The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-09
THE WATER SUPPLY,
A phy.Iclan's Idea of Plan to Secure Pure
Water,
IN IN. E,IiLor nfnl LnLeninenctr,


sIR:-Thers has been quite number OIL
good articles in the columns Of your paper
on tho subject OF supplying this city with
pure water, and as this Is q very great de-
sideratum, one more article will not over
burden your readers with facts on this
very important subject. Therefore offer
A law suggestions for the publi3 generally
and the Board OF Water Commissioner
particularly,
pumped into our reservoir, and consumed
by the people OF this city daily, is truly
| lrightlul. This, however, has been so often
pointed out by the sanitarians OF this city
that 1t Is passed by as an old song, The
contamination OF our wRter supply comes
from three or four sources only, but these
are 60 prolific and the contamination so
great that the time Is right here for an in
dignation meeting and the appointment
of q Board Of Commissioners that will give
us pure water out Of the Ohio river. The
idea Is practicable and can be accomplish.
I'd. Our revenue Is adequate, and all that
IL necessary now IL to set the ball moving.
The first source OF contamination OF our
water supply ia that extensive vault OF the
Ton mill, where FIVE or six hundred men
arc employed. The vault is situated OH
the river bank, and its contents are wash
ed Immediately by flowing steam into
the river, and Is pumped up into our resGr'
yolr daily TO make tea and coffee with for
the citizens Of Wheeling.
comes from Mt. Wood, an extensive Gem
etery, where Wheeling has buried her
dead for iorty.Rye years, and theirremalns
are now rapidly passing into the river by
the sloping west side Of tho cemetery and
through Jonathau's ravlne on the north,
Besides the coal has been taken from
under the whole cemetery and the old
mines are constantly difCharGing their pu'
trid contents that parColRte from abovein-
10 tho river four or live squares above the
point from which our supply Ia pumped
up for drinking water. Now We reverence
Nit, Wood, We honor every grave, we
walk with silent and reverenlial awe about
the last resting places Of our departed
friends: We do more, very much more.-we
drink tho wsstings and DRAWINGS from
their cemetery every day Of our lives.
Then the sewage from tho hospital, the
leakage from the vaults OF the First ward,
tho sewage OF North Wheeling, besides
the surface drainage Ct all the northern
part OF this city, passes Into the river just
above where our supply is pumped up to
the reservoir.
Now, the remedy for all contamination
Is very simple one, and ought TO have
been made years ago. Let our supply BIO
pumped from crib at tho northern OK.
tremlty OF the Island. We are now sup
piled by four pipes and theOupply 10 taken
lIon tho immediate vicinity OF tho Water
Works. Tho diameter OF the four pipes
now used, when thrown together, would
be about forty inches. Let q large pipe,
say torty.eight inches In diameter, be laid
from the crib on tho Island 10 the present
works and this will furnish this city with
1000 900 cubic feet per diem, and as we
only require 5000, eco at present, will thus
meet the demands Of the city for 30 years
10 come.
Chemical analyses demonstrate thatthe
water ut the northern point OF tho Island
ID absolutely FREQ from organic matter
albuminoid Of ammonia, &c. From that
point We could DO supplied with water
theoretically, practically and absolutely
puro.
Next lot reservoir DO built composed
Of at least Ave compartments, any one oil
which should be large enough to supply
the city with water for one day. Attel
these arc all filed the supply can be taken
from No. to-day and No. 9 tomorrow,
while No. is refllled ;!No. 8 the next day
while No. Is rehllgd &c. By this ar.
rangement each compartment would have
i've days to settle, and all organic matters
pumped UP would have five days to oxi.
die, before being let into the mains Of the
city. This would give us pure, clear wa
ter under oil circumstances. All of the
improvements could be made the present
year, and the money could be readily OBJ
lained and o sinking fund established out
Of our water taxes that would pay for the
whole improvements In five years without
increasing taxation anywhere. These i'm.
ptoyGments can be placed under contract
to-day for lees than one hundred thousand
dollars. Tho introduction Of natural gas
into our city will make saving in running
the water works OF at least 5000 annual.
". This alone will pay the interest on
tue entire investment, besides leaving Q
large sum annually for the discharge oil
the debt.
The towns below us on the river com.
plain that We befoul their water. This
cannot be avoided. True, we might build
a cremRtory and burn up our garbage and
night soil still the most fruitful source
Of contamination to their supply Is the
sewage Of this city, which amounts to
hundreds Of tons daily, and this must in.
crease In volume and iilthinets as this city
grove. Their only remedy is to Join In
with Bridgeport aud Martins Ferry and
take their water above the city. Bsnwood
can be supplied from this city at any time
when she Is ready. Yours, truly,
J.W. McCoI, NJ. D.
Wheeling, Atgua I.