The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-05-02


1t will be remem bered that when the
| water works were about to be construct
ed and the source Of supply was being
considered we took the position that if
the right kind OF water could be OBJ
tanned from bored wells that extended
into the rock with which New Berne
and the country around is under-Iaid,
that the supply thus obtained would,
In our belief, be preferable to any 9th
er
A running stream or spring ight be
all right, at the beginning, but being
exposed, there was no telling when
something might happen to contami-
nate 1t and it would be possible that
the contamination might not be dis
covered until evil results followed.
On the other hand, water coming
out of solid rock. far below the surface
of the earth, if found pure and good
for all purposes to begin with, could be
relied upon to remain SO, because it
would be beyond the reach of infu-
ences that would work it's injury
Local physicians have educated the
people to some extent on how impuri-
ties on the earth's surface may sink
into the soil and render dug wells at a
considerable distance off unsafe for
drinking purpose, though the taste of
| the water might still not be so affected
as to cause it's discontinuance. This
fact is becoming 50 impressed upon the
minds Of the people that bored wells
are to large extent supplanting dug
ones even on the farms where once the
| latter were almost the universal source
Of supply.
We have just come across striking,
convincing and most remarkable exam
pie of disease lurking in the clear and
| apparently good water of dug well
and spreading contagion and death
| throughout neighborhood. The cir
cumstance is narrated in "Water Sup
| w." a periodical whose mission of edu-
eating people along this important line
Is Indicated by its name.
| The incident narrated is that some
wears ago farmer by the name of Dan
iel Dodds living in Washington coun-
ty, Pa, took typhoid fever and died.
During his illness a neighbor came to
haul and cut some wood for him and
while at it drank water from a "dug''
we'll near the house, from which the
family obtained its supply. In short
time he took the fever and died.
The funeral of Mr.. Dodds was attend
ed by many of the neighbors and the
day being warm, many of them drank
of the well-the water appearing to be
be clear and fresh, some Of the more
cautious did not drink of it however,
fearing contagion. OF the number
who drank of the water 26 afterWard
took the fever and several died of it
OF those present at the funeral who did
not drink of it none took it. The above
was given to the paper publishing it by
a son of the man who had kindly help
ed his neighbor and lost his life by
drinking of the water.
Occurrences OF the above kind are
calculated to make people think-often
when it is too late. The fact Is that nc
we'll or "spring" water which is come
at-able by surface drainage Is safely tit
for drinking. Fever germs Will remain
dormant tor months in cold water
Freezing seems to have no effect on
them. The only safe thing to do is te
make certain that the source OF suppl!
is from depth totally unaffected by
surface contamination.
A single case of typhoid fever IN
house from which the sewerage goe
into a stream may result III hundreds
of cases months afterward and miles
and miles away down the stream, il the
water is used for household purposes.