New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-09-25
The WATERWORKS.

: and the @%:ltest Wi! be Waged tor Somes
'liag more than the SPOTS OF office
"e---Eso--"-----s-o
? THE WATERWORKs.
! The recent drought has brought the
question OF the extension of the water.
. works more prominently before the public
than anything else could nave done. It
has shown the necessity of immediate and
! prompt action IN tie premises. Is they
are now, the capacity Tor supplies are lin.
tied to less than one-half the city. Nor is
it possible. without material alterations. to
extend them. The present reservoir is
incapable Of supplying the entire city.
The walls are only forty feet high. giving
an upward pressure Of only twenty-five
feet. The strain given TO this has caused
the recent break in the Reservoir. Hence
the Necessity Of new ana improved ma.
chinery acting upon principle entirely
different from that now in useo
This desideratum is supplied by plan
submitted by Mr.. Bennett to the conside
Grafton Of the Council It has been careo
fully examined. and meets the approval of
tho Administrator of Waterwoyks. The
workings Of this plan will supply the
entire city with peedfuI quantities Of
water. Of course it can not be carried
into effect without considerable outlay.
but, under the circumstances this outlay
will not be considered Objectionable. a
careful computation Of the cost fixes il at
an amount not exceeding five hundred
thousand dollars. This can be me: by
bonds cunning from twenty. thilty OF fifty
years.
There are already bonds issued in favor
Of the Nategworks Department amount
ing 20 ST, 1913. 400 These bonds are al.
ready provided for, either by foreign
conversion Of new consolidated bonds or
by tax authorized by the Legislature.
These bonds have suffered but little from
the genera! depreciation everywhere pre-.
Taifing, and . further issue, by enhancing
the value Of the property. will have ten.
dency 20 put them even Oh q frner basis.
But, outside OF these considerations, the
question Of fire forms an element Of in.
portant consideration and an unansweg.
able argument 20 the opposers of this exc
tension. Within the last two years the
loss arising from this source alone would
cover the proposed expenditure. Indeed,
the citizens o: the Fourth and Sixth Dis.
tricts are helpless against the gavages Of
fire. Something should be done for their
protection.
It will, besides, give ali increased ca
paclty to- drainage facilities The system
of flushing, SO generally approved, can
then be carried Oh to advantage In any
event the Council should give the subject
mature consideration, and approve some
plan adequate 20 the emergency. 1t is
true that there is q bill, passed b! the late
Legislature. which provides for the estab-
lishment Of waterwogks il the upper part
Of the city. but that bill has not yet met
with the approval Of the Governor. It is
more than possible It will never do 50.
In the meantime the inhabitants Of that
part Of the city are suffering for this vital
Of life. We are welded to no
particular plan: we advocate no one in
preference to another: only this now be.
fore the Council! appears feasible, and we
insist upon its careful consideration. We |
must iave water. The evil now So OPP |
oressjTe and prevalent must be got rid Of, |
Ind something done TO supply necessities
80 generally felt.
It will not do for the Council to say that
hey can not make SO graa. an ezpendi.
ure Just as they are going out Of Office;
hat they dare not take the responsibility.
They are there for that very purpose~-to
10 anything legal and proper fol- the good
+ the people.