Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-07-26
Works ?

Mr.. Editor The question of having wa
ter works is again under discussion in our
town council.
The first thing to be considered is, does
the to,gn need them2 If the torn needs them,
it must be for household purposes or to af-
ford greater protection against fire.
For household purposes, such as drink
ing, cooking and washing, soft water is
required. No water is so good in this local
ity as that of cisterns supplied by rain. In
fact. it is very doubtful whether any water
likely to be brought into Charlestown by
water works viii be good for household
purposes. If this torn needs water sup
plv. it can only be for use in case of fires.
Water-works are very expensive things,
both in their first construction and in the
daily cost Of keeping them in order for use.
The expense of their construction and
maintenance must be paid in the shape of
taxes if they are owned by the town.
If water be provided by a company, peO-
pie will be expected to pay for what they
use as they do for gas. This is but right.
The same rule should prevail if the town
owns the water. This is simply just and
business-like.
1t must not be forgotten that water-works
require sewers to carry off the water that
has been polluted by using. These will cost
money too. Let us know the cost of the
whole before we commence at all.
Before going into the expense Of water.
works, let us, as business men, carefully
consider the following points.
LIST. Do we, as a community, need them
2d. Is the need great enough to justify
their very considerable cost
Sd Is not q reliance upon clsterns anc
wells sufficient and far cheaper?
4th. BY all means refrain from entering
upon an expensive job OF this kind without
carefully Weighing its advantages and dis
advantages, great cost, &c.
1t may interest thinking men to examine
the following figures, the actual results o
experience in other towns.
From one list Of 40 towns it IS found tina
when the works have been built and man
AGED bv the towns themselves, the average
cost of such works per loco inhabitant
has been SIS 500, and the annual cost o
maintenance and interest on investment ha
been 1880 per 1000 people. When SINH
I lar works have been built and managed by
private companies, the original cost ha
| been ON an average $4,000, and the owner
| have collected 81 800 per 1000 inhabitant
per annum.
From second list of 10 towns from an
other reliable authority it appears the COS
of works of water supply has averaged $50
600 per / 900 inhabitants and $1,000 pc
maintenance and interest per annum
they are built and managed by the towns
the similar items being $4,000 per 100
and 81, 700 per annum for works owned b.
private parties
If we really need more water IN som
part, of the town as against fire, a sutiicien
and much cheaper expedient would be tn
construction Of large cisterns at suitabl
points. to be filed from the roofs of churche
and other large buildings public and PR
vate. from which much of the rain waite
now runs 20 waste. These in connection
with the run which flows through a part
the town: with the numerous private els
terms the contents of which are Away
available in case of fire; and the existin
pumps, would afford ample protection.
Let encourage our two fire companie
by keeping their engines in good condluo
and giving them an ample supply of hos
at the expense Of the town. Let us bml
some large storage cisterns and we will B
reasonably secure against fire, and tn
. whole expense need not be over 100
whereas the construction of water works WI
/ cost some $4,000 or $4,000 and be
heavy tax upon the town for maintenan'
for all time 10 come, and the people will nj
use the water after it is brought in.
WM. Z. CRAIGHILL.