The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-10-21
THE WATER SUPPLY,
A Correspondent WIN IL Opposed 70 The
Crib Idea.

A Correspondent wbo Is Opposed 70 III.
Crib Idea.
TO u. Editor OF ne Intaioenar.
sIR:-When men enter upon the dis.
~cussion Of any subject, they should take
pains to know something about It. In
reading a communication tho other day
In the lHTRLLioGSCER, with the lille "a
Pure Water Supply" l was convinced
that the writer told the truth when ho
called himself an "old citizen" as be
certainly bears the marks OF age about
him; for one OF tho peculiar characteris.
tics OF great age Is TO have q very vivid
recollection Of things that TRANSFERRED
many years ago when the old citizen
was young, but to he extremely obliyi.
GUS OF what has happened In the noar
past. "Old Citizen" INSERTS that IN
analysis which was made OF the water in
the abandoned Island crib, showed 1t
to hs~ absolutely pure. Now, 80 far US !
know, the only analysis oil that water
was made by Dr.. Charles Smart, Surgeon
OF the United States Army. To snow
"Old Citizen" how defective his memory
Is In regard 10 that matter, / will quote
a few passages from Dr.. Sniart's report
as found in the annual report OF the
Secretary OF the State Board OF Health
OF West Virginia for 1881. lie examined
two specimens OF water, n from the
crib, No. |, the other from the reservoir,
No. :. He says:
THE water, No. l, was clear, trans
parent, and ises from color and odor. A
slight sediment had collected In the bot.
tom OF the bottle" ut swarmed with
Bacteria and Bacilli." "The micro
scopic appearances Of the sediment are
against it." ut (the clearness) was
therefore derived from the. Glteriny me.
dunn (the sandy and freedom from tur.
bidity Ia purchased at the expense OF a
dangerous changed the character OF the
water" This water is wholly unsuited
for a portable water supply" These few
detached quotations, which are all that
a brief communication can give, show
plainly that "0ld Citizen" did not know
what he was talking about when he
made that bold assertion concerning the
result OF that analysis. For, II another
analysis took place, it must have been
made by some OF the "would be scien.
lists "Old Citizen" alluded to, as the
only authentic analysis, that made by
DR.. Smart, condemns that water In the
most unqualified Language.
II "Old Citizen" will read that report
through carefully, he will probably find
ont that, 10 him, unknown reason for
abandoning the crib. II he cannot find
the report, | shall take great pleasure in
showing it to him and explaining such
parts as he does not understand, It ia
easy to make assertions, unfounded in
TACT, when the proofs are not accessible,
and when the n making them hides
behind a pseudonym. But "Old Citi.
zen" probably forgot that some people
arc in the habit OF preserving documents
for future use. Concerning the efficiency
and cheapness OF the new reservoir, il
will be time enough to talk when it's
holding qualities shall have been tested |
and when a full account, dollar for dol.
lar, shall have been rendered by the
Water Board. At present both of these
questions rest on mere conjecture. Much
might be said on the vital question Of
pure water; but the object Of writing
this communication was merely 10 re.
fresh "Old Citizens" memory a little on
the subject OF that analysis. II sold
Citizen" desires any farther discussion
OF this subject, let him write over his
own signature and l will do the same,
A NOT VERY YOUNG CITIZEN,