The record-union., 1899-09-21

has population little less than one
hundred thousand. The river water at
this point is much inferior to that OF
our sacramento, hence the people often
complain and it appears the authorities
are investigating the question of Ultra
ton; in fact, have been doing so for
some time, but as yet have reached no
definite conclusion.
Lowell, Mass, was the next place
visited and this being about the only
city of any considerable size using ex'
clusively well water, / was desirous or
learning what satisfaction had been
given. This city used Merrimac River
water (unfltered) until about 1888 In
1891 and 1892 the city suffered severe
ly from typhoid fever, as did the neigh
boring city of Lawrence tenI miles be.
low, and the cause was traced in both
cities to the sewerage polluted water
of the river and change to wells was
decided upon and the first wells were
sunk in 1893 and full supply of well
water obtained in 1896. Copies of the
annual reports of the Water Commits
sion of that city are now in the hands
of this committee and you will observe
that the results seem to be satisfac-
u
considerable complaint about quality
in consequence of mineral deposits IN
the service pipes, the most objection
able being iron and lime. | learned
from r. ]. Thomas, the Superintend-
ent, that this trouble is increasing and
it requires constant watching and care
as well as considerable expense to keep
the wells and pipes clean and in good
order. These wells are more numer-
Gus than we would naturally suppose,
consisting as they do of upwards or
26O in number and grouped in three
different sets located in different parts
of the city and operated by three sep
arate pumping plants. The average
depth is about fifty feet and the cost
of boring and equipment was under
stood to be about $4,000. They are or
different sizes, three, four and six
inches in diameter the three-inch be-
ing driven and the others bored or
washed down. AT the time Of my
visit they were pumping directly into
the mains and 1 learned that pumping
| into the reservoir during warm wealth
er was impractical because of the water
becoming foul if allowed to stand for
any length of time. / tasted the water
as it came from the ground and found
it palatable and apparently containing
all the elements of good drinking water.
1 next visited the water works at
Long Branch, or strictly speaking Hol-
! lywood, N J. This plant filters it's
water (about three and a half million
/ gallons daily by means of a. mechan-
| ical filter. using alum as coagulent
and obtaining satisfactory results.
/ Surface water is used gathered in from
small brooks and conducted to a pond
near which is located the pumps and
/ filters. a low pressure pump being used
to pump to the filters and a high pres
sure pump forces the clear water to
the water tower and mains. This I'll,
| ter is a fair illustration of its type and
well demonstrates its pr2ct ca bility ana
/ having seen this. did not deem it es-
sential TO visit other plants of that
type. This filter was first installed in
1885, then known as Hyatt's Patent,
and recently remodeled by the New
York Filter Company, which is now
an associate or branch Of the Jewell
| Company of Chicago.
The water works at Mount Vernon,
New York and Far Rockaway Long
but that at Rockaway could not con-
Yeniently see as it was located five
miles from the town and pumping sta
ton. This plant filters we'll water as
does likewise Asbury Park, N J., and
I learned, with satisfactory results
Mount Vernon uses surface water
mostly from small brooks and piped
to filtering ponds, three in number, and
I should say each would cover an area
about 80 square feet and they
claim a daily capacity Of 100000 gal
Ions. This water is comparatively
clear as it enters the filters. I was told
that frequent cleaning was necessary
and the cost of doing the work was
about $50 for each occasion. The wa
ter comes from the filter perfectly clear
and while this can hardly be considered
a model plant, the results obtained
seem to be satisfactory
In the pursuit of information upoT
filtration, I heard Louisville, KY.
spoken Of so often as having given the
subject greater attention perhaps thar
any other city in America, that
thought it wise to go there and learn
If possible, what they had decided tc
do as a result of their inquiries, espe-
cially SO as the reports I heard were
somewhat conflicting. I finally learn
ed, however, that they have decided
to adopt mechanical filters and are nov
actively engaged in constructing an i'm
mense reservoir for the storage o.
clear water The magnitude and com
pleteness of this work is such that
wish every member of this committee
could view it, for it would certainly
be a good object lesson. Besides, i
would present fair conception of wha
modern cities are doing to- perfect Nthei
systems of water supply. That cit,
has found out what it requires, adopt
ed plan and is sparing no REASONABLE
expense in construction, knowing vel
that it is to endure for ages. The cit.
has an estimated population of 225
coo and consumes about $4,000, 600 gal
Ions daily from it's water system, bu
there are many private and some pub
lie wells, which, no doubt tend largel,
to supply the public demands. r. Her
man, superintendent of the water com
pany, has held that position for abou
forty years and is considered one 0
the best authorities upon the question
of water supplies in this country, am
to him I am indebted for very courteou
treatment and some practical sugges
. tions which will be applicable to us
regret that private business woult
. not permit my giving more time to in
vestigaton and hope that some othe
member Of the committee may sool
have an opportunity to investigat
, more fully than I have done.
Complying with your request, mad
tsl ,~rf. Il