The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-19

with regard TO the lmpurty OF the CrOton water,
and many and various are the theories advanced
by ingenious newspaper correspondents, to account
for the change that has taken place Until this
summer, the Croton has been remarkably success
full in maintaining its reputation as wholesome
and palatable water, and its sudden and mysterious
loss of character has given rise to vague feelings of
uneasiness in the breasts of the Knickerbockers
who begin to imagine that the Naiad of the Lake
is not quite as free from earthly faint or SOIL as
she was once supposed to be. Last year, or the
year before-we forget which-the Boston Nymph
Cochituate was in similar danger of losing her
good name. She was accused of having an ancient
and fsh-like smell, and, for time she was lite
rally in ill-odor with the water drinkers of the,
Modern Athens. She speedily, however, retrieved
her character, and having borne herself discreetly
ever SINCE is now completely restored 10 the good
graces of those who disposed to repudiate her
The vagary with which the Croton sprite stands
charged has proved so diStastefu to the generality
Of her admirers that a Committee of the Water
Board, accompanied by DR.. Chiffon, the well
known analy tical Chemist, have been I'M
der the necessity of nstiuting an enquiry into the
causes which have led to this mysterious misbe-
havour; whilst pending the report of the Commit
tee, quite number Of public spirited individuals
have sought to forestall the official opinion by ven
| turing upon explanations which are more or less
plausible. Some attribute the unpleasant flavor of
the Croton to a want of light and air in the aque-
Duct Others to an inordinate infusion of dead hogs
the innocent victims Of the porcine war now
raging in New York. Others again ascribe it 10
| a coll Of foul in tla
the most sensible solution of all is that it arises
from the decomposition of vegetable matter, after
a protracted drought, followed by heavy rains
1t may possibly be the first impression of our
citizens that they are not at all interested in the
condition of the Croton water; but SUCH upon ma
ture consideration will not be found to be the fact
They too have Lake in process of formation,
whose object is to afford ample storage of water
for the supply of the city in dry seasons and it is,
therefore, a matter of paramount Importance to
them, that nothing shall be left unthought of that
may hereafter affect the purity of the water or place
in jeopardy the health of the community Sofa as
the work has progressed, il must be acknowledged
that it reflects great credit on the Water Board
But, if we correctly informed there is one point
upon which there is difference of opinion between
the members of the Board, and between a por-
| ton of them and the Engineer in Chief
Mr.. SLADE. The point in issue is with regard
| to the vegetable matter which covers the low
meadows that are destined to form the bed of the
| new Lake. As measure of precaution against any
possible after-consequences, some one or two mem
bers of the Water Board advocate, we believe, the
entire removal of this surface soil of roots and
rank grass, and soluble mould Mr.. SLADE also,
was, some time ago. and we presume still is, of
opinion that this vegetable matter should not be
suffered to remain at the bottom of the Lake lest
by its decomposition, it should injure the quality
of the water affect the health of the neighbor-
hood by generating miasma. The theory of Mr.
MANNING, who has charge of the Engineer Depart
ment, is, as we understand, that the rays of the
| sun have no power to act upon vegetable sub
stances that are covered by greater depth than
ten feet of water and that it is only necessary
remove the surface soil from that portion of the
Lake in which the water when let on, would be
less than ten feet deep. The contractors have,
therefore, been instructed to excavate the shadows
of the Lake to uniform depth of ten feet, and
TO let the rest of the surface below that point re-
main undisturbed. We do not profess 10 be COM
petent to express opinion with regard to this
theory of Mr.. MANNING's 1t may be correct, and
if it be so, no harm will ensue, and the cost of
removing the surface soil from the other portions
of the Lake will be saved to the city But if it
should prove, after ALL that this theory was erro-
neous the evil will have been DONE and the injury
caused thereby will be irremediable, except at
vast expense to the city. If there be any doubts
at all concerning the matter, the people of Balti-
more, who are to drink the water, should have the
benefit of those doubts. If, from the decomposition
of the thick network of roots and grasses in the
deeper portion of the Lake. deleterious gases are
evolved, and the water, impregnated with vege-
table matter held in solution. becomes nauseous
and impure-as is said to be the case at the pres
ent time with the Croton water-the health of
those who use it must necessarily, be endangered
to corresponding degree; whilst, on the other
hand the same causes which render the water
noxious, will tend to produce sickness in all the
region adjacent 10 the Lake, and will lay the city
open to suits for damages, which will, in
evtaby, involve it in an outlay, in comparison
with which the cost of removing the whole surface
soil of the Lake would be but mere trife. That
some doubts do still exist in the mind of the Con-
sulting Engineer, if not among the members of the
Water Board, is very evident from the fact that
orders WERE at one time, given, to cover, to the
depth of two feet, with earth and rotten rock
taken from the railway cutting opposite to the
Relay House, all that portion of the Lake
where the vegetable deposit was known to be
thickest, and was, therefore, presumed to be
most capable of producing deleterious effects
After the work had been commenced, the Water
Board, however, at the instance of one of its MEM
bers, rescinded the order, and we believe that no
further action has been taken in the matter. That
covering up the vegetable deposit with new sur
face of earth would have proven effectua in pre-
venting the process of decomposition from going
on in the lower strata, may, at least, be per-
mtted to doubt; and if this were the reason why
the Board directed that the work should be
stopped, they certainly acted wisely; but il they
now design to let that portion of the bed of the
Lake remain as it is, and have concluded not to
excavate the surface SOIL the day is not far distant
when the impurity of the water from this particular
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