246 THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



clusively during that time. (Report of State Board of Health for 

 1896.) 



I could cite other instances, some of them from our own county, 

 and which have been under my own observation, but the case I stated 

 is typical of all the others. And, indeed, it carries a practical argu- 

 ment along in itself strong enough to convince the most skeptical. 



I may add that a oontamination of surface or artesian wells from 

 the use of sewage for irrigation is practically impossible. The disin- 

 fecting action of the soil is so energetic that, a short distance under 

 the surface, all organic matter will have been converted into plant- 

 food, or at least rendered harmless by decomposition. 



To sum up, I will state: 



1st. That no well-founded objection can be raised against the 

 use of the city's sewage for irrigation, provided that the few simple 

 simple precautions to which I have alluded above, will be taken. 



2d. That no obnoxious gases (or vapors, or smells,), sufficient to 

 annoy the neighbors, will be created by its use. 



3d. That the use of the sewage for irrigation cannot possibly 

 endanger anybody's health. 



4th. That the possible leakage of some sewage into Mill Creek 

 zanja, cannot, under existing circumstances, influence, or change for 

 the worse, the present sanitary condition of its waters. 



5th. That no seepage of a dangerous nature, through the sub- 

 soils into wells can take place from using common sewage for irriga- 

 tion; neither from the irrigated land nor from Mill Creek zanja. 



