66 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
driven out. This is done by forcing water from below upwards, at the same time 
that a mechanical stirring is given the sand. 
The rate of filtration used was about 120 million gallons per acre per day, 
which is 100 times faster than is attained by the slow sand method. An average 
amount of 1.6 grains per gallon of the alum was used, an amount that is too 
small to affect the water in any injurious way for domestic use, though slightly 
increasing the hardness and the tendency to the formation of boiler scale, a point 
that is considered as being offset by the removal from the raw water of the sus- 
pended solids. 
One thing that is learned from a study of the investigations made in many 
localities is that the methods used in one place may not be at all successful at 
another. Each water or each sewage has its own peculiarities; each location or 
climate may have its own characteristic fauna and flora among the lower organ- 
isms; and all these things must be studied carefully before right means can be 
used to secure the desired results. Some great general principles must underlie 
all efforts, so that results elsewhere can be taken as guides, but only as such. 
Here in Kansas is a field about which we know very little along these lines. 
Some geological work has been done, and is now being carried on in a systematic 
way by the university survey. Some waters have been analyzed by the chemists of 
the various institutions or reported upon by some one connected with the state 
board of health when their purity has been questioned. Biologists have done 
something with the low fauna and flora. But all this has been with no systematic 
purpose in view, and the time is soon coming when the results of such investiga- 
tions in our state will be of very great value. At no time in the world’s history 
has there been so wide-spread and general an interest in matters pertaining to 
public health as the present, and it is hoped that Kansas may put herself in line 
with the general movement by furthering all investigations that may add to our 
knowledge, by wise health legislation, and by giving her board of health such 
authority as will render its efforts effective. This board should have the duty 
given it to supervise the installation of all public water-supply or sewerage plants, 
the right to demand that existing plants be conducted in a way not detrimental, 
and be further charged with the duty and given the money for the study of 
questions relating to these things that may arise. 
