44 The Water Suppltj of Minneapolis — Committee. 



have, in some degree; but we generally seek to make that contact 

 as small as possible. This is a question of positive dan- 

 ger to health and life. The matters in drinking water for 

 which the chemist tests are in themselves comparatively 

 or wholly harmless . The living creatures which are shown in 

 the water by the microscope are to a great extent, also harmless. 

 But the obtaining of these tests and observations is important as 

 showing the contamination of the water by refuse animal sub- 

 stances. It is now everywhere held by medical and other scien- 

 tific men that the presence in water of even very small quantities 

 of excrementitious matter from diseased persons makes that water 

 highly dangerous. The subtle germs of infection are in it, though 

 they as yet defy the tests of chemistry and even the powers of the 

 microscope. They are revealed by their effects. You may dilute 

 the impure matters. The Mississippi does dilute the impurities^ 

 of Bassett's creek to a very high degree. But the dilution only 

 diminishes the chances that any one of us using the water 

 may be infected. One other point in this connection. 

 The question as to the rapidity and the degree of the 

 oxidation and destruction of sewage matters, when these have 

 found their way into a river, is as yet not settled. The 

 evidence thus far is considered to show that it is a slow process, 

 and the most objectionable parts of the impure matters possess 

 the greatest vitality. It must at least be said that the distance of: 

 about three quarters of a mile between our water pipe and Bassett's 

 creek is too short to admit of any considerable destruction of the 

 impurities by natural causes. 



Your committee have endeavored to ascertain and present to 

 you the facts of this matter, a^ they are learned by the various 

 lines of investigation. In conclusion, they need hardly state, 

 after what has been read,that they deem it desirable that the water 

 supplied to the city should, at the earliest practicable time, be tak- 

 en from a point sufficiently far up stream to avoid the sources of 

 contamination to Avhich reference has here been made. 



The chemical analyses were made by J. A. Dodge. Thfe* 

 statement of the results of biological work are by C. L. Herrick. 

 Dr. A. E. Johnson has found results quite analagous with these. 

 Signed by the Committee, James A. Dodge. 



C. L. Herrick, 

 C. W. Hall. 



