The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-09-12

tending five miles from our shore, re-
tains all, or most all of its organic i'm
purities, and it can be thus readily
understood why any water within this
radius, presents a constant degree OF
varying impurity. Therefore, were we
to extend our present intake, one, two,
or even five miles farther into the
lake, we would still draw into our
mains, water that would be con-
taminated and injurious to health.
Some former members of our water
board, who urged the extension of our
intake, at an expense to the tax pay
ers of approximately one hundred
thousand dollars, ought to have known
that this plan, would have been an alb
solutely useless expenditure, and con-
ducive to no possible good. Our pres
emit intake cost forty thousand dollars,
but could not be duplicated today, for
less than seventy thousand dollars, on
account of the increased cost of ma
terial and labor. Intakes do not wear
out. Our intake is as good now, as
when first constructed, and had the
city consented to its sale to a certain
corporation, as was proposed, for ten
thousand dollars, it would have prac-
tically lost in the transaction, sixty
thousand dollars.
1t was argued by those anxious to
effect this Improbable sale, several
years ago, that our intake was too
small for our present use. This state
ment is entirely fallacious, as Racine,
with one exactly the same size, and
two thousand~feet farther in the lake
than ours, with consequent more re-
sistence by reason Of it's increased
length, with the aid Of centrifugal
pump, has daily capacity Of eleven
millions gallons. Our daily capacity is
now between four and five million
gallons, which could likewise be in
creased to more than eleven millions
gallons, by virtue of being nearer
shore, were we to install centrifugal
pump similar to the one in Racine.
This is so simple a proposition that I
cannot conceive how there could be
any serious difference of opinion on
this subject, unless it be prompted by
selfish or unpatriotic motives.
In conclusion, / beg to present my
views regarding the only solution to
the publication of lake water. It is a
well known and demonstrable fact that
water chemically treated to precipitate
the organic impurities, and then filter
ed, can be discharged into the mains,
with a purity of between ninety-eight
and ninety-nine per cent. The one or
two per cent will represent harmless
impurities. | can cite half a dozen
reputable filtration plants that will
put up an approved bond, guaranteeing
to construct for not more than sixty
thousand dollars, modern plant with
capacity of not less than twelve mil
lions gallons daily, and give us an
average bacterial purity of not less
than ninety-eight per cent. This plan
need not be accepted by the city until
it has been in successful operation
one, two, or three months, and not IN
til daily tests have met these rigid re-
quirements. This is less than one mile
of intake extension would cost.
In the event the growth of the city
would require an additional capacity.
companion intake could be construct
ed, doubling the output.
There are two varieties Of filtration
plants on The market, the slow or
gravity, and the rapid types, but as
my article is already too prolix, I will
defer consideration of these for an
other occasion.
The greatest issue before us at pres
ent, is to awaken to the imperative
necessity of rendering our drinking
water palatable and healthy.
We are responsible for these pre-
ventable deaths that are occurring
daily, and the Mexican reply of
manana" which means tomorrow
will not suffice. Dilute sewage is a
costly drink at any price.
j. 3. Spa1dino.