Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-06

seven years and Is familiar with laying of cast iron pipe. He is a member Of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
 It was voted to accept the specifi- cations of the United States Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry Go for a certain order of pipe.
 The engineers reported that title searches have been complet- ed for sewer hearings on Farm, Ash ley and Riverside streets, Cherry ave nue and Greenmount terrace. It was voted to cite the property owners in to be heard on Jan. 19, at 8 o'clock in the evening.
 Leo Herr was heard regarding the lack of water service in Wood, Dickman, Putnam and Walnut streets, You cannot get any water on third floor tenements after in the morn ing until noon; the same condition ex- exists between 1 and 6 in the after noon. The supply is ample nights and Sundays. MT. Herr said there was lots of water in his house seven years ago. He believed the trouble due to the enormous consumption in the. shops. The board sympat thized with him, but was able to promise no i'm mediate relief.
 The following communication was received from MT. Cairns:
 wish to call your attention to some features of the water supply situation and ask that they may receive early consideration
 : Protection from Pathogenic Germs.
 First and most important Is the con dition of the water as to healthfulness At present 1t is clear and palatable and free from contamination. In order that we may have assurance of its re maining thus satisfactory, 1t seems im- portant to inaugurate a regular and frequent inspection of all watersheds When the Branch system was first used twice had complete canvass made of the entire watershed, with full reports of the conditions at every farm and along every water course. This should be resumed, with especial refer ence to the prevention of contamina- tion. Tn order that the water depart ment may have immediate information of the existence of typhoid fever, or other intestinal disorder on the water shed, propose that printed postal cards addressed to the superintendent of water be furnished to every phr' sician likely to be called in, with the request that he notify the supeTinten- den+ whenever he has reason to think that such case exists. giving the name and location of the patient. There is no doubt that the doctors would ap- preciate the importance of giving us this information. To provide for the possibility of disease being present and no physician called. would suggest that we offer a reward of 50 to the first person reporting any case which on medical examination proves to be or nature to- infect our water supply. With frequent inspections of the differ ent watersheds. with the practicing physicians reporting cases, and the general public interested in the n1at- fer. we can feel sure of getting on the ground in time to prevent any m1s- chief.
 AH we want is to know of these cases in time. The rest is easy. Twice in ten years we have had typhoid fever cases near the reservoir. and have had no trouble Tn securing the co- operation of the family and physician in our sanitary measures. The only danger Is in our not knowing of case. and Of the attendants being ignorant or indifferent to the sanitary rules which should be followed. We have a telephone at the Branch. and can get reliable man to any point of the watershed in few hours with the necessary disinfectants.
 I feel strongly that the securing or this early information should not be left to chance, but should be made ab- solutely certain and that 1t fs imror- tan+ enough to warrant almost any ex- penditure.
 am now having sanitary inspec- ton of the territory tributary to the East Mountain reservoirs.
 Tn making the aprropria lion. Res ervoirs, Maintenance, for 1904. 1t was intended to provide enough money to enable the citv to purchase outright one or more places, the ownerShip of which Is regarded as Important. would suggest that this matter be taken up as soon as possible
 Waste of Water
 At inc present time the waste of city water has become so great as to seri- ous1y impair the efficiency of the ser vice. From noon of November to noon of November 8 the meter at Wig wam reservoir showed a draft Of 920,- 900 cubic feet. or 6,e00. GOO gallons Six weeks later, from noon of December to noon of December 8, the meter showed draft of 943, 300 cubic feet, Or 7,O76.25O gallons.
 These figures prove that water IS being wasted in the most reckless man. ner. On liberal assumptions we should not be using more than two-thirds of this quantity. Unless this waste IS stopped 1t will very soon compel the expenditure of great sums of money for new reservoirs and new pipe lines, besides greatly complicating the prob lem of sewage disposal. But what wish to call your attention to most par ticularly at this time is the effect of this excessive draft on the pressure in the mains. For the past few months the pressure has been steadily falling, coincfdentally with the increase in waste, until now 1t is so low that dur ing the day time on week days whole districts on the higher ground either have no water at all or have an inter- mittent supply. Frequent complaints of this nature came to me in the last few weeks I had house to house