Evening journal., 1903-08-03
DIR. ROBIN AND WATER.

In another column we print an in
terview with DIR. Robin. bacteriologist
for The Water Department, which
sta. - out as follows:
III the newspapers of this city
would ask questions and rise for
Information instead Of giving
gratuitous advice and indulcing
in ungentlemanly abuse OF those
whose aim IL Is TO benefit the
people there would be fewer ques-
sions to ask by this time"
The difference between the news
papers and Dr. Robin is that they have
no financial interest in the water pro-
ject, while he has. They have no ap-
parent motive for adversely. criticising
the commission, while were he TO have
anything in the nature OF criticism
published there would probably be a
new bacterlologist. DIR. Robins ability
and conduct have not been called into
question. but when he attempts to
shield the commission from the slight
est criticism when It proposes to spend
something like a million dollars of the
taxpayers money. he may expect to
get his fingers burned.
The questions which we have asked
are not in the province OF DIR. Robin
to answer. Presumably, he is not am
expert on finance and business con-
tracts. whatever he may know about
germs, and hence, even in his mmin-
GUS statement, he fails TO enlighten us
on certain vital points.
Here is something we want to know,
and he has not told us. We stin want
to know why the city should build nj
its expense an experimental filter when
IL is TO pay a large sum for plans. for
patents and for expert knowledgeg n
the company which figures in the mat
ter SO prominently, and which pre-
sumably will get the contract for its
erection, is so assured Of results as to
offer a guarantee, and II the commits.
sion is so certain that il pays a large
percentage Of the construction price
60 that concern, why not allow IL &c
90 all the eSperimentins7 We SHOULD
like 10 have that question answered
II is said that II is desirable TO tes
the qualities OF various sands-wh,
not allow the construction company {,
90 Il II II lacks definite knowledge
This concern promises to reduce bae
terra TO an unheard Of minimum, AMI
yet il is admitted that il doesn't know
what kind Of sand il is to do il with
and It doesn't know the nature Of tn
BrandyNine wateri Il guarantee
something for which we pay am ex
Tavagant sum- providing we build al
experimental filter to ascertain wha
materials it is to use. and give IT an,
other information it may need. Di
Robin says that the sand it is propose
TO use may be found either too coars
or too fine for Brandywine water. w
don't know anything about that. bu
we should think that all pure water
about equally fine. and that Il is IN
business Of the filter TO make 1t so.
DR.. Robin declares that the expert
mental filter may reveal many thing
necessary to meet with local cond
tions. II so. what is the guarant,
forg What is all that money spel
for patents for? Would It not ha,
been better had the city employed
competent water engineer TO find o
all these local conditions before hastl
entering into contract calling for
large an expenditure? And how eou
responsible company give su
sweepins guarantees when il was !
norant Of local conditions. DR.. Rob
has not answered these questions. C
he2 He concludes his remarkable /
terview as follows
Let me say that I know OF nc
other city in this country oi
abroad that is as fully protected
in the matter Of water purifcatsor
as shis city is. and this is thank.
70 the Water Commission that Il
SO much abused"
What does he mean? Does ne me
that our present water system is