Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-27
WELLS VS.. THE POTOMAC.
Cttfsens Who Protest Against Aban.
donfnG the Pumps.

dOnfnG the Pumps.
The closing of wells and pumps OF the
city on account of the adverse reports made
by committee of the Medical Society and
other authorities attributing to these pumps
large part Of the responsibility for the
large death rate from typhoid fever. has
called out vigorous protests from citizens.
who defend the pumps and object to their
removal because they afford water and
comfort to those who are deprived OF the
conveniences of Potomac water.
If, on proper thorough investigation by
competent authorities" writes F. G. A.,
one of the protesting citizens, to The Star,
1t Is proved beyond a shadow Of doubt
that the water of the public wells Is really
contaminated by the sewers, then the right
course to pursue. 1 take II, would be to call
in the sewer doctors to repair and restore
to health, strength and active service these
same sickly sewers. SO that they perform
their natural functions Of carrying away
their filth thoroughly and effectively, but
comes direct from natures laboratory,
with being the cause Of sickness, for
1t is not the truth. 1t is the height Of wick
edness and the lowest depth of super rein ed
human cruelty to deprive the poor especial
ly during this hot weather. Of pure, free, cool
drinking water. The poor cannot afford
to buy Ice all the time, and even II they
could, ice water, especially IL made from
the Potomac river. is unfit for human
drink
What is the matter with the w. c. TUT
1t almost seems as If that august body of
water and five o'clock tea drinkers were
backing up the liquor dealers and beer
brewers by keeping silence on the public
pump question. The thirsty-and. oh, how
thirsty we are this weather-must have
drink. And the question Is will the au-
thorities leave us our free pure. cool drink
Ing water to Stake our thirsts with or will
they drive US one and all into the saloons
for drink?
II beseech the authorities to open again
all the public wells and springs. thoroughly
cleanse and repair them. sink new onee
(and artesian wells at that and cut OF the
source of contamination by repairing de-
fective sewers. Then the poor will rise up
and bless them one and all"
Another citizen who says he has the tes-
timony of no less than seven medical men
that the diseases referred to are not to be
attributed to the pumps, but to Potomac
water, writes:
..The whole secret of the impurities foune
In spring water from the pumps is that the
pumps have never been attended to nor the
wells cleaned out. After having been in
the ground for many years. probably twen-
ty-fve or fifty years, the pumps rot. the
wells become foul and dirty. and the stocks
below rotten. When analyzing the water,
OF course impurities are found I'm II. Had
the pumps been taken up. the wells cleaned
out and new stocks put on and the pumps
then replaced. there would not be found
any impurities or contamination Of the
spring water from the pumps.
In The Evening Star Of August IL, 1893.
certain learned professor, in a published re-
port on the water question, says: 1T Is
impossible to fix standards Of purity beyond
" hich. in amount, the presence Of any sub
stance shall condemn any water. For every
locality standards of purity must be estab-
lished by study of the waters from that
locality, and in the Interpretation OF an
analysis such standard must be taken into
consideration in connection with a study Of
the surroundings source of the water.
natural drainage levels; proximity Of priv.
les sewers and the like, previous or old
contamination OF the soil," etc.
Now. as to the surroundings and source
of the Potomac water, II Is known that II
is dumping place for several towns situat-
ed further up and along the banks Of the
Potomac, Harper's Ferry, Cumberland,
Point of Rocks and several others 1t is q
receptacle not only for that sort Of i'm
purities, but also for the surface water from
the banks Of the Potomac and the wash
ipgs from the tanneries. Some years ago,
having drawn a glass of Potomac water
for drink, discovered in II a thing hav-
81 axe OF a dark color and about an inch
and a half in length. 1t was a young water
snake. Certain members OF the medical
profession have pronounced the muddy Po-
tcmac water as not unhealthy or dangerous
Such assertions have been made in direct
contradiction of the known truth that II
produces kidney and liver affections, and
the disease known as gravel or stone for
nation In the human system.