The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-20
IAKEDOF At THE 0NHAu
Topics Thai. Interest Those Who Visit
the Municipal Building.
EXPERIMENTING WITH FILTERS
City Engineer shedd Says Results Are
satisfsctory-About 90 Per Cent OF
Bacieria Removed by Sand Filter
Common Council VIII Invite the Board.

City Engineer Shsddveeems to be very
well satisfied with the progress OF the
experiments In filtration at Pettaconset.
This morning he said that the tests
would probably be concluded In about
two months. Just what will be done
then will depend entirely upon the
results obtained. 1t may be that 1t Will
be deemed advisable TO Introduce one or
the other of the systems now being
tried, under the resolution aporopriating
$4,000 for the purpose and there Is a
possibility that tue matter may be again
brought TO the council in order that
needed modification III tue resolution
may be made.
The filters being tried are four In num-
ber. Two of them were made under the
supervision of City Engineer Shedd. and
The Others are mechanical filters--one
from the Morrison g. Allen company OF
Philadelphia aud the other from the
New York Filter company.
According to Mr.. Shedd, the results
show that by the sand filter fully % per
cent. of the bacteria IL removed and the
effiuent is clear and sparkling. With the
hnest material the filter can be run a
month wi, hout cleansing, while that In
which the coarser material Is used can'
IL is thought from present indications,
be operated for six months without
cleansing Mr.. Shedd does not favor the
plan of washing the sediment from the
surface OF the sand, but prefers the re-
moval of the surface itself. thus getting
rid Of all impurities. The tests have
shown this to De practicable ald the re-
suits have confirmed Mr.. Shedd in the
belief that it is the better way.
The mechanical filters are. however.
.Ut ~
thing slightly larger per centage OF
bacl eria than those of sand. There is
this drawback. however, that the water
afi er being run through the mechanical
filter is iuIpregnatel with alum. There
is no doubt of this because alum has
been found in the fluent. The makers
are deavoring To find some means
which will permit the use OF alum TO be
dispensed with and there Is a possibility
that they may succeed.
IL they do not. il Is doubtful whethe
either OF these mechanical flt-rs Will be
adopted, as there would be great objec-
tion to the use OF water treated by them
for steaming purposes. IL Is said that
here water containing alum is used 1t
produces corrosion in the boilers which
mas "a tendency to weaken and consider
ably shorten their usefulness. Further
more, while the immediate effect upon
the health OF the pc pie might not be
very marked there is little room to doubt
tnat IL would be in measure at least
deleterious.
Wouldn,t Act as- Ambassador.
There were three angry men in the city
hall this morning They are liquor
dealers-or rather they want to become
liquor dealers, and that too without fur
ther delay. Their applications were filed
thA ,Id hna nj. Inn hpU m N
acted upon when the commission was
legislatel out of existence.
These prospective dispensers Of liquid
exhileration say they are not being fairly
treated. They have gone to the expense
of fitting up Jner places in the expecta-
tion they would have Licenses and now
they are compelled to keep their places
closed just at the time when the be
business is ut its height
As these rec stood around one OF the
polished columns in the city hall this
morning they discussed the feasibility #
opening up license or no license, but
tney came to no satisfactory conclusion.
They attempte to get one OF their num-
ber TO present the matt er to the chief of
Jolice tor the purpose OF securing from
him an a1reement not TO interfere wi th
them until new license boa rd should be
elected and their applications acted on.
Though he was urged by praises of his
superior eloQuenCe 10 HCC dS eUlDdSSduOr
he sturdily declined, in which he dis
played his good sense, for had he gone to
the chief with plea for immunity 1t is
more than probable he would have re-
ceived lecture that would remain in
his memory for many months to come.
Another Invitation Probable.
Next Monday evening the common
council will meet and there was consid-
erable speculation among those interest
ed about the city hall as to whether or
not another invitati IN would be extended
to the aldermen to meet I'm joint conyen-
tion for the election Of license conn. is
sioners.
Some Of those who discussed the mat
ter were Of the opinion that the council
would be justified la washing its hands
of the matter and leaving to the high er
branch the responsibility TOR failing to
elect a license board. There is little like
lihood. however. that this course will be
followed. Indeed, to do so would-be
practically to divide the r sponsibility,
which is just what is desired by the
clique that has thus far prevented an
election.
William p. Vaughan when asked
about the matter this morning said he OF
course could not tell beforehand what
action the council would take, but IL
was his opinion That another invitation
would be extended to the board. This
was the proper courss to pursue be-
cause then no blame could attach
to 1t for a failure to elect commissioners
in accordance with the law. The alder
men might decline again to 60 into
joint convention. but the responsibility
would rest With that body and not with
the council.
Alderman Vests Scheme.
Alderman Wess has several stauach
followers in the city hall. and they never
tire OF singing his praises as an astute
politician. This morning one Of them
made the bold statement that IL Mr..
Vests advice had been folio wed at New
port Mr.. Baker would now be governor,
and the other Democratic candidates en-.
joying themselves In the more or less
luxurious Offices provided for the elect
in these plantations.
"How do yJu know thati" asked a
doubling listener.
Know it" answered the West man,
sharply. Know IL because Ambrose
West told me-"
well. How does he propose TO do al
this that the others failed to do?"
Easy enough, as you'll see when
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