Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-05
Well Water vs.. River Water.

SOLOMON said. "The thing that has been
10 the thing that shall Tor wilD be-" His
wu intended as mere affirmation. But
the masses Of mankind are governed, con.
sciously or unconsclously, as II by law Of
their nature, by tho conviction that what
ever Is Is right, or, in other words, they
cay that the thing that has been Is the thing
that shall be.
Do people use well water? Then 1t 10
useless to try to convince them that river
water Is more wholesome. Do they use
rain vateri Then 1t is useless to try to
convince them that either river water, or
well water, or spring water, Is fit to drink.
Have they culvert connections? Then
everybody ought TO have such. Are they
without culverts! Then nobody ought to
allow such things to be connected with
their premises.
Why do the doctors everywhere condemn
the use Of well water in cities! Read, and
be convinced by what follows. The City
Council Of Savannah, GA, recently had the
benefit Of the opinions OF the best OF her
physicians. DR.. CHARLTON "opined" in
the most decided manner. He said:
al the vaults can be made water-tieht
and the exerement be removed, then there
II no objection TO the system, but so long
~ they are not tight and the impure sub
stances percolate through the soil they are
the source OF untold danger. A barrel Of
kerosene oil buried ten feet below the sur
face Of the soil will cOntaminsts every
we'll within the radius OF quarter OF q
mile and the oil will be apparent 70 the
taste. The Accommodations OF vaults wilI,v
be added, "extend their pernicious inlu-
ences even greater distance, although the
water which it affects will not Indicate 10
the taste the presence Of any impurity."
DR.. WBIcHsBLBAUx said:
"a great many people seem to think
that small mixture Of pollution from the
telligent physicians have advocated the
theory shat the most impure water will be
made pure by filtration through a few fee,
Of earth, and that dug well located within
ten or twenty feet OF q vault or cesspool ia
not liable 10 bs contaminated BY animal
matter. From recent experiments ID has
been ascertained that sand interposes alb
soiutely no barrier between wells and the
bacterial infection from eesspools, GEM
et<ries, ETC., lying even at great distances In
the lower wet stfstum OF sand. These
facts prove conclusively that the ordinary
dug wells OF towns and cities generally
contain water poisoned TO greater or less
degree by sewage, az d the Use OF such
water for domestic purposes should be pro-
hibited by law"
DIR. LINCOLN saw only one alternative II
the vaults remain. That was to close I'D
the wells. With the excellent water which
the river affords he approved Of removing
the bottoms OF the vaults, closing the wells,
and using exclusively the river water.
All the doctors, some twenty in number.
agreed In condemning the vaults. whether
open or GENE ited, on the ground that they
poison the water ia the wells.
The Savannah MorHing Neps adds:
"Tbe argument that the water OF the
wells has been used for many years, aud
that no sickness has been attributed TO IL.
ought not TO be allowed TO have any weight.
W no can say that this contaminated we'll
water he's not caused sickness and il not
one OF The causes OF II ali the time and NJ
all seasons OF the yeary II the water con.
Iains poisonous matter II cannot be whole
some. The physicians say that the vault
system must 10 or the wells must 10. IL
VIII be wise TO get rid Of the wells, even
though the present vault system IL changed.
Well water cannot be pure In q thickly-
settled city, and especially where the soil Is
y porous as the soil Of this city Is. The
City Council has SUFFICIENT evidence thst
he wells are sources Of disease. and there
lore dangerous. Let them act with prompt
ness and yigor In dealing with this we'll
water question. This city Is healthy now.
Let thai be done which ought to be done
o keep II healthy"
II our Board Of Health were 10 tell the
,eopie OF Richmond thst even II the cholera
hcrld come to Richmond next year It
vould enter no house properly connected
nth culvert, the Board would not be
eeded, though we doubt u II would not