San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-27
OUR DRINKING WATER.

ten years ago under the head or
Communicates"
OUR DRINKING WATER.
The various examinations of our
river and drinking water have been
sufficient proof that our city had
good reason in paying close atten-
ton to the question and a disserta-
ton Of the subject. We cannot
close our eye to the fact that in
consequence Of imperfect removal
and the checking OF the current
our ground water" (this applies
to dug wells), is no doubt infected
and the original pure and clear
river water at these hemmed-up
places changes to breeding locations
Of dangerous germs. With a
proper appreciation Of these condi-
tions, with the aid and in union
with the sanitary committee, our
Council has taken up this serious
question: How to remedy these
defects in the quickest and most
practical manner
To the present time only two
propositions have come before the
public. Mr.. Bolton recommends a
temporary opening of the dam. DR..
Hertz proposes to use the river as a
temporary medium OF drainage
until proper system OF sewerage
is had. Apparently the latter prop
osition, (Which also means pure
ground water, is more complete in
its meaning and in its ordinary &C.
ceptation, but also embraces a
greater responsibility. 1t is the
general opinion that it is more
than an ordinary risk to emp
ty the offal, (excrements), OF a
city OF 10000 inhabitants direct in
to a small river which winds its
way slowly through the city. Taint-
ing and infection would be the
certain consequence. This would
be unavoidable under present con-
ditions. The emptying Of such a
! mass Of filth, at least during the
summer months, the occasional
| (weekly) opening OF the dam would
be inadequate. so far the authori-
ties have not allowed any such
communicating.
| Whatever may be the result of
an immediate sink hole near the
river, when the water wends its
way slowly downward has no
doubt been sufficiently experienced
by our readers through their OIL
factory organs on Commerce street
bridge last summer. "And now
an unlimited (generaD use Of the
river for sewerage purposes !"
Let us consider the pro" and
econ" in this case. First,
where in the wrold are hotels
and other large public institutions
to carry their offal Every one
knows that necessity forces them,
though in opposition to police
authority, to use the bitches, and,
where practicable, the river for a
deposit. Whenever, in later days,
attempts have been made to estab-
lish large sinks the odor OF neigh
boring wells has given proof OF the
impracticability and danger Of
| such experiments. Though far
apart, as may be the different
opinions as to the origin Of cpl
denies, all authorities unite in one
point that infected ground water"
and we'll water are the most effec-
tive agents for the dissemination
Of those kind Of diseases. And our
ground water (well water and
drinking water IL not as it should
be. Shall we wait until the evil
was come home to US?
AS already said, we have no
practical proposition. Mr.. Bolton
only considers the river. DR.. Herff
wants to meet the calamity on
broader scale. His proposition Is
feasible as soon as the river has
free current.
Floodgates will not stop the evil
in its entirety, only a radical re-
moval of the untimely dams which
are, so to say, public nuisance. OF
course the owners OF these dams
should be reimbursed in substitute
ing steam for the lost water power.
A young fiourishing city will often
be placed in a condition to make
appropriations for less important
matters for the benefit OF COM
munity. Why should San Antonio
hesitate to make comparatively
small appropriation when the
question Of life Is to be considered.
The removals Of the dams alone
will not be sufficient, the river has
many shallow places that would
need deepening, protecting banks
and hindering vegetation should
be removed, but what is this for
only a few miles OF stream? The
main question, and which should
be answered in the affirmative is: