Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-13
PURITY OF THE WATER
COMMENTS ON RESERVOIR AND
FILTRATION PLANT.

In connection with his defense of the
purity of the water of Franklin Square
spring as compared with the city water
supply from the Potomac river. Mr.. F. w.
Thomas of 1903 New York avenue has adj
dressed a second communication to the
District Commissioners concerning alleged
nuisances at the 1st street reservoir and the
filtration plant. He calls attention to the
comments, as published In The Star OF the
9th instant, OF DIR. Woodward, health OF
ficer. The latter, Mr.. Thomas says. makes
no denial of the truth OF the latters as
sertion. According to Mr.. Thomas hun
dreds of men have been employed for near
ly three years at the reservoir and at the
filtration plant, and during all that time
they have been without those sanitary Ia
cilities which should have been the first
care of the health ONCE and of those IN
charge Of the work to have provided. even
before a spade was turned
Mr.. Thomas at great length charges neg
lect in reference to alleged inSanitary
shanty. Continuing he says:
Il wish also to call the attention of your
board to the proposition that DR.. Wood
ward recommended that the charges
brought by Mr.. Thomas be brought to the
attention of the officer in charge of the
aqueduct.' In other words, now that the
work has stopped at the filtration plant. the
workmen gone, and the shanty has been
removed, ana possibly lime THROWN itto
the place that had so long been eontami-
mated an investigation is desired on the part
of the chief health officer, and at the hands
OF the very officer. whoever he may be, who
has either passively or otherwise during
all these months permitted such state OF
affairs to exist at the filtration plant.
Saws Other Shanties Exist.
Other shanties today exist on the filtra-
ton grounds ready for use when work
He adds: Before the officer in charge Of
the aaueduct makes his official investiga-
ton of affairs at the plant. it would be
we'll to cause all the old boots. shoes, cast
away trousers, torn and soiled clothing and
papers now scattered in many places about
the fence surrounding the reservoir. to be
gathered up and burned. the shanties men-
toned to be cleaned out or removed-then
the. report will look better
Mr. Thomas, continuing, declares that
why danger of pollution to city wells and
pumps from street sewers is dreaded by the
health office, and at the same time no fears
are entertained that The sewers at the Ill
tration plant and adjoining the reservoir
will ever contaminate the water supply
there, is a mystery not understood by those
who are not health officers.
Further Mr.. Thomas says: With the
record regarding the filtration plant of
tie character mentioned the health office
insists on closing up the Franklin Square
spring because some other official of that
department thinks he once smelt little
chlorine gas from water that came there
from 1t certainly ought not to be
closed except from demonstrated necessity,
a necessity that should be shown to exist
from careful analysis made by more than
one EXPERT and by experts not connected
with the health office. who may have 'fads
and wheels and policies of office IN their
minds No one mans say so ought to
vty,I
sioners. spare this spring! And often when
our thirst is quenched thereat. from CRATE
full hearts will go up prayers for your long
continued health-and may you never De
comnelled to drink Potomac sewage even
fresh from the filter beds
The Commissioners have notified the
writer that the communication will be given
careful consideration.