The record-union., 1896-02-12

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nearly all traces of organic matter
The possibility of utilizing such
ground waters by large wells, drive
wells or filter galleries will be readily
understood. Surface and ground waters
are liable to be contaminated by any
organic filth on their watersheds. These
waters are seriously affected by the set
tlement of the country. In many places
where the population is still small and
scattered these waters may be pure and
satisfactory for domestic use. But
along streams where the larger cities
are situated, and in all thickly inhab-
| tied localities, the increase of popula-
tion has rendered them unfit for use
The streams are now often used as the
dumping ground of waste materials
both liquid and solid, and though strin-
gent sanitary laws may in the main
prevent gross pollution of these water
courses, it can never keep from them
all of the liquid and solid accompani-
ments of a dense population. Waters
once receiving organic matters retain
them indefinitely, for although the COM
parative amounts may be lessened by
dilution, deposition and meteorological
agencies, there is not a river long
enough to entirely purify itself during
it's flow from source to sea, when
once thoroughly contaminated.
And again: "The deep and artesian
wells flow often through miles of mate
rial and are effectually filtered from all
organic contaminations, and, if unpol-
luted at their outlet, are organically
pure. Wells drawing their waters from
such sources offer a supply second to
none in organic purity and freedom
from all risk of contamination" He
adds what everyone knows, of course,
that subterranean waters contain more
inorganic salts than surface waters.
The "Sanitarian" for October, 1895,
quotes an able article from the "Practi-
toner on filters, in which every pos
sible claim for filtration is conceded;
particles in a mechanical fashion;
oxidizing and destroying the organic
matter in solution, and removing some
of the more Objectionable Of the dis
solved mineral substances. But when
all that is said, it remains, says the
paper quoted, that the most serious
danger is dependent upon the minute
organisms that are not intercepted.
Towns and companies by the score
have endeavored to face this problem
by artificial filtration of stream waters
that intake sewage of towns and vii
lagos. These filters for a time check
ing much impurity, finally have to be
cleansed, and it has been a popular be-
lief that this cleansing was an un-
mixed benefit, but experience now
proves that popular belief has reck-
oned without taking the microbial host
into account
A filter bed left to itself a long time
forms on the surface a scum that
catches most of this host, but as in
supplying a considerable city, the filter
device must be stirred or cleansed,
this scum cannot form, and the micro
bial host marches on through the in
terstices Of the filter. Moreover, where
a large quantity is to be filtered and at
considerable speed, the filter ceases to
be protective. Stockton and Middles>
borough, England, had a filter bed on
huge scale, using the water of the
river Tees, but in 1S90-91 great fever
epidemic was traced directly to the
filtered water.
Close and constant supervision over
waters taken from rivers, 1t is agreed.
Is absolutely necessary even where filter
beds are used, SO that if a scheme for
filtering Sacramento River is looked
into, the constant cost anu watch
fulness necessary must be taken into
account. Indeed, it has been shown
that filter beds or devices by arresting
dangerous elements may and do be-
come breeding beds for them, and thus
turn out to be actual agencies for i'll
to the community.
All these things involve so much of
trouble, cost and doubt that the City
Trustees, we repeat, ought to throw out
without consideration any and all sug
gestions to filter the public water sup
ply of Sacramento. It is not worth
while; it opens new door for squander-
ing public funds; it promises no protec-
tion against contamination of the
stream as the country more and more
settles up; it is, in short, valueless to
people who must very soon abandon
the river supply, filter or no filter.
PREPARATION BETTER THAN AR
BITRATION.
A lot of goody- -goody Chicago senti-
mentalists have engaged in the labor of