Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-09
Tho vYntrr.MnrI,. Arnin.

VlVuWStanCef, but ltbisiHu'V uVuleci WIN
the resources of an opulent treasury, a
people who rejoice to bear The burdens Of
slight and simple government and an ex-
haustless capacity to issue city securities,
take more expanded views of things, aud
find motives for action such as would never
occur to mere private individuals. In their
exalted position, they are able to avail them
selves of the assistance of others to point
out things of imperative necessity to the
public the want of which would not other
wise have been detected, and it is curious
how Providence contrives to confer upon
those who make these discoveries the appro-
pirate reward. Thus, does some thoughtful
gentleman in private life arrive at the knowl-
edge that we are in perishing need Of park
or reservoir, and not fail to give the suffer-
ing party the benefit of the, information, it
usually turns out that he, of all others, has
The land best fitted for such park or reser-
voir, which he is willing to sell, for that
especial purpose, at a ruinous Sacrifice
though he would not otherwise part with it
upon any consideration. We mention this
as but an example: the mysterious working
Of the rule is 10 be observed in multitude of
cases, greatly to the instruction of such as
turn their attention to the ways of Proyi-
dence as exemplifed in human nature.
1t is common impression that water i'm
proves by standing and that therefore large
reservoir is desirable, in which that which
is pumped up for the city may stand and
settle and purify. II is true that by stand
ing, water will part with the earthey parti-
cles which it some times holds in suspension
but il is also true that when standing ex-
posed to light and air, the germs of animal
and vegetable life will rapidly develop and
grow, and thereby the water acquire i'm
rurities that are far more Objectionable
than any earthly intermixture. Stagnant
water is water exposed to light and air, in
which the seeds of organic life that it con-
tained have had an opportunity to expand.
All standing water under similar circum-
stances, will exhibit the same phenomena;
water, therefore, standing in open reservoirs,
will always be more or less stagnaut--the
degree of stagnation depending upon the
state of the weather and the length of the
period of its exposure.
Water, to be pure and wholesome, needs
TO run or to be shut away from air and light.
The ancients knew this better than the mod
erDs; and the art Of preserving water may be
set down among those that are practically
lost. The Egyptians drew the water of their
muddy Nile into vast subterranean cisterns,
where, in utter darkness, it got rid of both
its organic and inorganic impurities, and be-
came so clear and sweet, that the memory Of
its excellence still fingers in traditions and
proverbial expressions. Greek and Roman
borrowed the Egyptian idea; and the great
nations of antiquity enjoyed what the city of
Cincinnati, with the full benefit of all our
boosted modern progress does nOt-an
abundance Of water always sweet and in
Wing.
1t is perhaps the end of reason with some
that the city of New York has gone, and
therefore that the city of Cincinnati should
go largely into reservoirs. 1t remains to be
proved that New York municipal wisdom is
infallibe-ap point which, at this time, is more
than doubtful. From what is said and writ
ten of the public water in New York, it
would seem that in proportion as reservoirs
have multiplied, the quality has deteriorated.
The Croton is pure and lively stream. It's
water enters the pipes which convey it to
the reservoirs in good condition. It passes
into those'receptaces without deterioration;
and yet, to all appearance solely from its ex-
posu1e in them, there are times during every
summer when, over-charged with organic
matter, it becomes unpalatable and loath-
some. To expend $25O,oOO to improve the
quality of The Ohio the wrong way would not
rebound to the credit Of those who should
embark in the enterprise.
We do not say that there may not be cir
cumstances in our case rendering some res
ervoir, and even Rome addition to the present
one desirable; but the desirability comes
principally from the fact that the pumping
engines are liable to temporary stoppages
from high water. 1t is idle to talk of the
coincidence of three splendid and costly en-
gines breaking down at the same time, and
thus condemning the people to the condition
of lost caravan on an African desert. If
we had forty engines we might still contem-
plate the same contingency; all that is ne
cessary being little more exercise of the
imagination. With proper economy in the
dispensation, there is pumping power enough
to supply city three times as large as Gin
cinnati, and that is as much as should be
asked. If there is still weakness, it is in
some other department; and should be
sought, that the remedy may be applied di-
rectly to the spot where it turks. If the en-
gines are in danger from freshets, common
sense would dictate that they should be re-
moved to safer location and that ii money
is to be expended any where, this is the place
to begin.
What is wanted is the water of the Ohio,
in the same condition as that in which it
runs in the channel when the current is not
swollen by freshets. 1.-THE subject of filtra-
ton or publication, we shall leave for an
other article, assuming-what we believe to
be true-that pure water may, by proper
contrivances, always be obtained from the
Ohio.l The sooner after it is taken from the
river this water is delivered to the consumer
the better, and the higher satisfaction it will
give. Our best reservoir is the Ohio itself;
and, except for safety purposes, others are
| mot onlvBnaad1ass hut objectionable The