The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-10
THE WATER VIZ DRINK.
Is the CrOtOn in a Diseased
Condition?
DR.. Henry Draper Upon the Neces~
sity Of Pure Water.
DlSCOURAGlNG TO TEETOTALERS.

Like an awakening 10 nnd ones house fire.,
or 10 be told OF approaching dissolution, comesl
the announcement that the water which enters
our houses and stomachs 10 dangerous to life u
The city has been filed with such rumors duringi
the past lew days. Diseases, which have puZzleN
the doctors at The hospitals, have been privately
charged to the impurities Of the water. Men, whn
could lace a lannon's mouth pour out their gasscS
OF water At their breakfast tables and hesitate be-
fore they drink. The dread OF subtle AMI
noxious poisons. distilled from all the dan,
gerous and deadly weeds in The thousands OF
sluices between here and Croton Lake creates N
new ana nameless horror In the inner conscious
ness. TO drink under the name OF Croton waters
the compound extract OF the deadly nightsha
and the harmful dog lennel, and then to SIT down
with a bottle OF antlaote, While the poison IS lelH
craving toward our yitals, would, doubtless,
AFFORD only merrlment 10 the German servant But
10 the practical New Yorker, who as q rule. wants
nor expects nothing !or which he does not pay,
the experiment partakes OF anxiety rather than
curiosity. The dweier on Fifth avenue who gazes
out Of his carriage as he passes the distributing
reservoir only the outside and marvels at the
facilities for pure water which this city contains-
We're he, however, 10 allght and ascend tn,a
steps lie would see great water tank almost
empty, at he bottom OF which were foul and slimS
boards and around whose sides were great spots
OF green. We're Jules Verne 10 make the tour ot
the Croton Aqneduct from the lake to Central
PARK he would discover more new species OF fauna
and water vegetation than he ever dreamed OF I'M
his marvellous books. The delicate, eyeless waters
bug, which insinuates Itself into the most tin ~
tubing and ends its dreamy, monotonous exists
ence IN a cup OF cohee, is there. The bright,
green, threadlike fungus which cings to the JointA
or rough projections and fans the water ike tho
rags OF the tender nautilus, is therefor Jules
Verne TO find.
II was with ful realization OF the Immediate
interest which this subject possessed for tho
majority OF the HEEALDs readers, that one OF its
represen taves started out yesterday IN search oe
Information.
CHEMISTS OPINION
Pro essor Henry Draper was hearing his class in
the laboratory OF the New York University yester-
day when the HERALD reporter found him. Al
the end OF the recitation hour he expressed his
opinion about the Croton with much good humop
and perfect ciearness
81 am already apprised OF the talk about tho
Croton water" saia Dr. Draper, "out have nod
yet had time TO make an analysis. Under the besH
circums Jances there are from I'VE to seven
grains OF solid matter in every gallon
OF Croton have derived this data
from frequent analysis. That the presenu
disturbed condition OF the water is due TO the de-,
cay OF vegetable matter can hardly think Tho
greenish tinge cannot be impaired by vegetable,
matter at this season Of the year. vegetable de-
composition were gong ON the color impaired
would be brown. Dead leaves and grass arn
never green. Therefore, If any gleenisn tint "a
observable in the Croton 1t must be saline color
ing matter. While our water IS comparatively
good there is no doubt but that It contains MANN
elements which are not materially conducive to
sound health. When we have more OF these in,
gradients than usual the water becomes more un~
healthy in proportion. and there is, oil course, q
certain limit. beyond which the water becomes =
poison dangerous, not alone health, but TO life'a
''Then, you do ascribs many Of the sudden dsS
tempers when seem to attack the inhabitants u
great cities directly to the impure water whlcls
they user" asked the HERALD reporter.
"Assuredly, | do,n replied DR.. Draper. "Than
there would &c a large dmlnutOn in the deatta
rate could the inhabitants OF great cities fur-l
nisbed with pure water scarcely admits Of doubt-i
Wnile we tremble through life about .eaGing ourN
peck OF art drink bushels OF it in the course
OF a lifetime without ever grumbling. The city %
Philadelphia, Tor instance las long boosted ofitJ
pure water, but any curious pedestrian who WHY
trudge out along the shores of the Schuylktll WIN
ind any quantity OF the most filthy, reekn2s
saughterhouses, paper mills and glue factorieA
whose refuse matter Is all eventually poureU
down the threats OF the brotherly lovers"
'The question OF a perfect sewage is, then intl~,
matey related to the water service ~
cit certainly is" replied DR.. Draper. "A defcc-
tive drainage system at Croton Lake might ale C.
the health OF many persons In New York"
"Ihe majority Of the cty's population, Doctor.
are practical people; unschooled in science andi
strangers to a laboratory such as this. Whats
shall they do TO be saved from the impurities
which more or less are found in all city water fr
asked the reporter.
''Tne simplest and most enectual method %
treating the water Is TO boil 1t and let II stand
before using it. The steamers plying between this
port and the West Indies discovered that
when the passengers from the SoutM
were supplied with water condensed rons
steam the cases OF dangerous diseases wers
greatly reduced in number. Water shipped ronN
any OF the west Indian ports, during the fever
season, contains more less the germs OF that or
kindred diseases. These observations haya
encouraged the Introduction OF steam condenserH
on all vessels in the trade. The great mortality
on sailing vessels where condensed water cannoa
be obtained, is matter OF record. / would say To-,
everybody to boil the water in order to destroy ALL
germs OF disease. Filters are the next bests
appliance"
AN ENGINEERS OPINION.
Mr.. Jonn c. Campbell, FIRST assistant engineer "a
the Croton waterworks. was found in his ofllce in,
the city Hall.
ais there anything the matter with the Crotors
water?" anxiously asked q HERALD man.
Not that have been able 10 discover YETI re-.
piled Mr.. Campbell. "The peculiar taste, which q
have heard so much about, am compelled to say
cannot detect, although have been 'sampling is
straight all day. Between You and me, there 81
nothing the matter at all with the water. But the
people will talk, you know"
lis the water getting lows'
ut has been wasted terribly during the lonys
cold snap. People leave their water running il,i
order that the pipes may not freeze,
We are now delivering 10000 600 gallons Cd
Croton per day, and this morning uouced tina
the reservoir had lallen one.half OF an inch lase
night This loss is equal to 8, ooo 900 gallons There
is plenty OF water UP at the lake, however, anu
there is fair prospect OF too much in few days.
Four inches OF water is gcing over the dam to-,