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water for drinking and general consumption purposes; and that the supply of water as now furnished by the aforesaid corporation is unsanitary, unhealthful, and unfit for general use; and believing that a continuation of the use of this water will prove a menace to the health of our citizens and their families, breed disease and probably result in deaths, therefore, we pray that your honorable body will, by virtue of its authority granted by law, cause an investigation of these conditions to be made, together with an analysis of the water; and require the aforesaid corporation to install such filters and provide such remedies as may be necessary to guarantee pure and wholesome water for general consumption."

The above petition signed by about 400 citizens was, with the letter of Mr. Grimmett, promptly transmitted to the secretary with the following communication:

Elkins, W. Va., August 9, 1913.

Dr. S. L. Jepson,

Secretary State Board of Health,

Wheeling, W. Va.

Dear Sir:

The inclosed communication with reference to the water supply at Hinton and Avis will explain itself. I also inclose a copy of my answer. The matter of course needs immediate attention. As we as yet have no laboratory in operation, there are three ways open to us for the analysis of this water: 1. To send it to a reliable private laboratory and pay the cost of analysis: 2. To send it to the U. S. Public Health Service Laboratory at Washington where, I believe, such work is done free by official request: 3. To send it to the University at Morgantown. The latter course appears to me to be the best. In order to save time I will send a copy of this letter to Dr. Simpson so that he will be prepared to give you a prompt answer as to whether or not they can make the examination for us. If his answer is in the affirmative, he could at once send the necessary sterile containers with perfectly plain and complete directions how to fill and seal them aseptically. However, do as you think best.

Yours very truly,

W. W. GOLDEN,

President.

Dr. Golden also sent an immediate reply to Mr. Grimmett direct, promising that the matter complained of should receive prompt attention. On receiving the above communications the secretary acted on the suggestion of Dr. Golden, and, under date of August 11, 1913, wrote to Dr. Simpson at the University urging that an analysis of this. water be made if possible. The answer received was prompt and favorable. Mr. Grimmett was also at once informed of the action taken, and was also told that if he thought “a personal visit from a member of our board would be of any advantage in the matter, one of our members would be sent to Hinton for such purpose." Professor N. J. Giddings of the University, very kindly consented to make the required examination of the water, and as soon as possible samples

25th, Professor Giddings reported to Mr. Gimmett the results of his investigation as follows:

"I have given these specimens of water the usual bacteriological tests to determine the presence of the colon bacillus (the presence of the colon bacillus is positive evidence of fecal contamination, either human or animal. Secretary). The specimens gave results as follows: No. 1 (from the city reservoir) gave a positive reaction with 1/10 cc. of water, 1 cc of water and 2 cc of water.

No. 2 (from the spigot at R. A. Foley's store in the lower part of town) gave a negative reaction with 1/10 cc of water and positive reaction with 1 cc and with 2 cc.

No. 3 (from the residence of Mr. R. S. Mann, Avis, in the upper part of the town) gave positive reaction with 1 cc and with 2 cc, and a negative reaction with 1/10 cc.

No. 4 (water taken from James' Mill Pond, water from which enters the river 100 yards above the intake pipe) gave positive reaction with 1/10 cc and 1 cc.

No. 5 (water from the river just above the intake pipe) gave positive reaction with 1 cc and 1/10 cc or water.

The report of organisms which develop readily at body heat were as follows: No. 1 had 5, No. 2 had 5 plus, No. 3 had 7, No. 4 had 151, No. 5 had 8 per cubic centimeter. Since every sample gave a positive reaction for the colon bacillus, the water supply is certainly unfit for drinking purposes unless it is boiled, or filtered through clean Berkfeld filters. The reaction was very pronounced in every case except sample No. 2, which was a little slow in showing up. I certainly hope that this information may be of some value and service to you and that action may be taken to improve the water supply.

Very truly yours,

N. J. GIDDINGS, Plant Pathologist."

On August 30th, the secretary wrote to Dr. J. E. Robins, Charleston, an experienced member of the board, expressing the desire that he "should visit Hinton and make a personal investigation with a view to our improving the water supply if it be within the power of the board to do so. We can at least suggest a remedy." Dr. Robins very kindly consented to make the suggested investigation, and on his return home sent to the secretary the following report:

Charleston, W. Va., Sept. 13, 1913.

Dr. S. L. Jepson,

Secretary State Board of Health,
Wheeling, W. Va.

Dear Sir:

At your request I visited Hinton and Avis on September 10th, for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of the impure water supply at those places. I found the following conditions to exist: The intake of water is located a short distance below the junction of the Grenbrier and New Rivers. Above this intake on the Greenbrier side is a hollow in which there is a pond liable to overflow. In this locality also are quite a number

The land between the two rivers is at two points very low so that at times of high water the New River flows over into the Greenbrier. Should typhoid fever occur in any of the families using the privies above referred to there would be grave danger of an outbreak of typhoid fever in Hinton and Avis. The present condition, therefore, while as yet not resulting in any serious disaster to the public health, is a constant menace and a potential cause of a typhoid epidemic. The water of some wells is still in use and this water should be analyzed to determine its quality. A sewerage system should be completed as early as possible, and all property owners should be compelled to make sewer connections, thus doing away with the outside vault system. I would recommend as a most urgent improvement that the intake of the water be removed up the Greenbrier river at least 3,000 feet, and much better if moved a mile.

Respectfully submitted,

J. E. ROBINS, M. D."

After receiving this communication the following letter was written:

"Wheeling, W. Va., Sept. 17, 1913.

Mr. H. Ewert,

General Manager,

Hinton Water, Light and Supply Company,
Hinton, W. Va.

My Dear Sir:

Some time ago a complaint was received from the citizens of Hinton and Avis as to the character of the water supplied by your company. I had the water analyzed, and it was found to be quite impure, and a constant menace to the health of the community. Dr. J. E. Robins, of Charleston, long a member of the State Board of Health, at my request visited your city and reported to me that the intake of your water is located below a large number of cesspools, the drainage from which must inevitably contaminate your water. Should typhoid fever occur in the families using these cesspools your town would almost certainly be visited by an outbreak of the disease. The remedy suggested is, that the intake of the water be removed up the Greenbrier river at least one-half mile. Dr. Robins thinks that this would be an effective remedy and would save your people from a possible if not probable epidemic. Typhoid fever is prevailing now quite extensively in the state, and I am sure that the information here given to you will be sufficient to insure the change suggested.

Confidently believing that there will be no further occasion for me to write to you on this very important subject, I am,

Sincerely yours,

S. L. JEPSON, Secretary State Board of Health."

The secretary has no record of any answer having been received to the above communication. As the authority of the State Board of Health to compel the correction or defects in water supply systems is extremely doubtful, we were very glad to receive the following communication from the Public Service Commission, which body does

Dr. S. L. Jepson,

Secretary State Board of Health,

Wheeling, W. Va.

My Dear Dr. Jepson:

We understand that the inhabitants of some cities and towns in this state are being supplied with unhealthy and bad quality of water and that your board is making an investigation of these conditions with a view of effecting a remedy. We desire to call the attention of your board to a part of section 10 chapter 9 of the Acts of the Legislature of 1913, which provides:

"The Commission may ascertain the quantity, healthfulness and quality of the water or quality and quantity of gas or electricity supplies by such persons, firms or corporations, and examine the methods employed, and shall have power to order such improvements as will best promote the public interest and preserve the public health."

It is the desire of the Public Service Commission to be of service to your board in any way we can to assist you in compelling any public service corporation or municipality to supply the inhabitants with pure water or to order such improvements as will best promote the public interest and preserve the public health.

We trust that where any of these bad water conditions exist or come to your attention you will not fail to call our attention to it, so that a speedy remedy may be had..

Trusting that we may be of service in this matter, we are,

Very truly yours,

The Public Service Commission,

By W. C. Kilmer, Commissioner.

Having an official intimation that the trouble at Hinton had been referred to the Public Service Commission, and believing that the State Board of Health could not enforce the necessary changes at Hinton in order to insure a pure water supply, the connection of the State Board of Health with this matter terminated on receipt of the above letter. In answer to a recent inquiry of the secretary as to the final disposition of the matter, a letter was received from the Public Service Commission under date of November 19, 1914, from which we extract the following: "Notice was served on the Hinton Water, Light and Supply Company that the matter would be taken up by the Public Service Commission for an investigation with a view of entering such orders in the matter as might appear to be proper after evidence was taken and the complaint fully investigated.

Considerable evidence was taken before the Commission on this complaint, during the taking of which Dr. J. E. Robins, a member of your board, appeared before the Commission and gave his testimony, and also rendered very valuable services to the Commission in helping to solve the problem as to what was best under the circumstances.

An order was entered by the Commission on the 3rd day of December, 1913, directing the Hinton Water, Light and Supply Company to cease and desist from supplying the water where it had its intake pipe located at that time; and further ordered that this company move its intake pipe up the Greenbrier river a distance of 3,000 feet from

and the Commission further directed that the work should be started by the Hinton Water, Light and Supply Company at once and completed by said company as rapidly as weather conditions would permit. This has been done and the company is now taking the water from the Greenbrier river at a point approximately 3,000 feet above the place where it formerly had its intake pipe located. This new location is above the nuisance pointed out to the Commission by Dr. Robins, and was, we believe, the location suggested by Dr. Robins in his testimony offered before the Commission."

On September 15th, 1913, the council of the town of Rowlesburg made complaint to the secretary as follows: "We have our intake well on a stream in the corporation called 'Salt Lick.' The B. & 0. Railroad Company has two sewers emptying their contents of filth from four shops and other houses into this stream. There are five cases of typhoid fever in houses that, from the nature of the drainage of the property, will allow all filth to find its way to one of these sewers. We must have these conditions changed. Can you assist us in having this done? Several months have elapsed since we requested the B. & O. Railroad Company to apply a remedy."

The secretary answered this communication, saying that while "not yet quite sure as to the extent of the board's authority in such matters, but will carefully look up the law on the subject and address a letter to the B. & O. Railroad Company on the matter complained of."

On September 26th a letter was sent to Mr. C. W. Galloway, general manager B. & O. Railroad Company, stating the facts in the above case, and remarking that, "from this state of things you will of course understand that there is grave danger of a local outbreak of typhoid fever in the town. I am quite sure that all I need do is to call these facts to your attention to have your company so change the sewers referred to as to have their contents discharged below the intake of the water supply."

An answer was promptly received promising that the matter "would be given immediate attention."

On February 6th, 1914, another communication was received from the town of Rowlesburg, stating that the B. & O. Railroad Company had taken no action in the matter complained of.

On receipt of this information an urgent communication was sent to General Manager Galloway, insisting on immediate action in the matter, and closing thus: "I am quite sure that it is not the wish of the B. & O. Railroad Company to endanger the health and lives of the people of Rowlesburg, and I suspect that your orders in the above case have not been complied with. Will you kindly attend to the matter immediately, and inform me as to the result of your action." Manager Galloway replied under date of February 13th, 1914, saying: "This matter has not been overlooked, but as the improvement involves an expenditure of $953.00, you will appreciate that it is quite a large one. We are assembling the material and the work will be

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