Daily Republican., 1889-10-28
Water Cot ninatiur,


Water Go.t ninatiUn.
[coMMUSIcA4Ep.
The subject of water contamination 10
now before our people. 1t is q broad,
deep question, and is understood by PEG.
pie living In these progressive times. The
subject OF q pure water supply has been
discussed by men who thoroughly under
stand the subject In all OF lite details. Our
water commissioners understand the sub
ject and could give us such water sup
ply as our people should have, but they
will not do II because the people will not
allow them the money needed TO give us
pure water supply. 1t will not only
require much more money than there Is
now received, but more stringent laws.
How can the water commissioners give
US q pure water supply wien they have
no control OF the waste aud filth OF this
city thrown upon the ground covering a
large area called a water shed. We can't
have pure water without we have pure
soil. Remove the waste and filth, as 1t
should be, then the question OF water
contamination is tolyei and we will
therefore have good, VIII olesome water.
suppose this were done, and " Q had good,
pure, healthful water, what would iol-
lowf Why, q death If II in the or,
thousand of the inhahitent,, which means
550 deaths in year cad oil l, 100.
Now l will quote from q distinguished
physician on the subject OF public
water gu Ply Of towns. la the North Caro-
ma report published erusry, 1889.
d Il. T. DahnsoD Of Salem, N. c., says,
II we study the history OF modern
towns W. will be struck by the fact that O
rub ic water supply has generally fol-
lowed more or less desttuc i've conlla-
glation.
The resulting loss OF property has In.
duced properly owners TO take precau-
lions against such calamities in the flu
ture. The average man will freely tax him
self to insure the safety OF his house, and
worldly goods, while he intfusts the lives
and health OF himself and family to the
mercy OF Providence. II Providence will
preserve from disease and death, why
will he not protect from fire. Which
10 the worse misfortune, TO have a house
burned down, or to see wife aud children
die of a preventable diseased Probably
these questions have not been asked. AT
all events the prime object OF water
supply seems to be the protection OF
property from fire. A town pays out ol
its revenues a rental upon fire hydrants
and the houeeho der stints his family In
the use or water with an anxious eye to
his water tax. The old heather did bet
ter, as Is shown by the remains OF theii
magnificent aqueducts aud public foun
tnins an baths.
Their water was used for cleanliness
and the preservation OF health--not t.
gorge the in.atibb BILE NAV of that mod
ern municipal toy, the steam hre engine
Perhaps they lost more buildings bu
,aved more lives. Water, from tn
earliest times, has been regarded as tn
symbol of purity The sparkling d, y
drop, the refreshing rain, the bubblinl
spring, the dancing rivulet, the pelluci'
stream or lake, the deep, cold well, III
| crystal snow, the glass-liko ice TO tn
natural eye present the embodiment @
purity aud healthiulness.
It may be transparent and sparkling
| grateful and refreshing, and yet thi
apparently pure, health. giving water ha
carried In ages past, and Ia to-day, carry
ing disease and death to myriais OF tn
human race. Modern science, wit
ruthless hands, tears away the veil whic
hides from our unailed eye the working
of natures laboratory and dispels OF
fondest illusions. 1t teaches us that I'll
"moss- covered bucket" Is euphemisl
for malaria. breeding alg@. the lille giviu
element, we so eagerly quaff may
foul with pollution from stables an
privy aud awarming with death .lealin
microbes. A spring or well deriving
water from wooded or grass cover,
area, ., otected from surface drainage al
not holding 10 solution an excess
mineral or earthly talts, affords
healthful a. perfectly satisfactory wat
supply. Except in periods of gre
drought, the small amount of its orgar
aud mineral Ingredients would bs
disadvantage. but only serve to make y
water refreshing and palatable. b
! these desirable sources of water supp
can only exist In uninbabited, or at INC
spartely settled sections oil country.
the United States typhoid fever XII
more than thirty thousand every ye'
aud we suffer our share OF the MORTAL
ior each death We may count Mt lei
eight sick on an average eight weeks.
The great majority OF victims TO
, phoid fever are in beginning maturity
\ The most valuable and productive peri
. OF human life, such life is certain
I worth 81, 900. Eight sick for each de;
means four thousand sick eight wee
each year, or an average of six hundi
eiek every day, In the year. A low ei
mate of the loss OF productiyeness
the general and incidental expenses
sickness would be 81 per day Tor Cd
patient. (The writer is now speaking
; tie State OF North Carolina.)
Let us summarizes:
Five hundred deaths at 81, 600. IS 800
Six hundred dollars per day for
. sickness, 565 days. 2i'
n And we have total of........,.,$ 7l9
g A sum equal to the entire revenues
y the State, ruthlessly squanuered aud NJ
d ally wiped out OF existence, taken ir
II the resources of our State and paid
!, the questionable privilege OF mixing
" own ordure with our drinking water.
y These figures are appalling aud II
4 seem Incredible, but let my reader
y anime his own family history and v
t. the neighboring graveyards, and u
!, make his own calculations. Wheu