Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-09-26
Pure water is
farm NECESSITY
DANGERS OF SHALLOW WELL
CANNOT BE TOO SERIOUS
LY REGARDED.
LIVE STOCK REQUIRES GOOD
DRINKING MUCH AS Ill.,
MAN BEINGS,

A pure water supply for the home,
farm and stock purposes is imperative
for every household, but it is a cur
ious fact that, until recent years, the
water problem was not given the SER
ious consideration that the public
health demanded. This fact has for
merly been especially true in small
cities, towns and villages and through
out the farming districts. While there
should be no excuse for his fact,
there unquestionably has been reason
for it.
One reason has been the ignorance
Of the average man regarding the
geological conditions affecting II
water supply, and what constitutes
pure water. Another reason has been
that the population has Increased so
rapidly, people have not realized the
effect this increase was having upon
the awtcr supply, by reason Of its Ell
feet upon the soil, through which
practically all water used in domestic
supplies must pass. One would haste
to presume that any man, once tamil
lar with the conditions affecting the
water supply at his home, would, Tor
the sake Of a few paltry dollars. FISK
the life of his family, his %ncighborS
and himself.
Years ago before the country was
so thickly settled aud before the for
csts had practically disappeared,
spring water was depended upon Tor
the supply in the majority Of cases.
The pioneers invariably located their
hOmesteads adjacent to a spring, ana
when 4 spring WAS not convenient, ad-
jacent to a creek or river, and used
these supplies for their domestic pui'
poses. When a spring or a creek was
net available, wells were dug, usually
to a shallow depth Of fifteen or tWen-
ty-five feet, and in the earlier days
the supply of water furnished by the
dug well was, in many cases prac-
ticaliy a pure supply. One can read
lily understand that in a new land
where animal lie Is comparatively
rare, where there are no yards thai
are made more or less filthy by the
eXcrement Of domestic animals and
where the increased population,
throwing OF it's filth, does not exist,
such a condition will furnish a sur
face supply that is comparatively
good. d.,
With the increase in population
came the natural increase in animal
life, live stock, bars, prvy vaults, out
buildings etc, and the soil surround
ing water supplies, especially the shall
low wells which were usually located
convenient to both the house and the
barn, and in a ow spot, became con-
taminated. You who read this have
seen and a call to mind one or more
and probably many OF the old-fash.
toned dug wells OF even springs that
were situated in an ideal location for
collecting through drainage, practic-
ally all of the impurities from the
household, p~rivy-vausts,, barns and
pig pens for nature naturally locates
springs i'll positions where these con.
ditions exist, and man, when COMPEL.
ed to use shallow wells or surface
water supplies, naturally follows the
laws Of nature. Water being the best
sovent known, when coming into con.
tact with dead vegetation, dead ami
nal life, refuse etc. d~issolves it and
carries all manner or impurities In
solution. Naturally surfact drainage
carried these impurities into the soil
and through the soil to the water sup.
ply. All diseases that can be traced
to and which are carried BY, water III
creased accordingly. Contaminated
or impure water may not make itself
known by any taste or smell. Moth.
ing but a careful analysis will de-
termine whether water be pure or
not. Every now and then there is an