Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-13
THOMAS ANTISELL.
Remarks OF DIR. Antisell, Chairman OF
the Committee.

the Committee.
The society having heard the report of the
committee and the remarks thereupon it seems
to be necessary to make some remarks in ex-
PLANTATION. The water, the report of the analy-
sis Of which has been just submitted was COL
lecte1 from the pipes on the 7th June, and the
chemical examination Immediately followed.
Without stopping to indicate the value attach
able to amount of each constituent of the
water, it could be said with truth to be a fairly
good potable water. The smell possessed by
the water during the last few weeks, and which
has now disappeared, is not any new occur
renee either in our drinking water or in that of
the drinking water of many of our large towns
and cities, where It Is more or less q visitor
ter of Prof. Leeds.
There has been now several analyses of the
month, and when the reports of the Numerical
ratio of the constituent elements is considered
1nteliigently they raise doubt in our minds
ent chemists have been derived from one uni
form source, and whether that source is wholly
sS% the Sa ysr Lacking at it
furnished do not correspond closely, either
among themselves, or with the analyses
report Of the national health Commission toe
in 1882, or in the comparison of city
waters made by Prof: Leeds, and found in
and as our District chemists are equally expert
and reliable with those living outside, a con-
cluS1On seemed 10 force itself upon US that the
Potomac water is not wholly, nor at all times.
daily fed into the pipes, but that on some occa-
sions an additional supply of a more turbid and
more saline character IS introduced from vicinal
streams. Since the day when Gen. Meigs
from our river, whose quality as good pota-
BILE water amid those furnished to the cities
of Christendom stands 80 high as to rank fourth
or fifth in excellence, We may fairly ask why
should the furnished supply deteriorate? Why
should the authorities be driven to look for
small supplies derived from the little brooks
and tributaries drawn from the neighborhoOd
of the upper reservoir? And we might
also reasonably ask why should we not
have receiving basins and settling basins
and q good and extensive altering apparatus7
Why should muddy water enter our mains, or
why should eelS or other nuiSanceS clog the
pipes? The general government would no
doubt bear the expense Of altering apparatus ii
parent.
The selfpurifying power of rivers to preserve
their purity even In the face Of great pollution,
Is a matter Of every day occurrence, and well
known to all hygienists, and was clearly dem.
Onstrated q few years since by the classic ex.
pertinent Of the French chemist Dumas and his
assistant experts on the river Seine. The ex.
pertinent was based on the well-oscertained
fact that the water Of rivers In constant mo.
ton and rolling over clay and pebbly bottoms
where population Is not excessive and pollu.
ton does not occur, always contains q certain
amount Of air dissolved In 1t.
The oxygen OF that air e always at work ~
moving the dlth and pollution and the results O
enough 70 run, Il VIII inevitably purify itieak