The record-union., 1894-03-20
The CLEAR WATER WELLS.
Professor Rising Visits Them With
the Water Committee.
He VIII Make Thorough Report of
the Result OF His Investiga.
tions Before Long.

Professor Rising of the State University
came up yesterday morning by invita-
ton of the City Trustees to make an ex-
animation of the clear water wells and
their surroundings.
Accompanied by the Mayor. Commit
tee on Water, Fred Ray and j. II. Henry,
he went out to the Strong & Williamson
place early in the afternoon. AS the OBJ
ject of his visit was to learn all he could
that bears on the subject, he made a large
number of inquiries and took notes of
the answers.
o. NJ. Downer, who bored the wells for
the contractors, furnished him with
charts of the different wells, showing the
depth and position of the different strata
gone through in sinking them.
The pump was running in The we'll
which was tested at the other visit of the
Trustees. and throwing about 10000 gal
Ions OF clear, sparkling water per hour.
All drank OF the water and pronounced 1t
good, and soap aud towels were produced,
many washing their hands, with very
satisfactory test as to the softness of the
water.
Professor Rising filled two demijohns
and a number OF bottles for different
tests, rinsing them out very carefully
with the water of the we'll and using new
corks for them.
Not content with this, he carefully
washed a sheet of rubber like dentists
use and placed over the mouths OF the
demUohns before inserting the corks,
thus preventing contact between the
cork and glass. Mr.. Ray also filled
number of bottles for private analysis,
and others took samples of the water.
In conversation with a RECORD u MON
reporter subsequently, Professor Rising
said that from the charts OF the wells
furnished him, and from what he had
seen OF the we'll and surroundings, he was
inclined TO think that, tubed as the wells
had been to shut OFT surface impurities,
little or no organic matter would be found
III the water. The quality of sand through
which the water must pass in coming into
the we'll forms an excellent litter to take
out impurities, and If an impervious
stratum lies above it to shut off percola-
ton of impurities from above, it ought to
prove of good quality.
He was guarded in his replies to ques-
tions. In regard to water contamination,
he stated the fact that since the stand-pipe
from which Chicago draws her water sup
ply had been moved out to point in the
lake four miles from shore, the death and
sick rate of the city very materially de-
creased almost Immediately after such re-
moval.
He does not believe that water infested
by infectious bactria is disinfected by
running any ordinary distance, although
bactria may die in it in course OF time.
Our river water can, of course, be fl
tered, he said, as many other cities do.
Alum would probably have to be used,
however, to settle it.
In answer to a question as to whether
the Hyatt filter, which is spoken of by
those advocating the use of river water,
was not constructed for the use of alum,
he said that it was.
Professor Rising will remain here to-
day, visiting the High School in the
morning. He may take u ride out into
the country. as he wishes to learn what
he can of other wells that are not as
deep as the one he saw yesterday. and to
secure samples of water from them for
comparison and analysis.