The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-12
STOP POLLUTION
OF JAMES RIVER
dill in General Assembly to
Purify Water for the Rich
mond Public.
DR.. {. c. LEVY GIVES VIEWS
Strongly Advocates the Bill and
Points Out the Necessity
for Its Passage.

LII View OF inc usltitl,i ~
offered by the Richmond city delegation
In the Legislature to prevent the poilut-
ing OF streams through which the city
receives it's water supply, the measure is
printed In full below. along with an
interview on the subject with Or. h.
c.. Levy, who is the cityis expert chem
list.
Or. Levy says, in discussing the sub
Jset:
..Tiiero is no more important question
connected with the welfare of the citi-
zens of the city than the protection OF
their water supplies. This fact has been
recognized in other States for muny
years. but in Virginia 1t has not claimed
the attention to which its Importance eh-
titles It. Only within recent years mas
the question of pollution of streams by
wastes from manufacturing establish
inents n live issue In Virginia. Although
We are anxious to encourage the estab-
lish,nent of industries OF all kinds in
this city. we must not lose sight of the
fact that these industries do pollute our
streams unless they are restrained. The
recognition of this fact in other states
has given rise 10 the fullest statute
governing such pollution. whereas In Viz
sinia the question is a new one and the
acts covering il are totally inadequate
10 meet the conditions.
Dispose of Waste Water
tn seeking relief from pollution Ivy
factories. we do not lose sight of The
fact that most of these industries have |
wastes which must be disposed of.
W only seek to require them 50 TO |
49, -.m- -. Gt... Il
our inland waters. which are used for |
the supply of cities and towns. This
can be accomplished. or course. 1t usu-
ally means that The factories involved
Will be put TO some expense TO meet the
requirements, but disposal of trade !
wastes Is a matter which has claimed
much attention in recent years. and with
few exceptions the problems LAY been
worked out- All We ask is that such
means as nave been adopted in other
States. which have had this problem TO
deai with for many years. shall be ap-
Piled in Virginia. We wish to encourage
ell Industries for the welfare OF our State
at large, and the local communities in
which they are situated, but the right
or these Industries do so poliute the wa
ter of streams upon which citizens of
the towns depend for their water supply
is not recognized.
Conditions Changed
James River. for example. in spite of its
muddy condition for long periods every
year has, until the past few years. been
very satisfactory in character during the |
period OF low water. Now this condition
is utterly changed and during these same
periods OF low water the stream is so
discolored as TO give the most undesira-
BILE water OF the entire year. The right
of a land owner TO have the stream.
which flows by him of a character equal
TO what the owners above him are get
ting, is an inherent right, which has in
yariably been sustained by the courts
OF the country acting under the common
Iaw OF the land, but 1t Is best to rein
force our position and make our rights
doubly assured by the enactment of spe-
cifc statutes covering such cases. The
bill which has been introduced is one In
which every citizen Of Virginia should
be actively Interested. 1t is not as strin-
gent a law by any means as many other
States have enacted. and Ii is a start in
the right direction and should claim the
supper of every fair-minded man.
Advanced Ideas
1--WE. OF the South are prone TO regard the
more perfect laws which are enforced in
other communities as being in some way
natural outgrpwth for their civilization.
LAS II mahsr. o%f,-fact. If we investigate
This matter. we. lind that IN every such
instance these laws have been enacted
by the strenuous efforts of a few ad-
vanced men, who have realized their inn
portance, and who. In securing their
passage. have invariably encountered self
j.h opposition, Of certain interests. and
nnaccountably rs 1t may appear, often
the opposition of tho very people whom
they sought to benefit. Undoubtedly we
Will have a fight on orr hands i'll secur-
ing the passage of the present bill. but
= think il safe To assert that II our legis-
iators will carefully and thoroughly as
certain the sentiment of their c~ons;itu-
ents and vote in accordance with that
sentiment. this bill will be passed by an
overwhelming majority
The Bill in Full.
Fellow is found the full text of the bill:
l.. BE IL enacted by the General Assem-
bly, of Virginia, That AN act approved
February %. 1892, entitled AN act to
prevent the pollution Of potable waters
used for the supplying OF cities and towns"
bc amended and re-enacted so as 10 read |
a. follows
Section I. Be ii enacted by the General
ASSEMBLY of Virginia, That 1t shall be
unlawful, except as hereinafter provided,
for any person TO defile or render inn
pure, turbid, or offensive the water used
Tor the supply ol any CITY or Town OF
this State, or the sources or streams used
for furnishing such supply, or TO en-
danger the purity thereof by the follow
ing means. or n of them. to-wit, by
washing or bathing therein. or by casting
into any spring. well, pond, a X or reser-
voir from which such supply Is drawn.
or into any stream so used, or tho tril,u-
tary thereof above the point where sticli
supply is taken out of such stream or
IS impounded for the purposes OF suah
supply, or into any canal. aqueduct, or
other channel or receptacle for water
connected with any works for furnishing
n public water supply, any ofal, dead
fish. or carcass of any animal, or any
human or animal filth or other foul or
waste animal matter. or any waste vege-
table or mineral substance. or the refuse
of any mine, mandatory, or mnnufac-
turing process. or by discharging ~ per-
uniting TO flow into any such source,
spring. well. reservoir, pond, stream, or