The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-08-15
! N0uito-.....s.a."sr.... 10 Of II
CEMETERIES WHERE INFERRED.


AS has already been stated, the drink
Ing water is responsible for the larger
proportion OF disease and death from the
zymoties. For years the public has been
complaining Of the filthy character of
the drinking water, and every year in.
creases the amount OF impurities poured
into the source Of supply. 1t may not
be generally known that the Davis Is.
land Dam, which is situated some dis.
lance below the junction of the two
rivers which unite to form the Ohio, is
kept locked for q week or ten days at a
time, for the purpose Of handling boats
in low water above, and being below the
point, catches all the heavy sewage from
Pittsburgh and Allegheny, as we'll as all
the dumpiDgs from night carts and
other uuwholesome substances. I was
recently informed By a member OF the
Water Board, that when this dam is
opened it raises the river as much as
seven inches at this point. 1t is not
pleasant to think that with the present
low stage of water the accumulations OF
filth from a city ten or twelve times
larger than the combined population Of
both Pittsburgh and Allegheny float by
the intake Of our water works once in
every two weeks, and a large proportion
is pumped into the basin. 1t is no un-
common thing, in addition to this, for
people along the river to throw all kinds
Of dead animals into the water. A gen.
tleman who lives in this city was cross.
ing the river ut Steubenville not long
since, when he saw d dead horse dragged
down from that city and hltched to the
ferry boat, towed into midstream and set
aioat.
What is true OF Wheeling Is true Of
every other city along the Ohio river
that draws its water from that source.
On the It'll OF this month Allegheny
City advertised for bids for the removal
Of the water works several miles above
the city, and for the erection OF a filter
ing plant. Huntington and Charleston
Of this State have already adopted Gltra-
lion. In the Engineering Mews OF July
10, an editorial speaking If the cincin.
natl water works says: "Thcre does
not seem 10 be much prospect that the
city will have a decent supply until the
old machinery is aent 10 the Junk heap
aud some good modern pumping en-.
gines, built by reputable trns, put In
place. Even thea the muddy Ohio
river wster is hardly lt for washing, and
IN extensive fltering plant or some new
source Of supply are the only aiterna.
tives if a decent supply is to be fur
nishea"
Many Of tho cities OF the old world
have adopted this method OF water puri-
d~eation, and in London where it has
been in operation for many years, the
death rate from all causee is about lG in
1000 population. Within recent years
many cities In this country havo adopt
ed the same method. 1t ia perfectly
clear to every thinking mind that with
the rapid increase OF population along
the Ohio Valley that unless publication
Of the river water can be effected arti-
ticially, it must he abandoned for some
other source Of supply. The only alter
native offered ia to take the water from
the various springs that pour into Wheel
Ing creek and its tributaries and pipe to
this city for domestic PURPOSES, and
have a separate supply from the river ia
be used Tor extinguishing tires and other
public purposes.
rRlvY VAULTS AND CESS FOOLS.
A privy in the built up portion OF any
city Is a relic OF a bygone age. In most
cities the thickly populated districta a,p
free from these breeders Of disease,
which have long since been replaced
with the modern water closet, but in
this city they are the rule rather than
the exception. My information ia that
there are Iesg that one thousand water
closets in this city. Every old prlvy
vault that could be replaced with a water
closet should be abandoned, The
present crematory facilities are ;sade.
quate for the destruction Of the contents
Of all vaults. and not only would eAcI a
conFse solYe the question: Of tie erection
Of an Additional 'crematory, but would
insure additional revenues to the CITY,
while the crematory could burn all the
garbage for years to come.
T1E GARBAGE SERVICE.
In 1883, the smoNpt paid by the city
for tho removal OF garbage was s., 200 O6,
This year, S4.S50. In both years the
CONTRACTORS began In May. 80 that q
comparison eau only be, made for May
aud June. In 1880, May and June, the
contractors removed to the crematory
40 loads at a cost Of S54S 81, at an aver.
age Of 81 81 per load. In 1890, May and
June, 5l5 loads were removed, at a total
cost OF SS0S, or at IN average cost pei
load OF S. q. Last years. %con.ractors, a
tho oume rate would have removed o0(
loads. or an Increase OF ~ loads over the
number removed by the present con
tractor.
MEAT AND MILK INSPECTION.
There ought to be some provision by
ordinance for carrying into effect til,
State law in regard t. the penalties 10;