THE ICE AGAIN—AND WATER SUPPLY

There seems to be some commotion just now about our ice crop and a decided determination not to have it harvested from the place where it has been mostly secured the past twenty years. For all this commotion we suppose we are responsible, and might as well own up to it first as last.

When the Water Committee reported last June upon an inquiry of the Mayor's annual message as referred to our water supply, they were directed to go on and take the steps they had recommended to be taken, and report the result. They had recommended that numerous analyses be taken during the year, both in summer and winter, [...] to determine by scientific tests whether the water was essentially better in any of the proposed sources for taking our water supply than the present pumping station, and they expressed the belief that if the proposed station proved to be essentially better than the present station there would be no serious objections from any source to the proper expenditure of funds to adopt the better station.

While investigations were going on as thus proposed a largely signed petition was presented to the Board representing that there was an unusual amount of fever of a typhoid character in the community, believed to be caused by the use of impure water, and asking the Board to take immediate steps to extend the pumping mains to the north end of the breakwater. This petition was referred to the same committee to be reported on, as part of the matter already in their hands.

While considering the facts alleged in the petition we assumed the responsibility of taking from one of the city ice carts a block of ice and after dissolving it, one bottle of the water was sent to Prof. Witthaus of Buffalo, and another to Prof. Sabin of this city. In due time Prof. Witthaus sent the results of the analysis and stated with respect to this sample that 'it should be condemned absolutely, as unfit for human use.' The ice dealers were duly informed of this result and advised to remove from their ice houses all their old stock of ice and to arrange to cut their ice thereafter in some less objectionable location, it having heretofore been obtained within about half a mile of the mouth of the principal sewer, and usually nearly directly opposite its mouth. They seemed glad both of the information and advice.

Not long after this the figures were received from Prof. Sabin giving the same general results. The ice season then was nearly past. A few weeks since it was learned that preparations were being made to cut the ice for this season nearer than usual to the sewer mouth. The men cutting the ice were remonstrated with and told that if they cut it there the committee would feel it their duty to give the public the figures and the comments the chemist had given them. They asked us to consult the Health Officer and see if he would not consent to their taking it where proposed, and so the Health Officer was called in, and the facts and figures given him. He and they agreed to have an analysis made from the present ice crop and to abide the result. Whether there has been any laying of traps, errors or mistakes we know not.

We give the figures as they were reported by the chemists last summer on the ice-water we sent them. Neither of the chemists knew from what source the water was obtained. Prof. Witthaus had sample No. 12, and reported total solids 8.60 grains per gallon, chlorine grains per gallon 0.28, free ammonia .0021 in 1,000,000 parts, albuminoid ammonia .17 in 1,000,000 parts. Prof. Sabin's figures were a trifle higher in each case. The first figure he increased .78, the second .2, the third .001, and the fourth .002, only.

Prof. Witthaus, speaking of all the samples he has analysed for us — six in all — says 'the fact that the amount of chlorine is low in every case goes to show that this contamination is due to vegetable substances and not to the more serious animal impurities,' and Prof. Sabin, speaking in general terms, for he seemed disinclined to give opinions on unknown water, said, 'chlorine may amount to five grains per gallon without causing suspicion.' Neither of his seven samples exceeded five grains and only one approximated that amount and hence there is no suspicion in respect to chlorine.

Prof. Witthaus condemned only one other sample of the six sent to him, and although this was not intended to be mentioned till all our investigations were closed, still, owing to the circulation of an anonymous pamphlet here recently urging us 'On to Richmond' to extend the pipes to the breakwater, and the editorial article last week on this point, and sundry communications in the paper, it may be well to say that the other sample condemned was taken during a strong south wind from the west face of the breakwater, within ten feet of the north end of it and 30 feet below the surface of the water. This sample was worse than the other one in that, while it contained the same amount of 'albuminoid ammonia' as the other, it had .11 of 'free ammonia' — almost double the amount in any other specimen examined. We are waiting now for analysis after the lake shall have been closed over a little longer so as to see if the free ammonia will be increased by the ice cover which prevents its evaporation into the air, as it does in the summer, and what currents will appear when the ice prevents the wind from acting on the water.

There would seem to be no ground of complaint against the committee for delays, since they are taking the courses they recommended the Board to take, and what they believed was necessary to get at the facts from which to judge intelligently. They believe it better to investigate first and afterwards expend the money, though some people believe the other course best — to spend the money first and if it proves not to have been right try again and spend more. They are extending their investigations in several other directions, all of which will be duly reported.