Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-04
Report on Silver Bow Pumping
Station Water.
ALDERMEN POOR JUDGES
According to DR.. Alexander'S ANALYSIS
the Water is Very I'M
pure.

! dent Alexander Of the board of health,
with reference to the water furnished the
city by the Silver Bow pumping station.
The water from this source has been
the cause of much discussion for several
months past. 1t was claimed that it
drained the cemetery and certain dis
courteous individuals called it grave
yard water.'' About a month ago the
council decided to make personal inves-
tigation. The mayor, city physician and
all the aldermen visited the pump sta
ton. The water was sampled and the
concensus of opinion was that it was
good. However, to make sure DR.. Alex
ander was instructed to make a chem
ical analysis of it. The doctor submitted
his report to the council last night. The
report would indicate that aldermanic
judgment of water is bad. 1t is as fol-
lows:
THE specimen taken was rich in or
ganic matter; the specimen was rich in
chlorine; the specimen was abundant in
sediment or suspended matter. The or
gandc matter constitutes a serious pol
luton, not in that it is itself dangerous,
but in that it is a most fertile medium
for the proliferation Of deleterious bac-
terra and constitutes one Of the most
80 III pCllukXUAs
"The presence of chlorine, when tar re-
moved from the ocean or any natural
salt formation, Is almost positively an
indication OF sewer contamination, it
beig q constant ingredient Of urine. A
pure water should be free from sedi-
ment of any kind. Examination for sew
eral other impurities was omitted be-
cause the necessary apparatus could not
be had in town. The main source of wa
ter, In my opinion, Is Silver Bow creek
and the marsh adjoining it; the supply
may come to some extent from an arte-
sian source, as a slight overflow at times
would indicate, but with the city and it's
hundreds Of %cesspools and numerous 9th
er sources of contamination, an artesian
source though it were absolute, could not
lay claim to purity or ~potabiity on the
mere fact Of it's being artesian.
Before condemning the source I
would advise as a %precaution, to have the
water exported and a quantitative analy-
sis made. AS this sort of examination
will require a weeks work, I would ad-
wise that it be assigned to a regular chem
list, as | have not the necessary apparatus
nor time at my disposal"
The doctor also suggested that a thor
ough analysis of the water be made by q
certain chemist.
Alderman Tom Bryant attacked the re-
port. He said the sample of water had
been near a heater in the city hall for
two weeks and the test was not a fair one.
He was of the opinion that the water was
taken from Silver Bow creek and not
from the cistern.
Macarthur and Bausman made remarks
in support of Bryant. but Siehenaler and
Britt were in favor of enjoining the wa
ter company from pumping water from
The Silver Bow station. Alderman
Knowlton's motion, referring the report
to the health committee, prevailed.
Alderman Rriff who GhinntpH RI tia
report of the board of health recommend
ing the construction of a house of deten-
tion for smallpox patients on East Park
street, ave notice of his displeasure Of
the councils action in the following noti-
fcation.
"I hereby notify your honorable body
that 1t is my intention to hold the city re-
sponsible for the spread of contagious
disease, known as smallpox, If any
should exist, in behalf of the taxpayers
and citizens living in the vicinity of the
detention house, that is already occupied
by direction of your honorable body.
The petition of six residents of Gay
lord street, praying for the reduction of
grading assessments was referred to the
street and alley committee.
w. ]. Killeen was granted a plumbing
license.
Alex Tarbet and Mrs. Lulu Largely were
granted permission to erect a shaft house
on the Smokehouse claim.
F. A. Water presented a bill for $50. so,
damages sustained by reason of the
quarantine Of the Grandon block. It was
placed on file.
M. Meyer gave notice of his withdrawal
from the bond of I. Adder. dealer in Sec
ond hand goods. The clerk was instruct-
ed to notify Mr.. Adder.
Several smallpox claims were placed on
file.
The reports OF the heads Of the various
departments were read and placed on
file.
The reports Of various committees were
read and approved.
Ordinances extending Gold and Wash
fngton streets were adopted and the
conucil adjourned.
ssS0WING THE W1NN.0