The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-12 00:00:00

more than liquid guano, it will be found to be a
choice sample of nothing less. That the pre-
sence, of organic or mechanical poisons will be
detected in the Pike water is quite certain.
Their presence will be proved by the absence of
"an alligator," as an American would say, " to
" refute these, allegations ;" and we fear that no
vestige of animalcule of a less uninviting character
will be found, to show that the filth is not de-
structive to life. No experienced traveller, we
feel convinced, would ventnre to drink from a
stream which showed no traces of animal life in
its composition. A frog, toad, rat, or lizard about
the banks of a stream gushing from a rock, is
thought to be a necessary safeguard to human life
in unknown regions. Instinct tells us that, in the
water in which they can live there can be nothing
injurious to health, if we allow it time to settle,
and drink moderately. The action of the air on
a small body of water precipitates the animalculm
with astonishing rapidity ; and when the other
solid matter falls to the bottom of a vessel, we
have pure water on the top.
But if the sample of water we received be at
all like the Rivington supply in its unadulterated
state, no alligator, rat, toad, or lizard could live
in it over twenty seconds. Try any of these
creatures in the refuse water from dye or gas-
works, or paper mills, where a large quantity of
arsenic is used—throw them into some of the
mineral waters of Lancashire, flowing from large
beds of what may appear to the ordinary observer
to be a bed of harmless rock, and the result
will enable a ploughboy to tell the Liverpool
Corporation and their engineers what they do
not seem to know, and are, very loath to admit.
There are many uses, however, to which this
abominable trash may be put. For almost every
manufacturing purpose, not connected with the
preparation of human food or drink, it can be
employed, and thus made to relie've the supply
obtained from our pure springs. For all sanitary
purposes it will answer admirably, and here
another vast saving of our good water will be
effected. But it should not be suffered to be
carried into the houses of either rich or poor,
nor should the Borough be rated for a supply
which it does not receive. By economising our
well water, the Corporation will be very large
gainers annually, and the saving in this direction
will keep pace with the growth of the population.
And when added to the increased demand
which must take place for water for manufactur-
ing purposes, ought to be quite equal to the inte-
rest of the money sunk, and cnst of keeping up
the works; ergo, the jnhabitants need not be at
any loss in the matter. On the contrary, the cer-
tainty of a constant and ample supply of water for
manufacturing uses will bring manufacturers
around us on every side. Give to Liverpool that
single advantage which Manchester possesses
and we shall soon have our forests of chimnies at
our extreme north and south ends. All the
money expended need not be thrown away. An
abundant stock of water is always acceptable to
large and growing clmrctunity ; but let us have
no more of it in our cisterns.

The whole of our docks may be furnished with
hydraulic cranes, rams, presses, and other ma-
chinery, for which shippers will willingly pay
liberally. Anything which will economise space
will be an advantage to the wareh3use owner,
and to none more so than the Dock Committee ;
and since the Town Council would have their Pike
job, and would see it out, let them find a proper
vent for their filth, which they can do, and not
force it down the throats of their Constituents.
They commenced their surreptitious introduction
of their liquid manure into Four pure water-pipes
by making it appear that the wells would not
supply the demand, in order to create an outcry
in favour of their Pike poison, and let them:now
give our manufacturers as much as they can con-
sume. A constant supply at all seasons will
command an additional value, and if the business
be properly managed, the Ratepayers may be
relieved of a heavy charge for a commodity which
they can never use. No amount of -filteration
will remove organic or mechanical poisons from.
water. This, any chemist will verify ; and, since
the contents, of the Rivington ditches cannot be
purified, it must be kept out of Our houses,' and
employed for those purposes fOr which it will be
-coming more into demand' every daY. The
analysis whichlwill be laid before the Council, at
their special meeting of to-day, will bring the
whole matter before the Ratepayers in a substan-
tive form, and they will, be better -able to decide
what ought to be done; first with the water, and
secondly, with the rate collected for that which
cannot be used.