The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-06-24
Some Facts in Regard to Water
Works


Some Facts in Regard to Water
Works.
Omaha, is about undertaking to
supply itself with water at the pub
lie cost, and with that view has in
structed its Mayor to correspond
with the governments Of different
cities that have had some experience
in the matter. The system that
comes under discussion seems to be
that Of Mr.. Holly, which we may
safely say is superseding all others.
We quote first from the reply of the
Secretary Of the Mayor of Mime
apolis. In the course of the response
he says:
AT late fire department display
the water works threw a stream 277
feet at an angle of 45 degrees,
through 4 nozzle, the large st. Paul
steamer throwing only 234 feet. AT
any point along the line ofmains we
can concentrate heavy streams Of
water and reach an elevation of $50
feet. Playing through 5000 feet Of
hose we can sweep any point distant
eight blocks from the line Of mains,
and throw 150 feet perpendicularly.
We have no steam or hand engines,
but only hose, and Hook and Ladder
Companies, and the great superiori-
ty Of our water system attracts great
attention.
The consequence of such an ef1lci-
ent system has greately reduced high
rates of insurance. We give fire.
no chance in this city. Our depart
ment consists of two hose companies
and hook and ladder company"
The testimony Of Binghamton,
n. Y, is;
"The subject of water works had
been agitated by some Of our citizens
for number of years, and had met
with the usual amount of opposition
which all public works are doomed
to receive when the subject Of tax
alton is better understood than the
proposed improvements. With con-
siderable hesitation our people voted
the tax of 100000, and the work
was vigorously carried through to
satisfactory success. Satisfactory
not only to those who have believed
in and advocated the project, but to
those VINO had from lack of conf
dence opposed it. And, strange to
say, these most Jealous in the adVo
cacy of an extension were those who
had previously fought it on the
ground of taxation. What better
evidence can be asked or given for
its practicability? Binghamton has
ever been celebrated for its FIRE de-
partment, fires having always had
an unequal contest Herewith. Not
withstanding the well established
fact, thanks to our water works, our
rates of insurance have been reduc-
ed from twenty to fifty per cent. l
cannot conceive of any inducement
that would satisfy our people to do
without our water works, of which
ne are very proud"
We further learn that since the
establishmeI of these works in
Binghamton, in December, 1868,
there have been eleven fires within
reach of the fire hydrants, and that
the entire loss resulting from them
has been less than ten thousand dol
lars, though several Of the fires were
of such a nature that they must have
proved more than ordinarily des-
tructive if the flames had not been
met and subdued at once,
The city of Evansville, in Indiana,
has discarded the system of getting
water from wells and ciBterus and
from the Ohio river, and by a vote
of five to one has authorized its
Council to proceed to erect new
works on the Holly system.
The Mayor of Toledo, Ohio, in
inaugural address to The Council Of
that city, recommends the use of the
same system. Even the great city
of New Orleans, dissatisfied with the
scanty and unreliable, supply of
water on the old plan, is favoring,
through its pres. the erection of
new works.
Is it not about time Fremont was
considering this system. Norwalk
has voted for it, and will soon have
it in operation.