Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-10-28
CITY WATER ALL RIGHT
No Sewage Bacteria Found in
Samples Taken during Week.
Some Criticisms Made Of Manner In
which Filtration Plant Has Been
Cared For-Engfneer Of Con-
structing Company Coming.

During the past eight days six sam
pies Of water have been drawn from
the faucet and analysed at the state
laboratory and all were found sterile,
or. in other words. they contained no
colon bacillus or sewage bacteria. To
be more specific one could have drunk
gallons OF It without the least danger
OF contracting typhoid fever.
This was the most cheering news
heard Tuesday evening at the meeting OF
the water commissioners, the filter
plant commission ard tho special com
mission appointed by the board OF al
dermen to work in conjunction with
the water commissioners in discover
ing and repairing any mechanical
weakness In the city hlter plant.
One or two sensations were unveil-
ed J. r. Kidder superin tendent OF
the city water department. stated
that j. J.. Harrington, who has charge
of the filter, did not attend to his bus
mess. Said Mr.. Kidder: Il absolutely
know that he has repeatedly left the
plant running full blast and gone out
on the lake"
Dr. c. f. Dalton stated that OF the
Il cases Of typhoid fever in the city
there had been other complications
with the typhoid and that prob ably
only seven or eight cases could be
charged directly to the water supply
The first case found was that OF a
small boy who had been playing in
the Wlnooski river and had drunk
some Of its water. This river was re-
ferred TO as a sewer Some Of the
typhoid cases were secondary. or
caused by uncleanline ss by occupants
Of the houses where the first cases
developed
These statements BY Or. Dalton also
served to cheer up the committees
commissioners and audience. some OF
whom thought that the water situa-
ton was more serious.
Mr. Kidder also stated that at one
time he visited the hitter plant when
Mr.. Harrington was absent. At that
time the pumps were working pump
ing water into the coaEulatlng basin
while the belt that distributes ths
alum TO coagulate the water, was not
running. Said Mr.. Kidder: Il do not
know whether this has happened
more than once. perhaps it has not
has not taken prop-r interest in tht
plant
In reply. Mr.. Harrington stated thai
if such a thing had occurred there
would be enough coagulant in tue
basin to filter the water for an houi
OF SO.
In regard to the allegation made b.
Superintendent Kidder several men, EN-
ployed at the filter plant in differen
capacities. stated that Mr.. Harringto
was often absent from the plant.
J. j. Cannon. an engineer at the plant
stated that Mr. Harrington had often lie
the plant run alone when he went boat
ing on the lake. On those times Harring
ton would ask him to keep an eye o
the plant. He said that sometime
Harrington would be gone an hour or tw
and would be absent from the plan
two or three times a week.
Mr.. Harrington stated that he sometime
left the plant but was never absent owe
20 minutes. He stated that he con
scientiously tried to do his duty end tina
at the time he left the plant he was sur
that everything was running smooth
and hat there was no need of his i'm
mediate presence.
Alderman Drew. a member OF the alde'
manic commission, inquired Of Nj
Harrington in regard to the rumor tina
raw water had been let into the cit
main.
In answer Mr. Harrington stated tina
| on a certain Sunday in June a contracto
Of the Ley Construction company. VIII
installed the filter. had repaired certai
parts of the filter. when between 1SN
| and 5000 gallons Of raw water wa
necessarily allowed to run into the cit
main. Mr.. Harrington later stated tina
this amount Of water was too small I
have any perceptible effect on the waite
| supply and that II was doubtful II an
reached the reservoir.
! Prof. J. ". Votey. one Of the waite
commissioners. stated that the inter piar
| had run satisfactorily month after mont
after Mr. Harrington had been installed
which would tend to prove that ne wa
capable man. Prof. Votey told of
hvpochloride OF lime that was being use
with success in many similar filter plant
intead Of alum much smaller amour
of the lime has TO he used than the alur
and IT is also much cheaper and Is sal
to do the work more effectively.
The filter committee. who had chara
OF the construction OF the filter plan
has asked an engineer OF tho Ley Cor
struction company to como to Burlingto
and repair or remake some OF IN
| mechanical parts OF the filter that hay
| failed to work properly. This will
| done at the cost Of the company VII
! installed the plant.
The reason Of the meeting was I
ascertain II possible why there Is colo
bacillus in the filtered water No COZ
illusions were reached nor was an
opinion expressed by any member OF II
| commissions or water commissioners