The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-01
Pure WATER FOR THE PEOPLE.
The Polluted PaWtuxet and Fill
tration.
Chemical Analysis Fails to Show Bac-
teria but IL Is There just the Same.

Chemical Analysis Fails to Show Bac.
teria But It Is There just the Same.
Who with his eye can see or by which
OF his senses can detect, carbonic acid OF
sewer gas, yet who does not know theiI
positive fatality when breathed into the
human lungs? Are only those things dan
gerous which are visible to the eye? Only
An idiot would doubt the existence OF
see II. Just 30 1t Is with glass of spark
ling water. IL may contain n million
bacteria, without the slig htest diminution
OF the "sparkling" effect which we so
much admire. No man can see them,
nevertheless they are there, and once in
the possession OF such a scientific fact,
only an idiot would drink such spark
ling" water.
There are two tests for the exam ination
OF water; the chemical test, and the bio
logical test. Neither can perform the work
OF the other. No known chemical test
can detect the deadly bacteria, but only
the biological test can find it. Under the
chemical test our Pawtuxet water is as
good as any In the world, but under q
biological test 1t can be shown to be at
times most deadly compound.
From these facts came the opinions, so
often now thrown at us, as having been
uttered years ago touching the excellent
condition of this water. The NEWS will
call your attention to but a single speci-
men. 1t Is the utterance of Mr.. Robert
keoch, in the employment of the Clyde
Print Works, at the indignation meeting
ut River Point, Feb. 8, 1892, and is In these
words:
''To those OF us who were mewhat fainIiiar with
inc conditions existing all along the pawtuxet
their water supply, and VINO are also familiar with
abe much more favorable conditions that exist at
IL matt 81 rssrfa. lI..ts ..I
3aaii should be found with the water when Iu for,
nerly u was praised for its purity.
samples OF the water from various points along
the river were taken by experts, and carefully
other cities and X was " pronoanced NOE bett.r Sa nd
purer than most OF them.
pure tsen, when we know I that all n''i manner %ss %
81 NTH OF every name and nature from our
.sTds hen yards and and ev.rg barn
csvshis , source OF pollution, went directly
name OF common sense can h b. so imnure ~ now eve
~hes 80 much has been done 10 prevent its pollu-
zion, and when the volume Of water during the dry
season has been so largely increased?
1T just looks as II by some occult law OF inverse
proportion: the more there Is done 10 prevent
nated."
Now the perfect answer to all this Is:
that at the time when these first exami-
nations were made, no such thing as a
disease germ had ever been heard of: nor
was such thing as biological test
known TO any human being. But in
heavens name, did you ever read such a
Mr.. Reoch saws call manner
OF filth OF every name and nature from
cur factories, print works, pig pens, barn
yards, hen yards, and every conceiya BILE
source OF pollution went directly into the !
river without let or hindrance,'; and in
he same breath Mr.. Reoch exclaims, "It
looks as II by some occult law Of inverse
4 ~ m ~ ia ha 4 A.. a
vent this pollution, the worse the water
h contaminated"
Inspector Young, whose report was
In yesterdays News as having
been made under the orders OF the State
Board OF Health, and the truthfulness of
secretary, and the actual head OF the
board, said, son his visits he found over
Two hundred (200) privy vaults, the ma
ority OF which were running over, and
;he slightest addition to the remainder |
you'd cause them TO overflow also"
.hanks TO the untiring efforts OF
commissioners Smith and his prudent and |
ud1cfous inspector, MIR. Butterworth, |
very privy connection but one has been |
That one privy remains.
Will you drink such water unfiltered ~ |
)f course you will not, nobody would; Il
3 bad enough to have to be obliged to
rink such water, even with the best of
iltration.
But why labor to prove to you the fact
4 the poliutions OF the Pawtuxet water? |
Is patent fact; and with but one other
eference we Will leave for the present this
'ortion OF our subject.
Chemical Analyses.
This last reference is to an interview
ublished by The Journal of Jan. %, 1892.
Sith Professor j. III. Appleton OF Brown
University. Mr.. Appleton said that she
ad carried on analyses OF the Pawtuxet
nder the direction OF the water board
nd board of public works for
iany years. Alluding to report
lade by him in-lss3, Professor Appleton
Tvs: "This report indicated what is, as /
nink now, true, namely, that the water
, taken from the reservoir at Sock
nossett is normally better than that of
lost water supplies in large cities. At the
lme time there is undoubtedly pollution
the Pawtuxet river, now as then, and /
lInk this pollution ought to be stopped
The word normally" In this connection
as curious interest In a chemical sense
he word normal means standard "or-
'1nal, "exact." Isthe water taken out
the Sockanossett reservoir, I'm its nor
al or original condition? And hence
'tter?; or is it polluted, as Professor
ppleton says. and il polluted is it nor
ally better, etc? The Professor then
'eaks OF the addition OF beneficial
To the water which is better
ian most water supplies, etc. Why add
'neficial chemicals 10 water which is
normally" better, etc. etc? The trouble :
lth the analyses was that they were
holly chemical, and I'm so far as he water
as downright dangerous to human life.
sclutely valueless. lie could not find L,
cteria. But he concludes, 81 believe. :
erefore, that increasing efforts ought TO !
made TO preserve our water suppfy !,
- from every sort or kind OF | I
llution." The water being normally
re, comes to be polluted by men end we I
I being able to "preserve" 1t in its nor :
'lly pure condition, would il not be !,
Sc To take out as much OF the impurity :
possible; say by filtration, and then Z
gin to preserve? OF course it would. 4
The Results OF Tests. q
n the same year, 1892, came TO be prb- g.
he'd the report OF the State Board Of II
alth, made to the General Assemble A
g State Board submitted ten C1l | n
npies OF Pawtuxet water Tor chemicnl ! p
alysis to two chemists. These samples "
re numbered from two CD to eleven | q