The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-15

| New York, Feb. 14-Scientists promise
that typhoid will be driven from New York
absolutely as soon as the city's water Is
purified. They say that the cases of typhoid
that will develop here when the changes
proposed by Mayor Low are brought about
Will be only those brought to the city BIZ
persons contracting the disease elsewhere.
OF this. proof has been found in Philadel-
phia. where typhoid has been even more
epidemic than in New York.
Experiments made there nave proven that
the disease is absolutely destroyed as soon
as the public receives pure water.
IL VIII be many months before all of Phil
adeiphia receives filtered water, but GER
tain portions of the city have drawn pure
water from the hydrants for four months.
been expected. At Lower Roxborough the
first practical filtration stations were estab-
lished by D.. ]. McNichol, who is putting
IN the entire Philadelphia plant.
Inc reservoirs there have supplied the
suburban village of Manayunk, where the
PHYSICIANS We're long In despair because of
their helplessness against typhoid. The dis
ease never departed. and the cases were
generally of 4 most virulert type.
when the contaminated water supply was
replaced by the new a close watch was
physicians We're amazed to find that within
a fortnight there was a marked falling off
Of new cases.
At the end of two months the fever had
departed, and there was in all Manayunk
not a single case of typhoid: The changed
ing had a pure supply Of water now for six
months. and it is perhaps the most healthy
SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
Drawing its entire water supply from the
Delaware and Schuylkin rivers. Philadel-
phia has for more than twenty years pom
experience it has paid for will now Be
made use OF by New York. and the COM
mission appointed by Mayor Low will be
able to made recommendations which will
enable the city .to-avoid the %disappofnt-
ments and mistakes which nave been en-
countered in Pennsylvania.
1t has been determined that New York
can easily do better, and by means of a
comparatively moderate expenditure obtain
ing to 400, 600. coo gallons every twenty-four
hours. Until Philadelphia took up the prob
lem for solution it was believed that sand
filtration could be carried on at a rate not
in excess of 100000 gallons per acre per
day.
Now it is known that a sand filter can be
per acre. and the results obtained. SO far
as purity Is concerned, are better than un-
der pb the elder and and slower system
a few years after the Centennial celebration
in that city. The physicians were able to
trace the disease directly to the water that
1t was filthy, but 1t was the best that
could then be obtained. The problem was
uiscuSseu Until 1883, Wnen 1t was suggested
that filtration plants should be put in at
the expense of the city.
were made. and It was found
that 1t would cost SIS. 600! 600 to build filters
that would supply 200, 900. 900 gallons of
water daily. 1t was thought that this ex-
pense was too great, and those who were
ready to save money for the city at the cost
of human lives succeeded in changing the
plans and having the money spent for new
reservoirs aad pumping stations.
But the typhoid did not cease its work of
devastation. and after seventeen more wears
of disease and death the old problem was
again taken up for solution. 1t was de-
termined to abandon the reservoirs that
had been SO recently built, and filters were
ordered. The city is now to obtain 800, OOO. 900
gallons of pure water daily at a cost of $24,-
0H0, 900.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FILTER
In its general physical features the sand
filter Is much like an ordinary reservoir. IT
is built upon a solid foundation, great care
being used to prevent leakages. After the
strongest kind of a cement bed has been
laid the filter Is archie over and covered.
manholes being left to provide the proper
ventilation.
Tie floor of the filter is built perfectly
level, except for depressions down the CEN
ter to drawsthe water to the out-take mines
which are at the bottom.
In the construction of the filter proper the
c%oarsest grades of gravel are first used. The
bottom of the filter reservoir is covered
with this gravel which must be coarse