St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-08
VILE CHICAGO WATER
London Laneet'S Report on
the Windy City'S Drink
ing Fluid.
Water From the MalodorouS
River Worse Than CPuds
Sewage.
Numerous Organisms Found
in the Samples From the
Lake.
FiltPated Water Contain
mated by Ice Used for
Cooling Purposes.

LONDON, April THE report of the
commissioners sent by the Lancet, the
leading medical journal of Great
Britain, to make an examination regard
ing the sanitary condition of Chicago,
with view to the better Information of
British visitors to that city during the
coming worlds fair, states that all the
samples of Chicago river water exam
ined showed an appalling pollution by
animal refuse, indiscriminately mixed
with common sewage. The pollution
begins at the mouth of the Chicago
river. and Increases until the maximum
is reached in the vicinity of the stock
yards, near the southern branch OF
the pumping station. where the filthy
conditions defied description. At GER
tain points the condition of the Chicago
river was worse than that of crude
sewage. The smell was vile and nau-
seating. The temperature of the Chi
cage river water varied from 33 degrees
Fahrenheit at the mouth of the river to
ii degrees at the stock yards, while the
temperature of the air did not exceed
"A degrees. 1t was safe, therefore, to
conclude that the condition of the Chi
cagO river in Summer would be more
abOminable. The analysis of the water
of Lake Michigan failed to furnish any
distinct evidence of serious pollution.
In dealing with the domestic supply,
the report emphasizes that it is deSir-
able to filter lake water for drinking,
since not a single sample of the Ordin-
airy supply is entirely free from sedi-
ment, which. in the majority of in
stances. consisted of vegetable debris.
Numerous Organisms.
chiefly of the kind peculiar to pond
water, we're found. In Sample No. SO,
representing the water supplied to
North side residents, dead water t1eas
were found floating. Indeed, as regards
suspended matter or deposit, the
samples taken in the mains were
quite unsatisfactory as compared
with the samples from the lake.
For instance, the lake samples ex-
hibted a remarkable freedom from
brown cOlorlng compared with those
from the mains. The excess of brown
colOrlEg in the water from the mains
being probably due to contact with
sediment. which had not imprObably
accumulated from time to time in the
mains. After proper and effective
filtration, however, the report says,
there was nothing to suggest that the
water was not well suited for domestic
and dietetic purposes, and the residents
of Chicago were evidently aware Of the
desirabiIity of filtration.
Two samples have been through Pas
teur filters; nevertheless these were
bad. if not worse than the ordinary I'M
6Itaro6 Tho nj Of q
anomaly was not far TO seek. 1t was
customary, apparently. at all seasons of |
the year TO float pieces of ice in the
drinking water. but no discretion
was exercised in the choice of pure |
and safe ice. The examination made
distinctly indicated impure ice melted |
in the water after filtration. The ice of |
the lake naturally contains matter sus-
pended in the water at the time Of
freezing, and also particles floating OH
top of the water at that time. There is
no doubt that the good effected by the
Pasteur
Filtration Is Nullifed
by inserting ice of such quality. 1t may
be said truly, continues the report. that |
the water supplied from Lake Michigan
is good throughout, and, provided it is
sufficiently uttered and boiled, there |
use. Indeed, it compares very favor |
ably with that supplied London. 1t is |
liable, however, to serious pollution so |
long as the vileSt sewage of the city is |
thrown iuto the lake, but the analyses |
made do not prove that this has hither- |
to caused mischief
As regards the sources of the water |
supplied from Waukesha to Washing |
ton Heights, they are less we'll adapted |
for ordinary washing and manufactur- |
ing purposes, but in respect to organic |
purity they are equal, and probably far |
superior, to the ordinary supply. In |
view, continues the report, of the !
excellent character of Lake Michigan |
water, it is suicidal to run the risk |
now being run of seriously poliuting so |
unlimited pure supply by an ugly |
dumping process. There are more ra- |
tiOnal, more wholesome and more eff |
fectual means of diSpoSing of sewage |
and refuse. These need never be dis
charged into the river in a raw and |
crude state as they are now. The
Lancet. or commenting on the report.
counSels visitors to use no water but
that which has been boiled and filtered,
and concludes:
Our examination has led. on the
whole, to reassuring result: but we
until treasured on the question of con-
tamination by ice. The statistics in our
possession show that Chicago suffered
from typhoid fever nearly eight times
as much as London i'll 1891. To our
own people we commend in the strong
est terms the advice to drink no water
which has been cooled in contact with
ice. To the people of Chicago we APP
peal to provide water supply free
from this reprOach."
An Imperfect Investigation.
CHICAGO, April 7.-SpeakIng OF the
commission sent by the London Lancet
to examine Chicago's water supply,
Health Commissioner Ware said today:
A"Ihere was a commission last sum-
mer and it made a very imperfect in
veStigation. They took samples of the
water, some of which they got from the
river. At the time they visited me
do not think they knew anything of the
source of the water supply of the city.
They were totally Ignorant of the four
mile tunnel, aud had very little knowl-
edge of others. They sent their SAM
pie of water 10 London, not thinking that
the long voyage would cause a great
change in the samples. The result was
that an article was written for publica-
ton in the London papers very detri-
mental to the city's interest. A proof
sheet was sent to me, and | immediately
cabled the publishers of the paper not
to print the article until letter from
me should reach them. | sent them
facts relating to the water system of
the city, together with the result of
several analyses made by Prof. Haynes,
OF the Rush Medical college. The |
favorable tone of the article is due, l |
think, to the information | forwarded"