FOR PURE WATER, ON SHORE AT FUNCHAL, AND MARCONI SERVICE

Prof. William M. Booth, Cortland Normal School.

Cortland Standard Semi-Weekly, Friday, March 13, 1903

FOR PURE WATER.

An Interview With Prof. Booth of the Normal School.

FREQUENT TESTS ARE NECESSARY.

Water Supplies Should be Carefully Protected—Tests Should be Both Chemical and Bacteriological—Indications of Contamination—Cortland’s City Water is Uniformly Pure.

   Prof. William M. Booth of the science department of the Normal school, who during the past ten years has made the subject of water analysis a special study, gave the following information concerning water and water supplies while conversing with a Standard reporter recently.

   With reference to the epidemic of typhoid fever at Ithaca, N. Y., he states that the cosmopolitan character of Cornell university has made this epidemic a matter of general comment; not that this outbreak is unique in the extent of its unfortunate results, but that homes widely distributed geographically are affected. Typhoid fever epidemics, he says, occur regularly wherever people are careless regarding sanitary conditions and will continue to occur as long as the present system of supervision of municipal water supplies is maintained.

   The professor is of the opinion that the epidemic at Ithaca might have been averted had the state board of health made at least a monthly analysis of all public water supplies in the state. The people, he says, should be guaranteed pure water, and such action by the state board would be a long step toward such a guaranty.

   In the state of Massachusetts, he says, weekly analysis of all municipal water supplies are required. The reservoirs are carefully guarded, barbed wire fences in some instances being placed around them. Great care is exercised in every way to secure pure water for the people.

   In Baltimore, according to Mr. L. N. Frederick, who formerly lived in that city, men are hired to guard with jealous care the reservoirs that contain the city’s water supplies to see that nothing is thrown into them to contaminate the water that the people use.

   The people, he claims, should be protected by the state, which through its board of health should make frequent tests of all water supplies, and these tests should be made both chemically and bacteriologically.

   In regard to water tests he stated that sewage contamination is shown by the presence of chlorides, and the amount of the contamination is measured by the number of grains per gallon. Free ammonia indicates an immediate contamination of plant or animal origin. Albuminoidal ammonia indicates a vegetable contamination of a very deep seated origin, and nitrates may indicate decomposed plant or animal matter that is one stage farther along than when albuminoidal ammonia is found. Nitrites, he says, are indicative of sewage contamination. It is, however, only by considering all the characteristics of water that correct conclusions can be drawn.

   In regard to the water supply of Cortland, Prof. Booth says that he has made a test of it every month since he has been in Cortland, and only once did he find it anything but perfectly pure. The exception was found by the analysis that was made of water drawn in mid-summer when the supply was very low. Even then it was not by any means dangerous to health.

 

Miss Mary F. Hendrick, English Department, Cortland Normal School.

SS Kaiserin Maria Theresia.

ON SHORE AT FUNCHAL, PORTUGAL.

Extracts from a Letter from Miss M. F. Hendrick.

   A letter has been received by one of the Cortland friends of Miss M. F. Hendrick, who is now enjoying the cruise to the Mediterranean in which three Cortland people are participating, and we are permitted to publish some extracts from it, as follows:

   Tuesday, Feb. 17, 10 a. m.

   On board Kaiserin, steaming for Gibraltar.

   Through cablegrams you have long ago heard of our safe arrival at Madeira. How delightful it was to touch land again. We have had a delightful voyage—clear, sunny skies and no adverse winds. The roll of the steamer has made some ill, but that didn’t last long.

   We reached Funchal at 10 a. m., had an early lunch and were taken by tender to the wharf. Imagine going down on the shaky staircase on the outside of the steamer, jumping from one boat to another and then being elevated to a stone staircase leading to the wharf above—a long wharf built against a wall with no rail to protect the timid.

   The quaintest place in the world is Funchal. Narrow streets with pointed paving stones so that it seems as if every step would penetrate the sole of the shoe. We first took the famous funicular road to the top of the mountains. On either side is the most fertile soil covered with banana gardens, sugar cane, etc. We were pelted with flowers—japonicas, white and waxy roses, geraniums, etc. We bought baskets of japonicas for 3 cents. We wandered into an old fashioned church and afterwards came down the toboggan slide of 4 miles in ten minutes. It was very delightful. The sleds held three persons managed by two men who guide the thing by ropes, and run along the sides. It was not at all scary, but gave a very pleasant sensation.

   We then took a ride in ox carts, flat like stone boats, drawn by bullocks. They hold four persons each and cost 25 cents per hour.

   The shops are fine, but we purchased only a few pictures. We didn’t care to burden ourselves with unnecessary things. The fruit market was interesting—custard, apples, bananas, oranges, guavas, etc., but above all were the exquisite flowers, those that require the most tender care with us growing in their greatest luxuriance; hanging gardens brilliant with color, while the small parks contained every variety of palm. We saw great clusters of green dates. The flower beds were bordered with small white and yellow blossoms.

   We came back to the steamer before dark, thinking that the treacherous passage was more easily done by day light. Mr. Clark said that it was the most pleasant landing that he had ever made there. Not a cloud, temperature like our June, no wraps needed. It was an ideal day, quite in contrast with the ice and snow of Cortland.

 

Guglielmo Marconi.

The Marconi Service.

   London, March 10.—The Pall Mall Gazette understands that the English postoffice authorities have made arrangements with Marconi to connect his wireless telegraphy stations with the land wires. This has hitherto been forbidden. It means a big extension to the Marconi service.