Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-29
THE WATER-SToCk QUESTION

WAsHIHGroN, May %, 1858.
To the Editor of!hs Star:
Three communications have already appeared
In opposition to the action OF our corporate an
thorities concerning the distribution Of water
throughout our city; all Of which evince an igno
rance or misconception of the matter In question
Upon subject of such great importance to our
citizens, 1t Were well for those who seek to guide
public sentiment to lay aside their hobby, and
aim at the general good. No .'nice little mo
noPolies" should be built up, on the plea of
economy and refom;'' but with the experience
ri other cities to guide us the work shouid Is
undertaken and carried out in a m amer common
suTate with the liberal policy displiy ed by Con-
gress in erecting, at great cost, magnificent and
enduring works, and affording so abundant a
supply OF Natures best gift
Captain MeiSs, engineer in charge, notified the
Corporations of Washington and Georgetown
several months since, that water would be intro
duced into these cities in December next and a
bill is now before Congress granting the use of
the water to these Corporations, which will prob.
ably become law ere the close Of this session.
AS the Charter requires that the sense of the
people should be had upon any loan exceedinp
SlO,WO and as this could only be done at the an,
nnal election, the reference of our city fathers
was, therefore, eminently wise and proper i'm not
delaying action upon so important a matter until
July, lcoo-sia months after the water had been
introduced. The bill passed imposes certain re-
stTictions, one of which was that no part of this
stock should be used for anv other purpose than
inc distribution OF water. The hue and cry of
= Debt! debit has been raised by the writer's of
the communications above referred to- and o,
OF them proposes to tax indiscTiminately ALI
property at the rate of % cents on the hund red
dollars The injustice of such a method as this
would prevent its adoption, even were il allowed
by the charter. The idea which they seem to
groan under, Is that this wor is 10 be supported,
whereas it il seLf-supporfing measure, as the
Income from water rates would pay the loan
principal and interest and Weld beside Ieve-
nue. In proof Of this the following statement of
N "a nft 81 H..
mitted
The receipts in the city Of New York for the
year 1857 from water rates was 500, 600; in Phil
ddelPhia, siNO U; in Boston, 500, 900 The
city Of Richmond, Va, with a population of
1900, lin 1897 received $1,000
In the city of Boston the receipts for the first
year after the introduction Of water was $3.50 600
and in New York it was estimated that property
advanced In value III per cent the year following
It's introduction
Estimating the receipts from this source
(taking Boston the guide il would amount
to S6j 900, which should relieve the minds of
aforesaid writers from the dread phantom of
debt which they delight to conjure up
o delay IN accepting sncb a boon as a bounti-
in supply OF pure water after 1t has been brought
10 our very doors by the lberality Of Congress or
10 bubble over our own particular fancier. were
very nnS Iatefnl and foolish, and we should w, III
deserve the faunts and jeers so freely bestowed
On US IN the halls Of Congress and BY other cities
Tor our want Of energy and public spirit
stranger reading the articles referred 10 would
INFER that These writer's evidently considered it
The Prtrilege and duty of Congress no, only TO
distribute water throughout the city, but to intro
duce II through their dwellings and pay them TO
cit
All Of us have axes to grind and these
writers have only Go limited" at what the under.
signed now does openly, deeming it well to he
first in the field with his offer, which is-to dis.
tribute the mains and supply the city with water
IN the manner proposed, at his own outlay with
rates not to exceed those in the various cities
before mentioned and to give ample surety for
the faithful performance Of the work-provid-d
the exclusive right of furnishing the CITY be con-
ierrrd by the proper authorities for tuenty years,
ard Will further agree, in consideration OF this
privilege, To pay the interest Oh the present float
iEg debt OF the city during that period What
do cur pseudo economists say,