The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-28
TIE FILTER.

TIE FILTER.
The Herald again goes into Mysteries
formation published concerning the
filter was by the Herald; it published
the report of the chemical analysis of
water alleged to have been taken from
the filter on February %, which re-
port showed that the albumenoid am
monia was decidedly too high the
water analysed was delivered to the
chemist by The parties interested and
that report disclosed the condition for
which the Herald took upon itself to
make apologies and explanations;
when, prior to its publication, inter-
ested parties asked to see this report
the health officers refused stating in
substance, it was not public property
Every one conversant with the con-
ditions existing at the filter during the
past four or five months have realized
the danger; any one conversant with
its theory could not fail so to do.
The Herald, having given the mat
ter publicity, its apology was spoken
OF and commented upon by this paper;
whatever effect, good or bad upon the
future of Grand Forks the bad man
agement of the filter may have is due
to two causes:
% The negligence of Mr. Duis in
permitting experiments and theories to
be applied to the filter, and
(2) The attempt on the part of the
Herald to mislead the public by it's
so called explanations.
Dr. Wheeler said four years ago that
if the sand in the filter ran below four
feet there was danger: in this opinion
the Herald at that time concurred;
the Lawrence. Mass. plant after which
this is modelled. fixes the minimum at
three feet; at present the sand ranges
in depth from % inches or 81 inches
TO 40 inches; the minimum depth of
sand is from two feet two inches to
twenty-one inches less than DR..
Wheeler says is safe, and at least six
inches less than the Lawrence plant
permits.
The report of the chemical ANALYSIS
given to the public by the Herald con-
| tains this language the albumenoid
ammonia. representing undecomposed
| organic matter, is decidedly too high.
! This may be due to the filtering x $:
| believe that too much surface drain
age and sewage is emptied into the
| Red Lake river in proximity to the in
| take"
The archaeological examination ex-
| pressly limits its approval of the water
to the standpoint of that examination
alone; it in no way contradicts the
| chemical analysis; the chemical an
| alysis discloses that there is an ex-
cessive amount of organic matter, the
cause of which is suggested as sur
face drainage and sewage emptied into
| the river close to the intake.
In 1905 the amount of sand put into
the filter was 81 car loads; prior
thereto there was put in each year
! from so to 120 car loads of sand.
Does the Herald approve of water,
the chemical analysis of which dis
closes conditions as stated by Mr.. Bah
! cock?
Does the Herald deny that the chem
ical analysis plays an important part
in determining the purity of the watero
If the chemical analysis is not 20 be
considered why was such an analysis
made?
The truth of the matter is that the
water is at present in bad condition
and the sand in the filter is less in
depth than good authorities would re-
quire; the sand is less in depth be-
cause of the failure to put a sufficient
amount in the filter last year.