Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-16
JAMES RIVER WATER.
PRoFEssoR WINSTON TELLS OF
HIS EXPERIMENTS WITH 1T.
IT CANNOT BE- FILTERED NELL.
50 Says the College Physicist, After
Number of Tests-Chemical Aid
Must Ne Used-why DIR. Taylor
Likes It--yot Unwholesome.

The protocol having been signed and
there being no prospect for victories by
land and sea. the jealous James river
rose up in the nick of time to draw the
attention of Richmond and Manchester
people to itself.
and on the streets. the question now up
permost In the minds OF the residents OF
both cities is how the matter Of getting
rid of the mud in the water can be settled
for all time.
Among those who In a quiet and prac-
teal way have been thinking about ii
is Professor Charles Fl. Winston. of the
Chair OF Physics in Richmond College.
on Professor Winston in his laboratory
at the college yesterday and heard some
very interesting talk from him on ex-
perlments he has made recently in clari.
flying the water.
Professor Winston disclaims any
studlous attempt to experiment To a de-
finite end. but was led to 1t more by a
desire TO satisfy his own mind about the
practicability of clearing the water at
all.
1T CANNOT BE DONE.
Professor Winston is positive that it
cannot be done by mechanical means
this way: First, a funnel was lined with
filter paper and the water of the James
introduced. The complexion of the water
as 1t issued from the spout was precisely
the same as before. Thinking that, per-
chance, the filter paper was not strong
enough, he substituted charcoal, with the
same result. He next tried both still
the water was of the same clay hue. He
bethought himself Of chemical. layer
of sulphate of lime, or plaster OF
Paris. was put over the charcoal, and
again the water was run through. The
result was marvellous. The drippings
were almost as clear as crystal. Surely
this was success. But when he tasted
the water the plaster of Paris was in
it, and he was reminded strongly of the
water Of the Valley.
WHY 1T WILL NOT FILTER.
The Professor went on, then, to explain
why 1t was that the water would not
filter without the aid of chemicals As
every one knows, the mud does not set
tie quickly. Water left in a vessel over
night Is about as muddy at the top as
at the bottom when morning comes
There Is such a close relation and attrac.
ton between the water and the particles
of earth that strong force is needed
to break 1t. This attraction carried the
mud through the filter paper, the char
coal, and also the filter paper and the
charcoal along with the water. Or, again,
as III B." expressed ii in the Dis.
patch of Saturday, water which will
not sediment" will not filter.
ALUM BROUGHT BEST RESULTS.
The remaining experiments made by the
Professor were with chemicals. Alum
brought the best results, and he thinks
is least injurious TO the drinker. If. in
fact. injurious at all. Ever since tho
river has been on this late instruction
he has derived practical benefit from the
alum, using the clarified water in his own
household for all purposes. He made a
solution Of alum, such that there should
be a know quantity of the mineral to
every teaspoonful Of the solution-say,
one and half grains. This he put in
a half gallon of water at night. The
next morning the water was as clear as
he could wish it,
Professor Winston was asked why the
alum cleared the water, and replied that
he did not know, nor was II at all plain TO
scientists. 1t was evident only that the
alum served to break those bonds which
kept the mud and water together, but how
a,,I .l.e
physicist smilingy said, however.
that he had read somewhere that the alum
solution formed a finely-meshed net at
the top Of the vessel. and sinking, carried
he mud with it-making the process both
chemical and mechanical
What Professor Winston said next was
n answer TO a question whether there
was alum in the clarified water. He re-
piled that he thought there surely was, |
though he had not subjected it 10 any |
chemical test. II could not be detected |
by taste. however, as the lime was when |
he water was cleared by plaster of Paris |
EXPERIMENTS WITH ACIDS.
He made finally some forty experiments
with acids and alkalis. All Of the strong |
II acids served 10 clear the water. but left |
heir earmark in the liquid. lie even |
u.
because it lacked strength. The alkalis- |
common soap, for instance-were tried |
out their effect was just opposite TO that |
If tho acids. They would not work at all |
The sulphate of iron, copperas, ami sui |
)nate of zinc We're also tried, and both |
cleared the water very we'll.
WHAT DR.. TAYLOR DRINKS.
Or. W. II. Taylor State Chemist and |
City Coroner, was asked by representa- |
i've OF the Dispatch the other day what |
le was drinking these turbulent times.
DR.. Taylor's reply was characteristics |
James-river straight, you know" he |
went on; Il like my drinks with some |
)ody 10 them"
Dr. Taylor says the people should not |
worry themselves overmuch about James |
Ever water. 1t had been shown, beyond |
doubt, that>At was not unwholeso,ne. |
The general health of Richmond az DIGS /
mt. which was remarkably good for the |
eason OF the year, was an indisputable |
roof of that. IF the water was as I'M
wholesome as people make CuJ," he said,
we would have worse than a Santa go
ight here in Richmond" But Il WAS ! urc.
lie added. If II was muddy. DR.. Taylor
aid great deal OF stress on this tart He
aid that during this spell a great number
f persons. especially on the outskirts OF
he city, had been using water from the
prings and wells. because II was clear.
lie did not think this was wise. Especial.
Y was it not desirable 10 use water taken
rom wells long out of use. That water
al ri. Ill 1