Evening journal., 1904-07-30
i. ID. Chester.
Director.

lltlueht EXAMINATIONS ana sanitary
oversight
+. d. Chester
Director
Water, Water Everywhere But Not
a Drop to Drink
such was the agonlzed cry of the
sh pwrecked mariner I'm days OF old
and from present appearances such viii
be the cry of the citizens Of this city
ere long.
some weeks ago DR.. william H.
Kuntz of the local Board of Health be-
came convinced that there was some
thng amiss with the drinking water
in at least one OF the pump wells I'm the
cts, "a number of cases OF sickness
having occurred among those who used
it, and he determined 10 have AN ex-
animation made -of-b. a sample of the
water was sent to the laboratory Of
the State Board of Health at Delaware
college for the purpose Of an analysis.
The analysis was made by Prof. r. u.
Chester director of the laboratory. with
the result that il was declared unfit for
drinking purposes and the pump was
discontinued.
Acting ON the theory that II the pump
water was I'm bad condition throughout
the city the "Nonesuch" water might
also be contaminated. Omcials of the
board determined TO have a test made
OF A. The result of the examination is
contained under the head of remarks
az the opening OF this article.
The announcement of this fact has
caused no little comment Throughout
the city. In fact the people scarcel,
know which way to turn for water foi
drinking and cooking purposes.
Or. Kuntz received the result Of the
analysis from Prof Chester yesterday
and it soon became nolsed abroad that
the city water supply was unfit for do
mestic use and the water company. for
the second time within period of a
few weeks was roundly scored.
In reply to a query as to what led
him to believe that the "Nonesuch"
water water was unit for use Dr.
kuntz stated that the stencil arising
fromrit was enough to convince any
one that there was something wrong
besides the fact that number OF per-
sons became ill after using IL for drink
ing purposes. Therefore" said Dr.
kuntz, Il believed IL my duty 10 have II
tested and did so. Prof. Chester's re-
port speaks for itself and J have moth
ing further TO say on the subject
pr, David Stewart is firm I'm his be-
lief that the water is. and has been for
sometime unht for use I'm families and
believes that the step taken by the
health board was a proper one.
There is no question In my mind. 4"
said he. "but that the water is not Of
proper quality TO be used In any
household and as for myself I have
abandoned it almost entirely. The
stencil arising from 90 recently is
enough TO convince anyone Of the im-
purity OF the water I believe the
condition Of the water is due largely to
the decay of the vegetable growth
around the sides OF the basin When
dead this grass or weeds slough on
and failing into the water contaminate
Il. Nor do l think vegetable growth is
the entire cause of the condition AZ
this time. There must be some animal
matter I'm connection with IT, FREQUENT
ly ] have got duck feathers through the
spigot Of my hydrant showing conclu-
siVely that there Is a possibility OF COM
tamination beyond vegetable one. The
lot surrounding the basin is unenclosed
! understand and Il IS an easy matter
Nor any person 10 approach II he so
Desired and cast any dead object into
the water"
So thoroughly disgusted is Or. Stew
art with the condition OF the None
such water that he is at work at the
present time driving a well i'm the yard
adjoining his house and viii use the
water for domestic purposes.
Mr.. shaw's Statement.
When seen in connection with the
analysis Of the water James G. shaw.
president Of the water company. said.
The water is In the same condition as
It has been in the past thirtv-four Years
and | know OF no one who has been
made i'll by drinking &. some six
weeks ago the water was submitted TO
an analytical test and was found 10 be
good, but since the water rents have
Deen advanced il is discovered that the
water is unfit for use. Before the re-
cent hre, during which time ana affer-
Naru much has been said about the
water company not having a sufficient
Supply OF water on hand. it was ems
eonla'y 10 keep the basin Of the reser-
on ABOUT half full of water and TO
Imp IL IN as the supply decreased
'heiepy Keeping up practically con-
stant circulation Since the ere No.
ever. the basin has been l,ant en-, =.
ms utmost capacity. about 1 0Oo QUO ,.,i
constantly. and there is no question IN
my mind that whatever may be- ne
trouble with the water Is due solely
70 me action Of the SUMS rays upon N
why continued Mr.. Shaw. III is !
MeN-known fact that in many cities h
me western section Of the country n
Is necessary TO keep reserve water I'M.
rer cover IN order 10 keep. it pure. n
Denver Colorado where the water /,