Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-04-08

The WATER SUPPLY.-The commit
Tee on general laws met last night in
the Auditors Office to receive report
from the Alexandria Water Company
concerning tho reported bad condition
of the city water supply. There were
present Messrs. Greene, Beach and Bal
lenger of the laws committee; Messrs.
b. Wheat, w. Hulhsh and G. S. French,
directors OF the water company; Col.
+. l.. Smith, attorney for that company,
and Messrs. l.. Kraft and Fl. r. Bu-ke.
the committee appointed by the mayor
to examine into the report that the city
was being supplied with water drawn
from neighboring marshes. The reports
OF the latter committee which were sub
mitted to council some weeks ago end
which have heretofore been published
In the Gazette were read, as was also O
partial report from the water company
In answer. The latter report embodied
the letters from q number Of experts,
who have examined the Alexandria
water, &c.
Prot. VIM. H. Welsh, of Johns Hop.
kins University, Baltimore, who exam
ined specimens OF the water sent by
Messrs. Kraft and Burke some time
ago, and who submitted an uniavorab!e
analysis, sent letter to the water
company under date of February IS,
1899, in which the writer refers to q
specimen OF the water sent to him by
DIR. OBrien, of this city. The pro
lessor in his letter says he does not
think it necess lry for him to examine
any more specimens of the water, AND
states that if DIR. O'Brien's inquiry
concerns the water supply the exam
ination OF g single sample is of but
little value. An expert, the professor
says, should visit the locality, make
thorough analysis and study all the eX
listing conditions. He refers TO Prof
George w. Fuller, of Cincinnati, as
being the leading expert in the coun-
try, and that an opinion from him
would be authoritative.
A letter was also read from Prof
Fuller, in which he submitted an
analysis. The professor, after giving
the results of most careful examina
ton, states that the water appears to
be safe from sanitary standpoint, al
though its appearance precludes it
from being regarded as perfectly sat
isfactory water for domestic purposes.
DR.. w. H. Taylor, State Assayer and
Chemist, had also sent letter which
was submitted. He sets forth that the
examples sent him were satisfactory; at
any rate, there was nothing shown 10
cause condemnation of the water.
Stillwel & Gladding, chemists TO the
New York Produce Exchange, sent in
an analysis, in which they stated that
the samples sent indicate very pure
water. They suggest that the slight
opacite will probably disappear upon
iltering.
Prof. J. w. Mallet, of the University
OF Virginia, also sent statement con-
corning his examination of the water.
The professor had made visit to this
section and carefully examined the
source of the water supply and studied
all its conditions. The professor calls
attention to the fact that substances
deleterious to health do find their way
into some OF the feeders OF the water
supply and suggests that steps to pre-
veut the same be instituted at once. On
the whole, however, the professor
thinks that AleXandria's water supply
will not compare unfavorably With
that of numbers OF other cities of the
country. He calls attention TO the
drainage which came from Camp Alger
last summer, and says with its removal
the danger will probably disappear al
together.
AfCer a general discussion aud it he
ing stated by the representatives OF the
water company that they would sub
nit further report upon the receipt of
On analysis OF the water subm tilted to
an expert, the committee on general
laws stated that they would hold the
matter in allegiance till such report
was submitted.