The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-05-25 00:00:00

THE DORCHESTER WATER-WORKS.

The following Correspondenoe has passed between
the Worshipful the Mayor, William Mantleld, Req.,
and the Rev. 0. Fisher, on the subject of these
works :

-
Elmstead Vicarage,
Colchester, May 20,1858.
DEAR SIB,—A friend at Dorchester has sent me •
oopy of the Dorset Express, in which I see that notice
has been taken at • Town Council meeting of an anony-
mous letter of mine in the Dorset Chronicle on the sub-
ject of the Dorchester water-works. I see that Mr.
Galpin made a proposal that the opinion of Come per-
son known to the country generally should be taken ac-
cording to Mr. Whitehead's suggestion. I would take
the liberty of suggesting that the gentleman who made
the sections on which C. E. (whom I conclude to be Mr.
Whitehead) relies, and who is H. W. Bristow, Esq., of
the Museum of Praotfcal Geology and Mining, in Jer-
myn-street, would be a proper person to consult.
He knows the neighbourhood of Dorchester extremely
well, and would, I am confident, give a fair, unbiassed.,
scientific opinion upon the question. He has seen my
letter, but I have not heard his views upon it.
I remain, dear Sir,
Faithfully Yours,
OSMOND FISHER.
The Mayor of Dorchester.

Dorchester, May 22, 1858.
DEAR have to acknowledge the receipt of
your note of the 20th inst., referring to "your"
anonymous letter which appeared lately in it local paper,
and recommending the Town Council of this borough,
eating as the Board of Health, to take the opinion of a
gentleman named by you on the practicability of obtain.
ing water for the use of the town by means of the well
whioh is now being sunk under the direction of our
engineer.
I, as Chairman of the Board, must of course feel
obliged by any suggestion tending to the removal of
difficulties in the prosecution of public works, and
which promises any appreciable advantage to the town.
But, passing over the obvious fact that any proposition
of this nature—one which was really calculated to be
beneflaial in its adoption—would be far more likely to
have its full effect if brought before the Board in any
other way than as an anonymous communication in •
newspaper—l beg to say, that, in my opinion, the
present boring ought to be continued, being the least ex.
pensive mode of proceeding. It seems to me that
having expended so much money upon this undertaking,
we ought to go on—but in a manner as economical 11.11
possible, consistently with a fair prospect of attaining
the end in view.

As to the ultimate success of our " present plan,"
which you "condemn," there is I must say, great
uncertainty in it. But there Is also, allow me to
observe, great uncertainty throughout the whole of your
own printad letter, both as it relates to the prospect of
obtaining water in our own way, and with reference to
the improved mode of proceeding suggested by yourself.
Probably this kind of doubt and indecision is inherent,
to a greater or less extent, in all under.ground matters.
You evidently do not feel warranted in doing more than
enunciating misgivings with regard to our plan ; and
you do no less with regard to your own. You advise
us to sink the well of its full else considerably dee* in
the chalk, when, you say, water may " probable be
obtained ; but this probability seems to present itself
immediately afterwards so feebly to your mind, as to
lead you to suggest—" should this means fail"—the
necessity of abandoning altogether further operations at
the well, And the adoption of an entirely different plan,
namely, forcing the water up from a spring at a distance.
I confess, where there is so mach doubt, lean by no
means see my own way clear; nor can I turn with
much assurance of a satisfactory elucidation to any pro.
treated series of scientific researches and • comparison
of elaborate " opinions" upon this head.
I should depreciate every unnecessary additional ex•
pens., and feel disposed to try, es far as possible, the
sums' of our undertaking with the materials we have
at our command, and upon the plan which we have
deliberately laid down for ourselves,
Your letter having reference to a public subject, and
being addressed to "the Mayor of Dorchester," I
have ventured to send it, sonompanied with iny reply,
for publication —a course to which I presume you
would have no objection.
I am, Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully,
WM. MANFIELD.