The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-16
PURITY OF WATER.


dered-Chemist Latz Revises His Figures.
The important question of the purity of
the city water has given the Board of
Health no little trouble since the analyses
made by Prof. Van Nuys and City Chemist
Peter Late were published. The board has
finally determined upon q plan of deter
mining the purity of the water. which, az
outlined by DR.. Morrison. contemplates a
series of tests. running over period of six
months. These will be made at public ex-
pense. by O chemist selected by the city,
but the water company will he permitted
to employ a chemist to check his anal = SEES,
and IN case of dispute between the two the
analyses will be referred TO some competent
authority, such as the government chemi-
cal laboratory at Washington. This is q
partial concession to requests made by the
water company in q letter from General
Morris. its president, to the Board Of Health,
made public yesterday.
This letter is prefaced by the statement
that the importance of the potability of
the public water supply Is so great that the
company 10 compelled to make certain re-
quests of the Board of Health. The first
DO made extending over at least six
months. The company contends that a
years study of public water supply 10
necessary to scientifically and honestly de-
termine its potability by carrying it
through all the possible variations of the
season. Ii further requests that the analy-
ses be made by the method pursued and
recommended by the Society of Public
Ansly SITS of Great Britain, or by the method
used by the Chemical Laboratory at WASH
iDgton; that the analytical figures he Inter
preted by correct. trustworthy local
standard, for. as Is recognized by all SAM
tary authority, no absolute general stand
ard can be scientifically trustworthy:
80 80 l..
made of this region in order that the an
alytical figures may be properly inter
preted; that q meteorological study be
made, in order that the analytical figures
NAV have all possible light thrown upon
them; that q physiological study be made.
in order that final and substantial data be
gained by which to Judge the water; that
the company be given "A voice III the selec-
ton of OK perts for this work. and that q
permanent record of the results and data
be kept in the Office of the board. Presi-
dent Morris continues that these requests
are made simply because they are just and
honest, and the methods proposed are ac-
cOrdiDg to sanitary science. The company
has spent large sums of money for its
supply. and taken every precautiOn to keep
10 pure and wholesome. He also quotes n
clause In the oOmpanys contract with the
city providing that the water shall be of a
degree of purity not lower than the mini
mum standard as established by the Ma
tioDal Board of Health. and that all ques-
tons as to its purity shall be referred to a
chemist selected by the Council, Board OF
Health and Water Company.
This letter was received July 10. butsince
that time DR.. Cook. of the board. has had a
conference with the officials of the COM
pany, and they have consented to n less
searching and expensive investigation.
THAT IL an old matter" said Dr. Morrison,
covered the letter. I'VE shall pay no atten.
tion to that. The conclusion we have since
reached snpersedes any suggestion con-
tanned In that"
Peter Latx. the city chemist, has revised
his estimate of the hardness of the city
water BY reducing 1t nearly one.ha In
reporting this revision. he wrote n letter to
the Board of Health, which, with the ex-
ception of a paragraph containing n pri-
vate request, 10 quoted verbatim. as fol-
lows
Herewith report to you that have made
another estimation of the organic matter In the
city water last Saturday, July IL. and found il
TO contain 3.95 parts in lOOO 600 parts. while the
parts in 100000 parts. In regard to the article
I'm last Sundays Journal headed Hardness OF
Water, and the criticising of my analysis OF city
water by the Journal reporter and DR.. Hurry,
concerning the estimation of hardness In water,
this article IL likely TO mislead the general pub
lie. There are three methods OF estimating the
hardness: German Clark. French CBantran and
Bondep and English WILSON The degrees of
hardness compare as follows: German, coo:
L
centigram calcium oxide (Ca Oh In rtre water:
French. ceatigram calcium carbonate (Ca @
o 81 in / litre ii . o; Engllsh=l 81 centigram
calcium carbonate in l litre III = o tor grain
in gallon water.
The total hardness OF n good drinking water
should not exceed 20o Clark or $50 French or
24.5 English. The estimation OF hardness OF
water has really Only technical value and IL In
deed no important factor OF an accurate analy sis.
Inever nse soap solution In estimating the hard
ness. but ascertain the calcium carbonate 10y
analysis.
II Mr.. Latzs chemistry Is no better than
his English his 'estImatiOnsn will need
frequent revision. Dir. Late has also re-
ported to the board analyses of water from
three wells. One of these, ut No. % Green.
wood street, he condemns. as con tanning an
excess of ammonia. Another. at No. ~ Omer
street he proEounces passable, though
strongly tinctured with ammonia, and an.
other at No. 14S Massachusetts avenue, be
pronuunces excellent
The hoard Caused the Delay.
A couple OF days ago the Board of Public
Works sent curt note 20 the indianapolis
Water Company asking why no move had
been made by the company toward laying
water mains on South Meridian and other
South-side streets, as ordered by the board.
A reply was received from the company
yesterday in which 10 demonstrates pretty
thoroughly where the blame for this delay