The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-01-29
.THANK GOD FOR pURE

E - '1ahNh dOD L Uh HUhE
aS>I-a WATER."-MR. EDITOR: As water in
tended for domestic purposes is element in which
all ages and sexes are interested, take the liberty
of naming soAe OF the objections have to the plan
of Mr. Eiiet in supplying the lower part of cily
with water from the James River Canal, and shall
confne my objections mainly to its mpurity.
There are many sewers between The Tredepar
Works and the Basin leading directly from water
closets and kitchens into This canal If tnese to
There are street surface cutters on the north side
of this canal that in every hard rain brings
down the accumulated filth Of all the higher parts
OF our city and pour the same directly into the
nal There are some two or three cuiverts also on
the north side draining portions of the city, that
open directly into this canal. And in all heavy
rains surface drainage is seen pouring over the
banks of the canal, bringing very large portion Of
the surface filth from Oregon Hill. from the Peni-
tentiary valley, II om CANDLES Hill, and from all
that portion of city inclining the canal down
far the Basin, and would be almost in possi-
bic to prevent this.
Canal packets and freight boats in three miles of
the canal and those in the basin, throw their filth
into this canal. Can this be prevented night and
day! These boats all leak more or less. Tnis leak-
age unites with their cargoes--guano manure, and
the manure of the stables for all freight boats
pumped out. There is no other way to get it out.
This ell goes into the canal; and as these boats
must be pumped out at least once day, and rs
there always q number of them in the basin.
their aggregate filth thus thrown into the canal
must be Objectionable. Then the dead dogs and
Can this be prevented both night and day Bear in
mind the neatest portion OF our citizens are not ali
living along the banks OF the canal.
During the very hot and dry seasons Of the year,
the canal gets low; shallow that the intensity of
the SUMS ray raise the temperature OF the water
very considerably, and indeed suppose may
safely say. q partial (slight it may be) decompo-
sition of the matter held In solution takes place.
Can this be preventedf and If not, will not the
heated water. thus impure. be apt to affect the
health OF those who use it., especially when the
season itself is generative of disease And then for
some two or three weeks. during each summer the
water is drawn of to clean out and repair the ca.
nal where then are our citizens to obtain waterl
Boats some times sink, mills get out of order,
leaks and freaks in the canal occur when the water
must be drawn eff and promptly. what will We do
FIR water then?
Not only have we thought it necessary to fence in
our Reservoir the top of hill. into which moth
Ing drain, but II any one 10 found within the en-
closure, he violates an ordinance. Yet, here Is q
body of water some three miles in length, without
fcnce and upon its verge. are. living hundreds OF
people, which it il proposed to in cooking.
drinking and bathing. know. that all or most oi
the indissoluble impurities be filtered from this
water, but the soiuble-the most Questionable
caunot be.
As 70 the plan scientifically considered, and the
estimated cost Of its execution. rely upon the DIS
tinguished ability Of Mr. Ellet for their entire
racy, and raise the above objections with great
hesitation. because Of the high source from which
the plan emAnAted. % d.