The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-04
PURE WATER FOR THE PEOPLE.
The Polluted Pawtuxet and Fill
tration.
tration.
ARTICLE NO. a.
sketch of the Method TO BE Employed.
Further History Of the Movement.

The NEWS has now brought this his
tory down almost to the present moment
IL has shown you the dense ignorance
which has prevailed, even among the most
learned, at the time the water was taken
IN regard to poliutions, whether as IL con-
lie or means OF determination, The old
notion that dam and q water wheel were
both excellent means of publication, and
now dispelled under the strong light OF
science; II Is now well known that no
wind" Is sufficiently powerful 20
piow bacteria out OF the water; a million
would be hatched while one was being
blown out. The real Hydra, the mythical
monster OF the Lernean marshes, in Argo-
lis, must have been q bacillus: IL
had nine heads, and as Hercules
cut one OF these heads, two came in
the place. Just so 1t has been with this
stream. for all the time we have used IL.
While we have been trying to prosecute
man for throwing a dead hog into the
stream, the Natick Mill increased it's ca
pacity to poliute from 500 hands, as IL had
when the water was taken, to 1000 hands,
as 1t had when this last agitation
y Was begun. The Interlaken Dye
pollqter upon the stream, throwing into
II daily mass OF material positively fatal
10 human life, had then no existence. IL
was not chartered until 1850. That which
renders this special case so exasperating
Is the fact that the frat case ever brought
an our Supreme Court on the mat
was brought by the parties who
were the incorporators in this Inter-
iaken charter. 1t was in 1851 The case
was w. r. Sayles VS.. Theodore Schroeder.
The complaint urged, was that Schroeder
hath recently altered the quality and
corrupted the waters OF the said river n he
Mos IA a a. I. l.
unfit for use in the business of your Pc
titioner." A perpetual injunction was
asked, and II came too, by means of a
violation of the order OF the court on the
part OF Schroeder who was adjudged In
contempt, and the late John p. Knowles
was appointed master.
Suppose that the law counsel for the
city were to file q petition with the Su-
preme Court, setting forth that the Inter-
iaken Dye Works, corporation created
~ years after the city took this water,
hath recently altered the quality of,
and corrupted the waters of the said
river, SO as to render the same
wholly unfit for the business of your
petitioner" What must be the order of
The court? But IL must not be overlooked
that II was only a mere money making
matter in the Schroeder case, while in the
present case it is a matter of life and
The rapid growth OF population in this
valley. while to be desired from every
point of view, is nevertheless a constant
menace. Very recently water sup
ply for all these villages has
been constructed; but no sewerage system
has been devised; the water brought in,
and loaded with filth, must be somewhere
disposed OF. Left to itself, it will run
naturally down hill; and into the Paw
Iqxet 1t will go. Down to Pettaconsett
i will come, and we shall all drink il
unless you see fit to have it filtered out.
This water must be made safe. 1t is no
question of money. Will you weigh |
typhoid, diphtheria and cholera (some |
.ime) against dollarsf or course, you |
will not. Look at what was accomplished |
public sentiment Have you forgotten
y hat the Lord said to Jobf "who is this |
hat darkeneth counsel, by words with
,ut knowledge? Gird up now thy loins
ike q man"
The people OF the city of Providence
lave permitted the city government. to |
axe of their money fifteen millions of
loliars and bring sweet water unto them.
his money Is not now begrudged, nor
'emoaned; but this water sometime kills
hall the killing quality in it be taken
ut, when in the Judgment of our most
experienced men, IL can be taken out for
o paltry sum, compared to that already
invested; 1t seems foolish to discuss it.
How can we enter upon comparison in
alues or weigh $50 900 against the life or
cath or health OF 10000 people? OF
curse, 1t can not be weighed. But the
eople will demand and the Council must
nswer.
In the City Council.
Let US now come to an account of what
as been done in the City Council. Jan
airy 20, 1892, Commissioner Smith sent in
communication hereinbefore mentioned,
sitting forth the pollutions, and stating
nat the matter 'demands imme-
late attention" January 26, 1892,
ne Council directed the city solicitor
apply for more law, ''such as may be
'quired TO effectually prevent the defile-
ent or pollution of the river" March
!, 1882, the committee on city engineers
apartment was directed TO inouire
nong other things "into the advisabiity
providing for the filtration of the
awtuxet River water" No report APP
ears under this resolution September
|, 1892, a resolution INSTRUCTED the
lperintendent OF health to report 10
ther branch OF the City Council upon
ie cause OF such common nuisance as
,w exists in the waters OF the Providence
yer, and the Pawtuxet river" Three
Iys later, September 10, 1892, the
lperIntendent did SO report. 1t Is City
DC. 2S, 1923. 9
This faithful officer closed his report J
Ith these words, few in number but pro- !
und In wisdom: "Filtration cannot !
nder polluted wafer absolutely pure.
It 1t does much toward il, and the
~ of Providence cannot afford to ne q
ect anything which can improve tho
,ter supply"
Three days later, again on the 22d of T
ptember, 1892, the City Council ap- \
inted a joint special committee, 'to I
anime and report at the earliest Q
acticable date, what measures the r
" can adopt to prevent the introduce Z
IN OF disease germs into its water sup L
y" October %, 1892 the. City Council D
solved THAT the city solicitor be. and I
is hereby requested, and directed as {
on as practicable TO institute legal pro- L
'dings against persons polluting the
tiers OF Pawtuxet, contrary TO law.v
ch suit has not yet become "practi- |.
Dle." %
November IL, 1892, the commissioner of o
blic works was authorized TO employ y
mes G. Butterworth as Inspector OF the n
wtuxet river for the months of Noyem- -
!; and December, 1892. The year ex- =
ed before the joint committee of Sep p
nber 22, had reported, January 3, 1888, y
3 continued by the new Council, and .,l
the 30th Of January, 1879. made III