The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-04-28
TIE INTERIOR Of TIE
STAND PIPE
Neither Beast, Bird Nor Reptile Of
Land. Air or Sea Found.

The stand pipe was emp,ied yesterday and
at4 o'csock all of the water bad been drawn
of so that the man dole at the bottom could
be opered snd the interior inspected By the
Board of Health Nothing uas found to
establish the CONCEPTION that there was a
necessity for draiSing the stand pipe and
cleaniog It ont The water was perfec,ly
clear and pure, except for sediment at the
bottom of few inches IN depth, aud this
was composed of sand aud iron rust ana was
reddish brown in Color The sides of the
interior Of the pipe we're coated with layer
of iron rust, Produced by the seton OF the
water on ihe iron plates composing the pipe,
but no other impnfities, if this Gao he coapt-
cd q impurity. we're discovered or unearthed
The sediment ON the bottom Was removed
end the bottom washed out shoronehly, and
the pumps were then started The stand
pSpe is now filed with absolutely fresh water
and there can now be no objection 10 the
quality Of the water on the score that ii has
remained 30 Tong 10 the stand pipe that it has
become Stale.
The people OF Sumter DO no, know when
they are we'll off, If they were compelled to
use the SORT of water that the unfortunate in
habnants Of other places are forced to im-
bibe. they would have some reason TO kick,
but having water that is as clear as crystal,
that comes from deep wells free from the
possibility Of contamination, aud stored in Q
reservoir whose top is one hundred and tweo-
ty-6ye fee. above the surface OF the suIround-
iug county and thus removed from the
chance Of anything Of an impure nature
beinr thrown into it. they ought not 10 kick.
In addition to the immonity from cootaml-
nation TO the water 10 the reservoir, the
water supply Of Sumter is as pure aud as
well adapsed to all uses "a any &c, be found in
any torn or city in the United States. 1t
,bae been analysed time and again by reputa.
Bile and thoroughly experienced chemists in
this and other States aud each time the re-
po:t has been that the water is ss nearly alb
soiutely pure as any water that has pot been
distilled. tits clear, soft asd free from min
erasor organic matter and 30 i'll effects can
or has been known to follow the drinking Of
It. What more could the people Of Sumter
7desire or demand7
II is well, perhaps, that the Board Of Health
has bsd the stand pipe drained and examioed,
for it will serve to remove once for all the
superstition that has taken possession of the
imaRinatioos Of some of our citizens, and
they can row imbide freely of. water without
the haunting fear tha, they may be unwit-
tingly partaking of the diluted remains of
sandry land and sq.atice beast sud reptiles
that had ascanded to the top of
the hundred and twenty-five foot
stand pipe and drowned their sor-
rows in the limpid depths below. Not a
beast was, found and as the stock law is
rifidiy enforced in this vicinage il is not
likely that an of the dccile aud invaluable
family milk cows will stray iuto the stand
pipe IN future, unless come of them undertake
TO cut up high jinks and jump over the moon
after the fashion of Mother Goose's COW.