New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-08

BAD DOORS md DISE4S Z GERMS SAFELY SUP
PRESSED By COPPER SULPHATE

Washington. May tspeciaD.-The curiosity
OF medical men, sanitary engineers and those
municipal officials who are charged with the
control OF water supplies throughout the coun-
try has recently been raised to high pitch by
imperfect announcements Of a new gernicide
with which The Department Of Agriculture has
been experimenting. \ large element Of the lay
public mas also been keenlv alive 10 the posi-
hilities suggested by these rumors. It is now
possible cor the first time to describe the work
with a fGlness and accuracy that viii enable eN-
rerts 10 form safe opinions regarding its value
pamphlet Of forty-four pages, to be issued by
the Bureau OF Plant Industry next week will con-
tain an elaborate and official account Of the in
vestigation which was conducted by Or. George
T Moore, in charge or the laboratory Of plant
physiology. and Karl F Kellermau assistant in
Physiology.
The presence Of minute vegetable organisms
called algR. has caused a vast amount Of trouble
IN city reservoirs. They impart an unpleasant
smell and taste 10 drinking water. and render
the latter exceedingly offensive. To obtain cor
roborative testimony this matter the bureau
sent 4 circular Of inquiry 10 five hundred engi-
neers and sunerintendents Of water companies
and their replies showed how widespread is the
nuisance It was 10 get rid Of this that DR.
Moore's efforts We're first directed. Hitherto II
has been usual 70 shut out sunlight from the
from the bottom all organic matter Both meth
DDS are costly however and II is vet uncertain
whether the second is permanently effective
Again filtration. which is valuable for some
purposes. is OF doubtful efficacy for removing
the disagreeabIe odor and flavor Hence the
expediency Of seeking entirely new methods
Various chemicals have been tried before but
II IS necessary make most OF them strong
enough 10 be hurtful 10 human health if
they are 10 kill the aIse. The Investigations Of
the bureau have led 70 the conclusion that d
salt Of copper meets all the requirements Of
cheepness. harmlessness and efficiency. Most
Of the experiments tried have utilized the sui
phate in solutions OF various strengths The
results Of tests with upward Of n dozen different
species u aIgse show that they differ in their
powers % resistance. Moreover the bureau has
not yet extended ia study TO all kinds. The
tables given IN the bulletin indicate however
that a solution OF only one part in 1ODO on
proves fatal 70 the great majority Of these or
Rsnisms within twenty-four hours. 50 small a
quantity OF the sulphate would involve an out
lay Of from - cents 10 Ga cents TO a milli~u
gallons Of wate-.
A significant practical test ~ the system was
made i'm Kentucky las wear a water company
had fo~ two seasons attributed the 'pigpen''
ocor ~ the fluid II Is reservoir 20 decaving
vegetation. but later became convinced that the
trouble was due 10 aIge. When the Bureau ~
Plant Industry was permitted 70 experiment
there the smell was almost unbearable- 4 mi
croscoric examination OF the water three DAYS
before treatment showed that there were 200
% one kind u organism 70 a cubic centiuletre.
loo 81 second. and 400 Of a third! 4 solu-
tion was made ~ the proportion q one part %
4.poOro Il was on July Q. The next day only
- 10 the cubic centimetre could be found. on
the second day the number was reduced 10 5.
while three successive tests on different days
thereafter n July failed 20 show any, The smell
disappeared more gradually. but II All went in
few days. and did not return during the sea
son
A large part of the report Is devoted 70 meet
ing the important questions % the danger 10