The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-16

As Bergsohn nptly remarked, "No tribe,
no town, no city, no people can have
health and prosper without pure water"
Memphis may now consider herself eli
gible for all the benefits and blessings fol-
lowing upon the heels OF this pure and
wholesome water supply.
Last night President T. j. Latham and
General Manager Il. c. Graves, of the
water company, We're busy extending the
supply to the whole city For several
months past a considerable portion OF the
eastern part Of the city has been supplied
with artcsian water, The promise has
been made all along that the service
would be extended in good time, and
have been laboring assiduously 10
that end. BY breakfast time this morn
ing an examination of the faucets in the
houses Of patrons will disclose TO them
that hcncciorth, except in case of accident
TO the machinery Of the company, Wolf
river water will not be pumped into their
houses. All night long water from the
new source OF supply was pumped through
the mains, and about $50 iirc-plugs were
opened To permit the forced passage Of
mud accumulaiions.
General Manager Graves was seen by
an APPEAL reporter at a late hour and
halted for the purpose OF obtaining
information rs TO the prospects OF his
company.
al the public is happy over the changed
conditions, the water company is simply
delighted beyond measure. IL is the
consummation Of hope and desire We
have cherishcdcv since the artesian well
system was determined upon. IL Is inn
possible TO promise absolutely that occa-
sional and temporary interruptions will
not occur, but ii they do it will not be the
deficiency OF supply, rs some people have
feared. Al present we have facilities for
furnishing lO,OOO,O00 gallons per day,
pumped by one G,OOO,OOO gallon Worth
ington pump, and two Blake pumps, OF
100000 gallons capacity each. Judge
Latham, however, has contracted for three
lO,OOO,OOO gallon pumps, which arc now
being built and will arrive at an early
date"
"what will you do with the old
works."
"They will remain intact for the pres
sent, so that in case Of accident at the new
works, or big fire. We can press them
into service to help out. d"
what about the standpipeP"
ut viii be- ready for use within six
weeks. When completed Memphis will
haze water works system equal 10 any in
the country and asupply OF water superior.
The improved arrangement will also bc an
incalculal l. hel . II In business sense.
Under lis operation stores, warehouses,
Gotten sheds, etc, can be pat in condition
for an instantly prcCipitatcd flood In case
Of fire. II means q decreased rate OF in.
surancc, Us you can readily soc.'
How many wells are In uso to supply
tho entire city?'
Thirty, but two moro will be connected
by Tuesday"
The Memphis Medical Monthly for Sep
tcmbcr contains the following editorial on
the subject
No ono can appreciate the
great value Of wholesome water like the
doctor ior daily aud hourly he must wit.
ness the hnneiul Influences of an impure
supply. We know that our readers will
rojoico with us at this epoch Of good water
and no yellow fever. They will rejoice
with MS because they wish US well, and
because they too are Interested In the So
luton Of the good water problem. There
can be little doubt but that the entire
country south and east OF US can obtain
an abundant supply Of good, pure water,
possibly as good as We have, by tho same
methods. These wells arr $50 feet IN
depth, and li5 feet Of this distance is
through stratum Of blush clay Of stony
solidity and wholly impcrvious 30
water. This stratum OF clay underlies the
surface everywhere In and around Mem
phis. Thus We are rendered perfectly safe
from the possibility Of surface contamina-
ton.
Then follows comparative analysis,
showing that although many Of tho wells
have been constantly blowing since Au.
gust Of 1857, aud many millions OF gallons
have been consumed by the eastern pof.
ton Of the city, no material change has
occurred in the water. They also show
that Memphis has a supply OF puror water
than any city ON the globe.
The Artesian Water company has issued
n pamphlet for gratuitous distribution, set.
ting forth all the material facts connected
with the water furnished. For that PAM
phlct Mr.. J. NJ Heating contributed the
following paper on The sanitary Value Of
Pure Walcr-Tho Artesian supply at
Memphis
There Is nothing more essential 10 pub
lie health than pure water This IL the
first dosdcmia with all sanitarans In
order TO procure II under ordinary condi.
tions from wells and rivers the most strin.
gent sanitary laws are enforced. a clean
soil N ono Of the conditions essential 10
pure water Under the old plan Of pHyy
accommodations In cities aud towns Il was
found that the soil soon became saturated
with fccal matter, and that the little. iniin.
itcssimal microscopic insects that arc tho
germs Of disease found their way 30
the wells and underground cistorns,
and In that way transmitted dis.
eases, often multiplying patients 10 the
number that Il usually Deemed necessary
/ b. authorize the announcement Of an cpl.
| demic. In this way mainly the germs oi
/ typhoid fever, which claims 10000 vic.
tins every year In this country are dis.
| lributcd. II was supposed when scwer
systems were substituted Tor priyios that
| they would prevent the transmission OF
disease germs in towns and cities that
were severed. But ~ sewers must
have outlets, and thcso outlets must
DO into rivers that are usually
the sources Of supply Of drinking water
for generally the same population, II has
| beth louHu hiaf hhtl hlN hi1l' hAih'i'uH
than priyios, aud that In proportion %
the amount Of iccal matter they carry, II
the danger from what sanitarians tern
prcyontible diseases, that IL, dis ,asos that
may b. prevented by tho enforcement ol
all necessary sanitary precautions. There
u scarcely river in the United states 10,
day that Is not thus infected by sewage
The rapid increase Of population In this
country has, in 40 years, forced upon
Ms ali tho deleterioua conditions