Experimental Methods in Water- and Sewage-Works 29 



conditions in regard to some details. Their magnitude, while rela- 

 tively small for reasons of economy, is still much greater than that 

 which seems to be taken for granted by numerous citizens, who 

 associate the word "experiment" with a test tube, or with a mechani- 

 cal device which is so imperfect that no one dares to build it on 

 a large scale without further experiments. The methods of puri- 

 fying water and sewage have now advanced to a degree where the 

 phrase "testing station" in new projects will unquestionably displace 

 "experiment station;" and the testing of these processes where 

 unusual conditions are expected will assume a dignity comparable 

 with that of the regular departments which systematically test 

 cement, steel, and other materials used for building purposes. In 

 fact, it is interesting to note that the laboratories at many testing 

 stations have been utilized regularly for testing construction materials. 



Where water- and sewage-purification projects involve hundreds 

 of thousands of dollars or more for construction costs, the so-called 

 experimental methods, as applied in accordance with the foregoing 

 statements, have given wonderful courage in many places to offi- 

 cials who otherwise would very naturally have been in a hesitating 

 frame of mind, and inclined more to listen to the "doubting Thom- 

 ases" who in all communities, for selfish or other reasons, appear 

 as opponents and obstructionists to modern sanitary works. Even 

 if the technical advisers of the projects were not assisted by such 

 data, it is quite likely that the testing station for many projects 

 would indirectly in this way do far more good than the cost involved, 

 in saving lives and in hastening the day when communities will 

 meet their problems in accordance with the best information available. 



In speaking of the educational benefit derived from applying 

 experimental methods to water- and sewage-works, the technical 

 men, especially those in charge of the tests, have an important duty 

 to perform in teaching non-technical officials, and various citizens 

 who are interested in the work, the fundamental principles of the 

 process involved, and in assisting them in ascertaining what prac- 

 tical works would mean, both hygienically and financially. Along 

 this general line the Institute of Technology has played an impor- 

 tant role, largely through having had for many years on its teaching 

 stafi" a man who to an extraordinary degree possesses the faculty 



