The national Republican., 1869-06-25
PUBLIC pHISKINe FOUNTAINS.

PUBLIC DHINKING FOUNTAINS.
1t certainly does not require argument to
convince our citizens that public drinking
fountains would be a great convenience at
this season OF tho year The need exists in
every populous community, and the subject
Of providing for the wants OF the thirsty ia
now attracting considerable attention In
Northern and Western cities. In New York
forty-two Of these public drinking fountains
are being put up In the most frequcnted parts
Of the city, and the Board Of Health induced
this commendable act, reasoning that pure
water 10 one OF the best prescrvatlvcs of the
health Of man and beast.
1t is true we have corporation pumps, Wis
ible evidences Of our ancient civilization, but
In these days Of invention the public require
an easier way Of shaking thirst, especially II
the weather is hot and the water hard to
fetch. Besides, they are not numerous
enough where most needed.
At Binghampton, Now York, business
firm have erected fountain for the benefit
of the public at their own expense, for
which act Of generous consideration the
business men Of that city voted them a card
OF thanks, drinking their health in many a
bumper Of natures inexhaustlblo beverage.
The citizens of Albany rejoice over the ac-
QUESTION OF two Of these ornamental and
useful institutions, the gin Of an cnterpris-
ing Individual. Boston has always insisted
upon the benefits OF the "Cochituate,"
which freely dows in all parts of that city,
and Chicago is crying out, so to speak, for
better convenience to qucnch the thirst Of
her temperance population. The Sons Of
Temperance at Utica have, at their own
expense, supplied the thoroughfares of that
city with useful symbol Of their Order, and
these practical results of the zeal of cold
water advocates are springing up every
where except in Washington.
While commencing tho generosity of
those elsewhere who have substantially
eyinced their careful regard for the welfare
OF mankind, we are glad 10 say that Messrs.
Philip 4 solomons intend placing drinking
fountain In the front OF their new store on
the Avenue, and We respectfully suggest to
the merchants Of our city that they can ad-
vertlse their business In no better way lex
cepting through the columns Of the Re-
PrDLIcAS) than In showing their enterprise
by erecting suitable public drinking foun-
tains wherever they arc most needed.
The beautiful fountain In the lecture room
OF the Metropolitan Methodist church is an
attractive feature Of that magnificent struc-
ture. The music Of the falling water is
most agreeable to the ear, and no one com
plains Of distraction when services are held
in that part Of the building. What is true
of that which is ornamental is equally SO of
that which is useful. Nothing can be bet
ter calculated to keep thirsty men away from
temptation than by placing within easy
reach these ever-Gowlng fountains.
Will not Mayor Bowen act upon this sug-
gestiDn, and inaugurate at the capital Of the
nation feature which must have attracted
his attention at the Hub OF the Universe"
and one that we arc sure will be appreciated
by his fellow-cltlzens. In consideration OF
the fact that Ii Is deemed to be sanitary
measure, might 1t not be urgently requested
by our Board Of Healthl Anyhow, just so
we have the modern substitute for the town
pump.
The PhiIadeIphia Detective Force.
In view Of the charges preferred against
the detectives Of a number of Northern
cities, including Philadelphia, the Mayor Of
the latter place has Issued an order declar-
ing the detective department to be part OF
the police forco Of the city OF Philadelphia,
and subject to the orders of the chief of po-
lice. No person arrested is ever to be dis
charged except by order of the Mayor or
committing magistrate, nor shall the Gus
tody Of any prisoner be changed unless by
their order or that Of the chief of police.
No rewards or gratultles whatever,
whether Of money or other valIables, shall
be received by any officer, except by express
permission Of the Mayor, and all tenders of
rewards and gratuities shall be promptly re-
ported to the Mayor.
All stolen and other property recovered
shall be returned as speedily as practicable
to the proper owners, except where, by law,
the same Is to be delivered to the clerk of
the Courts OF Oyer and Termincr and
Quarter Session; the same in all cases to be
done only by the chief of police, receipt
therefor to be taken in book to be kept for
that purpose.
! These orders strictly enforced, will have
the effect, it Is believed, Of preventing much
OF the connivance Of detective officers at the
escape Of crimlnals-a practice that has
been carried to entirely too great lengths in
most Of the cities of the Union. The de-
tectlye system has In fact been most shame
fully abused by INSCRIPTIONS men who have
got into the service everywhere. 1t is some
thing to recover stolen property, but society
cannot be said to be much the gamer If the
recovery OF the property gives the known
thief his liberty, as Is too frequently the
case under the system that has evalled.
Personal.
Mr., John E. Owens tho dlstlupuls shed