The times., 1897-09-28
INJURIOUS WELL WATER
4 Great Source Of Danger by
Causing Disease.
INSPECTOR DOW'S REPORT
Tests Mnde by Him of Water. Asphalt
and Cement iions
10 the Commissioners = Wants N
Larger Force TO Conduct H.
yestigations More Thoroughly.


Mr.. A W Dow, the Inspector of asphalt
AMI ceilenls and tlle chemist of the Dis
trict engineer department, has submitted
reports 10 Capt. Hack, assistant Engineer
Commissioner, on his work OF analysis and
tests of asphslts and cements during the
last year, and also on the tests Of deep
and shallow wells conducted by him for
tile water department.
In tie report b. says n. has made 90
analyses -45 On water from deep wells
and 9 from the old shallow wells. Tive
deep wells We're abandoned, because good
water c,'uld not be obtained, aand on. issus-
piClous. The others all made very good
showing. Among tho shallow wells were
bad ana 4 suspicious
Mr. low says: lit is much to be re-
grettcd that the force III this department
is too small to permit of mole extended
examination Of the shallow wells. Such
wells area great source of danger in caus
ing and transmitting diseases, and if they
are 10 De kept In use in this city, several
examinations of each Sh ould be made every
year. These examinations need not be coni
! pIetc but just sufficient to show any
marked change in the anal ysis of tie
water
The annual reportoh asphalts indictments
! is careful and exhaustive. 1t is largely
on the work of testing during the fiscal
year 1897.
hydraulic cements, natur al cenients and
! Portland cement were thoroughly tested
As to their reiative gain or strength with
age Tie crushing strength OF concrete
OF different aggregates " as tested. Mr..
4 Dow suggests that further Investigations
be carried on with concrete, as t. the values
OF different grades OF sand in concrete
i:lakins, aad the proper materials and pro
| poruouing If materials to give the most
economical concrete for a given class OF
work.
Thirteen samples OF crude e Trinidad
asphalt were tested and analyzed. Asphalt
/ cemeHts and the varieties and quality Of
/ sauds 10 be used were tested.
Mr. Low reports that a fine new asphalt
/ from TuXpan. Mexico, has been submitted
! and examined hy him-th- only new natu-
raj aspna:t submitted during the year
worth mention. He reports that il is of
such consistency when found that it is
ready for making into pavement without
the addition OF "a flax. No other asphalt
IS in this Voadition.
Trinidad asphalt has been used ex-
! clusiyely during the year. Mr.. Dow re-
ports shat the Barber Paving Company have
/ evinced, during tie past year, desire TO
/ lay as good a pavement as was in their
/ power, irrespective OF cost They have
improved their asphalt cement by substi-
1 cutting for portions OF the residuun oil used
an artificial asphalt which insparts to the
cement the property OF being less sus-
cepJible to changes of atiuos sphtric tenlpera-
tuTe They have also used a sand il
ther surface mixture that is much finer
than is called for ia the specifications.
M low says that during the coming
y"Gr The paving companies VIII lay d pave
ment wlta slightly softer asphalt cement
This will make the payements less liable
TO cracking III cold weather while they wiz
still be sHificiendy hard for summer.