The daily gazette., 1882-11-11
PRoF LEEDS REPORT.
A Paper Discusslsg the Water supply Of
MilIaington.

NHhainEtous
Last evening Professor A. r. Leeds Of
lIoboiSen, N. j., read lengthy report in
the Council chamber OF his examination of
samples Of water given him some time since
The report went into minute details, and
the analyses were divided into four SERIES
The first showed the results of samples
taken ON May 2, 1882, at Rockland dam,
Squirrel river, Tail race Of Barley Mil,
Rockford dam. H. DuPont's dam, Ban
croft's Mills, Riddle dam, third dam oppo-
site Augustine's Mills, Crooked run, Rattle
snake run, pump race foot of Jefferson
street, Office OF the Water Department, Clay
ton House. Second series, samples taken
June II, 1882, from Rockland dam, high
service reservoir, receiving reservoir, Cool
Spring, distributing reservoir, Cool Spiing,
pump well Office OF Water Department.
Series 5, samples. collected September IS
DuPont's upper dam, Rockford dam, Ril-
dies dam, Third dam, office Of Water De
partment, Brandywine above and below
Coatesvllle. Series 4, Mil Greek at Rich
| ardson's mill, Red Clay Creek at Phillips
Mill, White Clay Creek at Stanton, Red
Clay Creek at Lancaster turnpike. The
elements represented were frcs and albume-
mold ammonia, graduated from .00l5 to
.0295; oxygen required to oxidise organic
matter, nitrites and nitrates, chlorine grad
uated from 10 to 2,13; hardness, mineral
matter, organic and volatile matter, total
solids graduated from 2 to 81. The impuri-
ties reached their maximum at Crooked run
and the Brandywine below Coatesville.
The professors paper was divided as fol-
lows: First the evidences of contamination
by manufacturers, sewage and other sources
as gathered by inspection second, methods
| of analysis third, comparison of analysis
0f samples fourth, an inquiry into other
PROPOSED sources of water supply; fifth, the
best available point for water supply in the
future in tie event Of change fifth, final
conclusions. t-T ..Ir
lie said that the bottles containing the
samples became offensive In few days.
The analysis OF the second series corrobo-
rated the result of the first. He had sup
posed that there was no contamination pre-
yious to arrival at Rockland dam, but two
series OF analysis both showed that the
amount of organic matter in the water oi
Rockland dam was very considerable. The
differences in the water below Rockland
dam were by no means SO surprising as II
the water had arrived at the dam in a state
| of comparative purity.
The speaker showed that numerous and
extensive pollutions entered the river at
Coatesville, though many of the impurities
were oXldised ana destroyed Dy tne eHectt
of light and vegetation in the twenty miles
between that point and Rockland dam
Fish had almost entirely disappeared at a
point about eight miles below Costesville, a
number OF mills casting their refuse into
the stream in the intervening space in addi-
tion to a sewer flowing into the river at that
place.
He enumerated the standards Of purity
and condemned the Mill creek, White Clay
and Red Cay creeks as sources of supply
stating that the taste and smell alone
pointed TO their unftness for potable pur.
poses. There was greater contamination
Of the Brandywine immediately below
Coatesville than at any point down to Rock
land dam. The indications pointed to thu
latter as the best source, ana falling Till
Rock ford dam as the next best. 1t would
be always necessary for citizens TO exercise
vigilance to prevent the stream above Rock
land dam becoming contaminated by sewage
refuse and the cooperation of property
owners should be secured to that end.
Thirteen members of the Board of Trade
12 Councilmen, Chief McIntire, Engineer
Conwell and Others were present, but nj
ore from the Board of Health.