The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-10-31
Water Supply Of Farms,

Au AyricuituTdi huRlueeT WVltes
to the Country Gentleman During
the past year, l have taken pains TO
note the situation of more than hun.
dred farm wells and cisterns, and more
than half of them are in dangerous
proximity to oesspools, some of which
have been in use for scores of years |;
most of them, however, have been
emptied every spring for the manure
in them but this, even, has little effect
in preventing the inevitable pollution
of the water supply. A large proper.
tion of the farms have wells quite close
to the manure yards and stables. In
one of these homesteads, of family of
seven, but one survived to 80 years of
age, and the survivor came very near
dying Of an abcess of the liver, no
doubt superinduced by the unwhole.
some water supply. 1t is to be hoped
that these facts will give rise to inves-
tigation in such cases as may present
suspicious circumstances, and in all
cases comparison with the following
points and the condition of the water
supply may be uSeful.
/. There is no well safe that is not
perfectly well protected from surface
water and the entrance of worms, frogs,
toads and small insects and vermin.
The well should be curbed mp above
the surface with bricks or stone, laid
in cement, or well plastered outside
with lime mortar, so that the ground
slopes in all directions, and prevents
any pools of surface water from re-
naming within 20 feet of the we'll
2. 1t is common but mistaken be
lief that a we'll should be open to the
air for ventilation. The reason given
is that carbonic acid or foul air will
gather in the well. No doubt at times
this gas gathers in wells, but in every
case it is in wells that are open to the
air, aud are fouled with decomposing
organic matter The purest water
comes from drive wells and artesian
wells, to which the outer air cannot
gain access. Carbonic acid gas, too, is
only dangerous when breathed. Its
presence in water greatly improves it,
and person who drinks one glass of
soda water, or a seidlitz powder, takes
more carbonic acid gas than could
be taken in ten barrels of any well
water.
8. A we'll should therefore be tight
ly closed in at the top, and closely
curbed to the bottom, and every pos
sible entrance should be closed against
worms and all other living creatures.
4. A we'll cannot be safe from un-
derground drainage, unless it is dug
down below a bed of clay which slopes
or inclines from the well toward any
barnyard, cesspool or other source of
pollution, irrespective of distance for
when drainage flow occurs through
the soil, it is only question of time
when it will reach the well, although it
may be 100, 200 or more feet from the
source of the impurities, if the slope of
the subsoil, gravel, hardpan or clay, is
from the source of the drainage to the
we'll. In porous, sandy soil or gravel,
the deeper the well, the sooner it will
become fouled by any drainage.
5. A cesspool or barnyard should
always be located on lower ground than
the house or the well, or any spring
from which the water is drawn. If this
is not possible, the cesspool should be
made with an impervious bottom of &C.
ment, saturated with gas tar or melted
asphalt, and drain made of glazed
pipes, cemented at the joints, to carry
the liquid from it to distant place
where it may be used in making COM
post.
6. A we'll should be carried down
to permanent boiling spring which
enters the bottom, and then lined with
cement tiles, the joints of which should
be carefully closed or the lining
should be made of brick, laid in cement,
or if of wood, or hemlock plank, laid
with close joints. No other wood but
hemlock should be used for we'll curb.
The common system of boring wells by
machinery is the best and safest, and
when good supply of water is procur-
ed, the bore should be filled with oe.
ment pipe. Where water is near the
surface, drive we'll is the best and saf-
est.
In conclusion l would remark that
the best time to dig we'll is in the
dryest part of the season and when an
existing we'll is dry in dry time, it
would pay to take that opportunity to
deepen the we'll down to permanent
water, even if pressing work is put
aside until this has been done. And
lastly, considering the serious conse-
quences of any lapse in securing purity
in the water supply, it would be better
to spend 5000 or $500 over it, and do
without parlor organ or piano, or
costly furnishing for parlor or fancy
road wagon, if both cannot be afford
ed but a great deal of the cost may
be saved by going the right way to
work about it.