The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-28
LEVY SHOWS why
LAW WOULD HURT
Water Supply Too Important to
Dispense With Chemist at
Settling Basins.
IS OPPOSED TO MERGER
Calls It Poor Economy and
Dangerous to Health
Of City.
OPPOSED TO MERGER

Consolidation of tho office of City
Chemist with that Of the chemist i'm
charge of the settling basins was
strongly opposed by Chief Health on
Ger e. {. Levy ut II meeting of u Sub
committee on Ordinance, Charter and
reform held yesterday afternoon. Tho
committee Will formulate report for
Submission to the Ordinance, Charter
and Reform Committee tomorrow
night
In gathering It's data tho sub-com-
mittee has plowed through mass of
detail. Chemist Whitfield asked some
time ago for n boy to aid in his labor
atorE, and to gether samples for
analysis. In lieu the Council by reso-
luton required each department head
having matters to be examined TO sub
nit samples at the laboratory Now,
instead of the boy which DR. Whit
field asked, the ordinance proposes
giving him a janitor. who shall be a
man and n voter, at about three times
as much month
Now Has Three Chemists.
AT former meeting OF the commit
tee 1t was stated that the city now
employs City Coroner. who liz re-
uuircd to be a chemist, but who gives
only q small part of his time to the
city at S2,250 per annun; u City Chem
ist at $4,000 per annum. and "A dircc-
tor of the settling basin. who Is re-
quired to be chemist, at $1,000 per
annum, having, as matter of fact.
three chemists on the payroll.
Chief Health officer Lew appeared
In objection to the suggestion that
the Office of director OF the settling
basins could be abolished and the
analyses of water made by the City
Chemist. DIR. Levy. with Professor
Mallct. of the University Of Virginia.
and City Engineer Charles T. Boiling.
comprised the board which recon-
mcnded the plan OF sedimentation
which has for the past two years
given Richmond a constant supply of
clear watcr-a startling contrast to
tho liquod mud which formerly came
through the pipes.
Would be Criminal, Snys Levy.
One recommendation of this board
was that no system OF water purin-
cation could be efficient without ex-
pert supervision. and DIR. Levy argued
that With a plant costing half mill
lion dollars, II would be criminal
shortsightedness for the city to court
failure by leaving the operation OF
the basins to incompetent men. Mr..
Ezekiel carries on chemical and bac-
THEOLOGICAL examinations Of the water.
and is also director of the basins. and
has entire charge of their operation.
>,
said DIR. Levy, "of few samples u
day, In lieu OF the present work done
by the director of the basins. would
be a most farcical procedure. no mat
ter how competent the chemist who did
the work. The samples must be collect
ed by some one who knows just what
is In view. lnexpert handling of the
basins might not lead to an outbreak
of typhoid fever, as has been suggest
ed. 1t might not even result-though
this is far more likcly--.in getting
from time to time water as unsiShtly
as that with which the city was for
merly afflicted. But such results
would inevitably occur unless an eX-
cess Of alum was frequently used by
the inexpert help. Citizens would then
have real ground for complaint that
there was alum in the water as it
reached them--a claim made now. but
which has no foundation in fact.
Might Lead to Grcnt Waste.
Suppose I'm the blind use of alum
an average of only onc-ffth of II grain
per gallon moro than is required to
clear the water were used every, day
in the year. and this would almost GER
tainly be done with ineNpert handling.
the cost of the excess alum alone
would be greater than the present
salary OF the director. Unless Rich
mond wants to get muddy water and
to run the risk Of getting at times
dangerous water. 1t would be fool
hardy for her TO ate lpt to do away
with expert supervision. AS Chief
Health officer I feel that 1t would be
n calamity to run any unnecessary
risks with the water supply. Being
partly responsible for our system of
water publication, ! would not care 10
have my reputa ton suffer. as 1t in
evitably would, from II expert opera
tion leading to inferior results and
consequent condemnation of the sys-
TEN Itself.
The committee also heard from City
Engineer Boiling a to the time now
taken by several men In his depart
mcnt in collecting samples of cement
from the various construction gangs
throughout the city and taking them
to the chemists office for analysis. Mr..
boiling expressed the opinion that SO
far as his department was concern cd
the cost Of testing samples was great
or than when done by outside chem
, ists.