The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-07

| at or near thu pump-house. and the water
be pumped directly from the river; and this
plan ia recommended by both the AFORESAID
COMMITTEES and Mr.. II. ID. Whitoomb In his
letter TO Won. MIR. Vhitcomb tells you that
the uipea can be easily run into this feeder
and the water taken there. The gates at
the upper end of this feeder have 70 be
kept closed now in order to prevent the
water from flowing back nom the oanai
into the river, the surface OF tns Canal pe-
ing higher than that Of tho river above
Grants dam. SO that in order TO carry
ont this plan the suction pipes
would have to be extended 10 some point in
the river above the fecder-gstes and above
Grants dam. This Is no difficult or expen-
siye thing to do: but 10 the water In the river
OF this point better than that in the canalI
IL II perfectly pure and unpollutedi
It should be observed that the committee
OF the Medical Society made no examination
or report as to the chances OF contamination
OF the river from any causes on the south
bank Their investigation was confined
solely 10 the north side; and they make
their accommodation without having given
this important question any consideration.
The volume OF water flowing down James
river was carefully measured during the
summer season some years ago above Bosh-
ere dam, and sscertained TO be 1900 cubic
feet per second, and from certain reference
points. such as the depth of water on the
crest Of Bosher's dam. Il IS about the same
In the summer season. unless the season rs
q rainy one. We take from above Boshers
dam about 600 cubic feet OF water per
second into the canal. so that leaves 700
cubic feet 10 flow on down the river channel.
Grants dam, starting from the feeder gates.
runs obliquely up the river towards the
southern shore, Joining on 10 certain lodges
of rock until it touches the south bank.
This dam was so located as to lead the
river over towards the feeder gates and sup
ply the Richmond level of the canal with
water and In low stages Of the river the flow
is directed towards the north bank. A
short distance above this dam quite bold
stream-Powhite creek-lOins the river, and
little distance up this stream 10 Granite,
large stone quarry, where there are 200 oper-
ators, large number OF them residents.
All the sewage from this settlement Is borne
10 the river. A few miles further up this
stream is Bon Air. which also has. / am in
formed population of about 200 In sum-
mer time. The sewage from this place Is
also drained 70 the river.
About two miles above Grants dam. on
the south side of the river. is the West
ham granite quarry, where there is again
settlement with population OF
about 100 persons. some Of whom
are residents. All of the sewage aud
filth at this point Is washed directly into the
river. Here then, close 10 the pump-house,
we have population OF about 500 persons
and all the drainage from their homes finds
its way into the river at points above where
the intake chamber for our pumps
would be situated according TO the quoted
recommendation, and the volume OF
water in the river with which
this wonld be mingled bat little greater than
the river water IN the canal / should say
that this population is at least tour times
greater than the resident population on the
north side. and that the drainage from their
homes is much nearer the pumps If the
pipe connection Is made TO the river.
The main point is this: Is the water in the
river better than that in the canal NJ this
point: ! think not
/ come now to DR.. McGuire's state
ment in THE TINES article of the 3lst.
When asked the question. What do think
about the drinking water at Richmond"
Il think it is utterly unfit to drink" he
states that the report of the committee APP
pointed by the Chamber Of Commerce
shows at different points the sewage and
filth which comes into the canal. One
would imagine from this that each stream
lowing into the canal was laden with
sewage. Such is not the case. DR.. II. n. lay
or found at Westham some little distance
rom the canal old pits from which tho clay
rad been removed for making bricks. In
,ne of these pits was found three dead rats
md dead fish and one would infer that
,yery time it rained the entire contents of
hese stagnant pools were borne
nto the canal Such is not the
,ase. These pits are separated from the
report of chemical examination for sanitary pa
Va, for Charles Il. Boiling, Esq, superinten
REN,
Sample No was taken from faucet in the
ober q. 1901. Sample No is from DR. Hunter
aiken and sealed by Colonel W. L. Cutshaw, CITY