Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-10-12
For the Day Book.
THE WATER QUESTION.

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The Importance that this question has
now attained In the estimation of the
general public, makes the narrow view
taken Of it by some of our people all the
more noticeable. These gentlemen advo.
cate cisterns, artesian wells, &C. These,
Mr.. Editor, belong to the days that are
past, and besides Sir, the artesian we'll in
this locality is not by any means reliable
source, from which 10 obtain even sup
ply of drinking water, to say nothing OF
the vastly increased supply necessary for
mechanical and manufacturing purposes.
The U. 3. Government has been boring
at Fortress Monroe for years and reached
depth of over 800 feet without finding a
supply. The experiment has been tried in
Norfolk and failed. The city ofSt. Louis
bored over 1000 feet with like success.
But Sir, the idea of the. city of Norfolk, on
which according to all accounts "the eyes
of the whole country and Europe are now
conferred" falling back upon cisterns and
wells for her supply of water, is supremely
ridiculous. Norfolk to succeed in the race
for position among the great cities, (most
of which have now so much the start of
her) must be placed in condition to offer
the same inducements to mechanics and
manufacturers afforded by the other cities
Norfolk has advantages as manufacturing
city not enjoyed by cities where it is
carried on to large extent. We ship
away every day and hour materials that
should be manufactured here. We send
them North where they are manufactured
and returned to US in different shapes and
at greatly enhanced value. Cotton, rags,
different kinds of timber and many other
articles too numerous to mention, are thus
shipped away and returned to US. We
should have Cotton Factories, Paper Mills,
Furniture Factories, Tanneries, Barrel
and Pail Factories, &C., at home, and thus
save at least the cost of transportation of
the raw material North and the manufac.
tured articles returned, no inconsiderable
item in itself, furnish work for our people,
trade Tor our merchants, and add largely
to our population the working classes, who
after all make the prosperity of any city.
Population makes the city. But say some
of our property owners eve do not propose
to be taxed to furnish water for manufac-
turers, let them dig wells and find a supply
as was done here 100 Yeas ago." Gen
tlemen, this will not do, we must put our
city on footing as regards the improve
ments of the day with other cities, if we
hope to succeed, and the increase in popu-
lation will encha nce the value of your
property in far greater proportion than
the increase in taxes. Other gentlemen
say eve want to make Norfolk COM
mercial city. Establish railroads, and
steamship lines to Europe All this may
be done and yet Norfolk be nothing but
port of transhipment. We must stop these
products or large share of them at our
city. manufacture them and then ship
them wherever we can find a market, be
fore we shall become a great city, and
water is an essential element for the &C
complishment of this end. Let our Coun-
ellis then push forward the good work and
give us plentiful supply at the earliest
possible moment. j.