The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-24
THE WATER QUESTION.

the Paramount ReservolrS. Mayor Fox dis
cussed the whole question not only in an able,
but an earnest, candid and creditable spirit;
and as his views and recommendations sub
stantially accord with those of the Chief En-
oineer, we hope that no petty partisan issue
will hereafter be raised on a subject in which
men of all parties are equally interested.
It will be seen by the correspondence with
the Schuylkill Navigation Company that that
corporation promptly came to the relief of
the CITY in the hour of its greatest peril. In
stead of insisting upon the stringent execu-
tion of the contract which requires the Fair
mount Water Works to suspend operations
whenever the water falls below the breast of
the dam. they closed their locks and freely
placed the contents of their pools at the dis
nosal of the Chief Engineer. BY this action
thev not only lost revenue at an important
season, but they subjected to serious damage
and inconvenience hundreds of boatmen, and
If was for their immediate relief mainly that
the appropriation of S25,0 900 to the Schuyl-
kill Navigation Company was passed yes
terday.
The only other resolution which was adopted
authorized the Chief Engineer, with the con-
sent of the Water Department, to adopt any
Temporary measures his judgment may ap-
prove to remedy the present scarcity pro-
yided the expense does not exceed S25,OOO,
and that the hydrants in and for dwelling
houses shall not be stopped. This measure
NAV not be intrinsically of much Importance,
except as an evidence of the disposition and
temper of Councils, yet it will no doubt incite
the Engineer to renewed exertions, and fully
Justify him in giving fair trial to the steam
fire-engine project which now promises to be
attended with considerable success.
So far as the future is concerned, Councils
were not prepared yesterday for definite ac-
ton. All propositions were referred to the
Water Committee, which was perhaps the
wisest course but we fervently hope that
they will not be suffered to sleep there. A
disposition was shown by few of the men,
bers to do less than the emergency required,
and by others to do more than is necessary:
but, on the whole, wise and prudent spirit
prevailed. There are, however, two plain
dangers to be averted-frst, prolonged mac
ton or indecision until it becomes too late to
remedy the present defects by next summer,
and. second, the consideration of expensive
and extravagant schemes for seeking a new
source of water-supply for the city.
The evils of neglect are so appalling that
we should agree with the Mayor that appre-
tensions on this score cannot be we'll founded,
if past experience did not Justify them.
Auxiliary engines are not only necessary now,
but they have been necessary for years, and
scarcely summer has passed without the
CITY being obliged to use more water foi
water power than her authorities are entitled
to demand by the existing contracts. Phila
delphia has long been equally at the mercy OF
a great freshet or prolonged drought. Nc
new facts are developed by the present
scarcity; but as it has helped to familiarzt
the entire public with the deplorable def
ciencies of the present system, new delay
will now be more inexcusable than ever. Th,
Mayor well says, in view of the repeated re
Communications of Chief Engineers, that i
is surprising that auxiliary steam engine
were not erected at Fairmount long ago, ''il
view of the mere possibility of accident a
Paramount dam" But the danger is that, a
there have been delays in the past ther
will be delays in the future; and that Will
Councilmen debate or ignore subject i
which the whole city has such vital interest
months will swiftly fly by, and the burnin
rays of another summer beam upon us befor
the necessary new machinery is in workin
order.
This danger is intensified by the propos
tion introduced into both branches of Cour
ellis yesterday for the appointment of me-
commission to consider the water question
But short time ago a commission the
roughly examined and reported on this sui
iect in a manner that is entirely satisfactor
to the Mayor, the Chief Engineer and to tn
public generally. 1t is not necessary to adoI
all their suggestions Immediately. We ca
postpone for the present the construction {
sewer from Manayunl to point below tn
Fairmount dam, and the proposed substitl
ton of inclined planes for the outlet lock
the Schuylkill; but the general idea of utili
ing larger quantities Of the waters of tht
stream at all seasons cannot be too close
adhered to. None of the projects for brin
ing water from a great distance by expe
sive aqueducts deserve serious considerable
at this juncture. In the present fnanci
condition of the city, they are impractical
on the one hand, and totally unnecessary
the other Even if ten or fifteen millions
dollars were expended 20 bring supplies ire
the Lehigh or the headwaters OF the De
ware, we would certainly get no larger
scarcely better supply than that whch
Schuvllxin now delivers without expense
the base of our reservoirs. What we need
E 10, 8 4, sg.-s