National Republican., 1875-06-22
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The Impure Potomac Water

Inc impure fOLon1C "aIeE'
special meeting of the Board of Health was
convened yesterday at IL o'clock a. m at the board
rooms, for the purpose of taking some action in
regard to the impure Potomac water. Present:
Drs. Cox, Bliss and Prof LsngstOn.
Dr. Cox said that DR.. BIiss, the health oficer,
and himself. on Sunday, paid visit to the re-
ceiving and distributing reservoirs, and carefully
examined the water, which was found free from
the fishy odor It has when it comes from spigots
in the city. In his opinion the conierva or vege-
table theory was exploded. His conclusion was
that the trouble lies in the pipes and that it is
due to the decsyed animal matter In these pipes.
Perhaps the odOr was in a measure due to the
muddy or gelatinOUs sediment which sdheres to
the pipes
Colonel Timothy Lubey, water registrar, at this
Dr.. Cox, continuing, said that, in his opinion,
section Of the mains should be taken up and care
fully examined The board would be glad to
hear from the water registrar.
WHAT DR.. BLISS THOUGHT.
DR.. Bliss exhibited samples of the water which
had been taken from the different reservoirs
Potomac river above the Great Falls and that
flowing from spIgotsIAl OF which he said would
be analyEed by the chemist Of the board. In his
opinion the offensive OdOr was mainly due to the
spawn of fishes, much Of which decomposed In
the pipes.
THE WATER REGIsTRAR's OPINION.
Col. Lubey concurred in the views of Gen
Meigs, as expressed by that officer in The Ma
TIoNAL REPUBLICAN, of last week. He exhibi'ed
3 specman Of vegetable matter, of a dark green
ish color, which he found this morning depending
from the fountain lust north Of the Treasury De-
partmeBt building. He had found the same kind
Of matter ten days ago at the Great Falls, and
the water there was more offensive than in the
city. If the trouble was in the pipes he would do
all he could to remedyit.
DR.. Bliss said the difficulty was in the source of
EupPly. He here generously treated Dol. LUbey
TO "snifter' from each Of the samples Of aqua
"pHrdn on the table, TO demonstrate the fact that
while the water taken from the reservoirs was
pure and inodorous that taken from the spigOts
in the city had q very offensive Odor.
DR.. Cox suggested to the water registrar to
take up section of one of the Oldest mains in the
city and have it carefully examined before the
pipes sTe flushed.
Col Lubey replied that he would have that
done before the flushing took place.
beds, such as are used in Europe. 1t would, Of
course, be very expensive to establish them, but
he saw no other remedy.
DR.. Cox believed the filter should be placed in
the pipes just before they enter dwellings.
A CONFERENCE.
After some further discussion, Mr Langston
offered resolution, which was adopted, directing
the sanitary committee to confer fully with the
water registrar and assistant engineer Of the
Washington aqueduct with reference to the con-
dition OF the reservoirs and pipes and report re-
suits; also, that the registrar be requested to
take up for examination, microscopic or other
WISE section Of the Oldest pipe used in the Dis
tTict for distributing water, and that he be re-
Quested to send said section to the Ofice OF the
board. The board adjourned to meet on Wednes-
day Cinstead Of Tuesday, evening Of this week.
After the adjournment of the sanitary committee,
DR.. Bliss and Mr.. Langston made arrangements
to have 8 conference with Mr.. Samo, assistant en-
Lubey, water registrar, at Mr.. Samo's othce TO-
day,