The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-04

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missioner was still further directed
70 contract for pneumatN ar lifts
OF . capacity of fifteen mil
lions gallons per day at a cost not to ex-
ceed $4,000" and the Council, for the
purpose OF carrying these resolutions into
1888, the commissioner was directed /" to
report in print the comparative
CONDITION OF the pollution OF
the Pawtuxet river as shown in the
report of January 20, 1892, with the
present condition OF the said river"
This report was made Aug. 81, 1893. IL is
CITY Document No. 26. September %,
1893, the commissioner was authorized 'to
employ Mr.. James G. Butterworth as in
spector for the remainder OF the present
calendar year, y' ff L'fs
Such has been the travel OF affairs in
1881
Trial of Filters.
THE NEWS has now to go back to the
resolution, March 3, 1898, which pro-
vided funds, SiS0, 200, for "system OF
mechanical gravity filters" provided this
system is recommended by the superin-
tendent OF health, the commissioners OF
public works, aud the city engineer. In
April, 1888, these gentlemen began opera
lions In order to find the best
possible results OF filtration. A COM
f~aoch atou thS Cnk kiutCT
department., possessing suffi cient
scientific chemical knowledge was de-
tailed TO perform the experiments and
note the result; with incessant patience
this has been done, and the report is Just
now to be presented. Four filters were
constructed and tested, numbered re-
spectively i, 2, 3, 4. Numbers and were
OF plain sand but different in construction.
No. was that Of the New York Filter
company, No. was the Morrison Alum
Filter, a "mechanical gravity" process.
Numbers ! and 2 were found TO be equal
In results, but neither were
long tests, was found unsatisfactory.
No was found under the most exacting
tests which human ingenuity could in
vent to be entirely satisfactory, and has
been so reported by the three officers sp-
pointed by the City Council.
In prosecuting his examinations the
tained the advice of the Massachusetts Of
ficers engaged in the same or similar
studies at Lowell, and at Law
renee, and the Brown Universi-
ty Professors also gave him every
assistance within their power; and the re-
suit Is unanimous report in favor OF this
filter, on the part Of the superintendent of
health (Dr. Chapin), the commissioner
OF public works (Mr. Smith), and the
city engineer (Mr. Shedd).
The processes of this inquiry have been
curious. and interesting TO
make an admirable ending TO these
papers, were II possible for THE NEWS TO
enter upon them: The process OF pro-
duclng Bacteria in enormous numbers
has been continually goiug on, not dan
gerous Bacteria like those OF typhoid,
cholera and diphtheria, but innocuous
water bacteria, whose only formidable
character lies in prodigious name.
The Mechanical Process.
This mechanical gravity or alum process.
consists, IL The NEWS correctly under |
stands it, In dissolving a half grain Of |
Basic sulphate of Aluminium, in gallon |
,f water, and OF course as many half grains |
IS you have gallons of water. In all water
here Is carbonate of lime. A chemical re- /
Iction takes place between these two
ubstances and sulphate OF lime and
lydrate OF aluminium are produced.
This hydrate of aluminium is in
ne form OF fine, thin, white
lakes, which by gravitation at once
'egins to precipitate; in this process i'm
nense amounts OF organic matters, bac-
eria, microbes, etc., are carried TO the
,ottom or the tank. there to be caught in
he fine sand, and in the hydrate itself,
nd the purified water is drawn off.
Tho report shows that 30 per cent. OF
he Water Bacteria put purposely into the
vater, before 6ltration, were taken out of
by filtration. This 80 per cent has been
by the committee to 9S 7-1O per
ent. by reason OF certain unfavorable
onditfons. This per cent, ia not the re-
ult of single test but it is tho average
esult OF hlk the tests. 1t surely is not
erection, not tning.human ever is; but it
J as near perfection as we shall ever get.
In the Saturday article on these matters
eference was made to the results obtained
Hamburg, in the matter of cholera. Ii
'as shown that SO per cent. only of bac-
eria were taken out of the water OF the
,lbe, and yet the cholera was reduced
rom $1,000 cases in three weeks to only
n OCCASIONAL one. What more can we
yer expect here
'eIay No Longer! Give Us Filtration!
In the affairs Of men, deliberation il
ertalniy most commendable, but there
omes time for action. In these mat
'rs the City Council has deliberated
yenty-six years. 1t has brought no suit,
has done positively nothing
we only ask questions, and get reports:
ok at the record, and in matter of life |
I'd death too.
IL is now three years since the first note
danger was sounded in this agitation.
he City Council gave us the useless Nat
al Filter Bed of 1874, the Cornish engine
Id that crowning glory, the Fruit Hill
eservoir. These things were costly
unders, but did the City Council hes
ate? TO build Them cost only money: (
is pollution matter costs us lives
norance can no longer be urged for in
tion; all that men know is now
iown to the Council. II knows posi-
vely, provided that knowledge can safely
st upon unimpeachable human testi-
ony that 90 per cent. OF the filth and of
@ dangerous disease germs can be taken {
Il, and the water left sufficiently
ire, and safe to drink. Will IL wait for
c other per cont? Even IL failure fol- 7
Wa this action, still the Council would {
justified, for IL acts for the safety of I
e lives and healths of the people, under a
9 best scientific light now attanable. v
,lieves i'm Pollution but Throws Tn
the Sponge.
IN its morning issue The Journal AZ the I
ad OF its editorial column comes squarelv r
I i'm favor OF n continuance OF the mol r
ions OF the Pawtuxet thus: "Tbe b
lttert OF fltering the water for use on o
yns and streets comes up before the :,
uncil this evening. Nothing has vet b
IN brought forward TO Justify the pro- =
sed outlay, and probably but few argu- tl
nts will be presented, as IL is understood Z,
It the necessary votes have been Sc n