The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-02-13


contract with the lngersol, Sargent Drill Co.,
of New York, for pumping plant with
which to operate the proposed wells at Crys-
tai Lake. The contract provides that ln'case
the flow of water from the new sources OF
supply should be insufficient to warrant a
further prosecution of the plan, the Compa-
ny will take the machinery back without e4-
pense to the city. This in effect gives the
town the advantage of having the test made
at the cost of the Company, provided the
wells do not yield IN satisfactory abundance.
The Trustees think that in either case the
test will be valuable thing for the people,
for it will demonstrate one OF two things,
either the practicability of the proposed
plan, or the town must look to other means
to supply the threatened water shortage.
Concerning the character of the water, we
are informed that the Chemist, DIR. A. w.
Smith, of the Case School of Applied Sci
ences, says that exposure to the atmosphere
will render the water from the wells prac-
tically as soft as that in Crystal Lake.
1t will be remembered that this statement
did not appear in his official analysis, pup
Iished IN full in former edition OF the
PRESS. In that, the Professor said that the
hardness of the water was almost entirely OF
a temporary character, and would yield TO
boiling process or by the addition OF pound
of slaked lime to every 1000 gallons OF the
liquid.
1t will also be remembered that the PRESS
expressed the opinion that on the face OF
the analysis shown, it thought that hasty
action had been taken in the matter.
1t will further be recollected that this
paper, in number of articles on the subject,
said distinctly and emphatically, that If the
new wells proved to be what was expected
by the Trustees, then the proposed method
was by all means the one to be adopted, but
that the town had better spend greater sum
in maintaining the soft character of the pres
ent water, than a less amount in procuring
supply of objectionably hard water.
We have as yet heard of no other test than
that of chemical analysis having been
made, and while we presume that the prac'
tical results will justify the professional
character given tive would suppose that II,
as Prof. Smith says, atmospheric exposure
will obviate the objection, the proper, and
most certainly easy thing to do, would be to
make practical test of this character. This
we have not heard of having been done.
The PRESS maintains the position it has
held all along. Itfavors the scheme hearth
ly and unreservedly, if the soft character OF
the present water supply is maintained.
Otherwise, we should object to it very de-
cidedly and emphatically.
Having been informed that DR.. Joseph
Waggoner had unqualifediy and enthusi-
astically" endorsed the proposed scheme,
and that he had called the attention of GER
tain officials to a specimen of water mention
ed in a chemical treatise in his library,
identical with that taken from test we'll No.
1, and that it contained exactly those con-
sttuents whereby it WOULD become soft on
exposure to the air, we called on him, and
asked him concerning the facts. He said /;
" l was not correctly reported in what had
to say. What l did say was, substantially,
IF the wells supplied the character of water
expected of them, then the project was a
good one, and probably the best that could
be adopted. But that under no reasonable
consideration should the soft character of
the present water be seriously imperiled or
modified. l thought, and still think, that
we had better e1pend more money to keep
our SOFT water, than less, to make it hard.
A moderate degree of hardness for drinking
purposes is, in my opinion, rather beneficial
to the human system. But as l said before,
we ought not, unless absolutely obliged to
do SO, destroy the utility of the present wa
ter for general domestic purposes, for there
is wherein its greatest benefit lies.
"Concerning the properties of the well
water in subject, or whether it will soften by
exposure to the air, have nothing to say,
FOR l KNOW NOTHING OF EITHER.
81 read what the PRESS had to say on the
subject, and thought the admonition it gave
was both timely and wise. am of the opin-
ion that the matter has been rushed along
too hastily, but if it comes out right, of course
shall have nothing to offer but words of con-
graduation"
Through the kindness of the Church FL
nance Committee in not holding the Y. P S.
G. E. of the Congregational Church respon-
sible for fuel and gas used during the late
Musical Convention and to generous re-
membranes of Jud sc c. A. Reed, J. c. Clark,
President, and II. S. Mekeel, Treasurer of
the Society, and to the assistance of others,
the last item of the Church Organ indebted
ness, toward the cancellation of which the
a aFFortc OF tho Sooioty ha va honp diraotod oyor