The Washington herald., 1922-05-13
ROCK CREEKPARK
SPRINGS EXAMINED
BY ARMY OFFICIALS
Col. Sherrill's Expert
ments Provide Pure
Water for Picnickers,

One of the most popular features
of our beautiful Rock Creek Park
has been the numerous sparkling
springs to be found here and there
along foot or bride path through
out the 1.6o9 acres of woodland.
These springs are known to have
been used for over 100 years and
they are still bubbIing away ac-
lively. producing about 5000 gal
Ions 0orty barrels) OF water daily
Natural spring water is usually
pure and wholesome. but the prob
contamination by the hands OF per-
sons partaking of Its thirst
quenching GOODNESS or by dust,
birds or insects has always been a
most perplexing one. In the army
the Engineer Corps is responsible
for the provision of safe drinking
water for troops at times and un-
der all conditions. Col. c. o. Sher-
rill, Engineer Corps. officers. in
charge Of public buildings ana
grounds, has solved this problem
of making the springs in Rock
Creek Park safe and sanitary after
six months of experimentation.
The springs have been hermeti-
caily sealed up with concrete ano
rustic boulders. a small pipe laid
under ground from the spring con-
ducts the water to point lower
on the hillside where il flows stead
lily as a miniature waterfall. IL
is at this point that you drink,
getting clear. sparkling water. un-
touched by human hand and from
90 to 30 degrees colder than the
city supply from the faucets or
our homes.
The sanitary control of tn.
springs is in charge of Nal " y.
Baker. Medical Corps, who is sani.
tafy inspector of the office of pup
lie buildings and grounds The
analyses and tests upon samples OF
water are done regularly in the labor
atories- Of The Army Medical School
Occasionally some sterilization of
the spring water Is necessary.
This Is then performed by the in
PRODUCTION of chemical agent
into the spring through a special
construction in its covering. The
active principle of he agent used
Is chlorine, the same substance oc-
casionally used in rendering safe
the city water supply.
Years ago a drinking cup was
chained to each spring. With the
advance OF sanitation and a better
understanding of the transimssi
bility of disease these cups have
been done away with. One never
sees a common drinking cup In a
public place today. Even a drink
ing fountain to which one may
fn,Inh i1 ..,A~ lr.-
considered obsolete and unsanitary.
This precaution is observed in the
little waterfalls of the springs by
an ingenious use of rustic stone
work. So one may feel safe in
drinking freely of these springs,
protected at their source and pro-
tected at the point of delivery.
The only thing that may be con,
sidered lacking is a bounteous sup
ply of individual paper drinking
cups. However. all would agree
that even though 1t were possible
to supply these in some way the
presence OF a slot machine or other
mechanical device would mar the
natural beauty of the rustic spring
setting. This public need occurred
to the Girl Scouts, who are oper-
ating a tea house at the old Pierce
Mill and who conduct numerous
hikes, meetings and other activi-
ties throughout the park.
The Girl Scouts are ever alert to
be of service. One of their slo-
gans Is Every day a good deed
They have volunteered their serv-
ices to Col. sheFill and will be
larly located springs on Sunday,
May Il, from to 4 p. m. to dem
onstrate a simple method of max
ing the Girl Scout drinking cup
from a piece of paper. Any paper
may be used; bring along a few
sheets of good quality paper and
the Girl Scouts will transform them
into sanitary drinking cups.