The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-04
GIN. GREENE'S REPORT.
AN IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE
WATER COMMITTEE.
The Ways and Means Fully and
Ably Discussed In an Admira-
BILE Paper.
DISTANT SOURCES AND WELLS
IMPRACTICABLE.
Hern Lake, Wolf and the Mississippi
to Be Considered at a Future
Time.

The Water Committee me. at
O'Clock yesterday afternoon in the
Office of President MADDEN, the chair
man, Mr.. S. w. Hampton, presiding,
and Messrs. Cotton Greene, John
Oveiton, IT,, 4. Lowenstein, W. NJ.
Smith, M. Gavin, R. W. Mitchell, @.
@. Helm, also President MADDEN, En-
gineer Meriwether, City-AttoIney
Walker and DIR. Thornton present.
The minutes of the previous meeting
were read by Secretary Pullen, ana
adopted.
The report OF the City Engineer
confirming Hermsny's statement that
Wolf river water flowed back from the
sewers above the water com oany's in
take at certain times was adopted, said
opinion being also entertained by DR..
Mitchell and Gen. Greene.
The report Of Gen. Greene was then
presented.
On motion OF Mr.. 0verton it YVES re-
seiVed and filed, and the thanks Of the
committee rendered Gen. Greene for
the able, exhaustive, and even enter.
tanning manner in which he had treat
ed the difficult subject. Several MEM
hers of the committee took occasion to
express their surprise that 80 thor.
ougbly Eat st3ctory report could have
been made in b short time, their
delight with the readable manner in
which it had been drawn up, and their
cordial concurrence in the conclusions
drawn. The committee then deter
mined to take up the report ssriatim.
The distant sources of water supply
Tennessee and Spring rivers, Tuscum-
bia and Ooldwaler-were discussed,
and resolution adopted indCrsing
the views Of Gen Greene that any Ian
in which either formed a factor was
inn raCtieable and must be dism ssad.
The second topic, ground wafer sup
ply, was next taken up and disposed
OF in short oyder by declaring such a
plan out OF the question, as per report.
Deep seated sources Of supply were
next considered. Gen. Greene read
from his report history OF the prin-
ciple artesian wells in this country and
in other parts Of the world-a chapter
OF disappointment and grave financial
MISUNDERSTANDING cnnclusively tha.
any effort TO obtain a public water
supply by such method would be a
leap in the dark and that the conse-
quence might be ruin, financially, to
the city OF Memphis.
Gen. Greene then called the atten-
ton Of the committee to the sugges-
tons he had made in regard TO the
employment of experts in to make his
report complete--the examination of
the Hyatt filter, soundings of the bed
OF the Mississippi above Wolf river,
and gaUgings of the supply furnished
south Horn Lake by the adjacent
water shed. On motion President
HaddeB, Gen. Greene and CITY Engi-
neer Meriwether were appointed a
committee to employ experts if they
so desired. Gen. Greene was then
asked for his opinion in a nutshell.
He replied that the Wolf river plan
was feasible beyond question, and he
would beinelined to recommend it if
he were assured that the Hyatt
filter was up &c requirements.
He eondemnmed all other plans
except the Horn Lake plan,
and thought the committee
ought rot to act until the latter had
been thoroughly investigated. In the
meantime, however, meetings ought
to be held frequently, the matter
thoroughly sifted and discussed, all
no ions cleared away and
the deek made ready for action as
soon as the experts should report.
President Hidden was instructed to
copies Of the report to those
who might apply for them, and the
committee adjourned until next Satur-
day at 2 o'clock pm.