Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-11-26
IcoMMUNIoATEDI
The water Question: An Analysis" AN

.tt'sfrn.f .r'.' alyzed.s u'"
To he Editor, ofthe Duly Press IN s..
When the City Treasury is tapped our cit
izens may reasonably expect value received
or at least, may examine freely the result of
such expenditure. On November IA, very
lengthy aud pretentious article, entitled
Analysis (of five samples of water) ''by
Mr. E. Grasselli," appeared in the Gazette.
The preface of this report fully foreshaJows
the substanee. He remarks, 81 have con-
tented myself with making quSntitative
analysis Of each specimen, as far as relates TO
the solid contents found in each gallon of
water, and a quantitative one of said con-
tents" Well, Mr.. Chemist, you are indeed
easily satisfied We, the people, do not all
feel 90 "eontented." We wished TO know
something about the gaseous contents"
and how those traces Of magnesia, alumni
ma, silica, sulphuric acid, chlorine, &C., exist
in the water-whether free, as indicated by
the report, or combined, y
- Let US examine more minutely one of
those analysis, Q. e., that of Specimen No.
40 Here IS the result. "Hard water. Solid
contents in one gallon, 1851 gre, consisting
principally of lime and magnesia, with traces
Of alumina trhces of silica; traces ofsulphuric
acid (slightG traces OF chlorine; traces of OF
ganic matter" Except in the total amount
of "solid contents" the other four analyses
differ from this, about in the same degree,
that tweedledum differs from tweedledee.
Before concluding his report, Mr.. G.. iu-
forms us that the term "traces' signifies an
amount somewhat less than one grain.
| Therefore, we infer that the expression,
| ''slight traces" represents about half of q
| grain. Upon these data we proceed. Sub
| tracing the whole amount of traces flour
| and half grains) we have left 1901 grains
| of slime and magnesia." If we assume that
| the slime and magnesia" are present In equal
quantities, and on this point the report says
nothing, then we have o little more than
six and q half grains of magnesia dissolved
in one gallon of water. Mr.. Fresenious and
Graham agree that six and half grains OF
magnesia require for solution more than STA
gallons OF todtsr. Now, if the "traees Of sui
| phuric acid and chlorine" will eonspire, they
can render soluble little more than one-bsli
grain ofInagnesiA, leaving about six grains
to be dissolved, or otherwise disposed OF, as
Mr.. G. may yetdetermine.
But there remain six and half grains Of
lime ia each gallon. We have already dis
posed of the traces Of sulphuric acid and
chlorine" so that they can not mitigate it'
eaustieity. But suppose them to combine
there remain little more than five grains o
lime 70 each gallon of water, forming lime
water Of about half o5fciiaL strength. Al
carbonic acid is not mentioned, or even i'm
piled, in the entire report, we dare not as
sumo its existence in the water. Therefore
may kind Providence mercifuly conside
the perilous condition Of all tho fishes, and Q
every living creature now residing in tn
: waters of the Miami, near Middletown, TO
Mr.. G., in his report. has not.
With that trace of slumina, which, as suct
T Is absolutely insOluble in water, we kpoN
/ not what to do. No estimate of the amour
! of sediment deposited by these several water
! could have been made; for If such. had bee
f the case, then certainly the water take
{ from the Miami, at slow stage and quit
D clear" must have yielded less than tn
4 taken from the Ohio 'at l0H feet above 10
n water-mark, and risingp The last par
Q graph of this report displays evident "traes..
Of partisan feeling, while the remarl
q therein sufficiently attest the degree
o knowledge the author brought 70 bear upC
d his subject, for the substance which he d
Il nominates "fhtty acids" Is not an deid,
aeids, IN anu sense, but is an insoluble kind
soap, in which lime Is the base, instead
" potassa or soda as in common soap
a Ishouid MOI have suffered my name 70 q
3 pear in print ia connection with this matt
1 had Il not seemed 10 me probable thatagra
Ie scheme of introducing an abundance OF tas
A. balieve) wholesome water, is about to be
d jected on the strength Of testimony, OF hi
"a the above Is a sample. ~. !,