The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-08-30
ConumBfA s. o.! August 81, 1870.


ED1goD RuGN1x: Our attenaon has
been called to various, adverse criticisms
,tIat have for theslasta few days appeared
in our public prints, upon the contract
executed between the city Of Columbia
and Mr.. Samuel A. Pearce, Jr., both for
himself and as agent of Senator Sprsgue.
We have examined this contract and all
its provisions, and in order to correct the
mis-statements and misapprehensions
arising from them, we propose to make
the following review of this contract, as
we'll rs the incidents attendant upon and
preceding its execution.
1. That the present water supply of
this city is entirely insufficient, and that,
| in consequence, we are left at the mercy
of any incendiary spirit that may run
rife through our midst, are facts so pa
tent to the minds of all who have given
the subject anything like thorough in
vestigation, that it requires no argument
or even assertion to establish them. But
as an incident in connection with this
view of the matter. we here submit the
following action of the City Council in
1866, when ex-Mayor Mckenzie was
Chairman of the Committee on Water
Works:
PROCEEDINGS OF coUNcIL-spEcIAL MEETING.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, COLUMBIA, May z. 1866.
Prcsent-Aldorrnen Alexander, Geiger, Hunt,
Mcdonald, Mckenzie, Stofk, Taylor, Walter
| and Wearn.
On motion, Alderman Taylor was called to
| the Chair. .',i'
| The Chairman stated that the object of the
meeting WAS to take action upon the report OF
fhnC Cor ,rottt nf tn1 To
tain the exact expenses per annum OF tho City
Water Works.
Alderman Mckenzie Chairman Of the Com
| mittee, submitted the following report:
Tho Committee appointed by the City Coun-
| Gil to ascertain the aggregate expenses per
annum to supply tho city with water, have
arrived at their conclusions by the exhibit of
| the Water Works accounts for tho years 1859,
| 1860 and 1861. The average expense they find
| to be $40, 900. In this amount is included the
| salary of the Superintendent of Water Works,
! together with all the repairs of machinery,
ctc., which is submitted, should be u credit
on the aggregate, inasmuch as similar OK
penses must be continued under the proposed
arrangement, with u company to supply the
necessary water. We place these expenses at
q low figure, wo believe, at S10, 900 per annum.
Your Committee, therefore, respectfully re-
commend that tho sum OF $4,000 per annum
is fully as much as the city should now pay
for the supply of water. They would further
state that, i'll tho amount recommended above,
they have made no allowance for an annual
increase of the demand for water from the
| city.
(Sisncd,j j. MCKENZIE,
| J. FISHER,
T. S. NICKERSON,
| Committee.
The report was received and adopted
In connection with the above report, Alder
man Mckenzie submitted the following pre-
amble aud resolutions, which were received
and adopted
Whereas, by recent Act of the General As
scmblJ Of tho State of South Carolina, the ca
nal running through the bounds OF tho city
haubeen offered tor sale, (without any reser-
yation for city purposes;) and it has been
| i'll contemplation for number OF years to re-
sort to water power for forcing water into the
upper reservior-instcad of steam engine as
at present in usc-to effect this most desra-
bic end, and to aid and encourage any compa-
ny or capitalist who may engage in the enter
prise Of improving the said canal, and there
| by causing manufactures to spring up in our
city. encouraging industry and adding great
! ly to our prosperity.
| BE ii, therefore, reS0lccd That the City
Council do hereby pledge the faith Il tho cit y
| to take the water power of the canal from any
company or capitalist who may purchase tn
same under the Act OF the State Legi
turc.
Resoired, That for the purpose Of supplying
the city with water, by these means, the
| Mayor and Aldermen, in Council assembled
| do agree to pay to such Il canal company or
apitalist tho sum of 50 0n0 per .annum for the
first ton years, and $4,000 per annum ut the
expiration Of the aforesaid tenn OF years for
tho fifty years next ensuing.
| ReSotced, That when any agreement between
| the parties is effected to the use Gf water
for the purpose named in the foregoing
lutions, contract shall be entered into, bind
| ing said parties in terms satisfactory to both.
On motion. Council adjourned.
J. S. MCMAHON, City Clerk.
1t will be seen from these proceedings
that not only did Mr.. Mckenzie suggest
the propriety of securing change in
the mode Of forcing water into the dis
triDuting reservoir, but also the necessity
of furnishing means by which the river
could he resorted to in an emergency, or
in case of failure Of the springs upon
which the city depends, to furnish the
supply demanded. His report states in
most unqualified terms that the supply
furnished from these springs was utterly
inadequate. even ut that time. Have the
demands Of the city upon it's water works
diminished since then? Reference is
also mado to report of ex-Mayor Nc
Kenzic at Council meeting April 20,
1860, i'll which he advises change in the