Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-27
CITY AND DISTRICT.
POTOMAC WATER UNDER THE
MICROSCOPE.
What IL Disclosed,
" hat Il DISCLOSED


THE DISTRICT AUTHORITIES SHOULD ACT
PROMPTLY To AVERT A PEsTILENCE HERE.
WASHINGTON, May 25, 1885.
To the Editor of the EVENING STAR:
BY the vigorous manner In which THE STAR
has taken up the investigation of the alleged
impending danger of pollution of our water
supply, and by the persistence with which the
necessity for prompt action by the authorities
has been urged in your columns you have
earned the gratitude of the many thousands
Including invallds and helpless infants, who
through the hot summer. depend on the Poto-
mae water for drinking and cooking. The COM
ing summer is one whose approach is viewed
with well-grounded apprehension by SANTA
rians and medical men generally in all our
cities. Every possible source OF danger in the
surroundings of the dwellings. in the streets
and alleys, and generally wherever human be-
ingS are congregated, is being by all wise au-
thorities investigated. and where possible the
evil removed. How important above all, is "a
pure and uncoEtaminated source for the drink
ing water, i known to all who have studied the
ePdenics OF the past ard observed how poIlu-
ted wells and other sources of supply have acted
as foci To spread disease with fearful rapidity
But while the probability OF future
ease is being discussed, 1t may be well TO
inquire into its actual present condition. In
this way we may gain some idea of whether
the threatened danger i an imaginary one, or
whether any con Illumination has as yet actually
taken place. With this view | have made fre-
quent microscopic exam nations of the Potomac
water, as IL flows into our houses, during the
past two weeks. In June. 1879, was euabed
by this mode of Investigation to throw much
light on the disagTeeable ftSIt9 odor which was
puzzllhS every one TO account Tor. one or
two eminent functiOnarieS took hack and
rode up to and around the reservoir shifted at
the water and reported that 1t was due TO con
ferVa."
BY my examinations made at the time with
the microscope. however, it found that
while the water contained more or less minute
living vegetable forms. comparatively harm
less there was also putrcfyine Vegetable matter
in all stages OF decomposition and myriad> OF
small animal forms always found in abundance
when such decay i going on. / then pointed
out that while Of itsFLf this deCaying matter
could only be charged with causing digestive
disturbances. chiefly i'll children and fnVaiiGS,
the real danger was that this noticeable pro-
portion OF putrId slime and decstycd matter
might furnish the nidas III which germs of dis
ease. possibly invisible Or undecided by any
means OF analysis, would multiply to u danger
Gus extent Now what IL the condition oi the
water on the approach ol June, this year,
Not once, since the 18th instant, when first
examined il, have / failed to find the same
decaying slime and abundance OF Minute
forms which flourish chiefly in stagnant waters.
tomac water, there will be seen 10y the unaided
eye floating specks and few OF the larger
animal forms. With the microscope not u
Spoonful can be taken from the jar which viii
not show numerous organic particles.
some viii say: This is the normal condition
OF tine water. Those who make this statement
(Which was heard ten years ago. when pub
lIShtd ia the daily papers the nrst reference to
the condition of the water a. determined by the
microscope merely show that they have never
made amy careful examinations OF the water.
In its normal condition the water shows no
solid impurities. except when turbid from rain,
very finely divided residue from the soil, CON
tanning clay, sand and other mineral matters;
and, III summer. an occasional waterloo
other large form. with Il few green fragments of
0lgde. At present there is from the drought
very little mineral matter in suspension, which
makes it easier 10 detect the other impurities.
Among other things have detected during the
last week, by StrainiDg the water il comes
from the pipe, through tine wire gauze, pre-
viOusly heated white,hot to destroy any acct
dental particles OF dust, and then examining
the particles strained out, the following substan
ceS:
y great many cotton and flax fbers, broken
ana twisted, and apparently having once formed
Part Oh popfT pulp, but separated by the water.
spofe oi species oi fungus peculiar 10 hay.
Fragments OF vegetable matter covered with
species of mould.
~ y small piece of bone. 1-50 inch in length.
And thousands of water-fieas, rotiiers, &c.
There Is also a distinctly disagreeabe ouur to
the water at times when aSitatcd.
Now l submit that the above ingredients if
found in the water OF a pump in this city, would
have led TO its condemnation as not potable.
An the long list of pumps in this city condemned
by the health authorities few years ago, we
find notes like this appended TO description of
the water id. Rcpt. of health Office, 1SS1.
"Bacteria-swarmed with lower forms oflife, uI-
ht for drinking" and mineral silt--swarmed-
with Observation-Disclosures unfit for drinking
or any domestic purpose, and Bacteria
ciliata, fagellata-untit for drinking" Now. il
the health authorities will simply strain the
Potomac water to-day and examine il with u
students microscope, they will find that it is if
not yet. 'abomfnable, Yet al least, 'stiii disable
but III danger of pollution, as was the verdict
ON the pump at 10Th and Pennsylvania avenue
northwest, which is down-hill from two large
livery stables. 1t is possible even that a time
may come when our citizens would be glad TO
have the water of some of these same con-
denned pumps To fall back upon.
In conclusion, let me state that if the sicnifi-
canoe of paper hbers in any quantity in water is
not appreciated by any one. let him take q skill
and paddle cut from the old basin at the foot of
i 9TH street some afternoon when the tide is low
Floating out on the sluggish current, which
leads out IN the wash channel from the
mouth of the CYodca Marina of Washington
tthe Il street sewer. he may observe masses Of
pulverulent substance. floating in the water
which, Oh touching with the oar. easily break
up, and on Keen scrutiny will disclose Ist.
leaves OF trees, much rotted, swept down from
the sewers, and I'd, layer on LAYER of paper with
the printing still visible in some instances and
Whose source j. obvious To the most unrefect-
Ing observer. Let the press then unite in push
Ing this matter OF our endangered water supply
until that '.many-headed, monster thing" our
District government {no disrespect in using a
term POLITICALLY applied to the people, shall take
time by the fure-lock and avert q pcstilence in
the capital. Respectfully,
80 EDWARD N. SCHAEFFER NJ d.
Fire rs q Purifier.