Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-24

Sdrs nts is so offensive to taste and smell as to
cause persons to turn from 1t IN disgust, IL caI
not be healthfui the sacrane t Of al sors
| from the various towns above us; III addltion 70
which is the sewerage from the PRISON at roi-
som, and saughter-houses ana MANY prissle Iesi
| denees upon the banks of the rivers add their
| nortion to pollution OF the waters. Inc slougnS
| and tules contain great quantities OF oecaylhg
| animals and fishes, and when the rivers are
1 at their lowest stage they drain into
| and commingle with the water Of our river
| their accumulations of decayed animal and
vegetable matter, aud poisoning the source of
1 onT supply know it is contended that running
| water puIifies itself, which / admit il does to
| certain extent the matter held in suspension,
which is the least injurious, being preeipitated,
but that held il absolute solution, especially the
| most injurious still remains.
81 am not one to raise false alarms: but do
believe we ought to take some steps towards I'M
proving the quality of the water we are now
using
| Dr. Nichols referred to reports OF former
Boards of Health of this city, quoting from
| Drs. Hatch, Hardness, Logan ana others. ne
then referred to the experience OF otner CUES S
which obtain their water by pumping IRON a.i
| iacent rivers specially noting that OF fhliadet-
phia, Trenton, Washington. Chicago ana 10
| ronto In all these cities the necessity tor some
| other source of supply can no longer De qls-
| eriised and in each case many millions OF dol
| lars will be expended in meeting 1t. concern
| Ing the pollution of water by sewage the doctor
! gave the following:
the pollution of the Mersey, as long ago as io1O,
stated that sewage discharged IN running
water is not materially chanseQ ior nis'Hy
bonrs by oxidation and there is not river IN
| ENGLAND long enough to dispose OF Il moderate
amount of sewage through oxidation
Professor Rudolph Vircho German santa,
rian saws he considers the introduction OF fieeal
/ matter into water courses in all cases OF doubt
full admissibilty, and the pouring into rivers Oh
| these and domestic waters generally, enuahSer
| public health. He does not believe that the
| of tafn q
| isms i'll drainage liquid.
| THE FnaiisR Commission on pollution of riv-
ers is strongly opposed to any water USED Ior
| household purposes containing nitTates, nitrltes
| or ammonia. ,,;
| denies any human reflections hnd1ng lnelr way
| into water used by cities for drinking pur-
noses is liable to spread the disease, and objects
| To the use of water from any river into winch
| human excrements or animal organisms ma
:. Peftenkoier. Koch and innumerabie sci
| er,tlsts hold that water for household purposes
| should not be polluted by human eXcremenls
or any animal organisms ana coul =; quOoc
| good authorities Tor a long time, but II seems
| unnecessary. If the facts are as claim, some
| thing"
In conclusion he said I'VE are paving an an
nually nearly $4,000 for the impure wafer we
are now using. Cannot we be served Win
| better article at the same or a less expense?
| A general discussion followed the reading OF
Dr.. Nichols paper IN which nearly al the
| Dr. Nixon remarked that he was very much
gratified that DR.. Nichols had written upon sub
| ject in which the people OF sacramento
| were so much interested. He said ::
| THE water furnished by our system of
water works has been for many years so much
polluted by mining debris, that 1t has been
| great source of annoyance 10 our cltlzehs ana
| exceedingly Objectionable to strangers visiting
| our place and there is no doubt but many nave
| been deferred from making homes III Saera-
mento on that account. At certain seasons OF
| the year when the water is low in the river,
ana on account of the tule basins being emp led
| into it, the water becomes very offensive, ana at
times is probably cause of disease what sac
| ranento wants above ali Things 10 make 1t
! desirable place OF residence, Is an abundant
supply of good, clear, pure water, ana TINS Is d
i very proper time TO agitate the water question.
/ No part of The. revenue derived from water
Should be used for any other purpose, citizens
/ being supplied merely al cost and, If practical,
| the city should own its water works or at least
| have the control of rates charged for water.
| Rivers are the natural sewers of country, and
as their banks become thiekly inhabited the
lMaters must become greatly polluted and there
by rendered unfit for domestic use
H DR.. g. L. Simmons said in discussing
1.-THE question brought before us tonight we
1 hre acting as physicians who know from
Experience, observation and study that
pure water is essential to maintain good healtn,
and also as citizens of Sacramento, interested III
All that pertains to its material welfare, and who
Unjust paw a proportionate share of the expense
made necessary by any public improvement. 1t
! Us true that the water furnished to US by the
| present direct service system, as stated by
| DIR. Nichols. is offensive to the, eye,
| Ind we believe it has been and VIII
| continue to be called filthy and impure by all
/ Visitors TO orr city. No statements that we MAKE
4 in regard to its lnuOcuousncss can induce our
| friends from abroad to use the muddy COM
| bound and travel where we viii. our water mas
| h bad name among those whose gooc opinion
| would greatly enhance the prosperity OF our
/ town To overcome this filthy appearance
many OF us have settling tanks or filters, which
| are maintained at no inconslderable expense,
Wnile some OF the hote uSe alum 10 preclpltate.
| the mud Our supply when so tre9te&d. is desti-
tute of the attractive quatities6f living water,
and in no sense can II be compared to that rest
( ing in the deep lakes Upon the eastern slope of
| the Sierras. In az economic view, belleye l
can afford tq-pssS an additional rate tor clear
lnQA:l tats Xaier,f Lean dispense with settling
] t2!aEs and filters, rid my premises OF the muddy
LIQUID which during the summer mouths be-
| srhesrs grass, shrubs and flowers. and induce
people from abroad TO make their homes with
] lis by furnishing them with the elearest OF
water.
u "As a physician, 1 believe one of the main
1cailses Tor a contamination of our water
! which has been referred TO by the
reader of the evening. deserves more particular
| mention. Directly north OF us, ana WITHIN
| short distance of Que main supply-plpe. are Il
| humber OF level catchment basins miles IN eX-
! tent upon whose borders grow the varied forms
of marsh vegetation The water is retained III
these basins for several months. until IL has be
| come charged with the unhealthy products OF
vegetable and sometimes animal decay. Whfn
the water IN river falls, and at It's loW stage
these basins discharge their contents through
s!oughs into the main stream, and II i iair 10
! presume that portion OF THIS swamp drainage
| is drawn by our powerful pumps INTO odr service
pipes and distributed tothe homes OF our people
| How much OF the malaria or bad air which at
pertain seasons is said TO disturb the healtn OF
Sacramento may lie attributable to bad water
/ charged, in the manner stated, with the germs
Of disease, may be difficult to determine but no
medical authority will deny the proposition that
/ is is dungeons Tor any community 10 use
/ WAITER supply so contaminated.
/ nr Bruno said THE source of
organic impurities is manifold, besides the
IiFolsoIn prison and all towns and cities
ION the river banks that discharge their
I5entire refuse matter into the river large
lsnuaarfties are derived from the stagnant water
lin bonds, lakes and swamps, that. after having
lbeen exposed for months TO the heat OF the sun,
is finally discharged into the river. Many OF
lfhese bonds previous 20 their discharge into the
river have become ilnpregnated with the poi
lsOnots secretiOas OF putreiylns remains oil DEAD
lauima3s. fish. frogs, cattle, etc. The stagilant
isyater OF tIie lands which at certain seasons of
tihe year are used for pastures, Is little less than
a sniurafion Of manure and other impurities lett
en the soil the wear previous ANY possible lin7
proyemert Ola the present system OF water sup
My should be eagerly embraced by the city au-
Dr. william Ellery Briggs said; Be
! lieving in the mOlern theory OF the eiioiogy
! Of disease | fully appreciate the vast import
aucs which our water supply bears to the
ill,rienit, condition OF the community The
liculty with which water carries disetse-pro-
dCcing germs from frequent demonstration has
| become an accepted fact OGr local conditions
are such as to render the river water 1T times Il
| prolific source of Inorbiiic matter. When the
| water level becomes lowered the staSnant
waters OF the sioughs and ponds, produced by
| She winters overflow, drain into the river car
rvins with them the products OF animal and
vegetable decomposition, wen rs the sewage
from several small towns and the State Prison
al Folsom.
That the water rs furnished to the city is 4
fertile source OF disease which has been an APP
probium 20 Sacramento is almost inconteStable,
and that the advent of clear. pure ~ater would
! increase our collective and individual prosper
ity in the direct ratio that it diminished our
liability TO disease, is most rational PROPOSE
ton"
| DR.. NJ J. Magill agreed with the purport Of
DR.. Nichols paper. and heartily Endorsed the
| expTessiols CT other members that n change
! from the water now used in the city is neecS-
ssry TO the health, wealth, beauty and happi-
ness OF the residents.
Dr. /. Z. Oatman said Water, clear
| water, soft water, wholesome water. is the de-
sire OF every Sacrameutan. To obtain water OF
the above qualities, it must be brought from
| some OF the upper branches OF the American,
Costumes OF HOkclumnc rivers, or from some
OF the lakes at their sources
Dr. t. w. Huntington said: II a dilution
OF the sewage of Redding. Chico, Red
Bluff, AlaIySville, and Folsom with It's
crowded prison, he innocuons If a solu-
ton charged With the results OF vegetable
and OF animal dee0mp0stions-aS the sipage
| water OF foul Sloughs aud enormous tracts OF
tule lands certainly must be-is iii water sup