Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-11-26
Water Supplies for Cities and towns
Scraps of Virginia History in Cohhec'
tiOn Herewith.

Our City Officers, who take in duties connect
ed with the water-works here. have recen'iy
been consulted by representatives OF LICKING
ton with the view Of increasing the Water-suP-
ply in that town. Before adverting 10 Inc I'LL
mediate subject which has suggested this arti
Gle, and to the pleesant.civilities between these
neighboring Valley towns, we deem 1t not out
of place to throw in some scraps OF history de
they present the early movements in virginia
to secure the inestimable boon OF an aoun
dant supply of water for cities and towhs' anu
by which it appears that the important maCter
was in advanced progress in a commonwealth
though renowned for great deeds OF her sons
In all her history, yet suffered in generai es'i.
nation for wardness in Development OF
her resources. If it were in order now' Ina'
unjustifiable conclusion of the outside world
assented to by too many of our people,-couio
be disproven. Confining what is now written
to the only matter under consideration, IL Is
maintained that the men who in early days
projected schemes and successfully carried the"
though to furnish communities Of dense pop
ulation with an abundant supply OF wafer
which is next in Importance to a daily allow
ance of bread. deserve enduring monuments
for their achievements in that single line OF
| ulSbluCtlOH, yOI W Ail iiesCC Ii ehS ~ ~
general reader references can be made to
many of them, thus Unidentified with this mo-
mentous question. which associates tnelr
names with other and important places IN Inc
history Of the country.
1t was in the third decade of the present CEN
tury that Philadelphia built her Paramount
water-works, and five are not mistaken it was
the first scheme Of its particular features ma
To cif v vpifb ia This COun-
try. The advantages secured at Philadelphia
| were soon published over the land and hum
dreds of visitors some from our own Valley,
made special Journeys to the city of "Brotherly
love" to behold and look upon the wonderful
| achievement. Lynchburg then town of four
or five thousand inhabitants, was first to catch
tn e shirt of progress. After careful conside-
ration and due provision in the premises for
con structlon. the corner stone of the water
works was laid, with great parade and impos-
ing Masonic ceremonies, the ike of which was
never before known in that town, on the 25rd,
August 1928 Residing there at that period.
and participating were many men who claim
ed it a great honor to engage in such work,
who afterward were distinguished in the an
nails of the State, and In keeping with the ex-
PLANTATION already made, brief references will
be made to them, The Chief Marshal of the
day was Major James B. Bisque distinguish
ed member Of the bar, contemporary of
Daniel Shelley, and in many respects, before
courts and jurfes, not unlike that eminent
man of Valley, State, and National fame
Maurice H. Garland, master of Masons, was
also of the bar. and left only child, son,
the young, gifted, and loved Brigadier Gene
raj Samuel Garland, who fell at South Noun
tain in Maryland in 1862 John Thurman of
the town council, was the founder of the first
sabbath school in that town in 1917, and clus-
tered around his memory are the histories of
his. relatives, who in youth received his in
-truction, the late Senator Allen of Ohio, the
youngest member of the q. S. Senate in 1S4l,
, and the last survivor of that body, as then
constitu ted; and the present distinguished
statesman who bears his name, also of Ohio
John Early. also of the coun Gil, and who
does not know Of him and his great works?
Foremost through a long life in every great
enterprise his days were closed as Bishop of
the M. E. church South after sixty years SER
vice in the pulpit. James W. Pegram, the de-
voted personal and unwavering political friend
of Henry Clay, and the distinguished President
of the Bank of Virginia at Richmond, was
Captain of the Artillery Company. The order
ly Sergeant Of that corps, was Richard 81. TOer,
then editor of the Lynchburg Viagilian and az
forwards of the Richmond Whig, whose fame
filed the State for distinguished services in the
Legislature, as an editor, and one OF the most
| accomplished debaters on the political arena Of
| the times. His last public service was that Of
| writing the address promulgated by Commit
| tee TO the Wing party of the State In the mem
| orable canvass of l84S.
Lexington, even before Richmond, moved in
| the progress in relation to water supply, and
soon followed Lynchburg in maturing plans
for its accomplishment. A little over fifty years
ago, when the town was not one-thrd Of what
| 1t is now, and governed by board of trustees
| her plans were perfected and the public bless
ing secured. About two miles west of the town
| on high eminepce, what is known as the
'Brushy Hill Spring" was secured; reservoir
built, pipes of native iron and workmanship
made ready, and the work completed in two
years.
During the half century the town has been
greatly enlarged and the Institutions of learning
| immensely increased. Population has quad
rupled and fine spirit of improvement pre-
| walls. as a walk around the beautiful elevations
will demonstrate.
The supply of water is inadequate to the
present demand, and the embryo city has com
| mtACSO Iue NoiA vi <3UulllOud-
springs can be secured, but a new reservoir
will be built, convenient to the erection OF
| pumping power located on the North River
should the future eyer demand that agency
| The Mayor and Council are proceeding in their
great work with due prudence and caution, and
| are availing themselves of much Information
/ which experience has brought about SINCE the
| first works were built. Capt Jonn Carmichael,
| a graduate Of the Virginia Military Institute,
and experienced in his profession, has been ap-
pointed engineer. This gentleman visited
| Stanton recently for the purpose of inter-
| viewing our officials connected with the City
Water Works and examining the records bear
! ing on their construction. He speaks in the
| highest terms of the courtesies and attention
received from Mr., Witt, Chairman Of the Coun-
Gil Committee; Mr.. Dineen, Superintendent:
aud MIR. Argenbright. Clerk of the City Council,
and from all with whom he came in contact
| during his Investigations. He also examined
the works and was highly pleased with them.
| Lexington deserves lasting recognition for
her early sagacity and enterprise. Knowing
! for fifty years the blessings many Virginia
towns larger in population. and resources have
not provided for their Inhabitants. she deserves
new congratulations for this onward movement
| which will rebound in rich fulness to her al
ready distinguished fame.
Only early lambs bring high prices. II you
want to have them early give their mnthers