The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-01-23
MIR. LAWLOR'S LETTER.

MIR. LAWLOR'S LETTER.
Poughkeepsie, n. Y, Jan. il, 1896.
My dear sir-I have your favor and
| inquiry of the 9th instant, and in reply
l can say that the filtration method has
been a perfect success at Poughkeepsie
for nearly twenty years. Very truly
yours, II. Il. LAWLOR.
1t is only necessary to mention the
fact that Poughkeepsie, in 1890, had n
population of $4,000. The daily supply
is about three and half times the limit
set by Health
The Lawrence (Mass.) water board in
the report for 1898, said: THUS far
the filter has performed the work salts
factorily, the results of which are al
ready apparent to every user of city
water. From the day of letting on the
water to the present, there has been con-
tinuous and ample supply of filtered
water received into the wells and pumped
into the reservoirs. The construction of
the sand filter has proved the theory that
water can artifciaily be made pure and
wholesome; and from the best scientific
advice, we can now say that the city of
Lawrence enjoys the benefits of as pure
water as any city in the country" In
1880, Lawrence had population of 49,
600 and a daily water supply of over
2,7OO,0OO gallons-about five times more
than the limit set by Health" Health"
says that the cOncensus of opinion against
the filter system for populous commune
ties is irresistible and that in no degree
does 1t answer the requirements or meet
the demands for eliminating the organic
impurities from common water supply.
Mr.. Tanning, in his work ON water Sup
ply" in commenting ON the filter-bed sys-
tenn, says: when our American
water consumers are more famil-
lar with the filter-bed system of
clarificatiOn now in such general
use in England and Scotland and
the continent, its use will be oftener de-
manded. Subsistence, as we have be-
fore remarked, does not completely clar-
ify the water, even in a fortnight or three
weeks tme but a good sand filter, if
not overwOrked, intercepts, not only the
visible sediment and fine clay, but most
minute vegetable tibres and organisms,
and the spawn of fish, and it is highly
important that these should be separated
before the water is passed to the con-
sumer." If filter system ''in no de-
gree eliminates the organic matter, the
oS!ChtIhS WOllu HAS Dcell lllOSL WOIully
misled. Allen Hazen, who, until lately,
was sanitary expert in charge of the ex-
periments for the Massachusetts State
board of health, says: 'River waters
should be filtered. Sedimentation and
storage may accomplish much, but their
action is too slow and often uncertain.
Filtration, properly carried out, removes
bacteria promptly and thoroughly and at
reasonable expense"
l suggest that the city appropriate a
certain sum of money to pay the expenses
of commission, whose duties it should
be to visit the different cities in the East
that have solved the problem of pure
water. This commission should be head
ed by the mayor and should be composed
mostly of business men. 1t would greatly
decrease the labor of the commission and
add to the value of the report if IAN en-
gineer were on the commission. The
money appropriated to pay the expenses
of this commission would bear a rich
return, and it would aid in removing any
doubt that exists.
In conclusion, l desire to say that l
have no selfish motives in this matter
and that | have no reservoir site to sug-
gest. II. u. TAYLOR.