Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-16
The Great Need.

The Great Need.
Referring to the recent decision OF Judge Hag-
ner In the water tax case, 1t Is given out that
1.-THE District Commissioners will probably have
to adopt more stringent measures than any
heretofore put 10 force, In order to prevent the
waste and excessive use Of water In the city"
1t Is not very easy to trace the connection be-
tween cause and effect In this particular case;
but, judging from the past, there Is reason
to fear that the officers named, or q portion Of
them, propose to content themselves by turning
their attention and efforts In the direction sug-
gested.
The adoption at the present time OF preven-
tive measures, such as are proposed, Is all very
well, as far as 1t goes. such measures will un-
questionably afford temporary relief to many
persons who do not now receive sufficient
supply OF water, and who are compelled to pay
an extravagant price for one Of the neceSSaries
OF life which they are not able to get. The
action Indicated viii therefore serve an excel
lent purpose, for the time being, and it
is to be commended accordingly. But
1t will not do for the Commissioners to rest
from their labors at this point. The real
difficulty In the case is the 1nadeQuacy Of the
supply Of water coming into the city. II the
Commissioners are true to their trusts and
worthy the honorable and responsible position
they occupy, they will keep this phase OF the
case continually before them, and give their
efforts In season and out of season toward pro-
viding remedy. They must bear In mind that
the population OF Washington is constantly and
rapidly increasing. They must also bear In
mind that In consequence OF changes In the
modes Of city Life, what was sufficient water
supply for one hundred thousand people In
Washington twenty years ago is not enough for
population OF 1fty thousand to-day. The
conditions OF human existence have materially
changed for the better In all cities since that
time, and to much greater extent In Washing
ton than In any other place that can be named
Then many families relied largely on the
pumps for their supply of water for drink
Ing and culinary purposes. Then. too, these
Two purposes constituted the principal de-
mano. All Is changed now. Since then the
pumps OF the city have mostly been DESTROYED
or neglected until they are OF little use Since
then, too, other and more important transform
atlons have taken place. An extensive and
complicated system OF sewerage has been
adopted which absolutely requires large and
constant flow OF water, not only to make 1t
available, but to prevent 1t from becoming a
direct source OF discomfort and disease Again,
Dath-tubS, water closets, and stoves and ranges,
requiring steady and reliable water supply,
are introduced In fifty houses where they were
In one twenty years ago. Furthermore the
government itself has not only laid out on its
own account numerous and extensive squares
and parks upon which vast quantities Of water
are poured daily, but 1t has also imposed upon
private citizens, by the wise enforcement OF a
general system of front yard-reservations, the
duty Of caring In addition for large expanse
OF grass, shrubbery, flowers, etc., which can
only be done by the unrestricted use OF water.
mr.
easily be enumerated make the water supply
which might have been adequate, pey capita. a
score OF years ago totally insufficient for the
needs, per capita, OF to-day; and 1t Is to meet
the wants brought about by this changed con.
d1tion OF things that those In authority should
turn their uuceaS1ng attention and bend all
their energies.
1t may be said that some Of these wants are
fictitious or imaginary, and that more water ts
expended on them than Is actually necessary.
This ground, If taken by any one, while 1t NAV
be partly sound, is not tenable In q wise and
proper consideration Of the subject. They are
the Inevitable outgrowths OF what may be
called higher and better stage of civilization.
Pesslmists and misers may croak as they will,
but the fact remains that not one person or
FAMILY IN fifty could go back to the old life II
they would, and not one in hundred would be
willing to do so II they could.
Ii Is to this new state of things and It's tndis-
pensable requirements that those In authority
should address themselves. Instead of vast
Ing their time In trying to find ways to econ
om1Ze the use OF water, by the enforcement
OF rules and the adoption of devices which
cannot fall to be oppressive AID expensive
10 the public, they should make every nos
s1ble effort to increase the supply. More
water for use is what is needed, not economy
IN It's use. Speaking In broad and enlight-
ened sense, there Is, there can be- no such
thing as waste Of water In city, Given.
enough to supply the needs OF every one. under
any and all circumstances, and what Ia called
the waste of water ought to be encouraged
rather than prohibited. Every drop necessary
for frequent bathing In hot weather-every drop
that runs through the water-closet.-eyery f,ron
that courses Its way through filthy and noisome
SeWers,-every drop that trickleS down a gut
ter,-eyery drop used for laying the dust OF our
streets,-every drop poured about the roots of
a tree, or shrub or flower, or sprinkied on the
grass,-every drop OF pure water, In short, that
enters In any way into the economy of city life
Is not only creator Of beauty and a promoter
OF comfort, but becomes also an agent OF health.
whose value cannot be estimated much less
measured Dy metre or represented In dollars
and cents.
There has been good deal OF difference OF