The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-05


that caused typhoid fever. had the
collections taken from the so-called nltcrs
| placed upon the faucets In the house ana
upon examination found them 10 pe
charged with the typhoid bacteria.
nat IL the reason why the Pawtuxet
water should be purified. or course the
water may be pure now; IL may be for q
year. On the other hand it may be full OF
typhoid bacteria now and we shall
know IL ia two weeks when we have en
epidemic. The filtration OF the water
would remove % per cent, OF the bacteria
the suspended aud dissolved organic mat
Ter OF the water upon which the bacteria
iced 30 that what few OF
them may get through the filter will die
Tor want OF nourishment before the water
reaches the consumer. Additional advan-
tages are the removal of the eggs OF ellie,
etc, and the better color OF the water.
las TO the question In regard to the rela-
tive advantages OF natural and mechanical
systems, am strongly In favor Of the
mechanical filter. 1t will remove the
bacteria fully as well, and it will remove
the organic matter much better. Not the
slightest trace OF what we call the sui
phate OF aluminium comes through.
"The effect OF the alum filtered water
upon boilers Is not at all injurious, but on
the contrary beneficial.
"rhe mechanical filters are used in as
instances have been for many years. |
have visited these cities and made in
quiries OF the health officers as 10 the
result and have never found any case OF
disease attributed To the use of the water"
Mr.. j. III. Kendrick-Your opinion,
then, Is that the city would make great
mistake in not adopting this system
recommended by the commissioner?
Yes.
Mr.. Darcy Doctor, do you think that
the health OF the city is imperiled by the
use OF the water under existing condi-
tions?
lido.
Mr.. Ira Winsor-Do you think the Nor
rison-Jewell system equal or superior to
the systems you have examined in other
cities?
think it superior TO any mechanical
system where the stirring apparatus for
cleansing Is not used.
DIR. Swarts' Corrob grafton.
DIR. Swarts spoke in concise and CON-
prehensiye manner of the beneficial re-
suits following the filtration of water.
He Endorsed the statements of DIR. Chaplin
concerning the disease germs in the Paw
tnxet river and agreed with him in
the statements wherein the cpidemics
OF typhoid fever of recent years
was directly traceable TO the head waters
OF that river. He said that he was greatly
in favor Of the mechanical system OF FL
tration. In the natural filter there is
one serious objection. Every two or three
days the top OF the filter bed must
be scraped as the impurities
IN the water settle upon the
bed forming dark Shiny sediment
which clogs up the filter, preventing the
free passage OF the water. In order TO
properly clean this the laborers are forced
10 walk upon the bed and the impurities
on their boots from the neighboring
barnynrds and land thereabouts is thus
ground deep into the filter from whence
comes the drinking water Of the city. Too
much care cannot be taken in this matter
of filtration, and from the observations OF
the speaker the mechanical system
embodied everything necessary to secure
pure water freed from all impurities.
The Discussion.
j. III. Kendrick opened the discussion
He reviewed the history of the movement
for the securing of water supply by tie
appointment of an investigating commit
tee and the creation of the commission.
lie was satisfied that filtration
was absolutely necessary. He ad-
mitted that the adoption of the resolu-
tion involved large expenditure of
money. Dollars shoHld not count when
the lives and health of the citizens are
involved. He believed the mechanical
filtration was the cheapest system, he had
the utmost confidence in the commission,
and he believed that the Council would
make a serious mistake IL il failed TO con-
cur with the Board OF Aldermen and
postponed consideration of such vital
matter.
Mr.. Mccarthy talked against time for
half an hour, and moved that the resolu-
tion be laid on the table. His object was
TO introduce resolution inviting the
Board To meet the Council in convention
on Thursday next TO discuss the question
and arrive at an intelligent decision.
The motion to lay on the able was put
TO vote and the roll call was employed.
Several of the members arose to an ex-
planation OF their votes, claiming that
they wanted more light. They believed
IN filtration, but they wanted to study
the question of economy and utility, and
yet did not want TO be understood as
being desirous of deferring action indefi-
nltely. The motion was lost, II ayes to
% nays as follows.
Ayes Messrs. Burdick, Barden, Blakely,
Clarke, Darcy, Hickie, Mccarthy, o'Con-
nell, Ryan, Sheahar, Vose, Edwin Winsor
IL.
Nays-President Kendrick, Messrs. An
gell, Anthony, Burton, Blanc hard, Dur
fee, Davis, Duffy, Freeman, j. III. Ken
drick, knight, Millen, Messenger, Pierce,
Parkhurst, Phillips, Reynolds, Stone, San
Souci, Vaughan, Ira Winsor, White,
Wood, Whiteley, Waterman--25.
Sellew-3.
Mechanical System Adopted.
The resolution was then passed in con-
currence by vote of 80 ayes to q nays, as
follows:
Ayes President Kendrick, Mossrs.
Angell, Anthony, Burton, blanchard,
Barden, Blakely, Durfee, Davis, Darcy,
Freeman, Hickie, j. III. Kendrick, Knight,
Millen, Messenger, Pierce, Parkhurst,
Phillips, Reynolds, Stone San Souci,
Vaughan, Vose, Ira Winsor, Edwin Win
sor, White, Wood, Whiteley, Waterman
Nays-Messrs Clarke, Duffy, Mccarthy,
OConnell, Ryan, Sheahan-6.
Absent and not voting -Messrs Burdick,
McGuy, Thurston, Sellew--4.
Mr.. Parkhurst moved that the vote
whereby the resolution was concurred i'm
be reconsidered and il was moved that the
motion be laid on the table. Despite Mr..
McCarthy's protest against the "gag rule" |
I he motion prevailed, and the friends OF
the filtration system clinched their VIC |
tory.
NffceQtranannc