The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-08-06
COLUMBIA, S. C.
Wednesday Morning, august 7. 1873.
The Water Contract.


water for twenty years. at $4,000 q
year, was made with the Columbia
Water Company by the Mayor and
Aldermen. in the face OF protests and ex.
posures It was change as wanton
and unjustifable as it was radical and
ruinous. But it was the big gun OF the
Radical administration, it was measure
whicn was Wanted as one that would
show its power and fur seeing judgment
Indirect good was to compensate its
direct extravagaMce. The additions
which it would make to our tax paying
population and our tax receipts. the
whirl Of thousands OF spindies which it
was to set in motion, would more than
balance the addition OF $4,000 year
to the expenses of the city. Up to that
time the city had procured pure water
in sufficient quantity for oil needed
purposes for $4,000 year. Not a word
OF complaint was made against the sup
ply, except from interested motives.
But the new city administration came
in with determination OF showing it's
power over that portion OF the citizens
who had boen reluctant to admit its
rule. It carried a huge hrnom in it's
hand, and it proclaimed that it intended
to make clean sweep. W. b. Wigg,
one OF the Council, appeared conspicu-
onsly in the character Of petty muni-
cipal Van Tromp, and tho sweeping,
busting and cleaning ont commenced,
and, such as it is, has gone on to this
day. Mr.. Pearoe, with his grand idea
of huge contact for supplying water.
opportunely came into view. 1t was u
tempting bait. splendid opportunity.
The old Water Works arrangements
we're all swept away, and the job con-
summated at SIG. 600 year for twenty
years. The deed was done, the die was
cast, and We have as the consequence
huge aud increasing city debt, ditch
water to drink, universal discomfort.
and the City Council and Water Com
pany attitudinizing and face making
before each other in the community and
in the courts.
It is curious thing, that Ra.licalism
works exclusively by jobs. in all matters
from the government Of State down to
that OF oity, or the conduct Of petty
election. The corrupt way is its way in
all things. How it has worked in this
instance, certain afidavits and testi.
mony. ruled out on the trial by Judge
Carpenter will chow. This was the first
wrong step. which lies at the bottom Of
all the filthy difficulty about the water
supply The contract was born in sin,
and reeks OF corruption. It is not
matter OF much surprise that things are
now III such q muddle, that all the re-
sources of the. City Council. all the
efforts OF the Board Of Health, all the
ingenuity Of the City Attorney. all the
fulminations of public meetings. cannot
extricate rs from it. Mr.. Pearce has
fed the citizeus for several long months
with a mixture of hydrogen. oxygen,
mud and decomposed animal and vege-
table matter, in comparison with which
the black broth OF the Spartans would
be luxury. The Oity Council do oil
the good that grumbling can do, but
they dem onstrase, in most melancholy
fashion, that they h1ve moro skill in
making dirty contracts than in tern,i-
mating them when they become public
nuiaance. They are desirous of throw
ing up the contract, and app-sLcnsive,
like othors, of cholera, typhus, &c, but
the manufacturing Mephistopheles grins
and holds them to it's terms. He insists
that this mud and these infusoria are all
nominated in the bond. The Council,
its Attorney and the Board oi Health,
which generously came to the rescue,
are all at the end of their row. The
questions in issue are now referred to
the bar Of public opinion, and two pub
lie meetings Of the citizens have tried
their hands upon the conundrum, with
out result, SO far, either in clarifying
the water or in relieving the oity OF o
contract, which is as intolerable and
offensive as the new sort of water which