The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-07-12
THE NEW FILTER
For the Henderson Water Supply
Observation-Disclosures of the
Process---The Work Nearing

FOR the henderson Water Supply
Company---Illustration of the
Process---The Work Nearing
Completion.
Mr.. W. r. Nelson, the EXPERT civil
engineer Of Orange, n. j.. who has
been engaged the past few weeks su-
perlntending the putting in of the filter
at Fox's pond for the Henderson Water
supply Company, is making very sat-
lstactory progress with the work. The
writer drove out to the pond yesterday
afternoon and was pleased to find that
the environments Of the place since
MIR. Nelson's arrival have assumed an
air of Improvement that give it pleas
ing and attractive appearance. A new
road has been built out and the pump
house yards are as neat and clean as
a flower garden; in fact that is what
it might be termed as the culture Of
flowers seems to be a feature of the
place.
The filter is located about the center
of the pond and is an excellent piece
Of masonry, being made of the best
material and by good workmen. The
process Of filtration is called s'upward
tiltratlon,' as distinguished from the
''downward filtration,'' and consists
merely Of lowering the water-level, by
means of mechanical contriyances,
inside Of vessel made impesvious to
water, (masonry crib, and thus pro-
ducing flow through perforations
(vitritied pipes containing tiltering
materials, i. e. sand, gravel and char
coal.
This is by no means new method,
it having been employed by the Ro-
mans in A. ID. 1850.
Modern science, however, devoted
little or no time to the study and prac-
tice of upward tiltration,'' until Sir
]. Alfred Wanklyn, Member Royal
College Of Science, London, Eng, in
1880, through series Of very exhaust
i've experiments, adopted this system
in preference to downward filtration.
This method has, since then, been
universally adopted with excellent re-
suits. Perhaps it is well to mention
here that the layer of sand and gravel,
through which the water passes, hav-
ing arrested the progress of matter in
| suspension, the charcoal next absorbs
| and converts soluble matter into carbon
| ic and heterogeneous gases, which in turn
| are liberated as the water finally issues
from the filter and falls through open
air to the receptacle below. The de-
| composition of complex heterogeneous
organic matter also generates free am
monia which will be found nearly alb
sent in impure waters. While filtration
has been adopted, as the most practi-
cable method Of puritica ton, expert
ments in this line are constantly being
conducted aud doubtless system will
| be evolved in which electricity will
| figure as the chief agent
The cost Of construction of this filter
will approximate 81 10000 and no ex-
pense has been spared to obtain the
very best rusults. The work will be
| completed within the next ten days or
| two week.
The company made wise selection
in sucuring the services of Mr.. Nelson
He has had large experience in this
particular line Of work and thoroughly
understands the business So the Hen
derson Water Supply Company is te
be congratulated and commended fol
their enterprise in increasing the ad.
| vantages Of their plant and system and
in furnishing the town with what i
needs-good water.