From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this item regarding streams in West Virginia. The item is dated September 11, 1925.

Warning Is Issued to State Tourists

Warning was issued Wednesday by officials of the state health department for tourists in West Virginia and to residents generally to be careful of the source of supply from which they may obtain their drinking water.

The drought in the state has caused numerous streams and wells to dry up, thus rendering persons liable to typhoid, which already has reached huge proportions, even beyond that of former years.

The typhoid germ, under such conditions, can easily breed, owing not only to safe wells becoming dry, but from low water in streams being unable to wash sewage and refuse away from communities.

Incidentally when rain does come, officials pointed out that precautions must be taken as the accumulated refuse and sewage which ordinarily is taken away gradually will be removed en-masse and often is thrown by high water upon banks to be left there after the waters recede.

E.S. Tisdale, chief sanitary engineer of the department, announced that his division is working out a system of seals which the officials plan to put on all safe water supplies for the benefit of tourists and residents. This system is similar to that of Ohio, which is called the “seal of safety,” and has been in successful effect in that state for a year. Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania also are employing the same method to insure safe water.

The season is so late, however, that it is not likely the drive to mark all safe water supplies will be put into effect before spring of next year.

The drought is not only causing disease menace but is causing the trees to die, thus creating fire menace in the forests and thousands of fish are dying in the streams for lack of water.