Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-18
Water i'm New York. BROOKLYN and
PhifaGelDhia.


testing to the utmost the sanitary adEinistra-
liz OF cur American cities. In the north the
intense heat has been more than usually trying
TO juvenile life. In New York children died for
a tine at the rate of seventy-fye day: aud
III Philadelphia the loss was almost proportion
ally as great. In spite or our freedom from the
loss was due TO the foul condition of our water
supply. once more Paramount broke down
under the clty's demand for pure supply OF
this Indispensable gift OF God" as the Arabs
call Ii. We pay more for our water than any
other city, and yet every summer drought not
only shortens the supply, but lowers the quail
ny 10 a point far below that of safety to
necessity, no great city but Philadelphia
chooses to depend on pumping machinery for
us water supply: They all have preferred The
saves money In the long run. Chicago. st.
Louis, and perhaps Cincinnati are forced to
pump the water they use. But Boston, New
York, Brooklyn, Glasgow, Manchester, London,
and all the best managed cities OF Europe en-
ploy aqueductS. Philadelphia has plenty of up
land sites for great reservoir within man.
ageable distance OF the city. A single aqueduct,
connecting such a reservoir with the city, would
cost a handsome sum OF money, would leave US
a score or discredited pumps TO sell as old iron,
and would furnish but little political patronage
in the employment OF officers. But it would
save hundreds OF lives every summer, and in
the long run, would save money as well to the
city treasury. Those who have gone straight
from Philadelphia to Brooklyn this su MINER from
the sight and smell OF what our hydranus iurn-
ish 10 the pullucid vision of Brooklyn water,
will not need much persuasion to see that our
system is capable Of 1mproveme
phtG Weekly Notes.
SUMAC GATHERING.-Sumac abounds here in
large quantities, and 1t is gathered by colored
people from June TO OCTOBER. who sell IL to
country merchants at 30 cents per cwt. The
merchants sell it to the proprletorS OF Sumac
mills at Petersburg, where it is pulveriZed and
prepared for northern markets, TO be used in
tanning and dying. The gathering OF this arti-
Gle has OF late become so extensive that Ii may
be regarded as new industry. Years ago the
virtue OF Virginia sumac was very little known,
and consequently very little was gathered, but
when 1t was found to be among the best In the
world the demand for Ii has steadily increased;
SO much so that 1t is likely that before long it
Will be cultivated Last year one OF the mer-
chants in Brunswick county shipped fifty tons
to Petersburg. A colored hand can easily
gather one hundred to one hundred and fifty
pounds day. Saturday Is the busiest day for
merchants in the rural districts, and then col
ored people can be seen coming to the stores
from morning until evening TO dispose OF their
su1lac gathered during the week. Those that
are too poor TO own oxen or horses carry It. IL
Is nothing unusual for colcred woman TO carry
forty Or fifty pounds at time On her head a
considerable distance. Since the article grows
wild, there are no restrictions In the privilege
Of gathering 1t, but the colored people. in gen.
era1, ask permission to do so.-Brunstoick
County (Fd.) Letter.