Evening journal., 1903-04-04
appointment of a Bac-
teriOIogist at Present
Time Meets With Dis
approval of Taxpayers
Nobody Has Been Ap-
pointed as Yet, but 1t Is
Known That DR.. Robin
VIII be Selected

AAN o0lttIlOu VI Ut. hCDlut luc
State chemist, by the Board of Water
Commissioners for the position of bao-
teriolOgist in connection with the cree
tiOn of the proposed new reservoir, has /
caused unfavorable comment, many |
persons believing that such an official
is not needed as yet, and viii probably |
not be for several years, or at least un-
til the reservoir Is completed. Why the /
board wishes to appoint DR.. Robin at
this time is not known by the people, /
who figure that as long as there is no
water to test chemist is not needed.
IL Opposed BY Councilman.
1T is a rank extravaganza" said a
councilman this morning, 'and should
not be tolerated
IF the department can supply the
city with pure water at an extra
expense Of several hundred dollars 4
month, am one that is perfectly will
ing to see the money spent in that di-
rection when the time comes to do so,
but do not believe in making unneces-
sary expenses, the occasion does not re-
quire it." said a prominent citizen
yesterday. mo doubt the addition Of
a bacteriologist TO the department when
necessary, but there is absolutely no
sense in appointing a man to fill the
position now ana draw a salary for two
or three years before he enters upon
his duties" continued the taxpayer,
"and for one am against it."
Opinion Divided
81 Regarding the employment of a con-
sulting engineer at a salary OF 5000 a
month, there appears to he a divisionl
4 of opinion as to what his duties will be
While some think that his services are
not required others say we should
not reply solely on the say so of the
contracting firm who will construct the
reservoir but have a local engineer to
look after the boards interest in the
matter and supervise the construction.
President Belts Explains.
When seen by a reporter of the Even
ing Journal this morning President
Belts. of the Water Commissioners,
said that all cities of consequence en-
q ployed a bacteriologist to make daily
examinations of the water before it
enters the filter and after it comes out
Philadelphia he said at least fifty
4 limitations are made daily, and a
ary of $4,000 per annum is paid to
e bacteriologist employed by the In
annapolis Water Company, whose fill
mation plant the members OF The board
recently examined, and after which the
Porter reservoir will be patterned. The
Office will be a permanent one, said
2etts. and is needed. He further
= that the question of salary in con-
ion with the office had as yet not
discussed, nor had any person been
pointed to TIE position. but from
resent indications it looked as If DR..
Robin would be the man selected.
with regard to the consulting engi-
neer question, Mr.. Belts appeared TO
think that such an officeshould ldhave heen
created by the board six months ago,
then something could have been done
during the winter toward perfecting
plans for the newe reservoir. That a
man who understands engineering is
needed by the board is an undisputed
fact. as the department wishes TO be
fully protected, and have its interests
safeguarded by a local competent man
Mr.. Belts term will expire on July l.
Or. Robin Explains.
When spoken TO about the matter
Of the bacteriologist TO the new tiltel
plant will be. DIR. Robin said
Il am glad that the Journal raised
he point about the duties OF the Uac
teriologist to the new filter plant tor
Jelieve the people are entitled to INK
FULL knowledgeof the nature OF theworl
Df the employees and officers or the city
fE To begin with, sand filtration is
biological and not a mere stralnlns
process. The efficiency of a eand hlte
S determined by the readiness witt
which bacteria are removed from TN
aw water, and any filter stands
alls on the meteorological test ines
tests must be made from day to da,
luring construction. as well ais durlnf
he entire life of the filter.
What will the bacteriologist doY Il
he first place, an experimental hltel
ghich will be a small model of the tu
ure plant, will be established mex
s1 nonth, and on this filter daily tests WI
e made during the entire period Q
. Construction. It should be remembers
* hat the sand available in this localit
zz# iffers from the sand elsewhere, and IN
49, Efficiency OF this sand for III
eE bring purposes must be detel
Z 8 lined by actual experiment.
II W esidlos. by the time the filter plant WI
e ready we shall have had PRACTICAL
|& yer years experience with it. tn
.s .esults obtained with this exparimants
SE& tier will represent the actual valu
the large plant.
aside from the daily bacterlologics