The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-21
NOW FOR WATER WORKS.
A Survey to be Nade-An Artesian Well
Can BE Bored Through Our Granite and
Pure Water Sscured-Soth!ng to Do
Now but to Go Forward-Now
Is the Time for Action.

Gan DC DOIeO urOUSu ouI SI2ulto hu'A
Pure Water rsscured-Noth:ns to Do
Now but to Go Forwsrd-Now
Is the Time for Action.
The prospects for system Of water
works for New berry are brighter now
than they have been since the question
has been agitated. One question that
bas been in the way all the time has
been, where to get good and pure
water. A number of persons have
been in favor of an artesian we'll, but
the opinion seemed to prevail that,
owing to the granite foundation here,
such a we'll was not practicable. An
artesian we'll would give Us pure and
good water, and now that a practical
we'll borer tells US that granite is no
obstacle it seems that we have the
thing practically secured.
The Herald and News has been fight
ing for water works for several Years,
and we have consistently and persist
emily labored for them, even at times
with very little encouragement; but
we telt that it was a good cause, and
one that would eventually succeed
because it would be necessity.
Last week, by invitation of council, ,
Col. J. w. Baum, OF Atlanta, practi-
cal water works man, visited our town,
and after having q conference with the
council met a number Of our citizens
in Council Chambers, and the matter
was discussed. He presented his views
upon the subject and answered a num-
Der Of questions
Alderman Cabaniss called the meet
ing to order and stated the object to be
to get some information from Colonel
Baum with reference to q system of
water works, and he asked that the
citizens present feel at perfect ease
to ask any questions that might occur
to them, as it was desired to secure all
the information possible on the SUBJ
ject.
Col. Baum stated that he was not an
orator, but wanted 10 talk business to
business men in a business way. He
said he had been in the Southern
States for the past several years, and
had made the subject of water works
for small towns and cities special
study, and that he had put down
about forty artesian wells. He has
Just finished we'll at Aiken, in this
State, and the town is now putting in
water works.
In answer to the question as to
whether an artesian well could be
bored here owing to our granite fouu-
dation, he said be thought it could;
that the country was very favorable
for such a we'll. Rock is preferred to
dirt in boring, and water is not Sc
cured until rock is reached. The we'll
in Aiken was 4s5 feet, and he thought
water could be obtained here by going
from 800 to 400 feet, and that one well
would be sufficient.
He thought we ought to have from
Is to 100 hydrants, and that about i've
miles of water mains would be suttl-
cient to reach all portions of the town;
and that the whole plant, including
the well, could be built for not exceed
ing $4,000. His idea was, to pump the
water from the we'll into the stand pipe
through the mains which supplied the
town, and in this way every one who
used from the system would have fresh
water from the well all the time while
the pump was running; and when the
pump was not running the mains
would be supplied from the stand pipe.
The revenue from water rents from
private persons, be thought, would pay
the operating expenses Of the system,
the interest on the bonds, and leave a
surplus to begin retiring the bonds
and his idea Of rent was not high. He
based it on 81 per month to private
house where one PIPE was used. Of
course, bath tub pipe and lawn pipe
would be extra.
The insurance companies in New
berry now collect something more than
$4,000 in premiums. AS has been ex-
planned before, Newberry is in what is
called the third class, and, if we had a
good SYSTEM of water works, would be
entitled to be placed in the second
class, which would make the basis rate
twenty-five cents less on the hundred
dollars insured. # that were done, the
people Of the town would save more Ia
the matter of insurance than the inter-
est on the bonds.
Col. Baum thought he could COM
plete the well in from three to four
months, au6 the entire system in from
six to eight months.
He said he would contract to bore
800 feet at IS per foot, and furnish all
piping for the we'll. But, in his opin-
ion, the first thing to do was to make
survey of the town and an estima. e
of the cost, and then we would know
what We were doing. He said be was
willing to make such survey for 5000.
Upon motion of Mr.. r. L. McCaugh-
rim, seconded by Hon. Geo. s. Mower,
the council was authorized to 60 ahead
and have the survey made.
Col. Baum is expected here this
week, and will go right ahead with the
survey.
From the way Col. Baum talks, ii
would seem that the question of secur'
ing water was one of the small parts
Of the cost. If we can get water in 3OC
feet in sufficient quantities to supply
the town, that will only cost S1,5OO
and that is cheaper than getting il
from the creek or spring, and, in addi'
ton, we will know that we are then
getting good and pure water.
Let the ball keep moving. Now is
the time for action. It is time now
for the kickers and joke makers to fall
in line, or the procession will leave
them behind.