The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-19
The Waste OF Watcr-A Woman's Voice
the Great Evil.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In good cause always like to have a voice, and
a woman's voice is always best heard at such times.
In reading your correspondence one can bet
ter realize this enormous water waste seeing it
counted by hogsheads instead OF pnts and 1t occurs
to me that women can do more to avert this evil
than can men--that is, in most instances. Take It
in every home; If every mother should carefully
reason with her children, explaining how little
drops might make ocean, or, drawn or drop by
drop, could make it dry, were there no rehling /;
that by each little water faucet being left open with
a small, steady stream running from morning till
night and from night till morning and our great
reservoir would soon be run out by and by comes
the long dry season when there is little or no rain,
and then God help US all. One-half or all of the
people must suffer from the folly or thoughtleSs-
of the few. While we have water flowing
freely all around we give but little heed TO the
sickness and suffering that must inevitably come
through waste OF it, and, for matter OF that,
give as little to any Of our great needs 10 be sup
piled in the future. We are most extravagant
and wastcful people and it is always question OF
doubt in my mind as to whether coal and wood can
grow as fast as they are consumed.
The idea seems to be, ION, never mind, there's
enough while | livelv And this Is the trouble.
There Is too much Of this spirit among us. Are we
following out to the letter that leach generation
becomes wiser and weakery' Is IL weaker because
we do not treasure all OF natures restoratives
carefully as we do her goldS 1t is always So That
which Is hardest to possess we value most highly,
and that which comes to us bountifuy we throw
aside or squander away.
Let US pause and consider a little, and we tina t
have children make II point TO instruct them in
regard to this one essential lesson. If they were
interested in thistaught to consider that water is
the greatest blessing we have, and should be pro-
tected as their toys or any personal treasurether
little eyes would ever be on the alert, and whenever
they saw water running In the bowls through the
house would shut 1t of, thereby saving IL from
the filthy sewers. New York city IL toe
well cleansed by the tides to need much assistance
from the Croton. To take care OF what we have
there Is not much need OF complaint from good
sea breezes, parks and reservoirs to scavengers
and best, OF all, steam fire engines. Now In the
name OF goodness, what would Il come to Ii when
the MIGRANTS were all dry there should be a fierce
fire In fierce wind and no water to put 1t out
why, your house would burn and my house would
burn, and they all would go for Chicago.
Why were the two street hydrants on Howard
street, between Elm and Broadway left TO run TINS
week full force, unchecked and unnoticed save ny
passers by Is there no one whose duty III is W
report to headquarters all such maftersf WHAT -
policeman and what Ia his duty, or mas ne none
Can there be no law that will punish al Wickeu
boys who purpOsely set those MIGRANTS run,
ming, and can there not be people , ssaaone s
whose duty 1t Ia TO look up ana VAIN W s9 ~ ,i
creants to justice There are th0usahus VI outs.s
to waste our Croton, and, through Iorce anu per.
suasion there could be most wondeIIul cneck put
upon IT, Gut or 100 hydrants tnat run sucn an
Immense force OF water and attach 900 basins 10
those that run but slowly and one most important
henedt would be derived. Poor tired horses would
he refreshed, and II horses were better fed and
watered there would not be such an amount OF
horse property lost
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