Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-03-13

submitted to the citizens Of Rockville, as
sembled in the Court House on Wednesday
evening of last week to consider the sani.
tary conditions of the town:
The committee which was appointed
last Wednesday evening has given very
serious consideration to the questions sub
mitted to it under the resolution adopted
at that time. We have had meeting
every morning, and have sought informa-
ton and advice from all sources within
our reach in the limited time at our dis
posal. Mr.. Hall. the representative of the
State Department of Health. Mr.. James H.
Starkey of this town. Mr.. Geary A. Fisher of
this town. Mr.. Harry Stevens. an engineer
of Washington, D. c., Mr.. Herbert A. Hat
ton of Wilmington. Del. and others. have
been before the committee and have made
valuable suggestions. The members Of the
Town Council have met with us every day
and all deliberations have been had be-
tween your committee and that body sit
ting together All the discussions have
been entirely harmonious and have been
directed to the single end of getting such
information as was possible. with the view
of making such suggestions to this meeting
as might seem to be for the best interest
of the community. We have had no seri-
GUS differences of opinion, and the conclu-
sions that we have reached have been
practically unanimous. The water and
sewerage questions have been taken up
by us separately as far as possible. and
will be treated here separately.
FIRST. AS To The WATER SUPPLY.
1t is the opinion of all of the experts we
consulted, and it seems to US a conclusion
forced by tests that have been made, that
the supply of water in the present wells
has been contaminated and rendered unfit
for use by surface drainage flowing into
the wells, more or less. near the top Of the
ground The first well dug has shown very
marked pollution, seeming to indicate that
1t was effectively constructed. and that
the casing put into the inside of that well
was not satisfactory. The new well has
shown some traces of pollution. and has
had in it enough of the matter which con-
tains typhoid germs to make it at least
suspicious. No water has been used from
the old well for some time past, and 1t will
not be used again until further tests will
show that it is entirely safe to do so. The
water from the new well has been treated
by solution of chlorine, and will continue
to be so treated as long as the necessity
for doing so is apparent. The State Board
of Health, the physicians of our town, and
others, state unequivocally that the water
now used in the town under the present
treatment is entirely safe for use. and that
the people may use it freely without fear
of further sickness from that source.
1t is very important to the town. as a
whole, that there be an abundant supply
of water. so that it has been necessary for
your committee to recommend some plan by
(which the water in the old well may again
become available. AS a result of the in
formation that we have gathered on this
subject and our own investigation. it is
believed that putting new casing into this
well and filling the space between the two
pipes with waterproof cement, and some
other suggested precaution will accomplish
this end. An arrangement has, therefore,
been made by the Town Council with Mr..
Geary A. Fisher to proceed with this work
Immediately. bitches have been dug, and
other precautions taken to prevent the
flowage of surface drainage into the WELL
and it is hoped and believed that the work
ing of our plans already adopted will re-
suit in restoring water in this well to a
healthful condition. Some members of the
committee are not assured that these pre-
cautions will render the present water sup
ply satisfactory. and that we may have in
the future, as in the past, an abundant
and pure supply of water from the present
wells This opinion has been expressed
by Mr.. Hall and by all of the other sanitary
experts who have been before us, but the
committee realizes that the confidence of
our people has been shaken in the
purity of the present water supply and
that it would be very hard to restore
confidence either to them or to others who
might be seeking homes among us with
out radical changes in conditions.
Your committee. therefore. recommends -
First, that the present wells, as the sources
of water supply for the town. be aban-
doned if found necessary after tests, and
that other wells be dug upon site to be
hereafter selected by the Town Council
upon elevated ground and so far removed
from the built up portions Of the town as
to be safe from contamination arising from
the saturation of the soil as source of
pollution.
The committee has asked Mr.. Welsh and
Mr.. Helm, of its number, to act in conjunc-
ton with the Town Council in bringing
about the necessary changes in the present
wells and the direction and construction OF
the new plant, and it is hoped that they will
continue to give their valuable assistance
and advice to these ends. 1t seems right to
say that these changes will require some
time. A new site will have to be selected
and title acquired. the wells then bored and
some new plant erected. and the people of
the town are urged to patience and hearty
cooperation with the members of the Town
Council in bringing about these results
We can assure them that in the meantime
all is being done that is humanity possible
to protect the health of the community.
and to avoid the extension or recurrence
of the calamity that has come upon us.
SEWERAGE PLANT.
The question Of sewerage has been more
complex. SO many things we're to be con-
sidered 1t has been recognized from the
beginning that such a system would add
not only to the value Of the property in the
town. but to the comfort and health Of the