Acklcn. — Water Pollution and Other Notes 149 



"In spite of the fact that there are laws which prohibit 

 the drainage of dangerous matter into public waters, there 

 exists in factories without number secret waste pipes which 

 are opened during the night, the outpourings of which are so 

 deadly to fish life that the practice of operating them can 

 only be named as dastardly. 



"We have lived under these conditions so long that we 

 are used to them. It is the old case of each for himself, 

 with no thought of the health, wealth, or happiness of those 

 farther down stream. In many beautiful streams, where 

 fishing is still possible, fishes have become uneatable through 

 tainting of their flesh. 



"Sawdust can be kept out of streams, and at a very mod- 

 erate expense. The wastes of mills can be kept on land and 

 evaporated or otherwise treated. Water containing deleteri- 

 ous substances of all kinds can be settled, cleared, filtered, 

 evaporated or purified by chemical processes. It is needless 

 at the present time to argue against this point, since engi- 

 neers everywhere understand methods of disposal suitable 

 to various conditions. It is not only possible to keep wastes 

 out of the water, but it is possible to turn them into profit 

 through valuable by-products. In many parts of Europe 

 sewage is not only kept out of the water, but valued as fer- 

 tilizer." 



At each session of the Tennessee Legislature since 1903 

 I have urged the enactment of a law to prohibit the pollu- 

 tion of our streams, the bill on this subject having been 

 carefully prepared in accordance with like laws of other 

 states, where the subject is no longer a matter of experi- 

 ment. The opposition of mill and mine owners and certain 

 manufacturers has, however, proven effective in defeating it. 



These, in brief, are some of the views I have heretofore 

 expressed on this subject; but there is one thing we must 

 bear in mind, — we cannot secure results without the cre- 

 ation of a proper public sentiment. Back of all law there 

 must be public sentiment, if that law is to be enforced; and 

 one of the highest duties that we owe to the people of this 



