The New York herald., 1875-03-11
PURE WATER.
The Wholesome Nature Of tho
Croton indicated.
Opinions OF Professor Chandler
and Mr.. Waller.
EFFECTS OF THE NOSTOC.

OF persons using II. AS II seemed probable that
some OF our best known chemists would have
their attention called to the condition OF the Gro
ton water BY the report OF what Dr. Draper said
about IT, as published in yesterdays HERALD, ana
would Immediately analyze that liquid this writer
determined to call upon the men OF MAJ
terial science. Professor Doremus was at home
and In very pleasant mood, as he had been al
dinner. Dr.. Doremus said in reply to question:
that he had not noticed the Croton water to bd
in a condition OF impurlty. He had heard II said
at the dinner table that the water has q greenisa
tint, but had not regarded 1t particularly. As he
had not made a recent analysis, and as he knew
1t to be the duty OF the Board Of Health to keep
Itself IN formed OF the conditions OF the water he
recommended the reporter TO call upon Pro!essoa
Charles F. Chandler, President OF the Board ol
Health.
PROFESSOR CHANDLER
was found in his room in the School OF Mines
building OF Columbia College, at the corner Of
Fiftiern street and Fourth avenue. When the
Professor learned what was sought OF him ne
said :-"I am glad you have come to me, because it
is IN my power, as health official, 20 pus
down the idea that the Croton water 10 im-
pure and hurtful to our people by breeding
disease. Almost every year this same alarm -
spread through the city; but We have recently
been prepared to suppress IL immediately.
l nave studied the subject OF water
ana Its comDonents, or rather the substances thas
enter 1t and aflect Its nature and in several
papers have demonstrated the purity OF the
Croton water. There are no more impurities in
1t now than always In 1t IN the spring time,
When heavy SHOWS begin 10 melt and run Oh the
frozen ground into the brooks and ponds. The
IN !. now now are manly 9rgano; tney
cannot oe much saline Natter IN the water, Tor
the reason tina: the nuid which we receive here
now mas not filtered through the ground.
"But, Professor, even though tue organic mat
ter contained III the water Is not injurious to
health, 1t certainly Is not pleasant to be com-
peled to drink 1t. Is there no simple way ~
which It can De taken away nom the water f'
In response to the aOove question Professor
Chandler lei the way into another room, In winch
tneie was waterpipe and SINK. over the mouth
s Was was ke DaP
atmospheric cups In conjunctlon 1t was
w ana Sand and eae
q network OF wire gauZ.. Above these is sponge,
firmly cased IN per. Grated cup: the .aucet oelng
turned tne water flowed without interruption QUE
OF the filter. 1t was perfectly clear, seeming NOS
10 contain O particle OF any loreign substance.
Professor Chandler said that IT. Is most elective
Now" said the Professor. '"to return to dis
cussng the present condition OF the Crotun
water. We can tel imme diately from the results
OF the most recent analysis whether 1t -
wholesome or not. 1t Is the practice OF Mr. Wal
ler. OF this Institution. VINO Is also an assistant
sanitary Inspector to make an analysis every
its result to the Board OF Health. lie was IN here
ie moments ago to speak TO me about the re-
sns Ss aes ~ yan % ss ssna S a@
Health"
upon Mr.. Waller. VINO was In tine immense laoora~
tory up stairs. The latter gen nreman soon maze
OF his many analyses Of Croton water. He in.
formed the writer tnat he has analyzed our drink.
thea continued :-"Ny latest analysis was MADE
on Friday and saturday last. Its results do not
indicate tnat the Croton water 10 unwnolesomes
IN It last summer, 1all or winter, or even
last s Tns sJs TsAon Sau 0s D a %0,s
seasons ensoned u tnat the snow water: scour.
a s aSs na 81 SS ana anda a.
ter which mas been ON lhe ground since before The
winter began; aod tners Is more organic matter
in tho water now tnan last spring because there
was more snow this winter han last, conss.
quentIy there are greater number OF streAmlet4
running over the frozen earth. Here v = copy 04
Health:-
M ssasH, q S'
To " DEE. DAY, n D., sanitary sGpsr tsndsn!:-,
.ss:. e.: e: AZ : ::
Appearancs, turbid and yslowish. ,...
Organic and Volatile matter 6si
Total solids In solution dried At 2e0 deg F .... I'm
Carbonate OF lime or It's equivalent "hardn Ll9
Oxygen required to oxidizs organic matter..... 91A
respectfully yourA ELW n w ALLEN,
Assistant Sanitary Inspector.
"Here. aIso," said Mr.. Waller, .'are the rA
marks as to the causes ior the present condltion1
OF the CrOton, which Will accompany my report u
the Sanitary Superintendent":-
is usual at this season Of the year. whel
d its he
he surface Of the srcnna instead Of altering shroaz
coorsd by suspended impurities, while the dssolvin(
s Sa IN to s y
entirely harmless. and need not cause alarm.
'that the water has a decided greenish hue r
"No, sir, have not noticed tnat; but II 1t has 10
is certainly good water. Tue natural color or tone
OF the water Is green"
might not some substance have entered the
water since when you made your last analysis Of
the CrotOn and have colored and pollu ed 1t ~
81 do not see wnere 1t could come rom. Tneru
Is moule plant, however. winch has hitherto
only been notlced In our streams in the autumn,
and winch might now De present III the water. ]
would not be surprised If 1t were Tor 1t has bee4
with a microscope lately, because believed il ID
appear only ing the damp autumn season. The
9nss nss sadsd aSd De-
Torrey:, II seemed to be made up ol sinuous links
OF small cells, varied with larger ones. the lattet
containing granules. After y time the gra uleA
burst tue larger cells and the links OF The fungus
Immediately 70 20 pieces; est They ,mpars an oily
form part q the green scum 50
nrst carefully studied, several years ago, BY Dr..
Torrey, VINO noticed them v nile trying 10 discover
the cause Ol Inc RreaelneSs ana smell OF sno Croto0
water at that time. TIE smell and color whicn
they mpart to the water seems to come from an
essential oil which they give out when they breaA
up."
PUBLIC woRKA
The new administration Of public works, witl
General Porter at Its head Is rapidly getting int
working order. The department ID fully alive q
the increasing demands Of the city In the matter
OF Croton water, and 1t In understood
that plans Will be submitted at "a
early day with Wow Of remsdytn0
sl existing deficiencies and detects. IND
amount oil water used during the wan ter haa beel
enormous, averaging 100 GALLONS day Tor eacl
man. woman and child IN the city. ana unless th(
arrangements ior supply keep pace with the sn
tended area OF the city and the large increase q
likely ~ occur.
CAPTURE OF A SHOPLNTER.