Evening star., 1900-04-27

The meaning Oh ''Slear.
The word clear has technical inter-
probation and differs from its general ac-
ceptation as clear water is not neces-
sarily crystal like and sparkling. but it
marks the official distinction between mud
dy water and clear water. and Is thus
given by Lieutenant Colonel A. NJ. Miller
of the Corps of Engineers:
''In determining the condition of the
water a rectangular tube is filled with the
water under consideration and the dis
tance at which copper sphere one inch
in diameter may be seen in this water Is
noted. When the sphere can be seen at a
distance of from % TO 36 inches the water
is called clear.
An Analysis of the Table.
1t will be remembered that last fall and
well into the winter until about January
Washington experienced beautiful weather
with scarcely any atmospheric disturb
ances of moist nature.
At the distributing reservoir during Sep
tember, October, November and December
the days when the water at this place was
clear constituted the major portion of the
month. In November. when hardly any
rain fell, the days numbered 30. In Janu-
ary, however, the winter began in earnest,
and the clear days dropped from p in
December to 3 in the first month in the
year. The maximum has continued to re-
main below 4 each succeeding month to
the present.
During these months the water was
scarcely fit for bathing purposes. and was
positively unfit for consumption as liquid
| to auench the thirst and purify the human
system.
The above table shows that the water
at Great Falls at which point it enters
the aqueduct on its way to the Dalecaria
and distributing reservoir, was in even q
worse condition than at these two latter
places, showing the result of the settle
| ment of the solid matter in these recepta-
cles 1t appears that in the month Of
March the copper sphere could not be seen
on any day at Great Falls, and on only
two days at each of the other reservoirs.
4 Convincing Object Lesson.
1t is common sight In the store win
dows, displayed side by side. to see two
vessels of crystal. the filled with the
dark-hued extract from the city pipes and
the other the clear flow from a filter sus-
pended above. When one Is thirsty the
latter is as attractive the former is re-
pulsive. The contrast is most effective.
In the window of a restaurant two OF
these object lessons are shown, with the
following notices displayed above the clear
and the muddy water. respectively:
I'VE serve this kind
Other places serve this
No figures are ascertainable as to the ex-
act amount of pure water sold in bottles
in this city, but 1t is very large. and Wash
ington has more places engaged in the sale
of such commodity probably than any
other city of its size in the country.
Perhaps 2,0U gallons a day during the
winter season would be a fair estimate.
| There are several establishments engaged
exclusively in the sale of imported water,
| while all drug and grocery stores keep the
| various brands of mineral waters on sale as
part of their regular stock.
| The price per gallon ranges from cents
| to 81. The average price Is 10 cents PEI
| gallon One of the largest of these exciI-
| sive establishments Imports Its water from
| a spring in New York state in porcelain
| lined specially constructed cars. Much OF
| the water comes from springs adjacent &C
| Washington. in Maryland and Virginia
| the latter state being celebrated for its
| mineral springs.
| The consumption of this imported watel
| is growing rapidly as each year the de
| mand increases. Ii will be remembered
! that it was but a few years ago that III,
! only water of this kind to be obtained was
that furnished in bottles from several o
| the more celebrated springs at a price quit,
| without the reach of person of mOderat,
| means. Now it is a regular business, alt
the water is supplied at figure which par
TALLY accounts for its popularity.