The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-03
HAPPY SOLUTION PROBABLE
AT AN EARLY DAY.
Admirable Reports Presented by
Ger. Cotton Greene and Chair
man =. w. Hampton.
WOLF RIVER WATER THE PUR-
EST In THE LAND,
So Say the Experts Charged With
the Analysis Of Its IBgre-
dieRts.

Judge Badden's Office the Water
Committee, compo ed Of ten gentle
men selected for their prominence in
lhe community, for their unimpeach.
able integrity and for their thorough
knowledge OF affairs, 10 report upon q
plan Of water supply adequate TO the
needs Of the city and free from obiec.
lion on sanitary grounds. The gentle.
men who compose the committee
were all present, and 20 ably and
satisfactorily have they discharged
their duties that it is pleasant To
record their names. They are: Gen.
Cotton Greene, s. w. Hampton, John
Overton, jr., J. @. Nicely, Napoleon
Hill, L. Lowenstein, Judge W. M,
Smith, Charles @. Helm, NJ. Gavin and
DR.. Robert Mitchell. Special praise is
due 10 Gen. Greene and Mr.. Hampton
Tor the very able reports which
they have presented to the COM
mittes and the thorough and
efficient manner in which they have
disehargC the duties committed 10
them. Gen. GIeene's equipment as au
exper. engineer was OF incalCulable
vaiUe TO the committee and the re-
"
OF skill, industry aud indefitgable
application that deserves to bring TO
its author a crown Of immortality.
Perhaps il may be premature TO hint
at these things, but enough is known
10 juBlify us m the assertion that no
stretch OF extravagant commentator
can begin b reward Gen. Greene for
the admirable work he has done In
connection with the wafer question.
For eighteen months he has made 1t
the study Of his life, and devoted to
II the beet energies OF his sturdy man
hood. The result speaks for itself, and
will enttle it's author to the eternal
gratitude Of oil who have the welfare
Of the city at heart.
The large drafts upon our space
made Necessary by the report itself
renders further reference to the au-
thors inexpedient. AT some future
time, however, 1t may be within our
power 10 render unto Cesar that
which Is due to Cesar. Upon table
In full view OF the committee were
samples OF Wolf river water in various
stages Of purity. That which had
passed through the Hyatt filter was
conspicuous remarkable for it's lucid
limpidity and crystal clearneas. Sam
Pies will be onexhibitiou today in the
window OF Wright Bros, on Main
street, affOrding all interested an OPP.
Portunity of judging for themselves.
Promptly after the meeting was called
to order Gen. Greene took the door
and read the following report:
MIMPHrs, TENN, December l, 1886.
To NE WAtor Committee;
GHETLEMBN-By resolution OF the
committee passed April 8, 1885, the
consideration of those parts Of the re-
port which the writer had the honor
to submit February %, 1885 (see pages
~, %, 80, 40, Al, A, 40 and Az, re-
lating 10 South Horn Lake as a source
OF public water supply and the Hyatt
method OF filtration, WAS adjourned
fOr further investigation, to be con-
dusbed with the aid and counsel OF
suoh men Of exact science whoss rec
concentrations would stand for trust
worthy opinions, free from local In
huenceB, interests and prejudiCes.
This report, therefore, is founded on
the opinions Of the experts employed,
and 10 intended to present the ques-
tion for the final determination Of the
committee.
The inquiry into the sanitary ques-
tons involved in the proposed plans
Lake was conducted by DR..
Chas. Smart, Surgeon and Ma
jor United States Army, an exper-
fenced sanitary analyst recognized a.
one Of the foremost authorities ON
public wa or supplies In their relation
10 public health. Primarily, his in
vestie aions concerned the water OF
the Lake, but since IL is only by taking
mean OF many experiments under
Identical circumstances that results
exactly consistent can be reached, IL
WAC neot sssry to analyze the waters
of the Mississippi and Wolf rivers
and the Pass, as we'll az OF The Lake.
The analyses OF these waters were be-
gun April 80 and continued at inter
wells TO Oetober 9, 1885, as shown in
the synopsis TO DR.. Smart's report,
which also embraces others made by
him IN 1879 aud 1880 for the National
Board Of Health. The samples for
examination we're collected under the
direction Of the writer, aided by
Capt. JAS Il, Cleary, Chief of Fire De-
partment, and the steamers OF the Lee
Line and the steam tugs Of Mtsars.
Brown x Jones, lin charge OF Mr..
Robert A. Spt ed), which were vol
unfairly placed at bis service by their
owners.
DR.. Smart's report, which Is now
submitted TO the COMMITTEES (Appsndix
A. presents an exhaustive review OF
the subject, and, aside from its prac-
teal value TO Memphis is q useful and
important contribution TO the litera-
ture Of sanitary science. The proposal
Tor admitting the water of the Missls-
gippi river by the Pass into the Lake
is condemned. 1t ia shown that the
water OF the river, above the mouth OF
Vol river and near the Pass, is gem
orally loaded with organic matter
that the inflow into the Lake takes
place only during the periods
when the river water has r
high degree Of impurity; and that,
Notwithstanding purifying changes
would take place In its passage and
the water be diluted by the batter
water in the Lake derived from the
water shed, the sewage inflow in
wolves so much danger to the public
health that any suggestion for the uso
Of the river water should meet with
an earnest protest. Nor is the plan
for excluding the river water from the
lake aud relying solely for the supply
from the water shed approved. 1t Is
thought probable that the waters from
the local Drainage area are "much gu.
perior in quality to that of the Missis-
slppi river, and that in progress OF
time, after reclamation Of the lands
now subject to overflow, an excellent
water supply might be obtained from
these sources; but IL is feared that
the extenaive caangss in the Chsrac-
ter OF the bottom lands that would
attend sod follow the attempted re-
clamation would develop malarial in.