The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-15

The.board of health, health officers and
members OF councils. accompanied by
press representatives made an inspec-
tion yesterday of the water supply and
reservoirs of the Providence Gas and
Water company.
Carriages were in waiting at the
m"7i"i pal building, and at $50 the
joug4eY was begun, In the party were
DR.. j, X. Bentley, Colonel 2, II.
Ripple, Health Officer w. E. Allen, M.
D., Secretary Walter Briggs, NJ J.
Kelley. H. ]. Ziegler. and Sanitary Of
ficer WI. Burke, of the board Of health ;
Select Couneilmen William Thomas.
and M. E. Clark. and Common Coun-
Gilman John f Regan. of the sanitary
committee of councils; John II. Jordon,
of the Truth; John J. Campbell. of the
Times; Viii! f, Clifford. Of the Express,
and John I. Brown. Of The TRIBUNE.
At Providence they were met by Su-
perintendent John B. Fish, of the
Providence Gas and Water company,
and Attorney ]. Atticus Robertson.
The first stop was made at No. l
reservoir in Chinchilla The occasional
glints Of sunlight from between heavy
clouds exposed the pebbly bottom Of
the basin, revealing the crystal clear.
ness of the water. The surroundings
were neat and we'll appointed. There
are two bodies Of water at this point,
divided only by small embankment
From the lower one the main pipe,
which feeds the North End and Green
Ridge begins. The main runs back
along the bottom Of the first body and
connects with the second, and stop
valves are 80 arranged that either res
erYoir may be emptied and cleaned
while the other feeds the main pipe
without reducing the volume Of supply
and vice versa.
$l50,000 IN IMPROVEMENTS.
Principally at No. 1 and No 2 res
ervoirs and the space of land be-
tween them, the company has laid out
in improvements the past year. $780,.
600. This enormous sum was made
necessary in fulfilling the dictates OF
the board of health. When the board
visited this reservoir year ago, 1t was
the receptacle OF as many as half
dozen dirty tributary streams. The
offal from the kitchens along these
streams could not help getting
into the water and even
the drainage from water closets and O
neighboring slaughter house. Now
this is all changed. Around No. res.
ervoir there is a stone wall built, suffi.
GENTLY high in case of freshet to ex.
clude even the surface water from the
hillside. Between No / and No.
reservoir and for o considerable dis
tance up the stream the company owns
the land along the creek, and thus is
enabled to shut off impurities.
Before leaving No. 2 reservoir the
water is filtered and purified. 1t passes
through two lines of iron gate bars
hung pendant before the sluiceway.
The effect of the iron is said to be
death dealing to microbes, bacteria
and all species of animal life. Further
ahead there are fourteen hemp doors.
built like screen doors. These catch
all sediment on false bottom and
there is an arrangement whereby O
valve may be turned directing stream
on the false bottom for the purpose OF
carrying away the hotsam. This pro-
cess is carried out once every day. The
party travelled mile along the stream
and observed the absence of any cause
for pollution.
HALT FOR DINNER.
The journey was again resumed aud
the next stop was made at No. reser-
voir, tho fountain head. at Justus. The
drive along the country road was de.
lightful, buckwheat fields and orchards
were plentiful and familiar sight wal
the farmer harvesting.
The carriages halted at the inviting
farm house OF Truman Ackerly
Health Officer Alien went to thu
door to ask the privilege OF avail
ing the shady lawn for q camp
ing ground for dinner. The house
was vacant and preparations were made
for the midday meal, which was en-
joyed with greater relish, everybody
present SO declared, except the gener.
GUS and thoughtful providers. than an,
other spread partaken of in many
years.
Colonel Ripple and DIR. Allen per
formed the functions of landlords ant
acquitted themselves finely. After
luncheon DR.. Allen passed around thu
cigars and the water sheds above tn
reservoir were examined.
The slaughter house of S. q. Aekerl,
stands on little hillside and the re
i1se from it sometimes gets into
small creek. part of which emptiel
into tho reservoir. Superintendent
Fish statsd that Ii was his positiv
opinion that the offal from the slaugh.
ter house did not get near the water
but that he was willing to carry ou
any suggestions the board may direct
TO remove the last object that tended
or even gave suspicion Of contamiua
tioi. From the hillside No. 8 reser
voir was inspected, and 1t is a magnifi
cent body of water.
The visit to Mud pond, five mile
away in the vicinity Of the Hillsid
, home, was next made. This is anothe
expansive body of water nestled in
hollow in the mountains and fed b
mountain springs. 1t is clear an
pure sheet of water. An old foatip
island Of peat that marred the beaut
Of Mud pond, has been removed.
TO ELMHURsT MONDAY.
After travelling along the borders Q
Mud creek the members of the board G
health collected together and held a
informal meeting relative to fixing
time for inspecting the dams of tn
Scranton Gas and Water company 8
Elmhurst.
They agreed to meet at the city hal
Monday morning at 8 o clock and de
part at $50 sharp. Dinner will b,
taken at Hotel Elmhurst. After thi
, meeting the carriages were again OF
eupied and the homeward journe
undertaken. This city, after a day o
profit and pleasure, was reached at
o'clock.
Miss HardenberRh's Pianoforse Eehoo
Re.opens Monday, Sept. II. A thorough