48 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



cities and towns, or with corporations, firms or individuals either already having 

 or intending to introduce systems of water-supply, drainage, or sewerage, as to 

 the most appropriate source of supply, the best practicable method of assuring 

 the purity thereof or of disposing of their drainage or sewage, having regard to 

 the present and prospective needs and interests of other cities, towns, corpora- 

 tions, firms or individuals which may be affected thereby. It shall also from 

 time to time consult with and advise persons or corporations. engaged or intend- 

 ing to engage in any manufacturing or other business, drainage or sewage from 

 which may tend to cause the pollution of any inland water, as to the best prac- 

 ticable method of preventing such pollution by the interception, disposal or puri- 

 fication of such drainage or sewage; provided, that no person shall be compelled 

 to bear the expense of such consultation or advice, or of experiments made for 

 the purpose of this act. All such authorities, corporations, firms and individ- 

 uals are hereby required to give notice to said board of their intentions in the 

 premises, and to submit for its advice outlines of their proposed plans or schemes 

 in relation to water-supply and disposal of drainage and sewage; and all petitions 

 to the legislature for authority to introduce a system of water-supply, drainage 

 or sewage shall be accompanied by a copy of the recommendation and advice of 

 the said board thereon. Such board shall bring to the notice of the attorney- 

 general all instances which may come to its knowledge of omission to comply 

 with existing laws respecting the pollution of water-supplies and inland waters, 

 and shall annually report to the legisjature any specific cases not covered by the 

 provisions of existing laws which, in its opinion, call for further legislation. 



Sec. 4. In this act the term "drainage" refers to rainfall, surface- and sub- 

 soil-water only, and "sewage" refers to domestic and manufacturing filth and 

 refuse. 



Sec. 5. Chapter 274 of the acts of the year 1886 is hereby repealed, but noth- 

 ing in this act shall be construed to affect the expenditures authorized under 

 chapter 30 of the resolves of the year 1888. 



Sec. 6. This act shall take effect upon its passage. (Approved May 18, 1888.) 



A similar law is entirely possible in Kansas. The water-supply from 

 the rivers of Kansas can be rendered perfectly hygienic. It is my 

 hope that the legislature will direct the State Board of Health to — 



I. Have a general oversight of the water-supplies and sewage sys- 

 tems of the state ; 



II. Employ engineers, chemists and whatever expert assistance 

 may be necessary to make a chemical examination of the water-sup- 

 plies, who shall experiment as is necessary with sewage purification, 

 who shall establish a standard of purity for the water to be served to 

 cities and towns, and who shall advise cities and towns in regard to 

 the care of supplies already in use, and to assist them in planning 

 further supplies. 



