The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-17
Excitement About the CrotOn Water-Th
Wit Yesterday to CrotOn Dam.

ExcltemSnt ABOUT tDc CrOtOn NQter-Tnc
| Visit Yesterday to Croton Dam.
The unusual and disagreeable flavor that has
been remarked in the Croton water for the last
fortnight has created very great excitement and
alarm throughout the community. All sorts of
foolish and mischievous stories have been set
afOat, and have gained more or less credence, by
way of accounting for this unpleasant flavor
stories about the finding of the dead bodies af
men and animals in the reservoir, and about the
poisoning Of the water by villanous liquor deal
ers in revenge for their being compelled to shut
mp shop on Sundays. Palpably absurd as these and
other rumors are, they have each their believers,
and consequently there is to-day almost as much
alarm and apprehension in the public mind as
there might be if an enemy's feet had come to
anchor in the lower bay with an intention of
boubarding the city.
There is really no cause whatever for
all this apprehension; and when our
citizens begin to realize the amount of
mischief which this causeless excitement is
calculated to produce, by driving nervous
people out of the city, and lettering others from
coming to it, they will be ashamed of having
aided in producing it. The water supplied
through the Croton aqueduct is not 60 pure and
the same flavor as the water of most of the large
inland lakes of the country, particularly of those
whose banks are well wooded.
The CIoton Aqueduct Commissioners pro.
ceeded yesterday, with scientific men, to examine
and test the water. The result of that investi-
cation will, when published, allay the public
alarm; but, awaiting the official statement, we
publish to-day the report of the special reporter
Of the HERALD who accompanied them, and
letter from DR.. Chiffon, the well known chemist,
from both of whichit will be seen that the modi-
fcation which the flavor Of the water has under
goneis of a natural and harmless character being
merely the ordinary effect of vegetable decompo-
stion. In fact, we have in the mortality bills of
the last two weeks the best proofthat the Crotou
water, though it may be less pleasant to the
taste, is no less wholesome than it has heretofore
been. The humber of deaths for the week end
ing August 13, 1852 was GEL, being decrease
Of thirty-four as compared with the correspond
ing week Of 1858, although it was an increase
of thirty Elk az compared with the week ending
August G, 1859, This increase over the previous
week may be accounted for by the ordinary
causes which 60 TO swell the mortality bills Of
August principally the consumption Of unripe
fruit Of ali kinds, which, though more destruc-
tive to life than the most abominable liquors to
be got at corner groceries, are exposed to Gale
everywhere, without any interference from
our municipal authorities If the Croton
water in its present condition were detri-
mental to the public health, the deaths of last
week would certainly exceed in number those Of
the corresponding week in 1858, when there was
no prevalent disease in the city. These statistics,
we think, should aIlay all apprehension in the
mind Of the community in regard to the impurity
Of the Croton water. 1t is mere temporary
change, produced, as is suggested, by the decom-
position Of vegetable matter along the margin
and In the region Of the source of supply.
But while we would thus dissipate the alarm
and excitement which prevail in connection with
this matter, we would at the same time urge
upon the Croton Commissioners the necessity of
increased vigilance and care to guard against the
possibility Of danger in that direction. The pol
luton OF deflement of the Croton water would be
an evil as terrible as visitation of the plague.
In this, as in every other department of the city
government, there is altogether too little regard
paid to the public interests. The curse of poll
tics is felt here as everywhere else in our NUM-
cipal arrangements, and it is hard to BEE where
the remedy lies. Under thoroughly official sys.
tenn all chances Of having our supply Of water
cut off or diminished, or affected by impurities,
would be asaiduously guarded against, and it is
Of the most vital interest to the prosperity as well
as the health Of the city that all possible safe
guards, no matter at what expense, should BIO
applied.
similar evil has made itself felt in Phila-
delphia, and one Of the papers there, in an article
which we transfer to our columns to-day, ascribes
1t to the exposed condition of the Schuylkill,