Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-07-13
OUR WATER SUPPLY.
Exhaustless, Pure and Cool.

Waukesha owes all of it's splendid
popularity to its spring water, and peo-
pie all over the country think it no
hardship to pay literally for it bottled
up, or big rates to remain III the
suburban city to imbibe it, sparkling
and pure from natures spring.
Stopping at the drinking fountain
across the way from this office for a
drink of the pure cool spring water,
with which our city is so bountifully
provided, and hearing the thirsty group
| of citizens praise its quality brought the
query to mind, Do we really know and
appreciate how great blessing we
possess and of what proportions we
may make it, in bringing life and health
to our city. We have inside of the city
limits six clear, pure streams of running
water, having for the fountain heads
the crescent shaped, spring abounding
bill, that encircles our city and crowns
it with an abiding, royal munifcence.
From these several sources of supply
comes water in abundance to fill the
public reservoirs and supply many
| private residences and stores Every
day great number of teams are Watered
at the drinking tanks without a per-
ceptible lessening of the supply and the
tanks are filled SO rapidly that all dan
ger of disease is decreased to a
minimum, if perchance diseased stock
should be watered there. From the
eddy" on the north outskirts of the
city, to the sand hill on the south every
family can and ought to be supplied
with pure spring water. It's a manifest
"fying in the face of providence" to
neglect so great blessing and drink
from disease breeding wells or the
filthy waters of a great river. 1t is
wise to sound note of alarm as hot
weather approaches with its attendant
pestilential germs. Early morning and
late in the evening, can be seen people
crossing, and recrossing the bridge
carrying water in pals from our city's
supply to Centralia's less favored homes.
Rumor says several families contemplate
moving over on this side because of the
superior quality of our drinking water.
In view of these facts is it not a bit
strange that there are those who are
unwilling to contribute in small
measure even to paying the necessary
expense of keeping the supply whole
some, convenient and in measure free
to the public. At Lanouettes place a
cup is chained to the ever full, cool and
clean barrel of water mutely inviting
the thirsty crowd to come and partake
of the water of life freely, without
money and without price," come and
drink and be refreshed.
1t costs Mr.. LanOuette good, hard
cash, in no small sum to keep this
privilege and the business men who
gladly pay a just exaction for sharing
his privileges appreciate the worth Of
it.
DR.. de Grandpre and Mr.. Pomain-
vile have just been to over six hundred
facilities furnished to bring the water
from the hill to their business places.
Mr.. Pomainville has supply of ice
cold running water on his bar for the
use of his patrons. Under the bar the
water flows through tub where glasses
can be washed in water that never
grows dirty by too frequent use. No
thing could be nicer, or more inviting
to the patrons of his place than the
conveniences he furnishes in this way.
Considering the expense these gentle
men have been to, to secure this boon
it would seem unjust to criticise them
if they charge reasonable sum for the
use of their supply. Any one wishing
drink is cordially welcome to it, and
cup is furnished for the passer by to
help himself but for general use the
rights are reserved and for sale.
| Few cities the size of this have pub
tic drinking fountains maintained ia as
close proximity as we have here. One
at the city hall, and one at Lanouette's
supply the principal street bountifully.
The next street is now supplied from
DR.. deGrandpre's place, midway from
the bridge to the school house is last
chance" for the out going visitor or the
first chance" for the incoming one.
Centralia's S citizens have agitated the
subject of having water carried across
the river by means of pipes under the
river bed, but nothing definite has been
decided upon. Some estimates the
cost at only $1,000 others think it will far
exceed that. \ matter of such i'm
portance to the health and comfort OF
the citizens is worthy of careful con-
sideration and liberal appropriations
For cities having aspirations for future
greatness the water supply and dis
tribution on broad gauge basis is i'm
perative. In this, to neglect the poor,
is to WELD two edged sword that
brings epidemics and death on one side
and privation and want on the other.
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