The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-20
FILTRATION.
Joint Special Committee fa-
vor Natural System.
A Decision Reached This Morning
by Vote of II to l.

The result OF two-hour session OF the
joint special committee on filtration this
morning was a vote Of II to to recon-
mend TO the City Council the passage OF
the following resolutions:
THAT the commissioner of public works be
and he is hereby directed TO build, by contract
or otherwise,a suitable system OF gravity filters
in connection with the construction of Provi-
dence Water Works. capable of filtering
l5,0oo,o0 gallons of water per day, in accord
ance with plans and specifications of city en-
gineer, and TO expend therefor not to exceed
the sum of s2i0.OU0 and the city treasurer.
acting under the advice and direction OF the
joint standing committee on finance
is hereby authorized TO hire the same and that
resolutions I0s and 81 are hereby rescinded
with the exception OF that portion of resolu-
ton i02. appropriating fifty thousand dollars
which was modified by and Incorporated in
resolution AS passed July -, 1898.
The one dissenting vote was that of
Alderman Watson.
Who Were Present.
There were present at the meeting of
BalIou, Harris, Mccarthy, Burrows and
Watson; Councilmen Clarke, Barden,
and Waterman; City Engineer Shedd,
Commissioner Of Public Works Smith,
Superintendent of Health Chaplin and
City Solicitor Colwell.
Mr.. Shedd was appointed clerk pro tenn
and the opinion Of the city solicitor was
called for. 1t was:
In response to the request of committee on
filtration at its meeting August o. 1894. for my
opinion as TO whether the city of Providence
Is liable TO the Morison-Jewell Filter Com
pany under any contract made with the
city To furnish n filter plant, / have
to advise that whether any such contract had
been made with the city and the said company
is a question of fact. and upon the
facts as ascertained by me from the
representative OF the city | do not find
that any such contract has been entered into
with said company or any liability to the said
company incurred by the city of Providence.
Very respectfully, FRANCIS CoLwELI.
The following communication from
several local phys icians was then read by
Mr.. Shedd:
The undersigned, practicing physicians of
this city. respectfully represent that in their
opinion il will be unwise TO attempt the puri-
fication of the city's water supply by
the addition or use of chemicals. We
would recommend natural or sand filtration
il IL is imprscticable TO obtain a supply of
water above the sources OF probable contain
ination.
(signed) w. SAwIN, NJ. ID.
j. c. BUDLoNG. NJ. ID.
r. B. KNIGHT, NJ. ID.
MARY ID. NJ. MATHEWS. NJ. u.
GEORGE ID. WILCOX, NJ ID.
SAVER HAsBRoUcK, VI. ID.
MIR. Shedd Talks.
The city engineer was then invited to
read the numerous specifications which
accompany the plans for a natural filter
plant and with one exception they were
heard without comment. The excep-
tion was in lively discussion
opened by Alderman Watson
as to whether or not all the sand to be
used in the filter beds should be heated
and screened. As provided for by. the
engineer the sand would be under con-
Slant inspection and any portion
not conforming to the desired grade
would be rejected and the sand would be
heated and screened before being placed
In the filter beds at the discretion OF the
city engineer. Alderman Watson claimed
that all of the sand should be so heated,
and Alderman Mccarthy, who claimed
that sand could not be screened unless il
was heated, moved that the specification
under discussion should be so amended
rs TO provide for the heating and screen.
ing OF the entire quantity OF
sand used. The needlessness of this
was explained by the city engineer and
the additional expense, whichlMr shedd
placed at 2ooOo, was strongly objected to
by several OF the members. Mr.. McCar-
thy withdrew his motion.
The question as to whether DIR. Chaplin
was still a member OF the committee was
brought up by Alderman Watson, who
asked why the superintendent Of health
had been dropped out, and
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