he influence of storage on the quality of raw water is
never injurious, and, by ripening the condition of the water, may be
greatly beneficial in the process of filtration.

The storage available in such a basin makes it possible to shut off
the supply from the river during the worst conditions of the water.
The duration of the most troublesome spells ordinarily does not
exceed a few days, and it is usually possible to secure sufficient
capacity in the basin to tide over these periods. Then again, long
periods of storage, in addition to assisting in breaking up organic
matter, permit the dying out of bacteria, particularly many of the
pathogenic kind, and, therefore, the water is rendered much safer
from this standpoint. In other words, there is additional insurance
in long storage against the faulty and careless operation of
incompetent filter employees. The addition of coagulant, especially
the fact that only a very small investment of capital is required
for the necessary apparatus for dosing the water, and that the cost
of the coagulating materials has to be met only when used, seems to
give the process, in a most satisfactory manner, the requirement for
economical management and thoroughness in preparing the water for
final filtration.

_Parking Public Works._--It is disappointing that the author has not
mentioned some of the steps contemplated in reference to the
landscape treatment of the Washington filtration area. Probably
every one has been impressed by the barren aspect of the works as
they are approached, and as one looks over them. Recently, however,
it is stated that some steps have been taken to lay out the grounds,
treat the surface in an attractive manner, and make a park of the
area. The writer has a firm opinion that when an investment is made
for public works, it costs but little in addition to construct
buildings along appropriate architectural lines, to treat the
grounds in a pleasing manner, and to make the entire works a credit
to the municipality from an artistic standpoint. When treated on
broad lines, such areas become public parks, and afford open
breathing places for the residents, and, if near centers of
population, may well be equipped with playground facilities for the
children. When thus developed they should have care, that the
planting and equipment should not deteriorate and the last state
become worse than the first.

The influence which these ever-present examples of attractiven