The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-26

atNNcS tilub Oub VI lOllE IUHuTGu NUIl
twenty-ninc samples Of water sent him
from wells in country towns, he was
obliged TO reject three hundred and
seven rs unfit for drinking. Another
English chemist states that most OF the
well water he IL callcd upon 10 OK.
anime, proves TO be more fit for ferti-
liking purposes, than for human con-
sumption.
Professor Chandler, recently prcsi.
cent Of the New York City board OF
health, and professor Of chemistry in
the school OF Nlincs, Columbia College,
remarked: "ln many cases well water
becomes contaminated with filtered
sewage, matters which while they
hardly affect the taste or smell OF water,
have nevertheless tho power to create
tho most deadly disturbances in per-
sons using it.
Tho observation-disclosures, tho pre-.
sumption, that could argue the pro.
prioty Of
SHALLOW WELLS or CRIBS
for tho supply OF water for the use Of
this, or any other populous city, situat-
cd in tho valley OF the Ohio river, is too
egrcgious for excuse or apology in the
light OF this year OF our Lord.
We are now led 10 consider the char
actor OF redundant water or rain fall in
excess OF that vaporizcd in the atmos-
phero or absorbed by tho earth. Dur
ing continued rain the excess rushes
down the rugged sides Of the mountains
and hills, sweeps through tho lowlands
and the plains, washes tho streets and
the house-tops, llushcs the sewers and
dumps its unclcnn wash water loaded
with organic matter into the streams
from which are taken our daily sup
plies. Being directly concerned with
our water supply, we desire to call your
attention to the extent of raln.shed
which maintains tho Ohio river at
Wheeling, also the sources and causes
OF its pollution.
The tributaries OF the Ohio river are
many and great, and the country drain
cd by them so vast and cxtensiYn that
an examination OF the map OF our own
ind the contiguous states OF Ohio, Penn
sylvunia and New York may astonish
those who have given this subject but
cursory attention. The Allegheny river
travcrses the entire width OF the state
OF Pennsylvania, receiving many tribu-
tarics from the state OF New York In
TACT all the waters from the western
slope OF the Alleghenymountains in the
state OF Pennsylvania find their way to
the Ohio river. In the State OF West Vir-
ginia an immense areais drained by tho
Ioughiogheny, Tygart's Valley and
Cheat, tributaries OF the Monongahela.
The Beaver river runs through vast
scope OF territory, thickly populated,
much OF it malarial und discharges its
waters into the Ohio. Creek and brooks
innumerable contribute their waters d.
rectly, and the rainfall over millions OF
acres feeds thousands OF springs which
slowly but surely empty their effete
burdens into the channel OF the Ohio.
An enumeration OF the cities and
towns situated upon the Ohio and its
tribulariec will further exhibit the
active, continued and increasing sources
OF pollution. Commencing in the north
VIC find Mayville, Chautauqua, James
town, Salamanca, Olean, Warren, Tide
QUITE, Tionesta, Oil City, Franklin, Clar-
ion, Brooksville, kittapning, Rcdbank,
Johnstown, Allegheny City, Beaver and
Brighton; in the east, Rowlsburg, Bev-
erly, Huttonsville, Philippi, Beling-
ton. Grafton, Morgantown. Fairmont,
Brownsville, Elizabeth and Mononga-
hela City; from thence to this city,
Homestead, Tarentum, Pittsburgh, with
its suburban towns, Scwickley, Roches-
ter, Wellsvillc, East Liverpool, New Cum
berland, Steubenville, Wellsburg, Mar
tins Ferry and, last, the upper portion OF
our own city, with hundred villages
and hamIets not individually mentioned
All these empty their filth by
SEWERS OR SURFACE DRAINAGE
into the Ohio river. The excreta OF two
millions OF people, healthy and dis
cased, is horrible enough to contem-
plate; but add to this the offal OF
slaughter houses, tanneries, soap and
glue works, manufactures OF every de-
scription, the loathsomc emanations
from hospitals, hotels, public buildings,
cemeteries, decomposition OF domestic
animals-in word, the very essence OF
putridity is commingled with our daily
libationS.
Suppose all the sewage OF this vast
area aud its population were diluted
sufficiently with water to give its cur
rent the rate per milo of the waters OF
the Ohio, what sized conduit would be
required to carry it away? And what
would be the sanitary OF the dis
tric.s through which it flowed, ii its
poisonous calculations alone were to be
encountered? Yet with ten thousand
dilutions We drink from this public
sewer and console ourselves with the
deiusion that all others are mortal but
ourselves. There can be no safety in
dilution and no significance should at
tach to it. A single bacillus taken into
the system may in provocative mood
augment his progeny indefinitely. The
popular notion that water purlies itself
as it flows is rather desirable theory
to encourage, but facts do not justify
such belief. Substances heavier than
water sink, provided its current is not
too swift This precipitation probably
occurs i'll tho moderate flow OF the Ohio
river, but, unfortunately for the con-
sumner, tho precipitatcs are the least
harmful Of all impurities. Organic
matter and chemical agents he'll in sus-
pension or solution contain the
ACTIVE POISONOUS PRINCIPLES.
The germs OF microscopic life arc
found in the albuminoid clements, and
these are suspended, being no heavier
than water. Boiling coagulatcs this
substance and destroys the lilo it con-
tains. Filtration alone will not olimi-
nate them. Certain chemical agents
will also effect obstruction OF these
ccrms, but many OF these are not snfn To