"We consider, from our examination, that the danger of a typhoid epidemic from infection of our water supply is not probable at this time."
Such is the first and principal conclusion of the Chamber of Commerce committee of medical experts appointed to examine the Cedar river watershed.
The committee is composed of Dr. Park Weed Willis, Dr. Ossian J. West and Dr. Grant Calhoun. It visited the entire watershed, accompanied by City Engineer A. H. Dimock, Dr. Eugene R. Kelly, state commissioner of health, and Dr. C. F. Davidson, chief medical inspector, representing the city commissioner of health.
The report of the committee, which yesterday was submitted to President J. D. Lowman, of the chamber, takes up the sanitary conditions of each district in detail. Where the investigators found anything amiss they have reported it carefully.
Their conclusions are, first, that the danger of a typhoid infection at present is improbable, and, second, that there are places in the watershed where there is opportunity for pollution.
The committee makes the following recommendations for the better safeguarding of the watershed:
"That the city commissioner of health be given absolute authority on sanitary matters within the watershed.
"That such financial arrangements be made that the commissioner of health will be able to meet the exigencies of service without the necessity of negotiating with other city departments.
"That no kind of industrial work, city or private, be undertaken anywhere in the watershed without a permit having first been issued by the commissioner of health of Seattle. It is also urged that in addition to this the burden be placed on the commissioner of health to take the initiative and see that everything is properly located, clean and sanitary.
"That no person should be allowed within the watershed, even on the railway right-of-way, without a permit from the commissioner of health and every effort should be used to discourage the use of any part of the watershed as a public highway or resort.
"That a resident medical supervisor be placed at camps 1 and 2, with power to take summary action against workmen or other offenders against the sanitary rules.
"That to insure efficiency of service the duties of the representatives of the health department be limited to the sanitation of the watershed.
"That the sanitary supervision of the watershed be such that residents within that area will feel themselves under constant surveillance.
"That a physician representing the commissioner of health should visit, at suitable intervals, and report in reference to every activity in the watershed after personal examination and that proper maps showing location and details of every activity in this area should be kept in the health department, with those reports appended.
"That the proposed logging on Cedar lake should be done only under the strictest sanitary control.
"That regardless of expense, impounding or storage of the city water should ultimately be accompilshed, such storage to be attained before the water reaches the city mains."