The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-03
KANSAS WATER TESTED.
Experiments at IA. U. Show the Kaw
to BE Very Muddy.

Lawrence, Kan, Aug. 3.-The Uni
versity of Kansas is at resent testing
the water from every stream OF any
Importance in Kansas. From twenty
four different stations scattered over
| the state, a sample of water is received
every day, and a careful analysis is
made for salts. mud and mineral sub
| stances of every kind.
At the end of the year the statistics
gathered will be invaluable to manu-
featuring industries over the state. 1t
will no longer be necessary for each
plant to hire a special chemist whose
duties arc to test the water in that
particular locality. All that will be
necessary will be to consult the figures
complied by the university and soften
the VsNter accordingly.
AT each station man, usually the
city engineer. takes the sample from
the river and forwards it to Lawrence
in a small glass mailing case. At the
end of two weeks the water received
from each individual station is mixed
and the test is made.
The following Kansas streams are
tested in the towns named:
Arkansas river at Deerfeld, Great
Bend at Arkansas City; Big Blue at
Manhattan; Chikaskia at Argonia;
Cfmarron at EnglewOod; Cottonwood
at Emporia; Fall river at Neodesha;
delaware river at Perry; KaW river al
Holiday; Marmaton river at Fort
Scott; Medicine Lodge river at Kiowa;
Neosho river at Emporia and OsWego;
Usage river at Boicourt; Prairie Dog
creek at Long Island; Republican
river at Junction City; Saline at Sylvan
Grove; Sappa creek at Oberlin; Smoky
Hill at Lindsborg; Solomon river at
Beloit; Spring river at Baxter Springs;
Winfield.
Francis w. Bushong, assistant pro-
fessor of chemistry at the University
of Kansas. has charge of the testing
e fNrN- tow tn T l. LT1sf ,,
of lola. senior in the engineering de-
partment, is his chief assistant. Every
mornin- the mail bag delivered by
the postof1ce authorities at the uni
versity, contains twenty-four small tin
cans, each wrapped carefully with
heavy paper. Within each can is
small 4-ounce bottle containing the
water. Some samples are clear, some
muddy, other samples have reddish
tinge, especially those taken in the
southwestern part OF the state in the
socalled red beds.
On the shelves of the laboratory
room are twenty-four 1-gallon jars,
each labeled with the name of the
stream and city where the water was
taken. At the end of two weeks the,
contents of the jars are tested and
fresh supply is gradually accumu-
lated.
Prof Bushong delights to explain to
the visitor the minute details of his
work.
Look at this mud" said the pro-
lessor as he exhibited little cake of
from the Kaw in the last two weeks
The visitor acknowledged that it
was interesting
Here's a sample from the Marina
ton down at Fort Scott" continued
Prof Bushong. 1.-THE water has been
so clear during the past six months
that the turbidity is not worth men
tioning. That is due to the fact that
is flows through the zinc region"
In testing for the turbidity or
sediment is allowed to settle in the
gallon Jars. Sometimes it takes a
week for the water to become clear.
The water is then carefully poured
off and the mud is weighed on scales
that register the smallest fraction. In
the figures given below, for the tur-
bidity of the different rivers tested,
the weight has been carried to the
At Deerfield the turbid
ity of the Arkansas river averaged |
1929 during the past six months In
concise terms. for every million gall |
Ions of water in the Arkansas at Deer |
field, 1929 gallons were mud.
1t is noticed that the head waters |
more mineral matter than the same |
stream does further down on its |
course. The Arkansas at Deerf1eld |
registers 1929; at Great Bend, furth- |
er down the river, 1850, and at Ark |
ansas City only 729. Prof Bushong |
says that the evaporation in Western |
Kansas is responsible.
The Saline river has by far the /
largest amount of solid matter, 1855, |
for the last six months. The salt in
high figures. 1t can easily be tasted
by anyone drinking the water.
The state will expend about $2,500
n the experiments in 1907.