The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-01
- na.o of water in Springs, &c.

:, % little singular that very afues'
,,.s.ss,a, has arisen in Europe concerning
.ho decrease of the quantity OF water I'D
s..,ncs streams, and rivers, at time when
,ha, mart Of the globe Is visited With an un'
usual quantity Of rain, 50 that HOODS nave
done immense damage to property besides
DESTROYING many lives. The scientists, now
eyer. look to the condition Of things FOR
series Of years, and are expressing some ap'
nrebension that there is the danger OF
scarcity Of water for the wants of society 81
no distant day. =,
The Imperial Academy Of Sciences al
Vienna has taken up the subject, and has aa'
dressed circular, accompanied by report
10 scientific societies in other countries III 'he
hone tina, they may be induced to undeftahe
observations which, in course OF ''iiie' n''
furnish data for practical use.
The purport of the report las sta'eo oy
tho London .4hen1um) Is that the Academy
calls attention to the fact that for some years
mast dIninution Of the waters OF the
Danube and other great rivers has been no
ticed. AID especially since the modern prac-
lice of cutting down forests without regard
TO consequences has prevailed. The AUS
TRAN Engineers and Architects Union have
also taken the question in hand, and appoint
"Hydrotechnic Committee to collect
facts and prepare report. The Danube,
the Elbe, and the Rhine we're each assigned
to two members, while other two were 70
examine into the meteorology of the subject,
and into the influence which glaciers ana
Alpine torrents may have on the general re-
suit. The committee regard the question as
urgent; they recommend the immediate
adoption of remedial measures, and they
are unanimous in declaring that the prime
cause of the injurious decrease OF water IS
the devastation Of forests.
Every observant gentleman Of advanced
age in this country can speak from his own
Knowledge OF this subject. They have all
seen the most wonderful changes in their
dav. We have visited sections of Virginia
after long wears absence from them, and
found that clear bold springs, at which we
had often quenched our thirst in boyhood,
had been so long dried up that the people of
middle age in The vicinage knew nothing OF
them. So rivers and streams we have
found generally reduced in volume after
many years. This was due to the
clearing out Of the forests, ditching,
lands, and draining the swamps and ponds.
This process has not diminished the rainfall,
but 1t has caused the rains to run Oft more "a.
pidy. The amount of storage of water isre-
duced 10 wonderful extent. Few people have
apractica appreciation of the vast amount of
water held even by the leaves of the forest
as with sponge, to be given-slowly TO the
Garth and its subterranean veins that conduct
it to the springs. The shade favored its re-.
tentiop, the undraiued ponds assisted In
the work, ard the supplies were slowly
delivered to the springs and streams to swell
their volume throughout the year.
Forests, being favorable TO the prolonga.
tion of the period of the running of Of the
rain.watcr to the seas, are the cherishers Of
springs and repIenishers of the rivers by
that slow process that dmibishes the vic.
lence Of floods and maintaisS the steadinesS
Of the supply. When rains fall upon land de-
puded of trees and we'll drained they are de-
liverod with rapdity to the streams, and thus
food them suddenly. In this way streams
no doubt rise more suddenly and much
higher than when the LAND was covered with
forests and had many ponds and swamps.
The floods rising quicker and higher subside
sooner. They carry off the rain, leaving,
compared with the storage Of other days.
but small supply for springs and streams.
The subject is interesting, and increases in
importance as population increases, and as
by tllage and drainage the supply of water
is diminished.
Except by extending the forests and re-
establishing the reservoirs of nature-ponds,
&c.,-we do not know what remedies can be
rcsorted to. Certainly, society will even In
this country lie driven to consider the sub
itc'; and when it is taken up we are happy
to know that there is one other of eminent
dignity that cannot be overlooked the
pollution Of streams. II water from the
decrease Of its quantity becomes more pre-.
crus, logically it should be the more re-
spec'ed and protected. Increase of popula-
ton goes on as the quantity of water de-
creases. Until about 1880 no rural popula-
ton in Virginia, or even in the Union, drew
It's supply of water from riyers--the Rich.
mond works were then in operation. Even
New York city did not commence
the work to supply itself from
Croton Lake by its aqueduct until 1885. 1t
was finished in 1912; but the city was sup
piled by kind of syphon across Harlem
river, while the High bridge was being
built. Since then numerous cities have drawn
their supplies from rivers. Some of them,
as New York for instance, had formerly
spliced out their stock to meet their wants
springs and wells being defcient-with that
furnished by water-boats and carts.
Rivers being now sources of supply for all
cities of tolerabe dignity, they should be.
come objects Of most careful protection and
cleanliness. 1t is shame to the land, and
may We not add, a disgrace to the people
. that use the rivers, that some far more rigid
j police is not provided to guard them against
the constant pollution to which they are sub.
jected.
Elections in September.