The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-08-23
STATES POSITION
Board OF Control Issues st.tenen, IN
Defense of its Position en- FIitra+
ton Plant

no little Criticism OF the recommended
uon OF b board of control the lat
ter body issued a statement Civ
Ing the reasons Or these recommends
tons. which IL in full. as follows:
inasmuch as the judgment OF the
board Of control. in It's recommenad-
ton Of 4 filtration system for the city
OF Wheeling. has beeen s~trenuously
challenged and questioned BY the
board OF trade and a number OF very
distinguished business men. We deem
IL proper that We make a public state
ment OF What impeiled US TO our rec
ommendation OF a mechanical Ultra
ton system of the type of Wilkens-
burg or Harrisburg. Pa. after a care
full and earnest investigation OF prin-
ciples involved in this question. for
meeting our conditions.
First OF all. IL has occurred to us
b a h thing OF first importance was
10 provide for an unquestionably in
~eXhaustible SUI tv OF water. How
health n happ. lcss of a people and
protection TO property is Immediately
dependant upon an unfailing supply
OF water at all times is known 10 ev-
erybody who thinks at all. In the
judgment of the board of control for
Wheeling. there is only one source OF
water supply hat can be positively.
beyond a shadow of a doubt, depended
upon at any and all times to furnish
the large quantity of water required.
and that is the Ohio river.
Doubts Ability Of Wells
We are told by the Board OF Trade
through its president. and by a num-
Der OF citizens claiming TO have given
much study to this question that
wells will produce all water required
for Wheeling. and the wells would
be cheaper. Tia, Board of Control.
however. after investigating his pro-
position finds. II thinks. ground upon
which doubts may be well based.
And the i~nestimable importance of
steering clear of any doubt upon this
question is what compelled your
Board OF Control to its opinion that
We should stick to the Ohio river for
our supply OF water. We beg TO sub
nit some information We have gather
ed as TO the experience of the we'll
system undertaken in other cities.
Let us go over into Ohio. A~shtahula.
Akron, Bucyrus. Cambridge, Conneaut.
Columbus. Newark. Tiffin. Wooster.
Paintersville and Lima. Each tried
the well system which they have
abandoned and have gone to lake and
river supply on ccoun OF trouble
with the wells. There are many 9th
er cities in Ohio mich could be adj
ded 10 those named bur surely these
are sufficient to show tina wells are
as a rule nor or less capricious and
unreliable, especially when taxed for
a large supply. Indianapolis. Ind.
tried wells. and found them made
quate 10 meeting requirements. con
nect"d up with the river again. and
finally abandoned wells entirely and
established A filtration plant. Fort
Worth. Texas tried wells. and the
first set having given out. drilled a
second lot and after operating them
unsuccessiully at an expense OF 500
a day for a time. turned 10 a river
supply with a filtration plant which
Is now being installed at an expend.
lture OF about $1,000. COO. Right hero
Jet us call attention to the fact that
II was evidenced a; the committee
meeting Monday night. tina many ad.
Cites Objectionable Features
vocates Of the we'll system as a cheap
system. are overlooking the fact thar
II requires powerful machinery to III,
this wafer from the wells 10 q speciaI
reservoir whence IL may flow nv
gravity to the we'll az the puunip,
station 10 be in turn pumped TO The
reservoir for final delivery TO the peo.
PIE. as now. And after an this &c,
hard water. Houston. Texas had a
Wen supply and VS. called upon fo
defend many suits for damages Incl.
cent 10 inadequate water supply. and
ls no" looking for % new source ~
supply az great cost. Nunsie. Ind
FOUND wells incapable Of furnishing
suWclcht water. has returned 10 the
river ana has installed "A filtration
pant hes ara only n few cities
or many. We could mention 10 return
70 river or lak"s for a rouehIe
source OF supply. We think. however
they are sufficient 10 prove your
I'odrd or control hal a oundation
Tor its objection 10 wells for Wheeling .
us iavors sticking 10 the old. roIiabIe
never milling Ohio river for IT'S sun.
ply. and the building ~ "a filtration
plant 10 clear. purify and mako whole
people. " '"'
IN all our Investigations tb.ra ia
n TACT We found standing out promt.
nent. and that is that wells az a rpIa
can only b" relied upon 10 furnish
wafer 10 meet "a comparatively small
u'In"hd Tor any considerable time
Your board ~ control greatly al
mires The type 81 filtration plant roc.
commended 10 council and tho citizons
Tor the reason that the mechanism A.
such as ~ be- readily aud eas,fv "a
Jl'ted 10 mcct any ~ tho varied con.
diiions NJ the water and making 1,
perfectly pur" and wholesome Indeed
no Intelligent person could holm belrr
greatly pleased ana fascinated bv fbe
mafnihccnt picture Of qcIerca OK
hihited in tho construction az This
type Of filtration plant
Two Serious Objections
There are two serious obioclo,e 81,
the we'll system oven though 40
water is sufficient in quantity The
hrst very important one is ibc water
is hard This hardness l4 caused bv
th" water being loaded with mineral
matter. ~ various kinds some -
which arc Tar better ont ~ fha svsfom
thnn tn o. This hardness frcquonuv
reaches % degree rendering Do ur0f for
mHn NE h.HH9H. ..H