National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-24
WATER DRINKERS Treasured.
Prof. De Schmedt and Health Oficer Tounshend
Rei,ort the Water puro.


Districts scientist De schmedt will to-day be.
| ginan extensive examination OF the river water
to ascertain lift has been polluted by the throw
| ing fthe bodies of hogs dying from cholera
into It, From his last examination the pro-
| fcssor is inclined to think that the water was
never SO clear, and states that he does not
believe that II IL dangerous Us II is purified so
| well. Health Officer TOwnshcnd yesterday
sent the following report of his examination
! of the river water to the commissioners
| GENTLEMEN Referring 10 the reports respect
! ing the throwing of the curcasses of dead hogs
| into the Potomac river, above the Great Fans,
| and your verbal instructions In regard thereto,
| l have the honor TO present the following
| on Ihursday the 18th instant, In company
| with Mr.. McGinn, | drove as far the Great
| Falls, and there taking small boat explored
| the DAM the reservoir, and the river for some
| two or three miles above the entrance to the
| oqueduct. This inspectiou failed TO reveal any
| evidence of pollution Of the water by the
means referred to, aud the superintendent OF
| the water works ut the falls reported that
| although he had kept careful lookout, no
dead hogs had been discovered in the river
| Whereabouts.
boatmen on the canal aud by other persons,
| TINT there were numerous CarcaSses IN DOtn
| the river and cnnAl further up,
| Dceming 1t advisable to make iurthcr lllves-
| tgation OF the reports | secured the steam
packet Maryland, belonging to tho Chesapcakc
! and Ohio Canal company, and on Friday, the
| 18th instant. proceeded up the canal. ON the
morning OF the 10Th the dam at Seneca was
thoroughly explored from shore to shore, and
| only one dead hog was found. From ms
point to the Point of Rocks careful survey
was made, but very few hogs were found. The
bOatmen, lock.tcnders, and storekcepers all
| reported that there had been large number of
dcad hogs floating principally in the canal
some time since, but recently they had noticed
very few, and they were of the opinion that
the cholera, which had been prevailing ex-
cluslyely among the hogs, was about dying
out
From Point Of Rocks we ran up as far as
Berlin, and there sent the packet back TO the
| point, and taking two small skitls we ran
down over about seven miles of the river.
This portion of the Potomac is wide, shallow,
and filed with rocks. The water At present is
very low and clear as crystal Here, am
satisfied, If at any point, we should have
found the carcasses, IL they had been thrown
in above. Yet, in our entire course, we dld
not find n single carcass This point being
some thirty odd miles above where the water
enters the nqueduct, became satisfied that
there was no cause for alarm respecting the
waters pollution. and accordingly started on
the. return trip. The circulars and posters
| which prepaacd for the occasion, calling on
the people of tho upper Potomac region to as
sist us in preventing n pollution of our water
| supply, were freely distributed, and 1t was
gratifying to note the universal recognition
given to the terms of the request and the
| hearty promises Of cooperation on every handy
The residents along our course, one and all
condemned the practice, which, they stated
had been, in their opinion, though tlessly in.
dulgcd in, and promised TO render all possible
assistance toward preventing repetition
thereof Therefore think that the inspect
ing tour, while 1t fortunately developed little
or no cause for the alarm respecting the pollu.
ton of Our water, will have n salutary effect
in having brought to the minds of good citi-
Zens along the shores of the Potomac above us
the fact that there is danger to the people of
this district in the pollution of the waters of
that stream, not alone by the throwing In of
dead animals, but by any means whatever.
In conclusion, desire TO return thanks to
the superintendent of the canal company, who
so kindly placed al our disposal the packet by
means of which we were enabled to make the
inspection & to tic people along our route,
who gladl- 81 Sed every assistance in their
power. So ST.