The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03
WATER QUESTION EASES UP.
City Sanftarian Has Some Theories
Exploded at Louisville.

Since mechanical filter men have been
here claiming that their systems can be in
stalled and operated much more cheaply
than sand-bed filters of the old-world type.
the water company says it would like a
little additional time TO make investiga-
TONS before deciding upon permanent
plans. Cities all over the United States,
where the question of a pure water supply
has been agitated, have been watching the
experiments at Louisville with much inter
est. The result of those experiments will
not be made public for another month.
Meantime the company is confronted with
the order of the Mayor. the Board of
Works and the Board of Health. to adopt
the Lawrence plan. Drs. Ferguson ana
Hurry returned from Louisville without be-
ing able 10 obtain any data as to results.
although both of them say that the water
comes from the filters clear and sparkling,
devoid of any unpleasant taste or odor.
They were unable to obtain any reports of
chemical or meteorological analyses, as
George w. Fuller, in charge of the labora-
tory is under bond not to reveal the result
of bihourly tests until Aug. l. Mr.. Davis
was much disappointed to hear that they
were unable to get information that would
enable them to determine whether filtered
water at Louisville comes up to the stand
ard. He frightened somewhat when 1T was
suggested that DR.. Ferguson might be will
ing to allow the company to wait until Mr.
Fuller's reports are made public.
we want to adopt the best system,
said he, "and would like to know what the
results of the experiments at Louisville
show before adopting the Lawrence plan.
/ have always thought sand-bed filters
were better, but Mr. Bull and other repre-
sentatives of the mechanical filters are SO
confident in their plans that / would like
to investigate them, at least. | suppose,
however, that DR.. Ferguson Will insist that
we follow the instructions given in his LETT
ter
DIR. Ferguson says that he was thorough
ly satisfied with the physical appearance
Of the water filtered by the Jewell filter
plant but would be better satisfied as to
the efficacy of mechanical filters II he knew
that he had not brought water home with
him TO make tests as tests made of water
after II had been jolted on the railroads
for twenty-four hours would not be relia-
bic. He says that some of the theories he
had formed on filtration were exploded by
his trip.
Il went there prejudiced in favor of sand
bed filters he said last night. but must
say that / was surprised with what they
are doing at Louisville. There are three
companies making competitive tests. and
analyses of water from all the filters are
being made every two hours. The city of
Louisville stipulated n year ago, when the
tests began that no plant would be accept
ed which did not remove 81 per cent. OF the
bacteria. The representative of one of the
companies assured me that their filter Is
removing 80 per cent. / expect to leave
here Saturday night to visit the mechanical
filters at Poughkeepsie, Wilkesbarre, Prov
ldence and the Lawrence sand-bed filter
At providence / Will get data from DR..
Schwartz. of the Rhode Island Board of
Health, who has made personal analyses
of mechanically filtered water. Is am sure
that his figures will be reliable as he was
once. prejudiced in favor of sand-bed FL
tcrs"
DR.. Ferguson says that the Board of
Health had not ordered the water COM
pany to put in filter beds The letter Of
the board simply suggested" that the Wa
ter company adopt tae Lawrence type "Our
letter was written to the water company
In answer to the assertion of Vice Presi-
dent Davis that he would follow out the
suggestions made by the board, and we
only made a suggestion. This board has
no power TO dictate what kind OF a filter
shall be used
DIR. Ferguson's letter was addressed to
the Board of Public Works which ap-
proved it and sent ii to the water COM
pany. with the direction that the company
act accordingly. The letter began: I'VE
recommend that the water company I'm
compliance with their promise to the May
or and Boards of Public Works and
Health. be required to construct immedi-
ately a system Of modern sand filtration,
Judging from Dr. Ferguson's candid adj
mission that he was prejudiced in favor
of filters of the Lawrence type when he
wrote the letter, Mr.. Davis may be given
sufficient time 10 make Investigations at
least as extensive as those DR.. Ferguson
proposes 10 make himself. He and DR.
Hurty VIII leave here Saturday night TO
he gone several days. Both DR. Ferguson
and DIR. Hurry have been quoted hereto
fore as saying that the great difficulty I'm
determining the relative merits of filfra-
tion lay in the fact that no data is OBJ
tairab'e on mechanical filters. while there
are hundreds Of works on sand-bed filtra-
tion- For this reason scientists are await
vynurr ipfaraxf