The health officer, Dr. Zoller, then secured samples of water from a village tap from the reservoir and from the stream supplying the reservoir at the point of the intake, and requested Secretary Smelzer to cause to be made an official chemical analysis of the water. On August 18th Dr. Tucker of the State Board of Health reported such chemical analyses, and these disclosed no unusual amounts of organic matter in two of the samples. The third sample was slightly in excess in amount of free ammonia which good water should show. These apparently conflicting reports led to further action by the secretary and his determination to have the watershed examined.

Fort Plain is a village of about 2800 inhabitants, compactly built, located on the south bank of the Mohawk river. The flat lands of the valley at this point are rather limited in area and the subsoil is mostly a very porous gravel. The hill slopes on the south are sharp. The village is supplied with a sewer system devised by a competent engineer and is understood to be satisfactory. Five or six years ago the public water supply, then in use, was limited in quantity, and the village undertook the project of a new supply. The result was the one now in use. The source of supply is a branch of the Garoga creek, which discharges into the Mohawk river about two miles northwest of Fort Plain. The branch in question was tapped at a point some seven miles northerly of the village. A wooden dam was built across the stream. An intake well, properly screened, is provided. An eight-inch iron pipe leads from this well down the valley of the branch and the main stream, Garoga creek, to a point half a mile north of the village, where the distributing reservoir is located on a hill. The distribution system is supplied from this reservoir, or it can be fed directly from the main pipe, the reservoir water being cut out. It is claimed that the pressure on the village mains is insufficient and the main supply pipe from the intake itself is too small to maintain a full reservoir. On the day of our inspection it was half full, but the water was said to be flowing direct from the intake to the village and the reservoir water was cut out.

The reservoir, when full, may flow about four acres.

Its site is a swale with gentle slopes and a dam of earth with paved inside slopes across the swale, and extending from either end of it is a continuation of the embankment, unpaved, up the swale. From the foot of the side embankments the bottom of the reservoir slopes gently towards its center, so that the water is shallow over the greater portion of the reservoir. Being only half full of water, these slopes, on the day of my visit, had a rank growth of grass and weeds over most of their surface. This vegetation would, of course, be submerged and drowned by filling the reservoir. If this occurs each autumn, it is reasonable to suppose that the reservoir bottom has considerable decayed vegetation on it. The shallow water at the shores disclosed large numbers of pollywogs. The mud bore the footprints of cows and horses and the latter, three or four in number, were grazing in the reservoir enclosure. The fence bordering the adjoining meadow, now pasturing cattle, was broken and a panel of it removed, so that the cattle could have free access to the reservoir.

This condition of things indicates a total disregard of even the ordinary precautions which should be taken to keep pure a public water supply. The local board of health should promptly order the reservoir disconnected from the system and kept out of use until it is put in proper shape for the storage of water. The reservoir bottom should be dug out and removed. The slopes of the impounding banks, both where they are artificial or made banks, and in excavation or natural banks, should be made steeper, giving a slope of at least three to one, and carried down so as to give deeper water all over the reservoir. The banks should be paved and the vegetation would have less opportunity to grow.

The intake pipe taps the stream in a pasture. The dam impounds the water, making a pond about six feet deep at the dam, perhaps 60 feet wide and 300 feet long. The shores of the pond bear every evidence of its being the drinking and lounging place for cattle.

From the intake, we examined the watershed to the sources of the stream. For a mile up the stream it flows through pasture lands or meadows which are used as pastures in the dry season. The valley then becomes narrow, and precipitous wooded slopes bound the stream. The stream here divides. The main or north branch from the north is through a rocky gorge and rises from springs half a mile further up. Its flow is very uniform and apparently is a pure stream of water without contamination.

The smaller branch flows from the west, and at a point about half a mile from the junction it is dammed, and the pond thus formed is said to cover 40 acres when full. At the time of our visit it looked like a large swamp. Stagnant pools of water were visible, though the main stream had some motion.

By direction of Secretary Smelzer I secured three samples of the water and expressed them to the Bender hygienic laboratory at Albany, requesting a bacteriological examination. One sample was from a running fountain in Fort Plain. One sample was from a point in the pond directly at the intake pipe, and the third sample was from the stream a mile above the intake but below the junction of the north and south branches of the stream, so that it probably contained some water from the swamp or pond on the south branch. The report of Professor Blumer of the Bender laboratory follows:

ALBANY, N. Y., September 14, 1900

CAMPBELL W. ADAMS, Utica, N. Y.:

Dear Sir-I have concluded the bacteriological examination of the Fort Plain drinking water and herewith submit my report on the same.

Specimen No. 1, from the pond of water just at the intake. Number of bacteria to the cubic centimeter on agar-agar plates 20,000; on gelatin plates 10,000; average 15,000 to the cubic centimeter. With Theobald Smith's test all of 10 tubes inoculated showed gas formation, and in three of these the amount of gas is between 40 and 50 per cent, and the medium has an acid reaction.

Specimen No. 2, taken from the same stream, a mile further up its course. Number of bacteria to the cubic centimeter on agar plates 25,000; gelatin 58,000; average 41,500. With Theo

bald Smith's test each one of 10 tubes inoculated with 1 c. c. of water showed gas formation. Two of these tubes showed an acid reaction and between 40 and 50 per cent of gas.

Specimen No. 3, from a drinking fountain in Fort Plain. Number of colonies per cubic centimeter on agar plates 30,000; on gelatin plates 60,000; average 45,000. With Theobald Smith's test all of 10 tubes inoculated showed gas formation, and three of these showed an acid reaction and between 40 and 50 per cent of gas.

The bacteria present in all these samples of water are the same, large numbers of the bacillus coli communis and the bacillus proteus vulgaris being present, besides the ordinary water bacteria.

Remarks Judging from the excessively high bacterial count and the presence of the colon and proteus bacilli this water is entirely unfit for drinking purposes. The bacterial count alone would condemn it, but the presence of the colon and proteus must be considered absolute evidences of serious organic contamination. The typhoid bacillus was not isolated from the water, but this could hardly be expected considering the presence of such large numbers of colon bacilli.

Respectfully submitted.

GEORGE BLUMER

It will be seen that Professor Blumer condemns the water for potable purposes, because of the large number of bacilli and the noted presence of the colon and the proteus bacilli. The presence of gas denotes putrefaction, and these bacilli mentioned indicate contamination by the droppings of cattle. But Prof. George C. Hodges, of Utica, bacteriologist for the Utica water works company, pointed out to me that the examination did not reveal any pathogenic bacilli, and the disclosed presence even in quantities of the colon bacillus did not predicate unhealthy water as they are found in the intestines of healthy animals.

The water, however, would be better without them, for they show contamination which, to public sentiment, is obnoxious.

I have detailed the observed conditions surrounding or affecting the water supply and they certainly indicate an unsatisfactory water now being furnished the people of Fort Plain. I have indicated the means that might be adopted to better it. On the surface it appears that the water from the north creek is unpol

luted, and it could be used as the only source of supply. To determine whether its quality is all right and the minimum flow produces a quantity sufficient, is the duty of the Fort Plain water board.

In conclusion permit the suggestion, that the State Board of Health is justified in taking positive action, and I would suggest the following:

Whereas, The report of Campbell W. Adams, one of our consulting engineers, in the matter of the public water supply of the village of Fort Plain, N. Y., reveals a condition affecting the source of supply that is sure to pollute it above the intake, and, an inexcusable negligence in the care of the water after collection, therefore,

Resolved, That the State Board of Health, with a due regard for the public health of the people of Fort Plain, does hereby condemn the further use of its present public water supply in its - present condition, and advises that immediate steps be taken by the local authorities to remedy the matter.

Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolution, with a copy of Mr. Adams' report, be sent to the local board of health of Fort Plain.'

Respectfully submitted.

CAMPBELL W. ADAMS Consulting engineer State Board of Health

ALBANY, December 3, 1900

WILLIAM ZOLLER, Health officer, Fort Plain, N. Y.:

Dear Sir-At a meeting of this Board, held November 14, 1900, the report of C. W. Adams, upon his examination of the watershed of the water supply of the village of Fort Plain was submitted, and the following resolution adopted:

Resolved, That the suggestions and resolutions contained in the report become the resolutions of this Board, and that the suggestions therein contained be complied with.

In compliance with the resolutions adopted, a copy of the report of Mr. Adams is herewith enclosed, with the request that you