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

to be covered, that a concrete bottom
should be provided and that it would be
necessary TO provide for drainage. He also
stated that the land had been examined
and found satis factory and that the esti-
mate of S2s1, 600 would be sufficient to
cover the entire cost
Mr.. West wanted to know how he could
estimate the cost of the whole when he
had made no estimates Of the cost of the
different parts ana Mr.. Shedd answered
that the details would not vary sufficient
lv from the figures. Mr.. Shedd said that
he had made no estimate for cleaning the
filters, but that the usual method was to
employ a skilful man with a square
shovel.
Have you made an estimate fer a bridge
between the pumping station and the
filter plant, asked Mr.. West, aud Mr..
Sheddasald that he didn't propose to have
a bridge but would get across in a boat.
Further questions were asked relative
TO the ccst OF a water tight bottom, none
OF which Mr.. shedd could answer defi-
nitely and Mr.. West again asked how he
had been able to make total estimate.
Mr.. Shedd then explained that the sole
reason for naming s2s1, 900 was that that
sum had been decided upon TO pay for a
mechanical filter plant OF the Morrison
Jewell Company.
Mr.. West then took up the question of
a dam, but, receiving nothing definite
from the engineer, he said that it was
entirely matter of suppUsitiUn not TO be
relied upon.
Turning to the engineer again he
asked him IL he didn't think as a matter
of fact that it would cost nearer one
million dollars than S2sl, 900, and in an
swer to this Mr.. shedd declared that he
did not think it would cost $3.50, GOO.
The engineer tried sarcasms himself and
said that piece of work might be made
TO cost anything that was desired to
which Mr.. West gave an emphatic assent
and alluded TO Red Bridge.
MIR. West asked the engineer IL he didn't
recommend a mechanical filter year ago
and the reply was in the affirmative.
Then Mr.. r.Shedd was asked why he recon-
mended sand filter tSday and he said that
he thought 1t TO be better method.
Then why didn't you recommend sand
hitter year ago? asked MIR. West and the
engineer intimated that the adoption of
that system year ago was impossible.
MIR. kendrfck of Ward asked II Mr..
Weston had not recommended a filter
he'd of ten acres and Mr.. Shedd replied
that he might have.
In answer to question relative to
maintenance MIR. Shedd replied that he
thought "A per million gallons would
cover 1t, and Mr.. Kendrick reminded
him that at previous meeting he had
made an estimate of $40 per million acres.
Mr.. Kendrick asked il the excavations
and the bottom of the bel would not be
in the same sort of quick sand which had
been encountered in trying TO locate a
pumping station. Mr. Shedd said yes, but
that the department now understands
how to deal with such difficulties.
AT lO:30 O'Clock Mr.. Kendrick remarked
that he was through with the witness
and Mr.. sturges took up the examinatio ion
and questioned Mr.. Shedd on the discrep-
ancies between his statements and those
published by Mr. Hazen, an acknow-
iedged authority on the question OF Ultra
tion.
Mr. Kendrick stated to the Council that
there were just six acres of sand filters in
operation in the United States and that 10
cities had adopted the mechanical sys-
TENS.
Mr.. Shedd asked him IL he had got any
information from those 10 cities and Mr..
kehdFiek= replied that he had heard from
Quincy, iii. AT this the engineer observ-
eo that the manager of the water works
in that city Is the vice-president of the
Morrison-Jewell Company.
MIR. West asked the engineer II he did
not approve of waiting until the filtration
experiments at Louisville were com pleted
before adopting any system and Mr..
Shedd said no.
Mr.. Burdick also spoke.
Mr.. Gardner OF the Second Ward wantCH
to know why IL would not be advisa bic
to wait for the results from Louisville,
and MIR. Shedd said the experiments in
that city are not of SO much Importance
as the practical experience OF fifty years
DIR. Chaplin was the next official invited
to address the Council and he stated at
the outset, without waiting for quest ions,
that system OF filtration is absolutely
necessary Tor che health of the city. And
then he told OF the epidemics which
Providence had suffered from and which
could be traced with certainty TO the pol
luton of the Pawtuxet river.
He said that the germs OF typhoid fever
had been found in the small house filters
where Pawtuxot water IL used. And this
sort OF things, he continued, may be re-
peated tomorrow and it may not oc-
cur again Tor year or two years. The
danger OF pollution in the river cannot te
guarded against. IT is n danger which
must be provided against as city pro,
vides 10 protect its property from fire.
The Superintendent of health told OF
the general dissatisfaction with the pres
ent state OF affairs ard said that during
the summer there is hardly day when
be does not receive some complaint about
the Hlth of the water.
Alderman Mccarthy asked IL the water
was not better today than 1t ever had
been and DIR. Chaplin seid yes, but that
IL could not be made any better than II
is now, and would In all probability de-
teriorate.
MIR. Kendricy asked she superintendent
OF health which method OF filtration he
preferred, and he=+nfd-ttut he prefercd
the mechanical system as II - more easily
managed and gives much better results.
Mr.. Lougee wanted to know what is re-
moved from water by filtrstion and Dr.
Chaplin informed him that all the solids
are taken out and that the amount Of
bacteria IL so reduced that the remainder
rnay be ignored.
Mr. Gardner asked DIR. Chaplin II he
did not deem IL advisable TO await the re-
gulta nj IOuigyfllo and tho Iaftor alyfepc