PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES. 47 



New York city has carefully examined its watershed, and has recently 

 extended its examinations to include sources of water-supply within 

 fifty miles of the city. Ohio began such work in 1897; Illinois has 

 been engaged on a chemical survey for a number of years; and con- 

 siderable work has been done by the cities of Chicago and St. Louis. 

 Other states have also made examinations, and in many cases have 

 established a standard of purity for the state. All water intended for 

 municipal use must conform to this standard. Michigan and Iowa 

 are examples. 



Since geological conditions vary, it is necessary for each state to 

 deal with its own problems, and sometimes, as in Kansas, the probh m 

 must be worked out for different sections of the state. The chlorine 

 standard for the watersheds of southeasterm Kansas will not answer 

 for the valley of the Kansas river. 



As I have said before, the control of the water-supply should be in 



the hands of the state, and since Massachusetts has done the most 



work and the best work in solving the problens discussed, I will quote 



the law passed in that state in 1888, entitled 



An Act to protect the purity of inland waters, and to require consultation with 

 the State Board of Health regarding the establishment of systems of water- 

 supply, drainage, and sewerage. 



Section 1. The State Board of Health shall have the general oversight and 

 care of all inland waters, and shall be furnished with maps, plans and docu- 

 ments suitable for this purpose, and records of all its doings in relation thereto 

 shall be kept. It may employ such engineers and clerks and other assistants as 

 it may deem necessary; provided, that no contracts or other acts which involve 

 the payment of money from the treasury of the commonwealth shall be made or 

 done without an appropriation expressly made therefor by the general court. It 

 shall annually, on or before the 10th day of January, report to the general court 

 its doings in the preceding year, and at the same time submit estimates of the 

 Bums required to meet the expenses of said board in relation to the care and 

 oversight of inland waters for the ensuing year, and it shall also recommend 

 legislation and suitable plans for such systems of main sewers as it may deem 

 necessary for the preservation of the public health, and for the purification and 

 prevention of pollution of the ponds, streams and inland waters of the common- 

 wealth. 



Sec. 2. Said board shall, from time to time, as it may deem expedient, cause 

 examinations of the said waters to be made for the purpose of ascertaining 

 whether the same are adapted for use as sources of domestic water-supplies or 

 are in a condition likely to impair the interests of the public or persons lawfully 

 using the same or imperil the public health. It shall recommend measures for 

 prevention of the pollution of such waters and for removal of substances and 

 causes of every kind which may be liable to cause pollution thereof, in order to 

 protect and develop the rights and property of the commonwealth therein and to 

 protect the public health. It shall have authority to conduct experiments to de- 

 termine the best practicable methods of purification of drainage and sewage or 

 disposal of the same. For the purpose aforesaid, it may employ such expert 

 assistance as may be necessary. 



Sec. 3. It shall from time to time consult with and advise the authorities of 



