The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-17
DOWN TO BUSINESS.
FHE WATER COMM TEE TAKES
TWO INPORCANT STEP.
Wolf River, Above Raleigh, TO De
the Source, aud the city
TO Own.

The Water Committee met yester-
day, with Chairman Hampton presid-
ing, and Messrs. Smith, Gavin, Lowen-
stein, Greene, Mitchell, Helm, Over
ton and Hill present; also DR.. thorn
ton and Mai. Meriwether. President
MADDEN was absent, making prepare
tons for his departure for Biloxi at 6
o'clock. judge Smiths resolution, in
troduced at the previous meeting,
came up. II was as follows;
Resolued, That in the opinion of
this committee il is impractcable TO
obtain water from the Mississippi
river above the city
The same ground as that covered
bv the discussion at former meetings
was gone over. Gen. Greene insisted
the best engineers in the United
States had decided that water could
not be obtained from the Mississippi
without an outlay incompatible with
the capacity of Memphis, and that a
plan which might be practicable to-
day might be rendered valueless to-
morrow by a sudden change in the
mighty current. At best, he thought
that the result would be uncertain, and
that Memphis could not afford to take
any chances. Besides, il was ont of the
power Of ttc city 10 make an appro
priation of sufficient amount TO en-
ploy engineers 10 make new survey.
And, as matter of fact, Wolf river
water was the purer and better, after
all -as good as any in the I'm ted
States ii taken from the point proposed
by him, which was above the reach
of back water from the Mississippi.
Mr.. Hill said, in his opinion, Vol
river water was unhealthy, and that
OF the Mississippi much the best The
committee should make an effort u
get permanent supply from tn,
latter stream, and in the event OF fail
ure might then look elsewhere. III,
had letter in his pocket, he said
from Pearson, who had been EN-
ployed 10 extend the Kansas Git,
works at a cost OF SS00,000. Tha
gentleman proposed to get water from
the Mississippi for $4,000. Grea
changes had taken place since Mr.
Hermsny and Mr.. Cheeseborougl
made their surveys. The river wa
now within 800 feet of the bluffs fou
miles TO the north, bluffs as high a
those Of the city. The great difficult.
with those gentlemen before was tn
distance of the river from the higl
ground.
Mr.. 0verton took the broad groun,
that every plan which looked at al
feasible should be fully investigated
He agreed with Gen, Greene tina
Wolf river above Raleigh was pure
than the Mississippi even il ii coul
be obtained, but the majority of tn
people took fright at the bare mer
ton of more Wolf water, and for tn
sake of making the work of the con
mittee popular, and bringing publ
sympathy and interest to its support
il for nothing else, the futility of a
other plans--if, indeed, they wer
futile-should first be thorough
shown. As for the points made b
Gen. Greene, with whose report h
agreed, he wanted to say, once for al
that he had taken no stock in an
water company and would not Will
! a member of the committee, belize
ing that the city should own an
operate its water-works.
, Judge Smith said ii Mr.. Overto
was satisfied of the impracticability
the Mississippi river plan, II SCENE
! to him he ought TO vote II down al
? clear away a useless and serious o
: struction 10 the work OF the comm
) tee.
Drs. Mitchell and Thornton agre'
| that Wolf river above the city wou
, furnish purer water than the Miss
+ sippi. Judge Smiths resolution W
= finally put TO a vote and carrie
| Messrs. Hill, 0verton, Helm and Cav
having their votes recorded against
Messrs. Smith, Lowenstein, Greer
Mitchell and Hampton voting in fav
OF it.
The following resolution introduce
by Gen. Greene was then unanimous
adopted:
It is the sense of the committee tn
n in view OF the increasing populate
4 of the city the construction of syste
n of permanent water-wOrks should
undertaken and carried out as soon
the necessary legislation can be
cured by the Taxing District; a
- that, considering the paramount
| cessity for the preservation OF the PIT
% lie health, the security and futr
" enlargement of the structures and
economy in the management,
" works should be constructed, own
and operated by the city
Adjourned.