Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-05-28
ADOPT new METHOD !
OF TREATING WATER
AND HEAR GAS MAN
City Council Holds Session
For Experts.


The city council last night was
more or less informed and edited
on the important questions OF Ems
city water. Facts. figures, scientific
terms, recommendations and suEgoa-
tions were given the city fathers
and they have food for mental ~
Election for some days to come. Soma
time since the council was quoi
by anxious citizens as to the m0th-s
cd OF renewing and relaying or GOV.
ering up the gas mains and servioo
pipes on the streets that are being
severed, paved and asphalted. Not
doubling the word OF the gas mAn-
agement, the city fathers thought
1t advisable to secure the services
of an expert and have him makSIS2
careful examination. The chief sidaA,
was not to impose additional flnan.
cial burden upon the gas company.
but to avoid so far as possible thu
future tearing up of the new streets
to repair leaks, and to prevent lUSsy
of life by leaking gas from a main
or service pipe finding its way into
homes of residents as happened sew
wife were asphyxiated.
Mr.. A. Il. Lockwood, OF the Unit
ed Gas and Electric Engineering
Corps. OF New York. came here s&nd
made the investigation. Last night
he submitted his report, which waa
in the main reassuring. Some im.s
provements were suggested. whictl
! the gas company Immediately an.l
nounced its willingness TO carry out.
During the entire discussion athej
gas company manifested willIAg.
ness to abide by the result df theI
investigation and assured the city
1t was It's desire to have the local
gas system as perfect as possible. =.
The expert examined mains At -
different points. Fourteen were exs
posed at sewer Or water bitches, 1lve'
were opened at tho suggestion ot
citizens and six opened up by re-s
quest OF Mr.. Lockwood. In his opin-
ion the cast iron mains are In good
last for years. However, neither
the expert nor any other man can
forecast the life of pipe. but are
guided by experience. At several
points rough spots were noticed,
due to old fashioned methods OF
casting. The wrought iron and
steel mains showed little deteriora-
ton. At one point on Church
street he noted slight dent made
by a pick. At other points coup-,.
lings showed no signs OF leakage or
failure. Cement joints OF cast iron
pipes at five places were found In
good condition. n
twenty-five service pipes were ex-
amined out OF approximately 416.
only 40 OF which are more than ten
years old Eight were opened ana
six subjected to the required test.
Make Water Pure. n
Although the present system Of
chemically treating the drinking wa-
ter of Martinsburg has been satisfac-
tory, tho city being seemingly im@
mune from typhoid or other epidem.
! les since the plan was introduced
some years ago when the governs
mont used Martinsburg and Berke-
ley county as demonstration points
in rural sanitary and health cam.
paign, the health officers OF tho
State think the city should adopt
another method Of treating the wa.
ter. The present plan Is deemed an!
tlquated. 1t is argued that the bar.
rels or drums of chlorine secured
for this purpose. from which IL
pounds are user daily at the water
plant, are liable TO suffer by reason
of evaporation The new system OF
septic tanks is so much better, safer
and cheaper. maintaining at all
times the proper percent of chemi-
calls necessary to insure purity OF wa.
ter. The new plant will cost the
city about $500 and Mr.. r. e. Tins
dale, chief sanitary inspector of the
State Board of Health. says the cost
OF maintenance will be less than the
system now used. He recommended
this innovation to tho city fathers
he Installed. The State will install
I the equipment without any expense
to the city, other than the purchase
price.
Praises Disposal Plant. 4
Mr.. Tnsdale bisited the disposal
plant and declares it to be the most
/ complete in West Virginia. At this
f time Mr.. Tinsdae made no other
recommendation as to sanitary pro-
c1u.ioas.
A Jew minor transactions OF min
or nature terminated the meeting OF
+ the council