The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-24 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The importance of public free supplies of
water for drinking purposes has been brought pro-
minently before our notice by Dr. Jeaffreson's letter
on " London Fevers" in January last. He tells us
that in some parts of London 150 people are entirely
dependent for their supply upon a single water-butt,
into which the water only flows for 20 minutes
daily. That these butts are frequently lined with
filth and slimy vegetation, catching the droppings
from foul eaves above, and imbibing poison from
the soppy sewage below, and are very often too rot-
ten to hold water at all.

Under such circumstances we can scarcely be sur-
prised to find that typhus is constantly raging in
our midst. The warning voice which we have already
heard, both from Liverpool and Bristol, reminds us
that as the hot weather comes on we may have to
contend with even a more deadly foe than typhus
itself, and we have abundant testimony that the
progress and virulence of cholera, as well as typhus,
is largely dependent on the quality of the water
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Aldis, and other well known and eminent medical
men, have all called attention to the importance of
this subject. Now, wherever a drinking fountain
is opened, opportunity is at once afiorded for the
surrounding inhabitants to avoid drinking water
which has been poisoned in receptacles such as Dr.
Jeaffreson describes, and that both the resident
poor and the thirsty wayfarers of our crowded
streets appreciate the boon is sufficiently shown by
the fact that 8,000 people have been known to drink
at a single fountain in one day, and that more than
300,000 people are estimated to drink daily iu the
summer at the 140 fountains already erected in
London. All those which are under the care of the
association are kept fully supplied with water, and
qualified workmen are employed to visit and repair
them ; the condition of every fountain is thus regu-
larly reported at the office at least twice a week,
and any damage is immediately repaired. Through-
out the winter the committee have been straining
every nerve to increase the number and efficiency of
the fountains. Eight new ones have been erected,
and many private ones which had become dry and
dilapidated have been repaired and taken charge of
by the association. The committee have thus ex-
pended all the funds which have been placed at their
.
disposal, and yet there are entire parishes,
densely populated, without a single fountain. They
are now compelled to delay responding to applica-
tions which have been received from various parts
of London until they see the result of this appeal.
They, therefore, earnestly. solicit large and liberal
contributions, without which it will be impossible
for them to sustain and extend the sanitary and
benevolent operations of the association. Subscrip-
tions may be paid at the office, 1, Snorter's-court,
Throgmorton-street, E.C., or to the society's ban-
kers, Messrs. Ransom, Bouverie, and Co., 1, Pall-
mall east, S.W., and Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, and
Co., 54, Lombard-street, 'E.C.--I have the honour
to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN LEE,
Secretary of the Metropolitan Free Drink-
ing Fountains Association.
1, Shorter's-court, Thregmorton-
street, E.C., May 22.

•
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