The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-04-14
r,n1g; DRINKING FOUNTAINS.

rInIr; DRINKING FOUNTAINS.
-..s.c We rrSS!TY TO THE p PJ.BLIC HEALTH
.vn rpMF0RT-TiEH'S OF THE SEcRE-
-sgy or TIE STATE BOARD OF HEAL7W.
Tho 2rc>eut warm weather, with IFS bright
,rr-,, Of rapidlv unfolding leaves and flow
,.> warns Us that summer is nigh; and the
lrotr-.c:vd yicorS Of the past winter, thou2h
So rrtntly ended have not Oanlsned from
or minds the recollection ot the equally
.,.r4cfrd and intense heats Of the summer
y,a.a preceded it. The moment seems op.
...-'vnr lrr 1liinC the attention ofthe public
.., especially Of our city authorities, to a
..ah.Nrcdcd provision for the comfort and
h...A oi onr people which ought to he in.
.I.l:cd without delay, and before the re-
.r5rarr Of summer with its oppressive
4...,> a.ain demonstrates the necessity for il
=, n, Inconvenience and suffering which
... want Of it must occasion. l refer to toe
.-.r,nu Of pubic drinking fountains Tor
.at>a in the streets at suitable points
, . r.n trN in uumber--for the free and un-
..n,"A SUPPLY Of pure. cool water to al! who
u~ij'.
TIE VERY S!GGARpLY PROVISION
I.,,..G almost say the absence OF provision
SD, ,f> particular heretofore made can
t..ny hc considered crcdtablc 10 the wis
r,n II eur city rulers. or their regard for
e.. a..lih and convenience Of the citizens.
~, 3,rr." saws distinguished hSgieniSt.
,Aould be second only 10 air in. abundance
and accessibility. As the poorest has no en-
r.,,r for the >clf-privation Of air, nature
pressing il upon him with the force Of tif-
ten pounds to the square inch, and he har-
NIX only 10 expand his chest TO receive if, so
.Nauti water be accessible to every one. the
.ooir>t more especially. simply by the OPEN
i.- Of valve, so that there might
hr no excuse for It's neglect. Stephen
,,'rrd and John Jacob Astor could
ha,c made no better disposition of
fa,ir wealth than TO have given the VIZ
r.r> Of the Schuylkiil and the Croton to their
r.I!ow-ritizcns without price, The system
vhicA would make all the watcr->upplv Of a
,fy private property. and deny to the ciIi-
.u ;rurSuiug hi business on the streets, at IL
.5l,tlHce from his own home. the means OF
king his thirst without going into public
'"gl>". OF entering the premises of stranger
T., ne-, for Il drink OF water, is as repugnant
80 g~I>on rs it is 10 humanity, and altogether
uu%orthv OF any intelligent community.
l. ! not intended to urge the construction
-
nnr forbidden by considerations of econo
~. would prove not only great public con
licences. hut most attractive ornaments tc
,.grrl'y. In various cities of the Ola Worl(
'r. n.,M"ruus agt-cmbeliShed fountains art
..'....,- lie objects which most strongly at
,..rr r." attention of the stranger. A learned
ur'trU IN The hygiene Of cities, DR.. Johr
iiri %; raiiaarlphia. says OF the fountains o
Nrur: iH" gushing streams and jets sen
....t from the numerous fountains ditfuSc ;
.!a,,fWl yo1lnr>s through the surrounding
.#ra4l.1- ihe raging and oppressive heat.
ST >.nraI. The most rigid Protestant il
-.H.- ~. rounds OF sightseeing during the
,.-.a,. mll>t feel bis Od'unl heOl0gicu,n
, ln- "a, through every pore AS he ap
i....u> The magnificent fountains Of Z,
.. u. d Ir.ri. and of the Plaza NdrOae
.l.r'. river toaming like cataract at tlIe
i'rGur".'
Fortunately for our city treasury, such
.>rrN>lvE STRUCTURES ARE NOT NECESSARY
FIR The attainment of the main objects in
}rw. Plain, substantial hydrlnts, made OF
uun. from whiClI = full stream shall flow on
',' turning Of Il Spigot or the opening of Il
valve, with u cup or ladle attached to drink
from. aud IN some cases basin or trough
tor horses such are the only fountains
That are really necessary. and their cost will
probably not exceed so each--say 81 900
Tor twenty of them, erected at us many diff
l,I,nt points in the city.
IL i difficult to imagine any other eXpen.
Grturr Of money which, for so small a sum,
VIII accomplish the same amount of good.
Think Of the discomfort-nay, the distress
i,,n thirst and orer-heated blood in the
scattering ncontide of July day, with the
Thermometer at 95 degrees in the shade and
10 IL the sun. To atf3rd to the laborer who
piles hi> duly toll or bears his burden on the
.rrrt> in such sitting atmosphere-to the
rIrchanic who must come and 60 from shop
= i.lir" Of work. and drive bis trade per.
@ui> in the fu! glare of the sun--to the
.vTK wh0 hurrics 10 and fro on his errand
.riwvcu rnuntlng-room and bank or post.
"';i,c-lo the citizen of every class and vo'
railpn. in tine, who must needs be abroad in
-in.e "t SIMMER heat-the ready means OF
relieving thirst and counteracting the ex-
haU>tIn- effect Of exposure to the solar rays
"il BE 10 answer plain demand OF nature.
.al al tte same time to earn their thanks for
III ,n>peakable comfort.
QUESTION OF HEALTH.
Nor> this question of convenience alone.
hUt Of health likewise The exhaustion from
excessive heat may be the precursor Of more
serious consequences, and timely draught
Il "atcr, with stream of the cooling IL
Gnd 10 rouse the failing energies of the heat
'i'rrco~ed brain, may be the means Of avert
:,t@ 81 'ata suu->troke.
Fhl> subject has also
MORAL ASPECT
"al'il i deserving Of serious consideration.
There is uu manner of doubt that the need
.; Jl.,ing thirst and finding relief to the
tG-onr SHAT accompanies it III hot weather
i. one of the chief motives TO indulgence in
Intoxicating driuks--at least, with those who
have not yet ipuei habits Of intemperauce.
" Hal Hou.!rr i il that men who do not fiud
~ The il'rJu3 hares Of the city the means
"i satisfying tie cravings of nature with
Nd'lic'. uWn beverage should resort TO the
'tr:kiH" saloon, whose doors stand inyitingly
"i'u. ai!i there partake Of some one OF the
i@aE elimulatin" drinks 50 tcmptingy OF.
i1&: L writer in a religious journal has
"u remarked that "Mere ought to 6e at least
" "t1"H p"Uiic drjnking fountains as there
@'' 2'"g S',olS,' and teexpresses the opinion
ihat '''nr 1it>t ol jcct 10 which liquor-licenSe
h"- >h"uId bc appropriated ought to be to
WM'Hr water Ii the public streets, that
'''i>tl men may not i'e driven by their thirst
i"'" The public bars"
rAtA FOK THE DvMB CREATION.
\ plea may also be offered in behalf of our
to.ses and mules, whose need Of water ip
~ Weather Is quite as great "a our own.
a4'ere-t. 10 less than humanity, dictates that
";uould not allow their capacity for service
~ bc impaired, and their lives perhaps en-
""Sercd, by the want Of an ample supply