The daily gazette., 1880-07-22
THE WATER SUPPLY OF FARMS

ter Of supplying large towns with an
abundance of pure water. In some
instances the water has been conduct
ed twenty or thirty miles in order to
obtain that which contains few i'm
purities. Great attention has also
been given TO its distribution so that
the poor may have it in abundance
and at small cost. Numerous filters
have been invented and brought into
general use. Special pains have been
taken to furnish pure running water,
not only for horses but for dogs. In
many cities costly fountains have been
erected in parks and along the streets
where there is the most travel 80 that
horses, dogs and men may at any time
quench their thirst without trouble or
loss of time. On most farms, however,
there has been little improvement in
the matter of supplying water for do
mestic purposes or for the use of stock.
The pump has generally taken the
place of the old-fashioned well-sweep
and bucket, and the number of wind
mills for the purpose of raising water
for stock has increased, particularly
in the best diary districts. Little at
tention, has been given to utilizing the
water afforded by springs and streams.
A large proportion of the wells ON
farms are in poor condition. Their
walls are formed of round stones and a
space exists between the wall and the
platform on which the curb rests.
Through this leaves, grass, dust, and
small animals enter and contaminate
the water. These wells are seldom
cleaned our till their contents become
so offensive as to attract general atten-
tion. The filth that is allowed to ac-
cumulate in farm wells that supply
water not only to stock but to the men,
bers of the household is too sickening
for consideration. 1t consists of all
kinds of decaying vegetable matter,
including manure, as well as of animal
matter in all stages of decomposition.
Rabbits, rats, mice aud various sol Is
of reptiles are not unfrequently drown
ed in wells and remain there for many
months.
The location of most wells that supply
water for household purposes is most un-
favorable for the purity of their contents.
They are In many cases near the centre
Of space that has privy, pig pen, COW
yard, and the outlet Of spring sink
spout on the several corners. There is
no drain for carrying off the surplus
water, saturated as II Is with every vari.
ETY. of filth. The earth through which
the well passes may be tenacious clay,
and in that instance it may be so nearly
Impervious TO moisture that little of the
surface water, with the various substan-
hlQunlund N Tn.
many cases, however, the earth through
which the well passes is sand, or largely
composed of sand aud gravel, which al
lows surface water to pass through with
the greatest readiness.
The location of wells from which
water Is drawn for the supply Of domes-
tic animals ID infinitely worse than that
of wells for furnishing water for human
beings. These wells are ordinarily in
some portion of the barn yard, and are
often in the tentre Of it. On every side
water, the urine OF cattle, horses, hogs
and sheep, and the teaching of dung
hills. The walls, platforms and curbings
of these wells receive less attention than
those wells from which water Is obtain
for the use of the household. The we'll
from which water is drawn for stock is
rarely cleaned out till the water 1t fur
nishes becomes 80 vile that animals will
not drink 1t unless they are compelled to
do 80 by being deprived from access to
a we'll or stream.
Still this water becomes converted In
to milk, which, as manner OF course,
all the impurities taken up by
the COWS with their drink. These impu-
rites pass into cream, and from that in
to butter. This being the case it should
be no marvel tnat most of the butter
made on farms and especially that made
daring the season that cows are kept in
close quarters, has an unpleasant odor
and flavor. The wonder Is that its taste
ana smell do not cause 1t to be rejected
altogether as an article of food. 1t is
quite time that the Interest in the matter
0f the water supply that hrs been re-
Gently awakened in large cities should
extend to farms from which the people
Of towns obtain their supply of food. |
Not only the people who live on farms,
but those who reside In cities are inter- |
ested in the matter of pure water In the