The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-07

Our Columbia dispatches yesterday announc
ed that Tim Hurley had given notice OF his inten
ton to introduce ga biilsto incorporate tht
Charleston Water-works.n Where this instttu
tion Is located, by whom it was inaugurated, OF
when It will probably commence It's aquatic dis
pensation. are matters OF conjecture. We hope
however, 1t will not prove myth, and II the
member from Charleston succeeds in accomplish
Ing the result at which he seems to aim, he Will
not only have redeemed one Of the promises pla-
carded to his constituents before the election but
he will have entitled himself to monument
not Of BRASS His virtues shall be "writ in water."
flour information be correct there are but three
sources OF supply on which Charleston can aoso'
lutely depend. The first Is the Edisto River; and
when, several years ago, the Ealsto and Ashley
Canal Company were constructing their work, 1t
was in contemplation to lay pipe on one OF the
tow paths OF the canal from Hart's Bluff to Mr..
wragg Smiths place, which would have brought
the water within distance OF seventeen miles OF
the city, whence 1t was further to be conveyed.
The estimated cost was three hundred aud fifty
thousand dollars Tpe plan Is still feasible espe-
cially when 1t Is known that the banks OF the
Ashley River abound in clayey loam, which, by
mere compression, may be manufactured into
water plies, In every respect equal to the Vtrlheu
stoneware tubing now in use.
The second proposition was to construct what
are called "water gardens" or ponds, into wRicn
were to be diverted the nelghboring springs. The
contents OF these several reservoirs were then to
be collected III larger reservoir near the city,
and by machinery carried into water tower for
distribution.
The third and last plan was the prosecution OF
the work on the artesian WE'LL which, being bored
only thirty feet deeper and properly completed,
would, 1t is estimated, yield one hundred and
seventy-two gallons per minute.
The work was suspended at its presentsstage
because OF some unknown obstacle thrown into
the we'll and the exhaustion of the funds appro.
prIated. Engineers, however, who have exam
ined the surrounding, express the belief that ten
thousand dollars will put the well IN perfect
working order and enable 1t to fulfil the mission
for which 1t was intended. The removal OF the
obstacle is perfectly within the scope OF mechant.
cal skill and 1t can be effected at q comparatively
small cost. In France, under similar clrcum.
stances, the obstruction was caught and nrmly
secured by chain. and steam pumping engine
being used, the water was SO rapidly exhausted
as to cause movement Of the sand stratum In
which the obstacle was lodged.
The latter, In obedience to q natural law, was
thereupon changed to a vertical position, and
the tension from above being maintained, the OBJ
stacle was brought through the pipe to the sur
face.
We understand thata similar effort has been
madein our OWN arteslan we'll although With par
tlal results The obstruction was seized, but the
rods were broken in applying the power neces-
,ary to bring 1t up. 1t certainly would be grati-
lying II the city could afford the expense to pur.
sue and complete the work, and so set at rest the
vexed questlon-"what shall we do with IT,"
1t is barely possible that Mr.. Hurley, with his
usual ingenuity, has determined to turn this
.'boren to some account, and that his 'bil to In.
corporate the Charleston. ster.works" may
look to the purchase Of the well from the city. and
the laying OF pipe not political. So mote 1t be.