The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-02

Nbhlu nOl Dt tuulitltu w Ndll III the
open.
THEY WANT TO KNOW.
on motion of Mr.. Kelly, Dr. Allen
was commissioned to communicate with
the city solicitor to see what measures
could be taken to have the Scranton
Railway company comply with their
request.
=. o. Thomas one of the crematory
employees, presented a bill for over
time. While the eight-hour law was in
effect, he had worked for ten hours a
day. and during the years 1897, 1898
and 1899 had worked 1,29S hours over
time. This was equal to seven months,
and at $50 a month. summed up to 1885.
The bill was rejected, on motion of Mr..
OMalley. Thomas will probably bring
suit to recover the money.
James White. of the crematory, has
given up his job, and will probably
proceed in a like manner Robert Ed
wards, of the North End,was appointed
to Whites place. On motion of Mr..
Kelly 1t was decided that all employees
of the crematory should be present at
! the next meeting. and come to a perfect
| agreement with the board.
Analyses of water from the different
reservoirs. sent to Philadelphia to be
| examined by chemical experts of the
| state board Of health, were then read
| The sample from No I, Gas and Water
| company. was pronounced to be pure
and good, as was also the water from
! Spring Brook, whereas the specimens
| from the Providence reservoir and from
the high service reservoir were judged
to be rather impure, one from the
Providence reservoir containing too
large a part of ammonia. These analy-
ses were given by D. H. Burgey. as
| slstant chemist at the laboratory of
| hygiene. University Of Pennsylvania.
On motion it was resolved that another
sample of water from the high service
! reservoir be sent away
The report of Robert Pitheld, NJ. D.,
assistant bacterlologist, state board of
health, to DR.. Lee, secretary of
the state board of health, was then
read. 1t was very favorable and highly
encouraging, being as follows:
REPORT ON WATER SUPPLY.
Germantown, Sept. q, 1899
DIR. Benjamin Lee, Secretary State Board
of Health.
Dear Sir: In accordance with your in
structions 1 visited Scranton on Septem-
Der l5, inspected the reservoirs and por-
tions of the water sheds and collected
samples of water for analysis.
Scranton has in many respects the best
water supply of any city in the state.
The conditions of the various water
sheds and the cleanliness of the reser-
Voirs and the results of the analysis show
an ideal water supply. There are four
sources of supply, the reservoir at Prov
idence "a suburb of Scranton), high ser
vice reservoir, a dam, known as Spring
Brook and another known as No Z. The
water supply in the Providence district is
tho least pure of the four, it is collected
in very clean reservoir and comes from
a watershed moderately populated The
analysis of the water from this reservoir
showed color, bacilli, but the total num-
ber of bacteria was under 1000 Capproxi-
mately 500 per c. c.. From what | could
learn from the exceedingly able health
officer, DIR. Allen, this water is the only
one coming from an inhabited watershed.
The reservoir of the high service sys-
TEN was very clean and well kept and
was informed, well made The water
from it. while impregnated with iron
salts, and therefore dark coored, was
remarkably free from bacteria, only 81
per c. c. being found, and they were OF
very harmless nature, probably of the
kind, which would not grow at the tenn
perature of the human body (37 degrees
I, gS.b degrees ~. Inc water supplying
this reservoir comes from an uninhabited
and wooded watershed The water from
the dam known as No. Z, was also of very
fair quality. a few Preventative bacteria
were found in 1t, but the number Q5O)
kind of bacteria in other respects re-
sembled the high service reservoir water
| have never seen a more beautiful
sheet of water for municipal purposes
! than Is contained in this dam and in the
! artificial lake Tpcpntly built nv the Gas
and Water company and called Lake
Scranton.
, PIPE LINE THROUGH HILL
| The water company will shortly con
meet the two with a large pipe, tun
nelled through a hill. The watershed o
these two sheets of water is most ideal
, being wooded and uninhabited and bein!
owned by the water company in all like
lihood, will remain uninhabited, as abov
mentioned an ideal condition, not me
, | with in any other city or town. The Onl!
: possible source of contamination to No
: I Is from the effluVial discharges from tn
, water closets in the trains which rul
along the bank for short distance
> The exact loCa tion of the reservoi
known as Spring Brook, not being know
and the distance being very great and tn
: road known to be rough, the hour late
this reservoir was not inspected.
An analysis showed the bacteria to b
= under 1000 per C. c.. also the presence o
= the color bacillus probably due to tn
= contamination with cow manure from tn
= fields in its watershed The presenC
= of this bacillus in the water, in consider
= alton of the character of the watershe
: supplying the reservoir does not neces
:, sariy condemn the water.
> IT Is recommended that the watershed
OF the Providence and Spring Brook sun
. plies be carefully inspected for any d
). rect fecal contamination. This can b
!. done by the local health authorities.
: there is any gross pollution which car
% not be abated the water in question ca
be subjected to filtration.
one excellent way tu determine the rela
:, tive pathogenic purity or impurity of tn
= ter born diseases in the community, SUI
Piled by the water, The city of ScrantO
il very free from any of these disease
notably typhoid. What few do eXiy
u might have contracted the disease
7 other towns while the people were on
:, visit, or from wells contaminated, or frol
- infected milk.
X In every respect the water Of the cit
n seems to be all that can be desired. TT
d color and odor at times may not be a
l. that can he desired, but considering e'
" erything both the analysis and dervato
a of the water. and on the other hand 4
effects on the community, the water SUI
: plySshould be a signal advantage and az
vertisement TO the city.
Very respectfully yours,
Robert l.. Pitheld NJ. D..
Assistant Bacteriologst, State Board
Health.
After this report had been read. Il
ri l,A f,,t,