The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-31
THE WATER WE DRINK.
rsrr CONTAMINATED BIZ sEwAsEs
rhoye Can be Little Doubt That It 10 I'm
wholesome If Not Dangerous-How
Shall II be Remedied?

TaR TnfEs called editorial attention yes
terday 70 report il was about to make on
the water drank by the people OF Richmond.
The subiect ia one that concerns every one
Of the hundred thousand inhabitants OF
the city. It is a subject Of frequent con
versatioa and a general belief exists that
our drinking water is not of wholesome
character.
The very high mortality rate Of Richmond,
acknowledged 20 be gi~ater than any Of the
cities Of our continent with very few ex-
captions. is attributed By many to the drink
ing water furnished its citizens, aud is con-
sidered sufficient reason by thinking men
for thu authorities 10 take any step that
gives probable promise OF improvement
The information given below has oeen
known 10 many OF the citizens OF hchmono
for a long time but the SUBJECT was 30 BE-
Yious and the possible alarm arising from an
exoosure 80 great. and the effects OF the
deleteriOus influence which, II is SAID. pol
lutte our water we're 50 earnestly denied,
that for these and other reasons the suoject
has been dropped. n.u
TINY Tn6Es believing. however, that the
facts sbould be brought out and thorough
siftino OF evidence pro and con made has
SOUGHT the very best authorities on the SUD
n will be seen from the character of the
reports given below and the euihence OF
The gentlemen consulted that IHE ZINES
has not entered into this matter lightly or
unadysedly.
The methods whereby purer water can Dc
obtained is en- engineering problem put
evidently one Of magnitude WITHIN the
compass Of the city Of Richmond.
The committee on health and sanitation
OF the Chamber of Commerce were actively
engaged nearly all of last summer endsevor-
ING 10 ascertain the causes Of our high
death-rate. Feeling that the question was
of too great importance for them 20 deal
with single-handed they called TO their as
slstance the Board Of Health, the Com,
mttee on Health Of the City CounciI ana
the Academy of Medicine and Surgery. Az
a meeting Of those bodies. in connection
with the committee referred to, number OF
sub-commttees we're appointed, and among
them one on water supply, OF which Dr.
Hugh Nj. Taylor was made chairman. This
report has never before been made pubic.
IL shows that the water used IN the city
Of Richmond ID not pure and suggests
simple. efficient and comparatively cheap
remedy The report IS as follows;
WHAT WE DRINK.
Your committee through the courtesy OF
Mr. Stevens OF the Chesapeake and ONO
railroad who was kind enough TO place at
our disposal an observation car and engine
were enabled 10 examine the canal, which
leaves the James river above Boshers Dam.
nine miles above the city, and furnishes the
water power 10 drive the pumps that pump
the water IN the New reservoir Fnls oahats
- tho source OF water power by means OF
which the pumps at the New pump house are
operated. and IS also now the source OF water
supply for the New reservoir. which reservoir
furnishes about three-fourths Of Richmond's
present water supply and represents about
four-ffths Of the storage capacity OF us
This canal receives all the water OF Tucka@
hoe creek Of the two Nestham creeks and il
the driuaRe Of the farms and Quarries on the
left bank Of the riyer,but II must be unaettS
stood that II draws much larger amount OF
water from the James river above BoShers
Dam.
subcommittee were appointed 70 examine,
as far as could be dOao III the limited time at
our disposal. the sanitary condition OF the
streams and draius entering the canal IN this
distance. and the reports OF these committees
are herewith submitted as part OF 'nlS re-
port
DIR. ToMIKINs' REPORT on PHILADELPHIA
QUARRY
The undersigned. appointed TO examine into
possible sources OF contamination OF the
water rupply to the city az Philadsiphls
quarry and the immediate neighborhood. begs
leave 70 report that he performed his duty on
the morning of the 2sth OF September, 1891
The conditions found were OF the most un,
favorable character. The quarry worked
about uirety men. more or less and their
common priyies we're within six or eight feet
o. a stream which, after running about
seYenty-hye yards, poured its contents
into the canal-the ground all sloplnR
in a way favorable TO carry the WASH
ings Of the prlvies IN that direction. NO Ade-
Quate protection was found 20 prevent most
foul contamination the only barrier being IN.
significant and conn Osed OF loose pieces OF
granite thrown togei her under and about the
closets. There was also q prlyy directly over
the river used not 50 frequently by the men OF
the quarry, tho drlpplngs OF which would OF
necessity find their way 10 the Old pump
works and thence TO the Old reservoir. Your
committee was also told Of stream leading
through stOck-farm and OF a stream leading
from dairy, ana Of ditch or bitches from
an old field where dead horses and COWS we're
commonly found and deposited. Inc con-
tents Of these streams and TINS ditch or
bitches finally worked their way into the ca
nal. and thereby helped to make our drinking
water sth more impure. All OF when IS re-
specially submmitted
The Philadelphia quarry is only one mile
above the pump-workS
In connection with Dr. Tompkins' report
will state that on our return trip we had 10
lay over at the Philadelphia quarry Tor nlteen
or twenty minutes, and an examination by tho
whole party IN that limited time was sufhcient
10 impress us with the danger from such a
condition. One case Of typhoid fever At this
point could start an epidemic IN Richmond or
serious character.
LOWER wEsTHAM-DR. HUGH NJ. TAYLOR.
At lower Westham your reporter was left TO
carry on the Investigation. Mestham creek
empties directly into the canal For halI
mile back 10 is 3 very sluggish stream nOWs
through bottom lands Tor that distance ana
Is filled with Gocayed vegetable matter
Mestham creek drains the country for az
least three miles north, aud PROBABLY mile
east and west Within that area
there are probably twenty five o. thirty
houses OF them farm houses, DAIRY
farms and negro settlements. In addition 90
the Objectionable matter that must result
from every inhabited house, barn yard, piE
pen. &c. manure Is brought in considerab
quantities from the city and spread on the
land which drains into this creek, ITS trlbu-
taues. and ultimately into our drinking water
sour e. the canal On ono Of the streams emp
tylug into Westham creek there Is school
attended by twenty i've or thirty children.
We can but report that this Is dangerous
water 10 have mixed with our drinking water.
At Nestham a large brick yard has been
operated for years. When in full operation,
twenty-five hands are worked and i've or SIX
teams To secure clay for brick, Il large area
Of irregular depth, and pools Of slagnent wa
ter were found even after such dry spell as
had occurred for some time before our in
spection These dug out places are cOpnec, led
by bitches, aud finally all drain by 81 en- di-
Tectly into the canal. Every hard rain lsbes
this putrld water into our drinking water. In
one OF the pools Of stagnant wafer We found
a..
Dh. HARRISON AID SIR. CRIMES or UPPER WEST
HAM CHEEK.
he following is the report submitted bv
Dr. benjamin arrlson aud Mr. Grimes OF the
con tlti0n found at 6ranuand:
Upper or Little West ham creek, after
moving through q marshy district passes