Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-21
The Water Supply Of Farms.

| attention has been devoted TO the
matter Of supplying large towns with
an abundance Of pure water. In
some instances the water has been
conducted twenty or thirty miles, in
/ order TO obtain that which contains
/ few impurities. Great attention has
also been given 10 its distribution, so
that the poor may have it in abund-
ancc 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 fOun-
tains have been erected in parks and
/ along the streets where there is the
most travel, SO 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 domestic pur-
poses or for the use OF stock. The
/ pump has generally taken the place
Of the old-iashiOncd well sweep and
/ bucket, and the number OF windmills
/ FOR the purpose Of raising water for
stock has increased, particularly in
the best dairy districts Little at
I tention, however, has been given 70
utilizing the water afforded by springs
and streams. 4 large proportion OF
the wells on farms are in poor condi-
ton. Their walls are formed OF
( round stones, and a space exists be-
tween the wall and the platform on
/ which the curb rests Through this.
leaves, grass, dust, and small animals
enter and contaminatc the water
These wells are seldom cleaned out
/ ill their contents become so offensive
/ a. to attract general attention. The
/ filth that is allowed 10 accumulate in
farm wells. that supply water not
/ only to stock but 10 the members OF
I the household, is too sickening for
. consideration. # consists of all
kinds Of decaying vegetable matter.
including manure, as well as Of ami.
NAL matter in all stages Of dccompo-
sition. Rabbits, rats, mice, and yari-
Gus sorts of reptiles are not unfre-
{ quoully drowned in wells, and remain
there for many months.
The location Of most wells that
supply water for household purposes
is most unfavorable for the purity Of
their contents. They are, ia many
cases, near the center oC space that
has privy, pig pen, COW yard, and
the outlet OF a sink spout, on the
several corners. There is no drain
for carrying off the surplus water.
saturated as it is with every variety
OF filth. The earth through which
the well passes may be tenacious clay,
and in that instance it may be SO
I nearly impcryious to moisture that
little of the surface water. with the
various substances dissolved in it.
ever enters it. In many cases, how.
ever, the earth through which the
we'll passes is sand, or largely COM
posed of sand and gravel, which al-
lows surface water TO pass through it
with the greatest readiness.
The location of wells from which
water is drawn for the supply of do.
mestic animals is infinitely worse
than that of wells for furnishing
water for human beings. These wells
are ordinarily in some portion of the
barnyard, and are often in the center
of it. On every side of them are
pools Of stagnant surface 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 of the wells from which water
is obtained for the use of the house
hold. The we'll from which water Is
obtained for stock Is rarely cleaned
out till the water 1t furnishes becomes
so vile that animals will not drink IL
unless they are compelled to do so by
being deprived from access to a well
or stream.
Still this water becomes converted
into milk, which, as a matter of
course, contains all the impurities
taken up by the cows with their
drink. These impurities pass into
cream, and from that into butter.
This being the case, Il should be no
marvel that most Of the butter made
on farms, and especially that made
during the season that cows are kept
In close quarters, has an unpleasant
odor and flavor. The wonder is that
Its taste and smell do not cause II TO
be rejected altogether as an article of
food. IL 10 quite time that the inter.
est in the matter Of the water supply,
that has hean rncnnIlv Awakened In