Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-09-24
nRiNklNo.MArER.
one Of The FIRST Requirements Of Success
Uarn..

one Of the First Requirements Of Success
on Farm.
One Of the first requirements Of sue
cess on a farm, says the report Of the
Massachusetts, Experimental Station,
consists in an ample supply of good
water Purity of the water used, for
drinking in particular, is OF vital inn
portance. Cities and towns usually
have their organizations for the supply
OF water, and they exact certain guar
antecs regarding the quality furnished
for their use. The farmer. living as q
rule more isolated on his farm, is in this
respect largely left TO his own counsel
His chances for obtaining good water
from springs, and for protecting his
wells against the access Of obnoxious
matters by inliltrations and otherwise,
are. In the majority Of cases, quito favor
able, II ifintelligently turned to account
A satisfactory supply of good
drinking water depends, in control
ling de Iree, on iudicious selection Of
the location of tho we'll designed for
the use Of the family. and for the live
stock, and on the personal attention be-
hlOMtu lIOln llllt W AliAt tl Nuf NNnul-
tion OF the latter and its surroundings.
Wells may be badly located in The
start, or may become exposed to con-
tamination by subsequent changes in
the surroundings. Good wells are LA
BILE to change for the worse at any time,
on account of circumstances too nu-
merous to state in this connection. To
period cally ascertain the exact condi-
ton of the well which supplies the
wants of the family and OF the live
stock is a task which no farmer can
for any length of time discard, without
incurring a serious risk in health and
prosperity The subject receives. quite
frequently, but little attention, on ac-
count of the fact that the harmful
qualities. which an apparently good
water may contain, 're disguised be-
yond recognition by the unaided senses.
Certain delicate chemical tests. aided
AT times by microscopical observations,
are, in the majority of ca es. the only
reliable means, in our present state OF
the sciences, by which desirable inior-
nation regarding the truc character of
n drinking water can be obtlned
These tests, il mu.t be acknowledged,
although of the greatest importance
from general standpoint, have their
limitations. They readily indicate the
presence Of organic matters, but give
no unfailing decision regarding their
origin whether animal or vegetable -
leaving thus. quite frequently, tie de-
gree of their harmfulncss quite unde-
cided. However, the chemical analysis
may be depended upon for all practical
purposes, a revealing the presence Of
Objectionable qualities OF the water.
The harmful substances found in drink
ing water are o. two classes- mineral
and organic. Few natural waters are
entirely Tree from mineral matters
nearly all contain small quantities OF
lime, soda, magnesia and iron sub
stances which ma be considered harm
less in that case. Larger quantities Of
these elements, however, render the
water Objectionable for drinking and
also more or less unfit for various APP
plications, as washing and cooking,
feeding OF steam apparatus, etc.
Foremost among the dangerous min
eral substances which have been found
in drinking water IS the leal. Its pres
ence is usually due to the use OF lead
pipes for conducting the water from tie
wei! to the pump and elsewhere. Lead
is a rea,herous and dangerous poison.
Not trace should be tolerated in
drinking The use of lead pipes
for conducting the latter for either Of
the above-stated purposes should lie
strictly prohibited b, STATE law. Arsenic
and copper are rarely met with in
natural waters; yet a careless landing
Of paris green is at any time apt b be-
come most dangerous IN this direct on
These three me. als-lead. copper and
arsenic are direct poisons to the ami
NAL system, and therefore ere the most
dang, rous mineral impurities in drink
ing-water, taough ordinarily rare. The
most frequent source of danger Genes
evidently from the presence o. organic
matt,r indicltng contamination by
decaying animal or vegetable sub
stances. Wells are not infre lucntly
found polluted By the case, and liquids
emanating from sink, p-ivies. cess.
pools and farm-yards. -Aew England
Farmer.