Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1879-01-24
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rscomm. nding the purchasing # a.
water right from +. |. DUPONT de Ne
mours 4 Co., will no doubt be viewed
in various ways by our citizens. The
contemplated change of the Water
Works from the city mills to the pro-
posed new locality will involve an adj
ditional expense to the city of $l15, 200,
which sounds like very big amount
when added to the already large debt
of the city, but when sitted and proper
~ Understood it will be found to cost
the city less per annum than it now
costs, and besides this extra expenditure
the citizens will have the consolation
OF knowing that they have pure water
not impregnated with the drainage from
cemetery lots, almost numberless out
houses and pig styes. There are many
reasons why the report of the Water
Committee, which is published in the
Council proceedings, in another column,
and which shOnld 'e carefully read by
every citizen, should be embodied into
an ordinance, and the legislature grant
the required aid. The greatest argu-
rent in favor of it is that the city
wants pur-r and better water than it
is now supplied with. Revolve the
thing over in the mind as We will, there
is still that growing conviction
amongst the people that the impure
water we drink is the cause of
much of the sickness which prevails
at the present time to such an unusual
extent. Notwithstanding all the pre-
cautions that have been taken by our
Board of Health, and the means adop-
ted by the manufacturers on the Bran
DIVINE to prevent impurities from be-
ing sent into the creek, they still get
there and it is 10 unusual thisg to see
the discoormeut Of the water with TIE
naked eye. By the report of the COM
mttee it will BE seen that the water Of
the creek is divided, that on the west
side being deeply tinged and impregna-
ted with different kinds OF impurities,
while that on the east side ismore clear
and pure. This is especially noticeable
in the transparency Of the water as it
passes over tue breast OF the dams. 1t
is we'll known that with the exception
of the St. Augustine mills, nearly all
the manufactures are on the west side
of the stream as far as ROckland. and 1t
is the water Oh the west side that
is pumped uP into our new basins
and which the people of Wilmington
have to drink. The location Of the
city pumps at the place proposed
avoids the impuriti, 5 which flow from
the st. Augustine, Riddles and Ban
croft mills, and by placing them on
the east side OF the creek opposite the
Rockford dam nearly all the impurities
which flow from DuPont's Banks and
powder works which are on the west
side are avoided.
Another reason in favor of the move
ment is the fact hat +. |. DUPONT. De,
Nemours q Co., are willing to sell at sc
reasonable price the water and sutf-
ciept of land to carry out the proposed
plan. To no other party than the city
would such a reasonable offer have Ieen
made and though at first sight 53j, 0OC
may sound like a large amount OF
money to pay for one half the water
right, when the manufacturing inter.
ests on the Brandywine are taken into
consideration the city is favored with
such an offer and it is doubtful if twice
that amount OF money would.oe accept
ed for any other purpose. We assume
then that " water right Oh the
BrandywIna suitable for the pur.
poses INTENDED Will never be offered
cheaper any time within the lear tu'
ture. The AlIly, rocky nature OF The
ground at the proposed location vii
protect the new location from any pos
sihle nulSahceS Ii the future, ami W.
understand that all the land requisite
for the establishment OF the pumps cal
be purchased Tor SZO' an acre not t.
exceed ten acres We snail not at
I.l ltI I T,l4