Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-28
To PURIFY THE WATER
Investigation to Be Made in
Earnest.
OFFICIALS TO ASSIST
BUREAU OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Will Aid the District Government in
the Work-Plans Already
Outlined.
OFFICIALS TO ASSIST

The movement looking toward the purifi-
cation of the water used by the residents
of Washington has begun in earnest, and
the District officials and the officials of the
bureau of public health will cooperate with
the officials of the United States geological
survey in the investigation which was re-
Gently undertaken by the latter to deter
mine whether or not the waters of the
Potomac river are contaminated with in
furious substances, and If so, to what ex-
tent.
The field work in connection with this
Investigation will be performed by assist
ants of the United States geological survey.
under the direction of Mr.. NJ. o. Leighton.
chief of the division of hydro economics,
and the laboratory work will likely be per-
formed by chemists in the bureau of public
health, under direction of Surgeon General
Wyman, with probable assistance from Off
Gals of the District health department.
In letter received by Commissioner
West from Mr.. Leighton today the latter
outlines the plans which have been deter
mined upon with reference to the biological
investigation of water from various points
in the drainage area of the Potomac, and
he also mentions the supplies and work
which it will be necessary to secure from
some meteorological laboratory already IL
commission. Mr.. Leighton urged the Com
missioners to cooperate with the geological
District laboratory will be utilized for the
laboratory Investigations.
Conferences Today.
Commissioner West conferred with
Health Officer Woodward this morning as
to the facilities of the health Office for CO.
operating with the geological survey in the
determination of the character of the Po-
tonac river water DR.. Woodward stated
that his Office would be very glad to do
everything in its power, but suggested
that the bureau of public health, under DR..
Wyman, was better equipped for such
work, and that he believed that the results
obtained would be more accurate and con-
vincing than if done in the health of1ce
laboratory.
Acting upon this suggestion, Commits
sioner West communicated with DIR. Wy
man and received from that omeiai every cry
work. DR.. Wymans stated that his bureau
had some time ago undertaken an exam1na-
tion similar to that which Is now IN prog
ress, and said that the results OF that ex-
animation would be at the disposal OF the
officials of the photographic branch OF the
geological survey. He further Indicated
his interest in the matter by onering 10
have one Of the public health officials act
| in concert with the geological survey IN
the investigation.
| The correspondence between the Commls-
| sioner and Mr. Leighton has been forward
ed by Commiss oner West to Surgeon Gen
eral Wyman and at an early date the oIl-
cial designated by DR.. Wyman. together
with Chief Leighton, will meet IN MT.
VESTS Office to discuss the best methods OF
co-operation in order to secure the most
satisfactory results the earliest possible
moment.
Several weeks ago Mr. Leighton, in COM
pany with Commissioner West. Major Syl-
vester and DIR. Young of the Fish and Game
Protective Association. made a trip to Har-
per's Ferry for the purpose OF outlining
plan for investigating conditions along the
| Potomac river and it's tributaries to deter
mine at what points the water might be
| contaminated by the deposit OF injurious
| substances Mr.. Leighton spent considera-
BILE time along the Potomac investigating
| conditions, and he states that further in
vestigatiQn of the tributaries of the main
stream will be made by assistants of his
! Office.
| Samples of water will be taken from the
Potomac at Cumberland, Md, and at varf-
| Gus points along the river as far down as
Great Falls, and these samples will be
turned over to the laboratory for examina-
| ton to determine the presence in the water
of bacilli or other injurious substances.
| The drainage area of the Potomac will also
be studied by the assistants of Mr.. Leigh
tomac's tributaries will also probably be
| examined in the laboratory of the bureau
| of public health.
| In addition to analyzing the water to de-
termine the presence of bacilli 1t is pro-
posed to secure shavings from the wood
pulp mills near Cumberland and place the
| deposit from these mills in a tank at the
| fish commission, together with a number
of fish, for the purposes of observing the
| effect produced upon the fish from the
poisons contained In the shavings.
/ Most Work to BE Done in the Field.
Mr.. Leighton mentions that it is proposed
to do the greater part-ef the work in the
field, and thereby avoid the numerous err
rors which frequently arise from shipment
| of samples. The samples of water, he says,
| will be planted directly In the culture media
1 by the field assistants and be forwarded to
/ the laboratory for such demonstrations as
1 are deemed necessary to prove or disprove
the presence of dangerous contamination in
| the river. The work, he says, will be con-
l fined to the determination of the number of
bacteria per cubic centimeter and the pres
ence or absence of bacillus coli communs,
] the intestinal bacterium. If necessary, he
says, the actual cost of laboratory material
may be paid from the appropriation for the
division of hydro-economics
Mr. Leighton states that he will be ready
to take up the field work within few days,
and that it is necessary that the local au-
| Lo arr oa7 ont tn