'I'he city is in a thriving condition, its industries, which are varied, among
which are the niannfacturi' of textih; fabrics, ship building, steel works and tubing
mills, et cetera, are located princi|)ally along the river front where wharfage is
hafl and also where railroad freight facilities are alTorded.
The Delaware Ki\er at this [loint is f)ver a mile wiili>, lln" waters are tidal,
the Miirmal stage being about six feet and the velocity during the strength of the
ebb and llnw is ver\- strcjng. The main channel follows the sluires along Chester
City.
The main line of (he riiiladelphia, Baltimore and Washington Division of the
Pennsylvania Railroad passes through the city, paralleling the river, and .so does
the n.iltimore and Ohio RaiIro;i(l.
The highway along llie river front is called Front Street and back therefrom
parallel streets art* designated by numbers. Fulton Street whidi is at right angles
to the river is in the uppi-r or eastern half of the city territory and at the foot
of it on the river front the Xew Chester Water Company's ijumping station is
located. Chester Creek emiities into the river about fifteen hundred feet up stream
from the pumping station and Ridley Creek is about one mile still further up
stream. AVhil(> the city has not filed the plans of its existing sewer systcMn, from
information now in the Department it is known that there are large public sewers
emptying into Ridley Creek in the city of Chester at the foot of Fourteenth, Xinth ,
and Fourth Streets, which serve an estimated population of three thousand people.
Into the main river between Ridley and Chester Creeks there are large public
sewers which empty their flow at the foot of Morton, Upland and Welsh Streets.
Into Chester Creek there are city sewers discharging at Fourteenth, Seventh,
Fourth, Third and Second Streets, serving a combined population of about
sixteen thousand people. Below Chester Creek there are large city sewere discharg-
ing into the river at the foot of seven streets, if not more. The public sewers are
on the combined plan and comprise, all told, a length of about thirtj' miles, and con-
nected therewith are buildings in which reside thirtj'-seveu thousand people, esti-
mated. The remaining inhabitants occupy properties on which the customary dis-
posal of excreme.1t in privy vaults is in vogue.
There are ntimerous private sewers from the industrial plants and other places
which empty into the streams. Along Ridley Creek in Eddystone borough there are
nine boat houf5es, and Chester Creek there are six boat houses, and along the
river in the city there are sixteen boat houses, all of which are much in use
during the sea.son. There are overhanging privies at many of these places.
Owing to the method of disposal of sewage both Ridlej' Creek and Chester Creek
are polluted and entirely unsuitable waters to bathe in. T.yphoid fever among boys
who have bathed therein has been attributed to this custom.
The water company's intake is at such a place that the sewage from the city
sewers may be taken by the tide back and forth by said intake, causing in con-
sequence a continual menace of a greater or less degree to public health.
Several years ago the courts were appealed to to compel the water company
(|)rior to its pr(>si iit ownership) to fuiiiish pure water, and this appeal resulted in
the installation of the (ilter plant and the turning on of filtererl water for the fii"st
lime on December third, ninete(>n hundred and three. Xo effort has been made
by the el iy to minimize the gross pollution of the river at this point, so that now
more sewage than ever of a local origin is discharged into the water supply of
Chester City.
The pumping station is a substantial brick structure and therein are housed two
Ilolly-(iask(>l crank and fly-wheel compound-condensing pumping engines, each
with a rated capacity of five million gallons )ier twenty-four hours. The machines
are ohl but have recently been thoroughly overhauled and appear to be in good
condition. They draw the water through a thirty-inch section main five hundred
and fifty feet long, laid on the bed of the river and extending out beyond the Port
Warden line a short distance into the main channel. On the end is affixed a
strainer. The water here at low tide is twenty-five feet deep.
The water is pumped through about three and a half miles of force main,
twenty and twenty-four inches in diameter, a vertical height of two hundred and
eight feet, lo the reservoir located at Harrison's Hill. The pipe terminates in a
gate house at the reservoirs where the water may be delivered into either one of
the basins as desired. lOach basin is two hundred and twenty feet long by one
hundred and fifty feet wide on the bottom, with sloping slides lined with dry rubble
masonry to a height of twenty feet or more, and each has a capacity of eight mil-
lion gallons.
For some years it was the custom to settle the water in one reservoir while
supplying the city from the other. To improve the quality of the supply, the com-
pany in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, installed a third reservoir
of three million gallons capacity, locating same in clo.se proximity to the two
reservoirs but at an elevation nine feet lower. With the third reser\oir com-
pleted, water from the pumps was delivered into reservoir number one and made
576 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. noc.
to travel the entire leuffth thereof to promote sediinentntion , ami when i( attained
a depth of sixteen feet the snrfaee water liowed to reservoir unuiber two through
an open spill-way. After additional sedimentation in reservoir number two, tlic
water Howed to reservoir number three, from wliieli ii was delivered to tin- eity
through the gravity supply mains.
To still further improve the quality of the supply, in the year niucLeen luin-
dretl and one, the eompany equipped reservoir number one with wooden baffle boards,
to cause a more complete displacement of its (H)ntents and to increase its sub-
sidence etliciency. At this time a coagulant feed pumi) was installed at the
pumpin'.: station'. A sohiiion of sulphate of alumina of unifiu'm density was pre-
pared and applied in known quantities to the water in the force main by means
of a small steam pump. In traveling through the three and a half miles of force
main between the pumping station and the reservoirs, ample opportunity was
given for a thorough admixture of coaguleut and water. This method was con-
tinued up to the time of installing the filter plant and effected material improve-
ment in the quality of the water delivered to the city, but it did not sulHciently
clarify and purify the water.
The filter plant was placed on the hill between reservoirs numbers one and two
and the third reservoir. The pumps are ot)erated from twelvi' to eighteen hours
each flay to deliver into the two res(>rvoirs the water consumeil by the district during
twenty-four hours. The maxinuun daily consumption is I'eported to be three and
a half million gallons and the average one million gallons less.
The filter house is a brick buihliug and it contains twelve? mechanical fillers,
each rated at one-half a million gallons capacity daily. They are operated con-
tinuously. The two reservoirs having been pumped full during the day deliver
water by gravity to the surface of the fillers (lay and night. In turn, the fil-
tered water goes to the filtered water basin numi)er three. This is an open struc-
ture, lined with concrete, two hundred feel long by one hundred and fifty feet
wide' on lop, twenty feet deep, with sides sloped one and a half to one. When full
this basin holds three million gallons, but on account of th(! vertical head room
rcijuired between the waters in the two reservoirs and that in the third reservoir,
llie depth of water in the latter is reduced to a nuiximum of fourteen and a half
feet, which is equivalent to a storage of two million gallons only in the filtered
water basin.
The arrangement of piping is such that in the case of a large fire, or for any
reason, and at will, the water company can turn the water from the sedimenta-
tion basins into the filtered water basin, thus by-passing the filter plant. The
water in the two sedimentation reservoirs stands at the same level and may be
lowered about four feet, eqtml to about one and a half million gallons, before the
filters cease to be operated by gravity. The remaining water is available by pump-
ing. A centrifugal pump, capacity not stated, has been set up in the gate house
located between the two sediuKMitation basins, which when necessary lifts water
from basin number om' into basin nund)er two.
'I'he wooden baffle boards in basin numbei- one, were in the I'^all of nineteen hun-
dred and seven jjartly broken down, so llint the water instead of ti'avcliiig aioinid
them pass(!d through.
The coagulant solution which is mixed or prepai-ed in two tanks in the filter house,
and is dissolved sulphate of alumina, is added to the water as it enters the sedi-
mentation basin at the gate house. The amount of solution used is regulated by
floats and the strength is said to be about one-quarter grain per gallon. Tests are
not made at regular intervals to ascertain whether this amount be sufficient to purify
the water at all limes.
The drainage facilities for the wastes from the plant ar(> not statcMl by the appli-
cants. In fact, the comi)any has failed to file plans of the reservoirs and ))urification
plant sufiicieiitly in detail to eiuible the Deparvment to Judge accui'niely as to the
s\iilability of the appai'alus as a sjifeguard to public liciillli.
\'];u:\\ of the lu'-he filler units is a cy|)ress lank, fifteen feel inside diMiuetei'.
Thi-y are arrangi'd in parallel rows of six units each with Hie cipiM-ni inj;- gnllery
and piping and accessories on and iniderneath this gallery. The inllnenl pipe of
each filler is provideVl with a balanct; valve; and float for niiiinliiining the desired
water level within the filler anil to prevent its overflowing. The effluent valve is
also provided willi a valve and float to shut off the fillers when the level of wnter
in the filtered water eolleeling fliune reaches an established maxininiii elcvnlion.
No rate controllers are provided, however, so there is nothing to i)reveiil ilie opera-
tion of a filter unit at a speed f;ir beyond its cai)acily to |)iirily the wJilrr.
It is underslrifid that across the centre of each filter mi llie builniii is l;iid a
east-iron main collector, and extentling laterally from this to williiii Ihree inelies
of the inside pei-jplieiy of the lank, on six inch centres, ii re one and one-(|uai'ter
inch diameter e\ti;i hr-jivy wroiighl-iron pipes wbieli reci'ive Hie scrr'ens or strainers.
The bottom is filled with concrele three and one half inches deep to the top of Hie
si-reen, on tf)p of which is placed six inches of gi'avel varying in size ridm our
eightii to otie-|i;Hf inch diameter, atid on loj) of the gravel is phieeil .iboiil lliree
feet of sand, having an effeciivi! siy,e of ;il>oiil fom-tent lis iiiiliiiei ns .'ind iivenige
iiiiiforniily c<»eflicieiii of one and a half.
'i'he floor of the filter house is concrele ihroiml I. 'Che <iper;i I ing pliiH'orm is
built of woor! and is hicaled about three I'eei below Ihe lop of ||ic lillei's, ,111(1 on this
are mounted the stands of Ihe operating gales. I'.elow it in Hie concrete fmindn-
tion is constmeted the filtered wafer flume, which is six feel wide by foiii' feet
No. n. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 577
rlci'i) ;iiiil iiiic liiimlicil I'lM'l Idii;;. 'I'lic wnliT in it is llic saiiu? lioij^lil. usually as the
waU'i' ill till' lillrircl wale r l)asiii, llicii' liciii;; a twfiily iiK-li pipo couucctiou between
the two. 'I'll" basin ailjoins the filter house. The Hume not hoinjif eovered re-
ceives the dirt which falls tlinjuy;!! the craeks of the platform over it. At the time
of the Di'partinenls inspection, there was considerahle sediment on the bottom
of tile fliinie.
The liliers are cleansed with a revei*se or \ipward current of fdtered wali-r, sup-
plied by centrifugal pump, rateil at twc^lve hundred ;^allons per minute, which takes
its suction from the filtered water collecting flume. A mechani<al agitator or
rake for stirring uj) the sand layer to its extreme depth, or on the surface only, is
provided. This method of surface agitation for the removal of intercepted mat-
ters from the surface of the sand layer is stated to have been installed for the
first time at the Chester plant. Instead of being provided with one waste located
twelve inches above the sand layer, the filters have two waste openings, one imme-
diately at the level of the sand layer, and the other twelve inches higher, both
connected with a steel trough. The filter undergoing cleaning is first drained off
until not over twelve inches of water remain over the sand layer. The surface
accunuilalions ar<' then broken up by the agitator and form with the remaining
water a thick mass which is drained off completely to the level of the sand bed
through the lower opening. The bulk of the intercepted matters thus removwl,
washing with a reverse current, proceeds, the water overflowing through the
upper opening, the agitator being used or not as necessity may require. The ad-
vantage claimed for this pai'ticular method is that by it the stirface accumulations
only may be reniovd and fill ration resumed without disturbing the lower strata
of the sand level or interfering with its filtering functions. Whether or not the
plan is operated in a manner to make this process advantageous is not proven by the
data now in pos.session of the Department. The storing up of impurities in the
lower layers of the filter might be u disad\antage.
It is reported thai after llie unit is i)ut: in operation again the filtered water for
the first fifteen or twenty minutes is turned into the waste water flume, and that
after this the filter is run at one-third of its rate for several hours. Six filters are
cleansed this way each day. An attendant is constantly on duty. The waste
wati'r from the filters is collected in an open flume in a concrete floor of the hou.se
(one fiunie in fi'oul of each row of filters), which delivers the waste to a well ad-
joining the iilter house. The water after subsidence is pumiu'd from this well into
.sedimentation basin number one. What disposition is made of the sediment is not
stated. The waste fiume is not covered and it is i)ossib)o for the dirty water to
splash over or by accident to reach the filtered water in the larger fiume paralleling
the two smaller ones and immediately adjacent thereto.
Bacteriological lists of the cfiiciency of the purification plant have shown ninety-
nine per cent removal of bacteria from the raw water as reported by the peti-
tioners.
It is reported that there are about thirty-six hundred consumers in the water
district, of which in the city of Chester, out of a total population of forty thou-
sand, there are thirty-four thousand one hundred and ten consunu'rs ; in the
borough of Tpland, out of a total poiiulation of twenly-lhree hundred, there are
seventeen hundred and fifty ccnsumers, and in Lower Chichester lownsliii), out of a
jiopulation of fifteen hundred, there are one? hundred and forty consumers. The
system of distributing pipes comt)ris(>s about fifty-eight miles, ranging in dianu'lers
from twenty-four inches to two inches. Owing to the growth of liopulation and
developments the ))etitioners wish to exteuil the mains.
There are aliont twelve hundred iirivatc' wells in the city, fitly in Upland bor-
ough, and two hundred or mon> in Lower Chichester l(j\rnslii|) , so it is reported.
The records of the local health ollicialsdo not show that dimiinit ion in typhoid fever
rales which might be exjH'Cted to follow the installation of a water purification plant.
In nineteen hundred and six, there w<'re sixiy-lwo cases and tweuy-four deaths
repoi-led to the Slate ]>eparlinenl. In all jn'obabilily the re<'()rds arc- not aecurati'.
More (Mses nuiy ha\e occurred than were recorded. The ratio of deaths to cases
seems to wiirraut (his conclusion. At least ten of the deallis in nineteen hundred
and six occurred at the City Hospital. I'p to October, nineteen hundred and seven,
there were fourteen cases of tyi>hoid fever for the year in Lower Chichester town-
ship, in ti-n instances of whicli tin' snlVerers used well wati-r. Whether ilie prev.-i-
lence of this disease in the water district is due to polluted milk, well or public
water of local origin is entirely debatable. A special study would have to be uuule
to settle the cjuestion. One conclusion, however, is warranted, which is that well
water drawn from the grouml in proximity to privy vaults or cesspools or from
ground that nuiy have been saturated with .sewage in the past, or from ground
from the surface of which iiollution may reach the wells, is ilangerous and should
be stoi)|)ed.
I'.esides building lu-w mains in the present district the petitioners ask appruvuil
of the extensions into Marcus Hook, as aforesaid.
This l)(u-ough is a small manufa<'tnriug ctunnninity located on the north bank of
the Delaware Itiver inunediately below the city of Chester. Tln-re is a small strip
of land in l.owi-r Chieliesier township between said eit.\- ami the boroui.'h. Saiil
lowiisjiip also boiMuls the bomuuh on llie inu-lli. The Slate line beiwe.-u Di'laware
and rennsylvania bounds the horonuh on the wc-st. Within this incorporated terri-
txny , which comprises about four liun<lied .Meres and lies low and fiat, there are at
37—17—11)08
578 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
present about fifteen hundreil residents mostly employed in the oil retiueries, but
some of them are euj^aged in shad fishery. The I'enusylvania Railroad Hues pass
along the uortheru bouudary aud a L)raueh of the Rt>ailiu:;- Railroad termiuatin^ iu
the town, extends along the river bank up stream to I'hiladelpliia. The town has
attained some note as tlie location of the Slate I2uarauliui' Station. It is also the
terminasi of the petroleum oil pipe lines from the productive fields of western
Pennsylvania to the seaboard. It is from here that oil is exported to foreign coun-
tries.
At present the citizens obtain drinking water from individual wells mostly dug
through hard-pan into underlying gravel. Kitchen slops aud garbage are deposited
on the ground and surface and shallow privies abound. Opportunities are many
for surface aud sub-soil pollution of tlie ilrinkiug supply. Cases of typhoid fever
occurring iu the borough have been attributed to polluted well water. The town
is in need of sewerage and the question is now being cousidered. The local author-
ities hope by an aggregate policy of public improvement involving water aud sewerage
works, to promote the industrial growth and material prosperity of the community.
Provided the petitioners have a charier right to furnish water iu this district,
there apepars to be no reason why permissiou therefor should not be granted.
The State Department of Health is endeavoring to stop the discharge of sewage
into the creeks which pass through Chester City, and some progress has been made
iu the territory outside of the city. While the sewage of Philadelphia aud of other
cities iu the Delaware River basin goes iuto the streams there, there are opportu-
nities for dilution aud destruction by natural processes of much of the poisonous
matter, .so that when the waters originally freighted with such sewage pass by the
intake of the New Chester Water Company's system, it is uot likely to be so dan-
gerous as the virulent sewage poisons which are discharged into the river in the
immediate vicinity of said intake aud passing thereby. The latter sewage being
the most dangerous should be the first sewage to be diverted from the city's water
supply. Even then the Delaware River water will be dangerous. These facts should
constantly be borue iu mind liy those upon whom rests the responsibility for supply-
ing the people of Chester aud vicinity with pure and wholesome water. Too great
care cannot be exercised iu operating and maintaining the purification plant. Its
normal capacity would seem to be sufficient for the additioual demands which may
be made upon it soon, but it is evident that to maintain a high state of efficiency
other units must be added at no distant date, provided the water district be mater-
iallj' increased.
In view of the foregoing considerations, it has been determined that the proposed
source of supply to Marcus Hook borough will uot be prejudicial to the piiblic health,
and a permit is hereby aud herein granted therefor aud for the extension of the
water works in the streets as proposed, under the express stipulations that the
right to do the things propo.sed is within the rights of the New Chester AVater
Company's charter aud the laws of the State, aud under the further conditions
and stipulations as follows:
FIRST. The water company shall within six months from the date of this
pi-rmit file in the oHice of the State Department of Health complete and full detail
plans of the reserv(urs, filter plant, gi'ounds, pij)iug, gates aud api)urtenances
thereof, togi'lher with a iilau of all water i)ii)e owned by it and laid in tiu' borough
of Marcus Hook and Lower (Jhiclicster towuslii)). Aiul thereafter, at the close of
eacli season's work, tin; company shall file a plan of the pijx'S laid during the year in
said office, together with such other information iu connection therewith as may
\)i- r<<|uired.
Si'^COND. Weekly reports of the operatidii of the water works system, par-
ticularly the i)Ui-ificatiou plant, shall be ke|(i dii bhiiik forms satisfactory to the
Stale iJepartmoil of Health, aud coi)ies tliere(jf shall be filed in said Department.
'J'Ih' watf'r company shall assist the Slate Deiiai-tment of Health in making such
tests of the plant from lime to time as may be found desirable. If necessary,
the CoMiiiiissioner of ileallli may iJi'esci'ibe standards of ellieiency and make regula-
lions foi- the operation and mainteuance of the ))lant. If at any time in his oj)iu-
ion the water works, oi- ;iny paiM Ihereuf, (U- tin' water furnished liiei'eby, has
become defective, or insullieienl or prejudicial to the puiilii- lieallli, then such reme-
dial measures shall be adopted by Ihe said company as (lie ( 'oniiiiissionei' of ileallh
may ad\ist- or ap|»ro\('.
TllIRI). The inl I'odueliijn of law i'i\er water into (he street main system oi'
anywhere <-s.i-i-\t\. into the subsidence basin is alisolulely pi'oiiibited. J)uplicale
])Um|)s or ample jjumping capacity shall be provided at the gate house or sul)-
sidenrre basins to ri'iider as nuich of the eight million gallons stored in reservoir
iiundier one as may be iiracticable available for ust;. \Vilh Ihe large storage now
iivailable on the hill, ample insurance against the necessity of by-i)assing the
filter plant should be afforded. 'I'here being facilities for storing two million gallons
of tiller-ed walei', the necessity does not exist for an emergency conneclion between
iIh! pumps and Ihe street mains. 'I'o Ihe contrary, llie interests ni' liie public
health demand that all r-onnections with liie j'oice main belweeii tlie pumps and
the purification plant shall be absolutely cul olT or (jiseonliuued if Ihere be any such.
So Ibis is marie a special slipulalion.
FOI'lt'i'li. 'i'lie filtered water Hume and Ihe wash walei' IJnnies shall he roven-d
by a walerlighl couci-ete fioijr to obviate any possible cdnlaminal imi nf (he lillered
water.
No. 17. . COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 579
FIFTH. Rate controllers of approved design shall be installed on the filters and
no unit shall be operated beyond its normal capacity, except it be in an emergency.
SIXTII. The water company shall have bacteriological tests made of the raw
water and of the water in its various stages of progress through the purification
plant, and this shall be done in a most thorough manner every six months. Every
two weeks hactcriological tests of the filtered water shall be made in sufficient
numbers lo sIkw wlicihcr the plant is efficiently performing its work. Copies of
these tests shall be promptly submitted and filed in the office of the State Department
of Health.
The Commissioner of Health will requi-st local authorities to have a sj-stematic
test made of well water iu the water district and will do other things also in an
attempt to bring al)out a dimunition of typhoid fever there. He will also, in con-
junction with the (Jovernor and Attorney General, take some action with respect
to the sewage pollution of the Delaware River and tributaries by Chester City
sewage as may be determined to be proper and necessary. The city Board of Health
will be requested to stop all bathing in the sewage polluted streams of the vicinity,
also said Board will be advised that all wells in the city used as sources of drink-
ing water should be tested and, if found polluted, the same should be aban-
doned.
Harrisburg, Pa., March 23, 190S.
CHESTER TOWNSHIP. DELAWARE COUNTY.
Edgemont Water Company.
This application was made by the Edgemont Water Company of Chester Town-
ship, Delaware count j', and is for permission to establish a system of water works
and supply water to the public within said township.
The Edgemont Water Company's charter was approved on March fourth, one
thousand nine hundred and eight, and authorized said company to supply water
to the public in the township of (,"hesler, Delaware county, its source of supply to
be the Delaware River, the point on said river at which said water is to be taken
or used, to be at the present pumping station of the New Chester Water Company
in the city of Chester.
The incorporators are men who are interested in the New Chester Water Com-
pany and the latter will sell water to the Edgemont Water Company. *
The township of Chester, which it is proposed to supply, lies directly north of the
city of Chester, being bounded on the east by Ridley Creek and on the west by
Chester Creek. The only settlement of any magnitude in the township is the vil-
lage of Brookhaven. It is in the north central part of the township and has a
population of possibly seventy-five people. The entire population of Chester town-
ship in nineteen hundred was five hundred and forty-three. The filter plant and
distributing resenoir belonging to the New Chester Water Company are located at
the extreme northern limits of this township and the twentj'-four inch supply
main returning to the city from the distributing reservoir on the hill, is laid in the
turnpike which passes through Brookhaven village. Along the one and a half miles
of turnpike in the township are located a number of houses, several of which are
connected with the said supply main. These dwellings have been so supplied with
water for a numl)er of years.
The present owners of the New Chester Water Company recently discovered that
these properties supplied with water in Chester township \fere being furnished
with water without legal authorization, and, therefore, the Edgemont Water Com-
pany was ineorporaled to legalize this sui)iily and the furnishing of water to anybody
who might want it within said township.
No plans have been submitted by the petitioners except a sketch of the supply
main above mentioned and it is not known that the new company purposes to
immediately lay any pipes in the ground.
The New Chester Water (,'onipany pumps water from the Delaware River, taking
it at a point opposite the cenlral part of the city in the main channel where the
sewage from the city sewers and that from Philadelphia nine miles distant has op-
portunity to pass and repass the intake. The water is pumped through a rising main
W'hose diameter ranges from twenty to twi'nty-four inclics a distance of about
three and a half miles to two sedimentation basins, each holding eight million
gallons. Adjacent tiiereto, there is a mechanical filter plant, the water flowing
from tlicse basins after treatiiiciit with a ihemical solution, onto the filters. They
have a normal cajiacity of six million gallons daily. The filtered water flows to a
filtered water basin holding two million gallons. This plant is on Harrison's Hill
in the northern part of Chester township. The distributing system extends through
the city of Chester. Upland borough and in a part of Lower Chichester township.
The daily consumtion averages less than three million gallons. The population sup-
plied approximates thirty-six thousand. The purchase of the franchise and proj)-
erty of the Linwood Water Company and of tlie T'pland Water Company in a man-
ner prescribed by law is the authority under which the New Chester Water Com-
pany has the right and is exercising it to furnish water to Lower Chichester town-
ship and TTpland borough; also possibly under a supplement, approved May twenty-
fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy, to an act of eighteen hundred and sixty-seven,
580 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
cnabliug the South Ward of tho city of ("hosior to produfo :i supply of wator, aud
tht^ siipph^iuont thereto of oi.uhlcen hiindrod and sixty-niuf. I'lKltT this law it is
ehiiuied by tho Now Cliostor Water Company that it has full power aud authority to
exteud water pipes into any road, street, etcetera, of any townsliip, district and bor-
ough adjacent to the city of Chester in the county of Delaware. If this construction
of "the law be correct, then the New Chester Water Company already has authority
to supply the public with water in Chester township.
It is. of course, understood and presumed that the Edgemont Water Company
will not purchase water of the New Chester Water Company at any point where
the New Chester Water Company is not under its charter and franchise empowered
to sell water to the public.
The petitioners should not sell water to the public unless it be pure aud whole-
some, but the Edgemont Water Company now has no control or means known to
the Department of regulating this matter. The petitioners do not purpose to build
a filter plant of their own. They intend to sell the water of the same quality as
it is purchased. In this arrangement the Edgemont Water Company does not seem
to have afforded sulKcient safeguard to their consumers. The Commissioner of
Health must, under the law, determine whetlu^r the proposed supply be prejudicial
to the public health. There is no doubt if the Edgemont Water Company should
enter into an agreement compelling the New Chester Water Comijnuy to fiirnish
a pure and wholesome supply at all times to it imder forfeiture of a sufficient
amount, that this could be taken as one reasonable evidence of the intention of the
Edgemont Water Company to actively interest itself in the potability of the
water which it is authorized to supply to tho public.
The fact cannot be emphasized too much that the original source, the Delaware-
River, is dangerous. There are always poisons therein inimical to life and health.
An accident might occur, but under such circumstances carelessness and negli-
gence more often do occur, whereby a greater or less amount of these poisons are
admitted through the water pipe into the homes of the consumers. Constant
vigilance shouki be exercised in the o])eration of the jjurification plant, else the
•water to be purchased by the Edgemont Water Company would be unsuitable to sup-
ply to the public.
It has been determined that the proposed water works system and the supply
therefor for the township of Chester by the Edgemont Water Company will not be
prejudicial to public health, and a permit is hereby and herein granted therefor,
under the following conditions and stipulations:
, FIRST. This permit shall not be operative until the Edgemont Water Company
shall have entered into an agreement with the New Chester Water Company,
whereby the latter shall guarantee to furnish the former with a sufliciont quantity
of water, the purity of which shall be satisfactory to the State Commissioner of
Health. Tests of this water shall be made by the Edgemont Water Company every
two weeks and copies thereof shall be tiled in the office of the State Department of
Health. A copy of said agreement shall also be filed in said office.
SI'](JO.\'D. iiefore the Edgemont Water Company shall lay any w;iter jiipes and
use the same, jjlans thereof shall Ix; lilc<l in Ihc ollicc of (he Stale 1 Nepali menl of
Health and be appnived. At the close of each season's work a plan of the water
mains laid durintr the year shall be prei)ared and sent to the Ctunmissioner of
Health, to the enil that there shall be a complete record in said othce of the extent
of the works belonging to the Edgemont Water Company and the number of people
iti said townshij) dej)endent upon such supply.
THIRD. If a! any time, in the opinion of the Connnissioner of II(?alth, the
water supply, oi' the water woi-ks, or .my pail thereof, has become prejudicial to
jniblic health, then tiie I'ldgemont Water ( 'ompany sluill :idopt such remedial meas-
ui"es to j>ro|ecl till; inihlic health as tlie < 'ommissionei' of Jleallli may npprovi' or
suggest.
FOURTH. Regular insjiections will i)e m.iile of the lldgemoiil Water ('ompaiiy's
sy.stein and supply by a Department otlicer. The ( "ommissioiier of Health may
suggest rules ami regulations to govern the supply of watiT to the |)ul>lic in so far .as
public lieallh is concerned. Said water <iimp.iiiy sli;ill eonrorm to any such ordi-rs,
rules or reLTulations in so far as lhe\- mny nlale to the supply of water to the jiuhlic
in (!liester townshi]).
FIFTH. This permit is issui-d on ll xpress slipuhilioii that the operations of
the Edgemont Water <Jompany shall he wholly within lis eii.nler riuhls.
Harrisburg, I'a., March 2:5, I!)OS.
C1H<:STER, DELAWARE COUNTY.
New Cliesliu- Water Company.
I'l'liis applieatioii was made by (he New Chester Water Company of Chester,
Delaware county, ami is for .-i iiindKieMt ion of a permit issued to the said eompany
by the < 'oiiimissioner of llenliji hr d.ile of Miircji I weiity-t liird , one thousand
nine Iriiiidred and eight.
It ajipears that in said periiiit, Section Five, it was stipulated ;is follows:
"Rate coiilndb-rs of appi'oved design sliall be installed on llir. lilleis and no
uni! Hliall be operated beyond its normal enpacily exeejjl ii lie in an emer-
gency."
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 581
The applicants bc^ to be excused from this provision because tlie outlay involved
is larso and because in the bottom of each filter there is a six inch manifold in which
all of tiie clear walcr passins: tlirijuu;li the filter bod is collected before passing to the
clear waier flume outside. Since I he diMnietcr of this manifold is six inches and the
diameter of the pipe- and connection into IIk- clear water flume is five inches, and
since a six inch jiipe under a ten foot head will deliver about five hundred thousand
gallons dailv, whereas a five inch i)ipe can only deliver four hundreil and twenty-
five thousan'd -allons dailv wle-n there is a full heij,'ht of water on the filter, this
pro\ision, <'spe«'iallv inslalled to obviate the cost of puttint; in rate controllers, suc-
cessfully re-ulates the (low of effluent from the filter and serves the purpose as thor-
ouj?hly as would some other kind of rale controller. It is urged by the applicants
that of the many different patterns of controllere none is an absolute success and
none is to be p'referred to the simple arrangement above descril)ed. Therefore,
since it would cost several thousand (hillars to install other rate controllers on the
twelve filler units at the plant, the New Chester Water Comi)any deems these
facts a suHicient warranty for the Commissioner of Health to relieve the petitioners
from the provision of Section Five of said permit.
It has iieen determined that the recpiest can be complied with without prejudice
to the public healih and, therefore, the said permit of March twenty-third, one
thousand nim^ hundred and eight, is hereby and herein modified by striking out the
fifth clause or stipulation thereof.
Harrisburg, I'a., April 20, 1908.
DANVILLE, MONTOIR COUNTY.
Danville Slate Ilospilal for the Insane.
This application was made by the Board of Trustees of tiie Danville State Hos-
pital for ih'' Ins.me of Danville, Montour county, and is for* approval of plans for
additions to the present water purification plant sulimitted in pursimnce of recent
legislation and an appropriation nuule therefor, said p(>rmit and approval being
given under the following conditions and stipulations:
It appears that the present plant consists of a gravity intake, pump well, feed
water i)ump, sedimentation basin, two filter units, filtered water basin and high
service puinping mivhinery. The works were established in one thousand nine
hundred and three, having been laid out and const iiicted under plans furnished
by the New York Continental .Tewell Filtration Company. The tank and filters,
tiie pump well and filtered water basin comprises one structure, abotit fifty-five
feet long by nineteen feet wide. It is located adjacent to the high .service pumping
station for' the hospital. The water from the river first enters the pump well out-
side on the flats and then by pipe to the raw water pump located in a pit extending
clear across the end of the building below ground and having a width of ten feet
and a depth of nin(> and one half feet below the floor line. This floor line is about
level with the surface of the ground outside. From here the water is lifted into the
.sedimentation tank which is a wooden structure, fourteen feet in diameter and ten
feet high, provided with customary baffles, inlets and outlets, such as are used in
plants of this type. The drainage from this tank is discharged into the sewere of
the plant whoseoutlet is ultimately into tln^ river below the intake.
From the subsidence basin the water flows by gravity to two filter units, each
twelve feet in diameter, of the low type standard double tank, reversible rake bar
Jewell filter, each having a j-ated capacity of three hundred thousand gallons per
twenty-four hours and designed to \)f operated in excess of this rate for short periods.
Each filter is of dotible tank construction. The inner tank, or filter receptacle is
twelve feel inside diamei(>r and the over-all height of the double tank is eight feet.
The water is introduced between the inner and outer tanks and rising up passes over
the edge and into the filter. The level of the surface of the sand is twelve inches
below top of the filter tank and the dei)th of sand and gravel is three feet eight
inches. This material rests on the strainer .system, which consists of a central
eliptical cast-iron header constructed in flanged .sections securely bolted together.
The header is tapiied on opposite ends of its long diameter for the lateral pipes.
Tlie laterals are spaced six inches on centers and are one and one-fourth inch
wrought-iron pijies. inn(>r end screwed into the cast-iron headers and the free end
capped. These laterals are drilled and tapped on the top six inches apart with
(hree-eight inch pipe, uiion which the brass strainers are fitted. These strainers
are provided, four per sipiare foot of filtering area. The screen system is imbedded
in concrete up to a level with the uitper portion of the strainers. From the col-
lecting system the filtered water is delivered into a down draft pipe five inches
in diameier extending down six feet into the clear water well, the end being about
two feet above the bottom of said well.
In each filter there is iu-oviile<l a rotary reversible swivel rake bar agitator,
nuanited on heavy yellow pirn- cross tindn'rs and supported in suitable cast-iron
brai'kels attached to "the sides of the tiller t.'ink. The agitator consists of a system of
spur and bevel gear and pinion with tight and loose pulleys, shaft an<l belt shifting
device, so that the agitator may be revolved with the rakes traveling in a vertical
position or reversed and the rakes made to trail over the surface of the filter
beds.
582 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The function of the do^vn draft pipe is to act as a controller when the clear
water well is full. Excessive use, however, from the clear water well tending to
uncover the down draft pipe exerts a suction or down draft on it, thereby increas-
ing the flow from the filters, and might tend to exceed their proper capacity.
The influent pipe to each filter is six inches in diameter controlled by a flanged
gate valve.
The filter is washed by reversing the current and the waste water is drained into
the eight inch sewer above mentioned. There is a re-wash arrangement whereby the
first filtered water may be wasted to the sewers, all provided with and controlled by
proper valve arrangements. The waste pipe from each tank is four inches in diam-
eter. The pressure from the service system of the institution is used for washing.
On each influent pipe to the filter there is a butterfly valve controlled by means
of a float encased in cast-iron float tank attached to the side of the filter unit,
whereby the supply of water to the filter is regulated.
The chemical feed box is located in the room over the pump pit and there are
two storage tanks. The feed is through a regulation orifice box into the section
pipe of the raw water feed pump. This pump has a capacity of six hundred
thousand gallons, so it is reported. It is of the direct acting type.
The pit or well in which this pump is located is constructed water tight. The
water flows to the pump by gravity.
The consumption of water at the institution is equal to about the rated capacity
of the filter plant. On the hill back of the main building there is a storage
resen-oir. In the operation of the water works during the hours of greatest con-
sumption the pumps are speeded up in the adjacent station to a rate in excess
of the noi-mal capacity of the filters with the result that the water is lowered in
the clear water basin beneath the filters to the minimum and, as above explained,
the rates of the filtei's are accelerated and at times, especially during high turbidities
in the river, the evidence of over crowding of the filters may be seen in the
coloring in filtrate. To obviate the possibilily of overcrowding of the plant, the
Trustees propose to add one filter unit and additional filtered water stoi"age.
The filtered water tiasin is underneath the subsidence tank and the pi'esent filter
units and i(s dimensions are nineteen feet in width by forty-five feet six inches
in length and a depth of ten feet. Probably eight feet of this depth is effective
capacity. Into this basin the suction pipes of the sei'vice pumps are extended.
These pumping engines are ample in capacity to serve the institution. The raw
water feed pump, however, is of insufficient capacity. The present installation
should be taken out and duplicate machinery provided, centrifugal pumps installed
each having a capacity ample to deliver all the water that miay be required during
any interval of time to the plant.
The plans submitted for a new filter unit provide for constniction similar in
all respects to the filler units now in existence. I'lie end wall of the superstructure
enclosing the filters is to be torn out and tlie filtered water basin and super-
structure is to be extended about fourteen feet. Thus the storage capacity for filtered
water will h^ increased and the full capacity will l)e equivalent to nine hundred
thousand gallons of filtered water per twenty-four hotirs. The filtered water
basin is to be constructed of concrete and the superstructure is to be built of brick.
The filter company proposes to aive a guarantee of efficiency to extend over
one yeai" from tho completion of the new filter unit. '^IMie guarantees are made
subject to tho conditions that the plant shall be opei-ated in accordance with the
instructions of the filter company and that a suilnble quantity and (piality of
coagulants or rf'ay:f'nts shall lie used. When operated in this mann(>r the new
filter unit is to deliver three hundred thonsaiid gallons of clear bright water,
practically free from color and matters in susj)eiision.
It has been determined tliat the proposed filler unit and additional storage
capacity ff)r filtered water will not be prejudicial to jjublic health, and the plans
are hereby api)roved therefor unrler the following conditions and slijiulations:
FIRST: 'J'he im|)rovements shall be made in conformity with these plans and
thereafter the plant shall be operated in an eflicieni manner, satisfactory to the
Commissioner of Health. Daily I'epoiMs of the operation of the water works
system shall be kept on blank forms salisfaclory to the Slate Dei)arlinent of Health
and cofdes thereof shall be filed in (he office of tlie f 'oiTnnissir)nei' of Heallli.
SECOND: Tl is the purpose of (he Stale Deparduent of Health to collect samples
of the raw watr'r and (lie fillr-red water and lo watch the operation of the system,
and if at any time, in (he opinion of (he C'onunissioner of Health. (hi> plant or any
part of the water works system is prejudicial to ])ublic health, then such remedial
measures shall be adf)pted as the Commissioner of Ilea II h may suggest or approve, i
THHID: The lioard of Trustees shall provide; adeipiale and <luplicale pumping
machinery for the raising of raw I'iver wa(er into the filter iilant and attention
is called to the suggestions hereinbeff)re made relative (f) this f)oint.
FOURTH: The '^Prnslees shall prepai'e an accurate detail plan of the existing
pumping slation and layout, including (he intake pip<\ (he run nciirby, (he rail-
roa<ls. adjacent buildings, location of valves anil forci- main and file the same in
tlie office of the Cf)mmissioner of Health on or bcfMrc Ihc crmiplclion of |he filter
unit herein ajiproved.
It would appe)ir from evidence nl hand that an exaininalion of the intake
pifie at the river and leading therefrom to the receiving well on Ihe dais should
be carefidly made by some rpialified expert in (he employ of the Trus(('es, I'robably
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 583
tlcfocts ill this lime lujiy bp Coiiiid and remedies applied, whereby an ample quantity
of walci- may be assured at all times ut the pump well and raw water feed
pumps.
Ilarrisburg, I'a., August 14lli, 1908.
DANVILLE, MONTOUR COUNTY.
This permit is issucfl to tlie Board of Tiiistees of the State Huspilal for the
Insane at Danville, ^fontour eounly, and is for the construction of additional
filter units to the present water filtration i)lant of the institution, according to plans
therefor filed by Mr. William Field Shay, President of said lioard of Trustees.
It appears that the present plant consists of a gravity intake, pump well, feed
water pump, sedimentation basin, two filter units, filtered water basin and high
service pum|)ing machinery. The worlis were established in nineteen hundred and
three, having been lai<l out and constructed by the New York Continental Jewell
Filtration Company. On August eleventh, nineteen hundred and eight, said
filtration company submitted plans for improvements to the works; the plans
were api)rove(l and a jx-rmit issued therefor by the Commissioner of Health,
said permit being dated August fourteenth, nineteen hundred and eight. This
permit was issued with the understanding that the plans had been authorized by
the lioard of Trustees. It now appears that this was a mistake. After advertise-
ment and the receiving of bids, the trustees, represented by the I'resident. Mr.
Shay, are prepared to enter into a contract with the American Water Softener
Company, i)rovided the plans submitted by this company are satisfactory and
receive the approval of the Commissioner of Health as required by law.
The present tank and filters, pump pit and filtered water basin are all housed
in one structure, fifty-five feet long and nineteen feet wide. This building is
located adjacent to the high service pumping station for the hospital.
There is a receiving well on the flats between the station and the river into
which the raw I'iver water flows by gravity and from which it flows by gravity
to the feed water pump located in the pit under one end of the building. However,
this gravity flow to the pumps is only during a period of high water in the river.
There are weeks at a time when there is a suction lift of twenty feet or thereabouts.
The pump pit is ten feet wide with a depth of about nine and a half feet below
the floor. In it there is a horizontal simple duplex pumping engine of a rated
capacity of about eight hundred thousand gallons per twenty-four hours. This
engine lifts the water into the sedimentation tank located on the floor of the
building above. This structure is fourteen feet in diameter and ten feet high
and provided with customary baffles, inlets and outlets, such as are used in plants
of this type. The drainage from this tank is discharged into the sewer outlet
of the plant, whose outlet is ultimately into the river below the intake.
From the subsidence basin the water flows by gravity to two filter units, each
twelve feet in diameter, of the low type, standard double tank, reversible rake
bar, Jewell filter, each having a rated capacity of three hundred thousand gallons
per twenty-four hours and designed to be operated in excess of this rate for short
periods. Each filter is of double tank construction. The inner tank, or filter
receptacle, is twelve feet inside diameter and the over-all height of the double tank
is eight feet. The water is introduced between the inner and outer tanks and
rising up passes over the edge and into the filter. The level of the surface of the
sand is twelve inches below the top of the filter tank and the depth of sand ami
gravel is four feet eiffht inches. This material rests on the strainer system, which
consists of a central eliptical cast-iron header constructed in flanged sections
securely bolted together. The header is tapped on opposite ends of its long diameter
for the lateral pipes. The laterals are spaced six inches on centres and are one
and one-f|uarler inch wrouirht-iron pipes, inner end screwed into the cast-iron
header and the free i-nd ca|)ped. T'hese laterals are drilled and capped on the top
six inches apart with three-eighlhs inch pipe, upon which the brass strainers
are fitted. Thes<> strainers are provided four per sqtiare foot of filtering area.
The screen system is "imbedded in concrete up to a level with the upi)(>r portion
of the strain^M's. From the collecting system the filtered water is delivered into
a down draft pipe five imhes in diameter extending down six feet into the clear
water well, the end beinir about two feet above the bottom of said W(>11.
In each filter there is provided a rotary, reversible, swivel rake bar agitator,
mounted on heavy yellow pine cross timbers and supported in suitable cast-iron
brackets atlaclKMl to the sides of the filter tank. The agitator cnusisls of a system
of spur and bevel gear and pinion with tisht and loose [nilleys. shaft and belt
shifting device, so that the n'j;itator may ho revolved with the rakes travelinc in
a vertical position or reversed and the rakes made to trail over the surface of the
filter bed.
'i'he funetion of the down ilraft ]>ipe is lo act as a eontroMer when the clear
water well is full. Fxcessive use, however, from lii(> clear water well tending tc.
uncover the chnvii tirafl pipe exerts .-i suction or down dr.afi on it. thereby increasing
th(> flow friim the fillei-s, and miuht fend to exceed their proper capacity.
The influent pipe to each filter is six inches in diameter controlled by a flanged
valve gate.
5S4 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The filter is washed by vcversins' the currenl aucl the waste water is drained
into the eight inch sewer above mentioned. There is a re-wasli arraugeiiKMit whereby
the first filtered water may be wasted to the sewer, all provided with and controlled
by proper valve arrangements. The waste pipe from each tank is four inches in
diameter. The pressure from the service system of the institution is used for
washing.
. On each influent pipe to the filter there is a butterfly valve controlled by means
of a float encased in a cast-iron float tank attached to the side of tlic filter imit,
whereby the supiily of water to tlie filter is regulated.
The chemical feed box is located in the room over the pump pit and there are
two storage tanks. The feed is through a regulation orifice box into the suction
pijte of the raw water feed pumji.
The consumption of water at the institution is equal to about the rated capacity
of the filter plant. On the hill back of the main huildinss there is a storage
resen-oir. In the operation of the water works during the hours of greatest con-
sumption the pumps are speeded up in the adjacent station to a rate in excess
of the normal capac-ity of the filtei-s, with the result that the A\'atcr is lowered in the
clear water basin beneath the filters to the miuinuim and, as above ex[)lained,
the rates of the filters are accelerated and at times, especially during high
turbidities in the river, the evidence of overcrowding of the filtiMS may be seen
in the coloring in the filtrate. 'I\i obviate the possiJ)lity of over-crowding of the
plant, the Trustees pvirpose to aild one filter unit and addilioMal liltenHl water
storage.
The filtered water basin is beneath the suhsi(lenc(> tank and the [jresent filter
units, and its dimensions are nineteen f(>et wide by forty-five fe(>t six inciies long
and ten feet dei'i). l*roi)al>ly eight feet of this de|>th is effective capacity.
Into this basin the suction pipes of the service inunps are extended. The high
service pumping enirine which is used to serve the institution has a cnpacily of
nine hundred gallons per minute. There is an (>inergency high ser\ice engine of
about the same caiiacity.
The raw water feed pumj) is of snflicient capacity to deliver all the water that
may be required during intervals of excessive demand at the plant.
There are five proposals made by the bidders whose i)lans are under consideration.
Proposal "A" comprises the extensions of the existing filter buildinu and clear
water basin a distance of fifteen feet and the installation of one additional twelve
foot diameter double tank gravity filter, identical in all respects with the existing
filters, excepting that the filter offered herein is to bo equipped with the Ilodkinson
improved, reversible, power agitator, which is claimed to po.ssess the additional
advantage of throwing the wash water into the wash or waste gutter and expediting
the washing process, and the filter is also to be equipped with the Ilodkinson
improved strainer or sand valve.
I'nder tiiis proposal the filter house shall be extended in a neat and substantial
manner, all walls to be of same thickness as walls of the existing buildings; all
materials to be of the same q\iality, the filtere<l water basin to be of the same
depth, breadth and construction; the "I" beams for supporting tli(^ filter to be
of same weight and depth; the roofing and covei'ing to be the same; the operating
platform to be the same; all window frames, sash and lights to be the same, and
the whole completed in a thorough and workmanlike manner and the equal in
every particular of the existing buildin;; as r(>;;nr(ls finish, workmanshii) and
quality of materials. This i)rop(isal ((intcmijlatcs rt'inoving tiie exist in^ end wall
of the filter house, but with the understanding that the i)rick, window frames anil
sash may be used in the j)roposed extension.
Tiie prfiposal also contemplates extendini;- the operating plalfoi'iii. II also
includes all hangi-rs, shafting, pulleys ami belling fm- <lrivinL;- llie ai;ilat(ir nii the
new filter.
As the pi-esent eij;ht inch diameter pipe leadiim fnnii IIm' siihsirleiiee lank is
too small to supply an additional filter, the proposal contemplates removing llie
present eight inch supply and sul)sl itut in;; therefor a ten inch diametei- wroughl-
iron su|>|)ly main, ])roperly vahed, with a branch lliei-efrom to each of the existing
filters, and to the filter offered in the proposal. Ihe Iree end i,\' ihis pipi' to be;
capped or plnK;red to admit of extending it to fiiluic fillers.
( nder this jjroposal it is agr(<ed to extend the existing wash wnlei- supply,
steam sterilizmj.' anri drain pipes to the ni-w filter, carrying Ihe ellhient from
the filler flown into the filtered wat(!r basin, and the doing of all other jjipis
work incjfleiil to the profier installation (jf the filter liei'ein i)roposefl and necessary
to make it <-oinplete and idi-ntical in all respectts with i)iping arrangements on the
exist in;; lilters.
This proposal also contemplates the furnishing and installation ol' all mali'iials ,
althontili not herein s|M'cifically referred lo, necessary to extend Hie lilli r Imilding and
tlir- existing filtered water basin, to install the additiomil filter and iii.ik<' everything
complete and first class and in rinming order, everylliing lo lie iwpial in every
respect to the exiHlin'.r plant !ind to liai-moiii/,e therewitli.
Proposal "P." pi-ovidi's for the extension of the existing filler Imilding and
filtered water Ita.dn a distance of twenty-nine feel six indies and llie installation
'if two Iwrdve foot diameter filters, all as set forlli in Projiosal "A."
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 585
Proposal '■<;" is on tlic assiiiiii)(iou that llie filtered wnli-r basin is to bo omitted
and coucri'ti' f(joLiii.i; (;otirsi's liiriiislH'd for new walls, and on this basis a <li'<luction
is to bo niadi,' Inmi I'loposal "A" and also from Proposal "li" of two hundred
and fifty-dirci' <lollars and livi- lnin<lrcd and six dollars rcspoctively. Uudt-r this
)jro|)osal the new portion of llic bnililinj; would be covered with a substantial and
wi'll linishcd concri'ic lloor laid oft in squares and the filter efflueuts would be
earriccl down into tli(,' cxislin;;' liltercd water basin.
I'roiiosal "D" is the same as proposal "A" practically, with the exception that
instead of a twelve foot filter, it is [jroptjsed to establish a standard thirteen foot
filter, the same to be constructed in all substantial res'pects as the standard
fifteen foot filter of the bidders. Each of the existini; filters at the institution is
twelve feet in diameter and there is an area of one hundn^d and tiiirteen square
feet. The thirteen foot filter proposed has au area of one hundred and thirty-two
scjuare feet, or nearly s.-venteen per cent, more area and capacity than each
of the existing filters. The bidders olTer to jiive this additional filter capacity without
extra cost. The unit would not look unlike the existing; filters anil tlii' present
existinf;' appearance of the plant would be maintained. P.ut under this proposal
tin- company would install its own style apparatus instead of a double tank
filter like tiiost' now in use at llie plant.
I'ropo.sal "E" is substantially the same as Proposal "B", with the exception that
each of the two additional filters is to be of the bidder's own make and each
thirteen feet in diameter. The two filters offered in this proposal would give
nearly thirty-four per cent, greater filter capacity than two filters like those already
in use.
The bidders guarantee the filters herein offered by them to be capable of delivery
under like conditions, a quantity and quality of w-ater equal in every respect to
that produced per square foot of area by the existing filters at the institution ;
and that the filters proposed will consume no more time or wash water in cleaning
and tiiat no more power will be retpiired to drive the agitator.
The filters proi)osed ;ind all jtarts thereof are guaranteed free from infringement
of patents.
Proposal "A" is for the sum of Three thousand two hundred and ninety-two
dollars. Proposal "B" is for the suru of five thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine
dollars.
The bidders are prepared to extend the filter house and install two additional
filter units within one hundred days or one additional filter unit within seventy
days.
The method now in use at the plant for apijlying the coagulant solution is not
acc-urate, or it does not receive the personal atti'Utiou necessary to make it accurate.
As above stated, this is a gravity feed device and feeds a constant stream at all
times regardless of the (|uaniiiy of water fiowing to and through the filters. This
would be all right if the strength of the solution added varied in conformity with the
quality and quantity of water delivered. As it is now. if the device is adjusted to
feed a given amount when the filters are clean, it will sup])Iy too much coagulant
as the filters become dirty, because more water is furnished to" the filters when they
are clean than when they are dirty, and the rate of filtration is nuich reduced. If
the device is ad.jusii-d when the filters are dirty, it will, therefore, fi-ed too little
coagulant when they are clean for the same rea.son. Under these conditions, unless
an expert be in attendance the filtere are not liable to develop their best and most
uniform bacterial elhciency, and, besides, the u.se of coagulent cannot be economical.
Furthermore, if the atten<lant should fail to close oil the alum feed when the
Ijlani is shut down for the night , the solution would be emptied out of the tank
during the night time into the suction well and a half dose of this chemical would
be receiveil into the institution. To counteract this possible occurrence the bidders
l)ropose, for the lu-l sum of (uie hundred dollars, to install a coagulant feed pump
and all appurtenances belonging thereto. This punu) is to be actuated by the
steam pump siiiipiyinu water to the filters. Kvvvy stroke of the steam pump,
whether running fast or slow, would cause the ahun feed pump to also nmke
a stroke and feed the rcipiired dose of coagulant — if the pump supi)lying the filters
stops, so will the alum feed pump, and there will bo no waste of citagulent. This
apparatus will feed the coagulent solution luiiformly at all times and in direct
proportion to the vohnne of water supplied to the fillers, and ;is the pum|i has a
variable stroke it can be cpiickly and easily adjusted to feed varying (pmntities of
the coagulent solution act-ording to the condition of the river. 'Pables and scales,
comprehensible by the most ignorant, showing how to mix and feed the coagulent
in definite prop(»rtions, accompany the outfit.
The present subsidence cap.acity is in the neighborhood of one and a half hours
and with two additional filler units it will i>e about three-quarters of an hour.
The i)lant is luifortunately located right on the bank and adjacent to the pump
house, so that tliere is a limited area. One subsidence tank of the present capacity
is too little to give etliciem y where the filter unit is to be i-un up at a high rate',
and. therefore, it argues in favor of more filter units in wliich to distribute the
work of water purification at reduced rates of filtration.
Furth(>rmore, with a hiuli service pumping eimine of nine hundred gallons per
minute, it staiuls to reason that the filter plant should have at least (his capacity
under all conditions and at all times where the filtered water basin has a limited
586 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
capacity as in this instance. If the high service pump be operated at its full
capacity of nine hundred gallons per luiuute, which is the economical rate to
operate it, the filtering area should be sullicient to deliver a purified water at
this rate.
The present filter units should not be operated in excess of five hundred and
fifty-two gallons per minute. The three filter units like the present ones would
deliver seven hundred and seventy-eight gallons per minute and four filters would
deliver nine hundred and four gallons per minute. If two filters of the make
proposed by the biddei"s, each thirteen fevt in diameter,' were installed in connec-
tion with "the existing filters, the plant would have a total filtering capacity of
one thousand and eighty gallons per minute, or more than enough to keep the large
pump supplied.
This is the best proposal submitted, which is Proposal "E." AYith this capacity
of filtration it is not necessary, to extend the filtered water well.
The improved method for applying the coagulant solution should be adapted.
The filtered water well or pump well for the high service pump is not covered
with a floor. Water from leaky stulhug boxes or valves or leakage of water,
through staves of the filter tank, or raw river water slopping over from the filter
can fall into the filtered water below and contaminate it, thus spoiling all results
of filtration. In a modern well designed plant this danger is eliminated by the
construction of a water-light floor underneath the filters forming an impervious
roof to the filtered water well. This improvement should be made without fail
over the existing filtered water basin and a pitch should be given to the surface
of the floor and the drainage be conducted to the sewer.
The design submitted is an advancement over the plan approved under the
permit of August fourteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, in that it provides for
two filter units instead of one and in that it aft'ords an automatic arrangement
of improved design for the feeding of the cuagulauL solution to the raw water.
It has been determined that the proposal for two additional thirteen foot filter
units, without additional storage of filtered water, and that the proposal for the
improved coagulant feed, in conformity with the plan submitted, will not be
prejudicial to the public health if adopted by the Board of Trustees, and the
plans therefor are hereby and herein approved and a permit issued, under the
following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: The improvements shall be made in conformity with these plans and
thereafter the plant shall be operated in an efficient manner, satisfactory to the
Commissioner of Health. Daily reports of the operation of the water works
system shall be kept on blank forms satisfactory to the State Department of
Health and copies thereof shall be filed in the office of the Commissioner of Health.
SECOND: It is the purpose of the Slate Department of Health to collect
samples of the raw water and the filtered water and to watch the operation of the
system, and if at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
plant or any part of the water works system is prejudicial to public health, then
such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health may suggest
or approve. ■ i j , i i ,• .
THIRD : The Board of Trustees shall provide adequate and duplicate pumping
machinery for the raising of raw river water into the filter ])laut and attention is
called to the suggestions hereinbefore made relative to this point.
FOURTH: Tlie Trustees shall prepare an accurate detail plan of the existing
pumping station an<l lay-out, in<hiding the intake pipe, tlie run nearby, the
railroads, adjacent buildings, location of valves and force main, and file the
sanie in the olfiee of the Commissioner of Ili'nilii on or before the completion of the
filli-r unit herein approved.
FIFTH: Tli(! lioard of Trustees shall build a concrete water tight floor over the
nresent filtered water well and this shall be done and completed at the time that
the two additional fillers herein approved shall b(! coiiii)leted.
SIXTH: This permit is issued uiuhu' tin; express stipulation that tint work
herein authorized and aitproved shall bi; done duiing the current season.
It would appear from the evidence at hand that an examination of the intake
nine at the river and leading therefrom to the receiving well on the flats should
be carefully made by sonx! qualified expert in the employ of the Tiliistees.
Probably defects in this line may be found and ivmedies applied, whereby an ample
«iuantity of water may be assured at all li s at the pump well and I'avv water
fi-ed pumps.
Harrisburg, Pa., August 24 lb, 1;)08.
DA.NVILM:, .MONTOITR COUNTY.
Danville Stale lJ(7spilal for llii' Insane.
This permit was issued to tin; Board of Trustees of llie Stale Hospital for the
Insane at iJaiiville, Montour county, relative to <'erlain proposed inipiovenieiits
to the water works system of the inslilution as jHOvided for by law. 'I'lie jipproval
of the plans and the permit herein are under certain conditions and stipulations
hereinafter appearing.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 587
Mr. R. Scott Ammcrman , solicitor for the Board, oa September twenty-ninth,
nineteen hundred and eight, .siihmitted a proposition from the water filter company
whose plans were approved by the Commisioner of Health in dit^ form in a permit
issued August twenty-fourth, nineteen liundred and eight. The letter of the
water filter coiniiauy to the Superiutciideiit of the institution is given in full below:
"September 22, 1908.
"Dr. H. B. Meredith,
"Supt. State Hospital fur the Insane,
"Danville, Pa.
"Dear Sir: — Agreeable to the understanding had at the last meeting of your
Executive Committee, we are handing you herewith, in duplicate, our proposal,
as originally submitted under date of August 11th, 19US, but omitting therefrom
our several other proposals which are not now to be considered, and including
only such poriious as relate to the work actually to be done in accox'dance with
the permit issued by the State Department of Health and the decision of your
Executive Committee.
"The enclosed redraft of proposal, you will find, is copied almost verbatim
ad literatum from our original proposal, excepting that we have included therein
the additional items of installing a new low service pump, putting in a new coagulant
feed pump, covering your existing filtered water basin with a concrete floor, and
covering the strainer on river end of intake pipe. In our new specifications we
have also covered a description of the extra work which we are now asked to
perform.
"The price named in our redraft of proposal is made up as follows:
"Our price for two filters 13 feet diameter per our proposal "E"
of Aug. 11, 1908 $5,889 GO
"Less deduction allowed for omission of filtered water basin beneath
filter house extension, per our proposal "C" of Aug. 11, 1908, .... 506 00
$5,383 00
"New coagulant feed pump, per letter accompanying our proposal
of Aug. 11, 190S, 100 00
"New Worthington low service pump, per our letter of Aug. 14, 1908, 1,050 00
"Covering the existing filtered water basin with a concrete floor, .... 450 00
"Stone covering for strainer on river end of intake pipe, 200 00
$7,183 00
"The trouble with your intake pipe is that the aggregate cross sectional area
of the perforations in the strainer on the river end is too limited, being equal
to about 44 square inches, whereas the area of the 10 inch intake pipe is 201 square
inches. As nearly as the writer could determine, the strainer on the river end
of intake contained about 4U0 holes about 3-8 inch diametei". During high stages
of the river it is more than likely that these perforations become obstiiicted with
gravel or particles of coal. This condition can be x'elieved by covering the existing
strainer with broken stone, as shown on our drawing No. 15-F-l, and as described
in our proi)osal and specifications, as the stone would prevent access of coal aud
gravel to the perforations while the voids would be ample to allow free ingress
of water. As your low service pump suction pipe is 8 inch diameter and has
a cross sectional area of 50 square inches, jou will see that the 44 square Inches
of perforations in strainer on river end of intake are not equal to the area of the
suction pipe to low service pumps.
"A better and more pennauent method of correcting trouble with the intake
pipe would be to cut olT the end of present strainer and slip over this pipe a
cast iron strainer substantially as shown on our drawing No. 14-F-l. Our
redraft of proposal, as enclosed herewith, contemplates our covering the existing
strainer on river intake with broken stone only. If you should conclude to have
us put on the new cast-iron strainer shown on our drawing No. 14-F-l, $200.00
must be added to our price of .$7,183.00.
"If we are to do the work on the intake pipe it is important that the contract
be signed up without delay so that we can take advanage of the present low stage
of the river, as our estimates are based on oui' being able to do this work while
the river is low. If you should conclude to have us supply the new strainer
casting .shown on our drawing No. 14-F-l, we would Ihank you to wire us as
soon as this decision is reachtHl so that we can order the patterns and castings
immediately and get the work in with the least possible delay and while the river
is low. If this new strainer casting is used we could cut off "the blank end of your
present strainer and leave end of pipe open. The perforations in our strainer, which
are on the side walls only, wnuld have area equal to area of the 10 inch pipe
W(> would anchor this new strainer in place so that it could not be disturbed.
"Covering the existing filtered water basin with a concrete floor, and making
alterations to intake, are not easy tasks, aud as costs will depend largely upon
conditions existing at the time the work is done. If the river should be high when
588 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
we do work on the intake the extra prooautions to be taken would soon eat up
the little prutil included in our tiguros. In ooveriug- yovir lillerod water basin
we would have to do the work so as not to interfere with the operation of the
plant.
"We hope the matter is now in such shape that contract can be drawn up and
duly executed with little delay. If matters can be expedited in any way by
another meeting of your Executive Committee with the writer, the undersigned
will be glad to be in Danville any day and hour you may name. AVe are particularly
anxious to get at the intake at ouce if we are to do this work.
"Awaiting your further commands, and hoping you will find the enclosed
redraft of proposal and specifications satisfactory, and that you will notify
us promptly if they are not, we remain,
"Very truly yours,
"AMERICAN WATER SOFTENER CO.,
By Geo. F. Ilodkiuson,
Mgr. Filter Dept."
"GFH— MP.
The plans for the improvements to the intake have been submitted and filed
in the otfice of the Commissioner of Health. Their execution involves a total ex-
penditure of two hundred dollars in addition to the total bid of seven thousand
one hundred and eighty-three dollars.
It has been determined that the proposed plans are not prejudicial to public
health and the same are herei)y and herein approved and a permit issued therefor.
The improvements to the intake are called for by the following clause of the
said permit of August twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and eight:
"It would appear from the evidence at hand tliat an examination of the intake
pipe at the river and leading therefrom to the receiving well on the flats should
be carefully made by some qualified expert in the employ of the Trustees. Probably
defects in this line may be found aud remedies applied whereby an ample (|uantity
of water may be assured at all times at the pump well and raw water feed
pumps."
The item for the concrete water-tight floor is required by the Fifth Condition
of the said permit of August twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and eight, as
follows:
"The Board of Trustees shall build a couerele water-tight floor from the present
filtered water well and this should he done and completed at the time that the two
additional filters herein approved shall be completed."
The items for additional pumping machinery were called for in the Third Con-
dition of said permit, as follows:
"The Board of Trustees shall provide adequate and duplicate pumping machinery
for the raising of raw river water into the filter plant and attention is called to
the suggestions hereinbefore made relative to this point."
I-Iarri.sburg, Pa., October 20lh, 1908.
l>i:illtY TOVVNSIIU', DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Hershey Village, M. S. llershey.
This apijlication was made by Mr. M. S. Ucrsliey, of Ilcrslicy Village, Derry
townshif), Dau|>liin county, and is \'nv pcnuissidn to extend his water works
Kyslem f<ir the supply of water to tin? i)ulilic in llic village of Ilei'slicy and lo obtain
an additional source of sujiply tlua'efor.
Act One hundred and eighly-l,wo, approx-ed April (wculy-sccond , nineteen
hundred and five, provides that an individual supplying water to the public
shall not extend the water works or obtain an juldil ioual sourc(> of supply without
a written permit to be obtained from the (!onuuissioncr of Health.
J I is repn-sfiiled by tlu- petitioner I hat lu; is (lie individual owner of I he water
works nfiW supplying water in the vilhige of llei-shcy and vicinity. This village is
in Derry lownshi)i on the J'hilaile!i)hia and Reading K.iilway, lonrleen miles <'ast
of Harrisburg. A large area of ground about lhree-(iuarlers of a mile square
was purchased about four years agf> by Mr. M. S. Herslu^y and he at once laid
it out into streets and established a i)lant for the manufardure of chocolate, which
is operated under the name of M. S. Hershey Cjiocolate Company, lie also built
a iiundjer of houses for employes and a liaid< and a school house and lire house and
a wal<-r wcjrks system to su|)|dy water to IIk! factory and to anyone who might
<-are to buy the water. The factory aiul all tin- other main buildings are sul)stantial
stone Hlructur(;s. In addition to these improvemr-nls Mr. llei-shey built a tndh^y
line and an amusement park for the accommodation of the villagers. 'IMie inhabi-
tarils ilepend exclusively on the ciiocolale faclory for llicii- support, tiicre being
no other industry in the vicinity. iluninielslowM is about lliree and one-half ndles
to the west and the village of Palmyra is aliunl iliree miles lo the east. 'I'he <M)untry
round-about is op'-i" rolling farming land. In liie village there is a population of
about eight hundred.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 589
It is reported that (lure are ce.sspools iu use at fifty dwelliags and tbat at other
estates uol coniii't;tt'd with (lie scwi-r.s privy vaults are provided. The geological
formation is liincstoiie.
Througii tlic cent ml pari of I in- villa^'c in a westerly directiou flows Spring Creek,
a stream which rises aljont three miles easterly and empties into the Swatara
Creek nearly iwo miles westerly oi>posile the village of Union Deposit. The railroail,
factory and major portion of llershey lies south of the creek, but there is in the
north-eastern corner of the \illage a short si retch of the railroad north of the
creek and it is in this part along a main tributary of the creek east of the railroad
that the new supply of water is to be obtained. On the hill east of this tributary
is Mr. I-lersliey"s mansion, and there is a private sewer from it southerly to the
main creek. It is a pipe sixteen inches in diameter.
Down stream eight hundred feet at the railroad culvert there is a twenty-four
inch sewer into the creek. Ii is six hundred feet long and conveys all the factory
sewage and waste to the stream. The waste is principally rinsing water from milk
cans. This sewer is less than one hundred feet down stream from the water works
pumping station.
The next sewer is ten inches in diameter, it conveys the drainage from the school
house, hotel, bank, tire house aiid railroad station, northerly under the railroad
embankment to an open ditch which extends northerly through the held passing
within sixty feet of two dwellings a ilislance of two hundred feet to the creek. The
point of discharge is eight hundred feet below the railroad culvert.
The last two sewers mentioned appear to have been established when the buildings
were erected. The sewer from the Ili'rshey mansion is of recent construction and
has not yet been used since the dwelling has not yet been occupied.
There are u]>\\anls of ninety dwellings in the village and about two-thirds of
them are furnished with water supplied from Mr. Ilershey's pipe lines. The other
houses obtain their drinking water from private wells drilled on the premises. The
waste water from these buildings is disposed of |)rincipally into cesspools from
which the water percolates through the soil or passes off in crevices through the
limestone rock. In a number of instances sewage is emptied into these cesspools.
Kardi privy vaults boarded up or lined with loose stone work are generally used
for the reception of excrement.
The source of supply of Mr. Ilershey's water works is a spring at the foot of
the hill on which the factory is located. Before the railroad embankment was
built there the water flowed out over the fields northerly about one hundred feet
to Spring Creek. Now the said embankmi-nt is over the spring and the water is
piped through a twenty inch pipe to the northerly edge of the embankment where
there is constructed a concrete receiving well seven feet .square and ten feet high
roofed over with a hinged cover on top kept locked. Seven feet of this structure is
above ground and two feet from the top there is a six inch overHow pipe. Near the
bottom there are also two six inch overflow pipes one of which is kept plugged. The
other extends out a few feet from the well an<l is brought to the surface of the
ground or therealiouts and its end is approximately three feet above he bottom
of the well. Therefore, the spring water will ovirflow from the well when the
depth in the well exceeds about three feel. On the day of the Department's
inspection, February twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred and eight, when Spring
('reek was in Hood, the lower overflow was submerged several inches by the flow
so that if the draft upon the spring water had been greater than the flow, through
the twenty inch pipe into the well. Stony Creek wati'r would have entered through
the overflow pi|)e into the well and been introduced into the water works system.
In fact, httwever, on said dati' the water was sufliciently high in the well to overcome
the head over tin- overflow pipe and so it passed out into Siuing Creek.
Into the well there is inserted a six inch suction pipe. This line is laid north-
erly along the l)ottom of the railroad embankment to the railroad culvert and tlience
in the lied of the creek up stream through the cuhert, a total length of aiiout three
iuindred feet to the pumi)ing station which is located near (he south bank of (he
cri'ek east of the railroad. This suction pipe is directly connected to (wo |)umping
engines elei-trically driven, each being a triplex, vertical, single-action pump rated
at one huntlreil and fifty thoiisaml gallons capacity daily. The water may be forced
(hro\igh either one of (wo i>ipes six inches in fliameter, four hundred feet long to
an iron lank Iocate(l on the hill, l)a<'k of the fnelory havinu: a diameter of eighteen
feet and a depth of twenly-seven feet. The hii;h level in this tank is reported to be
one hundred feet abo\e ihe pump house floor ami about fifty feet above the ct-ntre of
the (own. The s(orage capacity of the tank is fifty thousand gallons. It is
reported (ha( the iuuni)ing engines by an arraiigtMu -nt of valves can force watei
direcdy into the street niiiins. These pijies comprise about one half mile of six inch
and aixiul one anil a half miles of four inch mains. Kire hydran(s are at(ached
to the (lis(ril>utimr system .at convenient points.
The average d.-iily cousiuuplion is one humlred and forty thousand gallons, so
staled, of which twenty-(i\e thous.aml gallons an' estimated (o be used f<M' ilonu's-
(ic ])uiposes. 'I'his <'ons)unption plus the increased denmnd which might be made
ui)on the watiM- system at any moment in case of tire would (ax (he present source
and i)umping machinery beyond their c:iiiacily. 'I'he petitioner purposes (o obtain
an ade(iua(e supply and lo install a<lditional machinery capable of meeting all
deuumds.
38
590 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
At the foot of the bill where the Hei'shey mansiou is located, out of a crevice
iu limestoue roek, gushes forth a large volume of ground water measured to be
at the rate of two milliou gallons per tweuty-four hours minimum liow. This large
quantity evidently is not of local origin, i'robably it is collected from an extended
area ofsparsely settled farming territory.
The spring discharges into a storage basin irregular in shape and in the
neighborhood of live hundred feet long built between the bottom of the hill and the
run, whose water level is to be three and one half feet above the bank of the run.
Details of this reservoir have not been submitted, neither have plans of the pro-
posed supply main and improvements at the pumping station. A concrete dam
about five feet high and one hundred and fifty feet long at the lower end of the
basin and an earth embankment lined on the inner side with a dry rubble masonry
wall live feet in height extending up stream near the run and finally terminating at
the hillside, together with said hillside excavated at the bottom and walled up to
a height of five feet forms the enclosure for the impounding of the spring water.
Un February twenty -seventh, nineteen hundred and eight, evidences were seen of
the overflow of the creek or run into the basin over the embankment at the upper end
of the basin.
From this reservoir an eighteen inch pipe extends down the run valley crossing
a public highway antl spring creek, a distance of about five hundred feet to the new
pump well built at the pumping station.
This well is nine feet in diameter, fourteen feet deep, is made of concrete, is
covered with boards and the top is about six feet above the surface of the ground.
The height of water at the reservoir is nine feet above the bottom of this new pump
well so that an abundant supply of water is always assured at the well. It would
appear that there is no means of contaminating the water in this well, provided
the entrance of the eighteen inch pipe through the walls into the well be thoroughly
protected and secured against leakage at times when for any cause the well should
be emptied.
The pumping station has been enlarged, a steam boiler plant has been erected
and a horizontal duplex steam pumping engine installed. The rated capacity of the
latter is one million five hundred thousand gallons per twenty-four hours. A twelve
inch suction pipe extends from the pump to the new pump well.
!So it appears that the new water works improvements will give good mantifac-
turing, domestic and fire service to the town.
Chemical analysis of the water show it to be of medium hardness, as will be ex-
pected from a limestone region. The topography of the country would indicate
that the contributing area to the supply lies between Spring Creek and its main
tributary above mentioned, which is sparsely populated. With due care, exercised
at the farm houses on this area and at the Ilershey mansiou, respecting sewage
disposal there should be no organic pollution of the spring water. But this con-
clusion does not follow with respect to the spring at the foot of the railroad em-
bankment and now used as a source of supply to the village. It might be possible
for cesspool drainage from the village houses to contaminate this source or the
private well supplies. A systematic tost of the quality of these private supplies
should be made and if found to be polluted they should bo al)an(loned.
The existing source of supply of the water works should also be abandoned
when the new supply is ready for use. It is apparent that if on February 27th,
both pumping engines had drawn down the water in the old pump well that the
creek water would have flowed into the well so that the sewage from the factory,
in this event, might have been supplied to the water consmiiers in the borough.
This, of course, is on tiii! assumption that the flow of the spring at the time was
less than the combined capacity of the two |)Uiiiping ciigiiies. ISut aiiart from the
jMJssibility of sewage pollution of the wi'll water from the surface sources, is the
ever present menace of underground pollution of tlu; spring itself which, in the in-
terests of public health, wanants the abandonment of the supply.
Unless the petitioner can show good reasons for the continued u.se of said old
supply, it should be entirely disconnected from the water works system.
At least monthly bacteriological tests of the proposed new supply should be
taken.
At Ilummelstown borough the Swatara Creek furnishes the water supplied to the
citizens of that town for domestic uses. The discliargt! of sewage; into Siiring
(!reek, is therefore, a great inenac*; to IIk! health of the public; in Iliimiiielstown.
This fact has evidently b(,"en overlooki-il by those in Ibrsliey village who now dis-
ciiarge sewage into Spring T'leek.
In view of these considerations, it has been determined that the |)roposed source
of supply will no! be prejudicial to the public health and a permit is hereby and
herein granted therefor and for the extension of the water works system in the
village of Ilershey, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST. That upon the introduction of the water from (he nr;w soui'ce of supjily
into the dislriltuling pijie sysleiii of the village, tin; owner thereof shall (lisconnect
the old existing source of sujiply and abandon its iise_, jn'ovided, however, that
it may be maintained as an r'niergeiicy sujjiily if the said owner can show reasons
therefor saiisfactory to llie Coininissioner of Health.
SFCONI). 'I'lie owner shall eausr' to be mafb' monthly bacterioIf)gieal tests of
the new source of supply and shall file copies tln'i-eof with the < 'oiiunissioner of
Health. If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health the said
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 591
source of supply or the water works system or auy part thereof, has become
prejudicial to the public health, then such remedial uu-asures shall be forthwith
adopted iis tli'- ( "oiuniissioiicr of Health inay aijprove or advise.
TIintD. Tliis ixTuiit is granted under the express stipulation that on or before
June tirst, nineteen hnndreil and eiylit, detail plans and elevations of the storage
basin, pump wi-ll and station, slandpipe and water works, showing all pipes,
valves, and so forth, shall be prepared and hied in the ollice of the Commissioner
of Health. And at tlie close of each season's work, a plan of all adtlitional
street mains hiid duriui; the year, together with any other information in connec-
tion therewith that may be required, shall be filed in the olKce of the Commissioner
of Health, to the end that the Slate may have complete information of the extent
of the water works system and its use by the public.
FOlJIiTH. The owner shall raise the embankment above the storage resen-oir
at the upper end to a sufficient height to prevent the overtlow of surface waters into
the basin and all surface water shall be excluded from the basin. Precaution shall
be taken to keep all animals out of the basin.
FIFTH. On the land immediately adjacent to and higher than the neighborhood
of the storage basin and the spring emptying into it, there shall be no discharge of
sewage into or onto the surface of the ground or into any receptacle from which
the sewage may overtlow or percolate. The sewer from the Ilershey mansion now
discharging into the creek shall be discontinued or the same shall not be used and
sewage discharged therefrom into the waters of the State. The art of treating sewage
to di'stroy all pathogenic matter therein has sufficiently developed to render feasible
the installation of disposal works to accomplish this purpose before the liquids flow
into any stream.
The owners of the several sewers now discharging directly or indirectly into the
stream in Iloi-shey village, will be ordered by the Commissioner of Health to dis-
continue such discharge. Probably the devising of an intercepting sewer and a com-
mon sewage disposal plant for the treatment of the sewage from the sewers and
from those which may be built in the village in the future would be the most eco-
nomical and satisfactory solution of the problem. The Department will be glad
to advise further with respect to this matter.
The Department will also cause an examination of individual well waters to be
made.
Harrisburg, Pa., March 10, 190S.
EDDYSTONE, DELAWARE COUNTY.
Ridley Water Company.
This application was made by the Ridley Water Company of Eddystone borough,
Delaware county, and is for permission to install a system of water works for the
supply of water to the public in said borough.
The Ridley Water Company is a corporation duly organized under the laws of
the State. Its charter was approved June seventh, one thousand nine hundred
and seven, having been recommended by the State Water Supply Commission with
the understanding that the source of sui^ply was to be the Delaware River, the
water to l)e furnished at the boundary line between the city of Chester and the
borough of Kddysione by thi; New Chester Water Company.
The borough of Eddystone is located on the north bank of the Delaware River
and adjoins the (-ity of Chester on th(> up stream siile. the two nuinicijialities being
separated by Ridley Creek. The <>astern boundary of the borough is Crum Creek,
a stream which rises l)ack in the hilly iiortious of the county and drains a rather
sparsely poi)Uiated territory, more especially in its upper pans.
Until recently, Eddystone was unprogressive. Since the establishment of sev-
eral large manufacturing plants in the borough a boom has occurred. Among the
important indusli'ies may be mentioned the Eddystone Print Works, employing
about lifleen hundred hands, the P.aldwin Locomotive Works, employing al)out the
same number, the Belmont Iron Works and the Tindel, Morris .& Comnanv Saw-
Works.
Resides having a tide water river front (the main channel of the river being near
the borough shores), the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad between Philadel-
phia and Washington, the P.altiiiiore and Ohio, and a local brain-h of the IMiila-
delphia and Reading Railway pass through the town. The land is flat and low but
drains naturally towards the two creeks and the river, there are extensive and
favorable manufacturing sites unused, local taxes are low and prospects appear
bright for a fuluiv conununity of considerable size. In nineteen hundred the popu-
lation was seven hundred and seventy-six. Now it is estimated to be fifteen hun-
dred.
There are a number of dug wells at the existing residences, but the majority of
the inhabitants are supplied with i)ublic water furnishwl by the E(idysloue Water
Company.
The Eddystone Water Company was chartered on December twenty-second,
eiirhteen hinidred and ninety-two. for the purpose of supplying water to the public
in the borough of Eddystone, Delaware county. It immediately proceeded to con-
struct water works and to supply tillered water to all the residents in the borough
592 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
who care to purchase the saiiie. This waier eoiiu's from ('rum Creek, is filtered and
is furuishitl by tlie Sprinufield Water I'oinpany to the lOddysioiie Water ("ouipany,
which Sijriuj;tield Water C'oinpaiiy operates tiie Kdilysloue Water Company's works.
On the creek in Springiiehl township about live miU\s above E(hlystone, there is
a dam and pump house. Above this point there are about twenty-eight square miles
of water shed rural in character. The pumps lift the water to a nearby sedimenta-
tion basin from whence it is forced through pressure filters to Marple Hill reservoir.
From this reservoir the water Hows by gravity to the consumers. The water
in the reservoir Ls about two huudre<l and fifty feet above Eddystoue borough. The
pressure in the mains at the latter place is said to average about eighty pounds.
A twelve inch main reduces to eight inches at the borough line and this pipe con-
nects with six inch and four inch hiterals laid in most of the streets of the borough.
Fire hydrants are placed at important street corners.
The water company supplies about one-half of the residences and it furnishes
some water to each industrial plant.
A defunct company having the name of Eddystoue Water Company was char-
tered April nineteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, for the purpose of fur-
nishing water to the public in all that certain portion of Ridley township, in Dela-
ware county, lying south and west of Crum Creek and bordered by said Ciiim
Creek and by Ridley Creek and the Delaware River. The control of this company
was effected by the New Chester Water Company in eighteen hundred and ninety-
one. The latter company immediately laid eight lengths of eight inch pipe on
Ninth street in Eddystoue, but no connections with the New Chester Water
Company's mains were made or water furnished. Since that time no further
work has been done, so the charter lapsed. (_)n the record books in the Secretary
of State's office appears a transaction between the New Chester Water Company
and the Eddystoue Water Company in nineteen hundred and six, whereby the
latter is' represented as having sold and transferred its franchise and property to the
former. Since such franchise long since lapsed, the New Chester Water Company
does not thereby possess territorial rights in Eddystoue borough.
The New Chester Water Company draws its supply from the Delaware River
opposite the city of Chester at a point where the sewage from said city and from
Philadelphia has an opportunity to pollute the water. Pumps raise the supply to
reservoirs and a purification plant located back on the hills north of the city.
Here by sedimentation, coagulation and iillration, the raw water is supposed to be
sufficiently purified to render it safe for drinking purposes. It is then returned and
supplied to the inhabitants of Chester city, Upland borough and Lower Chichester
township. There are a few \vater takers in Chester township.
The petitionei-s purpose to connect a twelve inch pipe at the Ninth Street bridge
over Ridley Creek with a twelve inch connection in said street in the city of Chester
leading to the twenty-four inch supply main from the purification plant.
The petitioners state that it is proposed to lay between two and three miles of
street mains in Eddyslonc, that there will probably be between two and three
liundred taps, but are unable to say what th(^ classification of the takers will be.
However, a minimum consumption of one million gallons daily and a maximum of
double thi.s amount is estimated and stated in the application.
At the lialdwin Locomotive AVorks there is an artesian well forty feet deep
whi<'ii supplies water for boiler purposes. In addition to this possibly live million
gallons iiiiV month is iturchased of the lOddystone Water Company for drinking pur-
po.ses. It appears that the Eddystoue Water (Company's sui)i)ly to said works is
ample in amount, satisfactory in (piality and the rates an- i-easonable. So unless
special induccmenls ai'e offered by a new comi)any I he exisling water company may
continue to furnish water here.
The lOddystone i'rini Works pump watei' from llie Delaware Ri\er, using, so it
is reported, nearly f<^ur million gallons pei- dny.
'I'he P>elmont Iron Works, recently compleied, mny buy ils waler from the
<'Onipany wiiicli ((ffers the lowest I'ate.
Wlielher the Ridley Wiiler Conipaii.\' purposes lo iillnril lire prolcclidn is not
knowti to the I )epiii'(menl. The plans submilted do mil indicnle whellicr llier<'
are to jje facilities foj- tin; rejidy drainag(! of the waler pipe syslem. The sizes
of the water pipes are not shown, so that the Depiirlmeul cannot tell whether
reasonable and customary safegunrds lo laiblic health :i re iiilemleil oi' Iiiinc been
provided for.
If it be true that th" Ridley Waler ('onipaiiN- is In m.ike a ileniaiMl of llie New
<'iiestei' Water ('onipany for a maxinuini of Iwo million gallons daily, when (he
New Chester Wati")- Company's filler plant is in danger of pioving imidequate in
capacity lo meet the total demand. So additions would have to Ix- made.
Furthei-more. because the raw water is dangerous and in case of carelessness or
negjigencr- at tint filler plant, ijoisonous matter in the supply at ils source might
he transmitted to ami delivered into the water pipes and tlience to the consumers
in the Ridley Water ('ouipaiiy's district, the latter company should have some
agrec-ment whereby it caii hold the New Chester Waler ("ompany responsible, and
ajwure to itself and iis eonsunn-rs a constantly pure and wholesome supply of
water.
If the New Cjiesler \Vatei- ("ompany will operate its purilicalion plant in a man-
lier and purify the watei- to the satisfaction of the < 'onimissioner of jleallli and llie
Rirlley \Vater ('ompany can secure an ajii meiit to such a stipulation, then the
<^,'ommissioner <jf Health would be vvai'ranted in determining that the proposed sup-
ply would not be prejudicial to public health.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 593
In vinw of those ciicuiiistanops, it has been dftprminod that the propospfl water
works system and the supply therefor for the boroiif^h of Eddystone by the Ridley.
Water Cuinpany will not be i)re.iudicial to imblic healtii, and a pi-rniit is hereby
and iicrcin granted llKMvfor, under llie following? eonrlitions and stipubiiions:
FIRS'l'. This perniil shall not be operated until the Ridley Wali-r Company
shall have enlfred into an ay;icc"ni(nt with tin- New ('bestir Water Company,
whereby the latter shall jruarnnlee to furnish tlu! former with a sulHeicnl cpiantity
of water, the purity of which shall be satisfactory to the State Commissioner of
Health. Tests of this water shall be made by (he Ridley Watin" (.'ompany every two
weeks and coiiies thereof shall be tiled in the ofHce of the State Department of
Health. A copy of said airreement shall also be filed in said odice/
SECOND. Refore the Ridley ^\'ater ('ompany shall lay any water pipes and use
tne same, plans thereof showing the location of pipes, valves, hy<lrants, blow-olils
and drainage facilities, shall be (lied in the ofhoe of the State I)ei»artment of Health
and be approved. Ade(piate facilities for cpiiek draina;ie of the pipe system shall
be airordc'l and \w clearly d(>si;:i)ated on the plans. At the close of each season's
work a plan of the water mains laid during the year shall be prepared and filed in
the o(Iici> of till- Commissioner of Health, together with any other information in
couneclion therewith that may be nvpiired, to the end that there shall be a com-
pl(>te record in said ofhce of the extent of the works belonging to the Ridley Water
('ompany and the number of ix-ople in said townshii) dependent iii)on such supply.
'IMHRD. If at any time in (he opinion of the ('ommissioner of Health the
water sup|)ly or the watei- works, or any part thereof, has become pn-judicial lo
l)ublic health, then (he Jtidley Water ('ompany shall adojit su<-li remedial measures
to iirotect the public heallli as the Commissioner of Health may approve or sug-
gest
FOntTll. Rr'uular iuspecticm will be made of the Ridley AVater Company sys-
tem and supply b\' a Department ollicer. The Conuuif«sioner of HeaKh may sug-
gest rules and regulations to govern the su|)i)ly of water lo (he public in so far as the
public heallli is concerned. .Said water company shall {•oiiform to ordei-s, rules or
regulations of the De|)artment in so far as they may relate to the supply of water
to till' public in Eddystone borough.
I'MFTH. This permit is issued under the express stipulation that the operations
of the Ridley Water Company shall be wholly within its charter rights.
Ilarrisbunr. Pa., March 2-1, VMS.
ELLWOOD CITY, LAWRENCE COT'NTY.
Ellwood City Water Company.
This application was made by the Ellwood Water Company of the borough of
Ellwood (Mty, Lawrence county, and is for approval of plans for the enlargement
of its plant and for an increase in the source of supply to the public in said
borough.
(Jn April twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and seven, the Commissi<iner of Health
issued a decree to (h(^ lOllwood Water Com|iany wilhholding approval of the plans
for a jjfoposed extension of (he water works system by the enlargenn'iit of the reser-
voir or storage basin to a capacity of four million gallons. The important clause
in the decree was as follows:
"In viinv f)f (he circumstances, I therefore withhold api>roval to the plans of the
proposed extension of the water works system until plans for the purification of the
sources of suppl.w or some oth(>r proj(M't for the fuiuishiug of a i)ure and whole-
some supply to the pulilii' in lOllwood City borough and vicinity be sulnnitted to the
Conunissioner of Health for approval."
( )n June eighteendi, nim'(een hundred ;iud se\-en, (he I'illwood Ci(y I-5oard of
Henltb in<piired if i( were necessary for (he company (o hav(> a permi( for loca(ing
(he reservoii', and if so, whether the I'illwood Water Company hail obtained such
permit, with I'special reference to the location of (he s(ruc(ure near (he cemetery;
and on Juiu' twenty-seventh, the said local board reciiu'sted the Commissioner of
Health to hav(> an inspection made of the reservoir b(<ing built by the water com-
pany, and to explain the stipulations of the decri-e issued by (In' said Commissioner
(o (he said wa(er c(unpany. Wbereuixm, the Depar(uu>nt nuide such inspection of
the compli'le plant.
The water works system is now oi)etaled by two ))umping stations: One is in
the power house of the I'i'nus.\lvania I'ower Company, taking its supply from the
Connocpu'uessing (^reek at the dam and delivering such water mainly to the Shelby
Tub<> Comi)any. The otJier statifui is on the bank of Slippery Rock Creek just
above i(s junc(i<m wi(h the Conno(|uenessing Creek. There is a one .anil one-half
million gallon capacity pumping i)lan( here delivering: (he Slippery Rock Creek
sujiply to priva(e consinuers and to manufac(uring plan(s in (he (own, (hrough a (en
inch force nmin and branches. The surplus daily piunpage had formerly gone to the
smaller reservoir, whose enlargemen( was in progress .at the time of (h(> Depart-
lUiMit's inspecdon.
In (be receu( petition of (he lOlwood Wa(er ('mupany, the one now under con-
si(liMa(ion. it is stated that "(he surplus d.-iily pump.i^e is stored in a six million
gallon storage reservoir."
38—17—1908
594 THIRD AiNNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The Connoquenessins: Crook on the south bank of which Elhvood Ci(y borough is
located, drains a water shod of about four liuudrod and Iwouty-hvo siiuare miles
and on it are the boroughs of Butler, Harmony and Zclieuopie, besides smaller
places and hamlets.
The Slippery Rock Creek which discharges into the Connoquonessing about one
mile above Ellwood City borough, has a drainage area of about four hundred and
thirty-seven square miles. This area is much loss populated than the Connoquones-
sing but nevertheless, sewage is discharged into it, particularly at Grove City
borough and Slippery Rock borough. The Commissioner of Health has taken action
with respect to compulsory sewage purification works at Butler and Zelienople and
Grove City, and .the work of preserving the purity of the waters of this shed for
the protection of public health will continue to bo prosecuted with due diligence.
The Slipoory Rock pumping station is on the south bank of the creek at the
forks of this stream and ilio Connoquonessing. Power is furnished by an electric
motor of one hundred and eighty-five horse power which operates an electric cen-
trifugal pump of ohe and one-half million gallons per twenty-four hours. The
intake is a ten inch pipe extending twenty feet into Slippery Rock Creek, the outer
end being closed and pipes perforated.
The ten inch rising main from the pump house extends westerly across private
property a distance of over eight thousand foot to the junction of a twelve inch rising
main which receives the water from the Conno(juonessing Creek pump house at the
dam.
At this time it is a considerable struct urc built to furnish power to run an elec-
tric power plant. There is a turbine water wheel operating a Gould pumping en-
gine which forces the water through tlu- said twelve inch main into the pipe system
of the town at the jioint where it moots the ten inch main from the Slippery Rock
pumping house. This rising twelve inch main passes by and through the plant of
the Shelby Tube Companj' and supplies most of the water to said company.
There is also a four inch rising main from the Connoquenossiug pumping station
which supplies the central district of the town between the Connoyuouosslng Crei^k
and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad according to plans, which are not sulHcient in
detail to show location of valves and gates.
From the junction of the ten inch and twelve inch mains, water is taken through
a ten inch line paralleling the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Fourth Street and its
branches radiate through the town.
The reservoir as oi'iginally constructed was very small and consisted of an exca-
vation in the hillside back of the borough. There was a dirt dam constructed below
the earth excavation to hold the water. The new reservoir of six million gallons
capacity as reported, and constructed by the water company without approval of
the Commissioner of Health, is located about one hundred and ninety feet, vertical
height, above Fourth and Spring Streets in the borough. A large excavation was
made in the side of the hill sufficient to form the embankment on the lower side to
complete the basin, the said erabankmonts or dam being provided with a core wall
of concrete masonry, so it is reported.
Furthermore, it is reported that the interior sides and bottom of the reservoir
were to be lined with concrete varying from four to six inches but this has not been
done.
About two hundred feet back of the reservoir and between fifty and one hundred
feet higher there is a cemetery containing thirty-five graves along that portion of
the ground where it slopes directly to the reservoir. The geological formation to
a depth equal with the bottom of the reservoir, is first, ordinary soil; second,
clay; third, loose shale; fourlh, a tliirly inch outcrop of coal, and below this coal,
fire clay.
The citizens of the borougli and tlio local board of health have been considerably
pxercLsed as to the possi])ility of the drainage from the cemetery and from the graves
located therein reaciiing the water in the reservoir, and it would seem as though these
fears had some foundation luiloss tlu; reservoir is thorough lined with some water
proof substance maiorial and further pi'ot('Cted by a drainage ditch around its upper
sides and botweon it and the cometory.
The waters of the two sources an; extremely turbid quite frequcwitly. '^riie qual-
ity of the Slippery Rock Suf)i)ly is said (o be preferabh* on this account, to the
other stream at nearly all times of the ye.-ir, but even the w.ator from the bettor sup-
ply is often roily and furbiil and has a bad odor and taste. The Department is re-
liably informed that llie oliicers of the Ellwood Water Company and lliosi! citizens
of tho Ijorouuh who can afford to do so, pui'chase water for di'inking i)urposes from
fiersoiis .-•n^raijed in business of bottling spring water and soiling it.
The water company sup|)Iir's about thirty-six himdi'ofj pooph; in the borough and
one thousand outside of the l)f)rougli. 'IMiere are about fifty driven wells in the town
which are used tiy the i)rivate ownoi's of the property. The average? consuin|)lion
of public water ffir manufacturing purposes is about four hundred and lifly Ihou-
sand gallons daily and for domestic pui'poscs about five hundred and fifty thousand
gallons, making a total average consumption of one million gallons daily. There;
are a few dead ends in the water line.
With respect to the puiilic healdi it has bei'n ascet-tained Ihal rnuih of llie sickness
JH cliaru'cd up aL'ainsI the imblic supply of watrM'. At the lime of Ihe I'.utlor typhoid
t'pirlemic, it is repor'ted ih.-il llwr" ucre a IiiKliei- Miiinlier of ly|ihoJd cases in Elhvood
Cilv than at any lime before or since.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 595
On September thirteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, the borough board of
health requested the State Board of Health to see that the water company's reser-
voir was cemented on the sides and bottom.
The following communication was sent by the Commissioner of Health to the
water company on September thirteenth, nineteen hundred and seven:
"I beg to call your attention to the fact that the security of your investments
in the water works of Ellwood City depends to (juite a degree, upon your com-
pliance with State laws, and that the terms of the decree issued to you in April
of this year have not yet l)ecu complied with. I call your attention to this, and
urge you to be prompt and not further delay compliance with the request of the
State."
On November twenty-third, nineteen hundred and seven, the water company
notified the Commissioner of Health that on account of the unsettled financial
condition, it was forced lo abandon for the present the carrying out of the plans for
a filtration plant. In the letter was the following statement: "The matter was
fairly well under way when the condition of the money market became such that we
were obliged to postpone for the present any future work." In answer to this the
Commissioner of Health sent the following letter on November twenty-nine, nine-
teen hundred and seven:
"Samuel A. Roelofs, President,
Ellwood Water Company,
"Ellwood City, I'ennsylvania.
"Dear Sir:
"In reply to your esteemed favor of November twenty-third, saying that
you have abandoned, for the present, carrying out plans for filtration plant, I beg
to say that such an abandonment does not relieve you from the responsibility of sup-
plying a pure water to the people of Ellwood City. You know your sources of supply
to be ini|)ure and dangerous. At any time it may poison the water consumers of
Ellwood City. .1 have warned you and I do hereby and herein warn you, that
your sources of supply are prejudicial to the public health, and if you do not take
all reasonable precautions to warn the public of the danger and to safeguard public
health so far as your water supply is concerned, you are rendering yourself finan-
cially and criminally responsible, to an extent possibly much greater than you have
any idea of.
"What would you do in the event of an outbreak of typhoid fever in Ellwood City,
and what ground would you have for defense?
"Your attention is again called to the subject of the requirements set forth in
former communications from this Department to your water company.
"Yours very truly,"
On March twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred and eight, the company's experts com-
municated with the Commissioner of Health and among other things made the fol-
lowing statement:
"I desire to say thafthe.se plans for the new pumping station and filter plant are
substantially completed and as soon as the same may be checked over, estimates and
specifications prepai'ed, and a report made to the water company, they will be
ready for submission to your department which will probably be in about thirty days
from this date.
"We originally expected to have these plans completed at an earlier date, but
owing to the difficulty of securing funds, the destruction of the power company's
plant on March first, which plant furnished the power to operate our present pump-
ing machinery, \\c have been obliged to concentrate all <iur efforts toward temporary
expedients to maintain the water supply in this district."
The said api)Iication of June first, nineteen hundred and eight, states, "owing
to the probable increase in demands for wat(>rs and betterment of its supply, the
company desires to extend its capacity and works by the eonstruction of a new plant
of six million gallons ultimate capacity, located on north side of Slippery Rock
Creek with intakes into said creek."
The proposed plan is to comprise a new boiler and pump house, intakes, settling
basins, filter plant, filtered water reservoir under the filter plant and all necessary
appliances and appurtenances for modern water purificaticm works of six million gal-
lons capacity.
Plans in detail of construction are submitted but specifications and description
of the intended operation of the plant have not been submitted presumably on ac-
co\mt of the intention of the company not to erect the works at this time. The
petition states as follows:
"The water company cannot raise funds until its existing bonds mature in August
ninete(>n hundred and nine, and desires to have plans approved, that it may make
estimates to finance cost so as to have plant completed by January first, nineteen
hundred and eleven."
Owing to the fact that Slippery Rock Creek pa.sses through an agricultural ter-
ritory on which there are sources of sewage pollution, there is no time of the year
when this source is not subject to accidental or direct pollution, and. therefore, until
such time as the Ellwood Water Company shall filter the water from this source
before it is delivered to the consumers in its district, the present comi)Iaints from
citizens and physicians about the danger to public health will be well founded and
596 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
coutinued casps of sickness from wator homo diseases may be expected. Because the
Connoqiieuessing Creek supply is much more polluted by sewage, it should be abso-
lutely prohibited as a source of public water supply without filtration, provided that
it be possible to get water from any other source. It seems remarkable that there
has not been more sickness among consumei's when this supply was being used than
has been reported. In fact it would not be surprising if at any time an epidemic of
water borne diseas(> should break out etVecting a large portion of I he iuhal)itanls of
the borough who use the public supiily. The situation demands that the water i)uri-
fieation plant shall be installed at the Slippery Rock source at on(M\ The reason for
delay offered by the company cannot be considered by the Conuuissiouer of Health,
the interests of public health ar(> paramoiuit. Human life cannot be placed in
jeopardy because a private corporation is unal)le to fullil its charter obligation to
furnish to the public a pure and wholesome water.
There must be means found to provide the remedy.
Not only should the purification plant be constructed, but llic n^servoir on the
hill should be lined with concrete masonry as originally [ilanned, esi)ecially on the
sides next to the cemetery and on the bottom.
Since the Kllwood Water ('(uupany have proceeded in fleliance of law to extend
its water works system by making a<lditions thereto and has thus increased its
source. of supply to the |)ublic illegally and to the menace of public health to a
greater or less degree, it iias be(Mi dclcrmiui'd that the said company shall and said
company is hereby and herein notilied that il sliaii on or befoi'e ninety days from
the date of this d(>cree, begin constrncliDM of the jiroposed purification |)lant ac-
cording to detail specifications of the cousl nirtion and operation of the same, to be
submitted by said company to the L)e|)arlin(Mit of Health and approved l)y said
I)ei)artment, which ap|)rovals shall be accompanied by stipulated conditions under
which approval of the source of sujiply and water works system nuiy be given,
and failure on the part of the Ellwood Water Company so to do shall be under-
stood and deemed to lie an admission of its .inability to fulfil its chartin' obligations,
and the I)ef>artment of Health will so imdersland it and iji'oceej accordingly in
the interests of the ijublic welfare; provided, however, that if satisfac^tory evidence
shall be forthcoming that ninety days is too short a tiiuc in which to make such
beginning in construction, then the Department of Health may extend the time but
not for any tonger period of time and then only when specified that the company
will be able to carry out the terms of the decree in the immediate future.
The water company is hereby notified that the plans submitted for the new purifi-
cation plant are in the main satisfactory and that when the specifications for the
construction thereof and the description of the inteiuled operation of the plant shall
have been submitted, it is probable that entire approval of the plant may be given.
Ilarrlsburg, I'a. , Augu.st .5, 1908.
EMLENTON, VENANGO COUNTY.
Eiulenton Water Company.
This application was made by the Einlenton Water Comjiany, of I'hnlenton bor-
ough, Venango c<junty, and is for permission to obtain an additional source of sup-
ply and to extend street mains.
Emlenton borough is a srilall residential coimuunily I'slimaled to contain thir-
teen hundred inhabitants located in the oil fields on the norlli bank of the Allegheny
River at thr- <'xtreme southeast corm-r of Venango counly. The si/,e of (he place luis
been nejii'ly stationary for the last three decades.
Thr' town site is j)artly on the slope of a, moiinlain and paiily on (he fbils or shelf
of gronnil between Ihe bottom of the mouiilain and the river. This low lying sec-
tion is from twenty tr) fifty feel; above the low stage in the river.
There is a municii»al sewerage system to which is admit ted Imlh sevvru'ago and
storm water. The dischargi- is inio the Allegheny River at a |)oint in the lower
part of the town. A very general use of this sewer system is tiiade. However, there
are numerous privir's and shallow earth vaiills in use. These are often in prox-
imity to springs and dug wells from which water is drawn and used for domestic
purposes.
'I'he sewi-rs wen- built in iiinetei>n jiinidred and one and nineteen Inimlred jintl two.
During the const ruction and imrnedi;ilc|y following it (here was a marked iiuTejisf!
in typlioifl fever cases which was a((ril)iited by local physicians (o the exposing on
the HireetK of Ihe excavations from the sevvfU' trenches. Tliesr; i)ileH of earth con-
tainefj, HO it was thought, poisonous matter which had acciimulaled in (he ground
by peicolatiotis from privy vauKs and household drainage. During (he warm
weadier flies K\v;irmefl on the polluted soil (lius exr'Mvaled and m;iy have carried in-
fection into the liomi's and onto the foods consumed by (lie people r(\siding in Ihe
vicinity. 'I'iie outbreaks of (he disease were in (he loc;iliiir's where Ihe excavatioris
were being mafle.
In (he fall of nineteen huiidi'eil and four, (here were some (hirly cases of (yplioid
fever and, according (o mengre repoi(s, :in epidendc of diarrhoeji ami s(oiii;icli
troubles prevailed, extending into the following spring, during which fully one-
third of the [)0)iulatioti in the borough was affected. Jt appears that sickness pre-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 597
vailfd anioim users of priv;ili' .-11111 tin- piililic wjiut supply. Krom such records as
the Dcparliiii'iii liiis lic.'ii alilc In olidiiii tliiis far il ;iii|)cais llial tliere were si'von
ca.sos ol' l.\pli(ii(l fever in iiim'teeu liumlred and live, nine in nineteen liun<lred and
six, se\-en in nineteen iiiindred and seven and six (•;ises duriii'^^ tlie first two nionllis
of nineteen iinndred and ei^lil. Tlie evidence pre.sentetl is that the disease has ap-
peared in tlie homes of those using the private sources as well as those using the
puhlic sources
Without doubt the contamination of the ground with sewage renders the waters
of wells and springs located In the built-up part of the town extremely suspicious, to
say the h-ast, as a suitable suj)|)ly for donieslii- purposes.
The Ilaggej'ty Spring is located under an old house. The water is collected in a
stone-lined pool, covered over with plank and loealed under the house. This dwell-
ing is not now oceu|)ied but was sometime sini:e by a number of Italians. At that
time it is .said the conditions on the property were liithy. A number of years ago
a pei'petual lease was given for the use of the waters from this spring by certain
neiglibiu's. I'ipes lead fiom it to several dwellings. Two samples of water wen-
recently collected and analyzed by the Department. No sewage pollution was indi-
cated by lh(! tests.
The Gosser sijring is in the centre of the town. There are neighborhood rights to
its waters. Above tiie spring are several residences and privies. Two tests re-
cently made of these waters did not indicate sewage pollution.
• The public water supply is owned by the Emienton Water Company. By an ap-
plication for letters patent filed in the ofiice of tiie Secretary of the Commonwealth,
April fourteenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-nine, it appears that (his company
was incorporated by the court of common pleas of ^'enango county in April eigh-
teen hundred and seventy-four. The company accepted the constitution and act of
April twenty-ninth, eighteen huudred and seventy-four and its charter was approved
by the (io\-ernor on April fourteenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-nine. There
is no liinii nieiitioiu'd in the letters patent to the territory which this company is
authorized to supply with water.
Works were constructed in eighteen hundred and seventy-.seven. The original
source of supply was the Allegheny River. Some years afterwards the supply was
chanii'd to various springs located on the mountain side in the borough but above
the <lwellings. Owing to the inaile(iua<-y of the sjjring sui)ply it was abandoned.
This was prior to the period of lyi)lioid outln'eak above mentioned.
The present works comprise a river intake, pumping station, distributing reser-
voir and the pipe system in the town.
The pumping station is located on the river bank at the foot of Eighth street im-
mediately abo\p the central portion of the borough. The wati'r is taken from the
river through an eight inch suction piix", the outer end being in the centre of the'
river and having a free opening. It is about two huudred and fifty feet from the
pumi)ing station.
The pump house is a bri<-k structure enclosing a pit of water tight masonry con-
struction. eii;hteen feet iu diameter and twenty-eight fe(>t deep. In this pit is located
the i)unipinu machinery. There is an old hoi'izontal steam ijumping engine, now
maintained for enierucm-ies and a sixty horse power gas engine, belt connected to
a triple Slillwejl liien-e pump h;niug a nited capacity of four hundred and thirty-
two thousand gallons per day of twenty-four hours.
The water is raised vertically three hundred and eighty feet through an eight
in<'h and six inch line tt\o thousand six hundred and ninety feet long to the dis-
tributing reservoir on the hill above the town. There is a six inch return supply
main to tin- town, but the water may be pumped direc-tly into the street mains by
the maniiiulation of \alves at the pump house. Jt is reporteil that the pumps are
operated to fill the reservoir and that then they are shut down until the resi-rvoir
supply is depleted sulliciently to call for refilling of thi> basin. ' .
This structure is stone masonry, open, cii-cular. niueiy feet in diameter on lop
and sixty-three feel iu dianieler 011 the bottom. When full to ;i tlepih of jibout
ten feet, it holds three hundred .and forty-six lliousaud g:illons, or practically two
days' supply for the town, the a\erage daily ilraught being one bundled .-ind eii;hly
thousand gallons. The maximum is reported k> be two hundred and fifteen lliou-
sarul gallons and the mininuim about on<- hundred and fifty thousand gallons |ier
twenly-four hours. It is represented thai a six inch drain pipe is provided to
empty the reservoir for cleaning purposes. There is a six inch overflow at the top.
There is no enclosure to i)revent (he mali<-ious or accidental i)ollu(ion of the water
in the basin. The surface of the ground slopes away from the reservoir in all direc-
tions, so there is no possibility of any surface drainage contamination of the supply
after it is introduced into the water works system.
The system of distributing mains in the streets totals a length of four and seven
lenlhs miles. Over one mile is six inches in diameier. there are nearly two miles
of four inch piin". about one mile of three inch pipe and some two inch and one
inch pipe. At convenient points in the village lire hydiants are installeil. Along
the I'ivcr front there are several blow-olTs which admit of the ready drainage of the
water pipe system.
On the banks of the I'iver a few hundred feel abo\e the pump bouse is (he woolen
mill of Elinu lirolhers. where wool is received in the tleece and manufactured inio
blankets. 'i"he jieculiar wastes from this process are discharged directly into the
river. Trade wastes from (he Eudculoii Itefiniug Company's plant also go into
the river above the wafer works intake.
iM THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The water company purposes to entirely abandon the river supply, if the new
source be found adapted to its needs. Six wells have been drilled at the reservoir
on the company's laud. These wells vary in depth from two hundred and tweuty-
nine to three huutlred and eleven feet. Kach is eased off with six inch pipe to a
depth of about one luiudi'ed feet from the surface of the groimd where tiiere is solid
i-ock. It is piuposed to place in each six inch pipe a three inch tube through
which the water is to be raised into the reservoir with such appliances as are in
customary use in the oil regions. The power is to be furnished by a gas engine.
The water bearing stratum into which the wells are drilled is a white sand rock,
quite porous and having its general slope towards the Allegheny River. The loca-
tion of this water bearing rock is about one hundred feet above said river. The
springs in the borough along the side of the mountain are thought to be outlets of
this same strata.
The country to the northward is rolling, generally cleared agricultural land,
ascending gradually to the mountain summits several miles distant.
Eight hundred feet distant from the wells and on the hill is a cemetery of con-
siderable area. Additions to it are contemplated. It is reported by those who are
familiar with the local geological formation that below the top soil there is a hard
ruck difficult to drill and quite impervious to water. If this be true and the casing
off of all surface waters has been effectually accomplished at the wells, there may
be no danger whatsoever of any contamination of the remotest kind from the
cemetery.
The petitioner prefers to secure a pure supply rather than to filter an impure
water, and the proposed plans are offered for acceptance on this score.
The Allegheny River is known to be polluted by the sewage from the cities and
towns along its banks. The city of Franklin is on the river twenty-eight miles above.
The citizens of Emlenton fear the pollutions which are discharged into the stream
at Franklin city and at other places. Tests of the raw river water, of the water in
the reservoir and of the water taken from a tap in the town recently made by the
Department revealed the presence of sewage organisms at these places. If this
source is to be used, even for emergencies, the Emlenton Water Company should in-
stall a filter plant for the purification of the water. Such installation for tempor-
ary purposes or emergency uses would be as expensive as an installation for con-
stant use. If the company is successful in its search for a new su))nly, then the
Allegheny River should be entirely abandoned and the pumping machinery at the
pump house should be disconnected with the river intake.
By trial only can it be demonstrated whether the driven well supply is a safe and
abundant one. After the company shall have put its machinery in operation and
have drawn water from the wells for a period of several weeks, a series of tests
should be made to detennine the quality of the water.
It has been determined that the proposed source of supply will not be prejudicial
to public health and a permit is hereby issued therefor and for the extension of the
water pipes in the streets, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST. That before the proposed supply from the wells be used, the reservoir
shall be emptied and thoroughly cleaned out and then shall be filled with water
from the new source. A series of bacteriological tests of the well waters shall have
been made prior to said filling of the reservoir and copies of these tests shall have
been submitted to the Commissioner of Health.
On approval by the Commissioni'r of Health of the well water the reservoir shall
be filled as above stipulated, and the water pipes in the streets shall be thoroughly
flushed and ch'aned out by the well water from the reservoir. If the supply be found
insufficient in (jiiantity, added wells shall be put down in order that all of the sup-
ply niaj' be obtained fi'ora the ground.
SECOND. As soon as it shnll have been demonstrated lliat the ground supply
proposed 1"^ abundant in (|U!intity and sntisfaelory in (pialily, the wati-r company
shall install adefpiati! ma(;hinei'y, in duplicate if necessary, in oi-dei" (hat the ground
supply only shall be supplied to the public and then all conne(,'tion between the river
intake anfi the machinery in the pump house on the river bank shnll be severed. If
an adequatr- groutiil wnti-r supply be not found the water conqiauy shall thereuiiou
install a water lilli'P plant for llu' pnrilie.ntioii of tlie river water before it be supplied
to the public and plans thei-efor shall be submitted to the (Commissioner of Health
for approval.
THIRD. Plan.s of the lands owned by the water company at the reservoir and
showing the precise location of the wells shall be submitted to the Commissioner of
Health. Also the results of the tests as to (luantity of water yielded by these Wfills
shall be Riibinitted to said Commissioner. At the close of each season's work plans
of water mains laid during the year shall be filed in the office of the State Depart-
ment of Health, together with any oilier information in connection therewith that
may be requirr-d in order that the (!oniinissioner of Health may always be informed
as to the r-xtent of the water works and tin- number of j)eoi)le using the same.
FOI'R'J'H. If at any time in the opinion of IIk? (Commissioner of Health the
water supply or the water works or any part thereof has become prejudicial to the
public health, then the water company shall adopt such remc^dial measures as the
Commissioner of Health may apjirove or suggest.
Since the existing supply is subject to pollution, the water comf)any shall notify
its consumers that absolute safely in the use of this water for domestic purposes
can only be assured by the boiling of the water and shall advise its consumers to
No. 17. . COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 599
boil tlio water for tliirly niimitcs uiilil such lime a.s the Allogbony Rivor supply
shall havo been discoiuiiiin'd or suhsliLutcd hy lln- proixjscd ground water .supply.
FIlTll. 'I'lie coiiipiiiiy shall keep a wi-ckiy rciiort of liic opcratiou of the water
works satisfacloi'y lo the ])c|)arliiK'nt of Ileallii aud suhiiiit copii-s thereof to the Com-
missioner of Jleailh when reciuired. ]f the eouipaiiy will notify the Department when
it is ready to have tests made of the (juality of the new su|)iily, sample bollh'S
will be sent for liliinfx wiib proper direclions how to eollect the samples and how
to ship them to the State Health Laboratories, and the Department will make the
tests for quality. This is made optional with the company.
SI.XTIl. The waler company shall provide an ample enclosure at tlie reservoir to
obviate accidental or malicious cuniamiuation of the reservuir water.
The Department of Health will advise the local authorities to institute a careful
examination aud .series of tests of the private well waters in the town for the pur-
pose of ascertaiuinK that wells or springs are contaminated and causing the aban-
donment of all such sources which are polluted.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., April 21, 3008.
VILLAGE OF ENOLA, EAST TENNSBORO TOWNSHIP, CUMBERLAND
COUNTY.
Daui)hin Consolidated Water Supply Company.
This application was made by the Dauphin Consolidated Water Supply Com-
pany and is for permission to extend its water works for the supply of water to the
public in the villaj,'e of Enola, East I'eunsboro towuship, Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, and to ol)tain an atlditional source of supply therefor.
It a|)pears that the Dauphin Consolidated AVater Supply Company was formed
by a merijer and consolidation on May twenty-lirst, one thousand nine hundred and
three, of three in(lei)en(lent water companies, namely, the Citizens Water t!om-
pany of Middle Pa.xtou towuship, the Citizens Water Company of Dauphin bor-
ough and the Citizens Water Company of Susquehanna township, all of Dauphin
county.
The said Citizens Water Company of Middle Paxton township was chartered in
January, one ih<iusand nine hundred and one, for the i)urpose of supplying water
to the public in said township. The said Citizens Water Company of Dauphin bor-
ough was chartered on the same date for the purpose of supplying water to the pub-
lic within the borough. The Citizens Water Company of Susquehanna township
was also chartered on the same date and its district was limited to said town-
ship.
Tlie new company has all the privileges and restrictions formerly obtaining with
each of the three smaller companies.
Since said merger and consolidation, the Dauphin Consolidated Water Supply
(^omjiany has piirchased the franchise and proi)erty of two other water companies.
one being the Progress Water Supply Compan.w chartered in nineteen hundred
and live and authorized to supi)ly storage or transportation of water and water
power for commercial and numufacturing puri)oses in Susquehanna township,
i)auphin co\inty, and tin- other company being that of the Enola ^Vater Comi);uiy,
chartered in uimHeen hiuidred and three and authorized to supply water to the pub-
lic in the t()wnslii[) of lOast Pi'unsboro. Cumberland county.
The riHHirds in the ollice of the Secretary of the State show that said i)urchase
and sale were made inider provisions of the (Jeneral Cori)oration Act of April
twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and seventy-four anil the supplement of April sev-
enteen, eighti-en hu!idr(>d and seventy-six, for it is so stated on thi» records. If a
franchise 1k' sold under the act of eighteen iuinilred and seventy-four, then, by the
express provisions of said act, the vendor company ceases to exist. So it would
api)ear for the purpose of this discussion that there is no longer such a corporation
as the I'lnola Water <"i)mpaiiy and that the Dauiihiu Consolidated AVater Company
is the proper one to submit the aiiplicaiion to the ( 'ommissioiier of Health.
The former Enola Waler Comi)any's plant is independent of the other sj'stem
of the water works owru'd by the Dauphin ("'onsolidaled Water Company. The
source is urouiid watei- obtained fi'om driven wells and iiumped iiUo a staiulpipe from
which the \illagi' is sui)plied by gravity to the inhabitants of lauila ^■illage.
This village is of recent origin and comprises about two hundred dwellings erected
for the accommodation of railroad men in the employ of the I'ennsylvania Railroad.
The classification fi'eight yards of the Philadelphia Division of saiil railroad are in
the village or between it and the west bank of the Suscpiehauna River oi)i)osite the
northern part of the city of Han-isburg. The Realty Company which laiil out the
town built the streets and brought al)out the establishment of water work.': and
sewerage systems does not have any control or say in the mainigement of the water
works system.
In the northern part of the town in a small ravine there are six driven wells
betw(>en one humlred and two hundred fecM deeii from which waler is pumped
tlirough a six inch main a distance of twehc hundred feet to a standpipe twenty
feet in diameter aud forty feet high and located on a hill the highest point in the
village.
600 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE . Off. Doc.
The drivon wells are conuected by a horizontal pipe to the small masonry covered
basin which serves as the receiving i^allery for tlie water from said driven wells.
This water is ordinarily at an elevaliim of twenty feet or more below the surfaee
of the irronnd. so it has to be raised niui op to tlie present time the means emi)loyed
has been compressed air. A horizontal duplex steam pumping engine of four hun-
dred thousand gallons capacity is employed to lift the water from the collecting
chamber into the saudpipe.
It is reported that the ordinary consumption of water in the town averages thirty-
tive thousand gallons daily. About seven hundred and tifty people are so supi)lie(l
and the water is used exclusively for domestic purposes. There are times, however,
during the summer inonihs when tiie demand for supply of water is as great as the
capacity of the driven wells. It is for the purpose of securing an auxiliary source
and never failing supply which shall be availat)le at any uioment, that the petition-
ers ask approval of a plan to install an auxiliary pumiiiug station and emergency
intake to the Susipiehanna River. In this connection it should be noted that the
water works alford tire protection. There are fire hydrants conveniently located in
the town.
The other district of the Dauphin Consolidated Water Supply Company's system
is across the river from Enola and east and north of the city of Harrisburg. ller(>
there are other villages and also an extensive freight yard or yards and shops of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, all of whicli obtain their source of supply
from the .said water company. The supjjly is derived from Stony, Creek a stream
rising in the mountains nortli of Harrisburg and emptying into the Susquehanna
River at the borough of Dauphin. A dam is built across this stream at an elevation
sufficiently high to develop water power by means of which the supply is pumped
to a masonry distributing reservoir holding about one hundred and seventy-five thou-
sand gallons and located on the hill back of Dauphin borough. From here, the
water is furnished by gravity to the district.
At the Enola yards water is supplied for locomotive and other purposes from a
system of water works owned and maintained by the Railroad Company. There
is an open eai'tli reservoir on the hill near the water company's standpipe into which
river water is pumped and stored for supply to the freight yards exclusively. The
petitioners purpose to tajj the pumping maui leading from the river station to the
open reservoir on the hill and to conduct the raw river water through a four inch
pipe to a pressure filter to be located at the present pumping station of the water
company.
One filter unit, a frame structure approximately six feet high and twelve feet
square with a liltering area of approximately seventy square feet, is to be built. In
the bottom of the filter there is to be a series of two and one-half inch brass strainei-
pipes, eighteen inches apait, which will sc^rve as underdi'ains. A sand bed al)out
thirty inches in depth is to be placc^l over the underdrain. The wat(>r will come
on to the filter from a partition on the raw water inlet to the tank. Higii water level
will be about eighteen inches above the top of the sand, and the top of the filter will
be six indies abovi! high water line. Ahun will be fed in by gravity to the raw water
just before it reaches thi' filter. No arrangement has bocMi made for a re-wash valve
to allow first filtered water U) go to a sewer.
The filtered water will go to the main section well. There is to be no regulator to
control the rate of filtration. A filter with an ,irea ol' seventy square fec^t should
take care (jf about two liundre<l lliousjuid gallons jxt day of go(jd coagulated water
reasonably free fi-om suspendeil iriatler but jiroliably would have great trouble in
satisfactorily purifying muddy river water. It is evident thai unless some im-
pnjvemenls be madi! to the rlesign that the filter will be unable lo purify I'iver watei",
even if clear and then not at a rate in excess of one Imndreil million gallons per aci'e,
or approxinnitely oru' hundred and (iCly lliousand gnllims per (la\' i'nr llie lillei' iiiiil
projiosed.
In so far as the Deparlini-nl is now infori I, il aiipe;irs llial willi a I'lill slniid
pipe and with liie proposed filter the water woi'ks system would he capable of I'lir
nishiriK two good fin- sli-eams during advers<' condilioiis, pro\iiled the riVer water
were clear an<l only satisfactorily filtered water were admitted lo the syslem. The
danger t<» public health, where there is an installation bi-tween a polluted source
of snj)))ly and the walei' consumer, of apparatus designed to i)urify the water lies
in the possibility tliat in an i-mergency, the necessities of tin; case may be consid-
ered great enough to warrant the discarding temporarily of the safe guard and the
admittance to tlie water works system of iinpurilied I'iNcr water.
1'iiis danger should bi' minimiiced to a reasonabh' degree which in tliis instan(;e
sugge.sts the installation of a second fillei- unit coupled with a sedimentation basin
having a <-apacity of at leas! two hours' siipiily in wliich I borough coa;fulation of the
raw river water should be accomplished.
l'"uilhermorr! rale con! I'ollers shoiihl be |)ro\ide(l lo obviate any excessive rate of
fill ration.
I'ecause tlie fillered water is lo be dischai'ged al once iulo I he piiinp well, some
Hiteiiiion should be paid to a modifical ion of llie plans whereby Ihi' lirsl lillei-ed
water after cleaning may be waslr-d to liie sewer.
'I'lie fact is not overlooked thai the proposed impi'o\-enieiits are in ani icip.i I ion of
Hhortage of waler which shortage has not acliially lu'eii experienced. So llie use will
\)f occasiimally which renders all the more imporl.'inl that the phml be eipiippi'd
with appliances to insure a pro|ier puriliciilion of Hie ri\er waler.
No. 17. COMMISSIONEIt OF IIKAI/ni. 601
Tlic wasliin;;; of tlic lillcr is to bo accoiin)lislu'd by iji-i'ssure from the supply main.
The ovorHow weir for dii'ly water is twelve iiu-lies only above tlie sand surface which
is too little to admit of proper wasliin;;. Much sand is bound to be wasted. It
would be well to pi'o\i(le a .u;ravel underdrain. The desij;u as now submit led does
not warrant approval if it be the intention of the petitioners to use the iilter duriug
muddy sla;;es of the river, because in all probability the plant would be totally
unable to handl(! this kind of water without a sedimentation tank.
Jl is undersl()(Ml that tlu; jiroposed auxiliary supply is a t<'mporary expedient only,
and thai (inally an a<le(piale and pi'nuanent su|iply is to be obtaine<l from some
sourci' not now delermined upon. This is ur;;ed as a reason why tin? tilter plans on
liic small scale lunc been offered for api)roval. The water com|)any wishes to avoid
any unnecessary expenditure at this time. It is pr(jbable that a two hydrant stream
service of six hours' duration will nu-i-l tin- inunediate demands of the village and
that the extreme conditions abovt; mentiom-d will not obtain. It would be much
better and safer if the water company would ad<l a filter unit but this may be left
for the fuiure. IIowe\cr, since it is necessary in the ojiinion of the water company
lo insiaii the filler, it is necessai'y that the apparatus accomi)lish in fad what its
existence at tin; i)umi)in;; station will warrant the water consumers in believing
is beinj; ac(;om|)lished , namely, the purilication of the water. Therefori!, a sedi-
menlalion tank should be installed in conjunction with the filter, the plant pro-
vided with I he e(|uipmenis Mbo\e mentioiu'd in conned ion with re,i;ulation of rate of
opd'alinii and clraiiini;, aiipliaiices which are iui'X[)ensive anil yet important. Ol)-
ser\alions Ihrouuhoui: IIh' season of niiu-leen hundred and eiuht should then demon-
strate whether llie addiuf; of a Iilter unit to the |)lanl is necessary.
It has been di'tcrmiiied thai the pro|)osed additional supply will not be prejudicial
lo public health, and a periiut is hereby and herein granted therefor i)rovided it b(!
within the chartei- riirlit of said waler company to obtain its source of supply tem-
porai'ily from the rennsylvania Kailroad Company's system of waler works. This
permit is granted under the exi)ress sljpulati<m that if the I)aui)hin Consolidaled
Waler Sui)|)ly ('ompany does not have the right to obtain this source of sui)ply
from the I'ennsyhania Kailroad Company's system of water works, then said
water supply comiiany shall first actjuire the intake pumping station and rising main
or whatever apparatus may be necessary to introduce the river water to the pro-
ixiseil filter. And this permit is issued under the further conditions and stipulations
as follows:
FIRST. That [)lans of the water purification plant as built shall be filed in the
oflice of the Conunissioner of Health together with any other information in connec-
tion therewith that may be recjuired and that at the close of each year's work a plan
of the entire water woi'ks system of the said water company showing all additions to
the strei't mains laid duiing the year shall be prepared and filed in said Commission-
<'r's oflice to the end lli.at there shall always be a complete ma]) of the existing water
works in said Commissioner's oflice.
SI0C().\1>. The walei" c()m])any shall iirovide sedimentation of the coagulated
water and shall use a coagulant whene\er the filter be operated. The modern
equipments hereinbefore mentioned shall also be provided for the filter and a recorcl
of the operation thereof shall be kept on forms satisfactory to the Department of
Health whenevef recpiired.
THIRD. If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health the
waler supply has bi'come prejudicial to public health, then the water company
shall adopt such remedial measures as the Commissioner of Health may approve or
suggest.
FOrRTII. Regular inspections will be made of the system by a Department
ofiic(>r and llie Stale Department of Ileallh may suggest rules and regulations to
govern the suiiplying of water to the public in so far as the public health is con-
cerned. The waler company shall co-operate with the Department, furnish facili-
ties f<u' inspection and assist in the e.xamination if this be required.
llarrisburg, I'a.. April 2, lilOS.
FAIRCHANCE BOROItJlI. FAVKTTK COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Fairchance, Fayette county, Penn-
sylvania, and is for permission to establish a system of water works, in the town
and to obtain a source of sui)ply from the Trotter Water Company, under the fol-
lowing: conditions and stipulations:
ll appears that Fairchanr-e borough is a manufacturing community of about
twenty-om" hundred population, located in the southwestern part of Fayette county
on the wesiern slopes of ("lieslnut ridge, a mountain whose sununit.s' are lifieeii
hundred feet or more abovi> th(> borough. This ridge is about three miles east of the
borough and it exiends thiou^ib the county from the Mononyr.ahel.i River on the
southwest to the Youghiougheny River on the ntirtheast. Connellsvilh> borouirh is
on the latter at the foot of the west sloix- of the mountain, and rnionlown borough
is also west of the mouiilain luiwei-u l''airch;ince and ( "oniii'lls\ille. The main line
of the lialtimofe ami (>hio Raihoad passes northerly ••ilonu; this nmuntain slop(>
throughout the borough of F.airchance, rniontown and Conneilsville. A branch
of the Rennsylvania Railroad system from (Jreensburg extending southerly juid
passing throu-h T'niontown terminates at Fairchance. There is also an electric
railroad line leading fro;n Fairdutuce northward to I'nioutowu and Couuellsville.
602 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Fairchance boronsh is at the hoadwators of Georges Civek aliont seven miles noi'th
of the State line between Fennsylvania and West Virginia. Georges Creek rises in
several monntain rnns immediately west of the borongh, these runs eoming down in
parallel lines through deep ravines and forming the main creek in (he borongh. A
tributary, Muddy Run, rises north of ihe borough, perhaps three miles distant.
and on it there are several eoal mines and coke operations. This stream follows
closely the western boundary of Fairchance and joins Georges Creek a few hundred
feet below the southwestern corner of the town. Thence Georges Creek flows in a
general southwestern direction to the Monongahela River, nine miles distant. The
borough of New Geneva is on the rivc^r at the mouth of the creek. The distance
traversed by the stream is an unpopulated, mountainous, wild region.
The principal industry which sui)p(uls the inhabitants of Fairchance borough is
the mining of coal. However, the coke interests are large. The Frick Coke Com-
pany operates the Kyle Mine, which is located partly in the western section of the
borough and partly in (Jeorge township, which surrounds the borough. This plant
is in Muddy Run Valley. The company employ about three hundred people and use
water supplied by the Tnitter Water Company. In the borough there is also the
Kanawha (ilass Company, makers of window glass. This concern employs about
two hundred and twenty-five hands. The United Fire Brick Company, located
adjacent to the glass plant, employs about thirty hands. There are no public
sewers in the community, but there arc three private sewer lines discharging into
Muddy Run and two i)rivate sewers discharging into Georges Creek. The largest
part of the built up section of the borough drains into the creek. This stream is
clear, pure, mouul.iin water, but Muddy Run is aptly named. It receives large
•piantities of mine dr.aiuage and the cohu- of its waters is characteristic of sulphur
pollution. The acidity of the run renders the stream unsuitable for domestic and
industrial uses. There are coal mines which drain into Georges Creek below
Fairchance borough so that this natural water course is practically preempted for
mine drainage purposes.
At the present time the people of Fairchance borough derive their drinking water
from dug wells and a few drilled wells. These are usually sunk to a depth of about
twenty feet below the surface of the ground. Some of these sources are polluted by
surface drainage from street gutters. As they are in proximity, in many instances,
to loose earth privy vaults and cesspools there is reason to believe that contamination
of the drinking waters result from this proximity and the disposal of sewage into
loose privy vaults and cesspools. The discharge of sink water and wash water on to
the ground in street gutters is also a menace. Typhoid fever has been prevalent in
the borough. During nineteen hundred and seven, two physicians treated at least
sixtj' cases. They were not n^ported to the State Department of Health. The
towns p.'^ople realize that there should be better methcds of sewage disposal, and
there is an application at this time i)endiug before the Commissioner of Health rela-
tive to the building of a public sewer line in Church street, the main thoroughfare
of the village.
Th«' headwali'rs of Georges Creek are about three miles distant east of Fairchance
in a wooded, mountainous ti'rritory whic'h is uninhabited. If tiiis drainage area
were secured by the borough and maintained in its present condition, it could be
developed to supply an abundance of water of excellent quality. Owing, however,
to the cost of constructing adequate impounding r(\servoirs on the moiuitain slopes
and the fact that the streams, during dry weather, practically run dry, it has been
detennined that it would not be practical for the borough to undertake to seek water
suftply from these sources. The borrowing (•ai)aeity of the borough of Fairchance
is insuflicient \i> defray the cost of such a nnuiicipal improvement. However, the
local authorities ha\(! decid<'d that the iiuhlic he.ilth demands that there shall be a
I»uitlic supply of pure water and purpose to bring this alxnit. The plan is to pur-
cliasi' the watr'r from the Trotter Water Company, the borough to lay the mains
in the streets only. The nuinicipal authorities luive entered into a contract with the
Trotter Water Company to furnish water to the borough for a period of ten years,
from .May, nineteen hundicd and eight, the supi)ly to he two hundred thousand
gallons per day, and the contract to be canctdlcd by cither party on sixty days
written notice. The contract al.so provides a renewal ])rivilege at the end of the leu
• year term. The borough has, in consequence of this contract, made application
for permission to lay the water mains in the various streets of the borough and to
connect them with the Trotti'r Water (Company's eight inch main at the coke
ovens.
The borough has also executed a contract for Ihe constru(;tion of the water mains
in I lie streets and the contractor is engaged at the ijresent time in building the sys-
tem.
The Trotter Water (Company was incorponited under the act of eighiren innidji'd
and .seventy-four. The charter was granted on October twenty-ninth, eiglit(Mn
iiun<lred and iMghly-eight, the place of business being Scotldale. The object of the
company was the supplying of water to tin? publi<' in Dinibar lownshiiJ, Fayette
c-ounly. The notice of the merger and consolidation of the Trotter Water (,'ompany,
tin- YougliL'aliela Water Company and Ihe Voughiogheny Water Company under
the name of the Trotter Water Company was tiled in the ofliee of the Secretary of
the Coiumonwealth on August twenty-f.'ighih, nineteen hundred and live.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 603
Youghfiahela Water Company was formefl by the mprger and consolidation for
four water conipanifs, the papers beinj; filed July elt^ventli, nineteen hundred and
five. Thf.sH four companies were given the nanio of the Youghgahda Water Com-
pany. They were the Leraont, Huron, Kedstonf and Fairchance Water <V.mi)anies.
The Lf'moiil Water Company was thartcred Fi-bruary sixteenth, nincte^-n hun-
dred anrl four for tiie supplying of water to the public in the township of North
I'nion, Fayt'tte r-ounty surrounding Uniontown borough.
The Huron Water Company was chartered Febniary sixteenth, eighteen
hundred and ninety-nine for the supplying, storage and transportation of water
and water power for commercial and mannfaclnring purposes in the township of
(iernian, Fayette county. This township extends easterly from the Monongaiiola
river.
The Kfdstono Water Company was chartered October seventeenth, cighteeu
hundred ami eighty-sevon for the supplying of water to the public in the township
of .South Union, Fayette county. This township lies south of Uniontown borough
and south of North Uniontown township. In it are the villages of Hutchinson and
Brownheld.
The Fairchano Water Company was chartered October twenty-seventh, eighteen
hundred and eit'hty-seven for the purpose of supplying water to the public in
Ceorge township. Fayette county. Fairchance borough is in this township. This
township lies between South I'nion and German townships.
So the four said water companies form a tier of townships which, with the
original Trotter Water Company territory, extends from the Youghiogheny River
along the western slni)e of <"hestnut Kidge to the Monongahela River.
The Youghioirheny Water Company was chartered on October twenty-seventh,
eighteen hundre<| and eighty-one for the storing and transportating of water for the
public use from the Youghiogheny River at or near Broadford, Fayette county
through Lynn and Connellsville townships in Fayette county to a point at or near
M(mut Pleasant. The place of business of the company was Scottdale. Mount
I'leasant and Scottdale are in Westmoreland county.
Thus the present Trotter Water Company has a large charter territory along the
western slope of Chestnut Ridge from Mount Pleasant in Westmoreland county, to
the Monongahela River, a total distance of thirty miles.
The Trotter Water Company, at the present time, has two main sources of sup-
ply, namely, the Youghiogheny River and the Monongahela River.
The main pumping station is located in Dunbar township on the west bank of the
Youghiogheny River at a point opposite South Connellsville. Connellsville borough
is below. The river is reasonably free from sewage and mine drainage pollution
above Connellsville. It is known that tannerie.^ and lumber camps and small set-
tlements abound on the banks of the streams. As far as the Department is aware,
the borough of Somerset in Somei-set county is the only municipality within Penn-
sylvania having a sewer system from which sewage is discharged into the river or
a tributary. This borough's sewago goes into Coxes Creek, which in turn flows into
Casselman River. The point of discharge of sewage is fifty miles above Connells-
ville.
The Y'ouiriogheny River rises in West Virginia. Above Connellsville the drainage
area is at least one thousand square miles. It is generally wooded, rugged, moun-
tainous territory. The principal tributary is the Casselman River. This stream
and I^aurel Creek and the Upper Youghiogheny River unite and form the main
stream at Confluence borough. Casselman River receives the drainage of quite a
number of coal mines and it appears that the sulphur waters are largely diluted
before Connellsville is reached. At and below this point, sewage, mine drainage
and industrial refuse is discharged into the stream all along its course. The Trotter
Pumping station is about one and five-tenths miles above Connellsville borough. The
water is taken from the river through an intake tunnel five feet wide and eight feet
deep leading to a pumi) well fifteen feet by forty feet in plan and twenty-five feet
deep. A wire screen of three-eighths inch mesh is placed at the entrance of the
tunnel. There are two sixteen inch suction pipes inserted into the well. They con-
nect to two duplex, horizontal pumps installed in the station, each pump having a
capacity of five million gallons per twenty-four hours. There are also two Wilson-
Snyder pumps at the plant. The water is raised through a twenty-four inch force
main to a reservoir of three and one-half million gallons capacity, located on top of
the mountain, distant one-quarter of a mile back from the pump house. This res-
ervoir is excavated out of rock and is built of cement masonry. It is elevated four
hundred and forty-two feet above the pumping station. There is an overflow pipe
from it sixteen inches in diameter and a twelve inch drain pipe. From this reser-
voir a twenty-four inch gravity main is laid southwesterly throuizh Dunbar and
North Union townships, passing through the villages of Pechin, Mount Braddock,
Y'oungstown and I.emont I'"'urnace to coke ovens about two and one-half miles east
of Youngstown borough where the storage reservoir of seventt>eii million gallons
capacity is located. This |)oint is seven miles distant from the Dunbar reservoir.
The liuiontown resenoir is on an eminence and higher than the surrounding
country. From this reservoir, continuing in a southwesterly direction one mile,
there is a twenty inch water main reducing to a sixteen inch main which continues
in the same general direction for a distance of four and one-half miles, passing
Leith village where a six inch line branches off supplying this settlement in South
Union township. A short distance beyond the Leith branch is an eight inch
604 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
branc-h exteudinsr northerly to a protected reservoir kuowu as Continental Number
One, having a capacity of five hnndred thousand gallons. This is situated on high
ground above Tniontoun about one-halt mile west therefrom. Beyoud Leith, otf
of the sixteen inch there is a six inch branch southerly leading to tlie ten million
gallon reservoir on the highland above Browntield village in South Union town-
ship. This reservoir supplies the Browniield coke ovens. Thence continuing south-
westerly, the sixteen inch main reduces to a fourteen inch, at this point there being
a six inch branch southerly which supplies Oliphant Furnace, which is one and one-
half miles beyond Browntield. About one mile further southwest olf of the fourteen
inch main is a four inch branch leading to coke ovens about three-qiuirters of a
mile west of Oliphant Furnace. One-half mile beyond this branch the fourteen inch
main terminates in a twehe inch and an eight inch. The eight inch extends south-
erly to the coke ovens of the Frick Coke Comjiauy at Fairchance borough to a reser-
voir having a capacity of one and one-half million gallons. The twelve inch pip(?
continues southwesterly to a ten million gallon reservoir in George township about
two miles northwest of Fairchance borough. This reservoir is formed by a dam
constructed across the valley of Yorks Run. There is a pumping station located
near this reservoir which is used to increase the pressure to the consumers. This
force main is twelve inches in diameter and extends westerly to the small village
of Shoaf on the Smithfield and Masontown Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road. There is rf six inch branch off the twelve inch pipe to the village of York
Run. Fi-<jm the seventeen million gallon reservoir called Uniontown reservoir,
which is near Cool Sin-ing village aii(l liie Cool .Si)ring coke ovens, ther(! is an eight.
inch branch extending northwesterly ior a distance of about four mil(>s, passing
through the village of Oliver to I'hilliiis in North Union township. The lino of this
water main passes about one mile northeast of Uniontown and terminates at a point
two miles north of the borough.
From the said Continental reservoir nunil)rr one, an (dglit inch lim' extends
southwesterly a distance of two miles to a protected reservoir of hve Inindii'd thou-
sand gallons capacity known as Continental number two.
Three-quarters of a mile south of this reservoir is another reservoir, capacity
nine million gallons. One-half mile west of it there are two reservoirs having a
combined capacity of twenty-one million gallons. These three basins arc impound-
ing reservoirs at the headwaters of small runs. From Continental number two, a
six inch main extends westerly to Continental reservoir number three. Detail plans
of the reservoirs have not been tiled in the Department, and so the capacity of num-
ber three is not known. Between the last two reservoirs is Thro Mine, which is
supplied by the said six inch pipe. From Continental number three there is an
eight inch pipe line extending westerly down the valley of the North Branch of
Browns Run, a distance of about four miles to Leckrone village at the junction of
the north and south forks of Brown's Run. This point is alxuit two and one-half
miles easterly of the mouth of the run at the iMonongahela River.
The Trotter Water Company's Huron pumping station is located in German
townsjiip on the east bank of the iMonongahela Riv("r at tlu; mouth of Brown's Run.
Information about the puniiiiiig ca]jacity and details of the intake are not in ihc.
possession of the Department. The raw river water is raised through a twenty-
four ineh force main to a standpipe about one mile? distant from which there is an
eighteen inch main reducing to ten inches and hnally eight inches in diameter,
which suijplies the villages of New Salem and Bufhngton in German township.
Flight inch branches reach the villages of Uaniliei't and I'Ideiihorn in the same town-
ship. Otf this main line there is a twelve inch branch to iMc( "lellandtown and thence
southerly (he pif)e is ton inches in diameter connecting to the eight inch main at
th<! village of Ijcckrone. The hitter pipe as heivinbefore described comes from Con-
tinental rr'servoii' number three. Thus the raw Alonongaheln River wat(>r may !)(■
foi'ced into tli<' pipe s\slem leading to the Trotter pumping station on llie Youghiogh-
eny Rivi-r. 'i'he .Slonnnualiela River water is polluted witli sewage and mine di-ainage
also liy refuse matter I'rmn st(!aml)oats whi<'li pass by the intake, "i'lie supply is
unsuitable for drinking purposes without: purilicatioii. Ordinarily, Yougliiogheiiy
water is supplied to ]''airclia?iee .-oke ovens and to (Jontinenlal reservoir number one.
It is understood (hat it is s<ddom if ever that tin? JNIonongaliela Rivei- water is
forced into the water mains beyond (.'ontinental niunber one. It is ustid principally
for the coal mines and eoke ovens in the southwestern part of Fayette county.
The ( 'onnells\ille Water Company which furnishes drinking watiM" to the borough
of Connellsville takes its supjdy from the Youghiogheny River more than a mile up-
Ktream above tin? Trotter Water ("omiiany. However, the Conntdlsville Water Com-
pany filler the supply before furnishing it tf) its consumers. 'j''he '^l''rotter Wati'r
''onipany. liowevei-, supplies its consunii'rs with raw ^'oughioglien.y Rivei' water.
'I'he 'J'rolter \\'ater Oonipaiiy has a third pumjiing station. It is loeat(>d at
Broadford on the north bank of the Youghioj'lieny River about (jne and one-half miles
b«'low Connellsville borough. Tin* stream hei'e is snb.ieel to great pollution from
mine <lrainag<!, industrial wastes and t.lii! H(fwage of the boroughs of < 'onnellsville
and .\e\v Haven ;ind is totally unfit, without pui'ideiition . to be useil as a source of
drinking wati^r. 'I'he Di-partnient does not lia\e it phin of the immping station and
intake oi- information as to the eapacit:.v of the outfit. It is understood, however,
that the Bioadford pumps are used only in a case of an eniergen<'.v. I*'r<im this
poirrt a fovc.f main twelve inches in dianuMer extends up Jacob's C,reek, a distaiKw?
of about two and one-(piarlei' miles to Siurunit Heights, where is lo(;at,e(l a, iHiservoir
No. J 7. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 605
having a capacity of eleven million gallons. From this point a gravity main twelve
inches in diameter extends about one and one-half miles northerly to Scotldale
borough. There are coke ovens here which are supplied by the Trotter Water Com-
pany. There is a si.K inch pipe under the river lo the .south side connecting with
the pipe .system which receives its supply from the Dunbar reservoir, so it is
reported. The main from the Dunbar reservoir is eight inches in diameter and
extends northerly for about two miles and branches into two twelve inch pipes.
One twelve inch pipe extends southwesterly supplying the village of J^eisenring an(l
the .Moniirch coke ovrus, wheiu-e the pipe reduces to eight inclies in diameter antl
extends southwesterly to the village of Kuie and West Leiseuring. This point is
six miles from (he eighteen inch pipe. From the Monarch coke ovens there is a ten
inch i)ipe reducing to an eight inch line which extends northerly one and one-half
miles to Juniataxille about one mile north.
The other twelve inch l)ran(li cxicuds northerly about one mile to New Haven
i)orough with an eight inch branch at Trotter village extending northerly to Adelaide
village on the south bank of the Youghiougheny River, and off from this eight inch
pipe is a six inch line above mentioned as passing along the river to the Broadford
station. A subnuiin four inches in diameter off from the six inch pipe extends
under the river to Davidson mine adjacent to Connellsville borough.
Thus it is seen that the Trotter Water ('ompany has three different pumping
stations connected l)y ;i system of water mains so that it is possible that any one of
the stations c;iu furnish water to the entire system.
The blueprint submitted by Fairchance borough of its proposed water works
shows that the local authorities purpose to lay one and fifteen one-hundredths miles
of eight inch pipe, one and nine om-hundredlhs miles of six inch pipe, and one and
nineteen one-hundredths miles of four inch pipe. Fire protection is to be aft'orded
as well as drinking water. The citizens believe that the quality of the water to be
furnished by the Trotter Water Company is preferable to that of the polluted wells
in u.se in the borough.
The feed main is to be eight inches in diameter and is to be laid a distance of
twenty-nine hundred feet to a standpipe in George township belonging to the Trotter
Water Company and already described. The water is to be purchased by meter
rate.
It is purposed to secure flushing of the water mains in the streets through fire hy-
drants, some of the hydrants to l)e located at low points in the borough. It is not
expected that the citizens will very generally use the supply for drinking puii^oses
at the bcgiiuiing, but that ultimately the majority of them will be consumers.
It is reported that the i>orough intends to use the Trotter Water Company's
supply until such time as the finances of the municipality will permit the develop-
ment of the Georges Creek source.
At present, there is no Board of Health in Fairchance borough, and consequently
sanitary rules ami regulations are not enforced. The interests of the public health
demand th" introductiou of a pure water supply and also the protection of the
existing well waters. An a))plication for public sewerage is now pending before the
Conunissioner of Health, but the plan submitted does not comprise a complete sew-
erage sjstem. Attention should be paid to the present method of sewage disposal
into cesspools and privy vaults in proximity to wells. The citizens should be in-
formed that the drawing of water from the ground near privies and cesspools is dan-
gerous and that so long as the present method of sewage disposal prevails, the bor-
ough is tlireateu'd with a widespread epidemic of a water borne disease. Garbage
disposal is a menace and improved methods should receive the attention of the local
authorities.
Probably the Yoiighiogheny River water will be less prejudicial to public health
than the present domestic wells in Fairchance borough and hence the introductiou of
this water in the town should he a benefit to the communitj'. However, the Monon-
gahela River is totally unsuited to be used as a source of public supply in Fair-
chance borough. Even the Youghiogheny River is subject to accidental pollution
and the water should be filtered.
It has b''en determined that the proposed water works system and source of sup-
ply will not be prejudicial lo public health under certain conditions and a permit
is hercliy and herein granted under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST. Before the proposed source of supply is introduced into the borough of
Fairchance the borough shall prepare plans for the installation of a water filter
plant for the purification of the water supplied and shall submit said plans to the
Commissioner of Health for approval and after the plans are modified, amended or
approved the borough shall erect a filter plant and put the same in operation and
maintain a filter therefor so long as the Trotter Water Company's source of supply
he used by the borough. The cost of such water filter installation need not be
expensive and as a safesruard. should provide the cheapest kind of insurance to
public health health in th.»> bornui:h.
SECOND. The borough shall provide adequate drainage facilities for the speedy
drainage of the water works system and shall show location on a plan and submit
a written description of such facility. At the close of each season's work the bor-
ouiih shall submit a plan of (he water pijies laid during the year together with any
other information in connection therewith that the Commissioner of Health may re-
(luire in order that the l)(>partment shall always be informed of the full extent of the
water works svslem and the public use thereof.
G06 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc
TliP loral aiithorilios" nttontion is espocially called to Hio suji'sestions hoiviuhpforc
offpvofl relative to the clianues in the existing methods of sewage and garbage dis-
posal. Th»> hurougli couneil shonld notify the eitizens to boil the water taken from
domestic wells and springs of the horongh and \ised for domestic purposes.
A local hoard of health shonld he established forthwiih and sanitary rnles and
regnlations shonld be promnlgated and enforced in the interests of the pidilic wel-
fare.
Harrisburg, Pa., October ">, lUOS.
FREEPORT, ARMSTRONG COl^NTY.
Freeport Water Works Company.
This application was made by the Freeport AYater Works Company of the
borough of Freeport, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, aud is for approval of plains
for the installation of a mechanical filtration plant for the purification of the water
to be supplied, and for the extension of water pipes in the streets of the bor-
ough.
The borough of Freeport is located in Armstrong county, Western Pennsylvania,
on the Allegheny River thirty miles northeast of IMttsburg. It is in the extreme
southwestern corner of Armstrong county, where said county abuts Westmoreland,
Allegheny and Butler counties. The borough is bounded on the north by South
Buffalo town.ship in Armstrong county, on the east by said township and the Alle-
gheny River; on the south by the Allegheny River which separates it from Westmore-
land county; and on the west by Buffalo Creek which lies a few hundred feet cast of
the Butler county line.
One mile above the borough the Kiskiminetas River joins the Allegheny. Buffalo
Creek, which enters the Allegheny River at the western edge of the borough, is a
small tributary which drains approximately one hundred and fifty square miles of
territory in Armstrong and Butler counties.
The incorporated area of the borough, consisting of two hundred and fitfy acres,
is located on land which rises gradually from the Allegheny River and Butt'alo
Creek to a ridge located parallel to the river and approximately a half mile therefrom.
The land immediately along the bank of the river and Buffalo (Jreek is about fifteen
feet above the normal stage of the river and is subject to floods during high water.
The land at the extreme northeastern edge of the borough at the summit of the
ridse is two humlred fp<'t higher.
Freeport is mainly a railroad center. Across Buffalo Creek on the western boun-
dary of the borough is Butler Junction, a terminal of the Butler Branch of the
West Penn Railroad. One mile east of Freeport, across the Alh^glieny River, is
Kiskiminetas Junction, where the All<>gheny Valley Railroad joins the West Penn
Division. 'I'he West Penn Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad passivs throush
tho center of the borough, fiirni.shing easy access from Butler Jniictioii and Kis-
kiminetas Junction. Most of the railroad employes at these two places live in Free-
port, com]>risinir about thirty per cent, of th(> total poi)ulation.
Tlie |)resen( population within the incorporated limits of the boimigh is estimated
to be two thousand. The liorougli is one of th<> oldest in llie western part of tli(>
State of Pennsylvania an<l the growth has been slow. The poimlatinn in eighteen
hundred and ei"j:lity was fifteen hiuidred and in nindccn liuiidred was s(>venteen
hiuidi'ed and cinhiy. so it is i)robal)le that the jiopulation twenty years fi'om now
will not !>'• more than twenly-tive liundi'erl. In aildition to the |)o|)ulation within the
borousrh limits, there is a settlement at Butler Junction antl also a sid)inban <lis-
trict in South Buffalo township immediately east of the borough limits which are
Bni)plied with water by the water works conijiany. AVith tiies(> additions, it is es-
timated that the total |)opulation within the territory of the water woi'ks company
is twenty-fi\e hundred, with a probable future poi)ulatiou of three thousand.
In addition to being a railroad center, Freeport has one large industry, the
Guckenheimer Distillery, located on what was formerly known as "^Podd's Island on
the Allegheny River at the southeast end of the borough. 'I^liis island was purchased
by the distillery comi)any and a pai't of the narrow eddy separatim,' il from the
mainland has been filled in. The island, whieli is two thousatid feel loni; and five
hundred feet wifle. has been .laid out in lots and streets and the houses of the em-
ployes are located thereon, in addition to tin? distillery ware houses and buildings.
The distillery employs oni- hundred and sixty-five men. It is supplied with a pi'i-
vate water supply for domestic purposes, but uses the water fi'om the Freeport
Water Works Company for fire purposes. "^PIh! private supply consists of the raw
river water for the boilers and a di'iven well supply for the distillery. A pumping
Hiation is located on the bank of the river. e(|uippe<l with two vertical triplex pumps,
each with a capacity of two hundred au'l lifly nations i)er minute and both directly
connected to a k^h enu;ine. One i)ump draws the water directly from a ci'ib located
in the bottom of the river al)Out twenty feet from sIkhc and pumps this water
thronch a five inch wrouiihl-iron main to the boiler house. The second pump is
connected with five wells driven along the bank of the river to a depth of forty feet
and lined with six inch casing. This water ajipears to be in good condition and is
forced through a five inch wrought iron main to tlu' distillery.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 607
Wrst ol' llic liMioii^ili at Butler Junetiou across Buflisilo ('rcok. tlion- is another
«listil)<T.v known as ilie Montro.so Distillt^ry , iK'lonfjins to tlio Pennsylvania Dis-
tilling ('oini)any. This distillciy is supplied with water hy the water eoinpany.
.\t Hutler Junetion are located the waterinj: tanks for suiiplyin:; the ongitjes and
round house on this divisiori of the railroad. The railroad company has no indepen-
dent suiiply, hut is furnished with water hy (he water company.
The horouRh is ('(luiiipiMl with a combined system of sewers which drain half the
area of the horou.uh. These sewers ranj^'o in size from twenty inches to eight inches
and discharse into ihe Allegheny River and I'.uffalo Creek through five independent
outlets. Sewers wen- first installed in eighteen hundred and ninety-six, when the
Singer Sewer Comi)any constructed three thousand feet cf sewer in the central por-
tion of the borough. The system has been doveloitcd more recently to its present
size and the borough officials are planning e.xteusions in the immediate future which
will drain the remaining built-up section of the borough not sewered at present. It
is estimated that tliirtecu hundred i)eople are using sewers at present with a total
of two hundred and liffy connections to sewers. The' remaining population use dry
earth vault |irivi''s, of which there are over three hundred in the borough.
In addition to the public sewer system, there are many private sewers emptying
directly into the river from the houses located along the river front. The distilleries
also have indei)endent sewerage systems which discharge directlj' into the river.
The Freep<uv \\'nter Works Company was incorporated on Juiu' twelfth, eighteen
hundred and eight.\-three, for the iiurpose of supplying water to the public and per-
sons and coriiorations in and adjacent to Freeport borough, Armstrong county, I'enn-
syhania. It is generally held that the chartin* territory of a water company must
bii confined within definite limits, and if this should apply to the Freeport Water
AVorks Company's chaiti-r. it would limit the company strictly to the borough of
Fr(V|)ort. However, the com))aiiy has presumably the belief of charter security to
supply the pul)lic in territoiy adjacent to Freeport borough, namely, Rutler Junc-
tion and properties in South BulTalo township. It might be better for the company
to make an application for and secure an extension of it.? territorial rights to these
places. Such a course would effectually settle any question of authority.
The company supplies five hundred thousand gallons of water per day, of which
three hundred thousand gallons are used for industrial purposes. The railroad com-
pany at Freeport Junction is the largest consumer.
Practically every liotise in the borough is connected to the water mains and in
addition the settl(>ment at Freeport Junction and also that in South P>u(Talo township
immediately east of the borough are generally supplied by the company.
The water furnished by the company is, however, not used generally for drink-
ing purposes. There is a pr'M'udice against the use of this water due to its being
taken directly from (he Allegheny River, which is highly polluted, and also to the
muddy condition of the water during the flood stages of the river. The people in (he
borough use several springs which outcrop at various jxiints in (he borough between
the ridge and the river, and i)robably a dozen dug wells. These wells range from
four to six feet in diameter and go to a depth of thirty feet where the bottom is
about on a level with the river bed. The wells are lined with dry i-ubble field
stone.
The existing water works system consists of a pumping stati(m located on the
Allegheny River about three-quarters of a mile above the borough proper and one
thousanil feet from the borough line, in South RulTalo townsliip ; three storage
tanks with a to(al capacity of two hundred and lifiy th(iusan<l gallons located on the
ridge at the eastern edire of the borough immediately on the borough line; and six
miles of sui)ply mains ranging in size from three inches to ten inches.
When the water works were first constructed in eighteen hundred and eighty-
three, water was taken from Ihe river at a pump station located <ui the main land
near the eastern end of Todds Island. In eiglUeen hundred and ninety-two this
[lump house was abandoned and the (wisting luunp house was const ruci(>d!
Water is taken from the Allegheny river at this piunping station through two
wooden cribs located six feet below the river bed and cov(>red with sand and gravel.
These cribs are located fifty and one hundred and fifty feet from the river ba.u;.
respectively. The criii nearer the bank of the river is fifteen feet by thirty feet l>y
five feet deep and is coiuiected with the pumps by a twelve inch suction line of
flanged pipe. The other crib is sixty-five feet by fifteen feet by four and a half feet
deep and is connected by an eight inch wrotight iron pipe line. During low water
periods the crib nearer the bank is out of service.
The |)iunps are located in a circular pit twenly-one-fect in diameter and twenty-
eight feet deep, with th" floor line ten feet abov(> low wafiM- mark. The (op of the
pit is several feet above the highest flood. The walls of the pit ari- constructed
of brick laid in cement ami are two feet four inches (hick. The bottom consists of
a nine foot ihickness of concrete. In the bottom of the pit are located the two
pumps, consisting of a (5ould single-acting vertical triplex pump of one million gal-
lons capacity and a Wilson Snyder horizontal duplex steam pump of one-half miJlion
gallons cai)acity. The jilunger rods of the (ioiild pump are carrietl vertically up to
the shafting located above (he (op of the |iump pii and directly connected to an eighty
horse power gas 'engine. The lop of the pum|> pit is covered by a brick (lumj) house
twenty feet by forty feet interior dimensions, which also covers the engine room in
which the gas engine is located. Adjacent to this pump house is a brick structure
608 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doi>
fifteen feet by thirty feet iuteii(.»r dimensions, containinK one steani boiler of fifty
horse power eaitaeit.x Tliis l)oiler tleveloi)s steam at eij;hty pounds pressure which is
used for drivinj; the steam pump.
Forty feet northeast of the pumping station there is a piggery and slaughter
house belonging to I'hiUp Steislinger. butcher, located ou top of the bank of the
river and draining directly therein. The run-off from this piggery is a menace to
the water supply of the borough.
The discharge line from the pumping station consists of a ten inch cast-iron force
main extending west from the station along the main i)ublic road for a distance of
twelve hundred feet to a point at the foot of the slope immediately below the storage
tanks. At this point there are two pipe lines, five hundred feet long each, extending
at right angles to the road up the hill to the tanks, six inches and ten inches in
diameter, respectively. Water can be pumped through either of these lines to the
storage tanks, or it can be pumped directly into the town mains through a six
inch line extending from this junction point along the public road into the built-up
section i:f the borough. The usual method of operation is to pump through the ten
incii line to the storage reservoirs and to use the six inch line to supply the six inch
mains leading from this junction point to the town.
There are eight houses located between this junction point and the pump house.
These houses are supplied directly from the force main with raw water. The offi-
cials of the water company, however, slate that it is their intention during the
(•oming year to lay a supply main from the [)resent distributing system to these
hous(^s so that they can be supiilied witii filtcM-ed water.
The storage reservoirs are located two hundred and twenty-five feet above the
floor in the pump house pit and sufficiently high to furnish a pressure of eighty-five
pounds on the hydrants in the main sections of the borough. The tanks are near the
top of the ridge at the eastern edge of the borough and the borough line passes through
the location. North of the tanks the land rises thirty-six feet higher where the crest
of the hill is reached. The tanks consists of wood stave structures banded horizon-
tally with circular steel bands and with a total capacity of two hundred and fifty
thousand gallons. The two larger tanks are thirty feet each in diameter and twenty
feet high. The smaller tank is tweuty-four feet in diameter and sixteen feet high.
These tanks are directly connected at present, so that the fiow lino in the larger
tanks is governed by the depth in the smaller tank which is fifteen feet.
The ten inch force main enters the two larger tanks liirough ten inch connections
located at the top of the tanks. At a point one foot above the bottom of the tanks
there are six inch valved connections to the six inch supply main. The smaller
tank connected at the bottom with the six inch line from the force main at the foot
of the hill.
The borough is supplied from the tanks through this six inch main which is now
used as a supply line and also through a six inch main extending from the tankn
along Hieh street and through a four inch main extending along Franklin street.
These supply mains are so arranged with valving that one or more can be placed
out of commission without cutting off the supply to the town.
The two six inch mains extend through the entire length of the borough along
Market street and High street and are four hundred feet apart. The other streets
are supplied with four inch and three inch lines. A four inch extension from the six
inch main on Market street supplies the Butler Junction district. The pipe system is
well equipped with valves. The dead ends are supplied with blow-olT connections
discharging directly into the river, or with hydrant conneclions. Fire hydrants
are located at street corners at distances ranging from four hundred to eight hundred
feet. Many of the.se hydrants are connected with three inch and four inch supply
lines.
There has always been considerable typhoid fever in the borough of Freeport. The
Htatistics of thr- number of the cases and deaths are not (•om|)lete. The records
of the cases are unreliable. The records of the Slate Dei)artm:'nt of Health are
very incf)mpleie relative to typhoid fev(U' cases, showing that the physicians an^ lax
in .submitting reports. For th(! last ten years from Ihree to twenly-lwo denllis per
annum are reported. The twenty-two deaths occurred in niiH>teen hundred and sev<>ii.
For tliat year only twenty-seven cases were reported. There is more likelihood that
two hundn-d and seventy casf^.s of typhoid occurred during that year.
Tiie epid(fmic in the fall of iiineleeii liundred and fivf, when sixteen cases occurred
in two we^ks was allribiited to a polluted niillc supply, as all tliose stricken with
tlie disease were sn|jplied by one milk deah'r at whose fai'm there- was a case of
typhoid fever, so it is reported.
The proposed filtration plant is to be located iiiiinediately above the existing
sloratre tanks near the crr-st of the hill. It is proposed lo install these filters in
two units eaeh with a capacity of five hnndred thousand salhiiis and also lo const ruci
on lop of the crest a settling lank having a capacity of one hundred thousand gal-
lons. A coatrulant |>ump and <'hemi<'al mixinir apparatus are to bi' lo(!ated at the
exJKting pum|)ing station for iiil roducitig a coaiiulant into the force main.
The coagulant plant will supply stilphatc of aliimirui to the water in definite jji-opor-
lions. Two r.dar tanks, each three feet in diameter, and three feet, deep, will b(!
used for dissolving tin! coagulant. The alum will be jtlaced in a small dissolving
box located at one h\(\<- of each tank and will lie slowly dissolved by'allowing a stri'am
of water to trickle over ii. <>w tank will be in cotrunissioii whilr- the solution is
being dissolved in tlie otju-r. A bronz'- pum|), bolted to Die side of the high pressure
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 609
pump and directlj- connected there to, will force the solution into the discharge coin-
parliiient of the pump. This bronze i)ump is so arrans;ed that the length of the
stroke can be increased or diiuinished in proportion to the amount of coagulant de-
sired and the i"ilc uf piiiii[)a,i;i' is in proporiiou lo the rate of the main puiiii>.
Th;> Nva';»'r will be delivered through the exisiiug ten incii main to a settling tank
located on the crest of the hill. It is proposed to leave the existing connections fron>
thit.: ten Inch main to the two storage tanks and also to the six inch su|)ply main al
the foul of the hill in position, so that they can be used to by-pass the water around
the HIters, or around both filters and storage reservoir in case of emergency.
The settling lank will consist of a circular white cedar structure, covered with a
woouen roof, thirty feet inside diameter and nineteen feet deep. The bottom of
the tank will be thirty-six feet above the top and one hundred and fifty feet north
of the existing storage I'eservoirs and will rest upon concrete foundations, twelve
inches wide, live feet ten inches center to center and extending the full width of the
tauk. The capacity of the tank, one hundred thousand gallons, allows two and a
half hours settling.
Raw water will be introduced above the bottom of the tank at one side and will
pass around a wooden baffle extending across the tank almost to the opposite side.
The water will be taken oil from the tank un the other side of this baffle through a
floating outlet spout arranged to travel through a tk'iith of ten feet from the toj) of the
tank and connected to the eight inch supply line leading to the lilters. A four inch
blow-oil valve and, piping connection is located in the bottom of the tank for draining
the tank to a tile sewer which will extend to a ravine east of the filter plant loca-
tion.
The filter plant will be of a gravity tj'pe, located on the side of the hill half way
between the settling tank and the storage tanks, with its base level with the top of
the storage tanks. It will be equipped with two circular wooden filters, each fifteen
feet in diameter and seven feet deep. Each will have an effective area of one
hundred and seventy-six square feet, or a capacity of five hundi'ed thousand gallons
when operated at a rate of one hundred and twenty-five million gallons pi-r acre
per day. The filters will be covered with a frame building, twenty-four feet by
thirty-eight feet interior dimensions, constructed upon a concrete foundation. The
filters will rest upon four by six oak strips, spaced eighteen inches ceuter to center
and laid directly upon a six inch concrete floor which will cover the entire interior
of the filter building.
The raw water will enter the filter through a six inch valve connection to the
eight inch supply line from ihc settling basin and will be distributed over the sur-
face frcan an overflow trough extending partly around the circumference of the t^'ter
at a height of eighteen inches above the surface. Water will be taken off' from the
filter through a manifold system consisting of a six inch header with one and one-
fourth inch lateral pipes radiating therefrom and spaced six inches center to center
on the bottom of the filter. In to this grid of pipes there will be seven hundred
and twenty bronze strainer connections spaced six inches center to center. The
filtering matei-ial will consist of ten inches of gravel and thirty-six inches of selected
filter sand. The outlet pipe from each filter will be controlled by a rate controller
which will limit the rate of operation of the filter to a one hundred and twenty-five
million gallon rate. From the rate controllers the water passes through an eight
inch filtered water main to one of the largest storage tanks nearest the filter plant
and thence thi'uugh ihe storage tanks into the existing sui)ply main ctinnections.
In cleaning; the filters, water from the settling basin will be introduced into the
strainer system by means of a six inch wash water connection and will be forced up
through the filteriusr material to the wash trough located at the top and thence
through an eight inch connection to the sewer line. No agiation is proposed, but
it is intended to wash at a high rate, probably eight or ten gallons per square feet
I)er minute. After washing the filter, the water first filtered will be wasted through
a four ineh connection lo the sewer. A loss of head gage is to be provided for eacli
filter to read the loss of head directly, so that the operator will know immediately
when it is necessary to clean.
A by-pass line is provided around the lilters, so that Ihe water from the settling
basin can be introduced directly into the storage reservoir without passiiur through
the filters. The (Jreer I'iller Company, who have i)repared tli(> plans for the filter
plant and propose to install same, have guaranteed a bacterial reduction of not less
than ninety-eight per cent when the bacteria in the unfiltered water is tliree thou-
sand or more per c. c. , and that when the nundier is less than three thousand, the
averagi' number in the filtered wati'r shall not exceed one hundriMl per c. c. , and
shall meet the requirements of the State lUiard of Health. They [U'opose to furni.sh
with the filter plant a field equipment of testing apparatus and chemicals for nuiking
tests of the raw and filtered water and to instruct the operator how to make the
necessary tests.
In order to obtain the fidl capacity of the storage tanks, a float and valve are
to be ])rovided on the smaller tank which will automatically close the inlet when it
is full and allow Ihe other two tanks lo till to their full caijacily.
The continued i)revali'uee of typhoid fever in Freeporl (h maiuls the instnllation of
a pr(!p(>r water i)urilication idant. While there is at pre.ient some reduction in the
number of bacteria due to infiltration throuirh the crit,s at the intake and ihrouirh
subsidiMice in the storav'e reservoirs, yei it is absolu'.ely necessary to safeiriuird the
public health of this comnuinily that an ellicient filter plant should be installed which
;il)-17— 1!»08
610 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
will be operated in an intelligent and careful manner. It is to be noted that the
water works c-umpauy realizes tliac this will be a protitable investment, as it will
increase the domestic consumption and will proi)ably eliminate (he use of the wells
and sprin.us which are now in constant use for drinuiui;' [lurposes and are not above
suspicion. The water company has voluntarily submitted this application for the ap-
proval of a filtration plant and should receive the support of the borough oflicials in
its efforts to furnish a pure supply.
The facilities for tire protection in a large portion of the borough appear to be
inadequate. Through the center of the borough the hydrants are connected to the six
inch supply mains and are sulliciently close together to furnish ample protection in
times of tire. In other sections of the borough there are many hydrants connected
with three and four inch mains and spaced eight hundrt-d feet apart, so that during
a severe lire it would be difficult to supply a sudicient amount of water. It would
be advisable to increase the tire protection, either by constructing larger mains in
these districts or by installing hydrants at more frequent intervals.
The plans submitted contemplate the by-passing of raw river water around the
filter plant at intervals. As stated above there are three methods of by-passing water
around the filters and by one of these it goes directly into the mains without any
sedimentation or storage. Such by-passes are a menace to a water supply when the
source of supply is contaminated and should be used only in the case of a great
emergency. When .so used all consumers should be notified in advance and advised
to boil their drinking water.
The plans of the filters as submitted should furnish a plant of the highest type
of etiiciency, if intelligently operated. It is advisable in the installation of a filtra-
tion plant tluit the expert who installs it shall be entrtisted with the general super-
vision of the plant for at least one year after installation or some one equally com-
petent, in order that he may be fully responsible for the efficiency. It is impossible
to allow a plant to be operated by one who is entirely ignorant of filtration without
impairing the efficiency. It will probably be necessary to cover the storage reservoirs
to prevent growths of algae.
It has been determined that the proposed water purification plant will not be
prejudicial to public health, and a permit is hereby and herein granted therefor and
for the extension of water pipes in the streets of the borough, under the following
conditions and stipulations:
FIRST. That at the close of each season's work the water company shall file a
plan of the water pipes laid during the year together with any other information in
cijnuection therewith that may be required, in the othce of the State Department
of Health, in order that the Commissioner of Health may be always informed of
the extent of the water works system and the public use therof.
SECOND. That the filter plant shall be operated one year after iuslalialion under
tin,' direction of the expert who designed it, or some other competent expert. A full
re|)ort of the initial test of the filter plant shall be submitted to the Commissioner
rif Health and thereafter the water comi)any shall assist the Stale Department of
Health in making such li'sts of the jdant from time to time as may be desired.
THIRD. Weekly reports of the operation of the water works system and iiurifi-
(•ation plant shall be ki-pt on blank forms satisfactory to the Department of Ileallh
and ciipUis thereof shall l)e filed with .said Depai'Iment. if at any time in (he opinion
of th<; (Joimnissioiu'i' of Health, Ihi' water works system or any part tlieicof, or any
wa1i-r furnishi'd thereby, has becouKj iji'ejudicinl Id llie pnlilic health, (jr inellieieiit or
defective, then such r'-metlial measiiri's shall be adopted as tli<' ('(unmissiouer of
Health may advise or approve.
F(JCRTH. The by-pass- provided for passing water arotiiid llie lillcrs direclly
into the mains must be kei't closed and sealed undei- an arrangement salisfaclory to
the (Jmnndssioner of Health and only in some great emergency shall these \;ilves be
ripened and used. If this is done the public must be immediately wai'ued of the fact
and the local ami State health authorities notified.
I''J1''TH. At the com])letion of the work a complete set of plans of llie new struc-
tures and all changi-s to existing sti'uctures shall he inepa red .iiid iilaced on lile willi
tlie Commissioner of Health.
SIXTH. 'J'he Watei' Works Company shall notify the coMsiinieis of walei' who
take the water from the supply pipe between the lillei' plant, proposed and the pum))-
jug station, which consuim-rs now gel raw vvatei-, that all such water used for
drinking and domestic jmrposes, shall b(! boiled, and tin? company shall construct,
during tin; year nineteen luindred and nine, a connection from the filtered water
supply and shall furnish thr- said consumers with filti-red walei'.
SKVKNTH. This iiermit carries with it Ihi' specific condition lliiil the P'"reeport
^Vater VVfjiks Company is aulhoriz(!d by its charter to do the things which it proposes
to do as hereiiibi'foi'e descriljed. However, it is suggested, thai the said company
should find it advisable to have IIh; undisjiuti'd limits of its water district defined by
the Pennsylvania Water Supply Commission and liial for this purpose an ajiplical ion
Hlionid be made, as providefl by law.
HarrisburL'. I'm.. Sep|ei,ilii'r li , 1'IOS.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 611
TKH'KWIOrj. TOWNSIUr, BKAVEK fOlXTV.
Jiiins and I^aujililiu Steel C'oinpauy.
This aiiplii atiiiii was inailc by the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company, of Pitts-
burs;, and is for in'rinissiou to (•(mslnict a system of water works for the supply of
water to till' ]) [iiiic CM its own projicrty, consisting of the village of Woodlawn, in
Hopewell townshi[), licaver couniy, I'eunsylvania.
The Joups i^ Laujililin Steel Company is constructing a new manufacturing plant,
whicii will ultimately consist of coke ovens, blast furnaces, steel works, rolling
mills and finisliiu^ departineuls.
This plant is bi'ini;- built at Woodlawn, a \illage in Hopewell township, Beaver
couniy, i'eunsylvania, along the Ohio liiver, about twenty miles down stream from
Pittsburg.
In order to provide adequate habitations for the employes engaged in the construc-
tion and operation of this i)lant it has become necessary for the company to build
houses to car( for at least twen(.\-ti\e hundred peuiile. It is represented that this
number of peoiile will undoiibteilly be increased to ten thousand or more by the time
all departments of the plant are constructed and in operation. Before the Jones &
Laughlin Steel Company began work at Woodlawn the village consisted of possibly
one hiuidred inhabitants within the district immediately affected by the construction
of this plant. The population now consists of nearly sixteen liiuidred persons, and
in order to provide these people with convenient and sanitary habitations, the
company has already constructed si.xty-three blocks of double houses^one hundred
and twenty-six dwidlings in all — and fifty-one single and double modern houses — tifty-
six dwellin.i;s in all.
To provide llii'se houses with tlie necessary water supply, the company purposes
to erect a piunpiug station, storage system and supply distribution.
The proposed pumping station is to be located two hundred and twenty-five feet
up stream from the Ohio River dam number four ou property belonging to the com-
pany and at tiie ri\er liarbor line. The sewer outlet into the river, temporary ap-
proval of whicli has been given by the Commissioner of Health, is at the mouth
of Logstown Run i)elow the dam. The said pumping station is laid out to provide for
a population of ten thousand inhabitants and ample provision is made for additional
pumi)S if this population should be exceeded.
The pump house is a circular structure fifty feet in diameter and its walls rest on
solid rock foundation seventy-fi\e feet below the surface of the ground and the fioor
of the motor room. The basement is to be tlie pump well and ports in the outer
walls will provide an entrance for river water to the large pumping engines
designed to furnish supply to the industrial plant. The pumps will rest on the floor
twenty-four feet abovi' the liattom of the well. This will be made water tight.
Twenty-seven feet above this floor will be the operating floor of the pump house.
The pnmi)s for the domestic supply are to be electric driven, vertical, triplex,
deep well pumps, two in number, each of two hundred and fifty thousand gallons
capacity in twenty-four liours. and they are to have a four inch suction into a
twelve inch C(dleciiiig main \\liich is to extend up stream, reiluciug to ten inch,
eight in(,'h and six inch diameti'rs. oil' of each size of which are to be two four inch
l)ranches, each branch tei-minating in an eight inch vertical pipe driven to solid
rock from fijrty to fifty feet deep below the shores of the river. These driven
wells have tlu'ir tops slightly above the low or permanent level of the (Tovernmeiit
Dam. This structure, however, is c()lla|jsibl(> — that is. it is provided with wooden
sections whicli may be raised to a height of nine feet, so that the highest level
of the dam will for the present submerge the dri\en wells nearly nine feet, if
the information now in possession of the Department be acccurati'. However,
the line of wells is back of the harbor river line and it is the purpose of the com-
pan.v to fill in the land many feet deep to this line. All piping in connet-tion with
the wells is flanged, but in case the joints slmuld leak there wmdd be a possibility
of the sewage ixdiuted water of the river flowing into the wells and iront.iminating
them. Plans of the pii)ing have not been submitted. The depth to which it is i)ro-
posed to cover the wells is not known. The burying of the apparatus under tiie
conditions obtaining is a doubtful exi)edient. The piping should be where it may
be easily reached and insi)ected and repaired.
A lest well showed a very copious flow of water in the sand la.\er ou top of
the rock and bacteriological and sanitary analyses of this water showed it to be
.satisfactory in (|uality.
The pumps are to discharge into an eight inch main and where the pipe crosses
tlie railroad irtu-ks a sixteen iii<-ii cast iron pipe is to b,' laid. At e.ach end of this'
sixteen inch lim- uiuler the tracks of the Pittsburgh aiul Lake Erie Railroad special
fittings are to he provided in contemplation of additional branch lines, both from
the supply and tlie distribution.
The risinir main will feed the pipe system, overflowing into two closed top
steel siandpii)es. Only a portion' of the entire water sui)ply will i)ass thromrli
these tanks. The elevation at the bottom of these tanks is to be one thousand
and lifly-six. The elevation of the motor floor of the engine house is to be seven
lutudred and twent.v-five. The highest flood line was at seven hundred and eleven and
612 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
one half. The dam ^Yhen up is at elevation six hundivd aud eighty-four. It will
thus be seen that a very good pressure will be mainiaiui'tl iu the distributing- sys-
tem. Each tank is to be thirty feet in diameter aud thirty-six feet high.
It has been determined that the proposed water works system and source of
supply will not be prejudicial to public health aud a permit is hereby and herein
granted therefor, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That at the conclusion of each season's work plans of the water pipe laid
during the year shall be filed by the owner of the system in the office of the Com-
missioner of Health, together with such other information in connection there-
with as may be required, to the end that the Department may always be informed
of the extent of the water works and use of the system.
SECOND: The driven well piping and connections shall be provided with
suitable means of access for inspection and repairs if this be found feasible,
otherwise, upon monthly tests of the waters which shall be made by the com-
pany which shall file copies of such tests with the Commissioner of Health . re-
vealing the presence of any sewage organisms, the company shall filter the water
by apparatus to be approved by said Commissioner. It is the purpose of the
State Department of Health to also make tests of the water and if at any time
in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the water supplied by the company
for drinking purposes is prejudicial to public healtli. (hen such remedial measures
shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health shall approve or advise.
THIRD: If called for, weekly reports of the operation of the water works
system shall be made on blank fonns satisfactory to the State Department of
Health aud copies thereof furnished to the said Department.
FOURTH: Satisfactory record plans of the piping in connection with the
driven well system shall be filed with the Commissioner of Health.
Harrisburg, Pa., June 29, 1908.
HOUTZDAI;E, CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Houtzdale Water Company.
This application was made by the Houtzdale Water Company of the borough
of Houtzdale, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and is for permission to obtain
a new source of supply of water to the public in the borough of lioulzdale.
It appears that Houtzdale borough is a small mining counuuuily located in
the south central part of Woodward Township on Beaver Ruu which flows east-
erly through about the center of the borough. Beaver Riui is made up of numerous
mountain streams which have their source in the southwest of Houtzdale about
three miles. It takes a northerly and easterly course passing through numerous
small mining settlements and at a point about four miles to the east of Houtzdale
it empties into Moshannon Creek, which is a tributary of the West Branch of the
Susquehanna River.
Houtzdale is about fifteen miles south of Clearfield borough, the county seat
of (Jlearfield County, and has direct railroad connections witii same, a branch of the
(!ambria and Clearfield Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad passing through
the center of Houtzdale, as does the New York and I'ittsl)urg Central Railroad.
The borough is divided into two sections. The northern or principal section
is built on the sidi' of the hill, the summit of wliich is aljout the northerly
boundary of the borough. The natural drainage of this seel ion is to Beaver Run.
The southern section is also built on the slope, but not so severe as the other
section. 'I'he natural drainage is also to Beaver Run.
The chief industry is the mining of coal. There are a few small mines scattered
in the outskirts of the borough. The larger mines are scattered about the sur-
rounding township. VV'itliin the borough limits the upper coal measures have
br-eii ])retty generally worked out. It is pi'obal)le, however, in the future!, the
lower ine}i.Kure.s will be worked, as the authorities are licildiiig out inducements
to oiieralors.
The (irincipal mining company is the I'.erwind, VViiitc CompMiiy. This con-
c< rn (•mploys jirolKibly six Imndred men in various mines throughinil the lowii-
Hhip. 'J'here an- no mamifact tiring plants within tiie boroiigii liiiiits.
The population has been decreasing. In eighteen hundred and ninety it was
twenty-two hundred and thirty-one, in ninetfjen hundred it was fourteen hun-
dred and eighty-two and at the present time it is eslinialed lo he about fifteen
hundred.
There are three hundred and twenty iiouses in thi' liorough of wiiicli eight have
percolating cesspools, idglit have jirivate sewers and liie lemiiining numlxu- have
«hallow i>rivy vaults for the reception of sewage. Tlie sanitary conditions are
generally poor. . .
The water company serves two hundreij and sevenly-two hous(;s, the remaining
forty-eight obtain their water Kui)j)ly Ironi wells or privfite springs. ''I'here are
tweiity-five wells in use at the pcfisent tiim'. They are dug nnd ari' suh.je<'t to
surface contamination to a greater or le.ss rjegrei'.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 613
The Iloulzdale Water Coinpauy wa-s chartered August .sixteenth, eighteen
liundred and eighty-seven for the puri)ose of supplying water to the public at Houtz-
dale and in the vicinity. In ciifiili'i-n hundred and eighty-seven, the Houtzdale
Water Comp.my drilli-d a well, built a frame pumping station, consti-ucted a
reservoir and laid pijii's throughout the borough, and water has been served to
the communily from this source to the present date.
A remarkable circumstance is the fact that the pumping station, well and reser-
voir are located to the north of the borough in Woodward township on a summit
which overlooks the bornu;;!!.
Tlie well which is within the pumping station, is drilled six hundred and fifty
feet deep and consists of an eight inch pipe driven to a depth of four feet. In this
casing there is a five inch suction pipe about three hundred feet long. The eleva-
tion of water is two hundred ti'et below the surface. In the pumping station
there is a thirtj'-fivo horsi- power and one forty horse power tubular boiler and
two forty horse i)0wcr horizontal steam engines.
From the drilled well, water is pumped by an old type, .Jericho suction pump
which is operated by a beam connected with the steam engines through a series of cog
wheels. This pump has a four and three-quarer inch plunger and a thirty-two inch
stroke, m;ikes twoiity-eight strokes [)er minute, discharges four gallons per stroke
or one hundred and sixty-on.> thousand, two hundred and eighty gallons per day
and is operated continuously. From this pump the water enters the eight inch
supply main and flows through the piping system to consumers, the surplus back-
ing into the reservoir. In all. there are about four and one-half miles of eight
inch pipe reducing to three inch cast iron pipe laid through the borough. The
resen^oir is of masonry construction and is located about fi'^ty feet to the north
of the piunping station, is fifty feet in diameter by eight feet deep, capacity
nin<>ly thousand gallons. The elevation is about one hundred and seventy-five
feet above the business section of the borough.
There are a number of dead ends in the piping system but fire hydrants are
placed on tbeni ff)r flushing as well as for fire protection. The maximum daily
consumpii(^n i.s about ninety thousand gallons per day.
The water company proposed to i)uild an intake dam on a small movintain
stream distant aliout four anrl one-half miles south of the borough. The site is
in Center County on Mountain Branch, so called, of Moshannon Creek, which
forms the boundary line between Center and Clearfi?ld Counties. From the pro-
posed dam the water will flow by gravity through an eight inch wooden pipe and
connect to the present eight inch supply main at Ilanna and Charles Streets in the
central part of the town. Water will then pass through the present piping system
and the sulplus will enter the existing reservoir.
The proposed reservoir will be built in a natural ravine, the sides will be given
a uniform slope of one to one. the bottom will be excavated with a gradual, de-
sc(>nding grade to the breast. The breast is to be of masonry construction, two and
one-half feet tliick. and while not shown on the plan, is to have wing walls and also
a spillway. A twenty-four inch pipe through the bottom will provide means for
drainage. The depth of water at the breast will be five feet. The surface area
of the reservoir will bo nbonl thirty-seven hundred and fifty square feet, the average
depth about four and one-half feet, the capacity ninety-seven thousand five hundred
gallons, anfl the elevation about two hundred and twenty-three feet above the
business section of the borough and fifty feet above the present reservoir.
The present reservoir will be provided with float and check valves to prevent
overflowing of the same from the new resi'rvoir.
C^u August the twenty-fifth nin<'ieen hundred and eight, on the day of the Depart-
mcMit's inspection it was estimated that the flow in Mountain Branch was approx-
imately two hundred thousand gallons per twenty-four hours. The watershed above
the reservoir site has an area of about thr(<e square miles, is not populated, and is
mostly barren, due to ninnerous forest fires.
It app(>ars that the present deep well supply is strongly impregnated with sulphur
and nt times is not fit to drink, so the consumers report. The water is discolored
and even has an ofTensive odor as well as taste. The company wishes to discontinue
the well for this reason and also to save the cost of pumping. If the new supply is
approved, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company will make use of the pure mountain
sjuppl.v. which will be an additional source of revenue.
Because Ilout'/.dale borough is more or less honeycombed with old mine workings,
there is a possibility that sewage from the borough may reach the underground
waters so that an abandonment of the driven well supply would remove any .suspic-
ions of the possibility of sewage pollution.
It has l)een determined that the proposed new supi)ly will not be prejudicial to
public health an<l a permit is hereby and herein granted therefor under the ft)llowing
conditions and stipulations;
FIRST: That on or before December first, nineteen livuidred and eight, the water
oomp.'iny shall submit a i>lau of the watershed to the Commissioner of Health .show-
ing all the streams and public roads on the watershed.
SECOXn. (Jates shall be placed on the new sui)ply main to the town to prevent
the sliutting off of the water at any time and facilities for flushins the pipe line
at the low points shall be put in. All iirovisions shall be nu\de on all dead ends
and at low points in the town sj'stem to drain the pipes.
614 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
THIRD If at any time tlio water works system or auy part thereof or the source
of supply, in the opiniou of tlie Commissioner of Health has beome a menace or pre-
judicial to pulilic health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Com-
missioner of Health may advise or approve.
FOURTH. The Water Company may extend its pipe lines from time to time
as necessity may require, but at the close of each season's work plans of such ex-
tensions shall be made by the company and filed in the oiHce of the Department of
Health so that the Commissioner of Health may always be informed of the extent of
the water works system and public use thereof.
FIFTH. Detail reports of the operation of the water works system may be re-
quired at any time by the Commissioner of Health and this permit is issued \yith
the understanding and stipulation that such report shall be made whenever required
by the Comiuissiouer of Health.
The attention of the Water company is called to the fact that this permit relates
only to its charter territory. If the company wishes to supply water beyond its
charter territory, an application for right to do so should be made to the proper
State authority. The Commissioner of Health is not empowered to extend charter
privileges.
Harrisburg, September 2.~)th , 1908.
HUMMELSTOWN, DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Hunmiolstown Consolidat»'d Wnler Company.
This application was made by the Ilummelstown Consolidated Water Company
of Hummelstown, Dauphin County, and is for permission to extend its water works
in the borough of Hummi^lslown to obtain an additional sourc(> nf supply and
for approval of i)lans for the filtration of the water so to be sui)plied.
It appears that on August sixteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, the ('ommis-
sioner of Health issued a decree to the Hummelstown Consolidated Water Company
relative to plans for the improvemeni of its source of supply of water to the
public in the borough of Ilummelstown, in response to an application duly made
and bearing date of .Tune thirteenth, nineteen hundred and seven. The conclusions of
the decree v.'ei-e as follows: •
"In view of all the circumstances, I have determined that the proposed improve-
ments would be prejudicial to the public health, and I do hereby and herein with-
hold approval thereof.
"I beg to suggest and advise the said water company Ihnt it emiiloy a competent
entrincer and work up the details of that water purificatidii iihinl licst adapted to the
economies anrl necessities of the case, bearing in mind liic various matters set forth
in the above discussion."
In responso to this advice the com]>any has engaged an engineer, detail plans have
been perfected and they are the ones which have been submitted and are now under
consideration.
The charter of the Hummelstown Consolid.-ited Water Company limits the ter-
ritory in which th':; company can supply water to the ])ublic and corporations to
the borouu'h of Hummelstown so it apjii'ars. Hence that pari of
the company's af)plication relative; to the extension of water works into Dei'iy and
Swatara townships cannot be considered. ]{elative to this inatter, however, it
is to l)e notefl (lint on August sixteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, the Commis-
sioner of Health issued a decrer? to the Rutlierfoi'd H(>iglits Water Sui)i)ly Company
of Swatara Township, Dauphin County, relative to a i)lan foi* obtaining a smirce
of sujjidy from the Eastmere Water Company. It appears that on .Tnly twenty-
Becond, nin<'teen hundred and seven, the (.'onunissioner of Health had issued
a permit to said Rutherford Hei'.rhts Water Supply Company, which, among
other tilings, siiecified, "that before tin; ])roi)osi'd water works system be con-
structed and used, detail f)Ians thei-eof sliall be prepared and submitted to and
approved by the Coniinissioner of Health as provided by law, and among other
thinsf.s, said jtlan shall include designs for a water purilieat ion |)lanl." I'.ut the
Rutherford Heights Watcjr Su[)i)ly Company could not install a filter and get
water tn the f)ui)lic in the village of Itntherford Heights (piick enough to supply
the i»r'oi)le livintT there and lieriee it askr-d temporaiy pei'missidii -to take water from
the lOastiiiere Water Company. The latter corporal inn was chartered in eighteen
hundred anrl ninety-nine to supply water to the pnblie in the \illage of I']astmere,
Swatara 'J'ownship, find the water is pur<'hased of (he eiiy of llari'isburg at the
<'ity line. The conclusions of tin; said decree of ,\ii;;nsr sixleeniii , nineteen hundi'ed
an<l seven, wr-if as follows:
"The Riiiherford ll"ights Water Su[)ply (!ompany wishes to furnish a i)ure
KU|)i)ly to Riilhei-ford Heights at the earliest iiraetieable moment and desires to do
(bin under permission f»f the Commissionei' of Health, but said Cnniniissioner of
Health is not c-mpowered to grant a permit which will o)ii>rate lo extend the
nowers conferred by the charter of said water compnny. The Itulherlord Heights
Water Supply Company's charter ))i'ovides that the company shall confine its
Hource to the Swnlara Ci k at the place shown on the plan sub-
mitted by s.nid r"om|>any and on til" in the office of tlie State Water Supply Com-
mlKsion. March thirteenth, niin teen hnndr.'d and se\'en. Therefore, unless the
No. n. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 615
pptitionc'is obtain a niodificalion of the Company's fhartor, tlie Commissioner
of Ilealtli cannot appiov;» of any sourcn except the Swataia Creok. However,
the Commissioner of Health could entertain a petition for an extension by East-
mere Water Company of its pii«e line to Rutherford Ileijrhts and this extension
could be granted under the condition that it be within the charter rights of the
Eastmere Walfr Company.
"Therefojo, I hereby and herein decline to approve the plans of the Ruther-
ford Heights Water Supply Comi)any for the obtaining of a source of supply from
the Eastmere Water Company.
"The petitioners have two courses open to accomplish the end desired. First, for
the- Rutheiford Heights Water Supply Company to ol)taiu a moditit-d charter;
second, for the Eastmere Water Company to applj'^ for permission to extend its
pipe lines to Rutherford Heights."
On October twenty-seventh,, nineteen^ hundred and seven, the Rutherford
Heights Water Supply Company secured an amendment to its charter and it now
has a right to take water from tiie Swatara Crook at the same point and use the same
intake which is in use by the Hunmiclstuwn Consolidated Water Company. There-
fore, the said Rutherford Heights Water Supply Company, like any other cor-
l)oratiou within the borough of Ilummelstown, may purchase its water of the
HuinmeJstown Consolidated Wali-r ('om|)any, and this is the way in which it
is intended to introduce filtered Swatara Creek Water into the territory covered
by tlie charter of ihe Rutherford Heights Water Supply Company.
In a like manner the Eastmere Water Company of Swatara Township may,
if it chooses, purclia.se water of the Rutherford Heights Water Supply Company of
said townshi]).
On Di'cember third, nineteen hundred and seven, the Progress Water Company
was granted a charter for the purpose of supplying water to the public in the
Township of Su.s(|uehanna, Dauphin County, more particularly in the villages of
Progress and IMeasiint View which lie in the east and are suburbs of Ilarrisburg,
tii<> source of supply to be fiom Swatara Creek, at the same point at which the
Ilummelstown Cimsolidated Water Company obtains its water, and at which
the Ruthoi-ford Heights Water Supply Company proposes to obtain its supply.
Thus it is seen that the territory to which the water filtered by the Ilummelstown
Consolidated Water Company is to be supplied (by the proposed plant herein under
consideration^ practically comprises all of Susquehanna and Swatara Townships
besides the borouich of Hummelstown.
At the present time the Hummelstown Consolidated Water Company takes its
water supply from Swatara Creek at a point just below the built up part of the
borough. Til" water is pumped to a staudpipe near the pumping station, distant
alxmt six luiidred feet. There is a dam across the creek just above the highway
bridge and this dam diverts the water into a penstock leading to a mill which is
owned by the w-ater company and used as a water power house and electric light
plant. Water wheels, two in number, have a total capacity of about three hun-
dred horse power. An auxiliary steam plant for electric lighting purposes has
been provided. Th.- tail race extends down stream about a quarter of a mile
to the creek. The company owns the land between the tail race and tln' crei-k and
also other lan<l in the vicinity. On it near the bank of the creek the standpipe is
located.
There .ire two pumps, one is driven by water power and one is an auxiliary
steam pump used when water power is not available. The capacity of each pumping
engine is about five hundred thousand gallons daily. The eight inch force main ter-
minates in a stand \n\)o wliicli is cuie liuudred feet high and sixteen feet in
diameter. The base of this stand pipe is about forty feet above the creek and level
or slightly below the village. The stand pipe when full gives a pressure of approxi-
mately forty pounds in tlie village. It has a capacity of one hundred and fifty
thousand gallons.
The borough water consumption is about two hundred and fifty thousand gallons
ranyring from two hundred thousand to three hundred th(msan<l gallons daily.
During a tire the i)umps nuist be spee(l<>d up to meet the extra service. Thus the
fire protection service is very jioor.
About all of the citizens of the town use the public supi)ly. There are a few pri-
vate wells.
The Swatara (^reek is a muddy and turbid stream and at tim(>s contains consid-
rrai)le culm or coal dirt. It is also subject to sewage pollution. The city n{ Lob-
anon is on the watershed.
The proposed improvements <-omprisi- a water purification pbiiil, now pumping
m:ieliiiiory . a slorau'e res(>rvoii' and a ui-w pipe lino.
The iiuritieatioii plant is to consist of a se(limentatiou basin, mechanic.il filters,
filtered water basin and accessories.
New pumping machinery is to consist of two fri|)lex pumps, water power driven,
each of a million gallons capacity when working asainst a pressure of one hundred
and oislily pounds. rii>se enuines are to lift the filtered water into the ncwv stonme
reservoir. A two million irallon low lift pump is to bo provided to raise the crook
water into the sediment;ition basin. A wash pump of a capacity of two and three
quarter million gallons per day against a twenty-five foot head is to be installed.
616 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
These pumps will be operated by water power. To provide against breaii downs or
lew- water there is to be erected a two million gallon steam pump for auxiliary pur-
poses.
The storage reservoir is to be located on a hill in Swatara township near Ruth-
erford Heights. Its elevation will be about three hundred and seventy feet above the
pumping station and its distance approximately three miles. The rising main is
to be twelve inches in diameter. After this reservoir is constructed the present
stand pipe in Hummelstown will be abandoned. The reason for going out in
Swatara Township for the site of the new reservoir is that this is the most avail-
able site at a suUicient elevation to give ample pressure for improved fire ser-
vice in Hummelstown borough.
The plans show a re-inforced concrete storage reservoir, circular, one hundred
and eighteen feet in diameter, twelve feet deep to the flow line and divided into two
compartments of equal size. Approximately this reservoir will hold one million
gallons. It is to have a concrete root". The side walls are so designed that
in the future, if necessary, the walls may be nearly doubled in height.
The water is to be introduced at one end and taken out at the opposite end
of each compartment, both being at the bottom of the reservoir. At the outlet
end there is to a vertical pipe whose top will be the top of the high water
mark in the reservoir. It will connect with the drain and thus serve as a safety
valve to prevent the overflowing of the reservoir.
The raw creek water is to be lifted from the pool in a quiet place above the
dam to a vertical height of about sixteen feet into, the sedimentation basin at
pump house but outside of it. This structure is to be built of re-inforced concrete
open on top and is to comprise two compartments, each twenty feet wide and
forty feet long at the bottom and slightly more at the top. The depth to the top
of the walls is to be sixteen and five-tenths feet. The water level is to be six
inches below the top. The approximate capacity of each compartment is one
hundred thousand gallons. Thus when both compartments are in tise a subsidence
of two hours is provided when the plant is being operated at its normal capacity
of two million gallons per twenty-four hours. There is opportunity for the
addition of two other compartments in the future.
The chemicals, alum ordinarily and soda ash when tlie river is acid are to
be introduced at the pump and will be fed by gravity from tanks in the boiler
room. There are to be two solution tanks for the alum and one for the soda ash.
The sohitions are to be fed into an orifice box in which a constant level is to
be maintained by means of a float and butterfly valve. The outflow is to be
made by a graduated orifice arranged to 1)e easily adjusted by the operator.
The chemically treated water is to be admitted to the subsidence basins at the
top. The water will lise through a ^•ertical pipe six inches in diameter to a
height of three feet above the high level mark in the reservoir and flowing over
the top of the pipe will fall upon a wooden platform and thus be sprayed and aerated.
The top of the vertical pipe is to be fitted with a flange twenty inclics in diani(>ter
provided to spray the water out. Three such aerators are jn'ovidcd at the inlet
end of each compartment. The splash board will float on the water. Twenty
feet from each inlet end is to be a baffle board across the compartment sunk to
about mid-deptli. The water is to be drawn from the outlet end at (he surface
through a fixed skimming pan eight feet long, fifteen inches deep and one to
three feet wide. Water will flow over the edges of this pan, w(Mr fashion, and
thence through a twelve inch i>ipe to the main feed pipe to the filter, the latter
to be sixteen inches in diameter. The head on the filter will be about four and on<'-
haif feel , measured from the high water level fif the subsidence? basin to the;
high water level on the fillers. Thei'e is a pump in lh<> centre of each com-
partment to The subsidence basin and the drainage is to l)e into the tail race by
means of a twelve inch drain.
The filters are four in number, cncli fdurtccn feet lung hy lliirlccn FcmM; wiile
with a rated capacity of five hundred lli<)us;ind gallons (liiily. Tln'y iire arraugi^d
in pairs on either sjrle of the pip'' gallery, the floor of which is covered with
concrete on which (he valve stands will be jilaced. I'elow in the galhMy th'
influent, wasii and drain pipe are to be jjlnced and tln^ r(>gulating ai)()aralus.
The filters are to be partly roofed ov(ir by re-inforced concrete covei". I'lie gallery
and inner <'nds of the filters aie to be enclosed within the building. Helow
the fillr-rs is to be a clear water basin made of concrete masdiu'y twenty feet
widr- and lliirly feet long with longitudinal i)artition walls suppoi'ting the inner
ends of the fillers and (he pipe gallery. These walls will iiavr' dpeniiigs tliroimli
them. The c.'ipacily of this cjejir waU-r loisin is forty tlKuiKaiid g.'illons. This
will be llie pump well and thus a half hour piinipfigc will he on Imnd when llie
plant Ih operated al the two million gallon rate.
Tlie Hand in each filter is to be sharp fracture s|iliiTii;il gr:iiii, pure (|ii.iiis
san<l, efTfclive size aboul four-tenths millinielers with a iiiiifdriiiily >>{' cd-ellicienl
of one and fi\e-teritlis. Ii is to havi- a depth of abdul thirty iiiclies :nid rest on
(en inches of gravel, rangirur from a (|u;n'ter to an eighth of an inch in diameter.
Thi;! is to rest on the manifolfj system whicii is embedded in the cdncri'le on the
bottom of the filter and consists of an inch by twelve inch cnslini; ;ind two
inch lateral pipes six inches apnrt iiml fiU'd \\ith ini|ii<i\c'i| luniciil strainers
six inclirs on cen(res.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 617
There will be four feet of water on the sand at high water. The water is to
be introdiK:ed on the filter through two paraHcl troughs, the head being maintained
by a float and butterfly valve on the inlet pipe. Tiie troughs are twelve inches
wide, tifleeii ind'es deep and semi-circuUir on the Ijottoui and extend across the
entire length of the filter and the lip of these troughs will be two feet above the
sand line. The efiluent from each filler will pass directly to the filtered water
basin below, but there is to be a Norwood controller on each effluent pipe which
will work under water and will be capable of regulation by means of which the
speed at wiiicli the filter is operated may be regulated uniformly within certain
limits.
The cleaning of the filter unit is to be aecomplLshed by pumping filtered water
back through the strainer system at a very high rate, probably si.\ limes the rate
of filtration. It is exi)ected that this high rate will prove as etlicient as the combined
air and water in coiiunon |)rae(ice. The first filtered water after washing will
be drained to the sewer which drain will al.so take the overflow pipe placed at the
high water mark on each filter to obviate accident. The .sewer will empty into the
tail race which is to be directly below the clear water basin.
This tail waste is a new construction and is to be excavated from the present
mill northerly a short distance to the creek in order to obtain the full benefit of
the head to provide drainage facilities and to increase the head on the turbines.
The walls of the clear water basin will be extensions of the walls of the new
tail race and the space befhw the concrete bottom of the clear water basin which
is to form the top of the new tail race underneath the filter plant will ordinarily
lie about two feet above the water line in the race. Plowever, during flood and
freshets the back water will rise nearly if not quite to the top of the clear water
basin. Hence care must be taken that the filtered water well be constructed so
as to niak" it water tight.
The layout is of modern design and well adapted to purify the Swatara Creek
water provided chemicals are used and the plant be operated intelligently. However,
the works should be constructed under the supervising direction of the expert
who designed them or some one equally skilled in this branch of engineering.
The plant also to be operated for a period of twelve months under the super-
vising direction of the designer during which time the oflicers of the company
or the attendants at the plant should be thoroughly schooled in the methods of
operation and the adjustment of chemicals to the requisite treatment of the
water in its \arying quality.
The Huminelstown Consolidated Water Company purposes to sell filtered water
to the three etlier water companies whose charters give them the right to take
water from the same point in Swatara Creek. Approval of the plan would be
withheld if these said three companies intended to take this water from the
ri.=ing main or r^^servoir of the Ilummelstown Consolidated Water Company
in Swatara Townshii) because the charter of said water company does not permit
it to sell water in this territory. However, within the charter rights the proposed
plans furnish a practicable scheme for the supplying of a pure and wholesome
water to all of the villages and towns along the Philadelphia and Reading
Railway between Ilummelstown and Harrisburg.
It has been determined that the proposed improvement will not be prejudicial
to public healrh and a permit is hereby and herein granted therefor and for the
extension of the water works system in the borough of Ilummelstown within
the chartered rights of the Iliinunelstown Consolidated Water Company under the
following londitions and stipulations:
FIRST: On completion of the proposed purification plant reservoir and other
improvements the water company shall file with the State Department of Health
complete and full detail plans of the same as built, showing all valves, pipes and
appurtenances, together with any other information in connection therewith
re(|uired by the Commissioner of Health.
SECOND: At the close of each season's work the company shall file a plan
of the pipes laid during the yenr in the ollice of the State Department of Health,
together with such other information in conneciion therewith as may be required
by said ('ommissioii(>r.
THIRD: The filler plant shall be operated under the responsible direction of the
expert who shall ert'ct the same for a period of twelve months in order that the
water company's attendants may be afforded a reasonable time in which to Ivvome
thoriiui;hly schooled in the responsible duties of efliciently operating the wafer
l)urification works. A full reporr of the intitial test of the plant shall be sub-
mitted to the Commissioner of ll<'allli and thereafter the wafer comiiany sliall
assist the Slate Department of llenllh in makins: such tests of the plant from
lime to time as may lie found desirable. If necessary, the Commi.ssiouer of Health
may prescribe standards of efliciency and make regulations for the operations
ami mainliMiance of the plant and the entire water works system.
FOrUTH: Weekly reports of the operation of the wnter works shall be kept
on lilank forms satisfactory to the State Department of He.ilth and copies thereof
shall b" filed with sai<l Department. If at any time in the opinion of the Com-
missii>ner (f Health, the water works system, or any part thereof, or any
water furnished thereby, has become deflective, or inefficient, or prejudicial
to public health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted by the water
company as the Commissioner of Health may advise or approve.
618 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc
FIFTH: The introiUiction of raw creek water iuto tlie street malu system
or anywhere, except iulo the hlter phiut, is absohitely prohibited. The plant
being operaceil cuntiuuuusly and the stoiage on the liill being one million gallons,
necessity does not exist for an emergency connection between the pumps and
the street main, more especially since there is duplicate pumping machinery.
The iutei-ests of the public health demand that all connections now in existence
by means of which raw creek water is delivered lo the water works system shall be
absolutely cut off and put out of commission, when the improvements herein
approved have been installed.
SIXTH: 'I'liere shall be an attendant at the lilter plant whenever the same
is in operation. , , .^ . i ,
SEVENTH: The drainage from the filter plant shall, if ever required by
the Commissioner of Health, be otherwise disposed of than into the creek.
Harrlsburg, Pennsylvania, January IGth, lOOS.
JOHNSTOWN, CAiNIBRIA COUNTY.
Mr. Jerry Ahvine.
This application was made by Jerry Ahvine of Johnstown city, Cambria county,
Pennsylvania, to construct water works and supply water to the public in that
part of the Eighth Ward of Johnstown City formerly comprising the Borough
It appears that that part of the Eighth Ward of Johnstown City which was
previously the borough of Roxbury and which ruiituins the straggling residential
settlement still known by that name on the outskirts of Johnstown, is in the
extreme southwestern part of the city in the valley of Stony Creek, which rises to
the south in the Allegheny Mountains in Somerset county and follows a general
nortiierly course to a point about two miles below and north of the Eighth Ward,
where it joins the Little Conemaugh River in the heart of Johnstown forming
the Big Conemaugh River. North of Roxbury is Crubtown, also in the Eighth
Ward," while to the south is Ferndale borough and to the west Upper Yoder
township. ^ , ,. ,
It is the general practice in Roxbury to dispose of sewage in common privies
and perhaps in a few cesspools and by discharging waste water into the street
gutters. Previous to the installation of the water works under consideration,
the entire domestic water supply was obtained from wells, most of which were
dug. Many of these wells, it is reported, dry up during hot weather.
During the summer of nineteen hundred and eight the Johnstown Water
Company installed in Roxbury a pumping station, distributing tank and about
two miles of distributing pipes, in order that it might commence in the fall of
nineteen hundred and eight to furnish water pumped from its low service mains
for the use of the inhaijitants of Roxbury. . ^, ^, ^
Cherry Run rises about a mile west of Roxbury in Upper Yoder township
and flows easterly in a deep ravine to the settlement, through which it follows
a northerly course parallel to Stony Creek but separated therefrom by a distant
hill The run finally enters Stony Creek Uirouuh (irubtowii.
The water works for wliich a permit is asked have already been installed and
water was supplied to the public thereby during the sunuuer of nineteen hundred
and eight, the a|)piicant at that time being ignorant of the necessity of obtaining
a permit The principal supply is obtained from a spring whicii is located high on
the southern slope of tiie ravim- of Clierry Run and just southwest of the settle-
' nient of Roxbury, two hundred feet soulli of .Josepli street, in Ui)per Voder town-
ship The spring is within a few hundied feet of the crest of the hill and less
than" one hundred feet below it. A field on the summit may be eilJKU- cultivated
or used as a pasture, but there are no buildings of any (!escri|)tion above the
spring, wiiich is in a grove and siu'rounded by an acre of ground owned by the
petitioner. The surface formation is saiidstuiie. 'I'he water frdiii the hillside
above is to be diverted from the s|)ring by means .if a ditch.
A slight ex<-avali(-n has been made in the hillside around the spruig and the
face of this excavation has been walled up. Innnediiilely in rrinit of tin's wall
is a water-tight masonry tank about nine feet s(|uare by three .-ind i>iie-lialf feet deep,
with a frame roof. .'\djacent to this tank is a water-tight m:isonry reservoir,
twenty feel wide, lifty feet long and five and one-half feet deep, also covered
witli a frame roof. In liie bottom of the tanks are two two inch (Insii pipes and lher<'
is also a two inch flush lupe leading from the bottom of the reservoir at the
Houtiieastern corner At present the water from the spring is piped diivctly
into the reservoir, but when the arrange nts are comi)leted a pipe will convey
the water from tin- sjiring to the small tank provided to catch any seditnent and
from the tank the water will overflow into the southwestern corner of the
reservoir From a i)oint in the soutlu'astern corner of the bottom of the reservoii'
cJoHc to' the drain pi|)e a two inch suiiply |)i|)e prolecjed by a ■ sieve extends
northeasterly through privat*- property and across the city line about live hundred
feet into l')erby street of Roxbury. This system includi's abimt llirei' thousand
feet' of two inch ami one and a ((uarter inch galvanized iron pipe. There is a
No. 17. COMMISSlOXER OF HEALTH. 619
valvi- at ihc ix'scrvuir, su that the .sui»ply may be shut off. Alihou;,'h ii<i blow-offs
for tlif draiiiiu}; of the pipe system have been installed, it is uudeislood iliat
the applieaiil intends to iilaee such blow-olfs in ihe pipe lines at low points.
Water Is furnished to, about thirty dwellings, perhaps a population of one
hundred and fifty, less than half the total population in this little district.
A one inch pipe is to lead from the northeastern corner of the reservoir and
furnish water to several dwellings on Joseph street within three hundred feet of
the resGi'voir.
The applicant reports having obtained from the Mayor of the City of Jolinstown
such permits as were necessary fur laying: the pijies in tiie .streets. He has no
franchise from the city for supplying water to the public.
The petitioner has a second spring eight hundred feet southwest of the Jo.seph
Street Spring and just south of Berkley Street, also in Upper Voder township
and in the head of a small ravine which opens northeasterly into the valley of
Cherry Run. During the summer of nineteen hundred and eight water was fur-
nished fnjm this spring through a one and a half inch pipe about fourteen
hundred feet long lo Koxbury i'ark, a summer amusement resort immediately
south of Ikoxbury in Upper Yoder tow"nship.
The land above the spring is under cultivation. There is one dwelling owned by
a Mr. Harry Berkley, on the summit of the divide between this valley and the
next valley to the south. From tliis dwelling domestic waste water is discharged
on to the surface of the field about four hundred feet above the spring. However
the surfaci; wash will carry this sewage and the drainage from the public road past
the spring which is south of the bt)ttom of the ravine.
At present the spring flows Irom the steep hillside into an open water-tight
masonry reservoir, twenty-seven feet by thircy-one feet in plan and seven feet
deep. The one and a half inch supply pipe to the park leads from the bottom
of the reservoir being protected by a sieve. A two inch drain pipe also leads
from the bottom of the reservoir. It is proposed to wall up the spring and put
a roof on the reservoir and protect both of them from surface wash. It is
further proposed to lay a suction pipe from this reservoir to a pump to be located
in a slaughter house owned by the petitioner just below the spring and to lay a
one and a half inch force main from this pump lo the Joseph Street reservoir
so that both springs may be used to furnish water to this latter reservoir and the
distributing system supplied thereby. This Berkley Street spring is located
in the upper end of a ten acre tract owned by the petitioner.
The water to be obtained from these springs after the completion of the
arrangements for their protection from surface wash should almost unquestionably
be pure and of a good quality. Although up to the time of the Department's
investigation on September tenth, nineteen hundred and eight, the Joseph Street
Spring had furnished and adequate supply to all the consumers dependent upon
this source while many other sources in the vicinity had failed, it does not
seem that a much greater population could be safely dependent upon this source
even when augmented by pumping water from the Berkley Street Spring. Probabh''
the water works will not be greatly extended. It appears that the local wells
furnish an inadequate supply of water and are also susi)icioiis sources in view
of the practice of disposing of sewage in privies and on the surface of the ground
It does not appear that the Johnstown Water Company's having extended its
mains into lioxbury is any reason for denying a permit "for the construction of
the water works herein considered.
It has been determined that the water works and the sources of supply will
not be prejudicial to public health, and a permit is hereby and herein "ranted
therefor under the following conditions and stipulations: "
FIRST: No more water shall be furnished to the public from the Berklev
Street reservoir until it has been roofed over, the spring walled up and protected
from chance or malicious pollution and both the spring aiid the reservoir adequately
protected from suiface wash.
SECOND: The petitioner shall cause inspections to be made of the areas on
the hillsides above the two reservoirs as often as necessary and shall immediatelv
inform the Department of the erection and occurrence of anv possible source
of pollution on either of these water sheds, and of the disposal of the sewage
at the house above the Berkley Street reservoir becoming a menace to this
source of supply, if such should ever be the case.
THIRD: When it is desired to install the pipes and pump, to force the
Berkley Street water into the Joseph Street reservoir, complete plans of the
pipe lines, pumping station and connections shall be tiled with the Commissioner
of Health. At the end of each s^'asotis work pl.ins ami such other information
as may be required showing the extensions of the distributing system made during
the year shall be filed with the Connnissioner of Health in order that the said
Commissioner may be always fully informed of the extent of the water works
and its use.
FOURTH: On or before January first, nineteen hundred and nine, bhiw-offs
shall be installed at low points in the jdpe system, liy means of which if
necessary, all the water may be drained from the pipes, and a jilan sho\vin<'
the locations and sizes of these blow-offs shall be filed with the Commissioner of
Health
620 THIRD AX.XUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
FIFTH: It is the inteutiou of the Department to collect samples of water
for analysis from time to time from the various parts of the water works and
the petitioner shall render such assistance in this work as may be necessary.
SIXTH: Detail reports of the operation of the water works shall be kept ou
blank forms satisfactory to the Commissioner of Health and copies thereof shall
be filed with the said Commissioner of Health.
SEVENTH: If at any time the water works or any part thereof or the water
supplied thereby shall become prejudicial to the public health, then such remedial
measures shall be adopted and enforced as the Commissioner of Health may
approve, suggest or advise.
EIGHTH: It is expressly stipulated that the petitioner in conducting his
business and extending his water works shall comply with tlie ijrovisions of all
laws pertaining thereto.
Harrisburg, Pa., October 15th, I'JOS.
JOHNSTOWN, CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Johnstown Water Company.
This applicaiicm was made by the Johnstown Water Company of the City of
Johnstown, Cambria County, and is for permission to extend its water-works
system and to obtain an additional source of supply.
It appeal's that the city of Johnstown is located on the main line of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, twenty-five miles west of the great divide between the
Susquehanna River and the Ohio River basins at the junction of the Little
Conemaugh River and Stony Creek. These streams form the Big Conemaugh
River which flows westerly from Johnstown into the Kiskiminetas River, the
latter emptying into the Allegheny River at Preeport borough , Westmoreland
county.
Johnstown is a thriving manufacturing community, the home of the Cambria
Steel Company. While there are numerous other manufacturing plants in the
locality, the manufacture of iron and steel and the mining of coal, principally
of the Cambria Steel Company, constitute the most important enterprise. The
city is on the western edge of the Cambria-Somerset district of the upper
bituminous coal measures. Johnstown had a population of twenty-one thousand ,
eight hundred and five in eighteen hundred and ninety; thirty-five thousand, nine
hundred and thirty-six in nineteen huudi'ed and has about sixty thousand at
present. T^he community centering around Johnstown comprises a considerably
larger area than the city itself. In the surrounding boroughs and townships
there are probably twenty thousand people, considerably scattered, due to the
peculiar topography.
The Big and Little Conemaugh and Stony Creek are in deep, steep sided
valleys. The Little Conemaugh enters the city from the northeast, having
its source near the summit of the Allegheny Mountains and draining a very
rugged, mountainous area. Stony Creek rises in the Allegiieny IMountains to
the south in Somerset county and flows northerly to its junction with the Little
C'onemaugh in Johnstown. The valley of the creek in the city and for a short
distance above has a comparatively wide, flat and low lying bottom. The Big
Conemaugh River flows out of the city to the northwest in a rugged valley similar
to that of the Little Conemaugh. It is in this valley along the banks of those two
streams that the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad winds from the east
westerly toward Pittsburgh. The works of the Cambria Steel Company extend
throughout the city from east to west, also in the valley of the Big and Little
Conemaugh Rivers, in places on one bank and elsewhere on the other. A private
railroad of the company connects the various pnrts of tlio works and its neighboring
coal mining oijcrations.
The old town, now I he business section, ((uniirisin^ llic first, second, third and
fourth wards of Johnstown, is located on the flat groiuid in Ihe fork between
Stony Creek and tiie Little (Conemaugh. To the south across Stony Creek, are the
fifth and sixth wards known as Greenville. West of these districts on a high
bluff, is Westmont borough, a residential district reached l)y an incline plane.
Further up Stony Creek on its eastern bank, is the seventh ward of .lolinslown,
known as Hornerstown. East of this, on the hillside and the sununit above
are the small boroughs of Dab; and Daisytown. Further up-slr<'Mni, west of
Stony Creek, is the eighth ward of Johnstown, consisting of (irubtown, adjacent
to the stream, and furliier to the south Roxbury, originally a Imrougli by that
name. Beyond Roxbury along Stony Creek is the borough of Ferndale. Opposite
these places on the cast bank, is the sevi'nlcciilh ward of Joliiislown known as
Moxain. Stony (!rcck follows a tortuous cfjursc hctwci'ii these waids ;ind boroughs.
Tipper Yoder iownsiiip lies to the west of this district and Stony ('reek township
to the east.
In the valley of the IJttlfi Conemaugh on the south bank of Ihe stream and east
of liie busincHs district are the Ninth and Tenth Wards of Johnstown, originiilly
Conemiiiigli boroiiirh and still known as such. NortlicMSt of this (list rici across IIh;
strcMtii is till- eleventh ward, known as Woodvale, and still furthci- upstream
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 621
are the boreuglis of Ea.st Conumuugh auil Franklin respectively on the north and
south banks of the Little Conemaugh River. These wards and boroughs in the
valley of the Little Conemaugh are bounded on the north and south respectively
by East Taylor and Conemaugh townships. The twelfth and thirteenth wards
known as I'rospect are on th;- north bank of the Little Conemaugh opposite
the business district and junction of the streams and extend up the hillside.
To the north of I'rospect is the small borough of Rosedale in the valley of
llincksion Run.
JIclow Pruspect in the valley of the Big Conemaugh on its southern bank are
the (iflcenih and si.xteenth wards of Johnstown, known as Cambria City and
across from them on the north bank is the fourteenth ward .MintMsvilli-. Furllifr
uj) stream are the oighleenth, nineteenth and twentieth wards, known as .Morrell-
vilie on the south wi'.-iern bank of the river and in the valley of Si. Clair Run, and
the twenty-first ward. C(j(>i).'rsdale on the northeastern bank. The wards in the
valley of the Hig Conemaugh are bordered on the north by West Taylor township
and on the south by Lower Yoder township.
The city is more or less completely sewered by public, combined sewers
receiving both sewage and storm water and discharging into the various streams.
Above the city these streams are contaminated by mine drainage and are yellow
in appearance. The river below the city is foul and blackish because of the
sewage and industrial wastes discharging into it.
The Johnstnwn Water Company was incorporated by an Act of the General
Assembly entitled "An Act to Incorporate the .Johnstown Water Company"
approved April eleventh, eighteen hundred and sixty-six (P. L. seven hundred and
twenty-three) and letters patent of the Commonwealth were i.ssued to it June
fourteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven and July thirty-tirst, eighteen
hundred and eighty-eight upon the Water Company accepting the constitution
of the Commonwealth and the Corporation Act of eighteen hundred and seventy-
four. The purpose for which the company was chartered is the introducing
from some convenient source a sulhcient supply of pure, wholesome water into the
boroughs of Johnstown, Conemaugh. Millville, Prospect, Cambria and vicinity in
Cambria county, Pennsylvania. All these boroughs are now parts of the city
of Johnstown. The Johnstown Water Company, upon its organization, took
over the water works of the older Johnstown Water and Gas Company.
The Stony Creek Water Company was incorporated September seventh, eighteen
hundred ami eighty-eight to supply water for the public at Moxam in Stony
Creek township and to persons, partnerships and associations residing therein
and adjacent thereto as may desire the same. The Johnstown Water Company
is reported to have purchased all the property, stock and franchises of the
Stony (^reek AVater Company about eighteen hundred and ninety.
The ^LTuufaclnrers Water Company was incorporated February nineteenth,
nineteen hundred for the supplying of water for commercial and manufacturing
purposes. This is still an independent company.
The Mon-ellville and Cambria Rorough Water Company was incorporated
October eleventh, eighteen hundred ami eighty-eight for supplying water to the
public at the borough of Cambria and surrounding township of Lower Yoder
and to persons, partnerships and associations residing therein or adjacent thereto
as may desire the same. This company furnishes water to about three thousand
consumers among the seventeen thousand inhabitants of the fifteenth, sixteenth,
eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth wards of Johnstown and to several industrial
establishments. Tin- sources of supply are Struyer Run. a tributary of St. Clair
Run. anil a ilrilled well near the intersection of Chandler Aventu' an(l F Street
in the district known as Morrellville. This is also an independent comjjany.
The Eighth Ward Water Company of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was incorporated
April seventeenth, nineteen huu<lred and six for the supply of water to the
puhlic in that part of the eighth ward of the city of Johns'towu formerly con-
stituting the i)orough of Roxliiiry. This comi)any has as yet, installed no works
and is reported to luive no prospeetive sui)ply or intention of becoming active.
A private individual. Jerry Alwine, is supplying water for domestic purposes
to about one hundred and fifty consumers in that part of the eighth ward known
as Roxbury. aiul his system has lieeu approved by the Commissioner of Health.
The sour<'es of su;)ply are neighboring springs.
(Juite a number of drillei] wells in the heart of the city are used as sources
of water supiily l)y industrial establishments, hotels and stores, and there are
many individual wells both dug and drilled still in use in the outlying districts,
piirticuhuly in the higl,(>r pnrls, to many of which the mains of the"johnstowu
Water Company do not extend.
'Phe Johnstown Water Company obtains its supply from six tributary surface
streams widely separated in lh<> three valleys radiating from Johnsto'wn. cue
of these sources. Salt Lick Run, being the subject of one of the applications herein
considered. The dams from which the waters of these various streams are taken
vary from mere intakes to an impovmding dam of one hundred ami tliirtv million
gallons capacity. The various sources are Mill Creek, Dalton Run. St. Clair
Run. Wihl Cat R\ni and Salt Lick Run. and the intakes are nt an average
distance of five miles from the center of .Johnstown. .Vn auxiliary supply mav
be and has lieeu ohtnined from the Mjiiiufaelureis W.-iii-r C,.ni|i:i"iiv l)nth frotii
llinckstou Kuu ami Stony Creek.
■Ill
622 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc,
Mill Creek a tributary of Stouy Creek furuishes oue of tlic priuoipiU and oldest
supplies. Uu it, southwest of Oolmsiowu, are two impouuilnig dams iu Upper
I'oder township, the lower with a eapaeity of rhirty-two milliou gallons, the
upper uiuety-seven milliou gallons. The lower ilam is used only as a last resort,
being too low to furnish water at a satisfactory pressure. The watershed above
the upper dam is about four square miles, perhaps live square miles above the
lower (lam, all in Upper and Lower loder townships. The country is very hilly and
largely wooded, and on the drainage area there are eight or more farmsteads
with a population of perhaps sixty persons.
The twenty-four inch pipe from the lower reser\Hiir is rcchKi'd after a short
distance to a twenty inch pipe which extends in the valleys of ^Mill Creek and
Hens Creek and Stony Creek, of which the former are tributaries, about three
miles to the citi line. In the southern part of the city this main is divided
into a twelve inch and a sixteen inch main which extend to the central part of the
city respectively on the west and east sides of Stony Creek. A thirty-six inch
pipe line half a mile long connects the upper Mill Creek Reservoir with the
twenty inch main from the lower.
Dalton Run, appropriated subsequently to the Mill Creek supply, now furuishes
much of the city"s water. Un it, southwest of Johnstown and beyond .Mill Creek,
is a one hundred and thirty million gallon impounding reservoir in Conemaugh
township, above which reser\oir is a hilly, largely wooded watershed of four or
live square miles in Conemaugh and Upper Yoder townships. In this drainage
area there are said to be at least eight farmsteads and a population of perhaps
sixty persons. From this reservoir a tw-enty inch pipe line extends iu the valleys
of Dalton Run and Bens Creek of which DalLou Jluu is a tributary, about three
miles to its point of connection with the pipe from ^lill Creek where said pipe
emerges from the valley of JNIill Creek into the valley of Ben's Creek.
St. Clair Run a tributary of Big Conemaugh furuishes a considerable supply to the
western part of Johnstown. On it, west of the northern part of the city, is
a dam with a capacity of hfteen milliou gallons iu Lower Yoder township, above
whicli dam there is in i^ower and Upper Yoder townships, a largely wooded,
hilly watei'shed of about five square miles very similar to the sheds of Dalton
Run and Mill Creek. A twelve inch pipe line extends from this dam about a mile
iu the valley of St. Clair Run to the city line, and thence two miles or more
along the south side of the Conemaugh River through Johnstown to the heart of
the city, the system being intimately connected with that fed by Mill Creek
and Dalton.
Laurel Run and Wild Cat Run tributaries of Big Conemaugh furnish the
remainder of the supply to the western part of the city. On Laurel Ruu north
of the western part of the city and in West Taylor township, is a uine million
gallon reservoir above which, in West Taylor and Jackson townships, is a largely
wooded, hilly watershed of about eighteen sciuare miles, upon which (here are
fejiorted to be thirty farmsteads and dwellings, about ten within one-half mile of
the reservoir. Throe or four dwellings particularly menace the supply, being
less than one-fourth of a mile above the reservoir and, with their outbuildings,
line both banks of a .small tributary.
A sixteen inch pipe line extends from this dam about eighteen thousand feet
in the valleys <jf Laurel Jtiin and the ("onemaugli River to (Joopersdale, Ihe
twenty-first ward. The sixteen inch pipe continues up the uoi'thern bank of
the Conemaugh itiver through the twenty-lirst ward and West Taylor township
into Minersville, the fourteenth ward. Here a twelve inch pipe was laid across in
the bed of the ( loncniaiigh connecting the Laurel system with the St. Clair Run
system at tlii' foot of 'I'liird A\i'iiue in the lirteciilli vv;ud. The connection was
made in nineteen hundred and se\en.
On Wild ('at Run, a tributary of Liiuiel Uuu, Iheri! is in West Taylor town-
ship, a small intake dam from which a pipe line connects with the one from
I^aurej Run and above which in West Taylor and Jackson townsliip, is a wooded
watershed ii\' about two scpiare miles, on which there are reported to be but one
or two hai)italions.
Salt Lick Riui was used as a source of supply by the Johnstown Water Company
in the fall of nineteen hundred and sevi-n. There is a small intake dam on
the run ajjoul one-fourth of a mili' north of its jmielion with the Little (!oiU!maugli
River. A six mile, twenty inch pipe line in the \;il|ey ut the Little Conemaugh
convi^ys I'"' vvati-r into .folinslown.
The distributing system in tlie vaiii-y of Stony Crec^k, fed |)rincii)ally from
Mill f'reok ami Dalton Run, covers |)rett.y <'ompleteiy this part of Johnstown
and also extrnds eastward from that pari known as Hornersl(jvvn into Dale
borough and Walnut Crove vilhige in Stony (!r<'ek townsliij). There are also a
few distributing [jipes in l'"erndale borough. At the foot of the bluff west ot that
part of the eiiy known as (Ireenville is a pum|)ing station which takes water
from the distributiny sysf-ni in the said (Jreenville disti'ict through a six inch suction
pipe and forces it through an eight iiieji I'oree main iHghteen hundred feet long
to a distributing reservoir on Ihe bliilt in thr- soutiM-astern part of Wi'slniont
Borough, which is supplied with water j'lKni lliis reservoir. 'I'Ik? Water (Jompjiny
also maintains a pumping station in Ih" disliiei known iis I'ldspect, at the foot of
III." hill n<irth of the Little ConemaMgh and oi)|)osile Ihi' business section. The
suction is a four imh pi|ie eonneeled with a twelve inch main laid across the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 623
Little Coneniaugh in its bod from the central purL of the city. This puiupiu;;
station forces waicr from the low service di.stribuliu^ system tiirough a force main
of tour inch, six inch ami ion inch piiies twelve liumlred f<;et long, to a small
distributing reservoir known as tlic J.,owcr Prospect Iteservoir. Ihere is also
a force main from this inunping station composed of nineteen hundred feet of
six inch to eight inch pipe leading to tiie Cpper I'rospect reservoir. From tliese
two reservoirs water is furnished to i'rospect. During the sunnner of nineteen
hundred and eight a pumping station was erected by tiie Johnstown Water (Jompan.\
at the foot of the hillside m the western part and that part of the eighth waru,
pi'eviously Iioxbury. Tlie pumping station is reported to have a capacity of
two hundred anil sixty thousand gallons per twenty-four hours. It is intended
to put the ijumping station in operation in the full of nineteen hundred and
eight. Wati.'r will be taken from the low service <iistribulioii system and forced
into a seventy-seven llu/usand gallon tank on the hill west of the pum|)ing siati'ia
from which tank it will be distributed through about two miles ot tour inch, six
iueli and eight pipe laid during nineteen hundred and eight in the built-up part
(jf Iioxbury in the eighth ward of Johnstown.
Tlie distributing system in the valley of the Big Conemaugh, fed principally
by .St. Clair Run, J.aurel liuu and \\ ild Cat Run, is reported to be restricted
practically exclusively to the territory within the city.
The distributing system in the valley of the J^ittle Conemaugh is not so extensive
as lliose in the other valleys, and is reported to be restricted within the city
limits. Therefore, a considerable pan' of the supply brought through this valley
by tlie twenty inch pii)e from Salt Lick Run is probably furnished to the distributing
systems supplied more directly from the other sources.
There are fire plugs throughout the distributing system and also quite a number
of blow-offs bj' means of which the pipes may be more or less completely tlushed
out. Facilities are also provided for more or less effectively flushing the reservoirs.
Stony Creek furnishes a supply to the Manufacturers \Vater Company. From
the intake dam on the creek at Border Station of the Rockwood and Johnstown
Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in llie valley of Stony ('reek, a
thirty-six inch pipe line extends seven miles down stream to the heart of Johnstown,
the lower part of this pipe line paralleling the pipe line from Dalton Itiin and
Mill Creek. There is a cross connection and controlling valve between this
thirtj'-six line and the twenty inch Mill Creek line in Ferudale just south of
Johnstown and a similar connection and valve between the Stony Creek pipe
and the sixteen inch branch of the Mill Creek pipe line in Hornerstowu at tlie
corner of Cherry and Horner Streets. One or both of these connections may be
and have been used to furnish Johnstown with Stony Creek water upon the other
sources failing because of drouth. The watershed of Stony Creek above the
dam at Border Station has an area of three hundred and thirty square miles
supporting a population of about thirteen thousand, two hundred and twenty-
five, in parts of ten townshiijs and two boroughs, all in Somerset county. There
are also thirty mining operations along the streams, and the creek above the intake
has the appearance of being polluted with mine drainage.
During the summer of nineteen hundred and eight Johnstown and its vicinity
experienced a drought unprecedented in the history of the water company. During
July, the storage of the Water Company was seriously depleted, due to lack of
rainfall. On July thirty-first what water remained in the Dalton Run reservoir
was fluslied out ami wasted and on August second the How of the stream was
turned into the pipe line, it became apparent that the resources of the Johnstown
Water Company would be exhausted.
Instead of resorting to Stony Creek water, as in previous droughts, the Water
Comi)any made an agreement with the Cambria Steel Comiiany for the use of the
water of Him-kston Run. Northeast of tiie city on this run, which is here the
boundary line between West Tayhn- and Last Taylor townships, is a one billion
gallon reservoir above which the run has a drainage area of ton and nine-tenths
square miles supporting a population of about seven hundred. Although tliere
are considiirable wooded areas, the greater part of the territory is tinder cultivation.
The reservoir is reported to have a depth of seventy-live feet and on Septemiier
eleventh at the time of the Department's investigation, the depth of the water
remaining in the reservoir was about fifty-three feet, at which depth it is reported
to hold about five hundred million gallons. The Cambria Steel Works was re|)i)rted
to be drawing but a small iiuantity from the reservoir at the time, and it was
estimated that the water stored would last the city for a iieriod of six weeks at
least, if rainfall did not bring relief from the drought. A twenty-four iiu-h
pipe line extends from Iho dam ilow n the valley of (he run Ihrougli Rosedale
Borough and enlers the city in Minersvillo. Here there is a sixteen inch con-
nection with a valvo b-tweeii (his pii)e line and a sixtei'ii inch pipe line of the
Cambria S((>el Company which is in reality an extension of the sixteen inch pipe
line from Laurel I{un and which exten<ls from Minersvilli" upstream .along tlie
northern bank at least to a point opposite the ninth and tenth wards, tiie
district known as Conemaugh Borough wher(> (here is a toniiection across the
river into these wards. On September second, nineteen iiundred and eight,
under the agreement between the Water Company and the Steel ('ompanj', the
water from Hinckston iiun was turned into (he Water Company's mains. This was
iloiii'by opening the \al\e in (he six(een inch connection between (he twenty-four inch
G24 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
pipe from Hiuekstou Run aud ilw sixteou iucli pipL' along the northorn bank
of the river, whirli is part of the system supplying the Steel Company. The
ninth and tenth wards distributing system was eonnectod by a ten inch temporary
pipe with the pipe of the Steel Company which, as already mentioned, here
crosses the Little Conemaugh from the sixteen inch main on the north bank.
By means of a twelve inch temporary ct)nnection, this same sixteen inch main
was connected with the twelve inch pipe which crosses the Little Conemaugh
from the cenral part of the city and furnishes the supplj" to the four inch suction of
the Prospect Pumping Station and also to a small settlement called Millville
on the north river bant at the foot of the hill on which Prospect is located. More-
over, the sixteen inch main of the Steel Company being a continuation of the
sixteen inch main from Laurel Run, the water from Hinckston Run was for
a time turned into the distributing systems of the western part of the city both
north of the river and also south of the river, by means of the twelve inch con-
nection crossing the Big Conemaugh at Third Avenue, Cambria Citj'. However,
it was found that the water from Hinckston Run was supplied at such a pressure
that it backed up aud tilled the Laurel Run reservoir so that on September lifth
the Hinckston Run supply was shut oft" from the entire western part of the
city except in so far as it might find its way into these districts through the
central part.
On September third, nineteen hundred and eight the water remaining in the
Upper Mill Creek reservoir was flushed out and wasted and on September tiftli
the stream flow was turned into the pipe line. At night-fall the upper Mill
Creek reservoir was shut off and the stream in the lower Mill Creek reservoir
which was empty but had not been flushed out, was turned into the pipe line.
It was reported at the time of the Department's investigation in September,
that practically only the streams flow was being obtained from St. Clair Run
but the reservoir had not been flushed out.
On September eleventh, nineteen hundred and eight, it was reported that the
daily supply furnished by the Johnstown Water Company consisted of about four
million, five hundred thousand gallons from Hinckston Run, about one million
gallons from Dalton and Mill Creek together and about one million five
hundred thousand gallons from Salt Lick Run, aud that Laurel Run, Wild Cat
Run and St. Clair Run together were furnishing a fairly plentiful supply to the
western part of the city.
The application of July first nineteen hundred and five states in part as
follows:
"By reason of the growth in population and the largely increased consumption
of water in the district which it was incorporated to supply, the said Water
Comiiany has found it necessary from time to time to enlarge its works and
increase its source of supply, and for the same reasons it is now necessary to
further increase its works aud sources of supply — the population now supplied
by said Water Company aggregating approximately sixty thousand.
"Said Water Company has not at the present time a sufiicient supply of pure
and wholesome water, and for the purpose of meeting the increased demands upon
it for supply of water, it duly and legally appropriated the waters of Salt liick
Run in East Taylor and Jackson townshijjs, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, on
tlie fourteenth day of September, l!)t)4, and located its rcsiTvoir on said run in
East Taylor Township. On the nineteenth day of September, 1!)04, said water
(/ompany tiled its bonds in thf- Court of Common Pleas of Cambria county in con-
fiemnation proceedings of said stream of water and the riparian owners affected
tlK^reby, which bonds were duly approved Ijy the Court and certain work in the way
of surveys and the sinking of test pits on said stream at the site of llic proposed re-
servoir has been prosecuted by said Water ('ompaiiy, and the said Water Company
now wishes to actively begin the construction of said reservoir and its works on
Salt Lick Run.
"Salt Lick Run is a mountain stream whose watershed is (piite sparsely
populated ami whose waters are exceplionally jture, wholesome anrl i)alatable."
On Salt Lick Run, one quarter of a mile abi)V(! its junction with the Little
Conemaugh River, about six miles northeast of Johnstown, is a small intake
dam in East Taylor township just abov<' the village of Mineral l*oint. Above
the intake the run has a drainage area of eleven and four-tcmths square miles in
East Taylor, Jackson, (!ambria and (!royle townships. From a detailed sanitary
inspection made by the Department in nineteen hundred and seven, it apijears
that there are in this drainage area thirty-six faniisleads and a jiopiilation of
one hundred and ninety-eight, and about four liuudred domestic animals. Many
verbal orders were given and four written orders, issued by the (!omiiilssiouer of
Health, were served f(jr the abatement of inenaci'S to the purity of the streams.
About half tlu" drainage area is under cultivation, the iipiier half near the sources
of the Klreanis, and here are lor-ated practically all of the habitations for the
most part close to llii- sources. At lenst the lower two miles of the course of Ilie run
is tiirough uninhabitefl, wooded ravines. Tin- surface foniiniioii is sandstone aud
shale anri very hilly.
lAimbering ojieralions will probably be carried on im the drninage area for
several years to come, although the saw iiiili to wliicb inosl of th(! lumber is
taken is below the intake. One of the Argyle AFiiies of Coiiller and HufI', (ireens-
biiri;, Pennsylvania, has four o|)eiiings on tiie shed iiejir the Iie;i(| of ('nster
Run. !»rainage llowing fiom three of these ;inr| puinped from tin.' foiutli is
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 625
conductoci in a oemeiited, terra colta pipe line about two miles iu length aud
diseliarged several hundred feet below the intake of the water company. This
arrangeiiicut was Inouglit about through a provisional clause in the deed or lease
by which tlie luiiic operators acciuircd tlicir rights from the Cambria Stet-l (Jouipauy.
Lnder date of February lifth, uiucte.-n hundnnl and seven, the I'resident of the
Johnstown Water Company petilioucd the Department lo investigate and take
such action as the interests of the public health might demand relative to the pro-
posed oiteuiug of a uune and building of a village on the watershed by the I'enn-
sylvani;. Coal and Coke Company. These proposed operations have not proceeded
further than the digging of tesi pits about two miles above the intake and it
is nut known that it is intended to proceed further in the near future. Practically
the whole shed is underlain l)y coal. The Cambria Steel Company is reported to
to own about one-third of the mineral, the Pennsylvania Coal and Coke Company
probably the majority of the mineral and about one square mile of surface area.
A twenty inch pipe extends from the intake on Salt Lick to the valley of the
Little Conemaugh and in this valley about six miles to the eastern part of
Johnstown where it is connected with the distributing system of the eleventh ward.
The Manufacturers Water Company originally used the lower part of this line
to convey water fnjm a dam on the Little Conemaugh River, but this dam has
been abandoned and the connection to it is reported to have been removed.
A large impounding diim is proposed to be erected near the site of the present
intake on Sail ]>ick Run in the near future, just when has not been determined.
It is intended to extend the juaiu from the eastern part into the heart of the city.
The application of June twenty-second, nineteen hundred and seven, stated
in part as follows:
"By reason of the growth in population and the largely increased consumption
of water in the district which ii was incorporated to supply, the said Water
Company has found it necessary from time to time to enlarge its works and increase
its source of supply, and for the same reasons it is now necessary to further
increase its works and sources of supply — the population now supplied by said
Water Company aggregating approximately 7U,U0U.
"Said Water Company has not, at the present time, a sufficient supply of pure
and wholesome wnter to meet the demands of the public furnished with water by its
svstem, and for the purpose of meeting such increased demands upon it, it did on
tiie lifth day of Noveml)er, nineteen hundred and two, duly and legally appropriate
by survey and resolution seven million gallons of the water of North Fork of Ben's
Creek in' Com>maugh township, Somei-set county, Pennsylvania, and located a res-
ervoir on said North Fork in Conemaugh township at a point nine hundred and
ninety-live feet below the entrance of Alwine's Run into said North Fork: and
the said Water Company since its said appropriation has legally acquired the tract
of land upon which said reservoir was located and is to be constructed; that the
said Water Comj)any has in the meantime done certain work in connection with
said reservoir such as the sinking of test pits, etc., and it now wishes to actively be-
gin the construction of said reservoir and the laying of its pipe leading from said
reservoir to the City of Johnstown. (A certified copy of the resolution adopted by
said Water Company November "), 1<.MI2 and the map accompanying said resolu-
tion is hereto attached and made part hereof).
"The said North Fork of Ben's Creek is a mountain stream whose water shed
is sjiarsely populateil and whose waters are pure, wholesome and palatable."
The resolution of the Board of Directors of the Johnstown Water Company
providing for appropriating seven million gallons daily of the water of said north
fork of Ben's Creek estimates the quantities to be contributed by the three main
branches of the stream above the intake as follows:
North Fork of Ben's Creek three million, five lunidred thousand gallons daily.
Alwine Jinn, two million, four hundred and hfty thousand gallons daily.
Lick Run. one million and hfty thousand gallons daily.
These figures iirobably rei)resent pretty closely the proportions of the total stream
flow contributed by the branches.
The North Fork of Ben's Creek is in Somerset county southwest of Johnstown
and beyond Mill Creek and Dalton Run. Above the site of the proposed intake
w'hich is in Conemaugh township, SomiMset county, the stream has a drainage area
of nine and seven-tenths s(|u;nv' miles in CoiUMiiaugh and Jenner townships, Somerset
county and Cpjier Yoder township, Candiria county. The surface formation is sand-
stone .and sli.ale. The Johnstown Water Company owns between one hun<lred and
two hundred acres at the site of the proposed int.ake wdiich is about seven thousan<l
feet above and west of the jiuiction of the north and south forks of Ben's Creek.
Laurel Hill, a hii;h. well defined ridge dividing Somerset and Westmoreland coun-
ties, is the northwestern boundary of the watershed.
.Mwiiu' Run. (he most northern of (he three branches of the streams above the
intake, rises from two sources on the slope of this ridge, whence the streams flow
tlirotigh deep valleys, mostly wooded. On this drainage area there are six or I'ight
farms, some on the cultivated plateavis above the valleys and some along the
streams.
North Fork, the central and principal branch of the stream, rises from two
scntrces. also in th(> wooded mountain side, and from these sources streams flow
through the wooded valleys similar to those of Alwine R\in although the area
drained Is considerably larger. There are six or eight farms in the drainage
area.
40— 17— inos
626 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Lick Run. tlu- most southern of the tluee brauclios, has one source in the
wooded mountain side but by far tlie jtrcater part of its waters conio from a cul-
tivated area comprising the southern part of tiie drainage area. The course of
the stream ahnost to the site of the proposed intake is through open, cultivated
country. There are about sixteen farmsteads in this area and almost all of them
are located close to small tributary runs.
The whole drainage area has a population of perhaps two hundred people. Lum-
bering operations will probably be continued on the shed for several years to come.
A large part of the underlying mineral is said to have been bought up by mining
companies. At present there are no openings and mining operations on or under
the shed other than small drifts used by local residents.
The Water Company is now constructing a thirty inch main to extend from the
heart of the city to the junction of the mains from the Mill Creek and Dalton Run
reservoirs. It is proposed next year, to extend this thirty inch main up the valley
of Ben's Creek and the North Fork of Ben"s Creek to the site of the pmijosed in-
take on the latter and to erect at this site a small intake dam in order that water
may be furnished during the summer of nineteen h\uidred and nine. Later it is
proposed to erect a large impounding dam at the site of the intake.
The experience of recent years, and particularly of the summer and fall of nine-
teen hundred and eight has shown the necessity for augmenting .Johnstown's water
supply. The addition of the two proposed sources will increase the total draiuag(>
area of the streams from which the city is sui)plied, by sixty-five per cent., and
should when the impounding dams and pipe lines have been constructed, make the
total supply adecpiate to meet the demands of tlie consumjition.
The drainage areas of the two proposed sources being sparsely populated, should,
if properly patrolled, yield reasonably safe domestic water supplies, particularly
when opportunitj' for sedimentation is provided by large impounding reservoirs.
I'ntil these reservoirs are in use, the i);ilrol of tliose slieds should be freiiuent and
vigilant, because if the streams should become polluted, the supi)ly could rarely
be shut off before some of the infected water had been furnished to the consumers.
It is, therefore, desirable that the impounding reservoirs be constructed as soon
as practicable.
The watersheds of the new sources are but little more densely populated than
those of the older sources and the quality of the water furnished by the company
in the past has seemingly been generally satisfactory. The city's typhoid rate has
been high, but it cannot Ix- said that this is due to the i)ublic wati'r supply, sincc^
the disease has never de\'eloped more; extensively in a district suijplied from any
one source than in the others. The presence, in the city, of a large, uneducated,
foreign element has probably raised the typhoid rate.
JOHNSTOWN TYPHOID CASES. FRO.M STATE DEl'ARTMENT RECORDS.
Month, 1!mm; p. 107 1908
January 11 (> 1
February , 2 4 5
March 0 1 1
April 2 2 13
May (I I 0
June , 1 ■'. 7
July, r, 1 20
August 2(! 25 60
September 30 37 30
October 30 35
November 28 13
December 11 32
Total Kil P:0 137
In September nineter'u Innidri'd and live, the Depaiiiiifnt at the I'eiiuesI of the
water company, ailvised with the said conipariy coiiceniing tin- uperat ion of tiie
water works Hul)sc(pient t(( the discovery of the poHution nl' the Mill ('reek sources
of supply by tyjdioid infected sewage, and took charge of cleaning up the prem-
iHcs where liie cases of typhoid had occurred. Subseciuently the Di'iiarlment has had
sanilar\' inspections nwule of the various drainagi- areas from wliieli the water cOm-
jiaiiy obtains its suiiplies and has eausefl tlH> abaleinent of niiiiii-rous luiisances
aloii:: thfse stir^jims. The D'-parlment intends Id <-ontiiiue such inspections of the
walerHlir-ds. 'I'lic walei- company should continue the various si ream patrols in
order that peiiniimnt menaces to the (piality nf the walci' may be rcpuiicd lo the
I)c|)jir(ment as socm as possible after tlwir discovery.
I'lider date of iXugust thirty-first, nineteen hundred :ind eight, .-i large iiuinber of
citizenH of the seventeenth ward of the city of Johnstown — the district known as
Moxam--petitioned the Attorney (leneral to take the necessary steps to coini)e| the
Johnstown Water Conii)any to cari'y out the purposes ff)r wiiicji it was ffhar-
lereil and supply tlie said petitioners ;nid ollieis with the necessary water for do-
iriestie and other purposes, stating that the saiil Water <"oriipany had liilhei-to failed,
neglected and refu.sed to furnish water to the said petitioners after having accepted
pay for the same ,'ind was continuing to do so. and that although frequent promises
had been made by the said company to remedy the evils complained of during the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 627
past eight or leu years, tlio conrlitions remained the same; and .statinjc further that
the oxistins condiiinns ainounlcd to a nuisance, <luc' to tiie lack of watfr in toilet
rooms; and statin;? further that the said water company had an ample supply of
water in its reservoir to supply the said petitioners and all others with the npie.ssary
water at all times, bu; that tin- supply was cut off from the petitioners early in
the morning; of each day and nwnaincfl off duriii}; the entire day.
The water company reports havinj; recently connected the northern part of the
distributing' sysl(>m in the seventeenth ward with one of the supjdy mains in the
Stony Creek valley. It is expected that this arranucnient and the thirty inch main
being constructed in the valley and the addition of the North Fork of lien's Creek
as a source of supply will niak<' more ellicient the services furnished in the seven-
teenth ward and better th( conditions complained of in the petition already cited.
It is reported that the poor service in the past has been due entirely to the high
elevation of this distrid and the water company does net consider itself blame-
worthy since the company in its contracts witli individual consumei-s does not;
hold itself liable for deficiencies or failure in the supply of water, whether occas-
ioned by shutting off water to make repairs and connections, or by any cause what-
ever beyond its control.
It has been determined that the proi)oscd water works and sources of supply
will not be prejudicial to the interest of the public health, and a permit is hereby
Lssued therefor and for the supply tif water to the public therefrom under the fol-
lowing conditions and stipulations:
FIRST. Before the proposed dams are built, detail plans thereof and of the
reservoirs shall be submitted to the (Jommissioner of Health for approval and the
same information shall be submitted with respect to the existing dams and res-
ervoirs.
SECOND. Plans of the watersheds above each dam and reservoir of the com-
pany, showing the highways, streams and occupied estates shall he prepared and
filed by the cmipany in the office of the State Department of Health on or before
March first, nineteen humlred and nine.
THIIH). The supply mains from the new sources shall be provided with adequate
drainage facilities. I'lans and profiles of these supply mains shall be filed in the
office of the Stale Department of Health on or before March first, nineteen hun-
dred anil nine. Also on or before said dale the water comi)any shall file plans of
its pumping station, layouts, force mains and distributing reservoirs or tanks.
And at the close of each season's work the company shall file a plan in the oflice
of the .said Department of Health showing the water pipes laid during the year,
together with any other information in connection therewith that may be required
in order that the Conuiiissioner of Health may be always informed of the extent
of the water works system and the public use thereof.
FOl'IiTII. The Water Company shall maintain a sanitary jiatrol of the water
sheds and inspections at each occui)ied estate and at every lumber camp or other
occupied property shall be made by the company at least monthly and a report
made thereof and filed with the State Department of Health. The water company
shall see that the propi'r receptacles for sewage are provided at all such occupied
camps and estates and that these receptacles shall be used and i)roperly maintained
to prevent any contamination whatsoever of surface waters on the watershed. Any
neglect on the part of any owner or individual to comply with sanitary regulations
shall be promptl.\' reported i)y the water company to the ( Vmimissinner of Health.
Presence of any infectious diseases on I he watersluMl shall also Ik- prijinptly noted
and reported to said Commissioner.
FIFTH. The company shall keep weekly reports of the operation of its system
or systems on blank forms satisfactory to the Stale Department of Health and sub-
mit copies thereof for filing in saiii dllice wlieue\-er this is recpiired.
SIXTH. If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
water sui)ply or the water works, or any part thereof, is fouiul prejudicial to
public health, then the water company shall adopt such remedial measures as the
Commissioner of Health may approve or advise.
SEVENTH. Tli(> .lohnslown Water Company shall not supply water from any
other source other than these hereinbefore designateil as its own and herein ap-
proved, except in cases of emergency fully warranting such use whereupon the com-
pany shall inunediatidy give notice to the State Di^iiartment of Hejilth.
lOKHITH. This ]iermit shall noi be construed as ai)provin'j the su|>plv of water
to the i)ub!ic in any territory bi>yon<l liial authorized by the com|)any's charter. If
there be any nui'stion as to tin' righl of the company under its charier to supply
the pidili<- in I)ale. ]<'erndale and ^^'estnloul liorouL'hs. or Walnul «;rove village,
tile Conuuissioner of Health will be glad lo .a<l favorably on an .-ipplieai i.>n for ap-
))roV!il. after an exbMision <if lln' charter rii,'hls of lliese leri-ilories is granted by the
Stat(> Water Stipplw Commission.
With resiiect to the Morrellville and Camiiria P.orough Water (.'ompany, said
company- will be reipiired to siduiiit detail plans of its dam and reservoir, watei-sjied
and pumping station and that it l>e re(|uired to make the cusiemarv sanitary inspec-
tions moutidy of watersheds, similar lo recommendatiiais hereinbefore offered to the
Johnstown Water Company.
With respect to the Manufacturers Water Comi)any, since it supplies wafer to
the .lohnslown Water Com|>any for drinking purposes sometimes, tlie comi>nny will
be iiMpiired to svdimit plans of its intakes, dam and supply main.
628 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
With respect to the Cambria Steel Company's Hinckston Ruu supply, since this
is used in emergencies as a source of supply to the Johnstown Water Comuauy,
this company will be required to file in the office of the State DLn)artment of Health
plans of the dam. reservoir, watershed and supply pipe, and the company will be
further required to conform to any regulations about sanitary patrol of the watershed
which the State Department of Health may establish.
The city and the surrounding borough authorities will be notified that the preva-
lence of typhoid fever in the community is attributable to quite an extent to polluted
surface springs and wells from private estates and that there is a great necessity of a
vigilant inspection of these private sources of drinking water and the discontinuance
of all such as are subject to contamination.
Harrisburg, Pa., November 20, 190S.
LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP, CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Riverton Consolidated Water Company, Riverton Village.
This application was made by the Riverton Consolidated Water Company of the
village of Riverton, Lower Allen township, Cumberland county, and is for ap-
proval of extensions of water works and for permission to increase its source of
supply.
It appears that opposite the city of Harrisburg on the west bank of the Susque-
hanna river there was formerly a settlement in the township of Lower Allen known
as Riverton. Now there are three boroughs in the district.
Recently Wormleysburg borough has been incorporated out of the township of
East Pennsboro. It has a population of about six hundred and its territory extends
along the river from just north of the People's Bridge approach, northerly about
a half mile and back from the river to the low grade freight line of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. Some distance beyond this borough and north of it is the village of West
Fairview in East Pennsboro township, and north of West Fairview is the village of
Enola in the same township. The latter place has its own independent system of
water works.
Crossing the Susquehanna river a few hundred feet below the People's Bridge are
the tracks of the Cumberland Valley Railroad and down stream about a quarter of a
mile the tracks of the Philadelphia and Reading Itailway are carried over the river
Between these parallel lines from the west bank of the river westerly for a distance
of about a mile is the village formerly called Riverton but now incorporated into
the borough of Lemoyne and containing one thousand inhabitants.
Northwest of Lemoyne on the rising ground is the borough of Camp Hill, rapidly
growing and containing a present populalinu of about seven liuudrod. It was in-
corporated out of East Pennsboro township. Lemoyne was incorporated out of
Lower Allen township.
It appears that the Riverton Consolidated Water Company was formed by mer-
ger and consolidation, by and between the Riverton W^ater Company, the Susque-
hanna Water Supply Company, the Allen Spring Water ('oinpany, the East
Pennsboro Water Company, the Fairview Township Water Company and the
Mountain Water Company, of New Cumberland, notice of which agreement was
filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth on February seventeenth,
nineteen hundred and four.
The Riverton Water Comi)any was incorporated under the laws of the State on
June se<;ond. r-igliteen hundred and ninety-two, for the purpose of supplying water
to the public at Riverton, ('umberland county. It was sold, under the Act of A|)ril
'•ighth, eighteen hundred and sixty-one. and the sui»i)lement thereto, (which Ad
concerns the sale of railroads, canals, turnpikes, briclges an<l plank roads) on ac-
count of a mortgage by deed dated Novemi)er niiu'teenth, nineteen hundred and
three. Later the Riverton Water Company filed a certificate of re-organization in
accordance with the law, said certificate being filed in the ofliie oL' (he Secretary of
the Commonwealth under date of December twenty-ninth, nineleen hundred and
th ree.
The Susfpiehanna Water Supply Company was chartered on December sixth,
eighteeji hundred and ninety-seven, for the ])urpos(> of supplying water to the bor-
ouirh of C^amp Hill, r'uinberland county, I'eiinsylvania.
The Allen Spring Water Company received its charter iiiuler date of Decem!)er
eleventh, nineteen hundred and one, for tiie purpose of su|iplying water to tlu!
I)nl»Ii(; in the township of Lower AlirMi, (,'uinl)erland cnunty, Pennsylvania, except
all such portions of said township as may ho. covered by the Riverton Water (!om-
pany.
The East Pennsboro Water f!ompany was chartered Deceml)er ninth, nineteen
hundred and one, for the jmrpose of supplying water to the public in the township
of East Pr-nnsboro, Cunihcrland count.N', Pennsylvania, exci'pt nil such ixirlions of
Bald township as may be covei-ed jiy Ihr- Itiverlon Water ('ompany.
The Fairview Township Water Coitijiany hns a charter dated December thirty-
first, nineteen hundred and three, for the purpose of supplying and furnishing
water to the i)ublic in the township of Fairview, York county, Pennsylvania.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 629
All of these companies had the same tn-asurer when thoy were incorporated and
it is evident tiiat I lie project was to ultiniateli^ eli'eet a consolidation.
The .Mminiain Water ( 'miipany of New Cumberland was chartered February
twentieth . ei^liiecii iiundreil and ninety-si.x for the purpose of sui)plying water to
the public in New ( "uMiherlaml.
It further appears that there is a concern known as the Sliiremanstown Water
Company. tShiremanstown is a borough of about seven hundred population, located
on tlie Hue of the Cumberland \'alley liailroad about two miles beyond Camp Hill,
it lies partly within i^t)wer Alien township. The 8hirenianstown Water Company
was chartered on Auj;ust Ihiity-lirsi, nineteen hundred and three, for the purpose
of supplying water to the public in the borough of Shiremanstown. This corpora-
tion is identified with the Itiverton Consolidated Water Company' and has made ap-
plication for ijermission to obtain its source of supply from the Kiverton Consoli-
dated Water Company.
There are a number of other companies which have been chartered at different
times to supply some of the districts, now being supplied by the Kiverton Consol-
idated Water Company, whose rights have lapsed because of non-use. These com-
jjanies were the New Cumberland Water Company, chartered on April fifteenth,
lighteen hundred ami ninety-live, to supply water to the public in tlie borough of
New Cumberland; the ('amp Hill Spring Water Company, chartered on October
nineteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, to supply water to the borough of
("am|) Hill in f^ast I'eunsboro township, Cumberland county; the Camp Hill Water
Company, chartered Ai)ril fifteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-five to supply
water to the i)ublic at the borough of Camp Hill, in the township of l"]ast Peuns-
boro, Cumberland county, and the Riverside Water Company, chartered February
sixth, nineteen huudreil and three, for the purpose of supplying water to the public
in and throughout the township of East I'ennsboro, Cumberland county.
On October twenty-third, eighteen hundred and ninety-five, an ordinance was
passed by the council of Camp llill granting a franchise to the Cumberland Water
Company, which company was chartered April fifteenth, eighteen hundred and
ninety-five, for the purpose of supplying water to the public at tlie village of Boil-
ing Springs and the township of South Middleton. Cumberland county. This com-
pany was afterwards sold to the Carlisle Water Company, the notice of sale
appearing on the books of the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, uhder
date of August thirty-first, eighteen hundred and ninety-six. This company never
did any work in the i>orough, probably for the reason that their charter rights would
not permit them to ('Uler said borough.
The Riverton Water Company was then granted a franchise, on October twenty-
.second, eighteen hundred and ninely-seveu, to lay pipes in the borough of Camp
Hill. It would appear from an inspection of their charter rights that they could not
legally sui)p!y water to said borough. Camp Hill, however, was a "borough in
eighteen hundred and eighty-five, prior to the incorporation of the Riverton Water
Company. Tlieret'ore. the hitter's charter territory does not include Camp Hill
borough. Less than two months after October twentj'-second, nineteen hundred
and seven, when the Camp Hill authorities undertook to give rights beyond the
charter to the Riverton Water Company, a charter was obtained by the Susque-
hanna Water Supply Company, before mentioned, to supply Camp Hill bor-
ough.
Thus it may be seen that the Riverton Consolidated Water Company has a right
by vii'tue of the merger and consolidation above described to sujiply water to the
public in Worndeysburg, Lemoyne, Camp Hill and New Cumberland boroughs, in
East I'ennsboro and Lower Allen townships, Cumberland county, and also iii Fair-
view township, York count}'.
New Cumberland is a borough of about eighteen hundred population and including
the suburbs of l']lkwoo(l and Rosemont, there are about twenty-five hundred jieople
living in the comuninity. The town is on the river at the mouth of the Yellow
Hreeches Creek, on the opposite side of which is Fairview township in Y'ork
county.
The charter t(>rritory of the water company thus extends from Perry county on
the north into York county on the south and along the Sus(|nehanna river opposite
Harrisburg. It contains a population of about twelve thousand people. Most of
the citizens are employed in Harrisburg and at the mills at Steelton ami also by the
roailroad companies. There is also considerable farming population in the dis-
trict.
In the northern part the geological formation is shale, in the central limestone
and in the southern part Huronian Rocks. The country is rolling in the north,
fiat throus;li the centre and tli(>re are high hills in the south.
There are two large streams which jiass through the district into the Su.sque-
hauua river. They are the ( 'onnedoiruinet and Yellow llret>ches Creeks. The
former rises in Franklin coiuity and (lows easterly passing north of and near the
borough of Carlisle and empties into the Sustiuehanna river, opposite the city of
Harrisburg. This stream has many tribularii's ; those coming from the south risiuir
in s|irings in tlu' limestone formation aurl those from the north draininir slate and
sandstone forinatiou. It has a water shed area of four hundred and forty s(iuare
miles and drains six boroughs, having a total population of about nineteen thousand.
The territory throuuh which this stream passes is agricultural and most of it is low,
undulatinu: laud, thereby causing the course of the slrnam to be windim: and the
flow sluggish.
fiSO THIRD ANNUAL REPORT QF THE Off. Doc.
Yellov.' Breeches Creek is the ilividiug line between Upper aud Lower Alien town-
ships in Cumberland county and Fairview and Monaghan townships in York
county. The siream rises in South ^lountain in the soulhwesteni part of Cuiuber-
laud county and Hows iu a general nortlieasterly direction for a distance of some
thirty-two miles in a straight line to the river at New Cumberland. The area so
drained comprises about two huiulred and thirty-eight square miles, about one-third
of it being mountainous. The northern portion of the water shed is in the lime-
stone formation, while the southern part is underlaid with sandstone and llurouian
rocks. About one-half of the watershed is in limestone and the other half in sand-
stone formation, the creek bed being entirely on the limestone side. The water
therefore, is fairly hard in summer when about half the How is grotmd water from
the limestone country.
Distributed for a distance of fifty miles along the banks of the Yellow Breeches
Creek there are two boroughs and eighteen villages and settlements, comprising a
total population of about sixty-hve hundred, which is hfty-lhree per cent, of the
entire populatiun of the water shed. The balance of the people living thereon are
widely distributed over a drainage area averaging tweiity-hve individuals per square
mile.
There are two pleasure resorts along this stream, namely: jNIt. Holly aud Wil-
liams' (.4rove, seventei'u and twenty-seven miles above the mouth, respectively.
The former receives thousands of visitors during the summer months by way of the
trolley system, while the latter is a camping groimd where people pitch tents and
where, during the week of the annual convention of the State Grange Association,
fi'om five to fifteen thousand people (.tongregate in one day.
There are two sources of supply used by the Riverton Consolidated Water Com-
pany, the first being from the hills in Fairview township, York county and the
second from the Sustpiehanna river. The hill water is furnished to some of the
houses along the pii)e tine in Fairview township to New Cumberland borough and
vicinity and to Lenuiyne and vicinity. The river water is furnished to Wormleys-
burg, (Jamjj Hill and villages in the vicinity in East I'ennsboro.
Tlie supply from the hills in Fairview township comes from a small run on the
old Haldcman estate and from a riui distant about a mile south. lOacli stream has
a ri'si-rvoir on it, the first being known as the old reservoir and the latter being
known as the new reservoir. They were l)otli built by the Mountain Water Com-
pany.
The old reservoir, built in eighteen liundicd and ninety-six, consists of an earth
embankment thrown across a gullcy. The dam is one hundred and twenty-five fe(^t
long and it backs the water up to an aserage dei)th of about ten feet, the reservoir
being about three hundred feet long. There is a small spillway four feet wide and
eighteen inches deep in one corner of the dam. There is a twelve inch blow-off
pipe and a six inch blow-off pipe extending through the embankment and having
gate valves on them in the reservoir. The guUey on the sides was excavated and
retaining walls built and these extend back for al)out oiu' third of the distance on the
sides, tlie remaining portions beinu earth slojjes. On the east side there is an old
unused road along llie retaining wall. On the west side lliert; is a ditch designed to
carry the run-oH from tln' water shed to below the dam.
Tho drainage area of the reservoir is about (me-quarter of a s(|uare mih^ It is
mostly wooded, but there are a few pasliirage fields on it: and one residence. A
small proportion of the land only is owned by the water company. No plans of
tlie company's holdings ha\'e been submitted.
After a heavy rain the water iu tin? reservoir Imv-ihucs liiihid. A ninn living at
the foot of the hill is enijjloyed by the company to di\'ert from the reservoir the
first run-off after a heavy rain. The run is dyked abov(! the basin to the by-pass
around the r>'servoir and the man cuts the water off by means of a box sluice way
an<l plants provided in the run for l)y-ijass i)urposes.
'i'lie i-eservoir holds one million gallons, so it is reported. It is elevated about
one hundr.'d anil eiylily fei-t above New ('unibeiland borough and is enclosivl in u
fence to keep out th(! public. The flow of the I'uii into the reservoir has heen meas-
ured as two hundred and fifty tlnjusanil gallons imt twenty-four hours iu the spring
of the year.
From the reservoir tliere is a six inch gravity supply main extending noi'lherly
acr<ws private proi)erty and under Yellow Breeches ('reek to New Cumberland
borough, two miles distanl.
'I'lie new ri'servoir was Imili in ninelren hundred ami Iwo. The dnin is of earlh
construction, (jne hundred and lifly feel long, and the water is hack-Hooded one
hunrli-ed feet and its maximum depth is fifteen feet. 'I'his small basin operates
JLS not miicii more tiian an intake, 'i'lie water comptiny owns and eontrids the lami
adjaeeni to the reservoii' an<l the greater jiarl of the headwaters of IIk; sti'eam.
The watershed comprisi's thirty-fivc! huiidredlhs of a sipiai'e mile, iihoni two-thirds of
it being open field and the remainder wooiled land.
'I'liere art! four habitations abov(! tin; ri^servoir. Three of ihem aie on the land
owned by the; water (;ompany. The protierties an? rented and under conditions
preeiuding the (-iiltivation of land near the run and recpiiring precii nl ions I<j he
Inkeif to obviate sewa^'e jjollulions. Intervening bi-tween the company's projx'rty
on the watershed and the reservoir IIkm'c is a sti'ip of land about a half mile wide
r)wne(l l>y private individuals, on whicli then; is one farm. 'V\\i- public roail passi^s
a( ritclil angles to the stream across the wntersherl through this porlifui. Above the
road there Is a swampy ground and duehs from the barnyard iienrhy pa<l(|le in Ihe
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 631
watci-s of the stream. The barn is not over two hundred feet di.staut. Below the
road the private land is pasturaire, but the watt'r coinpauy owus the stream rights
and has laid an eijjhl inch terra coHa pipe from tlie ujipiM- side of tlie road to near
the reservoir. Tin' ubji'ct ul" this iinijrovcmcnt was to culifcl the wati-r where it
was not suljject to iiuith pollution ami convey the water from the pipe into the
reservoir. For some reason, however, this improvement has not been completed,
so that now all the drainage from the road and the barnyard and the entire watershed
gets into the reservoir except during extraordinary Hoods, when, by an arrange-
ment built for the purpose at the uper end of the basin, the water is diverted and
.sent around below the dam. So ordinary storms and muddy waters all get into this
basin and, the capacity being small, much sediment is carried on into the gravity
supply main. The reservoir is elevatod eight feet above reservoir number one. It is
fenced in and the supply pii)e from it to the town is six inches in diameter. No
plans of the dam or reservoir have been submitted to the Department and the
means of collecting water through the intake are not known in detail.
The six inch pipe follows down the valley of the run, largely across private
|)roperty and paralleling the public road, crossing the line of the six inch pipe from
reservoir number one and extending under the Yellow Breeches Creek into New
Cumberland l)orough via Kosemout, joining, or supposed to join, at the crossing
of Gerry and Third streets. There is a blow-otf on the pipe line from number two
reservoir.
From New Cumberland an eight inch supply main extends northerly in the public
road a distance of about two miles to Lemoyne boi-ough, supplying on its way Kiver-
ton in Upper Allen township and also the Philadelphia & Reading Railway tank
in said township. Oil" this line there are branches in Lemoyne borough. One special
branch is six inches in diameter and extends up Hummel avenue, reducing to four
inches where it extends out into the township to White Hill village. At the crossing
of Cumberland street it connects with a pipe in Camp Hill borough. This point
is live and one-third miles from the reservoirs.
The Susquehanna River supply is taken from the river at Wormsleysburg less
than two humlred feet above the People's bridge across the river from the end of
Walnut street in the city of Harrisburg. At this point there is an old pumping
station, about thirty-five feet square, one story and constructed of brick, having
in it two eighty horse-power boilers and a Worthington compound double acting
pump, fourteen by twenty by twelve by fifteen inches. It is reported by the pump
man that the pump is operated every day and then only for a period of about five
hours.
A twelve inch intake extending about one hundred and fifty feet out into the low
water in the river and having on its end a cone-shaped copper screen delivers the
water to a pump well about eight feet square, which is divided into two compart-
ments by a half inch mesh screen vertical and extending eight feet from the bottom,
the total depth being fifteen feet. From the pump well there is a twelve inch
suction line to the pump. During fioods the pump is submerged and cannot be
operated and during excessive freshets the fires in the boilers are put out.
The ))umi)ing engine is a horizontal duplex compouud one. having a rated capacity
of about on(> and a half million gallons, but it is old and out of repair, leaks badly
and its eflicieiicy is cut down to about one million giillons j^er twenty-four hours and,
so far as can be ascertained, this is the rate at which it is operated. At present the
pump is run (as stated abo\e) five hours out cf every tweuly-tViur and ii raises
between two hundred thousand and two hundred and twenty-five tliousaml gallons
of water into a cement lined reservoir on Fort Washini,'ton hill nearby in Fast
J'ennsboro townshii). The rising main is ten inches in diameter.
'JMie distributing reservoir is about eighty feet square at the top, the sides
sloping so that the flow line is about seventy-five feet square. The water has a
rlepih of nine feet, equal to a capacity of two hundred and forty thousand gallons.
The force main enters the reservoir in a vertical position, the water flowing over
the top and falling three feet to the level in the basin. There is an overflow
through to a guHey on the side hill and also a drainage pipe, but this is plugged
tight. The reservoir is made by excavation with a heavy t>arth embankment and
surrounded by a fence seven feet high. The water level is two hundred ;uiii fifti-i-n
feet above the pumping station and eight feet above the new reservoir in Fairview
township, York county, and distant therefrom four and four-tenths miles.
The river water is all pumped into the Fort Washington reservoir. From it an
eight inch gravity suijply main is laid to Leuioyne and a four inch pipe line is laid
to Worndeysburg. 'IMie former line extends into l.emoyne and connects with the
mountain water line from New Cumlierland and by means of an arrangement of
valves on either side of Lemoyne this river water can be supplied to New Cumberland.
Lemoyne and White Hill and to (,'amp Hill, districts which nominally should get
the hill water.
A pipe is taken off of the the eight inch line from Fort Washington reservoir and
extends up the Mechanicsburg pike to Camp Hill borough. This line is six inches
in diameter ami it has a connection with the four inch pipe fmm the niountain
water suiqjiy at Cumberlanil street hereinbefore mentioned. From this point a four
inch line carries the water to the western part of Cam)) Hill borough, two and six-
tenths miles from Fort Washington reservoir and one hundred and six feel behnv it.
The four inch line which comes down from the reservoir to Wormleysburg cannot
receive mountain water.
tJ32 THIRD ANNLTAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
The pumping station, Fort Washington reservoir and connecting pipes were the
original worlis of the Kivertun \Vater Company.
In the districts supplied by tlie Kivertun Consolidated Water Company there has
been much complaint about the quality of the water and the inetricieuey of the
se_r\-ice. Formerly New Cumberland had ample water supplied by the Mountain
\S'ater Company, but since the consolidation and the extension of the district fur-
nished by this mountain water complaiiiis about scarcity of the supply have
arisen.
On January seventh, nineteen htindred and seven, daring the typhoid fever
epidemic at Scrantou, the Commissioner of Health advised the Kiverton Consolidated
AVater Company as follows:
"Gentlemen:
"I fear that there is an unusual amount of typhoid fever infection in the Susque-
hanna river by reason of the epidemic of the disease now prevalent in the city of
.Scrauton. While i have issued iustructious to the mayor of that city to disinfect
all discharges from typhoid fever patients before said discharges leave the premises,
yet 1 have grave doubts that said instructions are generally observed with reference
to convalescents, and consequently conclude that the Susquehanna river water,
into which the sewers of the city of Scrauton empty, is au unusually dangerous
source of supply of water to the public at this time. It becomes my duty to warn
you not to furuish this supply to your consumers unless it be first adequately fil-
tered, otherwise you are to notify the public to boil the water for a period of thirty
(3Uj minutes before the same is used for drinking or culinary purposes.
"Yours very truly,
"SAMUEL G. DIXON.
It apepars that no action was taken by the company in reference to this matter,
so far as the Department is informed.
On January nineteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, the Commissioner of Health
notified the president of the water company that the river source contained sewage
and that pure water must be furnished the consumers. The communication was
as follows:
"Mr. Patricio Russ,
"I'res. Riverton Consolidated Water Company,
"Ilarrisburg, Pa.
"Dear Sir:
"Two samples of water taken from the well at your pumping station, at Worra-
leysbitrg, reveal the presence of the b. coli comuuiiinis. The jirosence of these
organisms is taken as an evidence of sewage pollution, and I beg to inform you that
some action will be necessary on the part of your company to fui'iiish water free
from sewage pollution.
"Yours very truly,
"SAMUEL G. DIXON,
"Commissioner of Health."'
No action was taken concerning this communication.
Still further, as siiowing the derelictness of the company in discharging the ob-
ligations of its charter, it appears that on December eleventh, nineteen hundred
and six, the State Department of Health sent the following communication to the
fefccretary of the Riverton Ccuisolidated Water Company:
"This is to call your attention to Ihc matter of filing report and plans of your water
works system, with respect to which a correspondence jiassed between us a num-
ber of weeks ago, at which time you promised to file the said report and plans in the
immediate; future."
On July sixth, nineteen hundred and seven, the Commissioner of Health placed
in the hands of an altorne^y the matter of proceeding against the Riverton Consoli-
dated Water (Company. The communication of h'rank M. Eastman, DopiirtmenI
counsel, to the water company is given in full iiejow:
"llarrisl)urg, I'a., July ^ntii, 1!)07.
"A Grant Ricliwine, I'jsq.,
"Secy. Riverton Consolidali'ij W'nlcr ( "oiii|iiiiiy ,
"I.,eini»yne, I'a.
"Dear Sir:
"1 am in receipt of your letter of July li4lli and ikjIi- its coiiN'uts.
"Section .'J of the Act of April L'2, IllOf), provides that no private corporation
shall construct water works for the supply of walei- to the public within th(> State,
()- r.ilcnil the sani'', without a wriltf'ii pcnnil. to be obtained fi'om the < -ommissioner
of Health. That a pci'mil is necessary f'U" an extrusion not necessarily involving an
additional soui'<-c of supply appears from tlu! pi'iialty clause; of s.'iid section ;
" "J'lie penalty for failure to .file copies of iilans, surveys and descriptions of exist-
ing water works within tin- tinu! liercinliefoic fixi-d, and for tin; construction of ex-
tension of wntcr-woi'ks, or tlif itxc of on iiddilioiKil noiircc of Hupply without a per-
mit fnnri the Commissioner of Health shall be .ffiOO.OO, etc.'
"In this cljiuse, as you will notice, the conslrnction or extension of water works
is contradistinguished from the use of an jiddiiioniil soiii'ce of supj)ly.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HP:A1.TH. 633
"Tlic i('|)(iit of .vuiir s.vsU'in of water works filed with llie D.-partnu'iit in April,
liXM'i, was iii(()iii|iliMc ill many respects, hut it was tentatively acce|)t(Kl with the
iinderstaiiiliiiK that the Di'partmcut would call upon your e<)nipany for such further
data as niJKhl l)e r-tiuifed. ( "ousidering the status of the company as established
as of the dill a of said filing: ■ you liav(» siiiec made numerous extensions f(jr which
you should have had permits from the Department, and failing to apply and receive
the same your coiiii)any lia.s iucairred the penalty provided for in the Act of
IIK).-..
"1 send you in the same mail with this blank on which to make ap|)lication for
a ix'imit to make the extensions which you have already made, and such further
ones as you may now have in contemplation. If you will promptly fill this up and
return it to me forthwith, and otherwise comply with the re(|uirements of the
Deiiartment in this rei;ard, 1 shall not proceed against the company for the pen-
alty already incurred ; otherwise I shall.
"Your attention is eall(>(l to the fact that some time last fall the Department
advised you that t.\'iihoid .i;cniis existed in the water sui)|ilied hy you to the public,
and you were instructed to tiike such action as nii^lit lie necessarj' to supply the
juiblic with pure water. Nolliiiif;' appears to have been done by you in this regard,
and the fact that your water sui)ply is' impure is evidenced by the fact that typhoid
is or has recently been epidemic in the borough of Camp Hill which you supply with
water.
T'nless immediate steps are taken by your company to purify its water sui)ply, I
shall on behalf of the Commissioner of Health institute such legal proceedings
against your company as may .seem advisable. I wish. to be advised what your inten-
tions are in this regard at your earliest convenience.
Very truly yours, ^
(Signed) FRANK M. EASTMAN,
"Counsel, Health Department."
In response to this letter the application of August twelfth, nineteen hundred
and seven, was made for approval of the extensions to pipe lines already made.
Also in response to this communication the water company did, on May twentieth,
nineteen hundred and eigiit, submit the application herein under consideration for in-
creased sourC(! of sui^ply. However, the plans accompanying this application,
which iilans were absolutely necessary to consider the pro|DOsition w.-re not submitted
in the Department until June twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and eight.
During the summer of nineteen hundred and seven the Department made a series
of tests of waters at various places in the districts of the Riverton Consolidated
AValer Coini)nny. The results of the tests of samples taken from the IMiilade||)hia
an(l Reading Railway tank at Lemoyne. the water coming from the mountain
supply, sliowiHl no pollution. The water collected from the tank at the Cumberland
N'mIIcv Raili(>n<l, west of I>emoyne, which tank was being sujiplied from the river
l)umping station when the samples were taken, this being accomplished by opening
the valve ;it Cumberland street in (\imp Hill borough and closing the one at the
Cumberland Valley tracks, showed some pollution. About twenty families at
White Hill were being furnished with this supply. At S(une other times these fam-
ilies received mountain w'ater. No notice of change in the water supply was given
by the company.
The .samples -of water collected at the well at the pumping station and also sam-
ples of water collected at the Fort Washington reservoir showed sewage pollu-
tion.
In the water company's district the prevailing methods of sewage disposal in con-
nection with private sources of drinking water has a bearing on sickness from water
borne diseases.
In New Cumberland borough, incorporated in eighteen hundred and eighty-three
there are several public sewers leading to the river and to the Yellow Breeches
(^reek, but most of the inhabitjints use the old time privy vault. There are a
number of dug wells and a few drilled wells located on private properties and about
twenty-five rofif water cisterns. The town has been contemplating a sewer system.
The sub-soil is mostly shale.
In Cainit Hill borough, incorporated in eighteen hundred and eighty-five, therf
are no public sewers. The structure is limestone and sewage is disposed of into
holes sunk therein. The method is not entirely satisfactory and some discussion
has been had about establishing a sewer system. There are fourteen drilled wells
reported .-is b inu: used as sources of domestic supply on iirivate properties. There
was an outbreak of typhoid in Camp Hill in nineteen hundred and seven and the
disease was prevalent in years prior thereto. The infection was traced by a De-
partiiKMit oHicer to the Straub well, near the corner of Main street and Park avenue.
It was thoroughly cleaiuMl out and disinfected.
In Lemoyne incorporated three years ago, the method of disposal of househtdd
wastes is into sink holes drilled in limestone rock. There are a few private drilled
wells in the village. Some typhoid fever occurs annually, but it has not been traced
to any specilic infection.
In W'onuleysburg. wiiich w;is incorp<iral<'<l into a liurough during the current
year, there are about one hundreil and fifty houses, many of which h.ive roof cis-
terns. The majority of the properties have dug wells sunk into the sand and gravel
formation, from which water is drawn for domestic purposes; there are some drilled
wells also. There are a few percolating cesspools and some of the old dug wells
KU
Till KD ANNUAL UK PORT OF THE
Off. Uoc.
are used as rei;eptaclos for hoiisohold wastes. Tlunv has been l.vplioid fever in th*
settlement, but records Iheieof were not kept. Well water i)olUilion lias been sus-
pected. From some of the dwellings located alons the river front there are indi-
vidual sewers leading; to the rivi-r and from dwellin.us back from the river there are
also sewers to the stream. Twenty-three sewers of tliis kind were fonnd on inspection
on AuETUst fourteenth, to be discharging into the river immediately above the water
company's iniake and connected therewith are fifty houses. Two of these sewers
were laid by the township of l'3ast I'eunsboro, so it is reported. To one of these
sewers fourteen houses are said to be connected, for which connection no pei'mis-
.sion was issued. To the other public sewer there are seven dwellings connected,
tbt owners of which in each instance paid a tappage fee. These pipes take storm
water as well as sewage. The former public sewer is ten inches in diameter and
I'rapties near the top of the river bank. The latter is twentj' inches in diameter
and empties about two-thirds of the way down the river bank. The private sewers
discharge at the water's edge or part way up the bank. Complaint has been reg-
istered in the State Dei)artment of Health about a nuisance arising from the de-
positing of sewage anywhere along the shores of the river. Local garbage from the
settlement is thrown over the embankment and the conditions in this respect are
filthy all along the shores above the water intake. One of the nearest sewers to
the intake is from Hotel Navarre, two hundred feet distant; the furthest private
sewer in the borough is about a mile distant; the majority of them are within a
half mile. Named in order up stream, the owners of the sewers are as follows:
I,ocation.
10.
11.
12.
l.{.
14.
1.^.
1«.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
50 ft. above intake, -
75 ft. above intake, .
15(1 ft. above intake,
200 ft. above intake.
250 ft. above intake, —
Near Poplar St.,
Poplar St.,
2.50 ft. above Poplar St.
300 ft. above Poplar St.
OwiUTsliip.
350 ft. above Poplar St.,
375 ft. above Poplar St
Market Street,
.W ft. above Marltet St.,
100 ft. above Market St.,
20O ft. above Market St.,
Locu.st Street, -
2.00 ft. above Locust St.,
275 ft. above Locu.st St.,
3,000 ft. (or over; above intake, ..
3,000 ft. (or over) abf)ve intake, ..
3,000 ft. (or over) above intake. ..
3,000 ft. (or over) above intake, ..
3,000 ft. (or over) above Intake, ..
8 inch Amos Snyder.
8 inch, ' Anios Snyder.
4 inch, j A. B. Potts,
Several out- Hotel Navarre (.Sluuuokin
lets. I Brewing Co.)
12 inoli, ■ I P. M. Heiser.
10 inch, .. ! Unlcnown.
10 incli, i D. S. Brown (7 houses).
6 incli, Abnrr Vetter.
10 inch, i A. J. Wright (.'5 houses and
I sliuigiitcr house).
? ! Wilhird Black.
? George t'hanihers.
20 inch, 'I'own.'ihip sewer.
f> inch, John iii.xler.
4 inch, .. ' .lohn Bi.vler.
a inch, P. C. Coble.
10 incli .-I Township sewer ill houses).
8 inch.
A. ,1. Wtiglit.
J. I). Hippie.
Mr. Reichert.
Mr. PairhriKiil.
Mr. Wamhantjh.
Mr. Bainn.
8 Inch I Siiniiif'l Wciiln
Tlif inhabilanls of West Fairvic^w xiJi.iuc, lui-alcd alinxi' Worniieysburg, use
individual wells and cisterns for water supply. Tin'ic air im pnhlii' drains in the
town.
In the village of Fnola the water is supplied by Ihc Oaupiiiii < 'oiisdjjdated Water
Supply ('omiiany. 'i'here is a system of public sewirs ami sewage disposal works
o\\ne>l liy the lOnola Sewerage ()<>m\r,>ny.
IV'sides asking approval n{ the lines already laid since nineteen linndn'il and live,
the petitioruus ask appro\al of plans to build a new reservoir iiiimedialely above
the old reservoir in Fairview l(iwiishi|). The said new reservoir is to hold about
thirty niillioii L'allons of water. It is proposed to lay a sixleen inch pijie line from
this basin (o the pipe in front of the Valley 'i'raclifiii oHice in Lower Allen lown-
ship, near Lemoyni- statif)n, and to run an eight inch line from Ihe sipiarf; in
L<'moyne If) conneet with this sixteen ineh main. The new eight inch line is to
pass directly wes: on Ilumniel avenue, Lemo.Niie. out through While Hill and con
nect with the pipi- line of the Sliiremanslow n Water ('miipaiiy al Shi leriiaiislowii
borough li/ie.
'^i'he j>roposed reservoir will consist of an eailheii dam biiill across a natural
valley whercdn the water will be impounded. It will liaxc a rubble comtrete core
wall backeil by stones and rdher heavy maler'ial and have a base of puddle material
laifl in six inch layers. The dam will be lifleen feet across Ihe lop and ahoiil (ifly-
Iwo fei'l high. Its length across the top will b" somewhere in the neighhorliood of
four hundred feet. Ther<! will be a waste weir twenty-five feet wide eni oui of rock,
which will reduce to ten feet in width before it discharges inio the pi'eseni rescr-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER Op^ HEALTH. 63o
\oir. 'I'Inrc u ill hi- :i Iwciity iiicli cast iron pipe laid under the dam and it will have
;i serpen ovi-r tlic iiilol. At llio ond of tho pipe at the top of the outer embankment
of the dam will lie a \alve hoii.sc in which will be located the valve of thi.s |)ipe. This
outlet pipe from the ri'.^ervoir will discbar^ie either into the present reservoir or will
be by-i)assed around it to the si.Kteen inch piiie Icadinu to town.
The water shed above the proposed reservoir is about one quarter of a square
mile in are;i. At the present time the run is nearly dry. The yi(dd from a water
shed like the one; in (piestiou, with the highest development of storage facilities
feasible, does not average, in America, five hundred thousand gallons per square
mile daily, taking into ac(.'ount a series of dry years. In e.vtremely springy water
sheds, where the yield is far al)0v<' the normal and the springs never run dry, some-
times with adequate storage the development is equivalent to a j'ield of seven hun-
dred and fifty thousand gallons per square mile during a series of dry years. The
Department has not enough local information for the basis of a reliable conclusion
as to what may be expected from the Ilaldeman reservoir proposed, other than gen-
eral deductions. The engineer who designed the new reservoir estimates that the
availabh' yii-ld when developed will not be more than three hundred thousand gal-
lons, nor le.ss than one hundred and fifty thousand gallons per square mile per
twenty-four hours throughout a series of dry years. Said engineer, in recommending
that a sourco equivalent to one million gallons capacity per twenty-four hours be
ultitnately planned for, suirgested the obtaining of the additional supply from the
Yellow IJreecnes ci'eek at New Cundjerland. Si.x hundred thousand gallons of the
million gallon supi)ly, he estimates, will be needed for the Ivemoync, Camp Hill
;ind Wormleysbuig districts and vicinity. Shiremanstown will need one hundred
anil twenty-five ;,'all(ins daily, so it is reported.
'I'lii' Fort Washington reservfur is to be retained as a storage and into it water will
be fed from the Ilaldeman ri'servoir at night-time. It is understood that the Com-
pany's intention is to abandon the river pumping station.
The Ilaldeman reservoir watershed is too small to warrant expenditures for the
new dam as proi.nsed. The quantity and quality of water would not have a com-
parative value siUlicient to render the source a desirable one for the extensive dis-
tri(;t of the Kivei'ton Consolidated Water Company.
With a limited district, possibly for New Cumberland borough for the present,
Haldeman reservoir source as it is contemplated might prove feasible from every
standpoint. The territory opposite the city of Ilarrisburg is bound, in all prob-
ability, to witness a very large and rapid growth. One of the conditions pre-
cedent to the siistainin'z of an increased population is an adequate supply of pure
water. Should a Greater Ilarrisburg ultimately take in the settlements on the
west bank, filtered river water would undoubtedly be supplied to the inhabitants
there. The best experi advice which the city of Ilarrisburg and the borough of
Steelton co\ild conunand reported adversely on any other source of public supply
than the !^us(piehanna River, filtered. The Yellow Rreeches Creek water is un-
suitable to use without filtration. The Conunissioner of Health has already stipu-
lated that the Mechanicsburg Gas and Water Company, whose proposed new in-
take is to be at the Yellow Breeches Creek, shall filter the water. The Creek
water is not only subject to sewage pollution, but it is extremely hard in quality
and not as desirable for domestic purposes as the river water. The latter is
also to be j)referred o^er the waters of the Conedoguinet Creek. Tlie Riverton
Consolidated Water Company's expert has concluded in his rei)ort that if the com-
pany nuist resort to steam pumping in place of water power to raise the Yellow
Rree<hes Creek wat-r into the district, then it would be much better for the River-
Inn Consolidated Water Company, in his opinion, to do such pumping from the
river and filler the water.
The Fort \\'ashington reservoir is well located centrally for a distributing point.
It is possible to place the filter on the hill and to have the filtrate flow by
gra\it.\- inro this reservoir.
The plans as they now stand, with the present river pumping station abandoned,
would not in the o))inion of the State Department of Health afford an abundant
su|iply of pure water, and, therefore, this woiild be iirejudicial to public health
because it would forc(> the inhabitants to resort to polluted springs and wells in
the territory.
Furthermore, the river water cannot be used without prejudice to the public
heailb unless the water is filtered. Nevertheless, this source of supply must con-
tinue, as it is now, to be the major one for the district of the Riverton Con-
solidated Water Company, unless the company obtain some other source of ade-
quate s\ipply.
It has been determined that the proposed Haldeman reservoir and a system of
distribulint: pipes to deliver the water therefrom to New Cumberland. T,emoyne,
(^amp Hill and vicinity will not be preju<licial to public health niuler certain condi-
tions and tlu' same is herein and hereby approved \uider the following conditions
and stipulations:
FIRST: That this source of supply shall be preserved and consen'ed and
used primarily for the boroutrh of New Cumberland and adjacimt settlements,
provided that wIumi the Ilaldeman reservoir is full and overflowing the s\irplus
water may b" delivered into the distributing districts of the Riverton Consolidated
Water Company lying beyond New Cinnberland and its inuu'-dinte vicinity.
636 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
SECOND: Tlio Buyer reservoir, or reservoir number two, shall be eleaueil out
within two weeks from the ilate of this permit, the company shall complete its
contemplated improvement of diverting the polluted water from the farm house,
barn and property near the public highway and from the pasturage lields imme-
diately above the resenoir to the by-pass leading around the reservoir below the
dam on or before the said two weeks, and it shall provide, or cause to be provided,
at all occupied properties on the watei-shed sufficient and suitable receptacles for
all sewage and shall see to it that these receptacles are used and that the con-
tent is removed at stated periods and deposited off the watershed in some sanitary
manner, and it shall forthwith remove every source of pollution on the entire
watersl;ed above the reservoir, or report promptly its inabillity to remove such
pollutions to the Commissioner of Health, who will thereupon without delay take
action in the premises. This work shall not l)e delaj'ed. Now that the stream
is clry, till' time is opportune for the improvements.
THIRD: On or before November first, nineteen hundred and eight, the com-
pany shall, from actual survey, furnish a plan and elevation of the existing reser-
voirs, dams and appurtenances and a plan of the water sheds of the Boyer and
llaldeman reservoirs showing thereon all occupied estates and highways and sources
of pollution, and thereafter, so long as these watersheds shall be used as a source
of supply by said company, the company shall have a monthly inspection made of
every occupied estate and report the sanitary condition thereof and the existence
of any menace on the watershed forthwith to the Commissioner of Health.
FOURTH: The' Boyer reservoir shall be used primarily, together with the
Haldemau reservoir water, for the supply of (he borough of New Cumlierland and
immediate vicinity. Any surplus water therefrom may, as in the case of the
Haldeman reservoir, be delivered into the distributing pipe system of the districts
beyond New Cumberland and immediate vicinity.
FIFTH: The pipe system in New Cumberland and vicinity shall be so
arranged or re-arranged that water from the Haldemau ami Boyer
reservoirs cannot be furnished to Lemoyne and other districts of the water com-
pany bej'ond New Cumberland and immediate vicinity, except at one point and here
on this pipe there shall be placed a valve and the company shall keep an accurate
record of this valve's operation and lile sworn copies of said record in the office
of the ("ommissioner of Health monthly. ^Yithin ten weeks from the date of this
permit a certilied plan of the location of this valve and the pipe arrangement in
connection therewith shall be filed in the otlice of the Commissioner of Health.
SIXTH: On or before November first, nineteen hundred and eight, the com-
pany shall have improved its distributing system of pipes in New Cumberland bor-
ough by eliminating certain dead ends in pipe lines where the quality of water has
been inferior. These dead ends shall be (-onnected up so that the water may have
a circulation in the street pipes ami the entire system shall be very thoroughly
Hushed and cleaned out to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Health.
SEVENTH: The company shall provide ample blow-offs and facilities whereby
th<; reservoirs and the pipe system may be completely and readily drained and
flushed and this shall be done during the current season, and a report of these
improvements shall be made to the Commissioner of Health on or before the close
of the year. The drainage facilities of the proposed dam are not now ample and
shall be increaserl in capacity, provided the dam be built.
EIGHTH: The Department of Health does not advise at this time the con-
struction of the new reservoir. In its opinion, by far the best plan would be to
obtain the entire water supply for all but New Cumberland from some approved
point in the Susquehanna River and to filter the water and supply it from the
Fort Washington reservoir to the entire water works district. Improvements in
the distributing system of pipes according to this plan would be permanently made.
The main supply pipes could be laid down with the assurance of their being able
to meet the demands of the present and future consumption for the territory along
the west bank of the river in Cumberland Coimly and now comprised within the
charter territory of the Rivertou Consolidated Water Company.
NINTH: Since the Rivertou Consolidated Water Company is now supplying
anfl inuft continue for some time to supply raw water to a part of its water
district, it is expressly stipulated that the company shall forthwith notify its con-
sumers and the public by several publications in the daily newspapers that the
source of supply taken from the river is subject to S(;wage pollution and that safety
to public health requires that all such water so supplied and used for domestic
purposes shall be boiled for thirty minutes.
TENTH: The Rivertou Consolidated Water Company shall, on or before No-
vember first, nineteen hundri'd and eight, submit plans and specili<;ations to the
Commissioner of Health for a|>proval for a water purification plant for the treat-
ment and purification of all river water supplied by the company to its con-
sumers. These plans shall r'omjiiise the adniilation of modern methods of water
treatment, and they will b(! approved, modified or amended by the Conunissioner
of liealth an<l as so modified, amended or approved they shall be built. The com-
p.'iny shall b(!«iii ironstruction of the works according to thi! plans approved by the
said Commissioner on or before November first, nineteen hundred and r'ight, and
failure on the part of the Rivr-rton Consolidat:ed Water (Company s(j to do shall he
understoud and deemed to be an a<lmission on the part of said company <>{ its in-
abilitv to fulfil its charter obligations, and the Commissioner of liealth will so un-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 637
dcrstiiiul it nnd procpod acfordiasly in the inU'ie.'sl.'' uf puhlic wclfari': i)rovided,
howfvor, that if .satisfaclory ovidencc siiall 1)0 forllu-oiuiu;; tiiat Noveml)er first,
ninotf'on hundred and ciiiiht, is t<io short a lini<> in wliieh Id inaiiP siu-li bpRinninR
in constnu'tion tlii-n the Connnissioncr of Ilealtii may cvlcud ihc time, but not
for any Ion;; p'-ijud. and tiion only when specified liy tiie company tliat it will be
able to cany out the terms of this decree in the immediate future.
l"jf>EVE.\TII: The water comi)any shall at the close of each .seas<m's work file
a plan of lateral street extensions of its pipe system, together with any other
informatifin in connection therewith that may be recjuireil, in the office of the
Commissioner of Health, to the end that (he State Department of Health may
always be informed as to the e.\lent of the water works system and the public use
tlien'of.
I'ermission to supply fi'c Shiremanstown Water Company with water at any
lioint in I^ower Allen township is hereby denied. The application now under con-
sideration of the Shirenianstiiwn Water Company, for permission to obtain its
supply froni the Kiverton Consolidated Water Company, must be granted, if
;:ranled at all, in the face of .-iniple e\idence tiiat the IJiverton Consolidated Watei*
Company will be capable of furnishini; an ample and [jure sup[)ly to .Shiremans-
town Water Company, at all times and under all conditions.
TWELFTH: The water company shall forthwith keep a daily record of the
ojiejvition of iis entire water works system, including the pres(>nt river pumping sta-
lidii, on forms satisfactory to the Commissioner of Health, and copies thereof
shall he filed in the nffice of the Commissioner of Health. If at any time it becomes
apparent that the water works system or any part thereof, or the water supplie<l
thereby, is i)rejudirial to public health, then the Rivertou Consolidated Water
Company shall adopt such remedial measures forthwith as the Commissioner of
IlejiJth may advist> or approve.
The Commissioner of Health will notify the owners of sewers hereinbefore men-
tioned tliat within thirty days the discharge of sewage into the watere of the
Stale shall cease, also the garbage disposal into the waters of the State and on
the hanks of the river shall l)e disc(mlinued forthwith.
The Commissioner of Health will also notify the local authorities of each bor-
ough of the danger of the use of abandoned wells or receptacles for sewage and
advi.se that the matter of the disposal of sewage should receive the careful at-
tention that it deserves in each municipality.
Harrisburg, Pa., August IS, 1908.
LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP, CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Rivertou Consolidated Water Company.
This application was made by the Riverton Consolidated Water Company of the
village of Riverton, Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, for approval
of jilans for a water filtration plant and for improvements to the Company's dis-
tributing system.
It appears that these plans were submitted in compliance with the terras of a
decree is.sued by the Commissioner of Health on August eighteenth, one thousand
nine hiuuired and eight, to the said Water Company.
The proposed improvements contemplate the foUosving:
FIRST: The securing of an additional supply of wafer from the Yellow
Rre(>ches Creek, the supply to be taken at a jioiiit south of New Cumberland, at
a mill dam now owned by the Riverton Consolidated Water Comi)any.
SECONl^: The construction of a pumping station and purification works at the
mill site above mentioned.
THIRD: The laying of a new force main from the purification works and
pumping station al)ove mentioned to a new elevated reservoir to be constructed
on top of tlie hieli cround north of White Hill and about half a mile west of the
jjresent Eon Wasiiington Reservoir.
FOURTH: The layiuu of additional street mains in White Hill, Leraoyne and
New Cumberland, and the making of connections between the new high pres-
sure systems, the present Fort Washington reservoir, and the street mains, to
increase the pressure throughout the district, and give a more copious supply of
water, and provide satisfactory fire protection.
FIFTH: The abandonment of the pumping station on the west bank of the
Snsipieiianna River above the Walnut Street Bridge.
The proposed new worlds near New Cumberland will consist of purification
works and pumping machinery, the capacity of the works to be built immediately
being five hundred thousand gallons per day from this source.
Tlie purification works contemplate the preparatory treatment of the water by:
(a) Snslisidi-nce to r(>move the <-oarse suspended and floating matter and:
(b) Rai)id filtration through coarse grained filters, with or witliout the use of a
Coai:\ilant, as may be pro])er.
The water will be taken from the i-ace of the mill by a <'entrifugal pump, and
discharged directly upon the roughinsr filtei-s, or uyxm them after passage through
a coagulating and deposit chamber. When the turbidity of the raw water is less
than on" hundred parts per million, no coastilant will be used; when less than
41
638 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
about fifty, the water will usually be passed directly upon the roughing filters and
when mure than one hundred eoagulatiou must be resorted to, using sutticient
aluminum sulphate to reduce an efHuent from the roughing filters with a turbidity
of not over twenty-live parts per million.
The effluent from the rapid, or roughing filters is to be further purified by slow
sand filtration, the filters being operated at a relatively high rate. This plant is,
in general, similar in style to that installed recently, (and now in successful opera-
tion* for the purification of the water supplied to the Borough of Steelton, Penn-
sylvania.
The capacity of the different parts of the purification works will be as follows:
The deposit chambers are ten feet wide, thirty-one feet long and nine feet
deep with a capacity of twenty-seven hundred and ninety cubic feet, or twenty-
one thousand gallons or one hour's supply when the plant is operated at the rate
of five hundred thoiisaud gallons daily.
There will be three fillers nine feet by twelve feet in plan and nine and five-
tenths feet deep, each having a surface area of one hundred and eight square feet,
tv>v hundred and foitj-nine hundred thousandths of an acre. Two filters m use will
yield five hundred thousand gallons daily when operating at a rate of one hundred mil-
lion gallons per acre per day the third filter being out of service for washing. These
filters can safely be depended upon to yield fifty per cent, more water than the
nominal capacity of five hundred thousand gallons daily.
There will be four filters each twenty-seven and five-lenths feet square, arranged
in the form of a square, with a sand washing plant located in the center of the
group. The net area of each filter will be seven hundred and sixteen square feet,
one hundred and sixty-five ten thousandths of an acre. When three of the four
filters are in service there will be five hundredths of an acre in use, which will,
at a rate of ten million gallons per acre daily, yield five hundred thousand gallons
of filtered water.
The immediate demands upon this plant will not exceed the furnishing of about
two hundred and fifty thousand to three hundred thousand gallons of water a day.
The filtered water will flow to a small pure water reservoir on top of which
will stand a triplex power pump belt driven from the line shaft of the mill, the
pump having a capacity of five hundred thousand gallons daily, at maximum
speed, but having three speeds at which it can be driven from the line shaft.
The force main ro the stand pipe will be twelve inches in diameter from the
pumping station lo Market Street in Camp Hill, and thence sixteen inches in
diameter to the elevated reservoir, which will be located twenty-oue hundred
and fifty feet west of the Fort Washington reservoir, on the highest part of the
ridge. The elevation of the ground at this point is five hundred and twenty-nine
feet above sea level, and the surface of the water in the stand pipe, when full,
will be five hundred and eighty feet above sea level.
The static lift on the pumps will thus be two hundred and eighty feet, and the
friction head for the d«'livery of five hundred thousand gallons of water daily to the
elevated reservoir eleven feet making a total of two hundred and ninety-one feet.
For the delivery of one million gallons daily the total lift would be increased to
three hundred and twenty-four feet.
The elevated reservoir, to be located on the high ridge west of the Fort Wash-
ington reservoir, will be of reinforced concrete lined with a riveted sheet steel
shell protected from corrosion by a reinforced cement lining.
The diameter of the reservoir is to be forty feet, inside with a shaft, six feet
in diameter, passing centrally downward through it, to the foundations, and form-
ing one of the supports.
The capacrity <>( the reservoir, when full, will be two hinidred thousand gallons.
The reservoir will be sui>ported on arched piers and reinforced columns* and will
be covered with a domed roof having a ventilator on top, with sci'ecncd o|)enings,
and a cast iron manhole head and cover.
The filtered water from the pumps will be delivered to the stand pipe through
a twelve inch flanged pipe rising up through the central well and discharging over the
top of the same into the reservoir.
The outlet from the reservoir to the high service district will be at the bottom
of the reservoir througli a twelve inch check valve on a branch pip(! connected
with the twelve inch vertical force main. This arrangement will insun; circulation
in the reservoir.
A second twelve inch pipe will rise up through the central well passing the
reservoir at the bottom and having a twelve inch valve thereon, and, also, a
vertical branch, open at the top forming an overflow to tlu! reservoir. This overfU)W
pipe will lead to the Fort VVashington reservoir, and will be the supply pipe
through which this reservoir will be filled with filtered water.
A blow-oir connection on this pipe will permit it to be used for cleaning the
reservoir, if necessary.
In order to secure better pressures in Lemoyne and Riverton a new ten inch main
will be laid from (he F(;rt Washington Reservoir to Lemoyne, being connected with
the main on Herman, IIiunirKd and itossler Streets, proijer circulation in the
street mains in Lemoyne being secured by laying six inch connecting mains in
IJucher, Clinton and Lorne Streets, from Herman to P.ossh^r, coiuuicting at each
intersec'iion. control valves being supplied where nec(!ssary.
In New Cumlx i-hind it is proposed to provide; six inch connecti(ms between the
niw twelve inch force main and the six inch mains (Ui Third and Sixth Streets,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 639
install WW fuc hydrants on tlio IukIi pressure lino ami proviiU- new four inch cir-
fulatioii mains in Sofond and Sixth Streets, with control valves, to give an addi-
tional supply anil l):'tlcr iircssurc.
Ai Willie Hill Sl.ilun it Is piopcscd to place in the new eisht inch main leading
to Shii'emansiMwii a \alvc ea'-li side of ilic connection between thi.s eight inch main
and the new twelve inch force main, by this means the high service pressure can
be turned into the I.,enioyne mains, if necessary, and can be used customarily to
give sc.flicieni pn-ssure for sati.>;factory sci'vice in Shiremanstown, where about
sixty pMiiiids pi.ssure wouki be expected during the day time, rising to seventy
pounds in the nl;iht.
Hetween White Ilil! Staticn anrl the lu'w elevated reservoir the twelve inch
main would follow westwardly along ihis street norih of the ( 'umberland Valley
Ilailroaii to Heyd Street bi'ing connected with the four int-h main in Main Street ;
thence noiihei'ly on Heyd Strec^t to Market Street, wh.-re a cnnnecti<jn would be
made with the existinir four inch main; theiicr* easterly along the turnpike ami
f<)IIowin;r the alignment sic wn on sheet thirt:>eu of the i)lans, to the elevated reser-
voir, with proper c iniirctions and valves to contrcd the sui)ply.
On the aban(h)nment of the pumi)ing station on the Susquehanna River the present
eight inch for<;(> main to the Fi>rt Washington reservoir will be converted into a
suppl.V main lo Worinh-ysburg, prt)piM' couiu'Clions being made therefor.
It is also the intention, in the ne.ar future, to take up the four inch main in the
turnpike, froui n<'.\d Street westwardly for about three thousaiul feet, replacing
the same with ten inch cast ircn i)ipe to give better pressure.
It has been determined that the plans liereinl)efore described provide for im-
provements which will not be prejudicial to public health, and th(^ same is herein
anil hereby ap|)rovi'd and a permit is issued therefor, un(h'r the condition that all
of the ciindilions applic.ihle ilierdo and specified in said decree of Au^cust eighteenth,
one thousanil nine iiumlred and eight, are applied and put in full force with respect
to the plans herein appr;>ved and subject to the additional conditions as follows:
FIRST: The filter plant shall be constructed only under the immediate and re-
sponsible supervision of the engineer who designed the plant or some other expert
equally competent to perfiniu the services, and after the works are built they
shall be operated for one year under the responsible supervision of some expert
in order that the attendants at the filter plant shall be given ample opporunity
to become thoroughly schooled in the operation of the filter plant.
SECOND: Daily record of the operations of the filter plant shall be kept on
blank forms satisfactory to the Department of Health and whenever required
copies thereof shall be filed in said Department's otfice.
It is the intention or the Department of Health to make regular inspections of
the filter plant and if necessary, in the interests of the public health, to establish
rules and regulations for the operation thereof in so far only as the public health
would bo concerned. The Water Company shall adopt such requiremi-nts and put
them in force, and at all times render assistance to State officials in making in-
vestigations. If at any time, it becomes necessary, in the opinion cf the State
Department of Health, that enlargements, additions or alterations shall be made
in the Avorks or any part thereof, then the water company shall make
such extensions, alterations or improvements as the Department of Health may
advise or approve.
Ilarrisburg, I'a., November 12th, 1908.
McKEESPORT. ALLEGHENY COINTV.
This application was made by the City of Mi-Keesport, Allegheny Cnunty, renn-
sylvaiiia. and is to <'xteu(l and eiiiarjie the miuiicipal water main system.
It apijeais that (-ii March seventh, nineteen hundred and s,>ven, the Conunis-
sioner of Health aiiproved i)lans for a water softening and filtration plant for the
citj and issued a permit therefor luider certain conditions among which were the
following:
FIRST: That a complete set of plans of the driv(>n well system, pumi)ing station
plant, intake well and piping, force main, distributing reservoir, high service
pvunpinu station and plans of the pipes in the high and in the low service dis-
tricts of the existing water works systi-m shall be [)repare(l without delay and filed
with the Commissioner <d" Health, together with a satisfactory report of said
works.
SECOND: Tliat the 1)roposed mechanical filtration plant is hereby approved
with the provision that the clear water basin caiiacity shall be increased to n<d
less than two h'.UKlred tiiousand gallons, and that a new pump widl of ample
ilimensions shall hi' built at the piuiipin.i; station to which all filliM'cd water shall be
delivered and from which it shall bo taken by the pumi)ing engines. Plans for the
enlarged clear water basin and the new pump widl shall be submitted to the Com-
missioner of Health for approval.
THIRD: That in the event of the substitution of bidder's plans for the me-
chanical filt<>r i)lant heri>in ai)i)roved, then such plans shall be submitted to the
Commissioner of Health for approval before the said works are const ru<"ted.
FOURTH: The ailmission of the raw river water to the water pipe system of
the town or to any imri of the works except the water softening or filtration plant
is prohibited except in extraordinary emergencies. This obtains also with respect to
640 THIRD ANXUAI. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
thp ground wator. To safeguard tlio piihlif iutorosts Uioro should ho au ciui'riipnoy
intake fnuu tlie river to the new pump well. The valves ou this intalve shall be clospd
under seal. Whenever used the Commissioner of Health should be notified. I'lans
for the (juiek introduction of raw river water into the filtered water pump w'ell,
which introduction may be by srsivity or pumpiug, shall bo s\ibmitied to the Com-
missioner of Health for approval.
FIFTH: i'lans of the works when built as herein provided for shall be sub-
mitted in detail and filed with the Conmiissioner of Health, together with such
other information in connection therewith as he may require.
SIXTH: A chemist and skilled attendant shall be placed in charge of the
oi)eratiou of the water softening and filter plant. Weekly reports of said operation
siiall be submitted to the Conunissioner of Health (Ui blanks to be furnished by (he
State Department of Health.
The city has complied with the conditions in stii)ulation Number One.
The city lias also increased tlie capacity of the clear water basin to over two
hundred thousand gallons and a new pump well of ample dimension has been built
at tli;" pumi)ing station to which all filtered water is to be delivered and from
whieii it is to 1)0 taken by tlie pumping engines on the town ser\ice. I'lans for
tiiesr- strucliires are now before the Counuissioner of Health.
The dear water liasins are located as previously described, in the said iiermit of
March sexenth, nineteen hundred and seven, in th(! filter house und(>r the filters.
However, the depth of the basin has been increased to about twelve feet, giving au
effective <-apacity of about two hundred and seventy thousand gallons.
The new filtered water pump well is located between the raw water intake
well and the p\imping station. Because of lack of space between the two, the
filtered water pump well is made narrow and long. Its length is fifty feet,
eleven and five-tenths feet wide and about twenty feet deep. A thirty inch
pil)e line is to deliver the filtered water to the well. This well is open on top, the
opening being four feet eight inches wide and extendiug the entire length. The
l>art roofed o\er is adjacent to the pump house. To prevent ordinary freshet water
from Howinir into tlie well, there is built around the opening a concrete wall four
feet high, the top of the well being even with the surface of the ground. The
top of the wall is one foot nine inches lower than the flood level of February
twenty-third, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven and five feet four inches lower
than "the flood level of March fourteenth, Nineteen hundred and seven. Both of
these floofls put the pum|)ing machinery out of commission. As the plant now
exists flood water would enter the pumping station and the filter house and the
softening plant before it reachsd the level of the wall about the filtered water
puniit well.
It is understood that the city contemplates the erection of walls to protect
the water works at ih." |iuniping plant from damage oi- flooding. It is impoi'tant that
siu-ii plans should be perfected and executed without delay. The small storage af-
forded by the reservoir on the hill — twenty-four hours' sui)ply — in connection with the
possibility of the jjurification and pumping plant being out of commission for more
than twenty-four honi-s emphasizes the point. An extended conflagration coincident
with the high freshet flow of the river would prove most disastrous to the city were
there no flood protection works at the plant.
The mechanical filters being built in accordance with the plans now before the
Conunissioner of Health ililYer from the filter plant described in the said permit of
March seventh, niiu-teen hundred and seven, in the following jiarticulai's:
Tiie delivery main from the water softening plant to the adjacent filters is by
means of a rectangular re-inforced concrete comluit in j^lace of the thirty inch i)ii)e.
Each of the six filters is twenty-four feet by eighteen feet with a capacily of one
million gallons daily. There is lliirly-four inches of sand supported liy eight
inches of gra\tl over a manifold system bedded in a concrele llooi' of Ihe filter and
connected to a ten inch outlet. The air system consists of one-half inch trans-
versed piping six inches on centres, perforated on the underside and i)laced two
inches abov the c(. Meeting manifold. The collecling and distribuliiig Iroughs ai'(>
three in number for each HIter unit. They extend on each side of a central cliaiiiiel
built the full length of the filter. They are parallel, ei-;ht feet apart on centres
and their tops are sixteen inches above the l(>vel of the sand in Ihe filter.
The r)roject for the fpiick introrhict ion of raw river water by the i)ui'ification plant into
the filtererl water tiiimp well which the city has introduced and for which ajipidval
is reipiesled is as follows: From the raw I'iver receiving well adjacent to the filtered
water pump well llir-r" are three pijie lines leading to the three main pumping
engines in the |)um|) house and in use on the town service. Two of these pi|)es
are twenty inches in diameter and each pipe leads to a three million gallon Blaki;
puiiiii. The other pipe is twenty-four inclies in diameter and leails to a five million
gi'Ilon Wilson-Snvfler i)r,mp. These three pipe liiu-s pass thi'oiigli the filtered water
jMiinp well aiid by an arrangeiiu'iit of valves and bi-anches, either filtered water
may be drawn from the filtererl water well which will be the ordinary use of the
pilK'K, or in extreme emergencies, and by the use of the valves, the fill;ered water
may be shut off and the raw river water may Ik? drawn.
The cily'^ auxiliary supfily from drilled \vi'lls on the premises has been abandoned.
The circular well in which was installed the iiumping machinery for diawing the
water from the grounrl is now used to house the centrifugal pumps direct connected
to Delnviil Mfenm turbine engine. There are two of these pumping engines, each
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 641
rated at seven inilliMii .!,'allous per twenty-four hour.s. Tliey will supply the raw
river water frum ilic intake well to the water softeniu;; plant. The.se engines need
protection frum Mucjds a.s well as those in the old pump house yf the main station.
The twenty-four ineh intake which it is the intention of the city to build from the
raw water intake well out into the river far enough to avoid contamination from
the sewi'is dischargini; above this point will not be built for the pri'sful. The old
sixteen inch intake is to be used until it shall have proved inadetjuatc i.r unsaie.
The distributing reservoir is located about one-half a mile from the pumping
station. It is on a hillside, three sides of the reservoir being an embanknu-nt. Tin;
structure is masonry lined and about two hundred feet square with a depth of
twenly-.si.x fe.'t and has a (•ai)acity of live million gallons.
There is a sixteen inch force main which delivers the water from the pumping
station into the reservoir. It is reported that the city intends to substitute this
by a twenty inch pi|)e. A new twenty-four inch force main has recently been con-
structed by the city from the pumping station towards the centre of the city
where it connects with the distrilmting mains. lioth of these force mains are by-
pas.sed to permit of the pumping of water either directly to the reservoir or directly
to the city mains with the surplus overliowing into the reservoir.
Tlie high servict; i>umi)ing plant occupies a small portion of a plot of ground
owned by the city. It is adjacent to the reservoir au<l the land is available and
could be used for a n.'W resiTvoir. Ii is reported that an additional storage ca-
pacity of about five million gallons could thtis be secured. It is understood that
this addition is contemi)late(l. I'lans should be prepared and submitted to the
C'onunissioner of Health for approval.
Then.' are in service about iifty-eight and five-tenths miles of main
pipes in the streets, ranging in size from four inches to thirty inches in
diameter. This system fairly well covers up the built-up portion of the city. How-
ever, nuin> of the mains ivre too small to meet the increasing demand put upon
them, especially in case uf a large fire. It is the intention of the Water Hoard
to reijlace many of these small mains by larger ones, to extend the service into the
outlying districts, to provide by-pass connections to meet emergencies and local
fiucuations in consumption. I'ermission to do these things is requested.
Wiiile the present sixteen inch intake may provt? adequate, its short length makes
the danger of exce>!sive pollutitiu by sewage from the city sewers above it very great.
The new twenty-four inch intake shown on the plans which were approved bj* the
Commissioner of Health, should be constructed without delay.
It has been determined that the plans for the improvements at the purification
plant and jiumijing station will not be prejudicial to the public Ih-alth and it is
hereby and herein approved ami a permit issued therefor and for the extension
of the str(;et main system in the city under the following conditions and stipu-
lations:
FIRST: Complete plans of the intakes, water softening and purification plant
and the puMii>ing statitnis, together with the arrangements of jiipes and valves,
shall be filed witli the Commissioner of Health, showing said works iis built au<l
this filing shall be done not later than six months from the completion of the
improvements. At the close of each season's work ])lans of the water pipes laid
during tlu? year shall be prei)ar(Kl and filed in the olHce of the State D.-partment of
Health, together with any other information in conneclion therewith that may
be required, to the end that the Commissioner of Health shall always be adeipuitely
informed of the extent of the water works system and the public use thereof.
Weekly rejiorts of the operation of the water works system shall be kept on
blank forms satisfactory to the ( "(Hnmissi(>ner of Health and copies thereof shall
be filed in the oMice of the State Department of Health.
SECOND: The emergency intake between the river or the receiving well and
the new filtered water pump well shall not be used except in extraordinary euier-
geiuies. Whenever used the Coiumissioner of Health shall be notified and all due
precautions taken by the city to protect the public health in so far as this may
be done.
TIIIUD: The city shall devise a method to reduce and if possible, eliminate
the daimer from floods at the purification and pumping idant. I'lans for such
proleeii\e work shall be prepared without delay aiul submitted to the Conniiis-
sionei of Ileallh for approval.
FOCRTll: liefore any enlargement of the existing storage reservoir is mad<'
l)lans therefor shall be submitted to and be approved by the ConuuissioiU'r of
Health.
FH''TH: The new twenty-four inch intake shall be constructed witliout delay in
accordance with the i)lans for the purification works approved by the Commissioner
of Health on .March seventh, nineteen humlred an<l seven.
SIXTH: A suitablt> cover shall be placed over the clear water i>urap well at
the main punii)inu sl.iti(Mi to obviate any possible accidental contamiinition of the
filtere<l water at that point.
SKVEXTH: It is the intention of the Slate Dejiartment of Health to make
frequent examinations of the water works system. If at anv time in the opinion of
th<> Comniission(M' of Health, the water supply system is not p<'rforming its work
elhciently, or the water being supplied by the city is or may be injurious to publii
health. tli<Mi the city of McKeesport shall adopt such remedial inc:i><ur."i ;i< tie
Commissioner of Health mav approve or suggest.
Harrisbnrg. Pa., October loth, 190S.
41— 17— lOOS
642 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
MAurus HOOK, Delaware county.
Chichester Water Conip.uiy.
This application was made by the Chichester Water Company of the borough of
Marcus Hook, Delaware County, and is for permission to install a system of water
works for the supply of water to the public in said borough.
It appeal's rhat on October first, one thousand nine hundred and
seven, the New Chester Water Company made au application for permis-
sion to extend its water works system and supply water to the public within the
borough of Marcus Hook, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It was determined at
that time by the Commissioner of Health that the New Chester Water Com-
pany appeared to have no right to supply water to the public in the borough of
Marcus Hook. Accordmgly the said water company was notified that the Com-
missioun- of Health could not entertain an application made by it for permission
to supply water in Marcus Hook until such time as the Company was authorized
to supply water to said borough.
In the meantime, the New Chester Water Company had proceeded to extend
its mains to the borough and had laid in the highways therein about three and a
half miles of ten, eight and six inch pipes. Following the receipt of the notifica-
tion from the Commissioner l1 Health that the New Chester Water Company had
no rights in Marcus Hook borough, application by persons iuteresled in the New
Chester Water <,k)mpany was immediately made for the incorporation of the
Chichester AVater Company. The application was made for the purpose of legalizing
the supply of water by the New Chester Water Company in Marcus Hook.
On December nineteenth, one thcjusand nine hundred and seven, the Chichester
Water Company was duly authorized to supply water to the public in the borough
of Marucs Hook, its source of supply to be the Delaware River, the water to be
taken therefrom at the present pumping station of the New Chester Water Com-
pany in the city of Chester.
On December thirtj'-first, the secretary oi the new company notified the De-
partment about its new charter and requested that a permit be granted for the
use of the water pipes laid in the streets of Marcus Hook borough and for the
supply of water to the public as provided by charter, and on March seventh. One
thousand nine hundred and eight, a formal application therefor was made by the
Chichester Water Company.
Marucs Hook borough lies on the shore of the Delaware River about three miles
southwest of the city of Chester, all in D.'laware County. The borough is adjaeeut
to and north of the Pennsylvania-Delaware State line. It is a very old settlement
dating back to about seventeen hundred. First incorporated into a borough about
eighteen hundred and seventy, it subseqtiently gave up its incorporation but was
again re-organized into a borough in eighteen hundred and ninety-two. Its popula-
tion then was less than a thousand. In nineteen hundred the census gave the popu-
lation as twelve hundred and nine. Within the last five years, following the con-
struction cf oil refineries and other industrial works, its growth has been more
rapid. There are at least fifteen hundred residents in the community now. A
number of the employes live in I'hiladelphia and Chester.
The local authorities hope by promoting public improvement, such as water works
and sewerage works, to build up the town. Previous to the installation of the
present water system no general .system had Ihk'u built. In eighteen hundred and
ninety-two the Marcus Hook Water Company was incorixjrated but the charter
lapsed because the company failed to take any active steps toward furnishing the
public with water. I'rior to the rights vested in the Chiciiester Water ('onipany
now under consideration, tln' Marcus Hook Water (Company's charter was the only
one ever granted covering this territory. The Uinwood Water Conii)any, in-
corporated in eighteen hundred and ninety-fiv(! for the sui)ply of water to Lower
('hichester Townshij) from which the borough of Marcus Hook had be(>n previously
organized, sohl its franchise and all its property in nineteen hundred and six to the
New Chester Water Company and it was under this Linwodd Water (!ompauy's
franchise that the New Clhester Water Company thought it li.ul the right to sup|)ly
the borough of Marcus Hook.
Investigations by tht; Department indicate that the citizens of Marcus Hook
stand in need of a supply of water for domestic, municii)al and fire purposes.
Heretofore, the population has been dependent upon wells, shallow, located on
privatr- i)roperties tliroughout lln- town, and in numernus inslnnces in (tlosc'
proximity to <,-ess|)f)ols or sliallow eai'lli pi'i\y vaults which iiicnaee llie i)urily of
the well' water. Home typhoid fever iuis been attributed to tlie conlamination of
these private sources of drinking water.
Nothing smaller than a six inch pipe line has been laid in the streets. Fire
hydrants have been installed. It is vmderstood that a |)ressur(' of seventy-two
pounds will be available at Marcus Hook. A frani^hise has been obtained from the
borough. Jt was granted to the New < "-hester Water (Jomj)aMy, under which said
company laid the mains during the summer of ninetecm hundred and seven. It is
presumr-d that the Chichester Water Company has become jxissessed of the water
pipes and appurtenances, and will assume the obligations uudei- which the N(!vv
Chester Wal'-r Company laid the pipfs in Marcus Hook.
'I'lie .New Chester Water Comiiany's plant consists of a I )i'|,i\\a re Itivcr intake,
two pumpint.' engines of five million gallons cainicily ciich, .1 luculy .ind Iwenly-four
inch rising main about three and a half niih-s Ion;.;, lcniiin;il in'.? in suiisidiug reser-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 643
voirs located on Harrison Hill hack of < 'In sLlt, cadi rc.scrv<iir holding eight mil-
lion ^rallons, a nioclianical fillci- plant of a daily capacity of .si.'i million fjailons,
a tiltcrcil \\a(cr reservoir of two million ;;allons capacity and a system of gravity
di.stribuiion in Chcsler City, Upland horon^li and Ivower Ciiicliester township. The
daily consuinijtion averages less than tliree million gallons and the population
sniiplicd apprn.\iniates thirty-six thousand people. The source of supply is pol-
luted by rii.ladclpl..a sewage. The tiller plant was installed in nineteen hundred and
two and nineteen hundred and three. The water which the Chichester Water Com-
pany is authorized by its charter to obtain from the New Chester Water Company
will be delivered at' the boundary line b-twecn Ivower Chichester township and
-Marcus Hook borough , and the supply should be as potable for domestic uses as any
supi)ly which could be economically obtained in the vicinity.
To quite a degree the health and even life of the water consumers in the district
furnished with drinking water by the New Chester Water Company depends upon
the efficiency of the; aparatus which said company operates and maintains to re-
move the s(!wage poisons known to e.vist in its source of supply, the Delaware
river, and render the water potable. Any accident occurring to the plant whereby
raw river water might be introduced into the homes of the district would be likely
to imperil jjublic health and miglil be followed by a fatal epidemic. It is the
duty of the Connnissioner of Health to picserve the purity of the waters of the
State for the protection of the i)ublic health. However, the discharge of I'hiladel-
phia"s sewage into tlie Delaware river and its tributaries cannot be discontinued
except it be most gradually and under some plan necessarily requiring several
decades for its consummation. Therefore, (he New Chester Water Company must
exercise constant vigilance in the operation of its purification plant. The exten-
sion of this water supply to Marcus Hook might easily become a public calamity
#0 that borough. State sanction of the supply must provide; safe guards against
an inferior quality id' water. The petitiouers should not engage in the business of
selling water, the quality of which is a matter beyond its control. There should be
an agreement in writing between the Chichester Water Company and the New Ches-
ter Water Company, whereby the latter shall guarantee under a suitable and
sufficient bond to furnish water to the Chichester Water Company under conditions
and tests satisfactory to the State C'omniissioner of Health. It would not do to
deprive Marcus Hook of its supidy for mauufaclaring and sui>ply purixjses and there-
fore there appears to be no other practicable means of guaranteeing a constantly
pure Mater or one approaching nearest to constant purity than by such an agree-
ment as proposed.
The petitioners have not submitted a plan of the existing water pipes in Marcus
Hook borough or of extensions that may be made thereto from time to time.
It has been determined that the proposed water works system and the supply
therefor in the borough of Marcus Hook will not be prejudicial to the ))ublic health,
and a permit is hereby and herein granted therefor under the following conditions
and stipulations.
FIRST. This pfrmil shall not be operative until the Chichester Water Com-
pany shall have entered into an agreenu-nt with the New Chester Water {'om;iany,
whereby the latter shall guarauiee to furnish the former with a sufficient qiumiity of
water, the purity of which shall be satisfactory to the State Commissioner of
Health. Tests of this water shall be made by the Chichester Water Company
every two weeks and copies thereof filed in the olHce of the State Dei)artment of
Health. A copy of said agreement shall also be filed in said office.
SECOND. On or before June first, one thousand nine hundred and eight, the
Chichester Water Company shall i)repare a plan showing tin" Ixiuudaries of the bor-
ough of Marcus Hook ami tlu' streeis and the water pipes laid therein, and file said
plan in the ofhce of the State Depart mrnl of Health. At the (dose of each season's
work a plan of the water mains laid during the year shall l>e made and sent
to the Commissioner of Health, to the end that there shall bt> a complete record in
said ollice of the extent oi the Chichester Water Company's water works ami the
number of ijeople in the borough dependent upon such supply.
THIRD. Ample facilities f(U' the complete drainage of the water pipe system or of
parts thereof shall be provided and the location of the facilities and of all gales and
blow-offs shall be indicated on the plan to be filed in the State Department of
Health on or before .Tune first, one thousand nine hundred and eight.
FOI'RTH. If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health the
water sui)ply, or the water works, or any part thereof, has become prejudicial
to the pui>lic health, then tiie Chichester Water Company shall adopt such reme-
dial measures to protect the juddic liealth as the Commissioner of Health may
approve or suggest.
FIFTH. Regular inspections will be made by the New Chester Water Com-
l)any's system and supi)ly l)y a Delia rtment oflicer. The Commissioner of Healtii
nuiy suggest rules antl it^gulations to govern (he supply of water to the public in so
far as the public health is concern(>d. TIk^ Chi<hest(M" Water Company shall con-
form to any such orders, rules or regulations in so far as they may relate to the
supply of water to (he public in Marcus Hook borough.
SIXTH. This permit is issued on (he exiiress stipulation that the proposed opera-
tions of the Chichester Water Company are wholly within its charter rights.
Ilarrisburg. Pa., :\farch .■?(), IHOS.
644 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
MATAMORAS, PIKE COUNTY.
Matamoras Citizens Water Company.
This applieatiou was made by the borough of Matamoras, Pike county, and is
for permission to install a water works system and to supply to the public in said
borough.
It appears that the borough of Matamoras, of fifteen hundred population, is lo-
cated in the extreme eastern corner of Pike county, on the banks of the Delaware,
opposite the city of Port Jervis, New York (population, ten thousand), which, to-
gether with Matamoras, constitutes a railroad comnuinity. Matamoras is strictly a
re>>idential town. The Erie Railroad extends from New York to Port Jervis and
on up the valley of the Delaware. I'ort Jervis is the terminus for many of the
passenger trains from New York, and is also the site of extensive yards for the
re-making of through freight trains and of large repair shops, so that the railroad
furnishes employment for the support of the greater part of tlie population of I'ort
Jervis and Matamoras. There are also in Port Jervis half a dozen manufactories
each employing about a hundred hands. A highway toll bridge connects I'orl
Jervis with Matamoras, and from the latter town there extends down the valley of
the Delaware, connecting with the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Railroad at Stroudsburg, a nuich traveled highway,
which is the only means of communication through the valley.
For many miles above Matamoras the Dehiware follows a southeasterly course
while immediately below it turns sharply and follows a southwesterly course
for iwent3'-live miles along the foot of a well-defiued mountain ridge in Pennsyl-
vania parallel to the river. Matamoras is located entirely on a dat strip of land ^in
this angle of the river between it and the foot of these hills. The hills are of shale
formation and the flat is of fine sand underlain by gravel. The flat is at an average
levation of about twenty feet above the river, which has never reached this height
except when jammed with ice. "^rhese ice jams have done much damage to both
banks of the river, as a result of which a dyke faced with riprap has been con-
structed along the I'ort Jervis shore, and it is said a State appropriation has been
secured for a similar structure along the Matamoras bank.
Matam<jras has grown from a (pw houses at the tim.> of the building of the first
highway bridge, in eighteen hundred and seventy-two, until now it has a population
of fifteen hundred or more, during which time the highway bridge has been twice
destroyed by floods and rebuilt. The town was incorporated as a borough on January
eighteenth, nineteen hundred and five.
Delaware Drive extends southeasterly along the i'i\(-r front from Dill-
er's P>rook at the northwestern limit of the boi'ough to I'ennsylvania
Avenue and the highway bridge. The streets parallel to Delaware Drive are named
in order from First Street to Tenth Street, which is the southwestern borough
limit. The cross streets are named in order from Avenue "A," at the northwestern
end of the borough, to Avenue "T," at the southeastern end, with the excei)tion of
Pennsylvania Avenue, which runs between Avenues "K" and "Ij." The sticels thus
planned extend over the entire borough, which has an area of about four hundred
acres and is nearly square in shape. The area laid out in streets and built u\) in-
cludes only about one-third of the borough in the northern part. The general surface
slope in tiie borough is to the south away from the river front of the town to a de-
]>ression in the flat extending eastei-|y to the river below Matamoi'as. Few or no
storm drains have been built, and the natural gi'ades arc ligiit, and yet it is saiil
that storm water seldom ci'eates a luiisaiice in the town owing largely to the ijorosity
of the .soil.
Perhaps a liiilf do/en houses along the river front ha\'e sewer pi|)es leading to the
river, while a few others (altlujugli the number of these is said to be increasing) are
sewered to percolating cesspools. A very few houses ha\'e inside flush chisels and
practically every house has an outside; privy, which an; almost exclusi\ely of the
loose vault type. Waste water is for the most part disposed of on the surface of
the ground, where it is said not to create a nuisance owing to the ]»oi'osity of the soil
and tin- houses not being built closely together.
The water supply is at present ohtained finni pri\ale wells, of which then; are
estimated lo be two hundred and forty in Ihi- town, one for neai'ly <!very house.
Tiufse wr'lls are, almost witiiout exception, eiiher driven or dug, llier(! proi)ably
being ralhei' moie of the latter type.
The .Matamoras Citizens' Water t'tunpany was incorporated with a ca|)ilali/,alion
of seven thousand dollars on June seventeenth, nineteen liumlred and three, to
exist for a term of ninety nine years, for the purpose of supi)lying water within
the township of Westfall, from which township the borougli of Matannu'as has
since br-en organized. No contract has been made between the water company and
the borough, although one has been drawn up providing for the ))roper laying of the
pipes and for taking of watei by the borough for fire; protec|i<in and the furnishing of
tiie same by llie water company, which agi-eement it is said both parties are i-eady
to sign whenever the water company is in position lo cai'ry out its ])art.
The wairr supply is to be ohiained from one oi- two drilled wells, or from Imlli
of them, depr-nding upon futui'c investigations and the demands upon the syslem.
West of Matamoras is a bowl-shaped valley in th(! hills. 'I'liis basin is two hun-
dred f(fet or more higher tiian Malanioras, has an an-a of lhree-(piailers of a stpnire
mile, and oijens to the river valJj-y al liic norlheast. It is sparsely ))opulated,
partly cultivated and partly in scrub timlier, and is draint^d by Driller's brook,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 645
which onliTs tlie river just above Mataraoras. Just northwest of the^ borough, in
line with Third Street and about one hunrlred feet west of Driller's brook, below the
well-defintMl basin, the water eonipany drilled a well nliout two years ajjo. The
ground at the site of tiiis well is at an avora^re of fifteen feet above the town and
above the bed of Driller's brook. The well is said to be eight inches in diameter
and two hundred and two feet deep, and to be cased in sand and gravel for a depth
of eighteen feet, and to extend (he remainder of its depth through shale rock,
in which are the water-bearing strata, principally at a dei)th of one hundred feet
and more. Tin' well is said to have iici-n ti-sted after being comijleted and to have
j'ielded continuously for twent.\'-four hours one hundred and twenty-five to one
hundred and thirty gallons per minute, which was the maximum capacity of the
testing pump used. During the greater part of the year water flows from the well
at the surface, though not in any great cjuantity. During the test tin' water fell
in a short lime to a depth of one huudrrd and fifteen feet, from which it varied
little or not at all during' the remainder of tlie twenty-four-hour test. The nearest
building to tills well is a dwelling about one hiuidred and fifty feet distant up the
hillsides.
It is stated that it is thought that further investigations may indicate that the
possibility of drillini; fuither up the hillside in the mouth of the valley already
described an artesian well, which will yield without pumping a fiow sulHcient to
meet the demands of the water consumption, at least during the greater part of
the year. The exact location of this proposed well was not known by the water
company officials.
A concrete resenoir was constructed by the water company a year or so ago on
the hillside about half way between the sites of the two wells. This reservoir
is about forty-five feet in diameter, being octagonal in shape and ten feet deep.
It is provided with a six-inch overflow pipe and with a single inlet and outlet pipe
ten inches in diameter, so it is said. A small pipe has also beiMi placed in the
wall a couple of feet from the bottom as a means of connecting the res<'rvoir with
any other on" ^vhich it may be desirable to build in the future. The reservoir is a
massive, apparently substantial, concreate structure, with a frame roof. The
elevation of the bottom of the reservoir is about five hundred and eighty feet above
tide; the average elevation of the town, four hundred and forty feet.
The method of connecting the proposed ui)i)er well with the reservoir has not
been decided upon. The water from the lower well, if this is needed, is to be
pumped into the ten-inch gravity supply pipe to the town, which pipe is to pass
near the well. However, the water may be raised from tlie well to the reservoir
in two lifts, in which case a rectangular concrete basin of ten thousand gallons
more capacity, already const ructe<l n(>ar the well, may be used as an intermediate
receiving basin and pump well. The details of the pum[)ing station have not been
designed.
From the connection at (he projjosed pumping station the main (en-inch pipe
(or possibly eight inch) is to extend southeasterly across Driller's brook and in
Third Street, a total length of one thousand seven hnndred and twenty-five feet to
Avenue "F," being connected with several cross pipes of the distributing system. At
Avenue "F" the main reduces to eight inches in diameter and continues in Third
Street about thirteen hundred feet to an eight-inch cross main in Pennsylvania
Avenue, a six-inch pipe continuing about five hundred feet farther in Third Street.
The (list ril)utiiig system is to have no dead ends. It is to include in all. below
the connection of the |)umi)ing st;ition to the main, about seventeen hundred and
twenty-fivi> feet of ten-inch pipe, twenty-seven lunidred and fifty feet of eight-inch,
seven tiiousand feet of six-inch ami seventeen thousand eight hnndred feet of four
inch.
No pl.ins have been filed with the ap|)Iication showing the location of tlie wells,
(he construction of the existing well, (he arrangement at the pumping station, the
reservoir, the connections between the wells and the reservoir, and the gravity main
and distributing system, with' the location thereon of valves, low points, blowofTs
for draining and fire plugs, all of which plans should have been filed with the appli-
cation and should, under any condition, Ite npi)roved by the (Commissioner of
Hejilth before the water works ar(> constructed. The only plan submitted is a lay-
out of the distributing system, showing the sizes of pipes to be used, but without
other details.
Very many of Ihe buildings of the (own beiiiu; localed within fifty feet of oach
oilier, the pi-acli<e of disposing of sewage in loose pri\y vaults and on thr> surface
of tli(> groiuid or in percolating cesspools, and the meihod of obtaining' water for
(loiiies(ic purposes by nieans of dug or driven wells from (he tiiirty foot surface
s(ratnin of porous sand and siravel render the quality of these various water sup-
plies doubtful. The reiiort of a local physician, in agreement with the n-port of a
member of the local I!oard of Health, is to the effect that typhoid is of rare occur-
rence in Matnmoras mid that (he majority of the jiatients have been railroad men,
who probably coutiacted the disease away from home. Tliis, however, is no assur-
ance (if the continuance of the imrity of (he well wat(>rs in view of (lie increasing
luimher of cesspools, nor ind(M^d that iiDiny of the wells are not at pre.sent con-
taiiiinat(>d with sewag(>. The bringing in of a supply of pure water from a dis-
tance would certainly be in (he interests of public health, and if it were generally
646 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP" THE Off. Doc.
used and the local wells abandoned, the sandy soil should for smno time afford a
way of satisfactory disposing of sewage in cesspools at small intial costs for
sewerage.
There is every indication that the proposed water supply to be obtained from
deep drilled wells in shale rock will be satisfactory and healthful if proper care is
taken in protecting the wells from surface pollution.
Another urgent reason for the proposed introduction of a public water supply in
pipes is that fire protection may be afforded and the fire insurance rates reduced,
which rates are now considerably above the rates for Port Jervis. Although the
efhciencj- of the water works for fire protection is but indirectly related to the
function of the works to furnish water for domestic purposes, the Department feels
called upon to direct the attention of the water company and the borough officials to
the following features of the water system as a means of fire protection:
The average elevation of water in the reservoir above the surface of the ground
in ilatamoras of from one hundred and forty feet to one hundred and forty-five feet,
respectively, with the reservoir about empty to half full, would afford a static
pressure in the town of from sixty-one to sixty-three pounds per square inch. If
not more than twenty plugs are distributed uniformly over the built-up part of the
town, many points in Matamoras could be reached from the nearest plug only
by five hundred feet or more of hose. Even if the static pressure of from sixty-one
to sixty-three pounds, or sixty-five pounds for a full reservoir (the greatest pressure
the reservoir could ever produce) were obtainable at the plugs, allowing for no loss
of head in friction during the flow of the water in the pipes, this pressure would be
insuflicient to furnish through three hundred feet or more of two and a-half-inch
hose a fire stream such as fire underwrit'-rs assumt> as a standard. It is, theri^-
fore, apparent that the pipes of the system should be designed so that as little head
as possible may be lost in friction, and that there is no doubt l)ut that at least a
ten-inch pipe should be used for the gravity main and the principal main of the
distributing system, instead of an eight-inch pipe, the use of which is said to have
been considered and in which the loss in friction would be materially greater, thus
reducing the efficiency of ihe fire protection. Although even a ten-inch gi'avity and
distributing main would not afford in connection with the present reservoir a stan-
dard fire stream, this sized pipe even after it has been in service several years
should furnish from three to five fairly efficient fire streams for a small town of low
buildings.
It should also be mentioned that the capacity of the present reservoir, about
one hundred thousand gallons, wovild be insufficient to provide storage for fire pi'o-
rection and for the inequalities of consumption for domestic purposes during the day,
for even half a day, so that this fact should lead the water company to provide
pumping facilities or mi'ans of obtaining water from the proposed upper well.
A satisfactory means of obtaining a thoroughly efficient system for fire protec-
tion wftuld be to construct another reservoir at a greater elevation or to install a
pumping outfit of sufficient capacity to furnish water for fire purposes under direct
pressure from the pumps.
A pipe system adequate to furnish fire protection would, of course, meet the
ordinary demands upon the system for some time to come, but it must be remem-
bered that the fire ))i'otection will continually grow less efficient, not only because
of tlie aging of tlur piix's, but because th(> water for domesti(> purposes, which must
Vie furnished to some extent even during fires, will, with the growth of the town,
become a gi-eater and greater portion of the entire flow in the i)ipe system, thus re-
ducing the flow available for fire protection.
As to the (juantity fif water available at the proposed sources nothing can be said
definitely from the informntion before the Di'partnicnt. 'J'lie report of the test of
the lower well would apjjarently indicate thai tiiis would furnish, with proper
storage, sufficient water for both domestic i)urposes and fire purpos(!S, for some time
to come. Nothing is known as to what the pi-ojected well may yield.
It has been deteiinined that tin- proposed water works system and soui'ce of
supply will not be prejudicial to public liealtli and a permit is hereby and herein
granted to tiif! .Mataniorns Citizens' Water ('onipany for the installation of water
works and the supply of water to (lie public, as projected, under tin; following
conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: Ample facilities shall be provided by means of blow-offs i)laced at all
low pf)ints whereliy the reservoir, gra\it.\- main, (list ributing system and the basin at
the low(!r well may be c(;mplelely drained.
SECOND: Detail i)lans of the lay-out at the pumping station and of the gravity
main, force main, reservoir and distributing system, showing all valves and con-
nections, shall be filcfl with and ap|»i'ovcd by the < 'eiuinissioner of Ileallli befoi'c
work is coi/iiiieiiced on th(-se respective parts of tlie s.\sleiii.
'J'lIIKD: I'efore the works are completed and water is furnished therefrom,
a plan shall be filed with Ihe ('f)mniission(?r of Health showing tlu; di'ainage area
tributary to the sites of th.; wells and the locatio!i thereon of the wells and of all
biiildingH and oth<T possible sources of pollution, svhiili plan shall bi' drawn to
Scale.
F(>rRTFI: IJefore any well oilier llian llie <'\istitig one is I'onneded with the
syHtem, there shall be filed with and approved \,y (he Comniissioner of Health, a
report, anri if retpiired, a plan of such additional well or wells indicating the con-
stnictjon f)f the .same and tlie strata pierced Iherehy.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 647
PIPXH: It is the purpose of the Department to obtain samples of water for
analysis from the various parts of the system from time to time, and the water
company shall rondcr such assistance in carrying; out this idea as may be necesssary,
and shall make such alterations in the system and source of supply as the Commis-
sioner of II(?alth niav su^'gost or a|)prove or demand in the interests of the public
health, to the end that the water supplied by said company through its system of
water works shall not be prejudicial to public health.
SIXTH: Daily records of the operation of the work shall be properly kept on
blank forms to be suggested by this Department, and copies thereof shall be furnished
to the Commissioner of Health, ilonthly inspections of occupied estates on the
areas tributary to the valley above the sources of supply herein approved shall be
made by the water company, the sanitary conditions noted and the results reported
to the Commissioner of Health.
SEVENTH: It is stipulated that this permit is issued under the condition that
all laws governing or regulating the business in which the company purposes to en-
gage shall be complied with.
Harrisburg, Ta., June 12, 1908.
MECHANICSBURG, CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Mechanicsl)urg Cas and Water Company.
This application was made by the Mechanicsburg Gas and Water Company, and
i.-4 for approval of plans for a water purification plant and for certain other
im|)rovements in connection with the obtaining of a new source of supply for the
pui)lic in the charter territory of said company, under certain conditions and stipu-
lations, which are hereinafter set forth.
It appears that on April tenth, one thousand nine hundred and six, the Commis-
sioner of Health issued a permit to the Mechanicsburg Gas and Water Com-
pany, of the borough of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, to ex-
tend the water supply to the public in said borough and to obtain a new source of
supply from Yellow Breeches Creek at Millers Mill. The water company did not
submit detail plans of the proposed improvements at that time, the preparation
f)f the.se plans being deferred pending the decision of the Commissioner of Health
with respect to the new source. Among other conditions the said permit contained
the following:
"That the Y'ellow Breeches Creek water shall be purified by a modern water
filtration plant before the water or any of it shall be supplied to the inhabitants of
.Mechanicsburg.
"That before said plant is constructed or used detail plans of the plant and its
appurtenances shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for his approval,
and he may modify or amend said plans and approve them.
"Before construction thereof, plans of the proposed force main and reservoir,
standpipe or other means or facilities for storing water shall be prepared and sub-
mitted to the Commissioner of Health for his approval, and until so approved, the
same shall not be constructed.
"That detail plans of the existing reservoirs, pipes gates, drain tiles, watershed,
supply main and dislrilmting mains in Mechanicsburg shall be prepared and placed
on file with the Commissioner of Health."
In compliance with the terms of this permit, the water company has prepared the
plans, and they are now on file in the oflice of the Commissioner of Health.
The plans comprise the rebuilding of the dnm across Yellow Breeches Creek at
Millers Mill, the iiislallntion of pumping machinery to be driven by water power
(ieve]oi)ed nt the mill, the erection of a mechanical filtration plant, the building
of a cast iron pumping main and the construction of a reinforced concrete dis-
tributing reservoir.
It is understood that the company is not to abandon its existing source of
supply.
The new dam is to be of concrete construction and is to be built immediately
below the existing wooden dam across the creek. The water will be diverted by the
new dam through the existing race to the fore bay at the mill. Within the
present building is to be installed one turbine water wheel which is to operate
a triplex pnni]) of the ordinary tyi)e, belt driven. This pump is to be used to raise
the tilteri'd water to the distributing reservoir on the hill toward the town. Its
capacity is said to be five hundred tho\isand g.illons per twenty-four hours.
The same turbine wheel will also operate the low service centrifugal pump,
capacity four hundred gallons per minute, which is to be used to supply raw
water to the subsidence tanks.
This taidv is to be of reinforced concrete, circular, twenty-eight feet in di-
amet<'r and twenty feet deep, jirovided with baffles and customary inh't and outlet
weirs. The normal rate of the filter jilant is five hundred thous.nid ijallons per
twenty-four houi-s, so that a subsidence period of four and one-half hours
is afforded by the tanks proposed. This structure is to be placed outside of the
648 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
building: and to rest on a foundation about lovel with the ground. The coagulated
water will feed by gravity to the tilter unit which is to be set up in one end of the
present mill building. Underneath this filter is to be the clear water well.
The Water Company has contracted with the Pittsburg Filter Manufacturing Com-
pany for the constiiuHiou of the filter aud its appurtenances, not including the
subsidence tank. The filter unit is to be fifteen feet inside diameter and eight
feet in height. To be constructed of cypress aud to set on 1 beam foundation to
be furnished by the Water Company as shown on plans submitted. On these
beams are to rest a tongue and grooved wooden flooring. The height of the top
of the filter tank is to be on a level with the top of the concrete subsidence tank
outside the building. The water is to be delivered from one to the other
through a ten inch pipe. This pipe will terminate at the filter in the distributing
trough extending around the inner circumference of the unit, being fourteen inches
above the top of the sand layer. Here the water will stand about six inches from the
top of the tank, equivalent to a depth of three feet above.
Across the floor of the filter is to be laid a heavy cast iron manifold. Laterals
of heavy wrought iron pipe will be screwed into the cast iron manifold six inches
on centers and extend in parallel lines to the inner circumference of the filter
tank. They will be capped on the outer end. The waste and collecting screens
are to be of the contractors latest design, made of the best quality of valve metal
and they are to be screwed into the laterals on six inch centers. This manifold sys-
tem to the base of the screens is to be imbedded in concrete.
Across the floor of the filter, which is above the waste and collecting system
above described and at right angles to the central manifold , a casting is to be
laid of heavy manifold air pipe. The brass pipes are to be of the best quality of
brass tubing screwed into the manifold pipe six inches on centers, and ex-
tending in parallel lines to the sides of the filter. Air is to be admitted to the
filter through drilled holes one sixteenth of an inch in diameter on six inch centers
on the sides of the lateral tubes. Over this system of piping is to be placed a filter
of gravel to a depth of eight inches and then filter sand to a depth of thirty
inches. Gravel is to bo of such size that it will pass a screen having a clear mesh
of five-eights of an inch and be retained on a screen having a clear mesh of three-
sixteenth.s of an inch.
Filter sand is to be specially selected and shall contain not more than five per
cent, of flat or laminated particles. It shall bo of hard, silicons material that will
not disintegrate and shall be practically free from loam, clay and perishable
matter. Sand shall have an effective size of not loss than thirty-five hun-
dredths M.M. or more than thirty-six hundredths M.M. and shall have a uni-
formity coefficient of not more than one and seven-tenths. Filtered water is to
b? delivered from the manifold system through a six inch pipe into the filtered water
basin below. No regular regulator or control is provided excopt that it is
reported that when the clear water basin is full, a float will automatically shut
off the supply of raw Mater to the subsidence basin. Under this arrangement it
is readily apparent that the filter could be easily oi)orated in excess of its
rate<l capacity and since the Yellow Breeches Creek is subject to sewage pollu-
tion, a repetition of the Roycrsford and Spring City typhoid fever eiiidemic of the
current year could easily occur at Mcchanicsburg, owing to lack of n\guIation
of filter rates.
For washing purposes, the filtered water from the |)iuiiping main appears to be
used. The connection to the manifold system is n ten inch pipe and iuid<'r the
pressure available, an ample sui)ply may he had for wasliing purposes. ''I'lie
dirty water is to be wasteil to the sewer wliieh will empty into tlie creek below
the dam. I'iping connections are so designed that liie fii'st (iitei'ed water may
also be wasted il^ desired.
There is to be provided a rotary pressiii-e Muwer, (lii\cn liy water iiower ol"
ample capacity for pro|)erly cleaning the tiller with air.
'Hie chemical tanks are to be set up on the second (hior dI" I lie pi-escnl mill.
Kacli is to be forty-eight inches in diameter and forty-two iiiclies high, hiiilt of
wood, equipF)ef| with dissolving boxes with suitable connection and spraying devic(!s.
The flow of the chemical, which under ordinary circumstances is to 1)0 sulphate
of alumina, is to br- regulated by means of an orifice box consislins; of a small
lank cotisl ructefl (if wood and <(piip|)e(l with a float for niainlainiiig a consistent head
and a finely graduated distributing' orilir-e for feeding I lie soliilien al the iirojier-
rate to the raw watei*. The water supplied to llie soIiiIIdii lank is |o lie laken
off from the pmnping main. The solutions are lo lie ailinil led lu llie raw water
at the inlet to the Nedimenlalion lank.
'I'lie c(jMlraclor airrees fi'orn one yeai' fruiii Hie dale df Ihe i'<iiii|ili'l imi (if llie
filler plant, that the same, fsnbjecl to Hie (•uiidilidn llial llie pl.-ni shall lie
operated in accordance with the cfjiiipany's instructions, and that a suitable
fpmnity and quality of r;oagulant will be used) shall be caimble of filtering jin
average of nrii less than five hundred thousaml u'allons of walei- in Iwenly-four
hours and that the filtered water shall b" bri^dil .
turbidity, flis-oloration and mafti'r in suspension.
ninefy-H<'Vi'ti per cent, rif liaeieria when ihe raw
or more p r cc.
cl,
[•ar
and 1
iraci i<'ally
fj'ee from
II
shall
sJKiw a r
eiiioval of
W
alei
r <-<inl
ains lliree
llioiisand
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 649
The filtcii'd water basin is to \nt built by the Water Company. Underneath
the end of the present mill, e.\cavati<ins are to he made and a reinforced con-
crete basin eleven feet deep, twenty-four feet nine inthi's wide and thirty-tiiree
fi'et lon^r to lie built. This leuy;lli is provided in order l(j admit of the installation
of an additional filter unit over the basin in the future. The piping is all ar-
raniied with this in view. At a little more cost, the flooring and covering of
this clear water basin could be made water tight. As before stated, a wooden
floor is now contemplated. Concrete flooring should be provided. This would
obviate any possible danger of itollution of I he filtered water in the basin.
The storage of filtered water in this basin is for iiurposes of pumping only.
The suclidii jiipe of the pump is to extend into this basin. The real storage of
filtered water is Ui be obtained in the distributing reservoir on the hill.
The plan submitted by the petitioners slu)ws the location of the proposed dis-
tributing reservoirs to the south of Mechanicsburg near one of the present reservoirs
of the company. The elevation of high water is to be five hundred and fifty in
this basin or one liun<lred feet above ninety-four per cent, of the area of Me-
(•hanicsburg l)orough.
This stor.ige reservoir is to bo built in circular form, two hundred and eleven
feet in diameter at the top and one hiuidred and si.xty feet in dianu-ter at the bottom,
seventeen feet deep and hokling, when full, three million gallons. The sides and
bottom of the divi(,ling wail tlirough the center are to be built of reinforced con-
crete. The water is to be deliven-d into and taken out at the i)Ottom of each
half of the reservoir. From the same point that the water is admitted and taken
out, there is also provided an eight inch wash-out pipe, by means of which either
section of the b;isin can be drained.
It shoulil be observed that there will be no circulation whatsoever by this
method of introduction and taking out of the water from the reservoir except that
which may occur from natural causes in the basin. It has been found that cir-
culation of filtered water in open basins such as the one provided for in the
I)laus, exerts a marked influence in i)reventing the growth of organisms which
deteriorate tiie (juality of stored filtered water. It will be to the advantage of
the water c(imi)any to modify the plans of the inlet so as to produce the maximum
current in each section of the distributing I'eservoir.
The Water Company purposes to lay a ten inch force main from the pumping
station to the distrilniting reservoir. A profile of this line has not been sub-
mitted and the Department is not informed whether blow-outs and drainage fa-
cilities are afforded or not.
It has beei; determined that the proposed improvements will not be prejudicial
to the public health and a permit is hereby and herein granted therefor under the
following' conditions and stipulations:
KIUST: That on or liefore .January first, nineteen hundred and nine, the Water
( 'ompany shall file detail plans of the existing reservoirs, pipes, gates, drain tiles
and watershed and supi)ly main of the existing water works system now used to
supply water to the public in .Mechanicsburg, in the oHice of the Commissioner
of lle.-ilth. At the close of each season's work the water company shall file in
the (jliice of the State Department of Health, a plan of the water pii)es laid
in the streets of the borough during that year together with any other information
in connection therewith that may be retpiired, in order that the Conuni.«sioner of
Health may always be in formed of the extent of the water works system and
the public use thereof.
Sl';< "< ».\D: The filter plant .shall be operated for one year after installation
under the direction of the expert who designed it or some other competent ex-
pert. A full report of the initial test of the filter plant shall be submitted to the
Comniissioiu-r of Health and thereafter the Water Comiiany shall assist the State
D.>p"i'tiueiit of Health in making such ti'sts i^f the plant from time to time as may
be desiralile.
TllIKD: Weekly reports of the operation if the water works system and
purification plant shall be kept on blank forms satisfactory to the Depart-
ment of Health and copies thereof shall be filed with the said Department. If
at any time in rhe o|>inion of the Commissioner of Health, the water works
system or any part thereof of any water furnished thereby Inis become pi'ejudici:il
to public health or iusullicient or defective, then siu'h remedial measures shall
ho adopted ;is the Commissioner of He.allh may advise or ap])rove.
FOriiTH: The AValer Company shall provide for the installation of a rate con-
trol at the filter plant and such a device of aiiproved pattern shall be installed
and I'eady t'ov use at the time that the filter unit is put in commission.
FIFTH: The Water Company shall constriict a reinforced concrete, water-
tight floor anil roof o\-er tlu' clear water iiasiu.
When the imi)rovements herein approve<l are completed, the Water Company
shall file a complete set of iilans of the structures and changes in the office of the
Conunissioner of Health. Ample facilities for draining the force main shall be
jjrovided. and the comi)any's attention is s|)ecially <alled to the desir.-ibility of
carrying out the suggestions hereinbefore made with respect to circulation of
water in the distrib\Uing reservoirs. It will be chea[)er for the company to do
this now than at a later date.
Harrisburg, Fa., September 25th, 190S.
650 THTRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
MINERSVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Minei-sville Water Company.
This application was made by the Minersville Water Company of Minersville
Borough, Schuylkill County, Pennsjivania, and is for permission to construct a
reservoir for impounding an additional water supply to the public in said bor-
ough.
It appears that Minersville had in nineteen hundred a population of forty-eight
hundred and fifteen and the present population is reported to be approximately
six thousand. This borough is situated about four miles west of Pottsville,
the seat of Schuylkill County. The men and boys are generally employed in
and about the collieries in the vicinity. A number of the girls are employed
in factories and the laundry in the town. The people are mostly of foreign
birth.
The borough is situated in the midst of the coal measures on the west bank
of the West Branch of the Schuylkill River. A small stream called Wolf Creek rising
in Mine Hill to the north, flows down through the center of the town and is used as
a drain for two collieries and for the village itself. On either side of this creek in the
borough there are high hills upon which and in the valley between is located the
built-up part of Minersville. A part of Wolf's Creek is an'hed over and into
it the combined sewers of the municipality emi)ty and also private sewers. Wolf
Creek drains a very narrow and steep watershed and during storms the flow has
a scouring effect which washes out all accumulations in the culvert onto the
flats in the lower part of the borough. There is no reliable data at hand now
in the office of the Department, showing the extent of public use of the sewer
system but it is known that sewers are very generally laid throughout the
streets of the town. There are a number tf cesspools and many privies in the
borough and a dozen or more private wells, so it is reported. People very gen-
erally take water from the Minersville Water Company.
The Minersville Water Company was chartered by Act of Assembly, April
thirteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-five; Letters Patent being granted on
March twenty-eighth, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, for the object of con-
veying water to the borovigh of Minersville. This is the only corporation author-
ized to supply the borough of Minersville.
It is reported that the first works were built about eighteen hundred and fifty-
eight and that parts were reconstructed in eighteen hundred and ninety. At
presont the borough and parts of the townships of Cass and New Castle are supplied
by the Minersville Water Company. By what authority the supply of water to
the public outside of the borough is undertaken by the Minersville Water Company,
is not known to the State Department of Health. The Company reports that the
poulation supplied with water outside of Minersville borough is in the neighborhood
of three thousand.
The system is a high service gravity supply, affording a pressure reaching from
sixty-five to one hundn.'d and fifty pounds per square inch.
The company has not submitted any plans of its water pipe system in the
borough showing the sizes, location of valves and draining fa(;ilities.
The source is obtained from three streams located in Schuylkill County in
Cass Township and north of j\[ine Hill, namely Dyers, WagiuTs and Wheelers
Creek. These streams are all tyiiicul fresh water inouiilain lirooks with no habi-
tation whatever on their wat(;rshe(ls above tiie reservoir from which the supply is
taken.
Dyers Run is the largest of the three brooks. It has a watershed of five square
miles. This stream heads in springs on the top of I'.road Mountain four miles
from lis mouth. The growth on its watershed of four square miles consists of
shiiibs, bushes and some second growth timber. The soil is mostly the disin-
tegrate*! conglomerate, together with some clay and loam. At one time the
Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven Railroad (PliiLidelphia and Reading Railway)
between Minersville and Cordon Plane |)assed (i\er this shed, but the road is
now abandoned and the tracks torn up. The I'oiul bed is not used for purposes of
traffic. The largest rt'servoir of thf; system is locnted on this stream about three
and three-tenth miles from the borough and iil !in ele\:ili(in oi' eleven hundred
and forty feet mr-an sea level. It consists of ;i (Inin Ihiowii .lemss a gully and
is said to have a capneity of about nine million giilions. 'I'lie diim is a dry sloue
masonry djim with a clay puddle cord and ;i puddle I'Mce, from it lejids :\ fourteen inch
supply inain. The vegetation and org;iiiic growth Wiis cleaned olT the site before
water was allowed to impound. There are no present indications that such growth
exists. There is a caretaker at this reservoir.
The seeond resiTvoir in size is situated at Wagners Creek, ji smnll sli'eiini
liavin'^ a watershed at)ove the dam of seven-leiilli square miles. Tills stream is
directly east of I)yers Run, but in a small valley of I'.roiid Mountain and the
general conditions ndative to it are the snmc. as those on Dyers Run. The im-
pounding reservoir is of same kind and construeted like the olheis and is dis-
tant about Iv.o and nin"-tentlis miles from Minersville. It has a capacity of
approximately six hundred thousand giillons. The water discharges inio an ('ight
inch pipe line Inid for iibout a luilf mil*' parallel to the strejim and there connects
to the fourteen inch line from the Dyers Run reservoir to Minersville.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 651
Whc'clci's Creek jjarallfls aud is Immediately east of Wagner's Creek. It is a
small stream and upon it the third reservoir of the system is located. This structure
is of the same class as the others and has a stora;?e capacity of three hundred
thousand gallons. 'J'iie watcrsht'd above is estimated to be three tenths of a square
mile in ana. An eight inch svipiily main is laid down the valley about one-half
mile to the fourteen inch supply main to the Dyei-s Run reservoir.
The last two named reservoirs are at a higher elevation than the larger one.
They are held as an auxiliary supply of minor importance.
The west branch of the Schuylkill River above Minersville passing up stream
follows the course nearly northerly for a distance of about two miles and thence
it turns at right angles around the end of Mine Hill and its course is due west
into the Broad Mountains, a distance of about four miles, where are its head-
waters. Dyers Run and Wagners and Wheelers Creeks flow southerly and empty
into the west branch. Tfie main fourteen inch supply pipe from Dyers Run reservoir
is laid down the valley of the west branch of the Schuylkill to Oak Hill colliery
near Minersxille borough line. Here the fourteen inch main branches into two
eight inch lines, both of which are extended to the borough of .Minersville and
parts of Cass and New Castle Townships. New Castle Township lies east of
Cass Township and east of the west branch of the Schuylkill River. Norwegia
Township is east of the river opposite Minersville and for some distance north
of it. The said fourteen inch gravity supply main in following down the valley
passes out of Cass Township through a small portion of New Castle Township, but
it is not known to pass through any of the Norwegian Township territory. Ulf
of this line in Cass Township and New Castle Township there are branch pipes
used to supply water to the public and to Lytle, Pine Hill, Oak Hill and West
Pine Knob coal collieries. From the information submitted by the Minersville
Water Company, it is not known whether such company owns these branch
supply pipes.
On July second, eighteen hundred and ninety, the Crystal Water Company
was incorporated to supply water to the public in Cass Township, Schuylkill
County. It appears that this corporation, which is controlled by the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal and Iron Company, has an impounding reservoir of con-
siderable size on a stream in the western part of Cass Township, from which it
supplies water to the public and to collieries in that portion of said township and to
the Otto Water Company in Reilly Township to the west and to Deep Water Com-
pany in Branch Township, to the south, said county. In the Crystal Water
Company's chartered territory is located the Lytle colliery of the Susquehanna
Coal Company and the plans filed by said water company in the otiice of the Com-
missioner of Health show a pipe line laid to said colliery, llowever, the Miners-
ville Water Company and also the officers of the said Lytle colliery both state
that water is furnished and sold by the Minersville Water Company to the
Lytle Coal Company at its said colliery which is in Cass Township, north of
and about one and one-half miles distant from Minersville borough. It also appears,
as above stated, that the Minei-sville Water Company furnishes water to the Pine
Hill colliery, located in the same neighborhood and operated by Sturgis and
company. Furthermore, the said water company supplies water to the Oak
Hill colliery of Lelsenring, Writer and Company, located in Cass Township, at the
end of the fourteen inch supply pipe above mentioned. It also furnishes water to
the West Piue Knob colliery of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company, located in Cass Township, near the mouth of Dyers Run.
On December seventeenth, eighteen hundred and ninety, the Forestville Water
Company of Minersville was chartered to exist for twenty years to supply water
to the public in Cass Township, Schuylkill County. The pipe lines of this <-or-
poration was laid to supply the said Lytle colliery and miners' houses in the neigh-
borhood. Water is furnished by the said Minersville Water Company and by the said
Crystal Water Company. It is estimated that alwut seven hundred and fifty
people rely upon the Forestville Water Company for their drinking water.
The water works of tlie Forestville Water Company comprise only the pipe
lines, pump and tanks at the colliery and the settlement in the vicinity. No
detail plans have been submitted.
The petitioner proposes to build a new dam and reservoir. The following is a
copy of the application:
"On behalf of the Minersville Water Company, a company incorporated under
the Act of the (General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, P. L.
six hundr-d and thirty-nine, approve<l the thirteenth day of April, eighteen hun-
dred and fifty-live, 1 make application for a permit authorizing the said company
to construct a reservoir for the i)uri»o.>ie of impounding an additional water supply
from the watei-s of Dyers Run in I'ass Townshi|), Schuylkill County. Pennsylvania,
about nine thousand feet on said stream, above the location of the company's
present impounding reservoir thereon, and also to do whatever is necessary to
protect the water of the said stream frcm pollution anil diminution.
"I enclose you herewith a certified blue print copy of the preliminary plan
of the breast of the proposed dam. aud also a certified blue print copy of a pre-
liminary plan of the proposed reservoir, the location of which will be found upon
the plans and surveys of the said company's water works, etc., already on file
in your office, in compliance with the Act of April twenty-second, nineteen hundred
and five."
652 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
The object of the dam is to store water to be used during droughts only. It
will be an earth and rock tilled structure, having a concrete core wall four feet
thick with puddle on the inner slope. The design will provide for a forty-five
foot stiiicture in the future but for the present the dam is to be erected twenty
feet only to the crest. This will give a storage for the present of about twenty-
eight million gallons increased to fifty million gallons for the higher elevation. The
watershed above the site of the dam has an area of about one and one-half
square miles. The fall in the stream between the proposed reservoir and the old one
is three hundred and forty feet and the intervening territory is a narrow, rock valley
a few hundred feet wide and luiinhabited. The iilaii is to open the valves in the
new reservoir and permit the impoiuided ^^■aler to flow down the niu to I he
lower reservoir.
The watersheds of the Minersville "\Vat(u' Company's ^supply being iniiubabited
are free from permanent sources of pollution. The only danger, therefore, to
contamination of the supply, is that of accidental pollution. The water gives
satisfaction to the consumers and there seems to be no reason why the desired permit
should not be granted to the Minersville Water Company. On the day of the
Department's inspection at the site of the new dam, trees and stumps were being
cleared and the organic matter on the land to be flooded was being removed to some
extent. The total area to be flooded is not known nor the extent of shallow flow-
age, except that the preliminary sketch shows a fairly good depth of Howage
for the higher dam. In case of deterioration of the cjuality of water by
vegetable organisms, such remedies as are customary would have to be applied by the
water company to remove tastes and odors from the water. The aeration of the
water in the mile and three-quarters course between the two dams would operate
naturally to benefit the water, and it would seem reasonable to wait until the
deterioration of water occurs, if ever, before determining the best remedies;
but the water company should expect to be advised and required to apply remedies
V. henever needed.
The supply of water to the public outside of its chartered tenitoiy is a matter
which cannot receive the approval of the Commissioner of lieallh iiiiLil the rights
so to supply water beyond the limits of Minersville borough shall have been ac-
quired by said company.
It has been determined that the water works system and source of supply and
the proposed new source of supply and extension of water pipes within the limits
of Minersville borough will not be prejudicial to public health and the same is hereby
and herein approved and a permit granted therefor under the following conditions
and stipulations:
FIRST: On or before the first day of January, nineteen hundred and nine,
the water company shall prepare a detail plan of the water pipes in the borough
showing their sizes, location of gates, blow-offs and drainage facilities and the
same with respect to the pipes belonging to the company outside of the borough
limits, also detail plans and elevations of the reservoirs, dams, gates and drain-
age facilities thereof belonging to the company and file the same in the office of the
Commissioner of Health. Thereafter at the close of each season's work, plans shall be
filed by the said company of the watei' pipes laid during the year, in the office of
the Commissioner of Ilealili. together with any other information in connection
therewith that may be recpiired, to the end that tiie State Di-partment of Health
may always be informed of the extent of the water works and the use thereof.
SECOND: On or before Jaiuiary first, nineteen iunidred and nine, the water
com[»any shall file with the Commissioner of Health, detail jjlans of the new
reservoir and dam.
THIRD: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
water works system or any part thereof oi the source of supply shall have become
prejudicial to the public health, then siu-h remedial measures shall be adopted
as the Clonunissioner of Health may advise- or appio\c.
FOURTH: If any lumber operations slK>uid be ninlerlnken <mi I lie watershed
or any liabitation or source of i)olhition be estalilished on the wateished at any
time, the water company shall immediately notify the Conunissioner of lleallli
thereof and co-operate with the State Department (if Heiiitli in enl'orceiiient of
sanitary regulations to safeguard the purity of the waters used by said comi)any
as a Houree of supply to the public.
l'MF'1'11: If the imblic health shall refpiire it, the State P.oard of Health shall
establish rules and regiibit ions for the ojieralion of llie waters woi'ks systcun
and tlie water conipatiy shall be Iiound in aceeptiiig lliis permit to abide by and
observe sneh rules and regulations in so far as tliey shall rehib' to publie health
matters.
SIXTH: Ai)|)roval by the < 'onniiissioner of Health of IIk^ supply by the Miners-
ville Water Com|)any to the pubiie in any other teri'itory extrept that prc'seiiixd by
its charter, is hr-rein withheld and denied. However, if the company shall first
obtain a legal right to H\ipply water in IIk- townships throuiih which its nniiu
supply pipes are located, the Commissioner of lieallh may thereupon grant an
approval for such su|)i)ly to the public.
Harrisburg, I'a., July2;Jrd, 1908.
No. 17. COMMISSIOxNER OF HEALTH. 653
.M()K(;.vxzA, \\'Asiii.\(rru.\ culxtv.
I'l'uusylvauia Refoim School.
TliLs appliciUiuii was inadt; l).v ilio Board of Mana^rtT.s of llic rennsylvania Ileform
Siliool, i(x-al<'d at Morsauza, (^ecil Town.sliip, Wa.sliiu;,'tou ("ounly, and is for ap-
proval of plans for water tillers, iiuprovements to llie water works sysu-in and for
a new ini|i.>iiii(lini^ reservoir.
It appeals tiial tlie Pennsylvania Reform School is a State Institiitiou for the care
and education of iiuoirinihh; children up to the ago of twenty-one years. The
selio(d was estalilished in eigliteei; hundred and lifty-two on the site of* the present
peuitentiaiy in I'ittslmrg. in eighteen hundred and seventy-two, it was moved
in its (iiiirety to llie iiresent site at Morgauza. The institution to-day comprises
a main luiiiding, four cottages for boys and a large building for tlut care of the
girl pupils, a public .school building for boys, three shop buihlings iu which
trades are taught to the boys, a hospital and farm buildings. There are in pro-
cess of erection two cottages, oiu' for boys and one for gii'ls, and a large gym-
uasiiun and a power house. They are all situated on a live liumlred and twelve acre
tract of land icjcaled iu Cecil Township, Washington County, norlli and west
of Charliers Creek, which Ihiws in a general south-easterly direction by the property.
This creek makes a large ImikI in its course so that it forms the western boundary
of the southerly portion <if ijje property and through this part the Chartiers
Valley Division of the riiisburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
extends. Morgauza Station is on the land occupied l)y the state buildings.
The Administration IJuiKling and four cottages are directly back froiu the station
on a bluU' which is one hundred feet or so above the creek valley and the other
buildings are situated back from this bluff on rising ground which is laid out in
regular plots and drives for the prospective cottage d.veiopmeut of the institution.
Near the nortbein ixmndar.N' of the land resi-rved for future cottages is a water
course locally known as Morgauza Rtui which rises north iu the township near the
village of Hishop and pursues a generally southerly direction, a distance of about two
and a half miles, to Chartiers Creek. The latter seventeen hundred feet of the
course follows closely the northern boundary of the State property.
The valley of tliis run and the entire watershed is under cultivation.
The population of the institution, including officers, numbers about five hundred
aiul fifty. It is estimated that the average daily water consumption approximates
one hundred and twenty-five thousand gallons.
On the institution grounds in the northern part, a small intake dam on Morganza
Run was erected to divert the water of the stream iiito the water pipe system of the
institution and this source was the first supply. Later, owing to the inadequacy
of the supply, an intake dam and pumping station was erected near the banks
of Chartiers Creek and the major j^ortion of the supply was drawn from the creek.
Subsequently, owing to coal mine operations and the pollution of the watei>>
by mine drainage and sewage, the creek supply was abandoned, except for
emiM'gency uses, and Morganza Run was again resorted to. A small intake dam
of timber construction was built on the run live hundred feet below the site of
the original dam and the water was conveyed by a pipe to an artificial pond on
the bank of the stream about five hundred feet distant. This basin was an earth
structure, partly excavated and partly held iu eml)ankment, being about one
hunilred and forty feet long by eighty wide, affording a three foot depth of water.
Its use was that of a pumj) well and ice poml. From this basin the water was
pumped into a distributing reservoir on the hill in the northern part of the insti-
tutitu' grounds elevated about one hundred and eighty feet above the main
building.
At tlie present time the institution's water supply is derived from three sources;
first, raw water from Morganza Run for general inferior uses; second, from springs
for drinking i)urposes ; and third, from Chartiers Creek and a drilled well at the
creek pump house for inferior uses.
Th(> nuiin supply is derived from the run and is diverted by means of a dam
and the ten inch tile pipe to the oj)en basin and pump well above described. The
water is raised by means of a horizontal, dui)lex pumping engine of five hundred
gallons capacity per miiuite through aljout a half mile of six inch cast iron force
main to the distributing reservoir locati'd on the hill north of the institution.
The distributing reservoirs are two in number, each seventeen feet deep and
Ihirl.v-six feet by fifty-one feet in plan, vertical walls brick lined, cement bottom,
having a combined capacity, at a depth of fifteen feet of waiter, of four hundred
and thirteen thousand gallons. There are fai'ilities alTorded at the bottom of these
n-servoirs for drainage. The pumi)ing engine is operated daily for a few houi-s
until the high water mark is reached.
From these reservoirs the water is supplied by gravity to all the buildings, in-
clu<ling the barns, stal>les and farm house, ami is useil for flushing, sprinkling,
li.iihing, stock, and other ireneral puri>oses, exi^ept for drinking. ( >iie of the rules
of the institution forbids the use for drinking of the faucet suiiply ; but it has
been found diflicult to entirely i)revent.the use for this purijose.
There is no i)Ian in existence of the distributing pipe .system. There appears
to lie a six inch and eight inch sujjply line from the hill reservoir. About the grounds
at convenient points fire hydrants have been erected. It is reported that most of
42
654 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
the distributing pipe is four inches iu diameter. The value of the state buildings
and the necessity for adequate fire protection warrants the obtaining of accurate
knowledge of the exact diameters of the water pipe.
It is possible, by means of valves and connootious, to pump Morganza Run
^^ ater directly into the distributing system, by-passing the reservoire, so it is
reported. The facts as to this by-passing should also be ascertained and ac-
curately indicated on the plans.
For drinking purposes, water is obtained from two or three springs located on
the ground. The principal spring is on the hillside in front of the admin-
istration building and about half way distant between said building and the
railroad station. The formation is limestone and originally there was a small
ravine in which the spring gushed forth from the limestone. Rocks were thrown
in here and carefully piled together and then the ravine was filled with earth
up to the general level of the lawn as it may be seen to-day. A two inch pipe
extends from the underground spring down hill towards the railroad and ter-
minates in a galvanized iron tank about eighteen inches in diameter and three
feet high, resting on a brick foundation slightly abo\e the surface of the ground.
There is a faucet near the bottom of this tank from which water is drawn for tise.
Formerly a water wagon hauled all the drinking water to the main buildings,
supplemented by family bucket brigades for fresh water supply to the cottages
for table use. This system is maintained in part at the present time, but gen-
erally speaking the girls' buildings are uow supplied by a pumping system. The
overflow from the iron tank is piped to a brick, cement lined, storage basin of
about fifty barrels capacitj', located near the railroad and the old power hotise,
where there is a small pumping engine which raises the water through a two inch
force main to a second brick, cement lined reservoir of the same size, located in the
ground back of the Administration Building and near the group of shops. This
structure is elevated sufficiently high to furnish a gravity flow under low pressure
to the ground floor or basement of the Administration Building and four cot-
tages adjacent thereto.
Another important spring is in the grove on the slope towards Chartiers Creek
northeast of the shops. The water flows from limestone rock through an inch pipe
and falls free into an artificial stone basin in which there is no storage. The
water is obtained here by putting receptacles under the end of the pipe.
The next spring of importance is in the immediate vicinity of one of the new cot-
tages being erected and within seventy-five feet of the main fifteen inch sewer
of the institution. It is reported that this spring which comes from the lime-
stone is in what was formerly a ravine, which has been filled in a manner similar
to that described with respect to the first spring herein mentioned. A six inch pipe
about two hundred and fifty feet long conveys this water to an open, brick lined
basin about three feet in diameter and flush with the surface of the ground. Sur-
face water contamination is possible here. It is always full of water. The over-
flow is into a nearby lily pond. Water has been occasionally taken from this
well for drinking purposes, more especially by the families in the three nearest
cottage-s.
During the latter part of the current season, a spring at the farm house has
been drawn upon. It is in a spring house, the water flowing from the bank out
of the limi'Stoue.
At the Chartiers Creek pump house there is a drilled well, deep and connected
up to the pump. The machinery is old. The water raised from this well has an
odor and disagreeable taste and the -supply is limited. At the piunp house there is a
seventy-five thousand galhjn, circular, brick pump well, into which the deep-
seated water is delivered and from whence, by a second pumping engine, the water
JH forced into the distriijuting system of tin; institution. This latter pump may
also draw water directly from the creek and ddivi'r it into the system. When-
ever the Morganza Run supply is insufficient, the driven well is resorted to and
finally raw wali-r is used. Any surplus pumpage overflows from the pipes into
th<* distributing reservoirs on the hill.
On the hill adjacent to the twin distributing reservoirs is a large reservoir ap-
proximately one hundred feet scpiare, with sloping sides and thirteen and a half
feet deep. It is brick-linefl. This struct ure is not water tight and hence is not
in use. 'ITie capacity on a twelve foot i)asis is slightly in excess of five hundred
thousand gallons.
The watr-rshed of Morganza Run above the intake dam has an area of about two
Hfjuare miles and on it there ;ire twelve dwellings, all occupied but one. Nine
of tlie estates are fairiis. There an? (piite a number of oil (ii'oducing w(>lls on
the watershed and new wells aie being drilled from lime to time. A detailed map
of the drainage area and occu|)ation thereof is now being prejjared by the J'.oard
of .Managers and will be filed in the ollice of the State Depart tiieiit of Health.
The institution has witnessed considerable typhoid fever dui'ing its thirty-
two years' existenee at .Morgiinza. Three limes it has shown in (-pidemic form.
The attending physician reports seventy cases for eighteen huiulred and ninc^ty-
eight, sixty ruses "for nineteen hundred and three, nine cases for nineteen hundred
and seven and forty cases for the eurrent yejir. With a few cases occurring in
other years, the total has been nearly two hundred cases during the last ten years,
the cause of which has never been deternuned.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
65r
On July twelfth, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, the first case appeared
in Cottage D, where the boys average fifteen years of age. In the following table
the dat'! of onset of each case and the location of cottage in which the patient
resided are shown:
LOCATION OF COTTAGES.
1908.
Date of
Onset,
No. of
Cases.
Cottages.
Average age
of boys.
18S
13i
17i
July 12, 1
Aug. 1 2
Aug. 2 2
Aug. 3. 3
Aug. (i, 1
Aug. 7, — 2
Aug. 8. 4
Aug. 9, - - 4
Aug. 10, 3
Aug. 11, - 2
Aug. 12, - 2
Aug. 13, - 2
Aug. 14, 2
Aug. 15, 1
Aug. 17 - 1
Aug. 18, 1
Aug. 19, 1
Aug. 20. -- 1
Aug. 21, 1
Aug. 23, - 2
Aug. 26, 1
Aug. 29. — 1
During the time covered by the table and the outbreak, Morganza Run water
was generally supplied to the buildings and the two principal springs were in
general use for driiikiug puiijoses. It will be noticed that no cases occurred in the
girls' cottages or among adults, so the infection was not likely to have come from
any food or water supply in general use. The milk supply" was run down and
found to be pui'e. If the conclusion be correct, the Morganza Run and the two
principal springs are relieved from suspicion and there remains Lily Spring to
e.Kamine.
It will be noted that the cases occurred in the cottages supplied by drinking
water partly from Lily Spring. Cottage E is nearest the spring and in it there were
thirteen cases anil there were thirtei-u r-ascs in Cottage A, the lU'.xt nearest l)uilding.
There were eleven cases in Cottage H, which is the third from I>ily Spring. The
other three cases were in the buildings further removwl. It appears that the ei)idemic
was confined to the users of Lily Spring, because in Cottages E. A and B the
boys had daily access and drew water from Lily Spring as previously described.
The dates of onset indicate a weakened infection. and a continual recurrenco to the
poison. It is such an outbreak as would be expected where a number of families
use infected water from a spring week in and week out. The type of the disease
was the mildest form. There was one death only. The investigator would nat-
urally look for a constantly polluted source of non-virulent kind and it is believed
that the Department has discovered such source of infection in the sewer previously
mentioned and distant seventy-five feet from the sprinir.
Every occupied estate on tiie watershed was visited. No typhoid fever was dis-
covered. During the previous year tiiere was one case on the shed.
The first case, on July twelfth, was located in Cottage D at the end of the
main sewer line. Durins thf> first week of the August outbreak the main sewer
was opened near Lily Spring by the superintendent and the structure was found
to be in a leaky condition and immidiately Lily Spring was put out of commission
permanently by cementing ui» tin will. Its use had been proiiibited on .Vuirust sec-
ond, on suspicion. Durinii the middle of the month, while exiavations were being
made for the basement of one of the new cottages over the main sewer, distant
about two hundred and fifty feet from the spring, it was discovered that every
joint was broken in a distance of aiiout eighty feet, indicating that a similar
condition may obtain throughout the entire sewer line. Closer inspection revealed
that the joints on the bottom had never been properly cemented. When it is re-
calli'd that such a main sewer passes fifteen feet above and seventy-five feet dis-
tant from Lily Spring and that the structure is porous and partly filled earth.
656 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
the connection between the infection disc-harjied into the sewer line from Cot-
tage D on and prior to July twelfth and the subsequent infection of Lily Spring
followed by the daily onset as reported can be understood.
A hole was duar in the porous soil near the sewer and a salt test was applied,
showinsr that twelve hours" time would permit the passage of the salt water into
thi^ spring. Hence sewage fron: the sewer pipe could pass through iu ihis lime.
It was concluded by the institution and State authorities that an improved sew-
erage system and water works system was demanded at the institution.
The plans now submitted provide for the construction of a dam to be located
a few hundred feet above the present intake on Morgauza Run, entirely on the
property of the Institution. This dam is to be an earthen euhankment, concrete
core wall structure, twenty-five feet above the bed of the stream and length over all
three hundred feet. Across the top of the dam is to be a roadway twelve feet
wide. The top of the core wall will be flush with the surface of the roadway.
Normal high water iu the reservoir will be four feet below. The sides of the dam
will slope unifonuly on either side two feet liorizoutal to every vertical foot and the
slope on tlie reservoir side is to be riprapped from the top of the dam to an eleva-
tion fourteen feet lower to prevent erosion by wind and ice action. Flood run-
offs, and waste water are to be carried around the dam through a spillway channel
excavated in the hillside. The entrance to this sjiillway is a semi-circular, concrete
weir, elevation nine hundred and tifty-hve, which hxes the height of normal water
in the reservoir. The channel is thirty-one feet wide on the top and lifteen feet on
the bottom. The bed and the vertical side two feet high are to be built of concrete
and from these vertical sides the slopes are to be stone paved. The total vertical
height from the bed of the spillway is six feet. The flood discharge capacity is based
on a run-off of eight Inuidrcd culiic feet per second.
A line of perforated pipe along or near the bottom of the core wall inside and a
few feet above the toe of the down stream slope of the dam is connected up to a
well for the collection of seepage water. The core wall is to be imbedded in rock
six feet below the channel of the run and along the extreme toe of the outer slope
is a layer to a depth of about two feet of broken stone.
This dam will impound over twenty million gallons, equivalent to five months'
supply to the institution at the present rate of consumption. The area flooded
will cover about eight acres and the greatest depth of the water will be twenty
feet. At the upper end of the basin, which is about twelve hundred feet long and an
average of about three hundred feet wide, tliere is some shallow tiowage, but not
much. The site is grass land. It is proposed to strip the shores of the reservoir
comprising that portion submerged at high water to a depth of four feet. Loam
and sul)-soil will be partly used in facing the lower slope of the dam. Outside of
this stripping the flooded area is to remain as it now is; but at the site of the dam,
of coui-se, all material is to be removed to solid earth. In fact, this has been
dom? and the structure has been partly built. An appropriation of tw(>nty-five
hundred dollars was made by the Legislature of nineteen hundred and seven for the
land. The work is being performed by the pupils and it is intended to complete the
work with this labor. An added appropriation will be needed for material.
I'rovision for draining the reservoir consists of a small conc'rete intake on the
bottom above the dam, ten inch cast iron pipe protected by a screen extending
through the bottom of the dam to an outl(;t concrete chamber down stream. The
gale on this pipe line is near the outlet. If the water in the lower layer of the res-
ervoir should be used at any time, this blow-off ari'angement by mi-ans of a connec-
tion can deliver the water to the main supply pip<' to the institution.
The eigiit inch cast iron main supply inpe begins .-it a circular concrete basin
called the aerator, located nearly below the dam. This structure is twenty feet
in diameter, four feet deej) and in the centn; there is a vertical |)i|)e, at the top
of which there is afhxed a nozzle to si)ray the water. 'I'his riser pipe is con-
necter! by iwo six incii f<!ed pipes leading to the reservoir, one of tlii^se ])ipes has
its end submerged two and a half feet below the iHirmal surI'Mce of the reservoir
water and the other pipe is submerged five fei't lower. 'I'he gates on this feed pipe
are near the aerator.
Owing to the extensive demands on institutional hibor, it is jiol piaclicable to build
the proposed filter plant excejit by contract, i In rcroi", .in :i|i|ir(iiirinlion must be
sermred.
The Stale Def)artment of Health has made inspections of ll slates on the water-
shed and will assist the management of tin' Keform ScIkkiI in maintaining a pa-
trol and s;milary regulations. lOven llwu I he supply would mil he absolutely safe.
Filtration is necessary. I'sually the stream is :i <le,ir one. lis luibid |)eriods are
of short duration.
The proposed filtration ))lant is to receive the water by gi'avily fi-om the new
impounding reservoir. Jt is to be located near the existing pump bouse on the
l)iinks f>f (he run. It is desigm-d to purify three hundred Ihonsand gallons of
water daily, at a net rate of Ix-twi-eii one and a liiill' and two million gallons per
acre i)er diiy. This conservative rale has been adopted ber-iiiise ai' the turbiditiiss of
the water. The slow sand method is proi)osed becjiuse it is peculiarly adapteil for this
jnHtitutiim. 'J'he reason is that the operations may be enti'usled to selected pu-
pils, br-cansi' of simplicity. The operations of ineclmnicnl (illei's would, il is thought,
No. 17. COI\LMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 657
involve skilled attontion, necessitating? an adililional pcnuanont expense which
may be avoided. Filters are to be in duplicate, each seventy feet by sixty feet in-
terior dini<>nsions of filtering area on either side of a central gallery housed over,
which gallery is liftcen feet. The water is to be delivered by gravity into a con-
trol chamber in liic foiward i)art of the building. Into and out of this chamber
lead ihe pipes canyiug the influent, effluent and waste water. The regulating valves
and indicating ajjparatus are located here. lieyond this chami)cr the gallery is
divided by longitudinal walls, which walls form the main wall of each filter.
There is an extension of the fdtering surface to this wall so that from the platfoiTO
above may be seen the surface of the water on the filters. Adjacent to the con-
trol chamber is a plat form in each filter unit level with the surface of the sand from
whirh an inrliin> ri.ses. The further end of the gallery is to be utilized as tiie
sand washing room. This floor is concrete. Here will be set up the ordinary ma-
chinery for sand washing with jet from reservoir pressure. The waste water will
be delivered to the drain, an eight inch cast iron pipe, leading. to and tenniuating
in the main drain at the conlrul chamber. This main drain is to take the over-
flow, if any. fi'oni the surface of the filters and also for draining the filters,
there being a by-pass connection between the drain and the main effluent pipe.
This main drain has its outlet into the run near the pump house.
The concrete floor of each filter unit slopes to the middle where there is a ten
inch vitrified pipe laid below the floor into which half channel six inch tile pipe,
iaifl in parallel rows ten feet on centers, will deliver the filtered water. These
underdrains are to be surrounded in the customary manner by coarse filtering ma-
terial graded and over all is to be placed four feet ten inches, average depth, of
filter sand. This material is to be water washed and graded to a uniform size
suitable for the inirposi*. Tl.e high water mark is to be four feet above the sand
level or at eh'vatioii nine tliousnnd three hundred and lifly-five, nineteen and a
half feet below the normal level m the impounding reservoii-. Hence it may be
seen that there is sutlicient fall for the delivery by gravity to the filter plant
of run water, even if the reservoir supply were depleted or drained for any
purpose.
The scraping of the filters is to be done by hand by institutional labor. The
sedimentation is so great in the impounding reservoir that precipitants may
be avoided. Furtheimore, the storage of filtered water is so great that the filter
operati(.ns may be suspended during times of great turbidities.
The filters are to be covered with a concrete roof supporting two feet of soil.
A clear water basin, fifty by forty feet in plan, of concrete construction, bot-
tom, siiles and roof, ten feet deej) to flow line, holding one hundred and fifty
thousand gallons or twelve hour.s' flow, based on the normal capacity of the filters,
is to be located adjacent to the pump house. Connected with the present pumping
engine there is to be an eight inch suction pipe terminating in the clear water
basin at a point diagonally oi)posite the inlet.
It is purposed to make the large distributing reservoir on the hill water-
tight and to cover it and the adjacent twin reservoirs with a concrete roof.
Proper drainage facilities and overflow arrangements are to he provided. The
combined storage capacities of these three basins will be slightly under one mil-
lion gallons, or a week's supply to the instit\ition.
It is also proposed to make some changes in the distributing pipes through the
ground. The plan is to provide a direct c(mnection from the pump (o the pipes
leading to some of the main buildings, in order that the distributinsr reservoir
may be cut out temporarily, if necessary, or, in case of accident, to admit of direct
pumpage. The ))rescnt reported liy-pass is not consid(>red suitable <u' sufficient.
With the proposed improvements carried out, and the watershed placed under
sanitary control and the filter plant operated in a proper manner, the water
supply at the l{(>f(U-m Schocd slioulil be eipml to the l)est obtainai)le, provided the
existing sources be nbsolulidy abandoned.
The drilled well and ("harliers Creek supply is prejudicial to health as a water
supply. Imnu^diately on the installation of the filter plant and the successful in-
n>iguration of it, the p\uni)ing machinery at the Chartiere Creek pump house
should be removed.
The Tiily Siiring has been abandoned. Tliis should be followed, as soon as
filtered water be introduced at the insiitution by the abandonment of the principal
sprinir in fnmt of the uiain Imil.ling, and, meantime, the Department will make
monthly bacteriological examinati<ni of the s|)ring water on n-ci-ipt of samples
sent by the nianageuKMit of the school. This is necessary bi<cause ihi' geoloi;i<'ai
formation and relative positions of the main sewer and the spring and the proi>iible
faulty conilitieu of the sewer introduce an element of risk iuvcdving the security of
inim.'in life, which Ihe Stale Department of Hejilth and the iiistituliou managemenl
should not a.ssume in Ihe face of the faiMs. While it appears that this water has
been iiure, so far as is known, and it may continue on test to be found pure.
ncverthele-;s. this does not alter the proposition as stated above. Finally, it is not
necessary to continue this spring in use after the filtered water .shall have been
introduced.
The conipletion of the dam .should be inistened and the erection of the filter plant
aNo. At the close of the season of nineteen hundred and nine, both improvements
should be comi)leted.
42—17—1908
658 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
A duplicate purapinjr eugine and steam plant should be installed at the pump
house and necessary enlar^iemonts and additions in connection therewith.
It has been determined that the proposed improvements will not be prejudicial
to public health and a permit is hereby and herein granted therefor, subject to the
following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: The Board of Managers shall endeavor to obtain an adequate ap-
propriation for the erection and completion of the impounding reservoir, filtra-
tion plant, proposed changes and improvements to the distributing system, including
an additional pumping outfit, in order that these improvements shall be com-
pleted by the close of the season of nineteen hundred and nine.
SECOND: The water filters shall be built under the responsible supervision
of the experts who designed them, or some other expert equally competent to
render the ser\-ice. And the plant shall be operated for a reasonable length of
time after being put in conunission under the responsible direction of such an
expert, in order that the efiicicncy of the entire plant as designed shall be ob-
tained.
THIRD: The Board of Managers shall notify the State Department of Health
when the filter plant is ready for the final test and after it shall have been determined
to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Health that the filter plant is efficient,
it shall be put into commission and nothing l)ut filtered water shall be delivered
to the institution. All existing and present sources of water supply, except the
filtered Morganza Run water, shall be discontinued and the pumping engines in
connection therewith shall be dismantled.
FOURTH: Daily reports of the operation of the water works and filter system
shall be kept on blank forms satisfactory to the State Department of Health and
copies thereof shall be filed with the said Department whenever required.
FIFTH: If at any time in the opinion of the State DL^partment of Health
the water works system or any part thereof, or the watiM- supplied thereby,
shall become prejudicial to public health, then such remi'dial measures shall be
adopted and enforced as the Department may approve or advise.
SIXTH: The Board of Manasers shall maintain a sanitary patrol on the
watersheds. Every occupied estate in operation shall be inspected at least once
monthly, all nuisances and menaces shall be noted and promptly reported to the
State Department of Health, together with prompt information as to the out-
break of any case of any infectious disease.
The suggestions relative to revision of the system of distributing pipes are espe-
cially called to the attention of the Managers, more particularly in relation to
ade(iuate fire protection.
It is, of course, understood that the distributing reservoirs and pipes will be
thoroughly flushed and cleaned before the introduction of filtered water.
rians of any alterations cr extensions of the water works system as herein
approved shall be filed in the office of the State Department of Health, in order
that the Commissioner of Health may always be informed of the extent of > the
system at the institution.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., November 17, inOS.
MOUNT UNION, IIUNTI.XCDOX COUNTY.
.Mount riiiou Water ("ompany.
This application was made i)y the Aloniil Union Water ('oiiipany of Mount
Union, Huntingdon County, and is lur permission to obtain an afldilioiial source
of supply.
Mount Union Borough is a eomiininity ef about three thousanil, two hundreil
population located on tiie main line of the Pennsyhania Uailioad along tlie south
bank of the Juniata IMver and on the mountain side about twelve! miles down
stream from the county seat and the borough of Huntingdon. It is a thriving in-
dustrial town. Till! principal maniifacture is silica and fire brick. MM)(Me are
two large concerns engaged in this business employing jxissibly six Imiidred men
which have been located in the borough since nineteen hundred. Their advent
has mfjre than doubled th(! po|)ulation. There is also a tannery. 'I'he I'.ioad Top
Railroad which comes down the valley of Aughwir'k (h'eek has its terminal station
in the borough and a connection with the Pennsylvania system. A number of the
railroad hands live in the village. On Die (hits north of the Pennsylvania Rail-
load and the canal (now abandoned) there are iiiimeroiis dwellings where [xjssibly
a third of the inliabitanis n-side. 1'he jiriiieipal i)art of the town, however, is on the
mountain side south of the railroad. Here the grades are steep and tin; ground is
a broken, shaley, clayey Htnicture. Dug wells are used on some of the properti(!S for
the household water siipidy. Some f)f the wells have been abanfloned for this
fnirpose and are now used as a repository for sewage. There are over five hundred
olil liiiie piivy vaults , many <ir them being shallow earth pits full to overflowing. Rain
watr-r can wash this material over llie siirfaee of the ground into the wells.
There is also danger of sub-Hr»il conlaminalion. The risk run in drinking the
^•ater drawn from the ground in proximily t<j the sources of pollution is evitienced
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 659
by the typhoid fever records. It appears that during nineteen hundred and seven
there were seventeen cases; during nineteen hundred and six tiiere were forty-six
eases; and in iunct''t-n liundred and live liiere were at least seventj'-five cases. Prior
lo tills time if unautiienticalfd reports l>o true tliere were even more cases an-
nually. The (')wn is conleniplating the installation of a public sewer system to
remove the poisons away from the vicinity of the dwellings.
The Mount Union Water Company was chartered in June, eighteen hundred
and ninety-nine for the inirpose of supplying water to the public in the borough. It
entered into contract with the local authorities during the following year and
built the works at tliat time.
The existing water works system comprises a collecting reservoir for ground
water, a gravity supply main to the town and a distributing pipe .system in the
village.
The source is a number of springs on the southern end of Jacks Mountain north
of the Juniala River. Part way down the mountain side, there is a cemented
wall across a gully filled ui» with broken gannister rock. The wall inii)ounds
l)ossibly fifty thousand gallons of water which flows down through the rock spaces
from the springs above. The flow line at the dam is about level with the highest
occupied ground in the borough or approximately two hundred feet above the
business secti<in of the borough. The watershed is uninhabited and thickly wooded.
There is no source of pollution on it. From the dam a six inch cast iron main
extends easterly down the mountain side and acro.ss the river channel and along the
railroad a distance of about two miles to town. The village streets are quite
thoroughly pijied and fire hydrants have been erected throughout the town. It is
esiiniaied" that five-sixths of the population use the supply. The Broad Top Rail-
road ("ompaiiy, the tannery and the Harbison- Walker Refractories Company are
liberal eousunKM's of water. The average daily consumption is reported to be
two hundred thousand gallons and the maximum three hundred thousand gallons.
l)uring wet weather Jacks Spring, the main source, furnishes an ample supply but
in dry Weather the company is forced to economize in the supply of water.
The community is in a thriving condition and its principal industries being quite
stable assure some future growth. An ample supply of water for all seasons of the
year and for increased consumption is demanded. The company purposes to obtain
the new supply in addition to the present source from two tributaries of Furnace
Run. There are two mountain brooks each having their source in a spring on the
eastern slope in Jacks Mountain opposite the borough across which, above the old
Lewistown Huntingdon Turnpike, now little used, on which it is proposed to
build a small masonry intake dam at an elevation to be definitely fixed by the
engineer on the level with the Jacks Spring reservoir. It may be three miles
above these proposed dams to the mountain summit, an extent of barren rock
and occasional forested area. There is no source of pollution on it.
From these intakes it is proi)osed to lay a six inch main down the run and across
the river to the town. Where the pipe crosses the river it is to be eight inches
in diameter.
The water company is not in possession of a plan of its water works system
and this information should l)e filed in the Department's office. It would appear that
the present and the additional source of supply are exceptionally good ones.
Undoubtedly storage of water in the borough would he a marked improvement
more especially since the service is supposed to furnish fire protection. The next
six inch main will have an approximate length of one mile north of the river.
It has been determineil that the water-works system and 'the proposed source
of sui)ply will not be prejudicial to the |)ul)lic health and the same are hereby
and herein approved and a permit granted therefor under the fcdlowing conditions
and stipulations:
FIRST: If at any time the sources of supi)ly or the water works system or .any
part thereof shall have become prejudicial to the i)ublic health, in the opinion of
the Coiuniissioner of Health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the
Commissioner of Health may approve or advise.
SF-COND: On or before the first day of January, nineteen hundred and nine,
the Mount I'nion Water Comitany shall prepare plans of its entire water works
system, showing the area of tlH> watershed and the general topography drawn to
scale, the dams and reservoirs, supply mains and profiles thereof, the borouirh
limits and the streets and water itipes therein, with sizes and elevations, gates
and hydrants, and file the same in the olfice of the Commissioner of Health to the
satisfaction of said Commissioner, and thereafter at the dose of each season's
work, a plan of the water pipes laid during the year shall be made and filed in said
olfice, together with any other information in connection therewith that may be re-
quired.
THIRD: The water company shall render such assistame to the State Depart-
ment of Health in making examinations of the water works system and for the
supply from time to time as may be required. Should any quarrying operation be
undertaken on the watershed, the water company shall inuuediaiely notify the
Commissioner of Health and adopt such iirecauticnary me.-isures as the Com-
missioner of Health may |)rescribe for the sanitary protection of the .source of
supply of said comiiany.
TIarrishurg. Pa., June 30th, 1908.
660 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
MOUNTVILLE, LANCASTER COUNTY.
This application was made by the Borough of Mountville, Laut-aster Couuty,
and is for permission to install a system of water-works for the supply of water
to the public in said borough.
Mountville is an old settlement located on the Columbia and Lancaster turnpike,
three and a half miles ea«t of Columbia and six and a half miles west of Lan-
caster, was recently iucorpoiated as a borough and its present population is
reported to be about seven hundred and fifty. The citizens derive their chief
employment from cigar and tobacco factories, of which there are several. There
is also a plow manufacturing company and a brick works.
The village is located on a ridge between the watershed of the west branch of the
Little Conestoga Creek which "flows southerly and Stricklers Run which flows
westerly and discharges into the Susquehanna River at or near the southerly bound-
ary of Columbia borough. It is up the valley of this run that a branch of the
Pennsylvania Railroad passes from Columbia to Lancaster. The easterly portion of
the borough drains into the Little Conestoga and the westerly portion drains into
tributaries of Stricklers Run. The slopes in the borough are sufficient to afford
satisfactory surface drainage. The soil is clayey and the underlying rock is lime-
stone. Privy vaults are used in connection with nearly all of the dwellings in the
town. There are reported to be very few cesspools.
At the present time the inhabitants derive their drinking water from domestic
wells and from cisterns.
There is a demand for fire protection and pressure service and the people desire
running water for dwellings. During the latter part of the year nineteen hundred
and seven the borough authorities were authorized to incur an indebtedness of
twenty-two thousand eight hundred dollars for a municipal water-works plant.
A preliminary plan of the source of supply and of the water works system was pre-
pared and publicly discussed before the bond issue was voted upon and it is
this project v/hich the petitioners submit for approval.
The proposed source of supply is to be taken from springs located about one
mile north of the west end of the borough at a place, or settlement called Chest-
nut Hill, in West llempfield township. The springs, three in number, are located
in the lower portion of the valley about half a mile long and one-eighth of a mile
wide at the head of the main branch of Stricklers Run.
Spring Number One is the most copious one and it is located higher up the
valley than the others. In fact, it is, during dry weather the living source of
Stricklers Run. Above this spring there is an area of twenty-five acres from which
storm water passes in a gully to the run at the spring. Where the water rushes
out through the shah; rock, a loose stone wall enclosing a space four feet in
diameter and backed up with earth two feet in height has been provided as a kind
of protection to the spring. The water in this enclosure finds its way out tliroimh
the stones in the side nearest the run which is two feet distant. It is possibh'
for the surface drainage from the twenty-five acres to backflood into the siiring
under some conditions. On this area there are four occupied dwellings, tliree barns
in use. The privy vaults on these properties are full to above the surface of the
ground and in wet weather the drainage from these vaults and from tin- kitch'-ns,
liaiTiyards and pig-pens goes into the run at the si)ring. The nearest dwelling
to Spring Number One is three hundred feet distant. There is a house, barn, shed
and pig-pen l.ere and* the privy vaiilt, which is full and overflowing, is located
abnu'. twenty feet from the dry water course.
Tiie |)elitioners purpose to deepen Spring Nuinl.nr (»iie, \\;ill il in willi li^lil
masonry and frover it over. The water is to Ih' coiidiK-leil by :i lliice iinh casl
inm pijie (lowii stream abont four htuidred fei^t, wheic a Mine inch cnsl irnii pipe
from Sprinj; Number Two is to be joined with it into a I'lmi- imli i;isi iron pipe,
which is to extend down stream a distance of about three Imiulreil feet, iieross llili
Street, to the proposed collecting reservoir.
Spring Number 1'wo is second in importance with lespecl In size. II is enelused
in a space four feet .square, htivim; brick walls carried lo a level with liie surfaei- of
the urounri. 'I'lu; water stanils within two feet of the top of tlie wall. This
furnishcK living water to th<! main run which is about tiiirty feet distant. Snnlh
of the spring seventy feet distant and sixteen feet higher there is a highway, from
which surface drainage at the pi-esent time passes onto the side slope leading
towards the sprinn. 'I"he iiejiresl residence is on the same side of the highway
as the spring. The jirivy on this property is on I'ising ground slo|)iiig din-clly
towards the spring and not over two hundred and fifty feel away. The vanll was
overflowing at tiie time of the DepartmiMit's inspection.
S|)ring Numbc'- 'I'hree is an abandoned well located ten feel west of Hill Streel and
about one liiMidred mid fifty fer-t distant from the eollecliiu,' resei'vnir proposed.
The water level in the wll is about twelve fr'ct below llii' snrfaee of the ground,
and above it on u side hill and orn; hundred and (ifty feel ■.wvny and fourtr-en fcict
higher there is a privy with no (dl , on occupied properly. If il lie found necessary
and feaKibic;, the flowing water from this well is to lie enndnried \,y n (ln-ee inch
cast iron pipe U) the four ineli pipe jihove mentioned.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 661
Spring Number Four is locntcd in n l):uuyard about one hundred and seventy-
five feet nortlieast of tlie propo.scd collcciiiig reservoir. It is in the side of a hill, is
walled up with loose stou" ami covered over with plank, the spaee enclosed being
about eight feet long and six feet wide. The walls are two and a half feet high
and the w.Tter twelve inc-hes deep.
The petitioners purpose to deeiien and wall up and enclose and securely protect
eaeh spring from surface pollution. Spring number four is to be piped by a three
inch cast iron pipe to the collecting basin. The niaxinuim Mow, excluding the well,
from the spriny:s was measured in October last past to be one liundred and thirteen
thousand gallons i)er twenly-four hours. The minimum flow was measured to be
sixty-eight thousaiul gallons for tlie same period.
I) the forks of the highways, where at present there is a small pond, there is to
be erected an oi)en circular reinforced concrete collecting basin, ninety feet in
diameter, and eight feet high. In this structure the water from the several
springs is to be piped. By means of a receiving chamber and valves the water front
any particular spring may be .shut off, or it may be delivered directly to the eishi
inch supply main to town, or it may be delivered to the receiving chamber and
thence to th(! colled ing basin. Blow-outs and overflow pii>es are provided. The
;;ravity main to the town will draw the water from near the bottom of the
reservoir. The overliow pipe will maintain a depth of six and a half feet of water,
thus assuring a storage of three hundred thousand gallons.
The to)) of the wall will be about two feet above the general surface of the sur-
rounding ground. A fence is to be provided about the structure, but no roof will be
erected over it.
From the reservoir an eight inch main, thirty-six hundred feet long, will extend
to the borough limits. The distributing pipes in the streets of the borough are
to range in diamett r between four and eight inches. The eight inch iiiiie is to
be thirteen liundred feet long, the six inch pipe three thousand feet lonu' and tlw
fcnir inch i)ipe fifteen thousand feet long. The highest point of the distributing
system is at College Avenue and Main Street, where the ground is eighty-four feet
below the level of the water in the reservoir as now planned. This head is equiva-
lent to about thirty-six nounds pressure, with no loss of head due to friction. In
the business section of the town the pres.sure will be about twenty pounds
greater.
The original plans, so it is reported, called for a larger reseiToir and dis-
tributing pipes, the reduction in sizes having been necessary, in order to keep
the cost of construction within the amount appropriated by the borough, which
said amount rei)resents nearly the full borrowing capacity of Mountville. Bids
have been received and the contracts let for the building of the system as now
plannefl. The provision has been made that the plans shall first be approved by the
State Department of Health.
There is no reason, known to the Department, why by careful attention to the
disposition of sewage on the occupied estates at and in the vicinity of the i>ro-
posed sources of supply and by careful protection at each spring to keeii surface
water out, the public health should not be safe-guarded by the proposed plans.
The system, however, will not give first class fire service.
It may be necessary in the future to place a roof over the storage reservoir, in
order to prevent the aboundant growth of certain vegetable oi'ganisms, which may
thrive in ground water exposed to light.
The capacity of the plant is placed at sixty-five thousand gallons daily and the
total estimated consumption should be well within this amount for a number of
years.
The plans accompanying the application have not been drawn to scale and
they do not show the facilities for drainage of the street pipes.
It has biM'u determined that the proposed soui'ce of supply will not be ])rejudicial
to the public- health under certain conditions and permission is hereby and herein
granted thei-efor and for the installation of the pi\iposi>(l water works system, under
the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: T''hat each s|)ring and the well shall be fully protected from surface
drainage i)y means of walls, eml)aukments and ditches and each shall be covered
by a roof properly ventilated.
SE(X)NI): The supply pipes from the springs to the collecting reservoir shall bi;
made water-tight and be provided with a valve at each s[»ring to admit of the
shutting olf of the water.
THIRD: The borough shall make a ni'>Mtlily inspection of every occupied estate
on the w.-ilersheds of the sources of supi>ly herein approved and shall report any
improper disposition of sewage thereon. Rec(>ptacles for sewa:;e shall be i)roviiled
a'L each such proixM'ty and be used in n manner to obviate any |)oIluticn whatsoever
of any waters, which may reach the boi-ouuh si)rinus by surface or under-ground
sources. 'Vho borough shall arran.ue for the innnipl reportin:; to it of the ease
of any infectious or contagious disease, wliich may occur at any time on any
such occupied estate and said borouirh shall fiuthwilh file and transmit such notice
to the Commissioner of Health and the l)on>uy:l) shall lile monthly a coi)y of a report
of inspection of sanitary renditifins at 'aih such occupied estate, in the office of said
Commissioner.
662 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
FOURTH: Ample blow-off and drainaiie racilitios shall be provided at low
poinis in ihe system, accurate plans drawn to seale shall be prepared of each
sprin,:: and the collecting system and storage reservoir showing all valves and ap-
purtenances, together with accurate plans drawn to scale of the distributing system in
the town. Records shall be kept of the operation of the water works on such blank
forms as shall be satisfactory to the State Department of Health, and at the close of
each season's work a plan of the water pipes laid during the year shall be made
and filed with the State Department of Health.
FIFTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
source of supply or the water works or any part thereof shall become preju-
dicial to public health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the
Commissioner of Health may advise or approve.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 1, 190S.
MUHLENBERG TOWNSHH^, BERKS COUNTY.
(Reading Suburban Water Company)
This application was made by the Reading Suburban Water Company ef Muhlen-
berg Township, Berks County and is for permission to obtain a new source of
supply and for permission to furnish water Iherilorm to its consutners in Muhlen-
hei-jc township.
The community supplied by the Reading Suburban Water Company is primarily
a ivsidential suburban district, comprising the village of Hyde Park or Muhlenberg
which stretches north from the Reading city line in Muhlenberg township for about
a mile and a half along the Kutztown road, extending also for considerable dis-
tances on several branch roads. The track of an electric inter-urban car line
between Reading and Allentown occupies the Kutztown road throughout the greater
part of the village. Hyde Park is at an average distance of two miles east of the
Schttylkill river and is located on comparatively flat ground, while east of it the
hills rise rapidly.
There are perhaps two thousand inhabitants in this community at the present
time. Building operations have progressed rapidly in recent yeiirs and bid fair to
continue. About one-third of the properties are furnished with water by the
Reading Suburban Water Company, v^■hile the remainder are said to obtain domes-
tic supplies from individual wells, most of which are dug. There is said to be no
public sewerage. Privies are in common use and cesspools also have been con-
structed, especially for the more modern houses.
The Reading Subtirban Water Company was incorporated under the laws of
Pennsylvania in one thousand nine hundred and two and first constructed works in
one thousand nine hundred and four. It obtains its supply of water at present
from the Reading City Water Works in Adams avenue at the city line, through
a ten inch pipe supplied through the Reading City distributing system by putnping
main from Maiden creek. The leu inch pipe of the Water Company extends north
from the city line about one hundred feet and is then reduced to a smaller size pipe.
The company's pipes extend north in the Ktitztowu road about a mile and a half and
there are lateral pipes in several of the branch streets, some of tliem a half mile
in length. There is a four inch blow-off in the iiinin in the Kutztown road where
the latter crfisses Spring A'allcy cfeck about one Ihousand feei; north of the city
line. It is said this Idow-off will drain practically the whole system. About seven
thousand feet of pipe are said to havi; been laid in nineteen hundred and seven,
making a total of about nineteen thousand feet of pipe owned by the Reading
Suburban Water Company, ranging in size from rnur to ten inches. Some ten
inch pipe has been laid at the northern end of the iii.iin al w liicji poinl il is i)ro-
posed to Introdiicf^ thi; supijly from the ww source.
There are on the i)ipe lines about one htaidred and twenty-live Laps inclttding oiii"
for a brewer.y and one for a dyi! works. These two factories consume mi an
average twenty-one thous;ind gallons per day. The domestic supply is said lo
average sixteen tli(Mtsand gallons per day. making a total of thirly-seven thousand
gallons. Tlii-re are no iii-e pltigs coniiec-ted with the syst(!ni, though it is said that
these could be arranged for should the i)atrons of the company wish I hem.
There aj'e 'lO i)laiis of tin; present system on file in the Departnienl and it is said
that comjilete r)laris have never been made.
Tlir- getting of water from some ollnu' sourire has been madt; n<!(!essiiry. So it is
.«aid, by the a<lion of the city of Reading in refusing to furnish water to the water
comiiany aftei- Sei)temb(!r first, one thousand nine hundred and nine, claiming that
such furnishing of water by a third class city is illegal.
The petitioners propose to construct an intake ainl reservoir on li'rush Valley
Run at a point about two hundred feet higher tiian and one anil a half miles north-
east of Ilyde Park and also in Muhleidierg township and to lay i)i|)eH and furnish
water frcjin said reservoir to their (•onsumers.
Frnsh Valley Run above tin; projxised intake has a sandstone drainage area of
pi-rhaps two iiundred acres on the western slope of the mountain east of the flat
t.'roMnd on which Hyde Park is located. I'he small run follows a southwesterly
course from the upper edge of \ht- watersheil lo Ihe reservoir site where the com-
pany owns about thirteen acres. The distance of Ihe proposed inlake bcAow the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 663
.summit of the tlraiimgo aroa at tl'r bond of the wator courso is ahoiit three tiiousand
feet. Noilhwost of Fnisli Valley Riiii, parallel thereto anil at an averagf distanc
of two lumdi'ed feet, is a imhlic mad leadinjj uorlhward into the valley of Lauri'I
Run. The hottom lauds alouff Frush Valley Run are eiiltivated, while the mountain
.slopes above are covered witli seeond .growth timber.
On the narrow si rip of laud between the run and the public road are located the
dwellings, barns and barn-yards, pi;,'-styes, chicken yards and privies of five
farmsteads, having a combined population of about twenty-five persons. For
many of these proporties the run is the source of water supply for wash water and
wash tubs may be seen set up to diy on the banks of the run, so that pollution of the
stream seems almost inevitable. Dun wt-lls are the usual source of wati^r supply for
other purj>oses. On the ujjper side of the road away from the run are five other
farmsteads, having also a population of about twenty-five people. The surfaci- run-
off from these places collects in the upper road gutter from which a culvert under
the road carries the water to the lower side, whence it may reach the run. The town-
ship will, it is said, abolish this culvert and provide for carrying the run-off in the
upper gutter to below the reservoir site. Inspections made by officers of the Depart-
ment show that Frush Valley Run may be polluted by privy drainage, barn-yard
drainage and by wash water from the properties on the drainage area above the
Iiroijosed intake. The principal dry weather How of the run is from springs located
at the foot of the steep upper slope of the eastern side of the valley farthest from
the habitations.
The Water Company proposes to construct a two hundred thousand gallon
concrete or masonry reservoir on fiat ground adjacent to the run bnt well above
its flood height and just above this a small intake, whence a si.\ inch pipe pro-
vided with a blow-off, will lead to the reservoir. It is desired to use water from
this resen'oir as soon as possible and as soon as practicable thereafter to replace
the intake by a million gallon intake dam, around which the stormy weather flow of
the run will be by-passed. When the consumption demands it a nine million
gallon impounding dam will be constructed aud around this also the wet weather
flow will be by-passed. The two hundred thousand gallon reservoir will continue to
be used in connection with the impounding dam. The two hundred thousand gallon
reservoir will be sixty-six by fifty feet by eight feet deep to the flow line. The
masonry walls will be carried one foot above high water level and the basin will be
divided transversely by a wall four feet high. The bottom will be of concrete. The
six inch inlet pipe will have a connection to each basin, on each of which con-
nections will be a gate valve. Each basin will also have a six inch cast iron drain
pipe controlled by a valve to be used for cleansing purposes and to be connected
with the ten inch over-flow pipe. Au outlet pipe about one and one-half feet above
the bottom and protected by a copper screen and controlled by a valve will be in-
stalled in each side of the reservoir, the two uniting beyond the valves to form
the ten inch supply main. Thus either basin may be cleansed while the water in the
other is maintained at a depth of four feet. This supply main will furnish
water to the distributing system of the water company at its northern end.
Complete plans have not been submitted of the water-shed, Intake, impounding
dam, supply main and distributing system, showing the means to be afforded for
draining these various parts of the works.
As a future supply, when the consumption shall have outgrown the supply
obtainable from Frush Valley Run, the water company has in view large springs
flowing from the limestone formation along the banks of Laurel Run at a point
about rift('(!n hundred feet above the mouth of this run in the Schuylkill river.
These springs are located about two miles directly west of Hyde I'ark aud wht-n
they are resorted to it will be necessary to pumj) the water taken from them. It
would therefore be out of the question to consider the use of this source until the
(•oiisum|)tion and revenues of the water coinijauy have been considerably iucrea.sed.
l'u(|iH'stionably from time to lime cousiderahl(> iiollution reaches Frush Valley
Rim above the proposed intake. Even though every precaution be taken, it will
be practically impossible to prevent all pollution of this stream during rainy
weather. Therefore, the provision of the water company to by-pas.s the storm t\ow
is a most necessary jirecaution. Even during dry weather every precaution will be
necessary to prevent the iiollulion of the run. With a <laily consumption as
reported of forty thousand galluiis, the two hundreil thousand gallons reservoir will
provide for s 'vcral days settlement, or if necessary will allow of the run-off being
by-passed for four or live days . The intake dam when constructed and afterwards
when enlarged will provide increased sedimentation. Nevertheless, this would be
only a partial safe-guard and in additinu all sewage and waste water should be
kept out of the stream at all times, to which end it might be advantageous and in
the end the cheapest method to construct a collecting sewer up the valley and thereby
to convey all the wastes of the inhabitants on the watershed to below the proposed
intake and there to i)urify them in a sewage disposal plant. The Department will
cause formal notici^s to be serv(>d upon residents on the watershetl from whose
properties iiollution is reaching the stream aud will take subsequent action to the end
that the said pollution shall be discontinued aud this should make the inhabitants
be more willing, for economical reasons, to co-operate with the water company in any
scheme for the sewerage of the valley. Only by means of a sewer or cesspools of
adequate size and at considerable distance from the run or by providing some other
664 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
means for the definite removal of all wastes from the watershed can the run be
safeguarded against chance pollution incident to the population residing along the
stream. The pri\y vaults may be reconstructed of water tight cement masonry to be
properly cleaned out when necessary, or might be connected to such a sewer system.
Even with all these precautions, there will be chance for considerable pollution from
barnyards and pig-styes and experience and bacteriological tests of the water fur-
nished from the proposed source may indicate the necessity for other improve-
ments, perhaps for the filteratiou of the water.
The minimum flow of Frush Valley Run at the site of the proposed intake is
thought at times to be less than one hundred thousand gallons per day, perhaps as
low as Sfty thousand gallons. For this reason it is said to be undesirable to extend
collecting pipes to the springs on the eastern hillside away from the habitations and
to prevent other water from reaching the reservoir. Such a scheme would incur
expensive damages for depriving the people on the water shed of the water of the
run in addition to the damages already partially settled for between the water com-
pany and riparian ownei's below the proposed intake.
There is said to be no other available surface supply in the vicinity. Drilled wells
have not been considered as a source of supply. It would seem that this idea might be
worthy of consideration, especially as it would probably obviate the necessity of pay-
ing damages to the owners below the proposed intake. However, the water company
officials do not look favorably upon the idea of obtaining a supply from drilled wells
and it was represented that the water company would be willing to construct suitable
privy vaults wherever necessary on the water shed and to bear some further expense
for the impro\-ement of the local conditions.
In view of the method of disposing of sewage in Hyde Park in loose vault privies
and cesspools, it would appear to be unfavorable to the interests of public health
to necessitate the use of dug wells in the vicinity of these privies and cesspools as the
only means of obtaining water for domestic purposes even though the wells are
largely used at present, provided a reasonably safe supply can be procured from the
proposed source. The condemning of this source might for financial reasons result
in the abandoning of the public water works in Hyde Park.
It has been determined that the proposed additional source of supply will not be
prejudicial to public health under certain couditions, and a permit is hereby issued
therefor under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST. I'lans for a sewerage system or some other scheme for the definite dis-
posal of the sewage and household wastes of all the properties on the water shed other
than into the natural water course shall be liled with and approved by the ('om-
raissioner of Health and the works called for in the plans shall have been
installed and in operation before the proi)oscd source of supply is used by the Water
Company. The Commissioner of Health will use his influence to bring about the
co-operation of the inhabitants to a reasonable degree in such a plan.
SIOCON'D. Adcfiuate facilities shall be provided for draining the dam, reservoir,
supply main and distributing system of the water works and for by-passing the
stonn iiiM-uft from the water-shed around the intake dam.
THIRD. Detailed plans of the proposed dam, reservoir, supply pipe and of the
means of draining these parts of the works shall be flhul with the Commissioner
«jf Health and approved by him respectively before these various works are installed,
and a deiailed i)lan of the distributing system shall be filed with the Commissioner
of Health before water from the projiosed source is furnished to the public and
thereafter at the close of each season's work plans of the distributing pipes laid
duriny the year shall be filed with the Commissioner of Health.
FOrii'l'll. A plan of the watershed above the proposed intake drawn to scale
and showing tin- location of the water sources, pul)li<- roads and all buildings and
habitations and all other possible sources of pollution shall be filed with and
approved by the Commissioner of Health before the water from the proposed source
is furnished to the p\d)lic, and the Water (Company shall cattse to l)e made every
month, or oflener if necessary, sanitary inspections of the watershed, with a vi<nv
of discovering any existing iiollution of, or menace to, the water supply and reports
of sucli inspections shall be filed with tlu? Connnissionei' of Health.
FIFTH. Monthly reports of the operation of the water works shall be kept on
forms to be suggested by the ( 'ommissioner and copies tln'reof shall b(> filed with said
Commissioner. If IIk! water works or any part thereof, or the water supplie<l
tlittreby, shall at any time, in the opini<in of the ("ommissioner of Health, have
be«!om«' detrimental to the inlcr<!sts of the public henllli, then such remedial mea-
Kures Hhall be ado[)t{!d and enforced as the Commissioni'r of Ilctalth shall d(;mand,
suggest or approve.
Harrisburg, Pa., Au^'iist I tlli, I'.iOS.
NATRONA \II>l-.\(;i:, ii.\KltlS().\ TOWNSHIP, AM>K(;mONY COUNTY.
Natrona W:iler ( 'oinpany.
This application was made by the Natrr^na Wat<M" Com|)any of the village of
.N'.'ilrotia, Ilairison township, Alle;j|ieny county, and is for permission to construct
a (liter |)lant to be used in filtering water oi»taitied froin tin' Allegheny river and
supplied to cotiHumrTH for gfmeral domestic use.
No. 17. COiMMISSrOXER OF HEALTH. 665
Tlio X;ilri)ii;i \V;ilc'r ( "(niiimiiy was iiicorpoi.UfMl uiidcr tin- law.s of tlic Common-
wealth of PcmisylvMiiia in Aiiril, nini>tci'ii luiiKlrod and pi^lif. for tln' pnrpcse of
snpplying: water to tlic |inl>lic in tlio township of Harrison, Allo-thony county. The
s( urce of supply was stated to he sprinjjs situated alons: the hillsides lyins to the
nortli of the Allegheny river and tlie town of Natrona and near the eastern boundary
line of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturin;,' ("onipany's farm at I'.irdvilll'e
and to the north of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's works in
Hai'rison township.
Harrison is a townsliip of the first class, located on the west bank of the Allegheny
river in the extreme northeastern corner of Allegheny county and has a population
in th(! nei;;lil)orliuod of fifty-five hundred, of which about forty-five luuidre<l people
live in the village of Natrona. This village was established by the Pennsylvania Salt
Afanufacturing Company when it located its large ])lant in the township.
The townslii|i streti'hes along the river for a distance of about four and a half
miles and liack therefrom a little over one mile. To the west is the township of Fawn
and to the south the borough of Hrackenridgi>.
Midway of the township there is a ridge elevated about two hundred and fifty feet
above the rivei- and extending southerly into Prackenridge boro\igh and northerly
into Hu(l(>r county. Northerly of tli(> village ilii- slo|)(>s ai'e |ireci|)i ions to the i'iver,
so that no opportunity affords for extensive building operations; but at the site of
Natrona there is a plateau about twenty-five feet above the river and from a third
to a half mile wide, extending southerly, so that the area of future growth for the
village is naturally confined to the territory beween its present limits and Bracken-
riilge borough.
The hillsides abound in copious springs which form the beginnings of the runs
which come down across the flats to th<' river and these waters afford sources of
supply to the public and to the industrial plants for drinking purposes.
The AVest Penn branch of the Penn.sylvania Railroad skirts the foot of the slope.
The principal part of the village and the industrial plants are located between the
river and the railroad.
There are five important industrial concerns in the township. Their employes
reside either in Brackcnridge borough or in Natrona. There is about three-quartei-s
of a mile distance between these two places. The land there is either occupied by
the industrial plants or is under cultivation.
Of these industrial concerns, the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company is
the most i)r(:minent in the village of Natrona. When it located its plant in this
locality it laid out streets, water works, drainage pipes, and erected dwellings for
its employes. The land developed by said company includes i)ractically everything
north of Pond street, which street lies east and west through the central part of
Natrona. Here reside fifteen hundred iieople, whose drinking water is obtained from
a spring on the hillside west of the railroad and supplied by gravity. Paralleling this
system ther(> is an independent line supplying water from the ri\er for fire protection
and domestic purposes. These lines were installed originally by the Pennsylvania Salt
Manufacturing Company, hut recently the water works company has been organized
to control the supply of water to these people under the name of the Natrona Water
Company. A similar system of pipes supplies the small settlement of Kirdville,
located two miles north of the village of Natrona and inhabited by employes of
the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. This settlement co'ntains about three
hunilred ])eoi>le.
The village south of Pond street is supplied with drinking water by the Tarentuni
Water Company of Tarentum borough. The source is the .Mlegheny river and the
water is taken from an intake crib and filtered before being suiiplied to the consumers.
The other industrial concerns are tlu' Solid Steel Tube and Forge <'ompauy, the
Inter-State Ste(>l Company, the Allegheny Steel Comi)any and the Reliance Tube
Company. These works are located along the river south of the salt company's
works. Spring water and drilled well water is used in these works for drinking
purptises and river \^ater for industrial iiurjioses.
The existing sewer system of th(^ villag(> of Natrona consists of a combined system
of sewers discharging through six outlets into the Allegheny River. These sewers
range in size from a sewer four feet square owned by the salt company and us(>d to
carry niainlv wastes from the plant to twelve inch terra-cotta sewers carrying sewage
and storm water from the Walnut street and Pine street district. It is estimated that
one-third of the village population permanently and ovei- half that number during
(he working hours of the flay conlriiiut(> to the pollution of the Allegheny river.
During the early i)art of nineteen huiulred and seven, the township of Harrisi'n
made application for pemiission to extend this sewer system in the village of
Natrona and upon reviewing the conditions the Commissioner of Health withheld
a permit for these extensions and advisi'd the Commissieners of the township that it
would be necessary for them to prepare plans for the collection of the sewage of the
village and its conveyance to some i)oint for treatment and purification.
The waver works system of the Natrona Water Company, as previously stated,
vonsists of two indeiiendent supplies which are used for drinking purposes and for
domestic and fire purposes respectively.
666 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Ofe. Doc.
The spring water supply is obtaiued from springs located on the hillside imme-
diately west of Natrona viliage. The main supply consists of springs located in Potts
Hollow, Gagers Hollow and^on the slope immediately west of the settled portionof
the village. These spring supplies are conducted by gravity to a circular, brick
reservoir^'of one hundred thousand gallons capacity, located on the hill immediately
west of the village, and thence the supply is delivered by gravity to the consumers
through a systemof wrought-iron pipes ranging in size from three inches to one inch.
There are four springs in Potts Hollow which is one-half mile north of the main
storage reservoir. These springs are collected by a two inch pipe line and the
supply is delivered by gravity into the main reservoir. The other two spring supplies
are collected in smalt reservoirs and thence the supply is delivered to the main
reservoir. Each individual spring is walled up and covered to protect it from any con.-
tamination.
In Gagers Hollow the resen-oir consists of a circular brick tank fourteen feet in
diameter and thirteen feet deep with a capacity of thirteen thousand gallons. This
tank is covered with a wooden roof.
The tank which collects the water fi'om the group of springs immediately west of
the village is similar in design to the Gagers Hollow tank. It is twenty-eight feet in
diameter and thii-teen feet deep and has a capacity of fifty thousand gallons. From
these two tanks the water flows by gravity to the main storage reservoir, which is
also a circular tank forty-one feet interior diameter and eleven feet deep. The
bottom of this tank is sunk in the ground about six feet in front and the full .depth
behind. The bottom is composed of an eleven inch concrete floor and the walls are
constructed of brick twenty-nine inches thick. Capacity of the tank, as previously
stated, is one hundnMl thousand gallons. From this tank a three inch supply line
extends to a two inch nuiin at the outskiris o[ tiie village. This two inch main
connects with a system of two inch and one inch laterals extending through the
streets of the village and connecting with tlie \arious houses.
Ir is estimated that the total flow from these springs is eighty-six thousand gal-
lons per (Jay, of which thirty-two thousand gallons is supplied by the Gagers
Hollow springs and fifteen thousand gallons by the Potts Hollow springs. It is
proposed to connect eight hundred houses to- this supply and it is estimated that the
average consumption per house will be fifty gallons per day, so that this would
amount to only forty thousand gallons consumption and the supply would !)(> ample.
However, great difliculty has been experienced in keeping down the consumption to
this amount and already the spring supply is overtaxed.
The Birdville Spring supply is independent from the Natrona supply. The water is
procured from springs located on the rangi* of hills along the north side of the
Allegheny river east of Birdville. Tiie water is conducted through a two inch
wrought-iron pipe sj-stem to a collecting tank distant about two thousand feet from
the springs and having a capacity of ten thousand gallons. From this tank the
water is pumped through a two and a half inch wrought-ii'on pipe line to a wooden
distributing tank mounted on a wooden support and located fifty feet above the
ground. This tank has a capacity of leu thotisaud gallons and from it the wfiter
gravitates through the two inch wrought-ii'on pipe system to the houses in Birdville.
It is estimated that the supply from these springs will average twelve thousand
gallons per day. Sixty houses are to be supplied from this system and with an
average supply of fifty gallons per house there will be a total consumption of three
thousand gallons.
The water works system used for domestic and fire supply consists of a system
of pipes ranging in size from six inches to four inches and extends through the streets
of the village of Natrona north of I'ond street. These pipe lines parallel the
spring water supply lines and are supplied with water by the Pennsylvania Salt
Manufacturing Company, which obtains water directly from the Allegheny river for
industrial purposes.
The six inch main of the Natrona Water Company connects with a ten inch main
belonging to the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company on Center street three
hundred feet north of Federal street at the northern I)oundary line of the built-up
section of the village. The water is obtained by the I'ennsylvania Salt Manufac-
luring Company from the river at a point on the northern boundary of the company's
works. At this point there are two main pumping stations ciich located in circular
wells twenty-five feet in diameter and thirty feet deep. In the bottom of one of these
wells there is a three million gallon VViison-Snydei- pump and in tiie other well there
are two one and a half million jrallon ^Vilslln-Sll.\■(ler compound, duplex |)umps.
These pumps lake the water partly from the river direct and partly Ihi'dugh a pipe
connect''d with a crib located about thirty feel from shore in I hi' iioltnm cif the i-iver.
Both i»ump i)its are covered with brick superstruclui'ts.
For supplying sti-am for these pumps there is a boiler house e(|iii|ipe(l with four
boilers of six liundn'd and ten horse |)ower (^ajmcity.
The pumps supply water through a ten inch force m:iin to various pjii'ts of tin?
works under imrmal pressiin; of si.xly pounds. I''or fiic piii-poses tlieic are s(!vr'rjil
large slfjrane reservoirs scattered through the works and these are conn<'cted with
a fire pump station eipiipped with I 'nderwriter's l<'ire pum[)S of large cai)acily and
capable of giving one hundred pounds fire pressure.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 667
Thorp is nlso an auxiliary pumping station arranged similar to the two main pump-
ing stations and located in the center of the works. This station is equipped with
two one million gallon pumps and is used only in case of emergency. The water
for this .supply is also taken directly from the river.
It is projiosi'd t<j close oft' the direct supply of the water from the Pennsylvania
Salt .ManuCailurin^ Company's mains at the north end of Center street and to
extend lilt' suiijily iii))i' from said nianufacturint; company's mains to a point in
the vicinity of the main storage reservoir belonging to the spring. supplj'. At this
point it is proposed to iastall a mechanical filter plant of a gravity type and with a
capacity of five hundred thousand gallons per day and to allow the water to
gravitate from this filter jdant into the existing domestic and fire supply mains in
the village of Xatnma. A check value v.ill be installed un this supply main im-
mediately outside of the filter plant and during periods of fire the existing connection
to the manufacturing company's main at the north end of Center street will be
opened and raw water will be admitted to the system for fire protection. This is
necessary as the filter plant will be located at an elevation of only one hundred feet
above the village and very little storage of clear water is provided.
The filter plant will consist of a settling tank, two gravity filters and a small
concrete clear water well.
The settling tank will be located immediately outside of the filter plant and will
consist of a circular wooden tank, twenty-four feet in diameter and thirteen feet
four inches deep, built of three inch first quality white cedar or Washington fir,
and fitted with round iron hoops with draw lugs. It will be located on a concrete
foundation extending below frost line. Across the top of this concrete foundation bed
there will be laid four by sixes, spaced two feet center to center and on top of
those will rest the wooden floor of the settling tank. Above this floor there will be a
coniial shaped bottom extending on the sides for a distance of three feet above the
floor line, to assist in drawing the sludge from the tank. Above the conical bottom
there will be three baffles extending vertically across the tank with a four foot opening
at alternate en<ls on each baffle. This will permit of a horizontal circulation of the
water and will insure that all water admitted will have the full settling period.
Raw water will be admitted to the settling tank through a weir box located on top
of the tank at the end of the baffle furthest away from the filters. This weir box is
equipped with a small vertical, distributing weir which is directly connected by means
of a small pipe to the alum feed box also located on top of this tank. The full flow of
raw water passes this distributing weir and it is arranged so that the proportionate
amount of water is admitted thi-ough it and into the alum box in accordance with
the quantity of solution desired. The water admitted into the alum feed box dis-
places a proportionate amount of concentrated alum solution and this passes through
an effluent pipe located at the opposite end of the feed box at the flow line to a con-
nection in the raw water inlet pipe. The inlet pipe will be controlled by means of
a balance valve so as to regulate the inflow in proportion to the consumption of the
filters. The water will be taken off from the sedimentation tank at the opposite end
from the inlet after it has passed slowly around the three baffles. The sedimentation
tank will not be housed, but the alum feed apparatus will be properly protected.
Immediately outside of the settling tank the filter building will be located. It
will consist of a substatial brick building covering the two filter units and connecting
piping. The filters will consist of two rapid sand filters each eleven feet in diameter
anrl seven feet four inches deep, inside dimensions, built of three inch first quality
Washintrton fir or white cedar and fitted with round iron hoops with draw lugs. Each
filter will have a capacity of two hundred and fifty thousand gallons per day when
operated ai a rate of one hundred and twenty-five million gallons per acre per day.
Water will be admitted to the filters through an inlet pipe connection, connecting
directly with the outlet pii)e from the settling tank and controlled by means of a
balance valve equii)ped with a copper float. The inlet water will flow around two
trouirhs arranged in the lop of the titter for washing purposes and thence will be dis-
tributed over the surface of the filter. The filtering material will be thirty inches in
depth and will be composed of a lower layer of twelve inches of gravel covered
with a six inch layer of medium sand, an eight inch layer of fine sand and topped
with a four inch layer of a very fine sand. There will be a total water depth in the
filter of seven feet, giving a depth of four and one-quarter feet above the surface of
the sand.
Water will be drawn off from each filter through a system of strainers arranged
in a manifold covering the entire bottom of the filter. The manifold will consist of
a steel central section extending across the diameter of the filter from the outlet con-
noition and fed by a system of one and one-half inch galvanized iron pipe spaced six
inches center to center and extending crossways on both sides of the filter from the
central section. Into these pipes will be screwed special brass strainers patented
by W. I?. Scaife and Sons, manufacturers of the filters. The whole manifold will be
imbedded in concrete which will be carried up to the bottom of the strainers.
The filters will be cleaned by reversins the flow of water in the filter and for the
purpose raw water under pressure will In* used. The water will be admitted into the
manifold through a connection with the raw water main at the outlet end of the
filter and this water will pass up through the sand and thence over the wash troughs
located eight inches above the surface of the filters. One of these wash troughs
extends entirely around the circumference of the filter and there are two cross
66S THIRD AXXUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
troughs extending directly across the filter and counectiug with the main trough.
These troughs will he formed by bolting a galvanized iron strip to the wooden walls
of the filter. The wash water from the filter will be drawn off from these troughs
through a connection to the sewer at the inlet end of the filter.
I'pon completing the washing operation, a re-wash connection is made with the
outlet from the filter so that the water can be wasted after each washing until the
filter is running under normal conditions. The outlet from each filter will be con-
trolled by a weir rate cnitroller which will be adjustable and will have a maximum
capacity equal to that of the filter.
Immediately under the two filters there will be constructed a clear water well of
concrete eight feet wide bj- eighteen feet long by six feet deep, interior dimensions,
ami having a capacity of sixty-four hundred gallons. This well will extend under both
filters and the filters will be supported above it by means of "I" beams extending
across the eight foot width of the wall and carrying four by six struts on which the
filter will directly rest. The clear water well will be connected with the supply line
to the \illage.
The Natrona Water I'ompany is chartered to supply spring water to the ptiblic
in the township of Harrison and has no right, under its existing charter, to furnish
an additional supply of filtered river water. Stei)s shotild be taken immediately to
obtain an extension of its charter rights which will permit it to tise this additional
supply and the Water Supply Commission should be consulted in regard to this
matter.
In using the river supply of water for domestic purposes, which is rendered neces-
sarj- on account of the limited quantity of spring water, there is a danger of spi-ead-
ing typhoid and other Avater-borne diseases due to carelessness in the use of this
auxiliary supply. The Natroua Water Company appreciates this condition of affairs
and on that account has voluntarily submitted the plans for the filter plant to be in-
stalled for purifying this supply and eliminating this danger to its employes.
The filter plant as submitted is equipped with all modern appliances, and, if
carefully operated, should prove efficient. There are some details in connection with
it which have not been provided for in the plans submitted, but which will be
neecessary to completely eciuiii the plant. The outlets from the filters are provided
with orifice controls which will limit the rate of filtration below the maximum
allowable rate, but no provision is made for cutting off the supply from the filter
when the small clear water well is full. This can easily be arranged by supplying
a control float valve to the outlets. The troughs in the filters are located at an ele-
vation of only eight inches above the top of the sand in the filters. It is the general
practice to make the minimum height over the top of the sand to the trough fifteen
inches and in many cases where wash water alone is depended upon for agitation
and cleaning the filter this distance is increased to a greater depth. The William B.
Scaife and Sons Company, who have submitted plans for these filters, claim that
this is unnecessary in their filters due to the special arrangemcmt in their nozzles
whereby the washing \\ater is forced out horizontally through the gravel and there is
a uniform distribution over the whole filter area. However, it appears that it would
be more advisable to raise these troughs to a minimum height of fifteen inches above
the filter surface.
The plans do not show in what manner the wash water and other waste water
from a filter plant will be disi)oscd of. In (;onstructing the |)lant, special attention
should be paid to protecting adjacent property from this waste water. The valve
provided between the water company's mains and the pressure lines belonging to the
Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing ('ompany for fire protection shouhl only be
oi»ened in extreme emergencies when the fire is sufficiently developed to require this
additional supply. Tiie mains, after being filled with raw water from this source,
should be thoroughly flushed.
The spring water supi)ly furnished for drinking purposes appears to be satis-
factory and the springs appear to be well protected from pollution. It is stated that
in tyi)hoid fever e|)idemies in this locality very few cases have been traced
to the water supply from this company.
It has been determined that the proposed source of supply under certain cir-
cumstances, will not be prejudicial to the public health, and the plans for the
filters are hereby and herein approved and a permit issued therefor under the fol-
lowing conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That upon the completion of the filter plant the final plans showing the
loeation and piping eonnections be filed witii the ( "omtnissioner of Health and that
revised plans of the water works slK)wing additif)ns be filed yearly.
SECOND: That the filter jdant shall be operated at the rale and under the
conditions as set forth in this i)ermit and that modifications in the di'lails of the
filter troughs and control valves be made as previously suggested.
THIRD: 'J hat aecunite records of the operation of the filter plant shall
be kept; on blanks to be suggested i)y the ( 'onimissioner of Health and reports
th(;reon shall be filed in tlx- Slate ll.-ailh Depart iiieiil.
F<')IJKTII: If at any time in the opinion of the Stale Department of Heallh the
water \v(irks Hystem or any (tart, or the water supplic^d to the public by the Natroua
Walir ('<iui\n\ny is piijudic^ial to the f)iiblic health, upon due notice of this faf;t the
water <oiiipany sliall adopt such remedial measures as the CommisHiouer of Health
may advise or aiiprove.
No. L7. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 669
And (iii.illy, it is expressly stipulated that permission to do these things is con-
tiuf^eiit upon the rinht of tin; cuniiiiiny i\nder its ohnrti-r to obtain its source of
supply from the AlicKhouj' river. If this riirht is not now a charti-r rijiht , doubtless
the company can .scL-ure the privilege by petition to the State Water Supply Com-
mission.
Ilarrisburtr, I'a., Dceemb<-r lOlh, 1908.
.NOKTlilOAST liUKOUCII, lOUIlO COIXTV.
Tills ap|)Ii(aii")n was made by the borough of Northeast, Erie county, and is
for the pernussiiiii to extend its water-works system and to obtain an additional
source of supply.
It appears that on I"'ebrnary seventh, nineteen hundred and eight, the borough
of Northeast, Krii- count v, made application for approval of [)lans for a water
filter.
It further appears llial uii .luiie seventh, nineteen hundred and si.x, the Com-
missioner of llealiii issued a [lerniit to the sai<l lioronuli lo extend its water-works
system and to obtain an ailditional sonree of sup|)ly. The following were named
among the conditions to b<' rnllilled:
"FIRST: That Ihe Itoroiigh shall prepare and present detailed plans of the
))roposed reservoir and dam, overlluw, outlet and drainage pii»es, gates and appli-
ances and the sui)ply main to the prest>nt distributing reservoir, and submit tlie
.same to the Commissioner of Health, who may modify or ai"nend them, and the
borough shall not begin construction of the reservoir until the plans so approved
or amended have been returned by the Commissioner of Health to said borough.
"SKCOXD: Thar the lilter shall be provided and installed on the line of the
sup|)ly main between the proposed reservoir and the existing distrii)utiug reservoir
of the said borough's water-works system according to detail [jlaus to be sub-
mitted to ami approved by the Commissioner of Health, and no water shall be
supplied from the proposed reservoir unless it shall have been adequately purified
by said filtration.
"THIRD: That the loam and top soil shall be removed, together with all veg-
etable matter from tlu' bottom and sides of the proposed reservoir unless in the
opinion uf th.e Commissioner of Health such removal shall be deemed unnecessary
after further investigation of the subject.
"FOURTH: After the installation of the proposed additional works the bor-
ough shall abandon the present pumping station and force mains and also the
sui)ply from linker's creek and thereafter no water shall be delivered from these
sources into the present disti'ibuting reservoir of the water-works system, either
directly or indirectly."
The Dopartnu'nt declined to act on the application for the approval of the filter
plans until the borough should submit the other information called for in the
above quoted permit. In accordance with these conditions the borough on May
twenty-third, nineteen hundred and eight, submitted plans for the reservoir and
various connections and the supi)ly main.
The present sui)ply of public v.ater comes from a system of springs located in
the hills about a mile east of the borough. The flow is piped by gravity to a four-
million gallon reservoir, open, located on top of one of the hills southeast and at
an elevation of two lumdred and thirty-eight feet above the borough. During the
dry season this supi)ly is inadequate and it has been necessary to pump from
Sixteen Mile creek and to tap Baker creek.
To obviate this pumping and the danger of polluted water from these sources, it
was decided lo construct a storage reservoir on a branch of Sixteen Mile creek.
This reservoir was planned to hold twenty-five million gallons, to have a drainage
area of nine-tenths of a square mile and to supply the existing reservoir by gravity
through an eight inch pipe.
This stnuture has been built as originally planned with respect to location only.
It covers an area of sixteen acres and has a capacity of ninety million gallons.
The reservoir in sha[)e is approximately trapezoidal. It is formed by an earth
dam twenty feet high, constructed across the valley of this creek at a point where
it is narrow. The width of the valley at this point is two humlred and thirty feet,
llu' width of the reservoir at the opposite end is eight hundred feet. The length
of the reservoir from the dam to the opposite end is twelve hundred feet. The
dam extends across the eastern end of the resenoir and is built almost due north
and south. It is constnu-ted of earth and is fifteen feet wide at the top with a
slope of three to one on the up|)er side and two to one on the lower side. In con-
structing this dam a puildle core wall was built ai-mss the bottom to a depth of
from six to t mi feet l)el()w the natural surf.iee of the ground into the solid rock
underlying Ibis site. This core wall is eighteen feet thick and alxtve the surface
of the groinid is carried up for a height of four feet in order to tie it into the
main body of the dam. .V series of ditches were also excavated on the site of
this dam |)arallel to this co4'e wall and were filled with puddle. The main body
43
670 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
of the dam is composed of selected clay, thoroughly rolled and compacted. The
slopes are composed of a selected mixture of clay ami gravel. The top of the dam is
at an elevation of about two feet above the flow line.
On the sonth side of the reservoir a waste way has been cut into the solid
rock. This waste way extends from a point in the creek four hiuadred feet below
the dam, around the south end of the dam, aloni;- the entire southern side of the
reservoir and thence along the eastern side parallel to the public road. This waste
way is ten feet wide at the bottom, thirty feet wide at the top and ranging from
four to ten feet in depth. It intercepts all surface flow on these sides of the dam.
The spillway for the reservoir is located one hundred and fifty feet east of the
south end of the dam and empties into the waste way. It is thirty feet wide
and passes over the rock at the point where it enters the waste way. This rock
consists of a shale which is liable to disintegrate and it is probable that it will have
to be replaced at some time in the future with a concrete lining.
Two twelve-inch cast iron pipe lines are laid under the bottom of the dam sur-
rounded by concrete and connect with a gate house located at the outer toe of the
dam. These pipe lines serve as supply and drain lines to the dam. The supply
line is connected by a six-inch valve to the six-inch supply main. There is also a
twelve-inch bypass on it connecting to the creek and controlled by a twelve-ineli
valve. The supply is taken from the dam at a point six feet above the bottom
through the end of this supply line. The drain pipe connects directly with the
bottom of the dam and empties into the creek below the toe of the dam, being
controlled by a twelve-inch valve. The inlet ends of both pipes are properly pro-
tected by means of screens of one-eighth inch copper mesh. The valve house con-
sists of a re-inforced concrete structure, eight by ten feet, built up sufficiently
high above the natural surface of the ground to prevent any wash fr(im the creek
and covered with reinforced concrete top.
The reser\'oir will be supplied by numerous springs located within it and about
seventy per cent, of the drainage area through the office of two creeks which cross
the waste way in reinforced concrete troughs three feet deep and four feet wide
and so arranged that they can be by-passed into the waste way when the quality
of water discharged unfits it for use in the reservoir. The drainage from the west
of the watershed will be eliminated from the reservoir by means of the waste way
so that approximately two-thirds of the drainage area will drain to the reservoir.
This will eliminate the drainage from the road, school house and swamp at the
east of the reservoir. On the creek which drains in at the southeast end of the
reservoir there is a group of houses located very close to the bank which are apt
to contaminate the supply. The borough officials have, however, made arrange-
ments with these people to remove all outhouses which are adjacent to the creek
and to throw the drainage from this group of buildings into a smaller creek to the
north of the buildings, which will drain directly into the waste way.
There is considerably shallow fiowage in this reservoir. The depth over the main
central part averages twenty feet, but the depth over the bank on the north and
south sides ranges from one to four feet for a distance of forty feet from the bank.
A part of the bottom and nearly all of the sides were stripped of top soil and
other material for a depth of a foot when the reservoir was constructed. There
is. however, at present, a great deal of growth in this shallow water and a con-
siderable amount of top soil. At the northeastern end of the reservoir there is
swamp from which no material has been stripped and which is very injurious to
the quality of water. It is, however, the intention of the borough ollicials to
extend the dyke around liie eastern end of the reservoir across this northeastern
end and to tiiorouy:lily drain the swamp into the waste way. A bank will be con-
structed between Ihi' waste way and the reservoir so as to completly separate the
reservoir from the swamp. This has already been done successfully along the
eastern edge of the reservoir where a swamp existed before the work was begun.
A six-inch supply main has been constructed from the gate house at this reser-
voir westerly to the existing reservoir. This main is composed of six-inch cast iron
pipes and is seventy-seven hundred feet long. There is a drop of thirteen feet from
the outflow pipe in the reservoir for the first thirty-six huudied fi-et of this main.
This gives a controlling gradient of thirty-six ten-thousandths, allowing a flow of
two hundred and fifty thousand gallons per day when the level in the reservoir is
at the outlet opening of this i)i|)e. Tlie main is supi)lied with two four-inch blow-
off connections controlled by gate valves and located at the two low points on the
main between the reservoir and the old reservoir. These blow-offs discharge directly
into the nearby creeks.
The proposed filter plant will be located immediately east of the existing reser-
voir on the force main leading from the impounding reservoir to the distributing
reHcrvoir. It will be a pressure type plant. It is proposed to construct iiiuiieiliately
one unit of two hundred and thirty thousand gallons capacity, and provision will
be made for nn additional unit of this si/,e to be constructed in the future. The
filter will be located in a reinforced concrete structun? sixteen feet long by twenty
feet wide by ten feet six inches high, placed below the surface of the ground and
entered by an area way at one end.
The filter unit will be constructed oE one-half-inch steel plates, it will be eight
inche.s in diameter and ten feet long.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF [lEALTII. 671
The draiiia;,'c system for llw. filter will be located at a distanci' of one foot ten
inches above the bottom of the cylinder and will be composed of a gridiron of
wrought iron pipe varying in size from five inches to one and one-half inches and
fifteen inches cenler to center. The grid will be built in concrete, which will
e.Klend from the bottom of the filter to a point immediately al)ove the grid at the
face of llie strainers. Tlie strainers will lie located at the intersection points of
the members of the grid and will be of the Hungerford type of strainers. This
type of strainer is rectangular in shape and is six inches square by one-half inch
deep. It is composed of sheet metal one and one-half inches thick. These strainers
take in the effluent from the filter on the four sides and are arranged so as to
allow a variation in the openings, due to the difference in pressure. Surrounding
the strainers and extending four inches above is a layer of two-inch gravel. On
top of this laj'er there is a four-inch layer of one-half inch gravel and immediately
on top of this is a third layer four inches thick of shot gravel varying in size from
one-half to one-eighth inch. The sand layer will extend from the top of the gravel
and will be four feet deep will be composed of a pure (piartz sand of effective size
thirty-six and thirty-six hundredths milometer uniformity coelficient of one and two-
tenths. It is esiimaled that the total area of the surfa(;e of this filter will l)e seventy-
eight s(|uare feet. The inl(,'t pipe of this filter enters through (he top of this cylinder
and extends longitudinally at a distance of eight inches above the surface. It is com-
|)Osed of a five-inclr wrought iron pipe perforated on lop with one-inch holes of
suHicient number lo give an area of ninety per cent, of the area of the five-inch
inlet couMeciion. 'I'liere is a distance of one foot five inches from the center line of
this inlet pipe lo ihe lop of the filter.
In operating the filter the main from the new dam enters the filter house and is
dirpctly connected with an alum chamber for dosing the raw water with ahim
before it enters the filter. This alinn device consists of a cast iron chamber twelve
iiu-hcs in diameter and two feet dee]) which will hold eighty pounds of alum. It
is connected at the top by a three-eighths inch inlet pipe, which also connects
with the inlet main extending to the center of same and laces against the velocity
direction. The outlet pipe is of the same size connected with the bottom of the
alum compartment and with the main at a point below the inlet pipe connection
and facing in the direftiou of the current. By this arrangement a difference in
pressure is obtained between the inlet and outlet connections which is directly
proportional to the quantity of water being filtered. The quantity of alum
admitted to the raw water is further controlled by a needle valve placed on the
three-eighths inch inlet connection. After passing the alum connection on the
raw water main there will he a device for regulating the loss of head in the filter
to a maximum of five pounds. This device will consist of a diai)hragm connection
with a hydraulic pulley oi)erated valve. The sides of the diaphragm will be
directly connected with the raw water and filtered water pipes of this filter. As soon
as the loss of head has reached five pounds, the diaphragm will close the hydraul-
ically operated valve and shut oil tiie su[)ply of filter and will remain so until'turned
on by hand. The outlet i)ii)e from this filter will extend to the existing reservoir
and will be controlled by means of an orifice in a steel plate, which will be set to
give a maximum discharge of two hundred and thirty thousand gallons under the
initial operating pi-essure on the filter. The flow is further controlled by means of
a float valve in the reservoir, which will close off the supply from the filter when
the reservoir is full.
In washing Ihe filter the otitlet connection with the reservoir will be valved off
and wash water will be admitted into the pipe connecting system in the bottom of
the filter through a coniu'ction with the raw water inlet main. This connection will
he made of suliicienlly small pi|)e to limit the initial pressure to twenty-live pounds,
which will give approximately eleven gallons per square foot per 'minute. The
wash water is drawn from the filters through the inlet pipe in the top, which has
a five-inch connection with the vitrified sewer line leading to Sixteen ^Nlile Creek.
After washing the filter the outlet pipe is further connected by means of a three-
inch pipe with the sewer drain, so as to allow the water which is first filtered to be
wasted.
The filter will rest on a concrete foundation, will be equipped with a manhole in
front above the sand line and will have pressure gauges on the raw water and
filtered water connections to show directly the loss of head in the filter at any
time.
The piping connections at the filter are so arranged that the line from the new
dam passes directly into the filter plant through the filter and along the north
side of the old reservoir to the existing supply main from the springs. There is
also a six-inch by-pass around the filter which will permit the water from the
new dam to be directly passed into the existing supply. A ti-n-inch .sewer drains
from the bottom of the filter plant southerly to Sixteen Mile creek located three
hundred and fifty feet distant.
The liaker creek line is also supplied by two springs located above Baker creek
near the end of Ibis line. These springs are connected by a four-inch wrought iron
pipe connected under Haker creek to a manhole located on the opposite side. There
is also a connection in this manhole to Baker creek. The two springs are above
the flow line of the creek and there is no contamination in the direct vicinity which
would affect the purity of the water from these springs.
672 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
lu constriK-tiug the reservoir and supply line before the plans for same had been
submitted, the borousrh violated the eonditions of the permit and the State law.
The reservoir as const rui'ted has a capacity of three times that contemplated in
the orisiual plan. AVhether this was sood judgment or not remains to be demon-
strated, but one thiujr is sure that the large percentage of sliallow flownge is a
menace to the quality of the water.
On .Tilly seventeenth, nineteen hundred and eight, there was absolutely no flow
into this reservoir fmm the surface streams anil there was no overflow from the
spillway and no water was being drawn out through the pipes. In the absence
of any "evidence of leakage, it appears that in drouths the yield of the watershed
for sliort i)eriods is nothing. However, the average flow froni the drainage area
during the wet months and for the year should b(> ample to till the reservoir an-
nually. The storage thus available is intended to be used and drawn upon only
during the dry season. The problem is to keei) this stored water in a good and satis-
factory condition for domestic ptirposcs.
As there is considerable shallow flowage, special attention should lie i)aid lo strip-
ping all shallow areas. This should be completed arouiul the eulire edge. The
swamp at the upper end shoud be eliminated before the sup|)ly is used. A dyke or
earthen einbaid<ment should be built lo elTectually isolate the swamp water from
the reservoir. The water in the I'eservoir at the i)res('nt tinie is mudi discolored,
due, in a great measure, to the swami) and other sliallow flowage.
A six-incii supply main has been constructed from this reservoir (o the old res(>r-
voir in place of the eighi-iucli as originally plaunefl. As slated above, the supply
from this main is limited to two hundred and tifly thousand gallons per day. and
if a great(»r quantity than tliis be needed in Hie future it will be necessary lo
lay another six-inch supply line. As this supply is merely an auxiliary to the
spVing supply, an.d as the growth of the borough lias lieeii very slow in lli(> iiasi ,
it is i)robable that the six-inch line will I'liniisli an aiixilliary sniiply to the
borough for many years to come.
In a filter plant of the pressure type there is always a disadvantage due to the
difficulty experienced in inspecting the surface of the filter. It is necessary to re-
move a' manhole located in the end of the filter and above the sand line, and after
removing it to illuminate the inside of the filter and sometimes crawl in. There is a
tendency for the operator to neglect to do this after every cleaning. With the
automatic devices proposed for controlling the filter, ther(> should be no trouble
in furnishing the correct proportions of alum and in properly controlling the rate
and loss of head. Hungorford and Terry, the contractors for the filter, have jirom-
ised to guarantee its successful oi)(>ratioii for one year after the date of installation
and will make bacteriological and chemical analyses at sufficient intervals to intelli-
gently operate the plant.
The by-iiass from the new supply ariiiiiid llie filler plant slinuld lie eliiiii-
nated. This will remove any temptation for the (Operator to supply the lowii willi
raw water from the new r(!servoir.
It has been determined that the proposed auxiliary waler supply will not be jire-
judicial to public health, and a permit is herein and hereby granted therefor and
for the pro|»osed filteratiou plant as hereinbefore described under the following con-
ditions and stipulations:
I'TRS'J': That before using the supi)ly the horouuh cmnplelr' ihe waste way around
the dam so as to coniidetely drain the swamp at Ihe iiorlheasieni end of ihe (Jniii.
The jiarts of the reservoir where there is a shallow flowage of six I'eei or less in
deptli are to I)e stripped thoroughly of all loam ami top soil.
SECOND: That weekly sanitary inspeclioiis of the condilion of the watershed
above the new reservoir shall be made by the borough, and all things be done by the
borough to eliminate conlaminatioii by sewage of the walers from Ihe walei'sh(>d to
be used us a source of sui)|dy to the public in the borough, and copies of such
sanitary weekly insja'ctions shall be filed in tin,' office of the ( 'ominissioner ol
Health.
THIRD: That the filter ijlant shall be oix-rated al Ihe lale and under Ihe con-
ditions describr'd in this pi-rmit. 'i'lie by-pass around (he filler js lo be eliiiiiuiiled
and tlie insperMion manhole is to be removed afliT i-\rry washing when the iiller js
in operation.
FOL'RTH: That in abandoning the, I'.akej- creek supiily Ihe iHUdu-h is per-
mittefj to use the two springs connected to Iheii- line at preseiil and loialed jiumedi-
ately above Raker creek al Ihe end of tin's line. lOspr-cial care is lo he taken in
sealing off the connection with I>aker creek and in arranging Ihe niaiiholes al this
en'l sf) as to allow no seepage from I'.aker creek.
I'METH: That if at any time the ( "ommissioner of Ileallli deleimines Ihal said
supply is unsuitable for drinking purposes, (he borough shall adopi such pree.ni
tions and ap)dy such ri-medies as the < 'ommissioner of Health iiiiiy pi-escribi'.
SIX'iMI: Ac'-urale records of the operation of Ihe filler phinl shall be kepi on
blanks to be suggested by the ('ommissioner of ileallli and repoils Ihereof shall
be filed ill the State Health Department.
SIOV'I'y.N'TH: At tlie close of each season's woik accurale plans of IIh; water
pipes laid during the year in the streets of tlw; borough shall he made and filed in
the oflice of the Commissioner of Health, together with :iiiy oihei infoi'iiuition in
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 673
connection willi the wntor works sj'stom tliat may be required, to the end that the
Commissioner of lli-nlth siiall alway.s bo informed of the extent of the water works
system and the ust- thereof.
Harrisburj,' Pa.. Ausjust 10, 1008.
OIIBISOXIA, HINTIXGDON COUNTY.
(f>ri)isonia Water Company).
Tiiis application was made by tiic Orbisonia Water (,'ompany, of Orbisonia,
Iliintinjjdon county, and is for ijermission to install a system of water works for
the supi)lv of water to the public in said borough and the adjoining borough ol
Hockhill.
The <)rl)isonia Water Company is not an organization incorporated under the
laws of this State. It is an association of three men, citizens of the borough of
Orbisonio, namely, S. O. Fraker, ( ". B. Rush and \V. K. SliafTner. Since the
filing of the ab.'Vtf application these gentlemen have requested further permission
to stipply the adjacent borough of Kockliill.
It appears that on <)<-tohcT lirst , nineteen hundred and seven, the Orbisouhi
council passed an ordinance autlKuizing tin- ])roper officers of said borough to enter
into a contract with the said Fraker, Bush and ShafTner and other persons who
may be hereinafter incorporat(>d or associated with them in th<' water company to
be known as the "Orl)isonia Water Company," for the erection, construction and
maintenance in the borough of a (;om|)lete water works system for the furnishing at
all seasons of the year of a sufficient (juantity of pure water for domestic, sanitary
and manufacturing purposes, and for the further sui)ply of water to provide pro-
tection against lire to builtlings and proi)erty within said borough, at such time and
upon such tei-ms as may be agn-ed ui)on in the future.
It also appears that on .January tirst. nineteen hundred and eight, the council
'of the borough of Kockliill grante<l a similar franchise to the said Fracker, Bush
and ShalTner, styled the "Orbisonia AValer Company."' In botli appears the stipu-
lation, "that the franchise, jiroperty, stocks, l)onds and capital of the said Orbi-
sonia Water Company shall be exempt fi'om all borough ta.xation." So far as the
Department is informed no attempt to issue bonds or stocks has Lwmmi made. The
obligations assutned by the gentlemen abov(; named are individual ol)ligations.
The borouuhs of ( )rbisoiiia and Kockliill constitute a single community of about
fourteen hundred iuhal)itants dependent iirincipally upon an ii'cii ore furnace in
Hockhill and also to a considerable extent on farming and coal mining in the
vicinity. The boroughs are located on opposite banks of Black Log creek, one mile
above its junction with the Croat Aughwick creek, which eleven miles iSelow and
north of Kockliill joins the .Tuniata river four miles below Mount Fnion. The
boroughs are entirely within ( "roiuwell (ownsiiip in the southeastern part of Hun-
tingdon county. The Fast Bro.ultop Kailioad, a narrow gauge line runs from
Mount Union through Shirley borough to Kockliill and Orbisonia. and thence
westerly twelve miles to two bituminous coal mines at Kobertsdale, a five-mile
branch extending southeast from (►rbisoiiia to Shade (Jap. About thirteen hundred
tons of coal are hauled <lail.\' from Kolierlsdale.
The valley of the great Aughwick, extending' in a general direction east of north,
is here from three to five miles wide, and is bounded on the east by a belt of high
mountain ridges about fifteen miles wide, beyond which is the Cumboi'land ^'alley,
and on the west by .Tacks mount.-iin, and beyond it by Broadto]) mountain, iu
which iire the co;il mines. Fertile farms cover the bottom l:ind of the valley and of
the valleys in (he mountains to the east.
The furn;ice in Kockliill is owned by the same iieople as the railroad company,
but is leased to and is operated by the Kockliill Furnace Company. It was shut
down, occasioning hard times in the community, about ten years .ago, and has
again been shut down since the invi'stigation by the I tepartiiieiit , so it is reported.
All the coiil is obtained from Kobertsdale, being but a small part of Ih(> product of
these mines, and is c(d\ed in Kockliill. The ore is iirincipally Ijike ore, allhou.gh a
small pioporlion is mineil locally in the mountains in the east.
A small pin taclory is located in Kockliill, .•iiid in Orbisonia there are a grist mill
and small planing mill.
Orbisonia marks the site of some of the oldest charcoal iron furnaces in the
country. The vill.age ln'caiiie a borough in about eighteen hundred ;ind (ifty. The
town of Kockliill was laid out in (>iuditi-e!i Imiulreil and st'veuty-four and becami' a
borough in about eighteen hundred and eighty-six. The growth lias been irregular.
At present the po)iulation is less than it was in eighteen hundred and ninety; for
Orbisonia borough and for Kockliill bonmgli it is about stationary.
The assessed real estate valuation f<u- Orbisonia is s;iid to be about one liundred
thou.sand dcdiars ami the debt about two humlred dollars, all for school purposes.
There are no paved streets, other than macadam, jmblic water works, nor is
there jjublic lighting. Two short combined sewers run from Kidgley Street to
Black Log creek, one in Elliott Street and one betweer. Elliott anil Ashman
43—17—11)08
674 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Streets. The assessed valuation of Rockbill is about one liundred thousand dollars.
There are no paved streets, public water works nor is there sewerage or public
lighting.
The present water supply for domestic purposes is obtained almost exclusively
from dug wells and rain water cisterns, both in Rockhill and Orbisonia. The
residential districts in both boroughs are comparatively closely built up. There is
a loose-lined privy vault for practically every house, although there are few if any
cesspools. Limestone, sandstone and shale underlie the town, the former out-
cropping in Orbisonia. The formation and the close proximity of privies and dug
wells render extremely dangerous the present domestic water supply. Moreover, the
supply obtained from the wells is too hard for domestic purposes, as indicated by the
storage of rain water which is, however, palatable.
A pumping station, resen-oir and auxiliary tire pumps are maintained by the
furnace company for its own use, the source of supply being Black Log creek, at a
point near the furnace.
The local authorities do not report their contagious diseases to this Department.
Dr. Taylor, President of the Council of Orbisonia, reported having had three cases
of typhoid in Orbisonia this fall, from foreign infection, he thought. Several years
ago he had twenty-seven cases in the vicinity, but does not consider the local wells
suspicious or dangerous.
Dr. C. B. Bush, one of the principal local physicians, a member of the Council
of Orbisinia, and one of the petitioners in the application under consideration, re-
ported having attended within the past twenty years fifty-four cases of typhoid in
Orbisonia and sixty-six in Rockhill, a fair proportion having been serious, several
resulting in death. He blames the local wells, giving as one reason the usual per-
sistency of the disease on any property once visited.
Owing to the seemingly dangerous conditions of the wells and to the desires of
several of the inhabitants for modern sanitary improvements the question of the
borough introducing a water supply was recently brought to public notice and
voted down in June, nineteen hundred and seven. The people remembered vividly
the hard times following the shutting down of the furnace a decade ago and, in
view of the possibility of the recurrence of these conditions, feared to incur an
increase in taxation. The introduction of a purely private supply by those persons ■
wishing it was considered, but this idea was dropped and finally the ordinance
alieady sited was passed by the Council of Orbisonia.
The water works design, approval of which has been applied for in the formal
application under consideration, and altered as set forth in letters to the De-
partment subsequent to the application, contemplates an intake to collect the flow
of a mountain spring incidentally developed in an iron ore drift, a gravity pipe
line thence to a storage or equalizing I'eservoir and thence a gravity pipe line to
Orbisonia and distributing pipes in Orbisonia and Rockhill boroughs.
Black Log creek has its principal sources in the second valley east of the Great
Aughwick creek, draining the valley both to the north and to the south, and then
turning to the west at right angles it flows through gaps in the intervening ridges
and joins the great Aughwick. Rockhill borough is in the fork of the creeks, the
town being on the l)anks of Black Log creek one mile above the fork, while Orbi-
sonia is on tlie opposite bank east of Rockhill. There intervenes between the two
towns on the western or Rockhill side of the creek a flat about one thousniwl feet
wide and occasionally iiuiiHlati'd. The furnace is hjcatfid on this flat and (he lail-
road traverses it at tlie foot of the rising ground on which slo|)c is located Rockhill.
The Orbisonia bank rises abruptly and the town is close to the stream at an average
elevation of twenty feet oi' more ai)Ove it.
Sandy run rise.s in the valley west of that in whicli Black Log rises and flows
south and tiien west just north of Orbisonia, cntei'ing I'lack Log below that town.
A public road from Orbisonia extends up the valley of Sandy run.
The ijroposed source of supply is a spring in "Old Williams Drift," located
about a mile and a half northeast of Orbisonia in the western slope of Jilaek liOg
mountain, whi'-li <li'ains to Sandy run. The drift was opened sevei'.al yeare ago
as an iron ore mine and al)an<lone(l owing to the dillieully of handling the water.
It is said to extend two thousand feet or more into the hillside an<l to slope sulli-
cienlly to firain it. It is at an elevation of aliout nine hundred and fifty feet above
tide and llirfM- livuidred feet above tlie average elevation of Orldsonia. The drift
J8 aljout one-iiiird way from the bottom of the viilley to the niouMlain loj). 'J'he
general dip of tiie strata in P>lack J>og nioiuitain is about seventy degrees to the
west. It is said that tiiere is an "S" shaped fold in the strata in the mountain in
this locality, east stratum below liie fold being west of its continuation above,
making a narrow i)en<'li in the side; sloix; on whicli numerous springs crop out at or
above the elevation of the old drift. The drift and several of these springs which are
considered possible nddilional sourees are on the ))ropei'ly of the Uockhill Iron and
Coal Comjjany, more or less intimati'ly eonueeled with tlu! I'ailroail and fiii'iiace
companieH, and it is said that the right to the water has been .KiiniiiMJ imiler con-
dition that a supply be furnished to the ofliec; of the furnace coni|i.iiiy.
liesideH the ore vein and sc^veral strata of shah; and sl.ale, the drill <'Xtends
through one of liniestone which, however, is said not to iriake the water hard. The
flow from the minr; is said to vary but slightly, to be little jilVeoted or not at all by
rainfall, and to have measured in August, nineteen hundred and sev(!n, a little
more than two gallons in Ave seconds, or about thirty-five thousand gallons per day.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 675
The mountain side above the drift is wooded and apparently uninhabited, which
is said to Ije the case and as well on the eastern slope at a greater elevation than that
of the drift.
Plans of the intake and of the possible tributary drainage area have not been
submitted.
A tiireo-inch pipe is to lead southwesterly from the drift five thousand six hundred
^nd iliii ty-i'l.:;iu feci to a proposed reservoir at an elevation of about one hundred
and eighty-live feet below the drift, said pipe line to extend entirely through pri-
vate property. A plan and profile of the location of the pipe line have been sub-
mitted, and although facilities for draiiiiu-; it are not indicated on said plans, a
letter subscr]ueut to tha application states, "The low points on line from drift to
reservoir will have flush outs."
Plans of the proposed reservoir have not been submitted, nor any information as
to its size, character, material of construction, whether it is to be covered or open,
or the facilities for (Iraining it.
From the reservoir site a four-inch pipe is to lead to Orbisonia, the length ot
pipe from the reservoir to the borough line being about two thousand four hundred
feet. The line will run in a general southwesterly direction eight hundred and
sixty-eight feet in private property and about fifteen hundred feet in the public
road in the valley of Sandy run. A plan an<l prolile of the location of the pipe line
have been submitted, and although facilities for draining it are not indicated on
said plans, a letter subsequent to the application states that there will be flush outs
at the low points on line from reservoir to borough line.
The distributing system is to consist of about sixteen hundred feet of four-inch
mains and about Ihirtj'-five hundred feet of smaller pipes in Orbisonia and fifteen
hundred feet of four-inch pipe in Rockhill, extending across the flat to the town
and the otUce of the furnace company.
The elevation of the reservoir above the area to be served averages about one
hundred and twenty-five feet for Orbisonia and one hundred and forty-five feet
from Rockhill, although the part of Rockhill on the hillside extends to perhaps fifty
feet above the locality to be served at ])resent.
There is to be u valve on the supply main where it enters Orbisonia and a valve
in Orliisonia on the main leading to Rockhill. There are also to be valves on the
smaller distributing pipes where they lead from the four-inch mains. There will
be six or more dead ends in the sj'stem. The pipe may be carried across the Black
Log creek, either in the bed of the stream or on the public highway bridge connect-
ing the towns. There is to be a blow off in Rockhill at the bank of the creek. The
ap])roxiniate locations of this Idow off and of four or five fire plugs to be installed
in Orbisonia and also of the distributing pipes were indicated by one of the appli-
cants at the time of the Department's inspection. It was not then definitely known
what might be the most desirable location of the pipes of the distributing sj'stem.
Not a great number of consumers are expected in the near future in Orbisonia
and but very few in Rockhill. It will be noted that the ordinance of neither bor-
ough requires that the system now to be installed shall provide fire protection.
With the elevations as given of the mine drift and reservoir a three-inch wrought
or cast iron pipe would be more than ample to carr}' the entire flow of the spring
in the drift, reported to be thirty-five thousand gallons daily.
The intake arraugenients should provide reasonable protection against chance or
malicious pollution and facilities for being drained.
The size of the reservoir re(iuired depenils upon whether storage is to be provided
against a protracted drought and incidental fires or whether the storage is to provide
for a fire supply and the inequality in the rate of consumption during the daj' or
merely the latter iurquality without attempting to provide fire service. The design
of the reservoir should anticipate the possible necessity of its having to be covered
to obviate trouble from algae growths and ample facilities should be provided for
draining said reservoir and for shutting it off from the pipe below so that the latter
may be drained.
With the elevations given for the reservoir and Orbisonia and Rockhill the four-
inch main from the reservoir to and in the boroughs would not have the capacity to
provide a single standard fire stream, such as required by fire underwriters. A six-
inch pipe would be better, but it would require an eight-inch pipe to insure two or
more fire streams after the pipes have been but a short time in use. The four-inch
pipes proposed would be ample to carry the entire flow of the spring and an addi-
tional flow such as might be conducted to the reservoir from some of the other
springs already mentioned as being in the neighborhood of the drift.
The distributing sj'stem would with advantage be altered hi design so as to pro-
vide facilities for its more complete draining and so as to eliminate dead ends as far
as possible.
Even if the ordinarj' demands to be made of the system are solely those of
domestic consumption the supply may prove insufficient during protracted droughts
unless considerable storage is provided : but since such a failure would not necessarily
imperil the public health the possibility of its occurrence need not necessitate the
withholding of approval of the system.
The borough authorities and all persons interested should know that the State
Health Department approves the jiroposed design simply as one for system to obtain
a safe domestic water supply and not to provide fire service, and furllier that the
future use of any part of this system to supply for purposes water which from a
676 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
sanitary or public health standpoiut may be les.s satisfactory thau the supply pro-
posed at the present may appear to be prejudicial to the interests of public
health.
It has been determined that the proposed source of supply and the proposed
system of water works will not be prejudicial to public health under certain condi-
tions, and a permit is hereby issued therefore under the following conditions and
stipulations:
FIRST: That a plan of the tributary watershed above the proposed intake be
prepared by the applicants, named the Orbisouia Water Company, on which plan
shall be i)lotted the lines of all lands purchased or leased or in which the said water
company may have an easement, and all highways and occupied estates, should there
be any, and such plan shall be hied with the Commissioner of Health on or before
the completion of the construction of the proposed intake.
SECOND: The said water company shall cause to be made every three months
a sanitary inspection of the tributary watershed above the intake, and reports
thereof shall be made to the Commissioner of Health.
THIRD: All natural ground surface to be flooded by the proposed intake or to
Ijc made part of the sides or bottom of the proposed reservoir shall be thoroughly
grubbed and cleaned, and all organic matter and mud shall be removed therefrom.
FOURTH: Ample facilities shall be provided for the proper and complete drain-
ing of any basin formed at the intake and of the reservoir and for the protection of
the intake and of the reservoir from chance or malicious pollution and also for the
shutting off of the supply from the town if need be. Detailed plans of the intake
and reservoir and of these facilities f(U' drainage, and all pipe couuections and
valves shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval before the
works are construeled , and no additional source shall be used or new reservoir
constructed thereafter unless approved by the Commissioner of Health.
FIFTH: Ample facilities for ready draining of the upper and lower supply
mains at low points shall be j^rovided. A i)lan of the boroughs showing the streets
and showing dehnitely the location and sizes of the proposed water pipes and
blow-offs and the location of all gates, hydrants and the drainage facilities shall
be prepared and filed with the Commissioner of Health. At the close of each
season's work a plan of the extensions to the street mains laid during the season
shall be prepared and filed with the Commissioner of Health.
SIXTH: Because the small sizes of proposed pipes might involve public health,
it is expressly stipulated that approval of them is hei'ein given on the condition
that the borough councils shall also ai>prove the sizes after having been acquainted
with the discussion of the subject already presented; reserving the right, however,
to immediately modify this stipulation if it should appear to be for the interest of
public health to do so.
SEVENTH: If ;it any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health the
said source of supi)ly or the water works or any part thereof have become preju-
dicial to i)ublic health, then such remedial m(>asures shall be a(lo|)ted as said
Commissioner may advise or ai)provi', and such reports of the monthly operation of
the system shall lie made to the Dejiartment of Health as may be re(iuii'e(l.
It is the inleiili<ni of the State D^'parlmeiit of Heallli to ()ecnsi(>iiall.\' coilecL
samples of water frum ll:e innposed supply and lo make tests thereof, and in
accepting this permil the wiiin' coiiipniiy obligates ilself lo co-operate with the
State oHicials.
It is exi)ressly stipulatr'd that this i)ermit is issued iimlei- (he riiiiher condition
and provision that the \vat(!r comijany shall have complied with nil laws aj)i)li(!ablo
to the case relative lo the business in which il proposis lo engage. •
llarrisburg, Pa., Ajuil L', 1!)0!».
I'AUKI'ISI'.I li(;, CllIOSTEIl (M)IINTY.
{'arki'sbiui; Water Cniiipaiiy.
This application was oiiide by the I'arkesbiirg Waler <'oiripa:iy, of I'n rK'eshurg
liorough, (.'iicHter county, •md is for permission to oblaiii nii adilil ion.il soiiice of
Kiipply of water lo the piddic within its charier lerriloiy.
it appears dial llie 'borough of I'arkesburg is located iu the iiorlliweslcin part
of Chester connly, on the main line of the I'eniisyl vaiiia Ilailroad. II has ;iii a re.i
of about five hundred and seventy acres ami a |>resent j)opulatioii of abonl two
thousand: in /lineiecu hundred it was seventeen hundred and eighty-eight, ;iiid in
eighteen huiidicd iiiid nineiy, (ifieen hundred and fourteen.
The borough is di;iined by the west branch of I'.iick run, whieli empties into the
lirandywinc aiioiil five juiles below < 'oales\ille. 'i'his stream receives surface
drainage and sewage from liormigh sewers biiill in I he i wo principal streets of the
town, to which many houses are connecied. 'I'iiere ,ire nlso several i)rivate sewers
emptyinfr into this strejini.
There are from Iwenlv five lo (ifly indi viiliial wells in use in llie boi'oiigh.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 677
The soil is flnv iiiul jinivfl underlaid by siiiidstnnp. The principal industry in
tlic town i.s tiic i'aritcshuri; Iron Company. Jud^'iuf; by ijrcscnt conditions there
would appear to be no inrjications of a rapid growth of the borousli in the imme-
diate future.
The I'arkesburjr Water C'omi)iiny was incorporated in eighteen hundred and
ninetv-nine, to sn|)i)ly water to the public in the borough of Parkesburg. An or-
dinan'ce of iiorouu'h council, passed in eighteen hundred and ninety gave the bor-
ough tiie rinht to lav i)ipes in tin- streets and contracts for fire service were entered
into. The works were built in that year and have been extended from time to time
as necessity demanded. At present the territory furnished with water comprises
about one 'hundred and fortv acres. The works are reported to have a capacity of
seventv-lhoiisaud -alloiis daily. The supply is taken from driven wells, eleven of
whichare located at the lower reservoir just north of Main Slnn-t, and two at the
upper reservoir, about twelve hundred feet further north.
Main Streets parallels the railroad tracks and lies immediately north of them.
The wells -tt the lower reservoir are six inches and eitrht inches in diameter and
from thirty-six to one hundred and fifty feet deep. Tlu'se wells empty into a
settiim: reservoir near .Main Street, thirty-two feet by seventy-six feet by six feet
deep to overflow, having a capacity of about one hundred and ten thousand gal-
lons.
From this reservoir water is puiniied by a gasoline and oil engine pumi)ing plant
Ihrough about three hundred feet of six-inch pipe to the <Mght-incli main coniu'Cting
the upper reservoir with the distribution system, which is about thirteen hunflred
feet in length. The wells at the lower reservoir are iocateil at the foot of the valley,
in which there are about thirty houses, all of which are reported to be provided
with |)rivii's. The wells and lower reservoir are protecti'd from surfa(;e drainage,
but there is a j)o.ssii)ility of pollution from some of the above mentioned houses.
The u|)i)er reseVvoir is one hundred and fifty feet long ami one hundred feet wide
and eleven feet deep to the overflow line, with vertical masonry walls. It is divided
into two iiarls, one one hundred feet by fifty, and the other one hundred feet
by one hiiiidred. but they are o|)erated as one reservoir. They have a capacity of
about one million, two hiin(]red and thirty-eight thousand gallons. They are pro-
vided with blow-off and overflow i)ipes, and receive the surplus from the pumps.
At this reservoir are located two wells about three hundred feet deep, the water
level of which stands about ninety feet below the surface and can be utilized only by
immping. All of the wells are driven into mica sandstone, the top of which lies
about twenty feet below the surface.
The distribution system consists of eight hundred and fifty feet of eight-inch,
forty-five hundre<l and fiftv feet of six-inch, eleven thousand eight hundred feet of
four-inch, and two thoiisaud feet of two-inch, or a total of twenty thousand four
hundred feet, or about four miles.
The estimated supply of ground water is about sixty-five thousand gallons per
day minimum and seventy-nve thousand gallons per day maximum. The total con-
sumption is siven at seventy-five thousand gallons daily, which is the full amount
of the sujiply, or about fifty gallons per capita based on fifteen hundred consumers.
The proposed supply is located at the headwaters of Glen i*un in Highland town-
ship, about two miles southwest of the town.
The supply consists of sixteen springs lochted in a piece of swampy ground
covering about six acres. These sprinsis h.-ive t)e(>n excavated from two or three
feet to sandstone rock, walled u|) and covered with fiat stones.
They have been connected with a receiving reservoir by means of three-incli,
five-inch, six-inch and eight-inch terra cotta pipe, laid with loose joints in trenches
excavated to rock. There are about four hundred and forty feet of three-inch,
four Ininilrcd and forty feet of five-inch, lliree hundred and eiuhty feet of six-inch
and one hundred and seventy fert of eidit-inch pijie in tlu'se ditches besides about
two hundred and fifty feet of French drain, making a total of one thousand six
hundred and eighty feet of loosely laid pipe with open joints which collect more
or less ground water.
The total yield has been estimated at three hundred thousand gallons per day.
The fiow from these pipe lines is collected in a concrete reservoir nine feet by
five feet by four feet deep, having a capacity of thirteen hundred and fifty gallons.
This reservoir will be covered with a wooden roof.
From this resei'voir an eisht-inch cast-iron main is laid for about one hundred and
forty-l'our feet, from wliicli al)out two an<l a half miles of six-inch pipe i-onducts
the water to tlie lower reservoir near main strecM.
The swamp in which the springs are located is situated near llie head of (Jlen
run, tliere b'-ing about one hundred and twenty-five acres of farming country
above the swamp.
Within about two hundred feet of the French drain, at the head of the swamp,
is a txibacco shed. .\ water course spreads its flow over this swamp and on this
wat<'r course is located the larire farm luiiidings of W. A. (iriest.
On this farm are kept about ten or twelve horses, thirty or forty cattle and
fifty bogs. The hos'-'ien is alxuit five hundred and fifty feet long and the water
course travei-ses about two-lliirds of its lenerth ami also receives drainage from
biirnyMrd, kitchen and from privy vaults, th(> contents of which are above the
678 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
ground. The farm buildings are probably five hundred feet above the swamp. There
is also another pi'operty owned by the same party where a few pigs are kept, but
no stock, about one th'ou.?aud feet above the swamp, the drainage from which fol-
lows the road to the swamp.
The supply will be ground water in dry weather and during storms it will be
polluted surface water, liltered through from two to three feet of clay and gravel.
Evidently an additional source is needed. The improvements had been prac-
tically completed at the time of the Department's inspection. Aside from the pollu-
tion mentioned, it is evidently a good supply.
The course of the stream discharging into the swamp can be led around it, thus
greatly decreasing the danger of pollution.
There has been no satisfactory plan of the proposed supply filed with the De-
partment and no reference is made to any possible pollution in the application; in
fact, the application states that it will be free from pollution.
It has been determined that the water works and the proposed source of supply
is not prejudicial to public health and a permit is hereby and herein granted for the
additional supply and for extension of water pipes in the borough, under the fol-
lowing conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That the water company shall prepare a map of each watershed,
showing its limits and all streets and ways, occupations and sources of pollution
thereon, and file the same with a satisfactory report thereof in the office of the
Commissioner of Health within ninety days from the date of this permit, and
thereafter the water company shall co-operate with the Commissioner of Health
in enforcing all such regulations with respect to the disposal of sewage on said
watershed as may be deemed advi.sable.
The attention of the water company is called to the fact that the law prohibits
the disposal of any sewage from private estates into any waters either on the sur-
face of the ground or luider the surface of the ground.
The inform.ation herein called for is to be a basis for the determination of
whether there be any such sewage discharged in any way on the watershed to the
menace of the source of supply of the water company and to the public health within
the water district of said company.
SECOND: Within ninety days from the date of this permit the water company
shall prepare and file maps showing the location of the various springs and a plan
for divertinr the flow of water courses from the vicinity of springs, and when such
plan shall have been modified, amended or approved by the Commissioner of
Health, the water company shall execute the same forthwith in order that the
source of supply may be safeguarded against possible pollution.
And on or before said ninety days shall have expired, the water company shall
also have filed in the office of the Commissioner of Health a plan of the pumping sta-
tion, piping and wells of existing supply and of the reservoirs and of the dis-
tributing pipes from the source of supply and the pipes in the streets, showing
their size, elevations, location of gates, hydrants, blow-offs and drainage facilities.
If, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, such drainage facilities are inade-
quate, then improvements shall forthwith be made to the satisfaction of said
Commissioner.
THIRD: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
water works or any part thereof, or the source of supply sliall have become preju-
dicial to the ])ublic health, then such remedial measures sliall be adopted by the
water company as the Commissioner of Health may advise or iijiprove. The water
company shall kr-ej) a record on l)lank forms satisfnctory to the (commissioner of
Health of the operation of its system and file cojiios thereof with the said Commis-
sioner. Examinations and investigations of the system will l)e made from time to
lo time by tJie Slat<' Department of Health and the water company shhll assist
if required to do so in such r-xaminations and investigations.
The State Department of Health may make rules and regulations for the opera-
tion of the system in .so far as the interests of the public health are concerned and
such requirements shall be observed by the water company.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., July 21, 1908.
PITTSBURG , ALLEGHENY.
Afiproval is Jiereby given of plans for the construction nf leu addilional water
filters at. (he city's filtration works near Aspinwall, and getiei'al apprnvnl lo tiie en-
tire wjiter works syslr-m for the enlarged cily of Pittsburg, an<l a iieniiil issued for
sueh additional water fillers and for general exlensiuMs lo liie wnler works system in
response to plans duly filed by said city (jf Pillslmrg and a wrillen slalfrnent sup-
plementary thereto.
GENERAL CONDITIONS.
The territory comprising the greater Piltsburc: district as incoi'porat(>d in one
municipality, now includr-H "Old I'ittsbui'g" or all the land laying east of the con-
fluenc*' of the Allegheny and .Monogaliehi rivers betvve<m the fornif^r on th(! north
and the latter on the south, for a distance of about seven miles in which reside
approximately three hundretl thousand ptiople ; also the "South Side" or the land
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 679
alou!^ tho south bank of tho Mononj^ahola rivor oppo.site I'ittsljurg proper, a
stretch of foiu- inilf's and \\•e^^t(■l■ly alou^ the .south bank of the Ohio river for two
and a half miles in which reside approximately one hundred thousand people; and
also the "North Side" or all the land on the north bank of the Allegheny opposite
old IMttsburt;-, a stretch of about three miles and westerly alon;;; the north branch
of the Ohio for about three miles, formerly the city of Allegheny, in which reside
appro.vimately one hundred and fifty thousand people.
Beyond the site a.s described, there are in the immediate vicinity many munici-
palites which are clo.sely allied with I'ittsburg. Numerous territorial accessions
by annexation have been made to Pitlsburi; in the past. It was under the provisions
of Act number one hundred and sixty-one, approved April twentieth, nineteen
hundred and live, providinir "that where two cities are contiguous and in the same
county, the smaller may be annexed to the larger,," that Allegheny City was
ab.sorbcd.
The annexation idea is predominant and this tendency is of more than passing
import.
Ranking fifth among the cities of the United States in commercial and industrial
importance — because it is the port of entry and transfer between the east and
west and because it is the largest shipping point for bituminous coal and because
it has the natural fuel supply of coal, coke and gas and the climate to foster
enteri)rise — no period of its exi)ansion has been more promising than the present,
liocal i)roblenis pertaining to public water supply may with peculiar reason be
contemplated in relation to probable consolidation.
The past conditions of growth offer a partial explanation of the different inde-
pendent water works systems found existing within the municipal territory of
Pittsburg to-day.
In old I'ittsburg. comprising Wards one to twenty-three, inclusive, Brush ton
borough, now Thirty-seventh ward and Sterrett township, now Forty-first ward,
there are two systems, one owned by the municipality and the other owned by a
private corporation, named the Pennsylvania Water Company, authorized to sup-
ply water to the public in said borough and township prior to their annexation to
the city.
In the "South Side" the water is furnished by two private corporations ; one being
the Jlonongahela Water Company, supplying wards twenty-three to thirty-six, in-
clusive, and the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth wards — -formerly Elliott and Esplen
boroughs — and the other being the South Pittsburg Water Company, supplying
Wards Thirty-eight, Forty-two, Forty-three and Forty-four, formerly Beltzhoover,
Montooth, Sheraden and West Liberty boroughs, respectively.
The old city of Allegheny, now the "North Side," has its own system.
OLD PITTSBURG WATER SUPPLY.
Takiiii;- up each system in the order stated, with respect to the old Pittsburg water
supply, it is noted that the topography in the city proijer is so uneven, elevations
ranging over live hundred feet, that flistinct systems of distribution have resulted.
However, all water is primarily lifted into the Highland Park reservoir from the
Brilliant Pumping Station. This plant is located on the south bank of the Alle-
gheny about six niib's above the mouth of the river. Formerly the water was drawn
directly from tln' immm' at tliis point: now it arrives at the station through i)ipes
connected to the water purification plant located on the opposite bank in O'llara
township.
No emergency intakes is provided at the Brilliant station, whereby raw water
may be admitted to the system.
The engini\s comprise four fifteen million gallon pumps, four twelve million
gallon punii)s and two ten million gallon pumps, equivalent to a combined capacity
of one hundred and twenty-eight million gallons per twenty-four hours. Since
the maxinuim daily pumpagc is eighty-three million gallons, the reserve of forty-five
million gallons is an apjiarent large margin. The effective margin, taking into ac-
count contenii)late(l iini)rovemenls and additions to the system, is nearer thirty
million gallons. The engine room floor is above freshet line, but the boilers are in
danger of being put out of commission by an extraordinary flood. Some corrective
measures are planned and they are to be applied at an early date.
Highland reservoir number one has a storage capacity of one hundred and eighteen
million gallons. IJes(>rvoir number two has a capacity of one hundred and twenty
million gallons. The latter is ninety-one teet lower in elevation. Both are on
the hill back from and near the pump house. Both are interchangeable, and both
may be cut off anfl the supply be pumped directly into town.
River mud at times excessive. A large proportion of the heavier sediment has
in the past been deposited in the reservoir. Some of the fine material found its
way on into the street mains. Now that filtered water is being furnished, the
city is engaged in cleaning; out the service pipes and the reservoir preparatory to
keeping them in such condition.
The distribution districts are divided into a low, high and extra high .service.
The low service is a gravit.\' supply fmni reservoir numlxM- two. but in emergencies
or a( clioice it may be connected to reservoir nunii>er one. This territory com-
jirises all the lower portion of the city bordering on the Allegheny and Monongahela
680 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
rivers — a strip not o\or one-half mile wide at any place. It hulu(k'>; the niauu-
factiirinjr, mercantile and down-fown shopping district.^. Trobalily one hundred and
ten thousand people are servinl.
The hijih service comprising an extensive area with a resident population of
ninety thousand people, is supplied by gravity from Highland reservoir number
one. The district includes the lands too elevated to be properly reached by the low
service.
The extra high service is furnished by water ]iumped from the high service
mains into reservoirs and taulcs located at such points and elevations as to serve
districts above the reach of the high service system. There are four such services,
named in order of importance, llerron, Bedford, CJarfield and Ijincoln.
A thirty-inch main from reservoir numlxn- one feeds the llerron pumit station
at the corner of Central Avenue and Craig Street in the central part of tlu^ city
near Shenley I'ark. From this point the supply is pumped into the reservoir on
Herron Hill, not far distant, and also by a separate main into the reservoir on
Bedford Hill, near the down-town district. The latter basin holds two and a
quarter million gallons and supplies a mercantile district of about twenty-seven
thousand i)o|)ulati(>n. The fnrmer holds eight iiuiiiun gnllous and supi)lies a larg(!
residential area of about forty-seven thousand poijulation.
The (iartield tanks are of steel construction, hold Ii\e hundred thousand gallons
and supply about ten thousand people resident near Highland Park. The pumi)ing
station is at the ceriier of Dearborn aud I'acific Streets.
The Lincoln tanks hold two hundred and hfty thousand gallons, they are on the
hillside near the east city line. The pump house is located on the corner of I'ar^
Avenue and Dean Street. There are resident in the district ten thousand people.
About seventy million gallons is the present average daily pumpage at the Bril-
liant Station.
PENNSYLVANIA WATER COMPANY.
The population within the city supplied by the Pennsylvania Water Company is
about eleven thousand. All service connections are metered and the estimated con-
sumption is about forty gallons per cajjita. On the municii)al sj'stem it is between
two hundred and thirty and two hundred and sixty gallons.
The company was cliartered in eighteen hundred and eighty-seven to supiily water
in the township of Sterrott, out of which the Thirty-seventh Ward, formerly Bnish-
ton borough, and the Forty-first Ward, were madi". The plant supplies Wilkens-
burg and other places as far south as North Braddoek. In eighteen hundnnl and
njnetj'-nine the I'ennsylvania Water Com|)any purchased the works of the Tui-tle
Creek Valley Water Company, built to supply the boroughs in the Turtle Creek
Valley, and then known as the East Pittsburg ^Vater Comi)any. The whole territory
is now s\ipplied from the i)uinping station of the Pennsylvania Water (Company on
the Allegheny river at N.HJiiii'. This point is about two miles above the Brilliant
pumping station.
The water is taken from l!iri'i> filter cril)s I)uilt three feet below liie Ixittom of
the river bed.
('rib number one is three hiunlred and eight feet long by lliiiiy-liu'ce f(^et wide
])y five fefrt deep. It is cov(!red with gravel and sand.
Cribs numl)er two and three are each four hundred and eight fri'l lung ])y foiiy-
eijflit feet wide by five feet deep, built in the sauie way, corncrib fashion.
From luuniier one crib a tvventy-four-incli cast-ii-on \)1]h' is laid below the bed
of the rivei' to a manhole on soulh bank of river. l<'rom cribs luuubei' two and
three a forty-tvvo-inch cast-iion pii)e is laid below the bed of the river to same
manhole; (hence to tJie pump there is a six-foot tunnel. 'I'he bottom of llic river
over the cribs is nol allowed to silt up. This is pi-eveuled by di-agging ovi'r it a
rake made of the pipe froiu which water is discliarged in small jets under i)ressui'e
of one huiiflred pounds jjer scpiare inch. Tiie observed i-eduetion of bacteria in water
pumped compared to the raw water is between ninety and nini'ty-nine per cent.
when the cribs are in working orrler. Occasioimlly the cribs fall off in efficiency.
One len-nnllion lmIIcjii aud one six-million gallon pumi)iug engine i-aises (he water
(o a reservoir of six million gallons capacity, locali'd on high gi'ound back of llie
station and distant therefrom five thousand feid:. About twi'niy-lliree thousand fe<!t
from reHer\()ir numlxtr one is reser\oir niunber (wo, which holds twelv*! million gal-
lons. They are connected by a forty-two-inch pii)e. The portion of (he ci(y m)ted
is KiippHed principally from reserxoir nundier one, but AVai'd 'I'liirly-scven may be
KUpidied diteeily from reservoir nunduM' two.
'I'lie \va(ei- fiM'iiislied by (he Penns,\l\ a uia W'aler ('onipany is usually <lear. II
wan gi-nerally superior in (pialily lo llial I'urnislied li\' ilic i-il.\' iiiior lo Ihe slarling
ii[) of the Aspinwall fillers.
.MO.\0.\(;,\IIKL.\ \V.\TKK C<).M1'ANV'.
A.s stated above, the "South Side," excepting Wards Thirly-eighl , Forty-two,
Forty-three and Forly-four, is supplied by the Mononnaluda Walec ("oinpany. To
meet (h" conditions imposed by broken topography, (liree services with reservoii's
and tanks al dilVeren( elevations have been inslalied by the company, l^hey com-
prise the low district, tlie Allentown high district ami tiu! lOsplen district.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 681
The InrH:''!* ii.'ii-l of tho snj)|)ly i.s |>iiiiijji'<l frmn tin- Moiioiiunlii'hi rivi-r at tin- main
pt'inpinu slalKin. sitiiati'd on tlic rivor front at tlic foot of Twenty-nintli Street.
The water is raised into tlie Hii"mini;hani seltiinjc iiasius, open hriek-lined struc-
tures, biiiK in llie nearby hillsi(h> at the head of Tliirty-first Street at the eleva-
tion of about two liundred feet ai)ove tiie river. Tiiese basins have a total capacity
of three million fjaHons and from them the water flows by gravity to the low service
area lyiii.u; between the foothills and the river.
The intake is a thirty-six-inr-h inpc; run out to the middle of the stream. There is
a screen on the end of it. The power plant is subject to inundalion. The p\unps
are not in first class order. There are live of them, one bein.i; f(j\ir million, two
beinir ten million and two bein};' live million gallons capacity. The latter raise
wati-r five huiKhed and ninety-eight feet high through a twenty-inch line into three
settling basins, eacb sixty feet in diameter by forty feet high, locati-d in the
Twenty-seventh Ward on the highest ground available; in the Allentown district.
Thirty-eight thousiind people reside in the hill area — Wards Twenty-seven, Thirty-
one, thirty-two and thirty-five — .served by thesi' tanks.
A sub-station, of not much account, at the Birmingham basins is maintained in
reserve to pump water through a ten-inch pipe and by a cross connection into the;
twenty-inch lim- to the tanks.
The Allentown and the low service area cuniprisiug Waids Twenty-four to Thirly-
(ivc, inclusive, aiul Ward Thirty-six in the lOsplcu territory, constitute the "Old
<lislricl"' of till' "Soutii Sidi'." lOigiity-tiiree lliuusand people ai'e luiw resi<lent
therein. The daily consumption, excepting the Thirty-sixth Ward, approximates
twelve millions gallons and the water is delivered through ninety miles of street
mains. These mains are known to be clogged with mud deposit.
The new Ksplen plant was built by the Monongahela Water Company and put
in service in eighteen hundred and ninety-five. It is now operated in conjunction
with the "Old district" works. Besides Ward Thirty-six, it includes the Thirty-
ninth and Fortieth Wards (formerly Elliott and Esplen boroughs), and outside of
the city, part of the borough of McKees liocks and parts of Charticrs and Stowe
townships.
The water is pumped from the Ohio river at a point opposite Brunot's Island.
There are two filter cribs here sunk in the river bed from each of which a tweuty-
four-incli supi)ly pipe leads to wells in the station. There are also fourteen twelve-
inch drilled wells, each about fifty feet deep, from which water is drawn. The
supply is lifted by two pumping engines, each three million gallons capacity, a ver-
tical height of four hundred and twenty-five feet to two steel tanks, each fifty feet in
diameter and seventy feet high, located on Sheraden Hill, from whence the dis-
charge is by gravity to the district. Ward Thirty-six contains about four thousand
pi'ojde.
The superiority of the plans under municipal control in IMttsburg proper as com-
l)ared with private ownership on the "South Side," above described, is partially
conspicuous in every detail of design, management and maintenance, and is one
reason for ))opular sentiment favorable to city ownership.
In December, nineteen hundred and six, the city petitioned for appraisement of
the value of the i)lant and property of the M(mongahela Water Company lying in
Wards Twenty-four to Thirty-six. inclusive, since these were the city limits in
i'ighle<'n hundred and eighty-five, when an agreement was entered into between
the city and the water cdmiiany, whereby th<,' latter obtained an exclusive fran-
chise for twenty-one years to the said territory of thirteen wards.
The company does not now own any pipes outside of the Twenty-fourth and
Thirty-sixth wards, inclusive, excepting the pipe system connected with the Es-
])len plant, which lii's largely outside the limits of the city. All others were pur-
chased by the ("liarticrs \'alley W.-iter Company in eighteen hundred and ninety-six.
So the Mouong.ahehi Water Comi)any will continue to exercise its franchises out-
side the "Old District," but still within Pittsburg's limits subsequent to any pur-
chase of the "Old District" plant by the city.
In fixing upon a fair \;ilue for the plant to be purchased, the water company's
experts have frankly .admitted that improveniiMils are advi.sable and necessary and
would be mad(! by iiny private individual accustomed to successful management of
water works property. The cpiality of the water must be improved by filtration.
The company's i)lans proposed as a basis for estimation of cost of giving good ad-
vic(>, is lo locate a fifteen-million gallon fil'er plant at the Hirmingham reservoir,
build settling basins of approved type out of one of the existing basins ami use the
otlier to store filtered water; erect two new vertical i>umps at the Twenty-ninth
Street station to pump all the water needed from the riviu- to the settling ii.-isins ;
provide a return jiipe to remodeled high district pumps for delivery of tiltereil
water to the Allentown tanks; build a new i)ump Ikuisc and plant at llie reservoir;
raise up and alter the main station; clean out all street pipes; rebuild intakes,
and, in fa<'t, revamp the entire system to secure an up-to-d;ite service.
At the iiresent time there is no comiietiti<in whatever in the supply of water in
the distri;t. There is a contract existing between the Monongahela Water Cimipany
and the South Tittsburg Water Company, the only other concern supplying water
to adjacent territory, whereby these two companies refrain from entering into com-
682 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
petition. This should operate to the beuefit of the service at once in the Esplen
district and also in the thirteen wards in event of failure of the city to acquire the
latter works.
It is the city's plan to supply filtered water should the "South Side" plant come
under municipal control. The obligation of the water company Is equally as great
at all times to supply pure water at reasonable rates, subject to the regulation of
the court.
SOUTH riTTSBUIlG WATER COJNIPANY.
The South Pittsburg Water plant comprises a pumping station on the Mouolaga-
hela river at Beck's run, about one mile up stream from the Twenty-ninth Street
station of the Monongahela Water Company, buried filter crib in the river bed and
two auxiliary pipe lines leading directly from the stream into the pump well, a
mechanical filter plant, including settling tanks, filters, clear water basin, chemi-
cal laboratories and all appurtenances of latest and most approved pattern, three
five-million gallon service pumps at the filter plant to raise the water into a steel
tank on the hill in Mt. Oliver borou£;h and a system of distributing mains reach-
ing a large population in the municipalities bordering the Pittsburg boundary and
in the townships beyond. It is also serves the four hill wards of the city above
mentioned. The works are managed with exemplary care vmder skilled direction.
The water is clear and pure and the service is eminently satisfactory. This fea-
ture has materially aided in the building up of the district. A contract exists be-
tween the city and the company for fire hydrant service. All the territory covered
by this water company and by the Pennsylvania Water Company will in likelihood,
be annexed to Pittsburg, and following there is likely to be agitation for municipal
control of the water works. Naturally city ownership would effect alterations in
methods of distribution. Such possibility need only be thought of in considering the
present question of supplying filtered water to the north and south sides of Pitts-
burg at present incorporated.
ALLEGHENY CITY.
The "North Side," formerly Allegheny City, is supplied entii'cly from water
works owned and operated by the municipality, and like the other parts of I*itts-
burg, the topography is irregular, ranging six hundred feet or more in elevation, so
that thei-e are several sj'Stems of distribution.
The supply is taken from the Allegheny river at two points. At Montrose village
in O'Hara township, opposite Verona, nine and a half miles up stream, is the
principal pumping station. An auxiliary plant called River Avenue Station, is in
the eastern part of the North Side at the site of the original pump house built in
eighteen hundred and forty-nine.
iVIontrose intake has a timber crib twenty-five hundred feet long by thirty-two
feet wide by seven feet deep, placed in a ten-incli excavation in tiie river bottom.
it is planked on top and c(ner('d willi gravel to original surface oli tiie channel and
its sides are riprajipi'il filling. Uitliciilly has been expt'i'lenc'd in j<eeping llu? struc-
ture open to admit of the passage of water. The sides have been dredged out for
this purpose, but they till up again. So far as keeping out silt from the piunp
chambers or clarifying tln^ river water goes, the crib may as well be out of commis-
sion.
There are two fifteen million gallon trii)le expansion i)umping engines and three
twelve million gallon cross compound |)iunping (!ngines in tin; station. 'IMiey raisi;
about forty million gallons of water daily a verti(;al height of two hundred and
forty-seven feet through a sixty-ini^li steel f(;rce main nine and a half miles long to
Troy Hill reservoir, wlien," the water is delivered direcily into the low sei'vice dis-
trict without going into the reservoir. The surplus overliows into duplicate basins at
said reservoir. The two large pumps ar(( new. They wei'i^ ])ut in linal coTumission
early in the current year. Now all the supply is pumped at the iM(]iitr(ise slalion;
but prior to nineteen hundred and seven for ten years or so about one-lliiid of llie
water su()p!y was drawn from the river at the River Avenue Station. Steam in
one battery of boilers is still kejjt up at this old station in readiness for use during
einergencics.
Jlcn- the intakes are two twenty lour inch .mikI (uie Ihirty-six-inch pipes. They
extend down stream for fifty-six feel mid are pi'rfoialed with on(!-incli holes. The
plant is Hubjcft to possible interrruption of service at times of extreme high wat(!r.
A combined rated cai)acity of thirty-lhree million gallons is afTorded by the five
j>urapH. They are in potjr condition. 'I'lie water is raised into Tioy Hill reservoir
nearby.
The Troy Hill reservoir holds seven Miillion live Inindi-ed llidnsand gallons. It is
of i-artli embard<ment (;otiHtruction , concretes lined and jtaved with biie|<. A wall
ilivided the reservoir into two basins of about equal cajjacity. Each is in poor (!on-
(lition, espr-cially al the frost line.
From 'I'roy Ilill reservoir the water was forniei-|y furnished by gravity of tli(! low
Hervice district, cornjjrising a belt of varying width, extending nearly the whole
length of the river front. The section includes all the manufacturing and coraraer-
c-ial districts and covers an urea of about two and a half s(piare miles. The popu-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 683
lation served approximates ninety-five thousand people. But not only the several
distinct high services draw water from the basins. A thirty-inch and a sixteen-
inch gravity main extends northeast about a mile to the Howard Street pumping
station, which is located at the corner of Howard and Rising Main Streets. Here
five pumping engines raise (lie vvaiiT into tanks in districts B. C. and D. Each
tank is forty feet in diameter and iwenty-two feet high.
There is one eight million and one five million triple expansion pumping engine
and one three million and two two million five hundred thousand gallon pumping
engines of the combined duplex type in the station.
A twenty-four-iuch main leads to two tanks on Nunnery Hill nearby. They are
elevated two hundred and eighty-eight feet above the Troy reservoir. From them
a residential ai'ea of one square mile, lying directly north of the low service dis-
trict and comprising twenty-thousand people, is supplied by a gravity flow. This
is high service district B.
A separate twenty-four-inch main also leads to two tanks, located eighty-five feet
higher on Nunnery Hill, which feed district C, an area of two and seven-tenths
square miles, extending to the northerly city boundary and containing an approxi-
mate population of twenty thousand people.
An irregular shaped area of one and two-tenths square miles adjacent to the
eastern boundary of the city, containing a population of about ten thousand people,
comprises high service district D. It is fed from two tanks on Spring Hill. A
sixteen-inch force main from the Howard Street station delivers the water into
these tanks. They are elevated about three hundred and sixty-nine feet above the
Troy reservoir.
In district C at the city line is Green Tree Hill, the highest land in Allegheny
county. On this eminence are two tanks supplied with water from an auxiliary
pumping station on Broadway. The tanks feed a local extra high area of about
two-tenths square miles. The pumps are electrically driven and have a capacity of
one million gallons each. The consumption is small.
At the Troy Hill reservoir is a pumping station containing two pumps, rated
capacity one million gallons each, which supply by direct pressure a district of
about three-tenths square miles on the hill land in the vicinity.
The investigator must be struck with the lack in the water works of opportunity
for sedimentation. Troy Hill reservoir has loo little capacity to assure the removal
of slit. Water of the quality of the Allegheny river, if delivered into the system
without sedimentation or purification, is bound to clog up the pipes and house
connections and reduce the efficiency of the works and hence increase the cost of
operation and maintenance. These matters are indirectly prejudicial to public
health.
WATER PURIFICATION PLANT.
Plaus for a complete water purification plant large enough to furnish all of the
city of Pittsburg, including the South Side, with pure water were adopted and con-
struction work begun in nineteen hundred and five.
Opposite the Brilliant pumping station and just above it on the north bank of
the river is a level plateau over a mile long and about half a mile wide whose ele-
vation is higher than the highest freshet ever recorded. Here a slow sand filtration
plant has been recorded, consisting of a pumping station, sedimentation basins,
forty-six acres of covered filter beds, each an acre in area, covered filtered water
basin and gravity supply mains under the river to the pump wells in the Brilliant
station. The net daily capacity of the filters is one hundred million gallons based
on a maxinuim rale <>i filtrnlion of three million gallons per acre per twenty-four
hours, making allowance for cleaning and other operations. The works were de-
signed for future additions, space having been reserved therefor in the eastern por-
tion of the tract owned by the city.
The site is in O'Hara township, bounded on the west by Aspinwall borough.
At the upper end of the said tract are the new intakes and pumping station called
Ross station. The capacity is between one hundred and forty millioin and one hun-
dred and eighty million gallons per twenty-four hours, dependent on the height of
river water. These engines raise the raw river water into the central receiving
basin, capacity twenty million gallons, on either side of which are larger sedimen-
tation basins, capacity sixty million gallons each, from which the water passes to
the filters.
The heavier suspended matters deposit in the primary receiving basin. All three
basins are designed to drain pumps leading to the drainage system of the plant.
The conduits carrying sen led water from the basins lead to the central gate
chamber at the i)rimary roceiviug basin. The operation of the entire plant is con-
trolled and directed at the administration building, erected over the central gate
chamber. Here are the offices, rooms, operating mechanism and bacterological "and
chemical laboratories.
The sedimentation basins are at the foot of the hill. Tlie filters lie between them
and Freeport road and the tracks of the West Penn division of the Pennsylvania
Railroad near the river bank.
Passing through the site of the filters is a right-of-way in which the sixty-inch
Montrose station force main to the Troy Hill reservoir "extends. This strip", six-
teen fept wide, is laid out as a driveway and divided the filter layout into north
684 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
and south parts, three rows of filters being in each part. The distribution and
collection system of pipes run at right angles to this driveway. The pipes are
housed in (.-overed galleries thirty-one fi^et wide in the clear, placed between alter-
nate rows of Intel's. There are four of them, each about one thousaud feet long,
including the north and south part, and they contain all auxiliary apparatus and
machinery for scraping, washing and restoring sand.
Thei-e is a fan-heating and ventilatiug system in each gallery to maintain a uni-
form temperature, also an attendant's room. A toilet room and locker and luneh
room are provided in each half gallery. The floors of all of these places are made
tight and arranged for ready cleaning.
Two sand washing tanks of concrete are placed in each half gallery. The flow of
dirty water from the outlet weir of these washers passes directly into the drain.
All the drainage is intercepted by a large main trunk drain along Frtjeport road,
which empties into the river opposite gallery number one.
Adequate facilities for the treatment and disposal of the sewage created at the
water filtration plant have been provided. Approval, according to law , was given
in a permit issued by the Commissioner of Health under date of April, twenty-
ninth, nineteen hundred and seven.
The filter beds have groined arched concrete fioors and covers. The latter are
carried on concrete pieis foui'teen feet on centers. The gravel uuderdrains total one
foot in thickui'ss, the sizes ranging from five to one and a half inches iu diameter.
The sand layer is between two and four feet deep. The uaderdraiuage system con-
sists of a concrete main collector extending the length of the filter iu the longitu-
dinal center bay and a lateral drain six to eighteen inches in diameter, in each
transverse bay connects to this main collector. The latter has pipe connection to its
corresponding regulating chamber, located in the gallery.
An automatic recording gauge, indicating the rate of filtration, loss of head and
the depth of water orer the sand, is supplied for each filter. The facilities for
back-flooding the beds and for draining them aud for the ordinary feed, are ample.
Sand scraping and sand resloring machinery are used. How(>ver, llie design per-
mits of this work being done by hand were it necessary for any i\ ason.
The filtered water conduit in each gallery connects with the main conduit ten
feet four inches in duimeter, extending to the filtered water reser\oir. This struc-
ture is built of concreti', groin arched, width at one and two hundred and ninety-
four feet, with a total length between the ends of eleven hundred and ninety-four
feet, and holding forty-tWo nullion gallons. The roof is supported by piers twenty-
one and five-tenths feet high, spaced eighteen feet apart on centers. The up-stream
end is in line with the down-stream gallery of the filters.
The river side of tin; reservoir is nearly parallel aud one hundred and twenty-five
feet from the harbor line. Here an embankment has been filled in on a slope of two
to one. The slope is protected up to the elevation of extreme floods with a heavy
concrete revetment. A level berm twenty to forty feet in width is carried back
from the top of the revelment to a sei'ond sloi)e, rising to the level of the filling oVet
the reservoir roof. Tili; drainage and i)uddle cover have been provided to prevent
percolation of surface waters into the filtered water basin.
There is an inlet and outlet chamher at the reservoir. An eighty-four-inch by-
pass, laid on the reservoir floor, connects the two. The inflow may be measured
by weir apparatus. Tin; outflow is through two seventy-two-inch piix's, laid inuhu'
the river to the piim|)ing stati(jn at IJrilliant. A phu^e for a third seventy-l wo-inch
pipe has been left. A ventral meter is set up in each seventy-two-inch pipe. This
is the last of four measuring stations by wiiicli the quality of water liowiug from
various parts of the plant may be observed and loss located.
In connection with liistribiiting the filtered water a fifty-inch jiipe line iias heen
laid from Highland i-eser\oii- lo a point (ju the noi'tii side of the Moiiongaliela river,
a distance at ahont live miles, and thence under the river by a liiirty-six-inch pipe,
to supply the "Soutli Side." The thirty-six-ineh main connects at Twenty-ninth
Street with the system of the Monongahela Water Company, but water is not fur-
nished, but might be in an enu-i-gency.
The geni-ral ideji of the lanilsca|)e treatment of the entire water filter layout is to
isolate the site from surionndiiigs by hedges and seed down the entire enclosure,
lay out drives around and iiy the sedimentation basins, pnmi) house and filters and
reduce the formality of the view by shruhhery and small trees along tin; drives.
Thr(;e filti-i's were put in commission in Deceinhcir last, seven in January, eight in
Marcli, six in April and three in May, and now tlic're are altogether tliirly-nine
units oficraled. TlM-y are distributed along eac'ii of liu! four- galleries. All of the
water delivei-ed liii'ont.'h thc! JJrilliant ijuinping slalion, .'is pi'evi(jnsly slated, comes
from the pni'ilicalion plant; hut not all is lillered. ()nly I'oi'ty-oin; million gallons
daily pass through Ihe sand iKtds. 'I'lie halame to make up the seventy million
,:alloMH daily consumption, more or l(!ss in Pittsburg, is wahr settled in the sedi-
• leiitalion basins. The two wat(!rs are mixeij, since ilnre is no way of keeidng
li 'III se|>arated.
If the Ihirly-nine filters w<'re oper.iiid al llieir normal capacily, all of IIk;
Kcventy million gallons would be filtincd. This result is to \)t'. acconiidisluHl as soon
as jjossible. Fifteen men are now <;ngaged in the operating galleri(!s ; they are dis-
tribut'"] as follows: Two filter attendants for four galh^ries ; (wo laborers Cor four
galleries; <jne filler fon-man ; this niak(!S a force; of live, men for foui- gallej-jcs for
each shift of eight hours or iifte<;ii men for ea(;h twenty-four hours. An additional
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 685
filter attendant and an additional lillor laborer for eacli shift is to be put on. This
will make twenty-seven men for each twenty-four hours instead of fifteen men.
With this force the hijrher rates are to be attained as soon as {K).>isi1)le without jeop-
ardizin;^ the entire plant.
In the cleaninj; operations there are now employed four machine operators, four
filter laborers, two \Vasher attendants and one maciiinist. This force is to be
doubled. It has been found m-cesssary to do this to successfully work all the filters.
Without adequate cleanini!; force, if the beds were run to their full capacity, it
would tie up the entire plant. The unusually high turbidity of the Allegheny river
this sunnnor has retarded the development of the filters to their ma.xinium etti-
ciency.
in the laboratory work, whose results give the imi)ortant index of necessary cor-
rective mi'asures in daily and hourly operation, there are now employed one
analysis! in charge, one assistant chemist, two laboratory assistants, two sample
collectors and one laborer. Other help will be employed as I'equired.
I'Koi'osKi) Ai)i>rri(jxs.
The city asks ai)proval of plans for the erection of ten additional filter units of
tlie same size and form of construction as the existing filters, to be located up
stream on the land bcloiisinir to the city and reserved for this i)urpose.
The annexation of Allcuhcny City lias extended the territory and usefulness of
till filtration works. The present plant has a maximum capacity of one hundred
niilli(ni gallons. The greatest consumption in I'ittslairg as recorded is eighty-three
million gallons. The Monongahela Water Company's district, if supplied by the
city, will call for twelve million additional gallons of filtered water, making a total
of ninety-live million galhius needed.
The "Xorth Sifle" consMiuption is now forty thousand gallons daily; so it is
evident that ten additional units are none too many. It is understood, however,
that experiments with preliminary treatment are now in progress as a basis of
design for materially increasing the capacity of the existing sand beds. This study
of pi'eliniinai-y treatment is iK^artily recommended. 'I"!ie State Department of Health
will be glad to favorably consider any well conceived niethod, thoroughly tested, with
.special reference to adaptability to local conditions.
The exigencies of the case, however, warrant no d.'lay in providing for additional
capacity, and the plans proposed for ten filters sho.ild be executed at once.
The city also projjoses, as soon as money therefor shall have been provided, to
add low service pumping machinery to the Ross pumping station and to build and
ecjuip a new high service pumping station at Aspinwall, for the purpose of deliver-
ing filtered water into the Allegheny mains; and when this has been done, to
al)andon the old River Avenue pumping station and also the Montrose pumping
station.
Further, it is contemplated to build a reservoir of about one hundred million
gallons capacity somewhere along the iiipe line I'oute to Allegheny.
Still further, in eonnection with the furnishins of filtered water to the "South
Side" when the city takes over the works of the Monongahela Water Company, it
proposes to abandon the use of the low service punii)s at the Twenty-ninth Street
station at once, and to deliver filtered water into the district mains." The filtered
water snpjily will be lifted by the high service pumps at this station to the Allen-
lown tanks, pendini,' the l)uildinir and efinii)m(>nt of new high service pumps and
their installation in a new house lo b,. erecte(l at a site free from inundations or
Moods. Upon completion of tliis work the Twenty-ninth Street station will be en-
tirely abandoned.
DISCUSSION.
The policy of the State in subserving the interests of public health bears a pecu-
liar relationship to the endeavors of the authorities of IMttsburg along the same
lines. The sewages of the nnmicipalities situated on the banks of the .Vlle^heny and
Monongahela rivers above I'itisburg jiollute to a very considerable and dangerous
ileu;ri'e the waters which are the source of supply to all the districts hereinbefore
(leseril)ed. E\en the ciiy's own sewage ))ollu(es tho water which passes over or by
the inlakes of the River Avenue, Twenty-ninth Street and Esplen pumping sta-
tions. To these facts have been altributeil rightfully a considerable proportion of
the tyi)hoid fever cases and deaths of .MIegheny county.
A circuit between the city, its environment ami the eountry beyond its existency,
no doul)t , whereby infeeiion is tninsmitled lia<-k and forth through the medium of
water, milk and food stulTs. This circuit can only be cut when all of the drinking
water in the city is pure water.
A comi)ulsory pro))er disposal of h<uisehold wastes of a poisonous nature at the
farms and in the village is going along apace under State direction: but the com-
l)ulsory dicontinuance of the discharu'e of miinieipal sewage into the city's drinking
water must necessarily require a lorn: term of years for accomplishment. .Meantinu'.
the peoiile unist have pure water, and there is one law for all water works whether
owned and operated by private or municipal corporation. The IVunsvlvania Water
44
686 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Company now has pending before the State Department of Health for approval,
plans for improving its water supply which have a relation to the future develop-
ment of the municipal system. The Monongahela ^Yater Company, held up for the
time being in making improvements, by the probability of having its plant partly
taken away, must also provide adequate works to purify the water supply to its
consumer and a decree to this effect will be issued.
It has been determined that the existing city water works will not be prejudicial
to public health under certain conditious, and the same are hereby and herein ap-
proved and a permit granted for the proposed extensions, alterations and improve-
ments, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That this permit shall relate only to the water works now owned and
ojjerated or that may be owned and operated by the city between the territory now
comprised wiihin the boundaries of the citj' of Pittsburg as incorporated August
fii"bt, nineteen hundred and eight. The acquirement of water works or extensions of
water works by the city into any area beyond the said municipal territory of August
first, nineteen hundred and eight, shall be made under the provisions of law re-
quiring a written permit by the Commissioner of Health.
SECOND: That the city shall immediately upon its acquirement of the Monou-
gahela Water Company's plant in the thirteen wards, fully inform the Commissioner
of Health of the fact of the nature and terms of the agreement between the city and
the water company, and the extent of the plant as acquired, more particularly in
its bearing to any remaining property or works of the said water company within
the city limits and similar information shall be given with regards to any acquire-
ment of the Penn.sylvania Water Company's plant in part by the city.
THIRD: That monthly reports of the operation of the water purification plant
and of the water works system shall he filed in the office of the Commissioner of
Health on forms satisfactory to said Commissioner. At the close of each season's
woi-k the city shall file satisfactory plans showing all additions, extensions and
changes in the water works system made during the year, together with any other
information in connection therewith that may be required.
FOURTH: That the city shall not later than December first, nineteen hundred
and eleven, supply the "North Side" and the "South Side" and the old city proper,
with filtered water and filtered water only. Provided, however, that if the Monon-
gahela Water Company should not be acquired by the city then, in that event, the
State Board of Health will require the said water company to filter the water sup-
plied to all its consumers. And on or before Deccmlier first, nineteen hundred and
eleven , the abandonment of the Montrose and River Avenue pumping stations
shall have been accomplished and also the Twenty-ninth Street station, if this
latter property shall have been acquired by the city in time to admit of the
changes in plans herein approved relative thereto being made, otherwise, a reason-
ble extension of time will be granted by Ihe Commissioner of Health. It is the in-
tent of this permit to bring about at the earliest practicable moment the elimination
from the water works system of all emergency and other intakes whereby raw river
water may be introduced into the distributing system.
FIFTH: That since greater filter capacity than that now possessed at the Aspin-
wall plant, together with the ten additional filter units is requisite to the furnish-
ing of the entire city with filtered water. It is stipuliiled that tests of the prelim-
inary treatment of the Allegheny river water shall be coiulucted by the city prepara-
tory to the adoption of the best treatment, and that prior to installation of any per-
manent method, the |)lans therefor, together with the tests showing the adaptal)ility
of the process, shall be submitted to tlie Coraniissijuer of Henlth for approval.
SIXTH: If at any time it shall appear tiiat the water works system or any
part there<if, or the water supplied to the piil)lic thereby is prejudicial to public
health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted forthwith as the Commissioner
of Health may approve or advise.
Harrisburg, Pa., August 17, 1908.
POTTSTOWN, MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
This application was made by the Pottstown Gas and Water Company, Potts-
town, Montgomery county, and is for ))ermission to extend its distributing main
within its chartered teiiitory and to insiail a water purilieniicjn phiiil.
It apijears thai liie hoi'ougii of I'ottstowii, having a popiihilion of sixteen thou-
sand, is a thriving manufacturing conuiiunity on Ihe norlli hunk of Ihe Schuylkill
river in the Hoiilhwest corner of AIontgoni(!i-y county.
The municipal territory is bounded on the west by West, Pol.lsgi'ove lowiisliij}, on
the north by said township and Upper jnid JiOwer Poltsgrove lowiiships, on tlui
east by the last rKimed lownsliip, iirid on Ihe south by the Seliulykill river-. ()p))0-
HJle the borough south of the river is N'orlh ('oventi'y township in Chester county.
Two highway bridijes Hi)an the Schnylkill, <'onni'eting the scattered settlement along
the south river bank on the flats cfilled .South Pottstown, where five hundred peojjli!
resirie, with the borough of Pott si own.
The incorporated area of about four square miles extends for three miles along
the river. The topography is rolling, the surfar-e drainage is fair'y good, more
esxjecially since there are numerous natural water courses flowing to the river.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 687
Mauatawny creek is the piinLipal stream. It enters the Schulykill in the western
part of the borough. Its watershed is about seventy square square miles. A con-
siderable numljor of the inhabitants live in dwellinKs connected by private sewers to
the runs, which the borou!i;h has arched over to obviate a nuisance.
The princii)al industry is the manufacture of iron and steel. The plants are
located alonj; the lines of the I'ennsylvania Railroad and the Philadelphia and Read-
ing Railway, within fifteen hundred fe(!t of the river. Two of them employ over a
thousand or more hands and two others employ half as many. Twelve more con-
cerns employ an average of about one hundred hands each. And among these are
included hosiery mills, shirt factories and dye mills.
The Pottstowii Gas and ^Vater Company furnishes more water to the manufac-
tories tlian to the citizens of the town. There are some private domestic wells,
shallow dug. Their location is unknown to the Department.
The Pottstown Gas and Water Company was incorporated by special act of As-
sembly, April second, one thousand eight hundred and si.\ty-nine, for the purpose
of making, raising and introducing into the borough of Pottstown a sulticient sup-
ply of gas and pure water. A subsequent act of May sixteenth, eighteen hundred
and seventy-one, provided for the protection of the water company's mains and
reservoirs. The company is now operated under the (General Corporation Act.
The plant as first installed in eighteen hundred and sixty-nine had its intake to
the Schuylkill river at the foot of Washington Street in the lower part of the
borough, below the outlets of numerous sewers. In eighteen hundred and ninety a
new pumping station and river intake were built up stream about one mile beyond
the borough line at the village of Bramcote in West Pottsgrove township. The old
station and intake were al)andoned. The new intake is the one at present in use.
Said intake consists of a thirty-inch cast-iron pipe, extending into the river
sixty feet from low water line, the river here being about three hundred feet wide.
At low water the outer end of the intake is in a pool four feet deep. The shore
end of the pipe terminates in a screen well five feet in diameter, located on the
bank of the river. The water theu(!e tiows by gravity through a brick tunnel four or
five feet into a pump well, which is said to be twelve feet in diameter and twenty
feet deep. It is two hundred feet back from the river bank adjacent to the pump
house.
The pumping machinery consists of two horizontal compound condensing engines,
one a liarr pump, rated capacity, three million gallons, and the other a Worthing-
ton pump, capacity, one and a half million gallons per twenty-four hours. By these
engines water is raised to a tweuty-four-iuch cast-iron force main, one and a half
miles, to a five million gallon reservoir on Stowe Hill, north of the borough in
West Pottsgrove township, it is reported that the average vertical lift is one hun-
dred and sixty-three and five-tenths feet, not including friction.
The storage reservoir on Stowe Hill is approximately two hundred by three hun-
dred feet in plan and thirteen feet deep. The side walls are of stone masonry,
plumb on the insidi'. Tlie bottom is concrete. A partition wall six feet high divides
the reservoir trausversly into north and south basins. Ordinarily the water is
pumped into the northwest corner of the reservoir and taken out at the southeastern
corner, both inlet and outlet pines being flush with the bottom. However, the
piping will admit of water being supplied and drawn from either basin iudeoend-
ently, so that six feet of water may be maintained on one side of the partition wall
while the basin on the other side is being cleaned. There are no plans filed in the
Denartinent of the details of any part of the water works .system. How the reser-
voir is drained the Commissioner of Health does not know. There is a by-pass by
means of which water may be forced directly into the town street pipe system with-
out first passing through the reservoir.
From the Stowe Hill reservoir (nere is a twenty-inch gravity main to town
which furnishes the distribution system. It extends easterly through the borough
in Berks and King Streets, a total distance from Stowe Hill" of about two miles to
Washington Si reel. In this highway there is a ten-inch pipe extending northerly
about half a mile to a one and a half million gallon reservoir on Washington Ilili.
It is in the borough and is elevated about one hundred and fifty feet above the
river. This small reservoir was a part of the plant as first installed in eighteen
hundred and sixty-nine when the intake was at the foot of Washington Street.
This reservoir takes the overflow from the system. It is irregular in shai)e and
seventeen feet deei). Tin' inner silkies are paved with brick and the bottom is
concrete. A float valve regulates the inflow, shutting it off at a predetermined
elevation.
The average consumption is said to be one million six hundred thousand gallons
daily of yhich om- million are furnished for industrial purposes. In sumnier the
consuini)lii'n is two miHiun gnllons per tweiiiy-rour hours. Thus the storage capacity
of both reservoirs al six and one-half million gallons permits the pumps to he shut
down for three or four days without a curtailment of use of water in the district.
The company selects the most suitable time for immiiing from tlie river. The first
waters of a flood being most turbid are permitted to pass. The luimping station was
under six feet of ^\ater and out of commission for a period of three days in Feb-
ruary, nineteen hundred and two, and this may occur again at .-my time. The com-
pany reports that about four thousand people living in the borough do not take
public water but derive their supply from shallow wells. There are said to be many
hundred loose vault privies in the town.
688 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The records filed" in the State Department by the local authorities show that
thtre were in Pottstown the following number of typhoid fever cases: for nine-
teen hundred and six, thirty-tive ; for nineteen hundred and seven, forty-eight,
and for nineteen hundred and eight, up to and iueludiug April, thirty-three
cases.
At the Hill School in December, nineteen hundred and three, and the following
mouth, there was an epidemic of typhoid fever, which is said to have been due
to intiltratiou from a cesspool into the well which supplied the drinking water.
'J'liis well has since been closed up and the school now receives its supply from the
water comi)any.
The water company also furnishes water to the public in the townships of West
Pottsgrove and North Coventry.
The supply main U) Nortli Coventry is carried across the river at Hanover
Street and furnishes a supply to about one hundred inhabitants. The West Potts-
iirove township district comprises the outskirts of the borough and there are about
four hundred indivi<luals here to take the water, so it is ri'ported. The charter
right granted the company is for the borough of I'oltstown only. Tliere is no
record in the office of the Secretarj' of the Commonwealth of the water company
having secured the franchise or right to extend its water pipes beyond the limits of
I'ottstown borough.
Under act number one hundred and seventy-se\en, approved ]\Iny twenty-first,
nineteen hundred and one, the company might have legally supplied water to the
.settlement surrounding Pottstown, but if water is being furnished there by the
Pottstown Gas and Water Company in compliance with a petition from the
ownere of a majoritj' of the land in these districts, the records in the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth do not show it. Hence it wouhl appear that the
said company has no legal right to furnish water beyond the limits of I'ottstown.
The application of July twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred and seven, to extend
distributing pipes in North Coventry township and West Pottsgrove township can-
not be acted tipou by the Commissioner of Health until the water company shall
have obtained a charter right to supply Mater to the public in these townships.
consequently, a withholding of approval of the pipes already laid in these town-
ships and used to supply water to the public therein by the Pottstown Gas and
Water Company on the date of its application of July twenty-seventh, nineteen
hundred and seven, must be decreed by the Commissioner of Health.
The extension of distributing pipes in the borough may be approved, but until
the company shall have submitted a plan of . the piping system showing dead ends
and drained facilities among other things, the Commissioner of Health cannot be in
a posticn to act most intelligently with respect to particular stiptilations in relation
thereto.
liapid .sand filtration preceded by coagulation and sedimentation is contemplated
in the plans for the proposed water purification plant submitted for approval. The
plant is to be eijuipijed under a guarantee by the New York ('outinental Jewell
Filtration Company. The concrete work is to be constructed by the water com-
pany.
The filter plant is to have a capacity of f(nir million gallons per twenty-four hours.
However, it is the intention not to operate it more than twelve hours or so daily.
It is U) be located immediately north of the present pumping station. The filters
will be iioused in a reinforced concrete building one hundred and forty feet long by
fifly-two feet wide. In the <'nd nearest the pump house will be the sedimentation
basiuH and in the other ends tin- filter's, and l)elow them the clear water basin.
Two ci'iilrifug.-il |)umps, r-iich fi\'e million gallons capiUMty, are to be set
up in the pump JKJUse and used to raise raw watei' fioin the pump well into the
inlet chamlier of the sedimeiilntion basin, extending from tln' bottom seveiileeu
feel eight inches high. 'I'Uo water will rise in this eluimber which will be about
four Kfjuare feet and i)ass out through two i)orts coni rolled by gates, one on either
HJfle to the inlet weir trtjugh extending across the entire end of each basin at
ilie top. A loriiritudinal wall will divide tin- entire tank into e(|ual halves.
Adjacent to the iniel chandier is to be an overtlow cluunber extending from top
to b(jttoni in tliir line of IIk; division wall. It will connect with the; s(!wer and
will be provided with ports to drain out <-.\c\\ basin when necessary. The top
of the overflow chamber will be five incjies al)iiv(« the inlet weir. Passing over
this weir IIk- water will fl<j\v in either ehanilter under a baffle boaril extending
from the roof ni-arly lr» ihe bottom. Polli basins together l(» a <leplii of sixteen
feet lei! inelies will afford a peiioil of sedimentation of about three and one-iialf
liours when the plant is beiuL.' operaleil al Ihe rale nf rcmi' Miillion gallons per
twenty-four hours.
'i'lie outtlo\v' from the basin is lo be over weirs inio eoljeelihg I roughs ex-
fr-nding the full width of the basins at the end nearest the (iilcss. 'I'liis weir
or dam will br- r-iyhi inches low<'r than Ihe lop of \\\i: oniu'IIow chandx'r al, the
opposite end of the basin.
Over tiie outlet end is to be the ehemical luom ami eoagulanl sniulion lank.
Sulphafe ()f ahunina is to be used and the solution will be applii'd in (In- pump
well. 'IMie aniouril of S(diiti(jn to be used will be regulated by an oiilice box
to be placed at a converdenl point at the pump station.
The elevation of the bollom of Ihe sedimenlalion basin is to be on a li'vel with
the engine room floor.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 689
Tlu! lasl foil,v-t\v(j fecf of tlio purification plant is to he rlcvotfd to clnar water
basins and the filters. This basin will be four feet deeper than the sedimentation
basins. A twenty-four inch influent i)ii)e from the eollectin;; trough at the
outlet end of the sediinentalion i»asin is to e.xt<'iid in tiie arljacent operating
gallery of the filter house. This i)ipe will reduce to twenty inches and fourteen
inches in diameter and from it will lead ten inch pipes on either sirlt! to the
filtering units of which there are to be three in each row. Each filter unit is to have
a. surface thirteen feet l)y seventeen feet tr-n inches and its cai)acily is to be two-
thirds of ii million trallons i)er twenty-four hours when operated at the normal
rate of the plant. The ten incii inlet pipe is to discharge into a ciiamber at the
head of the filler out of which at the toji are to extend three iron gutters across
the full length of the filter. Their toi)s are to be twelve inches above the
sand surface.
The mainfiild system on the bottom of each filler unit is to consist of a si.v
inch cast iron pi|)e off nf which is to l>e taken in parallel rows, six ineh(>s on
C(!nters one and a half inch \\iiiught iron pipes fitt<'d with strainers six inclu-s on
centers. Over this c(dlecting system, which is to be imbedded in the concrete
floor of the unit Hush with the bottom of the strainers is to be laid nine inches
of gravel su[)|)orting twenty-seven inches of sand. -Vn eight inch effluent pipe
will conduct the filtered water to the central jyipe gallery and rate controller,
whence the warer will go to the clear basin below. The arrangement of valves and
])iping is such that the wash water will be wasted to the sewer and also the first
filtered water. The wash water will be taken from the pressure main.
Till' aim in the design is to maintain practically the same level on the filters
as that of the water in the sedimentation basin. The overflow weir in the latter
structures will prevent overHowing of the filters. Resides a device operated by
floats influenced by the level m tlw sedimentation basin will ojK'rate to reduce
the speed of (he pumping engines. This will obviate the wasting of any wateri
the air wash is to b.^ accompanied through the water manifold system. Each
filter unit is to be provided with the regulation loss of head gage. The effluent
controllei-s are to bo of the Weston type. A free air discharge of filtered water
in the clear water basin below is to be maintained.
.Vt the bottom of the inlet chamber of each filter is to be a ten inch connection
with a twelve inch sewer in the central gallery. This sewer will extend through
said gallery and thence- lonsitudinally through one of the sedimentation basins
near the central wall to the overflow chamber where it will discharge in the bottom
of said chamber.
The in,il<'rial excavated from the hillside where the purification plant is to bo
erected i> being u.sed to form a dyke about the pumping station to keep out floods.
The water will rise in the overflow chamber, backing up through the .sewer
from the river and will attain a level possibly seven feet above the chamber during
some extraordinary freshet. At such times it will still be possible to wash the
filter and drain the dirty water to the river.
The entire form of construction of the basins and filters is to be reinforced
concrete. The sedimentation basins are to have flat roofs of concrete con-
struction. The operating gaUery and inlet ends oi the filters are to be lioused over
in the custemiary manner by a concrete or brick superstructure and the chemical
store house will be of the same type.
The operating gallery will be covered by a platform of concrete made water
tight.
Deneaih (he filters an<l the iiallery is to be th(< clear water basin. It will oc-
cupy the entire' space, being (hirty-nine feet ei<;ht inches by forty-nine feet four
inches in jilan and having a de[)th below the under side of the floor of the i)ipe
gallery of seven feet five inches. Its cai)acity will be alxnit one hundred tho\isand
gallons.
'I'lie existii.u: immpinu' engines of the town serxice ;ire (o have their suctions
connected to a rwenty-fotir inch i)ii)e terminating in the clear water basin, but
(he old suction pijies to the raw river pump well are nf>t to be disconnected, ^'alves
are to ho placed on them and they are to be kept for emergency uses.
In view of the fiu'cgoing consideratiems it has been determined that a iiermit
be withheld and it is hereby anil herein withheld from the roltstown (!as and
AVater ('omi)any to suppl.v watei* to the imblic in the townships of .N'orlh C'ov-
ontry and West Pottsgrove until said couipany shall ha\e obtaineel legal right
so to do.
It ha-; also beeii d(-termined that the waier woi'ks system and the source of supply
and the extev.sion nf water pijies in (he b(U'oui;h of I'ottstown will not be ])i'eju-
dicial to public health anil (Iw plans therefov are hereb.v and herein approved, also
the plans for (he wa(er |)urification plant hereinbefore described and a pennit is
issued therefor and for (he ex(ensi(>n of (he mains in the s(ree(s of (he borough
uiiiler tile following i-oiulitions and s(ii)ida(ions:
I'MRST: That com|>lele ;ilans of i he intake, pump well, pumping s(a(ion,
puriliealioii plant, showinu the ]>lant as it is constr\ic(ed with all appli.ances
an<i ai)i)urteminces, valves, etc.; and that complete plans and elevations of the
force main, distributiuir pii>es, gates, hydrants, blow-o(Ts and drainaire facilities,
shall be prepared : and that plans and elevadons of (lie distril)uling reservoirs
shall be prepared b.v said eompjiny , and all of said plans shall be filed in the office
44—17—1908
690 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
cf the Commissioner of Health on or before the first day of January, nineteen
hundred and nine. At the close of each season's work the company shall file a
plan of the pipe laid during the year in the ofhce of the Commissioner of Health,
together with such other information that may be required to the end that the
Department shall always be fully informed of the extent of the water works
system and its use.
SECOND: The filter plant shall be operated for one year under the responsible
direction of the experts who have designed it or by some other expert equally com-
petent to render this service. A full report of the intial test of the proposed
filters shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health and thereafter the
water company shall assist the State Department of Health in making such
tests of the plant from time to time as may be fouud desirable. If necessary the
Commissioner of Health may prescribe the standard of efficiency and make regu-
lations for the operation and maintenance of the plant and the water works
system, so far as the interests of the public health may be concerned.
THIRD. Weekly repoits of the operation of the water works system and puri-
fication plant shall be kept on blank forms satisfactory to the Department of
Health and copies thereof shall be filed with said State Department. If at any
time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the water works system or
any part thereof, or any water furnished thereby has become prejudicial to public
health, or inefficient or defective, then such remedial measures shall l)e adopted
as the Commissioner of Health may advise or approve. The introduction of raw
ri\er water into the street system is absolutely prohibited with this exception.
The gates on the river suction pipe shall be kept closed and sealed under arrange-
ment satisfactory to the Commissioner of Health and only in some great emergency
fully justifying the use shall these valves be opened and the raw river water
be pumped into the system. In such an event the public shall be immediately
warned of the fact and the local and State Health authorities shall be notified.
FOURTH: The drainage from the purification works shall, if ever required by
the Commissioner, be otherwise disposed of than into the river.
Harrisburg, I'a., July 15, 190S,
RETREAT, LUZERNE COUNTY.
Central Poor District.
This application was made by the Board of Directors of the Central I'oor Dis-
trict of Luzerne County, I'ennsylvania, and is for apiii'oval of preliminary plans
for an additional source of sui)ply to the institutioiinl buildings.
Under the Act of the General Assembly, number two hundred and eighty-
eight, approved June sixth, nineteen hundred and seven, entitled "An Act to
authorize all State Hospitals for Injured Persons, and all hospitals for the care
and treatment of tlio insane, in whole or in part maintained by State aid, to
acquire land for hospital purposes; and to take waters, streams, lands, properties
and materials for the purpose of supplying said hosi)itals with pure water for hos-
pital purposes; prescribing tlie manner in which saiil lands, streams, property and
materials may be taken and the manner of coni|)ensating the owners thereof for
such taking," the Directors of the Central Poor District of Luzcn'ne C!ounfy hav(!
given notice to the (.'onnnissioner of Health of their intention to obtain ii new
source of supply of water lo said Institution. The said Act reciuires a compliance
with the Purity Water P.iil, so called, approved April twenty-second, nineteen
hundred and five, and still f\irthei' jn'ovides,
"That no waters shall be condenuied ;uid appropriated under the provisions of
this Act, nor any water system, resei-voii', pipe; or conduit be constructed or
maintained, until a i)ermit for the condemnation and appropi-iation of such waters,
or the constriici ion or in:iintenaiicf! of such water system, resei-voir, pipe or con-
duit, shall have liei'n proeured from tiie Department of Health and the Water
Supply Ojmmission of Pennsylvania."
It appears that the Hospital for the Insane and also the almshouse for the
Central Poor District of Luzerne County are located at Retreat, a railroad
statifm on the Snnbiiry Division of the Pennsyhania Iiaiiroad, l;\velve miles
soulliwest of Wilkes-I'arre. 'I'ln- groumis comprise aliont one hundred and lifty-
five acres, which extend along thc' south i>ank of thi- North P>ranch of the Sus-
quehanna River for about oiu; and six-tenths miles and back therefrom about one-
fpiarter of a mile. This tract is located at the foot of the mountains and contains
about fifty-five acres of land under cultivation, which stretches along llui dais
and is from twenty to twenty-five feet above I hi; riv<(r levid , ordinary stage. The
railroad tracks are built along one side of the (lats and sonlh of Ihein the land
rises to the fof)thills. The immediate site of the buildings is on ;i shelf of groniid
elevated about (jiie hundred fi-et aliove Die river.
The almshouse bnildinsis compi'ise two poor houses, one foi- inah? and one for
fr!mali'S, the supr^riritcnderil's liotne and barn and out structures. 'IMiey weri?
erected about eighteen bundled and sevfMity and occupy the westcu'ly ])ortion of
the ground.
The insane hospital Imildings were (ronsi rueled iilnnil ninejeeii hundicii ;ind ad-
ditions have since bei n niade. .\t [jreseiil tlcre is (he foursl,ory adniinisl ration
building with (hrrje-story wings on either sid(! for the male and femahf wards
and in the rear is tiie power house, the cold storage building and the morgue.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 691
The administration building is heated by direct steam but the other buildings
are provided with the hot air introduced by means of blowers operated at the power
house. ^ ■ ■, ^ J.^.
Patients from Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne County are received at the
Institution. The insano (lci)iirtni''nl, accf)iiuiiodatt'S about five hundred patients
an(' requires sixty emplnyos. Tlie almshouse accommodates about three hundred
patients and employes, makins a total of about nine hundred people at the institution
Sewers were first installed in eifjhteen lumdred and niuety-eijiht, they take
both sewa«e and storm water. The main sewer is twenty-four inches in diameter,
serves the almshouse buildinj;s and some of the hospital buildin.;;s. It pa.sses under
the railroad tracks west of the depot and receives a connection from the depot.
The point of discharge is into the river about opposite and slightly up stream from
th'- pump well from which the Institution's water supply is drawn. There is an
eighteen inch sewer pipe extending from the north wing of the insane hospital north-
erly under the railroad tracks and thence along the flats about nine hundred feet
westerly to the twenty-four inch sewer into which it discharges.
With the excei)tion of the depot, the buildings of the institution are elevated
sufficiently to admit of a gravity discharge of sewage to works which might be
provided for the purification of the sewage.
The well from wliicli the Institution's water supply • is taken is located in the
porous ground on the Hats between the railroad and the river. It is three hundred
feet back from the river bank and about one hundred and fifty feet from the
railroad. The well is thirteen feet in diameter, twenty-seven and five-tenths feet
deep, lined with brick and covered with a concrete roof provided with a man-
hole for inspection. ,
On July sixteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, the date of the Departments
inspection, there was four and one-half feet of water in the well, the surface of the
water standing two feet below the level of the river w^ater level.
During the' summer months the water is frequently drawn down to within
one foot of the bottom of the well, making it necessary to run the pumps very
slowly during the entire twenty-four hours to avoid uncovering the suction pipe.
Originally the pump house was located over the well, but in the spring of
nineteen hundred and three, it was carried away by ice. This was the year of
the noted ice gorge, when many structures went down all along the entire length
of the Susquehanna Kiver. That water at the time stood thirteen feet above the
top of the present roof of the well. A new pump house was constructed on the
river side of the railroad opposite the boiler house.
It is a one-story brick building, built over the concrete pump well in the bot-
tom of which well arc tlie two duidex pumping engines, having each a maximum
capacity of two hundred thousand gallous per twenty-four hours. The top of this
well is" three and one-half fei't above the high water mark of the freshet of nine-
teen hundred and three. The floor of the well is twent.v-five feet below the top of
the sides. From the bottom there is a concrete gallery four feet high and two feet
wide extending to the well, in which gallery is laid the eight inch suction pipe.
The pumps are so arranged that one may be used to keep the pump well dry
during high water stages of the river.
The steam is supplied from the boiler house on the opposite of the railroad.
There is a tank reservoir located on the mountain side aboitt eight hundred
feet in the rear of the administration building. It is twenty feet high and is re-
ported to have a storage capacity of one hundred thousand gallons. It is not in
a good state of repair. The top of the tank is two hundred and seventy feet deep
above the pumps and one hundred and twenty feet above the roof of the highest
building at the in stitution. There is a six inch force main extending from the
pumps to the tank. It is possible to pump directly into the distributing pipe
system whenever this may be desired. It is estimated that there are about three
tiiousand feet of six inch pipe in the ground including the force main. Nine fire
hydrants are connected to the six inch fire supply line in the grounds and there
are various small pipes attached to standpipes in the buildings, making a grand
total, .so it is reported, of thirty-three hose connections on the ground.
The main well water is said to be acid to an extent sufficient to require constant
repairs to the hot water heating system. Large amounts of iron are precipitated and
water drawn from hot water spigots is always red in color. It is further re-
ported that when ever the river water overflows the well there follows an epidemic
of enteric diseases at the Institution.
Besides having an efl'ect on tlie hot water flushing and boiler tubes, which
makes a pure supply desirable. tl:e quantity is inadequate during the summer
months. The directors wish to secure an almndant supply ample for all tire
protection as well as domestic consumption.
When the river well is flooded recourse is had for drinking water to a supply
from a bore hole extending seven hundred feet horizontally into the mountain.
This source is unreliable and sninetimes disappears completely. There is also a
spring house at the foot of the ;uountain beyiuid the female pauper building.
The qiiantity of watiu- here is small and it is used only at the pigirery.
Daily consMmption of water at the Institution is about one hundred and fifty
thousand gallons.
The petitioners purpose to obtain the new source of supply from the surface
streams located on the opposite side of the river and forming tributaries of the east
branch of Hunlocks Creek. The main stream by this name empties into the Sus-
692 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
quehanna River about one mile aud a half above Retreat. The east branch affords
the site of the proposed reservoir. It is just below the forks of the two tributaries.
The stream to the east being Icnown as Peg Iluutor Creek and the cue to the west
being known as Hughes Creek.
Peg Hunter Creek has a watershed of three square miles rather precipitous
ami about tiiree-quarters wooded. There are nine I'avm houses on the area. Its
easterly branch rises in springs and is in woodlaml excepting one farm. The
water has e.xcellent appearances. Its northern branch rises in Mud Pond, so called,
lying at the head of the valley, surrounded by hills and formed by a low sand-stone
ridge. The pond has an area of about twenty-four acres, an average depth of
ten feet of water aud soundiugs failed to reveal the depth of the mud. The latter
is known to be twenty-hve foet deep. Evidently this body of water is fed by
springs, the water is cloudy in appearance, has a fishy taste and the shores are
surrounded with a strip of luxuriant water plants. There is no economical way of
draining this pond or of reclaiming it.
Hughes Creek has a watersiied of two and seven-tenths square miles, three-
fourths of wliich is farm land, the balance being wooded. There are sixteen farm
houses on it drainage area.
Above where it is proposed to coustrucl n dam lielnw the forks of the two
creeks, the watershed has an area of ahotit li\(! and sev(m-tenths square miles.
The average dry weather flow is estimated at three hundred and forty thousand
gallons per day. The twenty-six farm dwellings with accompanying outbuildings,
together with the mud poufl, form the only sources of pollution.
The new reservoir proposed is to be formed at the site of an abandoned dam.
The petitioners have two plans under consideration. One is for the erection of a
dam twenty feet high with the crest five feet above water level aud a length
of three hundred feet. This structure would flood six aud four-tenths acres and
give a storage of about eleven million gallons. The other plan calls for a dam
ten feet higher by which nineteen acres would be flooded and a storage capacity
obtained (jf about forty-si.\ million gallons.
Either reservoir would extend back a short distance up each tributary. The
reservoir site is composed of bottom land with some swan^). There is also a group
of farm buildings near the flow line. It is reported that solid rock foundations
may be secured upon which to rest the dam. An earth dam with concrete core
wall and spillway has been suggested and that the lower dam be built first
in conformity witii plans by which the ten additional feet may be put on without
endangering the structure in the future. However, detail plans have not yet been
prepared. It is proposed to conduct the water from this reservoir by means of a six
inch or eiglit inch pipe line which will follow the course of the creek to the
Susquehanna River, thence diagonally across the river to a point about opposite
the northerly end of the Institution grounds, thence parallel with the railroad to
the present pumping plant wliere it is to connect with the present system.
The elevation of flow line of the reservoir, lower level is two hundred and fifty-
seven feet above the pumps.
It is prop(jsed to construct a reinforced concrete reservoir on the hill in the rear
of the Insliiiition Its capa(;ity is to be about five hundred thousand gallons. The
water from the storage reservoir at the source will flow by gravity to the distributing
reservoir in the rear of the Institution.
The Deiiartnif-nt is unable to say, without going into an examination of local
territory more thoroughly than it seems to be the province of an advisory power,
whether the site s(dected for I he dam is th<' v(>ry best one possil)le. The watershed,
however, is sparsely populate<l and the jiurily of thi^ waters can Ix; safeguarded
as easily as tiie waters from any territory a\'ailable for the institution.
The directois slnnild cousidei' this possible necessity of cutting out Mud I'ond
water. T.'iis would be done by digging open trenches following the conlours about;
the pond by means of which the upland waters would be inlereepled and de-
li\< red into the strrani below the jjond. Stieli a renwidy might !)(> I'esoi'ted to in ease
the entire • creek supply became impregnated with objeelionable odors and im-
purities, imparling a disagreeable taste to the watcis which could not other-
wise and at h-ss ex])ens(? be eradicated.
A sanitary jiatrol should of course b<; maintained to secuie the i)roi)er ilisixisilion
of Hcwagr' on llw coni ribiiling ari'a abovi; tin' dam.
The fliri-eiors slnHild also take into a<-counl the i)rol)al)h! deterioration in ^\•aler
stored in the reservoir and attributable ttV shallow flowage. It is good practice
where filtration of the surfacr' waters is not to be accomplished to remove from
thf boflom of a n-servoii' all soil and mud and organic matter, especially in (hat:
jiortion to lie flooded to a shallow depth. And it is also good practice whei'e money
can be ser-iired Iherefor to eliiiiinale shallow (lowage by the exca\alion of earth
around the edgcK and IIm! depositing of it at the shoi'e line, e({uali/,ing th(> <'nl.
and fill in such a way as to secnre the greatest beiielils f(U' the <piillay and elTecl,
as gniat a (k'ptli of water at tlu! shore line jis nniy \>c practicable. However, there
sliould be a reasonable limitation of this kind of work.
The surest remedy of all is the filtration of a surface water snpply and probably
the tinjc will come when mII such supplies derived rr<uii iuhaliiled areas will be
filtered.
The minimum yield of llie live and se\en lenllis sipiare miles of watershed with-
f>ut storage, based on measin'emenls of a neighboring stream is estimaUul at one
hundred and eighty thousand gallons per tw(Mity-four hours. The maximum con-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 693
sumption for the future at tlie Instilulion is t:>i<i'n at tiiree liuiulred tlioiisand gal-
lons daily, or on<> iiundrefl and twenty tliousiiiid ^mIIuiis in cxci-ss nt" tlie daily inini-
n»um flow of llic slr(ain. So the jji'dposed st(irai;c reservoir at the low level would,
together with the iiiiniinuin How of the stream provide an hundred day's supply
tfj the Institution at the expiration of whieh the storage would he depleted. This
is believed to b'^ a suttifient storage, liut having in mind the possibility of an
Institutional growth, not now anticipated, and an even gn-ater eonsumption of
water than estimated, it would be iirudeni for the directors to plan the dam and
the reservoir to admit of its safe enlargement should this ever become necessary
or desirable.
A six inch supply main from the dam to the pump house is impracticable. The
friction in this length would limit a pipe of this diameter to a total discharging
capacity in twenty-four houiN of about five hundred tliousand gallons. The demand
for fire si-rvice at any time miglit be greater than this. It should be jjossible
to e:isily obtain tiirouirh the sui)ply main enough water to furnish three good fire
streams of three hundred gallons per minute each. The elevation of the proposed
dam is seven hundred and sixty-five feet. ^^'hen the water is drained off for
cleaning purposes, the tlow of the stream would be taken into the gate house at
:iu elevation of fifteen feet below this jjoint. From this lower elevation an eight
iitcli pipe could not deliver p.ine hundred gallons ijer minute to the |)ump house,
:iud neiiher could it do so if the reservoir were full, but a ten inch pipe would be
ami)le in size.
The advantage of a ten inch supply main still further appears when it is made
dear that the loss of head throiu^h it in delivering the average daily consumption to
the Institutio'.i of three hundred thousand gallons would be but six feet, while if
an eight inch |)ipe it would be at least twenty feet. In other words the high water
mark in the proposed distributing reservoir to be erected on the hillside back of the
Institutifpu cannot be placed liij;lier than elevation seven hundred and forty-four if
the leu inch idpc be used, while it would be fourteen feet lower if the eight inch
pil)c were used. The difference in cost of about five thousand dollars would seem to
l)e wholly in favor of the ten inch line.
Elevation seven hundred and forty-four is eighty-four feet only above the highest
roof at tlif; Institution. The present tank is one hundred and twenty feet above
such roof. It is desirable that the reservoir should be as high as possible and
permit wa'er to reach it by gravity from the dam. While elevation seven hundred
and forty-four will give a good domestic pressure, in case of fire, pumping engines
must be relied n))on for service.
In view of the foregoing consideration, approval is given to the general plan
under the con<litions that the directors prepare their detJiil plans along the lines
herein suggested and submit the same to the Department of Health for final
approval. Also that ample provision should be made at the dam for the com-
l)lete drainage of the reservoir, and adetpiate drainage facilities along the line of the
gravity main and ol' the entire water -works system sh.all be i)rovide(l. The pos-
sibility of an ultiiiiate filtration iilant on the hill in the rear of the Institution
shall be taken into account in laying out the distributing reservoir.
The directors should antii-ipatc the construction of a sewage purification plant
at no ilistant date and i)re|)are jd-'ins therefor, and submit the same to the De-
l>arfmeiil of lle;ili!i for ajiproval at as early a date as convenient.
llarrisi.urg. Pa., February liTlh, I'.KIS.
RU'IILAND TOWNSIIU', CLARION COUNTY.
Foxburg Water Works Company.
This application was made by the Foxburg Water Works ("ompauy, Richland
Township, Clarion <'ounty, and is for permission to install an additional soun-e
of supply to the public in its charier district.
Foxburm villaire is located in the western part of Clarion County in Ihe south-
western i>art of Richland Township, and is on the eastern bank of the Allegheny
River, just above the mouth of the Clarion River. There are no industries and
but a few citizens. The population to-day is not as gr<'at as it was twenty years
ago. In nineteen hundred it was six hundred iind forty, 'i'he land in the villagi-
is all owned li\ the Fox Estate and the ilwellings have been erected on lots
leased of till' Fox Estate. The rcirioii round about is productive of oil and the
jteople who live in thi' village are itrincipally dependent upon the oil industry.
The luanch of the l>altiniore and Ohio Railro.id which extends from Kane to
Pittsburg, passes over the .Vllegheny at this ]>oint. The Pennsylvania Railroad
(xtends aloni; the ri\er bank in the borough. The parficjilar re.ason wh.v individuals
ha\-e beei'. willing to erect houses on leased land in preference to taking up
residence .at other places in the oil region is because the Fox Estate lias "been
willing, at its own cost and expense, to make public improvements, which has
somewhat lessened the cost of living in the village. For instance the sewers
have been provided by .=!aid estate ami the water works system was established and
is being maintained by sai<l estate without piofit.
694 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. DoC.
The ground ascends rapidly from the river to the crest of the mountain,
distant a quarter uf a mile and elevated several hundred feet and the village is
located on the hillside and on the narrow flats at the foot of the slope. On the
other side of the mountain crest the land descends as rapidly to the Clarion
River. The highways follow generally the contour.
The Foxburg Water Works Company was incorporated and the plant in-
stalled in eighteen hundred and seventy-seven and it has furnished water to the in-
habitants of the village, drawing the supply from the Allegheny River until re-
cently. Above the railroad britlge across the river there is an intake crib in
the bed of the stream near the east bank, covered over with sand and gravel
to a depth of about four feet. The river water was drawn through this filter
and raised by two steam pumps to two wooden tanks located on the hill two hun-
dred and eleven feet above the river, each tank holding about fifty thousand
gallons. From the tanks the water was conveyed by foitr inch and three inch
branches laid in the streets of the village to the various points for consumption and
for fire protection.
The wooden tanks were found to be in such a state of decay and the river
water, being contaminated bj' the sewage of places above on the Allegheny River,
being considered dangerous, the owners of the water works determined it to be in
the interests of public health to entirely abandon the river source and to seek a
new supply of drinkuig water and this was done.
On the day of the Department's inspection in October, nineteen luindred and
seven, the old water works plant was being maintained for fire protection only.
A new water works system and new source of supply was found to be in use.
The approval of this new plant is the subject of the application herein con-
sidered.
On the crest of the motmtain immediately back of the village four six inch
wells have been sunk to a depth of one hundred and fifty feet. There is a level tract
of ground which may be considered the surface watershed in which the wells
are located. Possibly it comprises one htindred acres, all owned by the Fox Estate
and unoccupied. The geological structure encountered in drilling the wells was
sand rock and shale. The water is obtained from the sand rock at a depth of about
one hundred and forty feet below the mountain crest and at a height of about one
hundred and forty feet above the river. A very satisfactory quality of water is
yielded from this strata.
Each well is cased off in the customary manner and the water is raised there-
from by a natural gas engine. The pumping arrangement is similar to the
ordinary method employed at oil wells. Each well is tubed and near the bottom is
placed a working barrel from which rods extend to the surface and there connected
with horizontal "sucker" rods extending to the power house located in the middle
of the space on the circumference of which are the wells. In this way one engine is
ada|)ted to the working of lifting the water from each well.
Tlie water is delivered into an open concrete and masonry storage reservoir
built near the wells. This structure is retangiilar, one hundred and five feet long
and seventy-three feet wide on top, with sloping sides, with a depth of fourteen
feet. Its capacity is about three hundred and ninety thousand gallons. The
reservoir is provided with an overflow pipe and a drainage pipe. The top of the
wall extends several feet above the stirrounding ground and iron posts imbedded
therein su])port a wire screen fence.
The water is conducted from the reservoir to the village in a four inch cast
iron pii>e and the lateral mains have diameters ranging from two inches to four
inches. Blow-offs are located at dead-ends.
It has been ascertained that each well can deliver twenty thousand gallons
of water per twenty-four hours or a total daily capacity of eight thousand gal-
lons. I'hcre ai'e a verj' few domestic wells or spi-ings in the vilhige. There are
at least five hundred water consumers and the maximum consumption is forty
thousand gallons. It would appear, therefoi'e, that the company has secui'ed
an ainpif; and pure supply of drinking water.
Tlie fire service water mains are entirely separate from the domestic water
lines. There are liie old jiipcs used formerly in connection with tlus river supply. It
is the purjjose of the petitioners to continue tlu; maintenance of the old pumping
station for the fire service. By means of a valve the two systems may be connected
and hence in case of ac(,-ident or emergency the reservoir wnt((r may tised for fire
protection or the river water may be used for domestic consumption. The systems
are intfrchangeal)le. However, the water works are not conducted l)y tlu^ Vox
Eslati; as an investment for profit and the iikeljliood of the river watei* being in-
troduced into the drinking water jiipes is extremely I'emote. NeviTtheless, Fox-
burg is one of the places along the Allegheny River where public health is menaced
by the discharge into the river of sewage from municipalities higher up on the
watersiu'd.
Should lliere ))e any material increase in the village population, reriniring the
obtaining of a large SMjiply of water, it is prol)al)le that the Aileglieiiy River
might be the ultimate source and this is one of Ihc. many reasons why IIk; i)urity
of upland waters should be preserved as a public asset.
It has been determinef] that the proftosed water works system and source of
supply is not prejudicial to the public health and the same is herein and Insreby ap-
proved and a permit granted therefor under the following conditions and stipula-
tions:
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 695
FIRST: That at the end of each season a plan of water pipes laid during the
year shall he ijrcpared and tiled in the ollice of the State Deparlnu-nt of Health,
together with au.v other iiiforniatioii in connection with the water works that
may be rei]iiired, in order tiiat the Commissioner of Health may at all times be
fully advised of the extent of the water works system and the number of people
who are supplied with such water.
SECOND: if at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health the
source of supi)ly or the water works or any part thereof shall have become preju-
dicial to the i)ublic health tliini such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Com-
mission! r of Health may advise or approve.
THIRU: Allesheuy River water shall not be introduced through the fire
protection pumping plant and street mains or by any otiier means into the domestic
water works sytem except under some great emergency and not then unless the
water consumers shall have been fully forewarned. And the water company shall
immediately notify the Commissioner of Health of such introduction of river water
into the water works system.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., May 4th, 1908.
RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Ridgway, Elk County, and is for
approval of plans for an additi.oual source of supply of water to the public and for
the purilication of said supply and extension of water works in the town.
It appears that on September fifth, nineteen hundred and seven, the Commis-
sioner of Heallli issued a permit to the borou^ih of Ridizway, Elk County, Penn-
sylvania, to extend its water works and to obtain an additional source of supply
from Big Mill Creek, uuder certain conditions and stipulations, among which
were the following:
"First. That the intake dam shall be located where it may be advantageously
and economically enlarged to a storage dam and equipped to iueel future borough
demands; and a topographical plan of the basin thus to be formed, and details
of the present intake dam, together with the pumping station, well, piping
valves and engine layout, shall be prepared and submitted to the Commissioner
of Health for approval before construction of this work be undertaken.
"Second. Detail plans of the new storage reservoir on the hill and of the filter
plsnt shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health, and these structures shall
not be built until the plans thereof have been approved by the Commissioner of
Health. Particular attention nuist be paid to the design of the filter plant. It
must be operated v.henever the pumps are operated and obtain a high degree
of efficiency. The borough should employ some qualified expert to select the best
point for the erection of the filler plant and to design the details. This will prove
true economy."
On October fifteenth, nineteen hundred and seven the borough closed negotia-
tions with a filter company for the erection of a water purifying plant and sub-
mitted plans, the details of which were subsequently changed. On October
twenty-fourth plans for the dam were submitted and these were subsequently
changed. On December seventh, nineteen himdred and seven, i)lans of the force
main and the final filter layout were submitted and on May twenty-eight, nineteen
hundred and eight, a formal ap|)licatiou for approval of these plans was handed in.
Reference may be had to the permit of September fifth. Nineteen hundred and
seven, for a full description of local conditions and the existing water works of
the borough.
Big Mill Creek is a mountain stream rising in Jones Township and flowing di-
rectly south, a distance of about fourteen miles to the Clarion River, which it
enters about two miles below Ridgway. The watei-shed lies to the west of the
borough and it is narrow and long and deep witii percipitous sides. The bed of the
stream is stony and rather porous and the territory is unoccupied except by a lum-
bering camp and two farm houses.
In approving this source t4ie Commissioner of Health required that a patrol
sliould be established, that proper sanitary facilities should be maintained at
camps an<l luml)er operations, and further, as follows:
"The borough shall immediately disconnect the distributing system with the ex-
isting wells at the pumping station and at the Eagle Valley works and at the
Dynamo Company's works, and anywhere else, if there be any such connec-
tions, and thereafter, upon tli(> introduction of the new supply into town, this
and the (Jallagher Run supply shall be the only sources used in the public sj'Stem,
and the latter shall be diseoniinued as soon as practicable."
Gallagher Run rises in the hills southeast of the borouch and flows down a steep
channel through the borough. Its watershed above the intake dam (a small dilapi-
dated affair) is a little over one mile in area, occupied by two fanu houses and
yields water enough in wet weather for the town's purposes, but the nin goes
dry in summer. On the hill is a concrete storage reservoir, circular in form, seventy
feet in diameter, twelve feet <leep to flow line and is elevated about two hundred
and fifty feet above the lower land in the village near the river. This structure
was built in nineteen hundred and two at the time the pumping station and drilled
696 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OfE. Doc.
well supply was introduced. The typhoid fever epidemic of iiinoteen hundred and
seven brought about the adoption of the new source and nuw the borough is pre-
pared to abandon all old sources of supply.
The site of the proposed intake dam and pump house js opposite Ridgway
and distant about two miles therefrom. The area of the watershed near where the
pipe line oi the Ri(lg\\ay Lisht and Heat Company crosses the creek and near
where the dam is to be erected is thirty square miles and the flow therefrom is about
one and a half million gallons per twenty-four hours.
Two hundred feet up stream from the gas pipe line is being erected a substantial
masonrj' spillway dam eight feet high and seventy-six feet along between wing
walls and the creek banks, beyoutl which on either side is being constructed earth
embankments v.ith core wall. The dykes being carried up Ave feet above the crest
of the spillway. It is the intention at this time to confine the pool within the
banks of the creek. Said banks are ten feet high. The slope of the creek bed is
about fourteen feet per mile, so that the dam will back water over half a mile and
the pool will be confined wholly within the channel. In the future, if large storage
should be wanted, no better site for a dam in the valley is afforded than at tlie
point where the present structure is located. A dam tifty feet high would be
about four hundred feet long from hill to liill. Because the structure now planned
is not for storage but for intake purposes only, the petitioner asks to be relieved
from preparing and flliug jjlans for a reservoir on the creek. This is to be done
later should storage ever be recpiired.
On the east end and built into the dam at the wing wall is an intake chamber
about five feet sguare, having a port three by four feet provided with a screen.
Instead of a valve there is a stop plank arrangement in front of the screens in
the chamber. A sixteen inch cast iron pipe extenils from said clianilier along the
east bank of the creek down stream for a distance of about two hundred feet to
the pump house.
Through the bottom of the dam just outside of the intake chamljer is a drainage
outlet three feet square It is provided with a plank sinice gate.
The pump house is a concrete building seventy-live feet long and lliirty feet
wide and its floor is two feet higher than the crest of the dam. Here have been
set up the two old pumping engines, gas driven direct connected, each three
hundred and seventy-five thousand gallons capacity per twenty-four hours. There
is al.so room for two otlier tngines, one of which is now being installed. It is a
Rumsey horizontal tri-plex luunp, belt driven, liaving a capacity of eight
hundreil and twenty-Hve gallons per minute against a head of one hundred ami
fifty pounds. The engine house is a projection thirty by thirty-eight feet of con-
crete construction, affording accommodations for two gas engines, one only being
provided at the present time. Jts rated cai)acity is one liundred and twenty-flv'e
horse power. The gas is to be (jbtained fnjni the adjac<'nt pipe line abo\-e men-
tioned. The power is to be transmitted by belt to shafting in the pump house.
The sixteen inch sui>|)ly main is connected up to the three i)umping engines
above described. There will always be at least two feet liead of water in it at
tli<' jnimps. However, it slopes towards the intake clianilier and may be drained
into 111'- same whenever the cliandier is eiiiplieil. A large ijiiiin opening is ))ro\i(led
at the l;ottom of the intake for this ))uri)ose.
'i'jie forc( mail' is twelvi' ini-hes in dianieier. ll has been laid o\er the hill
to tiie town in a right of way iiurchased in fei' 1),\ ilie borough. The summit is
two hundri-d and twi-nly-nine feet above the pump Infuse flocu' and two hundred
and se\eiiiy-five feel above Main Street in the town. Air valves and blow-offs are
))rovided at jjroper points along the lini'. The site for the distributing reservoii'
on the hill lias(; been •selecic d but iiiU purchased because the borough is without
sullicieni funds. i.aler, details of a dislribuling icservoir will bi' prepared and
subiniltr:d f(jr approval as ordered by the ( "ommissiouer of Ile.ilth. Mill ( 'i-eek
water is to be furnished to liie town dii-ect. 'i'he surplus |iiinipai;e will o\eillow
iii»n the present «iailagher Run distributing reservoii'.
The |dans for the water inirilical ion plant call for feeil and wash pumps,
clieini<-al a!id subsidence tanks, mechanical \'ffi\ and wash pumps, chemical sand
filters, lill'-red water basin with accessories capable of ade(pialely luiiifying Mill
<'ivek water at the rate of one million gallons per Ivwnly-foiir hours. Outside .ind
in the eoi-ner adjacent to the pump and engin(> iioiise has been buill inio ihe
gioiind below the foundation of sairl pump and engine house ai'e re-inforced con-
c-re|e water light slru<-lures lifly-eighl feel long and Iwenly-one feet wide inli'iior
dinieiisioiis, curried \ip eight feet abov( the surface of llie groinid and backe<l by
eai'th slopes on two sides and one end. In the corner abiilling the pump ami engine
liousi- the (^onci'iqe walls support a supersl iMicture whose roof is conliguous wilh
that f)f Ihe adja<M'nl, buildings. Klsewhen- Ihe wnlls siipporl a Hal concicle roof,
level with lop of earth embankments.
'I'lie itiiier half of Ihi' slrucliire nexl lo Ihe luijldings compiisi' the lillered wnler
basin, 'f'lie outer half is ilesigned for subsitjeiu'c pur|)oses.
I'he centi'ifugal feed piuiip and the ceiiirifugal wash water pump ai-f loculed
in the piuiip house in the corner near the filler plant. 'iMi(> foi'mei' has :i capacity of
one million g.'illons daily ati<l the latter two thousand gallons per minute. J>oth
are so arranired as to be available f(/r feeding raw wali-r to Ihe Hubsi<lenc(! lank or
washing the filters eiihei' wilh filtered water <jr with raw water.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEAl/ni. 697
The <<i;i^:iili'iii feed .-ippariilus is tu cDii.sist of two solnliiui tniiks, each four feet
in (liaiin'ttr and four fec-r higii. Two vaiiaijle .<troku eoa;;uk'nt solution [jumps to
bo actualetl by tii<; iii^'h service p'.unii so that each revolution will cause a stroke
or .lisplaci'int'iit of tlic coaj^ulent fm-d puinii arc! to be provided. The applicatioa
of th(! coajiulcnt to liie raw water is to l)e into the ei>,'lil inch feed pipe be-
yond the cenlrifiigil feed [lunip l);'tween it and the subsidence l)asin. The amount
"of .solutinu .ipi)lied will be ni direct proportion to the amount of water being
drawn from the liltered water basin. It is intended to use sulpliale of alumina
as a i-oaguh-nt. Should the raw or applied water be low in alkalinity, one
solution tank and pumi) may be used for applying lime water or soda solution,
whih' the other solution tank aifd pump sup|)lies the coagulent.
The sedimentation basin is twenty-eiiiht feet long by twenty-one fet-t wide
and will (■•mtain water to a deiVh (if si.\teen and one-half feet, giving a storage
capacity, deducting partition walls, of sixty-nine thousand gaHons, cfjuivalent
at the nominal rate of the; entire i)ian to about one and a half hours' sedimen-
tation, which should be ample for Mill Creek water. This stream does not be-
come very turbid and the suspended matter during freshet periods is coarse and
easily settled.
The raw water is to be delivered through an eighteen inch i)ipe into the stilling
chandler of the sui)si(ience basin, this chamber being about two and a half feet
wide and tr-n feel lonj: in the clear, the inni-r wall iieing perforated with one and
three-(piar(i'r inch holes, twelve indies on centres, arranged in parallel rows
eighteen inehes apart. In llie Imilom of this wall there is iirovided an eipializin:^ valve
The end of the delivery piiie within the stilling chamber is to be jirovided with
a butterfly valve actuated l>y a iiroper float, for controlling delivery of w-ater
into the basin and to prevent its overflow. An overflow pipe and also rlrain con-
nection will lead to the main ten inch drain which extends to the creek opposite
the station. 'i'he drain wilL receivi- all waste water from the plant but no
sewage. A cement vault with pv'wy superstnuMure is provided outside of the build-
ings in the yard. Water will enter tin,' main basin through the perforated stilling
wall, travel full length of basin, i)ass round end of centrally located liaffle wall
and linally ov» r the weir of skimming wall whence it will be conveyed by a six
inch gravity to the filter unit.
There are to be two rectangular concrete gravity filters each eighteen feet long
and ten feet wide, built sidt- by side over the filtered water basin below. One-
half of their length will be enclosed in the filter house where the sand surface will
be open to view. The pipe gallery and operating fioor above in front of the filters will
be in the niter house, all resting on substantial concrete construction, forming the
roof of the filtered water basin.
Across til" floor of each filter a heavy cast-iron main collector, made in sec-
tions, elli|itical inform and having flanged and faced joints is to be laid. This
collector will have an area equal to twenty-eight scjuare inches. It will have bosses
on either side and the bosses will be tapped six inches apart to receive lateral
o;' strainer ijipes, which will be one and a quarter inches in diameter. These small
pil)es will be tai)ped six inches centre to centre to receive the level of the strainers and
so eov(>r a!! the pii)es with a layer of concrete. There will be about seven hundred
strainers in each filter and they will be distributed as nearly as possible on six
inch centres. The aggregate strainer area will be less than the cross section of the
main collector, so that the washing effect will be uniform and regular. A tested
effluent controller will be iilaced at the outlet of each filter so that the rate of
filtration ran i)e controlh'd lietween four and six hundred thousand gallons per day,
and tliese controllers will have valves so that the rate can be controlled within
two per cent, of any desired amotint. Each filter will be provided with good loss
of head gauges. The filter jiiping will consist of settled water inlet pipes, wash
water inlei pipes, wash water outlet pipes, filtered wati-r to the filtered water basin
pipes, and filtered water to waste pipits. These jiipes will vary from six inches
to ten inches and will lie ade<iuate for the purpose. E(|ualizing or balance valves
will be placed on !h(> stilling wall and weir wall of the coagulating basin, so
that the water level in tiie filters and the subsidence basin will be kept reasonably
constant.
Over the strainer system of each filter is to be sprayed an eight inch layer
of screem^d gravel and upon it thirty inches in thickness of selected filtering
sand. lOach filter unit is to b;^ equipped with a heavy sheet iron wash trough
set eighteen inches above the top of the sand to admit of the washing of the filter
at a rate of alviut ten gallons per square foot i)er minute.
Filtered water basin beneath the filters is to be twenty-eight feet in length and
twenty-one feet in width and with a depth of seven feet of water the capacity
will be thirty thousand gallons.
Each lilt(>r contaiiis one hundred and eighty square feet of effective filtering area
and as each is guaranteed to delivj>r five hundred thousand gallons per twenty-
four hours, the rate of filtration will be less than one hundred and twent.v-five
million gallons per acre per diem. When delivering water at the five hundred
gallon rate, if the filter <-ompanies iru;iraniee shall be oiitained. the water will be
bright and clear and wiier. tlie number of bacteria in the raw or inililtered w:iter
is thre(> tluaisantl or more pi r cubic c<>ntimeter, the bacterial reduction is to be not
less than ninet.v-seven per cent, as <letermined by an examination of not less than
thirty samples collected within a period of not less than fifteen days; and when
698 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
the number of water bacteria ia the raw water is less tiian three thousand, the
filtered water shall not contain more than an average of one hundred bacteria.
This guarantee is subject to the conditions that the filter plant be operated in
accordance with the instrviction of the filter company.
A sixreen inch suction pipe is inserted into the clear water basin to withm
eighteen inches of the bottom by means of which the water is to be supplied to the
town. The consumption is now about five hundred thousand gallons daily, so there is
over an hour's storage in the filtered water basin.
The emer;iency intak-^s at the industrial works now connected with the town
pipe system have been placed under seal, the type of seal being that in ordinary
use on freight cai-s. . . , i .
The pui-ification works as herein described and the entire layout is or good design,
economically arranged and should afford to Ridgway borough a valuable asset.
The dam and different parts of the works have been under construction for several
months and it is; expected that filtered water may be delivered to the town within
a few weeks. Details of the original plans have been altered to increase the
efficiency and the economy of the plant, all of which reflect credit upon the
prudence and abilitv of the lot-nl authorities.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approving the plans and issuing a permit therefor and a permit is hereby and
herein granted under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: Tiuit a plan of the water pipe system in the borough showing the sizes
and location of pipes, location of gates, blow-offs and drainage facilities shall be
prepared forthwith and filed in the oflice of the (,'ommissioner of Health. And
thereafter, at ilie close of each season's work a plan of the water pipes laid during
the year shall be prepared and filed in the oflice of tlie State Department of Health,
together with any other information in connection therewith that the Commis-
sioner of Health may require.
SECOND: Weekly reports of the operation of the water works system, par-
ticularly the purification plant, shall be kept on blank forms satisfactory to the
State Department of Health, copies thereof shall be filed in said Department. The
borough shall assist the Commissioner of Health in making such tests of the plant
from time to time as may l)e found desirable. If necessary, the Commissoner of
Health may prescribe standards of efliciency and make regulations for the opera-
tion and maintenance of the plant. If at any time, in his opinion, the water
works system, or any part thereof, or the water furnished thereby has become
defective or insuHicient or prejudicial to the public health, then such remedial
measures shall be adopted by the borough as the Commissioner of Health may
advise or approve. ,. , , . ,
THIRD. The borough shall filter all of the water supplied to the town. Only
in some great emergency shall raw creek or river water be introduced into
the .system At such time the public shall be amply warned to boil the water
and as soon as practicable the water pipe system shall be drained and thoroughly
flushed.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., June IS, 1908.
RIVERTON, CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
This application was made by the Riverton Consolidated Water Company of
Riverton Village, Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and
is for permission to obtain a temporary supply of filtered water from the city
of Harrisburg.
It apjjears tliat in i)ursuaiic(! of the t<'rms of a jiermit and decree bearnig date of
August eigiiteentli . nioclecn hundred and eight, and issued to said water company
by the Commissi(jner of Health, tlu; water company is now engaged in the prepara-
tion of plans for the cons'truction of its own water purification plant, which plans
will be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval. The works, how-
ever, cannot be constructed and put in operation at an earlier date than the sum-
mer of nineteen hundred iuid nine. iMeantime, liie public must cimtiiiue to 1)0
furnished witli the Susquehanna Rivi'r water, the safeguan! to ijubiic healtli in
8uch use being the boiling of the water. As c idcjnce of good faith and to meet
the public demand in its ciiarter territory the Riverton Consolidat(!d Water Com-
pany now seiiks to supply the p(!Ople with filtered water at oiu.'e.
The cjiy councils of Harrisburg have enncled an ordinance' which lias been ap-
I)n>ved by ilie Mayor, providing for the sale witliin the city limits to the Riverton
ConHoiidat<!d Water Company of filtered water, the water so purchased to be used
for a public suiiply in the chartered territory of the water comiiany for an in-
definite term but with the understanding that Ilie expiration of the term will be
ut ihe date when the water comitany shall have installed its own water jjur'ilication
plant in pursuance! of the said decree of tin; Conunissioner of Health of August
eighteenth, nineteen hundred and eight.
A permit is hereby and lier<'in granted to the Riverton (Consolidated Water Com-
pany to obtain its source f)f sujjply from the city of Harrisburg ;is proposed,
pending the carrying out of the stipulation in the decree of August eighteenth,
nineteen hundred and eight.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., October lOth, 1008.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 699
UOULKTTE, ROULETTE TOWNSHIP, POTTER COUNTY.
Roulette Water Cuinpanj'.
This application was made by the Roulette Water Company, Roulette, Rfxilette
Tfwuship, I'ottei' County, and is for permission to obtain an additional source
of supply.
It appears that the village of Roulette, a manufacturing and farming com-
munity of about ciglit hundred inhabitants, is situated in Roulette Township, in
the western pan of Potter County and along the Allegheny River ten miles below
and west of Coudorsport, the county seat of Potter County. The Coudersport and
Port Allegheny Railroad passes through Roulette to its junction with the Buffalo
Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Port Allegheny, seven miles west of
Roulette.
The inhabitants of Roulette are dependent for employment upon a small chemical
works and stave tnctory and to a certain extent to farming and lumbering in the
vicinity. The laitei' industry is becoming rapidly less important as a large part of
the timber in the locality is exhausted. Although the village is in the gas fields,
this industry furnishes employment to but few of the inhabitants. A glass works,
at one time the niauistay of the community, was burned down during the current
year and it has not resumed and, it is reported, will not resume operations. As
a result the jiopiihition of the town has been diminished from twelve hundred
in niiielccn huiuhrd and seven to eight hundred.
The Alli'giii'iiy River pursues a westerly course through the village and divides
it into a north and south section. The principal or business section is to the
north.
Fishing Creek has its source in the mountains, six miles northeast of Roulette,
and follows a southwesterly course to its junction with the Allegheny River in the
western end of the village.
Lanegar or Lanning Creek, a small tnountain stream, has its source about three
miles south of Roulette and flows northerly to its junction with the river in the
eastern end of the village.
A public sewerage system does not exist in Roulette. Three residences and one
hotel are accommodated by three private sewers, two in the southern section of
the town and one in the northern section. These sewers discharge into the river.
There are fifteen cesspools and two hundred and twenty-one earth privy vaults in
the village.
The Roulette Water Company supplies one factory and one hundred and three
of the two hundred and forty houses in the town, the remaining inhabitants ob-
tain their sujiply of water from dug wells and a few drilled wells and springs.
The Roulette Water ("oinpany was chartered February third, nineteen hundred and
four, for the purpose of supplying water to the public in the township of Roulette,
Potter County.
In nineteen hundred and four, the water company laid about two miles of two
inch and thn-e inch cast-iron and wrought iron distributing pipes in the village
and about a mile of four inch cast-ircn gravity main, extending southward from
the town in and near Lanegar Creek Ivoad to a point where the pipe line
branches, a short branch extending to each of the two reservoirs. These reservoirs
were constructed by the water in nineteen hundred and four and are located in Rou-
lette Township about five hundred feet from Lanegar Creek, one on the western
and one on the eastern slope.
Reservoir Niunber One on the western slope was excavated in the side hill
and has a masonry breast forty-five feet long on the one side. A spring in the bank
at the upper side of the reservoir is its only source of supply. On October eighth,
nineteen Inuidri'd and eight, this spring was dried up and the reservoir was empty,
diK' to tlH> geiu'ral drought anrl to the drilling of numerous gas wells on the summit,
one-quarter of a mile to the west. A gutter was dug arounil the uppt>r side of the
reservoir to keep out surface drainage. The reservoir has a capacity of twenty
thousand gallons and at elevation of about one hundred and ten feet above the
village and when it is full the water has a surface area of one thousand square
feet and a dei)th of five feet at the breast. There is a valve on the supply pipe at
the reservoir so that the water may be shut off and there is a separate pipe by
means of which the reservoir may be drained. There is no fence around the
reservoir and it is not otherwise protected and is only about fifty feet from the public
road.
Reservoir Number Two on the eastern slope immediately opposite Reservoir
Number One was excavated in the hillside and has a masonry front and ends.
It is fed by a small spring in the bank at its upper side. This reservoir has a
capacity of two hundred thousand gallons and an elevation of about one hundred
and ten feet above the village and when it is full the water has a surface area
of four thousand feet and an average depth of seven feet. There is a shut-off
valve in the supply main at the reservoir and there is a separate pipe by means
of which the l)asin may be drained. The reservoir is entirely enclosed by a wire
fenc and a ditch has been dug around its upper side to keep out surface drainage.
The slope above this basin is uninhabited second growth timber land.
A well was drilled and a ptmip installed in the eastern end of Roulette, north of
the Allegheny River about one hundred and fifty feet from the water's edge and
immediately west of the highway bridge across the stream and water from the well
700 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
was pumped into the distiibutiug system at this point. This was one of the
principal sources of suj^ily from the beginning of the operation of the water
works, but thi' nrraugeineiit was found unsatisfat'tory and was abandoned in nine-
teen iumdred and si'\en, and llie i)uniiiing machinery has been remo\e(l.
In nineteen linudred anil seven the water couu)any, liaving aliandoued tlie well,
and without having n»ade application to the l)ei)aitnient of Health, constiiicted
an intake dam on Lorn-gar C'reek at a point ilirectly between the two reservoirs.
A wooden bi-east al)out Iw.'uty feet long forms a basin with a cai)acity of tive
thousand gallons. A three inch cast-iron pipe, in which there is a sluit-off valve,
leads from the d;im to the gravity main from (he two springs. The dam is at an
elevation litiie lower than the springs, about one hundred feet above the village.
The watershed of Lonegar Creek above the intake has an area of two and a half
S(iuare miles, and is for the most pari heavily wooded with second-growth timber;
but contains some farndand. Iniiuediali'ly above the dam and along the public
road are a school house and four tlwellings and the accompanying outbuildings, all
built close to the creek, which receives surface drainage from the barn yards, pig
pens, privies and dwellings. There are api)ro.Kimately thirty ix'rsons living in the
watershed, ext-lusivc- of the srhool children, a la rue number of whom come from the
village of IJouIci tc.
The one hundred am! (luce liousts supplied h.\' Ibe water company are scattered
thnnurhoul tiie villa.iic, which covers al>out one scjuare mile. There are numerous dead
ends througlioul the distributing system, but it is reported that all these and
also all lou points are provided with blow-offs. The consumers number about six
hundri'd and the average consumption is rei)orted to be thirty thousand gallons
per day. Of this amount oiu^ tiu)usan<l gallons aic us(>d for manufacturing pur-
poses. Till- clK-nncal works in Ibi' soulheastern corner of tiie \illage has a i)rivate
drilled well and pumi).
The apidicatiou of the water comi)any states:
"That the Roulette Water Company is not intending to extend its service nor to
use additional source of supplj', but merely to take water from the stream now in
use at a point hi;;her in its course. As your Department has already been in-
formed, the si)riiigs which lia\e furnished the Conjpany's supply have been so im-
paired by the diilling of gas wells in the vicinity that in dry tinu's their flow is
not sufficient. The Company has operated a pumping plant drawing water from
a deep well. Whenever this pump is out of order it has been necessary to use
water from Lanegar Creek. Complaint has been made to your Department in
this regard. To place its plant above any criticism the company desires to lay
four hundred and twenty rods of line up Lanegar Creek to a point above all buildings
where the stream comes from the forest and to take water from that point. And
further set.s forth there is no source of pollution above the point where the Com-
pany proposed to take water."
The Water Company purposes to construct an intake dam across Lanegar Creek
in Roulette Township at a point about two and three-quarter miles south of the
village, and al)out one and one-quarter miles above the jiresent intake and above all
"liabitations ; the nearest dwelling is one thousand feet below. The principal sources
of I.anegar Creek are three s))rings about tliree-<iuarters of a mile above the s'lU'.
of the proposed dam. The drainai;e area above this site is uninhabited and entirely
covererl with second growth tindjer and contains about one stjuare mile of Roulette
and Keatiufi townships.
The deittli of water at the masonry breast is to l)e about four re(>t six inches
;ind a si.x inch drain ))ipe is to be provided in the bottom of the dam. This pro-
posed intake site is about one hundred feet higher than Reservoir Number One.
A three inch pipe drainini: from above the bottom of the dam is to carry water from
tl'.e pro|)ose(l intake to Reservoir Xundier One, whence the supply will be furnished
tlirounh the existing i)ii)e systi'in.
Lanegar (Jreek is now the i)rincipal source of supply for Roulette and it is a dan-
gerous .source at the point of the existing intake. The spring in the bank of reservoir
Num!)er Two furnishes perhaps five per cent, of the town's consumption and the
sprintf in llie bank of Reservoir Number One at times dries up completely. There-
fore the abandoning of the pi<'seiit intake in Lane.uar Creek ami the obtaining of
an unp'illuied source of supidy is desirable in the interests of pnbli(' health.
Apparently Lanegar Cieek at tlie site of the proposed intake would furnish a
j^utififactoi'v and iincontaminated Kup])ly of w'ater sutlicienl in (piantity to meet t]\o.
demands of the consunudion upon the systrm. 'I'lie How of the stream at this i)oiiit
on October ei^dilh, nineieei; hundred and eight, was estimated at seventy-fi\'e
thousand gallons per day. I'i'oper precautions should be taken to protect I Ik;
proposed sources frun chanct- coiitamiiiation anri the wntershed slionld be occa-
Hionally patroled with the same object in view.
It would be well to ari'ange the piping so that the water from the proposed
Hoiirr-e may ii" allowed to flov/ into either of the existing reservoirs at the springs
without interrupting the continuous flow of watcM- to the villag(> in order to mak(<
it posHii)le to keep ;i supply in siora;,'e in ciise it should be ilesiiable to temporarily
diHcoutinue furnishini; water from any one of the sources, it would thus also be pos-
Hil»le to provide several days of settling for the supply, if desirable. The present,
ihlaki- in l.ariegar Creek should hi- abandfuu-d and the piping conneiiimi removed.
Reservoir Number One should be elliciently l'en<ed to |trevent chance dr malicious
pollution.
Omditions are such that an outbreak of typhoid fevr-i- in Roulette among tlu;
user.", of the public water supiily might oc<"ur at any time.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 701
It has bopn deteiTnined that the proposed additional supply will not be prejudicial
to the public- he-ilth under certain conditions, and a penuii is hereby and herein
issued therefor, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: The water company shall immediately and .so long as water is fur-
nished from tiic present intake in Lanogar Creek, notify and continue to notify
its consumers by means of placards posted in conspicuous places, of the danger
of usin!.' tiu' public water supply for drinking and culinary purposes without the
water being previously boiled.
SECOND: On or before April first, nineteen hundred and nine, the water com-
pany shall prepare and file in the office of the State Department of Health a plan
of its distributing system, showing valves, blow-offs and sizes of pipe and plan
and profile of the supply main of the town, showing all valves, blow-offs and
connections and detail plans of the two reservoirs, showing all connections and
drainage facilities. At the end of each season's work a plan shall be prepared
and tiled in the oflice of the Statf Department of Health showing the additions
made to the distributing system of pipes in the streets during the year and such
other information as may be required, in order that the Department may always
be fully infonucd of the extent of the water works system and the public use
thereof.
THIRD: If necessary to keep cattle away from the banks of the intake
reservoir, a fence shall be constructed around it and ditches shall be built, if
necessary, to prevent surface drainage from adjacent farm and pasture lands
entering the reservoir, and adequate facilities shall be provided by means of which
the proposed reserv^r mny be flushed out and cleaned, and adequate drainage
facilities shall be provided at low points on the proposed pipe line, and a valve
shall be provided in tiie supply pipe at the reservoir, so that the supply may
be shut off from the town if desirable.
FOURTH: Before the proposed works are built, detail plans of the dam
and of the reservoir to be formed above it and a plan and profile of the location
of the supply pipe and plans showing the connection of the supply pipe to the
existing system shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
Before the proposed source of supply is used by the water company, a plan of the
watershed above the proposed intake, showing wagon roads and streams and any
possible source of pollution, shall be prepared and tiled by the company in the
oflice of the State Department of Health.
FIFTH: The water compauy shall maintain a monthly sanitary patrol of the
watershed and reports thereof shall be filed with the State Department of Health.
Should a lumber cnmp or any habitation be established on the watershed, the
water company shall see that proper receptacles for sewage are provided at all
such occupied camps or estates and that these receptacles shall be used and
properly maintained to prevent any contamination whatsoever of surface waters
on the watershed. Any neglect on the part of any owner or individual to comply
with sanitary regulations shall be promptly reported by the water company to
the Commissioner of Health.
SIXTH. The company shall keep monthly reports of the operation of its
system on blank forms satisfactory to the Commissioner of Health and submit
copies thereof for filing with the State Department of Health whenever this
is required.
SFVENTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health,
the water supply or water works, or any part thereof, is found prejudicial to the
public health, then the water company shall adopt such remedial measures as the
Commissioner of Health may advise or approve.
EIOIITH: When the proposed extension has been made and water is being
supplied thereby, the pipe connection from the present intake in I.anegar Creek
to the supply main shall be taken out and thereafter no water shall be supplied
to the public taken from I^anegar Creek below the site of the intake for which
a permit is herein granted.
NINTH: On or before January first, nineteen hundred and nine, a substantial
ffnce shall be constructed around the reservoir Number One to effectually prevent
chance or malicious contamination of its waters.
Harrisburg, Pa., November 23rd, 190S.
ST. MARYS, ELK COUNTY.
St. Marys Water Company.
This application was m.ide by the St. Marys Water Company of the borough
of St. Marys, Elk County, and is for permission to secure an additional source
of supply.
St. Marys is a manufacturing community of about sixty-four hundred popula-
tion, located on Elk Creek in Benzinger Townshi|>. Elk County. Elk Creek
is a tributary of the Clarion River which empties into the Allegheny River. The
creek has its liead waters in the hills in the township surroiuidins: the borough,
these hills being the summit of that part of the Allegheny Mountains which form
the divide between the Susquehanna River and the Ohio River basins.
70L' THIRD ANiVUAL REPORT OF THE Off Doc.
The town is located iu the creek val!(>y and it extends nii on ilic hillside
where many of the dwellings arc located.
The St. Marys Water ('onipauy was ehartered in eighteen hundred and eiahty-
uine and works were hnilt in that year and the iicar fiillowini; an<l the puhlic
in the boi'onjrh has since been suijpiicd with water for domestie and tire pro-
tection purposes. A number of tiie manufactories use the water.
There are two sources of supply l)esides the a<Ulitional source wiiich lias been
introduced and for which al)pro^al is asked.
<_)ne of the two sui>plies is Silver Creek. This stream rises in the township north
of the boroufih and ficiws southerly, joining Elks ('reek a short distance below and
west of the borough.
The other source is obtained from Laurel Riui. This stream rises in the hills
five miles south of the borouuh in Fox Township, anil flows northerly, emptying
into Elk Creek a mile or more down stream below the mouth of Silver Creek.
The Silver Creek sui)i)ly is drawn from an intake dam made of timber and
earth and pump"d through a si.\ inch risuig main to reservoirs elevated one hundred
and thirty-five feet alKjve tlu^ pumiiing station and one Innidred and eight,v-four
feet above the borough in the valley. The dam is about ten feet high and stores
approximatel.v four million gallons. The watershed above this reservoir i-omprises
about one hundred acres. There is one dwelling on this watershed and it is in
the vicinity of the living springs which form the liead waters of Silver ('reek.
(Jn a little tributary brook has t)een erected a small dam and reservoir which
is utilized to store some si)ring water and discharge it through an eight inch pipe
into the reservoir at tiie pump liouse. Thei-e are three drilled wells at the pump
house, each three himdred and fifty-five feet deep, being cased off with eight inch
and six inch pipe to the rock which lies eighty feet below the surfaci>. Water flows
from these wells into a well at the pump lious(\ The pumi)iug machinery comprises
two pumps each half a million gallons cai>acity i)er twenty-four hours, one being
operated by a gas engine and the other by a steam engine.
The distributing reservoirs are hjcated in the extreme northwestern corner of the
borough on the hill and adjacent to St. Michael Street. They are both of the
same size, thirty feet wide by eight feet long and eight feet deep, being prac-
tically excavations in the ground whose sides are held in place b.y two inch plank and
timber work. Over all is an A roof, designed to afford protection from pollu-
tion. A six inch distributing main leads fi'om the reservoirs down St. Michael
Street to the town.
The water from the wells at the pump house is abundant, clear, colorless and
appears to l)e of goofl qu.'ility.
The water from ihe various springs is also of excellent quality where it gushes
forth from the ground, but the conditions existing on the Kerner farm, whereon
the sprin".is are located, are unsanitary. The two large s[)rings back of his
dwelling flow into a duck pond. Kitchen sloi)s and wastes are thrown out fi'om
the house ont(/ the ground within a few feet of the largest spring iinmediatel.v
Ijack of the house. A hen house is imminliately over another small spring. A
pig pen and yard crtjsses the stream below the <luck i)ond. The hous(> priv.v vaults
on the slope one hundred feet away, where surfa<-e drainage can reach the run.
Th( large manure pile ;it tie' barn stands in a ixiol when it rains or it
would do so if there were not a (Ir;iin under the ro;id which carries the water away
to the run. Tlies" uiisanilary conditions are repr>'sented by the water company to ]n\
the result of ^vilful intention of the ownei' of Ihe property in ordei' to compel the
water company to purchase Liie fiirm at an (>xorbitant price. It is reported that
the wal"r company has offered to put the premises in a sanitary condition and
maintain them, but that the owner has refused to renter into ;iuy negotiations
witli tie company foi- the abatement of the meiiaci'S.
Th<' source of the Laurel Run supidy is an intake dniii iniill nl' <'oiicirle wliicli
im[jeunds about five million gallons and has a coni ribuliiig area ol' three hundred
and seventy-fivf! acres, owned almost entirely by the water conqiany. There are
numerous springs of clear, cool and sparkling water which gush forth from the
mountain siile and furnish a never failing flow into the reser\dir. 'IMie watershed
is principally wooded and is reixuMed to be uuiidiMbited. The sides and bottom
of the flooded ar<'a of the dam weri- stripped of nil oi'ganic nnilter. A suction
pipe leads from the reservoir to the pump house. There are two eight inch pipes,
on< leading to each pump. The pumping engines are driven by a gas engine and
each is cjijiiilde of raising from fi\e hundi'ed thousand to eight hundred thousand
gallons in twenty-four hours. Al llu' imnip house there are Ihi'ce di'i\'eu wells,
havini; a depth of Jibout three hundred feel ntid ciised olT lo rock in Ihe usual man-
ner. They do not flow. Water litis lo be rnised froni llieni by llie pumping
entrines.
Titer.' is a six inch risint; main through which ihe Lmirel Kun water is forced
to a resi'rvoir known as Laurel Run Reserx'oir and lociiled on the hill in Ihe town-
Bliip imn)"diHtely soiiih of the borounli. This structure is the same consi ruction and
HJze and has llie snme elevation above the borough as the two (list r'ibuting resei--
voirs above deseribed nnd located tm St. Michael Street. A six inch gravity main
delivers tin- water into the town.
Durinir dry weather the above sources of sui)ply are insufficient to supply enough
water for ail the demands. The maximum daily consumption is one nnd a half
millifin gallons and it would be nion; if the company could supply the water.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 703
Till' iiiiiii(i-ii's ill ilic lipwii iis" riiiisiiliTalilc wjiIit .-iihI so du the dtlicf iiiilust riiil
lilants. ('ciiiiiii (iiill.vin;; ilisirids in llic Itiwii luivc iioi yd hccii fiiriii.><li('(l with
l)iil)lic w.ili'i' ;iii(l ill il ("<(• ilisirict.s llic .spriiiy:.^ and ^lonnd wattT miw wx^'tl l).v llir
])0()|)li' fur drinUinir itiiriiiis:>s nrc vfr.v lial)l(' any niDincnt to lifcomc pollntccl hy n\iv-
fa<M> di-ain;iy;c. 'I'lic Ixirniiuli is now nndi-rtakini; tin- (Minslnictiun <>f a pnldic scwrr
sy.stcni lo do away with iIk'sc conditidns. Iml even tlicn tln' u.sc of dnnu'stic well
water an.xwlicri' in town is liuuiid In lie acc(inii)aiii<'d by danjrrr to :i frii-alcr or
loss d(';;rc«'. .\n a'-ti\c demand for extension of the street water pipes resnited
in the water companies niakiii}; additions to tlie source.
Wolf F,ick Knn rises in thi' moiinlains on the south side id" the ridire from
whose iiortli slope (hiw tiie sprinus wliiili are llie lieadwaters of J,aiiiel Knn.
Tlie course of Wolf Lick llun is southeasterly into Sprin.:: Run which emptii-s into
the Sinnemalicniirz ("reek, one of the main feeders of the West Branch of flu?
Sus<iui'hannn Kiver. On this run at a i>oint above which the drainay:e area is twenty-
tivi' hundred a<-res, all of wiiich are owned by the <-oinpany with the exception of
a forfy-three acr.- tract on whii-ii resides the only inhabitant of the watershed, tlir-
company has constructed a new storay;e reservoir with a capacity (jf alxail ten
million uallons. The dam is a substantial concrete structure about two liuiidri'd
feet lotiir and twenty feet liich. All orfianic matter was stripped from Ihr- area
flooded l)y (his dam. A piunp house and i;as driven piimpiiiir enirini' of a million
p;alloiis capa'ity daily liaxc been creeled and water during the summer of nine-
teen hundie<l and sevn was pumpi'd IhrouKh !•" i'ii;lit inch force main to a new
dislributiim reservoir of the same size and constru<-tion and elevation as the
other (list ribntiii'j: r<>sei-vnir hereinbefori' described. '■J'iie Wolf Lick reservoir is on
the lull immediately south of the boroii.sih in the ureneral iieiKlihorhood of tin-
Laurel Hun distribtitiiifi reservoir. A six inch connect iii^' pipe has beiMi laid be-
tween the two supplies at the reservoir.
At the farm liouso on the watershed wiiich is near the source of one of the
tributaries there is a duck i)ond immediately below the house and one side of the
pond is a pis pen and y.-ird. The iiarn yard and manure pile are nearby, the
jrround sloping; quite rapidly from them towards tlie stream and pond, so that
whenever it rains the wash is directly to the run. A sprinjr jiushes out a short
distance to one side of the house and flows into the run bcdow the duck pond.
Immediately over the banks of the brook is a privy. The water company has
failed in its attempt to ne.trotiate with th(> owner of the pi'operty for the purchase
of the land oi' for the abatement cf the menaces.
The water ciimjiany has a contract with the Ixu-ouirh to supply all its in-
habitants at all seasons cf tlie year with an abundance of water. 'IMie additional
s(/iirc(> of supply is thouiiht to be equivalent to eight hundred thousand gallons
per day. The company asks aiiproval of this and the original suiiplit>s and for
]iermission to make extensions to the water works system in the town.
It is clearly appar<>nt th;it the waters from the three mountainous watersheds,
suiiplietl as they are by springs and <-oming from i)racti<-ally uninhabited areas,
should furnish to the inhabitants of St. Marys borough as (lesirable a quality of
water as it is jiossi'de to obtain, provich'd the menaces at the two dwellings above
mentioned be removed, and conditions be established and maintained whereby
danger from these sources shall be eliminated. The State DeparlmiMit of lle.-illh
can cause an aliatement cf the menaces and the water company can maintain
a patrol and make sanitary inspections at frequent intervals and keep the Com-
missioner of Health informed cf any impro|)er disposition of sewage at tlie
<iccupied projierty or of th(> existence of any unsanitary conditions. The law of
nineteen hundred and five to preserve the purity cd" the waters of the State for the
protection of the public health has for its object the pre\ention of just such pol-
lutions as now exist on the Silver Creek and Wolf Lick Kun watersheds.
The water compan.x has f.iiled to submit sudii-ient detail plans of its dams,
])iimping stations, force mains, reservoirs and distributing pipes to enable the
Stale neparlmeiM o\' Health to become thoroughly informed of the system ami to
direct llie sup|)ly of water to the i>ublie in the case of the outbreak oi' an eiiidemie
in the town. Such plans should Ik? submitted.
It has lieen determined that the pro))osed additional source of supply will not
be iirejudicial to ihe interests of the public health and the same is herel)y and herein
api»roved and a permit granted therefor ami for the extension of water pii)es in
the borough of St. Marys, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIKST: That detail plans of all dams, reservoirs, pumping plants, force
mains, distributing reservoir ami pipes shall be prepared and filed in the office
of the Stale Department of Health, together with accurate plans of tiie water-
sheds of the supplies. At tli(> close of each season's work a plan of .all extensions
made to the street pipe s.vstem during the year shall be |)repared and tiled in said
otlice. together with any other information in connection then<with that may be
required, to the end that the Commissioner of Health mn.v be always infoiinefl
of the exti'iU of the water works s.vstem and the number of peoiile siipplied with
such water.
SFiCO.M): Adeuuate facilities for Ihe ipuck flrainage of every part of the water
wcrks system shall b' afforded, and these drainage points shall he adequately
designated on the plans to be filed with the State Deiiartmenl of Health.
7U4 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
THIRD: The water company shall maiutaiu adequate patrol of the watersheds to
see that proper receptacles are provided and vised and maintained on all occupied
estates and that all reasonable precautions be taken to prevent anj' contamina-
■whatsoever of the waters to be supplied to the public. Monthly reports of all in-
spections shall be sent to the Commissioner of Health.
FOURTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health,
the water supply or the water works, or any part thereof, has become prejudicial
to the public health, then the water company shall adopt such rometlial meas-
ures as the Commissioner of Health may approve or suggest. In this connection
the Commissioner will cause a sanitary inspection of the occupied properties on
the watershed and will forthwith issue orders for abatement of menaces. In this
work and subsequent proceedings the water company shall assist the State De-
partment of Health.
FIFTH: The Company shall keep a weekly report of the operations of the
works on forms satisfactory to the Department of Health and submit copies thereof
to the Commissioner of Health when reijuired.
Harrisburg, I'a., May 4th, 19US.
.SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP, WARREN COUNTY.
Sheffield Water Company.
This n[)plicati()n was made by the Sheffield Water Company, of Sheilield Town-
ship. Warren County, and is for permission to extend its water works for the
supplying of water to the public in the village of Sheffield, said township.
In eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, a partnership by the name of Ilorton,
Crary and Company, locally known as Deer Lick Water Company, constructed a
small dam, impounding about one and a half million gallous of water on Deer
Lick Run in Sh-ifiield Township and piped the water to the village of Sheffield,
situated at the confluence of Two Mile Run and Tionesta Creek, principally to
supply water to the tanneries located there. Subseqitcntly the tanneries passed to
the Penu Tannery Company and finally to the Elk Tanning Company, but the water
works system was retained by the original owners.
At joint expense the water company and the Penn Tanning (Jompany from
time to time made some improvements and operated and maintained the plant
and to increase the supply drilh'd a well at the Sheffield Tannery and installed a
pump there and made connections with the street pipe lines.
Some time after May first, nineteen hundred and live, on which date the
Elk Tanning Company acquired the Penn Tanning Company's properties, it be-
cami- ai)i)arent that the water works system had bi-eu reserved. The Sheffield
Water Company, still an association unincorporated, made demands for water
rates of the Elk Tanning Company. The latter concern refused to pay them rates
on the ground that the water works plant was a joint property. The (piestion was
litigated, the trial court decided in favor of the water company and an appeal
to the Supreme Court is now pending.
Meantime, in the fall of nineteen hundred and seven, the Elk Tanning Com-
pany, having made other provisions for water, entirely abandoned the use of the
water company's supply, with the; exception, however, of the well and pum[)S
on thf Elk Tanning (Company's properly at the Shetheld Tannery.
The \'illag<' is an imitoi'taut lumijeriug centre for tin' dislric-t. It is located
in u motintainous wdl timl)ered I'egion in the souliwasicrn corner of Warren
County on the main line ol; Ihi' Pittsburgh and ]']\\r K:iilin;id , ;iboiit Ihirteen
miles east of Warren.
The lailrfiad chuhs down I lie valley of Two .Mile Run ir(]Mi I lie east and passes
up the valley of Tionesta Cr(!ek westerly. At the forks of the strc'ams is tli.^
Sheffield Tannery, a half mile up Two .Mile Run is the Tiom^sta Tannery and
about five liuiidird fi-ct northwest of the confhience of tin' banks of the main
stream is the Ilorton Tannery. Threi-fiuarlcrs of mile ;ibove this point is the
Slietfieid Saw -Mill of the flentral I'ennsylvaiiia I>nmber (Company, a corporation
allied with the interests of the Elk Tanning (Company, which latter concern
owns aiirl opci'ates the tanneries. 'J'he saw mill is a new plant nnd will give
employment to a large number of men. In between the woi'ks above mentioned the
territory is well built up and comprises the village. The populalion is saiil
to have doul)ied since iiinet(!en hundred and al present is ■•ilxiut Iwn thousand.
Conditions are jirosperous and a m(jderale growth may be anticipated. 'j'lie
terminal of the Sli"tlielrl and 'J'ionesta Railroad and the main offices and siiops
of the narrow gauge road cjilled the Tionesta \'alley Railroad are here.
Tlif i»olicy of the lOlk Tiinning and I.iMiibei' Company is lo erect dwellings for its
emidoyes and to ((juip tin- dwellings with running water and modei'u idiunbing
facilities. It is reported that during the last year thirty-two such houses were
r-onHlructod. The tanneries and these liouses ari' now supplied with water taken
from various K<)\irces, jjaitly from springs on the hillside and from inrlividual
wells, anri partly from the driven w<dl ai tln' Sheffield '{'.iiineiy. This well water
is salty and not desirable. Some water is taken fi'om Two ATJle Ron at the 'I^ionesta
Tannery and supidie<l to the works and the houses in llie vicinity i)elonging to the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 705
Elk Tanning Company. It is in this manner that the said tanning company
at present ohtain.s the water used by it for manufacturing and domestic purposes.
A plan has l)een prepared for a now water works system to adecjuately furnish a
pure mountain water to tiie tanneries and the properties of the Elk Tanning Com-
pany and its allied interests. An application for a charter has been filed in the
ofi.ce of the Secretary of Slate and approval of the plan by tiie Commissioner of
Health has been re(|uested by the inc(jrporators under the name of the Citizens
Water Company of Sherlield.
On April seventeenth, nineteen hundred and six, tlie Sheffield Water Company
was duly chartered unrler the laws of the State for the supply of water to the
public at the village of SheUield , Warren County.
The intake dam at Deer I^ick Run is distant from the village about one and a
half miles. Since the incorporation, the water company has rebuilt the dam,
raised the surface of tl'.e water about five feet and removed all vegetable matter
and soft mud from the bottom of the reservoir, excepting a small portion of the
upper end tli.n'cof. As it now exists there is a log dam about fifteen feet high im-
pounding about four and one-half million gallons of water area between one and
five-tenths and two acres in extent, the elevation being sufficient to maintain a
prtssuie of about seventy pounds in the village. Details of this structure and of the
reservoir have not been filed in the Department's office. It is understood, however,
that the supply main is eisht inches in diameter and that on its line to the town
there are opportunities for blow-oil' and drainage.
The area contributing to this re-servoir is reported to be two and a half square
miles of mountainous, well timbered land. The Central Pennsylvania Lumber
Company owns most of this territory and lumbering operations of more or less
extent may occur there. At the present time there is a small camp on the area
and hardwood is being removed.
The population in the village now using the public supply is said to approximate
sixty-five per cent, of the entii'e community. Demands for extension of the water
works pipes made from time to time in the past by residents of the Northwestern
section were denied on the ground of an insufficient supply. This was before the
enlargement oi the storage capacity of the reservoir and the discontinuance of
the supply to the tanneries. During nineteen hundred and seven, or since the in-
corporation in nineteen hundred and six, extensions of street mains were made at
various points in the town and ii is understood that at the present time there are
about four miles of street pipes whose diameters range from three to eight inches.
The system seems to be well designed and the pressure under ordinary circum-
stances good. Dead ends are few and usually a fire hydrant is placed at such ends.
There are about forty fire hydrants. The company is not under contract to main-
tain the hydrants. The insufficiency of the pressure and the supply during fires was
one reason for the making of connections to the streams for use in an emergency
at two of the tanneries. The.se connections, however, had been cut off prior to
the stopping at the tanneries of the use of the water company's supi)ly.
The petitiouers purpose to make improvements from time to time in the village
as necessity may recpure and to increase the source of supply, if need be. by add-
ing to the storage in the reservoir and by intercepting the flow from certain copious
springs there whose discharge is now into the run below the dam. Details of these
extensions and additions have not been submitted because the improvements are
not contemplated for the present.
The extensions made by the petitionee since Act one hundred and eighty-two of
nineteen hundred and five became a law were made not with the intention of defying
the provision of the law ; but as soon as the water company became aware of the
necessity of filing plans of existing water works and of receiving approval for ex-
tensions thereof, it prepared and submitted the plans and applications now before the
Department.
It is rei>resented that the shortage of water during the summer of nineteen hun-
dred and seven was [nior to the discontinuance by the tanneries of the use of the
Sheffield A\'ater Comp.-my's supjily. and that had the tannerifs not made a wasteful
use of the supply tlicr" wnuld have been an amph> tpiantity of water on baud in
the resiTvoir during the drought to have furnished tlu- entire village with water
witluuit de(i(;icncy. The petitioners further represent that for some time in the
future the system of water works as now operated will be ample for the supply of
water for domestic uses in the village.
It was during the dntught of nineteen hundred and seven that citizens of Sheffield
made a formal protest to the Commissioner of Health relative to the shortage of
water and asked that the water company be ordered to have recourse to the driven
well supply as a temporary expedient. The Dei)artment has not determined the
question of proprietorship in this well and the matter seems immaterial because
the petitioners do not ask approval of this source of supply nor do they contem-
plate the use of it.
The danger of contMinination of Deer Lick Run waters lies in i)Ossible pollution
at camps or from lumbering oiieratious. It should not be a difficult matter for the
company to jiatrol the watershed sufficiently to keep informed of the sanitary condi-
tion at all buildings, camps and o|)erations and to enable it in conjunction with the
State Department of Health to enforce sanitary I'cgulations to preserve the purity of
the waters.
45—17—1908
70(i THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Provided the quality of the reservoir water should deteriorate because of lack of
adequate removal of luud, soil aud vegetable matter or other deleterious sub-
stances from the site of tlie reservoir, a reuiedy should be easily at hauil.
lu view i>f the above circumstauces, it has been (letermiued that the proposed
extensions will not be prejudicial to the public health, aud approval is hereby and
herein jiiveu to the improvements made to the water works system subsequent to
April twenty-second, nineteen hundred aud live, all under the I'ollowinj;;- condi-
tions and stipulations:
FIRST: That the water company shall prepare a |)lau of its existing water
works system in llie village showing thereon the location of hydrants, gates, blow-
ofifs aud the sizes of the pipes The company shall also submit a similar plan and
profile of the supply main to town, together with i)laus and elevations of the dam
and reservoir. At the close of each season's work, a plan of tht' water pipes laid
during the year shall be prepared aud tiled iu the olBce of the Commissiuner of
llealth, tog;ether with any other information iu connection therewith which may be
retpiired.
SECOND: Before any additional source or extensions to the existing su|)i)ly
be made the water company shall prepare plans of the sani(> and sniimit them to the
Commissioner of Health for approval.
THHtD: The water company shall maintain a patrol of the watershed at all
times to preserve the purity of the waters, more especially when any camp or lum-
ber operation is located on the watershed. The iiatrolmeu shall submit a regular
report of the sanitary condition at the camps aud lumber operations and any and
all dwellings or buildings on the watershed, and the water company shall provide or
see that proper sanitary or portable pri\ ies be provided and that these receptacles for
sewage shall be used and properly maintained to prevent any contamination what-
soever of the surface waters supplied by the Shellield Water Company to its cus-
tomers.
FOURTH: If az any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
water supply of the water works or any part thereof has become prejudicial to the
public health, then the water company shall adopt such remedial measures as the
Connnissioner of Health may approve or suggest.
FIF'I'H: The water company shall keep records of the operation of the system
on blank forms satisfactory to the Department of llealth and submit copies thereof
whenever reijuired to the Department of Health.
SIXTH: Regular inspections will be made of the system by a I)e|)artment officer
and the State Department of Health may suggest rules and regulations to govern
the supply of water to the public iu so far as the public health is concerned. The
water company shall co-operate with the Department, furnish facilities for inspec-.
tion and assist in the examination, if this be required.
Ilarrisl.urg, Pa., February lllh, T.)()S.
siiiki;m.\.\stow.\, cumheruand county.
Slii lenianslown Water ("onipany.
This application was made .by the Sliiremanstown Water Company of Shiremans-
town borough, Cuudx-rland county iuid is foi" permission to install a system of water
works for the supiily of water lo the pid)lic in said borough and to obtain ils source
of supply from the" Rivertim « 'oiis(]|idale(l \N'aler Company at llie eastern liorougli
line.
It appears that the Shin mslown Wahr ('umpany was charleicd on August
tliirty-firsi , nineteen hundred and three, lor llie |,urpose of rurnisliing water to the
prblie in the borough of Shiremaiistown.
Shirenianstovvn borough is a small place leri'ilorally conlaining a resident popu-
lation of about seven liMuilred, locatcfl on the line of the Cund)erlan(l Valley Rail-
I'uad and also along the ohl iiirnpike between Ilarrishurg and Mechanicsliurg, and
distant ai»out two and ,i li:ill miles from ("amp Hill and Lemoyne boroughs. Tlie
hitler borough borders on the wi'sl bank of the Sustpu'lianna river; inlei'vening is
the township of Lower Allen. The Uiverlon Consoli<lali'd Water Company has
• •barter rights to supply water lo the public in Camp Hill and liemoyne ami also
in Lower Allen township.
Shii'emaiislown has been a borough sinee eiiihleen Immlred :iiiil si'venly-foiir. II
is uiidi-rlaifi by a linieslone fornialion. i)iig wells, roof water cisteins and drilled
wells fiirnisli ihe source of domestic water supjily al the pi'eseni lime lo the inhah-
ilanls. I)rilled wells are from sixty to two Iniiidri'd feet deej) so it is reported.
There are a few of ihem only, the people paying for the pi'ivilege of drawing walej'
froiri somi' nei;,diboriMg well. Sewage is deposiled into sink holes di'illi'd into Ihe
limestone. Coiidilions an' not altogether assuring. The peo|)le are desirous of
iiaving running water uniler |>reHsure in Iheii' homes.
During nimdeen hundred and sevi'ii , so it is reporled, the lioioiigh eouneil en-
tered imo a eonlrail with Ihe Shiremaiislown Water Company for pure watei-
lo be furnished from lln' .Meehaniisburg Cas and Wali-r Company's plant, a corjio-
ralion doing business in .Meclianieslinrg , hiejited several miles lo the west. How-
ever it was ffjund Ihal there was no eh.-irler aiilliorily for Ihe ,\lec|i;ini<'sl)nrg cor-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 707
poration to supply water to the public in Sliin'inaustown, hence during the present
season the borough council considered an anuMidnient to the oriftinal ordinance
whereby pi iiuissldii to the Shirenianstown Water CJoiupany to supply water to the
boroujrli ot Sliircmaiislowii from the liiverton (Consolidated Water Company's plant
was to be ;^i\(n.
On March nineteenth, nineteen hundred and eij^ht the bomugh council requested
the Coiiunissiiincr of Health to inform the borough whether the Kiverton Consoli-
dated WaltT Company would supply water to Shirenianstown from the river or from
the iniiiintaiii supply'.
The Siurcman.slown Water Company has not submitted a plan of its proposed lines
of water pi|jes. The Kiverton Cogsolidated Water Company has filed a plan of a
portion of the streets in Shirenianstown, showing size of pipes to be laid therein.
According to this |)laii it appears that the main pipe is to be six inches in diameter
and this piiie w ill lu- in the main stnu't of the borough and branching off from it are
to b" lines of four inch iiipe in the lateral streets.
The Kiverton Cousolidaled ^Vater Company has two sources of supply, one being
from the Siis(pu'lianna river opposite the city of Harrisburg and the other from small
streams located in the hills in l''airview township, York county, near New Cumber-
land boiougli. 'IMie former source is subject to sewage p(]|luiiou. The water is sup-
plied (lirectl\- lo WoiMile.\sburg, I^enuiyiu' and C;imp Hill boroughs, and during the
summer months, without doubt, a considerable portion, if not all of the water which
would be furnished to the Shiremauslown Water Company, would come from the
Sus<pielianna river.
Tile iiiouiitain supply is stored in two reservoirs, the larger of which is known as
the lialdeiu.in rt'serxoir. The dam is a small one and it holds about one million
gallons. The stream in the spring has a How of about two hundred and fifty thou-
sand gallons daily, but in the sununer time it goes nearly dry.
The Hoyer reservoir is not much more than an intake dam. It has a watershed of
three-tenths of a scpiare mile while the Haldeman reservoir watershed is slightly
less in extent On it there is only one residence but on the Boyer reservoir water-
shed there are four residences ociupied. The water from the latter is subject to
some i)ollution, especially from a highway and a farm house not owned by the
water company. Cattle are iiastured in a field abutting the stream. Some attempt
has l)een made bv the water compan.x- to waste the drainage from the highway and
pasture lands and barnyard of the house adjacent thereto, but the improvement has
not been perfected and the water in the reservoir is now subject to cijiitamination.
These nu'uaces are all subject to correction and the water from both sheds should be
preserved in its purity and to a limited extent would furnish a suitable and whole-
some sui)ply during all si'asons of the year. These reservoirs were first built by
the Mountain Water Company with the intention of sui)plying \ew Cumberland
borough and by an agreement between that borough and tbe water comi)any, the
town has the first right to the reservoir waters. During rainy seasons any surplus
may be deli\ered to the rest of the distributing system and supplied ultimately to
Shirenianstown borough, if a connection were made to the system.
The Kiverton Consolidated Water Company has asked permission to supply the
Shirenianstown Water Company, but this has been withheld because evidence is
lacking that said company is capaiile of furnishing Shirenianstown with an abundance
of pure wali'r at all limi-s and under all conditions.
The river water is not suitable in its raw condition to be furnished to any place
for domestic use. The Commissioner of Health has ordered the latter company to
install a water purification plant.
Provided the Kiverton Consolidaterl Water Company build ai)proved water puri-
fication works of a caiiacity sufficient to furnish the public in its charter territory
with water, then it would ai)iiear that the plan of the Shirenianstown Water
Comi)any to obtain its source of supply from tbe Kiverton Consolidated Water
Company would not be jjrejudicial to imblic health.
It has been determineil that it wouhl be prejudicial to i>ublic health to do other-
wise than withhold n permit for tbe present, and the same is hereby and herein
withheld to the SbiicniMMsiown Water ('ompany to obtain its supply of water from
the Kiverton < 'onsolidaled Water Company until sucli time as the Kiverton Consol-
idated Water Compan.\- can produce suitable evidence that it can and will and is
equipped to snp|)iy a pure and wholesome water to the public within its charter
territory.
When the water filter jdant shall have been constructed by the Kiverton Con-
solidated Water Company under plans approved by the (\>minissioner of Health,
then the CommissiontM' of Hi'atb will favorably consider tbe petition of the Shire-
nianstown Water Company and issue a permit luider reasonble conditions and
stipulations for said company to obtain its source of supply from the Kiverton
Consolidated Water Comi)any. provided, however, that if the latter company will
submit evideui'i- that it is e(pii|iped and will supply the ShinMuanstown Water Com-
pany with some other suitable supply of i)ure water other than the filtered Sus-
(luehannn Kiver water, then, in that e\ent , the Conunissioner of Ile.-ilib will favor-
ably consider such pnq)osition and issue a permit to the Shirenianstown Water Com-
pany under reasonable conditions and stipulations,
Harrisburg, Ta., August 18th, 1908.
708 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
SHIREMANSTOWN BOROUGH, CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Shiremanstown Water Company.
This appliciitiou was made by the Shiremanstown Water Company of Shiremans-
town, Cumborland county, and is for permission to obtain a source of supply
of filtered water from the Rivertun Consolidated Water Company, said liltered
supply to come primarily from the city of Harrisburg's water works system.
The Shiremansto\\n \Vater Company proposes to use the said filtered water to
be supplied to it by the Riverton Consolidated Water Company until the latter can
furnish some other pure and wholesome water satisfactory to the Commissioner of
Health.
It appeai-s that in a decree issued by the Commissioner of Health on August
eighteenth, one Thousand nine hundred and eight, the following stipulations were
made:
"In view of the foregoing considerations, 1 have deLermined lluiL it will be pre-
judicial to public health to do otherwise than to withhold a permit for the present
and I do hereby and herein withhold a permit to the Shiremanstown Water Com-
pany to obtain its source of supply of water from the Rivertou Consolidated Water
Company until such time as the Riverton Cousolitlated Water Company can pro-
duce suitable evidence that it can and will and is equipped to supply a pure and
wholesome water to the public within its charter territory."
"When the water filter plant shall have been constructed by the Riverton Con-
solidated Water Company under plans approved by the Commissioner of Health,
then the Commissioner of Health will favorably consider the petition of the Shire-
manstown Water Company and issue a permit under reasonable conditions and stii)ti-
lations for said conii)any to obtain its source of supply from the Riverton Consoli-
dated Water Company, provided howtver, that if the latter comi)any will sub-
mit evidence that it is equipped and will supply the Shiremanstown \\'ater Com-
pany with some other suitable supply of pure water other than the filtered Sus-
quehanna river water, then, in that event, the Commissioner of Health will
favorably consider such proposition and issue a permit to the Shiremanstown Water
Company under reasonaltle conditions and stipulations."
It further appears on examination by the D.'partment, that the city councils of
Harrisburg have in due form enacted an ordinance providing for the sale within
the city limits of fiitered water by the city to the Riverton Consolidated AVater
Company for distribution among the comijany's consumers in its charter territory.
This ordinance has been appi'oved by the ]\iayor.
The Riverton Consolidated Water Company is now engaged in the preparation of
detail plans to be submitted to the Conunissioner of Health for approval for the
construction of its own watei" purification plant. P>ut meantime, it is the wish
of the water company to supply its consumers with pure water.
It has been determined that the proposed source of supply will not be prejudicial
to public health, and a permit is hereby and herein issued to the Shiremanstown
Water Company to install a system of water works and to obtain its source of
supply from the Riverton Consolidated Water Company under the following con-
ditions and stipulations:
FIRST. Detail plans of the water pipes, location of gates, hydrants and drain-
age facilities shall be filed in the oflice of the Commissioner of Health showing the
system as built at the end of the first year's construction. And thereafter at the
close of each season's work plans of the water pipes laid during the year shall be
filed in said Commissioner's oflice, to tlie end tli;it ihe State Department of Health
shall be always informed of the extent of tlie waler works system and the public use
thereof.
SI'jCOND. If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
source of supjjly is i)rejudicial to the |)ul)lic health, then such remedial measures
shall b(; ailopied as the (Jfjnunissioiiei- of Health may advise or approvi?.
THIRD It is expressly stipulated ihiit this |)erMiit shall not authorise the use
as a source of su|j[)ly by the Sliirenianslow ii Water ('onip:iny of any otinu' than
the filtered water to Ik- primarily obtained fr(un the city of Harrisburg l)y tiie River-
ton (Jonsolidaled Wattu- Company until the latter company sliall juive installed lis
own water purificnlion plant and until it is in a posilion to furnish a filtered
water supitly «;f ils own satisfactory to and approved by the Connnissioner of
Health and the Shiremanstown Water Company shall enter inio a contract with the
Riverton Consolidated Water Company under terms whereby the latter shall agree;
to furnish water to the former of a quality satisfactory to the; ('ommissioner of
Health.
Harrisburg, I'a., October ir>, 1!)(),S.
DHtECTORS OF TlIM POOR, SOMERSET COUNTY.
This application was madi^ liy Hie Direciois of the Poor and of tln! House of
Em|)loyirient f>f Someixet county, Pf^nnsylvania and is for the approval of plans for
an additional source of supply and a permit is issued therefore under the following
conditions an<l stiftulations:
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 709
It appears that the county home is located on a tract of three hundred and forty-
seven acres situate due east of Somerset borough on the Somerset turnpike about
two railos from the county seat. The tract is at the summit of the waterehed of Coxe
Creek, a tributary of the Casselman river.
The main buildini^s comprise the Administration Hal! and Home, the Asylum,
the power house and accompanying farm buildings. The first named structure is
wilhm one hundred feet of the turnpike and the power liouse and asylum are
grouped about it. The inmates and emploj'ees total one hundred and seventy-five.
At the present time the water supply to the three buildings is obtained from two
principal sources. One is from a spring on the hill to the east and distant twenty-
two hundred and thirty-six feet from the power house. This spring is known as
spring number one. Tlie water is collected in a masonry reservoir roofed over and
protected from surface wash. This structure is about thirty feet square in plan.
The water gushes out from the spring in one corner of the reservoir. The walls
are roofed o\-er. The land back from the sin'ing house continues to rise to the sum-
mit of the hill. The slope is partly cultivated and partly used for pasturage and
at the summit there are woods. The supply is reported to have been satisfactory
in cjuality. A four inch pipe line conveys the water from the reservoir to the
power house and to tanks in the upper stories of all three buildings.
The second main supply is located immediatelj' north and about one thousand
feet distant from the i)ower house. Spring number two, as it is called, flows out
from a iiorous forination, said to be sandy, about which spring masonry walls
have been erected and covered over with stone flagging. In plan these walls form
a well jibout nine feet wide and twelve feet long. They are carried up above the
surface of the ground. To the north side there is an opening in the side wall to ad-
mit of inspect ion of the spring water. Two hundred feet to the south is spring num-
ber three. It is fourteen fe<!t higher than spring number two. It has been walled up
and enclosed and the water is piped to the well at Spring number two. Into this
well is inserted the suction pipe of a gas pumping engine, said to liave a capacity of
twenty-five g.nllons per miiuite. This engine raises the water to a three inch force
main to the innver house and to the tanks above mentioned.
Springs number two and three are about fifty feet lower in elevation than the
ground at the pov\er house. They are in a field which slopes quite uniformly
northerly. The field is used for pasturage. At times it has been under cultivation.
I'recaution taken at the springs were afforded to prevent any contamination of the
spring water
At the powrr house there is a deep driven well encased down to rock which has
been used as the main supply for the institution until recently. This well was drilled
in nineteen hundred and two thereabouts and was put in because of the inadequacy
of the other supply. The quantity of water yielded by the deep well has for some
unknown cause diminished, so thai this supply cannot longer be relied upon, in
fiict it has failed altogether, so the institution authorities report.
The said authorities now purpose to improve and develop the old spring supply.
The four inch pipe line from spring number one to the power house has been laid
during the current season to take the place of a pipe of one and one half indies
in diameter. Api)ro\iil of this new line and the supply is asked. Spring number
one has a storm flow in wet weather. It was dry during the summer.
The walling up and improvements at springs number two and three and the
installation of the i)unii) and the three inch pipe line is about completed. The
directors request approval of the saifl improvements and the source of supply.
Formei'ly the waters used from these springs were carried by hand or hauled to the
buildings.
P>ach of the three main buildings has its own sewer. From the Administration
Hall and from the ]iower house there are independent lines of sewers laid southerly
under the turnpike over the field about thre(» hundred feet bej-ond the pike so it
is reported and the main building sewer discharges onto a field several hundred
feet further from the pike.
The asylum sewer is laid in the opposite direction. It extends northerly and
empties into a ravine which forms the head waters of a run which passes north of
and below springs number two and three and thence extends westerly into Somerset
borough, two miles distant.
There are privies near the asylum on the groimd sloping towards springs number
two and three The vaults are simply holes dug in the ground.
It has been determined that the proposed sources of supply will not be prejudicial
to public health and the same is hereby and herein approved.
FIRST. Every reasonabh^ pre<>aution shall be taken by the Directors to pre-
vent sewage from reaching the proposeil sources of water supply. Siiecial attention
shall be devoted to the keeping out ol" the sprinsrs of all surf.nce water: If necessary,
ditches aro\uid thc^ other sides of the springs shall be built to divert surface drainage
away from the springs.
SE(^OND. As ii double security all i)rivy vaults on the property shall be laid in
masonry and carri(^d up above the surface of the ground to prevent flooding or
overflowing. "WluMUMer the contents is removed, it shall be disposed of in a sanitary
manner and off of tlio ground sloidn^r tow.-inls tlH> sprinsr.
TlllUn. The Directors shall colloct monthly samples of water from the springs
umler written instructions by the State Department of Health and ship the.se sam-
ples of water to tlu^ laboratories of the Department for analyses. If at any time, in
710 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
the opinion of the Di^pairincnt of Henltli the water svippb' of the institution be
found pi-ejudieial to the public health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted
as the Commissioni'r of Health may approve or suiijicst.
The attention of the Directors is called to the prol>abilit.v of improvements beinj?
required relative to the distribution of the sewajie at the three sewer outlets here-
inbefore described. An inspection of the existing methods will be made by a Depart-
ment officer at an early date.
Harrisburg, Ta., October 29, lO'OS.
SOMERSET TOWNSHIP, SOMERSET COUNTY.
Gladhurst Water Company.
This application was made by the Gladhurst Water Company of Somerset town-
ship, Somerset county, and is fur permission to install a system of water works
and to supply water to the public.
It appears that the village to be supplied will) water liy this water company
is adjacent to and directly east of the borough of Somerset situated in the central
part of Soniersi't townsiiip. It is a comnuinity cousisting of some twenty-three or
more dwellings and having no industrial establishments. The headwaters of
point. Ihere are no coal mines in this vicinity.
The people iioth in the village and in Somerset obtain a livelihood by means o
farming and various commercial pursuits. Somerset being the county seat o
Somerset countv attracts a great deal of custom and trade.
rnu^ ...i.,.i <-:,... : , ., i.:„i. ..i.,^,..,.. ..,..„.. «,,..,>, i ,> i..-,> l,...w1i.,wl f,.,>(- .-.Urwra flu
The whole section
mitti'il to run by gravity to the village.
The sjirings are two in numlier, one of which is wnlled up and covered o\cr and
completely hidden from view and from wiiich a small pijie carries iIh; water by
gravity to the .second spring. This siiriiig is also walled uj) and is covered over with
loo.se boards but is i)rotected from surface wash. P>oth of the si)riiigs are located
in a field in the valley between several hills and this field and mlj.icent fields are
under cultivation. They are so protected thai caltic raiiiiot get to ilieiii and inter-
fere with the purity of the water.
From the second s|iring two pipes are laid to n will dose by over which is built
a small pump house and the whole is covered over and the door kept locked. The
pipes are three inches and one and one-half indies in diameter res|)ectively , the
smaller pipe being in tin- bottom of the spring and the larger one near the surl'ac(>.
The well is twenty fei't in diameter and si.\- feet deep with a six inch blow-out
valve and a six inch overflow pipe four ;ind oiie-l:;iir lert from the liollom. The
capacity of the well is eleven tliousand giilloiis.
The water is pumped from the well by means of a wind mill and al limes when
there is no wind a five horse power gasoline engine is put in oixu-ation and used
as an au.\iliary pump. From here the water is |)nmped through a three inch jiipe
for a distance of sixteen hnndri'd feet to a small reservoir on the hill one hun<lred
and fifty feet higher than the springs. The reservoir is Ihirty-live feel iii_diamet,er
and ten feet deep, built of masonry and covered over with a wooden roof, having
two dormer windows opposite each oilier. These windows aiv covered with (iiic
mr-sli copper screens whicji |)rotects the water from insects and :it (he same lime
ventilates it. The capacity is twenty-three Ihousaiiil gallons. Tlii' resei'voir is so
located on the apex of the hill that surfai'c wali'r drains away from il.
A four inch iron pijte dislribules the water to Hie coiisumrrs. This dislribuling
main is aiunil a mile long and at tin; present lime llierc ate iiiiKleen laps <in il
(Mil of a total nninber of twenty-three houses in llic "uiiiminiily. TImic a ic lirteen
private wells in the village, used eillwr alone oi- in coiijuiHt ion willi llic exislirig
water works.
I'>esides the exiHiiiig system and iIh' wells there is a private supply from the
He<-ond Ki)ring to the Jionse of one of the ollicers of th" waler company, which
supply is pumped from the spring by means of a wind mill to a small resei'voir five
feel in diameter and ten feel deep constructed of masonry and locali'd on a hill
in the rear of this man's lot. This reservoir is covered over ami prolecled from
surface drainage. This supply was the original wat<'r works and aflerwards otliern
became interested and staried the new company.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 711
TliH object of till- incoipointion of tliis water iompaiiy is inaiul.v to supijly the
immediate viciuity in the village ami UDt to expand into other distriets in the town-
Khi|>. Tlie fact is that the peoide wlio have l)uilt liouses tiiere pooled their interests
to form this comiiany for their own supply and it is not a money makin;; scheme.
They have taken j^reat i)aius to protect the water and to keep it free from (routami-
nation.
The method of taking water from the privati' wells where cessiwols and privies are
locatefl close hy is a menace to p)d)lic health and it is a dan^'eroiis practice.
It apiiears that the water company was chartered in niiu'teeu hundred and six
and huik the works the same year so that the application to install water works is
for the approval of the existing water works.
It has hi'eu determined that the proposed water works system will not be prejudi-
cial to pulilic health and a permit is heiei)y and herein jrranted for the installation of
such water works under the fidlowini; conditions and stipulations:
FIRST. That the water company submit a detail map of the springs, wells,
pump Imuse. reservoir, distributiufr main with .sizes, location and valves and blow-
off forthwith.
SI'-('().\I). At the close of each season's work the water company shall make
a ph\n of the water pii)es lairl in the streets of the villaire durin-.; the year and file
the same in the ofhc<> of the < 'oinmissioner of Health, together with any other infor-
mation that may he retpiired in the oi)eration thereof, in order that the State
I)ei)artmeiil of Health may always be informed of the extent of the water works
system and the puidic use tliere( f.
THIKD. If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the water
woi'ks sysiem or sr)urci' of suppl.v has become prejudicial to public health, then such
remedial measures shall be ado[)ted as the Commissioner of Health may advise or
approve.
Ilarri.slnirg, Ta.. .Inly Si, 1008.
Sl'RI.\(;i)ALi:, ALLEtillKXY Cor.NTV.
Springdale Water Company.
This application was made by the Springdale Water Company of the borough of
Springdale, Allegheny county, and is for permission to make extensions to its
water pipe system in the streets of the borough.
It appears that Springdale is a new borough having been incorporated during nine-
teen hundred and six. It is a manufacturing community and residential place,
situated on the north bank of the Allegheny river about sixteen miles up stream
above Pittsburg. The greater |)art of the borough is located on a somewhat flat,
slightly r<dling. tableland or plati-au which extends along the entire river front and
back to the I'ittsbnrL'— Freeport road, which is distant from the river about a
qimrter of a mile. The West I'enn Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad pa.sses
through the town alon-r the bank of the river and within three hundred feet of it.
lieyond the Freeport ro.id the laml rises at a st(>eper grade, but nowhere precipitous,
to an elevation uf between two humlred and three hundred feet above the river at
th<> western bomnhiry. Thus ihe surface of the ground has an easy slope antl drain-
aire is good and towards tin- river. Most of the residences are located along the
Freei)ort road and between it and the railroad. In fact, the dwellings are grouped
along either the Pennsylvania Railroad ami Colfax road adjacent to it, or along
the Freepc.il road. The land between these two thoroughfares is partly built
up.
The pr.'sent population is estimated to be about two thousand. ALiny of the
property owners do business in Pittsburg, riding to anil fro daily. There are three
industries in the town.
The Ileidenkamp Plate (Jlass and Mirror Coini)any employ about three hundred
hamls. The plant is luated in the central part of the borough on tlie river bank
near Colfax street. Drinkinu: water for the shop is obtained from neighborhood
wells and is carried as needed by [tersons employed for that purpose. Water for
industrial purposes is secured from the river. The sewage from the property is
deposited in the Allegheny.
Tln> Pennsylvania (Jhu' Company employs about one hundred and fifty hands.
The plant is located on the river bank, immtMliately above the government dam.
which is in the npiier central jiart of the borough. Drinking water is ol>tained
from drilled wells locat.'d on the jucmises. 'I'he industrial wastes are treatwl in u
sedimentation tank and the sewage is dischargi-d into the river.
The Pennsylvania Swedish Iron Com|)any's works are small and are hicated along
the I'^reeporl rond in the extreme western part of the borough.
The people <piite generally obtain their drinking water from wells <lrilled on the
l)remises. There are a few dui: wells. .Most of the drilled wells are <iised to a
depth of from sixt.v to eight.v feel. There are a numiier of spring's in the borough,
sexcral of these being of a coiisideraide size. One of the.se i.s owiiimj by li. L.
Klliott. It is th<' .source of sup|)ly to Ihi' Klliott Nursery Coiii|)any and to the NefT
(Jrei'ii Houses an<l also to fnrty-seven fanjilies. The spring is located in a ravine
about fifteen hundred feet north of the Pittsburg-Freeport mad near Maple street
712 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
in the western part of the borough. The spring is bricked in, covered and the
water is piped to a brick tank and from there to an iron tank of about seventy-five
barrels capacity, and thence to the consumers. The brick tank is located about one
hundred feet from the upper end of the ravine and ilie iron tank about fifty feet
below this and also in the ravine. Above the spring on higher ground are located
several dwelling houses. At present none is nearer than six hundred feet. The
houses are situated on the ground which slopes in the opposite direction from the
spring. Should the land in the immediate vicinity of the ravine be settled, there
would be possibility of contamination of the waters of the spring. Most of the forty-
seven dwellings mentioned are comprised in the Heidenkamp group of tenements
located near Colfax spring adjacent to the glass works. There are also a few
families in the immediate vicinity of the spring using this water. The green houses
and the nursery are below the Pittsburg-Freeport road.
The Springdale Water Company was chartered on April twenty-seventh, nineteen
hundred and five, for the purpose of supplying water to the public for commercial
and domestic purposes in Springdale township, Allegheny county, out of which
township Springdale borough has since been incorporated. Prior to this charter-
the works were constructed by individuals, so it appears. As it now exists, the
system comprises a pumping plant, a drilled well, a storage tank and the distribu-
ting system of pipes.
The pumping plant is located about one thousand feet north of the Pittsburg-
Freeport road on Murtland avenue, on land owned by the water company. This
place is on a terrace at the top of a steep slope. Northerly the slope continues,
but at a more gradual ascent, for about a quarter of a mile, to the borough line.
The pump house is a wooden structure fifteen feet wide, twenty feet long, and in it
is located a two hundrerl and fifty barrel wooden tank, into which the water is
pumped and stored for distributing purposes. There is a small gas engine used
to lift the water from tlie well. This well is located in one corner of the building.
It is drilled seventy feet deep and is encased in iron tubing. The water is pumped
about four hours daily. This amount serves to meet all present requirements.
To the wesc of the pump house there is a ravine in which there is a small run
about thirty-five feet from the house and about thirty feet lower in elevation.
About one hundred yards to the east of the pump house there is another ravine
not so deep. Both ravines have a general north and south direction. In the sec-
tion formed by these ravines there is at present only one building, an old barn. It
is located about a quarter of a mile above the pump house. Near the barn there
is a small pumping station used by the Moyer Sand and Gravel Company to supply
water to a sand quarry near the top of the hill which drains into the ravine. On
the slop" of the west ravine there is a farm house.
There are two private dwellings in the vicinity of the water company's pumping
station. These face on North street. There are out-houses on the property.
The distributing sj'Stem comprises thirty-eight hundred and fifty feet of two inch
iron pipe.
The company proposes to lay a four inch pipe line the whole length of the Pitts-
burg-Freeport rond in the borough and also to make extensions to the street pii)e
system from lime If) liuii- as necessity may i-ecpiire. At present there are reported
to bo thirty consumei's on the company's system.
Whi!'" it is at once evident that the water works system is limited and is not
adapted to sui)ply the entire borough with any considerable amount of water, and
while it is also apparent that if the water company should purpose at any time to
supply the industrial i)]ants or to afford fire protection it would be necessary to
lay entiri'Iy new lines of i)ipe of larger diameters in the sti'eets, nevertheless, it
cannot he d<'t"rmiiie<l fi-om the evidenc now before the Depai'tment that the exist-
ing supply for drinking purposes is prejudicial to public health. TTnd<)ubt:(>dly , the
company will in the proper time and when there is a prospect of adecpiate revenue,
introduce matiTial <-hanges in the water works system.
It has bef'n di'tcrmincfl that the (xisling supply of water to thi' public and the
water works system is not prejudicial to the public health, and that the proposed
extensions thereof will not be prejudicial to the imhlic health and the same are hereby
and iierein approved and a pi'rmit granted tliei'efoi', under the following conditions
and stipulations:
FIRST. 'I'liat at the close of each season's woi-lc idans of lli(> pipes laid during
the yeiir .shall be prepared and filed in the office of llie ( '(uiiiiiissioner of Health,
together with any other informal ion in eonnection lliei'ewilli ilml iimy ln' re(|iiire(|,
lo the end that the 1 )e|)ji rl meiit <rf Health shall always lie inrniniid <il" the I'lill
exl<-nl <){ the water works system and the j>ublic use therf^if.
SI0<'OND. Tiie water company shall not increase its existing source of supi)ly,
drill new wells, build new reservoirs and pumping facilities, or otherwise make ex-
tensions to the water works other than those hereby and lieicin apiiioved, witlioul:
first submitting detail plans thereof and making applicati(jn loi' approval as |)ro-
vided by law.
'I'fflUD. If at any time in the o|)iiiioii of the < 'omniissiomr ul' Health the water
works system or the soiiree of supply shall liecoiiie pi'ejiidieiii I to the pidilic health,
then such remedial measures shall be adopted jind proxided as llie ( 'oiiiinissionei- of
n<'alth may ai)prove oi' advise.
Harrisburg, Pa., October fi, 1008.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 713
STATE COLLEGE BOROUGH, CENTRE COUNTY.
University Water Company.
This application was made by the University Water Company of State College
borough, C'.'nui' (•ounly, I'ennsylvania, and is for permission to obtain a source of
suijply and to build waicr works to supply water to the public in the township of
Ferguson an<l the township of College, said townships being in Centre county.
It appears thai liie I'niversity Water Coiniiany is the present name given by
authority of law on July third, nineteen hundred and eight, to a corporation organ-
ized under tht.' laws of the State and approved by the Governor on the fifth day of
February, nineteen hundred and seven, under the name and title of the "Farmers
Rural Water Cimipany of Ferguson Township."
'J"he i)urp()se ef ilie r(unpany is to sui)ply pure water to the public in all that por-
tion of Ferguson township, to wit: "lieginning at a stone on the division line
between Harris and Ferguson townships, at the foot of Tussey Mountain; thence
west alung the foot of said mountain four hundred and fifty rods to stone; thence
north one hundred rods to the Matternville road; thence following said road north
live huiulrc'il and fifty rods to junction of said road with the Gatesburg road; thence
along the (ialeshurg road east live hundred and fort.v-eight rods to the division line
between College and Ferguson townships ; thence by said line and the line between
Harris and Ferguson townships south twenty-four degrees east, six hundred and
eight rods to the place of beginning."
Ferguson township lies west and southwest of State College borough and it con-
cludes a portion of the State College farm property. The Gatesburg road, called
College avenue in the borough, extends southwesterly in the township and the
Matternville road is laid out at right angles to the Gatesburg road and is parallel
with the boundary line between the borough, Harris and College townships to the
east and Ferguson township to the west. Within this district is a territory occu-
pied by farms, the owners of which desire to obtain a public supply of water.
Sinre the territory is sparsely populated, the conditions for the organization of the
water company for this [lurpose are exceptional. The country is a high plateau
underdraiiu'd by a stratum of exceedingly fissured limestone. Considerable diffi-
culty is experienced in obtaining water from wells, owing to the depth, and so
the citizens have to rely largely on cisterns for their drinking water. This supply
has the additioiuil advantage of no small importance of being soft in quality. Some
of the farmers have had to haul water considerable distances during dry seasons
aiul there is need, therefore, for a reliable water supply in this scattered rural
community.
T\m source of supply selected is a small stream rising in what is known as
"Tussey .Mduntain," s;iid mountain being the boundary line between Centre county
and Ilnntiuudou county. The geological structure is sandstone formation and the
waters delivered from the mountain are correspondingly soft and pure. The stream
Hows in a northerly (lir(>ction to UToet a small tributary of Spring Creek, which
eventually is joined by Logan Branch at Bellefonte borough and empties into Bald
Eagle Creek. The latter joins the west branch of the Susquehanna river just below
liOck llaven borough. These streams, with the exc 'ption of the Tussey .\lotmtain
Brook, are supplied by wonderful springs in the valleys flowing from subterranean
passages. The waters are naturally hard.
It is the purpose of the water couipany to erect a dam and storage reservoir on
the brook at what is known as Musser's Gap. This dam is to be a concrete struc-
ture and when completed its entirety will store one million, two hundred and fifty
thousand gallons, approximately, and have an area of about one-quarter of an
acre. 'I'he walersh(>d above the dam is steep and covered by heavy forests. There
are no habitations u|ioii it. The area is ajiproximately four-tenths of a sqiu\re
mile. The chief owner has for himsi-lf and heire agreed not to denude the watershed.
Records of the yield of the brook (.f Musser's Gap taken during drought show a
flow of about seventy-four thousand gallons per day as the minimum.
Th(» maximum deptii of water with full reservoir will be twenty feet. Soil or
organic matter is to be stripiied from the bottom of the area to be flooded.
A iwenty-four inch drain with valve is to be providinl in the dam for drainage.
The structure is to be constructed in a substantial way and is to be a spill-way
dam, approximately ninety feet in length. From it an eight inch gravity supply
main is to hi' laid across country in the charter territory above described and branch
lines are to be laid from it to farm buildings on the various farms through wliicli
tiie uiaiu line is to pass.
The height of the water in the reservoir will be three hundred and eighty-eight
feet above the campus grounds of the college in the borough about four miles dis-
tant.
It ai)pears that the authorities of the State College were not satisfied with the
present suppl.v which is obtaiiu-d from the State College Water Company, a corpo-
ratiiui also supplying the borough. Not only is this company's supply the subject
of some conii>laint . both as to (piality and qimntity in the summer time, but the
pressure is not always sullicieiit ami satisfactory. The college authorities, there-
fore, in looking about for a suitable supply in adililiou to its own supply from
a driven well on tht> premises, the waters of which iiri- exc(>edingly hard, concluded
the Tussey Brook sourci> contemi)hi ted by the said Farmers Rural Water Company
714 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
was the only nvailable aud suitable source of supply for the college. Aud so the
water company designed its works with the understanding that water would also
be furnished to the college, the intention being to supply this water at the Ferguson
township line within the charter territory of the water company.
It further appears that some of the officers of the college and prominent citizens
interested in thi' welfare of the institution acquired the controlling interest in the
said Farmei-s Rural >Yater Company and changed the name thereof to that of the
I'nivei-sity SVater Company. The works have not been built, but it is the intention
of the company so to do as soon as the approval of the plans shall have been given
l)y the Coiu'iiissiuner of Health.
It has l)een determined that the proposed water works aud source of supply will
not be prejudicial to public health and a permit is hereby aud herein granted therefor
under the following conditions and stipulatious:
FIRST. Detail plans of the dam, pipe line and branches shall be filed in the
otiice of th<> Con-.missiouer of Health upon completion of the system, showing how
said wt)rks have been constructed.
SECOND. Ample drainage facilities ahmg the lini' oL' the supply main shall be
))r(>vide(l If admit of the ready emptying of such lin(> in case of necessity.
THIKL). If at any time, in the opinion of the t'onunissiouer of Health, the
stnirce of supply or the water works system or any part thereof is prejudicial to
))ul)lic healrh, then such remedial measures shall l)e adopted as said Cunnnissioner
may apjjrove or advise, if any lumber opera tons should be undertaken on the
watershed, or if any habitacion or other source of pollution is established on the
watershed at any time, the water company shall inunediately notify the Commis-
sioner (if Health anil co-operate with the State Department in the enforcement of
sanitary regulations to safeguard the purity of the waters used as the source of
sup|)lv to the puiilic liy said company.
Fo'L'RTH. If public health shall require it, the State Board of Health may
establish rules and regulations for the operation of the water works system and
tile water company shall be bound in accepting this permit to abide and observe
such ruli's and regulations in so far as they shall relate to j)ublic health matters.
If anv additional pipe line in the charter territory should be laid, at the close of
each season plans <>f such additional pipe line laid during the yo^ar shall be filed in
the office of the Commissioner of Health, together with any other information in
connection therewith that may be required, to the end that the Conunissioner of
Health shall always ))e informed about the extent of the water works aud the use
thereof.
Ilarrisbnrg, I'a.. .Inly 2:',, l!)(l,S.
sri;i:i/roN roroikhi, DAuniiN county.
lioard of Water Commissioners.
This api)lication was made by the borough of Steelton, Daupiiiii coiinly, and is
for i)erniission to make an emergency connection l)etween the low aud liie high lift
pumping engines at the borough's water works pumping station.
It appears that the api)licatinn was made on behalf of the Water Itoard by its
Consulting Engineer, and said apiilication reads as follows:
"The Water Comniissicmers of the I>oi-ougli of Steelton w isii , in ,i riiniging the
l)iping in tlie borough pumping station in accordance witji the ph\ns for the lilter
plant, which were aitproved by yiuir ]>eparlment in the eaily pari of last sununer,
to add an emergency connection between the discharge pipe from the low lift pumps
which puni|) liie raw water to the tilti'rs, and the suction pipe (jf the high lift |)Uinps
wiiicli pum|) the (iltered wiiter to the city, 'i'he desiraliiiity of this connection, from
tiie point of view of tin- Water ( 'onunissioni'i's, is that the river l)ank at Steelton is
not as liigii as the highest flood level, and consetpiently the pit in which the centri-
fugal pumi)s will stand is likely to be Hooded so that llie pumps might l)e coni-
pletelv submerged at tiuK's. I'nder these conditions these pumps could not be I'un,
ami a sliortage of water might occur if a severe cdullagial ion should visit the
"The higii lift pinii|)s, wliicii pump water to the reservoii- in the city, stand at
n Hudicienlly high elevation not to be interfered with by Hoods in the river, and if
tlii-ri' were a cross connection belwei'U the discharge pipe fi'om the ceiilrifugal
pumps and the suction pipe to the high lift pumps, river water could ln' drawn
liirough the centrifugal pumps i)y the high lift pumi)S if necessary.
'"I'iie manner of making tin- connection, as suggested by the I'lesidenl of the
Hoard of Water Commissi(jners. is to place a "T" in the discharge pipe from the
cenlrifngal pnmp'^ and also one in the suction pipe from the high lift pumps, and
|,rovide a special I'Ibow, wlii<-li coidd be bolterl to the Hauges of these two T's, in ease
of necessilv: orilimirilv this special connecting piece will no! he in position, liul the
opening of Ih.' 'I"'s will be closed light with blank (langes bolti'd on.
"There is very little likeUhood that this emergi'ricy (Minnection will ever he re-
<Miire<l, as the citv reservoir liidds a suHicienI supply of water to tide over jmy Hood,
I)rovidiiig no unusual draught of water were made, such as niiglil occur during a
very extensive coiiHagralion , or as the residt of a serious brenk in some of the
Btreel maius during u flood.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 715
"I am cnclosini: a hlno print which shows the pi-opo.sorl niPthod of CDnnPCtion, as
sugfe'estod b.v tho Water ('(jiniuission('r.s, havinj.' notified tlicm tliat I cannot put in
this connection without permission from tlie Commissioner of Healtli, in as much
as tho orijiinal plans hail been a|)prove<l and I had no authority to clnuiKe them.
"It is desired to i)lae(> the order for all the pipinjr in connection with the low lift
pumps as soon as possible, and yuur early consifjeration of this connection is
respe<tfully requested, so that the plans may be completed and the pipe or-
dered."
The making' of this connection is herein approved under the condition that it
shall in no way effect the stipulations in the permit issued by the Commissioner of
Health to the borough of Steelton dated Septeml)er eleventh, one thousand nine
hundred and seven, and that the proposed connection shall not be used except iu
some great emergency like a great conflagration.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., February 2U, 1008.
STEELTON, DAUPHIN COUNTY.
This a|)plication was made by the borough of Steelton, Dauphin county, Penn-
sylvania, and is for approval of detail plans for a new water works intake.
On September eleventh, one thousand nine hundred and seven, the Commissioner
of Health issued a permit to the borough of Steelton to increase its source of public
supi)ly and to make extensions and imiirovements to its water works sj'stem under
certain con<litions and stipulalions among which was the following:
"If |)racrical)le, the horouiih shall during the present low stage of the river
forthwith proceed to caulk and render tight all joints t)n the existing intake pipe
and plans for a completed intake well and pipe shall be made and submitted to the
Conunissioner of Health for approval during the current .rear."
In conformity with ibis requirement the borough endeavored to make the pipe
line tiirhl l»ur failed. It therefore, during the current season replaced the old
pil)e with a new one thirty inches in diameter.
The new intake was built partly as an emergency work because the extreme
low water of the summer made it impossible for the securing of any supply from
the river through the old intake.
As now constructi'd the new thirty inch cast iron pipe begins at the point near
the bank of the river where the old twenty-four inch pipe Inid in place in anticipation
of extension across the river terminated. This old pipe is fully described id the
said permit of September eleventh, nineteen hundred and seven.
From this point the new thirty inch cast iron pipe is laid in a trench .slightly
beneath the present rock bottom of the river a total length of eleven hundred and
thirty feet to the new intake located near the bank at the island oi)posite the
pumping; station. In this total length the thirty inch pipe has an ascending grade
towards the inlet of six inches. At the shore line, near the pumping station there
is a tweiit.v-four inch gate valve on the pipe.
The intake at the end of the thirty inch pipe is similar in construction to the new
intake on the end of the river pipe at the Ilarrisburg filtration plant. The top
of the intake opening is seventeen inches below the low water mark of this season
and there is no record of a lower water mark than this in the life time of any living
person.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health are amply safe-
guarded by the new intake and the plans are hereby and herein approved and a
permit issued therefor.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., October 15, 1908.
SWATAKA TOWNSHIP, DAFIMIIX COINTV.
Rutherford Heights Water Supply Company.
This apidicatiou was made by the Rutherford Heights Water Supply Company
of Swafara townshi|), Dauphin county and is for permission t<> obtain an additional
source of supply from a spring known as Paxtang in the said Swatara town-
ship.
The Rutherford Heights Water Supply Company is duly chartered under the
laws of the Stale to supply water to the public in Swatara township. Its source
of supply was at first coulined to the Swatara Creek at a place shown on the plan
submitted by said company and tiled in the otHce of the State Water Supply Com-
mission, March thirteenth, nineteen hundred and seven. Subsetpn-ntly , on Octo-
ber tweiil y-sevenlh , niie'leen hundred and seven, the said eoiuiiany sccurefl an
amendment to its chart. -r wheri^by its sourri- >,( sujiply may be taken from the
Swatara Cie(>k at Hiunmelstown, at the same point from which the Hummelstown
Consolidated Water Company draws its supply. It is the intention of this latter
company to filter the creek water and sell it to the former company and it was with
this iinderstanding that the modified charter was granted.
716 THIRJD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
It appeai-s that on August sixteenth, nineteen liundred and seven, the Ruther-
ford Heights Water Supply Company asked permission to obtain a temporary
supply of water from tlie Eastmere \Yater Company, a dtily incorporated company
supplying water to the inhabitants of the village of Eastmere, a suburb of Har-
risburg within Swatara township. This request was denied by the Commissioner
of Health on the ground that the charter confined the Rutherford Heights Water
Supply Company to the Swatara Creek as a source.
It now appears that pending the erection of filtration works and machinery
for the treatment and supply of Swatara Creek water through the said company's
mains, yet to be built in compliance with the terms of a permit issued by the Com-
missioner of Health on July twenty -second, nineteen hundred aud seven to the
Rutherford Heights Water Supply Company in which it is specified "that before
the proposed water works system be constructed and used, detail plans thereof
shall be prepared and submitted to and api)roved by the Commissioner of Health
as provided bj" law," the inhabitants of the village of Rutherford Heights are in-
sistent upon an immediate supply of pure water, and therefore, the said Company
request permission to utilize the said "Paxtang Spring" as a temporary source of
supply.
Paxtang Spring otherwise known as Rutherford Spring, is located on the farm
of the heirs of S. S. Rutherford at the point about two hunilred feet south of the right
of way of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway and perhaps twenty-five feet
west of the road entrance to Paxtang Park. Withiu a radius of a quarter of a mile
is located the village of I'axtang, of perhaps twenty-five liouses and one hiuidred
and twenty-five residents. The dwellings are provided with modern pliunbing and
the drainage is mostly to cess-pools. At various places an outcrop of limestone
shows that there is a pitch in the strata towards the southeast, and if this be the
regular formation, it indicates the possibility of the underground drainage of from
possibly t\senty properties towards the Paxtang Spring.
The spring itself issues from the rock beneath a small stone spring house. The
house has two floors. On the ground floor are the appointments of a small dairy.
The platform is almost on a level with the water of the spring, and ther? is danger
of pollution brought in by the shoes and left on the platform. Milk cans are
rinsed out into the waters of the spring or the overflow thereof.
The flow is very copious and it is reported that it has never ceased even in a
protracted dry period. On the day of the Department's inspection the outflow was
measured to be two million gallons. This is proof that the contributing area is
of a large extent and the geological formation being limestone leads to the conclusion
that were the surface area from which these groitnd waters are gathered thickly
populated, a very pronounced evidence of contamination would follow.
On the second floor of the spring house one of the farm attendants lives. The
nearest building is the farm house two hundred feet north of the spring.
From the west wliere there is a cart road surface, drainage can reach the
spring so that if the spring water be used lemixnarily , a source of supply, it
should be walled up and every precaution taken to exclude surface water or any other
surface pollution.
A part of the overflow of the spring is used to operate a hydraulic ram by means
of which water is raised to the Rutherford farm buildings and mansion.
The spring also furnished a three inch pipe line which conveys water to Paxtang
Park.
A test of the spring water made by the Philadelphia Clinical Laboratory on Octo-
ber fourteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, showed it to l)e potal)h'. " It would
appear possible to adoi)t precautions to preserve the purity of tiiis spring from sur-
face contamination, but wlii-tliiM- tlie waters be subject to tinder givjinid polltitioii is
a question which n<eds extended investigation and possil)ly constant examination.
The topographical conditions are suspicious. A temporary right to use this water
might be approved by the (Commissioner of Health on presentation of satisfactory
plans for the colled i(jii and ilistribiition of thi' water. No such |)laiis have been
submitted by thf RiillicrlOid Heights Water Supply Company. Furtlieriiiore, the
charter limitations of ihis coiiipany as to this source at present preclude it as a
possibility. A still further modification of the company's charter would appear to
be necessary.
It has been di-termiiied that the ajiplication of the Rutherford Heights Walcr
Supi>ly Company to use Paxtang Spring is not jiroperly befoic the Department of
Health, since this soiiict; is precluded by the com|)any's charter. Jf a modified
charter be obtained, then the Commissioner of Health nniy favorably entertain
such an application. However, the supply would not be favorably recommended
as a permanent source for any watei- cf)mf)any because^ of tin; uncertainty as to the
(piality of the water. The district is rapidly increasing in iiopiilal ion and llie time
eiimiol be far distant when sewage pollution will be likfdy to innnifesi itself at tlie
Spring. If observations relative to the pcdiution of undergroiuid waters coming
from populated areas in limestone districts elsewhere are a criterion by which
to judge.
Harrisburg, Pa., January IC, 1!)()8.
No. 17. COIMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 717
SWATARA TOWNSHir, DAUrHIN COUNTY.
Paxtang Consolidated Water Company.
This application was made by the Paxtang Cons(didated Water Company of
Swatara township, Daupliin county, and is for permission to obtain an additional
source of supply from the spring known as Paxtang Spring in said township.
The Paxtang Consulidattnl Water Company was originally tailed the Paxtang
Water Company, which company was chartered in eighteen hundred and nineiy-
five for the purpose of supplying water to the village of I'axtang and adjacent
thereto in Swatara township. In nineteen hundred and six the name of this com-
pany was oHicially changed to its present name. The water company's original
supply came from a drilled well on the hill to the north of the village of Paxtang,
but later this source proving ina<le(juale the company purchased a supply from the
Eastmere Water Coiupany, a duly incorporated company supplying water to the
inhabitants of the village of Eastmere, a suburb of liarrisburg, in Swatara town-
ship, the Eastmere Water Company purchasing its water in turn from the city
of liarrisburg at the city limits. Recently the liarrisburg supply was refused to the
Eastmere Water Company and hence to the Paxtang Consolidated Water Supply
Company; consequently, the latter company had to resort to the original well supply
and the former was obliged to purchase of the latter. The well is inadequate for
these purposes.
In nineteen hundred and seven the Rutherford Heights Water Supply Company
was chartered under the laws of the State to supply water to the public in Swatara
township. The charter rights^ limited the company to the Swatara Creek as the
source of supply. Later this was modified so as to enable the company to obtain
water from said creek at Hummelstown.
This company applied to the Commissioner of Health for permission to install a
system of water works for the supply of water to the public in the township of
Swatara, Dauphin county, and represented that it purposed to supply the public
in the villages of Rutherford Heights, Oberlin, Enhaut and New Benton, all sit-
uated in said township, and also to supply the public in other parts of said town-
ship throuiih which the company's pipe lines pass in reaching these villages or from
which suthcieut revenue might be secured to warrant the laying of additional
pipe lines. The permit was granted by the Commissioner of Health under certain
conditions and stipulations, one of which was substantiallj' that before the proposed
water works system be constructed and used, detailed plans thereof should be pre-
pared and submitted to and be approved by the Commissioner of Health as pro-
vided by law, and among other things that the plans shall include designs for a
water purification plant. Plans for the purification of the Swatara Creek water
at Hummelstown have been approved by the Commissioner of Health and the work
on the construction is underway. This plant is owned by the Hummelstown Con-
solidated Water Company, which proposes to furnish filtered water to the Ruther-
ford Heights Water Supply Company for distribution throughout Swatara town-
ship.
Pending the construction of this filtration plant the Rutherford Heights Water
Supply Company on August sixteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, asked permis-
sion of the Commissioner of Health to obtain a temporary supply from the Eastmere
Water (Company but the request was denied because the charter of the Rutherford
Heights Water Supply Company confined it to the Swatara Creek source.
After this refusal by the Commissioner of Health, and on October nineteenth,
nineteen hundred and seven, the Rutherford Heights Water Supply Comimny ap-
plieil for permissi()n to use the stream known as I'axtang Spring as an additional
source of supply, but their request was again denied by the Commissioner of
Health on the ground of limited charter rights. In the decree of refusal it was
specifically stated, however, that if a modified charter were to be obtained, the
Commissioner of Health would favorably entertain such an application, but the
supply would not be favorably recommended for a jiermanent source.
Paxtang village and vicinity consists of about forty dwellings and is located in
the northwestern part of Swatara township on the Philadelphia and Reading Rail-
way (Lebanon Valley Branch) about two miles east of the passenger station in
liarrisburg. It is purely a residential section accessible to liarrisburg by railroad
aiul trolli'y. The region surrounding the village is farming district and the whole
uiiderlai<l l)y a limestoni> formation. The dwellings in the village are mostly jiro-
vided with modern plumbing and discharire their sewage and waste in cesspools,
there being no sewers to the waters of the Slate. Outcrops of the limestone forma-
tion show the shale pitching toward the southeast; antl hence the drainage of the
village an<l of the eastern suburbs of liarrisburg is in the same flirection and pre-
sumably towards the Paxtang Spring.
The present drilled well supply is obtained on the hill back of Paxtang village near
the cemet<'ry and is collrcted by means of a small gas pumping engine. A two inch
wrought iron force nuiin dis<harges from the pump to a wooden storage tank
twelve feet in diameter and seven feet high which rests on a masonry foundation
which is about six feet from the ground and is roofed over. A supply main leads
from the tank to the villay;e. The company has not submitted plans of the piunp
house and well and tank lay-out. The report states that there are about twelve
46
71S THIRD AXXrAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
hundrefl feet of six iudi wootlt'ii ynpo supply main from tlio tank to the villaiie and
connected witli it about one thousaud feet of six inoli cast-iron pipe about four
thousand feet of four inch cast iron pipe and that about two lumdred inhabitants
are furnished with water. It is reported that the well is one hundretl and seventy
feel deep.
The proposed supply is to be taken from Paxtau^' Spring-, sometimes known as
Kutherfoitl Sprint; , which is located on the farm of the heirs of U. S. Rutherford
at a p<»iut about two hundred feet south of the right of way of the Philadelphia
and Reading Railway and about twenty-five feet west of the trolley mad entrance
to Paxtanir Park. It issues from the limestone rocks from beneath a small spring
house, which has two floors. On the ground floor which is on a level with the
water in the spring are the appointments of a dairy. It is here where milk is
cooled and the cans are rinsed out into the waters of the stream or its overflow.
A platform almost on the level with the stream extends two-thirds of the way
across the water and is used to stand on while manipulating the milk cans. There
is danger of polluting material being brought in by the shoes and left on the plat-
form, from whence it might be washed into the water. The second floor of the
spring house was formerly occupied by a man employed in the vicinity. Adjacent
to this floor, but on the outside, is a small chicken coop in use. About two hun-
<lred feet to the north is the farm house.
There is a cart road from the farm buildings to the west of the spring whith
drains directly into the water of said spring.
The flow of the spring was estimated on the day of the Department inspection to be
about one million gallons per twenty-four hours, and it is reported that this flow
has never ceased even in times of drought, showing that the water comes from a
much larger area than the immediate surrouutlings. A part of the overflow of the
spring is used to ojierate a hydraulic ram by means of which wati'r is raised from
said spring to the mansion and other farm buildings. Innuediately below the spring
is I'axtang Park, a pleasure resort for picknickers and day visitors. This park
is shut off from the spring by means of a fence. A three inch pipe line conveys
water from the spring to the resort.
The topographic features connected with the Paxtang spring are such as to cause
suspicion. The close proximity of the village one quarter of a mile to the north, the
dip of tlie limestone from the populated district toward the spring together with the
large body of water issuing therefrom would be just cause for such suspicion.
The petitioners have not submitted any plans showing the details of how the
water is to be taken from the Paxtang spruig and furnished to the public. But
it is understood that the suction pipe of the pump is to be inserted in the spring,
the object being to draw the water from a point above where it may be subject
to any possible contamination from the immediate vicinity. From the pumps a
temiJoVary main will be laid to the turnpike and connected with the supply main
there. Said main in this thoroughfare is a twelve incii water pipe extending
westerly to Eastmere and easterly beyond Paxtang village in Swatara township.
It has been determined that the proposed additional source of sujjply will not he
prejudicial to the public health, and plans therefor are hereby and herein approved
under till' following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That the company shall prepare a |)ian <>( Paxtang village and its
surroiwidings. showing the streets, general location <jf luiildings, water i)ipes,
sizes, gates and hydrants, the location and details of the drilled well suppl.\' and the
details of the additional sourc<' herein approved, and the pump and sutiply main
layout in connection then^with as built, and shall Hie the same with the ( 'onuiiis-
sioner of Health within two months from the date of this permit.
S10<"().\D: 'iMie Stall' Department of Health will make i)acteriological tests of the
water of the spring and if at any time in tiic o])iiiioii of the ('onniiissioner of Health
tlie water supplied by the (lompany has bec'onie suspicious and prejudicial to public
health, thereupon the watirr company shall adopt such remedial measures as the
(Jommissioner of Health may advise or ai)|)rove.
THHID: This permit shall cease at the end of the current year. If at that
tini" the filtered Swatara ("reek water sui)ply is not ready for introduction into
Swatara township teri'itory as contemplated, then the ( 'ommissioner of Health
may extend the time in which Paxtang S|jring may be used by the Paxtang eon-
Koli<lale(| Water Coniiiany, but it is the intention of the State to cause the aban-
donment of both the present drilled well sui)i)ly and the aildilioMal i';i.\lang spring
supply ii|>on the introduction of llie lillered Swatara ('reck water into the dis-
trict :
FOI.'U'JMl: It iH stipulated tliat this permit is contingent ujion the water coin-
j»any having aecpiired full rigiil to enter u|)on and apiiropriate liie waters of the
Pa.xtang Spring as proposed.
FH'"']'!!: It is also specially slipiilaleil iii:it llie
spriu'..' at a point where there sjiall be no danger of
of the sprinir house by man or beast is prohibited.
and the spring placed in the best of condition.
HarrisburK, Pa., June 10, 1908.
intake sli:
ill be
joe
ale(
1 in till'
polliil ion.
.\lso
lie
' Ol
■ciipancy
The hen c(
lOp sli
lali
be
removed
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 719
TOW.V.ND.V, l'.IL\l)F()KI) COlXTV.
Towanda Water Works ("oiupany.
This application was made by tlie Towanda Water Works Compauy of Towanda
boroii;ili, ilraiH'oril coiiiity, and is for ])eruiission to e.\tend its water works system
to supply water witliin its cliarter territory.
Jt aijpears that the Towanda Water Works is a duly incorporated company
chartered \>y ilit- State in ei;;;iitecn liundri'd and sevenly-nim- for the purijose of Imild-
iny; and manai:in;; a sysli'm of water W(jrks for supi)lying the pulilie general to
Towanda and vicinity.
Towanda is the seat of Uradford county and is located near the centre of the
said county. It is bounded on the east by the North Branch of the Susquehanna
river and on the other sides by Towanda and North Towanda townships. In
eighteen hundred and uinetj' the boroujih had a i)opulation of four thousand one
hundred ;ind sixty-nine, and in nineteen hundred it was four thousand si.x hundn-d
and sixty-three, while at the present time it is estimated to be about live thousand.
The municipality is l)uilt on a hillside, sloping toward the river an<l has excellent
natural drainage toward the river. It is somewhat of a manufacturing place, and
the people find a means of livelihood at the toy factory, emijloying one hundred and
twenty-live hands, the silk mill, employing twenty-five han<ls, besides numerous
other smaller industries and local pursuits. There are three railroads entering-th(!
borough which also give employment to a number of the residt-uts of this town,
especially the Lehigli \"alley. whose main line between New York and Kuflfali>
passes through Towanda. This railroad has large car shops at Sayre eighteen
miles north where many of the Towanda men are employed, a special train carry-
ing them to anil from their work. The other two roads are the New York and Sus-
quehanna and the Bowmans Creek Branch of the Lehigh A'alley Railroad. The sur-
ri)un<ling territory is hilly and muuulainous and of a glacial ileposit, the valleys and
tojjs of the hills being given to agricultural pursuits. In the immediate viciuitj- of
the borough there are large tracts of Hat land which are devoted to tobacco raising.
The farniers in the rural districts thereabout make a specialty of dairy produce an<l
send it to the New Y'ork markets. At one time lumbering was the chief industry
but the dissii)ation of the timber has made this means of livelihood of minor impor-
tanL-e.
A short distance below the borough the Towanda Creek discharges into the river.
This stream has a watershed area of two hundred and eighty-four square miles
and drains the greater i)art of the southwest section of Bradford county. It is
made u)i of the main stream proper and three branches; named in order, these are
the North I'raiich. Shrader Branch and the South Branch, the former entering the
main stream from the north and the latter two from the south. On this water-shed
there are four lioroughs having a total population of twenty-five hundred and a
township population in tiie neighborhood of fourteen thousand. The stream is
twenty-seven miles long, it flows through an agricultural district eastwardly to the
river.
The South Branch heads in the divide between Bradford county and Sullivan
county and flows almost due north for a distance of fourteen miles to the main
stream at the borough of ]\Ionroe. The stream is paralleled throughout its course by
the Bowmans Creek Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The borough of New-
Alba n.\, having a i)oi)u!ation of about Ave hundred, is located on this stream, eight
and a half miles from its mouth. For a greater part of the distance of its conrsi-,
the stream flows through a narrow valley and it has the appearance of a mountain
stream.
The present supply of water is obtained by gravity from Eilenberger springs
located seventeen miles south of Towanda. adjacent to the South Branch near its
source and from a tributary (jf said stream about midway between the borough and
these springs. From these springs the water flows through a small reservoir close
by thence through ti'U inch oast-iron pipe for seventeen miles to Towanda. It
receives the auxiliaiy sui)i)ly through an eight inch line at the mouth of Satlerlee
Run. At Towanda a part of the water is received in two storage reservoirs, the re-
mainder being distributed throughout the town.
The Eileuberger Springs, from wlu-nce the greater part of the water supply is
received, are lnc;it"d at the base (if a ridge and about a mile south of the village
<;f Laddsburg in .\lbany township. They are several hundred feet east of the South
Branch. Immediately to the east of the springs and up the side of the ridge then-
is a farm land use(^ |)rincipally for pasture. The springs are enclosed on all sides
by cemented stone walls about four feet high, the lops of which are slightly abo\e the
level of the gnuind. This structure is thirty feet lon^-, three and a li.-ilf feel wide,
four feet di-ep and is covered over with flag st(Mies having cementeil joints. .Vn
•.\\v [>\\>i- extending about five feet above the stone covering alTords means of venlia-
lion while n Iran door with an iron cover, kept securely h)cked provi<les means of
entrance. This basin is well protected from any surface drainage or malicious jjollu-
(ion. From the lower i-nd a twelve inch terra coita pipe emerges along the bottom
and conveys the water through about two hundred feel of open jointed terra cottji
pipe, thence throuub aluMtl three hundred feet of ji)inted pipe to ji small reservoir
in the ground, six feet wide by seven feet long anil at least eight feet deep from the
surface of the ground. This box is built of stone and cement and covered over bv
720 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
a cemeut roof extending to a ridge, the ridge running the whole length of the box.
This sloping roof is about four feet or so higher than the surface of the ground and
has an iron door in one side of it large enough for a person to crawl through. All
parts of this receptacle are closed and the doors kept locked. A twelve iuch terra
cotta pipe discharges iuco this reservoir from the spring and a ten iuch cast-iron
pipe having several feet of fine mesh strainer pipe and a gate valve located in the
reserxoir, conveys this water to Towauda.
There is an emergency intake consisting of an eight inch iron pipe extending from
the east bank of the South Branch to the twelve inch line at the upper end and out-
side of the reservoir. The length of this intake is about thirty feet. At its upper
end lliere is a wooden plug attached to a chain, the plug being inserted in the end
of the pipe or taken out at will, thereby permitting the South Branch water to
enter the sj-stem by gravity. There is a valve inserted in the ground at a point
where the emergencj" intake might join the supply line which is reported to control
the amount of water taken in through this intake.
At a point a short distance above the intake to the creek there appears to be
some form of comnuuiication between the creek and the pipe line from the springs
above the reservoir. This is in a form of a ditch which is said to have been filled
in with stones and gravel so as to form a natural filter, the water being received
from the edge of the creek bank, thence through the natural filter to the supply line.
It is reported by an otKcer of the water company that this means of supply has been
abandoned.
Another means of helping the main supply line was to underdrain some of the low
land adjacent to the creek by perforated open joint tile drains and conduct this
water to the main line.
The vicinity of the springs, the reservoir and entrance thereto has been pur-
chased to the extent of about twenty-seven acres by the water company. The
house on the property is vacated. This is reported by an officer of the water com-
pany to have been at the suggestion of tlie old State Board of Health.
The South Branch Creek at this place has the appearance of a small meadow
stream and has pasture land on either side, so that cattle and other livestock can
wade or wallow in the stream at will. The stream rises in hills, forms into rivulets,
then unites to form the main stream. The area of the watershed above the Eilen-
berger Springs is in the neighborhood of ten square miles and contains a number
of farm houses having their pig pens, barnyards and some privies draining into the
stream, thereby causing the stream to be dangerous as a means of water supply for
domestic purposes. A railroad having several local passenger trains a day, par-
allels the stream for a short distance and crosses a small tributary flowing into
the stream above the emergency intake.
The stream from which the auxiliary supply is taken, is from Satterlee Run, a
tributary of the South Branch. An eight inch pipe extends up the valley of this
run from the ten inch supply line to Towauda a distance of about one mile and ter-
minates in the run with a perforated tee pipe having three eight inch holes. The
intake consists of a number of loose stones thrown across the run forming a crude
dam and a second series of stone extends from the middle of the first, blocking up
the stream, and across to the north bank a distance of some; twenty-five feet. The
enclosuie between the l)ank and the blocking being somewhat lower than the bed
of the stream forms a natural pool through which the water is received into the
pipe line. The flow of the water into the line is greatly impeded at times on account
of leaves blocking the openings in the screen intake and being held in place through
suction.
Tlie watershed of the run is a narrow valley with high ridges on either side and
having an area of about five square miles the greater part of which is densely
wooded with second growth timber. There is a privy not over forty feet from the
banks of the stream, one quarter of a mile above the intake. This belongs to a
small farm in the valley, the o<;cup:int of which at Ihe time of (he Dcpaii nicnl's
inspection reported that the water company had purchased this farm and he con-
templated moving away at once. Further up the valley there is another farm on a
tributary to the main run, the owner of which stat(>d that at one time they had
a privy on the premises but it toppled ovei- and since has not been replaced. The
deposits and r-xcrement are plac(,'(i on sui-rounding ground. This man i-eporls also
that there are at least three oilier habitations on tin; watiT-sluMl. This method of dis-
posing of excri-ment is daii-jrerfjus at any time and especially so on a waler-shed with
steep sides draining directly into the stream such as this one is. The stream is
tiashy and during limr- of heavy rain becomes exceedingly I'apid.
A iiuinping station belonging to the water comiiany is located on South Branch
a short distance below the moutli of Satt<!rlee Ruri. In it there is a Dean piunii and
a boiler, also a well about fourteen feet in diameter and some thirty-seven feet
deep from tlie top. The well is about foiMy feel from the South Itiancli and the
water in the well stands about four feet above Uic. water in the creek, although the
bottom of the well is below the beJ of the creek. 'I'lie ])ump has its intake connected
to the well but the outlet has been disconnected. This station has an appearance of
not iiavinu' br-en used for yeais and it is the reported ))urpose of th(! water company
lo dismantle the plant and use it elsewhere.
At .Monroe borongh the water company supplies about ten families with water and
alHO funiishi'H water to other people living along the pipe line through whose property
it was necessary to obtain right of way in constructing the line.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 721
Just south of the borough line in the district known as South Towanda a ten inch
lateral leads from the main pipe line up the adjacent hill side to a small storage
reservoir having a capacity of approximately one hundred and fifty thousand gallons.
This reservoir is merely an ovcM-flow from the city main ; a iwflve inch line extends
from here into the borough and again connects with the main line.
In the borougli an eight inch pipe leads from the main ton inch line up the hill
through the middle of the town to a reservoir located about three-quarters of a mile
west of the borough. This reservoir consists of concrete wall having been thrown
across a slight ravine for a distance of about one hundred and fifty feet and an
embankment perpendicular to it up one of the sides of the ravine for a distance of
nine hundred icet thence an embankment at the upper end terminating at the op-
posite hillside. The upper part of the ravine is flat thus necessitating the long em-
bankments and the embankment at the upper end. At one time a small stream flowed
tiirough the natural bed of this small valley, but it has been diverted to one side
where a dilch paralleling the long embankment was dug to by-pass it around the
reservoir. I'arallelin? the ditch on the opposite side is a public road. There is a
small spillway at the ujiper end of this reservoir. Besides the main inlet pipe
numerous springs on the hillside contribute to the supply. It is stated that the ca-
pacity is some fourteen million gallons. The water surface covers an area of five
and three-eights acres. The hillside from which the springs emerge is well wooded
and about two hundred feet away from the water's edge is the bed of an old
State road which is now abandoned. There is a ditch paralleling this road between
it and the water to carry off any surface pollutions which might enter the reser-
voir on this side. The whole area is enclosed by a wire fence excepting the side
toward the public road which is protected by the embankment ranging from five feet
to nine feet in height. The elevation of this reservoir above the lowest point
is two hundred and fifty feet.
The water company reports that this reservoir has been used but once since it
was finished in nineteen hundred and five, the time being August of that year. It
appears that water was turned onto the borough on account of a break in the
main pipe line but the muddy condition of the water received such condemnation
from the citizens that it was decided not to use it and has not been supplied since.
The company reports also that this location received the sanction of the old
State Board "of Health after a personal visit of the secretary.
The water company supplies most all of the population, there being one thousand
and sixty-six taps. The section known as North Towanda also receives this
watei".
There has been little typhoid fever in Towanda. In nineteen hundred and five
there were two cases and no deaths, in nineteen hundred and six there were six
cases reported and three deaths, four of the six cases were found to have been
brought into the borough from elsewhere. In nineteen hundred and seven, up to the
middle of October, two cases and one death were reported.
The water company has submitted an application for permission to extend its
water works and has' submitted a plan of the reservoir last described situated on
the Watkins farm in Towanda Township and desires the approval of the Commissioner
of Health of this reservoir. It was finished in nineteen hundred and five and used
for the first time in August of that year, but it was immediately shut off from the
town supplv and has not been usefl since.
The (juestion of the purity of the water supplied to Towanda has been under
discussion between the peo|)le and the water company for a number of years. As far
back as nineteen hundred a report was made to the old State Board of Health
in which it appears that at that time the water company stated it had in operation
a seventy foot sand filter along the South Branch at the Eilenberger Springs, but
evidence of its location or of its ever having been renewed or cleaned cotild not be
obtained. Tiiis report also states that the water in the creek near the emergency
intake was simply a shallow stagnant pool of water, its banks covered with decaying
foliage, the surface of the water covered by an oily brick-red .scum, floating debris
and about one-half mile farther up the stream cattle were found feeding along
its bank'^ and wadinn in at will. The droiipings from the cattle were to be seen
not only on the banks but in the stream itself.
In nineteen hundred and one a representative of the old State Board of Health
made an inspection of this water supply and reported the existence of the sand
filter but believed that the water filtered through this mediiuu would be ob-
jectionable. A considerable collection of black vegetable matter was seen under
(he intake of the spring basin which raised the question as to whether a small
amount cf water might not find its way into the pure supi)ly from the creek
through the plug emergency intake. The use of the watei-s of South Branch were
♦•ondemned unless filtered consequently the emergency intake was condenine<l and its
removal ordered. The report also stated that there would he no risk in stipple-
mentiuu: the wa'er received from other soiirces by the water f\irnislied by the well
located along South Branch, a sh<u-t distance below Sntterlee Uun and sug-
gested to the company the imi>ortanc(> of having a chemical examination of each of
its .sources bv thoroudily competent chemists approved by the State Board of Health
at least twico every v<;ir nud a bacterioloirica! examination by a bacteriologist
approved by the State Board at least once annually.
46—17—1908
722 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Uoc.
The Depni-nnt'ut is aware of the fact lliai (hiriuu (lie fall of nineteen luuulred
and six a committee oi the local Board of Health of the town eonnoil of Towanda
\\ent to the source of the water supply and found at the Eilenberger sprinss, a pipe
carryinsr water from South Branch Creek into the pipe from Eilenherger sprinss so
that almost as much water was being taken from the creek as from the spriuj;'.
This committee founrl some farmhouses with their lU'ivy vaults and pis pens on the
bank of the stream and smaller tributaries draininj; other farms and buildings.
They also found a railroad paralleiing this creek for a short distance above the
intake from the creek. The local Board of Health at once disapproved of this con-
dition and pointed out the fact to the water company that if a case of typhoid
fever should occur at any of these farm houses above the intake, the water would
be in great danger of contamination from the stools of the patients, and advised
the people to use l)oiled water. The coiuicil refused to pay any more water rent
until the creek water was eliminated from the supply. The water company i)ai(l
no attention to the c(Mnmunication sent to them so tliat the matter was called to
the attention of the Commissioner of Health, whereupon he called the attention
of the water company to the existing conditions and advised that the creek source of
supply be aband(ined in order to obviate any possibility of a typhoid epidemic. In
r(>ply the water company forwarded a copy of a lettei' purpcu'ted to have been
written by the old State Board of Health api)roving the i)roposed supply from the
South Branch and Satterlee Run and calling attention to the expediency of ob-
taining control of these watei'sheds to such an extent as to prevent the location
thereon of dwellings or factories so situated as to pollute the water. This letter
also states that the State Board of Health reserved the right to coudenui this
supply if at any time it finds it to have become iiolluted.
It appears that tiie contract between the water company and the liorough states
thai if the Eilenberger si)rings should fail to afford an ample and constant supply
of water to the ]Jid)lic at all seasons, the supi)ly of good water shall lie made
ample b.\" taking the same from a source approved by the State Board of Health.
It was this contract retiuirenieiit which called for iincstigatiou in eigiitcen hundred
anfl ninety-four of the proposed new sui)plies above mentioned.
In the report of this investi'^ation it is stated that the watershed of the South
Branch above the proposed intake was found to be almost totally uninhabited and
free from contamination. The same being true of the i»roposed supply of Sat-
terlee Run. In \-iew of these sanitary conditions njiproval was pi-obably given,
but the present conditions are such as to cause the South Branch waters to ho.
dangerous as a water supi)ly.
In response to the information received complaining of the breach of the con-
tract in su[)plying South Blanch watei', the Commissioner of Health on July
third, nineteen hundred and seven, ordered an investigation made of the facts in
connection with the \\ater supply at that time.
The result of this investigation brouglit forth iuliiniiation llial the reservoir cov-
ering at the Eilenberger springs was fastened with a lock, hut was unlocked so
that it could be opened at will by any one, and of (lie existence of an eight inch iron
l>ipe leading from ihe creek l):ink to tlu main supply line. .Vt this iutaK-e a small
<lam had been made by hoeing up i^art of the creek bed, so that the water abo\(!
tlie dam was about eighteen inches deep. .V piece of wire screen eight(MUi inches
by twenty-four im-hes, having thirty mesiies to the s(iuare inch, wa.s held in place
over til"' mouth of Ihe intake by stones laid on the cornel's of th(> screi-n. Tin;
water was flowing into the pipe to the depth of fi\(" inches, it Ix-ing laid on an
easy grade. The creek was low and the water stood in |)ools covered with a,
■greenish yellow scum, ('attie stood in these pools and delilcd the water. It w:is
reported that sonie twenty-one head <>( eallle slooil in the creek jusi above the
intake at one tinie.
In October, nineteen lnuidred and si>\eii, <ine df (lie 1 >epa rl iiient's eiigiiieers
made an iiiveslisalion <if the existing eiuidji jdiis of this water supply and r<iuiid
amrmg otlu-r things that this water cnnipaiiy had Iniill a new reseivnir wilhoiit a
perndl.
On the day of tlie neiiartmeiit's iiispeelioii in October, nineli'eii hundreil and
seven, the gi'ound along the open jointed pipes leading directly (rinn the IOilenl)eiger
Hprings was found to contain deposits of excreta. ,\llliongli the land is williin Ihe
enclosure hereinbefore (h-scribed, it appears that some one had will'nlly entered
anfl commit t<'d a nuisance.
The water company '•r)ntends that Ihe ipiaiility of water flowing I'loni the lOileii-
bi rger springs is not suflicieni for the supply to the borough, and that the com-
liinerl sujjply from these springs and Satlerlee Rtui is not suHicii-nl in time <if
rlrousht.
The auxiliary supply from Satlerlee Kun. if pidpi'iiy eonser\e(l, onglil lo be
Hudi'-ieni lo go a long wa.\' towards supplying Ihe extra (leniands <ir a dry season.
A substantial intake dam should bi' c(jnslructed across the limd whereby a greater
amount of water, in fae( the entire How, could be taken into the pipe line. Mncli
of this water is now allowed to nui into waste. There is .in ideal spot here for
the erectir>n of all impounding reser\-oir.
Ihe South Branch water a! Ihe pumping station or at any point alio\e or bejow
the lOiienberger springs shoiild nol be iiseil in its raw stale for diiiiking piiiposi-s.
The wali-r compiiny should pro|)ei-jy filter Ihe w.aters of this stream or abandon
it as a source allot'clhei.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 72^
Tlu' Di'partiiioiit docs not have a plaii of the .stri-ot mains in thf town or a plan
of tile supply mains, intakes, watershed, etc., outlined for supply of water wliieli
the company furnishes to the pulilic. Mere sketches have been submitted, but they
are not reliable. A jdan of the new reservoir has been submitted, but details
are lackin;;. ,
There apiiears to l)e no good reason why the new reservoir water should be preju-
dicial to public heallli.
it has been determined that the use of a new reservoir will not be prejudicial
to public health, and a permit is hereby and herein granted for its use and for
the extension of the water pipes in the borough of Towanda, under the following
coiulitions and stipulations:
FIRST: Thai the Filenbe'ger springs and the Satterlee Run supply shall be the
the only sources will) the exception of the waters naturally flowing into the new
reservoir that the water company sluill use. The South liranch waters are abso-
lutely prohibited unless the water company shall install a modern water purifi-
cation i)lant for the treatment and adcipiate purification of said South Branch
Creek waters, plans to be first stibmitted to the Commissioner of Health and
approved by him.
SF("ONT>: The facilities by which the South Rranch Creek waters are now
direcilx or indirectly introduced into the waler works sy.stem shall be entirely
discontinued and cut olT from Ihe wat<^r works system.
THIRD: Satterlee Run watershed tributary to the point where the water
com|)an.\- takes the flow of its system for its purpose shall be mapped showing the
existence of all roads, and occujiied estates thiM-eon anil the company shall file
.such map in thi' office of the Conunissioner of Health. The DeiiartmiMit of Health
will co-operate with the water comi)any in removing all menaces from the water-
shed and in maintaining sanitary conditions thereon, but the comi)any shall visit
every occupied estate monthly and report to the Commissioner of Health the
sanitary condition. The comiiany shall make arrauucnients to have reported to it
promptly llie existence of any infectious disease of \\aler-l)orne character on the
said watershed and such intelligence shall be comnuinicated to the Commissioner of
Health without delay.
FOFRTH- The water company shall improve the intake dam across Satterlee
Run and submit jtlans thereof to the Commissioner of Health for ai)proval. The
suggestions relative to the development of this source are commended to the careful
consideration of the company.
On or before the first day of January, nineteen hundred an<l nine, the water
company shall have prepared and have drawn to scale of suflicient size to be
useful to the Depnrmeiu of Health a map of the borough showing the precise loca-
tion of all water |)ii)es. gates and drainage facilities. .Vlso a ma)) of the supi)ly
mains to the town with their grades and location of all valves, blow-offs and
drainage facilities. Also cross sections and detail plans of the sjjrings, collecting
pipes, gates and valves and also the same relative to the new reservoir whose use
is herein a[)proved.
FIFTH: If at the lime the water company submits these details herein called
for. it will mak(> a general application for permi.ssiou to extend its distributing
system. th(> Commissioner of Health will consider such proposition and may issue
a permit therefor pi-rmitting the water company to make such extensions from
time to time as the necessity may call for.
SIXTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health the water
works system or any part then^of has become a nuisance or menace or prejudicial
to public health, then such remedial measures shall be adoi)led as he may advisi!
or apprt)ve.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., October (Jth . U)OS.
WARRF.X. WARREN COUNTY.
Warren Water Company.
This application was made by Ihe Warren Water Company, Warren Borough.
Warren County. I'eiinsyhania , and is for i)ermission to olitain an additional
sourc(> of supply and to consirucl ;i filtration pliint to purify sai<l source and the
water of the Morrison Run supply.
On March fifteenth oin> thous.ind nine hundreil an<l seven the Connnissioner of
Health issued a !)ermit to the said Warren Water Company to obtain an ad<litional
source of supiily frc.m wells to be driven on land owiu'd by the company in the
vicinity of the company's pumping station and ;uuong oiIkm" conditions it was
stipulated :
"The Morrison Run supply shall be either filtered (u- abandoned: but it may
be kept as an emergency source and be used without filtration only in extrem*'
cases. At such times, the local and State nepartment of Health shall be no-
tified. Sanitary inspection of the watershed shall be made monthly by the com-
pany, who shall file reports thereof with the State nepartment of Health ami
take such precautionary measures sus may be necessary to safeuMiard public
jieallh,
724 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
■ "Because, in case of great oonlSagration, it might be necessary to have resources
to the Allegheny- River water, the company may maintain an intake thereto,
subject to conditions lo be agreed upon by the borough council and the Water
Cumpany subject to the approval of the Commissoner of Health. Detailed plans
of 'this intake and its connection shall be hied with the State Department.
'"If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the water sup-
plied by the Warren Water Company to the borough is not suitable for drinking
and culinary purposes, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Com-
missioner of Health may advise or suggest or approve, and weekly analyses of
the water shall be made by the said company and reports thereof hied with the
Department of Health, together with such other information relative to the opera-
tion of the plant as the State Department of Health may require."
These conditions have been complied with.
Soon after the introdtiction of the new well water into the system a nfarked
deterioration in the quality of the groitnd water supply of the company was
noticed. The water became harder and quantities of iron were found to be present.
The company endeavored to ascertain the cause and to find a remedy. During
this period frequent complaints were lodged with the Commissioner of Health by
the public authorities and an entire new source of supply was demanded. The com-
pany early represented that it would abandon the ground water supply or install
a purification plant to render the water and the Morrison Run supply satisfactory
to the consum.?rs. The question of appraisement aud purchase by the mtinicipality
of the water works plant was taken up by the citizens and the borough cotincil,
and upon inquiry by the Commissioner of Health it was ascertained that the com-
panj' would defer submitting plans for an improved water supply until it was
determined whether the borough would purchase the plant. It appears the com-
pany is now. prepared to proceed immediately with the erection of the purification
plant and plans are submitted therefor.
The company purposes to entirely abandon its present pumping plant and driven
wells system as soon as the new supply is installed.
It is proposed to erect a new filter plant and puming station on the north bank
of the Allegheny River in Glade Township at the bend in the river immediately
below the Glade Run bridge over the river. The ten inch gravity stipply main
from Morrison Rtin reservoir is laid across the bed of the river at this point and
thence extends in and along Pennsylvania Avenue to Warren. The borough line
may be two thousand feet down stream from the river bridge. Here in the town-
ship is a small village called Glade Run and the tannery said to be owned by the
Elk Tanning Company located on the banks of the run. Below in the borough
there are several industrial plants including refineries, acid and chemical works.
At the bridge there is a hotel and easterly along a highway, there are a few dwel-
lings. The land becomes rapidly precipitous from the river bank up stream from
the bridge and the slopes are unoccupied. A branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad
is laid along the river bank and between this railroad and Pennsylvania avenue
immediately below the said bridge, is a triangular tract of land less than one
acre in area, upon whic-h the company plans to build the filters and pump house.
There is a strip of land ])etween the railroad and the river about fifty feet wide,
on whidi there an; three dwellings and a barn. These properties are not included
in the company's contemplated purchase. Between the tannery and the said trian-
gular tract, there is a plot of ground about two hundred feet wide now occupied by
H private residence.
This site has been selected by the company for three principal reasons: first, it is
adjacent to the Morrison Run supply main which supply it to be filtered: second,
the ground is elevated with the exception of one corner, above the highest flood ever
recorded : and third, it is opposite deep wafer in the river.
The Allegheny river above Warren is sparsely i)opulated. The stream and its tri-
butarir-s aiv sul)jected to a minitnnm pollution. '^Plie waters are soft and easily
purified arid afford a never failing source. It is believed that under the law pro-
viding for the prcsfrvation of the purity of the waters of the Slate for the i)rotec-
titjn of tli<; |)ublic health, that the Allegheny river will never bi; more i)oliut,(!d than
at the prr;sent time, and that the. f(nv scattered sources of contamination now exist-
ing on the watershed both in Pennsylvania and in the state of New York, will in
the near future be entirely eliminated, and consequently the company represent that
its plans for a [)ermanent source of pure and wholesome supply for Warren arc
worthy of approval.
It app<!arH that north of the filade Run bridge ther(^ are two islands of consider-
able size in the river. One of them next the north shore is long and narrow and at
low watei- this channel is said to go dry oi' neai'ly so. The main clianni^l between
the two islands during low wati-r whieh may cover a proti'aeted period, is about
eighteen inches deej), so it is rei)orte(l. The current is rapid over these; shoals.
The bed of the river is gravel and small boulders and rather stable.
Between the southerly island called Rogers Island, and the river bank is the
mouth of Dufchiiiari T'lm , into which ne!ii'i)y, Morrison Run empties. The main
line of the Philadelplii;! nnd lOrJe Railroiid extends up the valley of DuteJimau Run
and about two mih-s fiMin the river in .Meiul township then; is a station and villagf;
on the railrfiad and the i-iiii called Stoiieham, wlieif there are tanneries, the drain-
age of which in a pronounced decree pollutes the Htre;ini. 'I'he dark color imparted
to the water peculiar to tannery wastes, is discernible at the mouth of the run and
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 725
it follows the south bank of the river climiiiisliing in color but visible at the Glade
Run bridge. The i)encl in the river at this point to the north down stream produces
a oiiri'ont towards tlic soutii bank so that uudi-r r-xistin;; conditions, it is physically
impossible for the Dutchman Kun water to reach the north Itank at the bridjje and
it is at this point one hundred and forty feet Ixdow the brid;^e and about one
hundred feet out from the shore in a natuial depression assurinif a depth of live
feet at extreme low water that the company purposes to establish its intake. The
river at this point is said to be fully seven hundred feet wide.
'J'he i)ower plant is to be installed in a brick buildin;; comprisini; a boiler room
in which "is to bo. erected two water tiil)e boilers each t\\ o hundred horse power, an
ei;f;ine house, a coagulating room, laboratory and shop. The main floor is to be
laid two feet above the highest recorded flood level of eighteen and fifty-eight
hundredths above low water.
The eighteen inch suction pipe from the river is to be connectted directly to dupli-
cate pumpinii engines each three million gallons capacity per twenty-four hours.
The raw water is to be raised to the settling tank, a steel structure fifty feet iu
diameter and twenty feet high, .set in the ground, its flow line designed to be five
feel above the surface of the filters or thirty-two feet above low water. The coagu-
lant solution is to be introduced into the raw water pipe between the pumijs and
the settling tank by ai)proved apparatus. There is room for an additional tank when
it becomes necessary. One tank will give a subsidence of between two and three hours
under present rates of consumption and this is thought to be suflicient for local con-
ditions. Morrison Run water is to be discharged into the sixteen inch force main
leading from the raw water pumps to the settling tank. During rainy seasons, and
for a nuniber of months of the year the ih)\v of Morrison Run will be sutficient to
furnish ail of the water to the plant. It will be only at such times as this supply is
insuflicient that the river water is to be used.
The raw water will be delivered into the tank at the top over an inlet trough
and i)assing under a submerged baffle board across the middle of the tank it will
lea\-e l)y means of a skimming trough at the opposite side and thence flow to the
filters. By an arrangement of piping the raw water will be by-passed directly to the
filters whenever the settling tank is cleaned out. A twelve inch sewer pipe, cast
iron, will take the drainage to the river bank and this sewer will also drain all wash
water from the filters.
The filters and filtered water basins beneath are to be housed in a separate
structure. The basins are to be laid wholly in excavation but the filters will be
abo\e ground. The construction is to be reinforced concrete and over all exposed to
sight the filters will occupy a space about fifty feet square. They will support a
roof, the walls of which will come to within about five feet of the sides of the filter.
This outside space is to be utilized for the depositing of sand from the filters.
There are to be six filtcu' units arranged in paralhd rows of tiiree with the
operating platform and pipe gallery between. Each filter unit is to have an area
of one hundred and seventy-six square feet and to be capable of filtering five hun-
dred thousand gallons of water per twenty-four hours.
There is a Iwi'uty inch raw water i)ipe from the settling tank to the filter off of
which an eight inch pipe is taken to each filter unit terminating in an inlet chamber
extending across the entire width of the end of the unit. The heighth of water
over the surface of the sand is regulated by butterfly valves and there is a four inch
overflow pipe set two inches above the water line which is three feet four inches
above the sand surface. The depth of sand is to be thirty inches supported by ten
inches of gravel resting on a steel false bottom into which the strainers are
screwed and under which there is a free jiassage way for the filtered water of
about twenty-four inches in depth. From this horizontal collecting chamber, the
filtered water is i)ii)ed at the rate coutrollei' in the oi^erating gallery and thence
it goes to the filtered water basin Ixdrnv. The total capacity of the basin is one
hundred thousand gallons.
A centrifugal pump, capacity two thousand gallons per minute is provided for
washing. Jt will deliver lilteied water through a twelve inch i)ipe with eight branch
into the bottom of each unit and upward to two steel collecting troughs whose
edges are to be set twenty-one inches above the sand surface. They will discharge
into the vertical inlet chamber and thence to the sewer. Pipe arrangements are
provided for the wasting of the first filtered wat«>r.
All valves have stems extending to above the operating platform. This platform
is made of concrete construction water tight so that no possibility of contamina-
tion of the filtei-ed water below is afl'orded.
A connection with the supply main to the town will be made so that wash water
can be used umh r pressure in case the wash water pump should be out of repair.
Th(> filtered water is to be raised into the pipe system of the town by three pump-
ing engines. One o( them is to be a three million Worthington horizontal triple ex-
pansion engine. The second a two million "Worthington c(unpound, and the third,
is to be a one million, five hundred thi>usand triple expansion engine. The latter
is to be used i)rinci|)ally to pump water into the reservoir on the hill. The other
l)um|)s will be placed on the town service and pump water directly into the distri-
bution system, raralleling the present ten inch main to the borough is to be
laid a new twelve inch force main part way and a ten inch main the balance
of the distance to the center of the town and the pipe to the reservoir. By this
726 THIRD AXXL'AL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
arrangemeut it will be possible to pump filtered water directly into the distributing
reservoir on the hill without passing it through the distributing system and this
is the plan of operation intended.
In submitting these plans lor approval the company represent that the expense
involved in the erection of the plant will be large and more than should be incurred,
but the investment is considered a permanent one and so the best design is sub-
mitted. The establishment of a laboratory is made a part of the plan because of the
intention of operating the tilters in the most efficient manner possible. While the
plant is to be operated continuously and the supply from Morrison Run or from the
river is much more suitable in its raw state to be furnished to the public flian many
of the domestic supplies in I'ennsylvauia, nevertheless the petitioners request that
the Commissioner of Health remove from the watershed of the Allegheny river
above the intake, all sources of sewage pollution at as early a date as may be found
practicable.
There is a saw mill on Rogers Island. There is a club house on an island further
up stream besides tiie hotel and adjacent dwellings which require to be inspected and
looked after. This is clearly within the province of the State Department of Health
anti will be attended to.
Should conditions change liefore the tannery wastes now discharged into Dutch-
man liuu are re(iuired to be treated \\hereby the wastes might reach the north
bank ot the ri\er passing over the proposed new intake and interfere to any appre-
ciable extent with the efficiency of the filter plant, it does not appear that a remedy
would not be at hand as easy of adoption then as it would be at this time. The
expense of providing an intake further up stream will be very considerable and it need
not be undertaken until there is sufficient warrant fur the expenditures.
It has been determined that the new source of supply and the plans therefor
are not prejudicial to public health and the same is hereby and herein approved
and a pei-mit granted therefor under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIK.ST. That when the new works shall have been established the old pump
house and dri\eu well supi)ly shall be abst)lutely abandoned.
SECOND: Weekly reports of the operation of the water works system, par-
ticularly of the purification plant shall be made to the' State Department of Health'
on blank forms satisfactory to the {Commissioner of Health. If at any time, in
saiil Commissioner's oijinion the water works system or any part thereof, has be-
come defective or outgrown or insufficient, or the water furnished thereby prejudicial
to public health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted by the Company as
the ( "ommissicjiier of Health may approve or advise.
THIRD: Recause Morrison Run is now the major supply and in view of the
stiijulalion in the decree of the Conunissioner of Health of the Warren Water Com-
I>any relative to Morrison Run supply under date of March fifteenth, one thousand
nine hundred and seven, wherein it is stipulated that such supply shall either be
filtered or aljandoned, it is herein specially stii)ulated that the i)urification plant
herein jipiiroved shall bi' erected and put into couunission on or before eighteen
month.-^ from the dat(! of this ijermit. The water company will notify the Com-
missioner of Health when the new jdant is put into couunission. The company shall
make a sanitary ins|)e(;tion of the Morrison Run watershed in (he spring and the fall
of each year and file rejiorts thereof with the State Department of Health and
take such precautionary measures on the watershed as may be necessary to safeguard
pui.'lic health.
FOl'RTH: This permit is issued with the understanding and stipulation that
the filter i)lant is to be operated under skilled management and that the laboratory
is to be used regularly in connection with such operation.
l''ll'"l'Il: So sewaije from the pump house oi' filter ])lant shall be discharged
either directly or indirectly into the river. The comi)any shall make monthly in-
speciions of the three |)roperties on the river bank opijosite the purification idant
and of the hotel and dwellings in the vicinity and of the sjiw mill on Rogers Island
and dwe||iiiH:s in that vicinity and make re|)orls thereof (o tlu' Comiiiissioner of
llejilth. It is th(? jtuipose (jf the State Department of Health to reipiire a |)ro))ei'
disposal of sewage at all occupied estates above tile pio|)ose(l water works intake.
Harrislmrii, I'a., .luiie -J'.t, liKlS.
WATERFORD V.(>\l()\'('.ll , ERIE C!OUNTY.
Walejfoid WaliT ( 'oini.aiiy.
This applieation was made liy the W'aterlord Water Company of Waterford
lion.uj-'li, l')rie county, and is for lierinission to obtain an additional source of
supply and to extend water works to supply water to tlu! |)ubiic in said borough.
U'aterfoi'd Jioi'ough is in Waliu'ford township in the central part of lOrie <:ounty,
fiftei'u milcH south of Erie city. The nuinicipal territory is rectanguiai' and eon-
tuins a liille less than one s(piare mile. At the soutliwest corner a I'e the shores
of tlie I.eljiieiif Lake, ji bod.v of water of considerable size, containing approximately
f)Ver half as much land as lies within the borough. lii-adiuK into this lake is Reaver
ll[ui whi<-h piiHHeH by and Ihrough the western part of liie village, having its
source in the western portion of Waterford township about li\e miles above the
lake.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 727
Tli(> innin feeder, however, Is LePmeuf ("reek wliieli liejids in Summit township
near I'^rie city and witli it.s trilmtarie.s drain about fifty scjuare miles. Helow tiie
lake this creek has a lenicth of ;il)uut two miles i<( the point where ii enipties into
French ("reek. Ahove the lake its courst- is due eastward away from the l)(jruut:li
for a mile, whence it turns t(( the north. The i'hiladeli)liia and Erie Railroad from
Erie city passes down the valley of this creek, Waterford station on the railroad
heinu; in the township one mile east of the horouKh.
\\'at(>rfor(l l>orouf;h was incorporjited in eighteen hundred and thirty-three. Its
population iit that time was ahoul four hundred. Now it is ahout eijiht hundred.
The country round ai)oul is wholly agricultural and the villajre is ri-sidential. Be-
sides the stores, there is a carriage shop and blacksmith and a ^rist mill. In
provincial times Fort LeKoeuf was located in this \icinity and the site was early
selected for a town. There are no immediate i)rospicls of any great change in
the size or character of the present boroufrh.
There are no public sewers and but one private sewer. This leads from the Park
Iloiel to a swamp in the nortliwest part of the borouj;li where it empties. Such dis-
posiil has not caused any complaint so far as is known.
I)om(>stic wastes from dwelliny;s is discharged into cesspools and privies. It is
reixtrted that the ntunber of cesspools does not exceed a half dozen. The sul>soil
and ur.derlyius earth is of a clayey, retentive nature. The water supply is gen-
erally obtained from duii wells walled up with loose stone and located on individual
jiroperty. The surface of the i;rouud within the borough is generally (piite even,
ascending gradually from the lake and the creek to the northern part of the borough
where it lias an elevation of about si.xty feet above the lands along the creek. The
danger from surface contamination, therefore, is minimized as is that from sub-
soil i)ollution. Th(> health of the iiihal)itants generally is excellent. The surround-
ings of private estates are kept in a sanitary condition.
The borough council by ordinance [tassed ^lay twenty-second, nineteen hundred
and six, granted to Charles Ilimrod and his assigns the right to construct and main-
tain and operate a system of water works for the purpose of furnishing fire protection
and for other iiurposes.
It ap|)ears that Mr. Ilimrod originated a scheme to obtain a gravity spring
water supply for his private residence in Waterford. Tli*^ spring was so situated
that the pii)e from it wimld necessarily jiass through several of the village streets
on the way to the Ilimrod mansion. Owners of abutting estates along this line de-
sired the i)ri\ilege of tapping the pipe and, Mr. Ilimrod ct)nsentiug, the ordinance
above cited was enacted \ty the borougii council. The system was installed in nine-
teen hundred and six and water was furnished for the first time in Sei)lember of that
year. It is repri>sented that the applicant did not then know of the law requiring
State approval of plans and sources of public water supply.
The Waterford Water Company of Erie county was chartered on September
thirteenth, nineteen hundred and seven to supi)ly water to the i)ubli(; in said bor-
ough, sucji supply to i)e obtained from sitriugs on outlets fifty-six, fifty-seven and
fifty-eiuht in the boroiurli, leased from D. W. Hunt, and from the "Woods" spring
and other springs purchased from William Taylor and wife, located on the Taylor
farm, being pari of tract "E" in A\'aterford township.
The plant as it now exists com|)rises a c(dlecling and siorjige reservoir at ilie
springs on tin- hill in the northeastern part of (he borough and the gravity pipe lines
in the borough streets.
A spring formerly gushed forth from a gravel strata uiideilyiui,^ se\eral fei-t . of
clay in a slight depression. The pi'iitioiiers excavated the surface earth here, ex-
jiosing several oilier springs, and enclosed them all in an earth and clay emliank-
iiienl ninety feet long, seventy feet wide and six feet high. 'I'he capacity of this
reservoir to a depth of four feet is two hundred thousand gallons. The territory
from which the water is yielded is to the north beyonil the borough. It is rolling
farm laml. Around the reservoir has been ei'ecteil a light board fence about six
feel hiuh :iiid guar<ied on top by a barbed wire. .V pipe leads from the bottom of
the basin for drainage pur|)oses. The measured How of the springs in the reservoir
is stated to be twenty-Jour thousand gallons jjer twenty-four hours. There are
several small springs about six hundred feet north of this reservoir and on higher
ground which m;\y be utilized when naiuired.
'I'he water in the reservoir is alxml twenty-six feet above the square in tlie
village half a mile distant. There is a six inch supidy nniin leading to the' town and
connected with it are four inch pii)es. The total length of these pipes is sixty-one
hundred feet, of which forty-five hundred feet is four imh pipe. Forty families, iu-
cliuling the Himrod residence, now use the supply. Ten lire hydrants have been in-
stalled at conveiiieiil points in the borougii ami connected to the street mains. Tlie
service is of course valueless for lire iirotection except pumping be resorted to.
It is represented that other proi)erty owners wish to use the public supply, but
that owing to the slight elevation of the reservoir above the borough, whicli in some
insianci's is lower than the residences in the north and east portion of the village,
it is not pr.'U-ticjtble to grant this reipiest. Therefore it is proposed to obtain an
adflitional suiM'ly from several large sjjrings located slightly more than a mile
distant west of the borough on the Taylor farm. The elevation here is said to be
ample to give the requisite liead to furnish water to every point in the Ijorough.
728 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
The proposed additional supply is sought aud will bo furnished for domestic pur-
poses ouly. Either tire eugiui'S must be provided by the borough to insure fire
protection or a pumping plant must be installed aud the water raised to a tank
or stand pipe. The expense of this improvemeut on the part of the borough is not
warranted in the opinion of the loeal authorities, so it is said, and the ('Xi)euse would
not be assumed by the petitioner until a guaranteed revenue sutticieut to make the
investment a profitable one were assured.
The water company contemplates the erection of a million gallon storage reservoir
at or near the springs on the Taylor farm. The elevation of this structure would
be somewhere between fifty and seventy-five feet above the borough. I'lans of it and
of the supply main have not been prepared or submitted neither have plans of the
existing reservoir.
It is estimated that the new source, together with the existing source, will fur-
nish one hundred thousand gallons of watt-r daily. The present water consumers
pnrchasi' water by meter and the eonsuniptiou is thus known to be an average of
tliirty-fi\e gallons per capita per diem. \n estimate for future consumption of
fifty gallons for the entire poi)ulation would give a total daily demand of forty
thousand gallons only. Henee on this basis the proposeil storage and the present
storage would give a month's supply of water to the town provideti the springs cease
to yield water.
It has been determined that the proposed source of supply will not be prejudicial
to the public health and a permit is hereby and herein granted therefor and for the
extension of the water pipes in the streets, under the following conditions and stipu-
lations:
FIRST: Before the proposed reservoir is constructed detail plans of it and
cross sections showing the manner in which the water is to be collected from the
several springs and stored, together with the plan and profile of the supply main
to town, shall be prepared and submitted to the Commissioner of Health for ap-
proval.
SECOND: A plan of the borough and the streets thereof showing existing
water pipes and pipes which it is proposed to lay in all of the streets of the borough
shall be prepared and submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval at the
time that the plans of the reservoir shall be submitted.
THIRD: Detail plaus of the existing reservoir shall also be prepared and filed.
Tilt Commissioner of Health will consider these various plans, make such modi-
fications thereof as may be deemed necessary and may issue a permit therefor.
The Department of Health may from time to time investigate the water supply and
the system of water works and make rules and regulations for the operation and
maintenance thereof in so far as the interests of the public health are concerned.
The water company shall conform to these requirements and if at any time in the
opinion of the Commissioner of Health the source of supply or the water works or
any part thereof shall have become prejudicial to public health, then such reme-
dial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health may approve or ad-
vise.
The attention of the petitioners is called to the desirability of the establishment
of ample drainage facilities at the reservoirs and at suitable points in the distribution
system.
Harrisburg. Pa., April .".0, 1008.
VVELLSIiORO, TIOGA COUNTY.
Wellsboi'o Water Comi)any.
This appli<:alioi' was made by the Wellsboro Water ("onipaiiy of Wellslxiro ,
Tiiii;a eounly, and is for permission lo exiend its water works and to obtain
an additional soiirct! of siippiv of water to Ihe imlilie within the said bornugh of
Wellsboro.
The Wcdishoro Water ( 'onipany was eharteretl on August- fourth , eighteen luuidred
and eighty-five, to supply water to the |iul)lie in Wellsl)oro borough Tioga county,
and the works were const I'ueted in IIk following year and extensions have been made
from liine lo time sinci- lo ineri the demand for watci'. At that time the town's
jfopnlatjon was in tli(! ni'iglil)oriiood of twenty-four hundred. At the present time
it is estitnated that the boi'ough's population is thirty-two huiidi'ed. Wellsboro is the
frounly seal and a v(M'y substantial resident town and trading centre for the sur-
roimding country which is rolling farm land. It is the largest i)lace in the county
and the most important one. The village is situated in a hollow sun'oniuh^d by hills
tlirongli which tlire(! natural water courses in tiieir northward courses ])ass to a
juneiion, lliis point of conlluenee iieiiig in the north <'eiitrai pail of the nuuiicipal
teiTJlory at the lower edge of the village, 'i'lie main stream thus formed is known
as .Marsh Creek. It flows iioi-therly out of tli(> i)oi'ougli into Dedinai' townshii) to
Stokesdale Junction, whenct; its course is westei'ly about seven miles to I'in(^ (Jreek,
a tributary of the west branch of Sus(pieharirm river.
Tiie main branch of Marsh Creek is the easterly one. It goes by tiie nain(! of
f 'hai-lestoii Creek. The head waters are seven ndies distant to the southeast, in
Duncan township, and the c(jurse of the run is generally southwesterly through
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 729
Duncan anrl Charleston township.s to the borough. The other branches are short
local streams, the middle one being named Morris Run and the westerly stream
being known as Kelsey Run.
The Now V(5rk Centi'al and Hudson River Railroad passing from Williamsport on
the Susqiiohanaa to Corning, Now York, connecting with the Erie Railroad there,
extends u]) I'ine Creek and iNIarsh Creek valleys and thence northeasterly. A
branch line starts at Stokesdale Junction and follows up Marsh Creek to Wells-
boro and thence along Charleston Creek for its entire length, terminating at the
village of Antrim in Duncan township.
At the headwaters of Charleston Creek and nearby on the rising ground to the
(>ast, then' are two streams named Rock Run and Nickle Run which rise here and
flow soutlii-rly in another watei'slied. The springs and surface waters of these two
runs furnish the ijrincipal supply to Wellsboro. It is reported that the wells are
walled up and housed o\er and kept under lock and key. On the runs there are in-
takes from which surface waters are taki-n when the waters are clear. At the town-
shi|) line l,et\\e(>n Duncan and Charleston townships there is a gate house and from
the meagre iiif(u-mation now in possession of the Department it would appear that at
limes Cliarleston ('reek water is taken into the main at this point. Morgan Spring
whieh is the source of the dry weather flow of Charleston Creek, is located along the
roadside and the railroad and its flow is diverted into the gi'avity main. The entire
territory is elevated four hundred feet or more above the storage reservoir in Wells-
boro and hence there is ami)l(> fall for a gravity supply to the town.
Details of the sjirings, collecting pipes, intakes and gate houses and the gravity
main ha\-e ufit been sulimitti'd and filed in the oHice of the Department of Health.
In the borough on the hill between Charleston Creek and Morris Run and elevated
about one hundred and eighty feet above the principal part of the village are the
storage reser\-oirs, two in number, located together, the larger one having an area
of four and a half acres, a maximuni depth of twenty feet and a capacity of sev-
enteen million gallons, and the small one ha\ing an area of one and eighty-one hun-
dredths acres, a maxiuuun depth of twelve feet and a storage capacity of five hun-
dred gallons. Their shapes are irregular, having been excavated and confonning to
the natural topography of the contours.
The watc>r thus stored has been treated chemically every year since nineteen
hundred and four to destroy algae. Copper sulphate was used with success. The
fishy odor and offensive taste noticeable in former yeare has been obviated, so it is
I'ejiorted.
Detail plans of the reservoirs and of the distributing system have not been sub-
mitted. It is understood, however, that the streets of the borough are quite thor-
oughly piped and that two-thirds of the inhabitants use the public supply.
The water ((impany has each year extended the distributing pipe system without
being a^vai'e that an application of a general cbai'acter for permission to extend the
water works system from time to time as it became necessary or desirable should
have been maile to the State health authorities. As the case now stands, the Com-
missioner of Health does not know in what parts of the borough public water is
available and where the citizens must rely wholly on private sources for drinking
water. The law contemplates that the records on file in the Commissioner of
Health's oflico shall always be sufficient to enable said Commissioner to know the
extent of the existing water works system and its public use.
There are a number of individual wells in commission in the borough. There
is a public sewer system and over fifty per cent, of the jtopulation live in (Iwelliugs
whieh have a sewer connection. Nevertheless, the ordinary privy abounds and
sink drainage is disjjosed of in a more or less promiscuous manner. During tlie
liast five years cases of typhoid fever occurred in the Sears street neighborhood in
the northwestern part of the borough. The district goes by the name of Frogtown,
owing to its swampy character. The cases of typhoid were attributed to the
pollution of the private dug wells which were located in proximity to privy vaults,
pig-pens and stables. Since then the water company has extended its pipes to this
district, so it is rejiorted.
In Duncan township, in the centre of Warrant Number Fifteen hundred and
seventy-nine, on a fifty acre tract of ground owned by the water company, there
is a spring whose capacity is forty thousand gallons a day, known as McConnells
Spring, whose water ir is the intention of the company to add to their existing
supi)ly. No details or explanations of how this water is to be taken into the system
is sriven, but the iietitioner states that the spring is distant about eight thousand
feet southwesterly from the present gate house on the supply main at the Charles-
ton-Duncan townshii) line.
It appears, however, that the said si)ring is really a spring run and tliat it is tiie
))urpose of the company to erect an intake and di\-erl Ihi' How to the <'ollecting pij^e.
It is represented that there is no habitation, barn or other structure on the drain-
age area, .and that the waters will be free from cont.-imination.
It is evident, from the meagre information which the water company has thus far
given to the Stale D.'))artmi>nl , that it is not aware of the purpose of the law and
the tv^spotisibility thereunder which the (Commissioner of Ili^altb assumes in ap-
I)roving existing water works and pronouncing an additional source of supply to be
not prejudicial to public health. If there be a single permanent source of sewage
pollution on any of the drainage areas to the springs or runs used as a source of
supply to Wellsboro, it should be watched. Its existence should be clearly made
730 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
known by tho company to tlic State l):'partnnMit of llrnllli nml rules and ivmilntious
can then he fraincd ami e.xocnted in relation thereto as a [iniilic safesnard. It is
• inite i>(>.><sii)le that the Scranton typhoid fever epidemir of ninetetni hundred and
sevtMi \va.>< eansed by infection from a pnssen.uer coach on the railroad. The prox-
imity of the road bed to a strearii supplyinsi the |)ui)lic with water is a monac(>.
In si)ite of all nrec-antiou any snrface sui)i)ly ma.\' l)e poisoned and when infection
once gets into a iniblic water works system, its |)rompt eradication is a vital ueced-
sity. The IVjinmissioner of Health must have (h'tailed information on tile relative
to "all i)arts of the water works system in order lo b(> able to jiromptly do his i)art
in safe.irnardinic the pnlilic health if occasion re(|uires. A water com[)any is pro-
moting its own interests and rendering its investments more stable i)y cooperating
with the Stat.' D:'p:u'tmeul of Health.
In view of these circumstances and the lack of adeiiuale information now at hand
relative to the Wellsfioro water works system, it has l)een determined that the inter-
ests of the imblic health n-quire that approval of the water works system and a per-
mit to extend the same anfl to take the additional supply b(> withheld, and such
approval and permit are hereby and herein withheld, until the said comi)auy shall
ha\e submitted the maps and detailed inf<uination of the watersheds and sources
of the i)resent and proixised sujjply and the oilier parts of tlH> system hcM-einbefore
mentioned.
T'ljon the recei])! of this information, the State l)ei)artmeut of Health will insti-
tute'tesls of the various waters and if they be foiuul .satisfactory the i)ermit will lu>
issued under such conditions and stipulations as usually obtain in permits of like
character.
Harrishurg, I'a., Ma.\ 11, I'.XiS.
WELLSBORO, TIOGA ("OTNTY.
Wcllsboro Water Company.
This application was made by the Wellsboro Water Company of Wellsboro,
Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and is for permission to obtain an additional source of
sui)ply and to extend water pipes in certain streets of the borough.
It api)ears that on May eleventh, nineteen hundred and eight, the ('oniniissiouer
of Health issuerl a decree to the Wellsboro Water Company of Wellsboro, Tioga
county, Pennsylvania, in response to an ai)plication for permission to extend its
water works and to obtain an additional source of supply of water to the public
within the sai<l borough of Wellsboro. The said dccice, among other things, con-
tained the following stiitements:
"Jt is evident from the meagre information which the water eomi)any has thus
far given to the State Department, that it is not aware of the purpose of the law
and the responsiliiity thereunder which the Commissioner of Health assumes in ap-
I)ro\ing existing water works and i)ronouncing an additional source of supply to be
not prejudi<'ial to imblic lu'altli. If there be a single iiermanent source of sewage
pollution on any of the draiiuige areas to the springs or runs used as a source of
sii|>i)ly lo Wellsboro, it should be watched. Its existence should be clearly made
known by the company to the State Department and rules and regulations can then
be framed and executed in relation thereto as a public safeguard. It is (piite possi-
ble ijiat the Scranton typhoid fever epidemic (if uiiieli'en hundred and eight, was
caused by infection \'vi<\\\ a pjissi-nger coach on the railroad. 'l''lie proximity of the
road bed to a stream supi)lying the public with water is a nuMiace. In spile of all
Iirecaution a surface supply may be poisoijoiis and when infection once gels into a
f)ul)lic water works system, its prompt eradication is a \i1al necessity. The Com-
missioner of Health must have detail informalion un lilc relative to all parts of the
water works system in order to be able to •promptly do his pa I'l in safeguarding the
))ublic health if occasion icipiires. A water coinpaiiy is pidnioling its own interests
and rendering its inveslmenis more stable b.\ co n|Mia I iiii; willi the Slate Department
of Health.
"In view of these considei-ations and the lack of ade(piale information, now at;
hand relative to the Wtdlsboro Water W(H'ks Syslem, I have determined llial the
interests of the ))nblic health re(piire that appro\al of the water works syslem and
a permit !'> extend the same and to taki- the additional supply be withheld, and I
do hereby wilhholfl such approval and permit uiilil the said company shall have-
Kubmitled tiie maps and detail information if llic watersheds and sourc(>s of (he
present and proposed supply and the other parls of the system hereinbefore men-
tioned."
'I'lie wiiti'i* company has negh-cted and refused thus fa i- lo liirnisli ihc inf(trmation
called for with the exception of a detailed topogi'a|)hical map of one of the storage
reHcrvftirs on P.acon Mill and a map of the bortingh on paj)er of such |)oor (piality
as to be iniHuilable for lilitiL'. This map does not show the sizes of (he pipes or the
lrK-aiir)h of valves and drainaKc facilities.
A jeder has been r<'ceive<l giving a detailed description of springs, inlake ut
Mickle Run and Rock Run, gH(e house and intake (ui Charleston (!reek, reservoirs
and intake at them and a dencription of the sizes and hmgtlis of distributing |)ipes
in 'be village. Also a description of McConnell Spring to bo used as the additional
supidy.
No. 17. COMMISSIONKR OF IIKAI/rFF. 731
Tlic M(( 'uiiiU'll Spi-iii:; is Ioc-iIimI jiliuiit i'iu:lii llioiisiiiul IitI siiutli uf lli.- prt-.^ciii
K.'iii' lioiisc oil ( linili'sriiii ( 'n-ck. 'I'lir spring is ilic iicjid wiiicrof n sniiill niii. Tin'
fonipany lias piircliascd iii)oiii til'i.N' acres an<l ilicrc an- no Imililiiias i»f any descrip-
tion on il. Tile conipiiny purposes to imiid a small masonry daui across tiie nui
and to i)lace a filler i)o.\ filled wiili wash ^r-ivel in (he n-serxoir formerl liy the dam
and from liiis intake ho.x lay a six incli pipe twiMity feet Innu llirontrh the dam and
thence I'lir alidul a mile ilnwn ihe run, the line is to he a si.\ inch vilrifie<l pii)e and
thence for about three thousand feet the ^rade will he sleeper and a four inch vitri-
fi 'd pipe is to he used. A valve twelve inch i)low-off pipe will affor<l drainage
facilities <if the small reservoir at the dam. Near tlu" main conduit line is to he a
collecting chamher. The sprinir run water may he overflowed at this (joint or it may
he delivered to ilie main line leailiim to ilie town. 'J'he spring iiin is to lie fenced on
holh sides.
It has heen delerminerl that a peiinit he granted for this additional sonrc(> and for
the extension of water pipe lines hut only luider the followini: conilition ; namely,
that on or hefore Decendier first, nineteen hundred ami eight, the \V(dlsl)oro \\'ater
('ompany shall piep.-ire all of the maiis anil plans called for in the said decree of
May elexeuth, nineteen huiulred and eight and sidnnit the same to the Commissioner
of Health: whei'eupon . if the information he satisfactory, the said < "onuuissioner of
Health will issue a linal permit under the customary conditions and stipulations.
it is expressl_\- stipulated that the ap|iroval herein given to the adilitional source
of suiii)ly and foi- the extension of a pipe line in Nichols, Sears and Kills streets, is
of a temporary chaiacter only. The permanent permit, when the information called
for has heen filed in the Dfpartmenl , will relate to tin* permanent conditions under
which till' water works system and the source of supply will he pronounced not pre-
juilicial to public health.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., July 7, 1908.
WINDBEK, SOMERSET COUNTY.
Windber Water and Power Company.
This application was made by the Windber ^^i^ter and Power Company and is
for extension of water works and for an additional source of supply of water to the
public within its chartered territory.
( >n said date. Xoveniber twentieth, nineteen hundred and seven, the Windber
Water and Power ('lunjiany made an application for an extension of water-works and
for an .additional source of supply of water in the boroughs of Windber and Paint,
Soni'Msi't county, and to the borougji of Scalp Level and the township of Richland in
Cambria county.
The great divide in the Allegheny mountains between the Susquehanna and the
Ohio ri\er basins has made the bovindary between IJedford county on the east and
Cambri.i and Somerset counties on the west, 'i'lie waters of the western slope are
gathered by numerous lesser streams and emptied into Stony Creek which flows
northerly throuuh the centr.-il part of Somerset county and Cambria county to the
Conemaugh river at Johnstown. In the latter county Richland township extends
from Ihe creek part way up the western slope and the other part is comi)risod in
Adams township. In Somerset ciuinty adjoining Richland township is Paint town-
ship, the upi)er slopes to the suuimil lyiiiu' within ( )gle township and next southerly
ami extending from Stony Creek to the di\ ide is Shade township. Paint and Wimi-
ber lK)rouij:lis have iieeii recently incorporated out of Paint township. Scalp Level
borough was incorporated out of Richland lownshi]). This place ;ind I'aiiit borough
are sejiarated only by the <-ounly line beiween ("ambria to the north !ind Somerset to
the south. P>efc)ie Paiiil borimgh w;is organized it w;is known as Scalp Level. In
fact these two municipalities and \Vindi)er are practically all one community. The
latter liaf< a iiopulation of aliout five thousaiul and the other boroughs about one
thousanil each. 'I'hey owe their existence and support to tlie extensive coal mine
operations of the Berwind- White Coal Mining Comi>any which ojierates eleven eoal
mines in the district. 'I'he extensive mining tracts are held by a subsidiary concern
known as the Wilmore <'oal Company.
The boroughs and nine of the operations are in Paint Creek valley, a stream
which drains Richlaiul, Adams and a part of Paint township. The other operations
are in Shade Creek valley next .south which drains Ogle, Shade and the other part
of Paint townships.
'I'he Windber Water and Power Comi)any was incorporated in April, nineteen
iiundred to suitply water to the public and for commercial and manufacturing inir-
poses. Paint and Shade townships in Siuuerset j-ounty. which now included the
two borouirhs siiu'e incorporated out of the former township. Hence its chartei*eil
territory does not include Scalp [,evel borough and Richland township.
Prior to the existenci" of this Water and Power Com|)aiiy. the P.aint Township
Water Company had been incorporated to supply water to the public in Scalp
Le\el , Paint township, Sonuu-set county.
A charter was granted to the Richland Township Water Company in eighteen
hundred and ninety-seven to supply water to the public in Richland township,
Cambria county, out of which township Scalp Level borough has since been or-
ganized.
732 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Each of these companies has built water worlvs besides fm-uishiug water to the
public iu the boroughs and mining villages, a very importanr part of their work is
to supplj- \\ater for steaming purposes to the various plants of the Berwind- White
Company. In fact the water companies are subsidiary to the said Berwind-White
Company.
The Richland Township \Yater Company obtains its supply from a dam on Little
Paint Creek, located abi)ul two miles above Scalp Level borottgh. The watershed
contains about seven miles of \evy rugged territory. The village of Elton, Adams
township, is on the stream about a mile above the dam. The population of this
place is approximately two hundred and fifty. Two sanitary inspections have been
made of the occupied estates in the village and a number of formal notifications for
abatement of menaces have been issued by the Commissioner of Health. The
Scalp Level Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad comes into Windber and the local
coal fields down and along Little Paint Creek, and this is also a possible menace
to those who drink the water supplied from tliis source. Regular inspections and
the maintenance cf sanitary conditions at all occupied estates on this watershed are
essential. The toilets on the passenger coaches should not be used in Little Paint
Creek Valley.
The water from this dam is furnished by gravity through an eight inch pipe to
mine number forty and a setllement of one himdred fi'ame houses (dotible tenements),
to the borough and to mine number thirty-seven in Richland township and a settle-
ment of about one hundred double liouses.
The Water Company has not tiled in the State Department of Health a detailed
plan of the dam and of the watershed above it or of the supply main to the
town.
The Paint Township Water Company obtains its supply from two dams located
on Paint Creek, two or more miles above Windber. The watershed is a wild region
almost entirely wooded and is said to be free from permanent sources of pollution.
No plans of the reservoirs and of the watershed and of the supply main have been
submitted.
There are two supply mains, one an eight inch and one a ten inch pipe which
follow doR-n Paint ('reek Valley from the reservoirs, passing through Windber and
supplying water to it and to mines number thirty-six, thirty-five, thirty-two and
thirty-one. A branch line extends southerly into the township to mines number
thirty-three and thirty-four and the tenement houses in the vicinity the water
being delivered by pumps. A six inch inain extends into Paint borough and supplies
the inhabitants there and mine number thirty and the tenement houses in the
vicinity.
Evidently the village of Scalp Level in Somerset county, now Paint borough
originally comprised not only that settlement but the mines and tenement houses in
the vicinity thereof.
The Windber Water and Power Company built its first works (comprising an in-
take on Shade Creek, pumjjing station, tanks and distributing pii)i's), in Paint
townshij) at mines number thirty-eight and number thirty-nine and the neighbor-
hood houses. This disti'ict is near the mouth of Shade Creek four miles southwest
of Windber. The watershed contains about eighty square miles and on it there are
eight villages. The water consumption is said to be ninety thousand gallons daily,
of which sixty-six tiiousand gallons are used for industrial |)uri)oses.
There is a connection at the covuily and l)orough line between the water pipes of
I'aint Township Water Company and the Richland Townshi)) Water Company so
that f'itlier one may furnish watei- to the oiher if desired. It is stated that the valve
is left open. The coinliined daily consum|)tion in the districts of these two companies
is reported to be one niillioii eight Innidred thousand gallons, of which one million
gallons are used for industrial purposes.
The f<»lhn\ ing rfprcscntation is made by the Windber Water Power Com-
pany :
'"I'hat the |>res('nt course of supply to tin' iuliahitants of the boroughs of Windber
and Paint and mines thirty-six, thirty-three, lliirly-rour, iu Paint township, Som-
erset county, Pennsylvania, and the borough of Seal]) L(!V(d and Ri(;hland township
in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, at present sii|)plied by tiie Paint and Richland
Township Water (Vjmpanies is wholly inadecpiate and insufiicient for industrial
and domestic purposes by the increas(!<l demand and the decrease in supply each year,
so we are compelled to ask for a permit to take water from Dark Shade (3reek. Our
object in going to the |)oirit indicated on blue i)rint is to get as far up on the water-
shed as possible jind thus avoid the chances of the water being polluted and preserve
the public hr-alth."
The new source of supply is to be derived from tlie head waters of Shade Creek.
About eight miles south of Windber borough and higher up tiie inoiuitain slope in
Shade lownshij) there is a mill pii\ilege known as McCi-egors on Dai'k Sliade Creek.
It consists of a. riani flooding an area of about fifty ac;res to a shallow de|)th. Into
Ibis mill pond empty llrree streams of abont cfpuil size and area, named P.eaver Dam
Run, Dark Shade" Creek jirid Little Dark Shade Creek. All told they drain an
ar<'a of t wenly-eitrlit sfjiiare miles of nioiinliiinous wotjded coiuitry on vvliicb resich's an
estimated [lopulaiion of two hundred people, f, umbel" operations are still in progress.
Publi<- roads cross ilir- streams on the area and there are thr(!e villages at cross roads,
two of them four thousand feet above tin; reservoir and the other at the head of
Beaver Dam Run.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 733
Till' ui'iitiniicrs inU'iid lo ruc-uustruci the old (lain tu a lii^jlicr <'lcvati<ni and Xo
build il (Hit of (•oncrctp with an ovei'flow weir one huudicd an<l fifty feet in length.
The deiitli of the water at the dam will he about twelve and one-half feet and the
s;ora;re capacity of the reservoir is reported as sixty-seveu million j::allons but thi.s
seems to be loo small for the area flooded. Detail plans of the storage basin have
not betn received.
The intake chamber of masonry is to be on the inside of the dam near its centre
at the end of the spillway weir. Its diameter is to be twelve feet. The ports are
twenty-four iudi opciiiuiis respectively two and five and five-tenths feet above the
bottom of ihi' clianiber. lO.-ich upeninir is prijvided with a ;rate and double per-
forati'd plate screen. A thirty-six inch pii)e blow-oft alfords means of draining the
reservoir through said chamber.
The siavity supply main to the town is to be twenty-four inches. It is to begin
at the bottom of th<' intake chamber and to exti iid down the valley of Shade Creek
for a distance of about three miles and thence it is to pass northerly part of the way
throujrh a tunnel to the divide between Shade au(l Taint Creek watersheds, a
total lenu'th of twcniy-seven tliou.sand, one hundred feet where the main is to reduce
to ei;;Iiteen inches in diann-ler for thirty-three hundnvl feet and thence to sixteen
inches for twenty-two luuidred feet, terminal injr in a relief basin, details of which
have not beiMi siibmitled. The elevation of liiiih water in this basin is to lie nine-
teen hundred and Hfty which is two hundred and fifty feet al)ove the termination
of the i)ropose(l new niiiiu at twenty-second street in \Vindber. This last section of
main will be nine thousand feet lony; and have a diameter of twenty-two inches.
Aion.v; the entire lin<' from Mctireirors to Windbcr draina;;*' facilities are to be
afforded at every low point and air valves are to be placed on all summits. On the
I'aiiit Creek slope the line is to [jass down Seese llun and lOureka mine number
thirty-three and number thirty-four in I'aint township.
I'lxaminatinu of the records in the oflice of the Secretary of State fail to show any
sale or purchase or consolidation or merger of the franchises and property of the
three water companies herein mentioned. They are indeitendent cor[)orations, con-
trolled by one dominant interest. Therefore, the Windber Water and Power Com-
pany would apiiear to have no right to sell water to the pul)lic in Cambria county,
its charter territory beiny: conlined to I'aint and Shade townsliijis in Somerset
county wherein it can supply water to everybody, the I'aint Township Water Com- 4
pauy not excepted. Hence so much of the ai)plication now under consideration, as
obtains to the supi)ly of water to the Richland Township Water Company is irre-
levant and beyond the present power of the Commissioner of Health to grant. Rut
the Richhuxl Towiislii)) Water Company, can, with approval, buy water of the
petitioners at the Taint Township line as it now, jiresumably , buys water of the
Paint Township Water Company at said line and it may be presumed that this is the
way the petitioners intend to carry out their purpose expressed in the applica-
tion.
The miuintr settlement at number thirty-eight known as Rerwindino in Paint
townshii), contains two hundred tenement houses. They are located along the hill-
side on the south side of Shade Creek. Altout two thousand feet further down
stream is the post oHice Seanor. Midway of these hamlets in the fall of nineteen
hundred and five the water comi)any maintaiupd its intake aiul pumping station.
The |)rivy vaults at Rerwindino were of the ordinary kind and in the usual over-
flowing condition, surface drainage from them being directly to the creek and all at
points from six hundred to three thousand feet ai)ove the said intake. The pumps
raise the water to tanks on the hill in the vicinity from hence the water was distri-
buted through i)i|ies laid in the streets of both hamlets. In November and Decem-
b(>r about thirty cases of t.vphoid fever occurred among the water consumei"s. In
October at the lumbering cam]) of Arrow in Paint township on Sandy Run a tri-
butary of Roaring- Fork, a branch of Shade Creek, there had been an outbreak of
typhoid fe\er totallini; .-iboul tliiiMy cases. The houses ther(> wei'e located on either
side of the Saw Mill I'(m<l. Sanitary directions were disregarded and it was quite
probable that the poisiui reached the stream and that the infection was transmitted
therein to the water consumers at Rerwindino. The Arrow outbreak was not trace(i
to any d(>finite origin. The ice used at the camp was obtained from Ashtola,
aiuitht r luiulier town one and a half miles distant, also on Roaring Fork. The ice
harl been hai'vested two years i)r<>\ious at which time there were several cases of
tyi)hoid fever in the dwellings adjacent to and draining into the pond from which
the ice was cut. The Arrow water supply was derived from five springs connectecl
by pipes with the hamlet. The Windber Water and I'<twer Company immediately
extendi'd the water works intake tip stream to a point above where it thtunrht pollu-
tion from the milling settlement would occur. This was a temporary expedient, and
now the petitionei-s repres(>nt that the pumpini; station is to be done away with and
that a gravity water supply from the twenty-four inch main leadini: from >Ie(.regor's
dam is to be introduced into Ri-rwindino. thus oi)viating the danger incident to the
use of Shade Creek water from the eighty mile watershed. I'litil the new sui>i)ly be
introduced the water consumers should be notified and reiiuested to boil the water
used for domestic purposes.
While the ;\Ic( Jregor's d:ini watershed is sparsely populated, nevertheless tlie exis-
tence of a I'linb linir camp on it or oth(>r villages makes it imperative in the inter-
ests of public health that proper receptai-les for sewage should be provided and used.
The water conipauv can easily maintain a sanitary patrol. Negligence could bring
47
734 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
about an epidemic in Windber. Rules should be adopted and put in force governing
the disposal of sewage at all occupied estates and at lumber camps aud everywhere
on the watershed. The State Department of Health can co-operate and sectire an
abatement of anj- menace and this it will do, but the responsibility for furnishing a
pure and wholesome water to the public primarily rests with the water company.
Mountain streams are more dangerous as carriers of infection than are the rivers
into which much sewage may be discharged, because the former are rapid flowing
and may carry a virulent poison immediately to the water consumer while in the
latter opportunities for natural destructive agencies may abound and thus mini-
mize the danger. It is upon the efficiencj' of a mountain watershed patrol that the
safety of such supply depends where the area is inhabited. The alternative is
filtration. It should not be necessary to filter the McGregor dam supply or those
of the other two companies.
Since the water works system of Scalp Level, Faint and Windber boroughs are
connected and the source of one may be the source for all at any time and since
the Little Paint Creek supply has sources of menace on its watershed and so has
McGregor's dam, and in the event of the poisoning of one source demanding the
attention of the State Department of Health to prevent or limit an epidemic, it
would be necessary to know the extent of the use of the different sources in the
water works district and to be in possession of facts as to the operation of valves,
blow-offs and the system in general, it is essential that the water company should
keep a record of such operation.
The Richland Township AVater Company is required by law to obtain a written
permit from the Commissioner of Health before using any additional source of supply
such as the purchasing of water from the Windber Water and Power Company would
be. The Paint Township Water Company is also obliged to make an application for
an additional source of supply and receive a permit therefor before it can legally pur-
chase water of the Windber Water and Power Company. The water pipes in Wind-
ber and Paint boroughs now belong to the Paint Township Water Company and the
source of supply has been a definite one. While the company maintains its inde-
pendent existence, the law is plain relative to the obtaining of an additional source
of supply. The Paint Township Water Company has not signified its intention of
securing another source. Such an application would be favorably received, so would
a similar one from the Richland Township Water Company.
The petitioners do not show any contemplated distributing pipes for Windber and
so far as the Department of Health is informed, the company does not intend to do
more than supply to the public, within the borough territory through the street mains
of the existing water company, such water as may be needed to make up the defi-
ciency of the existing sources.
It has been det( rmined that the plans for the additional source of supply and for
the extension of watei' works will not be prejudicial to public health and a permit is
hereby and herein granted tln-refor under the following conditions and stipula-
tions:
FIRST: That the company shall i>i-epfii'e a map of the watershed above McGreg-
ors dam showing its area and all roads, lumlier camps and (>ccu|)ie(l estates thereon
and file the same in the olhce of the State Department of Health on or before the
date when water from the new supply herein approved shall be used by the company
for the i)ur])0ses hereinbefore describinl.
SFrf).\I): The water eoinpaiiy sluill iiiaiMtain a sanitary j)atrol of the watershed
and inspi'ctions at e\^ery lumber camp and at all (iccupied propei'iies shall be made
at least monthly and a report thereof maile and fih'd \\\{\\ tiie Conunissioner of
Health. The water company shall see that proper receptacles for sewage are pro-
vided at all such camps and occupied estates and that these receptacles shall be
used and i)roperly maintained to prevent any conlaminntion whatsoever of surface;
wati-rs on the watershed. Any neglect on the pa it: of any uwnei' oi' individual to
comply with sanitary regulations shall be promptly reported by the water company
to the (Commissioner of Health. The presence of any infectious disease on the
watershed shall also he. promptly noted and recorded.
THIRD: On or before the time when the works herein approved shall have been
construced and put in operation, detail plans of elevation of Mc(}regors dam and
reservoir, of the gravity main an<l relief basin and delivery pipe to town of Her-
windino and Windber or (^Isevviiere in the charter territory shall be prepared and
fih'd in the oltice of the Coniniissioner of Heallli, together wilii any other information
in connection therewith that may be nwiuired, and thereafter, at tin; close of (!ach
Beason"s work plans of all extensions of distributing mains laid during tin; season,
shall be prepared and filed in the oflice of the Deiiartment of Ihsalth to the end that
there shall always be in said office a complete plan of the water works system as it
FOURTH: The present source of supply, Shade Creek, at lierwindino is con-
demned as im:<uitable lo iw in its raw state for a domestic suijply. Either the
com|»anv miisi carry out its contemplated plans for the introduction of the new source
herein iiiiproved or the water must be filtered. Meantime, the company shall not
fail to notify thr- water consumers to take the health precaution of boiling all water
to be used for domestic purposes.
FIFTH: The Windber Water and Power Comi)any shall not sell or furnish an
additional supply of water to any other water company more especially the Paint
Township Water Company and the Richland Township Water Company unless said
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 735
companii.'s can show and do show to tlif Wiiiilber Water and I'dwcr ("omiiany a
written permit l).v the Coniniissioner oi; Health issued for siu-h an adilitinnal source
of supply. The approval herein given to the plans of the Windher Water and Power
(Company should be tal«Mi as an indication that the ( "oniniissioner of Health will
favorably consider ai)plications duly made for the use by the oth<'r conii)anies of the
McGrej;or dam supply.
SIXTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the water
supply, or the water works, or any part thereof has become prejudicial to public
health, then the water company shall adopt such remedial measures as the Commis-
sioner of Iloalih may approve or suggest.
SE\'EXTII: The water company shall keep a weekly report of the operation of
the system on blank forms satisfactory to the Department of Health and submit
copies thereof to the Commissioner of Health whenever required.
EIGHTH: Regular inspections will be made of the system by a Department offi-
cer, and the State Department of Health may suggest rules and regulations to gov-
ern the sui)ply of water to the public in so far as the public health is coneomed.
The water company shall co-operate with the D-partment and furnish facilities for
insi)ection and assist in the examinations if required.
NINTH: This permit is issued under the express stipulation that the Windher
Water and I'ower Company has the power under its charter to do the things men-
tioned and i)roposed and hereinbefore described and approved for Shade and Paint
township. The approval of plans to sell water to the public in Richland township is
denied.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 10, 1908.
WINDBER, SOMERSET COUNTY.
Windber Water and Power Company.
This application was made Ijy the Windher Water and Power Company of Wind-
ber borough, Somerset county, and is for permission to obtain an additional source
of supply from Clear Shade Creek.
On May nineteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, the Commissioner of Health
granted a permit to the Windber Water and Power Company of Windher borough.
Somerset county, to extend its water works and to obtain an additional source of
supply from Dark Shade Creek: The company proceeded to negotiate for land and
rights of way and meeting witii obstacles, it has decided that the better course to
pursue would be to obtain the first additional supply from Clear Shade Creek and it
purposes so to do if a permit can be obtained. It is deemed advisable by the Wind-
ber Water and Power Company to have a choice of additional sources and to be
empowered to use either or lioth as necessity may require.
The general siruatiou with respect to topography, location and drainage of Shade
Creek and its triltutaries is fully set forth in the said permit of May nineteenth ,
nineteen hundrefi and eight.
Dark Shade Creek and Clear Shade Creek unite to form the main stream of
Shade Creek. The company purposes to erect an intake dam on Clear Shade f'reek
above thi^ coal measures. The general form of construction is to be similar to that
api)roved for the Dark Shade Creek supply. Details, however, have not been pre-
pared. They will be a<lmilte(l later. The watei-shed will be approximately twenty-
nine square miles and on it there are three lumber camps, whose operations will
continue for i)ossibly two years. There is also the settlement of Ogletown where
eighty people reside and above on farms as many more citizens permanently abide.
The supply main is to exiend down the valley of the creek to Dark Shade ("reek
and thence the main will follow the line to AYindlier borough hereinbefore a[)proved
with the exception that the tunnel between Shade Creek and Roaring Fork will be
obviated. The new reservoir is lo be at a sufficiently high elevation to deliver the
water by gravity over the hill l)etween these two streams.
[t has bei'u determined that the proposed Clear Shade Creek supply will not be
prejudicial to pul)Iic iiealth and a permit is hereby and herein granted therefor under
the following conditions and stijjulations:
FIRST: That the Dark Shade Creek supply shall not be used without a further
permit by the Commissioner of Health in the event that the Windber Water and
Power Company should decide to use Clear Shade Creek supply at once, or if the
company should select rhi' Dark Creek sup|)ly as originally intended, then it shall
not use the Clear Shade Creek supply herein approved until after a further pennit
be obtained from the Commissioner of Health. It is not the intention to grant in
this ])ermil the right to use both sources of supply unless said sources are to be used
immediately.
SECOND: The water company shall prepare a map of the Clear Shade Creek
watersho<ls above the proposed dam. showing its area and all roads. lumber camps
and occupied estates thereon, and file the same in the office of the State Depart-
ment of Health on or before the date when water from the new supply herein ap-
proved shall be used by the company for the purposes hereinbefore described.
736 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
THIRD: The water c-onipauy shall inainrnin a sanitary patrol of tht^ watershed
•Tud iuspeetious of every luiulier eanip and at all orenpied properties shall be made at
lease monthly and a report thereof made and tiled with the Commissioner of Health.
The water eompany shall see that the proper receptacles for sewage are provided at
all sucli camps and occupied estates and that these receptacles shall be used and
properly maintained to i)revent any contamination whatsoever of surface waters
on the watershed. Any nejiiect on the part of any owner or individual to comply
with sanitarx retrulations, shall l.e promptly reported by the water company to the
Commissioner of Health. The presence of any infectious disease on the watershed shall
also be promptly noted and recorded.
FOURTH: On or before the time wlien the work herein approved shall have been
constructed and p'tii in operati<jn, detail i)lans and elevations of the dam and reser-
voir, of the sravit\ main and relief basin and delivery i)ipe to the town of Berwin-
dino and Windber or elsewheri> in the ciiarter territory shall be prepared and tiled in
the otKce of the Commissioner of Health, tosether with any other information in
connection therewith that may be reciuired, and thereafter, at the close of each
season's work, i)l:\ns of all extensions of distributin;; mains laid duriuji' the season,
shall be prepared and tiled in the office of the Department of Health to the end that
there shall always lie in said otfice a complete plan of the water works system as it
exists.
FH'-TH ; If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
water supply or the water works, or parts thereof has become prejudicial to public
healtii, tlien the water company shall adopt such remedial measures as the Commis-
sioner of Health may aptirove or suiriiest.
SIXTH: The water coiniiany shall keep a weekly report of the oi)eration of the
system on blank forms satisfactory to the Department of Health and submit copies
thereof to the Commissioner of Health whenever re(]uired.
SEVENTH: Refiular inspections will be made of the system by a Department
officer, and the State Department of Health may su.iigesr rules and resulations
to .govern the sup|)ly of water to the public in so far as tiie public health is concerned.
The water company shall co-ojierate with the Deiiartment and furnish facilities for
inspection and assist in the examination, if reipiired.
Harrisburtr, Pa., June 30, 190S.
YORK, YORK COUNTY.
Yoi'k Water Company.
This ai)lication was made by the York Water Company of the city of York, York
county, and is for an extension of its water puriKcalion jilant and for permission to
extend its street main system fr(jm time to time as necessity may rerpiire.
It appears thai the York Water ("ompany was created under the itrovisions of an
act approved Februai'y eighth, eighleen hundred and sixteen, for tlie luirpose of
8U|)iilyinir water for domestic and manufacturing i)urposes in York.
On .July twentieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, the water company of Man-
chester townshi|), was "Inly incorporaleil for the i)iirpose of supplying water to the
publii! in the township of ^Manchester, York county, and the following year said
com|»auy .sold and conveyed its fr.-inchise aiul all its real and personal projierty to (he
Y'irk Watei- < 'ompany. On I lie said .Fuly Iwentielh, eighteen hundred and ninety-
six, the water cr)mpany of .Manchester township was duly incorporated to sup|ily
water to the i)ublic in the township of West Manchester ami the following y(>ar sold
its franchises and all propi-riy to the said Y'ork Water Comi)any.
Also on said .Jidy twiMitieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, the wat(>r company
of Springgaidr'u township was duly incorporatefl to supi)ly water to the public in
Springgardi'ii township, \'ork county, and the following year it also sold out to the
said Yf)rk Water Company.
The Mayersville Water Comp'i'i.v \vas duly incorporatefl to supply water to (he
township (if Manchester, Y'ork county, on October thirteenth, eighteen hundrcvl and
ninety, and on the t wi-nty-third day of April, eighteen hundrcMl an<l ninety-eight,
said conipaiiy sold its franchise and propei'ty to the York Water ('ompany , including
a pumping station, engines and suppl.\' well near the \illage of Ma.\ ersxille in said
Manchester townsliip an<l a force nuiin and reservoir. The station niacliiiu'ry was re-
moved an<l the reservoir abandoned. TIk! site of the latter is now under cultiva-
tion.
Tiius it appears that llie York Water Company absorbed the other water companies
hereinbefore mentioned under provisions of law and hence extended its charter ter-
ritory to include, besides York, the townsliips of Manchester, West Maiichestei-, and
Springgaiilen . which entirely surround the city of York.
It further appears tlifit the York Water Company had, prior to nineteen hundred
and six, extended its water mains beyond its charter territory easterly of Spring-
parden townsiiip into S|)ringetsbnry township, either through ignorance or with the
direct intent of neglecting such limit. Considerable money was expended in such
extension. To protect thesr- exi)enditures and to legalize the dist ril)ution of the
water in Springi-tsbiiry township, liie directors of the Yoik Water Company formed
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 737
two indciJendent associations and applied for chai'ters therefor under tlie names of
the Water Company of Springetslmry townsliip and the Kreutz (.reek Water Com-
pany, tlie purpose of tlie tormer company being to supply water to Spnufietsbury
lownsliip and of tlie latier company to supply water lo lleliam iiiwnshi|).
'i'lie hilun' ai>plication was denied, but on Novemuer twenty-seventh, uineict-n hun-
dred and six, a cliaiter for the water company of Springeisbury township was ap-
proved. Ihis apiiioval was witii tlie understanding that tiie source or supiiiy was lo
be filtered water purchased of the iork Water i^ominiuy.
The city of i ori< is the county seat and a thriving inuiiiciiiaiity located in the cen-
tral part of the couiiiy on Cotkiriis (reek at a point ahoui nine miles aimve the mouih
of the stream into t!ie Sustjuchanna river. Its industries are varied and have
contributed to the remarkably rapid yet substantial growth of the city and its
environs <luring th" last two decades. In nineteen liundred the i)opulation of tlie city
and the surioundiiig boroughs and townships was forty-two tiiousand. At the l)e-
gjniiing of ilie previous <lecade it was iliirty thousand. At the present nine it is
.sixty-three thousand, distributed as follows ; C ity of lUrk, luty-one thousand five
hundred; North York borough, two thousand; West York horough, one thousand;
West Alanchester towusliij), two thousand; .Manchester township, one thousand five
hundred; iSpriuggarden township, two thousand, and iSpriugeisbury township,
two Uiousand, toial. sixty-three inousand.
The York Water Coinifaiiy supplies all of York City and North and West York
boroughs, or all of the buili-ui) portion thereof, and populations of sixty in Man-
chester, eight hundred and forty in West ^lanchester, eleven hundred and eighty
in Spring (Jarden and forty in Siiringetsbury townships. The remaining inhabi-
taiiis ohiaiu their water sui)i)ly from iudi\idual sources, thus the said lorK \\ater
Compaii.\' su|)plies tifty-se\t'n tiiousaud six hundred and twenty people, out of a total
population ot sixt.N-three thousand. These figures are approximations.
I'he original supply in eighteen hundred and sixteen was obtained from spring.s
and furnished through wooden pipes. The source was supplemented in eighteeu*
hundred and fortj-nine by pumping water from infiltration galleries along the
banks of Codorus Creek in tlie iqiper part of the town. The South Queen Street
(listril)uting reservoirs, built about eighteen hundred and fifty-two, were aban-
doned ill till' latter pari tif eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, togetlier with
the said distribuling reservoirs and the original .supply at which time the present
source was first i)Ul in use.
'J'lie new supply was necessary because of the inadequacj' of the infiltration
{galleries to furnish satisfactory water to the niiiidly growing community. The
new sedimentation basins were entirely completetl during eigliteeii liuudred and
ninety-eiglit, (jii March third, eighteeu hundred and ninety-seven a liltratiou
plant was put in operation and in nineteen liuudred and two a filtered water basin
was completed and thus the works exist to-day.
So it apiieai-s that for Hfty years the York \Vater Conii»any pumped water
from the Codorus Creek and supplied it for public uses in the town. .Vl)out three
miles above York the main stream forks in two branches, called the South and
WVst Branches.
The new pumping station was built on the banks of the South Kranch im-
mediately al)o\e the coiiHueiicc. Jn appropriating the waters of the SoutJi
J-5raiicli f<u- public purposes it does not ap|)ear ihat the water company exercised
its right of emiiieiit domain and hence its rights were not su|ierior ttt those of
other riparian owners along the stream.
Water was first served to York from the new pumping station late in De-
cember, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven. The large sedimeiilation reservoirs
were in an iiicoiiii)lete stage, so raw or possibly i)artially subsided creek water was
(leli\efe(l directly to the consumers in the tlistrict. This deliver.\- was followed
almost immediately by a serious outbreak of typhoid fever in Y'ork, totalling ftmr
hundred and lifty-three ciuses before the e|)ideiiiic subsided. On investigation it
was ascertained that there were eighteen cases of tyiihoid fever in the borough of
(Jleii Itock during the month of January. This place is twelve miles above the water
company's intake and on the same stream. The dejecia, in a number of cases,
was |)ermilted to reach the stream and thus poison the supidy of water to the
public in York. To iiu-et the situation and to adeiniately protect the iniblitr
health, the York Water Coniiiany at once began the installation of a filter plant and
it also instigated proceedings in the courts or co-operated with the Stale Boaixl
of Health to secure abatement of nuisances in (ileii Kock.
(ieorge I*. Yost was indicted for maintaining a nuisance by reason of the dis-
charge of sewage from a privy into the south branch of the Codorus Creek at <>len
Rock, from which at a point below, numeidus citizens of the Commoiiweallh ol)-
tained ami were supiilied with water for drinking ami dtimestic |>iiri)oses. The case
was proset'Uted liy the Commonwealth. The second and third counts were for
refusing to obey an tuder of the State IJoard t>f Health to abate and remove a nui-
sance under the Act of June third, eighii en hundred and eighty-live. Defendant
was aciiiiitted in the court, of (^)uarler Sessions, and decision revelled on appeal
to Superior Court. Mr. Justice Hrow n , of the Suprenu- Court. »)n July eleventh,
nineteen hundred, handed down an ojiinion. The main tiuestion apjiears to have
been on the question of the maintenance of a public nuisance by Yost. Among otlier
things. His Honor declared as follows:
47-17—11)08
738 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
"If the public, having a right to take from this strcaui pure and uupoHuted
water, found in it genus of disease, oomiug from the cesspool of the defendant,
which he n\aintaiiied on a tributary of the stream, his ofl'ense would be a public
one, for which he would be properly indicted. The a\ rong would be against the
whole community, as a community — not simply against au individual or certain in-
dividuals, however numerous — and ought to be punished as a crime.
"If the public have a right to receive pure water through the ageucy of a cor-
poration legally authorized to take it from a stream, he who pollutes it offends
against the public.
"If, on the other hand, the waters of a stream, in which riparian owners alone
have an interest, be polluted, the wrong or injury is a private one, for which
the individual or individuals injured may have ledress ; and this is true whether
the riparian owner be a private person or a water company which does not take
the water from the stream under the right of eminent domain. The rights of
such owners are the same.
"The defendant was in a criminal court and nothing was to be presumed against
him. Before he could be convicted of any offense auainst the public, it was the
duty of the Comtnonwealth to show that he had olTemlpd against the rights of the
public. No such offense was proved ; no right of the public to use the water pumped
by the York AVater Company was shown. If anything was proven on the trial, it
was that a riparian owner, the York Water Company, had undertaken to divert
and sell the water, alleged to have been polluted by the defendant, from the South
Blanch of the Codoiiis Creek, which was not even shown to have been a public
stream.
"In the absence of any proof that it had a right to do so, such right, in a
prosecution of this kind, we repeat cannot be presumed. The case, as presented
to us for review, is one in which the waters of a stream may have been polluted
by the defendant and were pumped out by a riparian owner for general use,
but without any right on its part to so take and dispose of it. The wrong done
by the defendant, if any, was to such riparian owner, the York Water t'om-
pany, in depriving it of the use of pure water for ordinary domestic purposes,
and any wrong committed was a private one, for which the remedy was purely
civil.
"Without fornial action by the State Board of Health directing" a nuisance
of the cause of any sp9cial disease or mortality to be abated and removed, its
Secretary can neither speak or act for it in ordering the abatement and removal
of the nuisance; and the disi'egard of an order so given is not indictable."
Under the law. Act One Hundred and eighty-two of ninet<'en hundred and five,
all streams and springs and all bodies of surface and of ground watcu', whether
natural or artificial, within the boundaries of the State are "waters of the
State."
Section Eight of said Act reads as follows:
"All individuals, private corporations and companies that, at the time of the
passage of this act, are discharing sewage into any of the waters of the State,
may continue to discharge such sewage, unless, in the opinion of the Conunissionei-
of Health, the discharge of such sewage may become injurious to the public health.
If, at any time, the Commissioner of Health, considers that the discharge! of such
.sewage into any of tlw waters of the State may bci-tmie injurious to the public
health, he m.iy order the discharge cf such sewage discontinued.
"Section Nine. Every individual, private corporation or company, shall dis-
continue the discharge of sewage into any of the watei"s of the State, within ten
days after having been so ordered by the Commissioner of Healtli."
The York Water ('ompany has rejjresented that its source of supply to fifty-seven
thousand peoi)Ie in its water district is subject to sewage i)ollution and has asked
the Commissioner of rieallh to abate nuisances and remove menaces on the water
shed.
It is a fact that llie waters of the South Branch of the (-odonis are suliject to
sewage i)o!lution.
'J'he South Brancli nijil its tributaries above the pnmi)ing stalion of llie York
Water Company ha\(! a ilraiiia>:e a reji of about one liiuidred and ten sqiiai'c miles,
on which ;iy< resident in the neigjiborhood of twelve tliuusand people, averaging
one hundicfl and nine inliabitaiis jicr seimire mile. Of this population, ahont four
thousand arc situated in nine; jjoroughs, the largesst of which is (Jlen Rock having
a i»opiihition of alioiit twelve hundred. The other boroughs average alxait thi'ee
hundred and fifty inhabitants each. Tiieri' are seven townships oi' parts of lown-
sliip.s in the walersherl oc<Mipicd largely by I'ai'ming lands and (piile l.iiickly pop-
ulated, for ji f;ountry disti'icl. TIk; South I'rancli rises in the hills near Ni'W
Freedom borough, which is located on tlu! P.altimore Division of the Norllieiii
(k-ntra! Railroad near the Maryland Slatr; line, and llieuce (lows northerly through
Railroad borough, (Jlen Roi!k and Seven Valleys boroughs, a dislance of .about
fifteen miles, to the water works intake which is on the sli'cam at a point inime-
fliately above the conf)uen<-e of the South and Wesl i'.ranchcH. T''h(! jirincipal
tributary of this sti'eam is the r-ast branch, whose uioiilh is iiboiil two luiles above
the piunping station. Its walerslK-d is wholly rural.
'l"he saifl railroad follows down the valley of the SfJiilh I'.ranch, crossing and
recrossing the streiini many times. It is the main line between I'.alliniore an<l llar-
risburg. And this is one source of i)ollution oi' nn'nace [o the pui'ily of the sireain.
Investigations by the Dc|)arttiient have shown the (-xistence! of many ovei'hanging
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. t39
privies and private sewere fromwliicb sewage is deposited directly into tlie water
courses whicli yicltl the waters used subsequently by the inhabitants of York
and vicinity for diiuking and general domestic purposes.
Tiie waterslii'd is a sprasely wooded and decidedly agricultural one and the creek
is subject to sudden rises after heavy rains. The geological formation is principally
limostcn'^ and it yields waters normally turbid, which after heavy rains become
mufldi 'llif niiiiiiuum flow at the pumping station has been estimated at seven
million gallons liuily, but this has not been verified.
Besides lunny individual sources of sewage pollution there are numerous trade
waste pollutions. There is a tannery at Uaihf.ad borough, also a wood extract
factory. Two miles below is a distillery and at Glen Rock there are the woolen
mills and various private sewers, all of which deposit sewage or polluting material
into the creek. Pathogenic poison discharged anywhere into a natural water
course, becuise of the limited siice of the watershed, could be readily transmitted
to the water works intake of the York Water Company, and thence be introduced
in a sufliciently virulent state into the dwellings of the water consumers to pro-
duce sickness an<l conseijuent death. Experience of the State Department of Health
with rospecc to the origin of typhoid fever epidemics in Pennsylvania, proves con-
clusively that the interests of the public health demand that sewage should cease
10 be discharged into the waters of the State used subsequently as a source of
public water supply.-
it is a fact that fifty-seven thousand people or more obtain their drinking water
from the South Branch of Codorus Creek. It is also a fact that the same com-
Muuiity or district has been supplied with Codorus Creek water for fifty years or
more; still, further, it is a fact that water is as essential to life and health as is
food sujjply, and that to suddenly deprive the consumers of the York Water Com-
pany of water from the water works system would be a public calamity which
would likely incite riot and bloodshed, and this is true whether the source of
supply be taken in a legal or illegal manner. It does not appear that the York
Water Company has been criminal in J;he obtaining, conveying and selling the
waters of the South Branch of the Codorus to the public. If damages to other
rights in the stream have been caused by any act of the York Water Company,
there would appear to be a civil i-eraedy, but, pending any action at law, the
public in the city of York and vicinity must be supplied with water and hence the
Commissioner of Health is warranted in considering an application for such ad-
ditions and improvements to the water works system as may be necessary to en-
able (he York Water Company to supply a pure and wholesome and sufficient
quantity of water to its consumers. He is also warranted in preserving the purity
of the waters of the State thus used by the inhabitants of the city of York and
vicinity. A party of the Department field inspectors are now engaged in making
a sanitary survey of the entire watershed.
The plant of the York \\'ater Company consists of an intake dam, pumping
station and rising main, sedimentation of distributing reservoirs, a filtration plant
and the street main system.
The latter comprises seventj'-two miles of pipes whose diameters range from
twenty-four inches to three inches.
The filters, reservoirs, pumping station and intake are in Springgarden Town-
ship.
A dam about six feet high extends across the creek by means of which water
is diverted throuu;h an open channel eight feet wide on the bottom with sloping
sides, paved with rubble masonry, to a pump well twenty-two feet in diameter,
brick-lined and twenty-six feet deep. The open channel is about one
hundred feet long. At its end there are screens. The water is ad-
mitted to the pump well through an opening provided with a gate. Water
is ordinarily eleven feet deep in the well and leading from it four feet from the
bottom are two thirty inch suction pipes, each connected up to a Worthington
horizontal triple expansion, high-duty, duplex pumping engine.
A twenty-four inch force main, ten thousand feet lonu: delivers the water raised
by the pim;ps to the storage reservoirs on the hill overlooking the city. They are
surrounded by a bi^autifiil jjark, affording a magnifi<'ent view. The embankments
are clay puddled and brick lined and the entire structure appears substantial.
The company has not submitted a iirofile of the force main, but it is underetood
that there is a high point on it iwnw whirh the water flows by gravity to the
aerator at the reservoir. This aerator is a fountain with a circular base enclosure
about forty feet in diameter, from whence the water flows to the distributing
reservoirs. There are two basins, each about four hundred feet long and two
hundred feet wide and thirty-five feet deep. Detail plans of these structures have
not been submitted by the water company. It is understood that they have a
combined storage capacity of forty million gallons. So, since the average daily
consumption is .not over four million gallons, there is from ten days to two weeks
supi)l.v on liMiid.
The western basin or reservoir was put in service December twenty-sixth,, eigh-
teen hundred and ninet.v-seven. With both basins now in use, undoubtedly some
of the water passes throuirh in much less than a week's i)eriod. At times of muddy
creek water, the immpinc; operations are susiiended and the supply is drawn from
the water stored in the basin. However, a material clarification is always effected
by subsidence and durinu; periods of fairly turbid water (he removal of suspended
matter and bacteria has averaged upwards of eighty per cent., as appears from
740 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
a revipw of tests made by water company expert-s. The water eompaiiy in-
stalled a laboratory at the filters and, beginning in the autumn of nineteen hun-
dred, dailj- analj'ses were made of unfiltered and filtered water. The colon
bacilli have been found present almost constantly in the creek water and also
in the water at the fountain and usually in the effluent of the storage reservoire
after subsidence, which effluent is the water supplied to the filter. Reviewing
the entire analytical evidence, the conclusion from a strict hygienic point of
Tiew is that the subsided water from the large storage basins cannot be regarded
as safe for drinking purpo.sns. Hence the danger of its use without* filtration,
coupled with the possibility of this \^ater being supplied to the water con-
sumei-s of the district, make douldy neces^arj' that not only should the filter plant
be adequate and proj)erly operated, but that the disposal of sewage on the water-
shwl should be regulated, .so that the water-boi-ne diseases there should not
menace the pul)lic health in York city.
The arrangenienr of pipes is such that the subsidence basins can be used separate-
ly or jointly , or water may be delivered directly to the lilt;'r plant from the force
main without having been passed through the aerator or subsidence reservoir.
Immediately below the reservoii-s towards the town is the filter house and i)urifica-
tiou plant through which the water, after leaving the reservoirs, passes by gravity
on its «aj- to the consumers.
The titler house is a brick structure about eighty by fifty feet, two stories,
the operating tioor being thirteen and a half feet above the lower one. There
is an ell containing a boiler, engine and wash water pump and also a gate hottse
in the upper story of which is the lalioratory.
Beneath the floor of the filter house is a -lear water basin having a nominal
capacity of about two hiuidred and fifty thousand gallons. The average depth
of the water is ten feet.
The water can be delivered by gravity from the reservoirs on to the filters luitil
the height in the reservoir has been loweredtto within five feet of the bottom thereof.
A twenty-four inch pipe leads froni each to the gate-house, from which a
twenty inch feed main extends to the filters. Before admittance to the filter
house, the water is first treated with a small quantity of sulphate of alumina
solution. The chemical solution tanks also are in the gate house and the
solution is fed by gravity to the chenucal pump. The automatic coagulant feeding
device consists of a propeller located in tlie twenty inch main in the gate house
and connected to a shaft and gearing which in turn operate the i)ump. The
velocity of the water in the main increases the speed of the pump and hence the
proper amount of chemical applied. It has been ascertained over a series of
j-ears, that the unfiltered water contains sufficient alkalinity to decompose more
sul|)hate of alumnia than is required to produce proper results.
The filter plant was contracted for in Octoljer, eighteen hundred and ninety-
eight, was built by the New York Filter Manufacturing Company, and first
placfd in operation' March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine.
The filters comprise eight wooden tanks, arranged in parallel ro\\s of four each,
with the main feed pipe and accessories jilaced l)etween. lOach tank is sixteen feet
in diameter and fourteen feet high and witliin each is an inner tank fifteen feet
in diameter and six feet deep containing tlie filter i)roper and occupying the
upper part of the outside tank.
i^elow the filter the main tank is a water-light comiiaitmeni sixteen feet in
diamelei- and seven and three-t|uarters feet high, the roof of tlie coinpiulnieiit
being the floor of the filter above. The chendcally treated water is adniille<l hei-e
and in the chandjer a consi(leral)le projxirtion of the susijended matters in the
water settles. The remaining i>articles in suspension are coagulated and pass up
in the wafer through a central stand-pipe onto the surfac(> of the filler above.
Each settling chainber has a caiiacity of eleven thousand four hundred gallons,
equivalent to alxjut thirty-three minutes fiow when the filter is being operated
at its guaranteed nornuil capacity of five hundred tliousniid gallons per day of
twenty-four hours.
'I"he filtr-ring niediiini is sand, sixty-two hundre(ltlis niilliuieters in size, nni-
forndty one and 1 wehc-hundredihs, having a de))lh of thirl.\- inches and resting
on gravel and the collecting or strainer system of the conventional a rraiigemeni:
at the bottom of the filter. The filtered water i)asses out through I lie strainer
system into the dear water basin underneatli the entire filter house.
Kach filler unit is eijuiiqx'd with a loss of head gauge and a rale coiil rollei- and
approved de\ices to insure proper operation. On the inlet pipe in ench seltling
chamber is a butterfly vaivi' o|)ei-iiled by float, which inaiiilaiiis ;i iiiiifoiiii head
i)( water in the filti-r. A siinilai' arrangement which uiiloiii.iiic.illy sliiit off the
filter wh<Mi the clear water basin is full is used.
Ordinarily in ten hours or so tlie sand becomes cbtgged and ie(]uires cleaning.
The sand is then washed by ))umpiii« filtered water up through the strainer
system for about fiuhl minutes, iiccoinpanied by agitation by revolving rakes
of the Jewell type. The dirty water overflows sit the lop of the iiuier tank
and goes to the sewer wiiich rear-hes down Hie hill to ;i small water cf)nrse. De-
tail plans of this sewer and its (connections and general lociition have not been
Bubnulled bv the water company.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 741
Tlie system is so arrantjed tliat freek watci* may be pumiicd dii'i-cily iiitu tlio
(listril)utinf; mains or diroctly into the filter.s, iustt-ad of fii"st Koiiiu; to tlie sedi-
mentatinii reservoir; also the waters from the said reservoirs may be passed
directly to the street mains instead of fii'st being delivered to the filters. How-
ever, it is rejiorted that sinc-e the installation of the reservoirs and filter plant,
no water has ever been tiirmvi into the distribiitins; mains by any of these methods.
In fact, they are inteniled to be used only in the event of some great conflagration
or extraordinary emergency.
The filters are operated continuously under constant attention of men thor-
oughly familiar with th" operations of all of the mechanical appliajices and having
an intelligent understanding of the object of definite instruction. Careful records
of turbidit^i', strength and volume! of chemical solutions u.sed and amount of water
filtei-(>(l, anil so forth, are kept.
The filtered \\ater basin holds about one hour's supply at the maximum and
four hours' supply at the minimum rate of consumption. This storage is too
small in case of a large fire or serious breakdown. So the water comi)any in
nineteen hundred and two jipovided a safeguard against the necessity of having
to turn iiiililli'icil watei- into the town during any emergency or probable o--
curreiire, by the construction of a large filtered water basin just below the filter
house to which the filtered water flows from the small basins beneath the filters
as it passes to the consumers.
This basin is a masonry structure roofed o\(>r,. about one hundred and twenty
feet scpiai'e and holding about two million gallons.
The efticient operation of these works lias effected a marked reduction in water
borne diseases, as ap])ears by the rei)orts on fih^ in the State Dei)artmenl. Tlie
data, although not precise, is substantial enough to conclusively show the very great
safeguard to public li(>alth atfonhnl by said filter i)lant.
There are times when the daily consumption is at a rate in excess of the nor-
mal capacity of the i)resent filter plant anil it is for the purpose of providing adequate
filter capacity that the in'titimiers intend to install four additional units, each of
five hundr:'fl tliousand gallons caiiacity.
A contract has been entered into between the water comj^any and the New York
("ontinental Jewell I>'iltration ('omi)any for the installation and equipment of four
standard high type Jewell filtei-s, similar to the filters now installed, and to have
the plant ready for operation within ninety days from commencement of work, under
the condition that the four iniits shall deli\er two million additional gallons ijer
twenty-four hours of clear bright liltered \\ater, and when there are three thousand
or more bacteria in the influent water there shall be removal in the filtered water
equal to an average of ninety-seven per cent., and when there are less than three
thousand in the etflueiil there shall not remain in the filtered water more than
an average of one hundreil bacteria |)er cubic centimeter. The guarantee is madi'
subject to the condition that the plant shall be operated in accordance with in-
structions.
The city of York has been favored by the aggressive policy of the management
of the water company. \Vhili> it does not appear that said com|)any has done more
than has been necessary to protect the pul)lic, nevertheless, it has done this vol-
untarily. It is to be regretted that a like policy h:is not prevailed inerywhere in
the managemiMit of private water works. ]n placing the seal of approbation on
the \oluntary extension of the existing filter plant, it is not amiss to call attentio?i
to the i>rospects of a continual increase in water consumption leading up to the time
when the entire mininuiiii flow of ("odorus ("reek may be utilized to supply the
inhabitants of York with water. No higher use could be madi' of this water. The
Legislature of nineteen hiuiilred aiul five, in its wisdom, s.aw fit to enact a benefi-
cent law to preser\e tin- i)Uiit.\- of tiie waters of the Stale for the protection of the
public lii-alth and the ("odorus watershed is one which dem.ands attention.
The compulsor.v fliscontinuanc(> of (he discharge of sewage into an.v stream
directly or indirectly on this water shed contemplated l)y the St;ite, and the prom])t
reporting of infectious diseases there and enforcement of measures for the killing of
the poison of specific diseases befiu'e it leaves the household, should very largely
minimi/," the d;inger. so that, should an accident occvir necessitating the admittance
f»f raw water to the town, there would not be nuich liabilit.v of infection resulting.
The situation warrants (he careful attention on which it is understood to receive
by the York \A'ater ("ompany.
The records of its obser\al ions should be copiivl and the copies ])laced on file in
the State Department of Health. Detail plans of tiie force main and reservoirs,
l)iping aiul sewers leading from or connecling with the reservoirs, filter house and
filtered water l>asins and detail i)lans of the filtered wat(>r basins should be filed in
the State Dei)artment of Health. .\nd tlier^.-tfter. as the works are further eii-
hu'ged . other jdans should be filed in order to keep the i-ecords up to d.ate in the
State office.
There should be a duplicate chemical pump in order that chemical solutions m.iy
alwa.vs be used.
It has been (h-termined that th(> i)rop(iseil extension to the water works and tiie
additional lilters will not be lu-ejudicial to the luiblic healtli. and the same are
hereby and herein approved and a permit granted therefor, under the following
conditions and sti|)ulations:
FIRST: That c(uiiplele plans of the force main and its appurtenances, of the
sedimentation reservoir, filtered water reservoir, and i>ipes, gates and sewer arrange-
742 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc
ment at purification plaut, bo prepared and filed in the State Department of Health
within six months from the date of this permit ; ami that thereafter at the close of
each season's work the company sliall file a plan of the pipes laid during the year,
in the office of the State Department of Health, to.uether with such other information
in connection there\\ith as may be required by the Commissioner.
SECOND: The filter plant shall be operated as if now is, under the responsible
direction of an expert chemist. A full report of the initial test of the proposed
added filters shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health and thereafter the
water company shall assist the State Department of Health in making such tests
of the plant from time to time as maj' be found desirable. If necessary, the Com-
missioner of Health may prescribe standards of efiieiency and make regulations for
the operation and maintenance of the plaut and the water works system, so far as
the interests of the public health may be concerned.
THIRD: Weekly reports of the operation of the water works shall be kept on
blank forms satisfactory to the Department of Health and copies thereof shall be
filed with said Department. If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of
Health, the water works system, or any part thereof, or any water furnished
thereby has become defective, or inefficient or prejudicial to the public health, then
such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health may advise
or approve.
FOURTH: The introduction of raw creek water into the street main system is
absolutely prohibited with this exception. Water after having subsided in the large
storage reservoirs may be by-passed around the filters and be delivered into tlio
street main system in some great emergency fully warranting and justifying this
course, in which event the public shall be immediately warned of the fact and the
local and State health authorities shall be notified.
FIFTH: The drainage from the purification works shall, if ever required by the
Commissioner of Health, be otherwise disposed of than into the creek.
Hari'isburg, Pa., January 24, 1908.
ZERHE TOWNSHIP, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Treverton Water Supply Company.
This application was made by the Treverton Water Supply Company of Zerbc
township, Northumiierland county, and is for permission to extend water works in
the borough of Treverton in said township.
Treverton is a mining village of alxiul Ihree thousand population, located in the
valley of Zerh<> Itun between Little Mountain and Big Mountain, most of the streets
being along the foot of the northern slope of Big Mounlain. The run has its
rise about three miles east of Treverton and its course is westerly through the valley
which is narrow and deep, to Mahanoy Ceek, a tributary of the Susquehanna
river. Its watershed above the village is limited by sunuiiits of the mouulains which
are about out; mile apart and seven liiuidred feet or more above thi' bed of the
stream. Tiie territory is almost wholly unpopulated and is largely a second
growth of pine and scrub oak. Shamokin, about seven miles to I he east and in the
valley of Shamokin Creek, is connected by trolley to Treverton. A branch of the
IMiiladelphia and iii'ading Railroad extencls westerly along the run terminating at
Ilerndon. on the river and the Pennsyh'ania Railroad, Norlhern Central line. The
occasion for the gi'ouih of the community has bium ena! iniuing operations. In
the town there is a silk mill, powder works and a sawmill, Iml the majority of the
populati<>n are dependc-nt ui)on t\u\ coal mines.
The main street is about fifty feet higher llian IJie i-iin, il parallels llie same and
continues easlerly and westei'ly through the \iilley, being llie main liiglivvay, in
fact the only thoi'oughfji re r)i: conimon euninuiniealion. It is in litis road that
the trolley line is built in the \'illag(! and I'or must j)aiM in the township.
The cross streets in the village are very steep. The hotels, business blocks and
principal residences are along the main street, which is thickly built uj). There
are no sewc-rs in the town. Sewage is deposited in vaults which are usually holes
diii; in the earth. At every house there is reiiorted to be a well, dug, walh^d up
with rnl>ble masonry and subjected lo the danger of surface conlaiiiina tion. Slop
water di.sposiil is largely to the street gutters. lu spile of these inelhods of sewage
diHposaJ and water supply, there has been comparalively Mltle typhoid lever in tli(!
town, if reportH may be relied on.
It is said that possibly eight hundred pr-ople live in tin- valley or on llie soulh
slope of Lilll" .Mountain in the village. In this norlli hillside district iiiimeroiis
Hpriiiirs (>\\tcyi)]t which are usi;d as (he neighborho(jd soni'ce of drinking water, the
inhabilants going there wilii buckets to obtain the supply. Some of these springs
are located at a higher elevation than the dwi'llings, some (jf lliem ;i re in the midst
of dwellings.
There ans dug wells in this district nlso which are used when the spi'ings run
dry.
The coal operation of the Zerby Run Valley are entirely to the west of Treverton
BO that the waters of the run above the village should be pure ?ind free from pollu-
tion.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 743
The Treveiton Water Supply Company was chartorcMl March tlio thirtieth, one
thousand nine hiuidred and six, to supply water to tho public in Zerho township
and the \vorks were built that year without application to or approval by the Com-
missioner of Health.
The works r-omprise springs, a collecting basin, pumping plant, distributing res-
ervoir and pipe system.
There is a ^rt^up of three sprinj;s near the foot of the mountain slope north of the
creek nlxtve all habitations. They are open. The water is piped from them in six
inch tiles laid practically on the surface of the ground and terminating in the stone
enclosure six feet sciuare cemented and built up above the surface of the ground and
topped with a plank platform. In this enclosure there is also a spring. A six inch
tile leads from this sprint: chamlier to a collecting basin twenty feet in diameter and
sixteen feet deep cemented on the bottom and sides, the stone being laid up one
foot above the ground to prevent the entrance of surface water. These walls sup-
port a conical x'oof. The last mentioned six inch pipe is laid below frost line and it is
about two hundred and fifty feet in length. In the bottom of this basin there has
been drilled a six inch well sixty-fi\e feet deep which is said to flow at the rate of
about thirty thousand gallons per day. This basin is located on the banks of Zerbe
Run a little above the village. Adjacent to the basin is the pump house. In it
there is a twelve foot overshot water wheel which furnishes the power to operate the
pumping engine.
Two hundred feet up stream across Zerbe Run is a stone dam about five feet high.
A fifteen inch terra cotta pipe conveys water from the breast of the dam to the
puin]) house and there connects with a fifteen inch riveted iron pipe which takes the
water to a tank from which it is discharged over the wheel. The wheel is connected
by a chain and sprocket to a Dean vertical tri-plex doubling acting pump, capacity
two hundred and fifty thousand gallons per twenty-four hours. The pump has a
six inch suction pipe into the collecting basin. There is a fifteen horse power
ga.soline engine, belt cfinneeted to the pump, which is held in reserve for any emer-
gency. The water is raised through a six inch force main into the pipe system of the
town. These pipes are wholly in the streets south of the run. The surplus is
forced to a storage reservoir on the mountain just back of the village and about
two hundred feet above the pump house, vertical height. It is a masonry struc-
ttire water tiuht seventy-five feet long by fifty feet wide and sixteen feet deep, the
flow line being twelve feet above the bottom, maintaiued by a six inch overflow.
The inlet is at the bottom. Both the inlet and outlet pipes are free of gates. No
provision for drainage of the reservoir is made except it be through the inlet
pipe.
The street system is laid out so that there is only one dead end. At the lowest
point in the system there is a valve which is said to be opened twice yearly to blow
off and drain the pipes.
Twenty-five hydrants are now being erected on the system throughout the village.
There seems to be a prejudice by many people in the town against the purchasing
of water so long as the well supply holds out. Although the streets are quite
thoroudily piped comprising about two and a half miles, the number of water con-
sumers are few.
The petitionei-s hop" by extending the system and affording fire protection and
opportunities for niiinins water in the dwellings, to gradually increase the use of
the public supply antl thereby to eventually receive a fair return on the invest-
ment.
The three open springs should be walled up, and covered over. The pipes leading
fnun them to the sprins chamber should be protected. The reservoir on the hill,
which now has a wire fenee about it to keep animals out should be enclosed in a
tight board fence as precaution against malicious or accidental pollution.
It has been determined that the water works system and source of supply will not
be prejudicial to public health and a permit is hereby and herein graiit('d for the
extension of the water pipes in the streets and district, under the following condi-
tions and stii)ulations:
FIRST: That accurate and complete plans satisfactory to the Commissioner of
Health, of the dam and pumpinu: plant, springs, piping, collecting basins and of
the pipe system in the town present and proposed and of the distributing reservoir
on the hill shall be prepared by the water company and filed in the office of the
State Department of Health on or before three months from the date of this per-
mit.
SI'^COND: That at the close of each season's work plans of the pipe laid during
the year shall be jtrepared and filed in the Commissioner of Health's office, together
with any other information in connection with the water works system that may be
rerpiired.
TIIIKD: The springs formim: the source of supply shall be walled up and cov-
ered over, the pipes leadimr from tliem shall be amply protected. A tight board
fence shall he constructed about the distributins reservoir. A weekly report of the
0))eration of the plant shall tie kept on blank forms satisfactory to the Commissioner
of Health and copies thereof shall be filed in said ronimissioner's office.
FOTTRTH: If at any time the water works system or any part thereof, or the
source of sujiplv has become iirejudicijil to public health in the opinion of the Com-
missioner of Henlth. then suib reinedijil measures shall be ailopted by the Water
Company as said Commissioner may approve or advise. The State Department of
744 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Oft. Doc.
Health purposes to make tests of the water from time to time ami it may make
rules and resriilatious with respeet to the water wt)rks system and its operation in
so far as the interests uf the public health may be eoueerned.
The water company shall assist the State Department of Health making- all tests
and examinations, if this assistance be required.
Harrisburg, Pa., June 29, 190S.
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. No. 17.
SEWERAGE.
Sewerage and Se^^■;l<;(' J)is|)(isiil l*ei-iiiiis and Decrees
is.siuMi l»y llie
C^O.MMISSlOXEIi OF HEALTH
Tp to .laimary 1, 1!)0!).
This work lias also been done under Aet 1S2 of IJIO."), This law is
a distinct departure in i*ennsylvania State Medicine, in that it
provided for State preservation ol: water borne diseases. Formerly
the powers coniniitted by statute to the State Board of Healtli
relative to rej^ulations tending- to limit the spread of infection by
water carriajie were advisory only. Jt was within the P>oard\s
sphere and duty at all times to recommend to local authorities hav-
inj; the usual jiowers in matters relating- to the ])reservation of ])ublic
health, the adoption of effective sanitary and preventive regulations
and measures in anticipation of future or possible epidemics.
The policy of limiting the State Department to powers of an
advisoi-y character t)nly, until the actual presence of an epidemic
threatens everybody in the community, so Wvidly shown to be
suicidal in the extreme at Butler, in the memorable ejudemic of
l!»():5-()4. ceased with the enactment of the law of !!)()."). Therefore,
in the prosecution oT the work thereunder, jjrecedenls have had lo
be established. It has been pioneer effort.
Sewage in the Act is delined as "any substance lliat contains any
of the waste products or excrementitious or other discharge from
the bodies of Innuan beings or animals." Slops, sink and wash
wafer come within the meaning of the term. The prevailing idea that
laundry water and drainage from bath tubs is not sewage is grad-
ually being dispelled; but not \\itliout some educational ellort in mak-
ing clear thai such wastes very fre(|uenfly contain ]»athogenic ]»oison,
and llial they are often discharged onto the surface of the ground
near the springs and wells, or into street gutters, and thence to
streams used below as sources of public water supply. Als(» that
some numufacturing wastes are not sewage as abo\e (lelined, but if
a menace to i)ublic health, they are subject t(t regulation at the
disci-efion of the Commissioner of Health.
The law stipulates that no i»erson, cor]»(»ration or municii>alitv
shall place or permit to be placed, or discharged or permit to How
into any of the waters of the Stale any sewage exce|»t as speciallv
j)rovided ; but the .Vet does not iipply to wafei-s pumped or flowing
from coal mines or tanneries. Neither does it prevent the dis-
( 745
746 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
charge of sewage from any public sewer system owned and main-
tained by a muuicipality, proyided such sewer system was in opera-
tion and was discharging sewage into any 8tate waters at the time
of the passage of the Act. A copy of the law has been sent to every
uianicipality.
The exception noted, however, does not permit the discharge of
sewage from a sewer system Ayhich shall be extended subsequent
10 the passage of the Act. Therefore, it is understood that so long
as a municipal sewer system in use before April 22nd, 1905, be not
extended, the law is not applicable and the sewage therefrom may
continue to defile the public water supply. What constitutes an
extension has been the subject of considerable contention by local
officials. A sewer system must, in the course of events, be extended.
Department officers and agents have been instructed that eyidently
the intent of the law is to bring, as soon as possible, all municipal
sewer systems under State regulation and control, to the end that
the purity of the waters of the State for the protection of the pub-
lic shall be accomplished.
I'napproved sewer extensions to an existing sewer outlet where-
by the yoluine of tilth discharged into a stream Avas quadrupled
would defeat the object of the law and be contrary to the letter
thereof. It is understood that the State officials have determined
that it is the principle involved which shall control and not the
length of the sewer extension.
The law further provides that upon the application duly made to
1he Commissicmer of Health by public authorities having by law
charge of a sewer system of any municipality, the Governor, Attorney
General and the Commissioner of Health, shall consider the case
and AA'heneyer it is their unanimous opinion that the general interests
of the public health would be subserved thereby, the Commissioner
of Health may issue a permit for the discharge of sewage from such
])ublic sewer system into any of the waters of the State and may
stipulate in the i)ermit the conditions on whicli such discharge
may be permitted. The permit before being operative must be re-
coi-ded in the office of the Kecorder of Deeds foi- (he county wherein
the outlet for the sewer system is located.
As understood, the policy inaugurated is to bring about the
aband<mment of streams as carriers of sewage. All s(!\vage must
rinally cease to be discharged, untreated, into any watei-s used
subs('(|uently for drinking purposes.
In a municipality whose borrowing (apacily has been aboni
i-eaclied. the erection of sewage ]»uri Ileal ion woiks for I he ])r('s;'nl
is thus prevenlefj. lIoAN'cver, it is Ihc ])olicy of (ii(^ Stale, sel foi-lh
in the pcrniil, lo r(M|uire this ninnicipality, or any oilier, in exlending
its sewers, lo make such exicnsions in compliance wilh plans con-
temi)lating treatment works in liie future.
It also appears by what Toiiows that a town should obviale the
making of a pel it ion every time a jKjtty sewer extension is contem-
pla(e<l, by the submission in the tirst instance of a general applica-
lion for sewer exiension, involving Ihe queslion once for all of State
j.olicv for thai piirlicular niuni(i|>alily. Slale appi'oval under these
(•ircunislances imjdies carelul consideration ol" I Ik; [troblems in-
volved. The principal cme relates to the disposilion of sewage.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 747
The student of the perinils may uoLe Lbal uue reuluie is based
on the proposition that it is not practicable to treat large volumes of
mingled sewage and storm water, owing to the prohibitive cost.
Usually it is cheaper and beilcr to build separate sewers for sanitary
household drainage and to provide other channels for the removal
of rain water.
Also that another feature is based on the proposition that ef-
ficiency and economy in preserving the purity of streams for the
public i>rotecliou dictate that sewel-s shall be built to conform to a
comprehensive plan. Municipalities are learning that patch-work
methods are bound to cause trouble, expensive alterations and re-
pairs, and that those towns which have employed competent con-
sulting engineers to lay out comprehensive s^'stems and have there-
after conformed to the plan in construction, have usually found
such a course to be profitable.
Temporary permission to discharge sewage untreated into a stream
has l)een granted in sixty -nine cases. Thirteen formal rejections
of sewer plans have been issued, and two rejections of sewage plans.
Fourteen municipalities and one sewerage company have been re-
quired to prepare sewage disposal plans at once. Two municipalities
have been rcHpired to submit plans for sewage disposal works when
called for by the Commissioner of Health, and one in three years'
time. Twenty-six sewage treatment works have been designed and
])lans thereof approved by the JJepartnient and in lifteen cases im-
irujdiate construction \\as ordered. In four instances the construc-
tion was ordered within one year, one instance construction was
ordered in two years, and in five instances construction was ordered
when called for by the Commissioner of Health. A supplementary
jiermit was issued to the city of Reading.
Of the sixty-nine cases to temporarily discharge sewage into the
waters of the 8(ate, one stipulated the preparation of plans for
sewage disjxjsal works at once, nameh', Cheswick ; two for sewage
disposal })laus in six months, namely, I'arnassus and \'erona ; four
for disposal plans in one year, namely, Barnesboro, Sharpsville,
Sharim and tSoulh Aharon; one for disposal plans in two 3'ears,
namely, A. P. Dysart, Scott Township, Allegheny County. Two
instances at the order of the Commissioner of Health, namely, Co-
lumbia and Swarthmore.
Fifleen of the sixty-uine permits expire in one year, namely, Yea-
don, Lausdowue, Cohvyn, Darby, Shart)n Hill, Siroud.sburg. Kdwards-
ville, Vouugwood, Coiuiellsville, Corry, Freeport, (Jiassport, McKch^s-
port, Union City and iScottdale, all of which are re(]uired to submit
plans for sewage disposal works on or before expiration of the year,
with the exception of Scottdale, which must submit plans at the
order of the (Commissioner ofHeallh. Eleven of the said i)ermits
cease at the expiration of two years, namely, Franklin, Fair Oaks
Land Comj^any, Dickson City, Olyphant, Fmlenlon, \Vickl)oi-o, Win-
ton, Kit tanning. Danville. Carrick and Forest City. The tirst eight be-
ing recpiired to submit jilans for sewage disposal on or before the ex-
piration of two years. The next two submit .sewage disposal plans
at The end of one year.
Twenty-live of the permits expire at (he end of three years, namely,
Huntingdon, Cambridge Springs. Middletown Drainage Company,
Hughesville, Bradford, Keynoldsville, Exeter, Beaver, Jones aiid
748 THIRD AXXL'AL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc
Luiighliu Conipiiiiy (Woodlawni. Califoi'iiia, Scalp Level, Watson-
Tuwu, Scalp Level (second api)licati()U I, Mercev, Lancaster, Eagles
^feie, Monnt Inion, Kidgway, Kane, Dorranceton, Ben Avon, Mo-
naca, Erie Iniprovenient Company, Summit Hill, and Coaldale.
The tiist heing required to submit plans for sewage disposal at once.
Tlie seirond before the expiiation of one year. The next live before
the expiration of two years. The following eleven before the ex-
piration of thi-ee years and the next thi-ee on the order of the
Commissioner of Health.
Plight permits refer to l*hiladelphia. for live years has been stipu-
lated in which to prepare j)lans to abate existing nuisances caused
by sewage pollution of State waters.
The rejected sewer i)lans Avere for the foUowing i)laces: East
Stroudsburg, West lieynoldsville, NVellsboro, McKeesport (two appli-
cations), Chester, Jiellefonte, New Kensington, Samuel Castner
(Devon), Cambridge Springs, St. Clair, Brackenridge and Zelien-
o]»le. The lirst three requiring sewage dis]»osal plans before the
sewers are built, the next four i)ermits before the expiration of one
year, and New Kensington before fhe expiration of two years.
The rejected se\\age disposal plans A\ere h-om the Beechwood Bark
Amusement Com])aiiy and New Wilmiugloii.
The fourteen municipalities and one sewerage (ompany where
plans were called for at once are as follows: Derry, lipland, South
Canonsburg, Brackenridge, Tarentuin, Grove City, Treverton Sewer-
age Company. ^Vhite Haven, MInersville, Montgomery, Houtzdale,
Clintonville, Shenandoah, Bidley Park and Sewickley.
The municipalilies re(juired to submit sewage disposal plans when
called for are I'otlsvilk' aud Lancaster, while Nortli' KnHi is recpiired
t(j (]<) so in three yeai's.
The twenty-live sewage disjxjsal ])lans approved were for the fol-
lowing jjlaces: Beading, Palmerton village, Derry, Allegheny City
Home, lIos])ital for the Insane (Hanover townshij), Lehigh County),
y^w \\ilmington. Ell wood City, Danville Hospital for the Insaiu',
\>'illiamson School (near Bhiladeljihia), ('heswick (after moditica-
lioii), Bryn Atiiyn N'illage Association, near IMiiladelphia, (after
modification I, Haverfoi-d College, .J. >\'. it A. I*. Howard Company, of
Coiry (al'ler modilicatiou ), Cheswick, (iirls' Iloti'se of liel'uge (near
J*hila(lel|)hia ). IJryu Alliyn (sec<»iid apjtlicalion ), New Castle, (after
modification). K'eading, Allentown, Pennsylvania Iveform School
i.Morganza), Indiana, Soulh Canonsl)urg, Canonsburg, Fairchance,
.Nfount Carmel, Training School for Feeble Minded Children at Elwyn
(after modification), the Mrst sixteen are re(piired to build at once,
llie next four within one year, the next one within two years and the
lemainder when oider<'d by the Commissioner of lleallh.
A private corporation duly clia)-(er(Ml by (he S(ale and (o whom
local authoi-iti"s have granle<l a franchise for the cons! nicl ion, o|)era-
lion and maintenance <»f a [)ublic sewer system, is considered (o be
classed with the munici|>al coi-porat ion )o (liee\(eii( (hat jdans miisl
be filed and extensions approved. All odiei- |»ii\a(e corpoi-aMons and
companies and individuals thai a( (he (imc oi' (he passage <(f \\n\ Act,
were discharging scM'age into any of (he wa(('rs of (lie S(a(e, may con-
tinne such discliai-ge unless otherwise ordercMl. In a borough th(^
i-emedv' U>v (lies(; sources of |)(dlnlion may be conneclion willi a public
sewerage sys(<'m. All of (lie above malters more fully appear in the
vai-ioiis i»(;rinits Jierctin ananged in alpliabcl i( al order.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 749
ALLENTOWN, LEHIGH COUNTY.
This application was made by the city of Allentown, Lehigh County, and is
for permission to install a system of sanitary sewei-s and scwa^'e disposal works.
It ai)pears that the city of Allentown is essentially a manufacturing community
of diversified interests covering a large variety of manufactures, substantia! and
rapid growing, having an estimated poi)ulation of about fifty thousand (since the
recent annexation of South Allentown) and being located on the west bank of the
Lehigh river about sixteen miles above the junction of this stream with the Delaware
river at Kaslon, Pennsylvania. It is bounded on the north by Whitehall town-
ship, on the south by S.ilisliury township and on the west and for a short length on
the north i)y South Whitehall township.
Most of the city is on the hilly land rising about one hundred and sixty-five feet
above the river. The natural drainage is to the north and the east into Jordan
creek and south into I.,ittle Lehigh creek and into its tributary Cedar creek.
Jordan creek has its source in the Blue Kidge mountain in the northern part of
the county and it Hows southerly nine miles, thence easterly about the same distance
to the l)oundary oi Allentown and thence its course is southerly through the city
paralleling the lychigh river and distant therefrom about half a mile to the con-
fluence with the Little Lehigh creek at a point in the southeast corner of the
city a thousand feet from the river. The land between the creek and the river is
mastly low and flat and subject to inundation. It is thickly built upon, is traver.sed
by the railroads and upon it are nuiny industrial ijlants. The land west of the
creek is precipitous to the higher plane which is broad and gentle in slope and upon
which the principal portion of the business and resident section of the city is
located.
Little Lehigh creek rises in the South Mountains in Berks county. It flows north-
easterly through an agricultural district and along what was formerly the southerly
line of Allentown to Jordan creek. A tributary, Cedar creek, empties into the
Little Lehigh at the southwestern corner of the city territory. The slopes north of
these two streams are generally quite steep. South of the Little Lehigh creek
on the hillsides is a settlement known as South Allentown above referred to as
having been annexed to the city.
There is a highway bridge over the river just above Klines (Jeter) Island at the
foot of Hamilton street. This thoroughfare extended across the flats through the
entire length of the city east and west and the other highways are laid out
[laralU'l or at right angles to it. Seventh street, extending from Jordan creek to
Little Lehigh creek inler.sects Hamilton at the public sinuire. Front street, Kidge
avenue, Second and Third streets are on the flats named in order from the river to
Jordan Creek.
The topography divided the city territory into three natural drainage systems,
viz., the Leliigh, the Jordan creek and the Little Lehigh drainage districts.
Most of the existing sewers empty into Jordan creek.
Beginning at Little Lehigh creek and named in order up-stream there are
seventeen public sewer otitlets and twelve private sewer outlets into Jordan creek
within the city limits as will appear by the following table:
Location. Ownership Size.
Union Street City 36 inch.
Union Street (;rai)e Capsule Company, .. 4 inch.
North of Union Street Electrical Si)ecialty Manu-
facturing Company 4 inch.
Near Union Street City, IJM inch.
Near Walnut Street Private t! inch.
Walnut Street City 80 inch, by 4S inch.
Walnut Street, Alli-ntown Mill Supply Com-
I)any *i inch.
Walnut Street City, . l! ft. by 4 ft. <'ulvert.
Hamilton Street Lehigh Railroad Station, .. Several small pipes.
Hamilton Street City 24 inch.
South of Linden Phoenix Silk Mills
Linden Street City .'54 inch.
Between Linden and Tur-
ner Woman's College, .'1 inch.
Turner Street City 24 inch (wisti.
Turner Street City .".<) inch d'ast).
( 'hew St reet < "ity 30 inch.
(xordon Street (east) City '.M> huh.
(iordon Street (west), City 40 inch by 00 inch.
T,iberty Street, City .'{4 inch by .ll inch.
48
750 THIRD AXXL'AL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
liOcation. Ownership Size.
Allen Siree: . City 20 inch.
Near Tilgiiam Street, ... Southdown Knitting Co., .. IS inch.
Tilgham Street (easi.i , . Ciiv , 12 inch.
Green Street City 30 inch.
Green Street Excelsior Knitting Machine
Mfg. Company 20 inch.
Fourth Street, Allentown Silk Dye Works,
Fourth Street Pickup & Kean,
Fifth Street , City 2 ft. by 4 ft.
Twelfth Street City 46 inch by 69 inch.
SLsttrenth Street, Allentown Flint Bottle Com-
pany
The Union Street outlet discharges sewage from houses which have been con-
nected presumably by city sanction. There is also a breweiy on the system and
also a laundry. There is a twenty inch branch on Fifth Street which reduces to
fifteen inch in the alley. All told, the outlet serves about a half mile of sewers.
Kitchen drainage is discharged into the street gutters.
The Grape Capsule Company and the Electrical Specialty Manufacturing Com-
pany discharge all their sewage and waste into the run. There aie small concerns,
the former employing about eighteen hands.
The twenty im-h c-ombined seiner near Union Street comes from the flats to the
east and emptit-s at a point a short distance above the Union Street bridge. The
entire line is about eleven hundred feet long, the upper end being sixteen inches in
diameter. There is a hotel and also the Allentown Terminal Station connected to
the line.
The Walnut Street combined sewer comes from the hill , is twenty-nine hundred
and fifty feet long, including a short lateral fifteen inches in diameter, empties into
Jordon Creek at the retaining wall along the west bank of the creek and discharges
sewage and laundry water. There are no dwellings near the outlet.
The Allentown Reed Harness and Mill Supply Company, employing about fifty
hands, and one of the branches uf the Phoenix Silk Manufacturing Company, em-
ploying about sixty hands, occupy a single building on the west bank of the creek
just below the Walnut Street bridge. All of the sewage is discharged through a six
inch pipe to the stream. In the vicinity kitchen drainage goes to street gutters and
it is finally led directly to Jordan Creek by a two foot by four foot culvert.
At Hamilton Street the Lehigh Valley Railroad Station is built directly over
Jordan Creek, into which is discharged the sewage from said station. The twenty
four inch city sewer into the creek at this point comes from the hill and is fifteen
hundred feet long.
Right above this point, but in the bed of the stream, there is a catch basin built
of stone masonry, into which all the sewage from the Phoenix Silk Manufacturing
Company's plant, employing fourteen hundred hands, is discharged. At high water
the tank is submerged.
The tifty-foar inch city sewer at Linden Street serves the central part of the city
on the hill. Connected with it are seven thousand five hundred and fifty feet of
sewers, the smallest diameter being eighteen inches. These sewers were laid pri-
marily for cellar drainage and surface water. They now discharge quite a volume
of sewage proper, but the Department has not ascertained how manj- properties
contribute to the sewage flow. The County Jail is connected. The outlet is under
the bridge at the foot of Linden Street.
Between Linden and Turner Streets there is a three inch pipe overflow from a
cesspool on the pnjp^Tty of the Allentown College for Women. The pipe terminates
at the creek at the top of the high bank.
A twenty-four inch pipe line in Turner street is sixteen hundred and fifty feet
long, including some fifteen inch pipe. It was laid primarily for surface drainage.
It waa built during nineteen hundred and seven and one house has been per-
mitted to put sewage into the line. The thirty inch sewer from the flats on the
east empties into Jordan creek a short distance up stream from the Lehigh Rail-
road bridge. This line is possibly six hundred feet long. It terminates in a
settlement on the flats at Turner street.
The thirty inch Chew street sewer line reducing to twenty-four inches is eight
hundred feet long only, but in this length it receives the sewage from one of the
mills of the Phoenix Silk Manufacturing Company, where are employed five
hundred bands.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 751
The large sewer outlet at the foot of Gordon street, west bank, serves a district
on the hill, coiuprisiug nine thousand, one hundred and fifty feet of sewers, the
smallest of which is eighteen inches in diameter. The Allentown Spinning MUl,
where are employed four hundred and ninety hands, and the small establishment
of the Acme Bleaching and Dyeing works discharge all their sewage and industrial
wastes into the sewer system. The thirty-six inch sewer from the east, which re-
duces finally to twenty inches in diameter at the upper end of the line, serves all
told one thousand, nine hundred feet, to which is connected a hotel and a brewery,
besides other properties.
The Liberty street outlet serves over a mile of sewers the smallest size of which
is sixteen inches in diameter. They are located on the hLll. The Allentown Silk
Company, employing live hundred hands have a sewer connection which empties both
domestic and manufacturing refuse into the system.
The twenty inch Allen street sewer is about seven hundred and fifty feet long.
Its upper end is eight inches in diameter. It carries both sewage and storm water,
it serves a territory between the creek and the river and the point of discharge is
over a blulf into a pool below along the Allentown Terminal Railroad from whence
it Hows through culverts and an open ditch under the railroads to the creek. Near
Tilgham street west of the creek is the plant of the Southdown Knitting Com-
pany where are employed two hundred and fifty hands. Dye wastes are discharged
through an eight inch sewer into the creek.
The twelve inch Tilgham street sewer fi"om the east is about two hundred feet long.
Here over the creek is a highway bridge and it would appear that the sewer outlet
is temporary and that the intention is to extend the pipe to the creek. It now
discharges into a little ditch which flows down into the pool at the foot of Allen
street.
The thirty inch Green street sewer serves about half a mile of combined sewers.
Possibly there may be no house connections for sewage only. But at this street
end is the plant of the Excelsior Knitting Machine Manufacturing Company em-
ploying about fifty hands from which there extends a twenty iuch pipe to the creek,
it takes sewage and manufaetural wastes from the Novelty Hosiery Company and
the Givernaud Silk Mill employing two hundred and seventy-five and eight hundred
hands respectively.
Green street is one mile up stream from the mouth af Gordan's creek and Tilgham,
Allen, Liberty, Gordan, Chew. Turner, Linden, Hamilton, Walnut and Union
sti'eet are respectively five hundred feet apart, Union street being near the mouth of
said creek. Thus it is seen that sewage and manufaetural wastes are emptied into
the stream throughout this mile length of the creek at a point about equally distant.
A short distance above Green street the creek turns abruptly towards the west.
In this cour.se at the foot of Fourth street is the Allentown Silk Works employing
ten hands. The plant is built on the bank of the creek and from it is discharged
much spent dye lic|uors. There is a privy overhanging the stream here. Also at
the foot of this street is the plant of Pickup and Keene engaged in dyeing cotton
yarns. The conditions with respect to sewage and trade wastes is identical with the
other dye works just mentioned.
The two foot by four foot storm drain at the foot of Fifth street is not known to
take anything but storm water. It empties into the mill race. It is about here that
Gordan creek makes a right angle turn and the course is up stream northerly
opposite the township.
There is a valley at the foot of the streets in the north part of the city tra-
versed by Sumner avenue in which is a branch railroad track by which an ascent
is made to the plateau on which the city is partly located. At the terminus of
the track large lumber yards are located and in the vicinity a box factory, planing
mill, shoe shop and silk mill and bobbin works. This distriet is served by the
Twelfth street sewer and its branehes comprising a total length of four thousand
feet, the smallest sewer being eighteen inches in diameter. There is no appearance
at the outlet of sewage being discharged therefrom. The end of the sewer is in a
ditch which extends northerly in Twelfth street to Sumner avenue and thence this
ditch follows along the railroad and in the avenue to Sixth street whence it is a
concieie l)()x ciilveri Iwehc feet wide and six and one-half feet high to a mill race
about three hundred feet distant. Near the upper end of Sumner avenue is the
plant of the Alleniown Flint Bottle Company giving emi)loynient to one hundred and
fifty men. Sewage from this place is discharged into the ditch or dry run near
Sixteen lb street. This is about a mile away from the mill race. The avenue is not
a traveled highway.
Outside of the lity limits in the country in Whitehall township, perhaps a mile
from the city line, there is a fertilizer plant and a city garbage crematory. Wastes
from the fertilizer works in liquid form are emptied into a jiool near the creek.
When the water in the creek is two feet higher than normal flow it lh)ods out the
pool. ISetween tliLs point and the riiy line the creek is used as a swimming place
by the youth of the city.
Beginning at the river, and named in (trdir up stream there are nine public
sewer outlets and seventeen private sewer outlets into Little Lehigh creek within
the city limits as will appear by the following table:
752
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
Location.
Ownership
Size
'I'nmt Run,
.Fortlan (.'reek ,
IVnn Street ,
Between Penn and Lehigh
Street,
Lehi^li Street
Lehifih Street (south), ....
Lehigh Street (northi
Between Lehigh and Water
Street (.south),
Lehigh and Water,
Lehigh and Water,
Water Street,
Near Water Street (north) ,
Near Water Street,
Near Water Street,
Near Mill Race
Opposite Fountain Street, .
Opposite Tenth Street
(south),
Near Tenth Street (south).
Near Tenth Street (north),
Eleventh Street
Twelfth Street (north) ,
•Teffei-son ,
Fourteenth Street,
Franklin Street,
Sixteenth Street,
Eighteenth Street,
City ...' 20 inch.
American Steel and Wire
Company, 8 iuili.
City, o(! inch.
Allentown Bottling Works, 4 inch.
Private residences , 4 inch.
Yeager Furniture Company. S inch.
Stable, 4 inch.
Butchery,
Citv 20 inch.
(iabriel Dvi- Works
Liberty Silk Mill 12 inch.
Private Resident, 4 inch and 0 inch.
I'nity Silk Company ■
Lacha Silk Company, ' 4 inch.
Pi-ivate 4 inch and 3 inch.
Mack Brothers Motor Car^
Company, ' 8 inch.
Trayor Engineering Com-
pany, K; inch.
Deifer and Brother (i inch.
City 24 inch.
Dauffer Brewery 8 inch.
City 24 inch by 72 inch.
H. M. (xangeweir. Butcher, 4 inch and 0 inch.
Gang eweir B r o t h e r s'
Butchers, '
Citv 20 inch.
City ;50 inch.
Trout Run enters Little Lehigh creek from the south at a point about two
hundred feet above the mouth of the creek at the river. The luin lien^ is in Salis-
bury townsliij) for a short distance and Ihi'iice for a distance of a half a mile it is
in the South Allentown di.strict of the cily. P.eyond it, it is in the township
again.
At the mouth there is a small soaji works and also several private dwellings with
privies overiiangiiig the run. P>etween the two below the dwellings is the i)umping
station and intake of the water works owned liy the I'liihulelphin and Reading Rail-
way Company and used to sujiply the yards and hicoinolive tanks in South Allen-
town.
A rpiarter of a mile up stream is tiie plant of the Palace Ribbon Manufncluring
Conij»any employing three hundred and se\eiity-live hands and discharging all
sewage to the run tiirongh three six inch pijjes and ad.iacent to this plant is that
of the East Penn Milling Company where there is a privy overhanging the mill
race. Both plants an- in the city. A (piarter of a mile further u]) stream in the
meadow l)esi<le Trout Run is the two lmMdre<l feet dee|) well cased to rock and the
jjump house and the spring formerly owned \>y the South .\llentown Water Com-
pany anfl recently acfpiired, by the P>e||i|elicni ( 'oiisolidated Water Company. A
jjari of Soutli Allentown is supplied by water from this system. Tiie spring is
proter-ted l)y con<-rete masonry covered with plank. The water flows by gravity to
a cislern and is pumped to a slandpiite on lii;;li land when the supply from the well
is insufficient. The spring is apparently a shallow one and may become pollule(l if
tfie neighborhood shoulil be built \\\>. In hii;b water excrytliin;; is flooded out almost
to tlie floor of the pump house. Above, the run \vatershe<l is rural, under cultivation
witli a part of it very mountainous. The population is sparse. However. Ixdow the
sewage going into the i-un poisons tlie water and is a menace to the employes of the
railroad, wlio in spile of warning may at limes drink water diawn from llie loco
motive tenders filled in the yiird.
Jordan creek as has been sliawn , poms into the I>iltle Lehigh creek a (illliy
stream of sewage and manufactuial wastes, and while tliis open sewer has not been
ma<Je the subject of formal complaint to the Stale Depaitmeiil of Health by cilizens
of Allentown, for ob\ious reasons, il has been complained alioni by users of the
I^efiigh river water fjelow Allentown.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 753
Till' twiiity in<h I'l-nii stivt't sewer outlet is one th<)U.>^an(I ffot up .stream froiu
Jordan eieek. It serves a district at the foot of the iiill l)et\veen Penn and
Lehigh streets in wliich there are twenty-one luindred feet of sewer, more than half
of the length being pipe eight inche.s in diameter. The cellars of the dwellings are
wet and the sewers were built primarily for cellar drainage. They are used as com-
bined sewers.
Between I'enn and Lehigh streets is the American Steel and Wire Company's plant
employing over one thousand hands and having many pipes leading to the creek.
One eight inches in diameter empties all of the sewage into the stream. A consider-
able volume of acid water is also discharged from the plant into the creek. The
drinkinir water at this |)lant comes fi"om the city but for industrial uses it is taken
from the creek at a point immediately below the Lehigh street sewer. The com-
pany purities the water by mechanical Alteration but the i>uri"fication is not to the
degree which renders the water .safe for drinking, in all probability. The habit of
employes to drink the water which is handiest has been proven to be the cause of
much sickness throughout Tennsylvania and is accepted as one good reason for the
discontinuance of the discharge of sewage into the waters of the State. Tliis
policy is peculiarly ai)plicable to the Little Lehigh creek above the American
Steel an<l Wire Companj^'s i)lant.
The thirty-six inch Lehigh street sewer outlet serves a total length of sewers of a
half a mile the smallest iieing fifti'en in<hes in diameter. The system takes sewage
and waste from a brewery, and cellar drainage from the houses at the foot of the
hill. Most of the district is on high land.
Between Lehigh and Water street sewage is discharged into the creek from the
Allentown Bottling Works, a ))rivate residence and stable, a small slaughtering
hou.se and from the Yeager Furniture Company plant where two hundred and twenty
hands aie employed, all within four hundred feet of the wire and steel company's
intake.
The twenty inch Water street sewer outlet is about seventeen hundred feet up
stre.am from the I'enn street outlet and four hundred feet up stream from the water
intake at the steel and wire works. The pipe is five hundnnl feet long, was put in
to drain cellars and possibly it does not carry sewage. Fifteen hundred feet up
stream above Water street there is a masonry dam in the creek to furnish water
power. The mill race from the dam is south of the creek. Into this race is dis-
charged sewage from the I'nity and Lacha Silk Mill Companies, each employing
ninety-five and thirty-three hands respectively. At and immediately aliove Water
street there is the remnants of an old dam. Spent liquors from the Babriel Dye
Works goes to the stream here. Sewage from the Liberty Silk Mill where* four
hundred hands are employed when the plant was in operation, was discharged
through an eight inch pipe to the creek and the trade wastes went through a two
foot by three foot stone drain to the stream. Creek water is taken for boiler pur-
|)oses at these works and drilled wells supjily for other purposes. Two residences
in the vicinity have pipe connection to the creek.
Immediately below the dam which is a masonry spillway and an earthen em-
bankment, i)ossibly three hundred feet long, is a small area surrounded by a dyke
which can be flooded by water from the crt'ck. Ice is harvested here and distributed
to consumers in Allentown. .Vnrl into the mill pond the sewage from two private
residences, from the Mack Brother INIotor ("ar Company plant, employing one
hundred and twenty-five lian<ls. from the Taylor Engineering Comi)any works
employing five hundi-efl hands and from the Heifer building, is discharged.
The twenty-four in<'li Eleventh street sewer serves a small district on the hill
and empties into an open ditch part way down the hillside in the vicinity of
LawrcMice street. Naturally it would fitid its way eventuall.\' into the mill {mud op|io-
site beyond Lawrence street, which is the valley road.
Near .Teflerson street the DaufTer Brewery has an eight inch |)ipe connection to the
creek. -Vt the foot of ,7elYei-son street, which is eighti'cn hundred feel above the dam,
the large city sewer serving about thirty-four hundred feet of sewers, the smallest
comprising tlire(> hundred feet of thirty inch and two hundred and fifty feet of
twenty-four inch empties into the creek. West of this street is the water works
pumoing station belonging to the city. These struct\ires are built largely for surfaci'
drainage. The sewage from one hotel is emptied into the main sewer and there
may l>e other similar uses of the system. The iium|)inir station closets are connected.
Two thousand feel u]) stream the sewaj;e from two slaughter houses located within
the city goes to the creek.
Both tlie Si.xteenth and Eijrhteenth street city sewei"s are i>iimarily surface drains
an<l they empty on the hillsides into open water courses or ditches. The latter may
take kitihen drainage or bath room water. The former was dry on the day of th'-
I )epartmenl's ius])ection.
The Sixteenth street drain is tributary to Little Lehigh creek, but the Eighteenth
street drain terminates in Hamilton street and the flow is westerly to Cedar creek.
Outside of the city in Salisbury township is the rendering plant of Ueichard and
Leidy on Cedar creek. All w.isie matters are ilrained into the stream and three
thousand feet further up stre;im near the citv line in the township are some duck
farms. .Vbotit four miles west of the city the sewage from the counly almshouse is
discharged into and pollutes Cedar creek.
48—17—1908
754 THIRD ANN'UAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Just above the Hamilton street bridge over the river to the settlement of East
Allentown in Hanover township there is a dam maintained in connection with the
canal which extends along the ease bank of the river. Into the pool half a mile
above the dam at the foot of Liberty street extended is a forty inch city drain under
construction. Into the canal basin near Hamilton street is discharged the sewage
from a power plant of the Lehigh Valley Transit Company. Immediately below the
dam there is a slaughter and packing house from which all wastes go to the river
through a box culvert. The plant is said to be owned by Arbogast and Bastian.
There is a thirty-six inch city sewer in Hamilton street serving nearly half a mile of
stieet sewei-s. Sewage appears to be flowing from the mouth of it. In the vicinity
there is a tweuty-fuur inch pipe two hundred and fifty feet long which takes
kitchen drainage from the street glitter from the foot of Walnut street to the
river. Immediately below this on the banks is a slaughter house from which the
drainage goes directly to the river.
In East Allentown there is an extensive dyeing establishment employing five
hundred hands from whfch sewage and trade waste got to the river.
There is a city ordinance regulating the use of drains making it unlawful to drain
kitchen water or waste or sewage matter whatsoever or any other injurious sub-
stance into the public sewer. No private estate upon which is produced any material
injurious to the sewer can be lawfully discharged into a public sewer excei)t
through a catch basin to be approved by the city engineer and except such
material be rendered harmless to the .sewer. It appears that this regula-
tion has not been inforced. ^lany sewer connections for the discharge of sewage
have been made and the storm drains are with few exceptions being used as sewers
to-day under city sanction.
The pollution of the Lehigh river at Allentown within four miles of the point
in the river from which the water is drawn to supply the public in South Bethlehem
and Fiethlehem and vicinity totalling twenty-five thousand population possibly, has
been a matter for protest to the Commissioner of Health, the complaints specify-
ing trade wastes as well as domestic sewage.
By far the greater percentage of sewage produced in Allentown is deposited through
holes drilled in the limestone formation into crevices iu the underlying rock. They
are called "sinks" and there are many hundred of them in the city. Some of the
crevices approach the size of caverns and never require attention or cause stop-
pages, while other sinks fill up in time and make necessary the drilling of a new hole.
The underlying structure on the hill is literally a subterranean receptacle for the lillh
of the community. I'rocesses of putivfaction go on there and in the total large
volumes of gases are produced. Within a few mouths an explosion extensive enough
and powerful enough to be mistaken for an earthquake occured in Allentown. It is
reported that people were thrown off their feet and their pictures and bric-a-brac
and other property was injured. Furthermore, that this was not the only violent
explosion from an unknown cause recorded in the city. The occurrence has been
attributed to the accumulation of gases in the subterranean passages there produced
by decomposed sewage.
The city water supply is derived from two springs, Crystal spring within the city
limit at the pump house at the foot of the hill, and Schantz's spring located in the
valley of Cedar creek four miles west of the city. The latter source is the principal
one. The water is piped by gravity to the puui]) house and is thence raised to the
city. The average daily consumption is seven million gallons. Schantz's spring is
said to be good for nine million gallons daily.
Crystal spring is reputed to have a capacity of five hundred thousand gallons per
twenty-fo\ir hours. The quality of this water has long been under suspicion. As a
result of the examination and report on the spring water the use of it has been
practically discontinued since early in uinctccu hundred and seven except at times,
when the pumps connected to the Schantz's Spring sui)ply have been out of com-
mission. Then it has been necessary to purai) water from (Crystal Spring. It is rc-
I»orte<l to be tiin intention of the city to re-arrange the i)ipiiig so as to make it ))0S-
tdble for any pump at the house to draw water either from Schantz's Spring or
Crystal Sfirini;. Thci'c is reported to be an intake to Little Lehigh (Jreek by means
of which should both spring sources |)rove sullicient or have to be temporarily cut
out, Little ]>ehigh Creek water may be itiiniped dire(-t!y to the city.
T'here are a number of private water siipi)lies in us(! in Allentown and vicinity.
Many of the industrial plants have driven wells.
I'j) to iiineleeii hundred and Ihi'ee Ci-.Nstal Siiring was the only sourc(! of piililic
supply. J)iirinK the fall months of nineteen linndred and two there was a typhoid
fever ••pideinic nundjerin;; live hundred and four cases and forly-scncn deaths.
A note of warning had been i)reviously sounded of the danger of the C'rystal
Si)rint; supply because of its proximity to the built up porticm of the city and the
iiieilifjd of ilisposal of sewage into the ground on the hill above the spring. Tin;
followiii}; table will show the prior visiiations of typhoid fi'ver. For years a modern
method of sewage collection atid (lis|)osal has hc-en ur;;ed.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 755
TYPHOID FEVER IN ALLENTOWN.
Year. Cases. Deaths.
ISM 70 9
1895 337 40
189U 128 l.->
1897, 4G 10
1898, 91 19
1899 130 oJ
1900, 141 9
1901 82 17
1902 , 619 7.3
1903 0."> 12
1904 77 17
100.") 139 15
1900, 102 19
imi, 144 23
The proposed plans for remedying the various evils of present methods of sewage
disitosal in the city comprises a complete system of sanitary sewers in the city
streets and the necessary intercepting sewers, pumping stations, force main, outfall
sewer and sewage disposal plant.
The pi'ojected sewers are designed to remove sewage only, storm or street water is
to be excluded and cared for in the existing drains. The system is to serve an
aggregate population of about one hundred and twenty-five thousand people. It is
proposed to build at first sewei-s in the built-up portion of the city. They will
total a length of about sixty-two miles, exclusive of the branch connections from
the street sewer to the curb line. The design provides for extensions into areas now
outside of the city limits, but which in the future will undoubtedly become a part
of Allentown. Tlie basis of capacity is two hundred and fifty gallons per capita
daily when the sewer runs three-quarters full. This is supposed to be sufficient for
industrial wastes. A detailed study has not been made of the question of trade wastes
to the sewers, except to make reasonable allowances in capacity. The minimum
size street sewer is eight inches in diameter increased only where sewage from a com-
paratively large area will reach a volume requiring a larger pipe. The slopes of the
sewers will assure self-cleansing velocities. Special care has been taken to lay the
sewers deep enough in the plan to provide for cellar laundries and closets and give a
slope to house connections of about one-quarter inch per foot. Automatic flush tanks
are to be provided at dead ends and man-holes for inspection and cleaning are to be
placed at changes in line and grade. The sewers are to be quite generally built
in alleys and in other cases where streets are now permanently paved two sewers are
designed, one on either side near the curb line. This method is cheaper and better.
A high level intercepter is planned to collect as much of the sewage as possible, to
deliver it by gravity to the disposal works. This area in general follows the ridges
in the vicinity of Hamilton Street on the south and in general lies west of
Fourth Street.
The various street sewers in the lower areas are to discharge into low level
intercepters leading to the pumping station. There are to be thr(>e of them.
One of these is to follow down the Summer Avenue ravine to Jordan Creek an<l
thence down the valley of this creek on the east side of the flats to the pumping
station to be located near the mouth of Jordan Creek a short way up the valley of
I.ittle Lehigh Creek, at the foot of Fourth Street. The sewer will range in diameter
from eight to thirty inches. Another low level intercepter will follow along in the
vicinity of the Lehigh River, close to the railroad track, at the upper end on the
flats and uniting with the Jordan Creek intercepter at or near the pumping station.
Its diameter will range from eight to eighteen inches. The third intercei)ter is to
collect the sewage tributary to the valley of the Little Lehigh Creek and it is to
extend down the full length of the valley to the pumping station. Its diameter will
range from twenty to thirty inches.
Tlie rising main from the pumping station is to extend along Fourth Street and
to terminate at the high level intercepter at Liberty Street. It is to be thirty inches
in diameter and to be constnicted of reinforced concrete. Several pressure pipes
will discharge by gravity into this force main. For the present considerably less than
half of the sewage of the city will be delivered to the pump house. The total lift
will be seventy feet.
Two four million gallon and one eight million gallon centrifugal pumps are to be
installed. They are to be direct connected engines and the power is to be steam.
thre» one hundred hoi-se power, water tube boilers being provid<Kl. The pump
well will be under the boiler room floor and under tnie-half of the engine room. The
pump pit will contain the suction pipes. The entire sialicn is to lie thirty feet by
sixty feet, interior dimensions. The sewers will terminate in a screen chamber. No
overflow to the creek is i)lanned and no storage of sewage, except that necessary to
facilitate tlie continuous operation of the pumping engines. The well has a ca-
pacity of iietween thirty thousand and sixty thousan(i gallons: the flow line will be de-
pendent on the rate of pumping. Ventilation will be effected through the boiler stack.
The town sewers are to be ventilated through perforated manhole covers and
756 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
through untraped house connections to the maiu soil pipe at each buildiug, the
latest and most approved method of securing a constant flow of fresh air through
sanitarj" sewers.
The disposal works are to be located in the valley of Jordan Creek, about three-
quarters of a mile up stream north of the city limits and opposite the garbage
crematory. The site is remote.
The plant is to comprise settling tanks, a sprinkling filter, a re-settling basin,
sludge disposal outfit and laboratory. Its nominal capacity is to be between six
and seven million gallons daily, capable of working at such greater rates for short
periods. The lay-out admits of additions.
A tifty-two inch gravity outfall sewer from the city is to terminate in a settling
tank, two compartments. They are lo l)e built of reinforced concrete, open on top,
two hundred and twenty-five feet long, one hundred feet wide, divided into two
compartments, one sixty and the other forty feet wide. The average depth
of the sewage will be twelve and one-half feet. It is expected that between
sixty and seventy per cent, of the total suspended particles will deposit on the
bottom of these tanks. This deposit may he removed every month or so, if desired,
or it may be allowed to undergo septic treatment whereby the volume of the
sludge may l)e reduced fifty per cent. Should it appear desirable to remove fibrous
suspended matter which comes from certain trade wastes, before the sewage reaches
the .septic tanks, this may be done at the pumping station and arrangements
for the installation of a fine-mesh, self-cleansing device are provided as to space.
This would handle the low level sewage only.
The .sewage is to be admitted into the tank through a concrete chaml)er on the out-
side, conni'cted l)y i)ort-liolcs sul)merge(l two feet and through tlie end wall. A sluice-
gate to shut off the in-flow is provided. The sewage will pa.ss down the full length of
the tank and around the partition wall and back to the inlet end, wh(>re in the second
half of thf tank there is an overflow weir and scum board two feet deep delivering
the flow to a collecting trouuli. This collecting trough also extends across the out-
let end of the outlet compartment of the second tank into and out of which the
sewagp is conducted in a similar manner. It will be understood that the down and
inu-k passage-ways in the first tank are twenty feet wide each and in the second
tank they are thirty feet wide each. In the main wall, between the first and second
tanks, there is an overflow weir, set three inches above the main weir, and mid-
length of the outside wall of the second main tank there is an overflow weir with
sciun board provided for emergency and over which the sewage would pass directly
to the sprinkling filter.
The bottom of the se|)tic tanks is to slope towards the opii(isit(> end from the inlet.
The depth of the flow line at the inlet will be about eight feet and at the opi)osite
end it is to be about sixteen feet. For draining out tlie deposits there is to be a
twelve inch pipe from each tank leading to a fifteen inch pii)e extending to tin;
sludge area between the tanks and the creek. The plans of the sludge areas have not
been prepared and sidnnitted.
Tiie flow line of the tank is to be at elevation fifty- four. There is a dam across the
creek innnediately below the disposal site. Its el(>vation is thirty-three and fivi;
tenths. Elevation thirty-four may ])e taken as the normal creek level. This figure
refers to an assumed datum. The highest flood recorded here was elevation forty-
one in nineteen hundred and two. In the spring of the current year the freshet
level was thirty-nine and six tenths. Thus it may be seem that tlie lowest point in llie
septic tanks is l)elow llie liigliest freshet line, Ixil four feet aliove the iioniial ci-eek
level, and it is within this vertical height of four feet that tiie li(jui(l sludge must be
disposed of if pumping be not resorted to.
The sprinkling filters are to be laid out niijacenl lo the septic tanks. Their sur-
face area is lo be elevation forty-six, or eigiii feet lower than the tlow line in tli(>
tanks. The cfaicrete floor will alVord an a\'erage depth of filtering material of about
six feet. This material will be crushed stone obtained from local (piarries and will
have an average diameter ranging from one to two and one-half inches.
In plan the entire filter will cover an area between the concrete side walls of three
liundred and fifty-four feet long by two hundred and ninety-seven feet wide. Deduct-
ing iiartiiion walls, comprising the operaliiig gallery which is fi\<' feel four inches
wide and three Inuidrefl iitid fifty-foiii' feet long, di\idiii(; the filter into two (M|ual
units, there is an actual filtering surface of two iind llii liy-eiglil one-huiidredtbs
acres.
The septic efflneni is lo flow into a sni;ill dosing cliaiiiiiei' containing about ten
minules a\erai;e flow and by an arrangement of floiits and valves Ihe dose will Ix;
intermittently rielivered through a set of six hundred and fifteen nozyJes set about
thirteen feet apart at tlie surface of the filter, by means of whi<'li the li(niid will be
sprayed over tlie enlire surface. Over the chamber is to be an oflice and laboratory.
A by-pass is provided to admit, if necessary, a direct flow from the septic tayks to
the filter. The forty-two inch concrele ninin will terminate in the operating gal-
lery, when? will be placed the main distributing pipes and thi' water pipes for wash-
ing and all valves. Off of the lateral thirty inch (list riituting mains will be takcni
eight inch laterals laid in i)arallel rows eleven and twenty-fiv<? one-liuii(li(!tlis icc.t
apart and exten<ling across ea<'li filler unit. 'I'he three inch vertical risei-s capiied
with the noy,/,leH are to braneh from the eight inch laterals. In the operating
galleiy will be i)laced a valvr- on each one of thes(! laterals.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 757
The filtering material will rest upon a false l)ott(jni made of half round tile, six
inches in diameter, nine inches centre to centre, and the concrete from underneath
the tile will sloiic from iiie opcraiin;; ;;alleiy walls nine inches to the opposite
end, wiieii' ill tile cuncrele Hoor is to he huilt a channel topped iiy a concrete slab,
into which tlie How from the tiles will discharge and jiass to a manhole in the centre
of the unit. The collecting main hetween these two manholes of the two filters is
to he twenty-two inches in diameter and it is to terminate in the re-settling basin
just beyond the filters. The fiow line of these liasins will determine the height of the
water ill the iwo manholes and the main c(dleclor. Its invert is to be elevation
thirty-three. The weir outlet is to be thirty-seven and four tenths, so that the pipe
will always be back-Hooded. The bottom of the filters is to be one an<l six-tenths feet
higher, or elevation thirty-nine. So it apiiears that during freshets the settling
basins will be Hoodid, and not tlu' filler Hoor, except during an exti'aordinary floo(l.
The basins are to lie const ruct'ed of concrete bottom and sides one hundred and
twenty fi'et long and one liiiiidre<l and three feet wide, with an average depth of
six feet. Hy a division wall, the basin will be in two units, each fifty feet wide.
The filtrate is to lie disc-barged into an open trough of concrete construction, ex-
tending aeross the entire length of the unit end and thnuigh the sides of it
iiiiiiierous |)orts, oiieiated by shear gates, will admit the li(|iiid lo the basins. Each
unit is to lia\e a conical shaped iiottoni. Parallel cones, ti'ii feet centre to centre
for the first half len;;tli of the unit and thence for the other half the ridge and valley
arrangement is to be. at right angles or lengthwise of the tank with the slo])e
towards the cones. Into each cone is to l>e inserted a six inch cast-iron suction pipe
five feet long, connected to an eight inch suction pipe feeding into a main suction
line in the partition wall twelve inches in diameter and connected up to an elec-
trically ojieiated immp. capacity eighteen hundred gallons per minute to be installed
in a sludge pump house at the end of the basins.
The effluent is to How out over a weir full width of the outlet end of pa<'h unit
into a collec-tiug trough leading to an open outlet channel sloping sides lined with
(oncrete terminating at the creek. The bottom of this channel will be on a level
with the top of the dam in the creek.
The total capacity of these basins, both units, is five hundred and fifty thousand
gallons. The upper layers to a depth of four feet may be drained through pipes
provided for the imrpose into the outlet channel. The sludge is to be pumi)ed on
to land in the vicinity. The grounds have been arranged with the idea of building
a low dyke or levee along the bank of .Jurdan Creek and to have the sludge pumped
on to the land between the levee iiiid the purification works. The entire jilant is so
arranged that no by-jiasses or uupurilied sewage to the creek can occur. All of
the sewage must be purified with the ex(t'i)tion tliat wind shields are not planned
for the filter sides.
The fact is worthy of eiiii)liasis that it is absolutely necessary that the greatest
<-are sliouhl tie exercised in the coustniction of the proposed sewers to make them
tight. The exiiense of so doing is that for first class engineering and inspection.
The cost if the sewers should leak considerably would be a permanent one for operat-
ing exjienses at the disiiosal works and pumping station besides a much increased
first <-ost for additional capacities. The itroposed filt<'r units may. if efficiently
operated successfully treat and purify the city sewage iluring the e.-irly years of
the system to a degree satisfactory io the State J>epartment of Health, but this is
dependent to (luite an extent upon the flow in the sewer. Because in some sections
of Allentown cellars are wet and the ground water level is above the line of the
pi-oiios(>(l sewers, it should be ajiparent that aiiythin?; but tiurht .ioints in the sewer
Iiipe or of other form of constructi<m mi;;lit easily iiiial for the entire system a
leakage of several million gallons. If any huge infiltration should occur, this would
re(|uire the immediate addition of another unit or so at the purification works.
The Commissioner of Health purposes to keeii a careful record of the oi)eration of the
plant. Its succ(>ss will call for extensions .-is the city grows.
Another point should lie emphasized : the public- health will not be s;ifeguainled
if the system bo not used after it is constructed. Compulsory sewer eonneclions
siiould be the rule, 'llie waters of the State which include all irrouiid watei-s as well
as waters flowing in the stream at the surface are being polluttxl by individuals. This
is (-(Ultra ry to the interests of public health and the pra(-tice should ce.-ise bef<n-e a
greater epidemic be visited upon the c(Uiiiiiuuity. A practice whii-li ma.v cause loss
of property and even life by explosion of ;;ases which might start a copflagration of
wide extent ought surely to be subje<-t to resrulation and control by ci(.v ordinances.
And the menace (which should not be considered speculative but a certaint.v> to the
Crystal Spring and private supiilies of water in the city and vicinity is by State
law s\ili.ie(-t to nuuoval. It would be a cunibers(uue undertakiiiir for the Stat(> Depart-
ment (if Health to close up every per(-olatin:r cess-|)0(d or sink in the (it.v and an
expensive firocedure for the property owners; liut even aft(n- this shall have been
ac(-omplished by common consent of the citizens and by city ordinance through the
sewer system and (-oiii|)ulsory connection, the Crystal Sjirini: water should not be
used as a source of suppl.\' untiliered ex(-ept daily i>a(-icriob)i:ical tests of the waters
wiM-e made, jiroving them to lie fi(>(> from sewaire pollution of a pathogenic chara(-ter.
The State Department of Health will ins'itute a sanitary survey of the water
sheds of Trout Run, the Little Lehigh and Cedar Creek and have removed and abated
every soun-e of sewaire iiollution thereon since these waters are used as sources of
758 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc,
public and private supply. The pollutious in the city above the emergency water
works intake must be removed at the earliest moment. The city should build this
valley sewer without fail and notify all estates aud mauufactural draining to the
creek to dispose of their sewage into the city sewer.
The city must also stop all discharge of sewage and manufacturing wastes into the
waters of the State within the municipal boundary or the State Department of Health
must do so. The proposed sewer system will afford the remedy. Industrial plants
whose sewers ai'e below the proposed intercepters should provide pumping apparatus
to raise the sewage to the sewer. However, there are certain kiuds of trade wastes
which are known to be inimical to the proper functions of a sewer and sewage dis-
posal plant. Such wastes should be subjected to preliminary treatment on the indi-
vidual estate. There can be no question about the uecessiti' for the discouliuuance of
the discharge of trade wastes into State AVaters at Allentown. The water works in-
take of the Belhlehems within four miles down stream dictates the necessity. A water
filter is not a germ proof device and it may get out of order or break down. Sewage
emptied into the Lehigh River or its tributaries at Allentown may, within three
or four hours, be introduced through the water works system into the homes of the
citizens of South Bethlehem. Judging from the city policy prevalent throughout the
country, it will be a prudent move for Allentown to foster its industrial interests by
defraying the cost of a careful study of the trade wastes disposal question and of
affording drainage facilities for sui.-h wastes.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved by
granting a permit for the iu^tallation of the proposed sanitary sewer system and
sewage purificatiou works and a permit is herein and hereby granted therefor under
the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That all storm and roof water shall be excluded from the sewer
system and sjiecial care shall be taken to obtain water tight sewer lines. At the
close of each season's work a plan shall be submitted and filed in the office of the
Commissioner of Health, showing all sewers laid during the year, together with any
other information in connection therewith that may be required, in order that there
shall be on file in said office an accurate plan of the existing sewer system of the city
with reliable infonnation in reference to its use.
SECOND: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on the premises.
THIRD: The city shall enforce such rea.sonable measure as may be necessary
to bring about at the earliest practicable moment the discontinuance of the dis-
charge of all sewage and trade wastes into storm drains or natural water courses or
into the waters of the State on or below the surface of the ground within the
limits of the city. The sewer system and sewage disposal worlcs herein approved
shall be built or construction work then-on shall be started on or before the close of
the season of nineteen hundred and nine. It would be wise for the city to have its
experts examine into and report upon the trade wastes drainage problem.
FOL'RTH: Detail plans for the proper and sanitary disposal of the septic
tank and settling basin sludge and drainage shall be prepared and submitted to the
Commissioner of Health for approval before the disposal works shall be put in
operation.
FIFTH: Detail plans of the entire .sewage disposal plant and the low level pump-
ing station as built when the works herein approved is completed, shall be pre-
pared by the city and filed in the office of the Commissioner of Health without de-
lay.
SIXTH: Within three months from the date of any request which the Commis-
sioner of Health may make therefor, the city shall prepare and submit i)lans and a
rei)ort on additional units to the sewage ijurificati(jn works (;f a sudicieiiL total
capacity to accomplish the ])urification of all of the city sewage discliargi'd into llie
sewer system, tog<'llier with that which may be ri'asonui)ly cxpcelcd to bi; discharged
by said system in the near future.
SEVENTH: The city shall expedite the work of interecpliiig tlu' sewage now
going into the Little Lehigh Creek within the city limits above the emcn'gency
water works intake and the private intake at the steel and wire plant and is hereby
pennitted, if it be necessary, to make a temporary outlet for said sewage into the
creek below these points, pending the construction of the sewage pumping station
and outfit.
EICH'I'H: Daily records of tiie operation of th(! entire sewage disposal works,
beginning at the pumping station shall be kept by the city in form satisfactory to the
(JommisssiorK-r of Health, and copies thereof shall be filed in said C,ommissioner's
office. The city shall cause to hav<' ma<li' fi-c(iiwnl iiiuilyscH of tiic crudi' sewage and
of effluents at various stages of the jii-ocess of treatiiienl, suflicient to show th(?
efficiency of the plant and to enable deductions to Ite made therefrom as to manage-
ment and operation. The plant shall be operated for one year under the responsible
HuperviKJon of the experts who designed it, beginning at the start of the operation,
or if not fjy these experts, then by others equally competent to perform such ser-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 759
vice. The results of all tests shall be jiiven to the Commissioner of Health who may
make rules iunl niiulations ;;uveriiiu.ir I lie operation of the jjlaiit in so far as these
may effeet the (|ualilj- of llie effluent (lisehar;,'e(l into the watej- of tlie irreek.
NINTH; Jf at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or sewage disposal works or any part thereof has Ijecome a menace to
public health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner
of Health may approve or atlvise.
Harrisburf,', I'a., July 27lli, I'.HiS.
BARNESBORO, CAMBRIA COl'NTV.
This application was made by the borough of Barnesboro, Cambria County, and
is for permission to extend its sewer system and discharge the sewage therefrom
untreated inio the West Branch of the Susquehanna River within the limits of the
borough.
It appears that the borough of Barnesboro and the borough of Spangler, adjacent
to the former on the south, are primarily mining towns in a recently developed soft
coal countiy on the east side of tlie Alleghenies and in the valley of the West Branch
of Ihe .Sis(|iiehaunn. They are in the nurthwesi part of Cambria County and are
almost surrouniled by Susiiuehanna Township, Barr and Carroll Townships border-
ing Spangler on the south. The borouglis are on the Crtmbria ami Clearfield Division
of the Pennsylvania Railroad, about twenty-two miles north of Cresson. From this
latter station, on the main line just west of the Allegheny Divide, this division of
the I'ennsylvania extends to the north — three branches running — the western one
through Eliensi>urg, the county seat of Cambria, to Indiana, tiie ct'iilral one through
Barnesboro and Spangler to Clierrytree and Dixonville, Indiana County, and the
eastern one through Cambria County to Punxsutawney , Jeft'ei-son County. About
seven mines southeast of Spangler are served by the New York Central Railroad
which has its outlet to the north over the Pennsylvania tracks and further on over
its own right of way to Clearfield.
The West Branch of the Susquehanna rises seven miles southeast of Barnesboro.
Above the lower or northern borough line the river has a waterehed of twenty-seven
square miles all in Cambria County. A small part of the borough of Carrolltown
extends over the extreme upper end of the watershed. About three miles above
Barnesboro on the banks of the stream is the village of Bakerton, noted in these parts
fcr its unsnuiairy conditinn, it being simply a mining village. The mining village
(;r Saint Benedict is located close to one of the branches of the river about three miles
southeast of Barnesboro. There are several other small mining villages on the
watershed above BarnesI)oro.
Forty mines are located within the twenty-seven square miles water-shed of the
West Branch of the Susquehanna above the lower boundary of Barnesboro and from
the majority of these mines considerable quantities of mine drainage are pumped or
allowed to run to the streams where the sulphur water is very noticeable in the
peculiar yellow translucent appearance of the water both above and below Barnes-
boro. Half of these mines are located in terrritory tributary to the river within
P.arnesi)oro and Si)angler, and the other half in territory drained by the river
al)ove these boroughs. There are five mines within the borough of Barnesboro, four
owned by Barnes and Tucker of Barnesboro, and one owned by the Empire Coal
Mining Company of Philadelphia. The water shed above Barnesboro and Spangler
is hilly, almost rugged, although the greater part is under cultivation.
Five miles below Barnesboro is Clierrytree borough in Indiana County, eleven
miles below is Burnside Borough in Clearfield County, twenty miles below Mahaflfey
I'.orough. tw(>nty-eight miles below Lumber City Borough, forty-three miles below
Clearfield borough, all in Clearfield County, ninety-six miles below Barnesboro is the
junction of the West Branch with the Sinnemahoniug Branch at Keating and one
liuiulred and ninety-five miles below is the confluence of the West and North
Branches of the Susquehanna River. The first use of the river water iov domestic
purposes is at Muncy, one Inuidred and sixty-eight miles b(dow Barnesboro.
The borough of Barnesiioro was incorporated March fifth, eighteen hundre<l and
ninety-four. Its ixqiulatiiui in nineteen hundred was one thousand six hundred and
sixteen. Tiie estimated i)opulation at present is two thousand five hundred and fifty.
The i)resent i)Oi)ulation of Si)angler is about twenty-five hundred. There is also a
liopulation of about one thousand outside of but in the immediate vicinity of these
boroughs.
There are no industries in Barnesboro worth mentioning other than mining. A
large part of the i)Opulation consists of the i)oorer class of foreigners.
The inc<ir))o rated ar(>a is about one and a half miles in extent. The West Branch of
(he Susquehanna enters the borough from the south and following a general north-
westerly direction leaves the borough at the extreme northwest corner, about one-
fifth of the total area being west of Ihe river. Walnut Run. entering the river fi*om
the east, is just within the southern boundary of the borough. Porter Run, coming
from the east, enters the river at about the centre of its course through the borough.
The hills rise rapidly from the streams reaching an elevation above them of several
hundred feet within the borough.
760 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The business district and most thickly huilt up residential district is the southern
part of the borouijh joiuins: Spangler and in the mouth of the valley of Walnut Run
OB its northern slope. From this district, at an elevation well above the river,
Chestnut Street e.\tends UDrthwesterly along' the eastern ri\er slope across the mouth
oi I'orter Run valley and then i)ocomes Shepard Street, the principal street in North
Raruesboro (a settlement in Baruesboro borough). The two settlements are about a
thousand feet apart, althonjjh connected by straggling houses along Chestnut Street.
Al)out half the borough population is in Rarnesboro iiroper at the mouth of Walnut
Run. Almost all the remaining i)opulation is con;'entrared in North Rarnesboro.
There are also about five hundred people living in a mining village extending from
North Rarnesboro u[) the valley of Porter Run, (within the borough), and a small
scattered population in the valley of Walnut Run above the principal part of the
town. There are but few houses west of the river within the borough, although just
beyond its boundary to the -southwest is a considerable little village known as West
Branch. Within the borough the river winds through Hat meadow lands several
hundred feet wide, which it annually overflows. The railroad follows the east bank
cf the river through Rarnesboro on these nu'adow lands at the foot of the side
slopes.
The public water supply is furnished by the Barnesboro Water Company which is
a subsidiary company of the Spangler Water CompMiiy and water is furnished by the
latter to the former.
The Spangler Water Company has an impounding dam on the twenty-se^-en mile
water shed hereinbefore mentioned, situated two miles east of Spangler, on
a branch of the river joining the latter from the east, just above Spangler.
There is a drainage area above the intake of about three square miles. This area
is hilly, cultivated lands supporting a i)Opulation of about one thousand people, in-
cluding the villages of Saint Benedict and Foxburg. There are four mine oi)enings
on the shed above the intake from which mine drainage reai'hes the streams, in fac-t,
at times it probably forms the greater part of the stream flow. The intake dam has
a capacity of about four million gallons. It is provided with a twenty-four inch
drain |)ipe.
From this dam an eight inch supply main leads through Spangler to Barnes-
boro. There are several branches from the main in Si)angler and a restricted dis-
tributing system in Barnesboro. In the whole system there are only three blow-offs
aside from the twenty-four im-h drain i)ipe at the reservoir. From the reservoir into
the heart of Barnesboro the total length of the eight inch main is about tweuty-
thousjind feet. It is estinnited that nine hundred and flfty persons are supplied with
water in Si)angler and seven hundred in Barnesi)oro.
In Spangler borough below at least one sewer outlet there is a pumping station
on the bank of the river from which water is supplied to locomotive taidcs of the
Peimsylvania Railroad. l)uring the summer months when the impounding rest-rvoir
sup|)ly be<-onies low, it lias been iiecessry for the water coni)iany in a\'oiding a water
famine, to use this pumiiiiig station at the river, l)y means of wlii<'li tiiis river water
has been obtained as an auxiliary su|)pl.y to the pul)lic. The ri\cr is frequently
turbid and the (|uality of the AViiter is very unsatisfact<iry to the public, but in
Ibis res|);'ct there s;'ems lo bi" little choice between the auxiiiiir.\' source and the
water from the impounding reservoir, from the standpoint of the ctnisumer.
Barnesboro originally owned Its wati-r works i)U( sold out the .system to private?
individuals about eighteen hundred and ninet.v-nine.
It is reported that both the borough of Barnesboro and liie Spangler Water Com-
l>any have given consideration recently In liie obtaining of a more sal isl'acloi'y source
i){ wafer snppl.v.
Owing to the inadeqnac.\' of the suppl\- and liie iiifeiioi- (pialily of the water, there
are still quite a few private wells in use in Barnesboro, pardcidarly in the higher
jiiirts. In North Barnesboro village there are not nnire than ten per cent of tlu^
jieople wli(< use the public water siippl.\', so it is repoi'ted. About niiu'ty jier c;'nt of
til" pro|)erlies in Ih- borough are pi;o\'ide(l wilh loose \'aulled pri\ies. A few cess-
pools of the percolating type ai'i' in use. The common practice is lo discharge wash
water and sink drainage to street gutters and the surface of the ground.
There are .some public sewers but it appears that not over approximately twenty
buildings ai'e (•(jnne<-ted therewith. The existing metiiod of sewage disposal, the steep
slojies of the ground and the general use <d' dug and drilled wells, establishes a
standard menace to jniblic health. Tin- danger is from surface and und<'rgi'ouii<l pol-
lution of the well waters. There have been several typhoid fever epidemics in
Barnesboro and Spangler within a few yi'ars. Records aic unreliable. In no instance
has the oi-igin ix-en definitely traced to the piddic water supply, so il is reported. The
polluiion of the private wells and spi-ings, has iieen the accepted cause. The State
I)eparlmeiit of Hejilth made a thorough inspection and caused menaces lo be re-
moved from the Spangler Water Company's water-shed, during the year nineteen
hundred and seven. Howevei', accidental p(/Ilulion of the waters of the reservoir may
oernr at any lime ;ind the probabilily is very great, owing lo I he popuhilion and
proximity of dwellings lo the streams feeding the reservoir.
The borough sewer sysli-m is largely for surface drainage. The pipes are laid m llie
streets ill the closely built-up rlislrict in Walnut Kiiii N'alley. The liiink sewei' is
twenty-four inches in <liainr'ter and fifteen humlred jVei long in Maple Street and
einptie.s into the liver :\\ the foot of this street (•xtended ; off of il iIhti' are i wo lateral
Hewers, one twenty iiiehes in diarneli'r in ('aroliiie Si reel nod one lifleen inches in
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 761
fliamctcr in .Miirtlui Slrc.-t. Miiplc Slnct piirnllcls aii<l is north of Waluut Uuu. The
two lali-ial sewers were Imilt (hiriiij,' niiK'tccn hiiiulrt'd and live. Street inlet.s for the
admission of surface water ai'e i)ro\ide(l oil I lie sewers.
The horoiiKJi purposes to build a twelve iiieli lateral extension in Marj' Street
northerly from Majde Street six hundred feet and a twelve ineh lateral in Ann
Street northerly a distance of eisht hundred feet. These streets are not paved,
their ;;utlers are badly u:iillied. and because of the steepness of the slo|)es, it is to
save the wear of the hif^rhways that the proposed sewers are to be laid. In the
gutters of these steep streets, deep holes have been washed out, wherein stagnant
pool.-« of kitchen drainajje remain and cause a nuisance. The proposed sewer will
remedy this evil |)rovided the borough authorities make abuttinj; properties connect
with the sewers. This has not been done in .Martha Street, and, therefore, these
sta^'iiant pools are still in existence in Martha Street. Caroline Street is paved and
the conditions therein are. therefore, fairly ;rood. One object of the urfjency of the
Ann Street sewer is to havi' sanitary connection of the public school house at the
conur of Ann and ("hesinut Streets on the hill.
The jieicral sanitary condition of the wh(de bonju^di is not up to the standard.
One of the first thinirs to i)e done in inii)rovin^ tlie health conditions in Harnes-
boro is the proper disposal of household wastes. This should be accomplished by a
proper sewer system. The i)()rouj;h council and local board of health seem to be in
favor of the (\siablishmeut of such a sanitary system. I'nder a proper plan the cost
of such im|)rovenients oui;ht not to be very sreat. Smaller pipes, desiguefl
for house drainafie onl,\', would be suttic-ient. The siirface water draina}r<' facilities
are ;;ood. St<u'm water may be ix'rmitted to How olT in improved street flutters to
the nearest natural water courses. The admission of slorm water to sewers ren<lers
the cast of the sinviu- system excessive and the cost of treatiii;^ the sewajje and stonn
water pi'ohibitive.
Harnesboro is near the head waters of the West Rrancli of tiu" Susquehanna River.
It is desirable that these w-iters should be kept free from sewajre pollution and the
sewer .sysit'iu. therefore, should be desiirned in connection with a sewa,a:e puritication
l»lant. So lonj; :is mine drainajie continues in its present volume the amount of
sewajre s:oin{f into thi' stream is small, and it may not be necessary for the borouirli to
erect a sewajre treatment plant, but the improvement in its entirety should be laid
out; the site of the works selected and wIhmi, if ever, the necessity shall arise for the
erection of the purilication plant, it can be done without renderiiijr useless any part
of the sew( r system or without requirins expensive alterations to the sewer system.
Barnesboro and Spauijler boroughs should jointly consider the sewerajre problem
because it is all one community. Spanuler has public silvers emptyiufr into the river,
some of which have been laid without State apju-oval. The int(>rests of jjublic health
would seem to demand that notification l)e uiven to both municipalities that they must,
either independently or jointly, {jive inunediate consideration to plans for im-
prov<'d seweiaire and submit the same to the State Department of Health, for ap-
jiroval. After such i)lans have been niodilied, amended, approv(>d and adopted, then
the local municipal authorities can build a sewer in any i)articular street from time
to time ill coufurmity with this s^'neral i)Ian. In this way only can efficiency and
econom.v be secure(l.
Owing to the unsiitisfactory condition of the public w-ater sui)pl.v and the ver.v
fjenera! use of private wells, it is deemed to be for the interests of the public iiealth
that sewers should he extend(>d, >vith the riy^it temporarily to empty the flow there-
frcun into the ri\er. The larire flow of mine draiuaire into the Susquehanna River
above I'larnesbcro I'enders this stream ;i natural disinfeclor of sewajre to some extent
and undoidUedly it mitijrates .ijrainst an.v nuisance. .No complaints about the existinjr
sewer outlets have come to the attenliim of the Department, but there is a limit to
(he ami;uul of sewajre which <-an be discharjred into the river without cansinjr a
nuisaui'e under existinjr' conditions.
It h:is bi'eu detei-niiiied thai the interests of the imblic health will be subserved by
jrrantinj; a permit to the boroiijrh of Harnesboro to discharjre sewajre into tiie West
Branch of the S\!S(|uehanna River friun the sewer in Maple Street and in Martha
ami Caroline Streets and from the sewers mentioned in the application, namely,
in Mary and .\nn Streets, under the followinjr conditions and stipulations:
That (ui or before .July first, nineteen bundled and nine, Harnesboro shall either
indi'iit'mlently or in <'onjtin;"lion with Spanirler boroujrh, prepare plans for n compre-
hensive .sewerajre system and select a site for disposal works and submit outlines of a
plan for fleliverinjr the sewajre ultimately to this site for purification, to the Coni-
missimier of Health for apiiroval. In doinjr this it would be well for the municipalit.v
to employ I lie servi-es of a sanitary emrineer of recoy;ni/,i'<l experience.
A notification will be issued by the Commissioner of Health to the boninjrh of
Siianuiler to the efl'ect that on or before .Fuly first, nineteen hundred and nine, it shall
either indeiiendently or in <-onjunction with Harnesbcro prepare a plan for a com-
prehensive system of sewerajre and select a site for disposal works and sulnnil out-
lines of a iilan for deliverinjr the si'wajre ultimately to (his site f(U" purification, to
the Commissi(ini"r of lii'alth for approval. In doinjr this it would be well for the
municipalit.v to employ the services of ji sanitary emrineer of recouni/ed evperience.
'J'he Commissioner of Hejilth will notify the Siianjrier Water Company and the
Harnesboro W.ater Company each, that their (iresent sources of supjily are pre-
judicial to public health and that idans for supiilying a pure and wholesome water
762 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
to the public within their charter territories shall be submitted to the Commissioner
of Health for approval on or before January hrst. niucteeu hundred and nine. Fail-
ure on the part of these companies so to do shall be understood by the Commissioner
of Health to be an admission that the said water companies are unable to fulfill their
charter obligations, and the Commissioner of Health will be guided accordingly.
The local Board of Health of Barnesboro will be requested to make inspections of
all privies and cesspools and to enforce the sanitary maintenance of the same and
the proper disposal of contents removed therefrom. This measure is essential to
prevent surface contamination of wells and springs located on private properties.
Harrisburg, Pa., September 14th, 190S.
BEAVER, BEAVER COUNTY.
This appliction was made by the borough of Beaver, Beaver County, and is for
permission to extend its sewerage system and to discharge the sewage therefrom un-
treated into the Ohio River, within the limits of said borough.
The borough of Beaver is the county seat of Beaver County, has a population of
about four thousand, and is growing steadily. The town is situated on the north
bank cf the Ohio River and on the west bank of the lieaver River whore it enters the
Ohio and is about twenty-five miles below Pittsburg. It is a residential community
entirely. In fact, Beaver borough does not extend to the Beaver River; there is a
narrow strip of land intervening which comprises the borough of Bridgewater and
extends from the mouth of the Beaver River northward a mile and a half to the
borough of Fallston.
Bridgewater lies on a low flat shelf, about thirty feet above the normal level of the
Beaver River. During freshets the area is flooded. Beaver borough lies on a high
plateau about sixty feel above Bridgewater. This higher plateau is of gravel deposit
quite level to the edge of the bluff which is an abrupt slope both to the Bridgewater
borough and the Ohio River. The Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railroad, which extends
up the Beaver River valley, lies on the top of the slope at the boundary line between
Bridgewater and Beaver and passes southerly over the Ohio River to the borough of
Monaca on the opposite side. The Pittsburg and Cleveland Division of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad follow the banks of the Ohio River through Beaver at an eleva-
tion of about freshet line and crosses Beaver River a( its mouth to the boroug;h of
Rochester and thence on to Pittsburg. There is a highway bridge connecting Bridge-
water with Rochester and another spanning the Ohio River between Rochester and
Monaca, both of which are owned by the county and free to the public. The
manufactories of this district are in Rochester and Monaca and comprise glass
houses, brick works, iron and steel mills and pottery manufactories.
The lines of counnunication between Beaver Borough and the municipalities in the
Beaver and Ohio River valleys have been recently developed by the Beaver Valley
Traction Company and are now exceptionally good, in fact every thing points to a
material growth of the district.
Beaver was laid out by the Commonwcallii < ( I'ennsylvania in the year seventeen
hundred and ninety-three as a town site with streets paralleling and at right angles
to the river and one hundred feet wide. The miniicipal territory is rectangular
about three quarters of a mile along the river and about three quarters of a mile
back. At each cornea- there is a public s(|uare and in the centre of the town four
blocks are devoted to park purposes and the court house is situated in one of them.
Extending back from the river through the centre of the town and the iiark is
■ M.-irket Street and at right angles to it. through the i)ark and the centre of the
town, paralleling the Ohio River, is Third Street. This is the main thoroughfare
and its surface is paved with brick.
Ownti to til'.' gravel formation, which is from one hundred to one hundreil and fafty
feet deep, the level of the ground water is re|)orled to be at least one luuidred feet
beiow the upper terrace on which the town is built. Immediately north of the borough
is an abruiit hill whose summit is over two hundred feet above the borough. It is
on this hill that the reservoir for storage water supplied to the i)\il)lic. is built.
Formerly tjie springs on this hillside wvyo the source of supply to the village.
Abotit ten years ago. so it is reported, the borough l)uilt the new resi>rvoir and ex-
tenrled the distributing i)ipeH in Ihi; borough and ol)taiiied a new source of snp|)ly from
the Ohio River by driven wells in the gravel bed tln-reof. The wells an<l piunping
station are located near the foot of Beaver Street in the up-stream i)art of the
borough. No |)lans or report of this municipal system of water works has been filed
in the State Department of Health oflice, ;is required i)y law. II is reported that all
of tiie citizi^ns take the public supply.
Owing to the j)oroKity of the ground ,|)erc()latlug cessi)ools are iiliJi/.ed ns liie nielhod
of disposal of sewage. The dwellings are almost universally provideil vvilli modern
plumbing facilities and while the liijiiid household wastes have bi'en qniti; suc(;ess-
fully cared for by soil ahsorjition , it is now reitresented that the ground has be-
come ihorouglily saturated in places and that the accumubitful organic matter therein,
esiiecinlly dMritig warm we.-.ther. in decomposing produces mf)re or less of a nuisance.
Complaiiils have been made to ihe Diiartmenl relative to this condition.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 763
Thoiv are two puhlic sewer outlet.s in Beaver, one of them is a twenty-four inch
pipe whieh enters tlie river ei^ht hundrefl feet below the water pump house. It
extends the full length in Beaver Street and connecting with it is an eight inch
sewer in Corporation Street, taking the sewage from the buildings on Third Street,
and a short twenty-four inch branch in Fifth Street which receives the surface water
from a small run near Beaver Street. The twenty-four inch pipe was laid for sur-
face water, iuit it is used as a combined sewer. The Corporation Street sewer is
sanitary only. Connecting with this system are sixty-seven dwellings and buildings
serving about five hundred people.
The other public sewer is in the extreme western part of the borough. It is twenty-
four inches in diameter in Buflalo Street from Third Street to the edge of the bluff.
It is said to he used only for surface water. It discharges into the public .square into
an open ditch, which ditch is pa\ed in its course down slope and under the railroad
to the river.
In the extreme northwestern corner of the town in the Hindman Addition there
is a private six inch sewer about one thousand feet long in Sixth Street, which has
not been connected up with dwellings, but is to be in the near future. It will dis-
charge into cesspools to be built in Mill Street at the edge of a small water course
called Two Mile Run. The overflow from these cesspools, if any, will be directly
into the run.
The petitioners represent that the present practice of disposing of bath-room and
inside closet drainage into cesspools is becoming a source of danger to public health
and that, therefore, it is the purpose of the town council to submit to the voters a
proposition to increase the public debt in the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars, for the
purpose of installing a public sewer system for the entire borough territory.
The proposed sewers are to be strictly for sanitary drainage, all storm water is
to be excluded. A conduit is to be provided in every highway, inspection manholes
are to be placed at dead ends, street intersections and changes in line of grade, ven-
tilation is to be effected through manhole covers, flush tanks of accepted design are
to be installed where needed and the minimum grade with one exception, namely,
on Second Street, for a few hundred feet, is to be five-tenths per cent.
For the present two sewer outlets into the river are proposed. Ultimately the
sewage is all to be collected on the lower river bank in the southwestern comer of
the borough.
The outlet for the eastern portion of the borough is to be twelve inches in diameter
and the system is to comprise twentj'-two thousand feet of eight inch pipe, thirteen
hundred feet of ten inch pipe and fifty-.seven hundred feet of twelve inch pipe. The
twelve inch outlet is to connect with the present twenty-four inch storm sewer to the
river at the foot of Beaver Street. Ultimately the twenty-four inch pipe is to be
adandoned as a sewer. This is to be accomplished at once if the appropriation is
authorized. A new sanitary sewer will be laid in Beaver Street and all laterals con-
nected to it.
The outlet for the western portion of the borough is to be fifteen inches in
diameter. It is to extend down Buffalo Street from Third Street to the river and
discharge here until such times as sewage treatment works may be required. Then
inconformity with the plan disposal works are to be erected on land owned by the
borough and comprised within the "Broadhead Square" and on the river bank near
the railroad at the foot of Buffalo Street.
Connected with this western outlet is to be twenty-five thousand feet of eight inch
pipe, fourteen hundred of twelve inch, sixteen hundred feet of fifteen inch and in the
Hindman Addition twenty-one hundred feet of six inch.
It is not an exaggeration to state that Beaver has one of the most exceptionally
favorable sites for a town in the United States. Its conditions naturally are ideally
healthful. With a pure water supply amply protected and adequate seweraue facil-
ities, it will be an easy matter for the local authorities t<i maintain a high degree of
sanitation. The class of residences averages above that of most of the municipalities
in Pennsylvania. Eighty new dwellings were built during nineteen hundred and
seven, every one being provided with latest sanitary conveniences. It is repre-
sented that public sentiment is strongly in favor of the pro|)osed sewerage system
and this would be expected in a town of this class. The assessed valuation is re-
ported to be slightly above two and a half millions of dollars. If it is true that
the present debt is seventy-five thousand doll.irs only, then (he borrowing capacity
of Beaver is in the neighborhood of one hundred thousand dollars.
The petitioners do not want to expend all of their resources on the sewerage im-
provement. The sewers will cost at least (he amount of money estimated and this
cost is to be defrayed by general taxation.
Since every municipality in the valley of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers discharges
sewage into the stream and will continue to do so at least for some time, the author-
ities of Beaver reciuest itermission to i)ut Beaver sewage into the river temporarily.
An exanunation of the borough's w.iter suiii'ly has not been made by the Depart-
ment. Even if it is true tiiat the water flows into the wells from a much higher head
than that attributed to the water level in the river, experience has demonstrated
over and over again that ground water drawn from points always accessible by
sewage polluted waters, is dangerous and a menace to public health, since it is
never known when an accident may occur by which admittance of the poisonous
waters into the water works system may be possible. It is clearly a duty of the State
764 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
to aid the preservation of the purity of Beaver's water supply by bringiug about
the ultimate diseontiuuauce of the discharge of sewage into the river and tributaries
above said borough.
lieaver is the last place of any size ou the Ohio River in Penusylvauia. The
municipalities ou the river outside of I'enusylvauia obtaining their supply of drink-
ing water from the ri\er comprises within a distance of four hundred and lifty miles,
a total population of eight hundred and seventy-six thousand people.
In cities using pure water supplies the typhoid fever death rate is usually main-
tained at between live and ten per hundred thousand population. The rates in the
municii)alities above mentioned, Itelow Ueaver, art^ --in most of them — ranged from
thirty-two to one hundred and one per hundred thousand i)opulatiou, for typhoid
fever. To what extent I'ennsylvania sewage contributes to these high rates must bo
purely conjectural, but there can be no doubt that it is possible for sewage from
I'eunsylvania towns to be transported to these lower municipalities and infect the
pvil)lic water sui)ply thereof.
However, the small amount of .sewage which Beaver borough will put into the river
frt)m the proposed system of sewers might not necessarily increase the pollution of
the river until the sewage of Pittsburg and of all the other towns in the district
above Beaver has ceased to b;' discharged untreated into the river.
Because the States of Ohio and West \'irginia are not conducting an active
oami)aign against the pollution by sewage of the Ohio River, it wo\ild seem that all
a conservatively i)rogressive policy would re(|uire at Beaver would be the anticipa-
tion in the sewerage i)lans of the ultimate treatment of the borough sewage at a date
not earlier than other towns in I'ennsylvania in the district are required to treat their
sewage.
The plans offered comprise a site for treatment works, and the sewers are to be
separate sewers in anticipation of treatment of the sewage. Details as to the i)recise
kind of disposal works are left for future consideration.
The borough of Baden, a few miles above Beaver, has been granted permission' to
discharge sewage into the river until July first, nineteen himdred and ten, because
the finances do not warrant an earlier installlation of sewage purification works.
Should the borough of Beaver perfect |)lans for treatment works and submit them for
apijroval on or before this date, it is believed by the pefitioiu-rs that this is the
earliest time at which the subject should be taken n[> in a preliminary way.
In view of the fact that Rochester and Monaca in the immediate vicinity and above
Beaver put their sewage into the river and will continue to do so until they come
within the jurisdiction of the State autliorities, and in view of the oth(>r considera-
tions hereinbefore mentioned, it has been unanimously agreed that the i)roposed plans
for the installation of the new sewerage system l)e api)roveil, and such approval is
hereby and hr-rein granted and a permit issued therefor, under the following con-
diti(ms and stipulations:
FIRST: Tliat permission to discharge si>wage into liie waters of the State herein
granted shall cease ou the first day of July, one lliousand nine hiiudrcd and ele\'en.
On or l)efore said date the Ixu'ough shall prepare detail plans of sewage disposal
works for the treatment of the borough sewage and submit the same to the Commis-
sioner of Health for approval. If this be done and th(> other conditions of this permit
shall have been complied with, then the ( "onuuissiouer of Health may extend the time
if the interests of tiie public licnitli deniMnd it in which the borough sewage may con-
tinue to be discharged, nut rented, into the Ohio River.
SECOND: All storm water shall be (>xcluded from the sewers, and at the close of
each season's work plans aiul profiles of the sewers laid during the year shall be pre-
jiared and filed with the ('onuuissiouer of Health, together will) any other informa-
lion which iua.\- ite recpiired in relation tiieri'to.
THIRD: .\o patliolo;;ical iiiatcMial from any laboratory shall be discharginl inio
the system. Tlie |ii'o|icr aiil lioril irs sliall cansi' these wastes to be destroyed ou the
I)remises.
FOI'RTII: The lociii aulliorilies shall keep a ir.-oid of nil connections with the
sewer and copies of llie sniiie shnil he suiimitled lo llic Sinle Departiuent ofllealth
wlii-n called for.
FIFTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the Ohio River slmll be null and
void unless wilhin three months from the date thereof the borough shall have filed
with the Commissioner of Ileallh a coiiiplete and satisfactory report and plans of its
wati-r works system.
SIXTH; It is expi'essly stipiilnlcd IhnI Ihis permil isgrnnled under tlie condition
that, if, upon receijit by the Conuni.ssioner of Ilenltii of full iuroi'mnliou regarding
the horoMgh's water wrirks system, it shall appejir thai the source of supply is ren-
derefl prejudicial lo public henllh lo some e.\l<'nl Ihrougli negligence or by acts of the
b(irou;;h itself, then such i-euiedies slinliT)e adopted to prolecl the iirify of said su])-
jdy, iti so far as the boromrii ma.\' be held i'esiionsii)le, as the Conunissiouer of Ileallh
may advise oi- approve. The sjiecial reason for this stipulation is Ihal il may later
apiiejir that the borough's sewage from the easterly oulh-l may endanger llie i)urity
of the driven well supply to some extent, since l''eiler'al Coveriuueiil Dam Number
Six, across the rivei- two miles below I'.eaver, is utilized lo maiiilaiu a pool Ihrougli
the borough f(U' navi;;alion purposes during dry weather, ami an <'xtended examina-
tion may sliow it lo be desii-nble to have Ihis easlerly sewer oiilli'l extended miicli
further down stream.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 765
SEVENTH: If at any time the sewerage system, or any part thereof, shall be-
come a nuisance or menace to public health, then such remedies shall be adopted a.s
the Commissioner of Health may advise or approve.
The borough council is advised that the best practice in separate sewer system
is to have an untrapi)c'd main soil pipe from the sewer through to the top of the
roof of the building, all plumbing fixtures on each floor of course being trapped to
this main soil pipe. Thus a free ventilation of the sewer is affected and no accumula-
tion of gases rendered possilile. It would also be advisable for the borough to
adopt an ordinance regulating the connection of all dwellings with the sewer
system and tiie abandoiuucnt of existing cesspools.
Harrisburg, January 24th, 1908.
BELLEFONTE, CENTER COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Bellefonte, Center County, and is
for permission to extend its sewers and to discharge the sewage therefrom into the
waters of the State within the borough.
Bellefonte, county seat of Center County, is a manufacturing community of up-
wards of five thousand people located in the midst of the Allegheny Mountains on
the watei-shed of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The incorporated
territory is rectangular bciug a little over one mile long east and west and less than
a mile long north and south. Northward through the western part of this area flows
Spring Creek, a stream having its head waters on the mountains twelve miles or
more southerly and flowing northerly to Bald Eagle Creek, entering the latter in
the borough of Milesburg two miles below or north of Bellefonte. Between these two
boroughs lies the Muncy Mountain Range. It is through a deep narrow gap (McCoys)
in this mountain that Spring Creek passes into the Bald Eagle Creek Valley beyond.
Above Bellefonte the watershed comprises twenty-seven square miles up which the
Lewisburg and Tyrone Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad extends. At the sum-
mit is State College borough. This is the only place of importance on the area.
In Bellefonte near the southwest corner there is a small branch of the creek
called I>ogau Branch which rises four miles southerly and pursues its course north-
erly east of and parallel with Spring Creek and joins the latter in the borough. It
drains an area of two and seven tenths square miles of farm land.
In the northwest corner of Bellefonte, Spring Creek is joined by Buffalo Run, a
stream rising in Patton Township and flowing northeasterly along the south slope
of Muncy Mountain range a distance of twelve miles to Spring Creek. The water
shed comprises nine square miles. It is up Buffalo Run Valley that the Bellefonte
Central Railroad extends.
The valleys of these three streams are underlaid with limestone rock, except a
small area near State College where the rock is sandstone. The soil is fertile and
generally under high cultivation.
In the borough there is a dam across Spring Creek below Logan Branch. It is
above High Street, the principal highway of the town. The dam was erected to
create a water power and the head race extends below the dam west of the creek a
quarter of a mile to Lamb Street where there is a flour mill operated by water
power. The land between this head race and the creek is not over two hundred
feet wide at any given point, and on it near the south end abutting High Street is a
large hotel and the McLean Block and the Pennsylvania Passenger Station. The
latter, however, is immediately west of the head race. This line follows the race
and the west bank of Spring Creek and back from it the land rises into a hill. There
is one street paralleling the railroad on the hillside called Smith Street. Along it are
dwellings. A branch (if the railroad crosses the creek above the dam and extends up
Logan Branch valley through the borough. It is alomr tiiese lines that the industrial
plants in the borough are located. Besides the Flour Mill at Lamb Street there is the
plant of the Lingle Foundry and Forge Company west of the creek. The other in-
dustries in the t<iwn ar^ east of the creek. The principal plant is the Pennsylvania
Alatcli Company, employing one hundred and ten hands. There are also lumber
yards and a planing mill and a toy factory.
At and beyond the northern boundary line of the borough on either side of Spring
Creek the American Lime and Stone Company operates large stone crushing plants,
kilns and quairies. The limestone is of i)ure quality and there are vast deposits of it
in the rrgion. It is one of the natural resources of the territory. I'n Buffalo Run
foiir miles the Chemical Lime Company has a plant. In the opposite direction in
the township a half mile east of the borough is the plant of the Empire Lime
Company.
Another natural resource is red hematite ore, mined in the region. It is used in
mixture with Lake Superior ore in two blast furnaces. The Nippauy Iron Company
furnace is on Logan P.ranch just outside of the borouirh. The Belb>fonte Iron Com-
pany furnace is on ButTalo Run, immediately beyond the borough limits.
The town proper is built on the hillside west of Spring Creek. High and Lamb
Streets bridge the creek and then ascen<l easterly to an elevation between one hun-
dn-d and fifty and two hundred and fifty feet hi'jher at the easterly borough line. The
main street at right angles to these highways is Allegheny Avenue. The public
49
766 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
square begins at the intersection of this avenue and High Street and thence it
extends easterly two blocks in High Street. Here are erected the county buildings,
including the jail.
The water works system is owned by the municipality. The source of supply is
from "Big Spring." a wonderful stream of ground water measured to flow at the
rate of twenty million gallons per twenty-four hours year in and year out. These
measurements have not been verified by the Department, but certain it is that the
volume of flow is great and constant, comparatively speaking. This spring is
located at the foot of the hill south of Spring Creek and above the dam, east of
Logan Branch, the match works and the railroad and west of South Water Street.
It has been dammed up and improved and confined in a pool about a half acre in
area. The pool is enclosed by a fence. The fall of water is utilized to create
power to operate a pumping engine located in the power house immediately below the
spring. The pump has a capacity of one hundred and twenty gallons per minute
under ninety pounds pressure. It delivers the spring water into the twelve inch
distributing 'main of the water pipe system. This capacity is insuflicient for the
town's demands.
On Logan Branch south of Water Street just within the borough limits there is
a dam belonging to the water works system, at which an available head of eighteen
feet is utilized to operate a pump having a capacity of seven hundred and fifty to
twelve hundred gallons per minute. The suction of this engine is into a pump well
supplied with water from the Big Spring. Besides two turbine driven pumping en-
gines, there are auxiliary steam engines provided for emergency. Surface water
pumped into the town's distributing system overflows into a reservoir on the hill on
Allegheny Avenue at the southern borough line. It is a stone masonry structure
sixty-thrpe feet by forty-five feet in plan and twenty-two feet deep to flow line.
Whpn full it holds four hundred and eighty thousand gallons.
Blup Spring on Logan Branch four and a half miles from Bellefonte flows over
ten million gallons daily, so it is reported, and numerous other springs add their
quota so that Spring Creek is a large flowing stream of naturally pure water even
in the dry season. However, during times of lowest water the flour and planing
mills in the borough utilize nearly all of the flow of the stream for water power,
consequently there is little water to be found in the creek bed below the dam and
above the tail race.
About everybody takes public water. Individual wells on properties are reported
to be a minus quantity. The prevalent method of sewage disposal is by privies and
cesspools. There are many hundreds of them. Frequently a hole is dug through the
surface clay to the underlaying limestone rock twelve to eighteen feet below the sur-
face. If the rock be open, the hole is walled up and the liquid wastes disappear in
the fissure. If the rock be compact, which is not often, a hole is drilled two or three
feet deep in the rock and a blast fired. In some cases the hole is drilled to greater
depth and the rock is shattered at the bottom by a dynamite cartridge. The limestone
rock dips about forty-five degrees or thereabouts to the northwest. This is in the
direction of the Big Spring in the southern part of the town, but the subterranean
passages may extend in any direction and no one knows the channels of communica-
tion. It is an extremely dangerous expedient to deposit sewage to the rocks of this
region, especially in proximity to a drinking water supply. It may take years for the
field of contamination to spread to the B'\s Spring, Prudence dictates the safe course
rather than the one of risk. Chemical and bacteriological examinations of the water
show a pure supply.
There are six public sewer outlets, all into Spring Creek in the borough. All but
one are below the dam. This exception is a six inch pipe two hundred and ninety
feet Ion? emptying into the stream in the north bank at the foot of Thomas Street.
In order down stream the sewer outlets below the dam are as follows:
Walor Strpet outlet.
Ili'.'h SlFPPt oullpt.
I.amb Sirpet culvprt.
Lamb Street six inch pipe.
West Side outlet.
Water Street sewer is ten inches in dinmeter. It begins at the Bellefonte Academy
on the hill and ijhshck westerly throut-'li private property to South Water Street and
thenee in said street northerly, emi)tying into the creek ten feet below the dam. The
entire length of this sewer line is seven hundred and eighly feet.
IIii,'h Sfreet outlet is twenty-four inches in diameter. It serves the territory in the
public square and south thereof in which there are about forty-two hundred feet of
sewer, five feet being four inches in diameter, eight hnndri'd feet six inches in
diameter, seven hundred and twenty feet eight inches in diaineler and the balance
being twenty-four inches in diameter. This system takes both roof and surface water
and spwaue into the eighteen inch and twenty-four inch pipe.
Lfiml) Street culvert is a stone structure very old and said to be two by three feet
in dimcriHions. It extends up I^amb Street across jirivate properly to I'.iirrows
Alley. During nineteen hundred and seven, the borough extended this culvert which
took the place of an old natural water course by laying a thirty inch pipe in the alley
to Allegheny Avenue. Thence the borough laid two hundred and eighty feet of
twenty-four inch pipe in the avenue to Howard Street and eight hundred and twenty
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 767
feet of eiprhteen inch pipe up Howard Street. Tliis worli was in progrross at the time
of the Department's inspection. There is also a six inch pipe seven hundred and forty
feet long laid in the avenue fi'om the public square northerly to the thirty inch pipe
sewer. This syslcm is also a combined one.
The Lamb Street six inch outlet begins on the hill at Armor Street and is laid in
Linn Street across the public school lot and down Lamb Street a total length of
twenty-seven hundred and twenty feet. It is reported to take sewage only. The west
outlet is eighteen inches in diameter. It extends along the railroad west of it thirteen
hundred and ninety-two feet to High Street. Thore is a short ten inch branch up the
hillside in said street and a short six inch branch in Lamb Street and Smith Street.
A six inch private sewer sei-ving one house only on Smith Street is connected to the
outlet. All told sewers comprise a total length of thirteen thousand, eight hundred
and thirty feet or about two and one half miles. There are no inspection man-
holes provided on the sewers. It is reported that the pipes are not laid to established
lines or grades and that there are no records of the precise location of the sewers and
the branches on file in the public office.
No nuisance or complaint of a nuisance at the sewer outlets is reported. Besides
the public sewers there are numerous private sewers to the streams along Water
Street and on the island. These private pipes extend through the retaining wall and
along High Street they are submerged.
In the neck of the land between Logan Branch and Spring Creek there are dwell-
ings and overhanging privies on the banks of the stream and the race. At the Phoenix
pump house is such a privy. The sewage from the match factory goes to the race
so it is reported.
In the fall of nineteen hundred and six, a six inch sewer was constructed from the
Bellefonte Hospital to Logans Branch at Willow Bank Street. Objection to such use
of the stream brought about a discontfnuance of sewer, The hospital sewer is now
emptied into a hole drilled into the limestone rock.
The additions to the existing sewers for which approval was asked, were under
constructon, all arrangements having been made therefor by the local authorities
prior^ to the time of asking approval of the plan. These extensions were made because
the flood waters on the streets were a nuisance. They comprise the following addi-
tions:
The enlargement of the sewer in Allegheny Street from Burrows Alley to Howard
Street to twenty-four inches.
The addition of a sewer on Howard Street from Allegheny Street to Decatur
Alley to twenty-four inches and from said Decatur Alley to Ridge Street of eighteen
inches.
The addition of sewer on Bishop Street from Penn Street to Ridge Street of
eighteen inches.
It appears that the assessed valuation of Bellefonte is one million, six hundred and
twenty-six thousand, four hundred and thirty-six dollars. Seven per cent, of this
amount is one hundred and thirteen thousand, eight hundred and fifty dollars. The
net indebtedness of the borough is reported to be one hundred and seven thousand .
six hundred and seventy-eight dollars and if these figures be correct the municipal
borrowing capacity is about six thousand dollars only. So the authorities cannot do
anything about changing the present method of disposal of sewage at least for the
present. If the water works indebtedness were to be placed outside of the seven
per cent limitation, the debt being guaranteed by the revenues of the plant, then
Bellefonte might be in a position to take up improved sewage and the sewage dis-
posal problem.
Furthermore, it does not appear that the creek and the stream into which it
empties and the river is used as a source of public water supply until after the sewage
of numerous other municipalities besides that of Bellefonte has been discharged into
such waters.
At a low stage of water in Spring Creek about ten years ago, the owner of the
flour mill on Lamb Street put two foot flash boards on the dam which diverted all
of the water through this mill race. This caused a slight nuisance for a few days be-
cause there was not sufficient water in the stream below the dam to dilute the sewage
emptied therein. The court being appealed to decided that the dam should never be
raised above its present level.
It does not follow because a nuisance is obviated in Spring Creek that sewage
should be emptied into the stream. In fact if care had been exercised in the past to '
keep sewage out many thousands of human lives and millions of dollars expense
would have been saved and there would be no necessity now for the campaign to
preserve the purity of the waters of the State for the protection of the public health.
A district is favored wherein its stream and waters are now comparatively pure and
every effort should be made to keep them so.
The borough of Bellefonte may, with prudence, do two things at once: Fii-st, pre-
pare a comprehensive plan for a sanitary sewer system for the entire borough with one
outlet down stream near a site adapted for the ultimate erection of a sewage purifi-
cation plant. When this plan has been submitted to the Commissioner of Health .ind
approved the sewers may be built from time to time as local necessity may n^quire
with the assurance that economy and efficiency is being secured. There is no reason
why a sewer should not be laid down for a century. It is extravagance which per-
mits the building of a sewer one j'car and its digging up soon after. The policy of
768 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Peunsylvania and of other States to keep sewage out of the streams has been of slow
maturity but is here to stay. Bellefoute can ill afford to go on with a combined sys-
tem The cost of treating sewage and storm water is prohibitive. Every advantage will
accrue by the adoption of a comprehensive sanitai-y system. Besides the economies
of the situation, the present household disposal into lime rock on the "out of sight,
out of mind" plan is hazardous. There are changes going on in under ground courses.
It is safer to confine the poisons ejected from the body to structures wherein the harm-
ful qualities may be handled and destroyed and the sewage after sterilized may then
be discharged into the stream with full knowledge of the degree of security afforded
to public health by the method.
In other states in the Union modern methods of living have demanded auiple legis-
lation to permit of the financing of needed municipal improvements. It is not be-
yond reason to anticipate some relief for towns situated as is Bellefoute.
It has been determined that a decree be issued, and the same is hereby and herein
ordered and decreed that the borough of Bellefoute shall within one year from July
twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and eight, prepare a plan for a comprehensive sani-
tary sewerage system and for a sewage disposal plant for the collecting and dis-
posing of all the sewage of the borough and submit such plan together with reliable
estimates of the cost of building this sewerage system and submit same to the Com-
missioner of Health for approval.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 29th, 1908.
BEN AVON, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
These applications were made by the borough of Ben Avon, Allegheny County,
a-nd are for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage there-
from into the waters of the State.
On July sixteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, the borough of Ben Avon,
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, made application for permission to build a storm
sewer with an outlet into the Allegheny River. At the time of the Department's in-
spection it was ascertained that this sewer was already under construction and that
it would be used for surface drainage only.
On July ninth, nineteen hundred and eight, a plan of existing sewers and of future
extensions to said sewers for the entire borough, was submitted with an application
for approval of the same. This plan also showed existing and proposed storm water
drains.
On August nineteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, the borough made application
for the immediate approval of sanitary sewers to be laid in Walnut Road and Vir-
ginia Avenue, a total distance of about twelve hundred feet.
It appears that the borough of Ben Avon is situated on the nortli side of the
Ohio River, about six miles below the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela
Rivei-s and about one mile below Davis Island Dam. Dams Number Two and Three
are four and six miles respectively below Ben Avon. The borough is bounded on the
north by Kilbuck Township , on the east by Avalon Borough , on the south l)y the
Ohio River and on the west l).y Emsworth Borough. It is reached by the IMttsburg,
Fort Wayne and ^'hicago Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Ren Avon sta-
tion being about si.v and a half miles from the Pittsburg TTuion St.'ition. Emsworth
station is also sihinted within the limits of this borough. Tliere is a trolley line (con-
necting the borougli with the city of Pittsburg and intermediate points. The railroad
tracks occupy tiie narrow strip of land along the edge of tiie riv(>r and just north
of the right of way is a nearly vertical cliff of shaley rockextending about one hundred
feet above the rivi-r. This cliff is cut by liOwrie's Run at tlic west end of the borough
and by Spruce Run near the easterly end of the borough. Tliesi^ runs (iccupy deep.
narrow ravines and there are other runs, usually dry or nearly so, wliidi arc tribu-
tary to them. There is a third run in a shallow ravine near the middle of liie jjorough.
which also empties into the river. This last named run Juis a com|)aratively small
drainage area and is gencnilly dry except for a short time after rains.
From the t<>]> of the cliffs Iherc is a gra(hiiil asci-nl willi grades nvccaging alxiul
five per cent as far as ('liurcli Street, tliis street liciug iil alxiut Iwo-tliirds of Hie
width of the borougli back from the cliffs. Beyond Church Street the slopes arc iiiucli
steeper, averaging about ten jier cent and in some cases reacliing fifteen or sixicn per
cent. This steep slope coiitinu<!S north of the borough a fi'w liutidrcd feel , where tiie
top of the hills are reached. On account of tiiesr- steep slopes in llie upper part of
the borough the vehx-ity of surface water is considerable and, where aileciuate jirovir
Bion has not been made for it, it does more or less damage, waHJiing out street sur-
faces and in some cases damaging jirivate property. Nearly all of tiie borough being
located on top of the cliffs, it is free from inundation, except for two sniall portions
where there are areas of flat land near the nioMths of Lowrie's Run and Spruce Run.
The borough is a n-sideniial suburb of Pitlshurg and presents an attractive appear-
ance. Most of tlie hoiiseH occupy spacious grounds and there is an ahundance or
Hhude trees. Part of tin; streets are paved with brick and others ari' being macada-
mized at present. Most of the streets have permanent sidewalks. A numlx'r of houses
have been erected in a recently improved portion of the borough.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 769
About four and a half miles below Ben Avon the Ixirough of Coroapolis takes its
water supply from filter eribs on the opposite side of the channel. Approximately
six miles below Ben Avon is an intake crib of the 8ewickley water works, from which
water is furnished to the borough of Sewickley and to parts of the boroughs of Os-
borne and Edgeworth and Sewickley Heights Township. Fifteen miles and a half
below, at Aliquippa, driven wells in the Ohio River are used as a source of supply
and the borough of Baden proposes to install a similar plant. The borough of Free-
dom, eighteen miles below, uses water from the Ohio as a part of its supply and the
borough of Beaver, twenty-two miles below, also takes its suiJi)ly from the river.
The population of the borough is at present estimated to be about two thousand and
the United States Census report gives the population for ninet<'eu hundred as eight
hundred and fifty-nine. The borough is growing rapidly and its attractive appear-
ance and proximitj' to Pittsburg should give it a continued and rapid growth.
There are no manufacturing plants in the borough and the only industry of any
importance is that of the Ben Avon Lumber Company.
Water is supplied to the public by the Ohio Valley Water Company, the supply
being taken from a number of wells sunk in the easterly or upper end of Neville Is-
land and in the Olwo River adjacent thereto. The water is said to be of uniformly
good quality and no sickness has been attributed to its use.
The wells vary in size from six inches to twenty-two inches in diameter and there
is a minimum depth of twenty feet of sand and gravel between the bed of the river
and the point where the water enters the wells.
There are a few private wells and springs in Ben Avon. Whenever cases of
typhoid fever occur in the borough, samples of the public water and of any private
water used, have been subjected to analysis by the local health authorities, who
ore very active in the maintenance of the sanitary conditions of the borough.
The private wells are bored or driven and cased with tubing to cut off surface
and sub-surface drainage.
The existing sewers are on the separate system, with additional storm water
drains. The sanitary sewers empty at three points along the river; one outlet is
near the Erasworth station at Forest Avenue ; the second between Irwin and
Dixon Avenues ; and the third is near the Ben Avon station at the mouth of
Spruce Run. All of the outlets, at the time of the inspection, were submerged
and were reported to be so at all stages of the river.
The sysrem emptying through the Forest Avenue outlet comprises about four-
teen thousand seven hundred and seven feet of pipe, ranging from eight to thirty
inches in size. The latter is cast-iron where it extends into the river. That lying
between Irwin and Dixon Avenues consists of about one thousand two hundred
and seventy feet of pipe, ranging from eight to ten inches. The pipe near the
outlet was partially exposed, the earth having been washed away.
The .system discharging at Spruce Run consists of lifteen thousand and ninety
feet of pipe, ranging from eight to thirty inches in diameter.
The middle outlet at the foot of Dixon Avenue is twenty inches in diameter.
On the short length of sewers it serves there are three houses.
Many of the ravines which, form natural channels for storm drainage are being
gradually lilled in by the owners of the property so as to obtain additional room
for buiklinu:. As this filling progresses, storm drains are laid in the bottom of the
ravines or in the adjacent streets. A number of such drains have already been
consti\icted. The borough engineer estimates that at present about half of the
roof water finds its way to the sanitary sewers, the balance running off by natural
channels ov entering the storm drains.
It is reported that there are no ]irivate sewers in use in the borough and that
only two or three houses that are reached by sewers have privies or cesspools in
use, and that proceedings have already been taken to compel the owners of these
liroperties to comply with the ordinance requiring sewer connections. There are a
number of privies in use in a negro settlement on the fiats east of Spruce lliui
and none of these appeared to be a direct source of pollution.
The borough seems to be in good condition as regards private .sources of pollution,
the only caso noted being a privy draining to Spruce Run near the wagon shop
of the lumber comjiany. If this structure has not already been removed it should
he and tliis j)roperty should bo connected with the sewer.
The first application was for permission to construct a storm sewer from a
point near the corner of Ridge Avenue and Brighton Roacl to Spruce Run. On
the day of the Department's inspection this sewer had already been constructed
in order to avoid damage to the roads and complaints from owners of abutting
property. It is reported that this drain receives nothing but surface water, and as
it is i>aralleK^d throuirhout all its length by a .sanitary sewer, except for a short
portion down the bank to the run, the report would appear to be correct.
The second application is for permission to make general extensions to the entire
sanitary s<'wer system as now laid out and also for approval of the surface water
drainage system.
The third application is for permission to build specific sanitary sewers, the
same having b'>en made with the idea of procuring an immediate periiiit.
The borouu;h's sanitary sewer system aggregates about six miles in length and
reaches nearly all parts of the municipality and empties as above described into
the Ohio River, at three points. The grades are good but the pipes are in most
49—17—1908
770 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
cases unnecessarily large for the service they are called upon to perform. It also
appears that the borough has a fairly extensive system of storm water drains to
which extensions are likely to be made from time to time as circumstances may re-
quire. With this system the State Department of Health has nothing to do, pro-
vided sewage be kept out of the drains.
The policy of the State with respect to the ultimate discontinuance of the dis-
charge of sewage into the Ohio River and its trubutaries above points where water
is drawn from the river for drinking purposes has been proclaimed in sewerage
peimits to the boroughs of Emsworth, Osborne and numerous other municipalities
in Allegheny County and it has come to the attention of the local authorities of
Ben Avon that ultimately this borough's sewage must be purified before the
eCauent is discharged into the Ohio River. It is fortunate for the borough that it
has a separate system. Roof water which is now admitted to the sanitary sewers
may, if found necessary, be eliminated in the future. It is not economical to at-
tempt to handle both sewage and storm water in purification works.
There is no land in Ben Avon suitable for a sewage disposal plant and there
is reported to be none in the adjacent boroughs, with the possible exception of a
small plot in Emsworth which is liable to inundation and whifh is reported to be
valued at seven thousand dollars per acre. On Neville Island there is an abundance
of land which appears to be suitable for a sewage disposal site.
This site, hov.ever, is an expensive one, and if it is ever to be used, the
economies of the situation would seem to dictate that there should be established a
sanitary district comprising several municipalities among which Ben Avon should
be one whose sewage would be collected in a metropolitan system of intercepting
sewers and conveyed to some common point for treatment.
Under these circumstances, extensions to the Ben Avon sewer system from tirae
to time on lateral streets is in the interests of public health and the borough will
be in a position at any time to take up the problem of its sewage disposal, either
independently or in conjunction with other municipalities.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approving the sewer system and extensions thereto and that a permit be
issued, which permit is hereby and herein issued, therefor, under the following
conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That storm water shall be excluded from the new sewers and that
it shall also be excluded from the existing sewers at such times as the treatment
of the borough's sewage is required, provided, the exclusion of this storm water
at that time shall be found necessary. At the close of each season's work, plans of
the sewers built during the year, together with any other information in relation
thereto that may be called for, shall be filed in the office of the Commissioner of
Health, to the end that the Department may be always informed of the extent
of the sewer system and the use thereof.
SECOND: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged
into the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be de-
stroyed on the premises.
THIRD: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or any part thereof shall become a nuisance or menace or prejudicial
to public health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner
of Health may advise or approve.
FOiJRTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on September first, nineteen hun'Jrod and eleven. If at that time the other
conditions of the permit have been complied with and all interests demand it, the
Commissioner of Health may extend the time in which sewage shall continue to
be discharged into the waters of the State from the borough sewer system. How-
ever, it is expressly stipulated that this permit to put sewage into the Ohio River
is contingent that within six months from date and on roqiu'st of the Conunissioner
of Health to the borough of Ben Avon to prepare plans, either independently or in
conjunction with some other mimicipality or municipalities, Ben Avon borough
shall prepare such plans in such manner and submit them to the Commissioner
of Health for approval or shall submit evidence that the plans are in process of
preparation and will be submitted to the Commissioner of Health at an early
date.
Harrisburg, Pa., September 34th, 1908.
BRACKENRIDGE, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Brackonridge and is for permis-
sion to extend the sewers and to discharge the sewage therefrom into the Alle-
gheny River within tbe limits of the borough.
The borough of Brackonridge is a new and rapidly growing manufacturing com-
munity of upwards of twenty-five luindrcd population, located on the west bank
of the Allegheny River immediately above Tarentuin borough and below the village
of Natrona, in Harrison Township, about twenty iriiles above the city of
Pittsburg. . , . ,, , ,
The incorporated territory extends from the high ridge which parallels the river
and is distant therefrom about four thousand feet to the river bank along which Water
Street extends. The river frontage is about thirty-eight hundred feet. On the sum-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 771
mit runniug along the ridge north and south is Kittanning Street. While the
hillsides aie steep, they are laid out into streets and luis and the strictly residential
district of the borough is thereon. At the foot of the slopes are the tracks of the
West Penn Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. Lying between the
rivei and the railroad is a stretch of comparatively level land about twelve hun-
dred feet wide and twenty feet higher than the river. Here is the business sec-
tion and principal part of the town. The main highway, Brackeuridge Avenue,
and Walnut Street, parallel the railroad and traverse the densely populated
portion of the flats.
The industries within the borough territory are the Tarentum Glass Company,
employing two hundred hands, and the Fidelity Glass Company, employing three
hundred and fifty hands, and the Anchor Brewing Company. The Flaccus Glass
Ccmpauy, empluying three hundred hands, is located on the borough line in Taren-
tum. It maintains a pumping station for river water, the intake being a few hundred
feet below the outfall of the main Brackeuridge sewer, and it maintains a driven well
supply for drinking purposes. At the first two mentioned glass plants spring
water from the hillsides is furnished the men for drinking, the water being piped
into the works. Public water is used for the industrial demands. The Brewing
Company also has a pipe line to a spring on the hill.
Public water is furnished by the Tarentum Water Company, operated by the
Allegheny Valley Water Company, and the district comprises the boroughs of Tar-
entum, Brackeuridge, Harrison Township and adjacent territory in which typhoid
fever has beeu enclemic. The pumping station is in Brackeuridge at the foot of
Morgan Street, in the central part of the borough. Formerly the water was drawn
from an intake crib or directly from the river off shore and raised iuto a reservoir
located near the corner of Kittanning and Prospect Streets, tbe highest point in
Brackenridge. The Commissioner of Health condemned the supply and ordered the
submission of plans for purifying apparatus. On September si.vth, one thousand
nine hundred and seven, plans for a mechanical filtering plant were approved and the
sauK oidered executed.
From January, nineteen hundred and five, to August first, nineteen hundred
and seven, ther;? were known to have occuired five hundred and seventy-eight
cases of typhoid fever in the water district, of which one hundred and seventy-
fivt were located in Brackenridge. Fifty of these cases were attended during nineteen
hundred and seven, up to August first, although for the same period the records
in the State Department of llealtii's office sbow but two cases. The failure on the
part of local physicians and authorities to report this infectious disease is sig-
nificant.
All of the typhoid may not have been due to infection in the public water.
Private wells and backyard pumps are common and in quite general use throughout
the town and will continue to be in all probability owiug to the water rates. The
population is largely made up of the laboring class whose members will choose
to use well water as long as it is cool and appears to be pure.
The customary outdoor privy and the presence of sink water flowing along
street gutters is noticeable everywhere except on Brackenridge Avenue. Along
Water Street, both above and below the Water Company's intake, nearly all
of the dwellings have small tile drains for kitchen sinks and backyard privies
or for closet drainage, which empty directly into the river. The result of a well
developed case of t.vi)hoid fe\er in one of the houses above Morgan Street might
be the poisoning of the water supi)ly of the entire district.
All of the surface drainage from the hillside which is not collected by the sewers
of the streets there is intercepted at the foot of the slopes by the public sewer
paralleling the railroad and adjoining it in North Canal Street. This structure
conveys all the sewage and storm water gathered from ihe hillside, under the rail-
road by means of sewers in Cherry Street and Morgan Street.
The Morgan Street sewer is a part of the Walnut Street drainage system,
whose outlet, a thiry-si,x inch sewer, is into the three foot sewer in Cherry Street.
This thirty-si.\- inch main extends the whole length of Walnut Street with
branches under the railroad in Morgan Street and in Mile Look Lane. The latter is
at the northern borough line and lakes the flow of a stream from the hillside at
the foot of Fairniount Avenue. The drain is thirty-six inches in diameter at its
ends. The Walnut Street drainage system comprises the following lengths and sizes
of combined sewers; thirty-six hundred feet of thirty-six inch, five hundred feet
of twenty-four inch, seven hundred feet of eighteen inch, seven hundred feet of
fifteen inch, nine hundred feet of twelve inch, eleven hundred feet of ten inch, and
eight hundred feet of nine inch. These dimensions are approximate only.
The outlet of the Cherry Street drainage district is the outlet for tlie entire bor-
ough system. It empties into the river at or near the Tarentum boroui:h line, is
thirty-six inches in diameter and extends up Cherry Street under Ihe railroad and
thence north nnd fouIIi in Canal Street. Durinsr the season of nineteen hundred and
six, a twenty-four inch storm drain was built up the hill in Wellinser, Horner an<l
Roup Streets and Laurel Alley to Kittanning' Street. At the end the |)ipe is fifteen
inches in diameter. It was built principally for surface drainage, but a few
houses have been permitted to connect. The borough did not petition for the
right to make this extension to the sewer si'stem.
Into Cherry Street sewer an eighteen inch sewer in Brackenridge Avenue empties.
It is a combined sewer and is said to receive the sewage of a thousand inhabitants.
772 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. 1^06.
In the Cherry Street district (including Brackenridge Avenue) are the following
lengths and sizes of sewer; sixteen hundred feet of thirty-six inch, fourteen hun-
dred and fifty feet of twenty-four inch, four hundred feet of twenty inch, thir-
teen hundred feet of eighteen inch, one thousand feet of fifteen inch, three hundred
and lif ty feet of twelve inch , one hundred and fifty feet of ten inch.
With the exception of the Brackenridge Aventie sewer very little sewage is put
into the system directly from the houses. Surface waters would accumulate on the
flats to the inconvenience and injury of public travel were they not removed under-
ground. From the sizes above given it appears that a very small percentage of
the sewers now built would be adapted to a strictly sanitary sewer system. Fur-
thermore, if reports be true, less than one hundred dwellings or buildings are con-
nected with the sewere, Brackenridge Avenue and its connected laterals ex-
cepted.
The local authorities propose to extend the sewer in the streets all over the
town.
A new twenty-four inch main reducing to fifteen inch at its upper end is pro-
posed in Cherry Alley, Morgan and Stieren Stieet to the north borough line. This
will serve the district between Brackenridge Avenue and river front. The houses
along its route, sixty-four in all, including those above and below the water works
intake along the river might bo connected to the sewer. The streets are flat,
the soil is heavy and kitchen drainage remains on the streets where at certain
times of the year it creates a nuisance. It is intended to admit both
surface water and sewage to the sewer, and to connect the outlet with the thirty-
six inch Cherry Street sewer at Water Street.
In the Walnut Street district the proposed extensions are largely on the hill-
sides. However, at the foot of the slope on Henry Street northerly to Fairmount
Avenue is to be laid a twelve inch pipe. At present there are no houses there.
There is a picturesque ravine up the hill from the railroad opposite Morgan
Street and to the north of it is Cornelia Street in which is an eighteen inch sewer
v/hich receives surface water from the hill and also house drainage between Thii'd
and Cleveland Street. It is proposed to extend the eighteen inch sewer westerly
and thence northerly in Fourth Street through undeveloped territory to Fairmount
Avenue. The tract bordering this street has been laid out and lots are being
sold. The proposed sewer is intended to hasten building operations.
The surface waters which run down Prospect street from the hill have gouged out
hugh gulleys five feet or more in depth in places and public travel has become
unsafe along this main thoroughfare. Building operations are contemplated,
and the representations of the petitioners — that the sewers are needed to protect
streets and property from destruction by storm water and to save the borough
from making a continual outlay for street repairs — are peculiarly applicable to
Prospect Street. The main sewer is to be twenty-four inches in diameter; twelve
inch laterals are to be provided in the streets extending northerly. The district has
already Vieen piped for water, it is said, and sewer connections will immediately
follow the laying of sewere.
Thf> petitioners also purpose to extend a fifteen inch sewer up Grant Street from
the railroad and to lay spurs to it twelve inches in diameter.
Undoubtedly the future growth of the borough will be on the hillside. Along the
line of the Horner Street sewer and in cross streets there are fully sixty dwellings
which will connect with the lateral sewer proposed in these streets as soon as
they are built.
The contemplated extensions aggregate two and forty-two hundredths miles
which is within one-third of a mile of the length of the sewers now built. The ex-
tensions are to be divided as follows: Twenty-two hundred and seventy feet of
twonty-four inch, three hundred and twenty feet of eighteen inch; twenty-
eight hundred and seventy feet of fifteen inch and seventy-three Imiulicd feet of
twelve inch.
With the exception of Brackenridge Avenue no highway in llie town has its
finrface permanently paved. The petitioners are seriously considering the paving
fjuestifin. It should, howevi^r, not be given precedence over the higher duty of
disjKisin!: of the sewage in a safe and sanitary manner. Not only do the interests
of the public health in Brackenridge demand thai sewage from Natrona and other
up-stream municipalities and ])laces .shall he imrified and i-endered harmless before
reaching the river, but they demand, together with the same interests else-
where in the valiey, that Brackenridge sewag*- shall be purified. It is reported
that the municij»al assessed valuation is in the neighborhood of on(' million dollars
anil that its borrowing capacity, taking into account its present bonded indebted-
ness, is in e.xce.ss of fifty thousand dollars, which if tnie, enables the municipality
to give serious consideration to the means by which sewage treatment shall be
acconi[)lished.
Natrona has been denied the right to extend its sewer and discharge sewage
into the river. The State Department of Health has called for plans for a
purification plant. nMiere is no well defined line belwei'ii Brackenridge and
Tareriliini, in fact nil these places form on(! continuous setilcineiil and it is prob-
able that a competent expert conld develop sewage ilisposal works for tliose set-
tlements under some joint co-operative plan which would prove financially ad-
vantageous to each. One thing is certain, the treatment of sewage mingled
with storm water would prove prohibitive in cost. There must be a separation.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 773
At the present tiiiio most of Brackcnridgc sewers as shown above take the place
of natural water courses and are essential for storm drainage. It would be in-
consistent for the State to approve of a sewerage plan whose consummation did not
bring about the collection of the entire borough's sewage and its deliverance to
some point for purification. It is not made plain to the Department why the pro-
posed sewer on the fiat should not be for .sanitary purposes only and why
all of the lateral sewers propo.sed should not be strictly for sanitary purposes. It
is an extravagant and improvident thing for the borough to jump hastily to the
conclusion that economy and efiiciency will be achieved by the laying of combined
sewers from now on. It is a natural conclusion, however, since the main storm
drains have been laid and they are at this moment (Munenient outlets for the
sewage; but in view of the fact that the Allegheny River and the Ohio are now
and must continue to be the source of public water supply to the inhabitants
along their banks, and in view of the fact that it has become a State policy to
preserve the purity of the waters of the State for the protection of the public health,
the borough should very carefully study how best to collect the sewage from all parts
of its territory and convey it to a place for treatment. In this study existing sewers
may be incorporated to some degree if found practicable, but the lateral and new
Sfwers should exclude surface water. Finally when the plans shall have been
worked out and adopted and made odicial by the approval of the State Department of
Health, the borough can build a sewer in any particular street whenever it may see
fit to do so, with the assurance that the plan is a permanent one, and that it will
be economical and efficient and best protect and subserve the interests of all con-
cerned.
In view of the fact that the borough of Brackenridge has extended its sewer
system contrary to the provision of law and in view of the fact that it did not
take advantage of the exemption clause of Act Number One Hundred an<l Eighty-
two of nineteen hundred and five, its sewage is being illegally discharged into the
waters of the State; and in view of the further fact that the speedy removal
of sewage from the vicinity of dwellings in a system of underground pii)es should
be a means of promoting ptiblic health in the borough and elsewhere if the
sewage be properly disposed of, therefore it has been unanimo\isly agreed that the
interests of the public health demand that a permit be withheld and that the
borough of Brackenridge be notified that it must on or before August first, nine-
teen hundred and eight, prepai'c a comprehensive plan for the collection and
purification of the sewage of the borotigh, to incltide not only those districts which
are now sewered into the river, but all of the municipal territory having its
natural drainage into the river, which plans shall be submitted to the Com-
missioner of Health for approval, on or before that date; such permit is hereby
and herein withheld and said notification given.
The attention of the local authorities is especially called to the advisability and
advantages of co-operating with the proper local authorities of Natrona and
Tarenttmi in the study of plans for the treatment of the sewage.
A hearing should be given to the authorities of these places in order that there
shall be a better understaiuling relative to the requirements of the Department of
Health.
Harri.sburg, Pa., May 25th, 190S.
BRACKENRIDGE BOROUGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Brackenridge, Allegheny County,
and is in resjwnse to the filing of plans by the borough for sewerage and for a
lay out for septic tank and sprinkling filtere for the treatment of the borough's
sewage.
It appears that en May twenty-fifth, nineteen htindred and eight, the Com-
missioner of Health issued a decree to the borough of Brackenridge. Allegheny
County, relative to sewerage in response to an application for permission to
extend the borough sewers and to discharge the sewage therefrom into the
Allegheny River within the limits of the borough.
Among other things the said decree contained the following:
"It has been unanimously agreed by thi> (.overnor. Attorney General and Com-
missioner of Health that tlie interests of the public health demand that a permit
be withheld and that the borough of Brackenridge be notified that it must on
or before August first, nineteen hundred and eight, prepare comprehensive plans
for the collection and purification of the sewage of the borou^rli, to include not only
those distri'-ts wh.iih aii- now sewered into the river, but all the municipal territory
having its natural drainaire into the river, which plans shall be submitted to the
Commissioner of Health for aiiproval on or before said d.ate.
"The attention of the local authorities is espin-ially called to the advi.sability
and ad\antag"s of co-operating with the proper local authorities of Natrona and
Tarentum in the study of plans for the treatment of the sewage."
On October thirteenth of the current year the solicitor of Tarentum borough
informed th(> De|)artmenr that he was advised that the township of Harrison, in
which is located the village <!' X:)iri>iia, has dci lined tn enter into ajoint sewerage
plan, but (hat the borougli of 'rarentuiu has directed its engineer to prepare
774 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
a plan of sewerage and sewage disposal, and fiu-ther, that Tarentum borough will
be willing to co-operate with Brackenridge and Harrison Township if the State De-
partment of Health deems it wise so to do and can arrange such co-operation.
The site of the proposed disposal works is on the river front near the Tarentum
borough line and within one thousand feet of Morgan Street and South Canal
Street and the railroad. In this territory there are a large number of dwellings
and some business blocks. Also Bi-ackenridge Avenue, a main thoroughfare.
Leading to the site two main sanitarj' sewers are proposed each twenty-four
inches in diameter. One of them is to extend easterly in the alley back of Brack-
enridge Avenue and it will serve the greater part of the flats and a considerable
portion of the hill side district north of the railroad. A new sanitary sewer is to be
provided for every street or for alleys back of the streets, and all of the sewage
in the district is to be ultimately collected in the district and discharged into the
sewage disposal works.
Similarly the narrow district in the western portion of the borough on the flats
and hillsides is to be collected in a new sanitary sewer system and be served by a
twenty-four inch outlet in Cherry Street leading to the sewage plant.
The sewers are to range in diameter from nine inches upwards to twenty-four
inches. Some fourteen inch pipe is proposed. Elevations of the proposed sewers are
shown at Main Street intersections as evidence that the design is adapted to the
topography. The elevations of street surfaces are shown at the intersections of
streets. Profiles of the lines of the sewers have not been submitted, and the
location of manholes has not been definitely fixed. It is understood that the
plan submitted is preliminary only.
The borough purposes to build some of the sanitary sewers at once, more par-
ticularly in Stieivn Street and vicinity near the river front and in North Canal
Street. Apart from sewerage the borough also wishes to build a storm drain in
Prospect Street. All of these will empty temporarily into the existing sewer but
ultimately the latter are to bo used as storm drains only.
The site of the disposal works cannot be approved. The odor from it
v/ould be sure to create a nuisance to the injury of public health on the flats. A
more remote site must be found. It is not prudent to build sewage works neai-er
than one thousand feet from a dwelling or from property likely to be used for
residential purposes.
Since the sowers are designed to flow by gravity to the disposal works, this
necessitates the filling in of Stioren Street to a doptli of six feet.
The sewer grades should be adjusted to the official grades of the highways of the
borough in order that abutting properties may obtain adequate benefits from the
sewer. If grades are not established, ihoy should be. It would be folly to under-
take the laying of permanent sowers without this precaution. There is no place in
the borough where a sewage disposal jdant can lie erected and maintained satis-
ff'Ctorily and from information now at hand in the Department, it seems evident
that a proper site for purification works for Brackenridge sewage would be at
some distance beyond the borough. Pumping of the sewage at this site must bo
resorted to for at least that portion of Brackonridgo sewage produced on the flats.
The hillside s,^wage may be (h livorod by gravity. The grades of the proposed sewers
should be determined with a vi(!w of delivering the sewage in an economical manner
to such satisfactcry site and purification works.
It mny be emphasized that Brackenridge borough's financial interests are cen-
tered very materially about the projiosition of a joint sewerage intercepting pro-
ject and disposal works involving Tarentum borou^ih. If a joint project cannot
be consummated, thon each municipality must proceed independently, but certain
it is that efforts should be made by the municipalities concerned to come together
on the subject.
It has been determined that the Commissioner of Health notify the borough of
Bracken ridi-'o and the same is hereby and heroin notified of the foregoing mat tors
and the conohision reached by the State authorities that a revision of the iilant
along the lines herein suggested shall be made and that those revised plans shall bo
submitted without undtie delay to the State Department of Health for approval.
Harrjaburg, Pa., November 10th, 1908.
BRADFORD, McKEAN COUNTY.
This application was made by the City of Bradford, McKean County, and is for
perrtiisslon to oxtrnd a part of il:^ sevvor system and to discharge the sewage there-
from itito Tunungavvant r'rook within the limits of said city.
It appears that the ('Aty of I'.radford, an enterprising and rapid growing manu-
facturin'4 community, is located in the north central jmrt of MoKoan ('ounty
at the forks of the oast and west branches of Tnnung.'iwant C'reok, at a point about
three miles south of the boundary line between the states of New York and Penn-
sylvania.
Neither one of the tributaries is an important stream. The east branch rises in
the mountain-t twelve miles south of the city and takes a direct northerly course.
It is down this valley that the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg I^ailroad aqfj
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 775
the Erie Railroad come into Bradford City from the south. The regiou is an oil pro-
ducing one and along the stream there are numerous small settlements and four
wood alcohol manufacturing establishments.
The west branch has its source about seven miles southwest of the city. On it,
a mile above Bradford, are two chemical works where wood alcohol is manufactured.
The trade wastes which '^o into the two branches from the chemical works inter-
fere to some extent with fish life. Where the waters of the tributaries enter the
city they present a clear appearance, excepting the evidence of some oil waste
which prevails to a small degree all along the east branch.
The municipal territory ot Bradford City is extremely irregular in shape owing to
the topography aud the fact that the development of the town has been along the
streams in the valleys and adjacent hill slopes. The shopping and business section is
on the broad flats at the forks. The valley of the main stream extends northeasterly
and it is one and a third miles northerly to the city lines. The ground along
Tunungawant Creek is from five to ten feet above the ordinary water level of the
stream ani is subject to inundation. The highlands beyond the flats in the main
valley, more especially on the south side of the valley, have been developed and
are occupied by residences. Along the flats are many of the principal industries.
But it is opposite the business section and in the narrower valleys of each tributary
that the larger part of the citizens reside. The west branch is nearly a mile
long within the city territory and the east branch is over a mile in length.
About two thousand feet below the confluence, at Mill Street, there was formerly
a dam and mill pi-ivilege. The city recently purchased the dam and demolished it.
There is now no obstruction to the flow of the streams in Bradford. Before this
change floods in the business section of the city were of frequent occurrence.
The proposed sewerage extensions are in no way connected with the water supply.
Bradford owns and operates the public water works and the citizens have largely
availed themselves of the benefits. The supply is of mountain origin and is brought
in by gravity from one of the tributaries of the west branch. The sj'Stem has
received the approval of the State Department of Health. The citizens take just
pride in the plant
The local industries bear the stamp of the former days of great oil production,
when wealth was amassed and the citizens generally acquired fortunes of moderate
amounts which gave to the place the reputation of being one of the most sub-,
stanlial communities in Pennsylvania. Today many of the residents continue to
make iheir homes in the city of Bradford, though actively engaged in oil opera-
tions in distant fields of the country. As the local industry waned, investments were
made in manufacturing. There are now besides five important establishments en-
gaged in the oil well supply business, and two oil refineries and the repair shops of
the Ei'ie and the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg Railroad Companies, silk mills,
two cutlery works, one extensive foundry, a machine shop, large gas plant, one
terra cotta works and five miscellaneous concerns. About all of these plants take
city water. Six of them have a drilled well supply. The sewage from nine works
goes to the creek. The industrial wells are so inconsiderable, or of such quality,
as to require no consideration in connection with the general sewerage problem of
the town, but this is not true of the sewage proper.
Natural gas is obtained in abundance in and about Bradford. The city is
lighted and heated by this natural product and most of the industrial works use
power generated by gas engines. The natural resources of the place, coupled with
the enterprise of its inhabitants, vouchsafe a future for the municipality and it
should be expected that the local authorities will promptly take up a thorough
consideration of the local application of the State's- policy with respect to interior
sewerage improvements in relation to stream pollution.
The main sewer of the public sj'stem empties into Tunungawant Creek several
hundred feet below Mill Street, whore the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg Rail-
road bridge over said stream is located. This outlet comprises two parallel lines of
twenty inch pipf which follow down the valley from the business section. The
plans filed by the city and now in the office of the State Department of Health
are indofinite and incomplete. Judging from them, one of the parallel outlet mains
passes up the valley of the west branch and the other passes up the valley of the
east branch and into these sub-mains is collected the sewage of the respective dis-
tricts. It is reported that the records of the boro\igh were destroyed by fire several
years ngo and in conseiiuence many details are lacking in the plans of the sewers.
The system was originally i)artly combined and partly separate. For several
years past the local authorities have been gradually eliminating surface water
from the sewers, providing other channels and storm drains to the streams. Hence
at the present time a comparatively small amount of surface water is taken into the
sewers. Roof water, however, is admitted q\ute generally throughout the entire
city. The sewers were poorly constructed and they are known to be in a leaky
condition. The infiltration throush broken or defective joints is very considerable.
There is an overflow from the sanitary system into the west branch at the foot of
Davis Street which conies from the Fourth Ward to the north from which during dry
times the sewage is drained into the m.iin outfall at Mill Street, or into the west
branch intercepter at Ann Street. There is another storm overflow in the West
Branch Valley. It is into the creek at the foot of Mechanic Street and it leads
from the sewers on the north side — the Thii'd Ward^whose flow during dry times
is delivered to the west branch intercepter. From the plans it would appear that
776 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE ' Off. Doc.
there is a storm overflow into the east branch at the foot uf Main Street. How
much of the sewer system in the district east of the stream in the Fifth Ward is
contributary to this point cannot be ascertained from the plan.
Immediately below Mill Street and above the main sewer there is an eight inch
sewer which seems to serve a small district and empties into the main stream at
this point.
Nineteen hundred feet below the main sewer outlet there are two sewers
which empty into the Tunungawant Creek at Kendall Avenue. The one serving
the district to the north is twelve inches in diameter. This is in the Sixth ward.
The one to the south is ten inches in diameter. Eight hundred feet further down
stream there is a fifteen inch sewer outlet into the creek just above the mouth
of Kendall Creek. It serves a local district to the south known as East Bradford
and nine hundred feet further down stream is the last sewer outlet into the creek
within the city. It is fifteen inches in diameter and senses the extreme eastern
portion of the town.
Along the flats adjacent to the upper portion of the west branch in the city in
the vicinity of Washington, Barbour and Corydan Streets there are no public
sewers, or' where such a sewer may exist it is so shallow that the buildings cannot
be accommodated thereby and hence nearly all the sewage is discharged through
private sewers into the creek. In the locality there are also privies along the
stream.
The same conditions exist along the north side of East Main Street below Main
Street.
The petitioners wish to establish a new sewer outlet ten inches in diameter into
the creek at a point opposite the existing main sewer of the city. It is to serve
a main line in Fisher Avenue with branches in Homestead Avenue. It is here that
the Bresser Manufacturing plant has been constructed. A permanent pavement is
to be laid down in Fisher Avenue and the authorities desire to lay the sewer in
the street before the paving is done. The dwellings along the highway are in
need of sewerage facilities also.
To the ten inch Kendall Avenue outlet system it is proposed to build a lateral sewer
extension eight inches in diameter having a length of two thousand feet. To the
twelve inch Kendall Avenue outlet a lateral sewer extension is to be made in
Jackson Avenue and Clark Street, a total length of twenty-five hundred feet.
At the present time there are about twenty-three miles of sewers in the entire
system and if the plans now submitted afford any reliable means of judgment, at
least eighteen miles of the entire system contribute to the flow of the main
sewer outlet. In the mile length of valley lying in the city territory below this
point, the territory is being gradually built up and there are available sites for
manufacturing plants along the low lands and back on the higher ground are the
desirable locations for dwellings.
Immediately over the state line in New York at the village of Limestone there
is a tannery which pollutes Tunungawant Creek At Salamanca on the Allegheny
River in New York, sixteen miles below Bradford, municipal sewage is discharged
into the river. Recently the authorities of that place were required by the State
Health Department of New York to re-devise th(> sewerage system and to build
extensions thereto in contemplation of the purification of the sewage. Other
municipalities along the Allegheny River, into which the Tunungawant ('reek flows,
arc being required by the New York State authorities to prepare to dispose of their
sewage otherwise than liy discharging it into the stream. This policy is a <m)-
operative one., adopted by New York and Pennsylvania to bring about the
presen'ation of the purity of public waters for the protection of the public
health.
The <jity of Bi-adfonl hr.s an assessed valuation of upwards of li\(' million dol-
lars, its pr:'seiit bonded indebtedness is reported to he one hundred and sixty
thousand, three lumdred dollars. If these fignri's lie eoirect, tlie nnniiciiial bor-
rowing capacity is in the neighborhood of two hundred thoiisaixl dollars, so that
the city is in a position, financially, to undertake a change in ils method of dis-
posingof sewage. Fortunately the sewer system is near enough to a sanitary
system to admit of ils adaptation to purification works without any expensive
modificatifm, so it would .-ippear. The cost of erecting a plant will necessarily be
greater than if this sewers were strictly used for domestic sewage. The introduc-
tion of surface water and roof v.'ater also ought to be reduced to a fair juiiiiiinun
amount in tlie interests of ediciency and economy. How nuicli of further sepn ration
is rerpiired is a subject foi- observation aiul study.
The local authorities should engage the services of some one skilli'd in llie ait of
sewage purification to initiate wise plans. The site of the disposal works should be
selected and the meaws of conveying the sewage and delivering it to the plant should
be determined upon. Furthermore, a sewer system foi' tlii> entire city should he de-
vised and accurately planrnd and then these pbitis shoulil be submitted to the State
Department of Health for approval. When aiiproved lateral sewers and other
extensions to the system can then be made from time to time as necessity may re-
quire in the develf)pment of the city with a surety that no reconstruction will evi-r be
required, but that all will ultimately I.e the part of a compieheiisive system of
sewerage and sewage rlisposai works.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 777
The sewers slionld contemplate the interception of the entire se\vii;;e of the city.
Ulumately all private sewers diseharxing into any stream must be discontinued
and so must all sources of .sireani pollution.
The city has proceeded, since the Act of nineteen hundred and five, regulating
sewer extensions, to build sewei-s without application to or approval by the State
authorities. It is fortunate that such extensions have been separate .sewers, else
the money might have been wasted.
Undoubtedly the city of Bradford may nut be n-ijuired to purify its sewage
sooner than sonic of the towns along the Allegheny River in New York State.
However, it is sound business policy for said city to contemplate this ultimate
requirement and make the reasonable iirovisions therefor above outlined.
it has been determined that the proposed sewers will sui)serve the interests of
the public health and that a permit be issued tln'refor, which permit is hereby
and herein issued under tlu- following condition:', and stii)ulations:
FIRST: That storm water shall be excluded from the .sewers and that this per-
mit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall cease on the first day
of May, nineteen hundred and eleven. If on said date the terms of this permit
shall have been complied with, then the Commissioner of Health may extend the
time in which sewage may continue to be discharged into the watei-s of the
State.
SECOND: That on or before May first, nineteen hundred and nine, the city
shall prepare a comprehensive plan for a .sanitary sewer system for the entire
developed territory and for a sewage dispo.sal plant for the 'treatnu'ut of all the
sewage of the city and shall submit the same to the ('oiuniissioner of Health for
approval, who may modify, amend or iipprove such plans and, together with the
Governor and Attorney General of the State, fix the time in which such purifi-
cation works, as so approved, shall be erected, which in no event shall be on or
before May first, nineteen hundred and eleven.
THIRD: The sewer extension here approved shall be built with the idea of
its being incorporated into the improved sewerage system of the city.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 7th, 1908.
liRYN ATIIVN \1LLAGE ASSOCIATION.
Morelaud Township, Montgomery County.
This application was made by the l>ryn Athyu Village Association of Moreland
Township, .Montgomery County, and is with respect to sewerage, in response to
plans submitted.
It appears that on August twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and eight, the Com-
missioner of Health issued a decree to the said Bryn Athyn Village Association
in which decree the plans submitted for the approval of the Comnussioner of Health
were reviewed and in which it was stated: "These works as modified or amended or
some other works which must be approved by the Commissioner of Health before
construction shall be built on or before December first, 15:)08, anu they shall receive
and purify the sewage on said date and thereafter."
On October thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eight, through a proper representa-
tive, the Bryn Athyn Village Association, in accordance with the terms of this
decree, submitted to the Commissioner of Health for his ai)proval, plans for a
sewage disposal plant for the purification of sewage of Bryn Athyn Village before
its discharge into I'ennypack ('reek in Moreland Township, 'Moiitgomeiy County.
It appears that the proposed sewage disposal i)lant has been relocated and in-
stead of at the site of the existing plant it will be const ruir<'<l at a point aboui
five hundred feet further ui) I'ennypack Creek than the present plant and about
midway of the stretch of back water above the old dam which is below the present
plant, thi' proposed site is well adapted for a sewage disposal
plant, being on sloping ground, almost completely screened by shrubbery and trees
and being in a slight depression or ravine opening onto the east bank of the cri'ek.
The proposed disposal plant is to be about fivt> hundred fc.>t from the nearest
dwellings, which are part of the village of Bryn Athyn.
A six inch terra cotta pipe sewer is to be constructed from the two branches in
the principal avenues of Bryn Athyn, which join just east of the Brvn Athyn
station, up-stream following the contour of the bank, passing the existing dis-
posal plant at a one per cent, grade. The present outfall sewer is to be abandoned.
The estimated (juantity of sewage to be handled is reporte<l to be eighte(>n thousami
gallons per day, for which v(duine the disposal plant has been designed. The works
are to provide for Ireatnieni in septic tanks, first and second contact beds, and
intermittent sand filters.
The sewage is to enter a narrow inlet chamber across the ends of the septic
tanks. These are to be of coucrete, twenty feet long and to have an average depth
of seven feet to the flow line. The tanks are to be separated by a longitudinal
dividing wall. One tank will be six feet wide and the other one three t%>et. The
sewage is to enter the tanks from an inlet chamber by means of submerged elbows
six inches in diameter. Each septic tank is to have nine baffle boards transverse to
the direction of the flow, five extending down from the top and between these
four extending up from the bottom. An outlet chamber is to extend across the
778 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
lower ends of the septic tanks. The sewage will flow into this from brass, knife
edge wiers. the one in the larger tank being eight inches long and that in the
smaller tank four inches long. An eight inch cast iron sludge drain will lead from
an eight inch gate valve in the lower and inlet end of each septic tank to the
sludge bed to be located about one hundred feet further down the slope. The
sludge bed is to consist of a sand area twenty feet square and three feet deep
in an excavation surrounded by an earthen embankment three feet high with inside
and outside slopes of one on two. The bed is not to be underdrained.
From the outlet chamber of the septic tanks a six inch cast iron pipe, supported on
boards on the tops of stakes where it extends through filled ground, is to lead
to the dosing tank above the contact beds, which are close to the sludge bed. The
walls and floors of the dosing tank and contact beds are to be of concrete con-
struction. The dosing tank is to be approximately fourteen feet by seven feet by
four feet deep to the flow line. Upon entering, the sewage will flow over a crib
filled with broken stone extending along one side of the tank to act as a screen.
The tank will deliver a dose of three hundred cubic feet and will be discharged
successively by each of three five inch Aerlock Sequence syphons. Each syphon
will discharge onto one of the three primary contact beds to be constructed side by
side below the dosing tank. Each contact bed will be approximately twenty feet
by fourteen feet and wUl be filled with broken stone, to a depth of three and a half
feet. The sewage will br delivered from a small inlet chamber in each bed
by means of a cast iron pipe into the lower part of the broken stone. It is estimated
that a dose from the syphon tank will fill one of the beds to a depth of about
three feet. Each bed will be underdrained by a longitudinal
line of five inch horse shoe tile and three inch horse shoe tile
laterals to a sump from which an Aerlock Syphon with a six inch inlet and
five inch outlet and timing device for holding the sewage in contact any desired
length of time in the primary beds will discharge the sewage to the one of the three
secondary contaci beds below the primary bed in question. These secondary contact
beds below the primary beds are to be similar to the latter in size and construction
and will also be discharged by syphons with timing devices. It is intended at the
start, to retain the sewage in each contact bed \bout one and a half hours. The
dosing tank having a capacity of three hundred cubic feet will discharge on an
average of once in three hours, and once in nine hours onto each of the three
primary beds which will discharge at similar Intervals onto the secondary beds.
Thus, each contact bed will have a resting period of about seven and half
hours.
Three sand filter beds are to be installed just below the contact beds. A gate
chamber is to be located between the contact beds and filter beds, to which gate
chamber the outlet pipes from the three contact beds will lead and from which will
lead the supply pipes to the three filters which will be provided with gates in
the gate chamber. Moreover, by-passes will be provided so that each of the two
outside contact beds may be discharged respectively and directly onto the two
outside filter beds. Thus all three of the secondary contact beds may be discharged
onto any one or two or all three of the sand filters or the contact bods may be dis-
charged individually and respectively onto the three sand filters. A six inch terra
cctta by-pass is to be constructed from the outlet chamber of the septic tanks to
the three way gate chambers above the sand filters, so that treatment of the
sewage in the" contact beds may be entirely eliminated.
The sand filters are to be installed in excavations in the side slope. The up-
hill sides will be protected from suiiace wash by ditches and elsewhere the filtera
will be surrounded by an earth embankment with outside slopes of one on two. The
inside slopes of the excavaUon for the filters and of the embankments will be
one on on?. The sand surface will be one foot below the top of the embankments.
The <hroe filters will be ranged side by side and each will have a surface area twenty-
four feet by thirty feet or seven hundred and twenty square feet and a depth of
Band of about three feet above the bottoms of the underdrains. The sewage
will be spread upon the surface of each filter by moans of an open distributor con-
structed of cypress boards.. Each filter will have seven lines of four inch horse
shoe tile underdrains extending longitudinally the length of the filter and ten feet
beyond th.- lt)\ver ends to a six inch terra cotta effluent pipe. This effluent pipe
leads across the lower ends of the three filters to a manhole and thence to the
banks of tlie creek. , , , , .
The three filters having a combined area of twenty-one hundred and sixty square
feet, will provide for a filtration of sewage at the rate of three hundred and sixty
thousand gallons p(;r acre per day. If the dose from one of the secondary contact
beds is turned onto all three filUsrs it will flood them to a depth of one and a half
inches, or if the entire dose is turned onto one filter it will flood it to a depth of five
The underdrains are to be extended ten feet beyond the lower ends of the
sand filters in order that, if desirable, the filter areas may be extended this dis-
tance, incren-iing their size by about one-third. There is space available for in-
creasini: the filtr-r area to several linioH the size proposed for the present, and for
incn-asinir the other parts of the works.
The coui-se of the Associntion in selecting a more secluded sit(! for the new dis-
posal piant is commendable, although this proposed site is only about five hun-
dred feet from the nearest dwellings. However, the location is quite secluded. It
is believfd that nil parts of the plant are to be above the elevation of the highest
flood stages of the stream.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 779
The septic tanks, having a combined capacity of twelve hundred and sixty cubic
feet, will allow a retention of the sewage in them an average period of about
twelve hours. By using the different sized tanks separately or in combination,
proper septic treatmeui may be given to varying How of sewage which results
from part of the sewage of the Academy of the New Church being discharged into
the system during only that part of the year in which the school is open.
Even with the preliminary treatment provided in the- contact beds, it may be
found dilHcult to maintain the high rate of filtration in the sand filters and obtain a
satisfactory effluent, so that it may be found necessary after the plant is in opera-
tion to increase the filter areas by adding additional units, or to provide for the
chemical sterilization of the effluent before it is discharged into the creek.
It has been determined that the Commissioner of Health should notify the
authorities and the same are hereby and herein notified, that the plans herein
considered embody a design comparable with modern sewage disposal practice and
such a plant as the decree of the Commissioner of Health of August twenty-fifth,
one thousand nine hundred and eight, intended should be constructed on or before
December first, one thousand nine hundred and eight.
Furthermore, the Association is hereby notified that it may be found difficult to
obtain good results with the high rate of filtration provided in the sand filters.
However well a plant may be designed and built, it is only by careful attention
and intelligent operation that it can be made permanently satisfactory in use.
The Commissioner of Health w'ill have tests made of the effluents from the proposed
works at regular intervals and if at any time sewage is discharged from the plant
or institution into the waters of the State to the prejudice of public health, then
the Association shall be liable to the penalties imposed by law for the discharge of
sewage into the stream and further remedies will be required by the State De-
partment of Health and the Association shall adopt such remedial measures as the
State Department of Health or the Governor, Attorney General and Commissioner of
Health may advise or approve.
When the works are built complete plans of them as so built shall be filed in the
office of the Commissioner of Health.
If the suggestions herein contained be followed out it must be understood that this
will in no wise relieve the owners of the responsibility of maintaining the sewers
and sewage disposal works free of all nuisances and menaces to the public health
and of keeping the sewage at all times out of the waters of the State.
Harrisburg, Pa., November 17th, 1908.
CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of California, Washington county and
is for permission to extend its sewers and to build a now sewer outlet and to dis-
charge the sewage therefrom into the Alonongahela river within the limits of the
borough.
It appears that the borough of California is a residential community of about
three thousand population, located on the southwest bank of the Monongahela
river in East Pike Run township, Washington county. It was incorporated as a
borough over fifty years ago when the slack water navigation of the Monongahela
river terminated at Brownsville, four miles up stream.
The site is ideal for a town. The streets are laid out paralleling the river and at
right angles thereto and are broad. The bank of the river is high, and the land
slopes gently back therefrom, forming a plateau to Third avenue. South of this
thoroughfare the ground rises rapidly and the public square which is at the inter-
section of Liberty street extending from the river and Fourth Avenue, is on the
hillside. In the eastern part of the borough there is a natural water course which
rises a half mile or more back in the hills above the village, and comes down through
a steep and deep gorge to Third avenue in the borough. This gully is dry most of the
time, or would be were it not for mine drainage discharged therein from the Vigilant
Mine of the Monongahela River Consolidated Coal and Coke Company. The mine
drainage is pumped into the run. At and below Third avenue this water is con-
ducted through a thirty inch pipe to the river. For convenience this natural water
course is termed East Alley Run.
The western boundary of the borough is marked by Pike Run which separates
California boruogh from Coal Centre borough. The latter is distinctly a place of
resilience for miners engaged in the operations of the region. Tenement liouses
predominate and the population is estimated to be eight hundred. The available
territory is so hemmed in between the river and a precipitous hillside that Coal
Centre will never have a much greater population.
In nineteen hundred the ct>nsus ])opulation of California borough was two thou-
and and nine. The additional population since attained has been due largelv to a
new mine oiierntion of the Vesta Coal Company whose tipple is in the borough at
the mouth of Pike Run near the railroad.
The Monongahela Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad follows the bank of the
river through lx)th boroughs and continues on up and down the valley. At the
foot of Union street which is next west of Liberty street, there is a public wharf
maintained by the borough where passenger and freight steam boat landings are
afforded.
780 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The Southwestern State Normal School buildings occupy a tract of land extend-
ing back from the river to the foot of the hillside in the extreme eastern part of the
town. Not including the local scholai-s who are given general public instiniction
here, there is an enrollment of approximately three hundred and fifty students.
The citizens of California are almost entirely dependent upon the coal mining
industry. The region i-ound about is rich in coal deposit, but the topography is
such that operations at any great distance from California will be likely to cause the
building up of new villages or accessions to boroughs now in existence. In_ fore-
casting probabilities it seems reasonable to limit the size of California which is
now quite thoroughly developed within its present territory limits to a maximum
growth of six thousand population, which growth would involve the annexation of
the village aluug the river to the west and the higher ground to the south.
The citizens rely largely upon domestic wells and cisterns for their drinking water.
The wells are usually drilled to a depth of about one hundred feet. The California
Water Company owns the public water works system and supplies about one thou-
sand consumers in the borough. The source of supply is the Monongahela river,
and the water is taken at a point immediately above the village and distant at
least half a mile. An eight inch perforated suction line sunk several feet in the bed
of the river and covered with gravel extends, approximately fifty feet, into the
stream from the pumping station. In the pump house is a fifty horse power gas
engine which operates the pumps that lift the water in a twelve inch force main an
approximate vertical height of three hundred feet to a sheet iron tank having a
capacity of about two hundred and twenty-five thousand gallons located on the hill
back and west of the borough. From this tank a ten inch distributing main leads
down to the village. There is no attempt made to purify the river water.
Public sewers were first installed in eighten hundred and ninety-six. At present
there are three outlets ; the down stream one is a twenty inch pipe and it empties
into the river at the foot of Union street at the wharf. This sewer extends up the
street to Fifth avenue and connecting with it are lateral sewers ten inches and eight
inches in diameter. All told the outlet and its connections comprise a total length of
three thousand feet.
The next sewer outlet is up stream about six hundred feet at the foot of Peach
alley. It is a thirty inch pipe and connected therewith are sewers comprising four
thousand feet, the "lateral sewers having diameters of ten inches and eight inches.
These sewers were designed primarily to remove the surface waters from the streets
and street gutter inlets are provided at convenient places. Less than fifty
per cent, of the inhabitants live in the dwellings which have connections to the
sewers. The majority of the dwellings are not of the pretentious kind and do not
have manning water in them. Hence kitchen drainage is usually deposited on the
ground or into the back alleys. Tile drains from the kitchen to the alleys are
numerous and in the summer time this deposit of wash water is cause for com-
plaint in certain parts of the borough. Probably as the public water is introduced
into the houses and modern plumbing facilities are installed, house connections with
the sewers will follow. The local authorities have not deemed it expedient to enact
any ordinances requiring compulsory sewer connections for the above reasons.
The Normal School has a private sewer of its own to the river.
The petitioners purpose to make an extension by a lateral sewer in <'ach of the
three districts; in Union street district three hundred feet of ten inch pipe are to be
laid, in tiie Peach alley district three hundred feet of ten inch pipe are to be laid
and in the East alley district one hundred and forty feet of ten inch pipe are to
be laid. Also the open portion of the run is to be abandoned and a thirty inch
pipe substituted therefor.
Also it is proposed to establish an entire new sewer outlet in the lower end of the
borough. It is to extend down Ash street and to empty into the river about one
hundred and fifty feet below the Union street outlet. Connected with this stream
an to be ten inch and twelve inch laterals and all are to take storm water as well as
house drainage.
It is reported that the assessed valuation of the borough is seven hundred and
twenty-six tiiousand nine hundred and thirty dollars and that the bonded indebted-
ne.ss autliorized or incurred and the floating debt together make a sum of thirty-six
thousand eight hundred dollars. On this basis the municipal borrowing capacity
is in the vicinity of fourlecjn thousand dollars. At a recent clciclion llic voters
autliorized a bond issue of thirty thousand dollars, of which five thous;ind dollars
shall 1)6 expended for sew(!iH and the balance for permanent street pavements. Bids
have been received and contracts are about to be awarded for the paving work.
The petitioners wish to lay down the sewers in advance of the street paving.
Tiif new sewer outlet, however, and its connections are on streets that will not be
pavcil this year with tin; exceptitm of th(! laterals.
If the proposed sewers be approved and built, this will i)ractically complete the
constnurtion of the sewer system wilhin the present limits of tli(> borough, except-
ing a few petty laterals for which llu-re is no demand at tin; present time.
The borough of (!alifoiniii is about lil'ty-one miles above the city of Pittsburg and
alon-.: the l)anks of the Monongahela river. In this district tlierr; are a number
of important and growing municipalities whieii dcrivi.' their source of water from
said river.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 781
It is an observed fact that water boi'ne diseases are exceptionally high in rates
in these places. This may be attrilmted partly to the food supplies and to the
low standard of nuinicipal sanitation enforced in these towns. The river traverses
a very active C(jal field and receives in the total au enormous quantity of sulphur
mine water. New operations will be established from time to time and it is not
probai)le that the acidity of the stream will diminish for many decades. The river
by reason (»f the improved navii^atiou works on it above Pittsburg is a succession of
pools in which the velocity of flow is low tluring the greater portion of the year. The
first dam below (,'alifornia is designated lock number four and it is opposite the bor-
ough of North Charleroi about nine miles distant. This dam back flows water more
than a mile abov<- lirownsville. Tiiis pool acts as a sedimentation basin for sewage
anil the heavier suspended matters which are brought into the river. Besides, the
acid in the water have a germicidal and disinfecting effect, and no doubt materially
reduce the number of bacteria in the rivei*. But at times of freshet flow these
natural destructive agencies are materially lessened and pathogenic poison dis-
charged into the river anywhere along its coui-se, is liable to be transmittw] in an
active state to the water worlcs intakes of the municipalities along the banks which
draw upon this source for the public supply, and at such times public health is
pai-ticularly menaced. Any reasonable effort to diminish the menace to public health
from sevvage pollution of the river should meet with the approbation of the inhabi-
tants of the valley.
Such a i)roject tor its consummation requires a careful study of the question and
the preparation of comprehensive plans and the adoption of a unifoiin policy
for the entire valley whereby sewers may be built from year to year in the several
mvuiicipalities in conformity to this general policy whose ultimate' object is to elimi-
nate the grosser pollutions from the river. It is perfectly feasible for the local au-
thorities of California to contemplate such an ultimate sewerage system and sewage
disposal works anil to plan for it and adopt a plan subject to the approval of the
State, and thereafter conform to the plan thus wisely approaching the time when
not only its sewage shall be subject to such treatment as the interests of the public
health may require, but when the sewage from all the other municipalities in the
valley shall be likewise treated.
It is evident that the borough is not financially able to erect purification works
now even if this were at once necessai'y. When the time shall have arrived for
such erection then a separation to some practicable degree of the sewage from storm
drainage would l)e necessary, since it is prohibitive in cost to attempt to purify
mingled sewage and storm water, and since it is during the storm period that the
greatest menace to public health occurs in the Monongahela river valley from sewage
pollution. This condition is peculiar to this valley. In many other streams the
greatest danger occurs when the flow of the stream is the least. Therefore, it be-
comes evident that no time should be wasted by the local authorities in devising a
perfect plan for the ultimate collection of the entire sewage of the borough and
for its conveyance to and treatment at a sewage disposal plant.
It has been determined that the proposed extension will subserve the public
health and that a permit be granted therefor and said permit is hereby and herein
granted . under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIKST: That all .sewer connections with the proposed sewers shall be under
such terms and conditions that if necessary the borough authorities may eliminate
the sewage from the pipes and .substitute therefor other conduits designed to remove
sewage, or if it be found advisable in the future to incorporate a portion of the exist-
ing sewers into the improved sewerage plan, then such roof water as may be
admitted to the sewer system herein approved, shall be excluded from the system
as may then apiiear to be desirable.
SECOND: That at the end of each year a plan of the sewei-s built shall be pre-
pared and submitted to the Commissioner of Health to the end that the Department
shall be always fully informed of the extent of the existing sewers. And together
with these plans such other information shall be submitted as may be required in
relation thereto.
TIIIKD: This permit to discharge sewage into the watere of the State shall
cease on the flrst day of May, nineteen hundred and eleven. If on .said date the
other terms of this permit shall have been complied with, then the Commissioner of
Health may extend the time in which sewage may continue to discharge into State
waters. .Vnd on or before the first day of May, nineteen hundred and eleven, the
borough shall prepare and submit to the Commissioner of Health for consideration
and ap))roval a comprehensive plan for the collection of all of the sewage of the
boroudi and its conveyance to and treatment in a purification plant. These plans
may be modified, ameufled or approved by the Commissioner of Health and the time
fixed in which the disposal works shall be erected, this time to be named consistent
with the policy of the State wirh respect to the disposal of sewage at the other
municipalities in the Monongahela river valley.
Harrisburg, Pa., :\Iay 7, 1908.
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS, CRAWFORD COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Cambridge Springs, Crawford
county, and is for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage
therefrom into the waters t)f the Stale.
50
782 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. DoC.
It appears that on June fifth, nineteen hundred and six, the borough of Cam-
bridge Springs, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, applied for permission to extend
its sewerage system and to discharge sewage therefrom into the waters of the
State. On April twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and seven, the Commissioner of
Health issued a decree withholding permission to extend the sewers in the borough
until the borough is prepared to intercept and convey the sewage to some point below
the water works intake and there purify it before the liquid is discharged into
French Creek, according to plans to be approved by the State Department of
Health. Provided, however, that sewage may be temporarily permitted to dis-
charge into French Creek at some point below the water works intake, to be ap-
proved by the Commissioner of Health, if the borough is, during this time, filtering
French Creek water supplied by it to the consumers in the borough. It was
further stated that the use of French Creek water as a source of public supply,
unless the water be filtered, is prejudicial to the public health. Furthermore, the
Commissioner requested the said authorities at that time to adopt ways and means
to bring about at the earliest practicable moment the construction of a water filtra-
tion plant according to plans to be approved by the State Department of Health.
The plans for filtration works were approved by the Commissioner of Health on
August fifteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, a slight modification of the approval
of said plans concerning the pump well was made uuder date of October second,
nineteen hundred and seven. On June third, nineteen hundred and eight, the
borough represented, among other things, that it is now constructing, and will
have completed within about four weeks, a filter plant in accordance with the
plans and specifications approved by the Commissioner of Health and that as soon
as the filter plant is completed all water used in the borough water system will be
taken from French Creek and filtered before being discharged in the water mains
belonging to the inhabitants of the borough, and applied for permission to extend
the public sewer system, in accordance with profiles submitted. Plans of the puri-
fication works, as called for in the decree, have not been submitted.
The borough of Cambridge Springs is located in the northern part of Crawford
county on French Creek and has a normal population of about eighteen hundred.
During the summer months people resort to the hills and springs in the vicinity and
the population increases to forty-five hundred, or thereabouts. As above men-
tioned the municipality owns it own water works, but this water has not been
used throughout the borough generally for drinking purposes, owing to its being
polluted. Numerous private driven wells are scattered over the town, from which
the people take most of their drinking water.
French Creek is extremely sluggish in flow for a distance of about three miles
above and about three miles below the borough and has the appearance of a pond
more than of a flowing creek. This affords good boating and canoeing for the sum-
mer visitors and for the picnickers who frequent the picnic grounds along the banks
of the stream. The watershed area above Cambridge Springs is about five hundred
and seventy square miles. It discharges into the AllcgliL'uy river at Franklin City,
forty miles below. Plans for the use of the creek waters at the latter place have
been approved by the Commissioner of Health.
The present sewerage system of Cambridge Springs comprises three sewer outlets
into French Creek. There is a total length of three and one-tenth miles of sew^ers
tributary to them. Approximately two-thirds of the normal population live in dwell-
ings connected to the sewerage system, while the remaining third have privies.
The summer visitors as a rule seek quarters in the hotels and buiklings having sewer
connection Of this population over fifty per cent, discharge their sewage into
French Creek about four hundred feet above the water works intake. The other
two outlets discharge into the creek about three hundred and eight hundred feet,
respectively, below said water works intake. These outlets named in order are
the South Main street outlet, the North Side district outlet and the Grant street
The petitioners repre.sent that they wish to continue the South Main street sewer
by extending its outlet along the bank of French Creek to the Grant street outlet,
where it will intercept said outlet and discharge into French Creek at tliis point.
The pipe is to be twenty-four inches in diameter and eleven hundred and foily feet
long laid to a three-tenths per cent, grade. Its oi)ject is to carry I lie sewage now
being discharged into the creek above the water works intake to l)elow the same.
The petitioners also wish to extend the C^hurch str<>et sewer from the end of the
present sewer eastwardly a distance of aV)out seven hundred feet to Thomas street,
size to be twelve inches in diameter, thence up Thomas street by an eight inch pipe
fourteen hundred feet to Fullerton avenue; to connect with the Thomas street
sewer proposed an eight inch sewer in Spring street westwanJIy four hiiiidred feet;
to connect with the pr()i)OKed Thomas street sewer an (Mght inch sewer in I'.eech ave-
nue westwardly five hundred feet; to construct an eislit ineh sewer in KIder street.
from Root avenue to tlie Venango avenue sewer, a distance of about nine hundred
feet- to extend the Ciiinmings street sewer to Spring street with an eiglit inch pipe,
a'distance of two hundred feet, thence eastwardly on Si)ring street to Ross avenue,
thence south on said Ross avenue, a total distance of six hundred and fifty feet.
The total extensions of sewers exclusive of the extensions to the South Main street
outlet will be slightly over four-fifths of a mile.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 783
The borough ofTicials represent that the conditions existinjj in the horouffh in the
districts to be reached by the proposed sewers are extremely unsanitary in as much
as sewa;(e is beiny discharged into street gutters. The borough has complied with
the terms of the decree issued by the Commissioner of Health in so far as it has
forwarded plans for approval to extend the outlet aiiove the water works intake to a
point below. It appears that the borough will shortly have a water filtration plant
in operation, but it has not complit-d with the provision of the sewerage decree
which called for plans for a disposal works.
If permission be granted to extend the outlet below the water works intake it will
diminish the danger of sewage pollution of the borough public water supply and to
this extent the interests of the public health will be subserved. But because French
Creek is a source of emergency supply to Franklin City and probably to Meadville,
it is essential that the watere of the stream be preserved in their purity. Cam-
bridge Springs does not have sufficient funds to pay for a sewage disposal plant.
The municipal borrowing capacity has been practically reached, but the local au-
thorities should prepare plans for sewage disposal works and submit them to the
Commissioner of Health with estimates of cost, and after adoption, means for the
erection of such works should be sought. Owing to the great decree of sedimenta-
tion and natural purification which takes place in the sluggish flow of French
Creek between the borough of Franklin City, the danger to public health will not
be greatly increased over and above the present danger by the discharge of the
existing sewers into the stream, if the proposed sewers be built.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by granting a permit and permission is hereby and herein granted to extend the
sewers as outlined herein, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: All roof and storm water shall be excluded from the proposed sewei-s.
At the close of each season's work a plan of the sewer extensions made during the
year shall be prepared and filed with the Commissioner of Ilealth to the end that the
State Department may be always informed of the extent of the sewer system an(i
its use, but this permission shall not apply to any other than the particular sewers
hereinbefore mentioned. The existing sewers receive both sewage and storm water
and before sewage purification works can be erected and operated at a reasonable
cost, it will be necessary in all probability that sewage be separated from storm
water. The borough shall prepare a complete sewerage plan for the collection of all
the sewage of the borough and its conveyance to some point for treatment, and this
plan shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Ilealth for approval on or before the
first day of July, nineteen hundred and nine.
SECOND: This permit to discharge sewage into the watei-s cf the State shall
cease on July first, nineteen hundred and eleven, contingent, however, on the
other terms of this permit having been complied with. If at that time the terms
of this permit shall have been complied with, then the Commissioner of Health may
extend the time in which sewage may continue to be discharged into the waters of
the State.
THIRD: On or before July first, nineteen hundred and nine, (he borough shall
prepare plans and estimates of cost for sewage disposul works and submit the same
to the Commissioner of Health for aitproval. This shall be done in connection
with the plans for improved sewerage in the borough hereinbefore called for. In
the event of a State appropriation being made to assist municipalities in taking
sewage out of streams, prior adoption of plans for sewage disposal works misrht
prove of great a.ssistance in expediting the erection of such works at the earliest
practicable moment.
FOURTH: No pathological material from any laboratory shall be permitted
to enter the sewers. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on the premises.
FIFTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Ilealth, the
sewerage system or any part thereof, or the discharge therefrom, shall have become
a nuisance or menace to public health, then such remedial measures shall be
adopted by the borough as the Commissioner of Flealth may approve and suggest.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 1, 1908.
CAMBRIDGE srKl\(;S, CRAWFORD COINTY.
This application was made by the borough of Cambridge Springs, Crawford
county, and is for permission to extend its sewer system.
It appears that on J\ily first, nineteen hundre(l and ei-rht, the Commissioner of
Health issued a permit to the borough of Cambridu'e Sjirings. Crawfonl county,
Pennsylvania, to extend certain of its sewers mentioned in said permit under the
followin;:; cnndiiioiis and stipulations:
• "FIRST: All roof and storm water shall be excluded from the proposed sewers.
At the clo-je of each .season's work a plan of the sewer extensions made durin" the
year shall be prepared and filed with the Commissioner of II(>al(h to the end'^that
the State Deimrdiieiu may be always inronned of the extent of the sewer system and
its use, but this permission shall not ai)ply to any other thau the particular sewers
hereinbefore mentioned. The existing sewers receive both sewage and storm water
784 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
and before sewage puritication works can be erected and operated at a reasonable
cost, it will be necessary in all probability that sewage be separated from storm
•water. The borough shall prepare a complete sewerage plan for the collection of all
of the sewage of the borough and its conveyance to some point for treatment, and
this plan shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval on or be-
fore the first day of July, nineteen hundred and nine.
'"SECOND: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State
shall cease on July lirst, nineteen hundred and eleven, contingent, however, on
the other terms of this permit having been complied with. If at that time the terms
of this permit shall have been complied with, then the Commissioner of Health may
extend the time in which sewage may continue to be discharged into the waters of
the State.
"THIRD: On or before July first, nineteen hundred and nine, the borough
shall prepare plans and estimates of cost for sewage disposal works and submit
the same to the Commissioner of Health for approval. This shall be done in con-
nection with the plans for improved sewage in the borough hereinbefore called for.
In the event of a State appropriation being made to assist municipalities in taking
sewage out of streams, prior adoption of plans for sewage disposal works might
prove of great assistance in expediting the erection of such works at the earliest prac-
ticable moment.
"FOURTH: No pathological material from any laboratory shall be permitted
to enter the sewers. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on the premises.
"FIFTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewerage system or any part thereof, or the discharge therefrom, shall have become
a nuisance or menace to public health, then such remedial measures shall be
adopted by the borough as the Commissioner of Health may approve and sug-
gest."
Since receiving the permit, the borough on September first, nineteen hundred and
eight, applied for permission to extend other of its sewers as stated in the following
letter to the Commissioner of Health:
"The borough of Cambridge Springs, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, respectfully
represents:
"That on the third day of June, nineteen hundred and eight, said borough filed
with your Department a petition requesting permit to extend its sewer system, on
•which said petition your Department granted to petitioners the right to make certain
extensions to its sewer system.
"That by an oversight in the preparation of said petition two small extensions to
the system which were contemplated and are necessary at the present time •were
omitted, to wit: An eight inch pipe sewer in Kearney avenue, commencing at a
manhole at the intersection of said street with McClellan street and extending thence
northwardly along the centre of Kearney avenue for a distance of seven hmuiri'd
feet; also an eight inch pipe sewer in Cummings street, commencing at a manhole at
the intersection in the centre of Spinng street and extending thence southwardly along
the centre of Cummings street for a distance of four hundred feet.
"Your petitioners now, therefore, respectfully petition your Honorable Dei)art-
ment to grant to the borough of Cambridge Springs the right to make the alxive
mentioned additions to its sewer system and will ever so pray.
"Respectfully submitted this first day of September, nineteen hundred and eiglit ,
by borough of Cambridge Springs.
"By E. E. HUMES, Chairman of Council.
"By J. F. IIIMEBAUGH, Burgess."
This application was a mistake Leave to withdraw it and to subLitute another
application was asked of the Commissioner of Health ou September twenty-fifth,
nineteen hundred and eight. The last petition is given in lull tielow.
"FOR SEWER EXTENSIONS AND CHANGES.
"To the Hon. Samuel G. Dixon, Commissioner of Health, Harrisburg, T'crni-
sylvania.
"The borough of Cambridge Springs, county of Crawford, respectfully repre-
sent:
"That on the first day of this month an api)lication was made by petit ioiuTs lo
your Department rccpiesling j)crmiHsi<jn to make additional scwei' ('xtensions of four
hundred fe<;t in CiiMimirigB street and seven iuiiidi'ed I'eel in Kearney a\'enue.
"That it has now come to the knowledge! of your i)etitioni;rs that the McJ>ellaii
street sewer does not extend to the intersection with Kearney avenue and that the
seven hundred feet of sewer on Kearney avenue to connect with iVIciicllan strei-t
sewer, as shown i)y engineers map, on file with your department, is an eiidr and
is impossible of consli'uction.
"That we have now made surveys, maps of which we are now foi'warding to you,
showing a sewer on Kearney avenue frouj Frene'h (JJreek northwardly lo the center <jj'
McLellan street and the maj) now on file with you shows this sewer extended north-
wardly about seven hundred feet, to lh(! borough limits. TIk; maps we are now
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 785
forwarding you shows an extension of the present eighteen indi outlet sewer on
the north side of the creek bj' which it will be carried westwardly to a connection
with the Kearney avenue sewer.
"Whereupon petitioners ask leave to withdraw or annul the reciuest by them
made, dated September first, nineteen hundred and eight, and in place thereof to
request of your department a pemiit to make the following e.xtensions and change
to its sewer system, to wit:
"To construct an eighteen inch pipe sewer in Kearney avenue, commencing at
the north bank of French creek west of the iron bridge extending tlience northwardly
along said avenue for a distance of two hundred and seventy and five-tenths feet
to a manliole, and thence by an eight inch pipe sewer northwardly along said avenue
to the borough limits, a distance of about one thousand and thirty feet.
"To construct an eight inch pipe sewer in Cummings street, commencing at a
manhole at the centre of the intersection with Spring street, and extending south-
wardly along the centre of Cummings street for a distance of four hundred feet.
"To take up the eighteen inch outlet sewer on north side of the creek from the
creek back to the manhole in Poplar street and in the place thereof to construct an
eighteen inch sewer from said manhole westwardly for a distance of about nine
hundred feet to a manhole in Kearney avenue two hundred and seventy and five-
tenths feet from the creek.
"Respectfully submitted this twenty-fifth day of September, nineteen hundred and
^'^ ■ "BOROUGH OF CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS.
"By E. E. HUMES, Chainuan of Council.
"By J. F. HIMEBAUGH, Burgess."
Cambridge Springs borough is pursuing a desultory policy in coming before the
Commissioner of Health continuously for approval of petty sewer extensions. The
permit of .luly first, nineteen hundred and eight, clearly sets forth the necessity
of plans for a comprehensive sewerage system being prepared. There is nothing to
prevent the borough from preparing the complete plans, which must, in any event,
be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval on July first, nineteen
hundred and nine.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by withholding the permission for the additional sewer extensions, and a permission
is hereby and herein withheld of the last two named applications until the borough
shall have complied with Sections One and Three of the permit of July first, nine-
teen hundred and eight.
Harrisburg, Pa., October 9, 190S.
CANONSBURG, WASHINGTON COUNTY.
This permit is issued to the borough of Canonsburg, Washington county, and is
for the construction of sewage purification works for the treatment of the sewage
of Canonsburg and South Canonsburg boroughs, in conformity with plans therefor
submitted by the borough of Canonsburg.
On February eleventh, nineteen hundred and eight, the Commissioner of Health
sent the following communication to the President of the Borough Council of Can-
onsburg, Washington county:
"Dear Sir:
"In compliance with the unanimous agreement reached by the Governor, Attorney
General and the Commissioner of Health, I beg to herein notify you that your bor-
ough failed to comply with Section six of Act one hundred and eighty-two, approved
April twenty-second, one thousand nine hundred ;ui<l five, and that, therefore,
its sewer system is not exempt from the provisions of this Act against the discharge
of sewage into the waters of the State.
"It is further agreed that the Commissioner of Health request the borough of
Canonsburg, and I do hereby and herein request yi>n to prepare plans, either inde-
pendently or in conjunction with the borough of South Cinunsburg for the treatment
of the sewage before it be discharged into the creek and submit these plans t«) the
Commissioner of Health for approval on or before .Tuly fii-st, nineteen buntlred and
eight. If this be done, then the Commissioner of Health may fix the time in which
such treatment works shall be constructed, which date shall not be in advance of
the date upon which the sewage from the State Reform School at Morganza is
ceased to be discharged into Chartiers Creek.
"Yours very truly."
In compliance with this order the borough of Canonsburg jointly with South
Canonsi)urg, emplo.ved an expert to prepare plans for a joint purification works,
which i»lans were submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval on August
fifteenth, nineteen hundi'ed and eight.
50—17—1908
786 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The borough of Canonsburg has at the present time a fairly complete system of
sewers built on the separate plan. These discharge through a twelve inch main
sewer into Chartiers Creek just below Bridge street.
The South Canonsburg main sewer, also twelve inches in diameter, recently com-
pleted, discharges into Chartiers Creek at a point fifteen hundred feet above Bridge
street.
The description of the sewerage systems of both municipalities is contained in the
said permit of February eleventh, nineteen hundred and eight.
It is estimated that Canonsburg has a present population of about four thousand
at least one half of which make use of the sewers; and that South Canonsburg has
a population of about fifteen hundred. Few, if any, connections have yet been
made with the sewers at South Canonsburg, although it is expected, now that the
system is about completed, that they will be generally used in the future.
' The sewage flow in the Canonsburg main sewer was rotighly gaged during dry
weather and found to be about two hundred thousand gallons per day. The system
is intended for domestic wastes only and although there may be a greater or less
number of down spout connections it is believed that the flow will never be excessively
increased during wet weather. The size and ^rade of the main sewer is such as to
make it impossible for a very large volume of sewage to reach the present outlet
or the future purification works. No gagings have been made of the South Canons-
burg output, as the system was not completed at the time of the investigation.
The proposed sewage purification plant is designed to purify sewage from approx-
imately seven thousand people. On a basis of seventy-five thousand gallons per
capita, this would be five hundred and twenty-five thousand gallons per day. This
provides not only for a combined increase in both boroughs of fifteen hundred peo-
ple, but. also allows for the total population, when the above figure is reached,
being connected with the sewers. In other words, the plant should purify about
twice as much sewage as will be discharged from both boroughs during the present
year. The works can be operated at excessive rates for short' periods ; and the
pumping equipment is of sufficient capacity to handle one million six hundred
thousand gallons per day, which is probably as much as the main sewer could
convey to the pump well. The purification works proposed are designed to be read-
ily extended or duplicated.
The site chosen for the sewage works is located about half a mile below the cor-
porate limits of Canonsburg on land lying south of the creek between the creek and
the highway. The nearest houses are those at East Canonsburg (a small unincor-
porated community), six hundred feet distant from the center of the proposed filters
and at an elevation some thirty feet higher than the filters. The prevailing summer
winds are from a westerly direction. This would tend to drive any odors originating
from the purification works in a direction away from the above mentioned houses
or any other houses. In support of this statement the i)etition mentioned that the
ground near the proposed site has been and is being used for dumping night soil;
and that this practice is continued without complaint on the part of the people of
East Canonsburg. The site has not yet been purchased and no definite boundaries
have been fixed ; but a tract of eight or ten aci-es is contemplated as ample room for
the plant and future extension.
Before choosing this site, other sites farther down stVeam were investigated. One
of these was on low land in the rear of the "Tin Plate Mill ;" and the other Avas one
half mile east of the proposed site on land .south of the steam railroad tracks and
across the creek from the Pennsylvania Reform School at Morganza. Neither of
these last mentioned sites has marked advantages, as regards distance from habita-
tion, over the site chosen. Giving weight to the matter of prevailing winds these
sites are less favorably located, so the borough considers. These facts, taken to-
gether with the matter of increased cost of extendng the force main and the in-
creased cost of ))umping, afford sufficient ground for rejecting both of these sites, in
the opinion of the municipal experts.
When the purification works are built, it is proposed to tap the South Canons-
burg main sewer with an eight inch inverted syphon, at a point seven hundred f<'('t
above the present outlet and to divert the sewage into the Canonsburg injiin srwor.
Just above the present Canonsburg outlet it is proposed to construct a miiiihole
from which an eight inch syphon is to extend, beneath the cnn'k, to tin- sci'een
chamber at the pumping station. A weir with crest at elevation nine hundred and
seventeen will be constructed in this manhole and will form an emergency overflow
through the present outlet. The pumping' macliinery will force the sewage, through
two thousand feet of cast iron main, to purification works consistiiiK of screen cham-
ber, settling tank, sprinkling filters, final treatment basins and sludge beds. The
final effluent may b<' readily disinfected it' desired in the future.
At the pumping station the sewage, alter b(Miig roughly screened, will enter a
pump well ten frM't by twelve in plan, with a iir.i xiiimiii capacity of seven thousand
gallons, or from fen to twi;nty minutes flow. The pumiiing machinery will con-
sist of a four inch centrifugal pump and a five inch centrifugal pum|) driven by fif-
teen and twenty horse power motor, respectively. The motors will be started auto-
mat icnlly by m'ejins of float switclus when the sewage in tln' well has reached any
dfsired level. The rale of emiitying the pump well can be made to vary from several
times the rate of inflow to approximately the saini' rale as the inflow.
The ten inch force main discharges into a screen chamber, provided with two sets
of screen.^, each set comprising a half and thnie-eighfs incrh screen. From this
chamber the sewage passes into one or both of the two settling basins. Each of
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 787
tliese is seventy-five feet long, twenty feet wide, divided longitudinally by a baffle
wall upon which the roof rests. The minimum depth in the tank is eleven feet, thus
giving a capacity of one hundred and twenty-five thousand gallons each. With both
in use, there will be provided, based on the nominal capacity of the tanks, a twelve
hour period of retention. It is possible that one settling tank may be used for a
mouth at a time, ^\hile the other is allowed to stand idle and the decomposition of
the sludge allowed to take place.
It will be noted that the general dimensions of the tanks are such as to provide a
relatively high velocity of travel with the idea of more thoroughly distributing
the sludge. Ac a point near the centre of each tank is provided a by-pass through
which the sewage can be drawn, if it is desired to decrease the period of retention.
The tanks are arranged so that they may be readily cleaned.
Located between the two settling tanks is a syphon chamber which receives the
flow from the.se tanks. When the sewage has reached a predetermined level, it will
bo discharged through an automatic syphon into the equalizing chamber and thence
into the distributing system of the filters. At the outlet of the settling tank brass
weir plates are provided, by the use of which the quantity in each dose may be
increased by including therein a portion of the contents of the settling tanks 'them-
selves.
The filters-are two in number and they are to be composed of broken stone having
an average depth of five and one half feet. The area of each is one hundred and
thirteen feet by eighty feet, or a total area of forty-four one-hundredths acres. These
were provided for treating the sewage, when the plant has reached a capacity at a
rate of sixteen thousand people per acre, or one million two hundred thousand gal-
lons per day. It will be some years before the filters are called upon to perform this
work.
The sewage is to be distributed onto each filter through six lines of cast iron pipe
resting on concrete piers and placed about two feet below the surface of the filters.
The lines are six inches and four inches in diameter. Each line connects directly
with the sixteen inch supply pipe extending through the central gallery. Each line
can be cut out of ser\ice independently, and a flange at the upper end permits
the cleaning out of any deposits, if necessary. Spaced seven feet six inches apart
on each of the lateral distributors are cast iron risers extending to the top of the
filtering material. Every other riser will be provided with a sprinkler nozzle and
the remaining risers will be capped. The nozzles and caps may be changed when
desired in order to more thoroughly distribute the sewage.
The undordrains are formed of six inch channel pipe placed in an inverted position
on the concrete floors of the filters. The lines of underdrains are eighteen inches
centre to centre. They discharge into an open channel in the bottom of the central
gallery.
The bottom of the filters has been placed above the level of high water in the
creek. The elevation of the sewage in the settling basins is to be nine hundred and
thirty-six and one-half. The elevation of the invert of the sewer at the pump well
is nine hundred and fourteen. Hence the plans show a vertical height of twenty-two
and one-half feet for the lifting of the sewage into the purification works. The
surface of the filters will be at elevation nine hundred and twenty-eight or eight and
one half feet below the water level in the settling tanks.
Just below the filters are two final treatment basins, either one or both of
which can be used. The combined capacity of these basins is about sixty-eight thou-
sand gallons, or three houre' flow, based on the normal capacity of the plant. The
basins are large enough to permit, if desired in the future, the application of a
disinfectant to the effluent after it has received some two hours of plain sedimenta-
tion.
The sludge beds are two in number, each twenty-five by fifty feet and have a
combined area of two thousand square feet. Although placed on opposite sides of
the final treatment basins, they are connected by an iron pipe so that they can be
used as one filter. They will receive sludge from the settling tank through the ten
inch cast iron pipes, shown on the plans, and from the final treatment basins by
means of sluice gates.
Around the final treatment basins and sludge beds an embankment or protecting
dyke is to be built, carried up to elevation nine hundred and twenty-four. The
sludge basins are to have underdrains laid on earth and covered to a depth of two
feet with sand. The underdrains will empty into the outlet pipe from the final treat-
ment basins from which a fifteen inch terra cotta drain will lead under the embank-
ment to the edge of the creek. This pipe will have a flap-valve on it, so the invert
will bo nt elevation nine hundred and fourteen.
No by-pass for untreated sewage to the creek is afforded. The shortest passage of
sewage through the works would be through the settling tanks and sludge beds. The
filters will not be put out of commission during freshet stages of Chartiers Creek.
The entire layout is a cnreful design based on modern practice and should afford
to the municipality an oflicient and economical system. It is adapted to additions
in the future. The only objection there can be to the site is its proximity to build-
ings. In compliance with the previous terms of the permit hereinbefore mentioned,
the borouirhs now expect a formal approval of the plans, carrying with it permis-
sion to discharge sewage temporarily into Chartiers Creek until the sewage from the
State Reform School at Morganza shall have ceased to be discharged iqtq Cbartiera
Creek,
788 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
On general principles it is better to concentrate the care and attention necessary
at a sewage disposal works to one plant if this be feasible. In the preparation of
plans for the treatment of the Morganza Institution sewage, the State may bestow
some thought on the advisability of one plant being erected in Chartiers valley to
take the sewage from the State institution and from the Canousburg and South
Canonsburg boroughs. However, this may not be practicable of ultimate accom-
plishment, and the possibility of the project need not interfere with the approval
of the plan now under consideration.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approving the proposed sewage disposal plant for the boroughs of Canonsburg and
South Canonsburg and the same is hereby and herein approved and a permit issued
for the temporary discharge of sewage into Chartiers Creek from the sewer system
of Canonsburg until plans for sewage disposal works for the State Institution at
Morganza shall have been prepared and approved and an appropriation made therefor
and the construction of the work begun. At that time the borough of Canonsburg
shall be notified that within one year from the date of such notification it shall
either independently or in conjunction with South Canousburg borough construct
the sewage disposal works herein approved, or such part thereof as shall be
deemed necessary by the State Department of Health, or in substitution for this
plant or any portion thereof, shall construct such other sewage disposal works as
the State Department of Health may approve, all under conditions and stipulations
to be made by said Department.
Harrisburg, Pa., August 25, 1908.
CARRICK, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application is made by the borough of Carrick, Allegheny county, and is
for an extension of time in which to prepare plans for the treatment of sewage.
It appears that on April seventeenth, nineteen hundred and six, the Commissioner
of Health issued a permit to the borough of Carrick to install a sanitary sewvu-
system, under certain conditions and stipulations, among which was the follow-
ing:
"That before the said system of sewers or any part thereof is put in use, plans for
the treatment of the sewage of said system shall be prepared and submitted to the
Commissioner of Health , who shall modify or amend or adopt them and specify the
time within which the purification of the sev^'age shall be brought about."
The borough has proceeded to construct the sewer system and has submitted plans
of the sewers built. It appears that Carrick sewer outlet, which is to discharge
into Saw Mill Run, will be one only of many sewer outlets now existiug in said
run. The boroughs of Mt. Oliver and Knoxville have sewer outlets into it and so do
a number of wards of the city of Pittsburg, which are drained by this valley stream.
The Commissioner of Health is now considering an application made by the city of
Pitt.sburg for permission to extend some of the sewers tributary to the run. The
city territory adjoins Carrick. What was formerly West Liberty and Mon tooth bor-
oughs is now city territory, having been recently annexed. The run is subject to
considerable sewage pollution and there are nuisances existing along its course. The
district it drains is a growing one and some general sewerage plant is a foregone
necessity. Whatever project is adopted by Pittsburg would prove the most economi-
cal and efficient outlet for the disposal of ('arrick borough sewage. Therefore, the
authorities of the latter place; wish for ample extension of time during which it is
believed the city of Pittsburg will afford an outliit. The cost of the i)lanning and
the erection of an independent sewage purification works for Carrick would be large
and it might be an entirely unnecessary expenditure in event of the consumation of
a trunk sewer line down the valley.
The ridge running lengthwise through (!arrick, separates the borough into two
distinct watersiieds and the sewers in the streets on the eastern slope of the ridge
are planned to drain to Becks Run which flows northeasterly a distance of about two
miles to the Monongahela river. The boroughs of Mt. Oliver and St. CAmr (formerly
Lower St. Clair township) discharge sewage into I'ecks Run. The petitioners rej)-
resent that the engineer of Cariick boroiigji has been engaged by tlie adjoining bor-
oughs of Mt. (Jliver and St. Clair and that he is iirepariag a joint sewerage iiroject
for all three places. Under these circumstances liie autiiorities of <!an'ick borough
request that sewage be permitted to be discharged into Saw iMill Run and into Hecks
Run for a period of two yeai's, on or before which i)lans for the ti-eatmc^nt of the
sewage or f<tr some other (lisposal of it than into streams shall he iireparcd and sub-
mitted to the Commissioner of Health foi- approval.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be siibscM'ved
by granting a permit, and it is hereby and iH^rcdn granted to the borough of C.'irriek
to discharge sevvaj^e from its sewer system up to July first, nineteen hundred and
ten, on the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That on or before July first, nineteen hundred ami nine, the borough
of Carrick sliall, either alone or in (^injunction with tlu; lioroii^dis of Ml. OVwi'.r and
St. Clair, prepai-e plims for a sewage pni'iliejilion plant for the ti'eatnieiil: of the
sewage f)f Becks Itun drainage district and submit IIk; same to the (!ommission<U' of
Health for approval. It is understood that, if Carrick borough proceeds independ-
ently, the i))'oi)osed (dant will be designed to treat only that sewage in the Becks
Run dainage distriei lying within r'iirriek borough.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 78y
SECOND: That ou or beforo July first, nineteen hundred and nine, the bor-
oufcli of Carrick, either alone or in conjunction with Mt. Oliver, Knoxville and the
city of Pittsiturs,', shall prepare a plan for some other disposal of the sewage than
into Saw -Mill Kun or its tributaries and submit the same to the Commissioner of
Health for approval.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 24, 1908.
CHESTER, DELAWARE COUNTY.
This application is made by the city of Chester, Delaware county, Pennsylvania,
and is for permission to construct sewers and to extend existing sewer system and to
discharge the sewage therefrom, untreated, into waters of the State within the said
city.
The city of Chester is a manufacturing community and historical town located
on the north bank of the Delaware river in Delau-are county a short distance above
the Delaware-Pennsylvania boundary line and about nine miles down stream from
the mouth of the Schuylkill river in I'hiladelphia.
The nuinicipal territory is very irregular in shape and is bounded on the east by
Ridley Creek which separates the city from the townships of Nether Providence, Rid-
ley and tlio borough of Eddystone, the latter being opposite the city along the Dela-
ware river at the mouth of the creek. The city is bounded on the south by the
Delaware river, on the west by Lower Chichester township and a part of Upper
Chichester township and on the north by Chester township and Upland borough.
Within this territory which is quite flat and extends along the river bank for a
distance of three miles, there is a population of forty thousand people or there-
abouts.
Coming down from the north through the city to the river are numerous streams,
the principal one being Chester Creek. It and Ridley Creek and Crura Creek to
the east are parallel streams heading in the hills back in the county and draining
farm territory. The courses are such that numerous mill privileges are afforded.
The head waters of Crum Creek furnish a public water supply and the head waters
of the two other creeks might be available for this purpose were it not for the ex-
cessive damages to mill rights which would have to be paid by any one attempting to
divert the water from the streams.
The city is in a thriving condition. Its industries which are varied, among which
are the manufacture of textile fabrics, dye works, leather manufacture, ship build-
ing, steel works and tubing, are located principally along the river from where
wharfage is had and also where railroad freight facilities are afforded.
The Delaware ri\er at this point is over a mile wide the waters are tidal, the
normal staiie being about six feet and the velocity during the strength of the ebb
and flow is vei-y strong. The ship canal follows the shores along Chester City.
The main line of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Division of the
Pennsylvania Railroad passes through the city paralleling the river, the Reading
Railroad has a branch and the main line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad also
traverses the town.
The highway along the river front is called Front street and back therefrom and
parallel tlit>reto the streets are designated by numbers. Fulton street which is at
right aui^Ies to the river is in the upper or eastern half of the city territory and at
the foot (if it on the river front, the New Chester Water Company's pumping station
is located. Chester Creek empties into the river about fifteen hundred feet up
stream from the pumping station and Ridley Creek is about one mile still further
up stream. There are i)ublic and private sewers emptying into the creeks and the
river. They are descriix-d hereinafter.
The water company's intake is at such a place that the sewage from the city
sewers may be taken by the lid'' hack and forth over said intake to the continual
menace of ))ublic health.
The supi)iy is drawn through a thirty inch suction main five hundred and fifty
feet kuig laid on the bed of the riv(>r and extending out beyond the Port Wanlen
line a short distance into the main channel where the water is twenty-five feet deep.
On the end is ailixed a strainer. The water is pumped through a risin:; main about
three and one half miles hmg to storage reservoirs on Harrison's Hill back t>f the
city where it is subjected to mechanical filtration and thence sup|)lied by gravity
to the water district. The water works system has been api)roved by the Commis-
.sioner of Health and is now operateil under State supervision. The Company also
furnishes the water to Ui)land borouuh and Lower Chichester townshii).
There aie rei)ortc(l to lie numerous private wells in the city, a few in Upland bor-
ouffh and two liuudred or more in Lower Chichester township.
Several years ago the courts were appealed to and the water company was com-
pelled to furnish pure water. Consequently a filter plant was installed and filtered
water was turned ou for the first time on December third, nineteen hundred and
three. While an imhiediate diminution in typhoid fever followed and the death
rates from the disease have e\(n- since been lower, yet the diminution has not been
as great as it should have been. This fact, coupled with the existence of numerous
domestic wells, directs suspicion towards the quality of the private sources. The
7dO THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Department has compiled a table from the best information at hand, which shows
tiat more cases have occurred uudoubtedli' than have been recorded. Prior to
nineteen hundred and four, the death rate of typhoid lever for Chester City was
higher than the rate of Philadelphia. For one decade it averaged seventy-four per
one hundred thousand people living, but since nineteen hundred and four it has aver-
aged thirty-six.
L'ntil faithful reports of diseases are made and recorded and the study of the sub-
ject be further pursued, it will be impossible to determine where all of the typhoid
fever comes from ; but on general principles three things should be done immediately
to safeguard the public. The public filter plant should be maintained at its highest
degree of efficiency, and this the Commissioner of Health is looking out for; all
possible pollutions of the private supplies should be removed and such supplies should
be abandoned if upon investigation they be found contaminated. The Department is
not informed of the location of private wells, cesspools and privies. The facts
should be ascertained by the local health authorities. There are seventy miles of
opened streets and thirty miles of public sewers. Property connection to existing
sewers has been made compulsory and the city officials report that this regulation
has been actively enforced during the last few years. Nevertheless there is a con-
siderable population living in the districts and along the streets where sewers have
not been laid and here the old time cesspool and privy vault may be found and the
disposal of kitchen drainage into street gutters or on the ground prevails.
The public sewers are built on a combined plan. They discharge at convenient
points into State waters usually at an elevation of meantide so that high water back
Hoods many of them.
The Kidley Creek drainage area contains two public sewer outlets, one into the
creek between the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Reading Railway and the other into
the creek at Ninth street.
The first mentioned outlet may be called the Fourth street sewer. It is a four
foot brick structure five hundred and fifty feet long across the marsh. Connected
with it is about four thousand feet of sewer, diameters ranging from eighteen to
thirty-six inches. In this district of twenty acres, there are four industrial plants,
whose wastes are emptied into the sewer. Some of the streets are paved with
asphalt and others with cobble stone. There are eight solid blocks of dwellings for
the mill hands. The Aberfoile Manufacturing Company has an extensive plant and
employs several hundred hands engaged in the manufacture of cotton and silk cloth.
The Chester Worsted Mills, employing about one hundred and twenty-five hands,
manufacture yarns. The Huston Manufacturing Company make quilts. The plant
is extensive. The fourth plant is a small yarn mill. The dry weather output of
sewage and manufaetural wastes from this dstrict daily discharged by the sewer
into Ridley Creek is unknown to the Department, but the volume is considerable.
However, a small pipe would be sufficient to carry it.
The Ninth street sewer outlet is a three foot brick sewer discharging into the
creek under the bridge about fourteen hundred feet up stream above the Fourth
street outlet. It serves a well built up area of about one hundred acres, in which
there are about two and a half miles of sewers, mostly two feet or over in diameter.
There are some eighteen inch and four hundred feet of twelve inch sewer in the dis-
trict. The industrial plants are all connected to the system. There is the Argo
Leather Company, tanners of upper leather, employing about fifty hands and con-
suming from three to seven million gallons of water per month which is discharged
to the sewer with the other wastes; also the Lincoln Manufacturing Company, em-
ploying about one hundred hands in tiie manufacturing of white cotton yarns, also
the Arasapha Manufacturing Company, employing from two hundred to four hun-
dred hands. This concern weaves various kinds of cloth and uses dyes extensively.
The Grove Worsted Mills employ about seventy-five hands in the manufacture of
worsted yarn. Wool scourings and spent dye liquids are emptied into the sewers.
The J. K. Fricke Company make cotton cordage ; about fifty five hands are em-
ployed. Domestic sewage is the only output of this plant.
Ridley Creek also receives sewage directly from private sources. With one excep-
tion they are in the borough of Eddystone.
Peginning at the mouth of Iho. stream there is in the borough the very extensive
plant of the Eddystone Print Works, engaged in the manufacture of calico prints.
Spent chemicals and dye stuffs and sewage are discharged from this plant Into
an open ditch and thence to the creek. Two thousand f(!et up stream from the river
is the Fourth street sewer outlet in Chester ('ity and Id'low tliis point, within five
hundred feel, on the banks of the (;reek in the boroiigii are fifteen boat houses.
They are cheap affairs. North of the i'ennsylvania Railroad bridge, about four
hundred feet up stream from the said city sewer, is the Eddystone borough storm
drain, which is said to receive some sewage. A thousand feet up stream above; the
city sewer at Ninth street there is a borough sewer, cast iron, ten inches in diam-
eter, whicli HCfrves a miighborhood on lOJeventh street .
Jii tlie city at Twenty-fifth street ai)out two miles from th(! rivc^r is the i>lant of
James Irving and Hon, manufacturers of cashnuire and woolen cloth, wh(>r(? are em-
ployer! one hundred and twenty-five men. These works arc; lo(;ated on tli(! banks of
the stream, water is taken from the crr^ek for industrial uses and wastiss from dyeing
and scouring operations nvc. put into the creek. 'I'lie doiii(!stic sewage is collected
jn a cess po(ji, so it is reported. The stream is tidal at this point and the banks are
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 791
steep and high, until, passing down the valley, about Eleventh street is reached.
From here on luaisli lands appear in the city and a very little in Eddystone borough
No nui-sance exi.sts in the creek because perhaps habitations are remote.
The Chester Creek drainage area contains eleven public sewer outlets, beginning at
Second street and ending at Kerlin street two miles above the Delaware river.
Mentioning these outlets in order up stream, first is the Second street two foot
sewer on the east. It and an eighteen inch pipe have a total length of si.xteen hun-
dred feet. Thej' serve one block about eight acres in area.
The ne.vt outlet is three feet in diameter on the east at Third street. It serves less
than si.x acres of territory in the heart of the city. Jt and two twenty-four, inch
bramhcs total twenty-six hundred feet.
From the West at Third Street there is a four foot outlet serving twenty-three
acres extending to Front Street. There are forty-four hundred feet of sewers in
the district whose diameters range from four feet to eighteen inches.
The fourth outlet is a three foot sewer at Fifth Street. It serves a well built-up
territory of twenty-two acres and the system comprises a total length of forty-seven
hundred feet, the smallest diameter being fifteen inches. In this district and the
one previously mentioned several lateral sewers remain to be built, but in the
two districts preceding them all of the sewers have been built. In all four dis-
tricts the streets are permanently surfaced, either with stone or asphalt.
The next sewer outlet is at Sixth Street from the east. It is three feet in
diameter, serves an area of about se\euleen acres, thickly built up and occupied
by dwellings and stores and the main is two thousand feet long. It has a two
foot branch and eighteen inch branch, eight hundred and five feet long, respec-
tively. A few laterals remain to be built. This district is along Edgemont
Avenue between the Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio Railroads.
The next outlet is two feet in diameter, seven hundred feet long, in Seventh
Street east.
The seventh public sewer outlet into the creek is in I'enn Street and comes
from thi- south. It serves an area of about twenty acres west of the creek and
north of the Pennsylvania Railroad and is occupied by dwellings. ^lost of the
streets have been sewered. The system comprises a total length of about one
mile, the smallest size being twelve inches. The next sewer outlet comprises nine
hundred feet of eighteen inch pipe in Eighth Street from the east. It serves a
row of houses on this highway.
The next outlet comprises twelve hundred feet of twelve inch pipe in Market
Street with a branch in Eighth Street. The area drained is about seven acres.
North from this point which is about a mile from the river, the land along the
creek is unoccupied.
The tenth sewc-r outlet is into Ship Creek at Fourteenth Street. This stream
is a small tributary of Chester Creek which forms the boundary between the city
and Upland borough for a short distance. The continuation of Fourteenth Street
westerly in the borough bears the name of Upland Aveuue. Fourteenth Street
sewer is four feet in diameter and it serves an area of highland in the northern
part of this city containing about two hundred and seventy-five acres, in which
the sewers have not been laid in every street. However, there are four miles in
the system as it exists, there being nine thousand feet of eighteen inch pipe, seven
thousand feet of three foot sewer, thirty-eight hundred feet of two foot sewer, four-
teen hundred feet of four foot sewer and the balance is twelve inch pipe.
The last sewer outlet has no branches. It is a three foot sewer one half mile
long, laid in Kerlin Street northerly to Chester Creek. This highway is surfaced
with asphalt and it is the main road to Upland borough for this section of the
city. To the west of the street is Crozer Park, abutting the creek and to the
east the land falls off rapidly so that future sewer extensions to this sewer will
be few. Either an additional sewer outlet for the district will be sought or an
intercepting sewer will be provided.
Resides these public sources of pollution to Chester Creek, there are numerous
private sources, among which are the following:
Between Second ana Third Streets on the east side of Chester Creek are a
number of outlets from the rest of a block of buildings fronting on Edgemont
Avenue These buildings are used principally for produce and fish markets. From
a block of stores fronting on both sides of Third Street east of the creek there
are private s'.'wers emptying into the stream.
Opposite these buildings on the west bank of the creek between Second and
Third Streets are a series of boat houses and boat landings for pleasure craft.
They ply up and down the river principally, but they may be seen on the creek
also, even as fai up as Crozer I'aik, and it is quite possible the sewage poisons
in the waters may be conveyed by hand from the creek to fruits or other edibles
consumed on the boats In fact, boys bathe more or less in Chester Creek and
fever among them has been attributed to the pollution of the waters by sewage.
The principal contamination of the stream from private sources is at Ship Creek.
Here, besides the Fourteenth Street sewer, there are three industrial plants
whose waste go into the natural water course. The Merion Mills of Murphy and
Brother, located at Fourteenth Street, and employing about one hundred hands
in the manufacture of cotton and woolen worsteds, discharge sewage and manu-
factural wastes into a short tributary of Ship Creek. Opposite this plant on the
same street is the Keystone Fiber Company plant, where large quantities of water
are used aud delivered to the creek and immediately above the works of the Chester
79^ THIRD AlSfNUAL, REPORT OF THE Oft. Coc.
Enameling Company. Upper leather is manufactured here and the waste peculiar to
this ijrooess. together with sewage, goes to the stream.
Immediately below Kerlin Street in Upland borough there are a few boat
houses and in its vicinity there are dwellings which sewer to the creek and also
a slaughter house. And in the borough there are six public sewer outlets, three
of which are into the creek, two are into Walworth Mills Run and the other into
a smaller tributary of Chester Creek. The first sewer is twenty-four inches in
diameter and its outlet is about three hundred feet down stream from Kerlin
Street bridge. The other public sewers from the borough empty directly or indi-
rectly into Chester Creek above Kerlin Street. Some spent dye stufifs from the
Crozer Mills go to the creek.
The Delaware River drainage district in the city up stream from the city
water works intake at Fulton Street comprises a water front of one and twenty-
hundredths miles. The public and private sewer outlets named in order up stream
from said intake are as follows:
Eight hundred feet above the water works intake, the Pennsylvania Steel
Casting Company's sewer (three of them) twelve inches in diameter ; sixteen
hundred feet above said intake, is Chester Creek; twenty-two hundred feet above
said intake the Market Street city sewer, thirty-six inches in diameter; twenty-
six hundred and fifty feet above the said intake the Welsch Street city sewer,
thirty-six inches in diameter ; twenty-six hundred and fifty feet the boat club
sewer ; four thousand feet above said intake the Upland Street city sewer, forty-
eight inches in diameter, and sixty- three hundred feet above said intake, Ridley
Cieek.
When in full operation the Penn Steel Casting Company employs about six
hundred and fifty hands. Wastes from the laboratories and domestic sewage is
emptied into the river.
The thirty-six inch sewer outlet in Market Street serves a thoroughly built up
and paved area in the heart of the city, extending to the public square and com-
prising thirteen acres in which there are twenty-six hundred feet of sewers, in-
cluding four hundred feet of fifteen inch pipe and eight hundred feet of eighteen
inch pipe.
The thirty-s'x inch Welsch Street sewer outlet serves a long narrow area ex-
tending north to Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, comprising fifty acres of thor-
oughly built-up principally residential territory in which all of the streets are
sewered and paved. There are two miles of sewers, of which twenty-eight hun-
dred feet are three feet in diameter; twenty-four hundred feet two and one half
feet in diameter, forty-one hundred feet are two feet in diameter and the balance
is eighteen and fifteen inch pipe. Above this outlet along the river front the land
is undeveloped and unoccupied south of the Reading Railway. North of it, how-
ever, there is a large residential district which is served by the Upland Street
sewer.
The four foot Upland Street outlet terminates in a box culvert on the marsh south
of the Reading Railway. The built-up territory it serves comprises one hundred
acres, occupied by residences, where the streets are all paved and sewered. The
four foot sewer is seventeen hundred feet long and connected therewith are fift.v-
two hundred feet of three foot sewer, seven thousand feet of two foot sewer and the
balance of eighteen inch pipe, making a total of three and a half miles in the
system.
The Delaware River drainage district in the city down the stream from the
city water works intake at Fulton Street comprises a water front of one and eight-
tenths miles. The public and private sewer outlets named in order down stream
from said intake are as follows:
Five hundred feet below the city's water works intake, the Parker
Street sewer, forty-eight inches in diameter; eighteen hundred feet below
said intake Lloyd Run ; two thousand feet below said intake the Phila-
delphia Quartz (Company's sewer, used for sewage; twenty-six huudred feet below
said intake tlie Ann ricun Dyevvood ('ompany's si'W(>r used for sewage and trade
wastes: thirty-two hundred iv-ct below said intake the Nori'is Streel city sewer,
forty-eight inches in diann'tcr ; tliirly-scvcn liiindn-d feel below said inlake, the
Keystone Drop Forge Conii)aiiy's sewer, used for sewage; forty-six hundred feel:
below said intake the S. & L. Rubber f!ompany's sewer, used for sewage; five thou-
sand feet below said intnke tlK- Reaney Street city sewer, tliirly-six Inches in
diameter: fifty-two Imndn-d fi-et Ixdow said Intake, the Federal Sti'cl Works sewer
used for sewage; fifty-six huniired feet hclow said intake;, the; Keystone Plaster (-oni-
pany's sewer, used for sewage; fifty-six hundred feel below the JelTi'ey Sli'eel cily
HCwer, tliir^y-Hix inches in diameter; sixty-four imndred feet l)elow said Intake llie
Townsend Street city sewer, forty-i-ight inches In diarn(!t(!r; seventy-eight liundriMJ
feet below said intake the Hayes Street city sewer, thirty-six Inches in diameter;
eighty-two hundred feet below said Intake the Highland Avenue city sewer,
thirty-six inches in diameter; nine tiioiisand feet l)(>low said intake Motion R\m and
nine thousand feet below said intake the South C-hester Tube ('oinpany's sewer,
used for sewage.
The Parker Street outlet serves an eighty acre districi occur)ii'd wholly by resi-
dences and exiending both sides of the Pennsylvania Itailroad. In this territory nearly
all the streets are sewered and i)aved. The four foot sewer Is nineteen hundred
feet long, the thn^e foot and the egg-shaped sewer is four thousand feet long,
the two and one-half foot sewer is eight hundred and fifty feet long and the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 793
balance to mak(; up a total of two miles in the system is two feet and eighteen inches
iu diameter. The point of discharge is about two hundred feet from the low water
mark. During the ebb tide, last stages, the solid matters are deposited over the
shores exposed to view and on the return tide these matters are raised and carried
up stream.
The Lloyd Run outlet is a four foot brick sewer discharging into a box
culvert which empties into a ditch near Front Street. The ditch is very foul.
The odors at the olfioe of the Duplex Metal Company nearby are extremely olTensive
in summer time. The four foot sewer is eighteen hundred feet long and it takes
the place of a former open water course. All told in the system there are two and
one-half miles, the district comprising about ninety acres of quite well built
up and paved territory in which all of the sewers have not been built. The out-
flow in dry weather is wholly domestic sewage. There are nine hundred feet of fifteen
inch sewer and forty-four hundred feet of eighteen inch sewer, the balance being
of larger sizes.
Domestic sewage is discharged from the Philadelphia Quartz Company's works
into the river. About thirty men are employed on the premises. Domestic sewage
and trade wastes are discharged from the American Dyewood Company's plant intti
the river. Between one hundred and fifty and two hundretl men are employed
on the premises. The river water is markedly discolored at times of discharge of
the trade wastes.
The four foot Norris Street outlet serves a one hundred and thirty acre district
of partly built-up territory, in which there are several manufacturing plants.
There are about two and one-half miles of sewers of which four-fifths of a mile
are eighteen inches or less in diameter. The main sewer takes the place of a former
open water course known as I^amokin Run. The sewer discharges about two
hundred feet from the low water Hue at the mouth of the i-un and the solid mat-
ters spread out. The sewage is dark colored and of high temperature, due to a
considerable degree of waste from a large worsted mill owned by G. C. Hetzell and
Company. Between three hundred and four hundred men are employed at the
mill. The manufacturing process includes both scouring and dyeing. The
wastes are turned into the sewer.
The Suburban Gas Company operations are on the river front at the run. There
is a private sewer from the property to the public sewer in the street.
Domestic sewage from the Keystoue Drop Forge \Yorks .is emptied into the
river. Fifty-five men are employed here. This is also the case at the S. & !>.
Rubber Company plant, where fifty hands are employed. The Reaney Street sewer
is a three foot structure draining thirty acres, wholly residential and not thickly
built up.
Domestic sewage is discharged into the river from the Federal Steel Works. Tiirec
hundred and fifty men are employed. At the Keystone Plaster Company's plant,
where one hundred and fifty men work, there are privies overhanging at the
wliarf.
Jeffrey Street sewer is a three foot structure nineteen hundred feet long, serv-
ing thirteen acres partly built up. The Townsend Street sewer is a four foot
structure twenty-two hundred feet long. It takes the place of a former natural
water course known as Ilarwick Run.
Into this are branch sewers about one and a half miles long all told. The smallest
size is eighteen inches, but there are seven hundred feet only of this size. The
sewered district shows an area of about fifty acres, partly paved aud Imilt up. On
the north side of the Pounsylvania Railroad embankment westerly from >Iorton
Street, tln-re is an open ditch to the run which receives trade wastes from the
Emmott Worsted Spinning Comi)any's works. A pronounced pollution results.
The three foot Hayes Street outlet drains fifty acres of well i)uilt up and
paved territory wholly occupied by residences and stores. Sanitary conditions
are most wretched in some parts of the district where buildings are not con-
nected to the sewer, more especially along Front Street. The lower end of the
sewer passes under the Wydewater Steel Company's works and empties into an
open ditch. The Highland Avenue three foot sewer is twenty-two hundred feet
long. It drains ten acres. Very few house connections have been made to it.
Domestic sewaiic from the plant of the South Chester Tube Com|):my is discharged
into the river. Four to six hundred men are employed on the premises.
Moulton Run is a little stream draining a small area near Front Street and
the city line. There are several i)rivate lumses sewered to the run and the works
of Birkin and Company on Si'cond and Clayton Streets, where are employed thn-e
hundred and twenryfive hands in the manufacture of lace curtains, produce tr.ide
wastes in the form of bleaching litiuors and suli)huric acid, which are disehargiMl
into the r\ui. The above mentioned areas and lengths of sewers and sizes and
number of factory hands are approximate only and are given to indicate in a
general way the scope of the sewers and their use aud the volume of polluti«ms
discharged into the stream.s.
Thus it is seen that the city has over thirty miles of sewera who.se diameters
are principally two feet and ovi'r into which storm water and runs discharge, as
well as lio\iseliol(l ilraina-.'e and trade wastes, an<l from which the filth pours
into the streams and the river above and below the water works intake.
With seventy miles of open streets and with thirty miles sewered, it is evident
that the extensions to the sewer system must, as the city grows, total more
794 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Hiiles than that of the existing sewer. The plans for additions submitted by the
cit> and now under consideration do not call for any sewer mains or laterals of
less diameter than eighteen inches and the sewers are to be used for the removal
of sewage and storm water.
The petitioners make special mention of appropriations having been made by
councils for the immediate construction of a sewer in Central Avenue from River
to Seventh Street, in Morton Street from Second to Third, Jeffrey Street from
Seventh to Ninth and in Twenty-fourth Street from Edgemont Avenue to Madison
Street.
The Central Avenue sewer proposed is a new outlet to the river, three feet
in diameter.
The contemplated additions for the future call for three new sewer outlets into
Ridley Creek, namely at Morton Avenue, Seventeenth Street and Twenty-second
Street ; and in Chester Creek at Eleventh Street ; and into the Delaware River
at Melrose Avenue and at Booth Street.
The Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, sitting in equity, found,
in nineteen hundred, that the New Chester Water Company was furnishing water
to the inhabitants of Chester City and had been furnishing the same since eigh-
teen hundred and eighty-seven prior to which time said inhabitants were furnished
with water by a corporation known as the South Ward Water Works, whose
plant and franchise was purchased by the New Chester Water Company and that
this company, through its pumping station, reservoirs and distributing pipes, was
furnishing raw river water to the consumers. The Delaware River, before the
latter company became possessed of the plant, was polluted by sewage, the pol-
lution increasing year by year, and the water furnished was very turbid at
certain seasons of the year, particularly in the winter and spring, but that it
was slightly turbid at all other times. It also at times had a bad odor and was
unpleasant and objectionable and repulsive to the senses of sight, smell and
taste and was not reasonably pure and wholesome, and so the court ordered and
decreed that the water company forthwith secure and provide and furnish to its
patrons a sufficient supply of water so free from sewage and organic matter and
water-borne germs and turbidity and odor as to make said water reasonably pure and
wholesome.
It is a fact that the New Chester Water Company did install a water purifica-
tion plant and that it has since filtered the water with the result relative to diminu-
tion of water borne diseases as hereinbefore more fully set forth. Said company,
in making e.xtonsious to its system, has proceeded according to law to make an appli-
cation for and it has received approval of its water works system under certain
conditions and stipulations with which the company is in strict compliance.
It is a fact that today more sewage is being put into the local waters about Ches-
ter by the public sewers than ever before, and by reason of the action of the tides
which may carry the sewage forward and back over the water works intake where
some of it is bound constantly to be drawn into the water works system, because
these local poisons are more dangerous than sewage discharged into the streams
at long distances from Chester City, the public authorities in charge of the city
sewer system cannot escape a certain amount of responsibility for the menace to
public health which impends.
A water filter is not absolutely germ proof and in case of an accident which
may happen to any apparatus or duplicated apparatus, whereby the necessity
should arise for the passage of raw water or partially purified water into the homes
of the inhabitants of the city, it is not clear that the sickness and death resulting
could be charged up to the water company. It is agniiist public policy to grossly pol-
lute drinking waters even where such waters be fiisl (iltcred, and it is the duty of
the Commissioner of Health charged with the preservation of the purity of the waters
of the State for the protection of the public health to ])ring about a diminution and
not an increase of poison in drinking waters.
The city has not shown how the interests of public hoiilth will be subserved by
the granting of its request whereby consequent doubling of flie vohune of filtli poured
into the town's drinking water within fifteen or twenty niiiinh>s distance of the
water works intake, wo\iId ensue, but to the contrary, every practical considera-
tion from the health standpoint dictates that not only shall no more sewage be
put into tlie river and its tributaries in Chester, but that the sewage which is now
going in thf-r" shall (rease to be so discharged. Since in eijiiity the court adjudged
and decreed that the Delaware river water was not fit (o he used for domestic pur-
poses without filtration, it necessarily follows that IJic river is not u suitable
place to put the sewage without its first being fillei-fd.
It is absolutely prohibitive in cost to undertake the purification of iningh^d sewage
and storm water and there is another eleinent in the Chester sewers which miti-
gates against a dry weather flow interception of the existing sewers, anrl tliat is,
mitigates against a dry wejither flow iiilorcciitioii of the existing sewers, and that is,
the tides which back flood the sewers twice daily for scveriil hours.
The present sewers are b(!tter adapt<'d lo carry storm water than housi- drainage.
They are altogether too large for sewage pro])er. In any event the new sewers should
bt! built on the separate plan.
This will cost very much less for the first construction and very much less for
maintenance thereafter when the sewage should have been delivered to a purifica-
tion plant. In this f»eriod of its growth with good future prospects, it is very essen-
tial that the city should consider a re-design of its sewer system and plan out a
comprehen.sive system adapted to present and prospective needs, and after this
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 795
plan shalf have been adopted then the city should from time to time in the laying
down of sewers conform to it. No great corporation conducts its affairs along any
other than thoroughly devised plans and there is no reason why a municipal cor-
poration should not pursue similar methods.
The borough of Eddystone and the borough of Upland has each a concern in the
sewerage and sewage disposal problem. It would seem to be a foregone conclusion
that it would be clicaper and better for Chester City and these boroughs to work
jointly in tiic ronsidoration of a project rather than independently.
The borough of Upland has been denied permission to extend its existing sewers
until it shall have prepared a plan for a comprehensive sanitary sewerage S3'stem and
sewage disposal works and submitted the same to the Commissioner of Health for
approval and until the same are modified, amended or approved by said Commis-
sioner and the local authorities of that borough were advised to consider the feasi-
bility of co-operating with the city of Chester in this movement. A similar notifica-
cation to this effect will be sent to the borough of Eddj'stone.
If reports be true, the city of Chester can borrow in the neighborhood of five
hundred and seventy-five thovisand dollars without exceeding the constitutional
limit of indebtedness. So it appears that the municipality is fully able, if it so
elects, to undertake an imitroved sewerage and disposal project. This cost would
be a cheap hialth insurance, but, it should be remembered that the pollution of
domestic wells in the city should cease also. All wells in proximity to cesspools and
privies should be examined and condemned if found contaminated.
In view of the foregoing considerations, it has been determined that the interests
of the public health will be subserved by withholding a permit to the city of Chester
and such permit is hereby and herein withheld from the said city to extend its
sewer system until the said city shall have prepared a plan for a comprehensive
sewerage system and sewage disposal works for the collection of all the sewage of the
city and its disposal «Tnd treatment in a sanitary and harmless manner and until the
city shall have submitted such plan or plans to the Department of Health and they
have been approved, modified or amended in compliance with State law.
The city council is hereby notified that since it has extended its sewer system
without application to or approval by the Department of Health, and since the
city did not take advantage of the exemption clause in Act one hundred and eighty-
two of nineteen hundred and five, that it has been determined that the city of Ches-
ter be ordered, and said city is hereby and herein ordered and directed to forthwith
prepare improved sewerage plans and plans for sewage disposal works and to submit
them to the Commissioner of Health for approval on or before the first day of July
nineteen hundred and nine.
The local authorities are requested to stop all bathing in the creeks, and, fur-
thermore, to make the examination of the wells as hereinbefore suggested.
The State Department of Health will be very glad to advise and co-operate with
the local officials in the preparation of the sewerage plans.
The borough of Eddystone will be notified to discontinue the discharge of sewage
into the waters of the State in general conformity with the conditions and sugges-
tions hereinbefore given.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 6, 1908.
CHESWICK BOROUGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Cheswick, Allegheny county and is
for approval of plans for a sewage disposal plant for the borough of Cheswick,
Allegheny county. These plans were filed by said borough in accordance with the
suggestions of a permit issued by the Commissioner of Health to said borough.
On August twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and eight the Commissioner of Health
issued a i)ermit to the borough of Cheswich in which, after a discussion of the con-
ditions of the plans submitted, permission was denied for the temporary discharge
of crude sewage from the borough into the Allegheny river, and in which permissiou
was granted for the installation of a new system of sewers and the discharge of sew-
age therefrom after treatment, into the Allegheny river within the limits of the
borough under the condition that —
"the plans for sewage disposal works shall be modified and amended as hereinbefore
suggested, and a« so modified and amended said plans shall be filed with the Com-
missioncM' of Ileaith before the works are constructed, and provided the works are
to be erected as temporary works which may be ultimately abandoned in preference
to some more remote and permanent site."
and under the additional conditions and stipulations in part as follows:
"If at any time the sewer system or the sewage disposal works or any part thereof
shall have become a nuisance or menace or prejudicial to public health, then such
remedinl measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health may require,
suggest or approve.
"No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into the sewer
system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed on the
premises.
796 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
"Complete plans and profiles of the sewer system as built shall be forthwith filed
in the office of the Commissioner of Health, and thereafter, at the close of each
season's work satisfactory plans of the sewers built during the year shall be filed
in said Commissioner's office, together with any other information in connection
therewith as may be desired, in order that the Department may be always informed
of the full extent of the system and the use thereof.
No sewage shall be discharged from the sewer system or disposal plant into the
river, except possibly during a short period of extreme freshet. Reports of the op-
eration of the disposal works and system shall be kept on blank forms satisfactory
to the Commissioner of Health and copies thereof shall bo filed in the office of the
State Department of Health. The permit concludes as follows:
"It is possible for the borough during the early years of the existence of the
sewer system and disposal works, to dispose of all of the sewage at the plant without
creating a nuisance but it is a good judgment to forecast the time when the site for
the plant will have been outgrown and some other permanent location for treat-
ment works, remote from all habitation, must be adopted. It would be better were
the borough to thoroughly consider this subject at the outset and erect works at the
permanent locality. The municipality has a borrowing capacity sufficient to defray
this expense, provided a majority of the citizens want a system of sewerage and
sewage disposal works."
The plans for the disposal plant as finally adopted and to be built, call for the lo-
cation of the works at the site previously selected and discussed in the permit of
August twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and eight, namely, a strip of land owned
by the heirs of R. H. Stewart. This strip of land is about fifty feet in width and
stretches along the bank of the Allegheny river about four hundred feet on both
sides of the mouth of Pillow's Run between the river and the tracks of the Cone-
maugh Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the extreme sojithwestern and down
stream end of the borough territory. The disposal plant is to be located on the
western end of this area. The ten inch outfall sewer from the town is to extend
southward from the Pittsburg and Freeport highway in an alley, a ten inch wrought
iron pipe being laid under the railroad tracks. The wrought iron pipe will be con-
tinued seventy feet up stream in made ground to the upper end of the disposal
works.
The plans submitted provide for the installation of septic tanks, a dosing cham-
ber and sand filters, designed to treat an average daily flow of sewage estimated at
three thousand, two hundred gallons, the average daily water consumption of that
portion of the borough from which it is proposed to collect the sewage.
Through the ten inch outfall sewer the sewage will enter a small concrete inlet
chamber, whence it will enter two similar concrete septic tanks by means of two six
inch pipes. These will be flush with the bottom of the inlet chamber and will
have down turned, submerged ends in the septic tanks. The threads of these
elbow joints are to be kept lubricated so that the vertical lengths of pipe may be
revolved around the axis of the horizontal lengths in order to shut off the flow of
sewage into either one of the tanks when it is desired to clean it. The sewage will
leave the septic tanks by means of two submerged outlets similar to the inlets and at
the opposite ends. Each septic tank will be twelve feet long, four feet wide and have
an average depth of seven feet to the flow lino so that the tanks will have a com-
bined capacity of about five thousand gallons. The concrete floors will slope down
toward the inlet ends.
The septic effluent will be discharged into a concrete dosing chamber adjacent to
the outlet ends of the two tanks. The dosing chamber is to be twelve feet six inches
by nine feet three inches and an automatic five inch siphon will draw from it a
depth of three feet of sewage. Thus the dosing tank will have a capacity of twenty-
six hundred gallons, sufficient to hold twenty hours flow of sewage on the average.
The inlet chamber septic tanks and dosing chamber are all to have oak plank covers.
There are to be two sand filters, each having a sand area of forty-six feet by fif-
teen feet. These filters, side by side, are to extend down siream from the dosing
tank and septic tanks and perpendicular to the direction of flow in the latter. They
are to have concrete outside walls and a longitudinal, concrete dividing wall.
A six inch discharge pipe from the dosing siphon is lo branch into Iwo six inch gal-
vanized iron pipes, each leading to one of the fillers where it will discharge into a
wooden distributing trough extending longitudinally along the centre of the filter
on the surface of the sand and having openings in its sides to i)rovide for a uniform
distribution of sewage. An overflow pipe in the dosing f-haniber will discharge the
sewage into this distributing system should the siphon fail lo ad. The discharge of
the accumulated sewage from the dosing chanilx'r onto ixith filters about once in
twenty hours will flood them to n depth of lhre(! inches. It is intended to dose the
filters simultaneously except when one of them is being cleaned. The sniface area
of both filters being thirteen hundred and eighty s(|uai'(! feet, will provide for a
filtration of the sewage at the rate of one liunrlred Ihousand gallons per day. The
filtering medium is to ho. coarse sand having an averag*! (h-plh of four fed and a min-
imum deplh of three feet. The flooi's of tlie (ilteis are lo be paved with brick laid
on their sides on the original clay bottom and are to slope toward eenlrai, longitudi-
nal gutters, one in each filter. The gutters will slope toward the down stream ends
of the filters and in them will be laid six inch sewer pipe with loose joints over
which will be a depth of several inches of broken stone. These underdrains will
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 797
be vented at the upper ends by nie.nns of vertical pipes with cemented joints ex-
tending above the filter surface and the two underdrains will discharge through a
single six inch sewer pipe at the toj) of the river hank.
When one of the septic tanks rccpiire ch'anin?, it is purposed to pump the liquid
from it on to one of the filter beds by means of a diaphragm pump and then remove
the sludge from it by means of buckets. The sludge will be deposited in a con-
venient excavation to be dug abovr- ordinary high water and at about the greatest
elevation obtainable on the proi)erty, which excavation is then to be refilled.
The disposal plant is lo be constructeil for the most part above the natural
surface elevation, although all the foundations are to be below this elevation. The
outside longitudinal filter walls are to be re-inforced and buttressed, the one
furthest from the river on the inside and the one nearest the river on the outside.
An embankment with an outside slope of one on one and one-half is to be constructed
around the entire plant.
The invert elevation of the inlet is to be seven hundred and forty-seven feet and
the elevation of the lower ends of the filter underdrains is to be about seven
hundred and thirty eight feet. The average annual spring fre.shet elevation at
Choswick is reported to be seven himdred and forty feet which will interfere with
the purification of the sewage during a short period each year. The lowest parts
of the filter walls and the surrounding embankment are to rise to an elevation of
seven hundred and forty-six feet, one foot above the elevation of the fiood of nine-
teen hundred and seven.
The septic tanks have a capacity sufficient to allow for a considerable increase in
the amount of sewage to be treated and the dosing tank also could be used to handle
a considerably larger nuantity of sewage by providing for discharge alternately on
the filter units proposed to l)e built at once and on additional filters which it may
be found desirable to builil in order to increase the capacity of the plant. Such
additional filters could i)robably be constnicted, extending up stream from the
dosing tanks as those now proposed extend down stream. It would be well to make
arrangements so that the dosing tanks may be discharged by causing the siphon to
act when the tank is only half full at times when one of the filters is being cleaned
in order that too large a dose may not be delivered upon the other filter at one
time.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approving; the plans herein considered. If this plant is constructed and operated
properly and according to the conditions of the permit already issued to the borough,
it should yield an pfllnent the discharge of which into the Allegheny river should not
be prejudicial to the interests of the public health.
Harrisburg, Pa., October 20, 1908.
CHESWICK. ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Cheswick. Allegheny county, and is
for permission to install a new system of sewers and to discharge the sewage there-
from after treatment into the Allegheny river within the limits of the borough.
It appears that the borough of Cheswick is located on the north bank of the
Allegheny river about fifteen miles north of the city of Pittsburg. It is attractively
situat<>d and is devoted to resident purposi^s. Most of the householders are en-
gaged in business in Pittsburg and travel back and forth on the railroad daily.
The Conemaugh Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad follows along the bank of
the riv(>r where formerly was located the Pennsylvania State canal. It is elevated
above the highest freshet flow known by living man. From this point back a dis-
tance of about one-third of a mile the surface of the ground is comparatively flat.
At the foot of the hillside is the main thorouirhfare known as the Pitlsburu: and Free-
port State rond. Northerly from this highway the land ascends rapidly on grades
which reach at points fourteen per cent., terminatins at the summit of the plat over
two hundred feet above the river. This is in the northern part of Cheswick. The
incorporated territory is rectangular.
The western half of the borough consists of several comparatively large tracts of
land upon which the houses are few and widely scattered, except on the narrow
strip occupied by the Flias Rlock and Company's distillery and its appurtenant
dwelling adjacent thereto alone the river bank below the railroad. Here also
along IMllow Run and on the Freeport road is located the plant of the Pitt.sburg
Tool and Drop Forge Company, where are employed po.ssibly fifty hands.
The eastern half of the borough consists of three lot plans, two of which are
being gradunlly Imilt up and on the third one, rcfcntly opened, but one building has
been erectinl. This part of Cheswick is sujiplied with water by a jirivate water
company known as the Cheswick Water Company, which owns a drilled well on the
top of the hill. Nearly all the houses in this district, probably thirty-two, are
fitted with bath rooms and inside water closets. These dwellings and othei"s contem-
plated for the neighborhiiod are of modern type and require the latest sanitary
facilities for the comfort of the owners thereof. The character of the ground is
such that except in a few locations on the flat underlaid by beds of alluvial gravel,
successful house drainage by means of cessjiools is practically impossible. Most of
the hilltop and slope property is underlaid by several veins of clay praetically imper-
vious to water, from which flow numerous springs. This fact is said to have given
51
798 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
rise to the name of the township from which Cheswick borough was recently in-
corporated, namely, Springdale township. Cheswick boi'ough is bounded on the
north by said Springdale township, on the east by Springdale borough, recently in-
corporated out of said township, and on the west by Harmer township. The popu-
lation of the borough is less than three hundred at this time. Both to the east and
west in Springdale borough and in Harmer township the contiguous territory is
rural and is under a high class of cultivation. Truck gardening is an extensive in-
dustry and it is quite extensively carried on within the limits of Cheswick borough.
At these farm houses and elsewhere the said spring affords a copious supply of
drinking water to the individual property owners.
The present method of sewage disposal of most of the houses is into cesspools or
privy vaults. Those located on the flats are purposely made of the percolating
type' and have given reasonable satisfaction for a short period, from two to seven
years, when they become clogged up. There are no springs on the flats. There
is at least one well in this district and on the slopes in the eastern district, where
are the water pipes, there remains one spring in use. The reason for abandon-
ment of the numerous springs formerly used for drinking water was the overflowing
of the cesspools on the hillsides and the danger of underground contamination of the
sources of water supply.
During the last two years there has been an increasing amount of trouble caused
by the overflowing of cesspools and the consequent nuisance. The petitioners wish
to be relieved of this condition and hence the borough has designed a system of
sewers for the eastern portion of the town.
In the western district sewerage is not contemplated. The occupied estates along
the river may have individual sewer pipes to the stream for wash water and waste
liquids. It is known, however, that the principal disposal of excrement is into privy
vaults.
In the eastern district at the foot of Allegheny avenue there is a private sewer
whose outlet is into the river. It is fifteen inches in diameter and begins at the
Pittsburg-Freeport road. It is reported to be owned by Caroline Jacoby and other's
residing along Allegheny avenue. There are eight connections.-
There is a private sewer from the Penwick distillery to the river and there are
also privies on the bank of the river on this property. On the distillery property or
adjacent thereto there are also eight tenements, seven of which have bath, closet
and kitchen connections, with two six inch sewers discharging into the river.
The Pittsburg Tool and Drop Forge Company have a sewer pipe from a closet
in the company's office to Pillow Run.
George A. Koehler has a private sewer six inches in diameter from his residence to
the river.
The local authorities propose to take up the present fifteen inch private sewer in
Alleghenv avenue from the railroad northerly and relay it at a lower elevation and
make it the trunk sewer of the sewer system for the eastern district. A lateral is
provided in every street now laid out with facilities for extensions in the other dis-
tricts which remain inplatted at the present time. If negotiations cannot be closed
with Caroline Jacoby and others for the taking over by the borough of the private
sewer, then the petitioners purpose to lay an independent main in Allegheny
avenue. .
The outlet of the pipe is now on the river bank above the ordinary stage of river
water.
Two miles below Cheswick on the opposite side of the Allegheny river is the bor-
ough of Oakmont and adjacent thereto is Verona borough, both of which are sup-
plied with water by the Suburban Water Supply Company. This company's water
works intake is at a point in the river near the easterly borough line of Oakmont.
Some complaint has been made by the citizens of the district of the quality of the
water and the Suburban Water Company has been requested by the Commissioner
of Health to prepare plans for a more efficient purification of the river water than
that accomplished by the present intake cribs located in the bed of the stream. The
two boroughs of the district have also been required to prepare plans for some
other method of sewage disposal than into the Allegheny river, because of the
proximity of their present sewer outlets to the water supply intakes of the city of
Pittsburg and district.
I'.elow Cheswick, on the north bank of the river, at the hamlet of Montrose in
O'll.'ira township, is the pumping station and intake of the Allegheny city water
works system. Seven milf^s above Cheswick on the same side of the river is the
])(>rr:uii\\ of Tarentum. The Commissioner of Health has issued a decree to the
authorities of Tarentum and also to the borough of Brackenridge, immediately
above, and to the village of Natrona in Harrison townsliip to prei)nre plans for
some otliff method of disposal of sewage tli;in into the river. In all of tiiese places
the problem is rendered quite difTicult !)ecausc of the topography and the fact that
many of the sewers receive storm water whose elmination must be effected before
the ererti<»n and operation of purification works can be conducted on any other than
a pn)hibifive basis from the standpoint oF cost. Nevertheless, it is the jjurpose of the
State to bring about at as early a dale as practicable the discontinuance of all
sewage disposal into the Allei^heriy river or its tributaries, and consist(!nt with this
policy, all municipal authorities should conform their sewer '^lans.
The pptilioners for Clieswick borough contemplate using the proposed sewer for
house Bewage only.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 799
The assessed valuation of the borough is reported to be five hundred and twenty
thousand dollars which jjives a borrowing capacity of about thirty-six thousand dol-
lars. The present bonded indebtedness is five thousand dollars. The cost of
the proposed sewers is estimated at five thousand dollars, so it is seen that the
borough will have, on this basis, the ability to borrow twenty-five thousand dol-
lars after the proposed sewers shall have been built.
Undoubtedly when the times demand sewerage for all of the municipal territory,
some other point for a sewage disposal plant will be secured than that at the outlet
of the Allegheny avenue sewer proposed. The natural slope of the ground is more
towards the mouth of I'illow Run for the western district and towards the mouth of
Tawney Ilill Run, or Shoop Run, which is to the east in Springdale borough.
If the borough should make a comprehensive study of this subject and be able to
select a definite site for the ultimate disposal works where all of the sewage of the
borough should be delivered and treated, and find that the cost of conducting the
sewage to this point at this time would be prohibitive, then the erection of a tem-
porary sewage purification plant at the foot of Allegheny avenue would appeal more
strongly to the citizens and taxpayers of the borough as a practical expedient and the
economies uf llie temporary plant would be thus proven.
In any event, because of the close proximity of Cheswick to the intake of the
Allegheny city water works, and the great menace to public health which would
be constituted by the discharge of the public sewer into the Allegheny river in Ches-
wick, it does not follow that local conditions prescribe or admitting that the present
method of sewage disposal by cesspool and privy is a menace and nuisance of a
local character, that there is not some other remedy than the proposed sewer for
this condition and so it would appear that the interests of the public health would
demand that the borough of Cheswick should prepare plans for the treatment of the
sewage from the proposed sewer outlet, if it persists in building the sewer, and
submit the same to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health would not be sub-
served by granting a permit for the construction of the proposed sewers, except
under certain conditions, and a permit is hereby and herein issued therefor under
the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That all roof and storm water be excluded from the sewers and
that before the sewei-s are built and used plans for at least a temporary sewage
purification plant capable of receiving and purifying the sewage of the "eastern dis-
trict as now occupied and developed, be prepared and submitted to the Commissioner
of Health for approval and that after said plans shall have been modified, amended
or approved the borough shall erect the works.
That the owners of all existing sewers hereinbefore mentioned be notified that they
must cease to discharge sewage into the waters of the State and that in this con-
nection it would be advisable to have co-operation between the borough and the
owners of all private sewers to the end that a good sewerage plan and sewage dis-
posal works shall bo adopted.
Harrisburg, Pa., June 23, 1908.
CHESWICK, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Cheswick, Allegheny county, and
is for permission to install a new system of sewers and to discharge the sewage
therefrom , after treatment into the Allegheny river.
It appears that on June twenty-third, nineteen hundred and eight, the Com-
missioner of Health issued a permit to the borough of Cheswick, Allegheny county,
to install a new sower system and to discharge sewage therefrom, after treatment',
into the Allegheny river, within the limits of the borough, under the following con-
ditions iind stipulations:
"FIRST: That all roof and storm water be excluded from the sewers and that
before the sewers are built and used plans for at least a temporary sewage purifi-
cation plant capable of receiving and purifying the sewage of the eastern district as
now occupied and developed, be prepared and submitted to the Commissioner of
Hcallh for approval and that after said plans shall have been modified, amended or
approved , the borough shall erect the works.
"That the owners of all existing sewers hereinbefore mentioned be notified that
they must cease to discharge sewage into the waters of the State, and that in this
connection it would be advisable to have co-operation between the borough and the
owners of all private sewers to the end that a good sewerage plan and sewage dis-
posal works shall be adopted."
This permit has not been recorded and further, no part of the works provided for
in the permit has been constnicted.
As a site for a sewage purification plant, the borough has resolved upon that part
of Ihe R. H. Stewart heirs' property lying between the right of wav of the Cone-
maugh Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Allegheny riveV, and extend-
ing along the river bank two hundred feet on either side of Pillow's Run. which
drains about two-thirds of the area of the borough. This site comprises about one-
half of an .)cie in the extreme soulhwestern corner of Cheswick. Plans for the dis-
posal plant for the purification of the borough's sewage were filed in the office of
the Commissioner of Health for modification and approval on August fourth.
800 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
It is represented by the borough that the project to provide for the installation
of sewers for the entire built up portion of the borough and the purification plant
as designed , would , if brought before the townspeople , which would be necessary
to procure the requisite funds, probably be defeated through the influence of large
property owners and others in that part of the borough not so closely built up and
not so urtienrly in need of sewerage. Whereas, if the sewei-s alone are installed at
the present time, the valuation of the properties benefitted will be proportionately
increased, so that these properties will bear more nearly their just share of the
expense for the purification plant.
Moreover, at Tarentum and the surrounding towns above and at Oakmont and
A'erona, which are below Cheswick, the sewage from much larger communities
than the latter town is discharged into the Allegheny river, although steps are being
taken towards the discontinuance of these discharges.
The borough, through its attorney, asks for pennission to discharge crude sewage
temporarily into the Allegheny .river at the foot of Allegheny avenue within the bor-
ouah throiigh an existing fifteen inch sewer owned by Caroline Jacoby and others.
When the interests of the public health demand it, in the opinion of tiie Commis-
sioner of Health, the borough will build the sewage purification plant proposed as
modified or amended by the Commissioner of Health.
The sewage from the built up section in the eastern part of the borough is to be
con\eyed by a ten inch pipe line about two thousand feet long down stream to the
disposal plant. The line of this sewer is to be either through private property imme-
diately north of the right of way of the railroad or several hundred feet further
north' in the Pittsburg and Freeport highway.
At the disposal plant the pipe will be carried under the railroad tracks. In
either case, part of the sewage from the lower ground iu the immediate vicinity of
the source of Pillow Run may be carried westward in Spruce street and conducted
to the same disposal site.
The design for the disposal plant contemplates the treatment of the sewage in a
septic tank and intermittent sand filters. Through a ten inch down-turned elbow the
sewage will enter, at one side, a circular, brick, septic tank eleven feet in diameter
and seven feet deep to the flow line. At the opposite side of the tank it will pass out
through a six inch down turned elbow to a syphon dosing chamber. Two wooden
baffle boards extending the full depth of the sewage will be so placed in the tank as
to cause the sewage to follow a tortuous course of about twenty-four feet through
a channel averaging about three feet in width. The concrete bottom of the tank
will slope to the centre, from which point there will be a six inch cast iron sludge
drain provided with a valve. Final disposal of the sludge has not been provided for.
The estimated quantity of sewage to bo handled at the present time being thirty-two
hundred gallons, the septic tank having a capacity of about five thousand gallons
would allow for an amply long period of flow and for a considerable increase in the
daily quantity of sewage. In order to obviate a considerable increase in the
quantity of sewage by ground water, it will be necessary to have the sewers in the
marshy ground and the long outfall sewer laid with carefully formed cement joints
under skilled supeiwision and inspection.
The siphon chamber will be of brick with concrete bottom, circular in shape, nine
feet in diameter and two feet three inches deep to the flow line and will be dis-
charged by an automatic six inch syphon to within three inches of the bottom.
The sewage will reach the filter beds from the dosing tank through an eight inch
cast or vvrou^ht iron pipe. There will be three filter beds arranged side by side and
having brick outside and dividing walls and a brick or concrete bottom. Each filter
will be fwelv" by fourteen feet in plan. The filtering material will consist of sand
to a depth of four feet below which there will be three inches of gravel over a six
inch undfM'drain. Such a drain will bo laid in the centre of each filter in the floor,
which will slope slightly towards the drain. The three drains will discharge on the
river bank. The eight inch pipe from the syphon chamber w'ill be connected at the
centre of the filtering area 1o a six inch perforated pipe, which will extend cen-
trally across the three filters supported thror^ inches above the surface of the sand.
No arrangement has Ik-oii iiuide for readily distributing the sewage on one or two
of the filters alone during the denning of the other. It is undoi-stood that a by-pass
is to bo eonstructed around the septic tank whorol)y the sowa^e may be conducted on
to the filters while the septic tank is being denned, when this is necessary.
The three filters having a combined area of five himdred and four square feet will
provide for the filtrnlion of the thirty-two hundred gnllons of sewage estimated at
the rate of about two hundred and sevonty-five thotisand gallons ])er acre per day.
The location of tho filtors is such that additional beds may be added from time to time
as they become neeessarj'.
It is reported that tlir- normal elevation of the surface of the river opposite Ches-
wick is between seven Imnflrod and twenty and seven hundred and twenty-five feet,
anfl that the averat'o nnnnal spring freshet heifrht is seven hundred nnd forty feet,
one foot bolow the brithmi of the sand in the filters, wliilo unusuni freshets, such
as an- snid to hnvo o<eiiii'i-d twice in the fiast fivr' years, may rench nn elevnlion of
seven hundred and forty-fivo fr-ct , within two feet of the top of the filler walls nnd
level with the surface of the filtors. Thus durinc such freshets which may remain
at their maximum height for perhaps forty-eight hours it will be impossible for tho
effluent from the filter to flow away by gravity.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 801
The site selected for the clis)iOsal works is about tin- lowest point in the borough.
There are a few houses iu the ueij^hborhood , oue within about two hundred feet of
the site. It should be borne in mind that tliere i.s more or k'ss odor iu connection
with any sewage disposal works, and that it is desirable to locate the plant as far
away from the dwellings as possible and feasible. Where the plant is located near
buildings, greater care and high class maintenance is necessary to obviate a nui-
sance. It would be better to establish a pumping station at this point and to raise
the sewage to some remote point.
Definite arrangements should bo made for some other disposal of the sludge from
the septic tank than into the river. Plans should be prepared for a suitable sludge
drying bed to be constructed so that the sludge may be allowed to run on to it by
gravity, but so protected that the highest floods may not reach it or if necessary
the plans should provide for a sludge bed to which the sludge may be pumped.
The septic tank should be divided into two parts, so that while ordinarily both
parts would be used, when it should become necessary to clean the tauk, either hali
could be used separately while the other half is being cleaned.
The rate of filtration is too high. The syphon chamber will discharge about
three times in twenty-four hours, a volume sufficient to cover the three filters to a
depth of three inches. This will give a rate of filtration estimated at two hundred
and seventy-five thousand gallons per acre daily. The rate should be I'educed to
about one hundred thousand gallons daily.
The petitioners do not show good reason why more sewage should be put into the
river immediately above the municipal water works intakes below. The borough
does not show reason why the stipulations hereinbefore quoted of the permit of June
twenty-third, nineteen hundred and eight should not obtain. Even a temporary' per-
mission to put more sewage into the river might result iu loss of life in the munici-
palities below whose people are reliant on the river water for their domestic supplj'.
It is evident that the borough has means at its disposal to defray the cost of the
preparation of complete detail plans of a comprehensive sewerage system and per-
manent sewage disposal works. Such plans have not been submitted. The plan
now before the Department, if modified as herein proposed, might answer for tem-
porary works, and possibly, a permanent plant, if proximity to dwellings be elimi-
nated from consideration.
The effort in the design has been to secure sewerage facilities at the minimum cost.
While the site for treatment works may be ultimately used, yet the borough pur-
poses to temporarily utilize an existing sewer. There is no knowing how much
sewage may be added to that now being emptied through the existing pipe into the
Allegheny river, and it is clearly iu the interests of the public health that all of
the sewage should be treated. Either an adequate plant must be installed or each
individual estate must care for its own sewage iudepeudently of others. The drink-
ing water of municipalities below must not be contaminated.
It has been determined that a permit be denied the borough, and the same is hereby
and herein denied to the borough of Cheswick to temf)orarily use the Caroline
Jacoby sewer outlet or any other outlet into the Allegheny river or tributary thereof
for the discharge of crude sewage.
It has also been determined that provided the plans for sewage disposal works shall
be modified and amended as hereinbefore suggested, and as so modified and amended
said plans shall bo filed with the ("ouunissioner of Health before the works are con-
structed, and provided the works are to be erected as temporary works which may
be ultimately abandoned in preference to some more remote and permanent site,
then approval of the entire system shall be given, and approval is hereby and herein
given and a junmit issued under these conditions and under the following conditions
and stipulations:
FIRST: It is expressly stipulated that the sewerage permit of June twentj--third,
nineteen hundred and eight, shall have been first recorded in the office of the Recorder
of Deeds for Allegheny county.
SECOND: If at any time the sewer system or the sewage disposal works or any
part thereof shall have become a nuisance or menace or prejudicial to public health .
then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health may
require, suggest or approve.
THIRD: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on the promises.
FOURTH: Complete plans and profiles of the sewer syslem as built shall be
forthwith filed in the office of the Commissioner of Heallh, and thereafter, at the
close of each season's work, satisfactory plans of the sewers built during the year
shall be filed in s.iid Commissioner's office, together with any other information in
connection ilierowith as may be desired, in order that the Department may be always
informed of the full extent of the system and the use thereof.
FIFTH: No sewage shall bo discharged from the sower system or disposal plant
into the river, except po.ssibly during a short period of extreme freshet. Reports of
the operation of the disposal works and system shall be kept on blank forms satis-
factory to the Commissioner of Health and copies thereof shall be filed in the office
of the State Department of Health.
It is possible for the borough during the early years of the existence of the sewer
system and disi)osal works, to dispose of all of the sewage at the i)lant without
creating a nuisance but it is good judgment to forecast the time when the site for the
51—17—1908
802 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off, Doc.
plant will have been out-grown and some other permanent location for treatment
works, remote from all habitation, must be adopted. It would be better were the
borough to thoroughly consider this subject at the outset and erect works at the
permanent locality. The muuicipality has a borrowing capacity sufficient to defray
this expense, provided a majority of the citizens want a system of sewerage and
sewage disposal works.
Harrisburg, Pa., August 25, 1908.
CLINTONVILLE, VENANGO COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Clintonville, A'^enango county,
Pennsylvania, and is for permission to establish a system of sewers and sewage dis-
posal works.
it appears that Clintonville borough has a population of three hundred and
tweuty-tive at the present time. In nineteen hundred it was two hundred and sixty-
two. Thirty years ago there were more people living in the community than at any
time since.
The site of the town is in Clinton township, in the south central part of Venango
county. It is an inland town, travel to and from it being over public highways.
Dwellings are located along two main thoroughfares namely, Mercer street and
Main street, at the intersection and in the vicinity. This part is on a hill from
which the ground slopes in all directions. The drainage is entirely into Scrubgrass
Creek, a branch which flows northerly through the eastern part of the borough.
This branch is called Surreua Run. The valley of this stream is about one hundred
feet lower than the main part of the village. There is a water course which begins
near the intersection of the two main streets and flows northerly to the Surrena
Run. . ^
There is another stream known as Dry Run, which rises near Main street in the
southern part of the borough and flows westerly along the southern boundary
line to Scrubgrass Creek which it enters near Mercer street in the borough.
Scrubgrass Creek rises two or three miles south of Clintonville and flowing north-
erly passes along or near the western boundary of the borough and discharges into
the Allegheny river, about four and one-half miles north of Clintonville. The
mouth of the creek is about fourteen miles below the city of Franklin and ten miles
above Emienton borough.
The country round about it is a rich oil field recently discovered and developed.
Several oil wells have been recently drilled in Clintonville. It is expected that
further drilling will develop quite a large increase in the production of oil. How-
ever, owing to the poor transportation facilities, it is not expected that the growth
of the community will be materially increased, except so far as it may be desirable
for people employed in the immediate vicinity in operating oil wells to reside in
the village. The general practice in oil fields is for the pumpers and other people
engaged in the operations to reside near or on the territory being operated. There-
fore, some growth in Clintonville may be reasonably anticipated. At the present
time there are no manufacturing plants of any description in the town. There is
a bank and several stores which handle a general line of commodities.
The inhabitants of this borough obtain their water supply for domestic and other
purposes from dug and drilled wells. The dug wells range in depth from twenty
to thirty and sometimes forty feet, while some of the drilled wells have a depth
of seventv-five to eighty feet. Underneath the soil stratum is a limestone rock which
produces a voluminous amount of water which is generally the source of supply for
the dug wells, but tbe drilled wells which are considerably deeper to through this
limestone rock into a gravel formation from which the water is taken. The quality
of the water from both sources seems to be excellent.
The town is absolutely without any fire protection on account of not having a
public water system. But the municipal authorities and the citizens are contem-
plating the installation of a public water system in the near future which may be
carried out next year and if so it is proposed to obtain the water supply from artesian
wells and to locate a water tank on the highest point of land in the town, which
is a short distance south of Mercer street and east of Main street, and to locate
the tank about one hundred feet higher than the general elevation of the town, so as
to furnish sufficient pressure to deliver the water for domestic purposes and to make
a somewhat efficient fire protection system. , , . ,
At present there are no sewers in the borough. The drainage from the kitchen
is being thrown onto the surface of the ground or goes into drains that discharge in
the Htror-ts or highways adjacent to the dirterent buildings. Fecial luiitters are dis-
posed of in the privies and it is reported that one cesspool is in use in the borough.
Therefore it may be expected, if this practice is continiH'd, that the water supply
taken from the dug w<!lls will sooner or later become polluted and the citizens desire,
through the agency of the municipal ollicials, to correct these insanitary conditions by
the installation of a system of sewers. It is proposed, as represented on the blue-
print a.-companying the application, to construct a sewer eight inches in diameter
aloD" Main street for a distance of about three hundred and seventy feet north of
Mercer street to an alley which pa.sses easterly from Main street; thence the sewer
is to be laid along this alley and across private property for the distance of about
No. It. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 803
Tbis main sewer from Main street to the small run is to bo fifteen inches in diameter.
The borough also purposes to extend the fifteen inch sewer uortliei-ly from this
intersection along Main street for a distance of three hundred and fitly feet and
then continue it by an eight inch sewer still northerly along Main street for a dis-
tance of six hundred feet. It is proposed also to build an eight inch sewer along
an alley east of and parallel to Main street and connect it from the north and
from the south into the fifteen inch sewer leading from Main street to the small
run before mentioned. Also it is designed to construct an eight inch sewer along
an alley north of Mercer street and connect it by means of an eight inch pipe to
be laid northerly to the fifteen inch sewer.
Plans for a sewer on Main street south of Mercer street, along Mercer west of
Main street have not been submitted. This territory drains to Dry Run. It is un-
dei-stood that if the borough- should ever build a sewer in this district the outlet would
be planned to terminate in Dry Run. The local authorities are reported to hold to
the view that the necessity of an extensive sewer system is very remote and probably
will never be required, unless the town should meet with an unexpected and sur-
prising growth. It is proposed by the borough to construct the sewers with man-
holes and necessary appurtenances, and to use the sewers to take sewage and storm
water. The minimum grade of the sewers is to be one per cent.
The borough has secured subscriptions for the proposed sewers from several citi-
zens owning property along the line of the sewers. The subscriptions have been
given with the understanding and on the condition that the sewers shall be built
on or before January first, nineteen hundred and nine. Therefore, the borough
council is especially desirous that the Commissioner of Health should act on the ap-
plication and grant a permit at the earliest possible date.
The borough's assessed \aluation is in the neighborhood of one hundred thousand
dollars, so it is reported, and its bonded indebtedness five hundred dollars. If these
figures are correct, then it is apparent that the town is unable to build a system of
sewers and sev.-age disposal works and defray the cost of such construction.
It does not appear that Scrubgrass Creek between the borough and the Allegheny
river is used as a source of drinking water by man or beast. With the exception of a
slaughter house and stock yard, and pigpen connected with the same, located on
Dry Run in the borough, from which sewage is discharged into the stream, there
does not appear that there is any source of pollution on the entire line of the creek.
However, the whole length of this stream has not been traversed by an officer of
this Department and it may be that there are other sources of pollution.
It is essential where a water course is now pure that it should be kept so. It is
inexpedient for the State to wage a campaign against stream pollution in one sec-
tion of the State and to permit the pollution of the waters of some other part of the
State. The law of nineteen hundred and five, enacted to preserve the purity of the
waters of the State for the protection of the public health, does not make* it legal
for an individual to discharge sewage into any stream. A municipal corporation
may, when the Governor, Attorney General and Commissioner of Health are of a
unanimous opinion that the interests of the public health will be subserved, be given
a permit to discharge sewage into a stream.
The local authorities of Clintonville do not show that it is necessary in the inter-
ests of the public health to pollute the waters of the State by the borough sewage. It
is no good reason, because a few property owners wish to get sewage away from
their dwellings, why this sewage should be drained into a natural water course to the
possible danger to other individtmls.
Furthermore, the borough of Clintonville is without public water works system
and is likely to remain so. Running water is essential to the operation of the sewei-s.
From all the evidence at hand, the case in question is one where the individual should
take care of the sewage produced on his property, unless the borough is sufficiently
strong financially to properly take care of the sewage of all of the estates in the bor-
ough.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that a per-
mit be granted to the borough of Clintonville to build a sewer system and a permit
is hereby and herein granted therefor, under the following conditions and under these
conditions only.
FIRST: That all storm water shall be excluded from the sewers since the intro-
duction of storm water would interfere with the efficiency and economy in purifying
the sewage.
SECOND: That before the sewers are built and used, plans for a sewage purifi-
cation plant shall be prepared by the borough and submitted to the Commissioner of
Health for approval and when the plans are approved, modified or amended the
borough shall build works in conformity therewith and deliver the sewage from the
said sewers to this plant and purify it there.
Harrisburg, Pa., October 15, 1908.
COALDALE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Coaldale, Schuylkill county, and
is for permission to install a sewerage system and to discharge the sewage therefrom
into Panther Creek within the limits of the borough, in accordance with revised
plans submitted in due form on December thirty-first, one thousand nine hundred
804 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
and seven. It appeare that on June seventh, one thousand nine hundred and seven,
the borough of Coaldale made an application for permission to install a sewerage
system and that on August sixteenth, one thousand nine hundred and seven, the
Commissioner of Health issued a decree in which were the following stipulations:
"That the proposed plans be ordered changed, the changes to include the reduction
in sizes of the sewere, to such diameters as may be necessary for the removal of
house drainage only, and that when so changed the plans shall be submitted to
the Commissioner of Health for approval and no sewers shall be constructed and used
until this be done.
"This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of Panther Creek shall cease on
the first day of November, one thousand nine hundred and eight, but if the bor-
ough shall have complied with the other conditions of this permit, then the
Commissioner of Health may extend the time in which sewage may be discharged into
Panther Ci'eek from said borough's sewerage system."
Coaldale is a coal miuing settlement recently incorporated with a population of
about thirtj'-seven hundred, located in the valley of Panther Creek, Schuylkill
county, the eastern boundary of the borough being the line between Schuylkill
county and Carbon county.
Panther Creek heads in Carbon county and flows in a southwesterly direction
through a deep narrow valley between parallel mountain ranges, distant one and
a half miles, traversing a distance of seven and a half miles and emptying into the
Little Schuylkill river at Tamauqua. In consequence of the extensive coal opera-
tions and the small watershed of the valley, most of the dry weather flow of Panther
Creek is acid mine drainage. Coaldale borough extends two miles along the creek
and in width about one half mile on either side. It is situated about four miles
above the Little Schuylkill river. Coaldale village proper, where the public build-
ings and most of the private dwellings are, comprises about fifty acres only. This
tract is on the southerly side of the creek on the Pisgah mountain slope. The grades
in the village are moderately steep, the higliwaj's are chiefly dirt roads, in conse-
quence of which there is a marked erosion of street surfaces which makes desirable
to some extent sub-surface removal of water.
The local authorities proposed to construct a combined sewer system in the village
and submitted plans for approval. The area of the proposed district was about thirty
acres and the length of streets therein about four and a half miles. The plan called
for three and a half miles of sewers all of which were to drain to the main inter-
cepting sewer at the base of the slope and paralleling Panther Creek. This sewer
was to start up stream at the foot of Second street and terminate at Fifth street and
empty inio the Fifth street district outlet, fifty-four inches in diameter. The latter
was to be the outfall from the entire village and to discharge the sewage into the
creek below the culm dam in the vicinity of Fifth street.
When storms occurred the First street sewer district system (to comprise twenty-
three hundred feet of sewers ranging in sizes from ten inches to eighteen inches in
diameter), was to overflow and discharge into Panther Creek through an eighteen
inch pipe ; tiie Second street sewer district system (comprising forty-eight hundred
feet of sewers ranging from ten to thirty inches in diameter), was to overflow and
to discharge into the cieek through a thirty inch conduit. Ordinarily the First
street .system would, as planned, have emptied its flow into the Second street
sewer at Water .i;treet and the flow of both was to have been conveyed by an inter-
cepting sewer .seventeen hundred feet long, tweleve inches to fifteen inches in diam-
eter, terminating in the fifty-four inch outfall sewer proposed at Fifth street.
The Fifth street system was to have comprised eighty-four hundred feet of sewers
with diauK.'ters ranging from ten inches to tiiirty inches.
The plan conlemplated the removal underground of all street drainage.
It was ascertained that in the Fifth street sewer district there existed a natural
water course, dry most of the time, which by widening, straightening and deep-
ening could be permanently used as the natural course through which street gutter
wal"r woiilil flow and that such an imjirovenienl would be cheaper and better than
the plan then propositi for the district.
The mine drainage is now exempt('<l by law from these i)ollutions whicli must cease
to bi- discharged into the water.s of (he State, It is by no means sure that these pol-
lutions may not some time be subject to regulation. Although the acidity of I'anther
Creek ncj doubt renders its waters a disinfectant to a considerable degree, so that
under ordinary conditions and during dry wealhi^r particularly, th(! sewage dis-
charged therein at Lansford, a borough inunediately al)ove Coaldale, is deoclori/.ed
ami partially sterilized. Yet it is not known Ihal these I'lfects are always assured
tlinjughoul llie yeai'. If it be true that litlle or no harm can come from the discharge
into Panther Creek of sewage from Coalilale during dry wcsatlKW, and hence whatever
danger to down stream iiopulalion there may be; must arise during storms, then
it is apparent liiat sewage disposal woiks lo treat the dry wealliei' (low and to by-
pass the sewage during storms into the ei'eek, would entii'ely miss the point. ()n
this score, if the sewage is to be? regulated and treated, it sliould |je during storms,
and hence housi; drainage sliould be collected in pipes separate fiom those carrying
street drainage.
iJecause it is possible for sewage from Coaldale together with deposits along
Panther Creek to be brought down the Schuylkill during a freshet to the; city of
Philadei|)hia in twenly-roni" hours or Ii'ss, whitre said city draws upon said river
for part of its source of supply, Coaldale sewage may be a menace to public health
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 805
if drained imtreatod into Panther Creok or its tributaries. Therefore, it was de-
cided that the proposed sewers were much too larjje to remove house sewage only,
and the sanitary sower system beins requisite plans were returned for revision.
The modified plans now before riic Department for approval comprise S'wers in the
streets as formerly, laid out with diameters six inches on grades apparently four
per cent, or greater, with eight inch mains for the districts hereinabove described
and a ten inch interceptor and outfall sewer along the foot of the slope into the
creek below the culm bank. The design seems to have been carefully planned,
mspeftif)n manholes are provided at street intersections, modern flush tanks are to be
installed at summit elevations, the grades are such as to insuro sclf-cloanAing velo-
cities and the sizes are ample to receive a much larger volume of flow than should
ever be delivered to the sewers from the district they are designed lo sorvo. ('are
in the construction of the sewers to make their joints tight will insure the town, by
the carrying out of this plan, an eflicient sewer system and an economical one.
It has boon determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved by
approving the modified plans and the same are hereby and herein approved, under
tho following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That all street and surface water shall be excluded from the sewerage
system and at the close of each season's work plans of the sewers built during the
year under the system herebj' approved, shall be prepared and filed with the Com-
missioner of Hon 1th. together with any other information in connection therewith
which may be required.
SECOND: That no pathological material from any laboratory shall be discharged
into the system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed on
the premises.
THIRD: That if at any time the sewerage system or any part thereof, in the
opinion of the Commissioner of Health, be a nuisance or menace to public health,
then such remedial measures shall be adopted by the borough as the Commissioner of
Health may advise or approve.
FOURTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on the first day of May, nineteen hundred and eleven. If the borough shall
have complied with the conditions of this permit, then on said date the Commissioner
of Health may extend the time in which sewage may be discharged from said sewer
system into the waters of the State.
FIFTH: In anticipation of the ultimate treatment of the borough sewage, the
Commissioner of Health may institute tests in the borough to determine the most
economical and efficient means of disi>osal of said sewage. If these tests be under-
taken the borough officials shall assist the Department of Health in this under-
taking by temporarily providing any land for the purpose.
Harrisburg, Pa., April 24, 1908.
COLUMBIA, LANCASTER COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Columbia, Lancaster county, and
is for permission to build a system of sewers and to discharge the sewage therefrom
untreated, into the Susquehanna river in conformity to plans submitted.
It appeal's that on March eighth, nineteen hundred and seven, the Commissioner
of Health issued a permit to the borough of Columbia, I^ancastor county, Pennsyl-
vania, to build a system of sewers and to discharge the sewage thereform, untreated,
into the Susquehanna river, under the following conditions and stipulations:
"FIRST: That the plans now proposed by the borough shall be so modified that
all roof and surface water shall be excluded from the sewers, and that all sewage
shall be excluded from the drains.
"SECOND: That the sewer plans modified as herein required, shall provide for
the ultimate conveyance of all the sewage of the borough to some common point
from whence tho sewage can be advantageously delivered to sewage disposal works
when the time shall arrive for the discontinuance of tho discharge into the river of
the borough's sowago: tho sewer plans as so modified shall be submitted to the Com-
missioner of Health for his approval, who may modify or amend the same and fix
rules and regulations with respect to the operation and maintenance of said sys-
tem.
"This permit before being operative shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder
of Deeds for the county wherein the outlet for the said sewer system is located."
However, this permit was not recorded as required by law, but it was returned
to the (Commissioner of Health. On October twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and
seven, the borough onginoor submitted a report on plans revised in accordance with
the suggestions of the said permit, but the iilans themselves were not submitted
Further, on said October twontj'-fourth , an application was made for a permit to
construct that part of the sanitary sewer system in the densely built-up p<irtion of
the iiorough. On July twenty-fii-st, nineteen hundred and eight, on request by
the Department, the borough engineer submitted the revised sower plans.
It appears that Columbia borough is a manufacturing railroad town of about thir-
teen thi>usand poi)ulation, locatod on the east bank of the Susquehanna river in
Lancaster comity. Rranches of the Pennsylvania railroad and tho Philadelphia
806 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
and Reading systems pass through the town and materially add to its support. A
combined railway and highway bridge spans the river and further adds to Colum-
bia's advantages. The town has had an interesting history during the periods of
river navigation and it is extremely probable that the future utilization of water
power from the Susquehanna river and its canalization will materially add to the
growth and importance of the borough. Therefore, in considering municipal im-
provements, it is clearly within the bounds of reason to contemplate these possi-
bilities.
There are two hills in the borough, one being east of Shawnee Run and the
other west of it. This stream flows down from the northeast and joins the river
about the central part of the borough. It is in the valley of this stream that the
Philadelphia and Reading Railway is built and the Pennsylvania Railroad and
connecting branches follow along the river. The older section or business part of
the town is on the rising ground north of the run.
The public highway nearest the river and paralleling it is named Front street.
Other highways extending in about the same direction back to the borough limits are
designated respectively Second to Sixteenth streets, inclusive. Streets at right
angles to them and the river are alternately paralleled by alleys. The most important
of these streets in AVest Columbia are. Walnut, Locust, Union and Mill streets,
and in East Columbia. Manor street. The hills, back into which they extend, have
elevations of about one hundred and fifty feet above Front street. Rain water comes
down rapidly from the height, principally in the streets, whose surfaces are thus
scoured, and would flood out the railroads on its way to Shawnee Run or the river
were not storm drains provided at various places to conduct the torrents underground
beneath the railroads to the streams.
There are about two thousand eight hundred houses in the town, possibly three
hundred of them are provided with modern water closets and dispose of house sewage
into cesspools, sometimes called sinks, dug to the underlying limestone rock through
whose crevices the liquid may pass away to a greater or less degree. The greater
majority of dwellings have the ordinary privy arrangement for the disposal of excre-
ment, kitchen and laundry waste being disposed of in these instatices chiefly into
the street gutters, whrn-e it may ultimately find its way into the storm drain at the
foot of the street. This method of slop water disposal is sometimes productive during
hot weather of objectionable odors, so it is reported.
The street gutters on the hillsides are from two to four feet wide and from six
inches to two feet deep. They furnish principal means of drainage for the built-up
portions of the town.
Relative to water supply, a few springs at the foot of the hills in Shawnee Valley
furnish drinking water for a large number of employes at the plants along the run.
The sprimrs are at the base of the hills upon which cesspools in the limestone rock
abound. The use of these waters, coupled with the persistence of typhoid in the
town since the installation of the public filter plant, is significant. The Pennsyl-
vania Railroad has its own systems and several of the manufactories use stream
water for industrial purposes.
The Commissioner of Health has requested the local Board of Health to make an
examination of the si)rinas and wells in the borough whose waters are used for drink-
ing purposes and if said waters he found to be polluted, that same shall be aban-
doned by order of the local authorities.
The major part of the wntor is furnished by the Columbia Water Company,
which t.nkcs its supply from tin- river at the foot of Walnut street just above the
central part of the borough. The water is mechanically filtered and then pumped
into the pipe sy.stems of the town, overflowing into a four million gallon storage
reservoir located in Lockhart's Hollow outside of the borough near the township line
at a sufTicient elevation to supply Ihe town l)y gravity at night when pumping
censns. About every liouse in Ihf borough is sui)plied with this water. It is re-
portf'd that not over eieht private wells are in use in the district.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company supplies raw river water to its shops and
locomotives. The pumpinc sirition and intake is at the foot of Bridge street,
which is about oidit hundred fi-et further up stream than the water company's intake.
The wafr-r is forced into n reservoir. It is located neari)y at the west yards of the
comi)any immefliatcly hack of the round house. Formerly there was another
reservoir in the east yards about a mile distant, but this reservoir is not reported to
be abandoned. The west yards are supplied with filtered public water for drinking
purj)oscs.
T/orkhart's IToIIov.' Run is a small open stream in the northern part of the
boroucrh and comes down from the hills in an open ditch to North Seeond street
and from whence it passes through two thirty-six inch pijx-s exlemling under the
railroad yards and old «-annl l)''d jind eventually to Ihe river near P.i'idnc sti'e(>t above
the town's water works intake. Some ))rivate sewage from a silk mill is discharged
into tlu' run at Second street, so it is reported.
The next watf-r course receiving some sewage enters the river on the down stream
side of the brid'.'e (iboul si-ven hundred and fifty feet above said water works intake.
It is known a« TTeise's Run. It is an oiieri diteli receiving storm MJiter from the
streets in the borouuii to a pfiint aiioiit two hniidri'd fr-et north of Fourth street.
The remainder of its courses is walled up and covered over. Where it enters the
river, it is four fr-et by ten feet in diameter. This course receives more or less
kitchen drainage and sewage is diselmrged into the covered portion.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 807
Next in order down stream are two surface drain pipes twenty-four inches and
thirty inches in diameter each. They pass under the railroad tracks to the river at
the foot of Walnut street. The sewage from the Pennsylvania Passenger station
goes inco the river through a separate pipe below Walnut street. The water works
intake is at this point about two hundred and sixty feet out into the stream.
Next are two stone culverts, each three feet square, extending to the river from
the foot of Locust street.
A three foot by four storm drain passes along the railroad to the river from the
foot of Alley I. Some sewage goes into this drain from the Reading Passenger
station.
Below Alley I. comes the sewer in Alley J. It begins at Fourth street and ex-
tends to the river, a distance of about sixteen hundred feet. It is a twenty-four
inch pipe where it empties into the river. It carries off rain water and kitchen
drainage and possibly sewage from six house connections.
Union Street drain begins at Fourth Street and is a thirty inch pipe passing
under the Pennsylvania tracks to the railroad.
Next comes the I'erry Street sewer, twenty-four inches in diameter. It extends
. from Front Street to iho river and takes storm water only.
Next comes Shawnee Riin. It first shows signs of polluton at the Hollinger
Tannery in the borough, and below this several mills add to the pollution. About
eight years ago a ccncern known as the East Columbia Land Company developed
a tract of land on the hill in and without the borough south of Shawnee Run
and laid out streets and house lots and erected some houses thereon and con-
structed a stone drain. From the end of this drain near Twelfth and Manor
Streets, there is an open channel called Wolfe's Run which extends to the railroad
at the foot of Plane Street. Across the railroad tracks it is a thirty-six inch
pipe down to the river. Laundi"y water is discharged into this stream near the
end of the stone culvert.
At or near the south boundary line of the borough is Strickler's Run.
Certain alleys and streets in the town are at present almost impassable during
and after heavy rains. Deep guttei-s have been worn out by the scouring force of the
rainfalls and street surfaces have been badly washed. These deep gutters are
dangerous as well as inconvenient to the public. Moreover, it is desirable, from
an economic, as well as a sanitary standpoint, to provide sewers for the removal
of household wastes from dwellings provided with modern sanitary facilities.
Furthermore the permanent paving of the streets in the business part of the
town is contemplated and this renders imperative the closing up of the deep gutters.
In fact, whatever permanent drainage improvements are called for in this dis-
trict should be made prior to the paving improvement. The proposed plans are
intended to obviate the existing nuisances and to afford facilities for the removal
of surface water and sewage not only in the center of the borough but for the
entire municipality in the end.
As now designed, the storm water drains and the house sewere are to be kept
entirely distinct. Storm water is to be carried generally in the most direct line
to the river and discharged through outlets at the foot of Walnut and Locust, Union
and Perry Streets. These main lines will receive branches at intervals which will
connect water at the low points in the cross streets, generally at the alleys. The
outlets are designed of sufficient size to remove storm water from the entire system
after all streets are paved. The storm drains proposed in the new plan are
in general of the same size as those of the original plan ; but in some cases the
grade has been raised, which is permitted by the fact that they are not to re-
ceive house drainage. The large intercepting sewer on Front Street, originally
planned, is also rendered unnecessary, which reduces the cost of the system.
The sewers for house sewage comprises a considerable percentage of eight inch
pipe. The Front Street intercepting sewer will range in size from eight inches to
twenty-four inches in diameter. The plan shows a temporary outlet at the foot
of Perry StreiH. However, this intercepting sewer may continue along Front
Street to the foot of Plane Street in the future where it will receive the sewage
from most of the district south of Shawnee Run. When required, this stretch of in-
tercepting sewer can be built as a continuation of that proposed for immediate
construction with no chancre in the plans except the abandonment of the outlet at
Perry Street from Front Street to the river.
No attempt has been made to locate grounds for a disposal plant, but there
is nothing in the plan which interferes with the location at any point on either
side of Front Street south of Mill Street. It appears that pumping the sewage
will be nece.'^sary wherever the disposal plant be placed, and its exact location is a
matter therefore which must be decided by the conditions of cost available and
other concerns.
The roof and stoim water is to be excluded from the sanitary sewers. The
design contemplates that ultimately a population of thirty thousand uniformly dis-
tributed over the limits of thp municipality will contribute to the sewers. The
sewers are to be provided with flush tanks on dead ends, are to be laid to a minimum
depth of seven feet to eight feet no traps are to be laid on house connections and
it has been recommended that the main trap be prohibited on the house soil pipe
and instead that these pipes be extended full diamt>ti'r abnyo tlw> roof and a vented
trap be placed on each fixture in the bouse.
SOS THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
It appears that tht proposed system comprises, in the territory embraced in the dis-
trict where sewers are to be built at once, namely from "Front Street to Fifth and
from Walnut to Perry Street, a total length of four and seventeen-hundredths
miles.
In a considerable proportion of the streets where both storm and house sewers
are to be laid, it is suggested that these structures be placed in the same trench.
Furthermore, it is suggested that the borough engineer may be able to work
out a detail plan whereby such consideration will be entirely practicable and
etunomical. The Department of Health will be glad to co-operate with the borough
engineer in working out the details of such a plan should the borough engineer de-
sire any assistance from the State.
The necessity has been herein shown for the conveyance of sewage below the
water works intake, and the necessity for improved surface drainage being ap-
parent and the laying of sewers in streets prior to their being paved being com-
mendable, it would seem desirable that favorable consideration should be given
to the plans as they now stand, more especially since the permit to construct
a system of sewerage and to discharge the sewage therefrom untreated into the
Susquehanna River within the limits of said borough has been granted in due
form on ^larch eighth, nineteen hundred and seven, and the conditions with
respect to the use of the waters of the Susquehanna River below the borough of
Columbia have not since changed.
In view of the fact that the borough of Columbia has complied with the stipula-
tions and conditions in the sewerage permit on March eighth, nineteen hundred
and seven, and iu view of the other considerations herein set forth, it has been
determined that the proposed plans now under consideration be approved and that
a permit therefor and for the discharge of sewage into the waters of the State be
issued and such approval is hereby and herein granted and a permit issued therefor
ubder the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on the first d.ay of January, nineteen hundred and twelve, contingent that
the other terms of this permit shall have been complied with. If on that date
the borough has fulfilled the other terms and conditions of this pennit, then the
Commissioner of Health may extend the time iu which sewage from said sewer
system shall continue to discharge into the waters of the State, having in mind
the policy of the State Department of Health with respect to the discharge of
sewage into said river from other municipalities in the vicinity.
SECOND: At the close of each season's work the borough shall prepare a plan
of the sewers built during the year and file the same, together with any other
information iu connection therewith, iu the office of the State Commissioner of
Health and the borough council shall keep an accurate record of each house con-
nection with the system and copies thereof shall be given to the Commissioner of
Health whenever ho may require this to be done, to the end that the extension
of the sower s-ystem and its use shall always be known to the Commissioner of
Health.
THIRD: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be dischai-ged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these waters to be destroyed
on the premises.
FOUR'J'H: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health the
sewer system or any part thereof has become prejudicial to public health or a men-
ace, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of liealth
shall approve or advise.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 29th, 1908.
COLWYN, DELAWARE COUNTY.
This order and decree was issued to the borough authorities of the borough of
Cohvyn, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, relative to the discontinuance of the
discharge of sewage into the waters of the State within the said borough, in
response to a coniphiint made to the Commissioner of Ilealtli by the Board of
Ilcalth of the boi-ougli of rojwyn, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, about a
nui.sance created l)y the discharge of sewage into Darby Creek in the vicinity of
Fifth Street in Colwyn, said discharge being from a sewer ditch coining down
through Darby borough luider tiie Pliiladelpliia, Baltimore and Washington Rail-
road and rjinptyintr into tlif; cre(!k a short distance below the railroad.
it was represented that tlie residenls on Fifth Street in ("olwyn liad petitioned the
Borough Council for redress and that the P.oard n{ Ileallh liad brought th(! mat-
ter to the attention of the Darby Board of IleiiKh wiliiont results; therefore, the
Commissioner of Health was asked to take the mailer under advisement and stop
the nuisance.
On Sr-pteinber twenty-fourth nineteen hundred and six, the Board of Health
again coiiii)hiined about tlie insanitary condition of n\inierons privy vaults and
the futile effort of the I'.oard to close uj) the v>iulls and brini,' nhoiit connections
with the sewers. A request that some oilicer of the State Dej)arlnient make an
inspection was made, and this was referred by the Commissioner to the Chief En-
gineer of the Department, with instniftion to visit the town at some future time,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 809
On September twenty-sixth, the Commissioner of Health notified the President
of the borough (;ouiKil tluil an engineer representiu}; the State Department would
confer with the borough engineer, Mr. Damon, and make an inspection of the
borough at some time in the near future.
These inspectitjus were made in the fall of nineteen lumdred and six and again
in the spring of nineteen hundred and seven.
Darby Creek rises in Kasttown Township, Chester County, about fifteen miles
above Colwyn, and six miles below the borough it empties into the Delaware
River at a point about two and one-half miles above the city of Chester. This
city takes its supply of water from the river. Most of the stream's course, which
is winding, is in IXdaware County. Above Colwyn it flows in a general southeaster-
ly directien. Below Colwyn its course is southwesterly through meadow marsh
and the stream is tidal.
The ereek forms the westerly boundary of Colwyn borough, and Cobbs Creek,
a tributary of Darby Creek, which rises in Delaware County near Lower Merion
Township and comes down through a rolling country to the Philadelphia line whence
it is the boundary between Philadelphia and Delaware Counties to its confluence
with Darby Creek at the lower end of Colwyn, forms the easterly boundary of
the borough.
Darby Borough, Delaware County, lies immediately north of Colwyn and again
north of Darby is Yeadon borough, these municipalities also abutting both
streams.
Cobb's Creek receives the sewage of a portion of Darby and Yeadon and from
the rapidly growing part of the city of Philadelphia known as "Parshallville."
The district is served by a combined sewer, five and five-tenths feet in diameter
which empties into Cobb's Creek at Woodland Avenue. In the vicinity in Greenway
Avenue there is a combined sewer four and five-tenths feet in diameter. About a
mile and a half up stream there is another outlet eleven feet in diameter, known
as the Thomas Run sewer, which serves quite an extensive area as far north as
Market Street. In the vicinity there is also a sewer outlet four and five-tenths
feet in diameter at the foot of Chester Avenue. At Market Street the Robinson
Street system outlet is located, six and five-tenths feet in diameter, and just below
it in Spruce Street there is a combined sewer outlet, three and twenty-five hun-
dredths feet in diameter.
(Jobb's Creek is located in a narrow winding and in portions well wooded gorge,
upon whose banks in Delaware County outside of the boroughs mentioned there
are extensive cemeteries and upon whose banks and adjoining tableland in Phila-
delphia building operations are intensely active, and in the near future a well
built-up residential district is there assured.
Cobb's Creek is now badly polluted and during summer limes, when the flow from
its limited area of drainage (twenty-two square miles) must be naturally small, a
considerable portion of its volume is undoubtedly discharged from the city sewers.
Above JNIarket Street there is an important tributary called Indian Run, who.<e
east and west branches drain Narberth borough, Ardmore and Wynnewood
villages in Lower Merion Township, and come down through Overbrook and
Haddington villages in Philadelphia to the main creek. This riiu receives the flow
of two sewers in Philadelphia, and some pollution from Xari)erth borougji. One
of the sewers in Sixty-fifth Street is connected with the Lower Merion Township
outfall sewer which is twenty-four inches in diameter and takes house sewage
only. The city sewer into which it discharges is six feet in diameter ; it empties
into the east branch of Indian Run. The other sewer is at the foot of Lebanon
Aveuue. The run also receives industrial wastes, and altogether they render the
water extremely foul, and a menace to public health.
The Stalt! Department of Health has approved plans for a four and five-tenths
foot sewer called the Cobb's Creek interceptor, and it is now being constructed
along the east bank of Cohb's Creek from a point just above Darby Creek a dis-
tance of about eight thousand feet. It will intercept the Woodland Aveuue and
Greenway Avenue city outlets and also all new main sewers laid in the district
within the liniits of the city of Philadelhpia.
It IS conlemi)l:aed by the city that this intercepter shall be extended up the
valley and up Inliau Run to the city line. All dry weather flow is to be diverted
into this structure and the first flush of storm water.
The ap|)roval of this intercepter by the Commissioner of Health was given with
the following stipulation:
"That the city .shall on or before the .year 1012 prepare and submit to the
State Department of Health for approval a comprehensive sewerage plan for the
collection and disposal of the sewage of the entire Cobb's drainage district within the
limits of the city of Philadelphia and elsewhere, if this be found desirable, and
that the city shall, in conjunction with the State Department of Health,' con-
sider the feasibility of so laying (uit such comprehensive system that it may
be adapted to receive and dispose of the sewage of the municipalities in the drainage
distri<'t outside of tlie city limits."
Colwyn borough is a purely residential community of about fifteen hundred pop-
ulation, small in area and really a part of Darby. It was incorporated out of
Darby. The dwellings are substantial brick stnictures, the streets are improved
and well kept and the water supply is brought in from a distance by the
Springfield Water Company. The railroad above mentioned passes east and west
810 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
through the town and north of it to the east is an important district thoroughly
developed and bounded on the north by Woodland Avenue at Darby and on the
west by Fourth Street, the easterly side of this thoroughfare being in Colwyn and
the westerly side being in Darby borough.
In this district, which to all appearances is a part of Darby borough, the
streets are thoroughly sewered and the sewers have two outlets into Cobb's
Creek. Both of them are at the foot of Chestnut Street extension at the railroad
embankment about thirty-seven hundred feet above Darby Creek. One is a
twelve inch pipe and connected with it there are forty-seven hundred feet of
pipe, said to be principally six inches in diameter and designed to receive house
sewage only. The other is reported to be a six inch pipe and serves two hundred
and fifty feet of sewer.
In the district south of the railroad there is a sewer outlet into Cobb's Creek at
the foot of Front Street and Ellis Avenue twelve hundred feet above Darby Creek.
It serves seventeen hundred feet of sewer, all said to be six inch pipe.
The fourth borough sewer empties into Darby Creek at the foot of Fifth Street
at a point one thousand feet above the confluence of Darby and Cobb's Creeks.
It is reported to be six inches in diameter and to serve eighteen hundred feet of
sewer.
Connected to these four sewer lines are about two-thirds of the dwellings. Prob-
ably one hundred properties still retain cesspools or privy vaults. In the outskirts
some sink water reaches the street gutters.
There are two soap factories in the town. One of them is an extensive estab-
lishment located oq both sides of Cobb's Creek at Woodland Avenue. Sewage
is reported to be discharged from the works direct into the creek. The other
soap factory is in the extreme western part of the borough just south of the
railroad on the flats.
The borough of Sharon Hill is on the western bank of Darby Creek opposite
Colwyn. Sharon Hill has the much larger incorporated territory and in the year
nineteen hundred and five, when its new sanitary sewer system was approved by the
Commissioner of Health, the borough comprised upwards of two hundred dwellings
and a population of about fifteen hundred people. The system has two outlets,
both withiu three hundred feet of each other and into Darby Creek below the Phila-
delphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad and at points six hundred and nine
hundred feet respectively above the Fifth street sewer outlet into Darby Creek in
Colwyn borough. The nearest outlet is twenty-four inches in diameter. The other
twelve inches in diameter.
Temporary permission to discharge the sewage from these sewers into Darby
Creek was given under the condition that storm water be excluded from the system
and also that the treatment of sewage shall be undertaken by Sharon Hill at any
time when so ordered by the Commissioner of Healtli and according to plans to be
submitted to and approved by him.
Permission was given as a temporary expedient. Tlie creek here has a water-
shed of about thirty-six square miles and there is au estimated population on
the watershed above Sharon Hill and Colwyn of about fifteen thousand. The
sewage from tho boroughs of Darby, Yeadon and Lansdowne is now and has been
for many years disharged into the creek.
Flow of this stream is comparatively small in summer, the population on the
watershed is steadily increasing and consequently the creek pollution must also
increase unless somisthing be done to prevent it. It was thought until the sewage
disposal problem of the entire Darby Creek valley be carefully considered and a
general policy of improvement of stream conditions determined upon, that it would
do no measurable harm to permit llie small amount of sewage output from Sharon
Hill to be added to the already sewage polluted creek.
Opposite the twelve inch sewer of Sharon Ilill is a twenty-four inch pipe on the
Colwyn side of tin; creek bank. This pipe extends up the valley along the bank under
the railroad, leaving (Jolwyn borough six hundred feet north of Ihe railroad and
continuing up the valley through Darby borough to the present terminus of the pipe
about six hundrod fiM't within Darby borough. This stretch of sewer of about
fifteen hundred feet in length belongs to and was built by the borough of Yeadon.
It was intended that it should be extended up to Yeadon borough, but litigation
aK to the right of way has thus far prevented a continuation of the work. How-
ever, the Yeadon sewer now extends down the valley about tliree-quarters of a mile
through DarJjy borough and ernijties into the creek in Ihe central part of Darby
borough, at a point about eight hundred feet above the upper end of the twenty-
four inch sewer.
There is a dam across Cobb's Creek just above Woodland Avenue and there
is a dam across Darliy Creek near 'i'vv<'lf(h StJ'cet , wliicli |)()iutH mark the
bead water high tide. So the sewer outlels alxive iricrilioned are into tidal water.
liie flood tides, especially in summer, accelerate the luiisaiice caused by sewage
in the creeks. The inhabitants of Colwyn borough, more especially those living
along the streams, are subject to the annoyaiice of' the sewage frcini the above
places. The convergence of the sewers (if those places to llu; viciuily of the con-
fluence of Darby and Cobb's Creeks where a nuisance- now exists, points to one
common solution of the diflicully, namrdy, a common outlet for i.ho. reception and
disposal of the .sewage other than into the stream.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 811
Ou tlie day of the Department's inspection, the tide was coming in and sewage
was being carried upstream thereby. It was very apparent ou the surface of the
water. Deposits on the bottom of sewage mud was evidenced by the rising of gas
to the surface of the creeks. There was little or no difference in appearance in
either stream.
The assessed valuation of real and personal property in Colwyn is not known
to the Department. The valuation ot real estate in June of nineteen hundred
and se\en, was reported to be five hundred and twenty-one thousand, nine hun-
dred and ninety-five dollars, and the bonded indebtedness of twenty-six thou-
sand, six hundred dollars. Probably the municipality would be able to contribute
a pro-rata share of the cost of joint disposal works, while it might not be able
to assume the expense of independent works.
The borough has failed to file satisfactory plans of its existing sewer system as
required by law, and, therefore, it does not come under the exemption which
permits the borough to continue to discharge sewage into the waters of the State.
If continued, to be legal the discharge must be unanimously approved by the Gov-
ernor, Attorney General and Commissioner of Health.
At and below the confluence of the two streams Darby Creek is vei'y sluggish,
its banks are low, and land on either side is Hooded at high water, and there is
a large stretch of marshes to the Delaware River.
The permanent discharge of sewage into this stream below Colwyn is more
a question of suitability. From the standpoint of a nuisance it does not appear,
at present, that there are any complaints made by those who make any kind
of use of the stream below Colwyn. At various points numerous boat houses
dot the banks of the creek and considerable fishing is indulged in. The waters
are highly polluted and undoubtedly this may interfere to some degree with the
sport, and in a sense menace the lives of those who may boat upon its waters;
but it is at and above Colwyn, in the populous districts, where a demand for
the cessation of the discharge of sewage into the stream exists. The prevention
of pollution of inland streams whose banks are polluted is to provide intercepting
sewers to divert sewage therefrom and to convey it to larger bodies of flowing
water or to sewage disposal works.
two counties and the area in Delaware County is likely to be occupied by
residences, there will be no good sites for purification works anywhere except in
the valley of the creek itself and here the Parkway may be located, which would
render infeasible the building of any disposal works for the treatment of the
sewage along this creek.
It would seem, in the event of the pre-emption of this valley by the city,
that the intercepting sewer to be built there should, as a substitute for a site lor
sewage disposal works, provide fur the conveyance of at least house drainage
from the territory tributary to Cobb's Creek in Delaware County, otherwise a
second intercepting sewer must be built down the valley, so it would appear.
The project of constructing the Cobb's Creek intercepter across the country to
the Schuylkill River is now being studied and surveys are under way by the
city engineer. If this plan be carried out, at least the city sewage would be diverted
from Cobb's Creek and Darby Creek valleys and leave for consideration only the
sewage of the various boroughs on the watershed in Delaware County.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health require that the
discharge of sewage into the creeks from the borough of Cohvyn's sewers should
be discontinued and that the borough be given until October first, nineteen hundred
and eight, in which to prepare, either independently or in conjunction with
other municipalities, a plan for some other disposal of its sewage than into the
two creeks and submit the plans to the Commissioner of Health for approval, and
it is hereby and herein ordered that plans be prepared by the Borough of Colwyn and
submitted to the Commissioner of Health on or before said date, October firet nine-
teen hundred and eight. '
Harrisburg, Pa., January 2yth, 1908.
CONNELI.SVILLE, FAYETTE COUNTY.
This permit is issued to the borough of Connellsville, Fayette County, and is
for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage there-
from untreated into the Youghiogheny River and tributaries.
It appears that Connellsville is a borough of about ten thousand population
located on the east bank of the Youghiogheny River opposite the borough of
New Haven on the west bank of the rver, in the north central part of Fayette
County, in what is known as the Connellsville coke district.
Within a radius of ten miles of the borough there is a district population of
ninety thousand, principally engaged in coal and coke operations.
In the borough besides coking there are other industries, among which is the
Sligo Iron and Steel Company, employing three hundred and fifty men; Con-
nellsville Machine and Car Company, employing one hundred men, and theBalti-
812 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
more aud Ohio Classification yards, buildings and offices; and several smaller
works. Adjacent to the borough to the south, in Couuellsville Township, is the
plant of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Companj', whore are employed several
hundred hands when the works are in operation.
The borough is built on two hills, one in the north and the other in the south
part and boiwetu tliem is Connells Run.
North of the north hill, bui still ia the borough, is Mounts Creek and south
of the south hill and within the borough limits is Trump Hill. The northern
hill is elevated about throe hundred feet above the river and the southern hill
about one hundred and fifty feet above the river at its highest point in the
borough.
Connells Run has a watershed of about four square miles. It rises to the
east in Chestnut Ridge Mountains, and flows in a westerly direction through the
borough into the river. Its upper waters are used as a source of supply of water to a
part of the borough.
Mounts Creek is a considerable stream. It has an area of about twenty-seven
square miles. Its numerous tributaries rise in the Chestnut Ridgo Mountains and
on one of its tributary streams there is a small intake which impounds water
for public use in the borough of Scottdale, aud another tributary. Breakneck Run,
supplies water to part of Connellsville. Below these dams on the watershed are
a few coal mines and numerous coke ovens from which acid wastes go to the
streams.
Trump Run rises, in Chestnut Ridge Mountains aud flows in a northwesterly
direction through the borough to the river. It has an area of four square miles
and the stream is a fresh water one.
There is in Connellsville an extensive system of public sewers, largely com-
bined, and there are important private sewers. The compulsory connection with
the sewers has not been enforced, so it is reported. There are in the neighbor-
hood of five hundred privies of the shallow earth type in use. However, there are
but a few individual wells on private properly. Most of the individuals derive
their drinking water from the public system which is owned by the Connellsville
Water Company.
The sources are three in number, namely, Connells Run reservoir, Breakneck
Run reservoir and the Youghiogheny River.
The first basin is formed by an earth dam which stores five millon gallons,
has a tributary area of two square miles; there are two habitations on it, if re-
ports be true.
The water is used to supply the low surface section of the town.
Breakneck Run reservoir is an earth structure impounding fifteen million gal-
lons on a watershed of three and one-half square miles area upon which reside a
number of people. This reservoir is used to supply the high service district
in Connellsville. The principal supply comes from the Yioughiogheny River and
the water is filtered.
The intake and pumping station built in eighteen hundred and ninety-eight are
located about two miles south of the city on the east bank of the river. Before
that time the station was below the borough and the water was contaminated by
sewage from the town.
The water is pumped into a sedimentation basin and thence it flows by gravity to
mechanical fillers and thence to a filtered water basin, all in the vicinity of the
pumpini: station, fi'om whence the purified water is raised into the distributing
system in the town. The capacity of the filter plant is rated at seven hundred and
iifly thousand gallons per twenty-four hours.
An additional suijply is som(!limes taken from Laurel Run, a stream locally
known by this name, which flows into the river at the pumping station and has
a watershed of about two square miles, upon which there are some inhabitants.
A dam has l)een constructed across the river and water is conveyed by gravity
from it into the clear water basin. The dam is at the pumping slalinu.
The river is reasonably free from sewage and main drainage pollution above
Connellsville. It is known that tanneries, lumber camps and small settlements
abound on the banks of th(! stream. As far as the Doi)artmont is aware, the bor-
ough of Somerset in Somerset County, is the only municipalKy within Penn-
sylvania having a sewer system from which sewage is dischargcnl into the river
or a tributary. This borough's sewage goes into Coxes Creek, which in turn
flows into riisselman lliver. The point of the discharge of sewage is fifty miles
above Connellsville. ,„,...
The Youghiogheny River heads in Preston County, West \Mrgmia, some thirty
mill's or mon' south of the Pennsylvania State line, and discharges into the Mon-
onKaliola Rivci' at McKim sport. It has a geneial northerly flow to as far as Con-
flu'-ricc liorouuh, I'ennsylvania, when it turns northwost and continues in that
direction to its mouth. From its source in tin- Orcat Savage Mountains, the.
draiiiagi' area is spnisoly settled and a Koneraiiy wooded, mounlaiii territory until
near ( 'onnellsville. 'I'lie head waters are rai)id and it is a tyidcal mountain stream
with its beds having nuinerous falls and rapids. Aft(!r the stream reaches the
I'ennsylvania State line, the flow Ijecomes more uniform and continues as such to
the mouth, but the flow is broken in this distance by various rapids, the largest
one being at Ohiopylo borough. The total tfu-rilory drained by the river is about
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 813
eighteen himdred squara miles, of which some thirteen hundred are in Pennsylvania.
Above Connellsville the drainage area is at least one thou.sund square miles. The
population on the whole shed below Connellsville increases rapidly.
The principal tributary, Casselman Kiver, Laurel Creek and the upper Yough-
iogheny Itiver unite to form the main stream at Confluence borough, which in
provincial times was known as Turkeyfout settlement. The Casselman liiver re-
ceives the drainage from (luite a number of coal mines, but it appears that the
sulphur waters arc largely diluted before Connellsville is reached.
Below Connellsville, Jacobs Creek, a highly acid polluted stream and the Big
Sewickloy Creek, which is also impregnated with acid mine waste, are the principal
tributaries. The part of the Youghiogheny River to its mouth is reported to be more
polluted than any other stream in Pennsylvania. The amounts of suspended and
dissolved matters carried in the waters are excessive. The gross pollutions begin in
Connellsville borough.
Between the intake of the Connellsville Water Company and the borough of Con-
nellsville, but on the west bank of the I'oughiogheny River, there are intakes of
two other companies. They are, in order, the Trotter Water Company and the
Southwest Water Company. The Trotter Water Company has two pumping houses
on the river, but the other one is below Connellsville. The water is pumped to
various coal mmts in the region.
The Southwest Water Company takes crude river water and furnishes it
to the various plants operated by the Oliver and Snyder coal and coke interests,
including the settlements at the mines.
The sewer outlets in the borough discharge into the river and the creeks. The
outlets into the I'iver named in order up stream from the mouth of Mounts Creek
are as follows:
Mounts Creek intercepter, twenty-four inches in diameter.
Peach Street, twenty-four inch outlet.
Grape Alley, twentj'-four iuch outlet.
Apple Street, twelve inch outlet.
Main Street, twenty-four inch outlet.
Church Place, fifteen inch outlet.
Connell Run intercepting sewer thirty inches in diameter.
Trump Run intercepter, eii;hteen inches in diameter.
The above sewers are all public outlets.
The twenty-four inch int'n-cepting sewer which extends up Mounts Creek valley
has an outlet into the river at a point about four hundred feet down stream from
the mouth of Mounts Creek. The pipe is imbedded in a stone protective work.
During high water the sewer is submerged and the water backs up some distance.
The district served is largely a residential one. It includes a stretch about
half a mile in length along the river. As far up as Peach Street in which there
are about seven and one half miles of sewers, forty per cent, are eight inches in
diameter and sixty-six per cent, are fifteen inch pipes or less, the balance com-
prising sizes rangina from eighteen inches to twenty-seven inches in diameter. The
only public sev.er outlet into Mounts Creek is an overflow on the Mounts Creek sewer
line, located at the foot of Francis Avenue, over half a mile inland. At time
of high water when the sewer is surcharged, the sewage from the greater part of
the district tributary to this line overflows at this point.
The twenty-four inch Peach Street sewer outlet emerges from the retaining
wall or cribbing adjacent to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad tracks and just above
the passenger station. This sewer is the river outlet for District Number One
above described. How much of the seven and one-half miles of sewers in the
system empty through the Peach Street outlet and how many of them discharge
into the Mounts Creek intercepter, is unknown to the Department. At low
water sev.age s«>diment collects in pools along the retaining wall and produces
disagreeable odors. There territory is densely populated.
The Peach Street, Grape Alley, Apple, Main and Church Street outlets all
serve District Number Two, which is in the heart of the city and has a river
frontage of about a quarter of a mile immediately opposite the borough of New
Haven. Main Street is the principal thoroughfare of the town back from the
river, and there is a highway bridge to New Haven borough at the foot of this
street. The four sewer outlets mentioned all discharge from the retaining wall
and at low water accumulations of sewage matter at the outlets cause a nuisance
along Water Street.
In District Number Two there are two and a half miles of sewers tributary
to the four outlets of which eighty-two per cent, are fifteen inches in diameter
or under.
The thirty inch Connells Run intercepter discharges into the river near the
mouth of (^nnells Run which is at a point about four hundred feet above Main
Street bridge. For two miles up stream along the river bank above Main Street
the land is occupied liy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad yards. The thirty
inch sewer has an overflow pipe near the river bank, the main outlet being located
farther out into the river. The overflow is to permit the sewage to di.seharge free at
high water. The intercepter takes the sewage from the eastern part of the borough
52
S14 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
through the entire length of the run valley. The district is known as Sewer
District Number Three and in it are four miles of sewers, of which fifty per cent, is
eight inch pipe and seventy-three per cent, is fifteen inch pipe or less. At places
the sewer is built in the run. Reasonable high water covers the entire structure
and there are known to be leaks into the sewer.
The next and last outlet, the eighteen inch Trump Run iutercepter, discharges
into the river twenty-two hundred feet above the Connel Run sewer. It serves
District Number Four, in winch there are two miles of sewers of which thirty
per cent is eight inch pipe and seventy-five per cent, is fifteen inch pipe or less.
The balance of the sewers range in diameters from eighteen inches to twenty-two
inches. The outlet, under the tracks in the railroad yard, is in the form of an
inverted syphon.
All along the river front in the town there are private sewers emptying into the
stream in the borough.
There are six private sewer outlets discharging into Mounts Creek within the
borough limits and there are a number of privies built over the stream.
The first of these private sewers is an eight inch pipe which serves one building.
The next is an eighteen inch surface drain, taking sewage from several residences.
The next is an eight inch sewer from a dwelling on Fourth Street and there is a
smaller sewer in Highland Avenue. There is a large combined sewer serving the
property of the Sligo Iron and Steel Company works and the Munson Heater Com-
pany. The outlet is thirty inches in diameter by sixty-six inches. The last sewer
is thirty inches in diameter and belongs to the Pennsylvania Railroad and in-
tercepts'street drainage which during dry weather is waste water from dwellings to
quite an extent. There is also a brewery connection.
Connells Run does not receive sewage from any public outlet, but there are over-
hanging privies along the banks. A system of private sewers on the Hogg estate,
comprising a total length of thirty-three hundred feet of pipe whose diameters
range from ten to fifteen inches, empties into the run, near a manhole on the line
of the borough sewer in the valley. It is reported that the owners have failed
to obtain satisfactory arrangements whereby this outlet can be connected into the
borough intercepter. Negotiations with this object in view have been had. It is
understood that the question is one of price.
Trump Run receives sewage from overhanging privies, from the brewery and sev-
eral private drains, the latter in the Davidson and Newmyer Addition inside the
the borough limits. It is here that the public authorities desire to build sewers.
Outside of the borough limits in the district known as the South Side, there are
several private sewers which discharge into small runs, and one of them dis-
charges into the river at the foot of Gibson Avenue. It is reported that the pop-
ulation in this settlement in the township is at least two thousand. The water
supply is the same as that of the borough, and undoubtedly the territory will
be ultimately annexed.
These several sewer outlets are all above the water works intake of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. The large stone culvert known as the Gibson Avenue sewer is
four hundred feet distant only from said intake. Here the water is pumped from
the river and supplied to the works and yards and also to the employes in the
shops. The company filters the drinking supply by pressure filters.
The borough of New Haven has a system of sewers on the combined plan with
outlets into the river.
On the peninsula in Connellsville formed by the river and Mounts Creek, in
the extreme northwestern corner of the borough, there is a public dump where
refuse and garbage from the borough is hauled and discharged either onto the
ground or directly into the river. The land is subject to inundation at high water.
It is reported that the accumulations of weeks are carried down stream during
freshet periods.
The borough requests permission to extend sewers in several streets in sewer
district number four or the Newmyer Addition. The sewers will range in diameter
from eight inches to fifteen inches and will have a total length of fifteen hundred
and eighty ff^et. The private individuals developing land in the vicinity wish
to connect with this proposed borough line sewers aggregating four thousand feet,
the diameter of these private sewers will not exceed twelve inches.
The local authorities also ask permission to extend the borough system from
time to time as necessity may require.
(>>nnellsville has" permitted, by ordinance, the laying of private sewers on
some of the streets since nineteen hundred and five. No application for permission
to build those extensions was made, as provided by law.
Dunbar Cri?ek, entering the river on the west I)ank just above New Haven
and Opossum Run wliieh flows into th(! river from the same direction just
bflow the borough, rfccivcs large (juantitifs of mini' jxillution and innrkcdly dis-
colors th<' Yougiiiogln'uy River. Above Dunbar (3reek and the intake of the Balti-
moro and Ohio, wliidi is in the vicinity, the river has a clr-nr ai)|)('arance.
'J'here is a place a nhort distance below the Connellsville Water (Vjmpany's in-
take, used an a Hwimming priol by the youth of the borough. I'hcre is also an-
other pool on the oast bank of the river in the lower part of the borough which
is used for swimming purposes. It is below all of the sewer outlets of Connellsville
excepting Mounts C!reck outlets, and below some of the sewers in New Haven.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. • 815
Two miles below Connollsville aud Now Haven is the village of BroatJfoid in
Upper Tyrone Township. Here the Trotter Water Company has a pumping station
and supplies river water unfiltered to various coking operations in the vicinity.
The city of McKeesport, which is forty-one miles below, derives its drinking
water from the Youghiogheny Kiver.
During the current j'ear the dumping of garbage and refuse into the river at
Connellsville was the cause for complaint to the State Department of Health from
citizens in McKeesport Orders were issued to the various municipalities along the
river and the practice has been temporarily stopped. There is an ordinance in
Connellsville prohibiting the dumping of all offensive and obnoxious matter of any
kind upon the banks or margin of the river or into the waters thereof.
Owing to the acidity of the Youghiogheny , if is only during freshets that
such sewage pollution of a pathogenic character reaches the city of AIcKeesport.
It is expected by persons who should know, that the coking operations will, within
several decades, have become less extensive in the Youghiogheny valley and in
consequence the stream will be much less acid. So the sewage pollution, and
hence menace to public health will increase unless some plan be devised to obviate
such increase. Under the laws of the State to preserve the purity of streams,
it is clearly evident that Connellsville should anticipate the time when its sew-
age must be purified before oemg emptied into the Youghiogheny.
It is prohibitive in cost to treat both sewage and storm water. Fortunately
the existing sewers, while used as carriers of storm water, are of such small
size that with few exceptions they can be utilized for a sanitary sewer system
with a moderate amount of storm water admitted. The problem of separation
of sewage and storm water is not necessarily a difhcult or expensive one for Con-
nellsville, if handled by an expert, competent by successful experience, to deal
with the situation.
The local authorities should at this time study the situation, cause plans to
be prepared for a comprehensive intercepting, sanitary sewer system and sewage
purification works. The latter need not be built now, but the plans as a whole
should be devised and adopted , and then as the years 5*0 by sewer extensions
may be made in conformity therewith, until finally, when the interests of the
public health shall demand it, the disposal works shall be built and all will fit
into a perfect whole.
The town is so situated that surface water can be conducted in street gutters
to nearby natural water courses in many instances. It is not economical to try
to convey surface water long distances under ground when it would run off to
some nearby surface channel.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be sub-
served by issuing a permit, and a permit is hereby and herein issued to the
borough to build sewers in the Newmyer Addition and there only. Permission
to make general extensions to the sewer system throughout the borough is herewith
withheld. The permit is issued under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That no storm water be permitted to enter the extensions in the
Newmyer Addition.
SECOND: That on or before September first, nineteen hundred and nine,
the borough shall prepare a plan for a comprehensive sanitary sewerage system
for the entire municipal territory, which shall include the interception of all of
the sewage of the borough and its conveyance to some common point. Also on or
before said date the borough shall select a site for sewage disposal works and
prepare plans for such works and submit them, together with the said sewerage
plans to the Commissioner of Health for approval. After the plans shall have
been modified, amended or approved, a permit will be issued by the Commis-
sioner of Health for extensions to the sewer system in conformity with such
plans from time to time.
THIRD: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on September first, nineteen hundred and nine. But if on said date the
borough shall have submitted plans herein called for, and shall have complied
with the other eonditions of this permit, the Commissioner of Health may extend
the tiui" in which sewage may continue to be discharged into the waters of the
Slate, having in mind the time when other municipalities in the Youghiogheny
valley shall be reciuired to treat their respective sewages.
FOURTH: The borough authorities shall not grant any privileges or permit
the construction of private sewers with outlets into any public storm or sanitary
sewers or into any natural water CDUises within the' municipal territory. The
Commissioner of Health will notify the owners of existing private sewers of tlie
requirements of the State Department of Health respecting a comprehensive
sewerage system and the discharge of sewage into the waters of the State. It
is the intent of this stipulation that all sewers, whether public or private, shall
be built and maintained in conformity with said comprehensive sewerage plan.
The attention of the local authorities is called to the desirability of prohibiting
bathing in the river below the borough sewer outlets.
The State Department will take measures to stop the discharge of sewage into
the river above the water works intake at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad shops.
These menaces are in the township in the South Side district, which may be
annexed to the village. It would be a prudent thing for the borough authorities to
include this district to be covered by the comprehensive sewerage system.
Harrisburg, Fa., August 25th, 1908.
S16 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
CORRY, ERIE COUNTY.
This application was made by the city of Corry, Erie County, and is for
permission to extend its sewer sj'stem and to discharge the sewage therefrom into
Hare Creeli within the limits of the oitj\
It appoai-s that the city of Corry is located in the centre of the extreme
eastern portion of Erie County, the line between Warren and Erie counties be-
ing the eastern city boundary. The city is bounded on the north by Wayne town-
ship, on the east by Columbus and Spring Creek townships in Warren County,
on the south by Concord Township antl on the west by Concord and Wayne
Townships. It is about thirty-seven miles east of Erie and about twenty-eight
miles west of Warren and about fourteen hundred feet above sea level.
The territory so incorporated is two and a quarter miles sqtiare and within
it there is a resident population of seveuty-tive hitudred people. In nineteen
hundred the population was five thousand three hundred and sixty-nine and in
eighteen hundred and ninety it was five thousand six hundred and seventy-
seven.
The city is a railroad centre ; the main line of the Erie Railroad and the Phila-
delphia and Erie Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad enter from the east, these
roads being about one mile apart at the eastern city boundary, intersecting at the
centre of Xhe town and passing out of the city near the centre of the western
boundary. The Butfalo and Allegheny Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad enters
the city' near the centre of the northern bottudary, crosses the other roads in the
centre of the town and passes out at the southwestern corner.
The industries arc numerous aud varied, amoituting to about thirty in all, the
most important being the Climax Manufacturing Company, manufacttiring locomo-
tives; the United States Radiator and Boiler Company; Ajax Iron Works, Manu-
facturing steam and gas engines ; Corry Condensed Milk Company ; Corry Chair
Company, Maclnnes Steel Company and the United States Chair Company.
The town is not growing very rapidly, but the industrial depression extending
throughout the country, has net been felt particularly at Corry.
The principal btisine.ss thorottghfare is Center Street, which extends north and
south. At right angles to it is Main Street. The larger manufacturing plants are
located along the i-ailroads.
Corry is situated in the Allegheny River watershed on the divide between the
headwaters of French Creek and Broken Straw Creek in a broad, level valley
drained by a tributary of Broken Straw Creek called Hare Creek. The built-up
portion lies principally on the level ground at the head of a valley wdiich extends
ill a general easterly and westerly direction , the ground rising gradually to the
foot hills near the northern boundary. At the south and west the hills come nearly
to the centre of the town. The extreme southwest corner of the city is drained
by the headwaters of the south branch of French Creek ; the main branch of the
stream rises in Chautauqtta County, New York State, and enters the Allegheny
River at Franklin City, about seventy-one miles below Corry.
The said Branch of French Creek in Corry City receives surface drainage from
the railroad freight yards and a small portion of the southwestern corner of the
built-up part of the city. No sewers are found emptying into this stream here,
but considerable kitchen drainage enters the stream from street gutters. There
is also a privy over the run near the corner of IMoasant and Union Streets.
The larger portion of the town is situated in the watershed of Hare Creek,
which rises in the southern part of Chautauqua County, New York, flows in a
general southeasterly direction, crossing the northern boundary line of the city of
C<.iry at the Buli'alo and Allegheny Division of the I'ennsylvania Railroad, and
empties into Broken Straw Creek about six miles below tlie city limits. It drains
a total area of about twenty-live; square miles, of which four square miles are in
New York State and a little over four sfiuare miles in the city of Corry. The
creek has a length of about ten and a half miles.
Jinjken Straw Creek empties into the Allegheny River at Irvington about five
miles below Warren and twenty-one miles below Corry. It has a drainage area of
about three hundred and six scpiare miles, fifty of which are in New York State. Its
total length is thirty-thret; mili'S.
Just north of the city lint!, on Hare Creek, is the pumping station of the Corry
Water Company. The creek pusses obliquely aero.ss the northeastern corner of th(>
city, the built-up portion of the town lying to the southwest. On it, just inside the
city limits at the northern boundary, is Parters I'oud, containing about five acres,
used for furnishing ice to the residents of the city. The entire course of the
stream through the city is in very fiat fiirming iiud pasture; land. The creek is not
over twenty feet in width, very crooked, willi bniiks fi'om tliret; to five feet,
above the water level.
P.i-ar Crei'k, tli<! prineii)al tributary of Han; (^reek, rises in flu; northwestern
corner of the city find (lows southeasterly and easterly, entering llsire Ciiek Ix'lween
East Wayne and Sciota Streets. . This stream lies almost wholly williin the city
limits, has a length of seven thousand fcr-t and a drainage area of about three hun-
dred and twenty-five acres. It flows through farm and pasture land excepting wliere
it erosses ('entri- Avenue. At this point is ioeated the power phmt of the Corry
and Columbus Street Railway (Company. At Center Street and for five hundred
feel below the stream, it receives aewage and kitchen rhainage from the residences,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 817
located on Center Street near the stream, also street drainage. From Center Street
this stream has a width of about five feet and banks from one to two feet in
hoie;ht.
Alung Hare Creek, between it and the Erie Railroad, westerly from where the
stream crosses under the railroad, there is a city tract used as a dump for garbage.
Here there are slianties and pig pens. The garbage is collected by private individ-
uals, sorted and fed to hogs or used as a fertilizer. The place is in a filthy condition
anil the odor is very noticeable from the railroad.
Beyond this point, out into the township, there is considerable swampy land.
At a point on Hare Creek thirty-five hundred feet below the easterly city limits,
at a cross roads leading northerly from Howard's tannery to Columbus borough,
is the mouth of Winton Run. This run rises about a mile south of Corry city and
flows northerly to the Thiladelphia and Erie Railroad, theuce westerly along this
railroad about tiftoen hundred feet to near the easterly city limits, where it
crosses under the railroad and by the plant of the Howard tannery to Hare Creek.
A small stream known as Colgrove Run enters Wintim Run at tlie railroad from the
west, draining the southeast section of the city. Winton Run has a total length
of about two and two-tenths miles and a drainage area of about three stiuare miles.
The Howard tannery works are located on the extreme western corner of Columbus
township, adjoining the eastern limits of the city of Corry, on Winton Run
twenty-eight hundred feet from its mouth. The property of the tanning company is
on both sides of Main street, Avhich is the highway leading down Broken Straw
valley.
Below Winton Run the course of Hare Creek is very crooked and the ciirrent
slow, the stream passing through swamp, pasture and meadow lands, for about two
and four- tenths miles, where it strikes the embankment of the Philadelphia and
Erie Railroad at a road crossing. From this point the stream follows the north
bank of the railroad in straight and ditch for about nine-tenths miles. The original
course of the creek was apparently on the south side of the railroad as there are
evidences of an old water course now abandoned and grown up to swamp. Upon
leaving the railroad, the creek flows in a southeasterly direction for about one-half
mile entering the Broken Straw about one-third of a mile above the Philadelphia
and Erie Railroad bridge.
Immediately below the mouth of Hare Creek in Broken Straw Creek there is a
marked line between the flow of the two streams, that of the Broken Straw being
fairly clear, while that of Hare Creek is very dark. By the time the flow reaches
the railroad bridge the two waters have become thoroughly mixed, giving the waters
of the Broken Straw a very dark color and covering the bottom with a dark brown de-
posit. From the railroad bridge to Spring Creek village, seven miles below Corry,
the stream flows through pasture and meadow lands, a distance of about three
miles.
At Spring Creek is located a tannery operated by the Howard Tanning Company.
This plant is located on the northern bank of the creek and discharges drainage into
it. ^. . . ,
The city has a public sewer system and the general sanitary conditions in the
town are good. A rule of the local Board of Health makes it compulsory for the
property owner to connect his estate with the abutting sewer, but this rule is not
enforced unless the sanitary conditions on the property make it necessary. There
is very little kitchen drainage emptied into street gutters. The worst conditions
found were along Brook street.
Public water is supplied by the Con-y Water Supply Company. The original
source was from a dam on Hare Creek located about one thousand feet northerly
from the northern city boundarj'. Water was pumped through a twelve inch main
to the distributing system in the city, the surplus going into a four and a half
million gallon reservoir situated on a hill south of the city. The dam was destroyed
by llo(>(i. A now supply was then obtained from driven wells sunk to a layer of
white sand, which has "over since furnished a suflicicnt supply of water which is
clear at all times. There are four of these wells about fifty feet in depth. They
range from three to six inches in diameter. They are connected with the pumps
by a sixteen inch suction main. This suction main is extended into the creek, closed
by a valve which may be opened in case of emergency. Exclusive of the consumption
by the residents, the per capita use of public water in the city is sixty gallons per
diem.
There are no good records of typhoid fever available. The few cases which have
occurred have, in nearly all instances been traced to sources other than the public
water sui)iily, so it is imported.
The public sewer system is built on the combined plan, excepting in one or two
streets. The first sewers were connected in eighteen hundred and ninety-three.
At the i)resent time there are twelve miles in the system, of which one-half mile
is eiiiht inches in diameter, one and a half miles ten inches in diameter, three and
a third miles twelve inches in diameter, three miles fifteen inches in diameter
and the balance have diameters ranging eighteen to forty-eight inches, of which
the forty-oight inch has a length of one and six-tenths miles. About six tenths of a
milo of .'towers have boon constructed without application to or penuissi'm by the
Commissioner of Health since April twenty-second, nineteen hundred and five.
52—17—1908
SIS THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
There are two sewer districts, that drained by the forty-eight inch sewer, known
as the main sewer district, and that drained by the thirty-six inch sewer, known
as the First Ward outlet sewer, which is connected to the Summer street district.
These two outlets empty into Hare Creek within about two hundred feet of each
other at the Erie Railroad bridge.
The main sewer distict has a drainage area of eight hundred and seventy-five acres
including all of the built up portion of the town, excepting the south-eastern part.
The forty-eight inch structure begins at the corner of Church and Spring streets in
the south-central part of the city, where it receives the flow of a small run rising
near the southern boundary of the city near Centre street. Thence the sewer ex-
tends northerly under the railroad tracks and easterly to the outlet.
The open run is about three thousand feet in length and receives considerable
kitchen drainage from guttere and private sewers and overflow from privies located
along its banks.
There are deposits of sand in the forty-eight inch sewer and a large sand bar
at the mouth. The invert is about eighteen inches below the normal level of Hare
Creek. This sewer receives drainage from nearly all of the important manufacturing
plants and a largo portion of the residences. It is reported that during heavy rains
the manholes ou Smith street frequently overflow. This is due to the back flow from
the creek.
A small water course is taken into the system at Church street. This run is about
twenty-three hundred feet in length, but was dry at the time of the Department's
inspection. The twenty-two inch pipe into which it empties is not large enough to
carry the storm water at all times.
There are numerous pipe sewers in this district which could be utilized as sani-
tary sewers by removing inlets and roof connections. In fact, it might do to utilize
the entire system eventually as a sanitary system, in view of the fact that it would
not be large enough to carry off all storm water when the streets are paved. How-
ever, the question is one for careful study.
The first ward or Summer street district includes the south-eastern section of the
built up part of the town and in it there is considerable farming territory. The
entire area contains three hundred acres. The thirty-six inch outlet extends north-
erly from Main street through a swamp for a distance of about three-quarters of a
mile to Hare Creek. It empties immediately below the Erie Railroad bridge and
about two hundred feet below the forty-eight inch outlet. The masonry head wall
has been undermined and has fallen into the stream and partly obstructs the out-
let. Connected to this sewer are street sewers whose diameters, range from eight
to thirty inches.
It may be said, speaking of the entire sewer system of the city, that in general
the present sewers are not large enough for all future storm water and some of them
are too large for sanitary sewers.
The difference in size between the required sanitary sewers and the existing com-
bined sewers is not so great but that it might be advisable to incorporate many of
them into a sanitary system, but this can be accomplished best after a complete
topographical map, showing the existing sewers and drainage districts, shall have
been prepared and an intelligent study of the entire situation made.
The city proposes to build what is known as the East Church street sewer system
with a twenty-two inch outlet, into the existing twenty-two inch pipe previously
described as taking the flow of a natural water course in the main sewer district.
Sewers whose diameters will range from eight to twelve inches are to be built
in Church, Grove, Fifth, Concord and King streets, and will drain into the said
intercepting newer. This twenty-two inch pipe is to be laid as an extension of the
present twenty-two inch sewer outlet up the valley of the run through private
grounds to a iow point in Concord street at Fifth street and thence across Concord
and Fifth streets to a new inlet on the same wntiT course. In this system there
are to he four hundred and ninety feet of twciily (wo inch pipe, three hundred and
sixty feet of twelve inch, thirteen hundred and fifty feet of ten inch, ten hundred
and ten feet of eight inch, making a total of thirty-two hundred and ten feet. They
will drain a district of about twenty acres having a present population of one hun-
dred and fifty persons. There are two cesspools and thirty-two privies in the dis-
trict, also about twenty-one private sewers, some of which are eellar drains and
some of which discharge kitchen drainage into street gutters. It is proposed to con-
nect all these rlrains with the new sewers. There has been some complaint in regard
to kitchen drainage in (he gutters in this district. Surface water is to be admitted
to the proposed sewers at convenient points. Rids have been advertised and re-
ceived and the ci(y is prepared to begin work at once.
There is no apparent need for coinbinerl sewers as proposed. The street gutters
and present water courses are amply abh; to take care of the water if the streets
were crowned, the gutters cleaned out and the eight, ten and twelve inch pipes re-
moved at street crossings and larger ones siil)s(ituted.
The twenty-two inch main sewer proposed is (o take the place of an open water
course which will cease to be a cause for complaint as soon as sanitary sewers are
built and the various private sewers coneeted with them. The twen(y-two inch
sew'T in rjrivntc land can be abandonerl, all th*; Sf'wers made eight inch, all iidc(s,
catch basins, intakes, etc., done away with and a saving of possibly two thousand
dollars made by converting the system into a sanitary system. This would require
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 819
about one hundred and fifty feet of additional eight inch sewer in Concord street
between Church and Fifth street, reversing the flow from Church street and deepen-
ing the cut to some extent.
The city also proposes to build a lateral sewer ten and eight inches in diameter,
four hundred and seventy-five feer long in Gould street and an eight inch sewer three
hundred and fiftcn feet long in Sixth avenue. Both of these petty extensions are in
the main sower district. The Gould street sewer is to be used as a combined
sewer. The street grade is very flat and one reason for the sewer is to get rid of
surface water which lies in the gutters. If the gutters were cleaned out and paved
the inlets could be omitted and the sewer built as a sanitary sewer. There are
nine houses on the street.
The Si.vth avenue sewer will be for sanitary purposes only. There are five houses
on the road. Some roof water may be admitted.
Into Boar Creek there are several private sewers discharging at the present time.
They take kitchen drainage chiefly. A tract of land is being developed for build-
ing purposes on the east side of Centre avenue between Oakley and Irvin streets.
Sewere are to bo built here and the plan is to empty them into Bear Creek.
It is said that the proprietor of the said real estate development scheme pro-
posed to extend sewerage facilities to the grounds of the Corry Fair and Driving
Park Association nearby. A ti'unk sewer to carry the sewage from this locality to a
point in Hare Creek where the other sewers empty would have to be about a mile in
length. Private sewere should not be constructed unless in conformity with a gen-
eral plan for improved sewerage for the entire city, because ultimately such sewers
must be taken into the public system, or their use abandoned and the money ex-
pended therefor wasted.
When the location of the thirty-six inch trunk sewer was under consideration by
the borough authorities, it was deemed advisable to discharge the sewage from
it as near as possible to the forty-eight inch outlet. The surrounding ground is from
one to two feet hiirhor than the tops of the outlet. During improvements made by the
Erie Ilailroad Company at the point the city acquired about twentj'-two acres of
land immediately below the sewer outlets. This tract is meadow land from four
to five feet above the normal level level of the creek. Adjoining this tract there are
twentj'-fivo acres of similar land available for a sewage disposal plant. The entire
valley of Hare Creek in this vicinity is subject to frequent floods, the land often
being several feel under water, so the site of a sewage disposal plant would have
to be dyked off.
The Howard tannery above mentioned is engaged in the manufacture of sole
leather. At the works about three hundred and fifty hides are used per day. A
portion of the waste water is pumped to a settling tank and there treated with lime
and the sludge is used as a fertilizer on the adjoining fields. Some attempt to filter
the effluent from the tanks through gravel has been made. The eflBuent is now
discharged directly into the run from about five hundred feet of ten inch pipe.
Overflow from tlie vats in the easterly building next to the I'oad frequently runs
down the bank to the road gutter. Recently the settling tanks have been rebuilt
and aro enclosed in a wooden building to protect them from the weather. Winton
Run, from the tannery to Hare Creek is now enclosed by a wire fence. The
Company submitted plans for an improved sewage disposal plant to the Department
of Hoahl).
Immediately above the entrance of Winton Run into the creek there is a farm
formerly owned by H. S. Ayers. It is reported that this property now belongs to
to the 1 toward Tannery Company. This farm is operated as a dairy, there being
about forty cows kept here. The milk is sold to a creamery in Columbus borough.
The fows are pastured along the banks of Hare Creek below the entrance of Win-
ton Run and access to the water is always possible. Four cows have died on the
farm during the current year, one about July fifteenth, one about June twentieth
and two in the spriucr, so it is reported. In the summer of nineteen hundred and
seven an outbreak of anthrax among cattle on the farm of II. S. Ayers was attributed
to the tannery waste pollution of the waters of Hare Creek. As a result of special
investigations conducted by the Department, on October twenty-fourth, nineteen
hundred and sovon, the following communications was sent by the Commissioner
of Health to the tannery company:
"Gentlemen: —
"As you have boon made aware, this Department has been investigating the mat-
ter of the pollution of the streams in and about Corr>' in relation to the prevalence of
disenso amonu: cnttio pasturod alona: tlio banks of tho streams. This is to notify you
that the wastes of your tannerios at Columbus township and Spring Creek township,
Warren county, which wastes are being discharged into tho waters of the State,
have been found by us to contain sowage orcanisms in larsre numbers and B.
Anthracis. a virulont and deadly infection fatal to both mnn and beast. Fiirther-
more, lliat the evidence collected supports the contention that the cattle pastured
along the stroams into which the tannery sowasro flows directly or indirectly are
menaced in life and health theroby, and that such caftio as liave suddenly sickened
and died from the disonsos diasrnosed as anthrax probably contracted said disease by
reason of the discharge of tannery wastes into the waters of the Stato.
"I have determined that it is necessary in the Interests of public health that all
tannery refuse shall cense to be discharged eithor directly or indireotly into Broken
Straw (^reek or any tributary thereof, and I hereby notify you of the importaqce
820 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
of submitting for approval not later than December 1, 1007, plans for the purifica-
tion of the tannery sewa.se and the sanitary disposition of all deleterious wastes from
the works. An early reply will be greatlj' appreciated.
"Yours very truly,
"(Signed) SAMUEL G. DIXON,
"Commissioner of Health."
"S. C.
The following letter was sent on the same day to Mr. H. S. Ayers:
"Dear Sir:
"This is to inform you that I this day notified the tannery and the city to submit
plans for some other disposal of sewage than into the waters of the State and
meantime, I am notifying the public through the press to prevent domestic animals
from drinking the waters of these streams and I shall post notices along the streams,
individually communicate with each farm owner or occupant and do all those things
demanded in the interests of public health that I have authority to do in such matters.
I trust the time will come when public sentiment will acclaim so loudly against the
defiling of the waters that man and beast must use, that the practice of putting
sewage into streams will cease. This Department is doing all it can in this work.
"I am,
"Yours truly,
"(Signed) SAMUEL G. DIXON,
"Commissioner of Health."
"S. C.
The following warning notice was advertised in the newspapers:
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
"Warning.
"The waters of Broken Straw Creek and its tributaries below Corry city, which
receive the present sewages are a menace 1o the lives and health not only of man
but of beast who drink the waters or bathe therein. It has become apparent from
particular investigations in the valley of said creek that the interests of public
health demand that pending the adoption of some other means of sewage disposal, the
streams mentioned should not be used for domestic purposes and that cattle should
not be permitted to wade in or drink such waters. The public, therefore, will
take notice and be governed accordingly.
"SAMUEL G. DIXON,
"Commissioner of Health.
"Harrisburg, Pa., October 24, 1007."
Notices were sent to the Board of Supervision of townships along Broken Straw
Creek, urging prompt action in Ihe placing of guard or fences at crossings of public
highways and the streams into wliicli tannery refuse was being discharged at points
above. lOvcry owner of a farm in the valley was also pcu'sonally corresjiMnded with,
advising the keeping of domestic animals away from such polluted streams. On
October twenty-fourth, the following letter was sent to the Mayor of Corry City:
"My Dear Sir:
"This Department will be glad to consider for ai)proval plans for the treatment
of the city sewage, more especially since the pollution of the stream into which
it is discharged is a menace to health not only of the beasts who graze in the pastures
abutting the streams and drink of its waters but man himself who uses the milk,
(rreiiiii anil butter and the flesh of such animals foi- food.
"'I'lie prevalence of auliirax among cattle f)\vncd by tlie farmers whose properties
are along the strcjuii below Corry city complicates the danger and in taking cogniz-
ance of the circumstances and moving to bring al)out a cessation of the pollution by
tannery sewage, the State nnist consistent ly require the municipal corporation to
do likewise.
"I am al)out to notify the public in Itroken Straw Creek valley to desist from
using for domestic purposes and to prevent animals from drinking the waters of
this stream or tributaries into which municipal and tannery sewage is discharged.
"Yours truly,
"(Signed) SAMUEL G. DIXON,
"Commissioner of Health."
"S. C.
Plans have been prepared and submitted by the tannery company and are now
under consideration by the ('ommissioner of Health for an improved method of
treating the tannery refuse.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 821
The city does not ropresent that the interests of public health are subserved by the
discharge of sewage or tannery wastes into the waters of the State, and all the
facts hereinbefore recited are proof positive to tin' contrary. However, Corrj' city
has nearly reached its Ijorrowing capacity. If reports be true, there is a margin of a
few thousand dollars only. Hence the municipality is not able to take up the con-
struction of a sewage purification plant, but it is able to take up a study of the
improved sewerage problem and to devise a plan which will lead up eventually to the
treatment of the sewage. After such a plan has been approved by the State Depart-
ment of Health, the city can build, or change over, its sewerage system and lay
down new sewers in other parts of the town where sewerage improvements are
needed, and do this work by the most economical and efficient plan, so that no part
of the work so done need ever be recoustrucled.
One thing must be accomplished at the earliest practicable moment, and that is
the collection of all the sewage in the city at one point and the plan for future
sewerage of the city must have this object in mind. No sewage shall be discharged
into the valley ot French Creek. If sewers are built in that portion of Corry citj',
the flow from them sliould be pumped over into the main district sewers. If
sewers must be built in the valley of Bear Creek with a temporary outlet into the
stream, this work nuist be done as a part of the comprehensive sewerage plan of the
city. The city councils should not authorize the constniction of or permit the laying
of private sewers unless it be done in conformity with a general plan for the ultimate
collettiou and treatment of all of the sewage in the city.
Furthermore, the existence of overhanging privies on the banks of streams in the
city should be discontinued. The State Department of Health will cause an investi-
gation to be made of all occupied estates ou the watershed of Hare Creek above the
city and the water company's pumping station, in order to render the waters of
said stream which may be used for emergeucy purposes for the supply of water to
the public in Corry as pure as it is possible to make them in their natural condition
of How in the creek.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subser\-ed by
granting a permit and a permit is hereby and herein granted to the city of Corry
to build the sewers in the streets specifically mentioned and in these streets only and
to discharge the sewage therefrom through existing sewers into Hare Creek, under the
following conditions and stipulations.
FIRST: That said sewers shall be built as sanitary sewers and that all storm
water shall be excluded therefrom. Said sewers shall be so designed as to become a
part of a general system of sanitary sewers for the entire city. The sizes of the
proposed sewers can be reduced materially with safety and economy and the special
attention of the city authorities is called to the discussion hereinbefore made rela-
tive to this point.
SKCOXD: The city shall, on or before December first, nineteen hundred and
eight, prepare a complete and accurate plan of its existing sewer system and file
the same in the office of the Commissioner of Health, and on or before July first,
nineteen hundred and nine, the city shall prepare a comprehensive plan of sewerage
for the entire city and for the collection of sewage proper and its treatment in
purification works, and this plan shall be submitted on or before said date to the
Commissioner of Health for api)roval. When it shall be modified, amended or
approved and a permit issued therefor, the city shall then conform in the laying
down of sewers to this plan.
THIRD; This permissiou to discharge sewage into the watei*s of the State shall
cease on .luly first, nineteen hundred and nine. If on that date the terms of this
permit shall have been complied with, then the Commissioner of Health may extend
the time in which sewage mav continue to be discharged into the waters of the
State.
The co-operation of the Department will be gladly given, should the city desire
it, in the study of the improved sewerage problem.
Harrisburg, Pa., September 15, 190S.
CORRY CITY, ERIE COUNTY.
J. W. & A. P. Howard & Co. Ltd.
This decree was issued to the K. W. & A. P. Howard and Company, Limited,
tanners of sole leather, of Corry city, Erie county, Pennsylvania, relative to the
discharge of sewage from the tanneries of said company into the waters of the
State.
It appears that on October twenty-fourth, one thousand nine hundred and seven,
the Commissioner of Health sent the following communication to J. W. & A. P. How-
ard and Company, Limited, tanners of sole leather, Corry city, Erie county, Penn-
sylvania:
"Gentlemen: — As you have been aware, this Department has been investigating the
matter of the ])ollution of the streams in and about Corry in relation to the preva-
lence of disease among cattle pastured along the banks of the streams. This is to
notify yi>u that th(> wastes from your tanneries at Columbus township and Spring
Creek township, Warren county, which wastes are being discharged into the waters
822 T^HlRi) ANNUAL RElPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
of the State, have been fottnd by us to contain sewage organisms in large numbers
and B. Anthracis, a viiiilent and deadly infection fatal to both man and beast.
Further more that the evidence collected supports the contention that the cattle
pastured along the streams into which the tannery sewage flows directly and in-
directly, are menaced in life and health thereby, and that such cattle as have sud-
denly sickened and died from the disease diagnosed as anthrax, probably contracted
said disease b.v reason of the discharge of tannery waste into the waters of the
State.
"I have determined that it is necessary in the interests of public health that all
tannery refuse and sewage cease to be discharged either directly or indirectly into
Broken Straw Creek or any ti'ibutary thereof, and I hereby notify you of the
importance of submitting for approval, not later than December first, nineteen
hundred and seven, plans for the purification of the tannery sewage and the sanitary
disposition of all deleterious wastes from the works. An early reply will be
greatly appreciated."
On February twenty-ninth one thousand nine hundred and eight, the said com-
pany made written request for approval of plans and represented as follows:
"That complaints having been made by property owners along Hare Creek that
the sewage from our tannery being discharged into Winton Run a tributary of
Hare Creek pollutes the waters and thereby injures the same for grazing purposes and
otherwise, and that in consequence of such complaints in order to avoid future alle-
gations of this character, we desire to construct in connection with our present
sewer system a filtration plant to treat the sewage from our plant prior to its being
discharged into the stream."
The J. W. & A. P. Howard and Company, Limited, does not by any statement
herein, or in the annexed statement admit, but expressly denies that any sewage
or other matters are being, or have been, discharged from the within premises which
are deleterious or which pollute any of the waters or above streams, and saving and
reserving all legal rights which the J. W. & A. P. Howard and Company, Limited
may now have in the premises."
The J. W. & A. P. Howard Brothers' tannery is located in the extreme western
part of Columbus township, Warren county, on land adjacent to the eastern line
of the city of Corry, Erie county, Pennsylvania. Said line is also the boundary be-
tween Erie and Warren counties.
The main line of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad and also the main public
highway leading from Corry city easterly pass by or through the tannery property
and down Broken Straw Creek Valley. For most of the distance to where the
stream discharges into the Allegheny river at Irvineton station, some twenty miles
from Corry, it may be observed from the passenger coach window.
Hare Creek rises in Chautauqua county. New i'ork state about six miles above
Corry, passes through the city and thence by and a short distance north of the
tannery, and immediately below the tannery through the farm of H. S. Ayers,
finally emptying into Broken Straw Creek about two and a half miles southeast
of the tannery property.
Broken Straw Creek also rises in New York state and takes a generally southeast-
erly course coming down through Columbus borough three miles east of Corry city,
in Warren county, and thence passing through Spring Creek village in Spring
Creek township and (Jarlana and Pittsfiold in Pittsfield township and through
Youngsville borough and Irvine, all in Warron county, to the Allegheny river
which it enters at a point about four and a half miles below the borough of Wajren.
The stream traverses a total distance of about thirty miles and drains a watershed
of over three hundred square miles of wooded hills and cultivated valleys with noth-
ing markedly characteristic with respect to run-off.
Hare Creek in the vicinity of Corrj' and the tannery has an average width of alwut
thirty feet. The banks are in the neighborhood of six feet in height. The adjacent
lands on either side is low, flat and swampy and subject to inundation during Hoods.
The channel is extremely crooked and the flow sluggish and the volume small during
the summer. The large amount of sediment on the bottom and sides is noticeable,
even to a casual passerby.
A Kmall branch called Winton Run heads in the township about a mile south
and flows northerly through the tannery property, emptying into Hare Creek about
twenty-eight hundred feet north of the tannery. It has a total length of two and
two tenths miles and a drainage area of about three square miles. This run which
naturally contains but little water, except during heavy rains receives the drainage
from the tannery and its channel operates as a settling basin for the solid wastes dis-
charged into it. The color of the water is dark red and the odors from this run
and from the creek to whore it discharges into Broken Straw Creek are strong
and noticeable to travelers on the public highways and to the people living in the
vicinity.
Above Winton Run in Hare Creek fish are observed to live and here the water is
comparatively dear except so far as it is polluted by Corry city sewage. The
main sewer outlet is into the creek about four thousand feet above Winton Run.
Below said run in the creek, large numbers of dead fish are found. The fact' is
charged by residents to the sewage and tannery pollution, particularly to the latter.
There is no marked eontainination of the creek above the city, for (here are no vil-
lages there, the territory being agricultural with usual conditions found about farm
buildings.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 823
The geuera! condition of Broken Straw Creek from the mouth of Hare Creek to
Youngsville horou^:h, a distance of about eighteen mile.s, is bad, the water in the
stream being dark colored and the evidences of tannery pollution are plainly seen
along the banks and in the bed, the sides of the channel being covered with a black
deposit which increases in amount from i'oungsville up stream fourteen miles to
Spring Creek village where there is a tannery. Here the water in Broken Straw
Creek is very black, so that the bed of the stream is entirely obscured. Above the
spring creek tannery the distance is about six miles to the said Howard Brothers
tannery and in this stretch of the water course the evidences of pollution become
intensified as one approaches the latter tannery.
The Howard Tanning Company is an independent concern engaged in the manu-
facture of sole leather. The capacity of the plant is about three hundred and fifty
hides per day. The greater bulk of the hides comes from Chicago, Kansas City and
Dallas, Texas. Some are obtained from Cleveland, Buffalo and Pittsburg, one or
two bales from China have been received ; the latest one in nineteen hundred and six.
It is reported that South American hides have not been used at the works during the
past eight years.
The raw stock is first placed in a store house and drawn upon as wanted and put
in soak and kept there for two or three days for the purpose of cleaning. These
tanks are called wash tanks. Next it is placed in lime water and kept there until
the hair is loosened so that it may be readily removed. After the hides are cleaned
of hair, they are placed in vats containing, so it is said, one part of sulphuric acid
and one thousand parts of water to receive what is called the plumping process by
means of which the pores of the hides are opened so that they will take the tanning
liquids. After this (he hides are placed in vats containing solutions of tanning liquor
of increasing strength and moved forward until the tanning process is completed.
Wa.shing in pure water is then accomplished and afterwards, if a hide is not light
enough in color, it is bleached in water and sal soda and then given an application of
coal oil to secure a gloss or polish. After another washing with water and a little
cod or mineral oil treatment the hide is rolled and ready for market.
All hair is washed in pure water and then dried by steam and sold for commercial
purposes. The bulk of the lime is also saved, as it is valuable for fertilizer.
The flesh which is removed from the hides, known as fleshings, is mixed with lime
and exported principally to glue manufactories.
The liquid wastes from the different vats is conducted outside to the run and to
settling tanks from which the sludge and deposits are removed and disposed of
commercially, if possible. Generally the sludge is used for fertilizer on adjoining
lands. The portion of the sediment that is of no value is spread on the fields
owned by the tannery company and adjoining the works near Hare Creek. The
liquids overflow from the basins into the tannery run.
The consumption of water at the works is about one hundred and fifty thousand
gallons per day taken from wells located west of the plant. The Corry Water
Company has a main into the tannery.
There are several pipes discharging wastes directly into the run. The over-
flow from the vats in the easterly building next to the road frequently nuis down
the bank to the road gutter. The run from the tannery to Hare Creek is en-
closed by a wire fence.
Spring Creek Tannery, previously mentioned, is located on the north side of
Broken Straw Creek in the lower part of the village of Spring
Creek and about two hundred feet from the stream. The plant is owned and
operated by the said Howard Brothers, has a capacity of about one hundred
hides daily and the same process of tanning is used as at the works on Hare
Creek.
A settling basin receives the liquid refuse from the plant, the overflow therefrom
being to the swampy bottom lands along Broken Straw Creek and eventually
finding its way into the creek. A privy is also located over this settling basin.
It was ascertained at the time of the Department's inspection at these
works during the summer of nineteen hundred and seven, that there was con-
siderable sickness among the stock of farmers whose property abuts the streams below
the two tanneries. The common testimony of the farmers along the stream was
that the waters thereof are grossly contaminated at intervals and that many
fish die in the waters, and that the odors are a nuisance.
The existing refuse disposal works at the tannery near Corry comprise a twelve
inch vitrified sewer passing underneath the bed of Winton Run to a pump well,
pumping machinery and four sedimentation tanks, and an outlet pipe to Win-
ton Run. The tanks have been improved and a roof built over them during the
present season.
There is a screen chamber adjacent to the tannery building and from it a twelve
inch pipe on a grade of eighteen inches per one hundred feet passes under the
bed of the creek to the pump well. Here the lift is about ten feet. It is under-
stood that at present one himdred and fifty thousand gallons are rai.sed by the pump
in twelve hours and that during the other portion of the day the pump is not
operated.
There are four tanks built of wood set side by side each forty-eight feet long
twelve inches wide and six feet deep to flow line. The liquid passes in at one
end of the compartment and at the opposite end into a second compartment and
thence into and out of the other two tanks in a similar manner and through a
ten inch pipe about eight hundred feet long to Winton Run. Heretofore the tanks
824 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
were open, now they are being enclosed with a wooden roof. Possibly seventy
per cent, of the suspended matter is deposited into the first one of the tanks and
at lease tive per cent, of llie remaining suspended matter is deposited into the
other three tanks. In the effluent the matter in suspension consists of small par-
ticles of gass. Lime is used as a precipitant but the extent of the use of this
precipitant is not known to the Department.
The total capacity of the four tanks is one hundred thousand gallons. The rate
of pumpage during the twelve hour period is three hundred thousand gallons per
twenty-four hours, hence during this period the rate of discharge of the liquid
as they till up this rate is accelerated. These figures are on the assumption
that the flow from the tannery works is uniform during the twelve hours at the
rate stated.
The Tanning Company proposed to continue the use of the four settling tanks
and to treat the effluent by filtration. Adjacent to the tanks and at about two feet
lower, two filter units are to be constructed. They are to be set side by side
and each to be seventy-two feet long, eight feet wide and eighteen inches deep,
bottom and sides of concrete construction. In these compartments, cinders screened
from boiler ashes are to be placed. The tank effluent is to be introduced under
these filters at one end over a weir. The liquid is to pass laterally through the
center and out over a weir at the top of the opposite end into a trough leading
to a pipe extending to the run. Two units are provided so that when one is
being cleaned out the other may be in commission. It is proposed to use these
beds continuously and an automatic arrangement is to be provided to secure
an even and continuous How from the settling tanks. Evidently, therefore, the
settling tank liquid is to be drawn down, but the plans submitted do not show
this to be possible of accomplishment by gravity.
Each bed filled with filtering material will have a total space of voids equivalent
in volume to thirty-two hundred gallons. If the one hundred and fifty thousand
gallon output be distributed evenly over the twenty-four acres then the thirty-
two gallons would pass from the tanks in about a half hour. So the liquid in
passing through the filter would not be subjected to more than a straining process,
and after the strainer has become filled up with suspended matters, then the
liquid would pass bodily from the surface of the filter, and even before this
clogging up of the strainer, the liquid would, in taking the line of least re-
sistance, pass over the surface of the bed to the outlet weir.
No plans have been submitted by the proprietors for the treatment of the
refuse from the Spring Creek township plant.
Relative to the Corry works proposed, ninety per cent, of the suspended mat-
ter should be thrown down into the settling tanks if properly regulated doses of
lime as a precipitent be mixed with t\u) influent. The sludge should be removed
at regular and frequent intervals onto drying out beds, from which the liquid drain-
age is conducted back to the pump well.
A strainer such as is proposed would not accomplish the removal of suspended
matters in an economical manner. The tank effluent should be distributed onto the
surface of the strainers and the Citrate shuuld be collected at the bottom by under-
drains. Tlie dimensions of the proposed filters therefore, are not best adapted to
this subject. Units half as long and twice as wide with a distributing trough down
the center with short laterals at intervals on either side would be a better ar-
rangement. Such a strainer would accomplish nothing more than a further
removal of suspended matters.
A far better arrangement would be to raise the tank effluent by the pumps into
a tank to be (erected al>ove the i)umi) well from which the liquid would flow by
gravity to and be distributed tiirougli uo/zles into a si)rinkling filter to a depth of
several feet. Any organic suspended inatt(!rs brouglit over in the effluent from
the tanks would be collected in (liis filter and undergo a change in form.
Furthermore, some further destruction of bacterial life should be accomplished
by the sprinkling process.
The effliuTit from this structure should then be conducted to a concrete col-
lecting vessel where chloride of lime or some Dllier germicide should be introduced
to sterilize the filtrate, and when;, when the sprinkling filter unloads these
accumulated suspended matters, such material may settle out.
Tlie cost of a lay-out of this kind ought to be moderate and its operation should
effect a satisfactory effluent.
All of th(! liquid output of the plant and domestic sewage should be collected
and delivered to and tnrated in the disixjsal works.
Tiiore are many ways of adajiting modern iiictliods of handling traile wastes
at the tannery under fonsidei'ation.
It has been delennined that the ( loiiimissioiier of Health should notify the
Kaid Howard 'I'aiinei'y (!onip:iny and said comj)aiiy is herein and hereby notified
that the plans sulanilted and her(!in under consideration, if modified as sug-
gestPfl and if built and ofierated in a careful manin:r, should provt,' satisfactory,
jtrovided all of the sewage and trade wastes at the plant be collected and treated
ill such works.
Furtiirrmor". it has been determined that the Commissioner shall notify and
said company is lier"iri and hereliy nolilied that it /mist on of before? December first,
one thousaml nin" liuiidred and (iiglit, salisfacloiily treat its trade waste output
and sewage output from its plant situated in (Jolunibus township, Warren County,
and its trade waste output and sewage output from its plant situate in Spring Creek
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 825
township, Warren County, so that all sediment from such plant shall be kept out of
the waters of the State and all pathogenic or;^'anisras in the trade wastes and sew-
age from said plants shall be kept out of the waters of the State.
Harrisburg, Pa., September IGth, 11)08.
DANVILLE, MONTOUR COUNTY.
This application was made by the boi'ough of Danville, Montour County, and
is for yeriuission to extend its sower system and to discharge the sewage there-
from untreated into the Susquehauna River.
It appears that Danville is a manufacturing borough situated on the north
bank of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River in Montour County about
eleven and one-half miles above the boroughs of Sunbury and Northumberland,
where the North aud West Branches of I his river unite. It is bounded on the
north by Valley Township and on the east and on the west by Mahoning Township.
Through the central part and paralleling the river and the abandoned State canal
and distant from the latter about five hundred feet and from the former about
eighteen hundred feet are the tracks of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
Railroad. Between these tracks and the canal in the village is Sechler Run flow-
ing westerly to Mahoning Creek, a stream rising several miles northerly and
coursing the river through the western part of Danville. The Catawissa Branch
of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway passes through the northern part of
the borough. A highway bridge over the river at the foot of Mill Street to the
borough of Riverside on the south bank affords a bus connection with the Penn-
sylvania Railroad at a station in the latter borough.
The pre.^ent population is estimated to be nine thousand. In nineteen hundred
it was eiuht tiiousand and forty-two aud in eighteen hundred and seventy it was
eight thousand, four hundred aud thirty-six. There may be some increase in
population in the near future, attributable to the location in the borough of the
Pennsylvania Brake Beam Company. The local Board of Trade is making efforts
to induce other industries to locate in Danville. At the present time there are
Iron, Tubing, Stove Foundry and Machine Works, Silk and Knitting Mills, and
Clothing factories among others.
In the northeastern part of the built-up portion of the borough is on the
hillside at an elevation rising one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet above the
river. Throughout the town the surface slopes are generally good and the numer-
ous runs aud creeks afford natural channels for surface drainage. In the immediate
vicinity of the river and Mahoning Creek, the elevations are such as to bring the
surface above flood level, and even in the lower parts of the borough the inun-
dation is not serious except at times of unusual freshets. Mill Street , the principal
highway of the town, is paved with brick, but the other streets have not been
permanently surfaced.
The water works are owned by the municipality, the supply being taken from the
river through a hlter crib located just below the bridge to Riverside. The water
is raised to a mehanical filter plant installed in eighteen hundred and ninety-five
and it is reported that all of the supply furnished to the public is filtered. The
average consumption is one and one-half million gallons per twenty-four hours.
There are a few private water supplies in use in the borough aside from domestic
wells. There an- also a few springs to which the public have access.
The Dauvillo Structural Tubing t^ompany. employing about four hundred and
fifty hands, located along the south of the canal several blocks above Mill Street,
uses water from Sechler Run on the opposite side of the canal.
The Pennsylvania Brake Beam Company, whose plant is located along and
north of the canal east of the built-up part of the town, purposes to obtain water
for manufacturing purposes from the canal.
The Hanover Brewing Company's plant is near the north borough line, east of
the village in the valle.v of Blizzard Run, which passes under the two railroads and
empties into Sechler Run opposite the Danville Structural Tubing Company's Plant.
Tlie brewery uses city water for brewing and spring water for boiler purposes, wash-
ing kegs, etc. This spring is planked over the town but is liable to receive surface
drainage at times of heavy rains. When Blizzard Run is under freshet conditions,
the wati-r backs up over the spring.
The Reading Iron Company, employing between five htindred and six hundred
hands, has its works between the canal and the railroad west of Mahoning Creek,
opposite the mouth of Sechler Run. Here the creek water is used for manufactur-
ing purposes and city water for drinking.
The Danville Knitting .Mill Company, employing two hundred hands, have
works b(>t\veeii the canal aud Sechler Ruu on Churcli Street. City water is used
for drinking purposes iluving the winter, but during the summer water from a
spring near the D'laware, Lackawanna and Western Station. It is about ten feet
beneath the i)res.^nt surface of the ground. It originally outcroppeil north of the
tracks, but :>fter the land was filled up the water eaiue out south of the tracks
rearer the run. Af that tinn' a pipe was laid from the new spring to a small
pump Avell on the side of the run from which water is raised for use by the said
Knitting Mill Company. There is also a branch pipe out of which this spring
826 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
water flows into the air where people in the vicinity are accustomed to get their
supply of water. It is said that analyses of the water have never revealed con-
tamination and that no sickness has ever been attributed to the use of the
spring.
The Danville Stove and JManufacturing Company employing about two hundred
and twenty-five hands, obtains its water from a well lined with concrete masonry
for a distance of fourteen feet down, and is banked up around the top to protect it
from surface drainage. There is another well on the premises from which water
is obtained for maniifacturing purposes. The plant is located in the eastern part
of the borough on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad near Sechler
Run.
The F. Q. Hartman Silk Mills, employing about two hundred and eighty-five
hands, located on the banks of the river several blocks north of Mill Street, ob-
tain water for condensing purposes from the river. City water is used for all
other purposes.
There is a spring near the corner of lower Mulberry Street and Pearl Street
near Blizzard Run on property of the Reading Iron Company which has been used
to some extent by people living in the vicinity. The spring is not well protected
against surface drainage and might therefore become polluted. It is not very ex-
tensively used at the present.
There is a spring on Mill Street near the northerly eud of the borough known as
"The Iron Mine Spring." It is reported that water from this spring is piped to
the tank on the grounds of the Reading Iron Company at the plant first men-
tioned. The supply was formerly furnished to the employes of the company and
it is said that some of them still resort to this tank for their drinking water.
A great majority of the inhabitants permanently use the public water, but
there are in the neighborhood of twenty individual w«lls reported besides the private
supplies hereinbefore enumerated. The presence of typhoid fever in the community
therefore, more particularly since the infection has not been traced to the private
s(>urces, directs suspicion to the river water, which is known to be polluted by
sewage. A few cases of typhoid fever exist in the town at the present time, the
origin of which is not known. Recourse to records, which are not wholly re-
liable, give the following cases and deaths from typhoid in Danville since eighteen
hundred and ninety: In eighteen hundred and ninety-two, eight cases and three
deaths; in eighteen hundred and ninety-three, seven cases and one death; in eigh-
teen hundred and ninety-four, four cases and no deaths; in eighteen hundred and
ninety-six, five cases and no deaths; in eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, nine
cases and one death; in eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, eight cases and three
deaths; in nineteen hundred, three cases and no deaths; in nineteen hundred and
one, three cases and no deaths; in nineteen hundred and two, four cases and one
death; in nineteen hundred and four, twenty-six cases and one death; in nineteen
hundred and five, thirteen oases and one death; in nineteen hundred and six,
thirty-eight cases and four deaths; in nineteen hundred and seven, seventy-one
cases and seven deaths; in nineteen hundred and eight, thirty cases and one death
to date.
Probably the greatest number of cases have been reported beginning in nineteen
hundred and four. Prior to that time the records are extremely unsatisfactory
and not worthy of acceptance. In November and December of nineteen hundred
and seven there were twenty-two and thirty-one cases of typhoid fever respectively,
under circumstances indicating sudden infection widely distributed. The most com-
mon medium of transmission of the disease being water and the fever being per-
sistent and apparently on the increase year by year dictates that there should be
a careful o.xamination of all sources of water supply both public and private in
Danville, that where possible, sources of pollution should be obviated, and in some
instances possibly the use of the water should be discontinued.
The existing sewers comprise about four miles of pipe ranging in size from eight
to twenty-four inches in diameter. Tiie sewers are on the sejjarate system with
one exception, meniioned later, and liischarge into the ri\er at two outlets; one
jiist below the water works [jumping station, the other sevei';il hundred feet further
down stream and P.elow Chestnut street. The system emptying tlirougli Chestnut
street outlet which is twenty-four inches in diameter, coinpi'ises about three and
four tenths miles of pipe. They are laid in the streets of the district lying north
of Mahoning f'reek and Sechler Ituii but laterals south of said run in Mill and IVnn
streets and vicinity .serve a small but important district tributary to Mahoning
Creek.
The main sewer extends northerly from the Susquehanna river to and under
Mahoning Creek and thence it passes along the north bank of said stream easterly
to near the canal a(|U(!du<;t where it pnsses under said creek to a manhole whence a
Kub-miiin of kv/.c not stated extends southerly to I'eun street, and whence an eighteen
inch main extends noi'thei'jy under the ejiuiil to S<'elih'r Run whence it continu(!S
easterly up and along the l)ed of said run to east of ('hureh street where it cuts
across [irivate latirl and under th<! Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad to
Riizzard Run at .Mullir'rry street and thence up along the bed of this stream to
between A. and P. streets There is n suli-mnin connecting to the eighteen inch pipe
at the foot of A. street. It servr-H the (listriel north of the I'hiladelpliia. and Reading
Railway. The district between tlx- latter and Sechler Run is secured by another
«ub-main which joins the eighteen inch pipe near Mill street.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 827
The district abutting Mahoning Creek is served by a sub-main and follows along
the alley near the creek to the eighteen inch pipe near the aqueduct. No definite
information as to size and grade and condition of these various sewers has been sub-
mitted by the borough , excepting the sub-main district of A. street. It is reported
that the information is lacking.
The sewers emptying into ihe other outlet just below the water works comprise
about sixtj'-oue one hundredths of a mile of pipe, the size of which the borough
is unable to state with positiveness. The district served, though small, is im-
portant. There is a catch basin at the corner of Mill and Front streets, from
which surface drainage is conveyed into the main sewer. This is reported to be the
only connection for surface water anywhere in the borough.
There are a number of houses having roof water connections to the sewers. The
main sewer laid under the bed of the two runs, receives considerable \\'ater by
seepage through the joints, so it is reported. With the exceptions noted, rain water
is discharged upon the surface of the ground and finds its way to the nearby stream
by means of street gutters.
The State hospital for the insane occupies the tract of land in Mahoning town-
ship for a mile along the river immediately east of the borough. The buildings are
adjacent to th-? town and sewage therefrom when not used for road irrigation is dis-
charged into Hospital Run which at the present time empties into the canal. The
water in the canal consists of a series of stagnant shallow pools. The pollution
from the hospital makes the canal offensive and has been the cause of numerous
complaints by citizens and the borough authorities.
A State appropriation has been made to extend Hospital Run to the river and
the work is about to be undertaken. The State has also made an appropriation for
an adequate sewage purification plant on the premises. When these two things are
done the nuisance in the canal will be abated so far as the State contributes to the
nuisance, and the drainage after treatment will go into the river.
However, there are a number of other places within the village from which pri-
vate properties contribute to the canal nuisance. The Pennsylvania Brake Beam
Company turn water closet drainage into the canal, the water from the scrubbers
at the Standard Gas and Electric Light plant finds it way to the canal and so does
condensing water from the Danville Foundry and Machine Works. The Danville
Steam Laundry is reported to discharge all waste water into the canal, and privies
in the rear of dwellings along the banks are liable to cause some pollution of canal
water.
It is generally admitted that consideration for public health demands that the
canal shall be properly drained and be kept free from stagnant water. When the
canal was built the borough's natural drainage was somewhat changed and now
storm water reaches the canal and thence to the creek. The present owner of the
artificial waterway, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, sometime
since made a proposition to Danville to build a drain in the bed to take away storm
water, provided the borough would fill up the canal ; but the size of the pipe pro-
posed was too small However, an agreement was reached that the railroad would
contribute six thousand dollars towards a drain and this money is now available, so
it is reported. The local authorities desired the building of a joint combined sewer
two feet in diameter at the creek reducing to twenty inches at the upper end of the
State Hospital. By this plan the State, the railroad and the borough would con-
tribute to the cost of the sewer to the canal and ultimately these interests would join
in the erection of sewage purification works ; but the plan was disapproved by the
Commissioner of Health because the State should not be a party' to a project for the
discharge of sewage into a stream, more especially since the immediate erection of
sewage purification works at the State Hospital is assured, while a plant capable of
treating the large volume of sewage and storm water which the canal sewer would
carry would be prohibitive in cost.
Besides the canal nuisance there are private sewers emptying into the streams in
the village. Below Chestnut street from four premises there is a private sewer pipe
discharging into the creek, one only takes closet drainage. Above Chestnut street
eight private sewers discharge into Mahoning Creek. There are eight residences be-
longing to one estate on the north side of Church street from which water closet
drainage is discharged into Sechler Run.
It is reported that at the Hartman Mills on the banks of the river a quarter of a
mile above the water works intake the drainage from lavatories goes to the river.
On Blizzard Run just outside of the borough is a drain from a slaughter house
and at the Reading Iron Company's Northumberland street plant there is direct
sewage pollution of the creek by an overhanging privy.
Besides the mi^thods of sewage disposal about fifty cesspools and fifteen hundred
privies are in use and according to the statement of the petitioners the residents in
the unsewered districts in the borough are greatly inconvenienced by the present
methods of cesspool and privy vault disposal and hence the proposed sewerage
system.
It is intended to build an eighteen inch sewer from the twenty-four inch main
near the aqueduct along and in the bed of the canal through the village easterly a
distance of about a mile and a half and connect with it sewers in the lateral streets
in the unsewered district between the canal and the river, most of the pipe being
eight inches in diameter. The sub-main in Market street will be ten inches and
twelve inches in diameter. Lateral extensions to existing sewers should also be
828 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE. Off. Doc.
.made from time to time in the other districts, of the borough, more particularly for
a length of four hundred and fifty feet in Mahoning street west of Mill street to
collect the drainage from the houses from which sewage is now being discharged into
Mahoning Creek.
The proposed extensions will amount to possibly seventy per cent, increase of the
length of sewer system now owned by the borough. At Sunbury the river is used
as a source of public water supply, also at Marysville and at Enola to meet deficien-
cies and at Harrisburg and other places further down stream.
In view of the term of life of certain pathogenic organisms and the short space
of time required for water to pass from Danville to Sunbury and to Harrisburg,
specially during freshets, it is clearly evident that the disrhaige into the river at
Danville constitutes a menace to the health of those people below who rely upon
the river as a source of public water supply. Therefore, the borough of Danville
should make preparation to purify the borough sewage at as early a date as prac-
ticable. The State has made appropriation and its officers have devised plans for
modern sewerage and sewage disposal works for the Danville State Hospital which
plans will be executed as approved immediately.
The assessed valuation of the borough is reported to be two million, four hun-
dred and twenty-five thousand dollars and the bonded indebtedness one hundred and
twenty-nine thousand, eight hundred dollars. If these figures be correct the muni-
cipal borrowing capacity is in the neighborhood of forty thousand dollars, so it
would appear. Existing bonds partly cover the loans for the proposed sewer exten-
sion but additional bonds will be required to complete the construction. Entrance
fees for sewer connection is levied upon the property owner. These are calculated
to reimburse the borough for the cost of the sewers when the properties have all
been connected to the system ; but there is no compulsory ordinance relative to con-
nection. The borough owns its own electric plant which is operated in connection
with the pumping station of the water works. Under these circumstances , while
the town is possessed of its public utilities which are valuable assets, its inability to
undertake the immediate construction of a sewage purification plant is evident be-
cause even forty thousand dollars would be an insufiicient sum to pay for sewage
works.
Before a plant can be installed to treat all of the sewage of the borough, all
storm water and large leakage and most roof water must be excluded from the
sewers. Studies must be made to detemiine the best plan of gathering the sewage
of the entire borough at one point and its delivery thence to the disposal works. A
site should be selected for the latter and a detail plan shall be prepared, together
with estimates of cost and all of these as a complete design should be submitted
to the Commissioner of Health for approval. The plan as finally adopted should
then control all sewer work.
The borough is amply able to assume this small cost of preparation of plans and it
should be done at once.
It has been determined that the interests of public health will be subserved by
granting a permit and it is hereby and herein granted for the proposed sewer exten-
sions under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That all storm and roof water be excluded from the proposed sewere,
that particular pains be taken in the construction of the sewers and in making the
pipe joints tight.
SECOND: On or before July first, nineteen hundred and nine, the borough shall
prepare and submit to the Commissioner of Health for consideration a complete
plan for sewering the whole borough and conveying all of the sewage to one outlet
and for the purifying of the sewage before discharging it into the river.
THIRD: At the close of each season's work the borough shall file a satisfac-
tory plan with the Commissioner of Health of the smvers laid during the .year,
together with any other information in connection therewith tiiat may be required
in order that the State Department of Health may always be advised of the extent
of the public sewer system and the use thereof.
FOURTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system, the proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be incinerated
on the premises.
FIFTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the sewer
system, or any part thereof, has become a nuisance to public health, then such
remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health may advise or
approve.
SIXTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on July first, .nineteen hundred and ten, contingent, however, on the other
terms of this permit having been fomplifd willi. If the oilier tei'iiis of Ihis per-
mit be complyed with then on said date the ( ;<)i)iinission<'r of Ilea It li may extend
the time in which sewage may continue to bf dischargcil iiilo llif waters of tlu^
Stale provided the interest of the public health require it.
The CJommissioner of Ilr'altli will notify the owner of the inill from which sewag(>
nf>w goes into the Sus(|iieliarina rivei' above the boi-oiigii wiiler woi'ks iiilnke (lint
this practice shall cejise immediately. The f 'ommiHwioni'r will also notify other
property owners in the borough who are now discharging sewage into the waters of
the State that this must be discontinued.
The State Department of Health will compel owners of property to act as afore-
said if within a reasonable time the borough were to fail to provide adequate sew-
erage facilities.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 829
The State Department will make a series of tests of public and private drinking
water in the borough and communicate the result to the local Board of Health.
Wells and springs found contaminated should be forthwith abandoned or their use
discontinued. The co-operation of the borough authorities is solicited.
The borough council is advised to consider the compelling of sewer connections
on every estate more especially where the methods of sewaue disposal are unsanitarj-.
This matter in connection with the drinking viater question cannot be too strongly
urged as a practical health precaution. Typhoid fever is altogether too prevalent
in Danville.
Harrisburg, Pa., July Gth , 190S.
DANVILLE, MONTOUR COUNTY.
Danville State Hospital for the Insane.
This application was made by the Board of Trustees of the State Hospital for
the Insane, Danville, Montour county and is for permission to construct a sewage
purification plant.
Prior to the session of the General Asembly of nineteen hundred and seven the
Board of Trustees for the State Hospital for the Insane near Danville, Montour
county, Pennsylvania, through its attorney made request for advice relative to the
abatement of a nuisance existing in the old canal bed on State property at said
institution, whereupon the Commissioner of Health made an investigation and the
Governor, Attorney General and the Commissioner of Health reached the unani-
mous agreement as follows:
"That the present disposal of sewage at the hospital is a menace to public health
because of its discharge into the pools into the canal in front of the hospital and
also along the canal bed in the borough of Danville and because of its discharge into
the river above the water works intake in Danville and also, possibly, above the
intake of the institution's water works. Therefore, to obviate this menace, it is
unanimously ngreed that the Commissioner of Health shall order the discontinuance
of the discharge of all of the institution's sewage into the waters of the State, and
that to enable the Board of Tnistees to accomplish this object, the Commissioner of
Health should recommend an appropriation of eighteen thousand dollars to be made
for improved sewerage, drainage and sewage disposal works, to be laid out, con-
structed and maintained on the State property according to plans and specifications
to be prepared by the State Department of Health. The Commissioner of Health
shall have general direction and supervision over the operation and maintenance of
said improved sewerage and sewage disposal works.
"It is further unanimously agreed that the hospital trustees be notified of the dan-
ger of drinking the water now supplied to the institution and be advised and re-
quested by the Commissioner of Health to secure an adequate appropriation for an
enlargement and improvement of the existing water works to the end that the insti-
tution's water supply shall be adequately purified at all times."
Act number one hundred and five, entitled, an Act making an appropriation to
the Trustees for the State Hospital for the Insane, at Danville, Pennsylvania,
approved May first, nineteen hundred and seven, among other things provided as
follows:
"For the purpose of providing additional means for the disposal of sewage, the
sum of eighteen thousand dollars; system and plan to be approved by the State
Board of Health before this item becomes available.
"For additions and extensions to water filtration system, the sum of ten thousand
dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary; the system and plans to be ap-
proved by the State Board of Health before this item becomes available.
"For the purpose of extending and changing the course of a natural stream in,
through and upon the grounds of said Hospital, the sum of five thousand dollars,
or so much thereof as may be necessary; the plans an<l charaeter of (he work to be
approved by the State Board of Health before this item becomes available.
"For the purpose of filling in bed of old canal, in. upon and through the grounds
of said hospital, the sum of twenty-five thousand dollai-s, or .so much thereof as may
he necessary. The said sum shall not become available until a deed convoying title
in fee simple in the land so oceupied by said canal, shall be delivered to the trustees
of said hospital by the owners thereof, the Delaware. Lackawanna and Western
Railroad Company: And provided further, that the proposition relating to the item
of twenty-five thousand dollai-s, for filling in bed of old canal, shall not become
available until approved by the Governor and Attorney General."
At a conference at Harrisburg on February fourth, nineteen hundred and eight,
between the local authorities of the bon)Ugh of Danville, the Trustees of the Dan-
ville State Hospital and the Commissioner of Health it was ascertained that a special
committee of boroiigh couneil had made a proposition to the hospital trustees on
January eighth, nineteen hundred and eight, the same being as follows:
53
830 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
"The undersigned Committee respectfully submit herewith the following proposi-
tion subject to your acceptance:
"First. We agree to allow the State Hospital to connect an eighteen inch terra
cotta sanitary sewer pipe to our municipal sewer at the aqueduct, and extend same
In an easterly direction in the bed of the canal, under the various streets, alleys,
etc., in the borough.
"Second. We agree to examine, flush and to stand one-half the cost to repair
and maintain that certain portion of said sewer that shall be within the borough
limits, for which consideration, and the privilege of connecting to our main sewer,
we reserve the risrht to make the several connections necessary for the sewering of
the adjacent territory.
"Third. We agree, at such time that the Commissioner of Health compels all
sewage to be purified, to pay our proportionate share toward the construction and
maintenance of such plant.
"Fourth. We agree to allow the Trustees of the said hospital to contract for the
laying of a cement or terra cotta surface sewer of sufficient size to properly drain
the stream known as Gulicks Run down the canal bed to Mahoning Creek under our
several streets and alleys, as the council objects to the emptying of this stream into
the river.
"We to permit the use of the six thousand dollars appropriated by the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company for this purpose, resenting the right
for connections at the various streets and alleys, in the borough, necessary for the
surface drainage of the adjacent territory.
"Fifth. We agree to fill up the old canal bed within the borough limits, in five
years time as is necessary to secure the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Rail-
road Company's appropriation."
The trustees presented to the Commissioner of Health a copy of a resolution
adopting a plan to connect the hospital with the municipal sewer of the borough of
Danville, under certain conditions which appear in the resolution as follows:
"Whereas, a proposition relative to the construction of a system of sewage has
been submitted by the borough of Danville, granting permission to this institution
to connect its proposed sewer with the main sewer of the said borough, at a point
near the intersection of the old Pennsylvania canal and Mahoning Creek, at or near
a point commonly known as the 'Aqueduct.'
"And whereas, the said borough of Danville, through its proper officers, have
complained that the discharge of the sewage from this Institution into the Susque-
hanna river at a point in said stream above the intake of its water supply is preju-
dicial to the health of the inhabitants thereof.
"And whereas, it is the desire of this Board to dispose of the sewage of this insti-
tution in the most feasible and sanitary manner.
"Whereas, be it resohed that if in the opinion of the Department of Health
of the State of Pennsylvania, the proposition submitted to the borough of Danville
as to manner and means of disposal of sewage is the most feasible and sanitary one,
then and in that event the plan of connecting with the municipal sewer of the bor-
ough of Danville, as recommended, be and is hereby approved and adopted, subject
to such reasonable regulations as may be agreed upon by and between all the parties
hereto."
After the proposition had been discussed and accepted, that the hospital sewage
must be purified before being discharged into any stream or sewer or drain, it be-
came apparent that there was no advantage to the State to connect with the pro-
posed borough sewer, more especially since the borough's finances would not permit
of the entailing of the expense which a sewage disposal plant, large enough to care
for the municipal sewage and the hospital sewage would incur. Therefore, the hos-
pital trustees agreed to engage an engineer to prepare detail plans for sewage dis-
posal works to be erected on the grounds of the institution and the plans and appli-
cation for approval were submitted on May twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred and
eight.
The State Hospital for the Insane at Danville, Montour county is located in a
three hundred and ninety-four acre tract in Mahoning township on the north bank
of the North Branch of the Susquehanna river immediately east of the borough of
Danville.
In the main building comprising the Administration Hall and Officer's Quarters
and the Male and Female Wards which are on either side, these wards in the main
building being three stories in height, and in the Nurses' Home, and Infirmary,
thero are housed about fifteen hundred inmates and offieers. These buildings are
gronned together on an eminence facing the river and distant about one-quarter of
a mile therefrom, and clovated possibly one hundred feet above the ordinary stage
of the water. Between the buildings and the river are the tracks of the Northum-
berland branch of the Delaware, Tiackawanna and Western Railroad which ex-
tends alonL' the bottom of the slope where the lowlands begin and beyond, towards
the river, is the abandoned canal now owned by said railroad company and beyond
it towards the river a public highway. These lowlands to the railroad are flooded
during freshets.
The State prooerty fronts on the river for a distance of nearly one mile and ex-
tends back therefrom over half a mile. Coming down through this property to the
river are two natural water courses, one to the west, known as the Hospital Run,
rising in the hills on or near the hospital grounds, and the other known as Toby
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 831
Run, rising in the hills to the east about two miles distant from the river. The latter
course divides the State tract into about equal parts. The eastern portion is largely
wooded. It is in the western portion where the hospital buildings are located that
most of the farm buildings and cultivated fields are located.
The main hospital building was erected in eighteen hundred and seventy-two.
The Nurses' Home and Infirmary are recent additions. The new power plant
was erected in nineteen hundred and six.
The Institution's water supply is obtained from the Susquehanna River, is sub-
jected to mechanical filtration and is then pumped to a distributing reservoir on
the hill, from whence it flows by gravity into the pipe system. The pumping
station and filter plant are located in a building on the flats between the railroad and
the canal. The old gas plant, still in use, is also located at this place. The
water is drawn from a receiving reservoir in the flats between the canal and the
river and delivered onto the mechanical filters, and the filtrate is returned without
storage to either one of the two pumping engines by means of which the purified
water is forced to the resen'oir on the hill. Each pump has a capacity of about
one million gallons daily.
The gravity pipe from the river to the receiving or pump well is sixteen inches
in diameter and extends out to deep water in the river at a point about five hundred
feet from the shore. Hero at low water the pipe end is submerged three feet. Dur-
ing freshets the mouth is frequently clogged, threatening the supply of the In-
stitution. Attempts to obviate this clogging have been made by providing for the
flushing out of the pipe through the turning on of the pressure from the reser\-oir
on the hill. Toby Run may be diverted into the pump either to flush the sixteen
inch gravity pipe or to supply the institution in case the said sixteen inch pipe
were out of commission.
The force main to the reservoir on the hill is eight inches in diameter and is
so arranged that in case of fire the reservoir may be cut off and the full pressure
of the pumps put upon the system. The nominal capacity of the filters, of which
there are two of the Jewell type, is four hundred thousand gallons daily each.
During a fire, if three or more streams were used, the demand upon the pump
would be considerably in excess of the normal rate of the sewers and hence because
there is no storage of filtered water between the filters and the pump, the filters
would necessarly be speeded up for the emergency, thereby admitting to the
system an inferior quality of water. Prior to nineteen hundred and three, when
the first filter was installed, the Institution was supplied with raw water. Now
during freshets the water used in the Institution for drinking and culinary pur-
poses should be boiled. This precaution was taken following the outbreak of the
Scran ton epidemic.
The distributing reservoir is built in two parts, each one hundred and five feet
square and twelve feet deep, excavated in earth and partly in embankment. They
are brick lined with sloping sides and have a combined capacity of one million two
hundred and fifty thousand gallons. Since the daily consumption is about three
hundred and fiftv thousand gallons, said storage capacity is equivalent to four
days' supply. The gravity main from the reservoir to the buildings is reported
to be six inches in diameter.
Plans for additional filter units have not been submitted. It is understood that
no movement has boon made in this direction.
When the main building was erected, the removal of sewage, roof water and
some surface drainage was provided for by the laying of a brick conduit eighteen
inches by twentj'-four inches in diameter from the front of the building to the
canal, thence an cightoen inch pipe under the canal and across the flats to the
river bank, thence a sixteen inch cast iron pipe delivered the sewage into deep water
about eight hundred feet out in the stream. This point of discharge was about one
mile above the intake of the water works system supplying the borough of Dan-
ville, so in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-one the State discontinued the
discharsre of the Institution's sewase into the river above Danville by extending the
sixteen inch cast iron main along the river bank down stream to below the Danville
water works intake, where the sewage was emptied into the river. Owing to
the faulty construction as well as design, so it is reportd, within a year after
the laying of this sewer it was undermined and failed at several points, because
fillod with silt and was abandoned. Subsequently the pipe was taken up and
sold, and tho old original outlet into the river was put into use again and was
in use until the spring- of nineteen hundred and five, when a new system of sew-
erage was constructed at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars and upwards. In the
spring of this year there were also three other sewers at the Institution, one of them
from the laundry buildiiiir emptying into Hospital Run. and the other two, one
from the new Infirmary building and from the Nurs'V Home emptying into the
eighteen inch sewer on the hillside near the railroad. Besides these there were
sewers emptying into th*> Hospital Run from the coachman's residence and the
farmer's residence and from the slaughter house, these buildings being some dis-
tance from the Hospital.
The system of sewerage and sewase disposal installed during nineteen hundred
and five now in use comprises a collection basin for the old sewers, compressed
air pumping plant and broad irrication for the disposal of the sewace.
No attempt was made to separate storm water from sewacre. The old sewer
main from the building, and th<^ Infirmary sower were intercepted by a fifteen
832 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
inch pipe, into which also the sewage from the old laundry sewer and coachman's
house was discharged. The sewage from the slaughter house and that from the
Nui-ses' Home continues to discharge as formerly. At present Hospital Run receives
the flow of the sewage from the laundry house, farmer's house, slaughtering estab-
lishment and the coachman's house, and the overflow from cesspool in the recrea-
tion ground.
The new intercepting sewer terminates in a pump \\ell located immediately west
of the hospital liuildings on the banks of Hospital Run. An overflow is provided
lo the run for an emergency, but it appears for one cause and another the over-
flow has been in use uuich of the time. When the pumps have been out of repair,
which is reporl(Ml to have been often, the run receives the sewage
from the institution. When the pumps are operating and the storm water flow
overtaxes their capacity, the run also receives the sewage. The capacity of the
aiilifts, of which there were two, is two hundred thousand gallons daily each.
During heavy precipitations the amount of storm water delivered to the iilters
would exceed this ijuantily. Both pumps are submerged in the sewage and in
case of need of repairs to either of them, the entire plant must necessarily
be put out of commission. For the last year very little attempt has been made
to operate the pumps. During this time the sewage has flowed bodily from the
main building into the river.
When the plant is ojjcrated, the sewage is raised through a six inch force main,
a distance of eighteen hundred feet to the summit of the hill elevated one hundred
and twentj'-five feet above the pumps where there is a small distributing reservoir
about fourteen feet in diameter and twelve feet deep, provided with several
valved openings by means of which the sewage is distributed into wrought iron
screwed joint pipes, whose diameters range from three inches to six inches and
which radiate from the distributing reservoir in all directions aggregating a total
of ten thousand, nine hundred feet, or practically two miles. These pipes are laid
be-low the surface of the ground and at regular intervals vertical pipes extend
therefrom about two feet above the ground to the end of which are attached
disc valves by means of which the sewage under pressure is discharged in jet form
out onto the surface of the ground. In the neighborhood of one hundred acres
may be thus irrigated by the Institution sewage. Fodder corn, wheat, grass and
alfalfa are fertilized in this manner but no garden truck or food eaten by human
beings, excepting wheat, is grown on the irrigation field, so it is reported.
■\Vhile the largest part of the sewage field is tributary to Hospital Run, some
of it drains toward Tol)y Run. No attempt has been made to prepare the ground
for winter treatment of sewage. During the growing season when saturated,
and also in the winter whtm the ground is frozen, because of lack of means to
prevent it, the sewage is applied onto the ground and must necessarily find its
way over the surface into the run and the river. In (rase Toby Run Avaler were in-
troduced into the pump well at the filter house, the institution's sewage would
be contributed to the pollution of the water supply. Otherwise the instituion
sewage would conribute (Uily to the pollution of the water sui)ply of Danville
and other places further down stream. The canal through the State property
is practically level. It has been abandoned for about .seven years, and the
eastern part of it from the gas house is empty because of a dyke built across it at
the gas house to prevent 1h(! tar wastes, incident to the manufacture of gas,
from reaching Toi)y Run and ultimately the Danville water su|)ply. However, Toby
Run, and the water frf)m the hillsides reaches the canal bed and remains there to
a depth of about one; foot. A i)art of this water, wlii(;h is stagnant, and very offen-
sive in summer time, is liable to be sewage from the irrigation field.
West of the gas lionse, the water stands about five feet deep in the canal as
fai west as Hospital Run. The run with its sewage empties into the pool and
keeps it full. The overflow is into the canal bed towards Danville, where
there are a succession i.'f standing i)ools all along through the borough, which give
offense in summer time, liy removing the dams acro.ss the canal, either at the gas
house or the Hospital Run, most of the water would drain out through Toby
Run to the River, or down the canal b'^d through Danville borough, where it
now goes and to the discomfort of a largo numl)er (jf people owning property
abutting the canal. It is evident that the State cannot in justici> remove the
canal bed nuieance on its own property by transmitting the nuisance to the citizens
of Danville
It is apparent that three things should be done: First, no mstitution sewage
should i)e discharged into a natural water coui-s(' at any time or under any
comiitions ; hccoikI , uiuler the; Act tli(r stagnant water in the canal bod should
be prevntid as a heallli iirecaution , the best way to deal with this nuisance would
be to fill up the canal bed and restore the land to its original contour; third,
to prevent sewage pollution of the waters of the Slate ami the Institution and to
assure a pure wa'er HU|)ply to the Hospital, a complete overhauling of the existing
v/ater works and Heweiatre systems must be made.
The proposed improvements to the sewt^rage system and disf)osal works sub-
mitted for approval and now under consideration comprises a sepjirale system of
sanitary sewers, ade(Miatr' pumping machinery installation, and apparatus of
npprovr-d design for Hir- jmrilicarion of all of the sewage of the institution.
Upon weiring the flow of the Hospital sewera, excluding that from the Nurses*
Home, the cpiantity of sewage was found to be tiiree hundred and thirty thousand
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 833
gallons for twenty-four houi-s. Making allowance for the new buildings in progress
of erection, a plant with a nominal capacity of three hundred and sixty thou-
sand gallons per day of twenty-four hours has been designed.
A main intercepting sewer is provided to begin in the rear of the female ward
and to be laid around in front of the main buildings and up the valley of Hos-
pital liuu to the present pumping station. Its elevation is sufficiently low to in-
tercept all of the proposed lateral sewers which are to extend from the fifteen inch
main sewer to the old and new buildings at convenient points for collection of
all sewage. The sewer joints are to be made tight, inspection manholes are
to be built at all changes in line and grade.
A sub-uiain will be laid down the valley of Hospital Run to deliver the sewage
from the farm, coachman's house and slaughter house and from the other farm
buildings to the pump well. All told there will be about five thousand feet of new
sewer. The old sewers will be continued in iise for the removal of storm
water only.
The present pump well is a concrete structure hexagonal in plan, seventeen
feet in diameter and sixteen feet deep, having in inlet chamber on the outside,
shallow, ten feet by six feet, where the sewer terminates and where the sewage
is screened. >so changes will be made in this screeu, which is a parallel bar affair.
The pumping plant is to consist of thre.- vertical, submerged, centrifugal,
electric driven sewage pumps automatically controlled by the rise and fall «jf
sewage in the collecting basin. There are co be three pumps specially designed
for sewage, each capable oi pumping t«.^nty-five thousand gallons of sewage
per hour from the collecting basin through ? line of twelve inch pipe approximately
fifteen hundred feet long against a total elevation of seventy feet. Each pump
is to be submerged and properly suspended from the floor above so that the*
suction shall be within six inches of the Sottom of (he well. On this floor is to be
attached a motor to the vertical driving shaft of the pump. Each motor is to be
equipped with an automatic controlling apparatus for starting and stopping. The
arrangement is such that the pumps will be thi-own into operation not simiultane-
ously, but consecutively as the flow of sewage increases or diminishes and the level
rises or falls in the collecting basin. Pump Number three will operate only after the
sewage level shall have reached seven feet above the bottom of the well. This
method of control not only assures a pumping capacity of seventy-five thousand
gallons per hour, in three successive steps, but it also assures a three-fold guar-
antee as to the liability of operation, as a second pump will start should the fire
fail to operate for any cause, and the third pump will start should the other
two fail to operate.
The electrical generating plant of the institution may not be great enough
to furnish the power in which event an additional dynamo will be provided.
A by-pass from the screen chamber to the run and an overflow connection
to it from the pump well now in existence art to be contiuued in use for emergency
purposes only. There is a vahe on the end of the by-pass in the screen
chamber but none on the overflow from the well.
The superstructure is to be erected over the well to properly house the
motors. In case of repairs the motor, shafting and pump may be raised bodily
from the well to the floor.
The disposal plant is to be located away from the buildings of the Institution
and distant eight hundred feet from the farm house along Hospital Run west of it in
the irrigation field. It is the purpose of the trust^-es to continue to irrigate when
the crops should need the water and at other times the new plant will receive
the sewage. The new force main will terminate in a grit chamber at the inlet end
of the proposed primary sedimentation basin, of which there are to be three.
The water in the said grit chamber will be fifty-four feet higher than the pump
house floor. The end of the force main to the irrigation field is seventy feet
higher, approximately, so the new plan will save the cost of lifting the sewage
to the higher elevation.
The sedimentation tanks are to be concrete open structure, having a combined
capacity of one hundred and seventy-six thousand gallons when flooded seven
and one-half feet deep and one hundred and ninety-nine thousand gallons when
flooded to a depth of eight and one-half feet. The added depth may be obtained
by inserting planks in the discharge weir, slots in the masonry sides of the weir
being provide<l for the purpose.
Each tank is sixty-five feet long by fifteen feet wi<le mi the bottom an<l seventeen
feet wide mi top. interior dimensions. They are to be built side by side and at
their inlet ends in each compartment at the centre is to be built a concrete inlet
submerged to mid-depth, having an opening at the bottom six inches wide antl
three feet long through which the sewage mtist enter. A non-distributing entrance
of the sewage is thus sought. Outside of the end wall of the tanks there is a con-
crete trough which delivers sewage from the said grit cliamber to the submerge<l
inlets. The grit chamber is outside of these troughs oi)posite the central sedi-
mentation tank. It is sixteen feet long, three feet wide and forty-five inches
deep. Near where the for<'e main terminates in the chamber is to be built
movable screens, three-quarters inch mesh, but these will not be used unless found
desirable. The three ports connecting this cliamber to the distributing troughs
53—17—1908
834 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
will be provided with gates by means of which sewage may be delivered to any
one or all three of the tanks. The grit chamber is to be covered by a plank
platform with hinged dooi-s at the gates and screens.
It is proposed to give the sewage ample time for sedimentation by passing it
into one of the outer tanks, thence down the length of that tank back through
the centi-al tank and forward through the other outer tank and thence to the auto-
matic dosing chamber. Twelve inch pipes through the partition walls are provided to
effect this circuitous route of the sewage, one pipe through a wall at either end
of each compartment placed at mid-depth and provided with a sluice valve. This
arrangement of operation may be varied to suit conditions. Undoubtedly one
compartment only at times will be used.
The bottom of each compartment will slope laterally three inches to a gutter
built in the concrete floor and draining to a ten inch pipe drain, controlled by
gate valves set in the ground outside near the grit chamber. This drain terminates
in a sludge basin located nearby. Its area is to be about thirty feet square,
surrounded on three sides by an earth embankment. If more than eighteen inches
of sludge is deposited in this area an overliow to the creek would be liable to occur.
It is intended that the operator shall draw off the tank compartment to bo drained
to within about eighteen inches of the bottom. These upper layers of sewage to
be sent to the sprinkling filter. The remaining suldge will then be deposited on the
sludge bed where no other preparation for its reception is proposed except the em-
bankment above mentioned.
It is proposed to clean the tank at the rate of one each week. The emptying
is to be done at night. Vertical wooden chambers, fitted with valved ports, are
to be provided in each tank compartment for the drawing off of the upper layers
of the sewage to the filters whenever a tank is to be drained. Ordinarily the
sewage will pass out over a weir wall in a collecting trough extending outside
and along the opposite wall of the compartment from the inlet. A weir is pro-
vided for each tank. It will be eight feet long and the sewage will pass up to it
by a concrete submerged outlet similar to the inlet above described. The collecting
channel outside will be two feet wide and three feet deep, open to view.
This channel will deliver the settled sewage from any one or all of the tanks
to the dosing chamber, which is opposite the middle tank and adjacent thereto.
It is designed to discharge about twenty-five hundred gallons each dose. The
chamber is of concrete, including roof, twelve feet square in plan with sloping
sides ai the bottom and is provided with a ten inch syphon and an auLmatic ap-
paratus for shutting off the incoming flow at the beginning of the syphon dis-
charge. A float arrangement operates to raise the end of a moveable inlet
trough, thus cutting off the flow until the sewage in all the tanks rises one inch,
when the sewage again flows into the dosing chamber and as soon as the float
releases the trough it falls and a sudden nish of sewage fills the chamber and
again discharges the syphon and the water is drawn down far enough for the
float to rai.se the trough and so on. In case one compartment of the sedimentation
tank were in use only, the trough would have to be elevated three times as high
as when three compartments were in use in order to make the dose uniform. A
provision for this is made in one of the arms of the levers actuated by the float
whereby changing its length will regulate the inflow. The discharge of the tank will
be at the rate of twenty-five hundred gallons in two and one-half minutes, but
as the flow is not cut off as soon as the syphon starts, the amount discharged will
be a little more than twenty-five hundred gallons and the time of discharge will
be proportionately longer.
The surface of the filters is five feet below the high water mark in the dosing
chamber and a foot and a half below the low watermark in the chamber. The
bottom of the sedimentation tank is eighteen inches above the filters.
The sprinkling filtei-s arc to be laid on a concrete floor one hundred and eighteen
feet long and ninety-one feet wide. Midway of the length is a ridge for the whole
width of the floor from which the slopes are on either side to the sides where
are the open effluent carriers built in the concrete and extending down the sides
and along the front to the secondary sedimentation basin. The
back of the filter is in excavation and a retaining wall is jjrovidcd there about
six feet high, it is near the primary tanks and between tlieni and the run. On
the other three sides there will be no walls. On the floor of the filters are to be
placed ten inch channel pipe laid in parallel rows and contiguous in diagonal lines,
each terminating in the collecting channels above mentioned. IMu? i)itch of the
entire floor will be away from the back wall toward the front, having a slope of
nine inches in the ninety-one feet, henco about oue-(juurter of the liltor effluent
will be discharged into the collecting trough in front of the filter.
The main delivery pipe from the dosing tank is to be a twenty inch terra cotta
pipe laid in the ground back of the wall an<l covered over to a depth of two and
one-half feet. From it through the wall at intervals of twf-Ive feet are to be eight
inch cast iron pipes conm-cted with the twcmty inch pipe by terra cotta reducers.
Bach cast iron pipe is to be carried across the width of thi; filter and supported
on concrete piers and from it at intervals of fourteen feet nvc to he vertical four
inch risers at the top of which at the surface of the filter will he adjiislKsd a
sprinkling nozzle of the ({ending type. In all there will he fifty-four nozzles. This
distribution system wiM drain hack to the twenty inch pipe and <lovvn into one of
the side channels leading to the secondary subsidence basins.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 835
The filtering material is to be crushed stoue of size from one and one-half inches
to three inches iu diameter. The top surface is to be made level and uniformly
three inches below the nozzle. The sides are to be laid up by hand in form of a
dry wall with steep slopes.
tinder ihe corner of the filter near the secondary sedimentation tanks is a dry
run down which rain water passes. This is to be filled in and a twenty inch drain
pipe provided to take the surface water from the hillside above.
The surface area of the filter is about one-quarter of an acre, so it appears
that the rate of filtration will be between one and five-tenths and two million
gallons per acre daily.
The effluent is Lo be delivered to the secondary sedimentation tanks. They are
twin structures sixty-lwo feet long by seventeen feel, interior dimensions, built
of concrete and left open. They will be four feet deep to the flow line. A trough
extends across the inlet ends of the tanks at the top and ports through the dividing
wall and will admit the influent. The outlet ends are weirs across the width
of each tank, discharging into a collecting trough, which for the present will
empty into Hospital liun. The layout admits of the building of sand beds be-
low in the future. For the present the settled material in these tanks is to be
removed by hand and deposited elsewhere on the farm, together with cleanings
from the sludge pit.
It is estimated that the proposed disposal plant will cost eighteen thousand
dollars. If the expenditure should be a less sum, in this event the balance left
could not be sufliciently largo to build new sewers. The original intention was to
abandon the sewage farm and to sell the air compressor, pumping outfit and
system of iron piping at auction and to use the proceeds to defray the cost of the
new sewers. Now that an effort is to be made to continue the irrigation system in
use the monej's to defray the sewer construction cost must be obtained in some
other way. It is suggested that any unexpended money appropriated for im-
provements and additions to existing buildings and for the erection of new
buildings might be used to afford sewerage facilities and to build the proposed
new sewers.
A purification plant to be reached by gravity would force the selection of a
site too near the institution building or on the flats where it would be subjected
to damage from freshets and ice gorges. To construct the works here and pro-
vide adequate protection would involve an expenditure, so it is reported by the
expert, in a sum very much in excess of the appropriation.
To continue the irrigation fields as such demands the installation of an entire
new pumping outfit, if all the sewage is to be delivered onto the ground. So the
old air compressor lift is to be continued in service and at such times the balance
of the sewage will be pumped by the new machiney to the new works in the
irrigation fields. In fact, the site selected, is the best adapted for the disposal of
sewage. However, the sludge pit should be materially enlarged. The experiment
as to whether this pit, properly enlarged, will have a suflicient
absorptive capacity to readily dry out the sludge and permit of its being gathered
and removed and disposed of in a sanitary manner without being a nuisance or
causing a pollution of the run may prove a failure, iu which event a specially
prepared drying area will have to be constructed.
Some form of shield should be devised to be set up on either side of the sprinkling
filter whenever needed to catch the spray carried by the wind over the sides of
the filter and return it to the filter.
Detail plans for the final treatment of the sewage in sand filters or by chemicals
should be prepared, estimates of cost made and said plans be submitted to the
Commissioner of Health for approval, iu order that an ample appropriation there-
for may be obtained, if this should be found advisable.
The overflow and by-pass from the screen chamber and pump well should be
fitted with valves and these should be closed, except it be in an emergency when
its use should be noted and recorded.
The detailed plans of the drain or channel improvement from the channel to the
river should be prepared and submitted for approval without delay and this work
should be constructed during the current year.
All water used for domestic purposes at the Institution should be boiled. The
importance of the immediate installation of additional filter units cannot be too
strongly emphasized. An outbreak of typhoid fever or of intestinal disordei-s is
liable to occur at any time. The plans for the filters and for a clear water
basin of moderate capacity at the water pump house should be forthwith prepared
and submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
The disposal works should be erected at once and the new pumping machinery
installed and the plant be put into commission at the earliest possible moment.
The effluent should be taken out of the canal and conveyed by a new drain to the
river. The intercepting of the sewage from all of the buildings in pipes specially
designed for the purpose, effecting a separation of the sewage and storm water
should be accomplished at the earliest practicable moment.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approving of the proposed plans for improved sewerage and sewage disposal
and the same are hereby and herein approved and a permit issued therefor under the
following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: The storm water and roof water shall be excluded from the sewers
836 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE OfC. Doc.
and that all of the sewage from all of the buildings of the Institution shall
be intercepted and be kept out of the waters of the State and conveyed to the
pump well and" from thence to the puriticatiou works.
SECOND: The irrigation fields shall be used, if at all, so that no sewage
whatsoever shall pass from them, either directly or indirectly into any natural
water course. Sewage shall be adequately purified either on the irrigation fields or
at the sewage purification plant. If at any time, in the opinion of the Commis-
&ioner of Health, the sewer system or the sewage disposal works, or auy part
thereof has become a nuisance or menace or prejudicial to public health, then the
Hospital Trustees shall adopt such remedial measures as the Commissioner of
Health may approve or advise. Additional units to the plant shall be made under
State approval whenever this becomes necessary.
THIRD- A competent man shall be assigned the duty of caretaker and operator
of the sewage treatment plant. Daily records of the operation thereof shall be
kept on blank forms to be approved by the Department of Health and copies
thereof shall be filed with the said Department. It is the purpose of the Com-
missioner of Health to collect samples and have tests made as to the eSiciency of
the operation and the Department may make rules and regulations for the opera-
tion of the works in so far as the interests of the public health are concerned,
which shall be put in force by the Hospital Trustees.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 29th, 1908.
DARBY, DELAWARE COUNTY.
This order and decree w'as issued to the borough authorities of the borough of
Darby, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, relative to the discontinuance of the
discharge of sewage into the waters of the State within the said borough and else-
where in response to a communication to the State Department of Health, a copy
of which is the following:
"At a regular meeting of Colwyn Borough Council, I was instructed to inform
you that we have received numerous complaints from residents of Colwyn bor-
ough in regard to the unsanitary condition of the vicinity of their homes arising from
the emptying of a stwer located in Darby borough. This sewer runs under the
property of Adam J. Gottshall, of Darby, at Fifth and Pine Streets, but the
outlet IS within the precincts of Colwyn or near the dividing line and is very
annoying to those residing in the locality. There has been a great deal of con-
troversy between the two boroughs on this questou but without any satisfactory
results as yet. So council decided to call your attention to same."
The Colwyn authorities were immediately informed that the State Depart-
ment has under consideration the question of sewage disposal into Darby Creek
and will formally communicate with council in due time in reference to the
matter.
During the first part of April, nineteen hundred and seven, the Department
representative made an inspection of Darby borough and vicinity and submitted
a report thereof.
Darby borough is a rapidly growing municipality having a population of seventy-
five hundred at Ihe present time. The nineteen hundred census reported three
thousand four hundred and twenty-nine.
The incorporated territory lies between Cobb's Creek on the east, which is
also the westerly boundary line of the city of Philadelphia and the boroughs
of Sharon Hill, and Collingilaii- on the west, Colwyn on the south and Yeadon on
the north and east. A small portion only of the borough abutts on Cobb's
Creek.
Darby Creek flows southeasterly through the entire length of the borough near
the westerly line, the course of the stream bi.'ing about a mile in length here.
The l'liiladfi|>hia, Baltimore and VVasliinglou Ivnilniad touches tiie borough at
one ijojiit in tli<! txlnnni- southerly coruei'. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
passes westerly tiirough the borough in the southern central part of the town.
The business section is principally north of this railroad at the corner of
Main and Ninth Streets near Darby Creek. Here the street car lines converge
and tli(jrou;;lil'arcs radiate in all directions. Here also the borough of Collings-
dale touches the creek at an acute angle, the lines of which are imjjortant high-
ways, the one leading to the southwest being (Chester I'ike and the one to the
northwest being Sjiringlield Avnue. Main Street in Darby extends south-
easterly under the B. tV: O. Railroad to Cobb's Creek where VVoodian,d Avenue
in Phila«li'l|)liia begins. The last eight hundred feet of Main Street is the boundary
between Darby and Colwyn boroughs.
At Woodland Av(;nu(', or iuimediately north of it is a dam across Cobb's Creek
whicli maiks llw limit of lide water. Below the dam :iiid abovi' the street is a
twenty-foM)' inch pipe outlet. This is the eastern sewer main of th(! borough of
Yeadon sewerage systein. Obviously the reascju of extending this main nine hundred
feet into Darby borough territory was to obtain an outlet below the dam.
Into this twenty-four iiieh main Darby honjugh sewers have been admitted at
two points. Th'! first is just behnv the 1',. i<; (>. J{ailroad in Yeadon borough,
comprising a total length of thirty-one hundred feet, and the second is at the foot
of Greenway Avenue in Darby borough comiirising twelve hundred feet of sewer.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 837
There is an eight inch sewer fourteen hundred feet long in Main Street which
empties into Cohb's Creek at Woodland Avenue. Just below said Avenue the
Philadelphia sewer, five and twenty-tive hundredths feet in diamett-r empties into
Cobb's Creek.
Below this point sewers of Colwyn borough, and above this point many sewers of
Philadelphia and of other municipalities empty and much manufacturing waste is
discharged into the creek or its tributaries.
There are five borough scwei-s into Darby Creek and there are three woolen mills
and a large gas plant which also contributes to the pollution of the creek. The
Verlenden Mill has a connection with the borough sewer. Further pollution of
the creek is contributed by overhanging privies and by cesspools built close to the
banks of the stream.
The Suburban Oas Company's plant and the Graysons Mill are on Pine Street
immediately west of the creek. On the day of the Department's inspection sewage
was observed in the creek here. Under the bridge a public sewer from either
direction empties into the stream. The easterly outlet is twelve inches in diameter
and serves seventy-.sevcn hundred feet of sewer. The westerly outlet is probably
eight inches in diauiv'ter and serves eleven hundred feet only. These two out-
lets an? about four hundred feet above Sharon Hill and Colwyn boroughs.
Six hundred feet further up stream there is a fifteen inch sewer outlet serving
thirty-six hundred feet of .sewer.
The sewerage facilities .afforded by these three outlets is intended to comprise
all the territory in the borough south of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad within
the Darl)y Creek watershed.
Immediately north of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, on the east bank
of Darby Creek is the Griswold Mill. This property extends from Main Street
to the railroad and possibly further, because the connection with it there is a mill
privilege, the head race of which begins at a dam at Twelfth Street, a half mile
above the mill and follows down the valley passing under Main Street to the
Mill. This canal is polluted with sewage from overhanging privies above Main
Street. On the day of the Department's inspection the waters in the canal were
stagnant and offensive and easily noticeable to the senses of thousands of people
passing daily.
Under the bridge over the creek at Main Street or Chester Pike there is a
twelve inch borough sewer discharing into the creek. It serves ninety-five hundred
feet of sewer.
The last public sewer outlet is into the creek at the foot of Twelfth Street just
above the dam. It is a small pipe connected with fifteen hundred feet of lateral
sewers.
The dam marks the utmost limits of tide water. By reason of the tidal action
suspended sewage matters are more thoroughly spread out and stranded
along the shores, and the menace and nuisance to public health increased, more
especially in summer time when the normal flow of upland waters is small. The
danger of food infection through the agency of flies exists all along this creek in
Darby borough.
But the above five sewer outlets are not the only sewers in the borough which
pollute the stream. Just north of the Main Street bridge on the bank of the
creek is a sewage fountain in plain sight of the public, out of which the sewage
from the boroughs of Yeadon and Lansdowne overflows into the creek. The odors
from the gases liberated here aro noticeable in the stores and office buildings in
the vicinity. The reason for this overflow is explained by the fact that some
time since the boroughs of Yeadim and Lansdi.wne undertook to build a twenty-
four inch trunk sewer down the east bank of Dnrby Creek and to dispose of their
sewage into the stream in the borough of Colwyn and the .sewer was constructed
through Yeadon and Darby boroughs as far as Griswold Mill and up through Col-
wyn and Darby boroughs from the proposed outlet to within about eiulit hundred
feet of Griswold's Mill. Litigation between Y'eadon an<l Dartiy boroughs relative to
this sewer or the use thereof, and with the owners of the Mill property and possibly
others, respecting rights of way, resulted in cessation of constructing and the eight
hundred foot connection hns not yet been built. Therefore, since an outlet into
the creek near (>riswold's Mill is maintained through an eicht inch pipe which
is too small to deliver the flow, it backfloods the sewer and causes the overflow
at the manhole provided at the bridge. Into this intercepting sewer exten<ling for
practically a mile through Darby borough is connected six hundred feet of Darby
sewer at the foot of Eleventh Street.
It is reported that the population living in the dwellings on the line of the sewers
is six thousand, of which five thousand reside in dwellings connected to the
sewei"s.
The borough faih-l to file a plan of its sewer s.vsteni or report within the time
specified by the law and it has not yet submitted a satisfactory plan of its sewer
system. So far as is known the system is separate but receives some storm
water.
Below Darby borough, the sewers of Sharon Hill and one sewer from Colwyn
borough empty into Darby Creek. Above Darby borough the creek is in a deep
ujirrow rnvinc with high banks. .Vbove I,ansdowne the stream is subject to con-
sidt'vabli' pollution hv iminsirial wastes.
S38 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Collingsdale has no sewer bat it wishes to install a system with an outlet into the
creek at Chester Pike.
The city of Philadelphia is building an intercepting sewer down the east bank
of Cobb's Creek which will intercept all of the city sewage proper during dry weather
and deliver it into Darby Creek below Colwyn until a plan be perfected for the
diverting of this sewage easterly into the Schuylkill River drainage district sewers.
The main stream below Colwyn passes through a six mile stretch of unoccupied
salt marsh, much of which is overflow at high water. Numerous boat houses dot
the banks and fishing is extensively indulged in. Two and a half miles below the
niouth of the creek into the Delaware River the city of Chester takes its water
supply out of the river.
In order to avoid a public nuisance it is necessary that sewage should cease
to be discharged into the streams above mentioned. It is much more practicable
to devise ways and means to prevent the nuisance now than to permit it to be
continued to the detriment of human life.
The borough of Darby is reported to have an assessed valuation of real estate
of two million . one hundred and thirty-one thousand dollars and a bonded in-
debtedness of fifty thousand one hundred dollars. If these figures are correct, the
municipality is amply able to undertake some other method of sewage disposal
than into State waters. It would have been cheaper for the boroughs of Yeadon ,
LansdoM-ne and Darby to have joined together in one common sewer, and it is not
too late for each one of the above mentioned boroughs in Darby Creek and in
Cobb's Creek valley to unite on a plan for joint works. Undoubtedly this scheme
would prove much more efficient and economical than for each municipality to
undertake to handle its problem independently.
For instance if the city of Philadelphia will not permit the towns in Delaware
County to discharge their sewage into the Cobb's Creek intercepter, then the next
best plan would seem to be for these towns to join together and build their
own intercepter instead of constrvicting three independent pipe lines, and when
a point were reached below Colwyn where sewage might be delivered into the
creek, it does not appear that the interests of the public health domimd that sewage
should be put in here to the menace of the fisheries and the health of those who
may boat upon the waters, and, therefoi-e, one sewage disposal plant should be
requisite to receive and treat the sewage of these plants. And since Colwyn, Darby
and Yeadon have other sewer outlets into Darby Creek which are a nuisance
and menace and which require to be connected up to an intercepting sewer leading
to .some point below Colwyn, it follows that one sewage disposal plant and one
intercepter for each of these two valleys is the most economical and satisfactory
solution of the entire problem.
The industrial wastes within Darby borough should be kept out of the stream.
After these liquids be freed of any matters injurious to the public sewer, facilities
should be afforded by the borough for reception of such liquids and their conveyance
in the public sewer systeia. If this policy is not promulgated by the local authori-
ties, then the State Department of Health must consistently require these private
companies to treat their own sewage.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health require that the
discharge of sewage into Cobl)'s Creek and Darby Creek by the citizens of Darby
borough, .should cease and that said borough be notified that it must, and it
is herein and hereby notified that it must on or before October first, nineteen
hundred and eight, prepare plans, either independently or in conjunction with
other municipalities, for some other disposal of its sewage than into said streams
and submit the same to the Connnissioner of Health for approval. Such plans shall
contemplate the collection of sewage and industrial wastes.
Harrisburg, Pa., January 29th, 190S.
DKRRY, WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Derry, Westmoreland County, and
is for permission to install a sewer system in conformity with plans submitted
theri'for.
It appears that the permit of October eighteenth, nineteen hundred and seven,
stipulated as follows:
"FIRST: The present plans be nKj'Jificd to e,xclu<ic all roof and surface water.
"SKCOND: That before approval of the sewer system is given by the State
Departtrient of Health, detail plans and profiles of the sewer taking honse drainage
only sliail be im-pared by a competent fngincor; also plans for an eflicient, up-to-
date, Howagf* disfiosnj plant for the ijiirificalion of the sewage of said sewer system,
which plans shall be siibmiKed to the St;ite Department of Health for approval.
"THIRD: That after tho plans for the disposal plant shall have been modified,
amended or approved by the State Department of Ilcjilth, the date on or before
which they shall be constructed shall be fixfd by the Cominixsioncr of Health, which
date shall not be Ichm than two years, or more than five yeans from the date when
the borough si-wer system or any part thereof sliaij have been put in use."
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 839
The proposed sewer system calls for sanitary sewers in practically every street in
the borough. The main scwor is to be fifteen inches in diameter and is to ex-
tend beyond the limits of the borough down the valley of McGee Run in a public
highway and is to have a temporary outlet into the stream at a point about
seven hundred feet below the borough line. Ultimately the outlet sewer is to be
extended down the public road about eight hundred feet further and terminate in
a sewage disposal pl.nnt to be located in the field between the road and the run.
No detail plans of the sewage disposal plant have been submitted. A profile
nr the proposed outfall sewer shows a fifteen inch cast-iron pipe from a man-
hole in Fourth Street at McFarland Street, a total length of two thousand three
hundred and fifty-seven feet to the septic tank. The elevation of the sewer at the
manhole is given as one thousand one hundred and fourteen and fifty-
sevcn-hundredths feet and the elevation of the flow line in the sep-
tic tank as one thousand one hundred and eight and six-tenths feet. Con-
tact filters are proposed with a surface at one thousand one hundred and five feet,
filtering material six feet in depth. A note on the plan says, "effluent piped and
emptied at point where hitrh water cannot back into contact beds." Another note
on the plan shows the high water mark two feet below the proposed surface of
the contact bed.
The petitioners have not attempted to work out the design of the purification
works. The construction of such works will be put off to the latest date possible.
The local authorities desire to construct the sewers and to temporarly discharge
the sewage into the run at the point above mentioned. The plans of the site
and of the location of the works thereon as submitted are tentatively only.
From the information they impart it would be extremely hazardous for the
State to approve the site. The vertical head room of nine and one-half feet as shown
on the plans is too little to admit of successful and economical purification of the
sewage if the operation is to be by gravity. It would seem unnecessary for the
town to ever have to resort to pumping in the purification of its sewage. The
State ought not to be called upon to approve a site and to commit the borough to a
project whose detail development might require pumping in order to accomplish the
efficient and economical treatment of the town's sewage. Now is the time before the
sewer system is put in use for definite plans for the disposal of the borough sewage
to be worked up, approved and adopted.
The local authorities in spite of the filing of the tentative plans above mentioned
did not adopt the provisions of the said sewerage permit of April twenty-ninth, one
thousand nine hundred and seven until February fourteenth, one thousand nine
hundi-ed and eight, on which date, in compliance with law, said permit was re-
ceived for I'ecord nt the office of the Recorder of Deeds for Westmoreland county.
Since it has already been determined to be for the interest of the public health
that a sewer system be constructed in Derry, it has been detemiined that approval be
granted and the plans are hereby and herein approved for the proposed sewerage
system and a permit issued therefor under the following conditions and stipula-
tions:
FIRST: That all roof and surface water be excluded from the sewer system,
that records of all properties connected to the sewer system shall be kept and at
the expiration of each season's work, plans of the sewers laid during the year, to-
gether with any other information in connection therewith that may be desired,
shall be filed in the office of the Commissioner of Health, to the end that the Depart-
ment shnli always be informed as to the extent of the borough's sewer system.
SE(^OND: That before the sewer system or any part thereof shall be put in use,
the borough shall employ some recognized expert, experienced in the art of sewage
purification, to design plans for disposal works for the borough, and these plans
shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval. If this be done, then
the borough may discharge sewage from the proposed sewer system into the waters
of the State until such time as the Governor, Attorney General and Commissioner
of Health shall detennine, but in no event shall said date be more than five years
from April tweniy-nintn, one thousand nine hundred and seven. The exact time
may be given wheu the sewage disposal plans herein called for shall have been sub-
mitted and approved.
THIRD: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The pro-er authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed on
the premises.
FOURTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health the
sewer system or any nart thereof has become a nuisance or menace to the public
healtii, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of
Health may nppnive or advise.
This i)ennil beiOre l)eing operative shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder
of Deeds for Westmoreland county.
The attention of the borough authorities is called to the many un.<;anitary con-
ditions in the borough and to the desirability of the adoption and reasonable en-
forcement of an ordinance requiring a general connection of all occupied estate with
the sewer sysrem Rut mof and storm water must be excluded from the sewers.
The borotigh cotiucils's attention is also called to the dischanie of sewage by pri-
vate parties into the streams above Derry borough. It might be a source of
revenue to the town to permit certain interests there to connect their sewers after
all roof and stonn water be excluded therefrom with the borough sewer system.
Harrisburg, Pa., March 2, 1908.
840 ^ THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
DERRY. WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Derry, Westmoreland county, and
is for permission to install a system of sewerage purification works for the treatment
of the borough sowa.?p.
It appears that on March second, nineteen hundred and eight, the Commissioner
of Health issued a permit to the borough of Derry to install a system of se\\'^rs and
among other conditions were the following:
"FIRST: That all roof and surface water be excluded from the sewer system,
records of all properties connected to the sewer system shall be kept and at the
expiration of each season's work plans of the sewers laid during the year, together
with any other information in connection therewith that may be desired, shall be
filed in the office of the Commissioner of Health, to the end that the Department
shall always be informed as to the extent of the borough sewer system.
"SECOND: That before the sewer system or any part thereof shall be put in use,
the borough shall employ some recognized expert, experienced in the art of sewage
purification, to design plans for disposal works for the borough, and these plans
shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval. If this be done,
then the borough may discharge sewage from the proposed sewer system into the
watei-s of the State vuitil such time as the Governor, Attorney General and Com-
missioner of Health shall determine, but in no event shall said date be more than
five years from April twenty-ninth, one thousand nine hundred and seven. The exact
time' may be given when the sewage disposal plans herein called for shall have been
submitted and approved."'
It appears that the local authorities, have upon further consideration of sewerage
improvements, decided it to be for the best interests of all concerned that a purifi-
cation plant should be adopted and built at the time that the sewers are constructed.
For this purpose an expert has been employed, a site for disposal works selected
and necessary detail plans prepared. Work on the sewers will be postponed until
these plans shall have been modified, amended or approved by the Commissioner of
Health.
The site selected for the works is along the public road leading northerly from the
borough through Derry township and is distant from the borough line about one
thousand feet. At this point west of the said highway and south of the cross-
road, at right angles to the fonner, there is a tract of land adapted to the erection
of the purification plant, so it is reported.
McGee Run. paralleling the public highway and distant therefrom not over one
hundred and fifty feet, passes northerly through the tract and between it and the
highwav there an; trees which exclude the land west of the run from view. It is
«m this' western pari, at the foot of the hillside, that the works are to be erected.
They will consist of s.'dimentation tanks and contact beds. The site, tentatively
selected and indicated on a plan previously submitted, was located several hundred
feet further down stream.
In the design under consideration the effort has been to secure the treatment of
the sewage in gravity works and this has made necessary the type of plant proposed.
The main outfall sewer of the borough is fifteen inches in diameter. It will ter-
minate in a manhole in the said public highway at the borough line. From thence
an eighteen inch outfall sewer, to be laid on a one-tenths per cent, grade, is to ex-
tend northerly across the run and thence along the hillside, terminating in a sedi-
mentation tank at the disposal works.
There are to be two of these tanks laid side by side built of reinforced concrete
with roof, each thirty-nine feet long by twenty-four feet wide, interior dimensions,
with an effective depth of seven and five-tenths feet and a total depth of ten
feet.
Into each unit sewage is to be admitted at one end into a compartment seven and
one half feet wide and extending to within seven and one half feet of the opposite end.
There is to be a concrete baffle board two feet from tiH> inlet end extending across
the compartmi-nt and submerged three feet below Hie flow line whose object is to
distribute the inflow uniformly throughout the compartment. The course of the
sewage wil! be down the first compart men! and thence back through a parallel com-
[tarlinent of equal size and thence forwanl tl)niiiy;li a third compartment seven and
one half feet wide and under a siiiimerfied baffli; two feet from the end to the outlet
jdpe twelve inches in diameter whose invert elevation is to be the same as the inlet
Iiipe. In the roof ovra- the inlet and also over I he oiillet pipes and also at the; oppo-
site end of each longitudinal coniparliiu'nt are to be i)laced inspection manholes with
perforati'd covers. The depth of the lank at the inlet is to be seviMi feet, which is
to be the depth of tiie three coiiiparl iiients across the inlet end of the tank. The
depth across the opposite end of the tank in each r-ompartinent is to be eight feet,
this twelve ineh slo[)e being provided to facilitate the drainage and removal of
Hludue. A sludsje flrain eight inches in diaineti-r is pn>vi(Ied at the bottom of the out-
let comparttnent and also halfway betwi-cn the firsi juid second coinpiirtinent ; each
drnin to be fitted with approved sludge valves with stems extending through the
roof of the tank. Sedimentation tank number two is a duplication of the tank above
described.
'llie effluent from each tank is to be collected in an open manhole chamber adjacent
to the tank, oin- chamiter for ea(th tank. Sluice valves are provid(;d for each inlet
and outlet pipe to the tanks and in the main wall between the two is to be built a
baffled weir by means "f \\hicli both tanks may be used in tandem.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 841
Adjoiiiiui; the .settlinjr basins are the filters consisting of four ijeds of equal size,
each fifty-four feel stjuare arranged in the fonn of a rectangle with a control cham-
ber in the centre into which the septic tank effluent flows and is thence diverted onto
the surface of the contact beds.
The filters are to be confined within concrete structures, the surface of the filter-
tering material being nine inches below the minimum flow line of the sedimentation
tank.
The control chamber is a concrete masonry structure eight feet square, inside
dimensions, housed over on top to protect the mechanism from the weather and ex-
tending below thf! concrete floors of the filter beds. The septic effluent is confined to
the upper floor of this chamber in a bowl arranged with four outlets, one for each
bed, and provided with valves automatically operated by the height of flowing
sewage. These ports connect with sluice ways, concrete bottom and wooden sides,
eighteen inches wide at the inlet end and six inches at the smaller end, being
graduat""d down and provided with side gates for the distribution of the sewage
at convenient points onto the surface of the filter. One distributing sluice is
afforded for each bed. It is to extend diagonally across about three-quarters of the
distance from the control chamber.
On the floor ot each contact bed which is sloped a maximimi of three inches
towards the said control chamber is to be laid five inch tile underdrains with slots
on the sides, laid in parallel rows eleven inches on centers, terminating in a chan-
nel built on the concrete floor along the division wall and twelve inches in diameter
covered over with a concrete slab. This main underdraiu terminates in the control
c-hamber at the bottom thereof, but on it near the end in the filter betl is a lift
valve carried up by stem and connected with a float and balancing apparatus in a
cylinder located on the opposite side of the wall in the adjoining filter bed. Into
this cylinder the liquid rises as the contact bed is filled, carrying up the float and at
some predetermined height this mechanism will operate to close or open the said lift
valve in the adjoining bed. Similar arrangements are provided for in each of the
contact beds. The outlet pipe into the control chamber is to be free. Leading out
from said chamber there is to be a main drain fifteen inches in diameter. Its invert
is to be one and one half feet below the lowest point in each filter bed floor or
seven and three-quarters feet below the surface of the filtering material. Thus it
will be seen that a vertical height of eight and one-half feet is available between
the minimum flow line in the septic tank and the bottom of the main efliuent drain
from the filters.
The filter bed material is to consist of broken stone. The floors are to be covered
to a depth of eight inches over the tops of the underdrains with stones from two
an<l one-half to four inches in diameter. The remainder of the bed material is to be
of stone having diameters from one to two and one half inches and the total depth of
such material is to be six feet from the surface to the underdrains.
The sewage will flow to the filters at the rate it is discharged from the main
borough sewer, which rate will fluctuate hourly during the twenty-four hours of
the day and it will bo greater some days than othei-s. The alternating apparatus
proposed is intended to automatically control the quantity and flow of sewage de-
livered to any one of the contact beds and to cause successive doses to be turned
onto successive beds in continuous cycle. The sewage is to flow onto contact bed
luunber one until that bed has filled to the desired height, when the flow is to be
automatically changed into bed number two, and so on in continuous cycle. The
loss of head through the controlling device necessary to operate the same is eight
inches or less. The height to which the sewage shall rise in the beds and the
length of time the beds shall stand full is by the arrangement contemplated capable
of adjustment, but the time for the completion of a cycle is not capable of ad-
justment but depends upon the rate of flow from the town .sewer. The apparatus
is so arranged as to admit of the cutting out of any one of the beds and the union
of the other three beds to form a cycle in the operation of the plant.
As previously stated, each bed is to be furnished with an emptying device. The
controlling device and the emptying device working in conjunction will give the fol-
lowing cycle of operations. First, bed number one is to be filled with sewage to the
desired height when the flow wlil be automatically changed to bed number two,
while bed number one stands full. After bed number one has stood full as long as
necessary for the proper action in the bed, or as long as it is possible, then it is to
be automatically emptied and allowed to remain at rest until the flow of sewage is
again turned onto it from bed number four. After bed number two has tilled to the
proi»er height, the flow is to be changed onto bed number three, and so on. It is
intended that these shall be two complete cycles of filling and emptying of the con-
tact beds every twenty-four horn's.
The elevation of the bottom of the controlling chamber which is the drainage pit.
is to be eleven hundred and four and one-half and it is reported that this is the level
of the highest freshet ever noted in the valley at this point. It is jiroposed to carry
the fifteen inch outlet pipe to the creek below the cross roads, the exact point of dis-
charge t»> be determined on the ground later. Between the contact beds and the creek
there is a space fifty feet in width, where it is proposed to lay out the sludge drying
area. Di-tails have not been submitted. The general scheme is to throw up an
embankment of earth aroinid the area and to a sufficient height to exclude storm
water. The surface is to be graded off with no part higher than elevation eleven
htindred and two and a half feet, which is two and a half feet below the bottom of
the settling tank.
842 THIRD ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
It is proposed to drain tlie accumulation of solids and also the liquid contents of
each sedimentation tank onto the sludge area whenever this shall be necessary. A
small pumping outfit may be installed at the tanks to facilitate drainage and also the
operation and handling of the sludge. The petitioners purpose to work the details
out and submit them later. The object will be to prevent the discharge of sewage into
the run at any time.
The layout of the plant is such that extensions may be made in the future to double
the present capacty.
The present population of the borough and its environs is about four thousand.
It is estimated that the total outflow from the sewers when the system shall have
been built and put in universal use will be three hundred thousand gallons, ex-
cluding ground water and cellar drainage. The town being located on a hill abound-
ing in numerous springs and having a wet soil is in need of sub-soil drainage to ren-
der many of the homes of its citizens healthful. The sentiment in favor of sewerage
may be attributed equally to the desire for cellar drainage and sewage removal. The
careless construction of the sewers whereby pipe joints were imperfectly made would
be likely, under the local conditions, to total fur the entire sewer system an ex-
cessive amount of leakage into the sewers. Such an amount might be greater than
the total output of sewage proper. If cellar drainage be also admitted to the sewers
a calculation as to the daily discharge into the disposal plant must be a mere con-
jecture.
The settling tanks have a combined capacity of one hundred thousand gallons,
which is an eight hour retention when the flow is at a rate of three hundred thou-
sand gallons per day, or a four hour I'etentiou when one tank is in use.
The total area of the filter bed is eleven thousand six hundred square feet, which
is practically equivalent, if the flow from the town sewers be not over three hundred
thousand gallons per day, to one million two hundred thousaud gallons per acre per
twenty-four hours. This rate is double that found desirable and necessary in prac-
tice. It: the sewers were not built tight and if the infiltration from faulty joints
should also be added a large cellar drainage How, the petitioners would be under
the expense and necessity of providing works whose capacity should be several
times that contemplated by the present plans. It is, therefore, very necessary that
all ground water should be excluded from the sewers for economy's sake and that
cellar drainage should be excluded from the sewers, provided a more economical
way of draining the cellars be found, la the eastern states the project of laying
small open joint tile drains beneath the sanitary sewers for sub-soil and cellar
dainage has proven economical and satisfactory. This method should be very care-
fully considered by the loal authorities of Derry borough. It appears from informa-
tion now at hand that this would be a satisfactory solution of the disposal of ground
water in the town. These underdrains are made to discharge at convenient points
into the natural water courses. The danger in their use is that through careless
construction of the sewer's sewage will flow out of the sewers into the underdrains
and thus pollute the stream, in which event the underdrains would either have to
be stopped or their flow diverted into the sewer and the object of their construction
would be lost. It is cleaily evident that the economies of the improved sewerage
project in Derry dictate that extreme care should be taken in the building of the
sewer.
If this be done, then the flow to the disposal works may not be three thousand
gallons daily for a number of years, so that the plans proposed would atford works
ample in capacity to treat the sewage. However, the doubling of the capacity of the
plant will be required at no distant date in any (svent. There is land in the vicinity
adapted to further extensions of the disposal works. These considerations should
govern the borough council in its deteruunation of the amount of land necessary
to be acquired at this time. The nearest dwelling to the tract is about eight hun-
dred feet distant. The preempting of the site proposed will commit the borough to
a permanent policy and, therefore, enough land should be purchased from the main
highway westerly to enable the works to be excluded from the view along the trav-
eled highway.
The tanks propo.sed may easily Ix- operated to infringe the patented process now
controlled by the Cameron Septic Tank ('onipany and the borough should under-
Htand that a royalty may be due if said process were to l»e infringi-d.
The success ot any sewag(! ])urilicalion jilant dcpi-iids in a jiicnsure upon the
attention which it recr'ives in opera lion. The State Department of Health not only
carefully scrutinizes the design in the fii-st instance, but it purposes to carefully
supervise tlio operation of tlie pliint thereafter, to the end that sewage; shall not be
discharged into the waters of the State. In the i>lant under consichsration,
wlielher or not sewage may be liaijle to enter the streaiii depends upon the flow
from the town sewers. The works if built as designed should el'fect a reduction
of eighty per cent, of the bacterial impurities in the sewage and a greater jier-
centage of reduction of the organic matter and tin- efllueiit should he reasonably
clear and nonputrescible. The time may come wlwu this degiee of purification will
not be suHlcient to protect the interests of the publi(! health, and when such time
shall arrive the local authorities nuist provide means to accomplish a greati^r pui'i-
fication.
Sewage effluents may be sterilized to-day, but tin; cost is high. Some agency
may be discovered or ititrodueed later which will Hinder f(!asible the sterilization of
effluents and bearing this in mind the local authorities should understand that the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 843
question of efliciency of the plant is oue that must be left open. The necessity
of careful attention to the construction of the sewers and the ground water prob-
lem cannot be too strongly emphasized.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be sub-
served bj' approving the proposed sewage disposal plans and a permit is hereby
and herein issued therefor under the following cundiuons and stipulations:
FIRST: Detail plans for the sludge disposal area shall be prepared and sub-
mitted for approval and shall be modified, amended or approved before construc-
tion.
SECOND: Detail plans of the plant herein approved as the same shall be
erected shall be prepared of the works when built and tiled in the ollice of the Com-
missioner of Health, together with any other information in connection therewith
that may be required.
THIRD: Daily reports of the operation of the works shall be kept on blank
forms satisfactory to the State Department of Health and copies thereof shall be
tiled in said Department's cilice, and to the end thac eliiciency and economy shall be
obtained the borough shall employ ihe designer of the works, or some equally com-
petent expert to have responsible supervision and direction of the construction of
the purification plant and of the operation for one year thereafter, during which
time the attendant to be employed oy the borough may have an opportunity to be-
come thoroughly schooled and skilled in the manipulation of the apparatus and the
sewage disposal plant.
FOURTH: The automatic controlling apparatus shall be purchased and in-
stalled under a guarantee that it shall do the work and tests for mis purpose of suf-
ficient duration shall be made to determine the ethciency of the apparatus, because
the successful operation of the plant will depend in a large measure upon ihe
apparatus. Facilities shall be ali'orded for the manipulation of the valves by hand,
so that the plant need not be shut down in case the apparatus were to get out of
order.
FIFTH: The plans herein approved are for disposal works whose capacity to
properly purify sewage may be largely exceeded before the sewer system is com-
pleted. Therefore, the works now planned for shall be erected at the time the
sewer system is built and additions thereto shall be made when, in the opinion of
the Commissioner of Health, the disposal plant herein approved fails to accom-
plish the proper purification of the sewage and such remedial measures shall be
adopted in the event of the purification plant becoming a nuisance or menace as the
Commissioner of Health may suggest or approve.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 28, 1908.
DICKSON CITY, LACKAWANNA COUNTY.
This application war, made by the borough of Dickson City, Lackawanna
County, and is for permission to install a sewer system and to discharge the
sewage therefrom into Price Creek and the Lackawanna River within the limits of
the borough.
It appears that the borough of Dickson City is located in the central part of
Lackawanna County on the west bank of the Lackawanna Diver. It is bounded
on the north by Scott Township and Plakely borough, on the east by said borough
and the J^ackawanua River and on the southeast by said i-iver along which opposite
Dickson City are the boroughs of Olyphant and Throop, on the south and south-
east by the City of Scranion and on the west by South Abington Township.
The area so incorporated is very rugged except along the valley of the river where
are the streets and the residences. The major part of the town'is steep hillside cut
laterally by numerous ravines which are creeks tributary to the river. The summits
of the hills are in or near the borough and their elevations are twelve hundred feet
or more above the river.
The Delaware and Hudson Railroad follows along the river on the flats and just
west of it are the tracks of the Onlario and Western Railroad and also the New
York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad.
Between the lirsc two railroads in the upper part of Dickson City are a few
streets laid out on the Hats where there are residences and this tract is subject to
freshet inundation. In the lower part of the borough west of the railroad between it
and the river on the flats is another settlement occupied by residences and also
subject to Hood.
The principal part of the town lies on the higher ground along the west of the
railroads. Here there are also located the two colliercs in the borough. The urin-
cipal one is the Johnson Colliery of the Scranton Coal Company. The shaft and
pumping outfit are located at the foot of Jackson street and by i'rice Creek at the
railroads in the upper part of the borough and the breaker is located in the vicinitv
west of the dwellings in this part of the town. ''
The Storrs Colliery of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Coal Comoanv
is located west of the main street in the lower part of the town.
The citizens are engaged principally in coal mining.
S44 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The total population at present is about six thousand two hundred. The public
water supply is furnished by the Dickson City Water Company absorbed by the
Providence Gas and Water Company and operated by the Scranton Gas and Water
Company. There are no sewers in the borough, few cesspools and no private
wells.
The main street of the town is the old Providence and Carbondale turnpike, a
hii,'hway extending from tlse city of iScrauton northeasterly up the valley and along
the west bank of the riv^r through the boroughs of Dickson City, Blakely, Arch-
bald, Jermyn, Mayheld, Carbondale Township, the city of Carbondale, Fell
Township and the N'andliug Borough to the Susquehanna County line and Forest
City borough in the county of Susquehanna, a total distance of about twenty miles
from the Scranton city line.
By the joint co-operation of these municipalities and of the boroughs of Taylor
and Old Forge below the city of Scranton and the unanimous approval by the
Scranton Board of Trade, the County Commissioners pursuant of Act number
two hundred and fifty-one of eighteen hundred and uiuely-live and a supplement
thei'eto Act number three hundred and eighteen of nineteen hundred and one, pro-
ceeded to perfect plans for the permanent improvement and paving of this highway
throughout the entire length of the county, excepting the territory within the two
cities Scranton and Carbondale, which have been approved by the grand jury and
by the Court of Quarter Sessions as provided by law.
Within the respective jurisdiction of each municipality the highway will be
graded by each and the curbing set by the abutting property owners. The county
will then enter and surface the roadbed with brick laid on concrete foundation and
thereafter the county will maintain the road. It is the purpose of the local authori-
ties to build whatever sewers may be needed for the borough, so far as any part
of the sewer system may ever require to be built in Main Street, prior to the per-
manent surfacing of the highway as aforesaid.
The borough is naturally divided by the topography into three main drainage
districts. The first district is in the northern part through which flows Price's
Creek. Here now reside about three thousand people. The pumpage from the
Johnson Colliery is delivered into this creek at the stone culvert under the railroads.
The daily volume of such pumpage is reported to be over one million gallons. It
constitutes by far the greater portion of the flow in the streams except during wet
periods. If the pumps should cease operating the stream flow would at once become
soft, mountain spring water.
Tlie second district includes the central part of the borough and is drained by a
small run which empties into the river near and below the boulevard bridge. It
receives the waste water from the washery located near shaft number one of the
Storrs Colliery. In this district there are about fifteen hundred people.
The third district is in the southern pare of the borough, receives the pumpage
from at least one of the two shafts and empties into the river near the Sci'anton
Railway (Company's washery of the Richmond culm dump.
Tiie propo.sed sewage system for district number one comprises twenty-one thou-
sand feet of pipe sewer whose diameters range from eight to thirty inches, designed
to carry oil' both sewage and storm water. The outlet is to be into the railroad cul-
vert at the point where the pumpage from the Joiinson shaft is now emptied. The
plan calls for a sewer for the entire length of Main street in this district.
The proposed sewers for the second district are to be built on the separate plan
and to be ten and twelve inches in diamater in Main street for a distance of two
thousand feet and in Bowman Street which extends at right angles across the rail-
roads to the river, two thousand feet also. All but about four hundred feet of this
outlet is in the flat;-;.
The sewers for the third district are to be on the separate system and to have
an outlet into the river where the creek draining this district discharges. These
sewers are not to be built at this time excepting about twenty-three hundred feet
of ten-inch pipe in Alain Street ami five hundretl feet of outlet.
The plan does not contemplate tin; sewering of the streets on the flats, if this
be ever done, the sewers would i)robal)ly be planni^d to drain to a i)uinp well from
which the sewage would have to be lifted to a convenient gravity outfall to the
river or intercepting sewer or disposal works. The borough now owns its electric
light plant. Should pumping of any sewage ever prove desirable and necessary,
the pumijs might b<- operated by electric power generated by suitable machinery at
the borough's iighling plant.
The river bed through the borough is tortuous, generally shallow, and well
filli'd in Willi culm and otiier deposits. The banks on the west side in IIk; borough are
generully from three to five feet above the channel bottom. On the east bank there
i« a twenty-five foot bliill in Olypluint and Throop boroughs.
'J'lie sewers of Olyjiliaiil and I'laki'ly and the other iioroiiglis and towns in the
valley iis well as the sc^wers of the city of Serantoii now discliarge into th<! I^acka-
waiiiia River. iiey(jiid the iiiiediate vii'iiiily of these oiitlels no nuisaiic(( from odors
is re|)orted to exist or iias been observed by Di^partiueiit. ollieeis. This is attribu-
table undoubtedly, to the precipitating and purifying inlluence of tin; a(;ids together
with mineiiil waii-r in the flowing current of the stream. There are many million
gallons of sulphur mine water flaily <lep().siled into the Laekawaniia. Undoubtedly
the obslnieiions along tin- cliaiiiiel (jf lln- river cause greater local annoyance than
the (iischiirge of sewage therein. The water shed of this stream is precipitous and
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 845
sucldfii ami intense precipitations over any extended area thereof, is attended by a
rapid rise and fresliet flow in the stream. At such time, the accumulated deposits
and sewage refuse is stirred up and carried down stream many miles, even as far
as the city of Uarrisburg. At such time fresh sewage and pathogenic poison may
i)e transmitted fi'om the i>ackawanna valley to the down stream municipalities along
the Susquehanna river who use the waters for drinking purposes. In this way the
public health may be menaced.
While the small proportion of sewage which Dickson City borough might con-
tribute to the already heavily polluted stream channel might not measurably in-
crease the menace, it would not reduce the menace, and it is the policy of the
Commonwealth to bring al;out in a reasonable manner the diminution of the sewage
pollution of the waters of the State for the protection of public health.
The fact must not be lost sight of that there is a limit to the amount of sewage
which may be put into a stream beyond which limit a nuisance is bound to occur,
in the event of the cessation of the pumpage of mine water into the streams at
the numerous points where it is now emptied and the delivery of the volume at
some one point, such as is said to be contemplated in the upper valley (by means
of a tunnel which is to drain several mines from which water is now pumped) the
conditions which now obtain would be likely to be so changed as to cause nuisances
in the stream at existing sewer outlets in some instances.
It is very prudent in preparing sewerage plans and essential to anticipate a
general sewerage project for the interception of the sewage of the numerous munici-
palities in the Lackawanna River valley. The sewers should be built on the
separate plan, first, because this is the cheapest plan and makes possible the laying
of sewers in the largest number of streets for a given sum of money; second,
because such sewers are most efficient in serving sanitary purposes and the flow
discharged from them being house drainage only, calls for a reasonable expense in
the building of such apparatus as maj' be necessary to clarify or treat the sewage
before the liquid is discharged into the stream; and, third, it separates the problem
of surface drainage, which is always the more expensive one and prohibitive in cost
to the smaller municipalities which stand in need of house drainage systems as much
as the larger places. Tne petitioners intend to improve their natural water courses
and to get the surface water into them by means of their own choice from time
to time as necessity may require.
There is a community of interest relative to the sewerage problem which may
be well considered jointly by the State and municipalities along the Lackawanna
Rivei". The construction of a score or more of sewage disposal plants with the
attending problem of how to dispose of the sludge might be solved to the greatest
economy for each place by the construction of the fewest number of plants and the
conveyance to them of tlie .sewage from the tributary municipalities.
Should any such project be finally contemplated or the different boroughs and
cities be required to independently make other arrangements for sewage disposal
than now in use, some separation at that time of sewage from surface drainage
would bo absolutely necessary. Therefore, the plans for the new sewer system should
exclude surface water.
Owing to the excessive damages sustained by abutting property owners by reason
of the overflowing of the Lackawanna River banks, the question of widening and
straightening and walling and deepening of the channel is now being considered by
the lioard of Trade of the city of Scranton. No definite plans have been recom-
mended but there is a co-operative movement on foot, so it is reported. If this
improvement should be finally inaugurated it would be sensible at least for the
promoters to consider the expediency, economy and utility ot the building into these
walls or laj'ing in connection with the improvement, sewage intercepters. It
should be at once obvious that the installation of one garbage crematory for the in-
cineration of the settled solids from sewage, and its operation thereafter for all
the places, would be much cheaper to each than an independent installation and
operation. Since the various towns in this valley have one general water supply
system and have united on a joint highway project, it ought to be possible for
the same places after due deliberation, to determine whether there be anything to
gain by a co-operative plan of sewerage, sewage disposal and stream improve-
raent.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that ap-
proval be given and it is hereby and herein given for the installation of a sanitary
system of sewers in the borough of Dickson City, under the following conditions
and stipulations:
FIRST: That all street drainage shall bo excluded from the proposed sewers and
that only .^uch roof water shall tie admitted as may be necessary or desirable to
tlush the sewers to a reasonable degree and that no roof connection be permitted
unless it be under the condition by borough ordinance that a disconnection shall be
made at any time deemed necessary.
SECOND: Inspection manholes shall be placed on the sewers at »M street
intersections and at chani^es of line and grade. A careful record shall be kept
of all connections with the sewer system. At the close of each season's work, a plan
of the sewers built during the year, together with any other information in con-
nection therewith that may be required, shall be filed in the olfice of the State
Department of Health, to the end that the Commissioner of Health may be informed
of the extent of the sewer system and the public use thereof.
54
846 THIRD ANPTOAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Third: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on the hi-st day of January, nineteen hundred and ten, provided the other
conditions of the permit shall have been complied with. If on said January first,
nineteen hundred and ten, all of the conditions of this permit shall have been com-
plied with, then the Commissioner of Health may extend the time in which the
borough sewage may be discharged into the waters of the State, having in mind
always the general policy of the State with respect to the disposal of sewage from
the Various municipalities in the Lackawanna River valley above Old Forge
borough.
FOURTH: In view of the fact that the joint problem of sewerage and sewage
disposal, either alone or associated with the stream improvement as hereinbefore
outlined, is a compreheusive one and if brought about, must necessarily require con-
siderable time, therefore, it is specially stipulated that the borough of Dickson
City shall on or before January first, nineteen hundred and ten, either alone or in
conjunction with one or more other municipalities in the Lackawanna Valley con-
sider and perfect some other plan for the disposal of the sewage than into the Lack-
awanna Kiver, and submit the same to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
Especial attention of the local authorities is called to the various suggestions here-
inbefore made and to the fact that the Department will be glad to advise and assist
the borough in its study of said problem.
FIFTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on the premises.
SIXTH: If ac any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or any part thereof, or the method of disposal, has become preju-
dicial to public health, or a public menace, then such remedial measures shall be
adopted as the Commissioner of Health may approve or advise.
Harrisburg, Pa., April 15th, 1908.
DORRANCETON, LUZERNE COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Dorranceton, Luzerne County,
and is for permission to build a new sanitary sewerage system and to discharge the
sewage therefrom, untreated, into the North branch of the Susquehanna River
within the limits of the borough.
It appears that Dorranceton borough is a purely residential community of about
twenty-five hundred population, located on the north bank of the North branch of the
Susquehanna River, in Luzerne County, directly opposite the city of Wilkes-
Barre. It is bounded on the north by Kingston and Luzerne boroughs, on the
east by Forty Fort borough, on the south by said river and on the west by
Edwardsville borough and also by Kingston borough.
Through the northern part of Dorranceton territory is Wyoming Avenue, the
principal highway, paralleling the river and extending up and down the valley.
It is along this thoroughfare and in the northern district that most of the resi-
dences of the borough are located.
The Dorranceton branch of Toby's Creek rises in the mountains to the north-
east of Dorranceton and comes down through Forty Fort borough to Dorranceton,
and crossing Wyoming Avenue it flows toward the river and thence takes a parallel
couree westerly and forms the boundary line between Kingston and Dorranceton
in the extereme northwestern part of the latter municipality. All of the territory
traversed by this run south of Wyoming Avenue is extremely flat, at time of
freshet is subject to inundation.
Wyoming Avenue, after passing westerly from the northern portion of Dor-
ranceton borough, lies within Kingston borough so that there are no physical evi-
dences on the ground of the boundaries between Kingston and Dorranceton bor-
oughs.
The territory is in the anthracite coal fields and many operations are being
extensively carried on, both in Kingston and Dorranceton boroughs. The Petti-
bone shaft of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company is
located on the flats in the northern part of Dorranceton. This is the only shaft
in the borough. A large quantity of mine water is pumped from the ground here
and discharged into the above mentioned run. Outside of tlu^ borough, in Forty
Fort, the stream receives the mine drainage from two other collieries, so it is re-
ported, namely, from the Forty Fort and the Harry E. Collieries of the Temple
Coal and Iron Company.
Separating Dorraiic('t<m from Luzerne borough are the tracks of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Wr-stern Railroad, and the pass(!nger station known as Bennett
Station, for both niunicipaiities, is located in Jjuzernc at North I'.i-nnctt Stre(!t.
These places and the entire region an- supplied by water furnished by the
Spring Brook Water Supply Company. Everybody takes public water, so it is
stated.
In the extreme southern or westerly portion of the borough along Market Street,
which is the principal highway between the east and west sides of the valley, there
being a bridge over the river at this point, is a settlement in Dorranceton known
as Westmore, where about five hundred people now reside. There is a public
sewer Berving this district which baa an outlet acrosp the flats westerly through
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 847
Edwardsville borough to the Susquehanna River. It is reported to be a twenty-
four inch pipe and connected with this outlet are eight and ten-inch laterals
in every alley o£ AVestmore. The system is a combined one and totals eleven
thousand, five hundred feet.
In the northern district there is a private sewer eighteen inches in diameter and
extending in South Church Street across the flats, crossing under the run at two
points and thence to the Susquehanna River. It was laid by private individuals to
open up a real estate development south of Wj-t»ming Avenue in the district. The
laterals are mostly eight and ten inches in diameter and with the outlet comprises
appro.xlmately seven thousand seven hundred feet. There are reported to be about
twenty-live buildings connected to this sewer system.
Elsewhere in the borough the universal disposal of sewage is into percolating
cesspools. The ground being low and of alluvial deposit, comprising a heavy bed
of sand and gravel, rapidly absorbs sewage. This method of disi)Osal is satisfac-
tory for a number of years until, the ground becomes supersaturated or the cess-
pools clog up. It is because of the filling up and clogging of the cesspools that
the public sewerage improvement is being agitated. The fact is emphasized that the
citizens of the town are quite resourceful and they make the borough a suburb of
the city of Wilkes-Bar re. The dwellings are of the better class and are fitted
with modern facilities. Therefore, the clogging up of existing cesspoools becomes
a very serious matter to the comfort and health of the community and it is
reported that as soon as plans are approved the borough will proceed to construct
the sewers without delay.
The plan offered for consideration provides for a separate system of sewers in
the northern portion of Dorranceton from Luzerne borough to the river. Over
fifty per cent, of this area, including the tract occupied by the Pettibone mine,
cannot be occupied by residences until it shall have been filled in. At present these
low lands are utilized for truck farming. In the main the intercepting sewer follows
the line of the run, but in existing public streets as far as possible. Where it
crosses Wyoming Avenue the pipe is to be twenty-four inches in diameter. This
size is to be continued to the river, a distance of five thousand and five hundred
feet. Its location is to be on the western side of the line between the Charles
Dorrance and the Pettibone estates. This line is also the line of Barrier Pillar,
between the workings of the D. , Iv. and W. Railroad and the Lehigh Valley Coal
Company. Into this maiu outfall it is proposed to connect the present private
sewer above mentioned and also to connect the district immediately south of
Wyoming Avenue and west of the main intercepting sewer, these branch mains,
being respectively fifteen and twelve inches in diameter. No changes are proposed
for the Westmore district at the present time. Intervening are the garden truck
areas, the borough having a fi-ontage on the river of about one and a half
miles.
Owing to the extreme flatness of the municipal territory, the grades of the
proposed sewers are necessarily slight. Some of them will not exceed two-tenths
per cent, for ten inch pipes, of greater diameters. The main outfall sewer is to
have a grade of two-tenths per cent. Some of the six and eight-inch pipe will
have grades of three-tenths per cent.
The sewers of the city of Wilkes-Barre empty into the river at convenient
points throughout that municipality and when the time shall have arrived for the
discontinuance of such sewage discharge from the city into the river, it is ex-
tremely probable that the solution of the sewage purification problem would
advantageously include an area greater than that within the city. Dorranceton
in this event would be included probably in the greater territory "and its sewage
might be gravitated to the point at which the sewage of the other municipalities
might be economically collected and treated. It is reported that Dorranceton bor-
ough has an assessed valuation of over three million dollars, and that its bonded
indebtedness does not exceed twenty thousand dollars, which, if true, gives the
borou^i a borrowing capacity in the neighborhood of two hundred thousand dol-
lars before the constitutional limit of indebtedness is exceeded. Some of the prin-
cipal tliomughfares are now paved and the local authorities are proceeding to
permanently surface the sewered highways of the tOAvn. It is evident that Dor-
ranceton is in a position to take up at any time the question of sewage purifi-
cation, and yet this would not be justification f<u- the State Department »>f
Health to decree an earlim' cdnsideration of the subject for Dorranceton than is
required of the other nuuiicipalities in the valley. The (\unmissioner of Health
has given the borough of Edwardsville and the borough of Kingston, whose sew-
ages now empty into Toby Creek btdow Dorranceton borounh, until January first,
one thousand nine hundred and nine, on or before which date these boroughs shall
either independently or in conjunction devise plans for the treatment of their
sewages and submit such plans to the Commissioner of Health for approval. If on
said date the plans called for have been prepared and submitted, the Commis-
sioner of Health may extend the time in which sewage may continue to be
discharged into Toby Creek by said mimicipalities.
TMiere would seem to be a possible advantage to the borough of Dorranceton in
joining with these mimicipalities in a consideration of the same subject and this
would also appear to be a possible advantage to all of the borough and the City
of Wilkes-Barre, in the consideration of one general project for improved sewerage
and sewage disposal works.
848 THIRD ANNQAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Naturally, in an undertaking of this kind, tlio State's advice and co-operation
would be helpful. The City of Wilkes-Barre having the largest interests in-
volved should find it agreeable to initiate the investigation in co-operation with the
local authorities of rhe •surrounding municipalities. The present time, before sewer
extensions shall have been made, is the proper time for reviewing the local situa-
tion with respect to the discharge of sewage into the waters of the State, and to
so conform the existing and proposed sewers that the State's policy may be brought
about at the earliest practicable moment.
It has been detevuined that the interests of the pubiic health be subserved by
giving approval to ilif proposed sewerage system and by grantiug a permit, and a
permit is hereby and heiein granted therefore under tlie following conditions and
stipulations:
FIRST; Owing to the extreme flat grades of the proposed sewers, and in order
to render them satisfactory in operation more especially since such settlements as
occur in the mining regions are likely to disturb the alignment and grade of the
sewers, ample flushing facilities shall be atrt)rded and used. Plans and profiles of
the sewers built each year shall be filed with the Commissioner of Health at the
close of each session's work, together with such other information relative thereto
as the Department of Health may require.
SKCO>sD: Roof and storm water shall be excluded from the system.
THIRD- No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be permitted to
discharge into the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes
to be destroyed on the premises.
FOURTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or any part thereof has become a nuisauce or menace to public
health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as he may advise or ap-
prove.
FIFTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the Susquehanna River shall
cease on the first day of July, nineteen hundred and eleven, and this three years'
permit to discharge sewage into the waters of Uie State shall be contingent that
the borough shall, if required . by the Commissioner of Health so to do, submit
plans for purification works, either indepemlently or in conjuuctiou with any
other municipality or municipalities in the region, within six mouths from such
request.
SIXTH: It is stipulated that such plans shall include the entire district of
the borough and all sewage, whether public or private, in such territory.
The attention of the borough authorities is called to the desirability of co-
operation between Dorranceton , Kingston and Edwardsville boroughs, in the
preparation of the sewerage plans to be submitled on or before January first, one
thousand nine hundred and nine, more especially in relatii)n to the Westmore
district.
The city of Wilkes-Barre will be notified of the prudence and necessity of its
giving immediate consideration to tlie improvements in its sewer system or in con-
templated extensions to the same, and for the ultimate purification of the sewage
now discharged into the wateis of the State, and that for (his |)urpose, having
in mind the possible advantages of a joint sewerage project for Wilkes-Barre and
adjacent municipalities, the Commissioner of Health will give a hearing in llar-
risburg to the local authorities at some date in the near future, to be detei-uuMed
by said Commisisoner and the saiu local officials.
Harrisburg, Pa., June 23, 1908.
EAGLES MERE, SULLIVAN COUNTY.
This application waH made by the borough of Eagles Mere, Sullivan County,
and is for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage there-
from into a stream called Jyake Outlet within the limits of said borough.
The borough of Eagles Mere, a summer I'esort in the mountains of Sullivan
County, is situated in Shrew.sbury Township in the western central part of the
county. Eagles Mere, or Lewis i>ake, the principal attraction of the place, is
on a 'mountain summit, at an elevation of two thoiisand fe(!t ajjove tide wiiter,
and one thonsuml f(;<,'t above the adjacent valleys within liv<! miles of the lake. 'Die
stream from llie lake, known as the "Outhft," is a moiuilain torrent following
a winding and general soutiii-rly course; of six miles to Muncy Creek at the village
of Sonestown. .Muncy Creek rises in th<' southern part of Sullivan (Jounty, ten
miles ea.st of Sonestown and winds through the mountain valleys past the villages
of Nordmont, Sonesluwn and Muncy Valli'y and tliencf- follows a suulhvvestisrly
course through fertile bottom lands, passing the bofiuglis of I'icliire Rocks and
IlugheHville, eleven and fourteen miles respectively below Sonestown, to th(! W(;st
Branch of tlie Susquehanna River just above the borougii of Muncy. The distance
traversed by the ereek below Soin'stown is twenty-one iriiles.
Down this valley is the VVilliainsport and .North Briimh Railroad. Fi'om Sones-
town village the Eagles Mere n;irrow gauge railroad, primarily a lumber road,
follows up tiie general course of the (Jutlet stream lo lOagles Mere.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 849
Laki; Lewis cumprLses one hundred and twenty aeies of water surface, with
its one liundred and ninety acres of land water shed, lies wholly within Eagles
Mere borough. The borough has a total area of fifteen hundred and thirty acres,
is rather oblong in shape and more than half its territory is southwest of the
lak(v beyond the watershed and comprises a sparsely settled farming district.
The permanent population of the town is three hundred, about half being in
the rural district and the other in the village, at the south end of the lake near
the Outlet. The summer population is said to reach twenty-five hundred and is
housed in five large hotels, two smaller ones and abount one hundred and fifty
cottages, located on all sides except the east. The future may witness the devel-
opment of the east shore.
Crestmont Inn, a i)niminent feature of the landscape, is situated on an emi-
nence east of the lake near the south and at an elevation of al)out one hundred
and thirty feet. It is apart from other properties and north of it the land along
the shores and back therefrom is uninhabited scrub timber, interspei-sed with
patches of virgin hemlock along the lake shore.
The railroad depot is near the Lake Outlet. The tracks e.xtend around back of
Crestmont Inn to the northern end of the lake, where there is a depot at the village
there. In the vicinity is Forest Inn, around which are grouped sixty summer cot-
tages, whose inhabitants board at the Inn. This settlement is otf the lake water-
shed, draining northerly into Rusty Run. Some of these buildings are owned
by Ihc Eagles Mere Company, so it is reported, which company controls several
hundred acres of ground in the vicinity, but none of it is on the lake water-
shed. Besides the Inn, there is an amusement hall and an auditorium and
picnic grounds in the vicinity.
The principal and well built up section of the borough is along and back of the
lake at the south and west of the Outlet, and for the most part beyond the lake
watershed, but within the drainage area of the stream and its tributary, Mackey
Run. Four of the seven hotels of the borough are in this section.
The highway paralleling and several hundred feet distant from the shores ex-
tends from the Outlet around the west side of the north end of the lake. It is
well built up, being lined with summer cottages. Hotel Raymond is back of this
thoroughfare on a summit west of the lake. It and the other cottages are along
the lake watershed.
It is said that the Eagles Mere Laud Company originally owned the land sur-
rounding the lake and that the deeds of sale of the lot upon which cottages have
been erected contain clauses of restricting the character and location of buildings,
their uses, drainage and sanitation and requiring purchasers and owners to con-
form to reasonable sanitary requirements.
The Eagles Mere Boat Company maintains bath houses on the north shore.
Here there is a remarkable white sand beach. At this point and at the south
end of the lake said company maintains boat houses, from which row-boats are
rented to summer visitoi-s. The small steam-boat operated by the company and
affording the principal means of communication between landings at the bathing
beach, railroad station and at points near the several hotels is not provided with
a closet.
The drinking water is furnished largely by the Eagles Mere Water Com-
pany. The source is drilled wells on the shores of the lake near the Outlet. There
are no buildings in the neighborhood. The water is drawn from a depth of over two
hundred feet or le-ss and is pumped into the street pipe system overflowing to the
standpipe on the hill near Crestmont Inn. The average pressure is possibly seVenty-
five pounds. During the season it is customary to pump daily, although not
throughout the twenty-four hours but for a week or more at the height of the sea-
son the well supply is not adequate and at such times recourse is had to the
lake. This body of water is at places forty feet deep and it is fed almost entirely
from springs located in its bottom. A six-inch suction pipe extends two hundred
and thirty feet into the lake from the shore line at the pumping station, where the
watei' is about eleven feet deep. In case of fire this reserve would be called into
service. Analyses of the water taken by the company from the lake and well wat-
ers have shown both to be remarkably pure from a chemical standpoint.
There are said to be upwards of thirty wells in the borough, twenty being
located in the main village. They are drilled. The others, located in the outlying
rural districts, are mostlj' dug wells. These sources are the main supply of the per-
manent population. The water company's plant is not operated in cold weather.
The water pipes are so near the surface of the ground that they would freeze up
and burst wt-re water allowe<l to remain in them in freezing weather.
That pollution eontributed to the lake waters by means of natural surface
drainage, i)r by bathers, or otherwise, might become accidentally serious and
endanger the public health of people drinking the water is by no means impos-
sible, although it must be admitted that with the vigilant precautions taken
at Eagles Mere this danger may be slight.
There are five sewer outlets in the borough, of which one only is public. Three
of them are into the Outlet stream, one is into Mackey Run and the other is
into Rusty Run.
With respect to the sewers discharging into the lake Outlet the principal one
is owned by the borough. It extends southerly along the western bank of the
lake from the most northerly cottages on that side and thence along the south
54—17—1008
850 THIRD ANISrUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
bank a total length of forty-seven hundred feet to the water company's pump
house. Thenoe it extends eleven hundred feet down stream and dischax'ges
into Lake Outlet. The upper seventeen hundred feet of this sewer is ten
inches in diameter and the remainder is twelve inches in diameter. The lower
five hundred feet is laid at very steep grade in a ravine. The sewer along the
lake is distant therefrom about two hundred feet and is elevated above the
water surface about thirty feet at the upper end and perhaps five feet where it
jiasses the pumping station. All of the cottages along the west shore are said to
he served by the borough sewer. An eight-inch branch, fourteen hundred feet
long, is laid in Summit Avenue and Lewis Aveuue. To it is connected the Ray-
mond Hotel. The J. S. Kirk & Son eight-inch sewer with a six-inch branch,
begins near the Lakeside Hotel in the main village and extends easterly across
private property and Eagles Mere and Allegheny Avenues and empties into the
Outlet stream about two hundred feet above the mouth of the borough sewer.
There are several cottages besides the hotel connected with the sewer. The
buildings are not in use during the winter time.
The William Y. Warner sewer, eight inches iu diameter, starts at Crestmont
Inn, has a length of about twenty-five hundred feet and empties into the Outlet
stream at a point about one hundred feet above the Kirk Sewer. There is but one
cottage connected. Both it and the hotel are closed during the winter.
The sewer which discharges into Mackey Run is eight inches in diameter. Its
branches afford sewerage facilities to most of the main buildings and a popula-
tion of upwards of one thousand people including a majority of the permanent
residents of the borough. An association known as the Eagles Mere Drainage
Company owns the system. The outlet into Mackey Run is in a deep wooded ra-
vine at a point eight hundred feet from several dwellings on the outskirts of the
town along the public road leading to Muncy Valley village and occupied by
permanent residents. It is reported that complaints have been made about a
nuisance at the outlet. Mackey Run joins the Outlet stream more than a mile
below the sewer outlet. The configuration of the eai'th surface between the two
streams forms a prohibitive barrier to the turning of the sewage from Mackey
Run into the Outlet stream except by pumping. So that the problem of sewage
disposal for these two valleys may involve independent disposal works.
At the north end of the lake the Forest Inn and neighboring cottages are
served by a sewer system said to belong to the Eagles Mere Company, con-
sisting of forty-four hundred feet of six and eight-inch pipe and a ten-inch outfall
sewer extending from the eastern end of Forest Avenue eleven hundred feet
eastward to Rusty Run. During the summer times about five hundred people
contribute to the flow, but during the winter a single family only.
Rusty Run flows easterly, principally through wild, uncultivated mountain
country from which most of the timber has been taken, a distance of about
two miles to Shaiiersburg Creek, which flows northerly two miles to the Loyalsock
Creek. Thence Loyalsock Creek follows a very crooked, but generally southwesterly
course, thirty-nine miles, passing through the borough of Forksville to its
junction with the West Branch of the Susquehanna River at the borough of
Montoursville, eight miles above the mouth of Muncy Creek.
One mile or so below the mouth of the sewer is the site of an abandoned
sawmill on Rusty Run. Within eighteen months a new dam has been erected
on this site, forming a pond with an area of about half an acre. On the imme-
diate bank of this pond was erected a summer cottage large enough to accommodate
three families. Bath hous<»s have been put up on the shore. The ice supply for
the cottages is harvested from the pond. Further improvements are in progress.
A tributary to the pond together with Rusty Run have a water shed of one square
mile. Durinir dry weather the flow from Rusty Run is mostly contributed by the
sewer from Forest Inn at the sewer outlet. The sewage is diluted before reach-
ing the pond. Complaints have been registered at the oflice of the State Depart-
ment of Heallh, representing that Forest Iiin s-wagc cjinses a foul scum on the
surface of the pond and creates a nuisance. The Conmiissioner of Health has
ordered the discontinuance of sewage disc:liargo into the run and other means for
caring for the sewase are now being provided.
There are said to be fifty-three privies and two cesspools in the borough, and
that with the exception of two or three they are located beyond the watershed
of tlie lake on the propt^rties of p(;nnanent residents.
The proposed sewer extension comprises seven hundred and fifty feet of eight-
inch pipe. The borough authorities represent that the only privy vault and
cesspool on the western slope of the lake will be closed as soon as this sewer
extension is built. It will serve ten to fifteen houses when all of the abutting
pror>erties have been built ui)on.
The borough has furnished sewerage facilities for nearly all the properties
within the watershed not otherwise sewered and this has been done to maintain
the purity of the lake water.
It is not apparent that the sewaire of Eagles Mere in the Outlet stream
produces a nuisance. It and Mackey Run flow through mountain ravines, uncul-
tivated, which continue to Sonestown and in this distance of about six miles
but one dwellinir is passed.
Mnncy Treek itself iy polluted at Nordinont by \]\o. Nordmont (!heinical Works,
engaged in the tnanufacturo of wood alcohol and liy-i)roducts. At Mun(!y Valley
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 851
village tannery wastes are discharged into the creek and further down stream the
sewage of Hughesville borough is emptied into the creek.
Although it would appear that these waters are much used as local sources
of water supply, this is not a reason why sewage should be put into the stream.
It is the object of State law to preserve the purity of the waters of the State for
the protection of public health and ultimately all sewage must cease to be
emptied into natural water courses.
The Eagles Mere season lasts about three months in the summer and then
the place is practically closed up. The pollutions of the streams of the region
are, therefore, intermittent so far as Eagles Mere contributes to the pollution.
During the trouting season when sportsmen come into the district the hotels
and cottages are not in use. However, if the streams be not preserved in their
purily lish life will gradually become extinct and most certain it is that one of
the natural resources of the district is its streams and anything tending to destroy
this resource should be placed under control.
The borough valuation is said to be about one hundred and thirty-five thousand
dollars and its present borrowing capacity beyond present indebtedness is said to
be less than six thousand dollars. If these figures be true the borough cannot
afford to treat the sewage discharged by the public sewer into the lake outlet.
The action which the Commissioner of Health has taken with respect to the dis-
continuance of the discharge of sewage into Rusty Run is a forerunner of action
that may be anticipated relative to Mackey Run and the Lake Outlet if complaint
should be made. There is a community of interest which may some day bring
forth a plan for the collection of all of the sewage in Eagles Mere borough and
its conveyance to some one point for treatment. Because the resort has a short
season, the economies of sewage treatment seem to be away from large perma-
nent investments towards small first cost and greater operating expenses. For in-
stance it might be cheaper and better for the Eagles Mere Company to pump
its sewage over into the borough sewer than to defray the cost of the erection of
a permanent gravity disposal works in the valley of Rusty Run.
The same proposition might hold good with respect to the Borough, the War-
ner and the Kirk sewers now emptying into the Lake Outlet and also with respect
to the Eagles Mere Drainage Company's outlet into Mackey's Run. The borough
might with some advantage review the proposition and prepare outline plans with a
view to adoption in case outside financial assistance might become available to
help along the proposition.
It has been determined tliat the interests of the public health will be subsen-ed
by approving the proposed sewer extension in Prospect and Pennsylvania Avenue,
and a permit is hereby and herein granted therefor under the following conditions
and stipuations:
FIRST: Thnt this permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State
shall cease on June first, nineteen hundred and eleven. If at that time the in-
terests of the public health demand it, the Commissioner of Health may extend
the time in which the sewage may continue to be discharged into the waters of
the State. But this permit is contingent also on the other terms herein stipu-
lated hcinsr complied with.
SECOND: All surface water shall be excluded from the borough sewer sys-
tem and no additional roof water shall be admitted to the sewer without provision
for the discontinuance of such admission whenever necessity may require it.
THIRD: If the sewerage system or any part thereof or the discharge of sewage
therefrom becomes a nuisance or menace to public health , then such remedial
measures shall be adopted and put in force as the Commissioner of Health may
advise or approve.
FOURTH: On or before June first, nineteen hundred and eleven, the bor-
ough shall prepare, either alone or in conjunction with the owners of private
sewers in the borough, a plan for some other disposal of the sewage than into
the waters of the State and shall submit the same to the Commissioner of
Health for approval.
The proprietors of the various private sewers hereinbefore mentioned will be
notified that sewage discharge into natural water courses must ultimately stop and
they will be advised to co-operate with the borough authorities to the end that
plans may bo prepared for a joint project if such should prove desirable.
The local nutlinrities are also .ndvisod during the resort season to co-operate
with the State Department of Health relative to the purity of the public water
supply. The Commissioner of Health will send bottles for samples of the water
at the water works intake, and the borough will designate some officer who will
collect the samples and ship (he same to the Department I>aboratories.
The Eagles Mere Water Company will b(> notified of the element of risk in using
lake water and of the advisability of this source being abandoned if the ground
water supply can be further developed.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., June 25, 11)08.
EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of East Strousburg, Monroe County,
and is for permission to install sewers and to discharge the sewage therefrom into
Brodhead Creek within the limits of the borough.
852 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
It appears that the borough of East Stroudsburg, a mauiifacturiug community
of thirty-three huudroil inhabitants, is located along the east side of Brodhead
Creek, and opposite the borough of Stroudsbuig, both places having been incor-
porated out of Stroud township, Monroe County. Three miles below and due east
the creek empties into the Dela\Yare River immediately above Delaware Water
Gap borough and most of this course is through a gorge at the foot of Godfrey
Ridge, which is the outlet for a drainage basin of two hundred and eighty-six
square miles, most of whose territory, particularly in the northern part, is a
rugged mountain region where are located noted summer resorts, among which
may be mentioned those of Mt. Pocono, Mountain Home, Swiftwater, Pocono
Pines, Cresco, Canadensis and Buck Hill Falls. It is estimated that in seasan
twenty-five thousand people congregate here.
It is through Brodhead Creek Gap that the main line of the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad passes from the Delaware River northerly over the
divide at the head waters of the creek and the source of the Lehigh River into the
Lackawanna Valley. The railroad extends along the bank of the creek in the
southem part of East Stroudsburg borough and thence passes northerly through
the central part of the town at an average distance of fifteen hundred feet east of
the stream. The passenger station is in the heart of the town, near Washington
Street. This thoroughfare leads westerly across the creek into Stroudsburg, the
depot serving the needs of both the municipalities.
The part of the borough west of the railroad comprises two level strips
of land, the irpper one being elevated about twenty feet above the lower one,
There are few houses only on the lower level. That portion of it nearest the
stream is intersected by several old channels and is subject to flood, principally
from the waters which come down from the hillsides to the east of the railroad.
The eastern section is hilly and the streets have steep grades. Thei'e are five
natural water courses traversing this section with courses generally westerly to
the main channel of the old bed of Sambo Creek. This tributary of Brodhead
Creek rises in Smithville Township northeast of the borough and after flowing south-
westerly about four miles enters the municipal territory at the northern boundary
at the railroad, where it passes under the tracks and thence parallels Brodhead
Creek through the flats for a distance of thirty-six hundred feet before entering
the main stream. Formerly it continued on a southerly course through the flats,
passing under AVest Broad Street, Lenox Avenue and Houck Street to a junc-
tion with Brodhrad Creek at Washington Street, a distance of six thousand
additional feet. This old bed would now be dry if it were not for ground
v.ater and the flow of four of the five runs above mentioned which continue
to empty into it.
Below Washington Street there is a water course which rises in the hills above
the State Normal School, thence crosses westerly until it passes tmder the rail-
road, whence it turns and passes southerly along and then west of the railroad,
entering Brodhead Crei'k near tin* southern part of the boi'ough.
These topographical conditions alTord good natural drainage facilities which
should be adequate, if properly improved, and obviate the necessity of the con-
veyance for long distances undergi'ound of surface water.
The inddstries are of a subsliintial kind. The Inlernational Boiler Works Com-
pany bine two plants wherein ;in' emiiloyed several hundred lucii. The W. A.
Giilx-rt and Company's Silk .Mill i.s said to emidoy in the neighborhood of three
humlred people. The Elk IIoiti Tannery of the Elk Tanning Company furnishes
work for thirty-seven hands. Then there are the factories of the East Strouds-
burir (ilass Company, (he Empire lirass Works and the Pocono Hosiery Mill.
The lOasI Stroudsburg Sliile Noiuial ScliodI has an <>nr<)!linent of about three
hundred students. The summer holds in the borough entcrhiiii i)ossi})ly one thou-
sand guests during the summei- season.
Since_ tln' incoritoration of the borough in eighli'i'ii hundi'i'd and seventy the
population lias iu'-rejised steailily and there nppenrs In be no rciison why a like
growth for the future should not be anticiiintid.
The public water works system is owned iind opcniiod by the municipality.
Ninety ijer cent, of the inliiil)i(!inis \ise the water. The supply is taken from
Sambo Cn;ek at a point about (wo miles above the borough. The intake dam is a
Hmall structuri', serving thf jiui'posf only of diverting tlie (low of the stream
into tlie supply main, which is ten inches in diameter. The height of the dam
is one hundred jind fiixty feet above the (own nt the railroad station. The
water is supplied by gi'avKy. The water-slied is ncju'Iy (hree sipiare miles in area
above (he dam, is hilly, well wooded :iiid sp;irsely popuhiled. Thereon are (en
oceiipied estates. The cpiantily of wii(er snailable is insuflicieiit for summer
consumption and an emergency supply has Ixien taken from Fable's Spring, which
is located in the i]i\\H between the railroad and Brodheud Ch-eek, just north of
the borough. From liere during jiortions of ejich summer water is ))umped daily
in(o (he pipe syslem of (he town. I'ut even iJiiH additional st)ring supply is inadc-
qunte for fire service, ho an artifieial cliannel has been cut from the main creek
leading to the spring and the raw water may be taken therefrom. However, it is
reported that this has never been done. There are (juite a numbi'r of dug wells
throughout the town and (hey are reported to he in dail.v use. Water borne
diseasr-s are not common and the gc^neral health of the community is excellent.
There are reporter] tf) be f)ne hundred and fort.v cesspools and i'lvc. hundred
and twenty-five privy vaults in town. Some of the riesspools hav(! become clogged
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 853
and the ground thereabout saturated with filth and they al'e How overflowing and
producing a nuisance and a menace Id health in the neighborhood. It is to obvi-
ate these conditions that the proposed sewerage is contemplated.
There are no public sewers in the borough. Three of the runs are subject
to pollution. The first one rises in or near Zacharias I'ond in the extreme
northeastern part of East Slroudsburg, thence it flows southerly in an open channel
under Burson Street and the railroad nearby, where there are culverts totally
inadequate during heavy storms to pass the water; thence it continues in an open
course to Alley "A," below which for a distance of about one thousand feet the
channel is confined witliin ma.sonry walls planked over, in which portion the sew-
age from the Prospect House, a summer hotel, and from the East Stroudsburg
Glass Company plant and from other private sources is discharged into the run.
This enclosed si-ction is also inadequate in capacity and causes back-flooding
of the adjoining lands, although this does not occur often. Below North Courtland
Street the run is open and grade steep to the old channel of Sambo Creek.
The next run empties into the old channel of Sambo Creek at Ilouck Street,
opposite the passenger station. It drains a built-up area of about fifty acres east of
the railroad. There are a few privies on the banks of the stream which con-
tribute to the pollution.
The next ran empties into old Sambo Creek channel in the vicinity of Wash-
ington Street and drains a territory of two hundred and fifty-four acres east
of the railroad in the borough, it has two branches and they meet at the railroad
where the tannery is located. A few hundred feet above the tannery on the north
branch is the hosiery mill, from which a small amount of acid waste and spent dye
stulls go to the run. This is the ouly place known to the Department to be
discharging into this natural water course. The channel between the i^ailroad
and the creek is entirely closed in a stone culvert and in this portion from the
tannery to Washington Street there is laid an eight-inch pipe which belongs to
the Tanning Company and is used to convey the tannery drainage to Brodhead
Creek. This pipe leaves the run at Washington Street and extends southerly in
said street to near its outlet, which is immediately above the highway bridge
over the creek. Besides this private sewer there are two other private sewers in
the borough. One of them is owned by the East Stroudsburg State Normal
School and the other by the Silk Mill Company.
The sewer from the Normal School is laid in Ridgway, Bridge and Brown
Streets, has a total length of about three thousand feet, and joins the silk mill
sewer on the flats near the outlet into the mill race just below^ Washington
Street.
The silk mills are located on the banks of Brodhead Creek on Brown near Wash-
ington Street. The sewage therefrom is conveyed in a small pipe to and connects
with the Normal School sewer near the outlet. This outlet is eight inches in
diameter.
At several low points in the street grades where surface water would accumu-
late, drains have been provided which convey the water to a nearby water
course.
The proposed system is designed to take sewage and storm water in the busi-
ness district, but elsewhere the sewers are to be strictly for the conveyance
of sewage only.
The borough proposes to install at once the storm sewers and a few sanitary later-
als, including au iutciccpier to convey the dry weather flow of sewage down stream
a considerable distance below the point at which the storm sewage is to be emptied
into Brodhead Creek. The district to be sewered is the business section adjacent
to the passenger station, between the railroad and the creek. It is long and some-
what narrow and the westerly side of it is traversed for the entire length
by the old channel of Sambo Creek and paralleling it and adjacent thereto in the
district is Washington Street. Within this district are the Normal School, Tan-
nery and Silk Mill sewers, none of which is made a part of or taken into the
proposed improvement.
It is proposed to build a storm sewer in Alley "D" back of the hotels on
Crystal Street and thence southerly around Courtland Street to the proposed thirty-
inch by forty-five inch storm sewer to begin at the head of Washington Street and
to be laid therein to the creek, a distance of two thousand feet. WJiy this
water should be carried underground in a large expensive structure when there is an
open water course paralleling Washington Street and distant from South Courtland
Street one hundred feet only and at the head of Washington Street three hundred
feet only and at the font of Starboard Street about one hundred and fifty feet
only, is not apparent. At all three places the surface water could be readily con-
veyed to the natural channel at a great saving to the borough in cost not only
now but for the future.
Adpcpiate sanitary sewerage in Alleys "E" and "D," where the cesspools
cause trouble, would obviate the nuisance, drain the cellars and afford speedy
removal of all domestic sewage from the vicinity, and the problem of abatement
of the existing menace in the neighborhood can be much more efficiently solved by
handling the surface drainage independently. There are several solutions of the
latter problem and the subject demands a careful revision. The inadequacy of the
854 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
existing stone culvert from tlie railroad to the creek channel would seem to be the
must important factor now contributing to the surface hooding of the district based
upon the evidence now in possession or the Department.
The proposed plan proviaes for an eighteeu-iuch dry weather intercepter leading
from the large storm sewer across private property to Brown Street and thence
southerly in Lincoln Avenue by a twenty-incu pipe and westerly in Harrison
Street to Broadhead Creek or the mouth ot the mill race inio the creek at the foot
of said street. This point is nine hundred feet below Washington Street bridge.
The object of this intercepter is to convey the ordinary how of the storm sewer
during dry weather to a point far enough down stream below the bridge to obviate
a nuisance. At such times as the eighteen-inch by-pass were insufficient in capacity
to take the flow, the surplus woula pass on in the big sewer to the outlet under
the bridge.
The petitionei-s state in the application that the proposed outfall has
been chosen with reference to the future erection of a purihcaiion plant on ad-
joining properti'. 'Ihe plans submitted do not justify this conclusion. The invert
of the proposeu twenty-iuch outlet is less than three feet above low water, and it
is below high water. The land in the vicinity is in the proximity to buildings and is
not adapted for a site for a ijuritication plant.
Further examination of tne proposed plans shows a tentative outline of pro-
posed sanitary sewers. The topographical map submitted by the petitioners is
quite complete and it would appear from this data that it would not be necessary
to pump tne borough sewage twice or to pump any part of it twice as it is now con-
templated in the plans. The contemplated design is to convey the sewage from
the Kingstown district and from the land on the flats above l^enox Aveuue to a
pumping station in the vicinity of Houck Street from whence it would be lifted
into the proposed storm drain in Washington Street. And this part of it would
again require to be lifted were it necessary to raise the outfall sewage into a
purification plant. It ought to be possible to convey a large percentage of the
borough's sewage to the disposal works by gravity, thus obviating for all time
its pumpage. Evidently the studies have been made from the topographical map.
Be this as it may, suthcient detail information has not been submitted to enable
the State Department of Health to see clearly the advantages of the proposed im-
provements if carried out in the manner and in conformity with the plans as they
now stand.
The sewers of Stroudsburg discharge into McMichaels Creek, which in turn
empties into Brodhead Creek about a quarter of a mile below Washington Street
bridge. Apart from considerations of public health, it shoud be a sound busi-
ness policy to maintain the absolute purity of the streams of Monroe County.
Mountain resorts are becoming more popular. The salubrity of the atmos-
phere, the attractiveness of scenery, the iishing and hunting are assets of inesti-
mable value to the region. The preservation of the virgin purity of the mountain
streams cannot be neglected with impunity, more specially since seutimeut relative
thereto is in the ascendency. Complaints about the sewage pollution of some of
the summit brooks have already been lodged with the State Department of
Health. It would be inconsistent to permit a gross pollution of the creek at
Stroudsburg while causing the discontinuance of the discharge of sewage from
some private sewer into a mountain run.
Nothing should be done at the Stroudsburgs to lessen the enjoyment of the
waters of the Delaware Kiver at the popular resort four miles below at the Dela-
ware Water Gap.
Then, from considerations of health, it appears that since East Stroudsburg
may at any time be compelled to temporarily draw water from Brodhead Creek,
and since the borough of Stroudsburg now takes the major portion of its supply
from the stream, therefore the emptying of sewage into any water course any-
where above these boroughs constitutes a menace.
Below the Stroudsburgs, nineteen miles distant on the Delaware River, Belvi-
dere uses the river water for domestic purposes and so does i'hillipsburg. This
town is thirleen miles further down stream. There are many other municipali-
ties wholly dependent for their public supply of water on the Delaware River.
Such places are found within the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. So
these authorities of these Commonwealths have adopted a joint co-operative policy
whose object is declared to be the discontinuance of tlie discharge of all sewage
into the Delawai-e River or its ti'ibutaries at the earliest practicable moment.
There can be no doubt but that a joint intei'cepting sewer and sewage purifica-
tion works for East Stroudsburg and Stroudsburg would prove more efficient
and economical than an independent sevvtir and sewage disposal plant for each
place. Some form of bacteriological treatment of the sewage is the prevailing
and most accei)tacl(! mode because it is the most perfect and the cheapest one.
However, to adapt these processes to municipal sewage is an undertaking pro-
hibitive in cost if the flow from the sewers be both sewage and storm water.
Jiut if surface water, which is less harmful and may go to the slreams, unpurified,
be (eliminated from the sewers, then it is entirely within tlu! bounds of a reasonable
outlay to affect the treatment of the flow of tlir; sewers. This is a very important
consideration and one which dictates tli(! necessity for a reconsideration of the
plans of the petitioners.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 835
The proposed sewer system, to merit the approval of the Stale authorities,
should he well and earefuUy couceived aud he iu suliJcieut detail to show how
it is proposed to colh-ct, indepeudent of storm water, all of the sewage of the
borouyh and to convey it to some suitable point and purify it there. After such
comprehensive plan of sewerage and sewage disposal shall have been approved,
the borough can then proceed to build such sewers in conformity with the plans
as it may deem necessary from time to lime.
To relieve the very unhealthful condition along the alleys above mentioned,
sanitary sewers might be laid immediately with a temporary outlet for the
sewage into the old creek bed, provided amicable arrangements could be had with
the riparian owners along this channel, pending the careful revision of the
entire sewerage plan; or a temporary right to use the tannery sewer might be
secured.
If it be true that the municipal borrowing capacity is in the neighborhood of
thirty thousand dollars only, then an added reason may be given for a joint
sewer and sewage purification plant and the sooner the plans aud estimates
of cost have been prepared, the sooner it can be determined by the State under
what terms and conditions a permit should be issued for the discharge of the
limited amount of sewage into Brodhead Creek.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that a
permit to install the proposed sewers and to discharge the sewage therefrom as
now planned should be withheld and the same is hereby and herein withheld
and the local authorities are hereby requested to carry out the suggestions here-
inbefore contained relative to the preparation of comprehensive sewerage plans
and the submission of the same to the State authorities for approval.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 4th, lOOS.
EASTTOWN TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY.
Samuel Castner, Jr., et al., Devon.
This application was made by Samuel Castner, Jr., and others, citizens of
Devon, Chester County, aud is for advice and approval of plans for a sewerage
system and disposal works.
Ou June twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred and eight, a citizen of Devon,
Chester County, Pennsylvania, submitted plans and a description of the proposed
sewage purification plant for the treatment of the sewage of the village now being
discharged onto a broad irrigation field. These plans were examined and the
citizen advised to employ a sewage disposal expert to initiate a design, and
this was done.
On August thirteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, a committee of citizens
of Devon using the sewerage system and disposal plant discharging its effluent
into a tributary of Darby Creek, in Easttown Township, Chester County, and
Mr. Samuel Castner, Jr., President of said committee, through a proper repre-
sentative, submitted for the approval of the Commissioner of Health, plans for
a new sewage disposal plant to be erected at the site of the present plant.
Devon is a residential suburban village seventeen miles west of Philadelphia on the
main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is ou the watershed of Darby Creek,
a tributary of the Delaware River near the divide between the latter and the
Schuylkill River. Water is furnished by the North Springfield Water Com-
pany from a distant source to nearly all the properties in Devon. There are
a few private wells.
The real estate firm of Wendell and Treat has been largely instrumental in
developing the place, and sewers and a sewage disposal plant provided by them
accommodate about thirty-three properties in Easttown Township south of the
railroad, including the Devon Inn, a large and popular summer resort.
The existing sewers in Devon comprise about eighty-six hundred feet of eight
inch terra cotla pipe in Berkley, Arlington, Waterloo and Dorset Avenues and
across private property : also sixteen hundred feet of twelve inch sewer in Chester
Avenue, heading from the Devon Inn and connected at its lower end to an eight
inch pipe. .Vn additional thousand feet of eight inch sewer extends from the corner
of West Arlington Avenue and P>erkley Avenue in a southwesterly direction to
the disposal plant located in a secluded spot surrounded by shrubbery and at a
distance of about a thousand feet from the nearest dwelling other than the
caretaker's.
The plant is in the fork of two runs, the eastern one of which rises in Devon
while the western one rises in the village of Berwyn a mile west of Devon, in
Easttown Township.
Immediately below the disposal plant is a section of Chester Avenue which has
been abandoned, at least for the present. After crossing this avenue the two
streams unite to form one of the main upper branches of Darby Creek.
The present sewage disposal plant is reached by the sewage after it has passed
through three screen chambers on the outfall sewer line. The method of dis-
posal is by broad irrigation, for which several acres are utilized. The area is
divided longitudinally by a barrier into eastern and western halves. The sewage
S56 T'HIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
on reaching the irrigation tract is diverted either to a trench extending along the
upper end of the eastern half or to one at the upper end of the western half.
The sewage overflows from these trendies through a loose stone and cinder barrier
and passes over successive strips of sodded ground separated bj' loose stone and
cinder barriers. The trenches and intervening areas of each half of the disposal field
are about two hundred feet long at the upper end of the field while those at
the lower end are considerably shorter. The sodded areas are about fifty feet
wide, and there are about ten of them. In many places the ends of the trenches
and barriei's are wiihiu uue hundred feet of the streams. During nineteen hundred
and seven and nineteen hundred and eight, frequent inspections of the plant and
of the streams above and below it were made by officers of the Department and
numerous series of samples for bacteriological analysis have been taken of the
waters of the streams above and below the plant and of the effluent from the
plant. The results of these analyses prove tliat there has been, from time to
time, and that in all probability there would be in the future, were no change
made, very considerable pollution of the streams by unpurified sewage from
these disposal works.
It is proposed to build a modern sewage disposal plant to remedy existing con-
ditions. This plant is to consist of separation tanks, contact beds and sand filters.
It is designed for an average daily How of seventy thousand gallons. All parts
of the structure are to have concrete sides and dividing walls and concrete bot-
toms. Through a submerged eight inch pipe the sewage will enter an influx
chamber four by four feet and nine and a half feet deep to the flow line. Thence
the sewage will pass through submerged sluices into the two similar parts of the
separation tank. Each part is to be thirty feet long, seven feet wide and, respec-
tively at the inlet and outlet ends seven and a half feet and seven feet deep to the
flow line. In each tank there are to be three ttansversed concrete baffle walls ex-
tending from the bottom nearly to the flow Hue and in the intervals are to be four
scum boards extending about two feet below the surface. The tanks are not to be
covered. The elevation of their bottoms is such tliat it will be necessary to pump
out the contents when they need cleaning. The outflow will be through submerged
pipes into a small outflow chamber common to the two tanks. The; tanks to-
gether will allow sewage to pass through them in an average period of seven and
three-tenth hours.
The septic effluent will pass from this outfall chamber through a conduit in
the dividing wall between two ^)£ the contact beds to automatic Aerlock controlling
devices to be located at the inner corners of the four rectangular contact beds.
Each bed is to be thirty by forty feet, filled with broken stone to a depth of one
and a half feet and is to have a surface layer of cinders half a foot deep. Parallel
lines of four inch horseshoe tile underdrains spaced two feet on centres are to be
laid on the concrete floor and to drain to a twelve inch circular collector to be
laid along one side of each bed, half embedded in the floor. In one of the outer
coniers of each bed is to be a collecting chamber to which the twelve inch col-
lector will lead. From each of these chambers an Aerlock syphon will dis-
charge the sewage upon one of the sand filters, that is, the four contact
beds will be discharged respectively to the four sand filters, any one of the beds
. always discharging to the same filter. The automatic Aerlock device between
the contact beds will divert the flow of sewage onto each of the four beds suc-
cessively as the proceeding bed is filled and further, by means of air pressure
transferred in pipe, will control the time of the beginning of the discharge of the
outlet syphons at the outer corners of ihe bods so that by regulating the device
the sewage may he held in c(^nla(;t any desii-ed length of time alter the bed has
become full. Each contact bed will have a capacity to hokl about eight thousand
gallons and v/ill, therefore receive a dose on an average of once in eleven hours
and a bed will have an average resting resting period of about eight hours less the
time the dose is allowed to remain in contact after the bed is full.
Each sand filter is to be eighty f(!(!t long by thirty feet wide, and they are to
be arranged side by side below and adjacent to the contact beds. Each bed
is to have an area of twenty-four hundred scjuiire feet so that the four beds with
an area of ninety-six hundred s(|uare to.ct will provide for the filtration of sewage
at the rate of tliree hundred and eiglili'en thousand gallons per acre per day.
The filtering sand is to have a di'ptli of about two and a half feet at the upper
ends of the filters and three feet at the h)\v(;i' c^iids, above; the; floor. Tlie distribution
of the sewagi! on the fi!i(>rs is to !)(■ cHected i)y means of open box distributers.
The filters will i)e utidenli'ained by tiii'ee mid f(,)ur inch horseslnK! file laid on the
floor. Ah the contact beds are to :\i-\ as dosing tanks for the sand filters each filter
will receive a doscr (jf about eight thousand gallons of s(;wage, suflicient to flood
Ihe filter to a depth of about fivt! inches, on an average of once in (deven hours.
A by-pasH is to be constructtjd from the inlet around the tanks and contact beds to
the sand filters.
'J'he average period of sewage displacement in the separation tanks is seven and
three-tentliH hours When increased capacity is desired, addiliooMl tanks will be
extended to either side.
No definite jilan is submitted foi- the cnvc of I lie sludge |o be pumped from the
tanks. It is understood lliat tliis will be done by hand and that the sludge will
be deposited on dryim; areas in the vicinity and that this disposition will be ac-
complished in a sanitary iiiininer.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 857
The rate of filtration provided for in the sand beds is high and it will be nec-
essary in the future to provide additional filtering area or some subsequent treat-
ment of the effluent, in order to make the lattt-r satisfactory. This will depend
upon the volume of the sewage and the number of inhabitants in the sewer dis-
trict. With this idea in view the vertical height in the plant has been economized
as much as possible, ami at the same time the plant has been located at as high
an elevation above the streams as is possible witiiout resorting to pumping of the
sewage. There is available ground on both sides of the sand beds for additionals
thereto in the future. Moreover, there is an area of about four acres below the
site and between the forks of the stream. For the present it is underetood that this
area is to be utilized for broad irrigation of the sand filler effluent. At any rate
this should be done. The uudcnlrains from the filters will deliver the effluent at
an elevation of about six feet above the beds of the sti-eams and at or slightly
below the elevation of the natural surface of the four acre tract. Field tile un-
derdrainage can be afforded which will give a system of sub-soil irrigation to the
sand filter effluent which should, under proper method of constniction, prove
satisfactory for the immediate future.
But when the flow of sewage is so considerable that the ground will be kept
saturated, then the sand filter effluent should be conducted to a concrete chamber
and there treated by a sterlizing chemical.
A large percentage of the seventy thousand gallon flow is delivered from the
Devon Inn. This hotel is not open in the winter time, so except under adverse
conditions of the weather, probably the sand filters will be capable of purifying
to a high degree the flow of sewage from the residences during the first few
yea re.
In order to locate the plant at the proposed elevation, it will be necessary to
relay several hundred feet of the outfall sewer. By so doing one foot vertical
height will be gained. This will make the average grade of one thousand feet of eight
inch outfall sewer twenty-four hundredths per cent. Some attention will have
to be bestowed on this stretch of sewer in order to keep it free from deposit. The
owners of the sewers should cause a careful overhauling of them to be made and
all leakage or entrance of storm water or roof water should be stopped. It is
absolutely necessary that all roof and storm water should be excluded from the
sewere. This has not been done in the past.
It is reported to be the ultimate intention of those interested in the sewers and
proposed sewage disposal plant to incorporate a sewerage company under the laws
of the Commonwealth. At present it does not appear that there is any public
authority having by law the charge of the sewerage system and duly qualified
to receive a permit from the Commissioner of Health for the discharge of the
effluent from the proposini pinifioation works into the waters of the State. There-
fore, it seems that the Conunissioner is merely called upon to review the plans
submitted and approve them or suggest wherein they may be improved.
It has been determined that the applicants be notified and they are hereby and
herein notified of the suggestions hereinbefore made and that, if these suggestions
be followed, then the effluent from the plant, if the plant be properly operated,
should prove satisfactory.
The applicants are also hi'reby notified that if they build the sewage disposal
works at Devon, it is suggested that such works be constructed in conformity
with the plans and suggestions hereinbefore made and that details thereof must be
tiled with and approved by the State Department of Health before construction work
be undertaken.
When the works are built, complete plans of them as so built shall be filed
with the State Department of Health and thereafter no .sewage whatsoever shall be
disciiarged from the sewers or sewage disposal works either directly or indirectly
into tiio waters of the State.
It is the intention of the State Department of Health, in the event that the
petitioners construct sewage disposal works, to occasionally inspect the plant and
if at any time it be found that sewage is passing therefrom into the waters of the
State, ihen such reme<lial measures will be enforced as the Department of Health
shall detemiine.
HarrLsburg, Pa., September l.")th, lOOS.
KI)WAUDS\ ILLE. I>UZERNE COUNTY.
This application is made by the borough of Edwardsville, Luzerne County,
Pennsylvania , and is for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge
the sewage therefrom into Toby's Creek, within tlx^ limits of the borough.
It appears that the borough of Edwardsville is a coal mining and residential
community of about six thousand population, located on the north bank of the
North Branch of the Susquehanna River, about opposite the city of Wilkes-Barre.
The town is supjiorted almost exclusively by the mining operations of the
vicinity. It is one of a clusler of boroughs which in appearance forms a part
of one community and is sometimes spoken of as North Wilkes-Barre. It is also
the southernmost of this group of boroughs.
S58 THIRD ANNUAL REPOKT OF THE Off. Doc.
It is bounded on the east by Kingston Township, Kingston borough and Dor-
rancetown borough, the latter extending to the river, on the south by the Sus-
quehanna River and on the viest and north by Plymouth Township.
The southern half of the territory so incorporated is flat land subject to flood
during freshets. The northern half is hilly and it is here that the built up section
extends along Toby's Creek and up on the hillsides.
This stream rises in the mountains to the north in Dallas Township and follows
a general southerly direction a distance of twelve miles or more to the Susque-
hanna River, which it enters in Edwardsville borough near the Plymouth
Township line. In this course it passes through and drains the boroughs of Dallas,
Couitdale, Luzerne and Kingston, besides Edwardsville. It receives more or less
sewage, either from public or private drains in these places. On July third,
one thousand nine httndred and six, the Commissioner of Health issued a permit to
the borough of Kingston to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage
therefrom in Toby's Creek at a point within the limits of Edwardsville borough.
This permit to so discharge sewage ceases on January first, one thousand nine
hundred and nine. This approved outlet is twenty-four inches in diameter and
the point of discharge into Toby's Creek is a short distance below the outlet
of the sewerage system of Edwardsville. It is for permission to extend the sewers
in Edwardsville tributary to this outlet that permission is now asked by the pe-
titioners.
The tracks of the D. L. & W. Railroad follow quite closely along Toby's Creek
and the occupied properties are north of the railroad. The sewer outlet is eighteen
inches in diameter and discharges into the creek at or near the point where the
railroad crosses the stream. The outfall extends easterly along Plymouth Avenue,
paralleling the railroad, to Main Street, and thence northerly in Main Street to
Church Street at aboui the northerly limits of the principal part of the town.
Main Street northerly from the railroad up to or near Slocum Avenue is the
dividing Hue between the boroughs of Edwardsville and Kingston and the build-
ings in this portion of the higiiway are served by the Edwardsville sewer. So
also is the fifteen inch sewer in Slocum Avenue, extending easterly beyond
Edwardsville into Kingston borough territory.
At the point where Main Street crosses Toby's Creek there is a storm overflow,
the size of the sewer here being thirty inches in diameter. During ordinary times
the flow of sewage passes southerly and easterly through the eighteen inch outfall
sewer to the creek at the railroad culvert or bridge, but during storms of any
severity the capacity of the eighteen inch outfall is overtaxed and tlie surplus water
is discharged through the said overflow into the creek at Main Street.
There is a culvert in Main Street near Church Avenue, through which storm
drainage from the hillside to tho west finds its way in a small open channel, or
open most of its way, to Toby's Creek near Slocum Avenue, and at this culvert
there is also nn overflow for storm water. Tho isi/.o of the pipe is twenty-four
inches and it.s length about two hundred feet. There are a few houses only
contributing to this branch at the present time. During dry weather this flow of
sewage is delivered to the Main Street sewer and passes down through the main
eighteen-inch outlet of the entire system of Toby's Creek. Tho Main Street
sewer between the two overflows above mentioned has diameters ranging from
thii'ty inches to fifteen inches. This structure serves the very important use of
removing from the surface of Main street the storm water which comes down the
steep hillsides to the west. The only lateral sewer is in Short Avenue on
the hillside, length being about fifteen hundred feet, smallest diameter twelve
inches, and the Slocum Avenue sewer on the flats comprising seventeen hundred
feet in Edwardsville of fifteen-inch pipe. The length of twelve-inch sewer in
Kingston contributed to the Slocum Aveime main is not reported.
All told, there are in the neicrhl)orhood of eighty buildings only connected
with tlie sewer system. The universal method of disposition of household waste,
where connections with the sewer has not been made, obtains; that is, wash
water and slops may be thrown out ui)on the surface of the ground or delivered
into the street gutters. Shallow earth privy vaults are coiiunon and about twenty-
five cessjjools arc reported.
It appears that the advantages of sewerage have appealed to a majority
of the property owners through the pi-incipnl part of the borough and that
petitions have been presented to th(! borough council for the construction of
sewers in the streets.
It is proposed to build separate sewers in these highways and to connect them
with the existing main sewer in Main Street and to continue this main sewer as
a conduit for the removal of both sewage and sloi-m water until it shall become
ijecessary to effect a separation of the two. TIk; plan shows and i)roviil<^s for the
construction of a new storm sewer in Main Stujet for the collection of all of the
storm water from the hillside and its deliverance into Toby's Creek tlii'ongh
a thirty-six-indi pipe. When this is built tin; only storm wattu* admitted
to the old Main Street sewer will be that contributed by the existing Short
Avenue sewer. There an- no catch basins on the Slocum Avenue sewer, hence it
now receives sewaue only.
It is tlie purpose of the petitioners to tem[)orarily admit some storm water
to the proposed sanitary sewers under conditions which shall admit of the
exclusion of this storm water from the sanitary sewers whenever necessary.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 859
The total length of sewer thus proposed, exclusive of the Main Street storm
drain is slightly in excess of two and one-half miles.
The Kingston borough outlet is about four hundred feet down stream below
Edwardsville outlet. So far as is known these are the only public sewer outlets
into Toby's Creek. Between these points and the Susquehanna River there is
no use made of the water, the land is low, subject to flood and the territory
is unoccupied and of little value. Formerly Kingston borough has set aside a
sum of money to defray the cost of extending its outlet down stream to the
Susquehanna River, but this project was abandoned because of the probability of
the Stale requiring the town to treat its sewage at some future date. Kingston
sewers are on the separate plan. In approving the sewer extensions in that
borough, it was considered that justice would require the treatment at one
and the same time of the sewage of each one of the boroughs which are dis-
charging sewage into Toby's Creek. The city of Wilkes-Barre empties its sewage
into the Susquehanna River. The total volume of filth discharged into the Sus-
quehanna River by Toby's Creek is comparatively small. Unless there should
appear to be a special reason therefor, Edwardsville and Kingston should not be
required to treat their sewages at an earlier date than the city of Wilkes-
Barre is required to treat its sewage.
It is reported that the total assessed valuation of Edwardsville is slightly above
three million dollars and that the total bonded indebtedness is twenty-five
thousand dollars. If these figures be correct, the borrowing capacity of the bor-
ough is in the neighborhood of one hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars, and
hence the town is amply able financially to undertake the construction of a
sewerage system and sewage disposal works if need be.
If any of the places on Toby's Creek above Edwardsville should ask permission
to put sewage into the stream, in all probability a permit would have been
denied. In fact, it was unanimously agreed at the time the Kingston application
was under consideration that the Commissioner of Health should prevent sewage
pollution of Toby's Creek above Kingston. Viewed in this light, it seems
quite probable that there may be a trunk sewer down this valley and, therefore,
one common sewage disposal plant to serve all municipalities there.
The nearest place below the borough on the Susquehanna River which takes its
drinking water from said river is Danville, distant about fifty-two miles. Dan-
ville filters its water. Formerly Berwick, twenty-seven miles distant, took water
from the river, but this has been prohibited and the connection with the river
has been cut off as a drinking supply.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that a
permit be issued and it is hereby and herein issued for the extension of the sewer
system as proposed, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That roof water be excluded from the system. This exclusion from
the old sewers to be incorporated into the new system may be brought about
grad\ial!y under terms whereby the borough may cut off all such storm water
connections at any timf it may deem it expedient to do so, or it may be required
by the Department of Health.
SECOND: Plans and profiles of the sewers built each year shall be submitted
to the Department of Health at the close of each year's work, together with such
information relative thereto as the Department of Health may require.
THIRD; This permit to discharge sewage into Toby's Creek shall cease on
January first, nineteen hundred and nine, which is the date on which the permit
issued to the borough of Kingston to discharge sewage into Toby's Creek ceases.
However, the Commissioner of Health may extend the time, having in mind
the policy of the State with respect to the discontinuance of the discharge of
sewage into tho waters of the State from municipalities in the vicinity, provided,
on or before this date, the borough shall prepare either independently or in con-
junction with the borouiih of Kingston a plan for the treatment of the sewage of
the boroucb, and submit such plans to the Department of Health for approval.
FOURTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be permitted to
be discharged into the system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes
to he incinornted on the premises.
FIFTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or any part thereof, has become a nuisance or menace to public
health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as he may advise or
approve.
Harrisburg. Pa., March 6th, 1908.
ELLWOOD CITY, LAWRENCE CO.
This permit was issued in response to an application for approval of plans for
an intercepting sewer and sewage disposal works for the borough of Eliwood
City, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, under certain conditions and stipula-
tions hereafter set forth.
It appears that on April twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and seven, the
Commissioner of Health issued a permit to the borough of Eliwood City, Law-
860 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
rence County, Pennsylvania, to extend its sewer system and discharge the
sewage therefrom, untreated, into the Counoquenessing Creek, within the limits
of the borough under certain conditions, among which were the following:
"FIRST: That roof and stonn water shall bo excluded from the sewers, or if
admitted, then admitted temporarily under agreement that they shall be excluded
from the sewers provided it is later determined that such exclusion be neces-
sary.
"SECOND: Tiiat the borough authorities shall employ an engineer to design
a comprehensive system of sewerage and sewage disposal for the entire borough
and submit the plans thereof, together with a report to the Commissioner of
Health for approval, on or before October first, one thousand nine hundred and
seven.
"THIRD: This permit to discharge sewage into the Counoquenessing Creek
shall cease on the first day of October, one thousand nine hundred and seven.
If on that date the terms of this permit have been complied with, the Com-
missioner of Health may extend the time in conformity with a plan of procedure
agreeable to the Governor, Attorney General and Commissioner of Health,
whereby the local authorities shall bring about an interception and purification
of the borough's sewage at the earliest practicable time.
"FOURTH: On or before October first, one thousand nine hundred and seven,
the borough shall file with the State Department of Health a complete set of
plans and profiles of existing sewers in the borough."
These terms were not complied with but the borough authorities did employ
a consulting engineer to prepare the necessary sewerage and sewage disposal
plans and on July twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and eight, this consulting
engineer on behalf of the borough , submitted the plans to the Commissioner of
Health. Relative to the authority of submitting these plans, it appears that at a
meeting of the Ellwood City Council July ninth, nineteen hundred and eight, a
motion was duly made and seconded and carried that the consulting engineer
be granted permission to forward to the State Department of Health copies of
plans and specifications for the sewage disposal plant. But it was understood and
so stated in writing that these plans had not been accepted by the council and that
copies thereof were to be sent to the State Board for its inspection only. Under
these circumstances, these plans were not reviewed.
On August twelfth, nineteen hundred and eight, the Commissioner of Health
sent the following communication to the borough secretary:
"Dear Sir: — This is to inform you that I have issued a decree to the Ellwood
City Water Company giving said company 90 days in which to begin the operation
in the erection of a water purification plant.
"This is also to inform you that the time limit in which plans for improved
sewerage and sewage disposal were to have been submitted by your borough to
the Commissioner of Health for approval has expired. I request a prompt reply
to this inquiry as to what j'ou purpose to do about submitting said plans."
The reply was received on August fourteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, and
is given in full below:
"Dear Sir: — Your letter of the 12th inst. at hand, and in reply would state,
that the Council of the Borough of Ellwood City have already instructed R. Win-
throp Pratt, Columbus, Ohio, to forward to your Department copy of plans, and
specifications for sewage disposal, which he prepared.
(Signed) W. E. McELROY, Secretary."
It would appear, therefore, that there is a misunderstanding. On September
eleventh, the Borough Clei-k informed a representative of the Department that the
Borough Council had adopted the sewerage plans at its last meeting and had au-
thorized the Secretary to so notify the Commissioner of Health.
The State Department o" Health made a Ihoiough cxaminalion of the existing
sewerage system of Ellwood City borough and the same is set forth in the permit
of the Commissioner of Health dated April twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and
(-even. At this time it is sufficient to state that there are six and twenty-five
hundredths mik-s of existing sewers in the system, which discharge into the Con-
noquf-nessing Creek through three different outlets. The present sewers are largely
on the combined plan and reruMved considerable storm and roof water. The place
has been growing rapidly and the present population is estimated at five thousand
in the borough. Twenty-five hundred r'eopie Vwo in houses which are coiinecled to
the sewers. In addition there an- a number of mill employes living outside of
the borough but abiding in houses not connected with the sewers but who use
the sewers during working hours. It is probable, therefore, that some thirty-
five hundred persons may be counted on as using the sewers at the present
time.
No actual gauges of the flow of sewage have been made, but from inspection of
the discharges at the various outlets it is believed that the present dry weather
flow Ik between five hundred thousand and seven hundred thousand gallons per
day.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 861
It is proposed to construct an intercopting sewer beginning in the up-stream
end of the tov.n in Clyde street at the intersection with the existing twenty-four-
inch sewer, and from thence passing principally through Pittsburg Circle and
Glen Avenue to the foot of Sixth Street, where it will intersect another twenty-
four-inch sewer which at present discharges into the creek ; from this point the
sewer will parallel the creek in a westerly and down-stream direction to the proposed
site for sewage purification works, located between the B. & O. railroad and the
creek in the northwest.irly portion of the borough. The existing twenty-four-inch
sewer near Tenth Avenue will he intercepted. The proposed intercepting sewer is
principally eighteen inches in diameter and contains two twelve-inch cast iron in-
verted syphons. These syplions are proposed for the reason that the construc-
tion of vitrified pipe sewer on grade would be made very expensive on account
of the large quantities of quarry refuse, including large boulders, which have
been placed on the steep side hill along which the sewer is to pass. The
intercepter is to terminate at the sewage disposal works at elevation eight hundred
and twelve, which is some thirty-five feet above high water in the creek.
The intercepting sewer will discharge into a screen chamber of concrete con-
struction, open on top and being about six feet wide by eleven feet long, interior
dimensions in plan and about four feet deep. Its bottom will contain two channels
in each of which is to be placed a screen composed of parallel bars, having an
open space of three-eighths inches. From the screen chamber the sewage is to
pass through an iron pipe into the settling tanks.
The settling tanks are three in number, built of reinforced concrete, and cov-
ered, each ouv^ hundred by ten, with a depth below the maximum flow line of
eleven feet. The total capacity, therefore, is two hunded and fifty thousand
gallons, or six hours' flow, based on the nominal capacity of the plant of
one million gallons. The inlet at the upper end of the tank is controlled by a
sluice gate opposite which is a baflBe wall. The three tanks may be used in parallel
or the entire flow may be admitted to take number one, thence backward through
tank number two and forward through tank number three, thus giving a total
length of travel of three hundred feet which, at the rate of one million gallons
per day, gives a velocity of twenty-one hundredths feet per minute. This velocity
will tend to economically distribute the sludge.
For cleaning purposes the tanks are divided by a cross-M'all at mid-length, into
two compartments, each fifty feet long. This means that one-sixth of the total
tank capacity may be drained without removing the liquid from the remaining
portions.
The sludge will flow by gravity onto a gravel sludge bed, having an area of one
thousand square feet prepared to receive it.
The sewage flows out from each tank over two brass top plates or weirs, each
two feet long. These plates are in sections twelve inches wide so that the flow
level of the sewage in the tank may be varied within a range of one foot.
The efiluent from the settling tank passing out over the above mentioned brass
plates is collected in a channel and conveyed to a syphon chamber. This syphon
chamber is of concrete construction, open on top, about three feet deep and ten
feet wide by seventeen feet long in plan located to one side at the outlet end of
the tanks.
The volume of each dose may be increased if desired by so adjusting the brass
stop plate? controlling the outlet of the settling tank that the upper portion,
say from three to six inches, may be made in effect a portion of the dosing
chamber. A fifteen-inch sewer pipe conveys the sewage from the dosing chamber
to the filters. Just before reaching the filters there is installed on this line an
equalizing tank which Mill sen-e to temporarily hold the sewage in case a
resistance at the sprinkling nozzles should be so groat as to interfere with the free
action of the syphon. This equalizing chamber in plan is twelve feet long and
six feet wide and its depth will be four feet. It is to he located at the dividing line
between the two filters and its bottom will be fourteen inches above the highest ele-
vation of the filtering surface of the beds.
The sprinkling filters are to be two in number, each sixty-five feet by one
hundred and sixty-one feet. The elongated shape of the filters has been adopted
in order to fit the topography of the sewage disposal site. As a further matter
of economy, on account of this topography, the bottom of the filtei-s has been
placed on a slope of one in seven. The bottom and sides are to be of reinforced
construction.
The filtering material varies in depth from four and a half to six and a quarter
feet. The surface of the material is formed into a line of five terraces an<l a lino
of sprinkling nozzles extends through each terrace. The elevation of the hiirhost
terrace is to be eight hundred and two and eighty-throe hundredths. The next lower
one is to have an elevation of eight hundred and five-tenths ami the succeeding
terraces will step down respectively one foot. The collecting channel on the out^
side of the lower retaining wall of the filter beds into which the undordrains will
empty the filtrate is to be eh vation seven hundred and eighty-seven and eichty-one
hundredths or practically fifteen feet below the filter bod siirfaco at the top terrace.
The sewage is distributed through linos of six-inch cast iron pipe, decreasing to
four-inch and those linos connect with the sixtoen-inch cast irop main supply pipe.
The cast iron distributing pipe will be placed on concrete piers and within two feet
of the surface of the filtering material. Cast iron risers will be inserted under
55
862 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
these lines every seven feet four inches. One-half of these risere will at one time
contain a sprinkling nozzle and the other half will be capped. In operating, the
risers and caps will be changed back and forth as a means of obtaining the best
possible distribution.
The underdrains are formed of six-inch channel pipe placed in an inverted
position on the concrete floor of the filter. Each length of pipe is slotted in order
tc freelv admit the effluent.
The lines of underdrains are eighteen inches from center to center, and each line
extends througii to the lower wall of the filter and discharges into an open
channel, which channel connects ev<^ry twenty feet with n main collector pipe. This
construction affords a means of readily inspecting and cleaning the itnderdrains and
of observing the action in the various parts of the filters.
The effluent from the filters will he subjected to a final treatment by sedimenta-
tion in an open basin of concrete construction sixty feet long by thirty feet wide
by five feet deep. The main structure is sub-divided by walls and the basements
are well baffled to secure the best sedimentation effects.
A sludge bed is provided for treating the deposits which may accumulate in the
bottom of these basins. They may be discharged onto the sludge bed by gravity.
This bed comprises five hundred square feet of surface having two feet of coarse
sand and gravel and a six-inch vitrified pipe underdrain.
A.S a matter of future construction, a chemical house is shown on the plans.
This may be built adjacent to the final treatment basin should it at any time be
deemed advisable in the future to subject the effluent to disinfection.
The entire layout occupies a strip of land on the hillside along the banks of the
creek, a distance of about seven hundred feet. The invert of the eigh teen-
inch main sewer will enter the plant at elevation eight hundred and twelve. The
elevation of the crest of the outlet weir at the final treatment basin is seven
hundred and eighty-two and five-tenths or twenty-nine and five-tenths lower. The
approximate elevation of high w-ater is two and a half feet below this weir. Thus it
will be seen that there is abundance of vertical height in which to accomplish the
purification of the sewage.
The sludge bed for the disposal of the settling tank solids is to have an area of
one thousand square feet and is to have two feet in depth of coarse sand and gravel
and underneath is to be a six-inch vitrified drain pipe discharging into the
There are opportunities for future extensions of the settling tanks and for sites for
additional filter units.
The genera] site is in the ravine through which the creek flows and at an ele-
vation of about one hundred feet below the plateau on which the borough is
located.
As above stated there are three existing sewer outlets, all of which receive
more -or less storm water. In constructing the new intercepting sewer, it is proposed
to build diverting weirs in the manholes at the junction of existing sewers and the
new intercepter, so that the entire flow of sewage, up to three or four times the dry
weather flow, will be diverted to the purification works. It is further proposed
that the local officials cut off surface water connections with the idea of placing
the entire syst.'m on a separate plan, at which time the diverting weirs will be no
longer necessary.
EUwood T'itv borough is located on the south bank of the Connoquenessmg Creek
about one mile above the stream's entrance to the Beaver River. The water supply
is taken from Slippery Rock Creek and at times from the Connoquenessing
Creek at points just above the borough. The sewage from watersheds on which
there are several boroughs, is emptied into the stream. The Commissioner of
Health has issued decrees requiring the erection of sewage purification plants and
the discontinuance of the discharge of sewage into these waters which afford
the supply lo Ell wood City.
Furthermoie, as hereinbefore stated, the Department of Health has required
thf Ellwood City Water Company to filler its source of supply.
In turn many thousands of people take their water supply from the Beaver
and Ohio Rivers wiihin twelve miles of Ellwood City. Among these places may
be metioned the boroughs of Beaver Falls, New Brighton and Rochester.
Ir is understood and reported that Ellwood City borough's borrowing capacity is
not sufficient to enable the municipality to build the sewage purification works
and effect complete separation of sewage and storm water at tliis time. But it
does not aopfar that the borough is unable to begin the improvement. It is now
illegally dicliar^inL' its sewage into the waters whii'li aii' subsequently used as
a source of public water supply.
The plans proposed for the treatment of the sewage and the main intercepter
are well designed and should acconii)lish the purpose if the works be properly
built and [.roperly operated thereafter. The cost of intercepting the sewage as
proposed and f.f Imiidiiig a purl ion of the sewage disjiosal works ought to be within
the financial al)ility of tin borough, and unless the local authorities can show
Eood and stifTicient cause why this improvement cannot be made, the project
should be carried out forthwith or the penalty exacted for the illegal discharge of
tewage into the waters of the State.
It has bfen determined that the interests of the public health demand that the
plans for lhf> proposed inlercpting sewer and sewage disposal works be approved
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 863
and the same is herein and hereby approved, uuder the following fonditions and
stipulations:
FIRST: The boroiiKli, on or before three months from the date of this permit,
shall have taken steps, so far as it is authorized to do so, to raise the necessary
funds to defray the cost of the construction of the intercepting sewer and sewage
disposal works or the raising of funds necessai-y to defray the cost of the building
of the intercepting sewer and a portion of the sewage dispo.sal works f)r the munici-
pal authorities sluill give satisfactory (ni<lenre thereof to the Governor, Attorney
General and the Commissioner of Health, provided, that on or before the fif-
teenth dav of October the borough council shall notify the Commissioner of Health
of its intentions in the matter. On failure of the borough to so notify the Com-
missioner of Health, the State Department of Health will understand this to mean
that the borough purposes to take no action with respect to raising funds to build
the intercepting sewer and sewage disjjosal works or part thereof and in this event
the Commissioner of Health and Attorney General will proceed accordingly. This
declaration is deemed ntjcessary, owing to the prior derelictness of the borough to
observe the conditions of the permit issued by the Commissioner of Health in
compliance with law.
SECOND: It appears that the engineers designing the sewage disposal works
has found it desirable to exclude storm water from the disposal works during
storms of much intensity and this shall on or before July first, nineteen hundred
and nine, make an investigation and devise a plan and submit a report thereon to
the Commissioner of Health, the object of which shall be to exclude storm water
from the sewers.
THIRD: No new sewers shall be built into which storm water shall be ad-
mitted. All roof and storm water shall be excluded from the various additions to
the system. The boi-ough shall collect all of the sewage within its municipal
territory from all occupied estates at as early a date as this can be done and de-
liver the same to the sewage disposal works herein approved, and treat the
sewage in said works. At the close of each season's work, the borough shall prepare
a plan and profile of the sewers laid during the year and submit the same with a
satisfactory report to the Commissioner of Health. This is essential since the
State Department of Health must always be informed of the extent of the sew-
erage system and the public use thereof.
FOURTH: The borough shall enforce such reasonable measures as shall be
necessary to bring abotit at the earliest practicable moment the discontinuance of
the discharge of sewage and trade wastes into drains to be used for storm water
or into natural water courses or into the waters of the State within the limits of
the borough.
FIFTH: Daily records of the operation of the entire sewage disposal works
shall be kept by the borough in form satisfactory to the Commissioner of Health
and copies thereof shall be filed in the said Commissioner's office. It is the inten-
tion of the State Dei^artment of Health to make frequent analyses of the crude
sewage and the effluents at various stages of the process of treatment suflScient
to show the efficiency of the plant and to enable deductions to be made therefrom
under the responsible super\'ision of the expert who designed it for one year from
the beginning of the operation, and if not by this expert, then by some other
equally competent to i)erform sueh services. The results of nil this shall lie given
to the Commissioner of Health who may make iiiles and regulations governing the
operation of the plant, in so far as these may effect the quality of the eflBuent dis-
charged into the waters of the State.
SIXTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system ""ir the sewage disposal works, or any part thereof, has become a
menace "to nublic health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the
Commissioner of Health may approve or advise.
Harrisburg, Pa., September, 22nd, 1908.
EMLENTON BOROFGH. VENANGO COUNTY.
Tliis application was made by the borough of Emlenton, Venango County, and
is for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage there-
from into the Allegheny River.
The borough of Emlenton is located on the north bank of the Allegheny River,
in the extreme soutliea.^tern corner of Venango County. Il was incorported out of
Richland Township, which township entirely surrounds the borough on the land
sides. The iiopuiation is estimated to be thirteen hundred, in nineteen hundred
it was eleven hundred and ninety. The region round about has been rich in the
production of oil. Tlv Emlenton Oil Refinery is located in the borough. It and
the woollen mill furnish the princi|)al emnloyment. The Allegheny A'alley Division
of the Pennsylvania Railroad passes through the town near the river. The
lands between the railroad and the river are low and .some of it north of
the railroad is low. The main street of the town iiaraljels the r.iilroad and is
adjacent thereto to the north. Reyond this thoroughfare the land rises rapidly
and lies on the slope of a mountain. The drainage is therefore wholly to the river.
The dwellings in the village are about eqvuilly divided, one-half being located on
the hillsides and the other half on the flats.
864 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Shallow eailh privy vaults are iu use throughout the borough and dug wells
abound. There are also uumeroiis springs which are used as sources of drinking
water. The ground is alleged to be saturated with sewage and not a few of
the wells are so located with respect to surface and underground sources of pol-
lution as to be suspicious as safe sources of drinking water. Much of the typhoid
fever occurring in the town during the last eight years has been attributed to
the wells and springs.
The public water supply is furnished by the Emlenton Water Company. The
source is the Allegheny River. Crude water is pumped from the river to a reser-
voir on the hill back of the town. This basin liolds about two days' supply. Re-
cent examinations by the State Department of Health of these waters show sewage
pollution. The water company is now employed in seeking a new and pure
source and if success attends these efforts the avowed intention is to abandon the
river supply.
A few hundred feet above the river intake, the trade wastes from the woollen
mills are emptied into the stream. Wool in the fleece is received here and manufac-
tured into blankets. The scouring and spent dye stuffs go to the river.
Further up the stream, in the borough, is the oil refinery from which trade
wastes to some degree reach the stream.
The public sewer system was designed for sanitary purposes only. The sewers
were built in nineteen hundred and one. Additions have since been made. The out-
let is a twenty-inch cast iron pipe and it discharges into the river near the lower
boundary line of Emlenton. Connecting with this outlet are three and eight-
tenths miles of sewers whose diameters range from six to twenty inches. The per-
centage of population using the sewers is not stated , but it is understood that
over one-half of the dwellings have particular connections to the sewers.
Separate storm drains are provided to carry off the rain water. There are tea
independent lines which empty into the river. They approximate a total length of
one and a half miles. One of said outlets is into the river above said water works
intake.
A borough ordinance was adopted in nineteen hundred and one which provided
that all drains conveying sewage to the storm sewers shall be discontinued there-
from, and connected with the sanitary sewers within one year from December
fifth, nineteen hundred and one. It is possible that some sewage is still discharged
into the storm water sewers. This could be established by a house to house
canvass.
Roof water is admitted to the sanitary sewer system. It would appear that the
outlet is insufficient to discharge the entire flow from the system at all times be-
cause there is an overflow on the river bank at the foot of Third street. This
overflow leads to the river.
Besides these sources of pollution and the sewage from the refinery and woolen
mills, on the bank of the river below the water works pump house there are
several privies. The waste from the steam laundry is discharged into the Alle-
gheny through a box .sewer and so is the sewage from the privy on the property.
There are five private sewers to the river from adjacent properties. They are
used for waste, sink and wash waters. One of them, near the foot of Fifth
Street, has been ordered abandoned by the court. A public sewer extends in
River Avenue along the top of the river bank brom the pump house down stream.
It is the fifteen-inch and twenty-inch main interceptor of the borough sewer
system. All properties could connect with it. The local authorities have not
attempted compulsory sewer connections.
The petitioners wish for permission to make general extension to the sewer
system and more i)articularly at this time, to receive approval of five lateral
sewers already laid down and in use. They are as follows: three hundred and
seventy-five feet of eight-inch sewer in liOcust Alley, one hundred and thirteen
feet of six-inrh pipe in Chester Street, five hundred feet of eight-inch pipe in College
Street, one hundred and five feet of five-inch sewer in Fourth Street and one
hundred and thirty-two feet of five-inch sewer in Crawford Alley.
Evidently these sewer extensions were built without intent of violating any
provision of law, else the pending a|)|)lication would not have been made.
The topograidiieal situation suii-outiding Endcnton borough is not favorable
for a phenoriifiial growth in the population of the town. Manufacturing sites are
scarce alonir the railroad. There is a public highway bridge acro.ss the river from the
foot of Eighth Stii'Ct where the pump house is located, but on the opposite side
of the Allegheny the moimtain rises abruplly from the shore to a height of several
hunflred feet and (liere are no low IshhIs or tiiicls suitable for industries or set-
tlements. It is probali'e that a normal iiicrea.se in th(! size; of Emlenton borough
is ail that should be expected. IMie municipal assessed valuation is reported to be
five hundred and seventy thf<usand dollars. The debt is said to be thirteen thou-
sand five hundrer] df)ll!irs. If thr-se figures hi- correct it would appe;ir that Emlen-
ton's borrowing e;ip;ieily is in the iiei^dihorhood of twenty-six lliousiiiid fiolliirs.
Thi.s amount of moie-y might be sufficient to defray the cost of the erection of
sewage purification works; but it would be so, if at all, only under l;he condition
that all storm and roof water were eliminated from the sewers and that sewage
only were conducted through the pipes to the disposal works.
Four miles below Emlenton is tlie vilhige of Foxburg and three miles b(;low this
village is Parker City. Both of these places have for years taken their supply of
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 865
drinking water from the Alleglieny. Kecentlj- the Foxburg Water Supply Com-
pany has sought a new supply from wells and springs on the hillside back of the
town.
But below these towus along the river all the way to Pittsburg there are numer-
ous municipalities which do now and must continue to rely on the river for a public
supply of water. It is the pollution by sewage of the river at Franklin and Oil
City and at other places in the valley above Emlenton that has compelled the
Emlenton Water Company in safeguarding the public health to seek a new
supply, but the greater proportion of the inhabitants of river towns cannot thus
avoid the menace which sewage poisons in the river establish. It has become
a State policy to preserve the purity of the waters of the State for the protec-
tion of the public health and in the administration of this great and beneficent
law a policy has been inaugurated which will ultimately require the abandonment
of the discharge of all sewage into streams used subsequently for drinking
waters.
While the small borough of Emlenton may not be compelled to take its sewage
out of the river sooner than some other places, yet the local authorities should be
informed of the State's policy and the necessity thereunder of plans being laid out in
the borough for a sewer plan involving the ultimate treatment of the town's
sewage.
It is fortunate that the sewers have been designed for sanitary purposes only.
The use of these sewers as carriers of storm water is not prejudicial to public
health or a mistaken policy so long as the sewage is to be discharged crude into
the river, but it would be a g''eat mistake to continue this practice when the time
for sewage disposal works sha :1 have arrived, and it would be a mistake also to
admit roof or storm water to the sewere, meantime under conditions which would
not admit of the taking out of all such roof and storm water when a sewage
purification plant shall be erected. The cost of handling and purifying the sewage
is not prohibitive but when the great bulk of storm water is added to the sewage
proper the totai volume is so gr-^at that the cost of works to handle it would be
prohibitive. Hence it is essential in the interests of economy and in anticipation of
public health precaution that the local authorities should at this time consider well
the questions involved in providing the borough with a sewage purification plant
and enforce such rules and regulations as may be calculated to best lead up to the
consummation of a complete sanitary sewerage system and sewage disposal
works.
Private sewer outlets should be abandoned, the sewage of the borough should be
collected in the sewer system. Outline plans for the site of a sewage disposal plant
should be prepared, the preliminary plans should be adopted, additions to the
sewers should be made in conformity therewith, all house connections with storm
channels should be absolutely abandoned and new connections be made with the
sanitary sewers, and the elimination of storm and roof water from the sewers
should bo gradually effected.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approving the particular sewers mentioned by the petitioners, and a permit
therefor is h veby and herein granted under the following conditions and stipula-
tions:
FIRST: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on the fii-st <lay of May, nineteen hundred and ten, on or before which
date the borouirh shall submit to the Commissioner of Health a comprehensive plan
for sanitary sewei-s for the entire borough and plans for the treatment of the sewage
of the system. The Commissioner of Health will modify, amend or approve these
plans and fix the time for their erection. If on said date the terms of this permit
shall be complied with the Commissioner of Health may extend the time in
which the borough sewage may continue to be discharged into the Allegheny
River.
SECOND: The local authorities shall cause the discontinuance of the discharge of
all sewage into any storm water drawn and shall regulate the admittance of roof
and storm water to the sanitai-y sewer system whereby all or so much of it as may
be necessary, shall be eliminated from the sanitary sewer system whenever this
shall appear to be necessary.
The Commissioner of Health will notify the owners of privies and private
sewers located along the bank of the river that the depositing of sewage into the
river must cease. The borough council is requested to require the connection of
such estates with the public sewer.
The State Dejiartment of Health will require the purification of the river
water by the Knilentou Water Company provided an abundant and satisfactory
supply from the new source on the hills be not obtained. Tlie examination of well's
and springs in use in the borough should be systematically undertaken by the local
authorities for the purpose of ascertaining what w^ells or springs are contaminated
and for the further purpose of causing the abandonment of all such sources which
are polluted.
The State Department of Health will be glad to further advise and co-operate
with the borough in these undertakings.
Harrisburg, Pa., April 27th, 1908.
55—17—1908
866 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE. ' OfiE. Doc.
EXETER, LUZERNE COUNTY.
These applications were made by the borough of Exeter, Luzerne County, and
are for permission to build a public sewer sysfom and to discharge the sewage
therefrom into the Susquehanna River within tUe limits of said borough.
It appears that the plans submitted with the first applications were for com-
bined sewers in two streets only, namely, Wyoming Avenue and Schooley Avenue.
The plans accompanying the last* application provide for an independent sanitary
sewer to be laid in the same trench with the proposed storm drain but below
it, on Wyoming Avenue, both to be served by the same outlet down Schooley
Avenue to the river, until such time as the treatment of the sewage may be
necessary.
Exeter borough is in Luzerne County, in the centre of the northern anthracite
coal fields, bounded on the north by the township of Exeter, on the east by the
North Branch of the Susquehanna River and the borough of West Pittston, on
the south by the said river and on the west by the boroughs of Wyoming and
West Wyoming.
The area so incorporated — about three square miles — is mostly rural. Approxi-
mately one-tenth of it is built up and out of a total borough population of about
twenty-five hundred about twentj^-one hundred people live in this built-up part.
The northern part of the municipality is mountainous. The ridge parallels the
river and at its foot there are low lands and swamps which would extend all the
way to the river were it not for an intervening ridge of low elevation and flat
varying in width from a third to one one-half of a mile. It is on this low plateau
that the village is situated, and through which the main thoroughfare, Wyoming
Avenue, extends, paralleling the river from West Pittston borough to Wyoming
borough.
When the Susquehanna River is in an extraordinarily high stage, the lowlands
on both sides of the village are flooded, either directly or by back water; but
during ordinary wet weather the said swamps to the north and west are flooded.
In eighteen hundred and eighty-four the Schooley shaft, now abandoned, was sunk
on the edge of the swamp in the west central part of Exeter borough and the
pumpage from the mine was allowed to flood the said lowlands where the water
became stagnant and produced a nuisance. In consequence, malarial diseases,
which were formerly infrequent in the district, became prevalent, and in eighteen
hundred and eighty-six, when the State Board of Health investigated the place and
advised adequate 'drainage thereof, intermittent fever, ague and dj'sentery were
epidemic. During the first part of eighteen hundred and ninetj'-eight , the said
Schooley colliery, the Temple Iron Company, operating the Mt. Lookout colliery,
located near the southerly of said Schooley colliery, and the Lehigh Valley
Coal Company, operating collieries in the eastern central part of the borough, were
maintaining a common nuisance in Exeter borough by putting large quantities of
water upon an extended area of ground and permitting the same to stagnate,
thereby contaminating the air to the injury of the public health of all the
inhabitants in and about the boroughs of Exeter and Wyoming.
Measures were taken by the said companies to abate the nuisance in accordance
with the court's decree. The Schooley colliery waste matter water was carried
by a pipe to the river. This made a very material reduction in the amount of
water on the lowlands in the western part of the borough, but did not wholly
drain the territory in that vicinity.
The Mt. Lookout colliery water was discharged into the pipe laid for the pur-
pose and extending westerly towards Wyoming Creek.
The Lehigh Valley Coal <;orapany dug a ditch from Carpenters Creek— a stream
in the eastern part of the borough — westerly a distance of a mile or more to
Scbooley's road, near said Schooley's shaft, and drained llie water out of the
fiwamp and lowlands to the east of said road, thereby reclaiming the lands and
making them reasonably dry in all ordinary times.
I'hese facts are cited to show how great has been the necessity for adequate
drainage of the lowlands between the village and the. nnjiintain.
The village at present is nearly square in extent. There are no sewers in it.
The plateau is of gravel formation. Privies and loose wall cesspools are the recep-
tacles of sewage. Wells and springs are not to be found in the borough. The
water supply is furnished by the Spring Brook Water Supply Company, and is
brought in from the Moosie Mountains, about (en miles distant. Surface water
either drains into the adjacent streets and alleys and liience into Wyoming Ave-
nue, where it ponds up and int.erfen-s with highway traflic, or it remains on un-
occupied lotH, forming pools which slowly soak away or evaporate. There is no
natural way for surface water to pass off of Wyoming Avenue, and consequently,
great necessity exists from a sanitary i)oint of view for adi'quate drainage.
The inliabitants of Exeter borough are largely foreigncirs, but many of them own
the dwellings in which they reside and al)f)nt which at ihe present time the condi-
tions with respecl to household waste disposal are not all that should be de-
sired and there is a demand for sewers, the necessity being as great as that for
surface drainage. ,. , , i- ..... ^,
A sewer system is not proposed, but a Inuik sewer which has for its object the
drainage of' Ihe streets and adjoining properties along Wyoming Avenue and
Schooley Street. Also the draina^re of the [tond in the east<'in jtart of the village
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 8^7
at Penn and Wyoming Avenues. Into the pond tho waste mine water of the
Exeter colliery of the ]^ehigh Coal Company is now being pumped. It is said that
this pond serves no good purposes. It is also claimed that it afifords a breeding
place for the malarial mosquito. The said company three or four years ago con-
structed a drain southerly in Wyoming Avenue and Lincoln Avenue across pri-
vate property to the edge of the plateau, where an eighteen-inch pipe is now to be
seen discharging into a wooden trough which in turn empties into an artificml
ditch extending across the flat to the river. If this drain were lowered the said Ex-
eter pond would be completely drained. The coal interests in the borough pay,
it is estimated, a large percentage of the taxes of the municipality. The Taxpay-
ers' Association of Wyoming Valley, whose membership is made up of the coal
interests, has already considered various plans for draining the Exeter pond and
proposed the plan for draining the pond and sewering the borough at the same time
originally submitted in December, nineteen hundred and five.
After various conferences with the local authorities extending throughout the
year nineteen hundred and six and to the middle of nineteen hundred and seven,
the plans were modified and as they now stand they provide for the construc-
tion of a twenty-inch terra ootta storm drain to be laid in Wyoming Avenue
through the village from I'enn Avenue at the pond to Schooley Avenue. There are
to be street gutter connections with this drain for the removal of surface water
from Wyoming Avenue. In the same trench, but at one side and below the storm
drain, there is to be laid a twelve-inch pipe sewer to be provided with wye
branches and to receive sewage only. At inspection manholes to be built at intei-sect-
ing streets, namely, Lincoln Avenue, Grant Avenue and Valley Avenue, a brick
partition wall is to be extended up between the sanitary sewer and the storm
drain to admit of ready inspection of both structures and at the same time pre-
vent the overflow of the drain into the sewer.
At Schooley Avenue both structures will terminate in a concrete drain two feet six
inches in diameter by three feet nine inches high, egg shape, which is to extend from
Wyoming Avenue to the river. This is always to be used as a storm drain. When
the time shall have arrived for the purification of the borough sewage, it is the in-
tention of the borough to stop the emptying of the twelve-inch pipe into the storm
drain at Wyoming Avenue and from thence to dispose of the sewage in a mannei
satisfactory to the State Department of Health. Both the twelve-inch sanitary
sewer and the Schooley Avenue concrete structure are planned to be the main trunk
sewers for their respective lateral connections. Plans of the lateral sewers,
however, have not been prepared, or if so, they have not been submitted.
The question of improved drainage and sewerage has been a topic for considera-
tion for a number of years resulting finally in the voters authorizing the issuing of
municipal bonds in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, four thousand dollars of
which are to be devoted to highway purposes and the balance for drainage and sew-
erage improvements. It is represented that local sentiment was strongly mani-
fest for both sewerage and drainage. The details of the plan finally proposed en-
tail the necessity of mingling sewage and storm water in the permanent storm
drain only until such time as it becomes necessary to purify the sewage. It is
reported that the borough is well off financially and able to undertake the treat-
ment of sewage as soon as other municipalities in the Wyoming Valley shall be
required to do the same.
Immediately above Exeter the Lackawanna River empties into the Susquehanna
and in the Lackawanna basin there are two cities, fifteen boroughs and twelve
townships, having a combined population of one hundred and eighty thousand
people, whose sewage is discharged principally into the river or its tributary.
Besides these sources of pollution there are over one hundred collieries in the
valley above Exeter whose combined daily output of waste mine water during the
summer time is of greater volume several times over than the natural flow of the
I.,ackawanna River itself. This mine drainage and the water from washeries
changes the dissolved properties of the water rendering it acid and imparts a
dense, black color, so that about all forms of life are extinct in the flowing
stream. No practical way has yet been devised and put in extensive operation in
the region to obviate mine refuse pollution of the natural water courses and until
some plan be devised and put in use these pollutions will continue and hence the
waters of the stream will be unpotable. However, in times of freshet, the germ
destroying properties of the sulphur mine water are largely neutralized and at
such times the sewage from the Lackawanna Valley may in its pathogenic state
be transmitted down stream and menace the health of the people livimr in the
towns along the Susquehanna whose sources of drinking water are now drawn and
must continue to be drawn from said river. The time will come when the inter-
ests of public health will demand the cessation of the discharge of .qewage untreated
into the Lackawanna River. Furthermore, the population of the municipalities on
or abuttin? the north branch of the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County below
the Lackawanna basin comprises fourteen townships, twenty-three boroughs and
two cities, all in the northern coal field and aggregating over one hundred and
eighty thousand people. The sewage from this population is also largely dis-
charged into the natural water courses. In this district there are over seventy
collieries which make a similar disposition of mine drainage, but the effect is not
so pronounced because of the large volume of water in the Susquehanna.
868 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. DOd.
The nearest municipalitj' below Exeter which uses the river water is Berwick,
distant thirty-four miles. But this water is used at Berwick for industrial pur-
poses except in emergencies, but this emergency use has in two instances been
the cause of an outbreak of typhoid fever. Fifty-eight miles distant the river is
used as a source of supply at Danville State Hospital and it is also used
by the borough of Danville. The policy of the Commonwealth is to preserve the
purity of the waters of the State for the protection of the public health and no
sewer plans or extensions of sev/er systems can be consistently approved by the
State health authorities which do not contemplate the ultimate purification of the
sewage and such purification should be brought about at as early a date as
practicable.
The proposed sewers for Exeter conform to this requirement partially. The
temporary discharge of the small amount of sewage that can come from the
buildings along Wyoming Avenue should not add in a measurable degree to the
impairment of the' health of the citizens of the Commonwealth so long as the
sewage of the other places in the Wyoming Valley is discharged into the stream.
However, there is no reason why the borough of Exeter should not at once perfect
plans for a comprehensive sewer system for the village and for the treatment of
such sewage and submit the same for approval and adoption. It is quite possible
that a joint intercepting sewer for Exeter and the adjacent boroughs might be an
ecomonical and efficient project and one practicable of attainment in the near future.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be sub-
served by granting a permit, and it is hereby and herein granted, for the pro-
posed sewer in Wyoming Avenue and Schooley Avenue, under the following con-
ditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That this pennit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State
shall cease on May first, nineteen hundred and eleven. If on that date the other
conditions of this permit shall have been complied with, then the Commissioner
of Health may extend the time in which sewage may continue to discharge into
the Susquehanna River.
SECOND: On or before January first, nineteen hundred and ten, the borough
of Exeter shall, either independently or in conjunction with other municipalities,
prepare a plan for a comprehensive sanitary sewer system and for the treatment of
the sewage and submit the same to the Commissioner of Health for approval, who
may modify, amend or approve the same and fix the time when the sewage
disposal works shall be erected.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 28, 1908.
FAIRCHANCE, FAYETTE COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Fairchance, Fayette County, and
is for permission to lay an eight inch sewer in Church Street and to discharge the
sewage therefrom into Georges Creek within the limits of the borough.
It appears that Fairchance borough is an industrial community of about twenty-
one hundred population, located in George Township in the southern part of
Fayette County, about seven miles north of the Pennsylvania and West Virginia
state boundary line and about seven miles east of the Monongahela River and the
main line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad leading from Pittsburgh into West
Virginia. A branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad system from Greensburg,
Westmoreland County, and Uniontown terminates at Fairchance.
The borough is located on the west of the slope at the foot of the western slope
of the ridge of mountains dividing the watersheds of the Youghiogheny River to
the east and tho Monogahela River to the west, known as Chestnut Ridge. The
crr^st of tho ridge, about three miles easterly, is in the ncigliborjiood of fifteen hun-
dred feet higher than the borough.
Georges Creek rises a short distance to the north of the borough and flows
down through the centre of the town, along, between and under the two railroads
at various points, being iiugmcnted by several runs which come down from
the mouniain sides and join the creek in the borough. Immediately below the
borough the <;re<'k is joined by Muddy ilun, a st:reani whicji rises to the north and
northwest of Fjiirchance, being madr; uj) of niuncroiis tributaries, the main one
of which drains a settlement on the railroad north of the borough known as
Olipbant Furnace. Muddy Run follows closely the western boundary of the
borough.
Georges Creek follows a general southwestern direction and enters the Monon-
gahela River at .Ni-w Cieneva. The country traversed is a very hilly, rugged and
Bparselv populated n-gion.
In the easti-rn middle section of Fairchance, Georges Creek divides, forming an
island in the town about one thousand icM long and about three hundred feet
wide.
Muddy Run is principally named because its waters are highly colored. At
the present time and for a number of years past it has received a large amount
of coal mine drainage. In addition to the color, chanicteristic of sulphur water,
the stream is highly acid in (|uality. On the other hand, (Jeorges Creek, before it
reaches the borough in its numirouH tributaries, is a naturally pure mountaia
stream.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 869
Besides the mining of coal, the manufacture of coke is an extensive industry.
The Frick Coke Company employs about three hundred men. Its Kyle plant is
located partly in the western borough territory and partly in the township in the
valley of Muddy Knn. The Kanawha Glass Company, employing about two
hundred and twenty-five people, have a plant in the borough and the United Fire
Brick Company, employing about thirty hands, have works near the glass plant.
The latter industries use water from drilled wells. The Fairohance Distillery
uses water from Georges Creek for manufacturing purposes and from a dug well
for drinking. Dug wells and a few drilled ones furnish the source of domestic
water to the inhabitants of the town. There is some surface drainage contamina-
tion, or danger of ir, and the municipality desires to install a public water works
system and an application for approval of plans is now pending before the State
Department of Health.
Owing to la('k of information or carelessness on the part of the citizens of the
town and the lack of a local Board of Health to enforce sanitary rules and regula-
tions, the conditions in Fairchance at the present time are very unsanitary. There
are no rules relative to the disposition of garbage, slops and other waste matters,
and with rospect to the carp of privies and cesspools, many of which are located in
close proximity to private wells used as sources of drinking water. The conditions
in some of the alleys and streets of the town are filthy because of drainage from
cesspools, pig-stys and privies. Such drainage may be seen in the street gutters.
This is notably so along DeForest Avenue and adjacent territory. Here the typhoid
fever epidemic in nineteen hundred and seven was principally concentrated.
The geological formation in the borough is free-stone, loose shale and limestone
rock. The shale is found at the top and from twenty to twenty-five feet below
the surface. Many of tho cellars of the town are damp. Typhoid fever is preva-
lent. In the nineteen hundred and seven epidemic two physicians treated between
fifty and sixty cases. These were not reported to the State Department of
Health.
There are no public sewers in the borough, but there are five private sewers,
three of which empty into Muddy Run and the other two into Georges Creek within
the town. Morgantown Street is between the railroads and Muddy Run along
the summit of the ridge, so that surface drainage from it is either westerly to
Muddy Run or easterly to Georges Creek. In the area sloping to the run there are
three sewers. The main street through the borough east and west is Church
Street. In this street there is a twelve-inch private sewer owned by the W. C.
Moore Estate. It begins at Morgantown Street and extends westerly across private
property to the run. There is a branch six inches in diameter extending along
the alley and up DeForest Avenue to Morgantown. About twelve hundnnl feet
down stream there is a six-inch sewer outlet discharging into the run between
Smithfield and Grove Streets. This sewer is said to belong to A. B. Hutching, O.
M. Bromfipld, George Gates and M. A. McCoimick, and was built in nineteen
hundred and .six. It extends up the alley parallel to Morgantown Street and
terminates near DpForest Avpnue. Seven hundred feet below this second outlet
there is a third private sewer, size unknown, said to belong to A. B. Bromfield. It
serves thp Bromfield property on Grove Street. This is in the extreme southern
part of the village.
In the eastern section of the borough at Church Strpet there is a twelve-inch
sewer about three hundred feet long, extending southerly from said Church Street in
Lvon Avenue to the creek. It takes the flow of a new dwelling on the north side
of Church Street.
Just above this outlet there is another twelve-inch private sewer from a hotel
into the creek. It is on the opposite or east bank of the stream.
There is a twelve-inch storm sewer from catch basins in Georges Street west
of the Pennsylvania Railroad easterly in Georirp Stroet to the creek. It is said
that there is one house connection with this pipe.
The residence of .7. L. Darby is said to have a connection with the twenty-four
inch tile sewer which conveys storm water from a small spring running east of
Main Street westerly under said street and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to
Georges Creek.
The private sewers in the Muddy Run district were authorized by the borough
authorities and the owners may sell the privileges to abutting land owners who
may desire to use the sewers.
The borough purposes to construct an eight-inch sewer along Church Street
for a distance of ten hundred and sixty-five feet, beginning about four hundred
and fifty feet easterly from the intersection of Churrh Street and Morgantown
Street and thence easterly in Church Street to Lyon Avenue, where the borough
purposes to connect the eight-inch sewer with the twelve-inch sewer heretofore
described as laid from a hotel on the north side of Church Street southerly through
Lyon Avenue to Georges Creek.
Petitioners state that there will be no further extension of this proposed eight-
inch sewer as all of the streets in the borough can be provided with drainage by
other lateral sewers.
The main stream of Georges Creek at this point is about twenty feet wide and
its flow has quite a rapid velocity. The flow is sufllcient to carry away the
suspended particles of sewage which the proposed sewer would discharge into the
S70 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
stream. From the mouth of Lyon Avenue sewer it is about three-quarters of a
mile down stream to the mouth of Muddy Run. All of this distance except the last
three hundred feet is Mithin the municipal territory of Fairchance.
The petitioners state that Muddy Run receives the drainage of a number of
mines and coke oven plants and is highly contaminated with sulphur. This is
true and it continues to be true of Georges Creek after it is joined by Muddy Run,
as other of its tributaries drain mining districts. Below the borough the stream
is not used for domestic purposes and in the borough below Church Street the
property along the banks of the creek is not built upon to any great extent. The
construction of the proposed sewer in Church Street is not as a practical remedy
for the unsanitary conditions along that thoroughfare. The topographical situa-
tion is such that this sewer can be easily connected to a system of sewers for the
entire borough at such times as such a general system may be designed and con-
structed.
The flow of the sewers of the entire borough can be ultimately collected and car-
ried to a common point down stream possibly within the borough and, in any
event, in George Township.
It is a very dangerous thing to draw water from the ground for domestic pur-
poses when such source is liable to sewage contamination from cesspools and
privies. The introduction of a public water works system in Fairchance will be
a practical method to reduce this danger. However, it has been proved that
property owners do not wholly relinquish private wells for the introduction of a
public water supply and so long as these wells arc in existence and in proximity to
privies and cesspools there will be a great danger of a sweeping epidemic. The
presence of typhoid fever in the borough in the past should be received as a warn-
ing of what may fall to a greater extent if the present unsanitary practices are
continued. The local authorities should be encouraged to establish a public sewer
system and extend the facilities thereof throughout the built-up part of the vil-
lage.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved by
granting a permit for the proposed sewer in Church Street and such permit is
hereby and herein granted under the following conditions and stipulations:
FiRST: That the municipal authorities shall prepare and submit to the Com-
missioner of Health for approval on or before the first day of April, nineteen hun-
dred and nine, a plan for a complete sanitary sewer system for the entire borough.
This plan shall contemplate the collection of all of the sewage from public and
private sources, including the e.xisting sewers, and its conveyance to some point
either within or v.'ithout the borough, where ultimately a sewage treatment plant
shall be erected when this becomes necessary. The site for the plant shall be
selected, its relative elcvatou and topography shown in connection with the levels
of the outfall sc>wors in order that the plan may be approved and adopted whereby
the sewers may be built in conformity therewith from time to time with the assur-
ance that no part of the sewer system will ever have to be reconstructed.
SECOND: Storm water shall be excluded from the proposed sewers.
Ilarrisbnrg, Pa., Oclober intli, 100S.
FOREST CITY, SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Forest City, Susquehanna County,
Pennsylvania, and is for permission to install a system of sewers, and to discharge
sewage therefrom into the Lackawanna River, within the limits of the borough.
It appears that on August eighth, nineteen hundred and seven, the borough of
Forest City, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, applied for permission to install
a system of sewers, and to discharge sewage therefrom into the Lackawanna River
within the limits of the borough. On December twentieth, nineteen hundred and
seven, the Commissioner of Health issued a permit for said system of sewers,
stipulating among other things, that before the sanitary si-wits or any part of the
system is built, the borough shall submit a plan thereof showing the entire sys-
tem, the sizes and grades, to the Commissioner of Health for approval, and sug-
jresting that the sewers be reduced in size so as to accommodate sewage only, ex-
rlnding storm water. The revised plans were filed in the Department on Febiii-
ary twentj'-second , nineteen h\nidred and eight.
Forest C'ity is without a system of sewers so that surface water and sewage
discharged into the j^itters in the luiilt-up portion of the town, is permitted to
drain along the gutters to various ciilverls under Ihe railroad and into the Lacka-
wanna River, by way of culm banks of the Hillside Coal and Iron Comi)any.
These banks are dyked so as to form a filti'r and (he sewage and drainage must
either pass over or throuKh this filter before reaching the river.
"■i'he former plans ineludeii an oulfall sevver twenty-four inches in diameter to
diselidrK'' on the lovsland near the river opposite Forest t!ity br'eaker. The main
interceplinir sewers leadint; out of this outfall compriseil fifteen inch i)ipe north
and south in Railroad Street, having a slope of one per cent., and a fifteen inch
pipe in ]\fain Street. The lateral sewei-s in the streets running north and south
were uniformly eight inches in diaini'ler. Thcsi; were designed to empty into
sewers from ei(;hl to fifteen inches in diameter, to be laid in the steep hijlsiido
hitrhwnys. The phiri showed Ihirty-seyen inlets for stonu water,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 871
The plans a« ivvised show a main outfall sewer near the above breaker exteudin;;
from the foot of Depot Street on the opposite side of the railroad from town
and cxtendim: aluny; said Railroad to a point near the breaker, thence directly
to the river, a total distance of about seven hundred and fifty feet. To this outfall
sewer will bo connected an ei;?l'.teen inch pipe two hundred feet long, extending
under the railroad. The twelve inch intercepter will extend along Railroad Street
and discharge into said eighteen inch pipe. The other pipes range in size fi-om six
inches to ten inches the greater part being eight inch pipe and the smallest part
being six inches.
Tiic slopes of the streets are good, so as to insure good surface drainage and
the pipes will accommodate velocities sufficient for self cleansing.
The petitioner's state that since submitting the revised plans that one of the
coal companies is about to build a new washeiy and will utilize most all of the
water from the mines for washing coal from old culm banks, so that there will be
no mine water entering the sewerage system. Such being the case, it is their
desire to reduce the twenty-four inch to an eighteen inch pipe.
It is understood that two assessments have already been made for the purpose
of constructing this sewer system and one year's taxes collected to take care of
the bond issue, and it is thought that if permission is not granted for at least
a .small part of the system, there will be considerable trouble in getting money
for this item this year.
The practice of discharging kitchen wastes and sewage into the street gutters
is a menace to public health and ought not to be tolerated and the most natural
place to discharge this waste is into the Lackawanna River.
The river during the dry seasons is practically all mine water and sewage at
this point, and some few miles below the acidity becomes greater on account of
the discharge from the many collieries draining to the stream. While mine drain-
age is now exempted by law from the pollutions which must cease to be dis-
charged into the waters of the State, it is by no means a sure thing when this
drainage must cease or be subject to regulation. Although the acidity of the
stream no doubt renders some of the sewage which enters it harmless, it is not
known to what extent the present quantity of water will render more sewage
harmless.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by granting a permit for the proposed sewer system, and a permit is hereby and
herein granted under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That all roof and storm water shall be excluded from the system but
mine water may be temporarily admitted until such a time as the Commissioner
of Health may determine.
SECOND: That proper ordinances be passed compelling the properties abut-
ting the' sewer district to connect with said sewers so that the discharge of sewage
and wash water into the gutters will be stopped.
THIRD: That flush tanks or other suitable means of flushing dead ends shall
be installed in the system and that manholes shall be placed at all intersection and
change of grade. The sewers may extend from time to time and at the end of each
season's work plans of the sewers built during the year under the system hereby
approved shall be jjrepared and filed with the Commissioner of Health, together
with any other information in connection therewith which he may require.
FOURTH: No pathological material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed on the
ji remises.
FIFTH: That if at any time the sewerage system or any part thereof, in the
opinion of the Commissioner of Health, be a nuisance or menace to public health,
then such remedial measures shall be adopted by the borough as the Commissioner
of Health may advis(- or approve.
SIXTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
<'ease on the first day of July, nineteen hundred and ten. If the borough shall
have complied with the conditions of this permit at the end of that time, then the
Commissioner of Ilealtii may extend the time and fix the date when sewage shall
cease to be discharged from said sewer system into the waters of the Stale.
Harri.<^burg, Pa., July 24, 1908.
FRANKLIN, VENANGO COUNTY.
Thest! applic^ations were made by the City of Franklin, Venango County, and
is for permission to make general extensions to its sewer system, also for per-
mission to construct a combined sewer and culvert in the Third Ward in said city,
aisii for piM-niission to construct a ten inch sewer in Elm Street and for permission
to build a ten inch sewer in Buffalo Street.
It appears that Franklin (Mty is the county seat of Venango County and a
manufacturing: and residendal community located on the west bank of the Alle-
gheny River and on both banks of the French Creek, llie site of the town is prin-
cipally on the flats bordering the streams and hemmed in by high hills on all sides.
Many of the newer residences are on these hillsides.
S72 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The municipal territory is divided iuto tliree wards. The First Ward com-
prises the southei-Q part of the city, extending along the west bank of the river
and the lower portion of French Creek, the Second Ward embraces all of the re-
maining land south of French Creek, and the Third Ward comprises all of that
portion of the city north of French Creek.
It is in the Third Ward that the principal industries are located, although in
Ward One, near the southern extremity of the city, are the plants of the General
Manifold and Printing Company, the Colburn Machine Tool Company and the
Franklin Railway Supply Company, said to employ one hundred and fifty, one
hundred and eighty and two hundred hands, respectively. These works are ad-
jacent to the tracks of the Clearfield and Franklin Branch of the Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern Railroad. Said track extend notherly and westerly through
the city at the foot of the hillsides and about forty feet above the river bank, the
business section and principal portion of the town lying below and between them
and the river. The only land developed in the city lying west of these tracks is
in the Second Ward in the valley of Gurney Run. This stream rises in the hills
and comes down northerly through the city to French Creek, the last twenty-
two hundred feet of its length, from Chestnut Street in Fourteenth to the river,
being a brick culvert five feet by six feet in diameter.
The streets are laid out parallel to the creek and river and at right angles
thereto. The two main thoroughfares are Liberty and Elk Streets, the latter
being nearest the river. Between Elk Street and French Creek is Otter Street.
The highways at right angles are numbered, beginning with First Street in
the extreme southern part of the city and ending with Sixteenth Street at the
upper part of the Second Ward, over two miles distant.
Near the foot of Third Street is the mouth of Smiths Run, which rises in the
hills westerly and drains a small precipitous agricultural district. Underneath the
Railroad, Liberty and Elk Streets, and through a part of the private property
developed, the stream is confined to a large masonry culvert. No sewage is
discharged into this structure, but the Gurney Run culvert is an outlet for the
sewage of that part of the city.
In the Third Ward, which is connected with the Second Ward by a highway
bridge at Thirteenth Street, the main highway paralleling the creek is named
Atlantic Avenue. And north of it is Grant Street and then Pacific Street. The
Franklin Branch of the Erie Railroad, extending from Oil City down the Alle-
gheny River valley and thence to Meadville up French Creek valley, passes
through Franklin in the Third Ward between Atlantic Avenue and the creek,
and it is along this track that the industries are located.
Among others should be mentioned the Galena Signal Oil Works, Franklin
Rolling Mill and Foundry Company, American Steel Foundry Company, Chicago
Pneumatic Tool Company and several oil well supply companies, all of which
are important and thriving, and none of which produce industrial wastes of special
importance. The sewage from them is at present discharged into the creek at each
plant by an individual sewer. There is no reason why the sewage should not be
delivered to the public system when said system is perfected.
Thirteenth Street terminates at Monkey Run and at the city line and here
the highway forks, the branch to the east extending up the valley of Monkey
Run being known as Dempseytown Road and the branch to the north , the con-
tinuation of Thirteenth Street, is the Waterford and Susquehanna Turnpike
and the boundary between the city and Sugar Creek Township.
Rock Grove village is a settlement of about two thousand people or more on
the run and Dempseytown Road, about a half mile east of the city line. It is
connected by trolley line with Franklin and Oil City, eight miles further north.
There appears to be no public sewer system. Kitchen drainage and sewage reaches
the stream in gutters or private drains. At Thirteenth Street the run enters an
eight foot masonry culvert which extends through the city to French Creek with
an outlet therein below the Thirteenth Street bridge. Some sewage gets into
this culvert.
Ward T^lree is not thoroughly sewered. There are three culverts into the creek
besides the eight foot culvert. In order up stream they are as follows: Twelve
inch pipe at Thirteenth Street, serving a total length of twelve hundred feet
of eight inch, ten inch and twelve inch pipe laid in Grant and Thirteenth Streets.
Tliere are six street gutter inlets for the admission of siirfnce drainage to this
sewer; next an eighteen inch outlet near the foot of Orchard Street, sei'ving a
total length of sixty-two hundred feet of sewer, diameters ranging from eight
to eighteen inches, the pipes being laid in Atlanl^ic Avenu* , Grant and Pacific
Strei'ts, and connected therewith are twenty-two inlets fo' street drainage. This
outlet is one thousand feet above Thirteenth Street; and *'.ie last outlet of the Third
Ward is a twenty-four inch pipe, one-half a mile ;ii)(>v •«)rchard Street. It is at the
foot of Missouri Avenue and it serves a total lemsrli of forty-eight luindred feet
of sewer in Atlantic Avenue, Grant and Pjicific Streets, having diameters rang-
ing from ten to eighteen inches. Street drainage is admitted at sixteen
plac«'».
Not all of the buildings on these sewer lines are connected therewith. It is
estimated that over half of the population in the ward does not contribute to
the flow in the sewers The unsewered portion, especially that north of Grant
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 873
Street, is in a very unsanitary condition. The lands are low and swampy, with
poor natural surface drainage. Kitchen slops are discharged into the street gutters
and produce a uaisaiue ihere, especially in hut weather. The northern section
of this district is on the hillside and several small streams and a number of springs
render the land and house lots wet. It is to obviate these conditions that the
city purposes to build the three foot culvert in Grant Street.
, Wards One and Two appear to be quite thoroughly sewered and the buildings
there are quite generally connected.
Beginning at the lower end of the city and naming the outlets in order, they
are as follows: At the foot of Third Street there is a twenty-four inch sewer
which is laid up this road to the foot of the hill. It takes water from springs and
surface drainage from the hillsides and connected with it, in Buffalo, Liberty
and Elk Streets, are sewers from ten to twelve inches in diameter through which
sewer drainage is taken at seven points. In this district there are, all told, forty-
nine hundred feet of sewer, at the foot of Fourth Street there is a twenty-four inch
sewer outlet which serves all the territory as far north as Seventh Street.
It, like the Third Street outlet, extends to the foot of the hillside and receives
surface drainage from the steep slopes and also from a swamp at the head of
Fourth Street. Connected with this sewer main is an eighteen inch pipe extending
northerly in Buffalo Street, also a fifteen inch in Liberty street and a twelve inch
in Elk Street. All told, in the district there are sixtj'-seven hundred feet of sewer,
smallest diameter ten inches. Street drainage is admitted at twenty points;
the next sewer outlet is a twelve inch pipe, four hundred feet long, serving six
hundred feet of eight inch sewer in Elk Street and having two street gutter
inlets, and discharging into the river between Seventh and Eighth Streets; at
Eight Street there is a county highway bridge over the Allegheny River into
Cranberry Township and here just below the bridge abutment there is a twenty-
four inch' sewer and an eighteen inch sewer. The twenty-four inch sewer is laid
up Eighth Street and thence northerly in Buffalo to the railroad and thence along
the railroad at the bottom of the steep hillside to Twelfth Street, a total length
of thirty-seven hundred feet. This sewer was put in principally to drain wet,
spongy land, and to carry away underground surface water from the hillsides.
The Liike Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad Company contributed liberally
towards the cost of this structure because of benefits received. There are at least
seven sii'eet gutter inlets on the sewer and connecting with it are twelve hundred
feet of tt'u inch lateral sewer pipe. Wherever convenient, houses have been
sewered to this line ; the eighteen inch outlet serves the district between Seventh
and Eleventh Streets, in which there is a total length of seventy-four hundred
feet of sewer, the smallest diameter being eight inches. There are at least twenty-
four inlets for street drainage ; at Eleventh Street there is a dam in French Creek
and a mill privilege. The dam is low and the back water does not extend far up
stream, the slope of the bed of the creek having quite a good fall through the city.
Immediately below the dam is the Eleventh Street sewer outlet, fifteen inches
in diameter, serving the territory between Tenth and Twelfth Streets, comprising
fifty-one hundred and fifty feet of pipe (smallest diameter eight inches) anil
taking street drainage at at least eleven places ; at Twelfth Street there is a
twenty-four inch sewer outlet into the creek, it serves a very important part of
the city, including the high lands sotith of the railroad. The twenty-four inch
pipe extends to Liberty Street, where there are two fifteen inch and one ten
inch sewer pipe discharging into it. One of the fifteen inch pipes continues on up
Twelfth Street and off of these pipes lateral sewere extend, comprising in all in the
district a total of twelve thousand six hundred feet of sewer, smallest diameter
eight inches. Street drainage is admitted at thirtj-eight points. The setting back
of sewage into some of the cellars in the lower portion of this district during
times of heavy precipitation is of frequent occurrence, to the inconvenience of
property owners and menace to the general public health. Some damages have
resulted and relief from this condition is quite generally demanded ; the next
sewer outlet is said to be a twenty-four inch sewer. It is at the foot of Thir-
teenth Street and connected with it are very old brick conduits in Thirteenth
Street to Buffalo, and in Buffalo, Liberty and Elk Streets between Thirteenth
and Fourteenth Streets, a total length of thirty-three hundred feet of structure
of unknown size. Also six hundred feet of ten inch pipe in Otter and six hun-
dred feet of twelve inch pipe in Franklin Avenue, the last sewer outlet into th>'
creek in the city in the Second Ward is the five by six foot culvert at the foot of
Fourteenth Street. Connected with it is a total length of fifty-eight hundred feet
of lateral sewer, smallest diameter eight inch. Street drainage is aiimitted ai
eighteen points. It is also admitted at nineteen points in the district drained by the
Thirteenth Street outlet.
It thus appears that there are three public sewer outlets into the French Creek
from the "^I'hird ward and nine public sewer outlets inlo the creek and the river from
the Second and First Wards. Some of them are submerged and others are above
ordinary water level. The total length of twelve and one-third miles comprises
eighty-six hundred and fifty feet of eight inch, twenty thousand four hundred
and fifty feet of ten inch, eleven thonsan<l seven hundred feet of twelve inch,
eighty-one hundred and fifty feet of fifteen inch, twenty-seven hundred feet of
eighteen inch, seventy-three hundn'<l feet of Iwenty-four inch and sixty-two hundred
feet of sizes unknown, probably brick structures two feet in diameter. So it appears
S74 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
that the city sewer system is principally ten inch pipe. As would be expected where
storm water from streets and from extended areas of hillsides is admitted to a sewer
system having such small conduits as obtain in Franklin, during heavy rainfalls there
is a surcharging of the system at many places.
The sev.ei-s are constructed from time to time regardless of any comprehensive
plan for the efficient drainage of the city area. Desultory extensions naturally
followed, with the result that to-day, if reports be true, there are pockets in
some of the sewer grades. Manholes at sewer intersections or at changes in line and
grade are almost unknown features of the sewers. So, the plans submitted by the
city are lacking in elevations of the sewers. I'urthermore, the rushing do.wu of
water from a hillside brings with it silt, which is deposited in the sewers at flat
places and pockets, which contributes to the back-flooding of abutting properties.
Often water will flow out of the street gutter inlets instead of into them as it
should in a proper system. During the Department's inspection, sewage odors
of pronounced strength were being submitted from various street inlets in the
central part of the city. This was conclusive evidence that the sewers were not
functioning properly.
Advice as to the best method of improvng the sewer system is requested by the
local authorities. Until full information is presented relative to the condition and
grade of the exii^ting sewers and the relative elevation of some of the cellars of
buildings connected with the sewers, the determination as to the most efficient as
well as economical remedy is impossible.
The three foot sewer culvert proposed by the city is to begin at the present
end of the Monkey Run culvert and thence extend westerly through low ground
to Pacific Street and in Pacific Street to Central Avenue. From here westerly
the sewer is to be fifteen and twelve inches in diameter in Pacific Street. Northerly
in Central Avenue the sewer is to be twenty-seven inches in diameter and to end
at Seneca Street on the hillside where two runs fed by copious springs are to be
diverted into the sewer Lateral sewer pipes in other streets of the district are
to be laid. They are to be twelve inches in diameter principally and will connect
with the sytem. Details as to elevations and grades have not been submitted. If
these structures are built as proposed, it will be a continuation of the combined
system.
The applications for sewer extensions in Elm Street, First Ward, and in
Buffalo Street, Second Ward, were made after the applications for permission
to make general petty sewer extensions anywhere in the city had been made, because
v.hile the general question was pending, the construction of these petty sewers was
demanded without delay as n health precaution.
The Elm Street extension is to be ten inch pipe, four hundred feet in length,
to connect with the twenty-four inch sewer which has its outlet at the foot of Eighth
Street. The Buffalo Street extension is to be ten inch pipe, three hundred and
fifty feet in length , to connect with the old brick sewer in said street extending
easterly to the four by five foot culvert in Fourteenth Street, which is the sewer
outlet for that section of the city. Both of these laterals are to take surface
water and sewage.
It is \inderstood by the local authorities that the pollution by sewage of streams
used subsequently as sources of public water supply must eventually cease, and that
when the time shall have arrived for the city of Franklin to discontinue the dis-
charge of its sewage untn-atcd into French Creek and into tlie river, the expense
of such a change would be proiiibitive if the combined volume of surface water
and of house drainage w<;re to be delivered to the sewage disposal works. The
pathogenic poison is in the house drainage and the volume! of this drainage for a
city of Franklin's size is comparatively small, and, therefore, the cost of de-
stroying the jjoison in the sewage before the liquid goes into the river is also
a comparatively inexpensive proposition and easily within the means of the city's
financial ability.
It is reported that the assessed valuation of property in Franklin is up-
wards of five million dollars. If it were exactly five million dollars, then the
city could borrow three hundred and fifty thousand dollars without exceeding its
debt limit. It is also reported that the city's bonded indeblednoss is fifty-five
thousand dolhirs. So, if these figures b(! subslantially coircct, tlic luiuiiciiiality
has credit (•(|iiivalent to three Inmdred thousand (hilhir.^. Tlu; puntjiase of the
system of |)uhlie water works now owned by tlie Venango Water Compimy by
special legiHlfitiv(! charter, is deenu'd by the (-itizens of the town to be a most
desirabU' coMsumination. Iiegislati(m was enacted dui'ing nineteen hundred and
seven aiithoi'izing inunicipalitii-s to ii<'(|uire water works systems and lo issue
bonds secured by such works foi- (hi' pjiynniit Ihereol', .-iikI Io provide ;i sinking fund
therefor out of the revi'iiues of HU(!h works. So the city oi' ]<'r;iiil<liii is cspccijilly well
equipped to own its own water works sysifin iind In csliililish jin imiti'ovcd sewi-r-
age plant.
Thirty n)i!es below the mouth of Freiieli ( In^ek tiic horougii of lOmlculoii takes
its water supply from the Allegheny River and so do oilier nnuiieipalities all
the way do»vn to I'ittshurg. 'J'he regiihil ion of sevvage rlischarge into I his stream
and its triimtarie.s has hee-n (fl'eeted by the (loiinnissioiier of llejilth holh jibove and
below thr; city of Franklin in all lliosc! instaiuMs where, under the law, llie Commis-
sioner has jurisdiction. In no instance has a limit of over Ihivse years Ix^en
granted beyond, which sewage may continue to be discharged into the waters of
the State. Oil City and Meadville have come under this regulation. At the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 875
present time the city of Meadville is engaged in preparing plans for the purifi-
cation of its sewage. In keeping witli tliis policy it is essential that the
authorities in the city of Franklin should anticipate the treatment of the city
sewage and do such work in the way of sewer extensions from now on as shall fit
into and be a part of the comprehensive ami complete elficient and economical
plan for the collection of all of the house drainage everywhere in the city and its
deliverance to and purification in a disposal plant. Such a plan precludes
the admission of storm water or nuieh roof water into the sewer. If any storm
water is to be admitted, then it should be limited to such a maximum quantity as
it may be found practicable to receive and handle at the sewage disposal works.
In solving this problem the best investment which the city can make is in the
employment of proper engineering skill. As previously stated, a thorough knowl-
edge of the existing sewers is requisite. Then judgement uuist be exercised as to
how best to separate sewage from storm water in the existing sewers, and what
sewers should be incorporated into the sanitary system and what sewers should be
used exclusively for storm water. Then would follow the location or locations for
the sewage disposal works and the devising of plans for the most efficient de-
liverance of the sewage there.
When these things are dene and the plan is approved and becomes official,
it will be possible for the city to make sewer improvements without wasting
money, but not otherwise.
It would be most inconsistent for the State to approve the combined sewer
system proposed for the Third Ward , for these reasons. It would add to the
difficulty. There is no reason why conduits for the removal of surface water
only should not be made by the city whenever it sees fit ; but the State cannot
sanction the construction of large conduits in Franklin City when these con-
duits are to be used for the conveyance of sewage ami storm water combined.
In the case of the two petty lateral extensions, it appears that they are at
summits and that on the Buffalo Street extension there are three dwellings
costing about forty thousand dollars, which will not be occupied until a sewer
connection be provided. I'rovided roof and storm water be excluded from these
extensions, or if admitted it be under condition providing for the exclusion of all
but sewage, if this should ever he found essential, there appeai-s to be no urgent
reason for refusal of a permit for a sewer. However, such permi.'^sion could not
very well be extensively given all over the entire city, which makes it all the
more urgent that the city officials should give lumiediate attention to the prepara-
tion of the comprehensive plan for improved sewerage and sewage disposal works.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health require with
respect to the proposed combined sewers in the Third Ward, that a permit be
withheld and such permit is hereby and herein withheld ; with respect to the
lateral sewer extensions in Elm and Buffalo Streets, that a permit be granted there-
for under certain conditions, which permit is hereby and herein granted; and
•with respect to the general extensions to the sewer system that a permit therefor
be withheld for the present and it is hereby and herein withheld all under the fol-
lowing conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That the Elm and Buffalo Street extensions be used exclusively for
sewage, or if roof and storm water be admitted thereto it shall be under such
conditions as shall provide for the exclusion of all but sewage, if this should
be found essential at any time. Furthermore, manholes for "inspection and of
approved design shall be provided at intersections and at changes in line and
grade.
SECOND: Permission to discharge sewage through the sewers or their out-
lets into the waters of the State shall cease January fifteen, one thousand nine
hundred and ten. On or before this date the city shall prepare a comprehensive
plan for the separation of its sewage and stomi water wholly or in part, and
for the treatment of the sewage, and submit the same to the Commissioner of
Health for approval. If on said date this be done, then the Commissioner of
Health may extend the time in which the city sewage may continue to be dis-
charged into the waters of the State, and fix the time, subject to the con-
currence of the Governor and the Attorney Geiun-al, on or before which the city
of Franklin shall erect sewage disposal works and put the same in operation.
The attention of the city officials is called to the desirability of the installa-
tion of a public sewerage system in the suburbs up Monkey Run valley. An
outlet into the city sewer system is suggested and it would he prudent for the
city's experts to bear this in mind when studying the problem. The Depart-
ment of Health will be glad to co-operate with the city at all times.
Harrisburg. Pa., January 29th, 1908.
FREEPORT, ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Freeport, Armstrong County, and
is for permission to extend the borough sewers as proposed.
It appears that the borough of Freeport is located in Armstrong County, West-
ern Pennsylvania, on the Allegheny River, thirty miles alwve Pittsburg. ' It is in
the extreme southwestern corner of Armstrong County and is located on a
tract of laud lying at the intersection of Buffalo ("reek with the Allegheny
876 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
River. Ou the south and east it has a frontage on the Allegheny River of five
thousand feet and ou the west it extends along Buffalo Creek for three thousand
feet.
The incorporated area of the borough consists of two hundred and fifty acres.
The land along the banks of Buffalo Creek and the Allegheny River is comparatively
flat and is about fifteen feet above the low water stage in the river. To the
north and east the land rises more rapidly, attaining a height of two hundred
feet above the lower portion of the borough at a ridge on the extreme northeastern
boundary of the borough limits. On this ridge is located the storage reservoir
of the water works company.
Buffalo Creek is a small tributary of the Allegheny River, having its origin in
the northwestern portion of Armstrong County. It follows the boundary line be-
tween Armstrong County and Butler County in its course and drains a territory
of approximately oue hundred and fifty square miles. The fiow in this creek
during the dry season is extremely low and sluggish. During the freshets and high
stages in the Allegheny River, the creek overliows its banks and the river front
of Freeport, on both streams, is frequently submerged.
One mile above Freeport the Kiskimiuetas River joins the Allegheny. Ten miles
up stream is Ford City and sixteen miles above is Kittanniug. Below Freeport
on the Allegheny there are numerous towns and villages which take their water
supply from the river.
Freeport is mainly a railroad community. Across Buffalo Creek on the western
bank of the borough is Butler Junction, a terminal of the Butler Branch of
the West Penn Railroad. One mile east of Freeport, across the Allegheny
River, is Kiskimiuetas Junction, where the Allegheny Valley Railroad joins
the West Penn Division. The West Penn Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad
passes through the borough along the bank of the Allegheny River and furnishes
easy access from Butler Junction and Kiskimiuetas Junction. Most of the
employes of these two places live in F^-eeport, comprising about thirty per
cent, of the total population.
The present population within the incorporated limits of the borough is
estimated to be two thousand. The borough is one of the oldest in the western
part of the State of Pennsylvania, and the growth has been slow. The popu-
lation in eighteen hundred and eighty was fifteen hundred and in nineteen
hundred, seventeen hundred and eighty, so that it is probable that the population
twenty years from now will not be more than twenty-five hundred. In additon to
the population within the borough limits, there is a settlement at Butler Junction
and also a suburban district in South Buffalo Township immediately east of the
borough limits. With these additions it is estimated that the total population
within the vicinity is twenty-five hundred, with a probable future population twenty
years from now of not over tliree thousand.
In addition to being a railroad centre, Freeport has one large industry, the
Guckenheimer Distillery, , located on Todds Island, within the borough limits,
on the Allegheny River near the eastern end of the borough. This island belongs to
the distillery company and is being built into the mainland. The island, which is
two thousand feet long and five hundred feet wide, has been laid out in lots and
streets and the houses of the employes have been located thereon, in addition
to the distillery warehouses and buildings. The distillery employs one hundred
and sixty-five men and is equipped with a private water supply, but uses the water
from the Freeport Water Works for fire purposes. The private supply is taken
from the Allegheny River for boiler purposes and from a system of driven wells for
the distillery.
Th<!re is a smaller distillery located west of the borough at Butler Junction across
Buffalo Creek belonging to the Pennsylvania Distillery Company.
The borough is supplied with water by the Freeport Water Works Company,
a private corporation which also supplies the railroad company at Freeport Junc-
tion and the distilleries. Practically every house in the borovigli is connected
to the water mains. It is reported that the company supplies five hundred thou-
sand gallons of water per day, of which three hundred thousand gallons are
used for industrial purposes.
The water is taken from the Allegheny River through two cribs located in the
bottom of the river and covered with six feet of gravel. These cribs are located
three-quaitere of a mile above the borough center and about one thousand feet
from the borough line out in the township. The water is jjumfjcd from these
cribs to a scriffs of womh^n storagi' tanks located on the ridge nt tin' iioi-liiciistern end
of the borough and having a cajmcity of two hundred and fifty thousand gallons.
Water is supitlifd from these tanks to the community through two six inch
and one four inc-h supply nmins, with an average pressure of eighty-five pounds
in the main built-up district of llie borough.
The water furnished by the f:onipany is, however, not used generally for
drinking purposes. 'I'liere is a i)reju<iicc against the use of this water, due to its be-
ing taken directly from the Allegheny River, which is highly jjolhited with sewage
from towns located above Free[)ort, and also on account of the muddy condition
of the water during t!ie flood stages of the river. The p(iopIe in the borough
use for their drinking water sc'veral i-priiigH which outcrop at various points in
the borough between the lidge and the river and probably a dozen wells. These
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 877
wells range Erom four to six feet in diameter and go to a depth of thirty feet,
where the bottom is about on a level with the river bed. The wells are lined with
dry rubble tield stone.
The main streets of the borough parallel the river. Water Street abuts the
river bank in the western portion of the town and paralleling it is Market Street,
and next in order, High Street and Franklin Street. High Street is the only
thoroughfare through the entire length of the borough. The railroad lies between
Market and Water Streets. At right angles to the river, the highways are named
in order: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets, the first street
being close to Buffalo Creek.
The business section of the town is on Market and High Streets, from Third
to Sixth Streets.
The lands abutting First and Water Streets are low and subject to inunda-
tion.
The borough is equipped with a combined sewer system which drains one-half of
the municipal area. There ore five sewer outlets, two of them are into Buffalo
Creek and three are into the river below the island. Besides these there are
private sewers.
The sewers were first installed in eighteen hundred and ninety-six when the
Singer Sewer Company constructed three thousand feet of sewer in the
center of the borough, consisting of small sizes, with a ten inch outlet at the
foot of Fifth Street. This system has been partly abandoned and partly in-
corporated in the borough system of sewers. The outlet at Fifth Street drains two
houses.
A new twenty inch outlet sewer, belonging to the borough, discharges at this
point into the river. This twenty inch outfall sewer extends up F'ifth Street
and carries the drainage from all of the sewered territory east of Fifth Street.
It is fed by a series of fifteen inch laterals extending along Market Steet, High
Street and Franklin Street, with a total length of five thousand feet in the
system.
The other two outfall sewers emptying into the Allegheny River at the foot
of First Street and Fourth Street, respectively; the First Street sewer is twenty
inches in diameter and extends from the river front to Market Street, a distance
of five hundred feet. It is fed by a series of laterals fifteen inches and eighteen
inches in diameter, extending along Market Street, of a total length of sixteen
hundred fe<^t.
The outfall sewer at Fourth Street is fifteen inches in diameter and extends up
Fourth Street to Buffalo Street seventeen hundred feet. It also drains the ter-
ritory between Third and Fifth Streets with a series of eight and ten inch laterals
one thousand feet in length.
The two outfall sewers into Buffalo Creek have been constructed since the
passage of the Act of nineteen hundred and five. It is approval of this outlet
for which application has been made and is now under consideration. One of
these sewers empties into Buffalo Creek at the foot of High Street ; it is eighteen
inches in diameter. This sewer was constructed by the borough about June first,
nineteen hundred and five, and extends along High Street from Buffalo Creek to
Fourth Street, a distance of fifteen hundred feet. It is fed by laterals locate<l
on Second Street from Market to High Street four hundred feet ; from High
Street north two hundred and fifty feet.
The other outfall sewer emptying into Buffalo Creek is at the foot of Buffalo
Street near the highway bridge across the creek to Freeport Junction. This sewer
is twenty inches in diameter and extends from Washington Street to Buffalo
Creek, a distance of twelve hundred feet. A lateral connection to this was made
in nineteen hundred and eight along Second Street from Buffalo Street a distance
of nine hundred feet.
These sewers have been constructed under the supervision of the borough en-
gineer and it is reported that they have been laid in a first class manner to an
accurate grade. Most of the sewers are on steep grades and are ample in size
to take care of the storm flow. Manholes are located at all intersections. No
flush tanks are used.
It is estimated that thirteen hundred people are using the sewers at present,
with a total of two hundred and fifty connections to the sewers. Roof water
is in all cases carried to the sewers and there are storm water inlets in the paved
sections of the borough for carrying away the surface flow during rains. The
remaining population use earth vault privies of which there are over three hun-
dred in th'? borough.
In addition to the public sewer system, there are many private sewers emptying
directly into the river from houses located along the river front. There are twelve
or more houses with independent sewer connections located on Water Street from
Buffalo Street to Fifth Street. On Todds Island the distillery company has an
eighteen inch sewer which discharges the liquid run-off from the works into the
Allegheny River. They also have a three inch tile sewer connection from the
oflice lavatory, which discharges sewage directly into the river.
Typhoid fev^r is prevalent in Freeport and has been for many years. Accurate
records, however, are wanted. During nineteen hundred and five there were six-
teen cases in two weeks and during nineteen hundred and seven it would ap-
66
S7S THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Dod.
pear that there \vei'(? between two hundred and three hundred cases of typhoid
fever. At any rate twenty-two deaths were recorded. Physicians do not report
the cases and the records of the Bureau of Vital Statistics, of the Slate Department
of Health, relative to typhoid fever, are worthless for Freeport borough on this
account. The epidemic in the fall of nineteen hundred and five, when sixteen
cases occurred in two weeks, was attributed to the infection of the milk supply.
All the cases were on the route of one milk dealer, at whose farm typhoid fever
existed.
The general prevalence of the disease from year to year is evidently due to
the pollution of the drinking water of the community. While the water furnished
by the water company is highly contaminated by sewage, yet on account of the
widespread use of spring and well water in the borough, taken from sources
which are in proximity to privy vaults and cesspools, such water should be
viewed with suspicion also. The water works company contemplates the installation
of a high grade filter plant, and plans therefor are now under consideration by
the State Department of Health. The construction and operation of this filter plant
may not reduce the typhoid fever to a sufficiently low rate, owing to the use of
the' said well and spring waters. Therefore, the borough otficials should co-
operate by making a rigid inspection of the private water sources in the borough.
The existence of so many earth closets is a menace. One remedy is the construction
of sewers and compulsory connection therewith. The borough contemplates afford-
ing this remedy.
In addition to the sewers which have been constructed by the borough since
April, nineteen hundred and five, and enumerated hereinbefore, the borough pui*-
poses to build extensions in the immediate future along streets where paving is to be
done. These sewers are planned to carry storm and roof water in addition to the
sewage and are to be connected with the existing system. The borough de-
sires to lay three hundred and seventy-five feet of fifteen inch sewer on Sixth
Street, between Market and High Streets; three hundred and sixty feet of eighteen
inch sewer on Washington Street, from Fifth to Stewart ; four hundred and fifty feet
of fifteen inch sewer on Stewart Street, from Washington Street north; all of
which discharge through the Fifth Street outfall sewer into the Allegheny River.
There is also a section of three hundred and seventy-five feet of fifteen inch sewer
extending from High Street to Market Street on Third Street and discharging
through the First Street outfall sewer into the Allegheny River. The petitioners
state that they have advertised for this work in connection with street paving
and are anxious to place it in the ground before paving is begun. The total length
of the extensions is fifteen hundred and sixty feet and they will drain twenty
additional house connections.
The borough of Freeport is supplied with water, so it is seen, from the Alle-
gheny River, which is polluted with sewage from various towns and boroughs
located above the intake. The nearest borough above the Freeport Water Works
is Ford City, which is distant only ten miles and whose sewage is discharged
into the Allegheny River. The Department of Health has recently granted a permit
to Ford City to discharge its sewage and to extend its system only under con-
dition that plans for separate system of sewers and a sewage disposal plant be
prepared and submitted to the Department of Health for approval in the im-
mediate future. This policy of the Department has also been carried out in the
case of the boroughs of Tarentum, Brackenridge and Natrona, located immediately
below Freeport and contaminating the Allegheny River with sewage. The bor-
ough of Freeport should, therefore, expect to co-operate with this policy of
the Department in protecting the ijurity of the water supply of the various
munioipaiities along the Allegheny River and Ohio River, moyii especially since
its sewage is discharged into the river at a point six miles above the water
works intake at Tarentum by means of which residents of Harrison Township,
Brackenridge and Tarentum boroughs are supplied with drinking water.
It appears, if reports be true, that the municipal borrowing capacity within the
seven per cent, limit of indebtedness is twelve thousand dollars taking into ac-
count the present assessed valuation of indebtedness. Therefore, the borough is not
in a position to assume the expense of erecting sewage disposal works or to eliminate
the storm water from existing sewers. The cost of disposing of sewage mixed with
storm and roof water is prohibitive and it will be necessary for the liorough to
change its sewer system to some extent. It would be better to exclude all roof
and storm water and to carry sewage only to the disposal plant, but it may be
found that a portion of the roof and street water may be ijrMinittcjd to continue
to flow into the sewers after the sewage disposal plant shall have been erected.
This is a question of engineering, which needs to be carefully studied by some
expert emidoyed by the borough, and the State Department of Health will be
glad to further advise; with respect to such a study. It appears thai; it is nec-
essary that there should ]><) storm scswers in the low districts of the borough to
avoid washout from the hillsides. With the existc^nce of two outlets within four
hundred feet of each other at Fourth and Fifth Streets it should be possible at
little expense to remodel the system so as to discharge the stoj-m water from one
of these outlets and use the other solely for sanitary sewage.
,\n arrangement should be made for sewering Todds Island mid conducting all
of the sewage and wastes produced there to the disixtsal plant.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 870
in constructing the outfall sewei-s discharging into BufTalo Cieek and their
connections after the passage of the Act of April twentj'-second , nineteen hundred
and five, the borough violated the law of the Commonwealth in regard to the
pollution of streams. The petitioners in their application state that these
• sewers wore constructed without the knowledge of the borough officials that a
permit was required from the Department of Health. They furtlier state that the
section which was constructed in nineteen hundred and eight was done under a
misunderstanding that it was neces.sary to obtain a permit for petty extensions.
The diameters of the sewer extensions for which application is made are larger
than is necessary for sanitary purposes. An eight inch sewer should be ample
in size for any of these extensions. The reduction from fifteen and eighteen inch pipe
to eiglit inch pipes will save some money. Storm water should be excluded
from those lateral extensions because there appears to be no good reason submitted
by the borough authorities for the admission of storm water into those proposed
sewers in view of the necessity for the ultimate treatment of the sewage of the
entire borough.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be sub-
served by granting a permit to the borough of Freeport to construct the proposed
sewer on Sixth Street between Market and High Streets ; on Washington Street
from Fifth Street to Stewart ; to Stewart Street from Washington Street north ;
and also a sewer on Third Street from High to Market Street and these sewers
only and a permit is hereby and herein issued therefor, under the following con-
ditions and stipulations:
FIRST: On or before December first, nineteen hundred and eight, the bor-
ough shall prepare a detailed and accurate plan and profile of all of its existing
sewers and file the same with a satisfactory report thereof in the office of the
Commissioner of Health.
SECOND: That on or before June first, nineteen hundred and nine, the bor-
ough shall prepare a plan for the collection and purification of the borough
sewage, which shall include all territory within the borough limits, which plan
is to be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval on or before said
June first, nineteen hundred and nine.
THIRD: That storm and roof water shall be excluded from the sewer ex-
tensions herein approved and reduction in the sizes of the sewers proposed be
made to conform to the sanitary sewer system for the entire borough.
FOURTH: Extension manholes shall be located at every change of line and
grade of the sower.
FIFTH: Approv.il of the sewers built by the borough since April twenty-
second, nineteen hundred and five, is hereby temporarily withhold until the plans
for a comprehensive sewerage sjstem and sewage disposal works, involving the
incorporation of the , existing sewei"S or some part thereof, if practicable, into such
plans for a comprehensive sanitary sewerage system, shall have been pre-
Ijan-d and submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
SIXTH: This permit to discharge sewage from sewer extensions through ex-
isting sewers into the waters of the State shall cease on June first, nineteen
hundred and nine, but if on that date the terms of this permit Shall have been
complied with, then the Commissioner of Health may extend the time in which
sewage may continue to be discharged from the borough sewer system into the
waters of the State, having in mind the policy of the State with respect to
the discharge of sewages into the river from other municipalities in the Alle-
gheny River valley.
Special attention of the borough authorities is hereby called to the sugges-
tions hereinbefore made relative to private wells and springs.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., September 18th, 1908.
GLASSPORT, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This ai)plication was made by the borough of Glassport, Allegheny County, and
is fur permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage through
e.visting sewers into the Monongahela River within the limits of the borough.
It appears that the borough of (ilassport is a manufacturing community of
five tliousand population, located along the east bank of the Monongahela River
about two niih's above the mouth of the Younhioghony River and the city of Mc-
Keosport, and seventeen and six-tenths milos by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie
Railroad above the city of Pittsburg.
The borough territory stretohes along the river for a distance of two and one-
half miles and its greatest depth is one and one-fourth miles. It is bounded on the
north i)y the Tenth Ward of McKeesport and on the east by the borough of
I'ort \'uo, which borough occupies all the land between Glassport and the
Youiihioirhony Rivi-r except the Tenth Ward of McKeesport.
The industries are all located along the river on the flats between the railroad
and the river. The bottom lands extend easterly of the tracks for varying widths
and upon those low lands probably fifty per cent, of the people reside. The
business section of the town is on the flats also. There is a ridge paralleling
the river which approaches quite close to the stream at both the northern and
southern parts of the borough, but in the central part it flows out easterly form-
ing extensive bottom lands upon which most of the borough is built as above de-
880 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
scribed. However, mauy dwellings have been erected on the hillsides. In the
northern end of the town adjacent to the Tenth Ward of McKeesport there
is a settlement called Otto, comprising about eighty-five houses, the settlement
taking its name from ihe Otto Plant of the Pittsburgh Gas and Coke Company.
This plant is located at the foot of First Street, emploj-es about two hundred and
fifty men who reside largely in the vicinity. Glassport proper extends from Third
to Ninth Streets, the space between Third and First Streets being open land under
cultivation. Betwei-n First and Ninth Streets, which highways terminate at the
railroad and extend back from there at right angles along the river bank, are
located in order from Third Street up stream, the Severance Manufacturing Com-
pany, manufacturers of spikes and rivets, employing between one hundred and
one hundred and fifty men , the Pittsburg Steel Company , Hoop and Band De-
partment, employing about two hundred hands; the Pittsburg Steel Foundry, em-
plojing about six hundred and fifty hands; the United States Glass Works, em-
ploying about three hundred and fifty men; the American Axe and Tool Works,
employing about five hundred men ; and the Pollock Shops of the Pittsburgh and
Lake Erie Railroad, employing about seventy-five mechanics.
The town was incorporated as a borough in one thousand nine hundred and two.
Practically speaking, the entire growth of the community occurred in the last
eight years. The principal area comprises about one thousand acres of which
not over fifty per cent, are now occupied, so that there is no land restriction to
a greater growth of the borough.
The citizens obtain their drinking water from the Monongahela Valley Water
Company. This company furnishes water to a number of boroughs and townships
and the Tenth Ward of McKeesport. The water is taken from the Monongahela
River near the upper end of Elizabeth borough, four miles above Glassport, and
is pumped by a low service machinery to the settling tanks, two in number, each
fifty feet in diameter and twenty feet high. Sulphate of alumina is used to ef-
fect coagulation and sedimentation. The water flows by gravity from the settling
tanks to three horizontal pressure type filters arranged to act as gravity filters.
Each unit is eight feet in diameter and thirty feet long, each with a rated ca-
pacity of seven hundred and fifty thousand gallons in twenty-four hours. The
water passes through the filters to the clear water basin located directly beneath
them, from which It is taken by the high service machinery and pumped directly
to the consumers, the surplus going to a reservoir of about one million gallons
capacity located on high ground back of Elizabeth borough.
It is reported that there is only one private spring in use in Glassport and
that there are not over six private wells in use. There is typhoid fever prevalent
in the community and it seems about two-thirds of the cases, as far as has been
observed, occur among the adults. Most of the industrial plants have drilled well
supply for drinking water. The river water is used for industrial purposes in
nearly all cases. The railroad shops are supplied with artesian wells for drink-
ing. The river water is treated with soda ash and lime before being used in the
shops. The sewage from the buildings, and probably roof water is discharged
into the main borough sewer which passed underneath the shops.
On the American Axe and Tool Company's property there are two driven wells
from which drinking water is drawn in the summer time. The water company
supplies the plant in the winter. There are twelve sewer pipe outlets from this
plant to the river. Through eight of them there is a steady flow of waste water from
the wheel pits. There are six open closets on the property which are flushed daily
with hose, the drainage being to the sewer system. Roof water is also pumped
to the sewers.
The glass works are supplied by the water company for drinking purposes.
The river water is pumped into the works for industrial uses. A private sewer
takes roof water and closet drainage and all drainage back to the river.
The drinking water for the employes of the foundry is obtained from a drilled
well. The river water before being used in the plant, is pumped to a settling
tank and treated.
There is a sewer system on the property having three outlets, one a twelve inch,
one a fifteen inch and one an eighteen inch pipe. Flush closets are connected to
the sewers at different points throughout the works.
At the Pittsburgh Steel Company's works, drinking water is obtained from the
well located on the premises of tlie Severance plant, adjacent thereto. The in-
dustrial supply is obtained partly from the river siipi)]em('nted by the water com-
Ijuny's source when tin- river water is unfit for manufacturing purposes. A
private sewer system with two outlets, one a six iiicii and the other an eight inch
pipe takes the drainage from the property to the rivcrr.
There is a drainage system at tiie Severance jjlant having three outlets into
the river, which carries off waste water from the works. There are two privy
vaults, plank sides, on the grounds. They are located probably one hundred and
fifty feet away from the well.
At the Otto Coke plant there is a privy overhani,'inK the bank of the river.
The sewer system lakcH industrial vviistes and wloini water and sewage from
the office building. 'I'iie vvat(M- comjjany furnishes drinking water and the; river
source is firawn upon for operating purposes.
So far as the Depurtinctit can ascertain, existing typhoid fever in the bor-
ough has not been attributed to the use of these ))rivate sources of drinking water,
nor to the public water supply.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 881
The public suwer sysliHii was bt'sjuii in nineteen liiimlred aud has been extended
from time to time annually, the last sewer buill, about which the Department is
informed, was in uinilecu hundred and six. This was a short line put in without
application and approved by the Department of Health. The borough has not
submitted a report and plan of its sewer system as required by law, but the
local authorities are now engaged in the preparation of such report and plan.
The streets in Glassport proper are quite thoroughly sewered and the sewers
take both sewage and storm water. The evidence of the existence of the sewere
may be seen by the inlets in the street gutters. There are thi-ee outlets to the sewer
system. The lirst one down stream is at the foot of Lincoln Street. The sewer is
three feet in diameter, a brick structure, and it extends southerly in Monon-
gahela Avenue to Harrison Street. There are about forty houses along this
street and all of them are said to have connections to the sewer. The principal
object of this sewer is to remove surface water from the avenue which parallels
the railroad tracks and is the main thoroughfare of the town. The trolley tracks
are on this highway.
About two thousand feet upstream from the Lincoln Avenue sewer there are
two twenty-four inch pipe sewers on the property of the Otto Coke plant. The
borough has connected an eighteen inch pipe having a length of about one thou-
sand feet in Monongahela Avenue with one of these private sewer outlets. Con-
nected with this eighteen inch pipe sewer there are a very few buildings.
A second pipe sewer outlet is at the foot of Third Street upstream about two
thousand feet from the Otto Coke plant. This sewer is five feet in diameter,
built of brick, and it serves all of the borough, principally north of Seventh
Street, as far east as Vermont Avenue. No data as to the length of lateral
sewers or of houst connections is now in the possession of the Department.
The third pipe sewer outlet is upstream one mile. It serves the largest district
in the borough and the most populated one, being all of the built up part south
of Seventh Street and east of Vermont Avenue. How many feet of lateral sewer
and how many buildings connect with the system, is not now known to the De-
partment.
It appears that there are several hundred loose earth privy vaults in use
throughout the town and where there are no sewers, kitchen drainage is emptied
into the street gutters and filthy conditions may be seen in some of the highways
of the town, owing to this custom.
The borough purposes to lay a fifteen inch pipe sewer along Indiana Avenue be-
tween Ninth and Fifth Streets. This Avenue extends along the hillside at an
elevation slightly above the base of the hill. The thoroughfare is unpaved, about
one-half of the lots are built upon, the buildings on the lower side of the street have
sewer connections to Cherry Alley sewer in the rear and the kitchen drainage
from the buildings on the upper side of the street is deposited in the gutter,
creating a nuisance. The borough also purposes to extend the four foot brick
sewer from Cherry Alley easterly in Ninth Street to Indiana Avenue, to receive
the How of the proposed Indiana Avenue sewer.
The majority of the property owners along the avenue have petitioned the local
authorities for the proposed sewer.
It appears that the local Board of Health is active in enforcing cleanliness. Many
of the houses are occupied by people of foreign birth who are liable to be negligent
in carrying out the rules and regulations of the local Board of Health. In
the matter of cleaning out the privy vaults, it is reported that so rigid is the
inspection of the local health officer that whenever a sewer line is built, many
of the abutting property owners voluntarily connect with the sewer and do away
with the trouble and expense of frequent cleaning out of the privy vaults.
The kitchen di'ainago fi'om the Indiana district now reaches the river by the street
gutters. By granting permission to build the sewer, a local nuisance will be
abated and the increase in sewage pollution of the river will be a measureable
amount.
It has been ascertained elsewhere in the State that municipalities and industrial
establishments in which water is supplied for cooling aud general purposes other
than for drinking, do occasionally use this water to drink in spite of warn-
ings in reference to the pollution of the water. One or more typhoid epidemics
have occurred in Pennsylvania from this cause. While the infection of the
individual is due to his own negligence in a large measure after proper warning
being given of the danger in the water, nevertheless, some of the responsibility
it attributable to the negligence through which the sewage is first deposited in the
water. There is no doubt but that the interests of public health will be sub-
served by removing this element of danger to the employed. At present, in (.ilass-
port, the principal borough sewer pours its filth into the river above the intakes
of the water works systems and all of the industries of the towns. In turn, each
manufacturing plant sewer offends in a similar manner.
The sewage if discharged at all into the Monongahda River should be emptied
at a point where it can do no harm ; first, to the citizens of the town, and second,
to other municipalities down stream.
Owing to the proximity of Glassport to the city of McKeesport whose improved
sewerage and sewage disposal problem is now up for consideration by the city
officials, it might be very desirable for Glassport to work in conjunction with
5G— 17— 1908
882 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
McKeesport iu studying the problem. It is altogether probable that a joint in-
spection ot' sewage and ultimate disposal of it would be cheaper and better than
independent action on the part of these two municipalities.
The borough of Glassport has an assesed valuation of about three million
dollai-s and a bonded indebtedness of about one hundred and ninety-eight thousand
dollars, so it is reported. If these figures be true, then it is seen that the
municipal bori-owiug capacity has about reached the limit. But the town is
amply able to prepare phins for the collection of its sewage and for both present
and prospective and for the ultimate proper disposal of the sewage and submit
these pians to th'^ State Department of Health for approval. After such plans
have been finally adopted, they will serve as a guide and be followed in all
future laying down of sewers from time to time. Thus no mistake will be made
and no reconstruction of sewers will ever be necessary. The whole will fit into
one perfect, comprehensive system.
There is one important point which must be kept in mind by the local authorities
in preparing the comprehensive system. This is the question of the ultimate treat-
ment of the sewage. The cost of handling both sewage and storm water is pro-
hibitive. The separation of house drainage from stom water to some degree is
demanded. A study of the comprehensive system must thoroughly comprehend
this question of elimmation ol roof and storm water and of incorporating into the
comprehensive system as much of the existing sewer system as is practicable.
While the State Department of Health will co-operate with the local authorities
and assist in this study, the work must be primarily initiated by the borough and it
would be economy for the town to engage the services of some recognized expert to
consult with the borough engineer in initiating these studies and plans and in work-
ing in conjunction with the municipal authorities of McKeesport City if this
be found a feasible thing to do.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved by
assisting the local Board of Health to abate the nuisance along Indiana Avenue and
that the proposed sewer extension in said avenue be approved, and the same is
hereby and herein approved and a permit issued therefor, under the following condi-
tions and stipulations:
FIRST: That before this sewer is built the borough shall have prepared and
filed in the ofljce of the Commissioner of Health a satisfactory report and plan of the
existing sewer system. ,
SECOND: On or before July first, one thousand nine hundred and nine, the
borough of Glassport shall either independently or in conjunction with the city of
McKeesport, devise plans for the comprehensive sewerage system as hereinbefore
explained for the entire borough, and for the discontinuance of the discharge of
sewage into the waters of the State and shall submit such plan or plans to the State
Department of Health for approval. The time when sewage purification works shall
be erected will be determined later by the Governor, Attorney General and the Com-
missioner of Health, taking into account the time when other municipalities in the
valley of the Monongahela River shall be required to treat their respective sewages.
THIRD: The sewer herein approved shall be so built and its use so regulated
that the sewer may be incorporated either into a sanitary sewer system or a storm
drain system as the case may be determined at some future time.
Harrisburg, Pa., October 5th, 1908.
GROVE CITY, MERCER COUNTY.
lliis application was made by the borough of Grove City, Mercer County, and is
for permission to extend its sewer system nnd lo disclmrge the sewage therefrop
through existing sewers and to establish a new sewer outlet into Wolf Creek within
the limits of the borough.
It aripears that Grove City is a miinuf.ictnriiig (Mjininunily of about three thou-
sand population, located in Pine Towiiship, in the soutlicasteru corner of Mercer
County on the Pittsburgh, Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad.
The incorporated territory is about rectangular in shape. It is divided into an
east and west side by Wolf ('reek, which rises about eight miles north of Grove
City, drains a wholly rural territory of about sixty square miles above the borough
and flows Hontiicily through it in the eastern part, emptying into Slippery Rock
Creek eight miles below (Jrove City in Butler County.
The railroad extends in an oast and west direction through the north central part
of th" town and north of it except adjacent to the tracks the development is wholly
residential. South of the railroad and west of the cnuik is the business section and
the princiijal residence district. The ground slop(!H gradually towards the creek.
There are some level tracks thickly biiill up and along the stream below Pine Street
as far as Main Street there are low lands iinoeenpied nnd suhji'ct to flood.
Streets in the tioi-oimh are not r(!i;iilarly laid mil owing to the additions to the
municipal terf-itory fioni time; to time of tracts developed by private; enterprise.
Main Street extends northwesterly throut,di the borough, crossing the croKsk in the
lower part of the town just above the dam owned by the municipality and main-
tained in connection witii its water works system. Pine Street parallels the rail-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 883
road, is south of it and extends on either side of the creek. Broad Street is the
main thoroughfare north and south in the town. Its southern terminus is at Main
Street, but the highway paralleling and immediately west of Broad Street extends
entirely through the borough. It is named Centre Street.
The principril industry is the Bessemer Gas Engine Works. Here and at the
Bessemer Foundry are employed two hundred hands. There are also carriage
works, broom factories, a brass works and other concerns and a private educational
institution known as Grove City College, accommodating some three hundred
students.
The ai)pearance of the borough is that of a well-to-do progressive community.
The dwellings and surroundings and numerous lawns are well kept. Many of the
streets are permanently paved and the greater portion of the built-up section is
sewered. The town owns its water works. Plans and a report thereof have been
submitted, but the plans are not sufficiently in detail to enable the Department to
judge accurately of th(> cfiicieucy of the works. The source is two driven wells, each
ten inches in diameter and sunk to a depth of one hundred and fifty feet along
the bank of Wolf Creek. The upper well is located on the west bank of the creek
north of tlir railroad and immediately north of Lincoln Avenue Bridge. The water
is pumped into the street pipe system by a gas engine. The lower well is located
immediately south of Main Street at the dam. The pump at this well is operated
by power generated by water wheel at the dam. The overflow from the distributing
mains is into a standpipe ten feet in diameter and seventy-five feet high located in
the highest part of the borough southwest of Main Street. Every section of the
town is reached by the water pipes and about everybody uses public water.
The existing sewers are supposed to be for sanitary purposes, but some storm
and root water is allowed to enter. There is a borough ordinance providing that all
storm water shall be excluded from the system. A few catch basins scattered
throughout the town through which street water is drained to the sewers evidences
the lack of strict enforcement of the ordinance. There is another borough ordinance
which provides that all properties located on the sewered streets shall connect to the
sewers.
There are seven public sewer outlets all into Wolf Creek within the borough.
Mentioned in order passing down stream they are as follows:
Dale Street diameter eight inches.
Lincoln Avenue diameter eight inches.
Broad Street diameter twenty-four inches.
Pine Street diameter ten inches.
Grace Street diameter eighteen inches.
Main Street west diameter eight inches.
Main Street east diameter eight inches.
All but the two Main Street sewers discharge into the pool formed by the dam
whose back waters extend nearly to the northerly borough line where there is a
grist mill.
The Dale Street outlet serves the McConnell Addition west of the creek in the
north part of the town. The sewers which aggregate twenty-one hundred feet all
eight inches in diameter were taken over by the borough when the district was
annexed, so it is reported.
Lincoln Street outlet is about a third of a mile below Dale Street. It serves the
Grove City Improvement Company's plan of lots comprising the district east of the
creek and north of the railroad where also are the two Bessemer industrial plants.
The connecting sewers are all eight inches in diameter and approximate four-fifths
of a mile in length. This section of the borough is entirely new and is building up
rapidly. The sewer outlet is on the east bank of the creek a few feet below the
Lincoln Avenue bridge diagonally across from the upper well of the municipal
water works system distant possibly a hundred feet.
Broad Strei t outlet is the principal one of the borough. It serves the greater
part of the thickly built-up district of the town including land north of the railroad.
The sewer discharges into the creek on the west bank at a point about two hundred
feet below the railroad bridge or about five hundred feet below the Lincoln Street
outlet. The connecting sewers have diameters ranging from twelve to six inches.
The twenty-four inch sewer crosses Broad Street, Filer Alley and terminates at
Centre Street. l!s tributary branches and laterals comprise three miles of sewers
of which the eight inch is twelve thousand seven hundred feet long. The Filer Alley
sewer intercepts the sewage from the business block of the town. During the sum-
mer of nineteen hundred and sev.'^u, eight eiti/.ens and property owners living on the
line of this sewer, extending along Pine Street, College Avenue, Poplar, Centre,
West Mnin, Elm and Stewart Avenues, made a formal complaint to the Commis-
sioner of Health repres.>nting that said sewer is but eight inches in diameter and
designed purely as a sanitary sewer, but that the ordinance prohibiting the con-
nection of water spouts to the sewer has been violatefl, probably through ignorance,
witli the result that when a heavy rain occui-s. the sewer is unable to carry off the
water and in consequence it backs up into cellaix to a depth of from one to five feet,
to the damage of property and danger to public health, and requesting since Council
would not act, that the State Department of Health exercise its jurisdiction.
S84 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The Pine Street outlet serves the Monroe Addition east of the creek, south of the
railroad. The volume of sewage discharge is small, there being thirteen hundred
feet only of connecting pipe, and the point of discharge is into the creek just below
the Pine Str«^t bridge
Grace Street outlet is on the opposite bank of the creek about three hundred feet
down stream from Pine Street and one thousand feet below the railroad. It serves a
narrow district to the west as far as the summit of the hill where the water work's
stanupipe is located and in the district there are thirty-two hundred feet of sewer
most of which is eight inches in diameter.
Below Grace Street sewer outlet the flats begin and the creek channel is circuit-
ous and has a length of about twenty-two hiandred feet to the mill dam. The pond
is immediately above Main Street to the west of the creek on the flats. Its area is
about four acres and the average depth of water therein is said to approximate five
feet. On the shores the water is shallow. During dry seasons stored water in the
pond and in the creek is regularly depleted. On the day of the Department's inspec-
tion the bottom of the pond was largely exposed.
The Main Street sewer from the west is nine hundred feet long, serves the local
district and passes through or by the pump house and driven well and empties
nearby into the creek below the dam. The Main Street sewer from the east is
twenty-eight hundred feet long. It collects the sewage from the old district known
as East Grove City, not a populous district, and empties into the creek immediately
below the dam.
Besides the public sewers above mentioned there are a number of private estates
located along Broad Street and between it and the creek, M'hich have independent
sewers discharging into the stream. This section of Wolf Creek was, when in-
spected, in a very filthy condition. The odors were manifestly a nuisance, fecal
matter was stranded all along the bed of the channel and the kitchen of one of the
principal hotels in the town is distant not over one hundred and fifty feet from the
m.ain sewer outlet.
The petitioners wish to make a six hundred and twenty foot addition to the Dale
Street sewer system and they also wish to establish a new sewer outlet fifteen inches
in diameter into the creek about one hundred and fifty feet below present Main Street
sewer outlets. This pipe is to extend westerly up Poplar Street a length of twelve
hundred feet with an eight inch branch in Craig Street eight hundred feet long.
In the borough beyond the ridge in the extreme western part on the slopes are
lands owned by enterprising and influential citizens, where there is a growing
but sparsely populated district now containing about forty dwellings, and known
as the west side, where sev>age is disposed of into cesspools and privies. It is
reported that the water supply of this section is partly obtained from individual
wells, the waters of which are in danger by the present practices of sewage disposal.
The natural surface drainage is southerly into Wolf Creek, and a proposition has
been discussed for the construction of a sewer down the run to admit of both sewage
and storm water. However, no formal application for such a plan has been made.
Thirty miles below Grove City borough is the borough of Ellwood City on the
banks of the Conoquenessing about a mile above where this creek empties into the
Beaver River. Ellwood City obtains its drinking water from Slippery Rock near
where said stream joins the Conoquenessing above Ellwood City. The outbreak of
typhoid fever at Butler, which is located on the Upper Conoquenessing, was fol-
lowed in thp winter of nineteen hundred and three and four by a similar outbreak
at_ Ellwood City. It is easily possible for the sewage from Grove City to be trans-
mitted to the water works intake on Slippery Rock Creek and to be introduced while
in an active pathogenic state into the homes of the water consumers in Ellwood City
with fatal rosults. The Commissioner of Health has condemned the use of Slippery
Rock Creek or the Conoquenessing as a source of public water supply unless the
waters be purified by filtration. The borough of Butler has been ordered to prepare
plans for the purification of its sewage. The Ellwood City Water Company is
engaged in desitrning filter works and the authorities of Ellwood City borough have
employed an expert to prepare plans for the purification of sewage in that borough.
Because detail plans of Grove City's water works system have not been filed, the
State Department of Health is unable to say whether there be any great danger to
Grove City's water supply from the present disposition of sewage. But on general
principles there is a risk in drawing water from the ground by apparatus so located
as to be reached by surface or subsoil water polluted by sewage. The proximity of
the West Main Street sewer to the lower well is at once a cjnise for siisi)icion and a
reason for watchfulness that no sewage ijolhition of llic i)ublie water might come
from this origin. The borough of Warren suffered to the ntunber of eighteen hundred
cases of poisoning in a few hours owing to the imperfection of the casing of the
driven well and a nearby sewer joint through which means virulent infection was
suddenly admitted to the water works system.
_ Health precaution dictates that the borough sewage should be removed from the
vicinity of all dwellings and that the sewage should be discharged and disposed of
in HUf-h a way as to injure no one. Even if water filters be installed at Ellwood City
that would not warrant the pollution of Wolf Creek at Grove City. The filter might
break down at any time. In fact, it was the temporary cessation of the Butler water
filters that made possible the introduction of the typhoid infected water of the Cono-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 885
quenessing. The txpense of preserving the puritj' of the wateW of the State for the
protection of the public health should rightly be borne by both those who pollute the
waters and those who must use the waters for the higher domestic purposes.
The borough of Grove City did not avail itself of the exemption clause of the law
of nineteen hundred and five, and it has since extended its sewer system without a
permit, both of which things are incidental to the main disposal of the sewage into
Wolf Creek to the menace of public health at Ellwood City. A change is demanded
at the earliest practicable moment.
It is reported that the borough has an assessed valuation of one million eighty-two
thousand seven hundred and eighty dollars, a debt of fifty-two thousand dollars
and a sinking fund of about twelve thousand dollars or a net debt of forty thousand
dollare. The votei-s authorized a debt of twenty thousand dollars for a municipal
electric lighting system. These figures, if correct, would indicate that the municipal
borrowing capacity is in the vicinity of sixteen thousand dollars, a sum totally in-
sufficient to pay for the interception of the present sewers and the erection of a
sewage purification plant.
However, the borough should anticipate this requirement and plan for it. An
e-xpert should be employed to outline a method of collecting all of the sewage, both
public and private, in the borough and its delivery at some common point below
the town. A site should be selected for the erection of sewage disposal works, plans
should be drawn therefor, sufficient in detail to enable reliable estimates of cost to
be prepared therefrom and such plans and report should be submitted to the Com-
missioner of Health for approval.
Until such conipehensive plan shall have been prepared and submitted and modi-
fied, amended or approved, and a definite time fixed for the discontinuance of the
discharge of sewage into the Creek, the State Department of Health would not be
warranted in giving its approval to the discharge of sewage into the waters which
are used subsequently by the public in Ellwood City for drinking purposes.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that a permit
be withheld and it is hereby and herein withheld and the local authorities of Grove
City are hereby notified that the discharge of both public and private sewage into
Wolf Creek or its tributaries must cease and that said borough shall, on or before
the first day of October, nineteen hundred and eight, prepare a comprehensive plan
for the collK'tion of all of the sewage of the borough and for its purification and sub-
mit the same to the Commissioner of Health for approval, and that failure on the
part of the borough so to do, shall not exempt it from the liabilities under the law
heretofore assumed.
The local authorities are hereby and herein notified to submit within three
months from the date of this decree, satisfactory detail plans and report of its ex-
isting water works system and source of supply.
The Department would be glad to advise with the local authorities and its experts,
and to assist in every way that it can in the carrying out of these requirements.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 28th, 1908.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP, LEHIGH COUNTY.
(Homeopathic State Hospital for the Insane.)
This application was made by the Homeopathic State Hospital for the Insane
now being erected in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, and is for approval of
plans for the installation of a sewerage and sewage disposal plant for said hospital.
The site selc>cted by the Commissioner is located about throe miles from Allentown
and contains two hundred acres. The cornerstone was laid in nineteen hundred and
four. The administration buildings have been completed and the other's are in
process of erection. The locality is about half way between the city of Allentown
and the borough of Bethlehem on a hillside sloping to the north bank of the Lehigh
River. A quarter of a mile inland is the village of Rittersville in Hanover Town-
ship. Along the base of the hillside on the river bank is the Lehigh Coal
and Navigation Company Canal. The tracks of the Central Railroad of New
Jersey and an old public highway lie between the canal and the hill. The extreme
height of grouml above the river on the State property is approximately three hun-
dred and twenty-five feet. The main buildings have an elevation of about two hun-
dred and twenty-five feet above the river. Accommodations on the cottage plan for
twelve hundred inmates are being provided. The cottages will cover nine acres of
ground. Surface drainage is excellent on account of steep slopes on all sides. The
permanent sewerage and water works system remain to be installed.
The .sewer system is to be strictly sanitary. The buildings face north away from
the river overlooking a wide expanse of inland country. The eminence upon which
they are built is a quarter of a mile from Allentown and Bethlehem Turnpike in
which are the tracks of the Lehigh Valley Traction Company. Four and eight inch
lateral sewers from convenient points at the new buildings in the rear thereof are to
converge to a common point to a ten inch intercepter whose course is to be easterly
to a septic tank or sedimentation basin fourteen hundred feet distant. From here
the sewage will pass through an aeration chamber one hundred feet further on,
thence through a dosing tank one hundred and twentj'-five feet distant, and finally
through sand filters three hundred and fifty feet from the dosing tank. The sludge
886 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
bed will be located about midway betweeu the septic tank and the effluent drain from
the filter beds. Thei'e will be pipes from the tauks to the sludge bed and from the
sludge bed to the effluent drain. From the filter beds the effluent will drain under the
public road, railroad and canal through an eighteen inch pipe to the Lehigh River.
The site of the disposal works is remote from every thing except the two farm
houses on the Institution grounds and the public highway. This road is little used
and even were it an important thoroughfare, the type of plant proposed could be
used and operated without causing a nuisance to passersby.
The septic tank is to be reinforced concrete, fiat roof, forty-six feet by forty-three
feet in plan, outside dimensions, divided into three compartments, each forty-three
feet long, fourteen feet wide and six feet deep to flow line, inside dimensions. Sub-
merged baffle walls suspended from the roof to within three or four feet of the bot-
tom are to be placed laterally across each compartment one ten feet from the inlet
end and the other ten feet from the outlet end. The floor of each compartment will
be channelled diagonally to a point near the center of one side wall where a fifteen
inch terra cotta sludge pipe is to be provided under the concrete fioor to convey the
sludge from the tank to the sluge bed. However, each of the three fifteen inch
pipes will lead to a single fifteen inch pipe near the outer wall and just outside of
the outer tank. Each fifteen inch pipe will be controlled by a sludge valve to be set
up in a chamber at the side of the tank. The arrangements so far as the plans
indicate will afford no means of inspection of the interior of the pipes at this place.
The reason for departing from the open invert chamber is not apparent.
The institution's sewage on its way to the septic tanks must pass into a gate
chamber four feet in diameter out of which three pipes provided with valves lead, to
the septic tanks, one part for each compartment. They enter through the rear
wall and the end is submerged below the flow line. This circular gate chamber
permits the sewage to be delivered into any one tank or combination of tanks.
On the main sewer just before it enters the gate chambers there is inserted a
double branch with gate valves and a gate valve on the main line. Over the three
valves is a chamber to protect the gates and their stems. Pipes lead from the side
branches and provide means for by-passing the sewage to the septic tanks in case
there should be any occasion for repair of the circular gate chamber. Such provi-
sions to insure against accident is not often made.
The outlet pipe from each compartment is an eight inch Tee, cast iron, connecting
to a pipe terminating in an inspection manhole outside and immediately adjacent to
the tank. From here an eight inch pipe will take the septic effluent, or the settled
sevs'age to an aeration chamber built of concrete six feet square, seven and a half
feet deep, inside dimensions.
The sewage will enter through an eight inch pipe to a trough of concrete about
five feet from the bottom and extending the width of the chamber. This trough will
be two feet wide and will be provided with a weir six inches wide over which the
septic sewage will flow in a thin sheet. Around the end of the inlet pipe and resting
in the trough will be a galvanized sheet iron apron secured to the wall of the tank,
so as to prevent agitation in the trough and allow an even flow of sewage over the
weir. On the sides of this chamber there will be set in the wall three sets of six inch
iron plates extending three inches outside the wall, forming shelves on which splash
boards of heavy galvanized iron will be placed. These splash boards will be so ar-
ranged that the sewage after leaving the weir will strike the first splash board and
break up into spray, thus receiving the aeration desired. An eight inch pipe will
lead from the bottom of this chamber to the dosing or syphon tank.
The do.sing tank is to be a concrete structure with twelve inch walls thirty-five
feet square by five feet deep, inside dimensions, and built to hold thirty thousand
gallons. The sewage will enter near the top through an eight inch pipe and flow
across the tank to the opposite side, where an eight inch Milhu- syphon, or equal,
with a draft of forty-two inches, will be located. The floor of the tank will slope
toward the point where this syphon is set, so that it will drain toward a twelve inch
by-pass located near the syphon, which by-pass is controlled by a twelve inch gate
and connected to the twelve inch discharge pipe to the filter beds at a point just
outside the wall beyond the tank.
The filter beds will be excavated from the natural grade and will be two in num-
ber, each one hundred luid seventy-two feet long by one hundred and three feet wide.
There will be a rriiuiinuni depth of three and one-lialC feet of si'l('<:ted filter sand on
the bottom of each b<;d. Through the center of each bed there will be an open trench
with concrete base and wooden sides extending from the entrance to within about
twenty feet of the opposite end. This trench will have; a width at the start of five
feet and diminish In widtli to three feet, two feet and one; loot, nsspectively, as it
extends across the beds, and at the end of each se(;ti<m there will be conctrete aprons
over which the sewagi' will pass in llofjding the l)eds. TIh' (low will be regulated
by means of wooden gates hinged at the points of change of section in the troughs.
At the end of each trough there will be a simple opening discharging onto a concrete
apron with a plank front to cause a deflection of flow. Tiiere will be three seta of
gates on each trough. The underdrain system will consist of channels six inches
deep by twenty feet centre to centre into which four inch underdrains will be laid
and extend the whole length of the beds. These four incJi hitenils will be inter-
cepted in the middle by an eight in<;li vitrified i)i[)e, which will extend down the
centre bank between the two beds and discharge into the open trench beyond the
beds. The sewage will enter the filters by way of a two way manhole located at the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 887
upper end of the beds and on dividing line between Ihem, and from there be diverted
through a twelve inch pipe to either one of the beds. After the eflBuent leaves the
filters it will pass through an open trench for about fifty feet to the land line and
from there will pass through an eighteen inch cast iron pipe under tiie public road,
railroad and canal, terminating at the river bank. The upper end of the eighteen
inch pipe will be imbedded in a concrete head.
'J'he sludge from the septic tank will be conveyed through fifteen inch terra cotta
pipe for about two hundred and fifty feet to the sludge bed. This bed will be exca-
vated from the slopes and will have a surface fifty feet square and a depth of four
feet. The bed material is to be coarse sand or fine gravel each unit being not greater
than one-half inch diameter. The sludge will enter at the middle of one end through
a fifteen inch pipe aud spill over a concrete apron and thence to the bed. The
underdrain system will consist of a six inch drain of field tile to which four inch
laterals will be connected at an angle of fortj'-tive degrees. There will be two sets
of these laterals, one on either side of the main drain. From this bed the effluent
will pa.ss through an open trench for three hundred and twenty-five feet to the en-
trance of the eighteen inch cast iron pipe under the raidroad. The elevation of the
sludge bed is about sixty feet below the septic tank and ten feet or more above the
filter bed.
The pipes are to be laid with tight joints and precautious are to be taken to pre-
vent leakage in the various tanks. Interior surfaces are to be plastered. The filter
material is to be clean, coarse mortar sand.
The general location of the plant has been well selected and contains all the ele-
ments of successful treatment of sewage. The septic tanks will be about four hun-
dred feet from thf public road aud the main filter bed about fifty feet, but whether
the works shall be a success is dependent on management and their capacity. With
twelve hundred inmates upon the basis of two hundred gallons of water consump-
tion per capita per diem, which is equal to the record of the per capita flow of
sewage from one other State Insane Hospital the daily output would be two hun-
dred and forty thousand gallons. The rate of filtration of crude sewage preliminarily
treated in subsidence basins is about one hundred thousand gallons per twenty-four
houi-s. Since the filter beds as designed cover an area of four-tenths of an acre, it
becomes apparent that added filter units will be necessary long before the institu-
tion's sewage output attains the maximum. In fact, it is entirely problematical
to-day how soon enlargement of the sewage works will be demanded.
lu creating this new sewer outlet into the waters of the State the interests of the
public health demand that precautions be taken to insure a pure effluent from the
disposal works or one as near pure as practicable. The water works intake of the
Bethlehem Consolidated Water Company is located at a point in the river one-half
mile down stream.
In contemplating future enlargements, bearing in mind that the sand filters are
about forty feet lower in elevation than the dosing chamber, and that the vertical
height between this chamber and the septic tank is about twenty-five feet," it may be
found best to substitute in place of the aerating chamber, but on the site selected
for it, a sprinkling filter of approved design. Such a feature would more than
double the rate at which the sand filters could be operated and give a good effluent
.suitable to go into the Lehigh River above Bethlehem's water works intake.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health shall be subserved
by approval of the proposed plan and the same is hereby and herein approved under
the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: All the sewage from the institution shall be intercepted and shall be
conveyed to and treated in the purification plant to the satisfaction and approval of
the Commissioner of Health, who will have inspections made from time to time. To
facilitati> this supervision, daily reports of the operations of this sewage disposal
plant shall be kept on blank forms satisfactory to the State Department of Health
and copies thereof shall be filed with said Commissioner.
SECOND: Some competent man shall be placed in charge of the operation of the
works and it shall be his duty to devote his time to the successful operations of the
plant.
THIRD: The sludgo disposal beds shall be so arranged that the effluent from it
may flow by gravity to the sand filter beds. There shall be no other outlet provided
for the sludge bed effluent. That part of the proposed plans calling for an open ilrain
through the eighteen inch cast iron pipe under the canal, is hereby disapproved.
The dried out sludge shall be disposed of in a sanitary manner on the State
proi)erty.
FOURTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health the
sewer system of ihe disposal works or any part thereof or the effluent therefrom, or
from any part, has become a nuisance or menace or incapable of performini: its func-
tions, liien such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health
may advise or approve. This provisi(m*has special reference to repairs and to altera-
tions or changes that may become necessary in keeping with the growth of the
institution.
FIFTH: The valve chamber on the outer wall of the septic tank over the sludge
drain shall be modified so that it shall also be an inspection manhole with inverts
in its bottom into which the fifteen inch pipe from each wmpartment shall have a
free discharge.
888 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
SIXTH: A detailed plan of all of the sewers to be built shall be prepared and
filed in the office of the Commissioner of Health. Inspection manholes shall be built
on these lines at intersection and at changes in line and grade and perforated man-
hole covers shall be provided for ventilation.
Harrisburg, Pa., June 26th, 1908.
HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, DELAWARE COUNTY.
(Haverford College.)
This application was made by the Trustees of Haverford College, Haverford
Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, with reference to plans for sewage dis-
posal works for the institution.
Haverford College is an educational institution, conducted under the auspices of
the Orthodox Friends, having a total population of students and employes and
officers of about one hundred and seventy persons. The property is located on the
main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Haverford Station, Lower Merion Town-
ship, but the buildings are far enough removed from the station easterly thereof to
be in the adjoining township of Haverford, Delaware County.
At present the institution's sewage is discharged through an eight inch pipe into
a large cesspool on the grounds, from which it overflows into a branch of Cobb's
Creek. This condition is not satisfactory to the authorities of the college and they
wish to better it. Since the stream into which the sewage flows is polluted from
sources below in the city of Philadelphia, and also in the vicinity of the college,
it is the desire of the institution's officers to install a septic tank and contact Alter
bed. After such a plant is operated for a given time, during which funds for
further work are to be secured for the purpose, the intention is to put in sand
filters. The President states that the college is desirous to lead in taking out
sewage from the creek rather than to lag behind. The design submitted for approval
is mainly to meet the financial situation so that each part as installed shall properly
fulfil its functions and upon the construction of the filters all shall form a complete
whole.
The present sewage output of the college is six thousand gallons per day. The
design for the new plant is to take care of fifty per cent, more sewage than this
quantity. The septic tank is arranged so that over one-half can be put out of use
during the summer time.
The proposed septic and dosing tank and contact bed are to be located immedi-
ately below the old cesspool hereinbefore mentioned and about to be abandoned. The
sand filters are to be located two hundred feet distant along the banks of the creek
or run tributary to the main creek.
The eight inch sewer is to empty into a grit chamber four feet long, two feet wide
and five feet deep. The walls are of brick nine inches thick and the bottom four
inches of cement. From this grit chamber, two four inch pipes carry the sewage
into the septic tank.
The septic tank has total inside dimensions of ten feet by five feet seven inches.
This chamber is divided into two chambers of the following dimensions: First, ten
feet by three feet one inch and, second, ten feet by two feet six inches. These two
chambers are distinct and separate. Each chamber has brick side walls twelve inches
thick except the dividing wall, which is nine inches and a five inch concrete bottom.
A cover of seven-eighths inch matched flooring is provided. Each cover is to be in
four sections. The sewage enters and leaves each chamber through four inch pipes.
These pipes pass through the side walls two feet below the wooden cover and extend
beneath the surface of the liquid three feet and above the surface one foot six inches,
terminating two inches jjclow the cover. This <!xteusion of the pipe above the sur-
face of the liquid is oix'n, affording ventilation. Elevation of surface of liquid is
one hundred feet and bottom ninety-three and a half feet.
A dosing tank on the opposite end of the seplic tank from the grit chamber is to be
provided. Two four inch pipcts will lead from the septic tank into a small communi-
cating chamber three feet S(!vcn inches by two feet in plan. From this small chamber
the liquid passes over a w(!ir (jne foot on<.' inch lower than the side walls of the dosing
tank. The dosing tank is <!iglit feet six inc:li('s by six feet four inches. The walls
of the tank are nine inch brick and the bottom is cement and the tank uncovered.
The liquid leaves the tank by tlirec four inch Aerlock sequence dosing syphons.
Elevation of the surface of liquids is ninety-nine and a half feet and bottom ninety-
seven and a liaJf.
I'^'rom the one dosing tank, whir'li holds about eight hundred gallons, the sewage
is discharged automatically in rotation on the three contact beds by the three Aerlock
dosing syijhons. IOa(;h c:ontact bed is ten feet by ten feet by four fer^t and filled with
three inches of stoni;. 'J'hus the three beds have nine hundred cubic feet of stone
exposing a surface of three liiiiidnMl sfjnare f(;et. 'J'lic walls of the bi;ds are brick
and the bottom cein<;nt. On IIk; cc-incnt floor of eac'li bed ai'e laid three four inch
terra cotta underdrains. The drains from each bed extcMid fi'om one corner diago-
nally across the bed and at their terminal a four inch vent ])ipe is supplied. At the
union of the underdrain pip(!8 there is a two inch drain syphon to carry off the
effluent. These syphons empty into receiving basins. Two of the contact beds syphon
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 889
into one semi-circular receiving basin that is four feet deep and has a radius of three
feet. The other contact bed syphons into a similar semi-circular basin and, after
uniting, continues in a six inch terra cotta pipe to the creek or the sand filters when
built. Also a one and one-half inch gage valve is provided at the bottom of each
contact bed for thoroughly draining the bed when so desired.
The sand filters will be located beside the stream about one hundred and eight
feet from the contact beds. They are three in number, each twenty-five feet by thir-
teen feet six inches with three feet of sand. Each filter has a side slope of one to
one. Each filter is equipped with a galvanized iron slide to regulate the flow enter-
ing a branching wooden trough for efiBuent distribution and three four inch terra
cotta underdrains, provided at their terminals with a f(jur inch vent. Elevation of
the surface of the sand is ninety-two feet and bottom eightj'-nine feet. Thus the base
of the sand filters is one foot above the stream elevation.
From the plans submitted it is thought that the sewage disposal plant, when
completed and properly operated, will render a relatively pure and staple efiBuent.
It is thought that without the sand filtei-s the effluent ought to be of a staple char-
acter. From the plans submitted the capacity of the plant could not be figured with
any accuracy. The period of rest for the contact beds will vary with the amount of
sewage and the size of .syphon carrying ofl; the effluent. The size of the syphon could
be increased as the amount of sewage increases and thus the period of rest kept about
the same as when the present six thousand gallons are purified. The plan of so
arranging the plant as to be able to put out of commission more than one-half of it
during the summer should be highly recommended.
It has been determined that the efforts of the officers of Haverford College to
properly dispose of the institution's sewage are worthy of commendation and that
the interests of the public health will be subserved by approving the plans, and the
same are hereby and herein approved under the following conditions and stipulations
FIRST: That the works shall be operated and careful records kept thereof on
blank forms to be approved by the Commissioner of Health and copies of such
records shall be furnished and filed in the office of the Commissioner of Health. If
at any time, in the opinion of the said Commissioner, the sewage disposal works or
any part thereof, or the effluent discharged therefrom, is prejudicial to public
health or a nuisance or menace, then the college authorities shall adopt such re-
medial measures as the Commissioner of Health mav advise or approve.
SECOND: The State Department of Health will make tests of the effluents from
time to time and in so far as the interests of the public health are concerned may
make rules and regulations for the operation of the plant, and the college authori-
ties shall follow such regulations. The stipulations in this respect will be no different
in kind from those which it is to be the policy of the State Department of Health
to inaugurate and enforce in relation to the operation of all sewage disposal plants
approved by the Commissioner of Health.
THIRD: The officers of the institution are urged to constinict and complete the
plant in its entirety if it is possible to flo this at this time.
FOURTH: The attention of the petitioners is called to the importance of proper
disposal of any wastes which may collect in the septic tank and require to be re-
moved at intervals. Such material should be deposited in a hole in the ground and
buried sufficiently deep so that the surface wash from it cannot pollute the stream;
or any other method of disposal may be adopted that shall conform with the re-
quirements of sanitation.
Harrisburg, Pa., September 1st, 190S.
HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, DELAWARE COUNTY.
Beechwood Park Amusement Company.
This decree was issued to the Beechwood Park Amusement Company, of Beech-
wood Park, Haverford Township, Delaware County, with respect to sewage.
It appears that the Commissioner of Health at a previous date issued a notice to
this company to abate a nuisance caused by the discharge of sewage from its present
plant into Cobb's Creek, in said township.
Beechwood Park is a simimer resort located on the line of the Philadelphia and
Western Railroad in the eastern corner of Haverford Township, in Delawaie
County, and about one mile west of the Philadelphia city line, ^■arious amusements
and attractions for the entertainment of the public surround a central area. The
whole is enclosed by a high board fence within which are about seven acres, nearly a
square in shape.
The sewaire from the four lavatories and the kitchen fixtures of the restaurants,
reported to include all the drainage facilities in the park, is conducted in eight inch
terra cotta pipes, reported to receive no roof or surface water, to the existing
sewage disposal plant located in the eastern comer of the park in the side of a
wooded ravine.
The disposal plant consists of a brick masonry tank about twenty-five feet square
and six fci't deep, divided into three equal parts, of which two are used as .settling
tanks and the third is a cinder filter or contact bed. A few loose boards are thrown
over the tank. The effluent, in a foul and unpurified condition, flows through an
890 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
eight inch terra cotta pipe in the ravine to the parlj fence, where it discharges into
the upper end of a twenty-four inch terra cotta pipe. This conveys the sewage and
surface water from the ravine under the embankment of the Philadelphia and
Western Railroad and a highway and discharges it onto the bank of Cobb's Creek at
the side of the highway and at a point about two hundred feet northeast of the dis-
posal plant.
The odor of sewage is noticeable on the highway near the twenty-four inch outlet.
The sewage disposal plant is within fifty feet of some of the park amusements and
about that distance from a walk extending along the northeastern side of the park
to a neighboring picnic grove and to Brookline, a recent real estate development
on which there are four or five widely scattered suburban dwellings. The Brookline
Real Estate office, a small, one room building, is located about two hundred feet
east of the disposal plant. The only dwelling in Brookline near the plant is about
fivt^ hundred feet south of it.
Beechwood, a recent real estate development containing at present but a few
scattered houses, is located across Cobb's Creek from the park and several hundred
feet distant from the sewer outlet at the creek. Under date of June twenty-third.
Wood, Harmon and Company, the developers of this tract, complained to the
Commissioner of Health of the discharge of the sewage of the park into Cobb's
Creek and of the odor arising therefrom, stating also that many cows are pastured
along the creek below the sewer outlet.
Above the poinr of discharge of the sewage, Cobb's Creek has a drainage area of
three and nine-tenths square miles. The land is cultivated. The upper end of this
drainage area contains parts of Bryn Mawr, Haverford and Ardmore. Much of the
sewage of each district is kept out of the neighboring streams and discharged into
the Lower Merion Township sewers. Tiie sewage of Beechwood Park enters Cobb's
Creek just at the head of the back water extending eight hundred feet down stream
to an old mill dam breast in connection with which there is an abandoned mill
privilege. Below the breast the stream flows rapidly over a stony bed. Below
Beechwood Park, Cobb's Creek flows southeast one mile to Philadelphia City and
continues at the western boundai-y of the latter to the confluence of Cobb's Creek
and Darby Creek, below which Darby Creek extends to the Delaware River.
The proposed sewage disposal plant is to consist of the remodelling of the ex-
isting plant, although the size of the latter is not to be increased. Water is fur-
nished to the park by the Springfield Water Company, and it is reported that ac-
cording to the meter readings the consumption averages seven thousand or eight
thousand gallons per day, for which quantity of sewage the plant has been de-
signed. In the plant, as it is proposed to reconstruct it, the sewage will be treated
in a septic tank, contact bed or broken stone screening bed, and in sand filters.
Through submerged inlets the sewage will enter one end of a septic tank twelve
feet three inches by seven feet six inches by four feet six inches to the flow line,
having a capacity of three thousand one hundred gallons and providing for an
average period of flow through the septic tank of nine or ten hours. The sewage wil'i
pass under a baffle board in the lower end of the septic tank and leave the latter over
a seven foot six inch weir. A four inch pipe fitted with valve leads from the bottom
of the septic tank to an eight inch terra cotta pipe to serve as a sludge drain. It
is reported that a sand sludge bed, not shown on the plan, is to be installed in
such a manner as to permit only the filtered water therefrom to reach the stream.
The septic effluent is to be discharged on to the broken stone screen or contact bed
having a surface area of about one hundred square feet and a depth of about one
foot, and a capacity of about fifty cubic feet or three hundred and seventy-five
gallons. The stones are to average abQut six inches in diameter. A sludge bed fitted
with a gate valve is to connect with an eight infli sludge drain already mentioned.
From a sump in the lower part of the contact bed the sewage will be discharged
from the latter when it becomes full alternately by each of two Aerlock sequence
syphons of undetermined size respectively on to two sand filter beds. The contact
beds will fill and empty on an average of once an hour.
The two sand filtfi's are to be respectively seven feet six inches by twenty feet
throe inches and seven feet six inches by twenty-one feet nine inches. The filtering
material will consist of a six inch bottom layer of coarse, broken stone, over this
a six inch layer of cinder and a six inch surface layer of sand. The sewage will be
distributed on each filter by means of a shallow, open wood trough, the sides of
which thiv.iichoiit their entire length will be overflooded by sewage. A single line of
four ineh farm tile will be laid loniriludinally on the floor of each filter and will dis-
charge the pffluent into a small effluent chamber. The contact bed, which will act
also ns a dosing tank, delivering a dose of fifty cubic feet or three hundred and
seventy-five ;;aIIons on each filter at intervals averaging about (wo hours, will flood
each filter to a depth of about four inches. Tiie two fillers having a cf)mhine(l area of
three hundred anfl fifteen feet, will pi-ovide for tlie filtration of the sewage at the
rate of about one rnillicn gallons per acre jx-r day. There will he a by-pass i)rovided
with valve connecting the contact bed with the effluent chamber of the sand filters.
The outlet from the efflnent chamber to Cobl)'s Creek will remain as at present.
The rate of filtration provided for is much loo high to insure a satisfactory effluent.
Either the filterin;; area should be increased to provide for the filtration of sewage
at the rate of about one bundled thousand gallons per aci'c per day or in connection
with a smaller increase in the filter area, chemical sterilization of Ihe effluent should
be i)rovided for. Perhaps the latter alternative would be the more desirable in view
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 891
of the more or less temporary character of the entire park and of its being closed dur-
ing three quarters of the year and of the fact that the plant may not unlikely have to
be moved to a more remote location. There is sufficient room at the present site for
the installation of an adequate purification plant. In considering the capacity of
the plant, it should be noted that on the morning of August thirty-first, there
appeared to be a considerably larger flow into the disposal plant than was reasonable
at that time, probably due to ground water. The sewers should be tested and over-
hauled in order to discover and stop any such leakage.
In view of the proximity of the disposal plant to the cafes, lunch counters and
confectionery stands of the park, it would be advisable to have the entire disposal
plant protected against flies, providing means, however, for the proper ventilation
of the septic tank.
As before mentioned, it is not unlikely that the sewage purification plant in its
present location may become a nuisance, and it would, therefore, be desirable
while improving it to remove it to a more remote site, at which site it would be
possible to enlarge the plant in the future to a sufficient size to purify the sewage
of Brookline and Beech wood. However, there are at present not sufficient houses
in either tract to warrant the installation of sewers. The cost of ground and of
conveying the sewage of the park to a disposal plant at any great distance from it
would be prohibitive for the park alone. The Beechwood Park Amusement Company
is at present in the hands of a receiver, although it is expected that the company
will be continued.
It does not appear that there is any public authority having by law the charge of
the sewerage system and duly qualified to receive a permit from the Commissioner
of Health for the discharge of the effluent from the proposed purification works into
the waters of the State. Therefore, it seems that the Commissioner is merely called
upon to review the plans submitted and suggest wherein they may be improved.
It has been determined that the Beechwood Park Amusement Company be notified
that it has the n'ght to dispose of its sewers on its property in any way it sees fit so
long as no public nuisance or menace is caused thereby. If the suggestions here-
inbefore oflersd are carried out, and the plant be properly operated, the effluent
should prove as satisfactory as that usually turned out from individual sewage
works. However, it must be distinctly understood that the State Health Depart-
ment cannot sanction the putting of any sewage whatsoever from such plant into the
waters of the State.
It would be advisable to locate the works remote from the Park, if works are to
be built. The solution of the sewage disposal problem, which should earnestly com-
mend itself to the attention of the Beechwood Park officials, is the abandonment
altogether of the sewage treatment plant and the conveyance of the sewage to the city
of Philadelphia sewer. This is what will ultimately come and possibly owners of
property in the district might be willing to promote a joint sewerage scheme at
this time. ,
After the closing of the Park at the end of (he season of nineteen hundred and
eight, no sewage whatsoever shall be discharged from the Park or its sewers or
sewage disposal works*either directly or indirectly into the waters of the State.
Harrisburg, Pa., October 23rd, 1908.
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, BEAVER COUNTY.
(Jones & Laughlin Steel Company.)
This application was made by the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, of Pitts-
burgh, and is for approval of plans and permission to install a public sewerage sys-
tem at Woodlawn, in Hopewell Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and to
discharge the sewage therefrom into the Ohio River, within the limits of said
township.
It appe.irs that Hopewell Township lies on the west bank of the Ohio River and
extends along it for about four miles. To the north on the river is the borouch of
Aliqnippn, and to the south on the river is the township of Cresson. The Pitts-
burgh and Lake Erie Railroad extends along the river bank and on it, in Hopewell
Townshi]), there are three passenger station?, named in order Shannopin. Wood-
lawn and Aliquippa Park, distant from Pittsburgh respectively sixteen and two-
tenths, nineteen and eight-tenths miles. Paralleling the river and distant there-
from about fifty yards at Shannopin and about one-half mile at Aliquippa Park, is
the foot of a ridge, which rises abruptly to the height of several hundred feet above
the river. The intervening low lands between Shannopin and Woodlawn is subject
to inundation That north of Woodlawn is higher and suitable for development.
Elsewhere there is no opportunity for the building of a village except it be in same
valley at right angles to the river.
Tlie village of Shannopin, possibly three hundred inhabitants, is located in the
valley of a small run which rises in the hills to the west and comes down through
the river ridge in a deep narrow gorge.
Until recently Woodlawn was a small station having less than a dozen residences.
Logstown Run, the principal stream in Hopewell Township, enters the Ohio River
at this point. It rises in the western part of the township, has at its summit the
village of New Sheffield, a settlement of about two hundred people, and drains a
892 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
precipitous area of about eight square miles. The gorge through which it flows near
the river has a width of about five hundred feet. Farther up on the water shed the
valley widens out considerably and there is an opportunity here for the laying out of
a borough site.
Aliquippa Park Station was formerly a much patronized resort, owned and oper-
ated by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company. The park is located in a
grove on a small stream known as Jones Run.
The .Jones & Laughlin Steel Company has acquired the laud bordering the river
southerly from Aliquippa borough to within a short distance south of Shannopin and
reserved it for manufacturing purposes. At the present time the said company is
engaged in erecting furnaces and mills at Aliquippa Park and Woodlawn.
Immediate accommodations for five hundred employes are demanded. Possibly
as the works of this company are developed , an ultimate population of ten thou-
sand people may have to be provided with homes in this vicinity.
It is not the intention of the petitioners to engage in extensive real estate opera-
tions in the line of towns building. It is hoped that private enterprise will carry
forward thf developments which the company finds necessary to initiate at this time.
Since all the land between the slope of the hills and the river has been laid aside
by the company for industrial uses, the only available location for dwellings is up
the valley of Logstown Run, and to a limited extent up Jones Run. It is in these
two valleys that the houses are now being erected by the company, the sewage of
which is to be contributed ultimately to the sewers proposed and under consideration.
However, the petitioners wish, in anticipation of a larger population and the pos-
sible future incorporation of a municipality here, to so lay out the sewers at this
time that they shall have become a part of a comprehensive system when the terri-
tory shall have been fully developed.
Up Jones Run there have been erected forty-two double houses and at present
these are provided with ordinary privies and earth vaults in shale formation, and
these are to be continued in operation. The water supply is piped from springs on
the hills and is furnished to the inhabitants by hydrants in the yards.
In the rear of each dwelling there is a hopper of concrete construction connected
with an eight inch sewer leading to the run, into which hopper the occupants of the
dwelling are supposed to deposit all waste water and slops. There are three eight
inch sewer outlets into the run from this settlement, each serving about six hundred
feet of sewer.
On the river hillside, immediately south of Jones Run there are eighteen double
houses whose water supply and sewage disposal facilities are similar to those above
described. Along this slope to Woodlawn there is a half mile strip which may be
occupied by houses. However, up Jones Run the maximum development will not
exceed the addition of over twenty-five dwellings.
The hopper at the eighteen double houses on the hillside connect to six inch sewer
pipes. There are five lines, each about two hundred feet in length, terminating in
an eight inch pipe at the foot of the slope which leads to a sump in sandy and
gravelly formation. ^
At Woodlawn the company is erecting fifty-five first class dwellings provided with
modem sanitary facilities. The water supply is to be taken from driven wells along
the banks of the river and supplied to the dwellings under sufficient pressure for
domestic uses.
The company has laid out, but not yet graded, a public highway sixty feet wide
up the valley of Logstown Run through its property. In this street it is proposed
to build a fifteen inch sewer main from the site of the proposed sewage disposal plant
on the banks of the river at the mouth of said Run, a distance of forty-eight hun-
dred feet, and thence for a distance of about twenty-eight hundred foet the sewer
main is to be twelve inches in diameter to the present boundary line of the Jones &
Laughlin properties in the valley.
This highwa.y is to the north of the Run. South of the Run and paralleling it is
a street on which the forty-five dwellings above mentioned are being erected. It is
here that a twelve inch sewer is proposed which is to connect with the fifteen inch
main ultimately, but for the present it is to discharge into the run at the upper end
of the twenty-five foot arched culvert passing under the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie
Railroad, where there is an alternate site offered by the petitioners for the erection
of sewage disposal works.
Tlie company purpo.ses to construct an eight inch sanitary sewer on the flats about
half way between the railroad and the river from Jones Run southerly to the fifteen
inch sewer main, which eight inch pipe is to collect sewage proper from the sana-
tari'is which are to i)e provided at convenient points at the mills and furnaces.
It is also proposed to intercept the sewage from the buildings lying west of the
railroad on the hillKide and up .Tones Run Valley by a sewer or sewers which shall
lie tributary of the mains already described. The elevations of the ground are such
that this i;oll('ction by gravity is poHsihle and economical.
The proposed Hcwers are to be sanitiiry sewers, manholes are to be built at
changes in line and grade and flushing, if necessary, is to be effected without the
use of fluKh tanks.
Details as to sewer grades for the main sewers leading to the sewage disposal
wf)rk8 have not been submitted for two reasons. First, because the petitioners wish
to be advised respecting the site of the disposal works and the type of plant adapted
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 893
to the uecossities of the district, and, second, because, pending the initial develop-
ments, the company wished permission to temporarily discharge the sewage into the
runs at the places above described.
There is no dis&dvantase apparent at this time with respect to the location of the
disposal works ai the proposed site on the banks of the river, provided the sewage
can be delivered here by gravity at a sufficient elevation to afford the requisite ver-
tical height for a successful bacteriological treatment of the sewage and delivery of
the effluent into the river at an elevation above annual freshet line. While the gravity
discharge of sewage at works is desirable from an economical standpoint, pump-
ing has to be resorted to in some instances, in order that the plant may be built
above such freshet flow as might endanger the entire structure or put it out of com-
mission for a week or more during any month in the year. Until full information
is furnished the Department relative to the topography of the proposed site and the
ordinary and extraordinary freshet elevation of the river, it is impossible to advise
definitely as to plans.
The alternate site proposed is inadmissable owing to its proximity to dwellings
now being erected by the company at Woodlawn and to other lands not yet devel-
oped but adapted for residential purposes. The nearest dwelling' is within two hun-
dred and fifty feet of the site. The present passenger station is within five hundred
feet and the proposed new passenger station is not likely to be built at a point dis-
tant over five hundred feet from the alternate site. These reasons are sulHcient to
warrant the disapproval of any kind of a plant to be erected here for the tre.ntment
of municipal sewage.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that the
proposed sewer system be approved and the said system is hereby and herein ap-
proved and a permit granted temporarily to the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company to
dicharge sewage into Jones Run and Logstown Run, under the following conditions
and stipulations:
FIRST: That all roof, street and storm water be excluded from the system and
that at the close of each season's work a plan and profile of the sewers built during
the year shall be prepared and filed with the State Department of Health, together
with any other information in connection therewith that may be required.
SECOND: If the proposed sewer system, or any part thereof, be incorporated
into a municipal sewer system, then upon such incorporation the Commissioner of
Health shall b^ notified of the fact by the said company.
THIRD: This permit to discharge sewage into the Ohio River or tributaries shall
cease on July first, nineteen hundred and ten. If at that time the terms of this
permit shall have been complied with, then the Commissioner of Health may extend
the time and fix the date on or before which sewage disposal works shall be "provided
for the tre.itmi^nt of the sewage, having in mind the time when other corporations
and municipalities in the valley of the Ohio River are required by the State to treat
their respective sewages.
FOURTH: On or before July first, nineteen hundred and ten, the said Jones &
Laughlin Steel Company shall prepare and submit to the Commissioner of Health
for approval plans for the interception and treatment of the sewage of the district
contemplated by the sev.'ers herein approved, and in the interim whatever sewere are
built shall be constructed as a part of the proposed comprehensive system of sewers
and sewage disposal works herein approved.
Harrisburg, Pa., Febi-uary 3rd, 190S.
HOUTZDALE, CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
This application wa.s made by the borough of Houtzdale, Clearfield County, and
is for permission to build a system of sewers and to discharge the sewage therefrom
into Reaver Run within the limits of the borough.
It appears that Houtzdale Borough is a mining community of fifteen hundred
population at the present time, but that eitrhteen years ago it was fifty per cent,
greater in size. This reduction is owing to the exhaustion of the coal from the
upper coal measures in tho borough and vicinity. It is probable that the lower coal
measures will now be mined and if this is done the town is likely to endure for some
time. Possibly when all of the coal shall have been taken out, the people may move
away. At the jiresent time there are no industries in the town or vicinity except
that of coal minins.
The Berwind-White Company carry on operations and give employment to up-
wards of six hundred men. There are a few mines scattered in the outskirts of the
borough, but the larger ones are in the surrounding township.
Houtzdale is on Beaver Run in the south central part of Woodward Township.
Beaver Run comprises numi>roiis nioiiulain streams which have tlioir sourees to the
southwest about three niih^-^. The run takes a northerly and northwesterly course,
passing through the central part of Houtzdale and by several small mining settle-
ments and empties into Moshannon Creek at a point four miles beyond Houtzdale
and about one mile above Osceola Borough. The Moshannon Creek is a trihutai-y
of the Wist Branch of the Sns(piehanna River and enters the same above the mouth
of the Sinuemahoning. The Moshannon forms the boundary line betweon Clearfield
and Centre Counties until the river is reached. Immediately below Oseeola Borough
on the creek are the boroughs of Chestnut Hill, South Philipsburg and Philipsburg.
57
894 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
That part of Houtzdale north of the rim is the priuoipal section. It is built on
the side of the hill, the summit of which is about the uorthoru boundary of the
borough. The drainage is to Beaver Run. The southern section is also built on the
slope, but the grades are not t^o severe as in the northern part. At present there are
no sewei-s of a public kind. There are a few private sewers. It is reported that
eight residences are connected to the private sewers. It is also reported that there
are eight percolating cesspools, the remaining buildings, of which there are three
hundred and four, have shallow earth privy vaults on the properties.
The Houtzdale Water Company supplies the town with water; however, there are
twenty-five dug wells in use and they are liable to surface pollution. There are also
some springs on the hillside that supply drinking water to those who go to the
springs for it. Two hundred and seventy-five houses are connected with the water
works system.
A branch of the Cambria and Clearfield Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad
pas.ses east and west through the borough near the run and the New Vcrk and Pitts-
burg Central Railroad parallels the Pennsylvania line in practically the same loca-
tion. Hanna Street is immediately north of the tracks and it is the principal high-
way in the town, along which are the stores and hotels.
At right angles to Hanna Street and the railroad the principal thoroughfare is
Good Street.
Along Good and Hanna Streets there is a six inch private sewer, total length
about five hundred feet, with an outlet into Beaver Run at the foot of Good Street.
One hotel and four dwellings are connected to this sewer.
McAteer Street is west of Good Street, in it there is a six inch sewer about one
hundred feet long to which two slaughter houses have connections. The outlet is
into the run at the foot of the street.
There is a six inch private sewer one hvmdred feet long on Good street which
serves one house. The Central Hotel, located on Hanna Street, discharges its
sewage into an ojien ditch , which extends four hundred feet to the run. This open
ditch has been the subject of some complaint.
There are about fortj'-five individual property owners living along Good Street who
desire to have modern plumbing facilities in their houses and a free outlet for the
sewage. The borough stands ready to build the sewer and assess the cost on the
abutting estates.
The line of the sewer proposed is southerly along Good Street, thence in Otter
Alley, thence southerly in Spruce Alley, and thence easterly along the bank of
Beaver Run to Brisbin Street, where it is proposed to discharge into the run.
There are no houses in the immediate vicinity of this point. It is proposed to use
this sewer as a main for future extensions. The outlet is to be twelve inches in
diameter and in the one thousand feet length which it is intended to build at once
there are to bo four hundred feet of twelve inch, three hundred feet of ten inch and
three hundred feet of eight inch sewer. At street intersections manholes are to be
built with branches for lateral extensions. The minimum grade proposed is one and
one-tenth per cent.
The petitioners state in their application as follows:
"That Reaver Run is a small creek or run emptying into Moshannon Creek, four
miles east of Houtzdale, I'a. ; that neither the waters of Beaver Run nor jMosiiaunon
Creek below the proposed sewer outlet are used for domestic purposes, same being
heavily impregnated with coal mine drainage high in sulphuric acid and other im-
I>urities. That the borough of Houtzdale has a population of about 1500 and at
present has no system of sewerage other than open water closets or cesspools for each
house, except where owners of property in close proximity to Beaver Run or small
tributaries have made small drains or sewers into same."
It appears that the total assessed valuation of the borough is one hundi'ed and
ninety-two thousand dollars and that the bonded indebtedness is two thousand (lol-
lars. It is reported that the borrowing capacity of the municipality is eleven thou-
sand four hundred and forty dollars. This sum limits the town to moderate expen-
ditures for public improvements. Good Street is in a position topographically to
serve naturally I he best location for a main sewer and future extension can be laid to
the sewer projjosr.'d.
The local authorities are planning to use the proposed sewer for sanitary purposes
only. It is to be laid about four feet deep so that cellars cannot drain into it. The
amount of sewage that will be discharged from the forty-live houses will be small.
The proposed outlet is near the enslern borough line. '^Plie loponi'iipliy is such that
in tin- southern section, in the future, a main sewer conld be laid along the south
bank of the run to servo lateral sewers and discharge a I the sanu; point as llie sewer
proposed for the north section. The southern section is s|)arsely settled and may not
desire f ewers.
If tn-atrn'-nt of the sewage were called for at the sewer outlet, pumping would
have If. be resorted to. Possibly a subsidence tank or septic tank could be installed
near the outlet.
The borough has not submitted i)lans showing tin' elevations of the sewers pro-
posed.
lienver Run has the appearance of being n strongly acid si ream. The bollorn and
banks are yellow in color, wliieh is characteristic of I lie niine draiiiiige, and the
water is not used for boiler i)urposes because of the acidity.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 895
It lia:; bi^vn determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by granting a permit to build the proposed sewers, under the following conditions
and stipulations:
FIRST: That before the sewers are built and used plans for a settling or septic
tank shall Ik- prepared and submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
These plans shall be so devised that if in the future the town should grow and a more
complete purifit-ation of the sewage be required at the works, something besides
preliminary treatment of the sewage may be accomplished economically by additions to
the plant. When these plans are modified or amended, the borough shall build such
part of the works and put such par( in operation ac the time the said sewer is put in
operation as the Commissioner of Health may determine.
SECOND: All roof and storm water shall be excluded from the proposed sewers.
Manholes shall be placed at street intersections and ventilation shall be effected
through the manholes. Facilities shall be afforded for flushing out the sewers at
every nmnhole and such faoiiitiis shall be afforded at every summit end of the sewer.
THIRI.): The Central Hotel, iiuw using the open ditoh to Beaver Run, shall be
required to connee; to the p)opose<l sower system. The borough council shall also re-
quire tiie owners of private sewers to connect with the public sewer system and to
exclude all roof and storm water from the sewers.
Harrisburg, Pa., October Gth, 190S.
HUGHESVILLE, LYCOMING COUNTY.
This application was made by the Borough of Ilughesville, Lj-coming County,
and is for permission to extend its sjwer sysiem and to discharge the sewage there-
from into Mimcy Creek within the limits of said borough.
Hughes\ille is a manufacturing community of about two thousand population
situated on west bank of Muncy Creek in Wolf Township in the southwestern part
of Lycoming County at a point about seven miles above the junction of the creek
with the west branch of the Susquehanna River. The prineiijal offices of the Well-
iamsport and North Branch Railroad are located in the borough. The industries
consist of the J. K. Rishol Furniture Comi)any, table manufacturers, employing
about one hundred and twenty-five hands; the Ilughesville Furniture Company,
manufacturing general furuiture and employing about eighty hands; the repair
shops of the Railroad Company and also a small foundry and machine shop.
In nineteen hundred the population of the borough was fifteen hundred and
twenty-eight. Ten years i)revious it was thirteen hundred and fifty-eight. The
comnuinity has grown sieadily since eighteen hundred and sixty and it appears
probable that a steady though not rapid growth is assured for the future.
The local topography is undulating with gentle grades and without any well de-
veloped lines of surface drainage. The public water supply is furnished by the
Ilughesville Honae Water Supply Company and is pumped from wells located in the
valley of Muncy Creek a .short distance north of the borough limits from whence the
water is pumped to n reservoir on the hill.
It was ascertained by the Department's inspection that about three-fourths of the
houses in the town use private wells water and a majority of the people live in
dwellings provided with cesspool and outside privy connections.
The soil is gravelly and the wells are dug or sunk to a <lepth of about thirty feet.
No epidemics of water borne diseases have been reported in the past. I'nder the
circumstances, in time, contamination of the well supply in the village must result
from the proximity of the earth receptacles into which the wastes of the household
are emptied. Local physicians state that the general health of the community has
been excellent.
Rainwater from these parts of the town which are not reached by existing sewers,
either runs off on the sui-face or soaks into the ground. Many low places are found
in the borough, owing to the undulation of the gi\)und, the drainage from which has
been cut olT in grading streets. In some instances the pockets have no natural outlet.
As a result there are some places where the water stands during tlie season of the
year when the ground is frozen, and where, in case of heavy rainfalls, flooding of
cellars is- sometimes caused.
The streets are laid out parallel to Muncy Creek and at right angles thereto.
The existing sewers have a twelve inch pipe outlet into Muncy Creek in the lower part
of the town, a short distance below Academy and Sixth Streets. The twelve inch
sewer extends up into the town along Academy Street, a distance of twenty-four
hundred feet to the railroail. Connecting with it is an eiiiht inch lateral sewer
fourteen hundred feet lontr laid in the alley between Main and Second Streets
northerly from Academy Street to Walnut Street. West of Main Street in the alley
there is an eight inch lateral sewer twenty-two hundred feet long extending north-
erly from Academy Street to the upper part of the borough.
These iiipes are used for both surface water and house sewage.
The iietitioners purpose to construct^ a line of fifteen inch pipe drain to be laid on
a five-tenths per cent, grade beginning at a point where the i)resent sewer dis-
charges into Muncy Creek and thence across Sixth Street and Fifth Street in
an alley immediately north and paralleling Academy Street and across Fourth
Street and northerly in Third Street, crossing Water Street and thence in an
896 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
alley to Walnut and in Walnut to Second Stroet, a total length of thirty-three
hundred and seventy feet. This pipe is intendeil primarily to carry storm water
from this district, where the toial drainage area is about hfty acres. It will
drain some lands near the upper end of the line where considerable trouble is now
experienced with pools of standing water and with wet cellars during spring
thaws and after lieavy rains. It is, however, proposed to permit such property
owners, as may desire it, to connect their premises by particular sewers with the
common drain. Therefore it will be a combined sewer.
Muncy Creek rises in the mountainous region of Sullivan County and pursues
a Very winding but general southwesterly course a distance of thirty-three miles
to the Susquehanna liiver, falling iu this length over lifteen hundred vertical
feet and draining two liundred and twenty square miles of which about one-half
is above Hughesville. The railroads foHow closely along the banks of the stream
for twenty-six mih.^ to Nordmout village. A branch from Stouestown extends
northerly up the valley of Outlet Kuu to Eagles Mere Lake in Sullivan County
at the summit where is located the popular resort of Eagles ]\Iere.
Three miles above Hughesville borough on Muncy Creek is the borough of
Picture Rocks and above this point there are numerous railroad stations and
small villages. The sewcre at Eagles Mere empty into Outlet Ruu and other
tributaries of Muncy Creela At Nordmont the Nordmout Chemical Works, en-
gaged in the manufacture of wood alcohol and by-products, discharge wastes
fnt^o the stream. There is a tannery at Muncy Valley twelve miles above
Hughesville, whose trade wastes drain to the stream. Below this point the waters
of t'he creek show the dark brown color characteristic of tannery fluid.
Below Hughesville there is a dam aud mill known as Shoemakers and further
down another dam known as Stultz Mill. These are respectvely three and four
and a half miles distant from Hughesville. The mouth of the creek is about
one-half mile above the borough of Muncy on the east bank of the river.
The Susquehanna receives sewage and other pollutions from the municipalities
located along its banks. At Lewisburg, eleven miles below Muucy Creek, there
is an emergencv water works intake at the river, and also nineteen miles below
Muncy Creek a't Sunbury there is also a river intake. The water at Sunbury is
subjected to fih ration before distribution to the consumer.
The proposed sewer extensions iu Hughesville are mainly for the purpose of
drainage and surface water removal. T'he amount of household sewage which may
reach the sewer-- will be an inconsiderable . amount, aud since, because of the
pollutions of the stream by chemical and tannery wastes, no use is made of the
waters of Muncy Creek except for power purposes, (so far as the Depart-
ment is informed) the small amount of sewage which is now added to Muncy
Creek and the Sustiueiianna liiver by Hughesville sewage, together with that
which may be contributed by the proposed sewers should not increase the menace
to public 'health in those municipalities below along the river dependent on the
water for drinking purposes, or at least to a degree not warrantiiig discrimination
by the State against tbe borough of Hughesville and the requirement that the local
aethorities thereof should cease to discharge the sewage into the river at a much
r-arlier date than that on or before which other towns along the Susquehanna
River iu Lycoming County may be required to discontinue the sewage piilluliou
of the river. . . ,, • ^- • ,i
The petitioners contemplate making extensions lo the existing sewers in (he
rear fntnre. It is rei)orted that the assessed valuation of the borough is about
three hundred and sixty-four thousand dollars and that Ihe bonded debt is five thousand
dollars. If these figures l)e true then it would a|)pear that Hughesville has a bcu'rowing
capacity in the n<'ighborhood of twenty thousand dullais only, a sum insufHci(>ut to
erect sewage purification works to treat the present How of sewage or to install sepa-
rate sewers and a purification plant in connection therewith.
However, the interests of the public health in the towns aloir^ (he river, \\hi>se
populations' are no\i' and must always be supplied with river water, demand Ihat
the poisons in these waters shall be reduced to a uiiuimiiiii. The river and its
tributaries nuist .-ease to lie used as an open sewer. Household wastes i)ut into
Muney C'reek at Hughesville may Avithin a few hours be transmitted to the city
of Ilarrisbnrg and be introduced into the water piijes ther(>. In common with
other up stream municipal authorities, the borough council of Hughesville should
anticipate future reiininiiients in tie- way of improved sewers and sewage dis-
po.sal and adopt plans for a sewer system to extend over the entire borough and
to convey the sewage to a purification plant for treatment before being dis-
charged into the crrok. The existing and proposed sewers may be made a iiart
of such system or it may be foutul desirable and lU'cessary to provide mdependenl
nipes for" storm water.' The siihjecl should be eiirefully considered and worked
out and the plan be submitted lo the Stiile Department of Health and be amended
or approved and when such a comprehensive! iilan shall have been adopted tlu'
borough may proceed from time lo time, as necessity may re(piire, to eoiistnict
any part of this systr-m without further ai)plication lo Ihe Stale authorities. It
is bv this method 'of proc<-di,re that Ihe preservation of the i)iirity of Ihe waters
nf the State for the ),rotecli<m of the inil|lic health may be brought about in a
reasonable manner. The borough shouhl not expect the State to apt)rove desiill:ory
sewer extensions regardless of a plan to ultimately bring about the cessation of
sewage pollution of the creek.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 897
It has been detcrmiucd that the interests of the public health will be sub-
served by grantinj^ a permit for the proposed line of fifteen inch sewers and for
this only, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That no farther additions to the pr6posed sewers or to the existing
sewei-s shall he made until detail plans and pruliles thereof and for a compre-
hensive sewerage syistom and sewage disposal works for all the borough shall
have been prepared and submitted to the Commissioner of Health for ap-
proval and until the Commissioner of Health shall have modified, amended or
api)rovetl plans and issued a permit therefor.
SKCONlJ: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State
shall cease .May first, nineteen hundred and eleven, provided that meantime the
other terms of this permit shall have been complied with. If at that time
the interests of the public health demand it the (.'ommissioner of Health may
extend the time in which sewage may continue to be discharged into Muncy
Creek.
The local authorities are advised to prepare plans for a complete system of
sanitary sewers covering the territory within the borough limits and providing
for the discharg'j of sewage from a single outlet near the southerly limits of the
borough and to include provision for purifying the sewage. The future sewers
not intended for storm drainage should be constructed in accordance with
such plan after approval by the Commissioner of Health.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., May 4th, 190S.
HUNTINGDON, HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Huntingdon, Huntingdon County,
and is for permission to extend its sewer system and lay out new sewers and to
discharge the sewage therefrom, untreated, into the Juniata River within the
limits of the borough.
It appears that on April eleventh, one thousand nine hundred and six, the
Commissioner of Health sent the following communication to borough council:
"April 11th, 1906.
"To the Honorable, the Borough Council:
"J. B. Ktinz, President,
"Huntingdon, Penna.
"Gentlemen: A petition signed by half a hundred or more of the representa-
tive citizens and taxpayer's of the borough of Huntingdon has been addressed to
the undersigned, Commissioner of Health of the State of Pennsylvania, setting
forth that a small stream called Muddy Run, extending through the central
part of the borough is used as an open sewer, and that said use endangers the life
and health of the residents of the neighborhood, and praying that an examination
be made thereof and immediate steps be taken to abate the nuisance.
"Upon an examination of the premises, I find that several public sewers
and numerous private sewers contribute to the nuisance and that one of these
private sewers is from the Huntingdon High School Building.
"After careful consideration, I have determined that the discharge of such
sewage into Muddy Run by private sewers and individuals is injurious to the
public health. So also is the discharge from the public sewers.
"Because the borough has within its power ample ability to solve the problem
of abating the nuisance, and because the local Board of Health has failed to
abate the nuisance, you are hereby ordered to discontinue the discharge of
sewage from the Huntingdon High School into Muddy Run.
"I suggest that you take up at once the problem of designing a sanitary sewer
system to intercepc all of the sewage which now does and may in the future go
into Muddy Run, and plan to convey it to some point where it may be successfully
disposed of.
"In this work my Department will be glad to act in an advisory capacity since
efificieucy, economy and the interests of the public health in this case is "closely
allied, and by co-operation the best results may be secured.
"It is my duty to once more call your attention to the fact that your borough
has neglected to make a report and file plans with the Commissioner of Health
relative to its present sewer system. The law, of which I enclose a copy, requires
that sucii a report slioyld have been iiied last August. On December first I called
your attention to this law and asked compliance with it.
"So far as I am informed, this request has not been recognized. You
now have the blank form of report reiiuired by this Department. If it is not
returneil to nie on or before .May 1st, IJKKi, in due form, I shall consider your
negligeiue to bo an open defiance of the huv and govern my.self accordingly.
On August seventh, the borough not having paid heed to the subject matter
of the above communication, the Commissioner of Health placed the matter in
the hands of an attorney, with instructions to take such steps as might be nec-
essary to force the borough to file plans and report of its sewer system and to
discontinue the discharge of s.-wage from the High School into Muddy Run,
or pay the penalty prescribed by law. This resulted in the employment by the
57— 17— 190S
898 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
borough of au eugiueer to mako the necessary plaus of the sewer system. The
report was filed on September twentieth, oue thousand nine hundred and six, and
soon after a piau of the existing sewers.
On Sepumoer nineteenth, Mr. H. W. Fleck, a citizen of Huntingdon and
the abutting land owner en Mudtly Run, asked for advice as to the proper abate-
ment of a nuisance in said run. Un December thirty- first, one thousand nine
hundred and six, Mr. W . H. Henderson, on behalf of various property owners
along the run, requested that the matter of the abatement of the Muddy Run
nuisance be taken up at once. On May thirty-first , one thousand nine hundred
and seven, Mr. S. C. I'ostlephwaite asked the Commissioner of Health for a hearing
and for an opportunity to present in person a petition from many citizens re-
garding improvements to Muddy Run. This petition was forwarded by mail on
June twenty-seventh. To all these communications answer was made that the
borough was engaged on the preparation of comprehensive plans for sewerage
and sewage disposal works and until these plans were submitted to the State for
approval it would be inadvisable to come to any final determination.
The borough of Huntingdon is the county seat. It is situated on the north
bank of the Juniata River, on a tableland sufiiciently elevated above the river
to escape floods. It is surrounded by hills. The Pennsylvania Railroad, main line,
follows quite closely the river bank through the borough. In the center of the
town, immediately west of the mouth of Muddy Run, there is a small settlement
on the flats between the i-ailroad and the river, called Portstown. This settlement
is flooded at high water.
Along the greater portion of the eastern boundary of the borough is Standing
Stone Creek, a stream of considerable size draining a mountainous watershed partly
under cultivation and emptying into the river within the limits of Huntingdon bor-
ough. The built-up part of the town begins about one thousand feet upstream
from this creek and extends along the river for a mile and a half and back therefrom
upwards of two thousand feet.
Here reside about seven thousand people. The principal industry is the paper
works of the J. C. Blair Company, where about two hundred hands are employed.
The place is a substantial but slow growing town, with no present indication of any
boom.
There are said to be about eighteen hundred residences in the community and
approximately two-third of them are supplied with public water. The works
are owned by the Huntingdon Water Supply Company. The source of supply is
from Standing Stone Creek, taken at a point within the limits of the borough about
one thousand feet upstream from the creek mouth. The water is pumped from a
small intake dam to a mechanical filter plant on the hill in the roar of the borough,
from whence it is supplied by gravity to the consumers. The department has had a
sanitary survey made of the wjilershed above the intake dam and notices of abate-
ment of all nuisances and sources of stream pollution on the watershed have been
served.
The remaining dwellings are supplied with water taken from dug wells on the
premises. There are .several hundred of these in the borough. Surface privies and
vaults dug in the earth and percolating cesspools are scattered generally throughout
the village. The ground below the surface is usually wet. The structure is a
retentive shale. Considerable trouble is experienced with wot cellars, especially in
the western part of the borough. On this account the cesspools are not numerous.
Typhoid fover has occurred in the homes of those using both well water and public
water. The maintenance of a high standard of sanitation rcniuircs that not ordy
should constant attention be given to the preservation of the purity of Standing
Stone Creek water and the efficient opcralion of the filter plant, but that all
sources of pollution of the private wells should be removed. Experience has demon-
strated it to be a difficult thing to accomplish the entire abandonment of private
wells in a borough where well water is so generally used as in Huntingdon. Nearly
all the wells n<j\v in use are reported to be outside of the existing sower district.
The petitioners purpose to extend sewerage facilities to these unsewered portions
of the town and to bring about the abandonment of privies and cesspools. Undobt-
edly where all household wastes of a sewage fhiiraclcr are discharged into the
sewer system . the danger of using well water Un- drinking purposes will be
much rerluced.
.Muddy Run comes down from a drainngc; area of about one thousand acres,
having hillside sloi)es and passes through the western part of Die borough and enters
the Juniata River in tho center of the town at Hk; foot of Seventh Street. About
two-thirds of its length lies within the; borough, the last four thousnnd feet be-
ing through the thickly built-up section. The strenin has been arched over in
places, in other places it has been walled on liie sides iind |)laiiked over, jind in
other |)ortions it is oi>en with natural i-.\v\\\ slojics.
Bf:twe<!n the river and the railroad the clianiiol is an open cesspool in the sum-
mer time. In mild weather the water is stagnant and strong sewage odors eminate
therefrom.
The stone dniin siiid lo receivf! sewage from the ofFicc and adjacent buildings
owned by (he said P.lair Company emplif's into the run ;it llie riiilroad.
Beginning at the railroad, the run is iircliod over and lis course is not apparent.
It passes under Penn Street, the freight station and under stores in Washington
Street. It makes its appearance as an open channel in the rear of the Acme De-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 899
partment Store between Washington and Mifflin Streets. In this covered portion,
which is about six hundred feet in length, two public sewers empty. One is at the
foot of Seventh Street and the other is at Washington Street.
The latter is a main sewer for all that portion of the western district of the
borough which is not adjacent to Muddy Hun, or which does not drain directly to the
Juniata liiver. Jt is a brick structure forty-five inches high by thirty inches wide.
It formerly connected with the Seventh Street sewer. The disconnection was made
to relieve the overtaxed Seventh Street drain. Connected with this outlet, which is
two hundred and fifty feet long, there is a total of ten thousand feet of combined
sewer, of which thirty-four hundred feet is a brick structure twenty inches by thirty
inches in diameter, thirty-uine hundred feet is a twenty-four inch pipe and the re-
mainder have diameters ranging from eighteen inches lo twelve inches.
The Seventh Street sewer is forty-eight inches in diameter. Its outlet is at the
railroad culvert. This structure serves that part of the town lying between the run
on the west and Fifth Street on the east, comprising a total of six thousand feet,
of which fourteen hundred feet is of brick structure, minimum diameter three feet
by two feet, nine hundred feet of eighteen inch pipe, seventeen hundred feet of
twenty-four inch pipe, and seven hundred and fifty feet of fifteen inch pipe, all
combined sewers. Into these are twelve hundred feet of separate sewers equally
divided between pipes having diameters of eight, ten and twelve inches.
The Acme Store discharges sewage directly into the run and so do the other
buildings located over the said arched portion of the rim. The stream crosses
Mifflin and Moore Streets through arches; elsewhere in this portion the channel is
open with natural earth banks. Nine private sewers have outlets into the channel
here. Privies overhang the bank and garbage, refuse and ashes, and so forth, is
thrown into the stream at places along the sides thereof.
The run continues northerly in an open channel, crossing Tenth Street through an
arch to within about one hundred feet of Eleventh Street, where it is again arched
over on private property, and continuing in the arch crosses Moore and Eleventh
Streets. From here onward the run is planked over for most of its length through
private property as far as Thirteenth Street. Twenty dwellings are located along
this stretch and at every one of them there is a privy over or at the bank of the
stream. Hero in summer the odors of sewage are so great at times as to render the
atmosphere stilling at night. Between Tenth and Eleventh Streets, the high
school, having an enrollment of about four hundred and fifty pupils, is provided
with a ten inch sewer which discharges into the run. At Tenth Street there is a
private sewer serving several houses, which also empties into the stream. Along the
banks, up and down stream from Tenth Street, numerous privies are located.
Above Thirteenth Street the stream is open and flows through fields.
There are three public sewer outlets into the river. They are thirty-three, thirty-
six and twenty inches in diameter and arc at the foot of Fifth, Fourth and Second
Streets, respectively. They receive both sewage and storm water from the old sec-
tion of the town.
Fifth Street passes through the public square. The brick sewer in it is twenty-
two hundred feet long and there are six liundred feet of twenty inch pipe, both
receiving storm water and sewage. There are forty-eight hundred feet of lateral
sanitary sewers branching from the main line into the cross streets divided about
eciuallj' between twelve inch and fifteen inch pipe.
Fourth Street crosses the railroad at grade at the back of the station and is car-
ried over the river by a public highway bridge. The sewer outlet into the river
is through the down stream end of the bridge abutment. Connected with the brick
structure, seventeen hundred feet long in Fourth Street, are twenty-seven hundred
feet of twelve inch lateral sanitary sewer.
Second Street sewer, of one thousand feet length, is combined, but its twelve
inch branches, totalling tv.elve hundred feet in length, are sanitary sewers. Second
Street is the most easterly one in the borough.
It is proposed to construct sanitary main sewers on all of the streets in which
there are now combined sewers. All buildings are then to be connected to the sani-
tary sewers and all sewage is to be discharged into the new sewer system. The old
combined sewers are to be continued in use strictly for storm water drainage. The
cost of disconnecting sewage connections with the old system and of matcing the
proper connection to the new system is to be defrayed by the borough. This is pro-
posed because the abutting estates have been charged an entrance fee of about
forty (iollars for each fifty foot lot, so the local authorities deemed it encumbent
on the borough to maintain sewarage facilities to all such estates.
Still another great benefit will accrue to properties in the western district, more
particiihuly along Mifflin Street. The combined sewer in this thoroughfare is too
small lo carry off all of the street water tributary to it during heavy rainfall, and in
consequence sewage is back-flooded into the cellars of the district." The new sewer
system will obviate this trouble. The main sewer is to be twenty-two inches in
dijimeler. 'Its outlet is to be into Standing Stone Creek at its junction with the
river. This sewer is to pass up in the street paralleling the railroad to the valley of
Muddy liun and thence it is to b? extended up said valley, being laid as far as Fif-
teenth Street wholly in public highway, except one thousand feet at the outlet.
900 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
In tlie entire new system there will be a little over ten miles of sewers. The
diametoi-s will range from ten inches to twenty-two inches. Besides this, there are
to be about four miles of live inch house couneciions, the cost of which is to be
defrayed by the borough.
The design has been based on an ultimate population of twenty-live thousand
people. A minimum grade is to be in the main sewer and will be thirty-nine hun-
dredths pi-i C'.-at. inspection manholes are to be provided at changes in line and
grade and Hushing is to be accomplished by hydrant streams whenever this becomes
nece.ssary. i'ariicular care is to be exercised in the construction of the sewers to
make the joints tight so as to keep down the total flow of the sewage.
It is proposed eventually to erect a pumping station near the outlet and to lay out
a sewage purification plant east of the creek and north of the railroad on a ten acre
tract lying within the borough limits.
The petitioners have an ultimate site in view more remotely removed from the
avenues of travel and from habitation. Plans have not yet been submitted.
The completed sewer system without disposal works is estimated to cost one
hundred thousand dollai-s. To provide iniercepting sewers along Muddy lUm so that
these estates now sewering into the run may have facilities afforded for disposal of
the household waste into the sanitary sewer system, and to provide the requisite
sewers to obviate back flooding of cellars in the town, and to bring about the discon-
linuance of the discharge of sewage at the mouth of Muddy Run and elsewhere
where it is now objectionable, and to make improvements in the surface drainage
system, not less than one hundred thousand dollars will be required, of which
probably ninety per cent, will be expended for sanitary sewers. Therefore, the
borough contemplates admitting the question of the authorization of a municipal
debt in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars for sewerage purposes to the voters
of the borough early during the year.
It is reported that the assessed valuation of Huntingdon is one million eight hun-
dred thousand dollars, in round numbers, and that the bonded indebtedness is
twenty thousand dollars. If this be true, the municipal borrowing capacity is one
hundred and six thousand dollars, or thereabouts. So the town cannot build the
sewers and sewage disposal works at the same time. To build part of the sewers
would involve the laying of the main sewer down Muddy Run valley and along the
river to the proposed outlet. This work is the main item of expense. To relieve
the unsanitary conditions in the western district of the borough and to stop sewage
from being discharged into Muddy Run, about sixty-live thousand dollars will be
required according to the plan proposed, including perhaps ten thousand dollars for
surface drainage. At least lifteen thousand dollare should be added for the cost of
constructing the outlet sewer into Stony Creek.
In the eastern, district or old section of the town it appears that there are ten
thousand nine hundred feet of combined sewers, mostly brick structures of large
diameters into which are discharging eighty-seven hundred feet of lateral sanitary
sewere. The resiflents and owners of property in this district have very generally
connected their estates to the sewers. The contributing population of the district is
in tlie neighborhood of fifty per cent, of that of the entire borougli. No sewerage
plan would be comprehensive that did not provide for the ultimate discontinuance of
the discharge of sewage from this population into the river. At the present time no
complaints are made about existing outlets at the foot of Second, Fourth and Fifth
Streets. To effect an intercepting of the sewage now emptied into the river at these
places by the plan proposed, which seems to be the only feasible plan to collect the
entire sewage of the borough and deliver it at one point where in the future it can be
economically delivered to disposal works, will add, so it is estimated, twenty
thousand dollars more to the cost. It is not evident that the interests of the public
health demanil that this money be sjient to stop the sewage from going into the river
at the foot of the three streets mentioned (where no nuisance is now created
thereby,!, and to put it into the same river a few hundred feet further down stream.
To the contrary it would appear to be equally elhcient and much more (economical to
permit the sewage to continue to be discharged at these points until the lime shall
have arrived when the borough can raise the money uecressary to defray the cost of
erecting disposal works to treat the entire sewage of the town. However, mean-
time the local authorities should prepare detailed plans of the disposal works and a
definite site therefor and submit them to the Department of Health for approval,
and when approved the purchase of the necessary land therefor should be con-
summated.
'J'he iiniiu'diate construction of the main sewer of the system and of the sewers in
Muddy Run valley and the western district is imperative from the public health
standpoint. The borough must cease to discharge the sewage from the High School
building and from the public sewers inio .Muddy Run, and the plans proposed ap|)ear
to be economieally design(!(l to accomplish this purpose.
The widening, Htraighlening, deepening, walling or covering of a natural walei'-
coui-se called Muddy Run, vshich , owing to th(! topography of the ii|)per (lraiuag;e
area, i/fttimes becomes a torrential stream, in a nialter relating to pid)Hc conveni-
ence and necessity and proprietory interests wholly outside; of the jurisdiction of the
State Health iJr.'pai tment. To improve this channel anil aich it over for tlie pur-
nose of maintaining it as a covered sewi-r cannot bi- sanctioned as Stat(< authority.
vVhile the cost of such iin|)roviment would be ('(pial to the cost of the i)roposed sewers
in the district, this great expenditure would not effect or be a part of any plan to
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 901
effect the discontinuance of the discharge of sewage into the Juniata River or abate
the nuisance now existing at the river antl the mouth of this run. It is the law of
the Commonwealth to preserve the purity of the waters of the State for the protec-
tion of the public health and since this river is used as a source of supply to the
public at times at Newport and since the Susquehanna River, into which the
Juniata discharges, furnishes drinking water to many thousands of peoi>Ie living
along its banks, and must continue to do so, it is essential that whatever sewerage
plans are adopted at Huntingdon under State sanction shall provide for the diminu-
tion rather than lasting increase of stream contamination.
Should (he abutting owners along Muddy Run choose to improve the natural
water course, un<loiditedly the labois of the local board of health in preventing the
depositing of garbage and refuse in the channel would be made much easier and other
benefits should accrue; but it Is encumbent on the local authorities to prevent such
nuisances in any event.
It is also encumbent on the local authorities after the proposed sewers shall have
been built along the run to compel the abandonment of all privies, vaults and cess-
pools there wlien the connection of all occupied estates with said sewers.
The collection of surface water which falls from the heavens on to the streets,
yards and lauds naUirally drains into Muddy Run, either by underground struc-
tures or by artificial surface channels or natural onps, and its delivery to the said
run is also a matter beyond the jurisdiction of the State Health Department. The
foreign matters which such surface waters pick up in thcjr flow over the surface of
the ground may, in the strictest interpretation of the law, comprise some sewage.
But this cannot be prevented and it is not the act of any one individual, but. the
result of the aggregation of people in a thickly populated community. Such waters
cannot be kept from their natural courses even if they do carry some polluting
material. It is totally impracticable to otherwise dispose of storm drainage.
In ^■iew of the above considerations it has been determined that the interests of the
public health demand that the projjosed sewerage plans be approved, and the same
are hereby and herein approved and a permit issued therefor under the following
considej'ations and stipulations:
FIRST: That the borough shall foi-thwith construct the main sewer and such
other sewers tributary thereto, in Muddy Run basin, it may be necessary to afford
sewerage facilities to all occupied estates therein. And upon the completion of said
main and tributary sewers, the local authorities shall bring about the abandonment
of the High School sewer and of the discharge of sewage into INIuddy Run from any
pnlilic or private sewer, privy, A-ault, cesspool, or otherwise, by the enactment
and enforcement of an ordinance to be established for the purpose. Construction
work or contracts therefor shall have been begun or executed on or before six months
from the date of this permit.
SECOND: On or before the new sewer system or any part thereof shall be used
the borough shall cause to be prepared and submitted to the Commissioner of Health
for approval detailed plans of the site and the works to be erected thereon with ac-
cessories for the treatment and purification of all of the sewage of the borough, and
upon approval of said plan, either modified or amended, the borough shall consum-
mate a ipurrhaso of the land required for said works.
THIRD: This pernvt to discharge sewaee into the waters of the State shall cease
on the first day of November, nineteen hundred and eleven, provided, however, that
the other conditions herein specified shall have been complied with. .\t the expira-
tion of said time, the Commissioner of Health may extend the date in which sewage
may continue to be dischnrged into the waters of the State provided the interests of
the public hen 1th demand it.
FOURTH: Surface and roof water may be excluded from the sewer svstem.
The local authorities shall keep a record of all buildings connected with the sewer
system. At the expiration of each season's work a plan of the sewers built during
the year shall be prepared and filed with the Commissioner of Health, together with
anv other information in connection therewith that may be called for.
FIFTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of H(>alth. the sewer
system, or any part thereof, has become a nuisance or menaci^. then such remedial
measures shall be adopted and the Commissioner of Health may approve or advise.
SIXTH: No pathoeenic material from any laboratory shall be discharized into the
sewer system. The i)roper authorities shall cause these wastes to be incinerated on
the premises.
The attention of the local authorities is called to the desirability of having a bac-
teriological examination made of existing well water and a wholesale abandonment of
such wells proven b.v test to be subject to sewage pollution.
Harrisburg, Pa.. March lOth. inOS.
INDIANA. INDIANA COFNTY.
These applications were made by the borough of Indiana, Indiana County: the
one is to extend its sewer.age system and to discharge the sewage therefrom into the
waters of the State and the other is for ajiproval of plans of sewage disposal works.
I ajiitenrs that on Se|)tember third 'nineteen hundred and seven, a permit for
several jietty sewer (>xl(Misions was issued by ihe Commissioner of Health to the
borough of Indiana, on the condition and stipulation that the borough shall in
902 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
good faith comply with terms of tho decree relative to sewerage issued bj' the Com-
missioner of Health to said borough on June tenth, nineteen hundred and seven.
Said terms were as follows:
"In veiw of these and other circumstances, it has been unanimously agreed by the
Governor, Attorney-General and Commissioner of Health that the interests of the
public health dt>mand that the Commissioner of Health withhold for the present and
I do hereby and herein withhold a permit for the extension of the borough sewers
until the borough shall have first prepared a plan for the treatment of the town
sewage and have submitted such plans with a report, to the State Department of
Health for approval. I hereby request that such plans and report be submitted on
or before October first, nineteen hundred and seven.
"It would be well for the borough authorities to note that in the study of this
problem, the flow of the main intercepters and the outfall sewer should be measured
day and night during different ijinds of weather to determine what proportion of the
flow of sewage it may be possible to eliminate from the system in order to reduce to a
safe minimum the total output necessary to be treated at the disposal works and how
much roof and cellar drainage and surface water there is that may be more econo-
mically taken care of by some other means to be provided, possibly, by the borough.
The attention of the local authorities is called to the fact that the Commissioner of
Health will be pleased to advise with them and co-operate in the solution of the
problem.
"The.-^e studies should make apparent the remedy for the surcharging of the
sewer.
"It is also unanimously agreed that the borough be requested, and I do hereby
make the request that the proper local authorities shall submit a complete plan of
the existing sewere showing their sixes, grades and elevation and the same for the
proposed extensions of the system, and that this plan be submitted for approval on or
before October first, nineteen hundred and seven. It should be accompanied
by a report thrroughly setting forth under what conditions the borough will
admit private sewers to the system. This report and ]>lan is requested at as early
a date as convenient, in order that the interests of all concerned may be proected in
bringing about a discontinuance of the discharge of private sewers into the sti'eams
in Indiana borough."
The above stipulations were oomplied with and the plans and report submitted on
September, twcntj'-fourth, nineteen hundred and seven, but the formal application
for aijpi-oval thereof was made on December eighteenth. The application of Septem-
ber twenty-first, was for a lateral sewer on Philadelphia Street between Seventh
and Eighth Streets.
Indiana borough is located in the center of Indiana County and is its seat of
government and until recently l;as been mainly the business center for the mral
community that surrounds it. However, the development of the coal lands in this
county has been started on a large scale. New railroads have been projected and a
new era of expansion for the region has been ina\igurated.
The borouL'h is located at the head waters of P>lack Lick Creek, a branch of the
Conemaugh River, which in turn is a tributary of the Allegheny River. The main
portion of the town is built on a ridge lying between the valleys of White Spring Run
on the west and Marsh Run on the east. The outskirts of the town extend across
these runs on to the rising ground beyond. These streams unite at the southern end
of the borough, forming Stony Riui which flows southerly three miles into Two
Licks Creek. This stream in turn joins P.lack Lick Creek a few miles down the
valley. The land along the valleys of the strc^ams and their tril)utari(>s is low and
subject to flood. The greater ))ortinn of the town, however, is on higher groiind
with good grades affording excelhrnt facilities for surface drainage. I'opulation of
the borough is about seven thousand. The growth since the last census has been
rapid and it promises to be more rapid in the near future owing to the operation in
the coal fields of the county.
The water supply is furnished by the Clynier Water Company, comes from Two
IJck Creek and i.s subjected to mechanical filteration. However, there are hun-
<lrcds of private wells in the town used as sources of drinking water.
The pulilic sewerage system was establihed in nineteen hundred and three on the
separate plan. Storm water is sujjiiosed fo be excluded but considerable roof and
cellar water has br-en admitted. Tlie main sewer is eigliteen inches in diameter and
extends from the junction of the two creeks at the southern end of the town to a
point one mile further south in Stony Run valley, tei'ininnting iit the upi)er end of a
nine acre tract belonging to the borough and locnterl in AVhite 'I'owrishii).
Two twelve inch inlercei)ting s.^wers branch from the main outfall, one extendin'jr
up each run in the borough. These sewers with their laternls comprise all told
seven and .-ux tenths miles of pipe. According to the engineer's measurements fi'oin
the entire system is discharged dnily in dry season's two hundred thousiiiid giiiloiis
and one million gallons daily during wet season. It is reported that seveiileeii
hundred people only at present use the sewers.
The few factories in the town have private sewers with discharge independently
in to the run. L is the purpose of the iK.rouuh to fidmit industrial wastes after
preliminary treatment. It is also i)htnned to r-oinpel inili\iduii]s to discoiitiuue the
use of private sewers and to conned with the hoi-ough system. It is also planned
to cut down the maximum flow of sewage which is due tr; leakage at manhole covers,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 903
to infiltration, cellar drainase and storm water connection. The petitioners
anticipate that by the elimination of the undesirable flow, that the total output of
se\vas:e when the town shall have been sewered will be between seven hundred
thousand and one million j;allons daily.
The proposed comprehensive sewerage system involves the extension of existing
sewers and mains, and the improvement of them. Storm and roof water is to be
excluded, manholes are to be placed at changes in line and grade, private sewer
outlets to the streams are to be discontinued and all of the sewage of the borough is
to be intercepted and conveyed to the proposed disposal works.
Into White Spring Run is discharged the wastes from the brewery, woolen mill
and provision company's plant and from the old hotel sewer and from the laundry
at Water Street. Into Marsh Run is dischanred the waste from the tannery
and Collar Company's plant and from the combined sewer system connected to the
county jail sewer. The recommendations of Robert M. Mullen, Borough Engineer,
accompanying his plans for improved sewerage and sewage disposal works are per-
tinent and show a comprehensive grasp of the subject. A rtortion of his discussion
is as follows:
"In addition to these private sewers, the brewery, tannery, woolen mill and
State Normal School discharge directly into the runs. The latter institution has
recently without permission been connected with the borough system of sewers.
In the higher portions of the town a number of old and two new storm sewers lead
to the n;\arest convenient point of discharge into old water courses. Sewerage con-
nection with such drains are not permitted. The Department of Health wishes to
know under what conditions private sewers will be admitted into the borough system
of sewere. It would not be advisable to admit them under any conditions. In general
such drains were intended to carry roof and surface water and their discharge is
limited only by their capacity. Al! future connections with the borough sewers
should be made only through waier tight sewers and drains that have been regularly
tested and inspected and with only such building or buildings as are accompanied bj*
a plan of the same, accurately drawn to scale and showing the location of all down
ST»onts : the size and lengths of nil drains; with notes in reirard to the disnositicn of
roof, surface and cellar drainage and accompanied by an inspector's certificate that
the drains have been laid accoj-ding to plan.
"The liorough authorities shoald co-operate with the Health Departemnt in re-
claiming the mns by extending the sewer system wherever possible to reach property
now drnining into private sewers and notifying private industries discharging trade
wrstes into the runs to present plans for treatment on said trade wastes preliminary
to connn'Mion with the borough sewer?. It would also seem practicable to intercent
the dry weather flow of the county sewer and that of the sewer from the State
Normal School until that institution shall have reconstructed its drainage system and
luitil such time as the borough sewers shall have been extended to reach the houses
now draining into the county sewers, when the present private sewers will carry roof
and cellar water only which might other-wise find its way into the borough system of
sewers.
"The surcharging of the sewers is confined to the two main intercepters and is due
to leakage into the sewer through perforated manhole covers; to a probable leaking
of the run into the east main intercepter some place between Wayne Avenue and
School Streets where the discharging ordinarily occurs, to the disregard of pro-
perty owners ;is to the proper use of the sewers, in drnining roof and surface wnter
into the laterals; t<> seepage, and to the sewer from the State Normal School which
j-eceives the entire drainage from five large buildings and the grounds surrounding.
The immediate relief for the comparatively few cases of consequent back flooding
of cellars is in the insertion of a gate valve in the house drain. The iiermnnent
relief is the building of nil cellars above the level of high water in the valleys. The
linkage into the sewer through the manhole covers can be reduced by raising the
tops of the manlioles above flood level and by closing the preforations, in which case
the local Hoard of Health, who at piesent regulate the sanitary improvements, from
the outside of the foundation wall to the roof of the building and who require a cast
iron trap to be placed outside the foundation wall, should assist in ventilating the
sewers by removing said traps. A house to house inspection should reveal the
source of a large part of the surcharging. That the sewers are adequate for the use
to which they were intended is shown b}' the results of one hundred and fifty gaug-
ings throughout the length of the two twelve inch intercepters and eighteen inch
outfnll sewers which give an average depth in the twelve inch lines of three and
one-half inch and an average depth of four and one-quarter inch in the eighteen
inch line."
There is a drop from the end of two outfall sewer at the nine acre tract to the
creek of thirty vertical feet. This tract extends either side of Stony Run and the
land on the east is flat and low hut the land on the western side ascends at about a
twelve per cent, grade. There are no buildings in the immediate vicinity. la fact
the borough purchased this land in contemplation of the erection of a sewage purifica-
tion plant.
The proposed works consist of a grit chamber, septic tank, dosing tank, spriniil-
iiig filters, a settling basin, sludge bed.-- and an auxiliary pumping outfit.
904 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OfE. Doc.
The septic tank is to consist of twr units placed side by side, each fourteen f(>et
ten inches -wide and ninety-three feet ten inches Ions, interior dimensions, by ten feet
effective depth to the flow line with a total depth of ten feet nine inches and t ach
having a total capacity of one hundred and three thousand gallons. They are to be
built of re-inforced concrete with concrete slab covers and entrance will be gained
through manholes in the top. No vent pipes are shown in the roof. The sewage
is to be admitted into each compartment through two twehe inch ports. The center
is to be eighteen inches below the flow line and located in the wall between the tanks
and the grit chamber. This chamber is to be thirty feet eight inches long by six
feet wide by ten feet efl:"ective depth wth a capacity of fourteen thousand gallons
and it is to" extend across the inlet ends of both septic tanks. The sewer is to t>r-
minate at one end of this chamber at the top thereof in a trough two feet square
and open on top. extending across the entire length of the chamber and provided
with port holes spaced at equal distances five in the Ixittom and six on the sides, each
port to be twenty inches by twenty-four inches and provided with screens to prevent
the passage cf every coarse material into the grit chamber. Except at the trough the
chamber will be covered with a concrete slab provided with manholes.
The sewage is to pass lengthwise through each septic tank. A wooden baffle
located three feet *rom the inlet wall and extending five feet below the flow line will
reflect the sewag.> downward as it enters the tank. A baffle wall located at the
centre and extending six feet six inches above the floor will retain the heavier sludge
in the first half of the unit. The effluent must pass under a scumboard extending
across the tank two feet from the outlet end and two feet below the flow line, to the
outlet which is to be a weir ten feet long built in the end wall.
After passing the weir the sewage is to be collected in a dosing chamber extend-
ing across the end of both tanks. This tank is to be thirty feet eight inches by cen
feet wide by thro? feet eight inches efffctive depth, with a total depth of six feet and
with a capacity of eight thousand gallons.
The floor of each unit is sloped from the middle towards the outer ends the fall
being six inches where in the pai'tition wall between the units there is a manhole at
either end connected by twenty-four inch pipe imbedded in concrete and built directly
beneath the partition wall. The manhole at the inlet end is the lower and is con-
nected to an eighteen inch sludge drain. This drain is also connected to the manhole
in the grit chamber. Plans for the sludge bed have not been prepared and submitted.
The two manholes are provided with overflow connections for each compartment,
said overflows being twelve inches square and located one foot above the flow line of
the tank. There are submerged ports twelve incites square provided with gates and
located two and one-half feet below the flow line by means of which the effluent from
one tank can be delivered through the twenty-four inch pipe to the influent end of the
other tank, thereby doubling the distance to be traveled by sewage. Stop planks
may be placed upon the outlet weir of either tank.
The spinnkling filter is to be one hundred and fifty-two feet long by one hundred
and two feet wide and located adjacent to the tank with the longest dimension
adjacent to east wall of the septic tank structure. The floor is to be made of con-
crete and also thi! wall, and the interior dimensions are to be ninety-six feet by one
hundred and fifty feet with an uverage depth of seven and one-half feet of filtering
material.
Along the end next to the septic tank there is a gallery one hundred and fifty feet
long and three feet wide, the bottom being even with the floor of the filter in which
the influent pipes and operating valves are located. This gallery is roofed over to
protect the valves from the weath'M-.
In the dosing tank is to l)e installed a twelve inch syi)hon whose discharge will be
into an eighteen inch terra cot'a pipe leading to the sprinkling filters. The flow
line in the dosing chamber will be six and eight tenths feet above the surface of the
filter and the bottom of said cliariiber three and one-len(li feet aliove and when the
flow from the town sewer is al the rate of one million gallons, it is calculated that
the dose will continue to How for about twenty minutes with a ix'riod of rest about
one half this time. The eighteen inch supply pipe is to be built into the wall of the
gallery and it will feed sixteen five inch laterals spaced nine and seventy-five one
hundredllis feet on centres eaeh provided with a gate in the gall(>ry, thus admitting
of the putting out of commission of any section of the filter at clioi(!e. 'I''liese five
inch laterals will consist of vitrified pipe ind)edde(l in re-inforced beams sii))ported by
re-inforci'rl concrete r.-olimins two and five tenlhs feel liigli and eight and five t«mths
feet on centres. At each column lliere will be a three inch vertical cast-iron riser ex-
lending to the smface of the filter iind siinnounled with a Columbus nozzle. These
parallel distributors will be laid secticnally across the filler.
Tiie floor of the filter will slope one foot from the gallery, the fillering material
being seven feet deep at the shallow end and eight feet deep at the opposite side
wliere on (he i/otlorn and across the eiitice Ir'tmlh of the side will be a collecling
cliamiier eighteen inehes in diameti-r built in the concrete floor and terminaling at
manholes at either end of tiie filter. This collecting channel will be covered with a
concrete slab. Into this main will lead six inches vitrified channel tiles wilh slots
cut in the sides laid in parallel rows on the concrete floor spaced ten inches on
centres across the floor to the inlet gallery un the opposite side. The ends will
open into this inlet gallery and a two inch fliisli line jiipe will lie provideil
in the gallery fitted wilh proper connections for flushing out the sub-drain, 'j'lie
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 905
manholes at the c-iids of the eighteen main collector will be used to flush. The.
manhole nearest the run will have an eighteen inch pipe outlet leading to the
nearby selllin},' basin.
The filter will be divided into three sections by means of two inch plank partitions
held in position by reinforced concrete posts located on twelve and five truths fcot
centres. Tliese partitiDUS will i.-xrend across the short length of the filler and -.vill
divide it into a h.ilf section and two quarter sections. The half section is to be filled
with slag and the quarter sections are to be filled with limestone an<l sandstone,
respectively. The sizes of stone are not indicated.
Between the filter and the run is to be located the settling basin. It is to
bo circular, seventy-five feet in diameter and to be divided into two compartments,
by means (,f a wall through the centre. It is to be constructed of earth with the
walls three feet wide on top and with slopes one and one-half horizontal to one
vertical. The bottom of the interior of each compartment is to be of concrete. The
slopes are to he riprapped on the top to a distance of one foot below the flow line
and from the bottom fur a distance of six inches up. Each compartment will have
an elVective depth of four feet and a total depth of five feet and will hold thirty-
seven thousand five hundred gallons. The eighteen inch pipe from the filters will
terminate at the settling basins in a four foot concrete compartment at the end of
the partition wall. By means of stop planks the sewage is to be diverted from this
clK\inl)er into either compartment of the settling basin by means of a twelve inch
pipe extending across the end and provided three eight inch branches four feet on
centres, submerged twenty-one inches below the How line. The outlet of each com-
partment is a concrete weir fourteen feet long and discharging into an outlet gallery
connected at a point opposite to the partition wall with an eighteen inch pipe, out
of which the effluent is to be conducted to a series of stone steps to the run. The
bottom slopes toward the influent pipes where in each compartment is to be a sludge
drain leading to the sludge drying area for which plans have not been submitted.
Till? botioiu of ihe basin is ten feet higher than the ordinary level of the water in
the run and five feel lower than the bottom of the sprinkling filters.
In the centre of the selling basin is to be a clear water well six feet in diameter
and five feet deep with concrete bottom and dry rubble sides. It is expected that
infiltration from the basin will keep this well full. Here a pump is to be installed
to raise the efflueut to a tank to be located on the ground at a sufiBcient elevation
to give adequate pressure to the flushing lines.
The success of the proposed plant would depend upon several things. The features
of the design are those incorporaled in modern practice, but the capacity of the
units and especially the filter based on the rate of two million gallons per twenty-
four hours per acre would be inadequate even if all leakage and storm waters were
cut out of existing sewers if the entire population contributed to the flow. There-
fore, il is impcrtaut at the outset that sewage only should be admitted to the
sewers and that all other flow should be eliminated.
The layout is not best adapted for subsequent additions. There is room for two
additional units to the septic tank but according to the present arrangement there
is very little room for economical additions to the sprinkling filter unless the land
immediately north and now owned by private individuals be purchased by the
borough, hence it would be advisable to change the layout which can be easily
accomplished without materially increasing the cost.
Vents should be placed in the roof of the septic tank and inspection openings
should l)e left at the weir to permit of the measurements of the flow over them. The
sides of the seilliug basin should be lined with concrete. The cost would not be great
and this would insure easy cleaning of the wall which is an important thing. "See-
page through the side walls of the clear water well cannot be depenaed upon. Con-
necting pipes should be afforded.
The design as a whole is an excellent one and the plant if properly operated
should elleci over ninety per cent, bacterial efficiency and deliver a clear non-put-
n scible effluent.
No by-passes for sewage is contemplated in the plans. The nearest point to the
run to be approched by sewage will be at the sludge bed. This area must perform
a very important function and it must be capable of properly purifyiu" the
wastes put upon it. Nowhere at the plant should crude sewage or unpurified
sewage be turned into the run. If Indiana Borough should witness a boom
in growth then more units would have to- be added iu the immediate future
The i)etitioneis should be made aware of the fact that a certain process has beeii
imtenled and is now owned by the (VnuMon Septic Tank Compariv and if the tanks
lier.MU before described are (o he operated in anyway to infringe ^aid patent that a
royalty would be due for the use of the process. '
The petiiioners have issued bonds for the pavement of some of the borough streets
and they purjiose to build sewers in these highways before the pavement is laid down
The inunicii)al borrowing capacity is so limited that utmost prudence iu the admin-
slialitiii of puhli.' iinprovements is (hinrnded. It is unknown what the cost of stopp-
ing leakage and other inflow into the sewers except sewage mav be. Probablv a sea-
son's lime is required for this work and another season for the"(M-ection of .a purifica-
tion plant. Both improvements should be made and be in successful onerations by the
spiing or early summer of the followin:; year.
906 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OfE. Doc.
It has bpen determiued that the interests of the public health will be subserved by
approving the proposed sewerage plans and sewage disposal works under the fol-
lowing conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That all roof, cellar and storm water be eliminated from the sewer
system and excluded therefrom and that at the close of each season's work a plan
and profile of the work done during the year, together with any other information
in connection therewith that may be required shall be prepared by the borough and
filed in the oflice of the Commissioner of Health. And records of all connections with
the sewer system shall be made and accurately recorded by the borough.
SECOND: This permission to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on July first, nineteen hundred and ten, on or before which the borough shall
have erected the sewage purification plant and put the same into successful opera-
THIRD: Records of the operation of the plant shall be kept on blank forms
satisfactory to' the State Department of Health and copies thereof shall be regularly
filed with the Commissioner of Health. The borough shall keep in attendance at the
plant such watchmen as may be necessary to successfully operate the same.
FOURTH: If at any time :n the opinion of the Commissioner of Health the
sewerage system or any part thereof or the disposal works or any part thereof shall
have become prejudicial to public health or insufficient in capacity or a nuisance
or menace, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of
Health may approve or advise. , ,. , , „ , , i ,
FII^iTi: Detail plans of the sludge disposal area shall be prepared and sub-
mitted to and approved by the Commissioner of Health before the completion of
the other parts cf the disposal works. Vents shall be placed in the roof of the
septic tank, facilities for measuring the weirs shall be provided, the sides of the
settling basin shall be lined with concrete and the relayout of the plant as herein-
before suggested shall be made unless reasons satisfactory to the Commissioner of
Health can be shown to the contrary.
SIXTH: No pathogenic material from any labratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on the premises.
SEVENTH: The borough shall employ such reasonable measures as may be
necessary to bring about at the 'iarliest practicable moment the discontinuance of the
discharge of sewage and trade wastes into storm drains or natural water courses or
the wastes of the State within the limits of the borough, in substantial accordance
with the report and recommendations made by the borough engineer and herein-
before quoted.
EIGHTH: It is the intention of the State Department of Health to have exami-
nations made of the sewers and sewage disposal works and to make suggestions from
time to time with respect to the operation of the same. The plants shall be
operated under responsible supervision of the expert who builds it or of some other
equally competent to perform such service for one year from the beginning of the
operation to the end that eflicieacy and economy shall be obtained.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 28th, 1908.
KANE, McKEAN COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Kane and is for permission to
extend its sewer system and to est{;blish new sewers and to discharge the sewage
thereform into the waters of the State outside of the borough in Wetmore Township,
said county. , . , , , , ., ^ •
It appears that on October povonlh, nineteen hundred and seven, the ( ommis-
sioner of Health issued a permit to said borough of Kane, specifying thai the per-
mit referred specifically to the extension of an existing sewer on Fraley Street
under the Pennsylvania Railroad to tlie new liolel, and for an eighteen inch relief
sewer in Hacker Street and for a twdve inch relief sewer in Dawson Street, the
permit for any furtln-r extensions or for new construction and use of new sewers
and outlets having been held for present under certain conditions and stipulations,
among which were tli(! following: • .,..,,.,
"That the borough shall forthwith employ a competent engineer skilled in such
matters to consult with the borough engineer and local authorities and prepare a
comprehensive sewerage system for the niuiiicii>al territory whose object shall I)e to
collect all the sewage and deliver it 1o one or more c(]mnion i)oiiits for purification.
The study shall embrac(? the ipiestion of utilization of as many of the existing
sewers as may be found practicable in the comprehensive plan, and the elimination
of roof water from the system as far as this may be found practicable. It will be
I)rud<'nl for the borough to tak<' into aecoiuit thi' sewerage of sueli terriloi^ as is
liable to be annexed to the municit)aiity in the neai' future. The topography is such
that the sewage from the small j/art of the borough within tiie Clarion IMver water-
shed can be conductr'd into the Kinziia (!reek district, where, in Wetinore Township,
remotely located, may be found favorable sites for the erection of a sewag<! disposal
plant to serve that district. And in th(! valley of Tionesta Creek, in Wetmore
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 907
Township, below all property Jikely to be pre-empted in the future fur the growth
of the borough or its suburbs, there are favorable sites for a sewage purification
plant for the ireatmenl of the sewage tributary to this district.
"As soon as such comprehensive plans and studies and a report thereof shall
have been submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval, said Commissioner
will give the subject due consideration and, if the interests of the pubic health de-
mand it, will issue a permit for the construction of sewers in conformity with this
comprehensive plan or modificaiion of it.
"SECOXD: Such compreheuiive plans, together with plans for sewage disposal
works, shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health on or before the tirst day of
May, nineteen huudred and eight. Permission to discharge sewage into the waters
of the State shall cease on that date, but if the terms of the permit shall have
been complied with, the Commissioner of Health may extend the time for such dis-
charge and fix the date when ilie sewage uisposal works shall be built and put
in operation and all sewage in the borough delivered to said works."
On iNovember ninth, nineteen hundred and seven, the conditions of the above per-
mit were modified in a supplementary permit to the extent that the use of existing
sewers built since April twenty-second, nineteen huudred and five, was allowed.
The borough has complied with the requirements of the Commissioner of Health
and has submitted a compreheniiive plan for sewerage and a tentative lay-out for
sewage disposal works in the valley of Tionesta Creek.
Un account of the peculiar topogiaphical conditions, the town lying in three
distinct water-sheds; four hundred and forty-seven acres upon the Kinzua slope,
five hundred and fifty acres on the Tionesta slope and about twenty acres on the
Clarion slope (the last being eliminated), the problem uacurally divides itself into
two parts — first, the sewering of the Kinzua slope, and, second, the sewering of
the Tionesta slope.
On the Kinzua slope are found many of the sewers already buLlt in the borough and
on the combined plan. The dry weather Uow from them is discharged through a
twelve inch pipe about a mile below the borough in the vicinity of, but lower down
than, the old saw-mill. The storm overflow is into a twenty-four inch pipe which
parallels a twelve inch pipe, and djecharges at a point thirty-eight huudred feet
below the borough limits. Both pipe outlets are beyond any permanent settle-
ments that have yet been made in this portion of the valley.
The sewer problem for this slope is to plan extensions to present sewers and to
bring the sewage to one common outfall and also to make provision for separating
the storm water as soon as requirements may demand it. New sewer extensions are
to exclude storm water.
The plans submitted are designed to accomplish these purposes.
It appears that in the central part of the town there are eightj--four acres of
land only from whose surface rain water is intended to be wholly taken into the
sewers. This territory lies between Fraley, Haines, Hacker and Biddle Streets.
There is a tract east of Hacker Street of about eighty acres from which some storm
water is taken through street gutters into the sewers. The plan contemplates the
laying of a new surface water drain up Hacker Street from the head of Kmzua
Creek to serve this eighty acre tract and other land in the vicinity, as it may be de-
veloped.
Between Fraley and Chase Streets there are in the said eighty-four acres tract
tweleve acres in the heart of the business section from which roof water is now
taken into a twelve inch pipe in Field Street, which was primarily built for surface
water but receives some sewage. This twelve inch pipe connects with a twelve inch
pipe in Chase Street and they in turn discharge mto sewers which pass down
Bayard Street into the twelve inch sewer which leads to the outfall. The plan pro-
posed is to exclude sewage from the said twelve inch pipes in Field and Chase Streets
and to lay a new storm water drain east in Bayard Street to take their flow to the
twenty-four inch storm outfall. Elsewhere in the district roof water now reaching
the sewers will be gradually eliminated, until when the time ^hall have arrived for
the erection of sewage purification works, the storm flow in the sewers may have
been reduced sufficiently. If not, the local authorities will then adopt measures to
further eliminate storm water.
On the Tionesta slope the sewers now built have had no storm water admitted
to them from the street gutter, so the separation is simplified. Rain water may be
readily cared for in the street gutters and the natural channels of the district.
The plans submitted contemplate (he interception of the flow of all existing sewers
on the slope, both public and private. The new intercepter is to be twelve inches in
diameter and to start at the foot of Fraley Street and thence pass down the valley of
the creek, principally in Hemlock Stieet, with an average grade of three per cent,
to White Rock Avenue, which is outside of the borough limits in Wetmore Town-
ship in the development of the White Rock Land Company. At the foot of this
avenue there is at present an eight inch sewer discharging into the creek. It is
to be intercepted and from here down the valley to Spring Avenue, a distance of
fifteen lumdred feet, the sewer will pass across private proi>erty, following the con-
tour aud on a five-tenths per cent, grade. At the intersection of Walnut and Spring
Avenues, in the township, on the land of the White Rock Land Company, the main
intercepter, the latter portion of which is to be fifteen inches in diameter, and a ten
908 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
inch main to serve the Poplar Street district in the northeasterly part of the borough,
join to form the outfall sewer which is to be tweuly inches in diameter and to ex-
tend westerly in Walnut Street To the site of the proposed disposal works.
Walnut Street is thirty-five feet higher and six hundred feet distant from Tiouosta
Creek. The ground slopes more steeply from the highway for one hundred and
fifty feet and here it is proposed that sewage tanks shall be erected. Beyond this part
the land slopes gradually to the creek and on this part it is proposed that sprinkling
filters shall be installed.' Plans submitted, though tentative, show conclusively that
there is ample vertical height and also superficial area for the installation of a dis-
posal plant which may be adapted when the time comes to the economies of the case.
Should a critical examination prove it to be desirable to locate the plant further down
the stream, this can be done without prejudice to the carrying out of the plans herein
considered.
In the Kinzua valley a favorable site is represented by the petitioners to be at the
saw-mill. Were this saw-mill to be abandoned, the borough might acquire the prop-
erty for sewage disposal works, if not, a tract further down might be chosen. The
local authorities wish to have the matter of site for this district left open for the
present. It is represented that the council can act with greater nrudence in this way.
A sewerage permit was issued on October eighth, nineteen hundred and seven, to
the White Rock Land Company, on condition that plans of the existing sowers
and for some other disposal of ihe sewage than into the waters of the State shall
be submitted on or before the first day of May, nineteen hundred and eight. Such
plans have not been submitted but the project now outlined by the borough affords
a means for some other disposal, not only of the sewage from this company's tract
as now developed, but for other areas of large extent belonging to the company which
must ultimately sewer into Tiou3sta Creek valley. The borough, therefore, has
devised a comprehensive sewerage plan which admirably answers the practical needs
of to-day and is wisely calculated to serve the future needs of a greater borough.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approving the proposed comprehensive sewerage plans and that a permit be
issued therefor whereby extensions may be made from time to time and the sewage
therefrom discharged into the waters of the State. The same are hereby and
herein approved and a permit granted therefor under the following conditions and
stipulations:
FIRST: That all storm water shall be excluded from the system or, if ad-
mitted, it shall be under such conditions as shall provide for its exclusion from the
sewers whenever the necessity therefor shall arrive.
SECOND: At the close of each season's work the borough shall file in the office
of the State Department of Health a plan of the sewers laid during the year with any
other information in connection therewith that may be required, to the end that
the Department may be always informed of the extent and use of the system.
THIRD: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on the first day of May, nineteen hundred and eleven. If on that date the
other teiTus of this permit shall have been complied with and the interests of the
public health will be subserved theieby, then the Commissioner of Health may extend
the time in which sewage may be permitted to discharge into the waters of the
State. However, should the occasion ari.se requiring it, the Commissioner of Health
may order the borough to prepare detail plans for the erection of the disposal works,
in which event such plans shall be submitted on or before May first, nineteen hundred
and elevc'ii.
FOURTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or any part thereof is a nuisance or menace to public health, then
the borough shall adopt such remedial measures as the Commissioner of Health may
advise or approve.
FIFTH: No pathological raaierial from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed on
the premises.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., May 18. 1908.
KITTANNING, ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
This perniil is issiu^d to the borough of Kil tanning, Armstrong County, and is to
make certain (ixlensiona to its sewer system in I'csponse to ap|)lications made therefor
by said horoiigh.
It appeai-s that Killanning borough is the county seat of Armstrong County, a
town of about live thousand population. It is locatitd on Iho east bank of tlie Alle-
gheny River largi-ly on a level stretch of ground sufficiently elevated above the river
to escape freshctH. These flats are ahoni half a mile wide, and back from them
a range of hills rises abni|)lly.
I'art of the ItoroiiKli liTiiloi'y is on llic hillsides. Thi! town stn^tches along the
river for a dislanc;"' of aboul one am! a half niiles. Inunediately up stream to the
north lies the borough of Wickbon), practically a pait fif Kittanning, so far as the
one commnnity is concerned. Wickboro has a population of abont fifteen hundred
to twenty hnndrcd i)eof)le. While these towns are residential jilaccs, nevertheless a
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 909
considerable part of the population is supported by the industries which comprise
extensive glass works, china and brick works and the manufacture of steel and
iron.
The Buffalo and Allegheny Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad extends across
the flats, paralleling the river. McKean Street, which is the main thoroughfare
of the borough, parallels the tracks and is between them and the river. In fact two-
thirds of the residents of the town, and practically all of the business is located
between the railroad and the river. Surface water from the hillsides comes down
on the flats and has giveu rise to the construction of a combined sewer .system,
the principal ol)ject of these severs in the firet instance being to remove the storm
water under ground to the river preventing it ponding up east of the railroad.
The public supply of water to Kitlaun.u^ and \\ickboro is now furnished by a
private corporation known as the Armstrong Water Company. Formerly this com-
pany supplied Kittanuing borough only and there were other companies furnisbiifg
water to Wickboro borough.
Water is pumped from the river into a reservoir on a hill back of the town, or
forced directly into the water pipe system. A portion of the supply is from springs
on the hills. These springs are the original sources of supply of the Reyburn Water
Company which formerly supplied water to Wickboro. The source is limited and
there is an emergency intake in the upper part of Wickboro borough by means of
which the river water can be introduced into the pipe system.
The main intake of the Armstrong Water Company is into the river opposite the
foot of Arch Street which is in the central part of the borough and one block above
Market Street highway bridge ovi;r the Allegheny River. The water is subjected to
filtration before being supplied to the consumers, unless for some cause raw river
water is pumped directly into the pipe system. This practice has been prohibited by
the Commissioner of Health.
In the upper settlement in Wickboro, in the vicinity of the old Reybuni Water
Company's pumping station, there are sewers in the different streets which have a
twenly-four inch outlet into the river below the station, but above the pumping
station of the Armstrong AVater Company in Kittanning borough. Connected with
this system there are nearly a mile ot lateral sewers.
In tiie central part of AA'ickboro there is a twenty-four inch sewer outlet to the
river, connected to which there is about ten thousand feet jof lateral sewers.
Again in a southern section of Wickboro borough, adjacent to Kittanning, thei'e
are sewers which have an outlet into a Kittanning borough sewer which empties into
the river at the foot of Union Avenue, al.so known as Cemetery Street.
The sewers of these three districts in Wickboro take surface and roof water as
well as sewage, and their outlets are all above the intake of the Armstrong Water
Company.
Within the borough of Kittanning and above said water works intake there are
the following sewers:
A thirty inch sewer at the foot of an alley just north of Cemetery Street or Union
Avenue. ^
A twenty-four inch sewer outlet at the foot of Cemetery Street.
A forty-two inch brick sewer outlet at the foot of Vine Street.
Below the county bridge at Market Street there are four public sewer outlets
into the river, viz: two sewer outlets immediately below the bridge from Market
Street being eighteen inches and twenty-four iuclies in diameter respectively ; a
twenty inch sewer outlet opposite the foot of Jacob Street, and a sixteen inch sewer
outlet in the lower end of town opposite the rolling mill of the Kittanuing Iron and
Steel Company.
These sewers are built on the combined plan mostly. Probably all of them take
roof water and most of them take considerable roof water and sewage. There is no
information on file in the Department showing the grades of these sewers, or the
location of surface water inlets. From reports at hand, it would appear that the
town and especially the built up section is very well sewered. It is reported also
that most of the properties have a connection with the sewer system, there being
few privies between the river and the railroad tracks. Back of the railroad towards
the hill is the uusewered section of the town and it is in this district that additional
sewers will have to be laid.
It is here that surface water even now ponds up. The existing sewers to the river
do not have sufiicient capacity to remove the rain water from the streets and roofs
during times of intense downpours. There is a need for more etficient surface drain-
age as well as for sanitary sewers.
The application of October uinoteenrh, nineteen hundred and seven, for a fifteen
inch sewer in North Crant Avenue in for three hinidred and fifty feet of fifteen
inch pipe which is to be used as a combined sewer. There is at this point in
Grant Avenue a depression in the stieet grade where the surface water ctiliccts and
is discharged into a forty inch brick sewer which extends in an alley in McKean
Street, thence in McKean Sir.'et to Vine Street and thence by a forty-two inch
sewer the water is inuveyed to the river at the foot of Vine Street. This was sub-
stituted in phiv^e of a former natural water course.
The appliiauls do not state why it is necessary to have a fifteen inch pipe and
combined sewer here. From information at hand it would appear tliat tuis is a lateral
58
910 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
which will never have to be exteiv.lod. and thoiefoie. if sewage is ever to bo separated
from storm water, this is an inslanro where that princple should be put into effect
in the borough.
The application of June second, nineteen hundred and eight, for a thirty inch
sewer between McKean Street and the railroad is to fill a gap between two existing
sewers, which gap is now an open ditch. It is evident that this structure
must always serve as a storm drain for it takes the place of a natural water
course. Hence, when complete separation of storm water from sewage is effected,
this thirty inch sewer proposed must continue to be a storm drain.
The proposed Clay Alley sewer ami its connection is to be an eighteen inch pipe
about three hundred feet long. This sewer is to take storm water and house drainage
also. Its primary object is to remove surface water which ponds up in the guttei-s
and creates a nuisance. As soon as this sewer is built, the adjoining properties,
totalling possibly fifteen, will be connected up to the sewer, so it is expected. On
these properties at the present time there are outside privies which are not kept in a
satisfactory condition. The local Board of Health has demanded of the borough
council that it lay a sewer to do away with the local nuisance and councils are
prepared to build the sewer as soon as a permit shall have been issued by the Com-
missioner of Health.
On May fourth, nineteen hundred and eight, the Commissioner of Health issued a
permit to 'the borough of Wickboro to discharge sewage temporarily into the Allegheny
River under certain conditions and stipulations, among which were the following:
"FIRST: This pei-mit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on May first, nineteen hundred and ten. If at that time the interests of the
public health demand it and the other terms of this permit shall have been com-
plied with the Commissioner of Health may extend the time in which sewage may
continue to discharge into the Allegheny River.
"SECOND: On or before May first, nineteen hundred and nine, Wickboro shall
either independently or in conjunction with Kittanning borough prepare a compre-
hensive plan for the collection of all of the sewage of the borough and its conveyance
to some point for the ultimate treatment of the sewage and submit such plans to the
Commissioner of Health for consideration and approval.
•'The attention of the local authorities is hereby called to the fact that the epidemic
of tj-phoid fever and stomach disorders of the winter ot nineteen hundred and six
and seven has been attributed to the sewage pollution of the Allegheny River water,
and that while the State Department of Health has done what it could to bring about
the proper filtration of the public water supply of Kittanning and Wickboro
boroughs, and will continue to exercise supervision thereover, nevertheless, it is all
important that the discharge of sewage into the river above the water works intake
should be discontinued and the borough officials should understand that it is the
purpose of the State to require Wickboro borough and Kittanning borough to make
changes in their sewer outlets at the earliest practicable moment and to this end said
local authorities are urged to prepare the plans called for during the current
season and as early as possible."'
The Department is informed that Kittanning has about reached the constitu-
tional limit of indebtedness and that it is not in a position to undertake at this time
the erection of sewage purification woi'ks or the separation of sewage from storm
water in the existing sewers. Accepting this as a fact, it does not appear to be
true that the borough cannot ali'ord to devise plans for improved sewerage system
and for the ultimate treatment of the sewage. If Ibis were done and the plans
adopted, then the local authorities could lay down lateral sewers from time to time
as improvemenls wore domandod, and do this in a way that would insure no blunders
or necessity of reconstruction of sewers in the future.
The surcharging of the existing sewers daring the heavy rainfalls, indicates the de-
sirability of further improvements in surface drainage. It is not possible to purify
both sewage and slorm wator and wlion scnvago disposal works shall have been built
at Kittanning, tin; household drainage only can be treated because of the prohibitive
cost of treating mingled sewage and storm wator. This is aiiotlH>r reason why
economy and efficiency dictate that comprehensive plans should be devised
at the earliest po.ssible moment and adopted. Since Kittanning and Wickboro
are practically one community and their interests are one; with respect to tlu>
public water supply, the economies of the situation would d.ctate that the two
towns join in the prejiaration of plans for improved sewerage and sewage disposal
and this idea is heartily commended to the consideration of the local authorities.
There wouUI seem to be no objection to granting the right to (he bf)r(iugli to build
the Clay Alley combined sewer, since it is always to bo a storm drain, provided the
borough e.\f;lude sewage from it, or if the; sewage bo admitted, it shall bo under
terms whoroby the sewage may he excluded whenever this should appear desirable.
'J'here sooms to be no reason also why 'ho interests of the public lioalih will not be
subserved by granting the borough jx'rmission to fill in the gap in the lim? of the
proposer! thirty inch sewer between AIcKoan Street and the railroad. However, the
necessity for ihe fifteen intih "xtensifjn in Crant Avenue as a slorm sewer is not
apparent. 'I'liis sewer f-hould bo laid as a saiiitai'y sewer and if storm wator bo ad-
mitted it should be only tomjioi-arily and under conditions whereby such waters shall
be excluded at any time the Department of Health may determine it to be necessary.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 911
It lias hci'ii (Ktcniiiiicil, llial ilie intr-rt'sls (tf tlu' piililii- lioaltli will be suhsf^rved
by granting a permit to the borough of Kittanninj:. ami such permit is herebj' and
herein granteii f<n- such- cxtonsions under ihc followiiij; renditions and stipulations:
FIRST: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters cf the State shall cease
on ^lay first, nineteen hundred and ten. If at that time the interests of the public
health demand it and llie other terms of this permit shall have been complied with,
the Commissioner of Health may extend the time in which sewage may continue to
discharge into the Allegheny River.
SECOND: On or before May first, nineteen hundred and nine. Kittanniug
borough shall either independently or in conjunction with Wickboro borough pre-
pare a comprehensive plan for the collection of all of the sewage of the borough and
its convej^ance to some point for the ultimate treatment of the sewage and submit
such plans to the Commissioner of Health for consideration and approval. Failure
on the part of the borough to comply with this condition shall constitute a forfeiture
of the borough's right to discharge sewage into the waters of the State from the
sewer extensions herein approved.
THIRD: Sewage shall be admitted, if at all, into the Clay Alley combined sewer
proposed and into the thirty inch scwe!" proposed under terms whereby such sewage
may be excluded whenever this shall appear to be desirable or necessary in the opin-
ion of the Commissioner of Health and the borough council be notified of the fact.
FOURTH: The Grant Avenue extensions shall be laid as a sanitary sewer and
all storm v%ater shall be excluded, or if admitted at all, it shall bo temporary only
and under conditions whereby such water shall be excluded at any time the Commis-
sioner of Health may determine it to be necessary.
FIFTH: Since the borough has not submitted a satisfactory plan and report of
its exisiting sewer S3'stem, it is hereby specially stipulated that such plans and re-
port shall be submitted not later than December first, nineteen hundred and eight. To
longer delay the filing of such plans and report will be understood to be an intended
violation of State law and the Commissioner of Health shall govern himself accord-
ingly.
Harrisburg, Pa., October 5, 1908.
LANCASTER, LANCASTER COUNTY.
This aplication was made by the city of Lancaster and is for permission to make
two lateral sewer extensions and to discharge the sewage therefrom into existing
sewers which are a part of the Water Street sewer system, so called, and also for
permission to make a short sewer extension. at a summit and to discharge the sewage
therefrom into an existing se.ver which is a part of Carpenters Run district
sewer sj'stem in said city.
It appears that in the city of Lancaster, in the northwestern portion thereof, on a
street known as Columbia Avenue extending from West End Avenue westerly a few
hundred feet to the city line, there are several new dwellings to which private* parties
wish to build a sewer under the direction of the public officials and in such a way
that the sewer will become a part of the sewer system. It is proposed to build an
eight inch sewer from the existing fifteen inch combined sewer in West End Avenue,
in Columbia Avenue a distance of three hundred feet to a manhole. The proposed
sewer will be used strictly for the removal of sewage proper, and when the sanitaiy
sewer system now^ being designed for the city is eventually constructed, this eight
inch pipe is to become a part of such sanitary sewer system.
It further appears that in this vicinity in West End Avenue it is proposed
to lay ap eight inch sanitary sew">,- southerly from First Street to the summit
near Second Street where a maiihole is to be placed. This line is also to be used
exclusively for sewage and is to become a part of the sanitary sewer system of the
future. Temporarily it will discharge into the fifteen inch combined sewer in West
End Avenue at First Street and through this and other sewers into Cas Run or the
Water Street sewer system.
It also appears that in the southeastern portion of the city there is a twenty-four
inch combined sewer in South Lime Street and .Juniata Street which empties into
Carpenters Run. On the exten::;ion of South Lime Street at the corner of Juniata
Street, there are six new houses nearly ready for occupation, which must have con-
nection with some sewer outlet before any one will take up residence there. The
petitioners wish to build two hundred feet of sewer to a summit where a manhole
will be provided.
Carpeuters Run discharges into Contstoga Creek three miles below the city water
works intake. Jt drains an area of one hundred and sixty-nine acres wholly within
the city limits. In this district there is a population of thirty-five hundred 'or more
and it is rapidly increasing. The contents of three sewofs. nainelv a fortv-eight inch
sewer in Dauphin Street, a forty-eight inch sewer in Carpenters" Alley and a thirty
inch sewer in .Funiata Street are discharged into this nin and pass down this stream
in an open natural water course, a distance of about sixteen hundred feet to the
creek. The first sewer was built in eighteen hundred and uinetv-two, the second
in eighteen hundred and ninety-sis, and the third in nineteen hundred, each in
912 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
accordance with au ordiuance directing its Cdiistfiiotion. «V lari;o number of d\velliu.u,s
are connected to these sewei's, and the sewage pohifiou of the stream was maiU- the
subject of a suit for damages by the oviuer of porpertj- through which a yart of this
run extends. The suit was for permanent injury to said property on the basis
that the stream was appropriated pennanently as a part of the sewer system
of the city of Lancaster, there bemg no other phice for the ocmtents of tliese to empty.
This was held by the Court to be a permanent adoption of the stream as a sewer, and
the jury found the plaintiff was injured to the amount of throe thcnsand nine hundred
and ten dollars. Judgment was afhrmed on appeal in an opinion handed down by
Mr. Justice Brown, June twenty-second, nineteen hundred and five.
Peter M. Wohlson, owner of land along the run, also brought suit for damages and
obtained a verdict. The case has been adjusted under terms whereby the city
agreed to extend the sewer down the alley of the run to Couestoga Creek.
Temporary sanction of the sewer outlets through which the petitioners propose that
the sewage from the extensions herein being considered shall be discharged into the
waters of the State, was unanimously given by the (Governor, Attorney-General and
Commissioner of Health in a sewerage permit issued by the Commmissioner of
Health during nineteen hundred and six to the city of Lancaster.
In compliance with an undersianding reached with said city, plans are now being
prepared for a comprehensive intercepting and sanitary sewer system for the entire
city and these plans are .nearing ccni-pleticu and are to be submitted to the Com-
missioner of Health for approval in the m-ar future. Several petty sewer exten-
sions at summits have recently l)een granted in said city and there seems no good
reason why the three extensions herein mentioned should not be granted.
It has been deteiinined that the inieres;s of the public health require that a per-
mit be granted and is hereby and herein granted to the city of Lancaster to build the
proposed sewer extensions under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That the proposed sewern shall be constructed in conformity with the
plans thereof filed with application, and shall be used as sanitary sewers only, and
eventually they shall be incorporated into the sanitary sewerage system for the
entire citj', for which plans are now being prepared by the city.
SECOND: It is stipulated that this permit shall operate as an extension of the
said sewerage permit of nineteen hundred and six only in so far as it relates to the
three particular sewers herein approAed.
Harrisburg, Pa., Februai-y 3rd. , 1008.
LANCASTER, LANCASTER COUNTY.
This application was made by the city of Lancaster and is for approval cf plans
for a sanitary sewerage system and for the temporary discharge of sewage therefrom
into the Conestoga Creek within the limits of said county.
It appears that there have been five sewerage permits issued to Lancaster City.
The first one was on May scvenroenth, nineteen hundred and six, and among other
things provided as follows:
"FIRST: That on or before said date, May first, one thousand nine hundred .-11111
seven, the city shall submit a plan of a separate system of sewerage, so ealli'il,
comprising a system of sewers into which the discharge of roof or surface water shiill
be excluded, and whose object shall be to provide for the collection of all of the
sewage of the city and its spe(>dy removal to one or more common point or points
where the sewage shall be treated according to plan to be prepared by the city and
submitted for approval to the Commissioner of Ileiilth when called for by him.
"SECOND: That on May first, one thousand nine hundred and se\'en , jti'iivided,
the city of Lancaster lias complied with tin; above conditions, the Commissioner of
Health may extend the time and fix the date of said extension, wherein the city of
Lancaster may discharge sewage; from its sewei's into Conestoga Creek, provided,
still further, that the city of Lancaster shall have construeled on or before said
date a dam artross the Conestoga Creek at a jxiint near and just below the [jreseiil
city water works intake, according lo jdans drawn by F. II. Shaw and on file
in the office of the Commissioner of Health, or in substantial accordance therevvilh,
whereby means will be afforded for iireventing sewage frniri an.v of the cit.v sewei's
or from the pumping station, dwellings in the vicinity and wash water from the
filter plant from reaching the said intake."
The second jx-rmit was issued on ()ct(jl)i'r I wenty-secoiid , nineteen hundred and
seven, for a shoi't lateral s(!wer extension in West Vine Slrcfd in which Ihe atten-
tion of the local authorities is called to del.-iy in fuKilling Ihe terms ol' ih:' original
permit. The words used were as follows:
"Attention of the city authoi-ities is called (o Ihe fuel lh;il llie adniiiiisi r;ilioii (f
the law of ninete(;n hundred and five does not coiiteiiii)ln(<' Ihe c(jn(iniious ai)|)lica-
tion to the Slate authorities f(jr |)eii.v sewer exetisions. ami that, thei-efoi-e, as soon
as the terms of the sewerage |>ermit of nineteen hundred and six to said cily
shall have been coini)lied with, a general ixirmit for Ihe exlension of sewers anywhere
within the municipal limits, in conformity wilh the comprehensive i)Ian lo be
prepared and filed wth the State Department of Health will be issued. It is only
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 913
because the city has delayed to fulfill tlie terras of said permit that at this time it
is necessary for a special application to be made for the construotun of the public
sewer in Vine Street."
The next permit was dated December fourth, nineteen hundred and seven, and
was for several petty lateral sewer e.vtensions at summits in the Water Street district
sewer system of the city.
On December fifth tht; Commissioner of Health issued a decree approving plans for
its sanitary sewer system for a portion of said city, said portion being District Num-
ber Two, liuown as the Clay Street Drainage District, and granting permi-ssion to
discharge sewage therefrom into the Couestoga Creek as the present outlet of the
Clay Street district system.
It appears that the Special Sewerage Commission of the city of Lancaster was
not authorized by cuuuoils to prepare a system of sanitary sewere for said city until
August twenty-second, nineteen lumdred and seven, whereupon such plans were
prepared for Drainajrc District Number Two and plans for other portions of the
city were in process of design on December fifth. The petitioners, showing that a
gri'Mi. urgency for the immediate construction of sanitary sewers in the district
existed, \\ere granted a permit issued imder certain conditions, among which were
the following:
"This permit to discharge sewage into the Conestoga Creek shall cea.se on the first
day of .laniiiiry, nineteen hundred and ten, and provided the other terms of the per-
mit shall have been comijlied with on said date, the Commissioner of Health may
extend the time in which sewage may continue to be dischari,'ed from the pro-
posed sewers into the wafers of the State. But if, on or before January first, nine-
teen hundred and nine, the city of I-aucaster has not erected or taken active steps to
erect a diiin across the creek immediately below the water works intake, in accord-
ance with i)laus to be prepared and sul)mitted t^ the Commissioner of Health for
approval as a part of the completion of the sewerage improvements, as fully here-
inbefore outlined, then on January first, nineteen hundred and i>ine, the discharge
of s.'wage into the waters of the State from the sewers herein approved shall be
without Slate sanction and render the eity liable to the penalty prescribed by law for
discharge of sewage without a permit.
"This permit is also given under the express stipulation that the submission of
the plans of the comprehensive sewerase sj'stem for the entire city, called for in the
said permit of May seventeenth, nineteen hundred and six, shall be made to the
Commissioner of Health not later than March first, nineteen hundred and eight."
The last permit was issued on February third, nineteen hundred and eight, for
petty lateral extensions of sanitary sewers in the Water Street Sewerage District
and in Carpenters Run District.
The plans s\il)mittr(l by the city and now under consideration are for a system of
sewers into which the dischariie of roof or surface water is to be excluded and whose
object is to provide for the collection of all of the sewage of the city and its removal
to convenient points for ultimate treatment.
Lancaster city is located in the valley of Conestoga Creek about thirteen miles
above the incuith of the stream at the Susquehanna River. The municipal territory
is about two miles siiuare and within this area and suburbs is a population of about
fifty thousand i)eople. It is a prosperous and wealthy community; the industries are
varied and important. There are tanneries, iron works, silk mills, and extensive
plant for the manufacture of corks, linoleum works, boiler shops, cigar factories,
scap works ami numerous others. Within the last four years about five hundred
thousand dollars have been expended on improvements to the municipal water works
and sewer syst-^ms. It is estimated that twenty-five thousand people reside in houses
connected to the sewer system and that ninety per cent, of the population live in
dwelhngs located on tiie lines cf existing sewers, so there are over fifteen thousand
people whose sewage is otherwise disposed of than into drains.
Cesspool-^ are common. They are of the loosely wailed up kind. Possibly a hun-
dred domestic wells are used as sources of drinking water. It is reported that in the
district called "(lermantown" typhoid fever among the well users is of rare occur-
rence and was so bi.'fore the installation of the public filter.
Conestoga Creek passes southerly just east of the city, euttinsi across the extreme
southeastern corner of I;ancaster. and it drains about all of the city territory. A
small area drains westerly to the tributary called Little Conestoga Creek. The
proposition lo enlarge tlie muiiici|)al area to take in all the laud on the east to Con-
estoga Creek and on the west lo the Litth Couestoga and all of the suburbs to the
north is now beinir seriously considered. The future sewage problem of the outskirts
is one of the arguments for annexation. The plans proposed by the city contemplate
the larger scope of territory exceptinc that for the Little ConestOLM district.
At present the city sewers lake both sewase and storm water. The earlier sewers
were built i)erhaps over one hundred years airo. Those which have been added from
time (o time since, until recently, do not appear to have been designed uimn a uni-
form basis. Many of the four, five and six foot sewers are larger than need be.
The smallest size "street sewer is fifteen inches. The larirest size is six by twenty
feet The average deiith to the bottom of the old sewers is about eight feet, so that
mau.v of the larire silvers come (piile close to the surface of the ground. Until within
five years all the sewers discharged into small water courses in the eity. The exten-
sion of truiik se>Acrs tlewn t!"- villeys wiis ]dannc<l in ninetern humlred and thn^e.
voted the same year and had been carried out in all but the Water Street dis-
oS— 17— 1908
914 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
tiict prior to nineteen hundred and six, when the city made application for approval
of the Gas Run sewer outlet, the subject of the first permit hereinbefore mentioned.
There arf four sewer outlets into the Conestoga Creek at the present time, named
in order up stream as follows: Water Street or Gas Run; Strawberry Street; Car-
penters Run, and Clay and Lemon Streets.
The Water Street or Gas Run district comprises the business section which was
formerly old Lancaster proper, au area of about one thousand acres and a population
of over twenty-live thousand people Running southerly through this district was
foi-merly a waier course knovsn as Gas Run. In nineteen hundred and six, for a
distance of about three-quarters of a mile above the point where the run emptied
into Conestoga Creek, it was au open ^^ater course mostly unimproved, terminating
about three hundred feet below Water Street and German Street, where a semi-
circular culvert sixteen feet in diameter began. Along this open part were indus-
trial plants, among which were tanneries, a cotton mill, soap works, gas plant and
fertilizer manufactory, all discharging sewage into the stream and at five hundred
foot intervals at right angles to the run were highways, at the foot of which public
sewers had outlets.
Above German Street the course of the run Avas obliterated, its place having been
substituted bj' large masonry drains and sewers, the trunk of the city's sewer system.
Since then the city has constructed under State approval an extension of Gas Run
storm drain doAvn the valley to the Conestoga Creek. It is a nine foot reinforced
concrete structure intended to take storm water only and on either side in the
foundations eighteen inch sanitary sewers were provided to s*rve as the intercepters
for the sanitary ."^ewer system of the contiguous district whose extent was unde-
termined at the time. At the present time the finishing touches to the nine foot sewer
are being made and presently the open water course will be abandoned and filled up.
Then all of the combined sewers in^the district will discharge into the new structure
until by degrees the sewage is separated aud delivered to the proposed sanitary
sewers. •
At the mouth of the run a broad streak of sewage sleek appears on the surface of
Conestoga Creek. Indications of putrefaction of sewage organic matter on the
bottom of the creek may be seen in the vicinity of the outlet. The water is shallow
and a very considerable deposit of sewage sludge is evidenced. Sedimentation is
provided undoubtedly by slack water caused by a mill dam across the creek less
than a mile down stream. The pool extends beyond Strawberry Street outlet.
No complaint has been registered in the State Department of Health about a
nuisance. The insecurity of the city's use of Conestoga Creek as a sewer and the
ultimate necessity for purification of city sewage were the controlling reasons which
brought into existence the plans for sanitary sewerage.
The Strawberry Street district outlet is a twenty-four inch pipe emptying into the
creek at the foot of Strawberry Street in the city. There are no houses in the
vicinity. 'J'he area served is about one hundred and fifty acres and contains a popu-
lation possibly of one thousand. It lies between Gas Run and Carpenters Run.
Carpenters Run drainage district comprises an area of one hundred and seventj
acres within the city limits. It lies south of the Lemon Street district and east of
the Water Street district and extends easterly to the Conestoga Creek, taking in the
extreme southeastern corner of Lancaster. The population is about thirty-five hun-
dred and rapidly increasin','. The county almshouse just outside the city limits is in
the district and so is the Thaddeus Stevens Industrial Scliool for which a State ap-
propriation of one hundred thousand dollars was recently made.
At present the cf)ntents of three sewers, a forty inch structure in Dauphin Street,
a_ forty inch sewer in Carpenters Alley and a thirty inch sewer in Juniata Street,
discharire into the run and thence along the open water course a distance of about
sixteen hundred feet to the cn^ek. The first sewer was built in cighlcen huiuli-cd
and ninety-two, the second in r'iL'htecn hundrerl and ninely-six and the third in
ninet''f'n hundred, each in accordance with an ordinance directing its constructio)i.
More than two hundred houses are connected with these sewers. The owner of
property through which a part of this run extends l)rought suit for permanent Injury
to said property on the ground that the stream was appro|)rialed permanently
as a part of tlie sewer system of tin? city of r>ancaster, lliere i)eing no other i)lace
for the contents of the sewer to empty. The court held this to be a jjermanent
adoption of the stream as a sewer and the jury found that plantiff was injured
to the amount of three thousand nine hundred and ten dollars. Another owner
of land along the run also brought suit for damages and obtained a verdict. 'I'lie
case was adjusted under ti-rms whereby the city aicrced to extend the sewer down
the valley to the creek. Carj)enters Run enii)ties into the creek about three
miles below the point where the Clay and I^emon Street sewer discharges. Between
these two points there are two mill dams both owned by the city, the lower one
heinu the old water works pumping station power house aiul dam, and the upper
one being known as the Raneks mill dam.
The r>r'mon Street drainage rlistriet is District Number Three in the city's classifi-
cation. It contains two hundred and ninety-one acres within the city limits and
seventy-eiglit acres outside along the creek and a total ai'ca of three hurnlred and
sixty-nine acres. Its iioiiulatiun is five thousand six hundred, of which about five
hundred live in the townshii). It was furnierly drained by a run extending (Mistei'ly
and joininir the Clay Street Valley Run outside of the city limits at a i)oint about
two tlK'Usiind fer'i west of the (Joni-stoga <';rei'k. Into this run the forty-eight inch
sewer in I'.road Street, th<? forty-eiglit inch sewer in Franklin Street, a twenty-four
inch sewer in Plum Street and the eighteen inch sewer in New Holland Avenue, dis-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 915
charged prior to nineteen hundred and three. Since tlion a seventy-eijrht inch cir-
cular .sewer has bocn substituted for tlie run from Franklin Street easterly to the
Clay Street c.\'ten.sion , where both sewers empty into a ten foot sewer known as the
Clav and ]^emon Street outlet, which is into the Cone.sto-.'a Creek at a point twelve
hundred feet below the intake of the city water works plant and about one-quarter
of a mile above Rancks Mill dam.
The Clay Street district sanitary sewer system is fully described m the permit
of December fifth, nineteen hundred and seven, to which reference may be had for
particulars. It covers the territory in the northern part of the city.
The run above mentioned has boon filled up as far as Franklin Street, but between
this point and Now Holland Avenue it is still an open water course and receives as
formerly the T.emon and New Holland Avenue sewer flow and also a large volume of
bleachin:; tiuid from the cork works. This is strong itf chlorine.
The proposed sanitary sewer system provides for a separate sewer in every street
except in the southwest corner of the city. In a majority of the cases the sewer will
be eight inches in diameter. Manholes will be provided at street intersections and
at changes in line and grade. Ventilation is to be effected through manhole covers
and the grades are suchas to assure cleansing velocities.
Owing to the topography and the economies of the situation it is proposed to have
three sewage purification plants, namely, in Lancaster Township near the outlet of
the present Clay and I^emon Street sewer, in the vicinity of the outlet of Carpenters
Run and in West Lampeter Township near Gas Run outlet.
The Water Street plant will be reached by gravity flow from the area comprising
all but a small territory near the run in the lower part of the valley. The outlet will
be thirty inches in diameter terminating in an inverted syphon under the creek to the
general location of the disposal plant. The low area in the district will have sewers
intercepted bv the existing eighteen inch sewer provided in the side of the nine foot
storm drain whose discharge will be into a pump well from which the sewage will be
automatically raised to the nearby disposal works.
The Carpenters Run plant can Ije reached by gravity. The district comprises both
Strawberry Street and Carpenters Run areas as now served by existing sewers. The
intercepting sewers will be twenty inches, twelve inches and ten inches in diameter
and they will meet at an elevation sutticiently high to deliver the sewage to a purifi-
cation plant located anvwhere in this part of the town along the stream.
The Clay and Lemon Stivet plant will also be reached by gravity, the main outlet
being thirty inches in diameter. The precise location of the plant has been left un-
determined". A boulevard scheme to travoi-se the west bank of Conestoga Creek
throuL'h the city is under contemplation. Its possible consummation is a factor in
locating the sewage disposal works. There are also areas along this stream so low
that sewage from them ^yould retiuire to be pumped if the lands should be occupied
and require sewerage facilities.
The city's policy of procedure will be to construct sanitary sewers in streets where
there are no combined sewers at the present time, providing for storm drainage by
shallow drains. The sewei-s now in existence and receiving sewage and storm water
are to be continued as combined sewers until it becomes necessary to separate the
sewage from storm water.
By a reirulalion duly adopted it appears that the city requires a property owner
in connecting to an existing combined sewer to enter into an agreement that when
a sanitary sewer is piovided he will connect his property with said sanitary sewer
and that nothing but house drainage shall be emptied into it and that nothing but
storm water must then be emptied into the storm sewer.
Immediately below the city is Levans mill dam and five miles below is the Wabank
dam and power house, thre<^ and a half miles further down stream Slackwater dam.
a mile further on Rockhil' diiiu and a mile above the Susouehanna River, Taylors
dam. The region is a rural one, i^astures abutting the creek banks.
The water shed of the main cn'i'k ludow the city water works is one hundred and
fifty-four square miles, including the tributaries. A simple calculation will show-
that during a very dry spell when the entire flow of the creek might be appropriated
for supplying water to the city of Lancaster, the flow of the stream below would
be nothing excciit that from the "ity sewers and from the one hundred and fifty-four
miles of water she.l, the former being in excess of the latter. Hence it is clear that
the whole length of the creek from th(> city to the river would be during a prolonged
drought an open sewer. This forebodes litigation if the city does not obviate the
nuisance. No complaints, however, have been made to the State Department of
Health by owners of property rights in the creek.
It is ivported that the city h.as a low assessed valuation and a low tax rate and
that its borrowing capacity is far beyond the present indebtedness and. therefore,
the municipality is able without assistance to umlertake the improved sewerage and
sewage disposal project. But the construction of the purification works must follow
the separation of the sewage from storm water in the town sewers and such separa-
tion is a work of uradnal accomplishment. And hence while all due haste should
direct sewir building and nconstruction in the city, some delay may be counte-
nanc(>d in the erection of purification i)lants.
Meantime the ouestion should be looked into further in connection with the boule-
vard project of the precise location and -the detail layout of the sewage works an<l
possibly such a study might suggest important modification of the plans at the out-
916 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
lets. These considerations, however, are beyond those obtaining Avith the sewer
design for the town itself, which design, if acceptable, should be adopted and
strictly adhered to in construction.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approval of the proposed plans, and they are hereby and herein approved and a
pemiit issued therefor under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST:- This permit tc discharge sewage into the waters of the State from the
Lemon Street seweraac district and from the other districts hereinbefore mentioned,
excepting the Clay Street drainage district previously provided for in the permit of
December fifth, nineteen hundred and seven, shall cease on the first day of Jul.v,
nineteen hundred and eleven, and provided the other terms of this permit shall have
been complied with on said July first, nineteen hundred and eleven, the Commis-
sioner may e.xtend the time in which sewage may continue to be discharged from the
proposed sewers into the waters of the State. But if on or before January first,
nineteen hundred and nine, the city of Lancaster has not erected, or taken active
steps to erect, a dam across the creek, immediately below the water works intake,
in accordance with plans to be prepared and sulimitted to the Commissioner of
Health for approval as a part of the completion of the sewerage improvements, then
on January first, nineteen hundred and nine, the discharge of sewage into the
waters of the State from the sewers herein approved shall be without State sanction
and shall render the city liable to the penalty prescribed by law for discharge of
sewage without a permit.
SECOND: On or before July first, nineteen hundred and eleven, the city shall
prepare detail plans for the erection on a definite site or sites of works for the treat-
ment of all of tht city sewage, both domestic and manufactural, and shall submit
such plans to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
THIRD- The city shall adopt by ordinance or otherwise and enforce such ade-
quate measures as shall be calculated to aid the householder to economically sepnrat"
house sew.i2-e from storm water on his premises aiad the city shall proceed wi*h du(^
diiigecce to bring about a general use of the sanitary sewer system as fast as it shall
be constructed in strict conformity with the plans heroin approved.
FOURTH: At the close of each season's work the city shall prepare a plan of the
sfwers laid in each district during the year and file the sam" with the State Depart-
ment of Health, together with any other information in relation thereto that may
be required, to the end that the Commissioner of Health may alwavs bo informeil
of the exti>nt and general use of the public sewerage system. Within its incor-
porated territory the city shall prohibit the discharge of all sewage and manufactural
wastes into natural water courses and shall take such steps as may be necessary in
co-operation with the State Department of Health to discontinue all such discharge.
For this purpose storm drains shall be considered as natural water courses unl(>ss
otherwi<je provided and then such use thereof shall be temporary only and cease when
the purification plant shall have been erected.
FIFTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer .system The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on the premises.
SIXTH: If nt any time it appears to the State Department of Health that the
s( wer system, ,or any part thereof, has become a nuisance or menace, then such
remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health may approve or
advise, bur this relates more partictilarly to the functions of the sewers 11iomsf>l\-es.
All roof and storm water shall be excluded from the sewers, or if admitted the
admission shall be temporary only and unde)' terms whereby the absolute exclusion
from the sewers of all roof and storm water shall be effected when the time shall
have arrived for some other disposal of the sewage than into the Conestoga Creek
as now approved.
SK\'K.\"1'11 : The importance of careful construction of the sanitary sewers, the
making of tlie joints of the pipe water tight and the maintenance of the sewer intact
and water tight thereafter cannot be overstated. It is stipulated that the proposed
sewei'H shall Im constructed under competent engineering and supervision and in-
Koection, and that a recf)rd of all connections with the sewer system shall be kept by
the cit;\'. Attention to these details now will render more eflicieut and economical
such work^- as shall uHimatfly br .adopted for the proper <lisi)osiliou of the <'ity
Hcwage.
FKHITIF: liifore sewers shall be built in Utile Conestoga Creek valley, plans
thereof shall he prepjireil and submitted to the f'ommissioner of lleallh foi- appio\al.
The esper-ial attention of (he city government is callerl to llie faet Ihat the Thad-
<''-iiK Ste\'ens Industrial School is providing a combined sewer outlet for connection
with the city sewer.
In connection with the domestic well supply, whose maintenance is always
su8|)icionH in a built-uf) coininunity , particular examinations of llu! waters is ad-
viscfl nml promjit con'lemnaliori of the tests [jrove contamination. T'ompulsory Hi'wcr
connections an; a partial rein<'dy only.
Harrisburg, I'a., June 11 , 1008.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 917
LAXSDOWXE, DELAWARE COUNTY.
This oriJor and dccn^e was issued by the borough authorities of the borough of
Lansdowno, Delaware County, I'enusylvania, relative to the disoontiuuanco of the
discharge of sewage into the waters of the State in the said borough and elsewhere
in response to a.eoainiunicatiou suinnitled i)y them. The following is a copy of this
letter:
"The Natural History Club of Lansdowne, at a meeting on March fourteenth,
nineteen hundred and seven, entered into the discussion of the filthy condition of
Darby Creek and appointed a committee to investigate the source of its pollution.
"The report of the Committee presenteil on April tenth, nineteen hundred and
seven, mdicated that llie mills are the main sources of pollution and each one is
lending its part towards rendering the creek a public nuisance.
"Tue mills discharge their waste dye water, acids and refuse directly into the
cieek in such quantities that the color of the water is entirely changed, an odor
offensive to the smell and prejudicial to health is given off. Property values are de-
creased, and it is impossible for fish to live in it.
"In other pa its of the State and county communities are beginning to take up the
question of protection or reclamation of their natural beauties and we hope that
your borough will feel its responsibility of protecting the value of Darby Creek,
which is one of the most beautiful in this section of the country.
"The club has already sent personal letters to the mill owners and would ask your
earnest support in the efforts to better these conditions."
The Commissioner of Health replied that his Department now has under consid-
eration the entire question of the pollution of Darby Creek for its whole length and
requested that the borough be properly represented at a hearing which may soon be
granted at Harrisburg. The Commissioner also informed the President of the
Natural History Club that investigations had already been instituted and that the
matter of bringing about the discontinuance of the discharge of all sewage into Darby
Creek was uniler consideration.
On October eighteenth, a member of Ihe said local Natural History Club sent the
following communication to the State Water Supply Commission:
"The citizens of Delaware County are slowly becoming interested in the purifica-
tion of Darby Creek and we have written to the Department of Fisheries, which has
referred us to you.
"Five or six mills discharge their acids and dye water directly into Darby Creek
within a distance of two or three miles above Lansdowne, and what would be
otherwise a beautiful stream is converted into an ill smelling sewer, sometimes
blue, green or brown in color.
"The local Natural History Club has appealed to the mill owners to make an
effort to prevent this and they have replied that they can and will do nothing.
"The house drainage into the stream is very little and Lansdowne has a sewer to
tide water to which some of the mill owners could connect drains if they were
forced to.
"Can you give us any help in this matter?
"I would be glad to assist j'ou in any way I can by obtaining a chemical analysis
of the water or any tiling that would help you, and hope that you will be able to give
us some help or advice."
This communirati<m was handed over to the Commissioner of Health.
On December twelfth, Mr. Arthur Shrigley, of the Committee on Stream Pollu-
tion of the History Club, submitted a report of the Committee with a map and some
photographs and also the following representation:
"While it is desirable to stop all sources of pollution in the creek, I feel that it is
of siilHcient size to assimilate the waste products from all the mills except the two
kuow;i as Kent's. As you will notice on the map there is a sewer on Baltimore
Avenue which follows the creek to tide water. This sewer is comparatively near
both of Kent's mills and a councilman of Lansdowne, which borough owns the
stwer, assured me that there would be no trouble about Kent's mills using it if they
would be willing to connect and pay for the privilege."
It appears that Lansdowne borough is a residential community of about four
thou-sand i)opulation and rapidly growing. It is located on the central division of the
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad and the Delaware County Turn-
pike parallels this railroad and is iminediatelj' north of it. The borough is about
one mile west of tht> city of Philadelphia line. The streets have been regularly laid
out and the land generously alkitted, upon which commodious and substantial
dwellings have been erected. The general appearance of the town is attractive, the
civic spirit is of high order, about every building is connected with the public sewer-
age system and a plenteous water supply is brought in from a distance and fur-
nished by the Springfield Water Company. The prospects for increased growth in
population are bright.
The incorporated territory is rectangular and is bounded on the northwest, north
and east l)y Upper Darby Township; un the south from the east by Ycailon bor-
ough, Upper Darby Township. Aldan borough and on the southwest by Clifton
Heights borough, the dividing line between Lansdowne and the latter two bor-
oughs being Darby Creek, which forms the western boundary of Yeadon borough.
918 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Almost all of Lansdowuo's territory draius to the creek. The eastern portion has
a sewer system comyrismg; six miles of laterals, the mam of which discharges into
the tweutj--four inch sewer main of the leadon borough system. The point of con-
nection IS at Darby Creek and this sewer follows the east bank of the creek down
through I'eaduu and a mile into Darby borough and discharges into the creek at two
points in the very heart of Darbj. A nuisance is created thereby which has been
the cause of very much complaint and some litigation between the boroughs of
Darby and leadon and with property owners relative to right of way. It is the in-
tention of leadon to extenu this twenty-four inch interceptor about a half mile
farther down stream and discharge it into the creek in the borough of Colwyn oppo-
site where the sewers of Sharon Hill now empty. In fact, most of this sewer trom
the outlet up stream has been built, only eight hundred feet of connection remaining
to be completed. I'robably after all legal objections are removed this link will
be laid.
It is understood that the use of this intercepting sewer by the borough of Darby
was one point in contention between Darby and Yeadon.
In the western district of Lansdowne there is also a sewer system, comprising
all told seventeen thousand feet of lateral sewer, which appear to empty into the
creek at Baltimore Avenue, although the plan shows that the twenty-four inch main
follows dovtu the eastern bank of the creeii a distance of one mile and connects with
the leadon mam sewer at the same point that the sewer main from the eastern
district of Lansdowne connects.
The creek between Lansdowne and Darby is in a deep ravine, narrow with high
banks, with bome dwellings located on these bunks.
Above the borough in Upper Darby Township are the villages of Kelly ville, Ad-
dingham and Gariettford. The latter is not on the creek, but the oihers are so
located.
Addingham is about two miles by the course of the creek above Baltimore Avenue
or the County Turnpike.
Above this village the w^ater shed is farming country sparsely populated and about
thirty square miles in extent. The waters are clear and trout are caught in the
streams. Many extensive country estates are mainiained in the region and the Com-
missioner of Health has been requested to preserve the purity of these upland
waters. The villages oi! Devon, St. Davids and AVayne and also the village of
Lerwyn, on the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad, are on the drainage area
and field inspectors of the Department have brought about the discontinuance of the
discharge of sewage into the stream, particularly at Devon and Eerwyu and at
U'ayne. On iihan Creek the Wayne Sewerage Company is now. erecting an ex-
tensive sewage disposal plant for the purilicatiou of all of the sewage of Wayne, this
having been done by order of the Coiiiraissiouer of Health.
At Addingham there are three mills from which spent dye stuffs are discharged
into the creek besides sewage and other matter.
On the banks of the stream in Clifton Heights are the Caledonia Mills from which
sewage and uianufacturing wastes are discharged into the creek.
At Kellyville, and possibly in Clifton Heights borough, is the upper mil! plant of
the Kent .Manufacturing Company. Wool is taken in the fleece here and manufac-
tured into blankets. A very pronounced contamination of the stream by sewage
and refuse, and discoloration of the water is apparent here. This mill is a few
hundred feet only above Baltimore Avenue. The sanitary conditions at the dwell-
ings at the mills and in Kellyville are bad.
On the west bank of the creek in Clifton Heights is the lower mill of the Kent
Manufacturing Company from which similar pollutions reach the stream. The
sewage from two rows of houses here reaches the creek and also endangers the local
well supply of drinking water.
It ib quite possible U> remedy the conditions complained of by the Natural History
Club. It is perfectly feasible to build an intercepting sewer down the valley begin-
ning at Addingham to intercept the output of sewage from all |)ul>lic and prjvato
sources. However, this sewer should be carried down stream by all of the borough
to some point below the confluence or in the vicinity of the confluence of Darby and
Cobb's Creek.
Tlip borough of Lansdowne cannot be permitted to create a nuisance in the
creek by its sewage and at the same time force the discontinuance of the discharge
of sewage into this stream by others.
It appears I hat the borough of Lansdowne has an a.ssessed valuation of real
estate of about two million nine hundred thousand dollars, and a bonded indebted-
ness of one hundred an<l thirty thousand dollars. If these figures hi; correct, Lans-
downe is .imply able to assist in any project for the imiiroveinent of sanitary condi-
tions ill Darby (.'reek valley in so far as the borough ('ontributcs towards the ex-
isting nuisances. The local aulhorilies failed to file plans and make a satisfactory
re))ort of the howim- system in conformity with State law and so cannot claim exemp-
tion from an onler of the Ci/rnmi.ssioncr.
It has been detf^rinined that the interests of the public health demand that the
discharge of sewage into Darby Creek by the Borough of Ijan.sdowne be discon-
tinued and such iliscontinuanco is hereby and h(!rein ordered ; and further, it has
been determined that tiie borough be given until August first, niiieteim hundred and
eight, in wlii«h to prepare plans either independently or in coiijuiurtion with othei
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 919
municiijaliliL'S, for some otlii;!' disiiosal of sewage than into the creek and submit
these plans to the Cummissiouer of Health for approval, all of whieh is hereby and
herein ordered and decreed.
iielative to other matters herein discussed, since the boroughs of Clifton Heights
and Aldan do not have public sewers, and since these places, especially Clifton
Heights, are growing rapidly and might well plan public sewers which should pro-
vide an outlet for the sewage of the alxne mentioned mills, and since it would bft
advisable for this trunk sewer in the valley of Darby Creek to be extended up stream
into Upper Darby Township, and the State laws provide that the Board of Town-
ship Commissioners may bring about such extensions, either through public or pri-
vate enterprisi', and since this trunk sewer might, with advantage, be finally con-
nected to the general sewer and sewage disposal project for the valley, each one of
the abo\e industrial corporations and municipalities should be notilied to devise some
other plan for the disposition of their sewages, and the municipal aulhorities will be
requested to prepare plans for a public sewerage system and submit the same to the
Commissioner of Health for approval on or before October fii-st, nineteen hundred
and eight.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., January 29th, 1908.
LEET TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
Fair Oaks Laud Company.
This application was made by the Fair Oaks Land Company, of Fair Oaks Vil-
lage, Ja'ci Townsuip, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and is for permission to
extend its sewer system in said village and to discharge the sewage therefrom into
Big Sewickley Creek, within the limits of Leetsdale borough.
JiCet township, until recently, comprises a rectangular area extending along the
east bank uf the Ohio liiver from the Beaver County line southerly to Sewickley
borougli and back therefrom about two miles. Since nineteen hundred the laud in this
township adjacent to the river has been incorporated imo two boroughs, Edgeworth,
extending from Sewickley borough northerly to Little Sewickley Creek, and Leets-
dale, extending northerly from Edgeworth to the county line. This line is defined on
the ground by the course of Big Sewickley Creek, which rises in Marshall Township
and drains a rugged farming territory of about twenty-six square miles. The narrow
strip of Leet Township now remaining and lying back of the three boroughs men-
tioned is a very hilly country sparsely populated and devoted wholly to farming, with
the exception of Fair Oaks village and vicinity.
This village was developed by the petitioners, who purchased a two hundred acre
tract of land on the east bank of Big Sewickley Creek in Leet Township about the
time Leetsdale borough was incorporated, and laid out streets in that portion of the
tract adjacent to the creek and nearly opposite Ambridge borough and thereon
erected dwellings for the accommodation of those employed in Ambridge who might
wish to purchase the new dwellings. Sewers were provided with an outlet into the
creek. Public water Avas supplied by the Edgeworth Water Company.
At the present time there are fifty-three residences and one school house in the
village which are occupied and connected to the sewei-s. Other houses are being
erected on the hill back from that portion of the tract on which the sewered houses
are located and it is to provide adequate sewerage for these new buildings and others
which may follow that the proposed sewers are designed.
The topography is such that when the proposed sewers shall have been built it will
not be possible to make further additions to the system tributary to the present
outlet.
These citizens are afforded railroad facilities at the Fair Oaks station, which is
located on the main line of the I'ittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad in Leets-
dale borough. The Fair Oaks Land Company owns laud about this station and also
other laud in Leetsdale along the creek from Leet Towuslii[) to lauil now or formerly
owned by the said railroad company. That portion of the creek down stream from
this point is through low land unoccupied and subject to annual inundation. The
territory owned oi- controlled by the petitioners within Leetsdale borough com-
prises about all of the land in the nortlunn portion of said borough and in the vicinity
of Fair Oaks station that is available for residential purposes with two exceptions.
These exceptions approximate fourteen acres and the companj's land about seven
acres.
Beaver Road is the river turnpike which extends up the Ohio River valley through
the townships and boroughs abutting said river. This main highway, in passing
through Leetsdale and Ambridge, crosses Big Sewickley Creek about five hundred
feet from Leet Township line. P.etween said line and the highway bridge over the
creek the main sewer of Fair Oaks village discharges into the creek. It passes for
the last one hundred and fifty feet of its length through Leetsdale borough territory
and diseharges into the creek on land of the petitioners. The sewer is twenty-four
inches in diameti'r and connected with it are twenty-three hundre<l feet of sewer, of
whieh seven hnndnd and fifty feet are eight inch pipe, nine hundred feet are twelve
incli pipe, one hundred feet are eighteen inch pipe and the remainder are twenty-four
inch pipe. These sewer's receive both sewage and storm water and roof drainage.
920 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The grades are sufficient to maintain cleansing velocity, inspection manholes are
provided at street intersections or changes in line and ventilation is effected through
manhole covers.
The main sewer for the southern part of Ambridge borough discharges into the
creek about eight hundred feet below Beaver Road bridge, at a point at or near the
old railroad bridge.
There are other sewer outlets in Ambridge borough, but they discharge into the
Ohio River, whose course is northerly. Leetsdale sewers also discharge into the
Ohio River. The authorities of these municipalities have not submitted a plan and
report on the existing sewers.
Where the Fair Uaks village sewer empties the creek is in a narrow, deep ravine,
and from here on the channel is unobstructed and the flow is always sufficient to re-
move the sewage. Formerly the outlet was up stream about eight hundred feet, at
the foot of Orchard Street, where the banks are low and the houses are to be con-
structed. A pool exists here. The sewage matters were deposited in a pool and
threatened to become a nuisance. Since the outlet has been removed down
stream, heavy rains have flushed out the pool and there is no further danger of a
nuisance.
The proposed extensions to the existing system comprise twenty-three hundred
feet of eight inch sewer, four hundred and forty feet of eighteen inch and one thou-
sand feet of twelve inch. When built, these sewers and the old existing ones will
complete the system for the entire district, which can never be drained into the
outlet.
It is quite possible that the discontinuance of the discharge of sewage into the
Ohio River or its tributaries by the boroughs of Leetsdale and Ambridge might be
most economically and efficiently accomplished by the joint erection of a sewage
treatment plant somewhere in the vicinity of the mouth of Big Sewickley Creek,
in which event Fair Oaks village properly, both within and without Leetsdale,
could be most conveniently sewered to such a plant.
Edgeworth borough has been permitted under an agreement by the Governor, At-
torney General and Commissioner of Health, issued in the form of a permit during
nineteen hundred and six, to continue to discharge its sewage into the Ohio River
until October first, nineteen hundred and eight. If at that time all other conditions
of the permit shall have been' complied with, and the interests of the public health
demand it, the Commissioner of Health may extend the time for the discharge of
sewage from said borough into the Ohio River.
In view of the fact that it is not inipi'obable that the village of Fair Oaks may be
annexed to the borough of Leetsdale and that the sewers in the streets may at some
time be taken over and made public sewers, it has been determined in such cases to
be good public policy for the State to approve such sewer plans and stipulate condi-
tions under which the sewage from the sewers may be discharged into the waters of
the State.
It would not be feasible to attempt to purify mingled sewage and storm water
whether the treatment plant were built by a municipality or by a private corporation.
It is positively known that the poisoning of water by sewage, where such waters
are subsequently used as sources of public supply, is the cause of a vast amount of
sickness and death. It is the policy not only of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
but of other States, to bring about a cessation of ilie drainage of sewage into streams
before such sewage has been treated. All corporations should, in making plans, con-
temijlate this iiltimate requirement and provide for l:he erection of suitable disposal
works. The problem in the territory under discussion sIkjuM he taken up immedi-
ately and a plan be outlined and submitted to the State Department of Health for
consideration. Two years should be ample time for this study.
It has been determined that the interests of the pid)lic henltli will be subserved by
granting a permit to the Fair Oaks Land Company to make the i)r()i)()sed sewer ex-
tensions, and such permit is hereby and hei'ein granted, un<ler the following con-
ditions and stipulations:
FHtST; That no storm water shall be adinilled to the proposed eight inch and
twelve inch Sv-wer and that when the plans lor (he s(;wage disposal plant are sub-
mitted liiey must be accompanied by a plan to effect the separation of, sewage from
storm water in the entire system oi- tlx; said plant shall i)e large enough to treat both
the hewagi; ami storm water from the entire sewer system.
SLCO.XD: At the close of each season's work the owners of the sewer system
shall prepare a plan of the sewers built during the year and file the same in the
State D.partment of Il<;al(h, together with any other information in connection
therewith that may be required.
THIRD: On or before July first, one thousand nine hundred and ten, the owners
of the sewers shall prepare a plan for the tr(!atment of th(! sewagi* of the sewer
Hystem Mid submit or cause such a itlan to be subniilled to the C-juimissioner of
Health for a|q»roviil.
FOlJR'J'Ii: This permit to discharge H(!wage into the rNnfis of the State shall
cearfe on the first rlny of July, one thousand nine huudn.i ami ten. If at that time
the termK of this permit shall have bei-n com]>Iied with, then th(! (Commissioner of
Health may extend the time and fiv ;!ie date <m or before which sewage disi)Osal
works shall be provided for the tr'^-i-.tnic lit of the sewage, having in mind the time
when other corporations and municipalities in the valley of tlie Ohio River are re-
quired by the State to treat their respective sewages.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 921
The altention of tlio i)('ritioner.s is called to the fact that the State will require the
horouKliK oL' [j'etsdale and Ainbridse to prepare and submit plans f(jr some other
disposal of sewage llian into the Ohio Iliver or its tributaries. And in this connec-
tion it nifiy bu advisable for the Fair Oaks Land Company to confer with said mu-
nicipalities about a joint co-operalive plan.
Harrisburg,Pa., April 3rd, 1908.
LOWKIt TOWAMKNSING TOWNSHIP, CARBON COUNTY.
I'almor Laud Company, Palmerton Village.
This application was made by the Palmer Land Company of the village of Pal-
merton, i.ower Towamonsing Township, Carbon County, and is for permission to
extend its ?ewer system and erect a sewage disposal works in said Palmerton village.
The I'alraer Land Company is a corporation existing under the laws of the Com-
monweallli of I'onnsylvania for the development of a town site and the iKnising of the
m(n employed by the New Jersey Zinc Company at its works in Lower Towamensing
Township, Carbon County. These works are located on the north bank of the Lehigh
River. Aquashicola Creek, coming down from the east and draining the north slope
of Kittn tinny Mountain, enters the i-iver just above Lehigh Gap. The lands owned
or controlled by the said zinc company extend up the valley of this creek and also
northward along the bank of the lichigli River for a distance of one and a half miles
in each direction. For the accommodation of its employees, numbering at present
about two thousand, the Palmer Laud Company, a subsidiary corporation, has laid
out the village of Palmerton on the jiorth bank of the Aquashicola Creek, erected
many dwellings, established a. water works system and sewerage and electric light
plant. The village poi)ulation approximates twenty-five hundred, mostly foreigners,
mrny of whom come and go as it suits their convenience. The village is distant
about a mile and a quarter from the works. The manufacturing plant has its own
system of sewere and a disposal works which have been approved by the Commis-
sioner of Health. The water supply is obtained from a tributary of the Lehigh
River and brought in by gravity to the works. In the spring of nineteen hundred and
five an outbreak of typhoid fc\er occurred among the workmen at the works and also
in the village of Palmerton and suspicion was directed to the svirface water supply,
whereupon sanitary patrols were established on the watershed of the I'ohopoco
Creek supply untier the general direction of the Commissioner of Health, sources
of sewage pollution were removed and since then the system of sanitary inspection
has been maintained. However, a well was drilled at the works, the surface supply
was shut off from th(> tillage and the artesian -water furnished to the town. The
water is extremely hard and it has caused widespread complaint amoug the vil-
lagers. Undoubtedly this has promoted the use of domestic well water, which is sub-
ject to pollution. Quite a number of wells, which are dug in porous ground, are
located in proximity to cesspools and earth privy vaults. These sources were
thought to be one means of transmission of infection and spread of typhoid fever in
the village.
Another source of possible secondary infection was thought to have been the dis-
position of slo[)S and household drainage onto the ground and into street guttei-s in the
densely populated tenement district of the village. Therefore, the Department of
Health advised the extension of the sewers, and the enlargement of the S(>wage dis-
posal plant or relocation of it at a distance from the centre f)f iioi)ulatiou. .Many of
the wells are still in use. Thev are on properties owned by individuals over which
the company now has no control.
The town site is on the hillside whose summits in every direction encircle the vil-
latre and whose grades insure good natural surface drainage with the exception of the
flats coiniirising land along the creek. This low lying area extends easterly four
thousaiul feet ahmg the stream and back rnerefrom about fifteen hundred feet. It
terminates at Third Street, which is the public road leading from liChigh (Jap along
the river and up the narrow deep gorare through which the Aquashicola Creek i)asses
to its conflMence with the Lehigh. This gorge begins where the flats end at Third
Street and here across the stream is a dam, crib construction, owned and operated
in connection with the Prince Metallic Paint Company, whose works are located in
the ravine immediately below.
Delaware Avenue, the principal highway in the village, ninety feet wide and
about one mile louir, extends east and west throush the village, but the western four
thousand feet of it is through th.^ flats. The eastern half of the swale must he im-
proved and filled in before it can b(> occupied by dwellings, but the western half has
iieeii imiiroved iind is not occupied and is Ihickl.v built upon. At right angles to
Delaware .Vvenue are the streets desiirnattvl by numbers, beginning with First
Street to the west and endiuir with Srvenih Street at the oast. Avenue "TV is
nearest the creek ,-.nd in suecession are Avenues Lehigh, Delawai'e, Franklin, Lafay-
ette, Columbia and Princeton.
P.efore and dining llie epidemic the sewage disposal plant was located at the corner
of Avenue "P" and Fourth Street on the flats in the tenement district. It was im-
mediately removi>d as far awa.v as possible and is now on the banks of the creek
and along the country road or Third Street at the beginning of the gorge just above
922 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
the dam. There is no other place for it, so the petitioners represent. Down the
gorge there arc bottom lands, but they are subject to frequent inundation and are
not adapted for the erection and maintenance of a plant capable of continuous opera-
tion in the opinion of the sewer owners.
Two twelve inch sewers terminate in storage tanks. One of the pipes serves the
low level district en the flats and the sewage from this district is pumped. The other
twelve inch pipe serves a high level district and discharges by gravity at an elevation
sufficiently high to pass the sewage through the sewage disposal works without
pumping.
The high level outfall empties into a screening chamber ten feet square and three
feet deep below the invert of the sewer. The sewage after being screened passes up
through a twelve inch pipe leading from the bottom of the screen chamber to the
bottom of the adjacent flush tank, which is three feet higher. This tank is forty
feet long and twenty-five feet wide and the flow line provides for a two foot depth of
sewage. It is emptied by a syphon into a five foot chamber at one side from which
leads a ten inch gravity distributing main to the filters. The sewage is always three
feet deep in the screening chamber above described and as the flush tank fills the level
rises in said chamber sjnchronously, until the depth of five feet is reached, at which
time the high level outfall is back-flooded to Dolaware Avenue.
Adjacent to the high level screen chamber is the screen chamber for the low level
outfall sewer. Its bottom is two feet lower, and into it every week are drained the
accumulations from the higher chamber, through a bj'-pass provided for the purpose
and controlled by a valve. After being screened the sewage acctimnlates in a storage
basin about twenty feet square, whose bottom is level with the screening chamber
and in which the sewage always stands at the same level as that in the chamber.
The elevation of the outfall sewer is one and nine-tenths feet above the bottom of the
basin and the chamber. The depth of sewage is regulated by a predetermined height
at which the electric pump automatically st'arts to raise the liquid into the flush
tank. The suction pipe is into the screening chamber. The electric pump is installed in
a deep pit between the chamber and the flush tank. The rising main terminates
above the high level of the flush tank. The storage of sewage is eqtiivalent to about
ten thousand gallons. If the pump should break down, pending repairs, the flush
tank would be put out of commission as a flush tank, so that tlie flow line and hence
the back-flooding of the sewers in the low level district would be approximately the
level of the bottom of the flush tank, or two feet higher than the usual level in
the basin.
The above described chambers, basin and tank are made of concrete construction,
open on top.
The. main natural water course collecting the drainage from the streets and the
hillside? as straightened and improved, extends at right angles to the avenue through
the heart of the town in a culvert partly timbered and partly stoned up, but open,
except at highway crossings, to the creek, and it passes by and along the above
sewage disposal apparatus to the west, sajjarating th;> tanks from the filters.
The filter area as now laid out is rectangular, two hundred feet long by one hun-
dred and eightj- feet wide, divided longitudinally into eciual halves and sectionally
into quarters, making in all eight areas each ninety feet long by fifty feet wide,
'i'lis was formerly a cinder fill six feet deep. Excavations were made of the above
dimensions and sand placed thci'ein four feet two inches deep', arranged and under-
drained for downward fil( ration. At present there are constructed six filter units ar-
range in pairs. The surface of the sand is ten inches below the bottom of the flush
tank. The distributing pipe nasses down hmgiludiu.illy through the center of the
filter ar<'a and on it in tin' middle of each pair of filler units; there is a gate chamber
provided with valves out of which, on either side, the sewage i)asses to flumes made
of wood and extending full length of the bfd ninety feet. T^ach distributor, one for
each filter unit, is i)rovided with ports at frequent intervals on the side, and in this
way the sewage is delivered uniformly over the entirf! sand area of the filter. The
normal dose of the flush taid< is ('(luivalent to eighteen thousand gnlloiis, but at such
times as the pump is operating coiiici'lent with the discharge; oH Hk; syphon tank the
dose naay be increased to twenty-eight thousand gallons.
The' petitioners rate the purifying ability of each filter unit at nine thousand gal-
lons daily, equivalent to about ninety thousjiiid ;;;illous per acre per twenty-four
hours. Tills rale is conservative and well within I hi' limits of successful practice in
intermiitenl sand filtration.
'I'lie present flow of sewage is about eighteen thousand gallons per twenty-
four hours.
The uuderdrains are four inch for the laterals and eight inches in diameter for the
hejiiJeiH and they terminate in an effluent chMniber whicdi is pi(j\'ided with a ))arlition
wall in wiiicli are pl;iced flap valve.s. ''I'lie hilerals are phieed fifteen feet on centres
and eaeh broader is designed to serve two filter units. In this way observations may
lie made of the opi ration of each unit with faeility.
The main underdrain rlischarges into IIh; cuhert four nnd four-tenths feet lower
than file surfaee of the filters, thus the vertical hei;|ii traversed through the plant is
seven and two-tenths fent.
The ordinaiy h'vel of the creek is an inch or more iibove the bottom of the under-
flrain. I'Wi-yy shower raises the water in the cul\-ert or the ci-eek between one and
two feet. The dam controls these heights. If it were nsmoved, six feet in height
would be gained at the plant. During extreme freshets the water floods out of the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 923
flats, fills the cellars and atlalns a height above the surf.ice of the sand filter. No
flood has ever occurred to flood the cinder fill out of which excavations were made
for the filters. The flay valves in the underdraiu chamber are provided to prevent
back-fioodiuy and injury to the beds. The dosiuj; tauk walls and the others were
placed two feet hi;,'her than the highest freshet ever recorded.
There is no by-pass provided by which crude sewage can be dischargi-d into the
creek or culvert. T'he screenings are removed and buried. There is room on the land
for further additions to the plant. The tenement houses on Avenue "IJ"' are within
two hundred feet of the works.
The sewers are principally eight inches in diameter and all storm water is ex-
cluded. Manholes are constructed at street intersections, at changes in line and
grade and at dead ends.
Practically every street opened in the village now has a sewer laid in it. Within
the district of sewers about eighteen hundred people reside and it is estimated that fif-
teen hundred live in dwellings having sewer connectious. Possibly nut over two
dozen dwellings have inside closets. The sewage flow is mostlj' from sinks and
kitchen drainage. There is a silk mill on Franklin Avenue, employing about one
hundred hands, whose trade wastes are emptied into the sewer. The closet drainage
of this establishment goes to the sewers.
luduceraouts are being offered for industries to locate in the town. If all of the
employes of the zinc. company were to take up their residence in Palmerton, there
would forthwith be a population of at least five thousand people. Probably as the
place grows and the character of the sewage changes and increasrs in volume, the
proximity of the sewage disposal plant will force its attention upon the citizens and
ultimately the abandonment of the site may be necessary. Careful attention is de-
manded that the works shall be operated in the most eflicient manner. Daily records
should be kepi of the operations and units should be added from time to time sub-
ject to the approval of the State Department of Health.
Compulsory sewer connections are not possible and connections will be more
difficult to secure in the future when assessments for the use of the system are
levied. The danger to public health under these circumstances from ihc continued
use of individual well water is great and the Commissioner of Health will institute
tests of the waters of the wells which are so located as to be liable to sewage pol-
lution.
It has been determined tliat the sewerage sj'stem and sewage disposal works merit
approval and that the intc'' u- of the public health will be subserved by granting i
permit and the same is heroLv and herein granted for extensions to the sewers, under
the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That at the end of each season's work the Palmer Land Company file
in the oflice of the Commissioner of Health a plan of the sewers laid during the
year, together with such other information in connection therewith as may be
required, to the end that said Commissioner shall be kept constantlj' informed of
the extent of the sewer system and its use.
SECOND: Weekly reports of the operation of the disposal works shall be kept
on blank forms satisfactory to the Department of Health and copies thereof shall be
filed in the office of said Department.
THIRD: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewerage system or the disposal works, or any part thereof, shall become a nuisance
or prejudicial to public health, then such remedial measures shall forthwith be
adopted as the Commissioner of Health may advise or approve.
FOURTH: No additions to the disposal works shall be made until plans thereof
have been approved by the Commissioner of Health.
FIFTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroj'ed
on the premises.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 25th, 190S.
McKEESPORT, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application was made by the City of MoKeesport, Allegheny County, and is
for permission to build sewers and to discharge sewage therefrom through a new
outlet into the Youghiocrheny River and through a new outlet into the Monongahela
River, both within the limits of the city.
It appears that MoKeesport is a manufacturing city with a present estimated
liopulalion of forty-five to fifty thousand people, located on the south bank of the
Monongahela River and the east bank of the Yonghiogheny River and
distant about fifteen milos above the city of Pittsburgh at the con-
fluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers. The tenth ward of the
city is separat(d from the other wards by the Yonghiogheny and comprises land west
of this river and between it and the Monongahela at the forks. Of this portion ap-
proximatol.v half is on the flat lands near the rivers. A small part, however, is
subject to inundation. Th'^ n'lnainder of the tenth ward is on hilly land which rises
very rajiidly from both streams.
^ Of the major portion of the city there is a strip of low land following the
Y'oughiogh»ny and IMonongnlida Rivers varying in width from a quarter to half a
mile on which most of the business properties, including manufacturing jdants. are
located. At the northerly end of the city the flat disappears, there being barely
sufficient room for the railroad tracks at the foot of the hill.
924 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The residences are nearly all on the slopes and summit. These hills, which con-
stitute the greater part of the city area, rise to a height of four to five hundred
feet above the river and are intersected by runs and ravines, which extend back
some distance and afford natural channels for surface drainage. The grades are
generally good throughout the whole city and on the slopes reach eighteen to twenty
per cent, in some instances.
A large proportion of the streets have pavements and permanent side-walks. The
general appearance of the city is favorable, making due allowance for the smoke
nuisance.
In nineteen hundred the population was thirty-four thousand two hundred and
twenty-seven. The community was undergoing a rapid and fairly uniform growth
prior to the recent financial depression. There is reason to believe that this growth
will continue after business conditions return to a normal basis.
The industries are chiefly subsidiary companies of the United States corporation.
The American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, the National Tube Works, the
National Tube Company and the American Sheet and Tin Plate Works give em-
ploj-ment to nearly ten thousand hands. The Frith-Sterliug Steel Company, an in-
dependent concern, employs about four hundred hands.
The water supply system is owned by the city, two-thirds of the source being
derived from the Youghiogheny River and the remainder from a well on said river
bank near the pumping station in the up-stream part of the city. Plans for a water
purification plant were approved by the Commissioner of Health and a permit issued
therefor on March seventh, nineteen hundred and seven. At the present time the
river water is furnished in its raw condition to the consumers. The Youghiogheny
is a highly acid stream. Below Connellsville borough, which is approximately forty-
two miles above Mclveesport, large quantities of sulphur mine waters are emptied
into the river. Bacterial examinations of the water at McKeesport revealed the
presence of few ordinaiT bacteria and none of the colon growth, in spite of the fact
that considerable sewage is emptied into these waters. The stream is shallow and
rapid fiowins, so opportunities for sedimentation are not most favorable. It has
been concluded, therefore, that the purification taking place in the river is due
principally to the germicidal action of the acid mine drainage. However, during
high stages of the river, these purifying agencies are minimized and sewage dis-
charged into the Y'oughiogheny or its tributaries anywhere on (he water shed may
be brought doMn to McKeesport in a day's time or less. Since the fluctuations in the
flow of this stream are wide and sudden, its raw waters are not safe as a source of
public supply if sewage be put therein. The local authorities are now expending a
considerable sum of money in the erection of a water softening and purifying plant.
For years the typhoid death rate in McKeesport has been high. In nineteen hun-
dred and four, if the returns be correct, the rate was one hundred and twenty-nine
deaths for one hundred thousand population. The city failed to report its typhoid
cases for the year nineteen hundred and seven. For nineteen hundred and six there
were sixty-two deaths registered and probably over seven hundred cases occurred,
which indicates an increased rate.
There are a number of private wells in town used for domestic supplj'. All wells
and springs which have been considered suspicious have been closed and are no
longer available, so it is reported.
At the independent plant the water for industrial purposes is obtained from deep
wells. Drinking water is brought from a spring on the nearby hillside. At the plant
of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, water is taken from the Mononga-
hela River for all purposes except drinking. Drinking water is obtained from a well
nim.'ty feet deep. The Naticmal Tube Works have city water for drinking purposes
and the Monongahela River for other uses. At the National Tube Company's plant,
water for all purposes is taken from five twelve inch wells fifty-four feet deep. At
the American Sheet and Tin Plate plant the drinking water comes from the city
water works, the other water from the Monongahela River. No sickness has ever
been attributed to the use of these well or spring waters.
The local health officials claim that the typhoid figures include imported cases
brought to the local hospitnl as well as the cnses originating in the town ; and that
of the local cases, a large number were attributed to wells or springs which are now
closed.
The city has failed to submit a report and plan of its sewer system as required
by law. From information obtained by the Department's officers, it appears that
there are eity sewers discharging into the Youghiogheny River above the water
works intake. One five foot sewer is distant but three-(|uaiters of a mile.
Into the Youghiogheny River above the city water works intake besides numerous
private sewers from residences and industrial plants, and besides the said five foot
sewer there is a twenty-four inch sewer at the extension of Oak Alley.
Below (he city water v.orks intake there are numerous public sewers emptying
into the 'i'oiigliiogheny, as follows: n twenty-four inch pipe at Thirteenth Avenue;
an eighteen inch pipr- at Twelfth Avenue; a twelve in<h pipe at Eleventh Avenue;
an eighteen inch fiipe at Yough Alley; a twenty inch pipe at Ninth Avenue; a
twelve inch pipe at Eighth Avenue; pipe sewers fit Seventh and Sixth Avenues: a
twenty inch [lipo at P'ifth Avenue, and an eighteen inch at Fourth Avenne, besides
nnmfroim private sewers from propf-rtics nlong lli" hank.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 925
In the tenth ward there are seven public sewers emptying into the Monongahela
River, the diameters ranging from eighteen inches to thirty-six inches.
Into the >ronongahela River from the main part of the town there appear to be
at least public sowers discharging at convenient points whose diameters range from
eighteen inches to seven feet.
The existing sewers are all on the combined system and comprise about four and
three-tenths miles of brick sewers and about twenty-eight miles of tile sewers ten
inches or more in diameter.
Crooked Run is a natural water course rising in the rugged hilly country of North
Versailles Township near the borough of East McKeesport. It is said to receive
some of the sewage from said borough through an abandoned coal mine. So far as
the Department is informed, no complaints have been made in regard to this dispo-
sition of the sewage.
On October seventh, nineteen hundred and seven, the Commissioner of Health
issued a permit to East McKeesport borough to discharge sewage temporarily into
the abandoned coal mine and theuee into Crooked Run until June first, nineteen
hundred and eight, at which time said borough shall either independently or in
conjunction with another municipality, submit plans for the proper disposal of the
borough's sewage.
, After passing through the township for a distance of about one mile. Crooked Run
enters the city limits at the northeast line, pursuing a southerly course for about
four thousand feet, whence it turns at right angles and passes northerly across the
flats of the Monongahela River. This section on the flats between the railroad and
the river is in a culvert. The other portion is largely open channel. The total
drainage area is reported to be four and twelve-hundredths square miles, of which
three-fourths of a square mile is within the city limits. Here reside about ten
thousand peoi))e. The stfeets are unsewered, kitchen drainage goes largely to street
gutters and the customary privy and vault abound. Many of the properties along
Fifth ^Avenue, along and across which Crooked Run passes, are sewered directly
to the stream.
The petitioners purpose to build a brick sewer in Fifth Avenue from the culvert
at the railroad tracks, Avbere the sewer is to be six feet in diameter, and empty into
the run, thence across private land and in Fifth Avenue a distance of five thousand
two hundred and forty-five feet to or near the city line, where the sewer is to be four
feet in diameter.
This structure is not designed to supplant the natural water course, but it is
designed to remove sewage and storm water from the districts in the city tributary
to the run. Plans of sub-mains and laterals for this district have not been prepared,
or in any event they have not been submitted to the Department for approval.
In the opposite end of the city there is a natural water course called Starcamp
Run, which rises near St. Mary's Cemetery at the city line and flows southerly to
the Youghiogheny River, the point of entry being through a culvert across the flats
at the southerly city line, which is one mile above the city water works intake.
The upper half of the area drained bj' the run is unsewered. It is stated that the
entire water shed is about three-fifths of a square mile, that thereon now reside
three thousand eight hundred people. The customary methods of household waste
disposal prevail. The petitioners purpose to build a sewer six feet in diameter at
the river and to lay it along and in Sill, Avenue, Hill, Pattereon and Starcamp
Streets, which roads follow up the valley of the run, a total length of six thousand
two hundred and fifty feet to the above mentioned cemetery. At the end the diam-
eter of the sewer is to be thiee feet. The details of lateral sewers and branches to
this main have not been submitted for consideration. It is understood that the
sewer is not to receive the waters of the run, but simply the sewage and the storm
water from the dwellings and streets of the district.
It is repres"nted that the principal reason for the construction of these sewers at
this time is to aiTord Mork to many of the inhabitants of the city who are temporarily
deprived of employment, due to the partial or complete shutting down of the prin-
cipal manufact'iring plant of the town.
Nowhere do the applicants attempt to prove that the interests of the public health
demand that a new sewer outlet shall be established in the river at a point immedi-
ately above the city water works intake. The fact that the municipal oflicers have
not attempted to stop the pollution of the public water supply by the city's own
sewage, and now plan to raati^rially add to such polhition, is evidence that such
local authorities jire not aware of the risk to human life which such a practice con-
tinued will involve. This is all the more strange because of the prevalence of
typhoid fever in the city, and because of the fact that the necessity for purifying
the river water has been recognized by thom. The further necessity of keeping the
sewage out of the supply should also be recogni/.ed. In the event of a breakdown
of the filter callin;: for temporary introduction of raw river water into the water
works system, the consumers might unsuspectingly be treated to and drink of the
town's sewage with disastrous consequences. The interests of the public health
clearly demand that not only shall ^IcKeesport sewage cease to be discharged into
the Youghiogheny River above the city water works intake, but that all other
sewage on the water shed above said intake from other municipalities shall eventu-
ally cease to be discharged into the waters of the State,
59
926 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Furthermore, below ^IcKeesport the towns on the banks of the Monongahela
River and the Ohio largely dra\Y upon these streams for the public supply. The
Pennsylvania Water Company has an emergency intake on the Monongahela River
at Port Perry, about three miles below McKeesport. There is reported to be an
emergency intake from said river at Homestead about six miles below McKeesport
and about four miles further down stream crude river water is drawn and supplied
to the citizens of that part of the city of Pittsburgh known as the "'South Side."
Most of the municipalities on the banks must continue to rely upon these rivers
for drinking water, and. therefore, the public health demands the discontinuance
of the use of the livers as carriers of sewage. Especially is this true since the water
filter is nor a "germ proof" remedj'.
It makes no difference whether the acidity of the Monongahela River and the
sedimentation effected in the slack water pools of the river during ordinary times
sufficiently minimize the pollution of the waters to render the source reasonably
safe, because these clarifying influences and natural safeguards are not subject to
regulation and control and may be entirely overcome any day or any month of the
year, in which event all safeguards are removed and the waters become extremely
dangerous. Under these conditions their use for drinking purposes is always a men-
ace and the insurance to human life afforded by taking the sewage out of these
waters, even at its total and final cost, will be the cheapest insurance which the
inhabitants of the region can obtain.
The city of McKeesport is favorably located topographically for cheap surface
drainage. The problem of the collection and treatment of its sewage is complex and
needs to be thoroughly studied. Favorable points for the erection of sewage dis-
posal works are limited. A private corporation would anticipate its future needs,
devise and adopt plans therefor and purchase requisite lands. The prudent admin-
istration of municipal affairs calls for like action as soon «s the State's policy with
respect to stream pollution be pointed out in this instance.
It is not economical to convey storm water long distances underground when it
can be readily disposed of into a nearby natural water course. It is prohibitive in
cost to attempt to treat mingled sewage and storm water, because of the enormous
volume of the latter. Some plan for the interception of the ordinary or dry weather
flow of a city's sewers must be devised before sewage disposal works can be adopted
and built. Tliis intercepting system should involve the reduction to the least practi-
cable amount of storm water in the sewers.
It is reported that the assessed valuation of the city April first, nineteen hundred
and seven, was twenty-one million seven hundred and twenty-one thousand dollars,
that the bonded indebtedness was eight hundred thousand one hundred dollars, and
that adding the floatinc: debt and deducting resources, including bonds and cash in
the sinking fund and assessments due, makes the city's net debt in the neighborhood
of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. If these figures be true, it would appear
that the borrowing capacity is in excess of one million dollars. However this may
be, it would appear, so far as the Department is now informed, that the city is
amply ablo to take up at once the question of improved sewerage and sewage dis-
posal. Th" evolution of plans therefore must necessarily consume a period of many
months. After a comprehensive plan shall have been adopted, the city can then
proceed to construct sewers anywhere with the knowledge that each sewer would
be a part of a comnlete plan. Thus efliciency and economy and the interests of the
public health would be alike sub.served.
The proposed sewers herein considered should either be modified to conform to the
above suggestions or they should be built as storm drains only. As now planned they
are not adapted to be a part of the improved sewer system. As already explained,
new sewers, especially the trunk lines, .should exclude storm water. Furthermore,
the State cannot consistently approve of the establishment of any sewer outlet above
the city water works intake^ even if the use of it were to be temporai'y only.
It has been determined that the interests of the i)ublic health demand that the
proposed sewers be di.sapproved and the same are hereby and herein disapi)roved,
and the petitioners informed that, to proceed legally with the construction, all idea
of the utility of the drains as carriers of sewage must be abandoned and the plans
must be chnngfd so that no house sewage or drainage, or any sewage matter what-
soever shall be admitted to the drains.
Furthermore, should the city procoed with these structures as surface water
drainn, it would be most ecf)nomical (since it is in these waters that the very much
smaller but main trunk sanitary sewer must be laid) that the project of laying a
sanitarv newer in the same iriMK'h with the slorm drain l)e given careful considera-
tion. The especial attention of the local authorities is called lo this suggestion.
Furthermore, it has been deteruiincd that since the city did not avail itself of
section six of act number one hundred and eighty-two of nineteen hundred and five,
it is not exempt from the provisions of said law and lliat, Ihcrefore, it is discharg-
ing sewiiL'e without IcL'al authoiily into the waters of the Slate, and that the inler-
f'Sts of the pulilie lienllh flernatid that the ei(y sliall forlhwilh devise i)lans for the
discontiniiancr' of the discharge of sewage intfi the waters of the State, and that it
shall subitiil such plans to the Stale Depiirtinent of Health for approval on or
before .July first, one thousand nine hundred and nine.
Harrisburg, Pa., April 8, 1908.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 927
McKEESPORT, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application was made by the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, and
is for permission to construct certain sanitary sewers and to discharge the sewage
therefrom t<Mr.i)<)rarily into tlie waters of the State.
It appears that on April eighth, one thousand nine hundred and eight, the Com-
missioner of IJoaith issued a decree lo the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County,
Pennsylvania, ri'lativc to the construction of certain proposed sewers in which it
was stipulated that all idea of the utility of the drains as carriers of sewage must be
abandoned and the plans must be chauged so that no house sewage or drainage or
any sewagi^ matter whatsoever sluill be admitted to the drain.
It was further stipulated that should the city proceed with the structures as sur-
face water drains, it would be must cconumical, since it is in and along the same
streets that the \ery much smaller but main trunk sanitary sewer must be laid,
that the project of laying a sanitary sewer in the same trench with the storm drain
be given careful consideration, and the especial attention of the local authorities
was called to this suggestion. The last clause of the decree read as follows:
"Furthermore, it has been unanimously agreed that since the city did not avail
itself of section si.K of act nusnber one hundred and eighty-two of nineteen hundred
and five, it is not exempt from the provisions of said law and that therefore it is
discharging sewage without legal authority into the waters of the State, and that
the interests of the public health demand that the city shall forthwith devise plans
for the discontinuance of the discharge of sewage into the waters of the State, and
that it shall sulimit such iilaus to the State Doi)artment of Health for approval on or
before ,Tuly first. t)ne tlujusaiid niiic liiUKlrcd and nine."
Un May fourth, one thousand nine hundred and eight, the city gave notice to
the Commissioner of Health of its desire and purpose to follow out the suggestions
in the above decree and represented that it purposes to proceed with the storm
drain in the Crooked Run district, beginning with a six foot sewer at the outlet and
terminating with a four foot sewer at the upper end and that on either side of this
storm drain it is proposed to buiid into the concrete masonry a twelve inch sewer
pil)e where the drain is six feet in diameter, a ten inch sewer pipe where the drain
is five feet in diameter and an eight inch sewer pipe where the drain is four feet in
diameter; and that it purposes to proceed with the storm drain in Starcamp Run
district, beginning with a six foot sewer at the outlet and terminating with a
three foot sewer at the upper end, and that it is proposed to build into either side of
the storm drain in the concrete masonry a twelve inch sewer pipe where the storm
drain is six feet in diameter, a ten inch sewer pipe where the storm drain is four
feet in diameter and an eight inch sewer pipe where the storm drain is three feet
in diameter.
These sewer pipes are to the mains for the collection of the sanitary sewage of
their respective districts. Those of the Crooked Run district are to empty tempo-
rarily into the IMonongahela River either directly or indirectly. Those in the Star-
camp Run districr an' not to empty even temporarily into the Youghiogheny River,
but they are to discharge into a sanitary sewer which it is proposed to construct
dcvvn the river valley to below the city water works intake, where it is to discharge
into said river. The pl.i.n of this sewer will be made up and forwarded with the
other plans called for by said decree of April eighth, on or before July first, of the
current year.
It ha^ been determined that th.e proposed plans be approved and they are hereby
and herein approved and a permit issued therefor under the express stipulation that
the terms of the jxTinit to the City of McKeesport issued on April eighth, one
thousand nine Inuidicd and eight, shall obtain with respect to the permit herein
issued in so far as said terms may be relevant.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 28, 1908.
McKEESPORT. ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application was made by the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Penn-
sylvania, and is for approval of sewers built during the year nineteen hundred and
seven in the tenth ward of said city.
On ;May twenty-eighth, nineteen himdred and eight, the Commissioner of Health
issued a pirmit to the City of McKeesport to construct certain sanitary sewers and
to discharge sewage 11i(>refrom temporarily into the waters of the State. Under the
terms of tliis ])ermit of .May twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred and eight, the city
must devise plans for the discontinuance of the discharge of sewage into the waters
of the Stale and submit such plans to the State Department of Health for approval
on or before July first, nineteen liundred and nine.
It appears thai on Jinn' twelfth, nineteen hundred and seven, a contract was
awarded l)y the City of iNIcKeesport for the construction of a sewer in Rebecca Street
and Pickwick Alley and West Fifth Avenue, these sewers all being in the tenth
ward of the city
The tenth ward is that portion of the city lying in the forks between the Youghio-
gheny Rivt r and tiie Monongahela River and bounded on the south by the borough
of Port Vue and on the west by the borough of Glassport.
928
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
There are numerous sewers in the district which now empty into the Monongahela
River at convenient points ai the foot of the streets sloping down the hillside to the
river. One of these sewers is a thirty-six inch brick stiaicture in Rebecca
Street. Tl)e ordinance providing for the construction of this Rebecca Street sewer,
and for which approval is now asked, was presented in councils June eleventh,
nineteen hundred and six. It provided for the construction of a three foot brick
sewer in Rebecca Street from the river to the intersection of West Fifth Avenue
with Rebecca Street, thence a twenty-four inch pipe along West Fifth Avenue to
Pickwick Alley, thence a twenty-four inch pipe to IMckwick Alley to the borough
line of Port Vue. These sewers comprising a total length of twenty-seven hundred
feet, of which the twenty-four inch pipe comprises fifty per cent., were contracted
for and built during nineteen hundred and seven, and so also were extensions as
follows :
Four hundred feet of thirty-six inch sewer in Rebecca Street to West Fifth
Avenue.
One hundred feet of fifteen inch pipe easterly in West Fifth Avenue.
One thousand fee' of tweuty-four inch pipe in the Avenue westerly.
Tliree hundred feet of fifteen inch pipe in Jim Crow Alley connecting with the said
fifteen inch pipe in the avenue.
These distances are approximate only.
It is stated by the Mayor that these tenth ward sewers were built before the
question of constructing tlie Crooked Run and Patterson Avenue sewers were taken
up with the Commissioner of Health and before the officials of the city were
familiar with the reiiuirements of the act of nineteen hundred and five, obligating
cities to make applications for permits to extend existing sewerage systems.
The citv solicitor also pleads past ignorance of the law and the requirements of
the State Department of Health in reference to permits in a request at this time for
approval of the said tenth ward sewers.
It appears that some of the property owners along the sewers above described
are endeavoring to escape the payment of assessments tov the sewers which have been
levied by the city, and among other matters the question has been raised of the city
havinij failed to obtain the permit required by the act of nineteen hundred and five.
After viewers have been appointed to assess the properties benefitted abutting on
the line of these sewers, the city solicitor discovered for the first lime that a very
serious error had been made in overlooking the necessary permit by the Commissioner
of Health. Whereupon the city did what it could to satisfy the said abutting owners
by making a very low assessment against their properties. Certain of the property
holders, however, employed counsel and have filed exceptions to the viewers'
report, which exceptions will be disposed of by the court this month, possibly not
later than next week, so it is reported. A copy of one of the exceptions is given in
full below:
IX THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS NO. 2 OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
>No. 94, July 'IVnn, I'.tOS.
In re
Appointment of viewers to ascertain the costs and
expenses of and to assess benefits for the construc-
tion of a t\venty-fo\ir inch terra cotta sewer on
West Sixth Avenue from Rebecca Street to the
property of John J. Downing, in the City of
>IcKeesport.
And now, to wit, August , nineteen hundred and eight, comes Mrs.
Anna P. Reynolds, by her attorneys, Douglass and Fife, and excepts to the report
of viewers and the assessments of benefits against her several properties in above
case, as follows, to wit:
FIRST: That the .several assessments against her sevenil propirlies are in-
equitable, unjust and far In excess of any benefits rlerived.
SECOND: That the sewer in this case and for which said assessments have
been made wan constructed for and as a sanitary sewi-r. That it was construc^ted
without the authority and consent of the State lioard of Health, aud was not
constructed in confoi-lnity with, but iu vidlatiou of tin- laws of this Coiiunonwealth
governing and rcj-'ulating the construction oT sanitary sewers. That no jiians of said
sewer were submitli'd to tin' State P>oard of HefiKli .-is rc(iiiired by law, nor was any
permit issued by said State P.oard of llejilth apju'ovinu t-he sewi-r nor authori/iing
its construction. That the said sewer (■(juiiccls with the sewer known as the Pick-
wick Alley and Rclx-rca Street sewer, exc<'plions to which have been filed by this
exceptant at No. 4."(S January Term, 1!)0S, which exce])[ions are now pending; that
through tills Pickwick Alley and Rebeccn Street sewer the sewase from the sewer
in this case is discliarged into the ,Monon;,'ahela River conti'ary to law and the use
of said sewer for sanitary purpo.ses could at any time be prohibited I>y tiu! proper
State authorities and rendered wholly useless for sanitary purposes to the properties
of the exceptant.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 929
TlllKD: That tlio sewer was nol cousUucted accoidiug to the specifications pre-
pared ami sutMuiltecI to the several bidders before the letting of the contract ; that
in many places along the line of the said sewer it is not constructed at the depth
required under ihe specitications upon which bids were made fur its construction,
but, on the contrary, at many places, along its line the sewer is built three or more
feet nearer the surface than was reijuircd by the said specifications and as contracted
for, thereby rendering the sewer almost wholly, and in some places entirely, im-
practicable for connections with the properties.
FULKTll: (Crossed out.)
FIFTH; That the cost of the sewer as constructed and the cost as certified to
the viewers was far in excess of the real cost of the same.
SIXTH: Tliat Ihe viewers, notwithstanding the fact that the matters set forth
in these exceptions were presented to them, refused to inquire as to the cost of the
sewer as constructed and the value of said sewer to the abutting property as com-
pared with the sewer if it had been constructed according to the contract.
SIOVENTH: That the sevei'al properties assessed already have sewerage through
a three foot brick sewer, constructed on the properties by Thomas Reynolds during
his lifetime, which said sewer has become a public sewer by the city connecting the
Wesc Fifth Avenue sewer into it, and by turning into it surface drainage that was
out of the range that was drained by the water course for which the brick sewer was
built.
EKillTII: That the several properties against which the assessments have been
made in this case abut on Rebecca Street ; that if the sewer was built on Rebecca
Street in front of the several properties of the exceptant, it was built without any
authority whatsoever, as there is no ordinance of the City of McKeesport author-
izing the construction of the sewer on Rebecca Street in front of the propertes of
the exceptant, against which benefits were assessed in this case. That the ordi-
nance of the City of McKeesport upon which the proceedings in this case are based,
does not authorize tlic construction of the sewer on Rebecca Street.
NINTH: That the Board of Viewers in this case had not legal authority to
assess any benefits to the several properties of thij exceptant, as the exceptant owns
no property abutting on the sewer authorized to be constructed by the ordinance
upon which the proceedings in this case are founded.
(Adidavit of Anna B. Reynolds.)
Two other exceptions by the same individual, one with respect to the sewer in
Pickwick Alley and the other with respect to the Jim Crow Alley sewer, are given
in full below:
In re
Appointment of viewers to ascei'tain the costs and
expense of, and to assess benefits for the con-
struction of a twenty-four inch terra cotta sewer
on Pickwick Alley from the center of a thirty foot
street on the north side of Edmunson's property ' .-o t n.
and the south end of the Coursiu Heights IMan of I ^°- ^^S, January ierm,
Lots to the West Fifth Avenue Bridge approach, f 190S.
and twenty-four inch terra cotta sewer along West
Fifth Avenue Bridge approach to the intereection
of Rebecca Street and a three foot brick sewer
on Rebecca Street from the intei-section of West
Fifth Avenue to the Monongahela River in the
City of McKeesport.
And now, August, 1908, comes Mrs. Anna B. Reynolds, by her attorneys,
Douglass (Sr Fife, and excepts to the report of viewers and the assessment of bene-
fits against her property in the above case as follows, to wit:
FIRST: That Ihe assessment against her property is inequitable, unjust and far
in excess of any benefits derived therefrom.
SECOND: That the sewer in this case and for which said assessment has been
made was constructed for and as a sanitary sewer. That it was constructed with-
out the authority and consent of the State Board of Health and was not constructed
in conformity with, but in violation of, the laws of this Commonwealth, governing
and regulating the construction of sanitary sewers. That no plans of said sewer
were suhmitt(-d to the State Boanl of Health as required by law, nor was any permit
issued by said State Board of Health apjiroving the sewer nor authorizing' its con-
struction. That the sewerage therefrom is discharged into the Monongahela River
contrary to law, and the use of said sewer for sanitary purposes could at any time
he prohibited by the proper State authorities and "rendered wholly useless for
sanitary puri)oses to the property of the exceptant.
TillRl); That the sewer was not constructed according to the specifications
pri'pared and submitted to the several bidders before the letting of the contract; and
in many places along the line of the said sewer it is not constnicted at the depth
required under the specifications upon which bids were made for its construction,
59—17—1908
930 THIRD ANNUAL Rl^ORT OF THE Off. Doc.
but, ou the contrary, at mauy places along- its line the said sewer is built three or
more feet nearer the surface than was required by the said specitieatious and as
contracted fur, thereby rendering the sewer almost wholly and in some places en-
tirely impracticable for counecuons with the property.
FOURTH; That uo openings were left in the sewer for property connections
therewith between Monongahela Ri^er and I'iue Alley, a distance of two hundred
and thirty feet, more or less, all in front of and along the line of the property of
the exceptant.
FIFTH: That the cost of the sewer as constructed, and the cost as certified
to the viewers, was far in excess of the real cost of the same.
SIXTH: That the viewers, notwithstanding the fact that the matters set forth in
these exceptions were presented to them, refused to inquire as to the cost of the
se\Yer as constructed and the value of said sewer to the abutting property as com-
pared \s-ith the sewer if it had been constructed according to the contract.
SE\'E2sTH : That one of the viewers in this case is the counsel for the con-
tractors for the construction of said sewer aud was inadvertently appointed and
served as said viewer and his relations with the said contractors for the construc-
tion of said sewer was such that he could not have been expected and should not
have been called upon to pass upon the question of the viewers going behind the
certificate of the engineer aud to make a judicial inquiry as to whether or not the
sewer had been constructed according to contract and the property owners were
getting a sewer equal in value to the cost as certified by the engineer; that the
abutting property owners were entitled to have a Board of Viewers that would be
untrammeled in a case of this kind and would, upon the proper showing, go behind
the certificate of the engineer and make inquiry.
(Affidavit of Anna B. Reynolds.)
IX THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS NO. 1 OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
In re
1
Appointment of viewers to ascertain the costs
and expenses of and assess the benefits for the
construction of a fifteen inch terra cotta f> No. 4G5, September Term, 190S.
sewer on Jim Crow Alley from the north
end of alley of the unnamed alley opposite
Dot Street ; thence along said unnamed alley
to Rebecca Street.
And now, to wit, August , 1908, comes Mrs. Anna B. Reynolds,
by her attorneys, Douglass & Fife, and excepts to the report of viewers and the
assessments of benefits against her several properties in above case, as follows,
to wit:
FIRST: That the several assessments against her several properties are in-
equitable, unjust and far in excess of any benefits derived.
SECOXD: That the sewer in this case, and for which said assessments have
been made was constructed for and as a sanitary sewer. That it was consti-ucted
without the authority and consent of the State Board of Health and was not con-
structed in coaforraily with, but in violation of, the laws of this Commonwealth,
governing and regulating tlie construction of sanitary sewers. That no plans of
said sewer were s^.ibmitled to the Slate Board of Health as required by law, nor
was any permit issued by said State Board of Health approving the sewer, nor
authorizing its construction. That the said sewer conin'cts with the sewer known as
the Pickwick Alley and Rebecca Street sewer, exceptions to which have becu filed
by this exceptant at number four iiundrcd and fifty-eight, January Term, nineteen
hundred and eight, which exceptions are now pending; that through this Pickwick
Alley and Rebecca Street sewer the sewage from the sewer in this case is discharged
into the Monongahela River, contrary to law, and the use of said sewer for sani-
tary purposes could at any time be prohibited by the proper State authorities
and rendered wholly useless for sanitary purposes to the i)roi)erties of the exceptant.
THIRD: That tbe sewer was not const ruct(>d according to the specifications
prepared and submitted to the several bidders before the letting of the contract;
that in many places along the line of the said scnvi-r it is not constructed at the
depth retiuired under I he specifications iiiton which bids were made for its con-
struction, but, on the contrary, at many i)laccs along its line the said sewer is
built three or more fi-('t marer the surface tiian was re(|uir(!d by the said specifica-
tions and as contractfid for, thereby lendering the sewer almost wholly, and in
some places entirely imjiracticable for connections with the properties.
FOURTH: (Crossed out.)
FH'TII: That the co.st of the sewer as constructed and the cost as certified to
the viewers was far in excess of the real cost of the same.
SIXTH- That the vi<!wers, notwilhslaiiding the fact that tlu! matters set forth
in these exceijtions were prcsr-nled to thcni refused to iiKjiiire as to the cost of the
sewer as constructed and the value of said sewer to the abutting property as com-
pared with the sewer if it had been constructed according to the contract.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 931
SEVENTH; That the sewer is so consti'uctetl that the properties of the excep-
tant cannot be sewered into it ; the sewer level produced cuts the lot level or crops
out on it about six or seven feet back from the street; a cellar even on the front of
the lot could not be drained into the sewer uuless the cellar was entirely above
ground; the said properties are one hundred and thirty-hve feet deep, runninf; back
to an alley, and a cross section of the said lots from Sixth Street to the alley in
the rear of the lot shows a fall of appro.vimately thirty-nine feet in one hundred
and thirty feet, and another cross section shows a fall of approximately thirty-
seven feet in the same direction.
(Affidavit of Anna B. Reynolds.)
The city's statemeat by its Mayor and Solicitor of ignorance of the law at the time
and prior to the construction of the said tenth ward sewers must be accepted al-
though this does not, as is well understood, excuse the city for technical violation
of the law.
It does not appear that these sewers materially complicate the problem which is
now before the city of re-designing its entire sewerage system and submitting plans
thereof for approval to the Commissioner of Health during the year nineteen hun-
dred and nine. The sewers are serving a practical purpose in that they do remove
sewage and storm water from the districts they serve, and in these districts the
benefits were demanded.
The Rebecca Street extension beyond West Fifth Avenue is in a hollow where
surface drainage came down from the hillsides and ponded up, and where kitchen
drainage also collected and caused a nuisance, although there was a private sewer
up this valley known as the Reynolds sewer emptying into a natural water course
beyond West Fifth Avenue and discharging eventually into the Youghiogheny River.
Whether or not the new storm sewer is best calculated to serve the entire district
tributary to it cannot now be determined ; that must be settled at the time the city
submits the plans for the comprehensive sewerage system for the entire city. Un-
doubtedly at that time it will be discovered that many mistakes could have been
obviated in the years past had the city adopted a comprehensive plan in the first
instance.
If the Commissioner of Health approves said sewer extensions built since April
twenty-second, nineteen hundred and hve, it would naturally be under the condi-
tion that the sewers shall have excluded from them surface water or if surface water
be admitted, it shall be under the condition that such water shall be excluded in
the future if this be found necessary. Obviously the city would not ask for approval
of these sewei-s were the question of the validity of the sewer assessment not
pending.
On the ground that sewers have been built and they do benefit the abutting proper-
ties, and they are no different sewers in kind than those previously constructed by
the city throughout its territory for which assessments have been levied, it has been
determined that the sewer extensions should be approved and it is hereby and herein
approved subject to the condition that all storm water be excluded from the sewers,
or if admitted that it be temporarily, under terms whereby said exclusion can be
effected at any luoment if required by the Department of Health, and that permis-
sion to discharge sewage through these sewers into the waters of the State shall cease
on the tirst day of July, nineteen htindred and nine. If on said date the city shall
have complied with the terms of the permit of May twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred
and eight, and shall have submitted plans for the discontinuance of the discharge of
city sev>age into the waters of the State, to the Department of Health for approval,
then the Department of Health may extend the time when the sewage may con-
tinue to be discharged through said tenth ward sewers into the waters of the State.
Harrisburg, Pa., November 10th, 190S.
MERCER, MERCER COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Mercer, Mercer County, and is for
permission to extend its sewer sj-stem and to discharge the sewage therefrom through
the existing main sower into Neshannock Creek within the limits of the borough.
The borough of Mercer is a trading and resident community of about twenty-one
hundnnl population, located in the southern central part of the county on Neshan-
nock ("reek. It is the county scat and is bounded on the north by Cool Si)riug Town-
shiit, on the east and south by Findley Township and on the west by East Lacka-
wannock Township. The surrounding territory is open, rolling farm land under cul-
tivation.
Ncsliaunock Crock is formed by the confluence of two streams which meet in the
borouuh in the southeastern part, from whence the main stream flows southerly to
the Shonango River at New Castle in Lawrence County.
The easterly tributary is called Mill Creek and the northern tributary Otter
Creek. The latter rises about twelve miles north of .Mercer and takes a southerly
course, passing by Fredonia borough and through Cool Spring Township, draining
forty-eight square miles, and the fonuer. with its north and south branches, drains
fifty-one square miles lyiiii; jid.inciMir to and oast of Otter Creek water shed.
932 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
A branch of the I't'nusylvauia Railroad comes down the Mill Creek valley, crosses
Otter Creek in the borough of Mercer and thence follows the stream and Neshannock
Creek to New Castle. There are a few buildings in the borough east of this railroad
in the forks, but the town site and populous district is whollj' west of the railroad
and principally on the summit of the hill, elevated about two hundred and seventy-
five feet above the vall-^y. The ground slopes from this eminence in all directions,
more particularly towards Neshannock Creek and (Jreenville Run, a tributary of
Utter Creek. This run flows from the northwest out of Cool Spring Township into
the borough in the north central part at Pittsburgh Street and thence, continuing
southeasterly in course, passes quite near and at two places crosses the borough
line and finally empties into Otter Creek at East Market Street bridge. The ter-
minal Station of the Mercer branch of the Bessemer Railroad is in the vicinity north
of East Market Street and the Pennsylvania Depot is south of said Market Street,
between it and Grove City Avenue, which is a main thoroughfare leading from the
town out into the country.
The public square and the county buildings are on the hill at the end of East
Market Street, a half mile distant from the railroad station. West Market Street
is the continuation of this highway westerly from the public square. Extending
through the town paralleling Market Street south of it is Butler Street and Beaver
Street and north of and parallel to Market Street is Venango Street and then
Border Alley. The last two highways, however, terminate at the bluff along Green-
ville Run.
The slopes of the ground assure a very good natural drainage. In some places the
street grades are quite steep. Storm water from the surface of the municipal terri-
tory finds its way principally through the channels in the street gutters to the
streams above mentioned. Outside of the borough, southwest of it, is a ravine in
which is collected the natural drainage from the western slopes of the town. How-
ever, no public sewage is discharged into it or into Greenville Run.
About three decades ago the population of the borough was greater than it is
to-day. The removal of an orphan school whose members were enumerated in the
census accounts for the reduction in the population. There is a sanatorium on
rising ground east of Greenville Run and in the vicinity just over the borough line in
the township is the Mercer Cottage State Hospital.
In the town there are two small industrial plants where household water filters
are built and where gas stoves are manufactured.
The grist mill is located on Grove City Avenue at the dam immediately below
the confluence of Otter and Mill Creeks. This dam back-floods the water in Otter
Creek to the water company's intake. The pump house is built on the banks of the
creek immediately above where the Pennsylvania Railroad crosses the creek and
about five hundred feet up stream from the mouth of Greenville Run. Crude creek
water is pumped to an iron tank twenty-five feet in diameter and twenty feet high ,
supported on standards sixty feet in length, and located on the hill in the centre
of the town, from whence the water is furnished by gravity to the consumers.
The works arc owned by the Mercer Water Company. A report of the system
has not yet been made, neither have plans been filed, so that the Department of Health
is not informed, except in a very general way, about this system of public
■water works.
It is reported that the public water is furnished to about fifteen hundred people
and that after a heavy rain the water is turbid. There is an attempt at the pumping
station to filter the water. Two intake pipes six inches and eight inches in diameter,
whose outer ends are perforated with holes and imbedded in the bottom of the creek
channel, deliver the water into two wells thirty feet in diameter and twenty-five feet
deep. In these structures strainers have been placed. The requisites for water
purification call for features so entirely different from those apparently existing and
in use at the Mercer Water Company's plant, that it is at once evident that any
pollutions in Otter Creek would menace the public health of the borough.
Up Otter Creek extends the Bessemer Railroad and on it, seven miles above
Mercer, is Fredonia, a settlement of alxjut five hundred people. The entire water-
shed is a thickly settled farming territory and probably the usual conditions with
respect to possible sewage pollutions of water courses obtain.
Scattered throu;,'hout Mercer borough are domestic wells and some springs.
The Kline well, Jones Spring and Sheriff Spring are prominently menlioned by
local physicians as having been the suspected medium of transmission of typhoid
fever during the past two years.
Municipal sewers were first installed in eighteen hundred and ninety-eight. At
the proseiii time a public sewer is laid in almost every street in the borough. The
sewers are for hf)us<? drainage only; they are ventilated through manholes and
flushed iiy auH iriatic tanks. Owing to the topography above described, there is a
west side systr-in and an east side syslr-m, each having its separate outlet into
Neshannock Creek.
The FOast s-ide system serves the territory east of Erie Street, with the ex-
ception of the pid^lic square and vicinity. There are sub-mains at the fuot of lOnst
Market, P.uller and Beaver Streets, whieh discharge into the main interee])ting
eewer. The lat;er begins in East Market Street near the railroad and is a
nine inch pipe in said street and thence southerly by the Pennsylvania Passenger
Station to a manhole in Grove CWy Avenue, where Hk; county sewer ends.
From here under the railroad and thence southerly to NeshnniKiek Creek, the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 933
sewer is twelve inches in diameter and its point of discharge is into the stream, four
hundred feet below City Avenue, which point is about a quarter of a mile north
of the southerly borough line. All of the borough sewers in the cast district are
six inches in diameter, except the intercepter, and they comprise a length, all
told, of seven and six-tenths miles. .. ^
The county almshouse is locatfd one and a half miles north of Mercer Borough.
It was erected in eighteen hundred and eighty-three, accommodates on an average
one hundred and eighty-five people, is supplied with an abundance of pure spring
water and the sewage from ihe institution is conveyed through a six inch vitrified
pipe laid in the valley of Greenville Run through the township and the borough
to the manhole above described, where the discharge is into the borough sewer.
Some years ago the institution's sewage was emptied into the run, but this was
objectionable to the farmers owning abutting lands below, so the county as-
sumed the expense oi: the long line of pipe to Neshannock Creek. Into the county
sewer four of the borough sewers empty, at the foot of Greenville Avenue, Franklin
and Pittsburgh Streets and (he sanatorium road, respectively, each sewer being
six inches in diameter, and the total length is one mile. There is a six inch
pri\ate sewer from the sanatorium which discharges into the county sewer.
The west side system serves the territory on the western slopes, the laterals are
all six inches in diameter, comprising a total length of three and a half miles, and
they discharge into an outfall sewer twelve inches in diameter which extends down
through the ravine in Findley township and empties into the creek upwards of a
quarter of a mile below the southern borough line.
Besides these two public sewer outlets, there is a six inch sewer from the
State Hospital which discharges into Otter Creek immediately below the water works
pnmphonse.
The local authorities report that not over fifteen hundred people use the
sewer system. Many privies and old style pits dug in some instances to the under-
lying loose shale rock are scattered about the town. It is the proximity of these
structures to wells and springs which has menaced the purity of such drinking
water. There is nothing in the appearance of the borough to attract the at-
tention of the visitor to anything unsanitary. The town is particularly pleasing
and its general healrhfulness is a matter of local pride.
On Otter Street, in the eastern district between Beaver and Butler Streets,
there are several unoccupied lots, upon which the owners wish to erect residences
of a hisrh class, but this will not be done until the local authorities will guar-
antee sewerage facilities. The petitioners, therefore, purpose to lay a six inch
sewer for this purpose. Its length will be three hundred and fifty feet.
The territory traversed by Neshannock Creek below Mercer borough is quite
similar to that above on the watersheds. In the distance of eighteen miles to
New Castle the waters of the stream are not used as a source of public water
supply, but Beaver River, into which the draiuage of the Shenango River and
Neshannock Creek goes, is the source of public supply at New Brighton, Rochester
and Beaver Falls. On this account the Commissioner of Health has required
the city of New Castle to prepare to discontinue the discharge of sewage into the
Shenancfo River and for a similar reason prohibition must be declared with respect
to the discharge of sewage at Mercer into the Neshannock Creek. It does not follow
that because this stream is not now iiolluted with sewage to a sufficient degree
to causp a complaint, that this is ample warrant for further pollution. The laws
of the State contemplate the preservation of the purity of State waters as a natural
resource. It is easily possible for sewage poison to be transmitted down stream
from .Mercer .•nid to become a menace to the health of those citizens of the above
mentioned boroughs who drink the Beaver River water. It is also true that
Mercer's sewage may not add materially to the danger so long as New Castle's
sewage is emptied into the river.
The conditions on the watersheds above Mercer borough, however, directly
concern every citizen in the town. The Butler epidemic, or the Plymouth, or the
Scrnntr.ii, or the Nanticoke epidemic, may be duplicated in Mercer; the physical
conditions are present, and until at every occupied estate on the watei"shed care-
ful attention be aiven to the disposal of sewage and the maintenance of absolutely
sanitary conditions be accomplished, the people who consume the i)ublic water in
Mercer are constantly in great danger, and the interests of the public health
demand that all such water used for domestic imrjioses should be boiled. The
water company should install an ap)iroved purifyiuir plant. The State Department
will have a sanitary survey made of the watershed alxive the water works intake
and orders for the abatement and removal of all menaces and nuisances will
be issued.
The State's policy does ni»t admit of any discrimination, hut in the administra-
tion of the law it is not always practicible to hrinrr about an immediate change
in the disiiosit'on of a munic'pnl sewaire. ^fevcer's iH^nded indebtedness is re-
ported to be forty-five thousand, three hundred and seventy-nine dollars, and its
assessed valuation seven hundr^^d and seven fy-ei'.rht thousand, nine hundred and
sixty dollars, which, if true, would indicate that the municipal borrowing ca-
pacity is limited to about nine thotisand doUnrs. a sum insullicient to defray the
cost of erectina; rewaire purification works. But the borough can anticipate this
ultimate reiiuirement by the preparation of plans for the collection of the sewage
now discharged into the streams and its coftveyance to some site adapted for the
934 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
erection of a purifyipg plant. The problem can be studied sufficiently to enable the
selection of a site and the purchase of the land. Fortunately the sewers are on the
separate plan, which simplilies the work of preparing for the ultimate purifica-
tion of the sewage. There can be no doubt as to the desirability of the laying of
petty lateral sewers in the few remaining unsewered streets of the town whenever
there is a demand for such lateral extensions.
The interests of the public health will be promoted when attention is devoted
to the proper disposal of sewage everywhere in the borough, more especially in the
vicinity of springs and wells. It is always dangerous to continue the use for
drinking purposes of waters drawn from the ground near the surface in a thickly
built up district. An examination of all well waters and springs in the village
should be undertaken, and, if the tests prove contamination, then the local au-
thorities should cause an abandonment of the polluted wells and springs.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by granting a permit to the borough, and a permit is hereby and herein granted
to make petty sewer extensions to its nearly completed sanitary sewer sj'stem,
under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That this permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State
shall cease on the first day of May, nineteen hundred and eleven. If at that
time the other terms of the permit shall have been complied with and the in-
terests of the public health will be subserved thereby, then the Commissioner of
Health may extend the time in which sewage may continue to discharge from the
boroush into the waters of the State.
SECOND: On or before May first, nineteen hundred and eleven, the borough
shall prepare a plan for the interception of the sewage and its purification and
these plans shall be sufficiently in detail to enable the Commissioner of Health to
determine whether they are practicable and whether the site chosen for the dis-
posal works is adapted for the purposes and such plans shall be submitted to
the Commissiouor of Health for approval, who may modify, amend or approve the
same and fix the date when the works shall be constructed, having in mind the
time when the sewage of other municipalities in the Shenango River basin must
be treated and purified.
THIRD: At the close of each season's work the borough shall file with the
Commiysiouer of Health a plan of the sewers laid during the year, together with
any other information in connection therewith that may be required.
FOl'RTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be de-
stroyed on the premises.
The JNIercer Water Company will be notified to forthwith submit a report and
plans of its exsting system and to submit plans for the efficient purification of the
creek water.
The local Board of Health will be notified to warn the public to boil the
public water whenever such water is to be used for drinking or domestic purposes ;
and the water company will also be requested to so notify its customers.
The especial attention of the local authorities is hereby called to the necessity
as a health precaution of the abandonment of all private wells and springs in
the boroush which are polluted. Tests of the water should be made to determine
this pollution, unless th(! location be such that the topographical evidence is suffi-
cient to condemn the supply.
The hospital officers will be notified to prepare plans for some other disposal
of the institution's sewage, preferably into the borough sewer system.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 28th, 1908.
MIDDLETOWN, DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Middletown Drainage Company.
This ap|)lication was made by the Middlelovvn Drainage Company of the bor-
ough of .Midrllctown, Dauphin County, and is for permission to extend its sewers
in said borongli and to diseharge the sewage tlu^refrom uiilreated to Swatara
CJreek v.ith in tip- lirnirs of ili<! borough.
The boroiiirh of .Middletown is a manufacturing coriiiiiunily having a present
po|iulatioii of about six thousand, located ten miles below Harrisburg, on the
Su.s(|uehanna , river and on the west bank of the Swalara Crei'k where it (>rnpties
into said river. 'I'he town was laid out before the tinii' of railroads, when trans-
portal inn through tli(! interior was elTecled jirincipally by waterways and ea_nals.
Swatara Ci'eek was considered the end of navigation on the Susquelianiui Itiver,
owing to rapids in the river l)elow. 'I'he fii'st canal was constriieled ui) the
Swatara and over land to /{ending, by nn'Mtis nf which intericjr trade with I'liila-
rjelphia was promoted. Thus Middletown was early an important c.oinini'rc.hd com-
inunity. The riecliiie of canals anil development of railways and the location
of the State Capitol at Harrisbury conspired to keep Middletown in the back-
ground. In spitf. of this the growth since eighteen hundred and fifty has been
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 935
steadily upward. Its location on the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
having a branch conuoclion with the I'hiladclphia and Reading Railway, affords
as t;ood transportation facilities as those enjoyed by a number of the citites of
the third class in the State.
The industries comprise tube works, car shops, stove manufactory, cigar factory,
knitting and hosiery mill and the works of the Middletown Furniture Company,
The largest plant, that of the National Tube Works, employing one thousand
men, was shut down recently, but it is reported that local enterprise may reopen
the plant. These induarial works arc located along the line of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, away from the creek and the river. The said railroad e.xtends east and
west throuirh tlie borough parallel to the river and distant therefrom about three
thousand feet. It crosses the Swatara Creek into Royalton, a borough of about
twelve liundred population, dependent for employment upon the mills and shops
of Middletown.
About half way between the railroad and the river is the old Pennsylvania
canal bed. There is a dam acio.ss the creek about one thousand feet up stream
from the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge, which was erected and maintained in
connection with mill privileges and the Union Canal ; the latter formerly extended
along the west bank of the creek up the valley from the Pennsylvania canal.
These old canals are largely obliterated. The dam and accompanying water power
plant are maintained by the ]\Iiddletown and Swatara Consolidated Water Com-
pany to run a grist mill and flour mill and to pump water in case of fire
or other emer:;en('ies from the head race of the mill. This race takes water from
the Swatara Creek at a point more than a mile above the dam. It and the Phila-
delphia and Reading railway are west of Mill Street. A\Tiere the race ends,
ab:>ut four hundred feet from the Pennsylvania Railroad, the water works com-
panv maintains a pump house.
The principal part of Middletown lies north of the Pennsylvania Railroad, but
that settion south of the railroad adjacent to it is the shopping district, where
stores are located. A greater portion of the land south of the railroad is subject
to flood during extraordinary freshets. The northern district drains to the mill
race largely. There are several small water courses traversing the borough
and emptyins into the creek. They aftord natural means for good surface drainage
since in most parts of the town the grades are sufficient to readily dispose of
storm water.
There is a stream called Bloody Run, rising in the northeastern part of the
borough and flowing southerly between Pine and Race Streets, crossing High,
Main and Water Streets and passing westerly by the Middletown Fair (Jrounds
and across Emaus and Brown Streets and emptying into the end of the mill race in
the vicinity of the Water Company's emergency intake. This run received the
drainage from a slaughter house, from several privies or cesspools, and in its
low(>r portion, which was brickL^d over through consent of the borough council
in nineteen huiidivil and six by private parties and is enclosed in a masonry
structure several hundred feet in length, the sewage from unauthorized house
connections discharging into this brick portion of the run.
To the west of the mill race or Bloody Run above described, there is a larger
run, a stream known as CruU's Run, which rises in the township north of the bor-
ough, and, takins a southerly course, enters Middletown, north of the railroad,
west of the center, passinu: across Main Street, under Catherine, across Water and
in Wood Street to Emaus Street near the I'ennsylvania Railroad. This part is
open except at the culverts under or in the street; but from Emaus Street under
the railroad to Wood Street and easterly in Wilson Street to Union and thence
across private property along the south bank of the Pennsylvania Railroad to
Swatara Creek, a distance of about twenty-three hundred feet the run is en-
dtised in a five foot brick sewer. It was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company uiton agreement with the bor(mgh in relation to the abolition of certain
grad( crossings, closing of streets and improved drainage.
There ate a numl>er of wells in use throughout the borough. More than half of
the inhabitants rely on such domestic supply. The public water works system
comprises a surface supply impounded in a reservoir on Iron Mine Run about three
miles above Middletown i a gravity supply main, standpipe on the banks of
tiie creek near the pump house, distributing mains in the streets of Middletown
and Royalton and the emergency intake at the mill race.
The watershed is sparsely i)opulated, the supply limited and during the sum-
mer of nineteen h\indred and six, when the reservoir was completed, the com-
l)aiiy resorted to the creek for the major portion of the water. Complaint was
madt' to the State Department of Health by the water consumers with respect
to the quality of the water furnished from either source. Iron Mine Run comes
from swamps in which there is extended stagnant water and where in adjacent
fields cattle are pastured and stand in pools which after rains contribute directly
to tl'.e resorvoir. 'Diiriui: nineteen hundred and six there were forty-eight cases
of typhoid fever in Middletown rejjnrted to the State Department. The origin
was not traced to the public supply In a majority of cases it was thought that
tiie probable source of infection might be sewage contaminated wells.
If reports be true not over twenty-five per cent, of the population reside in
dwellings connected to sewers. The ordinary privy and vault dug in the loose
earth or walled up in loose masonry may be seen all over the town. It is common
936 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
custom, where sewers are not in use, to deposit kitchen drainage and wash
water into the street guttei-s or on the surface of the ground. Cnill's Run in its
open course receives the discharge of privies aud drains from abutting properties
in the borough. Furnace Run, a small run emptying into the creek south of the
railroad, receives privy refuse from a number of properties on South Union
Street and Mud Pike. ' Therefore, since domestic wastes from the households of
a majority of the residents of the town are deposited in the soil or into the
ditches in' pro.xiniitv to dug or driven wells from which drinking water is derived
and used daily bv "over fifty p''r cent, of the population, it would not be strange
if it were a fact that the 'typhoid fever in Middletown may be justly attributed
to pollution of the well waters. 11 is not known how great the danger from
this menace is. An examination of extended scope should be made of all well
waters in the borough as a health precaution. The sources of pollution should be
abated and sewer extensions afford those facilities which have been proven to
combine efficiency and economy.
Besides the tliree runs above mentioned, and besides the sewers of the applicants,
there are four borough sewers and three private sewers having outlets in the streams
in Middletown.
The four borough sewers are on the flats south of the canal and they empty into
the river. The upstream one is twenty-four inches in diameter, takes the flow
from a small run, extends down Wood Street, terminating at the river bank.
The appearance of the flow at the outlet indicates sewage, but this may come from
kitchen drainage discharged primarily into the street gutters. The other three
are short twelve inch storm sewers in the streets parallel to Wood Street and
down stream at successive interval? of two hundi-ed feet. Their outflow indicates
more or less sewage. From the National Tube Works plant there is a private
sewer twentv-four inches extending to the Susquehanna River at a point above
Wood Street. The sewer carries waste water and drainage which formerly
produced a nuisance in the run in the vicinity: The sewage proper from this
plant or from the closets at the outlet is discharged through a connection into the
sewer system of the Middletown Drainage Company.
Passing up the Swatara Creek from the river the sewer outlets mentioned in
order are as follows: Furnace Run, Middletown Drainage Company's twenty-
four inch outlet, Washington House outlet, Pennsylvania Railroad sewer, Mid-
dletown Drainage Company's twenty-four inch outlet, Campbell sewer and Bloody
Run. , .
Besides these sources of pollution there are numerous overhanging privies and
private drains on the banks of the creek at private estates both in Middletown
and Royalton.
Furnace Run has been herein described.
The Washington House sewer is said to have been built a number of years
ago for the accommodation of the hotel. It is said to receive sewage from several
dwellings situated on Union Street near Ann Street. It is eight inches in diameter
and discharges into a ditch on the bottom land south of the Pennsylvania Railroad
and thence into tho creek. The ditch is vei'y crooked and choked with weeds
and there are numerous pools containing stagnant sewage in the summer time.
The Pennsylvania Railroad sewer was laid, deep enough to remove surface
water from the pocket in the steep grade which was established about nine-
teen hundred and three, when the crossing at grade of the highway and railroad
at Union Street was abolisiied by earryiug the highway under the railroad. The
change in grade of the street and the cslaliiishnient of a low point at and under the
railroad tracks made necessary ampk; provision for the drainage of this pocket.
The Railroad Company therefore built the live foot drain for this purpose and
extended the structure up Wilson Street and Wood Street as above described.
it appears that a niiiiili'r of (he occupied estates abiilting this brick culvert have
connected their particular sewers with and use? tlie Ave foot drain as a common
sewer, although nothing in tli(> agreement ix'tween the borough and llie railroad
companv made such use a condition of the contract.
I'rior'to the building of the said Union Street underpass, the Middletown Drain-
age Company had built and maiiitainr'd a sewer there. Th(! change in grade of
Union Street cut this sewer off from its connctction with the outlet to the creek,
said to be tiie existing twcniy-four inch outlet soulh <if he railroad. As a sub-
stitute the railroad <;oinpany coimccti'd this sewiu', which is twenty inches in Union
Street at the railroad, with its iwnv fivi' foot drain and since that time the lower
portion of tin- i»rick drain lias been used by the said drainage company as the
outlet for the \ip|)er Union Street district outlet of its sewer system.
'J'he Cainpb'dl sewer is an olrl one. It was built l)y Mr. f'anipbell and takes the
sewage from tlie stove works and from various houses on lOniaus Street and on
Union Street through a six inch i)ii)e which passes to the creek just, north of the
railroad or to n ditch and some low hind on tlie bank of the crpk.
The Bloody Run sewer empties above the water surface into the mill race
near but below the water company's inlaki' under conditions which constitute a
very serious menace to public liealth. VVliiie llie water of this cn-ek and of this
race is subject to sewage pollution at I luiiimelslown and Ilershey village and at
the city of Ijebanon and at numerous other places, and is unlit in its raw state
to bo used as n source of supply, nevertheless, an immediate jtolliition is a much
greater menace than one I'xisting at a remote distance. It is easily possible for
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 937
the sewage from iLf lumses conuefted to the brick culvert or from the privies or
slau;<htin- house aloii^ the run to be pumped into the water works system and
be introduced into tiie hcmies of the water consumers within an hour from the time
these poisonous matters were first deposited in the run. It is thus apparent that
even wiieu water puritication works be installed for the treatment and purifica-
tion of the water to l>r supplied to the consumers, taking into account the possi-
bility of accident or breakdown at such a plant, that it is absolutely inadmissible
from the public health standpoint to permit the existence of such pollution.
While during the use of the water power, the current in the race might speedily
I'emove the discharge of the run which is below the water works intake down
stream into the creek, yet at other times accumulations and deposits of a
diiDgei'ous chaiacter would occur in the I'ace and the entire operation be attended
by so much risk of a serious character as to warrant the abandonment either
of the pollution or of the intake.
The Middletown Drainage Company was incorporated in eighteen hundred and
ninety-three for the purpose of building and maintaining necessary sewerage and
drainage works f(jr the health, comfort and convenience of the inhabitants, and
sanitary improvement of the borough of Middletown.
it appears that in eighteen hundred and ninety the borough passed an ordi-
nance granting unto a certain citizen of the town the right and privilege of en-
tering upon streets, lanes and alleys of the borough for the purpose of construct-
ing hewers, reserving to the borough the right to lay such sewers as the Burgess
and town council might decide upon and among other things it provided that the
borough of Middletown shall have the privilege of draining surface waters into the
sewers built l)y the saiil citizen and his assigns, provided, however, that the
borough shall construct at least two of the inlets necessary for such drainage at
the time of the construction of said sewers, and provided still further as follows:
■'That the borough of Middletown shall bear one-half of the expense of keeping
the said sewer or sowers clear of filth or accumulation calculated to render the
said sewer or sewers unfit for service."
This ordinance was passed at the request of said citizen and several associates
who had suffered in common with other citizens from the lack of proper facilities
for drainage. The cellars were often invaded by water.
The said associates immediately formed a limited partnei-sbip under the name
of the Middletown Drainage Company, Limited, which association was incor-
porated as above mentioned in eighteen hun.ir^d and ninety-three.
Prior to the incorporation, however, but while the partnership was in force,
on October ninth, eighteen hundred and ninety, a contract was let by the as-
sociates for tlie i)uilding of a sewer in Union Street and the associates by a
special agreement with the borough council built ten street gutter inlets into the
Union i^ireet sewer at a price agreed upon which was paid by the borough.
It further uppears that the borough council on October thirteenth, eighteen
hundred and ninety, amended the original ordinance to provide,
"That said (ileor:;e F. Mish and his assigns shall keep the said sewer or sewers
and inlets free from dirt or obstruction, and the said borough shall in no
wi.se be liable to any damage that may ensue by reason of the accumulation of
filth, sand or other matter in said sewer or sewei-s and inlets, and that the
said borough of Middletown shall pay no part or portion of the cost of keeping
said inlets or sewer or sewers clean and free from obstruction, but the same shall
be borne by the said George F. Jlish and his assigns."
The drainage comi>any did not assent and never agreed to be bound by this
supplementary ordinance, but on the contrary protested against it and refused
to consent tf) its provisions.
The sewer in Union Street was built, and at different times thereafter, addi-
tions were made by the company, in streets decided upon by the borough council
and the company, under permits issued therefor by the burgess of the borough.
There are street gutter inlets in most of these sewers used by the borough "to
drain the streets.
In ei;;hteen hundred and ninety-six, the borough having failed to pay one-
half of the expense of cleaning out the inlets, a suit was brought to recover
such ()n(>-half cost and the cmirt decided that the original ordinance fixed the
terms of contract between the company and the borough, and that these terms
couhi not he varied by the borough without the consent of the company. Since
eighteen hundred and ninety-six the Middletown Drainage Company "has built
various sewer extensions in compliance with the requests of the inhabitants, and
in the above described manner.
The twenty inch brick sewer which discharges into the railroad sewer at Union
Sti-xet serves a district north of the railroad in the central part of the town along
Union Street in which there is n total of six thousand three hundred and
seventy-two fei-t. rractically every stn^'t in this district has a sewer in it.
Besides the twenty inch thert^ an- seven hundred feet of eighteen inch brick sewer,
two thousand feet of twelve inch pipe, one thousand feet of ten inch pipe and
fifteen hundred feet of eight inch pipe in the system.
The twenty-four inch outlet belonging to thecompany discharging into the creek
below the railroad is a brick structure submerged at the outlet to which are
tributary forty-one hundred feet of sewers of which twenty-four hundred feet is
twelve inch pipe, four hundred and fifty feet ten inch and seven hundred feet eight
938 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
inch pipe. The district therein, lies adjacent to aud wholly south of the railroad.
The twenty-four inch sewer is termed the lower Union Street outlet. The twenty
inch sewer emptying into the railroad drain is called (he upper Union Street
outlet.
Une hundred feet al)L>ve the railroad the drainage company has a submerged
twenty-four inch outlec which serves the eastern part of the borough north of the
raili'oad. Tributary to this outlet called I'oplar Street District, are over ten thou-
sand feet of sewer of which seventeen hundred feet is eighteen inch pipe, four-
teen hundred feet tifteeu inch pipe, sixteen hundred feet twelve inch pipe,
thirty-two hundred feet ten inch pipe and several hundred feet of six and eight
inch pipe, respectively.
This outlet also through a submain extending westerly in Emaus Street serves
the western district of the borough north of the railroad. It is in this eastern
and western district that the residential growth of Middletown is likely to occur,
and it is here that the proposed exieusions are lo be made.
As would be expected where surface water is admitted from roofs and street
gutters to sewers of the above small sizes surcharging and back-flooding is of
frequent occurrence. Some litigation has restilted from damages to private prop-
erty alleged to have been caused by the incapacity of the sewers to carry off
the" dow at all times. The grades are in general such as should insure cleansing
velocity in well constructed sewers.
The applicants propose to make extensions to the sewer system from time
to time. At present it is proposed to lay an eight inch pipe in Lawrence Street,
length one hundred and seventy-five feet, connecting to an existing sewer there
which is a part of the lower Union Street outlet system.
In the I'oplar Street district it is proposed to lay one hundred feet of eight
inch pipe in Brown Street, in East Main Street two hundred feet of eight
inch, in Nissley Street one hundred and twenty-five feet of eight inch and in
Catharine Street four hundred aud seventy feet of twelve inch pipe.
These sewers are for widely separated parts of the town. It is understood that
the eight inch pipes are to be used for sanitary purposes only and that they are
demanded by occupied properties which are in need of adequate sewerage facilities
which cannot be secured in any other way.
Public enlightenment with respect to the transmission of disease by water and
the extended sickness and death caused annually in i'enusylvania by the discharge
of sewage from towns or cities or from individual privies into streams used
subsequently as sources of public water supply has ushered in a new era of
sanitation. The law of nineteen hundred and live to preserve the purity of the
waters of the State for the protection of the public health has for its object the
ultimate discontinuance of the discharge of all sewage into drinking waters.
The Swatara Creek at llummelstown is the source of supply to that borough
and will be to the people residing along the line of the I'hiladelphia and Reading
Railway between llummelstown and Harrisburg. The State is undertaking to stop
sewage pollution of the creek above llummelstown.
The Commissioner of Health has also requested the water company at Mid-
dletown to prepare plans for the filtration of the water supplied to Middletown
citizens. This, however, when accomplished must not be construed as a war-
rant for stream pollution above Middletown. Emergency intakes arc common in
water works systems. Without them insurance rates would very likely be
materially increased. It is clearly evident that every source of pollution to the
present emergency intake of the Middletown and Swatara Consolidated Water
Company's system should be removed forthwith.
The various public and private sewers in the borough which discharge into the
waters of the State below the mill race do not appear to add In a measurable
degree to the sewage pollution of the Susquehannan River sufiiciently to justify
the State in its work of conserving the purity of this river's waters, in singling out
Middletown and requiring the (liscoutinuaiice ot such sewer outlets there, Ix'fore
the sewer outlets in Ilighspire, Strclton and Harrisburg shall be ordereil discon-
tinued by the State. But locally within the borough souk; of the present practices
are a menace.
The c-xi.stence of sewage pools in proximity to dwellings increase the risk of
infection through the agency of flies. So do privies on the banks of the stream
or anywhere where excrement is not di^posited in jiroper iceeptiicles.
Below Middletown, fifteen miles, is the borough of Marietta, where arrangements
are being made lo obtain iin emergency siii)ply from Dh! Sus(|iielianna River. Three
miiea below Marietta, at Columbia, the entire supply is taken from the river, the
water being subjected to uie<'lianic!il filtration. Above Middlddwu , Harrisburg
and Steelton derive their pul)lic supidy from the" river.
In ali tliree of these places, Harrisburg, Stetdton and Columbia, sewer exten-
sions have been i>ermitted on condition that plans be prepared for a separation
of sewage proper from storm water in anticipation of the ulliiiiato treatment of
the sewage. . . , . . ,
At Middletown it appears that already the necessity lor tins separation has
been demonstrated owing to tlie siniill size of the existing sewers. The cost of
treating both sewage and storm water is prohibitive be(!ause the works required
for the storm water treatment must be many times more expensive than works
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 939
requisite for the handling of the small volume of house drainage called sewage,
which contains the poisonous matters m-cossary to remove before the liquids can be
safely deposited in the stream. . , ,, . <• . ...
Because the sewers are too small, during heavy rain falls, much of the street
drainage goes al<.ng the gutters to the natural water courses. It would be much
cheaper to dispose of all of the street drainage into the natural water courses
when the time conns for the erection of sewage disposal works. The borough
is now responsible with the drainage company for one-half the cost of keeping
the sewers clear and tit for service, and this joint responsibility involves, so it
would seem, the ki-epiu^' clear and fit for service of the entire length of the sewer or
sewers, including the outhns or any works required to be constructed at the
outlets in connection there^^ilh to keep the sewer fit for service. Whether or not
the drainage company can rightfully limit the amount of street drainage which
shall under the existing contract between said company and said borough be ad-
mitted to the sewers is not known to the Department. That the interests 9f the
public health demand that such admittance shall be limited is clearly evident,
bearing in mind the existing sizes of the sewers, and since the borough has
acquiesced and permitted the sewers as they exist, it would seem to be the reason-
able and essential thing to do in the interests of all concerned for the borough
and the company to taiie up the question for the present and the future of the
separation of the storm water from sewage, and for the discharge of the fonner
into the natural water courses and for the discharge of the latter temporarily
into the river or the creek, but not into the mill race, in conformity to a general
comprehensive plan which shall contemplate the ultimate treatment of the sewage
at one point.
The Middletown Drainage Company will not find it practicable to attempt to
dispose of the mingled sewage and storm water now discharged at its out-
lets, including that from the five foot railroad sewer. A limited amount of storm
water, however, might be successfully treated within a reasonable cost. Just
what is the most practicable plan must depend upon the extent to which storm
water may be eliminated. The company should take this matter under advise-
ment and in anticipation of the ultimate treatment of the sewage build all sewer
extensions from now on in conformity with a plan for the collection of its sewage
and treatment at one place. Economy dictates that both public and private sewers
should discharge their flow at one common treatment plant ; but if the borough
and private owners and the sewer company cannot agree on a co-operative plan,
then each must proceed independently.
These plans should be outlined in order that all sewer extentions made in the
borough shall be in conformity therewith.
The owner of the Pennsylvania Railroad sewer, which now takes the flow of
Crull's Run, cannot afford to permit this substitution of a natural water course
to be uspd as a sewer. The properties now having house connections to this drain
must ultimately find some other sewer outlet.
It has been determined with respect to the application of the Middletown Drain-
age Company, that the interests of the public health will be subserved by approving
of the proposed sewer extensions and the same are hereby and herein approved
under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That this permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State
shall cease on May first, nineteen hundred and eleven. If at that time the interests
of the public health demand it, the Commissioner of Health may extend the
time in which sewage from the Middletown Drainage Company shall be discharged
into the waters of the State, having in mind the policy of tlie State with resp'ect
to the similar discharge from the municipalities in the Lower Susquehanna River
valley.
SECOND: On or before November first, nineteen hundred and nine, the Middle-
town Drainage Company, either alone or in conjunction with the borough, shall
prepare a comprehensive plan for the elimination of storm water from the' sewer
system and for the conveyance of the sewage therefrom to some point for treat-
ment. And thereafter extensions to the sewer? of said company shall be made
in conformity to these plans after the same shall have been submitted to and ap-
proved by the Commissioner of Health.
THIRD: If storm watt-r be admitted into the sewers herein approved it shall
be under terms permitting its e.\clusion at any time when necessity may require
this to b'j done in the interests of public health, or the exclusion of so much
of it as may iutei-fere with the normal function of the sewer for sanitary
purposes.
FOURTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be permitted to be
discharsed into the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to
be destroyed on the premises.
With respect to the borough sewers, it has been determined that the local
authorities be furnished with a copy of the permit granted to the Middletown
Drainasfe Company and that the borough be informed that the discharge of sewage
into Bloody Run is illegal and that this must be forthwith prevented, and that
the Commissioner of Health will issue orders to the owners of estates from which
sewage is now being discharged into said run. Furthermore, that the attention
of the borough be called to the insanitary condition at the outlets of the Campbell
940 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
and Washington House sewers and at the mouth of Furnace Run, and that the
council be ordered to stop the use as sewers of the open water courses in the bor-
ough in which connection the borough shall either alone or in conjunction with
the Middletown Drainage L'umpany, or before November first, nineteen hundred
and nine, prepare and submit to the Commissioner of Health for approval a plan
for the interception of the public sewer outlets and as many of the private sewer
outlets as it shall deem expedient and for the conveyance of the sewage therefrom to
and treatment in a sewage disposal plant.
The local authorities will be advised to undertake a systematic examination of
all domestic well water, with the intent of causing au abandonment of the use of all
such waters found to be contamiuated, and the town council will be informed
that the overhanging privies on the banks of the streams must be removed and
that proper receptacles for excrement m.ust be provided and that on or before that
time when the public and private sewage of the entire borough shall have been col-
lected and treated at disposal works, the State Department of Health will have re-
quired the discontinuance of the discharge of all sewage into the Pennsylvania
Railroad sewer.
The Department of Health will notify the owners of the Campbell and Wash-
ington House sewers that the right to put sewage into the creek is tentative only
and that ultimately all the sewage in the borough from all sewer outlets must
be purified. Meantime the sewage from their respective outlets must uot be dis-
charged into any ditch or pool but directly into the creek, and in a satis-
factory manner, so far as such disposal can be made temporarily satisfactory.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company will be notified of the ultimate necessity
of disconnecting all house sewage with the five foot drain.
Harrisburg, Pa., April 24th, 1908.
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, DELAWARE COUNTY.
Williamson School.
This application was made by the Williamson School, Middletown Township,
Delaware County, and is relative to sewage disposal at said institution.
It appears that the property of the petitiouer comprises a number of school
buildings located on au eminence north of the railroad, from which at the
present time there are two sewers which empty onto the steep slopes south of the
railroad switch in a dense tliicket all on the institution's grounds. The drainage
is into Chrome Run nearby, this stream being a tributary of Chester Creek,
entering tiie same about three miles above the borough of Upland.
The total population at the school, including employees, numbers about two
hundred and seventy-five persons. The water supply, which is obtained partly
from a well and partly from a surface stream, amounts to a daily consumption of
about thirty thousand gallons per twenty-four hours. It is a trade school. About
seven thousand gallons of water daily are used at the shops and power house.
It is proposed to construct two sewage disposal plants to be located at the
outfalls of the present sewer. The type of works is the same in both, comprising
a ;;eptic tank, dosing chamber and percolating filter bed. I'lant Number One
will take the sewage from 1he dwellings of the faculty chielly. It is stated that the
flow is approximately six thousand gallons each twenty-four hours.
The septic tank is to be an open brick structure, sixteen feet long by six feet wide,
interior dimension, divided ])y a partition wall at the outlet end into a dosing
chambiT thiee Det wide. The depth of How in the tank will be five and one-half
feet. Side baffle boards are to be provided, so that the sewage entering at one
end will pursue a zigzag coiirse in its passage over the outlet weir into ti\e dosing
chamber. Connected with the side baffles are to be two submerged baffle boards
under which ihe sewage must pass llno\igh the tank. The inlet pipe will enter
the tank at nd(l-d<-|ith and its .liamctci' is eiglit inclies. A six incli drain pipe
fitted with a valvi- is provider! to drain the tank and a similar ari'angement is pro-
vider] at tiie bottom of Ww. rlr^sing chamber. It does not appear that any other
arrangement is made for the rlisposition of the sludge than on to the surface of the
str'ei) hillside in the vicinity. . „
The riosing taidc is lo Ix- filled with large stones. The capacity of the voids
in the cliambr-r is sairl tr) be din-ctly i)roporti()ned to the capacity of the pipes in the
Eercolating fillers. Tiie objcr-t r)!"' tlir? placing of tiw stnnes in tin; riosing cham-
er is to sr^cure Ihe furlhr-r rct<'ntir)n of suspr-nrh^l matters aiirl the action of
aerobic fermentation. An alternating aerlock syplion is lo br- pnivirled by means
of whirh the dOHinp; chamber will be emptier! at ai)pn)ximMlr' intru'vals of forty
The cfflnf'nt will be rTuplii'd through n six inch i)ipr' r)n to one of two filtr-r beds.
These iilt/TH an- lo he usr'rl altrTiialr'ly. Tliey are tr) l)e l)uilt in the side of
the sir.pe mostly in r'xcavation. Each filtrT is to bri twenty-sr^vr'n and a, half feet
long by ten feet wirir? and tr) <'r)MHiKt of l)rr)kr'n stone. On the entire bottom of each
bed is to l)e lairl a layer r)f Htr)ne six iiir-hes in rliameter to a depth snfiicient to
givr- largr; voirls fnr fp'e cirrMjJalion of air throughout the entire l)ottom of the bed.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 941
Over this is to be placed about two and a half feet of broken stone one and a half
inches in diameter, upon which is to be supported si.\ inch and four inch farm tile
laid in parallel rows eight inches apart on centres to be surrounded with large
stone and covered by the small stone to a depth of si.x inches. An additional supply
of air lo the underdraiuage is to be attorded by traverse air ducts and six inch
air up-risers spaced eleven feet apart in the beds.
A water ditch and berm is to be budt on tlie hill side above the filter to collect
surface water and divert it away from the filters.
At the other oewer outfall is to be a similar septic tank and dosing chamber
of larger dimensions, being twenty-three feet long and having a chamber five and
one-third feet in width. The sewage is to be discharged into alternating filter
beds of similar arrangement as the others, but whose dimensions are to be fifty-
five feet by ten feet.
The bottoms of each filter bed at both plants are to slope towards the down
side of the hill and it is intended that the efiiuent shall percolate through the
stone and the big stone underdraiu and pass out through the spaces which are
to be tilled with screened gravel at the outer end of the underdrain system.
Thence the eftiui nt will pass d(nvn over the surface of the hillside to the water-
way in the thicket. Below the railroad along Chrome Run there are pasture
lands on either side.
It is not the business of the Commissioner of Health to assume responsibility
for the prevention of the discharge of sewage from a private estate into any
stream, only in so far as he has charge by law of preventing such discharge, if
the interests of the public health demand it, and in this case the Commissioner
has determined that it is necessary for the school sewage to be purified. If the
plants proposed be carefully executed they will accomplish a certain degree of
purification and perhaps a very good degree for a while. However, it would be
better if finer material, preferably sand, were to be placed in the filtei-s. If the
plans as proposed do not eifect as high a purification of the sewage as they should,
it will be easily possible to collect the filtrate in channels and convey it to a tank
or tanks and effect sterilization by the use of chemicals. The Commissioner of
Health will require this or some other remedy in the event that the necessity
should arise.
However, one feature of the design is absolutely inadmissible. This is the
disposal of sludge and drainage from the tanks and chambers on to slopes of
the ground. No sewage whatsoever or sludge shall be put in any place where
it can flow or pass to any natural water course or run, or where it can directly
or indirectly pollute the waters of the State. All liquids should be drained on
to the surface of the filters and the sludge should be drained on to sludge drying
areas, specially provided for the purpose.
It has beeu determined that the proposed plans should be modified as sug-
gested and that when the works are built complete plans of them as so built
shall be filed in the office of the Commissioner of Health, and the authorities of the
Williamsou School are hereby notified to this effect.
Furthermore, it is hereby and herein decreed that no sewage whatsoever shall
be discharged from this institution either directly or indirectly into the waters
of the State.
It is the intention of the State Department of Health to occasionally inspect
the disposal works, and if at anj' time it be found that sewage is passing from
said institution into the waters of the State, then such remedial measures shall
be enforced by the said school authorities as the Commissioner of Health may
approve or advise.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 29th, 1908.
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, DELAWARE COUNTY.
Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble Minded Children at Elwyn.
The application was made by the President and Board of Directors of the Penn-
sylvania Training School for Feeble Minded Children at Elwyn, Middletown Town-
ship, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and is for approval of plans for a sewage
disposal plant.
It appears that the Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble Minded Children
is a private corporation. It was established in eighteen hundred and fifty-three.
The school owns a tract of land having an area of three hundred and thirty-
seven acres. It lies in Middletown Township, Delaware County, to the southwest
of and widiin the drainage aiea of Ridley Creek near the borough of Media. The
Baltimore Turnpike runs through the tract from east and west. Ridley or Pens-
grt)ve Road runs through the property along the eastern boundary from Ridley
Creek southwest ftir a distance of three thousand feet. On this road is the tract
of thv Delaware County and Philadelphia Electric Railway. The Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington Railroad, Central Division, runs to the south of
Riddle Road and almost paralKIs it and, together with Church Road, forms
the southeastern boundary. I'hvyn Station (fifteen and eleven humlreilths miles
from Broad Strr.>t Station, Philadelphia) on the Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Washington Railroad, is opposite the school grounds. Edgemont, or Chester
GO
942 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Road and Williamson Free School for Mechanical Trades partly form the south-
western boundary. The Williamson School, however, lies in the drainage area
of Chester I "reek.
A small brook (desisnatod heerafler as Elwyn Brook), having its source to the
west ot Ehvyu Station, flows northeastwardly, parallel with Kiddle Road and
from one hundred to two hundred feet to the northwest of the road. It discharges
into Ridley Creek under the bridge of the Baltimore Turnpike. Just above the
turnpike bridge there is a dam in Ridley Creek from which the water is taken
in an open channel to the Media water works, about six hundred feet to the
southeast. Elwyn Brook discharges into Ridley Creek through a culvert under the
dam and although the brook is badly polluted by the sewage of the school, the
pollution cannot get into the intake of the water works except in case of ex-
treme high water. r, ,
The main grounds of the school lie to the northwest of Lhvyn Brook, a large
part of which is a hillside rising from ten to tifLeen feet in a hundred feet. A small
part of the tract is table-land at an elevation varying from one hundred and fifty
to two hundred feet above Elwyu Brook.
Eight hundred feet northeast from Elwyn Station is the main entrance to the
property and the main drive runs northwest for twelve hundred feet, then it
turns and runs almost west. From this angle point, drives lead to the east and
to the southwest ; on the former for a distance of eight hundred feet front the
administration group of buildings and on the latter, distant about one thousand
feet, is the hillside group of buildings. The main or administration buildings and
the athletic field are almost directly west of the proposed location of the new
sewage disposal plant and some seven hundred and fifty feet distant therefrom,
while the elevation of the ground at the buildings is one hundred and thirty-five
feet above the settling tanks.
The school has a population at present of nearly thirteen hundred, of which
number one thousand and eighty-five are inmates of both sexes, while the re-
maining two hundred and fifteen are employees. The population, of course, varies
from time to time.
Of the above number, about seven hundred and fifty inmates are supported at
the expense of the State, as provided for by Act of Legislature number four hun-
dred and eiiiht, approved June thirteenth, nineteen hundred and seven,
"For the purpose of maintenance, the sum of $L!70,()UU or so much thereof as
may be necessary for each year of 750 children at -I^ISU each," et cetera.
At the present time the school gets its water supply through the Media water
works, located practically at the eastern extremity of the school property. This
water is filtered through a mechanical pressure filter and stored in two reservoirs
having a capacity of two hundred thousand and six hundred thousand gallons each,
and located respectively on high ground to the east and west of the administration
group of buildings. Daring March of nineteen hundred and eight, five million six
hundred and si.xty-three thousand gallons wore used by the school or an average
daily consumption per capita of one hundred and forty gallons. This quantity,
the Steward, Mr. Nathan Dewees, thinks is higher thau the average.
On account of the great annual cost— about three thousand dollars, of procuring
water from the Media works, the school is trying to get its own supply and has
a driven well between Elwyn Brook and Church Road, three hundred feet south
from the Baltimore Turnpike bridge and about thirty fe(>t from the Road. The well
is said to be driven practically through serpentine rock for a depth of three hundred
feet and is cased with eight inch pipe from the top of the bed of under lying rock. The
water rises practically to the surface and during the test, when pumped at the
rate of two hundred gallons per minute for twenty-four hours, dropped but forty
feet below the surface. The steward says a chemical analysis made of the water
shows it to be pure.
It is proposed to force the water from the well to the reservoirs by compressed
air and as soon the machinery can be installed to take the sup|)ly from this source.
If this be done, provisions should be made to secure the water against surface
coiitiiiiiination, as the ground near the well is low.
The iidministration group of buildings drains to Elwyn Brook through a six
inch terra colta liijte almost due east. The- hillside group of buildings drain
to the same brook near the main entrance. Between the two sewer outlets, but
further III) on the hillside, there is located a piggery in which are kept about
seveiity-fivi' pigs. The drainage from the pens flows over the ground and naturally
some t,f it ^'cts into the brook. Near the west bank of the brook and to the south
of the I'laltiinore turnpike is located a farm barn and cattle yanl. The field along
the brook from below the i)iggery to nejir the Balliniore Turni)ike bridge is used for
grazing cattle belonging to the school. The stream is in a bad state of pollution
and consiileraijle odor is noticeable along Riddle Road, due to the pigg(;ry and
stream pollution. Seven <lwellings are located on the opposite side of Riddle
R.jad in the vicinity of the |)iggery and sewer outlets. The; borough of Media
to the east has no sewer Hyslem.
r.iit one plan of the present sewer system is in existence. The old sewers are
aderpiale for their purpose and receive no roof or surface water.
Jt is i)roi)OHed to lay so much eight inch terra cotta pipe as will be necessary
to coni.ecr I lie present sewer lines and bring them together at a common point
about four hundred feet northeast from the ijiggery where Uu> new disposal plant
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 943
is lo be located. Au outiicly new sewer system is not contemplated but such
work as may he inuutl necessary is to be done according to ;i,'(iod practice.
Twentj'-seven luindrcd tcei of new sewers are to l)e lai<l.
The location of tlie new disposal plaui northeast of the piggery has already
been nuteri. As a convenient point at which to collect the institution's sewage
and to purify it by means of a plant operated by gravity, this location at once
suggests itself. However, it is but three hunured feet from the public road
leaoing from xMedia to Klwyn Station. This is unfortunate as there is a possi-
bility that odors from the plant might cause some annoyance. Other locations
within the limits of the property necessitate long sewer lines and would place the
plant oirectly on the watershed of the Kidley Creek dam, which supplies the
iMedia water works. In designing the disposal plant, the engineei-s have esti-
mated the maximum flow during any hour of the day at ten thousand gallons and
the average daily flow at one hundred and flfty thousand gallons. They have
arrived at these quantities by considering the average daily consumption for
the j'ear nineteen hundred and seven, which was one hundred and thirty thou-
sand gallons and the average daily consumption for the month of August for
the same year, which was one hundred and eighty thousand gallons. Now
the figures for August, nineteen hundred and seven, are practically the same
as for March, nineteen hundred and eight, to which reference has already
been made. Taking into further consideration that the water supply in the near
future is to be drawn from a well on the school properly at an expense it is ex-
pected much less than what is now being paid annually to the Media Water Com-
pany, an increase in the water consumption may be anticipated, and, there-
fore, the figure for the daily flow of sewage assumed by the engineers is possi-
bly low.
The sewage of the institution may be classed as domestic sewage though trade
wastes or rain water is admitted into the sewers. The sewage is to be conducted
by an eight inch main into a screen chamber, thence passed through a settling tank,
at the far end of which is a flush tank; from this the sewage is automatically
discharged upon bacteria beds through sprinkling distributers of the "splashing
disc" type. The elHuent from the bacteria beds is passed through a sedimentation
basin and an efiiuent aerator. The plan shows sand filters but these the school
does not expect to construct now. A sludge bed has always been provided to
take the sludge from the fii-st settling tank and sedimentation basin.
Provision for draining the surfiice water around the filter beds has been made
by constructing upcu ireuchcs around the outside of the plant which lead the
surface water into lOlwyn Brook.
The plans provide for a screen chamber, the inside dimensions of which are
iwelve feet long, five feet wide, and three and one-half feet deep. The side walls
are vertical and have a thickness of twelve inches. The floor is to be of concrete
six inches thick. A cast iron bar screen of a width of about four feet is set ac
an angle of forty-five degrees with the horizontal along the greater a.xis of the
screen chamber for the total length of twelve feet. The bars have a thickness
of one-half inch and a width of two inches and the opening between the bars is
three quarters of an inch. Holes are drilled in the top and bottom of each floor
and all the bars are assembled on two three-quarter inch round rods and the whole
screen is held in place in the bottom by a two inch olfset in the floor and at
the top by a three inch by two and one-half inch "T" bar of three-eighths inch
section set lengthwise in the chamber.
Between the top of the bar screen and the southeast wall there is a space of
about fifteen inches into which is hung a sheet iron gutter semi-circular in section
with three rows of three-quarter inch holes in the bottom, spaced three inches cen-
ter to center.
Between the top of the bar screen and the southeast wall and in the middle
along the longer axis is hung a sheet-iron basket, rectangular in plan, having a
depth of eighteen inches, a breadth of seventeen inches and a width of twelve
inches. The bottom and sides of this basket are perforated with three-quarter
inch holes in the same manner as the gutters. Two baskets are to be provided.
The sewage enters the screen chamber through an eight inch pipe set sixteen
inches above the floor in the southwest and near the northwest wall and the direction
of the flow is deflected ninety degrees, striking the bar screen at right angles
and passing out of liie screen chamber through au eight inch pipe set flush with
the floor and in the middle of the southeast wall. Matters contained in the sewage
and intercepted by the screen may be drawn by a rake up along the bare and
dropped into the perforated iron gutter and then passed along the gutter to the
basket humr in the center. When the basket tills up it may be taken out and the
contents disposed of, and Mhile this is being done the duplicate one may put in
its place. The discharge pipe from the screen chamber is supplied with an elirht inch
cast-iron gate valve which may be opened and closed by a key from the surface of
the ground.
A settling tank, n-ctangular in plan, whose inside dimensions are fifty-eight feet
by twenty feet, with a total depth of eight feet, is provided. The depth of the
sewage, however, is but six feet and the capacity of the tank at this depth is
fifty thousand gallons. The engineers estimate that the detention of the sewage
in the tank is five hours during the period of maximum flow and ten hours at
944 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
miaimum flow. The pusition of the settling tank is such that the extension of
tie southeast wall of the screen chamber forms the northwest wall of the settling
tank and the extension of the northeast wall of the screen chamber forms the
southwest wall of the settling tank.
The side walls of the settling tank are vertical, twelve inches in
thickness. The floor is of concrete, six inches in thickness. Baffle
walls are set in the settling tank parallel with the shorter axis and in a
vertical position. The first one, having a thickness of eight inches is set three
feet from the effluent end and three feet above the floor, but extends to the top of the
bank. The second one is sec seventeen feet beyond the first, having a tbieUness of
eight inches. It extends the entire length of the tank and is provided with
fifteen rectangular openings six inches wide and twelve inches high. These open-
ings are eighteen inches above the floor line. The third is set seventeen feet beyond
the second and extends from the tloor to the top and is provided with openings
six inches wide by twelve inches high, set four feet above the floor line. The
fourth is similar to the first and is seventeen feet beyond the third and twelve
inches from the effluent end of the settling tank. It sets three feet above the floor
line, extends to the top and acts as a scum board. The eitiuent end of the settling
tank is provided with a "T" bar set hori/.ontaliy in the top of the masonry, so
that the upper edge of the bar is two feet below the top of the tank. This "T" bar is
set in level and nets as a weir. In the center, on the southeast side of the septic
tank there is a manhole or blow-ott chamber, square in plan, inside dimen-
sions five feet. The walls are vertical, twelve inches in thickness and iron steps
are set in the southwest wall for the purpose of entering the chamber. The sec-
ond and third baffle walls above referred to divide the settling tanks longi-
tudinally into three comijartments and the construction of the floor of each com-
partment is such that the entire content may be drained to one point and from
the low point in each compartment, eight inch cast-iron pipes lead to the blow-off
chambej-. The ends of the pipes in the chamber are provided with eight inch
gate valves. From this chamber an eight inch terra cotta pipe drains to the sludge
bed. The engineers think that the settling tank needs cleaning about twice a
year and they have provided a hj'drant for washing the walls, connected with the
water service of the school by a two inch wrought iron pipe.
At the northeast or effluent end of the settling tank, a flush tank rectangular in
plan, inside dimensions tvvelve feet six inches by twenty feet, is provided. The
side walls are vertical, twelve inches in thickness and of the same height
as the settling tank, in fact, the flush tank is" but an extension of the settling
tank for the distance of twelve feet six inches to the uorlheast. The floor of
the flush tank is concrete six inches in thickness and drains to the southeast
where are placed screens made of number eleven wire with three-quarter inch
mesh. The height of each screen is three feet ; iis width is two feet five and a
half inches and five are required to extend the entire width of the Hush tank.
The bottom of the screen is held in place by a six inch off-set in the floor of the
tank and the top of a "T" bar set in the masonry parallel with the soullieast end.
The screens make an angle of about sixty degrees with the horizontal. Each
scrt-en may be removed by hand for the purpose of cleaning and while this is
done a clean one may be set in place as the screens are to be furnished in
duplicate.
Tlie syphoning level of the sewage in the flush tank is two feet six inches below
the weir of the first tank and the depth of the sewage at the northwest wall is about
seven inches. At the southeast end where the screens are set it is eighteen inches.
The size of the do.se at this depth is fifteen hundred gallons.
From the northeast end of the screen chamber and under the bar .screen an
eight inch pipe is laid parallel with the northwest side of the .seltling tank, ex-
tending to the center of Hk; flush tank, where a connection is made with tlie flusli
tank by means of a "T" branch and a short piece of pipe inserted in the north-
west wall The purpose of this pipe is to pass the sewage from the screen
chamber to the flush tank witiiout going tiirougli the settling lank. An extension
of this pipe is also to be made tfMii)orarily to the old scwt'r which is to l)e used
only if occasion demands it, while the plant is being i)iit in oix'iiition. After
the plant is put in operation, this teini)orary connection should be taken up and
never again used.
In the center of the flush tank and on the southeast side of it, flush with the
floor, is placed a six inch iron |)ipe, on which is set a six inch syphon in a
chamber square in plan, with inside dimensions of five feet. The w;iils are vei'lical,
twelve inches in thickness and on the southeast side are inserted iron steps for
entering the chamber. TIk; floor is of concrete, six inches in thickness. The six
inch discharge pipe from the Hush tank is made a part of the syphon and extends
beyond tie- vertical inflew arm of the syi)lion for the distance of about two feel
and this end is provid-d with a cast-iron irate valve. liy this arraiigeinent llie con-
tents of the flusii tanks rnay be drawn off iiitermittenlly by the syphon when the
valve is clos?d, or, should occasion deinniid it, coiiliniionsly when llie valve
is open
The .syi)hon chamber is covered with five inch concrete rool' mid supplied with a
cast-iron frame and cover. Tlie screen chamber, settling tank ;uid flush tanks are not
to be covered at present.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 945
About one hundred and twenty-five feet to the southeast of the settling tank are
to be located the sprinkling filters or bacteria beds, having a longer axis of about
one hundred and fourUM>n feet and a shorter axis of forty-five feet. The longer
axis takes a diri'ctinn aliiiust due north and south and the surface of the filtering
material is fourteen and a half feet lower than the sewage in the flush tank at the
time when the sypliun begins to discharge. This rectangular area is divided into four
separate beds by a wall running through the center, along the greater axis and
another wall at right angles thereto, parallel with the shorter axis, making four
filtering areas, two twenty-one feet l)y forty feet three inches and two twenty-
one feet by seventy-four feet three inches, having a total area of five thousand
eight hundred and' eight scpiare feet. The natural slope of the ground where
these beds are to be constructed is about fifteen feet to a hundred feet and the
ground is to be excavated to such depth that the entire bed will rest on natural
foundation. On the west side as well as on the north and south sides of the
beds the ground is to be excavated for a distance of about five feet beyond the
outside of the wall; so that the entire bed, when finished, sets above the surface
of the ground and is exposed to the air.
The lloor of the beds is to be of concrete, six inches thick, and will have a
slope east and ^\ est from the center wall of six inches in a width of twenty-one
feet. On the concrete floor in parallel rows are to be laid eight inch terra cotta
channel pipes as undenhains, which will carry the efliuent from the center to the
east and west sifles of the beds where open concrete gutters collect this efiluent
and drain it to the north, discharging in a ten inch terra cotta pipe. This
gutter is twelve inches in width and has a depth varying from five to twelve inches.
The bottom of the gutter is semi-circular in cross section. It is proposed not
to cover this gutter unless extreme low temperature may make it necessary
to do so.
The filtering material, which is to be broken stone from two to three inches
in size, is to have a minimum depth of six feet over the underdrains. It is held
in place by a stone wall built around the outside of the beds. This wall has
a thickness of two feet six inches to within five feet of the top of the filtering ma-
terial. From there up, it decreases gradually until the thickness is eighteen
inches at the surface of the bed. The wall is laid in mortar for a depth of two
and a half feet and then for four and a half feet it is laid up dry, so as to afford
free passage of air to the filtering material. Above this point the wall is again
laid in mortar and at the surface of the bed there is a recess in the wall reducing
the thickness to twelve inches for a height of eighteen inches. The same plan
is followed in laying the central dividing walls. The entire filter bed is to be
covered by two gable roofs supported by frame work resting on the twelve inch
walls, the ridse of the roof running parallel with the longer axis of the bed.
The eaves and ridges of the roofs arc about five and eleven feet respectively
above the surface of the filtering material and the side walls of the wooden
superstructure are to be covered with clap-boards. The roof is to be shingled
with cypress and there are to be doors and Avindows to admit light and air.
Provision is also made to obtain ventilation along the ridge of the roof.
From the syphon chamber a six inch cast-iron pipe, laid partly under and
partly above the surface of the ground, leads to the northwest comer of the
filter bed and from this pipe three branches of five inch galvanized wrought-iron
pipe lead to the distributors. At the north wall each of these three pipes is
fitted with a gate valve to C(Uitrol the l!ow to the beds. Although the entire
bed is divided by two cross walls running at right angles into four separate beds,
the arrautrement of the distiibutors is such that the two smaller beds are used
as one unit, and, when in operation, there are really but three filter beds,
all iif which may b(^ used at the same time.
The distributing pipes are hung parallel with the longer axis of the bed, on
the raftiM's of the roof, about six fei^t above the surface of the filtering ma-
terial, by means of rods and turn-buckles, making it possible to adjust these
pipes vertically. They are spaced ten feet center to center. A brass bushing
in the "T" reduces (he orifice to one-half inch. Directly under each orifice is
set on an inch standard about two feet above the filtering material a coi)per disk
in the shai>e of a segment of a sphere, having a horizontal diameter of six inches
and a depth of two inches. The base of the standard is of cast-iron in the shai)e
of a Greek cross, the width of the arms being two inches and the length nine
inches. This base is to he set firmly in the filterine: material at the depth of
about six inches below th(> surface. The vertical liiub of the standard is made
adjustable so that the distance between the disk and the orifice may be changed
to obtain the best possible distribution.
The plan shows the diameter of the spray to be eleven feet six inches and as
there are thirty-four orifices the total wetted area will be thirty-five hundred and
thirty square feet, and with a daily flow of one hundred and fifty thousand gal-
lons, the actual rate of filtration would be about forty-two gallons per square
foot in twenty-four houi-s or two million gallons ]ier acre iier day.
From the north cmkI of the filter beds a ten inch collector pipe conveys the
sewage to a sedimentation basin, rectangular in plan, divided by a central wall
into two compartments, the dimensions of each compartment being forty-five feet
long and fifteen feet wide and having a working depth of about three feet. The
GO— 17— 1908
946 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
side walls are vertical, eight inches in thickness. The central wall is twelve
inches in thickness. The floor is of concrete, four inches in thickness and so laid
that the entire content is drained to the center of each compartment. From the
low point in the centre of each compartment an eight incli cast-iron pipe leads
to a manhole or blow-off chamber on the north side of the basin. The ends of the
pipe in the chamber are fitted with eight inch gate valves. The chamber is
rectangular in plan with dimensions of four feet by three feet.
At the south end, opposite the dividing wall of the sedimentation basin, there
is an inlet chamber, rectangular in plan, dimensions five feet by two feet. The
ten inch pipe from the filter bed discharges directly into this inlet chamber and
from it the sewage may be passed into either or both of the compartments of the
sedimentation basin, the flow being controlled by ten inch shear gates, operated
by hand.
The sewage, after entering the sedimentation basin, is deflected towards the
bottom by a bafiHe board set diagonally across the corner about two feet from
the mouth of the inflow pipe. If one compartment alone is used, the sewage
flows out at the corner diagonally across the corner in the same manner as at the
inflow end. A ten inch shear gate is set in the north wall at the northwest
and northeast corners and in the east wall at the southeast corner and baffle boards
and weirs are provided at these outlets in the manner described. With this ar-
rangement the sewage may be taken directly through either compartment travelling
in the direction of the diagonal. And further, there is a weir set in the central
wall at the north end and by closing the two shear gates at the north wall the
two compartments may be used together, making sewage travel to the noith in
the west compartment, then passing over the weir to the east compartment and
south through this compartment to the outlet pipe in the southeast corner where
an eight inch pipe extends to a distributing chamber. This eight inch pipe also
extends north along the east side of the sedimentation basin and there curves
to the west and extends along the north side until the connection is made with
the outlet of the west chamber. Connection is also made with the east chamber
on the north side.
From the west side of the inlet chamber in the sedimentation basin an eight
inch terra cotta pipe leads to the effluent pipe on the east side of the sprinkling
filters, making it possible for the effluent to be passed directly from the filters
to the sand filter without pjassing through the sedimentation basin. The ac-
cumulated sludge may be drained off into the blow-off chamber on the north end
of the sedimentation basin and conducted to the sludge basin.
The total quantity held by the sedimentation basin is thirty thousand gallons,
which allows three hours for sedimentation at the time of the maximum flow.
Two sand filter beds are provided. They are rectangular in plan, ninety-one
feet long by sixty feet wide, having a total area of ten thousand nine hundred
and twenty feet and at a flow of one hundred and fifty thousand gallons per day
would be operated at the rate of fourteen gallons per square foot, or six hundred
and twenty thousand gallons per acre per day. The side walls are to be made of
earth embankment havinsr a width of two feet at the top with sloping sides at the
rate of one to one to the bottom. The depth of sand in the beds is to be two
feet, laid upon a bed of gravel varying in depth from nothing to six inches.
Five rows of four inch drain tile are laid longitudinally through the beds and con-
nected with an eight inr-h terra cotta collector pipe, to bo located in the centre
of the bed and running at right angles to the tile under drain. The bottom of the
bed is to bo ridged and the drain tile is to be laid in the trough of each ridge and
the water is drained to th» tile through the surrounding layer of gravel.
The effluent from the sedimentation basin is distributed on the same beds by means
of two eight inch galvanized spiral riveted pipes which run along the direction
of the longer axis and are suiiixirted i)y conereti? ))iers ten inches in diameter.
The bottom of the pipe is about fifteen inches above the surface of the sand.
Thfese pipes are spaced thirty feet centre to centre and fifteen feet from the sides
of the filters. On the undtu* side <>i each pipe are fixed two incih nipples set in
flanired saddles ten feet center to ci-nter and from these nipples the sewage is dis-
chanr'-d on splash plates. The sjilash plates are to be of eonercte, four inches
in thickness, circular in plan and have a diameter of eighteen inches. The disk
is circular, having a depth of one and a half inches and a width of about six
im^hes. The sewage may be discharged on either one or both of the beds, the
flow being reirulated by two ten inch shear gates in the gate chamber on the west
side of til.? sand iifds.
On the pipe h-ariing from the sedimentation basin to the gate chamber in the sand
beds, there is a by-pass chamber about ten feet long south of the sedimentation
basin, so that the effluent from the sedimentation basin may be delivered directly
to the effluent aerator. The aerator is simply a spraying no/.zle set in a chamber
circular in jdan with a diameter of twelve feet. '^I'lie effluent i)asses liirough the
nozzles under a head of fivr; feet and falls on the floors of the chamber which
takes the form of an inverted cone, from the apex of wliieh jin (dght inch terra
cotta pi[)e conveys the effluent to iOlwyii I'>rook.
A sludge bed with diiii'-nsiimH of one iiiimlred feet in length by thirty-five feet in
width is to b" construct eri. 'I'hc side walls are to lu; of earth liavint; a width of two
feet at tlw top and n slope of one to one. 'I'he top of the side; walls is to be three;
feel above the surface of the bed. The main body of the bed is to be formed of the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 947
natural soil and lias a working depth of throe feet. Two rows of four inch iinder-
draius laid lou^;itadinally and connected with a ceuLral six inch terra colta pipe drain
set in the center at right angles to the four inch drains convey the drainage directly
to the brook. The sludge bed is to take the sludge from boih the settling tanks and
the sedimentation basin. The entire contents of the latter tank would till the bed for
a depth of but two feet. It is expected to let the sludge dry and then plough it in
the soil or remove it.
It has been determined that the attention of the Board of Directors should be
called, and it is hereby and herein called, to the proximity of the sewage disposal
plant to the public road and to the main buildings of the institution. The latter are
not over one thousand feet away. The public road at its nearest point is two hun-
dred feet away. The pumping house of the water works is five hundred feet away
up stream, but below one of the sewer outlets on the property. Every precaution
should be taken at the drilled well to prevent any surface contamination of the water
in the well.
The fact is emphasized that sewage disposal works should be placed in secluded
localities. The exigencies should be great that would warrant the location of a
sewage disposal plant in the front yard of an institution. This is practically
what the Directors propose to do in this instance. Some other site, remote, even
if pumping has to be resorted to, should be secured. Very high class maintenance
indeed is required to prevent objectionable odors at sewage works.
The plans proposed embody the essential elements of successful modern sewage
disposal. However well the design may be built, it is only by careful attention
and intelligent operation that it can be made permanently satisfaclorj' in use.
The authorities of the institution have a right to dispose of the sewage in any
manner they may see fit, so long as a nuisance is not created and sewage not dis-
charged into the waters of the State. Tests will be made of the effluents from
the proposed works at regular intervals and if at any time sewage is discharged
from the plant of the institution into the waters of the State to the prejudice of
public health, then the said Board of Directors shall be liable to the penalties im-
posed by law for the discharge of sewage into the stream, and, furthermore,
remedies will be required by the State Department of Health and the Board
of Directors shall adopt such remedial measures as the said Department of Health
or the Governor, Attorney General and Commissioner of Health may advise or
approve.
The utilization of the site proposed should not be attempted.
The proposed sand filtration rate is high. It is difficult to maintain rates in
excess of three hundred thousand gallons per acre daily, or even this amount.
Wherever the plant may be located, the authorities should provide for the treatment
of the sprinkling filter effluent by chemicals and this chemical sterilizing apparatus
should he so located as ti> be able to receive and test the sand filter effluent whenever
this shall be necessary. It may not be required to use this apparatus at the
outset of the operation of the plant. This would depend wholly upon the volume
of the sewage and the ability cf the f-and filter to turn out a good effluent. If
the suggestions herein contained be followed out, it must tht^n be undiM'stood
that this will in no wise relieve tlie owners o£, the responsibility of maintaining
the sewers and s<>wage disposal works free of all nuisance or menace to the public
health, or of keeping the sewage at all times out of the waters of the State.
Harrisburg, Pa., November tich, lOOS.
MILL CREEK AND HARBOR CREEK TOWNSHIPS.
Erie Improvement Company, Erie County.
T'his application is made by the Erie Improvement Company of Erie County, and
is for permission to construct and extend sewerage in the townships of Mill Creek
and Harbor Creek, Erie County, and to di-scharge the sewage therefrom, un-
treated, into Lake P^rie witliin the limits of said townships.
It ai)pears that the Erie Improvement Company was chartered October thir-
tieth, one thousand nine hundred and seven, for the construction and maintenance
of .sewers, drains, culverts, conduits, pipes, with all the necessary inlets, out-
lets and means of disposal for surface and under-surface and sewerage drainage,
in the territory now within the liounds of Mill Creek and Harbor Creek town-
.ships in Erie County, Penn.sylvania, including the coastruction, carry on
and maintenance of such means and appliances as may tend to improve or ad-
vance the health, comfort and conveniences of the inhabitants and sanitary con-
diti(ms within the boundaries of said townships and for the purpose above set
forth, to enter upon and occupy any public highway with the consent of the local
authorities.
The Pennsylvania General Electric Company contemplates the con-
struction of a niantifacturiiiu: i)lant on a tract of several hundred acres of farm
land lying about <>ne and a half miles east of the eastern bounilary of the city
of Erie, for the manufacture and use of various kinds of electrical machinery,
apparatus, (t cetera. In the development of this plant, said comiiany purijoses
to construct a system of sewers with an outlet nortliward to Lake Erie.
The Erie Improvement Company contemplat(^s the const I'uet ion of otiier sewere
which are designed to form a system a part of which shall be the sewers at the
said (Jeneral Electric Company's plant.
948 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
About one fhousand acres of farm lands have been purchased by a representa-
tive of the Pennsylvania General Electric Company, who now holds the title
to th.e land upon which it is proposed by said company to erect its plant. This
owner, Mr. J. M. Sherwin, is a point petitioner with the Erie Improvement Com-
pany for approval of the proposed sewerage system.
The population at present living on these lauds is approximately one hundred
people. The- northern boundary of the property extends to Lake Erie. The
southern boundary is the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad and also
the Xickel Plale Koad, so-called. A small poriion of the eastern part is in Harbor
Creek township, and the remainder in Mill Creek township. The ground at the
lake terminates abniptly in a bluff from thirty to fifty feet above the lake level.
Back from the bluff the ground ascends in a gentle slope southerly. In an
ensttrly and westerly direction the surface is uniform except where it is cut by
small ravines. A stream known as Four I\Iile Creek rises in Green Township
about seven miles to the south, drains a rural territory, jiasses througli the eastern
end of the property under discussion and enters the lake in JNIill Creek township
near Harbor Creek township two miles easterly from the Erie City line.
The lerritoi-y is underlaid with shale rock. Near the railroads the rock is about
two feel below the surface of the ground and at the lake it is about ten to fifteen
feet below.
Here, if expectations be realized, will spring into existence within five .years
a community of ten thousand people. Possibly M-ith the next twenty-five years,
should the business of the proposed plant develop as the business of other plants
now operated by this company elsewhere have developed, the additional popu-
lation may have reached fifty thousand people.
Erie Citj' is well located to increase its prestige as a manufacturing and com-
mercial center in northwestern Pennsylvania. The tw^o railroads above mentioned
are trunk Hues to the east and west. The Pennsylvania Railroad has a direct
line to Philadelphia and New York. The Bessemer Railroad is a direct line to
the south and the Erie and Pittsburg Railroad is important. All of thes^ lines
together v/ith its excellent lake harbor afford sui^erior ccmmn.nication with the
various commercial and industrial centers and Ink"" and seaports of the country
and make Erie an advantageous point for the permanent installation of the
General Electric Company's Pennsylvania plant. The Company, or its agents,
have laid out into streets and house lots the thousrfnd acre tract above mentioned
and streets have been projected on paper conuecting with those in the city of
Erie. Car lines, a water works system, a sewer system and storm drains
have been designed.
The proposer! domestic water system is planned for twenty thousand employes
and twenty-five thousand town inhabitnnts besides. The estimated consumption is
two million, six hundred thousand gallons per day. It is repoi'ted that arrange-
ments have been made with the water commissioners of Erie City to furnish drinking
water to the settlement and for the plant. It appears that the system for fire
protection is to be installed by the General Electric Company, the water for
this purpose to be taken from the lake. There is to be an emergency connection
with the Erie City water main*. Plans and an application for their approval
have not been submitted to the Commissioner of Health for the above water works
either by the city authorities or the private corporations.
The proposed surface drainage system is to exclude sewage. The improvement
involves the abandonment of some natural water courses and the substitution there-
for of drains. The tract upcm which the shops are to be located will be artificially
drained with an outlet eastward into Four Mile Creek. The land adjacent to
this creek will b'' drained by pipes whose outlets will be into the stream at con-
venient points. The plan shows twenty such outlets between the railroads and
the lake. I'^ast of the ereek there is a drainage district which will have an out-
li't into thr lake. West of the creek the plan shows four outlets into the lake
and two into a run at the cemetery. The upper one of these outlets is an in-
tercepting drain designed to collect the flow of numerous little runs and divert it
away from and around (he area to be developed into the cemetery run. In this
general way will an admirable removal of storm water from the sti'oeta and terri-
tory of the district be effected independently of sewerage.
For the collection and removal of sewage only from the proposed induslrial
plant and from the adjoining territory to be developed in conneetion thei'ewith,
the Erie Improvement Comf)any has laid out an extensive plan, end)odyiiig for the
immediate present the discharge of sewage into Lake I'^rie along llie shores, lo Ik^
followed later subject to the api)roval of the Commissioner of Health by the dis-
charge of this sewage, at three j)oints in the lake each distant four thousand feet
from the shore, fir as an nltermte scheme, (he construction of two septic tanks,
one ffir (be distinct west of and one for the district east of Four Mile Creek. The
effluent from these tanks would be discharged through the outfalls under the
lake.
The petitioners also contemp1a(e the uKimnte possibility of the erection of a dis-
posal plant in Harbor Creek township to which .sewage would have to be
pumped.
The proposed sewers will have diameters ran'.'ing from six to twenty-four inches.
The number of rnileB of sewr-rs nrofiosed will approximati- aboiit thirty-eight.
It is not the intention of either (he (Jeneral Electric Company or the Erie Improve-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 949
ineut Company to construct all of the .sewers in the first instance. In fact, the
numbfir of men to bo employed at the works will for a considerable length of time
be limited. Cousetiueuily the amount of sewage will be small. Such portions
of llic ;sewi.'r systLUi are to bo built as may be deemed uecossai'y from lime to time
by .said companies as the business of each may justify.
Detail plans of S'.'wer& have not yet been prepared, the layout above mentioned
being tentative. The general plan submitted shows three shore sewer outlets
east of the crook, one in the creek near its mouth and four shore sewer outlets
west of the crook.
The oastorn outlet is in Harbor Creek township, four thousand feet east of
Four Mile Creek. It serves a district wholly within said township, comprising
about two hundred acres, in which there will be ultimately, as planned, about
seven and throe-tenth miles of sowers.
The next (pallet is also in said township near the Mill Creek township line,
thirteen hundred feet westerly from the first mentioned outlet. The territory
which it will serve is almost wholly within ^lill Creek township and extends to
Mill Creek south of i^ake Iload and botwoeu said road and the southern limits
of the property. Lake Iload is the principal highway extending easterly from
Erie City. It parallels the lake and is distant therefrom about half a mile. The
area tributary to sower outlet Number Two is about one hundred and seventy
acres, in which ultimately will be laid seven and six-tenth miles of sewers.
There is a seventy aero tract between the Lake Road and the lake adjacent to
Four Mile Creek and cast of it, which is to be served by a sewer outlet discharging
into the lake at a point six hundred feet east of the mouth of this creek. It will
serve ultimately two miles of sewers.
Those three outlets are to have their flow intercepted and carried out four
thousand feet into the lake through a pipe extension to outlet Number One in
event that the Commissioner of Health requires this to be done. The tentative
location of the eastern septic tank proposed is in the vicinity of outlet Number
One but back on the high ground. Presumably the sewage would have to be pumped
into from a part of the system.
So tributary to the eastern deep water sewer outlet is a municipal territory of
about four hundred and forty acres upon which an ultimate population of thir-
teen thousand people may reside, contributing to the sewers a daily flow of one
million three hundred thousand gallons.
East of Four .Mile Creek between Lake Road and the lake there is a fifty acre
tract in which one and four-tenths miles of sewers may be built having an out-
let into the creek near its mouth.
The plot upon which the General Electric Company's shops are to be erected,
lies between Lake Road and the railroad. It is about square and contains about
three hundred acres.
Herein approximately five miles of sewers are to be built, having an outlet
into the lake at a point about eight hundred feet west of Four Mile Creek.
The westerly boundary of the industrial plant as laid out is Lincoln x\.venue.
East of this avenue extended to the lake and between the lake and the pro-
posed shops are one hundred and ten acres in which three and a half miles of sewers
may ultimately be built. They are to have two outlets, one eight hundred feet
west of the outlet to the shop sewers and the other six hundred feet still further
■west.
The remaining district in the territory under discussion comprises about three
hundred acres, in which eleven and seven-tenths miles of sewer are planned with
an outlet into the lake eight hundred feet west of Lincoln Avenue. It is in this
vicinity that the western septic tank site has been tentatively selected.
The deep water outlet for the western municipal district will extend out into the
lake at th(> foot of Lincoln Avenue and the flow from the sewer outlets Numbers
Six, Seven and Eight (comi)rising a total territory of four hundred and ten
acres, upon which ultimately may reside twelve thousand people contributing a
daily flow to the sewers of one million, two hundred thousand gallons) is to be
diverted to it when required by the State Department of Health.
If the sewers of the fifty acre tract to be served by outlet Number Four into
the crook are connected to the sewers of the eastern district, a syphon will be
provided under the creek for the purpose.
It is estimated that twenty thousand employees at the works will contribute a
daily flow to the sewer system of seven hundred thousand gallons. It is proposed to
extend the shore outlet of this system out into deep water whenever such an
expedient is ordi-red by the Commissioner of Health.
In the event of the sewage of the lake outlets being collected and raised to a
purification plant to be located somewhere in the country to the east of the proposed
settlement, the point of collection and pumping machinery installation would
be somewhere in the vicinity of the movith of Four Mile Creek.
The sew(us from all of the lake cities and towns is discharged into the lake.
Most of these places derive their source of public supply from the lake also.
The nearest community whoso water supply is derived from Lake l^rio is Dun-
kirk, forty-five miles east and next Buflfalo, ninety miles east.
The public water supply at Erie is to be taken from the lake at a point be-
yond Presque Isle, a peninsula which forms Presque Bay. Into this estuary
the sewers of Erie City discharge. There is a current eastward along the lake
950 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
shore which wouhl temi Lo prevent auy sewage eontamination of the water used by
the city oli Erie by reasou of the discharge of sewage at a poiut six miles dis-
tant at Four Mile Creek and in front of said peninsula.
The petitioners represent that at the present time the drinking water in the
district is obtained trom private wells and that except at the indtistrial plant,
there will be no other practicable means of supplying the hrst comers into the
new settlement with drinking water, except at a greater expense than the
present development jusiities ; hence, in order to avoid the pollution of the ground
supply of water by cesspools and privy methods, it is thought to be altogether
a measure of health protection and also of economy to build sewers as fast as
called for in acconlance with the comprehensive plan submitted.
>.'o doubt, for two or three years the total outptit of sewage will be very small
and intiuitesimal in comparison to the great bulk of sewage which now goes into
the lake waters from the sewers of Erie.
In view of the fact that the sewage disposal problem of the city of Erie is
now imtler consideration by the State officials and that changes in the present
method will apparently involve the expenditure of a considerable sum of money
and a number of years to complete, and since the plans proposed by the petitioners,
while providing for the discharge of tintreated sewage into i^ake Erie, show a ten-
tative lay-out for other means of disposal for further consideration at such time
as it may be deemeu necessary by the Commissiouer of Health, it has been de-
termined that the interests of the public health will be subserved by approval
of the proposed sewers and a permit is hereby and herein granted therefor, under
the following considerations and stipulations:
FHkST: That before any sewers are btiilt and used, plans and profiles thereof
shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval. At the close of
each seascn"s work a plan of the sewers built during the year, together with any
other information in connection therewith that may be required, shall be tiled
in the office of said Commissioner of Health to the end that the Deparlmout shall
always be infurmed of the cxient of the sewer system and its use. All surface
water sha!! be ex(;luded from the system.
SECUXD: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on April first, one thousand nine hundred and eleven. If at that time the
terms of this permit shall have been complied with, then, if the interests of the
public health demand it, the Commissiouer of Health may extend the time in
which sewage may continue to be discharged into the waters of the State.
THIRD: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or the method of disposal, or auy part of such system or disposal,
has become prejudicial to public health, then such remedial measures shall be
adopted as he may advise or approve.
FOliRTH: Xo pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be permitted to
be discharged into the sewer system. The proper atithorities shall cause these
wastes to be destroyed on the premises.
The attention of the petitioners is called to the fact that the extension of Erie
City water mains into the proposed settlement or the establishment of works for
the supply of water there cannot be lawfully done without an approval of such
extensions and the source of supply by the Commissioner of Health.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., April 2nd, 1908.
MINERS VILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Minersville, Schuylkill County,
Penn.-;ylvania, and is for permission to extend its sewerage system by building a
storm sewer in Sunbury Street from an existing sewer in Second Street down Sun-
bury Street, a total lengtii of tw(dve hundred and fifty-seven feet to the West
Pranch of the Scliuylkill River in said borough.
The borough of .Miurrsville, as the name implies, is a residence town for miners
employed in llie sui'rounding mines and collieries. The people are mostly for-
•iigncrs, such as Slavs, Hungarians and Italians. The area of the borough is about
one square mile. The population in nineteen hundred was given as four thousand
eight iiundn-d and fifteen, and tlu! pn'sent poi)ulation is said to be six thousand.
This growth in jjopulation of a little over one tliousand in tlie last eight years
can b" said U> br- due wholly to an increase in the foreign element.
The borough is silualf^d on tiie west side of the West Pranch of th(! Seliuylkill
River f^n th" northern and southern sides of the narrow valley through vvhicli
Wolf Creek (lows. It is at the eastern foot of Mine Hill with Proad Mountain
on thr- iioilliwesl anri Sharp Mountain on the southeast. It is ])ouiided on the
north by Cass townsliip, on the west by I5ranch township, and on the south
by Pranch and Norwegian townslii|)s and on the east by Norw(>glan township.
l'otts\i]|e, the eonnly seat of Schuylkill ("ounty, with a population of seventeen
thousand, is four miles to the south' ast and the only neighboring city of any
size. Surrounding Minersville and depending largely upon it as a trading o.rntar and
antitoxin sation are Duncntt, Jonestown, Lytle, Forestville and Phoenix Park.
All of the \illagcs ha\'' an aggrc^gatf! i>i)pulntion of about live t.housiind.
Wolf ('nek flows through the I>orough in an easterly direction and IIk; West
Praneh of the Schuylkill borders the borough on the northei'n and southern lines.
The f-reek consJBts of two branches that head about two and one-half miles
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 951
avvuy ill Mine Hill and unite just before euteiins; the borough. It is a small stream
with little How in <liy weaiher, but at times of laiu it is turned into a mountain
torrent as most sm.-ill iiiounlainous streams are. The water <>£ Wolf Creek is
aliuosi wbiilly arid iiiiui' water from the mines above. The northeast branch
passes Ihruujih Aliu? Hill colliery and after use in the colliery emerges heavily
laden with coal dust. The other branch passes Lytle colliery where the water is
also used, but here the water is hoisted by the colliery and after use is allowed
to draiu ofl" the Wolf Creek watershed, thus decreasing the How of Wolf Creek.
This branch is usually dry from Lytle colliery to its union with the other branch
except in time of storm.
Wolf Creek enters the borough of Minersville on the west as an open stream,
crosses Fourth Street through a culvert, flows down north street one block and then
crosses diagonally one block to Lewis Street, from which point it continues about
twelve hundred t.-et as a stone arch culvert, making the road bed of Lewis Street
until it crosses Delaware Avenue, after which it flows open about one hundred
and fifty feet, when it joins the west branch of the Schuylkill liiver. The cul-
vert is flat bottomed, about eight feet wide and has a height, from crown to
base, of four feel.
The West Branch of the Schuylkill River is also a small acid mine water
stream, carrying much coal dust from the mines above. This stream heads
about eight to ten miles away in the Hexerville Mountains and runs down to
Minersville through the Mine Hill gap just above the borough.
There are but two industrial plants in ilinersville worthy of mention. The
Combe Garment Company's works are located on the corner of Lewis and Front
Streets, where are employed about two hundred hands. This factory uses bor-
ough water and sewers into Wolf Creek. The Lewis and Son Garment Company,
situated about two squares north of the Combe Garment Company, employes
about seventy-five hands. This factory uses borough water and sewei-s into Wolf
Creek.
The borough has a public water supply furnished by the Minersville Water
Company. The borough is reported to own four hundred shares of stock in the
company of a total of forty-two thousand and eighty-fise shares. The water is
of an excellent mountain surface origin, gives an average of twenty-four hour
supply of over two hundred thousand gallons and a pressure of from sixty to
one hundred pounds per square inch. The storage reservoir has been so constructed
that its walls may at any time be so increased in height as to double the supply.
This public water is in almost universal use, there being but few wells and
springs now in commission.
There is at present no plan of Minerville's existing sewer system, but the bor-
ough solicitor, Mr. John B. McGurl, says such a plan will be made at once.
The engineers of Minersville, A. B. Cochran and Son, have already such a plan
under way, but it will take some time to locate all private sewers now in use
and to complete the plan. Miuersville is an old town and little attention has
been paid to sewer connections until of late years. Property owners have been
at liberty to plan and place their drainage as they wish. Thus, at present there
are numerous private sewer lines and others where three or four property owners
would join together and lay a sewer, all entering Wolf Creek. Of such con-
nections the borough has little connection to which a fee is chai'ged. These
sewers are located principally on Front Street, Second Street, Third, Fourth,
Sixth and Suubury Streets.
Front Street sewer heads in the southern hillside, taking spring water which
is run into a twenty-four inch sewer and crosses Sunbury Street diagonally to
Front Street and continues down Front Street to Wolf Creek. This sewer is prin-
cipally for storm water from the hillsides, but it is said to receive drainage from
probably six houses ; its length is about four hundred feet. Also on the north
side of Wolf Creek is about twelve hundred feet of sewer on Front Street.
Second Street has about one thousand feet of twenty and twenty-four inch
sewer on the south side, beginning about four hundred feet south of Suubury
Street, crossing Sunbury Street and entering Wolf Creek. Also on the north
side on Second Street about one thousand feet of sewer enters Wolf Creek.
There are some lateral connections on this sewer, but the amount could not be
learned.
Third Street has about four hundred and fifty feet of twenty-four inch sewer
on the south side and six hundred feet on the north side, both emptying into
Wolf Creek.
Fourth Street has about six hundred feet of sewer with a six hundred foot con-
ntctiou on Railroad Street, size unknown but probably twenty-four inches.
West Sunbury Street has about fourteen hundred feet of sewer from Sixth Street
to Fourth Street, and thence through Fourth Street sewer to Wolf Creek.
New Castle Street has probably eight hundred feet of twelve inch sewer drain-
ing into an uncovered stream which enters Wolf Creek.
In the northeastern part of Minersville there is a small hill called Primrose Hill.
From the side of this hill mine seepage crops out and flows open for a short dis-
tanee. It enters the borough <>n Sixth Street a little north of Sunbury Street,
from which point it flows in thirty inch sewer pipe across lots to Lewis Street,
from Lewis Street to Fifth Street and diagonally to North Street, crossing lots from
952 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
North Street to Fourth Street. At this point it enters a stone culvert for two hun-
dred and litty tVet and enters Wolf Creek. The length of this sewer is not
known. It receives drainage from probably forty houses.
All of these sewers mentioned are combined sewers, receiving both storm water
and house drainage. They all have good grades to Wolf Creek. Their total
length is approximately as follows; Front Sireet, sixteen hundred feet; Second
Street, iwo thousand feet; Third Street, ten hundred and tifly feet; Fourth
Street, twelve hundred feet; West Sunbury Street, fourieeu hundred feet; and
New Castle Street, eight hundred feet, making a total of eight thousand and
fifty feel.
On South Delaware Avenue a short distance south of the Pottsville Company
station is an open stream heading in the side hill, flowing along the tracks about
twelve hundred feet and then crossing under the tracks and emptying into the
V^t-si Branch of the Schuylkill River. The stream receives other spring water
and also numerous house sewers, carrying kitchen wastes, wash water, etc., empty
therein. It is a moderately flowing stream and as it carries so much waste ma-
terial it becomes foul during drj' weather aud overflows at times of rain, thus
creating a nuisauce. The Board of Health has condemned the stream as a menace
to public health and has had a plan drawn for putting in a stone culvert, leaving
the stream in the same condition but enclosing it. A. B. Cochran aud Son, En-
gineers, have urawn the plans for this work. The Secretary of the Board of
Health wishes to know whether or not a permit from the Department is needed
for woi"k that is an improvement upon an existing sewer. Here neither volume
nor position would be changed.
These are probably not even all of the borough sewers, as no record could be
found and no one seemed to know. However, the am'ount given is a fair estimate
and shows the general nature. Besides these sewers moutioued, there are a great
many private sewers entering into Wolf Creek and the w'est Branch of the Schuyl-
kill River. Most of the properties on the north side of Sunbury Street drain
directly into Wolf Crek.
There are in Minersville probably one hundred closets. Some are directly over
streams used as sewers. Some are on properties where house closets are in-
stalled, but still the privies are in use in part. It is said that there are but
few cesspools and none were seen. There are probably not over six wells in use
throughout the borough. The streets are all dirt streets with usually a gutter of
brick or stone carrying surface drainage to sewers at street corners.
The borough of .Uinersville continuously has trouble with the sewers emptying
into Wolf Creek. At times of heavy rain, both Wolf Creek and the West Branch
of the Schuylkill become heavily laden with culm from the culm banks above. At
the union of Wolf Creek with the Schuylkill the land is low aud Wolf Creek flows
so slowly that the culvert is clogged aud much culm deposited. Because of this
the sewer outlets are blocked and often so stopped that overflows occur on the
hillsides. After such rains the culm from the end of the culvert to the river
must be removed to allow the culvert to clear itself. Should this culvert through
which Wolf Creek flows be changed from a flat bottom to a round bottom, there
would probably be little or no trouble with the culm depositing in Wolf Creek.
The proi)Osed sewer is (o consist of about three lumdred and sixty-flve feet of
twenty-four inch sewer pipe, extending from Second Street to a manhole to
be built in the Front Street sewer that crosses Sunbury Street. This manhole is
to be common to both sewers. From this manhole the sewer is to be a thirty inch
pipe to the West Branch of the Schuylkill River, a dislance of about eight hundred
and ninety-two feet. The first four hundred and twenty-two feet has a grade of
four and six-tenths feet per one lumdred feet; the next three hundred and ninety-
one feet has a grade of one and twenty-eight hundredths feet per one hundred
feet; and the last four hundred and forty-four feet has a grade of seventy-hun-
dredths feet per one hundred feet. Thus the proposeil sewer lias apparently a good
fall and sliuuld readily clear itself at its junction with the West Branch of the
Schuylkill River. Its use is to bo primarily as a storm sewer, but undoubtedly it is
the intention of tin; borough to have house conned ions to the sewer, at least
in the near futur<?. Tiiere an? eighleen or twenty houses that could connect at
once. The others have drainage already installed and probably would not con-
nect for some time.
This pro|)osed sewer will receive sewage from about four hundred feet of old
sewer on Second Strfset south of Sunbury Street and part of the sewage coming
down the Front Street sewer [)assinu tlii'onuli I In- m;iidiole coiiunon to both sewers
and the junction of Front Street and Suni)ury street. (Jther than this the sewer
will carry only storm water, unless new ctinneclions are made.
The sewer is gn-atly needed to carry slorm water coming down Sunbury Street
and the wiiole hillsidi' al)OV(' Simbury Street. The grade is steep and the wiater
rush(;s from the hillsidf; into Siird)ury Stre<?t, and I he I'l'oiil Str(>et and Second
Strei't Hf'VverH arc nnal)!<' to car<! for the water. Thus I he [)roi)erties on the lower
side of Sunbury Street are flooded and damage caused.
A considera))le rpiantity of the sewer pipe is on the ground ready to be laid
and the Ijorou'/h wishes to com|)lete the work nt the earliest possible opportunity.
The ;)sseH«r-<| v!ilii;il ioTj of the boi'oiiuh is gi\('n l)y the borough solicitor ns a little
over oni! million dollars and the bonded indebtedness at about nineteen thousand
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 953
dollars. Tims tlio boroimli can, by vote of tho people, increase the debt about
fifty thousand (iollar.s.
i'lic liiiu' will conic when Mincrsville and otluT boroufjlis in the upper Schuyl-
kill Kivcr watershed ninst l)e called upon to construct sewai^e disposal works.
The continuation of cturibini'd sewers is not in harmony with the plan f(jr the treat-
ment of house sewa.ij;e. Jt is practical and economical to handle house drainage
only in a purification plant, but Ihe cost of treatin-r min'j;led sewage and storm
water is prohiliitive. The town should anticipate the ultimate requirements of
the State by layinj? down its sewers in conformity to a general plan that wari'ants
State approval when considered from the standpoint of the policy of the Common-
wealth to preserve the purity of the waters of the State for the protection of
public health.
Now when freshets occur, the waste coal pieces transported by water the en-
tire length of the Schuylkill River, interfere in the operation of the water filters
at the city of Philadelphia. The evidence of the transportation of such foreign
matter in water is indicative of tlu transi>ortation of smaller things like bacteria.
This disposal, dui'in<i- fi-eshet peri(]ds, if poisons fi'oni the human body at Miners-
ville should reach tiie intakes of the municipalities along the banks of the Schuyl-
kill River and be introiluced into the water pipe system, would cause injury to
public health. Freventi\e medicine, which is rapidly coming to the fore, de-
mands that such menace's shall cease. It is the effort of the Commissioner of Health
in the administration cf the laws of the Commonwealth to bring about the adoption
of practicable measures for the ultimate elimination of all sewage from the Schuyl-
kill River and its tributaries. Therefore, ^linersville should bear this in mind
anil prepare plans and adopt the same after they are approved by the State, and
thereafter, from time to time, in building sewers, lay them down in conformity
to this plan, to tii" eml that efficiency and economy shall be obtained and the
State's policy complied with.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by granting a permit for the particular extension to the existing sewer system
asked for in Minersville, and a permit is hereby and herein granted under the
following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That any hovise sewer connections with the proposed sewer, whose
object is primarily to protect properties on the lower side of Sunbury Street
from floods of storm water and give the street proper drainage, shall be tempor-
ary only in character.
SECO.XD: On or before three months from the date of this permit, the bor-
ough shall prejiare and file in the olfice of the Commissioner of Health a plan
showing all existing sewers within the borough limits, and before any further
extensions to tho borough sewer system shall be made, the borough shall prepare
a comprehensive sewerage plan for the collection of the sewage from all public
and private sewers within the municipal limits, and its conveyance to such a point
that it may prove advisable where the sewage shall be treated at some future date,
and tentative outlines of a purification plant should also be prepared and submitted
with the sower plan. The Commissioner of Health will modify, amend or approve
these plans and he may grant a permit therefor and fix the time, bearing in
mind the State's policy with respect to other municipalities on the watershed,
when the sewage purification works shall be erected.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 29th, 1908.
MONACA, BEAVER COUNTY.
This aiiplication was made by the borough of Monaca, Beaver County, and is
for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage untreated
into the Ohio River, within the borough limits.
The b(0()ugli of Monaca is an industrial conununity situated on the south bank
of the Ohio River about opposite the mouth of the Reaver River. The extreme
west end of Monaca being opposite said river's mouth. C)n the north side of the
Ohio River, on the east bank of the Beaver River, is the borouudi of Rochester
and on the west bank of the Beaver River is the borough of Bridgewater. Next
down stream, on the north bank of tiie Ohio River is Beaver borough, the county
seat. A county bridge connects Monaca and P.ridgewaler and Beaver. Opposite
Momica at the west end is the borough of Freedom.
The territory upon which Monaca borough is built is a level terrace of gravel
formation elevated about sixty fi-et above the normal river level. It stretches
along the river for about a mile and a quarter ami back from it abont a half
n miie and hei(> at pres(>nt reside about thirty-five hundred people, chiefly supported
by the industries which compris'^ S'veral steel niMls or works, gla.ss and fire brick
works, tile mantifacture and foundry and enamel works. None of these have any
peeuliir industri;i! wastes which would cliaracterize the town sewage.
Back from the plateau there is a steep abrupt hill extemling up into Moon
Townshi]) wlii<li surrounds the borough and at th<> foot of this slope, practicall.v
the borough line, is the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. The main street
954 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
of the town, Pennsylvania Avenue, parallels this railroad and the river and is
next to the railroad. It is along this thoroughfare and the railroad that the
industries are located.
There are four avenues paralleling Pennsylvania Avenue between it and the
river, the one on the bank of the terrace being named Atlantic Avenue.
The highways at right angles to the river beginning down stream at the westerly
borough line where the railroad crosses the river to the borough of Beaver are
named in order: Third Street, Fourth Street, etc., up to Eighteenth Street.
The most important of these is Ninth Street, it leads to the couuty bridge cross-
ing the river to Rochester. This thoroughfare and Pennsylvania Avenue are
paved with brick and there are sewers in them. The borough contemplates the
permanent surfacing of some of the other public highways.
The eastern end of the boi'ough has been vacated for industrial sites to the river
bank and numerous small plants occupy the land and are thriving. The most
vigorous growth is evidenced on every hand in the borough. In eighteen hundred
and ninety the population was two thousand and eight.
The town owns its own water works but has neglected to report the same to
the State Department of Health as required by law. Unofficially it has been
ascertained that the supply is drawn from a lilteriug crib one hundred and fifty
feet long, sixteen feet wide and four feet high and buried so that the top is
four feet below the bed of the river. It is counected with sixteen inch suction
main to a two million gallon pumping engine. The crib and pump house are near
or on the banks of the river at the foot of Sixth Street about nine hundred feet
below the county bridge. The water is pumped into a brick lined earthen resei'-
voir excavated in the hill back of the town in Moon Township and elevated about
three hundred feet above the river. The reservoir holds five hundred thousand
gallons, so it is reported. There are no wells in the borough but there are a
few cisterns. Practically everybody takes public water, even the industries.
At present there are about two and one-half miles of i)ublic sewers in the
town, partly combined and partly separated. The western district is served by a
twenty-four inch outlet. The connections with this sewer are shown as follows:
In Pennsylvania Street, combined sewer, thirteen hundred feet of twenty-four
inch and twelve hundred feet of eighteen inch; in Eight Street, combined sewer,
three hundred feet of twenty-four inch; in a small run, combined sewer, six
hundred feet of twentj'-four inch ; in Ninth Street, separate sewer, eight hun-
dred feet of eight inch and in Tenth Street separate sewer, seven hundred feet
of eight inch, making a total length of forty-nine hundred feet.
The outlet is into IMarkey Run which is an open ditch for a distance of about
eight hundred feet to the river near Third Street. At Eighth Street a small run is
diverted into a sewer. There are about thirty buildings contributing to the
flow of sewage in this district at the presi'ut time.
The eastern district is served by an eighteen inch outlet. It goes into the river
at tiie foot of P'ifteenth Street. The sewers connected with it are entirely sani-
tary from which storm water is excluded. There are thirty-five hundred feet of
eight inch and forty-two hundred feet of twelve inch sewer in the district. The
Fifteenth Street outlet is ui) stream from the water works intake and therefore,
the borough at the present time contributes to the menace of its own supply.
About thirty buildings are on this line.
The town council desires to extend the present sewer system to accommodate
the dwellings on the streets that .are now unsewered. These extensions will not
ail be made at one time and no bond issue is contemplated for the i)urpose. There
are to main reasons for the extensions. One reason is the economy of the laying
down of a sewer in the sti'eet before the street is paved, and the other reason is
that sewers are demanded l)y abutting properties from time to time and the
borouj:h does not want to Ije cornpelled to make an application every time a petty
extension of n lateral sewer is called for.
The soil boini.' gravelly and porous, cellars are dry and cesspools which are
tmiversnlly used for household drainage, provt;, in most cases, to be satisfactory.
Sometimes a cesspool will clog up and become a nuisance and in the end probably
out of choice the great majority of owners will seek connection with the public
sewer. In Monaca the cost of a sewer connection, provided the house is properly
plumbed, is less than the cost of the construction of cesspools, all of which is
represented by the petitioners to bo suflioient warrant for the adoption of the
genei;il sewerage system.
'J'iie pro])Osed sewere are lo be extensions of the existing sewers and when all
built there will be five and a half miles in the entire system. The eastern district
will he much smalli'r. 'J'he additions to it will not exceed three-quarters of a
mile in lenKth. The plan shows a site for sewage disi)Osal works on the lower
terraee jit the foot of Fifteenth Street.
All the otlKT sewer exleiisions are to be in llie wcsleni district. The site
for tli<' disposal works is shown to be at the fool of Fifth Street on the lower
terrace. This is about six hundred fer-t down stream from the water works pump
house and filtering crib. All of the additions are to be strictly separate sewers.
The existing sewers in this ilistricl are to disdiargi' their (\ry weatlx^r flow
into a new twenty-foiir inch pipe extending down Fifth street to the disposal
works and the intake. The storm overflow is to pass off in the existing twenty-four
inch pipe down I'ennsylvania Avenue to Markey's Run. The reason for this is
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 955
that the borough dofs not vant to abandon the twenty-four inch pipe in Penn-
sylvania Avenue and up Eishth Street as a sewer. It is the intention of the
borou.iirh to abandon the ei.;,'hteen inch pipe on Pfunsylvania Avenue as a storm
drain and to also abandon any other sewers as a storm drain except the said
twenty-four inch pipe. The proposed sewers are to have manholes placed at
all intersections of streets and at changes of all line and grade, ventilation is
to be affected through perforated manhole covers and flush tanks are to be built
where necessary. The minimum grade is to be three-tenths per cent.
No detail plans are offered of the sites for the proposed dispfisal works. It is
a question in the mind of the petitioners whether the disposal plant at the foot of
Fifteenth Street should be erected. As a substitute a twelve inch pipe might
be laid along the river for about a mile and end at the lower disposal works
at the foot of Fifth Street. In all probability this will be the most economical
and decidedly the better plan. A municipality makes no mistake under most
conditions in collecting the sewage at one point for treatment. It is better
to concentrate the care and attention necessary in maintaining a sewage purification
plant at one place than to divide it and have two plants to look after.
It is reported than the borontrh's assessed valuation is one million four hundred
and seventy-nine thousand, "io^ht hundred and forty-nine dollars and its bonded
indebtedness eight thousand dollars. If these fi.aaires are correct, the town's
borrowing capacity is in the neighborhood of twenty thousand dollars, a sum
much too small to build a seMage disposal works. However, the State cannot con-
sistently approve of a sewer outlet into the river within the bornush when said
outlet is above the water works intake and at the same time compel other mu-
nicipalities up stream to cease to discharge sewage into the river in order that the
down stream municipalities may have their water supplies protected. It will
appear that the borough is amply able financially to assume the cost of the in-
terception of the sewage from the eastern district and its conveyance by a small
sewer pipe down stream to below the water works intake.
When the boronsrh shall have become able to build the disposal works for the
treatment of all of the borough sewage, then undoubtedly it will be found economi-
cal to cut out all of the storm water in the system. Movable Dam number five
of the Federal srovernment is located in the Ohio River immediately above Six-
teenth Street. Five miles below in the river is dam number six. These structures
have been erected by the Fe-l^ral srovernment to improve navigation. They insure
a nine foot stage in the river. When the normal flow is greater than this, the
dams are down, but during dry weather the dams are put up and a pool is created
and at times the velocity is very slow therein. Sewage deposited in these pools at
such times is quite likely to settle to be scoured out possibly by succeeding
freshets. The borough of Beaver takes its water supply from wells driven in
the bed of the river and located about three-quarters of a mile down stream but
on the opposite side. The drainase from all of the towns in the Reaver Valley
River is a menace to the public supply at Beaver. The sewage from Pittsburgh
and the Ohio River towns is a menace to the water consumers in Monaca. Even
where the purification of a sewasre polluted water is attempted by apparatus fitted
with all modern appliances, admitting of complete regulation and control, it is only
by constant vigilance that the water is rendered pure and wholesome, and most ci-r-
tain it is that in the case such as at Monaca. where the apparatus in use to
purify the sewage polluted water is not susceptible of reuulation and control,
a menace exists which may prove a serious matter at an.v time. Tlie Department
has been makinir a study of Ibis subject and the facts fully .iustify the conclusion
that the interests of the public health demand that municipal sewasre must be
eventually treated before it is discharged into streams used subsequently as
sources of public supply.
It is not known that Monaca sewage could endanser the water which is drawn
from the wells at Beaver, but it may menace the supply drawn from the river
by the towns alone: the Ohio in other states. The typhoid fever death rate in
these places are notab'y high and this fact has been partially attributed to the
sewatre pollution of the river in Pennsylvania.
Feileral compulsion has been suggested by some sanitarians, but this should
not be necessary. In conservin? its own resources, Pennsylvania must prohibit
the defilement of its rivers, and in common with other municipalities, Monaca
must plan to care for its own sewace in such a way as not to jeopardize the rights
of others either present or prospective, to the use of the river waters further down
within Pennsylvania.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that
ati|)roval be -riven to the borouirb of ^fonaca and approval is hereby and herein
ffiven and a permit issued therefor under the following conditions and stipu-
lations:
FIRST: That all storm water shall be excluded from the system with the ex-
ceiitioii of the twenty-four inch oipe now in use and that ultima telv on or before
the timi^ when sewase disposal works are built by the borousrh . this twenty-four
inch pipe slial! be abandoned as a sewer and shall be used exclusively for storm
water drainage, so that at that time the entire system of sewei-s will be a
separate system. At the close of each season's work a plan and a profile of each
956 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
sewer laid during: the year shall be prepared aud filed with the Commissioner of
Health, together \Yith any other information that may be required in relation
thereto.
SECOND: No pathogenic material from any laboratorj' shall be discharged into
the system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroj'ed on
the premises.
THIRD: The local authorities shall keep a record of all connections with the
sewer and copies of the same shall be submitted to the State Department of
Health when called for.
FiDURTH: If at any time the sewerage system or any part thereof has be-
come a nuisance or menace to public health, then such remedies shall be applied
as the Commissioner of Health shall advise or approve.
FIFTH: It is expressly stipiilated that the permit to discharge sewage into the
Ohio River from the eastern sewage district of the borough, shall cease on October
first, nineteen hundred and nine. On or before that time the borough shall have
constructed an intercepting sewer to convey the sewage of the district below
the water works intake, and discharge it into the river somewhere in tflie
vicinity of Fifth Street in conformity with plans which shall be prepared by the
borough and submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval on or before
May first, nineteen hundred and eight.
SIXTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the Ohio River from either the
eastora or western districts shall cease on the first day of July, nineteen hun-
dred and eleven. On or before said date the borough shall prepare detailed plans
of sewage disposal works for the treatment of the borough sewage, and submit
the same to the Commissioner of Health for approval. If this be done, and the
other conditions of this permit shall have been complied with, the Commissioner
of Health may extend the time, if the interests of the public health demand it,
in which the borough sewage may. continue to be discharged untreated into the
Ohio River.
SEVENTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the Ohio River shall be
null and void unless within three months of the date thereof, the borough shall
have filed with the Commissioner of Health a complete and satisfactory report
and plans of its water works system. Failure to comply with this provial(m
of law will not only nullify this permit, but it will be the occasion for the
imposing of the penalty of a fine of five hundred dollars, as provided by Act
one hundred and eighty-two, approved April twenty-second, nineteen hundred
and five.
Harrisburg, Pa., January 24th, 1908.
MONTGOMERY, LYCOMING COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Montgomery, Lycoming County,
Pennsylvania, to build a sewer in Broad Street and to dischiirgc the sewage there-
from, untreated, into the Black Hole Creek within the limits of the borough
under the following conditions and stipulations.
It appears that the borough of Montgomery is a manufacturing settlement of
about fifteen hundred population, located on the north bank of the West Branch
of the Suscpjehanna River in Lycoming County, about fifteen miles down stream
below the city of Williamsport. In nineteen hundred the population was ten
hundred and s;ixty-three.
Th<.' princi|)ul industrial plant is that of the American Wood Working and
Machine Company. There is also the plant of the Montgomery Door and Sash
Company, the .Montgomery Table Works and the Deulciile Planing Mill and other
wood working establishments and just outside of the borough in Clinton township,
there are two in.'inufactories.
The town is on thi' main line of the Phihidelphia and Erie Division of the
Pennsylvania Ilailroad and on a branch of the I'hiladelphia and Reading Railway,
both leading to Williamsport City. Montgomery was incorporated in eighteen hun-
dred and eighty-seven out of Clinton township, which township sourrounds the
borough.
The niunici|)al territory is irregular in shape and abuts on the river for the dis-
tance of about a mile and extends back therefrom over a mile. Coming down
throu'.ih its center and entering the river a guarter of a mile Ixdow the borough
is Black Hole (Jreek, a stream which rises in Bald Eagle Mounlain four miles
northerly. 'I'liis creek passes Ix-tween two high hills in Montgomery. The rail-
roads parallel the river and are hack therefrom lu-arly a half mile. The two
hills are north of the railroads. Montgomery Street, the principal thoroughfare
in the town, parallels the Pennsylvania Rnilnuid iuul is immediately norlli of it
extending wesli-rly from Main Street. .Main Sircci begins at llie river and ex-
tending northerly, passes up tiie valley of Black Hole (Ireek out into (Clin-
ton township. The i)ortion of Main Street north of Monlgoniery Sireet is on
the hillside, the summit of which hill lies between Main Street and Mont-
gomery Strr-et in the norl beast portion of the borough. The best residences
of the" borough are vn the hill. The stores an; along Main Street in this district.
West of Black Hole Creek is the other high hill on which there are quite a
number of residences.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 957
South of the railroafl and paralleling them is Broad Street which starts from
Main Street and extends easterly. This district and the lateral streets therein
arc on the flats, so called, hut the land is above freshet flow. Nothing but
residences ari> built in this district except manufactories which are located all
alouK both railroads in the town.
Extending thro>i8h the flats near the river is Spring Mill Creek, a small stream
which rises in the township in the mountains and after flowing along the river
bank, it enters the river just inside the borough limits at the southwest comer.
The only land in the town subject to inundation is that abutting both creeks
in the southwest corner west of Main Street and south of the railroad.
Montgomery AVater Company supplies two hundred out of three hundred and
twenty-five houses in the borough with water. The other one hundred and
twenty-five houses derive their supply from individual wells. The public supply
comes from driven wells located in the borough along the banks of Black Hole
Ci'eok nrar (lie northern borough line. There are two of such driven wells con-
sisting of five inch pipe in eight inch casings, sunk to a depth of about two
hundred and thirty feet. The water is pumped by a Smith Vaile Triplex pump
driven by a brass water wheel twelve feet in diameter. This wheel is fed by a twenty-
four inch wooden flume extending five hundred feet up stream to a dam. There
is an auxiliary gasoline engine in the pump house. The water is pumped into
the pipe system in the borough and overflows into a reservoir of earth con-
struction lined with dry rubble masonry, holding about one million gallon.s
and located on the hill west of the creek at a point just outside of the borough
iji thf township. The elevation of this reservoir is about two hundred feet above
the pumps. It is reported that this system affords an ample supply of water for all
purposes.
The Montgomery Table Company has a private system for fire protection. The
source is a dug well on the company's property and the water is pumped into a
three hundred thousand gallon resen'oir distant one-quarter of a mile and located
on the hillside in the northeast part of the borough.
Judging from reports the individual well supplies throughout the town have
not become contaminated with sewage. The customary method of sewage and
household disposal prevails to a large extent.
The only public sewer in the borough is in Montgomery Street. It is a twelve
inch outlet and it and the eight inch pipe in said street, comprising a total
length of six hundred feet, discharge sew-age and also street drainage into Black
Hole Creek just nbovi^ the Pennsylvania Railroad culvert. There are thirty houses
connectiMl lo this line, most of which are on Huston Avenue, including the i)ub]ic
school building. TIhmc is a six inch private sewer on Second Street which is
connect(>d.
Above the outlet of the Montgomery Street sewer along Black Hole Creek
there are thirty private sewers whose diameters range from four inch to eight inch
which empty into the stream below the Water Company's dam. These outlets
are all east. In the western section of the borough there are two jirivate sewers
which empty into the Black Hole Creek. One is a six inch pipe five hundred
feet long serving six houses and emptying into the creek at the foot of West
Huston Avenue. The other is an eighteen inch pipe originally one thousand feet
long and used as a storm water sewer. It empties into the Creek opposite Penn
Street. I-ater fifteen hundred feet of sixteen inch terra cotta pipe was laid and
connected lo the eighteen inch line. Now there are about twelve houses located on
the hill which are served by this eighteen inch sewer outlet. It is a storm water
drain principally.
In all there are probably eighty houses having sewer connections in the bor-
ough.
It is reported that roof water is admitted into these house connections.
Along the west bank of Black Hole Creek on the properties abutting Main
Street there are ten privies overhanging the stream. Manufactural wastes are
emptied into cesspools.
The borough purposes to l)uild a twelve inch combined sewer the entire length of
Broad Street. Seven hundred and seventy feet are to be twelve inches in
diaiiietrM' and fifteen hundred and forty feet will be eight inches in (liameter.
The mininuuu grade will b(> in excess of six inches for each one hundred feet
length of sewer. It will discharge into Black Hole Creek below the Philad(>l-
phia and Reading culvert opposite the end of Broad Street. There are about
fifty houses on this street. These and houses on other streets in the vicinity will
be connected. Manholes are to be built at street intersections where branches
will be providi'd for connecting lateral street sewers.
It appears that the borough has a borrowing capacity of about eighteen thousand
dollars, if reports are true.
The proiiosed sewer is to be a combined one. but the size is insuflicient to remove
street drainage from the ana tributary to it. which is said to be sixty acres.
Broad Street is slightly depressed. The intei-secting streets have a natural slope
to it. The highway is a natural one in which to lay a main collecting sewer.
On the flats near the proposed outlet thei-e is an available site for a sewage dis-
posal plant. Here all the sewage of the borough can be delivered by gravit.v.
If storm and roof water were kept out of the sewage the borough can afford
and has the ability to borrow enough money to pay for the erection of a sewage
61
958 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc,
purification plant and intercepting sewer system. If storm water be admitted to the
sewers then the cost of a plant capable of treating this mingled volume of water
will be prohibitive.
If the borough should build the sewer proposed and exclude all storm water,
it would be a part of its sanitary sewer system. The entire system for the borough
should be planned immediately and after approval by the State authorities the
borough would then be in a position to conform to this plan in the construction of
sewers from time to time without wasting any money and with the assurance
that the greatest efficiency now and for the future will be thus secured.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be sub-
sei"ved by granting a permit and the same is hereby and herein granted to the
borough of Montgomery, to build the proposed sewer in Broad Street under
the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That all storm water shall be excluded from the sewer.
SECOND: That the borough shall cause the immediate removal of all over-
hansrinsr privies on the banks of streams in the borough.
THIRD: That on or before the first day of December, nineteen hundred and
eight, the borough shall prepare and file with the Commissioner of Health for
approval a comprehensive plan for a sanitary sewer system and sewage disposal
works for the collection and purification of all the sewage of the borough, and
these plans shall be accompanied with a report and estimates of cost. The Com-
missioner of Health will modify, amend or approve the plans and fix a time when
they shall be constructed, having in mind the date when other municipalities along
the west bank of the Susquehanna River shall be required to treat their rC'
spective sewages.
FOURTH: This permit shall cease on December first, nineteen hundred and
eisht, but. if on said date the borough shall have complied with the terms herein
stipulated, then the time in which sewage may continue to be discharged from
the borough sewer system into the waters of the State shall be extended.
Harrisburg, Pa., September 15th, 1908.
MORELAND TOWNSHIP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Bryn Athyn Village Association, Bryn Athyn Village.
This application was made by the Bryn Athyn Village Association of Bryn
Athyn village, Moreland Township,, Montgomery County, and is relative to
sewerage and sewage disposal and for approval of plans for sewage disposal works.
It appears that these plans were handed in by the Bryn Athyp Village Associa-
tion in rosponso to an order and notification to said association by the Commis-
sioner of Health for the abatement of a nuisance.
The village of Bryn Athyn is located in Moreland township in the southeastern
comer of Montcromery County and along the Pennypack Creek, which follows a
windine southerly course of about eleven miles from Bryn Athyn to Holmosburg,
Philadelphia, where it joins the Delaware River. Bryn Athyn consists of about
twenty-two dwellings and is strictly a suburban residential district on the Phila-
delphia, Newtown and New York (Philadelphia and Reading Railway system)
fifteen miles north of Philadelphia.
The topography in the vicinity is rolling, almost hilly, and by far the greater
part of the territory is under cultivation.
From Bryn Athyn station a road extends eastward, after a short distance
branching into two parallel avenues along w'hich are located the houses of the
villaee and which join again iust before reaching the Second Street pike, half
a mile east of the station. The two avenues of the village are respectively on
the north and south slopes of a distinct ridcre which extends westward almost to
the Pennypack Creek, to whifli the cultivated ravines north and south of the ridge
drain. The railroad follows the course of the creek, being between it and the
village Vmt frossintr to its wfstern bank immediately above.
The Academy of the New Church is situated adjacent to Bryn Athyn on the
eastern side of tho Second Street pike.
Water is furnished for the inhabitants of the village and for several fire
plugs through the pines of the Village Association. The water is obtained from a
deep, dug well in the castei-n part of the village and is pumped to an elevated
tank. The Academy's water supply is said to be obtained from a drilled well
and it is further said that the two water works systems are connected.
Practically ev»ry house in the village is connected to the public water works
system , aItho\igh there is one private well in use.
There are perhaps four thousand feet of six inch and eight inch collecting
Hewers, there being a branch in eaeh avenue and one branch extending, Sf) it is said,
to the main buildinK of the Academy of the New Church. There are a number of
manholes on these sewers which, howev<'r, are not straight in line and grade
between the manholes. Roof water is admitted to the sewers in a few cases but
no storm water from the trround. the latter being taken care of where necessary
by short storm drains, Twn automatic flush tanks installed on the sewer lines
are used only ocensionally.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 959
The eight inch outlet sewer running in a westerly direction terminates in a
small screen chamber from which the sewage enters a dosing tank or flush tank
six feet by ten by about three feot deep to the flow line. This tank is discharged
automatically by a syphon into a chamber at the side of the tank two and a
half feet by three feet by four feet deep, from which the sewage enters a six inch
pipe. The screen chamber, tank and syphon chamber are of c<mcrete and
are located on the brow of a steep slope extending down to the railroad tracks
near the station of Bryn Athyn, which is within about two hundred feet of this
tank. The six inch outlet pipe extends a short distance to a concrete switch box
by means of wliicli the sewage was at one time diverted either northward to a site
to be descrilied later, or southward one hundred feet or so along the slope of
the hill opposite the station and within two hundred feet thereof and also im-
mediately above the station well. The disposal of sewage over the hillside at this
site is said to have become a most objectionable nuisance and, therefore, to have
been abondoned. The six inch pipe leading northward from the switch box
is the only outlet now used. This extends four hundred and seventy feet around
the nose of the hill into the valley north of Bryn Athyn. Here the pipe enters
a switch box by means of which the sewage is distributed onto either or both
ends of a broken stone filter. This filter has concrete walls and a concrete bot-
tom and its inside dimensions are about forty feet by fifteen feet by five and a
half feet deep. Tiiere is a depth of aI)out three feet of broken stone. Outlet pipes
convey the effluent to a syphon tank immediately below the filter bed. This is of
brick construction, cement lined, and is five feet by ten feet by about three and a half
feet deep to the flow line. The syphon tank discharges into a channel of half pipe
extending about one hundred and fifty feet along one side of an area about fifty
feet wide. This area was evidently at one rime prepared by levelling it off somewhat
for the reception of the sewage effluent but is now overgrown and channelled so
that the unpurifiod sewage now trickles in several distinct streams down a
steep bank at the edge of the disposal area into the Pennypack Creek.
The broken stone filter is two hundred feet from the northern avenue of Bryn
Athyn and only about four hundred feet from the nearest cottages of that vil-
lage. The disposal area below the filter is only about one hundred feet from
a pair of unoccupied, small frame dwellings on unimproved ground along the
railroad and in the woods. In spite of the close proximity of the disposal plant
to several of the houses of the village the plant is quite secluded, being almost
entirely surrounded by trees.
The effluent en<^ers the creek in the lower part of a stretch of back water extending
up stream about fifteen hundred feet from a dam about four feet high located
just above the station. Six feet is said to be the greatest elevation above the dam
crest that the water during flood periods ever reaches. Below the dam the creek
flows rapidly in riffles over a stony bed, while further below its course is again
through quiet pools. Several hundred feet below the disposal plant and below the
dam, several dwellings are located on the immediate bank of ihe creek and on
below the course of the creek is through pasture and cultivated lands.
The Academy of the New Church comprises a main building and two dormi-
tories, one for girls and one for boys, and a dining hall in which is located a
laundry, it is said, and also a power plant. The main building is connected to
the Bryn Tthyn sewer. The dormitories and dining hall and laundry are east
of a divide b(!tween them and Bryn Athyn and could be connected to' its sewer
only, ' through a deep cut or perhaps a wide detour. The sewage from these
buildings is conducted eastward across a public road into a concret(> tank about
five feet by ten feet in plan, from which it is discharged into either of two
percolating cesspools about six feet in diameter. During the college year there
is said to be considerable overflow from the cesspools, which overflow follows a
southeasterly course in a slight natural depression for nearly one tliousand feet
and then enters a small run which flows past a farm house and during high water
floods the spring house of the property and eventually enters a branch of
Pennypack Cn>ek, joining the creek proper at Bethayres" Station. Tlic (iisi)osal
up to the time of the sewage entering the run is on cultivated and pasture
lands, said to be owned by the academy, as is also the farmstead mentioned. There
live at the academy during the fall, winter and spring about one hundred and fifty
people.
The design for the new sewage disposal plant for Bryn Athyn, submitted for
approval of the Department, is for a plant to handle eighteen' thousand gallons
of sewage per twenty-four hours and to be located at the site of the present dis-
posal plant, most of the parts of which are to be incorporated in the new
worlcs.
The sewage will enter a concrete grit chamber three feet by three and a half
by three feet deep to the flow line. Thence the flow will pass by means of two
five inch submersed soil pipes into the two similar compartments of the septic
tank, each five feet wide by ten feet long by six and six-tenths feet deep to the
flow line. In each tank will be .placed three baffle boards extendine: the full
depth of the contents and jutting from alternate sides to one foot from the opposite
side, thus providing a tortuous course for the sewage tlirough the septic tanks
and comiiensating for ilieir shortness. The outflow from the tanks is to be
tliiMugh five inch submerged soil pipes. Cast iron drain pipes with four inch gate
valves are to be provided at the outlet ends of the tanks as sludge drains, the
960 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
plans showing no further provisions for slude disposal. The tanks are to have
a plank covering. The two parts of the septic tank, having a combined ca'pacity
of six hundred and sixty cubic feet, equal to four thousand niue hundred and
forty gallons, will provide for a period of flow in the tanks of only six and six-
tenths houi-s on the average.
The septic tanks will be constructed above and iraiuediatoly adjacent to the
existing screen chamber and dosing tank, both of which will be filled with large
stones to above the flow line and will receive the septic effluent. This chamber is
termed a digestion tank. The flow line in it, the new septic tank and the grit
chamber will all be on the same level. The long discharging leg of the syphon will
be removed, so that the sewage will flow continuously from the old syphon chamber
to the existing six inch pipe through Ihe switch box, which is to be cemented
to allow flow in one direction only, to the new dosing tank to be built just
above contact beds to be installed in the old broken stone filter.
This dosing tank is to be of concrete, ten by fourteen feet by two feet deep to
the discharging level It will be discharged by each of three four inch aerlock se-
quence dosing syphons in turn respectively into three small discharge chambers,
from each of which the sewage will pass onto one of the three broken stone con-
tact beds. These beds are to be formed by dividing the old filter bed into three
parts. Each part will be fourteen feet ten inches by twelve feet ten inches and
filled with broken stone to a depth of about four and a half feet. The beds will
be furnished with horse-shoe tile underdrains with vent pipes to the surface at
the upper ends, the lower ends of the drains in each contact bed converging to
a sump. From the sump in each bed a two inch plain syphon and a one and a
half inch (Irain 'pipe with a gate valve will discharge into a common outlet
chamber below the beds. These gate valves will be left open sufficiently to drain
off the sewage collecting after the syphon discharge is broken. On an average of
once in two and sixty-four hundredths hours, or about one in eight hours on
each bed, the syphon tank will deliver a dose of two hundred and sixty-five feet,
sufficient to fill the bed to a depth of three and a half feet, allowing forty per cent,
for voids. One of the four inch syphons, it is said, will deliver a dose in about
eight minutes and the sewage arising above the bend of the plain syphon more
rapidly than the latter can carry it off, is intended to put this syphon in action
discharging the sewage from the contact bed as soon as the latter is tilled. The
plain two^inch syphon should discharge one of the contact beds in from thirty-
five to fifty minutes, depending upon the details.
From the outlet chamber below the contact beds the present five inch terra cotta
pipe is to convey the sewage to the existing syphon dosing tank below the contact
beds. This tank is five feet by ten feet and discharges at a depth of about three and
a half feet, its capacity being about one hundred and seventy-five cubic feet. From
this tank the sewage is to pass to a gate chamber by means of which it will be pos-
fiiter will be thirtv by twenty-four feet and each will have a depth of sand of three
feet above the bottom of the four inch tile under-drains. These are to be vented at
the upper ends and to discharge at the lower ends onto the creek bank. The dis-
tribution of the sewage upon the filters will be effected by means of troughs of one
and one-quarter inch spruce boards. The total area of the three filters being two
thousand one humhvd and sixty square feet will provide for filtration at the rate
of about three hundred and sixty-three thousand gallons per acre per day. The small
existing syphon tank, with a capacity of one hundred and seventy-five cubic feet,
would flood all three filters at once to a depth of not quite one inch, or .one filter
at a time to a depth of about three inches. Although a larger dose would be deliv-
ered at one time from one of the contact beds, the flow would bo much more
If it be true that the Bryn Athyn Village Association is a voluntary association
of property owners not incorporated under the laws of the CommonweitHli and that
the usei-s of the sewerage system will be responsible collectively and individually for
the undertaking, then it would appear tluit there is no publii; authority having by
H\v the charge of the sewer system, duly (lualilied under tin' law to receive from
the f'ommissioner of Health a permit for the discharge of sewage into any of the
w'lters of the State. So, in this case it appears that the Commissioner is merely
called upon to consider the plans submitted and suggest wherein they may, in his
opinion, be improved. ' , ^ , • i c i i • i
The existing disposal plant has been coraplamed of as a local nuisance damaging
the nronerty adjacent to the area below the broken stone filter, on which unimproved
nror'erty are located the two frame dwellings mentioned. A new plant at tlie same
ocation would probably be just as great a nnisance to Ijie owner of IJiis property
Moreovi-r tlif location of the plant witlim two hundred feet of the i)ublic road and
onlv 'I little farther from the nearest houses of Hryn Athyn is extremely unde-
sir-lble and will become more so if ailditional cottages are built along tin- road and
nearer to the disposal [dant. The association should bear these facts in mind and
that even though stream pollution is disronlirmed by the installation of an im-
i.rfive.i wf.\vii"e purificHtion jilant, the latter, at the site of the present plant, ma^.
become -I local nuisan.-e such as the present plant seems to he, requiring large addi-
tional expenditures for its abatement. At several points up stream from Ihe present
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 961
sewage disposal plauL tbeie ai"e much more secluded spots where a new plant might
be erected aud be less apt to create a nuisance. All of these points are within one
thousand feet of the present plant aud the sewage could be conveyed to any one of
them from the end of the present out- fa 11 sewer by gravity. The bottom of the
present broken stone hltor is at an elevation of about forty feet above the normal
level of the creek above the dam, and all of the sites mentioned where disposal plants
might be erected are within the distance for which the back water extends up-stream
from the dam.
The period of flow provided for in the septic tank is too short. The size of the
septic tanks should be increased, preferably by lengthening them, so as to provide
for the sewage reiuaiiiiug in them at least twelve houi"s ; a still longer period would
be better. It would be well to provide a gauging weir at the outlet of the septic
tank or some other suitable place for the tanks should be provided with vents.
Definite means should be provided for disposing of the sludge from the septic
tanks, which provision has been omitted from the design. Trouble will be apt to
arise from the obstructing of the stone filled digestion tank. The sewer invert at the
outlet of the digestion tauk is only seven-tenths feet above the invert at the inlet to
the dosing tank above the contact beds aud, moreover, this sewer rises about two
feet just before entering the dosing tank so that it will always operate under a head.
It is said to have been well laid with joints carefully and completely cemented. All
the e.xisling construcciou appears to be of a first class character.
The small dosing tank now in use below the broken stone filter will probably be of
advantage in delivering the sewage quickly upon the sand filters.
The sand filters to be constructed below the contact beds provide for the filtration
of the .sewage at a rate too high to assure a satisfactory effluent. The filtering area
should be increased so as to reduce the rate to one hundred thousand gallons per acre
per day, or thereabouts. If necessary, the dosing tank should be enlarged so as to
deliver the sewage upon the filtere sufficiently rapidly and to a suflicient depth to
procure equal distribution. All roof water should be excluded from the sewers.
It has been determined that the Commissioner of Health notify the applicants,
and the Bryn Athyn Village Association is hereby and herein notified, that if the
alterations in the design are made as suggested the effluent from the plant, if prop-
erly operated, should prove a satisfactory effluent. These w^orks, as modified or
amended or some other works which must be approved by the Commissioner of
Health before coustruction, shall be built on or before December first, nineteen
hundred and eight, and they shall receive and purify the sewage on said date and
thereafter.
When the works are built, complete plans of them as so built shall be filed in the
office of the Commissioner of Health and no sewage whatsoever shall be discharged
from the sewer system or disposal works either directly or indirectly into the
waters of the State.
It is the intention of the State Department of Health to occasionally inspect the
disposal works and if at any time it be found that sewage is passing therefrom into
the waters of the State, then such remedial measures shall be enforced by said asso-
ciation as the Commissioner of Health may approve or advise.
The authorities of the Academy of the New Church will be advised to confer with
the Bryn Athyn Village Association with the idea of conveying all the sewage of
the Academy to the proposed disposal plant of the Association, if this is feasible,
and thus most readily discontinuing the pollution of the waters of the State by the
sewage of this institution.
Harrisburg, Pa., August 25th, 1908.
MORGANZA, CECIL TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Pennsylvania Reform School.
This application was made by the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Reform
School at Morganza, Cecil Township, Washington County, and is for permission to
erect sewage disposal works for the treatment of the institution's sewage.
On February eleventh, nineteen hundred and eight, the Commissioner of Health
sent a communication to the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Reform School,
at Morganza, I'eiinsylvania, the following being a copy thereof:
"Cieutlemen: --The (Jovcrnor, Attorney General and the Commissioner of Health
of the State have had under eunsideratiou the sewerage system and disposal works
at Washington, at Canonsbuig aud at South Canonsburg, all of which are in the
valley of Chartieis Creek above your institution. They have also had under con-
sideration tlie sewage of places along the creek below and decrees have been issued
looking towards the ultimate discontinuance of the discharge of sewage into the
stream at these places.
"It has also been unanimously agreed by the above State officials that the proper
oflicei"s of your institution sliouhl i)e notified of the desirability of the treatment of
the sewage of the institution, iu>t only from the standpoint of obviating a possible
nuisance in Chariiei-s Creek and of consistency in ceasing to do the thing there which
61— IT— 190S
962 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
should be prevented at points above to protest whatever rights these institutions may
have in the waters of the creek- — which rights are common ones only — but also from
the standpoint of general example to private corporations and municipalities as to
proper method to pursue in abating a custom which tlie host citizens of the Com-
monwealth unite in declaring shall become oDsuiolo. j-ue Oepartment will be glad
to advise and co-operate with you."
In compliance with an announcement dated August twenty-ninth, nineteen hun-
dred and eight, made by the Superintendent to the Commissioner of Health, of the
purpose of the management to prepare plans for a new sewer system and disposal
works, on November twelfth, plans for sewerage and sewage disposal works were
submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
It appears that the I'euusylvauia Reform School is a State institution, comprising
a population, inclitding otticers, of about live hundred and Hfty, located in Cecil
Township, Washington County, on the Chartiers Valley Branch of the Pittsburg,
Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, twenty-one miles from Pittsburgh and
eleven miles from Washington borough, the county seat of Washington County.
The railroad is in the valley of Chartiers Creek. This stream rises in the neigh-
borhood of Washington borough and empties into the Ohio River south of Pittsburgh
Washington borough has been required to erect sewage purification works and plans
have been approved for such works for the boroughs of Cauonsburg and South
Canonsburg, about one and a half miles up-stream from Morgauza.
Chartiers Creek flows in a general northeasterly direction, but by the Reforma-
tory property the course is very winding, so that it forms both the eastern, southern
and western boundary of the property, a total distance of about one mile. Back
from the creek there is a bluff about one hundred feet above the valley and on it are
the main buildings of the institution. The uattiral drainage facilities are superior.
There is no need of conveying surface drainage long distances underground.
The main building and the cottages on either* side of it discharge their drainage
and roof water into a tvv'elve inch sewer pipe which is laid northerly to near the
main road laid out northwesterly through the rising ground, in which district the
future additions to the institution in the line of buildings are to be erected. The
topography is such that the surface waters drain from this area to a little gully north
of the road which extends northeasterly to the creek. The main sewer, fifteen inches
in diameter, begins at the road where the said twelve inch sewer and a ten inch and
six inch sewer unite. Thence the fifteen inch drain is laid down the gully and at
present empties into Chartiers Creek at a point about eight hundred feet up-stream
from ilorganza Run, a natural water course rising to the northwest and draining
about three square miles. It is on this run that the institution water works dam is
located. The said sewer outlet is half a mile below the railroad and llie Morganza
Station and a half mile below an intake and pump house used to furnish creek
water to the State buildings as an emergency supply.
The said ten inch sewer serves the school house, bakery and shops; the said six
inch sewer serves the hospital. These buildings are all south of tlie main road.
The laundry is conne(;ted to the main sewer line.
The Girls' Building is north of the road and the main sewer and it has its own
eight inch sewer outlet to the creek. The point of discharge is about two hundred
feet below the main outlet.
No profiles or details as to location of manholes and grades of these sewers have
been presented. It is known that the twelve inch sewer line is jji a leaky condition.
In places where it has been unearthed, joints are broken and occasionally the
structure has collapsed.
The other buildings on the grounds, such as stables, barns and private dwellings
for the farmer and his assistants, have independent facilities for disposal of house-
hold wastes. Three of the dwellings have pipe connections for sink drainage to
ditches leading to Morganza Run. These are below the water works intake. JOlse-
where on the ground ordinary privy vaults are in use. There is a barnyard di'ain
from the main stable north of tlie road to tiie gully hereinbefore iiu'Uiioned.
To the leaky condition of the twelve inch sewer has been attributed the typhoid
fever outbreak in the institution during the current season. It is known that the
Hewage can pass seventy-five feet horizontally and fifteen feet vertically tlii'ough the
structure intervening between the sewer and a natural sjiring, and it is believed
that this direct percolation through the made ground contiibutcd to the contamina-
tion of the spring from which water was drawn for drinking purposes.
The plans submitted pi'ovide for the discontinuance of the said eigiit inch and
fifteen inch outlets into (jhartiers Creek and the substitution tluuud'or of a modern
sewage treatment plant to be located on tin; neck of land in the bend of the creek
opposite and east of said outlets. The site selected is elevated about twenty feet
above the creek and it is n mole from any settlement. There are two fai'iri dwellings
within a radius of one thousand feet
The land selected does not belong to the State at this linic J'art (jf the tract is
subject to floods, much of it is under cultivation.
Here it is proposed to erect works to treat om; hundred thousand gallons of sewage
per day. The pluiit is to consist of septic tanks, sprinkling filters, settling basins
and .sand filters. Septic tanks an; to bi- built of concrete construction roofed over,
two in nundjer, each twenty-five feet long by ten feet wide by nirn; i'(u't (h^ep, in-
terior dimenaions, holding jointly eight hours llovv, based on the nominal capacity
of the plant. The flow of the sewers has been estimated to be very considerably
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 963
below a daily discharge of one hundred thousand gallons, the fact being attributable
to the leaks on the sewers. Between the septic tanks, end to end, is the screen
chamber and a dosing chamber. The sewage will pass from the screen chamber
through a non-submerged pipe into the septic tank and flow around the opposite end
and return on the other side of a lateral wall to the outlet weir, first passing under
a submerged batlie provided to keep the scum within the tank. This overflow is into
the dosing chamber holding a maximum of five hundred gallons. In this chamber will
be set up an automatic syphon. The course of the sewage through the other septic tank
is similar, it leaving the same screen chamber and flowing into the same dosing cham-
ber. So the efHuenc from the septic tank will be discharged intermittently in com-
paratively small doses onto the sprinkling filters.
The flow line of the septic tank is elevation nine hundred thirty-seven and a half.
Two and a half feet higher is the elevation of the sewage in the syphon chamber
proposed to be located twelve hundred feet distant in the institution grounds on the
line of the present fifteen inch sewer main near the Girls' Building and below the
laundry connect i(<n. It is proposed to connect the Girls' Building directly by a new
eight inch sewer line about three hundred feet long to this chamber. This collecting
chamber is low enough in elevalitm to admit of the interception of the sewage from
all additional buildings which may be erected on the grounds in the future, unless
the sites bo selected on the low grounds in the immediate vicinity of the creek. The
new power house for economic purposes is being built on the line of the railroad
in the valley. It will be provided with a cesspool and sub-soil disposal plant of
its own.
From the said collecting chamber it is proposed to build two lines of six inch cast-
iron inverted syphon to carry the sewage across the valley and under the creek
and deliver it by gravity to the proposed works on the higher ground beyond.
The sprinkling filters are to be two in number, each thirty by thiny-five feet,
giving a combined area of two thousand square feet. They are to be five feet deep ;
the average rate of treatment will be two million gallons per acre per day. Details
of these filters have not been submitted.
The filters are all on one concrete base, sixty feet long by thirtj--five feet wide.
Half way the length there is a division wall, two feet high, supporting the main
distributing pipe, and either way from this wall the filter floor slopes gently to the
side wall two and a half feet high. The balance of the vertical height of filter
material will be retained in natural slope. Through the outer wall every eighteen
inches are holes opposite the parallel rows of five inch half tile underdrain pipes,
through which the efHueut will How into a collecting channel into the settling basins,
one basin for each half filter bed. The sprinkling filter effluent will be subjected to
about three houi-s' sedimentation in these basins. The overflow will be into another
dosing chamber between the subsidence basins. It will be built of concrete like the
others and have a capacity of sixteen hundred gallons. This determines the size of
the dose to be delivered onto the sand filters on the basis of flooding one sand filter
a little over one inch in depth.
The surface of the sprinkling filters is five feet below the bottom of the septic tank
dosing chamber. The elevation of the sand filter dosing tank at the bottom is
eighteen inches above the sand filter. A ten inch cast-iron pipe will deliver the sewage
to the sprinkling filters and a ten inch cast-iron pipe will deliver the sprinkling
filtrate to the sand beds.
The sand filters are four in number, each forty feet by fifty feet, thus forming
a total area of eight thousand square feet. Sand is to be two and a half feet deep
resting on earth bottom puddled. The walls are to be of concrete. The underdrains
are to be six inches in diameter laid in parallel rows ten feet apart. They will lead
to the central collecting chamber fi-om which the main effluent pipe will lead to the
creek. The level of the bottom of sand bed is elevation nine huiulred and seventeen
and a half. It is reported that freshets never reach this height.
The drainage from septic tanks and from the settling basins is to be conducted by
independent eight inch cast-iron pipe to a sludge bed. Details of this bed have not
been submitted.
The si)rinkling filter effluent will be discharged onto the sand filters at an average
rate of five hundred thousand gallons per acre per day.
The present sewers admit both sewage and storm water. They are in a very
defective condition and without proper inspection manholes. The main line and pos-
sibly some of the branches may crumble lo pieces and become absolutely useless at
any time. This conclusion is fully warranted by the discoveries made at the time
excavations were carried on over the main sewer line in building the basement of one
of the new cottages. It would not appear to be economy to plan on continuing the
use of these faulty structures. An examination should be made, however, to deter-
mine what portion of ea<h branch sewer may be continued permanently in use.
It is not praetical)le to attempt to treat mingled roof water and sewage. The
Morganza Institution is an old »)ne, a rebuilding of it along modern lines is now
being undertaken, and the State will ultimately have there an extensive reformatory.
The plateau has already been laid out into streets and plots for the new buildings.
Additional sewers will aggregate several times the total length of existing sewei-s.
It is not too late to plan a complete sanitary sewer system and an independent
storm water drainage system. In fact, now is the time, before any more work be
964 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Dbc.
done, to study the problem and prepare such plans and adopt them. Then the
work of construction can proceed annually as the additions are called for and the
money is made available for the improvements.
At the present time there are some storm drains in the grounds. The location
of these is not indicated on the plan, so the Department is not in a position to give
specific advice relative to the details of a separation of sewage from storm water.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approving the proposed plans for the sewage disposal works, and the same are
hereby and herein approved and a permit issued tberefor under the requirement
that these works be built during the season of nineteen hundred and nine under an
appropriation which the Board of Managers shall endeavor to secure, and under the
further conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That the Board of Mauagei-s shall, on or before January first, nineteen
hundred and ten, prepare comprehensive plans for a new sanitary sewerage system
for the entire institution, present and prospective, and submit the same to the State
Department of Health for approval.
SECOND: After the purification w-orks herein approved are built, they shall be
operated in such a way that no sewage whatsoever shall be discharged therefrom
into the waters of the State. The records of the operation shall be kept on blank
forms satisfactory to the Department of Health and copies thereof shall be filed in
the office of the Commissioner of Health.
THIRD: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, a nui-
sance or menace is being created at the disposal works, or if the same may become
prejudicial to public health, then such remedies shall be adopted as the State De-
partment of Health may approve or advise.
FOURTH: Detail plans of the works as constructed shall be filed in the oQice of
the State Department of Health within six months of the date of the completion of
the plant and the Department shall be notified when the works are put in operation.
The unsanitary condition of the main sewer warrants the securing of an appropria-
tion for the immediate substitution of it by a new structure and it is suggested that
such an appropriation be obtained to become available after the comprehensive plans
for sewerage herein called for are approved.
Harrisburg, Pa., November 19th, 1908.
MOUNT CARMEL, NORTHUMBERLAND.
This application was made by the borough of Mount Carmel, Northumberland
County, Pennsylvania, and is for approval of plans for the outfall sewer and sewage
disposal plant.
It appears that on August thirteenth, nineteen hundred and six, the Commis-
sioner of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania issued a permit to the
borough of Mount Carmel to construct intercepting sewers and an outfall sewer for
the borough sewerage system in compliance with an application duly made and
bearing date of May^twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred and six, subject to certain con-
ditions stipulated therein. These conditions were as follows:
"That within six montJis from the date of this permit the borough shall prepare
and submit to the Commissioner of Health for approval, plans of receptacles for the
sewage which it is proposed to deliver to the outfall sewer, which receptacles shall
be df'signed to be operated on the subject principle whereby the solids in the sewage
will be separated from the liquid portion thereof, and wherein bacterial activity
inimical to the life of pathological organisms shall be promoted, which plans may
be modified or amended by the Comniissicuicr of Health, and he shall fix the time
within which the borough shall buil<i s.iid nc.ptacles or intercepting chambers.
"Before the outfall sewer shall havi' In' n constructed very far below the borough
limits the borough shall determine wlnihcr the sewage tanks shall be located at a
point in the valley where the (jutfall sewer can discharge sewage into the tanks by
gravity, or whether they shall be located near the borough and the sewage pumped
into them, and plans of this location shall be submitted to the Commissioner of
Health for his ajtproval befon; the outfall sewer is constructed.
"The sewer system wilhin the limits of the borough may be extended from time
to time according to the plans proposed. At the close of each season's work, plans
and profiles of the sewers built during the year shall be prepared and filed with the
Commissioner of Heallli. , , .
"That a satisfactory plan and profile with details of the intercepting sewers and
outfall sewer, intercepting chambers and storm overflows shall be made and filed
with the Commissioner of Health on or before January first, nineteen hundred and
seven.
"That snitabh manholes shall be provided on the intercepting and outfall sewers
at intervals of not over three Iniixlri'd and fifty feet, aii<l niimlhly inspections shall
be made of these sewers by the borough and a rej)ort siihiiiilled (liei'cof to the Com-
missioner of Health on blanks to be suggested by the said Commissioner, and in case
said sewers become clogged, or accumulate deposits, 1 hereby rendering them insani-
tary in the opinion of the ('ommissioner of Health, such remedial measures shall
be put in force as the f lommissioner of Health may dinict.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 965
"The permission to discharge scwaRo from the sewage tanks into the creek is con-
tingent on the fact that no nuisance or menace shall be caused by such a discharge.
If at any lime the Commissioner of Health determines that the interests of the
public health demand it, the borough shall adopt such measures as shall be approved
by the Commissioner of Health for the removal of any menace to health resulting
rrom such discbarge.
"This permit to discharge excess storm water and sewage through the various
storm water overflows into the water courses is on the condition and express stipula-
tion that if at any time such discharge, in the opmion of the Commissioner of
Health, is injurious, or may become injurious to the public health, then the bor-
ough shall adopt means to be approved by the Commissioner of Health to obviate the
trouble . .
"This permit is given with the understanding and stipulation that the munici-
palities bordering on Shamokin Creek below Mount Carmel will not offer any objec-
tions to the discharge of unlreated sewage from Mount Carmel into Shamokin
Creek. If such an objection is made, then the borough shall adopt measures to be
approved by the Ctmimi-ssioner of Health for the treatment of such sewage.
"No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into the sewer
system. Proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be incinerated on the
premises."'
In comnliance with these conditions the borough has submitted detailed plans of
the sewage purification plant and for an outfall sewer and has made a formal applica-
tion for approval of these plans, said application bearing date of February fourth,
nineteen hundred and seven.
It will be noted that Mount Carmel is a mining community of fifteen thousand
people, located in the Upper Shamokin Valley near the beadwatei-s of Shamokin
Creek. At a point nine miles below Mount Carmel on Shamokin Creek is the bor-
ough of Shamokin and twenty-eight and three-tenths miles below Mount Carmel the
creek empties into the Susquehanna River. Marysville and Harrisburg are the
nearest towns below Mount Carmel that use water from this creek for drinking
purposes.
Shamokin Creek passes through the extreme northern portion of the borough and
flows westerly. During the dry season the natural flow from the creek is extremely
small due to the small watershed which this creek drains above the borough, but its
capacity is augmented four or five times during this period by water from the mines
in the Vicinity. The limewater carries considerable free sulphuric acid in addition
to sediment in the form of iron and coal dirt. The deposits from the material car-
ried in Rusi)nusion has silted up the natural channel of the creek through the borough
and for a distance of two miles west, so that the water flows in a thin sheet over the
natural channel and the neighboring banks.
An extensive combined system of sewers has been installed in the borough. This
system is arranged with intercepters at the low points along Shamokin Creek in
the northern and western portions of the borough where the dry weather flow is
diverted into an intercepting sewer and the wet weather flow is discharged directly
into the creek. On account of the difficulty experienced in carrying off the sewage
during extremely dry weather from the borough limits a plan was prepared for con-
structing an outfall sewer to extend down the valley of Shamokin Creek for a dis-
tance of about two miles to a point where the flow in the creek during dry periods is
sufficiently concentrated to carry off the sewage. This eighteen inch outfall sewer
and the intercepters were to be constnicted under the permit granted on August
thirteenth, nineteen hundred and six, subject to the conditions hereinbefore quoted,
which were deemed necessary for the general interests of the public health.
The proposed sewage disposal plant is to be located upon a piece of waste ground
on the north bank of Shamokin Creek nearly three miles west of the borough limits.
The nearest settlement is Locust Gap Junction, which is two thousand feet east of
the site. The surrounding conditions are such that no dwellings are likely to be con-
structed in the vicinity and the site is, therefore, well isolated. The site is rec-
tangular in shape, two hundred feet wide and seven hundred feet Ions approxi-
mately, with the long side parallel to the creek. The surface of the ground is eight
feet above the normal water level in the creek and has a natural slope toward and
parallel with the creek, which furnishes economical excavation for the various
units. The sewage will be carried to the site by a:ravity through an eiirhteen
inch terra cotta sewer laid on a grade of one and one-tenth feet per thousand,
with velocity of one and seventy-nine hundredths feet per second when running
full and a capacity of two million gallons per day. Along this outfall sewer
manholes will be located every three hundred and fifty feet, which will afford
ample inspection facilities.
The sewage disposal plant consists of screen chambers, grit chambers, two septic
tanks, three sprinkling filters and a sludge bed, and is desisned to take care of nine
hundred thousand gallons of sewage per day. which wi>uld represent the sewage
from a population of eighteen thousand. The elevation of the flow line in the septic
tanks and grit chamber is fifteen and five-tenths and the bottom of the sludge bed is
minus one, so that there is a total drop in vertical feet in the plant of sixteen and
five-tenths. The water level in the creek immediately opposite the center of the
plant is at elevation four, but the creek drops rapidly and the outlet pipe from
the sludge beds will be extended to a point six hundred feet below the site, where
the normal water level in the creek will be sufficiently low to allow it to drain by
gravity. No data is given on the high water mark.
966 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The sewage enters the plant from the small concrete screen chamber located at the
inlet end of the srit chambers. This chamber will be seven feet six inches long by
seven feet wide by three feet deep, interior dimensions, and will be fitted with two
copper wire screens located in grooves, which permit of their being readily removed.
These screens will be composed of number twelve wire with one-half inch and
three-eighths inch diamond mesh , respectively. The top of the screen chamber will
be covered with a re-inforced concrete slab.
From the screen chamber the sewage flows into two grit chamber's, each of which
is located at the end of a septic tank compartment. These grit chambers are twenty-
five feet long by twenty feet wide by six feet six inches deep, interior dimensions,
and have a total capacity of forty-eight thousand gallons, which is sufficient for one
and one-fourth hours storage of sewage. The sewage is taken from the surface of
the screen diamber through two twelve inch valved openings, each of which leads
into *^he adjacent ends of the grit chambers. These openings discharge iuto the grit
chambers at a point two feet below the normal water level. Five feet from the inlet
and extending across the entire width of each grit chamber is a wooden baffle four
feet in height from the bottom of the chamber. The outlet consists of a twelve inch
valved opening located at the flow line in the middle of the outlet end of each cham-
ber. These valved openings connect directly to the septic tank compartments.
Water is drav.n off of the grit chamber through a six inch cast-iron pipe located
eighteen inches above the floor of each compartment. This pipe is provided with a
valve and also with a swivel joint arrangeniput, whereby the liqtiid can be drawn
from the surface as the tank is emptied. This liquid is carried by gravity through
a sludge line which extends the entire length of the plant to the lower end where the
sludge bed is located. The grit chamber \\U\ be built of re-inforced concrete M'ith a
six inch concrete bottom anil open top. The walls will be carried up to a height of
two feet above the flow line.
Immediately to the west of the grit chambers and separated therefrom by a parti-
tion wall are the two septic tank compartments. Each of these compartments is one
hr.ndred and fifty feet long by twenty-five feet wide by eight feet deep, interior
dimensions. The wall is carried to a height of two feet above the flow line, so that
the total average depth is ten feet. Both compartments have a total capacity of four
hundred and fifty thousand gallons, which is ample for a twelve hours' storage of
sewage.
The sewage enters the septic tank from its adjacent grit chamber through a twelve'
inch castiron pipe, which is valved and connected with the grit chamber near the'
flow line. The inlet end of this pipe in the septic tank is carried down to a depth
of eiehteen inches below the flow line of the tank. Sewage flows through the entire
length of the tank and is taken off: at the opposite end by means of three eight inch
outlets extending throuch the wall near the flow line and thence by means of elbows
to a depth of four feet below the flow line. These outlets are valved with eight inch
valves outside of the compartment and the sewage flows thence through a twelve inch
outfall sewer directly to the creek. Provision is made for a future connection to each
of these outlets, so that the sewage can be discharged into the distributing chamber
for the proposed sprinkling filters. Across the outlet end of each compartment there
is a wooden baffle board extending the entire width and to a depth of five feet below
the flow line. This baflle board is located four feet from the outlet wall and serves
to prevent the outlets from draining only a portion of the tank. There are also a
series of wooden haflles extendint;' across the entire width of the tank at intervals of
twenty-five feet throutrhout tlio hmgth. These baffles are three feet in width and
extend to a depth of eighteen iiiclies below the flow line. They serve to prevent Ihe
breaking up of the scum upon the surface of the tanks.
For draining the sludge from the septic tanks there is a fifteen inch trough extend-
ing through the entire length of the bottom. This trough is formed by means of fif-
teen inch split tile pipe and slojx's on the same grade willi Ihe l)iitt(im, which has a
drop of two feet from the outlet to the inlet end. Tlie end of this trough is con-
nected by means of a twelve inch gate valve connection to a twelve inch sludge pipe,
■which connects with the main sludge line leading to the sludge bed at the lower end
of the plant. In OT'df'r to facilitate the cleaning of one comi)artment there is a two
and one-half inch i)ipe with gate valves attached cxIfMuling llirnuiih the iiartition
wall between the ci>m))nrtm"nt>! at a distance of two and oue-IinU' feet above the floor.
This pipe will be used for flushing purpfjses.
The septic tank comttartments will be constructi'd of reinforced conci'ete similar to
the srit diamhers. 'I'lie walls will be twelve inches wide at the top and two fe(>t
wide at the bottom with a vertieal system of reinforcements extendinir into the floor
for a distance of five fi'et. No horizontal icinforcenient is shown in the walls. The
tanks will be uncovered. 'Hu' floor. will be comjiosed of a six inch layer of concrete
and, as stated above, will shiiie with a drop of two feet from the outlet to the inlet
end. It is proposed to provide an earth embankment around the walls of this com-
partment where the natural ground line is considerably below the top, but details of
thepe embankments aie not submitted.
One linndred and thirty feet west of thr- septic tanks will be the sludge bed. This
will be composed of an excavatirm trar)ezoidal in |)lan, witli a length of one hundred
and seventy feet and an average width of one hundred and forty feet. The excava-
tion for the sludge bed is made in the natuj-al gnuind and the earth excavated will be
used in forming an embankment around the bed to protect it from high water in thp
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 967
creek. The elevation of the top of this embankment is not given. The sludge bed is
estimated to have a capacity of storage of water and sludge for one grit chamber and
septic tank. The water level in the sludge bed will be six feet above the bottom. It
is proposed to operate this bed by allowing the water to gradually evaporate and then
to remove the dry solid matter left to one of the adjacent culm banks, where the culm
can be mixed with the sludge.
In case the evaporation of the water is not sufficiently rapid to accomplish this
purpose, a drain pipe consisting of ten inch cast-iron pipe is provided, which extends
to a point six hundred feet below the sludge bed, where it can empty into the creek
by gravity. This pipe is provided with a swivel joint in the sludge bed and a float
connection attached to it, so that the liquid contents can be drawn off from the sur-
face. This outlet is also properly valved.
As the location for this plant is on the side of a hill, provision must be made for
intercepting the run-off from the hillside above. This is taken care of in the plans
submitted by providing a gutter paved with field stones and extending along the entire
northern side of the site to a point below the sludge bed on the western end where it
empties into the creek.
In submitting the plans for these septic tanks, the borough authorities have made
provision for a higher degree of efficiency in the purification of the sewage, which
may be necessary in the future. For this purpose they propose to use sprinkling
filters, which will bo located on the land between the septic tanks and the
sludge bed.
The sprinkling filters will consist of three units, each one hundred and fifty-four
feet long and forty-three feet wide by five feet average depth, interior dimensions,
with a total area of four hundred and forty-five thousandths acres and a capacity of
eight hundred and ninety-one thousand gallons when operated at a i-ate of two million
gallons per acre per day. These filters will be controlled by a distributing chamber
of concrete one hundred and three feet long, four feet wide and six and one-half feet
effective depth, interior dimensions, extending across the outlet ends of the septic
tanks to the filters.
The walls of the filters .ire to be constructed of earth embankment formed from the
material excavated from the filter site. The tops of the walls will be three feet wide
and at a height of one foot above the filter surface. The walls will be battered on
both sides where necessary with a one to one slope. The bottom of the filters is to be
composed of a six inch layer of concrete with a fall of six inches from each end to
the center of the filter, Avhere the main outlet drain is located. The filters will be
filled with hard anthrac'te coal in sizes ranging from four inches in diameter to one-
half inch in diameter. The coai-ser material will be placed on the bottom and the
top foot will W^ composed entirely of material of one-half inch or under.
•The surface of the filter is located at a depth of five feet below the normal flow
line in lh<' septic tanks. It will be fed continuously from the distributing chamber
by means of a series of fixed spray nozzles located at intervals of fourteen feet over
the surface of the filter. The distributing chamber will serve mainly as a control
for the fluctuations in flo\v and these fluctuations will allow a variation in head on
the nozzles, which will n.'^sist in giving a uniform distribution of the sewage over the
surface.
From the bottom of the distributing chamber there is a five inch valved connection
to a wrought-iron pipe extending through the center of each filter for its entire
length. This pipe will be located at a depth of three feet below the surface of the
filter and will be supported from the filter by means of concrete columns. At in-
tervals of fourteen feet along the length of this distributing pipe will be located one
and on<'-fnurt!i inch wrought-ivon pipe laterals, which will extend for a distance of
fourteen feet from this distributor and will be connected with one inch risers ex-
tending to the surface of the filter. There will also be a one inch riser on the main
pipe line at thf» point where these laterals are taken off. On top of these risers will
be fixed sprinkling nozzles. No detail of these nozzles is submitted.
The nndi-rdrainage system consists of a ten inch terra cotta drain laid in a concrete
trough in the bottom of each filter extending through the center of the Iwttom for
the entire length. These drains slope towards the middle of each filter and are there
conn'^cted to a main drain which extends across all three filters and leads thence
directly to the creek. This main outlet drain is provided with a twelve inch valve
locntod in (he wall f>f the filter nearest the creek. At this outlet drain is approxi-
mately at the same level as the normal flow line in the creek, this valve is probably
provided to prevent flooding of the filter during the period of high water.
The site selected for this disposal plant appears to be well located with regards
to isolation and to an economical disposal of the sewage of the community. On
account of the nature of the valley of this creek it might be well to investigate the
conditions of high water flow and to determine whether the location of the plant so
close to the bank of the creek should be protected by means of a dyke around the
entire plant.
In constructing the outfall sewer according to the profile submitted to this De-
partment for approval, especial care should be taken in preventing carelessness in
the construction of the joints and the laying of the sewer in wet places. From the
profile it appears that the sewer is below the bed of the creek in many places arid if
the material in which this sewer is laid is porous there is grave danger of creek
968 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
water filtering in and overtaxing the capacity of both the sewer and the disposal
plant. It would probably be advisable at creek crossings and at extremely marshy
places to lay cast-iron pipe for short distances.
No provision is made in the septic tank compartments for measuring the flow of
sewage. It would be advisable to locate weirs on the outlet ends of these compart-
ments in order to determine the flow of sewage and also to equally distribute it
between the two units. In the details of the re-inforced concrete construction for the
walls of the septic tanks, tiiere is no horizontal I'e-inforcing material shown and no
provision made for expansion. In a wall one hundred and fifty feet long it is neces-
sary to make provision for taking up temperature stresses and expansion joints or
meta] should be placed in these walls to take care of horizontal expansions and con-
traction. Probably this was intended but not shown.
It is extremely probable that the operation of the sludge bed as a .settling tank will
be unsatisfactory. At the normal rate of evaporation in this section of the country,
it would take a considerable period to evaporate the water from a basin of this depth
and upon the completion of evaporation there would be another interval of time
before the sludge completely dried.
It would be more advisable to construct the sludge bed of some filtering medium,
such as sand, so that the liquid could be drained off immediately and the sludge
would be left deposited upon the surface.
In submitting plans for sprinkling filters the borough has carried the idea of a
complete design for a perfect plant, but it is not the intention to build the filtera at
first. The borough purposes to install the septic tanks until the State Department of
Health requires the tov.-n sewage to be taken out of the stream. It is reported that
during time of low water the volume of mine drainage in the creek is five times the
normal flow of the creek. Consequently the acid wastes destroy the sewage bacteria
to a considerable extent.
The plans for the sprinkling filters as submitted furnish an area sufficiently large
to purify the sewage. It might, however, be a difficult matter to operate these filters
continuously with fixed nozzles, as with the spacing given of fourteen feet center
to (renter it would require a nozzle with an extremely small orifice to accomplish this
result. It has been proven by experiment and also by several practical examples in
this country that it is more advisable to use a nozzle with a large orifice, such as
the Columbus nozzle, in order to prevent clogging, and this type of plant is usually
operated intermittently in order to allow these nozzles to spray the sewage elfectively
over the surface. The underdraining system would probably have to be extended
more completely a.s no provision is made for the inspection of the underdrains and
it might be more advisable to use drainage from the entire bottom. The question of
the advisability of using earth embankments for these sprinkling filters which might
allow an infiltration through them during the periods of high water is also a serious
one. Many plants using sprinkling filters are now being constructed throughout tHis
country, and it is probable that there will be many changes in the designs of these
plants during the next few years resulting from discoveries in connection with the
operation of the existing plants. On that account it would probably be more advis-
able for the borough authorities to submit plans for further purification of the sewage
when this is deemed necessary by the Department of Health. In this way they will
not be committed to the use of any fi.xed design and can modify their plans as im-
provements are made in the process.
On March thirteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, the borough solicitor of Mount
(,'armel and citizens of the town appeared before the Department, but not in an
official capacity, and invoked the aid of the Commissioner of Health in bringing
about a removal of the obstruction at the present outlet of the borough system near
the town. The foj-mer natural water course, where tlu! sewer ends, has been oblit-
erated so far as any well defined channel is concerned by the accumulation of culm.
(Consequently not only now but at all times Is there more or less of a nuisance by
reason of the spreading of the sewage over the flats whereon the suspended matters
art- stranded, but during freshets and at other times llieri- is an actual l)ackIl(ioding
of the sewer to the inconvenience of the property owners and lo the pi'ejudice of
public health, more especially in the lower parts of tlie borough.
The borough is aware of the fact that it is contributing to the luiisance by dis-
charginL' its sewage on the flats, but it represents that this discharge is being hsgally
<\ttnr^ unfler the permit of the Commissioner of Health. In the exorci.s(! of Ibis right so
appro\<Tj, it is impossible so to discharge the sewage without i)roducing a nuisance
until ide culm and other obstructions to the natural water course are removed.
The rjct'aii plans of the outfall sewer as now o(T<;red for approval will afford a
remedy which will rio away with this nuisance by conveying the si!wag(! down sti'eam
be|r)w the flats to the disposal works, where it is intended to construct the settling
tanks and Hliulge beds, leaving the further treatment of the sewage for future de-
termination.
It has b<'<'ii determined tlint the plans of the outfall sewer and sewage disposal
plant will subserve thi; jjiiblic interests and the same is hereby and lierein ap-
proved and a jjermit granted thi'rc;fo)".
I'MI'ST: That the borough officials shall cause the j)lans to be so modified as to
providr- measuring wrirs on the r)ullet ends of the sejitic tanks; expansion joints or
horizontal I'einforcement to lake cnv of changes m length in the walls of the
septic tanks; and sludge beds whieh will allow tlie liquid material to be filtered off
through sand as suggested previously in this permit.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 969
SECOND: That the various structures at this disposal plant be suitably pro-
tected from high water in the creek during times of flood and that plans be sub-
mitted to the Commissioner of Health, showing the proposed method of accomplish-
ing this purpose and also showing the proposed moditicatious in the plans of the
disposal plant on or before the commencement of construction.
THIRD: The disposal plant shall be operated under the supervision of a
municipal oHicer competent lo ovei-see a sewage purilication plant. Daily records
shall be kept on blank forms satisfactory to the Commissioner of Health, and copies
thereof shall be tiled in the oflice of the State Department of Health, together
with any otliei" information relating to the plant that may be required.
FOURTH; Permission to discharge sewage into the waters of the State from
the borough system shall cease on December first, nineteen hundred and nine
If at that time it appears the interests of the public health demand it, the Com-
missioner of Health may extend the time in which the sewage from the borough's
system may be discharged into the waters of the State.
FIFTH: This permit to discharge partially purified sewage from settling tanks
into the waters of the State is on the express condition that if at any time such
discharge, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, is injurious to the public
health, then the borough shall adopt additional purification units for further purifi-
cation of the sewage, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Health.
The attention of the local authorities is called to the fact that the State Depart-
ment of Health does not intend to urge the construction of a sewage disposal plant
for Mount Carmel at a date earlier than other municipalities in the region are re-
quired to treat their sewage unless, in the meantime, some local reason should
make compulsory the treatment of Mount Carmel sewage.
The main point is the fact that the present outlet at the borough sewer sj'stem
produces a nuisance, which may be remedied by carrying out the plans herein
approved. At what point into the system the borough shall discharge its sewage
in this instance it would seem should be settled by the local authorities themselves.
No doubt the present outlet is a menace and the borough should extend the outfall
sewer to the site of the disposal works and this work should be done during the
coming year.
There is ample opportuiiity to raise the proper funds and to construct this work
within the time specified, provided the borough has the ability to borrow or raise
the funds necessary to defray the cost. About this point the Department is not
informed.
Harrisburg, Pa., October 21st, 190S.
MT. UNION, HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Mt. Union, Huntingdon County,
Pennsylvania, and is for permission to construct a sewerage system and to dis-
charge the sewage therefrom, untreated, into the Juniata River within the limits
of the borough.
It appears that Mt. Union borough is an industrial community of about three
thousand two hundred population,' located along the south l)ank of the Juniata
river about eighty-six miles above the city of Harrisburg and twelve miles down
stream from Huntingdon, The river at this point forms the northern boundarv
of Huntingdon County and it bows out in a pronounced manner, ftu-mini; a neck
of land in the northern part of the borough three thousand feet northerly and about
four thousand five hundred feet wide east and west. This tract comprises flats
and the greater portion of the district was covered with water during the Johns-
town flood, but ordinary freshets do not reach these lands.
This neck is cut off from the southern part of the municipal territory by the
old Pennsylvania Canal, which, further east and west followed closely the
south bank of the river. South of the canal bed, long since abandoned for navi-
gable purpost>s. are the tracks, old location, of the main line of the Pennsylvania
Railroad between Philadelphia and I'ittsburgh. North of these tracks and on the
flats dwell possibly one-third of the entire borough population.
Recently the railroad company completed the improvements in the alignment of
its road bed through the town and the new location is partly in the old canal
bed line and partly north of the canal but near it. The old railroad hn'ation has
been practically abandoned for through trains. Crossings at grade at the new
track have been obviated, the two highways leading northerly to the flats, namely,
Jefferson and Division Streets, passing under the railroad. There is no pocket
in the grade of the street here. The tilling in of the canal bed interfered and cut
off certain surface drainage facilities, and as a sulistitution therefor the rail-
road company donated twelve thousand dollars to the borough (which was api)lied
to a new storm water system* and constructed an open ditch east from Division
Street along the new railroad embankment north of the slope a distance of twenty-
two hundred feet to the Juniata River.
During nineteen hundred and seven, the borough built a twenty-four inch
storm drain on JelTerson Street from Shirley Street immediately south" of the old
railroad track northerly to Poplar Street and thence easterly in said street to
the open ditch above mentioned. It also built a fifteen inch storm drain in Water
970 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Street from Washington to Jefferson ; also a storm drain eighteen inches and twenty
inches in diameter in Division Street from Market Street northerly to Poplar
Street and the ditch; also an eighteen, twenty and twenty-four inch storm drain
in Shirley Street easterly from Division to Hill Valley Run, a distance of about two
thousand' feet. This run forms the borough boundary at this point.
Shirley Street is the principal thoroughfare in the borough east and west and
Division" Street and Jeiferson Street north and south. The two last named
thoroughfares ascend very rapidly from the old railroad tracks. The extension
of Division Street out into the country in the south is called Hill Valley Road.
Shirley Street is approximately thirty feet higher than the old railroad track
and the laud continues to rise rapidly to the south, the higher portions of the bor-
ough being over two hundred feet above the flats. It thus appears that natural
drainage is afforded.
The storm drams mentioned are said to receive sewage from one street only,
namely, the old railroad sewer in Pennsylvania Avenue along the old tracks.
Temporary counections are said to have been made with both the Division and
Jefferson Street storm drains, but it is intended that the sewage shall be dis-
charged into the sanitary sewer system as soon as such sewers shall be pro-
vided.
The leading industries are two large brick plants. One is the Harbison-
Walker Refractories Company, employing about four hundred hands in the
manufacture of tire and silica brick, and the Mt. Union Silica Brick Company,
employing about one hundred and fifty workmen. These two plants erected
since the last census have more than doubled the population of the borough.
They are permanent works and assure a stable prosperity to the town.
There is a small sole leather tannery in the borough along the canal west.
Pt)ssibly twenty men work here. The trade wastes are emptied into a small run
which flows down from the gully in the side of the mountain. It passes through
the Harbison- Walker plant.
The general disposition of sewage and kitchen drainage at the present time
throughout the borough is in the ordinary privy vault and cesspool or to the
street gutters. Probably not over thirty cesspools of the percolating type are in
use and in each instance these properties have modern plumbing facilities in-
stalled in the buildings. It is said that there are a dozen or more abandoned
wells into which household sewage is now drained. There are other wells of
the dug type scattered throughout the town and still in use for drinking pur-
poses. Some of these wells are iu close proximity to the cesspools or to privy
vaults. The danger of surface drainage from overflowing privies on the hill-
sides reaching the dug well supplies is a coutinual menace to public health.
Typhoid fever has been altogether too prevalent. In the year nineteen hundred
and five, so far as the Department is informed, there were at least seventy-
five cases, forty-six for nineteen hundred and six and nineteen for nineteen hun-
dred and seven. . ,,t ^
The public water supply is furnished by the Mt. Union Water Company, the
source being pure mountain springs and a brook entirely free from any source
of pollution. Therefore, the conclusion is that the fever came from polluted
well water, at least with respect to the secondary cases. It is now the intention of
the local authorities to do away with the menace by providing a modern sewer
system.
It is proposed to build a sanitary sewer system with one outlet, namely, an
eighteen inch pipe to discharge into the Juniata River at the point immediately
above the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge. A sanitary sewer is designed for^every
street, inspection manholes are to be provided at street intersections and changes
in line and grade, the grades will assure cleansing velocities, ventilation is to be
secured by perforated manhole covers and flushing, when necessary, is to be ac-
complished by water from the street mains.
The petitionei-8 do not intend to build all of the sewers at once, but approval
of the entire plan is asked in order that the local authorities may build such
sewers from time to time as necessity may require and they deem best.
There is a taxable valuation of four hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars,
so it is reported, and a bonded municipal debt of twenty-nine hundred dollars.
It is understood that, taking into account all the iiuiuicipal debts, the borough's
borrowing capacity is between twenty-five thousand and thirty thousand dollars.
This is a sum totally inadequate to defray the cost of sewers for the built-up
part of the town and for sewage disposal works. Either permisison must be
secured to temporarily discharge tlu; sewag*; into tiu; rivcu-, or the sewerage project
must be abandoned. Negotiations an; in iirogress for the acquirement of a tract
of land near the .s<wer outlet on the bank of tiie rivi'r north of the railroad, upon
which a sewage disposal plant is to be erected, when the time shall come and
funds are available therefor.
The borough of Huntingdon is now engaged in tiie construction of a sanitaiT
sewer system with an outlet into the j'ivi'r through which s(!wag(! is to be dis-
charged untreated until November first, nineteen humlred and eleven. The bor-
ough of Newport, situated on the river approximately sixty miles below Mt.
Union, has also been given permission to temporarily discharge sewage into the
Juniata River.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 971
It has been determined that the interests of the iniblic health will be subserved
by approving the proposed phuis and issue a permit therefor, and the permit is
herebj' and herein issued under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That all roof and storm water shall be excluded from the sewer sys-
tem. The local authorities shall keep a record of all connections to the sewer
system. At the close of each season's work a plan of the sewers built during
the year shall be prepared and filed by the borough with the Commissioner of
Health, together with any other information in connection therewith that may
be called for.
SECOND: All existing sewer connections with the borough's storm drain system
shall be disconnected from said system and the sewage shall be discharged into the
sanitary system proposed as soon as the sanitary system is ready for use.
THIRD: Tills permit to discharge sewage into the water of the .State shall
cease on the first day of January, nineteen hundred and eleven, provided, however,
that the other conditions herein specified shall have been complied with. At the
expiration of said time, the Commissioner of Health may extend the time in
which sewage may continue to be discharged into the waters of the State, pro-
vided the interests of the public health demand it.
FOURTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or any part thereof has become a nuisance or menace, then such
remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health may approve or
advise.
B'lFTH: No pathological material from any laboratory shall be discharged
into the sewer sj-stem. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be in-
cinerated on the premises.
SIXTH: On or before .January first, nineteen hundred and eleven, the
borough shall prepare detailed plans of works for the purification of the borough's
sewage and submit them to the Commissioner of Health for approval. Said
Commissioner may approve such plans or modify or amend them and fix the date
when they shall be constructed, having in mind the general policy of the State
with respect to the troatment of municipal sewage at other places on the Juniata
River watershed.
The local authorities' attention is hereby specially directed to the danger of
the use for domestic purposes of ground water in the borough. All wells should
be examined and condemned if found contaminated, and inspections should be
made of every occupied estate and ordinances vigorously enforced relative to
nuisances and menaces in the borough, or if there be no such ordinances, then
the borough council should adopt an ordinance of approved form to accomplish
these purposes. A suggested form of ordinance, or rules and regulations for
the local Board of Health will be forwarded to the borough council. Compulsory
connections to the sewers should be made on every estate where a nuisance or
menace exists.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 10th, 1908,
NEW CASTLE, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
This application was made by the city of New Castle, Lawrence County,
and is for permission to extend its sewer system from time to time as necessity
may require and for the approval of plans for sewage disposal works and also for
an extension of time in which the Grant Street sewer system shall be connected
with the Main Street sower.
It appears that the Commissioner of Health has issued four permits to the
city of New Castle to extend its sewer system, which permits were dated
September twenty-first, nineteen hundred and five; December second, nineteen
hundred and five; April twelfth, nineteen hundred and seven, and May twenty-
third, ninoLcen hundred iiiul seven.
Among other stipulations in the first two permits were the requirements that
the city perpare a comprehensive plan of the sewer system now built and of
future extensions thereof and submit the same for approval and that on or
before the first day of September, nineteen hundred and six, the city prepare
and submit a plan for the treatment of its sewage to the Commissioner "of Health
for consideration. However, on September firet, nineteen hundred and six, plans
for a sewage disposal plant had not been submitted to the State Department of
Health. Furthermore, the (Jrant Street sew(>r outlet into the Shenango River,
approved i)y the Conunissioner of Health under the express condition that said
outlet be discontinued and the sewer connected wilii the city's main sewer outlet
on or before January first, nineteen hundred and S(>ven. had not been so con-
nected on said date. Therofore, permission to construct sewers as applied for
on June fourth, nineteen hundred and six, was withheld by the State. On
November twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred and six, councils authorized the city
engineer to prepare plans for a sewage disposal plant.
In view of the fact that the city's delay in fulfilling the terms of the permit
was not an intentional defiance of the law, and because prior to .January third,
nineteen hundred and seven, the city had employed exports to design sewage
972 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
disposal works and had passed an ordinance for tlie extension of the Grant
Street sewer to the main sewer, and also in view of tlie fact that some of the
sewers mentioned in the application of June fourth, nineteen hundred and six,
were very much in demand and needed as a matter of public health, the Com-
missioner of Health favorably entertained an application made by the city
on January third, nineteen hundred and seven, for an extension of time to April
fifteen, nineteen hundred and seven, in which plans of a sewage purification plant
might be submitted, and for an extension of time to December first, nine-
teen hundred and seven, in which the Grant Street sewer might be concreted to
the main city sewer.
The permit was issued therefor on April twelfth, nineteen hundred and seven,
and it embodied pennission to build the sewers mentioned in the application of
June fourth, nineteen hundred and six, and also in an application for general
lateral sewer extensions submitted on March twentieth, nineteen hundred and
seven.
Among other conditions it was stipulated in said permit that a plan of all
existing sewers with profiles thereof shall be prepared and filed with the State
Department of Health on or before July first, nineteen hundred and seven. Also
that manholes of approved design shall be provided at all street intersections and
changes in line and grade.
On May twenty-third, nineteen hundred and seven, in response to an appli-
cation made by the city and dated May sixteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, the
Department of Health extended the time to November first, nineteen hundred and
seven, in which a plan of all existing sewers with profiles thereof shall be prepared
and filed, and the city was also excused from that portion of the permit of said
April twelfth, whereby a manhole of approved design shall be cojnstructed
at every change in grade of the sewer.
Plans for sewage disposal works were submitted for consideration on April
second, nineteen hundred and seven, and complete plans of the existing and proposed
sewers were submitted on October eleventh, nineteen hundred and seven, both in
compliance with the above requirements.
New Castle is a city of the third class, is the county seat of Lawrence County
and has a population at present of about thirty-six thousand. In nineteen hundred
it was twentj'-eight thousand, three hundred and thirty-nine. The growth has
been due to its industries, among which should be mentioned blast furnaces and steel
mills of the Carnegie Company, the extensive plant of the American Tin Plate
Company .(said to be the largest works in the world) and the new plant of the
Standard Steel Car (Jompauy. The future of the town seems to be assured
and a poulation of sixty thousand people in twenty years' time is by no means
an impossibility.
The Beaver River is formed by the confluence of the Mahoning River, which
drains a large territory to the west in Ohio, and the Shenango River, which
drains a large territory almost wholly within the State of Pennsylvania. The
latter watershed is long and narrow, the headwaters arc in Crawford County.
The course of the Shenango is southerly through Crawford, Mercer and Lawrence
Counties, a distance of about sixty miles by the stream, to the Beaver River.
On the Shenango, three miles above its mouth, is a tributary called Neshan-
nock Creek, which comes down from the northeast, and it is here in the forks
between the river and the creek that the business portion of New Castle is located.
The land lies low and flat, but it is not subject to overflow. Immediately uordi
are the hills and also on citlier side of the valley of these streams and llie
main Shenango there are hills on which are located the dwellings M-ithin the
city limits. These resident districts are from two hundred to three hundr(>(l
feet above the valley.
A natural water cour.se by the name of Big Run rises several miles to the
east of the city and empties into the Shenango about a half mile bel'w XcslKinnock
Creek. The steel plant is located in the river valley north of iiig avuu aua extends
all the way up to the forks. The tin plate works are located in the river valley
below Big Run. Tliis section of the Shenango River has a very shiggish flow.
The fall being slight, the lowlands bordering the banks are subject to freshet
flow.
One mile above the mouth of the Shenango River there is a dana and mill privilege.
About at the point the Baltimore and Ohio and the Pittshnrgh and Lake Erie
Railroads cross and extend westerly up the valley of the Mahoning River. A
brau<;li from ••ach road is laid up the east bank of Ihe Shenango to Ne\\'
Castle and ihe former slops here, but the Erie continues on. The large rei>air
shops of the Baltimore and Ohio are located at New Castle Junction, which
lies east and south ot the said mill rl;iin. The yards exti-nd along the; river
bank at au elevation jnst above freshet level. (Jn the other side are steep hills.
The employees have found a (((nvenieiii ]>luce for residence; on tin- neck of land
west of the Shenango Riv(!r between it and the Mahoning and here tiicre is the
HCtllement of Mahoninglowu, where about five thousand people abide. Ten years
ago this village was incorporat.id as tin; Seventh ward of New Castle, so that
uow there is a very irrc-gular tract of land belonging to lln' city and stn^tching
along the valleys and contained between the Shenango :iiid Miihoniiig Jtivers for
about two and a half miles along each stream.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 973
South of Mahoniugtown are the lowlands at the forks, the land southerly from
the said mill dam being- practically unoccupied and subject to inundation. In
the center ut' it is the station of the Pennsylvania Railroad lines known as Lawrence
Junction. The branch road extending up the west bank of the Shenango River
through New Casile is the Pittsburg and Erie Division, and the road extending up
the west bank of the Mauhoniug River is the Pittsburg and Youngstown Division
of the I'ennsylvania Railroad system. Here are located the repair shops of this
Company. The mechanics also live at Mahoningtown. which is exclusively a rail-
road settlement. These facts are relevant because of the proximity of the city
sewer outhts and the sile of the proposed purification plant.
The city of New Castle is quite thoroughly provided with a system of sanitary
sewers which has been built in substantial accordance with the original de-
sign to collect sewage from the various districts by a main intercepting sewer
having an outlet in the Shenango River at a point remote from town. This
point is below the said mill dam and at the railroad bridges. This main tiiink
.sewer is egg-shapod, thirty-two by forty-eight inches in diameter and has a
discharging capacity of about sixteen million gallons per twenty-four hours. It is
throttled at the outlet by a short length of thirty inch pipe sewer. Into it the
district main sewers empty at convenient points. There is a twenty-four inch main
for the Big Run sewer district. Where this crosses under the river to the main
intercepter on the west bank, the pipe is cast-iron and the joints are lead
caulked. This pipe is exposed to view in the bed of the stream. It is distant
about a mile and a half above the outlet of the main sewer.
The next district sewer main connection to the intercepter is three thousand,
two hundred feet up stream just above the mouth of the Neshannock. It is a
cast-iron pipe eighteen inches in diameter, is laid on the bed of the Shenango
Creek where it crosses from the east to the west bank, and it collects all of the
sewage from the business section of the city and the territory lying between the
Neshannock and the Shenango.
The main intercepter continues up the west bank of the river to the foot of
the hil! and west of Front Street. It is the intention of the city to build this
sewer along the bank of the stream around the hill to Grant Street where at
present there is a twelve inch sewer outlet which serves the district lying west of the
river in the northern part of the city. The reason given by the city for a still
further extension of time in which to build this sewer connection, so as to do
away with the outlet at Grant Street, is that the cost of construction would
be increas((d many fold were the work done during any other than that of low
flow in the river, and still further that the city fail to dispose of the sewer
bonds in time to admit of the construction of the sewer during nineteen hundred
and seven.
There is another sewer outlet into the river at the same point where the main
intercepter empties. Jt is twenty-four inches in diameter and it serves a fifty
acre tract south of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the Mahoningtown set-
tlement.
Connecting with these mains there are about fifty miles of sewers of which
the smallest diameter is six inches, but there are not many of this size; the
vast majority are eight inches in diameter. Street drainage and roof water are
e.xcluded by ordinance. Flush tanks are used, one being placed on the end
of every sewer, and the topography is such that self-securing velocities are generally
assured. In spite of these precautions, there is a much larger output from the
system than should be the case were waste water only to reach the sewers.
The water consumption is an index of the flow of sewage in a town well
sewered. The public are very generally supplied with water by the New Castle
Water Company. There are said to be not over one dozen wells in the town.
Most of the dwellings have sewer connections. The average daily water con-
sumption, deducting what is used for the railroads and factories, is about
three million gallons or about eighty-two gallons per capita per diem. The
average flow at the main sewer outlet by measurements of the city engineer is
over five and one-half million gallons daily which is equivalent to a total per
capita discharge of over one hundred and fifty gallons per day, which shows a
leakage into the sewer system of two and a half million gallons daily. This is
the dry weather infiltration ; during storms and for a while thereafter the flow
is at a i-ate of over ten million gallons. No systematic canvass of the city has been
made for the purpose of cutting out absolutely every roof water connection. It is
thought that considerable of the leakage occurs in the pipes extending under the
river. I'ossibly other leaks may be found in the main sewer. Every elTort to
discover and prevent leakage into the system should be made. If tlie cost for in-
stallation is upwards of thirty thousand dollars for each million gallons of sewage
treated and it is possible by careful survey to reduce the maximum flow in the
present sewers from ten to four million gallons, an investment of one hundred
and eighty thousand dollars is saved, at least calculation, besides a correspond-
ing saving annually in oi)erating expenses. It is reported that the city is aware
of this fact and fully intends to discover and prevent leakage as far as possible.
Surface water removed from the streets is effected where necessary by drains
provided for this purpose. The principal industrial plants draw water from the
river and return it again freighted with waste products and some sewage. At
62
974 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
the tin works there is a special plant provided for the reclamation of by-
products. So the pollution of the river is less and pronouncedly so than
foiTaerly.
The proposed extensions to the sewer system and all of the proposed sewers, ■
according to plans submitted, and for which permission to build from time to
time is asked, contemplate the collecliou and removal of sewage only to some
common point near the existing sewer outlets at Mahoningtowu and this collection
is to be effected through the existing main sewei-s or sub-mains thereof.
The site of the proposed sewage purification plant is the low land on the
banks of the Shenango River immediately south of the Pittsburg and Lake Erie
Railroad embankment and west of the Erie branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
It is triangular in shape and contains about tifteen acres. Immediately west of the
Pennsylvania Railroad lies Mahoningtown village. Wayne Street, which is oc-
cupied' by dwellings, is within three hundred feet of the proposed septic tanks.
Within a distance of one thousand feet of the site, between one thousand and
two thousand people permanently reside. The laud is owned by the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company and is valuable for track yard purposes.
The treatment plant is to comprise a pumping station, grit chamber, septic
tanks, sprinkling filters, settling basins and sludge disposal area and it is proposed
to care for the sewage of an ultimate population of sixty thousand people at a
capacity of nine million gallons per day of twenty-four hours based on a per capita
contribution of one hundred and fifty gallons. At present units sufficient to treat
six million gallons per day will suffice in the opinion of the designers. The ad-
ditional unifs would be added as the city grows. However, no provision is made
for extensions to the works after the full limit of the plant is reached, that is all of
the available land in the triangular strip is requisite for the nine million gallon
plant as designed. The flow in the outfall sewer is frequently in excess of this
amount per day and if it should be found impracticable to reduce this flow, then the
disposal works' as offered for approval would be sufficient in size for the present
population of New Castle only.
The main outfall sewer of thirty-two by forty-eight inches in diameter termi-
nates at the foot of Prescott Street. From this point the thirty inch sewer pipe
above referred to turns at right angles and follows easterly along the north
bank of the railroad at the foot of its slope, a distance of five hundred feet to the
river. The otlier sewer outlet, the twenty-four inch sewer from Wayne Street and
Mahoningtown, follows the foot of the south railroad embankment easterly to the
river. A new thirty-six inch sewer is proposed from the end of the main
sewer in Prescott Street southerly under the railroad embankments intercepting
the Mahoningtown outlet and terminating in a pumping station on the sewage dis-
posal site at the apex of the triangle formed by the railroad embankment and
distant three hundred feet from Wayne Street. The invert of this three foot
sewer is to be elevation seven hundred and sixty-seven and this is the intended high
water level in the pump well. However, the plans show the bottom of the well
two feet only below this invert, which must be a mistake, otherwise sewage
will have to be maintained at a higher level in the pump well. The lateral sewer
in Wayne Street at the twenty-four inch pipe outlet is elevation seven hundred
and si.\iy-nine. It is desirable that sewage should never back up higher than this
elevation, although at present it frequently does so and most all of the sewers
in Mahoningtown are back-flooded during freshets. The average elevation of the
river water at the sewer outlet in the winter is seven hundred and sixty-nine.
Daily floods occurring any month in the year and occasioned by showers, raise
the river to seven hundred and seventy-lliree. Every spring a freshet occurs whose
elevation at the sewer outlet is seven hundred and seventy-six, or thereabout,
anrl the highest flood ever recorded was at elevation seven hundred and eighty.
After the pump well is built and maintained properly, these sewers need never
be liack-fh.oded in Mahoningtown. Thus the sewers would be rendered more
effieient. The i)lans, however, for the connection between tlj(> existing sowers
and the new thirty-six inch outfall proposed, show tiiat it is contemplated that
ten million gallons of .sewage only should be intercepted or carried to the pump
well. When the flow in the sewers becomes greater than this, the special man-
holes at tin- intersections are so arranged that the excess flow will go directly to
the riv< r through the existing thirty inc-h and twenty-four incii pipes. The eleva-
tion of the overflow weir at the main sewer connection is seven hundred and
seventy-two and two-tenths and at the twenty-four inch sewer (^onnecticm the overflow
weir is placed i.t seven hundred and sixty-ciight and seven-tenths. In other
words, wlicn the water in the river is higlier llian the latter elevation, (seven
hundred and sixty-eight and seven-tenths) it will flow into tlie sewer from the
river through the existing twenty-four incii sewer, and wiien the river height
exceeds seven liundred and seventy-two and two-tenths, there will be nu .uldcd
channel through which the river water will flow to tiio |)ump well.
(Jn the oilier hand these oviM'flows are equally at variance with the object and
the ellicieni oiieraiion of the disposal works when considered from the stand-
point of iiandling the legitimate flow of sewage to tlie pump well under exist-
ing design, because whenever the sewage in the pump well exceeds tin; depth of
three and seven-tenths feet it will overflow into the river through the Iwenty-four
inch existing sewer. The construction of this arrangement would, in all probability
result in considerable quantity of sewage being discharged directly into the river.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 97S
There is no necessity shown by the petitioners for any such feature as an over-
flow or by-pass to the river ahead of the pump well. It is not good practice
or common, and its adoption would be a mistake. All the city's sewage at all
times should be delivered into the pump well and duplicate machinery should
be provided.
The pump well is to be twelve feet in diameter and directly over it is the
pump house, thirty feet square, in which is to be installed one ten million and
one five million gallon centrifugal pumping engine for the lifting of the .sewage
to the septic tank and also a sludge pump of one million gallon capacity.
As noted aliove, a much deeper pump well should be provided and duplicate
punii)ing niacliinery is necessary in order to avoid unnecessaiy suspension of
operation at ihe plant or the discharge of crude sewage into the river.
The sewage is to be raised from the pump well eighteen feet to a grit chamber
twenty feet by thirty feet, inside dimensions, and nine feet deep, to the normal
water level hue, whi<,'h chamber is provided to admit of the subsidence of the
coarser suspended matters. This structure is built of re-iuforced concrete, is open
on the top and the normal water level therein is to be elevation seven hundred and
eighty-three and three tenths. The grit is to be drained from the bottom of
the chamber to the sludge sump in the pumping station.
From this chamber tlie sewage is to pass to the septic tanks which are open,
reinforced concrete structures, arranged side by side and six in number, each
compartment being about forty-four feet wide and one hundred and seventy-
seven feet long and ten and a half feet deep below the mean water level of seven
hundred and eighty-three and three-tenths. The intention is to provide a re-
tention of eight hours in the tanks when the volume of sewage being treated
is at the nine million gallon rate per twenty-four hours.
Across the inlet and also across the outlet end are closed channels at the top
by means of which the sewage is delivered through ports provided with gates into
the tanks and by means of which at the outlet end the tank may overflow and
the sewage be conducted to the river. The overflow weir is at elevation seven
hundred and eighty-four and eight-tenths. Below the overflow chamber is the
effluent collecting chamber connecting to the conduit leading from the septic
tank to the sprinkling filters.
The septic elTiuent is to pass out from each compartment by means of four open-
ings, five feet from the bottom of the compartment, each opening controlled by
an eighteen inch valve.
Twenty fe(>t from the outlet end of each compartment there is to be a concrete
bafHe wail built across seven feet high, which is provided to retain the major
portion of the septic sludge back of it. Ten feet from the outlet end is to be
a floating wooden baffle full width of each compartment and extending about three
feet into the water and provided to retain scum in the tank.
The sludge of each compartment is to be drained by a twenty-four inch pipe to the
sludge pump well at the main pump house from whence it is to be pumped to the
sludge drying area in the southeru part of the disposal site. A six inch cast-iron
force main is planned for the purpose. No detail plans of the sludge drying area
have been submitted.
Immediately south of the septic tanks is to be the sprinkling filter, circular in
plan, five hundred feet in diameter, consisting of five feet of broken stone resting on
a concrete foundation. In the center of this circular filter is to be a concrete
control chamber about tuenty feet in diameter and about twelve feet high, roofed
over with concrete, in which the sewage will stand at an equal elevation with
the sewage in the septic tank, there being a concrete conduit three feet high,
and two and a half feet wide, connecting the two. This conduit will be under
pressure. The mean water line in this control chamber will be five feet above
the surface of the sprinkling filter. The floor of the filter will have an average
elevation of seven huiulrod and seventj'-three and three-tenths and it is to be
divided into six units, each being a sector of the circle and having an approximate
area of three-fourths of an acre. There are to be no walls in or surroumling the
units of the filters, the outer ends thereof will have a natural slope of broken
stone. The sul)-division into six units is to be accomplished by the system of
distribution and collection.
The distribution system will consist of six concrete conduits two and one-half
feet by one and thirty-three one hundredths feet, one down the center of each
unit, off of wiiieli in paraHel lines thirteen and twenty-tive-hundredths feet on
the renters, exteiuling either siile. are to be six-inch cast-iron lateral pipes,
laid iiorizonially about one foot above the concrete floor and resting upon a layer
of broken stone. Kvery fifteen feet on these six inch horizontal pipes there is to be
a vertical three iueli riser extending lo the filter surface, where some kind of
a sprayer is to be adjusted to the pipe.
The sizes of the crushed stone for filtering material are not specified. After the
sewage is passed through to the bottom it is to be collected by a system of six
inch half-tile laterals laid in rows with ends three-quarters of an inch apart, the
rows being spaced nine inches on centers, which will practically cover the entire
bottom of the filter. These lateral collectors will feed into two sub-main eoljectors,
eacli built in the bottom of the concrete floor and in turn they will feed into the
main collector to be built underneath the main concrete distributor in each sec-
tion. This main collector will deliver the effluent back into the control chamber.
976 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Here, by an ample arrangement of gates, the septic effluent may be directed at
will by manual manipulation of the gates into any or all of the units. From here
the effluent will go to the settling basin.
The settling basins are contiguous to and immediately south of the sprinkling
filter. They are designed to take care of a four hour flow when the plant is
being opei-atcd at a six million gallon rate. There are to be two units, each ap-
proximately one hundred and five by one hundred and ninety-five feet anid
averaging four feet in depth. The bottom and sides are to be lined with
concrete. The effluent is admitted to and drawn off of each basin by means of
weirs on opposite sides extending the full width thereof. The level of the water
therein is to be seven hundred and seventy-one, or two feet below the flood line
which may be reached in the river any day in the year on which a considerable
precipitation over an area on the Shenango River may occur. And when it does
occur the filter would have to be put out of commission.
The plan contemplates a dyke about thirteen hundred feet long carried up to
the height of the embankment of the Pennsylvania Railroad, or to elevation seven
hundred and eighty and extending along the river between the Pennsylvania and
the Erie Railroad e)ubankments, thus effectually dyking off from the river floods
the triangular piece of ground upon which it is proposed to erect the dis-
posal plant.
The liquid from the settling basins is to pass to the river by means of a thirty
inch pipe, extending underneath this dyke. A flood gate chamber thereon would
keep out the river water, but at such times the filter would have to be put out
of commission , or the effluent be raised by pumps and discharged into the river.
There is a sludge pumping station provided near the settling basins to lift the sedi-
ment drained by gravity from the settling basins into the pumping sludge pit,
to the sludge drying area. This pit and pumping station is distant about nine
hundred feet from the main pumping station, but the sludge area is the same
as that upon which the septic tank sludge is to be deposited.
Under the present design suflicient pumping machinery should be installed
at this effluent pump bouse to raise the purified output of the plant into the
river at any time that this may be necessary in order to obviate a suspension
of filter operation.
The filtering area is equivalent to four and a half acres and it is expected that
this will be sufficient to handle nine million gallons of sewage and effect a purifi-
cation of ninety per cent, based on removal of organic matter and bacteria. It is
doubtful, however, if a non-putrescible effluent could be obtained with filters of
this type having a depth of five feet only and operated at the rate proposed.
It would be better design to increase the depth to seven feet and preferably
to nine feet.
While the plans in the main embody the principles of modern practice in
sewage purification, the adaption is not wholly satisfactory. The vital point
upon which depends the cost and success of disposal works for New Castle has
not been determined and that is the precise quantity of sewage which must be
handled. The city is warranted in spending a liberal amount of money to keep
out of the sewei-s every drop of roof water, street drainage, and infiltration
and leakage, so far as it is practicable to stop it, and there is no way of ascertain-
ing what is practicable until a thorough and scientific investigation has been
made of the entire sewer system and until systematic and extended measurements
of the flow of sewage in various sections of the system have also been made.
The city is not warranted in expending large sums of money for sewage dis-
posal woiks not adapted or designed to receive and purify all of the city sewage
now and in the future. Therefore, it is apparent that unless the present flow of
the city sewers is reduced, the plans now offered fail to meet such demands.
Even then, modifications are required, else a considerable portion of the sewage
might pass untreated to the river, or the river water flow back through the
sewer into the main pump well and put the entire plant out of commission.
The minor modifications hereinbefore suggested are matters of comparatively easy
adjuBtrnent.
iUit th" placing of a large sewage disposal plant within a few hundred feet
of Mahoningtown, when there is ample land on the opposite side of the river
remote from habitations available for the purpose, is an expedient which viewed
from the standpoint of public health and necessity does not seem to be war-
ranted.
The Beaver River is used as a source of filtered water supply at Beaver Falls,
New Brighton and adjacent boroughs at a j)i)iiit about one-quarter of a mile below
the Shenango River.
The Shenango River above New Castle is th(! scnirce of a filtered water supply
for this city. The water coniiJiiny has an exceptionally ellicieiit filter i)lant
and exercises great care in the operation thereof. Itut the river rc^ceives the
sewage of South Sharon, Sharon, Sliarpwviile and (Jreenville boroughs, be-
sides many minor places. Nunnrrous indiistiiiil plants dischurgi! trade wastes into
tlie stream, ll is for the interests of ijiiblic health that all sewage should ceasr;
to be disrharged into tliis source of jjublic supply, and the State Department
of Ileallli lias already brought about the eri'ction of s(!wage purification works at
(jn-enville and !i()idicatiouK relative lo sewage an; now pending in the De-
partment respecting sewers iit Sliari)Hville and the two Sharon boroughs. Per-
mission to build sewers in West Middlesex bus been given on condition that
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 977
sewage puriiication works be built at the same time. The Department also has
a corps ot" field inspectors at work making sanitary survey of the entire water-
shed above New Castle. Every uuisauco and menace aiui source of sewage pol-
lution to New (."aslle's water supply is to be removed. This is in keeping with the
general policy of the State to preserve the purity of streams which are and must
continue to be the sources of supply to the public living in the towns along the
banks. In the near future New Castle, in common with other places, must
treat its sewage and to this end preparations should be made.
It is reported that the municipal assessed valuation is seventeen million
dollai-s, which if correct, gives the city a borrowing capacity of one million,
one hundred and ninety thousand dollars. It is also reported that the city
debt at present is in the neighborhood of one hundred and sixty-five thousand
dollars. Hence, on this basis, it appears that New Castle is amply able to
assume the expense of the erection of a sewage disposal plant.
The petitioners represent that the justice of compelling or providing for the
building of sewage works in the towns along the Shenango and Beaver Rivers in
the near future as soon as the various towns can prepare for it, is fully recognized
by the citizens of New Castle. This being a fact, the impoi-tance of immediate
investigation of the sewers and their flow and the adoption of measures to ex-
clude everylhing but sewage propSr should bring results before the close of
the current year and at the close of the following year all preparations should be
made for the erection of adequate purification works during the succeeding
year.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that the
eity be given until August fii-st, nineteen hundred and eight, in which to ex-
tend the main trunk sewer up the Shenango River valley to Grant Street and to
connect up the Grant Street sewer outlet with the main trunk sewer.
It is also determined that the plans for the comprehensive system for the city
be approved and that permission be granted to make extensions in confonnity
therewith from time to time as necessity may require.
It has also been determined that the proposed system of sewage purification
works be modified and re-submitted for approval under the following conditions
and stipulations:
FIRST: That all roof water, stoi-m water and street drainage be absolutely
excluded from the sewer system, and that so much of the leakage and infiltration
into the sewer system shall be excluded as may be found prac-
ticable, after a thorough study of the sewer system shall have been
made. The city shall make a report on the progress of such study' and
remedies as may have been adopted at the close of the current year. If satis-
factory progress has not been made, then the local authorities shall put into
force such measures and remedies as the Commissioner of Health may further
advise or approve.
SECOND: At the close of each season's work, plans and profiles of the sewers
laid during the year shall be prepared and filed with the Commissioner of Health,
together with such other information in connection therewith as he may re-
quire.
THIRD: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be de-
stroyed on the premises.
FOURTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the watei-s of the State shall
cease on November fir.-^t, nineteen hundred and nine and on or before said date
modified sewage disposal plans designed on the basis of receiving and purify-
ing all of the sewage output of the city at that time and arranged for the
addition of units from time to time in the future to meet the growth of the city
shall be prepared and submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
If this be done, then the Commissioner of Health may extend the time in which
the sewage of said city may continue to be discharged untreated into the watere
of the State, but this time will not be longer than is sufficient and necessary for the
erection of an approved sewage disposal plant.
FIFTH- Some other location for the disposal works than the site now pro-
pcsed shall be considered by the city. The various suggestions hereinbefore given
in the discussion aic offered as an aid to the city authorities in amending the
plans.
SIXTH: If at any time the sewer system or any part thereof shall have be-
come a nuisance or menace to public health, then such remedial measures shall
be adopted by the city as the Commissioner of Health may advise, suggest or
approve.
It is suggested that the top of any levee should be constructed sufficiently high
to guard the disposal works during the period of highest flood,
Harrisburg, Pa., February 3rd, 1008.
62—17—1908
97S THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
NEW KENSINGTON, WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
This application was made by a citizen of the borough of New Kensington, West-
moreland County, and is relative to the discharge of sewage fi'om said borough
sewei-s into the waters of the State.
On October twenty-third , nineteen hundred and seven , a citizen of New
Kensington made application for permission to extend the borough sewer system
into the territory of the adjoining borough of Arnold and to discharge the sewage
therefrom through existing sowers into the Allegheny River within the limits of New
Kensington. The applicant, it appears, was compelled to seek approval of his plan
because neither New Kensington nor Arnold boroitgh authorities would make a
formal request for sewer extension.
North of the city of Pittsburgh the Allegheny River is bounded on the east bank
by a rocky, precipitous ridge, which rises almost from the water's edge to a height
of several hundred feet, there being so little room at the foot of the slope that the
railroad of the Buffalo and Allegheny Valley Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad
system, which follows tip this valley, is located at many places in excavations of
solid rock. Wherever the ridge recedes from the river bank stifficiently there a town
has been located. The first settlement is elev_ju miles above the eouflueuce of the
Allegheny and Mouongahela" Rivers and comprises the boroughs of Verona and Oak-
mont. The next settlement begins on the east bank of the river six miles above
Oakmont and extends for three and a half miles northerly and comprises in order up
stream the boroughs of Parnassus, population twenty-two hundred, New Kensing-
tion, population sixty-eight htindred, and Arnold, population sixteen
hundred or in that neighborhood. There is no line on the ground to mark the division
of the municipal boundaries, it being all one community to the observer.
The railroad parallels the river at the foot of the hillsides and distant from the
river about fifteen hundred feet. Here is a level plateau of sedimentary formation,
elevated fifteen feet above the highest freshet recorded, on which along the river
bank are located the industrial plants which support the communitj' and where the
stores and offices are located and the older portion of the town. East of the railroad
the hill slopes are not so steep as to preclude their occupation by dwellings. And
here in New Kensington and Arnold the newer residences have been erected and
future development will mostly occur. In Parnassus there is no hillside, it being
located mostly on a level peninsula formed at the conflttence of the river and the Big
Perquito Creek. Quite a Avide flat valley extends hack from the river up this
creek course, where in the future it is probable, ,as the district grows, that a large
town. may be located.
Parnassus is the older settlement, dating back to the provincial times. It is
largely residential and many of its citizens are employed at Pittsburgh. The streets
are permanently paved with brick, there is a public water supplj' and combined
sewer system and the town is in a flourishing financial condition. Its borrowing
capacity is reported to be approximately sixty thousand dollars.
New Kensington and Arnold boroughs are distinctively industrial communities
supported by the plants in operation within their limits. Arnold was set off from
New Kensinston borough ab(jut ten j'oars ago and it is reported to be almost a cer-
tainty that the district will again be incorporated within New Kensington boundaries.
The latter place has a combined sewer system, well paved streets on the flats and
a liberal borrowing capacity, ils constitutional debt limit not having been ap-
proached. The assessed valuation from figures now at hand is three million three
hundred and fifty thousand dollars and the bonded indebtedness one hundred and
eighteen thousand dollars. The above statement is made on this basis, upcm which it
appeans that the municipal credit should be good for one hundred and sixteen thou-
sand dollars.
The borough of Arnold also appears to be wvjl ,,n' financially, if the reports be
true, which show an assessed \aIiiation of ciulil Imii lied and ten lliousand <lollars
and a bonded indebtedness of eisht thousand dollars, equivalent to a borrowing ca-
pacity of forty-eight thousand dollars or thereabouts. However, streets are un-
paved, there are no public sewers and many nuisances exist in this town. The
inhabitants are of the less rescjureefiil class, largely foreigners and non-taxpayers and
continually on the move.
'J'he water supi)ly to all tJiree boroughs is obtained from the Allegheny River and
is furnished by the Kensington Water Company. This corporation took its name in
<')f;tober, eiiciiteen hundred aiifl nim ly-sr-ven , on the purchase at sheriff's sale of the
I'.urrell Water Company, inclndiiig t!ic Parnassus Water (/omf)iuiy, and on a reor-
ganization thereof under statutory iiro\isions. The i'urrell Water Company was
cjiartered in eighteen liiindrr'd and ninety to supi)ly water to the publit! in Lower
Burrejl Township, Westmoreland County, and in eight(M'n hundred and ninety-three
this coneern purchased the Parnassus Water Com|)any, which had been previously
chartered to supply water to the public in the borouf^h of I'arnnssus, but never did
so. Therefore, the charter territory of the New Kensington Water Company com-
prises, 80 it appejii's, the territory of the above mentioned f;om|)MnieH.
The intak*' consists of two filler cribs, each twenly-fonr feet long l)y sixteen feet
wide by six feet deep, buried in the bed of the river about two hundred feet out into
the stream and having their top covered with about four feet of river gravel, These
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 979
are located up stream about one thousand feet above Arnold borough in Lower
Buirell Township, jramediateiy above a small village bearing the name of Valley
Camp.
TJie wator gravitates from the cribs to a well in the pumping station on the river
bank. In this well arv; located two pumping engines. (Jne of them is a vertical
three million gallon engine and the other is a horizontal two million gallon emer-
gency piuiip, placed at an tkvation above flood line. From this well the water is
raised thrnugh a si.Kteeu inch rising main into the street main system. This sixteen
inch pipe is anout a half mile long. It terminates at Moore Street in Arnold bor-
ough, wlii'i'e it fei'ds into two twelve inch pipes. One of them is laid in streets near
the river and is tlie main distributing pipe to the flats in Arnold and Kensington
boroughs and the other extends easterly up Moore Street to the top of the hill and
the storage reservoir, rectangular, concrete-lined, depth eighteen and a half feet and
holding ten milliuii gallons. This reservoir is in the town.ship and affords a pressure
of about one hundred and twenty pounds on the flats.
Four days a week the pumps are operated continuously, the water is pumped
directly into the street main system and only the surplus flows into the reservoir.
For the other three days of the week the pumps are shut do"\vn and the entire supply
of the district is drawn from the water stored in the reservoir. During this period
every consumer recei\es the benefit of subsidence afforded by storage in the reservoir.
When the pumps are operated the consumers in Arnold get raw river water through
the cribs nnsubsided,, and so also do the consumers in Kensington and Parnassus.
However, there is a noticeable difference in appearance of the water at all times at
the latter place, the discoloration being much less. This is attributed to tie fact
that Parnassus is at the fintlier end of the district and receives the supply at a suffi-
cient time after the raw river water is drawn from the cribs to admit of natural
clarification to some degree.
The source is known to be polluted by sewage and the presence of turbid wa4:er in
the pipes of the water district is ample evidence that sewage organisms may pass the
cribs and also be present in the water. Records of typhoid fever cases in the three
boroughs are not reliable, but the data herein given is substantial enough to indicate
the necessity in the interests of public health in the district of measures being taken
to keep sewage infection out of the supply. An officer of the Department made a
house to house canvass, and found that in the water district for the years nineteen
hundred and five, nineteen hundred and six and nineteen hundred and seven the cases
totalled twenty-one, fifty and fifty-six respectively.
It should be borne in mind that a house to house canvass, particularly in Arnold,
where t!ie foreigners are a roving class, frequently changing residence, would fail to
show all of the cases. Undoubtedly typhoid fever has been much more widespread
in the \\ ater district than would appear from the above figures. The local physicians
fail to report the cases.
On the hillsides in Arnold and New Kensington boroughs there are a few out-
cropping sprir.gs, walleil ui) but not enclosed, possibly liable to surface pollution, in
use by the citi.-^ens of the neigiiburhood. And there are some dug wells on the hill-
sides. All told, there may be thirty such individual sources of drinking water. Six
are reported to be in Arnold. On the flats in this place public water is said to be
exclusively used except at the industries. On the flats at New Kensington there are,
pei'haps, fifteen dug wells in use. besides wells at some of the mills. Parnassus
borough seems to be entirely supplied with public water, except at the works on the
river bank.
The streets at right angles to the river are designated by numbers, First to Sixth
Streets, inclusive, being in Parnassus, and Seventh to Thirteenth Streets, inclu-
sive, beinv: in New Kensington, and Fourteenth to Nineteenth Streets being in Ar-
nold borough. Ninth Street extends to the river bank. There is a toll bridge across
the river at this point. None of thp other Streets in New Kensington are built to the
river bank; they terminate at First Avenue, which parallels the river and is ilistant
therefrom about two bundled feet and in this space the industrial plants are erected.
A twenty-four inch piiie extends from the foot of Seventh Street, across land of the
Pittsburgh plant of the American Sheet and Tinplate Company, to the river. A
twenty-four inch sewer empties into the river at the foot of Ninth Street. A twenty-
four inch sewer at the foot of Tenth Street and a twenty-four inch pipe at the foot of
Eleventh Street extend through the land of the Aluiiiinnm Company of America to
the river. A twenty-four inch sewer from the foot of Twelfth Street passes to the
river on the boundary line between land of the said Aluminum Company and land of
the I'ennsylvania i)lant of the American Sheet and Tinplate ('ompany.
All of these sewer outlets discharge both sewage and storm water.
The Seventh Street outlet serves a total l"ngth of fourteen thousand six juindred
feet of sewer, of which ten thousand feet are in streets on the flats.
The Ninth Street sewer is laid in said street to the railroad and is two thousand
feet lonjr. It appears to have no lateral street (Munection.
The Tenth Street outlet serves a total length of thirteen thousand eight hundred
feet of sewer, of which fifty-eight hundred feet are on the flats.
The Eleventh Street sewer is laid in Eleventh Street to the railroad and twenty-
one hundred feet long; lateral sewers totalling twelve hundred feet are connected
with it.
The Twelfth Street sewer serves a district wholly within tlio flats in which there )B
a total length of seventv-fi\e hundred feet of sewer.
980 THIRD ANxMUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The sizes of these sewers in the various streets and details thereof or number of
connections thei'ewith are not known to the Department, because the local authorities
of New Kensingrton have failed to comply with the law requiring the submission of
plans and a satisfactory report to the Commissioner of Health. On two different
occasions blank forms of report have been sent to the borough council.
Besides these public sewers there are numerous private sewers from the industries
to the river.
At the Pitts))urgh plant of the American Sheet and Tinplate Company there are
two ten inch and one twelve inch pipes which receive sewage and industrial waste,
including considerable acid water. Between five hundred and six hundred men are
employed at these works. At the Pennsylvania plant of this company, where about
the same number of men are employed, there is one six inch pipe and two twelve
inch pipes which receive sewage and considerable quantities of sulphuric acid and
hydrochloric acids from the pickling vats. At this place the river water is used en-
tirely in large quantities throughout the works for cooling and general purposes.
It is drawn from a crib in the river and pumped to tanks. There is a driven well on
the premise.^ from which drinking water is supposed to be obtained in every instance.
At the lower plant the public water is tised entirely for manufacturing purposes,
although a pump on the river bank is kept for emergency purposes. The company has
driven a deep well here to supply water of undotibted quality to its workmen.
At the Union Spring and Manufacturing Company, employing about seventy men
in the manufacture of springs for railroad cars, there is an eight inch and six inch
sewer to the river. There is a deep well supply of drinking water. The river is the
source for cooling and hydraulic uses. There is an emergency connection with the
public system.
At the Aluminum Company's plant, where are employed about six hundred men
in the manufacture of kitchen utensils, et cetera, there are three ten inch sewers
having* water closet connection and taking waste from hydraulic presses. The
metal is received in form of ingots, so there are no chemical wastes. If reports be
true there is no opportunity for employees to obtain river water to drink. City
water is used altogether and that portion of it supplied for drinking is first filtered
and then piped about the works. The water pumped from the river remains exclu-
sively in the pipe system of the fire protection service.
A small run mostly in Arnold, but within New Kensington territory on the flats
near Third Avenue, is an open sewer. A number of dwellings in Arnold are located
over this stream and they and others along the course discharge sewage therein.
The Commercial Box Company, employing about fifty men, and located on Third
Avenue over this run in New Kensington, has a sewer connection to the stream.
This discharges into the river just above Thirteenth Street. It is a menace to public
health for most of its length. Ignorance of the danger of living in i)roximity to the
menace is said to be the reason that the nuisance has not been made the subject of
complaint. However, the owner of a small grocery store did petition the Com-
missioner of Health for relief from the flooding of the cellar on his property caused
by the overflow of the run.
The petitioner wishes to lay a ten inch sewer from the end of the existing sewer
belonging to the borough of New Kensington, northerly six hundred and sixty-five
feet in Ivy Alley to Fourteenth Street. This extension is entirely in Arnold borough.
One dwelling has been erected and fitted with plumbing facilities in anticipation of
this sewer and it is reported that ten other dwellings may be erected during the
current year along this sewer line. The borough of Arnold does not ask for this
sewer, neither does the borough of New Kensinglon. However, the petitioner has
represented that he has authority properly conferred upon him to lay this sewer in
the public high\yay and make it a part of the New Kensington sewer system. In the
avenue paralleling and just east of Ivy Alley there is a sewer owned by adjoining
property owners and discharging into the New Kehsington system.
There seems to be no reason why, provided the New Kensington authorities are
W'illing to permit the connection, tlie proposed sewer siiould not lie aitproved, pro-
vided still further, that the extension be made under the auspicu'S of the municipality.
Whatever negotiation the borough council may make with a contractor or abutting
land owner about the payment for a sewer is not a question within the jurisdiction
of the State Department of Health ; neither is it within the jurisdiction of the State
to consider the application of an individual for the extension of a public sewer
system. It is to be presumed that the iminicipalities do not want the proposed sewer
extension else they would apply for it.
But State sanction to the indefinite discharge of sewage from the New Kensington
sewers or from private soiireeH into the Allegheny River, or any tributary thereof,
could not be consistently given. It is the policy of the (Viminonwealth to ])reserve
the purity of the waters of the State for the protection of the public lieiilth. The
very best apparatus which inan can devise for the purification of sewage polluted
waters is not al)soImely germ i)roof and in case of accident or breakdcnvii human life
is jeopardizerl jiiid usually sacrificed following the introduction of polluted water
into the water pipes of the; town. It is the bounderi duty of the State Department
of Health to stop the discharge of sewage into the Allegheny Rivitr above the intake
of the Kensington AVater Company. This cannot be brought about immediately.
The municipalities on the banks of the river below New Kensington must in turn
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 981
cease to discharge sewage into the stream. While this cannot be done immediately,
steps can be taken without delay in the preparation of plans for the treatment of the
borough sewage.
The intercepting sewer to be provided for the collection of the flow from all of the
public sewers should also be planned to take the flow from private sewers. While the
State Department of Health must order the owners of all private sewers in the
borough to discontinue the discharge of sewage into the river, the most efiicient and
desirable plan would be for Ihe municipality to lay a trunk sewer to serve all sewers.
This is the common policy. It seems probable that the site best adapted for the erec-
tion of a sewage disposal plaut will be found outside of the limits of New Kensington
borough and that in reaching this site the territory of an adjoining municipality must
be traversed. In fact, the cheapest and best solution of the improved sewerage and
sewage disposal problem for the boroughs of Arnold, New Kensington and Parnassus
will be a joint project of interception and purification rather than an independent
one for each borough. Parnassus now has a system of sanitary sewere emptying into
the river whose discharge must cease within a reasonable time. Arnold borough does
not have a system of sewers, but is in need of such a system. The study of the
treatment of New Kensington sewage involves the study of a modification to some
extent of the existing sewers, because it would not be practicable to intercept the
storm water discharge of the existing sewers and convey it to a treatment plant.
Since New Kensington and Parnassus are in a financial position to make a begin-
ning towards the ultimate treatment of their sewages, thei'e appears to be no good
reason why this should not be ordered and more especially since neither borough
availed itself of the exemption clause of the law of nineteen hundred and five, and
the emptying of sewage into the Allegheny River at these places jeopardizes public
health at Oakmout and Verona, in the Greater Pittsburgh district and other places
lowei' dowu the valley.
It has been determined that the petitioner be notified, and he has been so notified,
that the interests of the public health demand that crude sewage cease to be dis-
charged into the waters of the State in New Kensington borough or vicinity, and
that as soon as the borough of New Kensington will in good faith notify the State
Department of Health of its intention to prepare plans for the treatment of the
municipal sewage and make an application for the sewer which the petitioner wishes
to build, a conditional permit may be issued for this particular sewer.
The owners of the industrial plants above mentioned will be notified that they must
stop putting sewage into the waters of the State, but that the most economical and
eflScient way of doing this should be for them to connect with the sewer to be provided
by the borough for the conveyance of all sewage in the town to a common purification
plant. The State Department of Health will defer action with respect to private
sewer outlets into the river for the present pending the determination by the borough
of New Kensington of the details of such improved sewerage and sewage disposal
problem.
It has been determined that the borough council of the borough of New Kensington
be notified, and they are hereby and herein notified, that public health is being
jeopardized by the discharge of its sewage into the Allegheny River and by the dis-
charge of sewage from the sewers in the borough of Parnassus and that, therefore.
New Kensington borough shall, either alone or jointly with Parnassus, prepare plans
for the interception of all of the sewage in the municipal territory and for its con-
veyance to and treatment in a purification plant and that said plans shall be sub-
mitted to the Department of Health for approval on or before the first day of Janu-
ary, nineteen hundred and nine.
Tlie local authorities are hereby requested to make an examination and test of all
private well and spring water used for drinking purposes and if such water be found
contaminated, then the local authorities should and they are hereby requested to
bring about the abandonment of such polluted well or spring. The local Board of
Health is requested to warn the public that absolute safety requires that the public
drinking water should be boiled.
A similar decree is being issued to the borough of Parnassus and a copy of this
decree is to be furnished to the borough of Arnold.
Harrisburg, Pa., June 26th, 190S.
NEW WILMINGTON, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
This application was made by (he borough of New Wilmington, Lawrence County,
and is for permission to construct a system of sewerage and sewage disposal works.
It appears that on July nineteenth, ninetcent hundred and seven, the said bor-
ougii of New Wilmington submitted modified plans for a system of sewerage and
sewage disposal in accordance with advice given by the Commissioner of Health in
a communication to the borough council dated November twenty-second, nineteen
hundred and six. This communication was as follows:
"G. H. Getty, President and to Members of Council, New Wilmington, Lawrence
County, Pa.
Gentlemen: — On August J)th, 1900, the borough council submitted four blue prints
of the proposed system of sewerage and sewage disposal and requested approval of
the same.
982 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
It appears that the town is a residential community of about one thousand in-
habitants, located ten miles above Xew Castle on the Little Neshaunock Creek on
land moderately hilly and drained by two small natural water courses into the
southerly one of which several private sewers and most of the drainage of the town
is discharged.
Three-fourths of the people or more use shallow privies scattered throughout the
borough and there are perhaps twenty loose cesspools. Possibly three hundred people
use water obtained from wells and springs near privies and cesspools. Dtiring the
past two j'ears a number of typhoid fever cases have been attributed to the use of
individual wells in the borough, and public sentiment is strong in favor of the con-
struction of a general sewer system.
It is proposed to build a separate or sanitary sewer system, sizes ranging betweeu
six inches and eight inches in diameter.
The site of the proposed sewage disposal works is in the valley of McClure's Run
just east of the borough line in Wilmington Township near and west of the Sharps-
ville Railroad.
The lateral sewere are to be six inches in diameter ; the proposed grades will be
self-cleansing, with one exception; manholes are to be built at changes in line and
grade and at street intersections, and at summit ends flush tanks are to be provided.
A number of lanipholes are proposed at street intersections because they are less
expensive to construct than manholes. At the exception noted, the grade of the
sewer is to be two-tenth per centum. This flat grade is proposed to save deeper
trenching, which even at this grade is thirteen feet at the maximum. Stoppages are
very liable to occur here and every facility should be afforded for speedy removal of
any obstruction. Lampholes would not ett'ord such facilities, yet they are proposed
on this deep sewer.
An average depth of between six and seven feet is planned for the sewers. Ven-
tilation is to be alforded by means of perforated manhole covers. The system will
comprise 21,. 340 feet of pipe, or about four miles, of which all but about 1,200 feet
will be vitrified clay pipe. The lower end of each intercepting sewer main is to be
cast iron pipe eight inches in diameter, to be operated as an inverted syphon to
deliver the sewage to the proposed disposal works.
It is proposed to purify the sewage by means of a septic tank followed by continu-
ous filtration of the effluent through a natural bed of saud and gravel. The septic
tank is to be forty feet long, fifteen feet wide and eight feet deep, interior dimen-
sions. At the inlet end is a chamber formed by a partition wall extending across the
end of the tank and from the bottom thereof vertically to near the top of the sides of
the tank, into which chamber, at one corner of the tank and two feet six inches
above the bottom thereof is an eight inch pipe, through which sewage from the town
is to be admitted.
From this grit chamber, which is four feet wide, the sewage is to pass over the
top of the wall into the main septic tank.
At the opposite end from the inlet there are a series of openings two feet and a
half below the top of the tank, through which sewage is to pass to a chamber three
feet wide and six feet long, having a triangular weir outlet placed so that the
ordinary level of the sewage in the septic tank will thereby be maintained about six
inches below the top of the wall.
Assuming that the .sewage of the borough will amount to from 35,000 to 75,000
gallons daily during the early years of the proposed sewer system, the septic tank
would provide storage capacity equal to between twenty-four and twelve hours' flow.
It is proposed to build this structure of concrete or brick, cover it over by two inch
wooden planks spiked down on timber resting on top of the side walls and drain
It by means of a six inch pipe into Mc(>lure's Run at the railroad. The bottom of the
septic tank is to be level and about midway along one side thereof is to be an opening
provided with vertical notches into which are to be inserted two inch oak baffle boards
serving as a dam and at the same time as Iho. side of a chambi^r about three feet
square on the outside of the septic tank, out of wliich the six incli drain pipe is to
extend to the run. When it becomes necessary to drain the tank the procedure will
be to remove the baffle boards, one by one, until tiie sewage has been drained off
above the sediment in the ta-rik, and delivered through tlu; said chaml)er and the six
inch sewer outlet to tlx- run, at a point about two liundred feet down stream. The
reason that the- s<?wer dfjes not disciiarge into tlie run opposite the tank is that the
bottom of the tank is one and a iiaif feet lowi-r tlian said run.
It is proposed to remove the sludge and dispose of it on the adjoinini; huid wliereon
it will dry out and eventually be plowed into the ground. *
The plan contemplates by-passing the sewage directly to tin- run vvliciiever tlii!
septic tank is put out of coiiimiHsicjii for cleaning or for any ptii'posc T'or a distance!
of 340 feet back from the septic tank lh<! McChirc's Kiui inlci'ccpliiig sewer main
18 to be of cast iron pijje oi)erated as a syphon, and similarly for a distance of 8G0
feet on the Water Sti'eet sew(!r main. The level of the sewi'fs at th(> point where the
syi)hon pipes are to begin is about eciual to th(! level of the top of the septic; tank
walls; HO that the volume of sewagt- that, will flow in the sewers, the pi'essiir<! and
hencf; consefjuent velficity would be totally inadeijiiate to maintain a scouring cur-
rent. Th(- result would be rapid accutiiiiliitions in the syidious with pi'obnhly a com-
plete clogging up of them in time. Adjaeent to tlii' sejitic tanks is a deposit of gravel
and sand known to be at least thirty feet square. It is proposed to strip the soil from
a piece of ground about thirty feet square, level it off and divi<i(! it int(j three com-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 983
partinenis, each ten feet wide by thirty feet long, and to discharge the septic effluent
on to these beds cuutinuously. The surface of these beds is to be two feet below the
elevation of the septic tank weir and about four feet above the bed of McClure's
Run. The filter bed is to be underdrained with four inch pipes laid approximately
level and discharging into the run near its bottom. A good deal of the lime these
underd rains may be back- flooded provided the drains are laid four feet below the
surface of the Hlters. The septic eiflueut is to be delivered ou the tiltei-s by means of
a concrete carrier.
At a twenty-four hour displacement rate in the septic tank, the volume of sewage
that would be delivered daily onto the proposed filter area would be seventeen times
greater than experience has proven lo be safe where sewage is to be purified by the
intennittent filtration process, and thirty-seven times greater with a twelve hour
displacement in the septic tank. Cousequentlj' the sewage would be forced into the
ground in greater volume than natural processes could purify it and hence tiie uuder-
drains would deliver a highly organic lujuid to McClure's Run, a liquid which it is
true would be separated from a large percentage of heavy suspended matters so long
as the filter bed operaletl as a straining apparatus ; but it is doubtful if this straining
operation would be assured for any length of time, since the volume of septic effluent
to be discharged onto the filtering surface would be disproportionate to its capacity,
that the pores would become rapidly clogged up, the ground completely saturated
with sewage, and other adequate avenues of escape failing the septic effluent would
flow bodily over the surface of the ground to the I'un at the side of the filter bed.
The execution of the plans of the disposal plant as now designi^d would assure
complete and early failure and result iu tlie establishment of a nuisance at the point
which is distant about ten hundred feet from human habitations and territory pre-
empted for high class residences.
The reason that sewage should not be discharged untreated into Little Neshannock
Creek is evident. The minimum flow of the creek at New Wilmington is approxi-
mately two cubic feet per second which flow would be inadequate to tlilute the sewage
of all the present population of the borough sufficiently to obviate a nuisance in the
creek. Further to protect the public at Beaver Falls, New Brighton and Rochester,
who use Beaver River water for drinking purposes, the Commissioner of Health has
required the city of New Castle to prepare to discontinue the discharge of sewage
into a tributary of said river. For a similar reason prohibition must be declared
with respect to New Wilmington sewage discharge into the tributary above New
Castle.
No accurate estimate, so far as the Department knows, has been made by the bor-
ough of the cost of the proposed sewerage improvements. The designer has striven
to plan a system at, a low cost. It is intended that whatever the sewerage system
shall cost over and above .'^SjUtJO shall be assessed on the estates abutting the pro-
posed sewers.
The case at New Wilmington is one where too rigid economy would prove to be
extravagant. The money which would be expended on the proposed syphon and
St wage disposal works would, in the opinion of this Department, be wasted and
thus part of the proposed improvements should be abandoned.
More time should be given to a careful consideration of the sewage disposal
problem. Test pits should be dug to ascertain if there be a suitable area of natural
sand and gravel deposit, secluded, at least an acre in extent, accessible by gravity,
yet high enough for proper drainage, upon which the sewage of the liorough may be
purified by intermittent filtration. The cost of constructing, maintaining and oper-
ating this method of sewage treatment is usually comparatively low and warrants
the expenditure of money for tests to determine its adaptability in a region where
natural deposits of large areas of sand and gravel are known to exist.
The best investment a municipality can make is in careful consideration and prepa-
ration of the plan by which the sewage is to be handled. The sewers proposed are,
with one or two changes in detail, satisfactory in design, but before an adequate
plan for disposal can be devised warranting acceptance by the Commissioner of
Health, more careful investigation must be made. If tests should show intermittent
filtration to be iufeasible, then plans for a septic tank and some form of i*apid
bacterial filtration of the septic effluent should be prepared for erection at a point
farther down McClure's Run at a more secluded place than the site now proposed.
it would be a prudent thing for the borough to employ the services of a consulting
engineer who has had experience in the matter of sewage purification works, to
assist the borough engineer in the tests and preparation of plans. This Depart-
ment will also act in an advisory capacity to pass upon the question of efficiency
and economy."
On July eighteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, the borough's engineer gave full
explanation of the details of the design of the proposed sewage disposal works.
The sewer system is to be constructed as originally planned and described in the
communication above referred to of November twenty-second to the borough council
with the exception that the lower end of the intercepting sewers formerly planned
to be operated as inverted .syphons, now, under the new plan, will be gravity sewers,
the syplion feature being entirely eliminated.
The purification works are to comprise a dosing tank and intermittent filtei-s.
They are to be iocated on the banks of Little Neshannock Creek where McClure's
Run empties into said creek on the south side of the inin. The location is about
twelve hundred feet distant from the location as originally proposed for the plant
on the run.
9^4 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The dosing tank is to be an open concrete structure twenty feet by twenty-five
feet in plan and having a depth of two feet to flow line and a capacity of seventy-
five hundred gallons. It is to be fitted with a jNIerritt Air Lock Sequence syphon
device. There are to be three syphons each connecting with its corresponding
filter unit.
Each filter unit is to be sixty feet wide and two hundred and forty feet long. They
are to be laid side by side in natural excavations in the soil. The structure is clay
and hardpan. Xo masonry whatever is to be provided for the sides and bottom.
The excavation is to be five feet deep. On the bottom through the centre of each
division, the dividing partition being natural earth, there is to be laid an eight inch
half tile underdrain having four inch branches on either side laid in parallel rows
twenty feet apart and over this underdrain system in each unit is to be placed twelve
inches of screened gravel or field stoue broken to two inches in diameter or less.
Over this is to be placed two feet of granulated furnace slag, to all appearances pure
silica sand, and in turn this material is to be topped with one foot of clean,
sharp sand.
It is reported that the granulated furnace slag is an ideal filter material. That it
is like coarse sand and that each grain is vitrified. Furthermore, that it does not
pack or break down under weathering. Its use is proposed because it can be obtained
from furnaces in the vicinity at a minimum cost. In brief, the method of its prepa-
ration is as follows: the granulation is effected by the running of the molten slag into
a large volume of water, which crystallizes the material.
The underdrains are to discharge directly into a main collector which will empty
into the Little Neshannock Creek at high water mark as recorded in June, nineteen
hundred and seven. Its elevation is two and a half feet below the bottom of the un-
derdrain system of the filter units.
It is proposed to distribute sewage over the surface of the filters through wooden
sluiceways of the customary type provided with openings on the sides at suitable
intervals and arranged to be adjusted to dosing in portions of the bed the requisite
amount.
It is expected that the flow of the sewage will be between thirty thousand and
sixty thousand gallons daily for the present and thus it is seen that the dosing tank
will be used from four to eight times in twenty-four hours.
No attempt is made in the design to intercept any solid matters. Everything is to
be discharged onto the surface of the filters, but there are two pipes provided from
the dosing tank to McClure's Run. One is a ten inch pipe same size as the main
sewer leading to the dosing tank and the other is a six inch pipe provided to drain
the tank to the run. In case it is desirable to repair the dosing tank, the gate will
be closed and the sewage turned crude into McClure's Run through the ten inch pipe.
Whenever the dosing tank is to be drained the gate on the six inch pipe will be
opened and the deposit or liquids discharged directly into McClure's Run. The
design is, in this respect, similar to the original one, that is, it is an effort to pro-
vide the disposal plant at the very minimum cost. The necessity for this is repre-
sented by the borough's expert to be the lack of money to defray the cost of any ex-
tensive works. But if the borough could build the sewers in the town under the
assessment plan, and temporarily discharge crude sewage into the creek until the
assessments for the .sewers were received into the borough treasury, these funds, if
devoted to the construction of a sewage disposal plant, would be sufficient to enable
the municipality to erect either in its entirety or in part, works containing all
filters which are necessary to warrant the approval of the design by the State.
The Little Neslianuock Creek empties into the Shenango River within the limits
of the city of New Castle, but below the said city's water svipply. The river above
and below this confluence now receives the sewage of New Castle nnd until said city
sewage is discharged into a purification plant and there treated, there would seem
to be no dominant objection to the temporary discharge of New Wilmington's sewage
into the cn-ek, provided such temporary permission would afford the borough an op-
portunity to build its sewer system and to perfect the arrangements for the erection
of a proper sewage purification plant.
It has been demonstrated lime and again that the success in the operation of and
maintaining a filter is dictated by the surface management and that an important
feature of success is the elimination to a practical degree of the suspended matter in
the sewage. Under the plan proposed there will be no such separation, with the
result that surface clogging of the filters will be increased and liability to improper
or insudicient j)uiMfication of U\i'. sewage also incri-asi-fl. ^rh(.' sedimentation tank
should be [jrovided. This tank should be large <'iiough and be designed in such a way
that it will contain at least <;ight hours How of si'wagi- during any period of flow of
sewage from th<? servers of New VVilniinglon and admit of exttMision and added units
being built as the town grows and th<! necessity thereof shall api)ear. No pipes for
crude sewage or sewage from the tanks shtjuld be planned lo tlu' creek. 'I'liese pipes
or drains should be directly lo the fllttjrs. Fiirllieniiore, detailed plans of the set-
tling tank and dosing tank in coniieelion tlii'revvilli should Ik; subniiited and aiJi)roviMl
by the r^ominissioni-r of Health before such structures nvc built. Arrangements
shoui'l be ma<|r' to drain the accumulated dejiosils from this tank onto a s|»e(;ially
prepared bed where the solids will dry out ancl the litptids be filtered. One such plan
is to have the underdrains teniiiruite in a inunj} well and to raist; Un' sewage; by hand
pump into the sand filters. Jf choice of the septic process, so-called and claimed to
belong to the Cameron Tank Company, is lo be made, the borough should understand
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 985
that the process has been defined by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals and
that the process as so defined is a proprietory one. Should the tank be used in such
a way as to infrinjie this process as so defined, then a royalty would be due and per-
mission should be obtained of the Cameron Septic Tank Company for such use. Plans
for septic tank will be approved by the Commissioner of Health if submitted by the
petitioners.
At least two filter units, as proposed, should be built and operated. The Depart-
ment has not made tests of the granulated slag material and is not prepared to give
an authoritative statement as to the propriety of its use. However, if the borough
wishes to conduct the test and experiment with this material it must be with the
understanding that in approving of the use of this material the Department docs not
assume the responsibility of any failure of its use.
If the borough can show that it is not now in the financial position to build
the settling tank and dosing apparatus and two filter units but that it will be in a
position to d.) this after the sewers shall have been built and assessments there-
for received, then the Commissioner of Health, on reijuest so to do, may grant
a permit for the construction of the settling tank and dosing chamber and for
the temi)orary discharge of sewage from said tank into the waters of thei
State.
It hns been determined that the interests of the public health will be sub-
served by approving plans for the sewer system and for the erection of purifi-
cation works at the pro|)osed site, and they are herein and hereby approved
and a permit issued tlieri'for under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That all storm water shall be excluded from the sewer system, and
that at the conclusion of each season's work plans of the sewers laid during the year
shall be filed in the ofiicc of the Commissioner of Health, together with any
other information in connection therewith that may be required to the end
that the State Dei)ar(ment of Health may be informed of the extent of the
sewer system and of the use thereof.
SECOND: Tiie borough shall cause to be made at least once monthly, an
inspection of all the sewers at the inspection manholes and flushing by hand
or otherwise shall be effected at times when necessary to protect the interests
of the public health. The report of such inspection shall be made on fomis
satisfactory to the Commissioner of Health and a copy thereof filed in said Com-
missioner's office.
THIRD: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or any part thereof shall have become a nuisance or menace then
such remedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of Health may
advise or approve.
FOURTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be de-
stroyed on the premises.
FIFTH; The borough shall keep an accurate record of every connection made
to tiie sewer a!id submit the full information in relation thereto to the Com-
missioner of Health whenever this shall be required.
SIXTH. On or before the sewer system is put in operation or any part thereof
tiie borougii shall construct and have ready for use a sedimentation or septic
tank and sewage filters and shall deliver the sewage into such disposal works.
Detailed plans of such works shall be submitted and approved by the Commissioner
of Health before the plant is erected and it is herein provided that the Commis-
sioner of Health may. under <'ertain conditions, set forth in the preceding dis-
cussion, grant a temporary permit to the borough of New Wilmington to
discharge sewage into the waters of the State.
Harrisburg, Ra., July 2nth, 1908.
NEW WILMINGTON. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of New Wilmington, Lawrence
County, relative to sewerage and sewage disposal works, and is for approval
.'f new plans for sewage disposal works and for permission to discharge the
sewage out of the borough through the settling tank of said disposal works
directly into the waters of Little Neshannock Creek within the limits of the town-
ship of Wilmington.
It appears that on July nineteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, the borough
of New Wilmington submitted modified plans for a system of sewerage and sewage
dispo!--al in accordance with advice given by the Commissioner of Health in a com-
munication to the Borough Council dated Novemiier twenty-second, nineteen
hundred ami six. On July eighteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, the bor-
ough's engineer gave full explanation of the details of the design of the pro-
posed disi)osal works and on July twenty-nine, nineteen hundred and eight, a
jjermit wa^. issiu'd to said borough approving the proposed sewerage and sewage
disposal works under certain conditions and stipulations.
The sewer system is to consist of a series of six inch and eight inch laterals
carrying sewage only and draining to a point immediately east of the bon-
ough line in Wilmington township and located a few feet south of McClure's
Run. Over a thousand people live in the borough and it is estimated that the
(iuantit.\ of sewnce to be taken care of during "the first few yeare will range
between thirty thousand and sixty thousand gallons per daj'.
986 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The purification works as submitted consisted of a dosing tank and intermit-
ent tiltei-s. They were to be located on the banks of Little Neshanuock Creek,
where McClui'e"s Run empties into the creek on the south side of the run. The
location is fourteen hundred feet distant from the eastern borough line. The
dosing tank was to have a capacity of seventy-five hundred gallons and was
to be equipped with Merritt sequence syphons. Three syphons were proposed,
each connecting with its corresponding filter unit.
The three filters were to be constructed in natural excavation consisting of
clay and hard pan. Each filter was to be sixty feet wide by two hundred and
forty feet long and five feet deep. It was to be filled around the underdrains
with twelve inches of screened gravel or field stone. This was to be covered
with two feet of granulated furnace slag and topped with one foot of clean sharp
sand.
No attempt was made in this design to intercept any solid matters before the
sewage reached the filters. Everything was to be discharged onto the surface
of the filters and by-passes were provided from the dosing tank to the run. It
appears that the design w^as to afford and provide a disposal plant at a minimum
cost.
In discussing these plans and the general conditions affecting public health, the
following statements were made in this permit:
"The Little Nesquehoning Creek empties into the Shenango River within the
limits of the city of New Castle but below the said city's water supply. The
river above and below this confluence now receives the sewage of New Castle
and until said city sewage is discharged into purification plant and there treated,
there would seem to be no dominant objection to the temporary discharge of New
Wilmington sewage into the creek, provided such temporary permission would
afford the borough an opportunity to build its sewer system and to perfect the
arrangements for the erection of a proper sewage purification plant.
"It has been demonstrated time and again that the success in the operation of
and maintaining a filter is dictated by the surface management and that an im-
portant feature of success is the elimination to a practical degree of the sus-
pended matter in the sewage. Under the plan proposed, there will be no such
separation with the result that surface clogging of the filters will be increased and
liability to improper or insufficient purification of the sewage also increased.
The sedimentation tank should be provided. This tank should he large enough
and be designed in such a way that it will contain at least eight hours' flow
of sewage during any period of flow of sewage from the sewers of New Wilmington
and admit of extension and added units being built as the town grows and the
necessity thereof shall appear. No pipes for cnide sewage or sewage from the
tanks should be planned to the creek. These pipes or drains should be directly
to the filters. Furthermore, detailed plans of the settling tank and dosing tank
in connection therewith should be submitted to and aiiproved by the Commissioner
of Health before such structures are l)uilf. Arrangements should be made to
drain the accumulated deposits from this tank onto a specially jirepni'ed bed,
where the solids will dry out and tlie liquids be (iUered. One such plan is to have
the undcM'drains terminate in a pump well and to 7'aise the sewage by hand p\unp
into the sand filters. If choice of the septic process, so-called and claimed Id
belong to the Cameron Septic Tank C/Ompany is to be made, the borough should
understand that the process has been defined by the United States Circuit Court of
Appeals and that the process as so defined, is a proprietory one. Should (lie
tank be used in such a way as to infringe this process as so defined, then a
royalty would be due and pennission should be obtained of the Cameron Septic
Tank <'ompany for such use. Flans for septic tank will be approved by the Com-
missioner of IlcaJth if submitted by the jjetitioners.
"At least two filters units as proposed, shoiild he built and operated. The De-
partment has not made tests 6t the granulated slag material and is not prepared
to give an authoritative statement as to the propriety of its use. However, if the
borough wisiies i:o conduct the tests and exiterimeut with I his material it must
be with the understanding that in approving of the use of this material the De-
partment floes not assume the responsibility of any failure of its use.
If the borough can show that it is not now in the financial position to build
the settling tank and dosing apparatus and two filler units but that it will be in a
positifin to do tiiis aftr-r the sewei's shall liavc heeii built aiul assessments
therefor i'"ceived, then the Conmiissioner of Health, on re(niesl so to do, may
Krant a permit for the constru<;tion of the settling tank and dosing chamber and
for the temporary discharge of sewage from said tank into the waters of the
State."
In approving the plans for the sewerage system and for the erection of purification
works, it was stipulated among the conditions, that,
"On or before the sewer system is put in operation or any part thereof the l>or-
ougli shall construct and have ready for use a sedimentation or s(!i)(ic tank and
shall deliver the sewage into such disposal works. Detailed plans of such works
shall be Hubinittr-d to ,'ind approv<'fl by thi- Conuiiissiotier of Ileallli hefort? the |)lant
is erected and it is herein provided that the ( "onimissioner of Health may, under
CI rtain conflitions, set forth in the preceding discussion, grant a temporary permit
to the borough of New Wilmington to discharge sewage into the waters of the
State."
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 987
The disposal works for which the borough of New Wilmington requested ap-
proval on November tliirti cnlli , nineteen hundred and eight, consist of two septic
tanks each nine and hvc-lculhs feet by thirty feet interior dimensions in plan and
ten and eight-tenths feet oflVctive depth, with a capacity of twenty-three thou-
sand gallons ; one dosing tank ten feet by twenty feet in plan by three and a half
feet deep with a capacity of five thousand two hundred and fifty gallons and two
sprinkling tilters each thirty-tive feet by thirty-five feet in plan and five feet
deep, with an effective area of twenty-eight thousandths acres. This plant
is to be located east of the borough line between the Sharpsville Railroad and
Little Neshannock Creek in the vicinity of the location proposed for the former
plant. .\n eight inch outfall sewer will extend from a point immediately east of
the borough line where the two eight inch main sewers from the borough in-
tersect to the septic tanlcs which will be located four hundred feet east of the
Sharpsville Railroad, a total distance of eight hundred and fifty feet from the
borough line.
The sewage will enter the septic tanks at an elevation of nine hundred and fifty-
four and nine-tenths feet and will flow through them to the dosing chamber attached
to the outlet end : thence it will be discharged onto the filtei-s located four hun-
dred feet east of the septic tanks near the bank of Little Neshannock Creek. The
top of the filter material is at elevation nine hundred and fifty-one and five-tenths
and the bottom drains of the filter and the outlet to the creek are at elevation
nine hiuuhcd and forty-six and five-tenths, so that there is a total vertical head
in the plant of eight and four-tenths feet. Low water in Little Neshannock Creek
is at elevation nine hundred and forty-one and high water is estimated to be at
nine hundred an<l forty-eight, so that during high water it will be necessary to
pump the sewage. For this purpose a small pumping station is provided east
of the filters in which a centrifugal pump will be installed.
The septic tanks are to he constructed of reinforced concrete with buttressed
walls twelve inches thick and with a reinforced concrete roof. The two tanks will
be constructed together with the dosing tank as one structure. The tanks, as
before stated, Avill be nine and five'tenths feet wide by thirty feet long, interior
dimensions with an effective depth of ten and eight-tenths feet and total height
from the bottom of the filter to the top of the roof of twelve feet ; surrounded
with an earth esnbankment extending from the top of the wall with a width of
three feet and with a slope of one and a half to one. The sewage will enter
each tank at one end through an eight inch pipe valve with a gate-valve im-
mediately outside of the tank and connecting with the eight inch outfall sewer.
On the interior of the tank this infiow pipe will turn down and extend to a
depth of two and a half feet below the flow line. The sewage will flow through
the length of the tank and on the opposite end from the inlet will be taken
through two openings in the concrete wall at the flow line. These openings con-
sist of square holes constructed in the concrete work at a distance of three feet
four inches from the side walls and provided with a weir twelve inches wide.
The sewage will discharge over these weirs directly into the adjacent dosing
tank. On the interior of the septic tank there is a concrete baflBe provided at
the outlet end and at a distance of one foot therefrom. This baflBe will extend to
a depth of three feet below the flow line across the entire width of the tank.
The bottom of the tank will be covered with a concrete floor laid perfectly flat
and no provision is made for draining the tank and for cleaning. Entrance to
each tank will be obtained through three manholes located in the roof which will
he perforated to afford ventilation.
The dosing compartment extends across the outlet ends of the septic tanks and
is twenty feet long by ten feet wide by three and five-tenths feet effective depth.
It is also constructed of reinforced concrete and covered with a reinforced con-
crete roof. The flow line in the dosing tank is at the same elevation as the flow
line in the Sc-ptie tank and three and four-tenths feet above the surface of the
filters. The sewage will be discharged from this dosing tank through a Miller
syphon and thence through a twelve inch supply line to the sprinkling filters ;
a valved by-pass line extends from this dosing tank to the twelve inch filter
supply main, so that if necessary, the dosing tank can be operated by gravity.
The sprinkling filters will be constructed with concrete walls one foot wide
at the top, two feet wide at the bottom and five feet high. As previously stated
there will he two units, separated by a concrete wall, each unit being thirty-five
feet by thirty-five feet in plan and five feet effective depth. The bottom of the
filter will have a concrete floor reinforced and three inches thick.
The twelve inch sewer pipe supplying the filters from the dosing tank will ex-
tend to a point immediately outside of the two units and opposite to the parti-
tion wall. At this point it will connect with a supply line extending the entire
length of each filter and valved so that one or both filters can be used. This sup-
ply line is tapped at intervals of eight feet with a six feet feed line to the filter
consisting of six inch sewer pipe laid in concrete. These feed lines will extend
bthw the floor of the filter unit and at intervals of eight feet will be tapped with
tvvo inch vertical I'isei-s, extending to the surface of the filters and surmounted
with a noy.zle of the Columbus type. No provision is made for cleaning this
supply system of piping or for controlling any portion of the filter other than
the gate valves on the main lines leading to the two filters.
For underdraining the filters, six inch terra cotta split tile drains will be laid
upon the floor of the filter at intervals of eight feet immediately between the supply
988 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
lines. These tile drains -will lead to a gutter, extending along the opposite side of
the two filters from the inlet side and this gutter will connect with an eight inch
pipe to Little Neshannook Creek. At its connection point there is a valved con-
nection for by-passing the sewage during times of high water through a six
inch by-pass line to the centrifugal pump which will be described later. There
IS only a drop of seventeen hundredlhs feet from the sitpper to the lower side
in the bottom of this filter, so that the bottom is practically flat. No provision
is made for cleaning the underdrainage system. As the bottom of the filters are be-
low high water an earth embankment has been planned to extend around these
filters. This will be constructed to the elevation of nine hundred and forty-nine,
which is one foot above high water mark.
At one end of the sprinkling filter group will be located the centrifugal pump
which is to be used for pumping the effluent from these filters during periods of
high water. This pump will be located in a concrete pump pit nine and five-
tenths feet in diameter and nine feet deep. The walls of t"his pit will be one
foot thick and the pump will bo covered with a concrete house with a conical
concrete roof. The size of the pump or the power to be used in driving it are not
stated. The pump will be located in the bottom of the pit and will take the sewage
directly fryin the filter drain. No sump is provided.
In submitting plans for septic tanks, the borough officials are complying with
condition six of the permit issued to them for constructing a sewerage system,
which provides that detailed plans of the septic tanks shall be submitted before the
sewer system is put in operation and that said tanks shall be erected before
any sewage is discharged through the system.
The sprinkling filter is submitted for approval to replace the sand filters pro-
vided for in the original plans. As these sand filters were to be composed mainly
of granulated slag and were more or less experimental in their nature, the bor-
ough officials have determined to replace them with a type of filter which
has been more generally used.
The plans as submitted are, however, prepared in the same spirit with which
the former plans were prepared, that is, to provide a disposal plant at a minimum
cost. To accomplish this purpose many important features have been omitted
and the plant is impracticable to operate successfully.
The septic tanks as planned make no provision for cleaning or draining. The
bottom is flat and no sump or gutters are provided for draining the sludge to a
low point. In the permit issued to the borough of New Wilmington especial atten-
tion was called to draining the accumulated deposits from the settling or
septic tank to a specially prepared bed where the solids could dry out and the
liquids could be filtered. The counter forts for the partition wall between the
two septic tanks extend at the bottom of the tank half way across the width of
each tank and would seriously impede the uniform flow of sewage in these
tanks.
The sprinkling filters are designed with a flat bottom and with no provision for
cleaning the underdrains. With this arrangement it is more probable that sooner
or later ther-^ would be a clogging of the underdrains of these filters. No pro-
vision is made for flushing the underdrains so that it would be necessary to re-
move the filter material to clean out the underdrainage system. It is proposed to
use in these filters rounded gravel from the nearby creek as filter material in sizes
ranging from three inches to one-half inch and with a total dei)th of five feet.
To obtain good results from a sprinkling filter angular, hard material, such
as broken trap rock or hard furnace slag, is usually used and the minimum depth
of filter is, as a rule, placed at six feet, so that the filter material proposed for
these filters would probably have to be replaced in the near future.
A pump is provided for pumping the sewage from this plant during i)eriods
of high water level in the creek, as during these periods water would other-
wise back-flood the sprinkling filters. An intermittent pumping plant of this type
usually does not give good results and it is probable if this arrangement was
approved that during high water i)eriods water wotild back-flood the filters for at
least a portion of the lime, as it is difficult to get any inexperienced man to
properly operate the pum|)itig station during intermittent periods.
It would not be possibli- to cunstruct a sewage disposal plant with settling
tanks and sprinkling filters which could be located with the drain from the
filters above high water mark and with a sufficient depth to the filter to give good
results. To accomplish this the settling tanks coiild be located west of tlin
railroad at the jiiuflion of the two main sewers from the borough, with its flow
line at an elevation of nine hundred and sixty. The sprinkliim IIIUm's ciiuld ]»>
located in the vicinity of the present location and as high water mark is placed
at nine liundred and forty-eight, this would allow a total vertical dei)th to tlic;
filter plant of twelvf feet. Re-settling basins should be used with the sprinkling
filters to allow material carried in the effluent from these filters to settle out
hf'fore it rfaches the creek.
In submitting plans for a disposal plant, the ])articular attention of the bor<-
ough officials is again called to the fact that it is poor economy to coristruct a
cheap plant which will prove inefficient and rerpiiro great expen.se in maintenance
and oi)eration. It was slated in the jtrevious pc'imit that "if the borough can show
that it is not now in a financial position to build a settling tank and dosing
apparatus and two filter units, but that it will he in a i)osition to do this after
the sewers shall have been built and assessments therefor received, then the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 989
Comraissi(jncr of Ho.ilih, on n'ciiiest so to do, may irrant a permit for the con-
.struction of tlifc Ki.'ttliiin: tank and dosing chamber and for the temporary discharge
of sewas't' from said tank into the waters of the State."
In accordance wiih tins, the borough council has made the statement that
it will assesji the abutting property for the larger portion of the expeu.se of
construpling the sewer system and that' the council e.\pect to use the proceeds
of this assessment towards the construction of the di.sposal plant. This assess-
ment will likely be available within one year after the completion of the sewers
and it is estimated that it will amount to six thousand dollars.
It has been determined that tlie interests of the public health require that ap-
proval of plans for the sewage disposal works be denied and approval is hereby
and herein withheld and the borough advised to present modified plans for sewage
disposal works along the lines suggested in the detailed report and in the pre-
vious permit.
These revised plans should be submitted to the State Department of Health
for approval, and the borough's attention is called to the necessity of making a
written statement requiring the availability of funds for coustructiug a sewage
disposal plant in (he near future in accordance with clause in the original permit
I'elaLive to the postponement of the construction of the filter.
Harrisbnrg, Pa., December 23rd, 1908.
NOKTH EAST, ERIE COUNTY.
This application was made by the Borough of North East, Erie County,
Pennsylvania, and is to install a sewerage system.
North East borough is a small agricultural community located in the extreme
northwestern corner of the State of Pennsylvania, Erie County. It lies in that
portion of the State which extends in the form of a triangle between the western
boundary of New York and Lake Erie. The borough has a population of twenty-
five hun<lred and an area of fi\e hundred and fifty acres. It is in the center of
the township of North East and one mile distant from the shore of Lake Erie.
The land along the shore of the lake for a distance of two miles or more from the
beach is quite level ; from the edge of this flat land hills rise to a height of two
hundred feet and more and in these hills there are many small streams which
feed tributaries that flow through the low land to the lake. One of these
streams flows through the western portion of the borough of North East. This
is known as Sixteen Mile Creek and has its source in the hills southeast of the
borough where numerous tributaries feed the creek from a watershed of approxi-
mately sixteen square miles. One of these tributaries, known as Baker Creek,
flows through the hills down to the low land and directly through the center
of the borough, entering it al the eastern boundary line and joining Sixte<>n
Mile Creek twelve hundred feet from the western boundary. This creek, where
it flows through the built-up sections of the borough, is walled up with rubble
masonry and in some places is carried throuch a tunnel. This creek serves to drain
the storm water drains that have been constructed in some of the paved sections
of the borough.
The main line of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway passes
through the southern portion of the borough directly connecting the boroucih with
the cities of Erie and Buffalo. Erie is only seventeen miles west from North
East and can also be reached by trolley.
The boroui;li is essentially a business centre for a large and prosperous fruit
growing conununity. The low bind along the Lake from Erie almost to Buffalo
is devoted almost entirelj' to vineyards and orchards. The grajie industry is
most prominent and tiie crops are imiformly successful so that the community
is, very prosperous and the farm land is very valuable. Many of these vineyard
owners are residents of the borouirh of North East. The only industry in the
town is a smnll mannfjicturing establishment cmgaged in canning.
The growth of North East Borouirh has beon slow and steady. In eighteen
hundred and ninety it was fifteen himdred and thirty-eight and in nineteen hundred
ir was two thousand and sixty-eight. It is llirrefore estimated on the basis of the
present population of twenty-five hundred that the population in nineteen hundred
and eis'hteen, will not be o\er thirty-five hundred.
North East is suiiplied with water through a water works system owned h.v the
borough. The supply is taken from a system of springs located in the hills
about a mile east of the borough and is piped frnm these springs by gravity to
a four million gallon open reservoir located on fop of one of the hills immediately
southeast of the borough and at an elevntion of two hundred and thirty-eight
feet above the borouirh. During the dry seasons this supply has been found to be
inadequate and an auxiliary su]i)ily has been ol)tain(>d from a large storasre reservoir
on a branch of Sixtfcn Slile Creek one mile east of the existing reservoir and
two hun<lred and fifty feet above it. This supply has been approved by the De-
partment of Health under condition that a filtration plant be installed for th'»
purification of this auxiliary supply. This auxiliary supply will only be us^d
during the dry season as the supply from the springs is suflicient for all ordinary
purposes.
From the reser\-oir there is an eight inch distributing main lendins to the
town and this main connects with a system of laterals raniing in size from
six inches to two inches and thoroughly covering the developed portion of the
borough.
63
990 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The water consmnptiuii is estimated to be fifty gallons per capita although no
accurate measurements have been made.
There is no public sewer system in the borough of North East and as the
borough is situated on a thick stratum of gravel and sand, cesspi)oI wasLc readily
leeches away. Probably fifty per cent, of the people of the borough of North East
dispose of their house sewage by allowing it to flow into cesspools and the rest
have privies.
There are two private sewers in the borough. One of these extends from the
buildings of St. ^Mary's Seminary, a small Catholic College located in the ex-
treme northern portion of the borough. The sewage from this seminary is partly
purified through a septic tank and is then discharged through a series of ponds
to Sixteen Mile Creek. This sewage has been the cause of a decided nuisance in this
section of the borough and the college authorities have intended to supplement the
septic tank treatment but have been withholding until they could consider whether
arrangements could be made witli the borough authorities for the disposing of
this sewage through the borough system. There are two hundred students at
this college and the flow of sewage is estimated at twenty thousand gallons per
day.
The canning factory discharges its waste directly into Sixteen Mile Creek through
a private sewer. So far this has given no trouble.
The borough has constructed a sanitary sewer along Lake Street from the
creek immediately south of Main Street southerly to Clinton Street, a distance of
fourteen hundred and fifty feet ; thence along Clinton Street westerly for two
hundred and eight feet to Pearl ; thence along Pearl Street southerly a distance
of two hundred and sixty-seven feet. This sewer is twelve inches in diameter
and lias been laid on a minimtun grade of foui^tenths of one per cent. No
house connections have been made to it and it has not been used but has been
constructed in accordance with the policy of the borough to laj' sewers in ad-
vance of street paving. Ic has been designed so that it can be connected up and
used as a part of the final system of sewers which it is proposed to install.
North East borough has submitted a set of plans and profiles for a complete
system of sanitary sewei'S which will drain the borough eventually to a point
northwest of the borough limits where the sewage can be carried through an
outfall sewer by gravity to a disposal plant. The borough oflicials have submitted
this entire system for aproval with the express intention of constructing portions
of it from time to time but of not discharging any sewage through any portion
of the system until a disposal plant approved by the Department of ITeallh has
been installed for the proper purification of the sewage before it is discharged into
Sixteen Mile Creek.
The plans as submitted provide for two separate drainage sections for the bor-
ough which will connect to an outfall sewer at the northwestern boundary of the
borough and this sewer will carry the sewage by gravity to a point on Sixteen
Mile Creek one thousand feet from the borough boundary. At this point there is a
precipitous drop from the top of the bank to the flow line in the creek of twenty
feet or more producing an excellent site for the installation of a disposal plant
where it could be operated by gravity.
One of these drainage systems comprises all of the territory north of P>aker
Creek with the exception of a small section of the eastern edge of thr jjoroiigh.
This district comprises about one-sixth of the borough territory and it is i)roposcd to
.sewer it throiiirli a twelve inch main sewer extending along (Jibson Slrcft to the
western boundary of the borough and fed by a system of latenils ranging in sizi'
from tw( he inches to eight inches. The seminary previously mentioned is located
in this rlistrict and could be easily drained into this system.
The other drainage section comprises the main portion of the borougli located
south of Haker (hvek and also a small section of the borough iiiiint'diali'ly north
of Baker Creek and on the eastern boundary line. It is proposed to dijiin lliis
Kewer district tlirough a twenty inch outfall sewer extending from a point
north of P.aker Creek near the main sewer from a smaller district, east-
erly to Main Street and thence along Main Street to Bnker Cr(>ek and thence
along Haker Creek to Lake Street. This twenty inch outfall sewer will be fed
by a system of laterals ranging in size from twenty inches to eight inches and
thf>rou2hly covering the main section of the borough. The (extreme sonlliei-n por-
tion of the boi'ough where Sixter-n Mile (!re(!k crosses is too low to drain inid eilliei-
of tliese systems. If this sr-ction is developed in the future it would be necessary
to drain it through a sewer extending along Sixteen Mile Creek and probably
it would be necessary to lift this sewage to the inlet opening at the dis))osal
plant.
The sewerrt as planned will be laid with a minimum grade of four-tenths of one
per cent, and in most cases the gi-ade is much steeper than this. Manholes
are to he provided at changes of line and grade and the sewers are to be flushed
throuirh these manholes by attaching a hose to the fire hydrants.
The borough M'ishes to inimefliately eonstnict a portion of llie main S(!wer
in the drainaire district south of I*;iker <'reek and some of the laterals in this dis-
trict as they intend to pave tlu' streets in this section immedinlely. 'J'h(! twenty
inch main s"ucr is to be constructed along Main Street from Mill Street to Robin-
son, a distance of (en hundred and seventy-two feet; thence along Baker Crec^k
from Robinson Streit to Lake, a distance of one thousand feet; at this point it
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 991
will coniUM t luj with Lake Street sower which has already been laid. The authori-
ties also wish lu cuiistriutt a twelve iuch sewer along Main Street from Blaine
Street to Vine Street a distance of ten hundred and thirty-five feet; thence along
Vine Street to Mechanics Alley a distance of four hundred and thirty-eight feet.
Thence ah'ng Mechanics Alley to Lake Street, a distance of four hundred and
seven feet ; conueclinf; at this point with the twenty incii main sewer of this district.
Furthermore, it is proposed to construct an eight inch sewer along Main Street
from the western bounOary line of the borough easterly to Mill Street a distance
of ten hundred and seventy-eight feet; connecting at tliis point with the twenty
inch main sewer. The borough otticials have also asked for approval of the
twelve inch sewer which was constructed along Lake Street from Baker Creek
southerly to Clinton Street and which is to form a portion of the ultimate sewer
system.
Th(.'se sewers are laid on ample grades and manholes are to be provided at
changes of line and grade with the exception of two manholes on the twenty inch
main sewer extending along Baker Creek. This sewer is shown coming into the
manholes on an angle anil it appears from the plans that a modification could be
easily made. No house connections are to be made with any of these sewers
and "the sewers are not to be used until plans for a disposal plant have been sub-
mitted to and approved by the Department of Health and the plant has been in-
stalled.
The sewerage system as planned will take care of all of the developed portion
of the borough and will allow of its disposal by gravity. The system proposed is
laid out carefully and ample provision is made on the plans for inspection by
manholes. The sizes of some of the larger sewers, however, are not warranted by
the quantity of sewage which will be taken care of by this system. The water
consumption is estimated at lifty gallons per capita and with an ultimate population
in tlie borough of five thousand people which is double the present population, the
quantity of water used would be two hundred and fifty thousand gallons which
wouhl represent the flow of sewage provided there was no infiltration from ground
water. If the sewers are carefullj' laid infiltration should be reduced to a minimum
as the soli is porous and should drain readily. A ten-inch or four-tenths of one
per cent, grade would carry the entire flow of sewage from this borough when
flowing half full so that the construction of the twenty inch main sewer is ex-
travagant and will not be as efficient as a smaller sewer where the velocity
reached is higher.
The borough oflicinls do not state whether arrangements have been made with
the seminary officials for the draining of this sewage into the borough system.
This should be provided for in order to eliminate the niiisance which exists at
present from the sewage being discharged partly purified into Sixteen Mile
Creek. It would be more economical for the seminary authorities to assist the
borough ollicials in the construction of this system than to construct a separate
disposal plant for the purification of their sewage.
The borough oflicials have not requested permission to discharge the sewage from
their syst(Mn into Sixteen Mile Creek unpurified, but have assumed that the
Department of Health would require the purification of this sewage and have
made provision to prepare for an installation of the disposal plant before the
sewerage system is used. Sixteen iNIile Creek has a drainage area of sixteen
square miles so that it would be impossible to discharge the sewage from the
entire borough into this creek during dry weather without creating a nuisance.
Sixteen INIile Creek flows through the borough for a distance of over a mile to
I^ake Erie where it discharges. To pipe th(^ sewage from North East borough
to the Lake and provide for discharging it directly into the Lake would probably
cost more than the insiallatitm of the disi)Osal plant and there would also be the
added danuer of possible contamination of the water supply of the city of Erie
which is taken from Erie Harbor on the Lake and distant seventeen miles.
So that it is seen that the borough officials have acted wisely in selecting a
site for the final construction of a sewage disposal plant and providing for this
ultimate disposal.
The municipal asses.sed valuation of the liorough is nine hundred thousand
dollars or thereabouts and the bonded indebtedness is between forty thousand and
fifty thousand dollars. If lhes(> reitorts be sulistantially correct then there is be-
tween fifteen thousand and twenty thousand dollars municii)al borrowing capacity,
which is too little 1o defray the cost of a sewage disposal plant. However, the
water works bring in an imome annually of ten thousand dollare and it is the
intention of the local authorities to pay for the sewer system and disposal works by
the revenue from the water plant. In this manner "it is expected that within two
years, plans will be submitteil f(U' sewage disjiosal works.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approving the proposed sewerage system and the same is hereby and herein
approved and a permit granted therefor, under the following conditions and
stipulali<ins:
FllvST: That the sewers shall not be used until the sewage disjiosal works
shall have been built in compliance with plans prepared for the borough and sub-
mitted to and approved liy the State Department of Health.
SECOND: Tl;e l<ic:>l authorities are adviseil to pay especial heed to the sug-
gestions relative to modifying the sizes of the proposed sewers. The main sewer
992 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
along Main Street to Bakor Crepk should be reduced in size to twelve inches and
the alignment of this sewer should be arranged so as to allow manholes to be located
at changes in line and grade.
THIRD: That vn or before January first, nineteen hundred and eleven, the
borough shall prepare and submit to the Commissioner of Health for approval, plans
for the sewage disposal works.
The attention of the borough council is called to the importance of great care
being exercised in the construction of the sewers, the laying of them to proper
lines and grades and the making of the joints absolutely tight. Inattention to
this detail may require a greater cost for additional capacity of the disposal works
than the fii'St cost of the sewer system. Competent engineering supervision may
appear to be expensive but in reality and more especially whore a sewage disposal
plant is to be erected at the end of the sewer system, it is the wisest invest-
ment the borough can make.
Harrisburg, Pa., November ISth, 190S.
OIA'PHANT, I^CKA WANNA COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Olyphant, Lackawanna County,
and is for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage there-
from, unti'eated. into the Lackawanna River within the limits of said borough.
It appears that Olyphant borough is in the central part of Lackawanna County
and wholly within the drainage Itasiu uf the Lackawanna River. The incorporated
territory is about four and one-half miles long back from the river and one and
one-half miles wide. It is bounded on the northwest by the river which separates
Olyphant from Blakely borough and Dickson City borough, on the northeast by
Winton borough, on the southeast by Jefferson and Roaring Brook townships
and on the southwest by Throop borough, which separates Olyphant from Dun-
moro borough and the city of Scrantou.
The territory so incorporated is very rugged and sparsely settled except along the
river where most of the dwellings and the business section of the town is located.
From the main village the land rises to the Moosic Mountains, reaching an elevation
in the extreme southeastern portion of twelve hundred feet or niDre above the river.
Along the river and in the village there are extensive tracts of low land wlueli
are frequently flooded at high water.
Tlie area draining directly into the river contains less than a square mile, but
includes that portion of the borough where improvements are under way and
where most of the seven thousand population of the borough reside.
In the summit district in the southeastern part there is a mining village called
Marshwood. It drains into liittle Roaring Brook, a stream rising in Jefferson
township, flowing southwesterly through Olyphant, Throoj) and Dunmcu'e bor-
oughs, draining a verj- rugged and sparsely populated territoi'y of about five
sqiuire miles and emptying into Roaring Brouk immediately below Reservoir
Nundier Seven, from which water is drawn to supply (he city of Scranton. The
Dunmore Water Company has a reservoir on Little Roaring Brook, from which
water is supplied to tin' borough of Dunmore and the city of Scranton. This con-
cern is a constituent company of the Scranton (ins and Water Company. Re-
cently extensive imi)rovem''uts in the sanitary conditions at the village of Marsh-
wood have been made at the instigation of the State Department of Health.
The central rural portion of the borough is drained by Eddy Creek, which rises
in Winton hoi'ougli and Hows across Olyi)liant into Throop and thence back into
Olyphant borough, emptying into Ihi- Lackawanna River in Ihe village near the
Throop borough lirio. Die area of this watershed is belween five and six
square miles, and upon it there are ii number of coal operations. About one-
eighth of a mile above the river in the village is Olyphant Mine Number Two
of the Dehiware and Hudson Company, from which over five million gallons per day
of strong acid watei- is pumped into the creek. The dry weather flow of this
stream may not b" over three hundred thousand galhms i)er day. Two miles above
the river is the Birdseye Mine of the same coni|jany, from which about three-
quarters of a million gallons of mine drainage are emptied into the creek daily.
At present it appears that no i)orough, sewage is discharged into this creek, but
on a smajj brfindi about tliree-(piartcrs of a mile from the river are two ice
houses, said to lie owned by John J. Sherman, of Olyphant. The ice is
liarvested from a pond eontaining jiliont five acres and receiving liie drainage of
seven-tenths square mihs of waleisjicd in which are locati'd Ix-tween fifty and
seventy-five liouses occupied l)y miners. Tiie ice jxmd receives surface water
overflow from privies and kilcjicn drainage from the aijove dwellings. 'JMie ice is
sold in Olyphant.
'J'lie north ci'ntral part of Olyph.-int borough, a rural disfi'ict, is drained by
Sterry <^!reek wiiidi risr-s in Wiiilon boi-ough, lakes a circuiloiis coursi' into
Olyphant borou-.di and thence out and northerly, entering the river in Winton near
the Olyphant line. This stream has a drainage area of about four and two-tenths
miles, re<-eives the draina'_'e from several coal mines and also from the village
of Orassy in Olyphant ;it the river.
'I'he r)elaw;ire ;ind Hudson Railroad |)asseH from Dickson C'ity borough across
the river into Olyphant borough and thence proceeds up the valley along the hill-
side. The land in Olyphant between this railroad and the river is (piite flat, hav-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 993
ing a gentle slope towards the stream. The laud the other side of the railroad in
the village has iiuich steeper slopes. The sanitary conditions of the portion of
the town west uf the railroad are good. The streets are well paved and sewered.
East oi' ihe railroad the slreet gutters receive some kitchen drainage and privies
are in use in in'ariy all occupied estates.
The existing sewers are on the combined plan. The system was first installed
in eighteen hundred and ninety-eight and additions have been made since, even
as lute as nineteen hundred and six. The district in which these sewers are built
lies wholly beXweeu the Delaware and Hudson Railroad and the river and con-
tains approximately one hundred acres. There are reported to be one and seven-
teutlis miles of sewers in the streets exclusive of a private sewer system.
The existing public sewers drain about fifty-six acres and are reported to have
one hundred and niuL'ty connections, serving about eight hundred people. There
are about two thousand people resident in the fifty-six acre tract.
The first sewer outlet into the river is a thirty inch pipe at the foot of Lloyds
Couit at ilie up-stream side of the Delaware and Hudson liailroad britlge over the
river. It has a drainage area of about forty-one acres west of the railroad and an
indefinite amount on the hillside east of the railroad. The discharging capacity
of the main sewer is abo.ut twenty-seven cubic feet per second, which is equivalent
to sixty-six hundredths inches of rainfall per hour per acre. Since rainfalls
of greater intensity are of frequent occurrence, provided there be ample street
openings for the surface water to reach the sewers, there must be occasional
back-Hoodiuy, of the sewers.
The thirty inch outlet is above the normal river level. There are no dwellings
nearby. From the railroad bridge up stream for a distance of about eighteen
hundred feet to the highway bridge at Lackawanna Street, the borough has spent
consi(ierabl(! money in improving the channel of the river by narrowing and dredg-
ing with the object in view of increasing the velocity of fiow^ and preventing
deposits and obstructions along the river, it appears that tiie Lackawanna River
watershed is largely comprised of steep, mountainous slopes down which heavy
rainfjills rush in torrents to the valley, tilling the river to above its banks and
flooding low lauds. At such times the first story of dwellings on the flats in
Olj'phaiit borough aiv; reached by the freshet and much damage to property has
occurred. During ordinary times, fine pieces of waste coal from culm banks and
washeries reach the river and deposit on its bottom in great quantities. These
accumulations reduce the carrying capacity between the banks and materially add
to the floods. The channel iiuprovements above referred to were intended to help
obviate accumulations in that part of Ulyphaut borough, but these improvements
have not been carried far enough to be of much permanent benefit, so it would
appear. The river, especially above the Lackawanna Street bridge, and also
below Olyphant borough, is constantly shifting its channel and the portion which
has been dredged is again filling up rapidly with gravel and coal dirt.
In Grassy village, near the river and the old (irassy Island breaker, now
abandon(>d, there is a washery by means of which the old waste culm piles of the
vicinity are being worked over.
Owing to the germicidal effect of sulphur mine drainage on sewage organism
and the disinfecting and precipitating effect of these acids and coal dust, no
nuisance exists in the river any distance away from the said thiry inch sewer
outlet.
There is a slaughter house a few hundred feet up-stream on the banks of the river
at the end of lIiJl Avenue, from which wastes are permitted to go to the river,
which is reported to cause a nuisance in the summer time.
The only otlier public sewi r outlet in the borough is into the river just above
the Lackawanna Street bridge. This pipe is eighteen inches in diameter, serves
an area of about twenty-two acres west of the railroad and more east of it, has
a carrying capacity of six cubic feet per second, and is unable to remove all of
the rainfall which descends on its watershed when the downpours approximate one-
half inch per hour.
In eighteen hundred and ninety-four the Olyphant Sewage Drainage Company
was duly charlencl to construct and maintain sewers in the borough oi Olyphant,
and the same year the borough granted a franchise to said company and the
company caused surveys to be made, but no other work was done. On' failure of
tiie corporation to pay for the surveys, judgment was obtained and the rights and
franchises of the Olyphant Sewage Drainage Company were sold at sheriff's sale
in eighteen hundred and ninety-five. The same year parties interested in the
franchise of the d.'f unci company met and organized a new corporation under
the name of the Olyphant Si-wayi' and Drainage Company and secured the rights
and franchises of tiie former cuiupany, filing the requisite papers in the otlice of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth on December twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred
and five. The new organization did not do any work until eighteen hundred and
ninety-eight, when the capital stock was increased to one iiundred thousand dol-
lars and a mortijaire was placed on the property for fifty thousand dollars. Elab-
orate surveys were made and contracts executed for sewer constructions. In
April, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine, when the company was about to begin
e.xcavating on the streets of the borough, the Burgess, aided by the police officers,
prevented the corapanj''s employes from continuing the work. The courts did not
support the municipality and tiie drainage company proceeded w.th the sewer
03— 17— 1008
994 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
construction. The pipe, whose diameters range from thirty inches to eight inches,
were laid iu all of rhe .streets west of the railroad, provided with wye branches,
flush tanks auU manholes and with an outlet into the river at the foot of Lloyds
Alley. It originally extended out into the river. It is now covered over with
gravel and culm.
The property and franchise were again sold at sheriff's sale in December, nine-
teen hundred and one, and in that month there was a new corporation or-
ganized. Extensions of time in which to complete the sewer system have been
obtained, the last one, for five years, being tiled in the Secretary of State's
office, March nineteenth, nineteen hundred and six. At the present time the
largest creditor of the company, who holds a mortgage for several thousand dol-
lars on the plant, states that the company has abandoned the property, that
he does not know with certainty who its otiicers are, that the system is in an un-
completed state, that if any parties have made house connections with the sewers
it has been surreptitiously done, and that he does not know what to do with the
property in the event of the foreclosure of the mortgage, since the sewers have
been paralleled to a considerable extent by the borough sewer.
The petitioners want permission to complete sewer extensions in the two sewer
districts west of the railroad now served by the public sewer outlet at the rail-
road bridge and the highway bridge. They also wish to sewer a district of twenty-
two acres between the railroad and the river in the upper part of the main
village, and to establish a uew sewer outlet therefrom into the river at the
foot of Ferris Street. This outlet is to be twenty-four inches in diameter,
to be about six hundred feet long on a slope of three inches in one hundred feet,
having a discharging capacity equivalent lo the removal from the drainage area
of a rainfall of one-half inch per hour. Connected with this outlet there is to be
about a half mile of twelve inch pipe and a similar length of ten inch pipe, designed
to take both sewage and storm water. The outlet will be at low water mark of
the river. At high water the sewer will be submerged four feet. At the bank of
the river there is to be an overflow manhole, the sewer from here out into the
the stream to be of cast iron.
Opposite, in the borough of Blakely, there is a large culm pile and a few
hundred feet above it is the washery hereinbefore mentioned, both of which will
contribute to the clogging up of any sewer outlet built at low water or laid on
the channel of the river.
It is reported that the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company intend to build
a combined sewer along the tracks from the passenger station to the railroad
bridge, the size to be thirty-six inches in diameter and designed to receive all of
the surface water east of the railroad and the sewage from that section of the
town at such time as the borough sewers may be built in the district. I'lans for
such sewers have not been submitted, nor is the district included in the applica-
tion now under consideration. The pipe for this sewer is now on the ground,
but at the time of the Department's inspection no work had been done because
of some disagreement with the borough authorities, so it is said.
The borough territory is undermined by mine workings and in the village where
the improvements are contemplated the people obtain their water supply from a
foreign source furnished by the Ulyphant Water Company, which also furnishes
water to Winton borough after having purchased it of the Winton Water
Company. It is not, therefore, in connection with* the preservation of the purity
of any domestic well supply that the sewers are proposed; but it is on the general
score of desirability of adequate sewerage that the necessity for sewer extensions
is urged.
The citizens appear to be strongly in favor of municipal ownership of public
improvements, else public sewers in the streets already sewered by a private com-
pany would not be undertaken. The private sewer system was designed to ex-
clude storm water and is planned to convey all the How to one point, while the
borough sewers, though suiistantially of the same size as the private sewers, are
planned to take both sewage and storm water. This they cannot do always,
as has been explained. Besides the public sewera discharge at three widely separated
points.
The time may come when it will be a])So]ute]y necessary to avoid a nuisance
then caused at the borough's sewer outlets by the sewage its self or by obstructions in
the channel. <Jne remedy would 1)C adecpiate prevention of stream obstruction,
but until a geniTal channel improvf^ment plan be inaugurated and carried out
for miles up and down the river valley, it would s(!ein to be futile for any one mu-
nicipality, and r'specially Olypliant boroiigli , to Miidcrtakc' costly improvcinenls in
the river bed through its own territory. IO.\p<i-ieiice lias proven that the dccixined
channel as soon as dug out begins to till up again. Floods follow and <lamages
ensue.
The T/ackawanna River would, on account of the sewage tinned into it from
about every municipalily en its banks, be an open s(!wer, wen; it not for the
combined germicidal, fiisinfccting and pn^cipilatiiig effect of the iicids and min-
erals in the waters. 'I'lie deposits on tiie river lied upon biict<'i'iologica] examina-
tion prove to be rif:h in organic matter of sewage origin. These foul matters are
scoured out and transported down stream to the water works intakes of llie cities
and towns on the banks of the Susquehanna River — into which the Lackawanna
River empties — and some of the impurities pass through said intakes and the
No. 17. COMMISSIU.NER OF HEALTH. 9d5
water works pipes to the dwellings of public water consumers who are thus un-
suspectingly treated to a poisonous water. Kecently one of the towns supplying
its citizens with lilcered Susquehanna lliver water was obligetl, during an acci-
dent w ilic purifying plant, to puuip crude waier into the pipe sistem without
a momeul"s notice, in order to keep the industries in operation. Warnings to the
citizens to boil the water were sent out speedily, but there was a space of time
during which the most careful individual was subject to a great peril. It is the
policy of the State lo reduce these perils to a minimum by preserving the purity of
the waters of the Comuiunweallh. So, while under ordinary conditions the sewage
of Olyphant borough and other places, now discharged into the Lackawanna River,
may not do any harm, under other conditions it may be a serious menace. Then,
too, there is a limit beyond which sewage cannot be emptied into any stream
without producing a local oll'ence. It is prudent for the local authorities to take
these matters iuto consideration in planning a sewer system. It cannot be reason-
ably expected that the State should approve sewer plans which were not adopted
in contemplation of and belonging to a eomprehensive plan.
It IS understood that the assessed valuation of the borough is about three mil-
lion dollars, and that its bonded indebtedness is thirty-four thousand dollars.
If these figures be true, the borrowing capacity of the muuieipality is in excess
of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The town is amply able to extend its
sewers and to defray the cost of properly disposing of the sewage. However, it
would not be fair to compel Olyphant to take earlier action than would be re-
quired of the borough of Taylor, whose sewers discharge into the river, or the
other boroughs and towns.
When the lime shall have arrived for the erection of sewage disposal works
probably Olyphant borough would obtain greater ethciency and economy by join-
ing with adjacent boroughs and possibly with the city of Scranton, in a joint project
of sewage interception and disposal than by acting independently ; but in either
event the cost would be prohibitive if storm water were not separated from the
sewage as far as practicable. The existing borough sewers are iusulhcient in
capacity for adequate storm drainage and at times of back-Ilooding are, therefore,
unsuitable as sewers. Pipes for the removal of house drainage ought always to be
operative. If these sewers are to serve permanently as storm drains, then some
other arrangement should be made for the collection of house drainage. If the
sewers of the private company are in a good condition, and they could be ac-
quired by the borough at a reasonable cost, it might be advantageous for the local
authorities to acquire the plant, and plan for its use either for the removal of
sewage only or of storm water only.
It is probable that a municipal co-operative plan comprising those towns along
the river where Hood damages are now sustained, for channel improvement and
flood prevention, should also include to the advantage of all concerned the co-
lateral question of sewage interception. The benefits of co-operation are now be-
ing exemplified in the projected highway up the valley of the river through the
country. Already the Board of Trade of the city of Scranton is considering the
question of straightening, deepening and walling the channel. It ought not to be
diliicult for Olyphant borough to ascertain the expediency of entertaining and pro-
moting tlie co-operative sewerage project. The interests of the public health,
however, demand that ail sewer extensions in the borough shall contemplate
the ultimate disposal of the sewage in some other way than at present in use. The
laying of a large combined sewer by the railroad and the connection to it of
future borough sewers, as hereinbefore described, cannot be approved. Neither
can the State give permanent approval to the proposed sewer outlet at the foot of
Ferris Street. Temporary permission may be given provided the borough at once
prepare a comprehensive sewerage plan for all of the main village on both sides
of the railroad and along Eddy Creek, which plan shall contemplate the ultimate
separation of sewage from storm water and the possible treatment of the former
and submit the same for approval. The cost of such a study and plan would be
a normal amount. The benehts would be large. The borough would then be in a
position to lay down a sewer anywhere in the district with the positive assurance
that no alterations would ever be required, and that when all streets were sewered
a perfected plan would result.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approving the proposed sewer extensions, and the same are hereby and herein
approved under the following conditions and stipulations:
FlliST: That all street drainage shall be excluded from the proposed sewei-s
until it shall have been determined what plan shall be approved for the ultimate
separation of the sewage from the storm water, and until plans therefor shall
have iieen prepared by the borough and submitted to and approved by the proper
State authorities.
SECOND: Inspection manholes shall be placed on the sewers at all street in-
tei-sections and at changes of line and grade. A careful record shall be kept of all
connections with the sewer system. At the close of each season's work, a plan of
the sewtMs built during the year, together with any other information in con-
nection ihi'ieuilh which may be required, shall be filed in the ollice of the State
Department of Health, to the end that the Commissioner of Health may be always
inlornu'd of the extent of the sewer system and the public use thereof.
996 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
THIRD: This permit to discharge sewage iulo the waters of the State shall
cease on the first day uf January, uineteeii huudred and ten, providod the other
conditions in tlie permit sliall have been complied with. If on said .lannary lirst,
uiuetcen hundred ami ten. all of the conditions of this permit shall have been
complied with, then the Commissioner of Health may extend the time in which
the borough's sesvaire may be discharged into the waters of the State, having in
mind always the general policy of the State with respect to the discharge of
sewage from the various municipalities in the Lackawanna River valley above
Old Forge liuiough.
FOURTH: In view of the fact that the joint problem of sewerage and sewage
disposal, eitiicr alone, or associated with the stream improvement as hereinbe-
fore outlined, is a comprehensive one, and if brought about must necessarily require
considerable time, therefore, it is specially stipulated that the borough of Olyphaut
shall, on or before January hrst, nineteen hundred and tiMi, either alone or
in conjunction with one or more other municipalities in the Lackawanna valley,
consider and perfect some other plan for the disposal of the sewage than into the
Lackawanna River, and submit the same to the Commissioner of Health for ap-
proval. The special attention of the borough authorities is called to the various
suggestions hereinbefore named and to the fact that the Department will be glad
to advise ami assist the borough in its study of said problem.
FIFTH; No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged
into the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these waters to be
destroyed on the premises.
SIXTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer sj-stem or any part thereof, or the method of disposaL has become preju-
dicial to public health or a public menace, then such remedial measures shall be
adopted as the Commissioner of Health may approve or advise.
The C<)mmi.=i-ioner of Health will notify the Board of Health of the borough of
Olyphanl that tl:-- water entering the pond from which Mr. John J. Sherman cuts
ice, which is subsequently sold to the residents of Olyphaut and vicinity, is subject
to pollution from overflowing privy vaults, kitcheu drainage and surface water
from yards, in the easi<iii portion of the village, and that the consumers should
be publicly notified to this effect and warned of the possible danger. Furthei'-
more, the' local Board of Health will be requested to remove or abate all such
sources of pollution. A similar notification will be served on Mr. Sherman and the
borough council notified of the fact.
The Commissioner of Health will notify Mr. J. S. Mendell, of Olyphant, to
abate the nuisance at his slaughter house caused by the depositing of refuse
on the river banks.
Harrisburg, Pa., April 23rd, 1908.
PARNASSUS, WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
This decree was issued to the borough of Parnassus, Westmoreland County,
Pennsylvania, relative to the discharge of sewage from said borough sewers into the
waters of the Stats.
North of the city of Pittsburgh the Allegheny River is bounded on the east
bank by a rocky, precipitous ridge which rises almost from the water's edge to a
height of several hundred feet, there being so little room at the foot of the
slope that the railroad of the Buffalo and Allegheny Valley Division of the
Pennsylvania Railroad system, which follows up this valley, is located at many
places' in excavations of, solid rock. Wherever the ridge recedes from the river
bank sufficiently, there a town has been located. The first settlement is eleven
miles above the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongaliela Rivers and com-
prises the borou<,'hs of Verona and Oakmont. The next settlement begins on the
east bank of the river six miles above Oakmont and extends for three and a half
miles northerly and comprises in order up stream tlie boroughs of Parnassus,
population twenty-two hundred; New Kensington, population sixty-eight hundred,
and Arnold, population sixteen hundred, or in that neighborhood. There is no lino
on the ground to mark the division of the municipal boundaries, it being all
one community to the observer.
The railroad parallels the river at the foot of the hillsides and distant from the
rivi^r about fil'tefn hundrid feet, llcvc is a h'vel plati'au of scdimeiilaiy foniialion,
elevated fifteen hundred feet above the highest freshet recorded, on which along
the river bank are located the industrial plants which support the commu-
nity and whi'ie the stores and oflices are located and the older portion of
the town. Kiist of (he railroad th(! hill slopes are not so steep as to preclude
their oeeupatioii by dwellings. And here In New Kensington and Arnold the newer
residences have been erected and fiilurr' development will mostly occur. In
ParnasHUH then- is no hillside, it being located an a level peninsula formed at
the confluence of the river and the Big I'eniuito Creek. Quite a wide; flat valley
extends back from the river up this creek coui'se, where in the future it is prob-
able, as the district utows, that a large town may be located.
Parnassus is the; older si'lllement, rlating back to the provincial times. It is
largely residential and many of its citizims are emi)loyed at Pittsburgh. The
No. 17. COMMISSK^iNE.: OF HEALTH. ' 997
streets are pemiancntly paved with brick, there is a public water supply and
combined sewer system and the town is in a flourishins; financial condition. Its
borrowing capacity is reported to be approximately sixty thousand dollars.
New Kensington and Arnold borouj^hs are distinctively industrial communities
supported by the plants in operation within their limits. Arnold was set off
from New Kensington borough about ten years ago and it is reported to be almost
a certainty that the district will again be incorporated within New Kensington
boundaries.
The latter place has a combined sewer system, well paved streets on the flats
and a liberal horrowini; capacity, its constitutional debt limit not having been
approached. The assessed valuation from figures now at hand is three million
three hundred and fifty thousand dollars and the bonded indebtedness one hun-
di-ed and eighteen thousand dollars. The above statement is made on this basis,
upon which it appears that the municipal credit should be good for one hundred
and sixteen thousand dollars.
The borough of Arnold also appears to be well off financially, if the reports be
tnie, which show an assessed valuation of eight hundred and ten thousand
dollars, and a bonded indebtedness of eight thousand dollars equivalent to a
borrowing capacity of forty-eight thousand dollars or thereabouts. However,
streets are unpaved, there are no public sewers and many nuisances exist in
this town. The inhabitants are of the less resourceful class, largely foreigners
and non-taxpayers and continually on the move.
The water supply to all three borouuhs is obtained from the Allegheny River
and is furnished by the Kensington Water Company. This corporation took its
name in October, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, on the purchase at sheriff's
sale of the Eurroll Water Company, including the Parnassus Water Company,
and on a reorganization theroof under statutory provisions. The Burrell Water
Company was charrered in eighteen hundred and ninety, to supply water to the
public in Lower Burrell Township, Westmoreland County, and in eighteen
hundred and ninety-three this concern purchased the Parnassus Water Company,
which had been previously chartered to supply water to the public in the borough
of Parnassus hut never did so. Therefore, the charter territory of the Ken-
sington AVater Company comprises, so it appears, the territory of the above men-
tioned companies.
The intake consists of two filter cribs, each twenty-four feet by sixteen feet
wide by six feet deep, buried in the bed of the river about two hundred feet out
into the stream and having their top covered with about four feet of river gravel.
These are located up stream about one thousand feet above Arnold borough in Lower
Burrell Township, immediately above a small village bearing the name of
Valley Camp.
The water gravitates from the cribs to a well in the pumping station on the
river bank. In this well are located two pumping engines. One of them is a ver-
tical three million gallon engine and the other is a horizontal two million gallon
emergencj- pump, placed at an elevation abo\e flood line. From this well the water
is raised through a sixteen inch rising main into the street main system. This
sixteen inch pipe is about half a mile huig. It terminates at Moore Street
in Arnold borough, v.here it feeds into two twelve inch pipes. One of them is laid
in streets near the river and is the main distributing pipe to the flats in Arnold and
Kensington borouirhs , and the other extends eas'erly up IMoore Street to the
to|) of the hill and th'^ storage reservoir, rectangular, concrete lined, depth
eighteen and a half feet and holding one million gallons. This reservoir is in the
township and affords a pressure of about one hundred and twenty pounds on the
flats.
Four days a week the pumps are operated continuously, the water is pumped
directly into the street main system and only the surplus flows into the reservoir.
For the oiher thre'» days of the week the pumps are shut down and the entire
supjily of the district is drawn from the water stored in the reservoir. During this
period every consumer receives the benefit of subsidence afforded by storage in the
reservoir. When the pumps are operated the consumers in Arnold get raw river
wati'r through the crii>s luisubsided, and so also do the consumers in Kensington
and Parua«:sus. However, th<'re is a noticeable difference in appearance of the
water nt all limes at the latter place, the discoloration being miich less. This is
attributed to the fact that Parnassus is at the further end of the district and re-
ceives the supply at a suflicient time after the raw river water is drawn from
the cribs to admit of natural clarification to some degree.
The source is known to be polluted by sewage and the presence of turbid
water iu the pipes of the water district is ample evidence that sewacre organisms
may pass the cribs and also be present in the water. Records of typhoid fever
cases in the three boroughs are not reliable, but the data herein given is sub-
stantial enousrh to indicate ihe necessity in (he interests of public health in the
district of measures being taken tti keep sewage infection out of the supply. An
otlicer of the Department made a housp to house canvass, and found that in
th(> weter district for the years nineteen hundred and five, nineteen hundred and
six and nineteen hundred and seven the cases totalled twenty-one, fifty and
fifty-six, respectively.
It shou'd be borne in mind that a house to house canvass, particularly in
Arnold, where the foreigners are a roving class, frequently changing residence,
998 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
would fail to show all of the cases. Undoubtedly typhoid fever has been much
more widespread in the water district than would appear from the above
figures. The local physicians fail to report the cases.
On the hillsides in Arnold and New Kensington boi'oughs there are a few out-
cropping springs, walled up but not enclosed, possibly liable to surface pollu-
tion, in use by the citizens of ihe neighborhood. And there are some dug wells
on the hillsides. All told , there may be thirty such individual sources of drinking
water. Six are reported to be in Arnold. On the flats in this place public water
is said to be exclusively used except at the industries. On the flats at New
Kensington there are perhaps fifteen dug wells in use, besides wells at some of the
mills. Parnassus borough seems to be entirely supplied with public water,
except at the works on the river bank.
The streets at right angles to the river are designated by numbers ; First to
Sixth Streets, inclusive, being in Parnassus, and Seventh to Thirteenth Streets,
inclusive, being in New Kensington, and Fourtcenlh to Nineteen Streets being in
Arnold borough. Ninth Street extends to the river bank. There is a toll bridge
across the river at this point. None of the other streets in New Kensington
are built to the river bank, they terminate at First Avenue, which parallels the
river and is distant therefrom about two hundred feet and in this space the in-
dustrial plants are erected. A twenty-four inch pipe extends from the foot of
Seventh Street, across land of the Pittsburgh plant of the American Sheet and
Tinplati' Company, to the river. A twenty-four inch sewer empties into the river
at the foot of Ninth Street. A twenty-four inch sewer at the foot of Tenth Street,
and a twenty-four inch pipe at the foot of Eleventh Street, extend through
the land of the Aluminum Company of America to the River. A twenty-four inch
sewer from the foot of Twelfth Street passes to the river on the boundary line
between land of the said Aluminum Company and land of the Pennsylvania plant
of the American Sheet and Tinplate Company.
All of these sewer outlets discharge both sewage and storm water. Besides the
public sewers there are numerous private sewers from the industries to the river.
The sizes of the public sewers in the various streets and details thereof or number
of connections therewith are not known to the Department.
State sanction to the indefinite discharge of sewage from the New Kensington
sewers and from the Parnassus sewers and from private sources into the Alle-
gheny R'ver, or any tributary thereof, cannot be consistently given. It is the
policy of the Commonwealth to preserve the purity of the waters of the State
for the protection of the public health. The very best apparatus which man can
devise for the purification of sewage polluted waters is not absolutely germ proof
and in case of accident or break-doAvn human life is jeopardized and usually sac-
rificed following the introduction of polluted waters into the water pipes of the
town. It is the bounden duty of the State Department of Health to stop the dis-
charge of sewage into the Allegheny River above the intake of the Kensington
Water Company. This cannot be brought about immediately. The municipalities
on the banks of the river below New Kensington now take their drinking waters
from the river and must continue to do so and hence the borough of New Kensing-
ton must in turn cease to discharge sewage into the stream. While this cannot
be donf immediately, stops can be taken without delay in the preparation of plans
for the treatment of the borough sewage.
The intercepting sewer to be provided for the collection of the flow from all
of the public sewers should also be planned to take the flow from private sewers.
While the State Department of Health must order the owners of all private sewers
in the boi-oiigh to discontinue the disehni'ge of sewage into the riv(U", the most
efficient and desirable ))l!in would be for the municipality to lay a trunk sewer to
serve all sewers. This is a common policy. It seems probable that the site
best adapted for the erection of a sewage disposal plant will be found outside of
the limits of New Kensington borough and that in reaching this site the territory
of f^n adjoining mnniei|>nlity must I)e traversed. In fact . the cheapest and best
solution of the improved sewerage and sewage disposal problem for the boroughs of
Arnold, New Kensington and Parnassus will be a joint project of interception and
purification rather than an independent one for each borongh. Parnassus now has a
system of sanitary sewers emptying inir) the river whose discharge must cease
within a reasonable time. Arnold horoujdi do(>s not have a systfMU of sewers,
but it is in need of such a sysleni. The study of (he treatment of New Kensing-
ton sewage involves the study of modification to some extent of the existing sewers,
because it would not be practicable to intercept the storm water discharge of the
existing sewers and convey it to a trr'atment plant.
Sincr' New Kensington and Parnassus are In a financial position to make a begin-
ning towards the ultimate treatment of their sewages, there appears to be no good
reason why this should not be orflered and more especinlly since neithei- borough
availed itself of the exeinf)tion clause of the law of nineteen hundred and five, and
the r-rnplying of sewage into the Allegheny River at these places jeopardizes public
health at Oakmoiii and Verona, in the fireater Pittsburgh district and other places
lower down the valley.
It has been determined that the interests of (he public health demand that crude
sevvaL'e shall cease (o be discharged into (he \\;i(ers of (he Slate in Parnassus borough
and New Kensington borough and vicinity.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 999
The Commissioner of Health will notify the owners of the industrial plants in the
boroughs an(l they must cease putting sewage into the waters of the State, but that
the most economical and efficient way of doing this should be for them to connect
with the sewer to be provided by the borough for the conveyance of all sewage in
the town to a common purification plant. The State Department of Health will defer
action with respect to private sower outlets into the river for the present pending the
determination by the borough of Parnassus and the borough of New Kensington of
the details of such imjiroved sewerage and sewage disposal problem.
It has been determined that the borough council of the borough of Parnassus be
notified and they are hereby and herein notified that public health is being jeop-
ardized by the discharge of its sewage into the Allegheny River and by the discharge
of sewage from the sewers in the borough of New Kensington and that, therefore,
Parnassus borough shall either alone or jointly with New Kensington borough pre-
pare plans for the interception of all of the sewage in the municipal territory and
for its conveyance to and treatment in a purification plant and that such plans shall
be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval on or before the first day
of January, nineteen hundred and nine.
The local authorities arc hereby requested to make an examination and test of all
l)rivnte well and spring water used for drinking purposes and if such water be
found contnminatiMl, then the local authorities should and they arc hereby requested
to Ijring about the. abandonment of such polluted well or spring. The local Board of
Health is requested lo warn the public that absolute safety requires that the public
drinking water should be boiled.
A similar decree is being issued to the borough of New Kensington.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., June 2Gth, 190S.
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
This approval of plans is given for the extensions of sewers in the Frankford
Creek Drainage District, in the Main Delaware River Drainage District, in the
Schuylkill River Drainage District, and in the Cobbs Creek Drainage District of the
City of Philadeliihia, County of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for the discharge
of sewag(> therefrom into the waters of the State iu compliance with application
duly ma(l(> and bearing dates of March thirty-first, one thousand nine Inuulred and
eight, April twenty-fourth, one thousand nine hundred and eight, and June fourth,
one thousand nin(> hundred and eight, the applications of March thirty-first, one
thousand nine hundred and eight, having been received in the Department of H(>alth
one Juiii' sixte:Mith. one thousjind nine hundred and eight, under the conditions and
stii>ulnti(ins set foith in om^ coinnuuiicntinn dated June fifteenth, one thousand nine
hundri'd and eight, and eight communications' dated .June seventeenth, one thousand
nine hundred and eiiilit, addrcssi'd to ILin. John E. Revburn, Mavor of Philadel-
phia, entitled "AT'PROVAT> OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN "FRANKFORD
CREEK DRAINA(;E DISTRICT.^' "APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS
IN THE >LVIN DELAWARE RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT," "APPROVAL
OF SWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SdlUYTJCILL RIVER DRAINAGE DIS-
TRICT." AND "APPROVAL OF SEWTDR EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS
CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT," copies of which are as follow:s:
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE FRANKFORD CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
June 17th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir:--
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 2.3rd, 1007, issued by the
Conunissioner of Health upon unnnimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney Gen-
eral and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Frankford
Cre(>k Drainage District of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Frankford Creek drainage district,
designated in the list and the plan accompanying it, dated March 31st, 1008. Said
list comprises a total extension of seven thousand and ninety-four feet only of
sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON.
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
June 17th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 2r>th, 1007, issued by
the Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Main
1000 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Delaware River drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia ,
herein please find approval of sewer extensions in said Main Delaware River drain-
age district, designated in the list and the plan aocorapauying it, dated March 31st,
1008. Said list comprises a total extension of twenty-five thousand five hundred and
thirtv-one feet onlv of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
June 17th, 190S.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 25th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Schuylkill
River drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Schuylkill River drainage district,
designated in the list and the plan accompanying it, dated March 31st, 190S. Said
list comprises a total extension of eighteen thousand nine hundred and eighty-two
feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SP]WER EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAINAGE
DISTRICT.
June 17th , 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sin-
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 25th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney Gen-
eral and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Cobbs Creek
drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadeli)hia, herein please
find approval of sewer extensions in said Cobbs Creek drainage district, designated
in the list and the plan accompanying it, dated March 31st, 1908. Said list com-
prises a total extension of seven thousand six hundred and seventeen feet only of
sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE FRANKFORD CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
June 17th , 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 23rd, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner f>f Mfalth upon uiinnimous agreement of tlie (Jovernor, Attoi-ney Gen-
eral anrj ('nminisMinncr oi lle.-iltli relative to sewer extensions in the Frankford
Creek drainag"- district of the sewerage system of the f'ity of J'liilndeli)liin , lierein
please find aporoval of sewer extensions in said Frankford Creek drninage district,
designated in the list and the plan accompanying it, dated April 24th, 190S. Said
list comprises a total extension of four hundrrrd and thirty-six feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
June 17th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit, dated April 2nth , 1907, issued by
the riommissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the (Jovernor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of tiealth relative to 8(!wer extensions in the Main Dela-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1001
Wfire Hivm- draiimj,'!' ilistrict of the sewerage .system of the City "f I'hiludelphia,
herein please find approval of sewer extensions in said Main Delaware River
drainage district, dcsiRnatod in the list and the plan accompanying it, dated
April 24th, J!J()8. Said list comprises a total extension of five hundred and
twenty-five feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DLXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPRO \'AL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
June 17th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit, dated April 25th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to a sewer extension in the Schuylkill
River drainase district of tlie sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Schuylkill River drainage district,
designated in the list and the plan accompanying it, dated April 24th, 190S. Said
list comprises a total extension of one thousand six hundred and forty-one feet only
of sowers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWERAGE EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
June 17lh, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit, dated April 25th, 1907, issued by the
Commissiom-r of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
(Jeneral and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Cobbs Creek
drjiinnge district of ihe sewerage sj'stem of the City of Philadelphia, herein please
lind approval of sewer extensions in said Cobbs Creek drainage district, designated
in the list and the plan accompanying it, dated April 24th, 1908. Said list com-
prises total extension of two hundred and eighty-one feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
June 17th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit, dated April 25th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
(Jeneral and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Schuylkill
RiviT drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewt>r extensions in said Schuylkill River drainage district,
designated in the list and the plan accompanying it, dated June 4th, 1908. Said
list conii)rises a total extension of five thousand three hundred and twenty-seven
feet ouiv of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
This permit sliall be recorded in the odice of the Recorder of Deeds for Philadel-
phia County.
Ilarrisburg, I'a., June ISth, 190S.
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
This approval of plans is given for extensions of sewers in the Frankford Creek
drainage district, in the Main Delaware River drainage district, in tlie Schuylkill
River drainage district and in the Cobbs Creek drainage district of the City of
Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, and for the discharge of sew-
age therefrom into the waters of the State in compliance with an application duly
1002 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
made and beai'inj; date of July seveuteenth, one thousand nine hundred and eight,
under the conditions and stipulations sei forth in four t'onimunications, dated July
twenty-second, one thousand nine hundred and eight, addressed to Hon. John E.
Reyburn, Mayor of Philadelphia, and entitled, "APPROVAL OF SEAYER EX-
TENSIONS IX FKANKFORD CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT," 'APPROVAL
OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RIVER DRAINAGE
DISTRICT." APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL
RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT" AND "APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTEN-
SIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT," copies of which are
as follows:
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN TPIE FRANKFORD CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
July 22d, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 23, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Frankford
Creek drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Frankford Creek drainage district
designated in the lisz and the plan accompanying it dated July 17th, 1908, said list
to comprise a total extension of eighteen thousand five hundred and fifty-two feet
only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
July 22d, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 2r)th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Main Dela-
ware River drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of I'hiladelphia,
herein please find approval of sewer extensions in said Main Delaware River drainage
district, designated in the list and the plan accompanying it dated July 17th, 1908.
Said list comprises a total extension of thirteen thousand five hundred and twenty-
five feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health,
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER
DR AI N A(; E D I STRICT.
July 22d, 1908.
Hon. John E. Re.vburn,
Ma.vor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated Ai)ril 2r)th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unaiiiraoiis agrei^ment of the (Jovcrnor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Schuylkill
River drainage district of the sewerage syst(!m of the City of I'hiladelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Schuylkill River drainage district,
designated in the list and the plan accompanying it dated July 17th, 1908. Said list
comprises a total extension of fifteen thousand five hundred and fifty-eight feet only
of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPKO\ AL (;F SEWEIl EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAINAGE
]>1 STRICT.
July 22d, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir:- -
In fr,mr)Iiance with the terms of a |)eririit dated A|>ril 2r)th, 1907, issued by the
ComuiiHsioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the CJovernor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Cobbs
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1003
Creek drainage district of the sewera^o system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please llnd api)ruval of sewer exli'usions in said Cohbs Creek draiiia;;i' district,
designated in the li.sl and Ihc; plan iieeonipanyiug It dated July 17th, I'.ldS. Said
list comprises a total extension of two hundred and ninety feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
This permit shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds for Philadel-
phia County.
Harnsburg, Pa., .July 23rd, 1908.
CITY OF PHIL.IDELPHIA.
This approval of plans is for the extensions of sewers in the Frankford Creek
drainage district, in the Main Delaware River drainage district, in the Schuylkill
River drainage district and in the Cobbs Creek drainage district of the City of
Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for the discharge of
sewage therefrom into the waters of the State in compliance with an application duly
made and bearing date of July twenty-first, one thousand nine hundred and eight,
under the conditions and stipulations set forth in four communications dated July
tvventj'-seventh, on(^ thousand nine hundred and eight, addressed to Hon. John E.
Reyburn, Mayor of Philadelphia, and entitled, "APPROVAL OF SfeWER EX-
TENSIONS IN FRANKFORD CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT," "AP-
PROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RRER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT," "APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE
SCHUYLKILL RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT." AND "APPROVAL OP
SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT,"
copies of which are as follows:
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE FRANKFORD CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
July 27th, 190S.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 23rd, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement with the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sew^er extensions in the Frankford
Creek drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Frankford Creek drainage district
designated in the list and the plan accompanying it dated July 21st, 1908. Said list
to comprise a total extension of one thousand three hundred and eighty-five feet only
of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
, , ^ X. . July 27th, 190S.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 2oth, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, .Vttorney Gen-
eral and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Main Delaware
River drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Main Delaware River drainage
district, designated in the list and the plan accompanying it dated July 21st, 190S.
Said list comprises a total extension of thirteen thousand nine hundred and fifty-
eight feet only of aewera.
SAMUEL G. DIXON. '
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OP SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
„ ., , ^ „ , July 27th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 2.'ith, 1907. issued by th"
Commissioner of Ilfalth upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the' Schuvlkill
1004 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
River drainage distriot of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please tind approval of sewer extensions in said Schuylkill River drainage district,
designated in the list, and the plan accompanying it dated July 21st, 1908. Said
list comprises a total extension of two thousand eight hundred and fifty-five feet
only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAIN-
AGE DISTRICT.
July 27th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 25th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Cobbs
Creek drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Cobbs Creek drainage district, des-
ignated in the list, and the plan accompanying it dated July 21st, 1908. Said list
comprises a total extension of nine thousand three hundred and fifty-seven feet only
of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
This permit shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds for Philadel-
phia County.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 27th, 1908.
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
This approval of plans is for extensio'ns of sewers in the Main Delaware River
drainage di.strict, in the Frankford Creek drainage district, in the Schuylkill River
drainage district, in the Cobbs Creek drainage district, and in the I'ennypack
Creek drainage district of the City of Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania, and for the discharge of sewage therefrom into the waters of the State in
compliance with an application duly made and bearing date of August fifth, one
thousand nine hundred and eight, under the conditions and stipulations set forth in
five communications, dated August seventh, one thousan<l nine hundred and eight,
addri'ssed to lion. .John E. Reyburn, Mayor of Philadelphia, and entitled, "AP-
PliOVAL OF SEWER EXTENSK)iNS IN THE .AIAIN DELAWARE RIVER
DI{AIXA(iE DISTRICT," "M^PROVAL OF SKWER EXTENSIONS IN THE
FK.VVKFORD CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT," "APPROVAL OF SEWER
EXTEXSKJiNS IS THE SCHUYUvILL RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT,"
"AI'PRCn'AL OF SEWER EXTENSlOiNS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAIN-
A<iE DISTRICT," "APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE PENNY-
PACK CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT," copies of which are as follows:
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
August 7th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 25lii, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Ileiiltli upon unanimous agi'e(!iiient of tin' (iovcrnor, Attorney
General and CoinruissioiMT of Health r<'lativ(! to sewer extensions in the Main D(!la-
ware River drainagi; distriet of lIh; sewerage systfMn of the City of I'hilad(^lphia,
hendn please find approval of sewer extensions in saiil Main Delaware River drain-
age district, designated in tiie list, and the plan accompanying il dated August 5th,
1908. Said list eomprises a total extension of Hvi- llionsanil live hundred and forty-
three feet only of sewerf.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1005
Al'L'llONAL OK SKWKU EXTENSIONS IN THE FKANKFORD CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
August 7th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyhurn,
Mayoi" of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 23, 1907, issued hy the
Commissioner of lleiiltli upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Couiinissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Frankford
Creek drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said L'laukford Creek drainage district,
designated in the list, and the plan accompanying it dated August 5th, 1U08. Said
list to comprise a total extension of three thousand and twenty feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
August 7th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyhurn,
Mayor of I'hiladelphia.
Dear Sir:—
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 25th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Schuylkill
River drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please tind approval of sewer extensions in said Schuylkill River drainage district,
designated in the list and plan accompanying it dated August 5th, 1908. Said list
comprises a total extension of nine thousand nine hundred and forty-five feet only
of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAIN-
AGE DISTRICT.
August 7th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyhurn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 25th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General ami Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Cobbs
Creek drainage district of the sewerage system of the Citj' of Philadelphia, herein
pleas-e find approval of sewer extensions in said Cobbs Creek drainage district,
designated in the list, and the plan accompanying it dated August 5th, 1908. Said
list comprises a total extension of two thousand and seven feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE PENNYPACK CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
August 7th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyhurn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 23, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Pennypack
Creek drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find ajiproval of sewer extensions in said Pennypack Creek drainage district,
designated in the list, and the plan accompanying it dated August 5th, 19tiS. Said
list comprises a total extension of se\en hundred and seventy-five feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON.
Commissioner of Health.
This permit shall be recorded in the oflice of the Recorder of Deeds for Philadel-
phia County.
Harrisburg, Pa., August 10th. 190S.
64
1006 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
CITY OF rniLADELPHIA.
This approval of plaus is giveu for tiio exleusious of sewers in the Frankford
Creek drainaw district, in the Main Delaware River drainage district, in the
Schuylkill River drainage district and in the Cobbs Creek drainage district, in the
Citj- "of Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for the discharge
of sewage therefrom into the waters of the State, in compliance with an application
duly made and bearing date of September ninth, one thousand nine hundred and
eight, under the conditions and stipulations set forth in the four communications
TRICT," 'APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELA-
WARE RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT," "APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTEN-
SIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT," AND "AP-
PROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAINAGE
DISTRICT," copies of which are as follows:
APPRO ^•AL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE FRANKFORD CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
September 14th , 190S.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 23rd, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Frankford
Creek drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Frankford Creek drainage district,
designated in the list, and the plan accompanying it dated September 9th, 1908.
Said list to comprise a total extension of five hundred and three feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
September 14th, 190S.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 2r)th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sew<a- extensions in the Main Dela-
ware River drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia,
herein please find approval of sewer extensions in said Main Delaware River drain-
age district, designated in the list( and the plan accompanying it dated September
9th, 190S. Said list comprises a total extension of eight hundred and five feet only
of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
.\l'i'KO\AL OK SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
Sept.'ndjer 14th, 190S.
Hon. Jolin E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated Api'il 25th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon >inanimous agreement of the Governor, Altorney
(ii'iuTAi and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in tlie Sclmylkill
River drainai-'e district of the sewerage system of the City of I'hiladelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer r-xtensions in said Sehiiylkill River drainage district,
designated in Iho list and the jilan accompanying it dated Sejiteinber 9tli , 1908. Said
list comprises a total extension of two thousand (light hundred and sixty-four feet
only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1007
AITKOVAL nv SKWIIR HXTIONSIOXS IX Till: COKBS CIIEKK DRAINAOE
DISTRICT.
SepU"mI)or lith, lUOS.
Hon. John E. lieyljiiru,
Mayor of I'hiladolyliia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 25th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney Gen-
eral and CommissiouiT of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Cobbs Creek
drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia , herein please
find a[)proval of sewer extensions in said Cobbs Creek drainage district, designated
in the list and the plan accompanying it dated Sfplember 9th, 1908. Said list
comprises a total extension of five hundred and eight feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
This permit before being operative must be recorded in the office of the Recorder
of Deeds for the (bounty of I'hiladelphia.
Ilarrisburg, Va., September 14th, 1908.
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
This approval of plans is given for the extension of sewers in the Frankford
Creek drainage district, in the Main Delaware River drainage district, in the
Schuylkill River drainage district, in the Cobbs Creek drainage district,, and in the
I'enuypack Creek drainage district, of the City of Philadelphia, County of Phila-
delphia, Pennsylvania, and for the discharge of sewage therefrom into the waters
of the State in compliance with an application duly made and bearing date of
October nineteenth, one thousand nine hundred and eight, date of October nine-
teenth, one thousand nine hundred and eight, under the conditions and stipulations
set forth in five communications, dated October twenty-third, one thousand nine
hundred and eidit, addn-ssed to Hon. John E. Reyburn, .Mayor of Philadelphia, and
entitled, "APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE FKAXKFORD
CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT," "APl'KOVAL OF SEWER EXTEXSIONS
IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT," "APPROVAL
OP SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER DRAINAGE DIS-
TRICT," "APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTEXSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT' AND "APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN
THE PENNYPACK CREEK DRAINAGE DISRICT," copies of which are as
follows:
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE FRANKFORD CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
October 23rd , 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
1 In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 23d, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Frankford
Creek drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Frankford Creek drainage district,
designated in the list, and the plan accompanying it dated October 19th. 1908. Said
list to comprise .". total extension of five thousand nine hundred and eighty-three
feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON.
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTEXSIOXS IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RIVER
DR A I NAG E D 1 STR I CT.
October 23rd , 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 2uth, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Connnissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Main Dela-
ware River drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of IMiiladelphia,
herein please find approval of sewer extensions in said Main Delaware River drain-
age district, designated in the list, and the plan accompanying it dated October
19th, 1908. Said list comprises a total extension of four thousand nine hundred
and forty-four feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON.
Commissioner of Health.
1008 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSION'S IN THE SCIIT^ YUvILI, U1\1':K
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
October 23 rd , VMS.
Hou. John E. Riyburu ,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir:—
In compliance ^ith the terms of a permit dated April 2~)th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreenieut of the (loveruor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to se\Yer extensions in the Schuylkill
River drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Schuylkill River drainage district,
designated in the list, and the plan accompanying it, dated October 19th, 1908.
Said list comprises a total extension of two thousand eight hundred and sixty-one
feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAIN-
AGE DISTRICT.
October 23rd , 190S.
Hon. John E. Reybura,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 2.jth, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Cobbs
Creek drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Cobbs Creek drainage district, desig-
nated in the list, and the plan accompanying it dated October 19th, 1908. Said list
comprises a total extension of fifteen hundred and thirty-two feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE PENNYPACK CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
October 23rd, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
]n compliance w'tli the terms of a permit dated April 23d, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health uitou unanimous agreement of tlie Governor, Attorney (}eu-
eral and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Penuypack
Creek drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of I'hila(leli)hia, herein
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Penuypack Creek drainage district,
designated in the list, and the plan accompanying it dated October 19, 1908. Said
list comprises a total extension of eleven hundred and fifty feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
Thi.s permit shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds for Philadel-
phia County.
Harri.sburg, Pa., October 27th, 1908.
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
This a|)[>roval of plans is given for the extension of sewers in the Frankford
Creek drainagi' district, in the Main Delaware Rivcir drainage district, in the
Schuylkill lliver drainage district and in Mk- (Jobbs (.'reek drainagt! district, of the
City of Philadelphia, County of I'liiladelphiii , Pennsylvania, and for Hk! discharge
of sewage llicrefrom into the waters of tin- State in (•om))liance with an application
duly mad"' and bearing dale of November twelfth, one tlious;nid nine linndrcd and
eight, under the conditions and stipulations set luith in the four cuiiiinunica tions
dated November sixteenth , onf; thousand nine hundred and eight, addressed lo the
Honorable .John K. Reyburn, Mayor of I'iiiladi'lpliia, ami entitled "APPROVAL
OF SEWER E.XTENSIO.N'S IN FRANKKOUD CKI^EIv I)RAINA(MO DIS-
TRICT," "APJ'ROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS JN THE MAIN DELA-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1009
WARE RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT." "APPROVAL OF SEWER EX-
TENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT," AND
"APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAIN-
AGE DISTRICT," copies of which are as follows:
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE FRANKFORD CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
November IGth, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 23, 1907, issued by the
Commission(>r of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
(rcneral ami Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Frankford
Creek drainase district of the sewerajre system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
l)lease find apr)ro\al of sewer extensions in said Frankford Creek drainage district,
designated in tlio list, and the plan accompanying it dated November 12th, 1908.
Said list to comprise a total extension of three thousand two hundred and ninety-
eight feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
November 16th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reybum,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 25th, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Main Dela-
ware River drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadidphia,
herein please find approval of sewer extensions in said Main Delaware River drain-
age district, designated in the list, and the plan accompanying it dated November
12th, 1908. Said list comprises a total extension of four thousand and forty-six feet
only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
November IGth, 1908.
Hon. .Tohn E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 2r>th, 1907, issued hy the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney Gen-
eral and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Schuylkill
River drainau:e district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
pl(-nKe Jind approval of sewer extensions in said Schuylkill River drainage district,
designati'd in the list and the plan accompanying it dated November 12th, 1908.
Said list comprises a total extension of three thousand three hundred and ninety-
nine feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON.
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAINAGE
DISTRICT.
November 16th, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reybum,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In coinplianoe with the terms of a permit dated April 2iith. 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor. .Vttorney Gen-
eral and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Cobbs Creek
drainage district of the s'\\(>rae:e system of the City of Philadelphia, herein jdrase
find approval of sewer exlensjnns in snid CV)bbs Creek drainage district, designated
64—17—1908
1010 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
in the list and the plan accompanying it dated November 12th, 1908. Said list com-
prises a total extension of two thousand nine hundred and forty-five feet only of
sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
This permit shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds for Philadel-
phia County.
Harrisburg, Pa., November ISth, 1908.
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
This appro\al of plans is given for the extension of sewers iu the Frankford
Creek drainage district, iu the Main Delaware River drainage district, in the
Schuylkill River drainage district and in the Cobbs Creek drainage district of the
City of Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for the discharge
of sewage therefrom into the waters of the State in compliance with applications duly
madetherpfor and bearing date of December eighteenth, one thousand nine hundred
and eight, under the conditions and stipulations set forth in the four communications
dated December twenty-third, one thousand nine hundred and eight, addressed to
Hon. .John E. Revburn, .Mayor of Philadelphia, and entitled, "APPROA'AL OF
SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE FRANKFORD CREEK DRAINAGE DIS-
TRICT." 'APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELA-
WARE RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT," "APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTEN-
SIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT," AND 'AP-
PROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAINAGE
DISTRICT," copies of which are as follows:
APPROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE FRANKFORD CREEK
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
December 23rd, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 23d, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney Gen-
eral and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Frankford
Creek drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein
plen.se find approval of sewer extensions in said Frankford Creek drainage district,
designated in the list and the plan accompanying it, dated December 18th, 1908.
Said list to comprise a total extension of five thousand three hundred and sixty
feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAI> OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE MAIN DELAWARE RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
December 23rd , 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir:—
^ In coinpjiance wilh the terms of a permit dated April 2.^)lh, 1907, issued by the
('ommissioner of Health upon unnnimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and f 'ommissioner of Health relative to sewer ext<'iisions in the Main Dela-
ware Rivr drainage district of the S(!werage system of the City of I'hiladelphia,
herein please fiml ;i|)proval of sevv(.'r extensions in said Main Delaware River drain-
age district, designated in the list and the jtlan accompanying it, dated December
ISth, 1908. Said list compi-iHcs a total extension of five hundred feet only of sowers.
SAMUEL a. DiXON,
Commissioner of Health.
API'ROVAL OF SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER
DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
December 23rd, 1908.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia,
Dear Sir: —
In f;ompIiance uith the terms of a ix-rmit dated April 2.'l:h, 1907, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
G<neral and (^^unmiKsioner of Health relative to sewer extensions in the Schuylkill
River drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philad(dphia, herein
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1011
please find approval of sewer extensions in said Solmylklll Kiver iliainage district,
desiKnalcd in the list and the plan aecompanyiu.^ il, dated December 18th, 1908.
Said list comprises a total extension of one thousand and seventy-three feet only of
sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON,
Commissioner of Health.
APPROVAL OF SIOWIOK EXTENSIONS IN THE COBBS CREEK DRAIN-
AGE DISTRICT.
December 23rd, 1008.
Hon. John E. Reyburn,
Mayor of Philadelphia.
Dear Sir: —
In compliance with the terms of a permit dated April 25th, 1007, issued by the
Commissioner of Health upon unanimous agreement of the Governor, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Health relative to sewer oxtensiuus in the Cobbs Creek
drainage district of the sewerage system of the City of Philadelphia, herein please
find approval of sewer extensions in said Cobbs Creek drainage district, designated
in the list and the plan accompanying it, dated December ISth, 1008. Said list
comprises a total extension of five hundred and fifty-three feet only of sewers.
SAMUEL G. DIXON.
Commissioner of Health.
This pei'mit sh:ill be recoi'ded in the oflice of the Recorder of Deeds for Philadelphia
County.
Harrisburg, Pa., December 23rd, 1908.
PITTSBURGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application was made by the City of Pittsburgh, Direclor of Charities, and
is for approval of changes in plans for the disposal oif sewage at, the Allegheny City
Home located at Claremout Station, O'Hara Township, Allegheny County, and for
a permit merofor.
It appears that the City of Pittsburgh is increasing rhe accommodations and laying
out a very large home at Marshalsea in anticipation of caring for the charity
patients, for whom accommodations are not adequately afforded at the existing insti-
tutions. Tliere is no likelihood of the Claremont Institution being enlarged for the
accommodation of a greater population. Hence it is suggested that there is no need
of building the proposed sewage disposal works at Claremont to the full size or under
the arranuement as shown in the original jjlan as they stand apjiroved.
The amended ])l;ins now submitted for consideration called for a septic tank with
seventy-thre(> thousand gallons capacity. The grit chamber is to bf omitted nnd in
its place a small screen chamber is to be substituted. The sprinkling filter is to be
sixty feet long instead of seventy feet.
It appears that as a result of the improved sewerage system at the nearby Insti-
tution at the county workhouse the flow of sewage per twenty-four hours was reduced
to ninety thousaiKl gallons. The discbarge from the City Home sewers was found
to be one hundred and fifty-eight thousand gallons per day, but under the new City
of Pittsburgh management this amount has been largely reduced, and will lilkely
be further reduced when the new sewerage system, approved by the Commissioner of
Health, is built; hence it is thousht that the resultinsi daily sewage flow will not
exc(>ed ninety thousand gallons. On this basis a daily capacity of seventy-three
thousand gallons for the redesigned septic tank is ample.
The septic tank is to comprise a structure seventy-two and five tenths feet long
by nineteen and twenty-five himdredths feet wide over all, built of concrete with
flat roof of same material, general location and arrangement similar to plans first
submitted. The sewer is to terminate in a small screen chamtier so arranged as to
avoid any pool of sewage. The flow will [lass through to the first longitudinal com-
partment of the tank by means of a submerged eight inch pipe. Thence the flow
will be around the opposite end of the tank through a port in the longitudinal wall
and thence back in the parallel comparlment to the outlet syphon chamber.
It has been determined that the jiroposed changes be approved and that a permit
be issued therefor under the stipulations that all of the conditions and stipulations
of the said permit of November second, one thousand nine hundred and seven, shall
stand and remain in full force.
Harrisburg, Pa., June 2r)th, 1008.
POTTS VILLE. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
This applieation was made by the borough of Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Penn-
sylvania, relative to sewerage and is in response to a formal complaint made by the
Trustees of the Charles Baber Cemetery.
It appears that the Commissioner of Health issued a permit to the borough of
Yorkville to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage therefrom into a
1012 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
natural water course at the boundary line between the borough of Yorkvllle and
the borough of Pottsville, said permit being dated April twelfth, nineteen hundred
and seven. Among other conditions of said permit were the following:
"FIRST: That nothing but kitchen waste and storm water shall be permitted to
enter the said sewer or the other sewers of the borough until pei-mission to do so
shall be^ granted by the State Department of Health.
"SECOND: That before further extensions to the se^-er system in the borough
shall be made, a plan of the entire borough shall be prepared and submitted to the
State Department of Health showing proposed sewers for the entire borough and the
method to be adopted for the disposal of the sewage therefrom, which plan may be
modified, amended or approved by the Commissioner of Health.
"THIRD: li at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
discharge of kitchen waste from the proposed sower into Cemetery Run has become
a menace to public health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted for the
icmoval or abatement thereof as the Commissioner of Health may approve, advise
or sugsrest.
"FOURTH: This permit to discharge sowage into a natural water course shall
cease on May first, nineteen hundrfd and ten. If at that date the interests of the
public health demand it, the Commissioner of Health may extend the time."
This permit was not adopted by the borough of Yorkville or recorded by snid
borough, for the reason that Pottsville bomugh annexed Yorkville. It appears also
that Pottsville did not adopt the provisions of the permit and record the same.
Nevertheless, the AVest End Avenue sewer was built.
The petitioners submit the following sworn statements as evidence of the violation
of the terms of the permit and of the illegal pollution of the stream passing through
the cemetery:
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, SS.:
"W. D. WILI/IAMS, being duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say
that he is the Health Officer of the borough of Pottsville, in said county, and has
held such position for five years last past; that he is acquainted with the condition
of affairs at the corner of State Street and West End Avenue; that he made an in-
vestigation as to the sanitary condition there on September 8, 1008, and found
conditions very bad as to sanitation. There is a culvert in West End Avenue
which has its eastern terminus in State Street; the material from that culvert per-
colates through the around and creates a swamp immediately to the east of its
easternmost end in the cemetery property, where the ground, by reason of such per-
colations, is swampy and gives out a very sickening odor. Deponent ascertained
that wator closets were connected with the West End Avenue culvert and that the
odor at the point last named was because of that fact and of other material coming
from said West End Avenue culvert.
"De))onont further says that there is a culvert extending from Market Street on
State Strf>f>t to West End Avenue, where said culvert empties into a small stream
flowing wostwardly through the cemetery. There is also a stone culvert across State
Street emptying into this natural water course. Deponent followed the said water
course all the way from State Sireet to the eastern end of the cemetery, where it
crosses what is known as the road to York Farm. Along the whole of that distance
in the cemetery the bed of the stream and sides was full of decayed and foul material
very delet'^rious to health and making it impossible for any one to remain near it for
any longth of time M'ithout becominir sick. This foul and nauseous matter comes
from the ruivcrt on State Street and throtigh the drain across State Street from
West End Avenue and, in the opinion of deponent, the conditions are a very great
menace to health, and he received comi)laints from people living in that neighborhood
as (o the condition of alTairs, and further deponent saith not.
"W. D. WILLIAMS."
"Sworn and subscribed before me this 0th day of Sepl('inb(>r, lOOS.
"ESSIE HASEXAEER, Notary Public.
"Commission expires 10th January, TOIL"
I SEA LI
"SCnUYEKILL COUNTY, SS.:
"HENRY W. DOHERTY, being duly sworn according to law, doth depose and
say, t.|jat lie has been the sexton in charge of the Charles Raber Cemetery since
June l^ih, lOOfi, and ever since th<'n has resided at said cemetery. That he has I)een
in the cemetery grounds every day during that time and is tlK)rouglily familiar and
eonversant with the eond.lions of tlie drainau'e fi-om the snid cemetery; that there is
a public sewer built by the ]i<>ri,\\fih on West End Avenue, which sewer was not
f>pened at its eastern end, but was put against the eailli at that |)osition witliout any
other obstruetion to prevent the contents of the sewer from itercolating and over-
flowing into the cemetery: that there ar(i eonneei.ed with said sewer water closets
and draina'.e pipes from the houses on West End Avenue, and that the matter
from these houses is carried into Baid sewer and from the said sewer percolates
i
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1013
throiijjh the ;^iound and over the top iuto the cemetery and creates a foul stench; that
this condition of affairs has existed for about a year last past. This sewer on West
End Avenue was completed in the summer of 10u7 and ever since its completion nui-
sance has existed.
"There is also a public sewer built on State Street from Market to West End Ave-
nue, where the said sewer empties into a natural water course witiiin the said ceme-
tery grounds. From tills sewer there is carried iuto this water course a large
amount of vegetable aud other decaying matter, aud the stench fi'om tlie same is
very strong aud nauseating. When there is a heavy freshet this decaying material
will be carried out of the bed of the stream and from along its banks and for a few
days there will be no stench, but as soon as the water becomes lower, a fresh de-
posit of decaying matter is made and the stench again is ci-eated.
"There is also a sewer or drain from a house at the southwest corner of State and
West End Avenue that enters into said stream and brings to it corrupt and decaying
vegetables and other matter, and further this deponent saith not.
"HENRY W. DOHERTY."
"Sworn and subscribed before me this 11th day of September, 190S.
"ESSIE IIASENAUEU, Notary Public.
"Coiumission expires I'Jth January, lUll."
I SEAL]
"SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, SS.:
"GEORGE H. HALBERSTADT, being duly sworn according to law, doth depose
and say that he iius been a practicing physician and surgeon of the borough of I'otts-
ville, in said county, for thirty years last past; that he resides in the vicinity of the
Charles liaber Cemetery, and is thoroughly acquainted with the condition of affairs
at the corner of State Street and West End Avenue, in said borough, for the reason
that every day he passes said point going from his residence to his otlice.
"Deponent further says that be has made investigations as to the sanitary condi-
tions at the corner of said streets aud also in the Charles Baber Cemetery and found
conditions very bad as to sanitation. There is a culvert in West End Avenue
which has its eastern terminus in State Street ; the material from that culvert per-
colates through the ground and creates a swamp immediately to the east of its east-
ernmost end in the cemetery property, where the ground, by reason of such perco-
lations, is swampy and gives out a very sickening odoi-. Deponent has been informed
that water closets are connected with the West End Avenue culvert and that the
odor at the point last named was because of that fact and of other material coming
from said West End Avenue culvert.
"Deponent further says that there is .a culvert extending from Market Street on
State Street to West End Avenue, where said culvert empties into a small stream
flowing eastwardly through the cemetery. There is also a stone culvert across State
Street emptying also into this natural water course. Deponent has followed the said
water course all the way from State Street to the eastern end of the cemetery, where
it crosses what is known as the road to York Farm. Along the whole of that distance
in the cemetery the bed of the stream and sides was full of decayed and foul material
very deleterious to health and making it impossible for any one to remain near it for
any length of time without becoming sick. This foul and nauseiAis matter comes
from the culvert on State Street aud through the drain across State Street from
West End Avenue, and, in opinion of deponent, the conditions are a very groat
menace to health. He has heard complaints from people living in that neighborhood
as to conditions of affairs, and further deponent saith not.
"G. H. HALBERSTADT."
"Sworn and subscribed to before me this 29th day of September, 1908.
"ESSIE HASENAUER, Notary Public,
"("ommission expires I'Jth January, 1911."
ISEAL]
"SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, SS.:
"W. D. WILLIAMS, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he has made an
examination of the houses on Market Street which have connections with the drain
on State Street emptying into the water course flowing through the Charles Baber
Cemetery, and the draft hereto annexed shows the connections from the several
houses. Tliose marked as having toilets mean that such houses have water closets
connected with said drain, and further deponent saith not.
"W. D. WILLIAMS."
"Sworn and subscribed before me this Gth dav of October, 190S.
"ESSIE IIASENAUEU, Notary Public.
"Commission expires 19th Januarv, 1911."
[SEAL]
1014 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
"Pottsvillo, Pa., September 17th, 190S.
"By directions of the Board of Health of Pottsville, Pa., made a close inspection
of the dveilinss that is located on West End Avenue. Found that Mr. John
Griessel, Xo. 1711, has toilet and bath and is connected into Borough Sewer that
terminates at the western end ol! Mount Laurel Cemetery. Also that Henry J.
Baatr.v, No: ICIS, has toilet and bath and is also connected into same said sewer.
"Also Casper Becker, who has a block of two (2) frame houses on rear of lot,
was connected into said sewer, but on September 14th broke the connections.
"W. D. WILLIAMS,
"Health Officer."
The petitionei-s state that the owners of the cemetery will contribute towards
the expense of building a sevier from Stale Street down the valley of the run througii
the property of the cemetery. From this point on the total expense of a further
extension to connect with some existing sewer would have to be borne entirely by the
borough. The proposition of the Trustees has been rejected by the local municipal
authorities and, therefore, the Trustees have recourse to the Commissioner of
Health for the abatement of the nuisance above described. While the negotiations
which have occurred, or may be consummated, between tiic petitioners and the
borough are immaterial, so far as the State Department of Health is concerned,
nevertheless tli'\v show a commendable spirit on the part of the Trustees. It
appears, however, that if the terms of the decree of the Commissioner of Healtli
of April twelfth, nineteen hundred and seven, had been complied with, there would
be no nuisance in Cemetery Run , because all sewage would have been excluded
therefrom and the wilful discharge of sewage into this stream is, therefore, con-
trary to tlie decree of the Commissioner and in direct violation of the laws of the
Commonwealth.
Under these circumstances, it has been determined that the President and Mem-
bei-s of the Borough Council of Pottsville be notified that unless the discharge of
sewage into the said Cemetery Run is discontinued within ten days, or some move
satisfactory to the Commissioner of Health be made within the said ten day period
to bring about the discontinuance of such discharge of sewage into the Cemetery
Run, tlie matter will be placed in the hands of the Attorney General for prosecution.
Furthermore, the borough of Pottsville is hereby advised that the discharge of
sewage at any point within the borough limits into the waters of the State must be
ultimately discontinued. It is easily possible, during certain stages of the Schuylkill
River, for sewage from Pottsville to be transported to the water works intakes of
the system of down stream municipalities and the sewage poisons to be taken into tlie
systems and introduced into the homes of the water consumers of those places and
cause sickness and death. It is the policy jDf the Commonwealth to preserve the
purity of the waters of the State for the protection of the public health and, in con-
formity with this general policy, the borough of Pottsville should adopt a comi)re-
hensive plan of procedure whereby ultimately all of the sewage of the bovDugh shall
be collected at some common point and sid)j('C'ted to adequate trc^atmeut. These i)lans
should be prepared at once and submitted to the D(>partmen1 of Health f(jr approval,
and after the plans shall have been modified or amended and approved then the
borough may build in accordance therewith, laying down new sewers as they may
be needed from time to time, with the assurance that no part of the new work will
have to be undone, and that finally a perfected plan will have been brought about in
an efficient and economical manner.
A new sewer should be laid down the valley of the Cemetery Run, and it should
be a part of this comprehensive plan; and, if within ten days from the date of this
decree, the borough will declare it to be its intention lo incorporate such a sewer
into such a comprehensive i)lnn and to build Ihe sewer and i)ut it in operation on or
before May first, nineteen hundred ami nine, then the time in which sewage will be
permitted to discharge into the said Cemetery Run will be extended to said May first,
nineteen hundred and nine.
The plans for the sewer down the valley of the Cemetery Run shall be submitted (o
the Department of Health and have his approval before it is built and a plan for this
sewer and the sewer or sewers into which it will disc^harge shall br- submitted to the
Department of Health for approval not later than the fifteenth day of December,
nineteen hundred and eight.
The plans for the comprehensive sewerage system hereinbefore mentioned shall be
submitted to the Department of Health for approval not later than May first, nine-
teen hundred and nine.
Harrisburg, I'a., November Cth , 1f)08.
READING, BERKS COUNTY.
Tills a|iplicalion is made by the City of Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania,
and is foi- pennissioii to extend its sewer system and to discharge tlH> sewage there-
from, tieated, into the Schuylkill River within llir' limits of Ciiiiwm Township, said
county.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1015
Reading City has an estimated population of one hundi-ed thousand people. In
niuotcen liundiod it was seventy-eight thousand nine hundred and sixty-one. In
point of size it ranks fourth in importance in the State. Situated on the east bank
of tlic Schuylkill River at the entrance of the anthracite coal fields and in a fertile
agricultural region and lifly miles al)ove the seaport metropolis of I'hiladelphia and
sixty-t\\o miles above (lie Delaware River, it has from provincial times been a com-
munity of conunercial and manufacturing importance. Its extensive industries,
among others, compiise steel and iron mills, foundry and machine shops, furnaces,
woolen and paper mills, dye works, hat factories, breweries, a tannery, hardware
manufacturers, electroplating and galvanizing works and the shops and yards of
the I'hiladelphia and Reading Railway.
About twelve years ago the city installed a sewerage system comprising thirty-four
miles of .separate sewers, a pumping station at the foot of Sixth Street, a twenty
inch force main sixty-six hundred feet long and a sewage disposal plant below the
city on the west bank of the river in Cumru Township at Millmont.
The disposal plant consisted of a double-deck filler, each deck being about two
hundred and fifty feet long by fifty feet wide. On the upper deck, graded layers of
slag and sand were supported anil here the sewage was applied and passing down
through the upper filter fell a distance of about ten feet onto the surface of the
filter bed below and thus became aerated. The eflSuent from the lower filter was con-
ducted to the riven The filter operations were intended to be facilitated by the
removal of a substantial proportion of the suspended solids from the sewage by
straining through coke at the pumping station. However, this strainer proved
bothersome, its utility questionable, and finally it was abandoned.
The inability of the filters to properly purify all of the sewage delivered there was
early demonstrated. During successive yeai-s, when added house connections to the
sewers were frequently made, the plant was so overtaxed that, in nineteen hundred
and six, when the citj' contracted to extend its sewerage system by the addition of
-some sixty miles of street sewers, it had become obvious that the material enlarge-
ment of the disposal works could not longer be postponed.
The local authorities then determined that the city was not in a position financially
to issue bonds for the construction of additional sewage purification works and so
they resorted lo the expedient of issuing a special tax levy year by year to meet the
costs. Bids were called for for an annual sum to be paid by the city to the con-
tractor during each year for five years, this sum to cover the cost of extending the
present works to a capacity of seven million gallons daily, and to cover the cost of
maintaining and operating both the pumping station and purification works. The
contract was awarded, on December twenty-ninlh, nineteen hundred and five, but
it v.as not executed by the Mayor. The Commissioner of Health called the attention
of the Mayor to the provisions of the law which make it necessary for a city to sub-
mit plans for sewer extensions and receive a permit for such extensions and for the
discharge of sewage therefrom into the watere of the State. Pursuant to this com-
munication the ^layor and other city officials conferred with the Commissioner of
Health and upon advice of the latter employed acknowledged experts on matters
relating to sewage purification, who conducted a series of tests at Reading to deter-
mine the practicability of the installation of the apparatus proposed by the con-
tractor to whom the award had been given.
The contractor proposed to furni.sh all materials, labor and appliances necessary
to increase the capacity of the filter plant to seven million gallons per twenty-four
hours and for maintaining and operating the sewage pumping station and disposal
works for a period of five years, at the expiration of which all such improvements,
extensions, et cetera, to become the property of the city for the sum of forty-six
thousand dollars per annum, aggregating a total amount at the end of the five years
of two hundred and thirty thousand dollars.
It was the contractor's intention to furnish all necessary buildings, segregators,
sand driers, filters and filter beds, according to plans of his own design, and six
months after December twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and five, to demonstrate the
efliciency of the additions to and the machinery incor|)iirated into the old sewage
disposal plant to the satisfaction of the State Commissioner of Health. One of the
terms of the contract called for the completion of the seven million gallon plant and
that it shall be in full operation one year prior to the expiration of the five year
period. How much sewage the contractor shall take care of under the terms of the
contract during each year of the period is not clear to the Department from the
perusal of the data on file in the office of the Commissioner of Health.
On March twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and six, the city employed Herring
and Fuller, of \ew York City, to make a report on the Weand contract in co-opera-
tion with the city engineer. The investigation was to cover the performance of the
Deery or old plant alone and in conjunction with the devices oflFered by Weand and to
make a comparison of these data with respect to the best practice in sewage
purification.
The tests were begun in April and concluded in July. At the time there were
thirty-four miles of separate sewers in the system having abo\it twentj'-one hundred
connections with houses and business establishments and delivering a sewage essen-
tially domestic mixed with a limited quantity of spent dye wastes and refuse from
felt lint, woolen and silk factories. The wastes from the felt hat works included
more or less fibrous matter of special significance from the standpoint of ability to
clog the filtei-s. The average flow was measured and found to be two million gallons
1016 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
per twenty-four hours, increasing at time of rainfall to nearly three million gallons
and during dry weather falling as low as one and threo-iiuarter million gallons. The
sewage was found to be dilute with dissolved oxj-gen always present.
The fii-st tests were of the old Deery filters Avhioh were put in condition and
operated intermittently at four hour periods of dosing and resting, at the rate of
one million gallons per acre per iwenty-four hours. Though quite dilute, it was
found difficult to pass the sewage through the twelve inch layer of sand and
seven inch underdrain of slag. A slimy deposit together with clogged sand amount-
ing to forty-one cubic yards for each million gallons of sewage treated, had to be
removed every two or three days from the surface of the upper filter. The
effluent from the lower bed was clear, uon-putrescible. contained but thirteen per
cent, of the suspended matters in the applied sewage and showed a bacterial
removal of upwards of sixty-six per cent.. The conclusion was a confirmation
of the concensus of expert opinion that sewage applied to filters should first be
freed of the greater part of suspended matter. In this connection it may be
noted that the cost of operating the old Deery filters not including the pumping
station operation from November to March for the years nineteen hundred and
three, to nineteen hundred and six, inclusive, was approximately ten thousand,
eleven thousand eight hundred, fifteen thousand six hundred and sixteen thousand
six hundred dollars, respectively, although not over an average of two million
gallons daily was delivered to the filters.
The main object of the "Weaud devices proposed was to reduce the excessive
cost of operating the Deery filters by first taking out the suspended matters in the
sewage. A screen operated as an endless belt was tested and found to be capable
of removing twenty per cent, of the suspended matter in the raw sewage. Strain-
ing through coke removed tweutj'-seven per cent, more antl the application of the
effluent to the Deery filter at the rates above mentioned made necessary tihd
removal every third day of eleven cubic yards of clogged sand surface per mil-
lion gallons of sewage treated. In other words, the Weand device effected a
reduction of sev('nty-fi>e per cent, of clogged material at the filters. However,
this reduction which is considerably less than that which may be effected by the
use of settling or septic tanks was not enough to make the proposition to continue
the old Deery filters in use an economical one for the contractor or the city.
The modern so-called sprinkling filter, where aeration of the applied sewage is
obtained by spraying it onto the surface of one main filter bed, may be successfully
and economically operated at rates of upwards of two and one-half million gallons
per acre per twenty-four hours where the sewage is diluted as at Reading.
Therefore, this type of filter bed was recommended.
The above statement of rate is based on the assumption that the sewage has
first received thoiough preparatory treatment. To accomplish such treatment and
accomplish it economically, the experts recommended that the structure of the
Deery filter be remodeled and made over into a septic tank.
There being no land available at the site of the old works for sprinkling filters,
the upper portion of Fritz Island in the river, one-half mile down stream was
chosen foi' the purpose and recommended. And finally, it appearing, so it is rep-
resented, that the contractor's scheme might be readily modified to conform with
the above conclusions, on this basis the experts advised the execution of the con-
tract, and it was executed and detail plans at once prepared and submitted. They
are the on^H now under consideration.
The final sewage disposal plans were not submitted until December twentieth,
nineteen hundred and six, for the reason that conclusions as to details had not been
agreed upon between the city and the contractor. On said date llie old filter
structure had been dismantled and the septic tank partially constructed and the ex-
cavations for the filters on the island made. Since then the \vi)rks have been
completed in substantial accordance with said plans.
As built, they comprise a segregator, septic tank, sprinkling filter, settling
basin at the filters and sludge drying area.
The segregator, or fine screen, is a device patented by the contractor. It has
been iuserteil in one of the receiveing wells at the pumping station.
The sewage pumping plant, to which all of the sewers of the city drain by
gravity, is located on the banks of the S<;huylkill Navigation Company's canal
in the lower part of the city. 'I'lie building contains an engine room, boiler I'oora
and two wells, twenty feet in diameter in which the ('ok<! strainers of the former
purification system are located. Jt is into these wells that the sewage of the
city is drained. No overflow from them to the river is provided. The sewage
is lifted by the pumping engines to the purification plant at Millmont. However,
there i.s a by-pass around the station to the river from the main sewer and until
recently, when the new works were started up, all of said sewage of the city
ha.s been thus l)y-passed to the Schuylkill. This was necessitated by reason of
the plan adopted by the contractor to build over the old filter plant into a septic
tank.
In one of the wells the new rotating screening device, called a segregator,
has been installed. It consists of a screen six feet in diameter and sixteen feet
long, revolving about a horizontal axis. The sewage comes in at one end through
the barrel of tlie screr^n and passes outward from the int(!rior. The revolving
motion is imparted to efiect a cleaning, which is brought about by water jets
against the outside of the screen. These jets, oi)erating under pressure, loosen
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1017
the slud^'e which falls down and gravitates to the lower end, where it is elevated
by a conveyor to the Hoor above, placed in bag:s, thence removed to a centrifugal
dryer, whence, after having much of the moisture .separated it is mixed with coal
and burned under the boilers. A material perceuiagi? of the y;rosser solids in the
sewage is removed by this process. The balanei' passes witli the s<!wage to the
septic tanks.
The water level in the tank is about fifty-two feet above the bottom of the pump
well. The pumping engines are two in number, each duplex, compound con-
densing plunger lype of five million gallons capacity, but owing to friction in the
force main it is d<iul)tful if the two pumi)s together can pump regularly more than
about eight million g:iliuus daily.
The se[)tie tank is a reinforced concrete structure open on top, fifty-one and
sixty-six hundredths feet wide by two hundred and fifty-three feet long, and seven-
teen and thirty-five hundredths feet deep inside dimensions. The sewage will
stand one foot below the top of the wall and at this stage the tank holds about
one million six hundred th<iu.sand gallons, giving an average period in the tank for
a three million gallon per day flow of twelve and three-quarter hours, and for
a seven million galkn flow of about five and one-half hours.
The inlet consists of a fourteen inch pipe horizontal , having five inch holes
based three and one-half feet on the centers throughout its length, and submerged
five feet below the flow line. The f)utlet cdusisls of a weir extending across the
eutii'e width of the opposite end of the tank from the inlet. The sewage will pass
under a scum board and over the weir into a collecting trough leading to a thirty
inch vertical cfilucnt pipe connecting to a thirty inch gravity main to the filters.
A by-pass is provided aroinid the tank so that the sewage can be diverted to
the filters when the tank is being cleaned. This is necessary for the present
structure because there arc no bays in it, the tank being one compartment.
All excess flow of sewage not delivered to the filter is discharged over an over-
flow weir into Angelica Creek and thence to the river. This weir is thirty-two feet
long and is built into one of the side walls near the discharge end of the tank.
The plans for the disposition of the accumulated solids in this tank have not
been developed. In the bottom at the side of one wall are numerous six inch
pipes at t.he bottom of the channel, each pipe being fitted with a valve kept
closed. They were a part of the old filter construction and they discharge into
an open cement lined ti'ough leading to Angelica Creek, two hundred feet dis-
tant. The petitioners represent that the limited area between the septic tanks
and the river affords opportunity for the laying out of some method of sludge dis-
posal, but this has not yet been done.
The Weand contract called for the erection of the addition to the filter plant
at Millinont. Tb.e city liavinu- selected a thirty-six acre tract on the upper end of
Fritz Island foj- the site of the proposed filters, and having purchased this tract
fi)r the pui'pose in the summer of nineteen hundred and six, was compelled to as-
sume- the cost of conveying the sewage from Millmont to Fritz Island. About one-
third of tlie said th'rty-six acre tract lies about the elevation of the highest flood
recorded, which occurred in eighteen hundred and fifty-nine. The concrete floor of
the filters has been i)laced four inches above this elevation.
The capacity of the sewage disposal works in excess of the Weand contract has
been considered only to the extent that the layout of the septic tank, gravity con-
duit to the filler and the filter plant should i)e in conformity with a definite and
permamnt plan for future additions to admit of the ultimate treatment of the
entire sewage of the city in an economical and efficient manner. In anticipation
of a reasonable leakage of ground water into a separate sewer system one hundred
miles in length and of the contribution to the sewers of a flow from buildings
eriuivalent to the total daily consumption of cily water now etiualling fourteen
million gallons, plus such other connections to th(> sewer system and growth of
the city as may occur, additions to the sejitic tank and to the sprinkling filter
may be 7uade on land now owned by the city suflicieut to serve a population of
two hundred thousand people. By acquiring adjoining land it is possible in the
more distant future to treat the sewage of a much larger population by extend-
ing the works now projected.
One acre of sprinkling filter has been constructed on the island. Its rated
rapacity is two and a half million irallons average flow per twenty-four hours with
ability to treat three and a half miiliiui gallons during wet weather i)eriods. The
intended surface of the filtorine: material which is the actual elevaticm of the
top of the sprinkling nozzles is thirteen and five-tenths feet below the level of the
weir at the sceptic tank. The minimum dei)lh of the filterinir material was de-
signiMl to be six i'eet and the concrete floor was laid accordingly. However, the
contractor chose to experiment with a depth of one foot less, and. therefore, the
filtering material surface has at no point been brought nearer to the intended
elevation than twelve inclii>s.
At one side of the filter has been erected a wooden tank nineteen feet in
diameter and alunit ei<j:hl feet hisrh. divided by interior walls into three com-
partments of vnieiiunl size, the fli>w into and out of which is controlled by three
butterfly valves operated by floats. The largest compartment is called the dosing
chamber, the next in size the stoiage compartment, and the smallest the overflow
compartment. This aparatus. with its appliances, automatically controls the flow
of the sewage from the septic tank to the sprinkler nozzles in such a way that
1018 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
when the dosing tank is full tlie area coyered by the spraying sewage is greatest
and as the dosing chamber empties this area reduces, following the loss of head at
the nozzles, until when the chamber is empty and the flow at the nozzles tem-
porarily ceases, the wetting of the entire surface area of the filter bed has been ac-
complished or practically so. When the dosing chamber is full the level of the
water is four and two-tenths feet below the level of the weir at the septic tank.
The thirty inch gravity main connecting the septic tank and the dosing chamber
is twenty-eight hundred and fifty feet long, laid as an inverted syphon, being a
concrete structure part uf the way, a vitrified pipe encased in concrete a part of
the waj' and cast iron pipe at two stream crossings. Its discharging capacity is
about ten million gallons per twenty-four hours. All sewage delivered to the
filters has to pass through this pipe and the dosing apparatus. There are no
means provided at the filters for sewage to reach the river without first passing
through the dosing apparatus and the filter. But at the septic, tank, as already
mentioned, there is an overflow weir placed higher than the outlet weir, so
that al) excess of sewage escapes there to Angelica Creek. The valve at the dosing
apparatus is now throttled to deliver between two and one-half and three million
gallons daily, practically half the daily flow of sewage from the town.
The water in the dosing tank fluctuates six feet. At high level it is nine and
three-tenths feet above the top of the nozzles at the filter. The cyle of operation
is about eight niinutes, equally divided between periods of dosing and resting.
The filterins material consists of furnace slag obtained in the vicinity and broken
to size by hand and screened with forks and placed in position by wheel barrows
and carts. The range in sizes of the particles is nominally from one to four inches.
The larger pieces were laid on the floor of the filter in a layer abovit eight inches
deep but in the remaining filter no attempt at graduation in sizes was made.
The floor is two hundred and twelve feet long and two httndred and six feet wide
and across the middle longitudinally is the main drain consisting of a concrete trough
covered with concrete slag and laid below the floor into which the underdrains dis-
charge. They rest on the floor which slopes at one per cent, to the drain and
th.ey consist of six inch vitrified tile pipe split in halves longitudinally and laid in
parallel rows ten inches on centers. This drain in turn connects with the main
effluent collector which also passes beneath the filter floor to the final sedimentation
basin. It is a thirty inch pipe made of moulded segmental concrete blocks put
together in place with cement mortar and in the field.
The bed lies partly above and partly below the original ground level and the
sides in the excavation are built of rough masonry. Above ground, the walls are
vertical and of dry rubble to about two feet above the floor of the filter, and for
the rem.ainder of the distance, to the top of the bed, the sides are of large chunks of
slair, having a batter of about two to three feet.
The sewage is distributed on to the filter by means of a twenty-four inch pipe
laid down the center of the bed on the bottom, off which to either side in parallel
rows on thirteen and seven-tenths fcpt centres are eight inch vitrified pipe laterals
extending to the sides of the filter and at every fourteen and sixteen hundredths
foot inti'r\al on these eight inch horizontal feeders extend a four inch cast iron
riser at the top of which the spi-inkling nojozles are adjusted.
The sedimentation basin built in excavation lietween the filter and the river,
measures ono hundred feet by ninety-five feet inside the slopes which are one to one.
It is a I)rick and masonry structure, open, and its depth below water line is four
feet at the f>nd nearest the filter and five feet at th(> end toward the rivi-r. Since
the object of the basin is to allow the sedimentation of the coarse flakes of dried
material that have peeled off the slag of the filter bed, it is made quite small, the
capacity being about three hundred and forty thousand gallons, sufficient for
about two and one-(|uarter hours' flow at the maximum capacity of the bed, or thre<>
million, five liiuidrcd thousand gallons p(>r twcrity-four hours. 'JMie Ihirly inch
r-fflu'-nt drain from the filters extends in a straiglit line to the river and the sedi-
mentation basin is placed at fine side of said effluent drain. Off of it at right angle
from a gate ."hamber is a thirty inch pipe extending along the inlet side of the
basin and throutrh this branch are four iiorts or ojienings spaced at equal distances,
tiii'oiiL'h whieh the filtei' effluent eiilers the basin. It leaves the basin fiver a concrete
wr-ip extending the trreater width of the side next to the I'iver into an oi)en col-
lect ing trough at right angles to and connectinir with the said main effluent drain
and thence to the river. By means of gates the lilter effluent may be by-passed
direeijy to the river or it may all be sent through the sedimentation basin. The
weir is twenty-five inches below the lowest point in the filler floor, or twenty-one
inches below tlie highest freshet ever recorded. Ordinnry freshet stages are below
the weir elevati')n.
There is a septirate drain leading from the IkiIIdim n( the basin to the river. 'I'he
intention is to build a sump from which ;i pipe will le;i(l to a poi-lalile pmnp and
ffpiiprnent for raising the sludge fi-iiin the liiisin lo a<ljoining land Imt this has
not yet been done.
Ft is expected that in the septic taidts the suspended tnatlers will be reduced
about sixty per cent., the Ifital organic niMder almnt thirty p'U" cent, and the bacteria,
al)out sixty per cent. The filter effluent is exi)ected lo show a removal of ninety
per cent, of the oriL'inaJ bacteria, with the organic matter so removed that it
will he non-putrescible and with the suspended matter removed to a point where
the effluent will be fairly clear.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1019
A second acre of sprinkling filter is I'eciuirocl of the contractor and a second
sedimentation basin. The dale of their installation is now under consideration by
the city and contractor.
Thus far the works have been l)uilt under the responsible supervision of the con-
sulting engineers.
Thus it appears that acting under the advice of the Comniissif)ner of Ilealtli and
later of the experts, the city has profited to a large degree. At the expiration
of the Weand contract, to show for the t<jtal expenditure the city will have a
modern plnnt e.stai)lislie(l along pcrinanent lines and adapted to iudefinle exten-
sions, while had the original plans been followed, at the expiration of the five
year period the cit}' would not have had a modern and economical plant.
The city territory extends along the river for four miles and back therefrom about
a mile and one-half, where there is a mountain with precipitous sides, which
effectually limits the city territory. The southern part of the town and the old
S-'Otion slopes gently to the river, but the central and northei'n part is hilly, more
especially that portion lying between the cemetery on the hill anfl the river.
Here there are steep slopes to the river. But between the hill and the eastern
city limits there is a flat, swampy district which extends northerly into the town-
ship, where the surface drainage problem is an important one. The rains on the
mountain side come down the slopes in torrents and pond up on the flats and ex-
pensive storm drains have been constructed to relieve the flooding and to conduct
the water northerly around the hill to the river. In the flats are the yards and
shops of the Heading Railway. The tracks extend north and south through the
city and along the river, where also are the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad
and the Schuylkill Navigation Company's Canal. Formerly this canal was an
important factor anrl it is now in use and should not be overlooko<l. Many of
the town's industrial plants are situated on the canal and along the railroad. In
December of nineteen hundred and six, upon the Department's inspection, it was
ascertained that several storm channels and public and private drains discharge
sewage and wastes into the river and canal.
Beginning up stream near the northerly city limits, there is a big storm chan-
nel emptying into the river near Richmond Street. For most of its distance easterly
to the flats it is a masonry structure from ten to fourteen feet in diameter. It is
the outlet for storm water for the northern and northeast part of the city including
the flats. Connected with it are four and one-half miles of drains, of which two
and one-half miles arc thirty inches and under in diameter and the remainder
range from three by four to eight and one-half feet in diameter; one and one-fifth
miles are twenty-four inches in diameter. The system is supposed to take stonn
water only, but the outlet into the river showed the presence of some sewage in
the water.
The next main storm drain empties into the canal at the foot of Court Street.
It is a masonry structure twelve feet and six and one-quarter feet in diameter and
it serves the central part of the city and a part of the flats. It is down stream
from the Richmond Street outlet two miles and between these points drainage from
industrial plants and from streets is discharged at numerous points into the river
and canal. There is a three and one-half foot drain into the x-iver at the foot of
Schuylkill Avenue and a twenty-four inch pipe emptying into the canal at the
foot of Buttouwood Street. These are supposed to take surface water only. At
Tetor Barbey and Son Brewery on liittle I^lni Avenue hot wash water and rinsings
from tubs containing ferment is discharged into the street gutter and thence through
a city drain into the canal. This waste and the waste from the National Brass
and Iron Works on the corner of Green and Tulpehocken Streets appear to be the
only seriously objectionable ones in the river district between the two storm drains
mentioned, although there are oils and greases from the Carpenter Steel Works
and from the furnaces and iron mills which remain on the surface of the water
along the river and the canal and give the appearance of grosser pollution. They
might be easily intei'cepted.
The wastes from the brass works pass down Green Street to the canal. They arc
electro-plating liquors which are objectionable from the standpoint of a nuisance.
They should be kept out of any natural water course.
The Court Street drainage district comprises a well built-up section of this
city, including manufactories, residences and i)aved streets. There are six miles
of surface drains in the system of which one-half are twenty-four inches in diameter,
or less, down to fifteen inches. Into these drains some sewage is discharged and
also industrial wastes or spent dye liquoi-s from the Minig Silk Glove Works, the
n<>versink Dye Works, the Leinbach Woolen Mill, the Nolde and Ilorst Hosiery
Establishment, the I'rospect Dye Works and fermenting liquors from Laurer's
Brewery. There are also oily wastes and sewage from foundaries, macliiue shops
and miils emptied into the drains. The pollution of the canal at the outlet of the
drains is markedly evident.
Below this point there is a storm drain into the canal at the foot of Penn.
Chestnut. Spruce, r.itiiramen and South Streets, they being one and sixty-six hun-
dredths feet, five feet, three and three-tenths feet, one and six-tenths feet and seven
feet in diameter, respectively. The latter, however, empties into the river below
the canal. They are supposed to receive storm water only. Along this stretch of the
canal, however, there are numerous industries whose wastes pollute the waters.
Beginning at Court Street and passing down stream, they are as follows: Reading
1020 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Paper Mill, Pennsylvania Hardware Works, Winter and Gocts Tannery, Reading
Paper Mills, Mendel Hat Factory, the Miller Hat Factory, the Heudel Hat
Factory (lower plant), the Reading Hardware Company and the Consumers Gas
Company. There are other plants here whose sewage to more or less extent pollutes
the canal or river.
All of these wastes should be taken out of the natural water courses or
storm drains and discharged into the city sewer sytem with the exception of the
gas refuse. The gas wastes should be handled on the premises.
Below the canal there is the seven foot drain into the river at the foot of South
Street. This receives the flow of Old Valley Creek, now a stone arch culvert
carrying much sewage, maunfactunng Avastcs and other refuse, and is in a bad
sanitary condition. In this district are the plants of the Reailing Iron Company,
the Penn Hosiery Company, the Hendcl Hat Factory, the Kessler Hat Factory,
the Mohn Hat Factory and the Reading Hat Manufacturing Company, all of whose
wastes go into the city storm drain. Frequently some of these drains clog up with
\\aste fur discharged from the hat factories, necessitating their cleaning out at
city expense.
The sanitary sewer at the time of the Department's inspection in December,
Nineteen hundred and six, included the old portion of the city only, lying prin-
cipally south of Washington Street and between the canal and Eleventh Street.
The main sewer, fifty-four inches in diameter, beginning at the pumping stati(m
at the foot of Sixth Street, extended northerly in the street next to and paralleling
the canal as far as Bingamen Street and thence by other highways up the river
valley to Penn Street, where it stopped. A twentj'-four inch sub-main extended
up Sixth and easterly to Laurel, crossing under the Reading Railway into the
district lying east thereof. And through these mains and sub-mains all of the
city's sewage of the old district with the exception of that discharge into the storm
sewers was delivered to the pumping station.
The projection of this system easterly and northerly taking in all of llu' terri-
tory drained by the Court Street surface drainage sj'stem and the souti nlv part
of the district served by the Richmond Street surface drain system and a imrt of
the territory tributary to the river north from Court Street was well niider way
in December, Nineteen bundled and six.
On the twenty-eighth day thereof, the Commissioner of Health al iis.-^'il the
following communication to his honor the Mayor:
"Your application for aproval of the sewerage and sewage disposal ii innMincnts
made in conformity with the law is now before us for considei'ation. li .ippears
that your plans for the interception and treatment of the wastes mil s.'wage
matter of your city do not contemplate the collection of trade wastes xviiiili at the
present time amount to a very considerable volume and are being di--lKngi'd into
storm drains belonging to the city or into water courses which they j) ihiie.
"Because at some time it will be necessary in the interests of the puli'ic iiealth and
welfare to stop the discharge of some of these wastes into your stoiui diitius and
natural water courses, it would be prudent for you to foster these industries within
your city limits by anticipating that time by giving the subject duf consideration
now, in order that you maj' make proper provision in your plans for tl,e inter-
ception of the^e wastes and for their treatment. The subject is import., 'it and I
wish to inf|uire what your intention is with respect to Ibis jilinse uf the general
sewerage project."
The Mayor in his annual message to Councils requested that aii investigation
of the subject be made and accordingly the consulting engiueeis in co-op(niition with
tiie city engineer were iii.structed to study the ijroblcm and make a report. This
report v. as submitted on April thirtieth, ninetet'n hundred and seven.
Of all the industrial estabiishmenls in the city it was decided that one hundred
and thirty re(|uirod eonsideration. Ten of these were found to be outside of the
sewerage districts and for some time will be unable to connect with the sewers.
The conclusion and recommendations of the engineers were as follows:
"1. The sanitary wastes from the industrial establishments within the sewerage
districts shall be connected with the city sanitary sewers as soon as prac-
ticable.
"2. The thirty-one industrial establishments listed in the appendix, the trade
wastes of which are summarized in Tal)le Number Two and shown to aggregalc
about l.nOO.OtlO gallons daily (roughly 10 per cent, of the water supply) shall be
connected wiili the city saniliiry sewers ns soon as practicable, subject to I'e-
strictions under supervision of the f'ity Engineer, as follows:
"(a) The volume of wastes shall be discharged at a sunicicntly uniform
rate to prevent overtaxing the capacity of the sewers.
"(b) Felt, fibre and other oi)jectionable coar.se suspended matter sliiiil lie
satisfaf.'torily removed before entering the sewers by the use of a S'l'ecu oi'
settling basin, prefi-rably the fcji'mer.
"(c) Other suspende<l matter which will ileposit objectionably large
amounts in the receiving wells at pumping stalirm shall be removed by
sedimentation before entering the sewers.
".''. Whatever connections are necessary from the industrial establisliments lo-
cated within the present '••ewerage district, to the sewers as now designed, shall
be built at once.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1021
"4. Exhaust steam, cooling water and oiber liquids that are of a non-poUuling
nature leaving the industrial ostaljlishmeuts, shall he allowed to continue to dis-
charge into the ri\(.'r or canal. These, however, shall be freed from oil and any
other objectionable ma iters lo the satisfaction of the City Engineer.
"5. In view of the comparatively small quantity of trade wastes of widely vary-
ing quality from the individual establishments, the cost of their treatment can best
be included in the general expense of the Sewerage and Sewage Disposal Depart-
ment."
At the close of nineteen hundred and seven about thirty-one hundred permits
for sewer connections has been issued, of which seven hundred were not in
service, leaving a total of twenty-four hundred estates contributing to the sewers
About one hundred and fifty connections had been made to the new sewei-s and
the balance had been made to the old sewers.
As would be expected from an increase of the total length of sowers from thirty-
four mil(!S to one huuilred miles, a corresponding increase in flow of sewage had
occurred and a larger contribution may be expected both from manufacturing
establisliMK'iUs, and from additional house connections. The flow from ilie ground
water entering the sewer system by leakage now approximates two and oue-half
million gallons daily. I'resent measurements indicate that during dry weather the
dow is in the vicinity of five million gallons from all sources. Moderately wet
weather increases this flow to over six million gallons and during protracted wet
weather the indications are that the sewage will amount to seven or eight mil-
lion gallons daily with present connections. Some of this flow is due to ground
water entering the sewers at a few places where unexpected difliculties from
springs were encountered in pipe laying, some from additional manufacturing
establishments and some from additional house connections. How fast additional
connections with manufacturing establishments and houses may be made is a mat-
ter largely to be determined by local policies. The total trade wastes will add
some two million gallons daily to the flow of the sanitary sewage, which gives
a total dry weather flow without any new house connections of seven million gal-
lons, the normal capacity of the sewage disposal works required by the Weand
contract. Consequently in view of the increased flow of the sewers, it is impera-
tive that additions to the sewage disposal works should be made at once.
When all the buildings in the city along the line of the sewers are connected
therewith, the total flow of sewage should be in excess of the city water con-
sumpticm, which is about fourteen million gallons per twenty-four hours.
Tlie Scluiylkili lliver is a source of public water supply to the city of I'hila-
delphia and other nuiaicipalities. The object of the extension of the sewage dis-
posal works was lo provide ample capacity for the handling ami treatment of the
entire sewage output of the city to protect from sewage pollution the public water
supply of the municipalities along the river below Reading. And the necessity
of this being accomplished is not altered by the fact of the very material increase
in volume of sewage to be treated.
The extent to which units should be forthwith added at the pumping station
and other jiortions of the disposal plant to afford adequate facilities for the purifl-
cation of all of the city sewage can best be determined by the city and its experts
subject to the approval of the State authorities, but the subject must receive im-
mediate attention and plans therefor be submitted at an early date for approval.
The operation of the first filter unit was started on January twenty-third, nine-
teen hundred and eight, and it is now treating sewage at the rate of two and
a half to three million gallons daily.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that
approval be given and it is hereby and herein given to the city's plan for sewerage
and sewage disposal works as hereinbefore described, and that a permit be
issued and it is hereby and herein issued therefor under the following conditions
and stipulations:
FIRST: That all storm and roof water shall be excluded from the sewer
system. At the close of each season's work a plan shall be submitted and filed in
the office of the Commissioner of Health showing all sewers laid during the year,
together with any other inl'ormation in connection therewith that may be re-
quired, in order that there shall be on file in said office an accurate plan of the
existing se\\or system of the city.
SECOND: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on the premises.
THIRD: The city shall enforce such reasonable measures as may be necessary
to bring about at the earliest practicable moment the discontinuance of the dis-
charge of all sewage and trade wastes into storm drains or natural water courses
or the waters of the State within the limits of the city, in substantial accordance
with the report and recommendations made by the city's experts and hereinbefore
stated.
FOURTH: Detail plans for the proper and sanitary disposal of the septic tank
and settling basin sludge and drainage shall bo prepared and submitted to the
Commissioner of Health for approval not later than six months from the date
of this permit.
FIFTH: Detail plans of the entire .sewage disposal plant as now built shall be
prepared and filed in the office of the Commissioner of Health within three months
65
1022 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
from the date of this permit. And on or before said date the city shall prepare
and submit plans and a report on additional units to the sewage purification works
of a sufficient total capacity to accomplish the purification of all of the city sewage
now being discharged by the sewer system and that may be reasonably expected
to be discharged by said system in the near future.
SIXTH: Daily records of the operation of the entire sewage disposal works be-
ginning at the pumping station shall be kept by the city in fonn satisfactory to
the Commissioner of Health and copies thereof shall be filed in the said Commis-
sioner's office. The city shall cause to have made frequent analyses of the crude
sewage and of effluents' at various stages of the process of treatment suflicient to
show the efficiency of the plant and to enable deductions to be made therefrom
as to management and operation. The plant shall be operated under the responsible
supervision of the experts who designed it for one year, from the beginning of the
operation, or if not by these experts, then by others equally competent to perform
such sen-ice. Results of all tests shall be given to the Commissioner of Health,
who may make rules and regulations governing the operation of the plant in so far
as these may effect the quality of the effluent discharged into the waters of the
State.
SEVENTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health
the sewer system or the sewage disposal works or any part thereof has become
a menace ro public health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the
Commissioner of Health may approve or advise.
EIGHTH: It is especially stipulated that thisi approval of and peiToit for
the use of the existing sewage disposal works is given only under the express
condition that the plans for the immediate enlargement of the works hereinbefore
called for shall be submitted on or before the date hereinbefore mentioned and that
following the submission of said plans to the Commissioner of Health and the
modification, amendment or approval of said plans by the Commissioner of Health
the city shall forthwith proceed to construct such additional works as so approved
within the date which shall be determined by the Governor, Attorney General and
Commissioner of Health.
Harrisburg, Pa., February 24th, 1908.
READING, BERKS COUNTY.
This application was made by the city of Reading and is for approval of plans
for the proposed additions of the sewage purification works and for sludge drying
areas in connection therewith.
It appears that on February twenty-four, nineteen hundred and eight the Com-
missioner of Health issued a permit to the city of Roadiug, Berks County, Penn-
sylvania, to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage therefrom,
treated, into the Schuylkill River, within the limits of Curaru Township, under
certain conditions and stipulations, among which were the following:
"Detail plans for the proper and sanitary disposal of the septic tank and settling
basin, sludge ami drainage shall be prepared and submitted to the Commissioner of
Health for approval not later than six months from the date of this permit."
"Detail plans for the entire sewage disposal plant as now built shall be pre-
pared and filed in the office of the Commissioner of Health within three months
from the date of this permit. And on or before said date the city shall prepare
and submit plans and a report on additional units to the sev^'age purification works
of a sufficient total capacity to accomplish the purification of all of the city sewage
now being discharged by the sewer system and that may be reasonably expected
to bo discharged by said system in the near future.
"Daily records of the operation of the entire sewage disposal works, beginning
at the \>ump'mi: station, Khali be kept by the city in form satisfactory to the
Commissioner of Health, and copies thereof shall be filed in said Commissioner's
office. The city shall cause to have made frequent analyses of the crude sewage
and of effluent at various stages of the process of treatment sufficient to show
the efficiency of the plan and to enable deductions to be made therefrom as to man-
agement and operation. The plant shall be operated under the responsible super-
vision of the experts who designed it for one year from the beginning of the opera-
tion, or if not by these experts, then by others equally competent to perform such
service. Results of all tests shall be given to the (.'ommissioncr of Health, who
may make rules and regulations governing the operation of the plant, in so far
as these may affect the quality of the effluent discharged into the waters of the
In compliance with the terms of this decree, on May twenty-eighth, nineteen
hundred and eight, the city filed plans of the existing works as constructed and a
complete set of plans for the additional units.
The proposed additions to the disposal works comprise increased power at the
boiler house, a sludge pit at the septic tanks, two filter units at the .sprinklers and
two settling tanks and a sludge drying area.
Since the issuance of the said decree of Februai-y twenty-fourth, numerous weir
measnrfmentH have formed the basis for a rdinhle conchisifin that the present dry
weather flow in the sewf-r system is an average of four and a half million gallons per
twenty-four hours. This increase in volume of more than double what it was in
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 1023
nineteen hundred and six is partly due to the ground water leakage coming from
about seventy additional miles of street sewers and several miles of new house
connections built during the past two years and partly to the inclusion of
certain trade wastes. There were on May twenty- third, nineteen hundred and
eight, forty-four hundred and twenty sewer connections to the sewer system and
future conuectious will continue to be made quite rapidly^ Investigations are under
way to detei-mine the sources of ground water leakage and to provide means of
eliminating the same if this be fouud feasible. A reduction of more than a mil-
lion gallons leakage should be not 'hoped for, so it is represented, and if such a result
should be accomplished there would remain at least an average daily flow in dry
weather of three and one-half million gallons daily at the present time. It ap-
pears that suitable notices have been sent out by the city officials notifying property
Holders to divert roof water from the sanitary sewer and this work will be pro-
ceeded with as rapidly as possible.
About two and oue-half million gallons of sewage, on an average, are pumped
to and through the filters each day as near as can be ascertained. The only means
of measurement .is at the pump house now. The surplus sewage goes to the river.
It is proposed to put a counter on the dosing device at the filter at an early date
so as to record the number of tanks full of sewage discharged upon the filter each
day. Obviously the discharge of unfiltered sewage into the river will have to con-
tinue until the new filter units are completed. The plans call for an extension of an
existing boiler house at the pumping station and for the establishment of a new
boiler of one hundred and fifty horse power capacity.
The plans submitted call for two additional sprinkling units of the same con-
struction and form and size as that of the existing filter unit. The new units to
be added, on* on either side of the present sprinkling filter are in conformity with
the general layout approved by the Commissioner of Health in the said permit of
February twenty-fourth.
The plans also call for two additional settling basins similar in form, construction
and dimensions to the existing settling basin to be built in conformity with the
general layout heretofore approved by the Commissioner of Health.
An examination of the plans shows that in all essentials the new structures,
and more particularly the details, closely resemble the existing stnictures, but
there have been a few modifications to secure improved facilities for operation of the
enlarged plant relating largely to the method of control of the distribution of sew-
age. A central operating gallery is to be built across each added filter unit. This
is the most important change. A new feature is the enclosure of the two new units
in concrete walls and the providing of concrete wind sheilds at the outer sides of the
filters. This device will prevent impurified sewage from passing beyond the
filters onto the ground.
It is considered that the three filters when built will be able to satisfactorily
take care of a dry weather flow of seven and one-half million gallons daily and
of a wet weather flow of ten and one-half million gallons daily, or fifty per cent,
in access of the quantity covered by the AVeand contract. The new units are
to be built by the city or by the city and by Contractor Weand. Councils have
appropriated money for the immediate erection of one filter unit and its correspond-
ing settling basin and competitive bids have been asked for this work. The o.ther
filter unit and settling basin is to be built in the immediate future either by the city
or under the Weand contract mentioned in the said pennit of February twenty-
fourth, as soon as a disputed question shall have been settled about the interpreta-
tion of the Weand contract. In any event the plans herein under consideration
are bound to be followed.
The city also purposes, in accordance with the plans submitted for approval,
to build an earth levee around three sides of the disposal works and carry the top
to above the extreme high water of which there is any record. And within this
area adjoining the settling basins it is proposed, at intervals as required, to pump
the sludge from the small settling basins. Since this sludge shows no sign.s of being
putn'scible, it is believed that this arrangement for drying out the material should
satisfactorily and permanently take care of the sludge question. It is proposed
that the dried out material shall be ploughed in. The soil is sandy and the liquid
will soak into the ground.
A plan for the disposal of sludge from the sewage tanks at Millmont is sub-
mitted for approval. It shows a lagoon to be built by throwing a dyke around the
low lying land between the tank and the river. Ordinary "high water will not
reach the lagoon. The dyke is protected by a suitable stone rip-rap on the out-
side slope to prevent its being washed away. It is proposed to pump the upper
twelve feet of the contents of the settling tank into the pipe leading to the filtei-s
on Fritz Island and then to pump the remaininii four and one-half feet of sewage
and sludge into this lagoon at intervals of about six weeks. Over this sludge it is
proposed to place chloride of lime as a safeguard against objectionable onlors.
At the expiration of certain proprietory rights in the so called septic process it is
probable that the lagoon area which covers something like two acres will be used
less often than during the time that the tank has to be emptied every few weeks.
If the experiment of drying out the sludge in the auxiliary pool or lagoon should
prove satisfactory, probably tfais would settle the question of sludge disposal at
^lillmont for all time. Otherwise other expedients must be adopted because no
nuisance be set up with the works.
1024 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
It appears upon investigation with respect to the daily records of the operation
of the entire scAvage disposal works, beginning at the pumping station, that such
records have not been kept, except the record of pumpage, but siuoo a good deal
of the sewage pumped overflows to the river at the septie tank, there is no means
of knowing how much or how little sewage is received at the hlter plant except
by estimation.
It further appears that the city has made frequent analyses of the crude, settled,
filtered and resettled sewage and effluents, and that the plant has been operated
under the responsible supervision of the experts who designed it, but the city
has neglected to file these records in satisfactory form with the Commissioner of
Health as required and stipulated.
The fact cannot be emphasized too much that the essence of the entire sewage
works of the city is to remove poisons away from habitations and secure their de-
struction without harm to anybody. The operation, therefore, of the purifica-
tion plant is the vital point and it is with the standard of this operation that the
State Department of Health is most concerned in order that sewage shall not t>e
discharged into the waters of the Slate. And satisfactory evidence of this, in the
form of reliable record, must and shall be regularly filed with the Commissioner
of Health.
From the information now at hand, it appears that the filtered sewage will not
putrify upon standing at blood temperature, that it has no olijectiouable odor,
that the oxygen consumed averages less than eighteen parts per million, and thai
after settling the sewage is of satisfactory appearance, averaging less than
thirteen parts per million of suspended matter, all of which is indicative of the
ability of the plant to satisfactorily dispose of sewage. But daily evidences of this
must be recorded. Blanks on which to record the essential fact^ in the daily
operation of the disposal works must be prepared and approved by the State
Department of Health and be used.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approA'ing plans for the proposed additions to the purifieation plant and for
the sludge drying areas in connection therewith, and the same is hereby and
herein approved and a permit and decree issued therefor under the following con-
ditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That one filter unit and one settling basin and the sludge drying area
adjacent to the filters and the sludge lagoon at Millmont shall be built during
the current season in conformity with the plans proposed and herein approved,
and that the construction of the second filter unit and settling basin herein ap-
proved shall be accomplished not later than the close of the year nineteen hundred
and nine, provided, however, that if it should appear an evidence to be sub-
mitted by the city that public health would not be endangered by the ext(>nsion
o'f this time twelve months, then the Commissioner of Health may so extend
the time, but application for such extension shall bo made, if made at all, on
or before July first, nineteen hundred and nine.
SECOND: Within one month from the date of this permit the city shall submit
blank forms ot daily reeords of the operation of the disposal works as specified
in the said decree of February twenty-fourth , hereinbefore quoted , and the Com-
missioner of Health may change sucii form and, as modified or approved, they
shall be used by the city and copies filed with the Commissioner of Health.
THIRD: The plans for sludge disposal are approved tinder the stipulation
tliat if the methods do not prove satisfactory then remedies shall be adopted satis-
factory to tin- Commissioner of Health. And the general conditions and stipula-
tions of the permit fif February twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and eight, shall
operate to include the additions to the disposal works herein approved.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 1st, 1908.
READING, BERKS COUNTY.
This ap|)lic:uioii was made by th(> city of Reading, Berks ("oniily ;ni(l is rdntive
to sewerage.
The said communication of July twenty-ninth, one thousand nine Imndnd and
eight was as follows:
"Hon, Samuel G. Dixon,
"Commissioner of Health,
"Capitol, Ilarrisburg, Pa.
"Dear Sir: The City of Reading herewith ask to be; relieved from the; responsi-
bility of taking care of the sludge produced at the so-called septic tanks at Mill-
mont iintil the I'Xpiratiou of the Weand contract under the following conditions,
namely, that if during this jteriod it: shall become' necessary to empty the tanks
of any sludge acfMmulated thenfin, the emptying and liie disposition of llie sludge
shall hi- done \>y the contractor to the sa tisfar^tion of thr^ ('omrnissioner f)f Health:
and a notification to (his elTect from the ComniTssioner of Hr'allh to the Con-
tractor is hen by required.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1025
"On and after tho exyinitiou of the said Wcand contract the city will assume
all responsibility for sludge disposal, and accomplish such disposal at the so-called
septic tanks in conformity with the recjuiremeuts and under the plans approved
in a decree issued to the City of Heading by the Commissioner of Health under
date of July 1, I'JOS.
"The City now holds the said contractor responsible . under the said
contract to the fall terms of the contract and under these term-s the contractor
nuist take care of all the sewage up to 7,000,000 gallons delivered at the so-
called se|)tic lank. The contractor is uot obligated to filter all of this sewage
until llie expiration of liis contract wiiich expires on September 1st, 1011. This
is the reason for the city assuming the responsibility for the construction of the
additional filter until at this time: but such responsibility does not obtain at the
so-called septic tanks."
"H. P. KEISER,
"City Solicitor."
It appeal's ;lia( the permit issued bj' the Commissioner of Health to the City of
Reading on July tirst, one thousand nine hundred and eight, was in response to
an application tor approval of sewage disposal plans submitted by the city. Since
that time the solicitor for the city has arrived at the opinion that the sewer con-
tractor is wholly responsible for the operation at the so-called septic tank at
MilluKPUt.
It is not the oilice of the Commissioner of Health to interpret the terms of a con-
tract between a city and a contractor. The city or its proper officer or agent must
be held accountable relative to the provisions of Act one hundred and eighty-two
approved April twenty-second, one thousand nine hundred and five. Since the
proper olHcer of the (tity in his ollicial capacity as solicitor has determined that
the city's responsibility to keep sewage out of the waters of the State from the
so-called septic tank at Millmont has been temporarily shifted under contract to
Mr. O. M. Weand, there would appear to be no objection to granting the request
of the petitioner.
It has been determined that the city be notified that the request hereinbefore
stated has been acceded to and that Mr. O. M. Weand will be notified that he
will be held accountable for the operations at the septic tank, but that in the event
of failure on the part of said (). M. Weand to take care of the sewage and sludge
in a satisfactory manner at Millmont septic tank the Commissioner of Health will
hold the contractor and th»> city jointly responsible.
This decree shall be supplementary to the said permit of July firet, one thousand
nine Imndrcd and eight, issu(Ml by the Commissioner of Health to the City of
Kciuling. It slmll not in any way be construed as altering or affecting the pro-
visions of said permit of July first, one thousand nine hundred and eight, exc^t
with respect the operations at the Millmont septic tank, so-called, and before this
decree shall be operative, it and the said permit of July first, one thousand nine
hundred and eight, shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds for
Berks County.
A copy of this decree will be furnished to Mr. O. M. Weand.
Harrisburg, Pa., August 14lh, 1908.
REYNOLDSVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Reynoldsville and is for permission
to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage therefrom into Soldier Run
within the limits of the borough.
Reynoldsville is a trading and manufacturing centre for a local district in the
western central part of JelTersou County. The incorporated territory, which con-
tains an estimated population of four thousaud, exteuds along the east bank of
Sandy Lick Creek a distance of about a mile and back therefrom nearly the same
distance. Opposite Reynoldsville is the new borough of West Reynoldsville, where
possibly a thousand people reside and where is located the passenger station on the
Bufialo and Allegheny Division (low grade branch) of the Pennsylvania Railroad
system. This road aCfonls the principal transportation for the district either easterly
to Philadelphia or westerly to l'ittsl)urgh. There is a spur of the Huffalo, Rochester
and I'ittsburg Railroad leailing from some ctial mines in the vicinity of Reynolds-
ville up the valley of Sanily Lick Creek to the main line at Falls Creek borough in
JelTerson County.
The bituminous coal deposits in the region are extensive. The miners live in set-
tlements near the coal operations. The agricultural resources of the surroumling
territory are extensive. The land is rolling, well drained and under a good state of
cultivation.
Within Reynoldsville borough there is a woolen mill and in the township near the
borough boundary are located :i tannery, woolen mill, silk mill and distillery. The
census poi)ulation of nineteen hundred was three thousand four hundred and thirty-
five. It is clearly within the bounds of probability that the future may witness even
a srealer peiveniage of growth of population than has occurred during the last
decade, so thiit the consideiati(;n of a sewerage project should rightly take these
things into account.
05—17—1908
1026 THIRD ANNUAI. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
There are two tributaries to the creek which flow down through the borough I'rom
the east and divide the town into three parts, a west end, the central part and the
south side. The northerly one of these streams is known as Pitch I'iue Kuu. It
rises in the hills two and a half miles distant and fiows southwesterly to and through
the borough to Sandy L,ick Creek, its wateis i.ui.uioii n^c yuuiic supply to the town.
It is an open channel throughout its course. The southerly stream is named Sol-
dier Run. It rises in the hills in the extreme eastern part of Winslow Township,
takes a westerly course, gathering in the waters from several lesser streams along
which there are mining operations, and passing through the lower poriiuu of the
boi-ough joins Sandy Lick Creek about half a mile below the mouth of I'itch i'iue
Run at a point about eighteen hundred feet above the intersection of the southerly
borough line and creek.
The land in Reynolds ville south of Soldier Run, known as the south side, is a new
and growing part. The slopes are not steep and the surface drainage is to the run.
The old and central and business section of the town lies on the sloping grouud
between the two runs mentioned and ascends from the main stream aud the said tribu-
taries to a summit and ridge which is elevated about one hundred and hfty feet
above the valleys. Main Street extends from the Fennsylvanm I'assenger Station
in West Reynoldsville easterly qcross the creek aud over Pitch Fine Run and theuce
along the foot of the ridge and up Soldier Run valley. At right angles to it, begin-
ning at Sandy I^ick Creek, the streets are numbered from First to Tenth Streets.
The Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg depot is at the foot of Fourth Street near the
mouth of Pitch Pine Run.
The west end is well built up, principally by residences. A high ridge terminates
here which sheds the water either into the run or the main creek, the dis-
tance being short.
The general appearance of the borough substantiates its reputation as a thriviug
business and residential community. There are public sewers aud a water works
system. Some parts of the town have not been reached by these improvements.
As a general rule, the inhabitants use the public supply. It is reported that uot over
one-half of the occupied estates abutting public sewers have house connections,
i'rivies are in very general use, but cesspools are rare. Sink drainage usually goes
onto the surface of the ground. Modern sanitary facilities are beiug gradually put
into the houses, and there is a demand for sewerage facilities. The geueral health
of the community is reported as .satisfactory. While undoubtedly it is true that the
public welfare may demand an extension of sewers, it is also true that attention
should be paid to the preservation of the purity of the general public water supply,
and any wells that there may be in town whose location is near sources of pollution
should be tested and condemned aud abandoned, if the examination reveals contami-
nation.
^The water works system is owned by the Reynoldsville Water Company. On Pitch
Pine Run has been erected an impouuding reservoir which stores the waters which
are yielded from the area above. About thirty-six hundred feet below this reservoir,
on a branch of the run , is a small reservoir into which the flow from the tributary is
delivered. The water from the larger reservoir is also conducted into the lower
reservoir, there being a six inch line connecting the two. Along the line of this
pipe are two drilled wells, from which water sometimes is pumped into the said
pipes, the machinery used being the ordinary oil well apparatus. At the lower reser-
voir is a pumping station by means of which the water is raised into a distributing
reservoir on the hill back of the town, from whence the water is distributed by
gravity lo the consumers iu Reynoldsville and West Reynoldsville. Detail plans of
the works have not been submitted by the company. On tlie day of the Department's
inspection it was ascertained that on the water sheds above both reservoirs there
are occupied estates at which menaces are likely to be established at any moment.
A sy.stem of sanitary inspection must be established and maintained iu order that
no pollution whatsoever of the waters Howiug either directly or indirectly into the
sources of public supply to the inhabitants of Reynoldsville aud the water district
shall occur.
There are two public drinking fountains along Main Street in the centre of tlie
town which are 8Ui>plied from a spring located in the basouient of the Presbyterian
Church. On the liillside above tin; church in the vicinity are three; cc^sspools and a
number of loosi' privy vaults. The geological formation is loose shall! rock. The
natural draiiuige appears to be directly towards this sprhig. Under these circum-
stances, HUHpicion is at once attachiid to tlie wholesomeness f(jr drinking |)urpos('s of
the waU:r supplied to !he founiain from the spring. It was under conditions like
this that a typhoid fever epidemic was created at Ridgway, I'ennsylvania, during
liie .reason of ninctecdi hundred and seven.
The disposal of sewa;;e, whether it be onto the ground or into the ground or into
a flowing stream or a still body of water, may be dangerous. Jn a thickly settled
community tin.' waste products should be remov(!<l from the premis((S as speedily as
poHsible and sewers are the cheapest and most efficient means of transmission.
There ai"e five puldic sewer outlets in the borough, oik; of th<!in being into Soldier
Run, thn-e of them heinu into Sandy l.ick Creek and the other being into Pitch Pine
Run. All tolfl, the sewej-s aggregat"' a lent,'lh of tlii'ee and seven-tentiis miles, their
diameters ranging from eijjhteen lo four inches and th'-y take- both sewage and
storm water.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1021
There is a small district in the west end served by fifteen inch sewer which is
nine luuidrod ft-i't lung and empties into tLe creek at the uy-stream side of the high-
way bridge at the foot of Main Street. There is an eight inch private sewer about
three hundred feet long which empties into the creeli on the down-stream side of the
bridge. The creek here is about titty feet wide. During dry weather the flow is small
and thi' water shallow. The discharge of sewage from this point <:reales a nuisance
to the occupants of the buildings in the vicinity and to the traveling public who
must use the bridge in crossing the creek. Above the bridge in Keynoldsville are at
least three private pnjperties sewering into ihe creek.
T^ie larger part of thj west end and the major portion of the business section of
the town is oiuprised in die main sewerage district, whose outlet, a fifteen inch
pipe, is into Tilcli I'inc Run at the foot of Third and Jackson Streets just above
whtre the two eiglit inch private sewers from the Reyuoldsville Woolen Mills empty
into the run. The run is an open course to the creek, distant five hundred feet. A
nuisance exists all along it. Not infrequently the borough is obliged to remove the
deposit of sev.age from the channel. The contributing sewere aggregate two and
two-tenths miles in length.
Into the same run within the borough excrement is deposited from the overhanging
privies and private sewers discharge from some abutting properties. The Sykes
Woolen Mill and the distillery are located on the banks just beyond the borough and
the drainage and trade wastes from them are discharged into the run. In the sum-
mertime, when the water works reservoirs are diverting all of the upland waters,
the flow in Pitch Pine Run is practically that only which is contributed by the sewers
except during rains.
There is an eight inch public sewer at the foot of Swamp Alley which discharges
into the creek. It begins at the National Hotel on Main Street and its total length is
about one thousand feet.
At the foot of Fifth Street there is a fifteen inch sewer discharging into the
creek. It serves a district in the lower central part of the borough along west of
Jackson Street. The outlet and connecting sewers, the smallest of which is ten
inches in diameter, aggregate a total length of two thousand feet.
The public sewer into Soldier Run is at the foot of Tenth Street. The pipe is
fifteen inches in diameter and it serves that poi'tion of the borough and Soldier Run
valley lying east of the ''un and at present sewered. The smallest pipe is eight inches
in diameter. The total length served by the outlet approximates four thousand feet.
Along the run above this point ou both sides of the stream in the borough the settle-
ments are commonly spoken of as Snydertown. Here there are no public sewers.
Sink drainage and slops are deposited into street gutters and on the ground.
All that portion of the borough lying south of Soldier Run and the portion east of
Tenth Street is without sewerage facilities, excepting such private sewere as may
have been built and discharge into the run. The local authorities propose to con-
struct a sewer along Bradford Street from the stream southerly to the borough line.
The pipe is fifteen inches in diameter and is to serve as the outlet for lateral sewers
to be provided in the district later. The plan for this sewer does not show manholes
or other facilities for proper maintenance.
From the several mining operations on Soldier Run water shed is discharged daily
a considerable volume of sulphur water and the characteristics are evidenced all along
the stream to its mouth. The petitioners represent that this acid germicide will neu-
tralize sewage poisons which may be discharged into the waters from the proposed
sewer. Sandy Lick Creek above Reyuoldsville also receives mine drainage even
above Dubois.
Sandy Lick Creek rises in Clearfield County east of Dubois in the Allegheny
Mountains at the summit of the divide between the great Susiiuehanna and Ohio
River basins and takes a generally westerly course for twenty-seven miles to the con-
fluence with the north Fork and the borough of Brookville, Jefferson County,
whence the stream continues southwesterly under the name of Red Bank Creek,
forming the b<nindary line between Clarion County to the north and Armstrong
County to the south, to the Allegheny River, which it enters a short distance below
East Brady boiough. In its course below ISrookville, a distance of forty-five miles,
which is also traversed by the Pennsylvania Railroad (low grade branch), there
are five small boroughs, the largest of which has a population of about twelve hun-
dred. Brookville is tv.elve miles below Reynoldsvllle. It is the county seat and has
a population of under three thousand. So far as the Department is aware, the
stream from DuBois to the Allegheny River is not used for public water supply pur-
poses. The adjacent country is mostly wild and the banks high and precipitous, be-
coming more so as the river is approached, until within the last stretches the valley
is a deep, narrow gorge. The harm which sewage might do in this stream would
be secondary in extent to that which it might do after reaching the Allegheny River,
the waters of which are very extensively used for potable purposes. It is in the in-
terests of public health (hat Red Bank Creek and its tributaries should be presen-ed
from iiollution by sewage, since sewage discharged anywhere on its water shed
might be trnnsmitted in a day's time to the public water works of the municipalities
along the Allegheny River below.
Falls Creek borough is on Sandy Lick Creek at the mouth of Falls Creek in Jeffer-
son County at the Clearfield County line. It is a borough of about one thousand
population. Here there is a large tannery owned by the Elk Tanning Company
from which the wastes are discharged into Falls Creek branch and the pollution is
markedly evident in summer time.
1028 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OfE. Doc.
At DuBois borough, two and a half miles above and northeast of Falls Creek
borough, on Sandy Lick Creek, where reside ten thousand people, there is a large
tannery known as Van Tassel's, from which trade waste is discharged into the
creek. The sewers of the town also empty into the stream.
Just above Reynoldsville, in West Reyuoldsville, there is a large tannery owned
by the Elk Tanning Company, whose trade wastes are discharged into Sandy Lick
Creek. There has been complaint in Reyuoldsville about the stench during low
water stages, owing to the sewage from the above mentioned places. The water
shed is about one hundred and ten square miles in extent at this point. The
farmei-s along the stream below Falls Creek and above Reyuoldsville have occasion-
ally comijlained about the pollutions and the injury to cattle pastured along the
banks who wade in the waters and drink thereof. In the fall of eighteen hundred
and ninety-seven, anthrax became epidemic among cattle belonging to farmers whose
properties are along Saudy Lick Creek in this territory.
It appears that during high water the sewage waters overflow the banks and
cause deposits over the meadows to the damage of hay crops and injury to cattle
pastured in the field or that eat hay gathered from the meadow. It was contended
by physicians and experts that the cattle which died from anthrax poison had drank
the creek water polluted by the wastes from the tannery. The sewage from Rey-
noldsville may not be a greater menace to public health than the tannery wastes.
Undoubtedly both should cease to be discharged into the waters of the State. Under
the law of nineteen hundred and five, it is the duty of the Commissioner of Health
to stop stream pollution. It is reported that the assessed valuation of Reyuoldsville
is about one million dollars and that its borrowing capacity to the constitutional
limit of indebtedness, taking into account the present debt, is in the neighborhood of
fifty thousand dollars, a sum insufficient to establish a sewage purification works for
the treatment of the mingled sewage and storm water. The present sewer system
seems to have been built with the idea of discharging the sewage and storm water
at the most convenient poiuts into the streams. Owing to their small sizes, the
sewers are inadequate to carry off all of the storm water of intense downpours,
nevertheless, their total discharge at such times would require the building of a large
purification plant whose cost would be prohibitive. When the time shall have ar-
rived for the actual construction of disposal works, only house drainage and a very
limited amount of roof water should be delivered to the plant. Meantime, whatever
sewers may be built should be a part of a comprehensive plan. The State authori-
ties could not justly approve of desultory sewer extensions which ultimately would
be abandoned. The borough should at once employ competent engineering service
to devise a sanitary sewer system for the entire territory within its limits, using as
much of the existing system as may be practicable. After such a plan is approved
by the State authorities, the borough can then build sewers from time to time as
called for in any street or streets, conforming to this general plan, and in this way
secure the greatest economy and efficiency. The perfected plan should aim to collect
and intercept all existing sewers both public and private, including the industrial
wastes. Wood scouriugs are a particularly difficult kind of waste to treat. This
can be done better in a pu])lic plant than in a plant installed therefor at the mill.
It is the policy of some munici])alities to foster its industries and one way is to afford
a sewer outlet. Of course, such suspended matters as might be in the sewage whose
admittance to the sewer would endanger it or interfere with its function would be
removed on the premises before the li(iuids were discharged into the sewer.
It is certain that all improper disposal of sewage in the borough and adjacent
thereto must cease and that plans to obviate pollution must be adopted.
West Reyuoldsville has ajjidied for admission to install a system of sewers. It
will be much cheaper for this boi'ough and Reyuoldsville to adopt a joint intercepting
sewer and sewage disposal plant than for each to act independently.
It has been determined that the proposed Bradford Street sewer with the tem-
porary outlet into Soldier Run will subserve the interests of the public health, and
a periiiit be granted therefor and it Is hereby and herein granted under the following
conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: This right to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall cease
on the first day of May, nineteen hundred and eleven. If on that day the other
terms of this permit shfill have been complied with then the Commissioner of Health
may extc^nd the time in v.hicli s(!wag<! shall continue to dischai-ge iuto IIh; watei's of
the Slate. But this tlirei; yi-ar |)ei'iiiil is contingent that the Ixiroiigli shall prepare
a comi)reh('nsive plan of a sanitary sewage system and sewage disposal works for the
colletrlion of the sewaue of the entire borough iind for its treatment and siiall submit
the same to the (Jominissioner of Hr'alth for approval on oi' before the lirsl; day of
May, nineteen hundri'd and nine. The ('ommissioner of Health may modify, annuid
or ajiprove such plans and fix the time for the cu-ection of the disposal i)lant, having
in mind the date when ollu^r municipalities in the district shall lie recpiircd to treat
llu'ir respective sewages.
SHCOND: The Bradford Street sewer shall be designed so that it can be(rome
a part of the comprehensive system for the entire borough, or it shall be designed to
ullimiitely serve only as a storm water drain.
'I'he importance of joint act ion between the boroughs of Reyuoldsville and West
lieynoldsville is emphasi/.i-d and the adoption of the suggestion urged.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1029
TliP .attention of Ihe boroiiv;li oounoil is particularly drawn to that part of the
discussion rolativo lo well water and the spring now su[)plying the public fountains.
Till' suggestions should he followed.
The State Department will assist the water company to maintain sanitary condi-
tions on the water sheil and the subject of treatment of the wastes from the tan-
neries will be taken up with the owners thereof.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., May Sth, 1908.
RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Ridgway, Elk County, Pennsylva-
nia, and is for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage
tiii-'.-efroni untreated into the Clarion River within the limits of the borough and also
into .said river at, a point in Ridgway Township.
Jt appears that the borough of Ridg^vay is located in Elk ('ounly on the banks of
the Clarion River. It is a mrauifacturing community of about sixty-seven hundred
inhabitants, prosperous, substantial, and the county seat. It is the location of the
general ofiices of the Elk Tanning ("ouipany. There are two other boroughs in the
ciiiiuty besides Ridgway. One is St. Mary's, eight miles above on Elk Creek, a
tributary of the Clarion River, and the other is .Johusonburg, five miles above
Ridgway on the river. Both have smaller populations and are of less importance
than the county scat. The municipal territory lies on either side of the river and
tin- creek. Ward One, the oldest portion of the town, where the principal resi-
dences, hotels, stores, the public square and county buildings are located, com-
prises the disti'ict east of the river and south of the creek.
Ward Two, locally known as West Ridgway, where the Ridgway Tannery is lo-
cated, comprises all of the borough west of the river.
Ward Three, where the principal industries are located, including the Ridgway
Machine Works, Russell Car and Snow Plow Works, Eagle Valley Tannery, Ma-
chine Shop and Tannery, Dynamo and Engine Works, comprises the district north
of the creek.
Surface drainage in the town is into these streams and a tributary of Elk Creek,
known as (iallagher Run, wliich rises in the township southeast of Ridgway and
comes down through a deep valley into the borough. Its upper waters are impounded
!ind used as a part of the municipal water supply. The town also has a system of
drilled wells located on the tlat near the river in Ward One. In case of emergency,
water may be supplied from the drilled well system located on the banks of the river
at the works of the Dynamo and Engine Compauy and the Elk Tanning Company.
This emergency source and drilled well system are to be abandoned on the introduc-
tion of the new source of supply approved by the Commissioner of Health and ob-
tained from Mill Creek and subjected to mechanical filtration.
Numerous private springs outcropping part way down the hillside, or at their
foot below dwellings along the railroads and highways, are very generally used by the
inhabitants for drinking purvioses, even where public water is introduced into the
houset?. Much of this water has to be carried in buckets. Some of it is piped to a
liiniteil number of houses. Typhoid fever has been prevalent for a number of years.
<,'ases in sufficient numl>er to amount to a small epidemic have broken out each
spring among workmen in certain shops, or in neighborhoods using certain spring
water, or in dwellings siipplied by public water, and these outbreaks have occurred
year after year. \"arious investigations and conclusions condemnatory of the ex-
isting borough water works and of some of the private springs have lieen made public.
This finally crystalized into public sentiment expressed by an overwhelming ma-
jority of votes at a nuinicipal election held on the twenty-second day of July, nine-
teen hundred and seven, faviu-able to a bond issue to defray the cost of a new souive
of public water supply for the town. The epidemic of nineteen hundred and seven,
totalling over three hundred cases, broke out among those who had used the
County Spring water and this spring, with many others in the borough, was con-
demned t)y the Commissioner of Health.
The newer portions of the town are being built on the hillsides. The older portions
are largely on the more gradual slopes of the foothills. The low lands along the
stri>anis have been pre-empted by railroads and the industrial plants. The geological
structure in the conglonuM'ates, intei'spersed with clays. Rain water is stoned in the
porous ground on the higher elevations and then percolates downward until it finds
some impervious strattun, whence it follows the dij) and outcrops on the surface part
way down the hill or maybe at the foot thereof. A number of cellars on the hillside
have springs in them. There are about seventy-five private springs and wells in the
borough. Cesspools are practically unknown. Away from sewers, kitchen waste is
thrown onto tlie ground or drained into street cutters. Excrement is deposited in
loose earth vaults. There are huiulreds of such structures in the town, mostly on the
hillside and frequently above the springs and wells, the watere of which they con-
tinually menace.
The borough began the constniction of a separate sewer system in nineteen hun-
dred and four and it has since made extensions yearly, doing this without knowledge
1030 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
of the law requiring a permit therefor from the State Department of Health, so it is
represented. The local authorities wish now to secure permission to complete the
sewer system, which is about half built. Roof water is admitted to the public sewer,
but this may be cut out of the system and discharged into the street gutters, should
such an expedient prove necessary.
The borough's policy respecting surface drainage is to conduct water by street
gutters into the nearest or most convenient water course. Sometimes this is done by
pipes.
The public sewer system has six outlets, four of which are into the river and two
into the creek.
The one farthest down stream is twenty inches in diameter. It is in Ridgway
Township and discharges into Aylworth Run at the railroad bridge near the river
just below the tailrnce of the Acton Tool Company's mill and immediately above the
Ridgway Tannery. It serves the larger part of West Ridgway district, in fact, all
of it lying on the hillside above the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad.
The sizes range from six to twenty inches in diameter and the pipes were laid during
nineteen hundred and six. The settlement comprises the dwellings of the employes
of the tannery. The latter is in Ridgway Township. The mill race above referred to
begins at the dam across the river about one thousand feet above the highway bridge
at Main Street over the river, and it extends along the edge of the flats to Aylworth
Run. a distance of about four-fifths of a mile.
The next public sewer outlet is eight inches in diameter. It serves the dwellings
on the flats in West Ridgway, passes under the mill race and down Gillis Street
across the low lands subject to flood and discharges at the west bank of the river at
the foot of (xillis Street opposite the outlet of the main sewer of the town.
The third public sewer outlet is twenty inches in diameter and it is the main in-
terceptor for all of the ]jublic sewers for the districts in the borough east of the river,
comprising Wards One and Three, although some of the sewers have not been inter-
c6pted, but will be when the entire plan is carried out. Beginning at the outlet
opposite the Gillis Street sewer, the course of the interceptor is up stream, across
low land, between the Ridgway and Clearfield Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad
and the river, passing under main street and Elk Creek near its mouth into Ward
Three, and thence continuing northerly along the railroad embankment and over or
bj' land and the plant of the Eagle Valley Tannery and thence, at right angles,
under the railroad to Broad Street, and thence northerly in Broad Street twenty-
two hundred foot to the summit. The twenty inch pipe terminates where the sewer
passes under the railroail. In Broad Street it is twelve and eight inches in diameter.
The entire length of the intercepter is about six thousand feet. Broad Street is the
main thoroughfare along the river in the north part of the town. The section is
locall.v known as Eagle Valley and in some of the streets dui-ing nineteen hun-
dred and six sewers wore built and connected to the Broad Street main. Where the
intercepter passes under the creek it is imbedded in a concrete cradle which projects
above the bed of the creek and so forms a dam, which in dry weather creates a pool.
By reason of the discharge of sewage into Elk Creek above a nuisance is created,
more especially at the said pool.
The fourth outlet into the river is fifteen inches in diameter. It discharges at a
point in the extreme northern part of the borough a few hundred feet below the site
of an old dam across the river. The contributing area is small and occupied by
dwellings only. It is lielow this district, on the river hank, where are located this
Dynamo and Engine Works, the brick yai'ds, the Elk Tanning Company's machine
works and the Eagle Valley Tannery, the principal industries of the borough.
TTie first public sewer outlet into Elk Creek is about (>lev('n hundred feet up
stream from the mouth of the crock at the foot of Allenhurst Avenue extension, at
the mouth of Gallagher Run and the tail race of the mill which was formerly opei'-
ated by water power produc<'d liy a dam across the- creek neai- tlu! head of Allenhurst
Avenue. This race extended parallel to said avenue and a short distance south of it.
About ten years ago, owing to the nuisanci; from stagnant water and pollutions in
the race, it was abandoned and filled up. Only remnants of the dam now appear
in the creek. "J^he sewer is fifteen inches in diameter and it has a (tonnection in
Broad Street. At present there an; inv buildings connc'ctef! If) the sewei".
The second public sewer outlet into Elk Creek is about four hundred feet above
the Broad Street bridge. It is eight inchi's in diameter. It takes both sewage and
surface water from low land and a few dwellings north of the creek and the main
line of the Piiiladelphia and Erie Railroad, which passes down Elk Creek Valley
north of the stream in the borough and tlionce up along the north biink of the
Clarion River.
At the present time there are a Iarg(\ number of |)rivate sewei's in Ward One.
They have been built without reeord , in a desultory manner and to serve local pur-
poses. Many of theni are nf faulty consti'uction and in a bad state of lepair. Some
of them are partially filled up and altogether they are a menace to i)id)lic health.
There is no way afforded to ins|)ect llu-se old drains, or to repair them, except to
actually diu' thein u]). Their courses, in some inslances, follow what were formerly
natural watei' courses, diagonally across lots which are now occupied by business
blocks, hotels and dv.ellings. Their outlets are into Elk Creek, Gallagher Run and
small wafer eoiir'-;es. The location, name and si/e f)f the principal private se\yer^
discharging into Elk Creek are given in the following table:
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 3 031
Location. Name.
Elk Street — Elk Street Sewer 8-incli.
Main Street, foot of Elk - Metoxet Culvert Sewer. - About 2 feet square.
Between Main and Race Streets, _ County Spring Culvert Sewer, About 2 feet square.
Foot of Race Street — Race Street Sewer, [ 18-lnch.
Gallagher Run — |
West of Depot Street, — Catholic Church Sewer, _ : 8-Inch.
Foot of Depot Street Depot Street Sewer lO-inch.
East of Depot Street, North Bank, Norton Sewer, - 10-inch.
East of Depot Street, North Bank, Kellam Sewer, - i 8-inch.
Russel Plow Works, '
Foot of Eighth Street Brenen Sewer, i 8-Inch.
RIdgway Machine and Tool Co., .' 8-lnch.
Above Railroad Bridge, I Ely Sewer, - I 8-inch.
Ellc Creek empties into the Clarion River immediately above Main Street Bridge.
It parallels Main Street easterly for about four hundred feet to the foot of Elk
Street, this jiortion passing under the Clearfield Branch of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, and thence the stream's course is northerly for about fifteen hundred feet par-
alleling the railroad and at no place over six hundred feet from the river, thence it
turns and the course is generally northeasterly, passing up stream under the Broad
Street Bridge and the Depot Street Bridge.
The Elk Street sev^er empties into the creek at the foot of Elk Street about two
hundred feet above the obstruction to the channel caused by the intercepting sewer
structure hereinbefore mentioned. Connected to this sewer, which is eight inches in
diameter, are twelve buildings said to be owned by Miss Mayme McGloin and J. A.
MoGloin.
The Metoxet sewer is a stone culvert over a natural water way. This water way
was probably improved at private expense. It operates as a main sewer, discharges
into the creek near and just above Elk Street and from the outlet it passes obliquely
across private property and under Main Street, Pine Alley, Centre, South and
Metoxet Streets and in the latter street and up Cook Street, a total length of about
twonty-four hundred feet. The culvert ends at Metoxet Street. Into this main sewer
the followinu- private sewers discharge:
Pine Alley, 6 inches in diameter
Centre Street 6 inches in diameter
South Street 8 inches in diameter
Jackson Street, t! inches in diameter
Metoxet Avenue and connecting laterals 6 inches in diameter
It is reported that the owners of the estates which are connected with the Me-
toxet sewer and its hranclios are as follows: Nine individual ownei-s whose proper-
ties are oonnoct<'d to the I'ino Alley sewer; one to the Centre Street sewer; six to
the South and Jackson Avenue sewer; twelve to (he Metoxet Avenue sewer and
branches, and eleven to the main sewer itself.
The County Spring sewer is a stone culvert for part of the way along what was
originally a natural water course beginning at a spring on the hillside at the corner
of Spring Garden Street and Metoxet Avenue (known as the County Spring) and
drjjining the central part of the borough. The culvert is covered over, is in a bad
state of repair and there are no facilities afforded for cleaning out the closets or
maintaining the sewer in a sanitary condition. It is open in "two places. At its
outlet, wliich is under a blacksmith shop on Main Street between Main and Race
Streets, it is a wooden flume in a dilapidated condition and too filthy to be ade-
quately described. In warm weather flies abound here and within fifty feet is the
back porch and kitchen of a large hotel on Main Street. Into this sewer various
private sewer lines and individual properties are connected. The structure is a de-
cided menace to public health. Even where sewei*s are probably built and provided
with modern appurtenances, constant care and supervision must be exercised to keep
them clean and in a sanitary condition. The county sewer can be little more than
ehmgated cessjioo] menacing public health. Into this main sewer the following
private sewers are discharged:
County Jail (Main Street).
Centre Street.
Powell Sewer.
Cook Avenue.
Welsh Culvert.
Johnson Sewer.
It is reported that the following niimber of owners of sewers have connection
with the County Spring Culvert sewer and its branches, namely: Two to the
1032 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
County Jail sewer; two to the Centre Street sewer; five to the Powell sewer; five
to the Cook Avenue sewer; three to the Welsh Culvert, and twenty-five to the
County Spring culvert sewer itself.
With respect to the Johnson sewer, it was in this territory surrounding the
County Spring that the original case of typhoid fever occurred from which the in-
fection of the County Spring came. A Mr. Johnson had built a neighborhood sewer,
which was in an unsatisfactory state of repair, and so during the epidemic the
borough, under the advise of the State Department of Health, abandoned the use
of this old sewer and laid six and eight inch public sewers in Stockholm, Spring
Garden and Meto.xet Avenues and connecting streets, terminating the same at the
end of (he stone culvert at Metoxet Avenue, where they continue to discharge iiito
said culvert.
The Race Street sewer is an eighieeti inch pipe. It empties into the creek at the
foot of the sti'cet about two hundred and fifty feet above the Elk Street, sower outlet.
It extends along Race Street to the east of Broad Street and connecting with it are
two short sewers in Broad Street and another which has a branch in Main Street
and the alley between Centre and South Streets. It is reported that the following-
owners of property have connected their estates to the Race Street sewer or its
branches: twenty-five to the Race Street sewer and nineteen to the Broad Street
sewer and branches.
Gallagher Run empties into the creek about six hundred feet up stream above
Race Street. Into this run there is a sewer from the Hyde Murphy Company
Planing Mill and also one from the restaurant in the basement of the Commercial
Union and Telegraph Buildinu.
The Klingle .sewer, six inches in diameter, commences at Sheridan Street and
extends to Gallagher Rim, discharging the same at the culvert in Depot Street near
Main. Connected to thi.s sewer are the properties of John Klingle, Mrs. John Dyer
and Bonini Brothers.
The Catholic Chitrch sewer is eight inches in diameter, empties into the creek a
short distance below Depot Street Bridge about eighteen hundred feet above Gal-
lagher Run. This sewer serves the church, Sisters' Home and Parochial School.
The' Depot Street sewer has an outlet into the creek just below Depot Street
Brid.ge which is ten inches in diameter. Into it are discharged two private sewer
systems known as the Depot Street system and the Clark sewer system.
The Depot Street sewer extends up this street to Main Street, where it branches
in several directions. The lateral sewers are in the following streets, or are known
bj- the names given below:
Main Street.
Brookville Road.
Dont sewer.
Hall sewer.
Lockhart sewer.
East Street sewer.
Kearsarge Street,
lyittle Avenue.
South Street.
It is reported that the following owners have pnjpertitvs connected to these sewers,
namely: nine to the Depot Street sewer; five to the Main Street and Brookville Road
Hewer; fi\e to the Do\it sewer; four to the Hall sewer; se\'en to the Tjockhart sewer;
fifteen to the East Street sr-wer ; ten to tlie Kearsarge Street I'enfield sewer; eight
to the Little Avenue sewer, and four to the South Street s(!\ver.
The Clark sewer extends across private property just east of Depot Street to
Allenhurst St>'eet and thence to Sheridan and up Sheridan Street. The Allenhurst
Avenue sewer and the Grant or Ti'oxell sewer connerl to the Clark sewer at Allen-
hurst Street. A sewer belonging to Murphy and Kline mIso .joins the Clark sevVer
near the creek. "^Plie number of jiroperties sewering into these pipes, which ai'e
principally eitiht inches in diameter, are as follows: H'he Murphy and Fvliiie sewer
has five connections to as many flwellings owni-d by the (inn; there a fe ten connec-
tions to the Allenhurst sewer; seven to the Grant Street or 'I'roxell sewer, and six
to the Clark sewi-r in Sheridan Street.
The Norton sewer is a ten inch pipe and discharges into the I'i'eek on I he noilli
branch irnniefliately jibove Depot Street Bridge. It extends up_ Front and Eirst
Streets and there are eleven pi'operties said to have connection with it.
The Kelliiin sewei" is an eight inch pi[)e jind emi)ties into the creek on I lie same
«ide of the streMMi a shoil distance ,nbf)ve Norton sewer. It ser\'es a few liouses Jibiit-
ting on Front Street. Connected with it are four jiroperties.
The Russell I'lew Works have a sewer to the creek about a half mile up stream
above Depot Street.
'^I'he lirenen sewer is owned by J. H. Brenen. It sei'ves a district norlh of the
creek. wiuTr- the men employed in the works of the Russell Car and Snow Plow
Company and the Ridgway Machine Tool Company reside. There are eighteen dwell-
inirs connected with the I'lrenen sewer; the pipe dischargcw into the creek opposite
Eighth Street.
The Ridgwav -Machine Tool Company has an eight inch sewer from its plant to
the creek. It fiiKcharge.s into the creek a short distance above the Brenen ,sewer.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH.
1033
Tho Ely sewer is a small pipe extending from two dwellings to the creek in the
extreme eastern part of the borough.
In the Ivigle Vall<>y district, Third Ward, the following industrial plants have
sewers to the river:
Elk Tanning (Company.
lOagh' \'alley Tannery.
Engine and Dynamo WorLs.
Eagle .Valley I'lant.
In West Itidgway, Ward Two, there were a number of properties along the mill
rae(; on Main Street which had a private sower to the race. It is reported that these
l)ro[)erli<'s have beim conni'clcd lo the public sewer since the Department's inspection.
Into the river and the creek there are numerous individual house sewers not in-
cluded in the above lists and there are quite a number of overhanging privies in the
borough.
In the southern part of tiie borough, in Ward One, there is a small water coui"se,
herein named for convenience "Hospital Kuu," which rises in the hills back of Tar-
dott Street, between I'ine Street and I']uc]id Avenue, and thence flows down north-
westerly under South Street and near Centre Street, passing by the borough water
works punipin^^ station and n!ider the Pennsylvania Railroad, and tlience turning at
right angles it passes across a low marshy tract to the Clarion River. The territory
east of the railroad is fairly well developed. Centre Street is one of the important
thoi-oughfares of the town. Th(! run under the railroad is coniined to a thirty-six
inch cast iron pipe. P>y the pump house the structure is forty-two inches in diame-
ter, built of masonry. I'nder Swamp Alley and Long Avenue following the course
up stream, the run passes obliipieiy across private property to South Street, and this
Ijart of it is conhned in a wotiden liume, or within stone walls planked over. Above
South Street it is an open ditch, except where the run passes under Lincoln Avenue
and Cardott Street. During the summer time there is very little How in the run,
except when there is a fstorm. Moderately extreme precipitations are liable to over-
tax the (tarrying capacity of the Hume. At the time of the Department's inspection,
in August, nineteen hundred and seven, the liow of the stream was principally the
discharge of s.'wage from luunerous private house drains. Comparatively few of the
dwellings in the district are without some means of disposal of household waste by
water carriage. Along the lower portion of the water course, where it is plaukeil
over, there are privies directly over the channel. Other privies have connections
dischauging directly or indirectly into the water course or the borough sewer, which
is laid nearby. Othei' privies are of the ordinary type with shallow earth pits. In
some portions of the district sink water and slops are freely discharged into the
street gutters.
The sewage frona the district, whether it be collected in the public sewer or in
the water course, is finally gathered in a fifteen inch pipe by means of a bulk head
built in the railroad culvert at its lower end, and ihence it is delivered to the twenty
inch main intercepting sewer of the borough sy.stem at the manhole in Centre
Street ; but the storm flow in excess of the capacity of the fifteen inch pipe overflows
and follows the natural course of the stream to the river.
The public sewer discharging into the railroad culvert is a twelve ineh pipe and
its iioint of entry is at th(> lower end of the forty-two inch masonry structure and
on the ojjposite side there is an eight inch private sewer passing by the rear end of
the pump house up Centre and Elk Street. The public sewer has" two forks, each
twelve inches in diameter. One extends southerly along the railroad to South', and
thence in South Street with branches in First, Second, Third and I'owell Stivets,
and the other extendint; across private property by and near IIos|>ilal Uun lo South
Street and tlience u]) Pine Street.
The public and private sewers in the Hospital Run sewerage dislriet are shown in
the following table:
Location.
Name.
Owner.
Pump housR ' Centre Street, .. Private,
Piniip liousc South Street, .— Public,
Pump liouse -- Pine Street, Public,
Swamp .\l)cy, Monterey, Private,
(Between Swamp Alley
and South Street), — McCracken, Private,
" " Scribner, Private,
" " " Kline, - - Private,
" " " McGiniiis Private.
" " " Mctiovern Private,
" " " Long Alley Private.'
" " " Morgister, Private,
South corner Pine Hospital Sewer, . Private,
South Street Srhell sewer, Private,
Size.
42-Inch culvert 8-Inch.
42-iueli culvert 12-inch.
42-incli culvert 12-incii.
42-Inch (upper end),. (J-Inch.
Hospital run, 4-incli and privy.
Hospital run, 4-Inch.
Hospital run, 4-lnch.
Hospital run 4-Inch and privy.
Public sewer : 8-Inch.
Public sewer, 8-inch.
Run 4-lnch and privy.
Public sewer
Hospital sewer,
1034 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
It is reported that five properties are connected to the Centre Street sewer.
The Monterey sewer, sometimes called Smith sewer, begins at Cardott Street and
is laid in Monterey, South Alley, terminating at the upper end of the forty-two
inch culvert at the alley. Connected with it are eighteen properties.
The SicCracken, Scribner, Kline, McGinnis, McGovern, and Morgister sewers
aie for individual properties or double buildings. The Long Alley sewer serves five
properties, but since its discharge and that from other private sewers is into the
public sewer, the municipality is accountable for any pollution subsequently result-
ing from the outlet or storm overflow hereinbefore mentioned.
The Elk County Hospital is located on the hillside between Grove Street and
Euclid Avenue above First Street. A six inch private sewer extends from this hos-
pital down the hill in first, Euclid and South Streets to Pine Street where it empties
into the borough sewer extending from the foot of Pine Street across private prop-
erty paralleling the run. The six inch public sewer in Pine Street discharges into
the' same twelve inch pipe which is known as the Pine Street sewer. Connected with
the hospital sewer are the following branches: Grove Street, Euclid Avenue and the
Schell sewer. On the main hospital sewer and its branches are reported to be, be-
sides the hospital, sixty-one house connections.
It is reported that above South Street in Hospital Run there are four owners dis-
charging sewage from their properties into the stream.
Plans stibmitted by the petitioners now under consideration contemplate the col-
lection at one point in llidgway Township north of the river below Aylworth Run in
the vicinity of the Ridgway Tannery of all of the borough sewage.
In Ward Three a fifteen inch main is to be laid along the river to the northerly
borough line for the purpose of intercepting all of the sewage from the industrial
plants' and other properties and from the fifteen inch outlet now discharging into the
river near the upper dam hereinbefore mentioned. And in the Elk Creek district an
intercepting sewer is to be laid up Front Street to the borough line for the purpose
of taking the sewage of the Ely, Brenen, Norton and Kellam sewers and the public
outlet in'' Ward One and conveying it under the creek to a proposed fifteen inch sewer
to be laid in AUenhurst Avenue in Ward One.
In Ward One it is proposed that there shall be laid an eighteen inch main from
the present intercepting sewer across the creek up stream along the western bank at
the foot of the railroad embankment with branches to the Elk, Metoxet, County
Spring, Race Street and AUenhurst sewers now existing. The extension of the
AUenhurst sewer, above mentioned, is to intercept the Catholic Church, Depot
Street and Clark sewers and by a branch .serve the industrial plants further up the
creek valley. , . , , , , , .
The existing main intercepting sewer outlet is to be extended under the river,
thence down stream along the north bank to the site of the proposed disposal works
and this length will intercept the present Gillis sewer and the twenty inch outlet for
West Ridgeway. ,,.,.„
The proposed sewers also contemplate laterals in all streets not now sewered.
Storm water is to be excluded from new sewers, inspection manholes are to be pro-
vided at all street intersections and changes in line and grade, and automatic flush
tanks will be ultimately installed at all summit ends.
Thus it may be seen that the plan contemplates the incorporation into the new
system of all of the existing private sewers.
The petitioners represent that the borough wishes to construct at once an eighteen
inch trunk sewer up Elk Creek valley witii the connections from Elk, Metoxet,
County Spring and Race Street sewers ; also the AUenhurst Avenue extension and
the extensions in Grant, Sherman and Sheridan Streets to intercept all of the
private sewers now discharging in the vicinity of Depot Street ; and the Monroe
Street extension under the creek and up Front Street in Ward Three and the
lateral sewers in First to Twelfth Street to intercept all sewers in the Hyde Hill
district.
It is probably well within the facts to state that the typhoid fever epidemic of
nineteen hundred and seven cost the community of Ridgway upwards of one hundred
thousand dollars. The thoughtful citizens now realize (he economy of the installa-
tion of sanitary methods of sewage disposal. Jjocal sentiment is favorable to an im-
provement of the sewerage system and its extension to all parts of the town. The
proposed plan is calculated to remove all poisonous matters from the vicinity of
dwellings as quickly as possible and to discharge it into the river far below the
borough and in order to accomplish this as spe(;dily as possible it is purposed to
incorporate the existing private sewers into the systc^m.
While this is satisfactory as a temporary expedient, it should be temporary only.
The Clarion River rises in McKean County and the summit of the eastern
boundary of the stream's area is the divide between the two great basins of the
Susquehanna anrl the Allegheny River systems. The watershed above Ridgway is
about tw<j hiindrfd jind eighty-five miles in extent, including Elk Creek. Most of the
land is within Elk County, is hilly, largely defon-stcd and intersi)ersed with narrow
steep valleys in the horizon of the Kit tanning coal measures. Johnsonburg is the
principal place in the territory above Ridgway on the river. In that town and above
it are paper mills, tanneries and chemical works from which large quantities of
trade wastes are emptied into the Ktrr-am and pollute the waters. The State has
required the borough of Johnsonburg to prepare plans of improved sewerage with a
view to some other method of disposal of sewage than into the river.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 103o
The borough of St Mary's is now ooustructing a new sewer system approved by
the State Department of Health, which system was designed in connection with a
puritication plant, to be erected later.
Below liidgway the river pui-sues a general southeasterly course to the Allegheny
River, a distance of seventy-seven miles. In many places its banks are high and
precipitous and the region traveled is spareely populated and rural. So far as the
Department knows, the watei-s are not used for drinking purposes except at Clarion,
where there is an emergency intake. The citizens of this town complain that at this
time the pullutions of the river cause a nuisance and that fish life is practically
extinct. The water company obtains its .source from drilled wells along the river and
it may be never necessarj' to resort to the stream again for supply. JSevertheless,
this is not a suUicient reason why the river should be used as an open sewer. It is
the policy of the (Commonwealth to preserve the virgin purity of its mountain
streams as a public resource.
The borough of Ridgway is not financially able to erect a sewage purification plant
immediately. However, the sowers should be built and extended in contemplation of
treatment works at no distant date. This requirement demands the exclusion of
storm water from the sewers because it is not practicable to purify the great bulk of
mingled house sewage and surface drainage.
It is known that many of the private sewers are faulty, they serve as rain water
drains and the public health demands their overhauling and reconstruction and, in
some instances, entire abandonment. How many of them are suitable when repaired
and provided with inspection manholes to be permanently incorporated into the
borough sewer system can only be ascertained by critical examination. Without
hesitation it may be concluded that the stone culverts and old water courses should
be absolutely abandoned as carriers of sewage. They should be reconstructed under
modern methods and be used e.xclusively for storm water and other pipes should be
provided for s\^wage.
Owners who have been to considerable expense in laying down the private sewers
or in connecting their properties to such sewers will be loath to undertake any
further expense. There being such a large number of private sewers in the borough,
approximately lifty per cent, of the population being served thereby, and the uni-
versal discharge of kitchen wastes and sewage being a general public menace would
suggest that the local authorities should provide the remedy. Nevertheless, upon
failure of the borough to do this, it would be incumbent upon the State health au-
thorities to deal directly with the individual in discontinuing the discharge of sewage
into the waters of the Slate.
The industrial wastes now emptied into the river total a large daily amount. This
waste must eventually be treated and purified. Most municipalities afford a sewer
outlet for such wastes, as being most economical and satisfactory policy for the
community. This is an added reason why the borough should take up the problem
and afford sewerage facilities to everybody.
When the sewer system should have been completed and all sewage shall have
been delivered to the outfall proposed, it will be found that the manufacturing
wastes may distinctly characterize the sewage and require peculiar facilities for
purification.
All overhanging privies on banks of streams or the mill races should be at once
removed, all i)ublic and private sewers to the streams should be discontinued as soon
as practicable ; the existing sewers should be overhauled and some of them aban-
doned, discharge of sewage and kitchen drainage into street gutters should cease,
storm water should be excluded from the sewers, the sewer system should be ex-
tended as lapidly as possible and plans for sewage disposal works should be sub-
mitted within a reasonable time.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by approving the proposed sewer system under the following conditions and stipu-
lations:
FIRST: All storm water shall be excluded from the sewer system and at the
close of each season's work the borough shall prepare a plan of the sewers laid dur-
ing the year and file the same with the Commissioner of Health, together with any
other information in connection therewith which may be required.
SI'X'OXD: The incorporation of the existing private sewei-s and old natural
water courses into the new sewer system shall be temporary only and is permitted
in order that all of the sewer outlets in the central part of the borough may be dis-
continued imini'diately. On or before May first, nineteen hundred and nine, the
borough shall critiially examine all of the existing private sewers and culverts and
determine whicii sewers or parts of such sewers are suitable when repaired to be
permanently incorporated into the public sewer system and which sewers must be
abandoned, and prepare a i)lan and report on the subject and submit the same to
the Commissioner of Health for approval. Said Commissioner may modify, amend
or approve the plan and issue a permit therefor.
THIRD: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on the first day of .May, nineteen hundred and eleven, contingent to the other
terms of this permit having been complied with. If on said date the borough shall
have complied with the stipulations herein made, then the Commissioner of Health
may extend the (ime in which sewage may cuntiuui' to be discharged into the
waters of the State.
1036 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
FOURTH: On or before May first, nineteen hundred and eleven, the borough
shall prepare a plan for a sewage purification plant and shall submit the same to the
Commissioner of Health for approval.
FIFTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or any part thereof shall become a nuisance or menace or prejudicial
to public health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as the said Com-
missioner may advise or approve.
SIXTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system ; the proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed on
the premises.
SEVENTH: The borough council shall, by ordinance or otherwise, provide for
the compulsory connection of occupied estates with the public sewei-s, more espe-
cially in those cases where the discharge of sewage and sink water is now into the
natural Avater courses or street gutters or onto or into the ground in the vicinity of
private wells or springs.
The Commissioner of Health will notify the owners of individual sewers which now
discharge into the natural water courses that such discharge must cease, preferably
by connection with the existing public sewers or by extensions to the public sewer
system.
The local authorities should pay special attention at once to private sewer outlets
and overhanging privies along Hospital Run and Gallagher Run.
The sewage pool in Elk Street near Main Street should be forthwith abolished.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 15th, 1908.
RIDLEY PARK, DELAWARE COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Ridley Park, Delaware County,
Pennsylvania, and is for permission to construct an outfall sewer and to discharge
sewage through the same from existing sewers into Stony Creek, at a point outside
the borough in Ridley Township.
It appears that Ridley Park, having a population of about two thousand, is a
residential suburban community entirely within Ridley Township in the southeastern
part of Delaware County, three miles west of the Philadelphia city line and on tin-
Delaware Division of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad. The
municipal territory includes about one square mile, Crum Lynne Creek fiows froiu
its source in Swarthmore borough, which is one mile northwest of Ridley Park,
southerly through the western part of the latter borough below which it empties into
Crum Creek one mile above the mouth of the latter in the Delaware River.
From a point three miles north of Ridley Park, Stony Creek fiows southerly,
passing through the boroughs of Morton and Rutledge, along the western boundary
of Prospect Park borough and through the eastern part of Ridley I'ark, three-
quarters of a mile below which it joins Darby Creek half a mile above the mouth
of the latter in the Delaware River. The mouth of Darby Creek is half a mile above
the mouth of Crum Creek.
The village of Ridley Park is located in the central part of the borough, between
Crum Lynne and Stony Creeks, and is rather compact, although the houses are not
contiguous.
The Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad passes through the Unvxi
from northeast to southwest, dividing it into two ('(jual parts and crossing the two
streams. Piirallel to tiiis railroad is the Philadelijhia Division of the Jialtimore and
Ohio Railroad, which passi's just iiortli of Ridley I'ark; also the Pliiladelpliia and
Chester Turiiidkc, which piisses llirnugh the southern outskirts of the t(jwii. Sev-
eral electric strecjt railroads add to the transit facilities afforded the community.
Practically all the houses of Ridley Park are supplied with water by the North
Springfield VVjiter (Viinpiiny.
Si'weiai,'e iinprnviiieiUs in Ridley Park were first started in alii.ui ei.,lile.'n hun-
dred find ninoty-lwo. 'J'he western half of the town, comprising about one hundred
and fifty houses on the slope draining westt'rly to Criiin l.yiinc ('I'cek, is pretty com-
pletely Hewrrred. The sewag(! wiis first discluirged into tiii' creek within Die boroiigh.
Latf-r an outfall sewer, intercejiting all of th(! st^wagi; so that none of it is now dis-
<;harge(l into Ciinii Lynne Creek, was laid to tide water and fliscliarges into (-rum
Creek in Jlidh^vTownshi)) half a mile below the mouth of Crum Lynne (!i-eek in the
larger stream and hiiif a mile ahove the ninulh of tin; latter in Ihe I)el;nv!ire River.
The course of Crum < '|-eek below Ihe Ridley borough sewer outlet is llirouL;li lidiil
flats. 'I'his Kyslem now (•om]>rises three miles of iifteen inch, ten inch, eight inch,
and six incii sewers. It is reported that several street inlets provide lor ij iilr.iiice
of surface water into this system.
l''rom a ciisual inspe(!lion it appears that Crum l>ynne (!reek is Iml sliuhtly pol-
luted. Jusi above the I'hiliidelpliia , I'.iilt imore and Wjishinglon Railroad there is a
dam which backs tli< water of the cieck for a distance of ahoiil fourleen hundred
feet, forming what is known as <"rutn Lynne Lake, which is used for boating and
swimming. It contains many pon<l lilii-s and evidently considerable depijsits of de-
caying vevretabh' matler. An inisighlly privy overhangs liie west bank of the creek
at Kelcham T.Tra Cotia Works in the Houthern part of thf! borough. Crum ('reek
is polluteil ui Swaillinioi'e ;irjd aliovc it by hade wastes, gas house waste and do-
mestic sewage, and jnsi beluw the iiionlh of ( 'i-utn Lynne ( hcek by the S(;wage from
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1037
a fifteen inch outfall sewer which receives most of the sewage of Swarthmore bor-
ough. Bctweini this point and the outlet of the Ridley Park sewer, Crum Creek re-
ceives the sanitary sewage and trade wastes from a large plant of the Baldwin Loco-
motive Works located on the bank.
The northeastern part of Ridley Park, containing about one hundred and forty
houses, mostly north of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Western Railroad on
ground sloping easterly to Stony Creek, is sewered by one and four-tenths miles of
twelve inch, eight inch and six inch pipe sewers, discharging through a twelve inch
outfall into Stony Creek within the borough halfway between the Philadelphia, Bal-
timore and Western Railroad and the Philadelphia and Chester Turnpike. Although
it is not delinilely reported that this system receives storm water, in general the
sewers of the town are used to carry away roof water. A surface drain in the dis-
trict sewered by this system discharges onto the surface of the ground south of the
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Western Railroad.
The southeastern part of Ridley Park, comprising about forfy houses south of
Philadelphia, Bailiraore and Western Railroad on ground sloping easterly to Stony
("reek, is sewered by six-tenths of a mile of sewers discharging through a twelve inch
outlft iiilD Stony (Jreek just south uf the Philadelphia and Chester Turnpike. This
system is reported to receive considerable surface water. This outlet is only one
hundred feet from the nearest residence and gives rise to extremely objectionable con-
ditions during the summer months.
Systematic records of sewer extensions have not been kept. It is reported that
numerous private sewers have been constructed connecting with the three systems
described, which has considerably increa.sed the total lengths of the sewers above
the lengths already stated. These three systems, the one discharging into Cniiu
Creek and two into Stony Creek, receive almost all the sewage of Ridley Park. Few
or no cesspo(jls and but few privies remain in use.
The surface drainage to Stony Creek above Ridley Park contains considerable
household waste diseharged to street gutters and the surface of the ground in the
boroughs of Murtoii (population eight hundred and eighty-nine in nineteen hundred)
and Rutledge (population three hundred and sixt}--nine iii nineteen hundred) and the
village of Folsom, a scattered settlement on the west bank of Stony Creek in Ridlev
Township between Rutledge and Ridley Park, and a similar settlement known as
Farrady Park on the opposite side of Stony Creek, and also from a recently devel-
oped section in the northwestern part of Prospect I'ark borough. It is reported that
there are no sewers in any of these communities. In Morton there are privies close
to the edge of the stream. Along Stony Creek, north of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, are the steam generating plant and car shop of the Philadelphia, Morton
and Swarthmore Electric Railway. Pipes from the plant discharge into a pond
formed by a dam at this point and a black scum on the water at the outlet of these
pipes is evidence of pollution.
Darby (^reek, above the mouth of Stony Creek, is greatly polluted by the sewage
of the boroughs of Prospect I'ark, Norwood, Glenolden, Sharon Hill, Colwyn,
Collindale, Darby, Yeadon, Aldan, Clifton Heights and Lansdowne, and the City
of Philadelphia.
It is proposed to construct three Ihousand, three hundred and fifty feet of fifteen
inch terra cotta pipe sewer along Stony Creek, for the most part on the west bank,
to interceiit the sewage of the tv.o twelve inch sowers now discharging into Stony
Creek within the borough and carry it down stream to tide water. The site of the
proposed outlet is below Ridley Park in Ridley Township and about fifteen hundred
feet above the mouth of Stony Creek in Darby Creek. The lower part of Stony
Creek, below the proposed outlet, is dyked through low ground frequently inun-
dated; and the same conditions exist along this part of Darby Creek. On the west
bank of the latter, below the mouth of Stony Creek, are some fifty frame buildings
used as boat houses, summer residences and a few of them as permanent residence's.
They have no modern conveniences.
This proposed fifteen inch sewer, from its upper end at the twelve inch sewer at
the foot of Walnut Street to the twelve inch sewer in the Philadelphia and Chester
Turnpike, a distance of one thousand feet, has a irrade of one and six-tenths per
cent. : for fifteen hundred and fifty feet below this i)oint the grade is about fifty-five
hundredths per cent, and for the remaining eight hundred feet two-tenths per cent.
The object of the const niction of this propo.sed sewer is to do awav with the objec-
tionable conditions at the present outlet into Stony Creek at the Philadelphia and
Chester Turnpike.
The discontinuance of the discharge of the vast quantities of sewage now emptying
into ('rum Creek. Darby Creek and the Delaware River can only be accomplished
gradually. Sewerage improvements installed by Ridley Park borough should have
in view the ultimate jmrification of the sewage. Nearly all the municipalities di.s-
charging sewage into the streams in this vicinity have been ordered to prei)are plans
with this end in view. One of the most imperative reasons for the purification of
this sewage b.-'ing accomplished at as early a date as practicable is that a population
of fifty thousand, centering in the city of Chester, is now supplied with drinking
water, filtered, obtained from the Delaware at a point about three miles below the
Ridley I'ark sewer outlets.
Nearly all of Ridley Park is :il such an elevation that it is not impossible to pro-
vide for purifyinc: its sewage before discharging it into the streams without resorting
to pumping. The proposed Stony Creek outfall sewer, now under consideration
G6
1038 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
will not deliver the sewage ac a sufficient elevation to permit of its being purified.
Furthermore, if this sewer be constructed, the sewages of the borough would be
discharged into different streams at widely separated points, so that when the puri-
fication of the sewage is required it would be necessary to install two sewage disposal
plants, or additional works for collecting the sewage to a single plant. It would
be desirable in the interests of both economy and efficiency to dispose of the sewage
of all of Ridley Park, and, if feasible, of Swarthmore, and Rutledge and Morton
when these latter two boroughs are sewered, in a single purification plant.
The lower part of the twelve inch sewer in the I'hiladelphia and Chester Turn-
pike is reported to have a grade of about five per cent., at which grade it should
have a carrying capacity of about four hundred and fifty-seven cubic feet per minute.
Since it receives surface water from a considerable part of the twenty acres tribu-
tary to the district through which it flows, this sewer probably frequently receives,
for periods of an hour or more, more storm water than it can carry and would,
therefore, during such periods deliver to the proposed fifteen inch outfall sewer its
full capacity, that is, four hundred and fifty-seven cubic feet per minute. The
twelve inch sewer discharging at the foot of Walnut Street might at any time deliver
sewage to the proposed fifteen inch sewer at a maximum rate of ten cubic feet per
minute. Thus the total volume of sewage which might at any time be delivered to the
proposed fifteen inch sewer below the connection of the twelve inch sewer at Philadel-
phia and Chester Turnpike is four hundred and sixty-seven cubic feet per minute.
This proposed fifteen inch sewer at the proposed grade of fifty-five hundredths per
cent, would, however, only carry two hundred and ninety cubic feet per minute
without flowing under pressure. The hydraulic gradient of flow in a fifteen inch
sewer at the rate of four hundred and sixty-seven cubic feet per minute is about one
and six-tenths per cent., so that in the proposed construction, when the assumed
maximum amount of sewage was being discharged, the flow would back up in the
fifteen inch sewer and in the two twelve inch sewers until it produced a head of
thirty feet in the fifteen inch sewer at the twelve inch connection at the Philadelphia
and Chester Turnpike, or until the pressure produced made an outlet for the sewage
through manholes, street inlets or by blowing out the joints of the sewers. Even if
such a pressure did not destroy the sewer line, overflowing of the sewage from the
manholes on the surrounding ground might give rise to numerous nuisances and
cause complaint along the line of the sewer. Manholes should be provided at suitable
intervals for the inspection of the sewer and the flow of the sewage in it. To carry
the storm water down stream would require a much larger and more expensive
sewer than the one proposed. The discharge of storm water into the creek close to
the town is not objectionable.
Therefore, before the sewage from the twelve inch sewers discharging into Stony
Creek is turned into an outfall sewer to convey it to a more distant point, all storm
water should be t'xcluded from these sewers, and otherwise taken care of either in
the street gutters or, if necessary, in short storm drains leading directly to the near-
est water course. Roof water should also be excluded from the sewers or i)rovision
should be made for excluding it when the purification of the .sewage is required, since
this would add very materially and unnecessarily to the amount of sewage to be
treated and to the size of the purification plant required.
It appears that the borough has not filed a report and complete plans of its existing
sewer system with the ('omiiiissloner of Health as required by law; and, further,
that, without the permission of the said (Jomnussioner, the borough, in pursuanc(!
of an ordinance passed by the borough council on .Tanuiiry thirty-first, nineteen
hundred and seven, made an extension to its sewer system from Ridley Street north
in Free Street, thence east in Dupont Street and thence north in Harrison Street to
Russell Street, and that house connections to this sewer have been made.
The assessed valuation of the borough is reported to be one million, five hundred
thousand dollars and its bonded indebtedness eighty tlio\isand dollars. If these
figures be true, thi' borough may borrow twenty-five thousand dollars without exceed-
ing the .seven per cent, constitutional limit and is amply able to defray the expense
of having prepared a comprehensive 8ew,erage design to be followed in future im-
provements and extensions.
It has been determined that a permit be denied, and it is herein and hereby
denied for the construction of the ijroposed fifteen inch outfall sewer and the follow-
ing dr-cree is issued to the borough of Ridley I'ark:
FIRST: <^)M or befort,' the first day of May, nineteen hundred and nine, the
borough shall, either independi-ntly or in conjuiuition with the boroughs of Swarth-
more, Itullcdg'- and Morion, or any of tlKMii , prejjarc plans for the collection of all
of the sewage of the borough or boroughs and its couveyaiice in the most advan-
tageous way to a suitable site for a sewage disjiosal |)lant and plans for such a plant
for the treatment of all of thr- sewage of the borough or boroughs, and submit the
same with iteniM of cost for treating said sewage to thi" Depiirtment of Ileallh lor
approval. Sueh phiris will be modified, amended or appi-oved ;ind a time fixed for the
erection of 'he works, the i)olicy of the State being kejit in mind with n^spect to oWnn-
muniei|)alities in the vicinity.
SECOND: (Complete i)lans of the present sewer systems, showing sizes and
grades and the location of manholes, shall be prepared and filed in the oflfice of the
Department of Health on or before January first, nineteen hundred and nine.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., November 11th, 1908.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1039
SAINT CLAIR, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of St. Clair, Schuylkill County, and is
for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage therefrom un-
treated into Mill Creek, within the borough limits.
It appears that the borough of Saint Clair is located near the centre of Schuylkill
County and is completely surrounded by Norwegian Township. In nineteen hundred
it had a population of four thousand six hundred and thirtj^-eight and at the present
time it has an estimated pojjulation of six thousand. The borough is on the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad and the I'hihideli)hia and Reading Railway, which roads give emiiloy-
menl to some of the inhabitants. The Saint Clair classification yards belong to the
latter company and are lot'ated inmii-diately south of the town, between it and Port
Carbon, a borough of some three thousand or more inhabitants, two miles further
south of Saint Clair. The people are employed mostly in the coal mines in the
immediate vicinity and at some distance from the place, transportation being had
by means of the railroads and excellent trolley system.
The seat of the county, Pottsville, is not over four miles distant from Saint Clair
and is in the same townsiiip.
Saint Clair borough is situated in a valley confined by hills which rise to a height
of several hundred feet on the eastern and western sides and to over nine hundred
feet at the north, some distanci' from the Oorough line. A stream called Mill Creek
fiovv's southerly tiuough the centre of tiie town and a smaller one called Little Wolf
Creek passes through the eastern hection and discharges into the former in the
southern part.
On Mill Creek and its tributaries above Saint Clair there are known to be five
collieries in operation draining their acid wastes into the creek. These operations
are known as tlie Crystal Run Colliery, the New Boston Colliery, owned by Delano
and Company of New York, the Morea Colliery, owned by the Dodson Coal Com-
pany of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Dark Water Colliery, operated by Neil,
Thorn and Company, and the Saint Clair Coal Company Colliery of Saint Clair.
On I>ittle Wolf Creek is the Mt. Hope Coal Company Colliery, operated by I. D.
Beam and Company of Sain Clair, draining into the stream.
Mill Creek heads in the Br^ad ^fountains about nine miles above Saint Clair and
discharges into tlu^ Schuylkill River two miles below it at Port Carbon. Its water
shed area above fhe borough is twenty-three square miles.
The publi<- water supply is furnished by the Pottsville Water Company, whose
sources are from ^\'(^l£ Creek. Eisenhuth Run, Kauffman Run and other branches
of Mill Creek, all above Saint Clair. This is a gravity system through the town
and the water is reported to be good at all times. There is a small well in the
sparsely populated Si.'ction of the borough known to supply five families with water.
This is the only ground supply in use in the borough, as far as the Department is
informed.
The principal street of the town is Second Street. It parallels Mill Creek and is
west of it. In the upper and lower portions of First Street is located ^lill Creek.
1'he stream is walled up through the borough, the land on either side having been
filled in. Before this filling in the land was a swamp. West of Third Street are
the railroad tracks and beyond the tracks the hillside begins. To the east of Mill
Creek named in order are Mill, Nichols and Morris Streets. Beyond the latter the
hillside begins. The village is almost wholly on the flats.
The principal street ninning east and west is not reported. They appear to
be about equally important. Beginning in the southern part of the borough and
named in their order up stream they are Thwing, Russell, Patterson, Railroad,
Lawton, Carroll, Hancock and Franklin Streets.
Little Wolf (.Meek enters Mill Creek between Russell and Thwing Streets.
There are two public sewer outlets into Mill Creek, both being combined
sewers.
The lower and most important one is thirty inches in diameter. Its outlet
is into Mill Creek. It is into the creek below Thwing Street at the southerly
borough line. The land round about is unt)ccupied Hats. The classification yards
are in the neighborhood. This outlet serves a sewer line the entire length of Second
Street, a total distance of four thousand and thirty-six feet. It consists of seven
luuiilred and tliirly-four feet of thirty inch, five hundred feet of twenty-seven inch,
fifteen hundred and ten feet of twenty-four inch, five hundred and forty-three feet
of eighteen inch and over sevcMi hundred feet of twelve inch sewer.
The other sewer outlet into the creek is thirty inches in diameter. It empties
into the creek at Railroad Street. It ends at the intersection of Third and
Lawton Streets. It was built to take the i)lace of a natural coui"se which is now
an open (litch west of Third Street. The sewer is about one thousand feet long.
The flow in the run at one time was constant owing to a coal operation. Now
the line is abandoned and water flows in the run only during and after heavy
rains.
There are a large number of privies of the old-fashioned type in the l>orough
and a few percolating cesspools. Some of the privies (»verhang the banks of
the stream.
One hundred and twenty-three private estates have individual sewers leading to the
streams. Most of these private sewers empty into Mill Creek, but a score or more
discharge into Little Wolf Creek.
1040 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc,
On Third Street, between Lawton and Patterson Streets, kitchen drainage goes
to the street gutters. The same is true on the upper end of Mill, Miehols and
Morris Streets. On jS'ichols Street there is a hotel urinal draining directly to the
street gutter. The grades of the street are not sufficient in these places to carry
off the waste water so nuisances result in dry weather.
There are reported to be one hundred and sixty-one properties connected to the
public sewer. There are also one hundred and twenty-nine estates connected
to the common sewers in the streets, which common sewers are owned by private
individuals. There are thirteen such lines that are known to exist with outlets
into the streams iu the borough. Four of them are into Mill Creek, three into
Little Wolf Creek and six into a tributary to Mill Creek which starts near the
end of Third Street and Hows southerly along the Pennsylvania Railroad to near
the borough line.
The first [uivate sewer line into the creek is at Russell Street, extends up
Russell and Mill Streets a length of three hundred and thirty feet. It has thir-
teen connections. The next is at Patterson Street and extends up Patterson and
Mill eight hundred and twenty feet and has twenty-four connections. The next
is at Carroll Street and extends up Carroll and Nichols Streets six hundred and
forty feet and has nine connections. The last outlet is two hundred and fifty feet
long in Mill Street as far north at Hancock Street. It has seven connections.
The first private sewer line into Little Wolf Creek is on Mill Street one
hundred and eighty feet long to Russell Street. It has six connections. The
next outlet is at Nichols Street, the sewer extends northerly thirteen hundred and
fifty feet to Lawton Street and has thirty connections. The last outlet is at the
foot of Morris Street. The sewer extends in Morris Street northerly fourteen
hundred feet to above Lawton Street. It has eight connections.
Into the tributary of Mill Creek above mentioned there are five short private
sewer lines iu Third Street. They have a total of thirteen connections. These
really should not be classed as common sewers. There is a private sewer line seven
bundled and fifty feet long between Second and Third Streets. It has nineteen
connections and it empties into the run near Patterson Street.
Thus it may be seen that thert! is a total of six thousand six hundred and twenty
feet of common sewers in the public streets, but owned by private individuals.
It is reported that none of these pipes is over six inches iu diameter. The borough
has not submitted a satisfactory report or plan of the existing sewers in the
municipality. The Department does not know whether these private common
sewei*s take both sewage and storm water. Neither does it know when these
sewers were built, by whom built and under what authority they were built and
arc now maintained.
The Department's investigation shows that the borough's streams are practically
open sewers. Because of the mine drainage and coal dust emptied into the water
coui'ses the sewage does not produce a nuisance of a magnitude to be the subject
of a complaint, so it apijears.
To do away with some of the nuisances in the street gutters the borough
propo.ses to make* two sewer extensions, one in Third Street twenty-eight hundred
feet long connecting to the Second Street sewer line near Patterson Street and the
other in First Street a total distance of eleven hundred feet with an outlet into
the existing sewer in First Street at liawton Street.
Thr- Third Street line is to I'ange in diameter from twelve inches to twenty-
four inches. There is to be a manhole at (svcry cliange in line iuid grade with
lampiioles b'-tween them and catch basins along the street for the admittance of
storm water. The sewer will be eight feet or more in depth and will have a grade
of eight tenths per cent. Third Street line is to be fifteen inches and twelve inches
in diameter and havt? a minimum grade of fifty-two hundredths per cent. It
also will tuke storm water.
The Second Street sewer was constructed under authority of a resolution of
Town Council passed the tenth day of July, nineteen hundred and five, which
was subsequent to the enactment of the "Purity Water Pill"' so-called, approved
April twenty-.second, nineteen hundred and five, and re(iuiring munlcii)al authori-
ties to receive a written ))eriiiit from iUc C'oinmiKsioner of Health foi- the estah-
lishmenl of a public sewi'r (juth't intf) any of tiie wati'rs of the Stale. Tiie local
authorities did not api)ly for such a jierrnit for the Second Street sew(!r. The De-
partment is not informed as to the date when the borough built the Fir.st Street
sewer line.
It appears that on the fourth day of Febiiiary, nineteen hundred and scnen ,
the 'I'owri <'nnii';il (;nacted an ordinance establishing a sewer systcMU, incor]jorating
then S<;conil Street sewer Into the; systiMn, and [H'oviding rules and regulations
appertaining to the .sy.stem. Under tliese niles it is optiomil with any properly
owner whose land fronts on a public sewer to eonnect the projterty with the
sewer; but wlu'iiever the lo(;al lioard of Health requires such a connection in the
interests of the public lierilth it shall be made.
Plans of this sewer system have not becjn subhiltted t<j the Commissionci' of
Ili'aiili foi- eonsidci'ation.
Fveidentiy the borough intends to perpetuate a combined sewer system with
permaiii-nl outlets into Mill ( !reek. Undoubtedly the acid mine; wastes disinfect
the sewage and (lesl roy nnir;h of the germ life in the sewage ordinarily. But it
is possible (hiring intense rainfalls, when the volume of fresh wat<'r uro.nUy dilutes
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1041
the sulphur drninago from tho mines and reduces tlie acidity correspondingly, for
the sewa£;< from Saint Clair borough to he carried in a harmful condition down
stream and to the water works intakes of the municipalities located on the banks of
the Schuylkill River. There are a number of public water supplies taken from
the Schuylkill River below the city of Reading. One of these plaees is Royers-
ford, as well as Sprini; City on the opposite bank, where during the current
year Ihere has been an ciuflemic of typhoid fevin- attributed to the sewage jioisons
ill the Schuylkill River water. I'ottsville, Phoenixville, Xorristown and Phila-
delphia use Schuylkill River water for drinking purposes. The Commonwealth's
policy is to stop the discharge of sewage into the streams. The Stale has made
the tlrentiiK'iit of the sewage of the city of Reading a compulsory matter. Other
municipalities above Reading must eventually build sewage disposal works.
The bonded indebtedness of Saint Clair borough is about thirty-eight thou.sand
dollars and the assessed valuation is in the neighborhood of eight hundred and
thirty-two thousand doMars, so it is reported. If these figures be true, then the
borough can borrow about twenty thousand dollars, which amount is too small
to defray the cost of a sewer system and disposal works at the present time. But
the loc.'ii anlhorities must anticipate a purification plant and prepare for it. The
cost of ticatiug storm water and sewage is i»rohibitive. Mill Creek is ad-
vantageously located so that surface drainage, by proper attention to street gut-
ters, may be conducted short distances f>n the lateral streets to it. The sewers
should be designed to take sewage proper from the entire borough to one common
point at a suitable site for the ultimate election of a sewage treatment plant. The
sewers need not be of a large size. This system of sanitary sewerage should plan
to take in all private lines of common sewers that are properly constructed and
suitable to be incorporated in the .system. A careful study of the entire situation
should be made by an ensrineer and in this study the State Department of Health
may be called upon for furllior advice. By this method of procedure the money
expendeil t>y tho ta.xiiayers will go a long way and give the greatest benefits to the
greatest number. The borough can builil such sewei-s as it may need from time
to time as the money is raised with the assurance that no part of the expenditure
is being wasted and that no part of the work will ever need to be undone.
Temporarily some surface drainage may possibly be admitted to the sanitarj'
sewers until the sewage disposal works are built. This last project will not be
required until the other municipalities in the district are likewise required to
treat their sewaue.
It has been determined that the borough of Saint Clair should be notified, and
it is hereby and herein notified, that the borough must modify the plans for the
proposed sewer and prepare a plan for a comprehensive system of sanitary sewer-
age and sewage disposal works in conformity with the ideas and suggestions here-
inbefore set forth and submit the same to the Department of Health for appnival.
When this shall have been done and the plans shall have been approved, the De-
partment of Health will i.ssue a permit for the discharge of sewage from the bor-
ough sewer system into the waters of the State under conditions which shall be
determined by the Governor, Attorney General and (Commissioner of Health,
having in mind the conditions under which similar permits are issued by the State
to other municipalities in the Schtiylkill River drainage basin.
Hari-sburg, Pa., October tSth , 1908.
SCALP LEVEL, CAMBRIA COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Scalp Level and is for permission
to install a new sewer and to discharge the sewage therefrom untreated into Little
Paint Creek within the limits of said borough.
It appears that on November twenty-third, nineteen hundred and seven, the
Commissioner of Health issued a permit to the said borough of Scalp Level, but
that this permit was rejected by the borough council and returned on December
twenty-eiglitli , ninete(<n hundred and seven. On said December twenty-eighth,
nineteen hundred and seven, the borough submitted a map and profile of the pro-
jiosed sewer and again made application for permission to construct a public sewer
system in the borouch.
The jiermit of November twenty-third, nineteen hundred and seven, was for
the cousl ruction of a iiart of the proposed sewer, which part was for the drainage
of (lie public school building. Among other conditions stipulated were the fol-
lowiuir:
"FIRST: That a six inch pipe sewer may be laid from the public school building
in the borough easterly in the public highway and under the turnpike to Little
Paint Cre(>k, that sewage only shall be discharged into this sewer, and that it
shall be laid out in such a way as to be adapted to incorporation into a separate
sewer system for the entire borouirh.
"SECOND. Permission to discharge the sewage from this school house sewer
into Little Paint Creek at the point herein approved north of the railroad culvert
shall be temporary only and shall expire one year from the date of this pf'iTH'f.
but if on or before said date of one y(>ar after the issuance of this permit, the
60—17- -1908
1042 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
borough shall prepare a plan for a comprehensive sewerage system for the entire
borough in general compliance with the suggestions herein contained, and shall
have submitted the same to the Commissioner of Health for approval, then the
Commissioner of Health may extend the time in which the sewage from the school
house sewer may continue the discharge into Little Paint Creek at the point
mentioni'd."
Scalp Level borough, population about one thousand, Paint borough, of about
equal size, and Winber borough, having a population of five thousand, are grouped
together and form practically one flourishing coal mining community located in
the Aleghouy Mountains near the summit, in the valley of Paint Creek. This
stream tlows westerly, draining a very rugged mountainous district and empties into
Stony Creek which, nine miles northerly, joins the Conemaugh River in the city
of Johnstown.
Coal mining operations are located in the valley above and below Scalp Level
and the creek waters are extremely acid, resulting from mine drainage.
The Department has nor in its possession a plan of the borough territory and
of the roads and general location of buildings. The plan and profiles submitted
on December twentj-eighth. nineteen hundred and seven, afford no means of
determination of what proportion of the borough the sewers will serve at present
or be able to serve in the future. However, it is imder stood that it is the old
Scalp Level village, consiscing of the buildings along the Johnstown turnpike
from Paint borough northerly, or rather that p()rtion of the village on said turn-
pike north of Little Paint Creek, that it is proposed to sewer. This turnpike
ascends rapidly, following up the valley of Little Paint Creek, there being a
steep slope or bank quite high between the road and the stream, many of the
houses on the east side of the turnpike sewer to the creek. The church , school
building, hotels and stores are in the old village. The modem school house,
recently erected, is located on the north side of a' road branching to the
west from the turnpike. Plumbing facilities and water closets have been pro-
vided in this building and it was to secure the prompt removal of sewage from
this property that the borough asked permission to construct a sewer, which per-
mis.sion was granted and stibsequently rejected by the borough.
The petitioners originally represented that there was no way to dispose of the
waste water from the school house and the buildings on the west side of the
turnpike, except by public sewer and permission was I'equested to lay a sewer
southerly in the turnpike from or near the school building to the creek. The
points of discharge first proposed were into the stream at the railroad culvert in
the cntral part of the borough and also where the highway crosses the creek in
the southern part of the old village. This plan the borough abandoned because
of local opposition and the plan substituted and upon which the Commissioner of
Health acted called for the outlet into the creek at a point near its junction with
Paint Creek proper. The size of the sewer was not stated, neither were the
grades or other details given.
In the eastern part of the borough is a new village, comprising regularly laid
out streets and cottages, erected and owned by the Berwind-White Coal Mining
Company. This setlement is on the west bank of Little Paint Creek and comprises
about two hundred frame buildings. The facilities for the disposal of excrement
or for other drainage are not those calculated to promote the public health. There
are sewer outlets into the creek in Paint borough and in Windber. If the time
should ever arise when sewage shall be taken out of the local streams, then it
would be most economical and effective for all thr(>e boroughs to have a joint;
intercepting sewer and sewage disposal plant. The Commissioner of Health con-
cluded that it would be unfair to discriminate against Scalp Tjcvel borough, but
neveretheless, that it behooved the local authorities of the three niunicipalitie;; in
making plans for sewerage extensions or for the introduction ol; a new sewer
system to contemplate the ultimate treatment of tbo sewage and make reasonable
provision therefor in the sewer yilans. It was s-t rmlli I hat a sewcu'age plan for
Scalp I>evel should be designed that it may i)e extended from time to time to
all parts of the borough and that the State cannot advise with resp(>ct to the
suitability of a project until <h'tails tlien>of shall have l)een submitted for <'on-
sideration. The boro\igh was informed that it should prepare plans for a <'om-
prehensive sewerage system and that all storm wal(>r should l)e excluded from the
sewers and it was suggested that the boroughs of Windber and Paint might find
it profitable to join in a project for a trunk intercepting sewer.
The sewei's now proposed and under consideration will serv(> tiiat portion of
the ()](] village above described. A sixteen inch main sewer is to start at 1/ittle
Paint Creek and extend ur» the turnpike a distan<-e of nine hundred feet to or near
the antrle in the turnpike. One hiuidred and fifty feet from the end of a twelve
inch branch sewer is to be laid in tiie branfih road westerly a distance of seven
hundred and fifty feet, passing the school house for which sewerage facilities are
demanded. The least grade for the sewers is three and four-tenths per cent, and
the greatest nine and one-fourth per cent.
The main creek is about seven hundred feet down stream from the pro-
posed outlet where, at one time, it was contemplated that the sewer would termi-
nate. Owing to the very limited financial resources, the local authorities do not
want to make any greater expenditure lh;in may be necessary; hence approval of
the outlet into the tributary stream whrTc tlx; turnpike crosses is asked. Pre-
HiiriKibly the di'ichnrL'c of sewage will be f>f such small volume for the present that
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1043
uo nnisancp will bo created at the outlet. There are stores on either bank of the
stream at the bridpre. The bed of the creek is steep and the flow of water rapid.
Any small pool could e.isily be drained.
There is one means of savinfj money which has escaped the borough. An eight
inch pipe on the grades proposed would be many times greater in capacity than
actually necessary to remove sewage from the proposed district. The local au-
thorities can with perfect safety save the cost between an eight inch sewer and a
twelve and sixtein inch sewer.
There are periods of several weeks duration in the year when the nin-oflf from the
upland v.atei-sheds is so great that the germicidal effect of the acid waters is
probably neutralized, and at such time the sewage from the mining town may
reach The water works intakes of the down stream towns. The waters of the
region arc discharged by the Coneniaugh River into the Kiskiminitas River, and
through the latter into the Ohio River opposite Freeport. This place takes its
water from the river and below Freejiort, in a distance of twenty-three miles, there
are nine other places which take the public water supply from the Allegheny.
Twentj' miles and thirty-six miles, respectively, below Johnstown the boroughs
of Klairsville and Saltsburg obtain their public supply from the river. The
sewage of Johnstown is now discharged into the Conemangh and is a menace
because it may bi- transmitted down the river and be introduced into the homes
of water consumers. Because an epidemic has not occurred from this cause is
not a guarantee that it may not happen. The danger exists. It is probable that,
Avithin the period for which it is economical to design sewers, a change in the
methods of dispos.Tl of sewage in its i"aw state in the streams, may be brought
about in the Conomaugh River basin.
Scalp Level borough is amply able to defray the cost of the preparation of a
sowerace plan, either independently or in conjunction with the boroughs of Paint
and Windber.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be sub-
served by approving the proposed sewer in the turnpike and branch road, and it
is hereby and herein approved under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That this permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State
shall cease on the first day of May, nineteen hundred and eleven. If on that date the
other terms of this permit shall have been complied with, then the Commissioner
of Health may extend the time when said sewage shall continue to be so dis-
charged.
SECOND: On or before May first, nineteen hundred and eleven, the borough
shall prepare a plan showing the municipal territory and the streets therein, with
a system of sewers for sewage only for the built up part of the borough and for
that part which may be built up within a reasonable time in the future, and for
the conveyance of the sewage to one central point, and for the erection of sewage
disposal works there, and such plans shall be submitted to the Commissioner of
Health for approval.
THIRD: Stoi-m water shall be excluded from the sewers herein approved,
or, if admitted, it shall b» under such conditions as shall provide for its ex-
clusion at the time sewage disposal works are erected. The borough's attention is
especially called to the safety and economy of reducing the size of the sewer. It
should be clearly understood that the cost of a purification plant for the treatment
of the sewage and storm water together would be prohibitive.
FOURTH: Whether a nuisance will be established at the outlet can be de-
termined only by trial. If a nuisance be created, or if at any time in the opinion
of the Commissioner of Health, the sewers or any part thereof have become a
nuisance or a menace, then such remedial measures shall be adopted by the bor-
oujrh as the Commissioner of Health may approve or advise.
FIFTH: It will be necessary for the borouirh to provide inspection manholes
on the sewers at changes in line and grade and at the dead ends.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., May 18, 1908.
SC.\LP LEVEL, CAMBRIA COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Scalp Level, Cambria County,
and is for permission to extend its sewer outlet further down stream and to dis-
chari;e the sewasje at a point in Little Paint Creek near where said stream empties
into Paint Creek.
It appears that on May eighteenth, one thousand nine hundred and eight, the
Commissioner of Health issued a permit to said borough of Scalp Ja>vp\ to install
a new sewer and to discharire the sewage therefrom untreated into I^ittle Paint
Creok within the limits of said boroush until May first, one thousand nine hun-
dred and eleven. Amonn other conditions was the following stipulated in the
permit:
"AVliether a nuisance will be establishen at the outlet can be determined only by
trial. If a nuisance be created, or if at any time in the opinion of the Commis-
sioner of Health, the sewers or any part thereof have become a nuisance or a
menace then such remedial measures shall be adopted by the borough as the Com-
missioner of Health may api>rove or advise,"
1044 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The point of outlet approved is at the bridge on the Johnstown and Scalp Level
turnpike at the crossing of Little Paint Creek. Here there are several stores and
dwellings whose sewajre from overhausius privies now goes into the creek. The
local authorities are fearful that neighborhood complaiut might be made if the
borough sewer sbould terminate at tbe bridge and said authorities believe it to
be the part of prudence to maintain the sewer outlet at some point in the creek
away from the \icinity of the stores and dwellings along the turnpike. So it is
proposed t<i extend the sixteen inch outfall sewer down the bed of the stream a
distance of about five hundred feet to a point near whei'e Little Paint Creek empties
into Paint Creek proper.
The new outlet is an obscure place away from dwellings. The plan is to ex-
cavate a trench in the bottom of the channel and to imbed the sixteen inch sewer
in a cradle of concrete and to cover it over with the same material. This form
of constrtiction is expensive and unless it be executed with great care it will not
be durable. The creek is a mountain stream subject to tremendous freshet flows
and .scouring currents. In the said permit of May eighteenth, the borough's at-
tention was especially called to the safety and economy of reducing the size of the
main sewer. The wisdom of a redtiction in size is now more a pa rent than ever if
the proposed plan to lay a sewer down the creek bed be carried out. The land
on the north bank rises precipitously and there is no opportunity favorable for
the building of a sewer in this bank from the turnpike down stream when such
sewer must be begun at the level at the turnpike deep enotigh to drain the cellars
along the highway. Tbe petitioners represent tbat they have given careful con-
sideration to tbe project of avoiding the construction of a sewer in the creek bed
with the conclusion that there is no other location. An eight inch sewer should be
large enough for all requirements, and certain it is that a ten inch pipe would
never have its capacity taxed and since the cost of the laying of a ten inch pipe in
the bed of the creek would be very much less than the cost of laying a sixteen inch
pipe, this change in the plan ought to be adopted by the borough. Furthermore,
it has been pi-oven by experience that fur small pipes it is cheaper and better
vvhere they must be laid in the bed of a mountain stream to itse cast iron pipe
instead of clay pipe. All things considered, it is cheaper and better to adopt
this form of construction.
The petition.>rs further represent that there is a fall in the bed of the creek
where it is proposed to terminate the sewer so that the outlet will be elevated
many feet above the valley of Big Paint Creek in which a trunk sewer for the
adjoining boroughs of Paint and Windber may be laid and into which it may be
desirable and easily possible at some future date for the proposed Scalp Ijevel
sewer to empty.
It has been determined that the interests of the ptiblic health will be subserved
by giving approval to the proposed sewer extension under the following conditions
and .stipulations:
FIRST: That the sewer herein approved to be laid along and in the channel of
the bed of Little Paint Creek from the bridge over the said si ream at tiie Johnstown
Scalp Level Turnpike down stream to the rapids near Big Paint Creek, shall be
constmcted of cast iron pipe, laid with lead joints and made water tight, and be
laid in such manner as not to obstruct the flow of water in the channel.
SLCOXD: One or more suitable connections of cast iron pipe, this material
to \>('. used in the c-hanni-l bed. sliall be provided to affoi'd sewerage conncHtticui and
facilities on those profierties in the borough on either side of the stream which
should now or in the future discharge their sewage into the borough's said main
tnmk sewer.
TIIIIID: The local authorities are advised that from information at hand,
it is not dear thai the best course to pursue is down llu; exisliiig chauncl of the
stream. It may be more desirable to construct the sewei- ahtng the sonlh bank
of Little Paint ('reek with the outlet at the same point now i)ro|)osed, and the
borough slioubl obtain comparative bids of the two roiites. On the adoijtion of a
final plan, the profile and grade of the sewer and line s<'lected shall be forth-
with submittefl lo the Comniissioiier of Health, together with any oilier informa-
tion in eonncetion therewith that may be re(iuired.
FOURTH: This piM'mit in no way shall modify or afl'ecl the i)ermit of May
eighteenth, on'- thousand nine hundrerl and eight, only in so far as it relates to
the point at which sewage; may b'- discthai'gcd from tin' sewer system into the waters
f)f the State. All of the conditif)ns and slii)ula(ions of the said pei'tnit of one
thoiisanfl nine hundred anfl eight shall obtain and are hereliy stijiulalcd into the
permit herein granted for the extension of the sew(!r outfall to a i)oint: of about five
hundred feet down stream from the turnpike bridge ov(!r Little Paint f'reek.
Harrisburg, I*a., May 28, 1908.
SCOTTDALF, WFS'J'MORKLAND COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Scottdale, Westmoreland County,
and is for pi^nnission to extend its H(!wer system and to discharge llie sewage
therefrom into Jacobs Creek within the limits of the borough,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1045
The fiual I'oport aiul plans of the existing sewer system were not filed in the
otfioe of the Commissioner of Health until January fifteenth, one thousand nine
hundred and eight.
The borough of Scottdale is a mining and manufacturing community of about
six thousand population located in the southern part of Westmoreland County
in the great steel and coke region of I'ennsylvania. The main offices of the
II. G. Frick Cokf- Company are maintained in the town. There are a nund)er of
varied, important and thriving industries in Scottdale, among which should be
mentioned tiie American Sheet and Tin I'lale Company, the United States Cast
Iron Pipe and Foundry Company and the Scottdale Furnace of the Corrigan,
McKinney Company. These concerns and the large bituminous coal mine opera-
tions furnish employment to the citizens of Sccjtldale and to the citizens of other
towns in the vicinity of which Mount I'leasant and ConnellsviUe are the nearest.
Scottdale horough is situated in the valley of Jacobs Creek along the west
bank at a i>oiut fourteen miles above its mouth. The creek forms the boundary
line between Westnioreland County and Fayette County to the south. It drains
an open rolling territory of hfty-seven square miles above Scottdale upon which
there are many bituminous coal mines in operation, also extensive coke ovens. The
evidence of suluhur mine drainage is seen in the creek at Scottdale. Most of the
time the stream is highly colored and very acid.
The borough's topography is rugged and the built up part of the town lies
principally on the knoll between two runs which come down from the north-
west and empty into the creek. The northerly one is named Slauffers or Ilawkeye
Run, it parallels the tracks of the southwest division of the I'ennsylvania Kail-
road for a distam.'e nnd empties into th(> creek on land of the Cast Iron I'ipe and
Foundary Company, Upper Tyrone Township, Fayette County, opposite the north
central part of the borough. It is only the northeastern section of the borough
which is drained by this run. The water is impregnated with nune pumpage.
The other stream is called Anderson Run, is much smaller, rises a short dis-
tance north of the borough in East Huntingdon Township in a district locally
known as Pine Tree Extension, and empties into the main creek near the south-
eastern corner of Scottdale just below and opposite the borough of Evei-son,
Fayette County.
This settlement of one thousand people is on a hill and at the foot along the
east bank of the creek are the tracks of the Mount Pleasant Branch of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad. There are branches from this railroad across the stream
onto the Hats in Scottdale where are located the industrial plants.
The public water works system is owned by the Citit/.eus Water Company of
Scottdale, a consiiiuent concern operated by the American Pipe Manufacturing
Company. The water is furnished to Scottdale and Everson. The sources are the
headwaters of four mountain streams to the east of Scottdale in Bullskiu Township,
Fayette County. Tlu; dams across these streams are at elevation suUiciently high
to deliver the water by gravity to the consumers. Three of the dams are at the
headwaters of Mounts Creek, which flows southerly and joins the Youghiogheny
Rivev at ConnellsviUe. They are named in order: Mounts Creek dam. Spruce
Run dam and Butler dam and their drainage areas are respectively two and
one-tenths, two. and two and four-tenths square miles. It is reported that there
are no houses on the watersheds except above the Butler dam.
The three structures above mentioned are intakes only, but the fourth dam on
Green Lick Run, a tributary of Jacobs Creek, forms an impounding reservoir
flooding twenty-three acres and having a storage capacity of one hundred and
fifty million gallons. The watershed is two and five-tenths square miles in ex-
tent, mostly wooiled , and has six residences upon it. The water company has
constructed new privies at some of the houses, so it is reported.
So with oi'dinary care the public water supply should be of a pure and satis-
factory quality.
There are a few wells in Scottdale and one spring, especially noted, named
Loucks Spring. It is located in the heart of the town at the foot of a hill and
below the public school and some dwellings. The water gushes out at the base
of a small clilY in the b.isemenl of a springhouse where milk is cooled. People
from the neighborhood, more especially workmen, come with pails to obtain water
from this spring for drinking. The geological formation of the borough is porous
shale. Tests of this spring water made by the Department in the fall of nineteen
hundred and seven, showed the presence t)f large numbers of colon. In June and
July of this year tliere was one case of typhoid fever each mouth. There had been
none reix^rted for tiie months prior to June and none after October, but during the
three months of A\igust, September and October, there were forty-nine cases
of the disease reported, most of which occurred iu August, largely among mill
hands employed in the vicinity and drinking water takiMi from this spring. The
local records, if true, show that some typhoid fever has invvailed every year
but in less numbers, since eighteen huudred and ninety-seven when there were
one hundred and ten cases reported for the year. The Louck Spring has been
under suspicion and its use as a source of drinking water should be abandoned.
The drawing of water from the ground in inhabited districts, where the soil
is porous, even if there be a sewer system, is attiMided with some risk. While
the sewers of Scottd.nle are quite extensive and generally used, this does not war-
rant the wholesale use of ground water for domestic purposes. .Ml well waters
1046 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
should be examined. If the tests show coutamiuation the wells should be abandoned,
and even if the examination does not reveal sewage pollution, safety demands that
the well be abandoned if the topograpy and the suirouudiugs be such that it may
be possible for the waters to become polluted through surface or underground chan-
nels.
There are seven and eight-tenths miles of sewers in the borough, they take both
seMage and storm water and discharge into the streams at convenient points. There
are eleven hundred and fifty buildings in the municipality and it is reported that
all but about three hundred of them are connected with the sewer sytem. The
sewere were originally planned in eighteen hundred and ninetj'-one to take sewage
only, but gradually the system has been changed over to a combined one. There
is an ordinance requiring all drain spouts, conductors or openings from buildings
to be connected to the public sewer by way of under ground drains.
There are seven outlets to the public sewer system, and in order up stream from
the southerly borough line they are as follows: Osage Street sewer, Anderson
Run culverc, l.,oucks Lane sewer, the Pipe and Foundry Company's sewer (lower
outlet), the Pipe and Foundry Company's sewer (upper outlet), Park Street outlet
and Chestnut Street sewer.
The Osage Street sewer is a twenty inch pipe into Jacobs Creek at the foot of
said street which point is about fifty feet below the bridge over the creek at Fifth
Avenue It serves tweuty-eight hundred feet of lateral sewer in the district of
which twenty-two hundred feet are twelve inches in diameter and one hundred
and sixty feet fifteen inches in diameter. The balance of the pipe is twenty inches
in diameter. Most of Osage Street is outside of the borough in East Huntingdon
Township and the lateral sewers of the district are partly in the township and
partly in the borough. The neighborhood is locally known as Browntown. About
one mile down the valley are the Old Meadow Roiling Mills. The trolley line
extends to tiie plant and the hands live at Downingtown and in Scottdale.
The Anderson culvert is an egg shaped brick structure five feet high, three and
twenty-five hundredths feet wide, empties into Jacobs Creek about one thousand
feet up stream above the Osage Street outlet, and extends along the north bank
of Andei-son Run a distance of twelve hundred and twenty feet from Fifth Avenue
where it ends. Evidently this sewer was designed to serve a very large territory.
Into it at the present time there are eight lateral sewer connections aggregating
a total length of seventy-one hundred and forty feet. There are not over one hun-
dred houses in the district where these lateral sewers are laid, and most of them
are connected to the sewer. Of the total length of fifty-seven hundred feet are
twelve inch pipe and the remainder ten inch pipe. No street water is admitted
to these sewers or the main culvert. Roof water, however, is admitted.
Loucks Lane sewer empties into Jacobs Creek at a point fourteen hundred feet iip
stream from Anderson Run. This sewer is a twenty-four inch pipe and the main
outlet for the system which serves the business section and greater part of the
town. It comprises a total of twenty-one thousand lineal feet of sewer of which
over fifty per cent, is pipe twelve inches in diameter, tvvcuty-iive hundred feet ten
inches in diameter and there is less than eighteen hundred feet of pipe eight inches
in diameter. The outlet is at the foot of the Lane which was formerly a public
highway, but is now discontinued between the railroad and the creek. The land
is utilized by the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company.
In the district traversed by these sewers the buildings are very generally provided
with Sewer connections and roof water is conveyed to the sewer, but although
the streets have good grades and some of the surfaces thereof are permanently
paved with brick, so far as the Department is informed, there ai'e no street inlets
for the admittance of surface water to the sewer system.
Paralleling the railroad and at the foot of the hillside is Broadway upon which
storm water is poured from the street gutters on the hillside and in this main high-
way, at the foot of I'ittsburg Street and at the foot of Mulberry Street there are
surface drains constructed with inlets for the collection of storm water and its
conveyance underground to the creek.
iioth of the pipe and the foundry companies' sewers above mentioned as public
outlets, had their origin in the purely surface drainage conditions, tlu; lower one
formeiiy extending from Jiroadway at the foot of I'ittsbui'g Street easterly under
the railroad to the old creek cliarinel and tiie boroiigli boundary, and tlie iipjicr one
formerly extending from Broadway at the foot of I'ittsburg Strec^t easterly under
the foot of Mulberry Street easterly under the railroad to the creek and l)(jrough
boundary. It is reported that at its own cost and expense the said Pipe and
Foundry Company, in conn<:ction with largt; extensions of its plant, widened
and Htraiglitenefl and def'i)ened and made an entire new (•liannel for a i)ortion
of Jacobs Creek, and filled in the old channel and aiipropriated the land for
itH plant and as a part of this improved drainage project, said company ex-
tended the Pittsburg Street and the Mulberry Street storni drain outlets easterly
through its land, a distance of about one thousand feet to the new channel of the
creek.
The lower outlet is a twenty inch pipe. It receives some sewage from a hotel
and buildin;: '-ast of the railroad and from the ollices and shops at jdant A and B
of tlie said pipe and foundry coniijany. If reports are trni' it also takes i]\f over-
flow from the Broadway si-wer at Pittsburg Street. Tiie |)oint where the pipe
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 10 i7
emiHit'.s into Jacobs Creek is eigLt himdred feet above Louck's Lane sewer. The
Ijortion of this si-wer built by the company is now buried beneath bigh banks of
turuace slag.
The upper outlet or the Mulberry Street drain is one thousand feet up stream,
is reporieil to be thirty inches in diameter, and is not known to receive sewage
except that that may enter from plant C of the pipe and foundry company. Sev-
eral hundred meu are employed, possibly five hundred at times.
I'ark Street sewer outlet is twenty-four inches in diameter and enters the creek
live huiulred feet above the Mulberry Street draiu outlet, ll, like tin- latter, is on
liuid owned by the said pipe and foundry company, both outlets being in Upper
Tyrone Township, Fayette Couuty. Connected with this main are seven thousand
feet of sewer ranging in diameter between eight inches and twenty-four inches.
The district now tributary is a small one in the extreme nurtlieastern corner of
llie borough but a very much larger territory including laud in lOast Huntingdon
'J'ownship in the allotments known as North Side Land Company's plan and
JOast Home Place could be included. There are private sewers in each allotment and
they empty iuio Hawkeye Run.
Chestnut Slreei sewer is ten inch pipe, five hundred feet long connected to five
hundred and fifty feet of eight inch .sewer. It discharges into a ruu crossing
Chestnut Street near Stauffer Avenue. The stream follows a ditch between the
trolley tracks and the Pennsylvania Kailroad for several hundred feet and finally
reaches Hawkeye Run. Into this sewer at the borough line is discharged the
sewage from the private sewer system in the streets of the North Side I.,and Com-
l)any's allotment. A part of this allotment is included within tin- corporate limits
of Scottdale. The sewer system has a twenty-four inch pipe main in Stauffer
Avenue and this twenty-four inch pipe is connected to the ten inch in Chestnut
Sircet. So far as the Department is informed, in this district sewer system are
forty-five hundred feet of pipe whose diameters range from six to twenty-four
inches. There is another sewer in this allotment. It is eighteen inches in
diameter and serves a few houses on Chestuut Street in the township. The outlet
is into the run near where the ten inch sewer discharges.
Opposite this allotment east of the railroad in the township on the East Home
Place Tract, a new development where the streets have been laid out and the
main street paved and curbed, and a few houses erected, there are sewers which
have an outlet into Hawkeye Run within the limits of the borough. The sizes
of these sewers have not been reported to the Department. In the eastern part
of this district there is a sewer from the Crescent Manufacturing Company's plant
to Jacobs Creek and also a private sewer from a property under development.
There is said to be one public sewer outlet into Jacobs Creek in Everson borough.
The Department has no information relative to it.
So it appears that the sewers of Scottdale were originally intended to receive
house sewage only and it is evident by their sizes that they were not designed to re-
ceive street drainage with the exception of the Anderson Run culvert, whose ca-
pacity is entirely disproportionate to the uses to which this structure has thus far
lieen j)ut. Of the total length of seven and eight-tenths miles in the entire sewer
system, four and nine-tenths miles are pipe twelve inches in diameter, sewers of
ten inches and fifteen inches in diameter approximate eight-tenths of a mile in
length each, the twenty-four inch pipe has a total length of about four-tenths of
a mile and the remaining linear feet of the system are about equally divided be-
tween the eight, eighteen, twenty and twenty-six inch pipes and the big brick
sewer.
The system cannot, therefore, be transferred into a strictly combined sewer
system, but should occasion ever require it, the system may be converted economi-
cally into a modified separate system.
The proposed sewers lie wholly in the watershed of Anderson Run and mostly in
the district known as I'ine Tree Extension.
The plan at the time the application was submitted in nineteen hundred and
seven, was to extend the Anderson Run culvert from its present terminus by a
thirty-six inch sewer up and along Fifth Avenue not yet built, a distance of thir-
te«m hundred and forty-five feet and thence by a thirty inch pipe, up the valley of
tiu' run through pasture lands a distance of fifteen hundred and thirty-four feet to
Pittsburgh Street where the developed property begins. In the Pine Tree District,
williin the borough, there is a population between six hundred and seven hundred
people and it is proposed to lay sewers here in all the streets in the aggregate
(•om|)risiug alnmt eighty-four hundred feet, of which thirteen hundred feet are eight
inches in diameter, thirteen hundred and fifty feet ten inches, tliirty-nine hundred
and sixty feet twelve inches, five hundred and thirty-six feet fifteen inches, three
hundred and ninetj -three feet eighteen inches, five hundred and forty-five feet
twenty-four inches and ai>roximately three hundred feet of thirty inches in diameter.
These sewers wi're to take sewage only. Bids were received for the construction
of the system and it was ascertained that the cost thereof would exceed the money
available for the purpose. In consequence the petitioners have reduced the sizes
of the principal sewers proposed and according to the plan submitted to the De-
partment on January fifteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, and now being con-
sidered, it is proposed to reduce the thirty-six inch and thirty inch to a twenty-
four inch sewer and the twenty-four inch to an eighteen inch sewer, the other
sizes remaining as at first designed.
1048 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The district is oue of good slopes, the minimum grade on any sewer being one
per cent. The Pine Tree District in the township is being developed and what-
ever sewers are built there should lind an outlet into the Anderson Run intercepter.
Ultimately, the territory may be annexed to Scottdale.
At present the district is in an unsanitary condition. Household wastes reach
the streets and produce a nuisance in the gutters and also along Anderson Run into
which they tiually are discharged. Sewers are needed and the bonds to pay for
the improvemenls were authorized by the people at a special election held therefor.
It is also represented that the boroirgh wishes to extend its sewers generally
throughout the town.
It is estimated at ordinary low stage of Jacobs Creek, one-half of the flow
is mine water. The large part of such water is pumped and when the coal has
become exhausted and the mine operations cease, there will be comparatively little
sulphur water in Jacobs Creek. A few mines are drained by gravity and this much
acid contribution to the natural flow of the streams in the district will continue
indefinitely.
Possibly within ten years the Pittsburg seam, the coking coal of the district, will
have become exhausted with the exception of the Standard mine, which is just above
the borough of Blount I'leasaut, ti\e miles above Scottdale. When this mine op-
eration ceases, unless the lower veins of coal, the Freeport and Kittanaing, be
mined, the quality of Jacobs Creek water will approach more uearly its original
condition ami the discharge of sewage therein at that time would be liable to
produce a nuisance and to lessen the value of the watei-s for natural uses by the
riparian owners along the streams.
The industries of Scottdale would seem to be of the permanent kind, and the
location of the town with respect to the natural resources of western Pennsylvania
is such that in planning a drainage and sewerage system, the period to be fore-
casted warrants the assumption of permanency of population and increasing
growth. Sewerage works, therefore, should be designed to serve the purposes of
public health under conditions obtaining now in Scottdale and in anticipation of
those of the future.
It is known that the extreme acidity of Jacobs Creek has rendered fish life extinct
in the stream, and it is also observed that the acids act as powerful disinfectants.
N<> nuisance exists in the creek by reason of the discharge of sewage therein at
Scottdale except in the immediate vicinity of an outlet and occasioned by sewer
gases.
A complaint was filed in the Department in the summer of nineteen hundred
and six by a citizen of Everson where it was alleged that the discharge of sewage
from the main Scotdale sewer opposite Everson was not into Jacob Creek directly
but that the solid matter was distributed over shoals where it lay to putrefy and
produce a nuisance in the neighborhood.
In the fall of nineteen hundred and seven, the assessed valuation of Scottdale was
reported to be three million, three hundred and thirty-six thousand dollars, and
the bond(.-d indebtedness sixtj'-seven thousand dolhirs, with a sinking fund of eight
thousand dollars, giving a net debt of fifty-nine thousand dollars, or a balance of
one hundred and seventy-six thousand dollars which might be raised within the
constitutional limit of indebtedness. So it appears that the town is well off
financially.
("hving to the acidity of Jacobs Creek and the absolute abandonment of all use
of it.'? waters from Mount Pleasant to the Youghiogheny River, in which distance
of nineteen miles the .sewage of these places is likely to be quite thoroughly de-
stroyed or relieved of all pathogenic power, the discharge of sewage from Scottdale
sewers into this stream might, with reason and without prejudice to public health,
be permitted to continu(! under approved conditions, lo as laic a (hile as any
rauiiiciijal sewage in the basin of the Yougliioglieny Kivci' may he permitted to
continue to be discharged into the waters of the State.
However, the Scottdale authorities should, in the mcaiitinic, build all sewer
extensions in anticipation of tlic ultimate purification of the scwjigc before it he
discharged into the creek. This can be done at a sa\iiig of money and in llie
interi.'Hts of elliciency.
The building of private sewei's in the' allotments within and without tin; boi'ough,
witliont regard (o any conijircbesivi' plan is a mistake. The borough requires the
«levelo[jer of a ti'act to (!(jnforiii to the general i)lan of sti'eet and alley lay-out of
the town, and this is pre<!edent to the accM^ptance by the borough of any private
way. In like manner, should all sewers built in |)rivati' ways in districts which
must finally In- drained into the jiuhlic sewer system, be Ijiid out and built; in con-
formity to a compi-ehensive sewerag<' plan. Such ji plan caumit be pronnilgated
under the auspices (»f any other tlian the local iinniici|i;il aulliorilies, ami, therefore,
the tM>rout:h council should forthwith jjrc]""''' su< li a plan, adopt il and llien
compel adherance to the plan tlieioifter.
There should b<: a tiaiidc sewer, of a size not larger llifin necessary to remove
sewage pi-opcr. which should start in the upper i)art of the borough and extend
down the crer-k valley to some point below tin- lowest sewer outlet , where llie sewage
mitht he discharged temporarily oi- until the time shall have arrived for some other
method of (lis|)osal to he adopted. '^I'his trunk sewer should be designed to intcniept
tin; flow of sewage propc^r from all existing sevver outlets and of outlets which may
be built as the district develops.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1049
It .'should bo tlio main .sewer of tlio comprehi'iisivo scwonige system whifh the
l)oii>iig;li should design for I he districl ;uiii wiiilc icmijorarily roof water may be ad-
mitted to the sewers, it should not be overlooked that ultimately, if sewage dis-
posal works are ever required, at that time economy would demand the cutting
tiut of a larjre proportion of roof water from the system. Hence all roof
water connections should be made under terms permitting the discontinuance of
such connection whenever necessary. It is usually more economical to discharge
roof water into street gutters and therein conduct it to the nearest natural water
course, rather than convey this water long distances underground in
huge size pipes at great expense. The policy of separating sewage and
storm water, of conducting tiie storm water to the nearest water courses, and of
conveying the sewage, which is the much smaller tlow , in small sized pipes
beyond the vi<'inily of (lw<llings and disposing of it in a way to produce no harm
to anybofly, is now prevailing through the country as the most ecouomical and
efficient plan.
lOven the sizes of the sewers now proposed are much larger than absolutely
necessary, if roof and storm water be excluded and the flow in the sewers be onlj'
the volume of water userl in the dwellings for doniestie purposes. Generally speak-
ing, the sewage outi)ur from a comminuty is al)oul equivalent to the total daily
water consumption of the conununity. An estimation of all contingencies of a per
capita flow of three hundred gallons per day is a common basis for the design of the
main sewers for a sanitary system for a town. If this rule be substantially followed
in idanning the comprehensive system for the borough, it will give results com-
parable with those being adopted generally in the State.
In view of the foregoing considerations, it has been determined that the interests
of the public health demand that the proposed sewer extensions be approved and
they are hen-by and In rein approved and a permit issued therefor, under the
following co!idilions and stipulations:
FIRST: That all storm and roof water be excluded from the sewer system, or,
if admitted, it shall be under such conditions as shall render practicable the ex-
clusion from the sewer system of such water whenever it shall become necessary
foi" this exclusion, or partial exclusion to be effected.
SECOND: The admission of sewage to storm drains shall be prohibited.
THIRD: At the close of each season's work the borough shall prepare a plan
and profile of the sewers built during the year and file such plans in the office
of the Commissioner of Health, together with any other information in connection
fhei'c with wliich may be required.
FOl'RTH: On or before January fii-st, nineteen hundred and nine, the bor-
ough shall prepare a plan for a comprehtnisive sanitary sewerage system for its
entire t^^rritory, along the lines hereinbefore outlined or suggested, and submit the
siime to the Commissioner of Health for apprf)val. Said Commissioner of Health
may modify, amend or approve this plan and specify conditions under which the
adilitions and extensions to the borough sewer system shall conform to such com-
prelieusive plan ,is so modified, amended or approved.
FIFTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on the first day of January, nineteen hundred and nine. If on said date
the borough sliali have submitted the said comprehensive sewerage plan and have
complii'd with the other conditions of this permit, then the Commissioner of
Health may exreiid the time until January first, nineteen hundred and twelve.
Nothing herein shall be construed as a denial to the borough for permission to dis-
charge sewage inl<i the waters of the State beyond said January first, nineteen
hundred and twelve, i)rovided it shall appear on said date to the Commissioner of
Health that the interests of public health will be subserved by such further exten-
sions.
SIXTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health a sewer
system or any part thereof shall have become a nuisani-e or menace to •public
health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted by the borough as the Com-
missioner of Health may approve or suggest.
SIOVENTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged
into the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be
incinerated on the premises.
The special attention of the borough authorities is called to the importance of
a thorough examination of all wells and springs used as sources of drinking watiM-
and the necessity from the public health standpoint of the discontinuance of all
such sources against which any suspicion may be justly entertained.
It is further suggested that the borough prepare the comprehensive sewerage plan
at as early a date as possible. Meantime, private i)arties cannot legally buiUl
sewers and connect them to the public sewer system since this would be in fact an
illegal and disapprov(>d extension to the existing sewer system. Neither can such
]irivate sewers legally discbarge into any of the watere of the State. The several
property ownei-s will be notified of the reciuiremeut of the State respecting the
c('mi)rehensive sewerage system, and such owners will be warned not to build sewers
exceiit it be in conformity with the plan to be approved by the Department of
Health.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., March 2nd, 1008.
1050 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
SCOTT TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
A. P. Dysart.
This application was made by Mr. A. P. Dysart, an owner of property in Scott
Township, Allegheny County, and is for permission to connect the sewer system
owned by said Dysart with a sower system on adjoining property owned by the
Mt. Lebanon Land and Trust Company, and for permission to discharge the
sewage thrrofrom through said Trust Company's sewor sj'stem into Painters Creek,
within Scott Township, Allegheny County.
Scott Township is located largely iu the valley of Chartiers Creek and is about
five miles distant southwesterly from Citj' Hall, Pittsburg. In the northeastern
part and at the summit between the watershed of Chartiers Creek and the drain-
age area of Saw Mill Run, a stream flowing northwesterly and entering the Ohio
River at a point in South Pittsburg about two miles above the mouth of Char-
tiers Creek, there is a settlement known as Mount Lebanon, which has been
brought into being by the activities of real estate developers.
There are two tracts of this settlement, one being known as the Clear View
plaii of lots, and the other as the Mount Lebanon School plan of lots.
These allotments adjoin the "Washington Road," a highway leading from
Pittsburg through Allegheny County to Washington, Washington County, Penn-
sylvania. In a portion of this highway is located a trolley road leading to
Charleroi. The transportation facilities are fairly good, the lots occupy com-
manding positions on the hills overlooking a wide expanse of teriitory to the
south and west and being removed from manufacturing plants and about twenty
minutes ride by trolley from Pittsburg, afford desirable sites for residences of
Pittsburg business men.
The adjoining country is undeveloped farm land, all favorable for residential
purposes and all of which will undoubtedly be eventually so developed.
The natural drainage of the two plats is principally into the valley of Painters
Creek, which empties into Chartiers Creek above the borough of Carnegie and
immediately below the borough of Bridgeville.
The Mt. Lebanon School plat is the one being developed by the petitioner. It
includes thirteen and on.i-half acres and seventy-five lots , where have been erected
thirteen residences costing from two thousand to five thousand dollars each, and at
present connected to a sewerage system built by the promoter and maintained by
him. There are, all told, over two miles of sewer pipe laid in the streets, the
diameters ranging from eight to fifteen inches. There are nine thousand four
hundred and thirty-three feet of eight inch sewer. The outlet of the system is
fifteen inches iu diameter and discharges into two cess-pools, the first of which
is ten feet wide, ten feet long and seventeen feet in depth, covered with plank
and having one and one-half feet of earth thrown over. There is no direct outlet,
but therf is a blind drain filled with gravel through which Ibe sewage passe.s on its
way to a second ce.sspool ten feet distant, which second cesspool is eight feet
wide by eight feet long and ten feet deep and also covered with plank and earth
with no visible outlet. The sewage from the second tank percolates into the
adjoining soil and overflows slightly, and it is this overflow which is alleged by the
developers of the Clear View plat to constitute a nuisance.
The two cesspools are located approximately two hundred feet distant from a
lower line sewer in the Clear View plat, so that the sewei-s of the Mt. Lebanon
School plat can readily be drained into the sewers of the Clear AMew plat.
South and west of the Dysart property is the said Clear N'iew property owned
by the .Mt. Lebanon Land and Trust Company and comprising approximately sixty
acres of land divided into two hundred and eighty-lhree residence lots, where at
present there are twenty-three dwellings erected and connected with the sewerage
system of this allotment. This system of sewers is of unknown size, probably
rangipg from eight to twelve inches in diameter. So far as the Department is
informed, the total length is approximately twelve thousand five hundred lineal
feel. The slope of the ground is to the southwest and the outlet of the sewer system
twelve inches in dinmoter is into a small run at the font of the allotment. Tliis
run is one of the headv.-aters of Painters Creek nnd in dry seasons is i)robal)ly
witho\it running water. At the time of the Department's inspection in November,
nineteen hundred and seven, there was a flow of about fifty gallons per minute,
of which about one-third of the flow was being discharged from the sewers.
Whether the roof water is connected to the sewer system of either allotment is
not (iefinitf'ly reported, but judging from the roof wator gutters, such connec-
tions, lune been madr- and help flusii out the sewers. The stream into which the
sewage is dischargod and others intu which it leads in Scott Township, are not now
or likely to be used for public water supply, but the water is utilized by stock
on the 'adjacent farms, so it is reported. This entire territory will eventually
either be supplied with water from the mains of the City of Pittsburg or from
those of the South Side Water Company. There are no industries in the district
and no mine drainage into the streams within two miles of the allotments, so it
appears.
It seems that the sewers of the Trust Company were built and were in operation
prior to the passage of the law of nin*'teen hundred and five, but that the Dysart
sewer system has been constructed and put in operation since that time. Further,
No. 17. COMMTSSIONER OF HEALTH. 1051
the Trust Company, on June twentieth, nineteen hundred and seven, repre-
sented that the overflow of Dysart's cesspool constituted a nuisance and re-
quested that some action be taken by the Commissioner of Health looking toward
the discontinuance of the nuisance.
The owners of the allotments have built the system without regard to the future
requirements of the adjoining lands, all of which must be sewered when populated,
and served by a main sewer extending down the valley of the main stream.
Undoubtedly the cesspool overflow nuisance will increase as the land is developed,
and so also will the menace produced by the discharge of sewage from the Clear
View plat sewerage system into the stream.
At the present time the dwellings are supplied by artesian water, the works being
owned by the Trust Company. Dysart's dwellings are supplied by individual
sources, so it is reported, but this is uncertain.
Looking at the situation from a practical standpoint, the two systems at the
Mount Lebanon settlement should be connected by a branch or branches and the
combined sewage of- both systems should be treated when necessary and purification
\\orks built at the expense of both properties under some equitable arrangement.
As the territory builds up, an adequate disposal plant will be more and more
necessary and in anticipation of this, the interests of all concerned locally should
decide upon a site for the disposal works and take measures to appropriate the land
or set it aside therefor now. The district may, in the near future, have developed
sufficiently to warrant the incorporation of a borough, at which time the sewer
system would be taken over by the municipality and in anticipation of this, under
the ruling of the Attorney General, it has been considered good public policy for
the State authorities to consider an application from private parties laying out a
common sewerage system extensive enough to warrant its being considered a public
system and to approve the same and stipulate conditions under which it may be
used and the sewage therefrom discharged into the waters of the State.
Chartiers Creek, into which Painters Creek discharges, is an acid stream, made
so by the drainage of mine operations. It is also a stream polluted by municipal
sewage from towns- and from two State institutions. Decrees have been issued by the
Commissioner of Health requiring the discontinuance at a future date of the sewage
of these places into the stream, more to obviate the establishment of a nuisance
in the stream than to protect any public water supply. The harm, if any, which the
discharge of sewage from the Mount TiCbanon settlement can produce in Painters
Creek is that incident to the drinking of the waters by cattle pastured along its
banks. It is reported that there are few such cattle and that the use of the creek
waters for drinking purposes is practically a negligible amount. If the petitioner
can secure a right to connect the sewer system with that of the Mount Lebanon
I/and and Trust Company's system, under terms which shall provide that at any
time when the Commissioner of Health shall deem it necessary for the sewage from
both allotments to be purified, then the sewage purification works shall be installed
forthwith, and if, in the meantime and within a given date, the owners of both
allotments will join in a plan to select a site for the purification works and submit
plans therefor, then it would seem that temporary permission to continue the dis-
charge of sewage from the Clear View sewers or extensions thereof into Painters
Creek or its tributary would be consistent with the general policy of the Department
relative to such matters in Allegheny County and vicinity and more especially
within the valleys of Saw Mill Run and Chartiers Creek.
It has been determineil that the interests of the public health require that a per-
mit be issued, and it is hereby and herein issued, to Mr. A. P. Dysart to discharge
the sewage from the sewer systems on his property at Mount Lebanon village, in
Scott Township, Allegheny County, into and through the sewer system of the
Clear "N'iew plat belonging to the Mount Lebanon Land and Tnist Company and
located adjacent to and southwest of the said Dysart property in said township, and
thence into Painters Creek or its tributary as proposed, under the following condi-
tions and stipulations:
FIRST: That such permission to connect the Dysart sewer system with the
Mount Lebanon Land and Trust Company's sewer system shall be obtained of the
.Mount Lebanon Land and Trust Company, the owner of the Clear View plat sewer
system, under terms where'oy whenever it becomes necesssary, in the opinion of the
Commissioner of Health, that sewage from such sewer systems shall cease to be
discharged into the waters of the Slate, the proprietors of said sewer systems shall
jointly, or in any event the proprietor of the said Clear View plat sewerage system,
whieh is the lower nn<l outlet system of the Mount Lebanon settlement, shall forth-
with discontinue the discharge of sewage into any of the waters of the State.
SI'X'OND: Said proprietors of the said Clear View plat sewerage system shall
prepan' preliminary j)lans for purification works and submit the same, together
with plans of the sewer system and of any extensions contemplated to said sewer
system, to the (Commissioner of Health for approval on or before the first day of
December, nineteen hundred and ten. The Commissioner of Health may modify,
amend or approve such plans and fix the terms and conditions under which the work
shall b" eonstnicted and operated thereafter.
THIRD: The two said proprietors of said sewer system shall, upon reaching an
agreement as to the comnmn use of the existing outlet of the Clear View plat sew-
erage s.vstem, file a copy of the agreement in the ofiice of the Commissioner of
Health and within six months of the date of such agreement said proprietors shall
1052 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
prepare and submit a plan of a site for purification works togetlier with a report on
the moans by which the sewage is to be conducted to said plant and be treated at the
proposed site, whenever this is deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Health.
Harrisburg, Pa., March 6th, 190S.
SbnVICKLEY BOROUGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application was made by Ihe borough of Scwickley, Allegheny County, Penn-
sylvania, and is for permission to extend its existing sewerage system made during
the summer of nineteen hundred and eight.
The borough of Scvvickley is located in western I'ennsylvania, in Allegheny
County, thirtei-n miles west of I'ittsburg. The borough is bounded on the north by
Leet township, on the east by said township, Aleppo Township and Osborne bor-
ough, on liie south by the Ohio River and on the west by Edgeworth borough. The
borough is rectangular in shape and has an area of four hundred and seventy acres.
It has a water frontage of a mile along the Ohio River and extends forty-five hundred
feet bark from the river to Sewickley Heights.
T'he bank of the river along the water front of Sewickley is precipitous. It rises
to a height of forty feet above low wat(>r and, with the exception of a tract of ten
acres in the extreme southwestern part of the borough, the entire territory, of
Sewickley borough is above the flood stage of the Ohio. From the river the laud rises
on a gradual slope to Centennial Avenue in the northern portion of the borough,
which is parallel to and eleven hundred feet from the northern boundary line of the
borough. At Centennial Avenue the land is fifty feet higher than in the southern
portion of the borough ; beyond this it rises more rapidly and at the northern
boundary line reaches an elevation one hundred and fifty feet higher than at the river
front.
There is a small run, known as Hoeys Run, which extends from the northern
boundary of the borough southerly through the western central portion to the Ohio
River. This run drains a narrow valley in this section of the borough and during
the dry season has no flow. The rest of the borough drains directly into the Ohio
River. The soil below Centennial Avenue is mainly porous sand and gravel forma-
tion, extending to a great depth. There are no springs and very little ground water.
North of Centennial Avenue the soil consists of clay, interspersed with some rock.
The Ohio River at Sewickley is twelve miles below the junction of the Allegheny
and Monongahela Rivers, which form its head waters. It drains the large water-
shed of these two rivers and also receives the sewage from the great industrial com-
munities located in this region.' At the head of the Ohio the sewage from Greater
Pittsburg, with a population of over a half million people, is discimrged into the
river and further up its tributaries various communities and maiuilacluring estab-
lishments increase the pollution.
It is rei)orted that during low water stages of the Monongahela River the entire
flow of the river is used five times and over by the mills and other industries located
along ils banks. During these stages the Ohio River is, therefore, grossly polluted
and entirely unfit for drinking purposes.
In order to aid navigation in the Ohio River during low stages, the United
Slates <iovernment has constructed a series of collapsible dams wbicli raise the
normal river level to a stage of nine feet. One of these; dams has been ronstinieted
seven miles below Sewiekley and there is another immediately east of the eastern
tjouiidary line of the boroiigli. These dams form pools in thi; river whicli gradually
retard the natural ciin'ent and store up the sewage discharged therein for many days.
The l>f)rougli of Sewickley takes its water sui)ply from cribs sunk in tin; bollom of
the river immediately east of the eastern boundary, in the i)Ool formed by tli(! dam
below Sewickley. One mile below Sewickley the borough of Edgeworth also takes its
water sujiply from a crib sunk in the river bottom and located in this i)<)ol. Seven
miles I)e|ow the bornugli of Ambridge lakes its supply from wells on the river's edge
and fifteen miles below I>ea\er takes its water supi)ly from a crib.
Sewic-kley is a lesidential community. 'I'liere are no manufacturing establishments
and the business section is limited to a score of small stores >jro\i))ed in the north
central part of the borough. The rest of the borough is occupied by the residences
of irien |)ri)minent in the financial aru! commercial life of IMttsburg. 'IMiese homes are
Kurrouiided with well kept lawns and shade treses which, combined wilii liic; pa\('d
and shaded streets, has made Sewickley famous as one of the most beantifiil of
I'ittsburg's suburbs..
The borough is connected with Pittsburg by llie main line of (he Pittsbnrg, Fort
Wayne anrl Chicago I'ranch of the Pennsylvania Ksiilroad system. This railroad
extends Ihrough the soutbern poi'tion of the borough pai'a.llel to and seven hundred
feet from the rivci' bank. It maintains an excelleni sid)urban train system, which
has materially aided liu! growth of the borough. The population of Sewickh^y bor-
ougli at present is forty-five hiindred. In nineteen hundred it was tliirly-fivf; hun-
dred and in eighteen buridi-ed and nin<'ty it was twenty-seven hundred, so that it
can be ser-n that the future growth of the boi'o\igh will not be so rapid, as tin; terri-
tory is now v/e|| developed and the wealthy I'esidents will not allow a sub-division
of their properties.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1053
Sewickley borough has its own water works system. It supplies all water used
for lire and domestic purposes within the boroujrh limits and also portions of Edge-
worth borough, Osborne, and Sewickley Heights, located north of Sewickley bor-
ough on tin- suruiuit of the ridge. The water is taken from a crib three hundre<l
jind sixty-eight feet long by sixteen feet wiile and five feet deep and submerged so as
to have a cover of eight feet of gra\el. This crib is located in the Ohio River two
hundred feet from the northern hank and one humlred and fifty feet east of the
borough limits. The pumping station is located on a tract of laud east of the
borough limits in Osborne borough and the water is drawn from the crib by direct
suction by twi> pumping engines, of two million and one million gallons capacity,
respectively. The water is delivered through a ten inch force main to two reservoii-s
located on tlu; heights lu Aleppo township northeast <jf Sewickley borough and
having a combined capacity of five million gallons. These reservoirs supply six-
sevenths of the consumption.
There is an auxiliary pumping station located adjacent to these low service reser-
voirs which pumps water into a high service reservoir and a standpipe. This second
re.servoir supplies a small portion of Sewickley borough which is above the low
service section. The standpipe, which is one hundred and ten feet high, furnishes
water to the residences on Sewickley Heights. There are nineteen miles of distrib-
uting mains in this system ranging in size from three inches to twelve inches. The
water consumption ranges from eight hundred thousand gallons to a maximum of one
million two hundred thousand gallons, which is reached during the summer months.
The average consumption is one million gallons, and as it is estimated that the water
works system supplies fifty-five hundred people, this represents a per capita con-
sumption of one hundred and eighty-one gallons.
The warm- suppl.v furnished from this crib appears to be satisfactory. It is clear
and much harder in chemical composition than the river water. No bacteriological
analyses have been made recently, but in an analysis made in nineteen hundred and
five chlorine nitrites and albumenoid amnifmia were present, which would warrant a
suspicrion that there was .«!ome infiltratittn from the river into this intake. It is stated
by the borough authorities that the gravel substream under the river carries an
enormous amount of ground water and it is reported that when coffer dams were
recentl.v constructed in the vicinity of the water works intake for building the Gov-
ernment dam. grent ditficultj' \\as experienced in pumping the ground water from
these cribs. Sewickley borough is equipped with a combined system of sewers con-
sisting of twelve and a half miles of terra cotta sewers ranging in size from twenty-
four inches to six inches. In addition to this system there are also drains which
carry storm water only. The system discharges through six independent outlets into
the Ohio River.
The most easterly of these outfall sewers is the Boundary Street outlet, consisting
of a fifteen inch terra cotta outfall sewer discharging into the Ohio River in Osborne
borough immediately across the Sewickley boundary line. This outfall is one hun-
dred and fifty feet below the intake crib of the Sewickley water works. This sewer
extends from the river front for a distance of thirteen hundred feet along the borough
boundar.v to Beaver Street. It is fed by a system of laterals ranging in size from
twelve inches to six inches and drains only that portion of the borough adjacent to
the eastern borough boundary line. Storm water is admitted from street inlets into
this system at several points.
One thousand feet below the Beaver Street outfall sewer there is an eighteen inch
outfall sewer, known as Oak Street sewer, discharging into the Ohio River within
Sewickley borouirh at the foot of Oak Street. This sewer is fed by a system of ten
inch laterals and drains only a small portion of the borough in the southeastern dis-
trict lying between the railroad and the river. Storm water is admitted to this
system through street inlets.
Thirteen hundred feet below the Oak Street outfall sewer is the Chestnut Street
outfall sewer. This outfall sewer consists of an eighteen inch terra cotta sewer ex-
tending from the river front up Chestnut Street for a distance of sixteen hundred
feet. It is f'^d by a series of laterals ranging in size from eighteen inches to eight
inches and drains all of the eastern pcjrtion of the borough below Beaver Street
which is not taken care of by the other two systems previously described. A large
quantity of storm water is carried through this system from numerous street inlets.
One thousand feet below the Chestnut Street sewer the Walntit Street outfall
sewer disehnrges into the Ohio River. This sewer consists of a twent.v-four inch
outfall sewer and drains a small area of the borough in the vicinity of Walnut
Street and lying between the railroad and the river. It is fed by a twelve inch sewer
in Chadwick Avenue and by the eight inch River Avenue sewer. Storm water is
admitted through street inlets.
Eighteen lunidred feet below Walnut Street sewer the Ferry Street outfall sewer
discharges into the Ohio River. This sewer is eighteen hundred feet from the western
boundary of the borough and consists of a twenty inch outlet which is fed by a
series of laterals ranging in size from eighteen inches to eight inches. This system
extends up the valley of Hot>vs Run and drains over three-quarters of the borough
territor.v. It takes care of all of the northern and central portions of the l)or(iU!rli
and pra( ti<ally the entire western section, with the exception of a few laterals on the
western boundary. Most of the storm water in the district covered by this system is
drained directly through storm drains into Hoeys Rnn. There are. however, several
storm inlets in the western piu'tiou of the borough which drain into this system and
during wiM weather there is a heavy flow of storm water.
67
1054 THIRD ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The Academy Avenue outfall sewer discharges into the Ohio River within the
borough limits near the boundary line between Sewickley and Edgeworth. This
sewer consists of a twenty-four inch outfall sewer extending from the Ohio River
along Academy Avenue, \Ahich is the boundary line between Sewickley and Edge-
worth, for a distance of forty-four hundred feet to the extreme northwestern corner
of the borough. At this point it crosses the borough boundary line and receives
storm water from a large catch basin located in a gully in the hills immediately
across the northern boundary line of the borough in Leet Township. This sewer
was originally constructed as a storm drain for the purpose of relieving property
owners in the northwestern portion of the borough from washouts due to water col-
lecting in this gully. There are other storm inlets into this sewer located at various
points along Acadeauy Avenue and sewage is carried through this system from the
adjacent property. There are also several lateral sewers ranging in size from
twelve to eight inches and which discharge sewage from Sewickley borough into this
outfall sewer. Several of the property holders in Edgeworth borough use this system
for the discharge of sewage. On account of the large size of this sewer and the small
quantity of sewage carried therein during the dry season, it has been found ex-
tremely difficult to keep this sewer clean and occasionally complaints have arisen
due to the foul condition of this sewer.
It is, therefore, seen that all of the outfall sewers carry storm water in a con-
siderable quantity in addition to the domestic sewage. It is reported that many of
the residences discharge their roof water into the sewer system. The profiles sub-
mitted show that the sewers are laid on good grades and in most cases the grades are
ample to carry off the sewage without flat flushing. Flush tanks are provided at
dead ends and also on the flat grades and manholes are located at changes of line and
grade. There are no underdrains in the system as this has been found unnecessary
due to the porous condition of the soil. It is reported that there are nine hundred
and twenty-five connections to the sewer system from the various residences and
stores in the borough, so that it is seen that the system is quite generally used by
the borough inhabitants
There are several private sewers which discharge directly into the Ohio River from
houses located along the bank within the borough limits. Until recently there were
several private sewers which discharged directly into Hoeys Run, but on account of
this run going dry during the summer this discharge created a nuisance and all these
sewers have been connected to the borough system. Formerly much of the domestic
sewage in the town was discharged into deep wells dug to a depth of twenty-five
feet into the porous gravelly soil. Most of these wells have been abandoned and it is
reported that probably twenty-five of them are now in use.
The data on the number of cases of typhoid fever which have occurred in the
borough during the past few years was furnished by the local lioard of Health and
shows that for the years nineteen hundred to nineteen hundred and seven, inclusive,
the number of cases have been respectively as follows: sixteen, eleven, seven, ten,
seventeen, four, nine and six.
When it is considered that most of the inhabitants of Sewickley borough have fre-
quent comiiumication with tli(! city of I'ittsburg and that many of them ^\'orlv in the
said city, where the water supply has been grossly polluted and where typhoid fever
is prevalent, it cannot be said that the above record is high. In cities where the
w.ater supply is pure and is obtained from an efficient filtration plant, the death rate
from typhoid fever may be below five or ten per hundred thousand. With the in-
troduclion of a pure water supply for the city of I'ittsbuig, tlic danger of bringing
typhoifl fever from that source to Sewickley is not largely eliminated and the
borough olficials should make an investigation of the possibility of contamination or
accidental pollution of their own water supply.
Sewickley has applied for approval of a sewer extension to the Walnut Street
system cfmsisting of four hundred and seventy-five feet of eight iiicii lateral sewer ex-
tending along River Avenue from Chadwick Avenue north and discharging domestic
sewage from the existing Walnut Street outfall sewer into the Ohio River. This
sewer connects to the existing system through a manhole and is ventilated at the
upper end by a lamp hole. The sewer is on an ample grade to allow the sewage to
be carried off without flushing.
So it appears that S<'wickley sewage goes into the Ohio River and that during
perio<]s of low flow in the river this sewage is stored in a pool for weeks at a time.
In afldilion to the sewage fi-om Sewickley borough, is tlie sewage from I'ittsburg
and many other places above in I lie valleys of the Allegheny and Monongahela
Riv<;i"« ; so that during the low water period, the said pool is largely sewage. In
consequence, there is gi'ave peril to liuman life in using raw water for drinking pur-
pose.s rlrawn from the ;-.rouMd Iclow the bed of (his sewage pool. In fact, said
sewage pf)ols r-ndangi-r pnbli(r health to a gi^catfi' or less extent in all of the; nninici-
palili'-'s along the Ohio River below I'ittsburg where the ijeoph; obtain their drinking
water from the river.
Ex|i<Tiencc has demonstrated time and again that such an intake ci'ib as now em-
ployer] by Sewickley borough caniHit be I'elied ujinn to always suitably filter th(!
water. I'ecause it is nut up wliert' it can be seen and nianipulnled , there is no
warning oi- o|)portunity for observing wlu'lher the crib is likely to become ine[Ii(;ient.
In other words, no warning is given of a lireakdown. lOven wheri; tlu; most careful
dehign and complete filter plans are provided with every facility for safeguarding
accident, it requires constant attention and skilled attendants in order to obtain a
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1055
constantly imie f'fflii(>nt. It bohoovos the public of Sewickley to support the cam-
paign asainst stivam pollution of drinking water now waged by the State Depart-
ment of Health because it has a direct lieariug upon the interests of public health in
Sewickle^' lioroiigh. Fuitliermore, for equal reasons, it is contrary to the interests
of the public health for Sewickley to continue to put its sewage into the Ohio River
indefinitely, alid the borough should begin a plan for the ultimate discontinuance
of the discharge of sewage into the river.
In disposing of sewage by the nuxlern methods it is essential in the interests of
eco'iomy and etiiciency to eliminate storm water from the sewer system. At present
all (if the outfall sewers from the borough of Sewickley carry storm water and roof
water from the houses. It will be noted, however, that most of the sewere in the
borough are small in size and with a reasonably small expense the borough system
can be r'Miiodeled so :^s to exclude the storm water from the sanitary system.
Already the borough of Sewickley has constructed several storm drains in the central
portion of the borough which eliminates most of the storm water in this section
from the sowers and discharge it into the run that extends through this portion of
the borough.
The large sswer on the western boundary of the borough was originally con-
structed as a storm sewer, nnd it is in the interests of the health of the community
to construct a sanitary sewer through this section which will carry the household
.sewage. On account of the natural porosity of the ground in nearly all of the
borough territory, it appears that roof water can be conveniently eliminated from
the sewer system by discharging directly into short drains laid in this porous soil.
In renKKleling the sewerage system and eliminating the storm water, the borough
officials .should look forward to the ultimate disposal of the sewage and consti-uct an
intercepting sewer in the lower section of the town which will collect .sewage from
the various sj'stems and carry it to some point where it can ultimately be disposed
of. This sewer could be constructed along Chadwick Avenue at an elevation sufS-
cienlly higli to allow the effluent to discharge into a disposal plant by gravity during
the ordinary stages of the river. The sewage which discharges through the outfall
sewer at the northeastern boundary of the borough near the water works crib should
be diverted from this outlet immediately and carried thi'ough one of the other exist-
ing outfalls.
The only place available for sewage disposal within the limits of the borough of
Sewickley is the tract of low ground in the southwestern section on the Ohio River.
On this tract is located the borough garbage disposal plant, but on account of the
closeness of the residences in this neighborhood it would not be advisable to construct
a sewage disi)osal plant upon this site. Acro.ss the Fort Wayne Railroad tracks there
are several fine residences wliich are within four hundred feet of this site and it is
not unlikely that complaints woulil be forthcoming from these property holders if a
plant were located at this point.
IJelow Sewickley and the borough of Edgeworth there are several isolated tracts
along the Ohio which could be used to advantage by both boroughs for the construc-
li(m of a disposal plant. Both the boroughs of Edgeworth and Osborne have been
grnnt'Ml permits for rheir sewer systems contingent upon an ultimate disposal of the
sewage. It would be economical, bolh in first cost and in maintenance, for these
' two boroughs to combine with Sewickley in a metropolitan outfall sewer and disposal
plant.
The assessed valuation of Sewickley borough is reported to be over six million
dollars and the total indebtedness is one hundred and thirt.v-seven thousand dollars,
so that Sewickley biu-ough is in first class financial condition and could well afford
to make the expenditures necessary for remodeling their sewerage sj'stem and pre-
paring for an ultinuUe treatment of the sewage. The sewer extension for which ap-
proval has been asked is a sanitary sewer and can be incorporated into the revised
sewrr system.
It has bi'en determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by withholding the ajtproval of the sewer system and the same is herein and hereby
withheld until such time as the imi)roved .sewerage and sewage dispo.sal plans shall
h!iv(> been prepared and submitted to the Commissioner of IlenKh for approval and
until such |)lans jiave been approved or passed ui)on as required by law.
It has further been determined that the Commissioner of Health notify the borough
of Sewickley, and it is herein and hereby notified, that on or before July first, niife-
teen hundred and nine, the borough shall either independently or in conjunction with
Osborne and iMlgeworth boroughs, prepare i)lans for a comprehensive system of
sanitary sewerage, ititeicepting sewers and sewage disposal works and submit the
same to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
It. on or before July firsi . nineteen hundred and nine, the borough shall have
comi)lie'l with the terms of this decree, then permission may be given to di.scharge
the sc\\;i!re from the borough smver system into the waters of the State, having in
mind the policy of the State with respect to the discontinuance of the <]ischarge of
sewages of other municipalities in the region into the waters of the State.
The local authorities of Edgewood and Osborne boroughs will be notified by the
Commissioner of Health to advise and co-operate with the authorities of Sewickley
borou.gh.
Harrisburg, Pa., November 20th , inOS.
1056 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
SHARON BOROUGH, MERCER COUNTY.
This applioariou was maclo by the borough of Sharon, Mercer Couuty, and is for
approval of sewer extensions eoiisiructed by the borough between the dates of April
twenrv-secoud, one thousand nine hundred and live, and January first, one thou-
sand nine hundred and eight, consisting of three and thirty-two hundredths miles
of laterals ranging iu size from eight inches to fifteen inches in diameter and dis-
charging through existing sewers into the Shenango River within the limits of the
borough, and for permission to lay one-half mile of eight inch lateral sewer exten-
sions to the sewerage system. These extensions being located iu three different sec-
tions of the borovigh and to discharge through existing se^\ers inio the Shenango
River.
It appears that the borough of Sharon is a thriving industrial community of
sixteen thousand population located on the western boundary of the State of
Pennsylvania :u Mercer County. It is bounded on the north and east by Hickory
Township, on the south by South Sharon borough and on the west by the State of
Ohio. The borough was incorporated on October sixth, eighteen hundred and forty-
one, and has an area approximately one and one-half square miles. Through the
center of the borough flows the Shenango River in a southerly direction, dividing it
into two natural drainage seetions. The eastern section, which comprises approxi-
mately three-quarters of the borough, is subdivided into two sections by Pine Run,
which enters the borough at its eastern boundary ami flows through the center
westerly to the Shenango River. The Shenango River has its source in Conneaut
Township, Crawford County, forty miles above Sharon. It flows in a general
southerly direction through the western part of Crawford, Mercer and Lawrence
Counties, draining with numerous tributaries a part of the eastern section of Ohio
and emptying below New Castle into the Beaver River, which in turn feeds the
Ohio. The valley of the Shenango River is long and narrow. The banks, in most
cases, are above' the flood stage. Along the banks throughout its entire length are
many steel mills and allied industries, sitch as are found in the I'ittsburg region.
These mills furnish the main occupation for the inhabitants of the many boroughs
and towns located in this valley. Sharon is the center of a group of these boroughs
which are practically adjacent and extend for several miles up and down the She-
nango River banks from Sharon.
One and a half miles north of Sharon and separated therefrom by Hickory Town-
ship is the borough of Sharpsville, with a population estimated at thirty-five hun-
dred. Between these boroughs Hickory Township is partly built up with residences
and mills, so that there is practically no unpopulated district north of the borough
limits. On the south Sharon borough extends into South Sharon borough, which, in
turn, at its southerly boundary borders on Wheatland borough. Three miles below
Wheatland borough is the borough of West Middlesex, to which a permit has already
been issued for the construction of a sewerage system. Extending in order from
West Middlesex borough to the mouth of the Beaver River are INilaski, Naslnia,
Harbor Bridge, New Castle City, Wampum, Beaver Falls borough, Brighton bor-
ough, I'ridgewater borough, R<;ch(Ster borough and Beaver borough. Several of
these boroughs take their water supply from the Shenango and Beaver Rivers.
Among them are Beaver Falls, New Brighton and the City of New Castle. These,
nniuicipalities filter the water before it enters the mains, but in case of some great
emergency, would b<; comiielled to introduce raw watei- into the distributing system.
The borough of Sharon also fakes its water supply from the Slieiinngo River at a
point near the northern boundary of the borough and a[)i)roxiniat(^ly two miles below
the outfall sewers of thf: borough of Sliarpsville. This water is also filtered.
The elevation of the Slienango River at Sharon is about eight hundred and forty
feet above sea-level during ordinary stages. The river has a fall of about eight feet to
the mile. The; banks on either side range from five to ten feet abo\'(> the low water
st'ige and are, in most cases, above the flood line. The land on either side oF lh{>
river is practically level for a distance ranging from two hundred to one thousand
feel from the bank. From the edge of this low flat land the hills rise on both sides
fpiite rapidly lo an elevation of two hundred and fifty feet above the low land. Tliese
hills contain the residcriice dislricts; the business sections and llic manufacturing
plants are locateil on the low land on l)otli sides of thi' river.
The steel industries furnish the main occupation for the citizens of Sharon.
Among thene are the National Malleable Castings ('ompany, occui)ying an area of
seventeen acres and employing about twelve hundred jieople ; th(> TTiiited States
Ste.'l Corpfu'atioti plant, oc(;upying about four acres of ground and einpinyirig about:
seven hundred and fifty peo|)le, and tiie Driggs Seabury Ordinanc(- Corporation,
owning about sevenleen acres of land and employing I'our hundred and fifty i)eop]e.
There are also boiler works, gas engine works, a l)rewery and a brake beam com-
pany. Sharon is also a railroad center. It is located on the main line of the Erie
and I'itlsijurg Railroad, being a part of the I'ennsylvania system; a branch of the
Lake Shore and Miehigan Southern Itailroad, anil the main line of the I<]rie Rail-
road from .\ew York lo Chicago.
Tlie Sharon Water Works Company supplies water \i> Sharon, Soiilh Shiiron iind
a part of Ilickory Townshij) in Pennsylvania anil some indiviiluals in the State of
Ohio. The plant has a capacity of four million gallons i)er day and supplies, on an
average, om- million seven hundred and twenty thousand gallons per day to sixteen
thousand nine hundred and seventy consumers, or about one hundred gallons per
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1057
capita per day. The pnraping station is located on the west bank of the Shenango
liiver near the northern boundary of Sharon borough. The supply is taken from the
center of the river tiiroui;h a twenty incii intake to a concrete well. It is pumped
from this well into a si'ries of scdinu'iitalion tanks and then passes through eight
rapid sand filters each with a capacity of fivt- hundred thousand gallons per day when
operated at a rale of one hundred and iwenty-tiv<; million gallons per acre per day. A
coagulant is supplied to the water before it enters the filters. After passing through
the filters the water is pumped into a brick reservoir of two hundred and ten thou-
sand gallons capacity located in the State of Ohio about three hundred feet above
the luw district of the town. The water is supplied to the consumers from this reser-
voir through a series of mains ranging in size from two inches to twelve inches.
There is also a l)i-i)ass so that water can be pumped directly into the mains if neces-
sary. This water su[)p!y is furnished to thirteen thousand two hundred and seventy
consumers in the borough of Shainm and to the manufacturing establishments for
industrial purposes. It is estimated that one hundred and twenty thousand gallons
are used i)er day by the factories. For drinking purposes most of the industrial
plants have drilled wells ranging in depth from two hundred feet to twenty-five feet.
The United States Steel Corporation also has an additional water supply which is
taken from the Shenango liiver for manufacturing purposes.
Jt is reported that no analyses have been made of the public water supply in
Sharon borough for two years. During the year nineteen hundred and seven there
were ninety-one cases of typhoid fever and four deaths reported. In nineteen hun-
dred an<l six there were twelve deaths; in nineteen hundred and five, twenty-four
deaths, ami for several previous years the death rate was high. There seems to be
a general distrust in the public water supply and, where possible, the citizens are
using well water for drinking purposes.
Sharon borough has a combined system of sewers emptying into the Shenango River
ami Pine Run Ihrouuh eight different outlets. The policy for some time past has
been to eliminate surface water and storm water from the sewer system and to carry
this through, stoiia water drains to the nearest water course. Several of these storm
water drains have been constructed and it is reported that it is the intention of the
borough authorities to continue this policy. Roof water from nearly all the buildings
that are connected with the public- sewers is discharged into the main sewerage
system. The quantity of sewage being discharged through the various sewers is not
reported. The sewers are ventilated by manholes with perforated covers.
Previous to the construction of the extensions for which application is made,
there were fifty miles of sewers exclusive of drains in the borough, ranging in size
from eight inches to a throe foot four inch by five foot brick sewer. The sewage from
three-rjuarters of the borough area is emptied into the Shenango River at a point
south of the center of the town immediately below the bridge on Budd Avenue.
This sewage is carried through two systems. The eastern system consists of a
twelve inch outfall sewer extending from the bridge easterly along Budd Avenue and
fed by ten inch and eight inch laterals. This system drains about half the borough
and includes all the territory east of the Shenango River, and below State Street is
drained by a three foot four inch by five foot brick sewer extending westerly along
Budd Avenue and joined at the intersection of Budd Avenue with South Irvine
.V\enue by a twenty-four inch tile sewer and a two foot four inch by three foot six
inch brick sewer extending southerly and northerly along South Irvine Avenue, re-
spectively. These sewers are fed in turn by a system of laterals ranging in size from
twenty-four inciies to eight inches.
The northeastern iiart of the borough extending northerly from Pine Run and
located east of the Shenango River is drained by a twenty inch sewer on Chestnut
Street emptying into the Shenango River at the center of the town immediately
below Chestnut Street Bridge. This sewer is fed by a system of twelve inch, ten
inch and eight inch laterals covering this entire territory with the e.xception of a
small lateral in the extreme southeastern end of this section. This lateral consists of
one thousand feet of eight inch pipe and empties directly into Pine Run at Knox
Street.
The northwestern section of the borough, located above State Street and west of
the Shen.ango River and being appr<iximately one-tenth of the total area of the
borough, has three inde|)endent outlet connections into the Shenango River. These
consist of fifteen inch sewers extending directly to thi; river and fed by a few eight
inch laterals.
No profiles i>f the seweiN have been submitted to this Departmimt. so that it is
impossible to determine the caiiacities of the existin.i sewers or the feasibility of con-
structing intercepting sewers so as to bring the sewRge to one outlet by gravity.
Several of the mills use the borough sewer system. There are also private sewers
dischar^;ing into the Shenango River from several of the mills. The United States
Steel Corporation has a twenty-four inch tile sewer which carries the waste water
and sewage from this plant and discharges it into the Shenango River. Sharon
Boiler Works has a six inch sewer discharginsi into a small run. whicli, in turn,
imipties into the Shenango River. 'I'he Wilkes Rolling Mill also has a six inch sewer.
The Stewart Iron (.^>nlpany discharges its sewage into the Shenango River.
In addition to the private sewei-s fn>m the industrial establishments, there are
several private sewers froni dwellings. A number of i>rivate houses have drains into
the neighlioring streams which feed the Sheiianuo River. Tlw r(» is also a sewer
67—17—1908
1058 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
known as the Porter sewer on the west side of the river in State Street, which
discharges into the river and has nine house connections. There are also several
other sexNers with six or eight house connections each and discharging independently
into the Shenango River.
The borough has made application for approval of three and thirty-two hundredths
miles of laterals, consisting of twenty-tive hundred and forty-hve feet of tifteeu inch,
twelve hundred and tifty-seven feet of twelve inch, three hundred and twenty-five
feet of ten inch and twelve thousand nine hundred and twenty-six feet of eight inch
terra cotta sewei"s. These sewers haxe been constructed by the borough during the
years nineteen hundred and five, nineteen hundred and six and nineteen hundred and
seven. Most of them are located in the high district at the southeastern end of the
borough. The fifteen inch sev. er extends along High Street on the extreme westerly
boundary of the town, and is the main extension that has been made in this south-
western section. All of these laterals discharge through the existing sewers into
the Shenango River. No profiles of these laterals have been submitted to this De-
partment, so that it is impossible to determine their capacity. Prom the plan on
file in this Department of the sewerage system, it appears that manholes are located
at all intei-sections and probably at all changes of grade. It is reported that these
manholes have perforated covers to afford ventilation.
The sewage of Sharpsville, which is now discharged into the Shenango River, is
a menace to public health in Sharon and South Sharon. While it is true that the
public water supply of Sharon is filtered, nevertheless, it is a well known fact and
thoroughly demonstrated that a filter does uot always remove the poisons that are in
the raw water. The well known Butler epidemic was caused by temporary break-
down in the water purification plant. During the current season, a typhoid fever
epidemic has occurred in Royersford and Spring City, Montgomery County, by
reason of the over-rating of the water filter. In order to protect public health,
sewage must be kept out of streams used as sources of public water supply. The
Department has now under consideration a decree with respect to Sharpsville sewage
disposal. Greenville borough, located a number of miles above Sharon on the
Shenango River, has been reyuired to purify its sewage. The city of New Castle,
whose sewage menaces the supply of water at Beaver Falls and New Brighton, has
been required to perfect plans for sewage purification works. The citizens of
Sharon and South Sharon cannot expect the State to take preventive measures with
respect to preserving the purity of the waters above Sharon's intake and not take the
same measures to protect the purity of the waters above the intake at New Castle.
Therefore, Sharon borough must forthwith prepare plans for the treatment of its
sewage.
It seems expedient that there should be a trunk sewer along the river to collect the
sewage from Sharpsville and both the Sharon boroughs and possibly Wheatland and
to terminate in a sewage disposal plant which shall serve all the municipalities in the
district. This would be the most economical and efiicient plan provided the munici-
palities would work together.
However, it is prohibitive in cost to attempt to treat sewage and storm water, and
it is fortunate for the taxpayers of Sharon that such a large proportion of its
storm water is conveyed through other channels into natural water courses. It will
be necessary to go still further and reduce the volume of roof water which now goes
to the sanitary sewers. It may not be necessary to absolutely exclude all of this
roof water, but a series of measurements taken hourlj' during different kinds of
weather, wet and dry, should be undertaken by the borough as a basis for an eco-
nomical and efficient design for an intercepting sewer and sewage disposal works.
It is altogether probable that Sharon will be obliged to remodel that part of its
existing sewer system in the lower part of the town where the old combined sewers
exist. CJomprehensive plans should be designed and adopted , and th(m the borough
can make improvements as the years go by and conform to these plans until finally
a perfect system will result.
It is reported that the assessed valuation of the borough is five million six hundred
and ninety-two tliousand, one hundred and ninety-six dollars. Early in April of the
current 3'ear it was represimted to the De[)artment that the bonded indebtedness was
three hundred and forty-six tliousand dollars for sewers and street paving. Besides
this, there was a bonded indebtedness of one hundred and sixty thousand dollars
for schools and the proposition was about to be submitted to increase the school bond
indebtedness by an additional issue of one hundred and forty thousand dollars. Tlie
attorneys for the municipalities maintain that the indel)tedness for selioo! purposes
is indep(fndent of the seven per cent, limit of the indebtediir'ss for nnniicipal purposes.
Exclusive of school bond issue, it would appear that the borough could, in the
spring of nineteen hundred and eight, borrow fifty-two tliousand dollars. The next
assessment of property will be in nineteen hundred and nine. The last assessment
increased tlie total about eight hundred thousand dollars. Whether Sharon borough
will be in a position financially next year to defray the (.-ost uf an interee|)ting
sewer and sewage disiiosal works or its proportionate |)art of the metropolitan
()rojeet, it is not definitely known, yet it is evident that fifty-two thousand dollars is
insuffieifnt for this purprtse. It would be impossible, however, for the borough to
enter into a contract with private capital to construct tlie sewer and sewage disposal
works HO that tli'-re is no excuse why Sliiirf)n borougii should continue to put its
sewage into the Shenango River to the menace of human life.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 10S5
In view of the fact that the borough has oxtendcfl its sewer system in violation of
the Act of April twenty-second, nineteen hundred aud five, and in view of the other
facts hereinbefore discussed, it has been determined that the interests of the public
health demand that a permit be withheld and approval is hereby and herein with-
■faeld of the sewera^'e system of the borough of Sharon aud a decree issued as follows:
FIRST: The borough of Sharon shall on or before the first day of December,
nineteen hundred aud nine, either independently or in conjunction with other ad-
jaceut municipalities,- i)repare plans for the collection of all of the sewage of the
borough and for its i)urification in a sewage disposal plant, and shall subipit these
plans to tiie Commissioner of Health for approval.
SECOND: The sewerage system shall be designed to collect the sewage of the in-
dustrial plants and of all properties in the borough.
THIRD: The borough shall on or before the first day of January, nineteen
hundred and nine, inform the Commissioner of Health what its purpose is with re-
spect to complying with this decree. Failure to so notify the Commissioner of
Health will l)o construed to be a settled purpose on the part of the borough to pro-
ceed in defiance of this decree to pollute the waters of the State.
Harrisburg, Pa., October 21st, 1908.
SHARON HILL, DELAWARE COUNTY.
This order and decree is issued to the authorities of the borough of Sharon Hill,
Delaware County, relative to the discontinuance of the discharge of sewage into the
waters of the State within said borough or elsewhere.
On October eighteenth, nineteen hundred and five, the borough of Sharon Hill,
Delaware County, was given permission to temporarily discharge sewage from two
sewer outlets into Darby Creek within the borough limits on condition that storm
water be excluded from the system and on condition that the treatment of the
sewage shall be undertaken at any time when so ordered by the Commissioner of
Health according to plans to be submitted to aud approved by him.
During the fall of nineteen hundred and six, the Board of Health of the borough
of Colvvyn, Delaware County, complained to the Commissioner of Health about a
nuisance existing in an open ditch coming down from Darby borough underneath the
railroad and paralleling Fifth Street in Colwyn to Darby Creek. The residents on
Fifth Street had petitioned the borough council of Colwyn for redress and the
Board of Health had brought the matter to the attention of the Darby Board of
Health without results. Therefore, the Commissioner of Health was asked to take
the matter under advisement and stop the nuisance.
Thereafter a Department olhcer made an inspection in the fall of nineteen hundred
and six and again in the spring of nineteen hundred and seven.
It appeared on this inspection that the greater nuisance in the vicinity was caused
by the discharge of sewage into Darby Creek from various sewers and that the
remedy had a wider scope than entertained by the complainants. This remedy
would involve the sewers of Sharon Hill.
Sharon Hill is a residential community of about fifteen hundred population,
located on the Philadelphia, Baltimore aud Washington Railroad, which passes in
an east and west line through the southern portion of the town, and also on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroail, which is the northerly borough Hue. This road east-
erly towards Philadelphia, passes through Darby borough. The other railroad
passes easterly through Colwyn borough. The latter municipal territory is separated
from Sharon Hill territory by Darby Creek. In Sharon Hill the land has been laid
out into large lots aud wide streets and is occupied by estates of considerable size
of the more resourcefuU class. The land lies quite high and level. Not all of the
buildings are connected with the sewers, so it is reported. The water supply is
furnished by the Springfield Water Company and is brought in from a distance.
Even if every dwelling were connected to the sewer system the total flow from the
system would not be a large amount at this time, but as the population increases
the pollution of Darby Creek would increase from this source.
The sewers had been eunstructed very largely before the law of nineteen hundred
and live was passed placing the jurisdiction of such matters within the Stale De-
parlment of Health in accordance with a comprehensive plan of sewers for the entire
borough, said to have been adopted by the local authorities early in nineteen hun-
dred an<l five. This was one reason for the approval of the plan by the State.
Both sewer outlets are into Darby Creek below the Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Washington Railroad, the smaller outlet, twelve inehes in diameter, being four
huiulied feet south of the railroad, and the larger outlet, twenty-four inches in
diameter, being seven hundred feet below the railroad and six hundred feet above
the point where a borough sewer in Colwyn discharges into the creek at the foot of
Fifth Street.
The said twelve inch outlet extends northerly to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
and is designed to be the main for all lateral sewers in the northeast portion of the
town. This line is twenty-eight hundred feet long. Whether any lateral sewei*s have
been connected with it or not since nineteen hundred and five is not a matter of
record in this Department.
1060 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The said twenty-four inch pipe extends westerly in Elmwood Avenue about a mile
to the borough's westerly limit and it is desired to serve all of .the laud iu the town
south of the i'hiiadeiphia, Baltimore and Washiugion Kailroail and all of it north of
said railroad in ihe central and western portions of the borough. Connected with
this outlet there is a total of iweuty-oue thousand five hundred feet of sewer, a'
notable length for the small number of dwellings in the borough. It is at once evident
that sewerage facilities are ample for a very material increase in population.
It was reported that the bonded indebtedness of Sharon Hill was sixty-five thou-
sand one hundred dollars in June, nineteen hundred and seven. The Department
does not Jiuow what the assessed vakiation is, but if reports be true the real estate
valuation on the above date was eight hundred and tliiriy-six thousand dollars.
Probably the finances of the borough are sulficiently well managed to admit of the
payment by the town of the proportionate share of a joint sewage disposal plant by
the several boroughs whose sewage is now discharged into Darby Creek iu the
vicinity. But Sharon Hill might not be able to defray the cost of the erection of au
independent plant.
Opposite the twelve inch sewer outlet there is a twenty-four inch sewer in the
borough of Coiwyn. But this twenty-four inch sewer was built by and belongs to
Yeadon borough. It was the intention of I'eadon, which is located above Darby
borough in Darby Creek valley, to conduct the sewage iu a pipe down this valley and
discharge it at the outlet of the twentj--four inch pipe. In conformity with this
plan, said borough began the construction of this sewer line at both ends and
worked towards the middle, and completed all but about eight hundred feet of this
line. The connection remains unconstructed on account of some litigation between
the boroughs of Yeadon and Darby and adjoining property owners as to the right of
way. Therefore, Yeadon sewage is now emptying into the creek at a point about
three hundred feet above the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the borough of Darby,
which point is half a mile above the Sharon Hill twelve inch sewer outlet. The
creek here is a tidal stream, the high water extending up the valley three-quarters
of a mile above the Sharon Hill sewer outlets.
In warm weather, when the creek flow is small, the sewage emptied into this
creek, oscillates back and forth through tidal action and in this manner the nuisance
is accelerated and deposits of organic matter in the channel promoted, which adds
to the public menace.
Coiwyn borough sewer at the foot of Fifth Street is reported to be a six inch pipe
and serves eighteen hundred feet of sewer. Its outlet is one thousand feet above the
confluence of Darby and Cobbs Creek.
Darby Creek rises in Easttown Township in Chester County about fifteen miles
north of Sharon Hill, and drains a beautiful rolling open country of about thirty-
six square miles in extent, on which an estimated population of fifteen thousand
people reside. The sewage from ihe towns along its banks is now and has been dis-
charged into the creek above Sharon Hill. Six miles below Sharon Hill the stream
empties into the Delaware River at a point above two and a half miles above the city
of Chester. This city takes its water supply from the river.
In the stretch of six miles the adjacent territory is salt marsh unoccupied and
much of it is flooded at high water. At places there are numerous boat houses on
the Ijanks and fishing is indulged in quite extensively.
At the confluence of Darby and Cobbs Creeks iu the forks is the borough of
Coiwyn, and Cobbs Creek forms the easterly boundary of tiie latter borough and Ihe
westerly boundary of the city of Philadelphia.
Cobbs Creek rises in Lower Merlon Township, Montgomery County, and also
drains a part of the city of I'hiladelpliia. It I'eceives innnuractnring wastes jiMd
sewage from many sources and is a badly polluted stream. The borough of Darby
dischargi's sewage into it and so do the boroughs of Yeadon and Coiwyn.
The city of Philadelphia is now constructing an intercepting sewer up this creek
valley and it is the intention to ultimately intercept all of llie dry weather flow of
sewage from the city of Pliiladelpiiia's sewers and convey it to Darby ('reek below
the forks. Tli" city is also studying a plan for the construction of a sewi'r (>aKtcrly
into the Schuylkill River valley, whereby the Cobbs Creek sewer will empty into the
Schuylkill River valley system.
If the city would permit the Delaware County boroughs to collect their sewage
in an interci-pter and connect this intercepter with tlie proposed city iMtercei)ter,
this would be a very sjitisfactory contdusion of the pi'obleni from a ijraclicnl stand-
point. There is kohu- reason to urge this result, more especially willi respect l;o the
boroughs in the ('obbs (^reek valley district because Pliiladeli)hia c<)ntenii)laL(>s |)re-
ompting land on either side of the cn^ek as a part of a parkway system, thus natur-
ally depriving the Delaware County municipalities of the opportunity of selecting
sites for sinvage disposal works along Cobbs Creek. The sewage from the Delaware
County homes within the Cobbs (^reek drainage area must either be discharged into
the Philadelphia intercepter or into a new intercepter to bo built down the valley on
the westerly I>ank of the stream.
The pri blern of how to dispose of the sewage below Coiwyn would then be in-
volverj ;ind since S'eadon, Darby and (V)lwyn territ.ory extends t_o both Cobbs Creek
and Darljy Ci'eek and sewaire from tliese municip.-ililies is diseluwged into both
Htreams, it may be seen that the sewagi' disposal probiern, with respeei to the Cohljs
Creek district, so far as the.se i>laces are concernc.'d, is the sewage; disposal problem
with refpcct to Darby C3reek also.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1061
There seems to be a community of interest which at least comincnils united action,
and the State Department of Health can bring this result about where other efforts
might fail.
In view of these considerations it has been unanimously agreed that the interests
of the public health demand that the borough of Sharon Hill be notified, and it is
hereby and herein notified, to prepare plans either independently or in conjunction
with other municipalities, for some other disposal of its sewage than into Dnrby
(^reek, and submit the same to the Department of Health for approval on or before
October first, nineteen hundred and eight.
Harrisburg, Pa., January 2J)th, 1908.
SHARPS VILLE, MERCER COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Sharpsville, Mercer County, and is
for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage therefrom
into the Shcnango River within thf limits of the borough.
It appears that the borough of Sharpsville is located in the extreme western por-
tion of the State of Pennsylvania, in Mercer County, within a few miles of the
Ohio State boundary line. The town is located on the Sheuango River at a point
where the river takes a deep bend and is bounded on the north by said river, on the
east by the river and Hickory Township, on the south by Hickory Township, and on
the west by said township and the river.
The Shcnango River has its source in Conneaut Township, Crawford County,
appro.ximately thirty-five miles above the borough of Sharpsville. It flows in a gen-
erally southerly direction through the western part of Crawford, Mercer and Law-
rence Counties, draining with numerous tributaries a portion of the ea.stern section
of the State of Oliio and emptying below New Castle into the Beaver River. Along
the valley of the Shenango River, throughout the entire length, there are many steel
mills nnil allied industries such as are found in the Pittsburgh region. These mills
furnish the main oicupation for the inhabitants of the many boroughs and towns
located in this valley.
Above Sharpsville, in the Shenango valley, there are several boroughs which drain
into the Sheuango River. Prominent among them is Greenville borough, with a
poi)ulation of sixty-five hundred, distant nineteen miles from the borough of Sharps-
ville. This borough discharges its sewage into the Shenango River, but has recently
been granted a permit by the Department of Health to extend its sewer system under
the condition thnt the .sewage be properly treated before being discharged into the
rtver. Throe miles below Sharpsville and separated therefrom by Hickory Township
are the boroughs of Sharon and South Sharon, with a total population of twenty-
one thousand and fivf» hundred people. The water supply for these boroughs is taken
from the Shenango River and filtered. Below Sharon there are numerous boroughs
and cities which take their water supply from the Shenango River. Prominent
among them is the city of New Castle, with a population of thirty- five thousand
and located twenty-three miles below Sharpsville. The water supply for this town
is taken from the Shenango River and is filtered before being supplied to the
<'onsnmers.
Sharpsville has an area of three square miles and a population of thirtj--six hun-
dred within the incorporated boundaries. The land rises from the Shenango River
on tlie north, southerly, to a tableland at the southern edge of the borough. For a
distance of one thousand feet from the bank of the river the land rises with a very
gentle slope and this tract, extending along the whole river front, furnishes the site
for the various steel mills and other industries. The land in this tract, with the
e.xcepticn of one or two isolated sections, is above the high stage of the Shenango
River nnd is not subject to inundation. Beyond this strip the land rises very rap-
idly. Iler(> is located the business section of the (own, which extends over this high
ground panilbd to the manufacturing sites and abutting on the south the residential
sections. The land continues to rise to a point beyond the southern boundary of tht>
borouirh. The southern section of the borough is but partially built up, but tin-
southeastern and southwestern sections arc developing rapidly. It is expected, from
the trend of the growth at present, that the future growth in the borough will be in
the sotuheastern section.
There are llin-e ravines which extend from the tableland at the southern end
of the borough northerly to the river. The ravine which is farthest east is distant
about tw(>lve hundred feet from tlie iiend in the Shenaniro River and separates the
i'astei'u section of the borough, containing probably one-sixth of the total area, from
the main portion of the boreuirh. Ther(> is a small creek in this ravine which enters
the Shenaniro River at the northern boundary of the borough. Another one of these
ravines extends through the centre of th(> borough and also contains a creek which
flows northerly to the Shenango River. The third ravine lies abotit three htindred
feet from the western bori>ni:li line and isolates a very small trai'l of the western
section of the borouirh from the borough proper. There is no creek in the ravine.
There are three railroads entering Sharpsville borouirh. Tliese railroads extend
through the low tract of land where the various industrial plants are located. The
Pennsylvania Railroad lies along the bank of the Shenango River and crosses the
river at the bend on the northeastern boundary of the borough. The Sharpsville
1062 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Railroad, which, it is reported , is a part of the Baltimore and Ohio system, par-
allels the Pennsylvania Railroad, but instead of crossing the Shenango River, leaves
the borough on the Sharpsville side. The Erie Railroad extends through the northern
portion of the borough on the southern boundary of the industrial section and is
distant about twelve hundred feet from the river.
The principal business industry is the production of pig-iron, which is produced
by the following companies; The Shenango Furnace Company, employing about six
hundred hands; the Youngstown Sheet Tubing Company, employing one hundred
hands; the Thomas D. West Foundry Company, employing three hundred and fifty-
five hands; and the Sharpsville Furnace Company, employing eighty hands. There
is also a planiuir mill operated by E. L. Gaines and Sons, employing about twelve
hands, and the Sharpsville Boiler Works, employing one hundred hands.
Above the industrial section the business and residential section of the town is
laid out in regular blocks with the streets extending north and south and east and
west. Railroad Street, which is the northern boundary of this section, extends east
and west along the Erie Railroad. The next street south of this and parallel thereto
is Main Street, which, in the western portion of the borough, is called Trout
Avenue. South of Main Street and parallel thereto are Ridge Avenue, Pierce Ave-
nue, Oak Avenue and Milliken Avenue.
The most easterly of the cross streets is Mercer Avenue, which extends from the
southern boundary of the borough through the entire width of the borough to the
Shenango River. This street lies east of the fii-st ravine. Parallel to Mercer Avenue
and immediatelj' west of it is Walnut Street, which follows along the ravine in the
eastern section of the borough. West of Walnut Street the streets are numbered
from First Street to Fourteenth Street, respectively. The central ravine lies be-
tween Sixth and Seventh Streets. The western ravine is located between Four-
teenth Street and the borough boundary.
The growth of population has been steady during the last twenty years. The
population in eiirhteen hundred and eighty was eighteen hundred and twenty-four;
in eighteen hundred and ninety, twent.v-three hundred and thirty; and in nineteen
hundred twenty-nine hundred and seventy. The present population is estimated at
thirty-five hundred and if the rate of growth of the borough is in proportion to the
past increase, the population in nineteen hundred and eighteen will be forty-five
hundred, and in nineteen hundred and twenty-eight, it will be about fifty-five
hundred.
The borough owns its water works. Water is taken from a steel shell twenty-five
feet in diameter and sixteen feet deep, which is sunk into the ground near the bank
of the Shenango River in the northeast part of the borough, a short distance east of
Mercer Avenue. The bottom of the well is open and water enters through a gravelly
stratum. On account of the difference in chemical composition between the water
from this well and the river water, it appears probable that this well is fed by a
stratum below the river bottom which has no connection with the river water. The
water is pumped from this well to a standpipe of ninety-two thousand gallons
capacity located on the tableland near the southern boundary of the borough. The
water consumption amounts to from two hundred thousand to two hundred and
fifty thousand gallons per day and is used mainly for domestic and drinking pur-
poses. There are a number of private drilled wells in use in the borough and also
one spring. This spring is protected with masonry from surface drainage and is
located on a hill south of the borough.
It is reported that all of the industries have drilled wells which are used for
drinking purposes and, in some cases, for all purposes. These wells range in depth
from thirty-five to sixteen hundred feet. In addition to the supply from the drilled
wells, several of the mills have private pumping stations which pump river water for
boiler and cooling purposes.
There is also one dug well in use at present at the railroad station of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad Company. This well is twenty feet in depth, extending to a gravel
stratum and is cemented from 11h> to]) for a depth of eight feet bcldw the surface.
The lower part of the well below this point is lined with open field stone. This well
is used by the people in I he vicinity for domestic cousum|)tion, and it is stated that
the train hands till their buckets from this well. It is also reported that there for-
merly existed many shallow wells in the .southwesterly fiortion of th(> borough be-
tween Tentli and Fourteenth Si reels. On necount of the conlnmination of these
wi'lls from surf.'ic" drainage they are condenmed by the local Board of Health and
have not been used recently.
The seweraire sysLem of the borough is divided into two sections with two inde-
pendent outfalls into the Shenango River on the northern boundary of the borough.
The smaller sectii-n lies easl of )he ravine which extends to tin- eastern section of
the borouL'h and the outfall from this section enl(>rs the Siienango River at the foot
of Mercer Avenue, ab<»nt five, hundred feet below the pumping station of the
mnrijeipnl w;it'T works. The main sewerage system covers Die built up section of the
horou'^'h from this lavine to the ecntral ravine at Seventh Street. The outfall from
this system enlers tiie Slu-nango River at tiie f(jot of Sixth Sireet.
Tiie eastern group of sewers is made np of thirty-seven iiundred and sixty feet of
eight ineli |)'r)e with an eiulil iri<li oiilfiill. No profiles of llie sewers have been sub-
mit te<l, but it a()t»eais from tlje lopograpliy of the hind Ihat lliey are laid on ample
grades. It is reported (hat tiiis system receives only domestic sewage and (hat no
rain water is admitted.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1063
The main group of sewers which discliarge at the foot of Sixth Street, consists of
thirteen hiindreri and twenty feet of eighteen inch outfall sewer, which extends up
Sixth Street to Main. At Main Street this sewer is fed by a fifteen and a twelve
iiKli outfall sewer extending from Sixth Street westerly and easterly, respectively.
These sewers are in tura fed by laterals ranging in size from twelve inches to eight
inches and draining the territory from the Shenango River to Ridge Avenue and
from Walnut Street to Seventh. There are three hundred and eighty feet of fifteen
ineli sewer, forty-two hundred and ninety feet of twelve inch and five thousand and
twenty feet of eight inch, making a total of two and one-tenth miles of sewer
tributary to this outlet and a grand total of two and eight-tenths miles of sewer in
the borough. It is stated that no rain water is admitted to the sanitary sewers and
that there are several lines of storm sewers in the borough which carry rain
water only.
It is reported that the population in the sewer districts is fifteen hundred and
that there are at present five hundred people using the sewers. It is, therefore,
seen that the municipal sewerage system is not generally used by the community. It
is reported that in addition to the sewerage system there are three hundred privies in
use in the borough. These are also used at all of the industrial plants. Several of
the mills have private sewers which discharge sewage directly into the river.
It is reported that at one time typhoid fever occurred in the southwestern portion
of the borough at frequent intervals. This was traced to a number of shallow wells
located in tliis section which were polluted from surface drainage. As stated above,
these wells have not been abandoned. During the year nineteen hundred and seven,
there were eighteen cases of typhoid fever in the borough. The majority of these
cases were found among people who were working outside of the borough, so that the
disease cannot be directly traced to a local source. No data is submitted as to the
water used by those persons for drinking purposes.
The borough purposes to construct extensions to sewers in the eastern section
and discharge through the eight inch outfall at the foot of Mercer Avenue. Also, it
is proposed to build an independent system located in the extreme western portion
of the borough between the boundary line and the western ravine and to discharge
directly into the Shenango River by a new outlet.
The extension of the eastera section is to consist of eighteen hundred feet of eight
inch pipe to be constructed along Walnut Street easterly to Mercer Avenue and
thence northerly to the existing sewer on Mercer Avenue. There are about twenty-
eight housi^s which it is desired to connect to this sewer.
The westerly section consists of eighteen hundred feet, beginning at the corner of
Twelfth Street and Ridge Avenue, extending thence along Ridge Avenue to the
borough line, and thence along said line to the river. No plan has been prepared for
this westerly system, and it is stated by the borough officials that they do not intend
to c(^nstruct this section immediately.
Thus it appears that the hornu'di of Sharpsville is discharging sewage into the
waters of the Commonwealth which are used f(ir drinking purposes by many towns
and boroughs located below the sewer outlets. The Sharon Water Works Company
takes its water supply from the Shenango River at a point three miles below these
outfall se^^ers and supplies this water after filtration to the boroughs of Sharon and
Soulli Sharon, where many thousands of people use it for drinking purposes.
There has been a continued prevalence of typhoid fever in these communities, and it
is reported that the Fdtration plant is suspected of being inefficient and that many of
the citizens are afraid of this water supply. It is certain that even with the highest
degree of efficiency in a filtraticm plant there is a grave menace to the citizens in
thesf communities due to the introduction of sewage into th(Mr water supply at a
point so close to the water ^\orks intake. Below Sharon the Shenango Riv<>r is used
as n source of water supply for the city of New Castle, and below New Castle the
I?raver River, into which the Shenaniro River empties, is used as a filtered water
supply for Beaver Falls, New Briirhton and adjacent boroughs. A permit to the city
of New Castle was granted for the extension of their sewerage system only under
condition that the city of New Castle should purify the sewage before it enters the
river and the citizens of this municipality have a right to expect that their source of
supply will be prf)tected likewisi> from jiollution.
T\veniv-two miles above Sharpsville the borough of Greenville, with a population
of sixty-five hundred people, discharges its sewage into the Shenango River. This
borouuh has been granted a permit to extend its sewers under condition that the
sewage be treated before being discharged into the river. While the water supply of
the borough of Sharpsville apiiears to come from a stratum located below the river
and separated therefrom, yet it is not unlikely that at some future date the washing
of the bottom of this river may cause river water to enter this source of supply, so
that the sewage from Greenville would be a menace to the supply of Sharpsville
borough.
In preparing for a disposal plant for treating the sewage from the borough, it is
lik(>Iy that a plant could be so designed and arranged that most of the sewage could
rea<h it by gravity. This would probably require a modification in the existing
outfalls.
The existiuir sewerage system of Sharpsville borou-jrh appears to be designed for
sanitary jiurpises only, anil it is reported that storm water is excluded from the
.system. The borough would, therefore, not be obliged to expend much money in
remodeling the existing sewerage system, but would have to construct an inter-
1064 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
cepting outfall sewer to collect the sewage from the various systems and locate it
sufficiently high upon the hill immediately above the industrial works to collect the
sewage and carry it by gravity to the disposal plant. It appears that it would be
necessary to install a small pumping station to lift the sewage from the various in-
dustrial works to the disposal plant. This would have to be worked out in detail by
some competent expert hired by the borough for this purpose.
The assessed valuation of Sharpsville is reported to be one million four hundred
and sixty thousand six hundred and fifty-nine dollars. The bonded indetbedness con-
sists of twenty-four tiiousand fi\e hundred dollars of water bonds and nineteen thou-
sand dollars of sewer bonds, making a total indebtedness of forty-three thousand
five hundred dollars. If this valuation is correct the borough has an additional bor-
rowing capacity of about fifty-seven thottsaud dollars, so it is in good shape finan-
cially to construct a disposal plant.
It is reported that there are several sites available for the location of a disposal
plant on both sides of the river. It would also be advisable for the borough to con-
sider co-operating with the borotighs of Sharon and South Sharon with a view to
building a joint disposal plant.
The borough should employ a competent expert familiar with the problem of
sewage disposal to decide upon the best method of disposal ; to design an outfall
sewer and disposal works ; and to prepare plans and profiles of a comprehensive
sewerage system, embracing the existing system and covering the entire incorporated
territory of the borough.
It would be advisable for the borough to delay the construction of the extension
applied for in the western section of the borough until the plans and profiles of this
system have been prepared and submitted to the Department of Health.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved by
granting a permit to the borough of Shaiijsville to construct the extension applied
for in the eastern section of the borough, consisting of eighteen hundred feet of eight
inch sewer, extending along ^Yalnut Street, thence along Mercer Aventte to the
existing eight inch sewer ; and a permit is hereby and herein granted for such exten-
sion, but permission is withheld for the independent outlet sewer in the western
section, subject to the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That on or before November first, nineteen hundred and nine, the bor-
ough shall prepare, either independently or in conjunction with Sharon and South
Sharon boroughs, a plan for the interception of all of the sewage of the borough and
its conveyance to some point for treatment, together with plans for a sewage purifi-
cation plant, which plans shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Health for
approval on or before said date.
SP^'OXD: All roof and storm water shall be excluded from the sewers.
THIRD: On or before said November first, nineteen hundred and nine, the
borough siiall also submit complete plans of its existing sewer system.
Harrisburg, Pa., October 21st, 1908.
SHENANDOAH, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
This ai>j)lication is made by the borough of Shenandoah, Schuylkill County,
I'ennsylvania , and is for i)erniission to lay pnlilic sewers and to discharge the sewage
therefrom into Shenandoah (Jreek witiiin the limits of the borough.
It appears that Shenandcjah is a strictly mining settlement of about thirty thou-
sand liopulation, located in West Malianoy Towushi)), Scliii.\llcill (louuly, in what
is known as the Shenandoah valley drained by the Sheuandoali Creek, a tril)utary of
Malianoy (Jreek, which flows westerly anil eiiiplies into the Susquehanna River in
Northumberland Tounty.
In nineteen bundled the census jiopulalion was twenty thousand thre(> hundred
and twenty. The incorporated territory comprises two rectangular trac'ts arranged
in the form of an ell, tin; western traet extending in a north and soutli direction and
the eastern tract in an cast and west direction. The latter is a part of llic Cirard
Kstate and the former is a part of the ("Jilljcrt and Sheafl'er Estate.
Within tlie borough limits are Kehley's Itiin , Indian Uun, Plank Ridge, Shenan-
AoaU Ridge, (^anibria, Eiii'naee, Turkey Run, West Shenandoah and Kohinoor col-
lieries, iieiirly Jill of which iiavr- waslieries attached.
'J'iif! coal f()m\)i\ii\fH huv<! leases and jjay royalties to the said estates on nil coal
produced. Most of the surface land in the heart of the village is owned by the occu-
pants, but beyond this fjistrict the dwellings ari' upon leaseholds and must be re-
moved at the o|)tioii of the ('States. Owing to the value of lln' enal deposits it has
been tlie ])oIicy of tile ovvners to retain coin|)li'te conli'ol of the land and this is one
contributing eaiisf; to the congestion of tin; populated district.
Within the liorough limits there are aiiiiroximately one and a half S(|n;ii-e iiiiles,
but the built iif) iiortion cif the town occupies less than one-tliird of this area. The
average building lot is thirty feet wide by one hundi'ed and (ifly feet deep, and, in
niimemus instances, four and occaHirmally six or r'ight dweljiims are built on a single
lot; in one instance, one hundred and tw<'nty pr-ople an; on a plot sixty feet wide
by one hundred and forty feet deep.
The village occupies hilly territory with good natural drainage in all directions
towardH the natural water courHes.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1065
Slionnudoah Cieek ri-ses iu Ihc hills to the northeast and passes appro.viiuati-ly
thronsli the eeutrc of the borouijh fioni east to west. There are several minor tribu-
taries to tlie crec^k wliicli risi- in the hills to the north and flow soutln-riy through the
borouf;h. Alentidiicil in oi'dcr fi'oni east to west they are: Berjjen's Run, Kehley's
Run, Sprin.:,'hoiiS(' Itiui and Kohinoor ('reek. These streams are all sulphur water
courses, whose overflow is composed largely of mine drainage and washery waste.
Shenandoah Creek, after leaving the borough, flows west through West -Mahauoy
Township, past the villages of William I'enn and Lost Creek and empties into
Mahanoy Ci'eek near the eastern boumlary of Girardville borough. In time of
drought the bed would be practically dry were it not for the mine drainage. Large
quantities of culm are l)n>ught down from the washeries and deposited along the
gradual slopes of the cliannol. In some places there are culm flats in the bed of the
creek three hnndnd and fifty feet in width over which the stream flows during
iioiMial periods iu .small ri\ulets.
Ju the borough at intervals along the entire course of Shenandoah Creek there are
banks of culm and washery waste subject to erosion in time of high water.
At the head of I'.ergen's Run is a distributing reservoir of the municipal water
works system. Also on Kehley's Run above the colliery, but outside of the borough,
there are reservoirs owned by the Shenandoah Citizens' Water and Gas Company.
Springhouse Run starts in a spring on the mountain. Formerly it was an open
waterway through the borough, but later it was constructed into a culvert built
l)arily by the borough and partly by adjacent property owners. The walls are of
stone and ilu- covers are stone flagging across highways and under houses; elsewhere,
|)rinci[)ally of i)laiik or railioad ties.
The Home Rrewing (.'ompany has built a dam on the hillside which diverts the
water for brewery uses. Hence most of the time the flow through the culvert is
nothing but sewage alul kitchen waste. This culvert or, more pioperly termed,
sewer passes through cellars and across lots, and for the greater part is covered by
roughly placed i)lanks or flagstones. Privies may be seen directly over the culvert.
Xo ventilation is provided except that which emits a pi'onounced stench. Sometimes
during heavy rains the culvert is not large enough to carry ofif the water reaching it
and in consequence cellars and yards are backtJooded. It is reported that iu nine-
teen hundred and five the borough was sued by an abutting property owner for
injury caused by such an overflow. Arbitrators were appointed to investigate and
they made an award, but on appeal the court set this award aside. The nuisance is
caused by the individual discharge of sewage into the waterway and not by any spe-
cific act of the numitipality.
Kohinoor Creek rises a short ways north of the borough aud on it in the township
is a small dam diverting practically all of the water to the use of the Kohinoor
colliery. This colliery is in the borough near the railroad on the flats immediately
west of the village, and just below it is the breaker and washer of the West Shen-
andoah colliery. Mine waters from the latter operation is pumped into Kohinoor
Creek at a point just north of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The latter is entirely
south of the built up portion of the village in the vicinity. Just below the railroad,
on the creek, is a pump well sunk in the bed of the creek into which all of the flow
passes and fr.)m whuh the water is pumped to and used in the washery above men-
tioned.
Above this pvuiip well all of the sewage in the west portion of the borough goes to
the creek, and ii constitutes, during dry weather, the entire flow of the stream,
since the upper nafnia! waters are derived as previously described. So the water
pumped from tiie cre^'k and used in the washeries is sewage and mine water mixed.
The borough is furnished with water by two systems; one owned and operated by
the muuicipality and the other owned and operated by the Shenandoah Citizens'
Water and (Jns Company. The Anthracite Water Comitauy controlled by the
I'hiiadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Comi)any, supplies water to the collieries
in the borough and vicinity.
The municipal s3stem comprises surface sources and pumping station, force main,
distributing reservoir and gravity pipes in streets through the town. The pumping
station is located at the forks of Davis and Sand Runs, aliout four miles northeast
of the borough iu Kasi L'nion Township. Water from these two streams is im-
pounded in a small reservoir covering seven and a half acres and holding twenty-eight
million gallons. The drainage area is nineteen hundred acres of mountainous, w-ild
land covered with a second growth. The Catawissa Division of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad passes through this water shed.
Hecause these streams are insufficient for the borough's needs the waters of Ul-
shuaffer's R\in, about six mdes easterly, iiave been collected in an intake dam and
piped by gravity into the r.-servoir at the pumping station dam. Ulshuaffer's Run
has a water shed of five hunilre<l and fifty acres and Spiece's Run, nearby, con-
trolled by the borouirh, has a water shed of three hundred and seventy-five acres.
There itre no dwellings <jn either of these slu(!s, so it is reported.
The water is pumjied by two engines, each rated at one million gallons capacity,
to the distributip.i; reservoir located at the head of Rergen's Run. previously men-
tioned. This structure is of earthwork, rectangular in shape, lined with brick. Its
full capacity would be about a million and a half gallons, if the reservoir did not
leak. It is reported that not over one-third of the capacity is available, owing to
defects in construction causing leakage.
1066 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
This reservoir supplies the low pressure district of the town. The high service
district is also so supplied, but it may be coimected with the force main on the hill
back of rhe ivscrvoir in the future, if additional pressure should be required.
The local authorities i-eporl tiiat the average daily consumption of water is one
and three-quarier million gallons. The supply has been exhausted this summer and
the town was put on a one hour service daily. A repetition of this famina may occur
any year. To obviate it a large impounding i-eservoir might be constructed, in which
ana'mple quantity of water could be stored to tide over a drought.
Tne Shenandoah Citizens Water and Gas Company system comprises impound-
ing reservoirs on Kehleys Hun above described, also a small reservoir on Ber-
gens Run and a small reservoir on Springhouse Run ; a gravity distributing system
in the borough, and a connection with the Girard Water Company system, by
which an auxiliary supply may be obtained.
On Kehleys Run there are six reservoirs, the upper three impound and the
water is drawn off from them and passed down the channel of the run intp
Reservoir number three. It and number two reservoir are the distributing points.
The supply main starts here and extends into the town. Their combined capacity
is fourteen and one-half million gallons storage. The impounding reservoirs hold
thirty-hve million gallons.
Number one reservoir is used exclusively to supply Kehley's Run Colliery.
The company reports its average daily consumption to be about one million
gallons. The water pipes are laid in the principal streets of the borough. Fire
hydrants are connected to the system. Nearly fifty per cent, of the consumption is
supplied to the Anthracite \N ater Company and is used by the collieries in
Shenandoah. The watersheds of the six reservoirs mentioned are uninhabited.
Reservoir number eight is on Springhouse Run and supplies the Home Brew-
ing Company. Reservoir number seven is below the borough- reservoir on Bergen
Run. It is connected with the street pipe system. These waters appear to be
unpolluted. The company's sources gave out during this summer and water had
to be brought in tank cars for colliery use.
There being no springs or private wells in Shenandoah, the citizens have suf-
fered for lack of water this year.
The Anthracite Water Company is owned and controlled by the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal and Iron Company. The water company supplies water to
coal operations in Shenandoah, .Uahanoy City ^orough, Gilbertou borough and
vicinity, said operations being conducted by the said coal and iron company.
Besides for industrial purposes, the water company furni.shes water to the public,
altogether in Gilberton borough and in the townships, more especially at the
mining settlements in the latter.
The source of supply are Waste House Run and Mud Run. They are mountain
streams, the former being in New Castle Township about six miles south of
Shenandoah, Gilbertou borough lying about half way between ; and the latter be-
ing in Mahanoy Township, about three miles east of Shenandoah borough. The
water is impounded and supplied by gravity. The drainage areas are unpopulated,
wooded and the quality of water excellent for domestic purposes.
The other water company which affords a supply to Shenandoah borough is the
Girard Water Company. Its sources of supply are Lost Creek and Raven Run,
tributaries of Shenandoah Creek from the north and next west from Shenandoah
borough. The waters are collected in impounding reservoirs from uninhabited
watersheds and supplied by gravity to the public in West Mahanoy and Butler
Townships, including the boroughs of Girard ville and Shenandoah. The daily
consumption is one million gallons, approximately, and about one-quarter of it is
used for domestic purposes ; the balance is supplied to collieries and the railroad.
The watersheds are patrolled, although uninhabited. The quality of the water
is excellent.
So it appears that the citizens of Shenandoah borough obtain their drinking
water from distant sources and that the supplies are pure and wholesome. There
is no connection between the methods of sewage disposal of the borough and the
sources of the drinking water. Any pollution of the latter after reaching the
borough must occur in the household.
In most of the public streets of the borough there is a sewer built and owned
Viy individuals. I'erniission to construct the sewers was granted by the town
council, it is reported that there is no ordinance governing the regulation or
control of the private sewers. The owner charges a tappage fee. 'I'hc nniount
is above the means of many of the abutting land owners. Nearly all of the
built-up territory is tributary to these i)rivate sewers. The local Board )bf
Health <;laimB to be powerh-ss to compel sewer coniK.'ctions , so that (Jii the street
in the poorer sections of the borongh the gutters are usr'd as sewers for house
drainage. These sewers are built witiiout manholes or means of ventilation.
There are street inh ts to the sewers, so that storm water is admitted. There is
no public, and in mai:y instances no private record of the location of the sewer,
lis size, gradt! and iiiiniber of connections. They all empty into natural water
courses.' The popul.ilion is math; up (if foreigners. Some of them liav*; no idea
of cleanliness. Tin; unsanitary conditions in certain sections of the borough
would hardly be credited without being seen. Recently a garbage collection or-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1067
(linancc \v;is adoptud and the attempt is being made to clean up back yards of
all rubbish and to remove oli'al froiu proper receptacles on each proix-rly ai re(,'ular
intervals.
The iJradiuau lirotlier^ own a majority of the private .sewers. The partnership
is locally known as "The Shenandoah Sewer Company."' The main sewer of this
system is in Center Street and it discharges into the bed of Kohinoor Creek in
the western part of the borough, above the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The sewer
is eighteen inches in diameter and connected with it there are lateral sewers,
the entire system comprising seventy-nine hundred lineal feet. The eighteen inch
pipe is two Ihousanu leet long, the fifteen inch three hundred and fifty feet, the
twelve inch twenty-four hundred and fifty feet, the ten inch eight hundred and
fifty and the eight inch twenty-two hundred and fifty feet in length.
The next outlet into the same stream is an eighteen inch borough sewer twelve
hundred feet long in i.loyd Street with a branch eighteen inches in diameter, seven
hundred feet long in Chestnut Street.
A twenty inch borough sewer empting into the creek &t the foot of Strawberry
Alley immediately above Llojd Street e.vlends easterly to Gilbert and north on
Gilbert to Coal. It has two branches in Catharine Street. It is reported that
this sewer is used for street drainage purposes only. In the same alley Kimmle and
Johnson is an eighteen inch sewer fourteen hundred feet long. It empties into the
creek. Into this sewer is connected a branch owned by Roberts and others. It
extends in Coal Street to West Street.
Between Walnut and Vine Streets in the vicinity of Coal Street there is a
group of houses from which there are four private sewers emptying into Kohinoor
Creek.
In the central part; of the borough just east of Main Street there is a stone
culvert underneath the Lehigh Valley Railroad extending to Shenandoah Creek.
This culvert was original built to afford an outlet for the water in coming down
from the hillsides. This culvert has been extended by the borough about two
hundred feet to the corner of Maiu and Cherry Streets, where there are three
sewers discharging into it. One of them is a twelve inch sewer eleven hundred
feet long on Cherry Street. It is owned by Breunan and others. Another is a
twelve inch sewer six hundred and fifty feet long in Main Street with a ten inch
branch, five hundred and fifty feet long in Oak Street with eight inch branches
in Jardin Street and Pear Alley. This line is owned by J. J. Franey. The other
sewer is twenty-four inches in diameter, one thousand feet long on Main Street
owned by I'urcell and others.
V^'est from Main Street and north from the Lehigh Valley Railroad to Cherry
Street, i& a district owned by the Schaeffer Estate and occupied by about fifty
dwellings accommodating approximately two hundred and fifty people. The owners
of the dwellings have leased the ground and are responsible for their properties.
There arc no sewers in the tract, all kitchen waste and wash water goes to the
street gutters. The land slopes towards the railroad and the drainage ponds up
in the ditch on the side of the railroad where it causes a very great nuisance
which bas been the cause of a written complaint made by the Attorney of the
Lehigh \'alley Railroad to the State Department of Health. There is a culvert
under the railroad at Chestnut Street which leads to Shenandoah Creek. Im-
mediately west of Gilbert Street and along the railroad there is an open,
swampy tract which is used as the town dump. On the day of the Department's
inspection night soil in considerable quantities was found deposited here. This
dump is complained of by the railroad company. Pig pens and cow sheds in tliis
neighborhood add to the insanitary condition. The local authorities seem to be
totally unable to cope w^ith the condition or have been guilty of gross negligence.
Into Springhouse Run at Coal Street there is a ten inch sewer said to belong to
J. J. Franey. It has branches on side streets. Their extent is not known to the
Department. The .same may be said of an eighteen inch sewer on Center Street
emptying into the said run. It extends to Market Alley and has branches on
White Street and Plum Alley. Into same Run at Oak Street there is a twenty-
four in(h sewer owned by Conroy and others. It extends up Emerick Street about
one thousand feet to the Lehigh Valley Railroad. There are branch connections.
There is a private sewer eight inches in diameter south from Oak Street laid
along the Lehigh Valley tracks to the culvert near Main Street. It has branches
in White Stn-et and Market Alley. Into Shenandoah Creek there is an eight inch
sewer, six hundred feet long which empties at the foot of Union Street. It is
owned by Frank iNIc.Vndrews. There is a ten inch line on Bridge Street which
empties into the Creek. It is owned by O'Hern and others. Above this outlet
there is another into the Creek twelve inches in diameter. It is on Centre
Street and the line is owned by Curtin and others. The last mentioned sewers are
in the eastern portion of the borou^:h. Near them is a ten inch sewer on Coal
Street nine hundred feet long, which empties into Waste House Run.
There are other private sewers in the borough and there are also sonie drains built
by the borough and reported to be used exclusively for street drainage. The names
and sizip and lengths of sewers herein stated are subject to correction. Under
the circumstances, absolute precision has not been attempted. However, the De-
partment has made a house to house canvass in an earnest effort to secure the
most a'.iiilnble information.
The territory immediately south of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in
the eastern part of the borough is occupied largely by foreigners residing in tene-
1068 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
ment houses in connection with which there are many privies overhanging Shen-
andoah L'reeli.
The l!o]-ough Council has considered the project of building sewers through the
territory meutioued in ihe .jouiplaint of the Lehigh \'alley Railroad Company
but an appJieation for approval of such sewer extensions has not been made to
the Commissioner of Health.
The sewers constructed by the borough, for which approval is asked, is the
Lloyd and Chestnut Street line already described as built and in operation. It
empties into Kohinoor Creek.
The conditions in the borough invite an epidemic whose cost might easily ex-
ceed one hunlred thousand dollars. From au economic standpoint alone a com-
munity of the size of Shenandoah cannot afford to tolerate such unsanitary con-
ditions. Trivios should be removed from the banks of the streams. Proper re-
ceptacles should be constructed for excrement and the local health authorities
should see to it that these, vaults are cleaned out before they become filled and
the contents be disposed o'f in a sanitary manner. The natural water courses
should not be used as open sewers. Sewage should cease to be discharged into
them and into the street gutters or onto the surface of the ground. The practice
of dumping objectionable matter into the swamp or along the railroad or any-
where in the borough should be stopped.
The borough must take the initiative. A public sanitary sewerage system is
demanded. As many of the existing sewers as possible should be incorporated
into the public sewer system. Manholes and ventilating devices and flushing
facilities should be afforded. Some sewers may need to be reconstructed altogether.
Unsewered districts should be provided with sanitary sewerage facilities. A
comprehensive sewerage plan should be devised to collect all of the sewage of
the entire borough and to convey it to some point where the sewage may be treated
and the liquid be discharged into the waters of the State without injury to any one.
An engineer skilled in the re-designing and laying out of sanitary sewers should
be employed by the borough to work up the plans and these plans should be
submitted to the Commissioner of Health for approval. The Department of Health
will be glad to advise with the borough in this undertaking.
It is reported that tlie assessed valuation of Shenandoah borough is three mil-
lion one hundred and four thousand dollars, and that its indebtedness is in the
neisrhborhood of two hundred thousand dollars. If these figures he true then the
municipal borrowing capacity is about seventeen thousand dollars. So it appears that
the town cannot undertake any extensive improvement at the present time.. But
the borough can prepare plans as herein outlined and can negotiate with the owners
ot the private sewers or with individuals who may wish to invest in a municipal
undertaking of • the kind for the construction and maintenance of an improved
system of sewerage for the borough. The State Department of Health will be
compelled in the interests of public health to deal with the individual owners of the
sewers in bringing about a discontinuance of the existing nuisances and menaces,
unless the bonmgh shail take the initiative. A joint plan would be more efficient
and economicai and best serve the interests of all concerned.
The local authorities are amply able to secure the services of an expert and
to prepare the plans.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that
approval of the Lloyd and Chestnut Street sewers be withheld and it is hereby
and herein withheld and the borough council is notified that it must forthwith
prepare plans for a compreliensive system of sevvei'age and sewage disi)osal works
as hereinl).-fore outline and that it shall submit such plans to the Department
of lleiijth for approval on or before the first day of February, nineteen hundred
and nine. However, the borough shall within ten days from the date? of this decree
notify the Department of Health of its purposes with respect to compliance with
the decree. Failure on the part of the borough to so notify the Department of
Health will be construed as iiu a<imission of the intentional violation by the bor-
ough of Act rmo hundred and eighty-two, approved by the Governor of Pennsyl-
vania, April twenty-second, nineteen hundred and five.
llarrishurg. Pa., November Oth, 1908.
SOUTH CANONSBUKG, WASHINGTON COUNTY.
This application wns made by the borouKli of South <^!anonsburg, VViishington
County, and is for |)erinission to extend its sewer system and to discluirgc' the
sewage lln-nrfroiii throu;,'h new sewtu's into (Ihartiers Creed; within the limits of
the borough.
The boroutrh of South Canonsbiirg is a rapidly growing industrial community
of aliout eighti-en hunrirfd inhabitants, located in the valley of ('liartiers Creek
along the Hcutii brink of snlfl stream opposite thf; borough of (!iiiionsliurg, also
a manufacluring town rapidly growinu and hiiving a population i)ossibly in the
neigliboihood of fi\'<- tliousriiid. I'ractieally these iwo nniiiieipiilities are one
comrriunit.v. The mimIu sti'cct of onif is iilso the main sti'e(!t of I he other. The
thoroughfare is known as Ceiiti'iil Avenue iind <'xlciids up into the Inblf hind
country beyond the boroughs.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1069
East of this thorough fare, along the crei'k iu South Cauonsburg, are the low-
lands siiljject to flood during fre.sliets. Merc iu the northeast corner is the plant
of the Fort Pitt Bridge Works, where are employed at times six hundred hands.
A spur track alTords shipping facilities. It connects to the main line of the Char-
tiers Vallei' liailroafl, ji branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad system, extending
up the valley from Pittsburg, passing along the north bank of the creek through
Canonsburg and terminating at Washington iiorough, the county seat, eight
miles beycud. In nineteen hundred the population of the borough under con-
sideration was six hundred and ten only. Its sudden growth has been due to the
establishment of the said bridge works in the town.
Near the bri<lge works is the plant of the Canonsburg Pottery Companj', em-
ploying about two hundred mm, boys and L:irls. Iu this vicinity also is a lumber
yard. These three an- the only industri<'.s within the borough limits. Ilowever,
south of it in the vicinity in North Strabane Township, is a large coal mine
the Pittsburg KulTalo Company. And three-quarters of a mile below the town
on the north bank of the creek in Cecil Township is the plant of the Standard Tin
Plate (.."ompany, where are t-uiployed at times possibly a thousand hands. And
up stream on tlie north bank in Chartiers Township just beyond the Canonsburg
bcrough liiie is the piant of the Burk Stamping Company, employing seven
hundred men.
The inhabitants of -these two municipalities dwell in houses located principally
on the hillsides, for the reason that the topography is rugged and there is no other
location availnbii>. The slopes are quite precipitous and therefore natural surface
drainage most excellent. Sevi'ral small sums pass down to the main stream.
The principal one in Canonsburg has been enclosed in a masonry structure four
feel in diameter and filled over to make available sites for dwellings and business
blocks. No sewage is discharged into this run. The district is well sewered on the
separate plan with a main intercepting sewer ten inches in diameter discharging
into the creek at the lower borough line, which is at a point about twelve hun-
dred feet beknv the easterly borough line of South Canonsburg.
South Canonsburg is traversed by two small runs, both of which receive, sewage
from individual houses.
The principal run rises iu the hills south of the borough and follows down
(Jentral Avenue to the creek. The other stream is in the northwestern part of the
borough in or along Oak Alley and Richland Avenue to the creek.
The district comprised by the two municipalities has a common public water
supply furnished by the (.Canonsburg Water Company. The source is surface
water from a tributary of Chartiers Creek called Little Chartiers Creek. The water
is pumped into a conci'ete lined reservoir, holding about eight million gallons,
whence it is distributed by gravity to the two boroughs. The daily consumption
metered is five hundred thousand gallons. The inhabitants of Canonsburg very
generally take public water, but less than one-quarter of the dwellings in South
Canonsburg are supplied with this water. The reason for this is alleged to be lack
of adequate facilities for the disposal of waste water in the latter place. There are
ia the neighborhood of three hundred individual wells in the borough. Most of
them are excavated in the gravel formation and loosely walled up.
Slop and wash water is generally thrown out on the ground or drained to a
stream. The privies arc located over holes dug in the ground, aflfording oppor-
tunities for percolation. Surface drainage into these holes is thought to be com-
mon and in consetiuence there is more or less danger of contamination of the
well water supply. In spite of this condition typhoid fever is reported to be
almost an unknown disease in the borough. No cases have been attributed to the
local pollution of w'ell water.
There are three private sewer outlets into the creek. In order up stream they are
as follows:
A ten inch sewer from the Fort Pitt Bridge Company's plant.
A six inch sewer at foot of Jefferson Avenue, length nine hundred feet and with
it at present are connected about eighteen dwellings. The conduit is not properly
flushed and therefore, is in an unsanitary condition. The outlet is seventeen
huiulred feet above the first named.
The last outlet is one thousand feet above Jefferson Avenue and is also a six
inch pipe. Its point of discharge is near the westerly borough boundary. It is
known as the Hospital Sewer and receives all of the waste matter from this in-
stitutiim.
The sewage from the Burke Stamping Company's plant is also discharged into
thi stream. The point is probably one thousand feet above the hospital sewer.
Down stream below the Canonsburg sewer outlet, sewage is dischargeii into the
<-reek and also industrial waste from the plant of the Standard Tin IMate Company,
anil about one-half mile below this point the sewage from the State Reform School
at Morgan/a is discharged into the strt^am, so it is reported.
The petitioners employed an engineer to devise a comprehensive sewer system
on the separate plan for the collection of the sewage of the borough. This plan
has been adopted and submitted for approval. It contemplates a twelve inch
intercepting sewer following down the valley near the south bank of the stream, be-
ginning at the foot of Richland Avenue and terminating at the outlet into the creek
at the lower borough line.
The system is to receive house drainage only, to be ventilated through manhole
covers, to have manholes at changes in line and grade with flush tanks located
68
1070 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
at all summit ends. The miiuiiuim grade is to be five-tentbs per ceut. Tile
cellar draius surr.mudfd by brukcu tiUmr are to be laid in the same treuch paral-
lelini; the sauiiary sewer. * The outlef is lu be submerged at low water, it is rep-
resented that not over one hundred and twenty-tive couneotious will be made with
this system during the first year of its use.
The" highways of Cauousburg borough are generally surfaced with brick paving.
The authorities of South L'auousburg coniemplate a similar improvement of the
streets in South Canonsburg, where at present there is nothing but dirt sur-
faces. The urgency for sewers is more the one of economy in laying pipes in those
streets which are to be permanently paved before the pavement is put down,
than to provide for general sewerage. Therefore it is not intended that the entire
sewer system shall be coustructed at the present time.
In Older that all existing sewers be intercepted, the proposed main sewer
should be extended west of Richland Avenue or some way provided for the con-
nection of the system to the hospital.
In some cases it is good sound policy for a municipality to afford drainage facili-
ties to its industries. AYhile the Burke Stamping Company is outside of the ter-
ritory of both Canonsburgs, nevertheless these municipalities might with reason
assist this concern to obtain a sewer outlet into the public system.
Below this point and near the Canonsburg borough line is a property owned by
the Canonsburg lee Company, ^\■ater is drawn from the creek and flooded upon
the company's land in cold weather for ice harvesting purposes. Complaint has
been made to the State Department of Health that this ice is sold for domestic
use. Notihcatious had been sent out warning local officials and the ice company
that the ice harvested in this manner and at this place is unsuitable and dangerous
when used in any way permitting contact with foou stutfs or drinkables.
Chartlers Creek rises in South Franklin Township, Washington County, a short
distance above Washington borough and flows in a general northeasterly direction
about forty-eight miles measured along the stream to its junction with the Ohio
River, which it enters at the borough of McKees Rocks and E.spleu dist;rict of the
cicj of I'ittsburgh. Thy area so drained comprises about thn^e hundred and six
square mih-s, of which about eighty square miles are above the proposed sewer
outlet at South Canonsburg.
At this point it is evident that the creek has received considerable mine dram-
age as evidenced by the characteristic color of such water. There are thirteen coal
rnines on the watershed above Canonsburg. They are all below the borough of
Washington. The drainage from them gravitates to the creek or its tributaries
and renders the waters totally unsuitable for drinking or general household uses.
The sev/age of Washington borough is discharged into the creek. However, a plant
for the treatment of this sewage is in process of erection.
At Morganza and also nine and one-half miles below Canonsburg at the Allegheny
County Poor Farm, the waters of the creek are used for the meaner household
uses. Complaint has been made about the unsuitability of the supply for bathing.
At this county institution and at the boroughs of Bridgeville, Carnegie and
Crafton which are by the course of the stream thirteen and one-half, twenty-
five and twenty-.seven miles, i-espectively, below South Canonsburg, municipal
sewage is discharged into the creek.
Undoubtedly the health and comfort of the citizens of South Canonsburg will be
promoted by the proposed sewer system and without any measurable increase of
the sewage pollution of Chartiers Creek. Nevertheless, ultimately all sewage must
be treated before being emptied into the waters of the State. This is contemplated
in the sewer plan in so far as the separation of sewage from storm water is con-
cerned. . .
While it is the policy of the State to bring about the discontinuance of the
sewage pollution of streams, this is to be done in a manner consistent with'
the demands of justice and until the public institutions in ('hartiers valley shall
have taken measures to provide some other rm-aiis of disposal of sewage than into
the creek, more especially, in the ease of the Stat<' Reformalory , whose sewage
now contaminates a portion of the; water supply of the County I'oor Farm at
Miirshaisea, the sewage of South (.'nnonsburg might be permitl^ed to be discharged
into tiie stream. The ecjuity of such a i)i'rinit is strengthened by the fact that
C.inoiiKi)urg sewage is now discharged untreated into the stream and that economy
and cflicii-ncy dictate that there should be a juiiit sewage disposal system for
this borough and for South (Canonsburg. Probably tiiis joint project would cost
eacli town fully one-half less than an independent plant would cost each town.
In view of the above considerations, it has been determined that the inlerests
of tlie puliiic health demand (hat a permit be granted and it is herel)y and herein
granted to the borou^di of Soulii Canonsburg to build the |)roi)OHe(l sewer system
or any pari thereof. However, siuf'c it is reported tliat the borougii's assessed
valuation pennits a Iota! municiiiai indebtedness of thirty-eight thousand five
liundrefl dollars, or thereabouts, before the constitutional limit is reached, and
the present bonded inflebtedness is nineteen thousand, five hundred dollars; if
tliese figures be correct, there is not enough money to j)ay for the sewer system
and the extensive paving irnprovenu'nts contemplated and also to i)ay for the
erection of i»urification works. It may be that the local authorities intend to
assr-BH tiie cost of sewers and paving upon almtting eslates and if this were done,
there would be a possible way of providing funds for (he disposal works. Therefore,
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1071
[\n'. Siiid (l('liTiiiiii:ii inn llial a ijermit be issued for the sowt-r syslcin was con-
liugfiil, (Ml the <iiinlili<iii ilial tht; [xTniit slimild In- Ui tlu- horou;;!! t<» l)nild what
sewers it lUH'ds in sliccls to ho |>aved , hut that ihe sewers slioiild not ho used
until the honmyh pri'iiaies plans, either indepemlcntly or ia conjunction with
Canonsbuig for a st-waue disposal plant and suhinit the same for approval.
Therefore the permission to South Canousburg to install a sewer system is hereby
giveo under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIltST: That all storm, roof and ground water shall be excluded from the
system, or if admitted in limited quantities, it shall be under conditions which
shall admit of reaily exclusion of such waters whenever this may prove desirable.
Such admission shall receive the specific approval of the State Department of
Health.
SiOCOND: At the close of each season's work a plan and profile of the sewers
built during the year shall be prepared and filed in the oliice of the Commissioner
of Health , together with any other information in connection therewith that may
be ri'ijuired.
THIRD: The proper local authorities shall provide at the earliest practicable
momeul a public sewer fur every estate from which sewage is now being discharged
into any of the waters of the Stale, or upon which a nuisance may exist whose
abatement demands a public sewer.
FOURTH: Extreme care must be exercised in the construction of the sewer
pipe joints to make thorn water-tight, more especially since tile underdrainage is
to be laid in the same trench, with the sewer. In event of leakage of sewage
into the tile underdraiu, which doubtless will have outlets at convenient lioints
into natural water co\irses, said outlets would become the avenues of escape
for sewage. In this event, the tile outlets would be stopped up permanently and
the borough authorities must use caution and not guarantee to the householder
that the umlerdraiu outlet shall be always and permanently maintained. To
obviate the improper use of the underdrainage system, it is specially stipulated
that the proposed sewerage system shall be built under the responsible super-
vision and direction of the engineer designing the system, or same one thoroughly
skilled and competent in sewer construction.
FIFTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or any part thereof, has become a nuisance or menace to public
health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted as he may advise or ap-
prove.
SIXTH: No sewage from the proposed sewer system shall be discharged into the
waters of the State at any point except at the outlet of the system herein ap-
proved at or near the northeast corner of the present borough territory and not
then until after the borough of South Canousburg shall have prepared detailed plans
and a report on sewage di.sposal works for the treatment of the borough's sewage,
and these plans and roin)rt shall have been submitted to and approved by the
Conunissioner of Health or modified or amended.
SEN'ENTH: On or before July first, nineteen hundred and eight, the borough
of South Canousburg shall prepare plans, either independently or in conjunction
with the borough of Canousburg for the treatment of the borough's sewage and
submit these plans and report thereof to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
It this be done, the Commissioner of Health may grant temporary permission to
the borough ro discharge its sewage into Chartiers Creek, which temporary
permission shall not cease in advance of the date upon which the sewage from
the State Reform School at Morganza shall cease to be discharged into Chartiers
Creek.
EIGHTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on the premises.
The Ijorough is advised to take into consideration the expediency of providing
sewerage facilities for all of the industrial plants in the vicinity.
The Department of Health will notify the proper officials of the public institu-
tions at Morganza and Marshalsea of the desirability of the treatment of the
sewages from the.se institutions.
The Department of Health will also notify the borough of Canousburg that
it failed to comply with the section six of Act one hundred and eightj--two, ap-
proved April twenty-second, nineteen hundred and five, and that, therefore, its
sewer system is not exempt from the provisions of this Act against the discharge
of sewage into the waters of the State.
And further, the said borough of (,'auonsburg will be requested to prepare plans,
either independently or in conjunction with the borough of South Canonsburg
foK the treatment of the sewage before it is discharged into the creek and submit
these plans to the Dopartment of Health for approval on or before July first, nine-
teen hundred and eight. If this be done, the Department of Health may fix the
time in which such treatmi>nt works shall be constructed, which date shall not
be in advance of the date upon which the sewage from the State Reform School
at Morganza is ceased to be discharged into Chartiers Creek.
Harrisburg, Pa., February 11th, 1908.
1072 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
SOUTH CANONSBURG, WASHINGTON COUNTY.
This permit is issi-.ed to the bofuiigh of South Canonsburg, Washington County,
and is for the cvmstiuctiou of sewage purihcatiou works for the treatment of
th? sewage of South Canouaburg and Canonsburg boroughs, in conformity wilh
plans therefor submitted by the former municipality.
It appears that on February eleventh, nineteen hundred and eight, the Com-
missioner of Health issued a permit to the said boi'0"gli "jf South Canonsburg,
Washington County, to extend its sewerage system and to dseharge sewage there-
from into Chartiers Creek within the limits of the borough, under certain con-
ditions and stipulations, among which were the following.
"No sewage from the proposed sewer system shall be discharged into the waters
of the State" at any point except at the outlet of the system herein approved at or
near the northensi: corner of the present borough territory and not then until
after the biirough of South Canonsburg shall have prepared detailed plans and a
report on sewage disposal works for the treatment of the borough's sewage, anil
these plans and report shall have been submitted to and approved by the Commis-
sioner of Health or modified or amended.
•'On or before July first, nineteen hundred and eight, the borough of South
Canonsburg shall prepare plans, either independently or in conjunction with the
borough of Canonsburg for the treatment of the borough's sewage and submit these
plans and report to the Commissioner of Health for approval. If this be done, the
Con-.raissioner of Ilealth may grant temporary permission to the borough to discharge
its sewage into (^hartiers Creek, which teiuporay permission shall not cease in
advance "of the date upon which the sewage from the State Reform School at
Morganza shali cease to be discharged into Chartiers Creek."
At the same time the Commissioner of Health notified the borough of Canons-
burg to prepare plans either independently or in conjunction wilh the borough of
South Canonsburg for the treatment of its sewage.
In response to these actions both municipalities jointly engaged the services of
an expert and plans were submitted on August thirteenth, nineteen hundred and
eight, for joint purification works.
The borough of Canonsburg has at the present time a fairly complete system
of sewers built on the separate plan. These discharge through a twelve inch main
sewer into Chartiers Creek just below Bridge Street.
The South (,'anonsburg main sewer, also twelve inches in diameter, recently
completed, discharges into Chartiers Creek at a point fifteen hundred feet above
Bridge Street.
The description of the sewerage systems of both municipalities is contained in the
said permit of February eleventh, nineteen hundred and eight.
It is estimated that Canonsburg has a present population of about four thou-
sand, at least one-half of which make use of the sewers; and that South Canons-
burg has a population of about fifteen hundred. Few, "if any connections have
yet been made with the sewers at South Canonsburg, although it is expected,
now that the system is about completed, that they will be generally used in the
future.
The sewage flow in the Canonsburg main sewer was roughly gauged during dry
weather and found to be about two hundred thousand gallons per day. The system
i.s intended for domestic wiistes only and although there may be a greater or less
number of down spout connections it is believed that the flow will never be ex-
cessively increased during wet weather. The size and grade of the main sewer is
such as to make it impossible iov a very iai'ge volume of sewage to I'oacli the
present outlet of the future purification works. No gairgings have been made of the
South Canonsburg output, as the system was not complete at the time of the in-
vestigation.
The proposed sewage purification plant is designed to purify sewage from
approximately sev.-U thousand people. On a basis of seventy-five gallons i)er capita,
this woidd fie five hundred and twenty-five thousand gallons per day. This pro-
vides not only for a combined increase in both boroughs of fifteen hundred jx'ople,
but also a)lf)ws for the total population, when the abo\-e figure is reached, being
conne<-tcd with th'; sewers. In otiier words, the [)!ant should iturify about twice
as much sewage as will be discharged from both boroughs (hiring the present year.
'J'lie works can be operated at excessive rates for shoil periods; and the pumping
equipment is of siiflicir-nt cajiacity to handle one million six Inindi'ed Ihoiisand gal-
lons pr-r day, wiiich is jjrohably as much as tin- main sewer could convey to the iniinp
well. The purification woiks proposed are d('signed to be i-cadily extruded or dupli-
cated.
The site chosen for tlie sewage works is located aboni hall' n mile below the cor-
porate limits of Canonsburg on land lying south of the creek between the creek and
the highway. Tlie nearest houses are those at lOast ranousliurg (a suiall unincor-
porated comriMUiityJ six hundred f(!et distant from the center of tin; proposed filters
and at an elevation some thirty feet higher than (he filters. The prevailing summei-
winds are from a westerly direction. This would tend to drive any odors originating
from the purification works, in a direction away fiom the jibo\e lucnlioued houses
or any other houses. In support of this slalement the peliliou meulioned (h;i( the
ground near the proi»osed sit<; has been and is being used for dunij)ing night soil ;
and that this practice is continued without complaint on the part of the people of
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1073
East Canonsbnrg. The site has not yet been purchased and no definite boundaries
have been fixed ; but a tract of eight or ten acres is contemplated as ample room for
the plant and future extension.
Before choosinu: this site, other sites farther down stream were investigated.
One of these was on low laud in the rear of the "Tin Plate Mill ;" and the other
one was one-half mile east of the proposed site on land south of the steam rail-
road tracks and across the creek from the I'enusylvania Reform School at Morganza.
Neither of these last mentioned sites has marked advantages, as regards dis-
tance from habitation, over the site chosen. Giving weight to the matter of
pievailing winds these sites are less favorably located, so the borough considers.
These facts, taken together with the matter of increased cost of extending the
force main and the increa.sed cost of pumping, afford sufficient ground for re-
jecting both of these sit(!S, in the opinion of the municipal experts.
When the purification woi'ks are built it is proposed to tap the South Canons-
burg main sewer with au eight inch inverted syphon, at a point seven hundred feet
above tJie present outlet and to divert the sewage into the Canonsburg main
sewer.
Just above the present Canonsburg cutlet it is proposed to construct a manhole
from which an eight inch syphon is to extend, beneath the creek, to the screen
chamber at the pumping station. A weir with crest at elevation nine hundred and
seventeen will be constructed in this manhole and will form an emergency overflow
through the present outlet. The pumping machinery will force the sewage, through
two thousand feet of cast-iron main, to purification works consisting of screen
chamber, settling tank, sprinkling filters, final treatment basins and sludge beds.
The final effluent may be readily disinfected if desired in the future.
At the pumping station the sewage, after being roughly screened, will enter a
pump well ten feet by twelve feet in plan, with a maximum capacity of seven
thousand gallons, or from ten to twenty minutes flow. The pumping machinery
will consist of a four inch centrifugal pump and a five inch centrifugal pump
driven by fifteen and twenty horse power motors, respectively. The motors will be
started automalically by means of Hoat switches when the sewage in the well has
reached any dosiretl level. The rate of emptying the pump well can be made
to vary from several times the rate of inflow to approximately the same rate as
the inflow.
The ten inch force main discharges into a screen chamber, provided with two
sets of screens each set comprising a half and three-eighths inch screen. From this
chamber the sewage passes into one or both of the two settling basins. Each of
these is seventy-five feet long, twenty feet wide, divided longitudinally by a baffle
wall upon which the roof rests. The minimum depth in the tank is eleven feet,
this giving a capacity of one hundred and twenty-five thousand gallons each. With
both in use, there will be pro\i<led, based on the nominal capacity of the tanks,
a twelve hour period of retention. It is possible that one settling tank may be
used for a month at the time, while the other is allowed to stand idle and the
decomposition of the sludge allowed to take place.
It will be noted that the general dimensions of the tanks are such as to pro-
vidi; a relatively high velocity of travel with the idea of more thoroughly dis-
tributing the sludge. At a point near the center of each tank is provided a by-
pass;, through which the sewage can be drawn, if it is desired to decrease the
period of retention. The tanks are arranged so that they may be readily
cleaned.
Located between the two settling tanks is a syphon chamber which receives the
flow from tlii'se (auks. When the sewage has reached a |)re(letermined level
ic will discharge through an automatic syphon into the e(iuali/.ing chamber and
thence into the dislribuling i^ystem of the filters. At the outh-t of the settling
tanks brass weir pla(es are provided, by the use of which the quantity in each dose
may be increased by including therein a portion of the contents of the settling tanks
themselves.
The filters are two in nmnber and they are to be composed of broken stone,
havin;^ an average depth of five and five-tenths feet. The area of each is one
iiunilii'.l and thirteen feet by eighty feet, or a total area of forty-four one-
hundredths acres. These were provided for treating the sewage, when the plant
has reached a capacity at a rate of sixteen thousand people per acre, or one mil-
lion two hundred thousand gallons per day. It will be some years before the filters
are called upon to pcM'form this work.
The sewage is to he distributed onto each fdter through six lines of cast-iron
pipe resting on conciete jiiers and jilaced about two feet below the surface of the
filters. The lines are six inches and four inches in diameter. Each line connects
directly with the sixteen inch supply pipe extending through the central gallery.
Each line can be cut out of service independently and a flanse at the upper end
permits the cleaiiinu out of any deposits, if necessary. Spaced seven feet six
inches apart on each of the lateral distributors are cast-iron risers extending
to the to]) of the filtering material. Every other riser will be provided with a
sprinkler nozzle and the remaining risers will be capped. The nozzles and caps
may be changed when desired in order to more thoroughly distribute the
sewage.
The imderdrains are fornn'<l of six inch channel pipe place<l in an inverted po-
sition on the concrete floors of the filters. The lines of underdrains are eighteen
68—17—1908
1074 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
inches ceutre to ceutre. They discharge into an open channel in the hottom of the
central gallery
The bottom of the filters has been placed above the level of high water in the
creek. The elevation of the sewage in the settling basins is to be nine hundred
and thirty-six and iive-tenths. The elevation of the invert of the sewer at the
pump well is nine hundred and fourteen. Hence the plans show a vertical height
of twenty-two and five-tenths feet for the lifting of the sewage into the purification
works. The surface of the filters will be at elevation nine hundred and twenty-
eight or eight and five-tenths feet below the water level in the settling tanks.
Just below the filters are two final treatment basins, either one or both of
which can be used. The combined capacity of these basins is about sixty-eight
thousand gallons, or three hours' flow, based on the nominal capacity of the plant.
The basins are large enough to permit, if desired in the future, the application
of a disinfectant to the effluent after it has received some two hours of plain sedi-
mentation.
The sludge beds are two in number, each twenty-five by fifty feet and have
a combined area of two thousand square feet. Althottgh placed on opposite sides
of the final treatment basins, they are connected by an iron pipe so that they can
be used as one filter. They will receive slitdge from the settling tank throtigh the
ten inch ca«t iron pipes, shown on the plans, and from the final treatment basins
by means of sluice gates.
Around the final treatment basins and sludge beds an embankment or protecting
dyke is to be built, carried ttp to elevation nine hundred and twenty-four. The
sludge basins are to have underdrains laid on earth and covered to a depth of two
feel with sand. The underdrains will empty into the outlet pipe from the final
treatment basins from which a fifteen inch terra cotta drain will lead vmder the em-
brnkment to the edge of the creek. This pipe will have a flap valve on it, so that
tiie invert will be at elevation nine hundred and fourteen.
No by-pass for untreated sewage to the creek is afforded. The shortest passage
through the works would be throtigh the settling tanks and sludge bed. The filters
will not be put out of commission during freshet stages of Chartiers Creek.
The entire layout is a careful design based on modern practice and should af-
ford to the municipalities an efficient and economical system. It is adapted to
additions in the future The only objection there can be to the site is its prox-
imity to buildings.
In compliance with the previous terms of the permit hereinbefore mentioned,
the boroughs now expect a formal approval of the plans, carrying with it per-
mission to discharge sewage temporarily into Chartiers Creek until the sewage
from the State Reform School at Morganza shall have ceased to be discharged
into Chartiers Creek.
On general principles it is better to concentrate the care and attention necessary
at a sewage disposal works to one plant if this be feasible. In the preparation of
plans for the treatment of the Morganza Institution sewage, the State may be-
stow some thought on the advisabiltiy of one plant being erected in Chartiers
valley to take the sewage from the State Institution and from the Canonsburg
and South Canonsburg boroughs. However, this may not be practicable of
!iltimate accomplishment, and the possibility of the project need not interfere
with the approval of the plan now under consideration.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved by
approvinir tlie proposerl sewage disposal plant for the boroughs of South Canonsburg
and Canfinsburg and the same is hereby and hi^rein approved and a permit issued
for the temporary discharge of sewage into Chartiers Creek from the sewer system
of South Canonsburg until plans for sewage disposal works for the State Institution
at Morganza shall have been prepared and approved and an appropriation made
therefor, and the construction of the work begun; at that time the Department
of Health will notify South Canonsbui'g of the fact and South Canonsburg bor-
ough shall within one year from tlie date of such notificitiou , either independ-
ently or in com'unction witli Canonsburg borough, construct the sewage dis-
posal works hf-rein approved or such part thereof as shall be decerned necessary
by the Department of Health, or in substitution for this plant or any portion
thereof, shall fonstruct such other sewage disposal works as the Department of
Health may ap[)rove. fill under conditions and stipulations to be made by the
Depart mf'nt of Health of the Commonwealth.
Ilarrisburg, I'a., August 25th, 1908.
SOUTH SHARON, MERCER COUNTY.
This applieation was made by the borough of South Sharon relative to sewerage
.ind is for approval of sewer extensions const nictr'd by said liorongh between the
dates of April twenty-second, nineteen hundred and five and December first, nine-
teen hundred aiifl seven, consisting f)f nine tliusand five hundred and foiMy-eight feet
of crjmhined sewers, rant'ing in size from ten to thirty inches in diameter and
dischar^'ing throu'.rh existing sewers into the Shenango River williin llie limits
of the borough.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1075
It appears that the borough of South Sharon is nn industrial community of
eiijht thousand population, located in the extreme western i)nrt of the State of
Pennsylvania in Mercer County. It is bounded on the north by Shenanjjo bor-
ough, on the east by Hickory township and on the south by Hickory township
and WTieatland bor()ui,'h, on the west by the State of Ohio and the Shenango
River. As late ns eiulitcen hundred and ninety, the land includi-d within the
borough limits was used almost entirely for agricultural purposes, but at that
time the location of steel plants in this region brought thither a large population
and the settlement has sprung up as a suburb to the borough of Sharon. In
nineteen hundred and two the present borough limits consisting of a tract of land
with an area of one and seven-tenths square miles, was incorporated as the bor-
oudi of South Sharon.
The borough is located on the eastern bank of the Shenango River, a tributary of
the Ohio River. This river has its source in Conneaut township, Crawford County,
approximately forty miles above the borough of South Sharon. It flows in a general
southerly direction thmu^di the western part of Crawford, Mercer and I^awrence
Counties, draininir with numerous tributaries, a portion of the eastern section
of the State of Ohio and emptying below New Castle, into Beaver River. Along
the valley of the Shenango River throughout its entire length, there are many
steel industries, such as are found in the Pittsburg region. These industries
furnish the main occupation for the inhabitants of the many ' boroughs and towns
located in this valley. The Sharons together with the borough of Sharpsville,
comprise one of the main groups of these communities and extend for several miles
along the bank of the Shenancro River.
Three miles above South Sharon is the borough of Sharpsville with a population
estimated at thirty-five hundred and twenty miles above is the borough of Green-
ville with a population of sixty-five hundred. These boroughs discharge their
sewage into the Shenango River, menacing the water supply of the Sharons.
Greenville has been granted a permit by the Department of Health to extend
its sewerage system under the condition that the sewage be properly treated
before being discharged into the river, and the Department has now under con-
sideration a decree with respect to Sharpsville's sewage disposal. Below South
Sharon there are numerous boroughs and cities which take their water supply from
the Shenango River. I'rominent among them is the city of New Castle, with a
population of thirty-five thousand and located twenty miles below South Sharon.
The water supply of this town is taken directly from the Shenango River and it
is filtered before being supplied to consumers.
The elevation of the Shenango River at South Sharon is eicrht hundred and
thirty feet above sea-le\-el during ordinary stages. The river has a fall of about
eight feet to the mile and at a point immediately west of the center of the borough
it takes a deep bend entering the State of Ohio. The banks of the river are about
eight feet above low water mark. On the eastern bank there is quite an extensive
area of flat territory extending for a distance varying from five hundred to fifteen
hundred fei^t easterly. This area comprises about one-half of the total area of
the liorough of South Sliaron and on it are located the great industrial plants of
the United Statr>s Steel Corporation and allied industries and also the business
section of South Sharon. From the eastern edffe of this level tract of land the
groiind rises rapidly to the eastern boundrv of the lioroush. At this point the
elevation of the land is about two hundred and fifty feet above the river. On
this slojie are located the residences of the boroucrh inhabitants.
The drainage, therefore, of the borough is directly westerly to the Shenango
River. The topo2:ra|ihy is broken slightly by several small runs extending from the
enstern portion of the borough to tho river. The largest of the.se is Haywood Run,
whif'h extends throusrh the center of the borouirh.
The United States Steel Cor()oration plant and allied industries furnish the
wealth and occupation of the citizens of South Sharon. The Carnegie Steel
Company's plant of the United States Steel Corporntion is ensasred in the manu-
fncture of p'ltz iron and open hearth steel and employs twenty-five hundred men.
This corporatinn occupied a tract of land consisting of five hundred acres and
located in the bend of the Shenanuo River in the western portion of the borovigh.
This company hns about two hundred and fifty acres cohered with the various
furnaces and buildin'zs representina: an outlay of many thousand dollars. The
American Sh^^et and Tin Plate Company, engaged in the manufacture of tin
plate . occupied a tract of land of twenty acres and enuiloys about eleven
hundred people. This plant is also located on the Shenango River. Between the
tin nlate works and the Steel Company's plant are located the Mercer Works
which employ five hundred people. It is also engaged in the manufacture of
tin plate.
West of the Steel Company's plant is the plant of the Sharon Steel Hoop Com-
pany, located within the borough limits immediately on the Ohio boundary line.
This plnnt occupies twenty-five acres of land and emjdoys fourti^en hundred
people. There is also n wire mill owned bv the American Steel and Wire Company,
a subsidiary corporation of the United States Steel Corporatitui. In the eastern
portion of the territory occupied by the United States Steel Corporation, there
is a built-up section of South Sharon borough known as Little Italy. This
section is occupied almost entirely by foreigners and it is estimated to contain a
population of one thousand persons.
1076 THIRD ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
South Sharon borough is traversed by two railroads, which enter it at the
southern boundary and extend northerly through the center of the borough into the
borough of Sharon. These railroads are the New Castle branch of the Erie
Railroad and the Erie and Pittsburg Railroad, which is a part of the Pennsyl-
vania system.
These railroads lie in the eastern portion of the low tract of laud and furnish,
with numerous sidings, ample facilities for entering the various industrial
plants.
The Sharon Water Works Company supplies water to Sharon, South Sharon and
the portion of Hickory township in Pennsylvania and some individuals in the State
of Ohio. The plant has a capacity of four million gallons per day and supplies,
on an average, one million seven hundred and twenty thousand gallons per day
to sixteen thousand nine hundred and seventy consumers, or about oue hun-
dred gallons per capita per day. The pumping station is located on the west
bank of the Sheuango River near the northern boundary of the borough of Sharon.
The supply is taken from the center of the river through a twenty inch intake to a
concrete well. It is pumped from this well into a scries of sedimentation tanks
and then passes through eight rapid sand filters each with a capacity of five
hundred thousand gallons per day when operated at a rate of one hundred and
twenty-five million gallons per acre per day. A coagulant is supplied to the water
before it enters the filters. After passing through the filters the water is pumped
into a protected reservoir of two hundred and ten thousand gallons capacity,
located in the State of Ohio, about three hundred feet above the low district of
the town. The water is supplied to the consumers from this reservoir through a
series of mains ranging in size from two to twelve inches. There is also a by-pass
.so that water can be pumped directly iuto the mains if necessary. It is esti-
mated that one hundred and twenty thousand gallons of water are used for
industrial purposes in the borough of Sharon. The industrial works in South
Sharon borough take their water directly from the river and the water works
supply water only for fire pi'otection.
The largest of the industrial water works systems is that of the United States
Steel Corporation, which also supplies the American Steel and Wire Company.
This supply is taken from the Shenango River at a point below the bend in
the u-estorn p((rtion of the borough after the river has re-crossed the Ohio boundary
line. The supply is carried through a four foot by six foot conduit to a central
cistern where the company has a pump station. Tho normal supply of water in
thif; system ranges from forty-five million to fifty million gallons per day of which
thirty-five million to forty million gallons are used by the Sto(>l Company. All
of the industrial plants are equipped with deep driven wells for drinking purposes.
Thcsp wells range in depth from eighty-five feet to two hundred and eighty feet and
are cased and protected from any surface run-off.
The borough water supply is used for drinking purposes. It is reported that no
analyses have been made of the public water supply for two years. Typhoid fever
hn^: been prevalent in the Sharons, and the water supply is viewed with suspicion.
South Sharon is equipped with a combined system of sewers ranging
in size from sixty to ten inches. Tliore arc over ten miles of sewer in the bor-
ough, which cover quite thoiT)uu:hly the residential scc-tion of the borough and the
business section located east of the industrial plants. The system is divided iuto two
drainage districts. Spearman Avenue, which extends northerly and southerly
til rough the entire length of the borough and about one-half way up on the slope
in the eastern portion of the borough, divides the two districts.
The westei-n district, which lies between Spearman Aveiuie and the industrial
plants, is drained by a thirty inch outfall sewer which empties into the Shenango
River near the southwestern boundary of the borough. This thirty inch sewer ex-
tends across the property of the United States Steel Corporation for a distance of
fifteen- iiundred feet from the Shenango River to Rroadway Avenue. At this
point it is fed by the thirty inch and twenty-four inch sewer extending northerly
and souIIh riy along Rroadway A^'cnue resi)ectively. These sewers are in turn
f>'d by a system of laterals rangin^r in size from twenty-four inches to ten inches
and draining all ilie liuilt-u|) teiTJtory west of Spearman Avenu(>. There are four
miles of sewers in this district, of which over half are above fifteen inches in
diameter.
Tiio eastern drainaue district is drained by a sixty inch outfall sewer which
empties into the Slioii.'iniro River at a point near the southern boundary of South
Sliiiron lioroii'/h. 'I'his sewer extends for a distance of nine hundred fe(>( from
the river to llie foot f)f Spearman Avenue, crossing the pro|)ei'ty of the United
Slates Steel Corporation. At this i)oint it is fed by a twenty-four inch sewer
which extends easterly along Rroadway and l)y an extension of thi^ sixty inch main
sewer wliicli extenrls thirty-three hundred and fifty feet nortiiei-ly jilont; Si)earnian
Avenue iind in fed by a system of laterals ranging in size froin forty-eight inches
to twelve inches. There jire six miles of sewers in this disti'iet nnd ne;irly half
of these pre over fifteen inches in diametei'. This system of sewers drains all of
the territf)ry in the borough east of Spearman Avenue to the borouu:h line.
.\o profile'^ of tJie sewers have been submilt(>d to the Dejjartnient , so tiiat it is
impossible to detr^nnine th(! capacities. It is i-eporli-d thai the system is designed
to take care of ;i rainfall of one ineji per hour. The sewcu's are jirovided with
manholes with perforated covers.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1077
The industrial corporations in the western half of the borough discharge their
sewage through private systems directly into the Shenaiigo River. Of these the
system of the Lnited States Steel Corporation is the most expensive. It con-
sists of over two miles of sewers, rangmg in size from six foot outfall sewer to a
fifteen inch lateral. Through this system the Steel Corporation discharges an
enormous auKiunt of water which is necessary for the operation of the mills. The
water from the American Steel and Wire i'lant is also carried through this system.
In addition to the industrial wastes, Haywood Run, which enters the property
of the Steil ( 'ur|joratiou near the western center of its boundary is carried through
the main outfall sewer.
The various oHices of the mills in the Steel Company's plant are equipped with
modern sanitary conveniences and tiie sewage from the closets and lavatories is
dischary^ed into this system. In the eastern portion of the steel comiiany's plant
there is a settlement known as Little Italy, which is connected with the main
sewer system of the Company. Only slop and sink water, however, is admitted
int(^ the sewer system from this settlement and individual vaults are provided for each
house in this group.
No data is given by the borough officials in making application in regard to
the amount of domestic sewage which is taken care of by the existing system
and no facts are presented in regard to the number of individual sewers and cess-
pools existing in the. borough. On account of the extensiveness of the borough's
system and the absence of streams sufficiently large to carry away the sewage
from independent sewers, it is probable that most of the sewage is emptied
directly into the borough system..
South Sharon borough has made application for the approval of nine thou-
sand five hundred and forty-eight feet of laterals, consisting of six hundred and
forty feet of thirty inch, three hundred feet of twenty-four inch, seven hundred
feet of twenty inch, four hundred and eighty-four of eighteen inch,
three hundred and seventy-two feet of fifteen inch, six thousand and
thirty-five feet of twelve inch and ten hundred and seventeen feet of ten
inch terra cotta sewei-s. These sewers were constructed by the borough during the
years nineteen hundred and five, nineteen hundred and six and nineteen hundred
and seven. Tliey are located mainly in the northern portion of the borough and
drain through the two existing outfall sewers into the Shenango River. No pro-
files of these sewers were submitted to the Department. It is stated that they
were built to take care of both storm water and domestic sewage.
The sewage of Sharpsville which is now discharged into the Shenango River is a
menace to public health in South Sharon and Sharon. While it is true that the
public Mater supply of South Sharon is filtered, nevertheless, it is a well known
fact and thoroughly demonstrated that a filter does not always remove the poisons
that are in the raw watei-. The well known Butler epidemic was caused by
temporary breakdown in the water purification plant. During the current season,
a typhoid fever epidemic has occurred in Royersford and Spring City, Montgomery
County, by reason of the overrating of the water filter. In order to protect
public health, sewage must be kept out of streams used as sources of public water
supply. The Department has now under consideration a decree with respect to
Sharpsville sewage disposal. Greenville borough, located a number of miles above
South Sharon on the Shenango River, has been required to purify its sewage.
The city of New Castle, whose sewage menaces the supply of water at Beaver
Falls and New Brighton, has been required to perfect plans for sewage puri-
fication works. The citizens of Sharon and South Sharon cannot expect the State
to take preventative measures with respect to preserving the purity of the water
above South Sharon's intake and not take the same measures to protect the
purity of the waters above the intake at New Castle. Therefore, South Sharon
must forthwith prepare plans for the treatment of its sewage.
It seems expedient that there should be a trunk sewer along the river to collect
the sewage from Shiiri)sville and both the Sharon boroughs and possibly Wheatland
and to terminate in a sewage disposal plant which sliall serve all the munici-
palities in the district. This should be the most economical and efficient plan
provided the municipalities would work together.
No attempt to treat the flow from the combined system of sewers as existing
at pre.'^ent in this horoiiu'h , including the enormous nm-off during the times of
storm, would be prohibitive. It will be necessary, therefore, for the borough
authorities to make a thorough revision of the plans of the sewerage system and
to construct such additions as will be necessary to separate the main storm
drains from those which can be used for purely sanitary purposes. Fortunately
the existing layout of tlif^ sewer system should furnish an easy solution for this
pi'oblem. No profiles are on file with this Department so that it is impossible to de-
termini' the feasibility of combining the two existing drainage districts, yet it ap-
pears that the sanitary sewers in the extreme eastern ]iortion of the borough
can be directly connected to the sewers in the western section and the thirty
inch outfall sewer along Hroadway Avenue can be used as a sanitary sewer. This
will allow the main outfall sewer from Spearman Avenue to carry the large amount
of storm water which it at iiresent takes care of.
In considering (he remodelling of this system, the borough officials should
pay particular attention to the exclusion of roof water in all cases where it is
possible. This Mill materially assist in the reduction of the wet weather flow.
Comprehensive plans for a sanitary sewerage system based upon the existing
1078 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
system of se»vei"s should be tlosigued and adopted by the borough aud improve-
menis cau then be uuiUe in the future to conform with these phius until liually a
perfect system is installed.
It is reported that the assessed valuation of the borough is four million six hun-
dred and eighty-four thousand eight hundred and fifteen dollars, and that the
bonded debt i.s one liundred and fortj'-five thousand dollars. The main trunk sewers
in the borough have been constructed entirely from borough funds and all laterals
have been built by direct assessment upon abutting properties. Under these conditions
it is seen that ihe borougii can still Liurrow over one hundred and eighty-two
thousand dollars, so that, with the system in existence of constructing laterals,
the borough is well fixed financially to remodel this sewerage system and to con-
struct sewage disposal works or to pay its proportion of cost in a metropolitan
system or plant. If the borough tloes not care to incur an indebtedness which
nearly equals the maximum amount allowed by law, it is not impossible for it to
enter into a contracc with private capital to construct the necessary sewers and
sewage disposal works so that there is no excuse why South Sharon should con-
tinue to discharge its sewage into the Shenaugo River to the menace of human life.
In view of the fact that the borough has extended its sewer system in viola-
tion of the Act of April twenty-second, nineteen hundred and five, aud in view of
the other facts hereinbefore discussed, it has been determined that the interests of
the public health demand that a permit be withheld, and approval is hereby
and herein withheld of the sewerage system of the borough of South Sharon and
a decree issued as follows:
FIRST: The borough of South Sharon shall on or before the first day of De-
cember, nineteen hundred and nine, either independently or in conjunction with
other adjacent municipalities, prepare plans for the collection of all of the sewage
of the borough and for its purification in a sewage disposal plant, and shall submit
these plans to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
SECOND: The sewerage system shall be designed to collect the sewage of the
industrial plants and of all properties in the borough.
THIMD; The borough shall on or before the first day of January, nineteen
hundred and nine, inform the Commissioner of Health what its purpose is with
respect to complying with this degree. Failure to so notify the Commissioner of
Health will be cmstrued to bo a settled purpose on the part of the borough to
proceed in definace of this decree to pollute the waters of the State.
Harrisburg, Pa., October 21st, lOOS.
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Stroudsburg, Monroe County, aud is
for permission to (;xtend its sewer system and to discharge the sewage therefrom
into McMichaels Creek, within the limits of said borough.
Stroudsburg is a substantial business and residential communily and the seat
of government of Monroe County. Its present population is estimated to be thirty-
eight hundred. In nineteen humired it was thirty-four hundred and fifty. It is
located on the flats at the base of the Brodhead Creek drainage basin from whence
this stream, by means of a deep gorge cut through a range of the lUue Ridge
Mountains, passes easterly into the Didaware River three miles distant, entering
the river at a point immediately above the borough and celebrated resort of
Delaware Water Cap. Above Stroudsburg said basin comprises an area of two luui-
dred aud forty-eigiit square miles of extremely mountainous region, more partic-
ularly in the northern portion where are located many delightful sunuuer resorts and
cottage settlements. Such places as I'ocono I'iues, Cresco, Buekhill Falls, Swift-
water, Canadensis, Mountain Hume and Mt. I'ocono are known far beyond the
confines of Pennsylvania. The altitude is high, the water pure, the roads ex-
cellent, the hotels comfortable as may be attested by the many thousands of people
who annually frequent the region.
The main tributary of Brodhead Creek is McMichaels Creek. This stream beads
in the western part of Monroe County, flows southerly for six miles and thence
turning at right angles takes an easterly course and flows along the foot of the
mountain known as Godfrey Ridge, a distanci; of sixteen miles, emptying into
Brodhead Creek in the central part of Stroudsburg borough. It traverses a semi-
agi'ieultur.ii district and drains one hundn-d ami four scjuare miles, nearly one-half
of this amount beimi in the local vall(!y of I'oenno ('reek wiiicli risers in the central
part of the country and Hows south(!rly to McMichaels Creek, which it enters in
Stnjudsburg. This valley in its lower part is an agricultural district and in and
a<ljae(-iit to the !)orough the banks of the stream are low and the adjoining laud
sul)ject to inundation.
McMichaels ('n-ek divides Stroudsburg into a north and south part and Pocono
CJreek is tli(! eastiTly boundary of the part of the borough known as the west end.
On both streams within the ineoi'porated territory of Stroudsburg is a dam and
mill [irivilege. A tail race from the I'ocono Creek mill exlerids through the bor-
ough east of Ihe stream in the built up part of tin; town and em|)ties into McMichaels
Creek above the dam on the latter.
No. 17. ' COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1079
The race ou McMichaels Creek extends from the dam just above Fifth Street
Bndjie easterly between Main Slieel ami the creek to the coullueuce of Mc-
Micliaels uud DroUheud (.'reeks.
The old aiiil iiriucipal part of the town lies north of McMicaels Creek and be-
tween JLiroidK-aii and I'ucono Creeks. Immediately to the north are hills. The
town site hemmed m in this manner is a Hat table land elevated about thirty feet
above the stream. The south side is a level plateau elevated about fifty feet above
the creek and extending back to the foot of (Godfrey llidge. The west end is low and
sparsely pupulated. Here are the repair shops of the Wilkes-LJarre and Eastern
Division of the New iork, Susquehanna and Western Railroad, employing one
hundred and fifty hands.
Local passenger trains are operated on this line but it is principally a through
tide water freight road from the anthracite coal fields. Both this railroad and
the main line of tl'e Delaware, Lackawanna and Western pass from the Delaware
River basin over into the Lackawanna River valley by ascending the Brodhead
gap and valley. The latter railroad passes northerly through East Stroudsburg
borough which is opposite Stroudsburg, being separated therefrom by Brodhead
Creek. The passenger station in the easterly borough serves both municipalities.
The New York, Susquehanna and Westeni road passes through the south end
of Stroudsburg and up i'ocono Creek valley. The other railroad follows closely along
Brodhead Creek to its summit.
The main street of the town extends easterly to North Fifth Street and thence
it passes in a northeasterly direction into the valley of Brodhead Creek, con-
necting by a highway bridge wich the main thoroughfare in East Stroudsburg
named Washington Street and terminating at the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western depot.
The Kilson Woolen Mill, giving employment to about two hundred hands, is on
Main Street east of North Fifth Street, between Main Street and the Mill Race,
leading from Wallace's dam ou McMichael's Creek. Trade waste and sewage from
the plant, are discharged into the race. Further east on the south side of Main
Street, near Brodhead Creek, is the gas company's plant from which refuse is dis-
charged into the stream, and this is the case at the brewery and also at the
cieameiy north of Main Street, near the banks of Brodhead Creek. Sewage and
wash water from the Monroe Steam Laundry is discharged into Pocono Creek.
The water supply is furnished by the Stroudsburg Water Supply Company.
There are three sources, namely, Foxtown Spring Run, Flagler's Run and Brod-
head Creek. The Department is not in possession of plans or detailed information
ot the system, but the company reports that the principal supply is obtained from
Brodhead Creek at Stoke's ilills, two and one-half miles above the borough. Raw
creek water is raised by water power pumps from this point into the mains of the
town, but a portion of the water goes to Flagler's reservoir on the hill north of the
borough.
It is reported that over one-third of the inhabitants use water from domestic
wells and springs. The geological formation is gravel, porous and abounding in
ground water. The favorable opportunity for percolating cesspools has been taken
advantage of. There are three hundred and twenty-four cesspools of the loose wall
percolating type and there are also five hundred and sixty-three privy vaults being
used as receptacles for sewage. The danger in the practice of drinking water taken
from wells in proximity to cesspools and privy vaults seems to have been recognized
by the passage of local ordinances. One of them requires that any privy, cesspool or
house drain, located on property fronting on a street in which a public sewer is hiid
shall be connected to said sewer whenever such privy, cesspool or drain is a nuisance
or danger to Ihe health of the inmates of the house. Another ordinance declares
it to be unliiwfiil to construct or use any cesspool or property fronting on any street,
alley or court on which a public sewer shall have been laid and all private sewers
constructed within the limits of the borough, connecting with any public sewer,
shall be under the supervision of the borough authorities.
It is often the case that recognized dangerous conditions are tolerated because the
penalties are not summarily exaett'd. It appears that typhoid fever and other
wiiter borne diseases have thus far been normal in rate in Stroudsburg.
There are three public sewer outlets, each one being into McMichael's Creek, and
mentioned in order up stream they are as follows:
A forty-four inch by sixty-six inch conci'ete egg shaped sewer into the creek at the
fool of North Fourth Street ; a sixteen inch cast iron sewer at the Fifth Street
Bridge; and a twenty-two inch sewer at the foot of Sixth Street. The sewers con-
tributing to these outlets all take storm water.
The largest outlet drains the greater part of the town. The concrete structure
diminishes in size until at its upper end, at the corner of Sarah and Eighth Streets,
two thousaiul. nine hiuidred and ninety feet distant from the outlet it is two feet by
three feet in dijuueter. Frein the creek it extends up Fourth Street to Sarah Street
and tor the remainder of its length it is in the latter highway. This thoroughfare is
at the foot of the slope leading up the hills to the north of the borough and for-
merly the surface watei-s rushed down the lateral streets and overllowed the roads
in the business section and the laml along and south of Sarah Street. The primary
object, therefore, of the drain was to carry off storm water. Connected with it
there are eight thousand feet of sewers whose diameters range fi-om eight to twenty-
four inches. The eight inch pipe comprises a length of twenty-one hundred feet, the
lOSO THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE. Off. Doc.
ten inch pipe thirteen hundred and thirty feet, the twelve inch pipe two hundred
and fony feet, the tifteou inch pipe thirteen liundred and seventy feet, the eighteen
inch pipe four hundred and eighty feet, the twenty inch pipe seventeen hundred and
eight feei and the remainder is twenty-four inches in diameter, these distances being
scaled from the maps submitted by the petitioners.
There is an old natural water course coming down from the hill in the northwest-
ern section of the borough. Where it crosses Scott Street, the waters have been in-
tercepted and are now being conveyed westerly by a drain in Scott Street, a distance
of twelve hundred feet to the mill race along Pocono Creek. At Thomas Street
n<»xt southerly the waters are intercepted and conveyed by an eighteen inch pipe east-
erly in said street and thence soiiiherly in Eighth Street by a twenty inch pipe to
liie main storm drain at Sarah Street, aud at Monroe Street the waters are inter-
cepted by fifteen inch ami twelve inch pipes, respectively, aud delivered to the main
storm drain. Southerly from Sar.ih Street, a distance of about a quarter of a mile,
the water course has been walled up and btiilt over aud is hidden from view. The
interception of the tiow at street crossings was accomplished because the old channel
was not sulBcii-nt to carry off all of the stormwaier at times. It is reported that
the covered section has been abandoned , but that some house drains continue to
empt}' therein notwithstanding the fact that orders prohibiting the discharge of
sewage into the water course have been issued by the local autliorities.
The sixteen inch sewer at the Fifth Street Bridge is the outlet for twelve hundred
and lifty feet of sewer laid southerly in Broad Street on the south side of the bor-
ough. The upper six huudred feet of this line is six inches in diameter. The South
Side has recently been laid out into streets aud house lots by a realty company.
There are said to be not over fifty dwellings in the district now ; they are chiefly
along Broad Street. So far as the Department knows, sewers have not been pro-
jected for the new development.
The Sixth Street outlet was primarily laid to serve as a storm water flow for the
Monroe Street combined sewer. During dry weather it receives no sewage except
from a short line of eight inch pipe from a large building on Main Street.'
Besides the private sources of stream pollution above mentioned, there is a sewer
emptying into the creek below Fifth Street Bridge. It extends up Main Street and
Ninth into the public square. It is ten inches in diameter and has a length of about
fifteen hundred feet. The private sewer from the Washington House is rei)orted to
empty into the creek near said bridge and there are other private properties from
which sewage is put into the stream. There are a number of privies on the north
bank of McMiohael's Creek.
The petitioners purpose to build a combined sewer south in Seventh Street from
the fifteen inch sewer in Monroe Street to Main Street, a distance of four hundred
and thirty feet, comprising some eighteen inch, some ten inch and a short line of
six inch pipe. It appears that Hotel Fulmer, having a capacity of about two hun-
dred guests, aud being fitted with numerous bathrooms and modern sanitary facili-
ties, is located at the corner of Maiu and Seventh Streets aud that until recently the
.sewage therefrom was discharged into the Main Street private sewer; but owing to
some obstruction in this ijrivate sewer, the exact cause of which has not been dis-
covered, said hotel is without any means whatever of taking care of its sewage,
and since this is a matter of some public concern, the borough purposes to lay the
sewer in Seventh Street for relief.
In order to provide proper drainage for that portion of the borough territory on
Scott Street, west of Eighth Street, the petitioners purpose to lay a twelve inch
pipe pxt'-nsioii to the Tliomas Street sewer northerly in a public way to Scott Street.
Sewage from East Sli'oudsbnrg is discharged l)y j)ri\ate sewers into Hrodhead (.'reek
in that boiouufh and an application for the eslablishmeut of a public sewer system
and for permission to empty sewage therefrom into said stream is now pending
before the State authorities.
Some of the mountiiin resort hotels empty sewage into the h(>nd waters which
feed the intakes of liie wMler works system oi Slr(MHlsl)iirg and of JOast Stroudsburg.
The latter's intake is for emergency purposes and has never he(>n used, so it is re-
ported. At least one eornitlaint against such Iiulel sewage disposition has been made
to the Comniis.sioner of Ileallh. It is easily possil)h' that pathogenic poison from one
dv/f-lling on the watershed might be transmitted down stream and lie iutrodnr(Hl into
the homes of the walei' consumers in Si romlshnig. 'I'iie great epi(hMni(;s (if I'lyniouth
and Buth-r, Nanticoke and Scranlon, besides others, were caused by aeeideiital jiol-
bition of the source of supjdy to tliose jdaerjs. For fear tiiat the waters of Flagler's
Kun watershed of the; S( rouflsburg Water Siipi)ly Company miglit l)e infeeted from
the farm lioiises, said company has retjuested tiie services of tiie Slate I)e|)artment
of Health in abating any menace thereon.
Below Stroudsburg along tlie Delaware River there are many municipalities in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey wliich are now using and must conliniie to use the
river as the source of public water supply and in these placi'S the water borne dis-
eas<'S are very numerous. To reduce the death rate fi-oiu these causes, a co-operative
plan has been adopted by both Commonwealths, whose end is the discontinuance of
the discharge of all stowage into the river and its tributaries above the points from
which water is firawn or may be drawn Uir public uses. At Heivi<ler(; and at Phil-
ipsliurL' nineteen and thirty-two miles respectively below Stroudsburg, water is
drawn from the Delaware River for potable inirposes. It is easily jiossible for
Stroudsburg's sewage to produce an epidemic in these places. It would be inconsls-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. lOSl
tent for the Commissioner of Health to cause the discontinuance of the discharge of
sewage into the water.s of the State above Stroudsburg and to permit Stroudsburg
sewage to ciiutinue indi-tinitely to be discharged into lirodhead Creek or anywhere
to the menace of public health below-.
Apart from health considerations, however, it should be a good business policy
for Stroudsliurg and East Stroudsburg to discontinue the pollutions of Brodhead
Creek. The region round about is a noiai)le health resort and its popularity is on the
increase. Tlie si reams aliound in (isii and the virgin purity of the waters should be
preserved as an invaluable asset, and especially since strong sentiments relative to
the subject are now entertained bj' the i)ublic.
There are certain methods of procedure for a municipality with respect to sewer-
age which should govern local authorities in carrying out the State polic}\ One of
them involves the preparation of a comprehensive sewerage plan for the entire
municipal territory for the collection of all of the sewage of the town and its con-
veyance to some point for purification. After such a plan is designed and adopted,
then the borough may build a sewer in any particular street in conformity to the
general plan from time to time, as necessity may require, without application to
the State Department of Health, thus obviating the necessity of rebuilding any por-
tion of the system to make it tit in to the other parts of the sj'stem.
Another procedure is the preparation of plans for the purification works which
shall l)e \iltimately built and the adaptation of the sewerage system to such works.
This involves the selection of a site for the plant and the determination of its eleva-
tions and general outline, capacity and the volume of flow which shall be provided
for to the plant. It is impractical to treat the enormous volume of storm water
which runs off from the street surfaces in the town because the cost is prohibitive.
However, it is practicable to treat the sewage if it be separated from the storm
water. It has been seen that the existing sewers of Stroudsburg are very large in
size and that they serve a combined purpose. Before a treatment plant shall have
been erected at Stroudsburg it will, therefore, be necessary for the borough to
devise a practicable plan of intercepting sewage proper. A certain percentage of the
stonn water may be conveyed with the sewage to the disposal plant possibly and
there be treated at a reasonable cost. But the large percentage of storm water must
continue to be delivered to the natural water courses. Just how much of the
existing sewer system may be incorporated into the improved sewerage and sewage
disposal scheme is a matter for detail sttidy by an expert engineer to be employed
by the borough. The State Department of Health cannot initiate surveys and plans.
Its olfice, however, is to act in an advisory capacity and this it will do.
It is reported that Stroudsburg's assessed valuation in nineteen hundred and seven
was one million six hundred and twenty-seven thousand three hundred and sixtj'-five
dollars, and that its bonded indebtedness was fifty-two thousand dollars. If these
figures be correct, it would appear that the municipal borrowing capacity' is in the
neisrhborhood of sixty-two thousand dollars, a suiu sufficient to enable the borough
to make a beginning in the inauguration of improved sewerage and disposal works.
There can be no doubt but that a joint intercepting sewer and sewage purification
works for Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg would prove more efficient and eco-
nomical than an independent sewer and sewage disposal plant for each place.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved by
approving the two short sewer extensions proposed, and approval is given for the
same and a permit granted therefor, under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That the admittance of sewage to the proposed extensions shall be under
conditions whereby its exclusion from said sewer shall be effected on or before the
time that said sewers shall cease, by order of the Commissioner of Health, to be
us(h1 as carriers of .sewage, provided any such order is ever issued.
SIX'ONT): On or before May first, nineteen hundred and nine, the borough shall
prepare a comi)rehensive plan for the collection of all of the sewage of the borough,
includiiig trade wastes and the flow from private sewers, and its couve3-ance to and
purification in a sewairi' disposal plant, and shall submit said plans to the Com-
missioner of Health for approval.
Til nil): This permit to discharge sewage into the water? of the State shall
eease on .May first, nineteen hundred and nine. If, on said date, the other terms of
Ibis permit shall have been complied with, then the Commissioner of Health may
extend the time in which .sewage may continue to be discharged into the waters of
the State.
The attention of the local authorities is called to the adviee herein given with
respect to a joint intercepting sewer and disposal project for Stroudsburg and East
Stroudsburg.
The borough C(uincil is advised to institute tests of well water of the town and to
cause an ab.indonnient of all wells found contaminated or so located as to be liable
to gross pollution. The Stale Dipartmeni of Health will institute a sanitary survey
of the water sheds fioni which tin- iiublie supply is derived and cause the abatement
of all menaces thereon.
All private pollutions as well as public sewers must eventually cease in the
borough.
Harrisburg, Pa., May 4th, 1908.
1082 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
SUMMIT HILL, CARBON COUNTY.
ThLs applicntion was made by the borough of Summit Hill, Carbon County, and
is for permission to construct a sewer system and to discharge the sewage therefrom
into streams in the vicinity cf the borough.
It appears that the borough of Summit Hill, Carbon County, is located on the
summit of Pisgah ^[ountain, at the divide between the basin of the Schuylkill River
to the west and the basin of the Lehigh River to the east. Below the town and
immediately north lies the borough of Lansford, and ten miles east is the borough of
Mauch Chunk. About three-fourths of Summit Hill naturally drains northerly into
Panther Creek, a tributary of the Little Schvtylkill River, and the remaining one-
fourth of the borough drains southerly into Mauch Chunk Creek, which enters the
Lehigh River at Mauch Chunk.
There are large deposits of coal on the north slope of the Pisgah Mountain and
immediately west of the borough. The town is wholly dependent upon the coal
industry. The population is about thirty-two hundred and most of the people take
public water supplied by the Summit Hill Water Company. The public supply was
originally obtained from springs located near the upper end of Mauch Chunk bridge.
The water, of course, had to be pumped to the town. These springs proved inade-
quate, and at the present time the supply is obtained from a driven well. For
short periods during dry weather it is occasionally necessary to pump water from
Mauch Chunk Creek. The area of the water shed above the pumping station is
not over one and a half square miles. The stream is fed by numerous mountain
springs. The water is pumped a vertical height of about four huudred and eighty
feet into an earthern reservoir located on the highest part of Summit Hill borough,
whose elevation is sixtj'-five feet above the highest part of the town. It is not de-
batable that all sewage should be kept out of the streams leading to the emergency
v.-ater works intake.
In Summit Hill there are possibly fifteen cesspools and upwards of six hundred
shallow earth privies. Private well water is thought to be more or less polluted by
surface contamination and the proposed sewers are wanted as a safeguard against
unsanitarj- conditions.
There are three sewer outlets in the borough. They were constructed since
eighteen hundred and seventy, take both sewage and storm water, and are too
shallow in places, inadequate and unsatisfactory. As soon as the proposed sewers
are installed, the intention is to either abandon or to use the existing sewers as
storm water drains only. The total length of these sewers is one and one-quarter
miles and connected therewith are about one hundred and eighty buildinas.
The Holland Street outlet discharges sewage down a valley tributary to Little
Mauch Chunk Creek. During dry weather the sewage is said to seep away into the
ground, but during heavy rainfalls it is washed by the storm water down into the
main stream abo\e the point where water is drawn from the creek and supplied to
the citizens of Mauch Chuuk at times. Railroad Street sewer outlet empties into a
burning coal mini' in tlie southwestern part of the village. There is a pool at the
outlet which creates a nuisance and has been the cause of many complaints. The
Hazard Street outlet discharges to the north of the borough down the mountain side
in the direction of Lansford.
The new .system proposed, for which approval was withheld, was to receive both
sewage and storm water. The outlets were to be in the same general locality as the
outlets of the old sewers. There wane to be four drainage districts.
The Holland Street district was to comprise about; forty acres, servo about four
hnndrf^d people, have an outlet twenty-two inches in diameter and empty into the
tributary of Mauch Chunk Creek above the point upon which water is sometimes
drawn for public us"S in Mnuch Chunk.
The Ilaz-ird Street district was to comprise about fifty acres, reach about one
thousand people, and have an outlet thirty inches in diameter, and discharge on the
same area as the existing Hazard Sti'eet outlet at a point about two thousand feet
above the colliery of the I.ehigh Coal and Navigation Companj'.
The Railroad Street outlet district was the ])rincii)al one in the town. It was to
comprise an area of al)out seventy acres, reach about fifteen hundred peojjle and
have an outlet thirty-six inches in diameter, which, if necessary, was to be carried
westerly along the mountain side to Slum Creek, a tributary of Panther Creek,
which it joins a mile or so below Ijansford.
The West White Street district was to reach about one hundred people, have an
fiuth't eighteen inches in diameter and discharge down the mountain side into the
outcrop of a mamrooth coal vein about one-third of a mile from the built up part of
thr- borough to the northwest.
'I'lie waters of I'anthei' Crer^k and the streams into which it empties are in these
reylfins rendered unsuitable for domestic or manufacturing uses because of mine
drainage, and sewage discharged therein is largely dissipated and destroyed, owing
to the aci'lity of the waters and the presence of certain chemicals which cause the
fonnalion of a coa-.'ulant and the preciiiitation of suspenrled maftei'. However, it
does not necessarily follow that sewage can l)e iiidiscrimin.itely discharged into such
wat<Ms, and the time may conn- when it will be found necessai\v for the sewage of
Summit Hill to be subjected to some kind of tn-atment br'fore the liquids go into
natural water courses. Any sewerage plan for the borough should contemplate this
po.ssibility and be adapted thereto. It would be impracticable, jn all probability, to
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1083
attempt to purify mingled sewage and storm water, and, therefore, the State De-
partment (if Health returned the plans to the borough for reconsideration. Both
economy and efficiency seem to require that separate conduits for the sewage and
separate drains for storm water be planned, and that all of the sewage of the
borough shall be intercepted and discharged at one or more points on the north si<l<!
of Pisgah Mountain in the valley of Panther Creek, where in the future disposal
works might be located.
The modified plans now before the Department call for temporary sewer outlets
at the points (four in number) above described, but the sizes of the outlets and of th<'
.sewers have been reduced to eight inches, with the exception of the one for West
White Street district, which is to be ten inches in diameter because it forms a part
of the main intercepting sewer ten inches in diameter, which is, in the future, to be
laid around the north part of the borough to the Hazard Street district outlet.
At the Holland Street district outlet it is proposed to install a pumping plant to
rai.se the sewage over into the other districts, but it is not intended that this pump-
ing plant shall be built immediately.
The sewers comprise a total length of about four miles; they are well designed,
have self-cleansing grades, are to be provided with inspection manholes at changes
in line and grade and with automatic flush tanks.
Practically all of the land surrounding Summit Hill and in Panther Creek valley
is owned or controlled by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. It is under-
stood that no objection will be interposed by said company to the conducting of
Summit Hill sewage to and its discharge into some one of the tributaries of I'anther
Creek, provided this sewage does not roach or flow into any mine.
The applicants do not show any reason why a temporary outlet from the Holland
Street district should be p-»rmitted, and the Department is not aware of any change
in the conditions which obtained at the time of the formal decree herein cited,
making it necessary that no sewage whatever shall be discharged into the Mauch
Chunk Creek basin.
According to the last reports to the Department, the borough's borrowing capacity
was in the neii,'hborliood of thirty-seven thousand dollars. On March twentj'-fifth,
the munici))al buildings were destroyed by fire. The question of rebuilding them is
now involved with the question of raising funds for sewer construction. The instal-
lation of the proposed sanitary sewers, owing to reduced sizes, will prove an appre-
ciated measure of economy. The added cost of installation of an automatic pumping
lift to raise the sewage from the Holland Street district over into the districts in the
north part of the town should not be prohibitive.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved by
the granting of a permit for the construction of the proposed sanitary sewers, and
such permit is hereby and herein granted, under the following conditions and
stipulations:
FIRST: That all surface water shall be excluded from the sewer system and at
the close of each season's work plans of the sewers built under the system hereby
approved during the year shall be prepared and filed with the Commissioner of
Health, together with any other information in connection therewith which may be
required.
SECOND: No pathoge^iic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed on the
premises.
THIRD: If at any time the sewerage system or any part thereof shall have
become, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, a nuisance or menace to
public health, then such reomdial measures shall be adopted by the borough as the
Commissioner of Health may advise or approve.
FOURTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on the first day of May, nineteen hundred and eleven. If the boroush shall
have complied with the conditions of this permit, then, on said date, the Com-
missioner of Hen 1th may extend the time in which sewage may be discharged from
said sewer system into the waters of the State.
FIFTH: It is expressly stipulated that this permit is granted under the condi-
tion that the sew.Tire from the Holland Street district, or from any jiart of Summit
Hill boroiiL'h. shall not be discharged anywhere into the Mauch Chunk Creek basin,
but that it shall be raised over and discharged into the districts tril)utary to the
Panther (^reek valley, all in compliance with the plans herein -approved. Details of
the pimiping station and plant shall he submitted to ami approved by the Commis-
sioner of Health before the erection of the same is undertaken.
Harrisburg, Pa., April 24th, 1908.
SWARTHMORE, DELAWARE COUNTY.
These applications were made by the borough of Swarthmore. Delaware County,
Pa., and are for permission to extend its sewer system and to dischar:;? sewage there-
from through existing sewers into Crum Creek at a point outside of the bon)Ugh
limits of Ridley Township.
The borough of Swarthmore, with a i)ermanent population of al)out twelve hun-
dred, including the student body, is a strictly residential suburban community, lo-
cated in about the centre of Delaware County, eleven miles southwest of the heart
1084 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
of Philadelphia and two and a half miles southeast of Media, the county seat. The
central division of the I'hiiadt'lphia, Baltimore aud Washinjitou Railroad (Pennsyl-
vania System) passes through the borough, as does also a trolley line connecting
Philadelphia and Media, while another trolley line between these points passes just
north of Swarthmore. The borough is bounded on the north and east by
Springfield Township, on the south by Ridley Township aud an isolated
piece of Springfield Township, and on the west by Nether Providence Township,
which is separated from Swarthmore by Crum Creek. Five miles east of Swarth-
more, in the valley of Darby Creek, are the boroughs of Lansdowne, Clifton
Heights, Aldan, Yeadon, Darbs', Collingdale, Sharon Hill and Colwyn, where a
movement for improved sewerage has been recently set on foot. The boroughs of
Morton and Rutledge, between the last mentioned district and Swarthmore, have
no public sewerage. Swarthmore has a modern sanitary outfall sewer extending
three miles below the borough to tide water.
The borough is probably best known as the home of Swarthmore College and the
Swarthmore Preparatory School. At the college there are about four hundred and
fifty persons, including students, faculty and help. At the school there are one
hundred and fifty boarding scholars and several hundred day students.
Crum Creek rises twelve miles northwest of Swarthmore, near the borough of
Malvern and the village of Paoli (each about half on the water shed) , whence the
creek flows through a comparatively narrow, hilly agricultiiral water shed, about
thirty-two square miles in extent above Swarthmore, past that borough as its
western boundary, and continues in a general southeasterly course just west of the
villages of West Ridley Park, Fairview and Leiperville and just north of the branch
of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, and enters the Delaware through tidal flats at a
point about three miles below Swarthmore and about half a mile down the river
from the mouth of Darby Creek.
Malvern is reported as having no public sewerage. It is said that no manufactur-
ing wastes are discharged into Crum Creek above a paper mill of T. M. Royal and
Company, which mill is located in Bates Hollow about a half a mile above the
borough of Swarthmore. The plant is shut down at present, but is said to employ
about thirty men when running and to have been operated recently in making tissue
paper from comparatively clean raw material, such as paper shavings, linon scraps,
etc. The waste is said to be, and probably is, comparatively unobjectionable. A
very light tint is used occasionally.
The Victoria Plush Mill is located immediately north of Swarthmore borough on
the east bank of Crum Creek. The materials received at the plant are linen,
mohair and cotton, linen or mohair pile, according to the grade of mat(-rial. A
very considerable portion of the output is dyed, all dyeing being done in the piece.
The spent dye stuffs are discharged into a mill race on the property' or nearby, pos-
sibly amounting to eight thousand gallons dailj'. Spent bleaching liquors are also
finally wasted to the tail-race. Two hundred and thirty hands are employed wlicn
the plant is running under normal conditions. Sewage from water closets is (trained
to a percolating cesspool from which it is possible for overflow to reach Crum Creek.
There is also a privy over the tailrace on the proi)erty. The water privilege is used
for power purposes, but there is a steam plant also.
Crum Creek thus comes to Swarthmore comparatvely unpolluted except from the
dye wastes from the plush mills. Th(> stream is colored vividly at times by these
wastes.
Swarthmore borough covers about one and one-third square miles, extending aboul
a mile east from Crum Creek, a little more tlian a mile north and south along tin-
creek, r'rum Lynne Creek (sometimes called Jjittle Crum Creek) rises in the north-
eastern part of the borough and flows soutliward within the eastei'u borough line
and further down just east of said line, joining Crum Creek al)out two and a half
miles below Swarthmore.
The ejtstern two-thirds of the borough, containing more than nine-tenths of the
popvilation, slopes gradually to Crum Lynn(? Cheek, while the weslei'M one-third,
containing a few residences and a summer resort known as Strath Haven Inn,
slopes precipitously to Cj'uiu Creek. The (Jentral Division of the P. B. & W. R. R.
extends east and west through the central part of the borough, a little more of the
town being (o the south, the part to the nortli being on ground rising to an elevation
of r)ne iinndrt'd feetfibove tl)(; othei' part. 'I'iiis district, is known as "The Ilill" and
contains Swarthrnoi-e College. 'J'he Pri'paratory School is in the <listrict south of the
railroad.
Swarthmore College is located on the divide between the two creeks and shows olT
to great advantage. The original building, a large stone structure, was opened in
380!). Sinc(! then th<' total number of buildings lias increased to (iflc(>n. Tin- niiiu-
ber of residents at the colhige is now about four hundred and fifty, of which eighty-
nine are day Ktudents.
The college obtains water for drinking purposes from the Springlield Water (Com-
pany, while the supply frir r)th<'r |>urposes is <ibtained fi'om Dick's Run, whicli
rises in the eastern pai't of Media and ciilci's Crum ('reek froiii the west below ihc
college. Il s said that forty thousand gallons daily are us(!d by the colleg<' from this
source and that all the water is filtered arid pumf)ed. 'J'lie filter is said to be about
twelve by twenty feer and to have a total depth of four and a half feet, about the
top fifteen inches being sand and the rt^st coarser material. The sand is cleaned olT
No. 17. ■ COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1085
as it becomes dirty to a minimum depth of six inciies. Forty thousaml gallons daily
on tliis area equals a rate of seven million two liundred thousand gallons per acre
per day.
Four cases of typhoid fever developed in the college about February fifteenth,
nineteiMi hundred and seven. A careful investigation was made and it was found
that all the victims had returned from a vacation about February first and the in-
fection is believed to have occnrr<'d away from the college. The introduction of an
improved fdter is under consideration.
In addition to the campus, the college owns some trround in the eastern part of
the borough and a considerable tract on the slope to Crum (.'reek and just south of
the railroad within the borough. A ravine in the wooded valley of Crum Creek
heads in this property of the college.
The grenter part of the coHege sewage, including roof water, is conducted in a
ten inch pipe from the college undej' the railroad to the ravine just mentioned and
discharged into the small run therein, perhaps eight hundred feet from Crum Creek.
Old farm buildiutrs in the vicinity, also owned by the c<dlege, are sewered by a
Sinn II pipe eniptjing at about the same point and the sewage from the Swarthmore
Preparatory School on tbe divide between Crum and Crum Lynne Creeks and just
south of this ravine and from one or two houses near the school is piped to the run
already mentioned just below the college sewer outlet. The college sewerage system
was installed about twenty years ago.
Waste from the coal gas plant of the college is discharged to the same run above all
the sewer outlets. The gas plant is located in the ravine. Coal gas is manufactured
and supplied to the college and about fifty private houses in its vicinity. The sup-
plying of these private houses, the lighting of the college grounds the year round
and the use of gas in the laboratories throughout the year necessitates the operation
of the gas plant during the whole year. A well with a capacity of twenty barrels
is used for the storage of the gas tar produced and periodically, as the well becomes
nearly full, a concern in Wilmington is notified and ships fifteen barrels to the col-
lege, where they are filled with the gas tar and returned. The well is provided with
an overflow and it is said that this has been known to come into operation, dis-
charging to the run. Moreover, waste from drips and from the gas filter are dis-
charged into the run.
The run is in a most foul and filthy condition from the presence of gas waste and
sewage. It empties into Crum Creek through low swampy ground bordering back
wat'T in the creek above the dam and where boating is said to be indulged in during
the summer.
The laundry waste from the college is discharged by an eight inch pipe into a
ravine heading north of the college and of the railroad and passing down the wooded
slope to Crum Creek. Conditions here are also foul. This discharge enters the
creek above the back water above the dam just mentioned.
South of the railroad and of the college gas works ravine, and on the Crum
Creek slope are sixteen houses, most of them too low to be connected to the borough
sewerage system of the Crum Lynne Creek district, which houses are connected to
the Simmons sewn- installed by F. M. Simmons and discharging through a six inch
pil>o into Crum Creek in the southwestern part of the borough and just below the
ilam already referred to several times. The buildings connected to this sewer includes
Strath IImvcu Inn, a summer resort accommodating about two hundred guests and
located on the steep slope of Crum Creek overlooking the boating dam. (i'onditions
at the outfall of this sewer were not so bad at the time of the investigation. There
was but little sewage flowing, although there would undoubtedly bo much more in
the suiiiiner time. The outfall at one time extended well into the current, and al-
though three or four sections of terra cotta pipe had been washed loose the outlet
was still below the surface of the water. This dam also serves to divert the water
fiiriiishimr power to pinni) the Dick's Run water from Swarthmore Cf)llege.
The present public borough sewer system was installed abotit eighteen hundred and
ninety-eight. It was designed by and put in by contract under the direction of
William Easby, Jr., of Philadelphia.
The system is said to now include about thirty thousand four hundred feet of
eidit inch p\\io (nlthougli a small proportion nf this may be six inch), nine thousand
nine hundred feet of ten inch in the c(dleeting sewers and abotit two miles of twelve
inch and one inile of fifteen inch pipe in the outfall sewer extending down the valley
of Crtim T-ynne Creek and one thousand feet down Crum Creek valley to the outlet to
tifle water in Cnim Creek. The present borough encineer, Robert P. Creen. reports
that none of the grades in the collecting system are less? than five-tenths per cent.
Manholes are well distribtued throughout the system, there being very few, if any.
intervals between adjacent ones exceeding eight hundred feet, while most of them are
shortei'. The perforated covers are provided with dirt buckets.
The two main sewers of the collectini: system join in a manhole at the beginning of
the outfall sewer in the valley of Crum T>ynne Creek within fifty feet of the creek and in
the southeastern corner of the boroush. There is also a pipe connection (probably fif-
teen inch), from the creek to this manhole, throtmh which the outfall sewer may be
flitshed with creek water either by damtiiin^ the stream or at times of flood in the
creek, .\bni\t two miles below this point, just above the crossin;; of the creek and
the sewer under the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad tracks where the sewer is below
the normal flow in the creek, a similar flushing pipe connects a manhole with the
creek. This connection has been elTctuallv cemented up.
1086 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
For a part of its length tho outfall sewer extends through Ridley Park borough
and at least two wye connections have been built in manholes with the idea of per-
haps providing sewerage for part of Ridley Park. However, no agreemeul has ever
been reached and these wyes are unused and apparently eltectually sealed. Below
Ridley Park the fifteen inch sewer commences, probably because of flatter grades,
but also with a view to providing for the sewage of Ridley Park.
Clarence Deshonts, of Media, owns the property through which about the last
half mile of the outfall sewer extends, and on which is the outlet in Crum Creek.
The original agreement made under bond given by the borough to Deshontfe provided
that the sewer should be exronded to the Delaware or at least beyond Deshonts'
property within five yeai-s. Such extension was never made and Deshonts brought
suit for damages and was awarded five thousand dollars about five years ago.
The outfall sewer from near its upper end to below Ridley I'ark is, with the
exception of one or two short stretches below the level of the flow in (.^runi Ijyune
Creek. Below Ridlpy Park the sewer has been kept above the creek, at one place
probably by as much as fifteen feet. Within three or four hundred feet of the outfall
it falls at a considerable grade and then in a drop manhole and extends thence
through low, flat ground to the outfall. The sewer was probably designed and laid
at a considerable elevation above the creek up to this last sudden drop, with the idea
of providing sutiicient fall for a disposal plant or for extending the sewer to the
Delaware River.
On February the twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and eight, there was a flow at the
beginning of the outfall sower probably slightly increased by ground water, at a
depth of about one-fourth of the sewer. Down stream the flow was evideutly aug-
mented by ground water though not very greatly, considering the location of the
sewer. At but one manhole among the many looked into was there any evidence of
the entrance of ground water. The flush pipe from the creek to the beginning of the
outfall sewer, although above the normal height of the creek, was said to have been
sealed. However, this had become open and apparently high water in the creek
eight or nine days before the Department's inspection has caused an excessive flow
of considerable duration in the sewer from this flush connection. Whether deposited
by this storm flow from the stream or by some previous excessive flow from some
cause, the benches (level) in the manholes were apparently covered with silt and on
one or two places flow in the sewer was more or less obstructed as evidenced by
retarded flow at a greater depth than half the diameter of the sewer in the manlioles
above these points. At one point alxnit a mile below Swarthmore, where tlie sewer
has a steep grade above and a flatter one below, a manhole had overflowed I'ecenlly,
spreading sewage deposits on the farm land around it for a radius of perhaps twenty
feet, the flow having apparently extended to Crum Creek. Just above Ridley Park
the sewer crosses Crum Lynne Creek several times in cast iron pipe supported on
stone piers above the normal flow of the creek. Manholes with tight covers have
been provided at frequent intervals along the outfall sewer. The entire system is said
to have l>ecn carefully constructed and this is apparently the case.
The outfall through a cast iron pipe supported in masonry is into Crum Creek, a
short distance below the junction of the latter with Crum Lynne Creek and at a
point perhaps half a mile below the furthest point up the creek where tidal effects
are noticeable and about half a mile above where Ci'um T'reek takes its course
through tidal ilats and nearly a mile above the mouth of Crum Creek in the Delaware
River. The; average tidal variation at the sewer outlet is six feet. The outlet is
above normal tide, but is said to be covered by unusual tides.
Ventilation of the Swarthmore sewei's is provided for solely by perforated manhole
covers throughout the borough, there being no ventilation of the outfall. House
connections are put in with main soil pipe traps I'eciuired by borough ordinance.
These ventilating manholes are complained of more or less as nuisances, especially
in the higher parts of Swarthmore.
Roof water is by ordinance not allowed to be discharged to the public sewers. In
a few urgent cases, special permission has been granted for the connection of cellar
drains to the borough sewers.
A boroui.'h onlinance requires house connections to be i)roperIy made so as to
avoid, as far as i)Ossible, the introduction of ground water.
There are i)raclically no privies in the boi'ough. About twenty-five cesspools
remain in use. Il is reported that there were at one time many more, the remainder
of which have been abandoned for the sewer system inasmuch as the cesspools did
not indefinitely dispose of the sewage by percolation, bnt recpiired fre(|\ient cleaning.
The pulilic water supply is fiirnislied by llie Springfield W^-iler (Company, taken
from '"rum Creek two miles above Swarthmore and subjected to mechanical filtra-
tion and is said to be available to all the dwellings in Swarthmore. But very few
wells are left. The typhoid rate is said to be very low, but records are not on file in
the Department.
Crum Fiynne fJreek has not the appearance of being gnwHly polluted anywhere
throu-'liout its eourse. Such of Ridley Park's sewers as used to empty into it are
now intercepted. Iloweverj there are one f)r two i)i'ivieR over tiie l)ank of the
creek and its waters are slightly more turbid below Ridley Park than above. Its
course is entirely through farm lands and Tniich of it thi-ough wide, swampy bottoms.
Crum Creek, as already mentioned, flf)ws eoinparatively pure almost to Swarth-
more, where it is somewhat polluted by paper factory wastes and very noticeably by
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1087
dye wastes (porhaps not otherwise objectionable than in discolorations), and is then
further polluted by liiia house wastes and sewage.
Below Swartliniore, on both banks of Crura Creek, is the villaso of Avondale.
Here are ten or fift.'eii houses and a stone quarry. Most of the privies are directly
over the streara. The quarry is actively operated here, the outlet bein? via a branch
(not otherwise used) to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, crossing the creek a mile
and a half below. Down stream, about a mile below Avondale, are located in suc-
cession the viMages of Millmont, \\'esi Ridley I'ark, Fairview and Leiperville, all
east of Cnim Creek and a little distaul from its liauks. The last named village is
just above the Maryland Division of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington
Railroad. The settlements consist of the homes of laborers employed at the various
works along the Maryland Division of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington
Railroatl and the Chester Branch of the Philadelphia and Reading, which is still
nearer the river. There are but two or three houses anywhere near Crura Creek
betweeti the river and the .Maryland Division of the Philadelphia. Baltimore and
Washington Railroad. The Baldwin Locomotive Works have a branch works, em-
ploying about two thousand five hundred hands, and located southwest of Crura
Creek between the Reading and the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. The
works .ire said to be completely sewered to Crura Creek through two outlets, one
below and (me above the Swarthmcre sewer outlet. A quarter of a mile below the
latter just above where Crum Creek crosses under the Philadelphia and Reading and
enters the tidal fl.its is the outlet into Criun Creek of the outfall sewer from the
Principal sewerage system of Ridley Park. This is about a fifteen inch pipe. Ridley
Park is said to also have some sewere emptying into Stony Creek, a tributary of
Darby Creek.
The lower part of Crum Creek, as far up as its current is effected by the tide,
is foul in appearance and is said to give off more or less foul odors during wann
weather. At the time of the Department's inspection, when the tide was out, the
sewage froui the Swarthmore outlet was noticeable in the stream for perhaps one
hundred feet, but it did not seem to add materially to the polluted condition of its
waters.
Swarthmore borough purposes to make a petty extension to its existing sewer
system on Chester Road in the extreme northwestern pai't of the borough and to
build a lateral on Dartmouth Avenue to provide sewerage facilities to houses recentlj'
constructed. Proposals have been received for the construction of these eight inch
sewers. The borough also proposes to make future extensions to the sanitary sewer
system from time to time as necessity may require.
It is noted that the borough authorities have been very progressive in the adoption
and constructif)n of a modern sanitary sewer system and the local authorities are to
he complimented for the foresight exercised in this important public improvement.
The sewei's seem to be maintained in good condition and the extensions from time to
time are consistent with good public policy.
Before the installation of sewerage, the method of disposal in individual cesspools
had become irksome by reason of the frequent cleaning out and the cost incident to
their maintenance ; also because of the fact that the final disposition of the excre-
ment removed from the cesspools was no easy problem. The working of the existing
sewer system has been satisfactory.
At the present time it is reported that the assessed valuation is about one million
five hundred thousand. The municipal debt is rejtorted to be about eighty-six thou-
sand dollais. If these figures be correct, then the borough's borrowing capacity is
less than twcntj' thousand dollars, a sum iusutficient to defray the cost of the
erection of sewage purification works.
A poi)ul:iti<in of al)out fifty thousand in the city of Chester an<l its suburbs is now
supplied with drinking water, filtered, derived from the Delaware River. This
supply is (jolhUed by the sewage of Swarthmore and Ridley Park boroughs and by
the succession of boroughs in Darby Creek valley and by the sewei's in the city of
Philadelphia. The Crum Creek outlet is less than two miles distant from the intake
of the city of Chester water works. In carrying out the provisions of the State law
providing for the preservation of the purity of the waters of the State for the pro-
tection of the public henlth, the Commissioner of Health has notified the chain of
municipalities in D.nby Creek valley and also the city of Philadelphia and the city
of Chester that other methods of disposal of sewage than into the streams must be
brought about. No discrimination in favor of Swarthmore borough should be ex-
pected or given, but the State Department of of Health would not be justified in
demanding the purification of the sewage of Swarthmore in advance of the* treatment
of the sewage of Ridley Park borough. Both of these places would find it most
efficient and eeonoiuical to erect joint purification works somewhere along the line of
their existing outfall sewers.
The sewage discharged from the Swarthmore College and from the Preparatory
School and the waste walei-s from the gas house and from the industrial plants
should all be intercepted and kept out of the stream and properly disposed of,
pref(M-ably in the public sevicr system.
The part of the borough draining into Crum Creek has not been publicly .sewered.
I'nless the borough shall, within a reasonable time, take up this problem and pro-
vide for the interception and collection of all of the sewage in this district and for its
pumping over into the area tributary to the present outfall sewer, or provide some
10S8 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
other plan for tbo proper colleoliou and disposition of the sewage, the Commissioner
of Health will be obliged to proceed against the owners of the existing private
sewers.
Some complaint has been made about the poor ventilation in the public sewers.
It appears that in the higher portions of the town sewer gas collects and passes out
through the perforated manhole covers to the annoyance of a few people and possibly
of passersby. This poor ventilatiuu may be attributed possibly to the running traps
which are nlacod on the house connections between the house and sewer. Poor venti-
lation in the common sewei-s in the streets has been noted in other places where
traps on house connections are provided. A very good remedy would be to remove
the main traps on house connections, esi)ecially in the higher parts of the town, and
to provide an untrapped pipe from the main sower to the projection of the soil pipe
above the roof of the house. This wo\ild afford free access and sto]) any accumula-
tions of gas. On each floor of the house any fixtures connected to the main soil pipe
would, of course, be trapped. This system is quite imiversally in use where sanitary
sewers are constrticted.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved
by granting a permit to the borough of Swarthmore, and a jiermit is herebj' and
herein granted therefor under the f(dlowing conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: Complete plans of the present sewer system showing sizes and grades
of locations of manholes shall be prepared and filed in the office of the Commissioner
of Health, and at the close of each season's work, plans and profiles of the sewers
built during the year shall also be filed with the Commissioner of Health, together
with any other information in connection therewith that may b" re(|uired.
SECOND: On or before the first day of May, nineteen hundred and nine, the
borough shall, either independently or in conjunction with the borough of Ridley
Park, prepare plans for sewage disposal works and submit the same with itinns of
cost for treating all of the sewage of the borough to the Commissioner of Health for
approval. Such |>lans will be modified, amended or approved, and a time fixed for
the erection oi the works, having in mind the policy of the State with respect to
other municipalities in the territory.
THIRD: The borough shall prepare plans for the sewering of the territory
within its limits tributary to Crinn Creek with a view to intereenting the sewage now
being discharged into the waters of the State in said area and submit these iilaus to
the Commissioner of Health for approval on or before May first, nineteen hundred
and nine. Failure on the part of the borough so to do. however, will not constitute
a violation of the refiuirements of this p(>rmit, but will be constnu'd as the exercise
of a choice herein offered the local authorities, whereby if the V)orough so elects, the
Commissioner of Health will proceed against the owners of all sewei's in said district
now discharginir into ('rum ("reek within the borough limits.
FOTTRTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory .shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on tlie premises.
FIF'TH: If at any time, in the ojiinion of the Conunissioner of Healili, the
spwer system, or any part thereof ^ shall biM-ome a nuisanc(> or menace to the |)ublic
health, then such remedial measures sliall be ado))ted as llii> ("ommissioner of
Health may advise or ap|)rove.
The President of Swartliinore College and tlie Pi'esident of the Swarthmore Pre-
paratory School and the owners of the other sewers in that iiart of the town will be
notified that, jn-ovided plans are not furnished by the borough for the interception of
tlie sewage from their propeiMies, A\liieli s(>\\ni;e is now going into th(> waters of the
State, then the Commissioner of Healtli will be obliged to comiiel the owners of said
private sewers to diseontiniie the discliari;e of sewage into the waters of the State
preferably by the |»reparation of the plans for an inlerceiiting sewer down llie
valley to connect with the main borough outfall.
Harrisburir, I'a., Aui;nst L'r>, mos.
'I'.VKK.VTl'.M, .\IJ.i:(;iIK.\V COCNTV.
'I'hose a[)|di<-alioiis were niade |>y the boroiigli of Tarenliuii, .\llegli(>iiy County,
Pennsylvania, and are for |)erinission to extend its sewer systi'ui and to discharge the
sr-waire tiierefmm into IJiill Creek and the Allegheny Ki\er witliiii the limits of the
borough.
The borough of Tarentnm is a growing, manufacturing plaee of upwards of seven
thousand pflopie, locatetl rjn the west hank of the .Mle<;hen.\' Ivi\ei' about twenty-one
miles above .Mlegheny City, bounded on the nmlh by the borough of I'.rackenridgo
anrl on the west and south by East I)e<>r 'I'ownship. P>elow Tarentum, in the town-
shir* along the river, are the villages of Creighton, Ilites and (llassmere.
Abovf Rrackenridge, in Harrison Township, is the large village of Natrona.
Along (he river, i)aralleling it, is a ridge three hundred feet or more in height
with piv'cipitous sirles in sdine plaees. .\\ 'I'a rent um the slopes are not so steep as to
prevent llieir o'-cupation by dwellings. Some of the resiilenees of the boroughs are
on the HMinmit.
A stream by tlie name of Pull Creek euts throu-li Ihe ri(K'e in the borou;:ii and
empties into the Allegheny Ri\-er in Ihe south eenlral part of 'i'arenlum. 'J'h(> dis-
trict north of this creek is the business and principal section. The district south of
the creek is more hilly and the slopes steeper.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1089
The West iVnu Divi.siou u£ the IVnnsylvauia Itailioad lullows the foot of tho
slope about ouo ihoiisaiul tVi't fioin llio river iu tlie north district, but it is only half
of ibis dislauee from the river iu the south ilistriel, the interveuiug laud iu both
beiu;; couiijaratively level, aud aijout ihirty feet above the river.
Hull Creek passes to the river iu a deep, uarrow Korge quite level, the bottom
lauds beiug subject to overflow by the creek itself aud back flood from the river.
There are three exteusive iudustrial plants. Two of them are ou the bank south
of Bull Creek. The first is the works of the Tareutum I'aper Mills employing one
huudred and fifty bauds, aud the second is the plant of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass
Company employing about live hundred hanils.
Near the lUackeuridge borough line is tlie plant of the Flaccus Glass Company,
where are employed between three hundred and five hundred people. The water
supjjly at this place is taken from the river for industrial purposes and from drilled
wells for drinknig purposes. A part of the sewage is emptied into the public sewer
system and part through the company's private sewer to the river.
The driukuig water at the paper mill comes from a drilled well cased off to bed
rock. The water used iu mauufacturiug is taken from the Allegheny. There are four
private sewers from the works to the river. Sanitary sewers taking closet drainage
are fourteen inches and eighteen inches in diameter respectively. The trade wastes
are conducted in a twenty-four inch pipe and an eighteen inch pipe. Spent solutions
cf chloride of lime aud soda are discharged into about two million gallons of water
each day aud passed through sewers into the river.
The drinking water at the Plate Glass Works comes from a dug well about twenty-
five feet de"p. The privies used by the workmen are erected on the banks of the
Allegheny aud the creek directly over the stream. The tra(le wastes are discharged
into the river through a twenty-four inch pipe aud an eighteen inch pipe. The waste
water coutaius some o.\ide of iron aud muriatic acid.
There are a number of springs outcropping ou the slopes which in times past fur-
nished drinking water to tiie citi/.eus. Domestic wells are not uncommon, and it is
reported that there are, over two hundred aud rifty now in use.
The public supply is furnished by the Tareutum Water Company operated by the
Allegheny \^'ater Company and the district comprises the boroughs of Tareutum
aud Jirackeuridge aud the villages iu Harrison and East Deer Townships. The
pumping station is located on the river bank in the central part of Brackenridge.
Formerly the water was pumped from the river into a reservoir at the summit of the
hill, from whence it flowed by gravity to the consumer. Typhoid fever cases were
numerous and iu nineteen hundred aud seven the Commissioner of Health notified
the company that its supply was prejudicial to public health and that the water must
be filtered. Plans for a meehanical filter plaut were submitted and on September
sixth, nineteen hundred and seven, they were approved and the purification plant
has been erected. The sewers of Natrona village discharge into the river at a point a
little oyer a mile above the water company's intake. The sewage from iudustrial
plants in Harrison Township also discharges into the Allegheny above sai<l intake.
The physicians and health otlicers have urged the consumers to boil the water, but
this was not generally done. Even now, with a filtered supply assured, the menace
exists because a filler plaut is not germ proof aud is liable to a breakdown, in which
event the sewage polluted water might be introduced into the homes of the water
consumers.
From January first, nineteen hundred and five, to August first, nineteen huudred
and seven, there were known to have occurred five hundred and seventy-eight cases
in the water district, of which two huudred and ninety were iu Tareutum. During
the first .seven months of nineteen huiulred and seven, there were eighty-six cases in
the borough. As the disease is largely a water borne one, aud the public supply was
known to be dangerous, the conclusions must be that the larger percentage of'cases
originated primarily from the poisoned public water.
Tareutum has a municii)ality sewerage system whose facilities are very generally
availed of, but the discharge of kitchen drainage finds its way to the street gutters.
Extensions to the sewers have been made without State api)roval.
The public sowers are built on the combined plan. Whatever natural water
cour.ses may have led to the river have been closed up and supplemented by the
sewers whi<h take surface draiuage and sewage. There are six outlets, two of them
are into ihr Allegheny below Bull Creek and the other four are into the river above
the creek. They are all thirty inches in diameter except the one in F.ocke Street,
which is twenty inches in diameter. Mentioned in order up stream from the south-
erly borough line, they are as follows: West Alley, West Sixth Avenue, Ross
Stre.'t, l.orke Street, Allegheny Street and .Main Street.
The thirty inch West Alley sewer extends across the flat under the railroad to
Alley Number One. from whence it is twenty-four inches to the end. The lateral
sewers have diameters ranging from fifteen iiuhes to eight inches. Their lengths
and sizes are shown as follows: Eight hundred and thirty feet of thirty inch, twelve
bumlred feet of twenty-four inch, seven hundred aud seventy feet of fifteen inch,
fourteen hundred and ten feet of twelve inch, three hundre<l aud ninety feet of ten
inch, and twenty-four hundred ami eighty-five feet of eight inch, making a total of
seventy liinulred and eiglity-tive feet.
The thirty inch West Sixth .\venue sewer discharges into a low swampy place and
ditch leading to the river. Just below the works of the Plate (ilass Company, it
passes under the railroad and thence northerly in West Sixth Avenue to the foot of
1090 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Center Street. Up Center Street there is a submain begiuuinsi- with a twenty-four
inch ami emling with a fifteen nieh pipe at the hill summit. Into this siibmain ,
empty brauelie.s from either side in each cruss street. The lengths ami sizes of the
sewers are shown as follows: Nine hundred feet of thirty inch, two hundred and
fifty feet of twenty-four inch, three hundred and eighty feet of twenty inch, three
hundred feet of eighteen inch, twenty-one hundred and fifty feet of fifteen inch, six
hundred feet of ten inch, three humlred and fifty feet of nine inch, fifty-four hundred
and twentj" feet of eight inch, making a total of ten thoiisand three hundred and
fifty feet.
The thirty inch Ross Street sewer terminates at the railroad where there is a
twenty-four inch overflow into Bull Creek. The submain then continties on tip the
hill in Koss Street to the summit where it is fifteen inches in diameter, thence
northerly in East Tenth Avenue on the ridge to the borough line where the pipe is
eight inches in diameter. The lengths and sizes of sewer tributary are shown as
follows: Eight hundred and fifty feet of thirty inch, five hundred and thirty
feet of twenty-four inch, two hundred and fifty feet of eighteen inch,
ten hundred and seventy feet of fifteen inch, seventeen hundred and twenty feet of
twelve inch, nine hundred and eighty feet of ten inch, six hundred and eighty feet
of nine inch and twenty hundred and fifty feet of eight inch, making a total of
eighty-one hundred and thirty feet.
The twenty inch Locke Street sewer extends from the river under the railroad to
East Sixth Avenue and thence by an eighteen inch, reducing to ten inches at the
summit, it extends in the street up the hill, receiving the flow from the laterals in
the cross streets. The lengths and sizes of the sewers tribiitary to this outlet are as
follows: Eleven hundred and seventy feet of twenty inch, twelve hundred and fifty
feet of eighteen inch, eleven hundred and fifty feet of fifteen inch, twenty-two hun-
dred and ten feet of twelve inch, two hundred feet of ten inch, seven hundred and
sixty feet of eight inch , three hundred feet of six inch , making a total length of seven
thousand and forty feet.
The thirty inch Allegheny Street outlet receives the flow from some laterals on the
flats and terminates at the railroad. Underneath the tracks is laid a twenty-four
inch cast iron pipe which takes the flow from a twenty inch sewer serving the hill-
side streets in which the pipes are of the smaller sizes. The lengths and sizes of the
contributing sewers are given as follows: Nine hundred and fifty feet of thirty inch,
eighty feet of twenty-four inch, three hundred feet of twenty inch, four hundred feet
of eighteen inch, fourteen hundred and sixty feet of fifteen inch, thirty-three hundred
and thirty feet of twelve inch, nine hundred and iorty feet of ten inch, forty-one
hundred and seventy feet of eight inch, making a total of eleven thousand six hun-
dred and thirty feet.
The thirty inch Main Street outlet also terminates at the railroad, where there is
a connecting twenty-four inch cast iron pipe under the tracks. It serves a very
small district west of the railroad. Most of the present laterals are on the flats
and the contributing sewers are shown as follows: Eight hundred and fifty feet of
thirty inch, ninety feet of twenty-four inch, fifteen hundred and thirty feet of
twelve inch, seven hundri'd and sixty feet of ten inch, twenty-five hundred and ten
feet of eight inch, making a total of fiftj'-seven hundred and forty feet.
It may thus be seen that there are about nine and one-half miles of sewers exist-
ing, of which seven and one-half miles approximately hnvi' dianieters of fifteen inches
or under. The large sewers begin at the foot of the hillside slopes and carry the
water underground to the river. The outlets are stretched along at about equal in-
tervals for a distance of a mile on the river front.
The petitioners have submitted a blanket application which provides for sewers
in practically all unsewercd districts of the town and in general the conditions in
these districts are unsanitary. First Avenue, which is the highway in the north
and along tlie river front, does not now have a sewer in it. There are many dwell-
ings thereon having individual sewers to the river. The borough purposes to lay an
eight inch sewer in this street. The outlets will be into the existing rivei- outfalls.
The petitioners are desirous of paving Eiist lOighlh Street and wish to lay an
eight inch s(;wer therein and the connecting sewer in Main Street. Th<> work of
sewering the other streets, as indicated on the plans, is to Ixs done from time to
time as neccsriity may demand it. Extensions comprise a total of eleven thousand
six hundred and ninety-six feet of eight inch, two hundred and ninety feet of ten
inch and thirteen hnnilred and sixty-five feet of twelve inch.
A new outlet is (doposed into Uull (^reek for a small district in the' valley above
the railroad britige. Tiie pi|)es are to be eight inches in diameter and have a total
length of twenty-eight hundred and eighty feet.
If repoits be true, the municipal borrowing capacity is in the neighborhood of
one hundred thousand dollars. So Tarentum is in a position to take up the (juestion
of discontinuing tiie disehai'ge of K<!wage into the river. 'I'liis stream is the i)erma-
nenl source of siipjdy of water to the public in a populous and glowing district.
The interests of the luililic health deiuaiid , and the Oeneial Assembly has declared it
to l>e the policy of the (JomirK^nwealth , to bring about the preservation of the purity
of the waters of tlie State for the protection of tiu^ i)ublic health. It is essential that
the Stiiie authorities sliouJd ajiprove only such sewerage plans as contemplate this
end. It would not be feasible for Tsirentum l;o assume th*? expens(( of tn^ating and
purifying mingled sewage and storm water. It is the jhusoiis from the luiman body
which infect the public waters and make them dangerous to drink. It is reasonable
when these poisons are conveyed away from the premises in pipes carrying waste
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1091
water used in tho housoliuld (mly.to liandio tlic voluinc of svat(>r in pari fic.it ion works.
Fortunately, the pl■e^5L'nt sewer system of the boruugli can lie revised and arranged to
exclude tbe greatei- part of the storm water, and a comprehensive plan f<^r a practi-
cable separation of sewage and storm water and the Incorpoiation ot as many exist-
ing sewers as feasible into the improved sewerage system should be worked up at
once, together with the plans for the treatment of the sewage. After such a plan
shall have been approved and adopted, the borough may then, with pi*udence and
economy, build a sewer in any street in conformity with this plan with the assur-
ance that the work is being permanently done.
There is no physical evidence of a boiuuiary between Tarentum and Brackenridge.
The latter borough wishes to extend its sewere. The village of Natrona has been
denied a right to extend sewers and to discharge the sewage into the Allegheny, but
plans for a purification plant have been called for. Undoubtedly a joint intercepting
sewer and sewage di.sposal plant for the three communities would be financially ad-
vantageous to each and the authorities of Tarentum might well give this suggestion
careful consideration.
Within Ihe borough the possible pollution of existing domestic supplies of water
should be looked into and wells or springs liable to contamination should be aban-
doned or the menace removed, if this bo possible.
Not only have the sewers been extended illegally, but the local authorities did not
avail thi-mselves of the exemption clause of the Act number one hundred and eighty-
two of nineteen hundred and five, in consequence of which the borough is privileged
to pay the penalty for ri'udering impure and pi'ejudicial to public health a stream
used immediately below as a source of drinking water by hundreds of thousands of
people. It is not to be supposed that an enlightened municipality would elect to
continue so detrimental a practice if ways and means be at hand whereby a change
may be effected to the satisfaction of all concerned, but to arrive at a wise conclu-
sion, plans and estimates of cost are the first requisites.
The laying down of sewers in advance of street paying is good business policy
and such plans warrant approval. It does not appear, however, that elsewhere in
the borough the demands are so pressing as to overbalance the broader considerations
of public health.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be subserved by
granting a permit for the sewers in the streets hereinbefore mentioned where paving
is to be immediately done and that temporarily a permit be withheld for the other
sewers under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That on or before August first, nineteen hundred and eight, the borough
prepare a comprehensive plan for the collection and purification of the borough
sewage, the plan to include not only the districts which are now sewered, but all
of the municipal territory, which plans shall be submitted to the Commissioner of
Health for approval.
SECOND: Storm and roof water shall be excluded from tbe sewers herein ap-
proved.
The local authorities should be requested to examine all private wells or springs
and that each one of the wells or springs be condemned and put out of use if found to
be contaminated or liable to pollution.
The attention of the local authorities is especially called to the advisability and
advantages of co-operating with the proper local authorities of Natrona and Brack-
enridge in the study of the interceptivn and treatment of the sewage of the district.
The Dopartinent of Health will be glad to confer with the local authorities at an
early date to be mutually agreed upon.
The Township Commissioners of Harrison will be notified of the action which the
Governor, Attorney (General and Commissioner of Health has taken with respect to
the sewers of Natrona and the said commissioners will be ordered to prepare plans
for (lie treatment of the sewage of Natrona village and submit the same for approval
on or before August first, nineti'en hundred and eight. The borough of Brackenridge
will also be reiiuired to submit plans for sewage purification on or before August
first, nineteen hundred and eight.
Harrisburg. Pa., May 2()th , 1008.
THORNBURY TOWNSHIP, DELAWARE COUNTY.
House of Refuge of Eastern Pennsylvania.
This application is made by the Board of Trustees of the House of Refuge of
Eastern I'ennsylvania located in Thornbury Township, Delaware County, Penn-
sylvania, relative to sewerage and sewage disposal, and for approval of plans
therefor.
It appears that the House of Refuge of Eastern Pennsylvania, originally known
as the House of Refuge of Philadelphia, was organized in eighte(>n hundred and
twenty-six as a jirivate corporation, and in eighteen hundred and eighty-nine the
Legislature authorized the hous(> to move to another county. Since then it has
been locatinl in Tlmrubury Township, Delaware County, near Glen Mills Station
(distant fnnn Broad Street Station, Phi!adeli)hia , twenty and thirty-two hundredths
miles) on the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad.
In nineteiMi hnndreil and six a manager of the House of Refuge donated to it a
farm of about one hvuidred acres for the purpose of establishing a Girls' Depart-
ment, and, in consideration of this fact, the State, in nineteen hundred and seven,
1092 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
appropriaieil one buuilred aud tweuty-iive thousaud dollars for ihe purpose of erect-
iug aud furnishing cotiaizes, etc., as provided for, Act number four Uuudred and
niuei3"-eigut, approved June thirceeulii, nineteen luiudred and .se\eu, wliieli reads
as follows:
■'Whereas, There has been donated by cue of the managers of the House of
Refuge, situate in the Eastern District of i'cunsylvania, a farm of one hundred
and one acres, more or less, for the purpose of enabling the Girls" Department of
that institution to be removed to the country, where the benefits to be derived from
life in the opei^ air and contact with nature can be enjoyed and the cottage system
more thoroughly carried out:
"Section 1. Be it enacted, &c. , That the sum of one hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars ($1115, UUUj, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and the
same is hereby specifically appropriuied to the House of Refuge for the purpose of
defraying the expense of erecting aud furnishing cottages, aud such other buildings
as may be necessary for the accommodation of the Girls' Department in the country,
on the farm already donated to the institution for that purpose. On condition,
however, that the ofiicers of the institution provide an equal amount."
This farm is lucattd about one aud three-iiuarters miles to the east of the present
House of Refuge and lies partly in Edgemout aud partly in iMiddletown 'fownship at
the intersection of JMendeuhall and Eorge Roads. The farm is in the shape of the
letter "L."' It extends northwesterly along Mendenhall Road for the distance of
about twenty-nine hundred feet from Forge Road and northeastwardly along Forge
Road for the distance of about eleven hundred aud fifty feet from Mendenhall Road.
The extreme depth of the property is about nineteen hundred feet in a northeasterly
diri'Ction at right angles to Mendenhall Road. .
Along the northeastern boundary there flows through the fai-m, in a southerly
direction for the distance of about nine hundred feet, a small stream known as
Rocky Creek, a tributary of Cliester Creek. The grouml along Mendenhall and
Forge Roads is from fifty to ninety feet above the water in Rocky Creek aud , with
the exception of perhaps eight or ten acres, the entire farm drains naturally to tlie
creek. However, all of the farm lies on the watershed of Chester CrecK. The
natural drainage is taken by three depressions in the surface of the ground running
parallel and in an easterly direction from ^lendenhall Road.
It is proposed to lay out this property for the purposes of the institution by run-
ning a road or main driveway in a southeasterly direction aud paralleling Menden-
hall Road for its greater length, but curving first to the east and then to the west as
it approaches Forge Road, where is to be the main entrance to the distance of one
hundred and fifty feet northeastwardly from Mendenhall Road. This entrance is di-
rectly opposite the continuation of Mendenhall Road to the southeast, leading to
Darlington Station on the I'hiladelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad. A
curved driveway laid out from this main driveway is projected to llie east to gain
access to the other parts of the property.
To the northeast of the main driveway, approximately in the center of the prop-
erty, there are now under construction two cottages to be known as nuiul)er seven
and number nine. It is tlie expectation that the cottages will be completed by Janu-
ary first, nineteen hundred and nine. They will provide for a population of tliirly-
three each, which includes inmates, overseers and servants, and make a total i)opti-
lation, at the beginning, of sixty-six. ,
It is expected tliat two more cottages will be constructed within the n(!xt six
months wliich will provide for an additional population of about ninety. I'hese
cottages will be located on the liigh ground about eight hundred feet to tiie north of
thusi! now under construction. I'^ach cottage is to be fui'iiislied with tin; ni-cessary
toilets, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry, etc. No rain uv surface walt-r is to be taken
into the sewer.s and the sewage therefore will be domestic sewage.
Tlie plans show the location near the cottages now under construction of ceilain
building's, all of which will b'j demolished and not any of them form a pail <>( llie
new cottagi; system.
About seven iiundred feet to the north of the proposed sewage disposal j^lant aud
about one hundred and fifty feet west from Rocky Creek an artesian well is now
being drilled. It is expected that water will be found somewhere in the neighiiorhood
of lliree hundred feet below the surface. At the present tinii! th<; well is but seventy-
five feet deep. lis diameter is eight inches and it is c;ised fidiu the top with wroughl-
iron pipe. The water is to be puinjjed by an electrically driven well pump into an
iron tank, set at an elevation of about one hundred and fifty feet above the surface
of the ground. The water is to be used for domestic jind fii-e proti'ction purposes.
The ftonsuniplion of water at the bivginning will ])rol)ably be from six (o ix'.n thou-
sand gallons in twenty-four hours, and at the end of six niontlis, when the fourth
cottage is coin|)l<'ted and the po|)ulation is one bundled and sixty peo))le, the water
consumption will probably be from sixteen to twenty thousand gallons in twenty-
four hours.
It is the Intention of the managers of the House of Refuge to have ready for uh(!
the disposal jdanl as soon as the cottages now undei- construction are ready for occu-
pancy. The general srheni" of this plant, as laid out by I Ik; engin(;ei's, is to i)ass
the sewage without s' reenuig into a septic tank, thence to the bacteria bo;dK operated
on the draw and fill plan and to further purify th(; effluent by finally passing it
through sand filters.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1093
Tlicro is, of course, some difliculty in designing a plant of sufficiently flexible
capacity to provide for the increase in the quantity of sewage, which will necessarily
result, as the new buildings under contemplation are erected, fitted and occupied
during the uext few years, and for this reason the plans call for units of
small area.
The drainage from the entire group of buildings is to be taken by a six inch terra
cotta pipe sewer, the main stem of which follows approximately tin- middle di-prcs-
sien iu the natural surface already noted, and runs in an easterly direction to the
disposal plant. Another branch connecting with the main branch at the distance
of about five hundred feel from the sewage disposal plant runs to the north and west
and will take ihe drainage from the two cottages which are to be constructed during
the coming year. The pipe is to be laid in a straight line with uniform grades be-
tween inspection manholes, which are to be located at all angle points. The mini-
mum fall is one fool in one hundred feet. In all, one-half mile of sewers are to
be laid.
The sewage disposal plant is to be located about two hundred feet west from the
most eastern extremity of the property on ground sloping lo the east, having an
approximate fall of ten feet in one hundred feet, and about one hundred and fifty
feet from ailjoining properties to the east and south. To the east and south of the
proposed plant are farms, but no buildings other than those on the property of the
House of Ifefuge are within one thousand feet of this point apd the nearest cottage
will be lout- lumdml feet to the west of the plant. The plant will be within about
one hundnil feet of Kocky Creek, which is a small sluggish stream having a width
of perhaps five feet at the present stage of the water, and an estimated flow in dry
weather of one and one-quarter cubic feet per second. It flow's through farming and
grazing huid to the east and south until it empties into Chester Creek about half way
between Dnrlington and Wawa Stations on the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Wash-
ington Ilailroad.
As far as is known, the water of the creek is not used for domestic purposes. The
location chosen is the most availalile within the limits of the farm.
The plans i)rovid(> for a septic tank, rectangular in plan, twenty feet long by seven
fett deep by eighteen feet wide (inside dimensions). The side walls are vertical,
eighteen inches in thickness, of reinforced concrete. The floor also is of concrete
about nine inches in thickness. The tanks are to he covered by a wooden galde roof,
not shown on plan. The entire tank is divided into three compartments having a
width of three fet't, six feet and nine feet, respectively, and having capacities of
thirty-one hundred and fifty, sixty-three hundred and ninety-four hundred and fifty
gallons respectively, making a total capacity of eighteen thousand nine hundred
gallons. At the outset, by using the smallest compartment only, with a flow of
sewage amounting to perhiips seven thousand gallons in twenty-four hours, there
would be a detention in the tanks of about twelve hours.
Across the inflow end of the tanks the plans provide for a sewage carrier having
a width of eighteen inches and a depth of about two feet. The flow from this
carrier to the several compartments of the tank is controlled by iron sluice gates
set in the walls of the tank which may be opened or closed by hand, making it
possible to use any one, any two, or all three of the compartments at the same
time. Baffle board's are to be set at right angles to the direction of the flow, every
two feet, alternately from the floor up and from the top down, the overlap being
one foot.
Across the efiluent end of the septic tank there extends another sewage carrier
having a width of eighteen inches and a depth of about two feet and the flow of
it is controlled by sluice gates. From this sewage carrier a six inch terra cotta
pipe conveys the sewage to a dosing tank about twenty-five feet to the east.
The (losing tntik is rectangular in plan having inside dimensions fourteen feet
nine iu'^lies long by ten feet wide by three feet deep. The side wnlls are vertical and
to be of concr(>te. The floor is also to be of concrete. The dosing tank is to have
a working depth of three feet and will, therefore, take a dose of about thirty-three
hundred gallons. It is, however, proposed to reduce the capacity of this tank
by laying by liand across the inflow end. stone of sizes varying from four inches
to six inches. On the north side of the dosing tank there are to be a series
of small chambers in which will be set three syphons discharging automatically in
sequence. The syphons are- five inches in diameter. The dosing tank is to he
provided with pipe valves so that the sewage may be discharged through an outlet
pip(> onto the l)ncteria beds without passing throuirh the syphons.
The bacteria beds are six in number, rectangular in plan, each having inside di-
mensions of twenty-two fei't long by fourteen feet wide and a working depth of three
f(<et. The side walls have a width of twelve inches on top with a gradual increase
in thickness to twenty-fi>ur inchi-s at the bottom. They are to be constructed of
conf-rete. The floor is also to be of concrete.
The filtering material is to be of crushed stone, local trapi)e rock, of sizes
varying from two to four inches. The total d<>pth of the filtering material is three
feet six inches and tlH> working di'pth is three feet. The filtt>ring m.iti'rial is un<ler-
draiiii'd by three inch tih"s Initl in ])arallel rows and collected by a five inch tile
running longitudinally and at right angles to the three inch tiles.
The bacteria beds are arranged in batteries of three, set tandem, and Ihe scheme
of operation is on the double contact system. The beds are to be filled from the
dosing chamber at a i)oint below^ the surface of the filtering material. Each one
1094 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
of the first set of three contact beds is to be supplied with a timed syphon which
discharges on the bed ahead of it. The idea is to have contact of about one hour's
duration.
Assuming that the A-oids in the filtering material will be about one-third of the
total capacitj', each bed will hold about twenty-three hundred gallons and at the
beginning, unless some of the beds are cut out entirely, each bed will receive a
dose of sewage about once in twenty-four hours : but by the end of the year nine-
teen hundred and nine, with a population of about one hundred and sixty and
water consumption of from sixteen to twenty thousand gallons daily, each bed
will be dosed about three times in twenty-four hours and then the maximum canacity
of the bacteria beds will about have been reached.
Each one of the second set of contact beds is to be supplied with a timed syphon
to discharge its contents on the saud beds below. The time of contact and scheme
of operation is identical with that of the first contact beds. The dosing tanks and
the syphon chambei-s are to be protected with wooden covers.
The sand fi!tei>> are three in number, each having dimeusious of forty feet long
by eighteen feet wide and a total area of tweuty-one hundred aud sixty square
feet, and if operated at the rate of six hundred and fifty thousand gallons per
acre per daj', will have a capacity of about thirty thousand gallons. The depth
of the sand is to be three feet. The side walls are to be earth embankments
having a slope of about one and a half to one. The floor is to be in earthen exca-
vation ridged longitudinally and drained by four I'ows of four inch horse shoe tile
which IS to be laid in coarse gravel. The distribution over the surface is to be by
wooden troughs and the scheme of operation is to use the three sand beds in the
same sequence as the bacteria beds. There is, however, provided a gate chamber
in the main collector pipe from the bacteria beds in which are set three gate
valves, so that tlie flow of sewage on the sand bed may be controlled at will by
hand. The effluent from the sand beds is to be collected from the tile underdrains
by a six inch terra cotta pipe and discharged in an inspection manhole at the east
comer of the sand beds. From this manhole a terra cotta pipe is to convey and
discharge the sewage in Rockj^ Creek at mid-stream.
About twenty feet to the north of the bacteria beds is to be located the sludge
bed, identical in construction with the sand filters, whose dimensions are thirty
feet long by twenty-four feet wide, having a superficial area of seven hundred and
twenty square feet. Across the inflow end in the bottom of the septic tank there
is to he constructed a sludge collecting channel with the forward side sloping from
which an eight inch terra cotta pipe leads to the sludge bed. The underdrains in the
sludge bed will discharge into a six inch terra cotta pipe which is to be connected
with the supply pipe to the sand beds, so that the discharge from the sludge bed
will always be subjected to a second treatment in the sand beds.
It is believed that the buildings will be increased within three years so as to pro-
vide for a total population of four hundred and fifty and there is no telling what may
be done further in the future. For this reason, if for no other, the sewer should
be made at least eight inches in diameter.
The location of the bacteria and sand beds is such that extensions to the south
can be made which will increase the capacity two-fold and the capacity may be
even still further increased by adding more units. After the plant is in operation
it may be found necessary to provide for a greater capacity at once in order to secure
a good efflui'Ut.
The sand filtration rate is too high for successful operation. It is difficult to
maintain rates in excess of three hundred thousand gallons per acre daily, or even
this amount, and secure good results for any length of time in the intermittent
filtration of sewage through sand. The authorities should provide arrangements
for the treatment of the contact bed effluent by chemicals and this chemical
sterilizing tank should be so located as to be able to receive and treat the sand
filter effluent whenever this shall be necessary. It may not be required to use this
apparatus at the outset of the operation of the plant, but this depends wholly upon
the volume of sewage and the ability of the sand filter to turn out a g-ood
effluent.
It has been determined that the Commissioner of Health notify the authorities
and th<' Hoard of Trustees of the House of Refuge of Eastern Pennsylvania is
hereby and herein notified thai the plans embody the features of modern and success-
ful sfwage purification, that the success of a well designed si-wage dis|)osal ])lant
depends upon the attention it receives and the intelligence exercised in the
operation. (^Jreat care must be exercised that no sewage be by-passed and that
the effluent from the plant shall be suitable in all respects, at all times, to go
into the waters of the State.
It is the intcniion of the State Department of Health to walcli (he operation
of the [jurification works and to lake samfjles for examination al llu! outlet of the
works, and if at any time it is found that sewage is being discharged into the
watei-s of the Stale,' tlien sudi i-einedial measures shall be adopted as may be
necessary lo prrtvenl such discharge.
The atl'Tilion of the authorities is liereby calle<l lo llie fact that the contact
beds will slorr- uj) orj^anic mattei- and in time llie odoi's therefrou) may be
manifest a thousand feet distanl. To obviate this trouble the beds irmst I)e
cleaned before the accumulations become very extensive on the bods.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 109.'>
At best disposal works for sewage arc a great care and responsibility and their
operation must bo attended with considerable expense. Tlie suggestions hereinbefore
conlaint'd, if followed out, must not be considered as relieving the owners of
I 111' lesponsibility of maintaining tiie .sewers and sewage disposal works free of
all nuisance and menace to the public.
Harrisburg, I'a., November 0th, 190S.
UNION CITY, ERIE COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Union City, Erie County, Penn-
.sylvania ,and is for pennission to e.vtend its sewer system and to discharge sewage
through existing sewers into Little French Creek within the limits of the borough.
Union City borough is a manufacturing community of about four thousand pop-
ulation, located in the eastern central part of Erie County in the center of Union
Township. The raunicipnl ten-itory is about one mile square. Little French
Creek, or the South Branch of French Creek, as it is some times called, enters the,
boi'ough from the east and flows northwesterly, passing out of the borough near its
northwest corner, practically dividing the village into a northern and southern
part.
There is a small tributary to the ci'eek known as Bentley Run which heads
about tiiree miles northeast of the borough and flows southwesterly, joins the
creek east of the center of the village. This run furnishes the borough's gravity
water supply. •
There are several spring nxns rising in or near Union City borough and emptying
into the Creek. Consequently the surface of the ground within the borough limits
is well watered. Originally a considerable part of this area was swampy and wet
and some of it remains so to this day.
The immediate valley of Little French Creek in the borough is from three hun-
dred to five hundred feet wide while the stream bed is between fifty and one
hundred feet wide. Some of the low lands on the banks are swampy and unoc-
cupied. There are other low lands which are built upon and which were originally
swampy. They are inundated at times of extreme floods.
The Philadojphia and Erie Railroad, a part of the Pennsylvania system, passes
east and west through the borough and in the central part of the village, it is north
of the creek. "^I'he Erie Railroad, main line, parallels the Pennsylvania Road
and is cntirelv south of the creek. Between these two road beds lies the business
section of Union City.
Since eighteen hundred and ninety the town's population has about doubled,
due to its industries. The Union City Chair Works Company employs about
three hundred peoph. The Shreve (J'hair Company employs nlwut two hundred
and fifty h;mds. The novelty Wood Works Company, manufacturing furniture,
employs aliout one hundred and twenty-five people. The Standard Chair Company
etnploys about two hundred hands. There are several other wood working estab-
lishments of smaller size.
The water works plant is owned by the municipality. When the Bentley reservoir
supply becomes exhausted and for other reasons the town pumps water from
Little French Creek at the dam located in the heart of the borough just above
main street bridge. The Bentley reservoir, watershed contains a rural poiiulation.
Little French Creek is subjected to sewage contamination. There is an application
now l)efoi'e the Department for incr(>ased source of supiily. The public very gen-
cr;i]lv use the town water, .\bout twenty-five iier cent, of the citizens are supplied
partly or wholly with drinking water from drilled or driven wells. There are very
few dug wells but there are some springs from which individuals obtain drinking
water. The Novelty Wood Woi'ks Company, the Standard Chair Company and
some of the smaller concerns furnish artesian well water for drinking.
The community has been rcMuarknbly free from water borne diseases, so it ap-
pears. When the source of the i)ublic water supply and the unsanitary condi-
tions in some parts of the village are taken into account the conclusion follows
that if these conditions remain unaltered it will be a miracle indeed if an epidemic
do(>s not result.
T'nion City borough is partly sewered. No record of the sewers exist. Some
of the drains were built by the borough and .some by private individuals. The
borough Council has granted the privilege in various instances to abutting property
ownei-s to lay private sewers in the public highway. Gradually some sewers have
been tnken over by the local authorities, and at the present time it is reported
that all of tlie sewers are recognized as belonging to and are itperated by the bor-
ough. The pipes carry storm water, domestic sewage and manufacturing wastes.
Tli(>re are a number of cesspools in use in the liorough and a large number of
privies having a pit underneath with earth or loose stone walls. In many instances
kitchen wastes and wasli water are discharired into oiien street -jfuttiM-s. Many
nuisances \\er>' in (>\-istenc(^ in .July when the Depnrtnient made this insjiection.
At that tinie there were fifty-four estates from which drainage was being dis-
1096
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
charged iuto the gutter along the streets aud highways. Some elosets were
so draiued. Since that time, however, some of this discharge has been dis-
continued because of the laying of sewers.
The major sources of sewage pollution of the creek are ijiveu in the following
tables:
:MAJ0R POLLUTION BELOW :\LV1N STREET BRIDGE.
No.
9.
10.
Location of Sewer.
Fourth Avenue,
Opposite Second Avenue,
East High Street,
Just above Pennsylvania Bridge,
Just below Main Street,
South Street
South Main Street,
MAJOR POLLUTIONS ABOVE MAIN STREET
BRIDGE.
Soutli Main Street,
Crooked Street,
Above dam,
Owner.
Borough,
Natural water course, ...
Borough,
Johnson House,
Private,
Public,
Private,
Mrs. P. J. Everson,
Unknown,
Numerous private sewers,
Size.
12 Inches.
12 inches.
20 inches.
8 inches.
24 inches.
12 inches.
8 inches.
10 inches.
The Fourth Avenue sewer is said to be twelve inches in diameter. It is reported
that it and its branches belong to the borough. If the Department is informed cor-
rectly there is a twelve hundred foot branch in West High Street, a four hundred
foot branch in Third Avenue and in the entire district system there is a total
length of thirty-live hundred feet. At what grades the sewers are laid is not
reported. The borough has failed to comply with the law requiring the filing of
plans and report of its sewer system, in the State Department of Health, in
spite of the fact that blank forms of report have been sent to the borough officers
and some correspondence has passed b(>tween the Burgess and oilier local authori-
ties and the Commissioner of Health. Opposite Second Street at the north bank of
the creek there is a natural water course which receives sewage from a public
sewer and from numerous individual estates. This stream passes under Perry
Street and Waterfnrd Streets and at Perry Street there is a twenty inch storm
drain emptying into the run. The pipe belongs to the borough and is laid easterly
in the stream to North ]Main Street where it connects with a twenty inch sewer
in ^fain Street. There ar^^ six house connections to this original line. In .luly
at Putiuan Street, extending easterly from Main Street for two-thirds of a mile
there was an inlet to the twenty inch private sewer in I\fain Street which received
the flow of water from the Piitman Street gutter or ditch. Into this open ditch either
diiectly or indirectly house drainage from sixteen I)uildings was discharged at
different jioints alons I'utman Street. Since July the residents living along Put-
man Street have laid an eighteen inch sewer pipe in the south gutter from the
north side of >[ain Street and Warden Stret't and thence to Prospect StriM't. The
line is of fifteen inch pipe. The sewer is shallow and the abutting properties have
been connected so that kitchen waste and sewage is no longer discharged into the
Piitman Street gutter.
Betwei-n Perry and Waterford Streets, into the water course three privies drain
and also the house drainage from five estates. East of North Main Street into
tiibutaries of the said course two privies are on the bank of a run, two houses drain
to a highway, seven dwellings si'wer to a run and one manure pile is on the bank
of a water course, all within the borough.
On the north bank of the creek about 0|)posile Fourlli Avi'inn
pri\jite estates sewi'H'd flircctly fo the stream. A residence
is sewered (o a small run wliicli flows into tJie T'reek.
The east High Street sewer, built by the borough, is said I
diameter. It empties into the creek on (he east bank just be
Railroad P>rid;,'e. It follows the railroad eiiibankmenl to llie
easterly crossing Main Street to Warden Street. In the latter highway there
brane!) eitrhi inches in diiiiiieter owned b.v .leiinie U. ("ooper and serving four
proper) irs.
From Warden Sti-eet (j'sterly to nejir Prospect Street there is a six inch privale
sewer extension to the east liiuh Street public H(>vver which is reported to serve
four ftroperties. The total leiiu'th of Ibis sysleni is about two thousand feet accord-
iuL' to the infortnatirdi nt hand.
'I'lie .Tolinsoii House sewer begins nejir Main Sireel and follows along east of the
creek under HIl-Ii Street ;nid enipti'
Street bridire. Ii is tweniv inches
buildincs, ineluflirig the Ilotr-l.
,\ laundry and two dwellings have independent si'wers lo I'^rencli < Ireek on the
fast bank in the vicinity of (he railroad bridire and on Ihe opposite bank a, six
incli sewer lo Hie strenm serves two dwellings. They are located on First Avenue.
Ill
Ihci'e are thr(>e
is neighborhood
n be twelve inches in
ow the I'ennsylvania
highway and thence
inio Ihe slre;ini inunediMlely Ik
dininelcr and iwiniieel cij wilh
Ihe High
il are ele\'en
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1097
Just below tlir M,iiii Stroci l>ii(l;;c tlioro is an ciylif imli piiviiic sewer lo the
(reek wlii<-li serves (i\e (l\velliii;;s i<\\ I''irsL Avenue :in<l two oilier resiilen<-es have
a .si.K inch pipe I.) I'"reiiih <"reek. <)pp«isi(r these tiiitlets, (III tl p(ir)site bank,
fhi'i-e are four si.\ inch sewer outh-ts to tin- ereek whieii serve olBcc and store
biiildin^is aloii.ir Nnrtli .Main Street.
'J'he .South Strict sewer is owned by tlie i)oroim;li. It is tweni y-foiir incjies in
fiianieter an<l tniplics into the cre(>k ixdow the Alain Street bri(i;;e. It e.xtends
westerly on Sonil; Street nearly to Fourth Avenue, if thi' Department's informa-
tion is correct. A i)ranch of the same size extends southerly aci'oss private prop-
ertj' about half a block t)etwe(n Second and Fourth Avenues. Here a shallow,
open ditch begins, extending under Caufield Street, the Erie Railroad, Atlantic
Street and I'anule Stiyi t. It follows aloujj the rear of the lots on South .Main
Street south of Atlantic Strc't and here it receives much sewajre. A ditch tribu-
tary to this run followiujr the Erie Railroad tracks, easterly beyond Lincoln
Street was in a particularly foul condition on the day of the Department's in-
speclioi; in Aui;;ust of the current year. Its filth was contributed to that in the
run bviu'j: finally gathered into the S<nith Street sewer and <lischarged therefrom
into the Creek.
Into the said Eri'^ Railroad ditch a twenty-fonr inch sewer from the Standard
Chair Company Works empties. In .July two hundred liands were employed here,
this plant ha-; since i)een burned down. Into the s.ime ditch a water cldset drain
emptied from the Novelty Wood Works plant. There was also a privy on the
properly provided with a pijje vault underneath. Lime is used as a disinfectant
and the contep.ts is removed at least twice yearly. .Mrs. A. X. Hanson was rei)orted
to own a six inch private sewer serviuii five |)roperties which in .July emi)tied into
the said railroad ditch. The Erie Railroad station and the Union 'Citv Laundry
the latter employing: about seventy hands, were also sewered to tlie railroad
ditch. So likewise were three dwellings at the corner of Concord and
.Nile Streets and three other dwelliuus south of the i-ailroad. So it appears
that the laiiro;''! ditch was in .Inly an open sewer. Since then the railroad Com-
pany has substituted a fifteen inch pipe in place of the ditch and the sewage de-
scrii)ed as going into the o|)cu channel now flows into the pipe which terminates
at the run.
Into the main run above the railroad ditch there are five dwellings fronting on
South Street north of .Vtlantic Street which have indeitendent sewers to the "run.
Tli'M-e is a dwelling on Atlantic Street in connection with which there is a privy
on the bank of the run. D. B. Chapin owns an eight inch sewer serving three
properties. The pipe crosses under I'arade Street and empties into the run near the
school property. Into the Main Street gutter in the vicinity of Parade Street is
discharged the drainaire from a niunber of residences and this is true with re-
siiect to .Vtlantic ami ('enter Street also.
The South Street public sewer has a six inch branch southerly across private
property to near Concord Street. It serves five properties situated on South
Main Street.
J. W. Middleton is reported to be the owner of an eight inch sewer on Second
.Vvrnue connecting to the public sewer in South Street. It serves nine properties
The private .sewer owned by Bert Yealy emptying into French Creek just be-
lov.- the .Main Street bridge serves four properties.
The South Main Street sewer built by Mrs. Eberson, serves ten properties in-
cludiuir the city hall and hiirh school. A branch on Stranahan Street was built
by C. M. Weller. It serves four dwellings.
Crooked Street sewer empties into the creek below the dam on the north bank
IL serves several furniture factories, a hotel, bank and dwellings.
The sewage i)ollutions of French Creek above the dam are a menace to the lives
of the citizens of Fnion City borough. The previous statements relative to sewers
and polluticns are l)eliev(>d to he substantially correct in the main. The state-
ment which follows about the pollutions aI)ove the dam are based on an investi-
gation by this Dei-artment made in the month of November, nineteen hundred
and eight.
On lh(> south bank of North Gulf Street, a six inch private sewer owned by Mi's
Mary Itrunstetter. delivers bath an<I kitchen drainage from three dwelling.s to
the creek. In the neiuhltorhood , a short distance upstream, a six inch sewer drain
from the Northrop Ilarh.y House into the creek. It is reported to receive closet
draii\age. A short distance above this (}ulf Street Run empties.
Lumediately above the I'ennsylvania Bridge on a small nni n(>ar the north bank
of the creek there i.s a privy on the .Monroe Busji propertv and on the Bridget
Sava-j'e i)i-operly, or was at lite time siiecified. Kitchen drainage from five dwell-
ings in the vicinity was discharu'e'l into the highway gutter.
.Vliiug the creek above the mouth of Benlly run at liri<L'e Street is the planiu"
mill of H. Clark & Company, and the fbuir mills of llanial Clark & Compauv"
at each of which plae(>s there is a privy over the creek or mill race. .Vlso at the
•'"'<i<l'''>«' > tl«' latter property there is a six inch sewer discharging closet drain-
age into the creek.
luHuediately above Bridge Street hou.se sewatre is diseharsed into the croek from
three dwellings owned or occupied by E. P. Clark, A. D. Caflish and II .M Neil
respectively.
On Bentley Run below Willow Street Thos. McMahon hfls a privy over the
stream and at the street ou the property of Caflish Brothers, in connection with the
1098 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
phming mill there is a privy overhanging the abandoned mill race. Fifteen people
are employed hero.
Into the pond above closet drainage is discharged from the property of W. 1).
Gates, W. M lluijboll, and JVIadelin Caflish. Also kitchen drainage from the
Andrew L!nnc<.imb residence.
Into Benlley Run above Ibe pond closet drainage is discharged on Ihe W. R.
C'ritenden and the John Mi.xer properties and kitchen drainage from Mrs. J. E.
Peters House. These places are not much over half a mile above the dam and public
water works intaiie.
It is proposed by the borough council in answer to an urgent petition from the
property ownei-s on West High Street, to construct a twelve inch sewer in this
street from the present Fourth Avenue sewer westerly to the borough line, a
distance of eight hundred and fifty feet sewage only is to be admitted. The
conditions along this street are extremely unsanitary. The soil is clay and
hard pan. Many of the basements of the dwellings hold water a great portion of
the year. The proposed sewer will atford drainage for the cellars and also sewerage
facilities.
Nine occupied estates on the highway demand a sewei-. Three new residences
have been constructed and three others are coutemplated in which modern
sanitarj plumbing is provided for connection with the sewer.
Little French Creek vises in the city of Cori-y, ten miles east. Elgin borough
is on the stream mid-distant. Two and a half miles westerly of Union City
borough is the Junction of the North and South Branches forming the main
French Creek and on this stream, about twenty-three miles below Union City
borough, is Cambridge Springs borough, from which w-ater is drawn and filtered
for public consumption. The intervening territory is farming land and pasturage.
French Creek ultimately empties into the Allegheny River at Franklin City. The
stream receives the sewage of Cambridge Springs, Saegortown, Meadville City
and Franklin. In eacli instance, excepting Saegertowu decrees have been issued
requiring the preparaticm of plans for ultimately discontinuing the discharge of
the sewage untreated into the stream. Franklin City draws a portion of its water
supply from French Creek. The water is filtered. This municipality is about
sixty miles by the stream below Union City borough.
The use cf Little French Creek as a source of unfiltered supply to the inhabit-
ants of Union City borough is a menace. Public health demands that the sources of
pollution shall be" discontinued at once. It is equally true that the discharge of
sewage into the stream at Union City borough menaces public health at Cam-
bridge Springs. While natural agencies tend to destroy pathogenic organisms soon
after these leave their normal environments, in the animal body, nevertheless,
some of these specific poisons may live for many days in water and thus be
transported to distant points. Fatal epidemics in the most communities have
been caused by sucii transmission of infection. The State Health attthorities can-
not accept the situation as protective of public health where it is planned to con-
tinue the discharge of sewage into a running stream witbin twenty-three miles
of and above the point whore water is drawn for public drinking purposes. And
besides, all along the French Creek, above Cambridge Springs, at convenient
points the farmers have a right which must be respected, to water their stock
in the stream. Sewage polluted water menaces public health where cattle are
permitted to wnde in and drink contaminated water.
On August first, ninetoiii hundred and six, the Commissioner of Health sent
a letter to Union City Borough Council, the following is a copy of it:
"J. A. Hodgins, President; John Sinnacher, Frank Camp, E. B. Landswarth,
Elmer Foster, Clark Rice, members of Borough Council, Union City, Erie
County, Pa.
Gentlemen: Your borough is on French Creek and its sewers discharge into
it and a few miles below the borough of Cambridge Springs uses this water for a
pul)lic supply.
Von also use Fn^nch C^reok water which is inti'odut'od into Iho pi|)o system of
your borough when tlio gravity sui)ply is insufliciont. Tiiis use of the creek water
i-5 a menace to your citizens which irienace may be materially redu(;ed by a proper
attention to the occupalion of the watershed.
To the end that seifisii interests of the municipalities shall not jeopardize the
genei-iil puiiiic health, a law has been liassed placing the oversight of sewerage
systems anfl water works in the Slate Deparliiient of llenlth. The law nniuires
the filing of plans and reports with respert to these public necessities, and you
have bc;en furnished by tliis Ueparlment with i)liink forms.
"Up to this time you have [)aid no attention to lliis nialter so Hir as we know.
You have not acknowlodKcd the receipt of the blanks. My Uei)artinent has use
for the information called for and unless you acknowledge! the receipt of this
letter, expressing your purpose with nispect to compliance with the law, I shall
consid'er it necessary to i)rocefi against you and enforce the |)onalty. 1 trust this
will not be necessfiry, howin'er, but thnt as law abiding citizens of the (Common-
wealth you will extend hearty eo-operal ion siiioe the benefits will accrue to the
benefit of the citizens of your borough.
I am, very truly yours,
S. G. * (Signed) SAMUEL G. DIXON.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1099
The following copy of a letter addressed by the Commissioner of Health to bor-
ough seriHiiiry dated Au;;iist tweuticth, nineteen hundred and six, is self-explana-
tory:
"Thomas -Mulvin, P.oroiij,4i Secretary,
"Union City, Pennsylvania.
"Dear Sir: Yonr letter of August seventh is at hand, and I note that you have
not intentionally disregarded the laws of the State and the requirements of my
Department, and 1 am very glad to be informed of this fact; but I must in-
form you that it is necessary that you submit this information and that it is
your business to employ assistance if necessary, in order to submit plans and re-
port. I do not want lo put you to unnecessary trouble and there are a great
many of the questions in the blank which are not relevant to your case. There
are others which are relevant and can be answered approximately.
"You can engage an engineer for a moderate amount of money to prepare a
copy of plans of your water works and sewers, if you do not have them already.
"Yours very truly
S. G. (Signed; SAJVIUEL G. DIXON.
In spite of this correspondence, Union City borough has neglected to file plans
and a satisfactory report of its sewers. It would appear that the municipality had
purposely chosen to incur the penalty of the law in preference to filing the said
plans and report.
On one street in the town, now unsewered, the owners of abutting property
wish to secure sewerage facilities. The method of procedure does not differ ma-
terially from that of past sewerage extensions in the town and it is seen that
necessity is urgent. The present pollution of the creek will not be materially in-
cieased by granting this sewer extension and the health of some of the inhabitants
may be enhanced and prolected. Furthermore, the granting of this sewer ex-
tension should in no wise delay the discontinuance of the discharge of the bor-
ough's sewage into the waters of the State, which discontinuance, in its entirety,
is essential, consequently, it is consistent for the State Health authorities to pei-'-
mit this short sewer extension, under conditions of compulsory treatment by the
borough of its sewage at the earliest practicable moment.
The town is engaged in improving its water supply, which is a public necessity.
The assessed valuation of property in the borough is seven hundred and eighty
thousand, one hundred and forty-four dollars; the bonded debt is thirty-four thou-
sand, four hundred and twelve dollars and twenty cents, and there is authorized a
bond issue of seveuieen thousand five hundred dollars for water works exten-
sions and other improvements, making a total debt of practically fifty-two thou-
sand dollars, which is within twenty-five hundred dollars of the constitutional limit
of indebtedness of the borough at this time, provided these figures be accurate. So
it is evident that the town cannot of its own resources, build a sewage disposal
plant, hut it can defray the cost of plans for intercepting all existing sewer outlets
and for a comprehensive system of sanitary sewerage for the entire town and
submit these plans for approval to the State Department of Health. After such
plans have been modified, amended or approved and adopted, the borough will be
in a position to economically and efficiently abate any nui-sance or menace re-
quiring improved sewerage facilities and do it in compliance with the adopted
plan. •
Furthermore, it does not follow, because a borough lacks the necessary money to
abate a nuisance, that a public menace shall necessarily be permitted to exist.
There are numerous places in Union City where individuals should be dealt with
in abating the nuisance. For instance, the individual discharge of sewage into the
creek above the dam and water works intake is absolutely impermissilile and must
be stopped at the expense of the individual. The Department of Health will see
to it that orders are issued to this effect.
It has been determined that the interests of public health will be subserved
by granting a permit for said sewer extension in West High Street, under the
following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That the right to use this sewer and to discharge sewage therefrom
into the waters of the State should cease on May first, nineteen hundred and
nine. I'rovided on said date the borough shall have complied with the other terms
of this permit, then the Commissioner of Health, with the approval of the
Governor and the Attorney General, may extend the time in which sewage shall
continue to be discharged into the waters of the State, haviuir in mind the policy
of the Commonwealth with respect to the discharge of sewage of other munici-
palities into French Creek.
SECOND: On or before May first, nineteen hundred and nine, the borough
shall prepare an accurate plan and profiles of the existing sewers and for a com-
prehensive system of sanitary sewei-s and for sewage purification works and sub-
mit the same to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
Harrisburg, Pa., December 4th, 1908.
1100 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
UPJ.AND, DELAWARE COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Upland, Delaware rouuly, and
is for peiTuissiou to oxtend its sewor system and lo di.siharm" the sewage therefrom
into Chester Creek within the limits of the borough.
It apears that I'plaud borough, incorporated in eighleeii hundred and sixty-niue,
adjoins rhe f-ity of Chester, being separated from it by (/hesier Creek, a tribu-
tary of the Delaware River. It is bounded on the north and the west by Chester
township and on the northeast, east and south by Chester City. The creek flows in
a general easterly direction by Upland borough and thence passes about southerly
through the city a distance of approximately two miles to the Delaware River. The
stream through the borough is tidal, the normal stage being betw'een four and
five feet.
Within the municipal territory there is a present population of about twenty-
one hundred. The inhabitants are largely dependent for employment upon two
manufacturing establishments; the cotton mills of S. A. Crozer and Son, em-
ploying about three hundred hands, and the cotton and woolen mills of J.
Walworth & Son, employing about fifty hands.
The main highway is known as Upland Avenue. It follows the general course
of the creek and is near it in the thickly built-up section of the borough. The
Crozer plant is located on the bank of the stream here and a few hundred feet
below is a highway bridge over the creek at a public road uametl Kerlin Street
leading to the city. There is one other highway bridge over the creek in the
borough. It is about four thousand feet up-stream in the southwestern portion
of the borough, and beyond this, possibly a third of a mile, there is an old mill
dam which formerly was used to divert water into a race extending to ihe mills
now abandoned, located at the foot of Main Street. These mills are about a third
of a mile above the Crozer Mills. The tide water extends up to the above mentioned
dam.
The Walworth Mills are in the centre of the borough on a small run which empties
into the cieek above and in the vicinity of the Kerlin Street bridge, but below
the Crozer plant.
There is another run in the borough. It joins the main creek immediately above
tne Crozer plant. Besides these two streams in the built-up section there is a
natural water course forming the extreme eastern boundary of Upland borough
which is worthy of mention because of its pollution.
The people obtain their drinking water from the New Chester AVater Company,
the source being obtained from the Delaware River. The intake extends out into
the main ship channel at a point by which the sewage of the city and vicinity may
pass and re-pass as the tide ebbs and Hows. The pollution of the source was
naturally accompanied by a high typhoid fever rate among the consumers of the
water. After some litigation, the compulsory installation of a water filter by the
said water company resulted. So the water now is purilieil lo some degree before
the consumers get it. The volume of sewage pollution of the source has steadily
increased and this constitutes a serious menace to public health. In case of
accident to the pui'ifying apparatus, it would be quite possible for the raw river
water to be incrodaced into the homes of those depending upon this supply.
There has not been that diminution in typhoid fever rates since the instalhilion
of the filter ulant that might be expected which signifies that there may be some
other source e'f transmission of this disease besiiles that of the public water su])-
plv. In Upland borough there are a few private wells dug in the porous earth.
Sewers are not in general u.se. Dry earth privy vaults are common and because
the groiuid is (juite springy and the level of the water therein near the sur-
face, a number of these loose vaults occasionally fill with water and overflow.
Some of them are conueeled to the sewers by means of stone drains, by pipes or
combinations. Where there are no sewers this overflow goes into the imuis.
Waste water from kitchen sinks is frequently conducted by pipes to the street
gutters. Under these circuiusiances, it would not be strange if the w(01 waters
wtrre found to b" eontamiiiated. An examination of such waters should be mad((
and all wells abandoned when; pollutions are i)roven.
There are six public sewer outlets in the borough. Three of lliem are into the
creek, two of them are into Walworth Mills Run and the other is into Ihe
upper Run at Main Street.
The' first sewiT into the creek is a twenty-ioui' inch bi'ick structiin! with its
outli't aboiii. three hinidred fei:i down si ream from K'^rlin Street bridge. It is about
four hundred feet long and termirniles at Upland Avenue. It takes storm water
from this avenue and indirectly house drain;ige from the adjoining estate norlli
of this highway.
I'asHint; up-stream next in onler comes the Walworth Mills Hun which run is in
fact an o|>eii sewer. At Upland Avenue, which is less than two hundred feet from
tli«' cre.-k there is an eighteen inch sewer discharging into the rnii. This pipe ex-
tends easterly in U|)land Aveniw abont three Inindred and flfly feet to the corner
or intt'i'seelifin of Upland Avi'inw, Hill and lOiglilh Slrei-ls; tlieiic(! up Hill Streel
for a distance of about two hundred and fifty I'ei't to the end; the sewer is twelve
inches in diameter. This struclure is a eomidiied sewer, ll was built in nine-
teen hum I red and four.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1101
Xortli of tlic Avcuuo, alciiiy; the niu then' is an open fielH bolwecn Scvonth
and lOiglilli Stieots. 'J'lnii- is a twelve ineli sfwer in Sevi-nlh Street and across
the lower portion of iliis field, it empties into the run at T'fdand Avcuup. It
receives kitdien and cesspool drainaj^e and has been in use since nineteen hundred.
Above tiiis point the run is arched over at Eighth Street and between Eighth
and Ninth Streets wiiere the Walworth Mills are located and at other street cross-
ings. I^cading into Iliis run in an alley between Ninth and Tenth Streets is a
foul open sewer in the shape of a paved gutter, a foot or so in width running
full length of ilie alley between .Main and Woodside xVvenues from whence the
flow reaches the run by a doubtful course underground. The polluting material
comes from overiiow iug cesspools in the rear of the houses along the alley.
Kitchen wastes are also emptied into the guiter. The appearance of the run in
the open field is that of a sewer.
The ne.xt pui)lic sewer outlet into the crock is an eighteen inch pipe passing
through the Crozier property and immediately east of the Crozier mills to the
creek in the o.xtensiou of Sixth Street. Connecting with the eighteen inch is a
twelve inch sewer in Sixth Street as far as Main Street, a length of about eight
lumdred feet. It is reported that surface water and kitchen drainage only reach
this sewer. It was constructed in niueteeu hundred and seven. This outlet is
about tive hundred feet above the AValworth Mills run and slightly over this dis-
tance above the twenty-four inch sewer outlet.
Into the upper run the Main Street sewer, consisting of about five hundred
feet of eight inch pipo and two liundred feet of twelve inch pipe, empties. The
sewer takes biith surface water and the discharge from four house connections. It
was constructed in nineteen hundred and seven.
Third Street i< about seven hundred feet long. It extends easterly from Main
Strtjet to the creek. In it there is a twelve inch sewer constructed in nineteen
hundred and two. It receives drainage from kitchen sinks and cesspools. The out-
let is about one hundred feet above the mouth of the upper run which receives
the sewage from the twelve inch pipe in Main Street. This point is approximately
seven hun<lre<l feet distant up stream from the Sixth Street outlet.
Besides the above public sewers there are dwellings in the vicinity of Kerliu
Street which sewer to the creek. So does the slaughter house in this vicinity.
At the (Jiozer Mills there are water closets connecting to a sewer leading to
the creek. Also on this property there is an earth privy on the creek bank
which is a source of stream pollution. Some spent dye stuffs are intermittently
discharged into tlie creek from these works.
Opposite the plant in Chester City is Chester Park which occupies all of the
land contiguous to the creek along its banks from Kerlin Street westerly. It is
hardly necessary to state that the removal of all unsightly conditions along this
stretch of water is desirable. Immediately below Kerlin Street in Upland borough
there are a few boat houses. At the bruige a three foot city sewer has its outlet.
The pollution in the boundary run at the extreme east limit of Upland borough
comes from a four foot brick sewer in Upland Avenue, this structure belonging to
the city, and from a number of cotton and paper mills and other industrial
establishments along its course in the city. The creek also receives the flow of
numerous city sowers between here and its mouth, all of which is a menace to
the purity of the public water supply system.
The petitioners purpose to build a sewer in Upland Avenue easterly from the
present eighteen inch sewer at the iutei'section of the avenue. Hill and Eighth
Streets, a distance of about fifteen hundred feet, to a summit. The object of
this inii)rovemeut is to remove surface water from the streets and sewasre from
the abirtting properties. No plan has been devised, so far as the Department
is informed, and it would appear that this extension is to be made as the other
sewer extensions have been made without reference to any comprehensive plan
for sewerage that may be called for in the future. Even the size of the sewer
is not stated.
The applicants do not show that public health demands that more sewage should
he discharu:e(l into Chester Creek or its tributaries, or that the sewage now dis-
charged therein should ccjutinuc to be so discharged. To the contrary, all the
facts seem to demand that not only should no more sewage be put into this stream,
but that the foul pollution shall be <liscontinued. The policy of the State is to
preserve the purity of public waters for the protection of the public health by the
bringing about at as early a date as practicable the discontinuance of the dis-
charjfe of sewage into public watirs. Any plan to merit State approbation should
at least contemi)late this ultimate end. Not only would it be a measure of
erticiency, but also a measure of economy, for the local authorities to forthwith
plan a comprehensivt> sewerage system, whose object shall be to collect the
sewage from the entire municipal area and convey it speedily to some common
l)oint. or points, where the poisonous mattei-s shall be properly disposed of in
a harmless minmer. Win n such a <'omprehensive idan shall have been prepared
and a<lopted , the borough will have a system by which it can lay down a sewer in
any particular street from time to time, as necessity may require, with the least
expenditure of money :ind under the assurance thai future alterations will not be
reijuired
it is not praeiicabli' to treat minuled sewaue and surface water. The latter is
very much in preponderance and < an more econnmieallv be disposei] of by dis-
70
1102 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
charge into a natural water course. The sewage in its total volume is relatively
small, contains the dangerous pathogenic material requiring treatment, and by
separating it from storm water makes it possible tor the sewage to be conveyed
to a disposal plant and bi- purilied at a cost not prohibitive.
The Department is not accurately informed as to the assessed valuation and
bonded indebtedness of the borough. It is uuderstooil, however, that the munici-
pality is free of bonded indebtedness, it is clearly apparent that the town is amply
able to assume the small cost of preparing plaus for a complete sewerage system
and sewage disposal works. The city of Chester has many sewer outlets into the
Delaware" River, and tributary streams. Upland borough's contribution to the
sewage pollution of the waters of the State and the contamination of the public
water supply of the district is small, compared to that contributed by the city
of Chester. It would not seem just for the smaller municipality to undertake
to treat its sewage while the sewage from the larger municipality was being
discharged untreated into Chester Creek and the waters of the State. It is ex-
tremely" probable that a joint sewerage plan would prove advantageous to both
municipalities and if a co-operative plan could be inaugurated, as has been done
in some other places where there existed a community of interest, benefit would
accrue not obtainable by independent action.
The sewers of Chester City are combined. They take both sewage and storm
water. Any feasible plan for the abandonment of the existing sewer outlets would
probably involve the intercepting of sewage only. Hence, whether Upland bor-
ough should effect co-operation with Cliester City, or proceed independently,
economy dictates that the sewers shall exclude storm water.
It has been determined (hat the interests of the public health demand that
a permit to extend the existing sewers in Upland borough be withheld, and a
permit is hereby and herein withheld until the borough shall have prepared a plan
for a comprehensive sanitary sewerage system and sewage disposal works for the
collection of sewage only for the entire municipal area and for its disposal or
treatment in a sanitary and harmless manner, and until the borough shall have
submitted such a plan or plans to the Commissioner of Health and they have been
appioved, moilified or amended in compliance with the State law.
The local authorities are hereby advised to carefully consider the feasibility of
the co-operative plan hereinbefore suggested. The State Deiiartinent of Health
has communicated with the city officials of Chester relative to its sewer outlets
and will invite a further consideration of the problem of improved sewerage and
sewage disposal for that city.
The borough council is also hereby requested to make such ample appropriation
as may be needed to enable the local health authorities to have thorough tests
made of the well and spring waters in use for drinking purposes in the municipal
territory.
The State Department of Health will be glad to advise with the borough council
or its officers or agents relative to the various matters hereinbefore discussed.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., April 14th, 1908.
VERONA BOROUGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of "Verona, Allegheny County, Penn-
sylvania, and is for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the
sewage therefrom through exsting sewers into the Allegheny River.
It appears that on August fourteenth, nineteen hundred and seven, the Com-
missioner of Health issuid a permit to the said borough of Verona to extend its
sevv'T system and to discharge the sewage therefrom through existing sewers
into the Allegheny River within the limits of the borough, in response to an applica-
tion bejiriug date of June tweiily-fourtli , nineleen hundred and seven, under
certain conditions, among which were the following:
"That all storm water should be excluded from the sewers and that sewers may
be generally extended throughout the borough from time to time as necessity may
r<"(juire and that at the close of each season's work plans of the sewers laid during
the year, together with any information required l)y Ihe Commissioner of Ilealtli
in rehition thereto, sluill be filed in the Stale Department of Health.
"This permit is issued under the express stipulalion that tin or- before January
first, one tliousand nine; hundred and eight, the Imrough shall |)repare a i)lan for
the collection of all of the sewage of the borough and its conveyance to and treat-
ment in IV Sewage purification plant, together with a i)lan and report on such
sewage disposal works, and submit the same to the Cominissioner of Hcsalth fur
approval. Wlien approved, modified or amended, (h(! said Coinmisioner will fix
a lime when such work shall be built, during which the public sewerage system
may temporarily discharge into the Allegheny River."
'I'Ik; borough acc(;i)le<l th(! conditions of said ))ermit and duly recorded the
same on I)ecembi'r second, nineteen hundred and seven, in Deed Book, Volume
Fifteen hundred and sixty-five, Page Five hiuidred and eighty-seven, in the oiViw.
of the Recorder of Deeds for .Mh-glieny <^,'ouniy. However, the sew<!rs were not
built, so it is stated by the local authoriti(!S, and the pluns called for w(!re not
submitted on or before January first, nineteen hundred and (sight, and they have
not yet been submitted.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1103
It lii'.s b."on (Icci'rniini'd tluit tlie said [xTniit of August fourtf-piith , nineteen
luiuiliH'il iiiid s('V('!i he modifiiHl and amciidod and ii is liorcby ami liiM'oiu modified
and ainon<ic(l by strii<ini,' nul , iu tlic f(Mirtii clause of ilio ronditons ;ind stipulations
th(> words "January (irsl, ono thousand nine hundred and eij;ht." substituting in
their place tlie wouls, "Janiuiry first, one thousand nine hundred and nine," and
that as so moditiod and amended the permit shall stand.
It has also been agreed that a decree be issued, and a decree is horebi' and heroin
issued, notifying the local authorities of N'ei'una that plans for the treatment of
its sewage shall lie sul)mitt(>d to the Department of Health by the borough on or
before January lirst, nineteen hundred and nine, and that upon failure so to do the
Departnien! will institute proceedings against the municipal authorities for the
illegal discharge of sewage into the waters of the State and the polluting of the
supply of water to the public in the Greater Pittsburg District.
Harrisburg, Va., July 24th, 1908.
WATSONTOWN, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Watsontown, Northumberland
County, an(l is for permission to extend its sewer system and to discharge the
sewage therefrom into the Susquehanna River.
The borougli of Watsontown is locatonl on the east bank of the Susquehanna
River (\\'est Branch) about seventeen miles north of Sunbury. It is on the Penn-
sylvania Railroad and also at the terminus of the Susquehanna, Bloomsburg and
Berwick iiailroad. The estimated population is two thousand. In eighteen hun-
dred ami ninety the census showed a population of twenty-one hundred and sixty-
seven. The town is supported by its manufactories which comprise boot and
shoe manufacture, titble, furniture, door and sash, and knitting works. When
these places are in full operation such as was the case at the date of the Depart-
ment's inspection, the accommodations in the borough are insufficient and conse-
quently a large number of employes take up their residence iu Milton and possibly
other places in the vicinity, going back and forth daily on the electric cars which con-
nect AVatsontown with Milton and Lewisburg.
The municipal territory has a length of about six thousand feet along the river
and a width of thirty-six hundi'tnl feet at the north end and a width of eight hun-
dred feet at the south end. The railroad location is a straight line through the
town, dividing the territory into about equal parts, that portion between the
railroad and the river being flat but elevated sutliciently to escape liability to inun-
dation during freshets exeept for a very small portion of the area, while that part
east of the railroad is hilly.
The public water supply is brought in from a distance and is distributed by
the AVatsoutown Water Company which purchases the water from the White
Deer Mountain Water Company, the source being White Deer Creek. The water
is said to be of excellent quality and according to statements of local physicians,
typhoid fever is of rare occurrence. It is estimated that there are about seventy
private wells iu use iu the borough, most of which are located in the hill portion.
Some of the industrial plants have drilled wells on the property.
Outside privies are in general use throughout the town and there are possibly
sixty cesspools of the percolating type in commission. The Barr Table Company has
a cesspool which has been in use for about two years and during this time has
not required cleaning out. This company employs about sixty-five men. The
Watsontown Door and Sash Company has a brick vault for the reception of sewage.
Every week or two the contents is mixed with shavings ami other combustibles and
burned on the premises. This concern employs about one hundred hands. The
Watsontown Tal)le and Furniture Company, employing about ninety hands, has
an outsi<le privy. The Boot and Shoe Company afl'ords work to about eighty
hands. The shop has a connection to the borough sewer. The Knitting Mill,
employing sixty hands, has a sewer connection. The public school building,
located in the northern part of the town at the corner of Elm and Eighth Streets
near the canal, has two outside privies erected over large vaults. During warm
weather offensive odors are given off to the annoyance of residents in the imme-
diate vicinity.
The old State canal formerly extended along the river bank through the town.
Though long since abandoned, the bed is still in existence and in it are pools
which receive sewage from some of the adjacent properties.
The existing iniblic sewer outlet is an eighteen inch pipe discharging into the
river opposit(> the foot of River Avenue. The length of the eighteen inch pipe is
thr(»(» Inmihed and ninety-two feet. Into it a fifteen inch sewer in ^lain Street
emptii's and also n twelve inch sewer which passes easterly under the railroad
and theme northerly along Railroad Street for six hundred and forty-two feet,
this portion being ten inches in diameter. In Main Street the fifteen inch pipe
terminates midway of the bli^ck between Sixth and Seventh Streets, the total
length being twenty-seven hundred and forty-four feet. The grade of this sewer
is two hundred and thirty-five thousandths per cent.. There are manholes at the
intersecting streets. In Third Street there is an eighteen inch lateral sewer ex-
1104 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
teudiQg easterly lo the lailroad. In Fmuth Street there is a ten inch lati'ral
exteudius easterly under the railroad lor six hnudred and finly feet. Thcnrc
southerly in Railroad Street it is eontinned for live hundred and fifty-seven feel.
These sewei-s comprise the public system and they liave one outlet at' the present
time. ,
The main outlet is submerged at all stages of the river. Tins is true also of the
private sewers extending from the Mansion House at the corner of Second and
Main Streets to the river. This pipe is also reported to serve several residences
and business blocks.
Although some of the surface Avater reaches the public sewers, the greater
portion runs off in the street gutters into the abandoned canal.
There is a large pool in the canal bed above Third Street which receives
the drainage from a slaughter house, besides that from private residences. The
water worlvs pumping station is located at the foot of Third Street on the canal
bank. It is understood that no connection exists between the pump and the canal
and river by means of vliich in an emergency water from these places might be
introduced inio the distributing system of the town.
It is I'eported that ice is harvested from the canal pool and sold in the town
for general uses and that some of the country people cut their supply of ice
from this pool.
The petitioners rei)resent that the present methods of sewage disposal at the
public school have become outgrown and that a sewer is demanded, and permis-
sion is asked to lay a public sewer in Elm Street from River Avenue northerly,
ond also to make extensions in other streets. The proposed sewers are to be in-
corporated into the present sewer system and the existing outlet is to answer until a
disposal plant is provided.
The twelve inch submain now passing under the railroad is to serve a small
district in the southeastern part of the borough. xVlso the ten inch submain
passing under the railroad at Fourth Street is to serve the eastern central district
of the borough, that portion of it lying in Railroad Street requiring recon-
struction to tit into the grades of the comprehensive system ; but for the northern
district both sides of the railroad and for the laud west of Main Street a new
intercepting sewer twelve inches in diameter is planned to be laid in Elm Street.
The submain will extend in Seventh Street by a ten inch pipe to Ash Street and
thence it will be eight inches in diameter. A great percentage of the sewers and
all of the laterals are to be eight inches in diameter. Manholes are to be placed
at street intersections and at changes in grade.
The petitioners have selected a site for a disposal plant in the south part of the
borough, but no surveys or plans whatsoever for the utilizing of this place h;t\-e
been submitted.
The pnjposed sewers will intercept the private sewers which now empty into the
pool in the northern part of the borough and they will provide sewerage for other
houses in the closely built-up district, but the State caniujt consistently approve of
IK'-tty sewer extensions unless they are a part of an intelligent design which
provides for future as well as present needs of the borough.
I'.elow Watsonlown the river is used as a source of emergency supply at Milton,
Lcwisburg and at Sunbury and at other places further down stream. (}uite a
considerable amount of water is drawn from the river at Sunbury. It is sub-
jected to filtration. In case of accident to the filters, raw river water, with the
active poison it might contain, would be introduced into the homes of the citizens
of tiiat plai-e. A reasonable public safeguard is demanded in the form of the en-
forcement of the law for the preservation of the purity of the waters of the Slate
for the proti'Ction of the public health. It is not ])racticabl(> for a town to im-
mediately change its sewerage system and discontinue the discharge of sewage
into the river, but it can prepare to do so and work out the project gradually.
It is reported that the t)orrowing capacity of Watsonlown at the present time
is in the neighborhood of thirty-three tfiousand dollars. This in ilself is evidence
that the boroutih catuiot afl'oid to make cosily mistakes. If the site s'dected foi- the
er-r-tion of the i)urification i)lant bi' adopted, Ihen this land should be ac(|uired.
This involves surveys and the outlining of the woi'k sudicienlly in (hMail lo foi'iu the
basis of a reliable estimate of costs and to enable the Stall' ollicials to delermine
whether the s<'liom'' be a feasible one and worthy of approval. After such a i)lan
has l)r-en pre))ared anil approved, the borough will then be in a position to ad-
vance in the laying down of sewers from time lo time as they may be reciuii'ed
towai'ds tlie completion of a perfect plan. In this manner Hie inleresls of (lie
Ijublie licaltli may be subserved without working a hardshio.
It has been di-termined that the |)laMS of llie proposed sewers be accepled ;iiiil
that jir-rmit for their const ruction be issued and il is hereby ami lierejn issued inider
the followinL' conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That slorm water be excluded fioni Ihe sevyei's, or if admitted it be
iti limited quantities to flush the sewers and under condilions admitting of Hie ex-
clusion of such water whenever this may be lu'cessai'y.
SF/'ONI): That at the close of each season's work, a jdan of Ihe sewers laid during
the var, together with any other information that may be re(|iiired in coniieclion
therewith, shall be fded with the t'omnnKsioner of Ileallli, in order that Ihe De-
partment 'of Health may be always advised of the extent of Ihe system and use
thereof.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1105
TllIlJD: This poniiit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on May first, nineteen hundred and eleven. If at that time the conditions
or this pennit shall have lieen complied with, then the Commissioner of Health
may i-xlcinl I Ik- lime in wliicli .«cwage may continue to discharge into the river.
FULIlTil: On or ix-fore .May first, nineteen hundred and nine, the local au-
thorities .shall i)ri'pare a plan for sewage disposal works of the character such as
has been hereinhefore outlined, and submit the same to the Commissioner of Health
foi approval. The Comnii.«sicner may modify, amend or approve such plans and
fix the dale for ihe erection of the purihcation works, having in mind the time
when other municipalities in the valley must erect sewage disposal works for
the treatment of their s<nvage.
FIFTH: If at any time in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or any part thereof is prejudicial, to public health, then the bor-
ough shall adopt such remedial measures as the Commissioner of Health may sug-
gest or ai)prove.
SIXTH- No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
I he sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on the premises.
It is exi)ressly stipulated that notice to the owner of the slaughter house to dis-
continue discharge of sewage into the canal pool will be served.
The borough council and the local board of health shotild see to it that the
use of the ice harvested from the canal i)ool is restricted to eliminate all danger
of iht transmission of infection by lliis n\edium to food stuffs and drinkables.
Harrisburg, I*a., May 2u, IDUS.
WELLSBORO, TIOGA COUNTY.
This apt)lication was made by the borough of Wellsboro, and is for pei-mission
to extend the public sewiu- system and to discharge the sewage therefrom into
.Marsh Creek within the limits of the borough.
Wellsboro, the county seat, is a trading place and residential town, slow grow-
ing, with a population of about thirty-two hundred, located in a rolling farming
country interspi-rsed with hills. The village is in a hollow surrounded by hills and
through it three streams flow, Charleston Run from the southeast, Morris Run
from the south and Kelsey Run from the southwest, joining in the north central
part of the municipal territory and at the outskirts of the village to form Marsh
Creek which empties into I'ine Creek, ten miles down stream. Pine Creek in
turn flowing suuiliiTly fifty miles joins the west branch of the Susquehanna River
just above Willianisport. Up the narrow, deep gorge in which the creek flows
are laid the tracks of the >sew York Central and Hudson River Railroad. A
branch from Stokesdale Junction on Marsh Creek three miles below Wellsboro
extends up along the creek and Charleston Rim, terminating at Antrim which is
several miles south of Wellsboro. In all this territory traversed by the railroad
villages are scarce and the inhabitants few. In fact, the county is sparsely popu-
lal((!, Wellsboro being the principal and largest place in it. This borough is re-
ported to have a borrowing capacity in the neighborhood of thirty-five thousand
dollars. Under these conditions of location, population and resources, public
works in conn'inplatioM of future recjuirements would be out of the question.
Kxisting (•ircuni'-Jtances should hugely control in considering the sewerage project.
Wellsboro village lies south of Marsh Creek and Charleston Run and on the
gentle slopes through which the other two runs pass. The latter are dry a part
of each year, but Marsh Creek always has water flowing in it. During showers,
however, the run-off fnuu the hillsides is so rapid as to .scour out all deposits and
rulihish along the courses and sometimes it washes away the banks and bridge
ai)Utments.
The sewtu" system was adopted in eighteen hundred and eighty-four for the pur-
poses of removing surface water from the streets. This was thought to be the most
luai tical means of lessening the cost of maintaining street gutters. So the com-
bimvl system was adopted and nearly all of the thickly built-up part of the village
has pipe sewer facilities. The outlet, a twenty-four inch pipe, is into Marsh
Creek in the outskirts of the village about three thousand feet from Ihe north
borouiih line. Th'> borough has recently purchased the meadow land along this
stream. In tiiues of storm, however, the sewers overflow at five i)oints into Mor-
ris and Kelsey Runs, but this is not known to have been the cause of any com-
plaint. It is only during i>eriods of drought that the present disiiosal of sewage
can produce a local nuisamc One mile bi-low the sewer outlet on Marsh Creek is
the Stokes(lali> Tannery, from which Tuiuid wastes are diseharu'ed into the stream.
In all lh< distance to the Susquehanna River it does not appear, from any infor-
mation at hai'.d, that the waters are used for domestic purposes, except it be by in-
dividuals.
'I'liese tilings were taken into account at the time a ixM-mit was issued by the
Commissioner of Health ftw sewer extensions in Widlsboro. Said permit was
dated September twenty-eight, nineteen hundred and fivi>, and among its ccm-
dilious were the following:
"FHiST: That the boreuu:h oflieials forthwith prepare a complete map of the
e.^'isting sewer system, showing the sizes, gradi-s. manholes and overflows; upon
70—17—1008
H06. THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OfC. Doc.
this map future extensions are to be shown for all the territory ultimately to be
clramed^by the system, said map to be filed with the Commissioner of Health.
"SECOND: That at the close of each year a detailed plan of the sewers built
duriui: the year shall be filed with the Commissioner of Health.
^ ••THIiiD: That the treatment of sewage to be held over to such a time as the
Commissioner of Health may determine, when an extension of the oullet to an
area accessible by gravity and the treatment there of the sewage by some method
to be approved by the Commissioner of Health shall be required."
The first twu stipulations have not been complied with. The municipal authori-
ties state that the engineer in whose possession is the data relative to the old
sewers absolutely refuses to furnish for pay or otherwise any information and
so it is impossible for them to conform to the first condition of the permit. With
respect to the second condition the authorities state that the provisions will
be carried out at an early date.
While the original sewer design was made with some care, yet during the con-
struction such necessary features as inspection manholes at street intersections
and changes in line of grade were omitted. Obstructions, possibly of street
gutter silt, are of frequent occurrence, requiring the digging tip of sewers at points
to effect cleaning out. There is need of a careful sttidy and revision of the sewer
system and the State cannot consistently approve of extensions to a system known
to be faultj- and not adaptable withoitt some changes to a sewage purification
plant, until definite and reliable plans of the existing sewers shall have been
filed, with other satisfactory information, in the office of the State Department
of Health.
The petitioners propose to construct a ten inch sewer twenty-eight htindred feet
long, from Cone Street southeasterly along the south side of the liiilroad com-
pany's land and to connect there with six hundred feet of ten inch pipe in Park
Place, five hundred feet of ten inch pipe in Jackson Street, three hundred feet
of eight inch pipe in Austin Street, twenty-six hundred feet of eight inch and ten
inch pipe in East Avenue, with a storm overflow into Charleston Creek at the foot
of Park I'lace and another one at the foot of Jackson Street; also an extension for
six hundred feet of the ten inch pipe in <irant Street, south of Rectory Lane, and an
extension for three hundred feet of eight inch sewer in Nichols Street noi-th
from Sears Street.
_On August twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred and seven, thirty-five citizens of
Wellsboro addressed the following petition to the State Department of Health:
"We, the undersigned, citizens of the borough of Wellsboro, Tioga County,
Pennsylvania, respectfully represent; That the said borough of Wellsboro, afore-
said, is maintaining a public nuisance and a menace to the public health, in that
the said borough of Wellsboro has constructed a public sewer which drains prac-
tically the whole sewerage of said borough and empties all the sewage into
Charleston Creek, a small stream, within the limits of the said borough on Tioga
Street near the residences of a number of people. That said stream nearly all
dries up in the summer months and the refuse, tilth and sewage from the said
borough is allowed to collect, gather and lodge along the said creek near the
residences of the people along said Tioga Street and that divers bad smells,
odors and noxious fumes derived therefrom wliich endangers the life, health and
comfort to a large number of people and to the great danger and damage to the
public health. \Ve ivsiier'tfully recincsi that this condition of all'airs be in-
vestigated and the State I5oard of Health take such action as shall to it seem
necessary ami the public health and the laws of the State of Pennsylvania war-
rant."
This brought aliout the purchase l>y the borough of the meadow land, thir-
teen and nine-tcntlis a<;res in all, along Maisli Creek from the said twenty-four
inch sewer outlet to the northern boundary line of the borough. This tract of
land is so situated and its topographical features are such that a sewage purifica-
tion plant can be constructed thereon and reached by gravity. Furthermore, the
hical authorities made impi'ovcmentH in tiie channel of the stream, making a nar-
row course atirl doing aAvay with i)ools.
It is evident that the cost of disixtsal works to liandle the sewage and storm
water now discharged from the borougl) sewers wotiJd be prohibitive and that
changes in the sewer system to some degree should be inaugurated. It will not
be prudent for the town to make additions to a combined sewer system until plans
for an improved system and for disposnl works are prepared and adopted and ap-
prove-d by the State aulliorities. The economies of the; situation dictate that this
study he made at once so that every sewer ];iid ilown from now on shall be a part
of a perfect plan for the entire borough.
I'he conditons along the various sti'eets where il. is proposed to build the sewers
jietitioned for are unsanitary. The dwellings use the ])ul)lic water supply and the
drainage therefrom is emptied into cesspools oi' stre(!t guttei's. '^I^h(! borough's
borrfiwJMi; ca[)acity is insiiflieieril to defray the cost of changes ;itid iniprovementR
to till existing sewers aiirl for- extensions and foi- disposal works. The time is rapidly
approa<-hing, however, when the sewage must cease to be diselmrged into public
waters. The tannery lefuKe uinloubledly creates a grealei- pollution in Marsh
Creek than does the municipal drainage, rjninges in (lisposal at the tannery must,
l)e brought about and the \irgin iiurity of the waters of the Slate of this region
tnust be presf''rv( d as a i)ul)Iic resoui'ee, and wlial,evei' the borough may do in
sewerage work should be along lines anticipating this ultimate requirement.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1107
TIio Helvetia Milk Coudensing Company lias recently established a plant along
and south of 'ihc rnilioa'l in the eastern part of tlie horo'iirii , whfic are employed
about fifty peoph^. It is expected that the works will be considerably enlarged.
A brick cesspool is on the property. It is constructed watertight. The drainage
from the plant is piped into this receptacle and so is the discharge from six water
closets. jVu overflow pii)e leads to a second cesspool, from which the discharge of
the liquid is into Charleston Creek three hundred feet distant. As an inducement to
this company to locate in the town, the Wellsboro council voted to furnish sewerage
facilities at such time as it became necessary for the company to cease to discharge
its sewage into the creek. To attain this end the main sewer extension hereinbefore
mentioned is proposed.
The management of the company was not aware, so it is represented, that tlie
building of a sewer to the stream was in violation of State law. So on April
eleventli, nineteen hundred and eight, the company made an application for the
approval of its sewer system.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that a
permit be withheld for th" present and it is hereby and herein withheld and the
borough is notified tliat it must prepare a plan of the existing sewer system showing
the location, sizes ami grades of the sewers, the location of manholes, inlets, over-
flows; details of all overflows and cross sections of the stream where the overflows
empty, and file the .same in the oflice of the Commissioner of Health on or before
September first, nineteen hundred and eight.
Al.so that before any sewer extension shall be made a comprehensive plan of an
improved system of sewerage and sewage disposal works shall be iirepared and sub-
mitted to the Comraissiimer of Health for approval, who may modify, amend or
approve the same and fix the time within which the disposal plant shall be erected.
In the preparation of plans the borough should be guided by the suggestions here-
inbefore oITered. The Stale Department of Health will be glad to further advise
relative to the subject.
The Helvetia Company will be notified that the Commissioner of Health is not
empowered to grant permission to any individual or private corporation to discharge
sewage into any of the waters of the State, and that, therefoi-e, it must adopt
some other method of disposal, presumably into the borough sewer, which the local
authorities have pledged, if reports be true.
Harrisb.irg, Ta., May IGth, 1908.
WEST REYNOLDSVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of West Reynoldsville, JefTerson
County, and is for approval of a sketch for a sewer system, submitted by said
borough.
West Reynoldsville is a community of about one thousand population, situated on
the north side of Sandy Lick Creek, directly opposite the borough of Reynoldsville,
which has a population of about four thousand. Sandy Lick Creek rises in the
Allegheny Mountains in Clearfield County, at the divide between the great Susque-
hanna and Ohio Riv<'r basins, and pursues a general westerly course to Red Bank
Creek in JefTerson County at Brookville. Red Rank Creek is form(>d by the conflu-
ence of the North Fork and Sandy Lick and it pursues a general southwesterly course
forty-five miles to the Allegheny River, the stream forming the boundary line
between Clarion County to the north and Armstrong County to the south. A
branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad {low grade branch) pa.sses down Sandy Lick
valley and ihenee alone Red Rank Creek to the Allegheny River and it is the outlet
from' the region to rhila(leli)hia to the east and Pittsburg to the west. In this region
the principal industry is the mining of coal. The country, especially as the Alle-
gheny River is approached, is wild and rugged and the river banks become higher
and more precipitous until the lower stretches of the stream are in a deep, narrow
gorge. The territory is sparsely populated. Below Brookville, which has a popula-
tion of under three thousand, there are five small boroughs along the creek and
railroad, the largest of which contains about twelve hundred people. The valley of
Sandy I>ick Creek is also quite wild in character, but in the vicinity of the Rey-
noldsvilles and above, where the land is more rolling, agricultural pursuits are
followed as well as the mining of coal. Falls Creek borough is in the valley four
miles above West Reynoldsville and Dubois borough is two and a half miles above
Falls Creek. The latter jilace has a population of about ten thousand and the former
about one thousand. At each of these three boroughs there is a large tannery, whose
wastes are discharged into the creek.
The tannery in West Reynoldsville is the chief means of support of its inhabitants
and the only industrial iilant in the borough. It is located along and north of the
railroad in the eastern part of the town. The railroa<l follows the foot of the
sloping ground and between it and the creek are flat nie.ndow lands siibject to freshet
flow and travei-sed t>y three natural water coui-ses coming down from the hillsides
and rising ground, ui)on which the dwellings of the comnmnity are located. The
Pennsylvania iiasspnger station is situated in the western part of the borough on the
main street leading across the creek into Reynoldsville. This thoroughfare is called
1108 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OfE. Doc.
Pike Street in "West Eeynoldsville and Main Street in Reynoldsville. Both munici-
palities are accommodated by the depot, which is distant from the creek about four
hundred feet.
Pike Street extends up the hillside and out into the country beyond and it is th.e
western stroot in the boroiigh. At right angles to it and paralleling the railroad is
Broadway and thence paralleling Broadway run Brown Street and Lewis Street.
At right angles to them from Pike Street easterly in succession are Powers Street,
Central Street, Warner Street and Arms Street.
The Elk Tanning t;'ompauy's works lie between the last two highways. It is re-
ported that there is a twenty-two acre tract of land occupied by buildings and
dwellings belonging to the company and that one hundred and twenty-five men are
employed at the works. On Brown Street east of Warner there is a row of tene-
ment houses from which waste water goes to the alley to the roar, which in the
summertime is in filthy condition. This drainage follows down Warner Street and
along Broadway and down an alley through a culvert under the railroad to the
meadows. The drainage from the other property at the tannery is into the natural
water course. The privy for the accommudation of the laborers is over the stream.
The sewage and trade wastes flow through a piped culvert under the railroad and
thence in an open ditch along the meadow a length of about eight hundred feet to
Sandy Lick Creek. Part of the ground is swampy and the sewage spreads out
over it.
For tanning purposes water is drawn from a series of driven wells on the property.
For other purpo?,es the public supply is used. This is furnished by the Reynoldsville
Water Comjiany and the source is surface water impounded in storage reservoirs
and pumped to a distributing reservoir on the hill back of Reynohlsville, from
whence the water flows by gravity to the consumers in both boroughs. Th(>re are
occupied estates on the water shed at which the disposal of sewage demands atten-
tion, as a public health precaution. It is reported that the men at the tannery
drink spring water.
There are a number of domestic wells and springs scattered about in the bonnigh
from wliich water is drawn for domestic purposes. The univcisal disposiliou of
wasti' water from houses into the street gutters and into the small runs and alleys
leading to the runs produces in summei' time a condition which is offensive and from
which the property owners would be glad to obtain relief. The soil in the borough
is of a heavy clayey nature and not favorable for percolating cesspools. It is re-
ported that there are fifteen cessiiools only, used exclusively for e.\creta. Shallow
earth privy vaults are not infrequently found full to overflowing. The slopes and
numerous springs are so located that surface i)ollution of the springs aiul wells is
liable to happen at any time.
There is an eighteen inch storm drain in Pikr- Street under the railroad and ex-
tending to the creek. There are a number of bouse coiuiectieus 1o it. The west
gutter in Pike Street is a water course into which sewage is discharged from a num-
ber of dwellings. On both sides of Broadway, between Pike and Powers Streets,
are low swampy places to which sewage and kitchen drainage gravitate, lying there
until washed away by rainfall. In the borough there are in the neighborhood of
one hundi'cd occupied (>states on which or fiom which sewage is im])roperly disposed.
'i'lie financial resoin'ces of the borough are necessarily limited aiul good judgment
is called for in the expenditure of public funds. The local authorities, prior to the
submission of the sewer jjlans, requested to be advised about the sewer system and
to have the help of an engineer to co-operate with the local stirveyor in laying out the
sewers. Cpon bein'r informed by the Commissioner of TT(>allli that the Department
would confer with the bo7-ough respecting the most ellicient plan for sewerage after
the borough had designed the sewers and submitted olans to the Department, the
I)l;in now under consideration was filed. 'I'liis i)lan is a sketch, showing in a general
\vay how il is proposed to connect the sewers in the streets with one general outfall.
Flevatiotis are given at street intersections, but llie sizes of the sewiTS ai'e not
mentioned.
The proposed outlet is into Sandy Lick Creek in the extreme western corner of the
itorougli at a point about five hundred feet below the Main Street bridge where
Reynoldsville sewer empties. One sub-tnain is to extend uj) Pike Street and serve
the western iiortion of the borough. Another sub-main is to pass along the creek in
Water Street and thence across the meadows uiuler the 7'ailroad and up an alley
between Warner and Central Streets. It will serve the easteiii and eenlrai ten'ilr)ry
of til" borough
It is evident by the plan that the borough council desires that llie Stale D'parl-
ment of Health initiate the sewer design. It ajipeais from the information now at
hand that no diflii'ulty will be encoimtered in obtaining grades for the sewers e(|uiva-
|ent to a fall of six inches in one hundred feet or gn\at(>r, with the exception, i)os-
sibly, of the main sewer across the meadows. As laid out, the S(>wers will follow
clo.sely the natural topoL'raphy, thus recpiiring lh(> least cut to obtain intersecting
grades for the system. The sizes of the sewei's need not be greater than necessary to
ren)ove sewaire pi'oper. Six inch |)ipes on four per cent. grad(>s, or great ei", should
be anipli- for latenils. 'I'lie sizi' of the outlet mitfhl be governed somewhat by llie
volume of sewiige discharged from the tatuu'ry. Such a volume will be nuich larger
than the total output of sewaire from all of the ollu'r buildings in the borough.
Storm walr-r and drainage from the nin sliouhl br- exejudeil fi'om the sewer. A
J
Mo. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1109
moderate amount of tool" waLer at sewer euds niij,^ht be admitted for flushing. Sur-
face uraiuage can be improved most economically in West Iteyuoldsvilie independent
of the problem of reuioval of sewage from the coniuuiiiily.
No disease is uujre dangerous tliaii anthrax and no infectious disease harder to
eradicate after it has once gained a foothold in a community. This poison sliould
be killed at the outset and the discharge into any stream of tannery drainage is a
menace provided the waters arc subsequently used by man or beast. In the fall of
eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, an epidemic of anthrax broke out among the
cattle owned by the fainiers whose lands abut Sandy Lick Creek between West
lieyuoldsville and Falls Creek. State and local authorities, after thorough investi-
gations, arrived at the conclusion that the disease was attributable to the infection
from the tanneries. The meadow lands along the stream are subjected to overflow
and the grasses are thus washed by sewage water. The belief would seem to have
some foundation in fact that cattle pastured along the stream, or that feed upon
the hay cut from the overflowed meadows, are liable to be poisoned.
Xot only the tannery wastes but the sewage from Duliois and Falls Creek and the
Iteynoldsvilles may be transmitted down stream to the Allegheny River and to the
water works intakes of the numerous municipalities along this river's banks and
thus be introduced into the homes of water consumers in a suSiciently active patho-
genic condition to cause sickness and death. The extent of the menace in Red Bank
Creek valley is secondary to the menace to public health in the Allegheny valley.
The interests of the public health demand that these upland waters should be pre-
served in their purit)'. The question of their use is not one of a local nuisance as
often popularly and selfishly thought to be the case. West Reynoldsville cannot
expect a i)ermanent right to discharge its sewage into Sandy Lick Creek and in an-
ticipation of the ultimate purification of the sewage, the borough should plan its sewer
system accordingly. It is not practicable to purify surface drainage and sewage com-
bined and h<uce the necessity for the exclusion of surface waters from the sewers.
The local authorities shoulil engage the services of some qualified expert to work in
conjunction with the local engineer in initiating a comprehensive sanitary' sewer
design for the collection of all of the sewage in the borough and its conveyance to
some suitable point Avithiii or without the borough for treatment. The site should be
selected and outlinr.l plans made for the sewage works and these should be submitted
to the Commissioner of Health for approval. It may then appear that the interests
of public health will be subserved by granting temporary ijermission to the borough
to discharge the sewage into the creek.
The council of Reynoldsville has made an application for permission to extend its
sewer system and to discharge the sewage therefrom into the wat(>rs of the State.
It would be both economical and best that the two municipalities should adopt a
joint intercepting sewer and sewage disposal plant. This should prove much
cheaper than if each borough were to proceed independently. The mingling of the
domestic sewage of both towns with the industrial wastes' from the tannery and
from the woolen mills would facilitate the puriflcation. The American Silk Com-
pany have works employing about three hundred people which are located below the
borough in the township, from which sewage is discharged into the creek about a
quarter of a mile below the Reynoldsville borough sewer. There is a community of
interest irrespective of municipal boundaries and including the public and private
corporations which can best be represented by a co-operative sewerage and sewage
disposal plant. The project should be worked out and submitted to the Commis-
sioner of Health for approval and then the sewers built in West Reynoldsville from
time to time as needed should conform to the adopted plan and hi? a part of the
project which, when completed, will have brought about the non-pollution of the
si ream in the territory by easy and practicable stages in an economical and efficient
manner.
It has I)i'en unanimously agri>od that the local authorities of West Reynoldsville
be ailvised aiul they are hereby and herein advised that the proposed sewer system
ai)peai-s to be satisfactorily designed, as far as it goes, but that before the State
can i)la(;e the .seal of approval on a system it will be necessary for the borough to
carry out the suggestion hereinbefore offered for the preparation of a comprehensive
plan for sewerag(? anrl sewage disposal works.
The advantage of a co-operative plan by the two boroughs is emphasized and its
adoi)tion recommended.
Th(> State Department of Health will bring about the maintenance of sanitary
conditions on the water sheds of the Reynoldsville Water Company, and the ques-
tion of treatment of tannery wastes will be taken up with the owners of the tan-
nery.
The local authorities should early adopt a sewer system and immediately take
such measures as may be necessary to stop the pollution of all wells and s|)rings and
sources of drinking water in West Reynoldsville.
Harrisburg, I'a., May 7th, 1908.
WHITE HAVEN BOROUOH, LUZERNE COUNTY.
This decree was issued to the borough of White Haven. Luzerne County, Penn-
sylvania, in response to a requesr for advice made by the Board of II«viIth of said
borough on January third, nineteen hundred and einht, relative to the abatenient of
nuisances caused by the discharge of house drainage into the street gutters.
1110 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
White Have;i borough is au old railroad town and manufacturing fommuuity of
sixteen liuudred people, located in tiie southeastern part of lAizcrne County on the
west bank of the Lehiuh River and on the main line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
and on tiic Ijchigh anil Susnueliauua Division of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
The manufactories are more recent acquisitions. There is a silk mill, employing
about one hundred hands, located between the canal and the river; a foundry em-
ploying about sixty hands, autl a printing establishment, where fifty hands are
employed. In eighteen hundred and ninety the town's population was the same
as to-day.
The eastern central anthracite coal fields lie west of White Haven and coal opera-
tions are carried on within six miles. The eastern part of these fields drain to the
Lehigh River, Sandy Creek, on whose shed are five mines, enters the Lehigh River
four miles below While Haven and other streams below receive mine drainage in
considerable quantities. The canal was built by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Company for the transportation of coal out of the region. It is not now used locally
for this purpose. The railroads furnish the employment to-day upon which probably
one-third of the population of White Haven is dependent. The silk mill and the
electric light company plants are operated bj' water power derived from the canal.
The development of water poMcr is a local resource which may prove of some im-
portance in the town's future development. Nevertheless, there is lack of warrant
for a forecast of a large sized town. Any public improvement whose cost was made
greater, in auticipation of future needs of a considerably increased population,
would invite just condemnation.
White Haven derives its principal distinction by the location in or near it of four
institutions for the treatment of tuberculosis, bearing the following names: "The
Free Hospital for Poor Consumptives," "Feme Cliff Sanatorium," "Sunnyrest
Sanatorium," and "The Orchards." The first two are in White Haven borough, and
the latver two are in the borough of East Side, so named because it is opposite
White Haven on the east bank of the Lehigh River. The two boroughs are connected
by a highway bridge. East Side has a population of about three hundred and it is
in Carbon County.
In the winter, but to a very much greater degree in the summer, prospective
patients of the private institutions and others afflicted with the disease obtain ac-
commodations at the hotels and private boarding houses scattered about the town,
and the practice of disposing of household drainage in the street gutters from these
places has aroused ihe fear among the townspeople that a peculiar danger to public
health may impend in this case.
The municipal territory covers a large area of mountain and farm land beyond the
village proper. Linesville Creek rises in a valley four miles west and Hows due east
through li'oster Township and the central part of White Haven borough to the river
along the base of a mountain ridge south of it. This ridge terminates before it
reaches the river The summit is five hundred feet above the village. About half
way up the mountain is the hospital entitled the Free Hospital for Poor Con-
sumptives.
The village proper lies considerably north of the creek on the hillside, the summit
of which is to the north in Dcnnison Tounship and one hundred and fifty feet
higher. The built up part of the borough is compact and the site is hidden from
view from the railroads because of their lower ehnation. The ground from the
river bank ascends rapidly to the more gradual slopes of the town. The canal, two
railroads and tlie public highway have been crowded into the space along the river
on terraces sup|)orte(l by retaining walls iu |)la(M's. The highway between the
railroads is decidedly the business street of the town, but the n'sidcntial district is
entirely on the gradual hill slopes above, extending to the summit of the saddle be-
yond which the land drains westerly.
Surface drainage in the borough is naturally excellent. There is no public sewer-
age; system. Practically every property has a loose vaulted privy. There ai'e said to
be a few cesspools for waste water only. One hundred properties or more dis|)ose of
kitchen drainage and wash water in the street gutters, where a nuisance is created
in sunniK^r time.
A natuial water course passes through the central part of the borough and empties
intf) the river near the (;ounty bridge. The last two hundred fi'ct of its length is open
and the flow is foul water ai>pari'ntly containing sewag(^ 'i'lirough tlu; town center
t!n' run has been an.-hed over. Kleven houses with inside closets have private pipe
connections to the culvert. The principal part of the surface drainage of the village
gets to this water course.
Few domestic wells are said to be in use in the village. About twenty dwellings
lociiied on the westiTii slope of the saddle are fuiiiished witii spring water supplied
liy an indejiendeni line belonging to Ihe White liaven Water (Company.
The balance of tlu' village is supplied by the same company from a surface source
loejited two miles west of While IIav(!n. On a small run tributary to Linesville
Creek is a small impounding I'cservoir having an uMpopiilated \\ater shed of about
two hundred jier"S, t)'aveise<l by a briiueli of llie Cenlral Kaiii'dad of New Jersey.
From this reservoir llu: water (lows by gravity to While llnven !Uid is available to
the district not supplied by the smaller system above mentioned. The surplus flows
to a siniill distributing reservoir on tlie hillside of tiie town. This syslom may also
be supplied fioni the Lfdiigh River. The jdimjis are located between the canal and
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1111
the river above tin- ciuuty bridire aud the silk mills. The water is taken from the
tore bay or eaual ami oniiuarily it is turuislie<l to yard tanks of the two railroads.
This eiiierjrency s-uuce to the town is used iutregueutly.
In -May, June and July, nineteen hundred and two, there were thirtj'-tive cases
of typhoid fever in White IJaven. These were confine«l to the neighborhood in the
village where green vegetables were grown in private gardens. ITie infection of these
vegetables by rain wash from overtiow ami privies was supposed to have been the
origin of the epidemic. Aside from this insuiiire, White Haven has been free from
typhoid, or nearly so.
FEliNE CLIFF iSANATUltlUM.
In the borough on the hill at Dennison Township line is the Feme Cliff Sana-
torium. Accommodations for ab<jut twenty patients are afforded. The institution
has a small water supply of its own and the sewage is emptied into three percolating
cesspools built tandem. The place was opened in nineteen hundred and five.
FREE llOSriTAL FOR POOR CONSUMPTIVES.
The Free Hospital for Poor Consumptives, established in nineteen hundred and
one, operated under a State appropriation, although within the borough limits, is,
as previously mentioned, detached from it and is located on a bench high up the
mountain side south of Linesville Creek. Two hundred patients are accommodated.
The buildings comprise the Administration Hall, with its two wings used as infirma-
ries, three brick cottages and three frame cottages and between fifteen and twenty
cabins, besides the superintendents residence and farm buildings, these buildings
being scattered over a seven acre tract, which drains partly to Linesville Creek and
partly east to the Lehigh River.
The institution's water supply is derived from springs and from two drilled wells
on the mountain above the sanatorium aud from one drilled well near the creek.
Near this well is the institution's power plant, from which electric light and heat is
furnished. Au air compressor plant is also installed and used to raise the water for
all three wells into a tank on the mountain near the two wells and the springs.
The central building, excluding the laundry, and all of the cottages are sewered to
a purification plant consisting of a septic tank, syphon chamber and a series of
filter trenches. There is said to be no effluent from these channels and no effluent
channel is provided.
The septic tank is in duplicate. Each tank is thirty-eight feet long, six feet wide,
five feet deep to the flow line at the outlet end and one foot deeper at the inlet end.
The construction is of masonry, including the flat roof. The sewage is admitted
through a six inch submerged inlet and taken out in the same manner to the syphon
chamber, which is twelve feet long, five feet wide and two and one half feet deep to
the ordinary discharge line. There is a perforated brick wall across each compart-
ment twenty feet from the inlet end. The sludge is drained out of this compartment
by a six inch pipe to a sludge pit nearby. It is reported that between five thousand
and eight thousand gallons of water are consumed daily at the institution. What
percentage of this total reaches the septic tank is not known.
The septic effluent is discharged through a six inch pipe from the syphon chamber
to the nearbj' filter trenches. There are three of them parallel and about twelve feet
apart. They are on the steep hillsides. The middle trench is about five feet below
the upper one, and five feet above the lower one. The trenches average about fifty
feet long, five feet wide and three to four feet deep. They are filled with crushed
stone and covered on top about eighteen inches with earth. The sewage flows from
the upper trench through the second and then through the third trench from whence
it is reported the sewage spread out over the ground. To guard against this overflow
during nineteen hundred and seven a trench one hundred feet long was built in the
hillside further down and about fifty feet distant. Its object is to intercept the sur-
face flow aud permit it to percolate into the ground. The ground is shaley ami
porous. A guard trench fifty feet long and below and fifty feet from the sludge bed
was also built last year to intercept the flow from the sludge pit. Both guard
trenches are filled with broken stone.
The location of this plant is on the northern slope at the edge of the seven acre
tract, where tlie mountain side becomes precipitous. A pavilion and some farm
buildings are within two lumdrod feet of the sludge pit.
With respect to the driven well and pumping plant sewage trenches arc located
directly above, five hundred feet distant and about one hundreil feet higher. The
surface wash is probably to the creek below the driven well, but it would appear
that there might be a possibility of underground contamination of the driven well
supply.
Each septic tank is used continuously for about six months, one being in use
while the other is out of commission. After a tank is drained to the sludge pit the
solid material is hauled away in barrels and spread with other manure over the
farm lands of the institution, where vegetables are grown. The sludge is not always
plowed in immediately.
The waste laundry water and some surface water is conducted to a percolating
cesspool on the east mountain slope towards the river. The cesspool overflows on
wash days. All the laundry is done at the sanatorium.
1112 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
There is a cesspool which receives the sewage from the superiutemU^ut's cottage
and another cesspool for two of the cabins. Both places seem to be doing- satisfac-
tory work, so it is reported.
SUNN YREST SANATORIUM.
The Simiiyrest Sanatorium was opened in nineteen hundred and one. It is
located on the high river blufl' immediately south of the cuuuty bridge road in East
Siile borough. There are accommodations for forty-five patients. The water supply
is obtained from a small run having less than two hundred acr(>s of watershed.
There is a small reservoir on it from which the water is piped by gravity to the
institution. Below this reservoir the run passes through the borough to the river.
The sewage from the institution buildings is discharged into cesspools and the
waste water is emptied into street gutters. The laundry is sent to Wilkes-Barre.
The Administration Building sewage is drained to a cesspool. The wash water goes
to a pipe which takes all kitchen drainage from the dining hall and delivers it over
the edge of the bank to the river. One of the cottages drains wash water to the
gutter of the county bridge highway. The water (dosets drain to a cesspool. A
cabin and another cottage have water closet connections with another cesspool.
The wash water from this cottage is piped to a cesspool in the sand on the shore of
the river. All drainage and sewage from the l)ungalow and two adjacent cottages is
piped to a cesspool , formerly an old well.
The dining hall sewer has been complained of as a nuisance.
THE ORCHARDS.
The private sauutorium known as "The Orchards" and ojiened in nineteen hun-
dred and si.x, accommodating fifteen patients or more, is also located in East Side
boi'ough. It comprises two cottages. T'hey are built along the public highway and
one of them is on the watershed of the run which supplies the reservoir used in
connection with the Sunnyri!st water works. The upper end of this reservoir is at
the edge of a small swamp abounding in springs. The public highway here is on the
edge of this swamp and immediately beyond it, opposite the swamp, is the cottage
from which sewage is drained to a cemented vault with an overflow to a percolating
cesspool within fifty feet of the swamp. The kitchen drainage and wash water is
drained to another cesspool about fifty feet from the swamp. Within a hundred
feet of the percolating cessjjool receiving sewage is a dug well on iibout the same
level. It seems possible that both this source and the reservoir supply might be
polluted by sewage from this cottage.
Th(! second cottage is on the highway below the n'servoir. All waste water is
apparently satisfactorily disi)osed of in a ee ntcd cesspool willi overflow to a per-
colating one sunk deep in the rock.
EAST SIDE VIEL.VOE.
East Side jiorougii is without water works or si'werage. Tlie inhabitants derive
tlieir drinking water from domesiic wells and the ordinary methods of sewage dis-
posal by cesspool, iirivy and the sui'face (jf the gi'ound prevail. Tlnu'e is a deep
driven well at the Sunnyrest Sanatorium which is iised as an emergency supply.
The gravity source is cheaper and is thus preferred.
There can lu! no doubt that the poisons eliminated from the bodies of those
jifflicted witii tuberculosis are peculiarly (hmgerous and that heallh i>recautions
(iemami that the tuixrele ba(;illi should be killed as soon as possible before having an
opportunity to infect animal life. V'egi'lables, fruits, water and milk ar(> some of
the mediums of transmission. The campaign against this dis(>ase is a campaign of
prevention as well as of cure. Nowln're in White Haven or the; vicinity should
se.vagtr or dirty laundry water or household drainage ])e deposited in such a way that
it can reach tiirough surface or undeiground channels any drinking water. The sub-
terranean |»assages may not be known. Underground water may travel fi'om a
(■essi)0o! high up llie hillside to somi' domestic well nv driven well. The eases where
the pumping of larg(! (piantilies of waler from the ground have afl'ecled the ilow in
wells and dried up springs whereon a larg(' radius ai'e so inimerous and cover so
many kinds of geoloirieal formati(jn that it has come to be accepted as a dangerous
exi)edient for any one lo seek a source of drinking water from Ihe ground in the
vicinity of lial>italions. The driven well al the foot of the m<iinitain below the
sewage trenches at the Ei-ee Hospital for I'oor < ^onsiunplives is obji-eliouable on this
Bcore. So is the reservoir supply at Siuinyrest and tin; dug well at the Orchards.
Any domestic well supiily in White Haven or East Side is suspicious. The sludge
pit at one of the sanatoria is dangerous and the mati-rial if n.sed at all for fertiliza-
tion shoidd Iti- under eonditions where the garden truck cannot jxtssibly come in
contact with the manure. It is safer by far to destroy the sludge by fin;. The pit
sliould not be in the neighborhood of dwellings.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1113
A happy loi-al solution of the problem would bo for the borough of White Haven
to install a sewer system and j\ purification plant so located and desiuMied (hat it
would b(> nda|it('(! to receive and purify the sewage of the entire district, including
that from llic sanatoria.
White Haven boroujrli has an assessed valuation in nineteen hundred and .seven of
five hundred and sixty-five hundred thousand, seven hundred and sixteen dollars, so
it is reported. There is said to be no bonded indebtedness, and hence, ba.sed on
these fiiiures, tin niunicipaliiy can iiorrow nearly forty thousand dollars. Provided
the sewers were built iimler I lie .issessinent plan a very complete system of sewers
and disposal works could be provided.
The lichiffh Iviver rises twenty-five miles northeast of White Haven in the
southern part of Wayne County and drains a nnuintainous cruntry of about three
hundred and twenty-five square miles above White Haven on which there are
scNcral lakes used ;is ice supidies and on which there an* numerous summer resorts.
White lla\eu is tlir- first place of consequence on the river, lielow. the stream
follows a windinir course of sixty miles to its junction with the Delaware River at
Easton. At r'atasauqua, forty-two miles below White Haven, a water company
obtains its supply for a jjart of the time from the Lehish River and furnishes it to
llie borou.irlis of Alliance, C'oplay ;ind ("atasauqua. At South Bethlehem, fifty
miles l)elow White Haven, water is taken from the river and supplied to neighboring
municipalities inchnlin.i;- a part of AUeutcwu.
The draina,:,'e tioui coal mines and washeries hereinbefore mentioned beeanse of
its acidity and preeipitMtini;- quality may tend to clarify the Lehigh River at times.
The to\^•ns alou'z the banks now discharge sewage into the stream, but this practice
is being chani;(Hl. Sewage depcsiled in the river at White Haven might easily reach
the water works intake at South P.elhlehem in a few hours and while in active
r)athogenic state he int reduced by the water works system into the homes of the
citizens and there caus<' sickness and death. So permission to discharge untreated
sewage into the Lehigh Tii\er should not be granted.
It has been determined that the local authorities be advised, and they arc hereby
and herein advised, that they secure the employment of an expert euirineer to design
a sanitary sewer system which should include a purification plant advantageously
located to receive and treat the sewage of both boroughs and the sanatoria.
Provided the borough .council will not undertake such an improvement, then every
private estate in White Haven borough will be comi)elled. in the interests of public
health, to build proper receptacles for sewage and to properly maintain said recep-
tacles.
The cesspools at the Orchards .should be abandoned and new receptacles should be
built beh>w the water shed of the reservoir supplying Sunnyrest Sanatorium, and
the owners of these i)laces will be so notified.
.V modern ^ewau:e treatment |)laul should be provided at (he Free Hospital for
Poor (Vmsumiilives. provided a joint sewai;e i)lant be not feasible. The present
set)tic tanks may be used, but llie plant sliould be so constructed and be water tight,
so that the entire bulk of (he litpiid may be watched in its progress of treatment,
admitting of the posirive knowledge at the outlet that the effluent equal in volume to
the inflow, is ()ure and free from pathogenic poison and suitable to go into the
waters of the State. The proper otficers of this institution will be notified accord-
iui-'ly.
The Suiuiyrest Sanatorium disposal of household drainage into street gutters or
ovei- the river banks sho\ild be discontinued. It would be belter if the cesspools from
this prop(>rlv were abandoned and that all sewasre should ho delivered to the main
sewer ill White Ha\('n leading to a common i)urification i)lanl , and the |)roprietor
might with advautaue to himself urire the borouiih council of White Haven to inau-
gurate a public sewerage system. The Commissioner of Health will issue a decree
with res])ect to these matters.
The White Haven AA'atei- Comiian.v will be requested to submit satisfactory i)lans
of its water works system and a more complete report than is now on file in tlie office
of the Slate Department of Health. An.v sources of jiollution along the river above
the dam and tli(> canal from which the water comi)any takes its suppl.v for tlie rail-
road vaid and for the town in emeraencies should be reported to the water company
and tile Stati> Department of Health.
.Vnd. in conclusion, the jiroper persons or managers of the four sanatoria will be
notifi(>d as to the facts and conclusions <if this investigation and the local authorities
are hereby informed that the State Department of Health will be dad to advis(> with
respect to the proposed sewerage improvement and sewage disjiosal project.
Harrisburs. T'a.. .Tulv 24th. IIIOS.
WICKRORO. ARMSTRO.Vt; rOTNTV.
ras made by the Ronmgh of Wickboro, An
[•xtend its sewers and to discharge the sewa
Aiiegiien.v uiver wiiliin the limits of the borough.
Wickboro borough is a part of the community or old time settlement known as
Kittanning. the county seat of Armstrong County. There is, along the river here, a
stretch of flats on which the residences and business section of the town are located.
This apiiliiation was made by the Ronmgh of Wickboro, Armstron:: County, and
is for permission to extend its sewers and to discharge the sewage therefrom into the
Allegheny Riv(>r within the limits of the borough.
1114 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Back from the fiats the ground rises up the slopes of the hills and on these slopes
residences have been erected. That part of the connnunity north of the borough of
Kittanning and contiguous thereto, is known as ^Vickboro. Here reside between
fifteen hundred and two thousand people. The Buffalo and Allegheny Division of the
Pennsylvania Railroad extends along the flats near the river, there being one road
only between the railroad tracks and the river bank. The principal part of Wick-
how is in that section close to the Kittanning boundary. In the central part of the
municipal territory, between the river and the railroad, are located the industrial
plants comprising the Wickboro Mirror Factory, the Pennsylvania China Com-
pany, the Kittanning Plate Glass Company and the Kittanning Brick and Fire Clay
Company, all important works, and contributing not only to the support of the in-
habitants of Wickboro borough but to those living in Kittanning.
North of these plants, in the upper part of the borough on the flats, is a settle-
ment, and it is here, at the foot of Colwell Street, that there was formerly located
and operated a water works plant. At the present time the pumping station is not
in use, but it is held in reserve for emergency purposes.
The water is pumped from the river to the reservoir on the hill or forced directly
into the water pipe sj'stem. The inhabitants are largely supplied with public water
furnished by the Armstrong Water Company, and the supply is partly from springs
on the hills and partly from the Allegheny River ; the intake being located in the
central part of Kittanning borough above the county bridge at the foot of Market
Street. The waiter is subjected to filtration before being supplied to the consumers.
In the settlement in the vicinity of the old Rayburn W^ater Company's pumping
station above mentioned, there are sewers in the public streets which have a twenty-
four inch outlet into the river below the station. Connected with this system are
forty-two hundred and fifty feet of sewers, of which the eight inch comprises seven
hundred feet, the ten inch four hundred feet, the twelve inch one thousand four
hundred feet, the fifteen inch seven hundred feet and the eighteen inch seven hun-
dred feet.
In the central section of the borough there is a twenty-four inch sewer outlet to
the river at the foot of Montieth Street. Connected to this system is a total of ten
thousand eight hundred and forty feet of sewer whose diameters range from eight
to twenty-four inches, of which the eight inch comprises seventeen hundred and
sixty feet, the twelve inch thirty-nine hundred feet, the fifteen inch fifteen hundred
feet, the ten inch sixteen hundred feet and the eighteen inch eleven hundred feet.
In this di-strict practically every street has a sewer in it.
In the southern section of the borough adjacent to Kittanning there are sewers
which have an outlet into the Kittanning borough sewer which empties into the river
at the foot of Union Avenue. The contributing sewers lying in the streets within
Wickboro borough comprises a total length of seventeen hundred feet, all twelve
inches in diameter.
The sewers of those three districts take suiface water from the street gutters,
water from the roofs of houses and seAvage proper. Their outlets are all above the
intake of t!ie Armstrong Water Company. So are also other sewers in the borough
of Kittanning.
Judging from the sizes and the fact that the waters from the hillsides are delivered
during iieavy rainfalls onto the flats in torrents, at times the sewers must be inca-
pable of efTcctually removing all of the surface waters which accumulate on thei
streets.
Undoubtedly, as the district grows in population and resources, improvements
will lie demanded and adequate conveyance of storm water to tli(> river will be
effected. This may, peiliai)s, be best accomplished by pipes laid for the specific
purpose of surface water ri'nioval only.
Whatever industrial wastes and sewage are produced at the shops and mills are
discliiirged directly into the river.
"■J'he fipfdicants propose to build a sewer outlet I weiity-four inches in diameter
into liio river at a point immediatidy above the Kittanning Ixjrougli line. Its prin-
cipal object is to ntford a iclicf for the surcharging of the existing sewers in the
f<'nlral part of the boronudi and lo remove surface water, wiiich accumulates on the
low land at Johnston Avenue (wliich avenue is at the foot of the hill and the
boundary line Ix-tween Wickboro and Rnyi)urn Townsiiip), betwe(>n North Avenue
and riiKld.'ind Avciuie. The plan fonli iii|)1mI('S the laying of a twenty-four inch pipe
from said .Johnston Avf-nuc in Nfirtli Avenue, (Jrant Avenue and thence across
private pro))(M"ty to the river. A conncclion is to be ('(Tected with the existing S(>wers
in Crant Avenue. Abutting properties are to be peruiitled to ('(uinecl with this line
of sewer. The total number of sucii iiroijerties to b(^ served is limited.
It ia at once apparent that when the time shall have arrived for the cessation of
tlu' discharge of raw sewage into the Allegheny River at Wickboro and Kittanning
iiorou'-di, that economy iiiid ffricicMcy will deiuiind a joint sewerage and sewage dis-
posal pfojict for bfdh niunicipalilics. .\lso IliJit llicre shall be a sejjiiration to some
prarti(;al degree, of surface water from iiousehold sewage.
The cost of treatinir minglerl sewage and storm water is prohibitive. Tin; wash of
streets is not particularly dangerous, but the pathogenic poisons which come from
tjje households are known lo be a source of great ineiuice to the public health.
Town'* and citi<'S alorii; the river below Kittanning are now using iiiid must continue
for all time to rely on the Allegheny River as a source of public w;iler sup[)lyj and
it is the policy of the Stale to bring about the gradual [jrescu'vation of the purity of
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1115
streams whifh are us?ed as sources of drinking water for the protection of llie public
healtli. In workinj; out this polic3' involving,' im|)rovenients to existing scwei-s and
the ultimate treatment of sewage, plans should i)e devised by local authorities and
they should he adopted after approval by the State Department of Health and there-
after such additions and extensions, from time to time as may he needed, should he
built in conformity with this comprehensive plan. In this way the gradual elimina-
tion of sewage pollution of the stream will be brought about.
The Department is not informed of the assessed valuation and bonded indebtedness
of Wickboro. but it is represented by the petitioners that the borrowing capacity of
the municipality is not sufficient to defray the cost of the erection of sewage purifica-
tion works or of extended sewerage improvements at this time.
It appears that the proposed sewer improvements are much needed. The sur-
charging of the existing sewers is not only a matter of ineonveuience and damage to
those estates in the central part of the borough which arc connected with the system,
but also a menace to health. The small amount of sewage which may be contributed
to these added sewers is an immaterial amount and would not measurably increase
the pollution of the Allegheny River.
It has been unanimously agreed that the interests of the public health will be
subserved by granting a permit, and a permit is hereby and herein granted, to the
borough of Wickboro to make the proposed extensions under the following conditions
and stipulations:
FIRST: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
cease on J\fny first, nineteen hundred and ten. If, at that time, the interests of the
'pul)lic health demand it, and the other terms of this pei-mit shall have been complied
with, the Commissioner of Health may extend the time in which sewage may con-
tinue' to discharge into the Allegheny River.
SECOND: On or before May first, nineteen hundred and nine, Wickboro shall,
either independently or in conjunction with Kittanning borough, prepare a compre-
hensive plan for the collection of all of the sewage of the borough and its conveyance
to some point for the ultimate treatment of the sewage and submit such plans to the
Commissioner of Health for consideration and approval.
The attention of the local authorities is hereby called to the fact that the epidemic
of typhoid fever and stomach disorders of the winter of nineteen sundred and six and
seven has been attributed to the sewage pollution of the Allegheny River water, an(l
that, while the State Department of Health has done what it could to bring about
the proi^er filtration of the public water supply of Kittanning and Wickboro boroughs
and will continue to exercise supervision thereover, nevertheless, it is all important
that the discharge of sewage into the river above the water works intake should be
discontinued, and the borough oflicials should understand that it is the purpose of
the State to require Wicklioro borough and Kittanning borough to make changes in
their sewer outlets at the earliest practicable moment, and to this end said local
authorities are urged to prepare the plans called for during the current season and as
early as possible.
Ilarrisburg, Pa., .May 4th, 190S.
WINTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Winton, Lackawanna County, and
is for permission to install a s.vstem of public sewers and to discharge the sewage
therefrom, untreated, into the Lackawanna River within the limits of the borough.
It appears that Winton borough is located on the easterly bank of the Lackawanna
River, northeast of the centre of Lackawanna County about seven miles above the
city of Scranton. It is bounded on the northeast by Archbald borough and Jeffer-
son township, on the southeast by said township, on the southwest by Olyphant
boroiigh and on the northwest by said borough and the boroughs of Blakely and
Archbald. It contains about six and a quarter square miles. Within the incorpo-
rated territory there are two settlements both along the banks of the river in the
extreme western part of the borough. The upstream and smaller settlement is the
villase of Winton, occupied by people engaged in mining coal in the vicinity, and
the down-stream settlement bears the name of Jessup. It is here that the stores
and oflices are located. The balance of the area within the borough limits is wild
mountain land, not likely to be built upon.
The population of about five thousand is chiefly in Jessup. Not over two hundred
people reside in Winton village. There are a few scattered dwellings elsewhere in
the municipal territory. Outside of one silk mill the industries are entirely coal
mininir opei'ations.
The Delaware and Hudson Railroad passes throusrh Winton borough along the
east bank of the river. The New York, Ontario and Western Railroad follows the
river alonir the westerly bnnk through the boroiigh of Rlakely. The Delaware,
Lackawanna jind Western Railroad has coal mine switches in the town.
The principal natural water course tributary to the river is (Jrassy Island
Creek. It rises in th(> mountains at the southeasterly part of the borough and flows
northwest and emi)ties into the Lackawanna River midway between the villasie of
Winton and the village of Jessup. Storrs Creek rises in the southerly portion of
1116 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
the borough, flows west into Olyphant borouah, thence north into Winton and
thence west and empties into the Lackawanna at the west corner of Winton borough.
Coal operations are located alonu- both of these creeks and empty mine drainage
into them.
The public water supply in the town is furnished by the Scrantou Gas and Water
Company, which controls and operates the source of supply belou.nin,;;- to the Winton
Water Company, and the pipe lines in the streets belouiiin;;- to the Olyphant Water
Company, x'he supply is impounded in three reservoirs on Grassy Island Creek or
its tributaries and is furnished by gravity. The coal companies are the largest con-
sumers. Although there are water mains on practically all of the streets, nearly
one quarter of the population use water from slialtow wells dug through six to eight
feet of clay and boulders into a bed of water-bearing sand.
There is one sewer in town built by private parties and recently taken over by
the borough. It is in Jessup and nins from the silk mill to the river. Eight houses
and a mill have a connecton and more may follow.
Privy vaults are in common use. Sink water and other house drainage is run to
open street gutters.
The territory for which a sewer permit is asked covers a part of the village of
Jessup only, comprising portions of the area tributary to the proposed Church and
mil Street intercepting sewer. 'Wlien the system is extended to take in all the
, built-up area, it will serve approximately one snuare mile. This district is naturally
divided into four drainage areas, namely, the territory tributary to the Back Road,
to Church Streer. to Hill Street and to the part of the town between the Delaware-
and Hudson Railroad and the river known as the flats. It is reported that none of
the territoi'y is subject to overflow at time of flood. All of the sewers can drain to a
common outlet.
Bridge Street is so named because it is a thoroughfare extending across the river
into Blakely borough and it is in this street, at the bridge, that the i)respnt sewer
outlet is located. Its grade may be too low to admit of connection Muth the proposed
twenty-four inch pipe outlet from the new systeiu. This new outlet will be into the
river down stream about six hundred feet below the bridge. The Department is not
reliably informed, however, whether it be possible by gravity to connect up the
I'xisting borough sewer and the proposed sewer with a sewage purification plant
admitting of the deliverance of the sewage by gravity to such plant; however, it is
evident from tlie data at hand that the sewage may all be collected at one point and
there lifted to purification works.
The main stiwer is to serve sanitary sewers only. The entire system lias not yet
been entirely developed in plan. But the sewers as now laid out eompris;' the dis-
trict where there is a di-mand at present for sewers.
The Lackawanna River at the pi'oposed .sewer outlet, on .Tune twcnty-tliird of
the current year, was flowing with a surface velocity of aljout two and omvquarti'r
miles per hour with an a^'crage deiith of about one foot and a width of twenty f(M>t.
AJons: the river and its tributaries numerous coal mines and washeries are located
and all of the mine water and much of the wasliery waste is drained into it. Car-
bondale, with a population of twenty-two thousand, discharg(>s its sewage into the
river and so do many of the other juunicipalities on the river above and below
Winton. Blakely borough is now engaged in prepaiing plans for sewers. It seems
quite the (H-onomical and oliiciont thing for Blakely and Winton boroughs to adopt a
joint outfall sewer and sewage disposal ))roject and build a joint outl'all sewer from
year to year in eonforniity with siu-h a iilau. The Depai'lnn'ul is not informed as to
the financial standing of Winton borough, but it is understood, in a general way,
that the municipality is not in a position at this time to assume the exjjense of
.sewage disposal works. Since permits have been issued to several of the boroughs in
fyackawanna River valley to temiiorarily discharge sewage into said I'iver under
stiinilated conditions, there would appear to be no rea.son why similar right should
not be grantefl to Winton.
It has been determined that the interests of the i)ublic health will be subserved
by granting a permit for the pi'oposed .sewer system and such a permit is hei'eby and
lierein granted, under the following conditions and stij)ulations:
FIRST: That all storm water shall be excluded from the sewer system. Inspec-
tion manholes shall be placed upon the stnvers at all street intersections and at
changes of line jind grade. A careful record shall be kept of all connections with tln!
Hewer system. At the close of each season's work a plan of the sewers built during
the year, together with any other informaticjii in (jonnection therewith which may be
nqiiired, shall be filed in the office of the Slate Department of Health, to the enil
that the ronunissioner of Health may be always informed of the extent of the
sewer system and the piddifr use thereof.
SECOND: This permit to discharge sewage inio llie wateis of the Slate shall
cease on tlw first day of January, nineteen hiuulred and ten, itrovidcd, however,
that up lo this lime ijie othr-r conditions of this iterniit shall have been complied with.
If, on sai'l Januai'y first, nineteen hundred and ten, all of the conditions of this
permit shall have been complied with, then tlie ( "ommissionei' of Health may extend
the time in which Uie borough s(!wag(! m.-iy be discharged into the waters of the
State, having in mind always the general ijolicy of the State with respect to dis-
charge of sewage from the various municipalities in the I>ackawauna River valley.
No. 17. COMMISSIONPJR OF HEALTH. 1117
THIRD: On or before Jnnuary first, ninotecn hundred and ten, the borough of
Winton shall, either alone nr in coiijunetion with one or more other municipalities
in the Lackawanna valley adjacent to said Winton borough, consider and perfect
some plan for the disposal of sewage other than into the Lackawanna River, and
submit this plan, together with a plan fur the complete sanitary sewer system for
Wiiiliiii borough to the Commissioner of Health for approval.
FOI'KTH: So pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the Siwer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed on
the premises.
FIFTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system or any i)art thereof has become prejudicial to public health or a
menace, then such i-emedial measures shall be adopted as the Commissioner of
Health may approve or advise.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2!)th, 1908.
YEADON, DELAWARE COUNTY.
This order and decree was issued to the borough authorities of the borough of
Yeadon, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, apd is in response to a communication
received from thf- Pr(\sideni of the Borough Council of Yeadon, relative to the dis-
continuance of the discharge of sewage into the waters of the State within the said
borough and elsewhere.
The following is a copy of said communication:
"1 would respectfully call your attention to the dangerous condition of Cobb's
Creek, from Market Street south to the dam at Woodlawn Avenue, between Phila-
delphia and Delawai'o Counties. West Philadelphia empties a number of sewer
mains iiitu the creek and new houses by the hundreds are being added to these mains
every month, until, during the whole summer, the odor emanating from the creek
has been sim))ly unbearable.
"A nasty sewage scum has covered the surface of the creek for perhaps half a
mile i-unning north from the dam at Woodlawn Avenue until the recent rains.
"There is a widespread complaint upon the part of the residents in this immediate
vicinity, :ind I felt that you were the proper official to appeal to, to start the
ma<-liiiieiy necessary to abate the nuisance.
"The 'Philadelphia Press' has (in its column "In and about the City" and edi-
torially) condemned the condition of the creek in a vigorous manner.
"The officials of the borough of Yeadon will no doubt be glad to render you aid in
prevailing upon the proper authorities to remedy this evil.
"Will you kindly advise me at the earliest convenience, and oblige V"
As a result of this communication, the Commissioner of Health called the atten-
tion of the Department of Public Works of Philadelphia to the condition of Cobb's
Creek, and to the law of April twenty-second, nineteen hundred and five.
On September twentieth, nineteen hundred and six, the Secretary of the Board
of Health informed the Commissioner that the borough engineer had called at the
Harrisburg office and been advised that one of the Department's representatives
would visit Yeadon and make a personal inspection, which inspection was subse-
quently made both in the fall of that year and in April of nineteen hundred and
seven.
The borough of Yeadon is a residential community of about one thousand popula-
tion located in Delaware County immediately west of the City of Philadelphia, being
bounded on the south by Darby borough, on the west by Darby Creek, separating
it from Darby and Upper Darby Township, and on the north by the borough of
Lansdowne and Upper Darby Township.
The territory so incorporated has a frontage on Cobb's Creek of nearly two miles.
About three-fourths of the municipal area is undevidopcd !an<l. The Imiit-up part is
in the north near Lansdowne, and also easterly m-nr Fernwood Station on the
'Central Division of the Philadeli)hia, Baltimore ami Washingttm Railroad. There
is only a small portion of this road in Yeadon borough, in the northeast corner of
the town. Baltimore .\venue, just north of said railroad and paralleling it, and
called the Delaware County turnpike, west of Cobb's ( feek, crosses said Creek at
the extreme northeastern corner of Yeadon borough. Fernwood Station is abotit
midway of the borough line and the settlement there is partly in the township and
partl.v in the borough. The locality is drained by a small run which rises just west
of the station and flows southerly throuch Yeadon borough about a mile and a half
to Cobb's Creek. The point where it empties into the Creek is at the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad about eight hundred feet above Darby borough line.
Upper Darby Township is a firit class township. Its Board of Commissioners
have not made any report relative to sewerage, so it is not known whether Fernwood
settlement in the township is provided with sewei-s, h\it if so, they would naturally
discharge into the Yeadon liorough sewers, which sewers liegin in this settlement at
the borough line, and an* laid in most of the streets in the borougli territory drain-
ing to the run. The outfall sewer is twenty-four inches in diameter for this eastern
and central district, extends down the valley of the run to Cobb's Creek and into
Darby borough for a distance of .•iliout nim^ luindri'il f.-et . discharging into
71
1118 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Cobb's Creek below the dam in the vicinity of Woodland Avenue. This dam marks
the upper limits of tidewater. The borough of Darby has made two sewer connec-
tions to this main.
The outfall is seventy-one hundred feet long, and connecting with it are sixteen
thousand four hundred feet of lateral sewere.
In the extreme western end of Yeadon there is a small district in which sewers are
built totalins; five thousand feet and connecting to a twenty-four inch outfall sewer
beginning at the Lansdowne borough line and extending down the east bank of Darby
Creek and through Darby borough to near the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, where it
empties into Darby Creek. The total. length of this outfall is seven thousand feet.
Connecting with this line at Lansdowne is the main sewer of the Lansdowne bor-
ough system by the eastern district, comprising all told, six miles of lateral sewere.
There are sewers in the western part of the built-up portion of Lansdowne which
appear to empty into the creek through a sewer at Baltimore Avenue.
Where the Yeadon outfall empties into Darby Creek, it is tidal water. It was the
intention of the borough to build this sewer down stream about half a mile further
and discharge at a point in Colwyn borough opposite where the sewers of Sharon Hill
now empty; but litigation with the borough of Darby respecting this sewer or the
use thereof, and with property owners about the right of way has prevented the
completion of the work.
The present outlet is throttled, the opening being eight inches in diameter instead
of twenty-four inches, which causes the main to fill up and overflow at a manhole
in the bank of the creek adjacent to Main street in Darby borough. This is in the
heart of the town , where thousands of people daily pass. The gases emitted from
this overflow are noticeable even in the shops and offices some distance away. A nui-
sance exists here which should be abated.
It is reported that eight-tenths of the population in Yeadon use the sewers there
and most of these live in dwellings connected to the eastern outlet which empties into
Cobb's Creek. A very large percentage of the flow in the western outlet is contrib-
uted by the borough of Lansdowne.
Cobb's Creek rises in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, and flows
generally southerly to its confluence with Darby Creek, where, in the forks, is
located Colwyn borough. Darby Creek rises in Easttown Township, Chester
County, and flows in a general southeasterly direction about fifteen miles to its
junction with Cobb's Creek. It has a watershed above this point of about thirty-six
square miles, and Cobb's Creek has a watershed of twenty-two square miles. Both
streams are badly polluted with sewage. At Woodlawn Avenue, Cobb's Creek re-
ceives the sewage of the rapidly growing part of Philadelphia known as Paschallville,
throush a structure five and five-tenths feet in diameter. Passing up stream in the
vicinity, in Greenway Avenue, there is a four and five-tenths foot sewer. About a
mile and a half up stream there is another outlet eleven feet in diameter, known as
Thomas Run sewer, which serves quite an extensive area as far north as Market
Street. In the vicinity there is also a sewer outlet four and five-tenths feet in
diameter at the foot of Sixtieth Street and extending up Chester Avenue.
At Baltimore Avenue there is a new sewer five feet in diameter. Above Baltimore
Avemie. at Market Street, the Robinson Street system outlet, six and five- tenths
feet in diameter, is located, and just below it, in Spruce Street, there is a combined
sewer outlet three and twenty-five hundredths feet in diameter.
All of these stnictures are in the city of Philadelphia and they receive both sewage
and stoiTn water.
Cobb's Creek is located in a narrow, winding and, in portions, well-wooded
gorge, upon whose banks in Delaware County outside of the boroughs mentioned,
there are extensive cemeteries, and upon whose banks and adjoining table land in
Philadelphia building operations are intensely active, and a well built up residential
district is assured. The stream is already badly polluted by sewage, and in summer
time, when the natural flow would be naturally small, a considerable portion of its
volnmt? is undoubtedly discharged from the city sewers.
Above Market Street there is an important tributary called Indian Run, whose
east and west branches are largely in Lower Merion Townshiii and drain Narh<>rtli
borough, Ardmore and Wynnewood village in liOwer Merion Townshiii. and come
down through Overbrook and Haddington villages in Pliiladclphiii to the main
creek. Tills run rfceives the flow of two sewers in Philadelphia, and soint' jxilhition
from Narberth borough. One of the sewers in Sixty-fifth Street is connected with the
Lower Merion Township outfall sewer, which is twenty-four inches in diameter,
and takes house si-waire only. The city sewer into whifh it discharges is six feet in
diameter; it f-mpties into the east branch of Indian Run. The other sewer is at the
foot of Lebanon Avenue. The run also receives indiislrial wastes and altogether
they rendf^r the waters extremely foul and a numace to public health.
The State Depnrtment of Health has .-ipjjroved plans for a four and five-tenths foot
sewer called the T'obb's Creek intercepter, and it is nfiw being constrticled along the
east bank of T'oMi's Cr^-ek from a jioint just altove Darby Crook, a distance of about
eight thousand feet. It will inlereept tlie Woodlawn Avenue and Creenway Avenue
city f)UtletK, and also all new main sewers laid in the distriet within the limits of
Philadelnliia. The city eontemolates the extensions of this interf'ei)ter up the
valley of the ereek jind Indian Run to the eity line. All dry wenther flow is to be
diverted into this structure, and also the first flush of storm water.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1119
The approval of this intercepter by the Commissioner of Health was given with the
following stipulation:
"That the city shall, on or before the year 1912, prepare and submit to the State
Doi)artment of Health for approval, a comprehensive sewer plan for the collection
and disposal of the sewage of the entire Cobb's Creek drainage district within the
limits of the city of IMiiladelphia and elsewhere, if this be found desirable, and that
the city shall, in conjunction with the State Department of Health, consider the
feasibility of so laying out such a comprehensive system that it may be adapted to
receive and dispose of the sewage from municipalities in the drainage district outside
of the city limits."
Darby Creek below Colwyn and Cobb's Creek flows through salt marshes (which
are flooded more or less at high water) for a distance of about six miles to the
Delaware River. The course of this stream is about narallel with the river and the
territoiy is unoccupied save by numerous boat houses along the bank. Boating and
fishing are extensively engaged in. Two and a half miles below the mouth the city
of Chester takes its water supply out of the river.
The city of Philadelphia is now studying a plan to carry the Cobb's Creek inter-
cepter easterly tlinmyh .a tunnel or otherwise to the Schuylkill River sewerage
system, which would obviate all pollution of Cobb's Creek by city sewage.
The city has also planned to build a Parkway up Cobb's Creek valley and the pre-
emption of the valley for Parkway purposes precludes the location therein of sewage
disposal works. So the town in Delaware County draining into Cobb's Creek
must find some other means for the disposal of sewage than into the creek, either by
connection with the <?ity's intercepter or by the construction of a new intercepter.
However. Yeadon's and Lansdowne's sewage creates a nuisance in the bor-
oughs of Darby and Colwyn and contributing to this nuisance there are also sewer
outlets from the latter boroughs and Sharon Hill. The interest of the public
health demand in justice that all these sewages should be intercepted and dis-
posed of in some other way than into the creek. Common sense would dictate
that both efliciency and economy would be subserved by a joint sewer project and
joint works for the disposal of the sewage.
The Department of Health has been instrumental in bringing about sewerage
plans in Philadelphia partly for the benefit of the citizens of Yeadon borough and
surely the citizens of this borough should recognize the justice of something be-
ing done to bring about an improvement of conditions along Darby Creek.
Yeadon borough failed to submit a satisfactory report and plans of its sewer
system in compliance with law. Even at this late date the Department does not
have on file a satisfactory plan of the existing sewer system showing sizes,
grrdes, etc., and therefore the borough cannot claim the right to exemption under
the law. Its sewage is being illegally discharged into the watere of the State if
the Department of Health orders the discontinuance thereof.
The financial ability of the borough to assume an obligation for sewerage im-
provement is not known to the Department, a request for this information not
having been complied with.
It has been determined that the interests of the public health demand that the
discharge of sewage into the creeks from the boi'ough of Yeadon should be dis-
continued and that the borough be given until October first, nineteen hundred and
eight, in which to prepare either independently or in conjunction with other
municipalities, a plan for some other disposal of the sewage than into the two
creeks and submit the same to the Commissioner of Health for approval, all of
which is herein and hereby ordered and decreed.
Harrisburg, Pa., January 28th, 1908.
YOUNG WOOD, WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
This application was made by the borough of Yonngwood, Westmoreland
County, and is for permission to install a system of sewers and to discharge the
sewage therefrom untreated into the waters of the State.
The borough of Y'onngwood has a normal population of approximately two thou-
sand which fluctuates according to the conditions of the times, and has reached
as high as twenty-three hundred. It is entirely surrounded by Hempfield Town-
ship and is about four miles south of (rreensburg. The West Penn trolley system
between Oreensburg and Brownsville, Fayette County, passes through this
borough . so does the southwestern division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the
Sewickley Branch of the same line. It is at this place that the crews for the
freight and coal trains from the coal fields in Fayette and Westmoreland Counties,
passing over these branches, change, in consequence of which the municipality
has develi>ped into a railroad town. There are no other industries in this town.
Some of the citizens find employment in the several iron mills at Oreensburg.
At the present time, owing to the letup in railroad business, the borough popu-
lation has been reduced and there are a number of vacant houses.
Jack's Run, a local stream, rises in the northwestern part of the township,
flows southerly throuffh (rreensburg, where it receives the sewage of that place,
continuin'j: soutluM'ly, it passes for ihe entire Irnirth of the borough through the
eastern part of Yonngwood and empties into Big Sewickly Creek a mile below the
1120 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
vilJage. It has a watershed of twenty-soveu square miles and total length of
nine miles. On this area there are a number of coal mines from which acid wastes
are drained into the stream. On Big Sewickley Creek above the mouth of Jack's
Run there are also many extensive mine workings in operation.
The main part of Youugwood is built on the flats along Jack's Run, but
some of the residences have "been located on the hillside. There are sewere in the
borough and also, according to reports, there are ten dug and drilled wells. Most
of the inhabitants derive their drinking water from the Westmoreland Water Com-
pany. This corporation furnishes the borough of Greensburg and contiguous
country. The source is from mountain streams. -
The "most densely populated district of the borough is sewered, the sewers being
owned by Messrs' Rutherford and Dick, of Scottdale, Westmoreland County.
This system includes a twenty-four inch outlet in Jack's Run about five hundred
feet below Depot Street. The system is combined. Tributary to the outlet are
three and one-tenth miles of sewers ranging from eight inches to twenty-four
inches. The Department is not in possession of plans showing the details and
the different sizes of pipes in this system.
During nineteen hundred and seven, without permission, as required by law,
t)u' sewer system of this company was extended on several streets a total distance
of about fourteen hundred feet.
Beyond the sewer district, kitchen drainage is permitted to reach the street
gutters and therein causes stagnant pools and objectionable odors. In the south end
this custom prevails and in the district there are some two hundred privies. The
borough proposes to provide a system of sewers for this part of Youngwood.
The plan calls for a twenty-four inch outlet into Jack's Run, two hundred and
fifty feet below Low Street, which is in the south end. Tributary to this sewer
there is to be eleven hundred and fifty feet of twenty-four inch , seven hundred
and forty feet of twelve inch, and six thousand feet of ten inch pipe. The system
Is to be provided with lamp holes and manholes for inspection and ventilation.
Flushing is to be accomplished by means of fire hose. Although Jack's Run is
an extremely acid stream, there is no evidence of sewage pollution in its course
thicugh Youngwood, although Greensburg sewage is emptied therein four miles above.
llow long the water courses of the district will remain acid is problematical. At the
present time the acidity of the waters must act as a powerful germicide on the
sewage discharge:, into the creeks, but when, if ever, the streams assume their
natural condition of fresh water or even now during freshets sewage from Young-
wood may be transmitted down stream sixteen miles by Big Sewickley Creek to
the Youghiogheuy River, from which, at a point fourteen miles further on, the
city of McKeesport draws water for the supply of its citizens.
It cannot be doubted that Youngwood borough should, in tlie interests of
efficiency and economy, build the sewer system at this time in anticipation of the
ultimate treatment of its sewage when the time shall have arrived thai the interests
of the public health clearly demand that this should be done. At the present time
the borough is financially able to build a sewer system and also a purification
plant, but until Greenssburg shall have provided a plant for the treatment of its
sewag'e. it would seem unjust to force Youngwood to assume this expense, owing
more e.specially to the present ability of the waters of the region to clarify sewage.
It is quite possible that a joint disposal works for both (Greensburg and Youngwood
would be the most eflicient and economical plan.
The private sewer system in Youngwood now receives l)oth sewage and storm
water. The public sewers should not be designed to remove surface wal(!r because
it is impracticable to treat both sewage and storm water, owing to the pro-
hibitive cost involved. The laying of small pipes in the streets will accomplish
two things: First, it will provide at a given sum household sewerage facilities
for a much larger area than if larger storm drains were provided; and second,
it will prove a more efficic-nt system beciause such sanitary sewers are more even in
operation, are not subject to surcharging, back-flooding, breaks and repairs inci-
dent to a combined system. And finally when the sewage; must be treated, the only
expense involved will' be that of attaching the sewers to ihe disposal works.
The sewag'' now discharged by th(! private sewer system into .lack's Run must
iilso be treated when tlie ord(!r shall be issued for the discontinuance of the dis-
charge of all sewage, into the streams in the valley, and at that time changes, but
to what extent the Department does not know, must be made in such pri-
vate system. It would be a good plan for tlie borough an<l the s(iwer company
to work in conjunction in laying out a comprehensive plan so that ultimately t^he
two might have a common place for disposal.
The point cannot b<! emphasized t;oo clearly that in treating sewage, especially in
places the size of Youngwood, it is essential that Ihe storm and roof water
should be excluded from Ihe scjwers. It has becai found more economical to build
sewers for the accomnnidation of sewage only and storm water drains for the ac-
commodation of storm water only.
It appears that the sev/erage company has not tiled [dans or a report in the
otlice of the Commissioner of Ilealtb.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 1121
It has been determined that the interests of the public health will be sub-
served by grantiui; a permit for the proposed installatiou of the sewers and such
permit is hereby aud herein granted under the following conditions and stipu-
lations:
FlIiST: That all roof and storm water shall be excluded from the sewer
system.
SECOND: The sizes of the proposed sewers may be safely reduced very mate-
rially. A teu-iuch pipe outlet for the south end of the town is ample in size.
TlllKD: Since the plans now proposed do not show sizes and grades, the map
accompanying the petition being not much more than an outlined sketch, it is
stipulated that on or before August tirst, nineteen hundred and nine, the borough
shall prepare a plan for a comprehensive sewerage system for its entire territory
and submit the same to the Commissioner of Health for approval. Such plans may
be modilied, amended or appi'oved by the Commissioner of Health.
FUL'liTH: This permit to discharge sewage into the waters of the State shall
ceas(! on the hrst day of August, nineteen hundred and nine. If on said date the
borough shall have submitted the said comprehensive sewerage plan and have com-
plied with the other conditions of this permit, then the Commissioner of Health
may extend the time until August tii-st, niueleeu hundred and twelve. If on said
date it appears to the Commissioner of Health that the interests of the public health
will be subserved by such further extensions, then such extensions may be given.
FIFTH: If at any time, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Health, the
sewer system, or any part thereof, shall have become a nuisance or menace to the
public health, then such remedial measures shall be adopted by the borough as the
Commissioner of Health may approve or suggest.
SIXTH: No pathogenic material from any laboratory shall be discharged into
the sewer system. The proper authorities shall cause these wastes to be destroyed
on the premises.
SEVENTH: On or before August first, nineteen hundred and nine, the borough
shall submit a plan, either independently, or with the private sew'er company here-
inbefore mentioned or wuth the borough of Greeusburg, showing the location of the
site for the treatment of its sewage and an outline plan of the scheme for
delivering the sewage to said site and its treatment therein with estimates
of cost, to the C<^)mmissioner of Health for approval. The said Commissioner
will carefully consider the proposition and will fix the time in which sewage shall be
discontinued from being discharged into the waters of the State in the region, and
the borough of Youngwood will not be required to treat its sewage earlier than
otiier municipalities in the region are required to treat their sewages.
Harrisburg, Fa., August 25th, 1908.
ZELIENOPLE, BUTLER COUNTY.
This decree is issued to the borough of Zelienople, Butler County, in respect to
sewerage.
It appears that on August twenty-sixth, one thousand nine hundred and seven,
the borough of Zelienople, Butler County, submitted the following application:
"To the Honorable Health Commissioner of the State of Pennsylvania:
"The petition of the borough of Zelienople, by the undersigned, its attorney, duly
authorized so to do, respectfully represents: That it is a municipal corporation of
the State of Pennsylvania located in Butler County, having a population of about
tv/elve hundred, with a system of sanitary sewage emptying and tlowing into Conno-
quenessiug Creek, a draft and description of said sewer system having been filed with
the State Board of Health and is by law required, the said municipality proposed
to extend its sewer system by the construction of an eight inch sanitary sewer upon
and along Clay Street, in said borough, from Culvert Street to Spring Street, con-
necting at Spring Street with the main sewer and also along and upon Main Street
from a point near the southern houudary line of the borough to a point near Culvert
Street, there to connect with tlic present sewer upon Main Street.
"It therefore prays that pernuts be granted by your Honorable Board for the
construction of the said two sewers and the extension of the system. And it will
ever pray, etc."
On May twenty-eighth, one thousand nine hundred and eight, another application
for sewer extension was received by the Commissioner of Health. It was as follows:
"The Borough Council has reccivt'd two petitions for sanitary sewei"s to be con-
si riicted by the property owners whose property abuts on Clay aud Hill Streets. I
enclose ordinances for same and make request for i)ermits for same. The one on
Mill Street will be one hundred and fifty-five feet long, joining Clay Street sewer,
which will be eight hundred and eighty-five feet long, being started on or at the in-
tei-section of Clay and New Casile Streets, thence north on Clay and into the main
trunk sewer we received p(>rmii for recently. The drawing will aid you in finding
the route proposed. Aloni; the Clay Street sewer proi)osed for sewer are twenty
residences which contain eighty-nine inhabitants and on Mill Street three residences
with eleven inhabitants and along the same street is situated the public square,
i. e. , a portion. On Clay Street there are nine lots which have not had buildings
erected on them."
71—17-1908
1122 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
It appears that on September seventeenth, one thousand nine hundred and six,
the Commissioner of Health issued a pennit to Zelienople to construct a sewer
sj-stem for a part of the municipal territory and to discharge the sewage therefrom
into the Connoqueuessiug Creek at the' foot of Clay Street under certain conditions,
among which were the following:
"This permission to extend the sewer system and to discharge sewage therefrom
into the Connoquenessing Creek shall cease on the first day of August, one thousand
nine hundred and eight. If at that time the conditions of this permit have been
complied with and the interests of the public health demand it, in the opinion of the
Commis5iouer of Health, he may extend the time for said discharge iu said creek.
"On or before the tirst day of August, one thousand nine hundred and eight, the
borough shall prepareplans for the treatment of the sewage of the sewer system, aud
shall submit the same to the Commissioner of Health for his approval, who may
modify, amend or approve the same and fix the time within which the same shall be
constructed.
"This permit for the installation of a sewerage system, before being operative,
shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds for the county wherein the
outlets for the said sewer system are located."
On May first, one thousand nine hundred and eight, the said permit had not
been recorded, hence it was not operative. Up to this time the borough had not sub-
mitted a plan showing the location, size, depth and grade and manholes on existing
sewers; but, on May eleventh, an unsatisfactory plan intended to convey this infor-
mation was received in the Department.
On July fourteenth, one thousand nine hundred and eight, the following communi-
cation was sent by the borough solicitor to the Commissioner of Health:
"I regret that the occasion has risen to write you again in regard to sewage dis-
posal matter of Zelienople borough, Butler County, Pennsylvania.
"In September, one thousand nine hundred and six, you granted said borough a
permit to extend its sewer system upon condition that a sewage disposal plant be
erected, and required plans therefor to be submitted to your Department for ap-
proval on or befox'o August first, one thousand nine hundred and eight.
"Under date of June fifth, I wrote you asking an extension of this time because
the borough was not in shape financially lo erect such a plant, and in your reply
you suggest that this is no reason for not submitting the plans according to the re-
quirement of the permit.
"Upon receipt of your letter the borough authorities advertised for bids for plans
and specifications to be submitted in accordance with the permit, and last night
opened the bids, which are as follows: Trumbel and Miller, engineers, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, three hundred and ninety-five dollars; L. D. Tracy, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, four hundred and ninety-five dollars; Pittsburgh Engineering Com-
pany, four hundred and seventy-five dollars; J. G. Ross, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
twelve hundred dollars for plans and supervision; Ohio State Board of Health, En-
gineering Department, six- hundred dollars, and Douglass and McKnight, six hun-
dred dollars. The borough has not the money on hand, neither is the tax levy,
which is fourteen mills, inclusive of bond tax, sufficiently large to pay so much for
plans. Hence to accept either bid will increase the indclitiHlncss of the borough,
which council cannot do because the debt now is practically seven per cent, of the
assessed valuation. A committee of citizens notified council if they accept a bid ex-
pending so much money they will restrain them by injunction.
"I am in full accord with the position of your department in striving to purify the
streams, and feel that this matter should have been undertaken years ago, but I am
at a loss to know what plan to advise in order to comply with the condition of the
permit in regard to plans. I feel that the court will be obliged to rostniin the
council if it is taken into court and I cannot see any legal way for council to c(m-
tract for the plans.
"Can you suggest any way and will you extend the limit in the permit to sucji
time as the council, by honest and earnest effort, may be able to work a way out of
the matter.
"I have only been attorney for the council for a few months, and am, therefore,
not in any way responsible of lost opportunities, but must now deal with the problem
an I find it."
Twelve miles below Zelienople, the borough of Elhvood City, with a population of
eight thousand, takes its public water supply fi'om C'onnoquenessing Creek in part.
Plans for the purification of the water supply before tlie water is furnished to the
public have been submitted for approval by the water company. WMicn such |)lnnt is
erected and put in operation, the rianirer will he i)artly minimized, hut not obviated.
It is reeallerl that the drearlfiil typhoid fever I'pidcinic at J'utlcr was caused throuirh
the temporary brenkdown of the water purification plant in that place. Public
safety from the health standpoint retpiires tlint sewage sliould be kept out of drink-
ing water. It may be that the r.ej.'isiature in its wisdom will see fit to approprijite
money lo helo defray the eir-ction of a sewage i)urification plant in towns situiited jis
Ih Z'lienople |)hysically and financially.
The permit issued by the (Commissioner of Health in one thonsnnd nine hundred
anrj six, was for a petty sewer I'Xtension. 'fhe appli<-aliotis for scwi-r ex'tensions
now under cfitisidcration '-.'.W for a vei\v tnalfrial extension and will inere;ise the
Kollution of tlie ConniKpienr'ssIng T'reek and add lo the menace lo human life in tli<'
lorongh of Ellwood Ciry. The petitioner iloes not show wherein the inlerests of
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1123
public health will bf subserved bj' removing Ihe poisons eliminated from human
bodies in Zt^ienople on those estates not now connected to a sewer and depositing
them in the drinkinj; water which is the source of supply to a town of eight thou-
sand people twelve mile:; distant.
The present method of disposal of sewage at such private places in Zelienople
would appear to be less harmful than the method proposed. In any event, it can be
regulated and controlled and it is the duty of the individual owner of every estate
tr. properly di^ijusc of the sewage without injury to his neighbor. Since the commu-
nity, by constitutional limitation, cannot now assume the expen.-<c of a joint project
of sewerage and sewage disposal, it becomes incumbent on the individual to assume
the responsibility for the sanitary disposal of the wastes of his household.
. It has been detcj'mined that the interests of the public health require that a per-
mit for sewer extension be denied and permission is hereby and herein denied to the
borough of Zelienople to make the proposed sewer extension.
The local alithorities are hereby cautioned against permitting any private sewer
discharge into the waters of the State within their jurisdiction. The importance
of this subject cannot be emp-iiasizcd too forcibly, more especially since it is apparent
that the borough cannot in the immediate future erect sewage purification works
unless the money therefor be forthcoming from an outside source. The policy of the
Commonwealth to preserve the purity of the waters of the State for the protection
ol the public health dictates this conclusion under the circumstances.
Harrisburg, I'a., July 29th, 1908.
' ZERBE TOWNSHIP, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Trevortoa Sewerage Company, Trevor ton Village.
This application was made by the Trevorton Sewerage Company, of Trevortou
village, Zerbe T'ownship, Xorthumberland County, and is for permission to install
a system of sewers in said village and to discharge the sewage therefrom, untreated,
into Zerbe Ilun within the limits of said township.
It appears that the Trevorton Sewerage Company was chartered August thir-
teenth, one thousand nine hundred and seven, for the purpose of constructing and
maintaining sewers in the village of Trevorton, Zerbe Township, Northumberland
County.
This village is a mining settlement of about three thousand inhabitants, located in
the valley of Zerbe Run, some time called Little Mahauuy Creek, about seven miles
west of Shamokin on the llerndou Division of the riiiladelphia and Reading Rail-
waj'. The valley is narrow and deep, formed by parallel mountain ranges named
Little Mountain, on the north and, and Big Mountain"ou the south. The ranges
at the summits are one mile apart. Trevorton village lies at the f jOt of the moun-
tains on the slopes. About seven-eighths of the population reside in the district south
of the run. A few dwellings are located north of the run. Outside of the settlement
the township is practically uninhabited. The men employed at the coal mines travel
back and forth daily to the village. Besides the coal operation, there is a silk mill
employing about eighty persons and the powder mill up the valley perhaps half a
mile, where a fev,' men work.
Zerbe Run has its rise about three miles east of Trevorton and its course is
westerly to Mahanoy Creek, seven miles below Trevorton. At this confluence the
main stream is at least one hundred feet wide and about three feet deep and flows
at a rate of about three miles per hour. Five miles west is the Susquehanna River
into which the creek empties near Herndou, after having jiursued a tcrtuous eourse.
Between Big Mountain and a parallel range to the south named Mahanoy Moun-
tain, is Be.ir \'alley, the eastern part of which drains easterly to Shamokin. but the
western part is drained northerly through the gap in Big Mountain to Zerbe Run.
This stream is called Sulphur Run. It forms the western boundary of Trevorton
village. Sulphur Run Ca)) is inune<liately back of the village at the west end. It is
in this gap that the 'Xortli Franklin colliery of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail-
way Company is located. It is the only coal mine within a radius of four miles of
Trevorton. The culm banks of the colliery extend along Sulphur Run to Zerbe Run
and cover a large area.
The coal is mined in drifts and by shafts, so that mine drainage flows by gravity
to the surface water courses, and by pumping also. It is reported that the pumpage
amounts to two million gallons per twenty-four hours. It is reported that there is a
virgin field of coal throughout the entire Bear \':illey and that about half the field can
be oiierated by the Nortii Franklin Colli(M-y, and on this basis, if the field continues
as i)roducti\'e as that now being worked, it is estimated that between thirty and
fifty years will elapse before the coal shall have been <'xhausted.
There is some coal on the north slope of Big Mountain below Trevorton. A new
operation has been begun four and a half miles west of the villasre of Zerbe Run
Valley.
Mahanoy Creek proper rises in Schuylkill County about forty miles east of Hun-
ter's Station, where Zerlv Run branclies from the creek. It drains extensive an-
thracite coal fields in which there are many active operations, and at the confluence
of the creek and Zerbe Run the waters are inky black owing to the coal dust
1124 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Otf. Doc
therein. The amount of sulpJmi' mine water in the stream is a very considerable
volame. There are men at ilie Hunter's Run Station whose occupation is to dredge
the creek for coal, and this appears to be a lucrative employment. Zerbe Run at its
mouili and below Trevorton, shows marked indications of sulphur pollution; the
channel has the characreristic jellow apearauce.
It IS under these conditions of stream quality and How that the petitioner repre-
sents that there will be no lutrm to public heaJth by the discharge of sewage into
Zerbe Run at Tre\orton.
It appears that the vilhtge is at present, and has been for some years, in an un-
s-mitary rouUiiiou. There are no records of disease available, either public or
private, but it is stated that sickness has not been prevalent to a degree worthy of
comment linlil recently particularly with regard to typhoid. On every property
there is a well and an outhouse, and, owing to the porous character of the grotind,
contamination of the well water is liable to occur. Wells in the vicinity of stables
and privies have been entirely abandoned in many instances. Nuisances abound in
rear yards and alley's. Private house drains discharge on the surface of the street,
where the water stagnates and produces disagreeable odors. Owing to the steepness
of the land surface, privy vaults overflow from yard to yard. When heavy drains
occur the town is washed free of filth. Thus it may be seen that a common sewer
system would afford means for remedy.
There is a public water supply owned by the Trevorton Water Supply Company.
The source is taken from springs on the north side of the valley and piped to a well,
where the water is pumped into the street system in the village overflowing into a
reservoir part way up the mountain side back of the town. There are not many
consumers at the present time. The citizens prefer to use well water and run the
risk of infection, and it may be that this practice will prevail until an epidemic shall
demonstraie the danger of drinking water drawn from the ground iu proximity to
sources of sewage pollution.
The Trevorton Sewerage Company purposes to lay a sewer pipe line in Shamokiu
Street for its entire length. This is the principal highway in the village. The hotels,
stores and offices are on it and nearly all the principal residences. It is elevated
about fifty feet above the run. It is also proposed to build a pipe line in Market
Street, which parallels Shamokiu Street, and also iu the alley between these two,
each to discharge into an eighteen inch pipe to be laid down Eleventh Street from
Shamokin Street, crossing Zerbe Run, and thence turning and passing down the
valley to a point two hundred feet west of the junction of Sulphur and Zerbe Run,
where the sewage is to be discharged untreated into the stream. The survey has not
been made of the territory and no plans or profiles of the proposed lines have been
submitted. A sketch outline accompanied the application. The petitioner states that
the system is to be for house sewage only. No manholes are provided or flush tanks.
X'cntilatioii is not attempted.
In the section of the town proposed to be sewered there are said to be about two
thousand people. It is expected that a small proportion only of the entire population
will be aftorded sewerage facilities at first, because of the expense attending the in-
stallation of improved household drainage.
Even if the entire population of the village were to contribute to the flow of tl'-
sewers, the proposed sizes ui pipes are entirely too large. The dispensing with in-
spection manholes and Hush tanks is proposed for economy's sake. It would seem,
tii«'refore, that tiie company should be glad to effect a furthi'r saving. Instead of an
eighteen inch outlet a twelve inch pipe should be ample and instead of sewers fifteen
inches and ten inches in diameter in Shamokin and Market Streets and the alley,
the sewers need not be over eight inches in diameter. The profiles not having been
submitted, the Department cannot further critically discuss the design.
Tliere is only one house between Trevorton and Hunter's Station and this is some
distance from the stream. The water being highly acid at liie jJi'Dposed point of
sewage discharge and bidow the confluence of Zerbe Run with Malianoy Creek, the
pollutions by mine drainage are so much greater that the conclusion seems well
founder! liiat the discharge of Trevorton sewage as i)ro])osed into tiiese waters would
not measurably increase tlii! danger to public health, llowevt'r^ this sewage during
high freshet ])cru)i]s could be carried down stream to the iiilak(! of the city of
llarrisliurg'.'-- Wafer Works. Even the coal in fine ])ieces is fransijorted this distance
and fl(!posited in the bed of the Susfjueiianna River. It is the purpose; of the Stale to
luring about less sewage pollution of IIm' public; streams; but in this case it would
appear, owing to the jieculiar local conditions wiiereby in the streams th(!re are now
(;lieniie;il and germicidal inlliiences at work which a)Jijroacli in their effectiveness
the ediciency of a sewage jiurilicalion plant, and in view of the necessity for im-
proved sewage disposal w(jrks at the dwellings in Ti'evorfon , over which (here is
|,endiiig an (!i)idemic so long as present conditions exist, that iiuhlic heallli would be
h'uiwf rved by permitting sewage to be emptied into Zerbi! Run below Suli)liur Run,
provi'led tliere is no otiier expedient at this time. There is no way provided under
tin- law, while Trevortun is a village in a township, for the jieople to obtain sevver-
;i«e, exeept through the etilerprisf! of ))i-ivafe citizens. The venture is a business
transaetion, or is intended to be. 'I'oo great first cost is proiiihili ve ; on the other
hand, the construction of a .sewer system aeeording to ill-advised i)lMns may commit
the town, if it should ever become incorp(<rated and thereaft(!r purchase! these sewers,
lo a r-ostly blunder. Whoever builds the stivers should be reepiired to i)lan a system
comprelien.dve enough to admit of extensions to all paits of the territory now occu-
pied by dsvellings or likely to be so occupied in llie fill ore. Storm water should
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1125
be excluded from these sewers. They should ije built, water-tight aud they should
be designed to ultimately deliver the sewage to some point where it can be treated
lu apparatus admitling ut" regulating aud control.
While it is not necessary to build sewers in the village to maintain the place in a
healthful condition, nevertheless the cost of taking care of household drainage on
each property is e.xpensive and not as satisfactory as connection to a sewer system.
It has been (h termined that the interests of the public health will be subserved by
granting a penuU lo the Trevorton Sewerage Company to install a system of sani-
tary sewers in the village of Trevorton and a permit is her<;in and hereby granted
therefor on aud only under the following conditions and stipulations:
FIRST: That all storm and roof water be excluded from the sewers and that
great care bo taken that the i)ipes shall be kept and laid tight. That inspection man-
holes shall be phu-ed at street intersections an<l changes in line and grade, and pro-
vided with perforated manhole covers to afford ventilation and that proper facilities
for flushing shall be afforded.
SECOND: That before any sewer is laid, the company shall prepare a compre-
hensive plan of sewerage for all of the village and for future extensions, showing
the streets and alleys and their grades and the depth and grades and sizes of the
proi)osed sewers a!Ml submit th(> same to the Commissioner of Health for approval,
and until such plans shall have been modified, amended or approved the Trevorton
Sewerage Company shall not build any sewer or sewers.
THH\I): The comi)any shall prepare a plan and profile of the outfall sewer, and
it shall show by jilan or plans how it is proposed to treat the sewage and where,
when the time shall have arrived for such treatment, if ever. In this work and the
work of sewer design , the company's interests should be best served by the employ-
ment of a competent engineer.
FOURTH: After the plans shall have been submitted and approved, the Com-
missioner of Health may i.ssue a permit for the temporary discharge of the sewage
into the waters of the State for a term of three years, at the expiration of which an
extension may be granted, if the interests of the public health demand such ex-
tensions.
The Commissioner of Health will examine the water of the wells in the town with
a view of determining what wells are contaminated, and notifications should be
served upon owners of such wells as may be found polluted. Such precautionary
measures should be taken as may be found desirable to safeguard public health.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2nd, 190S.
1126 THIRD ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
DESIGNS AND CONSTRUCTION.
THE ENGINEERING DIVISION DURING THE YEAR HAS PERFORMED
CERTAIN ^A'ORK AT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE SOUTH MOUNTAIN
SANATOIHUM RELATIVE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER WORKS,
SEWERS, A SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANT, GARBAGE DISPOSAL PLANT
AND MISCELLANEOUS OPERATIONS, WHICH ARE EXPLAINED IN
THE FOLLOWING PAGES.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE SOUTH MOUNTAIN SANATORIUM.
Water Works.
At the beginning of the year, by direction of the Commissioner of
Health, the project for (leveh)ping the spring water supply of the
varions buildings at the institution then being erected was worked up
in a general way under suggestions advanced by the Commissioner.
The Carbaugh spring ^^•as acquired and the right to the How from it
through a two inch pipe was purchased. The water from this spring
and from others in the district flow by gravity to a pump well, from
whence they are raised to a wooden tank. A continuation of this
plant was a part of the ])roject considered.
In the main, the scheme Avas to collect all of the available spring
water and put it to ecynomical use for all purposes, both for drinking
and the other inferior domestic purpcjses.
The woo<len lank was not high enough nor sul'ficient in capacity to
obviate pumping day and night, its bottom being but live feet higher
than the second lloor of the dining hall. The highest available site for
the i)roposed storage basin will i>lace the bottom of it at elevation
IflOO and with water never less than ten feet deep, it would give a
level of fi-om Ihirly-lwo to forty-two feet above the second floor of the
dining hall.
The sanatoi-ivim gronnds ai-e divided into two parts ))y the to])og-
raphy. Tlio oaslcrn section contains the ])resent develoi»nients and is
the section to be tirsl cxjiandcd. The western section may be devel-
oped later on. 'i'he intirmary is to be located in this ])ai't at the foot
of the slope of Rocky Mountain Ridge.
The present popniation of the sanalorinm is grouped in the eastern
sec'ion, and al tin* Ix'ginning of 1!»I)S did not amount to over one hun-
dred j)eoj)h'. Contracts tlicn being let for the l)nilding of sixty new
cottages in the eiislern tract to hold eight p(;o|>le each will increase
the population It) six hundi-ed ]»eople. ^JMk; plans onllimid for the
possil»le (irijil d<'velojinien( of the eastern ;ind western sections con-
teiiiphile ji \'\\\\\i-i- |»()piil;i I i(in ot .■'..'MM) peojile. Such a uuimImm' may
never lie assemhied.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1127
Springs.
TUero jnc sfn-fi-il excellent springs locaterl on the jti-opert.v of the
sanatoriiiin cajiable df development. They extend along the soutliei-n
boundary of llie laud and are located so that they are free from con
tamination by surfnce run-olf from the proposed develoi»menls. They
are named:
Carhaugh Spring, elevation 1 ,037 feet
Jlothrock Spring. elevation l,<)l!7 feet
Little liothrock Spring elevation 1, »)(>"> feet
Sand Spring, elevation 1,010 feet
Moneghan Spring, elevation 1,598 feet
Coalbnrner S])ring, elevation 1,020 feet
Snow Spring, elevation 1,703 feet
New Spring No. 1, elevation 1,023 feet
New Spring No. 2, elevation 1,047 feet
Forester Spring elevation 1,572 feet
All of these springs, with the exception of the last one, can be used
for the drinking water supply.
Springs No. 1 and No. 2 are not in the land controlled by the Com-
missioner of Health, but they are on State Forestry Land. Car-
baiigh Spring is also located outside of the boundaries of the sana
torjum. The quantity of the minimum flow from these springs is
uncertain on account of lack of data. Several readings were made
by the Department during June, October and November of the
previous year and at the beginning of 1908, when the i)lans were
made for the improved water works system, these data were all that
were available. The (low from SnoAV Spring during -Tune, 1907,
amounted to appi'oximately 100,000 gallons. When i-eadings wei-e
next taken in Se])teTnber, the flow amounted to about 0,000 gallons
only. On September 4th weirs were erected at Carbaugh, Rothrock,
Moneghan, Coalbnrner and Snow Springs, and daily readings were
taken to the eud of November, 1907. The following table gives the
api)i-oximate minimum dry weather flow based ui)on these readings:
Supply. Dry Weather Flow.
vSnow Spring, 6,400 gallons (approximate)
LitHe Rolhrock Spring 1,300 g;illons
Mcmegluin Spring 15,000 gallons
Coalburner Spring 4,800 gallons
Snow Sjning 0,500 gallons
New Si)ring No. 1 14,000 galhms
New Spring No. 2 0,000 gallons (eslimaled)
Tiollir(»ck Spring 5,000 gallons
Carbaugh Spring 0,000 gallons
Tolal 05,000 gallons
The mounlain residents stale that the season ending in (>cIobcr.
1907. was the di-iest one Ihnl had been known in this region for
vears, bul, on the other hand, some of the older natives state that
1128 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
there was a drier season about tifty years ago when Eothrock Spring
flow failed. This is contradicted by others and seems to be doubtful.
It is estimated that The How from these springs, as represented by the
Septeuiber and October readings, gives very nearly the minimum flow.
The maximum tiow is greatly in excess of the JSfoveuiber readings.
The rainfal! during November was moderate and only increased the
flow in small amounts.
Present Supply.
The eastern section of the camp is supplied by Roth rock Spring
and a pipe line leading from Carbaugh Spring. The water is pumped
by a gasoline engine to a 4,200 gallon water tank, froui wiiich it flows
through one and one-half inch galvanized inm pipe lines through the
main buildings of the sanatorium and through the resident phj'^si-
cians' hotise.
The western section of the camp is supplied from Sand Spring,
which ha,s an available flow of 6,400 gallons per da}'. This supply is
carried through a two inch pipe to a 4,000 gallon brick reservoir
located half way between Sand Spring and the dining room of the
sanatorium, old camp. There is a two inch pipe from this reservoir
to the dining room and this pipe is also connected with a spring house
near the dining room. The elevation of the top of this brick storage
tank is 1,605.9 feet. The elevation of the kitchen floor is 1,593.5 and
that of the spring house 1,591.7, so the reservoir furnishes ample
water for these buildings by gravity. Little Rothrock Spring is con-
nected with a 2 inch pipe line with the main leading from this reser-
voir to the kitchen. It has, however, too low an elevation to be used
in conjunction with the reservoir. It can, however, be used in emer-
gencies when the suppl}^ from the reservoir is cut ofl'. Such was the
condition of springs at the beginning of the year 1908, when the pro-
posed developments were outlined.
rt was estimated that the quantity of water needed was (50 gallous
per capita. Of the 60 gallons, it was estimaled that 20 gallons ])er
capita would be sufTicient for drinking and culinary i»urj>oses and
that, therelore, for all purposes the rate of (50 gallims i»ei- capita will
be sufiicient until the })0iiula1ion has equalled tlie total available
suj)])ly from the si)rings by the addition of the flow from Moneghan,
Coalburner, Snow and New Springs Nos. 1 and 2, and by the addition
of ilie total flow from CarJ)augh Spring. Should it ever be desirable
to have a sej)arate system of i»i])ing lor all but dritdcing and culinary
])ni-i)os(^, then thf* ]»royjosed si)ring walcr dcvelojniieiil |>i-oject would
pi'ove adequate for all time.
Proposed Spring Development.
It was estimated that the quantity of water available for the maxi-
mum sup])ly from these springs is 65,000 gallons per day. In order to
give a reserve suj)})ly amj)le for any such emerg(mcy, it was ^danned to
use a storage i-cscrvrur of .''00,000 gjillons capacily, which would
allow, in dry weather, an addilion of 5,000 gallons jx')- day, or a total
of 70,000 galhtns pci- day's consnmplion for a period of sixty days.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1129
It was uncertain, in the spring of 1908, wliether the- dry weather
period in this region would last over sixty^ days, but if it were found
in tlie next few years that a period of drouth would be longer than
this time additional storage could be added. So it was estimated
that over eleven hundred people, at I lie rate of sixty gallons per
capita, could be furnished from the spring water supply, thoroughly
developed on the basis that these springs, plus the storage, would
never fall below 7t|,U00 gallons per day. When more people than this
were congregated at the sanatorium, some other sources of supply
would have to be obtained.
It was determined that to develop the supply of these springs eco-
nomically it was necessary to pipe the flow to some point lower than
any one of the springs, and to pump from this point to a reservoir
located at a high enough elevation to supply all points in the eastern
and western section by gravity. This scheme of collection comprisinl
two collecting basius and pumping stations, namely, the eastern sec-
tion of Carbaugh and Kothrock Springs, having a total estimated
minimum tiow of 11.000 gallons and the Sand, Little Kothrock and
other springs hereinbefoi-e mentioned for the western group having
an estimated minimum tlow of 51,000 gallons per twenty-four hours.
Jn developing the eastern section, it was proposed to take care of a
maximum flow of L'0,000 gallons per day and to pump it to a storage
reservoir through a two inch main during a period of twelve hours,
and thus economize the cost of operating the pumj). This demanded
the storage of 10,000 gallons during the night. There was, at the
pump house, a 3,000 gallon tank for storage. This storage must be
increased 7,000 additional gallons. The old pumping engine was a
Myers Bulldozer power pump, having a capacity of 2,000 gallons per
hour when driven by a gasoline engine of two and one-half horse
])ower. This engine and pump were housed in a brick building and
it was thought that no changes were necessary in the pumping station.
In developing the western group of springs, rated from 54,000 gal-
lons minimum to a maximum of 100,000 gallons, it became necessary
to store twelve hours' flow in ordinary times and at least ten hours'
flow when the nuiximum cai>acity is being used, which dictates a col-
lecting basin of 42,000 gall'.ms' capacity. For raising this water to
the large storage reservoir, it was thought best to plan on two pumps
with a total capacity of 100,000 gallons in fourteen hours.
The pi]>e lines of this system were designed to carry a maximum
(low of 100.000 gallons froiu the entire group of springs to the col-
lecting basin and pump well.
The ca]»acity of the storage reservoir of 300,000 gallons will, when
the consumption is 70,000 gallons jx'r twenty-foui- hours and the
niMximum flow of the springs 120,000 gallons, admit of its being fllled
within six days with the sui-plns pumitage (tf 50. ()()() gallons each day.
The ca])acity is sullicient to furnish the maximum consumption of
70,000 gallons for four days without pumpage from the springs, and
its storage is available for Are purposes. To furnish a Are jtrotection
for the buildings and for the intirmary, the latter building to be
locnted at an (>levation of l,5S0 or thereaiiouts, a six inch main lead-
ing from the storage reservoir thi'ongh the canip to the inlirmary
would be desii-ibii'. So the plans and specifications were accordingly
prepared.
1130 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Contract.
On June 9tli, 1908, the CoDimissiouer of Health received proposals
for the construction of a water works system for the State Sana-
torium at Mont Alto. The work to be done was set forth in the plans
and specifications prepared by the Engineering Division of the De-
partment and approved b}' the Commissioner. These documents de-
scribed in detail the nature of the work and the method of construc-
tion. Briefly summarized, the work consisted of a reinforced con-
crete reservoir of 300,000 gallons' capacity, two concrete collecting
wells of 40,000 and 7,500 gallons' capacity, respectively; a frame
pump house, two triplex pumps driven by eight H. P. gasoline en-
gines, 5,000 feet of six inch cast iron distributing main, 4,000 feet of
four inch pipe, 10,000 feet of three inch and two inch pipe, together
with various appurtenances and connections to the existing water
system.
In accordance with the requirements of the plans and specifica-
tions, nine proposals were received for this work, on the basin of unit
prices. These proposals are given in detail in the following table.
In asking for proposals on the four inch lines, bidders were requested
to submit alternate bids for cast iron, wrought iron, or cement lined
pipe, and on the three inch lines, alternate bids were received for cast
iron or wrought iron pipe. These alternate bids were requested
to determine whether it would be cheaper to use wrought iron or
cement lined pipe in place of standard cast iron. The prices from the
lowest bidders were cheaper for cast iron and bids were, therefore,
compared on this basis.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1131
W L. Forney Chas. W. Denny, W. G. Fritz, Ahrens Cons. Co., i Brady & Snavely,
Chambersburg, Pa. Philadelphia, Pa. York, Pa. Lewistown, Pa. Harrisburg, Pa.
la
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$5,695 00
• 1,580 00
608 00
280 00
150 00
120 00
174 00
600 00
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1,580 00
608 00
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4,790 00
1,780 00
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meter X 15 feet deep, including
all appurtenances, as specified,
each.
Storage reservoir, 27 feet dia-
meter X 11 feet deep, including
all appurtenances as specified,
each,
Storage reservoir, 16 feet dia-
meter X 0 feet deep, including
all appurtenances as specified,
each.
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1132
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
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COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
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THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
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No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. lllil
As stated in tlie proj)osal l))auk, all bids were (•()iiij)ai'e(l on the
basis of the P]ng:ineer's estimate of the quantity of work to be done
under each item aud the jti-ice bid for said item by Ihe Contractor.
On this basis the lowest l)idders were W. G. Fritz and Brother, York,
Pennsylvania, 125,1 (IT.aO ; The Ahrens Construction Comjtany, Lewis-
town, Pennsylvania, f27..'{2r).2."'», and McCoi-mick and Company, Phila-
delphia, Pennsylvania, .''?.31, 175.52. The other bidders were above
these prices as shown in the table. The contract was awarded to
W. G. Fritz and Brother, of York, Pennsylvania, as they were the
lowest responsible bidders.
Before awarding the contract to W. G. Fritz and Brother, it was
d(M-ided to replace the })roposed two inch wrought iron pipe lines with
three inch cast iron pipe, as the difference in cost ]ier linear foot
amounted 1o only ten cents. The contractors agreed to this arrange-
ment and Ihe contract was awarded to them with this understanding
at an aggregate amount of 125,092.50, based upon the quantities as
approximately set forth in the Engineer's estimate.
The contract was signed on the sixteenth day of June by W. G.
Fritz and Brother and a surety bond in the sum of fifty (50) per cent,
of the aggregate amount of the contract was furnished by them
through the American Surety Company of New York.
Construction work was begun within ten days after the signing of
the contract and the water works were built substantially as shown
on the original plans with a few modifications.
Rothrock Spring System.
The water sui>ply is taken from a series of sjn-ings extending along
the north and west side of Snowy Mountain immediately south of the
sanatorium. These springs are divided into two groups by the
natural topography of the land and the collecting lines from these
groups drain to two concrete collecting wells, where the water is
] tumped to a large concrete storage reservoir located on a high point
on the sanatorium land immediately south of the new buildings at a
sufficient elevation to supply the sanatorium and future developments
by gravity.
The smaller group of springs consists of Bothrock Spring and
Cnrbaugh S])ring, located at the southeast edge of the sanatorium,
on the northern slope of Snowy IMountain. Rotlirock Sjtring, as
hereinbefore stated, is located within the sanatorium grounds and
Carltaugli Sjtiing is 750 feet south of it on land owned by -Terry Car-
baugh. The one inch pii>e formerly leading from the sjtring to the
collecting roservoii- at Bothrock S})ring has been rejdaced by a three
inch pipe, cast iron sui)j)ly line laid four feet dee]) in the gi'ound and
below the hydraulic grade line. A new gasoline engine of three H. P.
capacity and of the Olds type A has been installed at the pump Inmse
to drive the old pump, as the engine formerly in use is nearly worn
out. The puni]) house has been enlarged so as to allow the new engine
to be installed without rejtlacing the old engine. This will allow the
old engine to be used in cases of emergency.
A new concrete collecting reservoir sixteen feet in diameter and six
feet deep has been located ten feet east of this pumping station to
serve as a collecting well for the flow fi'om the sjti'ings during the
72—17—11)08
1138 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
night time. Tiiis well has been constructed of a concrete wall twelve
inches thick and circular in jilan. The floor consists of four inches of
concrete reinforced with expanded metal. The reservoir is covered
AviTh a wooden roof and lined on the outside with standard tin roofing.
There is a sump provided on the side of the reservoir next to the
pump house, two feet square in plan and three feet deep below the
floor of the well, which is used as a suction sump for the pump. On
the opposite side of the reservoir an overflow opening is pro-
vided at the surface. All piping connections to this collecting reser-
voir are standard flanged cast Iron connections and the connection
to the existing collecting reservoir is provided Avith a float A^alve
so that both reserA'oirs can be used for storage. The capacity of this
reservoir is 7,500 gallons, and, Avith the additional capacity of 3,000
gallons in the old reservoir, there is a total storage of over 10,000
gallons at this station, which will amply proAade for the night flow
from these springs and will allow the station to be operated during
the day time only. The top of the old reservoir has been covered Avith
a wooden coA'er under this contract and all changes in piping neces-
sary for connecting the pump and engines have been included.
From the small pump station the Avater is pumped through a three
inch cast iron force main located at a depth of four feet below the
surface of the ground to the main storage reservoir. This force main
extends from the pump house up the centre of Sixth Street to a point
half way betAveen Avenues F and G. At this point it connects with
the four inch force main from the other pumping station and the
supply from both is carried through a six inch connection to the
reserA^oir located two hundred feet south of this point.
Snowy Mountain System.
The larger group of springs extends from the southwestern edge of
the sanatorium, southAvesterly along the slo])e of Snowy Mountain for
a distance of over seven thousand feel. This group of springs, as
prcAaously described, consists of Sand Sju-ing, Little Rothrock Spring,
Moneghans Spring, Coalburners Spring, Snow Spring, Ncav Spring
No. 1 and Ncav Sjjring No. 2. All of these springs, with the exception
of tlie NcAV Springs, are located within the sanatorium reservation.
New Spring No. 1 is located on State Forestry land on the road to
Sandy Jlidge, and New Spring No. "2 is located beyond this on State
Foi-estry land and Avitliin the Deer Preserve. All of these springs are
sufficiently high to allow the floAV lo gravitale to a collecting Avell
located in the south west ei-n j)art of the sanatoi-iuin.
The supjdy Ci-oin these springs is cari-ied through Ihrec^ incli and
four inch cast iron mains located at least four feet deej) in the ground
and at a great (m- d(!pth whei-e nec(!ssary to kee]) tlie ])ipe below the
hydraulic; grade lin(;s. In order, however, lo eliminate deep trench-
ing, Avhich Avould have been A^ery expensiA'e, the lines were laid out as
closely as possible to tlie contours of the ground so that a greater
depth than four feet Avas necessary only for short distances. Each
spring is surrounded by a concrete sj)ring cover which is built up
from a depth of four feet in the ground io a snITicient lieight to pre-
vcnit surface Avashing. The toi)s ctf these s|»i-ing covers consist of Avood
constructed ho as to be water light and painted. The water is taken
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1139
from these spring- covers throngli a three inch cast iron connection at
the bottom, on the end of which is a fine brass screen.
From the s]»ring tlie three inch line leads to a concrete manhole
located on the main line. These manholes serve as controlfing man-
holes and permit of a ready inspection of the flow of the various
springs and of the operation of the main lines. The inlet pipes into
these manhcjlcs, both from the spring and from the main line, are
valved so that it is possible at (me of these manholes to cut out any
section of sj)rings or any individual spring when necessary. These
manholes are three feet in diameter, being circular in plan with a
concrete wall twelve inches thick and a concrete bottom. The top is
covered Avith a water tight wooden cover and painted.
The main line from the s})rings is four inches from the collecting
reservoir to the junction, with the supply line from Moneghans
Spring, a distance of 2,000 feet. From this point to the end of the
line tlie pipe is three inches in diameter. As the main line at points
where the hydraulic grade line is several feet above it, follows the
surface of the ground, provision has to be made for allowing the air
to escape from the high ])oints. Air valves have, therefore, been pro-
vided for this ])urpose by tapping the pipe at these points and extend-
ing a one-half inch })i})e from the top of the main to the surface of the
ground. The end of this one-half inch pipe is provided with a half-
inch pet cock, which allows the air to readily escape.
Sand Spring and Little Kothrock Spring do not connect to this
system of pipes. These springs formerly supplied the dining room at
tiie sanatorium by gravity through a two inch supply line. Where
this two inch line crosses Third Street it has been connected with a
three inch gravity line leading to the collecting reservoir and valved
so that if necessary at any time the water could be diverted to its
former course by gravity to the dining room.
'J'he collecting reservoir for this group of springs is located at the
foot of Third Street west of the sanatorium. It is circular in plan,
and is built of concrete, being twenty-seven feet in diameter and
eleven feet deep and having a capacity of 42,000 gallons. The reser-
voir is built in the ground and the concrete wall is twelve inches thick.
The bottom is covered with a concrete slab four inches in thickness
and reinforced with expanded metal. The top is covered with a
wooden roof suiiported by a sixteen inch concrete pier in the centre
and ten inch wooden beams with a lining on the outside of standard
tin rooting. On the side next to the pumj) station, there is a sump pro-
vided in the bottom and extending to a depth of three feet below.
This sump serves as the suction well for the pumps and allows the col
lecting well to be thoroughly drained of all water when necessary.
The inlet ]>i]>es from the spring supply lines enter the reservoir at a
de|)t!i of four feet below the surface of the ground and are provided
with gate valves on the exterior and with float valves on the in-
terior. These ti(<at valves automatically close oft" the supply to this
reservoir when it is full and allow the sur])lus water to back up in the
collecting systems, thereby ]»i'oviding additional storage. There is a
four inch overflow pipe ])rovided at the flow line on the side of the
reservoir o]>posite to tlie pump house which will discharge any surplus
How into the wooden tract below the reservoir. The ground around
this' collecting reservoir has been neatly graded and covei-ed with a
lavei- of loam six inches thick and seeded,
1140 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The main pumpiiio^ station is located ten feet west of this large col-
lecting reservoir and faces easterly np Third Street. It is a frame
structure 20 feet by 30 feet in plan and 10 feet from floor to ceiling.
The exterior is /inished with German siding neatly painted to match
the other buildings at the sanatorium, and the roof is covered with
asbestos shingles. The interior is finished with yellow pine in natural
finish and linoleum strips are provided on the floor to protect it from
grease. Ample ventilation is provided by large windows and also by
small ventilator windows in the sides of the building above the ceil-
ing. The foundations for this station consist of concrete piers extend-
ing to a depth of four feet below the surface of the ground and suifi-
ciently high above it to prevent the rotting of the wooden girders.
There are two 5 by 6 triplex pumps located in this station of the
single acting vertical type, made by the Deming Pump Company and
capable of delivering a combined supply of 9,000 gallons per hour
against a total pressure of 100 pounds per square inch. Under nor-
mal conditions these pumps will be operated under 60 pounds pres-
sure as this is sufficient to lift the water to the storage reservoir,
but in case of fire the reservoir can be closed off:' and the pumps can
be operated at 100 pounds pressure. Each of these pumps is provided
with a four inch independent cast iron suction pipe fitted with a
foot valve and extending to the sump in the collecting reservoir. The
discharge from each pump is three inches in diameter and is equipped
with a three inch gate valve, a three inch check valve, and a pressure
relief valve, set so as to operate at 100 pounds pressure. The two
three inch discharge lines connect to a four inch discharging force
main, which extends under the floor of the pump station to the ex-
terior of the building and thence to Sixth Street and up Sixth Street
to the reservoir. All the piping in the building is flanged and, on
account of the sweating of this piping during sunnner time, due to the
coldness of the spring water, drip pans have been provided in the
station around this piping, to prevent the rotting of the floor.
These pumps are each directly connected on the pinion shaft by
means of a friction clutch to a hori/.ontal type G eight H. P. Olds
gasoline engine. The gasoline for these engines is stored in two gal-
vanized iron tanks, each having a capacity of one and a half barrels
of gasoline, and located twenty feet outside of the building. There
is an auxiliary pumj) attached to each gasoline engine which pumps
the gasoline frrim these tanks. Tlu^ surplus which is not used by the
engine drains back to the taid<. These ianks are located below the
surface of the ground so that there is very little danger from explo-
sion. The engines operate on Ihe hit and miss ])rinciple, so Ihat gaso-
line is only admilted to the combusiion chamber when nec(!ssai-y-
Main Storage Reservoir.
The main storage res(!rvoir is located near the head of Avenue F
on Hanatorium property near the southern proi)erty line. It is located
with its bottom at an elevation of l,f)00, wliich is sufficiently high to
Kuj)T)ly all buildings in the sanatorium and is ninely fe<!t higher than
the ground ni the infirmary location. This resei-voir is circular in
]»lan. being 00 feel in diametei- an<J 1;") feet deep with a total ca]»acily
of .''.00.000 gallons. The walls are constructed oi' i-cinforced concrete
and are twelve inches thick, the reinfoi-<'eitienl consists of twisted
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1141
steel rods, spaced six inches centre to centre horizontally and of
sufficient area to take up tlie tensile stresses in the wall. The bottom
of the reservoir is located so that there is an average excavation to a
depth of four feet, which pernjits the foundations to rest on solid
ground. The surplus excavation is tilled around the exterior of
the reservoir, forming an embankment with a width on top of four
feet and an exterior slope of two feet horizontal to one foot vertical.
This embankment extends to within six f«x't nine inches of the top of
the reservoir and assisls in supporting the wall in the lower part
where the pressure is greatest.
The bottom of the reservoir is built in eight foot .sections C(msisting
of concrete blocks six inches in thickness with lapped joints. These
joints are filled with three eighths inch of asphaltum in order to make
the bottom absolutely tight. The reservoir is covered with a wooden
roof supported by i-einforced concrete columns twelve inches square
and located twelve feet centre to centre. The exterior of the roof is
covered with standard tin rooting and it drains from the centre to a
concrete gutter extending around the top of the reservoir and built in
the wall.
The six inch inlet pipe enters the reservoir near the bottom, on the
side next to Sixth Street, and extends vertically up in the reservoir to
a height of ten feet above the bottom. This allows circulation of the
water in the reservoir as the outlet is also on this side and at the
bottom. The inlet is provided with a check valve and gate valve on
the exterior of the reservoir and with a six inch tioat valve on the
interior. This tioat valve automatically closes oft" the inflow when the
reservoir is full and thereby warns operator at the pumping station.
The six inch outlet pipe extends from the bottom of the reservoir on
the same side as the inlet to Sixth Street and Avenue F and thence
along Avenue F through the sanatorium. It is provided with a six incli
valve located outside of the reservoir. There is also a by-pass connec-
tion of six inch pipe outside of the reservoir connecting the force
main with the discharge main and permitting a by-pass of the water
supply around the reservoir.
On the east side of the reservoir there is provided a six inch blow-
olV connection, ])ro]»erl3^ valved and connecting the bottom <»f tlu'
ivservoii' to a Irencli which leads the water to the wooded tract west
of the reservoir. This drain ]»ipe also takes care of the roof drainage.
A trap door is piovided on this reservoir for entrance and rungs of
wrought iron are built into the wall on the exterior and interior for
this ])urpose. There is also a tally board which indicates the depth of
the water in the reservoir and can be seen fnmi Sixth Street.
Distributing System.
The six inch supply main Iroiii I he sfoi-age reservoir extends along
Avenue F to Fourth Street, ilience westerly along Fourth Street to
Avenue J; thence along Avenue J to Second Street; thence along
Second Street to the highway below the sanatorium; and thence
along the sewer line to the ice pond; and from this ]>oint westerly
along the slope 1o the inlirmary site. This su]>i»ly line is laid at a
uniform depth of lour I'eet below the surface of the ground and at the
lowest point on it, near the ice i)ond, a four inch blow-otl" connection
is made to Koeky Mountain Kun. Every c(muection to this six inch
1142 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
main has been ralved and the hre hydrants located along this line
have been equipped with independent gate valves. Six inch valves
have also been constructed in this main at several points, so that in
case of any accident a section can be quickly isolated and repaired.
Along Fifth and Sixth Streets, three inch cast iron laterals have
been laid from this six inch main easterly to connect with the two
inch system of wrought iron piping which was constructed when the
sewers were built in 1907. These lines have been valved and new two
inch valves have been inserted in the old two inch lines, so that the
system is equipped for the isolation of any section in the lateral
piping without disturbing the supplj' to other sections.
Fire hydrants have been located on the six inch main at Fifth and
F Streets ; Fourth and F Streets ; Fourth Street and Avenue J ;
Second Street at the Assembly Hall, and at the Infirmary Building.
Two fire hydrants have also been located in the eastern portion of the
sanatorium on the new three inch mains. One of these hydrants is on
Fifth Street opposite the phj'sicians' house, and the other is located at
the corner of Fourth Street and Avenue C. These hydrants are all
provided with two two and one-half inch hose connections and are
of the latest form of compression type. They extend to a depth of
four feet below the surface of the ground and are surrounded at the
bottom with broken stone to allow drainage for the drip connection.
Payments.
The contractors, W. G. Fritz and Brother, satisfactorily completed
the construction of the water works system in accordance with the
plans and specifications. The work was finished on October 15th,
when final measurements were made, and, in accordance with the
terms of the contract, the contractors were entitled to entire payment
within thirty days after acceptance of the work. During the con-
struction of the work the contract provided that monthly payments
amounting to eighty per cent, of the amount of work completed dur-
ing the month should be paid on or before the IHth day of the month
next succeeding that in which the work was done. In accordance
with this clause of the contract, monthly estimates on the work were
made as follows:
Monthly estimate No. 1, August (ith, 1908, $ 4,739 4(5
Monthly estimate No. 2, September Srd, 1908 11,380 9(i
Mouthly estimate No. 3, October 2nd, 1908 3,124 iK!
Total $19,244 98
These monthly estimates are given in detail as follows:
DEPAKTMENT OF HEALTH.— Engineering Division.
CONTRACT NO. 4, MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 1, FOR WORK COM-
PLpyrED ON WATER WORKS SYSTEM AT THE PENNSVLVANLV STATE
SANATORIU.M FOR TUBERCULOSIS, SOUTH MOUNTAIN, NEAR
MONT ALTO, PENNSYLVANIA. FROM .lULY 1ST TO AUOUST 1ST,
1908. ACCOUNT OF CONTRACT WITH W. G. FRITZ & PRO., YORK,
PENNSYLVANIA, DATED JUNE IGTII , 1908.
(1) Concrete reservoir, 00 ft. in diameter by l.T ft. de(![). Excavation
completed .''jOO cubic yards, at $l..nO .^f 7r,{) 00
(2) ('oncrf'te n'Sf-rvoir, 27 ft. in diamclcr bv 11 I'l. (lii'p. Ext-ii vnlion
completed .300 cubic yards, at $LriO " l.'")0 00
(3) Concrete reservoir, 10 ft. diami-ter by (i ft. dei'p. Coinplitrd
except roof and pipe conriectionH (ifK) 00
(8) Rock excavation , 1* cubic yards, at .'i;2.2r), 3 38
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1143
(10) 2yS7 4 in. cast iron pipe, 4 ft. to 6 ft. in depth, including spe-
cials at G(l cfnts per lineal foot .i;! ,7t*2 20
(13) 517 4 in. cast iron pipe, (i ft. to 8 f.t. in depth, including spe-
cials at 75 cents per lineal foot , 387 75
(10) 9G 4 in. cast iron pipe, 8 ft. and over in depth, including spe-
cials at $1.00 per lineal foot 96 00
(19) 1720 3 in. cast iron pipe, 4 ft. to G ft. in depth, including spe-
cials at 50 cents per lineal foot , 860 00
(19) 1500 3 in. cast iron pipe, 4 ft. to 0 ft. in depth, including spe-
cials at 50 cents per lineal foot, 2-3 completed or 33 1-3 cents per foot, 500 (X)
(28) One 4 in. gate valve, including box 12 ^^
(34) One 3 H. I', horizontal gasoline engine, 275 00
(36) Addition to pump house at .$200. if completed, or .$150.00, . . . 1.50 00
Total, $5,924 33
Deduct 20 per cent 1 , 184 87
Total, less 20 per cent $4,739 46
August 6th, 1908.
Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
Approved :
Chief Engineer.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.— Engineering Division.
CONTRACT NO. 4. MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 2, FOR WORK COM-
PLETED ON WATER WORKS SYSTEM AT THE PENNSYLVANIA
STATE SANATORIUM FOR TUBERCULOSIS, SOUTH MOUNTAIN,
NEAR MONT ALTO, PENNSYLVANIA, FROM AUGUST 1ST, TO SEP-
TEMBER 1ST, 1908. ACCOUNT OF CONTRACT WITH W. G. FRITZ &
BRO., yORK. PENNSYLVANIA, DATED JUNE 16TH, 1908.
(1) Concrete reservoir, 60 ft. in diameter by 15 ft deep. Contract
price $5,752.00, 2-3 completed, or .$3,834.67, less previous estimate of
$750.00 $3,084 67
■ (2) Concrete reservoir, 27 ft. diameter bv 11 ft. deep. Contract price
$i; 6.50.00, 5 .completed, or $1,237.50, less previous estimate of .$450.00 787 50
(4) Concrete manholes, 3 ft. in diameter by 4 ft. deep; one completed
at .$75.00
(8» Rocic excavation per cubic yard at $2.25, 40 cubic yards ex-
cavated
(9) Six in. c.i. pipe, 4 ft. to 6 ft. in depth at 75 cents per lineal
foot, 4jl)00 ft. completed ,
(19) Three in. c. i. pipe, 4 ft. to 6 ft. in depth, including specials at
.50 cents per lineal foot, 6,100 additional feet completed
(10) Three in. c. i. pipe, 4 ft. to 6 ft. in depth, including specials at
50 coots per lineal foot, 1,500 ft. completed (2-3 payment made in pre-
vious estimate) ,
(21) Three in. cast iron pipe, 6 ft. to 8 ft. in depth, including spe-
cials at CtO cents per lineal foot, .580 ft. completed,
(23) Three in. cast iron pipe*. 8 ft. and over in depth, including spe-
<Mals at 80 cents per lineal foot, 192 ft. completed
(25) Two in. w. i. pipe, 4 ft. to 6 ft. in depth, including specials
at 40 cents per lineal foot, ni ft. completed,
(27) Six in. gate valves, including boxes at $16.00 each, three com-
pleted ,
(.30) Two in. gate valves, including boxes (in old lines), at $10.00,
(ine complete,
(31) Fire hydrants, including 4 in. gate connection, at .$35.00 each,
5 completed
(32) 5 X 6 single acting triplex pumps, at .$500.(K) each, two each.
•| completed ,
(.33) 8 H. P. horizontal gasoline engines, at $(337.75 each, two J
completed
(351 Frame pump house. 20 ft. by 30 ft. by 10 ft., at $1,000.00,
i( completed
Total , $14 ,226 20
Dedu.t 20 per cent.. . 2,845 24
Total . less 20 per cent $11 .380 96
September 3rd, 1908.
75 00
90 00
3
.675 00
3
,050 00
250 00
348 00
1.53 60
22 80
48 00
10 00
17.5.00
750 00
956 63
750 00
Approved:
Chief Engineer.
Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
1144 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
DEPARTME:XT of health.— Engineermg Division.
CONTRACT XO. 4, MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 3, FOR WORK COM-
PLETED ON WATER WORKS SYSTEM AT THE PENNSYLVANIA
STATE SANATORIUM FOR TUBERCULOSIS, SOUTH MOUNTAIN,
NEAR MONT ALTO, PENNSYLVANIA, FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST TO OC-
TOBER 1ST, lyus. ACCOUNT OF CONTRACT WITH W. G. FRITZ &
BRO., YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, DATED JUNE 6TH, 1908.
(1) Concrete reservoir, 00 ft. in diameter by 15 ft. deep. Contract
price, !i>u, 732.00. CompJeted, less previous estimates of $3,834.67. .. .
(2,1 Concrete reservoir, 27 ft. diameter by 11 ft. deep. Contract
price .$1,000.00. Completed, less previovis estimates of $1,237.50....
(3) Concrete reservoir, 16 ft. in diameter by 0 ft. deep. Contract
price $750.00. Completed, less previous estimate, $050.00,
(4) Conci-ete manholes, 3 ft. in diameter by 4 ft. deep, three com-
pleted at $75.00,
(5j Three concrete spring covers, 3 ft. by 3 ft. by 4 ft. deep, includ-
ing connections at $00.00 each,
(0) One concrete spring cover, 4 ft. by 4 ft. by 4 ft. deep, including
connections at $00.00,
•,7) One concrete spring cover, irregiilar in plan, 4 ft. deep, in-
cluding connection at $70.00,
(27) Six in. gate valves, including boxes at $10.00 each, two com-
pleted
(28) Pour in. gate valves, including boxes at $10.00 each, one com-
pleted ,
(30) Two in. gate valves, including boxes (in old lines) at $10.00
each , three completed ,
(32) 5x0 single acting triplex pumps at $500.00 each, two com-
pleted , less previous estimates of $750.00
(33) Eiglit H. P. gasoline engines at $037.75 each, two completed,
less previous payment of $950.03 ,
(35 1 Frame pump house, 20 ft. by 30 ft. by 10 ft., at $1,000.00,
completed less previous payment of $750.00,
(30) Addition to pump house, including appurtenances at .$200.00.
Completed less previous payment of $150,
Total, ■ $3,905 70
Deduct 20 per cent. , 781 14
$1,917
33
412
50
100 00
225
00
180 00
60
00
70 00
32 00
10
00
30
00
250
00
318 87
250
00
50
00
Total, less 20 per cent., $3,124 56
October 2d, 1908.
Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
Approved:
Chief Engineer.
There is a clause in the contract which provides that whenever, in
the opinion of the Engineer, it shall become necessary to use mate-
rials, or to perform work which is neither Contemplated in the plans
of Ihe work nor imitlied iu the sj^ecifications, the Contractor agrees to
fni-nish such mahiriiils and labor at a price based upon the cost plus
l."i per cent. j)i-olil to tlu^ (Contractor. Under this clause, three inch
gate valves were fui-nished in the supply mains, includiug boxes. This
was necessary as in th(! original proposal two inch lines were con-
templated for these mains and no provision was made for three inch
valves. On the spring gravity sujiply lines it was found necessary to
])rovide air valves at high j)oinls on the pipe line where otherwise
there would have IxHiU dangci- of the line becoming air-bound. Seven
of tluise air valves wert; furnished. At N(nv S]jring No, 2 it was found
advisabb* to const i-uct a lib; drain to intercept a larger underground
How of watei- in the gravel strata near the spring. One hundred and
tive i'ati of this four inch terra cotta drain wovo. laid.
At th(? pumping station trouble was (experienced after starting the
engines and jtumjis in j^rotecting the lloor from oil and from water,
A strip of linolenm was, therefon*, ordered for this purpose; the
floor was revjirnislied, and dii|» pans of copper were furnished to i)ro-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1145
tect the fiocn" fiom the water which sweated on the pipes from the
immp and hickled down to the floor. The door leadin<> (tut to the
suction well was o(|nipped as a sliding door and the old section of th<,'
little puinp house was repainted to correspond with the new j)ortion.
Aftei- tlx' (wo (hi-ee inch dislrihutiuf;- lines had l)een constructed in
the main sanatoriuui, it was decided to locate two additional tire
hydrants, one, in the vicinity of the physicians' house and one in the
vicinity of the Administration Uuilding. To install these hydrants it
was necessary to cut into these lines which had been already laid and
to furnish additioual specials for making the connections. This was
all<»wed as an extra.
All of these extras are set forth in full in the final estimate, which
will he found later in this rei)ort.
In anothei- article in the contract, the contractor agreed to begin
conslructi(m work within ten days after the signing of the conlraci,
and to complete all the work on or before sixty working days there-
after, and if the amount of work is increased beyond that conteui-
jtlated in the proposal, the contractor was to receive an extension of
time in proportion to the auiount of increase. The Commissioner of
Health was provided with full power to grant to the contractor an
extension of time for the completion of the work, if notified in
writing of causes oi- events beyond the control of the Contractor tend-
ing to delay the work, provided the Contractor paid the cost of the
extra engineering incident thereto. Subject to these allowances, the
Contractor agreed to allow a deduction of 115.00 liquidated damages
for every day beyond the time specified in which the work was not
couijdeted.
rndei' this agreement, the contractor should have comideted the
<-onst ruction of this water works on Septemlter Tib. The work at this
time was nearly comi)leted and pumi)ing was begun on the 10th. The
main reservoii* was, hoAvever, not finished for several weeks thereafter
and tinal work was completed on October lath. The delay due to
inability to obtain construction material was. of course, uncon-
trollable by the Contractor. The main reservoir, which was most
sei-iously delayed and held back the completion of the details of the
woi'k, was due to the inability of the Contractor to obtain the cement
necessary for completing the concrete bottom of this reservoir.
The Contractor is also entitled to a reasonable extensi(Ui of time
on account of the increase in the amount of work incident to con-
structing three inch cast iron lines in place of two inch wrought inm
lines as originally contemplated. In constructing these three inch
lines the trench work would, of course, have been identical with
either wrought iron or cast iron pipe, but it was ditticult foi- ihc
Contractor to obtain the necessary amount of three inch cast iron
])ipe an<l s|)ecials needed for this work as the makei-s did not iiave a
sullicient au)ounl in stock to (ill their order and were compelled to
cast them a s]>ecial (piantity. This caused a delay of several weeks in
reccMving this material.
This delay entitled the Contractor to allowance of an extension for
the time of comi^letion of this contract to the 19th, which was the
day that pum])ing from the new pumping station began. From this
date until the final comjtletion of the work the Deitartment of Health
sulTered no damages as a water sup]dy was maintained by pumping
around the main reservoir, the mains having been completed.
1146 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The Contractor, iu prosecuting the work, followed strictly the speci-
tications and plans and showed every disposition to carry out the
spirit of the specitications and plans. In carrying on the actual con-
struction he permitted the Department's engineers to arrange details
to their satisfaction. The final estimate is given in full in the fol-
lowing tabulated statement:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.— Engineering Division.
CONTRACT NO. i, FINAL ESTIMATE, FOR COMPLETED WATER
WORKS SYSTEM AT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE SANATORIUM FOR
TUBERCULOSIS, SOUTH MOUNTAIN, NEAR MONT ALTO, PENNSYL-
VANIA, FROM JULY 1ST TO OCTOBER 15TH, 190S. ACCOUNT OF
CONTRACT WITH W. G. FRITZ & BRO., YORK, PENNSYLVANIA,
DATED JUNE lOTH, 1908.
(1) Oue reiuforced coucrete reservoir, 60 ft. in diameter by 15 ft.
deep, including all appurtenances, complete, .$5,752 00
(2) One storage reservoir, 27 ft. diameter by 11 ft. deep, including
all appurtenances , complete 1 , (J50 00
(3) One storage reservoir, 16 ft. diameter by 6 ft. deep, including
all appurtenances , complete , 750 00
(4) Four concrete manholes, 3 ft. diameter by 4 ft. deep, including
valves, etc. , at $75.00 each, 300 00
(5) Three concrete spring covers, 3 ft. by 3 ft. by 4 ft. deep, in-
cluding connections at .$6.0.00 each , 180 00
(6) One concrete spring cover, 4 ft. by 4 ft. by 4 ft. deep, including
connections , 60 00
(7) One concrete spring cover, irregular in plan, 4 ft. deep, in-
cluding connections , . 70 00
(8) 48A cubic 3'ards of rock excavation at $2.25, 109 13
(9) 5,498 ft. of 6 in. cast iron pipe, 4 ft. to 6 ft. in depth, including
all specials at 75 cents per lineal foot, 4,123 50
(10) 3,116 ft. of 4 in. cast iron pipe, 4 ft. to 6 ft. in depth, including
specials at 60 cents per lineal foot, 1,869 60
(13) 517 ft. of 4 in. cast iron pipe, 6 ft. to 8 ft. in depth, including
specials at 75 cents per lineal foot, 387 75
(16) 96 ft. of 4 in. cast iron pipe, 8 ft. and over in depth, including
specials at $1.00 per lineal foot, • 96 00
(19) 9,725 ft. of 3 in. cast iron pipe, 4 ft. to 6 ft. in depth, in-
cluding specials at 50 cents per lineal foot, 4,862 50
(21) 673 ft. of 3 in. cast iron pipe, 6 ft. to 8 ft. in depth, including
specials at 60 cents per lineal foot, 403 SO
(23) 214 ft. of 3 in. cast iron pipe, 8 ft. and over in depth, including
specials at 80 cents per foot 171 20
(25) 126 ft. of 2 in. wrought iron pipe, 4 ft. to 6 ft. in depth, in-
cluding specials at 40 cents per foot^ .50 40
(27) Five 6 in. gate valves, including boxes at $16.00 each, SO 00
(28) Two 4 in. gate valves, including boxes at $10.00 each, 20 00
(30) Five 2 in. gate valves, including boxes in old line at $10.00
each 50 00
(.31) Seven fire hydrants, including 4 in. gate connections at
$35.00 each , 245 00
(32) Two 5 X 6 singl.T acting trli)lex pumps at $.500.00 each, 1,000 00
a?.) Two 8 H. P. horizontal gasoline engines at $()37.75 1,275 .50
(?A) One 3 H. P. horizontal gasoline engine at $275.00 275 00
r3.5) Frame Pump House. 20 ft. by .".0 ft. by 10 fl., 1 ,000 00
(.361 Addition to ijump house, including appui'li'iianeos, 200 00
(37) Three cubic yards (!Xlra cDnrrcic at $1.S.()() per cubic yard .54 00
(38) Removing water tank 15 00
Forwarded .$25,0,50 .3S
EXTRA MATERIAL AT COST, PLUS 15 PER CENT. PROFIT,
AS SPECIFIED.
For change in size of 2 in. gate valve^ in new line to .3 in. gate valves.
Three in. valve at .$4 05
Valve box 2 48
Hauling, 100
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1147
Forwarded $25,050 38
Load , 40
Trench , 15
Laying , 25
8 33
15 per (jent. , 1 25
9 58
Six 3 in. gate valve-s, at $9.58, cost of one valve 57 48
For 1 air valves (.-onnected with cast iron pipe, 31* ft. of i in. g. i.
pipe at 0 cents per f t. , $1 89
Seven i inch, pet cocks, at 50 cents each, 3 50
Seven A inch to i inch bushings, at 8 cents 50
14 ft. of 3 inch cast iron pipe, at 1^ cents per lb., 17 lbs.,
1 ft. , 238 lbs 3 57
One mechanic, 15 hours, at 30 cents, 4 50
One helper, 27 hours at 14 cents, 3 78
17 80
15 per cent 2 67
For 4 in. t. c. tile at new spring No. 2, 106 ft. of 4 in. t. c.
pipe at 7 cents per ft. , $7 42
21 laborers, 331 hours, at 14 cents 46 34
One foreman, loj hours, at 30 cents 4 73
One team, 20 hours, at 40 cents, 8 00
20 47
$66 49
15 per cent. , 9 97
Extra material at pump station for drip pans for the suction
lines; linoleum for floor of pumping station: Linoleum, 18
sq. yds., at 80 cents $14 40
Cartnge and freight, 50
Sliding door, 10 80
Painting old pump house, 11 77
Revarnishiug floor in new pump house, 9 45
Drip pans , copper, 24 71
76 46
$71 63
15 per cent. , 10 74
Extra for labor and material for two new hydrants ordered
after construction of pipe mains, laborers, 72 hours, at 14
cents, $10 08
Mechanic, 25 hours, at 30 cents 7 .50
77 lbs. of lead , at 5^ cents , 4 24
Specials , $6 05
Extra pipe, 4 25
82 31
$32.12
15 per cent 4 82
36 94
Total $25,324 10
Part payments:
Monthly estimate No. 1 .$4,739 46
Monthly estimate No. 2 11,380 96
Monthly estimate No. 3 3 , 124 56
$19,244 9S
Final payment , $6 , 079 12
.November 5th. 1908.
Assistant Engineer in Charge.
Approved :
Chief Engineer.
The esthnatt's, as j2,iven above, iucluded the cost of all extra.s or-
dered by tlie Department as necessary for the completion of this
work. Tt will be noted that the estimate at the time the contract was
awarded was «*J5.fin2.o() and that the final estimate is §!2.">.:^24.in. .so
that the final cost was over $300.00 cheaper than expected. About
1148 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
sevon hundred feet uf additioual pipe lines were aotnally laid and two
additional lire hydrants. This increase in the pipe lines was neces-
sary to bring the six incli main to the centre of the Infirmary, where
the lire hydrant would protect the entire length of tlie building, and
extra piping for the by-pass around the reseryoir. Very little rock,
however, was encountered on the work and this made a great differ-
ence in cost of the work as shown aboye. The settlement in full with
the Contractor, according to the Kngineer's estimates, was effected
SEWERS.
Sealed proposals for the construction of a portion of the system of
sewers for South Mountain Sanatorium near Mont Alto, Franklin
County, for the Commonwealth of I'ennsylyania, Department of
Health, were received by the Commissioner on the 2-l:th day of Sep-
tember, 1007.
The Engineers' estimate of the work to be done, under the plans and
sj)ecifications, by which the proposal was compared was as follows:
400 lineal feet, ten inch terra eotta sewer over five feet deep.
1,800 lineal feet ten inch terra cotta pipe sewer, four to live feet
deep.
800 lineal feel ten inch terra cotta pipe sewer, four feet or less in
depth.
50 lineal feet eight inch terra cotta pipe sewer, over six feet deep.
."iOO lineal feet eight inch terra cotta pipe, five to six feet deep.
2,400 lineal feet eight inch terra cotta pipe, sewer four to five feet
deep.
.'MS lineal feet eight inch terra cotta pipe, sewer four feet or less in
(Icplli.
l.")() lineal feet six inch terra cotta pipe sewer, over six feet deep.
2,450 lineal feet six inch terra cotta pipe sewer, four to five feet
deep.
I'lO lineal fw^t five inch terra cotia pipe, average six feet.
There will be approximately 3,600 cubic yards excavalicm in sewer
Ircncli. of which 2, GOO cubic yards may be earth an<l 1(><>S(> i-ock exca-
vation and 1,000 cubic yards solid rock excavation.
Two liv(» inch V branches on 8 inch sewer pipe.
Forty 4 inch Y branches on 0 inch sewer j)i])e, 3 fool Icnglhs.
Twenty-nine <-aKtii-on manli<»l(! frames and covers.
- 1<I0 lineal feet of concr(de manhole construclion.
One conci-ete grease trap.
The above quantities are approximate only and are made uf) for the
jinijiose f»f comparing the bids. They may be increased or diminished
as necessity may rcMpiire, iind the cont i-actors will not l)e (^nlillcd 1o
any claim foi- damages, loss oi- pr"()(i(, excessive costs, or f)therwise, if
Hie amount of the \v(»i-k actually dfuie dilfers fi-om the amount herein
estimated.
The canvas oi' the bids received is given in (he following table:
No. 17,
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1149
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73
1150 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The award was made to Mr. C. F. Hessenberger because his aggre-
gate bid was the lowest. On September 26th, 1907, a contract was
executed between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of
Health, acting by and through its Commissioner and the said Hes-
senberger. for tlie construetion of a part of a system of sanitary
sewers at the sanatorium.
The contract was completed. The work itemized is as follows:
2,074.5 feet of sewer, 10 inches in diameter.
3,20.") feet of sewer, 8 inches in diameter.
3.509.2 feet of sewer, 0 inches in diameter.
17-0 inch by 4 inch Y branches on G inch sewer.
29 manholes complete.
One grease trap.
One clause of the contract provided that the work may be increased
or diminished, as represented by the Engineers' estimate, and if in-
creased the Contractor shall do the work in the same manner with
like materials and for same price as stipulated in the contract for
work of the same character. Under this provision the work was
increased by the hiying of 1,045.25 feet of six inch sewer. This was in
streets which had not been laid out finally at the time of the awarding
of the contract.
AnoHier clause in the contract provided that whenever it shall
become necessary to use materials or to perform work not contem-
7>lated in the plans or implied in the s])ecilications, the Contractor
shall furnish such material and labor and accept in full i>ayment
therefor sucli price as shall be establislied by the r^ngineer, based
upon the cost of furnishing such extra labor and material, jtlus 15
per cent., such })rice to be determined by the Engineer afler i)resenta-
tion of tl)e original bills and certified coi)y oi- pay-rolls for such labor.
Under this clause such work has amounted to |213.08. Of this
amount |0.38 was for two and a half barrels of cement at |2.55 per
barrel. This was used in rei)airing the sewer in the road in front of
the camp. The trench has been ordered left ojien to facilitate the
laying of water })ipe. A heavy storm oc<'urred and damaged the
sewer, for A\'hich the Contractor was not liable. The extra laboi- em-
])]<>y('(\ in repairing the sewer amounted to 441 hours, at |0. 13 2-3,
making a total of |73.50.
Owing to a change in the width of each plot between streets at the
camp, it was necessary to change the location of one manhole to make
it come at street intersection, otherwise two manlioles would have
been required. The angle in the main sewer line was designed to be
at the original jnanhole, and the trench was excavated I'oi- it. The
change in j»lan slightly altei'ed line of the trench, necessitating extra
work', <is more fully hereinafter aj)j)ears. The amouni of money
involved by the change was $121.99. .More than this was saved by
obs'iating the const luction of two manholes.
At the manhole below the ice dam a connection was made fo admit
of flushing the scwei- l)y watei* from the ice ]»on(l. The amonnt due
the contracloi- on this work was $11.21.
The contract contains a clause that fo?- Portland concrete^ luasoni-y
not shown on the plans and oi-dci-cd by the l*jngine(M- as exti-a woi'k,
the sum of $0.50 shall Ix- |»iiid. II was n('C(^ssaI•y at tlu^ manholes in
front of the lowci- camp, whcr*' :i living spring was encount'M-('d in
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1151
the bottom oi' tiie trench, to surround the sewer with concrete. Also
where the main sewer passes tlirough the swamp and under the
creelv helow the ice pond it was necessary to surround the pipe with
concrete. It rei^uired 13.05 cubic yards of concrete, amounting to a
total of i?8S.73.
Monthly estimates were made on the first of every month during
the progress of llie woi-k, the first estimate being on Noveml»er first,
IJJOT. Tlie aiiiouiils paid on the fifteenth of each month have been as
folh)Ws:
November l^ih $1,516 50
December 15th, 2,749 0(»
Januarv 15tli 1J08 26
February 15tli IJHO o9
Total, $6,984 TO
The following aie detail copies of these estimates:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.— Engineering Division.
MONTHLY ESTIMATE NUMBER ONE FOR SEWERS AT THE PENN-
SVLVANLV SANATORIUM FOR TUBERCULOSIS, SOUTH MOUNTAIN,
NEAR MONT ALTO, PENNSYLVANIA. ACCOUNT OF CONTRACT WITH
C. F. HESSENBERGER, DATED SEPTEMBER liGTH, 1907.
lliOy ft. of 10 in. terra cotta .sewer, laid complete, 4 ft. or less in
depth , at 71 cents per foot, $1>1S U3
S.")0 ft. of 10 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 4 ft. to 5 ft. in
deptii . at ~'.j ( cnts per foot, 620 5Q
300 ft. of 10 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 5 ft. or over in
depth , at !)."> cents per foot 288 00
34 1-3 cu. jds. of solid rock excavation, at $2.00 per yard, 68 6H
Total ; .$1 ,895 19
Deduct li'l per cent. , 379 04
Total , less 20 per cent. , ,$1 ,516 15
November 1st, 1907.
Approved. Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
DEFAKTMENT OF HEALTH.— Engineering Division.
CONTRACT NO. 1, MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 2. FOR WORK COM-
PLETED ON SEWERS AT THE PENNSYLVANIA ST.VTE SANATORIUM
FOR TUBERCUUOSIS. SOUTH .MOUNTAIN. NEAR .MO.NT ALTO, I'ENN-
SYIA'AXIA. FROM NOVEMBER 1ST to DECEMBER 1ST, 1907. AC-
COUNT OF CONTRACT WITH (.'. F. HESSENBERGER, DATED SEP-
TEMBER 2(iTH, 1907.
332 ft. of terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 4 ft. to 5 ft. in depth, at 73
cents per foot, 10 inches, $242 36
20O ft. 10 in. terra cotta sewer, 3 ft. to 4 ft. deep, at 71 cents per
liii.'al foot, 142 (K)
196 ft. of 8 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, over 6 ft. deep, at
■S9 cents per foot 174 44
542 ft. of S in., terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 5 ft. to (» ft. in
depth . at 70 cents per foot , 379 40
712 ft. S in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 4 ft. to 5 ft. in depth,
at 6.S cents per foot 484 16
129J ft. S in. terra cotta sew^r, laid complete, 4 ft. to 3 ft. in depth,
at 60 cents \wr foot, 77.'i 2"
76S ft. of 6 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete. 6 ft. to 3 ft. in depth,
at .50 cents per foot , 384 00
7-('> .X 4 Wyes on (! in. sewer, at $1.07 7 49
4S 'l-',\ cu. yds. of solid rock excavation, at .$2.(^> per cubic yard 97 34
,53.6 vertical feet of manholes complete, at .S;i5.0() per foot. '. S04 00
10 manhole frames and lOvers, complete, at .f20 each 2(HI 00
Total $3,690 39
1152 THIRD ANNLTAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
For change in sewer line between station. 17 plus 68 and 19
plus 75, due to widening lots on force account, plus 15 per
cent profit to contractor:
Foreman, 32 hours, at 35 cents per hour ,$11 20
Water boy, 31 houi-s, at 12^ cents per hour, 3 88
Laborers, 546 houi-s, at 13.5 cents per hour, 15 91
121 99
$3,812 38
Deduct cost of engineering from November 2 to December 1,
with allowance of 3 da.vs for delay due to change in line 28
minus 3 equals 25 days, at $15.00 375 00
Total, $3,43^38
Deduct 20 per cent. , 687 48
Total, less 20 per cent., $2,749 90
December 2d, 1907.
Approved: Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
Chief Engineer.
DEPARTMENT OF HP]ALTH.— Engineering Division.
CONTRACT NO. 1, MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 3, FOR WORK COM-
PLETED ON SEWERS AT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE SANATORIUM
FOR TUBERCULOSIS, SOUTH MOUNTAIN, NEAR MONT ALTO, PENN-
SYLVANIA, FROM DECEMBER 1, 1907, TO JANUARY 1, 1908. AC-
COUNT OF CONTRACT WITH C. F. HESSENBERGER, DATED SEP
TEMBER 26TH, 1907.
Ill ft. 8 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, over 6 in. in depth, at
89 cents,
.50 ft. 8 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 5 ft. to 6 ft. in depth, at
70 cents
338 ft. 8 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 4 ft. to 5 ft. in depth,
at 68 cents ,
.50 ft. 8 in. terra cotta .sewer, laid complete, 3 ft. to 4 ft. in depth,
at 60 cents ,
181 ft. 6 inch terra cotta sewer, laid complete, over 6 in. in depth,
at 67 cents ,
2087 ft. 6 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 3 ft. to 6 ft. in depth,
at .50 cents
Eight 6x4 AVyes on 6 in. sewer, at $1.07,
42.2 vertical feet of manholes complete, at $15,
7 manhole frames and covers complete, at $20,
Extra concretes used to protect sewer at creek crossings and at
springs in trench, 9.15 cubic yards, at $6.50 in place,
2.5 barrels of cement, used in closing flow of springs in ditch, at
$2.55 per bbl. in place
PiXtra labor used in repairing sewer due to open trench and heavy rain,
441 hrs. of labor at 16 2-3 cts. ,
44 cu. yds. of solid rock excavation , at $2.00,
Total, $2,570 32
Deduct cost of engineering from December 1 • to January l; with
allowance of 2 days for delay due to repairs to sewers. 31-2 equals
29 days, at $15.00, 435 00
$2,135 32
Deduct 20 per cent 427 06
Total , less 20 per cent. , $1,708 26
January 2nd, 1!»08.
$98 79
35 00
229 84
30 00
121 27
1,043 50
8 56
636 00
140 00
59 48
6 38
73 50
88 00
Approved: Engineer in Charge of Work.
Chief Engineer.
DEPARTMENT OF II ILVLTH.— Engineering Division.
CONTRAfJT NO. 1, MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 4, FOR WORK COM-
PLETED r).\ SEWERS AT THE PKN.NSYI>VANIA STATE SANATOR-
WM FOR TI'BERrilLOSIS, SOUTH MOUNTAIN, NEAR MONT ALTO,
PENNSYLVANIA, KRO.M JANUARY 1ST, 1908, TO FEBRUARY 1ST,
1908 ACCOUNT OF CONTRACrr WPl'lI C. F. HESSENBER(iER, DATED
SEPTEBER 26TFI, 1907.
455 ft. 6 in. terra cotta sewer laid complete, 3 ft. to 6 ft. in depth,
at .50 ctH. per fl. . . . ■. $227 .50
1 grease trap, complete, at .$90, 90 00
67.5 vertical ft. of manholes, complete, at $15 ' 1,012 50
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OP HEALTH. 1153
12 manhole frames and covers, at $20.00 per set, $240 00
Two 6x4 Wyes on tj in. sewer, at $1.07, 2 14
Extra concrete used to protect sewer near ice pond, 3.79 cubic yards,
at $0.50, 24 64
1 in. wrought iron pipe and fittings, from ice pond to manhole be-
low pond, at cost, plus 15 per cent., 11 21
Total, $1,607 99
Deduct cost of engineering from January Ist to January '2iird,
inclusive, 23 days^at $15.00, 345 00
$1,262 99
Deduct JU \>''v cfut. 252 60
Total , less 20 per cent., $1,010 39
February 1st, 1908.
The contractor agreed to begin work teu days after the engineer's
notice to begin woi-lc and to complete the whole work on or before
twenty -four days thereafter; no allowance to be made for inclement
weather; and if the work be ordered extended beyond the engineer's
estimate, the ccmtractor agreed to accept such extension of time for
performing the additional work, as represented by the relation be-
tween the cost of such additional work and the cost ot the whole work,
comprised in the engineer's estimate.
The work was ordered started on the day of execution of the con-
tract, so tlie ten days thereafter was October 7th. The completion of
the work in twenty-four days (working days) brought the time for
the completion of the contract to November 2d. The original estimate
called for about U,000 feet of sewer. About 1,000 additional feet were
ordered, being equivalent to three days' extension of time of contract
or to November 7th. On this date the work was not finished. During
this period there were 2.5 days' rainy weather only, which shows that
the inclemenc}' of the weather was not the cause of delay. Progress
work was practically completed January 23rd, on or about which time
the contractor dissolved his working force and left the job. Up to
this time the Department was obliged to keep engineers and in
spectors <m the work.
However, there were finishing jobs to be done and the entire con-
tract was not completed to the satisfaction of the engineers until
April 8th, with one exception, namely, the placing of the sewei-s in a
fairly tight condition. On April the lith, of the current year, the
chief engineer and the assistant engineer in charge of work, inspected
all of the sewers and took measurements at manholes of the How of
leakage in the sewers.
At the lower manhole near the disposal plant, whei-e the water was
being turned on to the ground temporarily, the measured fiow was
50,000 gallons per twenty-four hours. The observed flow at the next
manhole, (589.6 feet distant, appeared to be about the same, but at the
third manhole, 397 feet from the second manhole, the measured tlow
of leakage was 25,000 gallons [Kir day. At No. 4 manhole distant
595.58 feet, the estimated How was about the same, but at No. 5 man
liole, distant 420.18 feet further up the line, the measured How was
18,000 gallons. Between nuniholes No. 5 and No. (i, distant 800.1 IVel,
the sewer did not leak. But at No. 7 manhole, distant 09G.6 feet
above, this manhole being at one end of the swamp and No. 6 at the
other end, the sewer between passing underneath the creek, the meas-
ured flow was 10,000 gallons, showing a very tight sewer for the
territory.
73—17—1908
1154 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE . Otf. Doc.
Bevond the Xo. 7 the groimd was high aud there was no leakage to
speak of, except that which might have been seen at the manhole in
the public road at the gate to the lower camp. No account was made
of this because of the small amount.
So in 3,0UU feet most all of the leakage occurred. The hillside along
this sewer was saturated with ground water which stood in the sewer
trench over the pipe from one to two feet deep. Therefore, any im-
perfection in joints or any breakage of the pipe would manifest itself
o)i inspection between manholes. An examination revealed the pres-
ence of at least three points at which water was pouring in through
the sewer from the ground outside. Kemedies were necessarily ap-
plied at these places. The contractor was notitied to repair the sewer.
The clause in the contract covering this point reads as foll(>ws:
"If the party of the second part shall refuse to take up and rebuild
and replace as aforesaid (the State j, shall have the right to work
n{»on the same in the place of the party of the second part. The
amount of work which can thus be undertaken by the (State) shall
be determined in each case by the engineer. Before undertaking any
such work the (State) shall give two days' notice to the (contractor),
and such notice shall contain an accurate statement of the work to be
thus undertaken, and upon the receipt of this notice the (contractor)
shall immediately discontinue such portion of the work.''
The amounts deducted from the monthly estimates for engineers
and inspectors were tentative ones and so understood, being subject
to revision on tinal payment. The total cost to the State from Novem-
ber 7tli, jyOT, to January '2'Aid, 19U8, inclusive, for engineering and
inspection, which the State would not have had to pay had the con-
tractor finished his work on time, was |4:()T.-1:(). From the careful
record of the time spent by the men in the State employ on repairing
The washout in the sewer trench in front of the camp and in changing
over the sewer trench to save an extra manhole, as hereiubcrore fully
described, it appears that live full days out of the 7S days' total time,
is the jjroportionate amount which the State might i-easouably assume
as its share of the cost of engineering aud insjx'ction on the seweis
fi'om and after November 7, 1!)()7. On this basis, which is .fo.iiiM |)er
day, the contractor was obligated to the State to the extent of .f.'{<si.;{r).
No man devoted all of his time to the sewer work. Mr. (\ A. Eck-
l)ert, M'lio was ])ut in resj)onsible chai-ge of sewer coustructi(m on
j-esigiiation of Mi'. I'hillipi)i, speni ~*4.7~) days' full lime at .|2. .">().
Ivan (Dace spent (10.5 days' full time a( |1..">;> pei- day. ('. \i. Forbes,
one (lay a) ^iMM). ( '. R. jiariies, IT)..') <lays al |l!.(M). William KauCman
spent 21..') da.\'s al !|!1.17. Mi-. Kaufman lived in the vicinily. The
other men were boarded by the Stale, Tor which fl.OO per day was
charged, including Sunday. The men's pay was by (he monlh, so that
Sundays have been lignred in salaries. This was cliea|»er lliaii (o pay
their expenses liome each week.
On XoVeiiiber Slh, Mr. lOnnis {issniiied (lie dnl ies of general sii|»erin-
lendenl al Ihe sanalorium. No acc(»iiiit of his lime was (aken, Ihere-
fore, sin<-e he had all kind of work on his hands and did nol devole
himself sp<*cilically lo sewer work.
The following is llu* final <*slimate ot Ihe work done and (he moneys
(hie ihe colli I aclor under (he coli(r;ic( :
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1155
DEPARTMENT OF Ht:ALTII.— Eiigineeiing Division.
CUN'TRACrr XU. 1, FINAL FSTLMATE FOR WORK COMPLETED ON
SEWERS AT THE I'ENNSVL\ANIA STATE SANATORIUM FOR TU-
BERCULOSIS, SOUTH MOUNTAIN, NEAR MUNT ALTO, PENNSYL-
VANIA, FROM SEPTEMIJER 2(;TII, l'.)(»7, TO APRILS, 1908. ACCOUNT
OF CONTRACT WITH (". F. HESSENP.ER(H:R, DATED SEPTEMBER
2(jTII, 1907.
1484.2 ft. 10 in. terra cotla .sewer, laid coinplete, 4 ft. to '.i ft. iu
ilppth, 71 cents per foot
1195.2 ft. 10 iu. lerra cutta sewer, laid tomplete, 4 ft. to 5 ft
III depth, at 73 c-ems per foot,
2!t5.1 ft. U) in. terra eotta sewer, laid coniplete, 5 ft. or over in
ilepih, at 9() cents per foot,
n5.''>.5 ft. .S in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 4 ft. to 3 ft. in depth,
at 00 cents per foot ,
1(123.7 ft. 8 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 4 ft. to 5 ft. in
depth, at (>8 cents per foot
828.7 ft. 8 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 5 ft. to 0 ft. iu
depth , at 70 cents per foot ,
289.1 ft. 8 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, 0 ft, or over in depth,
at 89 cents per foot ,
90.5 ft. (i iu. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, over tj ft. in depth,
at 07 ci'uts per foot,
.j412.7 ft. 0 in. terra cotta sewer, laid complete, (» ft. to 3 ft. in
depth , at 50 cents per foot
Rock excavation. 124.22 cu. yds., at .$2.00 per yard,
103. (i7 vertical feet of manholes, complete, at $15.0(J per vertical
foot
29 manhole frames and covers, in place, at .$20.00 each,
17 0x4 Wyes , at $1.07 each
13.05 cu. yds. of concrete at $0.50 per cu. yd
2.5 barrels of cement , at .$2.55 per barrel ,
1 urease trap at .$90.00,
For change iu sewer line between station 17 plus 08 and 19 plus
75, due to widening lots on force account plus 15 per cent, to con-
tractor.
Foreman, 32 hours, at 35 cents per hour, $11 20
Water boy, 31 h(<urs, at 12.5 cents per hour, 3 88
Laborers, 540 hours, at 10 2-3 cents per hour, 91 00
$1
,053
78
872
50
283
30
092
10
096
12
580 09
257
30
(J4
00
1
,700 35
248 44
2
,455 05
580 00
18 19
88 73
6 38
90 00
As per engineer's order, lOG 08
Contractor's proHt , 15 per cent., 15 91
121 99
Extra labor used in repairing sewer due to open trench and heavy
rain, 441 hours of labor, at Iti 2-3 cents, 73 50
1 iu. w. i. pipi- <-ounection at dam, as per engineer's order, at cost,
plus 15 per cent, prolit, as per specihcations 11 21
Total, $9,899 69
Pari payments:
Monthly estimate No. 1 $1,510 15
.Monthly estimate No. 2 2.749 90
Monthly estimate No. 3 1 , 70S 20
Monthly estimate No. 4, 1 ,olo 39
6,984 70
Total less ijrevious payments, $2,914 99
Deduct cost of engineering from November 7, 1007, to January 23,
1908, inclusive, with 5 days' allowance 3S1 35
Final payment .^2 , 533 04
April 13th, 1908.
Assistant Engineer in Charge.
Approved:
Chief Engineer.
Attention is cjillcd to (lio tact thai llio sewor sv.sIcmo Iia.s cost
|1,1(M) less (luui the amount of the conlractoi-'.s a,i>iire,uate hid and the
enj>in(H^i-'s eslimate, althiuiuh a thou.sand feet additional sewer were
laid.
The material on hand paid for l>.v the eontraitor and delivered on
the gronnd ready to use and in good eondition, but not used owing to
lio6 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF fHfi Off. £)5(J.
changes in the i)lan, and material which the State might use in the
future and might with justice be taken off the hands of the contractor
at its fair estimated cost, was as follows:
1 manhole cover and frame, |10 00
2 8 in. tiap gates, 10 00
1 4 in. pipe for grease trap, 2 00
202 ft. G in. pipe at 9 cts 18 18
110 ft. of 5 in. pipe, 7.5 cts., 8 25
68 ft. 4 in. pipe at 6 cts., 4 08
16 ft. S in. at 15 cts., 2 40
3 10x6 Wyes at |1.02, 3 06
30 4 in. X 6 in. bends, at 19.5 cts., 5 85
16 4 in. X 6 in. Y's, at 40.5 cts., 6 48
4 6 in. lids, at 25 cts., 25
494 ft. of pipe at 50 pieces per load, at $3 per
load for hauling, 15 00
Total, |85 55
This, added to the above amount, gives a total of |2,619.19 due the
contractor.
Contractor's Claims.
M. W. Jacobs, Esq., who represented Mr. Hessenberger, made cer-
tain representations respecting claims for compensation under the
contract.
One claim was that the monthly estimates of work charged the con-
tractor with cost of engineering aggregating |1,155. Certain pro-
visions of the contract, as understood by Mr. Hessenberger, required
the contractor to pay for the services of engineers and inspectors occa-
sioned by the contractor's delay in prosecuting the work, and the
charges for this item aggregated 77 days at the uniform rate of $15.00
per day, which was believed to be excessive both as to the per diem
rate and the number of days. Mr. Jacobs argued the matter out at
length in support of his contention.
The monthly estimates were approximations. The contractor in-
formed Mr. Fleming, assistant engineer, at the beginning that he did
not expect to finish his work in time, and that he Ijad figured on a cer-
tain number of days extra at a loss each day for engineering and in-
sjiection of $15. The Stale, therefore, without going into a detailed
examination of diaries and actual costs, took this general estimate as
a basis of computation at the end of each month, and the contractor
ottered no objection to Mr. Fleming until the final estimate of monthly
payment was made, when the time had arrived for final adjustment.
Therefore, there was no occasion from the State's slaiul])oiiil for a
discussion by the lawyer of the question.
I'he claim was made that the days of delay should not be charged
against Ihe contractor.
Under Item A, Mr. Jacobs represented that tlie lime in testing the
sewers should not have been included in the lime sjx'cined for com-
jjleting the work; that allowance for time i-equired by extra work
(additional sewer), should have been made, and that the engineer and
inspector for the (;xtra work should have been paid l)y the State.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1157
These also were matters for a final estimate and were covered, as
hereinbefore appears. The time the State expended in testing the
sewer was not charged the contractor, neither the time required for
extra work nor the engineering nor inspection therefor.
.Under Item 1), the lawyer claimed as follows:
"The engineer allows three days for delay due to change of line of
the ditch in the public road. This allowance should be at least ten
days. Much of this work was done in rock too rotten to blast, and,
therefore, not drawing rock prices, but very difficult to handle. The
new ditch being only a few feet away from the old one, the bank was
hard to hold up and the difficulty of the work was thus increased.
Not less than ten days were consumed in this extra work, including
the building of manholes, etc."
The State kept a record of the time and was guided by it. The
contractor did not concentrate his entire force at this one place be-
cause he could not do so to advantage. About one-third of the men
were employed for one whole day and parts of six days. No doubt
the change of plans somewhat confused the contractor, and in justice
it may be said that Mr. Hessenberger appeared to be willing, but in-
experienced. Suggestions were not heartily welcomed by him relative
TO management. Time was consumed needlessly and it cost the State
extra for engineering and inspection on this part of the work which
the State assumed, the allowance being three days. An extreme
allowance in effecting an amicable settlement with the contractor
would be six days instead of ten days claimed by Mr. Jacobs.
In order that no injustice might be done the contractor, the Com-
missioner considered a further allowance of three days for delay on
work caused by the State at this point.
Under Item C, the lawyer represented as follows: —
"For some thousands of feet the engineer ordered the ditch to be
left partly unfilled so that the State could put in water pipe, saving
the State .the cost of excavation for its water pipe line. This was
wholly outside of the contract and was a cause of delay of no less than
ten days and extra expen.se to the contractor of not less than |200.
The men were ordered away when a little more throwing in would
have completed the job at a small expense, and ordered back when
the ground was solidly frozen and the time and labor required for the
final filling in was, as T am informed, quadrupled.
"I am informed that the usual practice in such cases is, that the
party, requiring the additional use of the ditch causing the delay, fills
in the ditch at his own exy)ense, or that the cost of ditching and filling
is divided between the parties. This appears to be fair and is prob-
ably what the State should have done in this case."
The State's position in this matter was that it did backfill the
trenches where it was thought the contractor would have been delayed
if he filled them; that where the trenches were left open and finally
filled by the contractor at the State's orders, it was at those points
where there was ample work upon which the men were being em-
T)loyed and where no real delay was occasioned to the contractor by
leaving the trenches open. The trench in front of the lower camp was
open about three weeks pending arrival of pipe, water pipe, which
we purpose to lay in the same trench. Tlie contractor was held re-
1158 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
sponsible for auy damages that might oeriir during this time and had
to protect the trenc-h and maintain lights and it might be just to take
this risk and added responsibility put npon the contractor in main-
taining this trench in the public highway in front of the lower camp
for a period of three weeks, info consideration in determining whether
a money compensation sliould be given. The Avhole work was not
delayed, but the risk of the contractor was increased. On this score
and to effect an amicable adjustment, eminently fair and satisfactory
to all interests, to divide equally between the State and the con-
tractor the alleged exrra expense to the contractor of !J200, an allow-
ance of flOO was nmde to the contractor to compensate him for all
delays incident to the laying of water pipes in the sewer trenches.
T'nder Item D. Mr. Jacobs claimed that his client was delayed in
laying the server pipe by the use by the inspector of peculiar methods
of alignment. This contention Avas absurd, for most part the ])ipe was
laid by mountaineers who had never had any ])revious experience and
the inspectors had to do most of the work in placing the pipe prop-
erly. Mr. Barnes inspected a short length of sewer pipe laying and in
care he used a plumb bob.
Under Item E, the claim was made that another serious cause of
delay and expense to the contractor was the omission of underdrains.
He anticipated the putting in of .'>,()00 feet of underdrain and had lig-
ured a profit of about foOO, and also a further protit by the use of the
underdrains in removing water from the trench. So the extra cost of
pumping not anticipated was alleged to be |500. Not only was he
deprived of these profits, but the extra time c<msumed in overcoming
the difficulties without underdrains was also charged against the con-
tractor. He urged this as another reason why the State should not
charge the contractor with engineering and inspection.
T'nder the contract the State had nothing to do with anticipated
profits »»r losses incurred in })rosecution of the work or by any change
in j>lan. It was clearly optional with the State to use the undei--
'Irains and the State chose not to use them. Furthermore, the State
was put to extra expense by reason of the extra time (-(insumed in
comjdeting The contract and for which the conti-actor stated he had
estimated in pi'e])aring his bid.
]\It-. .Jacobs in concluding declared that tiie contract was an un-
usually severe one and that the State went to the utmost limit ui>on
all jioints in consti'ning it against the contractor, and in ]»lacing u]>ou
him. without compensation, bui-dens Avliich could not have been in the
minds of the conti-acting parties at the time it was made.
There is not much doubt but that the elimination of the underdrain
did add to the contractor's expense at the crossing of the creek, but
there only f(»r L'OO IVet in length. I-'lsewhere on the ])ortion of the
work wh(M-e nndci-drains were conUMiiplalcd, I lie trench was di'y.
The wet i)lac('s beyond llic < rcM'k were ^\Il(M•(' no nndcrdi-ain was jn-o-
jtosed.
The contractor had no right to assume that th(> sp<'cilicii( ions did
not mean what they said. He slionid have known that a sew<'r leading
to a sewage dis]K>sal ])lanl nmsl be built tight, more especially
through territory extremely wet and |)artly under water during rainy
f-easons. The contractor was informed of tlie situation before he bid
on the wor-K' or began const met i(»n.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1159
The conlractor filled over the pipe in the main sewer trench below
the ice pond to a dejtth of about IS inches with earth and then threw
in the rock excavation from tlie trencli. This practically made the
ditch a st()ne drain, intercepting; the surface water from the hillslope,
\\ liere it would run along' or stand on toj) of the trench and even-
tually fill the i)ipe with water and Hood out the disposal plant. He
Mas (old repeatedly by the inspector and by the engineer that these
j-ocks would have to be suiistituted by earth, and he promised time
after tinu^ that he would soon attend to it. This lie neglected to do
until the latter part of .Alarch. He then took the stone out and tilled
ill with earth and the cost he stated to have been .^-(14.4.'), and this
v*as a s]>ecilic claim of the contrai-tor. The State c(»uld n(»t have
accepted the job if left in the condition of an open sewerblind stone
drain.
The price liid inchuled all materials used for c<)vei'ing sewers when
there was not sutticient from the trench dug to cover the dejtth re-
(juired. The specifications also stated that the backfill was to be to
the satisfaction of the engineer.
The final estimate on the contract, amounting to ^2,T.'U.S(;. was ac-
cepted and partial payment was made by the Commissi(»nei- t)f Health
in the sum of ¥2.(MM>, the balance of ^T.'U.Sd was held as a guarantee to
insui-e the repair of the sewers, which were in a leaky conditi<»ii.
The enormous amount of leakage in the main trunk sewer was from
the disposal plant to the eight inch juncticm at the ice jtond, a dis-
tance of .'5,(KM) feet. This leakage amounted to apjtroximately ()0,()(l(>
galbnis and was evidently due to faulty construction. The contractor
agreed to make re]»airs ujton being informed where the location of tlie
faulty const i-uction was. I'Jeven leaks were definitely located, but
owing to the heavy flow through the invert of the sewer it was im-
possible to deteiiiiine where all the leakage ( iune from.
A list of the leaks located were sent to the c<»ntractor on April
23d, and he agreed to make the rejjairs immediately through a sub-
contractor. This was ajtpi-oved by the Commissioner of Health. The
final estimate of *L*T:>4.S(» was ac<epted, as previously stated, and the
j»ai-tial payment of ^1I,(M)() made. The coiitrattor stated in writing on
.Ma.\ 1st that this ariangement was satisfactoi-y and that S7:U.S(»
should be withheld as a guarantee that he would pi-ocinnl to rejiair
the leaks.
The sub-<<)ntractor started on .May 4th to make repairs at the vari-
ous jM)ints shown to be defective. The work pr(»gressed .slowly, as
the sj)ring rains ma<le if ditlicult to excavate and kee]> the trench dry.
The excavation, in nearly every instance showed faulty Joints not
only at the jtoints located by the interior inspection but also in the
inverts. If was found, in making the joints, tlu' cement had not been
placed under the invert as called for in the sjiecificat ions. This jjoinl
is especially emphasized in the spe<-itications.
The sul)-contraclor allemi>ted to repair these joints, but it was
found, upon examination, that }»ractically every joint at the invert
was faulty and that it would be a cheaper proposition for tlie con-
tractor to ojien uji the whole trench and examine every joint.
On May 2nfh. the coiifracfor agrwd to ])ersonally fake charge of tlie
"work, to excavate the fi-ench from the s(>wage disposal plant along the
ten incli line as far as necessary and t(t repair the defective joints.
1160 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OfC. Doc.
Work was begim on June 4th and repairs were made from the outfall
r-nd of The sewer at the disposal plant for a distance of 1,700 feet up
to Station S3 plus 01. In making these repairs, the sewer was tested
from the interior before the trench was backfilled by filling the sewer
from the upper manhole in one section with the lower end plugged.
This made a positive test of any existing leaks and frequently showed
leaky joints which otherwise would escape attention of the inspector.
On the evening of June ISth, the contractor filled up with water a
section of sewer between Station 7S plus 81 and 83 plus 01. As it was
late when this sewer was filled and difficult to inspect the joints, it
was decided to leave the sewer filled up over night and to make an
inspection in the morning of June 19th. During the night the trench
.surrounding the sewer filled up with ground water to a depth of about
two feet above the top of the sewer and in the morning when the con-
tractor started work on the ground he stated that the sewer buckled
through the lower section. Tt is probable that the buckling was due
to a floating movement in the deep water in the trench.
The Department made the repairs incurred by this accident, which
consisted of replacing about twelve lengths of broken ten-a cotta pipe,
and under this arrangement the contractor stated, on June 22nd, that
he would proceed with the repairs and complete the work, but on the
evening of June 22nd he notified the Department of Health in writing
that, upon the advice of his attorney, he wohld not continue the work
on the sewers.
Upon the advice of the Attorney General's Department, the State
proceeded to make the repairs under a specific clause in the contract,
the Pennsylvania Surety Company having first, after a ten days'
notice ,f ailed to proceed under the contract to make the repairs.
On July 14th, the Department began work upon the sewer line and
extended repairs upon Station 83 plus 01 to Station 70. In almost
every joint it was found that: the same condition existed as on the
joints in the lower section. The inverts were not properly filled with
cement and had to be repaired. The work was completed on August
7th at a cost to the Department of 1281.58. This cost was made up
as follows:
8 sacks of cement at 60 cents, |4 80
5 lbs. of oakum at 4 cents, 20
1 ,248 hrs. of labor at 15 cents, 187 20
103 hrs. of labor at 12.5 cents, 20 38
17(5 hrs. foreman at 20 cents, 35 20
2 hrs, blacksmith at 40 cents, 80
n days insi)ector at |3.00 33 00
Total, 1281 58
This does not re[)r(;seiil IIk^ cost of rei>airs to the portions of the
line which bnckled. The D('f)ar(iti('n< re})aired this part of the line
at its own exjiense. 1'he $281.58 deducted from the 1734.80 held back
1o cover rejiairs left a final amount due the sewer contractor of
1453.28. At the close of the year Mr. Ilessenberger had not accepted
the settlement.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1161
SEWAGE DISPOSAL WOKKS.
On October SOth, 1907, the Commissioner of Health received pro-
posals lor the construction of the sewage disposal plant. The work
to be done consisted of the complete construction of two reinforced
concrete septic tanks, each four feet wide by thirty feet lung by ten
feet deep ; two sprinkling filters of reinforced concrete, each fourteen
feet by thirty feet by seven feet deep ; one reinforced concrete dosing
tank for the filters; one chemical mixing tank and superstructure;
excavation for a future sand filter; and all clearing, ditching and pipe
laying necessary for completing the plant and placing it in working
order.
The pro]>osals were based on a lump sum for tbe wliolc work jind
wore as follows:
Brady and Snavelv, Harrisburg, Pa., . . . |6,595 00
W. B. Bunyea, Chester, I'a., 8,000 00
C. F. Hessenberger, Harrisburg, Pa., .... 16,350 00
The contract was signed on October 31st, 1907, by Brady and
Snavely, of Harrisburg, Pa., as the}' were the lowest bidders. They
furnished a bond of $2,500 with the Pennsylvania Surety Company
of Harrisburg, Pa., as bondsmen.
The contract provided that partial payments on this work should
be made in monthly estimates of SO per cent, of the work completed
during a month. This estimate was to be made at the end of each
monlh and payment was to be made on or before the 15th day of the
month next succeeding that in which the work was done. In accord-
ance with tins clause, monthh'^ estimates were made on the work, as
follows :
Monthly estimate No. 1, December 2, 1907, $386 56
Monthly estimate No. 2, January 2, 1908, 951 60
Monthly estimate No. 3, February 3, 1908, 796 40
Monthly estimate No. 4, May 8, 1908, 1,098 80
Monthly estimate No. 5, June 1, 1908, 810 35
Total, $4,043 71
In addition to this, a partial payment was made on March 7, 1908,
for material on the ground which had been paid for by the con-
tractors, but which had not bwn placed in the work. This payment
was approved by the Commissioner of Health and amounted t(»
$627.94, which was 50 per cent, of the cost of this material as shown
by the receipted bills of the contractors. The total amount received
by the contractor j)rior to the final payment was $4,671.65.
A detail of the monthly estimates and the partial payment follows:
DEPAllT^IENT OF HEALTH.— Engineering Division.
CONTRACT NO. 2, MONTHLY ESTLMATE NO. 1. FOR WORK COM-
PLETED OX SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANT AT THE PENNSYLVANIA
STATE SANATOKIUM FOR TUPERCULOSIS. SOUTH MOUNTAIN
NEAR .MONT ALTO. PENNSYLVANIA, FROM NOVEMBER 1ST TO
DECEMBER 1ST. 11)07. ACCOUNT WITH BRADY & SNAVELY* OF
HARRISBURG. CONTRACT DATED OCTOBER 31ST, 1907.
CleariuiT and siubhiii}: 2.(5(1 aoios of land, at .?100 per acre $266 00
Excavation of sprinklins fillers, ^l.'j cu. yds. at (>0 cents per cu. yd., 129 00
Excavation for septic tanks, 147 cu. yds., at 60 cents per cu. j'd. , 88 20
Total , $483 20
1162 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Deduct 20 per cent. , 96 64
Total , less 20 per cent. , $3S6 56
December 2nd, 1907.
Assistant Engineer in Charge of "Work.
Approved :
Chief Engineer.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.— Eugineeiing Division.
CONTRACT NO. 2, MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 2. FOR WORK COM-
I'LETKD ON SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANT AT THE PENNSYLVANIA
ST VIE SANATORIl'M FOR TUBERCULOSIS, SOUTH ^MOUNTAIN,
NE\R MONT ALTO. PENNSYLVANIA, FROM DECEMBER 1ST, 1907,
TO .lANUARY 1ST, 19(.)8. ACCOUNT WITH BRADY & SNAVELY, OF
HARRISBI'RO. CONTRACT DATED OCTOBER 31ST, 1907.
Excavation for chemical dosing tank, 31 cu. yds., at $1.00
Excavation for sand filter, 14(» cu. yds., at ."j! 1.00,
Reinforced concrete placed in walls of sprinkling filters, 47 cu.
yds., at .$1.").00
Reinforced concrete placed in footings of septic tank, 4 cu. yds., at
$1.5.0(»,
Sewer lines laid, 498 ft. 10 in. terra cotta sewer, at 7."> ceJits, ....
Total ,
Time for completion of concrete work expired on December 7, 1907.
Time extended to December 23, on account of 13 days of bad
weather, as per contract. Deduct 31 — 23 = N days, at .fJlo.OO, . .
Total, $1,189 50
Deduct 20 per cent. , 237 90
Total , less 20 ijer o'lit. $951 60
January 2nd, 1908.
.$31
14"
00
0<-»
705
00
(jO
373
()()
00
$1
.309
.")()
120 00
Approved: Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
Chief Engineer.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.— Engineering Division.
(CONTRACT NO. 2, MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 3. FOR WORK COM-
PI>ETED ON SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANT AT THE PENNSYLVANIA
STATE S.VNATORIUM FOR TUBERCULOSIS, SOUTH MOUNTAIN,
NEAIi .MONT ALTO, PENNSYLVANIA, FROM .lANUARY 1ST, TO FEB-
Rl ARY 1ST, 1908. ACCOUNT WITH BRADY & SNAVELY, OF HAR-
RISBURtJ. CONTRACT DATED OCTOBER 31ST, 1907.
Excavation for sand lilters, .351 cu. yds., at $1.00 per cu. yd., ....
Ditch from filters to dosing tank, 41 cu. yds., at $1.00 per cu. yd.,
Ditch from dosing tank to creek, 26 cu. yds., at $1.00 per cu. .yd.,
Masonry in (;hem. dosing tank, 5 cu. yds., at $6.00 per cu. yd
Reinforced concrete in sprinkling filters, 1.3 cu. yds., at $15.00
l>er cu. yd. ,
Rcinforceil concrete in septic tanks, 32 <ii. yds., at $15.09 j)er
cu. yd
46 ft. of 10 in. sewer at 75 cents per ft.,
.56 ft. of 6 in. sewer at .50 cents i>er ft. ,
s v,:!ll castings, in place, at $10 eacii ,
Total $1,265 .50
Dediiei il(|uidated damages for IN days, at $15.00 per day 270 00
Total $995 50
Deduct 20 \,i-r <<-iit 199 10
Total, less 20 per .-.■Mt $796 40
February '.',r(\ . 190S.
Api>roved: Assistant lOrigiin'cr in Cliarge of Work.
Chief iOngineer,
$351
(X)
41
00
26 00
80 00
195
00
480 00
34
.50
28
00
80
00
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1163
DEiMKTMENT OF llEAI/ni.— Eugiueeriug Division.
CONTRACT NO. 2. MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 4. FOR WORK COM-
IM.KTKI) OX S1:\\'.\(;E DISI'OS.M- plant AT THE I'KNXSVLVANLV
ST.\TE S.V.XATOKir.M FOR TrUKKdl.* )S1S. SOlTll MOIXTAIX,
NEAR MOX'l' Al/ro, I'ENXSVI AAX L\ , FRO.M Al'RIL IST. I'.ios. TO
MAY 1ST, I'.XIS. ACCOUNT WJTH HRADV & SNAVEIA . OF HAR-
Risr.riK;. coxtract dated octorer .•hst. iskit.
I']iMl>iiiikrin'iit for sand tiltcrs, 2U() cu. yds., at 7.") cents,
EmIiankiiicnL for sprinkling filters, l.")U cu. yds., at 7~> cents
(j5 sq. yds. of concrete floor and roof to st'ijtic tanks, at .$l..")(l, ..
JI4 sq. yds. of concrete floor to sprinkling' Hlters, at .$L.^0,
17 en. yds. of masonry in chemical dosing tank, at .$tJ.OU
Windows, doors and app. to chemical dosing tank
!.")() ft. of 1(1 in. terra cotta sewer, at 7") cents,
170 ft. of Ci in. casi iron pipe, at .$1.(M) :
2(! ft. of (! in. terra cotta pipe, at ."lO cents
2 wooik-n baflle boards and 4 wooden scum hoards for septic tanks,
!j maniioies of concrete, at .$1(X) each ,
Dosing lank for sprinkling filters
Total ■.
Deduct li<iuidaled damages for lit days, at .$15.00 per day,
$150 00
112
50
97
50
141
00
102
00
100
00
112
50
17t)
00
i:j
(K)
100
(K)
200 00
300 00
.$1,058
50
285
00
$1,373 50
274
70
Deduct 20 per cent. ,
Total , less 20 per cent. , $1 ,098 80
May 8th, 1908.
Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
Approved :
Chief Engineer.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.— Engineeiing Division.
CONTRACT NO. 2, MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 5. FOR WORK COM-
PLETED ON SE\VA(;E DISL'OSAL plant at the PENNSYLVANIA
STA'ITO S.VNATORIl.M FOR TUBERCULOSIS, SOUTH MOUNTAIN,
NEAR MOXT ALTO, PENNSYLVANIA, FROM MAY 1ST. 1908 TO
JUNE 1ST. ACCOUNT WITH BRADY & SNAVELY, OF HARRISBURG.
(.;ONTRA(T DATED OCTOBER 31 ST, 1907.
ISO cu. yds. of graded broken stone for sprinkling tiltei-s, at $1.00,
Interior feed piping and underdrainage system for sprinkling filtei"s,
N'alves, standards and connections for disposal plant,
Wall t'!)stings for disposal plant
Expanded meta! for disposal plant ,
Manhole castings, steps, etc.,
Two manholes, complete, of concrete,
Total $1 ,835 88
Deduct part payment in valves, wall castings, expanded metal and
nuinhole castings made March 7th, 1908, (\2~ 94
$180 00
200
00
709
80
354
81
07
75
123
52
200 00
Tolal $1 ,207 94
Deduct licpiidated damages for 13 days, at $1.5.00, li).i 00
Total $1 ,012 94
Deduct 20 per cent. , 202 59
Total , less 20 per cent $810 00
June 1st, 1908.
Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
.Approved:
Chief Engineer.
This i\s 1o fiitifii that Brady and Suavely. Contrattoi-s. of Ilarrishurg. Penn-
sylvania, have delivenvi upon the grounds of the Pennsylvania State South .Moun-
tain Sanatorium the following material, and that I have examined the hills and
receipts for this material and have found that they have been duly receipted and
paid.
1164
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
Coffin Valve Co., valves, standards, connections, etc $709 SO
M. J. Diiimmond & Co. , wall castings, etc. , 354 81
General Fire Proofing Co., expanded metal, 67 75
W. O. Hickok Mfg. Co., manhole castings, steps, etc., 123 52
$1,255 88
Deduct 50 per cent. 627 94
Total, less 50 per cent., $627 94
Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
Approved :
Chief Engineer.
There is a clause in the contract which provides that whenever, in
the opinion of the Engineer, it shall become necessary to use mate-
rials, or to perform work, which is neither contemplated in the plans
of the work, nor implied in the specifications, the contractor agrees to
furnish such materials and labor at a price based upon the cost plus
15 per cent, profit to the contractor. Under this clause, 50 feet of
extra ten inch sewer pipe was laid at the chemical dosing house; the
walls of the mixing tank in the bottom of the dosing house were plas-
tered with cement mortar; a concrete inlet box with a measuring weir
was constructed for measuring the inflow into the dosing house,
These extras were necessary in order to handle the eflfiuent from the
disposal plant efficiently at the dosing house. The contractor fur-
nished the bills and receipts for the material used in this work and
the inspector kept a check on the amount of material used and the
labor. A detail of the cost of this extra work follows:
EXTRA WORK ON SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANT.
Sewer from Outlet of Dosing Tank.
44 ft. of 10 in. pipe, at 33 cents per foot, $14 52
1 ten in. wye 85
i bbl. I'orlland cement, at $2.05 per bbl., 1 03
Labor, (J!) hours, at 15 cents per hour, 14 85
Oakum for caulking pipe, 45
T.ital, $31 70
Plastering Cellar Wall.
1 bbl. of cement, 2 05
Labor, 22 hours, at 15 cents per hour, 3 30
Total $5 35
Inlet Hox and Wfir for Dosing Tank.
(i ft. of 10 in. jiipf at 33 cents per foot, 1 98
H barrels of I'ortland cement, at $2.05, 3 08
i cu. yd. of sand , at $13.50 1 75
1 cu. yd. of broken stone , at .$2.50 2 50
10 board feet tongue and groove forms, at 4 cents, 64
(iahanized iron weir and slot, at $3.00 3 00
Labor, 27 hours, at 15 cents, 4 05
Carpenters, 12 hours, at 22J cents 2 70
Total, $19 70
Total for three items 56 75
Contractor's profit, 8 51
Total $05 26
Tlie colli HK^tor agreed in another article in the contract to begin
work upon Ihis disposal j)]ant within ten days after the signing of
the contra<l and to coinjilete all the concrete work (m or before
Iwenly-four working days thereafter and all the rest of the work on
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1165
or before tliirty-six working days thereafter. In case the weather
conditions should be unfavorable for the proper execution of the
work and the hiving of concrete, the engineer was given power to
ord'^.r the discontinuance of work during these jicriods and the total
number «jf da^s in which the contractor agreed to complete the work
was to be extended a proportionate amount. The Commissioner of
the De])artment of Health Avas euipowered to grant to (he contractor
extensions of time for causes or events beyond the control of the con-
tractor tending to dela^" the work, upon written notice of the exist-
ence of such causes. The contractor agreed to pay the cost to the De-
partment of Health of the salaries of the insi)ectors made necessary
b}' an extensiou of tiiue for these causes.
Subject to these allowances the contractor agreed to deduct $15.(10
per day Irom ihe contract price foi* this work for each day after the
expiration of ilie twenty-four working days allowed for the concrete
work and au additional -flS.OO a day for each day beyond the thirty-
six (lays allowed for the completion of the whole work.
The initial date for the beginning of the work, according to this
contract, was November 11th, 3907, and the concrete work should have
been couipleted on December 7th, 1907, and the total work should
have been finished on December 21st, 1907. During this period, how-
ever, there were many days when it was either impossible or inadvis-
able to perform any construction work on account of the severity of
the weatiiei'. A careful record of these days was kept by the engineer-
ing departnieut and the time for the completion of the concrete work
was extended to December 2:3d, 1907. A similar extension was also
made for (he completicm of the total work to January 17th, 1908.
Deductions were nmde in the monthly estimates of $15.00 per day for
all working days after the dates above given.
On January 7(h, 1908, the contractors, Messrs. Brady and Suavely,
submitted the following stateuient, giving at length the causes which
they consider prevented them from completing the contract according
to the time provisions:
"Jan. 7th, '08.
"Mr. Thos. Fleming, Jr.,
"Assistant Engineer, Department of Healtli,
"Harrisburg, Pa.
"Dear Sir: Under Articlo II, uf the noiitrart ontered into between the De-
partment of Health nnd ourselves, dated October 31st, 1907, for the eonstnic-
tion of a Sewaj;!' Disposal I'laut near Mont Alto, we commeueed worii on Xuvember
11th, and ask for au extension of time for the following reasons:
"(a) — The specifications required ri , jj and i inch twisted rods. We were un-
able to get delivery on these sizes within thirty days, but the Roger-Shear Co.,
of Warren, i)romised this order by November 1-lth, substituting 5-lU, for i inch
rods. This substitution being approved by you, we willingly paid the extra price,
and placed the order November 7th. Rods were shipped as promised, but did not
reach ]Mont Alto until November 28th. We traced the car, and you kindly
assisted to have it hurried forward. As rods must be placed in the footings, no
concrete could be laid until their delivery.
"(b) — On November Sth we received detailed blue-prints of wall castings, etc.
On November 12th, we placed the order with M. J. Druramond & Co., of New
York, delivery to be made within three weeks. We have telegraphed, tele-
phoned and wrote them since that time, and we are in receipt of li.-I.. that same
were shipped from Lynchburg, Va. , on December 21st. We are tracing tliis ship-
ment, but car had not reached >Iont Alto tn-day. Castings were paitl for on
December 21st.
"(c)— The (^>ffin Valve or equal was specified. This was the only c<impany
that could give prompt delivery, and we placed the order with them on November
16th. The valves, etc., have just reached destination, and are now on the
ground.
74
1166 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
"(d) — On November 5tli order for expanded metal was placed with the General
Fireprooting Company of Philadelphia, with promise of immediate shipment from
Toungstown , O. This was received December 14th.
•'(el — -It took fourteen days for car of logging to come from the Ensminger Lumber
Co., of Harrisburg, to Mt. Alto.
"(f) — On November l.~>th contract was made with II. L. Spence (at which, we
think. Mr. (Gardner was present) to liaul sand from Sandy Itidge to our work.
He had been over the ground and fully understood the conditions, and promised
three four hoi^se teams as long as we desired them. We sent men to open the
bank, and after more than ten days' delay, he commenced hauling, giving the
sewer people one load and us the other. After hauling eight loads, without any
notice to us, he stopped. We tried lo hold him to his contract, but when he
had hauled three loads he (luit. We had sand hauled to Mt. Alto by train, and
even here was delay repairing switches. We now have sufficient sand.
■■(g' — On November 11th we made c-t)ntract with J. C. Wishard to furnish en-
gine and crusher to crush stone, he to be on the ground on the 13th inst. He
arrived at the foot of the hill more than one week late, and after parly ing for
several days reached the top. He declined to go in, and as our rods had not been
received, we consented to allow him to crush stone for the parties laying the
sewer. When we finally compelled him to make an attempt to reach our work,
the sewer ditch had been excavated in the road in front of the Sanatorium. This
caused another delay of some days. The crusher is now on the ground, and suf-
ficient stone crushed for all present purposes.
"We agree as to the davs which were unfit for work, as follows: November
liO, 121, i'2, 23 and 2.".th ; December 2, 3, 4, .5, 9, lU, 14, 23 and 30th. We
also claim November 18th, and it was certainly our understanding with Mr.
Ennis that we would be allowed for December 24th and 26 to enable everybody
to go home for Christmas.
"This would make 17 days
"Legal Holidays 2
"Sunday.s ^ 7
Total , 20
or more than half the number of days to December 31st, that we were unable
to work. This does not show the true state of affairs, as after these rains and
snows it was some time before we could work with any satisfaction, which caused
more expense and delay to us.
"For tliese reasons and for many others wliich we could enumerate, we re-
spectfully reiiuest an extension of time in which to complete this work. All
matt rial is mi the ground excei)t the castings, anfl our advice is that they were
shipijed from Lynchburg, Va. , December 2ist. We have honestly tried to push
this w(jrk as rapidly as possible, and while we have been put to additional ex-
Iiense on account of these unavoidable delays and bad weather conditions (in-
cluding pay of our monthly men when no work could b(^ done) we wish to assure
you that if the extension asked for is granted, we will use our utmost en-
deavors to complete this work with the utmost dispatch.
"V^ery respectfully,
(Signed) "Brady & Snavely."
The stateniMits given in this letter were substantially correct. The
castinjj:s for the walls of (he sejitic tanks arrived at the disposal plant
on January K»th and as all the other material itemized in (his letter
was on hand at that tin)e (his (ime represen(s (he ^■reates( aniounl of
d(*lay du(! to non-ai-riva! of ma((M-ial. I( was intpossible for (he oon-
(ra((ors (o consd-iuM (he concrcMe walls of (he sep(ic (;inks unlil
these casdn^s arrived.
iMirinj^ I'^'hi-uary and (he <^rea(ei* part of Mai-ch i( was impossible
for the conlracMoi's to do any work on (he disposal plani owing to the
severity of (he weather. Work was [jraclically shut down during this
period and i( was not until .March 154 (h (hat (he con(ra<'(ors were able
(o open up (he work (o any advan(age. The work was sleadily ]nished
fr(»ui .March HHh and (he |)lan( was rea<ly foi- use on .lune !)(h.
Front .January ITtli, (he <la(e on which (he woi-king days expired,
((» dune *.)(h, (he da(e on which (In; work was co)ii|)le(e(l, (Ik- l)e[)art-
ii)en( e.\j»ended .fl "»:',.()() for inspecdon woi-k. This r<'j)reseu(s (he
a<'(ual <-ost of inspecdon (o (he l)(;par(m(.'n( dui-ing diis p(M-iod and is
no( (he (o(al salary paid (o (he insj)ec(or, as he was employed also on
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1167
other work duriuu,- this period. The actual iiuinher of days spent by
the inspector on tlie disposal plant, as taken from the diary, are:
January. eii;hl and one-half days; February, one day; March, six
and one-half days; April, eighteen days; .May, thirteen days; June,
four days; a total of tifty-one days.
The following; is the tinal estimate for this work:
DEPAKTMKNT OF IIKA LTli.— Eingineerino I)ivisi(.n.
CONTRACT NO. 1.'. ITNAI. i:STI.MATi:. F< )U WORK COMI'IJOTED ON
SH\VA<;E DISl'OSAh I'l.ANT AT THE I'ENNSVLVANI.V STATE SOUTH
MOINTAIN SANATORHM. AT .MONT AETO. FRANKLIN COUNTY,
I'ENNSYLV.V.MA.FRO.M NO\EMBER 1ST, lltOT, TO .JUIA' 1ST, T.XIN. AC-
COUNT OF CONTRACT WITH HRAUV & SNAVELV, HATED OCTOBER
31ST, ISM 17.
For constructing the sewage disposal plant and furnishing all luate-
i-ials, including the following items:
Two se]»tic tanks of reinforced concrete, each 4 feet by :!() feet l»y 10
feet ; two s[)rinkling filters of reinforced concrete, eacii 14 feet by M)
feet by 7 feet ; one .")()() gallon dosing tank of i*einforce<l concrete; one
chemical dosing tank; masonry supei-structure for dosing tank; ex-
cavation for future sand filter; clearing and grubbing three acres of
land; pipe connections, valves and api)urtenances necessary for com-
pleting the i)binT ; for the lump sum of ^0,595.00
SfWiM- Outlet finin Dusiiis Tank.
44 ft. of 10 iu. terra cotta pipe, including hauling, at 33 cents. .. .$14 52
1 ten inch terra t-otta wye 8.1
i \M. I'ortliuid cenieiit, at S(.2.()~> 1 03
'.lit liours labor, at IH c-ents, 14 S.".
Oakum for eaulkiu;;-, , 4.")
Total .$31 70
I'lasteriuii Cell;ir Wall.
1 1)1)1. I'ortland cement, at .$2.0."), 2 05
22 hours ial)or, at IH cents, 3 30
'total $5 35
Inlet liox and Weir for Dosing Tank.
(i ft. of lo in. terra cotta pipe, including hauling, at 33 cents, .. 1 98
1 h bbls. I'ortland cement, at .$2.05 3 08
\ cu. yd. sand , a t .$3..")( I , 1 75
1 cu. ytl. broken stone, at $2..")0 2 50
1(> board feet t. and g. plank, at 4 <'ents, (i4
Oalviinized iron weir and slot 3 (K)
L'7 lioui-s labor, at 15 cents 4 05
12 hours carpenter, at 22^ cents 2 70
Total .$1!) 70
Total for extra work ,$5ti 75
15 per eent. profit to contractor 8 51
T'otal for extra work, including 15 per eent. prolit .$(m 2(>
Total .$U,(3G0 20
Part I'ayments:
Monthly .'stimate No. 1 .$380 50
Xfoiithly estimal." No. •_' 051 8(»
Monthly estimate .No. :!, 75tO 40
1168 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
Monthly estimate No. 4, 1,098 80
^^ontblv estimate No. 5 810 35
Materfal , 627 94
4,671 65
Total, less previous payments, $1,988 61
Deduct cost of engineering from January 17th, 1908, to June 9th,
190S, actual number of days of inspection, 51, at $3,00 153 00
Final payment $1,835 61
This estimate includes the cost of the engineering incurred by the
Department for the extra time spent upon this work, but does not in-
clude the liquidated damages of |15.00 per day.
At the final inspection of the sewage disposal plant, as completed
under the Brady and Suavely contract, the work presented a pleasing
appearance and everything about it was considered a first-class job.
A certificate for the final payment to the contractors of the sum of
$1,835.61 was issued and accepted.
SEWAGE SAND FILTEES.
The construction of the disposal plant for the Sanatorium was
begun in November, 1907. The plant was to consist of settling tanks,
sprinkling filters, sand filters and apparatus for treating the effluent
with hypocbloride of lime. The plant was to have a capacity for the
sewage from oOO i>eople, based on a per capita flow of GU gallons, and
was to be constructed as set forth in the Annual Report of the Com-
missioner of Health for the years 1906 and 1907.
On account of the difficulty of constructing this work during the
winter season, it was decided to build the settling tanks, sprinkling
filters and cliemical apparatus at that time and to postpone the con-
struction of the sand filters until the summer of 1908. These other
structures were completed on June 9th, 1908, and steps were immedi-
ately taken to obtain bids on the construction of the sand filters.
On July 14th, 1908, the Commissioner of Health received proposals
for constructing two sand filters consisting of excavation, embank-
ment, concrete work and |)ipe connectic^ns to the other units, but not
including the sand tilling which was let under a separate contract. A
schedule of the bids H'.ci'lvod is given in th(! following table. All bids
were rejected as they wei-e too high and the work was re-advertised.
On July '{Ist, a second set of bids was i-eccived foi- this woi-k. These
are also given in the following table. The bids wen; based u])on unit
prices for the various items and it was stated that bids would be com-
pared on the basis of the aggregate cost of the work bascul upon these
I>rices and the engineer's (!slimat(; of the amount of work to be done.
It was also staled Ihal th<' i-ighl to reject any or all bids was reserved.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1169
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74—17—1908
1170 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
George AV. ^liller, of Baltimore, Maryland, fsubinittecl a bid on the
large items in the contract, but failed to properly fill out his proposal
blank for tlie small items, such as steel reinforcement and valves. His
prices on the large items were lower than those received from any
other bidder, and the total cost of the work based npim these prices
Avas within a reasonable limit, in the opinion of the engineer. The
contract was. therefore, awarded to him and the Department of
Health agreed to furnish the items not bid upon by him, with the
understanding that he was to place them in final position in the
structures free of cost. The contract was signed on August 14th,
1908, and work was immediately begun on the excavation.
Description of Filters.
The sand filters consist of two units, each 40 feet by 100 feet by 3
feet eflective depth, interior dimensions, with a dosing tank of rein-
forced concrete having a capacity of 5,000 galhms, and a sludge bed
60 feet by 20 feet by 2 feet effective depth. The filters are located
immediately east of the sprinkling filters <m the slope of the hill
beloAv them, and the dosing tank is located at the end of the partition
wall se])arating these filters nearest the sprinkling filter group. The
sludge bed is located on the slope of the hill above the sand filters and
is arranged so that it Avill drain the sludge from the se})tic tanks by
gi-avity and that its own drainage will gravitate on to the surface of
the sand filters.
The sand filters are built of concrete and are located on the side of
a hill partly in excavation and partly in embankment. The walls are
of a gravity type and are built of concrete !) inches wide at the top
and 1.5 inches wide at the bottom with an additional '.\ inch off-set (m
each side at the base. Outside of the exterior walls there is an earth
fill '."> feet wide on foj) and 0 inches below tJie to]) of the wall. This
fill is given a one and a lialf to one slojje on the outside, and whei*e
there is a cut a (me to one slope is used. The top of the wall is
capped with a fi inch concrete c<>ping and the wall is ])rovided with
exjtansion joints to provide against ii-regular cracking.
Tlie bottom <tf the tiller is covered with a (> inch concrete (looi- laid
in blocks fO ft^'l s(inare. The joints between these blocks ai-e tilled
with asphalt urn au<] ser>'e as ex])ansion joints. Through the length
of each filter thei-e is a 10 inch di-ain foi-iiied by a semi-circulai- con-
crete invei-t covered with a 10 inch liaU' tile. The flooi* of Ihe filter
slopes to III is drain from both sides with a drojt of (» inches from
either side lo the centre. On each side of the main di-ain thei-e is a
system of 0 inch lat<M-als sj)aced 10 feet centi-e to centi-e and extending
from the ccnhal drain to the side walls of Ihe filter. These di-ains
arc IVniMcd by laying (I inch half-tile on tlu' bottom of the tiller in a
cciiK'nl uronl and covering Ihe joints with a strip of muslin and with
graded broken stone, 'flw main drains from these two filters coniu'cl
with a 10 inch sewer extending along the outer wall of both filters at
the lower <*nd of the chemical dosing appai-atus. IMiis sewer was also
consti'ucted under this contract.
The dosing tank loi- thes<' filters is located, as i)revionsly stated,
at the up|)ei- end of Ihe |)ai'tition wall Ix^fween the two units. This
lank is 10 feel by 17 feet by .5 feet deep, interior dimensions, and
has a capacity of 5,000 gallons, which will give a dose every Ij 1-3
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1171
hours with a sewage flow of 3(»,000 gallons j)er day. It is built of rein-
forced concrefc with the Malls S inches thick and is covered with a re-
inforced concrete roof 4 inches in lliickness. The tloor is one foot in
elevation above the surface of the sand filters.
Sewage is dosed upon the filters from this lank througli two (I inch
aerlock syphons made by Merritt and Company, of PhiUulelphia, and
arranged so as to dose alternately or in sequence with additional
syphons, 'riiese syphons are installed in small concrete com]>art-
meiits located in the corners of the tank and two additional compart-
Mieiils have been constructed for the syphons which it is planned to
install ill the fulure when additional hlters are built. The sewage is
distributed over the surface of tlie filter ))y means of a system of
wooden troughs constructed of cypress lumber and laid upon the sur-
face of the filtei-. The main trough, which is 12 inches wide and (5
inches deej), extends to the centie of the filter and in turn feeds three
lateral troughs (> inches in width. The sewage is distributed over the
sui-face of the filters from these troughs through one-half inch holes
sjiaced ll* inches centre to centre along the sides of all troughs.
The sludge bed is constructed in excavation on the side of the hill
iiiimediaiely a1)ove the sand filters and no concrete lining is used. As
previously stated, it is 20 feet by bO feet in plan with an effective
depth of two feet. The sludge is distributed over the surface througli
a trough extending diagonally across the top and similar in construc-
tion to the troughs used in the sand filters. It is drained by three 6
inch terra cotla drains extending across the bottom to a small con-
crete manhole on the lower side. These drains are laid with ojten
joints and the joints are protected in a manner similar to that u.sed
in the sand filters. From the collecting manhole at the end of the.se
drains there is a <> inch terra cotta drain pi])e extending to the surface
of the adjacent sand filter unit and draining into the end of the
trough on the filter.
Ample provision is made for future extensions to the filter units as
was done in the case of the other units for this disposal i)lant. It is
the inteuti(»n to construct two sand filters of the same size as the
existiuii- filters and to locate one on each side of the existing group.
These two liltei-s can be fed by the existing dosing tank and. as \n-e-
viously stated, ])rovision has been made for installing two additional
sy))hons in this tank for these filters. Additional extensions can be
developed in another group of units of a larger size if desired and
located immediately north of these filters between them and the chem-
ical dosing plant.
lOxecution of Contract.
Among the articles stipulated in the contract it is jn-ovided iliat the
contractor is to begin the coustnu-tion of the woi-k contemplated
within ten days after signing the contract and to comjtlete all of the
work on or before thirty working days thereafter, no allowance to be
made for inclement weather. It is also provided that an extension of
time can be made by the Commissioner of Health uj)on written notice
of the existence of causes or events beyond the control of the con-
tractor tending to delay the work, but that in case such extension is
gi-auted the contractor is to ])ay the cost of the engineering inspectiim
made necessary by such extension. Subject to these provisions a de-
duction of f 15. 00 per day is to be made from the jiiiKuini of money due
1172 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
to the contractor for each day or fraction thereof in which the work is
not completed after the expiration of the time specified. As the con-
tract was signed on August 14th, work should have begun on or before
August 24th. and should have been completed on or before September
2Sth. The work was not completed, however, until December 19th,
although sewage was turned onto the surface of one of the filters
during the first part of November.
The contractor was delayed in obtaining his material mainly
tlirough carelessness in placing his orders and through ignorance in
handling supplies of this character. The main delay, however, was
due to the lack of money on the part of the contractor with which to
finance the work and frequently there were only a few men employed
on the work. Several times during the progress of the work the men
struck on account of nonpayment of back wages.
From September 29th to November 13th, inclusive, an inspector de-
voted half of his time to the construction of the filter plant, which
amounts to twenty-three full days. After November 13th an inspector
was employed intermittently on this work as the contractor was en-
gaged on other work at the sanatorium and withdrew his force for a
part of the time. During this time there was a total of fourteen days
of inspection, so that the total number of days of inspection amounted
to thirty-seven days. The inspector's salary is |2.50 a day and the
cost of board and living expenses f^l.OO a day, so that the total cost
of the inspection incurred by the State due to the neglect of the con-
tractor to complete his work on time amounted to thirty-seven days at
?3.50 a day, equal to |129.50.
Another article in the contract provides that the contractor shall
be paid 80 per cent, of the monthly estimate of the work done each
month on or before the 15th day of the month next succeeding. The
contractor was also required to furnish a bond upon signing the con-
tract equal to 50 per cent, of the aggregate amount based upon the
work to be done and the prices bid. The contractor failed to furnish
this bond, so that it was necessary for the Department to hold back
more than 20 per cent, of the cost of the work done and the monthly
estimates were, therefore, made much lower than they would have
been otherwise. An accurate account was kept of the labor expended
by the contractor and the monthly estimates were made up on this
basis, as follows:
Monthly estimate No. 1 , Septembor .3rd , 1908, $480 00
Monthly estimate No. 2, October 8lh , 1908, .598 20
Monthly estimate No. 3, November 9th , 1908, 1,006 80
Total $1,450 95
These eslimnies are given in detail as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.— Engineering Division.
CONTRACT NO. .5. MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. L FOR WORK COM-
IT.ETED ON SAND FILTERS AT THE I'ENNSYf.VANlA STATE SOUTH
MOUNTAIN SANATORIUM FOR TUI'.ERCULOSIS, NEAR MONT ALTO,
I'MtANKLIN rrxjX'l^v. I'ENNSVUVANFA, FItOM AlKiUST 14, TO SEP-
TEMI'.ER 1ST, 1908. ACCOUNT OF CONTRACT WITH GEORGE W.
MILUER, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. DATED AUGUST 14TH, 1908.
(1> Excavation per cubic yard, at 7.T centH, 800 cu. yds., completed, $G00 00
Total , $600 00
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1173
Deduct 20 per cent. , 120 00
Total, less 20 per cent. $480 00
September 3rd, 190S.
Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
Approved:
Chief Engineer.
DEPARTMENT OP HEALTH .—Engineering Division.
CONTRACT NO. 5. MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 2. FOR WORK COM-
PLETED ON SAND FILTERS AT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE SOUTH
MOUNTAIN SANATORIUM FOR TUBERCULOSIS, NEAR MONT ALTO.
FRANKI>1N COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST, TO
SEPTEMBER 30TI1, 1908, INCLUSIVE. ACCOUNT CONTRACT WITH
GEORGE W. MILLER, BALTIMORE, MD., AUGUST 14TH, 1908.
(4) Concrete Class B, 85 cu. yds., completed, at $7.50 $637 50
(6) 10 in. terra cotta sewer, 315 ft., completed, at 35 cents, 110 25
Total $747 75
Deduct 20 per cent. , 149 55
Total , less 20 per cent. , $598 20
October Sth , 1908.
Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
Approved :
Chief Engineer.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.— Egineering Division.
CONTRACT NO. 5, MONTHLY ESTIMATE NO. 3. FOR WORK COM-
PLETED ON SAND FILTERS AT THE DISPOSAL PLANT OF THE PENN-
SYLVANIA STATE SOUTH MOUNTAIN SANATORIUM FOR TUBERCU-
LOSIS, NEAR MONT ALTO, FRANKLIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA,
FROM OCTOBER 1ST, TO NOVExMBER 1ST, 1908. ACCOUNT OF CON-
TRACT WITH GEORGE W. MILLER, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. DATED
AUGUST 14TH, 1908.
(1) 50 cu. yds. of excavation, at 75 cents,
(2) 100 cu. yds. of embankment, at 50 cents,
(3) 15 cu. yds. of concrete (Class A) , at $8.00
(4) 100 cu. yds. of concrete (Class B), at $7.50
(5) 00 ft. 10 in. terra cotta sewer, at 30 cents,
(7) 400 ft. 6 in. terra cotta drain pipe, at 30 cents
(8) 200 ft. 10 in. terra cotta half tile, at 20 cents,
(9) GOO ft. G in. terra cotta half tile, at 20 cents,
Total,
Deduct 20 per cent.,
$37 50
50
00
120
00
750
00
21
(M)
120
00
40 00
120 00
$1,258
50
251
70
Total , less 20 ner cent $1 ,006 80
November 9th, 1908.
Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
Approved :
Chief Engineer.
It was also provided in the contract that the contractor shall fur-
nish satisfactory evidence when called for that all persons that have
done work or furnished materials have been fully paid and otherwise
the Couunonwealth shall have the right 1o ])ay for such claims out of
any money that may he due or become due to the contractor. In
accordance witli tliis article the cimtractor was recpiested to show his
receipts. He stated that he had been unable to settle a portion of the
labor claiuis against him and also the bills for material. He re-
1174 Third annual report op^ the Off. doc.
quested that, as provided for under the contract, the Department of
Health should ]tay for this and deduct the same from his final pay-
ment. These bills are as follows:
S. II. Saylor, cai'ijenter, 15S hours, at '2o ceuts, $39 50
(Tec. ^^'. kauffman, tarpentor, UU^ hours, at 20 cents, 12 10
l). E. Bailey, carpenter, 57 hours, at '20 ceuts, 11 40
Simon Kepner, carpenter, 79 houi"s, at 20 cents, 15 80
i)an Carbausrh, foreman, ."533!; houi-s, at 20 ceuts, 106 75
The Barber Asphalt I'aving Co., Harrisburg, Pa., for 2 barrels
asphalt cement 23 00
Lesley iV; Trinkle Co., Philadelphia, Pa., for 2 carloads Portland
cemeut, . . ; 480 00
Henry A. Good , Quincy , Pa. , for lumber, 89 79
Hiteschew & Co., Chambersburg, Pa., for terra cotta pipe and
specials , 197 75
Labor furnished and paid for by the Department of Health to com-
plete the work. 124 hours, at 14 cents, 17 36
Total for labor and materials, $993 45
The last item given in this list, which consists of labor furnished by
the Department of Health to the amount of 124 hours at 14 cents an
hour, making a total of $17.:^G, was necessary to complete the con-
tract. The foreign labor which the contractor had used on this work
left before the contract was completed and (m account of the financial
standing of the contractor it was impossible for him to obtain any
labor in the vicinity. The Department, therefore, placed a small force
of laborers u[»on the work and completed it.
The following is the final estimate for the work done after deduct-
ing the cost of labor and materials as given above and the cost of the
engineering inspection from September 2Sth to December 19th :
DEPAKTMENT of health.— Engineering Division.
CONTRACT NO. 5, FINAL ESTIMATE. FOR WORK COMPLETED ON SAND
FILTERS AT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE SOUTH MOUNTAIN SANA-
TORIUM FOR TUBERCULOSIS, NEAR MONT ALTO, FRANKLIN
COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, FROM AUGUST 14TH TO DECEMBER
19TH, 19(JS. ACCOUNT OF CONTRACT WITH (JEORGE W. MILLER,
BALTIMORE, .MARYLAND. DATED AU(iUST 14TH, 1908.
(1) 11()7.2 cu. yds. e.xcavation , at 75 cents, $875 40
(2) 202.3 cu. vards. embankment, at 50 cents 101 15
(3)30.31 cu. yds. concrete, (Class A), at .$8.00, 242 48
(4) 2.'',<;.71 cu. yds. concrete, (Class B,) at $7..'')0, 1 ,775 32
(6) tjpj ft. of 10 in. terra cotta sewer, at 35 cents 215 GO
(1) 4C„S ft. of ♦) in. terra cotta drain pipe, at 30 cents, 140 40
(8l 198 ft. of 10 in, half tile, at 20 cents, 39 60
(9) 730 ft. of (> in. half tile, at 20 cents, 146 00
Total , $3 535 95
Partial payments:
Monthly estimate No. 1 , September 3, 1908 $480 00
•Monthly estimate .\o. 2, October 8, 1908 598 20
Monthly estimate No. 3, November 9, 1908, 1,00(> 80
2,085 00
Total , less i)artial payments, $1,450 95
Payments made by the Depai-lmcul of lleaKh lor laboi- and mate-
rial furnislM'd on this work and not jiaid for by the contractor. These
jijiymcnls were iriadc as |)T'ovi(I('d for niMler Article XII of llu*
coiiti"ict.
S. R. Saylor, cioi>ent<'r, ].")8 hours, at 25 cents, $39 50
CJeo. W. Kauffman, carijenter, OOA hours, at 20 cents 12 10
D. E. Bailey, carpenter, 57 hours, at 20 cents, 11 40
Simon Kepner, carpi'iiler, 79 hourn, at 20 cents, 15 80
No. 17. COMMlSSIO>fER OF HEALTH. 1175
Dan Caibau},'h, foreinau, iJU'S'i hours, at 20 cents,
The Barber Asphalt I'aviuf; Co., llarrisburg, Pa., for 3 barrels
asphalt cement
Lesley & Trinkle Co., I'hiladelphia , I'a.. fur 12 carloads Portland
cement
Henry A. Good, Quincy, Pa., for lumber,
Hiteschew & Co., Cliambersbur!^, Pa., for terra cotta pipe and
speeia Is
Labor furnished and paid for by the Department of Health t(j com-
plete the work, ll.'4 liuui-s, at 14 cents
Total for labor ;uid materials paid fur by the Department of
Health
106
75
23
00
480 00
89 79
197
75
17
3<i
993
45
$457
50
129
50
Total due contractor, less all payments
Deduct cost of engineering from September 2Sth to December 19th,
actual number days of inspection, 37, at $3. .50 per day
Final payment , $328 00
Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
Approved :
Chief Engineer.
TIic sand filters and appnitenanees were completed in accordance
with tlie jtlans and speciticatiuns and a first-class piece of work was
obtained. The contractor accepted in fnll settlement the amount
shown due in the final estimate.
SAND CONTRACT.
A contract known in the Department as "Contract No. 6" with
H. L. Spence, dated August 14th, 1!)08, for sand and for filters at the
sewaj^e «lisposal plant, was completed and the amount due under the
contract of .f!l,lS4.17 was paid. The circumstames in connection with
this contract were as follows:
The sand filters required 1,050 cubic yards of sand. It was deter-
mined that the sand should be free from soluble uiateT'ial and sutti-
ciently c(»arse to prevent a cb>,tii;ing of the filter. During the early
j)art of .hine of the current year sanijjles were collected of all the
sands availai>le in the vicinity of this disposal i»lant and analyses
weie made by Prof. Charles 11. LaWall, consuliinu- chemist. Phila-
delphia, l*a. IM-ofessor La Wall's report on these samples showed that
the best sand available for this purpose was that located cm Sandy
liidge, four miles distant from the Sanatorium and many feet abt»ve
it in elevation. The supply of sand at this place appeared to be in-
exhaustible and as the ])it was located on State land under the C(m-
trol of the Forestry Department, the cost of it would amount to the
cost of hauling and excavating.
Three samjiles of this sand w(m«' submitted to rrctfessor La\\'all.
They were designated as Nos. i:'., 14 and 1.") and were taken from dif-
ferent spots where the ground had been oi)ened up. Sample No. 13
showed a trace of soluble matter; insoluble silicates, slight; carbon-
ates, none; efi'ective size, 0..*i(» ; uniformitv coetticient. ]..'{;!.
1176 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Sample No. 14 showed a trace of soluble matter; insoluble silicates,
slight ; carbonates, none ; effective size, 0.21 ; uniformity coefficient,
0.22. Sample No. 15 showed a trace of soluble matter ; insoluble sili-
cates, very slight; carbonates, none; effective size, 0.20; uniformity
coefficient, 2.2.
Professor LaWall, in summing up his report, stated that No. 13,
which has an effective size of 0.36, slightly above the limit usually
used, has such a low uniformity coefficient that it would undoubtedly
give excellent results in practical use. None of the samples contain
any carbonates and none contain more than traces of soluble matter.
It was, therefore, decided to use this sand for the filters and, on
July 31st, the Commissioner of Health received proj)osals for excavat-
ing and hauling 1,050 cubic yards of this sand to the disposal plant.
Bids were received on the basis of unit prices according to the terms
of a set of specifications issued by the Department of Health. The
bidders were George B. Jacobs, York, Pa., |3.10 per cubic yard;
George Miller, Baltimore, Maryland, |2.80 per cubic yard; H. L.
Spence, Mont Alto, Pa., $2.35 per cubic yard. The contract was
awarded on August 14th, 1908, to H. L. Spence, the lowest responsible
bidder.
The contract called for the stripping of the surface of the ground at
the sand pit and the screening of all sand excavated by the contractor
under the supervision of an inspector appointed by the engineer.
Measurements of the quantity of sand were to be made in the wagons
at the point of delivery at the disposal plant. These requirements
were carried out and constant supervision was maintained at the
sand pit during the entire period of excavation. A system of blanks
was used for keeping tab on the quantity of sand received at the sand
pit and the contractor was given a receipt for each wagonload upon
delivery.
Another clause in the contract called for the construction work to
begin within five days after the signing of the contract and to be com-
pleted on or before thirteen weeks thereafter. This allowed the con-
tractor until the middle of November to complete the work.
Another clause provided that monthly estimates should be made by
the engineer of the amount of sand hauled during a month and that
the contractor should he paid 80 per cent, of the value of this work
on or before tlie 15tli day of the month succeeding that in which the
estimate was made. In accordance with this clause in the contract, es-
timates weie mad(i on September 3rd, 1908, and on October 2nd, 1908,
for tlie months of August and September, respectively. One hundred
cubic yards of sand w(;i-e excavated, hauled and deposited at the site
of the disposal plant during August at |2.35 })er cubic yard, which
with an 80 per cent, reduction, amounted to |188.00. During Sep-
tember 582 ( nl)ic yards of sand were excavated, hauled and deposited
at the site of llie disposal j>lant a( |2.35 ])er cubic yard, which, less 20
per cent., amounted to .f 1,0!)4.1(>. I'lie total monthly estimates were,
th(?refore, I'oi- li.S2 cubic vai'ds of saixl and the total payment made on
this was, l;], 282.10.
On ()(:U)])(iV lOth, the conli-actor conijileted the dc^Iivery of 1,049.5
cubic yards of sand at the disposal plant. In accordancre with the
contract he Avas entitled to a final jjayment for this work within
thirty days after completion.
The following is a final estimate of the work:
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1177
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.— Engineering Division.
CONTRACT NO. 6, FINAL ESTIMATE. FOR WORK COMPLETED ON
HAULING SAND FOR FILTERS AT THE DISPOSAL PLANT OF THE
PENNSYLVANIA STATE SOUTH MOUNTAIN SANATORIUM FOR TU-
BERCULOSIS. NEAR MONT ALTO, FRANKLIN COUNTY, PENNSYI^
VANIA, FROM AUGUST 14TH TO OCTOBER 16TH, 1908. ACCOUNT
OF CONTRACT WITH H. L. SPENCE, ORRTANNA, PA. DATED AU-
GUST 14TH, 1908.
1049.5 cu. yds. of sand excavation, hauled and deposited at the
site of the disposal plant at $2.35 per cu. yd., $2,466 33
Monthly estimate No. 1, Septembers, 1908 .$188 00
Monthly estimate No. 2, October 2, 1908, 1,094 16
$1,282 16
Total , 1 ,282 16
Final payment $1,184 17
November 6th, 1908.
Assistant Engineer in Charge of Work.
Approved :
Chief Engineer.
AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANT
AT MONT ALTO.
On October 4th, 1907, a general specification was sent to Merritt
and Company, of Philadelphia, and the Pacific Flush Tank Company,
of Chicago, the two leading manufacturers of automatic apparatus
for sewage disposal plants in America, and proposals were requested
for furnishing and equipping the sewage disposal plant at Mont
Alto with automatic apparatus in accordance with the conditions
outlined in these specifications.
The following is a copy of the specifications for automatic devices
to be used in operating the sewage disposal plant at Mont Alto:
Description of the Disposal Plant.
The general layout of this plant is shown on the plan accompanying
this specification. The plant is designed for a present capacity of
18,000 gallons per day. This })lant will consist of septic tanks, sprink-
ling filters and sand filters, located so that the effluent from one will
flow to the dosing tank of the other by gravity. The elevations of the
flow line in all tanks and dosing tanks and also the depths are shown
on the section through the proposed site for the location of this plant.
The effluent from the septic tanks is carried to the dosing chamber
of the sprinkling filters by a six inch cast iron force main, as shown
on the plan.
Apparatus for Sprinkling Filters.
The do."<ing tank for the sj)rinkling filters will be 8 feet deep with a
capacity of 500 gallons. The bottom of this tank will be iU feet above
the top of the sprinkling filter. This will give a head ranging from 2^
to 5| feet upon the nozzle of the sprinkling filter, allowing the extra
1178 THIRD AxXNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
foot for frietional loss. The sprinklmjv filter will be divided into two
units with an ultimate gioiiping of 4 units. Each unit will be 6 feet
deep and 14 by oO feet in plan. Each tilter will be equipped with
eight Colunibns nozzles attached to 3 inch cast iron risers and fed by
a (i inch main pipe leading from the dosing tank. The eitinent will
be carried by a system of nnderdrains to one corner of the tank, all as
shown on the plan of the sprinkling filter accompanj'ing these specifi-
cations.
It is desired t<> ol>tain a device which will automatically discharge
the dosing tank upon each of the two sprinkling filters which will be
built now and also to have this device arranged so that it can dis-
charge aUernately upon each of the four units as proposed in the
ultimate groii]>ing of this division of the plant. It is desired to have
the dose of 5()<> galhms discharge upon one filter within a period of
from o to 10 minutes. The devices must be so designed that a by-pass
can be arranged so that these units can be o]»erated by hand whenever
it is so desired.
These sprinkling filters are designed to act as contact beds in win-
ter tiuje. For this purpose the nnderdrains have been ])lanned to
come together a1 one outlet and to be connected at the inlet chamber
with the main inlet, so that these beds can be operated on the fill and
draw method.
Bids are wanted for the installaticm of an automatic device for op-
erating these beds as contact beds in the following way.
It is desired to cut ott" the flow to the dosing tank by means of a
by-pass and allow it to flow into a sprinkling filter directly through
the drains. When the Alter has been filled to a depth of four feet the
automalic device should cut ofi' the inlet of this filter and ojjcu the
inlet of the adjacent filter. These devices should be so arranged that
the same scheme can be followed when the two future filters are built
in this group. At a depth of tVmr feet, the capacity of one of these
si»rinkling filtei-s will l)e (),()()() gallons, representing a period of eight
houi-s required to fill this tank.
A device will be needed for discharging each of these units. This
device must be so designed as to allow the tank to begin to discharge
after having been filled to a four fool depth.
These filling and discharging devices must be so aj-raiiged that l)y-
passes can be placed in them, so as to allow these beds lo be operated
bv hand when so desired.
Devices for Operating Sand Filters.
The dosing fank Cor Ihe sand filler will be 5 feet deeji with a
cajiacity of .").()()() gallons. The elevation ot Ihe bollom of Ihis dosing
tank is two ^'^^^'\ above the top of Ihe sand liller bed. 'i'liis lank will
be snp|»Iied by gi-avity with a six inch casi iron foice main. TIk;
sand filler beds will be divided inio Iwo units, each 40 by 100 feel in
plan and .'> I'eel dee|). The lolal discharge of Ihis dosing lank is to be
supplied lo each filter in turn at an average rate of one cubic foot
])er second, which will allow eleven minules foi' the total discharge of
fhe lank. The eniuent from Ihe dosing lank will he dislribuled over
fhe surface of Ihe sand filtei- by a sysleni of woofh'U li-oughs of ample
size, as shown on Ihe j)lan of Ihe sand filler.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1179
It is desired to so arraiifie tliis dosiiijf apparatus tliat the discharge
from this tank may he Thrown in the future upon each of two addi-
tional filters, as shown on the plan.
Proposals Required for This Work.
Proposals iiuisl he uiade for the devices necessary for dosing the
two spi'inkliiig liltcrs and the two sand filters which aiv to l)e huilt
now. Any addilional parts to the future ai)paratus which should be
installed in the masonry of the present tanks must also l»e included in
these bids. A separate proposal is wanted for an automatic device
necessary for the oi>eration of the si»rinkling filters as contact beds
as this may not be installed immediately under this contract. Bid-
ders will jdease send in their bids and a sketch showing the arrange-
ments of their ajvparatus within ten days from the date of this
specification. A detailed description of the method of operation is
also desired.
In resjionse to these impiiries the Pacific Flush Tank Company
made a proposition for furnishing alternating sy])hons and Adams
feeds foi- the two sprinkling filters and the two sand filters for a total
price of ^700. Merritt and Company nmde a proposition for furnish-
ing the ai>pai-atus, consisting of two r» inch automatic Aerlock se-
quence sy}>hons for dosing s])rinkling filtei-s, such automatic devices
for opei-ating sprinkling filters as contact beds, and two (I inch
syplions for dosing sand filters for a total of |650, with an agreement
to furnish the ap])aratus for the sprinkling filters immediately for
$4.50 and to furnish the ap])aratus for the sand filters within a period
of one year from date of installation of the sprinkling filter apparatns
for $260. The contract was awarded to Merritt and Comjtany after
a thorough investigation of the apparatus constructed by this com-
pany as their pi-ice was the cheapest and it was found that the appa-
ratus would be satisfactory.
The ajqiaratus for the sjtrinkling filters was installed by Merritt
and Comjtany upon the completion of the filters in the sjiring ot
IflOS and after a thorough test payment was made on August 3rd,
ItlOS.
On August 14tli. 1!M)S, a notice was sent to Merritt and Company
that the a])paratus for the sand filters would be installed as provided
for in the ccmtract and this apparatus was installed during the fall
of 1908.
GARBAGE INCINERATOR.
On June .')Oth. 1!)0S. the Commissioner of Health received pi-oposals
for furnishing a garl)ag(' dis])osal i>lant f(tr the Mont Alto Sanato-
rium. This was in res])onse to an advertisement apju'aring in the
daily and engineering itai)ers inviting }»rojiosals based upon an orig-
inal design for an economical garbage and refuse disposal i>lant. It
was s]>ecified that the ])lant was to consist of one battery with a ca-
]>acity for the garbage, sludge and combustible refuse for ."iOO people.
It was also specifically stated that the ingenuity of design and econ-
1180
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
omy in operation would be given consideration in awarding the con-
tract. The contractor was to guarantee that his apparatus would not
infringe upon the patent rights of any party and the plant was to be
so arranged that additional units could be added from time to time so
that the plant could finally have a capacity large enough for 2,500
people.
In addition to the proposals for one unit, bidders were requested to
state for what sum additional units would be furnished and a bond
was required in the sum of 50 per cent, of the cost of two additional
units to insure the furnishing of these units by the contractor within
one year after the installation of the plant if so desired.
The eificiency of the plant was to be based upon the number of
pounds of coal consumed per ton of garbage and in case the final test
of the plant showed that the efficiency as thus guaranteed by the
contractor was not obtained, the plant would be rejected and the
contractor would be compelled to remove it from the premises without
any compensation.
In accordance with these conditions, proposals were received as
follows :
Cost of in- Cost of
Name. ' itial installa- Additional
tion. Units.
Morse-Boulger Destructor Co., New York, $3,850 00 $3,000 00
Kellar & Price, Lancaster, Pa., 5,900 00 No bid.
Lewis & Kitchen, Chicago, 111 5,400 00 $720 00
Dixon Engineering & Construction Co., To-
ledo, Ohio. 2,200 00 First, 1,700 00
Additional Unit.
Second, $2,100 00
Additional Unit.
Third, $1,700 00
Additional Unit.
As the specifications issued for this work were very general, there
was a wide variation in the j)lans submitted. This was especially the
case with the superstructure for the building and with the type of
stack. The superstructure varied from light galvanized iron covering
to a concrete building. Tn some of the bids brick stacks were pro-
posed and two of the bidders gave an additional price if a brick
stack was furnished. The type of plant submitted was in every case
an incinerating furnace. Each set of plans submitted was accom-
panied by a set of specifications which were found in every case to be
very general.
On account of the general character of these specifications and the
various styles of superstructure proposed, it was decided before
awarding the contract to allow all bidders to submit additional bids
conforming with a detailed set of specifications issued by the De-
partment and definitely setting forth the character of the building
and the quality of material for both building and stack. In accord-
ance with these specifications, which were sent to each bidder on
July loth, 1008, additional proposals were received from the same
grouj) of bidders a.s follows:
Cost of Cost of
Name. initial installa- Additional
tion. Units.
Morse-Boulger Destructor Co.. New York, $4,450 00 $1,950 00
Kellar & Price, Lancaster, Pa 5,225 Gl No bid.
I>ewis (fe Kitchen , Chicago 5,400 00
Dixon i:nt,'infering & <':on8truction Co., .. 3,128 GO
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1181
After 51 tlioi-oiijili .study of the plans and guarantt'es offered l»y the
various bidders, it was decided to award the coutraet under the
original l)id of the Dixon Eii<;ineering and Construction ('onij)anv for
f2,lM)().()(). They agreed to furnish an incinerator under the acconi-
panyinii" specifications attadied to tlieir proposals which would con-
sume not over 2(K) pounds of coal and 10 jtounds of coke i)er ton of
garhajic and to construct tlie plant within seventy days after being
awarded the contract.
The contract was signed on the 15th of August, 1008, and work was?
not begun until the first part of October, as there was a delay in get-
ting the material shipped to the site. Work was completed during
the first week of Noveml)er and on November 0th the testing of the
plant was begun. The plant has been in oj)eration since that date.
The contract piovidcs tJiat payment on this work shall be made within
thirty days after the acceptance of the plant.
Description of Plant.
The plant is located 14 miles north of the built-up section of the
Sanatorium at the side of the sewage disposal plant. It is con-
structed on tlie slope immediately south of tlie sprinkling filters and
is airauged so that a driveway can extend from the road on a good
grade to the entrance to the building. The plant consists of one
Dixon steel shell crematory furnace with a steel stack -and brick
superstructure.
The furnace is 0 feet o inches by 4 feet in plan and 7 feet high. It
rests on a concrete foundation extending to solid bottom and is lo-
cated in one corner of The building Avhich is 20 feet by 8 feet by 8
inches in plan. The furnace is divided into two sections consisting
of the incinerating section where the garbage is burned and the fume
consumer section where the gases escaping from the burning garbage
are thoroughly consumed. The incinerating section occujdes the main
portion of the unit and is located in the front central part. Tt is
built with two grates and an ash pit located below them. The upper
grate is located >i\ feet above the floor of the ash pit and consists of
fire clay grate bar three inches wide, six inches deep and spaced with
o]>enings between them of four inches. On this gate the garbage is
thrown fiom a manhole oi)ening located in the top immediately above
it and serves as a drying grate. The lower grate is located half way
between the garbage gi-ate and the Moor of the ash pit. It is formed
witli cast iron bai-s and on it is jdaced the coal for operating the
furnace. As the garbage dries on the upper grate it drops on to this
lower grate and furnishes additional fuel for the incineration. A
large stoking door is provided in front of the furnace opposite the
gaibage grate and a fire and ash door are provided for the fire grate
and ash ])it.
Iinmedialely biick of tlu'se gi'ates and separated therefi-om by a fire
wall is the fumc^ consumer. This consists of an auxiliary gi-ate one
foot by two feet six inches upon which an auxiliary fire formed with
coke or coal is l)urned. The wall between this grate and the stack
which rises immediately back of it is formed of fire brick laid with
alternate brick si)aces, o]>en, and the fire in this auxiliary grate heats
this perforated lu'ick wall so that tlie gases as they pass through are
completelv consumed. The admission doors to this auxiliarv grate
75'
1182 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
and the ash pit below it are located on the side of the furnace and
there is also provided on this side of the furnace a clean-out door
which leads to the base of the stack.
The walls of the furnace are lined with an interior lining of 44
inches of tire clav brick and the exterior of 44 inches of common brick.
The arch from the furnace and the base of the stack are constructed
with an entire thickness of U inches of firebrick. The exposed por-
tions of the interior are formed with fire brick. The entire furnace
is enclosed in a steel shell of one-quarter inch steel plate riveted to-
gether and reinforced with steel angles and Tees.
A steel stack is constructed on the back of the furnace imme-
diately above the fume cousumer section. This stack is a circular
steel structure 15 inches in diameter, interior dimensions, and rising
to a height 43 feet 0 inches above the top of the furnace. At a point
15 feet below the top it is provided with an adjustable guy band and
to this are attached four guys of three-eighth inch galvanized wire
cable securely anchored with wrought iron guy anchors. The slack
is lined on the interior for a distance of IS) feet above the base with a
4^ inch fire clay radial brick lining. A clean-out door, register, baffle,
side and top liners are furnished near the bottom of the stack.
The superstructure, as previously stated, is constructed of brick
and is 20 feet by 8 feet 8 inches interior dimensions in plan. There
is a clearance room from fioor to ceiling of 12 feet and the roof is
covered with galvanized corrugated iron with a rise of IS inches to
the center and surmounted with a galvanized iron ridge roll extend-
ing the full length of the building. The foundations for the building
consist of concrete footing 18 inches wide by one foot deep and located
below frost line. These Avails are constructed of brick 13 inches thick
until the surface of the ground is reached where the fall is offset to a
9 inch thickness. The walls are built of common red brick and the
building is lighted and ventilated by means of windows located in the
sides and in the end o})posite to the entrance. The entrance door is
located at the end of the building facing the east and the furnace is
opposite.
On the north side of the building a large, solid door is provided
with a sill level with the top of the furnace. A receiving platform of
wood is constructed immediately outside of this and the garbage cans
are unloaded on this platform and taken through the door to the nuin-
hole in the top of the furnace, where the garbage is fed in.
On November 0th official tests were begun upon this plant and the
amount of garbage consumed and the amount of coal used each day
were accurately weighed. The following table shows the results of
these tests :
Date. No. lbs. garbage. No. ]l)s. coal.
Novombor nth 1484 102
November 12Ui, IKJT 94
November 14tb, 144(; 106
November 17lb , 12:)7 5)5
November IDtb KilS 108
November 21 Kt 1350 101
November 24ib 1(504 85
November 27lli , 1 71 1 !»7
November .'iOtb , 1857 110
December 3nJ , 1 720 1 0S
December 5th 1 502 !)()
December 8tb 2075 173
December 11 th , 1757 112
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1183
The guarantee staled that the battery was to have an efiQciency of
200 pounds of coal and 10 pounds of coke per ton of garbage con-
sumed wlien operated at its full capacity for a period of eight hours
and fed by wet garbage only. The coal was to be taken as equivalent
to 14,000 il T. U. per lb. Anthracite coal has been used in the furnace
and a good grade of anthracite is equivalent to the grade of coal
specilied. Anthracite coal has also been used in the auxiliary grate
where coke is supposed to be used. It is the intent ion of the De-
partment to use bituminous coal in this furnace and the builders
state that a better elliciency can be obtained with bituminous coal as
it is easier to start the furnaces. However, under the existing con-
ditions the furnace has more than fulfilled the etificiency requirement
of the specifications as will be noted in the table of tests as given
above.
Discussion.
The Dixon Engineering and Construction Company agreed to com-
plete the construction of this plant within seventy days after signing
the contract and to forfeit fifteen dollars per day of liquidated dam-
ages for each and every da}' on which the contract was not completed.
As the contract was signed on the loth of August the plant should
have been ready for operation by the 24th of October. On that date,
however, the plant had not been completed on account of an unavoid-
able delay in obtainijig the firebrick for lining the chimney. This was
obtained, however, a few days after and the plant, as previously
stated, began operations on the Dth day of November.
In view of the great efficiency of the plant and the nature of the
delay in the arrival of the material for completing the work, it was
decided that it would be advisable not to deduct this sum for the non-
fulfillment of the time limit.
It was also specified that the temperature of the gases in the stack
should be not less than 1,200 degrees F. No test has been made upon
this on account of the lack of materials to do so. As there appears
to b(! no ollensive odor from the stack, the temperature must be suf-
ficiently high to ed'ect the desired results.
The poi)ulation of the institution at present is almost 500, including
the oi)erators. The garbage, as will be noted in the previous table,
is only suflicient at present to supply the furnace at the most every
<ither day Avhcn run for a continuous period of eight hours. Rut how
huig the existing unit nuiy be able to take care of the garbage of the
institution is unknown.
NVlu'U it becomes advisable to have another unit installed it can
be ])urchased at the price specified in the existing contract. This
price holds good for one year and arrangements can be nuide for a
second installation at any time before August, 1!)0!>. A certificate of
the D(^partment*s acceptance of the plant has been issued and the
contractors are entitled to the sum of $2,200 within thirty days from
the issuance of the certificate.
1184 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
MISCELLANEOUS WORK AT :M0NT ALTO.
Diirin.o; the spring: of lOOS the coiistriiction of the new bnildings at
Mont Alt(t was begnn. Tlie actual construction work was under
aj-chitects employed l)y tlie I)e])artuient ot Health, but the location of
the buildings and the setting of the elevation of the foundations was
determined by the Engineering Division.
The buildings constructed numbered 80 in all and consisted of 40
cottages. 1() pavilions, 10 toilet houses, twin cottages, dining hall,
laundry, addition to barn, inlirmary buildings and several smaller
buildings designed for various purposes. All of the buildings, witli
the exception of the infirmary, were located in the eastern part of the
sanatorium wliere the original sanatorium buildings were located.
The infirmary building was located in the northAvestern j>ortion of
the sanatorium land at the foot of Kocky Mountain.
Before making the location for the buildings, cross sections were
taken of the pro])osed sites and a topographical plan was made with
one foot contours. The streets and buildings ])locks were then accu-
rately laid out and the profiles of the streets were run. The grades
for tlie streets were determined and the elevations of the foundations
of the various buildings were set so as to conform with the established
grades of the adjacent streets.
The main streets are spaced i:i5 feet centre to centre and se])arate
the building lots. These are rectangular in plan, 105 feet wide and
300 feet long and contain the cottages. At the end of each lot there
is a smaller lot for ])avilious, also rectangular in ])lan 105 feet wide
and 50 feet bmg. Ci-oss streets se])arate th.e small ])aviii(m lots from
the cottage locations. They are also 25 feet wide and run at right
angles to the main streets. In laying out the streets the direction was
adajited to the natural slopes of the ground in order to facilitate
grading and drainage. As the slope in the eastern section is southerly
and Avesterly the streets run almost due north and east with the
main streets at right angles to the county road, which extends along
the northern edge of this developmenl. Across the county road there
is a large grove of fiue ]>ines. This is used as a ])ark. The main
sti-eets in tlie western development are laid out in a northeasterly di-
reclion. rimniiig ahmg the side of Kocky Mounlnin iiidge. At the
norllieasi end of this devebipmeiit the inlirmary buihliiig is located
with amjile ])arking around ii lo (•oiiii>i('(ely segregate it from Ihe resi
of Ihr' develojimertt.
ill iiinking the plans for these sections the location of tlie cottages
governed the size of Ihe blocks and consequently Ihe s|)acing of the
streets. It was desirable to so locate the cottages that there would
be ii maximnm iimount of sunlight tlirougliout the yejir on all four
sides. In ordei- t(» determine this lociitioii miithenuit ical calculations
were made of tlie duriilion of Ihe snnlight on all fotii- sides of a cot-
1;ige when pointing in v;ii-ious directions and it was found tjiat the
highest average dni-ation on ;ill four sides is obliiiiied by locating it
with the side 15 degrees to IIm' nortli. Ill order to lucveiit the
simdow fi<»iii one (((llage intei-feriug with the simliglit on another,
they were spsiced 50 feet centre to centre in both dii-e<-tions. In every
;ilt('rnate nwiin street there are located toilet houses for the accommo-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1185
(liition of llic pcojilc ill ;i(]J:i(('!it ItlocUs. 'IMiese are placed in the cen-
lie (jf tlie .stiriM tiiid roiiiicct wiili llic scwci- laterals which extend np
ihe centre ol" alternate sirceis. 'J'he other main streets and the cross
streets contain ihe driveways and wafer j)ii)inji-. Tiie central dining
i-ooni is hxated in a (hailtle hlock at ilie north end of ihi.s d('vch)]»ni('ni.
Jiath lionses are located at corners of standard hlocks in several
places and replace the end cottages in these bhjcks. All other bnild-
ings are segregated from the patients' qnarters.
As previonsly stated, alternate main streets and the cross streets
have been devehjped for traffic. They have been laid out in nearly all
cases on a grade conforniiug closely with the surface of Ihe ground.
On each side of the road is a shallow earth gutter designed so thai a
lawn mower can be operated in clipi)ing ihe grass in it. These gutters
cross the inlei-secting streets thrtnigh wooden box culvci-ts and the
drainage is so arranged that the Mow from each main street will be
discharged independently at ihe foot of the slope. This is necessary
as all roof water from the buildings is discharged onto the surface of
the ground and a part of it will reach the gutters.
Tlie excavations from the gutters is used to crown the roads and
the surface of the road is furnished with a layer of one inch broken
stone j>laced on the surface to a depth of six inches at the crown and
tapering off to two inches at the edge. No roller was used, l)ut the
roads Avere compacted by driving the teams used in construction over
the sections previoush' constructed.
Sidewalks were constructed lengthwise through the centre of each
cottage block. Short cross walks were built from this centre side-
walk to the entrance of each cottage and to the toilet houses. The
nuiin sidewalk was connected at the end of each block with a sidewalk
extending along one side of the cross street adjacent to the pavilions.
These cross street sidewalks connect with the dining room, bath
houses, etc., and form the maiti sidewalks of the sanatorium. All
sidewalks are constructed of broken stone covered Avith screenings.
The ground is excavated to a width of 3 feet and to a depth of 5
inches. This is filled with a 4 inch layer of 1 inch broken stone and
the top is finished olf with 1 inch of screenings and tamped with iron
tampers.
In locating the buildings the elevatitms are set so as to allow a
uniform distance from the lloor line to the ground. The cottages were
set with reference to the grades of adjacent streets and the elevations
of the i)a\ilions were determined by the three abutting streets.
liefore beginning the construction of tlie buildings it was necessary
to cut down and grub the entire tract of a second growth of timber.
This was done on force accotint and altogether ten acres of land were
cleared and grub!»ed. The iiKtuntaineers in the vicinity were used for
cut ling limber and the grubbing of the stumps was accomplished
mainly with dynamite, of whicli several thousand i)oiinds were iisi^d.
Altogether 5,(10(1 feel of streets were constructed and .~),.')()0 feet of
sidewalks. This work was done liy force account with mountain
lalior. The broken stone was obtained by means of crusliing stone
found on the site with a rock crusher belonging to tlu' State.
The miscellaneous work at ifont Alto during 1!KIS consisted of con-
structing il.dOO feet of (» inch sewer on force account, constructing
coal bins, derrick for handling coal, individual c(»al piM-kets for the
75—17—1008
1186 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
cottages, foundations loi- scales, extensions to water system, painting
old buildings, inspection of concrete work on infirmary foundations
and various small concrete structures which were needed at the sana-
torium and enlarging the ice pond.
In addition, the resident engineer, from January to July, 1908,
acted as superintendent for the institution and had charge of the
handling of all the labor employed at the institution.
It was necessary to undertake all of these small pieces of work by
force account as it was practically impossible to obtain bids from re-
sponsible contractors to undertake small pieces of work in this lo
cality on account of the difficulty in obtaining labor and material in
this region.
The main addition to the sewers consisted of 1,200 feet of C inch
sewer extending from the main outlet sewer at the ice pond up to the
infirmary building. Concrete manholes similar to those supplied on
the main sewerage system were constructed on this line at distances
not greater than 400 feet and were equipped with cast iron manhole
frames and covers. The sewers between manholes were constructed in
a straight line with no break in the grade so that it would be possible
to make a ready inspection of any section of the sewer from the man-
holes. The balance of the sewers constructed are located in the main
sanatorium and connect the sewers with several of the new buildings.
These sewers are also supplied with manholes. ,
The ice pond which was constructed during the winter of 1907 had
not been completed at that time on account of the severity of the
weather and the necessity of obtaining a cutting of ice before the
spring arrived. The pond at that time was only constructed with an
area of 0.25 acres and the final plans called for an area of
0.4 acres. The completion of this excavation was made during
the summer of 1908 and a canal leading from the ice pond to the
ice house was constructed so as to fioat the ice from the ice pond to
the hoisting ax^paratus at the ice house. -The hoisting apparatus was
also constructed during this year and consisted of two jigs operated
by horsepower and equip])ed with a sloping trough on the interior of
the ice house. The ice is floated onto these jigs and is then hoisted to
the top of the house and is carried to position on the wooden trough
in the interior of the building..
MTSCJOLLANKOIJS WORK.
Tii(; p; incipal work under this heading done by the Engineering
Division of the Department during th(; year has been the making of
surveys ;jid tlie i>repara1ion of plans for a new system of sewers and
a sewage disposal ])lant for the State Instiluti(m for Fe(;))l(! Minded of
Western Pennsylvania localed at Polk, Venango Counly. Also the
making (»f sni-vcys and (Ik? j)n'j)aiation of plans and estimates of cost
of a sewag(! (lis|)os:il jihint foi- llu; Slale Asylum for tin; Clhronic
Insane of Pennsylvania, localed n(;ar W(?rneisville, Jierks County.
I'\)l lowing is a detaile<l repoi-l of I Ik; work done at each of these in-
Htitulions.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1187
Sewers and Sewage Disposal for State Hospital at Polk.
On June l.'itli, 11)07, the Govei-nor of the Commonwealth of Penn-
sylvania appnn'ed Act No. ou.j of the General Assembly, pa.ssed at the
session of J!)()7. This Act is entitled, "An Act making an appropria-
tion to the Trustees of the State Institution for Feeble Minded of
Western Pennsylvania," and reads as follows :
Appropriation.
Section 1. Be it enacted, &c. , That thirty thousand dollars, or
so much thereof, as may be necessary, be and the same is hereby ap-
propriated to the Trustees of the State Institution for Feeble
Minded of ^V'estern Pennsylvania, for the purpose of building an
improved sewerage, drainage and sewage disposal works. Said
Trustees seek this appropriation under the condition that the De-
partment of Health shall cause surveys, plans and specifications
to be prepared for the proposed improved sewerage, drainage and
sewage disposal works, and that so much of the thirty thousand
dollai-s appropriation as may be necessary shall , on the requisition
of the Commissioner of Health, be set aside, and be expended by
said Trustees for said improvement, under the direction and super-
vision and to the approval of the State Department of Health.
Furthermore, that said Department shall have a general direction
and supervision, acting through said Trustees, of the operation and
maintenance of the improved works after they are completed.
Approved— The 13th day of June, A. D. 1907.
In accordance with the terms of this Act surveys, plans and speci-
fications for the proposed improved sewerage and sewage disposal
works have been prepared.
General Conditions.
The State Institution for Feeble ilinded of Western Pennsylvania
is located in Venango County, eight miles west of Franklin. The
institution buildings and the main tract of land are located within
the borough of Polk and comprise two-thirds of the area of said bor-
ough and three-fourths of the population. A detailed description of
the location of this institution, and the drainage of this territory,
the water supply, existing sewers and sanitary conditions, are set
forth in a decree relative to the subject issued by the Commissioner
of Health on April 5th, 1907, to said Hospital Trustees.
As may be noted in this decree, the main group of buildings is lo-
cated on an eiuinence in the northern part of the borough and faces
easterly. The land slopes from this location northerly and easterly
to liibbs Kun, a tributary of North Sandy Kuu, and scmth to Big
Sandy Creek. These creeks unite at a point southeast of the institu-
tion and iiumediately east of the built up section of the borough and
flow to the Allegheny River, eight miles southeast of the borough.
The institution's population, including officials and attendants, is
1,483. It is amply supplied with a gravity supply of spring water.
The sewage and storm water from the main buildings are carried
through a system of sewers feeding a 24 inch outfall sewer which
empties into North Sandy Kun southeast of the institution in the
built up section of the borough. To treat this sewage with a gravity
disposal plant, it is, therefore, necessary to intercept this flow before
it reaches the run.
North Sandy Kun into which the main sewer from the institution
empties, has a watershed of about twelve s(|uare miles, so that the
How in this creek during the dry seast)n is extremely limited. At this
IISS THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
time the odors from the sewage are prouoimeed aud are a siniree of
frequent L-omi»]aint from tlie citizens of the borough in that vicinity.
The cows that are pastured on this creelc below the outfall sewer
drink this sewage and there is considerable prejudice among the
people in the borough against the milk from these cows.
It was, therefore, unauimoush- agreed on April 5th, 1J)07, by the
Governor, Attorney General and Commissioner of Health that the
interests of the public health demauded that the Coumiissioner of
Health advise the Board of Trustees of the institution to forthwith
secure an appropriation of §!30,UU0 for improved sewerage, drainage
and sewage disposal works. This plan was carried out by the IJoard
of Trustees and an appropriation as above stated was obtained.
Out of the §30,000 appropriation, the State Department of Healtli
has incurred for expenses in making surveys, plans and for traveling
IS4S.26. It is fair to estimate that at least |28,000 of the approi>ria-
tion will be available for construction work, and for this sum ol'
$28,000 the outfall sewer and the disposal plant can be built.
It is impossible to get the sewage from the existing outfall sewers
of the institution into the proposed outfall sewer by gravity. Eilher
pumping must be resorted to or the old sewer mains must be aban-
doned and new ones must be laid in shallow trenches at much highei-
elevations. This is perfectly feasible and desira;ble. The old sewei-s
were laid in trenches dug in the ground before the surface was graded
up about the buildings as it is seen to-day. In consequence, the main
sewer outlet is buried 25 feet deep or thereabouts. It is decidedly an
economical move to avoid pumping of the institution's sewage, espe-
cially when the buildings are on an eminence sufllciently high to en-
able the collection of the sewage and its deliverance to the proposed
sewage disposal plant by gravity.
Tlie site selected by the Department in the first instance Avould
have enabled the sewage from the existing sewer mains to have been
delivered by gravity to the purification plant.
It is proposed by the officers of the institution and at llie time bids
are received for the construction of the outfall sewer and (he sewage
purification plant, tlmt bids also be received for new sewer lines and
that tlie lowest bidder be aAvarded the contract provisionally, the
condition being that the Legislature appropriate the money necessary
to execute the contract.
In keeping with this method of ])rocedure the plans for tlie new
s(nvers ai-e made a part of the project herein described.
Proposed Disposal Plant— Sites.
Then* are llii-cc sites avaiiabU; for th(! location of (lie sewage dis-
posal plant for this institution where it can be oi)erated economically
by gravity.
One I met consists of eight acres of land belonging to (lie inslitu-
tioii and lo(a(ed aliou( 1,500 r('('( soudi of the iiiaiu buildings across
(be Franklin and Mercer lioad. MMiis tract is Irajiezoidal in slia]»e
and lies bctwcH-n (lie I'l-anklin and Mercer Koad and P>ig Sandy (^reek.
On tlie eastern boundary is (lie main s(?((l(!men( of (lie borough of
Polk, whidi is built u[) thickly to the edge of (his tra(;(:. On (lie west-
ern boundary of this tract there in one group of liouscs consisting of
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1189
6 or 8 dwellings an<l hiuns, wliicli extend from the property line along
the Franklin and ^^ere(M• ivoad westerly. From the r(»ad this tract
slopes j)reci})itoiisly on an average of 45 degrees for a depth of 30 feet
to a meadow which extends from the foot of this slope over three-
fonrths of the tract to the bank of Uig Sandy Creek. The elevation of
the meadow is three feet below high water mark of Big Sandy Creek
and is frequently flooded during freshels.
In order to construct a disposal plant on this site it would be neces-
sary to do extensive grading so as to place the outlets at a suOlcient
elevation to ])revent interruption of service during jKniods of high
water. In addition to this, the location of dwelling houses in such
close j)roximity might cause complaint and the plant would be con-
sidered a nuisance by the adjacent property holders.
The second tract of land consists of a seven acre triangular plot lo-
cated .1,000 feet east of the main group of the institution's l)uildings.
This tract also belongs to the institution, but is isolated from the
main lawn in front of the institution by the Lake Shore and Michigan
Southern Iiailroad, which extends abmg the western boundary of this
tract on an embankment five feet high. On the northeastern side of
the tract is Hibbs Ifun, a small stream draining the ice jiond north of
the institution and the northern part of the institution's grounds.
This run during the dry season has a limited How. It Hows with an
average grade of one per cent, and empties into North Sandy liun at a
point 500 feet southeast of this tract of territory. The southeastern
side of this tract is bounded by jirivate property, which extends 500
feet south to the Franklin and Mercer Eoad. x\cross the Frankliji
and -Mercer lioad Ihere is a built up section of the borough of Polk.
Many of these houses are located along the road at this point and
face the above mentioned tract. These houses will be located TOO feet
from the disi)osal works if they are so located in this tract. This
tract of land has a gradual slope extending from the foot of the em-
bankment of the L. S. & M. S. R. K:, easterly to Hibbs Run, with a
total drop of 15 feet. High water has been known to exist f(u* a depth
of two feet on the extreme eastern end of this tract. This site was the
lirst f)ne selected by the State Depart ment because the sewage from
the exisling sewer mains could be intercepted and delivered to the
place by gravity.
The third tract of land available lor the locati(m of the plant be-
longs to the institution, and is located east of the railroad and about
J>,000 feet northeast of the main group of buildings of the institution.
On the eastern edge of this tract and about 1,500 feet from the rail-
road is North Sandy Creek. The land from the creek for a distance of
fJOO feet is meadow land, with an elevation two or three feet above
high watei- in the creek. On the western edge of this meadow and ex-
tending therefrom to the railroad the land rises on a much steeper
slope, reaching an elevation 20 feet above the meadow.
This slope would furnish an excellent site for a disposal ]»lant as it
is well isolated from any habitation. It could be reached by a gravity
outfall sewer from the institution which could be brought across the
dam at the ice ]>ond. <^n account of the <lepth of the existing sewers
at the institution this outfall sew(M- would not be able to drain all of
the sewage from the iustituticm without a revision of the sewerage
system.
1190 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The institution authorities prefer the third site as above described
on account of the isolation. Thev consider the isolation important
enough to choose the third site and to make a request to the Legisla-
ture for an appropriation to defray the expense of revising the sewer-
age system so that the system shall drain into the outfall sewer lead-
ing to the third disposal site by gravity. This site was, therefore,
selected.
Capacity of Works.
The plant as designed is to have a capacity for the domestic sewage
from the population of this institution in 1918. Provision has been
made for extensions to take care of the sewage in 1928. In order to
determine the quantity of sewage, weir measurements were taken
throughout 24 hour periods and these measurements showed that the
average flow of sewage amounted to 315,522 gallons per day.
The population of the institution for 1908 is estimated at 1,483, so
that this flow of sewage represents a per capita amount of 212.8 gal-
lons per day. The population curve for this institution was plotted
from the yearly population record from 1897 until the present date.
This curve was' projected to the vears 1918 and 1928, and gave a popu-
lation in 1918 of 2,650 and in 1928 of 3,700.
The part of the plant that is to be constructed at present is, there-
fore, to have a capacity for 2,650 people, which represents a total
daily flow of 564,000 gallons.
General Layout.
The plant is to consist of screen chambers, settling tanks, syphon
chamber, sprinkling filters, chemical dosing tank, settling basins,
sludge pump and sand sludge beds.
A 12 inch outfall sewer will be built from manhole No. 7 to the dis-
posal plant. The existing sewers will be tapped and connected by
means of a 12 inch sewer to this manhole.
The sewage passes from the 12 inch outfall sewer directly into a
screen cliamlter. This chamber consists of a concrete compartment
3 feet wide by 0 feet 9 inches long by 4 feet deep covered with two
wooden trap doors. In it are located two wrought iron screens each
3 feet wide and composed of one-quarter inch rods spaced three-
quarters of an inch centre to centre. Both screens are arranged so
as to be removable for cleaning purposes.
From the screen chamber the sewage enters the inlet trough of the
septic tanks and passes through the entire length of the four con)-
7)artments to an outlet trougli which connects directly with a dosing
lank. This dosing tank is located at one end of the outlet trough of
the septic tanks and adjacent 1o Ihe s[)rinkling filtci-s. The flow line
in the sei>tic tanks is elevation 1,105.25 and the flow line in the dosing
tank varies from this elevation to 1,102.5.
The sewage ])asRes through Ihe dosing tank on to the sprinkling
filters, being fed by an antomalic syphon. The top of the sj)rinkling
fillers is at elevalion 1,100 jind Ihe bottom is at elevation l,0f)3.
From the sprinkling filters the sewage gi-avitates to the chemical
dosing lank, where it is fed with chloi-ide of lime and thence 7)asses
ihi-(»ngli I wo settling basins and llience Ihrough a ])ipe drain lo the
creek. The flow line in llie settling basins is 1.091 and the bottom is
1,087, 80 that the total vertical droj) in the i)lant is 14.25 feet.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1191
Settling or Septic Tanks.
The settling or septic tanks consist of 4 tanks, each 80 feet by 16
feet by 10 feet effective depth interior dimensions and with a total
depth from tloor to roof of 13 feet and each with a capacity of 90,000
gallons. This will allow a settling period in 1918 of 12 hours when
3 tanks are in operation. It is planned to so operate these tanks that
one tank will be continuously out of operation in order to allow
the sludge to be sufficiently worked over in the tank before it is dis-
charged upon the sludge beds, thereby preventing any nuisance
due to odors. These tanks are to be constructed of reinforced con-
crete with reinforced concrete tops. The excavation for these struc-
tures has been so arranged that the material excavated can be used in
forming embankments around the walls of the tanks. The top of the
concrete roof of these tanks will be located one foot above the top of
the embankment. The tlow line will be at elevation 1,105.25.
Tn operating the tanks the sewage will be admitted into a rein-
forced concrete trough extending along the inlet ends of the entire
group. This trough will be covered with a cast iron grating. The
sewage will be admitted into one or more compartments through two
8 inch gate valves located inmiediately below the flow line in each
tank and connecting directly with the trough. The sewage will pass
under a wooden l)affle l)oard located 10 inches from the base of the
inlet wall and extending two feet below the surface, thence through
the tank and under a movable bafHe board, extending 4 feet 6 inches
below the surface, which can be operated so as to be located at any
point throughout the length of the tank; thence ♦ * ♦ *
under a scum board located across the outlet end of the tank and ex-
tending two feet below the surface; thence over a steel weir six feet
long located at the flow line of ea-ch compartment. The sewage flows
over this weir into a reinforced concrete trough of a design similar
to the inlet trough and covered with a cast iron grating. Stop planks
are arranged on the outlets of the various compartments and on the
inlet and outlet troughs. By means of these planks, one compartment
can be shut ofi' and the other three can be operated in parallel or in a
series. At a depth of six feet below the surface there is located a six
inch valved connection at the inlet end of each tank to allow the
liquid contents of the tank to be drawn off above the sludge. These
connections are drained by a 10 inch terra cotta sewer which extends
to the sludge sump to be described later. At this sump there is lo-
cated a centrifugal pump which will lift this water to the dosing tank
and allow it to be distributed on to the si)rinkling filters. The con-
crete bottom of each compartment slopes on a 5 x)er cent, grade to a
gutter extending lengthwise through the centre of each tank. The
bottom of this gutter is jtlaced also on a 5 ]>er cent, slope and at the
centre of the tank there is a 0 inch valve connection for draining off
the sludge to the 12 inch sludge line extending under the se]»tic tanks
and carrying the sludge by giavity to the sludge beds locattMl in the
lower part M the ])lant and to be described in detail later. Provision
is also made for washing out these compartments with water. One
and one-half inch connections to the 2 inch force main extending fnmi
the water mains of the institution to the plant <^re made for this
purpose. Two 3 inch vent pipes are ydaced in the roof of each com-
partment to allow the escai)e of gases and 3 manhole openings for
facilitating access to each compartment.
1192 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Dosing Tank.
At the east end of the outlet trough of the septic tanks is the dosing
tank witli automatic syphon for operating the sprinkling filters. This
dosing tank is -4 feet long by 10 feet wide by L'.o feet effective depth
interior dimensions Avith a total depth of 5 feet G inches and with a
capacity of 4,000 gallons. This tank will require 10 minutes to be
filled in 1918 and 7 minutes in 1928. The time equired for filling at
present under the average fiow will be 18 minutes. The tank will be
built of reinforced concrete with a reinforced concrete roof and man-
hole opening. The flow line Avill be at elevation 1,105, which is 3
inches below the tiow line of the septic tanks and will prevent the
backing up of the sewage into these tanks. The tank will discharge
through an autouiatic syphon of the Miller or Aerlock type into a
small compartment 3 feet wide and 8 feet long built in the tank. This
compartment is also connected with the tank by means of a 12 inch
valve so that in case the s^'phon is out of commission, the tank can be
operated by hand. From the ])ottom of this compartment there is an
18 inch pipe extending down vertically to the inlet end of the 18 inch
pipe which feeds the sprinkling filters. The top edge of this compart-
ment is placed at an elevation of (> inches above the normal fiow line
of the tank and serves as an overflow. The tank is also provided with
a 10 inch connection whereby the flow from the septic tanks can be
by-passed to the outfall sewer around the sprinkling filters. A con-
nection is also made with the inlet end of the septic tanks so that the
sewage How can be sent directly around the septic tanks to the
sprinkling filters. This compartment is also connected by means of a
6 inch cast iron force main to the centrifugal pump located in the
lower part of the plant in order to allow the i)umpage of such sewage
as has been by -passed around the. sprinkling filters, into this com-
partment.
Sprinkling Filters.
The sprinkling filters are located immediately east of the settling-
tanks and are sei)arated therefrom by the dosing tank previously de
scribed, ^i'he filters ai-e designed to be operated at a rate of tw\>
million gallons per acre per day for the flow in 1918. Tlie filters will
be built in two units each 77 feet wide by 87 feet 9 inches long by G
feet eft'ective dej)th, intei-ior dimensions, with a total dei)th of G feet G
inclies and with a total area of 0.27 acres. The flow line will be
locati'd at elevatifm ],]00, five feet below the flow line in the dosing
tank.
Tielweeii tiic two filter units tlici-e will )>e a reinforced concrete
operating gallci-y 4 feet wide by G feet 0 inches deejt, interior dimen-
sions and e.vlcnding the fnll length of the liller units. The lop will
be covered with a concrete slab and will be entered thi-ongli ;i iminliolc
located at each end.
"I'lif'se Alters will also be constructed of i-cinlorccMl concrclc walls
l»nt li'csscd siTid backed on the ontside willi an eai-th enibankineni, as
shown on the jilans. I'lie excavalion has been so arranged as to allow
siinicient eartli to form this ('nibankmenl. The Moor will ionsisi of a
4 inch layei- of conci-etc sloping with a <lro|> oC G inches I'voma IIh' o|>e)'
jiting gallci-y scparaling (he tillers jicross the width of the tillei- (o an
18 inch concrete drain located along the side op[)osile to the gallery.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1193
Tlu' bottom of tlic tllt(M- will Itc covcrcil iiy (» iiidi half (iles spaced ll*
inches centre lo c(Mitie and exten(lin<i- fr(»ni llie inside of the wall of
the oi)erating' f>allei-.v across the width of the tilter to the main con-
crete drain. At each end of the concrete drain is an inspection man
hole whidi will allow it to be thoronj>h]y cleaned and ventilated. The
filter will be bnilt of hard slaj? broken by hand and ranjiinj^ in size
from 4 inch to 1 inch. A layer will be placed over the bottom S inches
in thickness of 4 inch slag laid carefully around the underdrains.
Above this layer there will be no attempt at jiraduation, but an
e<!ual admixture of the various sizes will be used. The surfaces will l»e
sj)rinkled by )neans of brass nozzles of the Columbus type, spaced
14 feet centre to centre and fed by means of 3 inch vertical cast iron
risers extending from the surface of the tilter to the 4 inch distribut-
ing laterals located 3 feet below. These laterals are fed by an 18 inch
conduit built under the floor of the ojieratiug gallery. This 18 inch
conduit consists of 18 inch terra cotta pii)e imbedded in concrete
below the Moor of th(» oi)eratiug gallery. At the inlet end it is directly
beneath the dosing chamber connection. An opening is ])rovided in
the outlet end for cleaning. From this conduit at intervals of V2 feet
1..") inches there are (I inch risers which feed 4 inch distributing lines
in the two 11 Iters. A 4 inch valve is placed in this operating gallery
on the inlet end of each 4 inch disti-ibutor. so as to completely close-
off any line of nozzles if desired. The distributing conduits leading
from this gallery consist of 4 inch cast iron pipe with 4 by 3 incli
tees connecting to risers, located at an elevation of 3 feet (> inches
above the floor of the filter and supported at intei-vals of 12 feet by
means of 12 inch concrete columns. These distributors can be
cleaned by removing a flanged elbow located for this pur])ose in the
operating gallery. From the operating gallery the (5 inch tile extend-
ing over the bottom of the filter can also be cleaned and special con-
nections with the 2 inch water line connecting with the institution's
mains, are ]>rovided in this gallery to facilitate flushing out the under-
di"iins.
Cheuiical Dosing Apparatus.
The elUuent from the si»rinkling filters is conveyed tlirough a 1.')
inch terra cotta sewer built immediately outside of the south wall of
flie sprinkling filters and connecting thereto through the inspection
manhole at tlie lower end of the filters, Tiiis sewer will convey the
ellhu'nt froiu the s]trinkling filters to the chemical dosing house
located immediately east of Ihe north end of the lilters at fhe west
end of the two settling basins.
The cheuiical <losing house will contain the mixing tanks, dosing
fanks and automatic feed ai»])aratus for treating the effluent from
the sprinkling filters with chlorine. There will also be located in this
building fhe sludge sum[) for draining the settling basins which will
be descrilied hereafter, and all sewage whidi is bv-|)assed around the
sprinkling lilters. A centrilugal i)uuip driven by gas(»Iine engine will
be installed in this building to ])umi» tlie sludge to the sludge beds and
the sewage to the syphon chamber (»f the s])i-iidcling lilters. This
]>umi) will have a cajiacity of one-half million gallons ]»er day and will
be driven by 8 H. P. gasoline engiiu'. The discharge will be
through a (i inch cast iron main extending from Ihe pump to the
sludge beds and thence to the syphon chamber. By means of a bypass
to the sludge beds, the discharge can be directed to them, but if the
1194 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
valve is elused, will be pumped to the svphou chamber. The sump for
collecting the sludge or sewage will be four feet square by 18 feet deep
and will be constructed of concrete. The bottom is located two feet
below the invert of the cast iron drain from the bottom of the settling
basins.
It is proposed to treat the etttuent from the sprinkling filters with
chlorine in the proportion of about 5 to 10 parts per million. Chloride
of lime in the form of commercial bleaching poAvder will be used for
this purpose. It will be thoroughly mixed with Avater in two re-
inforced concrete mixing tanks each three feet by six feet by three
feet deep located two feet above the floor of the dosing house and
separated by concrete columns. Each tank will have a capacity for
storing a three days' supply of chloride of lime solution. The solution
from these tanks will be carried through a one inch brass pipe line to
an orifice box. This orifice box will have a regulating float valve con-
nected to the brass pipe line and an orifice graduated so as to dis-
charge at a uniform and definite rate into the 15 inch pipe from the
sprinkling filters. This 15 inch pipe empties into a concrete mixing
tank located immediately below the floor of the chemical dosing house
and so bailied with wooden batfies as to allow the thorough mixing of
the chemicals in the sewage before it goes into the settling basins.
This tank is live feet six inches by eleven feet six inches by two feet
deep. The superstructure for this chemical dosing house will consist
of a brick building, light butt' in color with white concrete block trim-
mings and a terra cotta roof.
Settling Basins.
Immediately south of the chemical dosing house and separated
therefrom by an earth embankment are the two settling basins which
will be used for settling out the effluent from the sprinkling filters and
for allowing sufficient time for the action of the chlorine before the
sewage is emptied into the run. These settling basins will be built of
earth embankments with a slope of 1.5 horizontal to one vertical,
lined with a six inch layer of concrete. They will be rectangular in
shape with an average width of 30 feet, an average length of 52 feet
and an average depth of 4 feet. Each will have a capacity of 47,000
gallons, giving a storage of two hours for each compartment when the
plant is being operated at a rate of 504,000 gallons per day. The
sewage enters each tank through three J 2 inch openings spaced at
equal distances aci-oss the width of the comi)artment at the end close
to the chemical dosing house and located immediately below the flow
line of the basin. These 12 inch openings connect with the distribut-
ing manhole in the emltankment at this end and are valved so that one
or iiiore can be used as desired. The sewage enters these distributing
manholes from the mixing tank through a 15 inch terra cotta pipe
line laid in the embankiiuint at this (iud of the comjtartment. The
sewage will j)ass slowly through the l(!Ug(h of the com])ai-(m('nt and
will flow over an outlet weir twenty feet long local cd at (he (low
line opp(»sit(! to (he inlet opc^iiiiigs. A 12 in<-h concrete trough
built immediately behind, this weir will carry the discharge to the
manhole at the head of the outfall sewer located in the embankment
at (his end (»f the settling basins. On the outlet end of ea{;h compart-
ment there is a 0 inch valvc^l connectitm to this manhole located two
feet below the flow line of tli(! settling basin, so that only one half of
the basin must be drawn oil in cleaning.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1195
The concrete flooi- of each compartment slopes on a five per cent,
grade to the 12 inch gutter built in the centre of the bottom and ex-
tending lengthwise through it. The bc^ttom of these gutters is also
placed on a live per cent, slope and at the lower end connects with the
sludge sump by means of a 6 inch cast iron pipe controlJed by a gate
valve.
The elevation of the flow line of these basins is 1,091, which is 9
feet below the top of the sprinkling filters, allowing ample fall for the
sewage in the connecting drains. From the outfall manhole there is
a 15 inch terra cotta sewer extending for a distance of <J.~>0 feet to the
North Sandy Kun. The normal flow line in North Sandy Kun at the
end of this sewer is 1,084 and high water is placed by the people in
the vicinity at approximately 1,088, so that there is ample leeway
between high water mark and the flow line of the settling basins.
The embankment around these settling basins is carried to the height
of two feet above the flow line or elevation 1,093, which furnishes a
further margin against high water.
Sludge Bed.
South of the settling basins will be located the sludge bed. This
will be 135 feet long by 100 feet wide by two feet deep filled with
coarse sand and underdrained with 0 inch tile laid 10 inches centre to
centre. The underdrainage system will connect with an 8 inch col-
lector extending across one end of the filter and will be connected by
an 8 inch terra cotta pipe line with the sludge sump in the chemical
dosing house, so that the etiluent from these sludge beds can be
pumped back to the sprinkling filters. There will be no concrete lin-
ing of the sludge beds. The sludge will be fed into the bed by a 12
inch tei'ra cotta sludge line connecting with the septic tanks and by a
6 inch sludge line connecting with the centrifugal pump at the sludge
sump for the settling basins. The sludge will be distributed over the
surface by means of a wooden trough. The elevation of the top of the
sludge bed will be 1,090, two feet above the high water mark.
Future Extensions.
There is ample room for future extensions to the various parts of
the disposal plant. Additional compartments can be added to the
settling tanks on the west side of the present compartments, so as to
double the present capacity. The sprinkling filters can be extended
eastward from the present filters in the same manner and the supply
conduit under the operating gallery of these filters has been designed
sufficiently large to take care of the future supply for 20 years. The
settling basins can be extended eastward from the present basins and
additional sludge beds can be constructed on the lowland in the east-
ern part of the tract.
Proposed Sewer Changes.
The disposal plant as herein described is designed to dispose of all
sewage from the institution and should do so in an elliciont manner,
provided storm water is eliminated. The sewage from the institution,
1196 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
under ordiuary couditiuiij? is extieinely weak, due to the liigli water
consumption of 212 gallons per capita per day. U in addition to this
there is to be a periodic dilution of the sewage with rain waler, and a
consequent overtaxing of the disposal plant, it will be extremely
difficult to procure a high efiiciemy. As previously stated, a portion
of the existing system is too deep to allow it to drain by gravity to the
disposal phint, and it would be more economical to remodel the
sewers than to install a hydraulic- lift for discharging the sewage
from these low sewers.
Present Sewers.
The institution is supplied at present with a sewer system which
carries, not only the sewage from the various buildings and houses,
but also all roof water; as previously stated, the system consists of
two outfall sewers, a 24 inch outfall sewer, which carries all the
sewage and roof water from the main group of buildings and empties
into North Sandy Eun, southeast of the institution in the built up sec-
tion of the borough of I'olk; an 1<S inch outfall sewer which carries
the sewage and roof water from a small group of buildings at the
soQth end of the institution and empties into Big Sandy Creek at a .
point immediately south of the institution and in the built up part
of the borough. There is also a G inch private sewer extending from
the dwelling house east of the barns and north of the ice jxmd to a
point in Hibbs liun, imuiediately below the ice pond. This sewer
carries the roof water and sewage from the dwelling house.
The existing sewers range in size from 24 inch to S inch Avith G and
5 inch laterals and house ccmnections. There are only two numholes
in the system. These are located on the 24 inch outfall sewer drain-
ing the main group of buildings. They are built of masonry and have
wooden covers. The rest of the sewers are connected up with no lamp
holes or manholes. So far as it is possible to determine the sewers
are provided with good grades and very little trouble has been expe-
rienced with any clogging of the system. The connections with the
sanitary tra])s in the buildings are, however, very poor. In inspecting
these connections, it was found that there are v'ery few cast iron
traps in existence. -Most of the traps from the house drains to the
sewer consist of terra cotta trajjs bui-ied below the floor of the base-
ment. Thesci tra])S aie frecpiently stopped u]) and in several cases jt
was noted that the sewage was spouting out of the house connect i(m
in the basement. The suj)erintendent of the institution states that he
has had 1o frequently dig up these traps in order to keep the sewers
open.
From weir mcasiii-ciiicjils math' on the tlow from these sewers, it
appears that they are w<'ll laid and V(>ry tiglit. The flow of the sew-
age measiM-ed at several dillerciil limes checked very closely Avith the
coiisumplioii of water during tlies(> ]>eriods. During rainy weather
lliere is. however, a great increase in th<^ flow due to the large roof
area drained by this system. \o measui-emeiils have been made of the
flow duiing rainy sjjells, but it is estimated thai willi a fall of rain of
'.i inches, there would be a run-olT of lOO.OOO gallons from the roof
wate)" aloiH^, for one hour. The large; buildings at the northwest imd
of this group known as the "iJoys (Juslodial" and the building at the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1197
oxtieiiie north eu<l of (be jjjroiip, which is used as a lios])iial Imildinfi.
do not discliariic Ihcii- i-oof water into the sewers. This same plan
will be nse<l on ail new buildinj^s const rncted for the institution and
has been ])laiined for the large Ijuiiding- at tlie southwest end of the
group which is being fonslrueted now.
The New Plan.
The proposed sanitary system of sewers are designed so as to take
care of all the existing buildings at the institution and are arranged
so as to allow extensions to be readily made for future additions. A
12 inch se^\er will extend from the manhole across Ilibbs Jinn at the
dam ajid located at the head of the 12 inch outfall sewer, acr(»ss the
bridge and through the embankment tVtrming the ice pond, to the
institution. This sewer will carry all the sewage from the m-ain
group of buildings. It will be fed by a system of 8 inch laterals
located sulTiciently deep to be connected with the existing traps and
sanitary sewer outlets in these buildings.
Aii()ther <S inch sewer will connect with the manhole at the ice ])ond
to the outfall sewer and will drain the barns and other buildings
located east of the ice jjond.
On all the sewers, manholes will be located at every change of line
ami gi-ade and at intervals not exceeding 400 feet. These manholes
will be supplied with perforated cast iron covers to afford ample
ventilation. Where necessary, connections to the water main will be
made for (lushing purposes. A valve will be placed on this connection
within the manhole and Hushing will be carried on when necessary by
hand operation.
The minimum grade adopted for these sewers is 0.37 of one per
cent, which will keep the minimum velocity sufficiently high to pre-
vent aircumulation of deposits. It will be noted from the proliles that
the sewers range in depth from 8 feet to II feet. The greater depth
mentioned is rendered necessary for the location of the existing sewer
connect i(ms in the main buildings and also on account of the neces-
sity foi- providing sewer outlets for future extensions to the building
w hich will be to the west of the existing group. In making the con-
nections with the existing house drains it will be necessary in most
cases to sui)]>ly house traps and surface vent pipes for these con-
nections to re])lace the terra cotta traps now being used. In order
to facilitate the cleaning of these traps, it is proposed, as far as
possible, to place them above the floor line in the basement and to
carry a cast iron connection through the wall to the outside terra
cotta drain.
The existing sewers will be used in the future as drains only to
carry all roof water from the various buildings and are of sutlicient
cajiacity to assist in the drainage of some of the roadways surround-
ing tile institution, if this should be desired by the management.
It is estimated that it will cost about fl5,0U0 to construct this
sanitary system of sewers and to connect it up with the existing
house connections.
Plans ami s])e<'i(ications have, therefore, been ]»repared for an en-
tirely new sanitary system of sewers which will care for sewage only.
The existing system of sewers with rearrangement of house connec-
tions, will be used for roof and storm water onlv.
76
1198 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Bids for Sewage Disposal Plant.
The following is a copy of the advertisement for bids for sewers and
sewage disposal plant:
SEALED PROPOSALS— SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
PLANT FOR STATE INSTITUTION FOR FEEBLE
MINDED OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
Polk, Pa., November 7th, 1908.
SEALED PROPOSALS wall be received by the Board of Trustees
of the Stale institution for Feeble Minded of Western Pennsylvania
at the institution located at Polk, Pa., until three P. M., Monday, No-
vember 2:M, 1008, for the construction of a sewer system and sewage
disposal plant for the said institution, in accordance with the plans
and specitlcations on lile at said institution and at the office of the
Department of Health in Harrisburg. The sewers and disposal plant
will be constructed under separate contracts.
Work on the disposal plant will consist of 3,700 cubic yards of
excavation, 1,000 cubic yards of concrete, a part of which is rein-
forced ; 30 tons of cast iron pipe and specials ; 3,500 feet of sewer pipe
with all connections and appurtenances.
Work on the sewer system will consist of two miles of sewers 6
inches to 12 inches in diameter, 27 concrete manholes and appurte-
nances for the sewer system.
Each proposal must be accompanied by a certified check for $500
for the disposal plant and |200 for the sewers. A bond in the sum of
50 per cent, of the amount of the contract will be required of the suc-
cessful bidders. The right is reserved to reject any and all bids.
Copies of the plans and specifications may be obtained at the office
of the Commissioner of Hc^alth in Harrisburg, upon depositing a
check for $50, which will be refunded upon the return of the plans
and s]iecifi cations in good condition.
JOHN A. WILEY,
J. M. MURDOCH, Secretary.
Superintendent.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
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No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEAl/fH. 1205
On Decenibei- JJIli, \hv ISoard of Tiustecs lield a meetiii<i al Polk and
decided to rejccl all bids received lor bolli (he <lis[)osal [ilaui and
the sewers aud lo iiiniiediately readverlise lor (he disposal jdaiit
work, but to allow the sewer work to reinaiu unadvertised uutil au
additional appropriation was obtained from the Legislature lor con-
structing the sewers. The re-advert iseuieut called lor bids to be re-
ceived on .Taiiiuuw 15th, 190JJ.
WEKiS'EKSVl Lie STATE HOSPITAL.
In October ihe Board of Trustees for the State As3dum for Chronic
Insane of Pennsylvania, located near the village of Wernersville,
Herks County, asked the Couiiiiissioner of Health for an estimate of
the cost of constructing sewage disposal plant at the institution. A
preliuiiuary iuv(.'stigation was made. It was found that there was
about ],(>()() inuiates and emi)loyees at the Hospital, that the daily
outjiut of sewage was ap]jroximately L*5U,U()0 gallons. The sewers are
indeiiendent of the storm drains, therefore all that was needed was a
sewage disposal plant and the works necessary to deliver the sewage
from the present outlet to the purilication plant.
To some of the storm drains bath tub and slop drainage was dis-
charged, but this was done in a small degree only. The expense of
changing this over in connection with the sanitary sewer system was
taken into account. On the State property there is a site removed
from all dwellings, wliicJi appeared to be available. Pumi)ing, how-
ever, would have to be resorted to if this site be used. There are other
remote sites which are available, but to reach them it would require
kmger lengths of fiu-ce mains. It was thought the plant would have
a cai)acity of ;5()((,()()() gallons dail.y. A new pump well, pumj* house
and }tiimpiug machinery would be advisable. A very reliable estimate
for the sewage disjiosal jilant, including septic tanks, s}>riukling
filters, sedimentation basins aud chemical tanks with all ajifpliances
and ai»purtenances, is SfL*r).()t)(l.tMt, including engineering. It was
thought, however, that a total appropriation of $40,000.00 ought to
be asked foi*. This estimate was prelirainarj' in extreme. It was
given to the trustees with the understanding that the State Depart-
iiieiil ol licalih would innuediately conduct detailed surveys and
make detailed ]>lans, and have them ready, with reliable estimates, in
time for legislative consi«leration in (he early part of 100!K liased on
these last estimates, an ap])ropriation would be asked of the Legisia
ture. The following is a detailed report of the jireliminary investiga-
tions at the institution.
(Jeneral liemarks.
The State A.sylum for Chronic Insane is located in suntheastern
l*ennsylvania in llerks C(»unty, eigiit miles west of Ixeading and <»ne
mile west of the village of ^^'ernersville. It is in the centi-e of Lower
Heidelberg Township aud lies immediately at the foot of South
Mountain in the Lebanon vallev. The institution is located on a
1206 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
tract of land embraoiug over 800 acres, of which 350 acres lie in the
valley at the foot of the mountain. In the centre of this latter tract
are the main buildings of the institution, which are laid out on the
cottage plan and are coinuH-ted by means of covered corridors. The
buildings are very substantial in character, being constructed of
stone, and face upon a well kept la>\ii, which has a ver}' gradual slope
northward.
South of and in the rear of this group of buildings the land rises
precipitously to a height of SOO feet above the valley level and is in-
terspersed with several small streams which flow down into the
valley and form the head waters of Spring Creek, Several of these
small streams How directly through the grounds of the institution
and serve as drains for this territory. A mile and a half north of the
institution these streams enter Spring Creek, which Hows thence
northerly for a distance of live miles to Tulpehocken Creek. Tulpe-
hocken Creek from this point Hows southeastwardly in a sinuous
course and nine miles below joins the Schuylkill River on the
western boundary of the city of Reading.
The land in this region consists of a limestone formation covered
with a sandy clay. It is very fertile, but the surface soil is not porous
and much of the water on the surface quickly runs off to the nearby
streams. In the limestone underlying this surface there are many
crevices which furnish storage reservoirs for the water which may
seep through from the surface, or drains to adjacent water courses.
The institution is well isolated from nearby settlements. The
nearest town is the village of Wernersville, with a population of 050,
one mile distant. Wernersville is, however, not on the creeks which
drain this institution and there are no settlements of any size in this
drainage area until Reading is reached.
The Lebanon Division of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway
passes along the northern end of the institution's grounds and the
United Traction Company's electric street railway of Reading par-
allels the railroad on Hie opposite side from the institution, so that
the instilution is readily accessible by rail.
The institution was started in 1(S94: and at the end of that year had
a total population of 925, including attendants. At the present date
the population is 080, so that the growl h of the institution has been
small. Very few patienis are admitted directly, but most of them are
received from other institutions after having been found to be in-
CTirable. .Judging from these conditi(ms and the ])ast growth, it is
likely that the increase within the next ten years will be in the same
ratio and that there will not be more than 1,100 peo[)le in the insti-
tution in 1918.
Water Supply.
The water supply of tin; instilution is obtained from two mountain
sireairis localed niosdy on prop(;r(y owned by the inslitution on the
slof)'' of Soulii Mounlain iinmcdialely southwest of the inslituticm
buildings. At a point about (Jitee «|iiarters of a mile southwest of the
institution bniidiiigs these streams unite and it is at this' point that
the water su|>ply is obtained. There are two concriite dams and
catch basins constructed on these streams immediately above the
junction [)oint. The cnich bnsins are connected willi inping to a con-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1207
Crete reservoir wliieh is of; feet long hy 44 feet wide hy 9 feet deep and
located in tlie ground 1(10 feet nortli of flie basins. This reservoir is
uncovered and is subdivided into two compartments l>y means of a
concrete wall extending through the centre. It has a total capacity
of 165,000 gallons. Across the outlet end of this reservoir there is a
baffle wall of concrele consli-uction forming an outlet compartment.
A small scrubbing lilter formed of charcoal, gravel and broken stone
is located at the outlet ends of the two compartments adjacent to this
outlet chaniber and the water flows fhrough this scrubbing filter
before entering the outlet chamber.
From this reservoir the water is carried to the institution by
gravity through a six inch cast iron main which extends down the
valley of this creek to the institution's main group of buildings. A
few hundred feet below the reservoir there is a dam on this creek
forming a large mill pond, which is used by the institution for power
purposes. There is a connection from this pond to the six inch main,
so that in case of tire this water could be turned into the supply. So
far the supply of the stream has been sufficient to meet the domestic
cousumjuion of the institution and there has been no occasion for
taking an auxiliary supply from this pond.
There has been no typhoid fever at the institution for several years
and the few cases which have occurred previously have been traced to
outside sources. The water supply is mainh- fed by large springs
located in this mountain and from the records and analyses made by
the institution authorities it appears to be very good. There are only
six houses located on the watershed and the institution authorities
frequently inspect them to guard against pollution.
Existing Sewerage System.
The institution is equipped with a sanitary system of sewers for
disposing of the domestic sewage and laundry water. There is a
system of storm drains for the storm water in the various roads and
jKirkways surrounding the institution and another system of drains
for disposing of roof water. To the roof water system man}' of the
bathtubs and slop sinks are directly connected.
The sanitary sewerage system consists of two main outfall sewers,
which extend from the institution to a sump well located 050 feet east
of the main group of institution buildings. One of these eight inch
outfall sewers drains the main group of buildings, consisting of the
wards and administration building; the other takes care of the
buildings in the rear of the main group, consisting of the laundry,
work building and infirmary building. On account of the large
quantity of water used in the laundry, the sewage is equally divided
between these two (mtfalls. These two outfall sewers are fed by a
series of eight inch and six inch laterals and all sewers are con-
structed on good grades.
Originally ihe system was constructed without manholes and no
provision was nuide for inspection or cleaning. The work was done
under contract and the sewers were jtooi-ly consiructed. In 1S90 and
11)00 several of the sewers were relai<i and ma'idioles were constructed.
The system is now provided with manholes located at intervals rang-
ing from 150 to 250 feet on the laterals. These manholes are of brick
1208 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
and are covered with a wooden top sheeted with galvanized iron. No
Hush tanks ai-e provided. Altogetliei- there are a mile and a half of
seweis.
Measiiienients have been taken on the flow from this system by
means ol a wtii* located near the overtlow from the sump and it has
been found to average 2.~)U,000 gallons per day. The maximum rate,
as measured per hour, is at a rate of :Jiy,OUO gallons per day, and the
miniuium rate [)er houi- is at a rate of 184,000 gallons i»er day. Dur
ing the last few years ihe roof water drains from a portion of th(i
main buildings of the institution have been connected with the sani-
tary sewerage .system. This was done to allow the bathtub water,
which is connected to these drains, to discharge through the sewers,
as it was proving troublesome in the creeks where it was formerly dis-
charged, so that the How of sewage through this system at present iu
wet weather is materially greater than the How as given above. The
fonner exits tor these drains are still in position and with a small
expense tlie bathtub connectiims could be disconnected and drain
into the sewerage system, and the roof water could be turned into
the old drain pipes. It is reported that there is very little leakage
into the sewerage system during wet weather.
The sump into which the sewerage system drains consists of a
masonry well 25 feet in diameter and 18 feet deep, with a cai)acity of
55,000 gallons. Before entering this sump the sewage passes through
two screens located in a concrete screen chamber immediately out-
side of the sump. These screens are formed with vertical Avrought
iron rods spaced approximately three-quarters of an inch centre to
centre and are frequently cleaned by means of rakes. Over the top of
the well chand)er there is constructed a circular brick pumping sta-
tion in which are located a boiler and two duplex steam pumps, each
7^ by 5-1 by (5 inches. Down in the pit there are located tAVO pneu-
matic pumj»s of the Sweigard ty])e, (h^signed to handle 100 gallons
per minute. The air necessary for driving these pumi)s is furnished
by an air compressor located al the ]>ower stalicm in the main group
of buildings. The pneumatic ]>umps are in general use and the
steam pumps are used only as an auxiliary.
The sewage is lifted by these j)umps and discharged through two
five inch force uiains which connect b}^ means of a series of hiterals
to various i)oiuls located over (he land of the insiitulion iu the valley.
The sewage is discluirged (hiougli these oj»eniugs directly onto the
ground and aHowed to i-un over the sui-face with the idea of assisting
in 1Ii(! ii-iigation of the; cro]»s. The opeuiugs ai-e located at intervals
langing from (JO lo 100 r(*(;t ovei- nearly the entire tract of land in the
valley, consisting of o50 acres, and it is estimated that there are
probably 200 ojx'uiugs all told. Only thj-ee or foui- of thes(^ openings
are used at a lime. Tlu* ojKMiings consist of two iucli wrought iron
jjipes (ixtendiug se\'eral f(*et abovci the surl'ace of tin* ground and
[•lugged. Two oT- three of Ihese plugs are reiii()v<'d every two or three
d;iys and the otu's previously \ise(l ;ire closed so that tlu' dischiirge ol'
the sewagii is changed :il inlervnis to various jiiirts of the; land. No
attempt is made to trench or nnderdrjiin the ground so as to allow th<i
sewage to be distributed unirortuly over tlu^ ar(^a, on account of 1h<*
non-poi-ons condition of tln^ ground, the sewage (lows over the sui-face
when discharged through (liescf outlets, washing the sui-face badly.
Tt is found to l»e diriicult to raise the crops on this land due to this
washing and it is also dillicnlt to prev(;nt the sewage from (lowing
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1209
over the .sm r.-icc iiilo llie .small stieaiiis. Ailer luiiiiug ull" I he sewage
oiitlels ())i ;i <ii\(Mi liact, it is found that the surface is slimy and
baUes. so iliat the institution autlun-ities have decided that this
method of (lis|)<)sal is injiii-ioiis ralher ihan henelicial in the raising
of crojts oil I he farm lands.
The pneiimalic jHimps which wei-c installed several years ago liave
proved unsatisfactory and frecjiiently get out of working order. At
these times the auxiliaiy steam puiiii)ing plant is placed in c(nnmis-
sion, but it is found that these pumps are inadeijuate to handle the
Mow of sewage and the excess overflows from the pump well directly
into one of tlie small creeks which is a few feet east of the well.
The institution authorities, therefore, desire to replace this pump-
ing outlit with a now pumjiing station suiliciently large to take care
of the sewage How and to install a disp(»sal plant of modern type.
Proposed Disposal Plant.
On account of the shoi-t time allowed for making this investigation,
it has been impossible to have accurate surveys made for locating the
disposal ])lant and determining whether it would be ]M)ssible to con-
struct a ])lant which could be operated by gravity. Judging from the
t()]»()graphy in this vicinity it appears ])robable that a ])umping jtlant
will have to be used to lift the sewage to a disjiosal i)lant. It might,
however, be j)ossible to install a series of sejjtic tanks ami sand tilters
on the institution's tract of laud north of the pumping station so as
to allow the j>lant to be operated by gravity. The institution owns
the land east of the main group of buildings for a distance of 2,500
f(^t and a <lisposal ]ilant, consisting of septic tanks and sprinkling
tilters with a sterilizing ontlit for treating the ellinent with chloride
of lime, conld be installed at a point 1,.'>00 feet east of the buildings,
l»rovi(lcd ])nnij)ing is continued.
For a j)lanl of this tyi>e it would be necessary to install a ncAV
pumping outfit, probably consisting of two centrifugal pumps, each
with a ca])acity of a half milli(m gallons per day and driven by elec-
tric motors. The institution has its private electric power plant
which could furnish ])ower for this station at a very small cost, and
the cost of o]»ei-ation of a plant of this tyjie is reduced to a minimum
as this tyjte of ]>lan1 is exceedingly sinijtle. In installing a plant of
this ty])(> it would be advisable to construct another sum]) well with a
(apacity of .").">, 000 gallons. This would double the ]>resent storage
cai»acity and j)ro\ide snilicient storage of sewage t(^ eliminate pump-
ing during night ])eriods. It would lie advisable to keep the existing
steam auxiliary pumping plajit in coiulition for emergencies.
The disposal plant should have a cajiacity of :'00,000 gallons. This
would take care of the How of sewage from Ihe institution for several
years, based npou the present per capita coiisumjttion of "270 gallons
per day. H' pnmping is not i-esorted to at night the sejitic tanks
Mould have t(» be made larger than otherwise to take can^ of the
greater flow of sewage from Ihe tanks in the day time. This exfi'a
exjtense an<l the cost of constructing an additional sumji \\('ll would
be m<u-e Ihan ollset by the money saved in not oi)erating the plant at
niiiht.
1210 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
If a drop of four or five feet could be obtained between the invert of
the outfall sower and the creek, an installment of septic tanks and
sand filters could be made which would do away with the installation
and maintenance of a pumping station. The initial cost of these
filters would be much higher than a sprinkling filter type of plant,
but it is reported that sand has been shipped in to the institution
for other purposes at a price of $1.12 per ton. so that at this rate the
cost of such a plant would not be excessive.
At this time the final surveys have been completed and the detailed
plans and specifications are well along toward completion. They will
be ready for approval by the Commissioner of Health and for submis-
sion to the Legislative Committee on Appropriations some time dur-
ing Januarv.
SPECIAL WORK.
During the year special work has been performed by the Engineer-
ing Division relative to a sanitary survey of the Allegheny River
basin; a sanitary survey of Allegheny County; relative to the exam
ination of the methods of operation of certain Avater and sewage puri-
fication plants ; relative to the Investigation of the quality of certain
public and private water supplies; relative to a joint sewerage pi-oject
in the valle}' of Nine Mile Run, Allegheny County; and in the valleys
of Cobbs Creek and Dai-by Creek, Philadelphia and Delaware Coun-
ties ; and concerning other miscellaneous matters hereinafter men-
tioned.
Sanitary Survey of the Allegheny Watershed.
In carrying out the ])rovisions of law under which the State De-
partment of ileal th is conserving the purity of the waters of the State
for the protection of public health, it has been found advisable to es-
tablish a uniform policy for certain watersheds. Each considerable
stream may present a separate and dillerent problem. The uses to
which Ihe waters are or may be put, the physical characteristics of
the stream and its watershed, the density of population and the
extent and causes of ])ollulion are among the man}' ])oin1s to be care-
fully considered in delermining what ])articular ]>olicy will best pro-
mote and conserve public health for that pjirticular basin. The sani-
tary survey undertaken for the AlleglHniy River basin has for its
object to ascertain as nearly as practicable the essential facts re-
quired to work out a policy for the Allegheny R'ver and its tributary
streams either for \\w. basin in its entirety or for the su])j)lementaj-y
Itiisins of tiie tributaries as tin; case may be. This investigation,
tlu'i-efoi-e, is pi-ojierly considei-ed as sjx'cial woi-k and it is not to be
confiiscid with that work ali'(!ady <lone in (he Allegheny basin by the
field inspection corps of olTicei-s in i-enioving minoi- sources of sewage
}>ollutir)n from tli(; areas in the uj>ljinds (hiit yield the waters which
f'nrnisli the supply to the citizens of nearby comnnmities.
This special sanitary survey was j)lanned by the Commissioner of
Health after consultation with the authorities of Pittsburg. That
city and the Greater l*ittsburg District is confined to the Allegheny
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1211
Kivei' as its pei-niaiieiit source of supply. It lieconies esseutial that
the potability of the waters of the river above the intake of the great
water works system of Pittsburg 'shall be voilchsafed to the citizens of
the community through the enforcement of the jirovisions of State
law as administered by the State JJepartment of Health.
At the close of the year the survey was well in hand, some field
work has been accomjtlishcd of a preliminary nature and more work
of a statistical nature had been done in the otlice. The investigations
will be pushed to a conclusion as rapidly as investigations of this
kind can be pushed, necessarily the collection of field data must wait
uj)on the seasons of the year in certain parts of the basin.
Sanitary Survey of Allegheny County.
Typhoid fever in Allegheny County has not been wholly due to the
polluted water supply in the city of Pittsburg and immcdijite terri-
tory, although much of it is rightfully attributed, no doubt, to this
origin. The individual coming into the city from the rural districts
would drink the polluted water sup]died by the city, c<mtract typhoid
fever through this medium, and, returning to his home in the country
where unsanitary conditions existed, may be, the infection would
S]>read from the dwelling to the well or spring or to the garden and
thus either directly or indirectly the milk and food stutVs ]>roduced on
the farm might be contaminated and in turn, when sucii infected milk
and food stutl's were distributed to the consumers in the city or else-
where, a greater harvest of typhoid fever would ensue. A part of the
Avork of stamping out typhoid fever in Pittsburg thus involved the
protection of the water supplies on individual estates in the rural
district and the establishment thereon of proper methods of sewage
disposal.
The Department set at work a special corps of field officers, who
were instructed to visit every occupied estate in the townships of
Allegheny County. The work of this corps for the j-ear is set forth in
the part of the report of the Engineering Division under the title of
"Field Inspection."
Assistant engineers were assigned to the investigation of the
sources of water suj»ply from wells, springs and i>ublic works in the
borough and the method of sewage disposal on individual estates and
by municipal and ]>rivate corporations in the boroughs of Allegheny
County.
At the close of the year the work had progressed favorably. The
information thus collected was useful as the foundation for the con-
clusions promulgated in decrees relative to water works and sew-
erage systems in the county. The decrees appear elsewhere in tliis
report.
The sanitary survey will be continued during the forthcouiing year.
Its conclusion should witness a ])ei-ceptible diminution of typhoid
fever in the Greater Pittsburg district and even beyond.
Public and Private Water Supplies.
Special investigations were made of the (juality of the water sup-
plied by private corporations to the public at Ilonesdale borough in
Wayne County, at Lilly borough in Cambria County, and at the mill-
1212 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
tary camp. Cbautaiiqna crounds, ]>knu' *»T()ve and camp meeting pvop-
ertr at Mount Gretna, Lebanon Connty. Also at the borough of
ConHnenee in !r>oiJierset Connty. A special investigation Avas made of
the water and ice snpplied to the public at all railroad properties in
the city of Pittsbnrg and also snpplied to the passenger coaches.
Such action Avas taken in each instance as the circumstances seemed
to warrant.
Tests of Water and Sewage Pnrification Plants.
Dtiring the last quarter of the 3'ear, i^^ preparation for the estab-
lishment of a corps of engineers wh'ise special work shonld be the
making of efficiency tests of water and sewage pnrilicati(m ])lants in
operation thionghout the State, the Chief Engineev supervised the
making of such tests at Cambridge Springs, Spring City and Corry.
The field work was done by Mr. E. E. Irwin, who had been especially
trained for the service.
At Cambridge Springs borough, Crawford County, a water purifi-
cation jjjant had been built during the year in compliance Avith a
decree of the Commissioner of Health. It Avas provided that when the
efficiency test of the lilter plant Avas made, it should be done in the
presence of an expert representing the State Department of Health.
On SeiDtember 28rd, the first samples Avere collected for the Depart-
ment and thereafter one every day during the ten da.y test on days
that samples could be received at the Dej^artment's laboratory. Each
collection usually included raw Avater, iiltered water, and tap Avater.
It was found that the contract requirements AA'ere not obtained and
changes in the plant Avere recommended.
At Spring City or in East Vincent ToAvnship adjacent Spring City
borough, Chester County, is located the new Eastern Pennsylvania
Institution for Feeble Minded and Epileptic. A seAvage (lisposa)
plant had been erected for the treatment of the hospital seAvage. The
plans had been approved by the Commissioner of Health, but the
Department exercised no jurisdiction over the construction of the
work for the reason that no such authority Avas delegated to it. The
contract Avas let and the Avorks built apparently in substantial com-
jdinnce Avith the plans and specifications approved, but Aviien the
inslilution's scAvage Avas turned into the ])lant the Avorks AvouJd not
oj>ei-ate. '^I'lie officers communicated the fact to the Commissioner of
ilealth and asked that the Dei)artuient make an examination. This
was done. It Avas found that tlie material used and the dimensions of
the structures Avere in substantial accordanc(^ Avith the ]tlans and
specifications. The receiving tanks built side by side and su])])osed
lo be Avatei-light would not hold sewage. They acted as one tank and
all tliice leaked rapidly through the sludge pij»e. The ])ipe coniiec
tions between the tanks and the tillers Avouid not cai-ry t]i(> scnvage
and needed to l»e rebuilt. Ilndei- the su]>ervisiiig direclion of the De-
I)ar1ment, allei-alions Avere made and the plant Avas put in operalion.
The Howard lii-olhers' tannery al ('orry. Erie ('ounty, has been
made a local station for a sei-ies of investigations and experiments on
a practical scab* Cor the treatmeni of tannery Avastes. In com])lianc(^
wiili I lie lei-ms <if 1h(; decree by the ('omniission(T ordering tlu^ com-
pany to discontinue the discharge of its wasles into s1i*eanis and
offering to assist and advise Avitli the company in a study of the
No. 17. . COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1213
problem, the coin])<iMy made a propo.sitiou that it would assume the
expense of the exjxnimcnts at its plants if ilie same were supervised
by tlie T>epartuient. 'J'lie Kngineerinj;- Division laid out certain lines
of experiment and at llie close of tiie year the tannery company were
carrying the experiments forward.
Joint Sewerage Projects.
In x\llegheny County, in the valley of Nine Mile Run. comprised of
territory belonging to the boroughs of Wilkinsburg, Edgewood, tSwiss-
vale and the city of Pittsburg, the sewerage problem can best be
solved by joint action on the part of these municipalities. The De-
partment made .special studies of the subject during the year.
Cobbs Creelc is the boundary line between Philadelphia and Dela-
ware Counties until the stream empties into Darby Creek. The latter
creek then becomes the boundary. It empties into the Delaware Kiver
above the city of Chester. These streams receive the sewage from
important and growing sections of Philadelphia and from numerous
boroughs in Delaware County. The waters of the creeks are polluted,
a nuisance exists which interferes with the use and enjoyment of
abutting property and menaces the public health. During the year
the Department has been active in the furtherance of a project to
unite tlie.se towns in a common movement for a joint sewerage and
sewage disposal project.
Miscellaneous.
Lebanon City, Lebanon County and Ambler borough, Montgomery
County, are without sewers, but such facilities are needed. Pollu-
tions of surface and ground waters abounded in these places to such
an extent that complaints were made to the Department. Investiga-
tions by the Ii^ngineering Division were made and the facts laid before
the Commissioner. Plans are now being prepared to bring about the
establisliment of a general sewerage system in both municipalities.
A special examination of the sewers of Ligonier and Latrobe bor-
oughs in ^Vestmoreland County was conducted, extending over a
period of many weeks, during which observations were taken of the
etfect of the discharge of the .sewage of Ligonier into the oyalhanna
Creek upon the quality of the waters of the stream.
Marions other minor special work has been attended to by officers
of the Engineering Division.
IV. FIELD INSPECTION.
There are three distinct kinds of work performed by the sanitary
inspectors.
The first is detail work of stream preservation and is on the upland
watershed si)arsely populated and of small area, where inspection and
patrol can easily prevent tlie watei-s of the State from being polluted,
except by accident.
The second is the less jtarticular work on large wat(M'sheds where-
upon may be located villages, towns and cities, the drainage of which
77
1214 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
goes into a stream siibseqiieiitly used as a source of public water sup-
ply. The refineiueuts iu sanitation readily accepted as practicable for
the upland watersheds would be impracticable if enforced on the
lower watersheds. In the latter instance two safeguards are neces-
sary; the diminution of sewage pollution as far as practicable and the
nitration of the water supply.
The third kind of work of the field ollicers relates to various in-
sanitary conditions with respect to disposal of household wastes and
causes of disease and mortality within or without villages, boroughs
and cities more fully mentioned in the heading, "General Sanita-
tion."
The improvement of watersheds whose yield is wholly oi- materially
drawn upon for public domestic consumption has demanded and
received attention in thirty-nine instances, involving the Avater supply
of four cities, eighteen boroughs, one of which is a county seat, six-
teen villages and one Slate institution.
A sanitary survey of the Ohio Eiver watershed in Allegheny
Couutv was begun in 1907 and partial! v comi)leted durin;^ the
year 1908.
A sanitary survey of the Shenango Iliver watershed was begun
and partially completed during the year.
A sanitary survey of the Beaver Kiver watershed was begun and
I)artial]y completed during the year.
Besides this work the drainage areas of eight otlier streams tribu-
tary to the water courses entering Schuylkill and Delaware Bivers,
in the vicinity but outside of Philadelphia territory, w'ere ins])ected
and nuisances detrimental to health were noted and reported.
Improvement of Watersheds.
There were inspected during the year 1908 properties totalling (me
hundred and five thousand two hundred and sixty-eight, located on
fifty-lhree watersheds. Of the one hundred and live thousand two
hundred and sixly-eight properties all were found satisfactory exce])t
iwcnty-six thousand live hundred and thirty-two. Abatement of nui-
sances totalling eight thousand (Mght hundred and six were ellecled
on foui- thousand eight hundred and forty-four of these pro]»erties.
At the close of the year there wei*e tAventy-one thousand and six
hundred and eighty-eight properties ui)on which nuisances i-emained
unabated. This was largely due to the fact that the inspections were
made in the fall and winter and written orders of abatement wcM-e not
s(n-ved in time for changes to be made before the new year.
The Tour cities whose watersheds were inspected are as follows:
Beading. York, New Oastle and IMiilad(!l])liia suburbs.
Br'ading watersheds corupi'isc the following streams: Maiden
Creek, Antietam Creek, liernhart Ci-eek, ICrigelman Cj-eek and Ilani])-
den Beserv^oir, the latt<'r supplie(l from tuiiu(;l in mou7itain.
On these sheds two thousand six hundred and Iwenly four pi-opei'-
ties were inspected, and all bu( five liundi-ed and three were found in
a satisfa<-tory condition. On foui- hundred and ninety cstales there
existed seven hundred and tliiity stresun pollutions which wei<'
abated, leaving at the close of tlu^ year thirt(*en ()roperti('S having nui
sances still existing.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1215
Tlie York watershed is drained by the Codorus r'reek. Two thou-
sand nine hundred and twenty-six properties were insi)eeted and all
but six Inindred and eij^hty-one were found in a sanitary con<lilion.
On two linndred an<l (hirly estates tiiere existed live linndred and
forty-one stream i)()llutions wliicli wei-e abated, ksiving at the elose of
the year one linndred and fonrtcH'U properties having nuisances still
existing, twenty-one of which were referred to the legal division and
are hereinafter reported.
New Castle is stipplied with water from the Shenango River.
On the watershed of the Shenango Kiver sixteen thousand two liun-
di-ed and seventy-nine proi^erties were inspected and all but twenty-
nine hundred and nine were found in a sanitary condition. Nine
hundred and sixteen insanitary properties were found in the bor-
oughs and not served Avith orders of abatement during this year.
On the eighteen hundred and twenty-three estates in the townships
there existed three thousand four hundred and sixty-five stream pol-
lutions which were abated, leaving at the close of the year one hun-
dred and seventy properties in the townships having nuisances still
existing.
TJie l'1iiladelj>]iia sui>urbs are ]»racticaliy su|tpli('d with water by
the !*^])ring(iel(l \\'ater ('omi»any aiul North Si»i-inglield \Vater (Com-
pany, "i'liese su]>plies coming respectively from ('rum Creek and
Pickering Creek.
On these areas four hundred and eighty-three properties were in-
spected and one hundred and eleven were found in an insanitary
condition. On one hundred and two estates there existed tAvo hun-
dred and seven stream pollutions which were abated, leaving at the
close of the year nine i>ro]ierties having nuisances still existing.
Stroudsburg is the county seat of Monroe (.'ounty and is sti]>]>lie(l
Avith Avater from sjnings and IJrodhead Creek.
On the Avaterslied of Brodhead Creek tAvo jiuudred and twenty
proj)erties Avere inspected and all but eighty-four Avere found in a
sanitary condition. One hundred and lifly-one pollutions Avere re-
moA'ed from seventy-tAvo estates. leaA'ing tAvelve properties having
stream pollutions uiu-hanged at the end of the year.
('onnellsville is sup]>lied Avitli AAater from the V(Uighiogheny Kiver,
Laurel IJun and several large springs.
On the Avatershed of the Voughiogheny Kiver, in Somerset county,
one thousand three hundred and forty pro]ierties Avere inspected and
all but three hundred and eighly-tAvo Avere found in a sanitary condi-
ti(m. On eight estates there existed seA-enteen stream pollutions
Avhich were al>ated, leaving three hundred and seventy-four ]»roperlies
having nuisances still existing. Orders of abatement servtMl in the
following year.
The Womelsdorf w alershed is drained by a small spiing rtm. Four
proj)erties Avere insjxM-ted and all found in a sanitary condition.
The Wyomissing Avaleished is drained by a small sjtring run. FiA-e
properties Avere ins]>ected and each one found in a sanitary conditicui.
The A-iilage of Sinking S])rings is also sui)plied from this source.
The Avatershed of Mt. Penn is drained l)y a small spring run. Two
properties Avere inspected and each one found in a sanitary c<tndiiir)n.
The village of Stony (^re<'k Mills is als(» supidied from this source.
The KutztoAvn Avatershed is drained by Kemps IJun. TavcIvc projt-
erties Avere inspected and all but four Avere found in a sanitary con-
1216 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
dition. On four estates tJiere existed seven j)o]lntions which Avere
abated during the rear.
The Mohnton watershed is drained by Klineginna Creek. Twenty-
six properties Avere inspected and all but live found in a sanitary con-
dition. On iixe estates there existed ten pollutions, all of which were
abated. Mohnton is also supplied from four coA^ered springs. The
villages of Edson. Shillington, lieudleton and Pennwjnn are also sup-
plied from this source.
The FleetAvood Avatershed is drained by a small spring run. Three
l>roperties Avere inspected and all but one found in a sanitary condi-
tion. On one estate there existed one pollution Avhich Avas abated
during the year.
The BoyertoAvn Avatershed is drained by small spring runs. Four
properties were inspected and all but one found in a sanitary condi-
tion. On one estate tAA^o pollutions existed Avhicli were abated during
the year.
The MifldletoAvn Avatershed is drained by Iron Mine Run. Fifty-
four proi»erties Avere inspected and all but three Avere found in a sani-
tary condition. On three estates there existed three pollutions, Avhicli
were abated during the year.
The Coatesville Avatersheds are drained by Spring Kun and Sucker
Run. Fifty-eight properties were inspected and all but twenty-seven
were found in a sanitary condition. On twenty-seven estates there
existed thirty-eight pollutions, all of Avhich were abated during the
year.
The Selins Grove watershed is drained by Penns Creek. One thou-
sand one hundred and twenty-seven proiierties Avere inspected and all
but thi-ee hundred and thirty-one found in a sanitary condition. On
two hundred and nine estates four hundred and eighty-three pollu-
tions Avere removed, leaving, at the close of the year, one hundred
and tAA^enty-tAvo pro})erties having nuisances still existing.
The borough of AVest Reading is sup])lied with watei- from (he
Schuylkill FiiA'er (filtered).
I>irdsb(;ro watei- su}t]>ly is taken from mounlain sju-ing in Ivobeson
Townslii[}, U(M'ks County. Watershed uninhabited.
The Hamburg Avatershed is drained by Furnace Run and is unin
habited above point of intake.
Richland borough's water supply is laken from a si)ring in Mill
('reek Tr)wnshi]). No habitation on watersbed.
The borongb of New ('iimliei-land is su])plied wi(b water from I wo
s[)ring runs upon which tbvcc projierlies w(M'e inspecled and found in
a sanitary condition.
The St. Mary's watershcfl is drained by VVoll' Licic Cicek and Silv<'r
l{un, uj)on eacli of Avhicli Ihei-e was found one polluting projx'rty.
I'olliitions reported abated.
'ilie villages of Millmont, Oakbrook, Rrookside, Oakland and Royer
Heights, lierks County, arc^ supjilied Avith water from the .Angelica
Creek. Two hundred and seventy-one proj)erties on (lie watei-shed
were inspected ami all but thirty-two Avere found in a sanitary condi-
tion. On thirty-two es(a(es (luM-e existed sixty-three |)ollulions, all
of which were abat(^d i)y the end of Ihe year.
The village of St. Lawi-ence, Fxe(er Townslii|», I'.erks ('ounty, is
sup[»lied with water fr<ini a small spiing run. Watershed unin-
habited.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1217
Tlie village oi" Grill, Cuiiiru Towusliip, Berks County, is supplied
with water from a large spring. No pollution reported.
The village of Wernersville, Lov/er Heidelberg 'township, Berks
County, is supi)lied with water from six mountain spi-ings. all walled
and piped to reservoir. No pollution reported.
The village of Myerstown, Jackson Township, Lebanon County, is
supplied with water from a large covered spring. Xu pollution re-
ported.
The village of Bowers, Maxatawny ToAvnship, Berks County, is sup-
plied with water from a walled spring. No pollution reported.
The State Insane Asylum at Wernersville, Lower Heidelberg Town-
ship, Berks County, is sujjplied with water from a small spring run.
Six properties on the watershed were inspected. Four were found in
an unsatisfactory condition, but were made satisfactory by the re-
moval of eight stream pollutions.
The less particular work on Avatersheds involved the drainage areas
v)f the following streams outside of the city of Philadelphia territory:
Qpciipied Properties on
Watershed.
Abateiiieiit:^.
D
O
>>
a
o
o
a
s
earn
ons
a
3
h '-H
(K
■xt
'•^
^ 1
Perkiomen Creek,
MiaiiilyuiiK' (reck ;it I'.ariianistuwn,
Pennypack Creek, — —
Wissahiekon Creek
Little Darby Creek, — -
r.uJf Creek —
Uhan Creek — -
Rock Run Creek -
Totals,
7,734
6.640
1,094
37
8
29
534
459
75
1,524
1,338
186
175
118
67
420
389
31
797
753
44
157
24
133
11,378
9,729
1,649
81
10
43
80
57
12
32
127
442
193
34
44
141
77
16
202
261
968
1,013
19
32
106
0
19
12
6
1.207
General Sanitation.
Some industrial pollutions cannot be classed as sewage ])ollutions
under the law. They may bring about a very unsanitary condition in
a natural water course, requiring to be abated on the score of common
nuisance.
Pollution of the ground water sui»ply by sewage from a village or
town or any other source is a matter for investigation and action by
the State Department of Health. The Commissioner t»f Health is
charged with the iu'eservati(m of the purity of such waters in the in-
terests of public health. All such work done by held otticers which
has to deal with the disjiosal of sewage in the villages and towns
comes more ]>articularly under the work of municipal sanitation. In
many villages and hamlets ihroughout the State, general ]ii-actices re-
specting dis]iosal ol" household wastes are insanitary and ]»ossibly the
cause of disease and mortality. These subjects are proj»erly investi-
gated l)y the Department of Health since thei-e is no other body
77—17—1908
121S
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
having juri.sdieliou in tlie fifteen liiindv(Hi townships wherein reside
about one-third of the popnhition of the Commonwealth. This class
of work is distinct from other field office work and is treated under
the head of General >?anitation.
Within the city, borough, village and township the remedy of the
various nuisances in the streams, the pollution of public ground water
supply and general unsanitary respecting disposal of household
wastes, and causes of disease and mortality is found quite often to be
a public sewerage system. Considerable time must be allowed, natur-
ally, for the discussion of the introduction of such an improvement
and for the inauguration of a sewer system. Therefore, it is not
reasonable to expect immediate abatements of these thousands of pol-
lutions within the municipalities. However, the sanitary survey
forms a basis upon which to make a beginning.
The following table gives a summary of the survey on the Ohio
Eiver watershed outside of the boroughs and cities in Allegheny
County.
The Schuylkill River watershed in Berks, Lebanon and Schuylkill
Counties, Pottsville and the ^laiden Creek excepted.
The Beaver Eiver watershed in Beaver and Lawrence Counties and
the watersheds of streams draining into Lake Erie, traversing dairy
farms in Erie and Crawford Counties and the Avatershed of Mill
Creek betw-een Latrobe and Ligonier.
SUMMARY OF SANITARY SURVEY ON CERTAIN WATERSHEDS.
ai
S
3
be
O
a
a
u
M
>
Ph
PM
Schuylkill River, Berks Co., (Maiden Creek excepted) _
Schuylkill River, Lebanon County, ..:.._
V'jhuylkill River, Scliuylkill County, (Pottsville excepted),
lieaver river, Beaver and Lawrence Counties,
Ohio River, Allegheny County,
Streams traversing dairy farms in Erie and Crawford counties,
Lake Erie shed, - - -
Mill Creek, between Latrobe and Ligonier
Totals,
53
25
15.315
1,717
10,358
7,587
27,435
1,941
65
64,418
2,965
143
f.,526
1,243
7,225
619
28
18,749
The sanitary survey of the Schuylkill River watershed in Berks and
Lebanon Counties was made undca- the imiiicdiale direction of Mr.
J. B. Niglitingale, who had charge of the field force.
The sanitary survey of the Schuyllvill Kiver watershed in Schuylkill
C'ounly was made under the imiiKHliale direclion of Mr. John J. Con-
sidiiie, who had charge of Ihe field force.
'I'iic sauilary survey of (he iic^aver Kivcr walcrshcd in lUniver aud
f.awrciicc Counties was made under Die immediale direclion of .VIr.
.laiiM's .\r. rijuk, wlio had cliargc of llic field force.
Tlie sanitary survey of si reams traversing (hiiry fai-iiis in l']rie and
('rawford Counties was made under the immediaici dircM-lion of Mr.
Warren S. Hood with the assislaiice of local heallh officers.
The sanitary survey of .^IilI Creek, between Latrobe and Ligcmier,
was made l)V Sfniiil II. Heist, assisted bv Mr. John B. I'.aumgardner.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1219
W'atoi- Saniiile Collection.
^aiiii)U's of walci- used as soiiices of i»ul))ie supply or private driuk-
iug purposes liave heeu collected at two hundred and tweuiy-four
places througiioul the Stale and sent for hacterioloj^ical exaniiuation
to the l)ei)artiueul*s lalioratoiies at the I'uiveisity of i'euu.sylvania.
Two thousand three hundred and seventy-three of these samples were
collected in twenty-eijiht places as follows: Tbiti samples at Heading,
275 samples at Mt. (iretna, 24(5 samples at Hastings, l.")5 samples at
Johnstown, 117 samples at Kittanning, 78 samples at Latrobe, 70 sam-
ples at Spring City, 70 sauiph's al oil City, 41) samples at Itoyersford,
48 samples at Paluierton, ;>!) saiujdes at Corry, o7 sauipies at Mont
Alto, 115 samples at llershey, .'U sumples at Pittsburg, :>2 samples at
Lawrenceville, ."'.1 samples at Lititz, 31 samples at Wayne, ;J() samples
at Austin, 2U sauipies at lOaston, 20 samples at Cambridge Springs,
26 samples at llouesdale, 25 samples at Bradford, 24 samples at Al-
toona, 21 samples at Mahalfey, 18 samples at Emlenton, 10 at Dallas-
town, 13 samples from Bloomsburg, and 12 samples from Harrisburg.
The balance of the total nuud^er of samples were sent in from 210
places widely scattered.
Seventeen hundred and twenty-one of the samples examined Avere
collected by ollicers of the Engineering Division of the Department.
The greatest nuiuber of samples sent to the Department's laboratories
in any one uionth was 88!) for December, the next was 538 samples in
August, followed by 492 in September.
Wilson W. Kitter made 305 collections during the year, Stuart H.
Heist made 312 collections, John B. Baumgardner made 301 collec-
tions, Kali)h E. Irwin made 279 collections and Richard Bayard 204
collections.
1220 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
V. EPIDEMICS.
TYPHOID PEVHU EPIDEMIC AT ALTOONA CITV, BEAIK COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA.
Diuiug the month of September the Engineering Division made an investisatiou
of an outbreak of typhoid fever in the city of Altoona, Blair County, I'eunsyl-
vania. The origin of the infection was found at a dairy farm. Tlie watershed
furnishing the water impounded by the city and supplied to the public in Altoona
City was inspected and orders of abatement of stream pollutions issued. The
following report explains the situation.
Out of 95 cases of typhoid fever occurring in the town between June 22nd and
September 11th, Gl patients used milk from one dairy farm. Out of the remaining
34 cases, 5 occasionlly secured milk from the same route, leaving 29 sufferers
who were supposed to have secured milk at no time from this source, but who
did secure milk from other and 2Jt different sources.
City water was used almost exclusively for drinking. The great majority of the
cases' were in the best residential district of the city and among the well-to-do
people, whose homes were examples of cleanliness.
The typhoid cases as a whole were severe and there were many deaths. Of the
til cases using the milk from the one dairy farm, 4S occurred in the month of
August and five during the last half of July.
The 29 cases where other milk was used, occurred over the whole period be-
tween July loth and September 11 th and they are negligible. An investigation
at the farm where the milk was produced and from which it was shipped to the
•Jfj individuals contracting the fever, revealed the source of infection.
On May 23rd a helper at the farm was taken to the Altoona hospital. The
case was diagnosed as typhoid fevei-. No particular attention was paid to this oc-
currem^e by the local authorities.
On August 15th, a house-maid was removed from the farm to the hospital
while suffering from a pronounced case of typhoid fever. She had been em-
ployed for three and a half weeks only and had had nothing to do with the
handling of the milk.
A week late, on August 21st, the dairyman who often delivered milk on the
route in the city, was removed in a sick condition and the case was diagnosed as
typhoid fever.
Nearly a month later and after the outbreak along the one man's milk route,
the six-year-old son of the farmer was taken sick with typhoid fever.
The open vault privy used by the family and farm hands was located between
the barn and the house, 50 f(H!t from the former and 100 feet from the latter, on
level ground and about 100 feet back from the edge of a steep bank at the foot
of which is the spring from which the members of the household secured their
drinking water and from which water was obtained and used in and about the
dairj.
The surface drainage from the house was slightly towards the spring, but
judging from tlx; topograidiy and clayi-y nature of the soil, surface and sub-soil
drainage from the privy woui'i nnt reach ihe spring.
The pi'ivy vault had been used by the members of the family during the early
days of their sickness before the disease had been diagnosed as typhoid fever.
B'urthermore, the contents of the vault had not been disinfect(!d or removed be-
fore September (Uh, when the state health authorities were on the ground. But
flies W( re not thouglit to be the nuMlium of transmission.
The kitchen slops and wash water were thrown on the ground al)out the
house. On and after the mifldle of July, following a long dry spell, thei'e were
several rainfalls which waslieu Ihe surface of the ground and could have washed
any inferlion from about the house into the spring. A sample of spring water
was fxaniined and found to contain 210 water bacteria, but no coli. A specimen
<if milk n-viali'd miilioriS of ordinary batderia. ('oli were absent.
,^iilk fill- dilivery to town was laki-n directly fi'om the barn to the spring
hoii.sf for cooling and thence lo the wagon. The cleaning of the milk vessels
wsiH (iotto at the Hpring house. Note, that the typlioid poison was at the farm from
May to September. It had gotten into the milk the last of July and first of
August. The July infeelion might have followed the rain wash pollution of
tli<? s|)nng. Anyhow both the milk iiiiin and llie maid came down after this. The
man might have infected the milk at the barn^ in the spring house or on the
route. The cireumstanceH of the trail (jf victuus along the route leaches the
leHSon of danger to the milk consiuner from careless disijoHal of sewage at the farm.
Also it warns of the importance lo the j)ub]ic of the emjiloyment al Ihe dairy of
those only who are healthy and cleanly in their habits.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1221
The Altoona municipal water works comprise impounding reservoirs and are
supplied by water from Cilen White Run and Ilaiifi- Run watersheds. A sani-
tary survey of these two watei"sbeds prove them to he in an unsatisfactory con-
dition. The village of Glen White is situated on Glen White Run and is an
old mining town, sparsely populated at present. Twenty-one notices of abate-
ment were served at Glen White.
The l!;iker Run watershed was in worse condition than that of Glen White. Here
several mining villages are located on public streams and many pollutions were
found. The entire watershed was gone over and 222 inspections were made, 24
being at Glen White. One hundred and three abatement notices were served.
The greater number of these orders were sent to the Glen White Coal and
Lumber Company and the Altoona Coal and Coke Company. The notices related
to the cleaning and in many instances to the removing of the contents of overflowing
privy vaults draining directly or indirectly into the stream. The coal company
and the private owners were ordered to transport all the night soil off the
Altoona watershed.
IWESTIGATIOX OF TYPHOID FEVER EPIDEMIC AT EMPORIUM BOR-
OUGH, CAMERON COUNTY.
Tlie Engineering Division made an investigation of a threatened epidemic of
typhoid fever in Emporium borough , Cameron County.
Emporium was first visited on November 1.3th. A list of all cases in the bor-
ough and adjoining township was obtained from the County School Inspector
and Secretary of the Board of Health. Each estate on which there was a typhoid
lever patient was visited and a sanitary inspection was made. It was found that
there had been twenty cas^s of typhoid fever in the borough and in Shippen Town-
ship between August 28rd and November 13th. Sixteen cases were in the bor-
ough and four in the township. The date of onset of cases in Shippen Town-
ship were a.s follows: One on August 23rd, September 19th, October 18th and
November 1st, respectively.
The cases in the borough were as follows:
September 24th, 1 case.
October 13th 1 case.
November 1st, 1 case.
November 2nd , 2 cases.
November 8rd , 2 cases.
November 4 th, 2 cases.
November 5th , 2 cases.
November Gth , 1 case.
November 9th , 1 case.
November 12th, 1 case.
November 13th, 1 case.
Noverabor 14th , 1 case.
The case in the township on August 23rd was that of Beatrice Wilson. The
house was located on W'est Creek, about six miles west of Emporium. The patient
was 22 years old, was treated at home, the dwelling was isolated and there was
no fair opportunity for infection to reach any water course. Under the direction
of the County Medical Officer, the excreta were buried. The water supply for the
dwelling was obtained from a dug well.
The next case in the township was that of a housemaid. Beryl Spaulding, em-
ployed at the dairy farm of E. J. Rogers, located on West Creek, two miles out
in the township. .Mr. Rogers ran a milk route in Emporium.
The gravity supply main from the reservoir furnishin;: the public water to
Emporium borough passes by the Rogers farm and a service connection to the
dwelling was in use. Drinking water was also obtained from a spring on the farm.
It was located on a hillside above the buildings. As soon as the case was
diiimiosed as typhoid fever, the patient was remo\ed to her home at some
distant i>Iace. The house is provided with inside closets and a bathtub. The
sewei pipe leads to the creek and discharges therein.
Forty-two days later, on November 1st, Mr. Rogers was stricken with typhoid
fever. He was treated at home. The case was attended by a trained nur.se. The
last flelivery of milk from this farm was on November 14th. The compulsory dis-
continuance of the sale was ordered by the County Medical Inspector. The dair>-
had been pronounced unsanitary during the summer and the owner luid been
requested to improve conditions.
The October l.Sth case in the township was that of Charles Spnngler, 14 years
of ase, employed at the water works pumping station on West Creek. The
dwelling in which he resided was located on Towner Run , a small stream coming
1222
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
down from the Towner Run reservoir and emptying into West Creek below the
water works pumping station. The youth, although feeling miserable, per-
sisted in his work at the pumping station until he collapsed, when he was re-
moved to his home. The case was attended by a trained nurse. The patient
died on October 29th. The dejecta were disinfected and buried. The water in
the house was obtained from both the public supply and a dug well. Tlie in-
cipient epidemic began in the borough on November 1st.
With respect to the two earlier cases in the borough, the September 24th
c.ise was that of Robert Weeken, who was removed to Williamsport ; the October
13tli case was that of Andrew A'ogt, 4G years old, treated at home until October
23rd, was then removed to hospital and died next day. In the following table
are given the No\ ember cases in the borough, the source of milk and water
supply and the name of each patient.
Date.
Name.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
1st,
2nd,
2nd,
3rd,
3rd,
4th,
4th,
5th,
oth,
6th,
9th,
12th,
13th,
14th,
Lloyd Biesel,
Robert Jones,
Harry Smutz,
Lynn Smith,
Ivy Logan, _..
Lynn Houpt
Max Baleom, ■ Public,
Robert Baker, Public,
Mrs. E. J. Smith, Public,
Thomas Smith, Well, .
Mrs. Kate Houpt, Public,
Kirk Smith Public,
Mr.s. Bertha Gibbs, — Public,
Falevia Roman, Public,
Milk Supply.
Rogers.
Rogers.
Rogers.
Rogers, et al.
Rogers.
On premises and neighbors.
Glen & Joyce.
Rogers.
Rogers, et al.
Neighbors.
Rogers.
Rogers, et al.
Rogers.
None.
It will be noted that all of the patients with one exception were supplied with
public water and this was also true in the case of milkman Rogers.
It will also be noted that with four excepticms, all the patients were supplied
with milk furnished by Rogers. However, there was nothing remai'kable in this
because said Rogers was the principal dairyman iu the borough. Furthermore,
he came down with the diseasi? about the time of the onset of the cases in the
borougii , which vvould tend to the conclusion that the infection might have been
f'ommtjri mediuiii of transmission — the public water supply. P.y referriiig to the
date of ilie sickness of the attendant at tlie ])umping station, it will be noted that
the usual iiicul)ation pr-riod had elapsed between Octobiu' ISth and November 1st.
Mitigating the suspicion that the origin of the outbreak was the infection of the
water at the pumf)ing station, is the fact that th(' disease did not spread exten-
sively in the town. The satisfactory answer to this, however, may he foimd in
the very fact that the State Departnu'nt of Health's Comity Medie.il Inspector
had notified liio borough authorities of the existence of typhoid f(M'ei- nu West
Creek as soon as lie was aware of the fact, August 23rd, and that the local Board
of TJejilth had notified the inli.abilaiits of Em|)oritun, through the public prc^ss
and by posters i)ut up in conspicuous places, of the dangei' and warned the i)ublic
to boil all wa'ei-. With tiie Innienlalile experience of the pnndous yeai' at Ridg-
way strongly in mind, the cili/.eus of Eniporiiun heeded the injunction, fearing a
repetition of llie Ridgway epidemic. It is owing pi(ihal)ly to llie full observation
of the order to boil the water that the infect ion did not spreiul throughout Em-
porium.
CENERAL CONDITIONS.
lOiiipoi-iuiM l)ori,)Ugh is a conunnnily of about 2,fi0(), tin' seal
C:itiii rori ('ount.v and ]iic:>\
Sinnenrilionitig <'|ccl<. I'orl
I>rift'.> nod bi:in<li is tlie wes
oppOMil.' the west end ef the
main Sitinemalioning Crei'k.
I oti
su|iply to Einp< rium
are insnllicieiil.
The town h;is a si-vvei' syst
water works are owned b.v tlK
,'ovei'nment of
the north bank of the Driftwood branch of the
ige Ci'eek is the eastern boundary and the said
ern boundary. West Creek eoming from the south
liMrough joins the I)riftwdod liraneh and foi'ms the
This ^Vest ('reels furnishes the principal source of
ll is supposed not d
unless III
>IIm
111 with oilllels into llie Silineinaiioning ('I'eek. 'I'lie
I'huoorium Water Comiiany. A iiart of the siijiply is
taken from an impounding reservoir on Salt Run in Portage Township, and a part
from an impounding reservoir on Towner Run in Shippen Township. About
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1223
80 per cent, of the pupul;itiun of the borouj;!] take publir water. The remainder
use sprinus and individual wells mostly located where ihi-n- an- no sewers. So
far as is known, the outbreak of typhoid fever during tin' inrnMit year is th.-
first one ever experienced by the community.
WATER SUPPLY.
Salt Run water supply is impounded in a reservoir elevated 300 feet above th"
horouirh. It has a capa'city of about 4,">00,000 gallons, receives drainage from
.*;.(; square miles of uuinhal)ited territory and delivers water through 20,tl(iO feet
of 0 inch pipe to Emporium. This reservoir is formed by a masonry and earth
I'inbankment dam built across the ravine. The Towner Run reservoir has an eleva-
tion of 2.>S feet above Emp(n-ium and a capacity of about two and a half mil-
lion gallons. Ii drains (i.ll of a square mile of uninhabited, mountainous terri-
tory and delivers water through 14,5li0 feet of S inch pipe to the borough. The
reservoir is coustnictcd by the placing of an earth embankment across the
lavine.
The West Creek Water is diverted by a small intake dam into a pump well lo-
cated in the engine room of the pumping station. The top of this pump well is
flush with the floor. By removing a loose plank or two the water in the pump
well may be seen. The intake was a small loose stone wall and considerable
trouble had been experienced in keeping the pipe leading to the pump well
free from leaves, woods and debris. The attendant had been obliged to go out
to the intake frequently and work there keeping the pipe opening free. From the
pump well the water is raised directly into a four inch main connecting a short
distance away with the S inch gravity main carrying water from Towner Run
reservoir to Emporium. At the time of the Department's inspection about the
entire supply was being secured from West Creek. The impounding reservoir on
Salt Run was dry and about 500 feet below the reservoir a small stone intake
reservoir was constructed to direct water into the Salt Run main, an opening
in the pijjc having been made at this point. However, as the water in this reservoir
was f; inches in depth only, it did not provide head enough to overcome pressure
from Towner Run supply. This Salt Run Avater supply was flowing over the inlet
reservoir and being wasted. Towner Run was also dry. It was reported to have
been in tins condition for some time. So that the only water delivered at Em-
porium at the time of the Department's inspection was that from West Creek.
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT.
On Xo\ ember 12th, samples of water were collected by the Department's officers
and sent 'to the laboratories for bacteriological examination. There were four
such collections: One at the Rogers farm, another at the water works pump well,
and two collected at Towner Run reservoir.
The sample at the Rogers fami was collected from the trough out of which the
cattle drink. Four thousand two hundred ordinary bacteria and two hundred b.
coli communis were found present in a cubic centimeter of this water.
The sample at the pump well of the water works system was raw West Creek
water. Two hundred and thirty ordinary bacteria and 5 b. colli were found in a
cubic centimeter of this water.
The sniuple collected at the dam of the Towner Run reservoir showed 35 ordi-
nary bacteria and the sample from the upper part of the same reservoir, showed
30 ordinary liacteria. Coli were absent in both samples.
On November 14th twelve samples of water were collected for bacteriological
examination. Five of them were of water from the public supply and the re-
maininir s-vcm were from private wi-lls and streams. The following table gives
the results:
Location.
Bacteria per c. c.
Total. B. Coll.
Public Water.
West Greek at pumping station
Tap at Spanglcr's residence
Salt Run reservoir
Public tap in borough,
Public tap in borough,
Private Water.
.Spriiitr :it RoRd's farm. |
Well at Spanglcr'.s residence, '
Well in t)()rouirli at Heller's residence |
Well in boroujrii at Oostello residence,
Pug well in borough at Zarp's residence
Sassauian's well, in borough,
Dug well In borough at Bear's residence, , 8,400 10
120
0
210
0
2. .500
0
*:>
0
42
0
250
0
.•WO
0
.TOO
0
120
0
300
0
350
0
1224 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
A force of field inspectors was organized to make a sanitary survey of the
watershed. This work will be pushed with vigor. It is estimated that there are
in the nighborhood of 150 oecnpied estates on the watershed of West Creek above
the warer woi-ks intake. The water company is now planning for the construction
of a larger storage reservoir. When this is built, the use of West Creek as a source
of water supply is to be discontinued.
Miss Alice O'Halleran was employed by the borough to personally supervise,
under the physicians in charge, the conduct of the typhoid fever cases. The
dejecta from the patients were thoroughly disinfected. There was a general clean-
ing up and improvement of properties throughout the town. At the close of the
year the sanitary condition was of a much higher standard.
CONCLUSIONS.
It was concluded that through the prompt notification to the public of Dr. H.
S. Falk to boil the water, supplemented by similar orders from the local Board of
Health and the faithful observance of the orders by the public, an extensive typhoid
fever epidemic was avoided. The public water supply in all probability was in-
fected at the pump well in a manner unknown to the Department, but through
the agency of the attendant who labored at the pumping station while carrying
about in his body the pathogenic poison which subsequently caused his death. There
wore numerous ways in which this poison from the body of the attendant might
have been transmitted to the water.
The Rogers dairy farm was put in a sanitary condition, changes were made in
the warer trough and in the methods used for rinsing and washing of milk cans.
It is reasonable that if the typhoid infection had been carried to the town from
the Rogers daii*y many more people would have contracted the disease, because
the Rogers milk route in the borough was practically the only one.
TYPHOID FEVER EPIDEMIC.
Hastings Borough, Cambria County, I'ennsyhanin.
In July there was ;;n incipient epidemic of typhoid fever whicli broke out in
the borough of Hastings among the consumers of the municipal water supply.
The Commissioner of Health sent the County Medical Inspector to the town and
on request of the said Medical Inspector, an investigation of the public and pri-
vate water supplies and the methods of sewage disposal and other matters per-
taining to the abatement of the epidemic and the adoption of permanent remedies
to obviate the ]'f'oun-ence were delegated to the Engineering Division of the Depart-
ment acting under special instructions from the riommissioner of Health. The
Chief Fhigineer asstimed personal direction of the work of the Division in Hast-
ings by correspondence and telephone communication.
The history of the handling of this outbreak is the history of how it is possi-
ble, by prompt and vigilant action on the jjart of local authorities and on the pait
of the citizens of a stricken community as well, in accepting and carrying out
directions of trained expei-ts accustomed to handling ()utbr(>aks of typhoid fever,
to prevent this infections and semi-contagious disease from numbering many scores
of secondary victims. The f(il]fn\ini; report tells the story of what was done:
( JK.XERAL CONDITIONS.
Tiie borough f)f HaslinsH is located in the Jieai't of soft coal fields in lOlder town-
ship, Cambria County, I'ennsylvania ; has a population of 1,041 and is a mining
ccnimunity. The town is hemmed in on all sides by cultivated slopes dotted here
and there by openings of mine drifts.
.\bout one nule below the borough, Brubaker Run has its source in a bowl
sh.'iped valley. The edge of this bovvl is the dividing ridge between the water-
shcfl.s of the Susquehanna and Allegheny rivers. FSrubaker Run takes a northern
course through (Jand)ria County to its junction with Chess (h-eek, which continues
Ihroutrh the Koutliwestern i)art of ('learfield County and joins the Juniata at Ma-
haffey borougli , IH niiies below Hasliims, passing in its c(Mirs(! the smimII I)or-
ontdis of Westovcr, New Washingtr)n and Newburg.
The railroad outlet of Hastintjs is a branch of the Cambria and Clearfield Divi-
sion of the Pennsylvania Railroad, jiassing Cai'way and I'atton and connecting
with the main line at f'resson, .''>! miles from Hastings.
The borough has an incorof)rated area of a little over one-half square miles.
Bi'uli.'iker Rim flows through its centre to the north, having on its eastern bank
tlie T-ailn>ad track vvliich extends throuLdi the borough to mines and coke ovens
above. The business section containing hotels, stores and the gi'caler part of
the town lies on the western slope of the run. On this shipe about 400 feet west
of Brubaker is Beaver Street. Along this street are arranged the stores and hotels.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1225
Thon higher up tlio hillshlc is Spanfdcr Street, lined uu both sides with residences,
Lheu above Spongier Street still farther up the hillside is Harvey Street on which are
a few resKleuces. The cross streets fvuui south to north are naiu.-d from First
Avenue to Seventh Avenue, north of which comes Bridge Street, which extends
easterly across Hnibaker Itun and becomes one of the highways entering the
town.
SEWERS AND SPJWAGE DISI'USAL.
There are three short borough sewers e.\tendiug from the business section along
Beaver Street to Brubaker Run.
One between Third and Fourth Avenues,
One in Fourth Avenue,
One in Fifth Avenue
The sewer between Third and Fourth Avenues starts from a hotel and crosses
lots to the Brubaker Run. This also receives taps from a few of the neighboring
residences, giving a total length of about 4U0 feet.
The sewer on Fourth Avenue starts just below Harvey Street, crossing Spangler
and Beaver Streets and enters Brubaker Run beneath the bridge on Fourth
Avenue. This sewer receives drainage from some 2.5 houses as well as surface
water and has a total length of about 200 feet.
The sewer on Fifth Avenue begins at Dr. Rice's residence and office, crosses
Beaver street and extends down Fifth Avenue, opening about one hundred feet
below Beaver Street and then continuing as an open sewer to Brubaker Run.
Besides these three borough sewers there are two closed, private sewer lines to
the Brubaker Run.
There is an open .sewer on almost every cross street and alley conveying wash
water and kitchen waste to the stream. As the ground about two hundred feet
east of the stream is almost level, much of this drainage stands stagnant in these
open sewers until they are flushed by some heavy rain.
There were, until recently, about KiO overflowing privies located about the
borough. Many of these were on the hillside and at times of rains much dejecta
wasrhed over the adjoining lots. On the low ground the overflow from such privies
stood in open gutters and on the lots and alleys creating almost unbearable
• idol's at night, and unsightly and disgusting borough properties in the day.
During heavy rainfalls these open sewers are partly flushed but rendered none
the less objectionable. In the borough there are but two cesspools.
MUNICIPAL WATER WORKS.
The borough water works was established in 1004. There are now 106 connec-
tions therewith. The pumping station is located below the three public sewers
above mentioned on the east bank of Brubaker Run at the foot of Sixth Avenue and
about 175 feet from the Run.
Adjacent to the pumping station is a 12 inch brick and cement lined pumping
well, 15 feet in diameter and 24 feet deep, extending 10 feet below the level of
the run and having no other bottom than the bed rock on which it is founded. The
capacity of this pump well is 27,000 gallons. The pumping station and well are
under the same roof.
The water supply is piped to this well from two springs about 200 feet from
and 15 and 2(t feet, respectively, higher than the highest stage of the run.
The two springs are about 400 feet apart, respectively, north and south of the
pump well. They were excavated in the hillside and walled up with brick and
mortar and have openings closed by doors in front. These doors were left open
so that any one might procure water from the pool. These two springs have a dry
weather ilow ,if al)out 12.000 gallons per 24 hours.
The pump forces the water from the pump well through the town, distributing
system, the surplus overflowing into the concrete reservoir located at the end of
Sixth Avenue on the hillside, just west of the borough limits. This reservoir
is 217 feet above the pumping station. Its bottom and sides are concrete. The
top is a wooden cover. The basin is 3(5 feet in diameter, 12 feet deep, having a
capacity of 77,000 gallons to high water mark. The single inlet and outlet is G
inches in diameter. It terminates in a sump on the bottom.
The distributing system covers almost the whole built-up part of the town,
having 106 tap connections and, including the force mains, the system consists of 3.4
miles of cast iron pipe ranging from 2 inches to 8 inches in diameter. Fire pro-
leition is atfonled with an average pressure of about 90 pounds. There are five
dead ends and ."'. blow-off;?. For the last three years this supply has not been
adeijuate (luring the dry summer months and because of this many springs and
wells in the tow-n are brought in use by individuals at that time of the year.
INDIVIDU.AL SrrrMKS IN BOROUGH.
Over 100 wells throughout the borough, most of them dug, furnish part of
the domestic water supply. However, there are two public supplies, one furnished
by the borough water works and one furnished by the Hastings Water Company.
1226 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
There is a so-called "Y Spring" situated iu the southeru part of the borough on low
ground and very liable to surface pollution as little or no effort has been made
to protect it. This spring supplies through a smiill pipe 17 fainilii-s occupying
for the most part two i-ows i)f company houses adjacent to tlic spring.
Avenberger reservoir, situated about one-fourth mile norlh of the borough
and fed by the moiuitain springs, supplies water to 13 families iu the part of the
town adjacent to the reservoir. There was no typhoid fever among the users of
this spring.
Mc5lillan reservoir, situated alioui one-half mile north of Hastings and fed
by several springs, supplies a club house. No suspicion was attached to the
purity of this supply.
HASTINGS WATER COMPANY WORKS.
The Hastings Water Company was incorporated in 1891 by the operators of one
of the neighboring coal mines. About one mile southeast of Hastings, an intake
dam was constructed on Scotch Run. The supply maiu is a o inch wrought
iron pipe laid down the valley of the river and entering Hastings on Bridge
Street at the east end. Later in 1905 a storage reservoir dam was constructed
above the old dam and a (J inch cast iron pipe was laid to town, entering on
Third Avenue and extending north on Beaver Street. Tliere it was connected with
the old 3 inch pipe line.
The new reservoir is formed by a dam of masonry construction L'OO feet long.
Said 6 inch main is fitted with several blow-offs. The area ot the watershed
above the dam is probably one square mile, sparsely populated and consisting
principally of rolling country covered with second growth timber. There are a
tew cultivated areas. This reservoir goes almost dry at times.
In 190*) there v.as opened on Scotch Runabout one-half mile above the Hastings
Water Company's upper reservoir, an opening iu the liillsi(l(> into the coal mine
operated by the I'ennsylvania, Beech Creek and Eastern (,'oal and Coke Company,
whereby through said opening the said mine was drained into the valley on
Scotch Run. The main drainage has since been conveyed to a point below the
upper reservoir of the water company by means of an open ditch and a 12 inch
terra cotta pipe extending along the northern slope of Scotch Run and by the
reservoir. The terra cotla pipe extended only by the shores of the reservoir.
During the time of the Department's work at Hastings in July and Atigust
one of the joints of the terra cotta pipe was broken open and the mine drainage
was being directed into the upper reservoir. The flow from the pipe con-
stituted the entire supply. There were employed in the mines at the time be-
tween 20U and 250 men. The mine drainage is strongly acid and not desirable for
domestic uses. Tinder ordinary conditions the supply is taken only from the
upper reservoir. During dry weather the supply is augmented by water taken
from the lower reservoir and this constitutes exclusively all mine drainage dis-
charged into the rim below the upper reservoir. For the year 1907 the number
of service taps maintained by the Hastings Water Company was reported to be
30 and the consumption for domestic purposes was reported to be about 3,200
gallons daily and for industrial purposes 10,000 gallons daily, used in connec-
tion with the mines and coke ovens. During the epidemic, the company did not have
over 20 taps through which water was served to patrons for domestic purposes.
TYPHOID FEVER RECORDS.
There were no local board of health records of typhoid fever in
Hastings prior to the July epidemic of 1908, although typhoid fever
had been present each year in tiie community. During the house to house canvass
made by the engineers of this division, an endeavor wiis made to ascertain whether
a case of typhoid fever had occurred on tlie i)roperty any tim(> during tlie last
ten y(!ars. The answers do not show the true occurrences, but they afford some
indication of the extent of the disease. TIndoubiedly there were more cases
than reported. In the following table is given liie nmidnT of typhoid fever cases for
each year ascertained in the manner descrijjed:
TM'IIOID FJOVIOR IN HASTIXCS.
Year. No. of cases.
1899 4
1900, 22
1901 , 5
1902 2
1903 7
1904, -i
1905, 3
1900 3
1907 I
1908, 93
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1227
The distribution of the typhoid fever case.s tliroughout the year 1008 by months
is showu in the followiug statement:
TYPHOID FEVER IX HASTINGS.
For 190S Ry Months.
Moutli. No. of cases.
Februai y 1
Ma rch , 1
May, 1
June 2
July 62
August , 14
September , 6
October, 1
November , 5
Total, 93
COMMENTS ON DISTRIBUTION OF EARLY CASES.
The February 20th case was that of Duno Roberts, a man 21 years old, em-
ployed in Pittsburg-, where he contracted the disease. He came home to Hastings
to be cared for by his parents. A trained nurse was immediately employed and
she remained in the household until the autumn because of a succession of typhoid
fever cases, four in ali, in the Roberts family. On March 23rd, Mr. Ross Rob-
erts, the father, was stricken. Ou June ord, the illness of Anj;elina Roberts
was pronounced typhoid fever. This girl was J(j years old. Finally on August
1st, Ross Roberts, .Jr., 8 years old, came down with typhoid fever. The water
supply was obtaiued from a dug well on the premises. Water was raised from
the well by a pump. A wooden trough led from the pump by the side of the
house to the street gutter on the steep hillside. All of the wash water and the
kitchen drainage was either emptied into this trough or thrown out on the ground
in the yard. The dejecta was carefully disinfected. There is an earth privy vault
in use on the [)roperty. It was well cared for and in good condition. The De-
partment has samples of the well water collected and analyzed on several occasions
but no pollutions were found. Evidently secondary infection accounts for the
continuoil sickness in the family.
Three samples of water were collected from the Roberts well. No sewage pollution
was found in the water. The following table shows the results of the ex-
aminations:
ROSS ROBERTS AVELL.
Date of Collection. Bacteria per c. c.
Total. B. Coli.
July ISth , iJOOO 0
July 2Tth (520 0
July 2!)th , 230 0
The .May case was sporadic and bore no relation to the other cases as far as
can l)e known.
The other June case was that of Mrs. Lilly Gray. It also appears to have
been a sporadic case.
In the following table is given data relative to the July epidemic and the cases
following thro\igh to the end of the year:
1228
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE
Off. Doc.
JULY TYPHOID FEVER EPIDEMIC.
Onset of Cases, Sex, Age, and Employment.
Sex.
+3
Date of Onset.
•
S
1^
Femal
Age.
o
a
S
July 4th,
July rth,
July ath,
July 9th,
July 10th,
July nth,
July 1:2th,
JiUy 12th,
July 12th,
July r2th,
July 13th,
July l;?th,
July 13th,
July 13th,
July 13th,
July 14th,
July 14th,
July 14th,
July 14th.
July 14th,
July 15th,
July loth,
July 15th,
July 15th,
July loth,
July 15th,
July 15th,
July 15th,
July 1.5th,
July 15th,
July 15tb,
July 15th,
July 15th,
July 1.5th,
July 16th,
July 16th,
July 16th,
July 17th,
July' 17th,
July 17th,
July 17th.
July 18th,
July 18th,
July 18th,
July iHth,
July 18th,
July 18th,
July I8th,
July I8th,
July 18th,
July l!)th,
July 20th,
July 2lBt,
July 2l8t,
July 23rfl,
July 2.'5rd,
July 23rfl,
July 2.3rd,
July 24th.
July 27th.
July 28th,
July 28th.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
iHt,.
iHt,.
:;t<\..
7tli,.
8th..
nth,,
lath,.
Aug. 15tli,.
Aug. I7th..
Aug. 20th..
Aug. 2.3rd,.
1
1
1
26
Teamster.
32
Miner.
L'8
Miner.
28
Housewife.
15
Miner.
3
-A^t home.
16
Teamster.
5
At home.
16
At home.
8
At home.
34
Miner.
25
Mechanic.
30
Miner.
34
Miner.
14
Student.
12
At home.
10
At home.
16
Miner.
22
At home.
27
Housewife
16
Teamster.
22
Miner.
22
Housewife
30
Milliner.
19
Engineer.
39
Housewife
37
Housewife
5
At home.
5
At home.
7
At home.
27
Miner.
28
Housewife
34
Eousewife
7
At home.
16
At home.
6
At home.
64
Housewife
21
Teamster.
27
Manager.
10
At home.
9
At home.
.36
Merchant.
28
Merchant.
25
Housewife
39
Housewife
21
Housewife
15
At home.
11
At home.
18
Miner.
14
Miner.
12
.^t home.
18
Merchant.
24
Miner.
10
Student.
28
Miner.
13
At home.
11
At home.
13
Student.
12
Student.
8
Student.
9
Student.
]
At home.
10
At home.
17
Miner.
.39
Housewife
15
Miner.
21
Miner.
23
Housewife
10
At home.
15
At home.
7
At home.
4
At home.
2
At home.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1229
JULY TYPHOID FEVER EPIDEMIC— Continued.
Date of Oaset.
Sex.
1
B
1
a>
t>>
S3
o
.2
S
^
0.
a
<
'^
1 Aug. 25th,
1 Aug. 27tl), 1
1 Aug. 29tli,
1 Sept. 2n(i,
1 Sept. 6tli. • -
1 Sept. 13tli
1 Sept. lotli, : 1
1 Sept. 24tii, ! 1
1 Sept. 29th, I—
1 Oct. 1st 1
1 >iov. 2n(J, , - '
1 Nov. 8th,
2 Nov. 2Gt)i, I 1
Nov. 2Gtli,
1 Nov. 27th, 1
44
Housewife
5
At home.
3
At home.
10
At home.
,•
At home.
31
Housewife
46
Miner.
38
Hotel.
6
At home.
24
Miner.
10
At home.
39
Housewife
25
Miner.
8
At home.
22
Miner.
COMMENTS ON DISTRIBUTION OF CASES IN JULY AND I^TER.
In examinirij>: this table ttie peculiarity of the distribution of cases by days ap-
peal's pronounced. The total cases for each date appcai-s in the first column.
The epidemic due to the first outbreak seems to have covered the period of eight
days, from the llZth ,to the lUth, in which 45 cases occurred.
Cases subsequent to this, especially for the last week in July and thereafter,
would be largely secondary.
In examining' the table it appears that of the 38 cases occurring after July ISth,
21 of them were of patients under l."t years of age representing 55 per cent, of the
cases, while of the 50 cases occurring in July up to the 19th of the month, 14
cases only or 2S per cent, were of patients under 15 years of age. And similarly
of the 38 cases after July ISth, 27 of them or 71 per cent, were of patients living
at home, students and housewives who were subjected to secondary infection
more constantly while of the cases in Julj' up to the liJih, 21) or 58 per cent,
were of those liviug at home. This all tends to the conclusion that the infection
which caused the primary outbreak passed away quickly and while it lasted the
danger was general and that the infection was transmitted by the medium of the
public water supply or a general food supply such as milk. And that the prolonga-
tion of the outbreaks in individual cases was due to contagion through .secondary
infection in the house or on the property. It is impossible to trace the visiting of
neighbors. There was no marked isolation of patients until the emergency hospital
was established. The promiscuous throwing of wash water on the ground and
into gutters of alleys and streets tended to spread the contagion.
DISTRIBUTION OF TYPHOID FEVER BY AGE, PERIODS AND E.M-
PLOYMENT.
No. of cases corres-
ponding to age
periods.
Age period, inclusive.
0-4
6-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
»)-'M,
35^9,
40 and over,
Employment.
No. of cases corres-
ponding to em-
ployment.
At home, .
student, ..
Udusewife,
Miner,
Teamster, .
Merchant, .
Mechanic, .
Milhner. ...
I'nginecr, .
ManaRor, .
10 17
2 5
U I 6
U I 9
4
2 2
1 -•-
1
1
1 I
78
1230 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
MILK SUPPLY.
General.
Tlio Dep:nim!'m , upon iuvestigaliou, asccvtaiued Unit tlioit.' were in the borough
37 private properties on which one or more cows were kept to supply the family
with milk. In many instances the owner of the cow supplied milk to the
neighbors.
There were also two dairy farms out in the towuship from which milk was fur-
nished to 33 families in the'borough. Mr. Dennis Rambau in this manner supplied
ten families with milk and Mr. Thomas Carr 23 families. Thus the borough re-
ceived its milk supply from 3U different sources. The first 3(j typhoid fever cases
of the epidemic were'supplied with milk from 19 of these sources.
SICKNESS IN FAMILY OF MILK DEALERS.
In si.\ of the 37 instances, where one or more cows were kept on the property,
there was typhoid fever in the family.
The names of the owners are given in the following table:
Ross Roberts.
J. L. Cunningham.
S. J. Grassberger.
James lloltz.
Peter Foliage.
James Yeager.
Two of these owners only sold milk, Roberts and Yeager. Owing to typhoid
fever in the Roberts family, the sale of milk was discontinued before the first
of June. Margaret Sullivan, whose onset was dated July 16, obtained milk from
this source before the sale was discontinued, six weeks or more to July IGth.
James I'eager, whose daughter Mattie was taken sick on July 14th, supplied
milk to the Werneld family in which Master Ray came down with typhoid fever
on July 18th, at the time so many others throughout the borough were stricken.
In one part of the Yeager residence was a store. The water svipply came from
the borough system. The property was connected to a sewer into which all wash
water and kitchen drainage went. There was a privy in the back yard. The family
consisted of five members. One of them only having typhoid fever would not point
to milk as the medium of infection. The sale of milk to the Werfields had been
stopped l)ef()re the Department's inspection of July 17lh. Only one of the
four members of the Werfield family had the disease. This further relieves milk
as the suspicious cause of transmission of the infection ; but the water supply
came from the Hastings Water Company. There was a sewer connection and a
privy in good condition in the back yard. It is possible but not probably that the
milk from Yeager's was contaminated and caused the Werfield case of typhoid
fever.
Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham were taken sick on July 0th. They had both well
and borough water on the property. There was a sink drain to the street gutter
and an earth vault privy overllowiug in the back yard and the hillside below the
well about 75 feet distant. The well was dug and topped with a wooden platform
supporting a pump.
CUNNINGHAM WELL.
Date of Collection. ■ Bacteria per c. c.
Total. B. Coli.
Julv 22n(l 120 2
July 2!ttli 4 0
August .-)tii 120 0
By orders of the Department , aflri- the (list sainph- wms aiinlyzetl and found
to contain contamination, the well was drained and deaiu'd (Uit. The subsequent
analyses showed no pollution.
The Grassberger family comprised three members; Master Gilbert was taken
sick <m July I2th. The property was supplied with water from the borough
system and by a well near the lious<'. The well water was not used after. Kitchen
drainage was discharged through a pipt; into the street gutter on the hillside.
There was a privy in good condition in the back yard.
On July 27th a sample of well water was collected and also a sample of the
borough water drawn from a faucet in the Grassberger house. The latter showed
a total count of 2H» i)afli'rlM and the i)resence of two sewage organisms in a cubic
centimeter of the water. The well sample was free from coli and contained
the low count of 12 ordinary bacteria. The cause of typhoid fever in this residence
was attributed to the ijiiblic water sup[)ly.
Ainaiidus Iloltz, the son of James J. Iloltz, was tnkeii sick with typhoid fever
on .July 13tli. There were six in the family. The wnter supply came from a well
and from the borouiili system. The w<'ll w;is h)fiile(l iidjneeiH to the alley opposite
the house. Kitchen drainage; was thrown out into the alley. There was a privy in
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1231
the back yard and it was in good condition. Two samples of the well water
wer(^ analyzed. Tlic (irsL colk-ction wa.s on July 18tli. The water contained
]4,00(t total bacteria but no cnli. The sceond sample wa.s collected August 11th.
It showed a total <!l' IL'O bacteria and n<> <<di. The ty|)hoid fever infection was
attributed to the public water suitply.
The I'eter Foilage family comprised eijrlu members, five of wliieh had typhoid
fever. The dates of onset are shown in the lullowing statement:
July 14th, I'eter Foliage, Jr., U) years (dd.
July lOth , Thomas Foliage, (J years old.
July 17th, John Foliage. 1) years old.
July ISth , Josephine Foliage, 15 years old.
August 24th, Isadora Fuilage, 2 years old.
Mr. Foilage cimducled a small hotel and saloon. Two inside closets and a
urinal were connecti^d to a cesspool on the properly which had been cleaned out
the tii-st week in July. There was also a box privy vault in the backyard. The
water supply came from the borough system. The lirst four cases of typhoid fever
were attributed to the public water. This was the time that the general outbreak
occurred in the borough. The August 24th ease was clearly of contagious origin
within the household.
FEVER ALONG MILK ROUTE.
Mr. Edward Waltz supplied milk to seven families in four of which a total of
seven cases oi typhoid fever occurreil. The dates of onset are shown in the follow-
ing statement:
July 12th, John Easly.
July loth, Mrs. Emma Binder.
July ISth, Miss Emma Binder.
July 21st, Paul Binder.
July 15th, Mrs. Carrie Stewart.
July l.jth, ^\'iilianl Stewart.
July ISth, \'alentinc Able.
The water supply of the Waltz property came from a dug well. The household
drainage was comlucled in a pipe to an alley on the hillside. There was an earth
privy vault in the back yard which was cleaned by the Department's orders. Two
samples: of well water were analj-zed. The first sample was collected July 27th and
the ne\t one August .")tli, showing the total count of 140 and .jS bacteria, re-
sjiectively, and no coli. Apparently the milk sold by ^Ir. Waltz was uncon-
taminated. John Easly, who used the Waltz milk, was one of a family of five
members who obtained their water supply fi'om the borough system. The kitchen
drainage was piped to the street gutter. There was a privy in the back yard
in good condition. A trained nurse was employed. Care was taken to pre-
vent secondary infection. The case was attributed to the public water supply.
The Bindei' family comprised seven members. The water supply was entirely
from the borough system. The property had a connection to the sewer. All
wastes were discharged to the sewer. The three cases of typhoid fever occurred
at the time the general outbreak occurred in the borough. They were at-
tributed to the town water supply.
In the Stewart family there were 6 members. The water supply was entirely
from the borough system. All drainage from the house went to the sewer. The
typhoid cases were atrributed to the public water.
in the Abel family there were four members. The sink drainage went to the
street gutter through a pipe. The inside closet was connected with the borough
sewer, all water was obtained from the borough system. The tyi)hoid case on the
property did not appear to be connected in any way with a contaminated milk
supply.
I'eter Yeager supplied milk to ten families in four of which a total of five
cases of typhoid fever occurred. The dates of onset are shown in the following
table:
June, Mrs. Ella Gray.
July 4th, Henry Yeager.
August 11 th. Mrs. Lena Yeager.
July inth, Elizabeth Strittmalter.
July loth, Mrs. Christiana Dietrieh.
The Gray case was considered sporailic. There were three in the family. They
were supplied with borough water. The privy was found in bad condition and
overllowing. It was eleaned and disuifi-eted under the ilireition of the Department.
The kitchen dniinaue and waste water were thrown out on the ground by the
hinise. No disinfecting of the dejecta from the i)atient was done.
Henry Yeager distributed milk from the Peter Yeager cow to the Gray
f:imily and to the Stritlmntter, Dietrich and Johnson families. The latter was the
only family to whom he distributed (he milk that did not have the (lisease. None
of the other (•u^^olUers of I'eter Yeager were afflicted. Henry Venger might
have contracted typlioid fever from the case in the Gray houselmld .^ud he might
have transmitted it through the milk to the other families.
1232 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Jn tlie Henry Yeager family there were four meiubers. Mr. Yeager coutracted
the disease ou July 4th. His wife came dowu with the disease over a juouth
later. It was probably due to coutagion. A trained muse was not employed.
The water supply was" from the borough system. The privy was iu bad condi-
tion and was cleaned by order of the Department. The kitchen drainage and
wash water were thrown out on the ground.
In the Strittmatter family there were 0 members. Water was from the bor-
ough system and there was a sewer connection to rhe property. The case in the
family occurred when the general outbreak occurred. Three samples of water were
collected and analyzed.
BOROUGH WATER AT STRITTMATTERS.
Date of Collection. Bacteria per c. c.
Total. B. Coli.
July ISth , 27000 0
Julv 22nd , 20 0
August lllh, 6000 0
In the Dietrich family there were two members. The water supply came from
the borough only. There was a privy on the property iu good condition. The
household drainage was thrown out on the ground. A trained nurse was employed.
It would seem, if milk had been the medium of transmission of the infection,
through the instrumentality of Henry Yeager, that more members in the several
families would have contracted the disease because of direct contact with the
infection, while the borough water supply, which was the only source in every
instance, would have been easily the transmitter of the infection distributed in the
manner the cases broke out in these families iu the borough. Suspicion attaches
to the Gray case as the possible origin of the Henry Yeager case and the sec-
ondary infection in the Y'eager household.
In the family of John Sibert which consists of five members, there were three
cases, the dates of onset appear in the following statement:
July 11th, Hazel Sibert.
July 17th, John Sibert.
July 18th, Mrs. Josephine Sibert.
The water supply is entirely from the borough system. The privy was in bad
condition and was ordered cleaned by the Department. Kitchen drainage was piped
to the street gutter. A trained nurse was employed. The milk was furnished by
Jacob Kline. lie sold to no other family. His property was in good condition
and no sickness occurred there. The outbreak iu the Sibert family was attributed to
the borough water. In none of the other private milk supplies whore milk was
sold were there any cases of typhoid fever, and no suspicion was atlached to
milk.
Among the consumers of the Thomas Carr milk were the following cases of
tyt)hoid fever:
July ir»th, Mrs. L. A. Thomas.
July IGth, Elizabeth Strittmatter.
July l.oth, Mrs. Emma Binder.
July ISth, Miss Emma Binder.
July 21st, Paul Binder.
July ISth, (Juy Cuinmings.
July 24th, Frances I.,arson.
An inspection of the Carr dairy showed everything about the property to be in
first class sanitary condition.
All of the seven cases noted were on his route and occurred during the general
outbreak in the borough. Tlu' water supply was from the borough system only.
There were three in (he (Jummings family, eight in the Thomas family and
ten in the Larson family. Edicient work in disinfecting the dejecta of the
patients and in observing personal hygiene prevented secondary infection in these
households.
There wore no cases of typhoid fever among the takers of the Rarabau milk.
ORDERS AND CONCLUSIONS AB(KjT MILK.
Thus it will appear and it was concluded that milk was no! tln' jiveiiue
through which the typhoid contagion was spread iu Hastings, willi the possible
exceptions noted.
Orders were issued preventing the sale of milk from properties on which tyiihoid
fever existed. General instructions were issued to milk carriers and tin;
public tlijit no milk container should i)e carried by the milkman into any house. The
houK'-iioldf'r hrouglit out the individual container and into it the milk was poured
and said eontainer with the milk was taken into the liouHchoId in this manner.
This precHulion tended to prevent the spread of the conlagion llnoiigh the
agency of milk carriers. Every case of typhoid fevf'r was placardrd by the
borough authorities under the direction of the Commissioner of Health.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1233
PRIVATE SUPPLY OF WATER.
In the borough there were 109 private estates on which welLs and springs
existed and were in use. Ou'si.\ of tiiese estates only did typhoid fever occur.
Isiuety-hve of the wells were dug wells, nine were drilled wells and five were
springs. Many of theui were located on the hillsides and some in the valleys
and a majority of them were liable to surface pollution.
Fifty-fi\c estates on which such private supplies existed, comprising three
springs, seven drilled and 4ij dug wells, and on live of which typhoid fever occurred,
were examined and the waters analyzed, 104 samiiles being tested and found to be
unpolluted. However, instructions were given relative to precautions to prevent
surface contamination. The house holder's were warned to boil the water.
Thirty-eight estates on which such private supplies existed, comprising two
springs, one drilled and 3."> dug wells and on one of which a typhoid fever case
occurred, were examined and water analyzed, 71 samples being tested and in
each case on the first test the water was found to contain sewage pollution.
Twenty nf the wells were closed temporarily and cleaned and found to be un-
polluted on the second test, the samples being collected after cleaning. Two of
the priviite supplies were permanently closed. Two of the wells were cleaned
but not tested the second time. In nine instances the wells were not closed to use
but they were cleaned and on the test thereafter the water proved to be uncontam-
inated. In five instances the ow'uers did nothing.
The orders to clean the wells were issued by the local Board of Health following
out the instructions given by the State Department.
Sixteen estates on which such private supplies existed comprising one drilled and
15 dug wells weie examined and tlie waters analyzed and found to be unpolluted
on the first test ; but on the second test the Avaters were found to contain sewage
pollution. Thirty-three samples were analyzed in this way.
In five instances the wells were cleaned and put in use, in five other instances
nothing was done, in one instance, that of the "Y Spring," the water was
piped to several dwellings. The pipe connections at the spring were disconnected
by the borough authorities. In five instances the owners agreed to clean out
their wells and presumably this was done.
Considering the time of year when the outbreak of typhoid fever occurred, and
the extent to which the surface wells were liable to pollution, the absence of
sewei*s to any extent, and the prevalence of the custom of depositing wash water
on the ground, it was concluded that only by the prompt enforcement of pre-
ventative ivmedies by the local authorities under the direction of the State ofiicers
was a wholesale sprend of the infection prevented. Panicular care was exercised
by the State Department of Health to obviate contamination of the private water
supplies.
HOROUGH WATER TRANSMITTED THE ORIGINAL INFECTION.
In June, beginning about the 7th and extending through to the end of the
month, th'^ Pennsylvania Railroad Company built a side track up the valley of
Brubaker Run by the water w-orks pumping station. There was a gang of 25
laboicrs emiiloyed in this work. They came from Barnesboro each morning on
a work train an('. r^'turned in the evening. The workmen use the water at the
north spring and from a pump well of the borough system. Above this spring
was a hillside covered with bushes.. Excrement was found deposited about in
numerous places on this ground above the spring. The railroad employees added
to the menace. The door ar the spring was open. Foreigners working in the
neighborhood used the enclosure in which to store kegs of beer and keep them
cool. When the water from this spring did not all flow to the pump well, it
backed up and flowed out over the stone sill at the spring door. However, this
seldom occurred. It did not occur during June and July since there was not water
enougii to fill the pump well and so no surplus existed. At times of rain surface
watt r from the hillside above flowed down into the opening made in ithe hill-
side at the spring and would fill this opening up to the level, where the water
wouid thence overflow the pool and pass down the hillside. But in this filling up
of th(> depression the rain water would feed the spring and the pipe leading
to the pump well. It is known that some of this surface water did actually wash
into this spring and pass to the pump well and thence into the borough wiiter
works system.
On .Tuly 2S-2ft there was a scouring downpour in Hastings lasting several hours.
On July "Jnd . there was a downpour of less intensity. It is positively known that
surfa<'e water from tho hillside flowed into North Spring. The water also washed
into the South Spring, hut it had to first pass over a cultivated field in the
lattf-r case.
The foreman of the railroad gang which put in the side track, who drank of
the sjirinu water, was himself taken sick at Barneslioro about July 15lh. He had
typhoid fever. An effort war-, made to ascertain whether a case of typhoid fever
existed among the 2.") Italians comprising the sau-i of railroad workmen. These
members had departed, the gang having disbanded. Even the names of the
78—17—1908
1234
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
individuals were uut kuowu. Their pay checks went by numbers. So it will
never be known how many of this gang contracted the disease. The circumstantial
evidence is strong in support of the conclusion that the origin of the infection
was dejecta from some member of the railroad gang either coming down with the
disease or carrying it about in his person, being deposited on the ground im-
mediately above the North Spring from whence it was washed the latter part of
June and the first part of July into the spring and the pump well from thence
being pumped into the town reservoir and thence by gravity being distributed
into the homes of the water consumers.
PRECAUTIONS TAKEN RELATIVE TO THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY.
Dr. AV. T. 3Iattbews, County Medical Inspector, appeared at Hastings under
instnictiou from the Commissioner of Health and through his efforts, typhoid
fever cases had been placarded and the local authorities had ordered everybody,
through the newspapei-s, and by posters and other channels of communication,
to boil all water and milk.
The otiicers of the Engineering Division arrived at Hastings July 17th. Mr.
Ralph Irwin was in charge. Miss Alice O'Halloran was employed by the borough
to superintend the work of the nurses. These representatives were in daily touch
with the Harrisburg office.
The source of the borough's water supply was immediately inspected and con-
demned by the engineers. ~ The springs were shut off, cleaned and improved.
Drains were provided and the flow of surface water into the springs was rendered
impossible. The doors were locked. In the following statement appears the
results of tests of the waters collected from the springs:
Bactoria per c. c
Sample.
July 18th. North Spring,
July 27th, North Spring,
July 20th. North Spring,
July 18th, South Spring,
July 27th; South Spring,
July 29th, South Spring,
It should be remembered that the pumps were not run more than half a day,
namely each forenoon, since in this time the water in the puni)) well would be
drawn down. Of course the si)rlngs flow continuously. The samples collected
on July ISth did not show sewage i)oIlution nor at any subsequent date. Any pol-
luting matter of a liquid character woidd, of course, pass on with the flow into
the pump well No suspicion attached to the purity of these waters which flowed
cut from the limestone after I he improvements were mad(> on July ISlh.
The sowers in Third, 1^'ourth and Fifth avenues empty into the run a short
distance above the borough water works pumping slalion. Evidence of sewage
pollution could b- seen in the stream. It was feared that in some manner Ibis
polluted water might reach the i>ump well. Therefore, an examination of the
well was made immediately and springs were discovered in the bottom. On July
]i)th the bottom of the well was cemented. Leaks developed in the sides. Forms
were put in place and a concrete lining to tlie well was built under the direct
superiiileMdeiice of tlie I )eii!i rrnieiil 's engineers. This work was finished on August
Ist. At the close of tin- year n<j leaks had develoijed.
After the possible sources of pollution of the water supply at the sources had
been eliminated, attention was i)aid to the cleaning out of the reservoir and the
pipin',' system in the borough. The reserv<jir was cleaned out on August 2nd. On
the following day a solution of copper sulphate by weight one part in a hundred
thousand w-as ai)plii'd at the pumj) well and forced into the resiu'voir. The sides
were si;oured with brooms and the water wasted. Subsecpu^ntly a solution, one
part per million, was introduced at the pump well and the water passed through
tlie reservoir into the pipe system. Hydrants, blow-ofl's and taps w(>re opened
and the system was completely drained. The efrectivi-ness of Ibis treatment is
shown in ilie test of the water made. The use of the chemical solution was dis-
continued at the close of tlir. CHi d;iy (if August.
No. 17.
COIMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1235
Sainplo.
Bacteria per c c.
Total.
B. Coli.
July 18th, Pump well, -
July 27th, i Pump well
July 29th, Pump well
July 18tl), Reservoir,
July 18th. Tap at S. Strittmatter's,
July 22ufl, 'I'ap at S. Strittniiitter's,
Aug. 10th. Tap at S. Strittuiatter'.s,
July 18th, Tap at W. P. Dillon's, ..
Aug. .5th, Tap at W. P. Dillon's, ..
Aug. r>th, J. S. Cunningham,
Aug. 11th, Michael Neibauer -
July 27th, S. J. Grassberger,
July 27th, . Brubaker Run,
78.000
0
190
0
95
0
S,000
0
27,000
0
20
(>
6,000
0
220,00<1
0
62
0
32,000
0
32
0
210
2
5,200
20
TIio ri;istiiij;s W.itor roiupiiny .siiiiply was tested.
TEST OF HASTIXCiS WATER COMFAXY SUFPLY.
July 18th, Run to reservoir,
July 22nd, Run to reservoir -
July 18th, Reservoir .-
July 22nd, Reservoir,
July 18th. Tap at Baum"s Bakery
July 18th, Tap at Central Hotel, .
July 22nd, Tap at Central Hotel,
July 22nd, Spring above reservoir,
Bacteria
per
c. c.
Total.
B.
Coli.
600
0
1,200
0
6,000
0
70
0
5,400
0
5,500
0
420
0
12
0
nn'K(JNEMEXT OF SAMTAKY COXDmOXS.
Thp l(K-al aiithoritios with promptness and visor enforced the injunctions whicli
the Commissioner of Healtii transmitted tlinaiuli his proper officers and to this
effort may he atti'ilmted in no small decree the satisfactory report of secondary
cases. With unsanitary conditions abonndin.i!; everywhere, in the summer tinje
when avenues of secondary infection are un^atest. when the fly i)est ahonnds and
people are more careh'ss, it is remarkably that the liistory of the Hastings
e|)i(]emic records so compaiati\('ly few secondary cases. Tlie epidemic might
easily have numlien-d several hundred victims.
Op July ISth the horoujih purchased a carload of lime and distributed it
throiisliont the town free of cost. Ea<'h householder was siven some lime to use at
the privy and about the property. Ditches and wet places were limed thorousrhly
by the men in charge of the wauon in instances where there was no one there
able to ilo the w(>rk. .V.m|)le instructions were also issued to the householder.
The district nurse in charge performed her duties inside of the dwellinii and
too much iiraise cannot be bestowed on tho attiMition iriven by her assistants to
carrying out directions whenever a fever patient was found. The attitude of the
citizens was receptive an<l tliis also had much to do with the efliciency of the
work of eombalini.:' conlajiion in the sick room and in the dwellin.srs.
Thi> sanitary survey of e\ery eslatt was prosecuted day and ni?:ht. Officers
of the Hoard Of Health ef Hasiinjis followed up this work hv orders for the
cleaninj: of jirivy vaults, and removal of nil>bish. (he draining of alley and street
nutters and the disinfe.-ti(Ui m[ all thes<\
The borouch ccmucil held a ]iublic me.-iini; on July 21st. an<1 it was de-
cided to establish an euieruency hosnital. A committee of citizens took the matter
it) cliarixe. Coutritnitions from neishborins; municijialities and from individuals
were tendered ami accepted. The receipts of this kind were said to have been
about .$2,r)00.00.
1236 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Night soil was remored from the borough to a farm at a remote point, was
thoroughl}^ disinfected, spread upon the ground and ploughed under under the
personal supervision of olticers of the State Department of Health. Twenty-
four hour notices were served on all property owners where privy vaults needed
cleaning. At the expiration of the time, the borough men entered the property,
removed the niivht soil and assessed the owner with the expenses. In this way
very prompt service was secured. Most of the property owners chose to let
the borough do the work.
PERMANENT REMEDIES.
The Department advised the borough authorities to abandon the use of the
springs and to obtain a deep seated source of ground water supply. Consequently be-
fore the close of the year a six inch well had been drilled 512 feet deep and cased
to bed rociv. It was located in the pump house. The water was lifted from this
well by a vertical deep well pump, capacity 4,000 gallons per hour and is discharged
into the suction well of the main pumping engines. The springs on the hillside
were discontinued and are not now used for any purpose whatsoever. The supply
from the drivn well appears to be ample. When the pump is at rest, the water
stands within four feet of the surface of the ground. Pumping operations lower
this to a point 30 feet below the surface of the ground, at which level the water
remains during pumping. So it would appear that Hastings borough has an ex-
cellent public water supply.
The borough council instructed its municipal engineer to draw plans for
a comprehensive sanitary sewer system for the town. This work was in progress,
hut the plans had not been submitted at the close of the year.
TYPHOID FEVER AT LITITZ, LANCASTER COUNTY.
During 1907 a petition was presented to the Commissioner of Health asking for
relief from the pollution by borough sewage of Lititz Creek. Field Officers of the
Engineering Division were placed at work on the entire watershed of the Con-
esioga Creek above the water works intake at the City of Lancaster, which in-
cluded as a tributary the area drained by Lititz Creek. Orders of abatement in
niunerous cases were issued. On January 3rd, 1908, the following commu-
niiation was addressed to a large ma oufac luring concern in Lititz borough. This
communication briefly sets forth the situation:
"January 3, 1908.
"VV. H. Muth, Secretary and Treasurer,
"Ideal Cocoa and Chocolate Co.,
"Lititz, Pa.
"Gentlemen: In reply to your esteemed favor of recent date, about taking
sewage out of the streams in the borough , I beg to say that the citizens of
Lan^-aster, some fifty thousand people, are dependent for their drinking water,
upon the (Jonestoga Creek, and at times the consumption is greater than the
flow in the saciam. The lives of the men, women and children in liUncaster
are imperiled by the present method of si-wage disposal on the watersheds
above Die water works intake and in conformity with the law, and the duties
imposed upon m(! as f lomniissioner of Health, and in comjiliance with requests
so to do, I have had a sanilary inspection made of the entire watei'shed, and am
pursuing a uniform and (consistent policy without regard to fear or favor.
"The individual at the farm house must be careful how he deposits excrement.
He must have proper n-ceittacles and kt-ep the poison out of the streams, and so
must everybody living in the boroughs. With (lie former, it is an easy matter,
may Ix', but it is a more expensive matter in the liorouuli.
"I do not know now what the most eflident, l)est and cheapest means is for
Lititz, hut I should think that the borough council would find it advisable to employ
Konie r)nr' competent, like an engineer, to make a sui'voy and jirepare a plan for
ilie system of sewen* that would intercept all of the existing outlets, and
convey the sewage to some one point, wher(! it could l)e rendered harmless before
going into the stream.
"This is what the Governor, Attorney General and 1:he Commissioner of Health
is requiring of the city of Lancaster, and other itlaces in the State. The action
taken with respect lo your sewer is that taken with respect to i'vcry sewer
in the bf»rou(jfh af Lititz and other boroughs on the watei-shed. T wish lo be con-
.^ervetive and to give you time lo adojit some other means of dis|)osal than into
the r'lreams, and I am this day writing to the borough council again, making
the suggestion that they employ an expert to devise plans for a general sewerage
system.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1237
"If no disposition is shown on the part of the borouirh ofEcials or individuals
to remedy conditions, tlien I sliall have to proceed to act through the Attorney
General's DopariinLnt, but I am firmly convinced that the good people of your
town will be very glad to co-operate, one with the other, and with the State
officials, in bringing about this certainly very desirable and necessary thing, the
discontinuance of the discharge of sewage into streams, used subsequently as sources
of public water supply. I am,
"Yours very truly,
"SAMUEL G. DIXON."
The following ia a copy of Ihe letter sent to the borough couucil and referred to in
the above communication:
"To the l-Sorough Council of the
"Borough of I/ititz, Pennsylvania.
"Gentlemen: You are already familiar with the position which the State of
I'ennsylvania assumes relative to discharge of sewage into streams used subse-
quently as sources of water supply for the public. The health of the men,
women and children of the city of Lancaster is an important matter. Filth which
is put into the stream in jour borough, within a few hours, reaches Lan-
caster and is the source of water supply for the people there. It is against all
sense of decency, but beyond this, it is in direct defiance of the law, that sewage
be discharged into the streams.
"In pursuance of my duty, I have had an inspection made all over the
watershed in the country above Lancaster, and have notified everybody to stop
polluting the water and several hundred menaces have been removed. As you are
probably aware, 1 have notified individuals in your borough that they must stop
putting sewage into the streams. The cost to some of your industrial plants will
he considerable. Probably the better plan would be to build a system of sewei"s
and take the sewage to some point and render it harmless before going into the
stream. The borough could do this at a less cost aud for the general benefit
to all concerned, and I suggest it to be the rational and best solution of the
problem, and respectfully request you to promptly consider the problem from this
standpoint, and I would also ask that you favor us with an early reply to this
communication.
"Unless some such general remedy be afforded, I shall be compelled to proceed
to deal directly with the individuals who are now discharging their sewage into
the waters of the State within your borough.
"Trusting that you do appreciate the situation, and will gladly co-operate with
all interested to the end that the interests of public health will be preserved, I
beg to remain,
"Very truly yours,
"SAMUEL G. DIXON."
"Lititz, Pa., January 28, 1908.
'Dr. Samuel G. Dixon,
"State Commissioner of Health,
"Havrisburg, Penna.
"Dear Sir: Your communication of the 4th instant, relative to the sewage of
this place, which it is claimed pollutes the water supply of Lancaster, was sub-
mitted to our Town Council at their regular meeting last evening. In reply
thereto, 1 am instructed to write you that this borough is not in a financial
position to 'build a system of sewers to take the sewage to some point and render
it harmless before going into the stream.'
"Very respectfully,
"C. N. DERR,
"Boro Secretary."
As throwing further light on the pollution of Lititz Creek, the petition in full,
hereinbefore menti<med, is offered:
"TO THE HONORABLE. THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, ORGANIZED
UNDER AND BY VIRTUE OF THE SEVERAL ACTS OF ASSEMBLY
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, GREETING:—
"We, the under.signnd petitioners, who live in the valley of and along the flow
of Lititz Creek, in Warwick Township, ]>ancaster County, Pennsylvania, do
hereby appeal and pray that your Honorable Body take such action in the premises
as to protect us against the extreme pollution of said stream by the various fac-
tories :ind various sewers in the borough of Lititz, Pa., viz.. the Knitting Mill,
Lititz Pretzel Company, Ideal Chocolate Company, I'aper Mill, Railroad Res-
taurant, the Slaugiiter Houses, Starch Factory, Creamries, Animal Trap Com-
pany, various sewei-s .'ind many other smaller sources of pollution.
"Tlie nnlure of the filthy matter thrown in the said stream consists of decayed
veiietables, peelings of potatoes, bananas, melons, tomatoes, etc., etc., chuuks
of meats, corned beef, dried beef, bacon, and sausage spoiled and full of worms,
dead chickens, cats and even dogs. This class of filth invariable stays on the
1238 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
surface of the stream, while the bottom of the same consists of a dark, slimy,
slippery sediment, more like the refuse of the various factories. These various
filthy matters carry with them such a sickening stench that at times it is nec-
essary to close doors and windows in order to eat or sleep. Tin- tish in the said
stream are also becoming extinct and hundreds of large dead tish could have been
picked up along the same during the past two weeks, all dying from said pol-
ulted state of said waters.
"Hoping that your Honorable Body will take prompt action in the premises,
and that Lititz Creek, once a bright, sparkling stream of wholesome water, but
now a stenchy, lilthy, polluted carrier of sewage, will soon again be clean and
healthy."
The Department of Health followed up the pollution cases. At the close of the
year twehe menaces had been abated and eight cases were placed in the hands
of the Department's attorney for adjustment. They were all relative to properties
located in the borough.
On July 20th, Dr. J. L. ilowery, County jNIedical Inspector of Lancaster
County, reported the existence of a number of cases of typhoid fever in and
ai'ound the borough. The Commissioner of Health at (uice instructed the En-
gineering Division to investigate the cause. The water supply was examined,
disposal of sewage noted, samples of water were collected and analyzed and
recommendations were made to the local authorities. The prevalence of typhoid
fever was found to be not greater than that of other seasons. The following
report will show what was done.
GENERAL CONDITIONS.
The borough of Lititz is a manufacturing town of about 2,200 inhabitants, sit-
uated eight miles north of Lancaster City on Lititz Creek, a tributary of the
Conestoga Creek. From the latter stream Lancaster obtains its water supply at
a point ten miles below the city. The water is treated chemically to precipitate
suspended matters and is then subjected to filtration.
The borough is entirely within Warwick Township in the northern part of
Lancaster county and is located on the Reading and Columbia Division of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railway. The surrounding country is a thickly settled
feitilf farming district.
The renowned "Litit-/, Spring" rises from the limestone in the western part of
the borough. The spring is in a recess in the southern slope of the valley to which
is tributary, west of JJtitz, a drainage basin of limestone formation about 4.5 miles
in ai-ea above the spring. During dry weather said spring is the only visible
outlet for the said 4.5 square miles. The flow is said to be considerably affected
by local weather conditions. On July 29th about five days after a heavy storm,
the flow appeared to be between three and five million gallons per 24 hours. This
was reported by Mr. Cummings who had charge of the field work done by the
Department.
Since 1893, or thereabouts, the public in and around Lititz has been supplied
with water by means of a public water works system. It was owned by the
Lititz Water Company until about three years ago, when it was purchased by the
borough, and is now operated as a municipal plant.
Previous to the installation of the water works system, the domestic water
suppl.v was obtained from dug wells and rain water cisterns of which there are a
large number still in use. Gradually as the water works were extended and the
i,-onsumplion of water increased , the waste water from the households was dis-
posed of in cesspo(jlH and in (dd wells in the limestone. I*]arth i)rivy vaults are
in common use and in consequence water drawn from the wells in the borough is
of suspicious quality for domestic purposes.
BOROUGH WATIOR WORKS.
The public water su|)|)ly furnished by the borough is pumped from a well about
six feet in diameier and twenty-five feet deep. 'I'lie w(dl is in lime stoiu; ror^k and is
located about 200 feet west of th ■ "Lititz Spi'iiig." 'flie water in \h(\ well vai'ies in
level with the local weatlii'r conditions. Adjaci-nt to the well is tin? i)iiini) house, a
brick rttnicture, housing a horizontal duplex compound non-condensing puuiping
engine. The water is pumped inio a 12 inch supply main which exieiids to the
standpipe 200 feet dislant on Maple Street in the western part of the borough.
Tliis miiiti also r^xtemls into liu! borougii, tli<! stanilpipe acting as an (iqualizing
reservoir. 'I'lie daily coiiH\uni)tion is reiiortcd to be SO, 000 gallons. I'liuiiting is done
during threr; hours in llie moi'iiing and three hours in the afternoon. The
Htaridpijx' may be shut ofi' and watc.-r for fire purposes may be furnished under
direct pressure from the pump.
The distributing system consists of about three miles of pipe whose diameters
range from -1 to 12"in(;heH. The lines cover nearly the entire built-up parts of
the borougii and they extend about half a mile out in Ilic townslii)) to Warwick
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1239
village, north of Lititz and south of the borough iu South Kroad Street. Fire
hydrants are provided. There are from ten to fifteen dead ends on the pipe
system.
The Department is handicapped considerably by lack of a report and plans of
the water works system, the l)orough having neglected to furnish this informa-
tion as required by law.
TYPHOID FEVER.
During the last ten years typhoid fever has been prevalent in Lititz. Many of the
cases occurred on properties sui)plied with drinking water from a well on the
premises. The ten year period is mentioned because it was the one covered in in-
quries made at every house upon a canvass undertaken by the Department officers.
In the following table appears the total number of cases for each year prior to
1908:
TYPHOID FEVER IX LITITZ BOROUGH. BY YEARS.
Year. Number of Cases.
ISO!) 13
1900, 7
1!)01, .-)
1902, 15
1903, 17
1904, 19
1905, 5
190(!, C,
1907 1
88
In 1S99 there were 7 cases in one family using weil water. In 1902, four cases,
in 1903, seven cases, and also in 1904 there were seven cases in one family.
The entire 88 cases were on properties supplied with water as follows: 57
from private wells, 27 from the borough system and 4 from cisterns.
In 8(5 cases there was a loose earth dug vault at the privy. In two cases the
sewage was discharged into the sewer or cess-pool. There were 29 cesspools in use,
4 sewers and in 55 instances wash water and kitchen drainage was thrown out on
the ground about the dwelling.
It is not to be wondered at that typhoid fever was attributed to contaminated
drinking water from private wells. As far as can be learned, no one suspected
the borough water supply during these ten years.
There were 20 cases of- typhoid fever during 1908 in the borough of Lititz.
Their distribution is shown in the folloAving table:
TYPHOID FEVER IN LITITZ FOR 1908. BY MONTHS.
Months. Cases.
January , 0
February 0
March 0
April , 1
May, 1
June , 7
July, 3
Augu5:t , 1
September , 2
October, 3
November 1
December, 1
20
There were three rases in June and three cases in July where the patients lived
out in Warwick Townsliii) hut who had visited Lititz and had drunk water sup-
posed to have Ix^en pcplluted, making in all 25 cases in Lititz and vicinity.
The circumstances altrnding the outbreak of the disease pointed to the use
of well water as a conlrihuling cause. The suspected wells were in the oldest
part of the town on tlu m.rth side of East Main Street nearest Lititz Creek and
parallelini: the stream. The toixtgraphy of ihe ground is such here that the
underground draina;:e from the imilt-ui) district would naturally be towards the
creek by or through the wells suspected of being polluted. Thus the water in the
wells miirht be contaminated by sewage from the cesspools and privies of the
neighborhood.
On July o'Uh. 30 samples of water from as many places in the borough were
rollecti'd and tin' waters analyzed bacteriologically. The following table shows
tht> results;
1240
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF WATERS IN LITITZ.
Collected July 30, 190S.
Sample.
Bacteria per c. c.
Class.
Owner.
^
o
C3
Q
o
H
«
c.ooo
15
420
S
28.000
20O
22,000
None.
280
2
98
None.
110
None.
1,800
None.
16,000
None.
23,000
50
100
None.
3,000
20
15,000
75
2,400
15
3,000
0
io,ooa
3
60
None.
220
1
2.400
100
2,300
15
liO
1
7,000
None.
1.800
5
420
3
1,200
15
COO
None.
65,000
None.
280
None.
.•?,ooo
3
3,000
None.
Dug well
Drilled
Dug,
Spring, --
Dug,
Dug,
Cistern,
Cistern,
Dug,
Dug,
Dug
Dug
Dug
Spring
Dug,
Dug
Dug,
Dug
Dug,
Dug
Dug,
Dug
Dug
Lititz Spring, ..
Boro water,
Dug.
Lititz Creek,
Dug.
Dug,
Boro water,
Matilda Erb,
W. O. Evans,
A. D. Reidenbach, .
J. ^V'. G. Hershey,
Moravian Cliurcli,
Anna Becker,
Anna Becker,
Benj. Hertzler,
Benj. Hertzler,
N. D. Sturgis,
James O. Sturgis,
Samuel Hacker,
A. C. Pfautz,
C. E. Eegennas, ..
Hiram Demmy, ..
•Jacob Kissinger, ..
John Beck,
Samuel Spickler, ..
Aaron Habeker, ..
diaries Dissinger, .
Andrew Althouse,
Peter Eekert,
S. S. Graybill, ....
H. S. Kauft'man, Kes.,
Clement Badorf,
Monroe Witcraft,
Levi Rudy,
Pumping Station well, .
Sriample No. 27 of I^ititz Creek water was collocted below the village at a point
where sewage pollution in the creek was plainly visible to the eye. Notwith-
standinK this, the sample was gathered in a small bottle out of which about a
thimble-full of water was tested with the result shown in the table, namely, no
sewage organisms were present in this thimble-full of creek water. This indicates
how unreliable may be a conclusion based on one bacteriological test of water.
The creek was heavily polluted and probably other samples collected of the water
would have shown pollution in each case. These commeuls are pertinent to all of the
tests in the above table. Because B. coli were not found in some sample analyzed,
is not proof that sewage pollution is absent from a larger volume of water in the
well or spring.
On August 10th, 1908, the Commissioner of Health sent the following communi-
cation to the Board of Health of Lititz:
"VV. H. Buch,
"Sec. Board of Health,
"Lititz, Pa.
"Dear Sir: —
"On .July 30th, 1!)0S, samjjles of water were collecled from a Inrg
wells in Jiititz and havf; been analyzt^d in the; Department's lal)oral()i'i('s.
show that the wells on the propr'rties occupied by the followin;^ named
pollutcfl by sewage as indicat(!d i)y the i)reseiice o)' colon Icuilli in
analyzed:
"Mrs. Matilda Krh , well.
"\V. C. Evans, well.
"A. D. Reidenbach , well.
"Moravian (Jhiiich, well.
"Nat. D. Sturgis, well.
"Samuel H;i(k"r, well.
"Addison C I'fautz, well.
"C E. Regi'iiiias, S|)rinK.
"Hiram Demmy, well.
^ number of
The results
persons arc;
Ihr samples
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1241
"Jacob KissiiiKcr, well.
"Samuel Spickler, well.
"Aaron Ilabekor, well.
"Chas. Dissinger, well.
"Andred Althouse, well.
"S. S. Graybill, well.
"Levi Rudy, well.
"Therefore, these persons have been notified and urged to discontinue the use of
these wells and you are requested to have your Board use its influence to the same
end. Moreover, it is to be expected that sewage pollution might be discovered from
time to time from practically every well in the town, and the Department will con-
tinue the sampling and analyzing of the wells in an effort to discover such other as
may be polluted, so that the people may be fully informed.
"Furthermore, analyses taken from the borough supply and from the Lititz Spring
indicate that these sources also may at times be subject to contamination, and
further tests of these waters will be made.
"Very truly yours,
"SAMUEL G. DIXON."
A letter was sent out by the Department to each one of the names appearing
in tlie above communication informing them that analyses of the water collected
from their premises showed sewage pollution and that the said water was dangerous
if used for domestic purposes unless the water be boiled. Each owner was respect-
fully urged to discontinue the use of the well or spring. In two cases only where well
water was examined and found polluted had there been sickness on the property,
namely, at the home of Nat. D. Sturgis and Samuel Hacker.
At the Sturgis residence is a bakery in the rear where ijretzels are made. There are
nine occupants of this house. Two only of them were sick. Beulah Sturgis, 11 years
old, came down with typhoid fever on June (Ith and J^aura Sturgis was stricken on
June 19th. The well is dug twenty-five feet deep, has a loose wall and is located at
the side of the house under the porch. It is fairly protected. The water was raised
by means of a pump. Slops and kitchen drainage were thrown out on the ground
from the porch. The privies were in the backyard over one hundred feet distant from
the dwelling and well. .V removable box arrangement was afforded and when full the
boxes were taken out and the contents emptied into holes dug in the backyard. During
the sickness in the Sturgis family the stools were partially disinfected and, together
with the laundry water, were deposited in the hole dug for the purpose in the back-
yard. Although the well water was found to contain sewage organisms, it does not
appear conclusive that this water transmitted the infection, else more than two in
the family might have been afflicted. It is fair to conclude that Laura Sturgis was
infected by direct contact with the poison. Furthermore, Florence Putt, aged 14,
a neighbor and playmate of the Sturgis children, came down with the disease on
June 2(!th and her brother Allen, aged 12, was confined to the house several days
by violent stomach disorder, which required medical attention on June 28th ; but
the case was not pronounced typhoid fever. In the Putt family there were five
members. The water supply was from the borough system. It is not known that
the Sturgis w(dl water did not contribute to the typhoid fever in the family, but it
was concluded by the Department that secondary infection in the household was more
liiiblc to have been the manner in which the poison was spread. Lothe Hacker, aged
nine, residing next door but one to the Sturgises, was one of a family of three. She
was taken sick May 27th. Lpon the case being diagnosed as typhoid fever, the use
of the well was discontinued and borough water was used.
I'he well on the Hacker jiroperty \<as under the porch at the back of the house.
The kitchen drainage was thrown out on the ground nearby. There was a i)rivy
thirty feet distant on the adjoining estate. The supei"structure had been removed
and the vault full and overflowing remained exposed and flies swarmed about until
it became a common nuisance complained of by the neighborhood. The abatement
was accomplished about the first of June. The physical surroundings and method
of household disposal would direct the mind of any inspector to the well as a sus-
picious supply for drinking purposes and. as expet-ted, the fii-st test of the water
showed it to be contaminated by sewage. The Hacker case was the first one of the
season in the neighborhood. There is no way of connecting it with the Sturgis and
Putt cases except through direct contagion.
The Anna Beck"r estate occupies the third lot beyond the Stursis property. It is
on the corner of East Main and Water Street. Here, at the back of the porch in
the yard, is a dtii: well about forty feet deep. On the opposite side of Water Street
is Ihe property of Amos Brubaker, on which there is a percolating cesspool one
hundred and fifty feet distant from the well of Be<-ker. There was typhoid infection
in this cesspool from June first on.
The Becker well was about one hundred feet distant from the dug privy vault on
the property. It had been cleaned and limed the last part of .Tuly. The wa.sh water
was thrown out on the ^rouml near the well. Tests of this well water and of the
cistern water on the property showed absence of sewage pollution.
1242
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
Nine cases of typhoM fever are thought to have origiuated in the
hold. The cases aud dates of onset were as foHows:
Becker house-
Name of Patient.
June
10
June
14
June
19
June
26
June
26
July
8
July
10
July
13
July
17
Amoi! Huber,
Jolin H. MiUer, -..
Agnes Burkholder,
Frank Burkholder,
Chircnce Burkholdiu
Luke GrofI, _.
Mrs. Noah Hes.= , -_
Ada Groff,
Miss Hess,
Mr. anil Mrs. Miller kept the houst' for Mrs. Becker. Mrs. Miller's broth(>r, Amos
Huber, lived iu ihe family. During- the first part of June he complaiu(>d of being
ill, on or ai)out the K'th he v^ent to \'irginia and was there sick with typhoid fever.
Mr. Miliei- died on July 4th.
The three Burkholders are grandchildren of i\Irs. Becker and visited I heir grand-
mother frequently-. Mr. Burkholder conducts a farm iu Warwick Township near
Brunnerville, three miles from Ijititz. A trained nurse was employed at the farm to
care for the patients. All wastes from the sick-room were disinfected and projjerly
buried. The Department analyzed the water from the well on the farm on July 10th
and found no sewage organisms present in a cubic centimeter of the water. It was
concluded that Messrs. Huber and Miller contracted the disease from some unknown
and common source and that the Burkholders had succumbed to the contagion en-
countered in the Becker household.
Mrs. Hess aud Miss Hess were daughter and granddaughter respectively of Mrs.
Becker. They had visited the Becker household on several occasions. I'robably they
contracted the infection through some other medium of transmission than the water
of the well. Their home was on a farm in Warwick Township near Rothville, two
miles from the village. A trained nui'se was in charge. There was nothing at tln'
farm to arouse suspicion of the Malcr, milk or food as the avenue of transmission
of the original case in the Hess family.
Mrs. Ada Groff, with her two children, Lidce and Ada, visited Mrs. Becker about
the loth of June and at that time drank water from the Becker well. A prominent
physician in the town suspected the well to have been the cause of the nine cases of
typhoid fever.
The Amos Bnibaker case of typhoid fever dates from June 1st. The cesspool on
that property was still in use on July 30th, when the Department made the inspec-
tion and collected the sami)le of wat(U' from the Becker well which showed absence of
sewage pollution. The following letter was sent to Miss Lizzie B. Becker about the
well supply:
"Miss Lizzie B. Becker,
"201 E. Main Street,
"r.ititz, Pa.
"Df'ar Madam: —
"Replying to yonr inquiry of S('|)tember 4th, lilOS, analysis diil not indi<'al<' thai
the particular sampln of your well water tested was contaminaled by sewage organ-
isms, and, therefore, it could not be definitely said that ydur well was a source of
polluted water, anrl you were not so informed. However, luimei'ous other wells in
the vicinity w(fre, it was found, contaminated, indicating that all flie wells in this
locality ai-e dang( I'oiis sources of waler supply, aud llic local I'.oard of lleallli was
so informed, and was asked to urge ihc iilinndniiing < f all llic \\-rlls ludcss llir vvalcr
be boiled before being used.
"Anolhr-r sample slif)uld be cfdlccled l'r(jm your w 'il slKjrtly by (he loc;il licnilli
officer, who has voinnteered to collect samples and send tluMn to (he Dcp-i I'l iiieiil's
laboratories where the Department will have (hese samples analyzed.
"Yours fruly,
"SA.MIIEL <;. DIXON."
rONClLUSIONS.
In past years, diii'iiig llie seasons when typiioid fever was inosl pi'evaleiit in
Lititz, the total numbers havr- been materially increased by a large number of cases
in one family. Furtherinore , the dates of onset varied, and it may not bo erroneous
to conclude that the contagiousness of the disease has condibulcd not a little to the
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 124:i
records. At tliis late date it is not possible to collect accurate data or to form accu-
rate conclusions from the records at hand. One thing i.s certain, namely, that the
drawing of water from the ground and the using of it for domestic purposes is
attended with peril to such user in Lititz.
More careful attention to the disposal of sewage should prevail.
At the conclusion of the year and on the last day thereof, a letter was sent to
Dr. James C. Brobst, of Lititz, by the Commissioner of Health. It shows the lack
of appreciation of the situation on the part of the local authorities and the impor-
tance of sanitary precaution as a protection to public health- Where the attitude of
the local authorities is that of opposition to safe standards, comparatively little can
be done by the State Department of Health without the exercise of extremi-
measures :
"Replying to your favor of December 20lh, I beg to say ihat an investigation of
the water supply of Lititz was conducted during the past summer. Numerous sam-
ples of water were collected both from private wells and from the public supply and
analyzed in the Department's laboratories. The results indicated that many of these
wells were contaminated with sewage and that the public supply and the Lititz
Spring were not beyond suspicion. It was thought that the sampling should be con-
tinued and this information was presented to the local Board of Health, and, the
local healtli officer having been communicated with, a number of bottles were sent to
hiiu in which to collect samples, and the Department offered to have such samples
analyzed at its laboratories without expense to the borough. Later the local health
officer asked to b^ excused from collecting the samples. It is not to the credit of the
borough that the health officer is not i-omponsated sufficiently to allow him to devote
hip best services in the intf-resls of the health of the citizens, or idsc that Ix' lacks
interest in this work. The Department intends to continue the investigations
through its own officers at the earliest possible opportunity."
TVrilolD FEVER OUTBREAK.
rennsylvania Reform School, Morganza, Cecil Township, Washington County,
Pennsylvania.
During the summer an outbreak of typhoid fever occurred among the inmates of
the Pennsylvania Reform School, located at Morganza, Cecil Township, Washing-
ton County, and the State Dei)artment of Health was asked to make an investiga-
tion. This work was conducted under the direction of the Chief Engineer of the
Engineering Division. The following is a report of the investigations, the cause of
the epidemic and the measures adopted to prevent a recurrence of the disease.
GENERAL CONDITIONS.
The Pennsylvania Reform School is a State institution for the care and education
of incorrigible children up to the age of twenty-one years. The sehool was estab-
lished in 1S.j2 on the site of the present penitentiarj' in Pittsburg. In 1ST12 it was
moved in its entirety to the present site at Morganza. The institution to-day com-
prises a main building, four cottages fQr boys and a large building for the care of the
girl pupils, a public school building for boys, three shop buildings in which trades
are taught to the boys, a hosi)ital and farm buildings. There are in proce-ss of erec-
tion two cottages, one for boys and one for girls, and a large gymnasium and a
power house. The.v are all situated on a five hundred and twelve acre tract of land
located in Cecil Township, Washington County, north and west of Chartiers Creek,
which flows in a general southeasterly direction by the property. This creek makes
a large bend in its course so that it forms the western boundary of the southerly
portion of Uie property and through this part the Chartiers Valley Division of the
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad extends. Morganza Sta-
tion is on the land occupied bj' the State buildings.
The Administration Building and four cottages are directly back from the station
on a bluff which is one hundred feel or so abo\e the creek valley, and the other
buildings are situated back from this Iduff on rising ground, whieh is laid out in
regular plots and drives for the prosi)ective cottage develoi>ment of the institution.
Near the northern boundary of the land reserved for future cottages is a water
course locally known as Morganza Run, which rises north in the township near the
villagi> of Pisliop and iMirsues a generally southerly direeticui a distance of about
two and a half mihs to Chartiers Creek. The latter seventeen hundred feet of the
course follows closely the northern boundary of the St!it(> property.
The valley of this run and the entire watei-shed is under cultivation.
The population of the institution, including officers, numbers about five hundred
and fiftv. It is estimated that the average daily water consumption approximates
125,000 gallons.
1244 TPIIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
EXISTING WATER WORKS.
On tlie instiiutiou grounds, in the northern part, a small intake dam on Mor-
ganza Run was erected to divert the water of the stream into the water pipe system
of the institution and this source was the first supply. Later, owing to inadequacy
of the supply, an intake dam and pumping station was erected near the banks of
Chartiers Creek and the major portion of the supply was drawn from the creek.
Subsequently, owing to coal mine operations and the pollutions of the waters by
mine drainage and sewage, the creek supply was abandoned except for emergency
uses, and Morganza Run was again resorted to. A small intake dam of timber
construction was built on the run five hundred feet below the site of the original dam
and the water was conveyed by a pipe to an artificial pond on the bank of the stream
about five hundred feet distant. This basin was an earth structure partly excavated
and partly held in embankment, being about one hundred and forty feet long by
eighty feel wide, affording a three foot depth of water. Its use was that of a pump
well and ice pond. From this basin the water was pumped into a distributing reser-
voir on the hill in the northern part of the institution grounds elevated about one
hundred and eighty feet above the main building.
At the present time the institution's water supply is derived from three sources:
first, raw water from Morganza Run for general, inferior uses; second, from
£?prings for drinking purposes; and, third, from Chartiers Creek and a drilled well
aj the creek pump house for inferior uses.
The main supply is derived from the run and is diverted by means of a dam and
a ten inch tile pipe to the open basin and pump well above described. The water is
raised by means of a horizontal, duplex pumping engine of five hundred gallons'
capacity per minute through about one-half mile of six inch cast iron force main to
the distributing reservoir located on the hill north of the institution.
The distributing reservoirs are two in number, each seventeen feet deep and
thirty-six feet by fifty feet in plan, vertical walls brick lined, cement bottom having
a combined capacity at a depth of fifteen feet of water of four hundred and thirteen
thousand gallons. There are facilities ailorded at the bottom of these reservoirs for
drainage. The pumping engine is operated daily for a few hours until the high water
mark is reached.
From these reservoirs the water is supplied by gravity to all the buildings, in-
cluding the barns, stables and farm houses, and is used for flushing, sprinRling,
bathing, stock and other general purposes excepting for drinking. Oue of the rules
of the institution prohibits the use for drinking of the faucet supply; but it has been
found difficult to entirely prevent the use for this purpose.
There is no plan in existence of the distributing pipe system. There app^'ars to be
a six inch and eight inch supply line from the hill reservoir. About the grounds at
convenient points fire hj'drants have been erected.
It is possible by means of valves and connections to pump Morganza Run water
directly into the distributing system by-passing the resers'oirs, so it is reported.
For drinking purposes, water is obtained from two or three springs located on
the ground. The principal spring is on the hillside in fi'ont of the Administration
Building and about halfway distant between said building and the railroad station.
The formation is limestone and originally there was a small ravine in which Ihe
spring gushed fortii from the limestone. Rocks were thrown in here and carefully
piled together and then the ravine was filled with earth up to the gimeral level of
the lawn as it may be seen to-day. A two inch pipe extends from tlu- underground
spring down hill tov,ards the railroad and terminates in a galvanized iron tank about
eighteen inches in diameter and three feet high resting on a brick foundation slightly
above the surface of the ground. There is a faucet near the bottom of this tank
from which water is drawn for use. Formerly a water wagi)n hauled all of th(>
drinking v.ater to the main buildings supplenienled by family buckel briga<les for
fresh water supply to the cottages for tal)l(> use. This system is maintained in part
at the present tiroe, but, generally si)eaking, the girls' buildings are now supplied
by a pumping system. The overflow from tin; iron tank is piped to a brick, cement
lined, storage basin of about fifty barrels' (•ai)acity, localed near the railroad and
the old jjower house, where there is a small pumping engine which raises the watci-
through a two inch forro main to a second brick, cement lined reservoir of the same
size located in the ground back of the Administration Building and near the group of
shops. TTie structure is elevated sufficiently high to furnish a gravity flow under low
pressure to the ground floor or basement of the Administration Building and four
cottages adjacent thereto.
Another ini)jorlant spring is in the grove on the slope toward Chartiers Creek
northwest of tlx; shops. The water flows from limestone rock through an inch pipe
and fsills free into an artificial stone basin in which there is no storage. The water
is obtained here by pulling receptacles under the end of the pipe.
Tiie next spring of iniporlanee is in the inimediiite vicinity of one of the new cot-
tages being erected ami within seventy-five fee| of the main fifteen inch sewer of the
institution. It is reported that this spring, which comes from the limestone, is in
wiiat was formerly a ravine which has been filled in in a manni^r similar to that
described witl) respect to the first spring herein mentioned. A six inch pipe about
two hundred and fifty feet long conveys this water to an open brick lined basin about
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
124t
three feet in diameter and flush with the surface of the ground. Surface water con-
tamination is possible here. It is always full of water. The overflow is into a
nearby lily pond. Water has been occasionally taken from this well for drinking
purposes, more especially by the families in the three nearest cottages.
During the latter part of the current season a spring at the farm house has been
drawn upon. It is in a spring house, the water flowing from the bank out of the
limestone.
At the Chartiers Creek pump house there is a drilled well deep and connected up
to the pump. The machinery is old. The water raised from this well has an odor
and disagreeable taste and the supply is limited. At the pump house there is a
75,000 gallon circular, brick pump well into which the deep-seated water is delivered
and from whence, by a second pumping engine, the water is forced into the dis-
tributing system of the institution. This latter pump may also draw water directly
from the creek and deliver it into the system. Whenever the Morganza Run supply
is insufBcient, the driven well is resorted to and finally raw creek water is used. Any
surplus pumpage overflows from the pipes into the distributing reservoirs on the hill.
On the hill adjacent to the twin distributing reservoirs is a large reservoir approxi-
mately one hundred feet square, with sloping sides, and thirteen and one-half feet
deep. It is brick lined. This structure is water tight and hence is not in use. The
capacity on a twelve foot basis is slightly in excess of five hundred thousand gallons.
The watershed of Morganza Run above the intake dam has an area of about two
square miles and on it there are twelve dwellings, all occupied but one. Nine of the
estates are farms. There are quite a number of oil producing wells on the watershed
and new wells are being drilled from time to time.
THE TYPHOID FEVER OUTBREAK OF 1908.
The institution has witnessed considerable typhoid fever during its thirty-two
years' existence at Morganza. Three times it has shown in epidemic form. The
attending physician reports 70 cases for 1S9S, 60 cases for 1903, 9 cases for 1907
and 40 cases for the current year. With a few cases occurring in other years, the
total has been nearly two hundred cases during the last ten years, the cause of
which has never been determined.
On July 12th, 1908, the first case appeared in Cottage D, where the boys average
fifteen years of age. In the following table the date of onset of each case and the
location of cottage in which the patient resided are shown:
LOCATION BY COTTAGES.
1908.
Date of
Onset.
July 12
Aug. 1.
Aug. 2,
Aug. 3
Aug. 6,
Aug. 7,
Aug. 8.
Aug. 9,
Aug. 10.
Aug. 11,
Aug. 12
Aug. 13
Aug. 14
Aug. 15,
Aug. 17, ....
Aug. 18.
Aug. 19
Aug. 20
.\ug. 21
Aug. 23
Aug. 26
Aug. 29.
Cottage.
Ave. age
of boys.
18i
13i
11
m
1 1 1
1 1
; 1 1
1 2
1 . -.
1 1
1 3 1
1
1 1 1
2 1
2
1 1
1 1
1
i ! 1 1-
! 1
1
2
1 1
1
1
1 0 2
11 IS IS
During the time covered by the table and the outbreak, Morganza Run water
•was generally supplied to the buildings and the two principal springs were in general
use for drinkinc purposes. It will be noticed that no cases occurred in the girl's
cotti^ues or amonc adults, so the infection was not likely to have como from any
food or nater supply in general use. The milk supply was run down and found
79
1246 THIRD ANNQAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
to be pure. If the conclusions be correct, the Morganza Run and the two principal
springs are relieved from suspicion and there remains Tiily Spring to ex-
amine.
It will be noted that the cases occurred in the cottages supplied by drinking
water partly from Lily Spring. Cottage E is nearest the spring and in it
there were 13 cases, and there were 13 cases in Cottage A, the next nearest
building. There were 11 cases in Cottage B, which is the third from Lily Spring.
The other three cases Avere in the buildings further removed. It appears the
epidemic was confined to the users of Lily Spring because in Cottages E, A and
B the boys had daily access and drew water from Lily Spring as previously de-
scribed. The dates of onset indicate a weakened infection and a continual re-
currence to the poison. It is such an outbreak as would be expected where a
number of families used infected water from a spring week in and week out. The
type of the disease was the mildest form. There was oue death ouly. The investi-
gator would naturally look for a constantly polluted source of non-virulent kind
and it is believed that the Department has discovered such a source of infection in
the sewer previously mentioned and distant 75 feet from the spring.
Every occupied estate on the watershed was visited. No typhoid fe\er was dis-
covered. During the previous year there was one case on the shed.
The first case on July 12th was located in Cottage D, at the end of the main
sewer line. Daring the first week of the August outbreak the main sewer was
opened near Lily Spring by the Superintendent and the structure was found to
be in a leaky condition and immediately Lily Spring was put out of commission
permanently by cementing up the well. Its use had been prohibited August 2nd
on suspicion. During the middle of the month, while excavations were being made
for the basement of one of the new cottages over the main sewer, distant about
250 feet from the spring, it was discovered that every joint was broken in
a distance of about SO feet, indicating that a similar condition may obtain
throughout the entire sewer line. Closer inspection revealed that the joints
on the iDottora had never been properly cemented. When it is recalled that such
a main sewer passed 15 feet above and 75 feet distant from Lily Spring and that
the structure is porous and partly filled earth, the connection between the in-
fection discharged into the sewer line from Cottage D on and prior to July 12th,
and the subsequent infection of Lily Spring followed by the daily onset as reported
can be understood.
A hole was dug in the porous soil near the sewer and a salt test was applied,
showing that 12 hours' time would permit the passage of the salt water into the
spring. Hence sewage from the sewer pipe could pass through in this time.
A sample of water was taken, after the beginning of the typhoid cases, from
the spring in the grove, from which the drinking and cooking water was ob-
tained. This sample was analyzed to show the normal chlorine in the vicinity.
The waier contained seven parts per million of this salt.
Two samples of water collected from the spring below the sewer before the
salt test was applied at the hole artificially dug, showed 90 and 95 parts per million
of chlorine respectively. After the salt was applied to the hole the chlorine in
the sample tested showed much higher, as will appear in the following table.
Both tests of the spring water prior to and subsequent to the application of the
salt test showed that the spring water was contaminated with sewage.
TESTS FOR CHLORINE IN THE SPRING BELOW THE SEWER.
No. of sample. Chlorine, Parts
per million.
1, 95
2 200
3, 110
4 220
5 no
H 120
7 110
8, 130
9 110
10 110
A baceriologicfil examination of Lily Pond water was made. This analysis
showed 80,000 bacteria per cubic centimeter and 33 coli communis per cubic centi-
meter.
No further proof should be wanted than the.«te results to establish tlie certainly
that the spring was polluted by sewage from the sewer. It may be readily seen
how the disease in T'otlaKOS R, A and E came from the one case in Cottage D.
Sewage from all the cottages passed the point of probable pollution. The in-
fections matter from the typhoid fever pa lent in ('otta^e D escaped from the
Hewer on or before July 12lh, percolated through tiie ground and reaching
the spring after a while in a weakened slate of |)oteiitiality. Tiiis iirconrils for
the delay in the onset of the disease in subsequent cases and tbe mild form of
thf fever.
It was concluded by the Institution and the State a'llliorities that ;iii improved
Hcweraiie system and' an improved water works system were demanded at the
Institution.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1247
REMEDIES.
Plans for a new impoundinfr roservoir ahovp the present intake on Morganza
Run and for the filtration of the Institution's water supply were immediately
prepared by the Institution, and were submitted to the Commissioner of Health
for approv:il. The report on these plans appeal's elsewhere in this report in the
report of the Enp;ineerins Division un<ler the heading of "Permits for Water
Works," issued by the Commissioner of Health.
The Commissioner of Health advised the Roanl of Managers to obtain an
adequate ai)pr()i)riatlon from the Legislature for the erection and completion
of the impounding reservoir, filtration plant and proposed changes and im-
provements to the distributing system, including an additional pumping outfit,
on or before the close of the season of 1000.
Furthermore, it was enjoined by the Commissioner of Health that all ex-
isting ;\nd present sources of water sup|)ly. excepting the filtered .Morganza Run
water, shall be discontinued and the pumping engines in connection therewith
shall be dismantled.
Furthermore, the Board of Manageis have been requested to maintain a
sanitary patrol of the watershed. Every occupied estate .shall be inspected at
least once monthly, ail nuisances and menaces shall be noted and promptly re-
ported to the State Department of Health.
In November plans for outfall sewers and sewag(» disposal works were sub-
mitted to the State Department of Health for approval. Said plans provide
for the discontinuance of the S inch and 15 inch sewer outlets into Chartiers
Creek and the substitution therefor of a modern sewage treatment plant to be
located on the n?ck of land in the bend of the creek opposite and west of the
said outlets. The site selected is elevated about 20 feet above the creek and is
remote from any settlement. Here it is proposed to erect works to treat 100,000
gallons of sewage per day. The description of the plant is set forth in a decree
of the Commissioner of Health, appearing elsewhere in the report of the En-
gineering Division under the general heading of "Permits for Sewerage," issued
bv the Commissioner of Health.
READIXeJ EPIDEMIC.
Under directions from the Commissioner of Health, the Chief Engineer of the
Department went to the city of Reading early Monday morning, November 30th,
to make investigations relative to the cause and prevention of the further spread
of typhoid fever in that city in so far as the public water works and sewer system
were concerned.
He accomi)anied the Chief Medical Inspector of the Department, these two
representatives of the Commissioner being sent to Reading to assume the local
direction and control of the typhi)id fever situation and to execute all orders issued
by the Commissioner of Health. They were in constant telephonic communication
with the head of the Department. On several occasions the Commissioner directed
affairs while on the ground in Heading. In the following pages may be found the
history of what was done by the Engineering Division to help stamp out the
epidemic and to afford protection against a recurrence of the disease in ei)idemic
fonn.
GENERAL CONDITIONS.
The city of Reading owns its water works system. The sources are principally
from surface supplies. Two of the sources are filtered. The others are supplied
in their raw condition to consumers. A detailed description of the water works
system is essential to a thorough uudei-standing, by laymen or by experts and
public olHcials charged by law with the responsibility of operating aiid maintaining
water works systems, of the distri!)ution of typhoid fever cases, the preventive
measures which were adopted during the epidemic, and the permanent measures
which are to be imposed upon the municipality to prevent epidemics of a water-
borne nature. \
Reading is the fourth city of I'ennsylvania in size and importance. It is a com-
munity of varied inanufaciiiriug interests with a population of about 08,(M10 es-
timated, rapMlly growing and destined to have double the number of residents
in all probability. It is located along the east bank of the Schuylkill River,
which flows in a generally southerly direction to the Delaware River in the city
of I'hilfidelphia, distant about sixty miles. Philadelphia obtains a portion of
its public water supply from the Schuylkill River and .several municipalities on
the banks between Reading and Philadelphia do likewise.
1248 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Reading has a separate system of sewere and is now engaged in constructing
a modern sewage purification plant, capable of treating all of the sewage of the
city. The municipal territory is confined by the topography to the land between
Moxint Penn on the east and the river on the west, and on the south by the
Nevorsink Mountains. North there is considerable territory for expansion.
Coming down between Mount Penn and the Neversink Mountains is a stream
known as Rose Valley Creek, and it is in this drainage area in a valley to
the east of Mount Penn, between it and Mount Washington in Lower Alsace
Township, that a reservoir has been constructed and a filter plant erected known
as the Egelman supply.
East of these mountains is an extensive valley drained by Antietam Creek, which
stream flows in a general southerly direction and empties into the Schuylkill
River several miles below Reading and on its upper waters in I^ower Alsace
Township there has been erected a dam, forming Antietam Lake, which is
one of the sources of Reading's public supply.
There is a stream called Beruhart Creek, which rises north of Deer Path Hill,
(part of the ISTount Penn range) and flows in a general southwesterly course through
Muhlenberg Township and a part of the city of Reading to the Schuylkill River,
and on this creek in said township, about one mile north of the city, has been
constructed a dam forming what is known as Beruhart reservoir, which is
another source of supply to the city.
The sources of supply to the public in the city of Reading are owned, operated
and maintained by the municipality. In the order of acquirement they are as
follows:
Hampden Springs,
Egelman,
Bernhart,
Antietam,
Hampden Drift,
Maiden Creek,
These sources, fully described hereinafter, are more or less interchangeable.
The Hampden Springs supply is now delivered into the Hampden reservoir. The
Egelman supply is filtered and delivered primarily to a district served by this par-
ticular water, the surplus going into Hampden reservoir. The Bernhart supply
is at present unfiltered, but a sand purification plant is in process of erection.
This water is supplied by gravity to the low sei'vice distributing district in the city.
In this district are located the Penn Street reservoirs in which the deficiency is
made up by water from the Ant'etam filters. The Antietam supply is filtered and
furnished primarily to a district served by these waters. The Hampden Drift
water discharges into Hampden reservoir. These various sources are supple-
mented by the Maiden Creek supply which at the present time furnishes over
sixty per cent, of the water to the city.
HAMPDEN SPRINGS SUPPLY.
These springs, two in number, were the original sources belonging to the
Reading Water Company, which company was acquired by the city of Reading
in 180;"), since which time the public water works has been a municipal plant.
They are located above the occupied districts of the city, on the side of Mount
Penn, about opposite Spring Street extension. Formerly iron ore was mined
from Mount Penn and the water flowing from the two drifts were collected into a
masonry basin about eight feet square supporting a stone superstructure kept
under lock and key. From this basin at the present time a six inch gravity pipe
line delivers water into Hampden reservoir. A meter has been inserted in this pipe
line and the flow from the springs is measured daily. The average daily supply
thus measured for the fiscal year 1907-1908, ending April first, was 104,111 gal-
lons. There are no known sources of pollution ; the mountain is unoccupied ex-
cept by a hotel at the summit.
HAMPDEN DRIFT.
The Hampden Drift was made by the city driving a tunnel into Mount Penn
on the western slope at about the same elevation as the Hampden Springs for
the purpose of augmenting the ground supply. No storage whatever is attempted at
the mouth of the drift. The water is collected in a four inch pipe and delivered
directly by gravity into Hainf)d('n reservoir. The average dnily flow for tlie year
ending April first, 1908, was 1.'>,01.'"( gallons. A stone bulk-head is constructed
at the mouth of the tunnel provided with doors securely fastened.
EGELMAN SUPPLY.
The Egelman source is yielded from a surface area of 0.0 square mile high
up ir. the mountain. During the fiscal year ending April first, 1908, this supply
furnished 1.78 per cent, of the total amount of water supplied to the city. The
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1249
average daily supply from this source was 217,992 gallons. On the water-
shed there are four occupied estates containing a total population of eighteen.
The water is collected iu a reservoir having a storage capacity of U,9UU,0U0 gal-
lons. The surface area <>t the water is 2.4 acres. The pond is formed by earth em-
bankments built actross the valley of the stx'eam, one embankment being con-
tiguous to Hill Road and the other at right angles to it. The inside slopes of
the reservoir ai"e both of stone. The embankment contains a stone masonry
core wall. The overflow from the waste weir passes through a thirty-six inch
brick drain laid in Hill Road to a natural water course. The stream then has
a rapid descent and its course is through a public reservation known as Mineral
Springs Park, owned and maintained by the city. At the foot of the mountain
in this reservation is the noted Mineral Springs Tavern supplied with Egelman
reservoir water, but elsewhere iu the park the visitors obtain drinking water
from numerous springs outcropping on the eastern slope of Mount Penn. These
springs are pipe and water is obtained by holding a glass under the flowing stream
issuing from the end of the pipe.
Immediately above the reservoir there is a subsidence basin, small, built in the
same manner and being about one-half the size of the storage basin. Water flows
into it from the main stream and also by means of an open ditch gatering the
surface wastes from the boulevard and the district west of the reservoir. Pipe
connections are so arranged that subsided water may be delivered directly to the
filter plant below. On Hill Road opposite the reservoir are located the Egelman
filters. The capacity of this plant is 500,000 gallons per day. It has been in
successful operation since June 11th, 1903. Prior to that time the water was
supplied in its raw condition to the town, the service being in use when the city
acquired the water works.
The filters are of the open slow rate type. There are two of them built side
by side, each 40 feet wide and 55 feet long and 9 feet deep. The bottom is con-
crete and the sides of brick and stone. The uuderdrainage system for each unit
comprises an eight inch terra cotta main drain laid in the centre of the bed
lengthwise and having four inch laterals on either side on parallel rows 10 feet on
centres. Around and over these drain pipes are placed to a depth of twelve
inches select gravel of different sizes, ranging from two inches to 1-10 of an inch
in diameter, the smaller pieces resting on top. Over all is placed four feet in
depth selected Delaware River bar sand. The sides of the filter beds from the
surface of the sand down are not vertical. They are stepped. The maximum
depth of the wat'.'r and normal height is three feet above the surface of the sand,
and each unit is kept flooded to this depth when operated. The water is con-
ducted from the Egelman reservoir or from the settling basin as desired through
a twelve inch and ten inch pipe, respectively, both connected in Hill Road.
On the twelve inch supply pipe between the connection and aerators, there is a
by-pass ten inches in diameter, provided for the introduction of raw water into
the town service if occasion should require. Before delivery on the filter bed the
water is first aerated by being passed up through two vertical pipes, which are
funnel-shaped on top over which the water flows and falls into a circular
perforated pan and through it to the surface of the water in the aeration
chamber. This chamber is of masonry construction eight feet wide by fourteen
feet long. From it water is conducted by eight inch pipes to an independent line
to each unit. The admission of water is accomplished in the customary manner and
the height is controlled by a float valve operated in a chamber built for the pur-
pose at one end of the aerating chamber.
Filtered water is conducted to the clear water basin which is a masonry struv,-
ture 12 feet by 15 feet, interior dimensions, and 10 feet deep. The
supply pipe to the town begins at this basin. The feed pipes
from the filters are independent lines eight inches in diameter, and on each line
is placed a Venturi meter. By means of this i-ecording apparatus and other
apparatus located in the gate house built over the clear water basin, the height
of the water in the filters, the loss of head, rate of filtration and height of water
in the clear water basin are noted daily and accurate reports kept. The care-
taker lives in the dwelling nearby, owned and provided by the city for the pur-
pose The property about the plant and reservoir in control of the Department
amounts to thirty-one acres.
Facilities for draining any part of the filter plant and the supply reservoir
and storage basin are afforded. The blow-offs are in every instance into the paved
storm wator channel or run at or below Hill Road.
A sppcial arrangement is provided at each filter bed for the rapid empt.ving of
the water above the sand surface, and also for the removal of ice, botli going
to the run. These filters were built to obviate any pollution of the drinking
water and to afford a constant clear supply to the Egelman District. On the
watershed adjoining the city property there is a picnic ground of about one acre,
where several hundred people gather on special occasions. The sewage is disposed
by means of cesspools. The water has a wide range iu turbidity. Usually it is quite
clear, having an average turbidity of five, but sometimes it reaches as high as
one hundred and twenty for the subsided water. This was during a spring
freshet. The turbidities are read once a week. The raw and filtered waters are
analyzed weekly.
79—17—1908
1250 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
Since April first, 190S, the average of the weekly tests reported by months have
been as follows:
Raw. Filtered. Pet. Removal.
AprU 2.S4 2.2 99.1
May, brJ, 8.2 99.4
June, 612 1.8 99.7
July 434 3.9 99.1
August, 530 4.1 99.2
September 676 1.8 99.7
October, 384 1.1 99.7
November, 247 2.0 99.2
The above figures are of water bacteria present in the raw and filtered water.
The filter beds are scraped on the surface and the dirty sand removed and
stored for washing. The scraping is done once every two weeks or so on the
average, but during the last summer about once every month was sufficient be-
cause of the lack of rain and low turbidity.
Ou July loth, filter bed No. 1 was resurfaced; that is, the dirty sand was
scraped off and the accumulated dirty sand was washed and replaced in position
in the filters, and on July 21st, filter bed No. 2 witnessed the same operation.
After a bed has been drained and cleaned the sand is back-filled with water from
the filtered water well to a few inches above the sand, and then the raw water
is applied.
The rate of filtration varies from 6.15 million gallons per acre per day to a
minimum of about one million gallons per acre per day, the rate of filtration
being determined by the rate of consumption in the water district. Because of the
lack of storage of filtered water, the filtei-s have to be speeded up to meet the
demand of consumption in the water district. There have been times during
the cleaning operations while one filter unit was out of commission, that un-
filtered water had to be by-passed and mixed with the water being filtered by the
other unit to meet the demands in the town. This operation occurred on July
14th and 15th, probably, of the current year.
The intention" has been to store filtered water in the Buttonwood Street reser-
voir. The high service district at present supplied direct and exclusively from
the Egelman filters embraces approximately that porton of the city lying east of
Twelfth Street, and south of Douglass Street, as far as Mineral Springs Road,
being the higher portion of the city territory on the slopes of Mount Penn. Also the
high land on the opposite side of Rose Valley Creek on the slopes of Neversink
Mountains, this area being south of Cotton Street, and east of Sixteen and a Half
Street. Within this district there is a resident population estimated to be 3,600,
who consume a total daily average of 218,000 gallons of water. The Button-
wood Street resei"voir when completed will be used as the distributing reservoir
for this high service district. Its capacity is 1,022,000 gallons. It is built on the
side slopes of Mount Penn opposite the end of Buttonwood Street, and is formed
by excavations and embankment. The inside, bottom and slopes are lined with
cement concrete. The reservoir is not in service although built in 1895. There
are cracks in the lining through which water escapes rapidly. The plan is to re-
pair the leaks, cover the reservoir and to deliver the water direct from the filters
to this basin for distribution. The elevation of the water level is about 36
feet below the water level in the filter water basin at the filter house. The level
of this storage above the high service district is suflicient to give ample pressure
for all purposes.
BERNHART SUPPLY.
The Bernhart reservoir has a water surface of 13.3 acres, holds 42,000,000 gal-
lons when full to its maxiniiun dcptii of 21.3 feet and is formed by means of an
earth embankment dam containing a bi'ick core wall. The spillway is of stone
backed on the inside with iniddle clay and (;arth filling, and the side slopc^s of the
entire reservoir an; m-arly all paved with stone, it was originally th(! H\to. of a
mill pond acquired by tin.' Reading Water Company, and in use as a water supply
at the time the city purchased th(; works. Siiic^e then a new dain has been built
at the site of the old dam and later enlarged. It is now about 22.^t feet long across
the valley, 45 f.nt of which coiripi-ise the waste way. in this diun is locatcnl th(;
gate house. Water fnun tin; lake is delivered into the gate house through two 30
inch pipes, our; near the bottom and the other about half way to tlu; top. On
the opposite side leading out of the gate house toward th<; city is the gravity
supply main, 30 inches in diameter. TIk; vf^rtical screens an; placed midway
in the gate chamber, belwe(;ri the inlet and outlet pipes. A 16 inch blow-olT pipe
is also jiroviiled at the gati- house by means of whi<'h the entire resei'voir may be
emptied. Thi; watershed lias an area of 2.5(> syuare miles. On it there are
known to be 55 occupied eatates. The territory is rural and hilly and about one-
half under cultivation.
Bernhart Creek water is first niceived into a settling basin at the; ujipcw end
of the reservoir. This basin is rnadi- by excavations and <!artli embankment with
a masfjnry core wall and has an area of about on<> ata-e. 'J''h(! water first passes
through tins basin before entering the reservoir, but there is an arrangement af-
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1251
forded by means of which the storm water is sent around through a 40 inch
masonry conduit extendinjj along the southern shore of the reservoir, a distance of
about 1,0UU feet, to the creek below the main dam. There are several tlowing
springs in the bottom of the reservoir near its upper end, and also two in the
swale north of the riservoir. The latter are walled up on the sides and the
water is conveyed by pipe or open channel to the lake. At a point about middle
of the reservoir on the south side there is a 1.'4 inch inlet through which water
from Maiden Creek is delivered to the Bernhan supply.
The reservoir is used for storage for the low service district of the city. The
spillway is 40.3 feet above the I'enu Street reservoirs in the town on the same
system. The latter .smve as compensating basins only. During the year ending
April 1st, 1008, this supply furnished 20.54 per cent, of the total amount of
water furnished to the city. The average daily supply from the Bernhart source was
2,518,754 gallons by accurate measurements at a Venturi meter located on the
gravit.y supply main immediately below the reservoir. It did not include Maiden
Creek water, as none was pumped into the Bernhart reservoir for that year, but
during the current season the water pumped into the reservoir from the Maiden
Creek supply has been as follows:
Up to September 16th ,
September loth and 17th 27,759,938 gallons
October 22nd and 23rd, 10,242,183 gallons
November,
December 5th, 11 ,572,948 gallons
Total , 55 , 575 , 0G9 gallons
The property in control of the city at the Bernhart reservoir embraces 38
acres, including that occupied by the lake. The caretaker is provided with a
residence on the ground. Besides acting as caretaker and patrolman he records
the readings of the Venturi meter and assists in keeping the lawns and grounds
in satisfactory condition.
The low sen'ice system of distribution in the city comprises all of the lower
lying districts, principally east of Eighth Street, and south of Button wood Street,
to the river, an.! resident in this territory, which is the shopping district, there
are 19,400 people, estimated. Included in this estimate is the district in the north-
western part of the city between Kutztowu Road and the river, known as North
Reading, and comprises possibly 300 families, all supplied exclusively by the
Bernhart water, although there is a valve connection with the Maiden Creek
force main. The 30 inch supply main from the gate house at Bernhart reservoir
terminates a short distance below the dam and connected with it is a 10 inch pipe
and a 12 inch pipe, the latter reducing to 10 inch before it reaches the city.
The 10 inch pipe passes down to and into Kutztowu Road , making a connection
with Ninth Street, within the city. The ten inch line is the older and passes
in the city across private land and originally supplied the Penn Street reser-
voirs. It is now disconnected from the reservoirs by means of a closed gate at
Spring Street, opposite the Hampden reservoir. At the present time no water
is being delivered through the ten inch pipe from the Bernhart reservoir. A branch
connection to the 10 inch main in Ninth Street is open and water could flow
back through the ten inch pipe from the It! inch were there any draft or oc-
casion for such flow, but on Marion Street, in which the connection is made,
there are houses and water consumers so that there is some movement of the
water. Halfway the length of Marion Street, there is a six' inch valve connec-
tion with the liampden reservoir supply, and through this connection wide open
Ham|)den reservoir water is being supplied into the low service system at this
point.
On either side of Eighth and Ninth Streets, the properties are connected to
the sixteen inch Bernhart service main so this narrow strip of land is included
within the low service system.
PENN STREET RESERVOIRS.
About three and a half miles from the source in the town at the head of Court
Street are the Peun Street reservoirs, in use as the low service distributing basins.
They have a combined capacity of 5,800,000 gallons. They are built near the
foot of Mount I'enn and are ma<le in excavation and embankments. The bottom
and sides are puddled with clay and with stones lai<l in mortar. These structures
were the original distributing resi-rvoirs of the Reading Water Company. They
have been enlargc<l nud improved I\v the city. The north basin is 225 fi^ei by 107
feet ill plan at the bottom line, and the south basin is 185 feet long and 147 feet
wide at one end and 07 feet wide at the other end, bottom measurements. The
slopes are slightly less than 45 degrees and the total depth of the north resen-oir
is 1.".7 feet and the south reservoir 1.5.9 feet, their respective capacities being
2, (".50. 000 and 3.150.000 gallons. The water is admitted from the Bernhart
reservoir at the bottom through the outlet pipes. At the high water mark there
is an overflow pipe connected to the sewer. Drainage of tlie basin is accomp-
1252 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
lished by pipe connections to the outlet ■which connections terminate into a street
gutter, where the water has to flow on the surface to the nearest sewer inlet.
Besides water from the Bernhart reservoir direct and from the Hampden reservoir
at Marion Street, some water from the Antietam intermediate service is ad-
mitted to the Penn Street reservoirs at times of large consumption in the low
district. There is a pressure regulator between the two services on the ten inch
pipe at Chestnut and Eighth Streets, which during large drafts in the low
sen-ice admits water from the Antietam filters. Should the Antietam supply be
shut off at any time, the Hampden reservoir water would necessarily be drawn
upon at the Penn Street reservoirs and Eighth and Chestnut Streets, in the
event of large consumptions in the low service district.
The Water Board maintains a park about the Penn Street reservoirs, there
being four acres under the city's control here. Back of these grounds are the work
shops and storage yard, and in front of the reservoirs on Eleventh Street is the
Executive Building of the water works. A patrolman and night watchman is
always on duty.
ANTIETAM SJJPPLY.
The Antietam supply was provided by the city. A dam was built in 1S80 by
the Water Board near the site of a mill pond on Antietam Creek in Lower
Alsace Township, from which pond a water pipe had been laid previously. The
dam is about 2:.'o feet long and 58 feet high. It is built of masonry on the down-
stream side and puddle clay and earth filling on the up-stream side. The
inner surface is paved with loose stones. This structures creates a lake of 15.6
acres, containing 101,000,000 gallons. The maximum depth of water is 45
leet and the average 20 feet. The surface of the water is 170 feet lower than the
Egelman filter's and 125 feet higher than the Bernhart reservoir, and 65.2
feet above the Hampden reservoir. The drainage area of this supply is 5.44
square miles. It is largely under cultivation and contains 72 occupied properties
and a population of 308. During the year ending April 1st, 1008, this supply
furnished 26..35 per cent, of the total amount of water supplied to the city. The
average daily draft was 3,231,033 gallons. The city owns and controls 276 acres
of the watei-shed. Improvements have been made along the shores and some
stone paving on the sides has been done. On the main creek and principal
tiibutary, both entering Antietam Creek, there are small subsidence basins built
to separate the heavy sediment brought down from the steep slopes of the water-
shed during showers. Considerable accumulation is removed from these basins
evei'y eight or ten years. In the lake near the dam is the gate house, from which
there is a 24 inch pipe extending through the dam to town. At the low point
there is a 30 inch drain pipe blow-oif with a gate on it in the bulkhead built in
the toe of the dam. The outlet pipe at the gate house is arranged so that
water can be taken at three different heights. The waste way is excavated
out of solid rock and its width is 44 feet. In a house owned by the city resides
the caretaker. The rainfall records are kept here and also at the office at
the Penn Street reservoirs. The watchman patrols the shores of the lake and
property owned by the city.
Near the city in the borough of Mount Penn are the Antietam filters, 50 feet
below the surface of the water in the lake. The water is conveyed to the
filters by a 24 inch pipe, reducing to 20 inch. Part of the line is in tunnel.
The filters were built primarily to remove bad tastes and odors from the sup-
ply. The plant was put into commission in May, 1905. Its capacity is three
and one-half million gallons per day. There are three sand beds uncovered and of
the slow rate type, each bed is 108 feet wide, 144 feet long and 9 feet deep.
The water on the filters is 15 feet above the Hampden reservoir. The filter site
embraces six acres of land along the south side of Perkiomen Avenue. The neigh-
borhood is building up rapidly. The supply main terminates in an inlet chamber
supporting a stone house; in which is set up the automatic apparatus which
operates the inlet valves. Contiguous to this inlet chamber is an open receiving
basin of concrete and masonry construction, 35 feet square, in which are ^)laced
eight aerators, four in each parallel row. The construction of these is sunllar
to the aerators described at the Egelman filter plant. From this basin the water
is conducted onto the filter beds at fliscretion by means of valves and piping.
Those filters are built side by side and said distributing basin is located midway
and at tlie end of the middle filter bed. The construction of each filter unit is
precisely the samt! as (hat mentioned in llie description of the Egelman filters,
except the fact that the walls at and below the sanii surface! an; not stepped
down, but have a uniform slope;, and that the main underdrain pipe is rela-
tively larger. The removal of ice and operation is similar also. At the farther
tnd of filter bed No. 1, adjacent to Perkiomen Avenue;, is the clear water
basin and re-gulate)r house' in which are set up the various apparatus for regu-
lating and recording the; ope;rations of the filteT plant. The-re- is a by-pass 20 inches
in diameter around the filter beds which permils the raw water to be supplied to
the distributing district in the town willie>ut i)e'ing filte'reel. The valve has never
been opened since the plant was put into conunission. Ample storage for dirty
sand is provided for on the property. A 30 inch storm sewer has been built
aiound the end of filter No. 3 to conduct surface water from a natural water
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1253
course in the borough, and into this drain is also discharged the waste water
ti'om the sand washing operations. The storm drain discharges into a 15 inch
street sewer which takes all the drainage from the filter plant and by-passes the
surplus storm water into a natural water couree.
The normal capacity of each filter bed is 1,750,000 gallons per day, so it is
reported.
During the current season beginning April first, the results of the weekly tests
of bacteria in the raw and filtered water were as follows:
Raw. Filtered. Pet. Removal
April 185 22.7 87.7
Mav 562,5 32.1 94.3
June, 225 15.1 93.3
July. 4.50 20.6 95.4
August 261 .2 31.0 88.1
September, 437 15.2 96.5
October 185 8.7 95.3
November, 315 8.6 97.3
The range in the turbidity of raw water for the past two years was from 5 to
200, practically all of which was removed by the filters. The period between
scrapings for the current year was approximately thirteen days, and the opera-
tion of scraping, washing sand and refilling beds is similar to that at the Egelman
filters. The beds were refilled with washed sand as follows:
No. 3 from May 11th to 16th.
No. 2, from May 25th to 29th.
No. 1, from June 15th to 19th.
TTie Antietam filters are operated at a more uniform rate than the Egelman
filters. The average rate observed at noon for the current year has been 2,800,000
gallons per acre per day. The maximum rate observed at that time has been
5,200,000 gallons per acre per day. The maximum rates occur when one or
more of the units are put out of commission for scraping or refilling. When-
ever a unit is put into commission after a period of rest, the rate of filtration
begins at about 300,000 gallons per acre per day and gradually increases to the
normal. As (he surface of the filters clog the rate gradually diminishes until it
becomes necessary to scrape the bed in order to secure the greatest yield of
filtered water between scrapings.
With Antietam Lake full of water, the dischanring capacity of the supply
pipe to the filters is not over three and a half million gallons each twenty-four
hours. Therefore, it is seen that until more supply main capacity is obtained,
the filter plant is adequate in size to handle all the water that can be delivered
to it. This does away with the necessity for storage of filtered water while the
system is operated as at present.
The filtered water is supplied to the intermediate distributins service. While
this extends over a larger percentage of the city, nevertheless the smaller portion
of it only receives Antietam filtered water. The pipes are open and there is no
line or boundary in the intermediate service markins: the district which receives
Antietam Creek ' filtered water and the district receiving Maiden Creek unfiltered
water. The distribution of these two waters depends wholly upon the amount
of consumption in each of the two intermediate districts. Naturally the part of
the city nearest the filters receives filtered water and the parts remote from the
filters are supplied by Maiden Creek water. That part of the city lying east of
the low service district and south of the Penn Street reservoirs, and not supplied
by the high service, undoubtedly is furnished with Antietam water, but at times
during the small consumption in this part of the service, possibly Antietam filtered
water passes into the supply pipes east of Eighth Street as far north as Button-
wood, because the pressure is slightly greater, the Antietam filters being 15 feet
above the Hampden reservoir.
It is estimated that there are 24,900 people residing in the intermediate
district supplied by Antietam water. The daily consumption of about three and
one-fourth million gallons is quite evenly distributed throughout the twenty-four
hours of the day. There is a Venturi meter on the main pipe leading to the
filters, and the records of these measurements show there is very little fluctuation on
the average between the day and night consumption.
MAIDEN CREEK SUPPLY.
The water needed in (he city in excess of that furnished by the gravity supplies
hereinbefore mentioned is furnished from Maiden Creek. This stream rises in
Lynn Township, Lehich County, and flows in a geiu-ral southwesterly direction
and enters the Schuylkill River at a point about six and one-half miles alwve
the northern line of the city of Readinc. This watershed comprises 210 square
miles, the grearer percentage of it being in Berks County. The land is generally
in a high state of cultivation and in the rural districts there are upwards of
2.500 occupied estates. The Schuvlkill and Lehigh Branch of the Philadelphia
1254 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
and Rpadiug Railway pas.<5es through thp t^ntire valley, orossiug Maiden Creek
at numerous points, and alone which is the borough of Lenhartsville. The East
Pennsylvania Branch of the same railroad, extending from Reading to Allen-
town, also traverses the southern portion of the watei-shed, and on it within
the watershed is the borough of Fleetwood, and on a branch of the road in the
drainage area is the borough of Kut/Ctown. There are also numerous villages
in the townships in the drainage area. Owing to limestone formation in a south-
ern quarter of the watershed, Maiden Creek is an alkaline stream, although
not so to a degree rendering the watei-s undesirable for a public supply. It is
probably owing to this formation that the minimum flow of the creek is above the
average yield of areas of this size. This source with storage is ample for the
needs of a municipality several times greater in size than the city of Reading. On
the south bank of the creek near its mouth, in 1SS9, the city erected a
pumping station and to-day this supply furnishes about GO per cent, of all the
wat'-r consumed in the city. During the fiscal year ending April 1st, 190S,
Maiden Creek furnished 50.35 per cent, of the total amount of water supplied to
the city. The daily average was 6,172,655 gallons.
The pumpins plant consists of three pumping engines, one being a triple expansion
high duty engine of 15,000,000 gallons rated capacity; one being a 10,000,000
gallon comnouud duplex, high duly engine, and the other a 5,000,000 gallon low
duty, compound, duplex engine. They are housed in one station. On the grounds
owned by the cit.y, comprising twenty-six acres, are two residences occupied by
attendants. The sewage from these buildings is collected in a cesspool. Public
water is furnished to all the dwellings. The bank of the creek has been walled up
to retain the grounds. There are two ports through this wall below the high
water mark. The upper one is covered b.v a coarse screen to keep out large
floating matters. A 4S inch cast iron pipe extends about 35 feet to a circular screen
chamber, in the centre of which are placed the vertical screens. Out of this
•-•hamber two 40 inch cast iron pipes extend to the pump house; each terminates
in a pump well. "Well No. 1 supplies water to the five million callou pump and
Well No. 2 supplies water to the ten million gallon pump. The former raises
the water into a 30 inch force main, the original pipe line to the city, which re-
duces to a 24 inch main before the city is reached. The latter pumps directly
into a new 36 inch force main having a pipe connection with the original line
to town.
The other port admits water to an inlet chamber from which two 30 inch
cast-iron pipes extend to a circular combined screen and pump chamber located
just outside of the pump house. The 36 inch suction pipe of the fifteen million
gallon pump is inserted here. This engine raises the water directl.v into the new
36 inch force main to the city. The low water mark of the creek at the station
is elevation 238.35. The bottoms of the screen chambers are laid approximately
four and one-half feet below this elevation. The floor of the pumping engine is
16.65 feet above the low water mark. Durinc: the freshet of Fol>vuary 28th,
1902, the water in the creek rose to the height of five feet six and one-half inches
above the floor of the engine room and put the plant out of commission for three
days. Ordinarily the large pump is kept in use, the others being held in reserve.
Economy in pumpmir dictates this policy.
A statement rdntive to ihe amount f>f water pumped during the current year
is given below. Water raised by the fifteen million gallon pumping engine:
April, 140.000,000 gallons, 11 days pump not operated.
May, 164.000.000 gallons, 8 days pump not operated.
June, 108,000,000 gallons, 4 days pump not operated.
July, 201,000.000 callous, (5 da.vs pump not operated.
Auffust, 200.000.000 gallons , 5 days pump not operated.
September. 251 ,fM>0,000 srallons, 3 days pump not operated.
October, 265.000.000 jrallons, 2 days pump not ooerated.
November, 223,000,000 gallons, 8 da.vs pump not operated.
Water pumped by the auxiliary engines:
April 24. ten million gallon pump, 10} hours actual operation, 3,2(!6,000 gallons.
April 25, five million i:a11on jiump, 5 hours actual operation, 1,163,000 gallons.
Auziist 3. ten million gallon pump, 8 hours actmil operation, 2,576,000 gallons.
Aut'ust 4, five million trallon pump, 3* hours actual operation, 672,000 gallons.
Novcnibir 12 ten million gallon pump, 2i hours actual operation, 522,000
gallons.
The practice is to cease operating the engines only when the Hampden reservoir
\y. full. As previously mentioned, some water is pumped into the Bernhart reser-
voir. Twenty-ei',dit million gallons were so pumped in August and sixteen million
gallons in Sei)tember.
HAMPDEN RESERVOIR.
The TInmi)den reservoir is the intermediate distributing basin. Its capacity is
20 , 1 ■'"10 . 000 rznllons. The elevation of high water mark is 100 feet above the floor
of .Maiflen T'leek iiumpintr station. The structure is located at the foot of Mount
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1255
Penu at the head of Robeson Street. It is made in excavations and eral)ankment.
The bottom and sides are puddled and tiie slopes paved with stone. In plan
at the bottom the dimensions are 4.")0 feet by 237.5 feet. The side slopes are two
^o one and the depth HO feet. There is a walk around the top of the embank-
ment and an iron fence. On the property there is a watch house and a patrol
is maintained day and nijilit. There being no division wall, the entire reservoir
has to bi> emptied when I he deposits are removed. There is a drain pipe dis-
charging into (he street ^'titter in the neighborhood which is provided for this
purpose. The water is delivered into the l)asin at the top or at the northeast
corner and flows doAvn in a Hume titted with projecting stones to effect aeration.
Force Main No. 1 , a o(> inch pipe from the pumji house for a distance of
11 ,(»S7 feet and a 24 imh pipi- for 22,04S feet, making a total length of 0.4
miles, extends to the Hampden reservoir. The line follows the Centre Turnpike
almost a sliaiglit line to Centre Avenue in the city, thence it turns at right
angles eastwardly in Kichmon<l Street and lliester's Lane to Kutztown Road,
ihence south in Kutztown Road for one block and eastwardly in Richmond Street to
riiirleentli Street, and theu turns at right angles and is laid in the latter highway
seven blocks to Marion Street, where it passes eastwardly in said street to the
reservoir.
The new 30 inch force main parallels the other in the same road to the city
line where it ends, there being a cross connection nearby. It is the purpose of
the citj' to complete the construction of this line to Fifth and Richmond Streets.
On the old force main outside of the city there are eight connections to private
estates and on this force main in Kutztown Road at Adams Street there is a ten
inch connection through which the city supplies water to the Reading Sub-
urban ^Vater Company, a corporation duly chartered under the laws of the
State for the purpose of supplying water to the public in Muhlenberg Town-
ship. The village of Hyde I*ark lies along the Kutztown Road just beyond
the city and the pipes of this company are laid in the streets of the village. The
population approximates about 1,000 and possibly .50 per cent, of the people take
the public water supply.
In the west embankment of Hampden reservoir midway of its length there is
a screen well 7 feet by 1) feet in plan, provided with vertical screens. The
water is admitted to this chamber thi'ough an open walled passage-way. Two
sluice gates set in the walls and at the end of the passage-way, one at the bottom
and the other at mid-dei)th , deliver the water from the reservoir to the screen
chamber. The outlet from the chamlier comprises two 1(5 inch cast-iron pipes
connected to a 24 inch pipe a short distance beyond the reservoir. The city owns
and controls o7 acres of ground here and it is parked and maintained similarly
to the grounds at the I'enn Street reservoirs.
The intermediat(> sen-ice district supplied Iry Maiden Creek water either
directly from the force main or from the Hamiulen distributing reservoir, em-
braces approximately all of the land in the city between the river and Mount
Penn lying north of Ruttonwood Street and as far as Seventh Street and north
of Penn Street, east of Eighth, with the exception of the higher lands on the
side of Mount Penn on the high service and the territory adjacent to Eighth and
Ninth Streets, and the district of North Reading sui»plied by the low service.
In this intermediate distrii't reside 47.r)(»0 people, estimated, or about half of the
entire population of the city. The R(>ading Railroad shops and yards, large iron
and steel mills, and numerous manufacturing plants are in this area, also one
of the best residential s(>ctioiis.
TVniOID FEVER PRIOR TO 1908.
On Egclman Watcifthcd. AVlien the Maiden Creek source of water supply was
introduced into the city, none of the other sources were being filtered.
The Egelmau filters were installed in ,Tuii(>. 1003. The Department has not
been able to obtain evidence of any typhoid fever cases having oct-urred among
the IS individuals li\ing on the waterslunl I'ither prior to or subsequent to the
filtration of this siii)ply. Nevertheless the water might have been contaminated
at the public park. wli(>re picnic grounds are provided and used. There were
25 deaths from typhoid fe\er less in Reading during the year 1003 than during
the ye;ir jtrior to the filtration of the I-^gelman supply.
Oh Aiitictam Wafcrslnd. The .Vntietam filters were installed in May, 1i»o.~>.
At least two cases of typhoid fever occurred on the watei*shed in ISOO ami four
cases in lOOTi During this year 413 cases were ivported in comparison with ISO
cases !•( ported for the preceding year. The infection might have been c(Uitributed
through the Antietam su|iply. Subso<iuent to the installation of the Antietam filters
there had been two cases on the watershed, one in 1007 and the other during the
current year. There is no reason to believe that the epidemic under question bears
an.v relation to tliese cases cm the Antietam watershed.
Oil the Bcrnhnrt Wittir.9hr(f. A personal canvass of the 5.5 occupied estates on
the Rernhart watei"shed showed that three cases of t.vphoid fever onl.v have occurred
during the last ten years, namely. 2 in 1005. and 1 in 1007. The larse storage of the
resev.oir would prove a natural liarrier to the spread of the infection through
the distributing pipe svsIimu of Ibis source. Ty|iiioid deaths for the year 100.5
1256
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
iu Reading and the number of cases reported were the lowest for any year.
The rates, respectively, were 2-5 per 1(X),000 population and 1S3 per 100,000.
The large storage on the Antietam service would also minimize the danger of
lEtection from that watershed. During all these yi-ars raw Maiden Creek water
had been furnished to the town without storage, except that afforded by the
Hampton distributing reservoir.
In Reading. In the following table are given the number of cases and deaths of
typhoid fever and the rate for eighteen years. Typhoid fever was present evei-y month
in the year for the last fifteen ypars. Occasionally the disease was in epidemic form.
Prior to the current year the greatest number of cases reported in any one
year was for 1900, namely 413 cases. The greatest number of deaths in any
one year was 55 for 1902. Neither the cases nor the deaths reported represent
the true situation with respect to the extent of the disease in the city, since not
all the cases were reported and because typhoid fever in Reading has been of the
mild type, so that the percentage of deaths to cases is relatively low. It is be-
lieved that 15 cases to each death would nearly represent the actual number of
cases that occurred and in the table a column is given of probable number of cases
tor each year up to the current year.
TABLE NO. 1— TYPHOID FEVER IN READING FOR 18 YEARS.
Tear.
1890 58
18&1 - 60
1892. 62
1893. 64
1894 - 66
1895 68
1896. - _ 70
1897. -. 72
1898. — 74
1899 76
1900. - 78
1901 - - 81
1902 - 83
1903 — — 85
1904, — 88
1905. - 90
1906 - - 93
1907, - - 95
661
,400
,260
200
,200
265
,200
178
,200
258
,300
139
,400
296
,600
189
,961
413
,200
266
,480
243
,800
256
,160
167
.560
166
,000
221
,480
245
480
435
420
390
450
420
540
360
675
555
600
525
825
450
4.'?5
345
510
616
820
720
690
607
678
616
769
497
907
724
759
646
988
524
493
381
548
644
On jifaiihn Creek Watershed. During this time there were specific pollutions of the
waters of the creek. The following table shows the number of cases of typhoid
fever for the last ten years on the Maiden Creek watershed.
TABLE NO. II— TYPHOID FEVER— MAIDEN CREEK WATERSHED FOR
TEN YEARS.
ki
•!<
o
o
o
.2
'
x>
£
A
x>
ft
Year.
03
g .
o
o
*" to
o
O
2-a
Bo
|2
% o
5^
o 0
^■0
t^
W
E
£h
Eh
1898
6
0
2
10
87
IS
14
8
U
28
21
6
6
6
6
6
186
6
6
6
16
6
6
6
5
5
7
1.37
6
10
5
17
13
10
1899,
14
1900, -— —
7
1901
16
1902
2
1
0
4
0
2
7
44
1903
152
1904,
19
1806 -
1
18
1900
16
1907, _
46
1908,
1
84
874
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1257
It is necessary to analyze the distribution of these cases on the watershed
in order to form an opinion of the relation between such cases and the occurrence
of typhoid fever in Reading and as a basis for the conclusion relative to the
source of the epidemic in Reading during the current year. The following table
t;ives the water pumped from Maiden Creek into the Reading water works
system each year since the creek was tirst used as a source of such public water
supply:
TABLE NO. Ill— PUMl'AGE OF MAIDEN CREEK WATER BY YEARS.
Year. Million Gals. April to April.
1892 658
3893 1175
1894 788
1895, 647
1896 538
1S97 500
1898, ;.. 389
1899, 789
1900, 1293
1901, 704
1902, 1310
1903 1396
1904, 1473
1905 2027
1906, 2135
1907 2259
The Maiden Creek pumping station was not put into commission until July 1892,
so the pumping for the year 1892-93 was between July and April.
Maiden Creek is called Ontelaunee Creek above Kemptou, in Albany Town-
ship. This is near the Lehigh County line and the creek drains most of the water-
shed in Lehigh County, although Kistlers Creek serves a small area and joins
the Ontelaunee at Kempton. A mile below Kempton, Stony Run joins the main
stream to the east and one mile further down Pine Creek enters from the west.
The combined area drained by these four tributaries is 72 square miles. From
this point Maiden Creek flows nearly southerly in a straight line for a distance
of about IS miles to the Reading water works intake. The watershed to the
west is not far distant and all the main tributaries come from the east. Lenharts-
ville borough is on the main stream about 12 miles above the pumping station.
The Schuylkill and Lehigh branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway
passes up the valley by Lenhart.'sville and along Ontelaunee Creek into Le-
high County.
Big Sacony Creek enters the main stream at V'irginsville, seven miles above the
water works intake. It drains 55.3 square miles. Kutztown borough is about
seven miles up stream on this branch. The entire watershed at Virginsville, of
Maiden Creek and tributaries, is 115.5 miles. Hence the area directlv tributary
to the main stream below Pine Creek and above Sacony Creek is ^8.2 square
miles. Below this point the main stream has an area of 30 square miles directly
tributary to it.
Willow Creek has a drainage area of 24.5 square miles. This stream comes
from the east and drains all of the southern part of the watershed and on it is
Fleetwood borough. The Bernhart East Penn Branch of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railway passes through this borough and across the upper Sacony Creek
area, a branch terminating in Kutztown. There is also a trolly line from Reading
to these placf-s. The mouth of Willow Creek is but a short distance above the
Rending wattM- works intake.
For 1907. For 1007 in the townships there were 28 cases distributed as follows:
None on the uper watershed above Pine Creek ; one on the main stream above Sacony
Creek, 10 miles distant; and one on tiie main stream near Evansville and S(n-en
on tributaries of the main stream within 5 miles of the city intake.
On Little Sacony Creek there were three cases 'and on Big Sacony Creek and
tributary 4 cases outside of Kutztown. The nearest case was 12 miles distant and
the most distant one 15 miles from the city intake.
In the valley of 'Willow Creek outside of Fleetwood there were 12 cases, 8 of them
being within 5 miles, 2 of them within 6 miles and the other 2 nine mile.s distant
from the water works intake.
I'or 1006. For 1{)06 in the townships there were 11 cases distributed as follows:
Two on the upper watershed above Pine Creek, upwards of 15 miles distant; 2 on
the main stream 9 miles distant, and 1 on a small tributary 4 miles distant.
On Little Sacony Creek there was one case and on Big Sacony Creek twx)
cases outside of Kutztown. The nearest was 11 miles distant and the farthest
15 miles distant.
In the valley of Willow Creek outside of Fleetwood there were three cases,
the nearest 6 miles distant and the others about 9 miles.
For 1905. For 1!)05 in the townships there were 8 cases distributed as follows: Two
on the upper watershed along Pine Creek, 15 and 18 miles distant; one on the
main stream, 15 miles distant.
1258
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Oft". Doc.
On Little Sacony Creek one and on Big Saeouy Creek outside of Kutztown 2,
tlie nearest being 12 miles distant and the farthest about IS miles.
In the \ alley of Willow Creek outside of Fleetwood there were two cases, 4
and 8 miles distant, respectively.
For 190.'/. I'or liKH in the townships there were 14 cases distributed as follows:
Three on the upper watershed, the nearest being 15 miles and the farthest 21 miles
from the intake.
On the main stream there were no cases.
On the Little Sacony Creek there were none, but on Big Sacony Creek outside of
Kutztovu there were five eases, the neai"est 11 miles and the farthest 15 mile*'
distant.
In the valley of Willow Creek there were 6 cases, all within 5 miles of the
•ntake.
For 190S. For 1903 in the townships there were 15 cases distributed as follows:
One on Little Sacoiiy Creek, 14 miles distant, 2 on Big Sacony Creek, 12 miles
dis-tanl.
Two were on the main stream, one and one-half miles distant, 10 on Willow
Cn-ek. S within 5 miles and 2 within t) miles.
For li)Oii. For 1902 there were 37 cases in the townships distributed as follows:
Six on the upper watershed above Pine Creek, 18 miles distant and one on the
tributary, Moeslem Creek, 9 miles distant.
On Little Sacony Creek there were two 15 miles distant, and on Big Sacony there
were 5, 4 being grouped about Kutztown. On Willow Creek there were 23, all
of them being within 5 miles of the water works intake.
For 1901. For 1901 there were 10 cases in the township distributed as follows:
One oil the upper watershed, 18 miles distant, 4 on Big Sacony Creek, from 15 to
IS miles distant, 3 of them being above Kutztown. Five were on Willow Creek,
the nearest one lA miles distant, 3 of theiu within 5 miles and the other S miles
distant.
For 1900. For 1900 there were two cases only in the township, one was in Blau-
don in Willow Creek valley, 4 miles distant and the other was in Lyons on Big
Sacony Creek, three miles above Kutztown on the Big Sacony.
For itS'.'yy. For 189!) there were !) cases in the townships distributed as follows:
Thiei' on the upper watershed over IS miles distant, one on Little Sacony Creek,
K; miles distant, one on Bii; Sactuiy, 3 miles above Ktttztown, one on Willow Creek
at Blandon, 4 miles distant, and 3 on Moeslem Creek, tributary of Main Stream,
7 miles distant.
For 11S98. In 1898 there were five cases. On the tipper shed there was one, 20
miles distant, and four near Fleetwood on Willow Creek, 7 miles distant.
TVBLE NO IV— TYPHOID FE\EK DISTRIBUTION IN ZONES OF FIVE
'mile internals FRO.M the water WORKS INTAKE ON MAIDEN
CREEK FOR ELEVEN YEARS.
Distance in Miles. Number of Cases.
0-5, 64
5-10 43
10-15, 234
1.5-20, 29
20 plus , 4
374
These cases by yea in are shown in Table No. 5:
TABLE NO. V.
Year.
1806,
1W9.
1900,
1901.
1902.
1908.
1904.
1906.
leoo.
1907.
1906.
Vive
Mile Intervals.
ases
0-5
i5-10
10-15
15-20
20 plus.
-w
CaRes,
CaHcs.
(-uses.
Cases.
Cases.
H
0
4
5
0
1
]0
1
•.i
« 1
(1
14
1
0
(i ' 0
(1
7
4
1
.'i 1 .^
II
10
as
:{
12 I (i
II
44
10
:i
1.89 1 (t
II
\W>.
«
0
10
■z
1
19
1
[■>
10
2
II
IH
1
;,
8
2
0
l(i
16
6
23
0
"
45
1
13
10
8
2
34
fA
48
284
29
4
874
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1259
Thus it will appear that were the cases recorded during the 1903 epidemic
at Kut/town, namely 130, left out of the calculaliun, I'T per cent, of all the
ca?es on the watershed occurred within a distance of 5 miles of the intakes and
15 per cent, occurred within Itl miles of the intake.
Of the tlu'-e boroughs on the watersiied, Kutztowu and Fleetwood have public
water works system.
At Ijenhurtuvillc. I.enhartsville has a population of 325 only; although the bor-
ough has an area of U4 acres, about 10 acres only are built up. The soil is red clay
overlying a sandstone forniatiou. The surface drainage is into Maiden Creek, on
whose banks the settlement is located. The village presents a clean appearance ; there
is an organized Hoard of Health. In five cases kitchen water was piped to street gut-
ters. Sewage is disposed of in privy vaults and there are some cesspools in use.
Drinking water is obtained from wells and springs. It should be noted that two
cases only of typhoid fever were reported for this borough during the last ten
j'cars.
TYPHOID FEVER AT KUTZTOWN BOROUGH.
This town has private sewers and a water works system. These constitute foci
of infection ot ilie Reading water works supply taken from Maiden Creek. The
town is located by the course of the stream about 14 miles above the city water
works. Its own drainage pollutes its own water supply.
Kutztowu is a small manufacturing borough of about 1,600 population. The
Reading and Allcuto\\n trolley line affords good transportation facilities to and
from Reading. The borough is on Big Sacony Creek. Seven miles below,
{^acony Creek joins Maiden Creek.
The industries include a shoe factory, employing about 165 hands and a small
knitting mill, shirt factory, granite \\orks, a creamery and two slaughter
houses. In Maxatawney Township, on the banks of Sacony Creek opposite the
borough, is the Kutztowu Foundry ami ^iaclune Company, employing about
160 hands and the York Silk Mill Manufacluring Company, employing about 100
hands, and also a small shoe factory and a paper box factory.
The Keystone Stale Normal School was established in the outskirts of the
borough about ISOO and has since been maintained partly by State appropriation.
Including students, staff and help, there are from 560 to S60 people in at-
tendance. l)uring the vacation period in the summer there are from 10 to 50
persons at the school.
The main thoroughfare of the town is the old turnpike extending southwesterly
towards Reading. Along this street are the stores and hotels and the State
.Normal School. It extends at right angles from the creek. It crosses the creek
into the township to the north towards AUentown and herein the township is
a suburban district in which 50 dwellings more or less were erected in the latter
part of I'JOT, and the summer of lUOS. The village is built principally on the gently
rising ground extending from the creek southerly on either side of the main
street. The surface drainage is entirely to the creek.
All the industiies are located between a cross street named Noble Street and the
creek, about 4t)0 feet distant. The two slaughter houses and creamery are on
the banks of the creek.
The Normal School is on a ridge back of the town and the drainage from it is
into a small valley to the east which slopes to the creek above Kutztowu. All
the buildings within the borough with a few exceptions are within the area directly
tributary to Sacony Creek.
The borough is on the edge of the limestone belt. The surface soil is quite
retentive. In places there are deep deposits of clay. The town owns a large,
modern brick school house and a municipal electric light plant. There are no
public sewei-s. Some of the street gutters are paved with brick. It is understood
that the assessed valuation is about .$750,01X» and that tlu-re is a municipal debt
of about .•j;.{0 , 1 10( I. Tilt" existing sewei-s are owned by private individuals.
\l'(/kr {<uin)ly. The Kutztowu Water Company establishe<l its sysii-m in ISHO. The
main pumping station is located on the south bank of Big Sacony Creek in Maxa-
tawuey Township, al)out a mile down stream from Kutztowu and a mile up stream
from the conlhuuce of Little and Big Sacimy (.'reeks. The principal source of the
Kutztowu Water Company is a small brook, known as Kemps Run, opposite the
pumiiing station.
There is a small dam ami intake across the run about 300 feet from its mouth.
Above this intake the run has a drainage area of about 30<> acres of occupied
farm land. A six inch pi[»e extends from the intake to the pumping station. The
latter is in the mouth of a ravine which extends from the creek about 1,000 feet
southwesterly into the hills. It has a bottom several hundred feet wide and steep
side slopes, but contains no surface stream. Slate is the underlying formation
in the vicinity.
1260 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
The station is a small brick building containing a steam boiler, two one-million
gallon, horizontal, duplex, compound, pumping engines and a pump well sunk 20
ieet deep in slate rock.
An independent open brick collecting well 20 feet in diameter and 24 feet deep
is located just north of the pumping station, and 150 feet from the edge of
S;^coiiy Creek. It connects with the pump well in the pumping station. The six
irch pipe Ivom Kemps Run, provided with a valve at the station, discharges
into this open brick well at an elevation of several feet above the water in the
creek during normal stages. From a dry well some distance up the ravine south
of the pumping station, a two inch pipe leads to the brick well. There was no
Sow from this pipe at the time of the Department's investigation. From a small
spring close to the pumping station, a 3 inch pipe leads into the brick well. The
flow from this was but a mere trickle on December 3rd, 190S. A 6 inch drilled
well in the bottom of the open brick collecting well has a depth of 760 feet. It
is reported that when water from other sources is excluded, the elevation .of
the water in this drilled well is usually lower than the elevation of water in the
creek. There is no apparatus in this drilled well for raising the water so that it
can furnish no part of the supply during much of the time and probably fur-
nishes none at all during dry weather. The top of the said open brick collecting
well and the pump room floor have an elevation of 7^ 'feet above normal water
in the creek so they are not liable to frequent inundation.
An S inch force main extends from the pumping station to the distributing reser-
voir, located on the summit southeast of the station toward the town.
There is a water power dam and pumping station on Big Sacony Creek a half-
mile down stream from the station just described. The back water above this
dam extends to several hundred feet above the steam power station. An 8 inch force
main from the lower station connects with the force main at the upper station.
The lower station obtains its supply from the collecting well at the upper sta-
tion.
The water from said collecting well at the upper station is conducted some of
the time by gravity to the pump at the lower station, but principally by suction
lift, and in the following manner. From the open collecting well at the upper
station there is an S inch pipe laid 14 feel deep for a distance of 300 feet down
stream to a •oose walled reservoir, 25 by 50 feet in plan, and shallow, located
on the bank of the creek. It is provided with an overflow elevated in the neigh-
borhood of 5 feet above normal creek level. Fx-om this small storage basin
a 10 inch suction pipe extends to the power pump at the lower station. There
is no way for \Aater to reach this suction pipe except through the upper collecting
basin. Whenever the flow in Sacony Creek is suflicient to operate the power
pump, Kemps Run yields ample water as a source of supply.
Means of introducing raw creek water into the collecting well is provided by a
iO inch pipe which extends from said well under Sacony Creek. It terminates
a short distance beyond the north bank. The valve on this 10 inch line is between
♦ he south bank and said well.
On December 2nd and 3rd, 1908, the steam pumping station was in operation
during the day time and was shut down at night. It was reported that the lower
pumping station had not been operated to any extent since the previous spring.
On the.se days the supply flowing into the collecting well from Kemps Run appeared
to bo not more than 50,000 gallons per 24 hours. The supply from the 3 inch
pipe from the spring was only a trickle and the pipe from the well up the
ravine was dry. One of the pumps was operated at a fair speed, evidently
taking from the collecting well water many times in excess of the rate at which
water was visible flowing into the well. Nevertheless, the level of the water in
said well was not lowered. It was represented by the attendant at the station
that the greater part of the supply was being furnished by the "artesian well"
in the bottom of the collecting well and that absolutely no water was being
pumped from the creek. This seemed improbable from the appearance of the water
in the collecting well and the dried-up condition in the oilier sdurces. More-
over, it was determined that the elevation of the water in the collecting well and in
the creek were the same. A piece of slate swung in front of the end of the 10
inch pipe leading from the creek into the well was deflected to a greater ex-
tent than could be reasonably explained by any supposed currents in the well
other than through llu.' pipe from the creek. The creek was frozen over, the
ice being one-fourth of an inch thick, except for a hole about three feet in
diameter in the cciUn- of the creek and directly over the line of the 10 inch pipe.
It was finally adinittijd by the attendant that the i)ipe was p(!rforate(l on the
bides at the centre of the creek and was furnishing the major part of the supply
from this source. It was said that the valve on this pipe was closed at night in
order to allow the snjiply from K(!rnpK Run to fill the well as high as possible.
It was ascertained that this valve on the pipe from the creek to tlie <;oilecting
well had been open psirt of tiie time (!very day aft(M- the latter part of August,
•iBi'.allv for two periods <laily, an<i every day during the entire period of pumping
from October 10th or 1 1th to I>ecember 3rd, so that tin; water had been
pumped from the crei-k into the town's supply every day subsequent to the latter
part of August. Tlie distriiiuting rest^rvoir on tlie iiill has brick sides and liottora
anfl u capacity of (JOO.OIKt gallons. TIk; water may be pumped around into the
supply main leading into town or it may be pumped directly into the lesei-voir.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1251
The ijiavity main is S inches in diameter, reducing to t» inches. It is about 4,500
feet long. Tht.-re is oul' blow-off ou the line. The mains in the borough consist
of 8,000 feet of U inch pipe and 4,400 feet of 4 inch pipe. Fire hydrants are lo-
cated at numerous points in the village. There are five dead ends in the
sysiem.
The consumei-s number about 1,200 people. iSome of these reside in dwellings in
the township. There are some 50 wells in the borough in use and a few cisterns.
The Normal School derived its supply for all interior uses from the water com-
pany. The drinicins water, however, is obtained from a drilled well on the
property, it is about 200 feet distant from the buildings on the opposite slope
of the ridge. There is a deep well pump installed here.
Hcwage Disijosul. There are in the neighborhood of 100 cesspools in Kutztown.
TTie practice in building these is to dig through the clay into the rock and then blast,
to open up crevices through which the sewage may flow away. A few of the cesspools,
notably the largm- ones at the hotel, are said to overflow to street gutters
or the town culvert fur surface water which extends from the corner of White
Uak Streci. and SiunuUrs Alley for about 1,000 feet paralleling Main Street to
the creek. Domestic wash water, to a considerable extent, reaches the street
gutters and the creek.
The most marked source of sewage pollution for Big Sacony Creek is at a
point just above the village and is contributed by the Normal School buildings.
On December 1st, IDOS, laundry water was seen flowing out of the sewer into
the creek. It was ascertained that a new sewer system and disposal works had
recently been built at the school. The work was begun July 15th. The fall term
began August 31st. There were then 345 boarders, 300 day students, 150 chil-
dren in the model school, besides 50 officers, instructors and employes, making
a total population of 745 or thereabouts. At that time all of the sewage flowed
either directly through an open ditch, or flrst through old cesspools into the
open ditch, and theuce to the outfall sewer, a G inch pipe about a mile long, fol-
lowing down the valley to the creek. The last thousand feet of this line from
Noble Street is 12 inches in diameter. On November 5th a new intercepting sewer
was first tried, to see if it were tight. Prior to that all sewage of the institution
went to the Big Sacony. The nearest new cesspool is located several hundred feet
distant from the school and back of it. It is 7 feet square and about 14 feet deep
to limestone. It is shored up and linibered. It was not originally planned. The
hole into which it was intended to dispose of the Institution's sewage is 100 feet
further from tlie buildings. It is 22 feet deep, lined with loose stone and into
this cesspool the main sewer was to have discharged. On November 5th, when a
lest was made of the line by connecting up one of the school buildings, a crevice
wa."3 dis(-;)vere'l in the sewer trench into which the sewage entirely disappeared,
to 0 hole 7 feet square was made about this crevice and timbered up. It was
known as Cesspool No. 1. Cesspool No. 2 has remained dry. Cesspool No. 3
is 74 feet deep and timbered for the first 34 feet to the limestone. The walls for
the rest of the depth are solid rock. There is a connecting pipe between No. 2
and No. 3 cesspools. At the close of the year the entire institutional sewage was
lieing taken care of by the subterranean method of disposal.
There were 0 ca.ses of illness in the school prior to December 1st, receiving
medical attention. They were among the boarders and the ailments were slight
only.
Other cases of pollution on Big Sacony Creek had occurred at the industrial
plants prior to the Department's sanitary sun^ey for 1907. During the last ten
years there were on an average of 5 cases of typhoid fever in the borough. For the
current year there were 5 cases, for 1907, 15 cases and for 1903, 13G cases.
Jn that year the epidemic began in the spring and extended throughout the sum-
mer into the fall. The outbreak was attributed to polluted public water. The
highest typhoid fever rate ever recorded for Reading was for the year 1902. In
the following table the cases by months recorded in the city Health Office for 14
years are presented. Undoubtedly more cases actually occurred than were re-
corded, but the table may fairly show the ratio for the different seasons.
80
1262
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
TABLE NO. VI— TYPHOID FEVER IN READING BY MONTHS FOR 14
YEARS.
Year.
January.
>,
3
S
a
>>
B
1-5
1
<J2
Si
0
O
a
I
6
1
1894.
J895.
1896,
1897,
1898, ....
1899,
1900, -
1901,
1902,
1903,
1904,
1905,
1906,
1907,
Averagi'
,
K«<
0
1
16
6
19
10 ,
12
3
8
12
12
8
8
8
10
7
19
18
4
4
8
a
12
17
i:^
8
13
18
18
9
.,
5
~
11
26
20
■2
;')
13
6
11
17
38
21
1(>
9
9
13
32
26
18
64
6
6
6
4
i>
18
23
7
6
i",
12
3
7
139
61
21
6
2
11
21
7
43
24
32
16
6
12
21
11
40
53
64
4
14
7
16
20
35
40
.57
5
20
4
3
4
33
47
73
19
31
18
10
17
23
23
26
10
10
10
8
8
42
38
18
16
s
4
14
41
28
20
9
11
13
5
15
24
■38
15
2
14
3
14
10
53
37
14
9
11
9
10
12
38
35
34
IG
IS
18
18
17
13
'15
45
93
12
4
6
46
28
265
178
258
139
296
189
413
266
342
256
167
16(;
221
245
It shouKl be uuted f<ii- the year 189li that the cases ot'curred pi'incipallj' duiiiig-
the closiug months of the year, in fact those for the first seven months were far
helow the averase. The infection at Kutztown might have come from Reading
and through the public water worlcs system at Kutztown been circulated throughout
the season of 1U03, since the drainage from the street gutters, carrying poisoned
wash water from soiled bed linou and other specifically pathogenic sewage from
the community and from the Normal School, would reach Big Sacony Creek above
the point from which the water company may have had its intake into the stream.
As would be expected, prevalence of typhoid fever at Kutztown in epidemic form
would naturally be followed by additional typhoid fever in Reading, more espe-
cially if the polluted Maiden Creek water were used. Such was the case through-
out the year 100.3 and by refernce to Table No. 0 it should be noted that there was
a pronounced and unusual amount of typhoid fever in Reading for the first seven
months of the year. In no year during the fourtei-n appearing in the table did
The rates approach anywhere near tlie record for the first seven months of
1908. Thus possibly we have the cause and the effect. The remarkable fact
is that the disease did not spread more extensively in Reading. The menace was
linown and it was reported that extraordinary care was taken at Kutztown.
On October 22nd, 1907, a communication was addressed by the Commissioner
of Health to the water company acquainting the president of a complaint made
to the Department by citizens of Kutztown regarding the poor quality of water
supplied to the consumers of the (■omi)any and asking what said company purposed
ito do to render the water pure and wholesome.
The following reply was received in response to this inquiry:
"Kutztown, October 23rd, 1907.
"Dr. Samuel G. Dixon,
'"Commissioner,
" Harrisburg, Pa.
"Dear Sir: —
"Yours of yesterday relating to the <|uality of water furnished by our com-
pany to the consumers at Kutztown received. The same shall have our best at-
tention. The trouble is owing, in my opinion, to a few dead ends we have on o>ir
pipe system, and it is proposed to put (ire hydrants at these ends just as quickly
as we' can possibly manage to oi)tain the hyrants and stop valves n(M-essary for
the purpose. That, I think, will remedy the complaint immediately. We havi-
had lately, a number of very heavy rain storms, wliich in a mcasiiri' distiirl)i'd
the water, 'carrying along with it, probably, through the earth som<' vegetable
matter, which would not pi^rmit the imijounding of the water in those dead ends.
We will do the best in the matter and as quickly as we possibly can.
"Thanking yiai for your courtesy, I am,
"Very truly yours,
"P. D. WANNER,
"President."
No. 17. (JUMMISSIONKIl UF IIKAI/I'll. 1263
"December -Ith, lyos.
"I'eter Wanner, Esq.,
"Reed and Court Sts. ,
"Reading, I'a.
"Dear Sir: —
"1 am directed by Dr. Dixon, Commissioner of Health, to request you to in-
torm me by return mail whether the water supplied by the Kutztown Water
Company to the public in the borough of Kutztown is taken wholly or in part from
Sacony Creek.
"To .save time, in the event that you report that the creek is used as such
supply, this letter is merely a warning that on the stream in and above Kutz-
town there are cases of typhoid fever reported from which pathogenic pollution
is liable to reach the waters of the creek. You should, therefore, discontinue
at once any u.se that you may i)e making of the creek as a source of public
water supply.
"Please addres.s your reply to (lie undersigned, .Mansion House, Reading, Pa.,
and oblige.
"Yours very truly,
"F. H. SNOW,
"Chief Engineer."
"December 5th, 1908.
"F. Herbert Snow, Esq.,
"Mansion House,
"Reading, Pa.
•Deiir Sir:—
"In reply to yours of yesterday relative to the water supply at Kutzlown, would
say that we obtain our supply from Kemps Run and an artesian well and two
springs, \^'e can draw on Sacony Creek in case of necessity.
"Very truly j'ours,
"P. D. WANNER,
"President."
December ;"ith, 1908. *
"P. D. Wanner, President,
"Kut/.town Water Co.,
"022 Court St., Reading, Pa.
"Dear Sir: —
"1 beg to acknowledge i-eceipt of your letter of December 5th in answer to
my inquiry of the previous day, in which you say, "We can draw on Sacony Creek
in case of necessity."
"Will you be so good as to inform the Commissioner of Health, through me,
the j)recise date of the last case of necessfty at which time the Kutztown Water
Company drew water from Sacony Creek, and oblige,
"Youi-s very truly,
"F. HERBERT SNOW,
"Chief Engineer."
".Mansion House,
"Reading, Pa."
Two important communicalions were addresed to the borough council by the
Commissioner of Health, one was in 1907. and the other at the close of 1908.
The following are true copies of the same:
"To the Borough Council,
"Kutztown, Berks County, Pa.
"C. W. Snyder, Pres.
"Gentlemen: —
"This Department is about to engage in making a sanitary survey of the
valley of .Maiilen Creek. I am informed that there are .sewers and cessjwols
of private ownership, particularly in your borough and also some i)rivate privies and
cesspools which are the cause of polhition of natural water courses. I am also
informed that the sewage of the State Normal School pollutes the waters of
the State in your borough, and that ihcsc several sources of pollution are a menace
to the borough water supply also. Since the wells iind springs near the creek
are liable to i)ollulion during ordinary How of water and are certainly liable to
greater pollution whenever a freshet occurs, immediate steps should be taken
to properly dispose of State Normal School sewage and 1 am notifying that
Institution to this effect. It is necessary that private sources of pollution within
your borough should be abated. 1 would suggest for your consideration a sewer
system as one of the renuHlies. An agent of this Department will call upon you
in the near future.
"Yours truly,
"SAMUEL G. DIXON,
"Commissioner of Health."
1264 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
" Reading, December 5th, 1908.
"To the Honorable the Burgess,
■'and Town Council,
"Kutztown, Pa.
"Gentlemen: —
"You are aware that a typhoid fever epidemic of extended proportions is now
in full swing in Reading, and it is a period for extreme precautions on the
part of the public authorties to do those things necessary to protect the health
of the citizens locally and the public generally. It is quite possible for some
one living in your borough to get the infection in Reading and returning to his
home, spread that infection in the neighborhood.
"All properties, streets and alleys should be put in thorough sanitary con-
dition. All vaults and receptacles for sewage should be disinfected, and if full,
the contents removed and properly disposed of after disinfection. This dispo-
sition to be done in such a way that no drainage from it can possibly reach any
stream either on the surface or underground. Proximity of cesspools to well
waters should be noted. The existence of any contagious or infectious diseases
should be reported immediately to the health authorities of the borough, county
and State.
"Attention to these matters at once may prevent disaster in your locality.
"Yours very truly,
"SAMUEL G. DIXON,
"Commissioner of Health."
Correspondence with the Keystone State Normal School in part is given
below: —
"November 8th, 1907.
"Dr. A. C. Rothermel,
"Principal State Normal School,
"Kutztown, Pa.
"Dear Sir: —
"I beg to inform you that I am in possession of information to the effect that
•the sewage from your institution is a menace to the water supply of Kutztown
borough and also the city of Reading ; that the sewage is discharged either directly
or indirectly into the waters of the State.
"An agent from this Department will call upon you within a few days to con-
sult with you about a remedy.
"I wish to call your attention to Act 182 of 1905 and herein notify you that
I consider the discharge of sewage from your institution into the waters of the
State to be prejudicial to the public health, and I request you to take this
matter up with me without delay. I shall be very glad to co-operate with you
in an advisory capacity, in so far as I am able to do so.
"Yours truly,
"SAMUEL G. DIXON,
"Commissioner of Health."
"November 9th, 1907.
"Dr. Samuel G. Dixon,
"Harrisburg, Pa.
"Dear Sir: —
"In reply to your letter I wish to say that when one of your representatives was
here last spring we asked him for suggestions as to how to dispose of our sewage,
and he did not give us any definite information at that time, and we have not
received any instructions since. The Board is ready to move after it knows
the best way of disposing of the question. We have recently bought a tract of
land supposed to contain a sink hole. If you think there are no objections to run
the sewage into a sink hole, we will try to develop the sink hole on this
property and dispose of the sewage in this way. I am sure that the Board is
willing to act on suggestions.
"I want to say further, that the sewage from this school does not con-
taminate the water for the citizens of Kutztown, since the citizens of Kutztown
do not use the water of the stream that flows through the town. Moreover, our
sewage is not carried directly into the stream. I am willing to admit that some
of the liquid material finds its way into the Sacony Creek.
"Yours truly,
A. C. ROTHERMEL."
"Kutztown, Pa., January 28th, 1908.
"Hon. Samuel G. Dixon,
"Clommissioner Health Department of Pennsylvania.
"Dear Sir: —
"Your coitiiiiunication to Keystone State Normal School, relative to sewage
disposal, after some delay, reached me through the Principal.
"The Board of Trustees have not yet taken any decisive action in the matter,
but have at various times given the subject consideration.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1265
"Our main difBcultj' is the lack of funds to put up a disposal plant adequate
for the purposes of the school.
"We have, however, purchased a large tract of land, located in the limestone
district, whereupon wc propose to construct a large cesspool, thinking that the
liquids of our sewage would be lost in the strata. This work we will undertake as
soon as the weather allows, if in your judgment the plan is all right.
"Respectfully yours,
"J. H. MARX,
"President Board of Trustees."
"February 4th, 1908.
"J. H. Marx, President
"Board of Trustees,
"Kutztown, Pa.
"Dear Sir: —
"In reply to your favor of January 28th, beg to say that as far as I am now
informed, this Department cannot approve of the method that you propose to
adopt for the disposal of the sewage of the State Normal School. I would sug-
gest that you employ a competent expert to prepare plans for the disposal works,
which will permit the purification of the institution's sewage under conditions
whereby inspection and control and regulation of the works may be secured so
that always there shall be a satisfactory treatment of the sewage.
"Yours very truly,
"SAMUEL G. DIXON,
"Commissioner of Health."
"Reading, Pa., December 5th, 1908.
"C. W. Miller, Sec,
"Board of Trustees,
"Keystone State Normal School.
"Dear Sir: —
"I beg to inquire, by the direction of Dr. Dixon, whether you have by this
time discontinued the discharge of laundry water into Sacony Creek and inter-
cepted the flow into the new sewer leading to the new cesspools. As laundry
water is more or less sewage and contains pathogenic poison sometimes, it is
all important that not a moment be lost in making the connection between the
laundry and the new sewer, and T shall be very glad indeed to be able to hear
affirmatively from you by return mail to transmit the information to the Com-
missioner of Health.
"Furthermore, will you please have the new sewer outlet disinfected and the
deposits at the mouth of the sewer outlet removed. Also take all those sanitary
precautions which may suggest themselves to you relative to the old cesspools, and
the open ditch from them leading to the sewer. At this time when new cases are
appearing in large numbers daily in Reading and when public sentiment is rapidly
intensifying regarding the unnecessary pollutions on the watersheds, extraordinary
piecautions which the school authorities may take at Kutztown, will be appreciated.
"Kindly address your reply to the undersigned. Mansion House, Reading, Pa.,
f-nd oblige,
"Very trulv yours,
"F. HERBERT SNOW,
"Chief Engineer."
"Kutztown, December 8th, 1908.
"F. Herbert Snow,
"Chief Engineer,
"Reading, Pa.
"My Dear Sir: —
"I have attended to the matter of cleaning out the small pool from which we had
the water flow to the creek and are also starting in to-day in connecting the flow
from the laundry to our main pipe. This may take us several days to complete
as we are obliged to watch our chance on account of the machines being in opera-
tion the greater part of the time. We will however do our full duty and assure
you that wo will carry out your request. I am,
"Yours very trulv,
"C. W. MILLER, Secy."
TYPHOID FEVER AT FLEETWOOD BOROUGH.
Fleetwood borough is a manufacturing community of about 1,250 population,
located on the East Penn Branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway
and on Will Creek about 6 miles above where the stream joins Maiden Creek.
80—17—1908
1266 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc.
Willow Creek rises out in the country about three miles south. It skirts the
westerly edge of the settlement and flow westerly joining Maiden Creek one-half
mile above the intake of the Reading water supplj'. On its watershed within
the last ten years approximately 90 oases of typhoid fever have occui-red. The
larger percentage were within five miles of the Reading intake.
Fleetwood borough has a public water supply but no sewers. The soil is
gravel underlaid with limestone. Earth privy vaults and a few cesspools are the
receptacles for sewage. Kitchen drainage and waste water go largely to the street
gutters and ultimately reach the creek." The Fleetwood Water Company has as a
rource three springs located about a mile and a half north of the town. The
water flows through open channels to a reservoir formed by an earth dam across
a small valley. The storage capacity is about 175,000 gallons. In the past it has
not been fenced and cattle had access to the grounds. The water is supplied by
gravity under low pressure in the village. There are about 210 connections. These
supply the greater portion of the borough. An inspection revealed flve wells and
eight cisterns in use on individual estates. Sixteen cases of typhoid fever have
been reported for the last ten years. This was ascertained by a house to house
canvass.
The hosiery mill employs 55 hands. Bleaching waste is emptied into the railroad
ditch and finally reaches the creek. At the Kelchner Creamei'y and Hosiery Mill,
employing SO hauds, bleaching waste and creamery washings finally reach the
cieek through street guttei-s. At the Fleetwood Foundry Machine Company's plant
where are employed l70 hands, sewage is discharged into a large cesspool.
The bleaching water from the Hietz Hosiery Mill goes to gutters on Franklin
Street. There is a large privy at the works. Sixty hands are employed here.
The York Silk Manufacturing Company employs 150 hands. Waste bleaching
water is discharged onto the ground and is supposed to soak away.
The four cases of typhoid fever in 1905 were attributed to the public water
supply, but the Department has failed to find corroborating evidence. Un-
doubtedly the disposition of kitchen drainage into the street gutters is a public
menace. The town needs a system of sewerage. The municipal borrowing ca-
l)acity outside of present indebtedness is reported to be in the neighborhood of
.^.20,000. If the sewers were paid for by owners of abutting estates, it might be
l)0ssible for the town to install a system of sewerage and disposal works.
In 1902 there were 2.S cases of typhoid fever along Willow Creek valley below
Fleetwood and all were within 5 miles of Reading's water works intake. It is
known that infection of the creek water was probable at many of these places
where the disease occurred. As would be expected, there was more typhoid fever
reported that year than usual in the city. Tliere were more deaths from typhoid
than ever l)efore and the rate was the highest. The next big year for typhoid
fever on the Maiden Creek watershed (excluding 1903) was 1907, when there were 45
cases, of which 10 were within five miles of the Reading intake. The typhoid rates
were correspondingly high in Reading that year.
SUMMARY OF TYPHOID FEVER STATISTICS.
Summarizing the typhoid fever statistics for Reading and vicinity prior to 1908
and noting the distribution of the cases on the Antietam watershed, the Egelman
watershed and the Rernhart watershed and the Maiden Creek watershed, and
taking into account the fact that the disease was equally prevalent in Reading be-
fore Maiden Creek water was introduced in 1892, it does not seem fair to con-
clude that typhoid is to be attributed entirely to the public water supply. But that
the 23 cases within 5 miles of the Maiden Creek intake in the year 1902 ; and the
10 cases within the same distanee in 1903 with a total of 152 cases within 15
miles of said intake that year; and the K! cii'-'s v'tlin 5 miles and 45 within 15
miles (luring the year 19C)7 ; did not pollute Reading's water supply and produce
added typhoid fever among the j)ul)li(; water consumers in the city, no person,
well informed respecting lyj>hoid fever dissemination, would care to deny.
After the Egelman and Antietam filters were installed the typhoid fever rates
fell off.
Table No. •! shows a percept il)le and persistent rise in typhoid fever in August
for 14 years wiiich contiiiMcd tliniugii September, Octo])er and Novembei-. The
chanjre in the etistoms of the citizens for July and August may account for some
of this. Then the schools an; closed and the members of the household resort
to the parks and camps either for the day or the week. Opportunities for con-
tracting infection are much greater than in the winter and spring time. On re-
turning; to tiieir city homes, if the iiii'lliods of waste water and sewage disposal
are not wliat they should be, the opiiorluiiity for a secondary infection would
naturally spread the disease for a ntimlier of weeks. During the 14 years shown in
the table, sewerage facilities were lamentably lacking in Reading over most of the
municipal territory.
The 139 cases occurring in February, 1894, and the 139 cases of August,
1898, and the 113 cases of November, 1900, would appear to have been ex-
plosions from .some specific source, sudden and short, like a virulently poisoned
milk supply.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1267
And so it should be borne in mind, on taking up the history of the epidemic
of 1908, that Maiden Creek water is ever a menace to public health in Reading
and a principal source of danger.
TYPHOID FEVER EPIDEMIC OF 1908.
Tlie chief work of the Engineering Division of the State Department of
Health during the epidemic of 1908 comprised an investigation of the water
works system and sources of supply, the distribution of the typhoid cases with
respect to water districts, the location of the source of infection of the water
supplies, if such infection had occurred and the putting into force of such meas-
ures for removing the source of infection and preventing a recurrence of the
epidemic as might be determined upon.
The examination of the milk supplies and the work done in suppressing the
epidemic within the city limits may be found in the report of the Medical In-
spection Division of the Department.
The Chief Engineer assemljletl a force of several assistant engineers and clerks
and 18 held olHcers regularly employed in the Department and asigned to them
special work. The watersheds were inspected and location of typhoid fever cases
thereon nnt('<l and i)recautionary measures enforced to destroy any infection.
The water works wt-re invc^stigated and samples of water were collected and
analyzed. The disinff>ction of the Maiden Creek water was accomplished. The
list of cases of typhoid fever in the city as reported to the local health bureau
were checked off and methods of household wastes disposal were noted by house
to house canvass by the division field officers. Corrected sheets of the distribution
of the cases were made and each case was plotted on a map.
One of the first things done on November 30th by the Division was to ex-
amine the records of typhoid cases and deaths in Reading for the year. The fol-
lowing table of the distribution of the cases by months and days for the year
190S is compiled from two sources of information. Fii-st from the city records
and second from the State canvass. The former were based on physicians' re-
ports. Often the doctor would delay several weeks in making a return of a
typhoid case to the city Board of Health office. The State canvass more nearly
shows when the cases actually occurred and hence it is the more accurate record
of distribution of typhoid fever for the year.
1268
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
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No. 1?.
COMMISSIONER O^ HEALTH.
1269
In the following table is given the average number of cases by months for 14
years and the corresponding cases by months recorded and occurring for the year
1908 in Reading. From this it will appear that there was nothing extraordi-
nary about the presence of typhoid fever until August and September. The first
six months' records showed less typhoid fever than usual. October was not much
above the average, but 583 cases during the month of November caused wide-
spread alarm among the citizens.
TABLE NO. VIII.
8 .
i^
Months.
e ca
i years
for 19
record
s
a
UrH
2s
a, O
8«
SO
S3
<
«
K
January,
February,
March, ..
April,
May.
June.
July. ....
August, .
September,
October, -
November,
December.
248
9a5
7
fi
4
6
7
9
30
116
56
37
583
76
936
The cases in July, August and September were in dwellings without sewer
connections, with 17 exceptions only. These dwellings with one exception were
supplied with public water, largely raw Maiden Creek water. The waste wash
drainage from the household and the slops were largely poured onto the ground
in the backyards where open channels conveyed the water to alley gutters and
the public highways. Excrement was universally deposited in privy vaults. The
Chief Medical Inspector's returns showed the milk supply to have been obtained
from over 50 sources of general distribution. Eighteen cases on one milk route
was the largest number during July, August and September. Furthermore, the
summer cases were in the district where the summer and fall cases annually occur
and where opportunities for secondary infection invite the spread of disease.
Nevertheless, one cannot fairly conclude that milk did not contribvite in any degree
to the sickness in these three months.
However, the Xovember exi)osure of typhoid fever, 583 cases in four weeks,
cannot be explained by milk infection or unsanitary conditions. The oases were
widely distributed. They were all, with 8.") exceptions, in the district supplied by
raw Maiden Creek water.
Thirteen of these exceptions were cases in the high service district, but they
were imported. Water suppliivl ai tlie dwellings in the high service is filtered.
Nine of th-' thirtern cases were men employed by the railroads, in factories, and
as laborers. They were out of the district daily. Three were females, two of
whom were employed in factories. A boy and a girl attended school. The single
case of Ihe patient living at home was that of a woman 40 j'ears old.
The 72 exceptions in the low service district were distributed throughout the
month. The date of onset is given in the following table:
1270
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TABLE NO. IX.
Off. Doc.
Date of Onset.
Number of Cases.
November
1st.
a
eases.
November
2nd.
7
cases.
November
6th.
3
cases.
November
7th.
2
cases.
November
9th.
4
cases.
November
10th.
1
case.
November
12th.
2
cases.
November
l.Sth.
jj
cases.
November
14th.
6
cases.
November
15th.
8
cases.
November
16th.
•1
cases.
November
17th.
3
cases.
November
18th.
1
case.
November
19th.
'» 3
cases.
November
20th.
5
cases.
November
21st.
4
cases.
November
tZnd.
5
cases.
November
23rd.
3
cases.
November
25th.
2
cases.
November
26th.
4
cases.
November
27th.
3
eases.
November
28th.
1
case.
November
29th.
1
case.
November
30th.
1
case.
Total
72
cases.
Twenty-.'fix of the patients were females. Three of them were too young to
attend school. Seven lived at home. The oldest was 20 years of age, 3 were
domestics, 2 were at school, 8 worked in factories and 3 found employment in
stores.
Of the 46 male patients, 5 were at home. Two of these were under 5 years
of age and the others were 15, 20 and 30 years respectively; 11 were at school, 3
were pui"suing professional callings, 5 were employed in factories, 3 in mills,
one in a store, (i were railroad men and 12 were laborers.
A preponderance of the cases in the low service district were of individuals
whose movements about the city were unrestrained. It is not practicable to trace
out each one of these cases during the incubation period of the disease, but
it is fair to assume that every individual may have been subjected to the same in-
fection which caused the epidemic in the intermediate service district. The rail-
road .shops, large mills and numerous manufacturing plants were in the latter
area. The low service district was supplied with Bernhart reservoir water. Ou
October 22nd and 23rd, 10,0(X),000 gallons from the Maiden Creek supply
were pumped into this reservoir. If that water contained typhoid infection and
it reached the distributing pipes oi the low service district, the first cases from
the infection so introduced would have appeared about Novcnnber 1st and there-
after for 10 to 20 days, corresponding to the actual occurrence.
The 498 cas(>s occurring during the month of November in the intermediate dis-
trict where the consumers wei'c furnished raw Maiden Creek water were quite
generally distributed throughout said district. Eight of the patients only had
been out of the city for 30 days prior to the onset. These might have contracted
the infection els(!where, but the remainder received the poison in Reading. In
24 instances, more than one case occurred in the family. In the following table
the dates of onset and the number of cases for the month of Novemlx-r in the
intermediate district are given:
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1271
TABLE NO. X.— DATE OF ONSET— TYI'HUID CASKS IX INTERMEDIATE
DISTRICT FOR NOVEMBER, liMW.
Date of Onset.
Number of Cases.
November 1.
8
November 2.
9
November 3.
6
November i.
tt
November 6.
7
November ti.
4
November 7.
18
November 8.
4
November 9.
e
November 10.
18
November 11.
6
November 12.
IS
November 13.
Si
November 14.
25
November 15.
32
November 16.
28
November 17.
24
November 18.
90
November 19.
20
November 20.
60
November 21.
25
November 22.
18
November 23.
18
November 24.
12
November 25.
21
November 26.
17
November 27.
17
November 28.
8
November 29.
10
November :iO.
9
498
111 "(4 ("iscs (iiil.v wiis I lie properly on which the patieut re.sided eouiiected to
ii sewer.
Tlie disease was etiiiiracted by 273 males and 225 females. The age period and the
occupation of each patient are given in the following tables:
TABLE NO. XI. -AGE PERIOD OF TYPHOID PATIENTS IN INTERMEDI-
ATE DISTRICT FOR XOV EMBER. 19U8.
Vfurs- luclusive.
No.
of Cases.
0-4
11
5-9
72
10-14
81
15-19
84
20-24
82
2.-.-29
49
:jo-3«
48
3iy-39
23
40-44
12
45-49
11
50-54
9
55-60
0
498
1272
Third annual report of the
Off. Doc.
TABLE NO. XII.— OCCUPATION OF NOVEMBER TYPHOID PATIENTS-
INTERMEDIATE DISTRICT.
Occupation.
No. ol Oases.
At School.
158
At Home.
94
Factory.
S8
Railroad.
fiS
Store.
88
Mecbanlcs or Laborers.
37
Mm Hands.
13
Profession.
10
Domestic.
7
496
ORIGIN OF INFECTION.
The origin of the infection was on the watershed of the Maiden Creek with-
out doubt. The circumstances hereinafter set forth substantiate this proposition.
There were .S4 cases of typhoid fever on the shed above the city water works
intalie during the year. The date of onset is important and also the dates of
rainfall. The poisonous dejecta from the patient may be stored in the receptacles
full and overflowin;;' or may be wantonly thrown about on the surface of the
ground where the lirst rainstorm would wash the ground and carry the poison
thence to the nearby stream. Or the location of the property in proximity to the
stream might be such as to establish a physical certainty of the drainage from
the dwelling reaching the running water in the brook almost immediately after
being discarded from the household. The distance of such possible point of dis-
charge above the water works intake of the city is also relatively important. In
the following table is given the dates of onset, and precipitations, and the dis-
tances of the homes of the typhoid patients on Maiden Creek above the city
water works intake.
TABLE NO. XTIL— 1908 TYPHOID AND PRECIPITATION DATA ON
MAIDEN CREEK WATERSHED ABOVE CITY WATER WORKS IN-
TAKE.
i '
^
1
03
>
o
O
XI
Ui
a
3
Oj OB
25
;^
Precipitation at Reading.
Hours and Minutes.
Temperature.
Degrees.
July
Jan. 24,
Mar. 15,
April 3,
April 17,
June 13,
1
1
1
1
1
3 hours, 50 minutes, ...
0 hours, 50 minutes, _—
2 hourw, 10 minutes, ...
0 hours, 25 minutes, — .
1.06
.06
.1(5
.10
0.72
0.08
0.04
0.02
July 9,
1
8 hours, 10 minutes, ...
.47
0.54
0.04
0.48
2 hours, 66 minutes,
.26
July 15,
July 17,
1
1
0.06
0.18
0.60
0.11
0.85
1.07
1.60
0 hours, 25 minutes, ...
1 hour 50 minutes,
?, hours, 10 minutes,
.02
.08
.10
1.28
.74
2.01
9 hours, 45 minutes, ...
8 hours, 36 minutes,
July 26,
July 27.
1
1
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1273
TABLE NO. 1.'^— Contiuupd.
a
o
4J
eg
o,
1
a
a
a
o
o
a>
«
d
a
Q
a
Precipitation at Reading.
2 l»
Hours and Minutes.
be— =
c H S
a&H
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
6
----
— -
.W minutes, .
.02
.38
.35
.21
.02
.62
.23
.47
.07
7
55 minutes, . ..
0.
7 hours, 15 minutes, — .
1 hour, 45 minutes,
11
13
Aug. 14,
1
in,
2 hours, 10 minutes, ...
2 hours, 40 minutes, .._
6 hours, 25 minutes, .—
8 hours, 50 minutes, ...
10 hours, -
.03
.09
.08
.27
1.09
.07
.20
.29
.19
.15
.34
.68
.11
.24
17
??,
1
?6,
?«,
Aug. 26,
1
f>,
4 hours, 5 minutes,
4 hours, 40 minutes, ...
S,
Sept. 10,
Sept. 13,
Sept. 21,
Sept. 24,
1
1
1
1
_
">«,
.01
1.81
.39
<>«
8 hours, 20 minutes, ...
4 hours, 55 minutes,
i.44
.36
1
'oc'tV'Jr
Oct. 5,
Oct. 10,
Oct. "22^
Oct. 23,
Oct. 24,
....
1
1
....
1
1
....
1
1
1
10,
5 hours, .30 minutes, „.
1 hour, 40 minutes,
.06
.08
.04
.02
11
93
i hour, 40 minutes,
6 hours, 35 minutes, ...
9 hours, 55 minutes, ...
4 hours, 5 minutes,
13 hours,
.02
.23
.64
.31
.32
.00
.18
.42
.18
.36
24.
25,
W»,
?8,
Nov. 8.
Nov. 9,
Nov. 10,
Nov. 14,
1
1
1
1
14,
16,
16,
10 boors, 46 minutes, ..
.77
.70
6.8
4.0
2.6
1.6
0.0
83
27
28
82
-3&
46
42
37
38
45
49
63
68
48
42
46
66
38
35
87
37
44
62
64
49
46
66
66
67
60 j
68 '
49
52
62
28
21
10
26
17.
18.
10
....
....
4 hours, 5 minutes,
.05
.04
30
36
fO,
34
'1.
28
27
37
89
0?,
23,
?4,
Nov. 24,
Nov. 25,
Nov. 26,
1
1
1
26.
6 hours, 10 minutes, ...
?oi'
48
?7,
40
?8,
37
9ft
34
W>.
4ft
Dec. 2,
Dec. 6,
Dec. 8,
Dec. 9.
Dec. 20,
-.
■—"■"
In the yenr 1908 thprp were 21 cnses in the townships on the Maiden Creek
watershed and 1.3 cases in the boroughs. Six township cases were on the upper
shed above Pine Creels. Throe of them were in .Vlbany Township and three in
Lynn Township. In order of onset the cases were as follows:
.Tune 13, Edna Keiser, 14 years of age. T<ynn Township, New Tripoli.
•Tuly 2ri, Maud Kistler. 22 years, Albany Township, Cnimsville.
•Tuly 27, Mrs. Louise Dietrich, age .^1, Albany Township, Kempton village.
November S, Mrs. Eliza Gaston, age 27, Lynn Township, New Tripoli.
November 10, Mrs. Mary Hatfield, aged 48, Albany Township, Mountain
village.
December 2, Perry Long, age 55, Lynn Township, Wanamaker.
1274 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
The last four were probable sources of stream pollution. In the Dietrich case
the wash water from the house was thrown upon the ground about 400 feet
from the stream. The stools were buried in the field and were not disinfected.
In the Gaston case, before the doctor's visit and while the patient was con-
valescent, the dejecta were not disinfected and were deposited on an ash pile 75
feet from the stream.
In the Hatfield case, the waste wash water was thrown onto the ground 75
feet from the stream.
In the Perry Long case, while the dejecta were disinfected and buried, the
wash water from the house was thrown on the ground not far from the stream.
The privy I'ested on the surface of the ground with the slope towards the stream
150 feet way.
All of these cases were over 15 miles from the city intake. Heavy rains
occurred on July 25th. It would not have been impossible for the infection from
Kempton village to be transmitted down stream aud to have contributed to the
increase of typhoid fever in the city in August. There was considerable pre-
cipitation on November 14th which might have transmitted infection from the
upper watei-shed to the city intake. Such infection, if delivered into the water
works of the city, would have added to the epidemic during the latter part of
November and the first part of December.
On Little Sacony Creek for the year 1908 there were 3 cases and on Big
Sacony Creek 4 cases in the townships and 5 in the borough. In order of onset the
cases were as follows:
LITTLE SACONY CREEK.
April 3, Amelia Schrader, age 38 years, Maxatawney Township, Eagle
Point.
July 9th, Clayton Levan, age 22 years, Greenwich Township, near Eagle
Point.
September 24, Calvin Old, age 20, Weisenberg Township, Steins Corner.
The last case was a probable stream pollution and the next to the last a pos-
sible one.
In the Levan case the stools were buried without being disinfected. The wash
water was thrown out onto the ground in the course of a dry run, where, in case
of rain, the flow would be directly to a stream several hundred feet distant.
There were several heavy showers during the period of this patient's illness. In-
fection in this way might have been conveyed to the city intake over 15 miles
distant and have contributed to the epidemic in Reading during July and August.
In the Calvin Old case the doctor first called on September 20th. Later, when
the r-ase was diagnosed as typhoid, instructions were given for the disinfection
and burial of the dejecta. Prior to that time any such poison was deposited on the
surface of the ground. During the patient's illness all laundry was
thrown on the ground. The drainage was to a creek 250 feet distant. The pol-
lutions might have been carried to the stream by the downpour of September 28th
and thus the infection mighl have been spread in Reading during the second or
third part of October.
BIG SACONY CREEK.
March 15, John Yenson, age 44, Maxatawney Township, [jyons village.
April 17, J. Albert Fisher, age 28, Kutztown borough.
July 15, Eugene Dietrich , age 30, Greenwich Township.
July 17, Mary Bieber, age 14, Kutztown borough.
Octolter .5, Edgar Dietrich, age 28, Maxatawney Township.
October 23, .loseph Lambcrton, age 52, Kutztown borough.
November 14, Eva W. Moyer, age 13, Rockland Township.
December .5, Paul Bordner, age 10. Kutztown borough.
December 8, Grace Bordner, age H, Kutztown borough.
One only of these cases, namely that of Eugene Dietrich, was located on the
watershed below the intake of the Kutztown water works and since through this
intake mor" or less water was drawn daily at intermittent periods after the latter
part of August to October lOtli, and every day during the entire period of
pumping from October 10th or lltli to Decenil)er 3rd, so that raw creek water was
pumped into the town supply at Kutztown borough every day subsequent to the
latter part of August, without an epidemic of typhoid fever following the use of
such water in the borough, the conclusion is that not one of the cases of typhoid
fever on Big Sacony Creek wat(>rshed above Ibis Kutztown water works Intake
contributed to the jtollution of the; creek, the city's water supply and the
epidemic in Reading.
In the Eugene Dietrich case the stools were disinfected and buried. There
was a good privy vault. The waste wash water was thrown out on the ground.
Its course would be by the highway ditr^h to the stream 300 yards distant. It
was not a probable source of pollution. Hut the? existence of the disease is always
a menaee in more ways than one ean prove.
Eva Moyer was in Reading the last week of Octobcjr and stopped at David
Friedmans on North Twelfth Stnset. She stayed there for a week, contracted
typhoid and returned to lier home in tlie country.- Running water was passed
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 127o
under thp surfarp privv in a ditch, thence it flowed through the pig pens and
across fields to a natural water course. While this practice was stopped imme-
diattly upon the <!ase being diagnosed as typhoid fever, tlie situation there was
not dissimilar to that on many properties throughout the watershed whereby
the sewage of the household might easily find its way to a running stream. The
visiting about among families of convalescents or those coming down with the
disease extended the menace. Poison might have gotten into the stream in ways
not known to the Department.
In the valley of Willow Creek, for the year 1908, there were three cases in the
townships anl 7 in Fleetwood borough.
WILLOW CREEK.
.January 24, Elsie Ilofifstadt, Fleetwood borough.
August -(>, Sallie Loinlmch , age 4, Ruscomb Slanor Township.
Se|)teml)er 21, Daniel Angstadt. age 0, Fleetwood borough.
October 2, liny Stetler, age 22, Richmond Township.
October 10, Charles Smith, age 31, Richmond Township.
October 24, Sue Angstadt, age 19, Fleetwood borough.
November 24, Sue Brown, age 24, Fleetwood borough.
November 25, .Tames Rothermel, aged 22, Fleetwood borough.
December 9, Dorothy Scheel, age 9, Fleetwood borough.
December 20, John J. Shaffer, age 55, Fleetwood borough.
The movements of Stetler, Smith and the Angstadts were not positively traced.
There did not ai)pear to be a stream pollution at the houses where they were
confined , but they may have used the toilet of the railroad coaches while on
the ^Maiden Creek watershed and have thus contributed directly to the infection
of the city supply.
At the licinbach estate there was a case of positive stream pollution. There
were six in the family, the mother and father, the oldest child, a boy of seven,
next Sallie, 4 years old, one 2 years and one a year old. Emma, the mother,
ailing in July and August, had not been away from home except to Fleetwood.
She did not have a doctor. Tart of the time she was in bed the symptoms were
those of a mild case of typhoid. On December 7th, a specimen of blood for
Widall reaction was secured by the Chief Medical Inspector from Mrs. Leinbach
and tested. The reaction was positive. Sallie was taken sick in August and was
carried to Dr. Gearhart's office in Fleetwood. The doctor's first visit to the Lein-
bach estate was on August 2Gth.
The disinfection of excreta was indifferently performed: to say the least, it
was unsatisfactory and incomplete. The stools were buried in the field, but
all laundry water and drainage from the house was thrown out on the ground
at the side of the dwelling and from the wash house into a road gutter where it
flowed down a steep grade to the creek a short distance away in which there was
a flowing stream. The surface privy was located 10 feet from the edge of a steep
bank to a run. When full it overflowed to the run. Before and since the sick-
ness of the mother and daughter, the privy was not regularly used and ex-
crement was sometimes deposited in the barnyard where the drainage was to the
run nearb.v. So on the property during July and August and September infection
was spread around promiscuously where it could get into the creek. There were
scouring downpours, especially on July 25th, August 2<Uh and September 2Sth
and October 25th. There were some evidences that the privy had been cleaned
out prior to the scouring I'ains of the latter part of October and that the con-
tent had been thrown over the bank. The estate is eight miles above the city
of Reading's intake. Any considerable amount of typhoid dejecta thrown into
the stream from the priv.v prior to October 24th, when a four days' storm began,
could have caused the November outbreak of typhoid in Reading. It was con-
cluded by the Department that the Leinbach case was one of the original .sources
of infection.
During the year along the main stream of Maiden Creek or its smaller tributaries
below Pine Creek there were five cases in the townships and one in Lenharts-
ville borough.
August 14, Wellinsrtou Herber, age 29, Greenwich Town.ship.
September Iti, .Tncob K. Matildas, age .52, Lenhartsville borough.
September 13, AVilliam Gery, age 29. Richmond Township.
October 22. Samuel Rothermel, age til, Richmond Township.
November 9, Myrl Gery, age 4, Richmond Township.
November 26, Zacharias Koller, age 34, Maiden Creek Township.
The first two and the last case were stream pollutions. In the Herber case the
wash water and drainage from the house might have gone to the stream prior
to the doctor's first visit. The dejecta were disinfected and buried subsequent to
this visit, so it is reported.
In the Matthias case the waste wash water was not disinfected, but was thrown
on the ground 35 feet distant from the creek. Excrement was deposited at a manure
pile, distant 100 feet from the creek. The privy was 00 feet from the stream.
1276
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
The stools were buried in the field without disinfection. These two properties are
located about 12 miles above the city intake. They could have contributed to the
September and October epidemic in Reading.
Mr. Koller was employed in the city. He travelled back and forth on the train.
He contracted the disease in the city.
There were large numbers of people traveling back and forth on the trains.
With hundreds of cases in the city of convalescents and those coming down with
the disease, the number might have contributed to the infection of Maiden
Creek water through the agency of the toilets on passenger coaches must have been
large.
MEASURES TAKEN BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
What was done to stop secondary infection in the city is explained under the
work accomplished in the Department of Medical Inspection. The public was
warned to boil the water and all milk. 'The city ofiBcials tried to abate all nuisances
and put every property in a sanitary condition. Milk supplies were investi-
gated. Premises where typhoid fever existed were placarded. District nurses
were organized and proceeded in the usual manner prescribed by the Commis-
sioner of Health in making visits and ministering to the necessities of the af-
flicted demanding or needing such help. All of this was done under the immediate di-
rection of the Chief Medical Inspector.
Under the immediate direction of the Chief Engineer the following work
was done. The Maiden Creek water in Hampton reservoir was sterilized
Wednesday, December 2nd, by the use of a solution of copper sulphate. Apparatus
was designed and set up at the Maiden Creek pumping station for the use of copper
sulphate and the actual treatment of Maiden Creek water with this solution was
begun at 6.15 a. m. , December 4th. This sterilizing treatment by the appli-
cation, in the proportion by weight, of one part copper sulphate to one million
parts of water has been continued and is in use at the close of the year.
The Penn Street reservoirs were put out of commission and the water therein
was treated with copper sulphate solution. Samples of water at various points
were collected by the State and analyzed at the Department's laboratories at the
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
A sample of water was collected on December 2nd from the reservoir on the
grounds of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway from which water was supplied
to the railroad shops. It showed a total bacterial count of 350 and no coli.
Samples of water were collected throughout the month from Maiden Creek
at the intake at the pumping station. The total bacterial account and the bacilli,
coli communis, present in a cubic centimeter of the sample collected were de-
termined. The results are shown in the following table:
TABLE NO. XIA^-
-MAIDEN CREEK WATER IN INTAKE PUMPING
STATION.
Date of Collection.
1908.
December 2nd,
3rd
3rd
7th, 6 a. m., -
10 a. m.,
2 p. m.,
6 p. m. ,
10th, 6 a. m.,
10 a. m.
2 p. m.,
5 p. m.,
nth, 6 a. m.,
10 a. m
2 p. m.,
6 p. m.
16th, 6 a. m.,
10 a. m.
2 p. m.,
.5 p. m.,
16th, 6 a. m.,
10 a. m
2 p. m.,
6 p. m.,
200
0
180
0
2S0
0
860
16
4,000
80
3,900
0
28
0
530
0
2,000
0
1,200
0
1.000
0
80O
4
900
4
500
2
1.200
1
450
0
280
3
180
0
210
0
130
4
490
0
18
0
90
0
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE XIV- Continued.
1277
Thus it is seen that the creek water varies considerably in the amount of
sewiigre pollution it contains. In Table No. 15 are given the results of bacterio-
logif-al fxaminations of Maiden Creek water in the Hampden reservoir throughout the
month.
TABLE NO. XV.— MAIDKX CREEK WATER IN HAMPDEN RESERVOIR.
Date of Collection.
1908.
Inlet.
Outlet.
December 1st,
2nd.
3rd, -
3rd
4th -
5th -
7th, 10 a. m.,
2 p. ni.,
4 p. m.,
8th, 10 a. m.,
2 p. m.,
4 p. m.,
9th, 10 a. m.,
2 p. m.,
4 p. m.,
10th, 10 a. m.,
2 p. m.,
4 p. m.,
nth, 10 a. m.,
2 p. m.,
4 p. m.,
81
60
0
0
1
0
0
50
190
95
32
56
0
20
0
45
0
150
0
180
0
620
0
95
0
950
0
130
0
120
0
280
0
,200
30
89
0
300
0
45
1
72
0
80
0
86
0
62
0
26
0
42
0
600
0
68
0
210
0
190
0
320
0
45
0
SO
0
50
0
40
0
40
0
72
0
80
0
1278
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TABLE NO. XV— Continued.
Off. Doc.
Outlet.
Date of Collection.
1908.
13th,
10 a. m., _.
48
40
40
32
30
30
9
22
17
22
42
12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
35
60
40
45
41
42
29
16
49
38
35
14
58
18
55
28
63
210
70
42
16
65
65
42
230
16
28
29
20
16
28
230
18
20
0
2 p. m., ._ . . _. . _
0
4 p. m., _ .- . -.
0
14th,
10 a m . ,
0
2 p. m .
0
4 p. m., -
0
15th,
10 a. m., . . - . -
0
2 p. m.,
0
4 p. m., . -
0
16th,
10 a. m., . -- -- ..
0
2 p. ni., .- -_
0
4 p. m.,
0
19th,
10 a. m., - -
0
0
4 p m. , _-
28
35
90
52
98
40
18
16
28
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
20th,
10 a. m ._- -
0
2 p. m., -
0
4pm, - -
0
21st
10 a m - —
0
0
0
22nd,
. 0
0
28th,
0
320
28
330
230
oooo
0
29th
10 a. m. - ----- -
0
2 p. m., - -
0
0
30th
0
0
0
0
0
0
Tlie samples collected on December 4th and thereafter represent water treated
with copper sulphate solution applied continuously at the Maiden Creek pumping
station. P^vidently all of the water in the reservoir had not been reached by this
treatment until the ninth of December, for on and after that date no sewage
pollution was found in the samples, but it was found in the reservoir prior to
that date.
Sewage organisms were found in the Penn Street reservoirs, but not in the
Bernhart reservoir or at the Mansion House receiving the Bernhart supply. Tables
Nos. 10, 17 and 18 show the results of bacteriological examinations of these
waters.
TABLE NO. XVL— PENN STREET RESERVOHIS, BERNHART SUPPLY.
North Basin.
South Basin.
Date of Collection
1908.
Oeeember ist,
2nd,
4th,
6th,
eth,
7th,
8th, a. rn.,
p. m.,
9tb, a. rn.,
p. m..
2,400
5,400
25
21
1,500
18
14
41
14
50
350
0
12,000
0
18
0
15
1
46
0
20
0
21
0
10
0
12
0
8
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TABLE NO. XVI— Continued.
1279
North Basin.
South Basin.
Date of Oollectlon.
1908.
10th, a. m.,
p. m.,
lltb, a. m.,
p. m.,
13th, a. m.,
p. m.,
14th, a. m.,
p. m.,
15th, a. m.,
p. m.,
16th, a. m.,
p. ni.,
17th
18th,
20th, --.
22nd, a. in.,
p. m.,
28th
29th, a. m.,
p. m.,
30th, a. in.,
p. in..
TABLE NO. XVII— MANSION HOUSE,
8
0
12
0
14
0
30
0
8
0
18
0
19
0
21
0
11
0
8
0
6
0
14
0
500
0
18
0
230
0
95
0
2,000
0
620
0
3,200
0
2.100
0
800
0
750
0
190
0
900
0
420
0
2,400
0
400
0
900
0
24
0
19
0
2,400
0
1,200
0
16,000
0
200
0
45
0
900
0
620
0
420
0
65
0
10
0
10
0
22
0
210
0
18
0
E, BERNHART SUPPLY.
Date of Collection.
1908.
December Ist, - ] 100
3rd - — ' 55
15th, - - - 280
16th, - 65
18th — - - - 30
18th - - - - - 46
TAP.LE NO. XVIII— BERNHART RESERVOIR WATER.
Date of Collection.
1908.
=3
II
a
o
n
o
December 1st,
2nd.
4tb,
88
62
3S
The Pcnn Street reservoir water wns turned on to the city mains on the
evening of December 14th. No sewage organisms had been found in the water after
the treatment with copper sulphate applied in both basins. The opportunity for
actual contamination of the waters of these basins is afforded. They should be
covered.
Three samples of water were collected at the Antietam reservoir. Coli were
absent. The total bacterial count was 210, 120 and 500 respectively for collections
made on December 1st, 2nd and 4th. Subsequent to this date throughout the
month, tests were made of the raw water before it went onto the filters and coli
were found in the raw water. The two exceptions where coli were found in the"
filtered water were attributed to carelessness in the collection of the samples.
1280
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TABLE XO. XIX.— ANTIETAil SUI'l'LY.
Off. Doc.
Raw Water.
Filtered Water.
Date of Collection.
1908.
December 1st,
2iid,
4th,
5th,
6th,
Tth,
Sth, a. m.,
p. m., .
9th, a. m.,
p. m.,
10th, a. m., .
p. m.,
11th, a. m.,
p. m.,
13th, a. m., .
p. ni., .
14th, a. m.. .
p. m., .
15th, a. m., .
p. m., .
16th, a. m., .
p. m., .
17th,
18th, a. m., .
p. m., .
2Cth,
22nd, a. m., .
p. m., .
28th,
29th, a. m., .
p. m., .
30th, a. m., .
p. m..
,400
,000
290
2.50
450
350
,400
,100
35
,100
340
18
,900
,200
620
35
210
400
130
820
630
520
300
720
140
360
110
130
130
520
220
0
0
0 i
^
0 >
1 I
0 !
0
0
0
0
0 !
320
4
300
0
16
0
21
0
39
0
18
0
16
0
3
0
600
2
20
0
22
0
4
0
85
0
25
0
16
0
22
0
85
0
30
0
32
0
18
0
36
0
18
0
28
0
14
0
530
0
14
0
12
0
18
0
6
0
38
0
10
0
200
0
18
0
The Deparlmeiit coilecned samples lejiularly frmii honsfs alons Pcrkiomen
Avenue which were supplied with filtered Antietam water to discover, if possible,
whether such wati'r was sufficiently purified. The results showed a satisfactory
supply.
TABLE Nf). XX.— ANTIETAM FILTERED WATER. SAMPLER COL
LECTED FROM DWELLINGS ON PERKIOMEN AVENUE.
6
§
OS
Date of Collection.
•w •
<u
1908.
SS
t5
a
a-^
OS
o
t/2
«
o
December 6,
7,
8,
8,
9,
9.
10,
10.
il,
11.
^3,
'8,
14,
14,
15,
16,
.850
,8,50
,850
.S-W
,745
,850
,850
,850
,850
,8.50
,723
,723
,701
,roi
,723
,719
28
16
31
190
26
22
20
30
65
76
8
40
45
12
88
81
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1281
TABLE NO. XX— Continued.
Date of Collection.
It-OS.
16
17
18
18
1.S
20
22
r2
28
29
29
30,
30
1,719
1,558
1,558
1,528
1,.548
740
345
345
346
346
345
345
16
16
12 i
39 ;
1-1 I
16 I
16 !
14 I
38
12
8
180
6
Till' r:nv \v;iti'r >;iii>i)lip(l lo the Egelnian filter also showed evidence of sewage
pollution. So (lid the lilterrd water on two orca.sions, the dates eorresponding with
the dates of coUcctiuu of filti-rcd water samples oolk'cted at the Antietara filters.
Similarly the presence of coli in the Egelman filtered water on these two occa-
sions was attributed to carelessness in methods of collection. To make sure,
that the filtered water sa|)plied to the high district was ami)ly purified, examinations
were made thiduglidut the month of samples collectefl both at the filter and at the
office of the Superintcndenr of the water works system. The results are given
in Table Xos. 21 and 22.
TABLE NO. XXL— EGELMAN SUI'PLY.
Raw Water.
FiltPrcd Watpr.
Dat.
>f ("ollccti.iii.
t:ii'S.
1.800
1,500
48
6
280
(m
1,200
2,0(10
250
630
250
16
120
4,50
100
210
280
45
3
2,200
220
2:50
.TOO
29
70
130
140
25
400
10
20
12
40
5
0
0
0
0
4
5
5
5
0
0
0
6
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,200
3
8
2
300
420
12
330
15
10
80
320
28
9
12
8
8
16
4
8
18
10
26
18
18
12
35
IS
45
650
16
8
Hi
2nd,
0
4th,
0
5th - -..
0
6th - - -- -
0
7th,
0
8tli, a.
p.
ni.,
ni. ,
0
1
mil, a.
0
Iiilh, a
111
III
0
0
0
lltli, a.
p.
13th, a.
p.
14th, a.
111 -
ni
in
ni
in
0
0
0
0
0
p.
0
15th, a.
0
p.
Ifith, a.
p.
18th, a.
0
ni -
in.,
0
0
0
p.
2t!tli a.
0
0
p.
22nd, a.
0
m
0
28th, a.
p.
29th. a.
aoth, a.
P.
ni
0
0
in.,
ni.. -
m -- .-
0
0
0
81—17—1908
1282
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
OfE. Doc.
TABLE NO. XXII.— EGELMAN FILTERED WATER. WATER WORKS
OFFICE.
Date of Collection.
1908.
December Gtii,
Tth,
8th, a. 111.,
p. 111.,
9th, a. m.,
p. m.,
10th, a. m.,
p. m.,
11th, a. m.,
p. ni.,
13th, a. m.,
p. m.,
lith, a. m.,
p. m. ,
15th, a. m.,
16th, a. m.,
p. m.,
17th, a. m.,
18th, a. m.,
20th, a. m.,
22nd, a. m.,
p. m.,
28th, a. m.,
29th, a. m.,
30th, a. m..
2U0
0
14
0
3o0
0
620
0
8
0
10
0
10
0
450
0
22
0
S
0
4
0
3
0
6
0
180
0
6
0
,000
0
32
0
10
0
350
0
la
0
12
0
10
0
y
0
390 !
0
110 1
0
Three hundred and five samples of water were collected from dwellings along
streets throughout the intermediate service district where raw Maiden Creek water
and later the treated Maiden Creek water was furnished to the consumer and
where typhoid cases were particularly numerous.
On North Fourth Street 11 total collections were made in two dwellings, Nos.
1049 and 1051 respectively. No coli were found in the samples analyzed. The
average total bacterial count was 60, the maximum ISO and the minimum 14.
On North Fifth Street 11 total collections were made in 2 dwellings, No. 1143
and 1147, respectively. No coli were found in the samples analyzed. The average
total bacterial count was 58, the maximum 310 and the minimum 12. .
On North Sixth Street 13 total collections were made in two dwellings, Nos.
1048 and 113G, respectively. In one sample collected on December 11th, at No.
1048 North Sixth Street, a sewage organism was found in a cubic centimeter of
the water collected No coli was found in the other samples, throughout the
month. The average total bacterial count was 87, the maximum 410, and the
minimum 12.
In the following table is given a sunamary of the total number of samples col-
lected, by streets and by dates of collection.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
TAP.LE NO. XXIII.
1283
Number of Samples Oollected.
Date of Collection.
2
1
1
1
OQ
3
o .
1
.a
<a
2
x:
Xi
JZ
^
a
a
aI
u
O
u
o
hi
o
hi
o
bl
o
2
1
:?
Z,
'<i
^
25
»
December 1, -
December 8,
December 9,
December 10,
December 11,
December 13,
December 14,
December 15,
December 16,
December 17,
December 18,
December 20,
December 22,
Totals.
18
45
13
24
The yiotting of the typhoid cases on a map showing the details of the water
mams in the city was sulliciently completed on December 3rd to prove that the
cases were in dwellings located chiefly away from dead ends of the street pipes. At
these dead ends little water is used. It was decided best not to blow off the water
on street mains where there was no typhoid fever for fear that infected water
from other street mains might be carriea into the dead ends. It was further de-
cided to await the disinfection of the entire supply before undertaking a complete
flushing out of the entire gridiron system of street mains and this was the plan
put into execution.
Hon. George F. Baer, President of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway
Company, which operates all of the steam railroads in the drainage area of
Maiden Creek, one branch traversing the entire length of Maiden Creek and lead-
ing to Slatiugtou and another branch following up the valley of Maiden Creek
through Fleetwood borough and Topton to Alleutown with a spur terminating at
Kutztown, offered his heartiest co-operation to the Commissioner of Health to
help stamp out the epidemic. Since an individual who may be coming down with
the disease as well as a convalescent, may unknowingly by the discharge of wastes
from his body into a stream affording drinking water to the public, bo the means
of transmission of the deadly germ and because during an epidemic when so many
people may be travelling about in a condition liable to cause this harm, it is
particularly necessary that all reasonable precautious should be used to keep such
poisons out of the drinking water, the Commissioner of Health requested the
President to issue instructions to the proper oflicers of the railway that all toilet
rooms on passenger coaches be locked and closed to use during the transit of the
coach through the watershed above the point in Maiden Creek from which the
water is drawn and supplied to the public in the city of Reading. This re-
quest was complied with.
The Commissioner of Health communicated directly with the local authorities
of the cities and towns along the Schuylkill River below Reading and warned
them of the presence of typhoid fever at Reading and the danger of the spread of
the infection through the medium of the river as the source of public water
supply.
The Department urged upon the city the establishment of the office of city
bacteriologist and chemist and an ordinance to this effect has been introduced into
council. Examinations of water, of milk and of effluents from the sewage works
will be made daily.
The Board of Water Commissioners of the city is now building a Ultration plant
for the puriticalii II of the Bernhart reservoir water and plans are being; prepared
for the lilt rat 'on of th.' Maiden Creek supply. The Chief Engineer and Super-
intendent of ih<' water works system, .Mr. Emil L. Neubling, and the Chief En-
gineer of the State D.'partmcnt of Health, at the close of the year were re-
viewing plans and ciuisidcring further improvements to the water works system
upon which action is expected to be taken in the near future.
On the watershed at every estate where typhoid fever had occurred, a thor-
ough tiisinfeclion of the premises was accomplished. Changes were made where
practicable in sewage receptacles and permanent remedies against stream pollution
were effected.
1284
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
Twenty-four hundred and sixty-eight properties were inspected on the Maiden
Creek watershed. Of them, 489 were found in an unsatisfactory condition. Notice
was served on the owners of these properties involving 737 pollutions. There
were abated 71S of these pollutions, ID were unabated at the close of the year
and 19 were held for further evidence. On the watershed were 4,087 horses,
7,141 cattle and 12,127 hogs. It was necessary to refer to attorneys for prose-
cution 110 cases, of which 81 were abated. At the Jixstice of the Peace hearing IG
were settled, 3 were ignored by the (irand Jury, 9 were settled in Court of Quarter
Sessions and one defendant was discharged for insuiiicieut evidence. The follow-
ing table shoA^s the class of pollutions, their uiuuber and those abated ami vm-
abated at the close of the year. In the townships on the watershed there is a
population of 11,903 human beings.
On North Tentli Street S3 total collections were made in 30 dwellings, six dwell-
ings in the 1000 block, tv.o in the 1500 block, live in the 1400 block, two in the
1300 block, five in the 1200 block, four in the 1000 block, hve in the 900 block
and one in the 800 block. In one sample collected on December 11th, at 1225
North Tenth Street, a sewage organism was found in cubic centimeter of the
water collected. No coli was found in the other samples throughout the month. The
average total bacterial' count was 98, the maximum 050 aud tlie minimum 11.
On North Eleventh Street, 45 total collections were made in 28 dwellings, five
dwellings in the 1400 block, five in the 1300 block, one in the 1200 block, nine in
the 1100 block, and eight in the 1000 block. In one sample collected on December
8th at No. 1427 Nortli Eleventh Street, two B. coli communis were foimd in a
cubic centimeter of the water and on December 9th and again on December 11th
in the same block a sewage organism was found in the water collected. No coli
were found in the other samples throughout the month. The avex'age total
bacterial count was 113, the maximum 900 and the minimum 14.
On North Twelfth Street, 43 total collections were made in 11 dwellings, three
dwellings in the 1300 block, four in the 1000 block, one in the 800 block and three
in the 700 block. In one sample collected on December 8th at No. 1327 North
Twelfth Street, a sewage organism was found and again on December 15th a
sewage organism was found in the sample of water collected at No. 728 North
Twelfth Street. No coli were found in the other samples throughout the month.
The average total bacterial count was 120, the maximum 2100 and the minimum 12.
On North Church Street, 13 total collections were made in three dwellings, Nos.
ll3o, 1135 and 1138, respectively. In one sample collected on December 9th,
at No. 1138, a sewage organism was found in the cubic centimeter of the water.
No coli were found in the other samples throughout the month. The average
bacterial count was 72, the maximum 400 aud the minimum 10.
On North Moss Street 24 total collections were made, in seven dwellings, three
dwellings in the 900 block and four in the 800 block. No coli were found in the
samples analyzed. The average total bacterial count was 85, the maximum 390
and the minimum was 10.
On North Mulberry Street 60 total collections were made in 18 dwellings, two
dwellings in the IGOO block, three in the 1500 block, three in the 1400 block, two
in the 1300 block, six in the 1200 block and two in the 1100 block. In one sample
collected on December 14th at No. 1010 North Mulberry Street, a sewage organism
was found in a cubic centimeter of water. No coli were found in ' the other
samples, throughout the month. The average total bacterial count was 103,
the maximum 1000 and the minimum 6.
The total area is 210 square miles, or approximately 57 per square mile for the
townships.
Kind of Pollution of Stream.
Privlea, —
Bath-tubs,
OwHpOOlB ,
Barn-yards,
Pili-pen.s
Laundry and kitchen drainage,
Garbage, —
Creameries,
HlauKhter houses, —
Urinals,
D(!a<l animals,
r.aundry
Rendering works,
Pomace,
240
16
9
88
lfi6
187
24
4
4
2
2
1
1
:i
737
230
IC
9
79
160
187
24
4
4
2
2
1
1
3
718
19
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1285
The entire watershed was covererl during the month of December, but the
work in tho above tal)le represents the work of tlie Departunmt on the Maiden
Creek waterslied for the entire year. The fiuishinj;; up of the work was accelerated
by the typhoid outbreak in Reading.
CONCLUSIONS.
The epidemic in November was primarily caused by the improper disposal of the
discharges froii> the bodies of human beingr; aflBicted with typhoid fever living and
trnvi'iiinir about on the watershed of the Maiden Creek source of supply of water
to the ptiblic in tlie city of Reading. The secondary cases were undoubtedly in-
creased by the uns:initary conditions obtaining in the districts in the city where
the rlisease was most prevalent.
There existed on the snidf ^Laiden Creek watershed throughout the summer and
fall cases of typhoid fever ; in dwellings where the disposal of the dejecta was
such ns to have mnde possible the transmission of the infection in the natural
water courses (o liie city water works intake and the distribution of the in-
fection throughout the intermediate and low service districts in the city and in this
mann"r the primary infection during the summer and early fall months may have
reached the water consumers and have caused the outbreaks. The history of the
year's experience and of that of prior years forcibly illustrates the necessity of
sanitary precautions being enforced on an inhabited watershed contributing
to tiie source of supply to the public.
There were ."1 deaths frmn typhoid fever in Reading during the year, 22 deaths
in the townships j^nd 3 deaths in the boroughs, making a total of 70 deaths through-
out Berks (Viuuty for the year 1908.
TYI'IIOID FEVER AT ROYERSFORD AND SPRING CITY.
1m the latter part of August, the Commissioner of Health directed the En-
gini'eriug Di\ision to r(Mider assistance to the ^ledical Division of the Department
in making an investigation and in stamijini out typhoid fever reported to be in
epidemic form in tic- twin boroughs of Royersford and Spring City. Field
Inspectors W. W. Rittex and Ira Zeigler were assigned to assist the County
.Medical Inspectors, Dr. H. H. Whitcomb. of Montgomery County, who repre-
si-nted the r)('i)artment at Royersford, and Dr. Joseph Scattergood, of Chester
County, who rei-,resented the Department at Spring City. The investigation of
the water works sysiem was conducted under the supervising direction of the
Chief Engineer. During August there were 11(> cases of typhoid fever in the
city of Reading and 3ii cases there during July. Much of the sewage of Reading
reaches the Schtiyikill River untreated and in its raw condition. The water supply
of Royersford and Si)rinu: City is derived from the river at a point 27 miles
down stri'am from Reading. There was typhoid fever infection in the river.
The outbreak herein described is believed to have been partly produced by the
iiitrodiK ticm into the homes of the water consumers of unpurified river water con-
taining ibe L'eruis of typhoid fever.
GENERAL CONDITIONS.
The Schuylkill River flows in a general southeasterly course and forms the
boundary between Montgomery County to the east and Chester County to the west.
Spring City borough is located in ( 'hesti-r County aloni; the west bank of the
Schuylkill River directly opposite Royersford borough which is located along the
east bank vi the river iu Montgomery County. The two municipalities are con-
ne<'ted by a bridge spanning the river. Royersford has a population of about
.S.Ottt) and Spring City has a i>oinilation of about 3,<)00. There are no sewers
in coiniuon use in either town. There is one water works system for both boroughs.
'Vho I'hiladelpbin and Headinu; Railway pas.ses throu;ih Royersford and the
reniisylvMiiia Railroad, Schuylkill Division, passes through Spring City. Both
communities have developeil and will continue to be maintained by the industries
within their borders.
In Royersford the predominant industry is the manufacture of stoves. But
there are also class works, hosiery and planing mills, foundry and machine
shops and a sprini; bed manufaciory. (Juite a number of employes at these
works reside in SpiiiiLr Ciiy. The industries are not so extensive in the latter
1286
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
place. Besides the manufacture of stoves, there are knitting and underwear
works, glass works and a paper box factoiy in Spring City. Relatively few of the
employees in Spring City reside in Royersford.
In each instance where the industrial plant was supplied with other than
public water, such supply was examined. The following table gives a list of such
private water supplies and the results of the Department's examination of the
water.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OP WELL AND SPRING WATER
AT INDUSTRIAL PLANTS.
Aug.
Sept.
25,
25,
Aug.
Sept. 8.
Sept. 15,
Sept. 15,
§
Bacteria per c. c.
B
bD
a
tH
o
« Location.
IX
o
0
^ a
o
^
C3 D
O
Q
^
O V
«
ROYERSFORD.
Grander Stove Co.,
Buckwalter Stove Co.,
SPRING CITY.
Veager and Hunter Stove (').,
Ithaca Window Glass Co.,
Keystone Stove Foundry,
Spring City Glass Works,
All of the other industries in both boroughs used water from the public water
works system. There are in the neighborhood of IS dug wells on private property
in Royersford, used as the source of drinking water to the occupants of the estate
and in some cases to the neighborhood. In Spring City there are about 30 of such
supplies. In Royersford borough there are about GOO buildings. The universal
method of excrement disposal is into earth dug vaults. There are a few cesspools.
Kitchen water and laundry drainage is in nearly every case conducted by pipe to
the nearest highway gutter. In a number of alleys and streets throughout the
borough there were found stagnant pools of such drainage. A number of nuisances
existed on this account. Several of the privy vaults were found in an overflowing
condition. Carelessness in disposing of night soil and garbage resulted. The
same statements are true with respect to conditions found in Spring City. In that
borough there are about 600 buildings. About 5,000 people in the two boi'oughs
are furnished with the public water. The remaining 1,000 people are supplied
from wells and springs owned by individuals. Samples of water collected by the
Department from the wells and springs in the two boroughs and in East Vincent
Township, which surrounds Spring City were found in 10 instances to contain
sewage pollution. The following table shows the location and results ot the tpsts
of private water supplies.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1287
BACTERIOLOGICAL TKSTS OF WELL AND SPRING WATER FROM
I'lUVATE ESTATES.
Bacteria
per c. c.
u
c
o
I.ocation.
a:
Ui
o
u
c
=;
5
3
Date
?
p
1.
Aug.
21,
2.
Aug.
21,
3.
Aug.
21,
4.
Aug.
21.
6.
Aug.
21,
6.
Aug.
21,
7.
Aug.
21,
8.
Aug.
21,
9.
Aug.
21,
10.
Aug.
21,
11.
Sept.
3,
12.
Sept.
3,
13.
Sept.
3,
14.
Sept.
3,
15.
Sept.
3,
16.
Sept.
3.
17.
Sept.
3,
18.
Sept.
3.
19.
Sept.
8,
1.
Aug.
2:-,,
0
Aug.
2.i,
3.
Aug.
2.5,
4.
Aug.
2.5.
.■).
-Aug.
2'),
6.
Aug.
2.5,
7.
Aug.
25.
8.
Aug.
25,
9.
Aug.
25,
10.
Aug.
25,
11.
-Aug.
25,
12.
Aug.
25,
13.
Aug.
25,
14.*
Aug.
25,
16.
Aug.
26,
16.
Aug.
25.
17.
Aug.
25,
18.
Aug.
25.
19.
Aug.
25,
20.
Aug.
25,
21.
Aug.
25.
22.
Aug.
25.
23.
Aug.
25,
24.
Aug.
25
2.5.
Aug.
25.
26.
Aug.
25,
27.
Aug.
25.
28.
Aug.
25,
29.
Aug.
26,
30.
Aug.
25,
1.
Aug.
28,
2.
Aug.
28,
8.
Aug.
28,
4.
Aug.
28,
1.
Aug.
25,
2.
Aug.
25.
••?.
Aug.
25,
1.
Sept.
15,
2.
Sept.
15,
ROYERSFORD BOROUGH.
' John W. Clemmons, - Well, -
; G. A. Hoover, - Well. .
' Mrs. Latshaw (Grove), - Spring,
' Charles Garber --- — - Well, -
Fernwood Cemetery, Well, -
William Wagner, - — - Well. .
David Long, .> .■... Well, -
' W. B. Hartman, — Well, -
I A. Kelly, - -. Well, -
[ Mary McCann, - Well, -
1 William Place -- ; Well, .
i John Culp, - Well, .
E. D. Fink .- Well, -
Edward Wiand, — Well, .
R. Winter, .- Well, .
E. Bush -- Well, -
' William Jaques, .- Well, .
' John Teager, Well, -
George Reiser, Well, -
SPRING CITY BOROUGH.
Mr. Cressinger, --- -- Well. -
William Skint -.. — . Well, .
Mr. Tachner, Well. .
Charles Reiner, - .- Well, .
Fred Deeiner, .— - Well, -
John McFcat Well, .
Bayard Bullick | Well, .
Orlando Bartman. Well, .
Jolm A. Benjamin .1 Spring.
Dora Wyiiian — Well, -
Mr. Hildbrind -- Well, .
Daniel Keim, — -— Well. .
: A. Emery, Well, .
j Samuel Hippie -— , Well, -
David McFeat - Well, .
Ida Lumis, | Well, .
William Van I.ear, -. i Well. .
O. B. Pinkbinder, .- '< WeU, .
William Yeager j Well. .
Jos. Hedrick ! Well, .
J. A. Wells -- I Well. -
B. L. StaufTcr ..I Well, .
Wm. P. Snyder (drilled), I Well, .
Frank Mcrbinc.
Samuel Hetriok,
Howard Kirk, ..
E. A. Haupt. ..
George Cullem.
Well.
Well,
Well.
Well,
WeU,
William Welgle Well, .
John Jones, - Spring,
EAST VTNOEXT TOWNSHIP.
W. P. Snyder. ■ Well j
W. P. Snyder, -. ' Spring..— I
I William Snyder. -' Spring,...,
I Frank Beaver Well,
I
' EAST PIKELAND TOWNSHIP. |
' Spring 'Mty OniPtery. Well ■
Bonney Brae Park Well.
Bonney Brae Park ' Well. 1
LIMERICK TOWNSHIP.
.Tnhn Hilbourn Well
I Abram Hflbourn „| Well,
150
0
190
0
8
0
220
0
5,000
0
130
0
85
0
12
0
130
6
200
0
850
0
210
0
120
0
40
0
190
0
220
0
68
0
14
0
2,400
.35
420
320
6i
200
62
220
490
2,000
2,500
62
140
65
140
210
4,200
85
2
180
280
72
4
220
20
22
18
200
290
8,000
680
760
260
460
36
500
uo
180
0
1
2
0
1
0
0
0
JO
0
0
0
0
10
5
200
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
0
4
0
0
66
6
46
0
In ov(<r.v one of tlic ^~^ oasos givon in the above table where the water analyzed
fcniaincil scwnu:(' pnlluiifin, the owner of the well or siirinsi diseontinueil the use
thereof wi!h five excejitions. namely the supplies on the Snyder. Ida Lurais and
P^red Deemer estates. The Lurais well was disinfected and cleaned, so were the
springs and well on the Snyder farm. Mr. Deemer did not clean or disinfect.
1288
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
In the early part of July there was a picnic at Latshaw Gi'ove. This place
is small and is used principally for Sunday School picnics for classes. It does
not have accommodations for a large gathering'. It \Yas ascertained that none of
those who attended the July picnic had typhoid fever any time prior to or sub-
sequent to the picnic.
Bonney Brae Park is on the line of the street railway running between Spring
City and Phoenixville. It is open every day during the week- in the season and
considerable numbers of people gather there, especially on Saturdays. The
water supply comes from tw'o drilled wells which were found to deliver pure water.
Early in July there was a union picnic at the park of the Sunday Schools of Roy-
ersford and Spring City. It is thought that the epidemic of typhoid fever following
might have originated at the picnic. There was no evidence collected by the De-
partment which would support this contention.
The town pump in Spring City, located on Main Street, was suspected of
furnishing impure water. The Department's test did not reveal the presence of
any contamination in the supply.
In three instances only where well or spring water was found contaminated
were there cases of typhoid fever on the property, namely, on that of Mary
McCann, Frank ^lerbine and George Cullem. There were nine residents on the
McCann estate. Two of the family Avere sick with typhoid fever. One of the
family only was sick on the Merbine estate. Two of the Cullem family had
typhoid fever. There was no circumstance in connection with these cases which
pointed to the spread of the infection therefrom to the neighborhood.
Relative to typhoid fever among the users of the other waters found contaminated
on property where typhoid fever did not break out , it is not evident why the mem-
bers of the household on the property, using such supply daily, should not have
contracted the disease, if the use of such water occasionally by families in the
neighborhood was the means of conveying infection to the members of such families
who contracted tlie disease. Three people came down with typhoid fever who
lived in the neighborhood of the Tachner estate and who drank water Occa-
sionally from the Tachner well. Three such cases occurred with re-
spect to the Deemer well, one with the Skint well, one with the McFeat well,
two with the Lumis well and two with the VanLear well ; but in every instance
the patients used borough water more liberally than any other. Had there been
infection in the private estate supplies, the members of the household living on
that estate would natui'ally have contracted the infection, and have been stricken
with typhoid fever.
MILK SUPPLY.
The milk supply to the two towns was obtained from nine dairies. On one of
them only was there a case of typhoid fever. The patient's name was Jesse
Yeager and his age 10 years. The residence was a dovible tenement. Master
Yeager was employed by the owner, .7. II. Latshaw, who lived in the other half
of the house and operated the farm. There were 1.5 cows kept on the property.
One hundred and sixty-five quarts of milk were produced daily. The milk was
sold in Spring City and East Vincent Township, being supplied' to 125 families.
Master Yeager was taken sick on July 2Gth. A trained nurse was employed.
Every attention was bestowed to disinfect the dejecta and to prevent secondai'y
infection. Evei'vtbing about the daii-y appeared in first class sanitary condition.
Twenty-nine cnses of typhoid f"ver appeared in the families of those supplied
with milk by J. II. Latshaw. The dates of onset of the cases are given in the
following table: ,
•July
July
.Tilly
.\ug.
Aug.
ir>th - 1 ease,
16th ; 1 case,
Aug.
•AuB.
Aug.
Aug.
Auk.
Auk.
Auk.
Sopt.
Sept.
.Sfipt.
Sppt.
Oct .
Oct.
Nov .
Nov.
20th,.
2nrt,
4th.
7th,
Aug. 9th,.
12th,.
l.'ith..
14th..
1.0th,.
16th..
21.Ht..
2Zt<\ . .
4th,.
nth,.
17th,.
20th , .
2nfl..
2!>th,.
nth,.
24th,.
1 ease,
1 case,
1 case.
2 cases,
4 cases.
1 case,
2 cases,
1 case,
1 case,
2 cases.
1 easi;,
1 case,
1 ease,
1 case,
1 case,
1 case,
1 case,
1 case.
1 case,
2 cases,
Oressinger. |
OorriKan.
Yeager.
Oook.
Woodward.
Mrs. Oorrigan.
Mary Oorrigan.
fMattes.
iFry.
Sturges.
[Knerr.
Fulmer.
fRfiln((r.
LJohnson.
Ransom.
Llvingoofl.
fFry.
IGherls.
Reiner.
T>(\U\w.T.
M.-ittcR.
Miirining.
l,iinil.M.
Grill in.
Clark.
John l/ulshaw, Sr.
Fulmer.
fErnest Hhceder.
[Elsie Shceder.
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1289
ISo out of \]1~> t'aiiiilics sui)pli(,'(l wiili Lln' milk fi-oiii lliis dairy, lil fainilifs only
had tyifhoid in tin-ir lioiin's and tin- total uiiimIkt of ca.st'.s in su<-li ramilii's wa.s 2!*.
They were distriljuU'd fiom the luth of July until the U4th of .\o\.'niljfr, and by
months as follows: Thiw^ in July; 17 in Auj^ust ; 4 in St'iJtember; 2 iu Uctober ;
and 3 in No somber. The.se facts do not indicate cause for suspicion of the
Latshaw milk as llie uipdiuni of transmissidu (jf typhoid infection tliidu;,'liout Spring
City. None of the milk was sold iu lloycisfdrd. Mr. James (_"orrij;au was taken
with typhoid fever ten days before Master Yca.u'cr. ^Irs. Corrigan and her
daughter, Mary, were subjected to secondary infection in the household. Mrs.
Mattes was taken, sick on August 9th and about four weeks later her husband
developed the disease. Mrs. Fry developed typhoid fever on August 9th. Her
daughtei' Enuiia was taken sick a week later. Similarly, Master Keiner came down
with typhoid fever on August loth. Ilis father's case was diagnosed a week
later. The Fry and Reiner cases do not look like secondary infection so much
as infet!tion from an original source otlier than milk. A sample of milk taken from
th(> Latshaw wagon on September 1st was analyzed by the Department ami
found to be imcontaminated. The nine cases happening along this milk route;
sid)se<]ueni; to Septemt)er 1st are negligible. The difference in dates of onset <tf
the casi's of iNIary and Hiram Fulmer, August 12th and November 19th, do
not indicate milk contamination as the cause and the same is true respecting
the difference of dates of onset of the cases of Master Yeager and John Latshaw,
the father of liatshaw, the dairyman, July 2tJth and October 29th. The Sheeder
cases on November 24th were caused' by one and the same poison. If the
Latshaw milk had at any time been infected with virulent typhoid fever germs,
it is fair to conclude that a general outbreak would have occurred like an
explosion all along the route. As it was, only 15 cases were recorded for two
weeks among (;2r) people furnished with the Latshaw milk. Nevertheless it might
have been possible that negligence or carelessness in observing hygienic rules
for the delivery of milk into the household where a case of typhoid fever existed pnj-
moteil the si)r('ading of tlie infection from the Cressinger or Corrigan or Yeager
cases to others. The dates of onset, if this actually liappened , would have been
from about tiu» first of August to the middle of the month. It was during this
time that typhoid fever was most prevalent in Royersford and Spring City.
In the following table api»ear the names of the six milk dealers who produced
or distributed the milk to the public along routes in Royersford; the number of
families supplied by each dealer ; and the total number of cases appearing in
these families. Abram Ililbourn supplied milk from his own farm and from
that of his brother John. J. W. Poley furnished milk from his farm and from
that of ^Yilliam (iarver. W. II. Rogers kept a milk depot from which he drove
a milk route. He bought his milk from C. W. Whisler and John Rinford. The
remaining three dealers shown in the table produced the milk they sold on their
own farms. There was no typhoid fever existant at any time during the year at
these dairies. In every instance the sanitary conditions were good, except at the
Ililbourn estate. On September 1st samples of milk out of cans off the milk wagon
of each dealer were collected by the Department and analyzed. All were found
free from contamination except that of Ililbourn. His farm was insiiected and
the dairy was found to be in an unsanitary condition. It was closed ; the cows
were transferred and after the buildings were put in a proper condition to the
satisfaction of the State Health officials, the dairy was again operated. A sec-
ond examination of milk after the above mentioned improvements had been made
showed the milk to be pure.
U.
a.2
Si
a a
S-?
Milk Distributor.
cs
a 3
■ S3
Xs
»-5
2S
o.*-'
3 S
<
K'-
Abraiu Ililbourn,
John Slifer,
H. S. Yeager, ...
.1. W. Poley, ....
C. M. Rogers. ..
W. H. Rogers, ..
100
8
65
0
110
(i
75
7
120
4
130
11
86
These 36 cases oceurnd in .Vugust with throe exceptions, u.un.ly, 1 on Sep-
tember 4tli and 2 in November. And with two fun her exceptions, tlie cases
occurred between the 1st and Kith of August, inclusive. It is sulfieient to note that
out of 3,000 people furnished with milk, 31 cases only of typhoid fever de-
1290
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
veloped between August 1st and August 17th, when the epidemic was in its
strength in Royersford and Spring City. Abram Hilbourn supplied over 500 cus-
tomers, among whom S only had typhoid fever. None of the 300 or more con-
sumers of the Slifer milk had typhoid fever. And six only out of over 500
consumers using Yeag'^r milk were sick and 7 only out of approximately 400
Poley customers were sick. More significant even was the low rate among the
customers of C. M. Rogers. He supplied in the neighborhood of 600 people,
among whom 4 cases of typhoid fever only developed. Eleven out of 650 cus-
tomers along the W. H. Rogers route certainly relieves the Whisler and Rinford milk
of all suspicion. So it may be concluded that the milk was not the medium
for the primary spread of the infection which caused the outbreak of the epidemic
in Royersford during the first two weeks in August.
In concluding the consideration of milk as the medium of the spread of the
typhoid poison there remain but two dealers. Latshaw Brothers furnished about
275 families, all in Spring City. Mowrer Brothers furnished 200 families,
principally in Spring City. A few lived in East Vincent Township and in
Royersford. The Latshaw Brothers' milk was produced on their own farm. The
Mowrer Brothers' milk was produced partly on their farm and partly on the farm
of H. D. Latshaw. There was no typhoid fever at any time during the year at
these farms. Milk was analyzed by the Department and found to be pure. The
sanitary condition of the premises in each instance was above the average.
Seventy-two cases of typhoid fever appeared in the families of those supplied
with milk by Latshaw Brothers. The dates of onset of the cases are given in the
following table::
July
July
July
July
Aug.
Aug.
13, 1 case,
16
20.
26, ...
1 ease, ..
1 case, --
2 cases, --
1, 1 case, --
2, 9 ease.s,-.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug. 10,
Aug.
Aug.
Bullock.
Irey.
Hi.xson.
Thompson
Heckman.
Bullock.
White.
Placke.
Mills.
Hetrick.
Powers.
Cook.
Kline.
Tachner.
Hampton.
Argue.
Muntz.
Oliver.
Hampton.
Backman.
Reifl. .
Hunter.
Hetrick.
2 cases I Smith.
I Lukins.
11 1 1 case,
12, ' 2 cases, -
6, - 2 cases.
8 1 case, .
9 5 eases,.
Aug. v.i. i Teases,.
Aug. 14, i leases.
Aug. 15 Seases,.
Aug. 16 1 2cases,.
1 case, .
2 cases,.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
19, 1 case, .
20, I 1 case, .
21 1 case, -
22 1 case, -
23, 2 cases,.
24, 1 case, .
26 1 2 cases,.
Aug. 26 2cafleB,.
Smitii.
Hart.
Gulp.
Edwards.
Seaser.
Green .
Skinner.
Coulston.
Freed.
Whalen.
Stubblcbine.
Deimer.
Evans.
Mrs. Kvans.
Guss.
Merbine.
Oobb.
Quigg.
Wright.
Knobler.
Stubblcbine.
Williams.
Wright.
Hippie.
Pry.
Newburn (Howard).
Hetrick.
Beard .
Alva Hetrick.
Otterlngcr.
Tyson.
Quigg.
Knobler.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1291
Sept. ](i. - 2cases,. Lewis.
I Tyson.
Sept. 11), I 1 case, MarsliuU.
Sept. 21 1 1 case Otteringer.
Sept. 2j, : 2case8, Rhoads.
Hughes.
Oct. 13 1 case Tbouison .
Oct. 20, 1 case, Morgan.
Nov. 22 -^ 1 case, Cruiikliit«.
Nov. 24 '. ' 1 case Aucby.
Nov. 2.i lease Epright.
Nov. ao, 1 case _. ZoUers.
Dec. 21. 1 case CuJp.
Dec. 30, I 1 case, Barnes.
So out of over 1,300 people supplied with milk from the Latshaw Brothers'
dairy, 72 cases of typhoid fever only occurred in the homes of these consumers.
They were distributed from the 13th of July to the last day of the year and by
months as follows: Five in July ; -03 in August; 0 in September; 2 in October;
4 in November and 2 in December. If the milk at any time contained virulent
infection, there would naturally Lave been more sickness among the Latshaw
Brothers' consumers. The onset would have been sudden and extended. Numer-
ous members of the same household would have come down with the disease. The
fact is, however, that the disease was prevalent throughout Spring City and also in
Royersford during the first two weeks in August. Every family afflicted was a
customer of some milk dealer. Latshaw Brothers, supplying the greatest number
of people, would have been likely to have the greatest number of customers sick
with the disease. There were nine families in which two members of the house-
hold had typhoid fever. In one such family only the date of onset was the same
uay for the two cases. In another family the onsets were three days apart, in an-
other family -i days and in another family 7 days apart. These cases were not
produced by secondary infection in the household.
There was another family supplied by the Latshaw Brothel's' milk in which the
two cases were separated by nine days. In another family the onsets were ten
days apart; in another, eighteen days; in another tweutj'-seven days, and in
another family, the onsets of the two cases were three months apart.
In the Hetrick family, the first member was taken sick on August 9th. The
two other atllicted ones developed the disease two weeks later.
Regulations aftecting the use of milk containers and the interchange thereof
between the house where there was a case of typhoid fever and the milk man were
put in force by the local authorities in Spring City on August 21st. It will be
noted that there continued to be cases of typhoid fever developed thereafter. The
epidemic had begun to wane before these regulations had been put in force.
VVhile carelessness respecting milk containers may have helpetl spread the in-
fection, it is believed that this was only one of the many mediums for the spread
of the disease.
Ruth Bullock developed typhoid fever on July 13th ; her sister Mabel came down
with the disease on August first. There was no attempt at disinfection of de-
jecta. The privy was about 25 yards from the house. There was no vault. The
excrement was spread out over the ground and was exposed to the fly pest.
Kitchen drainage and wash water was discharged through a pipe into the street
gutter in front of the house and reached Main Street. The soiled bed linen of the
patient was washed in water which flowed out into the street gutter.
The same remarks, excejiting the privy, are relevant to the Irey case. So it is
seen that circumstantial evidence does not point wholly to milk.
In the Mowrer Rrothei-s' business about 1,000 people were furnished with milk
and among them 47 cases of typhoid fever occurred as follows: Seven in July;
33 in August; 3 in September and 4 in November. Four of these cases were in East
Vincent Township, 12 were in Royereford and 31 were in Spring City. The
following table shows the dates of onset of the cases:
1292
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
t.1
n
Q
o
«
Date.
a
a)
>>
to o
n
q
0S+^
OJ
«
W
July
July
July
July
July
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Au^.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Sept,
Sept,
Nov.
Kov.
Nov.
0, -
8, .
9, .
lU,
11,
13,
li,
15,
16,
17,
18,
22,
24,
26,
28,
3,
4,
11,
22,
24,
2 cases,
1 case,-
1 case,-
cases,
cases,
case,-
case,.
4 cases,
1 case,-
1 case,-
2 cases.
1 case,.
1 case,-
1 case,-
case,-
case,-
case,-
ease,-
case,-
cases,
1 case,-
case,-
case,-
case,-
case,-
case,-
cases,
case,-
1 ease,-
1 case.
1 case.
31 eases, 12 cases, j 4 cases.
Six of the cases in Spring City were also supplied with other dealers' milk
and three in Royersford. One familiar with typhoid fever outbreaks would not
attribute the epidemic in Royersford and Spring City to milk. The distribntion
of the cases as shown in the above table and in the tables preceding it are con-
firmation of this conclusion. _ , ., ^
There were nine instances, all in East \mcent Township, where typhoid fever
occurred, the members of the family being supplied with milk from a cow kept on
the premises. No milk from such premises was sold in town. The following
table gives information relative to these cases:
Name.
July 20th,
July 20th,
July 3lBt,
Aug. 9th,
Mrs. Ida Wi.se, -
Mrs. Jolin Frier,
Harry Voagei',
Spring.
Well.
Spring.
Jacob Kolb, - Well
Aug. 10th, Lu(;y McCrua
Aug. 11th,
Aug. 20th,
Aug. 2lBt,
Aug. 22nd,
Lydia Kolb,
Mm. Kli Slifer,
Anna IJucifwaltcr,
Well.
Well.
Well.
Well.
Ira Overdorf, - - — - - - - 1 Spring.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1293
PUBLIC WATEK WORKS.
There is but oue water works system siipplyiug water to Royersford aud
Spring City. It is owned by the Home Water (^ouipauy. Tlie Seliuylkill River
is tlie source of suppiy. The pumpiug station is located in Ruyeistoid on the
river aud lUU feet back from the east bank at a puiut about 'MO feci north of the
highway bridge connecting iioyersford aud Spring City. This station was erected iu
ISJSl). The filter plant was added in 18:)3. Tlie intake pipe is liu inches iu
diameter. It e.^teuds from the centre of the river to a masuury pump well 10
feet in diameter and 23 feet deep, located adjacent to the pumpiug station. The
end of the pipe in the river is uuscreened. At this point tliere was a depth of less
than three feet of water during the last u u days m August. There are natural
falls iu the river about l.JU feet down stream, juuring the liigh river stages these
falls become submergea and are of no couseijuence lu protecting the intake against
back water from down stream should conditions so favor. This would probably be
during comparatively quiescent state occasioned by an ice jam. Rut the principal
danger from contamiuation of the water supply comes from sewage put into the
river from municipalities and minor sources up-stream.
A simple duplex steam pump, called the low service pump, raises the water
from the well into a coagulating or subsidence basin built of brick masonry aud
beiug 12 feet wide by 42 feet long and having a mean depth of 13 feet. Its ca-
pacity is approximately 54,UUlJ gallons. It has a sheet gauze covering and is ex-
posed to the weather. The inlet pipe enters the bottom of the tank. The 12 inch
outlet pipe leads off from uear the top.
The top of the basin is about 2U feet higher than the pump room floor and is
carried about three feet higher than the ground surrounuing it. Water flows from
this basin by gravity to and into two old style, wood tank, Jewell mechanical
Alters, each 12 feet inside diameter by IU feet high in length of staves, each
having eilective filtering area of 113 square feet auu each being equipped with a
mechanical agitator.
The liliers are located within a brick building adjoining the pump house. The
filter house is 25 feet wide by 5-4 feet long inside. Immeuiately beneath it is
located a Altered water basin containing approximately (Jo,UUO gallons capacity,
covered completely with a comparatively tight wood floor. A compound duplex steam
pump takes its suction from the Altered water basiu auti delivers the water into
the distributing pipe system supplying Royersford aud Spring City. The latter
town is fed by main line laid in the bed of the river and this terminates in an
equaliziug or storage reservoir of 3,U0U,UUU gallons capacity located on a hill
oack of Spring City borough northward iu East V'iuceut Township, distant abou'
three quarters of a mile from the borough.
The high service pump which takes Altered water from the filtered water basiu,
also has its suction connected with the river water intake well and is suitably
valved. Thus it is possible for raw river water from the pump well to be delivered
directly into the water pipe system in the town. However, this cannot be done
when the low service pump is in operation, because the raw waier pump (both raw
water aud Altered water pumps beiug connected to t!ie same suction limi would
draw Altered water away from the Altered water pump owing to the greater suc-
tion lift on the iow service pump. Aud this would be ti'ue if there were a leak
in the valve on the suction line between the two pumps.
During extreme high stages of the river the pump room floor and the Altered
water basin are submerged, at which time it becomes uecessary to shut down the
punqiing plant and depend upon the reservoir in East \'incent Townsliip to supply
the district until the river recedes sufiiciently to permit of cleaniug the filtered
water basin beneath the Alters.
Un the basis of a consumption of GO gallons per capita per diem the daily
consumption would be about 330,000 gallons. As the storage reservoir contains
three million gallons, it would be capable of supplying the town for about uiue
days. Should the Altereil water basin remain under water uioiv than nine days,
it would be necessary to pump uuliltered water to meet the town's supply. The river
would have to recede to a poiut about 7 feet below the ground surrouuding the
Altered water basiu before the latter could be draiued by gravity.
The coagulant feed apparatus at the Alter plant during July and .Vugusl con-
sisted of a wooden tauk two feet inside diameter by 20 inches iuside depth. Filtered
water was supplied to this tauk by a half inch diameter pipe equipped with a
globe valve and also with a ball cock and float inteudeil to keep the tank uniformly
full and to prevent its overflowing. The ball cock and float, however, were out
of order at the time of the Department's inspection in August and the supplying of
water to the lank was regulated by the globe valve. A one-half inch diameter pipe,
provided with a globe valve, and connected with the suction pipe uf the low ser-
vice pump was intended to convey the coagulant solution from the tauk to the
raw water, the only means for regulating the feed of the coagulant solution
being the said globe valve. This pipe was clogged when the Department in-
vestigated it anil would not feed the coagulation solution with any regularity
or certainty. It had been the custt)m of the Alter attendant to throw into the
tank unmeasured quantities of sulphate of alumina and open lightly the valve
in the feed pipe leading to the pump suction and at the same time open the valve
in the Altered water supply pipe suthciently to insure a fresh water supply greater
82
1294 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
than was being taken away and thus prevent the pump from taking air. Under
this arrangement, as will be seen, it was impossible to feed any delinite quantity
of the coagulant solution as the feed pipe was clogged and the soluiion gradually
became weaker and weaker.
The filtered water, therefore, must have been poor and of varying quality.
The water company admitted that very little coagulant had been used and that
at times none had been used, not for sake of economy but on account of the un-
founded local prejudice against chemical coagulation. vVheu the river is muddy the
chemical is used to clarify the water, but when the river is clear, which is
usually the case, during low stages, at which time its contamination is likely to
be greatest because of least dilution, the coagulant is not used.
On August 21st, water was being delivered to the filters at the rate of 560
gallons per minute, whereas the proper capacity of the two filters combined was
only 450 gallons per minute. The pump if crowded could deliver as many as 800
gallons per minute. It is probable that for some time prior to August 21st, the
pumps and filters may have been operated at even higher rates than here men-
tioned and that no coagulant whatever was used. Under stich conditions the
water was certain to be improperly filtered. The filtered water basin, the
pipe system in the towns and the storage reservoir could have been filled with
water of poor quality and in this manner the watfer might have been responsible for
the typhoid fever epidemic if the river water contained typhoid germs at that
time.
The storage reservoir on the hill is circular and is built in excavation and em-
bankments, the top of the latter about S feet above the ground. The bottom and
sides to slope 14 to 1 are built of expanded metal concrete. The diameter
at the bottom is lOO feet and at the top 211 feet. The water line, high mark, is
15 feet 7 inches above the bottom of the reservoir. The structure is divided into two
equal compariments by a dividing wall. Its top is 8 feet above the bottom of the reser-
voir. On one side at the bottom and in the dividing wall is the 16 inch cast
iron main which serves as the inlet and outlet pipes for the water. It branches
into each compartment and terminates in a small sump built a few inches below
the floor of the basin. There is a branch strainer attachment to the pipe, one
for eacJi compartment and a valve which permits the joint or independent use
of each compartment. Ordinarily the reservoir is used as a unit and its entire
capacity availed of. Beneath the water main there is an eight inch drain pipe made
of cast-iron. It empties into an open ditch in the field. The lot on which the
reservoir is situated is enclosed by a high wire fence.
The circulation of the water in the reservoir is poor indeed. On August 21st
large objects could not be seen to a depth of three feet of water in the basin. When it
is recalled that the water was supposed to have been filtered before being put into
the reservoir, the conclusion is that either unfiltered or partially filtered water
reached the basin, or that a sufhcient period of stagnation had elapsed to pro-
mote vegetable life.
It is not necessai-y to prove the intentional by-passing of raw river water around
the filters to account for the turbidity of the water in the storage basin on the
hill. The filtering material in the filters was too coarse to do good and uni-
form work at all times. Furthermore, the filters were intended to carry about 12
feet head of water above the surface of the sand. On August 20th the level was
four feet only above the sand surface, the influent water falling through air
some six or (^ight feet into the filters — a condition most likely to break up the
coagulated particles in the applied water as well as the film on the surface of the
sand bed. This lilm is most necessary to good bacterial removal. Again, the
filter elfluent pipes extended down only a few feet into the filtered water basin
and were provided with no means for slowing down the rate of filtration when
the filtered water basin is full. So the surplus water flowed to waste, dirtied the
filters unnecessarily and maintained unusual rates of filtration when slower rates
should have been maintained. Neither did the filter influent pipes have means
for controlling the delivery of water to and into the filters and maintaining a
uniform level therein provided on them. All these things or any one of them
were serious faults. It is no wonder, therefore, that the plant as a whole
should have delivered turbid water into the storage reservoir on the hill.
The pumping hours average from 8 to 10 in each 24. If necessary to meet the
demand in the towns, the pumps and the filters were rushed to supply the 24
hour consumption within the few hours which one engineer and fireman were
willing to labor each day. Each pump had a capacity of 800,000 gallons in 24
hours. The normal pumping capacity was in excess of the rated filter capacity.
Thus it appears that to deliver .'3^0,000 gallons of water daily in 8 hours made neces-
sary an overtaxing of the pumping and filtering capacity.
EPIDEMIC OF TYPHOID FEVER IN ROYERSFORD, SPRING CITY AND
VICINITY.
The number of cases of typhoid fever occurring in Royersford, Spring City and
vicinity will never Ije known. On the morning of August 20th, when the officers
of the State Department of Ilcsalth appeared on the ground, neither boards of
health of the two boroughs had records of typhoid fever cases. The Royersford
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
1295
board began work at once to keep records but sucb records were not kept in
Spring City until after re-organization of the Board of Mealtb in that borough,
which was ou September KJth. The Department's inspectors set about inter-
viewing doctors and iisiug what records tliey would give. The physicians were
reluctant to furnish infurniation. Undoubtedly there were many more cases than
the doctors were willing to admit. Later when the district nurses went about and
visited every house where there was a case of typhoid fever reported, in a few
instances admittance was refused. No house to house canvass was made through-
out either town. Furthermore, the records we have are not reliable as to the
dates of onset. Thf-y may be substantially correct, but they should not be the
foundation for exact reasoning as to the outbreak, its cause and course. These
facts should be kept in mind when the following table is studied:
TYPHOID FEVER— DATES OF ONSET OF CASES.
Onset.
July 13
July 15,
July 16,
July 19,
July 20, - -
July 25, —
July 20
July 27,
.luly :il,
August 1
August 2,
August 3,
August 4
August 5,
.\ugust 6,
.August 7,
August 8,
August 9,
August 10, — .
August 11, ...
August 12, ..
August i:;, —
-August 14, ...
August 15, ...
August l(i,
August 17, ...
August IS, ...
August 19, ...
August 20, —
August 21, ...
August 22, ..
August 23, ...
August 24, ...
August 25, - —
August 26, - —
August 28, ...
September 3,
September 4, .
September 11,
September IC,
September 17,
September 19,
September 20,
September 21,
September 25,
October 2, ...
October 13, ..
October 26, ..
October 29, .-
November 2, .
November 11,
November 22,
November 24,
November 25,
November 30,
December 21, .
December 30,
8
1
1
1
1
124
16
7
2
4
1
2
4
2
4
2
2
S
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
i
I
1
1
1
1
2
2
8
1
2
1
1
184
1296
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
There were no cases reported to the Department throughout the year for East
Pikeland To-\vnship which hounds Spring City on the southeast. And there,
were no cases reported for Limerick and Upper Providence Townships in Mont-
gomery County for the year. These townships surround Royersford.
The followiuff gives the cases by months:
4J
a
>i
a
>a
O
o
43
Mouth.
G
^.^ a
CO ^
_•
>>
o
Cd°
o
cc
K
H
Eh
July,
August, .-
September,
October, .
November,
December,
18
180
1.-!
4
11
Between August 1st and the 20th inclusive, IIS cases of typhoid fever developed.
The bulk of these had their onset between August Sth and August 15th, a total of
72 cases in one week. It will be noticed by referring to the table that between the
6th and the 16th, inclusive, in Ptoyersford there were 35 cases, and in Spring
City 40 cases. It is evident that the original infection appeared suildeuly in Roy-
ersford and disappeared in like manner. The cases were distriljuted very gen-
erally throughout the town. The avenue of transmission of infection open to
all was the public water supply. If this water contained typhoid infection and
it was introduced into the homes of the water consumers for a few hours only
in its raw or partially purified condition, it would have produced the effect
noted for Royersford. Furthermore, naturally the outbreak would occur in Roy-
ersford if anything sooner than in Spring City because the water from the pumping
station would reach Royersford slightly in advance of Spring City.
However, a polluted public water supply would not account for the numerous
cases of typhoid fever in Spring City prior to the outbreak in Royersford ; but
these cases in Spring City occurring in warm weather on properties where sanitary
conditions were neglected and there was ample opportunity for secondary infec-
tion on such property and the infection was disseminated by means of street gut-
ters, even along the main thoroughfare in the town and but a few feet away frqm
exposed edibles on the sidewalks in front of stores could have been the original
source of the outbreak during the first part of August and for that matter the
entire epidemic might be explained in this way. It is believed, however, that
negligence in killing the infection in the bed chamber, coupled with careless
and negligent disposal of the wastes of the typhoid patients and the general un-
sanitary conditions and lack of sewerage facilities in both boroughs and the
favorable conditions induced by warm weather for the spread of the infection ac-
counts for the earlier and the later cases in the district. It is also concluded that
the public water supply transmitted the infection which caused the main <'x-
plosion of the disease between the 6th and the 16th of August, inclusive. If this
conclusion be true, something went wrong with the water works system diiriiig
the last ten days of July. According to detailed studies, a summary of which is
given in the following table, in which the cases of typhoid fever are classified by
age periods, there was nothing ix'culiarly significant in the ages of the patients:
No. 17.
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
129^
Number of Oases.
Age Period.
Vear.s.
a
o
'""
^
0-5,
13
24
17
25
14
11
5
7
1
2
1
4
2
8
8
7
8
7
2
2
0
0
0
0
4
2
0
4
0
0
1
4
0
1
0
0
19
(i-10,
S4
11-15,
25
lfi-20
36
21-25
22
26-30 -- -
18
31-35.
8
36-40 :
13
41-45
1
46-50, .
8
1
Over 56
4
124
44
16
184
Every estate on which a typhoid fever case existed was visited by an officer
of the Ensineerina; Division and the conditions were noted and, so far as pos-
sible. !li(^ physicians' reports were checked. The following tables of patients
arranged by sex and attending physicians are based on this data.
(T.ASSIFICATIOX P.Y SEX.
1
^
a
>>
■d
a
>B
o
o
1
a:
a
S
^ a
a
>»
s2
o
M
K
1
^
^
Male - - —
70
54
16
28
4
12
90
Female, -
94
124
1
44
16
184
.vttendixCt rinv^iriAxs
McWhinney, 1 48
Good - 12 I
Brower. C. P — 18
Spencer, , 7 [
Vaughn 1 9 i
Janvier, 1 2 ,
Tyler 1 '
Mel vin, --.
I'^verhart, ,
Smith, - I 1 I
Garber, .-_ 1
Phoenlxville Hospital 18 |
Pottstown Hospital, - ! i
Not given , 19
I 124
I ]_
82—17—1908
2
9
53
12
4
1
22
1
9
8
1
18
2
n
1
19
1
1
2
2
1
i
1
8
21
2
2
2
21
16
184
1298
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
REMEDIES AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES ENFORCED.
The remedies and preventive measures enforced by officers of the Engineering Di-
vision aimed first, to help stamp out the epidemic and second to prevent a re-
currence, so far as the water worlds system was concerned. What was done in
improving the individual sources of water supply has been explained hereinbe-
fore.
On August 20th, immediately after the arrival of the Department's repre-
sentative and expert engineer, George F. Hodkinson, the speed of the pumps was re-
duced to 420 gallons per minute which made the rate of filtration less than 12.5
million gallons per acre per diem. A scale graduated in inches and half-inches
was affixed inside of the coagulation solution tank and the water company was in-
structed relative to how much sulphate of alumina to put into the tank when full
of water, how to effect the proper solution, and how much of this solution in
vertical inches per hour should be applied to the raw water. The amount was
equivalent to about one grain of coagulant per gallon of filtered water. This was
sufficient to give good bacterial removal as the river water contained very little
turbidity.
Arrangements were also immediately made for dropping the coagulant solution
into the intake well because the feed pipe from the tank was clogged.
The water company set to work on August 20th by direction of the Department
to freely flush the distributing mains and particularly at dead ends. It was not
thought advisable to cut out the storage reservoir on the hill, as so doing would
have caused a shortage of water and would have rendered more irregular the rate
of pumping and consequently the rate of filtration. The better plan was to put the
filter plant temporarily in as efficient a condition as possible, drain the distribution
pipe system and then drain one compartment of the storage reservoir, and after
sterilizing this compartment and filling it with pure water to empty and clean the
other compartment. Owing to the poor circulation in the basin there seemed little
likelihood of drawing back therefrom water of a different quality than was being
pumped.
On August 25th , the eastern half of the storage reservoir was sterilized by
using 20 nounds of copper sulphate to approximately 424,000 gallons of water,
equal to about one-third of a grain per gallon. The copper sulphate crystals were
placed in a burlap bag secured to the end of a rope and dragged about the reservoir
until the crystals were completely dissolved. The concrete slopes, walls and bottom
of the compartment were scrubbed with the chemically treated water, they were
then thoroughly cleaned and rinsed with newly filtered water and then the com-
partmeni was turned into service. The second compartment was then treated in
a similar manner. The bottom of the basin after the compartments were filled
with newly filtered water was clearly visible to a -depth of 12 feet.
The following table shows the results of bacteriological examinations of raw
river water collected at the intake well at the pumping station:
Bacteria per cubic
Centimeter.
Date of CoUection.
August 20, --.
August 25, _-.
August 27, — .
September 3,
September 8, .
September 14,
180
0
1,200
0
210
6
120
0
32
0
110
8
It may be well to recall that at Reading, 27 miles up stream, there were
llfj cases of typhoid fever during the period covered by these tests. The low
total count in the above table does not signify much with regard to the safety
of the river water at Royersford for drinking purposes. Neither does the absence
of colon in fotir out of the six samples, signify much. The deadly germs of the
disease were lurking about in the river some of which had the power to survive
for several week possibly. Not many hours after they were discharged from the
bodies of human beings in Reading ihe germs or some of them might pass by the
intake of the Royersford pumidng station and sorni; of tlictm might be drawn into
the pipe. Under favoi'iilde circumstances enough of this infection in virulent form
could pass into the distributing mains of the Home Water Company and produce a
sudden epidemic without leaving a connected trail which could be followed by
bactei-iological evidence. In other words the physical circunisLaMces sliould direct
conclusion.
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1299
On Scptorabei- 2Sth, 1908, the Commissioner of Health s"iit tiie following com-
munication to the Home Water Company:
"I besr to inform you that in the interests of public health it is necessary for you
to submit in the iiumediate future plans to the Commissioner of Health for ap-
proval for adilitionnl filter cai)acity, for improved and rclialile coagulant feed
ai)paratus, for tiie installation of rale control apparatus (jn the filters for the quick
drainage of the storage reservoir in Spring City and for the better circulation of
water in the reservoir.
"I also beg to notify you that it will be necessary for y<ju to dispose with the
present filtering material in the filters and to put in fillering material of proper
■effective size and uniformity coefficient in substitution for that now in use in the
filters.
"It appears that your conii)any owns three acres of land near Yankee Dam,
more than a mile up-stnam al)ove the pump house and intake, and comparatively
close to the rt^servoir in Spring City. Tiiis properly was jturchased with the in-
tention of ultimately moving the pumping station and filter plant to it. The
sooner the pump and filter plant is moved to this site, the better, as it possesses
the following advantages:
"(a) The intake could be located where there would be 8 or 10 feet depth of water
at all times and obviate any possibility of contamination by sewage or run-off
whether from Koyersford or Spring City.
"(b) On the new property the filtered water basin could be conveniently located
above high water in the river, rendering it unnecessary at any time to cut out the
filter plant and pump unfiltered water.
"(c) Locating the pumping plant on the new ground would also insure better
circulation of the water in the reservoir.
"We expect to hear favorably from you as to your intentions at an early
date."
Before the end of the year the water company had replaced the old sand in the
filters with new sand and had materially lengthened the hours of pumping each
day so that the filter units were operated at normal rates. Furthermore, the
company was negotinting for other changes in the plant.
In Spring City there were three sources of ice supply, viz: The Snyder pond,
which is formed of an old mill dnm in the upper part of the borough between
the canal and the river; another source is a pond between Main Street and the canal
opposite the foot of Poplar Street. It is known as Peterraan's ice pond. Mr.
Peteiman exhausted the ice harvested from this pond early in the summer and
during the epidemic he was delivering the third source of ice supply to Spring City
throughout the town. It came from Phoenixville and v;as artificially made.
Tests of this ice showed it to be pure. Relative to the Snj'der pond ice, it is re-
ported that this is little used for domestic purposes owing to suspicion of con-
tamination.
In Royersford the general ice supply comes principally from Kerns ice pond,
located in the eastern part of the borough. A sample of the ice was analyzed
and absence; of all contamination was noted. There is possibility of pollution which
will increase as the borough grows. The Department suggested that possible .sources
of pollution he abated and this was done by the local Board of Health.
The Commissioner of Health sent out a general letter of instruction to the local
Boards of Health of Royei*sford and Spring City upcm receipt of preliminary re-
ports from the County Medical Inspectors about the epidemic.
These medical inspectors kept a careful overeight of the progress in carrying
out the instructions given by the C!ommissioner of II(>alth and continued various
investigations, lea\-ing the execution of details largely in the hands of the in-
spectors of I he Engineering Division. This work involvi-d a personal exami-
nation and giving of orders by these inspectors of said Division to owners or
occupants of every estate on which a case of typhoid fever existed relative to
putting such estate in a sanitary conditon, both as to water supply and house-
iiold waste disposal; and whore there were other nuisances on the property, the
ordering and seizing to it tb.at abatements were effected. These inspector had
the co-op(>ration of the Health Officer of Spring City and four constables. Every
evening these locnl and State officers would meet with the Chief Iiurgi>ss, W. P.
Miles, who exercised full authorit.v on the part of the borough in co-operating
with the State in carrying out the instructions of the Conunissioner of Health.
In Royersford the local Board of Health and the Health Officer exercised the
authority vested in Ihem by law in doing similar work in that nninicipalit.v.
An account of the work performed by the district nurses and the prosccnition
nnd conviction of physicians for not reporting typhoid fever cases may bo found
elsewhere in the Commissioner's report under the part entitled "Division of Medical
Inspection."
At the r(>gnlar monthly meeting of the Spring City Town Council, held September
7th, a resolution of ni)preciation of tiie services r.-ndered the community by the
State Deportment of IleaUh was unanimously adopted. This included the dis-
trict nurses who were not permanently connected with the Department.
1300 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
Following is the letter of instrucfion issued by the Commissiouer of Health. It
sufiices to say that these instructions were faithfully carried out:
"The reports sent to us by our County Medical Inspector and by citizens
of your boroushs bring to our attention the fact that your Board has to deal with
a typhoid epidemic.
'"The foUowiu^ points are brought to your attention.
"In the handling of any epidemic of typhoid fever there are a number of things
which assume a considerable importance and I desire to bring these matters
to your attention and would ask whether you have instituted any regulations along
the lines indicated and if so, to what extent?
"Especially in times of epidemics of any disease the physicians should be com-
pelled to promptly report all cases either conclusively diagnosed or presenting the
clincal symptoms of the disease in question. If physicians are negligent in the
matter of reporting typhoid fever to your Board at the present time they should
be arrested and fined in order that no case may be neglected and thereby allowed
to become a focus for secondary infection.
"All houses in which typhoid fever exists should be placarded with a penalty
attached for the removal of such placards. Circulars setting forth the Rules and
Regulations to be observed by nurses or attendants having the care of typhoid
fever should be distributed in every household where the disease exists and for this
purpose I am sending' you under separate cover a number of the Department cir-
culars on typhoid fever.
"The Health OfBcer should placard the house and ascertain the conditions ex-
isting on the premises, character of the privy, cesspool or whatever means are
used for the disposal of excreta and the needs of the family , reporting the same
to your Board and a lime wagon should be started to distribute freshly burned, im-
slaked lime to the houses where the owners or occupiers are imable to provide
the same for their individual use, this lime to.be used in the form of Milk of
Lime for the disinfection of excreta and for use in all closets or privies. The work
of the lime distributor should be checked up by the district nurse, who should
visit each home where typhoid fever exists and where they are unable to procur(>
the services of a nurse, directing them as to the precautions to be observed and
seeing that the instructions of the physicians are carried out.
"Whenever possible in indigent families the patient should be transferred to a
hospital at once and the room and its contents thoroughly disinfected, together
with the privies.
"Warning placards should be posted in conspicuous places, preferably upon tele-
graph poles, in saloons and in the street cars, directing all people to boil their
water and milk at least thirty minutes prior to its use for domestic purposes.
"The deliverins: of milk in milk bottles should be prohibited and all dairymen
should be compelled to deliver their milk into an individual container supplied by the
householder, this container not to be handled by the dairyman at all. Unless this
precaution is taken due to the interchange of indiviilual milk bottles or the infection
of the general milk supply of the dali'ymen, the infection is very apt to be car-
ried in this manner.
"All proprietors of moat markets and of meat carts which go about the streets
peddling meats should be compelled to have their meat so placed in their markets
that the handling of the same liy customers should be prohibited and all those
delivering meat from wagons should be instructed that tJie customers nmst not
handle meat befoi-e purchase, that the rear curtain of their wagon should be
closed and that sal(>s should be from the front of the wagon. In other words, no
meat should be handled by prospective customers.
"If the municipal water supply is found to be at fault the mains should be
repeatedly flushed, all dead ends bled and copper sulphate introduced into the
reservoir or screeniny: chambers in the proi)ortion of one to a million, this addition to
be ke|)t up for at least ten days.
"Our records show that your Board has been derelict in making reports, and
we expect weekly reports to be sent this odicc |:)romptly henceforth."
CONCLUSIONS.
The epidemic in the twin boroughs is believed to have been first Intro-
duced fhnjugh thi> medium of the public water. Prior to this there was a smaller
outbreak possibly due to the dissemination of a weak infection through milk
containers. The pi-ior oMtl)reak was in Spring Clt.y. A large niunber of sec-
ondary cases followed the main outbreak. They were attributal)le to conta-
gion in the household, but principally to laek of i)rop('r sewage disposal methods.
With outhouses over shallow vaults, full and overflowing, the excrement
exf)Osed to the fly pest in the warmest weather, and thes(> dangerous places under
such eireiimstances in iiiany instances being in close proximity lo kitchens where
foofi stiifTs wer(! (exposed to flies, these conditions taken in connection with the
fact that over t)0 cases of typhoid fever were in existence in Spring C^ity before the
citizens were aware of it and beff)re general instructions were given and enforced
for the disinf(!Ction of all dejecta from the typhoid patients, make it no wonder
that secondary infection occurred. Probably the towns were seeded with the germs
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1301
of this disease. The great majority of citizens do not realize that the dirty water
from the washing and cleansing of soiled bed linen contains the nmst virulent in-
fection which needs to be killed at once in the household or human life outside may
be jeopardized. And yet, everywhere throughout the twin boroughs this poisoned
water from the lauiulry was emptied either onto the ground in the back yard or
principally into the gmiers of the alleys and streets where the infection could
be picked up a thousand different ways to the prejudice of public health. No
doubt that the promptness with which these guttere were scoured out and Hushed
and disinfected and no, doubt the disinfection of the premises generally throughout
both boroughs prevented the spread of the disease. Otherwise hundreds of victims
must have been added to the list.
Koyersford and Spring City stand in need of sewerage facilities.
The epidemic ser\i\s to emphasize the necessity for prompt reporting (jf typhoid
fever cases and the placarding of them, and the enforcement by the local health
authorities of the regulation of the State Department of Health about the
handling of milk containers at an estate whereon a typhoid fever patient exists.
Failure to observe this regulation in one instance might cause the disease to de-
velop in every family along an entire milk route.
The epidemic further teaches a lesson which the Department of Health has
been teaching, that pathogenic poison must be kept out of streams used as
sources of public water supply. Water filters are not enough of a safeguard. They
may be most of the time, but it is the potentiality of the raw water to reach
the consumer's home and cause sickness and perhaps death in his family which
the water filter cannot remove. When the plant breaks down or is over-
worked or some emergency arises like a great conflagration, requiring the in-
troduction of the unpurified river water, the harm may be done.
State regulation of filter plants to compel the fulfilment of charter obligations
by the water com|^)any should reduce to the minimum the danger from careless
or negligent operation of the filter plant. But such State attention cannot insure
against accident or breakilown. The degree of safety afforded to the public by
the keeping of the sewage out of running streams, therefore, warrants the as-
suming of the expense that this policy involves. Thus the Royersford and Spring
City outbreak demonstrates the necessity fov the preservation of the purity of the
streams of Pennsylvania for the protection of public health.
1302
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Off. Doc.
VI. EEFEKENCES TO SPECIAL COUNSEL.
In the prosecution of the work of removing sources of sewage pollution of the
streams in the State on complaint of petition, as elsewhere hereinbefore described
has made necessary the reference to special counsel for criminal proceedings a
number of cases where the owner of the property would not comply with the
orders of the Commissioner of Health. These references for the year 190S are
shown in the following table:
'O
x:
-a
M
sett
tria
"2 •
*- a
m<t-i
ea o
»S
County. ' Attorney.
So
ia
. 3
.V
O-M
o o
OJ2
©OS
K
»
'i^
!z;
Berks -—
Lehigh,
Chester,
Delaware
Montgomery,
Bucks,
Susquehanna.
Luzerne,
Elk
Franklin
York, -.
Lackawanna,
Bradford, -..
I'nion,
Westmoreland
Monroe -
Innes & Williams,
Innes & Williams,
Innes & Williams,
Innes & Williams,
Innes A: Williams,
Innes ik Williams,
.Selden ilunger,
Mose H. Salsburg,
Joseph Flynn,
Chas. Walters,
N. Sargent Ross,
E. C. Ammerman,
Benj. N. Kuydendell, .1
P. E. Bowers,
Jos. A. McCurdy,
W. A. Erdman,
Totals, -
94
83 .
11 ....
16
16 ....
TO
69 ....
1
C
5
(i
5
1
1
o
2
2
1
1
1 ....
2
1 !
1 ....
3
3 ....
/
1
1
11
1
7
I
I
11
1
1
1
225
186
25
11
During the year (190S) one hundred and ninety-two (192) cases were referred
for prosecution to Innes & Williams, of Philadelphia, special counsel for the
Department. Louis J. Palmer, Esq., associated in practice with that firm, was
in direct personal charge of the prosecutions. It was, however, while en-
gaged in the worli of the Department in Berks County that Mr. Innes, senior mem-
ber of the firm, contracted the illness which resulted in his death in September,
1908, since whieh tim*; Mr. Williams has continued to conduct the practice of the
firm, Mr. Palmer continuing as an associate as theretofore.
These cases, following the general practice of the Department, were only
placed in the hands of counsel after completion of the necessary inspections by
the field inspectors and after due effort on their part to effect the removal of
sources of sewage pollution by service of notice on the occupants of premises.
Thereafter a personal inspection in all cases was made by counsel as not only
desirable in order to obtain a familiarity with exact conditions before instituting
proceedings, but also in order that by personal interview with the persons in
fault a compliance with the requirements of the Department might be brought
about, if possible, without litigation. Satisfactory results were obtained in this
way in many instances.
The cases rof'^rred to counsel arose chiefly in connection with the work done
on the watersliods of Maiden Creek, Little Darby Creek, Pickering Creek and
their tributaries, and were distributed among the counties named below, as
follows:
Berk-s (Jounty 94
Lehigh T'ounty 16
Chester County, 70
Di'laware County , 6
Montgomery ('ounty, 5
Bucks ('ounty, 1
192
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1303
The disposition of the cases in Berlis County may be summarized generally as
follows:
Nuisances found to have been abated at the time of first inspection by
counsel 23
Cases in which abatement was made after inspection and interview with
owners of promises , 23
Cases in which uo evideuce of pollution could be obtained under any con-
ditions of weather, 4
Cases in which action was witlieUl in order to secure evidence Uuriug
periods of wet weather, 2i
Cases in which warrants were issued but abatements made and costs
paid before returned to court , 11
Case discharged on technical grounds, 1
Cases abated after return ti) court and t-nded by pleas of guilty, etc...... 10
Case returned to court and bill of indictment ignored on promise of abate-
ment, 1
94
In none of the above cases was a warrant issued except after a positive refusal on
the part of the occupant of premises to comply with the law. The greatest care
was exercised in making inspections to see that the evidence in each case fully jus-
tified prosecution. After issuing the warrants in each case the defendant was
informed in the presence of the Magistrate that he would still be given an op-
portunity to abate the nuisance, and that by so doing and payment of costs the
case might be disposed of before the Magistrate. As will be seen from the above
summary eleven defendants availed themselves of this opportunity.
The work of the Department in Berks County has been materially aided by
the effect produced by the disposition during the December term of the Quarter
Sessions Court of five cases based on the pollution of streams, by agreement pro-
viding, for abatement and payment of costs by the defendants and the entrj' of
pleas of guilty. Isaac Heister, Esq., of Reading, was retained by the Department
as local counsel in connection with Philadelphia counsel in the trials at this
term of court. Widespread ignorance of the law under which the Department
was acting and marked antagonism toward its representatives, had existed
throughout the rural districts of this country. The disposition of the cases above
referred to, and the wide publicity given to the matter by the local press, has
helped to a marked degree to correct the misapprehension formerly prevailing,
and to convince the residents of this section that they cannot with impunity
continue to maintain nuisances on their premises contrary to the orders of the
Department. In fact, since these cases were disposed of there has been frequent
reports, as compared with the former instances of antagonism, of property owners
who, after service of notice upon them, have voluntarily sought out the local in-
spector to obtain information as to proper methods of abatement.
Two of the cases included in the above summary may be particularly mentioned,
as their disposition constitutes the elimination of two grave sources of pollu-
tion. The first was the case of the Keystone State Normal School, a large in-
stitution, all the sewage from which had been emptied for some years into
Sacony Creek, a tributary of Maiden Creek. The matter had been the subject
of protracted consideration, interviews and correspondence with uo satisfactory
result, until after a meeting between the trustees and counsel, which resulted
in the adoption and establishment of a new and sufficient drainage system. The
.second was the case of a rendering plant, which drained its waste products into
the same creek, the operation of which was finally discontinued when its pro-
prietors were brought face to face with prosecution.
The cases arising in I^ehigh County were principally found in Lynn township on
the small tributaries of the Maiden Creek watershed. The general disposition is
shown by the following summary:
Nuisances found to have been abated at the time of first inspection made
by counsel , 8
Cases in which abatement was made after inspection and interview with
the owners of promises 7
Case in which warrant was issued but abatement made before hearing, . . 1
16
The attitude of the people in Lynn Township was very much more favorable
toward complying with the requirements of the Department and in the majority
of cases abatement was made simply at the request of the inspector or upon
the service of the formal notice. In the seven cases where interviews were had
with the owners, such interviews were more for the pvirpose of determining the
best methods of abatement rather than for the purpose of persuading the
owners to coniplj' witli the Department's orders. In only one case was it nec-
essary to institute legal proceedings and in this case the magistrate, before whom
the warrant was issued, gave the owner notice personally that he would have to
issue the warrant unless the law was complied with, which had the desired
result.
1304 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
In the county of Chester the work arose in two sections, i. e. : On the water-
sheds of the Pickering and Little Darby Creeks. Following is summary of gen-
eral disposition:
Nuisances found to have been abated at the time of first inspection by
counsel , 32
Cases abated after inspection and either interview or letter, 13
Cases in which action was withheld in order to secure evidence in time
of wet weather , 22
Cases in which warrants were issued but abatements made before return
to court , 2
Cases returned to court and now pending, 1
70
In the cases arising along the Pickering a number of the complaints were kitchen
waste and wash water cases. The majority of the balance were based on drain-
age from barnyards or pig pens. In almost all the cases arising along the Little
Darby the complaint was that of kitchen waste and wash water running to the
highway and it was remarkable how many of the people in that community had
obeyed the orders of the Department by constritcting cesspools on their premises
for the jnirpose of taking care of the waste. The credit for this work cannot be
claimed by special counsel. Yet even in the cases included under the first group
in the above summary, care was taken to investigate the conditions and consider
the possibility of future pollution, as there have been many cases marked abated
in which it was subsequently found that nothing had actually been accomplished
further than to remove the evidence of pollution.
Special mention may be made of the case of the Phoenix Iron Company, referred
to in the reports of the two previous years, which formerly was drained into
French Creek. During the year 1908 this company completed the second sanitary
privy and also built two concrete vaults to take care of the office building and
their foundry. In addition to this the third sanitary privy was begun and on its
completion these large works will be entirely free of any cause of complaint.
The fact that thi^ drainage system is used by some 3,000 men shows the importance
of the abatement in this case.
The work in Chester County also included the case of Commonwealth vs.
Charles R. Kennedy. This case involved the drainage system operated by the
so-called Devon Sewage Companj'. This case has been continued at two different
tenns of court at the defendant's request, pending the hoped for incorporation of a
local company proposing to install and operate a new system which wovild re-
lieve the defendant from the operation of the present system. This case is now
pending in the courts. Meanwhile measures have been taken which effect at least
a lemporaiy abatement of pollution.
The following is a summary of the disposition of the cases in Delaware
County :
Nuisance found to have been abated at the time of first inspection by
counsel , 3
Cases abated after inspection and either interview or latter, 2
Case in which action was withheld in order to secure further evidence
in wet weather, 1
6
In this county the most important case was that of the Wayne Sewerage Com-
pany, which was charged with pollution and nuisance arising from disagree-
able odors. The matter was taken itp at a joint conference with all the parties
interested and it was decided that the main difFiculty was faulty operation on the
part of the company. To test this its officers, therefore, were permitted to
operate for one month according to the strict letter of the instructions received
from the Department of Health, whose inspectors slioiild keep in close touch
during that period of operation and report on the results. After the expira-
tion of that period it was foimd and so reported by Mr. Mebus, special en-
gineer, tliat the effluent from the plant was satisfactory and, therefore, the
charge of pollution wns withdrawn, for so long as proper operation should con-
tinue and ])r<)v effective. ('ertain recommendations for improving the con-
struction and operation of the plant were made and since their adoption no com-
plaints have been received concerning the odors (heretofore reported.
Of the five cases referred to counsel from Montgomery C'ounty, the following dis-
position has been made:
Nuisance found to have beon abated at llie time af first, inspection by
counsel , 1
Cases abated after inspection and interview, 2
Case in which action was withheld in order to secure further evidence, . . 1
Case in which warrant was issued but abatement made before hearing,.. 1
5
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1305
In the w()i"k flono in this county the one warrjint issued was in the case against
one Rhoads, who (jyerati'd a rendering plant. The institution of piescution resulted
in the consi ruction of an embankment lo prevcnl the pollution of the stream, an<l
an actual hearin.s; before the magistrate was aeeonliii;,d.v rendered unnecessary.
One case has arisen in the county of Bucks, naimdy tiiat of the Doylestown
Sewage Company, which is at the present time in abeyance, pending proposed
alterations and improvements which are expected by the company to abate the
nuisance complained of.
The appeal to the Supreme Court in the case of Commonwealth vs. Emraers,
referred to in report 'of 1907, was argued on March 81st, 190S, the Attorney
Gen(>ral and JMr. Innes appearing for the Cnmmonwealth. In a per curiam
opinion handed down May 11th, 1908, the judgment of the Superior Court
affirming ihe judgment of the Montgomery Couutj' Court entered on the verdict
of guilty was aflirmed by the Supreme Court without comment. The constitution-
ality of the so-called I'urity of Water Act of 1905, under which so much of the
work of the Department has been done, has therefore been passed upon by three
different courts and has been finally upheld without qualification by the highest
court of appeal in the State. The character of the references to other at-
torneys are briefly stated in the following notes under the headings by counties.
BRADFORD COUNTY.
Benj. W. Kuykendall . Jr. , Atty. Towanda , Penna. The case of Shepard
Bristol, Bradford Township, Bradford County, for maintaining an unsanitary
slaughter house and premises was referred on May 18th, 1909, and final settle-
ment pending at the close of the year.
ELK COUNTY.
Jos. Flynn, Ridgway, Pa., Att. The case of Geo. Schaberl, St. Marys, Pa., for
the pollution of Wolf Lick Creek in Jay Township, was referred June 22nd.
1908. The Grand Jury found a true bill on October 7th, 1908. defendant plead
guilty October 8th, and sentence suspended pending the abatement of the
nuisance.
Chas. Kerner, St. Mai-ys, Pa., for the pollution of Silver Run, Bonzinger
Township, was referred on June 23rd, 1908. was arrested on July 1st, 1908,
and entered Imil for court. Nuisance abated and suit withdrawn.
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Charles Walter, Chambersburg, Pa., Atty. The cases of Ilummell, Hines
& Co., Shippensburg, Pa., T. S. Zerfer and C. D. Minehart, Orrstown, Pa., were
referred on June 2f5th, 1908. Abatements were reported on July l.")th without
bringing suit. The above were all stream pollutions.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY.
E. C Ammernian, Scranton, Pa., Atty. The case of Ira Turner, Springbrook
Township, for stream pollution, held over for the February Court of Quarter
Sessions in 1909.
LUZERNE COUNTY.
.Mose H. Salsburg. Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Atty. The case in equity against
the Ilarve.vs Lake Hotel and Land Company for discharging sewage into Harveys
Lake. The matter was adjusted out of court, the defendants agreeing to dis-
continue the discharge of sewage into said Lake.
MONROE COUNTY.
W. A. Erdman. Stroudsburg, Pa., Atty. Mrs. Chas. Brown, Pocono Township,
for stream polluiinn, referred on October 27th, 1908. Case pending at the close
of the year.
UNION COUNTY.
F. E. Bcwers, Middleburg. Pa., Atty. The following cases of stream pollution in
Limestone Township were referred on June 19th and abatements made without
entering prosecution:
Jas. Schock. ownei*, F. C. Kratzer, tenant.
James Oberlin.
Joseph Sowers.
John Grubb, owner, Harry Koser, tenant.
1306 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
William Shafff^r.
H. J. Solomon.
William Barbers' Heirs, owners, Daniel Bartley, tenant.
William Dribelis.
Cedar Run School House, S. I. Bingaman, Secretary School Boards.
Emanuel Yarser.
William Grubb.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Tosenh A. McCurdy, Greensburg, Pa., Atty. Solomon G. Shuster, Penn Town-
ship, for unsanitary condition of premises, dead horses, improper disposition of offal
from butcher shop, referred April 21st, 190S. Case still pending at close of 1908.
YORK COUNTY.
N. Sargpnt Ross, York, Pa.. Atty. The following cises of stream pollution
were referred and still pending at the close of 1908.
Albert Noll, Dnllastown. Pa., York Township.
.John Evelpr. Red Tiion, Pa., York Township.
William Huffman. Red Lion. Pa. Y'ork Township.
Isaac Kopliler, Yoe. Pa., Y^rk Townshin.
Albprf DpTTufF, Dallnstown, Pa.. York Township.
W. H. Sbparpr. York. Pa.. York Township.
William Wolf, owner, Frank Kline, tenant, Shrewsbury Township.
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
Selden Munaer. Attorney. A. P. Bedford, for case of stream pollution at
Dimmoc''-. M. S. Allan, for pollntion of stream from milk station at Dim-
mock. The nnisnnce rpmaiupd unabntpd nt fHe closp of the ypar. Mrs. Henrv
S. Felton pollution ^.f strpnm p<" T/athrop Townshin. by draiua."'e from mult
abated. .T. Felton. of Lathron To'"-'i'^bin, for stream pollution from n urivv.
Abatpd n<- thr retiuest of attorney. William Watprman. owner. .Tohn Waterman -
tenant, for stream nollntion in Latbrou Township, by careless and negligent
disposal of sewage on the banks of Horton Creek, abated.
VII CONCLUSIONS.
There are two propositions which encompass the entire scope of the admin-
istration of the law for the preservation of the purity of the waters of the State
for the protection of the public health in so far as the discharge of sower systems
is concerned and they are:
FIRST: The degree of safety which can be expected to be obtained in treating
sewage for the removal of bacterial infection.
SECOND: • The relative importance of sewage disposal plants and other health
protective work, including treatment ])lans for water works, regarded in the
light of the limited resources of the municipal corporations as defined by the con-
stitutional limit of indebtedness and of private corporations, as determined by
water raten fixed by franchisr; or contract with the munif'i|)alify.
In settling these questions in any particular case a lliorough consideration of
all the factors must be had. The policy of setting forth at length many of the
reasons which govern tlie d<!terminations of th(! Commissioner r)f IToalth, or the
Governor, Attorney General and Commissioner of Health, in the case of sewage
disposal, makes the dcci'c^e quite voluminous, but it eufiblcs the local authorities
to obtain an insiglit into the entire subject as viewed by the State Department of
Health and is accepted as an eminently fair and satisfactory procedure. It has
obviated the criti<;ism of arbitrary exercise of power. At the close of the year it
is believed that a continuation of the policy of publicity is fully warranted.
DIVISION OF SUPPLIES.
CHARLES HARTZELL, Supermiendenl.
( 1307 )
ii!f;»!li!ii!li!f;»i!ii!fi
!fii!i!fi!lidi»»;!fi!f;!F
( 1308 )
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. No. 17.
DIVISION OF SUPPLIES.
The following]: is a statomont of Ihe work of this Division since
llio report for Noveml)or and December of 1907.
At the beginninof of the year 1908, the entire work of the Division
devolved on the Superintendent, but it increased so rapidly as to
necessitate assistance and three clerks were accordingly appointed
as occasion required.
An additional room was also assigned to the Division by the Board
of Public Grounds and Buildings to meet the demand for space for
the arranging, storing and shipping of supplies. An extra assistant
was employed for this work.
The Supeiintendent receipts and signs for all goods received by the
Department.
The shi]»nients by express and freight of boxes, bales and packages,
and the large quantities of mail matter, pamphlets, circulars and let:
ters give some idea of the work accomplished during the year.
The following comparative table shows the actual increase by semi-
annual periods in shipments by express companies alone:
Shipments by Express.
1907— July to December, 832
1908— Januarv to June 1,824
1908— July to December, 2,512
showing that more than three times the amount of business was done
during the last six months of 1908 than for the corresponding period
of 1907.
Each of the different Divisions of the Department is dependent
upon this Division for the proper receipt of its supplies and furniture
and distribution of its documents and material.
To the General Division are furnished desks, chairs, typewriters,
printing machinery, carpets and any other materials that may be re-
quired from time to time. Also the preparation and sending of large
mail orders, such as painplilots, books and packages is entrusted to
the Division of Supplies.
The ]\Ie(lical Divisicm: To each of the sixty-seven County Medical
Inspectors of this Division are sent the following articles: — Pamph-
lets, manuals, circulars, placards, cards, vouchers, letter heads, enve-
lopes, descriptive books and county directories.
There are also about seven hundred Health Officers connected with
this Division, and it is necessary to keep them supplied with every-
thing ])orliiiniug lo liu'ir work, such as pamphlets, circulars, placards,
school and dairy inspection cards and letters of instruction; besides
the various requisites us(vl in disinfecting premises: — formaldehyde,
potassium permanganate, bichloride of mercury, sealing paper, disin-
fecting suits and cans.
(1309)
83
1310 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
To the eight thousand doctors in the State, outside of Philadelphia
and Pittsburg", are fuvnished cards for reporting communicable dis-
eases, circulars, Health Officers' directories and vaccination cards.
Engineering Division: In addition to receiving and shipping all
customary supplies and furniture for this Division and complete out-
fits for field inspectors, of whom there were fifty-nine this year, there
were also shipped to difl'erent points daily, water boxes and cans con-
taining bottles with directions for collecting and shipping samples of
Avater from reservoirs, streams, ponds and wells, from which to make
tests at the Department's Laboratories in Philadelphia.
Division of Vital Statistics: For this Division all express and
freight packages are handled and receipted for. Cards, circulars of
instruction to the two thousand one hundred and fifty-eight Eegis-
trars. Deputy Eegistrars and Sub-Eegistrars, and all other printed
matter, typewriters, furniture and Avhatever else pertains to the work-
ings of the Division, are stipplied and kept in storage ready for imme-
diate delivery.
Antitoxin and Vaccine Division: The Superintendent makes re-
quisitions on account of this Division for all printed matter, such as
forms, rej)orts, applications and receipts for diphtheria antitoxin,
furniture, carpets, tyi)ewriters and accessories.
. Division of Dispensaries: For this Division the requirements are
many and varied and it is necessary to have a complete stock on hand-
in order to be able to supply the hundred or more Dispensaries at a
moment's notice. There were twenty-two Dispensaries at the begin-
ning of the year 1908; and at the end of the year there were
one hundred and six. For these the various supplies are car-
ried in bulk and shipped promptly as they may be ordered. These
Include circulars of information, cards, forms of instruction, paper
napkins, bags, cuspidors and drinking cups; medical instruments,
clinical thermometers, protective gowns and blankets. As the num-
ber of Dispensaries increases there are constant demands for new
articles.
Division of San'&toria: This Division is supplied with pamphlets,
circulars, cards and all printed matter pertaining to the examination,
admission, regulation and discharge of patients. During the present
year the State South Mountain Sanatorium at Mont Alto has been
kept sux>plied with sputum cups, aseptic drinking cups, i)aper nap-
kins, paper bags, typewriters and stationery.
Division of Laljoratories: For this Division is msiintained the. su-
pervision of the outfits furnished on request to the physicians, (about
8,000) in ihe State, outside of large cities, for sending specimens of
cerlain suspected diseased tissues and fluids to the Laboratories for
analysis. Directions and instructions accompany each outfit as well
as request carrls and envelopes addressed to our Laboratories, so that
they will be sent direct. The use of these free outfits, Nos. 1, Blood
Test for Malaria ; 2, Widal Test foi- Typhoid Fevei-, and 3, Sputum,
Urine, Growths, etc., is growing daily, indicating that they are much
apy>reciated by the doctors througliout the State. Tn addition there
are conslantly shipp(;d boxes and tin cans containing bottles of water
collected from reservoirs, streams and other sources, which again are
reshij)ped to the Laboratories, in oi-dcM- 1o make examinations for the
presence of sewage and bacterial pollution.
No. 17. COMMISSIOMOK OF ITEALTH. 1311
Division of Accounting and Purchasing: This Division is fur-
nished with vouclipi-s of ditlerent kinds, letter heads, enveioi)es and
other miscellaneous stationery. Also, from time to tiuie, typewriters
and typewriter supplies, office furniture, such as chairs, desks and
other necessary appliances.
The close of the year tinds the Division of Supplies growing rapidly,
with a further demand for increased facilities for work and addi-
tional space for storage and shipping in order that the requirements
of the dilTerent divisions may be promj)tly attended to.
(1312)
DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS.
E. I. SIMPSON. Accountant.
( 1313 )
83—17—1908
( 1314 )
oi^FiciAL Document. No. it.
THE DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS.
Financial Eeport.
The Comnii.ssionei" hegs leave to respectfullv report that under the
three appropriations of the Legislature of 1907, for the use of the
several divisions of the Department, the following sums were re-
ceived and expenditures made during the year 11)08.
Summary showing balances December 31st, li)07, as per the second
annual report of the Department.
APPROPRIATIONS.
Act. No. 673 for general salaries and expenditures of the
Department for two years ending May 31, 1909 ,.. $1 , 100.600 00
Total expenditures as per report to December 31,
1907, 134,92172
Unexpended balance of Appropriation January 1,
1908. $965,678 28
Act No. 673 for the establishing and maintenance of
Tuberculosis Dispensaries for two yeai"s ending May
31, 1909 $400,000 00
Total expenditures as per Report to December 31,
1907 8,810 82
Unexpended balance of Appropriation January 1, 1908, $391,189 18
Act No. 157 for the establishing and maintenance of one
or more tuberculosis Sanatoria for two years ending
May 31, 1909, .^^CiHt.OOO 00
Total expenditures as per Report to December 31 ,
1907, (!9,30G 93
Unexpended balance of Appropriation January 1 , I'.iOS, $530,633 07
( 1315 )
1316 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc
And that the Eeceipts and Expenditures from January 1st, 1908 to
December 31st, 1908, on acount of the General Fund have been as
follows:
GENERAL FUND ACT NO. 673.
Cash balance on hand January 1, 1908, as per Report for year
ending December 31, 1907, $52,839 24
Received from the Auditor General warrants on ac-
count as follows:
March 7, 1908, $44,138 00
April 23, 1908, 44,138 00
May, 21, 1908 44,138 00
July 1, 1908, 44,138 00
July 5, 1908 44,138 00
October 14, 1908 44,138 00
November 14, 1908, 44,138 00
December .5, 1908, 44,138 00
353,104 00
The Auditor General has issued warrants on account
of general salaries to December 31, 1908, 20,644 00
Total receipts to December 31, 1908, 426,587 24
The expenditures from January 1, 1908, to December
31, 1908, have been as follows:
Inspecting, disinfecting, quarantining, etc., account
the following diseases:
Chickenpox, $2,910 75
Whooping Cough 5,190 02
Pneumonia , 420 82
Scarlet fever, 15,829 05
Smallpox 4,516 02
Measles and Mumps 28,003 59
Diphtheria 34,453 93
Typhoid fever, 16,313 46
Scabies, 68 08
Erysipelas 68 29
Leprosy 1,028 70
Cerebrospinal meningitis , 245 09
Rabies 8 10
Puerperal fever, 5 89
Tuberculosis 120 74
Foot and mouth disease , 7 75
Anthrax , 2 81
Yellow fever 11 08
Also the following general expenses of the Department:
Advertising Rules and Regulations, 9182
Legal services, 3,138 93
General salaries 44,702 74
General Office expenses, 8,150 57
Maintenance and supplies for laboratory (exclusive
of salaries), 1,877 99
Laboratory salaries 7,485 00
Anif»iint, r-arried forward, $174,651 22
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1317
Amount brought forward .$174 ,051 22
Initial expenses and supervision in appointing laealth
officers 8,483 26
Organizing local boards of health 112 33
Sanitary engineering division, traveling and gen-
eral expenses (exclusive of salaries), in pure water
inspection , .../-. 4G , 647 12
Sanitary engineering division salaries, 27,941 34
Sanitary inspection of schools, 22,(109 67
Disinfectants, 5,593 10
Inspecting and abating nuisances, 54,399 04
Collecting, tabulating and filing vital statistics, .... 6,174 74
Collecting, tabulating and filing marriage statistics, 2,479 90
Collecting, tabulating and filing morbidity statistics, 19,233 92
Commissioners' traveling expenses, .' 229 55
Attending scientific and educational meetings, 101 27
Travelins^- expenses, Secretary to the Commissioner, 17 42
Advisory Board, traveling expenses, attending meet-
ings, 255 43
General sanitary inspection, 2,574 83
Total expenditure during 1908, $371,564 14
Cash balance on hand January 1, 1909, 55,023 10
$426,587 24
Note: That the following amounts were paid to the Department
during the year:
September 5, interest on bank deposit, $332 02
December 3 , intere.st on bank deposit, 416 56
Total $748 58
These were returned to the State Treasurer on the following dates:
September 8th $332 02
December 31st, 416 56
Total $74S 58
SUMMARY.
Appropriation, $1,100,600 00
Expendituies to December 31, 1907, $134,921 72
Expenditures to December 31, 1908, 371,564 14
Total expenditures to December 31 , 1008, 506,485 86
Unexpended balance of Appropriation, January 1, 1900, $594,114 14
1318 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.
And that the Receipts and Expeu-ditures from January 1st, 1908 to
December 31st. 1908, on account of the Dispensary Appropriation
have been as folloA\-.s:
DISPENSARIES FUND ACT NO. G73.
Cash balance on hand .January 1, 190S, as per report year ending De-
cember 31st, 1907, $24,522 52
The following amounts have been received from the
Auditor General on account:
March 3, 1908, $16,666 67
April 23, 1908 16,666 67
May 21, 1908 16,666 67
July 1, 1908 16,666 67
September 2, 190S, ' 16,666 67
October 14, 1908, 16,666 67
November 13, 1908, 16,666 67
December 5, 1908, 16,666 67
133,333 36
Total receipts to December 31, 1908 $157,855 88
The expenditures from January 1st, 1908, to December
31st, 1908, have been as follows:
Rental of Dispensaries $10,552 63
Maintenance of Laboratory, 4,190 27
General office expenses , 1 , 545 27
Salaries of Doctors and Nurses, 36,355 75
FurnishinK and equipping dispensaries 11,461 05
Examination for admission to Mont Alto, 261 73
Drugs, 3,633 22
Operating supplies, 7,521 75
Milk and eggs 35,477 22
Traveling expenses of Doctors and Nurses, 3,147 95
Disinfectants , . . 1 , 441 76
Administration, 25,739 00
Advertising, 33 78
Legal services , 105 00
Inspectors' convention , 2, 761 81
International Congress on TubiTculosis, 3,440 76
Total expenditure during 1908, $147,668 95
Cash balance on January 1st, 1909, 10,186 93
$157,855 88
Note: That the following amounts have been paid to
the Department, :
May 28, interest on bank deposit, $226 80
October 31 , interest on bank de|)osit, 109 00
December ~j, interest on bank deposit, 7.5 08
September 31, interest on bank deposit 32 34
443 22
Note: That the following amounts have been returned
to the State Treasurer on the following dates:
May 28 , interest on bank deposit, $226 8Q
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1319
October 31, interest on bank deposit 109 00
December 31 , interp.st on bank deposit 75 08
$410 88
Cash on hand January 1st, 1909 32 34
$443 22
Note: That the interest received December 31, amounting to
$32.34 does not show on the Report as having been returned to
the State Treasurer. The reason for this is that check was mailed
to him in January, 1909, and will appear in the next report.
SUMMARY.
Appropriation, $400,000 00
Total expenditures as per Report to December 31,
1907 $8,810 82
Total expenditures as per Report to December 31,
1908 147,668 95
Total expenditures to December 31, 1908 156,479 77
Unexpended balance of appropriation January 1, 1909, $243,520 23
And that the Receipts and Expenditures from January 1st, 1908 to
December 81st, 190S, on account of the Sanatoria Appropriation have
been as follows:
SANATORIA FUND ACT NO. 157.
Cash balance on hand January 1, 1908 $30,633 07
Received from the Auditor General warrants ou ac-
count as follows:
May 3, 1908, $25,000 00
April 21, 1908 25,000 00
April 23, 1908 25,000 00
May 21, 190S 50,000 00
July 1, 1908 25,000 00
September 3, 1908 25,000 00
October 6, 1908, 25,000 00
October 14, 1908 50,000 00
November 13, 190S, 25,000 00
December 8, 1908, 25,000 00
300,000 00
Total receipts to December 31, 1908, $330,633 07
The expenditures from January 1, 1908, to December
31, 1908, have been as follows:
Eggs and green .stuffs , $13 ,256 50
General office expenses , 000 24
Operating supplies, 25,710 75
Salaries, doctors, nurses, etc 18,910 09
Drugs 1 .003 73
Building materials for additions and improvements, .... 6,489 58
Amount carried forward $66,081 89
1320 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doo.
Amount brought forward , $66,081 89
Furnishings, 30,205 96
Traveling expenses , 1 , 121 85
Salaries, engineers, etc., account construction, 19,186 69
Advertising, account construction, 1,542 20
Examination for admission to Sanatorium at Mont Alto, 14 10
Administration, 1,387 77
Legal services , 65 00
Sewage, disposal plant, account construction, 11,289 35
Cottages, pavilions and toilet houses, 57,599 93
Ice house, account contract, 1,899 25
Dining building, laundry and bath houses, account con-
tract, 46,889 78
Insurance on buildings and furnishings Sanatorium at
Mont Alto, 1,298 07
Food stuffs 13,154 90
Sand filters, 4,706 79
Water work system, account contract, 25,324 10
Infirmary building, account contract, 26,636 75
Laundry machinery, account contract, 558 40
Heating apparatus for dining and infirmary building,
account contract , 2 , 196 41
Painting building, etc. , 515 00
Total expenditures during 1908 $311,674 19
Cash balance on hand January 1, 1909, 18,958 88
$330,633 07
Note: That, the following amounts were paid to the
Department during the year:
July 30th, interest on bank deposit $119 36
December 31, interest on bank deposit 461 70
December 31, interest on bank deposit, 16131
Total $742 37
These were returned to the State Treasurer as follows:
July 30 $119 36
December 31, • 461 70
December 31, 16131
Total $742 37
SUMMARY.
Appropriation , ip600,000 00
Total expenditures as per Report to December 31, 1907, $09,366 93
Total expenditures as per Report to December 31, 1908, 311,674 19
Total expenditure to December 31, 1908 381,041 12
Unexpended balance of Appropriation January 1, 1909 $218,958 88
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT, No. 17.
INDEX.
Page.
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Address before 38
Accounting and Purchasing, Division of, 13,1313
supplies 1311
Acute Anterior Poliomeylitis in Adams county 89,90
Adams county, typhoid fever in 68,69
Addresses, Conferences and Conventions 37,39
Advisory Board, death of Samuel T. Davis, Member of 3
list of members of, 6
Age, deaths by 256,263,178
Age periods, deaths by, 230,237,176
Age of mothers, births by, table, 282,302
Allegheny county, measles in, 64
scarlet fever in, 56
River Basin, sanitary survey of, 1210
AUentown, Lehigh county, typhoid fever at 755
Altoona, Blair county, typhoid fever at, 69
typhoid fever epidemic at, 1220
American School Hygiene Association, Address of Dr. Di.xon before,.. 39
Anders, James M., Medico-Chirurgical College, clinical lecture by, 40
Annville, Lebanon county. Water Company, application to increase
source of water supply, 546
Antitoxin, Diphtheria 355
dispensed, 416
general summary, table, 417
history of distribution, 355
list of distributors by counties, . . 356
method of distribution, 390
number of syringes used, table, 415
supplied, table •. 416
treatment, according to number of units, table, 407
by counties and months, table, .... 401
curative 395
of subsequent, 412
immunizing 414
relation of initial, table, 398
result with relation to sex and age,
table, 398
according to initial, after onset and
age, table 399
according to areas affected 400
Application for approval of plans for a sanitary sewerage system 912
the outfall sewer and sewage
disposal plant. Mount Car-
mel, Northumberland coun-
ty, 964
sewage disposal plant, Bryn
Athyn, Montgomery county, 958
sewage disposal plant, Ches-
wick, Allegheny county 795
sewage disposal plant. East-
town township, Chester
county, 855
sewage disposal plant. Elwyn,
Middletown township. Dela-
ware countv. Training
School for Feeble-Minded. . . 941
sewage disposal plant. Hano-
ver township, Lehigh coun-
ty. Homeopathic State Hos-
pital for Insane 885
sewage disposal plant, Thorn-
bury township, Delaware
county, 1091
sewage disposal plant, New
Wilmington, Lawrence coun-
ty, 985
( 1321 )
1322 INDEX. Off. Doc.
Page.
Application for approval of sewers built in 1907, McKeesport, Alle-
gheny county, 927
extension of time to prepare plans for treatment of
sewage, Carrick, Allegheny county, 788
order to discontinue the pollution of stream passing
through Baber Cemetery, Pottsville, Schuylkill
county, 1011
permit to connect Dysart sewer system with that of
the Mt. Lebanon Land and Trust Com-
pany, Scott township, Allegheny county, 1050
discharge sewage into the waters of the
State, New Kensington, Westmoreland
county, 978
extend sewage purificaion plant, Reading,
Berks county, 1022
extend sewers, Barnsboro, Cambria county, 759
Beaver, Beaver county,.... 762
Belief onte. Center county,. 765
Ben Avon, Allegheny coun-
ty, 768
Brackenridge, Allegheny
county, 770
Bradford, McKean county, 774
California, Washington
county, 779
Cambridge Springs, Craw-
ford county 781
Corry, Erie county, 816
Danville, Montour county,. 825
Eaglesmere, Sullivan
county 848
Edwardsville, Luzerne
county, 857
Emlenton, Venango county, 863
Fair Oaks, Allegheny coun-
ty, 919
Franklin, Venango county, 871
Freeport, Armstrong coun-
ty, 875
Glassport, Allegheny coun-
ty, 879
Grove City, Mercer county, 882
Hughesville, Lycoming
county, 895
Huntingdon, Huntingdon
county, 897
Indiana, Indiana county,.. 901
Kane, McKean county, . . . 906
Lancaster, Lancaster coun-
ty, 911
Mercer, Mercer county 931
Middletown Drainage Com-
pany, Middletown,
Dauphin county 934
Minersville, Schuylkill
county, 950
Monaca, Beaver county, . . . 953
New Castle, Lawrence coun-
ty 971
Olyphant, Lackawanna
county, 992
Palmer Land Company,
Palmerton, Carbon coun-
ty 921
Reynoldsville, Jefferson
county 1025
Ridgway, Elk county 1029
Scalp Level, Cambria
county, 1043
Sewickley, Allegheny coun-
ty 1052
Sharon, Mercer county, . . . 1056
Sharpsville, Mercer coun-
ty 1061
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1323
Page.
Application for permit to extend sewers, South Canonsburg, Wasli-
ington county, 1068
South Sharon, Mercer coun-
ty 1074
Stroudsburg, Monroe coun-
ty, 1078
Swarthniore, Delaware
county 1083
y. Tarentum, Allegheny coun-
ty, 1088
Union City, Erie county,. . . 1095
Upland, Delaware county,. 1100
Verona, Allegheny county,. 1102
Watsontown, Northumber-
land county 1103
Wellsboro, Tioga county, . . 1105
Wickboro, Armstrong coun-
ty, 1113
Application for permit to install sewage disposal plant, Bryn Athyn,
Montgomery county, .... 777
disposal plant, Haverford
College, Haverford town-
ship, Delaware county,... 888
disposal plant, Morganza,
Cecil township Washing-
ton county, Pennsylvania
Reform School 961
disposal plant, Williamson
school, .Middletowu town-
ship, Delaware county,... 940
purification plant, Danville
State Hospital for Insane,
]\Iontour county 829
purification plant, Derry,
Westmoreland county 840
purification plant. South
Canonsburg, Washington
county, 1072
sewers, Chester, Delaware county,.. 789
Cheswick, Allegheny county, 797
Clintonville, Venango coun-
ty 802
Coaldale, Schuylkill county, 803
Columbia, Lancaster county, 805
Derry, Westmoreland coun-
ty, 838
Dickson City, Lackawanna
county 843
Dorranceton, Luzerne coun-
ty 846
East Stroudsburg, ]\lonroe
county, Sal
Erie Improvement Company,
Erie county, 947
Exeter, Luzerne county 866
Fairchance, Fayette county,. 868
Forest City, Susquehanna
county 870
Hopewell township, Beaver
county, Woodlawn 891
Houtzdale, Clearfield county, 893
McKeesport, Allegheny coun-
ty 023
Montgomery, Lycoming coun-
ty, 956
Mount Union, Huntingdon
county, 969
North East, Erie county, ... 989
Reading. Berks county 1014
Ridley Park, Delaware coun-
ty 1036
Scalp Level, Cambria county, 1041
Shenandoah, Schuylkill
county 1064
Summit Hill. Carbon county. 1082
Trevorton. Northumberland
county 1123
1324
INDEX.
Off. Doc.
Page.
Application for permit to install sewers, West Reynoldsville, Jeffer-
son county, 1107
Winton, Lackawanna county, 1115
Youngwood, Westmoreland
county, 1119
Application relative to sewerage at Millmont, Reading, Berks county,. 1024
for septic tank and filters for treatment of sewage, Brack-
enridge, Allegheny county, 773
modification of permit for water works, 580
Application for permit to improve filter plant, Steelton, Dauphin
county, 714
• to install filtration plant, Freeport, Arm-
strong county, 606
Riverton, Cumberland county, 637
Natrona, Allegheny county, 664
for a water purification plant. Mechanics-
burg, Cumberland county, 647
Pottstown, Montgomery county, 686
to extend water purification plant, York,
York county, 736
to extend water works, Bradford township,
McKean county, 566
Danville State Hospital for Insane, Montour
county, 581
Enola, East Pennsboro township, Cumber-
land county, 599
Hummelstown, Dauphin county 688
Johnstown, Cambria county, 620
McKeesport, Allegheny county, 639
Northeast borough, Erie county, 669
Parkesburg, Chester county, 676
Retreat, Luzerne county, 690
Ridgway, Elk county, 695
Riverton, Cumberland county, 628
Roulette, Potter county ~ 699
Saint Marys, Elk county, 701
Sheffield township, Warren county, 704
Directors of the Poor, Somerset county, .... 708
Springdale, Allegheny county, 711
Swatara township, Dauphin county, 715
Trevorton, Zerbe township, Northumberland
county, 742
Towanda, Bradford county, 719
Warren, Warren county, 723
Waterford, Erie county, 726
Wellsboro, Tioga county, 728
Windber, Somerset county, 731
Application for permit to increase source of water supply, Annville
Water Company, Lebanon county, 546
Berwick Water Companj', Columbia county, . . 549
Bllwood City, Lawrence county, 593
Emlenton, Venango county, 596
Madera, Bigler township, Clearfield county,.. 556
Application for permit to install water woi"ks, Bethlehem, Northamp-
ton county, 554
Biglerville, Adams county, 558
Blacklick township, Cambria county, 560
Blossburg, Tioga county, 564
Catasauqua, Lehigh county, 567
Chapman township, Clinton county, ! 571
Chester township, Delaware county, 579
Eddystone, Delaware county, 591
Fairchance, Fayette county, 601
Houtzdale, Clearfield county, 612
Johnstown, Cambria county, 618
Matamoras, Pike county 644
Mount Union, Huntingdon county, 658
Muhlenberg township, Berks county, 662
Orblsonia, Huntingdon county, 673
Richland township, Clarion county, 693
Shiremanstown, (Cumberland county, 706
Somerset township, Somerset county, 710
Application for permit to obtain a temporary supply of filtered water
from Harrisburg, Riverton, Cumberland
county 698
to obtain supply of filtered water from Riverton
Consolidated Water Company, 708
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEAX,TH. 132')
Page.
Appropriations, 1315
Approval given ol" plans tor additional water filters, Pittsburg, Alle-
glieny county, 678
Armstrong county, measles at Yatesboro 64
scarlet fever in, 56
smallpo.K in convention at P^ord City, 51
Assistants to County JMedical Inspectors and Physicians-in-Charge of
Tuberculosis Dispensaries, 5
Aston township, Delaware county, scarlet fever in o9
Atlantic City, Dr. Dixon's address before tbe American School Hygiene
Association, 39
Austin, Potter county, scarlet fever at, 63
Autopsy notes on case of Mock Seni, 134
Uacillus, Products of Tubercle, 124
Barnesboro, Cambria county, application for permit to extend sewers, 759
liashore, H. B., report on smallpox in Cumberland county, 153
Batt, Wilmer R., State Registrar, 10,11,173,353,367
delegate to American Public Health
Association, 41
delegate to Conference of State and
Provincial Boards of Health of
North America, 41
delegate to National Congress on
Tuberculosis 41
Beaver, Beaver county, application for permit to extend sewer^ 762
Bellefonte, Centre county, application for permit to extend sewers, . . . 765
Ben Avon, Allegheny county, application for permit to extend sewers, 768
Berwick, Columbia County, Water Company, application to increase
source of water supply 54y
Bethlehem, Northampton county, application for permit for water
works 554
Bigler township, Clearfield county, Madera; application to Increase
source of water supply, 556
Biglerville, Adams county, application for permit for water works, .... 558
Biological Products, Division of, . 12,377
supplies furnished, 1310
Births, number of • 20U
in Pennsylvania, 264
illegitimate, 347
by nativity and ages of mothers, table, 282
by nativity of months and number of child, table, 303
plural, 349
by sex and months, table 265
Blacklick township, Cambria county, application for permit for water
works, 560
Blakely, Lackawanna coun.ty, scarlet fever at, 62
Blindness, An Act for the prevention of, 14
Blossburg, Tioga county, application for permit for water works, 564
Boards of Health, establishment of new : 13
organized by counties 517
letter of instructions with regard to blindness sent
to secretaries of, 16
with regard to campaign
against tuberculosis sent to
secretaries of, 17
Boswell, Somerset county, typhoid fever at, 86
Bouse, John A., Special Medical Inspector 9,516
Brackenridge, Allegheny county, application for permit to extend sewers, 770
application for septic tank and filters
for treatment of sewage, 773
Bradford, McKean county, application for permit to extend sewers, . . . 774
Bradford county, scarlet fever in, 56
typhoid fever in, 71
Bradford township, McKean county, application for permit to extend
water works 566
Brandywine Summit, Delaware county, typhoid fever at, 81
Bromall, Delaware county, typhoid fever at 80
Bryn Athyn, Montgomery county, application for approval of plans for
sewage disposal
plant, 958
permit to construct a
sewage disposal
plant 777
Bureau of Vital Statistics 10
Burkholder, John L.. Chief Medical Inspector, B. & O. R. R 8
California, Washington county, application for permit to extend sewers, 779
84
1326 INDEX. Off. Doc.
Page.
Cambridge Springs, Crawford county, application for permit to extend
sewers, 781
annual meeting of the Medical
Society of the State of
Pennsylvania, at, 42
Cancer, deaths from, 197
Canonsburg, Washington county, permit to construct sewage purifica-
tion plant, 785
Carbon county, scarlet fever in, 58
typhoid fever in 74
Carbondale, Lackawanna county, typhoid fever at, 82
Carlisle, Cumberland county, diphtheria at, 66
Carrick, Allegheny county, application for extension of time to prepare
plans for treatment of sewage, 788
Catasauqua, Lehigh county, application for permit for water works, . . 567
Causes, deaths from certain, table, 238
all, table, 248
Chapman township, Clinton county, application for permit for water
works, 571
Chester, Delaware county, apj)lication for permit to construct sewers, 789
modification of permit for
water works, 580
Chester county, smallpox in, ." 47
township, Delaware county, application for permit for water
works, 579
Cheswick, Allegheny county, application for approval of plans for
sewage disposal plant, 795
permit to install sewers, 797
Circulatory system, deaths from diseases of, 198
Cities and boroughs, death rates of, 179,202
Clintonville, Venango county, application for permit to install sewers, o02
Coaldale, Schuylkill county, application for permit to install sewers, 803
Color, deaths by, 256
Columbia, Lancaster county, application for permit to install sewers, 805
Columbus township, Bradford county, scarlet fever in 57
Colwyn, Delaware county, order to discontinue the discharge of sewage
into the waters of the state, 808
Commissioner of Health, 6
Third Annual Report of, 1
Letter of transmittal, 1
Communicable diseases, 47
report of, table, 355
Complaints, petitions and. Engineering Division, 536
Conferences, conventions and addresses, 37
Conference with Forestry
Commission, 40
Seventh International Tuber-
culosis Conference at Phila-
delphia, 41
Annual Conference of the
Sanitary Officers of the
State of New York, ...... 42
Conference at Easton with re-
gard to pollution by sewage, 37
Alumni meeting of Lafayette
College, 38
Medical Club of Philadelphia, 38
Academy of Natural Sciences,
of Philadelphia, 38
American School Hygiene
Association, 34
Conference with Surgeon Gen-
oral of the P. H. & M. H.
Seivice 39
('oninussion to investigate
typhoid fever at Pittsburg, 40
l^an-American Medical Con-
gress 41
Ani(!i'i(-un Pulilic IL(!;iith Asso-
ciation 41
Conference of State and Pro-
vincial Boards of Health of
North America 41
Annual meeting of the Medi-
cal Society of the State of
Pennsylvania, 42
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1327
Page.
Conferences, conventions and addresses, Conference with faculty of State
College, 4o
Internacional Congress on
Tuberculosis at Washing-
ton, Section on State and
Municipal Control of Tuber-
culosis, paper by Dr. S. C
Dixon, 41
Connellsville, Fayette county, permit to extend sewers, 811
Consumption, rules to be observed in tne management of, 474
Control of Tuberculosis in :\ian, paper by S. G. uixon. Commissioner, ' 43
Convention at Ford City, smallpox in, 5]_
Conventions, conferences and addresses, 37
Corporation reports, Eugiueenug Division, 536
Corry, Erie county, application lor permit to extend sewers, ........ 81«
decree for puriucation of tannery sewage, J. W.
and A. P. Howard Company, Ltd., 821
County Dispensaries for tuberculosis, list of, y
County Meaical inspectors, list ot, {i
at Philadelphia, meeting of, 39
letter of instructions with regard to blind-
ness sent to, 15
summary of work done by, 37
County Medical Society, letter of instruction with regard to the cam-
paign against tuberculosis sent to secretaries of each, 17
Crooked Creek, Tioga county, measles at, ' 55
Culture Media, report on sterilization of, 147
Cumberland county, scarlet fever in, 59
smallpox in, ....'.'..'.'.'.'. 36,49,153
typhoid fever in, gQ
Dairy Inspection, 29
card for, [ / 30
by counties, 103
Dairymen, letter of instruction sent to, 31
Danville, Montour county, application to extend and improve water
works of State Hospital for Insane, . . . 581
application for permit to extend sewers, . 825
State Hospital for Insane, application for
permit to construct sewage purification
plant 829
Darby, Delaware county, order to discontinue the discharge of sewage
into the waters of the state, 83g
Dauphin county, smallpox in, 50
Davis, Samuel T., death of, 3
Death rates for certain cities and boroughs, table, 179 202
of the states, table, '175
Deaths from diseases of the nervous system, . . 198
circulatory system, 198
digestive system, 199
genitourinary system, ' ' ' 199
respiratory system, 19g
Deaths ^rom certain specified causes, table, [[ 238
each specified cause, table, 248
cancer, lyy
diphtheria, " " ' 134
measles, 187
scarlet fever, 186
tuberculosis, 189
typhoid fever, 181
violence [ 200
whoopingcough \ 188
Deaths by age 2.'iO 178
by age periods, table . . . . "' 176
age, sex, color, general nativity and parent nativity. ......... 256
months and (luarters, table " 176
sex and age periods, table . . 177,207
Decrees to discontinue the discharge of sewage into the waters of the
state, Colwyn, Delaware county 808
Darby, Delaware county, ! 836
Lansdowne, Delaware county 917
Sharon Hill, Delaware county IO59
Yeadon, Delaware county 1117
1328 INDEX. Off. Doc.
Page.
Decrees or permits to change plans for disposal of sewage, Allegheny
City Home at Claremont Station, 1011
construct sewage purification plant, Canons-
burg, Washington county, 785
discharge sewage into the waters of the state,
Parnassus, Westmoreland county, 996
Decrees or permits to extend sewers, Connellsville, Fayette county,. . 811
Kittanning, Armstrong county, 908
Philadelphia, Philadelphia
county, 999
Zelienople, Butler county, .... 1121
install sewage disposal plant, Haverford town-
ship, Delaware county, Beechwood Park
Amusement Company, 889
for an intercepting sewer and sewage disposal
works, Ellwood City, Lawrence county, 859
for purification of tannery sewage by J. W. &
A. P. Howard & Company, 821
relative to abatement of nuisances caused by dis-
charge of house drainage into street gutters.
White Haven, Luzerne county, 1109
Delaware county, scarlet fever in, 59
Department of Health, organization of, 6
Derry, Westmoreland county, application for permit to install sewers, 838
application for permit to install sewei'-
age purification works, 840
Designs and construction, Sanitary Engineering Division, 1126
Dickson City, Lackawanna county, application for permit to install
sew'ers, 843
Digestive system, deaths from diseases of, 199
Diphtheria, cases reported, 361
deaths from, 184
in Lehigh county 66
antito.xin, 355
antitoxin, dispensed, 416
general summary, table, 417
history of distribution, 355
list of distributors by counties, 356
method of distribution, 390
number of syringes used, table, 415
supplied, table, 416
treatment, according to number of units, table, 407
by counties and months, table, 401
•curative, 395
of subsequent 412
immunizing 414
relation of initial, table, 398
result with relation to sex and age,
table, 398
according to initial after onset, and
age, table, 399
according to areas affected, 400
Diseases, communicable, 47
report of, table, 355
of the circulatory system, deaths from, 198
digestive system, deaths from, 199
genito-urinary system, deaths from 199
nervous system, deaths from 198
respiratory system, deaths from, 198
Disinfection, house and room, 25
Dispensaries fund 1318
tuberculosis 9,10.453
dates of opening, table, 455
directory of, with medical attendants, table, 493
forms in use, 469
list of 9,10
list of physicians in charge of, 4
location of, 454
offife and medical staff 453
physicians by counties, table 458
physicians in charge, office days, and num-
ber of nurses employed, table, 456
statistical report of patients, 464
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1329
Page.
Dispensaries, tuberculosis, supplies furnished Division of 1310
total work of, 483
treatment at, 460
visiting nurses, 453
"Dispensary System of the Pennsylvania Department of Health," paper
by T. H. A. Stites 42
Distribution of Antitoxin, Division of, 377
Division of Accounting and Purchasing, 13,1311,1313
Dispensaries 1310
Distribution of Biological Products 12,377,1310
Laboratories and Experimental Station, 111,1310
Medical Inspection, 6.1309
Sanitary Engineering, 11,1310
Sanatoria, 1310
Sanatoria and Dispensaries for the treatment of tuber-
culosis 9,421,453
Sub-division Morbidity Statistics 11,527
Sub-division Special Medical Inspection, 9
Supplies 13,1307
Vital Statistics 173,1310
Dixon, Samuel G., address at State College, Pennsylvania, 43
before Internationa] Conference on Tuber-
culosis at Philadelphia 41
the Conference of the Sanitary Offi-
cers of the State of New York,.. 42
Forestry Commission, 40
Town meeting at Easton, 37
International Congress on Tuber-
culosis 485
Alumni Meeting of Lafayette Col-
lege 38
Medical Club of Philadelphia 38
Academy of Natural Sciences of
Philadelphia, 38
the American Public Health Asso-
ciation 41
American School Hygiene Associa-
tion 39
International Congress on Tuber-
culosis 41
Annual I^Ieeting of the Medical
Society of Pennsylvania 42
Dorranceton, Luzerne county, application for permit to install sewers, 846
Eagles Mere, Sullivan county, application for permit to extend sewers, 848
Easton, address of Commissioner at, 37
East Stroudsburg, Monroe county, application for permit to install
sewers 851
Easttown township, Chester county, application for approval of plans
for sewerage system and disposal works, 855
East Troy, Bradford county, scarlet fever in 56
Eddystone, Delaware county, application for permit for water works, 591
Edgemont Water Company, Chester township, Delaware county, ap-
plication for permit for water works 579
Edwardsvillp. Luzerne county, application for permit to extend sewers. 857
Ellwood City, Lawrence county, permit for an intercepting sewer and
sewage disposal works 859
application for permission to Increase
source of water supply 593
Elwyn. Middletown township, Delaware county. Pennsylvania Train-
ing School for Feeble Minded, application for approval of plans for
sewage disposal plant 941
Emlenton, Venango county, application for permit to extend sewers, 863
application for permit to increase source
of water supply 596
Employees, South Mountain Sanatorium, Mont Alto 423
Emporium, Cameron county, typhoid fever at 73
epidemic at 1221
Engineering 542
Division of Sanitary 11.527
special work bv 1210
supplies furnished 1310
corporation reports 536
miscellaneous work 1186
84—17—1909.
1330 INDEX. Off. Doc.
Page.
Engineering, Division of Sanitarj-, office force, 530
office work, 535
organization, 530
orders of abatement, 540
petitions and complaints, 536
recorded plans, 536
water works, permits and decrees
issued, 599
Enola, East Pennsboro township, Cumberland county, application for
permit to extend water works, 599
Epidemics, 33,1220
smallpox 36
typhoid fever, . . . 33
at Altoona, Blair county, 1220
Emporium, Cameron county, 1221
Fleetwood, Berks county, 1265
Hastings, Cambria county, 1224
Kutztown, Berks county, 1259
Lititz, Lancaster county 1236
Reading, Berks county, 1247
Royersford and Spring City, 1285
Erie Improvement Company, Erie county, application for permit to
construct sewers, 947
Examinations by Division of Laboratories, 114
for malaria, 115
of feces, 122
milk, 117
pathological fluids, 117
pathological growths, 117
sputum, 115
urine, 117
water, llJi
Widal test, 115
Exeter, Luzerne county, application for permit to install sewers, .... 866
Exhibit, International Congress on Tuberculosis at Washington, D. C, 21,485,515
Experimental Station, Laboratories and, 12,111
Fairchance, Fayette county, application for permit to install sewers, 868
application for permit to install water
works, 601
Fairmount City, Clarion county, measles at, 64
typhoid fever at 79
Fair Oaks, Allegheny county, application for permit to extend sewers, 919
Farwell, Chapman township, Clinton county, application for permit
for water works, 571
Feces, examinations of 122
Field Inspection, report of 1213
Financial report, 1315
Fleetwood, Berks county, typhoid fever epidemic at, 1265
Ford City, smallpox in Convention at, 51
Forest City, Susquehanna county, application for permit to install
sewers, 870
Forestry Commission, Conference with, 40
Fox, Herbert, Chief of Laboratories, 12,111
Representative of Department at
Conference with Surgeon Gen-
eral of the P. H. & M. H.
Service 39
Foxburg Water Works Company, Richland township, Clarion county,
application for permit for water works, 693
Franklin, Venango county, application for permit to extend sewers, . . 871
Freeport, Armstrong county, application for permit to install filtra-
tion plant, 606
application for permit to extend sewers, 875
General fund, 1316
Genito-urinary system, deaths from diseases of 199
Gladhurst Water Company, Somerset township, Somerset county, ap-
plication for permit for water woiks 710
Glassport, Allegheny county, api)Iication for permit to extend sewers, 879
Glen Mills, Delaware county, scarlet fever at 60
"Governmental Control of Tuberculosis Patients in Pennsylvania,"^
paper by the Commissioner * 41
Guatemala, Pan-American Medical Congress at, 41
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1331
Page.
Green, Edgar M., County Medical Inspector, delegate to International
Congress on Tuberculosis, 42
Grove Citj-, jMercer county, application for permit to extend sewers,.. 882
Haverford College, Haverford township, Delaware county, application
to construct a sewage disposal plant, 888
Hanover township, Lehigh county. Homeopathic State Hospital for In-
sane, application for approval of plans for sewage disposal plant, . . 885
Hartman, Paul A., report on case of IMock Sem, leper 155
Hartzell, Chas., Superintendent, Division of Supplies, 13,1307
Hastings, Cambria county, typhoid fever at, 71
epidemic at 1224
Haverford township, Delaware county, Beechwood Park Amusement
Company, decree to install sewage disposal plant, 889
Health, Boards of, establishment of new, 13
organized by counties, 517
Health Oflicers, township, summary of work done by, 23
letter of instructions with regard to blind-
ness sent to 15
letter of instructions with regard to the
campaign against tuberculosis sent to,.. 18
Hershey, Dauphin county, application for permit to extend water
works 588
Honorable Mention from International Congress on Tuberculosis, ... 41
Hopewell township, Beaver county, Woodlawn, application for permit
to install sewers, 891
Houtzdale, Clearfield county, application for permit to install sewers, 893
application for permit to install water
works 612
Hughes, Wm. E., Philadelphia General Hospital, clinical lecture by, 39
Hughesville, Lycoming county, application for permit to extend
sewers, 895
Hummelstown, Dauphin county, application for permit to extend water
works, 614
Huntingdon, Huntingdon county, application for permit to extend
sewers, 897
Indiana, Indiana county, application for permit to extend sewers 901
Insanitary conditions of Oakland, Susquehanna county, 87
Inspection, dairy, 29
school 26
by counties, dairy, 103
by counties, sanitary school, 92
Inspector, Special I^Iedical 516
Inspectors, list of County Medical, 6
Railroad Medical, 7
International Congress on Tuberculosis, exhibits at 485
meeting held in the Capitol,
Pennsvlvania State Com-
mittee of the 38
at Washington, 41
Johnson, Fred C, Chief Medical Inspector 3,9,423
delegate to International
Congress on Tuberculosis, 42
Medical Director South IMountain Sanatorium 4
Johnstown, Cambria county, application for permit to extend water
works 620
install water
works 618
number of typhoid fever cases from De-
partment records 626
Kittanning. Armstrong county, permit to extend sewers, 908
Koenig, Adolph, Member of Advisory Board 6
Kutztown, Berks county, typhoid fever epidemic at 1259
Labor, employers of. letter of instruction with regard to campaign
against tuberculosis sent to 19
Laboratories and Experimental Station, Division of 12,2.t,111
supplies furnished the Divi-
sion of 1310
Laboratory examinations, research work 123
for malaria 115
of feces 1 22
milk 117
pathological fluids 117
growths 117
sputum, 115
1332 INDEX. Off. Doc.
Page.
Laboratory examinations, urine, 117
water, 118
Widal test 115
Lafayette College, address to Alumni of, .38
Lancaster, Lancaster county, application for approval of plans for a
sanitary sewerage system, 912
application for permit to extend sewers, 911
Lancaster county, scarlet fever in, 63
typhoid fever in, 83
whooping cough in, 67
Lansdowne, Delaware county, decree to discontinue the discharge of
sewage into the waters of the state, 917
Latta, S. W., Chief Medical Inspector, P. R. R., 7
Lee, Benjamin, Assistant to the Commissioner, 6
delegate to Interna-
tional Congress on
Tuberculosis, 42
"Legal Rights and Tuberculosis," paper by the Commissioner, ....... 41
Lehigh county, diphtheria in 66
scarlet fever in, 63
smallpox in 55
whoopingcough in, 67
Lemont, Fayette county, smallpox at, 55
Leprosy, case of, 37
autopsy notes on, 134
pathological report, 158
proctoctol of necropsy on body of Mock Sem 155
Letter of transmittal, 1
Linesville, Crawford county, smallpox at, 47
List of County Medical Inspectors, 6
List of Physicians in Charge of Tuberculosis Dispensaries, 4
Lititz, Lancaster county, typhoid fever epidemic at, 1,236
Luzerne county, typhoid fever at Wilkes-Barre 86
McKee, T. N., delegate to International Congress on Tuberculosis, ... 41
McKeesport, Allegheny county, application for approval of sewers built
in 1907, 927
permit to extend water
works, 639
install sewers, 923
Madera, Bigler township, Clearfield county, application to increase
source of water supply, 556
Malaria, examinations for, 115
Mansfield, Tioga county, typhoid fever at 88
Marriage statistics 367
rates per 100,000 of population, table, 374
percentage of age periods, table, 375
Marriages, by months and counties, table 371
by nativity 375
number of 369
Masterson, Lee, Member of Advisory Board, 6
Matamoras, Pike county, application for permit for water works, 644
Measles 23
deaths from, 187
in Allegheny county 64
in Blue Church School, Lehigh county 65
in Crooked Creek, Tioga county 65
in Fail-mount City, Clarion county 64
in Rextown, Lehigh county 66
in Slatedale, Lehigh county, 65
in Yatesboro. Armstrong county, 64
Measures to promote the health of school children, paper by the Com-
missioner 41
Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, application for permit for a water
purification plant 647
Medal of International Congress on Tuberculosis, for model cottage,. . . 42
best exhibit 42
Medical Club of Philadelphia, remarks by the Commissioner before the, 38
"Medical and Sanitary Insper.tions of Schools and their relation to the
Tuberculosis Problem," paper by the Commissioner, 39
Medical Inspection, Division of, 6,46
supplies furnished 1309
special 516
Medical Inspectors, railroad, 7
Medical staff, Mont Alto Sanatorium 423
Mercer, Mercer county, application for permit to extend sewers, 931
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1333
Page.
Middletown Drainage Company, Middletown, Dauphin county, applica-
tion for permit to extend sewers, 934
Miliary Tuberculosis, Clinical lecture on, by Wm. E. Hughes, 39
Milk, examinations of, 117
Miner, Charles H., County Medical Inspector, delegate to International
Congress on Tuberculosis, 42
Minersville, Schuylkill county, application for permit to extend sewers, 950
Mock Sem, autopsy notes on, 134
pathological report, 158
proctoctol of necropsy, 155
Monaca, Beaver county, application for permit to extend sewers, 953
Mont Alto South Mountain Sanatorium, 423
admissions and discharges, . . . 434,448
classification of patients by
age, incidence and mortality, 439
classification of results of dis-
charged cases, table 442
classification of cases by color,
sex, social condition and by
length of residence in, table, 443
classification of patients by
counties, table 434
classification of patients by
dispensaries, table, 435
civil condition of patients, . . . 437
daily routine 428
garbage incinerator, 1179
maintenance cost 452
medical and nursing staff em-
ployees, 423
miscellaneous work, 1184
nativity of patients, 438
religion of patients, 437
report, 425
land contract, 1175
sewage sand filters, 1168
sewers, 1148
sputum examinations, table, . . 429
water works, 1126
weight record of discharged
cases, table, 442
Montgomery, Lycoming county, application for permit to install sewers, 956
Months and quarters, deaths by, 176
Morbidity statistics, 11,353
reports 22
tables 355
Morganza Home, Washington county, typhoid fever at 88,1243
Cecil township, Washington county, Pennsylvania Re-
form School, application for permit to construct a
sewage disposal plant, 961
Morris, Tioga county, whoopingcough at, 68
Morris, Caspar, Chief Medical Inspector, Pennsylvania and Reading
R. R., 8
Morse, Wilbur, Secretary to the Commissioner, 6
delegate to International Congress on Tuberculosis, . . 42
Mortality of Pennsylvania, 23,175
tables, 202
Moulton, A. B., Chief Medical Inspector, 4
delegate to International Con-
gress on Tuberculosis, 42
representative at the meeting
of the Medical Society of
the State of Pennsylvania at
Cambridge Springs, 42
report on typhoid fever at
Reading 160
Mt. Carmel, Northumberland county, application for approval of plans
for the outfall sewer and sewage disposal plant 964
Mount Union, Huntingdon county, application for permit to construct
sewers. . . 969
for water
works. ... 658
Muhlenberg township, Berks county, application for permit for water
works 662
Myerstown, Lehigh county, typlioid fever at, 84
1334 INDEX. Off. Dod.
Page.
Nativity, deaths by, 256,263
and age of mothers, births by, table, 28i!
of mothers, births by, table, 303
Natrona, Allegheny county, application for permit to install filtration
plant, 664
Nant-y-Glo, application for permit for water works, Jackson and Black-
lick townships, Cambria county, 560
Neonatorum, Ophthalmia, 14
Nervous System, Diseases of, deaths from, 198
New Castle, Lawrence county, application for permit to extend sewers, 971
New Kensington, Westmoreland county, application for permit to dis-
charge sewage into the waters of the state, 978
New Wilmington, Lawrence county, application for appioval of plans
for sewage disposal works, .... 985
application for permit to install
sewers, 981
Northeast borough, Erie county, application for permit to extend water
works, ... 669
install sewers, 989
Nurses, visiting tuberculosis dispensaries, 453
number employed, table, .... 456
Nursing staff. South Mountain Sanatorium, 423
Oakland, Susquehanna county, insanitary conditions of, 87
Occupational mortality of tuberculosis of the lungs 190
Olyphant, Lackawanna county, application for permit to extend sewers, 992
Operations of the laboratories and experimental station, 113
Ophthalmia Neonatorum, 14
Orbisonia, Huntingdon county, application for permit for water works, 673
Orders of Abatement, Engineering Division, 540
Organization of Department of Health, ^ . 6
Engineering Division, " 530
Palmer Land Company, Palmerton, Carbon county, application for
permit to extend sewers, 921
Palmerton, Carbon county, scarlet fever at, 59
Pan-American Medical Congress, 41
Parkesburg, Chester county, application for permit to extend water
works, 676
Parnassus, Westmoreland county, permit to allow discharge of sewage
into the waters of the state, 996
Pathological fluids, examinations for, 117
growths, examinations for 117
Paxtang Consolidated vVater Company, Swatara township, Dauphin
county, application for permit to extend water works, 717
Pearson, Leonard, Member of the Advisory Board, 6
Peirson, Henry W., Chief Division of Distribution of Biological Pro-
ducts, ^ 12,377
Pennsylvania State Committee of the International Congress on Tuber-
culosis, meeting held in the office of the Commissioner 38
Pennsylvania South Mountain Sanatorium, garbage incinerator, 1179
miscellaneous work, 1184
sand contract, 1175
sewage sand filters, 1168
sewers 1148
water works, 1126
Training School for Feeble Minded at Elwyn, applica-
tion for approval of plans for sewage disposal plant, . 941
Reform School, Morganza, Washington county, applica-
tion to construct a sewage disposal plant 961
Penrose, Charles B., Member of Advisory Board, 6
Petitions and complaints. Engineering Division, 536
Philadelphia, Philadelphia county, meeting of County Medical Inspec-
tors at 39
Philadelphia, Philadelphia county, permit to extend sewers, 999
Philadelphia Medical Club, address of the Commissioner before, 38
Physicians-in-Charge of Tuberculosis Dispensaries, list ol", 4
list of assistants to, 5
Pittsburg, approval given of plans for additional water filters, 678
meeting to dctiM-niine cause of typhoid fever at 40
typhoid fevei' at, 33
permit to change plans for disposal of sewage at the Alle-
gheny ('ity Home, at Claremont Station 1011
Plans recorded, Engineering Division, 536
Poliomyelitis in Adams county, acute anterior 89
Polk, Venango county, mai<ing of plans for new system of sewers, and
disposal plant for State Institution for Feeble Minded of Western
Pennsylvania, 1186
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1335
Page.
Porter, Eugene H., Health Commissioner of the State of New York,. . . 42
Potter county, typhoid fever at lumber camp, 84
Pottstown, Montgomery county, application for permit for a water
purification plant 68G
Pottsville, SchuylKill county, order for discontinuance of pollution of
stream passing through Baber Cemetery lull
Pi-oducts of tubercle baccilus 124,135
Public Health Administration in Pennsylvania, paper by the Commis-
sioner, 42
Pulmonary tuberculosis, clinical lecture by James M. Anders, 40
Purchasing, Division of Accounting and, 13,1313
supplies furnished 1311
Putts, B. S., Associate Medical Director, IMont Alto, 423
Railroad Medical Inspectors, 7
Railway Mail Service, smallpox in, 53
Reading, Beiks county, application for permit to install sewers, 1014
for permit to e.xtend sewage puri-
fication plant, 1022
relative to sewage at Millmont,... 1024
typhoid fever at, 160
epidemic at 1247
References to Special Counsel, 1302
Reifsnyder, J. C, County Medical Inspector, delegate to International
Congress on Tuberculosis, 42
Report, financial, 1315
of the Commissioner of Health, Third Annual, 3
Reports, Corporation, Engineering Division, 536
morbidity, 22
Research work of laboratories, 123
Respiratory system, deaths from disease of, 198
Retreat, Luzerne county, application for permit to extend water works,
poor district, 690
Reynoldsville, Jefferson county, application to extend sewers, 1025
Richland township. Clarion county, application for permit for water
works, 693
Ridgway, Elk county, application for permit to extend water works,. . 695
application for permit to extend sewers, 1029
Ridley Park, Delaware county, application for permit to install sewers, 1036
Rivas. Damaso, bacteriologist, 12
report on case of Mock Sem, leper, 158
report on sterilization of culture media, "147
Riverton, Cumberland county, application for permit to extend water
works, 628
application for permit to install filtra-
tion plant, 637
application for permit to obtain a tem-
porary supply of filtered water from
Harrisburgj^ 698
Robertsdale, Huntingdon county, typhoid fever at, 81
Ronco, Fayette county, scarlet fever at 61
Rothrock, A. M., Resident Physician of the Mont Alto Tuberculosis
Sanatorium 4
Vice Director of the Mont Alto Tuberculosis Sana-
torium 4
delegate to International Congress on Tuberculosis, 42
Roulette, Potter county, application for permit to extend water works, 699
Royer, B. Franklin, Associate Chief Medical Inspector, 4
report on Mock
Sem, leper, . 155
Royersford and Spring City, typhoid fever epidemic at 1285
Royersford, Montgomery county^ typhoid fever at 75
Rules to be observed in the management of tuben-uiosis, 474
Rutherford Heights, Water Supi)ly Company, Swatara township,
Dauphin county, application for permit to extend water works, .... 715
St. Marys, Elk county, application for permit to extend water works, 701
Sanitary Engineering, Division of Il,n27
Sanatoria fund 1319
Sanatoria and dispensaries for the treatment of tuberculosis, 9,421
list of. . . 9
Sanatoria and dispensaries for the treatment of tuberculosis, supplies
furnished Division of 1310
Sanatorium at Mont Alto, South Moimtain 20
Miscellaneous work of Engineering Division 1184
Sand contract 1175
Sewers 1148
Water works 1 126
1336 INDEX. Off. Doc.
Page.
Scalp Level, Cambria county, application for permit to extend sewers, 1043
install sewers, 1041
Scarlet fever, 22
at Blakely, Lackawanna county, 62
Austin, Potter county, 63
Columbus, Bradford county, 57
East Troy, Bradford county, 56
Glen Mills, Delaware county, 60
Palmerton, Carbon county, 59
Ronco, Fayette county, 61
Springfield, Bradford county, 57
Stevensville, Bradford county, 58
in Aston township, Delaware county, 59
Allegheny county, 56
Armstrong county, 56
Bradford county, 56
Carbon county, 58
Cumberland county, 59
Delaware county, 59
Lancaster county, 63
Lehigh county, 63
Williamson School, Delaware county, 60
Wyalusing township, Bradford county, 57
deaths from, 186
mortality of, 24
reported, tables, 363
Scattergood, .Joseph, County Medical Inspector, Delegate to Interna-
tional Congress on Tuberculosis, 42
School inspection ^ 26
Schools, sanitary inspection of by counties, 93
Scott township, Allegheny county, application for permit to connect
the Dysart sewer system with that of the Mt. Lebanon Land and
Trust Company, 1050
Sewage disposal permits and decrees, 746
Sewickley, Allegheny county, application for permit to extend sewers, 1052
Sex, deaths by, 256
Sex and age, deaths by, 177,207
Sex and months, births by, table, 265
Sharon, Mercer county, application for permit to extend sewers 1056
Sharon Hill, Delaware county, order to discontinue the discharge of
sewage into the waters of the state, 1059
Sharpsville, Mercer county, application for permit to extend sewers, . . 1061
Sheffield township, Warren county, application for permit to extend
water works, 704
Shenandoah, Schuylkill county, application for permit to install sewers, 1064
Shipments by express, 1309
Shiremanstown, Cumberland county, application for permit for water
works, , 706
application for permit to obtain
supply of filtered water from
Riverton Consolidated Water
Company, 708
Simpson, E. I., accounting and purchasing agent, 13,1313
Smallpox at Lemont, Fayette county, 55
Linesville, Crawford county 47
in Chester county, 47
Convention at Ford City, 51
Cumberland county, 36,48 , 153
Dauphin county, 50
Lehigh county 55
Railway Mail Service, 53
mortality of, 23
outbreak of, 36
Smith, Allen J., Director of Pathology, 12,111
report on Mock Sem, leper, 158
Snow, F. Herbert, C. E., Chief Engineer, 11,527
delegate to International Con-
gress on Tuberculosis, .... 42
Somerset county, Di^-ectors of the Poor, application to extend water
works 708
Somerset, township, Somerset county, application for permit for water
works, 710
South Canonsburg, Washington county, application for permit to con-
struct sewage purification
plant, 1072
application to extend sewers, 1068
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1337
Page.
South Mountain Sanatorium for Tuberculosis at Mont Alto, 20,423
South Mountain Sanatorium for Tuberculosis at Mont Alto, admissions
and discharges, table, 434
South Mountain Sanatorium for Tuberculosis at Mont Alto, classifica-
tion of patients by counties, table 434
South Mountain Sanatorium for Tuberculosis at Mont Alto, classifica-
tion of patients by dispensaries, table 435
Sanatorium at Mont Alto, classification of patients by age, incidence
and mortality, table, . . . 439
cases by color, sex, social
condition and by length
of residence in, table, 443,446,449
results of cases discharged,
table 442,445,448,451
civil condition of patients 437
daily routine, 428
maintenance cost 452
medical and nursing staff and employes,.. 423
nativity of patients 438
occupation of patients, table 440
religion of patients, table, 437
report, 425
weight record of cases discharged, table, 442,448,451
South Sharon, Mercer county, application for permit to extend sewers, 1074
Special medical inspection, report on 516
Special report on pathological specimens from Mock Sem, by D. Rivas, 158
on epidemic of typhoid fever at Reading, by A. B. Moul-
ton, 160
Special reports, 145
on smallpox in Cumberland county, by Harvey B.
Bashore, 153
on necropsy of Mock Sem, by B. Franklin Royer and
Paul A. Hartman, 155
on sterilization of culture media by D. Rivas 146
Spring City, Chester county, typhoid fever at, 75
and Royersford, typhoid fever epidemic at, . . .'. 1285
Springdale, Allegheny county, application for permit to extend water
works, 711
Springfield township, Bradford county, scarlet fever in 07
Sputum, examinations of 115
State Asylum for Chronic Insane, Wernersville, Berks county, estimate
on constructing sewage plant 1205
State College of Pennsylvania, address by the Commissioner at, 43
State Institution for Feeble Minded, Polk, making of plans for new
system of sewers and disposal plant 1186
States, death rates of 175
Steelton, Dauphin county, application for permit to improve filter
plant, 714
Stengel, Alfred, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, clinical
lecture by, 40
Stevensville, Bradford county, scarlet fever at 58
Stltes, Thos. H. A., Medical Inspector of Dispensaries 9,453
delegate to International Congress on Tuber-
culosis, 42
representative at the meeting of the Medical So-
ciety of the State of Pennsylvania at Cambridge
Springs, paper by 42
representative at State College. Pennsylvania, ... 43
Stroudsburg, Monroe county, application for permit to extend sewers. 1078
Stuart, Edwin S., Governor of Pennsylvania, letter of transmittal to, . . 1
authorizing exhibit at In-
ternational Congress on
Tuberculosis 485
Suggestions and New Regulations for the Transportation of the Dead,
paper by Wilmer R. Batt 41
Summit Hill, Carbon county, application for permit to install sewers, 1082
Supplies, Division of 13,1307
Swarthmore, Delaware county, application for permit to extend sewers. 1083
Swatara township, Dauphin county, application for permit to extend
water works, Rutherford
Heights Water Supply Com-
pany 715
Paxtang Consolidated Water Com-
pany 717
Tarentum, Allegheny county, application for permit to extend sewers, 1088
1338 INDEX. Off. Doc.
Page.
Tetanus, Fourth of July, 36
Third Annual Report of the Commissioner of Health, 1
Thornbury township, Delaware county, application for approval of
plans for sewage disposal plant, 1091
Towanda, Bradford county, application for permit to extend water
works, 719
Trachoma, reported by physician's, 23
Trevorton, Northumberland county, application for permit to install
sewers, 1123
Trevorton, Zerbe township, Northumberland county, application for
permit to extend w^ater works, 742
Tubercle bacillus, products of, 124,135
Tuberculosis in Children, clinical lecture by .James C. Wilson 40
Tuberculosis, address on "Legal Rights and Tuberculosis," by S. G.
Dixon, 41
address on "The Governmental Control of Tuberculous
Patients in Pennsylvania," by S. G. Dixon, 41
campaign against, 16
deaths from 189
International Congress on, at Washington, D, C 41,485
International Conference on, at Philadelphia, 41
mortality of, 24
occupational mortality, 190
reported, tables 365
"Tuberculosis of the viscera and serous cavities," clinical lecture by
James M. Anders, 40
Dispensaries of the Department of Health of Pennsyl-
vania, paper by T. H. A. Stites, 42
sanatoria and dispensaries for treatment of 9,421
rules to be observed in the management of, 474
dispensaries, dates of opening, talDle, 455
forms in use, 469
directory of, with medical attendants, .... 493
list of Physicians-in-Charge, 4
list of Assistants to County Medical In-
spectors and Physicians-in-Charge of, . . 5
location of, 454
office and medical staff, 453
physicians by counties, table, 458
Physicians-in-Charge, office days, and
nurses employed, table, 456
statistical report of patients, 464
total work of, 483
treatment at, 460
visiting nurses, 453
Typhoid fever, mortality of, 24
meeting at Pittsburg with regard to, 40
outbreak of 33
Typhoid fever at Allentown, Lehigh county, 755
Altoona, Blair county 69
Boswell, Somerset county 86
Brandywine Summit, Delaware county, 81
Bromall, Delaware county 80
Carbondale, Lackawanna county, 82
Emporium, Cameron county, 73
Fairmount City, Clarion county, 79
Hastings, Cambria county, 71
Johnstown, Cambria county, number of cases, 626
Mansfield, Tioga county, ' 88
Reading, Berks county, 160
Myerstown, Lebanon county 84
Spring City and Royersford 75
Robertsdale, Huntingdon county 81
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne (;ounty, 86
in Adams county, 68
Bradford county, 71
Carbon county, 74
Cumberland county 80
Morganza Home, Washington county 88,1243
Ijancaster county 83
Potter county, 84
deaths from 181
reported, tables, 360
epidemic at Altoona, Blair county, 1220
No. 17. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 1339
Page.
Typhoid fever at Enipoiium, Cameron county, 1221
Fleetwood, Bi-rks county, 1265
Hastings, Cambria county, 1224
Kutztown, Berks county 1259
Lititz, Lancaster county, 1236
> Reading, Berlcs county 1247
Royersford and Spring City, 1285
Union City, Erie county, application for permit to extend sewers, . . . 1095
Upland, Delaware county, application for permit to extend sewers, . . . 1100
Urine, examinations of 117
Vaccine, distiibution of 418
Verona, Allegheny county, application for permit to extend sewers, . . . 1102
Violence, deaths from, 200
Visiting nurses, tuberculosis dispensaries 453
Vital Statistics, Bureau of, 10,173
supplies furnished the 1310
Warren, B. H., Member of Advisory Committee 6
Warren, Warren county, application for permit to extend water works, 723
Water, examinations of 118
Waterford, Erie county, application for permit to extend water works, 726
Watsontown. Northumberland county, application for permit to extend
sewers 1103
Wellsboro, Tioga county, application for permit to extend sewers, . . . 1105
application for permit to extend water works, 728
Wernersville, Berks county, State Asylum for Chronic Insane, estimate
on the cost of constructing sewage disposal plant, 1205
West Reynoldsville, .Jefferson county, application for permit to install
sewers, 1107
"What the Microscope has done for Medicine," paper by S. G. Dixon,
before the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 38
White Haven, Luzerne county, decree relative to abatement of nuis-
ances caused by discharge of house drainage into street gutters, . . . 1109
Whoopingcough, deaths from 188
in Lancaster county, 67
T^ehigh county 67
Wickboro, Armstrong county, application for permit to extend sewers, 1113
Widal test, examinations by 115
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county, typhoid fever at 86
Williamson rfchool, Delaware county, application to construct sewage
disposal plant 940
scarlet fever in 60
Wilson, James C, .Jefferson Medical College, clinic of 40
Windber, Somerset county, application for permit to extend water
works, 731
Winnipeg, Manitoba, American Public Health Association meeting at, 41
Winton, Lackawanna county, application for permit to install sewers, . 1115
Womens Clubs and Aid Associations, letter of instructions with regard
to the campaign against tuberculosis sent to the secretaries of 18
Woodlawn, Hopewell township, Beaver county, application for permit
to install sewers 891
Wyalusing township, Bradford county, scarlet fever in, 57
Wyman, Walter, letter with regard to campaign against tuberculosis
from 21
Yatesboro, Armstrong county, measles at 64
Yeadon, Delaware county, decree to discontinue the discharge of
sewage into the waters of the state 1117
York, York county, application for permit to extend water purification
plant, 736
Youngwood, Westmoreland county, application for permit to Install
sewers 1110
Zelienople, Butler county, decree for extension of sewers T121
Zerbe township, Northumberland county, Trevorton, application for
permit to extend water works 742
XiU
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