49 



October, a tentative report of the latter committee on the feasibility of 

 establishini,^ standards of purity for river and waterways, was read. The 

 men cniniirisinir the connnittee have a national reputation and have given 

 much time and study to the problem, and the following extracts from their 

 report should be of interest : 



"This committee finds that on account of the increasing population of 

 the country, it is and always will be physically impossible to maintain 

 waterways in their original and natural condition of purity. A reasonable 

 degree of cleanliness should nevertheless be demanded. 



"The discharge of raw sewage into streams and harbors should not lie 

 iniiversally prohiltited by law. The method of disposal of sewage l)y 

 dilution is recognized as sound in jirinciple and safe m practice if carried 

 on with proi)er restrictions. 



"For each waterway at any given point there is a limit to the amount 

 of permissible discharge of waste matter, depending upon the use that is 

 made of the river and the character of the territory through which it 

 tiows. No universal standard of ]iurity can be wisel.v established or main- 

 tained. When the extent of the pollution is such as to affect the public 

 health in any way liy any i-casonable use of the river the sanitary aspect of 

 the situation should control and the degree of the pollution should be reg- 

 ulated accordingly. The courts must decide what is reasonable use. When 

 the extent of the pollution is siicli as to cause sensible offense to jiulilic 

 decency in the course of any reasonable use of the river, this aspect of the 

 situaticai may properly contrc-l. When the extent of pdllution is such as to 

 cause material injury to fish or shellfish industries, nr to the ice industry, 

 this element may control. When the extent of the pollutiim is such as to 

 cause th;' silting up of the channels of navigable streams, this element 

 may control. 



"Even when the demand of public health, offense to decency and inter- 

 ference with navigation are such as to place a limit to the pollution of the 

 streams the economic aspect of the case should be considered in regulating 

 the amount of permissilile discharge of waste matter, the fundamental 

 principle being that the results accomplished shall be reasonably commen- 

 surate with the cost of prevention of the pollution. 



"While no universal standard of purity applicable to all rivers and 

 waterways can be established, it is believed to be feasible to establish and 

 maintain appropriate standards of a general nature for waters that fall 

 within certain particular groupings. 



4—33213 



