The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-07-20
CITY CHRONICLES.
THE TROUBLED WATERS AGAIN
Hon. olin Welborn's Serenade and Ova-
walton Postponed = The Reunion
Grounds Being Rapidly Put
in shape Personal.
Seemingly a Good Proposition.


The water troubles continue in Dallas,
and are likely to continue until the city
ceases to depend upon the wells and
other supply whence the city's water is
now drawn. If anything has been clearly
demonstrated it is that Dallas must look
TO some other source for the water of the
present, to say nothing of the supply tor
the future, whenthe population and con
sequently the demand for water shall
have been doubled. Superintendent
Wheeless says that some 100000 gallons
are now used, while l,500, 900 could be sold
easily If they were at his command. He
thinks that with an abundance of water
the works could be made to turn in some
$4,000 annually. No effort is made to
sell any, no drumming is done, simply
from the fact that the water is not here
to meet any further demand than the
present absolute wants of the citizens.
Not gallon can he thrown away as the
matter now stands, and the city stands
in its own light in the matter of revenue
as well as comfort in failing to see that
100000 gallons daily, instead of 100000
are at the uperintendent's command.
II there were no possible way of meet
ing this dreadful emergency we should
nave to bow to the inevitable but il
seems that it is entirely feasible to OBJ
tain all the water this city needs and at
really no cost, if the Superintendent's
estimates as to probable sales are cor
rect.
A HERALD representative Yesterday,
in conversation with Mr. Edward ID.
Chaplin, learned that nothing rs vet had
been done with his very favorable prop
osition made to the Council at least a
month or six weeks ago That
proposition was, in short, to
put from 100000 to 100000
gallons daily in the reser-
yoir back of the engine-house for $l2.OOO
annually. The water is pure, clear, per-
fectly healthy and satisfactory water in
every respect, from Cedar Creek to the
south of Dallas. This creek flows con .
stantly in large volume, being fed from
splendid springs, and appears to hold
out to this city the final solution of its
water problem. Mr.. Chaplin doesn't
want dollar if he fails to put the
amount and kind of water stated in the
city reservoir daily.
Furthermore, he and his associates
propose building Il reservoir large
enough to keep always on hand a sup
ply sufficient TO tide us over the longest
and severest drouth, from four to six
months If need be. If the water, in
quality ana quantity as agreed upon, is
not always there, or il the supply is
exhausted, then of course the city
would be released from its contract. If
therefore Mr.. Chaplin puts 1000 900
daily in the tank ready for
distribution through the city at a
cost to Dallas of $4,000, and the Super
intendent can, AZ he declares he can, re-
aliZe from that amount $4,000 per an
mum, the clear gain of $4,000 remains To
the Council annually. If not a dollar
was made, however, and such a supply
OF clear water can be had, it Is of The
utmost Importance that we should have
1t. II is the first duty of the Council to
give 1t to us, no matter what the cost
for 1t is matter of health and life and
comfort, aside from financial losses
arising from the want of it.
The losses to merchants and others
here during this water famine and con
Sequent dust and heat will reach thou
sands of dollars, and this loss is not sim
ply an occurrence of to-day, but is re-
peated every summer, aud gets worse
with each repetition.
The reporter was not only shown some
of the Cedar Creek water but drank II.
and confidently pronounces it far supe.
rlor to our present hydrant water. Why
is it that Mr.. Chapin's very favor
aple proposition has never been
acted on? Why suffer il TO
lie upon the table while the
people are suffering. IL would be easy
enough for the Board to test it. aud if
found to suit, to permit the acceptance
OF the proposition, and let Chaplin and
his associates go to work at once. This
thing cannot last always, and the poo-
pie desire that this new proposition
snail be acted on. 1t appears to afford
ihe best and most feasible, and decid-
edly the cheapest avenue of escane
from our present water troubles. II is
to be hoped that consideration of the
proposition will be ut once resumed.