Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-27
TO CLEAR THE WATER
THREE PLANS THAT WILL MI Sun
mIrTED TO THE COMMITTEE.
THE EFFECTS OF ELECTROLYSIS.
A Report Calling for Immediate Ac-
ton VIII BE Made by supcrintend-
emit poIJing-Thc Appropriation for
the Gas-Morls.

The meeting Of the Council Committee
on Water al S O'Clock tonight Will. he
unusually interesting Not only viii the
experimental methods for clearing the
water supplied 90 the citizens be discuss
ed. but a report on the recent effect Of
electrolysis on water and gas mains
promises some startling revelations.
This department will press forward
the experiments for clearing the water
with all possible speed as soon as the con-
dtion OF the river will allow. Al present
the water is clearer than 1t has been for
months. and no experiments viii be made
until II is at It's worst.
TO REPORT on FILTRATION
The subcommittee. appointed TO con-
slider the question OF filtration will re-
port tonight. and will probably recon-
mend three lines of investigation to De
pursued as follows:
/ To determine whether the water Is
affected at al by storage, either chemi-
caly or bacteriologically and to deter
mine the rate OF Improvement by sedi-
mentatiOn.
2 To determine the Improvement in the
water. chemically and bacterologically.
by filtration through what IS known as
natural sand flter-beds which Is the
usual method employed in European
cities; the rate of filtration; the necessary
area OF such beds. applied TO this city;
the cost Of same. and the cost Of main
tanning and renewing the same.
8. Experiments by means OF mechanical
filtration in which chemical agents are
used as coaguiants. determining the i'm
provement chemically and bacteriologi-
oaliy. and cost Of operating and estab-
fishing the best chemical agent TO he
used and its effect upon the water after
filtration. both for domestic and mechanl-
cal use.
superintendent Boiling will make re-
port as 10 the inroads of electrolysis, ana
will submit pieces OF pipe recently taken
up. that are perforated with holes by this
agent The committee will be asked 70
enter upon a vigorous crusade against
electrolysis and 70 push the matter 10
some definite conclusion.
PIE COUNCIL TO MEET.
The Common Council has been called
70 meet in special session tonight at
O'Clock TO pass upon the proposed appro-
priation OF $4,000 for repairs and i'm
provements at the gas-works. The scs-
sion IL Is thought. will not be very
long one. and the recommendation of the
Finance Committee will be readily adopt
ed This being the case. the Board of
Aldermen will be called 20 meet and con-
slider the question of the week.
The appropriation of this money viii
mean the introduction of the double
super-heating system. which will lessen
the cost Of production of gas very con-
siderably. by making possible the use Of
a cheaper oil as a substitute for naph-
tina.
The bid Of the Standard Oil Company
for naphtha. which was submitted 20 the
Committee on Light month ago, is over |
a hundred per cent. higher than the price |
quoted last year. This Will make a great |
difference in the cost of production, un- /
less the single experimenting system, |
which makes the use Of naphtha neces- |
sary. can be done away with
other committees that will meet this |
evening are Second Market at |
o'clock. Schools at o'clock, and Health |
at O'Clock.