604 KANSAS CIT Y RE VIE W OF SCIENCE. 
Well water therefore uses up much more soap than river water. As an instance 
of the saving in this item of soap, it was estimated that $180,000 was saved an- 
nually in the City of Glasgow, after the introduction of the pure water of Loch 
Katrine. 
But it may be urged that only cistern water is used for washing. This, 
however, very often fails, especially in a dry season, when well water must be 
substituted. 
I believe the suggestion has been made that water be pumped from a well 
near the river bank, so that river water may be used, and yet it may be filtered. 
The suggestion is, in the main a gocd one, but the well must be literally on the 
bank, or the hard water will filter in through the surrounding rocks, and the 
water will thus be deteriorated. If a convenient place can be found either on 
the south or north bank of the river, where there is a sandy shore, the wells 
might be dug in this and a supply of filtered water be thus obtained. Essen- 
tially, this plan has been carried out with success in many cities. The unfiltered 
water even, is for many reasons, superior to our well water. 
A word upon the quality of the latter. Many of these wells, I am informed, 
have been tested by a competent chemist, and have been pronounced unfit for 
domestic use on account of so much organic matter. Furthermore, a well that 
is good this year, may be bad the next, for there is a constant menace in the fact 
it is not possible to tell how soon the surrounding soil v/ill be permeated with 
filth and contaminate the well. It is not necessary to enlarge on this point, for 
it is everywhere conceded that there is constant danger of the spread of zymotic 
diseases through the medium of impure water. 
It will be noticed that the well water examined contained 7.873 grains of 
organic matter, while the river water contained only 0.77 grains, an immense 
difference in favor of the river. 
Cistern water is often very impure, because the rain washes into it the de- 
caying matter from the roof. Of course, if collected from slate or tin roofs it 
has hardly any superior in regard to purity. 
Of the various sources of water supply at hand, the river, therefore, seems 
to be the safest, and will in time prove the most economical. As to its purity, 
there is no danger of injury to the water from sewage from towns above, for 
water happily purifies itself from such material in running a few miles. A distance 
of five miles produces a marked change in the character of the water in a swift 
running stream. -, 
Lawrence is much more favorably situated in this particular than very many 
cities. Boston water contains 0.81 grains of organic and volatile matter; Phila- 
delphia, 1.2 grains; New York, 0.67; Chicago, 1.06; London. 0.87; Paris, i.oo.H 
In regard to total solids, the amount in the waters of the cities above men- 
tioned ^varies from 3. 11 grains to 16 grains. It is to be expected that the Kansas 
River would have an abundance of these substances, fed as it is by water that 
has flowed over our extensive limestone deposits. — Lawrence Morning News. 
