The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-18
USE OF Alum OPPOSED
Business Mems Association Dis
cusses Water Filtration.
Method Proposed by CoIoacI Miller,
able - Resolutions Against Its
Adoption-The Proposed Bond Is
sue and Other Matters Considered.

A number of questions of general public
Importance were considered at the regu-
lar monthly meeting of the Business
Mems Association held at Elks' Hall last
night. Water filtration was discussed
from its sanitary standpoint by members
of the medical profession. and the pro-
posed reclamation of the Anacostia Flats
of public improvements was called up near
the close or tho Meeting and after con-
siderable DEBATE a. 80 decided to ap-
point a committee to act in connection
with committees from the various citi-
zens' associations OF the District on the
matter.
There was a fairly large attendance
and the meeting was presided over by
Michael Dyrenforth. President of the as
ISOLATION. Mr.. Barry Buckley acted as
secretary. Mr.. V. Baldwin Johnson. the
chairman of the COMMITTEES on the re-
vision of the District of Columbia code
reported that the work of the commit
tee had met with success. He said that
owing to its efforts the office of justice
OF the peace had been abolished and
there had been a law enacted whereby
hotel and boarding house proprietors
ne peTSoHs VIM
jumped their board bills. When the re-
vised code goes into effect it will be a
serious offence to try to evade the pay
ment of hotel bills.
Mr.. Thomas Hensey Jpoke briefly on
the work of the committee recently APP
pointed to urge upon the Commissioners
the adyisability of reducing the present
heavy penalty for the delinquent pay
ment of taxes. The committee will have
a hearing before the District Commits
sioners on Saturday.
Mr.. p. H HeiskeH offered resolution
which provided that Congress be urged
to appropriate $4,000 for the beginning
OF the construction of a bridge across
the Anacostia River at the foot of First
Street southeast. The resolution was
adopted.
DIR. d. Percy hickling then made an ex-
haustive address on the subject of water
filtration. He opposed the method of fill
tration proposed by Colonel Miller, Of The
board OF army engineers, and which Is
now being considered by Congress. Colo
mel Miller's plan provides for the remov
al of germs from the water by the means
of alum. DIR. Hickling said this method
was inferior to the natural method of
filtration through the use of sand and
gravel He said that the Medical Society
of the District of Columbia was as body
opposed to the alum or mechanical
method of filtration, which he said was
far more expensive than the natural
method.
DR.. George n. Kober followed with an
argument of a similar nature, at the con-
clusion OF which DR.. Hickling presented
resolution which voiced The protest of the
Business Mems Association against the
filtration of the eitys water by the use of
alum. The resolution was unanimously
adopted.
Mr.. Thomas w. Smith then talked
briefly on the best methods of reclama-
tion of the A2acostia fats. 1t was his
opinion that the Anacostia River should
be dredged, widened, and otherwise i'm
proved, so that it would become naviga-
bic stream. This was almost necessary.
he said, in view OF the fact that large
steamers and sailing craft would then be
able to reach the United States Navy
Yard. He presented q resolution which
provided that Congress should be petit
toned to make an appropriation for the
Improvement of the Anacostia River. The
resolution was adopted
The bond issue scheme was then dis
cussed. with the result that motion was
made and carried to the effect that the
president appoint committee to confer
with committees of the citizens associa-
tons in regard to the present status OF
the bond issue movement