Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-25
PURE WATER SUPPLY.

The present condition of our water,
which is to-day largely mud and the
washings of the valley above, directs
our attention to the agitation now 60
ing on in many cities IA this country
and abroad for the publication Of the
water supply. This question is an old
one to Wheeling, which has compro-
missed between a filtration system and
the old arrangement by moving the wa
ter works above the city limits out OF
all danger of contamination by the city
sewage. The wisdom of this move has
been proved by the remarkable diminu-
ton of typhoid fever and similar dis
eases since the change, bur tina. there is
still room for Improvement in orr water
supply no one will dispute. and while
Wheeling to-day has purer water than
the average city, owing 10 the compare
lively sparsely settled condition of the
Ohio Valley above us. the experience
of other cities with the water question
viii be of interest and value. The fol-
lowing extract from the London Times
report of a distinguished lecturers re-
marks is Of interest in this connection:
AT the Royal Institution last night DIT.
r. Frauilaud. +. r. S. delivered a dis
course on the Present. Past and Future
Water Supply of London. Sir Frederick
o.. s N. f.1f 81
present were Lord RayieiEh. Sir Joseph
Lister. Sir Douglas Cation. Sir James
Crichton-B Browne. Prof. Dewar. Prof. :.
r. Thompson and Mr.. Basil WOod-Smith.
CDR. FARMLAND said that before 1S29 the
river water supplied 20 London was not
Uttered all. and as late as $50 only
three or The seven river water companies
filtered their supplies, while it was not
sorry. Even then for many years the pro-
cess was carried on very careleSSly. and
improved hut slowly rim lNS2. since which
time 10 had been uniformly excellent. Four
We're The chief Incentives 20 Improvement
for Or. SHOVE showed. on the occasion Of
the second visitation. that the disease was
promu. gated by impure water But chem
iCal or organic impurity was only 81 sec
ondary Importance for it was established
that the spread of disease such as cholera
and typhoid through the agency Of drink
ing water had no connection with organic
impuritv. bu- was oCcasioned by living
organisms of extreme miuuteuess. The
effect OF sand filtration as carried out ny
the London water companies upon the liv-
ing matter contained ia raw river water
was simply astounding. A single drop Of
unhltered Thames water sometimes con-
tanned nearly 5000 separate living ORGAN
iSmS. but after filtration only two or three
would be found. and sometimes the III
tered water was absolutely sterile.
"It was sometimes said that the non
pathosenic microbes In water might he
beneficial 10 man. but that idea was not
borne ont by their utter absence from the
food provided by nature for young ami
mails. Healthy milk was quite sterile"
The Philadelphia Common Council
has undertaken the task of improving
the city's water supply at least to the
extent of considering a bill appropri-
ating S250,OOO for the building Of "one
or more experimental filter plants. 50
Apropos Of this the New York Engin-
eering News SAYS:
Few cities in the United States are in
greater need Of new and pure water sup
DIV than Philadelphia. For twenty years
| the badness OF its water has been proverh-
! a.. Many person throughout the coun-