Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-27
CLOSING OF WATER SOURCES
Analysis Read in Relation to Each
Well Specified.
CITIZENS PRESENT THEIR DATA
Explanation Made at the Opening Of
the Discussion by Commits
sioner Macfarland.

Inc question whether or not the shallow
public wells Of the city shall be closed was
taken up and thoroughly discussed at a
hearing given by the Commissioners in the
board room at the District building at 10
o'clock today. All of those appearing to
protest without exception declared the
waters in the respective wells are the best
to be found.
On the contrary the reports in many in
stances, as reported at the hearing, showed
slight pollution from sewage.
At the opening of the hearing Commits
sioner Macfarland said that in June last
the Commissioners asked the United States
public health and marine hospital service
the highest health authority of the national
government to investigate the typhoid
fever situation here, and that in its report
in March last to the Commissioners the
United States public health and marine
hospital service recommended the closing Of
the shallow public wells, stating that its
bacter illogical and chemical analyses show
ed that only three out of the whole num-
Der, siXty-three, were free from pollution
Basis of the Order.
1t was upon this report that the Commits
soners ordered the shallow wells closed.
Protests had been received in a little over
half the whole number of cases. They
water was cool and popular and that no
case of death had been traced to any par
ticular well. These arguments, Mr.. Mac
farland said, might be admitted without
affecting the recommendation of the United
States public health and marine hospltal
service and therefore need not be repeated
at this hearing. With protests in so many
cases to hear, brevity was essential. There
fore the Commissioners would ask that one
person should speak for each well. and that
la cd not oil
scented.
The Commissioners would first state in
each case, taking them in sorder as pup
lshed in the newspaper notices OF the near
ing. the data furnished by the analyses OF
the different public services as to the par
ticular well, and then would hear SPECIFIC
objections.
Mr.. Mcfarland also stated that the ques-
ton of substituting deep-driven Wells Ior
the shallow wells would have to be taken
I'D later, since the Commissioners had no
appropriation for that purpose and would
have to consider it in the preparation OF
their estimates at the next session OF Con-
gress.
The Specific Cases.
The well located at Sd and Indiana avenue
was the first taken up. DR.. WOODWARD
health officer of the District, read the re-
ports of the water as submitted by the
health department of the District of Column
a.
marine hospital service, and the engineers
department of the District of Columbia. and
declared that the report of the second an
alysis showed evidence of immediate sewer.
age pollution. Mr.. John w. Butterneid OF
4l9 4th street northwest declared that he
has been drinking the water since 1861, ana
that he regarded 1t as excellent. He also
said that in 1894 the well was examined and
it was found that it Is fed by streams OF
water coming out of a bed of white sand
In conclusion he urged the Commissioners
to send for some of the water and judge for
themselves. John s. Mccarthy of 500 I'd
declared that the Commissioners should
not play into the hands of the ice trust and
the saloons by closing the wells.
The well on 9Th street northwest between
F and G. streets was next discussed. DR..
Woodward said the reports showed sewer
pollution. Mr.. j. Fraise Richard said he
had used the water of that well for the
past eight years and found it good. Take
away the well and then what?" said Mr..
Richard. Relative to the analysis which
showed amount of chloride exceeding the
normal. he said that any high school boy
can take one pound of common salt and find
enough chloride in it to drive all persons
from the hearing. Mr. William ]. Johnston.
who resides at 9Th and F streets, informed
the Commissioners that he has used the
water of that we'll at his home for the past
thirty years and will bedisappointed If the
well is closed.
|. Mr. J. Schwei5s of 631 F street declared
that he has never heard of any disease
being traced to the water of the well. II
think it will be high-handed If the Commits
sioners close the well without tracing dis
ease to it, he said
Remote Sewage Pollution.
The well on 9th street between Fairmont
and Girara streets northwest was then
discussed. After reading the reports OF
analysis DIR. Woodward said the United
service report showed remote sewage pollu-
ton.
James Scott, colored, of 500 Girard street
said that the closing of the we'll will be a
calamity to the residents of the section
who use the water. People who reside
over three blocks away, the protestant de-
clared. use the water and will be handi-
capped If it is closed.
Mr.. E. D. Clamp of s12 9th street spoke
relative to the good water of the well on
9th and II sire cts northwest.
LAS 1 stated in an article in The Star
some time ago. he said mo man whom
have ever met knows when the well was
dug. Many passers-by stop to drink of its
cooling waters. A chemist recently told
me that If pinch of salt is added to a
glass of the water 1t is equal to that OF
the springs of Saratoga"
Mrs. j. H McAlister Of $40 X street
northwest praised the water Of the well at
10th and X streets northwest, and de-
clared that member of her household had
| been aided to a complete recovery after a
serious Illness by drinking the water OF
| the well.
| Without odor and clear, but containing
an excess over normal of chlorine was the
verdict of the analysis of the well at 18th
and Corcoran streets. The statement was
also made that the water also showed re-
mote sewage pollution. Mr.. ]. H. Smith
| of 1909 18th street hoped the well would
not be closed as he believed the showing
| was better than that of other wells of the
| city.
| No one appeared to oppose the closing OF
| the well at 2Sth and o streets northwest.
James C. Chambers of $3.50 Wisconsin ave-
| nue. protested against the closing of the
| well at 34th street and Wisconsin avenue.
! The report showed remote sewage pollu-
ton. The nearest sewer, 1t was stated, is
| fifteen feet away.
j. H Chamberlain Of 307 35th street
stated he has lived for sixty years near
| the well at 35th and Reservoir streets
| During that time, he stated, he has raised
| family of nine children, and that all OF
| them are healthy and have always been So