The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-01-06
For the FAHSER AID MECHANIC.
Pure Water Easily Obtained.
Dear Sri have read with interest

me ora inst. OF my report uUD0 SDllf
ofthe Drinking Waters Of North Caro-
lima. and thank you for the sugge-
! tions there made. Regarding the Bul
letin a. intended chiefly for the people
Of the State, ! wished to improve I'll,
opportunity TO impress upon them tn
vital necessity Of Affection to thi.
matter. For this purpose | used the
potent argument Of facts-the results ot
our study of some of these waters "a
the most cticctual means of arousing J
proper interest in this matter. | an
obliged to you for assisting me in this
endeavor.
Now, it is to be remarked that, al
though | reported all the waters exam
ined up to date, they probably do no,
represent fairly the average character
Of the drinking waters in these places.
The samples of waters taken under the
direction Of the officer of the State
Board Of Health are supposed to BE-
suspicious waters IN the first instance.
They were, doubtless IN almost all cases,
although we were not specifically In
formed TO that effect, waters which there
was some particular u suspect a, being
unhealthy
Surprising even though. that these
werethe worst waters in those places. the
results are sufficiently alarming. They
indicate that there Is an almost criml-
nal want OF attention or ignorance as TO
the matter of the location of wells, and
Of the drainage about wells and springs.
1t is to this matter that | wish to call
more particular attention through your
paper.
1t is a well known fact that a well
drains a considerable area of ground
around it, varying in size according TO
the depth of the well, and, in a meas
ure, according to the nature of the
soil.
Under some circumstances well, thirty
feet deep only, will drain an area around
it Of fifty yard. in radius. The water
which sOaks into the ground in this
area finds it way into the well. If there
Is filth of any sort upon the surface, 1t
IS liable to be carried into the well by
the water. Fortunately this filtration
through a great depth Of soil puriies
the water in a great degree. This &C
ton differs though with the character
Of the soil. The trouble IN Whining
} Nbit- ItlC ICdSOu WHY dIIlO>j Ill li1ClI
wells show greater or less contamination,
is, that the soil there is an open sandy
one, through which the water perco
! jates 50 readily that it carries much OF
the dissolved filth into the wells with it.
\ tight clay subsoil would etfectuaily
prevent this.
The contamination finds its way most
often through an easier way into the
| wells. Where surface drainage is not
| properly attended to so that all the SIR
ace water is drawn off rapidly away
from the well, the water finds its way
often Immediately at the surface, or if
not, then through every short channel
through tie soil into the wells.
In the case Of springs, 1t flows often
directly into them.
This water carries then not only dis
solved, but also, suspended matter with
itself into the well OF spring, which then
|rotting I'm the water renders il very foul
How often too, the wells are left open
and receive ali the leaves and other lit
ter which chance may throw into them
The results OF the examinations OF many
Of the waters show that such litter is
the only source of the trouble in many
cases. \ good cleaning out would very
much improve such waters. Every
we'll should receive such a cleaning once
a year.
Contamination from this source is not
near so dangerous as that from the
p~Ie.ence of dissolved or suspended ami
NAL matter in the wells, the result Of
the proximity of stables, privies, pig
pens &C., in the country, or of sinks and
imperfect sewers III the towns. [ have
seen a case of this sort, a stable at one
corner OF a back yard, a pig pen d
another; a well IN the middle at the
lowest point around which IL vet wealth
er the liquid filth dtaiaeJ from the sta
hle and pig pen oozed and siank two or
three inches deep! The whole family
suffered continually from headaches, IN
digestion aud dysentery. They can
thaak Sod that they arc not all dead :.
If stupidity and neglect were always
punished Immediately, they would be-
| am satisfied that ninetenths Of the
wells III the country are located too near
such places and receive fifth continually
from them.
hope, sir, that something viii be
be accomplished by way Of improve
ment by our calling attention TO these
things. Where the wells are located
too near the stables &c /, let the latter
be removed to a distance. A great deal
may be accomplished by simply banking
up the earth and packing it down all
around the wells 50 that the surface
water will run rapidly off beyond the
limit of soil drained by the wells. We
,A.l not have yratarc Ibapa
IS no country in the world better sup
piled with sources OF pure water than
North Carolina, if only a little atteG-
tion were paid &C., keeping them as
pure as nature supplies them to us.
Immigrants need not be frightened
away, as you suppose they might be,
by our exhibit o. bad waters.
Let them rather see that attention is
paid to keeping them pure. This
Is not the least of the advantages OF
our much favored State, and they viii.
be but the reader to join with US in
their Improvement and enjoyment.
We see evidences already that our
people are waking up to attention to
this matter. The people of Vii
mington are determined to over
come the trouble eifectually there, by
building water-works and supplying
their fine city with water drawn from
beyond the limits Of the city contami-
nation. | hear they have organized for
this grand improvement already. Some
good done already, you zee, sir, AMI let
Us keep on stirring the matter until our
people drink pure waters IN all our towns
as we'll as in the county.
Respectfully yours,