Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-18
pAvY CRoCKETTs MAXINE.

! Most Richmond people are Thoroughly
aroused as TO the necessity for making
suitable provision for clearing city water
when II is muddied by heavy rains, as at
| present.
| The first two questions. however, are,
| How can that be done and what VIII IL
cost? OF course the answer TO the Sc
cond question largely depends upon the
answer 10 the first. Two schemes are pro-
posed-mechanica filtration and sedimen-
tation. If we were TO adopt either plan
the expenditure of very large sum OF
money would be necessary. SO. it Is oil
the highest importance that we should
know that we are right before we so
ahead Hence the Dispatch has argued In
favor Of an appropriation by the City
Council TO enable our water-works peo-
pie 10 experiment on a somewhat large
scale.
If mechanical filtration will net give us
plenty Of pure and palatable water, we 90
not want IT, no matter how clear 1t may
make the water. On the other hand II 10
expose our city water In settling basins
for two weeks or more will be TO endan-
ger the health Of this community we
should shun that plan. Dr. Hunter NC
CURE has expressed his fears on that
point. and his opinion carries great
weight.
The way out Of the difficulty, we thinK'
is the one suggested by us. Richmond
could well afford TO spend $1,000 or $4,000
in testing the various plans proposed. The
manufacturers of altering apparatuses are
willing TO set up experimental plants here
with little cost to Richmond, and 1t seems
20 us they ought to be permitted to do So
But If we wish to test the process of sedi-
mentauon, we shall have to assume the
entire expense ourselves. But that ex-
pense need not be large.
If we cannot use either OF the city reser-
voirs for this purpose, we can easily make
q pond on the New reservoir grounds. Or,
perhaps, better still, we might get the
right TO use a part of the abandoned
water way OF the old James river and
Kanawha canal. There are stretches OF
the old canal that are now empty and dry,
that might be put to this use at small
cost.
We believe the Superintendent Of the
Water-Works and the Committee on
Water have made numbers Of experiments
upon a small scale; but what seems to be
needed now, in view of DR.. McGuire's
opinion, is an experiment with compare
lively large body of water.
After a settling basin has been filled |
with the rivers muddiest water observa- |
lions should be made from time to time as
to the quantity Of sediment deposited by !
il. the degree Of clearness the water has
reached, and samples of the water should
be submitted to chemists. psychologists,
and microscopes for their examination. |
Then, should the results of those research
es be satisfactory. we doubt not that the |
taxpayers of Richmond would cheerfully |
consent to have the necessary appropria- |
ton made for establishing large settling |
basins Certainly our debt is large enough. |
and our taxes high enough now, but the |
taxpayers would be willing to strain a |
point to get reliable supply Oh cledr
water
Really, we cannot see what argument |
can be successfully advanced against |
making experiments upon the scale sug- /
gested If the advocates Of sedimenta-
ton or those of filtration are convinced |
of the value Of their schemes, they ought
not to object to the most practical tests
possible. IT, on the other hand, the plans
proposed prove unsatisfactory, then Rich
mond may be saved q large sum of money.
In dealing with this question, we think
the city authorities would do well to OBJ
serve the maxim of Davy Crockett, "Be
sure you are right, and then go ahead"