The Water in one of the City Hydrant Pumps becoming offensive, the place being opened, it was found to be owing to a quantity of fibrous Roots proceeding from a Lombardy Poplar

Object Status:

Unlocated

Primary Source Reference:

Peale Museum Accessions Book, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, p. 13

Additional Source Text:

"The Root had insinuated itself between a Crack in the Top of the Cistern not larger than sufficient for the blade of a case Knife to be inserted -- on entering the Cistern, the Growth of the Root immediately assumed the Circular or usual form and increased to the Diameter of 1/4 of an Inch; whence it spread into innumerable fibres, resembling Hemp or Carolina Moss, to the length of 9 feet."

Notes:

Poulson's American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia), 25 Mar 1806 identifies donor.