Category Archives: water

WATER POEM

26 Tuesday Jan 2010

Posted by in general, Health, HISTORY, POLITICS, science, water

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

A poem which appeared, under the signature of “Old Fashioned,”

in the Federalsburg “Times” 1956:

 This Business of our Water surely makes me think

Of “Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.”

So said the Ancient Mariner; let’s do as he would do:

Let’s keep our water undefiled or what he says come true.

Our Water Works for many years provided fine, pure bubbles,

Then they put the chlorine in to give us stomach troubles.

Now Sodium Fluoride is good for teeth, they say,

They would put it in the water to stop our tooth decay,

But I have a  suggestion and my logic is correct;

Why not Citrate of Magnesia for medicinal effect?

Why Not Scotch or Bourbon  piped to every house and home

And in the heat of summer, nice cool beer with lots of foam ?

The danger, Friend, of puttin’ in is not knowing where to stop,

And I, an Ancient Mariner, would forget it, drop by drop.

For with water, water everywhere,  I  have  a  right  to think

What once was fine, pure wa­ter is no longer fit to drink.

Please Mister, make me happy; leave what I drink alone,

And when decay has got my teeth I’ll buy dentures of my own.

BRIBES OR GIFTS???

13 Tuesday Jan 2009

Posted by in general, HISTORY, POLITICS, water

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Here is another history folder that I recently documented that goes with the times:

 

1959 thru 1962 – File Folder No. 1497: Christmas gift letters. It is unbelievable what the water engineers received as Christmas gifts during their employment. This list only covers three years. There are business cards attached along with notes and delivery receipts. Received were: chocolates (Wright Contracting Co. and Newton Co.), diary (Consolidated Engineers), pencil holder (Ruth Engineering), liquor and hot dish holder (Brooklyn Engineering), ‘wet goods’ and ham (Frank Angelozzi), gift basket (Matricciani Co.), cooler (Arundel Corp.), fluid remembrance and flowers (RK&K), whiskey (San Joe Construction Co., Spiniello Constr., Forest Co., Lock Joint Pipe Co., Masonry Resurfacing and Constr. Co., RKK, Alpine Constr., Cohen and Ass., and Square Constr. Co.), liquor and cigars (Peters Co. twice, Iacoboni and Sons 2x), lighter and cigarette box (Gill-Simpson Electric), diary and travel guide (Woody of Kahn Electric Co.), good cheer “…it will do much to add to my enjoyment during the holidays.” (Woody), delicacies (Atherholt, Brinton and Glover 2x), subscription to Coronet magazine (Wilson and Sons), ham (Wright Contracting and Matz, Childs and associates 2x), coffee maker and liquor (Gill-Simpson Electric), pears (WRA 3x), executive record and travel guide (Woody), clock (Arundel Corp.), desk diary (AP Smith Mfgr.), pitcher (Panitz), ham and champagne (Matricciani 2x), pen (Ruth Engr.), basket of whiskey (Lock Joint 2x), desk caddy (Leopold), ham and liquor (Regester consultants), turkey (Matricciani and Forest Co.), book (Arundel Corp.), desk calendar (Smith Mfgr.), Fruit cake!! (Gray Concrete Pipe 2x!!), candy (Mercantile Safe Deposit and Trust 2x and RKK), subscription to the ‘Saturday Evening Post’ (Herman Born and Sons), atlas (Atherholt), carving set (Arundel Corp.), turkey and whiskey (Wright Contr.), Rancho Lynn apples (Smith-Blair Inc.), traveling clock (Arundel Corp.), ham and fluid remembrances (Wright Co.), monetary contribution to Bucknell University (Atherholt), monetary contribution to Catholic Charities, Community Chest, Red Cross and the Associated Jewish Charities (Kahn), floral centerpiece (RK&K), Franciscan dinnerware (Lock Joint Pipe), subscription to ‘Look’ magazine (Wilson and Sons), smoking set (Panitz), cocktail shaker (Foley), barometer (Arundel Corp.), Bodine book, ‘The Face of Maryland’ (Arundel), tray of hors d’vours (Panitz), cheese (Foley), Christmas decorations and spirits (Forest Co.), oranges and grapefruits (Breesee and Gray), guest for dinner and spirits (Masonry Resurfacing Const. Co.).

            December 21, 1962 letter from Schuerholz to Langenfelder and Son, Inc. returning a gift certificate in the amount of $100 to be used at Hamburger’s (Men’s clothing store). He writes, “…I do not feel justified in accepting a gift certificate of this magnitude. I am retaining the money clip in which it was delivered; this will serve as a remembrance of your thoughtfulness.” It was returned via registered mail.

            Side note: In January 2009, both Mayor Sheila Dixon and Councilwoman Holton were indicted on bribery charges stemming from them receiving gifts from a contractor.

BALTIMORE COLTS

07 Tuesday Oct 2008

Posted by in general, HISTORY, water

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

May 20, 1947 to May 20, 1948 – Book: City of Baltimore Maryland Report to the Citizens of Baltimore by Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr., Mayor. Paper bound pamphlet on shelf. This is the mayors’ first report to the public after his first year in office. He lists all the department heads, such as: Leon Small, Water Engineer. The mayor notes various projects that are underway. Note of interest (Not about water though):

 

Late last year after the Colts had completed their first season, it became evident that the club would have to be refinanced if Baltimore was to retain its franchise in the All American Conference. The situation presented a challenge to civic and sports-minded citizens and we are happy to report that the response to that challenge was satisfactory. Some thirty business men were invited to my office to discuss the situation. After long discussion there and several committee meetings this group of public spirited men obtained promises from the league for strengthening the local team. On that basis they then produced the necessary financing to put the club on stable footing and assure a successful future. Out of this crisis and its solution came something rather unique in the sports world – a professional football club owned and operated entirely by local interests. 

 

A gentleman by the name of Howard Crook was on the Pension board. C. Markland Kelly was the president of the City Council at that time. Paul Holland was the Director of Public Works. He oversaw the work of 11 bureaus. Book contains before and after photos of street resurfacing. Old and new type trash trucks. 

FREE WATER MOVEMENT

29 Thursday May 2008

Posted by in general, HISTORY, POLITICS, water

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

   While researching some early water history, I came across some information on a Free Water Movement in the United States. People thought at the time (1897), since we had such an abundance of pure drinking water, it should be given to the citizens for free. What caught my attention about this particular piece of history is the fact that the cost of water for the citizens of Baltimore just increased by 4%. Starting today (5/29/2008). This will be an increase of about $32/year per household. The surrounding counties who get their water from Baltimore, will in turn increase their cost. This will be between 4 and 7%. A brief summary of this movement can be found on my History page.

Defending The Water Supply

07 Monday Jan 2008

Posted by in HISTORY, terrorism, water

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , ,

   More water research has turned up some interesting facts about how the City of Baltimore viewed the threat of sabatoge and enemy activity during the first two world wars (see History Writings Page). It appears that during those two wars, a lot of effort was exerted into the safeguarding of the water supply. These were wars fought over 6,000 miles away. But, when the United States suffered a direct attack only 30+ miles away south of here and a couple hundred miles north, Baltimore City hardly batted an eye as to what to do to protect her water systems.

  Police did do an occasional drive through of the property or park in one of the parking lots and ‘spend the night’ sitting in their cars over at the chlorinator. Then we were told that the maintenance staff needed to act as ‘Guards’ for the plants and because of union memorandums’ of understanding, overtime had to be distributed equally among all the classes of workers – so we had janitors, lab personnel and secretaries acting as guards to a plant that supplies water to 1.8 million people. These guards just stood by the front gates to the plants, asking for IDs.

  A couple years later we did buy guard shacks and the city hired guards. There has never been any concern for the water supply since 9/11 like there was during the first world wars.

Fluoridation of the drinking water

13 Thursday Dec 2007

Posted by in Health, HISTORY, science, Uncategorized, water

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

I found this in a 1953 letter from Edward Hopkins (Baltimore City Water Engineer) to a Mrs. Cobb, in New Jersey:

    “Fluoridation of the Baltimore water began on November 26, 1952. Fluoridation of the supply was ordered by the Mayor and confirmed by vote of the City Council. The subsequent injunction to restrain the City from applying fluoridation was dismissed, on the grounds that this action would not interfere with religious beliefs, and that it was within the jurisdiction of the Mayor and City Council to proceed.”

Upon some research I found why it was against religious beliefs. The documentation is fairly long so I placed it on my History page for anyone who would like to comment.