Excerpted from the April, 1914 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
The following General Order, issued by General Manager, H.0. Dunkle, of the Erie Railroad Lake Line, to ships of the fleet, is based upon a report made by Dr. A. J. McLaughlin of Public Health Service, Washington, D.C., member of International Joint Commission on pollution of waters of the Great Lakes, and represents the first step taken by any company or organization along the lines suggested by the report. In this respect the Erie Railroad is at least one year ahead of any other line.

General Manager Dunkle's order reads:
To Masters and Chief Engineers:
The report of the International Joint Commission on the pollution of the waters of the Great Lakes discloses a degree of pollution totally unsuspected and, over extensive areas, highly dangerous. These areas are largely affected by concentration of floating traffic and by off-shore winds distributing sewage.

The health and welfare of the officers and crews of the ships of the Erie Railroad Lake Line is a matter of deep concern to its management and with a view to guarding against contaminated supplies the following areas are to be considered as prohibited.

The health of the ship's company is fully as important as the safety of the ship and her cargo and the supervision of the water supply will be the care of the master exclusively and cannot be delegated by him to anyone. Isolated sources of supply and methods of distribution have been or will be provided, and under no circumstances will the tanks be filled from or through any other. The sea-cock will be kept locked and the key in the possession of the master. When the water is to be taken the master will give, or send, the key to the engineer on duty, who will personally see that the sea-connection is thoroughly boiled out, by means of the steam connection provided for the purpose, for at least five (5)-minutes before opening sea-cock. The engineer will also personally close and lock the sea-cock and return the key to master.

Water tanks are to be thoroughly cleaned and scrubbed out with a strong caustic solution at least once in each month and the solution drained and flushed all through the distribution service. Except in case of fire, buckets or other vessels are not to be dipped into tanks, and every effort is to be made to keep them free from contamination.

In taking water masters will exercise due caution with regard to ships ahead and haul courses if necessary to clear their wake.

Drinking cups or vessels used in common should be thoroughly boiled at frequent intervals or discarded, and the use of water buckets as containers for drinking water should be discouraged as far as possible. When used in fire holds they should be boiled out frequently with the steam hose.

Natural ice is not to be taken aboard under any circumstances unless artificial is unobtainable and then only when its source is clearly known and satisfactory, and in quantity only sufficient for immediate needs. Ice boxes should be thoroughly scrubbed out after any such supply. No ice at all is preferable to a supply of doubtful quality.

The question of pure water is of vital importance to every one on the ship and the report referred to provides an authoritative explanation of the numerous outbreaks of typhoid and other disease, caused by impure water or ice, afloat as well as ashore in the affected areas. Neglect of these precautions may have serious consequences, and for their interest, all should, and it is hoped will, co-operate as far as possible.

The following areas will be strictly avoided as sources of supply:

Lake Superior.
Duluth to abreast Two Harbors and with or after S.W. to N.W. winds Duluth to abreast of Sand Island.

Soo River and Approaches.
Whitefish Point to abreast Spectacle Reef.

Lake Huron
Fifteen miles outside Ft. Gratiot light. With or after strong W. to N. W. winds Pt. Aux Barques to St. Clair River unless at least ten miles off shore.

Lake Michigan and Straits.
West or south of a point at least twelve miles off Milwaukee on Pt. Betsey course. With S. to N.W. winds twenty-five miles off Milwaukee. Beaver Island to Spectacle Reef. If following west shore at least ten miles off shore. With fresh S.E. to N.E. winds water may be taken under necessity only, between Milwaukee and Chicago not less than ten miles off shore.

River and Lake St. Clair and Detroit River and Approaches.
Fifteen miles above Ft. Gratiot light to twelve miles east of Southeast Shoal Lightship. With or after brisk S.W. to N.W. winds to twenty-five miles east of S.E. Shoal.

Lake Erie.
Entire westerly end of Lake Erie to East of S.E. Shoal, as above. Pt. Abino to Buffalo. At least six miles off south shore and with or after S. to S.W. winds at least twelve miles. Area south of line drawn from Kelley's Island to twelve miles off Erie is unsafe at any time.

The foregoing areas are designated with reference to existing or probable courses used by the ships of this fleet.
H. 0. DUNKLE,
General Manager H. PENTON,
Superintending Engineer

From the November, 1914 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
In the April Magazine was presented a comprehensive plan for the safeguarding of water supplies aboard the lake ships which had been worked out by the management of the Erie Railroad Lake Line and which, at least, as regards the areas from which supplies are to be taken, has been adopted by the Lake Carriers' Association.

The "Marine Review" recently addressed an inquiry to the management as to the working of the system which has brought forth the following interesting letters from the officers of the ships of the fleet which have been in commission this season. These letters certainly speak volumes in appreciation and the freedom from sickness resulting from the adoption of the system, as compared with former years, fully justifies all the efforts put forth.

It will be borne in mind that the methods employed, in addition to prescribing carefully worked out safe areas, include entirely independent sources of supply and means for distribution as well as for sterilizing sea-cocks and tankage. Moreover, in order that no possibility might exist of drawing drinking water from a possible contaminated supply, the entire tankage, supplying not only exclusively drinking and cooking water, but baths and lavatories as well, are filled from the same source. Toilets are supplied from an entirely separate closed system which has no other outlets.

The management advises that the shortage of tankage referred to in the case of one ship has been already rectified. That the example set by the Erie line, now that it has been proven a success, will be extensively followed may be taken for granted.

July 18, 1914. Dear Sir:
Replying to yours regarding water supply have to say that the tanks on this ship are ample with one exception, that is, the one which supplies the bath and lavatories in firemen's and deckhands' house. This should be larger to avoid taking water at other times than when the rest of the tanks are filled.

As to the value of the system; it is inestimable. Our supply is now taken altogether on Lake Huron crossing Saginaw Bay and on Lake Huron on the course between Pt. Betsey and Milwaukee with the result that our table water looks equal to any filtered or bottled spring water furnished to the trade. I attribute a goodly proportion of this to the independent sea-cock and hose system installed last winter in this line.
Yours respectfully,
Chas. D. Ross, Master, Str. F.D. Underwood.

July 18, 1914. Dear Sir:
In reply to your letter with reference to the fresh water system will say, that if carried out, it will, in my opinion, always stand as one of the greatest improvements ever made aboard ship, as regards the welfare of the personnel. I am not well enough informed to how the causes of cramps, diarrhoea, typhoid, etc., so often prevalent, but it seems to me that with the provision now made for pure drinking water, they cannot at least be attributed to that source.

One of the conditions which I believe might well be applied to the "Safety First" movement is personal cleanliness, both internally and externally and the opportunity for such. With the present method of providing and caring for drinking water, this company has certainly made a long step in advance, in that particular, towards Safety First."

The supply on this ship is ample for all purposes with ordinary stay in port with the exception of the firemen's and seamen's bath. Their tank is too small for the number of men served. An improvement could be made in the tank covers and service pipe. Yours truly,
Aug. Nagelvoort, Chief Engr., Str. F.D. Underwood.

July 18. 1914. Dear Sir:
The system for supplying drinking water on this ship is a great improvement for the reason that it is independent of everything else and gives us water as pure as it can be had. The tankage is ample for all needs and cannot be any better. Yours truly,
John C. Clarke, Master, Str. Delos W. Cooke.

July 17, 1914. Dear Sir:
Regarding fresh water supply, our tanks are ample for about four days in port. The water is always pure. The system works 0.K. and is all that could be desired to insure pure water for drinking and cooking purposes. Yours truly,
Chas. R. Ogg, Chief Engr., Str. Delos W. Cooke.

July 26, 1914. Dear Sir:
The fresh water supply on Str. Brownell is as near perfect as is possible to obtain without filtering or distilling, which, with our source of supply would not improve the water any.

We have sufficient tankage to last eight days in warm weather. We fill our tanks on Lake Michigan westbound and on Lake Huron eastbound, but take no water from Lake Erie. Yours truly,
C. W. Watson, Master, Str. Geo. F. Brownell.

July 26, 1914. Dear Sir:
Regarding fresh water system installed in this ship last winter would say that the conditions are greatly improved both in quality and quantity. The water is clear and as pure as I have ever used or seen, and on trip two the tanks were filled on Lake Huron east bound and lasted until we got back to Lake Huron again, having been in Buffalo four days and stopping at Fairport both ways, making nearly eight days. There has been no sickness this year so far and that alone is proof of better water than we have had in previous years. Respectfully yours,
L.A. Bradshaw, Chief Engineer, Str. Brownell.

July 21, 1914. Dear Sir:
Referring to the fresh water supply on Owego I beg to advise you that our new system is giving the best of satisfaction. With the addition of our new tanks we are able to carry from ten to twelve days' supply which enables us to take our supply from the very best waters of the lakes. I feel that our system is a great improvement over the old method of filling tanks, and this line has taken a step in advance of all other lines in safeguarding against impure water. Yours truly,
Geo. W. Moore, Master, Str. Owego.

July 22, 1914. Dear Sir:
In regard to our fresh water supply and tank capacity of Owego, I must say it is a big improvement over the old method of supplying and keeping water. I know positively that by using the same pump and sea cock for general service and for filling tanks that in places like Buffalo, Milwaukee, Cleveland or Chicago, where you have occasion to use the same pump it cannot be kept in a sanitary condition as it handles more or less oil, sewage and other impurities from the harbor, which will adhere to pipes, valves and even more so to the rubber hose which is more or less harmful to the crew.

So with these improvements I know conditions will be more healthful, as I have often noticed an oily taste in the water, and as it could not have come from midlake it must have lodged in the pump, pipes or hose because of using the pump in port. As to tank capacity I should judge we could keep a supply for 12 to 14 days which is more than enough for any conditions. Yours truly.
Irvin A. Francombe, Chief Engineer, Str. Owego.

July 23, 1914. Dear Sir:
I think the system installed for filling tanks for drinking and cooking purposes is as near perfection as possible. I think the supply would last about ten days. Yours truly,
W.M. Cottrell, Master, Str. G.A. Richardson.

July 27, 1914. Dear Sir:
In reply to your letter regarding the fresh water system will say it is the purest and most sanitary system yet installed on any lake steamer. I think the tanks would last at least eight days. Yours truly,
W.R. Burton, Chief Engr., Str. G.A. Ricliardson.

Buffalo, July 28. 1914. Dear Sir:
In reply to your inquiry relative to fresh water system installed on Steamer McCullough, I wish to say to you that I consider it an acquisition and should be installed aboard all Great Lakes craft. I have observed very carefully the working of the system during our experience with it and find the fresh water supply on McCullough much finer than I have seen in years. A good proof of this is that I have not opened my medicine chest since we started out this spring. Furthermore, I think it is a matter for the steamboat inspection service to take up and make compulsory. The endurance of our fresh water supply is about eight davs in port at this time of year. I feel that the crews of the line are much indebted to you for the instituting of the system. I am, Very truly, yours,
John C. Heaney, Master, Str. McCullough.

July 27, 1914. Dear Sir:
In reply to your letter regarding fresh water supply. The system works satisfactorily and furnishes an abundance of pure water. There has been no sickness among the crew, especially the firemen, during the hot weather. Yours truly.
W.H. Sheldon, Chief Engineer, Str. McCullough.

July 20, 1914. Dear Sir:
In reply to your letter would say that I have not had much opportunity to try out the fresh water system because of ship going into ordinary, but from what experience I did have with it am sure that it is a fine thing, and every steamer on the lakes should have a system of the same kind. Our present tankage it good for about five days in port. Very truly yours.
Robert B. Wilkinson, Master, Str. Binghamton.

July 22, 1914. Dear Sir:
Regarding fresh water system installed on Str. Binghamton I did not have much time for observation because the ship was laid up. The tanks hold about six or seven days supply with full crew. We had water in the tank about ten days and there was no evidence of any scum or impurities in that time. I believe it to be an improvement that should have been made long ago. Respectfully,
Chas. E. Robinson, Chief Engineer, Str. Binghamton.