The sun., 1899-02-05
rH11ADE1rn1A,s DRINKING WATER.
Demand for n Better Supply VIII he n
Feature of the Municipal Election.

Demand for n Better Supply viii he n
Feature OF the Municipal Election.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 81. Tho municipal cleo
tion takes place in this city on Feb. 2l and the
officers to be voted for are a Mayor City Solic-
itor. Magistrate and members Of the Council.
The city election does not seem likely to be an
exciting one. though both candidates are al
ready In the field for Mayor. Samuel II. Ash
bridge on the Republican and DR.. W Horace
Hoskins on the Democratic side. with every
present indication OF the election Of the former
by even more than the customary Republican
majority. But the voters OF Philadelphia have
recently been concerning themselves very
deeply with a matter somewhat disconnected
with politics. but with which the ad-
ministration OF municipal affairs has much
to do-the matter of an improved and
wholesome water supply, not available under
present conditions. The city OF Philadelphia
has suffered more than any other large Amer-
can city from typhoid fever and the cause is
traceabe generally to the water supply. In
November. 1897 the voters OF Philadelphia
authorized an increase OF S3.fOOOOO in the
provement and filtration Of the water supply OF
Philadelphia, provided that at least Sl,oUOOOO
OF the amount, should be expended to increase
of town known as West Philadelphia. These
waterw0Iks now, represent an investment OF
about fiOUOO,QDO. exclusive OF the authorized
Phiiadelphta gets its water from the schuyl-
kill. river which is largely devoted 10 manu-
featuring purposes. and i'll many respects, there
fore. untitled To furnish the water supply OF a
ciry of more than mi lion and half inhab-
tants. Recently there has been considerable
agitation for change, NarloLS methods have
including the use Of electrical germ Killing ap.
pances. But the plan which is attracting
most attention which will come % seIore ti. the 3ie
water and tap the Delaware, River. above
Trenton as q source Of supply, popular
lNuD nf ia
work. Ii Is Intended that the water shall
be brought from the Delaware river
and after ireachns the city being distributed
pumping stations would be- abandoned and
general pumping station built al the point
DnSrS SpnR speih tho "'sc oned 5T FH HsS
Schuylki water is urged the evidence that IT.
near it and the drainage Of the towns along is
| course. and that, moreover tho flow ot the
| schuylkill River is annually getting less owing
| to the drawing oil OF water for business pnr-
poses above the city Of philadelphia and the
| steady and unimpeded destruction Of forests
| for lumber in its watershed. No such Onlec-
| tions are urged against the Delaware. which
by reason OF its irregularities is little in use for
| manufactures above Trenton. and onersa largo
Though the city OF Philadelphia has not the
natnrnI advantages which New York enjoys in
| securing an ample supply Of wholesome water
| AZ all seasons Of the year, the cGpditi0ns tqy0r-
adrlphia are such that a very low death rate
lower than that of New York and of other large
| American cities-should be tho result. There
| ire in Philadelphia. TO start with. nnnrly 2bO,-
| 900 dwelling horses. Of which, 10y the figures
| Of the Bull ling Inspection Bureau, leSs than
B.OOU are OF four stories or mora and the solid
| rows of " "nves story tenemcnts.' double
| or triple deckers, familiar in New York, are up-
| known here. Again, the city Of Philade' nhIa
| has but small transient population. II is to n
| very small extent the landing plA"e or u Eont
| tages are. Of course. offset hy the network of
manufacturing industries on the banks of The
| schuylkill while that river Is the source of the
| citys water supply. 1t Is urged that AT smaller
| expense than S2J.OOOOOV the water supply can
| be improved bV some changes In the present
methods of hitering. Dut Chh experiments nave
| not been satisfactory.