Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-25
FIRE AND wATER-BUT PRINCIPAL
LIZ FIRE.

For two days past, the usual per1oul-
cal water famine has deprived a large
portion of the population OF this city of
sufficient water for domestic purposes.
Yesterday, in broad day light, the
fire alarms called the citizens and the
fire department to stand around and
witness the destruction Of one of the
chief manufactures in the city, while
the engines sucked on dry plugs.
While men have slept during the last
three nights they have known that they
were utterly and absolutely at the mercy
of the fire tiend, and that they found
the roof still over their heads in the
morning, not by virtue fanny protection
furnished by the municipal authorities,
but in the good fortune that the incen-
diary forgot or forebore to ply his torch.
A rickety old pile of stone and brick
at the north end of the city, which
threatens to fall in at any moment and
crush the machinery which is depended
upon to furnish water to the city, is the
sole reliance at best and at all times
against an utter failure of water for an
Indefinite period.
When its engines suck themselves
full of mud, or a pipe springs a leak, the
management go about repairing it very
much as the leader off Quaker meeting
sits down to wait for the inspiration Of
the spirit.
In the meantime while = handful of
men pensivsy and supinely sit about
the leak or condOle with the crippled
engine, hundreds of employees who earn
their bread by days wages in our mills
and manufactures, wait for water while
they and their families are on short IA
tons, and enforced idleness is eating up
their scant earnings; men, women and
children must spend their time and
strength in Juggling water from the river
to cook a meal; citizens stand helpless
ly around with their hands in their
pockets, as on yesterday, and see their
property burn to ashes; and lastly, but
not least, the city must come forward
and foot the bills at the rate Of from
twenty TO fifty thousand dollars a pop,
to meet the losses which the lack of
water occasions.
Tell it not in Gath-let it not be
whispered about the doors of our Coun-
legislative 6fsalts,, that this same water
service costs the taxpayers Of this city
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS per IN
mum.
That is the sum which the municipal
government of this city levies and col
lects from the residents ofthis city every
year on water account!
Yet when it is proposed to reform this
state of things, men who have property,
and who have intelligence. and who
are supposed to have some BUSH
ness prudence, swell with rage
and indignation and beat their
breasts and tear their hair, and
speculate with much fervor as to
whether the reform wont make JOHN
SAITH Sheriff, or JOHN JONES Superin-
tendent, or RICHARD Roe Street Com
missioner, rthat the political perqui-
sites in the shape of dignity and m
hundred dollar salaries, may go into the
pockets of a Republican instead of q
Democrat, or q Democrat instead of a
Republican.
Is it not time we were having a new
deal: Is it not time to have some
security to the property of this
city? Is it not time the municipal az
fairs of the city were put under business
management instead of running as q
bungling gO-as-you-please burlesque?
Men may apologize. Those respon-
sible for this condition of things may
plead liability to accidents, but We put
it to the good sense and judgment of all
interested in the property of this city,
whether it is not time that our water
supply was placed in a condition that
will render us absolutely secure against
accidents or mishaps of every kind and
description?