New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-13

Distilled water comes nearer 20 being absolutely
pure than anything e.se. bur distilled water.
II placed in clean bottle. will dissolve some OF
the glass. and thus become impure Pure water
however. would be good for the health. accord
ing % some Of the chemists. because there are
certain kinds Of bacteria which useful m
building up the body and without which persons
would not be wei or they
Contrary to the general Impression. miniature
sea serpeuts and multi-legsed bugs NOT found
in The water which IS drunk in city residences Oc-
casioually eel. shrimp other wTigsling thing
VIII ind its way Through the faucet. but these
visitors ere not due organic impurities IN the
wafer They are the product OF blind pires and
cut-cHs, Of which there are a great many Il the
city. For instance. pipe runs half the length
OF a block and there ends Water comes through
pipes nom the 5iOck above and DETECTED to the
houses OF the lower block by pipes leading into
them. That which does 20 fnto the houses
gees up to the blind end Of the pipe and there
remains.
Vegetable matter accumulates. and later the
stagnant water becomes populated In the course
OF time this slack water viii back % the house
pipes and be drawn into the houses This is the
way that the city chemists account for occasional
night companions OF the bath As a matter OF
scientific fact they that bacteria are not bugs
all. but really vegetables
Chemists can take piece OF steel and. after ex-
animation. tell IT'S quality exactly This often
be done by simple means. With water the IL
different To make an intelligent Interpretation OF
a water analysis it is necessary 10 consider the
examination IN entirety. The chemist must then
balance the different parts and assign 10 them their
tory the substances looked for are with few ex-
eepuons not IN any way harmful. and the only
that points back 70 some possible source ~ Of con-
Elimination 1t is then possible 70 get at the
or the evil and apply effective remedies
The city IS prepared at any time 70 arrest water
stance, one of the supply ponds on Long Island
should De declared danserously impure after
would be informed once and the supply from
This can be accomplished within few hours for
every SET OF wells and ponds has an independents
necttOn the pond can be cut of In reservoirs
pipe leading around the reservoir would e con
nected directly with the mains
The precautions which are taken 70 guard against
sHy serious PoIL4n o. wa5sr sources are Eataer
luted districts Inspections are more frequent than
present the routine system provides for complete
examination OF an ponds and sources OF supply az
least once month sometimes at shorter in ssrvaIs
partial examination OF all driven wells IS made
water companies is held once every three months
examination Of distributing reservoirs and taps il
ComPlste records OF all examinations made IN
me heid ana o. tests made in the iaboratory ars
the chemists TO note any continuous deterioration
in the quality Of at any point in the city
IN addition to water tests the force OF this lab
oratory mas taken Up several new lines or work.
much 70 the discomfort OF irresponsible contractors
t e Goa s L3qTieJns 2ii5 cement and other ma
are now subjected TO chemical analysis before con-
tracts are awarded Science has proved too much
Tor the political bidder. and hundreds OF tons OF
coal which did not measure up TO the specifications
mas been rejected and money saved for the atty.
The same IS true OF other things Lubricatfng oils
Tor the big engines nave in years past been a
source OF graft A good mineral oil. such as
called for by the city is thick Some contractors
nave submitted samples which. under the tests havs
proved to be veEeta Die oils mixed with sOap Whe1
placed on the engine the soap scorches and cakes
but does not IUbTiCate Some Contractors have tried
70 work or plaster OF paris as asbestos backing
Tor pipes but politics is OF the elements or
Chemistry and the fraud has been detected There
IS a cement testing plant IN the laboratory and
BY degrees the cold accuracy OF science is making
graft on Water Department contracts ANYTHING
but pleasant.
And for conducting al this important work the
CITY employs only sixteen n1eT-PrOfsssOr Whipple
VINO IS m charge OF the laboratory: D. d. Jackson
chlet chemist; z. Schuyler Miller s b chemist:
four or i've assistant chemists and a few clerks