The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-04
Wheeling, august 8.
A oARETu1 INVESTIGATION

OF All tho Projects for lettering the
Water Supply Urged by DIR. UlrlCh.
To he Editor Of he InteI'tgAor.
SR:-Being on the eve of departure,
l would beg leave to occupy very
small place in your columns to close
my part of what threatens to become
simply personal dispute between my
self and Or. Ashbrook, which is to be
deprecRte d. because it does not con-
tribute to the enlightenment OF the
public. II tho doctor will read my last
article on the Subject OF water supply
he will see that am not welded to the
creek plan, but urge the citizens aud
the authorities to appoint men to in
vestigate this and other suggestions,
with view to finding out the best.
Controversies are all right, provided
they are backed up by scientific investi-
cations. These cannot be made except
BY experts in the various departments
that would come into play in such m
important matter as procuring pure
water supply for the city OF Wheeling.
II the creek in its upper regions is not
fit for this, We want to know II from
men who have the scientific knowledge
and who have gone over the ground
carefully, examined it in every respect,
considered all the objections and the
possibility or impossthility Of setting
them aside. II this is done, and it re-
Quires the expenditure of some money
to do this atisfactoriy-for scientific
experts will not work for nothing-and
II these men declare that source Of
water supply to be insufficient and I'M
suitable, then doubtless all those who
have heretofore defended 1t will give it
up and turn their attention to some
thing else.
This question is one that should be
well considered in all its bearings, and
should not be hastily acted upon, for 1t
involves the welfare Of city which Is
prosperous and growing. A mistake in
so momentous u matter us this might
be disastrous to our growth and pros
perity.
Ny preparations for departure to-day
prevent me from going at lCngth into
this matter, but leave il IN the hands
OF DR.. Hazlett and others, who will do
all they can 10 keep the question before
the public. My friend, DR.. Ashbrook,
has arranged his objections to the creek
as a source OF supply into categorical
series, but It seems he has omitted the
one which, i'll my opinion, has more
weight with him and the people OF Full
ton than all the rest put together. II Is
that the collection OF the. water twelve
or fifteen milesup ttte ,ereels;and piping
it to Wheeling, would deprive the
butchers OF Fnlton OF the necessary
water for carrying on their business.
Now, think this fear IL grouniiess;
for moro than half the water OF such
stream as Wheeling creek, during the
dry season is lost by evaporation and
by the process Of absorption into the
soil, and the taking Of a considerable
quantity OF water from tho stream ut
that distance from the city would not
make as much difference in the amount
Of water found in itat Fulton US they
imagine, But this is merely thrown
out as a hint for some one else to con-
slider. Irepeat here, that the only way
to settle this question is TO appoint a
commission, consisting Of the Water
! Board, select members Of the committee