June 7 Monday – In Hartford Sam finished his letter about the foul-smelling tap water. He complained of holding his nose while brushing his teeth. He enclosed a clipping from page two of the Hartford Courant for June 5, 1886, citing tastings by some committee denying that the water had a fishy smell.

Dr Jarvis says the water in the reservoirs is pure & that the trouble is rotten fish in the pipes…Says a good flushing would immediately cure the trouble; but the W.C. [Water Commissioner] is afraid that would reduce his water too much; hence he brings out 60 asses to drink pure water & thus prove to 42,000 that they are not holding their noses when they wash [MTP].