The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-10

which ought 10 have been entered upon
long ago. A system of liberation should
he adopted upon a liberal plan. Ftlterlng
galleries should be constructed upon the
most approved methods known to present
engineering practice. These safeguards
will be substantial improvements, and,
united with the improvements which may
be effected without legislation or injury
to the interests in the Valley, may prove
permanently effective (or ut least for
considerable period) in securing 10 the City
of Providence a good and satisfactory
water service.
GAS matter of reasonable insurance
and protection in the future, public policy
requires that rights and privileges Tor an
other source of supply shall be secured at
suitable points above the valley, from
which when wanted, the water can he
brought To the city by gravitatlon. The
present plan may be retained aS an auNll-
liary or reserve, and available for the con-
tingencies of an extraordinary demand.
''The selection of the present site and
source of water supply believe TO have
been n mistake-most assuredly so III an
other and better one was available-but
il was determined after careful investi-
CATION and with full knowledge of the
conditions then existing. The system has
been in operation since September, 1877, or
nearly twenty years. The analysis or the
water originally made, showed IL To he eX-
ceptionally pure as compared with many
other cities. The conditions touching the
purity of the water are now lncomparaOly
better than then while the pollutions are
not n tenth part of what they were even
ten years ago. improvements have been
made and there is n steady progress towards
conditions which will, when completed. be
adequate to meet all reasonable or Just
demands, other than in a few exceptional
cases involving some of the wastes from
the processes of manufactures, which can
only be equitably adjusted through com
pensation by the city of Providence TO the
extent of whatever cost may be necessary
10 accomplish the change or correction.
II do not question the accuracy OF the
inspectors report as regards the condition
existing ut the time when the observa-
tions were made; but there were many ln-
accuracies in the report at the time of its
publication, due to the changes which had
been made between the intervals named.
To this extent il is untruthful and there
fore an Injustice, though doubtless an un-
Intentional error. The publication Of such
mass of material cannot be Justified by
existing conditions, when considered IN
connection with the circumstances and
the past history of the service, for the
reason that il is highly sensational and
misleading To the general reader, who Is
necessarily unfamiliar with the former
conditions, and otherwise from lneXperi-
ence, unable to estimate the relation OF
the cause iOT utHltllltnN nON 'duotul anu
its effects. The i'll effects which must re-
suit from the influence upon delicate and
sensitive organisms and from the lmngi-
nations Of timid persons of vivid tenn
perament. will for months to come work
more serious injury than has obtained
during the past five years from the causes
now in question.
The present feeling of the public mind
is one of undue excitement. This intense
anxiety should be removed 50 -far-as pos
sible, and for the reasons ] have stated.
The sale of so-called Pure Spring Water
in the city of Providence has become
quite an industry, aud l have no doubt
that this has contributed much towards
extending the feeling OF danger IN the use
of water from the PawtuXet service. am
aware Of many irresponsible and untruth-
full statements. some OF which are eXtraV-
agantly false, such as that fish cannot De
found in the river, whereas during the
past week. large numbers Of beautiful
pickerel have been taken from the river at
one of the most seriously objectionable
points as regards the charges OF deillement.
Il do not submit, either rs suggestion
or argument, that the city of Providence
should be satisfied with ~ water supply
for domestic purposes, whatever i,S com
parative value or purity may now be, or
have been in the past, which Is In TACT,
less pure than il is possible TO secure
through the employment OF such means as
are clearly Within its own rights and priv
ileges In equity, il may 90 no further
without fair and just compensation 20
those whose rights are infrnged upon. IL
will unquestiouably be shown tnat the
people of the pawtuNet valley have rights
which must be respected.
Far be IL from me that | should either
10y voice or pen lay ought of obstruction
in the path of the present progressive
spirit OF the city of Providence, or be-
come n party 60 either cause or action
which shall he prciudicial To the true in
terests of its people. AS resident of
Providence. am subject to its health
ful or unhealthtul conditions. which
involve all that | hold dear in life.
have the deepest interest i'm the welfare
OF the people, and desire TO witness the
advancement and prosperity of our beau
tiful city; but ! trust that / possess "a
spirit Of patriotism broader than the linn.
tied possessions Of its municipality. j
recognize that its best and truest interests
can only he secured through just recOg-
milton Of all the rights OF all the people
within the commonwealth of the state of
Lihnde Island
"While am pledged to the principles
which | nave briefly indicated, and my
loyalty to the interests OF the city OF
Providence | bold as above question,
also recognize that the people OF the Paw
tuxet Valley have claim upon my time
and service. There are large aud import
ant interests in this valley which ! feel
deVolVe uDOn me as "A personal RESPONSE