Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-07
THE DISTRICT CHEMIST.
Interesting Facts Brought Out I'm Hi
Animal Rcport

Interesting Facts Brought Out I'm His
Annual Report.
The annual report Of the inspector Of asphalt
and cements, Prof. Richardson. was submitted
to the Commissioners today. During the wear
ls specimens Of crude asphalt were examined:
Is specimens Of refined asphalt and 367 speci-
mems OF oiled asphalt and other specimens.
amounting in all to 4.lsS examinations. He
estimates that at least $500 will be required for
unavoidable needs during the year.
wELL-wArKR EXAMINATIONS
The well waters examined during the past
year have shown very much the same charac-
teristics as those Of previous years. Prof
Richardson says that OF the wells examined
during the year II per cent of those in the
northwest were either bad or suspicious; in
the southwest all were bad or suspicious; in
the northeast 2 out of were bad. and in the
southeast 40 per cent were bad.
In the county 20 per cent were bad. '.This is
certainly bad showing for the wells of the
District" says Prof. Richardson. land might
prove dangerous thing in case Of an cpl
demic." The only argument he says, in favor
of keeping the wells of the city open is the
filthy condition of the aqueduct water and the
high temperature which itreaches in the mains
IN summer, often SO degrees, which is far from
palatable to the poorer classes who are unable
to purchase ice. During the year IL wells were
filled up on account Of the bad condition Of the
water. 81 were cleaned and IS new pumps
erected
AQUEDUcr WATER.
Under this head Mr.. Richardson says the
water 10 very variable and at times inferior.
He has made several examinations and found
that it reached its worst condition February IL
and its best the middle of June. THE evil
dence OF the analysis, he continues, 'shows
that the aqueduct water carries frequently
large amounts of vegetable organic matter in
suspension and solution and that greater OPP
pcrtunity for subsistence is demanded as a rem
edy." The utilization OF the upper reservoir
after proper disposition OF the drainage from
Its surrounding water shed, he says. would no
doubt largely remedy the evil. Any system OF
hltration would probably be unavoidable, he
continues, owing to the fact that no loss OF
head can be allowed and because the expense
would be extremely large.
coSrAMINArIoN OF THE RIVER.
At the request of the sewage commission, he
says an examination Of the waters OF the Po-
tomac and Eastern branch was made at differ
ent states Of the tide to determine the amount
of pollution from sewage. The samples we're
taken in a way TO illustrate the average condi-
ton of the mass Of water in the streams. The
conclusion which the commission have drawn
he calls attention to. The water in the George
town channel is cleaner after the aeration Of
passing over the falls and settling at tide water
than it is above the Great Falls.
CEMENT INSPECTION.
During the year, through the increased
facilities Of storage, there has been q large
increase of the amount of testing There were
24l lots inspected and 500 samples examined
during that period.
CONCRETE PAYMENTS.
During the past year the improvement in
materials and methods of laying concrete pave
ments has been greater in the District than in
many previous years. This improvement has
related principally to the better class of crude
asphalt and the increased facilities for refining
the same.
SIDEWALKS FROM OLD SURFACES.
In reference to the above he says the work
ing over Of old asphalt surfaces into material
for street pavements has been a failure This
is due to mechanical and physical difficulties
entirely. However, with proper mechanical
devices, he says there is no reason why old sur
faces cannot be reworked
HERDIcs DOING DAMAGE.
In concluding his report Mr. Richardson en-
phasizes the fact that the herdics do an OK
tremely large amount Of damage to such of the
streets as they travel, and as the street railway
companies are required TO keep their portion
of the streets in repair it seems reasonable that
the herdic company should contribute q
proper proportion to the paving of the streets
over which their vehicles travel