Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1871-10-24

The Water We Drink----Aetion OF tho
Board of Health --Responses Of Messrs
Riddle a Son, bancroft a. Son, and
Jessup a Moore. &C.. &c.

he Water We DrinL----Aetion OF the
board of Health---Responses Of Messrs.
Riddle a Son, bancroft d Son, and
Jessup a Moore. &C., &c.
For long time past the public mind has !
zen more or less exercised relative to the !
haracter of the Brandywine water. Many
'ersons labor under the impression that con-
iderable filth and other impurities are
brown into the Braudywine, and that the
aetories along the upper part Of that stream .
largely towards rendering the
water unwholesome, by throwing dye-stutis
md other foreign substances therein.
The Board of Health, actuated by desire
10 ascertain the facts, and set the popular
mind al rest unon the subject, in September
last appointed committee of five OF its
members, consisting Of DR.. Shortlldge, DR..
Johnson, Col. Mccullough, David Chandler
and X. X. Jones /; 10 which committee the
Health Officer, DR.. Draper was added, TO
make a searching inquiry, by personal or
other investigation OF the factories, and dis
cover, if any, what and how much, impure
matter or other deleterious substance is or
may be deposited in the Brandywine by |
them In the progress OF their business opera |
lions. The committee proceeded al once TO |
their work, aud addressed letters to the sew
eral propretors of the mills and factories in
question, propounding IN respectful and
dignihed manner, certain queries, and re-
questing prompt and explicit answers.
These have been answered in similar
courteous and gentlemanly manner. From
one of the parties, the Messrs. DuPont-no
reply has yet been received, hence the COM
miitee, at the meeting OF the Board on FIJI
| day evening was unable TO present full re-
polt they expect TO be able TO do so al the
| next meeting.
The following is the correspondence as
laid before the Board:
Inquiries PrOpOundedAby the Com.
mittee.
w1LMINeroS, Sept. 80, 1871.
There having been continued com
plants on the pert Of the citizens of Whining
ton in regard to the Brandywine water, the
Board OF Health at its last meeting, appointed a
committee to investigate the matter, and in
| quire whether any injurious matters entered
the Brandywine at the various manufacturing
, | establishments above the city.
| In pursuance of that action the Committee
would respectfully ask from you, information
, " i. Do any Chemicals or dye-stuffs on your
| premises enter into the Brandywine? II So
what kind, and to what extent7
! O. Are the water-closets and privy arrange
ments for the convenience OF your operatives
( the stream q?
8. DO the water-closets and sewers of private
BrandywineP
1. Do any hog-pens, stables, stable yards,
= kind whatever on your premises, empty into
| the said stream
a The committee beg you to understand that
l. the Board desires to inquire into these matters
| in perfectly amicable way, and as the tmpor
lance of good drinking wafer for our citizens i
. ! apparent to every one, and cannot be oVer-esti
e mated, they ask your cooperation in excluding
all injurious matters from the Brandywine
| whence our drinking water Is derived
e similar letter has been addressed TO al
IS other manuiacturers above the city.
- VIII you be kind enough to reply at you
{ earliest convenience so that report can b.
n made TO the Board.
r Iremain, Respectfully yours,
EVAN G. SHoRTLIDeR,
Chairman of the Committee.
j. Copies of this letter were sent TO the fol
4 lowing parties:
If Cotton mile, owned by James Riddle
81 Son, & Co.
Fl Cotton mills, owned by Bancroft & Son
i. Rockford.
Powder mills. owned by E. !. DUPONT
Co.
Paper mills, owned by Jessup Moore
IN Rockland.
" Cotton mills at Simsville.
p. Wooden mills at Rokeby.
!, Flour mills at Barleywood.
III Wool and Cotton mills at Henry Clay.
a. Tin shops at Louvers, all owned by th
sc Messls. DUPONT & Co.
's, Reply Of Messrs. bancroft a Son.
is RocKFoRD, 10Th no. md, 1871.
n EVAN G. SHoRTLlDGR,
,oI Chairman Committee Board of lIealt
Wilmington, Del
~ We have thy letter OF the 30th ult., and in rep
re- to thy inquiries have to say
Some bleaching materials and dye stutfs
ng enter the stream, and it is impossible II our bn
To- | ness is carried on to prevent IL entirely. m
y largest amount Of any Kind Of material We y
day. sodaash and sulphuric Acid are used
ire smaller quantities, We do not dye many goot
al | There is more extract Of logwOOd goes into [
iu water than any other dyeing material. OF
nal we have used this year about lbs. per day, a
of course try TO lose as little OF it AS we can
washing out the cloth or otherwise.
The privies at the factory do not empty il
the stream, and this Is the case with the WA
closets ana privies ut all our houses and W
ri our barnyard.
There is some surface drainage which in
Try rectly gets into the stream.
;s We are anxious to do what we properly
10 to keep deleterious matter out OF the water, Il
he will willingly answer any inquiries you II
wish to make.
,ed Respectfully thy friends,
IN JOSEPH BANCROFT n SON