The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-07-16
Ottapa frerGrao
OTTAWA, ILL, JULY 16. 1859
Ottawa Water Works,

Here is an enterprise of the utmost inn
portance to our city, to which, in Justice to
one of our most public spirited townsmen,
we ought to have alluded before now.
1t is known to our citizens that, some
three Years ago, on the high ridge about
mile south of Ottawa, the discovery was
made of an enormous basin Of gravel,
which was permeated by an apparently
inexhaustible supply of excellent spring
water, and that by digging ditch 10 or
- feet deep this basin could be tapped in
the direction OF our town, in running
stream of almost any needed capacity. The
edge of this basin lies, We believe, some
100 feet above the level of the town, So
that water drawn thence could be carried
TO the top ofthe highest structure in the
city.
The importance of the discovery. with
the view OF the introduction at some tu-
ture day of this water into our city
was seen at glance, but no serious
movement for the accomplishment OF so
desirable an object was thought of, until
several months ago, when our esteemed
fellow citizen. the Hon. j. D. Cation, who
in his usually thorough and scientific way
had thoroughly examined the geological
formation Of the ridge and gravel bed iii
/ question: took a contract OF the Ottawa
Starch Company at the amazingly low fig
ure OF &. OO0 to introduce a inch stream
I OF wsI';-r I,r.J rlIat=vy1.s 5iiiSfIfneIIt. Y ~
/. That the Judge should undertake to
accomplish this at such figure seemed
among the widest of projects, and so it
might have been III itself, but with him il
was intended as the mere entering wedge
Of an enterprise Of vastly more importance,
and that was at the same time also TO put
down a much larger pipe with the view of
/ supplying every house in the city with
this excellent water.
| He submitted his plan to several OF our
men of means, but found none of them
willing to touch it. The enterprise involy-
el too much expense and hazard, the
pipes miaht burst; the water might fail
the city was yet too small &c, dc. Moth
Ing launted, however by these discourage
lncnts the Jud ge was not to be drivtn from
his scheme, and finally resolyedto " go it
alone" And going it alone he now is
/ For two weeks already, he has had some
/ - men at work opening his ditch from
/ the top of the ridge south of the town, and
preparing it for the reception of the two
pines-one of inches for the Starch Fac
tory. and the other Of much larger capaci-
ty for the city At the same time also he
has a similar force Of men at work away
up in the pincrics OF Wisconsin getting
out logs for his pipes, and in his brass foun-
dry in Ottawa he has the machinery cree
ted for BORN them on their arrival here.
Thus the work goes brayely on, and in less
than two months the water will be running
down our streets.
On the arrival Of the fluid in our city,
we understand the Judge proposes to Of
fer the stream to a joint stock company
but if our people that have money are
again too timid to risk few dollars in SO
noble an cnterpIizc, he will then proceed
5 to put down the pipes and distribute il
through town on his own responsibility.
In view of the magnitude of this enter
prize--oi its Importance TO the reputation
the health, comfort and manufactured in
! terests OF our city-and in view Of the ma
. ny hazards and discouragementsh he ha
Z met with in its undertaking, certainly M
language can too highly commend the in
{ telligence and public spirit of Judge Ca
n ton in so dauntlessly engaging in this ven
g ture Our readers will certainly be amaz
:, ed to learn, as we were, that SO far from
2 mcetinswith word of encouragement ant
!, commentator on every hand, not tn
/ least of his trials thus far have been tn
g annoyance of petty and contemplate oil
2 stacles thrown in his way by small soule
l. men who are envious and fearful he ma
y make some money ont of it in the end.