The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-09
WATER FROM A DIRTY CANAL
More Evidence That The Forthcoming
Board of Health Report Will Show.
Witnesses Say the Water Company Often
Took Its Supply from Polluted Streams
What the Chemists Discovered.

The publication in the Journal Yesterday Of
an ontline Of the evidence secured by the City
Board Of Health, in its investigation Of the
charge preferred against the water company,
by a committee Of the Council, created some
thing Of sensation. Relying upon the state
ment By the officers Of the company that they
had never furnished the people with water from
the filthy canal, or from the river, and upon the
fact that when the charges were first made
Gen. T. A Morris, president OF the company,
had written letter to Secretary carp demand
ing the fullest and most searching investiga-
tion,' most people looked upon the charges a.
idle. The citizens now know that previous to
the beginning Of an investigation il was no I'M
usual thing for them to be furnished with canal
water for domestic use, and the only excuse the
officers Of the company have to offer is that they
did not know such . thing was being done.
The health board held q meeting yesterday
afternoon, and went through the evidence that
has been secured. There is large bulk Of il,
the most Of which is of q damaging character.
Nearly every man 10 the employ Of the water
company was used as q witness, and, in addition
to them, several persons not connected with the
company testified. A half dozen persons, in
Guiding Samuel Hodge, William N. Rankin, and
Samuel Vxnnoy, who are at present assistant
engineers at the power-house, testify that the
canal water was frequently turned into the mains
that supply the city. One of the witnesses says:
"The water from the canal has been used not
only during FIRE pressure. but at other times
when the water was low in the well, and at times
when there was ak feet Of water in the well.
have opened the valve in the fiume that let in the
canal water myself and have seen many others
do it. have seen il standing open when did
not know who opened it In addition TO Hodge.
Vanpoy and Rankin. Samuel Bruce makes affi-
davit that he had furnished the city mains with
canal water. He was formerly an engineer
at the power-house There is considerable testi-
mony showing that for q long time past IL was
the custom to tap the canal often and let the
water therefrom run into the mains for long
time. The worst evidence was given by one who
says that whe the mains were being supplied with
canal water the dead body OF a young lady was
removed from the stream. There 10 other evil
dence going to show that great amount OF
filth empties into the canal. and makes the
water entirely unfit for domestic use.
The board at yesterdays meeting decided to
allow the result Of the analyses 10 be made pub
bile. Prof Charles {. Curtmsn, OF St Louis,
to whom was sent samples OF water taken from
the filter at the gallery, and from Woodss drug
store, submits a very lengthy report as to each
sample. In his summary be said $50 far as
analytical results can show, ] would pronounce
both waters sufficiently pure for domestic use.
The amount OF organic matter is very small, bat
may vary to a considerable amount at different
dppings, even short time apart il the source
of supply is exposed TO organic cont animation.
Sometimes even absolutely pure water may con-
tain for q time dangerous disease germs, but
this can only be ascertained by continual micro
scopic inspection, such is now carried on in
experimenting the water supply OF the city OF
Berlin in Germany"
The analysis of Prof. Henry Lehman, of Phila-
delphia, is as follows. All figures are in grana
to the imperial gallon OF ten pounds
Total solids 5000
Calcium carbonate. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Ills
Nitrogen in ritrates OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .O63
Nitrogen in nitrites traces
Nitrogen as ammonia. Observation-Disclosures. O044
Nitrogen in organic matter .O054
Chlorine .......... traces