Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-18
Some Earnest Words ON the Water
Question.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
water everywhere,
Rnf mot a ir,a IN drink

But not u drop to drink"
From experience in this capital of more than
third OF a century caunot but determine the
existence, relatively, of less charity with the in
crease of wealth and growing indifference to
the wants OF the poor, who here exist in greater
numbers than in like population in any other
community. That the water TO be had from
wells or pumps throughout the greater portion
OF this city is unsurpassed for purity and excel
ienes cannot pc questioned, and yet every
increase of population pumps are disappearing.
Nothing seems easier than tor an audacfous per-
SON OF some means to obtain the authority for
removing the source Of comfort and health to
hundreds, because the sound of the pump-han-
die crates upon his ears, or the sight Of the
den, accidental wealth. Particular cases need
not be specified; every old inhabitant is familiar
with aud disguised by them. That may be a
religious, while 1t cannot be a christian, COM
munity which does not provide healthy drink
Ing water tree ofcoSt to all the poor in its midst
MOI only does the indifference OF our authorities
fail to provide sufficient additional wells and
pumps propOrtloned to increasing needs, but
criminal neglect somewhere exists In a failure
useless by wear or accident The wealthy. who
have Potomac water, filterer, and ice in abund-
auce, lave little idea OF the sufierings OF the
money has been SPENT i in the constrne,ion ue OF
ponds breeding disease and fish and not any
bathing place for the poor, the ..twenty-tiy
good springs" which early in our history sup
piled delicious drinking water have nearly ali
been covered over or filled up, a few only hav-
ing been utilized To convey water TO distant
unnlfstakable proof that the water from this
Sol! Is equal In purity TO any.
II Is lar from my wish to disparage river
water or 10 underrate the blessings il coniers,
and wish there were a better supply. KNOW
that water puriries {but docs not cooD itself by
,ss m6taon. ~ ~ did not, that OF the Potomac
lions of oozy marshes and boys between here
and the Alleshanies, which contribute their es.
senees Of decomposed animal aud vegetable
matter and the washings OF towns which fringe
It's banks and tributaries. Thewell and spring
water in properly severed and unduiating
city, where the geological formation is most
favorable, and the population but little, IL any,
over one thousand to the mile OF street, must,
much SO, in my opinion, that after long expe.
rience prefer IL for drink and culinary uses to
any river water. Test them in equal quanti-
ties (when the river water Is at its best by fill
terers, and it will readily be seen that more de-
bris is left in week by one than i'm . month
The statistics of deaths show that the coiored
population, forming about one-third OF the
whole, supplies onc-isay the existing mortality,
Door Whites c"uid be- asceriained such f,r .ng
exhibit would be made OF the loss OF lite and
suffering from sickness as would shock the
prove cheaper to place good drinking water
within u reasonable distance OF every family
than 70 bury the dead made 80 by went OF Il,
and pay the cs,st OF sickness caused by its ab-
sence. have this day seen persons carrying
well water nearly half q mile, and that because
The doctors, druggists, icemen, grog sellers,
undertakes and Stockholders In cemeteries
may, quite unwiiiingiy, benefit from the alb
sence OF good drinking water, hut q fearful re-
sponsibitity Is assumed by every one Indifferent
to the proper remedy. A good Providence has
filled our soil, everywhere, with xcellent water
which q little cost will bring to the surface
where needed. Pumps may be rather orna-
mental than otherwtsc and 80 numerous rs not
alive 81 the nsppness Of Ws that
care In construction which should ever com.
mand the interest Of prudent administration,
every 0Jley might have tts pump. Our popular
ton Is becoming % large and deuce and 30
much more favorable TO the generation and
rapid spread Of disease, that Immediate steps
might avert dreadful visitattons By providing
for the health and comfort Of the poor the rich
enjoy not only satisfaction and pront bat i,nc
munity nom caaanltty.
sIt may seem little thing
10 aive cup Of water: yea ice drselsht
ofcool rssrezhmsnL drsined ~ lsverud lin,