The record-union., 1899-09-21

that he was too busy to attend.
Pursuant to motion Chairman Tozer
was instructed to appoint a substitute
but he declined to act without consult
ing with the Mayor.
DIR. DARCY Power reported on analy-
ses of Sacramento and American River
waters. This report was as follows
DIR. POWERS REPORT.
Sacramento. Sept. 20, 1899.
To Water Committee of Sacramento
Gentlemen: Your subcommittee on
purity and tests having made several
analyses beg to present the following
reports of its work to date:
Two examinations of the water of the
Sacramento River have been made. One
on the 26th of July, with the view to
ascertain whether the river at the time
that the overflow was still draining
back into its bed, contained a danger
Gus amount of organic matter, living
or dead Our examination showed that
the river contained less than the aver
age organic impurity namely OO4o or
a part per million, and about 60O bacllll
per cubic centimeter The second ex-
animation was made on the 2Sth OF
August to determine the potency OF
one of the sources of pollution of the
river For this purpose sample OF
the river water was taken three-quar-
ters of a mile below the point at which
the sewage of the town of Red Bluff
is discharged into the stream. The
analysis revealed almost perfect free
dom from organic matter the albumen-
| old ammonia amounting to only 001 of
~
delay necessarily occurred in making
the meteorological examination, thus
permitting multiplication of the bacilli
in transit, yet they only amounted to
| 500 per cubic centimeter. Another
sample taken from the river at Red
ding, where, it was asserted, contain
ination from the copper mines was to
be feared, gave similar results, and no
trace of copper.
Two analyses of water from the
American River were made from sam
pies sent in by the American River
sub committee. Full reports thereof
are appended. From these it would ap-
pear that the water of the American
River is even purer than that of the
mixed current at Sacramento. Both
the organic and inorganic constituents
being smaller in amount. Further, it is
| apparent that the process of filtration
employed on the sample taken from
near Fair Oaks was efficient in reduc-
ing the small amount Of organic mat
ter and had some effect on the bacilli
In conjunction with these analyses
we append the results of four other
analyses Of Sacramento water taken
from the city mains prior to the work
of our committee The figures are sup
piled by Arthur Stillman and demon
strate great equality in the character
of our river water over a. period Of ter
years and at seasons as far removed as
March and July.
We also analyzed a sample of the
water of the Leach we'll situated al
Fifth and r streets. It's most notice
able feature is the amount of contain
ed alkali and the fact that the mineral
matter is ten times as great as In the
river water. 1t was free from organic
matter.
Signed:
H DARCY POWER,
Chairman of the subcommittee.
ANDREW M. HENDERSON,
HOWARD STILLMAN,
a. D. Miller reported that he haG
examined water at the beet sugar fac
tory lake and had found fine, palatablt
water, much to his surprise. He fount
that well water in the vicinity was sup
piled from the lake. Mayor Land, how
ever, had told the speaker that the Sac
ramento River water was good enough
I'D you own this lake?" asked the
Chairman.
a7 6xr ~ n(to y<fI1 "
and he'll sell it at a reasonable price
It is two miles from the American
River, which is north of it, and TIN
water is fine. 1t filters through {
gravel bed that connects with the river
The lake is 800 yards long and 81
wide, and so feet deep, and it is fresi
and pure"
Mr. Miller was asked whether tn,
water was pure in winter, but he coulC
not tell. He had known the lake fo
forty years and had always found i
. fine, often higher than the river, so HI
, believed it must be supplied by springs
After Mr. Miller had finished his tall
various members of the committee, in
, Guiding the Chairman, said that th'
people would be surprised to know tha
there was a natural reservoir SO clos
to the city.
But I've known of it for fort.
years." said Mr.. Miller, land I thinl
it viii supply the city"
Mr.. Miller. when questioned admitted
that there were fish in the lake, but h
said there were none in his story H
invited the committee to go with hin
to the lake, which he pronounced
fountain fit for any city:
The matter was referred to the com
mittee on wells and Dr. Power said hi
: committee would be pleased to test tn
: lake as to depth and quality of water
A bill for S120 for analyzing waite
samples was allowed by the committe
payable to DR.. Powers committee OF
tests
General Tozer submitted the follow
ing report which was read and sup
plemented by his verbal explanations
GENERAL TOZER'S REPORT.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen of tn
Water Committee: 1 have learned
from conversation had with some o
your members, that a report of som
kind would be expected from me as
result of my observation while in East
ern cities, touching upon the questio
of water supply, filtration, etc, and
with a view Of placing intelligently be
fore you such facts as have com
under my observation, which may seer
worthy of your consideration. I hav
thought 1t wise to commit them i
writing and wish TO say in advance
that have no schemes to propose an
no definite theory TO advance but hav
been forcibly impressed with the ide