REPORT 
I OF 
THE WATERING COMMITTEE 
WITH THE ACCOMPANYING 
HE!FOR.TS 
4 
OF 
FREDERIC GRAFF, ESQ., SUPERINTENDENT 
OF 
FAIRMOUNT WATER WORKS, 
ON 
FIET RATION, 
AND 
PROFESSORS BOOTH AND GARRETT, 
ON 
SGTOYMHA WATHL 
PRINTED BY ORDER OF COUNCIDS. 
PHILADELPHIA: 
CRISSY & MARKLEY, PRINTERS, GOLDSMITHS HALL, LIBRARY STREET. 
1 8 54. RESOLUTION 
ADOPTED BY THE 
SELECT AND COMMON COUNCILS OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, 
MAY 11, 1854. 
Resolved, That the Watering Committee be, and they are hereby 
authorized to have five thousand copies of the Report upon the Filtering 
and Analysis of the Schuylkill Water, printed for distribution. 
(Extract from the Minutes.) 
EDMUND WILCOX, 
Clerk of Select Council. 
JOS. M. THOMAS, Chairman, 
ALBERT G. WATERMAN, 
FRANCIS H. DUFFEE, 
WILLIAM WATT, 
WATERING COMMITTEE. 
JOHN AGNEW, 
CHARLES ABBEY, 
GEORGE GRISCOM, 
PAUL POHL. REPORT. 
To the Select and Common Councils of Philadelphia: 
In obedience to the annexed resolution of Councils, passed 
October 27th, 1853, as follows : 
"Resolved, That the Watering Committee be, and they are 
hereby directed to inquire into the practicability of erecting 
at Fairmouut, a Filter of sufficient capacity to filter all the 
water used in the city, before it enters the distributing 
pipes." 
Your Committee report that they have given the subject 
that consideration which the importance of it demanded, and 
herewith submit the report of Mr. Frederic Graff, Superin- 
tendent of the Water Works, under whose immediate charge 
the necessary inquiries and examinations in relation to the 
matter were made; and also the report of Professors Booth 
and Garrett, the experienced and eminent chemists who con- 
ducted the analysis of the water. 6 
Gentlemen : In compliance with your instructions, I have 
examined into the expediency of filtering the water supplied^ 
from the Fairmount Water Works, and beg leave to make the 
following report: 
In order to ascertain if there was any well founded reason 
for filtering the water, I thought it necessary to have an 
analysis of it, made by experienced chemists, whose opin- 
ion would be considered valuable in forming a conclusion, 
whether the water of the Schuylkill has in fact (as has been 
asserted) depreciated in any important degree from its former 
acknowledged purity. 
The remarks and analysis of Messrs. Booth and Garrett 
are appended to this report. In it, they compare their 
analysis, made this year, with those of Professors Boy£ and 
Silliman, made in 1842 and 1845, which gives an excellent 
opportunity of ascertaining to what extent (if any) deteriora- 
tion has taken place. For the statement of the details, we 
refer to the report of those gentlemen, merely inserting in 
this place their concluding remarks, as follows: 
" The analyses exhibit another fact of some importance, 
that while in 1842 the quantity of organic matter was capa- 
ble of being determined, and in 1845 was quite large, (although 
probably less than stated in that analysis,) in 1854 there was 
not a sufficient amount to admit of exact determination, it is 
possible that the water may contain more in summer than in 
winter, but the fact that it is nearly absent, proves that the 
increase of manufacturing, and of population in the valley of 
the Schuylkill, and its affluents has not tended to deteriorate 
the water, in the slightest degree, with organic matter. 
TO THE WATERING COMMITTEE OF CITY COUNCILS: 7 
11 The mineral contents remain the same, and are only 
varied in proportion. The effects produced upon the water 
by clearing land, could only be an increased turbidness, from 
finely suspended mineral matter, or the addition of dissolved 
matter, in which vegetable matter would form a fair propor- 
tion. We believe there are not sufficient dala to establish the 
fact, that turbidness is now more frequent or dense than for- 
Kmerly, and we have shown the absence of dissolved organic 
matter; we may therefore conclude, that the water is not 
worse than it formerly was from this cause. It has been sup- 
posed, that filtration of the water before its distribution 
through the city, would be desirable, ^nd should be under- 
taken by the government of the City. We infer, from' 
analysis, that filtration would scarcely, if at all, diminish the 
mineral matter in solution, nor is its character or amount 
such as to justify an attempt at removal. 
" The suspended matter in a turbid condition of the water, 
is finely divided clay, the quantity of which is inconsiderable, 
and which we do not suppose to exert any injurious influence 
upon the water. To attempt its separation, would demand so 
vast an expenditure as would not, in our opinion, be justified 
by the result, even if it were entirely successful. But there 
is every reason to believe that the attempt would be attended 
with at least a partial failure, because the suspended matter 
is so finely divided, that we doubt if much of it could be re- 
moved by any practicable system of filtration. . 
" We may observe further, that a comparison of our waters 
with waters used elsewhere in the United States and in 
Europe, and highly esteemed, may be characterized by its 
greater purity,'and by its being slightly alkaline, and nearly 
free from organic matter. ' 
" In conclusion, we infer that the Schuylkill water has 
deteriorated, in no important respects, from its former excel- 
lent quality; that from the^ nature of its small contents of 8 
mineral matter, and its unusual freedom from organic matter, it 
is superior to most waters for domestic and manufacturing 
purposes; that from the nature and quantity of its mineral 
contents, it is unnecessary to adopt a system of filtration to 
improve its quality; and lastly, a comparison of the past aijd 
present, leads to'the inference, that no plan of improving the 
water will be required for many years to come." 
The above remarks, made by gentlemen so capable of form- 
ing a proper judgment in the case, appear entirely conclusive 
that there is not really any necessity -whatever for filtering 
the water, and the subject might, it is thought, 'be safely 
dropped here; but in order that Councils may be fully able 
to judge of the purity of the water, a table is inserted below, 
showing the comparative amount of solid matter contained in 
one gallon, of a number of the waters supplied, or about to be 
supplied to cities, in this and other countries: 
grains per gal. 
Cochituate, Boston, .... 3.37 
Mill River, proposed for New Haven, . 4.00 
Gunpowder, proposed for Baltimore, . 4 41 j 
Schuylkill analysed by Boye, . . 4.42 
Patroon's Creek, supplied to Albany, . 4.72 
Pine River, proposed for New Haven, . 5.30 
Schuylkill, analyzed by Silliman, . 5.50 
West River, proposed for New Haven, . 5.60 
Supplied to Detroit, . . . . 5.72 
Jones' Falls, supplied to Baltimore, . 5.85 
Schuylkill, analyzed per Booth & 
Garrett, 6.10 
Troy, . . . • . . . . 6.29 
Ohio River, supplied to Cincinnati, . 6.73 
Hudson River, Albany, . . . 7.24 
Passaic, to supply Jersey City, . . 7.44 
Mohawk, Troy, 7.88 
St. Charles River, Quebec, . . . 8.10 
Lake Ontario, Rochester, . . . 10.00 
Croton River, supplied to New York, . 10.93 
Genesee River, Rochester, . . . 11.21 
Average of all the above, . . . 6.54 
Average of the three analyses made of 
the Schuylkill, .... 5.34 
grains per gal. 
Europe. 
| Lake Geneva, 10.64 
i Seine, at Paris, 12.74 
Rhone, at Lyons, 12.88 
| Elbe, at Dresden, 21.00 
Supplied to London, from Thames, by 
the Kent Company, . . . 18.7 
Supplied to London, by New River, . 19.2 
" " from Thames,by West 
Middlesex Co., . 19.5 
" " " Thames, by Lam- 
beth Co., . . 20.4 
" " " Thames,byGrand 
Junction Co., . 21.00 
" " " Thames,bySouth- 
wark Co., . . 21.5 
" " " Thames, by East 
London, . . 22.00 
" " " Lea River, . . 23.7 
" " " Thames,by Chel- 
sea Co., . . 27.2 
Hempstead Co., from Wells, . . 40. 
Bristol " " . §2. 
Average of all the London Companies, 
from the Thames, . . . .21.46 
Wells N. E. corner Fifth and Cherry streets, 115.957 grains to the gallon. 9 
It is well known that filtration only purifies the water by 
arresting the solid organic matter, while it does not remove 
the fluid organic matter, the salts, gases and other soluble 
impurities. A table of several waters is given below, that it 
may be seen how small the solid organic matter contained in 
our water really is, and of how little the water would be de- 
prived by filtration : 
Cochituate. 
Schuylkill, 
per Boye. 
Schuylkill, 
per 
Silliman. 
Schuylkill, 
per Booth 
and 
Garrett. 
a 
o 
o 
O 
Hudson, 
Albany. 
Thames, 
Chelsea. 
Troy. 
Solid organic matter, one gallon, 
" inorganic " " 
Totalsolid matter, one gallon, 
1.16 
2.21 
0.036 
4.385 
1.24 
4.26 
trace. 
6.10 
4.28 
6.66 
2.27 
8.46 
4.2 
23.1 
1.51 
4.78 
3.37 
4.421 
5.50 
6.10 
10.94 
10.73 
27.3 
6.29 
In all the above cases, the Schuylkill water for analysis 
was taken direct from the river before it was raised into the 
reservoirs, when of course it would not have had time to de- 
posit its impurities. The water of the Croton was taken from 
the distributing reservoir in New York City, after it had 
passed through forty-one miles of aqueduct, giving it every 
opportunity of depositing some of its impurities ; and yet 
we find it to contain nearly eleven grains of solid matter in 
one gallon, four and twenty-eight hundredths grains of which 
are organic matter. 
That a more correct idea of the power and actual efficiency 
of filters on a large scale may be formed, than appears gene- 
rally to exist, some extracts are here given from a work 
recently published in London,* upon a microscopic examination 
* "Microscopic Examination of the Water supplied to the Inhabitants of 
London, by Arthur H.^Hassall, M. B., F. L. 8." 10 
of the waters supplied to that city after passing through the 
most approved filters used there. The author states " That 
by placing a gauze bag on the tap of the water cisterns sup- 
plied from the filter beds of the Southwark Water Company, 
it was found at the end of a few days, to contain a mass suffi- 
cient to fill an egg-shell, consisting principally of the hairs of 
animals." Again, " The accumulation of solid matter in the 
main supply pipes, is often so great as to require that they 
should be frequently cleansed out, this circumstance and the 
variation of the earthy matter in accordance. with the state of 
the weather, show clearly the defective state of the process of 
filtration adopted, and if solid earthy and inorganic matters 
are largely contained in the water of the companies as sup- 
plied to the houses, it is evident that no reason can exist why 
the organic and living matter characteristic of impure water 
should not be present in them in equally large extent." 
Again, " The method of filtration to be successful even to a 
limited extent, must be very different from that pursued by 
the Metropolitan Companies, for we have seen that the water 
which they supply after having undergone the process as con- 
ducted by them, still contains much solid organic matter, 
living, dead and decomposing, and often of considerable 
size." 
He states further, that the only filtered water supplied to 
London that even approaches purity, is that of the Chelsea 
Company, and in this he found upon examination, eight 
different species of infusoria, and some dead organic matter. 
The following analysis made by Professor Brande, in 1849, 
of the water after passing through the filters of the Kent 11 
Water Company, will show how little can be expected from 
such apparatus: 
Carbonate of Lime, - - grains in one gallon, 9.9 
Do Magnesia, - - do* do trace. 
Sulphate of Lime, - - do do 2.5 
Do Soda, - - do • do 1.5 
Chloride of Sodium, - - do do 3.7 
Organic matter and Nitrates, - do do. 1.1 
Total, - - - - 18.7. 
It will be seen that the organic matter in the above, 
amounted to one. and one-tenth grains after filtration, whilst 
Messrs. Booth & Garrett state that the Schuylkill water con- 
tains but a trace of organic matter without any filtration 
whatever, and but six and one-tenth grains of solid residue of 
every kind; so that the above water is three times more 
impure after being filtered by one of the best large filters 
known in London, than the Schuylkill water is without any 
filtration whatever. 
And yet the filters used by the Chelsea, Kent and other 
companies, are of the most approved kind that have been 
employed upon a large scale; the result, indeed, of experiments 
made at very considerable expense; and in some form, would 
be the plan we should be obliged to follow. 
Although I consider thfi above practical results as sufficient 
to guard us against the adoption of such defective apparatus, 
I will (in order that councils may have every light upon the 
subject) investigate the matter further, by examining if our 
present reservoirs would be adequate for the purpose of intro- 12 
ducing filter beds into them. Most of the works of England 
where the water is filtered, have large subsiding reservoirs 
into which the water passes before it goes upon the filter beds, 
as well as large reservoirs for the pure water after filtration, 
and also duplicate filters, that one may be cleansed whilst the 
other is in use. The following table shows the rates at which 
the most approved of these filters pass the water: 
Vauxhall Works, . . . . 
Grand Junction, .... 
Southwark, 
Chelsea, ...... 
Paisley, 
Lambeth, erected 1852, 
Average, 
3.09 
2.09 
2.67 
2.74 
3.12 
4.25 
3.67 
Gals, passed by 
each square foot 
of filter surface, 
per hour. 
i 74.16 
50.16 
64.08 
65.76 
74.88 
102. 
88.08 
Gals, per foot of 
surface, per 24 
hours. 
6,013,716 
4,500,000 
2,160,000 
3,136,320 
2,750,000 
Gals, supplied 
per day by the 
Companies. 
120,000 
70,078 
174,240 
90,000 
31,200 
Square feet, area 
of filter surface 
used. 
21,000,000 
9,000,000 
15,900,000 
Contents of sub- 
siding reser- 
voirs in gals. 
It has been found that between the hours of ten and eleven 
in the morning, at least eight per cent, of the whole day's 
supply is delivered, and on Saturdays for short periods in the 
heat of the summer, it is believed the water has been delivered 
at the rate of twelve per cent, of the whole day's supply, 
which, as we have frequently supplied 11,000,000 gallons from 
our works, would be equal to one million three hundred and 
twenty thousand gallons per hour. At the average rate at which 
the last three filter beds named in the above list (which are now 
considered the best) filter the water, namely : three and sixty- 13 
eight hundredths gallons, 3/^ per square foot of filter surface 
per hour, a filter bed of three hundred and fifty-eight thousand 
six hundred and ninety-six square feet would be required. 
This should properly be duplicated, that one might be cleansed 
whilst the other would be in use, making seven hundred and 
seventeen thousand three hundred and ninety-two square feet 
for filter beds only, without any allowance whatever, for sub- 
siding or pure water reservoirs. The total area of the Fair- 
mount reservoir is three hundred and twenty-two thousand 
one hundred and eighty-three square feet; it will therefore 
be seen how entirely insufficient they would be for the pur- 
pose, even for the present supply of water required for the 
city, which supply must increase every day, and will soon far 
exceed the limits set down above. 
It cannot be denied that filter beds may be made to do* 
their work moderately well; but the maximum speed at 
which a certain surface will filter the water properly, as 
obtained from the practice in Europe, is stated above, and 
from that data it is quite evident that the area required for 
our works would not be far different from the amount before 
mentioned, namely, for filter beds and duplicate, 717,392 square 
feet. The probability is, that this area would have to be ex- 
ceeded rather than otherwise, unless large reservoirs, in which a 
supply sufficient for two or three days (say to contain 
35,000,000 gallons) should be erected. In which case the 
filter beds would not require to be duplicated entirely, as by 
dividing them into sections, one or more of such sections 
could be cleansed whilst the others were in use, the city being 
supplied at the same time from the pure water reservoirs. 14 
The process of cleaning the filter beds used in Europe, is 
by reversing the current of water through them, for instance, 
if the water ha§ been passing downward, by causing it .to 
flow upward, most of the dirt which has accumulated upon 
the surface, will be washed and carried off through sluices and 
culverts made for that purpose. This, however, is found not 
to be entirely effectual, and therefore in addition, the sand 
has frequently to be scraped off the surface to the depth of 
an inch or more; removed, washed and replaced. This, in 
some of the London works, is required to be done every two 
weeks, and in some seasons of the year as often as every ten 
days ; it will therefore be seen that the cleaning of such 
apparatus is attended with considerable labor and consequent 
expense. 
I am fully convinced that no adequate result could be ob- 
tained from the enormous expense which it would be necessary 
to incur in building and keeping in order such large filter 
beds as we should require, and that probably the certainty of 
constant supply and efficiency of the works might be impaired 
by such troublesome and expensive, and I think, needless 
apparatus. 
Very respectfully, 
Youi' obedient servant, 
FRED. GRAFF. 
May 3, 1854. 15 
Your Committee feel fully convinced by the evidence of the 
analysis that they have every reason to feel perfectly satisfied 
with the extraordinary purity of the Schuylkill water. It is 
quite evident to them that there does not exist any necessity 
whatever for its filtration; and that the erection of filters to 
attempt such purpose would require a very large expenditure 
of money from which no adequate result could be reasonably 
expected. 
They therefore report in conclusion, that they deem the 
project of filtering the water to be unnecessary and inexpe- 
dient, and beg leave to be discharged from the consideration 
of the subject. 
All of which is most respectfully submitted. 
JOSEPH M. THOMAS, Chairman, 
ALBERT G. WATERMAN, 
FRANCIS H. DUFFEE, 
WM. WATT, 
JOHN AGNEW, 
CHARLES ABBEY, 
GEORGE GRISCOM, 
PAUL POHL. 
May 3, 1854. REPORT 
ON 
SCHUYLKILL WATER. 
BY JAMES C. BOOTH AND THOMAS H. GARRETT. 
A large number of the upper tributaries of the Schuylkill 
flowing over the anthracite formation, it has been supposed 
that the increased activity of mining operations in the coal 
region, by spreading manufactures on its banks, by increasing 
the population on the river and the region it drains, and by 
giving rise to more extensive clearings of forest, has contribu- 
ted to throw so large an amount of impurity into its water as 
to render it unfit for domestic use or for manufactures in the 
City of Philadelphia. 
The following analysis of Schuylkill water was undertaken 
with a view of determining the influence of the above-mentioned 
sources of impurity, and to suggest a remedy, if necessary. 
One means of arriving at a part of the conclusion is to com- 
pare its present 'with its former condition, by means of che- 
mical analyses of the water. Two such analyses exist, and 
although they are avowedly incomplete, they are sufficiently 17 
full for our purpose. We therefore present them before 
giving our own. They were performed, like our own, upon a 
quantity of water equal to the common or wine-gallon of 
58,372 grains. (At 30" Bar. and 39.6° Fahr.) The first 
was performed by M. H. Boyd, in 1842, and the second by 
B. Silliman, Jr., in 1845. 
BOYE, IN 1842. 
SILLIMAN, in 1845. 
Salts. 
Acids, &c. 
Salts. 
Acids, &c. 
Alkaline Chlorides, 
0.153 
0.088 
0.147 
0.089 
Alkaline Sulphates, 
0.560 
0.304 
Alkaline Carbonates, 
0.185 
0.073 
1.644 
0.683 
Chloride of Magnesium, - 
0.009 
0.007 
Sulphate of Magnesia, - 
0.057 
0.038 
Carbonate of Lime, 
2.190 
0.964 
1.872 
0.824 
Carbonate of Magnesia, - 
0.484 
0.254 
0.351 
0.184 
Alumina and Oxide of Iron, - 
0.077 
Silica, 
0.395 
0.395 
0.080 
0.080 
Organic Matter, - - - 
0.036 
1.240 
Total grains per gallon, - 
4.080 
5.400 
Residue by direct trial, - 
4.421 
5.500 
ANALYSES. 
The above analyses are critically compared by Dr. Boyd 
in the Proceedings of the American Association for the Ad- 
vancement of Science, for September, 1848. The alkaline 
chlorides and carbonates in Silliman's analysis are stated by 
him to be salts of soda alone. As we determined the relative 
quantities of potassa and soda in our analysis, we have as- 
sumed this proportion to be the same, and from these data 
have calculated the quantities of acid and base in B's analysis, 18 
in order to compare both of these with our own. We deter- 
mined all the ingredients directly, (except, as usual, the soda,) 
and some of them by repetition. We further employed diffe- 
rent portions of the same water to determine special ingre- 
dients, in order to insure greater accuracy in the examination 
of so dilute a solution as Schuylkill water. 
The following table comprises the three analyses: 
1 
Boye. 
1842. 
2 
Silliman 
1845. 
3 
B. & G. 
1854. 
Potassa, - - - - - 
0.114 
0.087 
Soda, 
0.341 
1.039 
0.261 
Lime, - - - - - 
1.226 
1.048 
1.404 
Magnesia, - - - - 
0.230 
0.188 
0.696 
Alumina and oxide of iron, 
0.077 
0.068 
Sulphuric Acid, ... 
0.302 
0.038 
1.417 
Chlorine, - 
0.086 
0.096 
0.168 
Silica, ----- 
0.395 
0.080 
1.080 
Carbonic Acid, - - - 
1.290 
1.690 
0.681 
Organic Matter, - - - 
0.036 
1.240 
trace. 
4.097 
5.419 
5.862 
Residue found direct, 
4.421 
5.500 
6.109 
COMPARATIVE ANALYSES. 
The small difference between the totals of the 1st and 2d ana- 
lyses, compared with those previously given, arises partly from 
calculation and partly from an error in the 2d. We remark, 
upon the above table, that the alkalies in the 1st and 3d are 
concordant within 0.1 gr., but in the 2d the alkali is 2 j to 3 
times as great as it should be. The alkali in the 2d being 19 
also estimated wholly as carbonate of soda, renders the esti- 
mate of carbonic acid double what it should be. We believe, 
that the carbonic in both 1 and 2 was chiefly, if not 
wholly calculated, while in our own it was directly deter- 
mined; we must therefore prefer our own. There is every 
reason to believe the amount of sulphuric acid in the 2d to 
be too low, from the manner in which it was obtained, from 
the amount in the 1st, and from our having found, in former 
trials of the water, a very considerable quantity. We believe 
the organic matter in the 2d to be far beyond the truth, be- 
cause it was embraced in the total loss. In our experiments, 
we have not been able to detect more than traces of organic 
matter, incapable of being accurately determined; for, upon 
heating the solid residue of the water, an almost impercepti- 
ble darkening was observed, and after calcination below the 
heat sufficient to expel carbonic acid, no material difference 
in weight was perceptible. The amount of silica in the 2d is 
too low, as pointed out by Dr. Boy£ in the paper referred to, 
who believed even his own to be below the truth. We believe 
our own to be nearly correct, perhaps a shade above the 
truth. 
For the reasons stated, we prefer taking the first analysis 
as a means of comparison with our own, except in the amount 
of carbonic acid, which we directly determined; and for the 
further reason, that there is a wider interval of time between 
them. But, in justice to the 1st, it should be observed that 
extreme accuracy was not called for in its execution; and to 
the 2d, that it seems to have been designed as a mere general 20 
determination, without reference to minute and accurate 
results. 
Upon comparing the two analyses together, the one exe- 
cuted in 1842, and the last in 1854, we observe that, during 
the last 12 years, an increase has taken place in the amount 
of solid matter dissolved in Schuylkill water, but that this 
increase scarcely amounts to 2| grains pei' gallon. Of the 
2| grains, about 1 gr. is sulphuric acid, f gr. is lime and 
magnesia, and nearly f gr. is silica. 
The increase of sulphuric acid is undoubtedly due to the 
increased activity of the coal trade. Anthracite contains 
iron pyrites (a compound of sulphur and iron) disseminated 
through it, which is sufficient, although small in amount, to 
impart a sulphurous odor to the fumes of the burning coal. 
Portions of the pyrites are gradually oxidized by the air, in 
the underground explorations for coal, forming sulphuric acid 
and oxide of iron, the former, apparently, in more than suffi- 
cient quantity to neutralize the latter. For, the waters issu- 
ing from some of the mines, are so highly charged with cop- 
peras and free sulphuric acid, as to cut out and endanger the 
steam-boilers employed in the coal region. We know this 
fact from experiments, made by one of us upon the waters of 
that region, with the view of ascertaining the cause of injury 
to boilers, and to suggest a remedy. 
Beside the source of sulphuric acid from the natural oxida- 
tion of the pyrites in the subterranean workings, and in the 
coal on the surface, it is also formed by selecting the larger 
masses of pyrites by hand, and burning them in heaps, where- 21 
by another portion of sulphate of iron is produced, to find its 
way, with the next rains, into the Schuylkill. 
Since so large an amount of sulphuric acid and its salt, 
with iron, enters the river in the vicinity of the coal mines, 
that the water has a marked acid reaction, it is interesting to 
ascertain what becomes of it in the intervening space of 100 
miles, between the mines and Philadelphia; for at this city 
the water has a decided alkaline reaction. Analysis answers 
the question, by showing a notable proportion of sulphate of 
lime in the city water. The river, beside rolling over lime- 
stone formations through many miles of its course, receives 
the drainage of extensive limestone districts, whereby car- 
bonate of lime is liberally supplied to it. Carbonate of 
lime produces, by decomposition with sulphate of iron, 
the sulphate of lime which remains in solution, and oxide 
of iron which is deposited. Sulphate of lime, therefore, re- 
places sulphate of iron before the river reaches Philadelphia. 
We believe that nearly all the sulphuric acid entering the 
river in the coal region, is retained in solution throughout its 
course, but the water is so largely diluted by numerous 
streams along the Schuylkill valley, that only a trifling in- 
crease is perceptible in the amount of this acid per gallon at 
Philadelphia, in the course of 12 years, notwithstanding the 
vast increase in the coal trade. The following statement, 
drawn from the last Annual Report of the Philadelphia and 
Reading R. R. Co., exhibits the amounts of coal sent to 
market, from the Schuylkill mines, in 1842 and 1853: 
Tons of coal sent in 1842, - - 540,892 
" " 1853, - - 2,470,000 22 
The last is 4| times the former. It is a singular coincidence, 
that the quantity of sulphuric acid in our analysis (1853) is 
about 4J times that of Dr. Boyd's analysis (1842). 
Analysis further shows, that there is an excess of alkaline 
base (including lime and magnesia) in the water at Philadel- 
phia, above what is sufficient for the sulphuric acid, so that 
the quantity of this acid entering the water is not sufficient 
even to decompose all the carbonates, which it receives or 
contains. It appears that only a portion of the carbonates 
of lime, &c., found in 1842 have been changed to sulphates in 
1853, while the total amount of lime aud magnesia has only 
increased by about f of a grain per gallon, in the same in- 
terval. 
The analyses exhibit another fact of some importance,- 
that while in 1842 the quantity of organic matter was capa- 
ble of being determined, and in 1845 was quite large, (al- 
though probably less than stated in the analysis), in 1853 
there was not a sufficient amount to admit of exact determina- 
tion. It is possible that the water may contain more in sum- 
mer than in winter, but the fact that it is nearly absent, 
proves that the increase of manufacturing and of population 
in the valley of the Schuylkill, and its affluents, has not 
tended to deteriorate the water in the slightest degree with 
organic matter. The mineral contents remain the same, and 
are only varied in proportion. 
The effects produced upon the water by clearing land, could 
only be an increased turbidness, from finely suspended mine- 
ral matter, or the addition of dissolved matter, in which 
vegetable matter would form a fair proportion. We believe 23 
there are not sufficient data to establish the fact, that turbid- 
ness is now more frequent or dense than formerly, and we 
have shown the absence of dissolved organic matter. We 
may therefore conclude that the w'ater is not worse than it 
formerly was from this cause. 
It has been supposed, that filtration of the watci' before its 
distribution through the city, wTould be desirable and should 
be undertaken by the government of the city. We infer 
from analysis, that filtration would scarcely, if at all, diminish 
the mineral matter in solution, nor is its character or amount 
such as to justify an attempt at removal. The suspended 
matter, in a turbid condition of the water, is finely divided 
clay, the quantity of which is inconsiderable, and which we 
do not suppose to exert any injurious influence upon the 
water. To attempt its separation would demand so vast an 
expenditure, as would not, in our opinion, be justified by the 
result, even if it were entirely successful. But there is every 
reason to believe that the attempt would be attended with at 
least a partial failure, because the suspended matter is so 
finely divided, that we doubt if much of it could be removed 
by any practicable system of filtration. 
We may observe, further, that a comparison of our water 
with waters used elsewhere, in the United States and in 
Europe, and highly esteemed, may be characterized by its 
greater purity, and by its being slightly alkaline, and nearly 
free from organic matter. 
In conclusion, we infer that the Schuylkill water has dete- 
riorated in no important respect from its former excellent 
quality; that from the nature of its small content of mineral 24 
matter and its unusual freedom from organic matter, it is 
superior to most waters, for domestic and manufacturing pur- 
poses ; that from the nature and quantity of its mineral con- 
tent, it is unnecessary to adopt a system of filtration to im- 
prove its quality; and lastly, a comparison of the past and 
present, leads to the inference, that no plan of improving the 
water will be required for many years to come. 
JAMES C. BOOTH, 
THOS. H. GARRETT. 
Philadelphia, 23<7 March, 1854. 
Analysis of the water from the wells of IF. II. Horstmann § Sons, N. E. corner 
of Fifth and Cherry streets; sunk to the rock. Analyzed by Prof. F. A. 
Genth. Analysis kindly furnished to Frederic Graff, by Messrs. Horstmann 
Sons. 
grs. in one gal. 
Sand and Silica, - ( - - - - - 1.563 
Bi-carbonate of Iron, ----- 0.290 
Bi-carbonate of Magnesia, - - - _ 23.490 
Bi-carbonate of Lime, ----- 21.750 
Sulphate of Alumina, ----- 0.309 
Sulphate of Lime, - ----- 0.014 
Sulphate of Potash, ----- 5.755 
Chloride of Magnesium, ----- 1.541 
Chloride of Sodium, ----- 23.686 
Chloride of Potasium, ----- 0.916 
Organic and Volatile Substances, as Nitrate of 
Ammonia, ------ 14.592 
Iodine, 
Phosphoric Acid, 
Oxide of Manganese, 
- - - - Traces, 
Free Carbonic Acid,* ----- 22.051 
Total, - - - 115.957grs. per gal. 
Free Carbonic Acid, and Carbonic Acid forming 
Bi-carbonates, - 40.357 
• 75.600 
* The quantity of Carbonic Acid was determined in water which stood over 
night.