Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-12-17
EXPERTS REPORT OF WhTTLR SUPPLY
At LAST GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC

face streams over the shale forma-
tIons 10 East River.
Spring no. l is merely one se-l
underground stream. which~pfesum-
ably receives the drainage OF an area
bounled-aRr the south by the crest
OF East River mountain, on the west
by an approximately north and south
line passing. just east OF Bethel, ON
the east by a north and south line
passing just east OF the Wilson
house. and on the north by the bor-
der OF the Shenandoah Limestone.
The chief surface streams in this
area enter the ground at the Wilson
and Henry Bailey houses. and we
may reasonably expect these streams
to have direct connection with Spring
No. 1. Such connection / have con-
elusively proved in the case OF the
Henry Bailey spring. Floodescein,
a harmless coal tar derivative. placed
in the Henry Bailey sink hole at one
fifteen G:15) ~. M. December 9Th.
appeared in the spring AT about two
(2:00) p. m, December 7th, and
was still present at noon of Decem-
ber Sth. We may assume without
serious error the average time OF
flow between the Henry Bailey sink
and the spring to be two days.
At the Henry Bailey sink hole.
drainage from stable, pig pens, and
house pass directly to the stream.
Stock Of various kinds has access to
the sink hole and their droppings
are found In Il i'm considerable guam
titles. The worst OF all, there being
no privy upon the place this sink
hole is used as convenient substi-
tute. 1t follows that the elects from
the bowels OF the tenants upon this
property may be drunk by Blueneld
residents within few days after
deposit In the sink hole.
AT the Wilson place the conditions
are much better. Little pollution oc-
ours at this place now. II seems to
have been the custom OF previous
residents to throw into the cavern
through which the stream flows all
ducts. At the present time the
stream receives the drainage from n
small grave yard, kitchen water from
the Wilson residence. end ordinary
drainage from a portion OF the farm.
A few hundred yards up the noun
tain is another house at present un-
occupied. which naturally drains TO
the spring.
1t is suggested that an experiment
be made to determine definitely
whether this stream connects with
Spring no. /.
There are many other sink holes
in the drainage area tributary to this
spring None, however, appear to
offer great opportunity for pollution
of the water supply. 1t would seem
advisable. however. to determine
whether they have underground con
htStiOh Will Spiihb NJ. i.
Spring No. 2, as determined by
Fluorescein, IS fed by the Thompson
stream. about two hours being re-
quired for water at the Thompson
residence to reach the spring. The
flow is small and / am credibly in
formed that It was intended only for
use in watering the grass near spring
No. l., from which it IS about two
hundred (20O) yards distant. Ap-
two months ago. how
ever, a connection was removed, al
lowing the water from this spring 20
Join that of Spring No. I Coupled
with the information received that
a case OF typhoid fever existed at the
Thompson residence a little over a
year ago (the most recent case OF
typhoid In the Ada water shed) ]
believe this TO be the most portable
source of typhoid infection OF the
Ada supply. As is well recognized,
the typhoid fever bacillus may live
for a long time In surface soils. A
slight rain may well have carried The