Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-02-04

and cold. rain and drouth all the
changing yicissitudcs of weather, sup
plemented by myriad armies of insects
all beyond his control, easily e~tab-
lish the question of independence. and
an undue proportion Of one or more
conditions mean to him the difference
between success and failure. Our
comparatively empty streets and
dearth of country supplies this winter
bean witness to the fact thpt Indictment
weather and drifted snow are practical
commentaries on his traditional indie
peudence.
In one respect only can he cIaimit as
indisputable, and that sin the creation
and protection of his water supply
In level regions wells and cisternS
have to be rcsorled to; among noun.
tains there is scarcely IL farm without
at least one good spring, and if houses.
barns and stockyards are properly az
ranged in relation to it. the most I'M
portant conditions of health are full
filled. and whatever else fails he has
in that an inestimable blessing which
nothing can deprive him Of The fact
that many of these sources are not
properly protected is no argument
against the option which still exists.
even if not intelligently used.
In this respect the Inhabitants of
towns are very differently situated.
Town wells are almost universally
condemned as receptaclcS of deleterious
soakage and as breeding places for
microbes of most dangerous character.
Typhoid fever and IL long list of
malignant diseases owe their origin to
impure drinking water. so that source
of supply is practically cut off. Cis-
terms are expensive-not largely avail
able, and in drouth like that of last
summer, useless. Deprived of these
sources the inhabitants are helpless in
the hands of the authorities who order
ed drilling for water TO be done, with
out taking interest enough in the mat
ter to define plan AID see that it was
carried out. The first step has not
been taken, when. if the matter had
been properly investigated and a
system decided upon, all the plelim-
inaries might have been settled and
heavy haulage done at comparatively
tritling expense in readiness for active
operations in favorable weather. These
conditions have been disregarded the
fact that months may be needed to
establish a permanent supply ignored ;
another summer. with its inevitable
drouth, is approaching, and the pros
pective repetition of last years suffer
ing and danger seems imminent.
Divided counsels will never result in
| united action when each ADVOCATES and
adheres to his own project regardless
of public necessities In fact, public
necessities have very slight standing
in comparison with individual prefer
ences, and the question of public sup
ply impatlently awaiting solution for
present use and next summers pro-
lection, is merged in personal advo-
cacy of favoritc schemes which amount
to nothing.
| One slight step forward has been
taken and only one. 1t seems that the
detestable project OF communicating
| our water with microbes. with the ac-
cumulated virulence of fifty years
| thinly venecred with mi"robiau"e .lr-
| noldenStS of more recent date toquickel
their deadly activity, has been aball,
| doued, and the question is now mar
rowed to two attcrnatlves--pu pumping
| from springs oyer the mountain and a,
artesian we'll. ltis SAID that he partie:
III charge are Ill favor of the plmpin.
| plan. and certainly much may be said
/ in its favor. The other. we think. has
| even greater claims for consideration
and next week it Is hoped that com
parative figures of cost can be sub.
mitted, convincing 1T least to tie peoplt
who furnish the money and want the
water, even if not in accord with pre-
| conceived theories.
In conclusion, let me quote Webster
definition OF an artesian well for the
/
information Of those who acknowledge
they know nothing about the subject
who say they have never read any
thing about it, and are, therefore, en-
ceptionally well qualified to control
the hygienic destinies of the town.
Webster says:
Artesian wells mame derived from the
| province of Artois, in France,) are those
| which are made by boring into the earth till