The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-10-05
COMMUNICATIONS.
[FoY the Day Book.1
The Water Questionable. 2.

Our position, Mr.. Editor, on the water ques-
ton can't be turned" say what may, be said
about it-disguise the points as we may the
city bonds present or prospective issue) are
not worth over twenty-three cents on the dol
lar in specie. In other words, the city credit
is on its death-bed, and has just about enough
vitality left in it to be drowned out with few
inches of stodmp lOater.
But when would these mighty "water
works" be fnished2 AS the immortal Patrick
Henry asked, "will it be next week or next
year ?" Neither, sir, we opine; but three
years might be sufficient to build an inferior
set of water works Working in the swamp
lis not to be done at all seasons of the year,
and "coolies and navvies" can't be had just
when wanted Besides, it will take "a few
days" to convert this half million of ''city cou-
pons new issue" into greenbacks, even at
fraction of their face, meanwhile the interest
on the Coupons new issue" would have to be
provided for every six months.
Well, and where is the water to come from
Is it the "lake of the Dismal Swamp" or the
stagnant 'canawlp that is to be "dreened" for
the purpose? In either case the supply may
fall short Just in the dro,ah season. But what
matter if the ''works" only are there and paid
for in city bonds lat a discount?) We would
still have the works if we shouldn't have the
water.
And what sort of water will it be, if got in
the swamp? Why some people have been
known to call it ''juniper" water. 1t is not
juniper that colors it, but all sorts Of de-
cayed "roots, banks and leaves" which may be
very harmless in some diseases; but, we trow,
our virtuous washer-women of Norfolk would
turn up their noses if they were expected to
wash clothes Uhite with such a Cherokee in
fusion. Why the humblest Of the "four and
twenty elders" would do without water on his
robes through the rest of eternity if he had to
use 'juniper" water, as it has been almost
facetiously styled, to whiten them. We do
not believe it is worth rush for steam engines
or tanneries, and it is but poor consolation
! (now that poteen is so PLENTIFUL that one can
only drink 1t, and get fooled at that.
There is water, Mr.. Editor, yes, pure and
sparkling in the upper country-just where
the hills begin to show their beautiful bosoms ;
but, alas, half million city bonds at twenty
three cents (specie) won't 'draw the milk"
this bout. Let us put the thing off till the
right time, and then, when we can pay for
them have water works that are worth having.
We don't want tim pipe leading to theswamp,
| with one or two jack-ass engines to pump it..
We want works of the best sort, and under
| the best auspices.
We are told sou etimes, quite alarmingly,
that if the city don't issue its bonds and do
the work, paicate capital ~ will take it up
and make ever so much money that the city
would otherwise make Well, who's afraid
If such enterprise is at all likely to spring
| forth, all we have to say is, toddle in private
capital, and get squeezed You are welcome
to build up all the steamship lines that we are
going to have, and to bring down fresh water
enough to set them ahoat, so far as we are
concerned, and we'll bid you God speed.
Now we would really like to have the opin-
ion of such man as Gen'l Malone upon this
truly important subject. He is an engineer
without superior; and has footed it over all
the ground, both as surveyor and soldier He
owes it to an uninformed public to give the
benefit of his complete knowledge and obser-
walton. Nine-tenths of the voters will readily
acknowledge they are not posted and his
views will certainly be received by them with
respect probably with acquiesence. "Gen'l
Malone has the floor" FENIAN.