The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-17

and under which the money Is now avail
able. The plans of Mr.. Flad were debated.
but, however, were never approved. anu
when Mr.. Adkins was confirmed in the Of
flee he found the problem up to him."
with all of its original ramifications save
that he had s115, 900 ready for use.
He has been in the Water Department
since 1885 and has kept in touch with all
the improvements made or contemplated
| since that date. Having formed his own
| conclusions upon the subject. he lost no
time in taking the initial steps to put them
into effect.
Filtration for St. Louis means a bigger
plant than any in existence. If the con-
! struction of n mammoth filter and its main
tenance be entered upon. and II the work
be lone by any other than the city force,
but one company is in a position to assume
the work-the Continental Jewell Filtration
Company of New York. This company only
could supply the necessary adjuncts, and
has made a study of municipal filter sys-
tens. Much opposition to placing the city
works under the control Of an outside COM
pany arose. and this has been one of the
objections to filtration.
The defenders OF the weir system aver
that it will be effective, and that nine of
the objections mentioned apply to it.
LADEN WITH CLAY.
The pcculiarities of the Missouri River
| water are well known. More than any other
| stream in the United States the Missouri
carries in it suspended particles of pure
clay. Its other impurities are not so pro-
nounced as even those in the clear Missis-
sippi above the junction with the Missouri.
The proposition that has always con-
fronted the Water Department is the mud
how to get rid of it. MIR. Atkins states
| that, being allowed to settle only four hours
under the present system. IS per cent of
the clay sinks to the bottom of the set
Ting basins. Then, to prolong this set
ting process, to allow successive settings,
is the theory upon which the weir system
rests. At present the water which enters
the conduit that carries it to the Baden
and Bissells Point pumps. passes through
but one settling basin. The Improvement
| which are to be made will pass it through
six basins, or eight, when the two addi-
! tioral ones are built.
The trip of the Board of Public Improve
ments to Omaha was suggestive of with
what success weirs may be used to precipi-
tate sediment, At Omaha, say both Messrs.
| Adkins and Phillips, the Missouri River is
as muddy as at its mouth. Yet from it the
chief city of Nebraska draws Its water sup
ply and transforms it to a creditable and
drinkable liquid.
OMAHA WORKS.
By a pump the water is carried to a res
ervoir on a hill above the city. From the
reservoir, gradually descending, are five ba-
sins. From the initial supply tank or reser-
voir the water runs into the first basin.
The second basin adjoins. but is slightly
lower than the first, and the water enters
the second as a thin waterfall Of about
three inches in depth and about a foot of
fall. Thus it has an opportunity to settle
in the first basin. and, in passing to the
second. Is thoroughly aerated. The same
process applies to the third, fourth and
fifth basins. From the last it is drawn of
for use.
The samples which Mr.. Adkins now has
: n which he shows visitors. are Of water