Evening journal., 1888-07-03
BRANDywsNE WATER.
Is ft Tainted by Hartmann n Feb-
renbaeh,s Wmste2

The dissatisfaction, disgust and harmdone
by the foulness OF the city drinking water
ten days ago are far from being removed
and corrected Children and grown per-
sons were stricken down with sickness last
week in all parts OF the city, and several
physicians at least have given it as their
opinion that the causes for the sickness
were due to the condition OF the water. A
similar condition existed late in the summer
Of 1856 and the community may ex
pect it whenever the water be-
comes low in the Brandywine
Early last week the water had not only
foul smell, but it had bitter, disgusting
taste, making one think of chemicals
The explanation that II was due to species
of alga, water plants, probably fucus, is
not generally credited, for there are no
dead weeds anywhere in the stresm Two
years ago there was plenty OF dead vege
table matter poluting the water, but that
was In the fall IL is believed that the
causes must be looked for somewhere else.
Il was rumored on Saturday that the
vats for refuse dye matter at the Kentmere
cotton mills had been emptied into the
Brandywine week before and that the
nasty condition OF the drinking wntsr was
due to that. But this rumore was speedily
settled by a reporter OF the EVENING JoUR-
NAL, who visited the mills and found that
they had no such vat, but that the dye
refuse flowed directly into the vast pipe
constructed several years ago by the Ban
crofts. William NJ Field aud the Jessup &
Moore Paper Company for that very pur-
pose. This pipe is working all night and is
carrying the waste dyes from the three
mills named into LEAFS race. which carries
IL safely TO point below the Market steeet
bridge.
Edward Mcdowell, chief clerk OF the
Kentmere mills, which are run by @. j.
Mellon a. Sons OF Philadelphia, could not
explain the foulness OF the water. He had
noticed it. as they use water from the
Rodney 81 reservoir. There was nothing
at Riddles Bank that could have caused i5
He suggested that It might be due to the
waste from Hartmann a. Fehrenbach's
bre very, which enters the Brandywine op-
posite she east end OF Jepsup a. Moore's
mills. Ia walking south along the Brandy
wine from Riddles the point OF entrance OF
this waste was observed by the odor which
it emits IL smelled like sour mash
and a dozen other nasty things. It was
flowing full head, but appeared to be clear,
except the color given it by the dark yell
low coat which had been deposited upon
the stones in the bed of IL. 10 the low con-
dition OF the Brandywine q week ago this
stream could easily not merely give the
larger stream taste, but il could also give
IL complexion. This stream proved
to be the only visible cause
OF any teint in the Brandy
we're from Kentmere to the long race.
lt certainly has some effect. Whether it
was responsible for the taint of a week ago
cannot be shown now; but the Water De-
partment should watch it closely here
after.
Above Kenimere is Bancroft's Banks.
but it Is we'll known fact that no impuri.
ties are allowed to enter the BrandYwine
from this vast concern. The Bancrofts are
as careful OF the Brendywine as they are
Of their own private drinking reservoirs.