Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-01-06
WATER WORKS.
For what the Citizens are Called uPOn
20 Vote To-day.

The election 10 rstify contract between
the Water company and the city, viii take
place to day. The contract codes 70 the
CITY one-half the stock of the company
| (SlOO O00l for nothing, so that the city b3-
comes at once q half owner In the STOCK OF
q very rich company, and equal and joint
possessor of very valuable privilege IN
rsturn the CITY is TO tske water from the
company at certain stipulated fair price.
These are the two principal features OF the
contract which Is to be ratified to-day
at the polls. The water works which
1t lie proposed to put in operation
are q new arrangement, by which
the water is forced into the pipes not BY
the force of gravity but by the direct
power of the engine. This power brought
to bear on the pipes is like the power OF
6re-engine on the hose, and can be made
to supply any pressure that may De de-
sired, The system wEs patented py Holly
and others, and is now very generally
adopted by all cities that had not water
works according to the old plan, which
required an elevated position Tor reser-
vcir. The engines will be placed near the
rivers bank, and will pump the water
from lRrgs tank or cistern dug adjacent
to the river, into which the water will nj
ter through the earth. The system prom
isss to be successful, and TO afford good
supply of clear, fresh water to every house
in the city.
An esteemed correspondent, who enter
tsinz views differing from the above con-
struction of the agreement which is quoted
in another column, SENDS us the follow
ing:
Editors Appeal--The APPEAL contains
this paragraph:
aDOnt forget to vote tomorrow for the
acceptance by the city OF the present Of 100000
rari id-nTl ffsrE b Y.
1t is good thing"
The APPEAL ought to know better.
VIII any sensible man be caught with
such chat The proposition for which
the people are asked TO vote, stripped OF
its deceitful vestments, is simply this:
The Water company, 3 chartered monop-
oly, claiming The exclusive right to
furnish us Wster, Issues to its present
stockholders SIOO. 600 of paid-up stock,
snd to the city 500, 900 of psid-up stock.
Neither party psys dOllsr-the stock is
all sham, The company expsct to build
the works or credit, and grind the
money out OF the consumer, like those
other moRopolists-the gas companies
and this grinding process commences
even before the first pipe is laid by requir-
ing the city to enter into contract for
twenty yesrs for rent of hydrsnts for fire
purposes that will cost us annually 81, $50,
and possibly $50 600, S60. 600 or 500 00G0,
when by the terms OF their charter they
are compelled to furnish the city, free of
charge, all the water required for fire pur-
poses, public offices, hospitals, engine
houses, etc. Why, then, are We asked to
pay for what they 9rs compelled to fur
nish us free OF charge? Why this hot
haste TO rent their hydrEnts before the
first lick of work is done9 What have we
TO gain by it2 Why tie our hands in su-
vance, and deliver the city, bound hand
and foot, over to g chartered monopoly
viii not the city be liable for the debts of
the Water compsny to the full amount of
her subscription WIN stockholders be
permitted TO screen themselves behind
such subterfugesf Citizens of Memphis,
think of this before you votel
MINO : MERIWETHER
The contract thus opposed by Mr.. Meri-
wether owes its origin to Mayor Johnson,
who, after thorough Snd careful canvass
of the subject, and no little argument and
trouble, secured It. Hs desires it TO be
understood that he hopes our ciiiZsns
generally will indoyss 1t, that before the
dogdsys of this year set in We may hsve
water in every house, and hydrants along |
all our streets.