Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-01-14

tv, if sought with intelligence and
energy.
Fire protection, too, comes in as an
important factor in the question of
quantity, as in prolonged drouths the
very air seems intlammable, and rep
clifton of recent forest fires in close
proximity to the town, with an empty
reservoir, is sure to cause disaster.
Thus, nothing short of absolute
purity and quantity sufficient for all
domestic purposes and a surplus at all
times to meet the emergency of fire,
Will measure up to the wants and in
tentions of those who promoted this
project.
A copy of aboye diagram and neces
sary data were recently submitted to
the chief engineer of the Croton
Aqueduct Department at New York
for his opinion and advice. He was
tor years resident of this region and
is thoroughly conversant with it's
physical condition and the needs of
the people. He said:
If Frostburg wants water pure and abund
ant the red shale is the only place to get it.
select suitable point; put down an expert
mental well of small diameter five hundred
feet into the shale to determine the presence
OF water beyond doubt. Less depth might
do, but it is impossible to know beforehand
which layer ofsbale carries the water. When
that point is determined sink an S-nch well
with finch casing down to the sand-rock to
exclude all surface water; then continue the
well through the sandrock to the necessary
depth in the shale, and il the experimental
well has shown the presence of water the
town will have all it wants and of the best
! quality.
This is the opinion of practical
man of large experience and is based
| on scientific data.
| Now, let us look at matters here as
AS they really exist. At "a late meet
ing the Council passed an order to 90
on and get water, without specifying
where or in what manner. leaving the
details in the hands of the Water Com
mlttee who were supposed to be com
potent to act in the best interests Of
the town. A rumor is current that a
damp spot" in Arnold's meadow, now
connected with the system by small
pipe, is selected as a point for an an
protected well of one or two hundred
feet deep to supply Deficiencies in the
present fireclay water. Is the pro-
moter of this scheme aware that this
well would be in direct line of soakage
from Arnold's house and stables Is
he aware that for almost untold years
a large wagon tavern stood at
Arnod's, with very large barns and
stables filled with stock, and the dip
of the rocks conducted soakage direct
ly in line with this we'll? Rotation in
plant life is we'll understood and can
only be attributed to seeds and germs
dormant for years awaiting favorable
conditions for development. Have we
then any guarantee that germs de-
rived from animal ercreta are not still
dormant in that soil awaiting an in
vitation through an unprotected well to
poison our water and inhlct sickness
and death upon this community
The modern axiom that a public
office is public trust" holds specially
true in this case. where the health and
lives of the community are dependent
on the action, intelligent or otherwise,
of those who have the matter in
charge. No individual holding such
an important trust has any rigat to
discard scientific facts and methods in
favor of personal preference that has
no sound basis, and if animal germs
and new metallic taints are to be add
ed to our present solution of fireclav,
and malignant diseases are invited to
cooperate with cholera now knocking
at our seabOard cities, the responsible
lty OF that man is unspeakably enor-
nous, and the sanitary and protective
prospects of this town are poor indeed.
The authorities must choose one of
two Observation-Disclosures push forward
in the line of modern methods and es-
tablish system that may be quoted
to the country as a model for others,
or-allowing its water history to re-
peat itself-to fall back into its old
rut, for which no one can rise up and
call them blessed" AQUA PURA,
LOCAL NEWS