Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-03-18
Our Municipal Affairs.
THE WATER woRKs-THEIR HISTORY, &C

THE WATER woRKs-THEIR HISTORY, &C.
1t is of the highest Importance to every
community to have bountiful supply of
good and wholesome water-that beverage
so freely bestowed by God himself to
"pOuriSh and invigorate his creatures"
Villages and hamlets are located on ac-
count of the supply of water, and the bet
ter supplied they are with this element, the
sooner they become towns and cities.
Nashville was located on its present rocky
site solely on account of water privileges.
The founders of the city could have made
town where South Nashville now is, much
easier and with less expense; with smooth
er streets and more level avenues, had it
not been for Judge McNairy's spring on
the North, Wilson's spring in BarrOw's
Grove, and the then fine spring at the foot
of Spring street on the bank of the river.
Thousands upon thousands of dollars have
been expended on these rocky and uneven
streets, which might have been avoided,
had it not been for these water facilities.
IL fact, in the early days of the city, it was
an exceedingly doubtful problem whether
or not city could be made on the spot
designated to commemorate the name and
fame of the brave Cen NASH 1t was for
years "nip and tuck " between Palmyra,
Haysboro' and Nashville, as to which
should take precedence in the race for
city" honors. Finally, the latter prevail
ed and the two former have been compar-
atively forgotten. AS the town increased,
the public interests required water in
more convenient manner than by sending
to either Of the springs for it. Temporary
and simple water works were reSOrted to,
but soon abandoned, AS not being adequate
to supply the public demand. In the course
of time, the present site of the Water
Works was chosen, and the city commenced
in earnest to erect a reservoir, secure a
steam engine &c. The undertaking was a
magnificent project, worthy Of the liberal
hearts of those who urged its erection,
and of those into whose hands the desti-
MES of the city were for the time being en-
trusted HThe reservoir was built, if we
are not mistaken, by WILLIAM SHIELDS, I'M
der the direction and management of A.
SrIEN, engineer.
The Water Works were completed in
the autumn of 1888, and in anticipation of
the event, john NJ Bass, then an Alder
man, introduced the following preamble
and resolution, which we're adopted by
the Mayor and Aldermen, to wit:
"Fhereas, The the introduction Of water
into the town is an object OF great interest
and importance To all it, citizens, and should
be accompanied with some public parade;
therefore,
"Resoired, That the Watering Committee be
authorized and requested to invite the citizens
aud strangers now in town, to be present at
the Water Works at such time the Engineer
may notify said committee OF his readiness To
put said works in operation, and that said
committee procure the use OF the eanH"n, and
take such other steps as TO them may seem ht
aud suitable to so great an occasion"
In accordance with the above resolution,
the inauguration,of the Water Works took
place on the last day Of September or first
day of October, 1888, and great was the
rejoicing of the people. The cannon was
fired, music obtained, and procession
formed, composed Of hundreds Of citizens,
large number Of ladies, members Of the
Legislature then about TO assemble, stran-
gers, &c, &c. 1t was a jubilee. And
from that day to this, the Water Works
have not ceased to do good service, and
were then, as now, the most important
public Improvement in the city.
Let US remark, parenthetieally, that the
year 1888, seems 10 have been an imPor-
tant year in the history of Nashville The
Union Bank went into operation in the
spring; the Planters Bank was chartered
in the fall. and went into operation on the