The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-08
THE DANGER IN SEEP AGE
HEALTH BOARD MAKES A DISCOy-
cry AT WATER WORKS STATION.
Hospital Sewage May Reach the Res
ervoir-COunciI Passes the Hospital
Appropriation Ordinances.

DR.. Frank Morrison and other members
of the Board of Health, and one or two
other city officials. including Councilman
Walcott, visited the water works pumping
station, near Fall creek, yesterday after
noon. 1t was their purpose to investigate
the source of the eitys water supply, and
they learned enough to convince them that
some radical changes are necessary to
make the water supply fit for domestic
consumption. 1t was learned that at night
the gallery from which it is alleged the
water for use is taken practically becomes
a drain into which all the surface water of
the land lying north of the station finds its
way. The officials also reached the eonclu-
sion that much of the water in the gallery
reached it by a seni-filtration through the
sand and gravel from Fall creek 1t is not
believed that the natural filter bed thus
created was sufficient to intercept the dis
ease germs which might get into the water
from the sewage which is emptied into the
creek. The sewage from the City Hospital
is thrown into Fall creek above the pump
ing station. and above the point where the
seepage begins. From the City Hospital it
was considered possible that all manner of
disease germs might get into the water
which is being drunk by the people of In
danapoIis.
The condition in which the visitors found
things was of an exceedingly unfayora BILE
nature. They also examined the connection
with the river, from which the water COM
pany claims it draws water only in cases
of extreme emergency, when the supply
from the gallery and the driven wells is
inadequate to meet the demand. Nothing
but big fire would cause the opening of
the valve according to the claims set up
by the water company.
Vice President Davis was on hand yester-
day afternoon when the city officials We're
making the inspection, and reiterated the
oft-made statement that the river was
drawn upon only in cases of extreme emer-
gency. Mr.. Walcott suggested if that
from the water company if a seal We're
placed upon the valve. Mr.. Davis de-
did arise it was important that the valve
be opened without delay. 1t was suggested
that the seal might be made of light lead
that could be easily broken, hut which
might make it possible for the Board of
Health to know when 1t was broken. 1t
was not intended explained Mr. Walcott
that there should be any penalty attached
to the breaking of the seal, but that it
should simply serve to let the city officials
know when and how often the water COM
pany found the emergency which was lex
IRENE" enough to cause the opening of the
valve.
The conversation on the subject. and the
frmness with which Mr.. Walcott pressed
1t were not agreeable to Mr.. Davis, and he
frequently sought to turn the trend of the
conversation. He called attention to the
new improved machinery which the COM
pany had recently put in for pumping its
mixture into the city pipes, and also to the
new building and to the fine large smoke
stack. He did not divert attention from
the main subject, however, though he did
not give the city officials any satisfaction
regarding his intentions concerning the pipe
connecting with the river.
The company is now engaged in driving
several new wells, by which it is hoped to
increase the water supply to the extent of
the increase in the demand for water The
objection to the driven well water has been
that the iron in it was injurious to boilers
and that it caused a growth in the water
mains which would eventually render them
useless. Mr.. Davis claims that the com
the water by which the iron will be pre-
cipitated and will be taken fom the water
before it is pumped into the mains. This
from the wells by air compressed into a
smaller pipe, which runs down the center
of the WELL