The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-09-01

l.
time before left home in the early part
OF the last month, the subject Of the ne
ccssity of an increased supply of water
for the ordinary use of the people, and
for the extraordinary occasions Of fires,
and Of extending the facilities now at
command for its distribution, had
gravely occupied the attention 90 the
City Council. Indeed. the subject had
been transmitted to them by their i'm
mediate predecessors, who bad deter
mined that such increased supply of
water was an urgent necessity, to meet
which was duty devolved upon them
by the increased demand for it. The
present City Council, therefore, took up
the unfinished work Mt the point where
their predecessors had left it, aud after
the maturcst consideration, on the 23l
day of August, ultimo, entered into
contract with Messrs. Pearce and
Spraguo. the owners of the Columbia
Canal, to build ''such parts of the new
Water Works AS are required to force
1,5OO, 600 gallons of water daily into the
distributing reservoir, now nsed by the
city," for which they agreed to pay a
stipulated sum i'll quarterly payments
Oil the satisfactory completion of the
contract on the part of these capitalists.
On my return home found this to be
tue coalition of things relative to the
project Of new Water Works, meeting at
the same time with expressions of dis
satisfaction regarding it on the part of
relation to tho City Council, as CITY
\ IL,
upon me concerning their general legisla-
ton, especially when I have not been
consulted, yet it does not become me
to remain silent on so important sub
ect as this contract is, and see Injustice
done to the City Council rs we'll as to
the gentlemen with whom they have
contracted The justification of that
body is obvious, and the act they have
done, in my opinion, is not only entirely
dcfcnsible, but i'll principle and policy
alike commendable. The principle upon
which the City Council have proceeded
was that Of imperative duty, while the
policy OF the measure was dictated by Il
sense of responsibility for the repose
aud safety of the people, and dated rs far
back as 1918, more than half century
ago and steadily adhered to from that
day to tho present. AS to the necessity
for an increased supply of water, all are
agreed. On that point [ risk nothing
when say that there exists no contra
riety of opinion amongst the people Of
Columbia. Every one knows that u
general uneasiness and sense of insecu-
rity, on account of the limited supply Of
water. prevails in the minds of the in
habitnnts of the city. A denial of this
fact would not be respectable. Such be-
ing the case, it became the duty of the
City Council with all reasonable despatch
to devise the proper method of furnish
ing such additional supply This, too,
is SO obvious that dcninl of the asscr-
ton would be stupid. Two modes we're
suggested and thoroughly discussed
One was that tho bonds OF the city should
be issued aud sold in order to raise the
| necessary funds to enable the city to
purchase the required water power,
abandoning the use Of steam power
altogether, and to construct the new
Water Works. The other mode was to
invite capitalists to advance the funds
required for the accomplishment of the
Desired purpose by Offering reasonable
and fair premium for such employment
of their money.
The former mode did not commend
itself to my judgment, and in consulta-
ton with the Mayor and Col. Pearce, I
very earnestly opposed its adoption;
while. ut the Same time, I rs warmly
| urUpi 0ocanfonpa of tba oIIor ,>l,,,