The Osceola times., 1877-02-03

only Dracklrn, fOllOw next; then those
of the Mediterranean and inland seas
and last of all comes those OF lakes,
which, like the Caspian sea, the Dead
sea, and lake Aral, possess no known
outlet. The ocean of the equatorial re-
gions contains the greatest percentage of
saline matter-due, no doubt, to greater
evaporation; and the north Atlantic con-
tains more salt than the south Atlantic,
probably due to the prevailing influence
of the gulf stream. One of the purest
waters known is the water of the river
Loka in Sweden, which contains only
onc-twentieth of grain of impurities in
gallon. The water of the Mississippi
contains forty gains of mud per gallon.
Water is the great mechanical power
in nature, and is merely the suns agent.
1t is bountiful gift of the Creator.
Almost the first thing that is mentioned
in the bible is the well of water which
Abraham digged and weeping Hogar af-
terward saw in the wilderness of Beer
sheba. Moses is represented as appearing
in the fulness of his power and majesty
when shifting the rock to let the living
waters gush forth. The koran, in its
description of Paradise, numbers "foun-
tains pouring forth plenty of water"
among its main attractions. The two
fountains in the gardens of Alcinous were
deemed worthy OF being sung by Homer.
In the ruins of Pompeii and Hercua-
neum fountains were seen in nearly every
situation; and from the number OF leaden
pipes also found, il seems that every
house was provided with one. Hawthorn,
the great novelist, is peculiarly happy in
describing the fountains OF Rome. The
pleasant, natural sound of falling water,
not unlike that Of distant cascade in
the forest, may be heard in many of the
Roman streets and piazzas, when the tu-
multi of the city is hushed for consuls,
emperors, and popes, the great men of
every age, have found no better way o
immortalizing their memories than by
the shifting, indestructible, ever new,
yet unchanging upgush and downfall of
water. They have written their names
in that unstable element, and proved it
u more durable record than brass or mar
ble." A writer says that the French
and Italians are more celebrated for the
taste and beauty displayed in their foun-
tains, whether they be simple jets deaU
or elaborate pieces of architecture sub
servient TO The purpose of supplying
their cities with water.
In the United States, within the past
twenty five years, the swift progress
which has been made in population and
wealth has quickened the demand in all
large cities and in many smaller towns
and villages for copious supply of
water, not only for all the exigencies of
public health and domestic and indus
trial use, but also for purposes of beauty
and delight by means of public and pri-
vate fountains. Philadelphia, with its
famous Paramount water works and its
excellent fountain society; Baltimore,
with its extraordinary water power,
sufficient to werk millfen looms" and
its incompatible lakes, reservoirs, and
conduits New York, with her Croton
aqueduct lBrooklyn, with her vast re-
servoirs on Ridgewood hill and Prospect
hill Boston, with her lake Cocoituate I;
Chicago, with her immense tunnel under
the level of lake Michigan; Salt Lake
city, and, in short almost all American
cities, are vigorously carrying out the
wise suggestions made by Benjamin
Franklin, so long ago as 1863. "IR the
old world even the highways Offer at
regular distances, fountains of fresh
water to the weary traveller and his
thirsty cattle, while with us the large
cities begin TO be adorned with public
fountains, the gift of benevolent persons,
ameng which one in Cincinnati stands
pre-eminent, rs its water is artificially
cooled in summer by passing through
many miles of pipes packed in ice, so
that il never rises above forty degrees" ]"
Villages aud even secluded tarm-houses
might well be encouraged to follow the
example of our cities, for artesian wells
can bring an abundance of water where
natural sources are lacking.
At Grenelle, near Paris, an artesian
well was bored down 800 feet, or nearly
one-third of Il mile. The water rose
eighty feet above the surface and flowed
at the rate of ninety feet per minute.
At Rochefort, in France, is well 1876
leet deep, or more than half mile. This
is the deepest well in Europe. At Louis.
vile, KY, there is one 2,06S feet deep
At Charleston, ;. c., there is a well L.
80 feet deep There are many other
deep artesian wells in this country.
Nearly 1000 years ago Charms ana
Antouius Musa prescribed cold water in
ternally as well as externally, and that
in large doses. Water is most eiiica
ci0us medicine.
The water-works of Troy compare IA
vorably with those of most other cities
in the country of the same size. They
were established in 1888. but the law
forming the present commission was not
passed until 1866. A water-works com
pany was organized in the village of Troy
as early as 1912, but after an unsuccessful
attempt to make the effort financial
success the plan was abandoned. The
cost OF the present water-works to date
aggreg ates about $iS0,000 not including
ordinary repairs. The storage capacity
of the various reservois and lakes is
nearly 500, ,000, 900 gallons and the daily
consumption between 5000, 600 and s.
100000 gallons. The height of the dis
tributing reservoir above the level Of the
Hudson is ninety feet, while the Bruins
wick lake is 800 feet above the same
level. This growth of the city and the
demand for increased supply demonstrate
the fact that the founders of the present