St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-07-13
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V'HE VILLAGE WATER WORKS of st. Johns
u bury desire to have it understood that we
have plenty of Water TO sell, that our Pumps are
working well, Filter in good order. and the
Water good. We Informed by reliable party
that be made some tests one summer with a Their
mOmeter, and the Village Water averaged three
degrees cooler than the Stiles Pond Water As to
the comparative purity, the public are invited
to read the following extract from the New
York Tribune of May % Iss3.
Organic matter OF vegetable origin is not espe-
cialy dangerous but that of animal origin even in
very minute quantities. is highly dangerous. Ii
may communicate no unpleasant smell or taste to
the water, but on the contrary may give it an IN
usually fine flavor. thus destroying its victims by
a kiss. The first symptoms of poison from the
of such water are slight nausea and mild diar-
rhea afterward typhoid fever sets in and the
struggle for life grows intense. 1t is estimated
that water may contain one grain TO the gallon of
organic animal matter without being fatally pOs-
onous even thirty-tve grains Of mineral and or
ganic vegetable matter in a gallon will not ALWAYS
render IT unfit TO drink. The Croton water in
New York CITY contains grains of impurities to
the gallon the Genesee River water supplied to
the city of Rochester contains Is grains the Hud-
son River water in the city of Rochester contains
grains. The water of the Mississippi contains 40
grains of mud To the gallon and is certainly whole
some water t. drink Peaty matter held in solution
by water in ponds and swamps are harmless even
though they may color the water, but the clearsst
and most sparkling water from wells in the vicini-
ty of pools or graveyards is TO be regarded
with the utmost suspicion.
Oxygen is the greatest purifier. The world is puri-
fed every day by fire, for the union Of oxygen with
any substance is combustion As the rain falls
through the air it dissOlves the oxygen. nitrogen
carbOnc acid and ammonia of the atmosphere but
more oxygen than nitrogen that the air dissOlv-
ed in water is much richer in oxygen than ordinary
atmospheric air. This excess of oxygen supplies
fishes with the vital element, and also furnishes
material for the combustion of impurities in the
water, literally burning them up. Sewage which
would poison an ordinary well becomes harmless in
the running stream and while the we'll il ALWAYS
open to suspicion the river though il drain popn.
lOus districts will nevertheless supply wholesome
water" The conditions Of this publication are
that the sewage must be mixed with twenty times
its volume 10 running water and flow ten or twelve
miles at which distance from the source of impur
ity becomes burned clean of all injurious matter
The water of running brooks that have received
sewage is to be avoided unless the volume Of water
is large enough 10 permit complete combustion Of
all organic matters contained in it. The water Of
ponds, lakes and rivers 10 generally purer than
spring well water, because they receive their
supplies from the soil rather than through it,
Persons using water in large or small quantities
are desired To address
HORACE K. IDE, Sup't W. W
or RICHARD DONAGHY, Asst
and prices will be made that satisfactory.