Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-04-10

favorable response. In regard to the appli-
cation Of meters some discussion would
sion that the effect would be to render the
use of water a costly luxury, instead OF a
comparatively free boon, as il now is. Next
to air. water should certainly, for all essen
possible tax. The amount o. water provided
for the District is surely abundant, almost
without parallel. While one part Of the COM
munity keeps its pipes running recklessly,
and Is more than furnished with water for
drinking. bathing, and sanitary purposes,
another part may be actually stinted In its
agent. Hence the advantage of the general
and required use of meters. am aware that
the suggestion of measuring water for pri-
waite consumption is not popular with some,
but believe that the system could be so
judiciOlsly arranged as to improve the quail
ties of drinking water without stinting the
necessary or even liberal supply.
The question is sometimes asked how can
We infer the existence of good water when
without the means of analysis? This is
briefly answered by DIR. Spon. Water"
says he, "may be Considered good and pota-
bic when IL is fresh, clear, without color;
when its SAVIOR is very weak: when IL is
especially neither distasteful, sail or sweet
ish; when it contains little OF eXtraneoIs
matter; when il is sufficiently aerated; when
1T dissolves soap without forming clOts; and
when il cooks vegetables we'll" the query
arises: What are the ordinary methods of
correcting bad water? In nature. as pre-
viOusiy explained, ii is purified by oXi iation
tt.st
and in some cases by filtration through pO-
rous earth. To these means NAV Toe added
the publication of evaporation and conden-
Sation. The artificial modes of publication
are by boiling, distiilatiOn, precipitation and
filtration.
boiling sets at liberty the eases holding
salts in solution. and these are precipiiated.
1t rids the water of calcium, carbonate.
hydro sulphuric acid, and diminishes the
amount OF organic matter. Boiling is an old
and favorite method; but, although effective
MOI In nIrs ole
ments, especially fungi and spores, il does
not always perfectly destroy the germs of
animal life, since bacteria have been found
10 he alive and active when subjected TO a
temperature far above boiling point.
Lime water is sometimes added To 'fhard
water" as il is termed, rendered so by the
presence of earthly bi-carbOnafes. The acid
excess unitin. with the lime converts il into
soluble carbonate which is precipitated.
Acid is sometimes added To prevent the de-
Neltpment or 1nfuSOria and arrest the decay
of animal matter. The preferable acid is
vinegar, which renders water wholesome and
refreshing. The perchlOride of iron is used to
correct the muddy condition OF water in the
proportion of two grains ofiron to one gallon
OF water. Permanganate of potash has been
employed as test, and also corrective az
lmpur1ty in water. In the report on endemic
cholera (CiTcular No. y issued from the Sur
geon General S office, is n brief but instruc-
tive contribution from DIR. Craig. the accom-
piished chemist TO this board. y number of
samples OF water were submitted to him for
examination with view to ascertain 1.-The
tendency of wafer To become the vehicle of
disease, or to produce any of the effects which
are commonly attributed To its bad quality"
AS standard of com pariSOn he selected the
water supplied from the Washington aguc-
duct, (which" he says, sis docicle,Hy impure
H"fe1, containing more organic idteF than that
SufJJItied 10 London from the IHugaes'
He then gives in grains and decimals of
grams. the amount OF permangaDate OF pot
ash required to purify each gallon of the diff
ferent samples of water. or the five speci-
mems the Washington aqueduct water indi-
Gated less degree of purity, requiring o. ji0j
grains, and was inferior only to certain spe-
cimens from New York haTbOr pronounced
unsuitable for drinking purposes i'm their
present condition" 'When permangauate
remarks DIR. Craig. sis added in suitable
Quantities to impure water, il con verts the
organic matter into carbOnic acid. water
&c, undergoing itself a gradual decOmposi-
ton with the deposition of insolUble lentox-
lde OF manganese, and the production of car
bona e OF potash to the extent of nearly one
half of the weight of the permanganate actu-
ally decOmposed. The official crystalifzeI
permanganate," he observes further "is the
most suitable for the purpose, and if the inn
pure green salt, termed permanganato in
commerce, be used. its real strength must be
ascertained if ii is 10 be added by weight. a
good practical rule for purifying water is to
ADD any solution of permanganate until the
water, as seen in an Ordinary-SZed tumbler
appears perceptibly pink. TINS corresponds
one grain per gallon. After standing for a
few hours the color disappears, and the water
is left pure as far as regards organic matter
III. after two hours standing, the water has
pinkish color when viewed i'm a large white
dlsn, or IN bucket of polished tin. the
amount OF permanganate has been sufficient
ana II PINK color still remains after twenty
Tour hours II has been used in excess"
one OF the most approved modes of RENE
dying the turbidity and general impurity of
water is by proper filtration. No house
should be without a suitabiy-arranged filter
The Doctor then gave a description of the
various filters in use in different parts of the
world, and said that some one of them mi ght
he adapted to the distributing reservoir by
which the water might be rendered pure be-
fore entering the mains. The plan OF intro
dnclng a general use of filters is not without
OBJECTIONS. one OF which is the great expense.
LII this connection the report recommends
the Jewett hlterer for household use.
Whatever method is deemed preferable for
me removal of NTH, and the publication OF
water Tor drinking purposes, 1T should. in
view of the important relations which this
agent bears To the public health, be prompt
~ applied, without regard to cost. The i'm
pOrtance of the subject cannot be Overra ted
and while individual precaution in the use
OF water OF doubtful purity should not be ne
elected I'm our homes, the public authorities
snoulu see 10 III That the sources OF water sup
ply 10 our thousands of population be rem
dered as pure and wholesome as practicable
Every appliance which the advanced state of
sanitary science may prompt, and the best
systems ofhydraulic engineering accomplish,
should be employed, at whatever expense TO
the public treasury. The value OF health is
not to be computed by dollars and cents,
since without il communities as well as in
diyiduals inevitably deterioate in all the
OF true manhood, whether
physlca development, mind, or morals.
REMOVAL OF oFFAIS
DIR. Bliss said he had forwarded q commu-
nicatlon TO General o. r.. BabcOck asking
perml ssion 10 occupy a small reservation at
the intersection of 1st and III streets with
Delaware avenue northwest, to erect a tenn
porary shed tor the reception OF ofials. To be
removed from the city and in response had
received letter from Gen. BabcOck stating
that he saw no objection TO such occupation.
providing that no nuisance be permitted to
exist there.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS-James NJ
Hudnut TO Melissa q. Poler lot SS.square 80.
81; Edwin NJ. Head to Richard o. Prather
part lot /, square l0lS, SIS5; john Il. Pierce
1r., to James +. Pierce, lot p. square $780, -:
EnOch Ridgway to Gustavus O'Kun, part
lot r. square 400, -; Louisa Kearney TO
III. a. Willard, part lots IS, II and Is. square
225. $4,000; Charles j. Krebs 10 Mills Dean,
lot I, square 2Is, 81; Alexander X. Shepherd
To Isaac Z. Childs, all of square 1851, : is 900:
James Hall to Isaac Robinson, part lots II
and II, square $50; 800; Ashford Il Johnson
10 Helen =. Pratt, lot II, square 1872 a.:
Michael Shea to Michael OBrien part lot
II, square 62i, -; Il. III. Warner To John Day,
lot ID square 6i5, : 900; VIM. Murphy TO Josiah
NJ. Vale, lots 8, ., "a and 80, ouare 202, s.:
yahnSnn fn Dr., lot