The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-28

waiting IL the Councilmen are not satis-
fled with the information which they al
ready have.
Alderman Pierce asked IL the water
would be safe II all the sources of pollu-
tion could be removed. DIR. Chaplin said
that an attempt had been made for 70
years to remove the sources OF pollution,
but il had proved unsuccessful.
Dr. Gardner X. Swarts OF the State
board OF health. called the attention OF
the mem bers to the printed report OF the
results Obtained with experimental filters
at the Pettaconsett pumping station OF
the Providence Water Works by Edmund
Is. Weston. DIR. Swarts said that not
only typhoid and cholera germs are to be
feared from the unfiltered, water, but also
the bacteria which is SO destructive of
the intestinal canal.
In reply to a question of Mr.. Kenorick
DIR. Swarts said that he preferred the
mechanical filter to the SAND system and
referred to the dangers OF the collection
of filth on the surface Of a natural ultra
tion bed.
Mr.. Angel asked IL there would not be
grave danger to health il the water on
natural filter bed should become frozen
snd Dr. Swarts replied that there would
be.
President Kendrick read communica-
tion from the following physicians urging
The adoption OF the natural hltTation sys-
TEN:
+. II. Peckham, Jr., George W. Carr, A.
O. Ham, W. l.. Munro, j. w. Oely, VIII
liam J. McCaw, j. ii. Davenport, John
W. Mitchell. q. l.. Collins, Charles +.
Peck ham, George ii. Crooker, Z. II. Gard
ner, Z. 4. Gardner, George II. Kenyon,
Robert Millar, IL. K. Walker.
MIR. Edmund b. Weston of the city en-
gineer's department, who conducted the
experiments at Pettaconsett stated that
the experiments had been commenced
with both sand and mechanical filters,
but that the former had been given up
because 1t was found to be unsatisfactory.
COMMUNICATION FROM MR.. GRAY.
The following communication from
Samuel M. Gray was read by President
Kendrick:
Your invitation of April s, to attend q
meeting of the Common Council to be
held on the evening or April II, for the
purpose of considering the report on a
system Of filtration, applicable TO the pres
ent water supply of the city OF Provi-
dence, was duly received, for which
please accept my thanks. i expect TO be
out of town next Monday evening and
consequently..shali be unable to be pres
ent at the meeting of the Common Coun-
ell, and therefore beg to submit few
suggest ions by letter.
1t seems to be evident to the minds of
all who have given the question any at
tention, that the Pawtuxet river water as
now furnished the citizens Of this city, is
rot as pure as water used for domestic
purposes should be.
Poor water Is dear at any price, the best
of water is the cheapest whatever may be
its cost, when we consider that the health
and lives of so many of our citizens are
dependent upon the quality of water
furnished TO them.
Without entering into the merits of me-
chanial filtration.as compared with nat
ural filtration il would seem reasonable
TO suppose that il water could be obtain
ed which had never been contaminated,
IL would be more satisfactory to our peo-
pie ana would remove any prejudice
which might exist against using water
which bad been contaminated and after
wards filtered, however thoroughly the
work OF filtration might be done.
1t would also avert the constant danger
| OF having impure water furnished, which
| by accident or carelessness in the opera
| tion OF the filters, had not been rendered
| free from dangerous impurities.
The Pawtuxet River Valley, above the
intake of the Providence water works, il
one of the most thickiy populated rural
districts in the United States.
This valley contains about 80 manufsc-
tories of various kinds, which soil the
water of the Pawtuxet river more or less
in the operation of the works.
The villages situated on the banks OF
this river contain upwards of $4,000 peo-
pie.
Some OF these villages have public
water supply, y,creaiing sewage which must
in some way be disposed OF, and more or
less of which finds its way directly or
indirectly into the Pawtuxct River.
IL would seem, to person familiar
with the conditions of the Pawtuxet
trnr NaIl hat inn tor for do
mestic purposes taken from the river be-
low these mills and villages, is not con-
slstent with good sanitation.
Ii will be seen by report made by q
commission, appoint by the Governor
OF the State, and com posed OF Hon.
Henry A. Stearns, Henry l. Green, and
William :. Hayward, dated January,
1894, that the question of obtaining pure
Water above the sources OF contamination,
was examined into.
From this report, IL seems that above
Washington on the South Fork at Kent
in the North Fork, there are but few
sources OF contamination, and these can
easily be removed, thus rendering it pos
sible to obtain water pure from natures
most perfect filters.
The wafer shed above ashfn gton con.
| tributary to the river has 60 square miles.
That of The North Fork above Kent has
80 square miles, or total of 1i5 square
miles.
The average annual rainfall in this val
| ley Is little upward Of "a inches pei
| annum. The topog OF these valleys
| is such tha. an hlmost unlimited storage
| capacity can be obtained.
BY this report 1t will also be seen that
with an annual collection of nine inches
of rainfall, with proper storage, daily
supply OF upward of62. eco 600 gallons can
be relied upon, IN the driest time OF very
| dry year.
That nine inches OF rainfall can be col.
| lected think no one will question.
IL is estimated. as win be seen by this
report, that the present needs of the city
| OF Providence could be supplied with
pure water, which had never been con
| taminated, and delivered by gravity into
| the socksnosset reservoir for the sun OF
| SS15, 900 (exoiusive OF rights-of-way and
damsges for diversion of water) by tax.
ing the water above alt the mills and vii
lages.
II would seem to be wise, before en-
| tering upon extensive experiments OF iil-
tration, 10 ascertain by careful and reli'
able estimates, whether the cost OF the
| ..la all I.I 10 tf.e