The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-01
GOOD CLEAR DRINKING WATER
WILL GREATLY HELP RICHMOND.
Facts and Figures, Showing the Urgent. Neces-
sty for Immediate Remedy for the Evil of
Our Ugly Muddy James River Fluid,
Called Water.
Called Water.

occurred in the penitentiary and in houses
where the entire supply of drinking water
was gotten from sources other than the
city water supply, Richmond has death
rate from typhoid fever, scarlet fever ana
diphtheria combined Of only Is in every
Loco while in Boston. the death-rate is
/ 81 per COO. The next city 10 Richmond
in point OF health is Augusta, Ga, which
mas a death-rate of "a for every LOCO,
while the rate IN Atlanta from diseases
of this character is 81 per 1,0o0: in Nash
VILE .39per 1000 and in Charleston, ~ Per
1900 II the proof of the pudding be in
the eating, the proof of the water is in
the drinking.
Mr.. Boiling further pointed out the
great advantage that would come from
taking the drinking water from James
river alone and not from the canal as is
done at present, for by taking the sup
ply from James river alone it would
avoid all danger of contain nation by rea-
son Of the dwellings and farm-yards Wlzicti
drain into the Westham and Tuckahoe
Creeks These creeks drain into the canal
from which our present supply OF water
is derived and by drawing our supply from
James river alone, the city would elimi-
nate all chance of local contamination
There is almost no chance of danger OF
contamination from the cities draining
into the James. as is shown by Dr. Levy's
report
BIG RESERVOIR NEEDED.
In an interview with Mr. Boiling, he
said: In the past fifteen years, the city
of Richmond, has earned Sl,eo0,oo net
from the sale of its water. In addition to
these earnings, $25O,e2o has been spent
for betterments and nearly s6Ot,Cco
for maintenance and operation. II the city
were to build a large reservoir covering
sixty acres at a cost of about S290eD, IL
would then be possible to store up sui
ticient quantity of water to supply the
city for twenty days without having to
use the water of the river at ali. by
merely allowing this water to STAND II
would practically be clear at all times
and would besides be rendered better by
exposing so great a surface to the acuoh
of the light and air. Each little breath
of wind would cause the water to r pple
and give to new particles the oene-
fetal action of the sun II in addition to
this storage reservoir a basin were builE
for coasulatton at an additional cost OF
about sl500G0 the city would at all times
be Furnished with brilliantly clear water
Rv coagulation. as was explained Is
meant a~process similar to that which takes
place in coffee when the white of an egg
is used to clarity the coffee by forming
small network or film which catches in
its meshes all the small particles tx
pertinent has shown that some chemical
agents. such as iron and alum, when used
in proper quantities do as matter OF
fact form a film of this character and. as
it were, cleanse the water by straining It.
without leaving any i'll effects whatever,
as is abundantly shown by the successful
experiecen of Norfolk
THE FINANCIAL SIDE.
In an interview with a gentleman, who Is
we'll informed in regard to the citys
tinancies, it was said that the earnings
of the Water Department for the past
fifteen years show that by simply pledg-
ing the revenues of that department to
secure tie payment of negotiable notes Is
sued by the city TO raise the necessary
funds for these improvements, it viii give
every man, woman and child in the city
of Richmond all of the best and purest
water that they need and at the same
time furnish US a water supply that
will practically remain free from any
possibility of contamination for genera
tons to come.
The day of clear water will mean great
advance for Richmond and the citizens are
becoming keenly alive TO the necessity OF
improving our present methods