Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-25
Water Monopolies.

but none are more SO than those which
control the necessaries of life. Monopo-
lies of bread, meat, grain, fuel, and arti-
cles of such descriptions, are always obi
Gus but the most detestable Of all is
monopoly of water. 1t is almost equal to
monopoly of the air we breathe. We
ing over the face of the earth, who, hav-
ing t1onopolized as much as was within
their grasp, of lands, and stocks, and the
stats Of life, would buy up all the air, if
they could, and sell it out at so much
mouthful
We have been led to these remarks by
noticing in the Baltimore Argus that
nefarious attempt is now being made by
certain spectators in that city to antici-
pate the civil authorities there, so as to
make the supply Of drinking water for the
thirsty people matter of bargain and
sale. Shame on the scoundrels for we
can call them nothing else.
The Argus well says:
1T is miserable trick in legislation to
defeat the ends of Baltimore, and to drive
the city into the hands of these Patapsco
gentlemen, that they may realize, if their
scheme is successful, some hundreds of
thousand dollars. Their whole scheme
is to compel the authorities of this city to
buy out the Patapsco Company. They,
we do not believe, ever designed to lay
one foot of pipe, or to construct foot of
aqueduct, and their whole operations
clearly evidence the truth of our theory
in this respect. Will the city authorities
remain inactive while these attacks are
being made on Baltimore interests? Will
our representatives in the Legislature re-
main quiet while the city they represent
is being thus sacrificed ? Will the Legis-
lature of the State consummate an act of
the grossest injustice to the city which
should be the pride of every Maryland
ern'
These statements and questions are
forcibly put, and we respond to them
most cordially as citizens of Washington.
The Infamous attempt that was recently
made here to forestall the action of Con-
gress by the spectators of private mo-
nopoly of water stockholders has been
nipped in the bud. 10 triumphe!
Let the people be kept on their guard
against these money vampires of the body
politic-these greedy blood-suckers of the
public pulse. When will such frauds and
populations cease from the national trea-
sury! And echo answers" When2"
P. S.-Since the above article was
prepared, we learn, by subsequent num-
Der of the Argus, that the Water Com
missioners concerned are not to blame,
inasmuch as they have been misled by
certain specializing and peculating indi-
vidual, who is green enough to suppose
that the independent press will allow him
to impose upon the people. His game is
precisely like that attempted by the would
be-water spectators in Washington but
his doom and theirs will be the same
a signal and Infamous failure. The Star
was "keen" enough to discover and aid in
the removal of certain other water nui-
sance; and it will not cease to point it's
rays on the abuses sought to be commit
ted by the new and greedy tribe of public
spongers.
Give the capital city pure water-give
us plenty of it-give it to us at reason
able rate; and to this good end keep the
work out of the hands of the stock swim
oilers and monopoly gamblers who live
only by their secret stealings from the
people.
Show them up!
CHARGE.-We notice with pleasure the