Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1908 [PAGE 106]

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78

UNIVEESITY OF ILLINOIS.

[Mar.

11

URBANA, IDD., January 31, 1907.

Mr. M. 0. Leighton, Chief Hydrograp/ier, United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR—In reply to your letter of January 9, 1907, to Mr. W. D. Collins, I beg to submit a report of the work of the Illinois Cooperation during the first half of the present fiscal year, a statement of expenditures to January 1, 1907, having been already submitted. Referring to that part of the contract which indicates the general object of the cooperation work, I will say that: (Paragraph 9). Twenty-six stations have been established on rivers in Illinois. For their location see page 25, Annual Report of State Water Survey. Daily samples have been r ceived from these stations and 300 analyses of composite samples made by Mr. Collins and assistants. (Paragraph 10). Twenty-three samples of water from the East St. Louis district, extending from Alton on the north to Belleville on the south, have been sent in by the State Geological Survey and mineral analyses have been made by the same. Six samples from the Eldorado District, collected by Mr. DeWolfe, and two samples from Peoria, collected by Mr. J. A. Udden, have been sent in by the State Geological Survey and have been analyzed. In addition 51 analyses of the mineral content of waters, mostly from deep wells, have been made. (Paragraph 11). Very little work has been done on boiler water experiments. This work is now under way and will be carried on during the next six months. (Paragraph 12).. Examinations of water from public water supplies have been made according to standard methods of the American Public Health Association. A series of analyses was made of water in the valley of the Vermilion river, of wells of different depths in Chicago, of various wells in Joliet, and of samples collected along the shore of Lake Michigan from W«aukegan to Lake Forest. Following our preliminary investigation at Waukegan, a report of which has been sent to you, the Corn Products Refining Company has taken up some experimental work in the disposal of waste from their plant. An experimental plant has been erected, which will be ready for test about February 1. Our own experiments would indicate that the waste products which are being passed into the Lake might be profitably treated by the company. (Paragraph 13). Through the Illinois Cooperation and through the courtesy of Mr. Kellerman of the Bureau of Plant Physiology of the Department of Agriculture, three reservoirs have been treated for algae. One at Bloomington and one at-Danville have been treated with entire success, and one at Galesburg with partial success. Complaint as to taste in the water at Kankakee led to investigation of the water from the river which was found to contain Synura. This protozoan was traced up the Kankakee river above Momence. It. is our belief that it comes from a recently drained district in northern Indiana; but owing to high water which removed the taste we were compelled to discontinue the investigation. There were also carried on some scientific investigations, of which one, entitled "Chemical Examination of Water Bacteria," has been forwarded to you, and which is to be published in the Proceedings of the American Public Health Association. (Paragraph 7). Mr. I. Bowman and Mr. C. A. Reeds have made a study of the occurrence and quality of the water in the East St. Louis Quadrangle. Their report is ready, illustrations are being prepared, and it will be issued soon. Besides the above, 795 sanitary-chemical, and 457 bacteriological analyses have been made in this laboratory. Very truly yours,

EDWARD BARTOW,

Director State Water Survey.