The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-07-01
RIVER WAITE.
1lspurIaeallon for domestic Use.

RIVER WATER.
It's Fabrication for Domestic Use.
From the Boston Journal Of Chemistry.
Ten years ago we published in the Jour
nal the result Of several careful analyses 0
the waters Of Merrimac river in Eastern
Massachusetts,. These waters were takel
from the river at Hayerhill, a point som,
eight miles below the last Of the grea
manufacturing cities which line the bank
Of the river almost to It's source. Thu
cities Of Lawrence with 40, 900 inhabitants
Lowell, with 60,0OO; Nashua, with $1,000
Manchester, with $1,000, are all upon thil
fayorite stream, and the excreta and filth
Of at least half Of million people and
the refuse from hundreds of immense
mills are poured into 1t constantly, day
and night, throughout the. year. The
waste from the mills is not only Of a filthy
nature, but considerable portion consists
Of substance highly corrosive and poison
GUS, as acids, spent dyes, mineral salts
and caustic alkalies.
The Pacific mills Of Lawrence are Of vast
extent, the largest in the world, employ
ing about 6,0O0 operatives, and the filth
coming from these establishments would
seem 10 be sufficient, almost, TO poison the
waters OF the Atlantic ocean. The waters
examined were secured at point, as had
been stated, not more than eight miles be-
low the outlet from these mills into the
river, and as the season July when the
stream Is at a stage OF water half way be.
tween its maximum and minimum flow.
The analysis showed high degree Of
purity in its water, the organic and inor-
ganic matter falling below four grains in
the imperial gallon. Results OF this ma.
ture, 80 unexpected, created doubts as to
the accuracy OF the methods OF analysis.
but they were fully sustained by repeated
testing under all the modified forms known
to chemical research.
Standing alone, these results would
serve TO show the remarkable capabllity
moving water possesses ofselt-puritication;
but the fact is strongly established by re-
searches in England made upon the
streams which are strongly polluted by
wash from the large manufacturing towns
and cities. The streams in England are
small, there not being one OF so great vol.
ume as the Merrimac, which we regard
here as small river. The pollution OF
English streams is carried on to an enor-
nous extent, the water OF many, at the
outiall OF the sewers OF large towns, being
offensive; as 1t passes down the
river it blaCkens from the formation Of sui |
phide OF iron; further on the black color |
disappears, and the river at last |
exhibits no signs oil odor or turbldity.
Again, soon after the sewage has been |
turned into the river the sewage fungus |
appears, all other vegetable life being alb
sent, no fab areseen, the banks are black.
a short distance further on the fungus
washes, vegetation is luxuriant, fish
tho river clears and no trace OF
black deposit can be seen. Thus the river
Soar at Leicester Is black with sewage; at
thirteen miles distant, the
water is perfectly clear and fish are abund-
ant. The Irwell at Manchester is polluted
with every form OF filth in nine miles the
offensive character OF the stream has en-
tirely disappeared; and so on in many
cases.
At no time and under no circumstances
have the waters OF the Merrimsc become
30 impure, even at the point where they
flow through cities, as to destroy life.
Fishes in considerable numbers are found
in the river at all seasons, and 10 the
spring shad, salmon and alewiyes abound.
By what method or through what agen-
cies Is the PROCESS oil seli.purifcation &C.
Undoubtedly oxidation has
much to do with it, and other chemical
aflinities are brought into play. The acids
which flow into Tie streams very dilute
unite with alkalies and form fixed and in.
soluble salts. The sulphuric acid will
find lime as hydrate or carbonate, and by
will form insolnble sulphate,
which will fall TO the bed Of the stream;
the nitric and hydrochloric acids will act
in pImI!ar manner, forming nitrates and
and thus they are disposed oil. |
The dies and metallic solutions which
escape are changed by civilization into |
new bodies, moaLly insoluble, aud it Is by |
this action that the cxcreta and other or |
panic substances arc locked up in harpl-
less, insoluble forms. both air and water
furnish free oxygen for oil needed changes. |
and hence moving water, which in ito
course after pollution tumIles over rocks,
or whirls into eddies, will soonest lose It's |
faint. 1t is the sharp teeth OF oxygen
which does the work OF the scavepger in |
purifying cir as we'll as water. phere Is |
poured into the cir every possible form oil
iIlth and impprity during every instant OF
time, but plenty OF oxygen is at hand to
unite with It, forming new and innocuous
bodies.
il this purified water o! streams suitable
for domestic uses7 As a matter Of senti-
ment we shonld prefer the water Of wells
or open ponds, but as matter OF TACT we
cannot doubt that such waters are safe
and healthful for household purposes.
The work which nature performs is the
INSTANCE OF impure waters under Gondi-
lions considered Is as perfect as that per-
formed in the case OF air, and we must
constantly breathe air often contaminated
by passing through the lungs OF others.
In England this question Of pure water is
an important one and also to US in some
sections.
Book Notices.
LifeoiS Simon Girty:=By Charles Mcknight,
q lIn,,s WaaAaHa parlar ~ NnlH