The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-31

discovered, must have an outlet or it kills,
and so, on the Goth OF January, 1892, The
Journal gave summary with the con-
clusions to which Mr.. Young had person
ally come. Here again The journal out
| did itself in the matter of a heading:
| FOUL POLLUTION.
| THE CITy's WATER SUPPLY BADLY Con-
TAMINATED.
| INSPECTOR YOUNG SAYS THAT HE FOUND
THE PAwTUxET RIVER BED OF
POISON FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER.
This James Young Is a man OF little cir
cumlocution, there is no whipping the
devil round the stump with him when IL is
necessary to speak, he speaks; at other
times be believes that silence is eloquence.
In this case Mr.. Yodng spoke, and from that
time on ceased using the water which he
had always used. So gigantic was the job
OF publication that Mr.. Young came to
the conclusion that it was simply impos-
sible. This Is his language as given by
The Journal: "lle says that the people OF
the city have got to go somewhere else
for water, as the conditions along
the -Pa~tuxet -eaaaet -be-e changed
to such an extent as will assure water
that is fit for drinking purposes He
says that ~V,ooo pcopic rcsluliE dionB
the Pawtuxet banks use the river
for drainage purposes, and that it
Is practically impossible to prevent
this" His report did not come. Backed
by the State Board Of Health for whom he
had made it, the Board did nothing with
1t. The Journal, of the following day,
contains report OF an interview with DIR.
Fisher, then secretary OF the Board and
its real head, In which the Secre-
tary said: "Mr. Young's report seemed to
be substantially in accordance with the
facts in the case, and that he had made an
analysis OF water taken from the river and
found IL to be Of no very desirable quality.
He said however, that the Pawtuxet water
was as pure as the supplies at Pawtucket,
East Greenwich, Warren and Woonsocket.
Such action on the part OF the State Board
OF Health whose salaries and costly ex-
penses were half paid by the people of
Providence is deserving OF the severest
condemnation"
From that time on Commissioner Smith
and Mr.. Butterworth have Iabored. With
what success we shall come to speak
as we proceed upon this business. The first
thing which Commissioner Smith found it
necessary to do, was apply to the law
legal assistance, He was informed by
that officer that there wasn't law enough
in Rhode Island to meet the case, and APP
plication was at once made by Colonel
Van Slyck, to the General Assembly for
more law.
The city solicitor presented bill en-
titled "An Act empowering Town Coun-
ellis to prevent the distribution of impure
water for household use." The over
weening deicacy of the city government
in trenching unlawfully upon their duty
TO preserve private rights appears beauti-
fully. The City Council did not feel au-
thorized to prevent the "distribution of
impure water for household use'' in the
public pipes, save under special
statute. The moment this movement In the
General Assembly was made, the Valley
villages were up in arms. The Journal
of 23rd January, 1892, contains the express
sions of men in the Pawtuxet Valley with
reference to its publication f-Mr. 4
Butterworth's report: The general
opinion expressed BY the leading Citizens
OF the villages in tho Valley is that the
time has come when the people of tnat
section must make stand for what they
consider their rights; as one man ex-
pressed It, III Providence saw fit TO tap
our main sewer 1t must be content with |
what it finds in IT,"
In this spirit an indignation meeting |
was held at River Point. Jan. %, 1892, and |
largely attended; an adjourned meeting
was held at the same place Feb |
ruary 0, following, which was quite |
fully reported by The journal in |
its issue OF the 18th OF the same month. |
At this meeting people protested that the !
river - our common sewer" and a reso- /
luton was adopted concerning the law
which Solicitor Van Slyck introduced in l
[ he General Assembly.
The following resolution was adopted: /
Whereas, The City of Providence has
caused to be introduced in the General
to the Pawtuxet River so extensive
In Its scope and so stringent in |
some OF its provisions as TO lead to consid-
era ble apprehension in the community as
TO Its effect on the industries and pros
perity OF the Pawtuxet Valley should IL
become law; and whereas so inn
portant measure ought not TO pass with
out careful examination and n Just con-
sideration OF the subject in all its relations
on the part OF those charged with the re-
sponsibe duty OF protecting and conserv-
ing material Interests OF the com munities
affected by the proposed legislation"
The matter was kept in the hands OF the !
gentlemen OF the General Assembly Until
late IN the month of May, 1892, when 10
was indefinitely postponed because as the
chairman OF the judiciary committee OF
The House maintained, IL might interfere
with the prescriptiye rights OF parties
dwelling on the banks OF the stream.
We will not here discuss the question OF
a legal prescriptiye right 10 poison, but
this being convenient resting place, LET
IN mere rest for the day.
The Real Question.
The real question for the people OF Pro-
vidence is: Having expended fifteen
millions OF dollars in an effort to
obtain wholesome drinking water,
do you wish TO stop now, Just at
The point OF success, at an expenditure OF
\ paltry hundred and fifty thousand
more OF course you do not wish to
stop. Raise the cry, Death to Bacterial"
and Lot the work proceed.