Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-08-02

Mr.. Editor: Permit me to add few words
to the article on wateT-works which appear
ed in your issue of July Goth, while / dislike
to trespass on your good nature or to appear
too prominent in the matter.
1t is said proposition will be pressed be-
fore the Council to pledge the town to pay
5000 per annum for the water which Is pro-
posed to be brought in under the scheme now
under consideration. The Council has no
authority to bind the treasury of the town
longer than Its own tenure, two years. Is
anv capitalist going to make an investment
here on such a small margin as to time and
amount as that 1t seems to me he must be
very unwise capitalist and must have
more money than he knows what to do with.
Six hundred dollars year for this town
means really an investment of $4,000 at
per cent. or $4,000 at 5per cent. or $4,000
at 4. or the mourning of an actual debt OF
from SO, 600 to $4,000, with every prospect
of Its increase as time goes on.
Are We ready for that when on the side of
the town the margin of uncertainty as to
good first results and their successful contin.
uance for reasonable time would be so
great For one, | advise going slowly for
the present in this business.
If the town has 5000 a year to pay to
somebody, let Us have a definite and detailed
plan ofprocedure from reliable people whom
we know and can trust, with business-like
guarantees of reimbursement in case OF
failure.
Please note that the figures in my previous
article were not estimates. They were the
results of experience from the actual cost OF
the construction OF water-works in 80 other
towns Business men know the difference
between many estimates and actual cost.
We might appeal to the experience OF
some Of our neighboring towns if we want
more light on this subject.
The cistern-plan is cheap i. it is certain; II
is simple it is lasting; it is sufficient; II
furnishes as much water as is needed in any
part of the town for any purpose for which
the town reallymay need it, and the water
in cisterns is the best possible for the use OF
families and is as good as any for fires or
any other purpose.
1t is said water in the town would pro-
mote the erection of factories. 1t Is well
not to attempt to cross bridges until we come
to them. ! amnOt sanguine as to the sue
cess of attempting to introduce factories into
the town. Factories are of several kinds.
Some are so noisy or otherwise offensive that
they would be a nuisance in the town. If
factories are to appear among us and they
need water the best and cheapest way Is for
them to 20 to the place where the railroads
cross the streams which are in or near the
town. They would thus have water and
transportation together at the minimum ex-
pense.
The idea of bringing water into this town
through a pipe for the use of prospective
factories in order to benefit the torn is simply
absurd, when it would be very much better
in every way to place the factories out OF the
town on the streams which are already near
and give an abundant supply, more album
dant than could be had through pipe
After the experience we have already had
in the way of attempts to make CharleStown
manufacturing town, ii appears a very SIN
gular thing to undertake to provide water
simply for prospective factories.
Nobody is more gratilied than | am to be-
lieve that our existing factories are protta-
Bile to their owners, but l have been unable
to perceive that they have been ofvery great
advantage to tie torn as a community /
don't believe their owners, as fair and honest
men, would be willing to have the town tax
ed s., much less 5000 year for their person
al profit. w T. CRAIGHILL