Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-09
THINKS PLANT
! is NECESSITY
Superintendent ]. W. Cavanaugh Of
Waterworks Department Talks
OF New Filter.
LESS COST TO OPERATE
Believes Big Saving Can Be Made by
Use of Mechanical System, and
Better Results Gained.

]. w. Cavanaugh, superintendent of
the wbtef%orks department, relative
to theodiscussion of the proposed new
filterplant, today expressed his opinion
of the situation in written statement
given to The Argus, in the course of
which he. says:
The proposed new filter plant for
the city of Rock Island is an absolute
necessity, for the reason that the citi
Zens are paying for something that
they cannot get under the present
system' of filtration. 1t is impossible
to get pure water the year round in
this climate with this system, and even
if II were possible TO obtain sufficient
filtered water through the present sys-
tenn, it is handicapped by the enor-
NOUS expense. | ind by reports from
other places where systems of a similar
kind known as slow sand gravity fill
tiers are in operation that changes are
being made to the later and more up
to date systems of mechanical filters
for the same reason mentioned, the
cost of operating. So far as any city
having a perfect system of filtration
if It has one, it must be of very re-
cent installment, as the question of the
filtration of water is one of the great
est questions before the people in the
United States today, and in fact in all
parts of the world. The question is
one of pure and wholesome wa
ter for the protection of life. and
so far. as expense is concerned the
comparison is hard to make as be-
tween life and health and money.
Rock Island is not alone in this agita-
ton for pure water, as | see by the
journals in which news of this nature
is given that there are many cities
with systems fully as old as ours and
with as great an expenditure of money
top obtain. the desired result are still
aGitatipg changing their sys-
TENS for economy's sake alone. So
far as the people of Rock Island are
concerned they can make no mistake
by changing their present system for
one that can be operated more econo.
mically and more in keeping with up
to date plants now in operation in a
great many cities scattered Throughout
the country. AS there seems to be some
discussion among the people of this
city as to the necessity of making g
change and the probable cost, | would
like to state few facts as | see them
In the first place, the people are no
being led astray by any one who is al
vocating a change from, the presen
system, as time has proved that yol
can not get absolutely filtered waite
the year round from the present sys
TEN for climatic reasons alone. Thu
nature and construction of the filte
requires that it be cleaned at leas
every 80 days and in case of disturb
ance of the water in the river mucl
oftener and il can readily be seen tina
this is impossible at certain seasons o
the year such as we have just II
present on account of frost ard ice
This holds good generally for abou
five months in the year and also at tn
time of the year when the creates
disturbance is likely to occur in TIL
river on account of the low stages @
water and the breaking up of tho ice
And even this should cut no figure an
the water remain fairly good in tn
river the water would still be deli,
cred to the people in its raw stat
and tests have proved that the waite
should be either filtered or boiled b'
fore using. All water should be fl
tered the year round and no chance
takeH in the matter.
Considers the Cost.
1.-THE present filter system is matte
of great expense to the people for maj
uaI labor alone, as it costs in tn
neighborhood of $4,000 per year
keep it in operation for the fe
months that it can be cleaned and til
most of this could be saved in an up