Geology. 



125 



Recurring to the results given above, it may also be remarked that the 

 river water is really somewhat less charged with foreign ingredients than 

 that of the springs, although the latter is so much more pleasant to per- 

 sons possessing delicate organs of taste. This probably arises from the 

 fact that the principal mineral ingredient in spring water, as shown by 

 the analysis, is chlorid of sodium or common salt, while the river water is 

 principally contaminated with carbonates of lime, magnesia, potash, etc., 

 which give water a bitter taste. 



The analysis will be found below in a complete form and arranged so 

 as to admit of a comparison between the composition of the river and the 



springs. 



RIVER. SPRINGS. 



Grains in one gallon of 58,372 

 grains. 



Whole solid matter found, 3-534581 3*607750 



Carbonate of lime, 1*300000 



Carbonate of magnesia, -889972 ■ 



Carbonate of potash, '172471 



Chlorid of sodium, -106834 1*021225 



Chlorid of potassium, -012190 



Sulphate of lime, -185847 -009233 



Phosphate of lime, -142338 -144659 



Silica, -497587 -755894 



Sesquioxyd of iron, with trace of Alumina, ... . -027453 -126778 



fLime, -277662 



In combination with the silica J Magnesia, . . . -355620 



and organic matter, j Potash, -493059 



I^Soda, -173518 



Oxyd of manganese, trace. 



Carbonic acid, trace. 



Organic matter containing ammonia, -634852 -558342 



Specific gravity, 1-00071 -99972 



The specific gravity of the Reservoir water was 1-00064. 



On comparison of this analysis of the waters of the Delaware with 

 other analyses of river waters, the fact is rendered apparent that few rivers 

 exist whose waters are so free from impurity. All causes of complaint 

 which have arisen are due to the improper mode of storing the water for 

 use. Open reservoirs, in which the water is kept standing for several 

 days to stagnate in the heat of the sun, are perfect hotbeds for the growth 

 of animal and vegetable life. Finding every necessary requisite to their 

 germination, light, heat, and an unlimited supply of fertilizing mineral 

 substances, phosphates, sulphates, carbonates and silicates of lime, potash, 

 ammonia, etc., infinite numbers of minute seeds spring forth into growing 

 plants, which in their turn furnish nourishment to innumerable swarms of 

 living animals engendered from their embryos preexistent in the water. 

 The breeding of these microscopic creatures, under favorable circum- 

 stances, is so rapid that in a very few hours the water will become alive 

 with them. 



