Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-03
THE WATER QUESTION.
The Company to the Citizens
COMMITTEES.
And the Latter Reply That They
Are Not satisfied.

After several conferences between
Judge 7. j. Latham, President of tn,
Memphis Water Company, on the one
hand, and the Citizens Committee
headed BY COloOel Napoleon Hill, on
the other, the following correspond
ence has been submitted. 1t speaks
for itself. Comment is reserved fol
another day:
EDITOR LEDGER-Please publish
reports which have been held two days
at the request of President Latham, of
the Water Company, saying he had
propositions to make which would
be satisfactory to the public.
Said propositions have never been re-
ceived, aud his advertisement for six
months pay in advance for water is in
direct conflict with our agreement.
NAPOLEON HILL,
Chairman Citizens Committee.
To Napoleon Hill, Chairman Committee
on Water Supply;
On the 10th Of June a petition,
signed by some forty or fifty repre-
sentative citizens, was presented To
the Water Company urging that the
company go to the Mississippi river
for our water supply. This led to
several interviews at the last Of which.
on the Sd inst it was agreed between
the Citizens Committee, of which
you are chairman, and the Water
Company that said company was not
to compel payment Of water rates
until August /, by which date said
company was to submit to your com
mittee the result of the investigations
as to the probability OF supply
from the Mississippi river. This we
have done through the report of Mr..
Hermauy, presented to your commit
tee to-day, which was substantially as
follows:
Though the present pumping sta>
ton is as favorably situated as it we'll
could be, and was located with a
view to an ultimate connection with
the Mississippi river, the outlay
for the change, including
new pumping engines, boilers,
buildings, foundations, large mains
from Mississippi river to the present
works, aud for reservoirs would cost
$400, 600, and for additional distribu
ton mains now needed in the city and
suburbs, 100000 more, sggregating
fully $500, 600 to be expended within
the next twelve or eighteen months;
besides greatly increasing the oper-
ating expenses, by necessitating two
plants, aud two pumpings instead OF
one, as at present; for it must not be
supposed that our people would be any
better pleased with Mississippi river
mud than with Volt river mud. es
pecially when we consider that taking
the year through, there is more than
i've times as much mud IN, the former
as in the latter. True the former
will settle if allowed a few days to
stand, but this involves the large and
expensive reservoirs and double
pumping referred to above.
Mr.. Hermany further showed that
these heavy expenditures would be in
an endeavor, largely experimental and
hazardous that the pipe lines would
be through an unreliable alluVial soil;
that to protect the inlet pipe would be
expensive, and that the location of the
pumping station on crunbling bank
that annually overaows, would be both
expensive and perilous; and stated that
the site he selected 10 years ago for The
works, above the mouth Of Wolf river,
was now about 300 feet in the river.
We think it will not be denied that
these figures, together with expert
mental features Of the scheme, place it
tar beyond the reach Of the Company.
knowing the general desire for the
change, We had earnestly hoped for a
different result, but we do not feel
justified in disregarding what we con-
slider sound and conservative counsel.
We have heretofore shown that
It would be greatly to our pecuniary
interests to improve the water supply
on any reliable basis, at any reasona
BILE outlay, either by going to the Mis-.
slssippi river or by wells, or by filtra.
zion 9f the crescent supply, or other
wise; and while We hage not, nor do
now, promise results which we do not
yet see clearly before US, we think we
Aave furnished ample EVIDENCE Of
good faith in our Efforts, and we are
ready to cooperate with any gentle
man in the solution of this vitality i'm
portant question. At the suggestion
OF prominent citizen we will In a few
days investigate the feasibility of
supply from Horn Lake, which, while
il ilsy show gtill greater cost, would
be exempt from some Of the uncertain
features Of the Mississippi river ques.
ton, w
In conclusion, | would assure you'll
fully appreciate your earnest anxiety
to discover some feasible mode OF i'm.
proving our water supply, and thank
yeu for uniform courtesy during this
Investigation. T. J. LATHAM,
Memphis, July 20, 1883.