Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-16
BETTER WATER
Promised the Memphis Public by the
President Of the Water Company,
in the Near Future.
Statements Showing that the Company is
vitality Interested In Furnishing
Better Quality of Water.

Learning that the Water Company was
| engaged in Efforts 10 improve our water sup
ply, an APPEAL representative yesterday
visited the office of the company in search
OF facts. Explaining the object OF the visit,
and expressing the hope that the report was
weil-fourded, he asked the president Of the
company il he had anything to say which
be wss willing should be placed before the
public.
Judge Latham expressed regret that the
report hsd tb,siued circulation until further
progres. had been made with certain expert.
msnts now under way, as he had hoped that
their success would be the frs, notice TO the
public Al The experiments Rsrs in progress
As 1t had become known, however, be would
state that the company had had the question
under constant investiga ion ever since the
erection OF its new machinery, and that 20
soou as an ample quantity was provided, and
full provision made for reserve machinery,
he addressed himself 10 the matter of i'm
proving the quality of the supply.
First he visited the few cities having filter
beds or reservoirs and found none giving
satisfaction; the one at Poughkeepsie, n. Y,
being the nearest approach to success, though
on very small scale.
He next Investigated various systems of
clearing water under pressure ny means of
large filters attached to the mains. This, if
feasible, be thought far preferable TO the set
Ting reservoir, against which there is a grow
ing prejudice with sanitsrians, who insist
that still water soon becomes foul. Especi-
ally would it be condemned in our warm
climate. He exhibited the drawings OF
litter he has ordered as test 10 be attached
10 a small main. III satisfactory one of the
largest made will be ordered; and il that
gives satisfaction, a sufficient number will
ha cd To- 49, -
In answer 10 a question as to an expert
ment with wells, of which the reporter had
heard, Judge Latham explained that year
ago he visited a firm engaged in sinking
wells in the Northern States, and though
not favorably impressed, he continued the
investigation. In the company's anxiety not
to neglect any reasonable effort, they anthor-
ICED him several weeks since, though wholly
incre6nous, TO contract in reference 10 the
wells, which he did. The contractors have
unbranded confidence in their succefs.
They claim that after passing through
! various strata of clsy, sand and gravel for
several huudred feet they Will pass a deep
str. tam of blue clay, below which ia a deep
stratum # sand, in which hey expect 10 find
an inexhaustibie supply of clear, pure, colt
| water. They have had much experience,
and ore SO sanguine as TO have shared part
CT The risk. They expect to tegin 10 two
weeks. an tie meantime" said be, "you see
by this letter from Newark, N. ] that The
thirty or forty days we ought to be able 10
| eith,r ia a succes4."
Reporter-Suppose both fail, does the
company ofrr no other plan OF improving
the supply?
| Mr.. Laiham-A momenl's r. Election oughl
to satisfy anyone that the company is vitality
iuteIe.ted in improving the water. Ia nv
annual report to the company, last July, i
| showed that with clear water our revenue
would, in different ways, be increased fully
| $4,000, and that, if clear water could be
had at a cost of even 100000, it would pay;
| besides, what is Of far more consequence
giving Satisfaction TO the public. Again, the
frequent turbidity Of the water lie serious
| obstscle to our general Use OF the meter
There are hundreds OF consumers, large
and small, using FIVE, ten or twenty
time as much water as hey pay Tor
With clear water we could introduce meter,
| with great profit. With such iuducement,
10 scti n, the company will, If possible, work
out some plan VI other for materially i'm.
proving the public water supply; and bef
TO assure the public that the question of any
reasonable expenditure is not an obstacle
We would gladly make the most liberal out.
| bOf bystCms luuecu, VIC COulu
not afford not to do 80. We have,had an IN
precedented season of high water and con
slant local rains, giving US turbid water fol
a much longer period than usual Besides
the water problem is difficult one
to solve in all large cities. Yves
and South it ia turbid, though
moi generally unwholesome. East ane
North it is polluted and in many citiel
wholly insufficient in quality. Objection
able as may be our supply, many cities own
ing their works, after spending millions
have no better or clearer water than Mem
phil. But the inferior water Of other cite
does not clesr ours. 1 refer to it only q
evidence of the difficulty in finding th,
remedy. If within our reach it will b
found. If, in our judgment, not posaibl
under present plans, others will be tried. Il
the meantime, any number Of gentleme
who think they can do more than the pres
ent company is doing will, with pleasure, b
afforded an opportunity on the most favor
able terms.