New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-30
TAMMANY AND WATER.
ROCKVILLE CENTRE LABORATORY AP-
PLIANCES TO BE USED IN THE
CROTON SHED
BRooKLYNs SUPPLY OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE
SPONTANEOUSLY OF THE CHARTER MAY

BRooKLYNs SUPPLY OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE
SPONTANEOUSLY OF THE CHARTER MAY
CAUSE A CLAsH-A TALK WITH DR..
WILSON. THE BAcTERroIOGIsr.
Having abolished the Brooklyn watershed labora-
tory at Rockville Centre the Tammany Hall Health
Board proposes II IA said TO establish laboratory
the CrotOn watershed. More than this. they
going to use the apparatus which bought
by Commissioner Emery with the money contrib
uted by Brooklyn taxpayers in meteorological and
chemical analyses OF the water supply OF Man
haitian and The Bronx boroughs.
The authority for this statement is an ex-ofiicer
OF the Brooklyn Health Department who IL in
close touch with the present Health Department
1t is certain that there will be lively criticism
on the part of Brooklyn people il this plan should
be carried into execution. they are already dis
posed to think that their borough is oyershadowed
by the old New York boroughs
If such action be taken the will probable
be that Brooklyn had two water laboratories. and
stl has at Mount Prospect. opposite Prospect
Park. 1t will be recalled that Dr. Emery first es-
tabshed his laboratory at Rockville Centre i'm
mediatey after the water in 1896. His theory
that the fault was in the sources OF supply
Then city Works Commissioner Willis established
laboratory in the city on the theory that the
cause of the impure condition Of the water lay in
R.dgewood Reservoir and the distribution pipes.
Professor HILBERT HE, one OF the best water eX-
pers in the country. put In charge OF the
Rockville Centre laboratory as bactcriologist lie
and the chemist James W. Elms. made a series OF
daily observations that showed the exact condition
II every source OF supply, and what the normal
condition OF each Of supply is. The De-
parment published the report OF Professor Hill.
and II gave Brooklyn the first scientific knowledge
1t had OF the water it drinks. He recommended
filtration. Scientists and water experts have writ
ten to Professor Hill from all over the country,
cOngra tulatlng him upon the valuable work he has
done.
Professor Hill will go to Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity in a few days TO work with Professor Welch
in the Pathological Department Of that institution.
The New York charter X ambiguous on The point
as TO whether the Water Supply Department or the
Health Department IS the proper Department 10
make scientific analyses OF the water. II holds the
Water Supply Department responsible for the
purity OF the water. and the Health Department
responsible for disease that may result from i'm
After the charter was drafted DR.. Emery and
his particular laboratory Or Emery noted the
fact that the medical papers had all sided with
him and at a recent meeting OF the American
Public Health Association, which was attended by
representatives Of all the important health as
sociations and boards of the country, resolution
was adopted expressing the belief that sanitary
supervision and control OF al puoc wattr soppeS
1t Is understood that the New York Health De,
partmeni viii fan in Win this idea The policy %, o.
Mount Prospect laboratory has not yet been an
nCInced. go 49,.
Dr. f. H. Wilson. who was bacterioloGst Of the
BROOKLYN Board of Health and l. now director OF
the Hoagland Laboratory. declined yesterday 10
discuss the action Of the Health Department IA
ehoiishing the Rockville Centre laboratory. lie
eynressed the belief that the Health Department
is the proper Department 10 make scientific eA-
animation Of the water. and that the proper place
10 make examinations Is at tho source or supply
Such a laboratory after II vas once started ne
said would cost more than soVV year.
"Brookyn's water supply IL much more com
nlicated problem than is Manhattan's.' ne said \
laboratory should be maintained on the water.
81 ed rs a knowledge Of the normal CONDITION o.
the various sources of s"Dply would enan' lhe
authorities 10 put their finger on tho trouple Whe
ever there was a variance from Inc normal. y
laboratory should be right on the sned De'duS,
snecimens OF water change In condition q sr'a.
deal when carrled q-y distance. ENhmIna ION, o..
the water drawn from the pipes SHOWS WhtlW.
there &c sewage IN the water but the lmpoI'dn,
thiny is to learn whence the sewage .oHe1 dnu
that has TO be learned on tho shed As LOT w
osterjonela that develops in the reservoir Wnol!
ire driven wel-water il exposed 10 air ana lieh' ~
Is not worth keeping up laboratory 10 s'uoN, ~
is NOT unwholosome, though disagroeapi". me .,
should h, 4 way of keeping the surface ana wei
water separate. -, c, l,oon,r,
track e disease impurities in waite" nut 10 snow snow
uhat land must be condemned for pres"rNins IN"
purity # the water an before money IS expcr.."u
in filtration otherwise. laboratory therefore
n. practiCal value.