Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-12-12
MINING JOURNAL.
j. b. ODER, Editor
MD, DECEMBER II. 1891
SCrap of History.

to a bit of history which might place
its course in the water works matter
in a curious light
We will venture to do so anyway
not to enlighten the Ledger so much as
to show the people where they stand, if
they are truly represented by the
Ledger as complainants against the
Water Board.
In 1882 the State Senator from this
county drew bill providing for the
issue of bonds to build water works.
He incorporated the names of seven
business men and endowed them with
power to supply vacancies by the
appointment of business men, in order
that the Water Commission might be
perpetually a business and not politi-
cal machine.
That bill passed, was submitted to
the people, and showed under by
vote Of to l, the people thereby declar-
ing that they would not have business
administration of their water supply;
that they would do without water be-
fore they would have q 6uiness com
mission working without any personal
interest in the works; that they would
stick to their old wells and typhoid
fever before they would tolerate a
commission working without even pay
for their labor.
Remembering these facts, one-third
of the committee which devised and
drew the current Act had a Water
Board provided for of three run-of-
mine citizens, who were to be elected
by the people and paid a small salary
for their labor.
This Act was ratified by vote of
nearly 3 to /. At the same time the
people selected two professional gentle
men to build the works. the Council
furnishing from their number the run
of-mine member.
The works were built. and the two
professional gentlemen were re-elect-
ed, the Council again furnishing the
run-of mine member of the Water
Board.
And so it stands now-with this ex-
ception:
1t is represented that the people are
dissatisfied with the cost of the works
and the business methods pursued III
the building of the works, and so on.
The JOURNAL does not believe this
statement
l, Because the people once, tpice.
thrice declared they did not want and
would not have gra'uitous business
management of this affair.
>, Because they declared three times
that they wanted not only to have,
but to pay a Board of professional and
run of-mine members, and
3, Because, with such record, the
people knoc it is too late to make the
complaint the Ledyer alleges.
t, Because the people cannot g"
back on their thrice-rccorded demand
for robustness water works man
agement.
Hence, fellow-citizens, this cry Of
dissatisfaction with the business methods
aud want of professional skill in the
Water Board is not wall from tn,
people.
1t is an echo of tie desperate dis
gruntlement which the old water works
gang feels toward a Board it could MOI
wheedle, scare and bulldoze into pay
ing twice as much for the old works
as they are worth.
And the Ledger is the little ''canyon'
through which the melancholy but
counterfeit cor popuH is reflected.
1t is an organ-not a newspaper.
Cumberland Sentiment Concerning a
Frostburg Enterprise.
While some people here have been
disparsging the quality of the towns
water supply. and others exhibiting
signs of rabies when they think OF
their own little liability Of $40 on ac-
count of the new works, there are
hundreds of people in Cumberland
who regard our provision as abSolutel,
above price!
They belong to the class who, if they
lived in Frostburg, would regard the
$40 each, payable in 20 years, with in
terest, as a premium on the very best
insurance against typhoid fever-its
poisons, its pains, its delrium, and it.
ravages, and very low premium at
that.
They would so estimate it, remem-
Der, even though water rents did MOI
yield cent for debt or interest pay
ing!
But. living where they do, they re-
gard the people of Frostburg as far
better off than themselves in at least one
citol respect.
Wants Dangerous Playthings.
James Kane has been interviewed and still
we can find no reason why our journalistic
neghbor cannot drink theme water. Come
an with the facts Tp6dpy