than bankrupt when she needlessly wastes her most valuable asset, human lives. I am truly sorry to have to speak as I have, and I hope that if I have injured any one's feelings I will be pardoned upon the realization that the only reason I have done so is to bring before you, as strongly as possible, the seriousness of the situation.

It has been my experience that when the women of a community are aroused to action there is nothing that they can not accomplish, and I know that your present interest prophesies better things for Wheeling and means that the end of this needless wastage of life is already in sight.

MORGANTOWN-HEALTH EXHIBIT

The nucleus of a new health exhibit consisting of both stationary and mechanical models, which had been designed in the offices of this Division was shown at Farmer's Week, January 7-10 at Morgantown, and during that time a sanitary engineer was in constant attendance with the exhibit explaining the features of rural sanitation depicted by the models of safe and unsafe wells, good and bad farms and those showing various methods of sewage disposal. Opportunity was offered to meet and discuss features of sanitation with many of the county agricultural agents who are effective workers to better farm conditions.

FLOOD SANITATION-CHARLESTON

The Elk River experienced a very rapid rise on March 14th, 1918 with the result that parts of the city of Charleston, especially along the West Side of the city and Magazine Hollow were badly flooded. In some places the water was fifteen and twenty feet deep in the streets. The parts of the city most badly inundated depended upon wells for their water supply, and it was deemed essential that proper care should be given to the disinfection of these when the waters subsided. A reconnaissance of the situation was made in a canoe and the flooded sections visited. The city water plant was also put out of commission by the flood waters and much time and attention were given to the question of proper treatment of the water supply to insure a safe water for Charleston. From the results of the v sit to the flooded sections, recommendations for remedial action were made to the City Health Commissioner.

HINTON-PRESSURE FILTERS

On account of the fact that the pressure filter installation for the Hinton Water and Light Company was not entirely satisfactory, an engineer from this Division visited Hinton to look over the equipment which had been installed. The devices for introducing the chemicals into the water in order that proper purification might be effected were not satisfactory and the water company was advised by our Division to withhold their last payment until the installation was made satisfactory. Later a conference was held between an engineer from this Division and a representative of the filtration company and equipment meeting our reuirments was installed.

KANAWHA FALLS SCHOOLHOUSE SANITATION

A striking example of the need of better schoolhouse sanitation was afforded by the visit of an engineer to Kanawha Falls to investigate conditions, complaints of which had been sent to the State Superintendent of Schoo's. This school house in which thirty or more pupils met, was an old ramshackle building. The floor was so badly worn that it was impossible to keep it clean, the insanitary privies joined directly onto the building at the back, and the odor from them at times was almost intolerable. The building was open to the weather through cracks in the boards in places and many of the window panes were gone. It was no fit place for animals to stay and certainly not for young school children. Our Division recommended to the Commissioner of Health that the building be condemned.

SWIMMING POOL SANITATION

During the past year work has been commenced on examination of the swimming pools in public buildings and Y. M. C. A's. in different parts of the state. Charleston and Parkersburg have now been investigated. A new refiltration system has been installed at the Y. M. C. A. in Charleston and the authorities in charge requested our cooperation in keeping the pool in good condition. Both bacteriological and chemical analyses of the pool water were made and the result of the carrying out of suggestions from this Division was that progressive improvement was shown in the quality of the water. It was deemed wise to use a small amount of hypochlorite of lime two or three times a week in conjunction with the filtration process. This assured a safe water at all times.

Investigation of the pool at the Y. M. C. A. in Parkersburg showed it to be kept in excellent condition. City water is used here and the pool refilled each day. In this way a water of good quality is assured but considerable waste of water results. It was suggested to the authorities that the installation of a refiltration system be considered.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Until the recommendations made in the 1915-1916 report can be adopted, it seems inadvisable to offer further suggestions for the Division. One of the most important things is to secure state supervision of water supplies and sewerage systems. The necessity for this is commented upon of some length on page 290 et sequa of the report already mentioned. I still feel that it is of great importance to divide the state into sanitary districts and nothing that has occurred since the above mentioned report was written has caused me to modify the districting suggested in that report. No better illustration of the necessity for this can be offered than the experience of typhoid at Elkins. Here a severe epidemic of the disease was in full swing and yet our Charleston office had no knowledge of the fact until one of our engineers happened to overhear some passing comment on the subject.

We are continually encountering just such conditions where epidemics have reached serious proportions without the main office having the slightest inkling that anything out of the ordinary is happening. Again we have frequently encountered water supplies that have been installed without adequate engineering knowledge or without the slightest thought to its sanitary quality. Even if we

could not have a law requiring the submitting of plans and specifications to the State Department of Health, a district engineer would probably learn of these projects in ample time to prevent any foolish steps being taken. This statement applies with even greater force to sewers that as designed can never be anything but a menace to public comfort and safety.

One recommendation, however, I do deem essential, and that is that all bottled water supplies sold in West Virginia shall be required to have a license before they can be put upon the market. The license should be based on the sanitary analysis of the water and this analysis should be made at some reputable laboratory within the state of West Virginia. I could numerate a number of bottled waters that are far from being safe and yet we have no way of controlling them. In mind at the present writing is one supply that comes from a spring in a barn cellar, yet this water is bottled and has a big sale on account of its delightful taste. A certificate backed by an analysis would obivate the danger from such supplies.

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Division of Sanitary Engineering appears to gain ground steadily in confidence of the public. I think the citizens of West Virginia have come to recognize in the Division of Sanitary Engineering, an organization devised to give them a maximum of genuine conscientious service.

Below is presented a summary of field work.

Respectfully submitted,

DIVISION OF SANITARY ENGINEERING,

MAYO TOLMAN, Director.

FIELD WORK

Summersville-July 2-6. Imhoff tank for disposal of sewage at county buildings constructed. Designs drawn up in offices of Division of Sanitary Engineering. Dunbar-July 3. Liquid chlorine apparatus installed for disinfection of water supplied Dunbar by Dunbar Land Co.

Widen-July 12. Sanitary Survey of Railroad water supply.

Gassaway-July 14. Installation of emergency chlorinating apparatus at pump station, Gassaway.

Gassaway-July 12-17. Typhoid epidemic investigation control measures

taken.

Broad Oaks-July 19. Inspection Broad Oaks chlorinating apparatus.

Charleston-July 20. Visit to Walnut Hill Spring, source of private bottled water supply.

Morgantown-July 19-20. Visit to State Hygienic Laboratory and conferences with State Chemist regarding methods of water supply control.

Kingwood-July 20. Investigation of Kingwood water supply and conference with company reimprovements. Sample from deep well for Railroad Water Supply certification taken.

Rowlesburg-July 20. Investigation of Rowlesburg water supply.

Raw

water from Cheat River used for drinking. Chlorination urged to City Council. Terra Alta-July 21. Investigation of Terra Alta water supply. Changes at reservoir and spring recommended for safeguarding quality of supply. Investigation made also of water supply at State Tuberculosis Sanatorium.

Hendricks July 22. Investigation of Hendricks water supply. Mountain springs and polluted run, sources of water. Use of polluted run ordered discontinued.

Harmon-July 23. Investigation of Harmon water supply. Gravity supply from stream.

Parsons-July 24. Investigation of Parsons water supply. Raw water from Shaver's creek. Potentially dangerous. Chlorination recommended.

Elkins-July 24-25. Inspection and adjustment of chlorinating machine at pump station.

Roaring Creek Junction-July 25. Water sample for railroad certification collected from Artesian well.

Grafton-July 25. Conference with mayor re-installation of liquid chlorine apparatus. Machine to be put in at once.

Also

Cairo-July 25. Water sample for railway certification collected. samples from hotel well and other private sources for bacteriological examination. East Bank and Gauley Bridge-July 26. Railroad water supplies investigated at Gauley Bridge, Gauley. Conference with Mayor of East Bank regarding

water container.

Loma-August 5-8. Typhoid fever outbreak investigation-mining camp camp due to bad well. Control measure by vaccination, clean up of camp and disinfection of wells.

Dunbar-August 6. Investigation of small outbreak of typhoid.

Ramage-August 8-10. Typhoid fever prevalence at Spruce River Coal Mining Camp studied; control steps taken condemning open wells; new drilled wells to be substituted. Camp in excellent sanitary condition.

Bluefield-August 12. Nuisance due to open sewer.

Princeton-August 13. Preliminary investigation of typhoid completed by Dr. H. B. Wood.

Gassaway-August 13. Studied secondary case outbreak of fever among families initially infected from bad city water. Chlorinating plant now renders city water safe.

Shepherdstown-August 14. Preliminary investigation of new filter plant.
Broad Oaks-August 15. Conference in regard to proposed filter plant.
West Union-August 16. Conference in regard to proposed filter plant for

municipal water supply.

Stealy Heights-August 17. Investigation of operation of chlorinating plant. Piedmont-August 18. Conference in regard to chlorination of municipal supply and inspection of emergency plant. Wheeling-August 20. regard to chlorination.

Wellsburg-August 22.

Conference with city manager and city engineer in

Examination of plans for proposed sewarage system. Pennsboro-August 23. General insanitary conditions due to open sewer investigated. Recommended Imhoff tank treatment for disposal of wastes when new sewer line is laid.

West Union-August 24. Plane table survey made at pump station with view to design of mechanical filtration plant.

Ivaton-August 30. Outbreak of typhoid fever in mining camp investigated. Closed bad wells, took up vaccine treatment and had community cleaned up. Petersburg-August 30-31. Examination of proposed layout for liquid chlorine installation-apparatus delayed in shipment so was unable to make installation.

Parkersburg-September 5. Conference in regard to condition of the city water supply.

Wheeling September 5-6. Conferences with city authorities regarding water supply situation.

Wheeling September 6. Further conference in regard to chlorination of municipal water supply.

Broad Oak-September 7. Further conference in regard to municipal filter plant.

Pennsboro-September 7. Meeting with mayor and city council in regard to sewer to relieve nuisance.

Weirton-September 7. Investigation of water supply and general sanitation. Conferences with medical chief, engineer, and welfare officers of Phillips Sheet and Tin Plate Company regarding treatment of water with chlorine.

Kenova-September 19. Examination of municipal water supply and chlorinating plant.

Sistersville-September 24. Conference with water superintendent in regard to new filter plants and their operation.

West Union-September 25. Conference with Mayor and Council in regard to proposed filter plant.

Shepherdstown-September 26. Conference with officials of water company to urge use of chlorinating plant.

Lewisburg-October 3. Investigation city water supply. Obtained consent of City Council to order chlorinating plant for immediate shipment.

Ronceverte-October 4. Water supply investigation. Chlorinating plant operation inspected.