The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-02-06

many years he had been impressed with the
belief that the quantity Of Impure water tnat
was drank from cisterns and water casks con.
with decayed vegetable aud animal matter
and dusty offal b,own upwards from the
streets, as also the leakings into these cisterns
of snriace impurities, sewers and cesspools,
contributed as much to the creation OF as
eass as any malarial or atmospheric intuen-
ces, and, In this opinion, he was sustained oy
some of our most eminent physicians.
Not alone; for the purposes OF nealLn,
but for cleansing our streets and drains. ano
for the extinguishment of fres-more esPe-
cially for the latter purpose, when lt IS KNOWN
that We ara liable at any moment from tne
neglect of the tidal drain keeper, 10 nave ou5
city again laid in ashes. all this admonlsneo
us that Charleston can never be secure agal1sC
plague and confagratlon, nor successfully
compete with rival cities around her, until We
have an adequate and unfailing supply OF
pure AMI healthy water. He believed me
time had now come to begin this work. Sa-
vannah, Augusta, New Orleans ana otner
Southern cities were far ahead OF US 10 tnls
respect. He disliked to say 1t, but ne tnought
ofms in point of health. He felt no despondency
concerning the future OF Charleston, anu olo
NOT agree with some OF his friends that lhere
was no hone before uS. It was true we were
badly tayeI, badly robbed and badly govern
ed by our State authorities, but still we were
progressing. We had the elements or great
ness and prosperity all about us, ana orave
been Impoverished by war, we have q re.
source in our commerce, and the native
energy of our people. II debased by q bad
government, we have resource IN the 1nteg-
rity of the past and the promises OF the
future.
What he desired was that the Chamber
should now move in this matter. With lts In
fluence arising from numbers, wealth and In
teligencs 1t could at least give an Impulse 10
this object which would insure its success.
He was confident that If this subject was SUBJ
mltted to competent commlttee, WIN au-
thority to confer with the City Council, pian
could be devised and successfully carried out
which would secure the object desired without
the Objectionable feature of begging lor stocK
subscriptions from door to door.
He would be glad to hear the views OF the
Chamber on this subject, and suggested Inc
appointment of q committee to consider and
report at future meeting.
Mr. George S. Cameron sustained the argu-
ments of the chair, and expressed the opln-
ion that Charleston never would be thoroughly
healthy until sbe was supplied with fresh wa
ter, as proposed. This was the experience Of
other cities, and he was confident that the
money required for bringing water into
Charleston could be readily obtained
at low rate of interest He cor
daily concurred, therefore, in the sug-
gestions OF the chair. On motion of
the Hon. Henry Gourdin, 1t was unanl-
resolved that committee of FIVE be
appointed by the chair, ct his leisure, to take
into consideration the best means of bringing
supply of fresh water to thetity.
The chair stated that the clock to be placed
by the Chamber in the new Postofice, was
ordered, and might be expected to be in Its
place In two or three weeks.
Mr.. James Ravenel was unanimously elect
ed q member of the Chamber.
Colonel r. Lathers said he had noticed that
attempts had recently been made to organize
a movement for the reputation of part of
the clIy debt. To all such propositions he was
steadfastly opposed. The debt Of the city was
an honest one, whether wisely contracted or
not, and 1t would be bad faith and bad policy
to reject any part of it. Any agitation to that
end would give the public the hurtful and
erroneous idea that this people were the ad-
vocates of general reputation. He was con-
fdent that the Chamber was opposed to the
repudlation of any part of the city debt, and
he would take an early opportunity Of submit
Ting resolutions upon the subject.
The Chamber then adjourned.