The record-union., 1893-08-23
NO TRICKBRY THERE.
Square and Bona Eide Tests of River
and Well Water.
If Anyone Still Doubts that River
Water Is Foul, or Well Water
Pure, Let Him Read.

Having been informed that +. e. Ray,
teacher of chemistry at the High School,
went with the crowd last Saturday to
visit the Clark well and carried a jugful
of water home with him, RECORD
UNION reporter called on Mr.. Ray last
evening to see what he thought Of it. The
gentleman was found busy with lot Of
test-tubes and other chemical apparatus,
and he stated that he had been on tour
OF investigation that afternoon, and was
just examining some samples of water
he had secured.
He expressed himself as being pleased
to have an opportunity to place before
the public the results Of his tests, "for,"
to use his own words, there has been too
much trickery and deceit practiced in this
matter of testing water. 1t looks as if
somebody was determined to beat the
clearwater proposition, regardless of
truth and public good.
II cannot think it is through ignor-
ance," said Mir. Ray, 'for they are too
persistent in their false assertions and TOO
industrious in circulating them. | think
the water is goo,l-in fact, I have not had
any yet which is not better than the
river water, even after the latter had
been filtered through porcelain tubes.
II can show you why say 50 by few
tests. suppose you know That there are
tWo kinds oftests-Qualitative and Quanti-
tative. BY the first we show the pres
ence or absence Of substance, and by
the other how much of it.
The Hrst also indicates relatively or
comparatively the quantity present. l
mean which of two compounds contains
more of The substance tested for. In this
case good qualitative test is sufficient,
as it is a question OF river water or sub
terranean water.
Now, then, here are four test-tubes,
perfectly clean. Into this one / will put
some pure distilled water: in the next
one filtered river water. Mind you,
river water that has been filtered, the
others not. Next, some from this demi-
john, 3: next, some from 1. These last
two are from wells east of our city, and
are big wells.
"Now, l will drop into eacn a little So
luton OF nitrate of silver; that's the
caustic' test. No. l shows nothing, but
the others you see, are all affected about
equally. That amounts to nothing; but
that's fraud number one.
Here's another set; We'll fill them the
same as the others. This is solution of
soap III alcohol, ten drops in each. II old
on that won't do! Tne river water
shows up worst! But there's not very
much difference, so one is just about as
soft as the other. Examine the set of
tubes carefully.) Yes, | may say the
river water is as soft as the others; l
wouldn't like to go back Oh old Sacra-
mento, you know.
but that's fraud number two. Those
fellows don't test river water! They
know it's SOFT and you see that with the
mud in il, reaction doesn't show, any
how.
"Now, l am going to put into this tube,
which contains distilled water and little
soap, just enough solution OF lime to
make it look like the other. There! Now
let us see how much lime: About LIS of
a grain. l25 of part in 400 parts; about
l grain in 5000 or 5000. | should say.
That's not hard, by liberal margin.
But there's Il more important point
about water. These are both good waters
as good as river water, when the latter
Ia filtered-as far as washing is con-
cerned; but some of us drink water, a
fact which always surprises visitors, by
the way, and we want water free from
organic matter, particularly animal mat
ter, if we can get it.
Here is a solution which indicates or
ganic matter, particularly albuminous,
which comes mostly from animal sub
stances. If any organic matter is present
Jn6 pink lI4uiu WHICH you see Wn6n
drop a little into some water will change
color when it is boiled.
Let us try 1. We will boil it five
minutes. No change is perceptible. See
here!"
Mr.. Ray broke off small silver from
wooden toothpick he was chewing, and
dropped it into the tube. The liquid soon
changed to purple, and then became
brOWniSh.
'.NO,, Snn how JittIa orra,,in ,,oo++or n
will detect" he continued.
Nos. : and also stood the test, but the
river water changed very quickly, show
ing that the well waters were almost abb
solutely free from contamination, whilo
the river water was foul.
Il have heard" said Mr.. Ray, "that
some parties are asserting that these well
waters will not keep-that they become
rotten, black, red or green. 1 can say
that | have had some for eight weeks,
waiting for growth or change, but have
found none, and l think they will keep
four hundred years and be good to drink
thenr'
In response to an opinion expressed by
the reporter, Mr.. Ray said:
Il have been thinking that it would be
good idea to let people see these tests,
but rather incline to the belief that those
who get their chemical information from
Tom, Dick or Harry would not trout bic
themselves to look at them. However, if
you think anyone would like to see what
you have seen, you may say that | will
be pleased to show them here at my store,
Ninth and X streets, from TO o. clock
this and Thursday and Friday afternoons.
l will get some more utensils from the
High School laboratory and will do the
testing, or allow any one to do it, and
will furnish proper solutions and give
any information desired.
Il hope that anyone who doubts the
purity of the subterranean water, or who
has been fooled by some of the strolling
testers, will call, for | know he will have
to admit that these waters are all better
than river water in every way. | have
samples from four wells, and they can
use these or bring samples.
Il am anxious to see clear water in
Sacramento, and think we have good
chance to get it now. Any fair-minded
person should be convinced by these
tests, and l particularly invite caustic
distributors and scale bugs to call and
see for themselves"