The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-04

G. Werner, repairing windlass, &C.,. o'oO
| c. P Poppenhem, shovels. &c. ...........-... I.UO
B. Foley, boots got in February 1866. ...... 1900
s271.oo
WIN. T. WRAGG,
WILLIAM G. WHILDEN, Committee.
P. G. GAILLARD, Mayor,
Correct: wM. 7. WRAGG, Chairman Committee
| on Tidal Drains.
Alderman Wragg read the weekly report of the
Keeper OF the Tidal DRAINS, WHICH WAS recei'eu "s
| information.
Alderman v7ragg msde the following report:
The Committee on the Artesian Well, to whom was
refer red the petition of the executors Of VIM Mhte
proprietor Of the Charleston Hotel, respectfully re-
port that tho petition makes the following s'a'e
ments, viz: ,,
i. That about 1867 Daniel Mixer, the then lessee
and proprietor of the Charleston Hotel ala pipes a.
3 That the sum expended by Mr.. NJ. in this work
was not less than eight hundred dollars CsSOOl
8. That Mi, had an understanding or agreement
with the city ulhortes that he might lay his pipes
and in consideration of his doing It at his private e1
| pense it was understood that Mr.. Mixer and the
hotI should have the of the said water, free O.
any charge whatever until such time as the author
ties were ared to distribute said water to the c
zens by the usual and regular conducts.
That conducting the water to the Caafaes.GI ;I
this particular that it has been frequently resortec
to- 70 supply the city engines in e1tinguishing hres
| in proximity to the hotel.
s. That the quantity Of used by the hotel has been
| and is, very limited, being confined TO the oatf
rooms attached to the hotel aud for drinking purpo
ses only.
6. The petition then alleges that for this limited
supply no charge ought to be imposed upon tht
hotel until the spring Is ready for distribution, aud
water rate has been laid upon the citizens. 1t also
alleges that charge for the water was ever made
on Mr.. Mixers successors In the hotel taiter the
death of that gentleman in 1851, including Mr
White And then goes on to say, " 1t has only been
recently since the death of Mr.. White, that some
ella m for compensation for tho use OF the water has
been set up, but for what reason, and upon wna'
| grounds your petitioners know not. The same rea-
sons that exempted Mr.. Mixer from charge for the
use of this water should apply with equal ii not
stronger forcf In this instance
failed to show that any ''understanding or agree
ment with the city authorities" iii by that expression
the City Council is meant) "that he might lay his
pipes" was ever entered into between the Council
and Mr. Mixer. And the sequel will shoT that the
only "undertanding or agreement waa between
Mr. Mixer anil the then Chairman OF the Committee
on the Artessn Well and. therefore, could never, Dy
any strained application, have been considered py
Mr.. Mixer as binding one moment longer than 1t
might please Council to sanction Its continuance.
That any arrangement was made with any OF
the successors of Mr.. Mixer does not appear, nor
does the petition claim that any such ever was made
But, assuming the extraordinary ground that this
arrangemen.' was made, not with the proprietor OF
the hotel but with the hotel ITSELF the petition pro-
ceeds to argue that 1t Is now irrevocabe and only to
be terminated when the well shall have attained final
completion, aud pipes having been laid down
throughout the streets OF the city water Is dispensed
to every inhabitant and every one has been charged
an equal water rent.
Let us pause here for one moment before proceed
ing to show the true nature and extent Of the ar-
rangement" to consider what must be the inevitable
result OF such claims as the one set up in this
petition. Here is O privilege granted to an
individual for his special accommodation. A
privilege which he considers of so much impor-
tance to himself that he is willing to go to consde-
rabe expense out Of his own funds to secure it, even
for an unce rt,in period and upon precarous tenure
las we will thow), and forthwith this privilege is
claimed right by individuals who had no part or
interest in the transaction at the TIME OF its accom-
plishment, and an attempt is thus made to wrest
great public work from its legitimate objects and
convert 1t to the and benefit of private individ
uals Such claims ought not only to be met and re-
sisted on the Threshold but the attempt to assert
them should meet with the prompt expression OF dis
approval 1t richly merits. For the inevitable con-
sequence must be to deter not on'y public bodies,
but private individuals, from granting privileges
got rid Of in many cases. Fortunately, in the pre-
sent instance, have the means Of placing this unit
ter in its truo light for have at hand the testimony
of those who made the arrangement as we'll as those
who were most conversant with the whole neeotia.
ton.
Finding that the Council journals contained no
record of the transaction, the committee addressed
letters to those persons who were IN position to know
man of the Committee on the Artesian Well at the
time, the following letter was addressed No. II, and
his answer is as follows mo. y:
CHARLESTON, December 10th. 1867.
Professor YIN. Hume:
SIR: Having been Chairman of the Committee on
the Artesian Well at about the time that an ar
rangement was made between MIR. Mixer and the
City Council for the use Of the well water at the
Charleston Hotel, you are doubtless familiar with
the details OF Il ut Arrangement. Will you obge me
by furnishing in writing, for the Of the present
Committee On the Arteslan Well, all the information
you may possess on that subject? The Committee
particularly desire to know on what terms Mr. Mixer
was allowed the Of the water; at whose expense
the pipes we're laid; how long he was to enjoy the
privilege; what compensation he was to pay for the
water consumed. and in what way or at what time
the arrangement might be altered or terminated.
Also to state whether there was anything In that ar
ranpement calculated or intended to bind Council
transfer the privilege to Mr.. Mixers successors with
out Limitation.
By compl, ING with above request at your earliest
convenience you will greatly oblge your obedient
servant. VIM. L. WRAGG,
Chairman Committee on the Artesan Well
To DR.. Wragg Chairman. de-.
Having been Chairman Of the Committee of the
Artesian Well on about the time that the use Of
the water was permitted to Mr. Mixer, am pre-
pared after sufficient reflection, to state the part.cu
lars When the supply of water was sufficiently CO.
pious, it YVES the will Of Council that all persons
should enjoy the benefits Of it. according to their re-
public and Ill were equally entitled to its use. 1t was
drank at the WELL and was carried away in pitchers
buckets and barrels. An arrangement was even made
for the accommodation Of horses and cattle, and the
intent was manifest that all were welcome to the bless
ing which the well daily poured forth. Among those
who desired to use the water was Mr. Mixer, who
seeing the iInpraccabiity Of obtaining adequate
supply for the hotel in which he interested bv
daily transportation In carts otherwise, propo ed
to run pipe as to supply the Charleston Hotel
This pipe ws to receive the water during the night
and discharge its contents into cistern which then
existed, but was inadequately supplied from the
roof. 1t the common recipient of both rain and
Artesian water, the excess OF either discharged
into city dram. After the connection was made,
visited the hotel and Mr. Mixer expressed his sntis
faction ut the arrangement which had been executed
He expressed himself truly grateful for the bene
fit conferred and acknowledged the supply of water
as truly valuable to the hotel and great relief to his
anxietes about daily deficiency which previously
existed.
Neither in my private capacity, nor as Chairman
Of the Committee Of the Artesian Well, did make
Mixer for the possession of the water. It was
ming to waste as surplus during the night he con-
structed the pipe and Mr.. Welton laid on the water
each night. always considered it matter Of per-
sonal friendship between Mr.. Weton and MIR. Mixer.
and intelposed no obstacle to any arrangement
which they made for the benefit Of the hotel, the
useful appropriation of the water, provided that it
did not interfere with the wants Of Others had no
authority to sell the city water, but assumed the
privilege of aiding those who desired its consump-