FIRE AND WATER ENGINEERING.

FIRE AND WATER ENGINEERING.

The dreaded Independence Day has passed, happily with a reduction of the serious accidents that occur every year on that nerve-wrecking occasion. This may be owing to the fact that the people arc beginning to realize that noise is not patriotism and destructive fires not conducive to their happiness. The fire authorities of New York wisely prohibited the use of certain noise-making fireworks which has had considerable to do with lowering the list of serious accidents and fires in the city this year. For this we have much to be thankful. Usually the fourth of July is a severe day for firemen. They are kept constantly at their posts and have to respond to many false alarms, therefore it is a great relief to them when the day is over. This ought not to be. There are hundreds of means of celebrating the day with more pleasure than that of r.oise and fire. The raising of the flag, bands of music in the public parks, military parades and hundreds of other ways can be found to celebrate the fourth of July without the foolish custom of destroying life and burning property. There is no doubt that every chief engineer has had it forced upon his observation what a menace to property, the reckless and unrestrained use of fireworks has come to be. The agitation against the practice has never been more widely expressed than this year, and it is hoped that all fire department officials will continue to use their power to assist those who are now striving to bring about a safer and saner celebration of the day.

The filtration of a city’s water supply has come to be recognized by water engineers and sanitarians as a practice of unquestionable merit, the logical outcome of technical determinations made in the study of the problem of a wholesome water supply; and now a striking presentation of evidence in support of their position in the matter is brought to the attention of the layman. We refer to the showing made by filtration at Philadelphia, as set forth in the report of Dr. Neff, on typhoid conditions in Philadelphia, just out, and a summary of which we print in this issue. That sanitarians will appreciate this report, as tending to drive home to the popular mind their standing in regard to filtration, goes without saying.