Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-08

WATER IMPROVING IN QCAIlTI-AS-
PHALr AND HYDRAULIC CEMENT INSPECTED.
Prof. Clifford Richardson. inspector of
asphalt and cement, has submitted the fifth
annual report OF the workings Of his Office for
the last fiscal year. During that time
he has examined and reported upon 2,179
samples Of cement The well waters examined
during the year, he says, have shown a more
favorable proportion Of uncontaminated wells
than formerly, especially within the city limits.
During the year there were examined 81 wells,
the water in 43 Of which was found passa-
BILE and "a we're condemned as unfit for
use. Last year II per cent Of the wells exam
ined in the northwest were bad. all in the south
west were bad, two out of three in the northeast
we're Dad and 40 per cent in the southeast and
~ per cent in the county were condemned. us
the water was unfit for use. The good re-
suit attained the present year, he says, is no
doubt the result of having examined the worst
wells In previous years, those remaining
being OF the better class. On the subject of
wells he says: after continual experience
with this subject l am convinced that it
would be desirable to close all the wells in the
District, but am also convinced that those
within the city proper are not by any means
worse. A perfect system of sewerage pro-
tects the city wells better than happens with
the country wells with no sewerage system
az eAA, dAu frequent outbreaks OF typuOlu IeVer
in the outlying districts confirm this belief.
Az the water supply does not reach
| many parts of the District the wells
are Of course necessary in such portions. They
| should, however. receive the careful atten-
| ton OF the health officer and should not be per-
mitted to be dug or used without permit ap-
proving the locality and its environment.
Much sickness might thus be avoided. The
high temperature of the aqueduct water, as
have before stated makes it so unpalatnb BILE
u.Gt lis ,rah
mer, and with sufficient reason to make their
closing undesirable as long as it can with safety
| be deferred. l believe that where the sewer
age system IL in perfect order and no
other source of contamination exists many
| wells may remain indefinitely harmless sources
OF water supply" Prof. Richardson says that
heretofore, in large number of cases. the re-
suits collected from his analysis Of drinking
water have been uninterrupted and too much
weight thrown upon the opinion derived from
the chemical analysis alone without due con-
sideration OF the other evidence in the case.
POTOMAC WATER BECOMING BETTER.
He submits blanks which show in detail SO
that person Of ordinary intelligence can
understand exactly how the water sought to be
| tested is contaminated. Commenting
upon the aqueduct water, he says that
| since the necessity Of feed into the mains
direct from the conduits ceased, on the conf
pietlon OF the 4s-inch main. an opportunity Of
AL VIC ulbtTlDutIHR reservoir mas
been renewed, the character OF the Potomac
water supply has improved to o marked degree
over last year.
He appends an analysis Of the water taken
from time to time from a tap in the laboratory
| In his office. The result shows, he says i'm
provement over the water of previous years
| from the distributing reservoir and it may
be said to compare favorably with the water Of
other cities. Greater opportunity for sub
sidence would, he says, still further improve its
bly, free from vegetable growth as compared
with northern waters He calls attention to
| the complaint that has been received from
time to time as to the character of the effiuent
| from the boundary sewer and he has made
| analyses from time to time at the request of
Capt. Lusk to show the general char
actor OF the sewage at this point. The
| outlet Of the sewer he says, is a
pool washed or excavated out of the
nelghborlng grayes and oyerhows in
the shallow bubbling stream which runs to the
Eastern branch, carrying with it the sewerage
diluent in the shape of q small stream of pure
water coming i'll from the west short dis
lance below the pool where these mixed liquids
run over gravely bed a short distance below
| their junction. The analyses show that the
effiuent is at no time filthy as compared with
average sewers.
HYDRAULIC DEMENT'S.
Speaking of hydraulic cements in connection
with the laying Of asphalt pavements he says
that these cements have been used as substi-
tute for bituminOus concrete as base for
pavements, which he thinks is a most desirable
and necessary change because where there is the
| slightest yielding Of the subsoil base at any
point the vicious nature Of the bituminous
base is sure to cause it to respond, while
it also allows the much too free access of water
to the surface mixture, and that it is
his opinion that hydraulic base should be ex-
| clusively used. He thinks the present store
houses are Of insufficient capacity and should
be enlarged. During the last year, he says,
! considerable attention has been paid to
the question Of residuum oil. The ma
ture and quality of this material is
undoubtedly, after the obtaining of supply of
| good asphalt, the most important consideration
in connection with the production of a perfect
pavement. His report is voluminous and con-
| tans many scientific suggestions regarding the