Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-10-14

water supply OF cities.
The following timely "Suggestions for In.
creasing the Water Supply Of Cities, and 70
encourage its Free Use - Sanitary Mea-
sure" were submitted BY DR.. ]. II. Toner, OF
this city, at the late meeting OF the Aueri-
can Health Association In Boeton:
The able discussions during the meetings
Of this association, rs well as the attention
now being given BY eminent engineers 10 the
problem of now beat to supply pure water in
sufficient quantity TO large cities, fully
evipce the great importance of the subject.
The question Is by no means . simple one.
Some OF our large American cities, though
still In their infancy, have brought into re-
QUESTION nearly all the available unpdiluted
meagre supply for their wants. The steady
and rapid growth OF our cities makes an in
crease OF the water supply necessity every
the typographical character Of the country
surrounding some Of our cities seem to i'm
pose limit to the supply OF pure water, or
r,siIS increase ts the snppiy very extensive.
The question too is often embarrassed by
the denlement OF streams and the mercenary
privileges. Indeed, jewellers along the
streams rarely exercise any care 10
prevent nuisances being thrown into
Them. Science fully recognizes the fact
Of disease, and common decency requires
sanitarians and state authorities to
of dsnFe scpff IS
needed to prevent the dedlement of all
streams, but more especially of those that
,ovns si i11 nnb, use 9 70 ces , ana
scarcely one OF our cities has an adequate
supply OF water, and all of them are obliged
and prevent waste. VIVA What then must be be
their condition In ten or twenty years hence?
Common prudence, think, should suggest
10 cities to increase their pure water supply
q N n au1A an n Inn -
the construction OF the necessary works.
This would be wiser course than the too
stringent limiting OF the use Of water, which
ls never entirely wasted, even IL 1t perform
no other work than the washing out of a
sewer. The water supply and the drainage
and sewerage are even OF greater import
riageway and sidewalk. Under the most
favorable conditions water-works are In
their construction expensive, and require
cially true where large reservoirs Are con-
structed TO store water and permit IL to
settle and free itself from all huviatile mat
their works on this theory, there is scarcely
one where
In not so great as to render the reservoir lit
tie more than q receptacle which but distrio.
utes The water TO consumers without allow
Ing 1t To settle. 1t Is veil known that far
ss Of the mater 70
potable or O99Ay domestic use. TIE va
rfous factorla4. trades and occupations, the
flushing Of sewers and water closets, the IRE
plugs, street sprinklers, fountains and
stables dispose Of the most. A limited sup
ply, by exciting . constant apprehension
Of scarcity, necessitates the curtailing OF the
free use or water. 1t is feared that this cir
cumstance 10 some extent gives excuse fer
the detention and accumulation OF refuse
about dwellings And factories, aud in the
streets and alleys OF the more crowded parts
OF cities. The sewer is now the great scav-
eDeer OF modern cities, and when properly
constructed and supplied with an abundance
The nromnt Temovsi Of All honse oTaI ana ss.
crementit1ous matter as q sanitary measure
10 OF the greatest importance. These are 1t
drst scarcely offensive, but IL retained but
come SO, but are dangerous TO Life. A city,
or that part OF city with but little fall for
drainage, requires more water 10 keep her
that the sewers, with q stream of rapidly
moving water sufficiently strong to carry
with 1t the matters deposited therein, will
% comparatively inoftensive, and generates
are those with sluggish currents, no ventila-
ton, and with an insufficient supply of
water. If these propositions be true, and
feel confident that the experiences Of santa
rians will confirm their verify, then IL seems
to be the duty Of city authorities To adopt
comprehensive and
SYSTEMATIC PLANS FoH UNDERG ROUND
ard TO furnish abundance OF water to keep
them we'll flooded. The introduction in our
and Concrete asphalt ap pavemsSt seq render It
entirely feasible for US to keep them per-
fectIy clean. Streets, alleys and courts prop
material, and kept in good repair, are sus-
ceptible of being fushed with water a. often
"a required. The purpose OF these remarks
Is to can attention t,s. 70 the water system Of
uses, and the threatened inadequate supply
In the future, Attention ought TO be CON-
stantly directed to this subject, and liberal
and enlightened views on sanitary science
should influence its contamination. The
suggestion which / wish TO make for the re-
lief of, II not An actual existing scarcity Of
potable vster and to secure improved hygi-
enic conditions TO our cities, Is to advocate
the introduction OF vastly greater QaaDfities
OF water and the encouragement or its freer
use than has hitherto obtained. Cities 20
situated N TO DO limited 10 obtaining ready
supply of good potable water, suggest that
such establish duplicate system OF water
ed for strictly domestic uses may be derived
by pumping or otherwise from the most
available and suitable source. THIS may
even be question Of economy, rs this dupli-
cate supply may In some cases be obtained
at much less cost than an adequate addi-
tlopal supply Of water nt for domestic use
harbor OF New York or san Francisco would
answer perfectly we'll for many purposes,
and particularly for washing out Of the sew
ure determine which to prefer, q preference
being given to pure water. This suggestion
has probably occurred to many, and has, L
believe, been proposed for New York, but
Its expense has, and probably will for years
deter many from advocating its adoption.
But the urgent need of abundance Of water
for other than domestic use. and especially
for flushing sewers, will, am persuaded,
require some such measure In order to pre-.
serve our cities in good bygienic condition.
The mind has SO long looked upon the use of
water only in connection with its domestic
use, that IL viii be slow to familiarize itself
with the necessities created by modern civ.
tization and its power to purify cities. No
street ought 70 be without sewer, and any
tenement on II ought to have o good closet
connection with 1t and be supplied with
abundance OF water.
A GINHRAL WAR THRHATENED IN Eu-
RoPB-1he tenor OF the news from Europe
10 Warltke, rather than peaceful In its char.
acter. Servta utterly rejects the Turkish
proposal for . elk months armistics, and
Minister Rtsttcs has telegraphed TO Gen.
TcherDeyen, Tor the Information Of the
DYmY. that ~ N00rf,f rS0nnfh1V n fn1