Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-10-04
Keep Mighty Shy Of Jordan
River Water.
THE SEWER is A MENACE.
Scientific and Medical Reports On Our
Peril.
WHEAT WILL rnE COUNCIL no.
pr. Young. EN.ciiy PhyAician, Give.
an Opinion. Not Ne nm AIarmist
but ~ "a citizen.

Tho public are familiar with the
previous correspondence that has
passed between DR.. j. T.. Talmago
and Dr. ). b. Young on the subject Of
the impurities in the Jordan River be-
low the sewer outlet, also with tds
enalysce by DIR. Talmage OF samples Of
water taken from tho stream above
and below that point. In continuation
Of the important subject, the NEWS
takes pleasure In laying before its
readers tbs following communication.
SALT LAKE, Sept. 2sth, 1892.
Prof J. i. Talmsge;
Dear Docior-ln your communica-
ton OF the 10Th inst, containing anaIy.
sia Of tho jordan River wGtor, you re.
quested my opinion as to Its use by tho
inhabitants along Its banks, and the
effect II would produce on milk taken
nom cows who are Ia tho habit OF
drinking this water. trust you will
hindiy extond pardon to me for having
postponed my answer to this date, but
excessive lsbors, professional and
others, must plead an excuse for me.
To begin then: Prof. ]. Herbert
sheed, U. 5. G. H., says "water ia
an essential element OF existence. The
presence and need of water IL nearly
universal. II Is no less primary
want OF human life than air and food.
A subject OF much vital importance IA
water supply demands tho most care
ful confederation a. It's influences for
good or evil are Of the gIAvest charge
tor" The need OF water In y cpmmu-
nifty may bo classed IN two divisions
| public aud private uses. The public
uses are such n for extlnguishinR iir,s,
cleansing and spTinkling streets anu
flushing OF sewers, for public fountains,
baths anu similar purposes. The pri.
yate uses are for the household, for
manufactures aud other purposes
affecting each consumer individually.
When once used II IL toiled and
must be got rid OF and tho
manner Of doing this will AZ
feet others In tho community; 1t
may be- by communicating their source
OF supply, or causing foul oxhGlation,
which tho air will convey TO their
dwellings.
IL seoma desirable, says DR.. Parks,
to give the public some sort OF an idea
what waters may DO used aud what
may not be, ana / think the following
standard viii convey the most import-
ant points connected with the supply
VI drinking water. He proposes 10
form class OF wholesome wniers, un-
der which two suD-elasses OF waters
may be included.
First, tho purest and most whole-
sUme water which Is free from sus-
pended matters aud contains very
little dissolved organic matter, say
under one grain to the gallon,
and that probably vegetable, anu
OF dissolved minenI matters under
seven grains per gallon. This will IN
clude MI the waters supplied from tho
primitive rocks and soias OF the hauds,
which contain less tnan that Quantity
OF mineral matter, anu In probably tho
purcss waler on tho whole which can
&c obtained IN sufficient large quanu-
Ties. ltain water after filtration might
come under the came standard.
Then .hs second or sub.class In tho
FIRST order would be what may be-
called pure ami wholesome wafer TO
when no objection can DO DiauB
believe "a "a sanitary point OF Wow,
but wniCn 10 not 90 pure as tho former.
Ihih water Is also mui,suraUly flee from
suspended matters, having dissolved
Organic m&tteTB under Lwo grams
per gallon tho greater uart
UI that beiug vegetable. OF
Ilfso!vud mineral matters II would
contain less Than twelve grains per
gallons, consisting principally OF the
Carbonate of lime aud alkaline carbon.
aIes aud cnlOrIdeh. Tho second Bub-
CLASS would include lns best chalk
waters, which are generally very Irts
indeed from Ofganc matter.
Then the second grand class would
MAKE, wound can disable waters.
Those are all waters, with no sus-
pended sattcTs, or suspended matters
easily separated by the coarse mira.
ton usually IesorIed TO by the water
The Organic matter must
De cnieiiy vegetable, but 1t should NOT
exceed three grains per gallon,
OWING To tho diseases which
would probably arise II. II exceeded
that quantity, aud II the organic
matter ~ apparently OF animal origin
II should not exceed one grain per
galloA. The small amount Of mineral
salts II may contain should consist ora
class OF salts which do NO injury 10
the human system such as Rikaiins
alkaline ohlorides, chloride
" sodium and chloride OF potassium In
lees quantity, and possibly small
amount OF carbonate OF lime alsO. l
would exclude all sewage throughout.
Tho third class would DO what
would call suspicious water, which
would loany waite. with much matter
suspended. Such water 40 that would
In 81 probability contain mineral mat.
.ers in fine PARTICLES which are hunt
Iul, such ns clay OF organic matters
very finely divided and not very
easily separated by filtration, or II it
contains any indication OF ntrites,
ammonia, etc., showing that
organic matters had passed into thu