The Portland daily press., 1865-08-17
THE WATER QUESTION.

The Advertiser of Tuesday had over column
on this subject, in which the Press and its ed
itor came in for full share of attention. Mr..
Smith-for he is no doubt the writer-dis-
claims all responsibility for Mr.. Speeds prop
osition to supply the city, and thinks the
stockholders of the Water Power COMPANY
will object to his proposition as unjust to their
interests. 5Ush la
We have, still, strong suspicion that for
all prGc tcal purposes, Col. Speed, the editor OF
the Advertiser, F. j. Smith, and the Stock
holders Of the Water Power Co., are all one
one person-but this is question Of very lit
tie Importance anyway. As we have before
intimately II either or all of them, or anybody
else, viii propose feasible scheme for furnish
ing the city with pure water, we insist it
should be met, considered, canvassed and treat
ed according to its merits It is the sydter we
want, and it is of very small consequence to
the consumer or to the city who supplies 1t,
provided it be supplied, is of good quality, in
sufficient quantity, and at cost that is not I'M
reasonable.
Mr. Smith will do this, whatever views
we may have expressed in relation to him.
however we may have regarded his motives.
or whatever the feelings of the public in rela-
ton to him in other matters, he will deserve
well of posterity for at least one deed Of pub
lie spirit, and will cause his name to be re-
rnembered with gratitude by thousands and
hundreds OF thousands who otherwise might
be numbered among the great multitudes of
the unwashed. ~
The editor of the Advertiser mistakes in
speaking OF us as "a representative in the CITY
Council" We enjoy no such honor. Last
year, while holding seat in that body, in mood
faith we offered an order which was passed,
water>-ll44i----~---..sssss- sET IeasC such
examinations, surveys and estimates might be
made of the different plans proposed for sur-
plying the city, that an ineligible report
could be made to the City Government and
tnroush 1t TO the citizens, which report would
ahord a safe basis for action, if not during the
milation OF prices caused by the war, at least
as soon as the war should close and prices of
currency labor and material should come back
10 their normal peace standard. For some rea-
son the committee appointed to act under the
order referred to, did not have a meeting till
the season was too far advanced to attend 10
such work, and the whole thing. much to our
regret and we doubt not the regret Of the cit
liens generally, was allowed to slumber with
out results.
we are glad to see the question again being
agitated, and we shall be found throwing no
distractions in the way of any earnest. feas
IDLE, sensible plan submitted in good faith, no
matter who submits 1t, or who is to have the
credit OF It, or who expects to profit by 1t.
The Water Power Company of which Col.
Speed is President, and for which Mr.. Smith il
understood to supply the funds, have projected
great work at the very doors of our CITY "a
work which, if completed, viii afford facilities
for Portland, to increase in business prosner-
ity, such as no city in New England enjoys.
We know nothing of the enterprise from ner-
sonal knowledge or inspection, have never
been on the ground, but we are informed bv
some OF our best citizens, men opposad ~ Mr.
Smith in almost everything else. that II is a
work that should have the hearty God-,naed
of every philosophical citizen.
We trust this enterprise may be pushed ahead
TO successful consummation; that no lack of
funds will be allowed to retard it. We are in
formed that the present operators alone viii
spend quarter of million or more, thus af-
fording the most substantial evidence of their
confidence in its feasibility and ultimate sue
cess. May they not be disappointed.